HEYBRIDGE Swifts boss Cliff Akurang hailed his side's 4-3 win over high-flying Aveley as the best game of his reign.

Swifts returned to Scraley Road for the first time in 2015 and played out a seven-goal thriller to come from behind, with Billy Hunt and Reece Morgan scoring deep into stoppage time

After two straight defeats Heybridge had dropped down the Ryman North table but Akurang admits it was by far the best performance he's seen from his side since taking charge in December.

"I was absolutely delighted just with the way the boys dug in until the end because it seemed it was going away from us but they didn't give up and went right until the end," said Akurang. "I said to them before the game to respect their [Aveley] position in the table and we're at the wrong end of the table, so I emphasised that they shouldn't give up and we saw, for a large portion of the game, why they were at the top.

"They are a really efficient team, but the fact that we stayed in it and made sure that we were a hair's breadth from getting something out of the game meant we were always in with a shout.

"It was definitely my best game since taking charge and it was a rollercoaster of emotions.

"It's a bit of a new team, a few people hadn't played with each other before and they went through everything in one game that you would go through in the season.

"The fact they bonded together was very pleasing because after the game you could see how pleased they were and how happy they were, they've got their mate alongside them that they can trust through thick and thin.

"The positive side for our team is they're young, fearless and they managed to sniff out a bit of blood and went for the kill."

Swifts have only played two games at home since Akurang came in but he is hoping that this win can be a springboard for their season.

"At home I wanted to go out to try to attack and get some goals because we want to make it a bit of a fortress if we can," he said.

"I think every club wants to make their home ground a fortress so the intention was to go out there and get some goals and, with the help of the fans, we put pressure on Aveley and made it awkward for them to come to our ground and play their game.

"The record's not great, but under me we're unbeaten at home and that's something we want to build on and carry on."

This Saturday Swifts host Waltham Abbey, kick-off 3pm.

CHELMSFORD CITY manager Mark Hawkes admits it will be a challenge to freshen up his squad in order to keep them in the play-off race.

The Clarets have stumbled in recent weeks, with defeats at Weston-super-Mare and Wealdstone, and seven goals shipped.

The squad looks like it needs a boost before the business end of the season kicks in, but Hawkes is hamstrung by the finances involved.

"I've said all along, it's no secret that our budget isn't the biggest," he said. "When you've got players on contract we don't have a lot of scope for movement, which is why this season we've had to use a lot of loan players and we'll have to continue to do that.

"More worrying for me, or more disappointing, is that we've worked so hard this season to get into this sort of position, which nobody expected before a ball was kicked.

"We've worked hard and I don't want to stop there. I want to push this club on one step.

"If we could finish in the play-offs it would be absolutely brilliant.

"Even if we get beaten in the play-offs, just to get there and compete with some of these teams and some of the budgets they have would be tremendous. But we need to pick up more points."

One player who may not be at the club for the run-in is striker Jaanai Gordon, whose loan from West Ham United runs out before Chelmsford's next game, at home to Whitehawk on January 31.

He has been a valuable asset to City, with five goals in his six appearances and three assists to his name.

However, Gordon has previously indicated in an interview on the Hammers' official website that he may move on to a higher level once this loan ends and Hawkes is unsure what will happen.

"Who knows? He's got a week left on his deal, but unfortunately we haven't got a game next week," he said. "We'll see what happens. Whether Jaanai stays or we look elsewhere, I've got two weeks to sort that out, dwell on this [the Wealdstone defeat], dust ourselves down and go again."

He added: "Again with the league table we've got away with a defeat.

"We're still in the hunt, but not being disrespectful to Wealdstone or any team in the bottom half, we have to come to places like this and take maximum points if you're going to get what you desire at the end of the season.

"If you don't pick up those points on the road and at home then we'll miss out."

MALDON & Tiptree boss Alan Kimble saw reasons to be positive despite seeing his side slump to a 1-0 defeat at AFC Sudbury on Saturday.

The Jammers had gone on a four-game unbeaten run to lift them further away from the Ryman North drop zone but a goal early on from Ryan Henshaw gave Maldon their first defeat of 2015.

Despite coming away with nothing, Kimble was encouraged by how his team played against a side fighting for the play-off places.

"They won but we matched them, I'd say we should have got something out of the game but I was pleased with the performance," said Kimble. "We had chances to get something out of the game and on another day, with a bit of luck, we would have got a goal but I was encouraged by what I saw Saturday.

"We took the game to them, especially in the second half on a very difficult pitch and we passed the ball around at times very well. I was pleased with everyone who played.

"The only minus side of it was the result but if we can continue to play the way we have done then there's no reason why we shouldn't climb up the table."

The club's recent signings showed promise and Kimble will soon have an almost fully-fit squad available.

"I started our new goalkeeper on Saturday, Darren Behcet, and I think I've got the best goalkeeper in the league, with no disrespect to Lewis [Moore] or Tom [Warren]," the boss said.

"That was the area I was mainly concerned with strengthening when I first walked through the door and I've managed to get my number one target, which is fantastic.

"I've added one more player to the squad, Phil Anderson [defender signed on dual registration from Bishop's Stortford] and I'm done and dusted now for the season, which will take me up to 24 players – more than enough to take us up the table – and I'm very glad I got him.

"He's a very good coup, he's played 15 games in the Conference South and he knows this level well.

"I've got Gavin [Greenfield], who should be coming back in the next week or so, I've got Oliver [Devenish] back as well.

"I just wanted to bring in a bit more experience and a bit more size.

"Things are looking quite rosy at the moment with people coming back and they all want to get back in to the side."

This Saturday the Jammers travel to Wroxham.

A DISAPPOINTING field, at least numerically, of five horses will contest the feature race on today's (Thursday) card at Chelmsford City Racecourse.

The Hartford End Fillies' Conditions Stakes is worth £19,000, over a distance of one mile, due off at 7.10pm.

It's a quality race though, with the winner qualifying automatically for the All-Weather Championship races at Lingfield on Good Friday.

Majeyda, who finished sixth in the One Thousand Guineas at Newmarket in May, is the pick on form. She was running on an artificial surface for the first time when finishing a close second over seven furlongs at Wolverhampton the last time she raced, in November, and the extra furlong of this race should suit her.

Likely to give Majeyda the most to do should be Lamar, who won at Wolverhampton last Friday. Overall, her form is not as good as Majeyda's – she ran tenth in the One Thousand Guineas, a length and three quarters behind her rival – but she has more experience of all-weather tracks, including the Polytrack surface.

Trainer Olly Stevens runs two in the 5.40pm, the Mount Maskall Handicap over six furlongs, and seems particularly fond of Burning Blaze, who will come out of stall four.

Stevens said: "He has pretty much become part of our family. He ran a blinder two starts back and seems at his best relaxing behind a strong gallop to strike late."

Burning Blaze is sure to get that, as Stevens' other runner, Lady Brigid, usually goes for the early lead.

However, it was noticeable that in the five and six-furlong races at Chelmsford's first meeting, the winning horses were drawn wide. If the results that day are a sign of things to come, then Viva Verglas – who is drawn 12 of 12 runners, widest of all – must have a cracking chance. He returned to form when second on the Fibresand surface at Southwell on December 27, only failing by a short-head to catch the winner Guishan, who reopposes (drawn six and 6lb worse off at the weights), and Viva Verglas has won on Polytrack before.

It Must Be Faith ran well from the one-stall – next to the inside rail – in the five-furlong handicap here on January 11, won by Zac Brown, running on once he was able to get to the middle of the track after the turn, and is better drawn in eight in the Blasford Hill Handicap (6.10pm) over the same distance.

Here are Roy's Runners

4:40 Virtual reality

5:10 Flashman

5:40 Viva Verglas (nap)

6:10 It Must be Faith

6:40 Gracefilly

7:10 Majeyda (next best)

7:40 Keep Kicking

Ukip's Parliamentary Candidate for Braintree has been announced for the May 2015 General Election as counter-terrorism expert and former Labour councillor, Richard Bingley.

The party were forced to find a new candidate after the death of Essex County Councillor, Gordon Helm, from a stroke on Christmas Eve.

"It's an honour and a privilege to have been chosen. We're all still very upset about the passing of Gordon and we're determined to honour the work and leadership he showed," said Mr Bingley.

"We will campaign to win this seat for Ukip because the people of Braintree need a Ukip MP and we need a strong presence in Parliament to change the way the country is run."

The 39-year-old was unveiled today as the man the party members want to take on Conservative candidate James Cleverly, who won his nomination last week, and Malcolm Fincken of Labour as well as independent candidate Toby Pereira.

The former Thurrock councillor for Labour joined Ukip last year after becoming disillusioned with the party and was chosen to represent Ukip after a vote by party members at the Bocking Arts Theatre on Monday evening.

"This district has some beautiful countryside that is in danger of being concreted over by the massive house building programme from this Government," said Mr Bingley, who lives in Grays, but will be moving to Braintree.

He says he will be campaigning and meeting the people of Braintree to find out what they want from their representative.

"This is a commuter area but has also suffered from massive price hikes and a poor rail service over the years, so I will be campaigning on the injustice of that," he added.

"I believe in a free at the point of access health service, but not an international health service so that should not be available for visitors without insurance."

Richard Bingley has written two books on global terrorism and is a university lecturer on counter-terrorism.

A cat and four kittens narrowly escaped freezing to death after being found in a Sellotaped-up crisp box in Britney Woods Park, Chelmsford.

The kittens, which were discovered in the Walkers crisp box by a dog walker at around 2.30pm last Wednesday (January 15), are just six weeks old, and animal charity the RSPCA is appealing for any information.

RSPCA inspector Marie Hammerton said: "Thankfully this box was found before any harm came to these little animals.

"Leaving kittens as young as this out in the current sub-zero temperatures in such an out of the way place could quite easily have had fatal consequences - they are just too small to be able to survive for long."

The dog walker, who found the animals near the woodlands by the A12 after his dog was drawn to the box, said they were curled up and cold, with just a bit of newspaper to bed down on.

The kittens, two white with black markings and two black with white markings, are now in good health. They have all been named after Spartacus characters from the upcoming film - the mum being Illithya and the kittens Varo, Cruxis, Spartacus and Gannigas.

"It seemed very fitting to name the animals after Spartacus characters. They have already been through a lot in their young lives," Ms Hammerston added.

"We urge anyone with any information about how they came to be dumped in this way to contact us on 0300 123 8018."

MORE THAN 300 mourners gathered at Chelmsford Cathedral on Monday to say a final farewell to a popular teenager "who was always smiling".

The family and friends of Ashley Woolley, who was fatally stabbed in Oaklands Park on December 18, just weeks before his 19th birthday, courageously insisted they wanted the day to be a celebration of his life.

And it was a send-off that did him proud, according to his devastated father Trevor Woolley, 45, of Witham, who said the happy-go-lucky lad "would have loved the attention".

From the moment the Chelmsford College student's coffin was lifted by his brave best friends, brother and father, to the Bob Marley song that closed the service, his parents were determined the day would reflect the person their beloved son was.

Alongside the flowers and Ashley's favourite hat, which adorned his coffin, his family placed a collage of all the tributes left by friends outside Oaklands Park at the front of the cathedral, while some cards and letters from friends travelled with him in the hearse.

"It was Ashley's final journey, and I wanted him to make it with the messages from his friends," Trevor explained.

"I couldn't have asked for a better send-off for him. It was the saddest day of my life, but we had family and friends there, and all the kids I met were so lovely, and were truly sad to say goodbye as well."

As his best friends – Ian Day, Tommy Blay, Asa Butler and William Secker – father Trevor and brother Paul carried him into the service, Ashley's favourite song, Forever Young by Jay-Z, poignantly played out to those who had come to say goodbye – an overwhelming number of whom were teenagers, clearly distraught to be sitting at the funeral of their 18-year-old friend.

Addressing the packed cathedral, his mother Maria, 44, who shared her home Rutland Road home with Ash, spoke of the moment he was born, saying her life had filled with light when he was in it.

efering to a song by her youngest son's favourite singer, Bob Marley, she said: "Three little birds have taken you to heaven Ash. We love you."

Emotional tributes were also read out by the business student's father Trevor and brother Paul, 25, who said: "When I first went to the hospital to see my little brother, I promised myself I would always protect him".

The 18-year-old's best friend Ian Day, 19, who set up a fund for people to donate towards the funeral, spoke of a friend who he had expected to know for the rest of his life.

He said: "I wrote this ahead of time, but I knew when I was writing it that the cathedral would be packed.

"Me and Ashley made so many plans of the goals we were going to achieve together. But we still will, because with Ash by my side I know I can do anything.

"I will achieve our goals for you," he promised his friend.

"I thought me and Ash would grow old together and cause trouble in a retirement home, just like we did when we were kids."

"Make sure you save me a seat up there, right next to you," he added.

The Reverend James Ridge asked that people remember the life Ashley led, rather than the violent way he died, and said he was in a peaceful place where there were "no tears".

Mr Ridge also read two poems, The Dash, by Linda Ellis, and Afterglow, both of which touched on the importance of how a life has been lived, rather than how or when it ended.

Ashley's friend Asa spoke of how deeply missed he is by his close friends and girlfriend Charlotte. He added: "As those of you who knew him well will know, Ash never remembered to close doors.

"Ash, make sure you leave the gates open for us, so we can try to sneak in."

After the service and a private burial at Chelmsford Cemetery, the day continued at the Blue Lion pub in Great Baddow.

Trevor said: "The place was filled with his friends – 18-year-olds, talking, laughing, playing pool. He would have loved it."

THE new landlady of a pub known as "a bit dodgy" says that reputation is a thing of the past following a revamp and her no-nonsense attitude.

Toni Crosbie is now behind the pumps at The King's Head in Great Baddow and following a substantial refurbishment, says she has brought back a country pub feel to proceedings.

"We are getting there, but when something sticks, it sticks," said the 48-year-old, who took over six weeks ago and has been working in pubs in some capacity since she was just 13 years old.

"I actually used to work here as manager, so I started making changes then. I got rid of a lot of people – with me, once you're barred, you're barred. I've got no problem standing in between two guys who are having a disagreement.

"But once I bought the pub, I did a refurbishment and made more changes. I want to bring back that traditional country pub feeling back again."

As well as new décor and a no-nonsense barring policy at the Maldon Road watering hole, Ms Crosbie and her partner Julian Pannent have also brought in a new traditional English food menu, and is working to attract new customers.

"The building is actually 400 years old this year, so I wanted to reflect that in what we did, and go for traditional food," Ms Crosbie, of South Woodham Ferrers, explained.

"We're planning on doing a couple of meals for the older generation – giving them a free lunch so they can see what we do, because so much of it really is word of mouth and since the place did used to have a bad reputation, we want to get people in the doors so they can see what we have done and how much it has changed.

"We've got so much history here.

"There is a bricked-up doorway under the pub that opens out onto tunnels that go all the way to the church.

"At some point I want to take a brick out and see if the tunnels are still there or if they have fallen in."

She is also planning to introduce an open mic night, live bands, karaoke, and a charity quiz night in aid of J's Hospice, as well as a cider festival in the pub garden over the summer months.

Branded cigarette packaging looks set to be outlawed as soon as the middle of next year.

Cigarettes will instead be sold in cardboard boxes from May 2016.

MPs will be asked to vote on the plans after doctors claimed any such move would save thousands of lives.

The proposals took some MPs by surprise when it was announced in Parliament last night.It is likely to attract cross party support

A ban on smoking in pricate cars will also be enforced from October 1.

"Smoking remains one of our most significant public health challenges.

"It is a major cause of cancer, heart and respiratory disease and almost 80,000 people in England alone die every year from ill health caused by smoking.

"It places an enormous strain on the NHS."

Chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies said: "Standardised packaging would be a positive move for public health, particularly the role it could play in helping to prevent the uptake of smoking by children.

"We have seen smoking rates decline, but smoking remains the single biggest cause of preventable mortality.

"We need to keep up our efforts on tobacco control and standardised packaging is an important part of that."

Essex County Council bosses have reiterated calls for a ban on lorries overtaking on the A12 after motorists were caught up in rush hour delays yesterday (January 21).

Two lorries collided shortly before 6.20am near junction 17 (Howe Green), forcing the partial closure of the carriageway.

County Hall is also considering a ban on lorries overtaking on the A130.

County councillor Rodney L. Bass, has called on the Highways Agency to enforce it between 6am and 8pm to prevent a repeat of yesterday's chaos.

He said: "We are disappointed and frustrated that people are being held up and the Essex economy is being damaged by incidents involving lorries and sheer bad driving for which there is no justification.

"We are calling again on the Highways Agency to immediately introduce an overtaking ban on the A12 for lorries between 6am and 8pm.

"The overtaking ban on the M11 between junctions 8 and 9 should be immediately reinstated and lorries should be held to the nearside 2 lanes of the 4 lanes carriageways on the Essex stretch of the M25."

It could be very close to pay day and you are thinking of ways make those pennies go that much further.

Take a peek at these handy money saving offers to enjoy, and to get you through the rest of the month.

Restaurants:

Toby Carvery

Register with Toby Carvery and get a voucher for a free dairy ice cream (usually £2.79) when an adult orders an adult main (£8ish). A child can also get the offer, but they must order a children's main meal and they will get a child portion ice cream.

You can print the voucher or show it on your smartphone. The voucher's good for up to six people, and it's valid at all restaurants Mon-Sat for four weeks after you register your voucher. This is an ongoing promotion.

The Chelmer Tavern, Dukes Lane, Chelmsford, CM2 6AD

Notley, Braintree, Essex, CM77 7AB

Pizza Hut

Enter the code AF111E online at Pizza Hut Delivery* or quote over the phone or at the counter on any Tuesday. It's for both delivery and collection though it's valid on medium and large options only. The offer's ongoing.

5 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 0HR

Unit 11 Chelmer Village Retail Park, Chelmer Village Way, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 6XE

3A Galleys Corner, Braintree Road, Cressing, Braintree, Essex, CM77 8GA

Harvester

You can walk into Harvester on a weekday and treat yourself to a selected main, unlimited salad and soft drink, plus a Sunday Best sundae for £9.99.

Choose between six mains, plus a tea or coffee, or unlimited soft drink. If you fancy something stronger, you can get a pint of Carling or Strongbow or 175ml glass of Vinewood wine (usually around £3) for £1 extra.

Kids can also get in on the action for £5. It includes any children's main meal, unlimited salad and a kids' Sundae Best ice-cream, saving you around 30p to 70p.

The Plough, 306 Springfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 6BA

The Talbot, 275 High Road, North Weald, CM16 6EE

Slug and Lettuce

Kids get a main and a drink from the under-8s menu for £1 (usually £5ish) when an adult dines from the main menu every Sunday at Slug and Lettuce. No voucher's needed, simply walk in. The offer's ongoing.

111 High Street, Colchester, Essex,CO1 1TB

Flaming Grill Pubs

When an adult orders a main meal (£4.50 to £10ish) at any Flaming Grill pub, up to four children (aged 12 or under) can get a 'Build your meal' main from the kids menu for £1 each every Thursday 3 to 7pm. These meals usually cost £2.99 so you're saving £2 per child.

There's no max number of children per table as long as there's one adult per four children - so if there's two adults, up to eight children can eat for £1. Kids can upgrade to a mighty meal for an additional £1 per child, making the meal £2 in total.

It's an ongoing offer that is valid at all Flaming Grill pubs.

Rovers Tye, Ipswich Road, Colchester, Essex, CO4 9BA

Queen B, 6 Waterson Vale, Off Princes Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 9PB

Supermarkets:

Waitrose

Waitrose are offering a free tea or coffee every single day, if you sign up for a loyalty card. This is an ongoing deal, which is why you should click on 'Join myWaitrose now'. If you haven't signed up go on their website now and follow the instructions to start getting free drinks from their self-service machine.

Morrisons

At Morrisons kids under 16 get to eat free from the 'Monty' or 'Just for kids' menu at their very own café. An adult has to order a hot meal for £4 or more from them main menu. The offer is valid from Monday to Friday after 4pm.

Braintree Road, Witham, CM8 2BY

Limebrook Way, Maldon, Essex, CM9 6GG

Rayne Road, Braintree, Essex, CM7 2QP

Fast food:

Subway

Just walk into Subway and get a 6" sub, flatbread or salad and a drink for just £3. Please note that this deal will vary depending on the sub, flat bread and wrap you choose, go in store for more details.

12 New London Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 0SW

102 High Street, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 4AP

5 Manor Street, Braintree, Essex, CM7 3HW

Domino's

You don't need a voucher to get this 2for1 (Tuesday only) offer. Just order over the phone, in-store or from the 'meal deals' section of the website on a Tuesday. It's valid on medium and large pizzas only.

You have up till Sunday, February 1 to order the 'winter survival' deal. Included in the deal is a large pizza, garlic bread, potato wedges and four doughnuts all for the price of £14.99. No voucher is needed, simply ask for the winter survival deal when you order over the phone or by store.

75 Rainsford Lane, Chelmsford, CM1 2QS

196 Coggeshall Road, Braintree, CM7 9EL

3 Century House, North Station Road, Colchester, CO1 1RE

Papa John's

Go online to Papa John's* and get 50% off all pizzas when your order's at least £15 (before discount) until 11.59pm on Sun Feb 1. The discount should be automatically added to your basket when you follow our link, but if not, enter the code AAPJOFF50 at the checkout. Alternatively, go in store to one of 250 Papa John's outlets where the discount should be applied automatically.

Drinks, sides and ice creams are excluded and will not count towards the minimum spend. It also excludes Papa John's branches at motorway service stations, food courts and holiday parks.

15 Bishop Hall Lane, Chelmsford, CM1 1RP

2 Middleborough, Colchester, CO1 1QS

7 Rayne Road, Braintree, CM7 2QA

A schoolgirl was groomed by a man in his 20s on an iPad supplied by her school, it has emerged.

The pupil, who attends Honywood Community Science School in Coggeshall, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sat in class using the taxpayer-funded device as she watched live footage of the man performing a sex act.

She was also reportedly encouraged to visit the toilet in order to make an intimate film of herself.

The girl's teacher was just yards away as the incident happened, prompting the school's head teacher to admit to worried parents that he had let the girl, and her family, down.

Head teacher Simon Mason said: "When families send their youngsters to school, they can reasonably expect that our ability to protect youngsters from those who wish to exploit them is absolute.

"I have let down a family in our community."

The alleged incident came to light after one of the girl's friends told teachers the teenager had been contacting the man, believed to be a suspected paedophile, using Skype. Teachers then informed the girl's parents.

Essex Police are now investigating the reports of pupils being sent indecent images on their school iPads.

A spokesman said: "Officers from the Essex Police Online Investigation team will be talking to school staff and pupils to establish whether further incidents have occurred."

The school spent £500,000 on iPads for each of its 1,200 pupils in May 2011.

Mr Mason added: "We are in contact with the police and will continue to review our safe guarding policies and practices as we look to do all we can to protect our young people from those that look to exploit them."

McDonalds is looking to open a fourth outlet in Chelmsford, in a move which could create 65 jobs.

The fast food giant wants to open a two-storey 160-seater restaurant in the former DHL and Yodel building off Robjohns Road in Widford, near the junction with Westway.

The restaurant would also have a drive-thru facility and "sufficient and accessible parking".

Chelmsford City Council will decide on the application.

What are McDonalds fries made of?

There are already McDonald's restaurants in High Street, Riverside Retail Park and at the Boreham Interchange.

The restaurant would be built on currently vacant warehouses.

The plan says the design will fit with it describes the area's "urban grain".

A MAN has been charged with arson and religiously aggravated criminal damage in connection with fires at a Chelmsford meditation centre and a house in Brentwood.

Stephen Finch, 52, of The Street, Croxton, Norfolk was arrested at his home on Sunday (January 18) by police following investigations into a blaze at The Inner Space meditation centre, in Gloucester Avenue, Chelmsford on Boxing Day.

There was a second fire on Friday at a house in Great Fox Meadow in Kelvedon Hatch, near Brentwood.

Both properties were also damaged with spray paint on October 19.

Mr Finch has been charged with two counts of arson with intent, two counts of religiously aggravated criminal damage and two counts of criminal damage.

He appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Monday (January 19) and was remanded in custody to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on March 30.

ALEX Dowsett has announced that his UCI Hour Record attempt, scheduled for February 27 on the velodrome of London's Lee Valley VeloPark, has been postponed.

The Chelmsford cyclist crashed last Tuesday (January 13) and fractured his collarbone, an injury that required surgery.

Dowsett and his Movistar Team had been hoping that he would recover in time, but they have now announced that there is no chance for Dowsett to be ready. 

"I'm really gutted this has happened," Dowsett told the Team's website. "I've never worked harder for anything and to make this difficult decision with the team and lose this opportunity is a real blow. The positive is that it is a record attempt so we will be attempting it at a later date. 

"I cannot thank Movistar, Canyon, Endura and the rest of the team partners enough for their continued support as well as my family and friends. But most of all I'd like to thank everyone that's supported me with words of encouragement both in training pre-crash and words of support and well wishes post-crash, it really was overwhelming. 

"I'll now recover properly and be back to full fitness for the road season and another crack at the 'perfect hour.'"

Police are renewing their appeal to find an iPad thief after two mystery photos appeared on the victim's iCloud this week.

The snaps of a woman and a child were taken on a device which had been stolen from a house in Oakwood Hill, Loughton on Thursday, January 8.

But unbeknownst to the person who took the pictures, the images appeared on a photo stream used by the rightful owner.

The £400 iPad2 is believed to have been taken when builders left the front door of the victim's property ajar while they were carrying out renovation work between December 15 and December 16 last year.

An appeal for information about the pictures was issued earlier this month but there was no response.

Investigating officer, Pc Leon Rossi, said: "The house owner had no idea the iPad had been taken until she saw the pictures of the unknown woman and child on her iPhone.

"Whoever took the pictures probably had no idea that the victim's iPad, iPhone and computer were all synchronised for photo storage.

"It is possible the pictures were taken by a family who bought the iPad without knowing it had been stolen. We hope that they will come forward to help us with our investigations into the burglary.

"We would also like to hear from anyone who recognises the woman or knows where the picture of the child was taken."

Anyone with information should contact Pc Rossi at Loughton CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. 

A foreign exchange broker has launched a petition campaigning for discount season tickets during the two-month termination of all weekend services on the London Liverpool Street to Norwich train line.

Tristan Barrett, a 33-year-old from Rainsford Road in Chelmsford, asked Abellio Greater Anglia if they'd offer discounts during the period.

Buses will replace all trains between Colchester and Shenfield on the line between Saturday, January 31, and Sunday, March 22 – doubling journey times in the process.

Unperturbed however, the West Ham season ticket holder wrote to HM Government e-petitions who published his request.

Mr Barrett's petition, which asks Greater Anglia to discount weekly and monthly season tickets for those travelling on the line by 29 per cent, has 38 signatures so far.

Mr Barrett said: "I commute as a season ticket holder to watch West Ham FC at Upton Park and I attend music events to DJ in London which means coming back on Sunday so my travel will be disrupted every weekend.

"It just seems a great liberty to be paying the same price for a weekly or monthly season ticket and not getting a full week of undisrupted travel."

Commuters can sign the petition here.

As many as four buses per hour will replace Essex trains over the weekends as part of Network Rail's "robust"contingency plan during engineering works.

Buses will replace all trains between Colchester and Shenfield on the Abellio Greater Anglia line between Saturday, January 31, and Sunday, March 22, and in the process, almost doubling journey times.

Passengers have reacted in fury, including West Ham United season ticket holder Tristan Barrett who has formulated a petition.

Here we break down precisely how weekend commuters in Essex will be able to travel from A to B on the London Liverpool Street to Norwich line on a Saturday.

Colchester

Bus to Billericay – train to London Liverpool Street

First bus London-bound: 3.50am

Last train back from London: 12.18am

Journey length: 1:30-2:12 hours

Four buses running per hour, two per hour on Sundays.

Braintree

Bus to Witham – bus to Billericay – train to London Liverpool Street

First bus London-bound: 6am

Last train back from London: 11.03pm

Journey length: 1:45-1:55 hours

One bus per hour. One per hour Sundays.

Witham

Bus to Billericay – train to London Liverpool Street

First bus London-bound: 4.22am

Last train back from London: 12.18am

Journey length: 1:14-1:46 hours

Four buses running per hour, two on Sunday.

Chelmsford

Bus to Billericay – train to London Liverpool Street

First bus London-bound: 4.52am

Last train back from London: 12.18am

Journey length: 1:04-1:07 hours

Four per hour, two on Sundays.

Ingatestone

Bus to Shenfield – train to London Liverpool Street

First bus London-bound: 5.18am

Last train back from London: 12.18am

Journey length: 40m-49m

One bus per hour Saturdays. One bus per hour Sundays.

WITH their bright plumage and extravagant colours, this pair of ducks have been spotted paddling around a Witham pond, almost 8,000 miles from their native habitat in the Far East.

The Mandarin ducks were spotted by photographer Steve Thomas as he walked along the River Walk near Guithavon Street on Monday.

The HGV driver, of Claudius Way, usually takes snaps of Lambrettas and Vespas, but decided to try to get a picture of the exotic birds.

"I couldn't believe it when I saw them, it's rare to see them in these parts," said the 49-year-old. "They were just swimming happily with all the other ducks.

"I heard they were in the pond and really wanted to get a picture of them, so as it was a sunny day I thought I'd try and get a good picture. Apparently they are only found in China so they might have escaped from a collector.

Decorated with a green and purple crest, orange face and a dazzling red bill, Mandarin ducks are native to east Asia, but are sometimes found in Britain and northern Europe having been introduced in the 20th century.

The ducks can be sometimes be seen in the British countryside because at some point they escaped captivity and continued to breed in the wild.

The two Mandarin ducks pictured appear to be males as they are usually brighter then their female counterparts. They can be seen enjoying the fresh winter water with some of their fellow common ducks.

A MOTHER-OF-TWO and talented youth worker was found at the foot of an oak tree with a cable around her neck, an inquest heard.

Stacey Hansell, 33, of Meadow Road, Rettendon, was found by a friend lying unconscious under the tree and was rushed to hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Senior coroner for Essex Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded an open verdict at the inquest at County Hall, Chelmsford, on Monday, having been unsure whether Miss Hansell intended to kill herself.

On Saturday, June 7, last year, Miss Hansell was having a few drinks in a neighbour's garden when, following a "disagreement", she left with partner Marcus Hook.

She later left to go to another neighbour's house.

Police Inspector David Richards, giving evidence at the hearing, said it was there she spotted a cable, asked the neighbour to leave the house on an errand, before leaving the house herself shortly after.

The neighbour went looking for her and discovered her at the foot of the tree with the cable tied to a branch 7ft up.

He and Mr Hook attempted first aid, but doctors diagnosed brainstem death at Broomfield Hospital at 2.21pm the next day.

Miss Hansell's organs were donated as were her wishes.

A post-mortem examination ruled she died from hanging and toxicology tests revealed there were no significant levels of alcohol or drugs in her body.

"My understanding was this lady was distressed and she, for whatever reason, had run off in an anguished state," said Mr Richards. "She was in possession of a cable and that cable was found wrapped around her neck, and I have no grounds to suspect anyone else's involvement in it."

Miss Hansell, a former pupil of Our Lady Immaculate R C Primary School and St John Payne School in Chelmsford, worked with an estimated 200 youngsters during her five years at Essex County Council.

She worked with children at risk of exclusion from school, while juggling professional qualifications, and was expected to earn a first-class honours degree from the London-based YMCA George Williams College.

Addressing Miss Hansell's family, Mrs Beasley-Murray said: "I am aware she picked up the cable and did what she did, but it does seem ever so impetuous.

"She obviously didn't leave a note and it does seem a very spur-of-the-moment thing, so I'm not sure that she killed herself, so I am not going to record suicide.

"We will never quite know what was going through her mind that evening, so I am going to record an open verdict.

"She clearly had a lot going for her, which makes it so very, very, tragic."