WITHAM TOWN manager Garry Kimble was delighted to serve up a slice of humble pie to Harlow Town after his side secured promotion to the Ryman Premier League.

Eight days after seeing their dreams of winning the title end with a 1-1 draw at Cheshunt, Kimble's men were simply too good for their much-fancied opponents at Spa Road.

Excellent goals from Seb Murfet, Lee Townrow and Shami Pedulu secured the 3-0 win, which came despite the dismissal of skipper Paul King for a second yellow card in the second half.

Harlow had been the only team to beat Witham on their home turf in the league this season, and revenge was sweet for Kimble.

"I give credit to Harlow," he said. "But what hurt us was when they came down here in the league game and they said to us "see you in the play-offs".

"I'll always remember that, and look what happened today. I hope they eat humble pie.

"I'm ecstatic. I think we were the underdogs coming into the play-offs but I got up this morning and I had a great feeling. I was calm, I wasn't nervous and to put a show on like we did was fantastic from the boys.

"I'm proud to be manager of this club. Where we've come in three years, two promotions and the play-offs is staggering. The profile goes up but, at the end of the day, it's not about me, it's about the players, they deserve everything."

Now just two years after winning promotion from the Essex Senior League, Town will be in the Ryman Premier Division next year, where they will take on the likes of Maidstone United, Billericay Town, Margate and Tonbridge Angels.

And Kimble admits it will be a big ask for his side to compete at that level.

"I need to sit down with the board and go from here because it's going to be a big tall order," he added.

"I think if we finish fifth from bottom we'll have achieved the FA Cup next year.

"We've got some big ties, but it's nice going to play those top sides.."

ED RENDELL enjoyed a perfect weekend at Oulton Park as he topped all the timing sheets, was on pole and won his class.

The Chelmsford racer won his 125cc category race at the Cheshire circuit after a flawless ride – and almost won the whole race he was in.

His category race was alongside the 250cc bikes, and he finished second overall – and felt he should have pipped his more powerful rivals too.

"I was battling with two others for the overall race and I was leading pretty much the whole way," he said. "Right near the end a rider fell off in front of me and I almost got taken out and one of the others got away from me.

"I finished first in my class and second overall, a good 25 points and now I'm leading the British Championship.

"The 250s have been introduced because that's the future of the class, they've got a bit more drive out of corners so it's a bit faster, which is why they split the race into two categories.

"But we all still race at the same time and I was on it this weekend and I should have won the whole thing really, but I just couldn't quite get it."

But despite that disappointment Rendell was pleased with his performance in the second round of the series, which now heads into an early-season break.

"It was good," he added. "We topped all the timing sheets all weekend so we had the pace and I was able to put it on pole, which was my first pole in BSB, so it was a special day.

"I got the old champagne out again which I always enjoy.

"But there's a six-week break now until the next round because you've got all the Isle of Man racing and it's nice to have got that win because we know for the next round that we're in good shape.

"I'll probably relax, there's not much testing we can do at the moment because of the budget. I'll relax and it's back to reality with work."

MARK HUGHES is confident next season will be a better one after winning two awards at Chelmsford City's player of the year event.

Captain Hughes scooped the top prize – voted for by supporters – and also won the press player of the year, which was chosen and presented by the Essex Chronicle.

The 30-year-old put in a string of consistent performances and was a worthy winner of both prizes.

And although he was pleased with his personal accolades, he says he would have swapped them for a better campaign for the team.

The Clarets finished the campaign 17th in the Conference South, and only secured their survival with a victory in their penultimate game.

And Hughes said: "Personally I'm delighted to get player of the year and the press player of the year, it's a really nice achievement.

"It's been a frustrating season but it's a nice little one to kickstart pre-season and hopefully have a good year next year.

"I would have traded it all day long for the play-offs though, that's what I came here to do, they had been in the play-offs for four of the last five years, but your perspectives change during the season.

"We knew at Christmas we wouldn't get there so we had a new aim and we got there in the end, we got over the line with a game to go.

"I'm sure that won't happen again next year because we've built a decent squad in the last 10 or 15 games and if we get a few new faces in we can have a good season."

Matt Lock was named players' player of the year at the Melbourne Park ceremony, Leon Redwood was young player of the year and Carl Pentney won away player of the season.

All spoke of a want to do better next time around, and Hughes sees a bright future after the way the club finished the campaign under Mark Hawkes and Steve Smith.

Hawkes was appointed manager in November after Dean Holdsworth's disastrous reign, and although there were a couple of blips along the way, there were certainly more ups than downs under the former Heybridge Swifts chief.

And Hughes believes – with a full pre-season – the Clarets can hit the ground running in August.

"There is optimism," he added. "The home form was really good after the gaffer came in.

"We've got to grind out the results against the teams at the bottom, that's where the team spirit comes in and I don't think we had that at the start of the season and that'll get us through next year because we've got that now.

"He can work and get his ideas across for six weeks before we have a league game.

"We've got Matt Brinkley in now, we didn't have a fitness coach under the previous manager and Matt is excellent at what he does, I'm sure we will be fitter.

"Mark and Steve are very personable, they got around the lads in the changing room and in training, they are very positive and they got us on board from the first night they came in which was very important.

"Plus, we went on a really good run, so it was totally forgotten about what had gone on. I'm really looking forward to next year."

TTC wetranslate, the Chelmsford-based translation company with over 20 years of experience in translation and interpretation services will exhibit at Going Global Live, in London, on Thursday, 15th May and Friday, 16th May, stand number 3554.

TTC wetranslate will be sharing the Going Global experience with 3,000 fellow businesses who want to expand internationally and will have the honour to exhibit alongside representatives from China-Britain Business Council, The Mexican Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain, or UK-India Business Council.

In addition, the company's Managing Director, Levent Yildizgoren, will be one of the speakers. He will talk about the importance of translating your website correctly in order to reach a global audience. His presentation will take place on 15th May, at 11.45 am and on 16th May, at 13.15 in Hall 25.

Going Global exhibition and conference is specially created for companies looking to expand their business internationally, export products or set up overseas operations. The visitors will also have free access to The Business Show, the UK's biggest exhibition for people looking to start or grow a business.

GARRY KIMBLE was delighted with the quality of his side's goals as they brushed aside Harlow Town to win promotion to the Ryman Premier League.

Seb Murfet's stunning volley went in off the underside of the bar to open the scoring on 26 minutes, and seven minutes later it was two when Kris Newby skinned his man on halfway and picked out Lee Townrow, who lobbed advancing keeper Dan Knowles.

Even after skipper Paul King was sent off with 25 minutes to go, Witham still looked the most likely to score, with their reward coming four minutes from time when substitute Shami Pedulu ran along the 18-yard line before smashing into the top corner.

And Kimble said: "The first goal was out of this world, the second one was a great ball from Newby and a great lob from Townrow and the third one, Sham can do that, he's an impact player and he's got a good future ahead of him.

"When their back four got tired he came on and his goal was outstanding and fits any final.

"Three quality goals, you can't qualm about their goalkeeper, he didn't have a chance with any of them.

"I've got team spirit in there in abundance, the best team spirit I've had at any club and I think that gives you half of your points.

"Getting 98 points and going through the play-offs is a great achievement, usually the second side don't really get through so we broke that hoodoo but we're going to look forward to next year, big sides like Maidstone coming down here, it's fairytale stuff.

"We've put Witham Town back on the map. Two promotions in three years, last year in the play-offs and just missed out but it's been an absolutely great ride and now the hard work starts."

The first sight of goal came for the home side when a high cross in the box was headed back across goal by Townrow, and a missed clearance gave Newby a shooting chance, but it was deflected over – and from the corner, the same player shot well over the top.

It was Witham who looked to seize the initiative in the opening quarter of an hour and Townrow wasn't far away from connecting with Tom Wraight's cross.

The visitors had their first chance on 19 minutes when a deep James Smith corner was headed on by Leon Antoine and flicked on by Stanley Muguo, before being headed across goal to Alex Read, but his header went over the top.

But still the home side came forward and a slip from Josh Urquhart presented Joe Sweeney with a chance, but he could only shoot wide from the edge of the box.

The deadlock was broken on 26 minutes when Murfet smashed in a fine volley off the underside of the bar from the edge of the D.

And, seven minutes later, the home side were in dreamland when they doubled their lead with another great goal.

Newby had an early sighter from distance straight at Knowles early in the second half before a Junior Dadson cross had to be well cleared at the near post in front of the lurking Read.

Wraight saw his long-range effort well saved by Knowles, before a Harlow free kick was flicked on towards Darren Blewitt but he couldn't connect.

On 65 minutes the visitors were given renewed hope when King was shown his second yellow card. Booked in the first half for a foul on Read, the centre-back went in on James Smith and, much to his disbelief, was sent off.

From the resulting free kick, Martyn Guest had to claw away a looping header and, not long after, good work from Smith on the left saw his low cross miskicked by Junior Dadson.

Smith had a shot deflected behind before a header from his namesake George's cross forced Guest into his first save of note.

Read lobbed over as Harlow pushed and pushed for a way back into the game, but four minutes from time their hopes were ended by another fine goal from Witham.

Wraight found Pedulu on the edge of the box and he ran past his man before unleashing a fine shot into the top corner.

CASES heard by Chelmsford and Colchester magistrates fromThursday, March 13 to Wednesday, March 19.

Sent to prison

JOE STRATTON, 26, of The Chase, Great Baddow, was given a ten week prison sentence, in place of an 18 month suspended sentence order imposed on June 19, for failing to attend two appointments in February.

STEPHEN LESLIE SWALLOW, 65, of Rickstones Road, Witham, was sent to prison for a total of eight months.

He was given two months for failing to notify Chelmsford City Council of full details of his income which would affect his entitlement to Housing and Council Tax Benefit between August 3, 2009 and March 4, 2013.

He was given three months consecutive for failing to disclose full details of his income to the Department for Work and Pensions in Chelmsford on January 17, 2013, and a further three months consecutive for failing to notify them between July 27, 2009 and February 3 in order to claim Pension Credit.

It was a serious offence because of the large amount defrauded, multiple frauds and a deliberate fraud claim over a long period.

Assault

SAMUEL HARMAN, 35, of Queen Street, Maldon, was given a community order for assaulting Christopher Andrew by beating him at Maldon on June 21 and for using threatening, abusive or insulting words or disorderly behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

He must carry out 60 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, pay £50 compensation, a £60 victim surcharge and £320 costs to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

ARSIM EGEDJI, 33, of Meadgate Avenue, Chelmsford, was given a community order for assaulting Hossein Bayati at Chelmsford on April 15 last year. He must pay £175 compensation, a £60 victim surcharge and £620 costs to the CPS.

DARREN WILLIAM GILROY, 46, of West Lawn, Chelmsford, was given a community order for assaulting Claire Perrin and Thomas Murphy by beating them at Chelmsford on November 10.

He must carry out 120 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, pay £75 compensation, a £60 victim surcharge and £200 costs to the CPS.

BRIDIE ROSE CLIFFORD, 19, of Fitch's Crescent, Maldon, was fined £55 for assaulting Megan Bolton by beating her at Maldon on November 23. She must pay £100 compensation, a £20 victim surcharge and £500 costs to the CPS.

KAYE HUTTON, 51, of Fitch’s Crescent, Maldon, was fined £55 for assaulting Megan Bolton by beating her at Maldon on November 23. She must pay a £20 victim surcharge and £500 costs to the CPS.

CRAIG ROGER HARRIS, 35, of Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, was given a community order for beating Thomas Murphy and Claire Perrin by beating them at Chelmsford on November 10.

The defendant must carry out 100 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, pay £100 compensation, a £60 victim surcharge and £200 costs to the CPS.

Assault a PC

DAVID KING, 57, of Chelmsford Night Shelter, was fined £100 for assaulting a Police Constable in the execution of his duty at Clacton on February 6. He must pay £50 victim surcharge and a £20 victim surcharge.

Breach of order

BONNIE ANDERSON, 18, of Herberd Tye, Great Baddow, was ordered to carry out an additional 20 hours of unpaid, supervised work, added to the community order imposed on September 24, for failing to attend appointments on February 18 and 26.

JULIE LANE, 30, of no fixed address, was ordered to attend the Bridge Project for an additional five days, in addition to the original requirements of a community order imposed on January 7 this year for failing to attend four appointments in February.

Control of dogs

EMMA TEVLIN, 56, of Bronte Road, Witham, was fined £450 for allowing a dog to be in a public place at Rickstones School in Witham on four occasions between July 2 and September 9 without wearing a collar inscribed with the name and address of the owner. She must pay a £45 victim surcharge and £426 costs.

Criminal Evidence

GARY ROBERT BARTRUP, 48, of Marlescroft Way, Loughton, was given a community order for failing to provide a non intimate sample to ascertain whether drugs were present in his body while in Police detention at Chelmsford on March 2.

The defendant had stolen electronic items valued at £208.98 from Maplins in Chelmsford on March 2.

He must attend appointments with a responsible officer, carry out 120 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, pay a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs to he CPS.

Dangerous Dogs

DANIEL STEVEN GREEN, 46, of Yew Close, Witham, was ordered to keep his dog, Wilson, an American Bulldog Shar-Pei mix, under proper control or have it destroyed.

The dog had entered the next door neighbour’s garden and injured Mrs Tracey Coles.

He was ordered to keep the dog on a lead, to wear a muzzle, and for the garden where Wilson resides to be securely fenced at a minimum of 6ft.

He was fined £75 and must pay £100 compensation, a £20 victim surcharge and £793 costs.

Drugs - possession

CHARLOTTE LUCY GRAVES, 22, of Widford Chase, Chelmsford, was given a three month conditional discharge for possessing one gramme of cannabis, a controlled class B drug, at Chelmsford on February 27.

She also pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in Parkway and must pay a £15 victim surcharge.

Fishing without a licence

CHARLIE FIANDER, 22, of Fitzwalter Road, Flitch Green, Dunmow, was fined £110 for fishing at Birds Green Fishery at Fyfield on September 25 without a licence.

He must pay a £20 victim surcharge and £127 costs.

Planning regulations

JOSEPH ROBERT HERON, 69, of Manor Road, Southminster, was fined £5,000 for replacing 11 painted timber windows with 11 plastic windows to the listed building known as Bacons, Manor Road in Dengie on or about October 14, without listed building consent, affecting the architectural or historic value of the building.

He must pay a victim surcharge of £120 and £1,500 costs.

Harassment protection

GEORGE DEAN CLARK, 44, of Clements Close, Chelmsford, was given a community order for breaching a restraining order in Chelmsford on March 17 by being in company with Tracy Schott.

He was prohibited from contacting her by a retraining order imposed on January 15 last year.

He must carry out 100 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, pay a £60 victim surcharge and £40 costs to the CPS.

Resisting a constable

JULIAN CLEARE, 35, of Grantham Avenue, Great Notley, was given a 12 month conditional discharge for resisting a Police Constable in the execution of her duty at Braintree on November 23.

He must pay a £15 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

Social Security

CHRISTINE HEVEY, of Paycocke Way, Coggeshall, was fined £300 for failing to notify Braintree District Council of failing to declare that she was working, which she knew would affect her entitlement to Housing Benefit, Job Seekers’ allowance and Council Tax Benefit between May 3, 2012 and November 2, 2012. She must pay a £30 victim surcharge and £950 costs.

Theft – shoplifting

CHRISTINE TIFFANY LOVERIDGE, 37, of Windmill Villas, Dunmow, was given a community order for stealing groceries to the value of £300 from Tesco in Maldon on December 24.

The defendant must participate in Education, Training and Employment Programme for ten days, attend appointments with a responsible officer, carry out 40 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months and pay £300 compensation.

She also pleaded guilty to stealing groceries and a scan as you shop scanner valued at £789.79 from Tesco in Great Dunmow, and attempting to steal groceries of an unknown value from Tesco in Maldon on February 16 while subject to a 12 month conditional discharge order imposed on April 3 last year.

ROSS GLENN MILLER, 35, of Fell Christy, Chelmsford, was given a 12 month conditional discharge for stealing a packet of bacon and a packet of sausages valued at £20 from Poundland in Chelmsford on March 2.

He must pay £2 compensation, a £15 victim surcharge and £40 costs to the CPS.

PAUL ROBERT JOHN APPLETON, 26, of Twelve Acres, Braintree, was given a community order for stealing two electric razors valued at £339.98, together with Kira Jade White, from Sainsbury in Braintree on February 25 while subject to an 18 month conditional discharge order imposed on February 4 this year.

He was ordered to have treatment for drug dependency for six months, attend appointments with a responsible officer and was fined £25 plus a £60 victim surcharge and must pay £42.50 costs to the CPS.

KIRA JADE WHITE, 25, of Twelve Acres, Braintree, was given a community order for stealing two electric razors valued at £339.98 from Sainsbury in Braintree on February 25, together with Paul Appleton.

She had also stolen a fertility test and test sticks and two pairs of sunglasses valued at £161.48 from Boots in Braintree on the same day and committed the offences while subject to a community order imposed on February 11 this year was in force for five offences of theft, and two for possession of drugs.

She was ordered to have treatment for drug dependency for six months and attend appointments with a responsible officer. She must also pay a £25 fine, a £60 victim surcharge and pay costs of £42.50 to the CPS.

JOANNE MARIE PELLS, 35, of Widford Park Place, Chelmsford, was fined £75 for stealing an Epilator to the value of £159.99 from Boots in Chelmsford on March 6.

She had also breached her bail conditions by failing to sign on at Chelmsford Police Station on March 14. The defendant must pay a £20 victim surcharge and £45 costs.

THERESA JANE HUME, 40, of Exmoor Close, Chelmsford, was given a 12 month conditional discharge for stealing two bottles of perfume valued at £89 from Debenhams in Chelmsford on March 1.

She must pay a £15 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

SIMON TAITE, 37, of no fixed address, was given a community order for stealing 11 DVDs to the value of £110 from WH Smith in Chelmsford on March 6.

The defendant must participate in The Bridge Project for 15 days, attend appointments with a responsible officer and pay a £60 victim surcharge.

Threatening behaviour

PAUL CHRISTOPHER SWEENEY, 30, of Maldon Road, Ulting, was given a community order for using threatening, abusive or insulting words or disorderly behaviour towards Diane Tween with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress at Maldon on August 27.

The defendant must carry out 100 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months and must pay a £60 victim surcharge and £620 costs to the CPS. He was also given a restraining order not to contact Diane.

SAM MAY, 34, of Birk Beck, Windrush Drive, Chelmsford, was fined £240 for using threatening, abusive or insulting words or disorderly behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress that was racially aggravated in Chelmsford on March 1.

He must pay a £24 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

Drink-driving

LIA RUSZKIEWICZ, 31, of Lister Road, Braintree, was given a 22-month driving ban after driving along Chalis Lane in Braintree on February 24 after she had been drinking.

The proportion of alcohol in her breath measured 89 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than two and a half times over the limit.

She was fined £280 and must pay a £28 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

Driving while disqualified

STEPHEN ANTHONY HULL, 54, of Domsey Chase, Feering, was given a community order for driving along Spar Road in Witham on November 27 while disqualified.

He was disqualified for six months and fined £500 for driving without insurance and driving a vehicle without a test certificate.

He was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid, supervised work within the next 12 months, pay a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs to the CPS.

Careless driving

JOSEPH PETER BONNER, 22, of Woodland Road, Chelmsford, was given six points on his licence for driving without due care and attention along the Lower Burnham Road in North Fambridge on September 7.

The defendant was driving too fast for the road conditions which was slippery due to heavy rain, and braked heavily causing the vehicle to skid into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

He was fined £400 plus a victim surcharge of £40 and £90 costs.

No licence or insurance

CHLOE BREWER, 20, of Mill Lane, Broomfield, was given eight points on her licence for driving along Rainsford Road in Chelmsford on September 6 without a valid driving licence or insurance. She was fined £110 and must pay a £20 victim surcharge and £90 costs.

TINY dancers as young as three practise their pliés, step-by-step instructions from teachers echo through the hallways, and parents plan fundraisers for £100-a-piece costumes in the office – welcome to the hubbub of the Essex Dance Theatre.

Now in its 40th year, the not-for-profit dance school based in Great Baddow teaches about 900 students a week in the art of jazz, tap, ballet and contemporary dance, counting stars of the West End stage, and pop industry among its former pupils.

But unlike many of its UK counterparts the school's founder Debbie Holme revels less in the success stories, and more in the inclusive 'family' that all students sign up to when they walk through the doors.

"We don't have stars here, everybody has to clean the building and help out with everything to keep us cost neutral, everybody gives back," said Debbie, a former professional dancer herself who began the dance theatre in 1975 alongside working as a secondary school teacher.

"On my door is a sign that says 'leave or be nice' and that sums it up. It's like a family here. When people wish to join I always say come and see if we're what you're looking for, we're not like other dance schools."

Indeed Debbie, a tour-de-force who works seven days a week and wakes up to students sleeping on her floor at home, is employed as a social worker by Essex County Council and believes firmly that dance can be used as a tool to combat problems with bullying, grief, mental illness and neglect.

"Wherever you have somewhere that kids can be physical, if they're having trouble at school, for example, they'll leave that at the door," she said.

Sitting with some of the school's oldest male dancers before practice on Friday evening, each one admits to having been targeted by bullies at school, but the jibes of 'gay' and 'faggot' have only made them more determined.

Eleven-year-old Ben Moss admits to facing "'horrendous bullying" at his secondary school, but older dancer Ed Keeler, 16, went to speak to teachers as soon as he heard what was going on at the school he also attends.

Barrie Davidson, 18, said: "Our friends from the Essex Dance Theatre are far more caring, and trusting anyway. Once someone has been here for two or three years they just don't leave, it's like a big family.

"You have to be a male dancer I think to know what it means, to know how much other people don't understand."

Always looking to put into practice this inclusive ethos, the dance theatre also works to challenge misconceptions as to who is able to dance with its 'Dance Inclusion' classes, open to those with learning disabilities.

"When I dance I feel high-spirited and talented and as if I'm not invisible any more," said Maria Williams, a confident 28-year-old who attends the weekly sessions and lights up as she performs her moves for the camera.

From just £4 for an hour's tuition the dance theatre prides itself on this open doors policy, also offering self-funded scholarships to those students prepared to give back via teaching, cleaning or admin, and a free street dance class for boys over eight and taught by graduates.

These extras are funded in part by a team of parents who sit planning a schedule of coffee mornings, cake sales and fundraising events to keep the school alive while their children attend class.

Many of the students also complete qualifications in dance at GCSE and A-level, with Saturday morning workshops chalked up on the school's noticeboard in Dorset Avenue.

Tickets are now on sale for the dance theatre's annual showcase which will be performed at the Chelmsford Civic Theatre on Wednesday, July 20 with performances at both 3pm and 6.30pm. Call the box office on 01245 606505 or go to www.chelmsford. gov.uk/theatres.

A PRIVATE firm has been accused of cheating, immorality and failing to turn up after taking charge of the non-emergency patient transport service for mid Essex.

ERS Medical, a subsidiary of US-based waste and logistics giant Stericycle, took up the contract from the NHS last Thursday.

While it was due to absorb 40 NHS staff, it has allegedly refused to take on three of them, according to Unison, opening the floodgates to potential legal action.

On the very day ERS took charge, a Chelmsford 72-year-old claims she had to wait six hours for one of its ambulances only to be forced to hire a taxi.

"It's not a service at all, it's a complete and utter fiasco," said Joyce Dulwich, of Westbourne Grove, Great Baddow.

Mrs Dulwich was ordered an ambulance to take her from home to St Peter's Hospital in Maldon for an echocardiogram procedure.

While ERS got her to her appointment 15 minutes late, she was waiting from 12.15 to 6.15pm in the hospital to be taken home.

The hospital eventually footed a bill for a taxi as the ward Mrs Dulwich was waiting in was closing for the night.

"What would have happened if it was someone who was a diabetic?" said Mrs Dulwich.

"A diabetic might not be able to go six hours without food.

"Yes I was just waiting, fuming with a temper, but my condition is not such that I'm in jeopardy from it.

"Nobody should have to wait that long for an ambulance.

"The NHS should be providing the service. It's all well privatising everything but I have a sneaky feeling the Government privatised this just because they can buy shares in the company."

The non-emergency patient transport service contract was put up to tender by the Clinical Commissioning Group in August.

A patient is entitled to non-emergency ambulances if they have a medical condition requiring the skills of medical staff or if other transport would have a negative impact on a condition.

The CCG announced in January the private company won the contract.

"Patients can be assured that they will receive a safe and high standard patient transport service," said a CCG spokesman at the time.

Head of non-emergency services at the East of England Ambulance Trust Gary Morgan said in January: "Unfortunately, our bid was not successful and we are working with staff to ensure they are supported through the transition to the new provider."

Unison East of England Ambulance branch secretary Fraer Stevenson accompanied three ex-NHS staff, with more than 52 years' experience between them, to ERS's Chelmsford HQ on Thursday, only for them to be turned away.

"Staff were devastated by the news of the new contract," she said. "As ERS pay their staff less than they will have to pay the transferring-in NHS staff, by refusing to accept a percentage of staff, ERS are in effect making the contract cheaper.

"Members feel this is unacceptable and highly unethical behaviour. ERS have bid for the contract knowing the number of staff involved. It's really a bad start to the contract."

Sir Bob Russell, Liberal Democrat MP for Colchester, said in parliament last Thursday: "This morning, former members of the NHS ambulance trust turned up for work at ERS and were turned away. I would say that is illegal – it is certainly immoral – and we should look at whether ERS Medical is up to any more of these cheating tricks to win contracts."

Managing director of ERS Medical, which has provided services to the NHS for 13 years, Brendan Fatchett said last week: "We're excited about providing this new and improved service for the local community and will be using new technology, a fleet of all new vehicles and the highest standards of staff training to ensure we deliver outstanding levels of patient care."

EDITH Bush looks the picture of health as she smiles for the camera in June 2012, despite suffering from the early stages of dementia.

But another photograph of her, taken just five months later, after she was admitted to four care homes, paints an entirely different picture.

The 77-year-old has now been at eight different homes since June 2012, all of which her daughter Tina Tuck says have contributed to a rapid deterioration of her health with neglect, rough handling and medication mix-ups.

"My mother lost weight, she was found to be dehydrated, with sepsis, weight-loss and her mouth was full of thrush," said Tina, 54, from Basildon, who felt compelled to tell her story after watching the Panorama show.

"I witnessed poor manual handling, grab and lift tactics were being used, which is when they grab the back of a patient's trousers a drag them up to their feet, when a hoist should be used to transfer patients from a chair to a wheelchair.

"I saw the home manager pouring a mixture of porridge, milk, nutritional drink and medications in a beaker down my mother's throat, even though she was only semi-awake.

"One home would not phone an ambulance and I had to do it as they believed she was not ill.

"An ambulance took my mother into hospital, where she was given two litres of fluids, antibiotics, and reports were taken, but my mother had layers of her own excrement in her groin area. They also reported pressure sores that had been badly dressed."

The great-grandmother was diagnosed with early onset dementia when she was 68 and since June 2012 has moved to eight different care homes around the county.

On one occasion a care home even refused to admit Mrs Bush because her daughter had complained about previous care homes.

And she was even left on a bed in a hallway severely dehydrated, claims Tina who says she was told by a paramedic that her mother was dying.

It was only when she was admitted to Basildon General Hospital that Mrs Bush began to show improvement.

Tina, who is still searching for a suitable home, added: "If care homes cared for people properly it would take a lot of pressure off the NHS.

"There needs to be a complete change in the way care homes operate. I believe, they don't want residents to stay very long, they don't get encouraged to eat or drink, it's a form of euthanasia."