Eight cars were affected by a deliberate fire at Epping Green car wash on Epping Road. Essex firefighters tackled the blaze before leaving the scene to police.

Wivenhoe’s Rose and Crown pub closes after an alleged early morning break-in, as Essex Police investigate. It will reopen on October 6.

Old Ipswich Road near Colchester is blocked in both directions after a car overturned between Wick Lane and Harts Lane. Drivers are urged to avoid the area.

Almost two dozen properties in Terling were unable to drink their water, brush their teeth, shower normally or do laundry using the mains supply.

Catherine Phenox admitted causing prolonged suffering to starving her horse Meppy in Langham. She will face sentencing after being banned from keeping animals.

Allegations of gang rape emerging from Cornell University in New York have shocked people around the world.

An investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found serious repeated failings in Essex County Council's SEND transport service.

With the hosepipe ban still in force, residents are searching for ways to keep their plants alive without mains water.

Lampard Inquiry examines whether Oxevision mental health cameras should be halted amid safety, privacy and data concerns after deaths in Essex hospitals.

FOR today's nostalgia spread we're taking a drive into central Colchester.

Punk poet Dr John Cooper Clarke discusses new anthology Have It, life in Colchester and Arctic Monkeys hit I Wanna Be Yours ahead of his UK tour from October 6.

Ahead of The Minories’ Banksy exhibition this month, creative director Emma Howe explains what visitors can expect and the themes it explores.

Here are the latest planning applications received and decided by Colchester Council.

A five-bedroom Victorian townhouse in Lexden, Colchester, is on the market for £995,000.

Investment into tackling antisocial behaviour in Essex has been welcomed after "serious concerns" of crime across the county.

Essex Police arrest a man on suspicion of GBH after a physical confrontation in Chelmsford left another man with a serious head injury on October 3.

A 28-year-old motorcyclist has died after a crash on the A406 North Circular near Chingford on October 4. Met Police are now appealing for witnesses.

Flights from London Southend and Stansted to Barcelona were cancelled on October 3 and October 4 as severe weather caused flooding and travel chaos.

Accidental fire destroys D and K Vehicle Services workshop in Little Walden, Essex, leaving owners without their home as firefighters tackle the blaze.

HM Coastguard Southend-on-Sea and RNLI Southend Lifeboat searched for a swimmer feared missing off Southend seafront, finding him safe near Thorpe Bay.

Essex residents from Old Leigh House and The Orchards showcased singing, dance, poetry and rap at Cygnet Social Care’s Got Talent in Manchester.

Edgelands 2026 brings experimental electronic music to Colchester Arts Centre from October 15-18, featuring µ-Ziq, Plaid, Jo Quail and local talent.

Colchester compact kitchen specialist Elfin Kitchens is marking 20 years in business.

Internationally acclaimed vocal group the Mediaeval Baebes will perform in Colchester as part of their special 30th anniversary tour.

A baby born on September 17, joins a rare five-generation family of women in Colchester, including great-great-grandmother.

M25 crash causes major delays towards Essex as all lanes close anticlockwise between Junctions 3 and 2 near Dartford Crossing on October 4, 2026.

Nine-bedroom Asheldham village home near Southminster reduced by £50,000 to £900,000, offering 3,300 sq ft, two acres and renovation potential in Essex.

Speed cameras are a familiar sight for drivers across the UK, but many people still don’t fully understand how they work.

Essex faces an increased risk of colder spells later this winter as record-breaking El Niño brings wetter, stormier autumn weather, says the Met Office.

Greater Anglia warns of delays after overrunning engineering works block lines between Shenfield and Romford, affecting Essex routes until Sunday, October 4.

Colchester's 10-16 Vineyard Street, a fully let mixed-use building with shops and five flats, goes to auction on October 8, generating £67,302 a year.

High-paid jobs around Colchester include financial, technology, construction and sales roles paying up to £85,000, plus SumUp's six-figure commission potential.

Roger Buston retired as a councillor in May, but has said that local residents continue to share their concerns with him. He was first elected to the post of councillor 26 years ago.

A charity has stopped 18 people becoming homeless and supported hundreds of rough sleepers.

Located in the Braintree district of Essex, Halstead sits along the River Colne, and has a rich history and tight-knit community.

Brits call for UK fines for loud music and poor bus etiquette after Singapore introduces penalties for noisy audio, eating, littering and feet on seats.

NHS flu vaccine is free for eligible people until March 31, 2027. Find out who qualifies and how to book online.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said price rises are showing "no signs" of slowing down.

Nearly six million UK drivers risk a £50 fine by failing to follow roundabout rules, with more than half making mistakes at mini-roundabouts.

Lidl has removed its Way To Go! chocolate bar range from its supermarkets, six years after it first launched.

Celia Imrie has said she does not want to be defined by her iconic and hilarious moment on the Celebrity Traitors.

The Week two elimination for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 has been leaked ahead of the results show tonight (Sunday, October 4).

A developer has provided an update on the second restaurant set to open in Colchester city centre at the former M&S building.

Jet2 launches 23,000 Christmas market flights from London Stansted for winter 2027/28, with Krakow, Prague, Vienna and Strasbourg routes.

Essex County Council raises drainage concerns over a proposed padel club at the £65m Tollgate Village Two development, seeking flood and water-quality tests.

Ahead of Hospice Care Week 2026, St Helena Hospice patient John Gallant praises brilliant care as Colchester staff share their rewarding palliative care work.

Discover why Borley, Essex, is famed as one of England’s most haunted places, from Borley Rectory and Harry Price to ghostly nuns and disputed claims.

A Witham teenager has landed her dream job despite being told she would “never ever” succeed in her chosen field.

Chelmsford police arrest 48-year-old wanted over domestic abuse offences on September 26 during operation targeting drink and drug drivers, with 17 arrests.

A12 crash closes Essex road between J18 Danbury and J19 Boreham, with queues and delays in both directions.