IT has been brought to my attention from an eagle-eyed Middlewick campaigner that Colchester Council has moved the goalposts in the local plan which to me works in the favour of developers.

CHILDHOOD memories and stories have been brought to life as part of a fascinating new book about a Colchester school.

A DOG owner who says a “heartless” poacher attempted to snatch her pooch has warned residents to be vigilant.

A HEARTBROKEN mum whose daughter was sent away by doctors more than ten times before her cancer was diagnosed has launched a petition calling for patients to be referred at the earliest opportunity.

CANNABIS growers who were found tending to a £1.3 million drugs farm had arrived in the country only months before in order to seek work.

THE family of a much-loved dad-of-three who died following an altercation at a holiday park have suffered a fresh blow after their appeal to see police officers prosecuted was rejected.

A handful of neighbourhoods in Colchester are still recording mutliple cases of Covid-19 despite another drop in infection rates.

THE owners of a family-run business who repurposed their farmland in a bid to open for the school holidays are “disappointed” they will have to remain closed.

A TIMELESS area of natural beauty has been named as one of the best locations to live in the East of England are being meticulously dissected by expert judges.

SHOCKING footage of an arrest appears to show a police officer kneeling on a man’s neck or head before punching him repeatedly in the street.

ESSEX police has referred itself to the standards watchdog and an officer has been placed on reduced duties after footage of an arrest was posted online.

A QUAYSIDE has undergone a transformation as it became the backdrop for the filming of a new TV show.

READERS are divided over possible plans to bar customers from pubs if they have not had their Covid-19 vaccination.

A LOVING husband has paid tribute to his wife who was his everything after she died from cancer.

NORTH Essex residents are being urged to play by the rules so lockdown restrictions can be eased in the coming weeks and months.

A SWAN found dangling upside down in a tree needed to be rescued by the RSPCA.

Colchester Zoo has updated customers on what will happen to any gift vouchers which have expired during lockdown.

A Colchester tree surgeon has won a legion of fans after speaking about his cancer battle while appearing on Channel 4's First Dates Hotel.

An officer has found to have committed misconduct in connection with their actions when responding to reports of a domestic related incident.

THIS was the touching moment a 'beautiful' funeral procession for a popular pub landlady set-off after family and friends paid their respects.

A MAN has been jailed for more than seven years after admitting his role in a string of burglaries.

Pub chain Wetherspoon has revealed its ‘reduced menu’ for when it will reopen hundreds of venues next month.

A MAN from Essex is one of two people arrested in connection with the dissapearance of £450,000 worth of solar panels.

Two men have been jailed after exchanging a gun in a car park.

Drivers have been warned to avoid a road in Colchester after a burst water main.

A barrister will not face criminal charges after her dog attacked a seal nicknamed Freddie Mercury, leading to the animal being euthanised.

Monday, March 15

HELEN Leckie is a 38-year-old mum of two who works for Autism Anglia, on North Hill. At the moment she is busy preparing for World Autism Awareness Week, which runs from Monday to Sunday. Helen lives in Colchester and is the latest Gazette reader ...

TODAY’S Nostalgia spread takes us to the high seas for a moment that changed the course of music - and radio - forever.

TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular publican dubbed Clacton’s oldest landlady after she died from coronavirus.

THE firm behind the controversial development of Colchester's cultural quarter has hit back at criticisms levelled by the town's MP Will Quince.

A STALKER punched a woman’s father and sister after hammering on her door when she broke off contact with him, a court heard.

TWO people have admitted multiple charges relating to two out of control dogs after 11 sheep were mauled on fields around Brantham.

A VILLAGE delivery driver was left “gobsmacked” after residents banded together and raised thousands to get him a new van.

I WAS horrified to read that Colchester Council wants to build houses on the two busiest car parks in the town centre: Britannia and Vineyard Street (Gazette, March 12, “‘Homes plans could harm our historic town centre’”).

Today the News Media Association has launched the #Don'tBeDuped campaign - encouraging people to call out fake local newspapers.

A VAPE exploded in a family home due to a faulty battery.

A MAN who was found hauling guns and ammunition in the boot of his car in Colchester was acting as “the armourer” for a criminal group, a court heard.

A MIRACLE teenager who was told he would never walk is embarking on a fundraising challenge in aid of the hospital which changed his life.

A WOMAN was left shaken-up and requiring hospital treatment after a driver crashed into her car TWICE in a matter of minutes.

Waitrose has said it will no longer sell children’s magazines containing plastic disposable toys in its latest move to tackle pollution.

AN 11-year-old girl was thrown into the air and onto the bonnet of a Range Rover after being hit outside a school.

A RAPIST who left a disabled woman with life threatening injuries changed his name and left the country without telling police.

FUNDING has been agreed to pay for a Police Community Support Officer for Harwich for another two years.

THE Essex Weather Centre has suggested we may get snow...on Easter Sunday.

Passengers will be asked to remember their face masks when they jet away, the chief executive warned.

A VIGILANT resident bravely confronted two men who reportedly attempted to steal his tools and a gearbox he had been working on during lockdown.

A DRUG runner who hoped to make a £1,000 per week career out of street dealing has been locked up for a minimum of 20 years after stabbing a man to death.

A TEENAGER who suffered from muscular dystrophy died after falling in the shower.

AMBITIOUS plans to spend £93,000 on restoring a lake have been thrown out by councillors.