OVERGROWN hedges and grass verges are the unsightly results of a maintenance row which has left residents distinctly 'grassed off'.

Privets and pavement vegetation have become so unkept on Warley's Brackenwood Estate that one resident claimed she could lose her dog in the knee- high grass.

Until recently, these areas were maintained regularly by Brentwood Borough Council although that is no longer the case.

Jayne Knight, a resident for the past seven years, told the Gazette: "The council was looking after the grassed areas for years and then all of a sudden it became very erratic.

"It is very confusing – one person will say one thing and then other people will wade in and confuse matters completely.

"When I moved here the areas were always well kept – it was part of the attraction of living here.

"Now when I walk my dog the grass can be so long that I can lose him in it. In one place the hedge has overgrown so much you can't walk down the path."

Over the past few months, Warley Conservative councillor Jan Pound has been sending out letters to the residents to try to keep them abreast of the situation.

However, Mrs Knight said: "It is incredibly confusing – the company tell you what is going on and then you get a letter from your councillor saying something different."

A spokeswoman for the management company said: "There are two types of residents on the estate – there are leaseholders, who pay into the management company for the upkeep of the garages and guttering and there are freeholders who do not pay anything into the company.

"The council seems to think that we are responsible for all the grassed areas when in reality this wouldn't make sense as both leaseholders and freeholders benefit from their use. If Cllr Pound wants to help then she could fight for the council to start maintaining the land again."

Cllr Pound said: "I was contacted by residents who were concerned that the areas were not being managed.

"I discovered that council employees, while tending the trees, were told that it was private land and they should stop.

"Following this the council investigated whether they actually owned the land or were required to maintain it.

"They discovered that they did not own the land, however they agreed that stopping suddenly would be unfair on the residents and will maintain it until September.

"I've been told by the management company to stop telling them how to manage their land but I suggest they hold a meeting to discuss who will maintain it.

"The land is owned by Regisport Ltd and the management company should consult with them to try to resolve the issue."

A NEW world record in football freestyling was achieved at High Chelmer shopping centre.

Dan Magness entertained crowds in the city centre with his sixth successful world record attempt by bouncing a ball on his shoulders 1,021 times in 20 minutes, beating his previous record of 950.

The 30-year-old, who has exchanged tricks with professional Lionel Messi and starred in a television advert with the star, said: "It's not an easy thing to do, to bounce a ball on your shoulders. To be honest, very few people can do this, because it's really tough – although I did previously lose my record to somebody else.

"I beat him though, when I did 950 – and it's great to have a new world record as high as this."

The touring event was put on by Essex-based lawn-care company GreenThumb and also featured a retro VW camper van as it travels across the county.

Brian Kempster, the company's business adviser, said: "Dan's skills are amazing. There was a large crowd gathered to watch him in the attempt, around 200.

"We counted him down to start it and then he bounced the ball from one shoulder to the next, while the crowd cheered and counted along. There was a great reaction when he beat his previous record and then finally stopped at 1,021, and bounced it high into the air."

Dan, who now presents Football Freestyler on Sky Sports, already holds the record for the longest 'keepie-uppie' after keeping a ball in the air for 26 hours without dropping it, the most amount of 'around the world' tricks in one minute, and the longest distance controlling a football for which he walked 36 miles.

He has also worked with international sports stars such as Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Francesco Totti, Roberto Carlos, Djibril Cisse and Freddie Ljungberg, teaching them his skills.

"It was really good to beat my previous total by so much, it all went perfectly to plan, with no false starts – that's why they call me one-take Dan," he added.

PATIENTS were left frustrated when all phone lines to Braintree Community Hospital went down – for eight days.

All 12 departments listed on the website and the main reception could not be contacted after a software problem caused the phones to stop working on Friday, August 9.

An alternative mobile number was posted on the hospital's Twitter feed but this went straight to answerphone, with many messages left unreturned.

A patient's wife said: "I had a letter saying we needed to book an urgent appointment but couldn't get through and when we went back to the GP even he couldn't get though."

The NHS hospital is run by Serco, a private company.

A Serco spokesman said: "There have been problems with installing new software to support the telephone system, which has caused major disruption. We apologise for that and for any problems that patients and their families or carers have experienced."

The phone lines were running again on Saturday morning after software was reinstalled and patient liaison officers were trying to contact people directly to deal with their queries.

"OUR airfield is not the dumping ground of Epping Forest – we don't want your homes here."

This is the message coming loud and clear from North Weald residents after six councillors called in the district council's decision to build 1,100 homes on the aerodrome.

The plan will be examined at a meeting of the authority's Overview and Scrutiny Panel on August 27.

North Weald Residents' Association is firmly against what it has described as an attempt by other district councillors to stop houses being built in their backyards.

Committee member Terry Blanks, of Harrison Drive, North Weald, said: "The councillors in Chigwell and other towns think they can dump all the houses on our airfield. We are not a dustbin for their housing problems.

"The bottom line can be boiled down to three words: 'Save Our Airfield'. What we want is fairness – the thousands of homes that some councillors think is OK to build in our small town isn't fair. It would almost double the size of North Weald.

"We know there is a housing problem, and we know something must be done about it, but the whole district must play their part."

The 72-year-old continued: "We will be going down to the Overview and Scrutiny Panel in numbers and show them how much we care for the airfield. It is an historic and important site – it has stood through two world wars and is always described by the council as the 'jewel in our crown'."

David Stallan, councillor for North Weald Bassett, said: "I am not surprised that it has been called in and I wait to see what their reasons are.

"If councillors believe that building homes at North Weald will stop houses being built in their wards, they are sadly deluding themselves and if they are telling their residents that this is the case than they are misleading them as well.

"I look forward to going to the panel, which has been given its own full meeting, which is it what it deserves."

Fellow ward councillor Anne Grigg, who will be defending the decision at the panel, said: "They are entitled to call the decision in as they have done. It is part of the process. However, I believe the correct decision was made at the cabinet meeting and I will be defending that.

"I am glad to hear that the residents' association is coming to support the airfield. It is such an important site and I think the role it played in the Second World War is something that has often been overlooked."

An Epping Forest District Council spokeswoman said: "As one of the district council's most important assets, any decision concerning the future of North Weald Airfield needs careful consideration.

"Having received the conclusions of the Strategic Review of the Airfield undertaken by the Council's expert consultants, Deloitte, the cabinet favoured a mixed-use option, which retains general aviation, while offering opportunities for new homes, employment and additional community facilities.

"The council's constitution allows for any decision taken by the Cabinet to be 'called in' for further scrutiny. This is part of the open, transparent approach that the district council has adopted, which we believe enhances the democratic process."

A LOVING, hard-working and highly respected former Essex Chronicle managing director has died aged 91 after battling Alzheimer's disease.

Sporting enthusiast Edward John Shead, affectionately known as Ted, served the Chronicle for 27 years before quitting in 1975.

His daughter Barbara Spence paid tribute to a "brilliant father" after he died peacefully in a private Milton Keynes care home on Tuesday, August 6.

"He was highly respected by both management and his men," said the 64-year-old of Harberd Tye, Chelmsford, who also worked as a Chronicle journalist.

"I went to work there as a trainee when I was 17 and I was really, nervous. I didn't know how they were going to react to the MD's daughter. But it was so obvious to me how much they liked him as a person. I was teased about who he was.

"There was so much sadness when he left."

In 1975, Ted, who has written the unpublished 'The Chronicle of an Essex Man', became embroiled in an argument with the new owners of the newspaper Northcliffe Media, who proposed the introduction of a daily evening paper.

After being told to 'toe the line' in an urgent London meeting, he returned to his office and packed his belongings, never returning to Westway.

In Ted's book he describes his leaving card as one of his most cherished possessions, and says he wrote back in thanks to all 30 who signed it. The Evening Herald paper was scrapped two years later.

Ted, who served in the West African Frontier Force during World War Two, met his wife-of-69 years Hilda when he was shipped to India. The two went on to have four children, Colleen, 68, Alan, 66, Susan, 59, and Barbara.

Ted, who also played in the Chronicle cricket team, started as a bookkeeper at the newspaper in May 1948, when the Chronicle was no bigger than ten pages published on a Friday, but soon progressed to MD by the age of 50.

He was responsible for organising a 200th anniversary edition, followed by a 1964 souvenir edition complete with a front page dedicated to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Ted and Hilda retired to a Beaverbrook House flat in Bletchley, devoted to those in the printing industry.

"He was a brilliant father," added Barbara, who remembers her days fondly in the banter and smoke-filled news room.

"He managed to scrape money together in his early years to send us to private schools," she added.

"He didn't have a lot of money but he still found time to decorate the home, plant vegetables and play cricket.

"Alzheimer's is a cruel illness. I remember looking at him one day and realised he didn't know me, and I didn't know him."

• Seven hours of action packed entertainment will take place at Hedingham Castle, near Halstead this bank holiday weekend. Watch medieval jousting, take a tour of the stunning Norman castle and try your hand at archery. There will also be birds of prey demonstrations, face paints a coconut shire and other family fun.

• Five talented artists take to the stage in the gardens of Ingatestone hall. Featuring Soprano Jackie Pittman, Soul Singer Irie J & his band Pure klarse, Phil Cavill, Amy Langmead & singer song writer Mike Summer's, the evening is set to be an evening of musical wonder. There will be a beer tent, crepe stand and other refreshments available at the hall. The organisers also welcome you to bring your own picnic to enjoy while you watch the musical line up. The event is raising money for the Brian Norris charity appeal in support of the Scleroderma Society. For more information ring: 01277 841667

• Open to children and adults of all ages, come along to the park and take part in the annual crabbing competition to catch yourself a bit. Part of Maldon Carnival, prizes are awarded to one adult and one child under 13 years old. Bring your own buckets, bait and line and participate in one of the snappiest competitions there is. For more information visit: www.maldoncarnival.co.uk

• The Love Food Hate Waste food show will be hosted by a top chef who will teach families some handy tips and ideas for cooking. There will also be face painting, bouncy castles and the SX urban games from 3pm, which will be hosting a range of urban sports including BMX racing, cheer leading and Free running. They advise to bring skate gear and a helmet to get involved! For more information visit: www.brentwood.gov.uk

• Sid from Cbeebies will be live on stage for an exciting adventure to find his favourite socks and shoes. Venturing deep into the jungle and even to the bottom of the sea, join Sid as he meets an array of funny characters. Packed with games, songs and magic, the show is perfect for kids aged 3-7. For more information visit: www.towngatetheatre.co.uk

• An opportunity to see five talented artists in the beautiful gardens of Ingatestone Hall. Including a beer tent, crepe stand and ice cream as well as general refreshments or bring your own picnic. All in support of Brian Norris charity for Scleroderma Society. Booking required. Tickets £25 / Concessions £20. For more information, call: 01277 841667

• Old school classics with live performances on stage. Arrive before 10:30pm and choose from either free entry, or pay £10 for entry plus five drinks. Entry before midnight £5. For more information, call: 01277 200000

• A family fun day with a BBQ, raffle draw, bouncy castle, face painting and much more. All proceedings go to charities involved with Sickle Cell disease. £10 per adult, £5 per child (under 13 years) and a family (2 adults & 2 children under 13 years) £25 £1 per child to use the bouncy castle £1 per child to have their face painted. For more information, call: 01268 552536

• Hymn themed flower displays along with exhibitions and sales of paintings, patchwork, quilting and craft stalls. Games and activities for children with live music and refreshments available until 4pm. Free admission. For more information, call: 07740871185

• Enjoy a sing and dance and a guaranteed laugh or two! Possibility of a BBQ during the day weather permitting. Free entry for members, guests £1. For more information, call: 01268 572727

• Camp in the heart of the Forest in a tent or shelter you have built yourself. Learn how to light fires, track and forage. Water is provided but food will need to be brought, enough for the weekend. Suitable for adults and accompanied children aged 8+.

• This event comes just after the start of Burnham Week Sailing Regatta. Watch the race, and compete in a crabbing tournament from 1pm – 4pm. Water-walking for children and many other activities to keep the whole family entertained. For adults, indulge in The Seafood Festival, beer tent and BBQ. For more information, call: 07767807156

• Outdoor celebration with live music and arts. Including horror make up, a well-being tent, roller disco and yoga field, there is something for everyone. Free entry but donations are accepted. For more information, go to: www.colchesterfreefestival.org.uk

• Bring everyone along and revel in to the street theatre, workshops, circus skills, drumming and lots more surprises. Free entry. For more information, call: 01255 686633

• The Palace Theatre is looking for acts of all genres to perform at their live music event. Come along to see the acts, doors open at 7:30pm, first acts at 8pm. Free entry. To book a slot, contact: openmic@southendtheatres.org.uk For more information, call: 01702 344553

• Cambridge Touring Theatre perform the classic pirate tale. Open for picnicking from 12pm with a chance to join a Treasure Island workshop before the show at 1pm for ages five-ten. £13 for adults, £10 children, family ticket (2 adults/2 children) £40. Call: 01279 870678

BOTH managers could do little more than chuckle about it after a crazy match between Maldon & Tiptree and Burnham Ramblers was abandoned at half-time in Saturday's downpour.

Maldon boss Terry Spillane admitted he had "never been involved in a game like it", while opposite number Keith Wilson described it as "mental stuff".

The visitors led the clash – the first competitive match between the two sides in 17 years – 4-3 at the break, having been 3-0 after just eight minutes.

But the heavens opened and after a 15-minute delay to the start of the second half, the referee had little choice but to abandon the game as heavy rain beset the area.

Spillane said: "It was like Billy Smart's Circus, I think that just about sums it up for both teams.

"I'm getting on a bit and that's the funniest game of football I've ever seen.

"I can call it funny because we didn't lose in it.

"I don't know how to describe it! It reminded me of when I was at school and you used to have 20-a-side, all-in, it was one of them, you score, we score and so on."

But he refused to blame the conditions for his side's defensive showing – and insisted there were positives as they then kept a clean sheet to draw 0-0 at Heybridge Swifts on Monday.

"It was just comical," he said. "We couldn't defend and nor could they.

"We were 4-3 down at half-time, but three of the goals they had scored were worldies, and to be fair so were a couple of ours.

"It was nothing to do with the conditions, it was bad defending but some great finishing, there were some spectacular goals.

"So to go in on Monday and get our first clean sheet was very pleasing, it's nice when things pay off.

"I don't know if my heart would have been able to take another 45 minutes on Saturday.

"It was just a strange day all round, I've never seen rain like that in my life, never been involved in a game of football like it in my life.

"I think we did gain something from it because without that I don't think we would have played so well at our local rivals, so I take positives out of it in that respect."

Burnham boss Wilson took a more sympathetic view towards the defenders in the game, and admitted it was the right decision to call the game off.

"It was not conducive to defending," he said. "And being a defender myself, I could say it was definitely in favour of the attacking.

"It was pretty mental stuff, three up in eight minutes, 4-2 after 20 and then the heavens really did open – it resembled a boating lake by the time we finished half-time.

"It was the right decision. We could have started the second half, it was really heavy, but we could have started.

"But as soon as we didn't start, it was never going to go on.

"It was disappointing, we were in front but whether we'd have won, you can't tell.

"We played some really good stuff, it is disappointing to not finish a game whilst winning at half-time, but it's one of those things.

"We wanted a reaction from the previous two games, we got that and then we carried that on into Monday as well when we beat Waltham Forest."

A CHILD rapist has been jailed for six years after his grown-up victim recorded his confession over the telephone.

Benjamin Mawdsley, now 24, of no fixed address, raped a 14-year-old girl over a two-year period when he was aged 18 and 19.

Years later, upon spotting him in Chelmsford town centre, his victim set about catching her abuser.

She set up a telephone conversation with him, during which he was recorded.

Judge Anthony Goldstaub QC said at Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday: "This contact was against a background of intimidation and coercion.

"She was a vulnerable and damaged person, given to self-harming and in fear of you."

He said Mawdsley was abusive and violent to a girl of whose age he was aware.

Prosecutor Mark Lakin said Mawdsley explained how in the secret recording she was described as an 'easy target'.

Mawdsley's family sobbed in court following the sentence before one shouted: "It's disgraceful."

Mitigating Clare Ashcroft said Mawdsley, who said he was drinking and self-harming at the time, was remorseful when the victim got back in touch.

Mawdsley pleaded guilty to two offences of rape in 2007 and 2008 and to four offences of sexual activity with a child over the same period in the Chelmsford area.

The judge ordered Mawdsley to sign the sex offenders' register indefinitely and banned him from contacting the victim or associating with any girl under 16 without guardian permission.

Investigating officer DC Melanie Nicholson gave up days off work to interview Mawdsley.

"I would like to recognise the courage showed by this young woman in coming forward to police and reporting what had happened to her as a teenager," said DC Nicholson, at the conclusion of the hearing.

"Her bravery enabled us to see this man put behind bars. I hope this conviction can help other victims feel confident to report offences to us, in the knowledge that we will do everything we can to support them and bring the offender to justice."

Back in February 2010, when Mawdsley was living in a Woodhall Road flat, Mawdsley was ordered to attend a domestic abuse and alcohol treatment programme after a violent outburst at his mother's home.

The court heard how on November 6, 2009, he drunk six pints and 12 shots before smashing picture frames, plates, glasses, a bowl and internal decorations.

After grabbing a woman by the throat when she tried to call the police, his mother, Wendy, asked him to leave but he returned banging on the door.

He smashed through a window, cut his wrists and pointed it at his girlfriend, before police arrived with a tazer gun.

CHELMSFORD CITY striker Bertie Brayley has called on the club's fans to be patient as their new-look side gels.

Brayley came off the bench to score the winner as the Clarets beat Staines Town 3-2 on Saturday, and then netted a late consolation from the spot in Monday's 2-1 loss at Tonbridge Angels.

The much-travelled striker is enjoying his second spell at Melbourne Park and is happy to be on the goal trail early in the campaign.

"Of course I'm happy with the two goals," he said. "It was nice to score on Monday but we lost, so that takes the shine off it.

"And it was obviously great to get the winner against Staines."

Brayley is one of only a handful of familiar faces to the Clarets faithful as new boss Dean Holdsworth builds a new-look squad, and the one-time West Ham trainee believes – like his manager – that it will take a little bit of time for the squad to get up to speed.

"I think we generally had a good pre-season," he said. "And the boys are in high spirits. We played against tough opposition in pre-season which can be hard because they have the ball quite a lot and we're running after them.

"The mood is good, we're together but we are still finding our feet with each other.

"We've had six weeks together, it's not going to happen overnight.

"But everyone gets on well with each other and it's just about coming together now as a group of lads and working hard for each other."

The Clarets return to home turf on Saturday when Weston-super-Mare visit Melbourne Park, and Brayley is hoping the fans keep backing the side.

"We need the fans to have a bit of patience with us," he said. "We've got a good manager, a good backroom staff and they're doing the right things.

"There's nothing wrong with our spirits, we'll pick ourselves up on Saturday and hopefully people will be behind the boys on Saturday and we can get a result.

"Monday's loss wasn't the end of the world, we've got to regroup, all pull together and we can be positive ahead of Saturday."

Manager Holdsworth is expecting a tough test when the Seagulls visit.

It is the third home game out of four for the Clarets, and Holdsworth admits his side need to be consistent.

"I've had them watched," he said. "I've not had time to see them myself, but we're doing as much homework as we have got the capability of doing.

"They're a very good passing side, and it'll be a tough game.

"There aren't any easy games, you look at the results in the division and they're up and down for everyone so far so we're just looking for that consistency ourselves."

"The players know that if we keep a clean sheet, we are always going to score goals.

"We are an exciting team going forward but we have to be a very professional team at the back and at the moment we are getting punished.

"We need to keep working hard, we'll do it again this week and we'll keep working until we get it right."

WITHAM TOWN manager Garry Kimble is delighted with his side's start to the Ryman League season – but now has his sights set firmly on FA Cup success this weekend.

Kimble's men sit top of Ryman League Division One North after five wins and a draw from their opening six games, including an eye-catching 6-0 win at Barkingside on Saturday.

But this weekend they host Eastern Counties League Premier Division outfit Newmarket Town in the FA Cup Preliminary Round, and Kimble is hoping to progress in that competition to earn the club some much-needed funds.

"First and foremost we've got a hard FA Cup tie and we need the revenue from that," he said. "We've got to approach the game like anything else.

"We've got to be professional, we've got to try and win the game.

"We've got home advantage and then if we do get through we've got home advantage again so that's an incentive in itself.

"We like to have a little run in the cup because in previous seasons we haven't really had the luck of the draw.

"This year the draw has been kind to us and hopefully we can capitalise on that."

Kimble's men were beaten in the play-off semi-finals last season by eventually-promoted Thamesmead, but he strengthened well over the summer and it has paid dividends so far.

And he added: "We've done well.

"I asked the lads to carry on what happened at the back end of last season when we won nine out of ten, and we've just carried that on through. It's been very good."

The 6-0 win at Barkingside took his side top of the table, and Kimble was delighted with that win and the way his side followed that up with a narrow 1-0 win over Soham Town Rangers on Monday.

He said: "I was pleased with the clean sheet as well and the way we played, from one to 16 and to be fair I think we could have scored two or three more, we hit the bar and the post so it could easily have been eight or nine.

"We only get three points of course, but winning 6-0 away from home is a good result and it's good for our goal difference as well.

"As I said to the lads on Monday when we played Soham, now we've got the added pressure of being at the top, the teams who we're playing will want to beat us even more.

"We showed good character on Monday, we played well and if it wasn't for their goalkeeper, we could have scored four or five.

"We're creating chances and keeping the goals out as well, so collectively we're doing well.

"At the moment, we are at the summit, we're top of the league, if we can keep there then it's all well and good, and if not then we just keep one game at a time and keep striving to get there.

"We've had some good scalps so far, but it's early days yet. We'll have a look at it after 10 or 12 games, if we're still there at the end of a hard September then we'll be happy."

A STATE of panic gripped Heybridge as floodwater turned a busy stretch of road into a river.

The parish bore the brunt of flooding in the area on Saturday as torrential rain battered the county, with residents able to do little more than stand and watch as water flowed into their homes.

This week, residents told the Chronicle their belief that, with appropriate planning by the council and assistance from the police, the damage to their properties could have been averted.

They also claimed that Maldon District Council was informed six months ago about poor drainage on the stretch of Goldhanger Road, near the Spicketts Brook bridge, which became a lake of muddy water on Saturday afternoon.

"It was the heavy rain you only see on TV about monsoons – I have never seen rain like it," said Paul Ratcliff of Goldhanger Road. "It rapidly started to flood the main road outside our house, and then worked its way up the drive.

"We went into the road in atrocious conditions to try to stop or slow the vehicles down. I phoned the police and fire brigade, but was told all pumps were out which was expected, but police officers were on the scene."

Vehicles driving along the road sent waves of water into the homes of Mr Ratcliff and his neighbours houses.

Mr Ratcliff claimed the police officers were of little help, saying: "I walked down to them in bare feet and shorts and asked the officers to close the road, only for the female officer to laugh at me.

"I was flabbergasted. I asked her what she thought was so funny as people were losing their homes. All the homeowners asked them to close the road but the officers did nothing. They said that they didn't have any signs to enable them to close the road.

"We had to drag the officers to each end of the road and force them to close it. One officer fell into a ditch and had to be dragged out. It was a farce, they even failed to stop a further vehicle coming through the cones. It was up to me and my sons to shut the road. I asked the other officer to radio her but he refused.

"I felt utter despair and frustration that, although I was in contact with all the departments, nothing was done."

Mr Ratcliff whose home and garage were flooded, also claimed that Maldon District Council had known about the faulty drains – and the risk of flooding on Goldhanger Road – for more than six months.

He said: "We tried cleaning the drains ourselves, but it was hopeless.

"I rang the police [when the flooding started] to see who was liaising with the council and Environment Agency, but no plans were in place.

"I find this unbelievable that no flooding contingent is in place for a coastal town. All it required was a council or highways agency lorry to come out and clean one drain in the middle of the flood to ease the waters."

Mr Ratcliff was given sandbags by the Environment Agency but feels that, had the police diverted larger vehicles from the road, or even slowed it down, this would have prevented further damage.

He continued: "I would like to know why it escalated to that scale, why there is no flood plan for Maldon even out of hours, why no one takes responsibility to liaise with the different departments, why the police failed to take any action."

Mr Ratcliff's next-door neighbour Clive Chapman, 68, a retired company director in the motor industry, now has to replace all of the carpets on the ground floor of his house, along with a trimmer and a lawnmower that were in his garage.

Mr Chapman said: "To be honest it was really scary. The water seemed to just come up from beneath my house and up into the carpet, and into the house that way – it was amazing just how quick the water took hold of my property.

"Now I'm just left with wet smelly carpets – a flooded garage and a lot of repair work to do."

Mr Chapman is now waiting to hear from his insurance company about the damage he has suffered – and was shocked to hear from his neighbour about the officers.

"I was very shocked to hear about the officers' conduct – what was the point in them even turning up?" he added.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "If a member of the public has made a complaint and it has been officially received by our professional standards department, it will be recorded and dealt with appropriately in liaison with the person who has made the complaint."

A Maldon District Council spokesman said: "Its difficult to say what drains were affected, but responsibility for drainage in the area could lie with the Anglian Water, the Environment Agency or Essex County Council Highways. Landowners also have responsibility for some drainage"

"Each statutory authority will have their own response plan to deal with flooding. The council's primary responsibility is to care for residents made homeless following an emergency incident. The council will try to assist residents wherever possible during an emergency, offering advice or support. On Saturday, teams were working to protect properties affected by the flooding."

"The council treated this incident as a local emergency, and responded wherever possible to calls for assistance from the public."

HUNDREDS of zombies will be charging down Brentwood High Street on the last day of filming for one of the biggest low-budget horror films in recent years.

On September 15, the street will be closed between the Slug and Lettuce and Kings Road when around 1,200 extras will be helping to create what is expected to be some of the most impressive shots of Welcome To Essex – a zombie apocalypse set in and around Brentwood.

The extras are being asked to arrive from 4am in time to be made-up before the main sequence of shots, to be filmed from 8am.

Filming is expected to be finished by around 9.30am.

Welcome to Essex was conceived by writer and director Ryan J Fleming.

He said: "We've got some amazing footage and all the things and shots we wanted to get we've got.

Everyone seems really happy. We have the same cast and crew that we had when we started and we have had some amazing fun."

The film, which has only cost around £7,000 to make, is set after the United Kingdom has been consumed by a zombie epidemic.

The majority of the population were killed in a matter of hours as millions of recently-deceased people returned to life and began to attack and kill the living.

The following day a small group of mismatched survivors find themselves trapped in Brentwood, hunted by hordes of fast-moving undead corpses.

The survivors must learn to work together and reach the last-known point of rescue, Southend-on-Sea, or face certain death.

Welcome To Essex is the latest feature film from Smoking Monkey Productions, a Brentwood-based movie studio that aims to put Brentwood on the movie rather than TV docudrama map.

Ryan said his film was always going to be a super-low budget project but with some small investment, Welcome to Essex has surpassed his expectations.

Now there are just three days of principal photography before post-production begins.

The film is expected to be released by January.

Mr Fleming added: "I am sure everyone is looking forward to that day – except I will be really nervous hoping that no-one gets up and walks out.

"People I think have expected a low budget film with YouTube quality but it will really impress people. With an amazing cast and talented crew, Welcome To Essex has gone from an interesting experiment in low-budget film-making to a large-scale, epic zombie apocalyptic movie that will surpass every film in its genre."

A MODEL railway enthusiast's intricate layout has caught the imagination of the miniature modelling world.

The detailed work, entitled 'Engaine-cum-Hardy,' is the creation of Robin French, 67, of Storr Gardens, Hutton and features a brewery siding, a locomotive engine shed and a functioning coaling tower.

That is despite being built on a space of only 5ft by 3ft 3ins to a minute scale of 2mm: 1 ft.

But to look on a map you may find it difficult to locate the station featured amid the scenery.

"It's an N gauge layout (having a very narrow distance between the model's tracks) and it was hard to build so it's a play on words," said the railway enthusiast.

"I've had people ask if it's based on the real Engaine-cum-Hardy and I've had to tell them there isn't such a place."

The model took around nine months to build, although Mr French insists it is "always a work in progress".

It has been exhibited all across the South East and now adorns the pages of this month's Railway Modeller magazine.

"The hardest part to get right was the turntable, because when it rotates 180 degrees you've got to make sure it's level when it turns around as the locos can't go over a bump in the tracks," he said.

"My principal aim was a layout capable of no less than four concurrent operational movements.

"I didn't want a simple 'roundy-roundy' oval, or a straight-out and back' terminus or yard-shunting layout. I wanted both – I wanted it all – and I think I've achieved it."

While former bank manager Mr French accepts there is an element of 'boys and their toys' to the hobby, he believes the skill could also be viewed as an art form in its own right.

"I think it's important to decide what you want from a layout," he said.

"It's great to build a model but what are you going to do with it afterwards?

"Modelling is in a way almost like painting in 3D; it's like painting a picture. I'm not an artist by any means but I am creating a picture that moves."

Chelmsford and District Model Railway Club is holding an exhibition at King Edward VI Grammar School in Broomfield Road, Chelmsford, on October 19 from 1.30am until 4.30pm.

THE stretch of the A12 which passes through Brentwood is no longer "fit for purpose" according to a national motoring organisation.

The Southern and Eastern region director at the Road Haulage Association John Howells has urged the Government to invest in "capacity improvements" to widen the road after travelling along the route himself.

At present, much of the road is two lanes wide, and at one point it narrows to one lane between the Brook Street roundabout and Romford.

"We can talk about expansion for the next ten years but we need to be investing," he said this week.

"The junctions between motorways and major A-roads are important to prevent unnecessary traffic and on somewhere like the A12 you don't want single carriageways.

"When our road network was built nobody foresaw the potential for the increase in the amount of cars on the roads.

"Now single lanes are always going to create congestion.

"We need to see an approach that says 'let's improve the A12 and get it up to standard."

Last month Essex county councillors backed a motion to prevent lorries from overtaking between Marks Tey and the Boreham interchange in an effort to ease congestion.

But Mr Howells criticised that decision and called for the current 40mph A-road speed limit for HGVs to be lifted and major work to begin.

Residents in Selwood Road, Talbrook, and Spital Lane near the Brook Street roundabout have previously complained about noise from road works on the stretch near their homes but Mr Howells said there is "no gain without pain".

He added: "If people can see there's going to be an improvement they tend not to mind so much.

"Not if there is a light at the end of the tunnel."

"There will be more traffic on the roads in the future and if they don't invest now the problems will get worse. That shows what needs to be done on the A12.

"It's time for investment."

Manager of West Horndon haulage company V J Milman, Duncan Page, echoed those sentiments.

"It'd be a worthwhile investment," he said. Even though they've made improvements in the drainage some years ago the A12 really is busy enough to warrant three lanes now."

Discussing the single lane strip of the road Mr Page added: "Three, into, two, into one, just doesn't go.

"It's a road that feeds North Essex quite well but it needs improving.

"The M11, I think, has been improved into a good road, and adding an extra lane to the A12 would only be a good thing."

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "Investment in infrastructure which helps national and regional growth is a top priority for the Coalition Government, which is why we have set out spending plans for over £28bn in enhancements and maintenance for national and local roads.

"We have already confirmed the development and construction of 52 major road projects in this parliament and the next. However, for other proposals, such as those put forward by the Road Haulage Association, the Department will continue to work with local councils, community groups and business to ensure all views surrounding the A12 are taken in to account when considering any future proposals."

FAMILIES from far and wide flocked down to Maldon's Promenade Park for their fifth annual crabbing competition last Sunday.

Children and adults alike took in the splendid scenery on the banks of the River Blackwater to find out who could grab the biggest crab.

The competition was delayed from Saturday until Sunday, August 25 due to heavy downpours in Essex but even a day late over 30 competitors still turned up to hunt down the crustaceans.

Organiser Rob Slight said: "I was so glad to see so many people turn up early and get involved with what is always a great fun day for the whole family. I did hear that a number of families turned up on the Saturday so I would like to apologise to them but by 11am we had to call it off.

"This year only two people attended who were from Maldon, so word must be getting around that this is a good place to take the children for something fun to do. But next year I would love for more people from the area to come down and take part."

Competitors aimed to catch the heaviest crab and Olivia Knights won the children's category with her 68g catch, second place went to Lia Heigham who caught a 56g crab and third place went to Emily McLeod, with a 51g catch.

William Nicholas won the adult category with a 38g crab.

BARGAIN hunters from as far afield as Australia flocked to the Brentwood Antiques and Collectors Fair, billed as one of the largest events of its kind in the region.

Scores of antique traders packed into the Doddinghurst Road venue to sell everything from Edwardian furniture to 18th century silver and a huge collection of ceramics and glassware.

Rita and Michael Sinclair-Wood, 72 and 74 respectively, are from Adelaide and decided to visit.

"I love antiques," Mrs Sinclair-Wood said. "It's lovely just to look at pretty things."

Stallholder Steve Lester, from High Easter, near Chelmsford, had brought with him an impressive collection of silver antiques, including an 18th century milk jug for £350.

Mr Lester is an auctioneer by trade but he has been dealing in antiques for the past 20 years.

He said: "Silver is like a fiddler's elbow – it can go up and down – but the thing with silver is you can do more things with it than gold that can look a little ostentatious and a bit bling.

"They say that if you want to eat an egg you can't beat eating it off a silver fork – stainless steel reacts with the sulphur in the eggs and you get that twang taste."

Kath Rushton, who had travelled from Maidstone in Kent to sell her wares, has been in the antiques trade for the past 12 months.

She said: "I've always interested in antiques, but I think the interest and intrinsic value of antiques is it's all about whether they fit in with modern lifestyles.

"Part of the problem is people don't have the size of properties that they used to."

Olive Smith and Chris Jones made a point of travelling from Edmonton to see if they could pick up a bargain.

Ms Smith, 75, who is an aficionado on ceramics, said: "It's the big one – there's lots of variety – there are always good finds and it's a great atmosphere.

"We always make a point of coming to this one."

Raymond Kline, from Watford, also always makes a point of paying Brentwood a visit for the town's major antique fair..

"I like second hand books and paintings – you are always on the look out for a bargain and hoping you are going to be able to pick out that special find.

Mike and Liz Watson came from Colchester to sell a large collection of antiques, including ceramics and Edwardian furniture.

Mike said: "It's silly that you can now buy 18th and 19th century furniture cheaper than some of the stuff made from MDF.

"It's slightly annoying that people always haggle, which I blame on the TV.

"They can do that on TV because that is the deal they have for the publicity for actually getting on TV."

A MOTHER has spoken of the "horrific" robbery of her teenage son as he left V-Festival last weekend.

The 17-year-old from Great Baddow was leaving Hylands Park on August 17 when he was approached by a man who demanded he give up his mobile phone.

The attacker, who is believed to be of mixed heritage and spoke with a foreign accent, then pulled a knife out on the terrified teen who quickly handed over his iPhone 5 and £10 in cash while a second assailant acted as a look out.

"You always think it's going to happen to someone else," said the victim's mother, who wished to remain anonymous.

"It's left him really shaken up and me too, you kiss your children goodbye and you never realise it might be the last time you see them.

"He works really hard and earns only a very small amount of money which he used to pay the contract on that phone, he should be able to take it out and make a phone call without something like that happening."

The teen, who is training as a motor sports engineer, had left the festival at around 4.30pm and was walking down the A414 at Writtle when he moved away from his group of friends to make a call to his sister.

He had noticed the two robbers chatting and attempted to walk quickly past but was stopped by one of the men, believed to be between 25 and 30, who told him he had "five seconds to give up his phone" while holding a blade at his side.

"I've always told him when something like that happens to just give up his stuff, nothing is more important than his life, and that's what he did," added the Chelmsford mother.

"He then came straight home and we reported it to the police. He's a typical 17-year-old and says it hasn't affected him but at the end of day I think it would play on anyone's mind."

Police have now released an e-fit image depicting the key suspect in the case who is described as being of mixed heritage, with a stubbly face and wearing a black baseball cap, navy t-shirt, black long-sleeved zip-up jacket, blue jeans and black trainers.

The second man was also clean shaven and wore a short sleeved white T-shirt, black tracksuit bottoms and white trainers. He was also carrying a black bag.

Anyone who can identify either of the men should contact Pc Jennifer McLean at Chelmsford CID on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

AS MANY as 8,000 dog lovers flocked to the third Essex Dog Day on a sun-soaked Sunday raising more than £50,000 for charity.

Four-legged friends found themselves entered in a series of competitions at Crix, Hatfield Peverel including the best pair of matching dogs, prettiest female, most handsome male and best pedigrees too.

There was even a gun dog scurry where dogs were asked to swim out to retrieve balls thrown into the middle of pond, though several dogs – especially German shepherds – were unwilling to test their swimming skills.

Competition was keen among owners and the hundreds of dogs competing in the show rings, agility, scurries and flyball courses and the lake.

The cup for Best in Show presented by The Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Lord Petre, was won by a rescue dog from Romania called Lucky which also won best rescue dog.

"It's the first time she's won anything" said her owner Rosie Bell from Maldon (pictured centre) "and now she's won twice. We were going to train her and then find her a good home because we thought she's too big for us but then we couldn't bear to part with her"

The organisers behind this year's Essex Dog Day brought in more than £50,000 for the Play and Resource Centre – the Braintree-based charity that provides support to disabled children and their families.

The last two Essex Dog Days combined have raised more than £95,000 for the charity in Great Notley country park.

This year's money brings the total raised over the three years close to £150,000.

The sun-kissed Sunday was a world away from the previous day when the torrential rain threatened to completely flood out the grounds of Crix, the impressive home now owned by Essex businessman Ian Twinley who has hosted the event since it started.

Among the thousands of people attending was Gemma Robinson who had brought Dexter, a two and a half old Cockerpoo.

The 33-year-old from Hatfield Peverel had been once before but this was her first outing with Dexter.

She said: "I'm surprised that there are so many people here, but it has been great. I love my dog.

"He just gives unconditional love."

Lindsay Brewer, 32, and her son Sean, 10, from Colchester, were with their two-year-old Springer Spaniel cross, Jess.

She said: "It's been brilliant. We've both really enjoyed it. And Jess has enjoyed it. She loves diving into the river and retrieving .

"I'm going to start her on gun dog lessons. I think she would be brilliant at it."

Marie Wright was with her two daughters, Becky and Lauren, and her 15-month-old chocolate Labrador – their first dog.

She said: "He's like a toddler. We all love him and we live our lives round him – it means we go on caravan holidays rather than go away without him – but we are seeing parts we might never see."

Lisa Lawler, from Chigwell, brought her two dogs – Brenda a Bulldog and Beryl, a French Basset, as well as Bailey, her friend's Yorkshire Terrier.

She said: "Beryl is a complete snob and Brenda is taking after her."

Sarah Courage, the former High Sheriff of Essex and chairman of PARC fundraising committee said: "We couldn't have asked for a better day. It's been great and all the volunteers have been just marvellous. Everyone has just pulled together.

"Special mention has to go our sponsors and the judges, some of whom have come from quite far away."

Dawn Simmons of PARC Essex said: "We do need this to enable us to keep our doors open to our children; they and their families need us so much and the money will go towards keeping this vital service going."

Around one third of Greater Anglia trains failed to show up on time, according to figures released by Network Rail today.

The statistics show that just 71.8 per cent of trains ran on time in the year up to August 17, when compared against Network Rail's 'right time' figures, which measure when a train is early or up to 59 seconds late. But Network Rail and Train Operating Companies officially use and are regulated by the Public Performance Measure (PPM), which classifies a short-distance train being 'on time' if it is delayed up to 4m 59s – and a long-distance train as 'on time' if it is delayed by up to 9m 59s - before it is classed as late. Under the PPM figures, Greater Anglia, which took over the franchise from National Express in February last year, had 92.5 per cent of its trains on time. Essex's other train company, c2c, which operates services between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness, had 84.9 per cent of its trains on time under the 'Right Time' figures – and 97.3 per cent when measured by PPM. Nationally, long-distance company Virgin Trains, which operates trains between London and Scotland, had the worst figures - with 83.1 per cent as arriving on time when judged by the PPM figures, but just 47.4 per cent arrived within a minute of their advertised time.