Essex news

• Full cast announced for the Mercury Theatre's The Manningtree Witches

  28-01-2026 19:00
  
  The production will also a feature a community chorus of performers from the region.
  
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• A12 partially blocked after crash with long delays back to Feering

  28-01-2026 18:13
  
  There are long delays back to J24 (Feering).
  
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• Villagers angered as plans for 5,000 new homes in Kelvedon move forward

  28-01-2026 18:00
  
  Villagers have expressed their anger as plans for 5000 new homes in Kelvedon advance despite unresolved transport risks.
  
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• Have your say: residents asked views on plans for about 386 homes

  28-01-2026 18:00
  
  Earlier this month, developer Elder and landowner RoundShield unveiled plans for land east of North Station Road and south of Causton Road.
  
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• Film shot across Essex selected for world premiere at BAFTA-qualifying festival

  28-01-2026 18:00
  
  Film 'Finding My Voice' which was shot across Braintree and Colchester has been selected for a world premiere at a BAFTA-qualifying film festival.
  
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• Councils await government help as Link Road cost nearly doubled

  28-01-2026 18:00
  
  Councils are awaiting a response from the government as the cost for a vital link road project has nearly doubled.
  
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• Brightlingsea make-up artist named Wedding Makeup Artist of the Year

  28-01-2026 18:00
  
  Make-up artist Joanna Plimmer from Brightlingsea has been named Wedding Makeup Artist of the Year for the second year running.
  
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• Outcome of Lampard Inquiry delayed by six months

  28-01-2026 17:02 via bbc.com
  The report from an inquiry into more than 2,000 mental health-related deaths is expected in mid-2028.
  
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• 'Are You the Next Banksy?' competition to take over Colchester town centre

  28-01-2026 16:29
  
  Colchester will transform into an open-air gallery as part of the 'Are You the Next Banksy?' children's art competition.
  
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• Who is Tommy Robinson? The far-right activist coming to asylum seeker protest

  28-01-2026 16:25
  
  Far-right activist Tommy Robinson is coming to Braintree to cover the protest against Wethersfield Asylum Reception Centre this weekend.
  
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• Colchester house prices expected to fall in 2026, according to Zoopla

  28-01-2026 16:17
  
  For the East of England, Zoopla says there will be a two-tier market for 2026.
  
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• Tommy Robinson coming to Essex for Wethersfield asylum seeker protest

  28-01-2026 15:50
  
  Tommy Robinson is coming to Braintree to take part in the protest against Wethersfield Asylum Reception Centre this weekend.
  
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• Colchester Prep and High School praised in glowing ISI report

  28-01-2026 15:48
  
  Colchester Prep and High School is celebrating an outstanding result following its latest visit from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI).
  
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• Essex water companies among those repeatedly warned about risks to supplies

  28-01-2026 15:15
  
  A number of water companies in England have been repeatedly warned about risks to their water supplies, documents from regulators and the government show.
  
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• Essex Police and EE issue important 'deepfakes' advice for families

  28-01-2026 14:55
  
  Deep Fakes are video or images in which a person’s face, body, or voice has been altered.
  
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• Essex Police release images of jewellery stolen from infleuncer's mother's home

  28-01-2026 14:30
  
  The force has now released images of the jewellery taken in the burglary.
  
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• Colchester woman, 34, missing with police asking public to call 999 if found

  28-01-2026 14:17
  
  Charmaine was last seen wearing light-coloured jogging bottoms.
  
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• People asked to check with their GP about vaccines after UK loses measles-free status

  28-01-2026 14:09
  
  To achieve herd immunity, where enough people in the community are vaccinated, a vaccination rate of 95 per cent is required.
  
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• Essex fugitive accused of murdering his wife in Thailand arrested after manhunt

  28-01-2026 13:51
  
  An Essex man accused of shooting his wife dead in Thailand before going on the run armed with a handgun has been arrested by police.
  
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• Sunken barges create new Essex island

  28-01-2026 13:08 via bbc.co.uk
  The National Trust believes this project near Maldon is the first of its kind in the UK.
  
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• Wild garden in Colchester inspires event celebrating urban ecology

  28-01-2026 13:00
  
  A wild garden in Colchester has inspired a free event featuring performance, conversation and ecology.
  
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• Menkind's Colchester store to close this week with huge sales

  28-01-2026 13:00
  
  MenKind in Colchester will close its doors for the final time this week.
  
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• Man given 'last chance' to find solicitor for Class A drugs case

  28-01-2026 13:00
  
  Sentencing for Ebou Njie, 59, who supplied class A drugs has been adjourned again while he seeks legal representation.
  
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• Independent radio station set to hit airwaves across Essex

  28-01-2026 13:00
  
  Independent radio station Shore Radio is set to broadcast a wide range of music, shows and podcasts to the Tendring district.
  
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• Four-bedroom home near Colchester city centre set to be turned into HMO

  28-01-2026 13:00
  
  The plans include converting the garage into “habitable accommodation” and adding a bin and cycle store at the rear.
  
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• Webuyanycar sets up new branch at Sainsbury's in Colchester

  28-01-2026 12:53
  
  The new branch is fully self-sustainable, running off solar power, and will have an entirely paperless sales process.
  
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• Colchester ranked as 19th most romantic city in UK, according to new study

  28-01-2026 12:24
  
  The rankings show where romance is “genuinely catered for” – and not just talked about.
  
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• Braintree boss hails fans after 690-mile Truro trip

  28-01-2026 12:01 via bbc.com
  Braintree Town boss Steve Pitt pays tribute to the 23 fans who made the long journey to Truro to see them lose a dramatic National League Cup quarter-final.
  
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• Flood warnings in place across Essex after Storm Chandra overspill

  28-01-2026 11:36
  
  Flood warnings are in place for several rivers in Essex after a day of heavy rain.
  
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• Have your say on future of NHS community services

  28-01-2026 11:00
  
  Essex residents are being asked to help shape the future of NHS community services.
  
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• EACH Christmas tree recycling scheme raises thousands for charity

  28-01-2026 11:00
  
  A Christmas tree recycling scheme has raised a record-breaking sum for East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH).
  
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• Cousins left with 'agonising burns' after heater exploded, court told

  28-01-2026 11:00
  
  Two young women suffered horrific facial burns when a pub heater exploded into a fireball at a birthday, a court has heard.
  
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• Social media addiction specialist links 'doomscrolling' to rise in ketamine use

  28-01-2026 10:46
  
  An addiction specialist who rehabilitates teens with social media addictions says smartphones is behind the rise in young people taking ketamine.
  
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• Mrs Hinch: 'Priceless' jewellery stolen from mum's Essex home by 'vile' thieves

  28-01-2026 10:30
  
  Mrs Hinch has revealed her parents’ home in Maldon was broken into and “priceless” jewellery was stolen.
  
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• Mrs Hinch in desperate plea after 'priceless' jewellery stolen from mum's Essex home

  28-01-2026 10:30
  
  Mrs Hinch has revealed her parents’ home in Maldon was broken into and “priceless” jewellery was stolen.
  
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• Tea room at popular Essex garden centre closed as bosses issue statement

  28-01-2026 09:16
  
  The tea room building at the Hanging Gardens Garden Centre, in Ongar Road, Writtle, has temporarily shut, the centre has announced
  
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• Major clothing brand to open first Essex store at Lakeside Shopping Centre

  28-01-2026 09:15
  
  Bershka, part of Inditex, is opening a 12,500 sq ft store at Lakeside Shopping Centre, Essex, this summer, boosting the centre’s fashion retail offering.
  
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• Essex villages without power today for planned power cable works

  28-01-2026 08:32
  
  A group of Essex villages will be impacted by a planned power cut for important improvement works to power cables.
  
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• Uber driver to stand trial accused of running over student at Greenstead Tesco

  28-01-2026 06:00
  
  Walid Khan, 52, is accused of assaulting the woman at the Tesco in Greenstead Road, Colchester, after the two had a disagreement.
  
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• Trio jailed after 'appalling behaviour' in Colchester machete stabbings

  28-01-2026 06:00
  
  A group of young men, including a gold-medal-winning diver, were put behind bars for stabbing two men in Colchester.
  
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• Parish council bosses raise alarm bells over impact of housing in Local Plan Review

  28-01-2026 06:00
  
  Aldham Parish council leader Mike Lambert has penned a letter to Colchester Council about the Local Plan Review Preferred Options.
  
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• Harwich MP backs amendments to Northern Ireland Troubles Bill to 'protect veterans'

  28-01-2026 06:00
  
  Sir Bernard Jenkin said these renewed inquests risk subjecting veterans to endless cycles of investigation.
  
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• Harwich MP backs amendments to North Ireland Troubles Bill to 'protect veterans'

  28-01-2026 06:00
  
  Sir Bernard Jenkin said these renewed inquests risk subjecting veterans to endless cycles of investigation.
  
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• Family ran 'most disorganised organised crime syndicate court has seen'

  28-01-2026 06:00
  
  The Kilbourns and Flewitt were the key players in the drugs conspiracy, while Warner and Goodwin were involved in selling the substances.
  
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• Commander Richard Kemp responds to Trump's 'insulting' NATO comments

  28-01-2026 06:00
  
  In an interview with Fox News last week, President Trump: 'We've never needed them – we have never really asked anything of them.'
  
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• Colchester Town Hall essential repairs proposed after roof deterioration

  28-01-2026 06:00
  
  Several sections of the roof have said to have reached their end-of-life, displaying defects such as saturated or missing slates.
  
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