CLARETS skipper Mark Hughes admitted it was 'weird' to face his old side Barnet and old boss Martin Allen and admitted he was ultimately disappointed at not winning despite Chelmsford's brave display in the 0-0 FA Cup draw.

Hughes was singled out by 'Mad Dog' Allen ahead of the game as one of his 'all-time favourite ever players'.

The 31-year-old former Northern Ireland international provided Barnet with one of their most important goals in recent years, a cracker against Burton Albion in 2012 that sealed a 2-1 win and kept the Bees in the Football League that year.

Now Hughes will head back to Barnet, albeit at their new ground The Hive, in the fourth round qualifying replay, on Tuesday night.

"It's the first time I've played against Barnet [since leaving]. It was weird. I've had a club in between," he said.

"It brought back memories more than anything. The last two weeks I've been thinking about it. You move on quickly in football, but it was nice to think about it all.

"It'll be nice to go back there, although I haven't played at the new ground. It's always weird to play against your old side, but I've done it against a few sides. You're a bit more nervous than usual, but we settled into the game okay and I'm looking forward to having another shot at it on Tuesday."

Allen admitted he has a framed photograph of he and Hughes hugging at the end of the Burton game in his house.

"I know the photo he's on about. It was right under the tunnel. I'd chucked my shirt into the crowd. He's a good fella and I've got great memories there," he said.

"He should have got the job that summer we left, but unfortunately they went down. Now he's got it and hopefully he can get them back in the Football League.

"He shook my hand afterwards and gave me another hug, which was good, and we'll be looking forward to Tuesday."

Hughes felt the game against the Vanarama Conference Premier table-toppers lived up to its billing in front of 1,844 people at Melbourne Park.

"It was a real cup game. There wasn't a minute on the ball and it was like a derby. The atmosphere was good, it was end to end," he said.

"We noticed, and we said it in the changing room afterwards, that you can't switch off for a second. That's the Conference level. You go and attack and the next second you're running back."

He added: "Both teams were trying to play off their big men, and both those big men were getting joy. It's about getting on to that second ball.

"It settled down in the second half and we got that injury to Mark Haines, which disrupted us a bit. Marvin [Ekpiteta] came in and steadied the ship and in the end we were the ones probably seeing it out and we'll go again on Tuesday."

The experienced central midfielder admitted that despite being proud of his team, he felt the Clarets could have won the game on the day.

"I'm disappointed in a way. I felt today was a chance to get one over on a good side, one of my old teams, so we are disappointed. But our away form is really good and the way we play will probably suit that game," said Hughes.

"We won't be fazed by going there because we've been to some big places in this league at the top end of the table and we've gone there and won."

Hughes also had praise for City's on-loan Rotherham United goalkeeper Tony Thompson, and believes he's another talented youngster among the young side at Chelmsford.

"He's a solid lad. He's not the tallest, but he's built really well. He kicks the ball well. He's young, we've got a lot of youngsters and they don't know when they're beaten," he explained.

"It's good for us and we're on a really good run. We just need to keep that going and see where it takes us. We'll see the draw on Monday and it'll be the same as last time where we know who we've got. It's that carrot dangling in front of us before we going into it, so it's even more motivation."

Monday brings the draw for the first round proper of the FA Cup and City and Barnet will both find out who they could face if they triumph the following day, with the prospect of playing a Sky Bet League One or Two side.

"Another old side, Oldham, would be nice. Someone like that," said Hughes. "It's been a funny old year, so maybe another team like that that I've played for or against. A Football League side would be nice, but it's a massive task on Tuesday.

"Our away form is good, so we'll be confident. The pressure is on them and we'll see how we get on."

Simon Cowell was given an unexpected offer from an X Factor contestant during tonight's live show.

Colchester's Stevi Richie invited mentor Simon Cowell to come on a night out in his home county of Essex.

After his performance of title song from Kevin Bacon fllm, Foot Loose, the crooner offered to show the pop supremo around the town along with Louis Tomlinson of One Direction.

"Can we go to a Harvester? I like that," replied Simon.

"Yeah I'll show you all the top places," said Stevi, who was critised by many of the judges for his singing ability.

Louis Walsh was first to lay into the check-shirt wearing 33-year-old: "You've had a good time on the show, but it's time to go home."

"My God you have fun up there," said Mel B, "but that's it".

Later in the show Stereo Kicks came on after a turbulent week and performed an a cappella version of two Beatles songs, Let It Be and Hey Jude.

Prior to the show there were rumours the eight-piece boyband, mentored by Louis Walsh, were going to lose two members after he was agitated about the amount of lads in the group.

After their song Cheryl Fernandez-Versini said of the Bicknacre 18-year-old, James Graham, "your voice is really beautiful" .

"The best decision of your lives was not to listen to Louis, but to listen to yourselves and it really worked," said Simon as he launched an attack of fellow judge Louis for the way he handed the band's preparations.

"What you did as a mentor was disgraceful, anytime you want to leave Louis and join me I'll mentor you," he added.

"Maybe I shouldn't have said that, but you know it really worked," said Louis.

THIS striking image of orang-utan Rajang has led to its student photographer being awarded a national photography prize.

Sarah Kilshaw, 18, a conservation student at Writtle College, came top place in both the 'Last Chance to See?' and 'Judge's Choice' categories in the Zoological Society of London Animal Photography Prize 2014.

Her black and white shot will now appear on merchandise, and in an exhibition at London Zoo.

Sarah said: "When I took the image I was on an environmental studies school trip with my sixth form but I was able to do quite a lot of photography in between going to seminars.

"Once I'd got to the orangutan enclosure I couldn't help but smile as Rajang was where he always is – looking out and connecting with the young people on the other side of the glass."

MALDON residents attended a Question Time-style event to quiz NHS bosses and vent their frustrations over plans for a new hospital.

More than 150 people crammed into the Plume School hall to hear from six distinguished guests representing different strands of the NHS, Maldon District Council and the National Health Action (NHA) party.

These included Louise Irvine from the NHA, Mid Essex Hospitals Trust chief executive Paul Forden, and interim chairman of the Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (MECCG), Dr Bryan Spencer.

Much of the debate centred on plans to bring a new hospital to the district, with a planning application for a new health facility and 320 homes at Maldon Hall Farm to be submitted by Kensington & Edinburgh Estates imminently.

The meeting was organised by the Blackwater Patient Participation Group (BPPG), and former Maldon town councillor Tom Kelly, 73, was pleased with the turnout.

"The number of people who turned up shows that the Maldon district has a real appetite for more information about their local NHS service," said Mr Kelly, a member of the patient group.

"There was a lot of frustration in the room. People want to know when the hospital will arrive and who will own the site. They understand the severity of the need for a new facility here in Maldon."

The BPPG aims to help patients easily understand the NHS and how recent reforms affect the area, while providing a forum to air opinions.

During the evening a number of topics were discussed, including the number of hospital beds with a rising elderly population, the new ambulances provided to the district, and issues with the area's GP surgeries.

Other guests included Maldon District Council chairman Bob Boyce, deputy CEO of the East of England Ambulance Service, Rob Ashford, and Ian Stidston, director of commissioning at NHS England.

Cllr Boyce confirmed at the meeting that Maldon District Council is considering investing in a new community hospital if services can be guaranteed at a new site.

Mr Kelly added: "People are wary of a private company owning the building after a number of bad experiences with PFI agreements.

"And I think people were shocked at just how little cohesion there is between the various NHS departments.

"It's encouraging that the council is considering investing, and now the NHS needs to decide what it wants from a suitable centre."

After more than a decade of delays and frustration a new hospital looked on the cards after a renewed emphasis on collaborative efforts between Maldon District Council and the Mid-Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (MECCG) were agreed at the end of 2013.

But little has materialised and in August tempers flared at a district council overview and scrutiny meeting that tackled the subject.

Diego Costa is expected to play some part in Chelsea's trip to Old Trafford, despite Jose Mourinho's insistence that he is suffering from recurrent hamstring problems and a virus.

Manchester United have worries over Radamel Falcao's fitness and Wayne Rooney is suspended. Michael Carrick is also reportedly due to start the game.

A win for the hosts could see them edge into fifth place, replacing Arsenal, while victory for Chelsea would put them six points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

The match also represents a clash between two coaches who notably worked together at Barcelona for three years. Louis van Gaal has described his former assistant as a substitute coach. 

Last season Chelsea came away from Old Trafford with a creditable 0-0 draw after Mourinho opted to play with a largely defensive set-up - although that was before Manchester City and Liverpool thrashed the former Premier League champions.

Manchester United vs Chelsea is live on Sky Sports 1 from 3.30pm. Kick off is at 4pm

Ed Sheeran and One Republic are the star guests on tonight's X Factor results show.

Last night's main show, which saw the performers belt out tracks made famous in Hollywood films, was less eventful than last week. Judge Mel B apologised to singer Fleur East after accusing her of cheating by using backing singers.

She performed Labelle's hit track, Lady Marmalade to a rapturous reception from all judges and the audience.

Also impressive were Ramsden Heath's Lauren Platt, with her version of Frozen, and Stereo Kicks, who after a turbulent week, came on and performed an a cappella version of two Beatles songs, Let It Be and Hey Jude.

But Colchester's Stevi Ritchie may be vulnerable after his rendition of Footloose failed to impress the judges, with even his own mentor Simon Cowell unmoved by the offer of a night out in Essex

"My God you have fun up there," said Mel B, "but that's it", while Louis Walsh added: "You've had a good time on the show, but it's time to go home."

The X Factor results are on ITV tonight from 8pm

A 10-YEAR-OLD girl from Writtle Junior School has raised more than £210 for Farleigh Hospice's bereavement service as a thank you for the help they gave her family after her grandfather died.

Eden Baldock attended a session with Farleigh's Yo Yo bereavement service for young people, and afterwards asked the hospice if she could take a charity collection pot to school to raise money for the service.

But head teacher Nick Taylor went one step further and organised a non-uniform day, without telling Eden and her family that the proceeds would be going towards Farleigh's bereavement service.

"The school sent letters home to parents telling them what was going on, but we just thought it was a non-uniform day," explained Eden's mum Leah Perry, 34.

"We were really touched, especially my mum. My dad would have been so proud of her, he was very close to my children, and they went to see him when he was ill in hospital with stomach cancer. But he absolutely wouldn't expect anything less of Eden; she is just one of those children who wants to help people."

All 212 students at Writtle Junior School took part in the non-uniform day, raising just over £212 for the charity, while many other students at the school have also made use of Farleigh's Yo Yo team.

"I always wanted to help them because they always help other people, and give them support when they need it," said Eden.

"I never thought I would get so much money, I hoped I would maybe raise £50."

A cheque for the money raised was presented by Eden to Farleigh Hospice's community fundraising manager, Christine Hogben, at a special school assembly.

"The service provides someone for kids to talk to, and we also do craft work, which can help them open up. It's just so lovely that children want to give something back," Ms Hogben said.

"We have been running the Yo Yo service since 2006, before then it was a bit taboo to talk to children about bereavement."

The service supports children, aged four to 18, who are facing a loss or have been bereaved, and also offers information and support to people working with children dealing with these issues.

Mr Taylor added: "It is absolutely incredible that she has raised the money, and she is a credit to the whole school community."

A police investigation is under way after two men broke into a house in Chelmsford before assaulting the occupant.

Officers were called to the property in Shrublands Close to reports the assailants had burst into the home and carried out the attack at around 8.30pm on Thursday (October 23). The pair left empty handed.

The victim was taken to hospital for treatment for minor stab wounds to the leg.

Essex Police said a search of the area then took place but no trace of the suspects was found. Passers-by said the house remained a crime scene on Thursday evening and into Friday.

Enquiries are still ongoing.

ESSEX comedian Russell Brand has been linked with a run at becoming the next London Mayor.

The Grays-born actor and author has reportedly told close friends he wants to succeed incumbent Boris Johnson in 2016.  

According to the Mail On Sunday, Brand would be contesting the position as an independent candidate on an "anti-politics ticket".

The rumours come as his new book, Revolution, is hitting the shelves and the Get Him To The Greek star tours the chat show circuit explaining his anti-establishment stance on politics.

He has often stated he has never voted and sees it as a waste of time because "there is no-one worth voting for".

In the book he describes how he believes people should live in collectives, get rid of the Monarchy, ban fracking and overhaul the capitalist economy.

If he did stand in 2016 it would be a remarkable turnaround to a position of engaging with a system he considers undemocratic.

When asked about the rumours a spokesman for Brand refused to confirm or deny the speculation.

Other potential rivals to the capital's top job could include former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, West Ham vice-chair Karen Brady, LBC presenter Nick Ferrari, or Olympic organiser and ex-athlete Lord Coe.

An Essex toddler has been entered into a beauty pageant where she dances to Beyonce's tracks and blows kisses to the crowd.

Bobbi Boyden, 19 months old from Colchester, has only been able to walk for five months but is already wears make up, nail vanish, lip stick and a blond wig as she struts her stuff on stage.

Her mother, Stephanie, describes her as a "diva" who like o dance and often throws tantrums.

Bobbi, 32, entered her first pageant in June, alongside sisters Eleanor, 10, and Demi, eight, and she has already won a string of prizes.

Her mother has already spent £5,000 in three months on fancy dresses and entry fees into various competitions with one dress she only wore it twice before she grew out of it costing $200.

She said: "You can't put a price on the look on her face when she's on stage in her costumes.

"I know some people think it's inappropriate but all of the judges are checked out and given police checks and I wouldn't put her in any danger.

"The crowd are parents and family members - you can't just wander in off the street. There are people who say that pageants sexualise children but I couldn't disagree more.

"It's exactly the same as a dance competition except the kids win crowns instead of medals at the end."

FIVE youths arrested for drug offences and stealing a car after a two-car crash in Witham on Friday have been bailed by police.

A police helicopter was scrambled at around 8pm and ground cars were on the scene at 7.45pm on Friday night after the collision in Powers Hall End.

The police helicopter was used to help track down a 22-year-old man and an 18-year-old man from the town who had fled from the Saxo after the crash.

A 22-year-old man and an 18-year-old man from Witham have been bailed pending further enquiries until Saturday, December 13.

A 16-year-old boy from Chelmsford, an 18-year-old man from Chelmsford, two 15-year-old girls from Maldon and a 19-year-old man from Haringey have been bailed pending further enquiries until Monday, December 15.

A ROAD rage incident in Braintree saw a van driver threaten a traffic warden who asked him to move.

The warden asked the driver of a white Ford Transit van to move from the restricted parking area in the town's Great Square.

The driver refused to move, shouted and swore at him and then threatened to assault the traffic warden before driving off.

Officers would like to speak to any witnesses the traffic warden being threatened by a motorist at around 11.30am on Tuesday, October 21.

Anybody that can help is asked to contact PC Kristie Dawson at Braintree on 101.

A PASSENGER plane was just 75ft from colliding with an unmanned drone "buzzing" over the Essex skies.

The turbo-prop plane, which can hold up to 74 people, was coming into land at 1,500ft into Southend Airport when the pilot spotted the remote-controlled quadcopter "very close" to the right wing-tip.

The pilot told the control tower at Southend Airport he saw a black and red "remote-control helicopter with a very small engine" that was "too close" to the ATR72 twin-engine airliner.

An investigation launched by the UK Airprox Board into the incident that is believed to be the first ever near-miss between a passenger plane and a drone in the UK.

UK Airprox Board report, said: "The board were content that the AT72 pilot had clearly seen the quadcopter but, unfortunately, there was too little information available to make a meaningful analysis of the occurrence or to accurately assess the risk.

"Members were disappointed that someone would fly a quadcopter so high on the extended approach path to an airport, and that no had come forward to help with the analysis.

"It was unanimously agreed by the board that the cause of the Airprox was that the quadcopter was flown close enough to the ATR72 to cause its pilot concern; because there was too little information to assess the degree of risk accurately, it was graded as D."

A "D" rating means the risk of the collision was still high.

Cheap drones can cost as little as £225 and security experts warn terrorists could use them to launch attacks.

British pilots want stricter rules on who flies unmanned drones that could also be used to carry cargo over UK airspace.

STEREO Kicks made it through to the next round of X Factor after getting voted back by the public.

The eight-piece boyband were in a precarious position after last week's live show when they were heavily criticised by the judges and mentor Louis Walsh even toyed with the idea of getting rid of two members.

But after their show-stopping a capella mash-up of Let It Be and Hey Jude by the Beatles wowed the viewers and saw them safely into next week's show.

After their performance last night Cheryl Fernandez-Versini said James Graham's voice was "absolutely beautiful".

The Bicknacre teenager will be back with his seven bandmates next week as the ITV show continues.

CONCERNS continue to surround an NHS referral system in which Braintree residents are sent nearly 10 miles away for routine medical treatment, rather than to the community facility in the town.

Fears that the NHS's Central Referral System was jeopardising the future of Braintree Community Hospital had first been voiced during a discussion in the Town Hall in February this year.

Many residents and politicians grilled guest speakers, including GPs and Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) administrators, on why the practice, by which patients are sent to Broomfield Hospital for routine treatment, was being allowed to continue.

And on October 14 Friends of Braintree Community Hospital held its fourth public meeting where patients had the opportunity to raise these issues again.

Professor Chris Green, chairman of the Friends, whose trustees met on Tuesday to decide their next move, said: "There's not been anything like this meeting in Essex before.

"It was a very frank but good-tempered meeting and residents got the chance to ask questions they wouldn't normally be able to ask.

"One of the recurring answers from speakers was 'we have got no money', which does raise the question: what can the NHS do?

"It's a national issue but one thing that was raised by a GP was that the old style of family doctor is a thing of the past. There is a lot of box-ticking now and there are managers on huge salaries when that money could be spent on services."

Fears around the future of the community hospital, based on Chadwick Drive, began after private firm Serco backed out of a four-year contract to run the facility in December 2013, citing a lack of patients as the reason.

Management for the hospital has now returned to the Mid Essex Hospitals Trust but concerns as to how it is run have continued.

Five guest speakers were at the discussion of these worries on Tuesday, including Bryan Spencer, deputy chairman of Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group, Peter Mayo, GP at the Blandford Medical Centre in Braintree, Linda Cutts, practice manager at Freshwell Health Centre in Finchingfield, Paula Williams, chief pharmacist of NHS Mid Essex, and Ian Stidston, director of commissioning at NHS England in Essex.

The Friends also plan to invite each parliamentary candidate to answer questions from the public about whether the NHS is safe in their hands at a date nearer to the 2015 general election.

"Given the turbulence in this constituency after Brooks Newmark's standing down, that is going to be an important issue," said Professor Green.

He added: "The referral system is still a massive issue and we need to know what is happening."

NEARLY a third of children are growing up in poverty-stricken families in some parts of mid-Essex, according to figures released this month.

The data from the End Child Poverty campaign, shows in the worst-hit areas the proportion of youngsters living below the poverty line, calculated as 60 per cent of the average income after housing costs, is as high as 29.12 per cent in the Marconi ward in Chelmsford, 29.26 per cent in Bocking South, and 27.61 per cent in East Maldon.

For some of those working on the frontline to provide emergency help to families unable to feed their babies and children, the figures come as no surprise.

Sue Bell, founder of Chelmsford-based charity Kids Inspire, which was able to purchase gifts for 250 children in poverty in the city last year thanks to their annual Christmas Appeal, said: "We have children who complain about being hungry, a lot of families who find it really, really hard to feed them.

"We provide a holistic service and so you become aware of things like children who have got no clothes or bed linen, we had one child, a 14-year-old girl, who had never, ever purchased her own bra.

"It impacts on their learning because if they're hungry, or cold, or thirsty it in turn affects their self-esteem, and their capacity to engage in activities."

Indeed in a report entitled 'Child Poverty in Essex', published in May this year, it was found that for the 49,020 children growing up in a low income household, there is a direct correlation with poor early vocabulary skills, lower achievements at school, and ultimately lower future earnings, as well as health issues such as stress and diabetes.

Yet, as highlighted in the Essex County Council-commissioned report, a paid job no longer guarantees an escape from poverty, with more than half of those children – 61 per cent – having parents in employment.

Cllr Dick Madden, cabinet member for children and families, told the Chronicle: "When you talk about low wages it's all about education of the parents, or guardians, of the children. If you can improve their skills and move them onto a more qualified role then the impact of that is felt on their children.

"Poverty costs emotionally, physically and financially, and while working for a low income may underpin it, there are also other areas that are engaged including health, education and isolation."

The growing levels of deprivation in some areas have been felt keenly by those volunteering at one of the many food banks across the county, with Chelmsford Foodbank operating four distribution centres across the city and predicting to supply food parcels to 1,000 children in 12 months, by the end of 2014, an increase of almost a third compared with 2013.

Volunteer Clive Pickett said: "I would say almost a third of everyone that comes in has a family, in most cases there are problems with benefits, family break-ups, or a low income.

"They open up and talk to us because we're not judgemental, they often tell us the story of why they are in the plight they're in. Food banks have become part of the social benefit structure."

Another recurring theme among those parents struggling to make ends meet is debt, with one in five households on an income of less than £13,500 per year, spending more than 30 per cent of their weekly income on repaying debts.

It's a situation that has left Chelmsford Citizen's Advice Bureau forced to establish a dedicated money advice team.

"The amount of debt appointments we have experienced in the last 12 months has increased," said operations manager Elaine Maguire.

"We have just gone through a recession where people have lost jobs, so people have had a change in circumstances, and even if they have managed to get a new one it might not be as good a salary, or they might have had a relationship break down and go into depression, and poverty just leads to more debt.

"We provide full debt advice and try to get finances into a state where they can see the way out."

Following the publication of a national Child Poverty Strategy in March this year, many regional authorities have sought to follow suit with more localised plans, which was what prompted Essex County Council to commission its own report. As a result it has now recommended the development of a Child Poverty Charter for the county, due to be presented at full council by December this year, and expected to include measures to help match people's skills more closely with the needs of local businesses.

Plans are already underway in some parts of mid-Essex to combat the wider social changes responsible for an increase in deprivation, with Maldon District Council moving forward on its proposals to regenerate the coastal tourist economy in the Dengie Peninsula, the 'Dengie Gateway Project', to mitigate the loss of a further 1,000 jobs at Bradwell power station by 2015.

The community of Southminster, where the loss of the major employer is most sorely felt, has 24.72 per cent of its children living in poverty according to the new data – one of the worst records across the district.

Rev Dr Jon Morgan, minister of the United Reformed Church in Southminster and Burnham, which runs a food bank in both towns, said: "We're beginning to work with the Parish Council and the District Council with their plans," he said.

"We want to see how we can be a partner because we are much aware that the character of Southminster has changed since the loss of labour for Bradwell station. There is a complete generation of people who feel quite trapped in the Dengie Peninsula because there isn't any industry left."

And in the Braintree district, where 29.26 per cent of children are living in poverty in the Bocking South ward, members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee have ordered a review into poverty, the perceptions of it, and what can be done to combat it, with residents being asked to fill out a survey available on the council's website, and the full report expected by May next year.

"It seemed to be the kind of subject that a caring council would seek to look at, and enquire into. The idea is that there may be something out of the findings that the council is able to do to ease the problems," said committee chairman Cllr Dr Robert Evans.

Yet Jude Deakin, Essex County Councillor and City Councillor for the Marconi ward in Chelmsford – which has the worst levels of child poverty in the city – feels that effective change cannot only come from local measures.

The Liberal Democrat councillor said: "I'm not entirely sure that as a local councillor I'm able to do very much about it at all, I think we have to look to national government.

"I know my party fought very hard to get the extra levels of £10,000 income before tax brought in and that needs to increase so that the young people and families that are out working but on a very low wage have an opportunity to have a bit more money to spend."

A BAN on parents taking their children out school during term time could be relaxed under new guidelines issued to head teachers.

The plans, drawn up by heads and backed by new Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, will allow children to attend special occasions such as family weddings, religious events and funerals, visit an ill relative as well as deal with personal loss or tragedy.

The previous guidelines drawn up by Michael Gove stopped schools from granting 10 days holiday per year in special circumstances.

This led to a string of incidents in which parents were fined £60 if they took their child out of classes for an unauthorised absence.

One of the most high profile cases was that of JP Morgan banker, James Haymore and his wife Dana, who took their 11-year-old son Toby out of Chancellor Park Primary School, Chelmsford,to attend a memorial service in California, when his attendance was already around 87 per cent.

The couple pleaded not guilty at a Colchester Magistrates Court hearing in July and were prepared to continue the legal fight until Essex County Council dropped the case in September.

A spokesman for the Department of Education, said: "The NAHT is clear that they firmly support the current policy and term-time holidays should only be granted in exceptional circumstance.

"There are no plans at all to change the policy and no u-turn. Headteachers have always been able to decide what exceptional circumstances are, but if they find that the NAHT's guidance assists them in making this judgement then we welcome that."

It looks like the half term week will remain mostly dry and mild with only minimal rain predicted on Wednesday in most of Essex.

Forecasters predict a dry start to the week with lengthy spells of warm sunshine and a southerly breeze developing.

On Monday the maximum temperature of 19 degrees is expected during the day that will drop to around 10 degrees with clear skies as night falls.

The dry forecast should continue into Tuesday, but then rain is predicted on Wednesday in Chelmsford and parts of the east of the county.

Cloud will increase with a north-west wind bringing rain overnight into Wednesday.

The rain is expected to clear up on Thursday and remain dry and mild on Friday, becoming brighter in the afternoon.

The FA Cup draw takes place on a Monday evening for the first time after the BBC regained the rights to the famous competition.

The broadcaster is taking the event on the road, with the first to take place at the National Football Centre in St George's Park.

Mark Chapman will host the event, with Phil Neville and Tammy Shape drawing the balls. Ties will be played over the weekend of November 7 -10.

Eighty teams, including Chelmsford City, await their fate, as they are joined by teams from Leagues 1 and 2. The Clarets face Conference side Barnet in the fourth qualifying round draw tomorrow (October 28).

The FA Cup first round draw is live on BBC Two, BBC Radio 5 Live and the BBC website from 7pm today