Essex Police's specialist armed officers have attended 14,000 incidents this year – but haven’t fired a shot in the line of duty for a decade.

A major supermarket is offering free apples for children to help the nation eat more fruit and vegetables at the start of 2026.

Officers made 14 arrests and stopped 180 vehicles in a roads operation monitoring delivery drivers across Essex.

With dazzling lights and a cacophony of joyous tooting, a village’s annual Christmas Convoy brought joy to everyone on Christmas Eve.

Ken Jones was a teacher and headmaster of Budhanilkantha School in Kathmandu, Nepal, where he served from 1975 to 1982.

One study showed some babies are now spending more than four hours a day in front of a screen.

Bloor Homes originally submitted plans to build 165 homes off of Maldon Road, Tiptree, in March

As 2025 ends, another year of big Colchester events comes to a close.

Sam Ryder will join four other celebrities in a special festive edition of Taskmaster for its New Year Treat edition on Channel Four.

The Department for Education (DfE) has released its annual primary school performance tables for 2024/25.

A dedicated knife crime campaigner who founded The Liam Taylor Legacy in her grandson’s memory has been recognised in the King’s New Years Honours list.

Valerie Lolomari, 54, has received national honours for launching Founded Women of Grace UK, an organisation helping to spread awareness about FGM.

TWO identical twins who have saved countless lives over the last 13 years are “incredibly honoured” as they have both been handed a BEM.

The charity has invested more than £180 million to programmes to support youth in Essex and London.

Angela said the day she got the letter was the same day she received her seven-year sobriety chip.

Some exciting news is set to drop regarding Jumbo water tower in Colchester, described as a 'big announcement'.

Brightlingsea Town Council has removed the dog waste bin in Strangers Corner and is in the process of having it replaced.

David Pasley targeted Parkers garden centre four times between June and August, as well as the Co-op in Connaught Avenue.

A man who exposed himself to a six-year-old girl in McDonald's and to two women in a sauna claimed he was confused about “cultural boundaries” in the UK.

The new technology centre at 43 Queen Street has now been built, Colchester Council announced on its Facebook page on Saturday.

Works to repair Colchester Castle roof is due to begin soon with the £1.3m project to take place over a number of months.

An investigation into a fatal aircraft crash is nearing completion.

With more than 100 active pubs in Colchester dating back to 1925, just how many have survived into 2025.

Weather forecasters have confirmed Essex is finally due to get some snow as the New Year begins.

Essex Police have launched an investigation after a plane crash at Hanningfield Reservoir yesterday.

The award-winning garden centre, Perrywood in Tiptree are offering massive savings in their Christmas sale.

A Suffolk village less than 15-miles from Colchester has been named among the top 10 most underrated spots.

A stretch of the A12 is due to undergo essential roadworks in January from Colchester towards the A14.

As we begin the new year, many of us think about healthier habits and fresh starts – but the same applies to our pets.

Seven schools across Essex have been left below the Good standard after being subject to Ofsted inspections in 2025.

With insider intel on the country’s loveliest city spots, towns and villages, here are the eight best places to live in Essex for 2026.

The shocking murder of a man whose body was found in a Colchester landfill site is to be the centre of a brand new Channel 4 documentary.

A reservoir in Essex will remain closed today, a wildlife trust has confirmed, after an "incident" was reported yesterday.

Essex has been treated to many rare bird sightings this year, including one that is believed to have been photographed for the first time in the UK.

Essex has been blessed to have welcomed many film and TV crews in recent years. Here are just some that have been shot in Essex.

CAMPAIGNERS trying to save a 150 year old oak tree have appealed to the High Court in effort to stop it from being cut down.

FOR law-abiding members of the public like you or me, it is hard to comprehend just how many people go through the criminal justice system in a day, let alone in an entire year.

Essex Police officers discovered a man in Lidl who had suffered serious stab injuries to his leg, and the store was evacuated while the incident was being dealt with.

A group spokesperson said the council has also admitted it currently has no clear plans in place to mitigate the impact of new development on healthcare, education, transport or other vital services

Lexden Wood Gold Club in Colchester were not made aware of a road closure which could completely disrupt operations.

Last year, Braintree felt the loss of Martyn Richardson, a kind, caring and loving young man who went missing in Bocking.

A kilo of ketamine has been seized and two men arrested after a routine car stop in Essex.

Wayne Lineker has thanked Essex hospital staff after “seven weeks of pure hell” battling severe pneumonia.

The new A120 dual carriageway from Braintree to Marks Tey would come with many benefits to Essex, not least economically.

Defence secretary, John Healey visited Merville Barracks and spoke with personnel on duty over Christmas to protect the nation.

THERE have been many exciting developments at Colchester Zoo throughout the year but there have also been some sad losses.

Dusty’s, in Magdalen Street, will reopen in early January 2026, owner Bryan Amey says.

Gus Newell, of Lexden, is the managing director of Newell Homes, the firm which bought the former Cavalry Barracks, in Butt Road, after it was put up for sale in September last year.

SENIOR councillors have shared their condolences after a man died on the beach in Shoebury on Christmas Day

More than 90 vehicles were stopped and three people were arrested in a single day of a road operation.