Colchester United assistant manager Alex Dyer on the success of his former Crystal Palace team-mates with England ahead of tonight's Euro 2020 final

WE’RE creating another carnival atmosphere for today’s nostalgia spread.

Towns and villages across Essex have seen dozens of pubs close in recent years.

A third of prospective homebuyers take less than a minute to decide if they like a house after stepping through the door, new research by TaskRabbit has found.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a dish Jimmy Doherty wasn’t up for trying.

HERE are the death notices published in the Gazette this week:

AFTER more than three decades, it’s the end of an era for long-serving modern languages teacher David Huggon.

CALLS for a statue of Gareth Southgate to stand next one of a warrior queen who burnt Colchester to the ground have been made.

The big game is just hours away and we are all hoping football will be coming home.

Here are the cheapest places to fill up on petrol in Colchester and north Essex - with prices skyrocketing during the pandemic.

The owner of the Peldon Rose pub wants to diversify the business and create new holiday lodges at the premises.

The Landmark Trust's Peake's House is one of Colchester's most unique holiday lets - dating from the 15th century.

ONE of the country's leading grammar schools was downgraded by Ofsted after inspectors found parts of the facility have become "a hostile environment" for pupils.

TORY leaders have called for an independent probe into care and support for children with special educational needs following a catalogue of complaints from parents.

The number of drink spiking incidents which have been recorded in Essex since 2016 have been revealed.

PARK wardens could be scrapped and replaced with street patrol officers instead as part of a review into the £35,000-a-month scheme.

Former Ipswich Town and England striker Paul Mariner has died

Gareth Southgate is hoping to lead England to Euro 2020 glory tomorrow night

A drug driver who killed an elderly woman in Halstead has been jailed.

Dozens of people have been fined – including one £10,000 fine – after officers broke up an unlicensed music event.

Downton Abbey fans hoping to catch a glimpse of an Essex town in the latest film will have to wait a bit longer.

RICHARD Harris is taking on a charity bike ride this month and, by his own admission, there is an ironic twist to his fundraising efforts.

The race is on for a group to raise £45,000 by 2026 in an attempt to secure a 999-year lease on a pocket of land providing a sanctuary away from the chaos of the busy world.

This week the Prime Minister confirmed the legal requirement to wear a mask and social distance will be lifted after freedom day.

REPAIR works are set to force a three-day road closure in Colchester.

Plans have been revealed to create two new office buildings on the car park at the old Norfolk pub in Colchester.

ESSEX is an animal cruelty hotspot, newly released figures from the RSCPA have revealed.

Almost 800 violent or sexual offences were reported in Colchester in May as police received reports of more than 1,900 crimes in the borough.

DURING the past few weeks a number of pupils and staff from schools in Essex have tested positive for Covid-19.

More than 70 "outstanding" Essex schools are set to face inspectors for the first time since controversial exemptions were axed.

A further 100 cases of the Delta variant of coronavirus have been recorded in Colchester, latest figures reveal.

Spin is offering residents of Colchester free e-scooter training sessions at Firstsite in the town centre.

The company claim the new supermarket product is a first of its kind in the UK.

Tommy Smith has signed a contract extension at Colchester United

Colchester United have made seven signings so far this summer

An entire year group at Philip Morant School in Colchester are learning from home until the end of term due to a Covid 'outbreak'.

Colchester Council's new Tory-led administration has moved to reverse the cut made to councillors' locality budgets.

The construction firm which was set to build the new Trinity School in Colchester has pulled out - leading to even more delays.

A man will face trial after denying the murder of Mary Wells, 21, who was found stabbed to death at a home in Greenstead, Colchester.

A WOMAN has been arrested on suspicion of several offences after a vehicle smashed into a parked car and a police officer was assaulted.

COLCESTRIANS are being invited to join members of the Lion Walk United Church for a weekend of reflection and celebration.

The Home Office spent more than £370,000 to settle a top civil servant’s tribunal claim after he quit amid allegations of Priti Patel’s bullying, accounts confirm.

The Met Office has issued a weather warning for across Essex on Friday, with heavy rain set to lead to flooding in some areas.

An England super-fan has just covered the final inch of his house in England flags ahead of the final of the Euros - and he reckons the boys have it in the bag.

The best and worst surgeries across north Essex have been ranked in the GP Patient Survey 2021.

LOVED up lemurs have given birth to a second baby in Colchester Zoo, and it now needs a name.

A SECONDARY school will now be able to offer additional extra-curricular activities for sport-loving students after receiving essential funding.

Here's the weather forecast for Colchester in advance of England's Euro 2020 final showdown with Italy on Sunday.

LIFEBOAT volunteers were tasked with rescuing people reportedly stuck in mud.

A 6m tall fairytale castle is set to be set up in Culver Square Shopping Centre in Colchester once again this Christmas.