Shivani Chaudhari

Essex County Cricket Club head groundsman Stuart Kerrison has been watering the Chelmsford pitch overnight and before dawn to protect the grass during recent heatwaves. Although residents face a hosepipe ban, businesses may use hoses when necessary for commercial activities. Kerrison said the club is minimizing disruption to neighbors and needs several days of rain to help the grounds recover, while much of southern and southeastern England continues to face water stress.

A deputy head teacher at Mayflower High School in Billericay says a new GCSE results app, used by pupils at more than 750 schools in England, should not replace coming to school on results day. Luke Kilvert emphasizes the importance of celebrating with staff and parents and providing support to students who are disappointed or need to change their plans. The school reported a third consecutive year of improving results, while national data showed that 67.3% of GCSE grades across England, Wales and Northern Ireland were grade 4/C or higher. Student Oliver Sargood achieved several top grades, prompting strong praise from his parents.

Basildon Hospital's emergency department will receive a £6m upgrade, with £3m allocated to more than doubling the rapid assessment, triage and treatment area from three bays to eight. The remaining £3m will replace the department's 20-year-old roof. Construction is expected to start in September and finish by spring 2027, with the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust saying the project should improve ambulance handovers, patient flow and waiting times.

Nathan Behrens, 21, from Braintree, was jailed for 16 years with a further eight years on extended licence after admitting eight sexual offences against a child committed between 2022 and 2025. The offences included attempted rape, sexual assault, assault by penetration, possessing or making indecent images of children, and other offences involving sexual activity in a child’s presence. Essex Police said he poses a significant risk to children and praised victims and their families for helping secure his conviction.

A pilot suffered life-changing but non-life-threatening injuries when a light aircraft from The Turbulent Team was damaged during a low-level display at the Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome in Essex. The airshow was stopped, the aerodrome was closed to air traffic, and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch is investigating. The museum is expected to reopen to the public on Friday.

Affinity Water has extended its hosepipe ban to the Tendring Peninsula and the remaining parts of Essex because prolonged hot, dry weather and high demand have reduced underground water stores and affected Ardleigh Reservoir. The restrictions prohibit residents from using hosepipes and garden sprinklers for activities including watering gardens, washing cars and filling pools, while businesses may continue using them when necessary for commercial work. Breaching the ban is a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to £1,000. The move follows the Environment Agency’s declaration of drought across more than two-thirds of England, and the restrictions will remain until water supplies recover.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has written to Clacton voters accusing Nigel Farage of triggering the by-election to resolve questions about himself rather than help the constituency. Farage is being investigated over whether he should have declared a £5m gift from cryptocurrency businessman Christopher Harborne, although the inquiry was suspended after his resignation and could resume if he wins. A sufficiently serious finding could lead to a recall petition and another election. The Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Greens are not contesting the by-election, while Reform UK says their absence shows contempt for Clacton voters and urges support for Farage.

A 31-year-old man, Mohammed Younas, was sentenced to nine years in prison after admitting to kidnapping and assaulting a 13-year-old girl in Basildon while she was roller-skating home. Police linked him to the attack through DNA found on the girl’s shoe and later discovered cocaine, cannabis and drug-dealing equipment at his home. Younas also admitted multiple drug offences. The court imposed a 15-year restraining order, an 18-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and lifetime notification requirements.

Basildon has been named one of 15 finalists for the UK’s first Town of Culture award, selected from almost 400 bids. Residents, artists and Towngate Theatre workers expressed pride in the town’s cultural life and said winning could bring recognition, funding and more opportunities for local creatives. Basildon is competing against Birkenhead, Grimsby and Rotherham, with the winner expected to host cultural events in 2028.

Colchester City Council collected 2,470kg of litter, fly-tipped waste, tyres, abandoned roadworks signs and vehicle debris from a 12km stretch of the A12 in Essex. The three-night operation in July covered sections between junctions 25 and 26 and between junctions 28 and 29, along with six slip roads and six lay-bys. Councillor Martin Goss said the amount removed demonstrated the scale of the roadside litter problem.

Steve, a nearly featherless parrot unable to fly, is recovering at Hopefield Animal Sanctuary in Brentwood after arriving with an unexplained condition. Staff are investigating whether his feather loss resulted from self-plucking caused by boredom or a contagious illness. He is being quarantined, monitored, and given toys and exercise equipment, while early feather regrowth has raised hopes of a full recovery and eventual return to an aviary with other rescued birds.

Essex Police seized 13 luxury cars after members of the public reported a convoy allegedly driving dangerously and anti-socially on the M11 during peak traffic. Witnesses reported excessive acceleration, sudden braking, vehicles bunching together, disruption to traffic and use of the hard shoulder. Police issued 13 anti-social-driving warnings, seized the vehicles at Birchanger Green Interchange near Bishop’s Stortford, and are continuing their investigation.

Ten people were arrested after police broke up an unlicensed music event in Rendlesham Forest near Capel St Andrew, Suffolk. Officers found about 300 people and sound equipment at the site after initially receiving reports of a gathering of around 50. Arrests included one on suspicion of possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply, two for suspected drug-driving and seven for suspected public nuisance. Police seized music decks, speakers and two vans, and took those arrested to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning.

Duleep Singh inherited the Sikh Maharaja title as a child but was exiled to Britain after the Sikh Empire was annexed in 1849 and repeatedly prevented from returning to India. He eventually settled at Elveden Hall in Suffolk with Bamba Müller, and their family became part of Britain’s Punjabi and mixed-heritage history. Essex researcher Peter Bance has spent three decades documenting the family, collecting more than 2,000 artefacts. The story also highlights Princess Sophia Duleep Singh’s suffrage activism and Princess Catherine Duleep Singh’s efforts to save Jewish families from Nazi persecution. An exhibition at Kensington Palace and the work of adviser Jassa Ahluwalia explore the family’s continuing significance for British, Indian and mixed-heritage identity.

Duleep Singh inherited the Sikh Maharaja title at age five but was exiled to Britain after the British annexed the Sikh Empire in 1849 and was repeatedly denied permission to return to India. He eventually settled at Elveden Hall in Suffolk with his wife, Bamba Müller, and raised a family whose mixed Punjabi, British and European heritage is now being explored. Essex collector Peter Bance has spent three decades researching the family and assembling more than 2,000 artefacts. The story highlights Princess Sophia Duleep Singh’s suffragette activism and Princess Catherine Duleep Singh’s efforts to help Jewish families during the Holocaust. An exhibition at Kensington Palace, The Last Princesses of Punjab, presents the family’s legacy and its continuing relevance to British and mixed-heritage identities.

Craig and Carly Bowe, who attempted to rescue a mother and daughter who drowned at West Mersea beach near Colchester, are calling for more accessible life jackets and flotation rings. A Royal Life Saving Society UK risk assessment commissioned by Colchester City Council had concluded that rescue equipment would be difficult to deploy effectively because of the beach profile, tidal range and currents, while recommending improved water-safety signage. Residents and local water-sports specialists say clearer warnings about sandbanks, undercurrents and tides are needed. The council has commissioned new signs and says it will continue reviewing risks following the deaths of Shally Rahman and Samiha Rahman.

A crew led by fitness coach Sam Gibbons completed the 2,000‑mile GB Row Challenge in 32 days, finishing first among two competing teams. The Rowmads crew gathered environmental data during the journey, which will be analysed by the University of Portsmouth and shared through the Marine Data Exchange. Gibbons described difficult weather conditions around Scotland, long rowing shifts and limited sleep, but highlighted memorable wildlife encounters and the beauty of the British coastline. The team arrived at Tower Bridge on Thursday, becoming one of the fastest groups to complete the challenge.

A hoard of 935 handmade Iron Age coins discovered in Great Baddow in 2020 has gone on display at the Museum of Chelmsford. Dating to 60–20 BC, the coins are considered a nationally significant find and feature unique handcrafted patterns more typical of western England. Curator Claire Willetts said the purpose of the hoard remains unclear but may have been a religious offering or tribute, and the discovery challenges existing assumptions about movement and activity in Iron Age Britain.

Essex County Council plans to clear its backlog of education, health and care needs assessments by the end of the year, with Reform UK councillor Sam Journet pledging additional investment and new SEND forums for families. Assessment requests continue to rise, and previous efforts by the former Conservative administration improved deadline performance to 20 percent. Parents, including Rebecca Dadds, expressed concern that speeding up decisions could compromise accuracy, with some cases still going to tribunal. The council’s Operation Backlog Plan will include a full review of cases, with further details to be shared with families later.

Influencers Jake and Ethan Thorne created a Moana-themed garden for children at Little Havens Hospice in Essex, completing the project in 12 days with funding from Disney. Children, including six-year-old Millie, enjoyed the new accessible space, which opened shortly before the release of the live-action Moana film. Havens Hospices CEO Louise Bryan welcomed the opportunity, highlighting the organisation’s reliance on public donations and the importance of the new garden to the children it supports.

A fire that destroyed parts of the Little Wild Tribe outdoor nursery in Hadleigh Country Park is believed to have been started deliberately. Founder Kelly Guthrie described extensive vandalism but said the nursery will continue operating using unaffected areas. Essex Fire Service extinguished the blaze quickly, and community members have offered support to help rebuild the damaged site.

Suffolk will host two major literary festivals in October as the Ipswich Book Festival and Bury St Edmunds Literature Festival return with expanded programmes. Ipswich’s event will feature more than 50 gatherings, a Schools Week initiative reaching thousands of children, and a theme focused on the power of books to connect readers. Later in the month, Bury St Edmunds will offer talks, readings, workshops, screenings and performances with notable authors as part of its largest programme to date.

White Mills Bridge in Earls Barton has reopened following months of essential repairs funded in part by a £7.7 million Department for Transport grant. North Northamptonshire Council officials said the redesigned structure is stronger, safer and built for a 120‑year lifespan. The closure was used to complete additional road maintenance, with council leaders emphasising the bridge’s importance for residents and its role connecting the nearby quarry to the A45.

A Hertfordshire-based gingerbread artist, Emily Garland, turned a career-ending repetitive strain injury into an opportunity to build a successful business creating elaborate gingerbread replicas of famous structures. After launching her business in 2010, she now produces large-scale projects that can take up to 175 hours and has worked on commissions for the British Museum and the Call of Duty franchise. Her work process relies on full 3D cardboard models, and she credits the career shift with restoring her health and allowing her to pursue longstanding creative ambitions.

Police concluded that no criminal offences were identified in relation to the Watership Downs nursery in Maldon, which Ofsted had closed due to concerns about potential risk of harm to children. The nursery’s registration remains suspended while Ofsted continues its inquiries, and a different community interest company is preparing to establish a new nursery at the site.

Authorities charged Lyz Hall with multiple animal welfare offences following a 2024 investigation at Hallswood Animal Sanctuary that led to animals being seized and some euthanised. The charges include possession of unauthorised veterinary medicines and the unlawful keeping or release of certain wildlife species. Hall is scheduled to appear at Norwich Magistrates' Court in August.

The government plans to continue using the former RAF MDP Wethersfield base in Essex to house asylum seekers, expanding capacity from about 800 to 1,220 and extending use beyond 2027. Local political figures and residents are divided, with Essex County Council’s Peter Harris calling for migrants to be detained and deported, while advocacy groups argue for community-based accommodation and protection of human rights. Conservative MP James Cleverly opposes the expansion and intends to seek legal and political avenues to close the site. Residents’ groups express disappointment over the prolonged use of the base, while the Home Office says the policy aims to reduce reliance on hotels and stabilise the asylum system.

More than 200 people took part in a 5km memorial run in Chafford Hundred to honour 18‑year‑old Henry Nowak, who was fatally stabbed in Southampton in December. Organised by community members and supported by local groups, the event brought residents, faith communities and Nowak’s friends together, raising over £600 for the charity 2wish. Participants, including Thurrock MP Jen Craft, highlighted the strong show of community solidarity, while Nowak’s family expressed gratitude for the support.

More than 200 people participated in a 5km memorial run in Chafford Hundred, Essex, to honour 18‑year‑old murder victim Henry Nowak. Organised by Mary McLoughlin of the local running club, the event brought together community members, faith groups and local organisations, including Morrisons and All Saints Church, which contributed supplies and support. MP Jen Craft attended and praised the sense of community, while Nowak’s mother expressed gratitude for the solidarity shown. The event raised over £600 for the bereavement charity 2wish.

Extended roadworks in Ashdon have severely disrupted local businesses and access, with the Rose & Crown pub reporting a 45% drop in takings and the nearby windmill cancelling fundraising events. Residents cite delays, access problems for emergency vehicles and a lack of urgency, while Essex Highways and Affinity Water attribute the prolongation to essential infrastructure work and unforeseen engineering challenges.

Extended roadworks in Ashdon have significantly reduced access to local businesses and attractions, cutting revenue at the Rose & Crown pub by nearly half and forcing the cancellation of fundraising events at Ashdon Windmill. Residents reported blocked emergency access and delays they attribute to slow progress. Essex Highways said it cannot stop the utility works, while Affinity Water cited engineering challenges and emphasised the necessity of replacing ageing infrastructure as part of a wider project running until 2027.