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...