Which Essex schools are shut because of the teachers' strike?

A huge number of schools across Essex are closed because of teacher strike action on Tuesday (July 5).The National Union of Teachers (NUT) union, which called the strike action, is telling schools the strike is being held by its members in the face of funding concerns, along with continuing issues over working conditions for teachers.Below, we have got the latest list (as of 11pm on Monday, July 4) of schools set to be closed as given to Essex County Council. There is, however, no requirement...

Maylandsea villagers campaign to save famous peacocks after...

Appalled villagers amassed outside a farm that is home to almost 20 peacocks after a warning notice issued by the district council could see them culled.A Facebook group called Save the Maylandsea Peacocks has 1,200 supporters who enjoy the presence of the majestic blue birds in their area and are campaigning to save them.But when Maldon District Council received 12 complaints about noise and mess they issued a warning notice to the owner at Nipsells Farm Lodge, who is concerned it will be too...

​In court: Who has been in court from Chelmsford, Braintree and...

The following criminal cases were heard at Essex magistrates' courts between May 18 and 24. Sent to prisonPAVEL GRATSJOV, 27, of no fixed address, was sent to prison for six weeks for stealing six tubs of baby formula worth £67.50 from My Local store in Chelmsford on February 14. He was also given four weeks concurrent for failing to attend Chelmsford Magistrates Court on April 19 and must pay an £80 victim surcharge.Suspended sentenceJOSEPH SAMUEL BROWNING, 26, of Trotters Field,...

Greater Anglia trains delayed by hour after 'smoke seen' at...

There are long delays on trains home to Essex after an earlier fire alert at Liverpool Street. Smoke was reported coming from the public toilets. While the London Fire Brigade attended, all lines were blocked in and out of the station. All trains are now running again, but there are delays of an hour if you're heading home after a night out in the capital. Delays are expected until the last train finishes its journey. Read more: Want to go on the world's longest slide in London?A Greater Anglia...

Witham and Braintree Brexit MPs react to EU Referendum results...

Now that the dust has settled following the 17 million strong 'Leave' result in the EU Referendum, the question raised is "what do we do now?"Minister of State for Employment and Witham MP Priti Patel has congratulated her constituents for delivering a strong vote to leave the EU. She said: "Our country has spoken and it has chosen to take back control of our democracy. "Hope has prevailed over fear and we now have a huge range of possibilities ahead of us as we embark on a...

When will Essex thunderstorms stop?

The rain has hammered down on Essex on Wednesday night (June 22). Thunder kept people awake as the storm drifted from London eastwards over our county, while the lightning has no doubt produced some brilliant photographs. But when will the stormy weather stop? According to the Essex Weather Centre, there is a further storm set to hit Essex between 4am – 7am and then once again on Thursday night (June 23). The Met Office has issued a weather warning until Friday morning. It reads:...

Essex cannabis farmer paid in heroin fails in bid to have...

A cannabis farmer jailed after drugs worth up to £325,000 were uncovered in a warehouse has failed in a bid to get his four-year jail term slashed.Drug addict Donald Lovesey was paid in heroin to help set up the industrial-scale cannabis factory in a unit at Springfield Industrial Estate, Burnham-on-Crouch.The south west-Londoner was one of three men caught by police after officers raided the unit on November 21, 2014, but two heart attacks meant the 52-year-old saw little profit from the...

Burnham man arrested on suspicion of possessing an axe and...

A man accused of being in possession of an axe was arrested in The Anchor pub in Burnham last night after police swarmed the town.The incident took place around the town's Quay and Burnham was flooded with vehicles, including a riot van according to eye-witnesses.A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: "A 25-year-old man from Burnham is in custody today, Tuesday, June 21, having been arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon, assaulting a police officers, resisting arrest and...

Maldon Festival announces complete line up ahead of fortnight of...

An actress whose credits include Downton Abbey and Sky's Stella, will be headlining the Maldon Festival which this year will be celebrating Shakespeare's 400th anniversary.DI Botcher, who has also appeared on Coronation Street and Little Britain, will be appearing as one of the speakers in Walton's Façade.Walton's Façade is a series of spoken poems accompanied by music, provided by New London Chamber Ensemble, and will take place at St Mary's Church, Maldon, on Saturday, July 2 and...

Joey Essex resits GCSE at Moulsham High School

Cameras followed Former The Only Way Is Essex star Joey Essex into a Chelmsford school to resit a GCSE.
Moulsham High School welcomed the reality TV star through their gates and helped him experience what it is like to study for GCSEs in today's secondary schools.
Joey Essex met with head teacher Mark Farmer for advice on the school's expectations regarding student behaviour and how he would be expected to conform, just like any other student.

His day involved sitting in on a range of GCSE...

Burnham drink driver Michael Smith banned after crashing into two...

A motorist who crashed his car into two properties, once while drink driving, has been banned from driving for two years. Michael Smith, 46, of Glendale Road, Burnham, appeared in Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Friday for sentencing after pleading guilty to two counts of driving without due care and attention, one of driving whilst unfit through drink and one of failing to stop after an accident. The first crash took place on March 20 when Smith, who has been unable to work since he was 16 due...

Essex storm: the most spectacular photos

Essex is still recovering from the electrical light show and torrential rain in the powerful thunder storms on Sunday night (June 12).The thunder and lightning began at around 8.30pm until late into the evening causing localised flooding, power outages, and some spectacular views.A Met Office weather warning has been issued for Monday (June 13) warning that storms could affect the county and the whole of the east of England throughout the day and into the evening.Many of you sent us amazing...

Tractor towing tanker of slurry destroys North Fambridge shed

A tractor pulling a tanker full of slurry crashed into an outbuilding in the front garden of a family home.The incident happened about 10.30am this morning (June 9) when the tractor braked suddenly on a bend at the junction between Fambridge Road and Lower Burnham Road, in North Fambridge near Maldon, causing it to plough into a tanker shed.The outbuilding was almost completely destroyed and trees were knocked over.Essex Police closed the road for approximately three hours and re-directed...

Maldon District Council leader Miriam Lewis condemns "mindle...

Maldon District Council Leader Miriam Lewis has spoken out after several windows at the council offices were smashed in, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.The vandalism took place yesterday morning (June 6) and police have issued an appeal to help identify a man seen in the area riding on a bike with a sledgehammer.Cllr Lewis said: "At approximately 7.45am on June 6, a number of windows at council offices in Princes Road were smashed, causing damage which is estimated to reach a...

Who has been in court lately from Chelmsford, Maldon, Braintree,...

Here is a round up of court cases heard in April and May.Communication offencesJAN YOUNG, 35, of Western Road, Burnham on Crouch, was given a community order for sending a message at Southminster on March 11 that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character. He must attend appointments with a responsible officer or participate in any activity required up to a maximum of 20 days, and was given a restraining order not to contact his victim in any way. He was fined...

Heybridge man Leslie Pennick denies historic rape of boy and...

A Heybridge man has denied raping one child and indecently assaulting another after appearing at court this week.Leslie Pennick, 65, is accused of sexually abusing two young boys over a period spanning ten years. He entered not guilty pleas for all eight of the alleged offences when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court on May 31 (Tuesday).Pennick, of Goldhanger Road, Heybridge, is charged with two counts of rape and three of indecent assault against a boy between 1982 and 1988 and three counts...

VIDEO: Lane 'was a classic 70s sitcom writer'

Nick Conway, who played Billy Boswell in the sitcom Bread, said Carla Lane was a classic sitcom writer of the 1970s.

Rain could hold off for most of Bank Holiday Monday according to...

Good news for all of you enjoying your three day weekend: the bad weather that was predicted by forecasters for Bank Holiday Monday (30 May) is more likely to hit later today than first expected. Essex Weather Centre announced that the rain will most likely hold off until the evening and heaviest rain will be overnight, when we are all tucked up in our beds. An update from the Centre at 7am said: "Largely cloudy today and cool. Northerly winds strengthening through the day. Turning wet...

Heybridge gravel pits commercial fishing lake plan resurfaces

A property developer has resubmitted plans to convert land at Heybridge gravel pits into a commercial fishing lake in an effort to combat illegal fishing in the area.The bid comes amidst land ownership disputes which saw the application temporarily invalidated by Maldon District Council but has since been restored on the council's planning website.Jim Purdy, of Maldon Road, originally applied to change the use of the gravel pits, off Hall Road, to fishing purposes and build 63 fishing platforms...

Essex man to row 3,000 miles across Atlantic to raise awareness...

Four men are set to take on the challenge of a lifetime as they prepare to row across the Atlantic to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention for young men.Toby Fenwicke-Clennell, 27, from Little Maplestead, has teamed up with three friends, Harry Wentworth-Stanley, Rory Buchanan and Sam Greenly to compete in the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge.The boat they will be using is made by Rannoch Adventure, a boating company based in Marsh Road, Burnham on Crouch and the same...

Maldon schools evacuated after 'threatening' phone call

Maldon Primary School and Plume Academy were evacuated this morning (May 23) after the primary school received a threatening phone call.The Chronicle understands that police and fire crews were in attendance at the school on Wantz Chase in Maldon to investigate the situation before giving the all-clear.The situation has now been resolved and children have been allowed back into the buildings.This message was posted on Maldon Primary School's websiteOne parent who has two children at the Maldon...

Burnham woman who allegedly chased person with hammer charged for...

A woman has been charged after allegedly chasing another woman with a hammer in Burnham-on-Crouch.

The 30-year-old woman was detained in Glendale Road on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon on Friday, May 20.

An
Essex Police spokeswoman said: "A 30-year-old woman has been charged following an incident in Burnham-on-Crouch on Friday.

"Kerry Harvie, of Glendale Road, Burnham-on-Crouch was charged with using threatening/abusive/insulting words/behaviour with intent to...

Essex police arrest suspect after Burnham woman allegedly chased...

A WOMAN has been arrested and taken into custody after another woman was allegedly chased with a hammer.

The 30-year-old woman was detained in Glendale Road, Burnham-On-Crouch, on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon on Friday, May 20.

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: "Police were called at 9.30pm yesterday to a report of a disturbance in Glendale Road, Burnham-on-Crouch.

"Officers attended and arrested a 30-year-old woman from Burnham-on-Crouch on suspicion of...

Essex Search and Rescue need volunteers to act as missing people

Essex Search and Rescue is looking for volunteers to act as missing people to help train dogs and their handlers.The specialist search teams are not just confined to the sea or mountainous areas. Each year, thousands of people are reported missing in Essex and well-equipped, well-trained search and rescue teams are required to help locate them.Essex Search and Rescue assist the police when searching for vulnerable missing people such as young children and those with dementia, when a fast...

Stow Maries Aerodrome hosts vintage flying event

Aircraft a century year old took to the skies at a former First World War aerodrome during the heritage site's first vintage flying event of the year.The two-day event at Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome on May 14 and 15 saw vintage and modern aircraft in flight for the enjoyment of more than 800 visitors at the aerodrome, which was once a base for 37 (Home Defence) Squadron.Peter Martin, Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome trust chairman, said: "The vintage flying event was a great success, it...

High Court rules parents CAN take children out of school for...

A father who refused to pay a fine for taking his six-year-old daughter out of schoolfor a family trip to Florida has won the right to do so at the High Court in London.Jon Platt, from the Isle of Wight, successfully challenged a fine from his local council - and won an appeal in the High Court on Friday 13 April.The ruling should effectively mean no parent can be fined for taking their children out of school for a holiday - as long as their attendance is 'regular' the rest of the time.Mr Platt...

Maldon businessman offers £1000 if you can catch masked...

A masked thief who stole £450 from a popular
Maldon tea room is the subject of a CCTV appeal after a businessman put up a £1000 reward to anyone who can help bring him to justice.

Mrs Salisbury's Famous Tea Rooms was targeted at 12.45 am on Friday, May 13, when a man wearing what looks like a boiler suit and a balaclava broke into the shop and stole £450.

Mark Salisbury, who owns the business with his wife, said: "We think the man gained entry via the church house....

Third BNP member elected to Heybridge Parish Council

The British National Party has won a third seat on Heybridge Parish Council.With a turnout of 20.99 per cent, Jan Rablin was victorious with 279 votes, while Maldon District councillor Anne Beale came in second with 196 and former parish councillor John Harrison trailing with 149.Cllr Rablin, who campaigned under the banner Fighting Unsustainable Housing Because We Care, was endorsed by the BNP ahead of the elections with party member Richard Perry spearheading his campaign.Cllr Perry, who also...

Essex County Council lollipop man Brian, 74, signs off with...

A POPULAR lollipop man says he has been forced to take sick leave with anxiety and stress after Essex County Council threatened him with disciplinary action for "stirring up trouble".

Brian Collins, 74, has been the crossing guard on Hullbridge Road,
South Woodham Ferrers, for nearly 15 years, but worked his last day there on Friday after being reassigned to Ferrers Road when a colleague who covered it retired.

The crossing outside
Elmwood Primary School, on Hullbridge Road, is now...

Explosions in Essex could be heard for rest of week

Explosions that were noticed all over Essex and made houses shake could be heard for the rest of the week.
The bangs,
which came from the Ministry of Defence base in Shoeburyness and heard from Basildon to Maldon, were initially thought to be sonic booms.

Household pets were also said to be spooked by the noises.

It was in fact military testing from the Pig's Bay range near
Southend, which has been heard since Monday.

The military have said that further explosions could be heard on...

UPDATE: A12 crash near Kelvedon involved 9 vehicles but no one...

The crash that took place on the A12 between Kelvedon and Colchester this morning involved nine vehicles and resulted in two people being taken to hospital.

The incident took place between junction 24 (Kelvedon north) and 22 (Witham north) in the southbound direction and caused severe delays back to Marks Tey

An Essex Police spokesman said: "Police attended a collision on the A12 at Kelvedon at around 7am on Monday, May 9.

"It was on the southbound carriageway and involved...

Arrest over Brecon soldier death

A 23-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of a soldier in Brecon.

£10,000 reward for information on murder of Essex woman...

An independent crime-fighting charity has offered a reward of up to £10,000 for information that could help them to find an Essex woman's killer in a "mystery" case.Crimestoppers issued the appeal on Wednesday for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the murder of Angela Millington.After human remains of the 33-year-old's body were washed up on Foulness Island on 21 June 2014, DNA results did not identify her until over a...

Funding cut for project that helps over 65s as Mid-Essex CCG...

A PROJECT that helps over 65s on discharge from hospital and those at risk of a hospital admission has had its funding stopped, as a new county-wide reablement service is launched.The Home from Hospital service, which operates out of the Knightswood Centre in Southminster and is run by the Dengie Project Trust, was commissioned by the Mid-Essex CCG to assist over 65s on discharge from hospital and over the past year also helped those at risk of a hospital admission.They delivered this free...

Four plead not guilty to kidnapping and assault of teen who was...

One man and three teenagers accused of kidnapping and assaulting a 17-year-old boy in Maldon pleaded not guilty to all indictments put to them in court.Tanner Bailey, 20, Jimmy Millard, 18, and a 15 and 16-year-old appeared in Chelmsford Crown Court last Friday to enter pleas after being charged with kidnap and GBH with intent last month.In addition, Jimmy Millard, from Hatfield Peveral, and the 16-year-old from Chelmsford were also indicted with possession of a knife while the 15-year-old from...

Essex Horticulturalist given world's most expensive pumpkin seed...

THE world's most expensive pumpkin seed has been entrusted to an Essex horticulturist in the hope that he can smash more records by growing the world's largest pumpkin.The seed was bought for £1,250 at an auction in February by Thompson & Morgan horticultural director Paul Hansord and is now in the care of Matthew Oliver, a horticulturist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall.Although the price paid for this single pumpkin seed surpassed all previous records, the chance to own a potentially...

Maldon Mud Race: Organisers are hoping for the best year yet

ANTICIPATION is building ahead of one of the biggest events on the Essex calendar – the infamous Maldon Mud Race - and they're still looking for competitors.The annual event, on Sunday, May 1, attracts thousands of spectators desperate to watch 300 people make a mad dash across the Blackwater estuary at low tide.Mud Race Chairman Brian Farrington said: "We're at about 90 per cent capacity at the moment so we're still looking for people to take part."Preparation has been really...

​In court: Who has been in court from Chelmsford, Maldon,...

The following criminal cases were heard at Essex magistrates' courts between March 19 to 26.Sent to prisonSTEPHEN MARK COLLINS, 55, of Collingwood Road, South Woodham Ferrers, was sent to prison for six months for sending unwanted text messages and phone calls of a threatening nature to another person at Chelmsford between March 2 and 23. He was also given three months concurrent for using threatening abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause that person to believe that...

Maldon District Councillor in favour of pedestrianising high...

A MALDON councillor has said he would support pedestrianising the town's High Street as he urged town centre businesses to be "proactive" in saving it from decline.District and town councillor Michael Pearlman feels it is one of many initiatives that could help preserve the town centre in the face of developments like the Blackwater Retail Park."I am for pedestrianisation," he said."I think it would change the face of the High Street and make it more upmarket and...

Heybridge Swifts' stadium move faces increasing pressure from...

A FOOTBALL club's plans to relocate and sell off its former home for 104 homes is coming under further pressure from business owners opposed to the plans.Developer Bloor Homes and Heybridge Swifts Football Club have applied to Maldon District Council to relocate the Swifts' stadium on land near Goldhanger Road in Heybridge, funded by an estate to be built on the football club's current Scraley Road site.But, despite lengthy consultations, residents and business owners in the surrounding area are...

Marsh Farm booze bid postponed after unprecedented number of...

AN ANIMAL adventure park's application to sell alcohol has been temporarily put on hold after an unprecedented amount of people opposed the plan.Tourism attraction Marsh Farm, in South Woodham Ferrers, has applied to Chelmsford City Council's licensing department to sell alcohol and extend its opening hours, between 9am and 8pm every day, so it can cater for as many as 6,000 guests.But bosses insist the increased capacity would only be used for two major events of the year, MotorFest in June and...

Essex police officers fear that lack of traffic cops means more...

FEARS have been raised by Essex Police officers that a lack of traffic cops is contributing to an alarming number of people being killed or seriously injured on the county's roads.It was revealed recently that seven people died on the county's roads in the space of 13 days – and 49 people over the past 12 months. In the Police and Crime Commissioner's February 2016 data, the number of collisions in the county had increased year on year (19.5%).The number of fatalities also rose (19.5%), as...

​In court: Who's been before magistrates from Chelmsford, Witham,...

The following criminal cases were heard at Essex magistrates' courts between March 11 and 17.Sent to prisonASHLEY JACK JOHN SKARDON, 28, of Woods Road, Chelmsford, was sent to prison for eight weeks. He was given four weeks consecutive for failing to comply with a community order made on November 13, 2014, for failing to attend two appointments in August and October 2015. He was also given and four weeks consecutive for the original offence of criminal damage and must pay £50 costs. He was...

Recap: 'Gush hour' traffic chaos as heavy rain sweeps Essex

There were long delays on a number of roads throughout
Essex on Friday afternoon and into the evening rush-hour.

In order to help you on your
commute home, we ran a round-up of delays here.


Key points
Delays on A12 from Kelvedon to Galleywood after broken down vehicle

Burnham computer technician Adrian Summerfield spared prison for...

A COMPUTER technician who had hundreds of child sex abuse images and an picture of a person performing a sexual act on a dog has been spared prison.Adrian Summerfield, 60, of Remembrance Avenue, Burnham, appeared in Chelmsford Crown Court today for sentencing (April 14) after previously admitting a total of 12 offences.Police attended Summerfield's home on May 27 last year with a warrant after being passed information as part of a nationwide operation.Summerfield, who was operating an IT...

Teens hurl large rock from bridge at car on A12

Two teenage boys hurled a rock at a car from a bridge on the A12.The victim was driving a red Fiat Punto under a bridge near the junction with the B1002 at 2.30pm on Saturday, April 9, when he saw two youngsters on the bridge, near Ingatestone.They threw a large rock, which struck the windscreen, causing it to splinter on the driver's side.The victim, a 52-year-old from Heybridge,‬ miraculously escaped unhurt.Police officers carried out a search of the area and inquiries are ongoing to locate...

Chelmsford mum's "horrible nightmare" after son was...

THE mother of a teenager left with a broken leg, multiple stab wounds and missing teeth before being dumped down a country lane says it has all been a "horrible nightmare".The 17-year-old from Chelmsford was found in Hurrels Lane, Little Baddow around 12.30pm on Easter Sunday after the attack in Station Road, Maldon, about an hour before.His mother, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, said: "My dad came into my room and woke me."He said the police were on...

Watch out for the International Space Station travelling across...

STARGAZERS will be able to catch a glimpse of the International Space Station as it speeds across
Essex's skies for the next two weeks.

NASA has announced it will be appearing above our heads within a 50 mile radius of
Chelmsford for up to four minutes on various nights until Thursday 21.

Jason Clogg, who spotted it over Rayleigh on Wednesday night, said: "I'd heard of the International Space Station (ISS) obviously, but I saw a photo on Twitter and was amazed.

"Thinking that...

What bus routes are changing in Essex from Sunday?

A number of bus routes and timetables are set to change across Essex from Sunday.The changes, which see a number of routes axed and others replaced – while a number will be untouched - affect the 260-odd services that are subsidised by Essex County Council mainly in the evenings and on Sundays. > Read more: Men bailed following Great Baddow knife fight < Services in rural areas have also been looked at and certain bus route numbers changed.Currently, the buses cost around £8.9m a...

Chelmsford man arrested after 'leaving property with two knives'...

A Chelmsford man was arrested after reportedly leaving a property with two knives in Burnham.Officers were called to the area just before 5.15pm on Monday, April 4 after they were contacted over reports of a disturbance, following which a man had left the property with two knives. The 25-year-old man from the Chelmsford area has been arrested on suspicion of affray, possession of an offensive weapon and two counts of assaulting a police officer.Eyewitnesses reported that police used shields...

Southminster mum served with 'awful' eviction notice weeks after...

A YOUNG mother was served an eviction notice after months of dispute with her landlord over the state of her home, despite having just given birth to a new baby.Megan Litscher, 20, and her partner Sam Cornwell, 22, were told three days before Christmas that they would receive a section 21 order, a notice that allows landlords to evict a tenant without having to give a reason.The mother-of-two had complained to the Abbotts Letting Agency that the property, 62 High Street in Southminster, was damp...

Essex school run hell taking its toll on mum's health

A MOTHER with ME has doubled her dosage of antidepressants to deal with the school run from hell as her three children are forced to travel to three separate schools.Karen Risidore, who lives in Bell Hill Close, Billericay, drops her daughter at Quilters Junior School in Laindon Road before returning home to walk her son to South Green Infant School.The 36-year-old has struggled to convince the county council to hear her case and says her health is deteriorating following the death of her father...