THE search is under way for more lollipop people for a village road crossing.

Tollesbury School, in East Street, is the county's pilot site for the first entirely voluntary school crossing patrol, but parents are still short of volunteers to cover the afternoon shift.

Parent Sarah Case, from Tolleshunt Major, has been campaigning for a crossing at the school since January 2012 and finally got the go-ahead in November. Since then, she has secured the services of one lollipop man.

To promote their cause, Sarah and other parents at the school started a poster competition and the winner was Year 2 pupil Lacey-Mai Rushen.

Mrs Case said: "We had a number of entries, which were all very good, but the teachers chose this one – it will be displayed around the village during the next few days.

"We are now at a stage where we have one volunteer, a parent, who has agreed to do all the morning crossings, but we are desperately seeking one or two more volunteers who will cover the afternoon slots – only 25 minutes each day.

"The first volunteer we have is hoping to have his training very soon and get his uniform and lollipop stick so we can, at least, have the morning crossings covered during the second part of this term.

"It's brilliant to be able to have the patrol at long last.

"It's a huge community effort to get it up and running and it means older children will able to go to school on their own safely."

In the past three years, the Tollesbury School Crossing Supporters' Group has arranged quiz nights, a Valentine's Day Ball, discos, auctions and raffles to raise money in the hope of funding the crossing.

The Chronicle reported in November 2012 the school had been quoted almost £50,000 to create a school crossing, manned by a lollipop person.

But last September Mrs Case met with Essex County Council, which confirmed Tollesbury could be used as a pilot for a voluntary scheme with reduced costs.

The crossing group will still need to pay Essex County Council for background costs including risk assessments, training, uniforms, and Disclosure and Barring Service checks.

For that reason the group is now looking for a company to sponsor the school crossing, hopefully securing about £3,000 a year to help the patrol.

Mrs Case added: "A sponsor would be able to have its company name and logo printed on the crossing patrol jackets and it would also be given some online coverage."

If anyone would like to apply for the volunteer crossing patrol they can contact Tollesbury School on 01621 869242.

Those interested in sponsoring the crossing should contact Sarah Case on sjr.case@hotmail.co.uk

A late John Watson strike ensured Witham went home from Maidstone with a point on Saturday.

Substitute Watson hammered home from close range after a free-kick had not been cleared to secure a share of the spoils - the least the visitors deserved for an industrious display.

Maidstone were not at their best, but looked to be heading for all three points thanks to Jay May's goal right on half-time, but Watson grabbed a deserved leveller just before the end of 90 minutes.

A non-descript first half ended with Maidstone taking the lead right on the whistle.

The Stones had huffed and puffed in the preceding 44 minutes, but three Craig Stone crosses and three Jay May off-target headers apart, there was little to write home about.

Witham on the other hand, looked to capitalise on the lethargy of the hosts with Ryan Charles having a left-foot shot well saved by Lee Worgan.

Worgan then saved well from Jamie Guy on a Witham breakaway and the ball rebounded off Stone and trickled towards goal. Tracking back, Frannie Collin knocked it away before Sonny Miles completed the clearance.

May had already been booked for an innocuous aerial challenge and his afternoon did not look like being a good one.

However, Collin did well on the right hand side and Matt Bodkin's ball eventually found George Porter. He skipped away from a sliding challenge in the box and cut the ball back for May to sidefoot home the opener.

The second half was just as lacklustre as the first, but Maidstone had a lead to hold on to.

Just after the hour mark Maidstone were thankful to keeper Lee Worgan for making a fine stop, diving to his left to palm away a curling Jack Paxman effort after a fine break by Witham.

In the 77th minute it should have been 2-0 when Tom Mills decided to take the initiative, driving forward from halfway and playing in May. He looked to have pushed it too far and keeper Martyn Guest came rushing out, May tried to dink it over him, but it was well saved, although May retained possession.

He rolled back for substitute Ben Greenhalgh, who tried to lob home, it was headed away as far as Porter, who squared for Collin, but he fluffed his lines, scuffing his chance.

If that should have been two, five minutes before the end Greenhalgh had a great chance, when Jack Parkinson flicked a Porter throw to him. He chested into space, but dragged his shot wide.

And they were made to pay for those misses when a free-kick inside the Witham half was pumped into the Stones' box, it was not headed away far enough and substitute John Watson thrashed home from close range.

ESSEX'S Ravi Bopara has been bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL auction.

Sunrisers paid 10 million Indian rupees (£100,000) for the England all-rounder.

The 29-year-old isn't the only Englishman to feature in the squad, with Kevin Pietersen bought for 20 million rupees (£205,000), while England's current One Day captain Eoin Morgan also picked up for the base price of 15 million rupees (£156,000).

There will be another local link to the Sunrisers side as Hanuma Vihari, who scored runs for fun for Hutton Cricket Club in the Essex Cricket League Division One last season, was bought for one million rupees (£10,424).

Vihari averaged 83.92 in his 16 innings for Hutton, scoring 1,007 runs with five 50s and three centuries.

He was second in the batting rankings having scored eight runs less than Fives & Heronians' Mick Perry, but Vihari played six games fewer.

A MUCH improved second half performance that included two well-taken goals ensured Braintree Town returned to winning ways after a four week break from Conference Premier action with a 2-1 victory over Alfreton Town.

"To bounce back in style after a ten day break without a game and no league action for a month is full credit to all the players because this was a resounding all-round team effort," said manager Alan Devonshire. "I felt we should have won by four or five goals because on the day we were far the better side.

"We had a nice balance and shape to the side and fully deserved our win and I think the visitors got off lightly.

"Our new striker Bernard Mensah was out with an injury, winger James Mulley was injured in the warm up with a groin strain and then we lost Jordan Cox after only 18 minutes with a ligament injury.

"But all the players responded in an excellent way and having to bring on early, a not fully fit Sean Marks, who then scored a fantastic headed goal to give us the lead on 62 minutes was a real bonus.

"Sean always gives you everything even when not fully fit and is a great example to the younger players."

Marks, who is due to become a father in the next few days, said his 62 minute goal was a typical training ground routine adding: "I deliberately came in at the back unmarked from Danny Sparkes' left wing corner and had a clear run to head the ball home.

"I'm delighted not only for myself but for all the team because I think we played well, particularly in the second half with more penetration.

"I was unlucky not get a second five minutes from the end with a downward header that the keeper did so well to just stick his foot out to stop in from going in.

"We know we now have three hard away games in the seven days coming up but we know what we are capable of and I'm confident we can get ourselves into the top half of the table."

Devonshire's side are now on 42 points and only eight points off his set target at the start of the season but they will now be without Cox for at least two weeks, however, Mensah should be fit for Saturday's trip to Halifax.

"We're doing okay and are quite happy to now be playing away where we seem to do better this season and we will get that 50 point target,"Devonshire added.

Against the relegation threatened visitors, the Iron were well in charge for most of the game and after a sluggish first half should have scored more than two goals, the second coming from Chez Isaac on 70 minutes courtesy of more good work by Simeon Akinola.

Losing Cox early on was a blow to the Iron - he was stretchered off with a bad leg injury - because he had set up an early chance for Isaac to score only to be ruled out for offside.

Clear-cut opportunities were rare with both defences on top and snuffing out attacks as the game stayed locked in stalemate at half-time.

After the interval the Iron had more purpose to their game and a scramble in the goalmouth was almost diverted into his own net by Alfreton full-back Jordan Keane, but keeper Jason Mooney somehow managed to smother the ball before it crossed the line.

Moving up in attack full-back Mitch Brundle saw his fierce shot parried by Mooney and then cleared by Keane, but it was a brief respite for the visitors.

In the 62nd minute, Braintree won a corner, which was delivered beautifully on to the head of Marks, who unleashed a bullet header that flashed past Mooney, before eight minutes later Isaac turned in Akinola's cross for the all important second.

There was an extra spring in Braintree's step after the goals and they controlled the game from then on to stifle any hopes of an Alfreton comeback.

The Iron should have scored again with Isaac (68) Sparkes (73) and Akinola (82) all wasting chances to complete what should have been a goal rout.

The visitors did give themselves some hope in the third minute of added on time when substitute Anthony Howell prodded the ball in after Iron keeper Nick Hamann had made a great save from Bradley Wood's long-distance strike, but it was too little too late.

Admittedly the visitors were overall a poor side and they should have been reduced to ten men shortly before the interval when striker Karl Hawley raised his fist into the face of Matt Paine as the Iron midfielder was about to take a throw-in but referee Chris Powell, who was close to the incident, failed to do take action, persuading both players to shake hands.

But it didn't spoil the Iron's day and they finished the game well in charge and fully deserved their win and three points.

Braintreee Town: Hamann; Brundle, Massey, Clerima, Habergham; Isaac, Davis, Paine, Sparkes (Maybanks 90); Akinola, Cox (Marks 18). Unused subs: Peters, Pentney.

Attendance 468

The people of Essex are invited to attend next month's Essex Police Challenge.

The Witham event allows residents the chance to have a voice in the debate around the policing of our county.

Nick Alston has created the Essex Police Challenge as part of his role as Police and Crime Commissioner.

He holds the Chief Constable of Essex to account on behalf of the people of Essex and this event will allow the public to directly raise any matters that may concern them.

Six Essex Police Challenge events have already been held, and the next event will take place in Witham on the evening of Thursday, March 12.

The main subjects for the next Essex Police Challenge event will be:

• A countywide Essex Police performance update, with a focus on crime trends in the Braintree district;
• The future of the police property estate, including police stations;
• Child abuse investigations and work underway to address problems which have been uncovered in the North Child Abuse Investigation Team;
• There will also be plenty of time for questions from the public and answers from the Chief Constable and the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Anyone is welcome to attend the Essex Police Challenge event on Thursday March 12, from 7:30pm to 9:30pm at: New Rickstones Academy, Conrad Road, Witham, Essex, CM8 2SD.

Residents can also submit questions for the Essex Police Challenge by writing to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, or emailing EssexPoliceChallenge@essex.pnn.police.uk.

The Essex Police Challenge events are recorded, and a complete video of each meeting is placed on our website, creating a permanent record of this public scrutiny of the Chief Constable:

http://www.essex.pcc.police.uk/essex-police-challenge/

For more details, including how to submit your question by post, call the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner on: 01245 291600 or visit www.essex.pcc.police.uk.

A 19-year-old man from Writtle has been arrested in connection with the armed robbery of a four-figure sum from the Betfred shop in Forest Drive, Chelmsford, last Tuesday.

The man was arrested on Wednesday, February 11, in Writtle on suspicion of robbery and drug offences, and has been released on bail pending further enquires until Wednesday, March 25.

Meanwhile, police have renewed their appeal for witnesses to the crime, which happened at around  5.55 pm on Tuesday, February 10.

A man went into the betting shop and threatened the lone cashier with what appeared to be a gun, stealing a four-figure sum of cash in the process.No one was hurt and the suspect ran away in the direction of Savernake Road.

Investigating officer Pc Dan Smith of Chelmsford CID said: "I would to speak to anyone in the area at that time who may have seen a man, described as white, mid-late 20's, slim build, wearing an Adidas top with stripes on the sleeves and grey jogging bottoms. The area was still quite busy and someone may have seen this man loitering or fleeing the scene."

Anybody with any information or who saw anything suspicious is asked to contact officers at Chelmsford CID on 101. People can also give information to the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via an Anonymous Online Form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

A YOUNG entrepreneur from Little Baddow is resisting the temptation to lead a lavish lifestyle as his fledgling business empire goes global.

Oliver Murphy, 21, still lives at home with his parents 12 months after winning a £50,000 investment from Kelly Hoppen on TV's notorious Dragon's Den for his miracle cure for water-damaged phones.

The Spring Elms Lane resident is now bringing to market the latest creation from his Reviveaphone brand as he branches out to meet demand in the United States, Australia and Japan.

The former Felsted School pupil recently released his newest product, Splash – a water-resistant coating for smartphones – but insists on saving his pennies, despite anticipating a £600,000 turnover this year.

The Reviveaphone managing director said: "It was a very surreal experience being on the show, but our sales figures rocketed from £1,000 each month to £20,000 almost overnight.

"I have just saved all my money. I know that sounds really boring but all my mates are at university and, as they're students, they don't ever have much to spend.

"So if I haven't got my friends around to do fun things with I just decided I'd save it all up until I know what I want to buy."

It is a refreshing perspective on life which reflects the level-headedness of a young man who evidently has a close bond with his family.

His older brother Sam, 24, is the company's business development manager, helping Oliver to grow the tech empire from their Chantry Farm office in Boreham, Chelmsford.

The one slightly extravagant purchase the Reviveaphone owner allowed himself was an Alfa Romeo, but he would be quite happy to trade it all in and return to the Alps for another ski season.

He said: "I worked as a chef in Verbier in 2012, and I loved every minute of it. My plan is to sell the company in about two years and I can see myself returning to the slopes before I start my next project.

"I'm teaching myself to code at the moment and I've got a few website ideas, so I'd like to give that my full attention once I've sold Reviveaphone.

"I think I've become too familiar with being my own boss to work for anyone else now. I enjoy being able to set my own hours as well as having the luxury of working from home when I want."

Oliver reveals that being his own boss has always appealed to him, as even when he was at school he would want to do things differently from everybody else.

It is a characteristic which has served him well in his early years in business, and he admits this would be the one piece of advice he would give to the county's aspiring entrepreneurs.

"Do what you want and don't listen too much to other people," he said.

"No-one will ever want you to succeed as much as you do, so if you have an idea or a dream, just go for it and don't ever take no for an answer."

Oliver's own dad even tried to dissuade him from pursuing his Reviveaphone career, instead suggesting that studying at university may be a better use of his time.

But after he invested £400 of his own money into the business in 2012 and managed to sell his first ten units on Amazon, he really began to enjoy the process.

He said: "At first I never really saw it as a business, it just happened. Me and my brother went to the Boreham boot sale three years ago and didn't manage to sell a single thing.

"People were actually trying to buy our display phone rather than our product, which was frustrating. But we enjoyed what we were doing which is important for all young entrepreneurs."

The Little Baddow resident keeps himself busy playing golf at Three Rivers when he isn't at work, reflecting that it will be difficult to stay away from the addictive world of trading for long.

He said: "I imagine I'll get bored quite quickly if I sell the business in a couple of years, but after this experience I feel so much more confident that I can make a success of a new venture.

"My mum still claims that as she came up with the name for the product that she should get all the credit."

But in the meantime, Oliver has plans to set up a Reviveaphone service for immediate repairs.

The 21-year-old added: "We hope to have a number of maintenance guys who can come to a customer's home and fix the phone within 20 minutes – so watch this space."

Reviveaphone's Splash can be bought from the company's website for £17.99, while the original Reviveaphone repair kit retails at £14.99.

For more information about Oliver's products and how they work, visit www.reviveaphone.com

Two burglars are awaiting sentencing after having admitted breaking in to a house and stealing a high-end Audi car in Witham.

Essex Police were contacted at 12.40am on Thursday February 12 with reports of a break in at a house in Barwell Way in the town.

A silver Audi A8 had been stolen from the driveway of the property and was being driven towards London.

Following a police operation the vehicle was spotted on the A12 and the car was stopped by officers near the Brook Street roundabout in Brentwood resulting in two men being arrested and the recovery of the car.

The defendants, Valerij Salkovskij, 23, and Almantas Glinskas, 26, both of no fixed address, were charged with burglary and appeared at Colchester Magistrates Court on February 13.

They pleaded guilty at the hearing.

The case has been sent to Chelmsford Crown Court for sentencing on a date yet to be fixed.

The teenager accused of murdering an 18-year-old boy in a Chelmsford park pleaded not guilty to the offence at Chelmsford Crown Court this morning (February 16). 

The 17-year-old defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denied murdering Ashley Woolley on Thursday, December 18 in Oaklands Park, Chelmsford. 

Ashley, of Rutland Road, Chelmsford, was on his way to Chelmsford College in Moulsham Street when he was stabbed at around 3.15 pm. 

He was rushed to hospital, but died several hours later.

A trial has been scheduled for Monday, May 18 at Chelmsford Crown Court.

By Richard Brown

ONE set of speed cameras near the Dartford Crossing caught almost 35 drivers every day in 2014, raking in more than £1.2million.

The average speed camera, located on the A282 Trunk Road towards the Queen Elizabeth II bridge, snapped 12,653 over-eager motorists last year, according to figures obtained by the Essex Chronicle in a Freedom of Information request.

Essex Police were unable to say exactly how much money the camera raised in fines, however, given the fixed penalty of £100 per offence, it could be more than £1.2 million.

The information also revealed that the number of drivers caught on the A282 has increased by more than 300 per cent in just three years.

In 2012, 3,048 drivers were caught, rising to 7,600 in 2013.

The total number of offences was more than triple the second-most profitable speed-trap, found on the A127 near Rayleigh, which also featured the worst speeder in Essex in 2014.

One driver was caught travelling at 111 miles per hour in a 50mph zone on the arterial road, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) revealed.

Sarah Sillars, IAM chief executive officer, said: "It is disheartening to say the least that some road users are showing such disregard for the safety of all other road users – pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and other drivers."

The news came as yet more speed cameras arrived in Essex, with the Highways Agency installing traps on the A12 near Kelvedon last Monday.

Highways Agency Project Manager, Martin Oliver, said: "The A12 is a vital route and enforcing the speed limit is part of our commitment to keeping journeys on it safe and reliable for the thousands of drivers who depend on it every day."

To see a list of the county's top 30 speed cameras, click here

By Richard Brown

The Essex Chronicle can reveal the top 30 speed camera locations around Essex where you are most likely to get caught.

Topping the list is the A282 Trunk Road, near the Dartford Crossing, with more than 12,500 motorists caught in 2014 - almost 35 every day.

One speed trap on the A12 in Margaretting comes in at number seven on the list, while Westway's red light camera, and the 30mph speed traps in Waterhouse Lane and Broomfield Road, all in Chelmsford, just miss out on the top ten.

The information was discovered by a Freedom of Information request submitted to Essex Police by the Chronicle.

Revealed: The top 30 speed cameras in Essex in 2014

Location-Number of drivers caught

A282 Trunk Road, Dartford-Thurrock Crossing - 12,653

A127 Southend Arterial Road, Rayleigh - 3,344

A127 Southend Arterial Road, Laindon - 2,691

A127 Southend Arterial Road, Laindon - 2,495

A127 Southend Arterial Road, Leigh-on-Sea (junction with Progress Road) - 1,920

A414 London Road, Harlow - 1,682

A12 Margaretting - 1,587

B1025 Mersea Road, Colchester (junction with Dudley Close) - 1,430

A13 London Road, Benfleet - 1,391

A414 London Road, Harlow - 1,231

M25 J27 to J26 (Anti-clockwise) - 1,171

A1016 Westway, Chelmsford (junction with Robjohns Road) - 662

A120, near Stebbing - 651

A414 Epping Road, Chipping Ongar - 618

A1016 Waterhouse Lane, Chelmsford (near junction with Forest Drive) - 574

B1256 Coggeshall Road, Braintree (east of junction with Bartram Avenue) - 557

A414 Maldon Road, Danbury (near the junction with Gay Bowers Lane) - 507

B1008 Broomfield Road, Chelmsford (near junction with Westfield Avenue) - 485

A1124 Lexden Road (east of Norman Way, Colchester) - 472

A129 Rayleigh Road, Hutton - 467

A1060 Parkway, Chelmsford (junction with Coval Lane) - 459

A1060 Maldon Road, Great Baddow - 432

A112 Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey - 414

A1060, Leaden Roding - 411

A 121 High Road, Loughton (near the junction with Spring Grove) - 390

A13 London Road, Hadleigh (near the junction with Alma Road) - 384

B173 Lambourne Road, Chigwell - 376

B 173 Manor Road, Chigwell (east of junction with Forest Lane) - 374

B1014 Essex Way, Benfleet - 374

A1090 Tank Hill Road, Purfleet - 352

An unsigned rock cat with a 110,00-strong twitter fanbase is to make a personal appearance at High Chelmer Shopping Centre this weekend.

Four-piece act Room 94 are touring HMVs around the county to promote their self-titled new album, and will be in the Chelmsford store from 4-6 pm on Saturday February 21.

The @Room94#hmvLive tour starts today! First stop @hmvbroadmead 11am! Meet the band & get their new album signed pic.twitter.com/7QGkSAmHkv

— hmv (@hmvtweets) February 16, 2015

The band, from Hertfordshire, includes Kieran Lemon, vocals; Dean Lemon, drums and vocals; Sean Lemon, guitar and vocals; and Kit Tanton, bass.

CHELMSFORD City's run of away defeats stretched to four as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Maidenhead United on Saturday.

The Clarets were made to pay for missing a host of chances as the home team recorded their first win in the Conference South since Boxing Day.

Clarets boss Mark Hawkes made two changes to the side that lost the Essex derby at Concord Rangers on Tuesday, with Jaanai Gordon returning to start in place of Leon Redwood and Harry Hickford replacing the suspended Mark Haines.

City almost made the perfect start when on-loan Southend United midfielder, Jack Bridge struck a first time shot from the edge of the area which was well tipped over by home keeper Ashley Timms.

However, much like at Concord, after having the early play City went behind to another moment new keeper Tom Lovelock will want to forget.

The shot-stopper, who was credited with an own goal on Tuesday night, saw a speculative shot from Eddie Hutchinson nip up off the pitch and bounce off his chest falling perfectly into the path of Tashan Adeyinka to stroke home the opener after just 10 minutes.

City hit back as Joe Ward beat his man before seeing his effort blocked by Leon Solomon, he then lifted his next attempt over the crossbar after receiving a low ball from Gordon.

Soon after Michael Cheek should have done better after Gordon was played in. The latter was sandwiched between two defenders and the ball squirmed out into the path of Cheek who could only hit it straight at Timms for a comfortable save.

As half-time approached Lee Sawyer had the best chance for City to equalise when his charge through the middle was picked out by Bridge, but the midfielder couldn't beat Timms one-on-one.

The second half was more of the same from the visitors who were getting into dangerous area on numerous occasions getting into dangerous areas, but couldn't get a shot away or found their effort blocked.

Ward was guilty of not pulling the trigger early enough after he wormed his way into the area early in the second period, and Bridge's superb low cross seconds later was unfortunate not to find someone to tap home.

Cheek flashed a shot harmlessly wide after reacting quickest to a blocked shot by substitute, Sam Gregory and the latter then saw an even better opportunity on goal once blocked moments later, with Soloman proving a difficult man to pass.

Despite the pressure, it wasn't until over halfway through the second period before Timms was tested again and having thwarted Bridge early in the first half, he did it again, this time parrying another first time effort.

But having missed chance after chance, there was almost an inevitability about Maidenhead's second coming with just over quarter of an hour left when Dave Tarpey doubled the home side's lead.

Having been at fault for the first goal, there was little Lovelock could do about this one saving Danny Green's initial effort with his feet, only to see Tarpey come in and beat Rob Girdlestone to head into the unguarded net.

City failed to stage any sort of a comeback as the sucker-punch of the second goal had knocked the wind out of their sails of the visitors.

Chelmsford City: Lovelock, Girdlestone (Rohdell Gordon 78), Hickford, Mambo, Toner, Ward, Hughes, Sawyer, Bridge, Cheek, Jaanai Gordon (Gregory 58). Unusd subs: Redwood, Morgan, Maher. 

The magic of the cup continues tonight (February, 16) as England manager Roy Hodgson makes the draw for the sixth round of The FA Cup.

The draw will take place at Deepdale, the home of Preston North End, ahead of their fifth round tie with Manchester United this evening.

Hodgson will be helped by Brian Finney, the son of Preston North End legend Sir Tom Finney, as they begin proceedings live at 7.30pm on BBC One.

Sir Tom made over 430 appearances for Preston, and won 76 England caps, and this weekend marks the first anniversary his death.

The draw can also be viewed at TheFA.com. Live updates will be tweeted via the FA's twitter account, @FA.

With the draw reaching the quarter-final stage, just four ties will be drawn out of the velvet bag. The ball numbers to look out for are:

1 Liverpool

2 Arsenal

3 Aston Villa

4 West Bromwich Albion

5 Bradford City

6 Blackburn Rovers

7 Reading

8 Preston North End or Manchester United

Her Royal Highness Princess Anne is visiting Treetops, a residential care home in Colchester on Tuesday, March 31.

Treetops is a high dependency centre which provides 24 hour nursing and personal care for mainly younger residents, and is run by the national disability charity Livability.

Princess Anne launched her support of Livability's Home Design Appeal in April 2014, which aims to provide high quality homes for disabled people allowing them to live their lives to the full.

As part of the royal visit the Princess will meet a resident whose living situation has improved and how the appeal has transformed people's lives.

There will be a chance to see the results of the local and volunteer group fundraising, which includes a £10,000 sensory room and £8,000 for new physiotherapy equipment.

Also in attendance will be Livability's Chief Executive Dave Webber, and Senior Vice President and Trustee, Baroness Valerie Howarth (OBE).

A 17-year-old from East Hanningfield was attacked today by two men wielding a machete, during a driving lesson with his 22-year-old brother.

Archie Kirkwood, 17, was driving along Leighams Road at around 1.30 pm, supervised by his older brother Angus, when a small commercial van followed the pair, flashing its lights and beeping, the boys' father David Kirkwood told the Chronicle.

The boys stopped the car, and were attacked by the two men, who pulled a machete from the van, Mr Kirkwood said.

"My sons were attacked with a machete," he explained. "It was a hideous incident and fortunately they weren't badly hurt. One man hit my son Angus on the head and the body with a machete, but luckily he was inept at using it and Angus wasn't badly injured."

"It's almost staggering that they weren't killed. Fortunately there were no serious injuries, but that is just their good fortune. Archie was punched in the face several times by one of the men and Angus was hit in the head with a machete.

"We are all in shock, it just seems so surreal. They were just driving along a country road. It's just the most bizarre thing to have happened that these men have gone to their van and intimidated these boys and launched an attack with a machete."

Police remain at the scene of the attack today, and anyone with any information is asked to contact Essex Police on 101.

A FORMER Royal Marines Commando fighting life-threatening mouth cancer has powered through his 10km charity run to raise £6,000.

Jonathon Scott, 50, of Windley Tye, Chelmsford, crossed the London Winter Run finish-line with 11 Broomfield Hospital staff to cheers from friends and family.

And the father-of-three, unable to speak after surgery and breathing through a hole in his neck, is already training for a second 10km superhero-themed run in May.

He said: "I was buzzing for about a week after the run. Most of all I felt humbled by the support from the Broomfield team, my friends and my amazing family. When I saw the look of pride on my children's faces it was incredibly emotional and I just felt so proud of everyone."

Jonathon walked the first 3.5km of the route, on Sunday, February 1, was pushed in a wheelchair until the 7km mark after looking unwell but got back on his feet for the final 3km.

His family walked the final 1km with him along The Mall while about six friends from the Royal Marines cheered him over the finish-line with their corps flag proudly waving aloft.

Jonathon said: "It was tough for me, I nearly collapsed at the end but again, thanks to the fantastic people from Broomfield, I was supported back into the chair.

"The hardest part was about a third of the way around when I just lost all strength and had to be put in the wheelchair."

Jonathon, also a former motorcycle instructor and internet communications specialist, has suffered from chronic vomiting, extreme fatigue and weight loss since being diagnosed with tongue and tonsil cancer in December 2013.

But he set his sights on last Sunday's run, a resolve that inspired staff in the hospital's Stock Ward, and his health has since improved.

He is now sleeping full nights, his appetite is back and he's walking his dog on his own. "It gave me a massive lift," he said.

"Being told you have cancer and that it is aggressive is life-shattering.

"But everyone has a choice – I can't talk, eat food, smell and I now breath out of a hole in my throat so it's pretty tempting to lie on the sofa and feel sorry for myself.

"I chose to do the opposite and so far it is, touch wood, really helping.

"I feel stronger, I'm putting weight back on, sleeping better and, despite the chemotherapy's side effects, my quality of life has improved."

Consultant physiotherapist Sarah Smailes, 47, who also ran, described Jonathon's efforts as "unbelievable" and thanked private non-emergency ambulance firm ERS Medical for transporting him to the run free of charge.

She said: "It was humbling really for all of us to watch this man, who was given weeks to live in January, do that.

"It was just incredible and everyone has got nothing but admiration for him.

"He's the sort of guy who you would always want to do your best for."

The team have smashed their £1,000 fundraising target for Cancer Research, thanks partly to Chronicle readers.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/sarah -smailes

Valentine's Day is traditionally a popular time of the year for passionate partners to drop to one knee.

But that may not have been the case across Essex last week as recent statistics have revealed that fewer couples in the county are tying the knot.

A total of 6,571 couples exchanged vows in the 2013/14 financial year compared to 7,434 in the previous period, according to figures from the Essex County Council Registration Service.

Whilst the rocketing cost of church weddings may explain the drop in traditional ceremonies, the county still saw a 13 per cent decline in services at registration offices.

However, one suggestion as to why less of the county's would-be spouses are getting hitched is because married men and women are in high-demand on the dating scene.

Claire Page of Illicit Encounters, an online dating website for married people, revealed that over 55,000 living in Essex are using the extramarital courting service.

This figure makes Essex the county with the third highest number of people signed up to the website.

Ben, a 36-year-old teacher, admits that meeting women on the controversial dating site has given him complete escapism from the humdrum of his married life.

He said: "I went onto Illicit Encounters because my sex life with my wife became so stale. I usually tell my wife I'm working late when I'm actually meeting my partner.

"I'm not willing to give up what I have with my mistress. It's what keeps me going through the stressful days at work. I think if I hadn't met my partner on Illicit Encounters I probably would have divorced my wife by now."

The company also compiled its own 'infidelity index' and found that Chelmsford is crawling with love rats as almost 1,000 people living in the city are cheating on their significant other.

Chelmsford has 929 husbands and wives having affairs according to the site, making it the 44^th most adulterous place in the UK. Braintree has 598 cheaters, Maldon 334 and Witham 331.

However, Jo Adams, of the Essex County Council Registration Service, admits that the dwindling number of couples getting married in the county is more to do with people being superstitious.

She said: "Fewer people were tying the knot last year because of the '2013 effect'. Not as many couples wanted to get married in what they perceived to be an unlucky year.

"From the projections we have made for the 2014/15 financial year, it would seem that things are on the up again."

An accident has blocked lanes one and two on the A138 in Chelmsford due to an accident.

The incident happened on Parkway (A138) East bound between Moulsham Street and High Bridge Road (Odeon RBT).