HUNDREDS of people will line the banks of the Blackwater, on Saturday, when the Maldon Regatta returns for an afternoon of boating, crabbing and rubber duck racing.

Despite repairs to the Hythe Quay limiting some of the activities, the regatta will feature a variety of stalls in Promenade Park, by the ornamental lake, performances by the Shanty Singers and the famous rubber duck race at 3.30pm.

There will be a prize-giving ceremony at the Sail Loft Boatyard at 6pm, and evening music in the Queens Head, from the Junkyard Aliens band, from 8pm.

The Prom Park festivities start at noon, but the first race on the water begins at 8.30am.

Committee member Don Ramsay said: "There are about 20 stalls on the prom this year.

"They will be presenting various arts, crafts and homemade goods.

"There will also be activities throughout the day, such as the Maldon Blackwater Model Boat Club's race, on the small lake at 1pm, followed by the Shanty Singers."

While everyone is enjoying the stalls and numerous treats on offer, the boats will be racing from West Mersea to Osea Island, starting at 8.30am, and then making their way to the quay for the Parade of Sails at 2.45pm.

Mr Ramsay added: "Though the layout is different from previous years, it should still be a great day out."

For more information about the day go to: www.maldonregatta.co.uk.

Earlier this week we reported the news that Essex councils have been ordered to double the number of pitches for gypsies and travellers by 2033.

With 440 households already on a waiting list, the Essex Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Accommodation Assessment ruled the county must up its number from 798 to 1,584.

The "daunting" prospect has already sparked debate among both the settled and the centuries-old community.

With this in mind, we've formulated an online poll for readers, asking what we think is the underlining question:

Should we accommodate for the much-maligned, but perhaps misunderstood, ethnic minority? Vote in our poll here.

Detectives have this afternoon arrested a 19-year-old man on suspicion of murdering James Attfield in Colchester's Castle Park.

The 33-year-old was attacked earlier this year and stabbed over 100 times in Castle Park, off Guildford Road, in Colchester, at around 6am on Saturday, March 29.

He died a short time later from his wounds.

The suspect was arrested in Colchester this afternoon on suspicion of murder and has been taken to Colchester Police Station for interview by detectives.

A YOUNG woman who was groped while lying paralytic in Chelmsford city centre has compared her attacker's six-month jail sentence to a "holiday".

Alan Bafli, 29, of Violet Close, Chelmsford, who has 24 convictions, was locked up on Thursday for brazenly assaulting her while she was slumped drunk on a bench near Chicago's night club.

Speaking to the Chronicle this week, and, in doing so, bravely waiving her court-given right to anonymity, the 19-year-old victim said she had still emerged worse off.

"At last he has been punished, but prison now is not really the same punishment as it used to be," she said. 

"They give them clean clothes, hot food and a warm bed and that is not really punishment for this man – that's like a holiday. The fact that he has committed other offences in the past makes this sentence ridiculous."

The victim was in Chicago's nightclub in Moulsham Street on Saturday, June 21, when she believes her drink was spiked.

After stumbling out of the club "uncharacteristically" drunk, fellow revellers gathered to help her as she slumped on a bench.

One of those was Bafli, who shortly before 3am, is spotted on CCTV groping her breasts under her clothing and sliding his hand down her rib cage.

He was screamed at by bystanders and was followed by CCTV operators to the nearby Fancy Fry takeaway where he was arrested in the doorway.

But the victim does not remember the incident and cannot bring herself to watch the footage.

She said: "After three glasses of wine I am not going to be out for the count.

"I never drink that much either, I'm responsible when I go out and drink, I don't just go out and get smashed.

"But the next thing I remember is waking up in hospital and the police were saying they needed statements because a man was touching me.

"Maybe this guy Alan aimed to rape me and thank God he didn't succeed.

"But still, touching me without my permission – I don't know – I think it's sick if that man thinks it's OK to do that, when it's not."

Sentencing Bafli at Chelmsford Crown Court last week, Judge Anthony Goldstaub QC ordered him to sign the sexual offences register for seven years.

He said: "She was degraded and humiliated by what happened to her in a public place at your hands, literally, when you treated her like horse flesh."

Bafli's defence barrister Matthew Bugnall said his client, who pleaded guilty to the one count of sexual assault at a previous hearing, did not remember the incident either.

Mr Bugnall said: "Such was his intoxication he can't recall the incident and in fact feels disgusted about it.

"He has said 'that is not me' that is 'not the way I behave'. He is extremely sorry."

ESSEX ended day two of their final LV= County Championship match of the season against Worcestershire in a commanding position but with their chances of promotion fading.

The visitors ended the day 234 runs behind Essex in their second innings with eight wickets left, but events in Cardiff, where Glamorgan were playing second-placed Hampshire, were conspiring against them.

Although Hampshire had been denied full batting points as they reached 357, they bowled Glamorgan out for 172 and were 175-3 in their second innings at close on day two, 360 runs ahead.

Essex began the day 105 runs ahead, with seven wickets in hand and Nick Browne and James Foster added 35 runs before the former was bowled by Moeen Ali for 118.

Two runs later Foster fell for 48, lbw to Brett D'Oliveira. Kishen Velani made nine and Graham Napier just two, but Jesse Rydder, on the day it was announced he had signed a two-year deal with the Eagles, played a brilliant innings scoring 120 not out from 117 balls.

The New Zealand all-rounder, who took a five-fer in Worcestershire's first innings, scored 14 fours and three sixes.

He found support from David Masters, who stuck around for 86 balls, making 18 before he was caught by Daryl Mitchell off Ali.

Then Monty Panesar made a fantastic 38 from 43 balls, falling eight runs short of his highest first-class score, as Essex unfortunately went past 400 after the cut off point for bonus points, securing just the three.

Jack Shantry accounted for Panesar eventually, Alexei Kervezee taking the catch, before he had Jamie Porter trapped lbw for five. Essex concluded on 431, a lead of 347 runs.

Worcestershire again wobbled early on but not to degree of the first innings.

Richie Oliver was out for six as Ryder struck again, Browne taking the catch. And the visitors were 54-2 when Mitchell was lbw to Panesar.

But England international Ali steadied the ship, finishing the day 70 not out, with Tom Fell unbeaten on 14 as they closed on 113-2.

They might not get their share of the limelight but Essex has plenty of be to shout about.

But do you recognise them? Guess what they are and where they are below:

The cause of the fire which ripped through the roof of the Kings Head pub in Bradwell-on-Sea this evening (Friday, September 26) is thought to be "suspicious".

Firefighters were called to the High Street venue shortly before 5.30pm before sending four appliances to the scene.

Upon arrival the incident commander reported that the roof of the two-storey building, measuring 20m by 12m, was entirely alight.

Incident commander assistant divisional officer Dave Moore said: "This is a well developed fire affecting the whole of the pub. Efforts are being made to extinguish the blaze and protect surrounding properties."

Firefighters used four jets, four hose reels and a water bowser, scrambled from across Chelmsford and the Maldon district, to extinguish the blaze entirely by 6.57pm.

Crews requested electricity board engineers to isolate power and deal with external wiring and a structural engineer. 

They also asked British Telecom engineers to attend the scene to assist crews who had to remove telephone lines to position the aerial ladder platform close to the property to be used in firefighting operations.

A joint police and fire service investigation will be carried out to establish the cause but they have already concluded the cause is suspicious.

A woman who targeted vulnerable patients and stole cash, jewellery and bank cards by pretending to be a hospital worker has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

June Weatherman, 50, of no fixed abode, was put behind bars on Thursday (September 25) following a hearing at Guildford Crown Court after being convicted of 15 charges of theft and fraud.

Between September 2013 and January 2014, Weatherman took items from victims in a variety of hospitals in the south east including Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford.

There, between December 14 and December 17 last year, she stole £1,100 from an 81-year-old patient, taking out cash from her accounts in Chelmsford and Chigwell.

As part of the thorough and extensive multi-force investigation, Surrey Police released several CCTV images of Weatherman seen in Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow around the time of the thefts and following a witness appeal she was arrested by officers on Tuesday, 14 January.

She faced an indictment of 20 charges.

Temporary Detective Sergeant Andy Jenkins said: "I would like to thank the members of the public who came forward to identity June Weatherman – it is without doubt that their information was crucial in helping us bring this woman to justice.

"Weatherman's brazen actions in targeting and deceiving elderly and vulnerable patients whilst in the process of receiving medical care were particularly callous acts on her part - the impact this sort of offence can have on the victims and their families cannot be underestimated.

"Fortunately incidents of this kind are uncommon - I hope that the custodial sentence given to Weatherman today acts as a deterrent to anyone considering preying on the vulnerable in such a cold and calculated manner and also illustrates the seriousness of these crimes."

HIGH-END supermarket Waitrose and clothes outlet Next could arrive in Maldon as early as next year.

A planning application was submitted to Maldon District Council on Friday (September 19) by Aquila Developments Ltd, which hopes to develop a patch of land where the Brooks Brothers timber yard currently stands on The Causeway in Maldon.

The new development proposes a new Waitrose food store, a Next department store, a "range of non-food outlets", as well as restaurants and a hotel.

The planned Waitrose store is the latest supermarket to show an interest in the town after Lidl held a consultation about opening a store in Station Road in June, Morrisons Local applied for an alcohol licence for the former post office on the High Street in January, and Tesco continues their transformation of The Cups pub in Wantz Road.

But Gill Crawford, 46, from campaign group 'Keep Maldon Unique' doesn't seem deterred by the idea of yet another supermarket arriving in the town.

She told the Chronicle: "We are not that worried about the new Waitrose store coming to Maldon. The difference with this development is that it will not be on the High Street, so parking and deliveries would not be too damaging to the town.

"You could say do we need another supermarket after Tesco taking over The Cups, and the proposed takeover of the old post office on the High Street, but Waitrose does offer something different.

"Those are historic buildings with character, whereas at the moment this new site is just an old timber yard."

Maldon already has a Morrison's superstore on Wycke Hill, a Tesco Express in Fullbridge, a Marks & Spencer, Costcutter and Iceland on the High Street and an Asda in nearby Heybridge.

Owner of the Emporium, and member of the Maldon Business Association, Mary Powell added: "As an association, we welcome new businesses to the local economy if it will benefit the town and the High Street.

"It is a fact that people will travel from out of the area to go to shops like Waitrose or Next and may keep people from Maldon travelling elsewhere."

Aquila estimates that the new development could create up to 200 jobs, while the timber yard will be relocated to the Blackwater trading estate.

Maldon District Council will consider the plans in the coming weeks, but deputy leader Cllr Miriam Lewis believes that the new development would fit in with the council's vision.

She said: "Planning requirements will still have to be satisfied but to see such major players are keen to have a presence in the town is clear indication that the Maldon district is a good place to invest in."

Tony Chambers, chairman of Aquila, said: "We have been seeking to deliver an attractive, viable development on this important site within the council's Causeway regeneration area for some time and have drawn up a number of schemes over the years.

"We are delighted now to bring forward proposals that will deliver a food offer of the highest quality and will also secure some of the non-food provision the town so desperately needs to combat the growing competition from nearby centres.

"Keeping shoppers in the town and to stop pound-leakage to other centres is a vital part of planning for its future."

Aquila is currently working on a new retail scheme in Chelmsford city centre, with a flagship John Lewis store to open as part of the much-anticipated Bond Street development there.

A VISUALLY impaired woman was left terrified after discovering yobs had shot at her living room window during the night.

Leah Prescott, 31, awoke on September 6 to find the bay window in her property in Rayne Road, Braintree, had shattered as a result of the impact of a BB gun or air rifle pellet fired while she and her partner slept.

It left the administrative assistant "frightened" that, just hours earlier, she had sat in the direct trajectory of the weapon.

"That day I got up at about 7.30am but, as I am severely visually impaired, it wasn't until 9.30am when my partner Tom came downstairs, that he pointed out the window. It was blatantly obvious the window had been shot at," Leah told the Chronicle.

"He opened the front door and the entire pane of glass was shattered. He picked up something very small that had landed on the windowsill just after the hole it had gone through."

Leah then contacted her father, who had previously worked in the firearms industry, and who believed the pellet closely resembled that fired from a BB gun.

The incident has prompted a renewed warning from Essex Police that those carrying imitation weapons could face being confronted with the same armed police used to respond to calls regarding possession of 'real' guns.

Chief Inspector Glen Pavelin, of operational police command, said: "People are increasingly aware of the potential for firearms in our midst and, quite rightly, call us whenever they see something resembling a gun. Whether this gun is an air weapon, BB gun or genuine firearm, our response is the same.

"BB guns are made to be identical to real guns in colour, size and detailed appearance. While they are capable of firing only small plastic ball bearings, their resemblance to a real firearm will prompt calls to the police and officers must respond to every incident with the assumption the weapon is real.

"Essex Police have an obligation to protect the public from harm whilst maintaining the safety of our officers. We will always assess intelligence and information and decide on the most appropriate response."

Leah, who has only very minimal vision, believes the shots could have come from a passing car firing randomly, or aiming at bins in the street, but knows had the incident taken place just hours earlier the outcome could have been so much worse.

She added: "I'm visually impaired and it really, really frightened me that the trajectory where the pellet came through would have hit me had I been in the living room, my head would have been level with it. It just frightened the life out of me."

Police say they are continuing to investigate the incident, which caused around £150 worth of damage.

Chief Inspector Pavelin added: "While they are legal to own, people must ask themselves whether it's really appropriate to have these guns.

"If they do, they must learn to use them responsibly."

AN EPILEPTIC, his carer and their determined neighbour will fight the Government to the "very end" after the disabled man's incapacity benefits were cut.

Geoffrey Wilkinson, 53, of Wheatfield Way, Chelmsford, also suffers from depression, brain damage, impaired memory, ischaemic heart disease and ongoing thrombosis.

Yet he was deemed fit to work around January following reassessments by government contractors Atos, despite medical advice, leading to a reduction in his monthly allowance from about £700 to £300.

"It felt like someone had smashed me over the head with a sledgehammer," said Geoffrey, who takes 16 lots of medication a day.

Geoffrey and carer Peter Harrison, who is also his brother, are monitoring a third appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal over the decision and along with neighbour Christine Mitchell, met with Simon Burns MP on Friday.

Peter says his brother has been left to live on £298 a month in Disabled Living Allowance (DLA) and temporarily £143 in Employment and Support Allowance (ECA)

"We want to take on the government and rip them to bits for what they're doing to Geoff and thousands of others," said Peter.

"It's quite a lot of money we've lost. At the end of the day we are lucky if we have a meal.

"Christine had to lend us £10 for food the other day.

"He is not fit to work. What employer will deem my brother fit to work? If he worked now as a groundsman and parked up his tractor, walked away, he would forget where it was."

Geoffrey, once a groundsman and labourer, fell out of work after a carbon monoxide poisoning incident in 1995 and has since been admitted to mental health service the Linden Centre.

In April 1998, five doctors wrote that he "will never work again", while on this occasion his doctor Shahzad Ahmad has written: "I very much feel that Mr Wilkinson is not really fit to work.

"He would be a risk to himself and his colleagues with the medical condition he has."

Springfield Hospital neurologist Dr Peter Bradbury has also written: "He is yet another victim of the inability of Atos to cope with more sophisticated neurological problems."

The two approached Christine, their neighbour, who is more used to tackling government bureaucracy, when Geoffrey's DLA was not paid. After two days of calls she found it was paid to Geoffrey's old bank account.

"It's such a damn mishmash," she said.

Christine added: "We will fight it to the very end.

"The man is clearly being denied his just dos by an over-zealous government who think they can make laws to suit themselves.

"As far as I am concerned that man needs nurturing, not punishing."

CHELMSFORD Rugby Club's director of rugby Eddie Gooby believes that his team deserve their good start to the season due to their hard work in pre-season.

The Blueboys beat local rivals South Woodham Ferrers 16-5 on Saturday to give them the perfect two wins from two in the London Two North East.

But Gooby admits that their early success is not down to luck but the way that his players have applied themselves.

He said: "It is much better than last year because we lost our first two games.

"The boys have put in a lot of hard work and effort over pre-season and have deserved the start they have got.

"Hopefully, we can carry that on but in this league nothing is a given as everyone seems to be able to beat everyone.

"We are really pleased with how the new guys have gelled together, but it is not through luck as they have come in and worked their socks off.

"In training they have done really well to join in with the existing squad and their natures have been really positive, which has meant a big step forward for us."

Chelmsford were forced into making five changes for the South Woodham Ferrers clash as Luke Cunnah stepped in to make his first start at fly-half for the first team.

And Gooby's faith in the youngster paid off, with Cunnah slotting over three penalties and also converting Luke Venn's try.

Gooby added: "It was a very good win as we had to make five changes from the week before. The guys that stepped in did really well and I was delighted with their performance.

"That was Luke's first outing as a fly-half and he stepped in and did a really good job. We are really pleased with that, as for a young boy, he is going well and is another plus for the squad."

Chelmsford have another tantalising local derby in store on Saturday when they travel to Braintree.

Tree have had a difficult start to the season, losing both their opening games, but Gooby stated that Chelmsford's opponents should not be ruled out.

He said: "It is always tough against Braintree, especially as some of the guys know each other. Everybody seems to up their game by another 20 per cent but we will see how we cope in going there again.

"Last year we ran out pretty comfortable winners but they have a new squad and had a better performance against Enfield. But as long as we play the way we can then we should come out on top."

AFTER two weeks of action in various cup competitions the Chelmsford Chieftains were in league action for the first time this season.

And the defence of their league championship crown got off to a great start with maximum points over the two games against Cardiff NIHL Devils and Invicta Dynamos.

On Saturday, Cardiff were the visitors to Riverside and the Chieftains had to work hard for their 4-2 win.

Chieftains were without Ben Clements, Alex Staples and Grant Bartlett. Warriors netminder Sonny Phillips came into the squad as back-up and another Warrior, Bailey Chittock, was also on Chieftains duty, not for the first time this season.

From the puck drop, it was evident that the Devils had come to defend and held the Chieftains to a 0-0 first period.

But just over a minute into the second period, the deadlock was broken. Great link-up play between James Ayling, Ross Brears and Martin Piecha ended with the latter slotting the puck past a stranded Luke Takel.

John Connolly was sin-binned for interference. And a minute later the visitors took advantage of the extra man and were level, Jamie Hayes the scorer.

But the Welsh side's celebrations were short-lived and eight seconds after the restart Ayling netted to give his side the lad again.

With two minutes of the second period remaining Michael Ranby was given two minutes for cross-checking. And once again Cardiff took advantage, Kieran Latchford scoring to tie the game at 2-2.

In the final period, goals from Darren Brown and Lukas Zatopek secured the win.

Sunday saw one of the Chieftains' main title rivals travel to the Riverside.

From the off, Chieftains looked in dominant form and Danny Hammond gave them the lead against his former club.

A powerplay goal from Piecha at 25.40 made it 2-0 and Chieftains looked to be cruising to victory.

But at the halfway point of the game, Chieftains hit penalty trouble with Ranby sent to the sin-bin for interference. More penalties were to come in the period, Brears and Ryan Giles the guilty parties.

King, who was between the pipes for the Chieftains, was forced into a couple of good saves, but the home side worked hard in the six minutes of five on four to close the Dynamos down.

Two minutes into the final period, the Dynamos' attempt at a comeback was hampered as club captain Anthony Leone was sent to the dressing room after receiving a game misconduct from the referee.

Chieftains began to pile on the pressure and, with ten minutes remaining, Brears beat Douglas to almost guarantee the points.

Further powerplay goals from Brown and Zatopek completed the job, the only disappointment coming 57 seconds from the buzzer when a lapse in concentration in the Chieftains defence allowed Greg Chambers to spoil King's shutout attempt.

But 5-1 on the night and maximum points over the weekend was a great result for the defending champions.

This weekend, the Chieftains are at Bracknell Hornets in league action on Saturday.

Then, on Sunday, they return to the Bracknell ice pad to face the Premier League Bees in the English Challenge Cup.

At Riverside the Chelmsford Warriors are in action in NIHL Division Two South action against the Invicta Mustangs on Sunday (6.30pm face-off).

SUPERBIKE sensation Ed Rendell finally got the reward for all his hard work after clinching the Motul Motostar 125GP British Championship last weekend.

The Chelmsford rider claimed third at the TT Circuit Assen, in the Netherlands, on Sunday and therefore sealed his maiden title with two races to spare.

The 23-year-old has been plagued with injuries over his young career, including having to recover from a broken pelvis in 2011. However, Rendell admits that just makes his victory even sweeter.

He said: "It certainly has been a rocky road over the years, compared to others who have won the championship. It makes it really worthwhile though, when you look at all the hours that you put in and then you actually achieved what you wanted to achieve. It hasn't really sunk in yet and I don't think that it will until I get the big trophy at the end of the season.

"We thought we had won it, but we weren't sure because Taz (Taylor) had won the race and I had finished third. But then it popped up on the time screen and we knew that it had happened so could start to celebrate.

"The celebrations were a little bit messy. As soon as I got off the bike I walked into the bar and there were a lot of Dutch fans clapping so that was a nice feeling."

After finishing all ten races on the podium, Rendell also paid tribute to his team, who have provided the rider with the perfect bike.

He added: "It has been a perfect year, you can't ask for much more than ten out of ten podiums. Now the pressure is finally off and I can just have a bit of fun.

"I am happy for the team as well because they have put in loads of hard work. It is not just about me riding it, the bike has to be reliable as well and it has proven to be."

Rendell still has rounds at Silverstone and Brands Hatch to come, but is excited by the prospect of where his career may go.

He said: "I am not sure about next year really, it all depends on what sort of offers I get. We have the Moto 3 bike ready for next year if I want to do that and stay with the team, so that option is there. It just really depends on what comes along and nothing really happens until the last round and through the winter months. I could always go back into the same championship and look to defend my title, which would be a nice thing to do as well.

"There is a possibility of riding out on the final race on the Moto 3 bike now that the championship is won. It would be good to do a little test on it and then maybe run it out at Brands Hatch just to see what happens. But it is exciting to see what happens and I can't wait really."

Two of the Premier League's most promising managerial talents go head to head once again in the Merseyside derby today.

Roberto Martinez takes his Everton side to Anfield to face Liverpool, hoping to improve on a disappointing five points from five games.

Meanwhile Brendan Rodgers is looking to arrest a worryingly inconsistent start to the season amid fears his side is struggling to cope without Luis Suarez.

Daniel Sturridge may be on the bench after a thigh injury, but Joe Allen, Emre Can, Glen Johnson and Jon Flanagan are out. Jordan Henderson should be OK to make the squad.

For Everton, Seamus Coleman may miss out with a head injury, while Ross Barkley is also sidelined. But Darron Gibson is set to return to the squad

Liverpool vs Everton is on BT Sport 1, today from noon. Kick off is at 12.45pm

Arsenal's defensive crisis is showing signs of easing with the news Per Mertesacker and Kieran Gibbs could be line to start again Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby.

Right back Mathieu Debuchy is still out after undergoing ankle surgery, but Mathieu Flamini could also return to provide some much needed cover to the back line.

Oliver Giroud and Theo Walcott remain sidelined, meaning Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez will make their derby debuts.

Reports suggest Kyle Walker is the only injured Tottenham player, meaning Mauricio Pochettino has a fit squad to chose from for his first North London derby.

The Gunners are strong favourites heading into the game, with home advantage and an enviable record over their fierce rivals.

Arsenal vs Tottenham is live on Sky Sports 1 from 4.45pm, kick off at 5.30pm

Users of 4chan and Reddit boards have been able to view private pictures of celebrities as threats to publish them online were carried out yesterday,

As rumoured earlier this week, allegedly hacked candid pictures of stars including Cara Delevigne, more images of Jennifer Lawrence, and snaps of US TV actresses Lauren O'Neil and Alexandra Chando were part of another online dump.

But is the latest release an indication that the scandal could have peaked? Previously targeted celebrities have included Scarlett Johansson, singer Rihanna, reality star Kim Kardashian, Kate Bosworth, Rachel Nichols, Meagan Good, and Gabrielle Union, among others.

The images are thought to have come from hacked Apple iCloud account, but the under fire technology company has consistently denied this and has stated it is working with US "law enforcement officials" to find the culprits.

Targeted women have spoken out against the worrying breach. Gabrielle Union previously released a statement in which she described the culprits as "vultures."

"I can't help but to be reminded that since the dawn of time women and children, specifically women of color, have been victimized, and the power over their own bodies taken from them," she added.

There were fears former Harry Potter star Emma Watson was also on the hackers' hitlist, but a website which threatened to reveal hacked pictures turned out to be a hoax.

Police in Colchester last night carried out special evidence-gathering patrols around Castle Park on the six-month anniversary of the murder of 33-year-old James Attfield.

Mr Attfield was found seriously injured with more than 100 stab wounds by the lake near Lower Castle Park at around 6am on March 29 this year, and died at the scene shortly afterwards.

Between 11pm on Friday and 6am this morning, detectives and uniformed officers made enquiries in the area, stopping and speaking to around 20 people, but no new evidence was uncovered.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Werrett, who is leading the investigation into the murder, said: "Understandably people have changed their journeys since the murder and fewer people walk or cycle through the park and surrounding areas late at night. But it was a valuable experience for me and the team to tour the area again and to talk to the people who were out and about.

"Unfortunately no new information came to light but the people we spoke to were very supportive of our efforts."

Mr Attfield, from the East Bay area of the town, was last seen leaving the River Lodge pub on Middleborough just after 10pm on Friday March 28, and was not seen again until he was found injured in the park in the early hours of Saturday.

Anyone with information can call detectives at Essex Police on 101 and ask for extension 486160 or email scdappeals@essex.pnn.police.uk.

Alternatively they can ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. It has offered a £10,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the person or people responsible for the murder.

Chelmsford City 6, Worthing 0

(FA Cup, second qualifying round)

MICHAEL Cheek ran riot with a clinical hat-trick as Chelmsford eased past Ryman League side Worthing 6-0 to progress into the FA Cup, third qualifying round in front of watching ex- Spurs star Steffen Freund.

Cheek opened the scoring against the lower league visitors with a 21^st minute penalty before Evans Kouassi also scored from the spot three minutes later – his first goal for the club.

The Clarets lost the striker to injury, who had looked bright , though before the end of the first half. His replacement Luke Callander teed up Cheek for his second in the last action of the first half.

It was 4-0 seven minutes into the second half when a blocked Joe Ward shot fell perfectly for City skipper Mark Hughes to smash home and mark his 50^th appearance for the club in style.

Cheek then completed his hat-trick with a close range effort on 70 minutes.

The rout was sealed on 89 minutes when City substitute Sam Gregory slotted home from close range.

The Clarets displayed their determination to progress to the next round and grab the £4,500 prize pot on offer, by naming the same side that beat Weston-super-Mare the previous Saturday in the Vanarama Conference South.

All the pre-match buzz surrounded City goalkeeper Niklas Freund getting his chance between the sticks, in the absence of the suspended Nicky Eyre, and the young stopper's father, former Spurs and Germany star Steffen, watching on from the sidelines.

The Clarets' Ryman League Division One South opponents came into the match having dispatched Dulwich Hamlet 3-0 away from home in the previous round, so were definitely aiming for an upset.

However, their hosts were clearly up for it from the start, and an early bit of head tennis in the Worthing box ended with a Ward header falling comfortably into the visiting goalkeeper Jack Fagan's arms.

Kouassi had a chance to open the scoring soon after when he stole on to a loose ball, but his scuffed shot was grabbed by the sprawling Fagan.

The lower league visitors carved out a couple of opportunities for themselves. First, Omar Bugiel worked himself some space to get away a shot, but Freund held it well.

Two minutes later, the ball was in the Chelmsford net from Trevor McCreadie's shot, but the assistant was flagging for offside, much to the chagrin of the visiting fans.

On 17 minutes, Lee Sawyer saw his header in the box fall back at his feet, and as it bounced up he drilled a volley inches over the crossbar.

The first goal arrived four minutes later. Michael Cheek was brought down in the box and dusted himself off to slot the resulting penalty kick into the bottom right corner.

It was 2-0 on 24 minutes from another spot kick. Sawyer was tripped just inside the left-hand side of the area by Worthing midfielder George Hayward. This time Kouassi placed the ball on the spot and fired home the penalty kick, again into the bottom right corner.

Kouassi and Worthing's James Nicholls both went down injured after an aerial collision just over a minute later. The City striker was able to continue after treatment, but the Worthing defender needed to come off, replaced by Matt Piper.

Cheek should have doubled his tally when Fagan spilled the ball jumping for a corner, but he blasted the loose ball into the side-netting.

Kouassi needed to come off on 38 minutes, not from his earlier head injury, but because of what seemed like a hamstring strain. Luke Callander came off the bench to renew his partnership with Cheek.

The third goal came in the fifth and final minute of added time at the end of the first half. Sawyer played a delightful reverse ball in to Callander, who squared for Cheek to bury his second of the game.

Ward broke clear down the right, two minutes into the second half, but his shot from a tight angle was batted away by the Worthing goalkeeper.

Hughes netted the fourth on 52 minutes, crashing a powerful strike home from Ward's blocked shot.

At the other end, after a heavy challenge from Mark Haines brought a yellow card, Worthing right-back Will Hendon touched the ball just over from the resulting swung-in free-kick.

Harry Morgan entered the fray, replacing Sawyer on 68 minutes.

Callander then saw his shot from a tight angle blocked by the Worthing keeper after a jinking run into the left-hand side of the box.

Another run by Callander led to his strike being deflected into the path of Cheek to hook home his third goal on the slide.

He departed the action moments later to a great ovation from the crowd, replaced by Sam Gregory.

Gregory almost inadvertently scored soon after coming on. A driving run by Ward culminated in a low ball across the six yard box which was kicked by a Worthing defender on to Gregory and over the bar.

Gregory got his goal on 89 minutes. City right-back James Love roamed down the right and whipped in a delightful ball that the substitute touched home coolly.

Hughes could have made it 7-0 late on as he surged clear, but his shot was deflected over the bar by Fagan.

The final whistle blew soon after, signalling the Clarets progress into the next round.

CHELMSFORD CITY: Freund, Love, Redwood, Hughes, Haines, Mambo, Sawyer (Morgan 68), Ward, Kouassi (Callander 38), Cheek (Gregory 73), Nicolau. Subs not used: Gordon, Smith, Ekpiteta, Girdlestone. Att: 547.

A Colchester family's dog may have prevented burglars from taking anything, after its barking is believed to have scared the would-be thieves off.

Police were called to an address in Lordswood Road on Thursday September 25, after the occupants returned home to find their back door had been forced open.

However, officers believe the family's Alsatian may have made the burglars leave in a hurry.

Investigating officer DC Mark Peacock said: "A number of rooms were searched and items thrown around the floor but fortunately nothing was taken. It seems that whoever broke in left quickly after be disturbed by the family's Alsatian dog which was heard barking loudly about half an hour before they returned home.

"We would like to hear from anyone who was in the area between 5.20pm and 8.15pm and might have seen anyone hanging around or running away from the scene."

Anyone with information should contact DC Peacock at Colchester CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.