CHELMSFORD Cobras women's ice hockey team finished their league fixtures with a perfect winning record.

Having secured the league title with a 16-0 win at Peterborough last week, they travelled to Cardiff expecting a tough game. Having beaten Cardiff 5-4 at Riverside earlier in the season, when Cobras only took the lead with the final goal of the game, Cobras expected Cardiff to be looking to reverse the score.

Early in the game Cardiff were the first to score after a goalmouth scramble when the puck was deflected off netminder Jess Bowman's helmet into the net.

Cobras did not get demoralised and took control of the game and spent much of the period skating past Cardiff players and keeping pressure on their opponents net.

An equalising goal came and was shortly followed by a second. There was a delay in the second period when Cobras stand-in captain Tara North, fell into the boards injuring her ankle and was taken to hospital.

Cobras continued to score with Jennifer Bolton scoring four goals as the Cobras won 8-1 in a fast high speed game.

Cobras and division one south runners up, probably Cardiff, now travel to Sheffield on May 25 and 26 to play against division one north winners, Billingham and Whitley Bay, for the right to play for promotion to the premier league.

BOWLS: The long awaited bowls season is finally under way. Tiptree Jobserve Bowls Club members polished up their bowls, for a friendly match against Royal Mail, at the Woods Bowls Club, Colchester, on Saturday.

The format of the afternoon was six triples matches of 18 ends each. Tiptree flew into an early lead, winning the first end, on five of the six rinks, and by the sixth end, Tiptree had taken a massive 29 point lead.

However, Royal Mail soon began to improve their deliveries, and over the next 12 ends managed to reduce the deficit to just three shots.

The match finished with each club winning on three rinks, but with Tiptree having a three shot advantage overall, with a shot score of 106 to 103.

Tiptree Jobserve Bowls Club would like to thank Royal Mail Bowls Club for their hospitality.

If you are interested in joining, or finding out more about our competitive but friendly bowls club, Tiptree Jobserve will be holding an open weekend on May 18/19 11:00-16:00 hours, at Warriors Rest, Maypole Road, Tiptree.

Free coaching will be available for novices and Tiptree Jobserve Bowls Club welcomes members of all ages. Please bring a pair of flat shoes. For more information call David Gooch 01621 817758.

MORE than 140 music-lovers were treated to a barn packed with "a hell of a lot of guitars" at this year's East Anglia Guitar Festival on Sunday.

The fifth annual festival at High Barn in Great Bardfield boasted a workshop in how to make guitars from cigar boxes as well as headline act, BBC Horizon award-winner Ewan McLennan.

Venue director and drummer Alistair McMillan said it was by far the best festival to date.

"It was an immensely popular day and it was certainly a record attendance," said the 30-year-old, who also played with the Ben Smith band in the evening.

"I'd like to say we are the best in the country – but we're not the biggest – but there is something about the festival here in an 800-year-old barn.

"We also had an emphasis on local music. It's all sourced from East Anglia."

Rockers young and old could enjoy 18 exhibitions throughout the day, from 10.30am to 10.30pm, which included Chicken Bone John's cigar box workshop, Dave Youngs' drum tapping and Jon Hart's electric guitar for beginners.

The public also had free reign to jam in a recording studio for 30-minute sessions.

Mr McMillan last year ended up buying a ukulele after attending Keef Jackson's alternative workshop.

"I don't think he can got all those ukuleles in his van!" he said, adding that volunteering organisers Ray Taylor, and the appropriately named Anna Bass, were delighted with the day.

Technician and High Barn director Paul Boon, 45, said: "The diversity of the people that were building the cigar box guitars was brilliant – we had all ages and abilities.

"It didn't matter if you didn't have much knowledge of guitars or even play guitar."

The venue is now looking ahead to an "unplugged" showcase on May 31 with various acoustic acts.

For more information, call 01371 810768

"IT'S NOT telling us not to do something, it's about telling us what could happen if we did do it." Eleven-year-old Bella O'Hallaron neatly sums up the last 90 minutes during which she has learnt about the dangers of drinking alcohol, social networking and taking risks on the roads.

But rather than feel scared about the future, Bella, who starts secondary school in September, feels empowered.

"This is real – this is telling us what could happen and showing us ways of dealing with it if it does. It gives us confidence, making us aware that these things could happen," she said.

The youngster and her classmates from Chancellor Park Primary School in Chelmsford are among the 1,700 students from 46 primaries taking part in Crucial Crew, a long-running project aimed at informing children due to start secondary school about the risks they could face in the near future.

Police officers, paramedics, the fire brigade, road safety staff and representatives from the charity alcoHELP gather at the Territorial Army Centre in Springfield for three weeks, running morning and afternoon sessions for pupils from almost every school in the city.

Rachel Kearn, community road safety officer at Chelmsford City Council, said: "Crucial Crew is now an established event which almost every school in the city comes back to year after year. In the space of 90 minutes pupils get a chance to take part in six 15-minute interactive sessions led by professionals who aim to make them aware of the dangers they could face as they approach their teens."

Always one of the most memorable sessions is that run by the Essex-based charity alcoHELP.

Co-founder and trustee Debby Pierson, herself a recovered alcoholic, gives a hard-hitting presentation on the dangers of drink. She shows documentary footage from the USA in which medical experts undertake experiments on the effects of alcohol on young brains.

Debby said: "We've been coming to Crucial Crew for about eight years and I really enjoy it. The children are honest and they ask good questions.

"This year we chose to focus on the damage alcohol does to the brain. We have used this with older students and this was what they talked about afterwards. We felt youngsters of this age are sophisticated enough to understand it too."

The overriding message is that youngsters should say no if they are offered alcohol and also to not get in a vehicle if they believe the driver has been drinking. The session ends with the opportunity to wear beer goggles which mimic the ill effects of being drunk without having taken a sip.

It left an impression on Lidia Williams, ten, from East Hanningfield Primary School.

She said: "Wearing the goggles was really strange. The alcoHELP talk was the best one today as it showed us what we should do if we were in that situation."

Learning how the ambulance service works, knowing when it is appropriate to call for a paramedic and having the chance to sit inside an emergency ambulance is another popular session.

Paramedic Steve Hudson said: "As a service we have had some bad press recently so it's great to get the chance to speak to so many people directly. If we went round individual schools it would take months to speak to this many children.

"It's really important they see us being approachable and part of the community. We explain to the children that we sometimes get silly calls from people wanting a glass of water or grazing their knee, but we are a limited resource and it's important we are used for the right reasons."

Jonty Ash, ten, who goes to East Hanningfield Primary, said afterwards: "I liked the ambulance talk as I found it interesting finding out where the ambulances travel to.

"I've never seen inside an ambulance before and always wanted to know what it looked like."

DROPPING two eggs on to a tin lid, one surrounded by polystyrene and one not, instantly showed the children the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet.

"You have one head – look after it," warns Essex County Council road safety officer Lorna Yeadon.

The children take in a scenario of two life-size teenage dummies who have been killed cycling and walking.

They are asked to point out all the ways the 'dummy kids' have put themselves at risk and what they should have done differently.

Lorna explains: "The point we make is that no one can tell what drivers are going to do, but as a cyclist and pedestrian you can make choices about what you do. We stress that image is not important, safety is. Wearing a helmet and fluorescent clothing is cool as it can save your life.

"We would love to have longer with the children, but we pack a lot into the 15 minutes and it is just enough time to get our messages across."

Chancellor Park Primary pupil Andy Newman, 11, appreciates what he has been taught.

He said: "This gives us an idea of what could happen in real life. I think it is a real help, especially for when we start secondary school."

Classmate James Parham, 11, adds: "The message is we have control over what we do now and it is up to us. We have to take responsibility."

ROBIN Hood's merry men took a break from robbing the rich to give to the poor as the heavens opened on Saturday.

Medieval marksmen huddled beneath a marquee as rain took a temporary toll on proceedings at the charity "fayre" at St Mary's Church, Boreham Road, Great Leighs.

Juggling from internationally renowned Chris Soy, archery and maypole dancing were the order of the day.

The event, which attracted about 400 visitors, was organised to raise money for the parish of Great Leighs, Little Leighs and Little Waltham.

Parish preacher and event chairman Jan Wright, 71, of Church Lane, Little Leighs, said: "On the whole it went very well. We were deluged with rain and a hailstorm and people had to go home as they were so wet. But the show went on. We sheltered in a big marquee."

Mrs Wright added: "We raised a good amount of money and we are keen to continue sharing our love in the church with the surrounding community."

Pat Watkinson, 72, of Main Road in Great Leighs, said: "I thought it went very well and I think after visiting two other May Day fairs this weekend, we were the only one who fully catered for the community as children took part."

Next year's event is to follow an Arthurian theme, according to Mrs Wright.

A MOTHER who was rushed to hospital 17 times with a rare pre-natal condition is desperate to raise awareness among other parents.

Clara Cable was four-and-a-half months pregnant with her daughter Juniper when she first suffered a placental abruption, a condition where the placenta's lining separates from the uterus, causing severe pain and blood loss.

But it took a further three hospital visits for doctors to diagnose the potentially fatal condition, which forced pregnant Clara back to the emergency ward a total of 17 times throughout her pregnancy.

Now the 27-year-old from Maldon has created a forum for other mothers to share their experiences, and – for many – to discuss the heartbreak of losing their child.

"I have always been interested in training as a midwife and I had never even heard of this condition," said the mother-of-three.

"I'd been suffering from cramps the day before, and I kept having to sit down. When I woke the next morning I realised I was bleeding.

"If it had been further along in the pregnancy, there would have been an even greater risk to the baby and myself."

It was while Clara was heavily pregnant and terrified for her unborn child that she set up a Facebook group inviting mothers from across the world to share their stories.

"When I created the forum I was desperate to speak to someone who had come through it with a good outcome. All I had heard about were women losing their children."

Baby Juniper was born in November 2011 at 32 weeks and spent her first few days of life in an incubator at Broomfield Hospital.

But following a tense Christmas she was discharged and taken home.

"After Juniper was born I realised how important it was to make a space for people to share their stories so I've been trying to build up awareness ever since," said Clara, who was so fearful for her life that she married partner Steven in a rushed ceremony at Braintree registry office weeks before the birth.

The group now has more than 1,000 followers with women from the US, Brazil and Australia adding their own experiences.

Stay-at-home mum Clara's ultimate aim is for each GP surgery and pre-natal clinic in the UK to stock an information leaflet on the condition but she needs 100,000 signatures on a Government e-petition to make this a reality.

For now, the traumatic experience has helped her to re-evaluate her priorities, which is why she, her husband Steven and their three healthy children are emigrating to Australia in a few days' time.

"It was quite simply the worst time in my life, which made me realise how important everything is and how short life can be," said Clara, who is currently packing up all her belongings at the family home on St Giles Crescent.

"We've always wanted to go to Australia so we decided to just for it. But that doesn't mean I'm going to stop raising awareness, I'll take my campaign over there as well."

To visit the forum, search Facebook for Awareness of Placental Abruption. To sign the e-petition, visit epetitions. direct.gov.uk/petitions/35267.

"My package is not comparable to Mr McCardle (the previous Chief Constable) as I have no moving fees or home allowance.

"We won't be making any more savings beyond the £44 million and I have not identified any savings to be made on top of those that have already been done but we can only spend what is given by the government.

"I want to focus on policing in community spaces and the victims of crime. I won't be playing games with numbers or massaging the figures."

Nick Alston, Essex Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "During the selection process, Stephen's passion to lead Essex Police for a full four years and to serve the people of Essex was crystal clear.

"We had an outstanding field of candidates, of whom Stephen was the very best. Therefore, I have decided to use the discretion given to me under the legislation to ensure that Stephen is remunerated at the top end of the agreed national range."

Mr Kavanagh joined the police in 1985 and was brought up in Essex, where he now lives with his wife and 13-year-old son.

His father also served in the county's police force, and prior to Mr Kavanagh's appointment as Essex Chief Constable he previously held the position of deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police for territorial policing.

He will be replacing Jim Barker-McCardle, who was appointed chief constable in September 8, 2009, and announced his decision to retire from policing for personal reasons in November 2012, but who continued in his role until May 3.

During his previous post Mr Kavanagh advocated the use of plastic bullets and baton rounds during the London riots of 2011.

Mr Kavanagh also took over responsibility for the phone hacking inquiry following Sue Akers' retirement in September 2012.

As a detective inspector he was a founding member of the Racial and Violent Crime Task Force where he had a key role in implementing Community Safety Units, critical incident training for the Association of Chief Police Officers and helped to write the ACPO Race/Hate Crime Manual which responded to the recommendations laid out by the Stephen Lawrence inquiry.

Mr Kavanagh was promoted to chief superintendent and became the borough commander for Barnet, where he served for three years, reducing crime by a third and getting the highest sanction detection rates for assaults and robberies.

But campaigners say Mr Kavanagh's pay rise is a waste of taxpayers' money.

Matthew Sinclair, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance said: "This is a huge increase at a time when police budgets are being tightened. Such a huge increase in pay for the role is impossible to justify when families struggle to make ends meet and rank and file officers see their pay frozen."

On his first day as Chief Constable in Essex he was at Basildon Police Station to meet officers and inspect the custody facilities, then went on the beat with a PCSO.

FAST food crews joined forces with the council to tackle litter in the town.

Staff from Maldon McDonald's, Tesco and Dominos Pizza teamed up with Maldon District Council to take on a challenge to crackdown on notorious litter dropping in the area.

The 'Love Where You Live' litter party, organised by McDonald's Maldon's 'Planet Champion', Natasha Humberstone, was made up of over 35 people.

Following the success of the event, local McDonald's Franchisee, Cherry Lewis-Taylor has been asked to speak at the 'Cleaner Essex' Group meeting in Chelmsford next month.

Cherry Lewis-Taylor said, "I see firsthand the negative effect litter has on the environment and believe that both individuals and businesses like mine have a real role to play in tackling and raising awareness of the issue."

She added: "My restaurants in Essex already do a lot on a daily basis with initiatives such as litter patrols, but these larger scale litter picks provide the perfect opportunity for people to come together to tackle the problem head on."

A CYCLIST killed on his way to work has been described by friends and colleagues as a "truly rare person who never complained".

Timothy Jennings, 52, collided with a car on Burnham Road in the early hours of Thursday morning while travelling to his early shift at Brooks Bros in Maldon.

The labourer, who lived in a mobile home just off the busy road, near Battlesbridge, died at the scene of the collision at the roundabout junction of Burnham Road, Ferrers Road and Willow Grove shortly after 4am.

Originally from Finchingfield, Mr Jennings had moved to the site near South Woodham Ferrers, a little over a year ago to begin work at the national timber company, where he was popular among his colleagues.

"He will be very much missed by everyone, he was a lovely bloke," said Vincent Plumb, who had acted as Mr Jenning's supervisor for 16 months.

"Everything you asked of him he would do without complaint, he was a really rare sort of person in that way. He would lend a hand – he was a brilliant worker."

Landlord and neighbour Clive Johnson only realised Timothy had been involved in an accident after police began asking questions at nearby Hayes Leisure Park. "I heard his name being mentioned and then it just clicked – it's been such a shock," he said.

"He was a smashing bloke who wouldn't have hurt a fly, he didn't have an ounce of bad in him. I would have trusted him with my own grandchildren and known nothing would happen to them.

"I shall be following what happens with the investigation very closely," he added.

Timothy, who leaves behind a partner of 14 years based in White Notley, did own a car but mechanical difficulties had taken it off the road, forcing him to ride his bike down the busy stretch of road where it was hit by a green Citroen Saxo on the day of the incident.

A section of the road was closed for seven hours while forensic collision investigators tried to establish the cause of the crash, and police are appealing for further details.

Investigating officer PC Jenny Pirie said: "We're keen to hear from anyone who not only saw the actual crash, but those who may have seen this cyclist riding along this route on previous days."

The car driver was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and later released on police bail until Thursday, September 12.

Anyone with information is urged to contact investigating officers at Essex Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit 101 or -email collision appeal@essex.pnn.police.uk.

What is Atypical HUS?

Atypical HUS (Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome) has historically fallen under the category of "kidney disease", as the kidney is the main organ involved.

But recent advances in understanding of the genetic condition now demonstrate it is more complex and can damage other organs, and even the brain.

How does it work?

Your body circulates blood continuously. It contains many proteins, red blood cells, platelets and other things as well. When your blood passes through your kidneys, small vessels (called nephrons) filter out waste.

In aHUS, the walls of your blood vessels can become clogged with platelets. So now your body is filtering blood, and the platelets are clotting up the kidney function. So when your red blood cells pass through, they are shattered. Therefore, your platelet and red blood cell counts start to decrease.

As a result, your kidney struggles to do its job and wastes such as creatinine are not filtered out properly, and your BUN (blood urea nitrogen) levels may increase too.

The clotting is caused because one of the proteins in the blood is not working properly.

Your genes are responsible for directing the proteins; so ultimately, one of your genes is not functioning properly.

"SAVE our bridge" was the message from parish councillors amid fears that reckless drivers are chipping away at a 16th-century crossing.

Buttsbury Bridge in Stock Lane has straddled the River Wid between Ingatestone and Stock since the time of the Spanish Armada.

Yet with the Grade II listed bridge being hit at least six times in the past five years at a cost to taxpayers of £76,000, Stock Parish Council has united with its Ingatestone and Fryerning counterpart to call for a "convincing solution".

Traffic-calming measures cannot be installed until the 60mph speed limit is cut.

Stock Parish Council chairman Nick Fairman said: "It's a key link between Stock and Ingatestone. If the speed limit can be reduced to 40mph or less then Essex Highways can introduce more traffic-calming measures, which should hopefully reduce the likelihood of the bridge being hit."

Essex County Council said: "A number of changes have now been agreed to improve safety on the bridge, including new white lining to improve the alignment of vehicles through the bridge and additional 'reduce speed now' signs.

"The approach fencing will also be painted white to further highlight the approach to the bridge."

HUNDREDS of athletes swam, cycled and raced around the Dengie Peninsula at the weekend for the annual triathlon.

Competitors set off at 8.30am from Bradwell Marina completing a 1.6km swim in the River Blackwater, an 82km cycle on the scenic roads of the Peninsula and finishing with a 20km run around the town's picturesque sea wall and marshes, passing the historic St Peter's Chapel.

Organiser Jamie Cooper said the 2013 event had been the biggest yet so far.

"It went really well, and from an organisational point of view everything went perfectly," he said.

"In terms of the number of spectators we had it was our biggest event so far and all the competitors seemed to love the route, and the fantastic atmosphere."

WHILE many Maldon residents slept soundly in their beds, a celebration of the Pagan spring festival was in full swing at Promenade Park.

Traditional morris dancers arrived at the crack of dawn carrying sticks, hankies and rattling bells to welcome in the month of May last Wednesday and entertain early risers with a series of dances and music.

"It was the most beautiful morning with quite a few people getting up to come and watch us," said Fran Bing, the squire of the Green Jacket Morris Dancers.

The group, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, launched the start of their 2013 season with the 5am event, which was replicated by other groups across the UK.

"Many of us across the country get up to welcome in the spring, it's quite a significant date in our dancing season," added Fran, who has been involved with morris dancing for 25 years.

The group is always keen to welcome new members and anyone who would like to join them should call Fran on 07931933449 or visit www. maldonmorris.org

CRICKETERS believe that vandals who wrecked a village club have left clues to their identity – their school homework.

Yobs smashed a 5ft hole in the wall of the pavilion at Ingatestone Cricket Club's Fairfield ground using blocks of wood.

However, club officials found what appears to be geography homework and plans for a field trip to Wales amid the wreckage at the ground, off Stock Lane.

The papers, discovered on Wednesday, featured information about a forthcoming trip plus questions such as "How does adding salt to icy roads help?" and "What is Halite? Name the chemical found in Halite."

One piece of paper even features a handwritten note.

The discovery has led Matt Taylor, the cricket club captain, to suspect that a secondary school student was behind the attack which caused around £200 of damage.

He said: "Whoever did this could have gone all the way through into the pavilion – there was just plaster board left – but they didn't bother, which makes me think it was just mindless vandalism."

He also claimed: "The stupid thing is that it appears whoever did this left some homework behind."

The incident, which took place between 11am and 5pm, cast a shadow over the club's first game of the season, a home defeat to South Weald on Saturday.

The attack sparked a flurry of support on Twitter, including one contribution from Ed Mayne, who tweeted: "@IngatestoneCC really hope justice is gained and restoration can happen, you've a great ground, @_CricketFamily sticking together."

Another tweet from Brian Rayner read: "@Langwith_CC @IngatestoneCC @GwersylltCC @GlenrothesCC @_CricketFamily stay strong and don't let them beat you! Your friends @ElvedenCC"

The cricket club has suffered from sporadic attacks of vandalism – last August graffiti was scrawled on the newly-decorated pavilion.

Essex Police is investigating the latest damage.

A police spokesman said: "Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding an act of vandalism at Ingatestone Cricket Club.

"Criminal damage to several panels was caused during May 1, causing £200 worth of criminal damage.

"Anyone with information should contact Brentwood police station on 101."

WARTIME revelry was relived on Saturday as party-goers donned their best dresses and Army attire for a blitz era bash.

In a sea of polka-dots, floral prints, military regalia and trilby hats, guests danced to the sounds of the Three Belles, an all-female, vintage-inspired trio who recreate the sounds of bands such as the Andrews Sisters with their soaring harmonies and lively stage personas for the Essex Blitz Party at Rayne Village Hall.

The atmosphere was energetic from start to finish, with people of all ages dancing the night away, fuelled by a meat stew and pork pies.

Esther Shawe, 41, from Chelmsford, said: "It's fantastic just to see everyone make the effort to dress up; they put their heart and soul in to it."

The Three Belles, Isabelle Moore "Dorothy", Anneka Wass "Betty" and Sally Taylor "Gail", all 23, treated the 'soldiers' and 'civilians' to their set of vintage numbers, with songs about heartbreak, friendship and a good dose of comedy.

Isabelle said: "These are our favourite kind of gigs as everyone just really enjoys themselves. You really get to see people enjoying the music as they would have back then; people went out to forget the war and live in the moment."

Event organiser Carly Sayward-Jones, 32, from Braintree, said: "My favourite bit has been seeing all the dancers and all the guys in uniform. Everyone becomes the part."

A DECAYING bridge could be replaced by a £15 million crossing by 2015.

The A138 Chelmer Viaduct was back in business this week after a temporary closure for vital maintenance work.

Repairs had been postponed from March due to the freezing temperatures, however instead of concentrating on the framework of the bridge, engineers focused on resurfacing the road.

Work carried out by the Highways Agency began overnight on May 7 and continued until May 9 and included resurfacing and renewal of road markings and road studs.

The current bridge, built in 1932, carried the first Chelmsford A12 bypass and was opened by Edward, Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VIII.

A new £15 million bridge, crossing the flood plain between the Army & Navy and Chelmer Village retail park, was discussed in 2009 and scheduled to be built in 2011, but has yet to come to fruition.

However a spokesman for the Highways Agency indicated that a new bridge was still on the cards.

According to details published by the Highways Agency online, they are currently in the process of recommissioning a scheme consultant and will need to revisit some of the previously obtained agreements and approvals as some may be expired before works can commence.

The implication is that works cannot begin until late this year at the earliest, though it is more likely it will be delayed until Spring 2014 to avoid ground work in areas prone to flooding during winter months.

The Highways Agency said the most optimistic timescale for completion of the new viaduct is by the end of 2015.

A spokesman said: "We are currently carrying out maintenance to keep journeys on the viaduct safe and smooth.

"Work includes resurfacing and renewal of white lines and road studs.

"The Chelmer viaduct is in a safe and serviceable condition.

"We continue to monitor the condition of the structure, which is an important part of the road network, and carry out maintenance work when required.

"It remains our plan to replace the existing A138 Chelmer Viaduct and River Bridge with a new structure.

"Further details will be announced in due course."