THE X FACTOR journey has come to an end for Romford singer Amy Mottram, who lost out in the public vote on Saturday.

Amy, who had been given a second chance of making the live finals after she was initially rejected during her auditions on the Caribbean island of St Lucia, was pipped to the post by fellow wild-card contestant Christopher Maloney.

Amy, who lives in Collier Row, took to Twitter after receiving the disappointing news:

She tweeted: "Just want to say a massive thankyou to everyone that has supported me throughout my @TheXFactor journey and also to everyone who voted xxxx."

When asked by Charlotte Williamson what she had in store next, Amy replied on Twitter: "I'm not too sure right now, but one thing i know for sure I will always be singing xx."

Miss Williamson added: "I was gutted you didn't make it on the live shows... But your voice is amazing so you will make it! Good luck."

Amy's mentor, singer Tulisa Contostavlos, was visibly upset after deciding not to bring the 16-year-old to t he live shows.

She said at the time: "If there were four spaces in the competition, you would be the first person to jump in there."

Despite receiving support from Tulisa and The Only Way Is Essex star Amy Childs – who between them have almost four million Twitter followers – Amy still did not have enough support to take her through.

To try to help her cause she had returned to her former secondary school, Bowers Park, on Wednesday to encourage pupils to vote for her.

Taking to the stage in a packed school hall, she sang One And Only by Adele, which was the song she wowed the judges with in her first audition.

Comment on 'Terrifying' ordeal for dads stranded in ford from page 3

OUR story on page 3 this week is sure to raise a few eyebrows from our readers as local millionaire Barrie Drewitt-Barlow tells how his car got stuck in a flooded ford.

Barrie and his partner Tony unwittingly found themselves at the centre of an emergency rescue when their Range Rover's power cut off after driving through five feet of water.

But as the British weather continues to be as unpredictable as ever and heavy rainfall hits the county, the sight of cars being stuck is one that we see all too common at the Chronicle.

Obviously the Drewitt-Barlows didn't intend to get stuck in flood water and luckily the emergency services managed to rescue them safely.

But drivers putting themselves at risk by driving through flood water is a problem that is draining the emergency services' resources and could so easily be avoided, according to Essex Fire & Rescue.

Often flood water can look deceptive and drivers think it is only a puddle, but when a lot of rain has fallen it would be best to err on the side of caution, turn around and find an alternative route.

Thankfully in this week's story only Barrie's Prada shows were hurt in the process but if we're all a little more cautious when driving after heavy rain, we might be able to minimise these sort of incidents.

RECEPTIONISTS at St Clare Hospice were lent a helping hand on the phones by MP Robert Halfon.

Mr Halfon, the MP for Harlow, Hastingwood, Matching, Nazeing, Roydon and Sheering, spent an afternoon with the volunteers as part of his social action week, in which he visits local charities and organisations.

Helping out at the Hastingwood hospice last Tuesday, he said: "This was my second stint as receptionist at St Clare Hospice and I admire the volunteers who do this every day of the year.

"It was good to learn the phone system once again and I congratulate everyone who comes to the charity so often to ensure that the hospice has a reception that is second to none."

The hospice has a team of 25 volunteer receptionists who provide an uninterrupted service throughout the year.

Chris Crump, hospice voluntary services manager, said: "Our volunteer receptionists are on the front line providing a friendly face.

"Not only do our volunteers answer the phone, they manage our shop and carry out other tasks from filling envelopes to arranging flowers."

THE leader of Havering Council has criticised Government plans to allow homeowners to extend their houses by eight metres without planning permission.

Cllr Michael White says the proposal, which will double the current limit of four metres, may have a deep impact on the quality of life of neighbouring residents.

The proposals, announced last month by Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and also the MP for Brentwood and Ongar, would change the current planning rules.

At present the rules state that permission must be sought for any extension above four metres, if a detached house, and three metres for semis and terraced houses.

An extension also must not cover more than 50 per cent of the original garden area.

Mr White, who has joined other local authorities speaking out against the proposal, said: "We support the principal of cutting red tape and making home improvements easier, but we are concerned that the current proposals could lead to a great deal of stress for residents in Havering, where people typically have small suburban gardens.

"Nobody wants to see neighbours at war over extensions so we would ask the Government to think again about how to reduce red tape while still protecting the integrity of our neighbourhoods."

On September 20, Richmond Council spoke out about the Government's plans and was followed by Sutton Council.

JUST three months ago Greg Dyson was optimistic about his future despite being made redundant from his £30,000 a year job as an electrical engineer.

Now the 37-year-old is an alcoholic, notorious locally for sleeping in shop doorways in and around Moulsham Street, Chelmsford.

He told the Chronicle: "It is a vicious cycle and once you are in it, it is hard to get out."

Greg is just one of 60 people living rough in the city centre, according to homeless charity CHESS, which wants to open a new 19-room bedsit in Cottage Place, near the Cathedral, to replace its drop-in centre which shut last year.

Greg and a handful of other homeless people, many fighting drink or drug problems, have made the Moulsham Street area their home in the past few months.

This week, however, some traders demanded action saying they were fed up with the presence of 'tramps' , claiming it was ruining their business.

Sean O'Sullivan, 48, of Stapleford Close, who passes through Moulsham Street regularly, said: "On Sunday morning, outside the vacant shop at the junction of New Writtle Street, I counted eight people on the pavement, in sleeping bags, who had been sleeping rough.

"The really cold nights of winter will shortly be with us, so what are the authorities going to do about this situation?

"Is it the police or social services? Whoever it is, something needs to be done soon."

THIS is the disturbing message, written in scrawled red pen and pinned to the table with kitchen knives, that was left by the killer of a former Witham vicar.

Describing them as "Christian scum", the note was found by Alan and Margaret Pinder when they returned to their home in the parish of Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, after the Christmas break last year.

Their cottage had been broken into, items strewn across the house, and half-eaten food left in the kitchen.

The burglar was Stephen Farrow, a homeless drifter, who has also admitted the manslaughter of the Reverend John Suddards, the new vicar of Thornbury, just a few weeks later.

Reverend Suddards had previously been the vicar at St Nicolas Church in Chipping Hill.

Farrow said he admitted manslaughter under diminished responsibility due to mental health problems.

Farrow also admitted burgling Vine Cottage where the chilling message was left, but denied a second murder charge – that of Betty Yates, 77, who was found beaten to death at her home in Worcestershire in January.

At the opening of 49-year-old Farrow's trial in Bristol Crown Court last week, prosecuting Michael Fitton QC, spoke of the burglary.

He said: "On the kitchen table was a note. It was pinned using two kitchen knives. It was written in a curious, disguised style of squiggly writing.

"It said: 'Be thankful you did not come back or we would have killed you, Christian scum. I hate God.'"

The court heard the message meant nothing to Mr and Mrs Pinder, who were not overtly religious.

Around six weeks later, the body of Reverend Suddards was found by workmen, surrounded by pornographic material, party poppers and, once again, half eaten food.

Full story pages 4&5

A PLUME sixth-form student who has been lying in an induced coma since hitting his head at a play park in Heybridge has begun to show signs of recovery.

Sam Richards, of Mundon Road, Maldon, was rushed to hospital just over a week ago after he fell off a ride at the Oak Tree Meadow play area and fractured his skull.

But after doctors told his family to prepare for the worst, the 16-year-old has opened his eyes and moved his hands.

"We just couldn't believe it when he opened his eyes," said Sam's 18-year-old sister Amy.

"His eyes aren't focusing but it's good news.

"Sam is such a fighter and he obviously wasn't going to give up."

Amy, a student at Plume, added: "There is damage to Sam's brain and the doctors have said he will definitely have some degree of brain damage, but we won't know exactly how much or what will be affected until he's a bit more recovered.

"The whole family have been at his bedside just holding his hand and talking to him.

"We're all just trying to stay positive and hope that he continues to make a recovery."

A NEW free school for children in Ongar has been proposed by a campaign group.

School4Ongar comprises local parents and grandparents who have set out to establish a new senior school on land behind the Ongar Leisure Centre, in The Gables.

Ongar has been without a senior school since the closure of the comprehensive school in 1989, which means children have to be bussed to nearby towns for schooling.

A spokesman for School4Ongar said: "Ongar has been growing over recent years and is likely to grow further.

"Yet hundreds of our children are bussed out of Ongar and the surrounding villages every day for their schooling and many thousands more face this daily struggle over the coming years."

Free schools are an initiative from Michael Gove, the Education Secretary.

They are set up by community groups and funded directly by central government.

The schools, which are independent of local authorities, are established as academies and have more control over their curriculum, teachers' pay and school terms.

School4Ongar is proposing the new free school would be funded by developers building new houses in Ongar.

Under the district council's local plan there is scope to build thousands of new homes in Ongar.

"Rather than have the developer running away with the cash, if there's got to be new homes in Ongar then rather than just a new housing estate, it's time we got something back for the community," the spokesman said.

It is proposed the school would need to have four to six forms in each of the five year groups in order to make it viable.

The spokesman added: "We're a small group at the moment and we want to hear from people who are interested in our idea.

"We will then bring interested parties together, co-ordinate meetings and hopefully get the ball rolling."

Leaflets will be distributed at the town's primary schools.

School4Ongar is calling for parents and anybody else interested in their campaign to register their interest at www.school4ongar.com

JUST one mainstream secondary school in Brentwood exists under the control of the local education authority, following the decision of the Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School to convert to academy status.

The decision follows that of Shenfield High School, St Martins and Anglo-European to opt for direct Government funding.

Brentwood's newest secondary school, Becket Keys, is also directly funded by Whitehall as a free school.

Academies currently receive about ten per cent extra cash – money the local education authority would have kept back to administer schools.

However, the amount of money given to each academy will decrease as more schools opt in to the system.

Brentwood County High is unable to apply for academy status while it carries a satisfactory Ofsted rating.

In a letter to MP Eric Pickles, education secretary Michael Gove said: "I am pleased to tell you that I have agreed to enter into a funding agreement to allow Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School, in Essex, to convert into an academy.

"As you know, academies form an integral part of the Government's education policy to raise attainment for all children and to bring about sustained improvements to all schools.

"I am delighted that Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School recognises the benefits academy status will bring.

The date of conversion will be October 1 and I am also writing to the local authority to instruct them to cease to maintain Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School from that date."

Mr Pickles said: "This is very welcome news indeed.

"I know how hard the Ursuline has worked towards this goal and am sure with academy status the school will go from strength to strength."

Head teacher Richard Wilkin could not be reached for comment on this matter as the Gazette went to press.

Conservative candidate Nicholas Alston, 60, is a former Royal Navy officer and son of a former Essex Police assistant chief constable. He lives in Chelmsford.

Independent Linda Belgrove lives in Alresford, Colchester, where she is a parish councillor. She has worked for a number of law firms as a senior legal secretary.

Independent John Gili-Ross has lived in West Bergholt since leaving the RAF in 1983. He has been a technology lecturer at Chelmsford College and is chairman of Colchester Association of Local Councils.

Labour's Val Morris-Cook is deputy leader of Thurrock Council. She moved from London 20 years ago and has worked in shops, owned her own business, sold boats, worked in customer care, sales and as a service manager for a vehicle company.

Independent Mick Thwaites is Yorkshire-born but served in three southern police forces – the City of London, the Met, and here in Essex. He has been a divisional commander at Southend and, in 2002, was temporary assistant chief constable of Essex. He retired as a chief superintendent.

English Democrats candidate Robin Tilbrook is a 54-year-old solicitor living in Willingale. He was a Coldstream Guard, worked in a factory as a junior manager and has taught at primary and secondary schools.

UKIP candidate Andrew Smith, 63, was the party's 2010 general election candidate in Epping Forest and is a finance director. He has worked in information technology, the legal industry, personnel, property and litigation management. He joined UKIP in 1999.

Independent Anthony Lyster, 52, is a vice-chairman of charity the Essex Agricultural Society. His firm, Lyster Associates, near Halstead, is a telecommunications firm and specialises in copper and fibre cabling.

THESE cheeky smiles won the hearts of Essex Chronicle readers to be voted the winners of our Baby of the Year competition.

Readers from both the Essex Chronicle and our sister paper the Brentwood Gazette voted in their hundreds to find the top three bonniest babies in the county.

Two-year-old Lola Marshall, of Takeley, near Dunmow, won the two to five years category, for the second year running.

Her mum, Hayley Rawling, 37, said: "She won it last year as well, so we thought we would give it another go.

"To be honest, we thought she hadn't won because there was a lot more competition this year, so we were absolutely ecstatic when we found out."

Lola's dad, Edward Marshall, 35, added: "We sent out a group text to ask people to vote because we think she's gorgeous – obviously everyone else did too."

Winner of the 13-24-months category was Halle Rose Purves.

The 17-month-old, of Chelmer Village, was entered by her dad, Chris Purves, 28, and mum, Kayleigh Sharp, 26.

Kayleigh said: "We entered her because we think she's gorgeous. Ever since she was born, everyone has stopped us and commented about it, saying they think she should be on TV.

"We messaged around all our family and friends to get them to vote and when we showed her the paper she pointed herself out straight away, but she was really miserable when she had the photo taken. We were using chocolate and everything as a bribe."

But the overall winner – and winner of the 8-12 month category – was Layla Bush, who was following in her big sister's footsteps to be crowned the Chronicle's Baby of the Year.

Her mum, Emily Morley, 23, who lives with her partner Daniel Bush, 24, in Ongar, said: "We entered Layla's sister, Ellie-Mae, into the competition in 2010 and she won, so we thought we should enter Layla. She's just so cute."

Emily was shocked when she found out that her youngest had also been voted the overall winner.

"I was over the moon when I was told she had won, I really didn't expect it. What are the chances of Ellie-Mae winning and Layla both winning? It must be the genes!"

She added: "Layla's taking after her big sister – she loves the camera and is a right little show off."

All three winners of the competition won a framed photograph of their baby and a day pass to Legoland Windsor for a family of four.

THEY'RE used to travelling in style, but for millionaire gay dads Tony and Barrie Drewitt-Barlow a trip in a search and rescue dinghy wasn't exactly how they planned to end their Saturday night.

The pair, who were the first same-sex couple to have a child by a surrogate mother, had to be rescued by emergency services after their Range Rover became stuck in more than five feet of water at a flooded ford in Hurrells Lane, Little Baddow.

The couple, who were on their way home from Essex Fashion Week, had to spend an hour on the roof of their 4x4, dressed only in their tuxedos, before being rescued.

"I truly thought I was going to die", said 42-year-old Barrie.

"I was driving and we'd only come down this way a few hours before.

"We drove through what looked like a puddle and then all of a sudden water seemed to whoosh around us – I don't know where it came from.

"It started to seep into the car and then the electrics went off and, because of the force of the current, the car was spun in the opposite direction we'd been driving. It was really scary.

"I was sitting on top of the seat, trying to stay out of the water, and really panicking, while Tony was telling me to stay calm."

After calling the emergency services, the couple, who have five children through surrogacy, were told to climb onto their roof and wait for recovery.

"I had no idea how I was going to lift myself out of the car, but somehow in situations you find strength and I climbed out the window and Tony followed," said Barrie.

"We stood on the roof and it was like something out of Titanic.

"It was pitch black, there isn't a single street light around there and it was terrifying, I did think we were going to drown.

"I was soaking wet and my £900 Prada shoes were completely wrecked.

"When the emergency services arrived they couldn't do anything for health and safety reasons, so we had to wait for an hour before the Southend coastguard came, and the police helicopter, to save us.

"I do feel really bad that we used so many resources, but we were truly stuck and we're so thankful that they saved us."

Speaking at the offices of his cosmetic research company and surrogacy centre in Chandlers Quay, Maldon, Barrie added: "We'd just dropped my daughter Saffron at a friend's so I'm so pleased she wasn't with us, or any of the other kids, that would have been awful if someone had been hurt.

"The flooding caused about £50,000 damage and the car, which was only two months old, has been written off.

"Tony said I did it on purpose because I want a Bentley.

"But it was a horrible experience and I'm having nightmares about it.

"Now it's over I can laugh about it, but it was terrifying."

THE City of Chelmsford has long been known for its historic buildings, its trade links and its modern culture, and now its legacy has been affirmed with the launch of its own Monopoly board.

On Tuesday, Chelmsford's new board game was launched at an event at Hylands House, which has taken pride of place on the board in what was traditionally Mayfair's exclusive spot.

Ceri Lowen, 54, the estate manager of Hylands House, said: "I think that it's wonderful to be Mayfair. Everybody knows Mayfair. What made it even sweeter was that people voted for us to be there and think highly of the house and the estate.

"The staff were thrilled. They were so excited.

"I played Monopoly when I was a kid and my kids love it. It's just one of those family favourites.

"In our house we still have the traditional Monopoly, Junior Monopoly, Lord of the Rings Monopoly, and now we have another to play this Christmas!"

When Chelmsford was officially made a city by the Queen earlier this year, designers of the much-loved game decided a new Monopoly board would be the perfect way to mark the occasion.

Mark Hauser, commercial director of Winning Moves, the company which created the Monopoly board, said: "Chelmsford has always been on the radar and this year we were keen to come to Essex.

"But then – and we weren't expecting it – Chelmsford was given city status and it made it a very easy decision."

When the decision was announced in the summer it was down to the people of Chelmsford, who took to Facebook in their droves, to vote for board landmarks.

"We were inundated with votes," said Mark. "Obviously education is a massive part of Chelmsford's make-up and there were so many children who went to the Facebook site, so we wanted to do an entire set representing education in Chelmsford."

As well as Chelmsford College taking Bond Street's place on the board, the Marconi empire is also represented, as well as other long-standing businesses, including the Essex Chronicle in what would be Fleet Street.

Essex Chronicle editor Paul Dent-Jones said: "As our masthead motto states, we've been 'making local matter more since 1764' so we're obviously delighted to be immortalised on Chelmsford's Monopoly board."

Also at the launch was Mayor of Chelmsford Christopher Kingsley, who said: "We are delighted. It has been a fantastic year for Chelmsford in so many ways.

"What more can a great city want than its own Monopoly board?"

A POLICEMAN and his ex-girlfriend who lied in court so he could avoid a drink-driving ban have been found guilty of perverting the course of justice.

Michael Turner, 44, of Hawkes Road, Witham, was caught drink-driving two years ago after his girlfriend at the time, Nicola Howell, reported him to police.

At his hearing at Witham Magistrates' Court in September 2010, Turner, a highly-commended firearms officer with the Metropolitan Police, received the lowest form of penalty when Howell, 49, then said that she had laced his lime and soda drinks with vodka without him knowing because he had a stressful day.

But Howell, who runs her own botox business, later admitted to police that she lied, claiming she did so under duress because she was frightened of Turner.

However, during the pair's trial at Chelmsford Crown Court last week, the court heard that it was in fact Howell, also a nurse specialising in domestic violence at Southend hospital, who admitted being violent towards Turner, slapping him on at least two occasions.

During Howell's cross-examination, Turner's defence barrister Simon Livingstone said: "What you admit to a certain extent is that you were the violent one in this relationship.

"You had a big problem in so much as you believed Michael Turner had told his family you were a violent drunk.

"As far as he was concerned, he was fit to drive. I'm going to suggest that the reason you phoned the police was because you didn't want him to leave your house, because you knew your relationship was going down the pan.

"You felt guilty because he was arrested, and you felt guilty because it was you putting vodka in his drinks that resulted in him being over the limit."

The jury heard that it was after their court appearance in 2010 that an officer in the case became suspicious of Howell's story.

When questioned agin, Howell said she had lied after being threatened by Turner, despite going on three holidays with him that summer.

David Holborn, prosecuting, said: "The Crown does not accept that you were under any duress. If the Crown did accept it, you would not be stood in the dock now.

"You were on holiday with a man you were afraid was going to kill you, but hereby hangs the problem: it is not the action of someone who is scared of being killed, is it?"

During Michael Turner's questioning he explained that he would not have risked drink-driving because the loss of his driving licence would have resulted in him losing his job and access to his severely autistic daughter, who is now 12. He has been suspended from his job since November 2010.

Turner maintained that, unknown to him, Howell added vodka to two pints of lime and soda that he drank that evening to relax him after a stressful day, although he had knowingly drunk two pints of Guinness earlier.

He was twice the legal alcohol limit, and told officers arresting him that they were on the "same side" and even invited them inside for a cup of tea.

However, in personal videos recorded by Turner that were used as evidence against him, it appeared as though the couple were arguing about their appearance in court. Howell could be heard telling Turner that she would "blow him out of the water."

After the five-day trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, the jury found both defendants guilty of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

When the verdict was announced on Tuesday, Turner's current partner sobbed and Howell's family shook their heads.

Judge David Turner QC said: "I will admit both defendants to bail. That's not to be taken as an indication that anything other than an immediate prison sentence may be the case."

Sentencing will take place on November 9.

"'VERY well then, let's roast him,' cried Flashman, and catches hold of Tom by the collar: one or two boys hesitate, but the rest join in."

Tom Brown's Schooldays portrayed a bygone era when school discipline was tough and prefects dished out their fair share of beatings.

Perhaps Thomas Hughes's 1857 tale of hero Tom and the school bully Flashman – who was himself a prefect – may have once had its own version played out in our very own town.

And when you look at the role of a school prefect and how it has changed there is probably no better place to start than the oldest educational establishment in town, Brentwood School.

The school was founded in 1558, and for centuries Praepostors (Latin for "placed before") have been there for their fellow housemates and pupils, in one way or another.

The Ingrave Road school remains one of just a few across the country that have retained the term Praepostors, with another being Eton, while most schools, both private and state, prefer prefect, head boy and head girl.

It is rumoured that at Brentwood still today, the head Praepostor is afforded two arcane yet entertaining privileges which remain among the school statutes, perhaps by an oversight rather than anything else.

The first is that the Head of School is the only pupil allowed to grow a beard (the current holder is a girl) and the second is that they are the only pupil entitled to ride a pony through the school grounds.

But some old-fashioned ways have obviously not survived.

As recently as the 1950s, pupils at the school were still being walloped with a cane on a daily basis by the sixth-form hierarchy.

Former Home and Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, a pupil at Brentwood, is reported to have influenced a change to that policy, when he refused to administer a thrashing as head of his boarding house.

Caning was eventually outlawed in 1987.

But prefects remain firmly engrained in the school's DNA and this year a team of 70 gown-adorned sixth formers have been hand-picked for the privilege.

At the top of the Praepostors tree is Lauren Tai, the most senior pupil, who is Head of School.

Miss Tai, who wants to study law at university, is the equivalent of a head boy and head girl.

She leads a team of 70 Praepostors made up of five Deputy Heads of School, who each have 9 to 11 prefects under their watch.

The 17-year-old describes her position as one of "respect and responsibility".

She said: "It's all about being a good role model, because people look up to you, so you have to make sure your uniform is smart and you are polite and enthusiastic about different activities in the school."

Each Praepostor is handed a blue gown by their predecessor at an annual chapel ceremony, which is followed by a luncheon for the newbies, their predecessors and senior staff.

The lucky few, who are ultimately chosen by Headmaster Ian Davies on the advice of staff, are selected because of their conduct and level of involvement in school life.

Membership of school bands, choirs and sports teams is all taken into account, as is involvement in a military cadet unit or the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Mr Davies said the role of prefects is an honour which adds weight to university and job applications.

He added: "The role has changed a lot over the past few decades and today the prefect body is predominantly there to look after the younger boys and girls and help staff with duties around the school.

"Their first job is to be a great role model, so the boys and girls can come to them for help and advice when they need it.

"The second is to help teachers with the smooth running of the school and they must also to be leaders in their different areas of school life, depending on what they get involved with."

Deputy Head of School, Mark Baldock, 18, was most pleased to be chosen and "written into the school's history".

In one way or another pupils are selected as leaders across all schools in Brentwood and Billericay.

St Martin's in Hutton; Shenfield High School; and St John's in Billericay all run a head pupil scheme involving selection of a Head Boy and Head Girl, while candidates for the post at Anglo-European School, in Ingatestone conduct an election campaign and are democratically elected.

At Brentwood County High School, in Seven Arches Road, both roles are also chosen by staff selection and each has a deputy.

They are there to talk to children in need of advice or support and represent the school both inside and out of the premises.

But most crucially at County High they gather feedback from fellow pupils, which is passed to the Board of Governors at meetings.

Aspiring City boy, Will Monk, 17, the current Head Boy at County High school, had to apply for the role, then secure the backing of nominees and go through an interview before landing the job.

His sights are set on a place at the University of Oxford and Will is revelling in his new position.

He says he wants to use it to promote the many good things that he has experienced during his time at County High.

"Some people view our school as, perhaps, not a great school," he said.

"But since I have been here I have thoroughly enjoyed my time and I want to make people change their view of it.

"I want to prove people wrong and I think this role has really enabled me to show that you can achieve much here."

Previous head boys at the school include Brentwood councillor William Lloyd.

Will, Head Girl Rosie McGuire and their deputies, James Arnold and Nula Gooderson, all 17, get involved in a range of other activities as well as being the "voice of the students".

These include organising the school's end-of-year dance, helping at parents' evening and at careers events.

THE future of Shire Hall will be the hot topic at the Chelmsford Ideas Festival kicks at the weekend.

The festival, organised by the environment group Changing Chelmsford, and Anglia Ruskin University, will see over 40 events taking place around the city to discuss the future of some of the city's most-loved buildings and heritage sites.

And along with trying to come up with uses for some of the city's most iconic buildings, the week-long event will also give members of the public the first glimpse of plans for the derelict Marconi factory in New Street.

Changing Chelmsford chairman Malcolm Noble said: "This is the first time we have held something as extensive as this festival, although we have had two smaller events from which we have learned a lot.

"The plan is to draw many strands together with the objective of letting people have a say in the future of our new city.

"The participation of Anglia Ruskin University makes this a much more wide-ranging than our previous efforts."

The festival is based around a theme called the 'Heritage Triangle', which has seen the organisers choose three local buildings, Shire Hall, the Anne Knight building opposite the railway station, and Marconi's semi-derelict wireless factory as the focal points of the week's events.

On Saturday a debate about the future of these buildings will be held and the plans to transform the Marconi building into apartments will be on display for the first time, before they go on public display at Anglia Ruskin University on October 18 and 19.

Bellway Homes has bought the nine-acre site and wants to transform the once-thriving factory into a mixture of 400 homes, offices and shops.

Mr Noble added: "We hope there will be something to enthuse everyone."

An extensive programme of lectures, workshops and fun events will also be held throughout the week and will include a visit and book-signing by Professor Stephen Hawking's daughter Lucy at Anglia Ruskin. There will also be debates pressing for parish-style councils for urban areas, the benefits of restorative justice, black history and how the city can prepare for fuel starvation later in the century.

For details, visit www. changingchelmsford.org/if2012

THESE people have become notorious over the past few months after making the shop doorways in and around Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, their home.

They, along with a dozen or so other homeless friends, have been blamed for petty crime and for littering the pavements with empty cans of super strength lager or cider.

This week, Moulsham Street traders demanded action, claiming that having vagrants outside their shops are intimidating passers-by and affecting business.

But after the Chess day-shelter shut last year, the homeless people, estimated at 1,380 in the East of England, say they have nowhere to go.

When the Chronicle spoke to some of the people sleeping rough on Monday, we found Greg Dyson lying in the blocked-up doorway of the old Quasar building, in New Writtle Street, having a seizure and foaming at the mouth.

When paramedics showed up, Greg, 37, was vomiting on the pavement and, after a quick check-up, the paramedics left.

Greg, an alcoholic, says he never intended to end up sleeping rough on a pile of dirty blankets in a doorway in Chelmsford.

The London-born former electrical engineer had planned to emigrate to Sweden to be with his daughter Alexandra, 12, but only made it to Stansted Airport, three years ago.

"They told me my ticket was not valid and I had to pay an extra £388, but I could not afford that.

"I spent Christmas Day in the airport alone before the police found me, put me on a bus to Chelmsford and here I am.

"I have now been homeless for about a year, but days and months mean nothing when you are on the streets," he said.

When he was made redundant, he had nowhere to live, and stayed at friends' houses for a couple of months.

Now his life is very different, taking a daily dose of 40 pills, including sleeping tablets and mood stabilisers.

Greg said: "I am fluent in Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and German – bet you would never have guessed.

"It is just one of those things. Now there is nothing to do during the day, just drink."

Lorna Griffin, 37, has not washed for a week and her clothes are stale after living on the streets for eight months.

The methadone addict of 14 years says she was just getting her life back in order when her Braintree house went up in flames.

Lorna, who was pregnant and living with her boyfriend at the time, says she had to have her one-year-old child adopted.

"As soon as that fire happened I lost my son, I got post-natal depression, and I turned back to drink. Social services said they would take my son for just ten days, but they have never given him back," she said.

"He is going through adoption because I think that is for the best. I would be selfish to keep him with me.

"I have made plans with the social worker to see him in November on his birthday, and give him a keep-box with some letters and photos from me."

Lorna says she was sexually abused as a child, which sparked her drinking habit.

She broke down in tears and said: "You think I want to be here smelling like this? I want to change my life around."

Lorna's partner, Ashley Reid, 29, was made homeless four months ago, after splitting with his girlfriend, and was supported by both Greg and Lorna.

The trio say they're a new family, and Ashley said: "Without those two I would not have made it, we all help each other out."

Former homeless man Kevin Tutton, 52, of Chelmsford, who knows the homeless group, said: "About 18 months ago, I was living on the streets, anywhere and everywhere I could find.

"I broke up with my other half and ended up on the streets, you just survive because you have to.

"All these homeless people have been hurt in one way or another, one of these guys was a chartered accountant.

"They actually get the blame for a lot of things that they do not do.

"There are lots of empty alcohol bottles around New London Road on a Sunday, it is not always them, but they get the blame.

"But the help is out there if you know how to find it."

DESPITE record journey numbers and increased toll charges the Dartford Crossing is making less money than it did eight years ago, the Chronicle can reveal.

Proceeds have fallen year-on-year from £54 million in 2003/4 to £36.7 million in 2010/11 because the private contractor's costs have more than doubled in the same period, from £12.7 million to £27.5 million.

The news comes after the toll charge for cars went up 50p to £2 on Sunday, prompting calls for more transparency over where the money is actually being spent.

Witham MP Priti Patel, who uncovered the figures, said motorists in Essex are being "ripped off" and that congestion at the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and Dartford Tunnel, which is used by 50 million vehicles every year, actually costs the British economy £40 million-a-year.

"The Dartford Crossing is a vital economic link for Essex but the £40 million costs caused by delays and congestion are unacceptable," said Ms Patel.

"When the money raised by the tolls for the Government is less than £37 million, the current charging arrangements seem disproportionate to the wider economic costs.

"There are now serious questions that need to be answered about the way the previous Labour Government set up the current contract for managing the crossing.

"Instead of scrapping the tolls a decade ago the then Labour Government kept charging users of the crossing by claiming that the money raised would be spent on improving the road network.

"But these shocking figures show that over the last eight years users of the crossing have been paying more while the Government has been receiving considerably less for the road improvements it promised."

Indeed, revenues from motorists have risen from £68.1 million to £73 million in eight years but total expenditure at the crossing increased from £14 million in 2003/04 to £36.3 million last year.

Expenditure – which totalled one-fifth of revenue in 2003/04 – now totals half of all income received.

"Users of the Crossing are being ripped off and the Government must now fully review the charging scheme for the crossing to give users a better deal," said Conservative MP Ms Patel.

A Highways Agency spokesman said: "Every penny that motorists pay to Connect Plus to drive over the Dartford Crossing is handed over to the Department for Transport and by law must be spent on transport projects.

"These projects include the development and future implementation of free-flow to funding a new Lower Thames Crossing. The contract offers taxpayers value for money, and is delivering better journeys for drivers on the M25."

Brentwood came into this game fairly confident after their 7-4 victory over Bishop's Stortford the previous week, although with Bluehearts undefeated and only having conceded one goal so far this season, Brentwood were anticipating a tough fixture.

The opening exchanges proved just that but Brentwood were the first to settle, with Cashel Gleeson firing a well-struck shot past the Bluehearts keeper to finish off a well-worked Brentwood move.

Bluehearts hit back strongly though and following some lapse marking in the Brentwood defence, their centre forward was released one on one with Kris Spurling in the Brentwood goal. Spurling took down the Bluehearts forward and they duly dispatched the resulting penalty flick to make it 1-1.

That though only seemed to spur Brentwood on, and from that point they started to take control of the game.

Most of the chances were falling for Brentwood, and apart for a couple of saves, Spurling, in the Brentwood goal was largely untroubled.

Brentwood eventually scored again when James Duggan finished off a well worked short corner, to take his tally to seven for the season, and that was soon followed by a goal from Alex Haynes to make it 3-1.

Simon Chambers then added a close range finish to make it 4-1 at the break.

Brentwood knew Bluehearts would come out strongly after the break and although they did, Brentwood held strong and added a fifth goal in almost comical fashion to pretty much kill off the game as a contest.

The Bluehearts goalkeeper made a huge hash of an attempted clearance with no players near him, but then just stopped and watched as the ball trickled towards the goal.

Simon Chambers chased it down and slid the ball home for his second goal of the game.

As Brentwood had more and more possession, more chances came and Paul Haynes soon followed his brother into the score book following another good Brentwood move.

Robert Fryer then added a seventh Brentwood goal with a strong strike from a short corner as Brentwood eventually cruised to a victory.

And having now scored 20 goals in their last three games Brentwood will be brimming with confidence for what they hope will be a successful rest of the campaign.

Brentwood play Witham away next, followed by their next home game against West Herts on October, 20 pushback is at 12.30pm at Becket Keys School.

A MUM is defending how she disciplines her children after claiming she was reported to social services for smacking her son.

Catherine Sunshine, who has a two-year-old son and one-year-old daughter, feels her parenting is being unfairly scrutinised because of the way she chooses to 'tell off' her toddler.

But even though smacking is legal in Britain, Miss Sunshine, of Beehive Lane, Chelmsford, believes most parents are too scared to admit they smack their children because of fear of repercussions.

"I don't punish out of anger but I discipline out of love, and I'm angry at the way social services are prying into every detail of mine and my children's life, with the implication that I'm abusing them," said the 20-year-old.

"I'm not going to wallop an infant or a toddler, I would never do that, but I smack my child to discipline him.

"I must have only smacked my son twice in nearly the two years we have been going to play group, and that could hardly be seen as abuse.

"But the group claimed it was against their policy and instead of sitting down and having a meeting with me, or issuing a warning, they lodged a cause for concern with social services.

"Social services do a lot of good and are needed, but I feel it's ridiculous that they're questioning my parenting abilities for something that does no harm to my child.

"My son isn't covered in bruises or emotionally damaged, my GP has vouched that my children are perfectly healthy.

"Should I just let my children run wild or put them in a 'time out' until they're 25, because of other people's views on discipline?

"It's madness."

After receiving the complaint, social services made a visit to the home that psychology student Miss Sunshine shares with her children.

"Social services are there to highlight cases where there is genuine concern, but my children are not at risk," she added.

"Smacking is legal and there is a stereotype that only unemployed, uneducated people smack their children, which just isn't true.

"But now, because of social services' involvement, I'm worried that the second my children get bruises or graze their knees, I'm going to be accused of hurting them, which is horrible.

"This claim will also follow my children when they start school and it could be really damaging for them.

"I'm not going to stop smacking my children, but I'm angry at the way I'm portrayed for having the guts to admit this is what I do.

""I am frustrated at the lack of freedom parents seem to have in choosing how to discipline, whether a parent smacks or not, isn't it up to the parents to decide, not the state?"

Essex County Council, which is in charge of social services, did not respond to the Chronicle.