A HIP replacement just 18 months ago will not stop an Olympic Torch-bearer from Romford taking part in the London leg of a brand new Women's Running 10k series.

Determined Susie Colvill, 49, will join over 1,000 women on Saturday to run the new female-only race at London's Finsbury Park.

Ms Colvill, who has already taken part in the 2013 London Marathon since her operation, first took up running to cope with the stress and hurt following the breakdown of her marriage in 2009.

More than two years later an MRI scan revealed her hip was gradually being corroded due to an Avascular Necrosis, a condition in which bone dies due to interruption of the blood supply.

The fitness fanatic, who ran with the Olympic Torch through Stepney in Tower Hamlets, said: "I have always led a busy and active lifestyle as I am a group exercise instructor and teach full time, up to 25 classes per week.

"Prior to that, I was a competitive ice skater and coached for a number of years after. I decided to start running to make some time for myself, to help me through my break up.

"I started on the treadmill as I was really daunted by running outside, I would only ever do so when it was a nice day. Once I built up my running fitness, I decided it was time to enter some events. I did a half marathon and really enjoyed it, and then I got the bug and entered more.

"I began to feel a little niggle in my hip. I eventually had an MRI scan which revealed I had Avascular Necrosis."

Even though her troubled hip was causing her pain, she took part in the 2012 Virgin London Marathon, raising cash for the for the Cardiomyopathy Association.

She added: "By the time the diagnosis came, I had secured a place in the marathon and I'd already taken part in a half marathon and several 10k races, ignorant to the fact I had a serious condition.

"No matter how much pain I was in, I wanted to complete it and raise money for the Cardiomyopathy Association, so I kept on training. I wanted to help and running was the easiest way for me to raise funds."

"Marathon day was great, but I was in lots of pain. With the support of my new fiancé, I ran, hobbled, walked and limped the course, finishing in seven hours and nine minutes. I felt really disappointed with my time, and hid my medal for a year. Looking back now, I should have been elated.

Ms Colvill's hip replacement operation came just two days after she ran the London Marathon, in April 2012.

She said: "I had the operation and was out of hospital in two days, back on the cross trainer after ten days and back at work teaching classes after three and a half weeks.

"I was lucky enough to carry the Olympic Torch, and I started running again that day, in July 2012. I wanted to get back into racing, so I started with a 5k in October 2012 just six months after my operation, and have taken part in lots of other races this year, including the London Marathon.

"This time, I finished in four hours and 17 minutes, running the whole course. I was so proud and that was when it dawned on me what an achievement it was – not the fact that I ran with a new hip, but the fact that I completed it the year before with a hip that needed replacing. I now have both medals proudly on display at home".

This year she has completed four half marathons and ran every distance from a 5k to a marathon in the year since the operation. Her next race is the Women's Running 10k on Saturday.

The Finsbury Park Women's Running™ 10K race is the third and final race in the 2013 series, with the first two events taking place in Bristol and Nottingham earlier this year.

Ms Colvill has raised over £2,000 for the Cardiomyopathy Association in the past 18 months, and hopes to raise another £1,000 by the end of the year. To sponsor her, go to www.virgin moneygiving.com/team/susieand graham. Saturday's event is still open for entries, priced at £25, plus a small booking fee.

For more information go to www.wr10k.co.uk

A DETERMINED village community would move Heaven and Earth to raise £100,000 and save their 900-year-old church.

The church of St Mary and St Edward, in Church Road, West Hanningfield, needs its potentially rotting roof re-slating in a £60,000 project to stop it from leaking.

A further £40,000 would be used to redecorate the listed building, inside and out, for the first time since 1977.

A Friends of St Mary's group has now been formed to brainstorm fundraising ideas.

The priest in charge, Dr Stephen Need, said: "I would be embarrassed if it was our generation that let the church go – it has been here since the 12th century.

"People value having a village church and we would be very disappointed and sad if it went because we would lose a building that we love.

"It would be so sad if it was us that let it go. We are now praying that we can hopefully pay for the future."

A few months ago an architect visited before telling parishioners work was "particularly pressing" – warning members that rotting wood could be found underneath the slates.

The medieval roof is due to be re-slated in October, but the church needs an English Heritage grant or a monumental fundraising effort – or both – to get them started before then.

About 50 villagers flocked to the 120-seater church in July to brainstorm and organise future fundraising ideas.

To date, the community have collected more than £20,000 through a series of events, such as their annual barbecue.

More recently the 55-year-old Dr Need hosted a charity piano recital, while choir leader Elizabeth Beaty will host a cooking demonstration at the village hall on Tuesday. It will be at 9.30am and tickets will cost £10.

"We have a lot of hope that we will raise the money as there is a lot of people who come here for weddings, christenings and big funerals here," said Dr Need, of High Street, Stock, who is also in charge of his local All Saints Church.

Church warden Michael Gray, 77, said: "As far as we know it's all right for now, but what we are most worried about is that if you're hammering in nails and disturbing the wooden panels underneath, then you are in for another, second, big bill, so we have to allow for that."

Mr Gray, of Church Road, who has been with St Mary's since 1990, added: "It's a very treasured church and in 1977 when it was suggested it was closed it was awful for everyone."

Ms Beaty, 75, of Ship Road, said: "It would be awful if it closed. It is a central part of the community."

Can you help towards the fundraising? Email church warden Mr Gray on rmj.gray@btconnect.com

HEADTEACHERS of top-rated schools in Essex are branching out to help raise standards in those that are under-performing

A growing trend has resulted in schools rated as outstanding by Ofsted setting up their own academy trusts to allow them to take other schools under their wing to bring about improvements.

Tomorrow (Friday) sees the launch of the county's latest trust set up by Powers Hall Academy in Witham.

And the start of the term saw Joe Figg, head teacher of Purleigh Primary School take over as executive head teacher of Meadgate Primary School – the first venture of the Purleigh Link Academy Trust established this summer.

Similar trusts have been set up in Wickford, Harlow, Notley, Rayleigh, Saffron Walden and Colchester.

"The days of one head, one school are going," believes Joe Figg, who is spending most of his time at Meadgate Primary in Great Baddow, Chelmsford, where he is bringing in a range of improvements in a bid to move it out of special measures as quickly as possible.

"We are not in business trying to compete with each other, although it has appeared that way in the past.

"Today it's all about schools pooling resources, sharing teachers' expertise, and helping each other ensure pupils receive the best quality education."

The move for heads to manage more than one school has come about partly as a result of the national shortage of head teachers, and the Government's push for schools to convert to academy status making them independent of the local authority control.

Mr Figg admits the move to set up an academy trust at Purleigh came about when he and the governors were looking for a new challenge after the school was rated outstanding by government inspectors last year.

"Effectively, I am head of both schools – Meadgate and Purleigh. My deputy Neil Stotter runs Purleigh on a day-to-day basis, allowing me to focus on Meadgate.

"We want the school to be graded as good within the next 12 to 18 months. "

Meadgate was placed in special measures earlier this year after it was slammed by inspectors for the slow academic progress made by pupils and weak teaching.

In the longer term Mr Figg hopes that the trust will take on another outstanding school and one that requires improvement.

"It will be like a mini authority with our own experts in school improvement, behaviour management, financial management, and every other aspect that schools need. It just makes so much sense to pool our resources – this is the way forward."

A celebration is taking place today at Powers Hall Juniors in Witham as it celebrates becoming an academy and the establishment of its Connected Learning Multi-Academy Trust.

Now known as Powers Hall Academy, the school started the new academic year with a new logo.

Having been graded as outstanding by Ofsted twice in a row, the school's head Jane Bass was approached to ask if she would share her expertise.

She said: "I was asked if we would be prepared to sponsor another school that wanted to become an academy. It's such an exciting venture. We have done a lot of outreach work for quite a number of years, so it wasn't anything new for us.

"Collaborating is the way forward for schools. I'm convinced that our collaboration with other schools had a big part to play in our becoming outstanding. It keeps everybody on their toes.

"I'm supporting a school near Clacton – Engaines Primary, which Ofsted has declared requires improvements.

"As the school already had a strong dynamic head teacher who inherited a school that needs improving, I am the lead head, dropping in about once a week and helping in any area that is needed. It's not such a big role as an executive head as Engaines does not need as much support as some schools.

"It's a great way of working and I hope eventually we will link up with another two schools."

IF YOU'D gone down to North Weald Village Common on September 1, you might have been in for a surprise as the newly launched North Weald Mums held their first Teddy Bears' Picnic.

With adults in Teddy bear onesies and many excited children eager to tuck into a picnic, the event has been hailed a real success, raising hundreds of pounds to make improvements to the common behind the village hall, off High Road.

Treasurer Jennie Russell said: "The sun shone and lots of children had great fun decorating tasty Teddy bear biscuits, colouring in Teddy bear pictures, getting sparkly henna tattoos, making beautiful beaded jewellery and dancing with the fantastic Zumba ladies.

"All the grown-ups had the chance to buy raffle tickets to win fantastic prizes donated by generous local businesses and they could also buy scrumptious home-made cakes and biscuits, all made by our local mums.

"We also sold more of our brilliant Barley Barn 'Cooking With Kids' books.

"The highlight of the day was when our two Teddy bears arrived to tell the children exciting stories in our story corner.

"The event was an amazing success, well attended by local families, and we raised lots of money too.

"North Weald Mums is a recently formed local group aiming to raise funds to make improvements to the park on Weald Common.

"This was our first event and we raised £311.94, which is a long way from the £25,000 plus we need to raise, but it's a good start."

The 42-year-old mother of one is urging more people to join up.

She said: "The parish council are supporting us, as are local businesses. We are aiming to put on many more events and our planning meetings are usually held in The Kings Head pub.

"We are looking for more enthusiastic people to come and join us. We have lots more events in the pipeline including a Hallowe'en Party, Cockney Night and Afternoon Tea event, and we are also open to suggestions."

If you would like to get involved, e-mail NWM@gmail.com or follow them on Facebook at North Weald Mums and Twitter at @NWmums.

ZOMBIES might be taking over the High Street this weekend but on Sunday there were several sightings on the rugby pitch as a new youth development programme kicked off.

The Acorns, comprising mini, midi and youth teams at Old Brentwoods Club, in Ashwell's Road, were joined on the opening day by England World Cup winner Richard Hill MBE and deputy mayor of Brentwood, councillor Mark Reed.

Just a week before zombie film Welcome to Essex is filmed in the town, the pair joined the young players to get hands-on with a game of 'zombie rugby' in which the young players had to imitate a member of the un-dead when chasing each other.

"It was so wonderful. It was families having fun together, teaching kids how to play. It was really good to see," said Cllr Reed.

"It's great that it's all demand-led, the kids really want to play the sport."

The club's volunteer and leisure manager, Richard Austin, said: "After ten months of developing Project Acorn this marked the start of regular rugby at the club.

"Both guests joined in with some passing drills and Richard Hill answered questions from the youngsters on his rugby career.

"Senior clubmen showed their support and formed a traditional tunnel applauding the Acorn players from the pitch."

OBRFC Acorns will be running sessions on Sundays from 10am and are looking for more players, aged from under 7s to under 14s for boys and under 7s to under 12s for girls, to join the club.

To find out more contact SimonPeace@obrfc.org or JamesSavage@obrfc.org

PLANS to triple the size of a flood-prone village are "inadequately researched" and could result in greater risks for new and existing homes, warns one former Environment Agency advisor.

Brentwood Borough Council's Local Development Plan proposes 1,500 new homes be built in West Horndon by 2030 on two connected unused industrial estates and metropolitan green belt land.

The plans to build on an agricultural field to the west of Thorndon Avenue have been met with staunch protests from hundreds of residents of the village, which flooded in 1958, July 1981 and Christmas last year.

West Horndon parish councillor Colin Foan, a retired senior climate change advisor at the Environment Agency, began researching the flooding issues after the washout last Christmas which left homes damaged.

He says he can find no evidence the council has carried out enough, if any, assessment of drainage in the area, while his own research has left him "totally opposed" to any development on green belt land.

"The reason the drainage system didn't cope well at Christmas was because in this part of Essex the culverts in the flood alleviation scheme were not properly maintained. One was overgrown and blocked by trees, old tyres and so on.

"The water running off the high land of Thorndon Country Park has to go somewhere.

"The risk for the houses in Thorndon Avenue is already quite high and anything like the new development would be very likely to increase that risk.

"At the moment that field has a certain buffer drainage capacity but that will change if it is built on."

In May this year US engineering firm URS produced a sustainability appraisal study of the borough for the council, which made no mention of the flood risks in West Horndon.

An earlier council commissioned strategic flood risk assessment in January 2011 by UK based environmental and engineering consultancy Entec also failed to mention the risks in West Horndon.

Currently three culverts are in place to carry excess water away from under the railway line to the south of the village.

Maps available to the public on the Environment Agency's website show both West Horndon and nearby Bulphan to be at risk of flooding.

Mr Foan added: "The only way I could see they could safely build on the area would be to expand a drainage system that would allow the water to flow under the railway. But if you decrease the risk in West Horndon there's a chance you could increase the risk in Bulphan.

"You could then improve the drainage system at Bulphan but the cost of making sure that water makes it through to the Thames is likely to be high.

"I can't say for certain whether or not more culverts would prevent flooding to homes, but I suspect it would cause flooding in other areas like Bulphan."

There is also the possibility the LDP could have overlooked the existence of a protected species on the field.

Fellow parish councillor Kate Sibbald said: "We asked Essex Wildlife Trust if they could give us any information regarding what species are in the area. Unfortunately they don't have any complete records in that area.

"But we do know there are pipistrelle bats but we don't know if they are nesting here."

A ten-week public consultation ends on October 2. Visit brentwood.gov.uk or westhorndonparishcouncil.org.uk

MORE than 100 paintings by local artists and a church full of flowers were on show at Matching Flower and Art Festival.

The event at Matching Church and the Ancient Feast Room in Matching Green was held across August 31 and September 1 and enjoyed a steady flow of visitors coming to see the displays.

Jane Yates, a member of the Friends of Matching Church and the festival organising committee, hailed it as a great success.

The 57-year-old said: "It was really good.

"The flower displays were wonderful and the church looked beautiful. The theme for our displays was nursery rhymes. We had everything from Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star to Ring A Ring Of Roses.

"It was a really fun theme to play with and everyone came up with a great display representing their nursery rhyme.

"The weather was good, which always helps, and we had excellent food laid on by our caterers."

The event raised cash to maintain the church and feast room.

Mrs Yates, of High Laver, said: "We are still counting the money raised but it should be a good amount.

"The art displays were very impressive and lots of people came to see their work. A lot of the paintings were of local scenes.

"This year we had a fun run as well. This was to try and get younger people involved. It was a great success.

"The feast room and church are in such a lovely location and the grounds are so beautiful. I'm glad lots of people came to enjoy it."

A VICTIM of an alleged hit and run is appealing for witnesses to come forward to solve the mystery of the incident that left him fighting for his life.

Trevor Campbell, 43, from Chelmsford, has no memory of the events of August 15 that left him breathing through a ventilator in intensive care. The father-of-three was found collapsed on Springfield Road. He was taken to Broomfield hospital just after 10pm where he suffered multiple epileptic seizures following a head injury consistent with being knocked down by a car.

Now back recovering at his Chelmsford home, Trevor is desperate to fill in the missing pieces of that evening.

"All I can remember is that I was walking home along Springfield Road after having been out in town. I know that I went to cross the road and that's it, I don't know what happened after that." said Mr Campbell.

"The next thing I remember is waking up in intensive care at Broomfield 48 hours later where they'd had me under sedation and ventilation as, at one point in the ambulance, I had stopped breathing.

"A CT scan found an abrasion on the right side of my head so the hospital believed it must have been a hit and run."

It was a member of the public who discovered Trevor collapsed outside Tesco on Springfield Road and immediately called an ambulance.

At first paramedics believed he had just fallen unwell as there were no visible injuries, but the Chelmsford resident, who has suffered with epilepsy since he was 14, is positive it was not simply his condition.

"It's not possible that just one seizure would have brought on those consequences, my epilepsy is controlled by medication and prior to this I hadn't suffered a fit for about a month," added Trevor, who shares his home on Springfield Park Road with partner Kim and his children – the youngest of whom is just 18 months old.

"All I can think is that it might have been a car that just didn't stop.

"It was a complete stranger that called the ambulance and I've not heard from them since; it would be nice to thank them if I could.

"I keep trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together but I can't, which is really frustrating. Hopefully the memories will come back at some point."

The incident has worsened Trevor's epilepsy to the point that he is currently unable to work, while awaiting an appointment with a neurosurgeon.

A police spokesman said: "This case is being treated as a suspected fail to stop but it has been archived pending any further information. Anyone who saw the event or has information should get in touch on 101."

MILLIONS of music fans will tune in to X Factor this weekend and could see teenage singing sensation Sam Callahan perform at Wembley Arena.

The nervous teen from Great Totham auditioned in Cardiff in June just in front of judges Louis Walsh, Sharon Osbourne, Nicole Scherzinger and Gary Barlow.

He impressed them enough to make it through to the second stage of the show, a performance in front of thousands of fans at Wembley Arena.

Both the Cardiff audition and Wembley performance could be screened on Saturday and Sunday on ITV at 8pm.

At Cardiff the 19-year-old performed You're Beautiful by James Blunt and We'll Be Coming Back by Calvin Harris.

Sam, a former Heathcote School pupil, said: "I must admit it was really scary. I love performing in front of large crowds because I really feed off the energy and getting everyone going – but performing in front of such a small audience knowing you have to impress was nerve-racking.

"Nicole, Louis, and Sharon were all really positive about my first audition so I was pleased with that, but Gary was slightly negative.

"I'm going to try my very best to win over Gary and prove to him that I want to work as hard as I can and go as far as I can in this competition."

Sam, who is often compared to X-Factor success story Olly Murs, endured three producers' auditions before he made it in front of the judges and under the TV show's strict rules he is unable to reveal the outcome of his Wembley performance in front of 4,000 people.

He said: "I was apprehensive at first before going on to the X Factor because I had heard how difficult it can be."

But Sam is no stranger to performing, after winning a place at the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London in 2006 and joining a pop band headed by Geri Halliwell and Simon Fuller.

But he reveals his mum, Tracey, still gets anxious when he performs.

"I would say that my mum gets just as nervous as me when I perform – and she still cries," he said. "I know that she is very proud so that makes me happy.

"When I finally walked out of the audition it was a huge sigh of relief – I went with my mum and mad and they watched on screen with Dermot O'leary – and when I walked out it was great to see their faces."

POLICE are hunting a suspected 'boy burglar' who took jewellery, watches and other valuable items worth £1,500 from a house near Chelmsford.

The thief, who is believed to be aged between 14 and 17, broke into a family home in Mashbury Road between 11am and noon on August 13.

He took two watches, jewellery, including two pairs of gold cufflinks and a gold bracelet, a box of costume jewellery, other small items and a 7inch android tablet.

Investigating officer DS Carl Oldfield said: "We believe that the break-in was carried out by a boy who clearly knew what he was doing and had obviously burgled family homes in the past.

"We know that he cycled to Mashbury Road and was in the area for about 30 minutes before getting into the house.

"We believe that he rode past several times, knocked on the front door a few times and looked through downstairs windows before going into the back garden where he broke in through the back door.

"Even then he rode away in case he had activated an alarm but he returned a few minutes later and got into the house.

"We want to hear from anyone who saw the boy in the area on August 13 or anyone who has been offered an android tablet or gold jewellery for sale in suspicious circumstances."

The boy was white, of slim build and with neatly cut dark hair with a short fringe. He was wearing a pale blue V-necked sweater over a white T-shirt, blues jeans and white trainers.

He had a grey or pale blue rucksack over his shoulders and was riding a silver or light-coloured mountain bike, believed to be a woman's cycle or a gents bike, with a low sloping crossbar.

Anyone with information should contact DS Oldfield or his team at Chelmsford CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

TWO Wickford women have been punched, kicked and stamped unconscious just days apart in two separate attacks in the town.

In the first attack a 29-year-old woman was beaten unconscious by two teenage girls after she refused to hand over her mobile phone.

Six days later, 37-year-old Tina Lawrence was punched unconscious by a group of males, after she the told them "to get lost" when they made lewd sexual comments about her.

The 29-year-old victim was in High Street, Wickford, outside Wickford Grill and Bella Pizza, at about 12.20am on Friday, August 22 when she was approached by two teenaged girls who asked to borrow her phone to call a taxi.

The victim refused and said she would call a taxi for them.

She made the phone call and then tried to walk away towards the train station, but the two girls grabbed her by the hair causing her to fall to the ground.

They then started to punch, kick and stamp on the victim who was left with bruises and a swollen face. Her bank card was stolen during the attack.

One of the suspects was about 15, 5ft tall, medium build with medium-length bleached blonde hair with hair extensions. She wore light clothing and gold criss-cross cork wedged heels.

The other was white, 4ft tall and about 14, with long wavy hair down to her stomach. She was wearing dark patterned clothing.

The attack happened just six days before Tina Lawrence, also from Wickford was beaten near Beauchamps School, Wickford.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Pc Kelly, or her colleagues at Basildon CID, on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A BAND of three brothers from Witham who once toured with Britney Spears and Westlife and had a chart hit in the 1990s are making a comeback on this year's X Factor.

Next of Kin, once dubbed "the British Hanson" in their teenage years due to their similar haircuts and sound, are hoping to impress judges Gary Barlow, Louis Walsh, Sharon Osbourne and Nicole Scherzinger on the ITV talent contest.

The Bass sibling's rise to childhood fame began when gifted middle brother Mark won Young Guitarist of the Year at the age of 11.

Not wanting to be left out, the other two brothers also wanted to start taking up music with Nathan learning the drums and Kieran starting on the bass.

After hitting the big time with a number 13 hit 24 Hours From You in 1999, the group, aged just 18, 15 and 13, were tipped for big things and a second single was in the pipeline.

They then embarked on a Smash Hits tour with stars like Britney Spears, 5ive, Boyzone and Westlife, before many of them were household names, and at a time when Britney's first track Hit Me Baby One More Time was going global.

"It was incredible to be there witnessing it," said Nate, now 32, who lives with his brothers in Witham.

However, despite a follow up single More Love reaching number 33 in June 1999, the youngsters say they were victims of the ruthless showbiz industry and claim most of their earnings went to their bosses.

When they were dropped by their record label Universal Records, they were left broke and with massive bills from the taxman, while their parents even lost the family home in Braintree.

But they continued to gig at pubs in the county and have even recorded a track for Help for Heroes in tribute to Lee Rigby, the soldier killed in Woolwich.

During the ups and downs since their initial chart success, Next of Kin even made a heavy metal album of Rammstein covers in Germany.

But the record company that wanted to make the album went into liquidation before it could be released, they say.

"It is literally soul-destroying to constantly keep meeting the wrong people at the wrong time, but all you can do is keep doing what you're doing because you love it," said Nathan, who even left the band for a short time – not because of any falling out, just to try something new.

But he soon returned and now the trio want to take the X Factor by storm.

"The reason the boys and me went into X Factor is there's been a lot of boy bands over the years and we're told they want more bands with guitarists to audition as this year they're looking for something different, and hopefully we are that because we're not the average boy band.

"When we were auditioning we were told this is what we are looking for, and that they were looking for more bands like us because a lot of boy bands that go through the audition stage, everybody is so, so young.

"But we've got a bit more experience and we're one of the few to go on and audition with an acoustic guitar.

"Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger – and even Gary Barlow, who's supposed to have replaced Simon Cowell as the bad guy, still gave us good feedback. We're just going to do our best and hope for the best.

"We really want to succeed to make this happen for our family. They've been so supportive over the years and it's been a financial burden for them. They put so much into us and they have lost so much.

"We've got a more grown-up production and have more of a Brian Adams feel now."

Nathan issued a word of warning to his fellow, less-experienced, fame-hungry contestants about the pitfalls of the music industry. "A lot of the young bands really don't know what they are in for. People will offer you the world, but I would say always look into who it actually is and their background. Nowadays you can just Google someone and find out if they've been bankrupt before or anything like that.

"Some bands owe their success to having the right team around them from the start. Westlife had Louis Walsh from the beginning, but we weren't that lucky."

Clips of next week's contestants revealed the boys should be performing on Saturday's X Factor at 8pm before the follow-up show at 8pm on Sunday.

To follow the band's X Factor journey, visit www.facebook.com/NextOfKin13 or www.twitter.com/NextOfKin13.

"THEY are not listening to us" – these are the words of many Brentwood residents who are speaking out against the proposals to build a new rugby clubhouse on King George's Playing Fields.

The proposals, which will see an entirely new structure built on an existing football pitch, have angered some residents who claim it is wrong on multiple counts.

Debbie Coole, 57, of Ingrave Road, lives near the playing fields. She said: "The siting of the new rugby clubhouse will cause a number of problems.

"It will be built on an existing football pitch and they will be relocating several pitches. This will leave the provision for football heavily reduced.

"One of the pitches, designated for football use in the plans, is so badly drained that it would probably take thousands of pounds just to make it usable.

"The rugby club and the council need to understand that not everyone wants to play rugby.

"The playing fields are not owned by the rugby club, they are for the people of Brentwood not just the rugby players of Brentwood.

"The new club will be much larger and will face out towards our houses.

"They will host social events there, like all rugby and social clubs do, and the noise will keep us awake.

"Alongside this is the longstanding problem of the overflow car park. It has always been used by anti-social drivers and the police have had to close it at night to stop this.

"With the planned clubhouse opening late and now being situated right next to the car park, they won't be able to close it to the anti-social drivers and they will just come back."

Resident Peter Hawkins, also of Ingrave Road, added: "There will be late night noise and disturbances throughout the year from the large first floor balcony bar and by people arriving and leaving late by car or foot.

"They will be taking over two football pitches and forcing the footballers to move to the far corner of the park where playing conditions are poor.

"This green field is currently enjoyed by so many families for relaxation, walking and playing that the openness and accessibility will be lost for all Brentwood residents and visitors from outside the borough."

Councillor for Brentwood South, Mike Le-Surf, said: "The rugby club last month got permission from the council to take over the running of the rugby pitches. I was the only councillor to object to this as I knew it would lead to a stronger case for them regarding the application.

"The club are great but they are not the only park users and they have met big opposition from locals. The existing site is fine if they want to rebuild but the location of this site will ruin the aspect of the space for all users.

"It should come back from planning officers for refusal as it is building on the green belt – but I will make sure it is referred to the council if it is recommended for approval."

A Brentwood Borough Council spokesman was unable to comment as the matter is on-going.

If you wish to comment on the proposal visit www.brentwood.gov.uk and follow the links to planning applications. You can also do this by phoning 01277 312500 or in writing to Brentwood Borough Council, Town Hall, Ingrave Road.

TENNIS lessons for young and old will continue at Old Brentwoods Tennis Club after a successful summer of activities.

Boys and girls from four-years-old and upwards have come from all over Brentwood to the 22-acre site in Ashwells Road to enjoy sessions with the coaches while parents were able to watch from the clubhouse or balcony with a drink in the sunshine.

Coaches Martin Davis and Rowena Marshall were using larger, softer red balls and mini rackets for the younger children in the mini-tennis sessions while showing them the correct way to execute the basic shots.

More fun activities kept the children engaged with orange balls, instilling in them further skills and chances to use their newfound abilities.

Ms Marshall said: "It is great being able to start young children off with a love of tennis and see them coming back time and time again wanting more."

Head coach Mr Davis said: "If you can show youngsters what good fun the game can be, they will keep coming back and with the right guidance will have the opportunity to become good players."

Mini-tennis for four to eight-year-olds is held on Thursdays from 4pm and Saturdays from 1.15pm for just £4 each.

Junior tennis for nine to 14-year-olds is held on Thursdays from 5pm and Saturdays from 2.15pm for £5 each.

Adults have their own sessions and individual lessons can also be booked.

To find out more or to book a session, contact Martin Davis on 07710618911 or Rowena Marshall on 07746417459.

HARMONIES will fill the air at a choral concert promising to provide "beautiful liturgical music" to delight listeners.

The Barcelona Tour Choir is the serving church choir of The Most Holy Redeemer Church based at 21 Laindon Road, Billericay.

The group, drawn from the town and surrounding areas, will be performing a special concert on Saturday, September 14 from 8pm at the church.

In a recent trip to Spain, 37 members of the group sang in Barcelona.

Kathy Underhill, of Perry Street, is the choir director and organist. She is also a professional pianist accompanist and piano teacher at Brentwood School.

She said: "We have singers from the age of seven, right up to those in their 80s, and lots of people in between.

"Most of the singers who travelled to Spain will be performing at this concert, which is in aid of the Handicapped Children's Pilgrimage Fund."

The charity provides pilgrimage holidays for those in need of support or help, encouraging friendship and providing a positive memory for underprivileged children.

Mrs Underhill continued: "We have sung in many exciting places, including the Vatican, Rome and the latest trip to Spain, as well as our annual performance at Westminster Cathedral.

"Our group has a lot of fun singing and we are prepared to work hard for it. We work on our vocal techniques and we have lots of different style voices and types.

"We really enjoy ourselves it is extremely good fun."

The 64-year-old who lives with her husband Roy, also 64, is a grandmother-of-three.

She added: "We have made recordings on the BBC and have quite a lively schedule.

"And we try to do as many concerts as we can for charity."

Although admission to the concert is free, the group will welcome donations from the audience for the charity.

Mrs Underhill was confident that the evening would hit all the right notes.

She added: "It will provide an hour of beautiful liturgical music, some accompanied by organ, some not."

The choir, which practices weekly on Thursdays from 8pm until 10pm at The Most Holy Redeemer Church, welcome new members.

Membership is free to the friendly singing group and there is no entrance audition to join.

Those interested in taking part should call the parish office at The Most Holy Redeemer Church on 01277 624891.

AN RSPCA rescue home is urging the public not to dump unwanted animals outside their centre after two cats stuffed in a rucksack and eight chickens were abandoned on their doorstep.

The two white and tabby six-month-old kittens were crammed into a canvas backpack and left outside Danaher Animal Home on Thorley Farm in Hedingham Road, Wethersfield.

On the same day, but a few hours later, a cardboard box containing eight chickens was left at the bottom of the driveway of the rescue centre.

"We don't normally have farm animals so this is one of the more unusual cases, it doesn't happen that regularly but we find we get a spate of it all at once," said the rescue home's deputy manager Deborah Satchell.

"It actually is a prosecutable offence if caught abandoning an animal. I can understand why people do it – they get desperate.

"But there isn't the room here. We even have animals in crates in the kitchen because we don't have space."

RSPCA Danaher has the capacity for 84 dogs, 48 cats and 10 rabbits, plus numerous small animals like guinea pigs and hamsters.

But they now say that they have so many animals to take care of that staff members are being forced to look after refugee cats, dogs and rabbits in their own homes with some temporarily housed in the kitchen.

"We are getting so many calls to rehome animals at the moment and we just cannot take them in," added Deborah.

"The centre is at full capacity for dogs, cats, rabbits and other small furry animals – it really is a case of 'one out and one in'.

"There have also been several cases of injured domestic animals and wildlife handed in recently and I just want to point out that we do not have a vet on site and these animals should be taken to a vet for treatment – any delay may have serious consequences for the animal."

A CHELMSFORD soldier has been crowned the Army's best recruit after completing a gruelling six-month training course.

Private Chris Dickson, 18, from Broomfield, was commended as the best trainee by his superiors after his time at Catterick in North Yorkshire completing the Combat Infantryman's Course.

Chris initially wanted to be in the police, but quickly decided that the military was for him.

He said: "I did a year at Chelmsford College on the Uniformed Public Services course and that convinced me I wanted to be in the Army.

"The course at Catterick is absolutely jam-packed. Although it's only six months, it sometimes feels like a lifetime."

Besides having to be incredibly fit, recruits go through an intensive course of learning drills, weapons training, field craft, patrolling skills and endurance training, which culminates in a live firing and battle camp in Wales.

Chris said: "By the time you get to the final exercise and all your training comes together, you realise how much you've learned.

"The best parts of the course are that I've been with a quality bunch of lads. I feel super-fit and I've been given this award."

The award process started with 48 recruits. The staff, all of whom have had operational experience in Afghanistan, were looking for the one person who is tough, robust and who demonstrates leadership and a selfless commitment to other people.

Spokesman for the barracks, former Major David Cunningham, said: "The guys who have chosen him, they would be thinking 'Who would I take on operations when the bullets are flying?' and it's him."

The young soldier's mother, Dawn, 47, said: "He will go far in whatever he does. I've never worried about what Chris will do in his life. From five days in he called me and he was shocked at just how clinical it was – he had to write his will.

"I'm pleased though that he has persevered."

"He really understands that it's not just glamorous like it is on TV," added Dawn.

Chris is also very resourceful around the house, building his mum a barbecue out of bricks from scratch.

"He's Chelmsford's answer to Bear Grylls," said Dawn.

"The whole family is very proud of him."

"He has a lot of friends – there will be a huge party when he comes home."

Chris will be given the award at his passing out parade on Friday at the North Yorkshire training centre.

After driver training and some leave, he will then join his new unit – the 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment based in Bulford, near Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire.

THREE giant cranes at the former Anglia Ruskin university site had to be dismantled when heavy rain threatened to dislodge their foundations.

Genesis Housing Association and builders Denne Construction were forced to scale back work on the site in Victoria Road South, where 500 homes are to be built, for urgent safety checks.

One of the concrete slabs supporting a number of the cranes on the 5.7 acre building site had moved due to a build-up of extra water.

So three cranes had to be taken down as a precaution while the foundations were shored up.

It meant work at the site, which stretches from the railway station to Parkway and includes the historic Anne Knight, Frederick Chancellor and Law buildings, had to be scaled back and moved to a safer location.

Speaking last week, Neil Gulliver, cabinet member for planning and economic development at Chelmsford City Council, said: "I'm concerned about the delay because obviously there's much needed social housing on the site. The longer it takes the longer people have to wait to be rehoused."

But the work was back up to full speed last Friday, six weeks after the initial scare.

A spokeswoman for Genesis Housing Association said: "It's well-known that there is water underneath the development site and so this didn't come as a complete surprise and it wasn't a major issue.

"We took down the cranes purely as a precautionary measure and to help us investigate and repair the issue.

"As of last week, the cranes were all back up on site and work is still on track to complete the delivery of 224 homes, the refurbishment of the three historic buildings and creation of the new office and retail space as part of our flagship new development, which is going to bring much-needed housing to Chelmsford by September next year.

"The cranes were within the statutory safety limits at all times and there was no danger to the public or the development," she added.

The project, which is expected to be fully complete by 2015, will see 507 homes built on the site, along with a 13-storey tower, offices and a supermarket.