A dozen tipper lorries valued at £1 million were deliberately set alight, an investigation has shown.

Police have appealed for information into the arson attack at the depot in Great Warley just off the A127 in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A joint police and fire service investigation launched following the fire at a site off Codham Hall Lane, Great Warley, has shown that separate fires were started in the cabs of all 12 vehicles.

The yard, which is close to the Junction 29 interchange between the M25 and A127, is on the former construction site used during the widening of the motorway.

At the height of the fire, 48 firefighters from six fire stations were involved in tackling the fire.

Investigating officer PC Richard Dines said: "The transport yard is close to the A127 and the M25 and we would like to hear from anyone driving past who might have seen any suspicious activity in the area.

"We believe that whoever started these fires might have broken into each lorry to start a fire in the cab which means they could have been in the yard for some time before 12.30am.

"We also want to hear from anyone who might have any information about any events leading to the arson attack."

Anyone who can help should call Pc Dines at Loughton CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

AN embarrassment to her children and a social outcast – this is how a 21 stone Ongar mum of two felt before making the effort to change her life.

Jo Keating, of The Johns, has lost more than seven stone in the past year and in the process has gone from a woman trapped in her own home to an active, healthy eating, outgoing person.

The 37-year-old, who is a full-time carer to her paraplegic husband Mark, 39, shed the pounds after joining Ongar's Slimming World group, which meets weekly at Budworth Hall in the High Street.

Mrs Keating said: "I didn't want to leave the house, I didn't go out to meet people and if I had to go to a family gathering I would try my best to go unnoticed – which isn't easy when you are 21 stone.

"My kids were about to start secondary school – I felt like an embarrassment and thought they would end up being bullied.

"I could barely walk down the street to go to the shops. The example I set for my children was terrible."

Mrs Keating, who has cared for her husband for the past 15 years, did not think she could lose weight and called herself an "emotional eater".

"I had tried it before and it went nowhere," she said. "It just wasn't the right time, when I turned up at the Slimming World group I had no real hope, but when I met the people and started talking to the group it just clicked.

"Everything fell into place and I started to believe that I could really do it.

"Before I lost the weight I thought my only option would be medical intervention.

"I was despairing – I didn't want to go through an operation.

"I didn't want to be a burden on the NHS – that is how people would view it and I can understand why."

She added: "My message to anyone else who is overweight is to just not lose hope. It has to be the right time, so if it doesn't work out at first, keep at it."

Mrs Keating is the mother of two 12-year-old twins, a boy called Owen and a girl called Abbi, and she is now enjoying a much better relationship with them thanks to the weight loss.

She said: "I am far more active, which in turn makes my kids more active.

"We are now a healthy family and I feel much better about myself.

"Before I never used to make anything – I would just eat processed food.

"This meant my kids were eating unhealthily as well.

"Now I make meals from scratch.

"I feel so much happier and this has really helped when it comes to the kids.

"I get involved with their lives, we go out and have fun."

She added: "Losing weight has made me a better parent."

Mrs Keating is dedicated to keep on dropping the pounds and hopes to lose at least two stone more in the future.

Tracy Stringer has run the Slimming World groups at both Brentwood and Ongar for the last five years.

She said: "Jo has just been inspirational for all the members.

"She turned up to every session – good day or not."

THE Dean of Bocking challenged his parishioners to lay a trail of coins from the church gate to the porch door in a unique drive to raise funds for St Mary's Church.

The special charity drive was inspired by the former Dean, the Rev Rogers, who started a trail of coins in Church Street in the 1950s.

The Dean of Bocking, Canon Philip Need, said: "It went really well and it was a really pretty day. We managed to make the trail go from the church gate to the church door and back again.

"We started off with a £2 coin, and then people dropped money on the path to keep the trail going.

"It was a great way to raise funds and community spirit – it's vital to bring people together who wouldn't normally do so."

About 30 people joined in the trail-making, with the first coin laid at 2pm, and the trail raised £112 as coins of various denominations were placed on the pathway.

It was all part of a weekend of events that began with the Flower Festival on Friday, May 3, and included a concert and a Thanksgiving Remembrance service on Sunday, May 12.

The Village Fayre was also held on Bank Holiday Monday, for which the church was open throughout the day, and included trips up the church tower.

Later that evening, there was a festival concert performed by Herts and Soul Community Choir, who played a variety of music.

MORE than two centuries after being sealed shut by the Lord of the Manor, an historic church entrance has been opened once again.

A small crowd watched on as craftsmen worked to open the door at St Michael's Church, in Woodham Walter, which has been bolted shut for 218 years.

The parishioners, who have been fundraising over recent months to carry out repairs to the historic building, became the first to step through the newly opened door on the south side of the building set to become an emergency exit.

"To see the sunlight come flooding through the door after over 200 years shut was fantastic," said Geoff Hicks, the fabric officer at St Michael's which will celebrate it's 450th anniversary this year.

Its outlines invisible from the church's interior, the south-side door would have been the lord's dedicated entrance and its now-dismantled porch a place where village business was discussed.

But by 1795 the Manor House had been pulled down and the doorway was blocked up by plaster work. The decision to knock it through accompanies a programme of repairs and additions to the church to ensure it boasts some modern amenities.

"We don't currently have running water, toilets, or any kitchen facilities which can be quite tricky," added Mr Hicks.

"We actually invited around 40 of our major donors for the project to come and watch the door being knocked through as a sort of thank you."

The proposed improvements include toilets, a tea point, disabled access and the historic emergency exit, with an estimated cost of £107,000.

A series of events including flower festivals, plant sales, concerts, lectures and donations are ongoing to raise funds for the work, with a rough finishing date of three months' time.

"We celebrate our 450th birthday on September 29 and it would be lovely if it could all be done by then," added Geoff.

A NEW initiative has been launched in Witham to encourage residents to take more pride in their surroundings.

The Templars Residents Association joined forces with Greenfields Housing Association and Braintree District Council to keep the Templars housing estate clean and tidy.

Carol Martin, chairman of the Templars Residents Association, said: "Residents on the Templars Estate are approaching us with good remarks on how clean and tidy the area is looking."

Under the new agreement, the TRA will receive just over £3,500 per year from the council and Greenfields for the work which will help keep the estate looking pristine.

The association will carry out litter-picking for 12 hours a week. It will also empty litter bins, put refuse sacks out for collection, do a weekly check of the recycling banks and maintain records – acting as the eyes and ears for the community, and reporting untidiness and disrepair to the council and Greenfields.

A FORMER primary school teacher has won planning permission to open a brewery and beer shop in Billericay.

Trevor Jeffery, 48, will open The Essex Beer Shop in Chapel Street on June 14.

He will then open his own microbrewery next door at a later date this year.

As previously reported in the Gazette, Mr Jeffery produced his first beer, called Mayflower Gold, in November.

The beer is named after the ship which carried the Pilgrim Fathers from Harwich to America, via Plymouth, in 1620.

"I will sell our beers as well as beers from other local breweries," he said.

"Mayflower Gold has been very popular – in fact we've just sold out so we are now making our second batch.

"It is a pale ale and May is the month when people make and drink mild beers.

"There should be a number of beers ready for when we open our shop up."

Mr Jeffery hopes to have six beers – mainly bottled – to start with and none of these will be ales you can find in the supermarket.

"The beers you get in the supermarket tend to be bottle-conditioned beer," he said.

"We develop more craft ales which have a bit more flavour – they are handmade and handcrafted."

Looking further into the future, he added: "When the brewery opens we will have regular open days where people can come and look around."

New powers to help recoup costs associated with policing night-time revellers will be discussed at a public meeting held by Brentwood Borough Council.

The council will be discussing  the possible introduction of late-night levies – an annual fee charged to licensed premises – and early morning restriction orders, which could restrict the sale of booze in certain areas at the meeting on June 10.

Essex Police representatives will also be present to advise about levels of alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour. The meeting will also be attended by representatives from local pubs and clubs.

The public meeting will take place at the Town Hall, Ingrave Road, Brentwood on Monday June 10, between 7pm and 9pm.

Councillor Chris Hossack, vice chair of community services committee, said: "Brentwood is fortunate to benefit from a vibrant and active night-time economy.

"However, we need to ensure that our town centre remains a safe, prosperous and fun environment where people want to live, work and visit. We wouldn't want the success of the evening economy to have a detrimental effect on the daytime prosperity of the town centre.

"Police, CCTV, Town Link Radio, businesses, residents and the council.

We all have a part to play in managing our night-time economy. That's why we are encouraging everyone to join in the discussion."

A man is been sought after inappropriately touching himself in front of a teenage girl on a train in Brentwood.

British Transport Police detectives have released CCTV images of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the incident, which took place on Friday, May 3.

The victim, a 14-year-old girl, boarded a London-bound train at Shenfield station around 4.25pm but soon after she noticed a man sat opposite her "touching himself inappropriately".

She left the train as it pulled into Brentwood station a few minutes later, followed by the man.

Detective Constable David Bishop, the investigating officer, said:  "He continued to follow her for around 10 minutes as she walked away from the train station towards Kavanaghs Road, where she lost him."

DC Bishop added: "This was a very traumatic experience for the victim, who was returning home from school. "Although she wasn't physically injured, she was left understandably shaken by this incident.

Anyone with information is asked to contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40.

Ossie is a former midfielder who won the 1978 World Cup with Argentina. He became a cult hero in England, along with compatriot Villa, as a player for Tottenham Hotspur. Arrivals start from 6.30pm for 7.30pm start, and tickets are priced at £30 per person for a three-course dinner followed by an auction.

PET owners are being warned to be on their guard after a cat was mauled to death by a dog in High Ongar.

Heather Gilligan, 45, is distraught following the death of her three-and-a-half-year-old tabby Lizzie in a field near her home in The Street.

Mrs Gilligan, who lives with her husband John, told the Gazette: "She was dead when we found her – she was like a child to me and someone's dog has taken her away.

"My husband brought her inside and it was devastating.

"There is a dangerous dog out there and something needs to be done.

"I named Lizzie after my mum and she was such a lovely cat."

The cat's body was found by Mr Gilligan at around 7.30pm on Wednesday while he was out walking the couple's springer spaniel Harley.

"I was walking Harley and had just gone out into the field behind the house," recalled Mr Gilligan, who owns a demolition company.

"Then Harley picked up a scent and was running around.

"He suddenly stopped and was whining so I went over and there was Lizzie – lying dead on the ground."

Mrs Gilligan, an emergency medical co-ordinator with the London Ambulance Service, said: "When John brought her inside it was horrific. It has been incredibly upsetting.

"We just laid her down and cleaned her up but she was already dead."

She added: "Harley is eight months old and he and Lizzie had started to become good friends – she would sometimes follow us on his walks.

"Harley has been crying since it happened, whining and looking around – it has been very distressing for us."

The couple had two cats, Ernie and Lizzie, who were brother and sister.

Mrs Gilligan said: "Ernie was named after my father and Lizzie my mum.

"Ernie has been completely out of sorts since the incident.

"We just want to know if anyone saw anything – there is obviously a dangerous dog in the area and many people own cats around here, as well as the primary school being nearby.

"We wouldn't wish this on anyone and hopefully someone coming forward could prevent something even worse happening."

She added: "People should be able to control their dogs.

"We don't blame the dog, we blame the careless owner that should have been able to keep it under control."

After Mr Gilligan brought the cat inside they rang their vet.

He said: "The vet offered to try and work out how she had died and told us it was most likely a dog."

Jane Jackson, of House and Jackson Vets, Blackmore, said: "It is highly likely that it was a dog that broke the cat's neck.

"The cat was too large for a fox to attack it and badger attacks are far more vicious and messy. We do not see many attacks as fortunately it isn't very common."

An Essex Police spokeswoman said: "We have looked into this and there's no evidence of how the cat died and unfortunately we are unable to investigate further.

"If any more evidence came to light that suggested a crime was committed then we would investigate further."

A FATHER whose child was born with a cleft palate will be donating a cut of the takings from his golf centre this week.

Annabel Humphries, now eight, was born at Queens Hospital to parents Stuart and Lorna with a gap in the roof of her mouth and underwent the first of three operations at the age of six months to correct the condition.

Mr Humphries, who runs the UK Golf Academy at Brentwood Leisure Park in Warley Gap, said: "When my daughter was born it was hard. In some ways it felt like the end of the world."

One child in every 700 is born with a cleft lip and/ or palate and many families such as the Humphries find reassuring advice from The Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA).

Mr Humphries has now pledged ten per cent of takings from all golf ball sales, grip sales and all coaching lessons booked before next Wednesday will be donated directly to the association.

"They are a fantastic charity and they really helped our family," said Mrs Humphries.

"On the day Annabel was born a specialist advisor flew down to the hospital.

"We didn't know until she was born that she had the condition so we were completely unprepared."

CLAPA stayed in contact with the family and offered advice before the birth of youngest daughter Veronica, three, who was born without a cleft.

Although Annabel's condition was not visible by the time she joined Gidea Park Primary School her parents are aware that some children can face difficulties at school.

Mr Humphries added: "Children can be cruel.

"If you could see my daughter now you wouldn't know any different but it is important to remember some children aren't so fortunate."

EXPLORING their new accommodation, the Barleylands chicks are now almost two months old, and are growing fast.

When we last visited the brood they were tiny week-old cheeping chicks and since then they have made lots of progress. The chickens, who live at the farm park in Billericay, are developing their colour and plumage and Barleylands is pleased to announce the start of their competition to name three hens from the group.

Talking to go!, David Finkle, manager of Barleylands Farm Park, said: "They are doing really well. They have moved into their new accommodation having left the hatchery and the nursery.

"They have taken up residence in a purpose-made poultry run where they are enjoying scratching around in the fluffy fresh straw. They are in their teenage period now and are making themselves busy looking around.

"They are roughly the size of a large guinea pig and are now on their adult diet of grower's pellets and mixed corn. At the moment because they are so active they need lots of water and environment stimulation – it's good to hang toys or CDs for them to explore."

Mr Finkle went on to explain about the chicken's breed, the Legbar, and their unusual appearance.

He explained: "Their mohicans are starting to develop and they are starting to colour up with their orangey yellows and browns coming through.

"They are cheeping but haven't quite developed clucking just yet. At this stage it's all about exploration," he added.

The farm park is inviting the public to name three of their hens. They will pick out the best three names from all the entries and the winner will receive a family day pass to Barleylands.

In the coming months the farm park will also be giving away these hens so keep an eye out for future reports of this competition in go!

To take part in the naming challenge you can either enter via the farm's Facebook page which can be found at www.facebook.com/barleylands or in person by visiting the farm and handing in a form at the reception.

The naming competition will run from Monday, May 27 to Friday, May 31 in conjunction with the farm's Half Term Tractor Week.

Entrance to Barleylands Farm Park costs £10 for adults and £9 for children and concessions.

BRENTWOOD chairman Paul Webb revealed that bowling maestro Anthony Giles was told not to play by his physiotherapist in Saturday's big win over Wanstead & Snaresbrook.

After recording 226-9, the hosts knocked the stuffing out of Wanstead, who were bowled out for 103.

Giles put in a top performance to take three wickets alongside Max Osborne's five to confirm victory, and Webb hopes he'll be able to play again this Saturday against Upminster in the league and possibly Buckhurst Hill on Sunday in cup competition.

"That was Anthony's first game back after a back injury," Webb said.

"He was only out for a couple of weeks but his physio was telling him he really shouldn't be playing and doing anything apart from lying down flat.

"Anthony will probably play again this Saturday assuming he has no bad reaction, and we've still got Tom Moore to come back as one of our opening bowlers.

"Max Osborne also bowled very well at the weekend and was pretty hostile."

After losing their first game of the season to South Woodford the weekend before, Brentwood hit back in fine fashion, with opening batsman Aaron West hitting 68 runs and James Redwood scoring another 89 soon after Jon Walford and Dave Hammond had been dismissed.

And Redwood also played his part in the field with two successive catches to dismiss Ryan Hamill and Petrus Hattingh.

"It was a massive win as they won the league last year, so they would have been our biggest rivals in terms of us looking to win it this year," said Webb.

"We would have expected a tough game as we're both decent teams, but to beat them in such convincing fashion was a huge result.

"With the bat, Aaron opened it up and made a good start, while James [Redwood] batted very well with him soon after.

"I think we laid down a marker, and even though we don't want to get ahead of ourselves, the way we beat them and the margin of victory, we hope it sent out a message to the rest of the league and that it wasn't a tight game – we steamrollered them."

CHELMSFORD'S spinners prevailed in a nervy match between two teams that lost their opening fixture.

Shenfield's dangerous opener Arshad Ali smashed 18 from his first eight balls but his ninth was his last as Mark Drain struck twice in an over. Aaron Beard followed that up with his first wicket at this level to make it 37-3.

Sarwar (38) steadied things but was one of two wickets to fall to James Clifford with the score on 96.

Kliber (23no) ensured some contribution from the lower order but Clifford made sure it was not too many with a splendid return of 5-22 from his ten overs.

A brilliant catch in the second over of the reply gave Shenfield a boost and although Jack Sterland looked good, a couple more wickets fell to make it 53-3. Sterland and Nisarg Patel had a useful partnership but a brainstorm ended Sterland's innings for 43.

Patel played in his usual style contributing an unbeaten 60, the best score from a Chelmsford player all weekend. Paul Jones gave him solid support to see matters to a conclusion with plenty of time to spare.

TEENAGE wicket-keeper Jack Potticary hit a wonderful century, but it was in vain as Leigh-on-Sea took the victory.

When Leigh won the toss and chose to bat on a good surface they were not expecting to be reduced to 50-3 and then 104-4 by Hutton's bowlers.

What Leigh-on-Sea needed was a partnership to rebuild their innings and allow them to post a competitive total in their 50-over fixture. What Leigh-on-Sea got was an onslaught from Dean Waller, who smashed 191 from 112 balls, 18 of which were hit for six.

Waller was joined by Billy King (76no) and put on 227 for the fifth wicket with Waller, Leigh-on-Sea eventually finished on 355-6 at the end of their 50 overs.

Hutton started their innings with a solid opening partnership of 44 between O'Dell and Withanage before O'Dell's dismissal for 19 with the score on 72-2 prompted a collapse to 130-8, and a large and emphatic defeat for Hutton was looming on the horizon.

But a brilliant innings of 112 from the 16-year-old wicket-keeper Potticary, together with 60 from David Carpenter meant Hutton were dismissed for 283. Potticary said after the game that he was "pleased to have made the opposition work for their win" and that he was motivated to "keep the bowlers and fielders out in the field for as long as possible and have fun playing some shots".

The result leaves Hutton fourth in Division Two, with Leigh-on-Sea top of the table.