Air travel over Essex could be disrupted again after earthquakes were felt near Iceland's largest volcano range.

Yesterday the country's Met Office raised the risk level to the aviation industry to orange after tremors beneath the Bardarbunga volcano, warning "heightened or escalating unrest with increased potential of eruption".

"Seismic activity" has been recorded over the last week, with magma movement noticed only 10km beneath the surface.

In 2010 an eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which is in a different system to Bardabunga, brought much of Europe's air travel to a standstill for nearly a week, affecting more than 10 million people.

If Bardarbunga erupts it could cause a flood and create an ash cloud similar to 2010, Iceland's Met Office has warned.

There is no confirmation on when any eruption could occur.

This shot shows the full extent of the transformation of Hylands Park for the V Festival in Chelmsford this year.

See below for the interactive picture

The picture, snapped on Saturday morning by the Essex Police helicopter captures how its open, green spaces were covered with stages, tents and portable cabins to meet the demands of the more than 180,000 revellers.

Of course, the big clear-up starts now to restore the park to its usual glory.

But this time next year it will no doubt be buzzing again.

Stars of the small screen were spotted out and about enjoying themselves at the V Festival in Hylands Park in Chelmsford this year.

Celebrities including the likes of Pixie Lott, Denise van Outen, and Olly Murs were spotted in the Louder Lounge

And a picture has emerged of comedian and Bad Education star Jack Whitehall taking in Justin Timberlake's performance on the Saturday.

But it is unclear as to whether Celebrity Juice and Through the Keyhole host Keith Lemon was there too? 

A figure with ginger hair was spotted and noticeable sideburns was spotted behind Mr Whitehall - do you recognise him?

Commuters face a hike of 3.5 per cent in the cost of a regulated rail fare from next January, it was confirmed today.

Average fares in England will rise in line with the retail prices index (RPI), which went up by 2.5 per cent, the Office for National Statistics said today.

Regulated fares cover about half the tickets availlable. They include season tickets, anytime single tickets, and off-peak inter-city return tickets  

Fares have risen by around 25 per cent since 2010, according to the Campaign for Better Transport, which has urged passengers to contact Chancellor George Osborne to demand that he changes the way fare increases are calculated.

The group said prices have shot up by four times the average salary

"Many people have no alternative to using the train to access their place of education, training or work and we regularly hear heart-breaking stories of people making the agonising choice on whether to up-sticks and move house or leave their jobs completely," a spokesman said, following the announcement.

"Surely with the cost of living rising across the board something now has to give, and for many rail users they have nothing left to give.

"The Government can take some quick steps to help people facing high train fares. The first thing they could do is to change the fares formula and finally bring it into the 21st century."

A man has been arrested over the death of an Afghan man found in a shipping container at the Tilbury Docks on Saturday.

The 34-year-old from Limavady was detained by police in Northern Ireland at Banbridge on the A1 on suspicion of manslaughter and facilitating illegal entry into the United Kingdom.

He is currently in the custody of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) pending his transportation to the mainland for questioning by Essex Police.

PSNI officers are also carrying out a search of his home address to assist the Essex Police investigation.

The dead man, named as Meet Singh Kapoor, was one of 35 Afghan stowaways found shut inside the container.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Martin Pasmore, of Essex Police, said: "This is a fast-moving investigation which has already involved a number of police forces and law enforcement agencies from across the United Kingdom and Europe.

I am very grateful to officers from the PSNI for their assistance this morning. We will continue to work closely with all of our policing colleagues as we pursue our investigation to bring those responsible for this crime to justice."

The long-awaited TK Maxx in Basildon will be opening on Thursday (August 21). The first lucky 500 customers through the doors treated to a £10 gift card to spend.

The new store, in the Pipps Hill Retail Park, in Miles Gray Road, will open at 9am and feature more than 20,000 sq ft of this season's must-have fashion and accessories for women, men and children as well as homeware.

Store manager Patrick Riordan, said: "We are very excited to be opening up the new store and bringing Basildon's shoppers big savings on all their favourite brands."

Police are still searching for a Tilbury man who has not been seen since Saturday August 16.

David Burgess, 53, was last seen when he went out for a walk in the countryside around his home near Linford.

Members of Mr Burgess' family called the police when he failed to return in time to start work on Monday at a local farm.

Numerous police units are involved in a widespread search across Linford, which includes dogs and a police helicopter.

Ch Insp Andy Fusher said: "We are now extremely concerned that he might have been taken ill or has had some sort of accident in a remote area of farmland or marshes."

Last seen wearing a blue zip-up fleece, blue jeans, a blue baseball cap and green wellington boots, Mr Burgess is also 5ft 10in tall, and has cropped and thinning hair. He also has tattoos on the back of both his hands.

Anyone who has seen Mr Burgess should call Essex Police on 101.

TWO alert security guards who brought a man back from the brink of death have been honoured with prestigious national lifesaving awards.

Danny Pitt and John Rutland, who work at the Meadows Shopping Centre, received Royal Humane Society recognition for resuscitating the man with a defibrillator after he suffered a heart attack near Riverside Leisure Centre in Chelmsford on November 30 last year.

The man, in his 50s, survived, but his identity remains a mystery.

"After he was taken to the hospital, me and John took him a card saying get well soon. We didn't want anything, but we never heard from him or the family. We don't even know who he is," said Mr Pitt, 26.

"When it happened, it was just before Christmas, and it meant more somehow, because he would have been at home for Christmas."

The security guards were called via the town-link radio to bring a defibrillator to the scene, and had no idea what to expect.

Despite training and being called out with the defibrillator on previous occasions, neither of the guards had used it in a real-life situation before.

"When we got there, I saw a guy on the floor and immediately thought 'he's dead'. He was surrounded by people but none of them knew what to do – they were frozen," said Mr Pitt.

"When I switched on the defibrillator, it searched for a heartbeat and couldn't find one. That's when we put the pads on to shock him.

"It was like something you see on Casualty – his body lifted right off the floor."

The quick-thinking guards were relieved to find a heartbeat after using the defibrillator, but the man's breathing was so shallow that the worried pair carried on chest compressions until the ambulance arrived.

"Adrenaline takes over, and you think 'this is real', so you just get on with it," said Mr Rutland, 55.

"When I got home, I walked through the door and said to my family 'it looks like me and Danny may have saved a life today'."

"When the ambulance arrived, the guy said thanks for using the defibrillator, as it had bought them valuable time."

Following the dramatic rescue, the man was taken to hospital, and later made a full recovery.

"After he went in the ambulance, me and John didn't say a word to each other, then someone came on the town-link radio saying well done for saving a life, then it dawned on us what we had done.

"We just looked at each other and laughed," added Mr Pitt.

They were praised by Dick Wilkinson, the Royal Humane Society secretary, who said as he announced the honour: "They both richly deserve the awards. But for their efforts the man, in his mid-50s, would certainly have died. He was virtually dead when they arrived on the scene. Thanks to them he survived."

The guards said they were pleased to have been honoured with the award, but Mr Pitt added: "We didn't really mention it to anyone at the time, as you don't want to sing your own praises."

HEALTH bosses behind the long-overdue plan to replace Maldon's ageing St Peter's Hospital were slated by town leaders for dragging their heels over the project.

Tempers flared at the district council overview and scrutiny meeting on Wednesday when representatives from Mid Essex Hospitals Trust (MEHT), Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (MECGG) and Provide got a dressing down by councillors.

Mid Essex Hospitals Trust chief executive Paul Forden, Provide chief executive John Niland, Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group's accountable officer Caroline Rassell and the organisation's interim chairman Dr Bryan Spencer all fell silent when asked why the project had stalled again.

Cllr Richard Derwick, Conservative member for Tillingham, said: "If this was my business then I would walk away because there is no one here I could do business with."

A plan to replace St Peter's Hospital has been more than 10 years in the making and despite many failed attempts, council chiefs finally believed they were making progress.

During the heated meeting councillors expressed their support for a hospital, 320 new homes, a new food store, shops, a care home and office space at Maldon Hall Farm, off Spital Road, put forward by developer Kensington & Edinburgh Estates.

The council is worried some elderly residents of the Dengie are forced to travel up to 60 miles to visit Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford for services that it says could be provided by a new centre.

They are also concerned about the state of St Peter's, which was built in 1873 as a workhouse, and described as "not fit for purpose" by John Niland.

Cllr Adrian Fluker was met with a wall of silence when he asked health bosses: "The provision for a new facility concerns me enormously. We live in a very peninsula base area and all the people are very confused. Are you on board or not?"

In an outburst, Conservative member for Maldon East Cllr Stephen Savage said: "You are like four Sir Humphrey Applebys. I just want to bang your heads together.

"I feel like you need to be locked in a room together and not let out until this is all sorted out."

Cllr Mark Durham, a Conservative member for Wickham Bishops and Woodham, added: "I thought we had a national health service but we don't. It's disjointed. We have a lot of groups all pulling in different directions.

"It should be so straight forward to get a solution."

Responding to questions about the feasibility of a new centre, the MECCG's Caroline Russell said she could not guarantee any new contracts to provide care from the new building, especially as the organisation must find more than £40 million of savings in the next five years.

But John Niland, chief executive of Provide, a staff-owned community interest company providing NHS services to more than 370,000 people in mid Essex, remained positive about securing the services he currently gives at St Peter's at a new site.

"The St Peter's site is untenable, clearly we would like to continue providing the services that we do.

"We would be delighted to unlock the doors and open the facility.

"We would take a risk, I'm prepared to say that this is quite a minimal risk but we haven't got a problem with that."

A full business plan is unlikely to be completed before July 2015, after which the scheme could go into the NHS project pipeline.

The representatives from each body have agreed to return in September after the MECCG has submitted a financial report to the secretary of state.

For more on that story turn to page 12.

CHARITIES and community projects took centre stage as the unsung heroes of Essex were rewarded with cash prizes at the Gazette's prestigious Heart of Essex Award ceremony.

At the presentation, held at Hylands House in Chelmsford last Thursday evening, ten groups were presented with a share of an £8,000 jackpot.

The winner was Ingrave-based cat re-homing charity, PussyCat Lodge Trust, which bagged a £2,000 cash prize.

Founded more than 20 years ago, the charity houses up to 100 cats at its sanctuary and places others with fosterers around the county. Volunteer John Treweek was at the ceremony to collect the award on behalf of the charity.

He said: "I'm overwhelmed – it is such a surprise to be given the award. This money will go a long way to re-homing cats and the vet bills, which can cost a huge amount of money."

PussyCat Lodge has running costs of more than £65,000 each year, with £22,000 being spent on vets' bills, more than £11,000 on food and £4,500 on litter.

Mr Treweek added: "There's a real family feel at the PussyCat Lodge. I retired as a BT engineer a few years ago and I wanted to do some volunteer work. But before long I was sucked in, in the nicest possible way. It's a big morale-booster for us."

With an aim to recognise and reward local groups for the outstanding work and contributions they make within our communities, all winners were nominated and voted for by the readers of the Gazette, and its sister title the Essex Chronicle.

In second place – winning a cheque for £1,500 – was the Barrow Farm Riding and Carriage Driving for the Disabled, which is based near Ingatestone.

The charity prides itself on enabling people with special needs and disabilities to develop their abilities through riding.

Anne Mitchell, Barrow Farm manager and chief riding instructor, said she was delighted to pick up the award for the specially-equipped riding centre.

She said: "Barrow Farm is such a wonderful charity and we are thrilled to be able to accept it."

Ms Mitchell says the money will pay for the upkeep of one of the farms prize ponies, Tawny, for a whole year. "The money will go on feed for Tawny, whose work is essential to the school and helps change the lives of children and makes them feel safe," she said.

Special guest on the evening was Brentwood and Ongar MP Eric Pickles, who delivered an inspiring speech to the 110 representatives packed into the venue on the night.

The Communities and Local Government Secretary, and newly appointed Faith Minister, applauded the "fantastic local work" of charities and community groups across Essex.

Heart of Essex is supported by Anglia Ruskin University and the institution's corporate communications manager, Andrea Hilliard, also took to the stage to offer her congratulations.

Now in its ninth year, a record 65 nominations were made and 1,436 votes were cast, with staff from Chicks Catering Services providing guests with food.

As well as the three main winners, five runners up were given £500 prizes.

Chelmsford-based Tickers Continuing Fitness Training for Heart Patients came in third place, winning a £1,000 prize after their sterling efforts establishing fitness classes for people recovering from heart attacks.

And secretary Brian Johnson's message was clear: "We want to show to people that there is life after a heart attack."

Tickers' provides Cardiac Rehabilitation phase four care in the community, with a number of light-hearted training sessions in Writtle and Maldon.

Mr Johnson added: "We have grown a lot and much of the equipment needs replacing, so that's where the money will go.

"We're so chuffed at winning the award. This will mean we can help more people at our classes for longer."

The winners

RADICAL BIKES – £500

Community-interest company Radical Bikes runs a cycling venue for BMX, trial and dirt jumping in Highwood.

With 1,200 registered riders, it charges just £1 an hour to use the facilities.

Founder Michael Mitchell said the money would go towards repairing a bike hut roof that was damaged in torrential rain and strong winds.

He said: "We capture children that get left behind. We offer something very different in a safe environment. We are very pleased and the riders will be especially pleased."

REMUS MEMORIAL HORSE SANCTUARY – £500

Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary in Ingatestone needs to raise £400,000 a year, so it can continue to care for 200 horses, donkeys, cows and sheep.

Staff say the prize money will go towards a wheelchair-accessible toilet so they can invite more disabled groups to the centre.

Vicky Hearn, who was on hand to collect the prize along with Fran Smith, said: "We are over the moon to accept this prize.

"We have a lot of members and volunteers that all enjoy it.

"We try to head out into the community as much as we can and that's why we think we are such a success."

AGE UK ESSEX - £500

Social isolation is a huge problem for the elderly, and Age UK Essex has recently launched a befriending scheme.

Chief executive Andrew Gardner and Age UK beneficiary Jill Stock were on stage to collect the award.

Ms Stock said: "Befriending and loneliness is a very important issue. I'm very happy we were able to use the money to help other elderly people."

KIDS INSPIRE – £500

Kids Inspire helps children and young people who have suffered trauma, neglect or abuse.

It assists by providing therapy, counselling and mentoring and helps children with a whole spectrum of problems which can make them challenging for teachers and support staff.

Fundraiser Paula Ashfield said: "We've got 32 unfunded cases that we have accepted that have suffered from neglect, abuse and bereavement. Even if the money can pay for one child to help recover then this has been brilliant."

BROOMFIELD FC – £500

Broomfield Football Club, now in its 109th year, has struggled after its clubhouse was the subject of an arson attack in May and a burglary last year.

The club, represented on the night by David and Gill Thomas, provides FA-qualified coaching to 350 local children.

Mr Thomas said: "We've come a long way since the fire. The clubhouse has now been refurbished. We are a fantastic club with regular trips abroad and this award is fantastic news."

PUSSY CAT LODGE - £2,000

BARROW FARM RIDING - £1,500

TICKERS - £1,000

ESSEX DEMENTIA CARE – £500

Essex Dementia Care won the Anglia Ruskin Award, which was presented by corporate communications manager Andrea Hilliard.

The charity, set up six years ago, helps 70 clients with dementia stay mentally and physically active, assisting their families as well.

Chief executive Debbie Davis and trustee Julie Sugg were on-stage to pick up the award.

Ms Davis said: "We try to focus on the individual and do the things that they want to do, the activities they want to do and have fun while offering therapeutic support. Dementia is in the news a lot more now and people are waking up to the need for extra services. We are very happy to be able to use this money to help dementia sufferers and their families."

MOVING ON – £500

The winners of the Essex Chronicle News and Media Award was Moving-On, a bereavement social group based in Chelmsford and Braintree. The charity works to combat loneliness by helping bereaved people meet others in the same situation.

Volunteer Bill Chewter said the group was "very pleased".: "We have up to 200 people that meet with us for informal social outings in pubs and restaurants and the money will certainly go a long way. We need more publicity for our newly-opened centre in Braintree, so we are very pleased."

GROWING up in Chelmsford a "bubbly and outgoing" child, life changed for Caitlin Barnes-Davies when she was sexually abused at 13 years old.

Plagued by feelings of shame, depression and confusion, she began skipping her lessons at Chelmsford County High School, self-harmed and twice tried to take her own life.

At 17 Caitlin, who has waived her right to anonymity, was introduced to therapist Sue Bell, founder of charity Kids Inspire, and the support she received in weekly sessions for the next five years saved her life.

"I told her that if I started talking I would fall apart. And she said that maybe if I came back every week then we could fall apart together, and that's what we did," said Caitlin, 24, speaking to the Chronicle at her parents' home in Good Easter.

"Back then if you'd have asked me if I would ever have a future, or ever feel happy, I would've said no."

Now working as a supervisor in Costa having finished a degree in music at the University of Canterbury, Caitlin credits the help she received from Sue as giving her the tools she needed to cope with the trauma she suffered and suppressed as a child.

And yet the Chelmsford charity, in Fox Crescent, currently has 32 families in need of its services for which there is no funding.

They include a seven-year-old who tried to commit suicide, and a 13-year-old girl who was raped by two boys and yet placed on a 12-week waiting list for support.

Sue, who set up the charity in 2006, said: "She reminds me of Caitlin actually. She had a really happy childhood, her mother was good enough but something has happened to steal her childhood.

"It's something that people don't want to hear about, there's a massive stigma not only around mental health but abuse, neglect and trauma, and they certainly don't want to hear about it happening on their doorsteps."

The charity's 30 therapists currently offer intensive support to 300 young people and their families in the county, with a further 140 attending their lunch clubs over the summer funded by the Essex Community Foundation.

"It makes me a feel bit sick that there isn't funding available for other children," added Caitlin, who hopes one day to become involved with music therapy for young people.

"It's so frustrating because it shouldn't be happening and there are the funds out there, it's so important. There is a thought that it's more prominent among certain classes of people but class, money, none of it can protect your children from things that happen in life."

It is to raise awareness of the charity's vital work, which celebrates its eighth birthday this year, that Caitlin now shares her story at talks and events. Sue added: "It's a harrowing, stressful job that is incredibly fulfilling.

"It's the kids that really do inspire, the courage they have in facing their trauma is quite incredible."

To learn more about Kids Inspire and the work they do go to www.kidsinspire.org.uk

The controversial overnight switch off of Essex street lights could open the door for drivers to break the speed limits by taking advantage of a legal loophole, according to a motoring lawyer.

Seven in every 10 of the county's 127,000 lamps are turned off every night between midnight and 5am, a cost-cutting move by Essex County Council.

However some have expressed concerns that the move may lead to an increase in crime and the number of road accidents.

One such person is barrister Antony Hook, a regular representative of motorists in court, who believes turning off the street lights could provide a loophole for speeding drivers. 

He said: "The courts have ruled that speed limits may not apply if street lights are broken, too far apart or illuminate the pavement instead of the road.

"It follows that there is a strong legal argument that switching off street lights can also remove a speed limit.

"Motorists may have a defence to a speeding charge because street lights have been switched off.

"This may make all the difference as to whether or not people get points, a fine or lose their driving licence and possibly their job as well."

The summer appears to be over if recent overnight temperatures are anything to go by.

Commuters have woken up to temperatures of 7C in recent days, and it is not likely to get much higher over the next few days in Essex, according to the latest Met Office forecast.

They are likely to slump still further, according to predictions, going no higher than 8C on Saturday and Sunday.

Before that, overhead cloud on Thursday and Friday will see them reach a more respectable 12C.

Daytime temperatures will be closer to the average for this time of year, settling at around 20C with bright sunny spells for the remainder of the week, with the exception of Friday, when we could see some showers.

Police are investigating a car burglary after a white Audi A3 was driven away from a Clacton home and later found burnt out on Monday.

The incident occurred between 12.30am and 5.30am on Monday (August 18), at a home in Cotman Road as thieves broke into the property by forcing the lock on the rear door and then stole the car keys. 

The car was subsequently found burnt out in Golden Lane, Thorpe-le-Soken.

Investigating Officer Pc Luke Howard said: "We would like to hear from anyone who might have seen this crime in progress .We would also advise car owners to be vigilant and to hide away the car keys when leaving their homes unattended."

Anyone with information should contact Essex Police at Clacton CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The Inbetweeners 2 has fought off competition from The Expendables 3 to continue its domination of the UK and Ireland box office charts.

The comedy starring Chelmsford actors James Buckley and Joe Thomas out muscled the action movie featuring Sylvester Stallone - making £4.31m last weekend.

The third Expendables movie meanwhile made just £1.69m in its first four days and is third in the charts.

Sci-fi fantasy, Guardians of the Galaxy is in second place after solid third weekend figures of £2.11m. 

But such sales pale into insignificance when compared to the Inbetweeners sequel, which has now made more than £22m since its release two weeks ago.