Colchester United players and fans rally round striker Michael Folivi

WE'RE feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed this week - just like two of the animals pictured by our Camera Club members.

Kelly's Kafe has opened inside Greenstead Community Centre, in Hawthorn Avenue.

TENDRING residents have called on council officials to recruit more seafront cleaners to combat the volume of rubbish dumped by seasiders and day-trippers.

The legal requirement to wear face masks in England is set to be dropped when the lockdown ends.

Lanswood Limited's plans for 282 new student flats to be built on land in Hythe, Colchester, have been approved by the planning committee.

A MAN found with hundreds of images depicting the horrific sexual abuse of young children told a judge he “made one big mistake and lost everything”.

A TREE surgeon revved a chainsaw and pulled an axe from his shorts during a heated row after he fired a stone through his neighbour’s window with a catapult.

AN octopus sculpture has marked the reopening of a community swimming pool and launch of an art project by taking a dip and making a splash.

A COUPLE’S world has been “crushed” after their baby boy tragically died just 20 days after being born.

Colchester United to discover their Carabao Cup first-round opponents

A leading health boss in north Essex has hit out at so called 'anti-vaxxers' who intimidated people queuing for their vaccine.

People in north Essex are being encouraging to take up walk-in Covid jab appointments.

A PRIMARY school has closed its doors to the the majority of its students in a bid to keep the children safe following a number of positive Covid cases

Colchester United target Michael Folivi on untimely injury

Colchester and East Essex launch new video stream of games

New Colchester United signing Alan Judge has won nine caps for Republic of Ireland

The emergency alerts will be sent to some Android devices on Tuesday 22 June between 1pm and 2pm.

FORMER Premier League and England footballer Bobby Zamora rolled back the years by scoring a wonder goal when guesting for a pal's team in Colchester.

The new owners of the Three Horseshoes in Fordham speak about how they've adapted the business after taking over during lockdown.

Colchester United hero Frank Nouble has spoken out after being racially abused by an anonymous account on Instagram live.

DRIVERS and residents are being encouraged to have their say on a £1billion scheme to improve one of Essex’s busiest roads.

PC Jack Medhurst, of Essex Police, has been dismissed after being found to have committed gross misconduct.

A DESPERATE family are appealing for help to find their beloved missing moggie, who has not been seen in more than two weeks.

The Only Way is Essex is the most complained about programme on ITV’s channel dedicated entirely to reality TV.

A HEALTH boss who believes “coronavirus will be around for the rest of our lives” has urged residents to get vaccinated.

Plans to open a new pie and mash shop in West Mersea have been revealed.

Covid cases in Colchester are rising rapidly, with most of the town now included on the Government's hotspots map.

A BOSS at a top seaside attraction has told of the on-going difficulty in recruiting staff since reopening the site after lockdown.

A LONG-AWAITED rowing race will take to the waters this weekend for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

Love Island 2017 winner Kem Cetinay was snapped on a visit to popular Colchester restaurant Pavilion.

Dozens of further cases of the Delta variant of coronavirus have been recorded in Colchester, new figures reveal.

COUNTY and town hall bosses are bidding for £20million to improve Clacton town centre as part of a Government fund aimed at “levelling-up” following the devastating economic impacts of Covid-19.

Two men arrested after a fatal crash on the A12 on Monday have been released under investigation.

THOUSANDS of pounds has been made available to event organisers in a bid to reinvigorate tourism following the coronavirus pandemic.

FOOTBALL fans are in full voice ahead of tonight's final Group D clash between England and the Czech Republic.

RESIDENTS are being urged to make memories close to home this summer by enjoying the attractions and beauty of Essex.

Tesco is set to launch its first checkout-free shop following a successful trial.

A COMMUNITY couple have arranged a fundraising cake sale and fun day in aid of an essential charity which supports people living with dementia.

A WOMAN has been given a suspended 12-week prison sentence after she was found to be keeping dogs despite a ban on keeping animals.

POLICE want to speak to witnesses following a fatal crash on the A12 yesterday. (Monday)

COUNCILLORS unanimously voted against proposals which would have inflicted "disfigurement" to the historic Law Library at Colchester Town Hall.

A YOUNG mother-of-three whose first child arrived prematurely during her final year of university has launched her own pre-school business.

A TALENTED footballer “ruined his life” by turning to gang culture and slashing a rival across the face with a machete.

HOSPICES used by children in north and mid Essex are a ‘lifeline’ which is ‘needed now more than ever’, according to a member of the royal family.

A UNIVERSITY lecturer is going on his second hunger strike in three months to demonstrate the severity of the planet’s climate change crisis.

TWO talented chefs who cook for a luxury restaurant in Dedham have both been promoted.

A TEENAGER has admitted stabbing a stranger outside a kebab house in Colchester - and is set to spend a long time behind bars.

Set in rural Essex, new book Searching for Bessie is an adventure in family history, poetry and recipes. Columnist Sharon Mooney shares her thoughts on the fascinating, albeit tragic, story that unfolds

Millions of people nationwide and locally, have stayed home, abided by the rules and in many cases, have now had one or two vaccine jabs.