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...

10 April Fools' Day 2016 prank ideas for you to play

It's April Fools' Day on Friday April 1, and if you want to get in the spirit, we've got some funny ways you can play tricks on people

April Fools' Day is all about playing pranks and if you don't want to be on the receiving end, you'll have to start early.

From light-hearted tricks you can play on the kids, to hilarious pranks that are perfect for your friends and family, to funny office antics for your colleagues, there are plenty of things you can do to get in the April Fools' Day...

10 April Fools' Day 2016 prank ideas for you to play

It's April Fools' Day on Friday April 1, and if you want to get in the spirit, we've got some funny ways you can play tricks on people

April Fools' Day is all about playing pranks and if you don't want to be on the receiving end, you'll have to start early.

From light-hearted tricks you can play on the kids, to hilarious pranks that are perfect for your friends and family, to funny office antics for your colleagues, there are plenty of things you can do to get in the April Fools' Day...