Road: 

8.01am M25  - Queueing traffic on M25 clockwise at A282, QE2 Bridge.

Rail: 

7.20am - Delays of up to 21 minutes for trains running through Tottenham Hale, disruption expected until 8am.

Train cancelled - 8.30am Stansted Airport to London Liverpool Street due to an earlier train fault.

Train cancelled - 7.25am  London Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport due to an earlier train fault.

Tube:

7.34am - Severe delays on Piccadilly Line between Acton Town and Heathrow Airport and minor delays on the rest of the line due to signal failure at Acton Town.

Firefighters had to be called to a building used as a pre-school after the roof caught fire this morning (July 25).

Two crews from Chelmsford and one from Great Baddow were called to Chelmer Village Way in Chelmsford at 6.42am after the roof of Chelmer Village Hall caught alight.

Using two main jets and one hose reel jet, the fire was put out by 7.18am.

The building is used by Rainbow Pre-school.

RARE boxed Dinky Toys, jewellery and electronics were taken in a home burglary.

Suspects entered the home on Maldon Road, Margaretting sometime on Monday last week (July 14). 

Items taken include an iPad, Sony Playstation, old-fashioned fob watches, gold rings and a diamond heart shaped ring and necklaces. 

They have also took rare boxed Dinky Toys, cars and lorries, some of which are worth a large sum of money as they were in mint condition. 

The thieves broke into the display cabinets and stole approximately 40 toys, collected over several years.

Anyone who has any information about the location of the stolen items, or who was responsible should contact PC Carley Parodi at Chelmsford CID on 101 or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Four properties in Chelmsford are among those to have been raided in connection with a police crackdown on class A drugs, including crack cocaine and heroin.

Bramwoods Road, Haig Court, Parklands Way and Tasman Court in Chelmsford; Baileybridge Road and Templar Road in Braintree, and Normandy Avenue in Burnham on Crouch.

Warrants were also executed at Baileybridge Road and Templar Road in Braintree, and Normandy Avenue in Burnham on Crouch.

In all, some 28 people have been arrested seized more than 800 wraps of suspected class A drugs, as part of Operation Saturn..

The operation, which began in May, has been targeting suspected criminal gangs who travel into the area from outside the county.

The dedicated team was put together to bring down these groups by disrupting their drug dealing activity on the streets and in properties across the North Local Policing Area.

As well as the suspected Class A drugs, officers have also seized 13 quantities of what is believed to be cannabis and a large amount of suspected Methadone.

A total of 18 search warrants have been executed in the past weeks and 20 people currently remain on police bail after being arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs with intent to supply.

Two suspects have been charged with supply, one with possession of cocaine and one with possession of a controlled drug.

A further 31 suspects have also been stopped and searched in relation to possible drugs activity.

In one such case in Clacton a man was found to be in possession of 13 suspected wraps of class A drugs. He was arrested for possession with intent to supply and is currently on bail.

Detective Chief Inspector John Ross said: "We have definitely made a dent in the supply of drugs in North Essex and in large part this is down to information from members of the public.

"As a result, these gangs are finding it harder to operate in our towns and they know they are not welcome.

"We also know these people are involved in violence such as street robbery and we have seen a significant reduction in this offence over the past six weeks in Colchester, Braintree and Chelmsford.

"If anyone suspects that drug dealing is taking place in their neighbourhoods please call us and we will investigate."

Anyone with information about drug dealing or the gangs involved in North Essex can contact the team at Braintree Police Station on 101 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

UPDATE: Double car crash on the A132 South Woodham Ferrers.

Police have closed the A132 (Burnham Road) at South Woodham Ferrers following a serious road traffic collision between a car and a motorbike near the junction at Ferrers Road.

Also roughly 400m on the same road towards the Crouch Vale Cars double roundabout another, less serious crash took place involving at least six vehicles but resulting in no serious injuries. 

Officers said the road is likely to remain closed for some time while emergency services deal with the situation.

The congestion has left huge tail backs on the adjacent Woodham Road.  

Motorists are advised to avoid the area and take alternative routes.

More to follow

MYSTERY surrounds why a fire broke out in a village hall used by a pre-school this morning (July 25).

The blaze at Chelmer Village Hall off Village Way, Chelmsford at 6.40am was spotted by a worker at the Asda supermarket next door.

Springfield Parish Councillor Roy Smith, who is also a trustee of the hall, said: "We're at a loss to why it started.

"Apparently there was a few flames along the guttering, but there's no electrical wires running out there and we've just had a new roof and guttering in the last few months." 

Firefighters were called at 6.42am and had put it out in 40 minutes.

They smashed a window to gain access as no-one was in the hall at the time.

Rainbow Pre-School, which uses the building, had broken up the week before.

Mr Smith continued: "We're going to make it secure but we're not closing, if the pre-school were in today we could have still functioned.

"We had a roof repaired a couple of years ago when vandals got on the roof and burnt it.

"But it's just funny it's on the outside, but I don't think it was caused by anything like a cigarette."

SINGER Tulisa Contostavlos has been found guilty of assault on the fifth and final day of her trial at Stratford Magistrates' Court today (July 25).

The 25-year-old former NDubz star has been found guilty of punching celebrity blogger and TOWIE star Savvas Morgan during a confrontation at V Festival, in Hylands Park, on August 18 last year.

The popstar has reportedly been fined £200 for the offence which blogger Mr Morgan said left him with a puffy and swollen eye. 

She was ordered to pay a total of £3,020 - consisting of a £2,700 contribution towards the cost of the prosecution, £100 compensation to Mr Morgan and a £20 victim surcharge, as well as the fine.

Her conviction for assault follows the collapse of allegations that she was involved in drugs in the last few days. 

Personal assistant Gareth Varey was however cleared of threatening behaviour during the same incident. 

Senior District Crown Prosecutor, for the Crown Prosecution Service in the East of England, Sarah Asbrey said: "It was clear from the evidence that Ms Contonstavlos held a grudge against Mr Morgan for previous comments he had made about her on his blog including a link to her sex tape. When she saw him at the festival there was an argument between them, which resulted in her assaulting Morgan.

"The outcome of this case shows that no-one is above the law and each case will be dealt with on its own merits."

A police officer who won an appeal against a conviction for downloading indecent images of children has been sacked for gross misconduct for accessing inappropriate websites at work.

PC Adam Holbrook, 30, of Corporation Road, Chelmsford, was dismissed from the Metropolitan Police Service on Friday last week (July 18) following a misconduct hearing heard in private.

He faced one count of discreditable conduct between July 12 2011 and May 7 2012 and another of discreditable conduct and duties and responsibilities between February 1 2012 and April 30 2012.

The panel found the two allegations of gross misconduct - both for accessing and using inappropriate websites -  proven.

Detective Superintendent Steve Wagstaff, directorate of professional standards said: "I am disappointed by this officer's behaviour. 

"Whilst he won an appeal against a conviction at court, the panel found that on the balance of probability that the officer's underlying behaviour was discreditable and breached the standards of professional behaviour. 

"He has therefore been dismissed from the service without notice."

Holbrook had a conviction for making indecent photos of children overturned at Southwark Crown Court on December 6 last year. 

He had previously been convicted at Westminster Magistrates' Court on  May 17, 2013. 

She was stabbed to death at around 10.40am on June 17 while on the Salary Brook trail and her killer is still on the loose. 

Scroll down to listen to the family's tribute (in Arabic)

Police officers investigating her death have recently travelled to Saudi Arabia where they met with family. 

Speaking on behalf of the family, Dc Jane Morgan, Family Liaison Officer, said: "As a family we have been left devastated by the terrible murder of Nahid. Nahid was a remarkable and gentle person who was loved for her kind and caring nature. 

"Publicly Nahid was a quiet and dignified lady who chose to pursue her academic studies in order to work towards her PHD and whilst in England she made a decision that she would respect her heritage and traditions in the way that she dressed and conducted herself. 

"However, when she was with her family Nahid was a warm and loving person who enjoyed laughter and the company of her parents, siblings and extended family.

"The amount of people that attended Nahid's funeral is a tribute to how much she was cared for and respected. As a family we have been upset by the media speculation about Nahid's death in particular the publishing of a photograph claiming to be Nahid, which is not her.

"We wish to appeal directly to the person responsible for Nahid's death, to come forward and hand themselves in to the police in order to relieve our suffering and let justice take its course.

"It is vital that anyone with any information about Nahid's death, no matter how small, contacts the police to share the information. We respectfully ask that we are left alone to grieve in private as we continue to work with the police in England and Saudi Arabia to investigate this brutal crime."

Detective Superintendent Steve Worron, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "During the visit, the officers had several meetings with Nahid's family and police officers in Jeddah. These took place over a number of days and during these my officers were able to extend our condolences to her family as well as gaining further information about Nahid's life in Saudi Arabia before she left to further her studies in England."

He added: "This visit was an important step in engaging with Nahid's family as well as developing links with local police who are keen to assist with the investigation.

Please have a look at the appeals, share them with your friends and colleagues. 

Any information you have no matter how small could help us so please get in touch via the incident room on 01245 282103 or anonymously via independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Crimestoppers have offered a reward of £10,000 payable for information which leads to the conviction of the person or people responsible for Nahid's murder.

SINGER Tulisa has said she is "outraged" at her conviction for assaulting celebrity blogger Savvas Morgan at V Festival last year and "will be appealing" the decision. 

Speaking today outside Stratford Magistrates' Court after being found guilty of assault the 25-year-old said: "This has been a roller-coaster week for me and I never wanted any of this.

"I did not assault Vas J Morgan and I'm outraged at this decision.I will be appealing it. 

"There are a number of high profile witnesses who were there and not what happened.

"I urge them to come forward and tell the truth at the appeal. I'm determined to clear my name as I have already done this week. I repeat I did not assault Vas J Morgan. I'm innocent."

The popstar has been fined £200 for the offence which blogger Mr Morgan said left him with a puffy and swollen eye.

She was ordered to pay a total of £3,020 - consisting of a £2,700 contribution towards the cost of the prosecution, £100 compensation to Mr Morgan and a £20 victim surcharge, as well as the fine.

The conviction comes in the same week that a trial surrounding allegations of involvement in drugs supply against the popstar fell apart. 

A motorcyclist, believed by police to be from South Woodham Ferrers, has been killed in a crash with a car on the A132 this morning.

The 22-year-old collided with a Volkswagen Golf shortly before 8.25am. It happened while rush-hour traffic was building up on the road.

Ambulance paramedics and the air ambulance also attended to treat the motorcyclist but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 45-year-old man from Wickham Bishops has subsequently been arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving.

He has been taken to Chelmsford police station for questioning.

The road has now reopened. 

Anyone who witnessed the accident who has not yet spoken to police is asked to call the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 101 or emailcollisionappeal@essex.pnn.police.uk.

An Asheldham agricultural firm, Dengie Crops were fined £100,000 after one of their employees died whilst operating machinery on their site.

Dengie Crops Ltd pleaded guilty to two charges and was sentenced today (July 25) after a grandfather was killed in an accident on its site in 2012.

Dave Dow, 63, was killed instantly when the tailgate he was affixing to a trailer recently purchased by the firm dropped on his neck.

Following the accident a number of health and safety issues were highlighted at the firm which had three previous convictions for health and safety breaches.

Judge Anthony Goldstaub QC said when passing the sentence: "I will make no attempt to quantify the value of Mr Dow's life.

"Safety isn't a matter that can wait if you wait there could be consequences as dreadful as the ones in this case."

He said that Dengie Crops Ltd had made "strenuous efforts" to change their health and safety culture since the incident.

He said: "unsatisfactory safety culture and a history I'm satisfied has been brought to an end."

They had pleaded guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday, May 12 to two counts of an "employer breach general duty to employee".

Dave Dow, had worked originally as a lorry driver and then in the yard of the animal feed company for eight years when he was killed at the yard on Hall Road in 2012.

Mr Dow's large family were left devastated by the tragic event, which was being investigated by the police and the Health and Safety Executive.

His wife, Eileen Dow, and her daughter Julie Dow sat in court to hear the verdict.

Part of a prepared statement by Mrs Dow said: "Finally some justice has been done and Dengie Crops have been punished for their appalling Health and safety which resulted in my husband's death.

"We hope Dengie Crops have learned a valuable lesson in all this that safety of their workforce should come first and not money.

"My children, grandchildren and the rest of the family and I will now try and put this behind us as best we can, and try to move on with the rest of our lives.

"We wish to thank all of our family and friends and people we never knew before, for their kind wishes and support over the last two years."

A spokesman from Dengie Crops ltd said: "The Company has taken this tragic accident extremely seriously and accepts by way of its plea of guilty that there were failings in the way it managed health and safety at its Asheldham site.

"Mr Dow was a popular and valued member of the company and the devastating effect of his death has been felt by all at Dengie – our sincerest condolences go out to Mr Dow's family."

For the full story please buy next week's Essex Chronicle. 

A BRIDE who was conned out of £100,000 by her husband has spoken for the first time of her fury at the six-year lie she shared with the fraudster.

During his "campaign of fraud" Chelmsford resident Colin Jarvie took thousands of pounds from wife Letizia Salaris stealing cash she had contributed toward their dream home, money to pay off their wedding bill and even her engagement ring worth £9,000.

And despite the fact that Jarvie was jailed for 27 months in May after admitting seven charges of fraud and one of theft, the 29-year-old accountant is still receiving charging orders against the property the couple bought together.

"For those seven years together, I'm slowly understanding that absolutely everything we had was a lie," said Letizia. "From the moment we bought our house he was extorting money from me, spending it on a life I knew absolutely nothing about."

The accountant met electrical engineer Jarvie in 2006 via an online dating site, having recently moved from Italy in order to improve her English.

After chatting on the web for three months the pair met for a drink and quickly fell in love, buying their first home together in Crawley, West Sussex in 2007.

However, when it came to exchanging contracts Colin, 38, broke down and admitted he couldn't pay his half of the deposit, despite declaring earnings of more than £50,000 a year, and forcing Letizia to take out a last-minute bank loan to cover the £10,000 shortfall on the understanding he would cover the repayments.

"Although I gave him half the money to cover all the household bills every month, he took charge by paying everything from his account," Letizia added.

"He liked shopping and designer clothes and would often come home with different cars. During our time together I remember a Porsche, Mercedes, Range Rovers and an Audi.

"He was flashy where as I was more conservative, preferring to buy clothes from cheaper shops like Primark."

Believing they had a "happy relationship" Letizia accepted Colin's proposal in June 2010 but watched her fiancé become ever more distant the closer their wedding day came, before he finally told her six months before their big day he was suffering from a serious heart condition.

In the months that followed the 38-year-old spent weeks away from home purportedly undergoing tests until just days before the wedding he claimed he had been banned from flying and that their dream honeymoon to Bali would therefore have to be cancelled.

Then less than 24 hours after the pair exchanged their marriage vows in front of 70 guests on June 23, 2012 Colin vanished, refusing to take calls, and forcing his new bride to report him missing to police.

When the now part-qualified chartered accountant eventually managed to contact her husband he claimed to be building a relationship with a nine-year-old daughter called Stacey in Essex, and asked if the couple could try marriage counselling.

"But just before I left for the appointment I found a bank statement with purchases from the women's lingerie shops la Senza and Ann Summers. His game was up and it finally dawned on me that he was having an affair," said Letizia.

"Days before the session a bailiff called at the house claiming he was chasing an unpaid £1,600 council tax bill which, ironically, I had to pay using £1,000 our wedding guests had given us towards our honeymoon. From there everything unravelled.

"I went through every piece of unopened mail in the house. I searched his home study and the loft. The more I looked the more evidence of him being in serious debt emerged.

"There were unpaid loans for the flashy cars he'd bought along with a Mini Cooper in 2009 I'd never even seen but, looking back, was no doubt for one of his girlfriends.

"There was a woman's bra in the study and love notes from an American woman called Heather, who he appeared to have met on a 'business trip'."

Five months later Letizia was in a new relationship with Paul Wood, 33, and wanted a divorce from Jarvie, who was now on the run from police for fraud against his employer Socomec.

"Paul and I broke into the garage. It was waist-deep with hundreds of letters from companies chasing money and a £17,000 charging order for a car loan he had defaulted on. There was also property he had stolen from his employer," the 29-year-old added.

"There was a note from a pawnbroker to show he'd sold my engagement ring he'd said was being cleaned for £2,000 – and then submitted a false insurance claim to Aviva for almost £9,000.

"But most hurtful of all was the discovery of a letting agreement taken out with another woman just five days after we were married along with hundreds of empty packets of Viagra."

It took nearly a year for police to catch up with Jarvie, who by then had moved to Chelmsford and become a father with a woman called Stacey Eustace, and in May this year he pleaded guilty to seven charges of fraud and one of theft.

The 29-year-old added: "He's now in prison but I'm still receiving charging orders because everything he did, he did against this property. I have no idea where it will end."

A YOUNG dancer from Chelmsford has landed the lead role in the hit West End musical Billy Elliot.

Ollie Jochim, 12, who is the show's 38th Billy Elliot since its launch nearly 10 years ago and will share the role with four others, took to the stage for the first time last Monday (July 14).

"I was so overjoyed when I found out I got the part and now I am living my dream," said Ollie, a former Essex Dance Theatre member.

"A couple of years ago my mum took me to see Billy Elliot the Musical and when I saw it I knew I wanted to be Billy.

"After my first audition, I got a call back, and in the call back I think there were 20 boys. They chose six for summer school, I then got the part and started training in January."

Set in a northern mining town, against the background of the 1984/85 miners' strike, Billy Elliot chronicles the story of a young boy's struggle against the odds to make his dream come true.

Billy stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and whole community and changes his life.

Ollie's own life has changed as much as Billy's now he is performing in a show that has now been seen by over nine million people and features music from Sir Elton John.

The talented young dancer's incredible journey to stardom all began on YouTube.

"I have always loved dancing. When I was younger I used to teach myself to dance from Michael Jackson YouTube videos," he said.

"I joined the Essex Dance Theatre in Chelmsford when I was nine to learn ballet, tap and modern and later joined their performance group."

Ollie is in no doubt whatsoever regarding his favourite part of the production. He said: "My favourite part is probably Electricity (a song by Elton John) as you get to show off all your skills. It's also fun because while it's technically very hard, you get a lot of adrenaline through it."

The musical will be shown live at cinemas across the UK and the rest of the world on Sunday, September 28 at 2pm, as it prepares to celebrate its 10th birthday in May next year.

Over 375,000 tickets were released for sale on the night of Ollie's first performance, and bookings are being taken for the show at the Victoria Palace Theatre until the show's run ends on Saturday, December 19, 2015.

For tickets call 020 7492 1532.

DOCTORS could be offered a £10,000 incentive to work in Essex as part of plans to solve a recruitment crisis in primary care across the county.

Proposals for the 'golden handshake' have been made possible after Health Education England pledged £400,000 to tackle the shortage of GPs and nurses in the county.

Dr Brian Balmer, chief executive of North and South Essex Local Medical committees, said: "We're currently discussing numerous ways to improve staffing levels as we are running short of doctors and nurses and there are several things we are going to use the funding for and this is just one of many options.

"The focus will be on doctors and nurses but the money could also be used for management, administration staff, career development, education and training."

Braintree and Tendring have been identified as two priority areas likely to be targeted with funds for the 'golden handshake', but it could also be used to pay for more nurses, management staff and training programmes.

The money has become available after the Essex Local Medical Committee bid for funding from Health Education England that was offered to commissioning groups to spend on long-term and short-term measures to plug the gaps in recruitment.

This could come in the form of hiring more locum GPs and training more practice nurses.

NHS England, the Essex Area Team, the Essex Workforce Partnership and Essex Local Medical Committee will be holding talks over the next few weeks to decide how the funding will be allocated.

The news comes a week after the Chronicle revealed a surgery in Chelmsford was forced to let a popular GP go due to cuts from central government.

Whitley House on Writtle Road was unable to renew Dr Daniel Haroon's contract because of the withdrawal of a top fund of £150,000 over seven years, an amount given to surgeries since 2004 after a similar GP recruitment crisis.

"It's great this money has become available, but it seems crazy that we've had to lose a doctor at a time when there's a recruitment crisis in the county," said Amy Brass, practice manager at Whitley House.

"There are a lot of contradictory initiatives in the NHS at the moment and this is another example of money being taken out of primary care and then another pot becomes available.

"But a £10,000 lump sum is not likely to make a great deal of difference; it seems to be a short-term knee-jerk reaction.

"There needs to be a more long-term solution to the primary care recruitment crisis. If the Government started addressing the reasons why doctors don't want to be GPs we wouldn't have a recruitment crisis that we need to solve," she added.

Friends of a motorcyclist who died in a crash with a car in South Woodham Ferrers have been sharing their memories on social media.

Josh Marlow, 22, was killed when the bike he was riding collided with a VW Golf on the A132 at around 8.30am yesterday (July 25). He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Friends of the keen biker and mechanic have flooded a Facebook tribute page set up soon after the tragedy with messages of shock and devastation.

One heartfelt message read: "I don't know what to say, I'm still in shock that this has happened.

"Even though you'r no longer with us I will cherish all the memories & good times. I know you will be watching over everyone of us. You were taken far too young! Sleep well angel.

Another read: "R.I.P JOSH... My thoughts are with your family! Way too young to be taken!! But may you enjoy the view in paradise. Xx" A 45-year-old man from Wickham Bishops was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving.

Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call the Essex Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 101 or emailcollisionappeal@essex.pnn.police.uk.

A motorist is to appear in court next month after he was charged with causing death by dangerous driving in mid-Essex.

The driver of a Ford Escort van appeared to loose control of his vehicle while travelling along Leighams Road and struck a tree shortly after 9:30pm on Saturday, September 28, 2013.

One of four passengers, 18-year-old William Andrews from Shirebourn Vale in South Woodham Ferrers, was pronounced dead at the scene, while another passenger was seriously injured.

The driver, Nicholas Weston, 22, of Pedlars Path in Danbury, is currently on police bail, but he will also face one count of causing serious injury to another passenger by dangerous driving when he appears at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on Wednesday, August 27.

A clampdown on criminal gangs in North Essex has led to police arresting 28 people and seizing more than 800 wraps of suspected Class A drugs in areas including Chelmsford and Braintree.

Crack cocaine and heroin as well as 13 quantities of cannabis and a large amount of suspected Methadone have been seized by officers, who have executed 18 search warrants since the operation aimed at targeting suspected criminal gangs began in May.

The areas searched included Bramwoods Road, Haig Court, Parklands Way and Tasman Court in Chelmsford, Baileybridge Road and Templar Road in Braintree as well as parts of Colchester and Burnham on Crouch.

Two suspects have been charged with supply of cocaine and a controlled drug respectively, while 20 people currently remain on police bail after being arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs with intent to supply.

Detective Chief Inspector John Ross said: "We have definitely made a dent in the supply of drugs in North Essex and in large part this is down to information from members of the public.

"As a result, these gangs are finding it harder to operate in our towns and they know they are not welcome.

"We also know these people are involved in violence such as street robbery and we have seen a significant reduction in this offence over the past six weeks in Colchester, Braintree and Chelmsford.

A further 31 suspects have also been stopped and searched in relation to possible drugs activity and police have urged anyone with information about drug dealing or gangs in North Essex to contact the team at Braintree Police Station on 101 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A planned music and community festival featuring the likes of Scouting Girls, Union J and former X Factor star Sam Callahan was cancelled just hours before it was due to start.

Colchester Borough Council pulled the plug on the ticketed event at Castle Park because of concerns over safety after organisers failed to convince them they had fulfilled all requirements. More than 8,000 people had bought tickets.

Tickets were on sale for £42, with VIP passes costing £85.

In a statement published today, I Am Music Festival organisers apologised for the inconvenience: "In spite of the various messages that you may have seen in the media, I AM MUSIC Community Group would like to inform you that the community event scheduled for Saturday 26th July 2014 at Castle Park Colchester has been postponed due to circumstances beyond our control. 

"We sincerely apologise for what has happened and the inconveniences this has caused you. 

"Once a new date has been confirmed we will provide full details. 

"Any tickets previously purchased will be accepted under the same terms and conditions. For further information on ticket transfers and ticket refunds please read our terms and conditions via our website."