POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a man was seriously injured in Chelmsford.

The 25-year-old from Chelmsford was taken to hospital by ambulance on Thursday (February 14) after he was found at 3.20pm in New Writtle Street, on the junction with New London Road, with a wound to his abdomen. 

His condition is now described as serious but not life threatening.

The man is, however, refusing to assist police with their enquiries.

Police believe that the incident may have occurred in the Wolseley Road area and are appealing for anyone with any witness information to contact the CID office at Chelmsford police station on 101.

RITUAL hand washing and extreme tidiness are just some of the symptoms caused by the strong anxiety and intrusive thoughts that come with obsessive compulsive disorder.

This week, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of the disorder has been launched – a campaign which coincided with the latest meeting of the Brentwood OCD Group on Monday.

The group manned a stall at Brentwood Library in New Road and gave visitors information about the condition.

Founded two years ago, the group meets on the third Monday of every month at the Slug and Lettuce on Brentwood High Street.

The informal sessions give members a chance to speak to others about how they are coping with their OCD.

One 31-year-old from Brentwood who is a member of the group, and whom the Gazette agreed not to name, said: "We help and support each other and talk about our problems.

"Most of our members are from Brentwood, but as this is the only club in Essex, many people come from further afield.

"There are usually around five of us at each meeting but many people only come once to get advice and then don't return."

He added: "The meetings are not in a pub, it's a separate part which you can enter through a different door as many people with OCD would find the prospect of entering a busy bar intimidating.

"I helped set up the group and understand how nervous the condition can make you.

"This is the nature of OCD and for this reason, Mind can arrange a chaperone for people who do not want to come alone.

"I've had OCD for a number of years and with good treatment the symptoms can get better.

"There is a secretive nature to the condition and many people are afraid to talk but the group is good to show you that you're not alone.

"There is a common misconception that OCD is just frequent hand- washing or being really tidy but there is much more to it than that.

"There are quite a lot of different types of OCD including frequent washing and showering as well as worrying – you get stuck worrying about things for hours, that's the obsessive part."

The meetings are free of charge and are held in the function room above the main bar of the Slug and Lettuce.

Speakers include cognitive behavioural therapists, who help advise members how to cope with their OCD.

Those interested in joining the meetings held by the Brentwood OCD club are referred by the mental health charity Mind.

National OCD Week has been orchestrated by OCD Action, which will involve lots of groups across the country.

Tony Robinson, senior mental health worker for Brentwood Mind, said: "There aren't that many OCD groups like this around.

"The self-help group is a chance for people living with OCD to swap coping strategies and techniques to relax.

"They have visiting speakers who share breathing exercises to help combat their anxiety attacks.

"They are also given cognitive behavioural therapy to help them change the way they think and challenge their intrusive thoughts.

"Such thoughts really affect the way these people live and the anxiety can be exhausting.

"One man who took part in the group was on a drive and had an intrusive thought that he had hit a man.

"He was so worried that he made the entire two-hour journey for a second time to check that he hadn't injured anyone."

Mr Robinson added: "The support group is a place for people with OCD to come and feel that they're not alone and there are other people that have to try to deal with it – there is a way forward and they don't have to struggle on their own."

THE future is a lot clearer for many Brentwood teenagers after they spent the afternoon touring a careers fair.

About 4,500 young people aged 13 to 18 visited the fourth annual Brentwood Education and Careers Fair, and yet again, it has been hailed a big success.

Representatives from 80 companies, colleges and training providers set up stalls in the main hall of the Brentwood Centre in Doddinghurst Road and were kept busy for six hours answering questions and providing advice to young people.

For the first time, five secondary schools in the borough – Shenfield High, Brentwood County High, St Martin's, Anglo European and Brentwood Ursuline Convent High, plus the Endeavour School – provided buses which relayed students back and forth.

More students visited with their parents after school hours.

Amassing piles of brochures and leaflets between them were three friends from St Martin's School in Hanging Hill Lane, Hutton.

Georgia Staples, 14, said: "It's good here.

"There's lots of information available from the stalls.

"I'm interested in going into film and make-up so want to find out more about courses I could take."

Mary Allen, 13, said: "I'm interested in design and architecture, that sort of thing, and I've been able to find out a bit more today.

"It's been really worthwhile coming here."

Thirteen-year-old Rebecca Broadley added: "I love netball, so I am looking at doing something with sport and have found out today how it is important I get good grades in science, particularly biology.

"It's been really helpful."

Heading straight for the very popular Essex Police stand was Nikkita Barber, 15, from Shenfield High School.

She said: "I want to be a policewoman, so this is the ideal place for me to find out more.

"I want to help people, stop crimes and make the world a better place."

PCSO Peter Kearney was pleased to give Nikkita advice.

He said: "We've had an excellent response today.

"The youngsters want to try on the helmets and have a go at the scanner but they are also asking lots of questions and taking the leaflets."

Another popular stall belonged to the East of England Ambulance Service and came complete with a dummy showing human organs which students were called on to identify.

Paramedic Kevin Hudson said: "Many of the students are not sure of the role of a paramedic so it's great we get the chance to explain what we do.

"Lots of youngsters are keen to learn CPR, which is fantastic, and we have had quite a few say they want to be doctors."

Saowani Wannasiri, 17, from the Anglo European School in Willow Green, in Ingatestone was one of more than 80 student ambassadors who helped ensure the event ran smoothly by guiding visitors, providing refreshments for stall holders and undertaking media relations.

She enjoyed having a go swinging a club at the Howard Golf design stand, which informed students about the various careers available in the sport.

"I've never tried it before – it was fun," she said.

"As well as helping out, I've had the chance to tour the fair and find out more about management courses I'm interested in."

Tom Spears, 14, and Percy Jennings, 13, who both go to the Anglo European, were interested in finding out more about what BT had to offer.

Tom said: "I think this fair is a really good opportunity to get information on jobs and apprenticeships.

"I am looking for anything to do with sport or business."

Percy added: "I've found out a lot more about what BT has to offer – their apprenticeship looks good.

"I also liked TheLightBulb Ltd, which has lots of things you can study.

"You start from scratch and they teach you everything you need to know."

In the morning, 250 Year 6 pupils from eight different primary schools took part in workshops run by employers, which helped them understand the range of careers available and skills they will need to get a job.

Beverley Swann, project manager for the Brentwood Learning Partnership, which organised the fair, said: "It has been a very successful day, and despite the difficult economic climate we were delighted to have reached our full capacity of 80 stands, which provided a wide range of different advice and information for our students."

GREEN-FINGERED residents held a seed swap to raise money for a garden for the disabled.

The Sensory Garden Club, in King George's Playing Fields off Ingrave Road, Brentwood, was set up in August 2010 and works with adults with learning difficulties.

They put on their third seed swap on Saturday morning to raise funds for the garden, which was vandalised for the third time last summer.

This year's swap took place at Hartswood Allotments in Hartswood Road.

Fortunately, the weather over the weekend was fine and more than 50 gardeners swapped their seeds and helped raise money for the voluntary group.

"People bring the seeds that they don't want and swap them for the ones that they do," said club chairman Joy Dunn, 55.

"Us gardeners always have packets left over or ones we've picked up for free in magazines."

The most in-demand seeds on Saturday were vegetable and flower seeds but lettuce proved the least popular, with dozens of packets left over at the end of the day.

The club hopes to have raised more than £100 and plans to invest the money in plants that are fragrant, interesting to touch and suitable for the most severely disabled.

The club is run by half a dozen able volunteers, a small group of disabled gardeners and a pool of people who give up their time when they can.

Last year they received a £5,000 localism grant and this year they received £1,500, which they say they will use to build a disabled-friendly vegetable plot.

Among the volunteers was Maggie Colling, 65, who was there with her grandson, six-year-old Joshua O'Shea.

She said: "We are trying to raise awareness of the club, but it's great that people get involved and come down and understand what gardening is all about."

Visiting the swap was Jackie Andrews, 71, and her husband Michael, 78, who owns a plot on the allotment.

Mrs Andrews bought a woven bag for her shopping and her husband bought seeds.

"I'm not swapping because I haven't got anything to swap with," Mr Andrews said.

Call Ms Dunn on 07974846608 or e-mail joydunn@hotmail.co.uk for more information on the group.

AN AUTHOR whose books are celebrated across the world has published her 24th novel and says her ideas come from the least expected places.

Elizabeth Lord, 84, who lives in Billericay, launched her latest tome, entitled Illusions Of Happiness, on February 2.

The fictional book explores the experiences of a girl from a good family whose life goes off track when she always seems to fail at attempts to find happiness.

Ms Lord's novels are published by Severn House Publishers and are available at libraries across the world, including in the USA and Australia.

She typically writes romantic fiction and family sagas in printed form but published her first e-book, The Chandelier Ballroom, 18 months ago.

"The electronic book is doing well, but I do like proper books," she told the Gazette.

"Each novel I write usually takes a year including all the research and proofing at the end.

"I've been writing seriously since the late 70s and have written 20 books since then."

Before working as a full-time author, Ms Lord worked as a legal secretary up until the age of 63.

Ms Lord said: "I absolutely love writing – I love getting inside characters and am a proper people-watcher.

"I enjoy seeing what people are like and if I hear a conversation that's interesting I think, 'that would make a good book'.

"Sometimes ideas come out of silly things where you'd least expect."

Ms Lord has two children and four grandchildren and has lived in Billericay since 1969.

She is an active member of the Billericay Arts Association and sits on its committee.

She said: "It feels like a home from home and the members there enjoy my books.

"I also am on the Brentwood Writers' Group committee, which I love."

Ms Lord is now in the process of writing her next novel, entitled The Quiet One, which centres on a family and the youngest daughter of four, who is often overlooked.

A NATIONAL chain of opticians has been given a formal warning after it admitted allowing unqualified staff to fit glasses and contact lenses at six branches, including Brentwood.

At a hearing in London, Vision Express conceded that Mark Heinz had worked as a dispensing optician at its branch in Brentwood High Street despite not being registered as such with the profession's regulatory body, the General Optical Council (GOC).

The firm also accepted seven other charges of employing staff, none of whom worked in Brentwood, who were not correctly registered with the GOC.

Vision Express made the admissions at a hearing of the GOC's fitness to practise committee on Wednesday.

Committee chairman Sir Alistair Graham said: "Vision Express, by its own admission, failed to meet the statutory and regulatory responsibilities in eight branches in its nationwide network.

"The requirement to monitor compliance is both a fundamental one and is basic in the sense that it should be achievable without difficulty."

The allegations came to light after a whistleblower anonymously e-mailed the regulator in July 2010.

The informant claimed that an unqualified employee, Mehmood Jagani, was working as a dispensing optician at Vision Express at the Brent Cross shopping centre in northwest London – wearing a name badge with the misleading job title.

The source said the man was "allowed to work as a fully-fledged dispensing optician," adding: "He has been allowed to dispense to young children."

The company has since overhauled its policy for issuing name badges and now ensures staff qualifications are checked.

Vision Express has also sent staff on training courses and updated its policy on the sale and supply of glasses, moves which satisfied the disciplinary panel that it need not be sanctioned for those breaches.

The committee issued the firm with a three-year warning, with Sir Alistair saying: "The purpose of this warning is to ensure that Vision Express (UK) Limited remains focused throughout this three-year period on the undertakings it has given."

Vision Express, which has 386 branches nationwide, later sacked Mr Jagani for gross misconduct, but he insisted that he had "always been clear" he was unregistered.

Vision Express (UK) Ltd was represented at the central London hearing as a corporate defendant, with three senior managers sitting through proceedings as observers.

Alistair Jarrard, store partner at Vision Express in Brentwood, said he could not comment on the hearing, although he did say that Mr Heinz had not worked at the shop for around three years.

Neil McGowan, the retail operations director at Vision Express, said: "We are satisfied with the outcome of the hearing at the General Optical Council.

"The lapse in best practice occurred three years ago.We conducted a thorough review immediately and changed our policies and processes. There have been no further incidents since.

"Vision Express are committed to providing the best individual optical care as well as delivering excellent customer service."

A YOUNG woman who was killed in a snowboarding accident has inspired a Wickford designer to start a charity swap to raise money in her memory.

Boarding fan Sean Farmiloe, 25, of Goodmayes Walk, Wickford, launched his own boarding clothing company, Frontside Backside, in October last year.

He heard of Emily Watts' death on December 13 and decided he wanted to contribute to the charity that was subsequently formed by her family.

Miss Watts, known as Mimi, from Lavenham in Suffolk, fell into a snowdrift in Chamonix in the French Alps and died after becoming trapped for 45 minutes.

Miss Watts, 26, was a budding designer and was due to start a master's degree course in design.

Mr Farmiloe told the Gazette: "Emily's story really hit home because she came from a similar vein.

"I really wanted to do something to help and decided that the swap would be a good way to raise money for the charity created in her honour."

The swap began on January 21 when Mr Farmiloe offered one of his snowboarding T-shirts to all-comers.

He swapped the garment in return for an iPod docking station, which will now be swapped for an item of higher value.

This process will continue for six months, following which the final item will be sold and the money raised given to Miss Watts' charity Good Story.

The charity was founded by Miss Watts' brother, Rory, who wanted to do something to help young creative people looking to start their own businesses.

Good Story offers financial support and advice to those who have the skills and imagination to realise their dreams but who may lack the financial or technical knowledge.

Mr Watts, 27, a graphic designer from London, said: "My sister was on the brink of setting up her own clothing line when she died.

"I know there are a lot of young people out there in a similar situation to Mimi who have the talent but may lack the resources and the charity aims to help them unlock their potential.

"Good Story aims to turn their ideas into a business."

The charity currently helps three candidates, who receive help from 40 mentors from all walks of life, ranging from tattoo artists to bankers.

Mr Watts said: "We launched Good Story on December 16 and wanted to strike while the iron was hot.

"The family wanted something positive to focus on and give a positive spin to the situation.

"Myself, my mother, stepfather, stepbrother and friends are all trustees.

"Our mentors come from all over the country – we're based at my mum's house in Suffolk and I'm based in London.

"The candidates have a weekly call from their mentor as well as a monthly face-to-face meeting.

"We are in the process of organising funding for candidates as well."

Since the charity formed two months ago they have raised £14,000 and are in the process of setting up a system for direct debits, as currently donors can only make one-off payments.

Speaking of his sister, Mr Watts said: "Her designs were really great, she was a really keen snow boarder and wanted to design something different for women snow boarders – different from the usual flowery pink designs.

"Sean has been great, he heard us and contacted me saying whatever I can do to help let me know, and the swapping idea came from there."

For more information about the swap or to take part contact sean@frontsidebackside.com or visit www.facebook.com/Frontsidebackside

AN imam is being sued for failing to return thousands of pounds to angry donors after plans for a new mosque in Brentwood fell through.

Miah Rahman allegedly promised to use the cash to build the Muslim temple because worshippers had to use a local community hall.

However, after the proposals were shelved two years later, they were left empty-handed, Central London County Court heard on Monday.

Formed as a result, the Brentwood and South East Cultural Association currently occupies a nondescript community hut owned by the Brentwood Army Cadets.

The members, mainly drawn from disaffected Muslims, still aspire to have their own place of worship.

Mr Rahman argues that the cash was intended as "gifts" for general work supporting Islam in and around the town, although a group of donors say they gave money on condition a mosque would be built.

Sidra Naeem, who was then working as a Sunday school teacher, told the hearing she helped collect more than £84,000 for the project.

A handful of people who filled out forms explicitly stating they were providing cash as loans totalling around £10,000 under Islamic law were later reimbursed – but others were left out of pocket.

"Most of these people who signed these forms didn't want the money back if the mosque materialised," she said, describing two big fundraising drives in 2005 and 2007.

"It's because the mosque didn't materialise that they wanted it back.

"It was a year later that we found out the mosque wasn't there. It was after that, when there was quite a big uproar in the community, that people started asking for their money back."

The court heard "probably hundreds" of others gave money in other ways without filling out the loan forms.

The court heard Mr Rahman began campaigning for a mosque in October 2005.

By the summer of 2007, a 1.4 acre site in Pilgrims Hatch had been found, but they were outbid at auction the following year.

Soon after, donors began demanding their money back.

Following a complaint by Dr Reshma Rasheed, a local GP who had given £1,500, police investigated both Mr Rahman and his colleague Mohammad Edoo on suspicion of fraud, but decided against a criminal prosecution.

Mrs Naeem said: "Once the mosque dissolved lots and lots of people started asking me for the money back.

"I'd obviously handed it to Mr Rahman."

Asked about the police inquiry, she said: 'I saw the bank accounts myself, and on the dates I had given my money a lot of the cash had not gone in.

"What had been deposited was mostly big cheques, and even then the money had been taken out from [a bank in] Chelmsford.

"That was when I realised the money hadn't been used for the purposes of the mosque."

A total of 13 claimants are jointly bringing the case against Mr Rahman and co-accused Mr Edoo, who was also involved in raising the funds.

All were then practising Muslims living in and around Brentwood and Billericay.

Giving evidence, Abdool Soobratty, who is suing to get £1,000 back, said: "I had all my trust in him as the Imam, but it didn't materialise.

"This was for a specific purpose."

Mr Rahman and Mr Edoo are accused of a breach of trust, which they both deny.

They say the funds were gifts, and did not meet strict criteria for a loan under Islamic law.

Under Qardhe Hasanah, a loan agreement must be made in writing, must set out the date of repayment, and should be witnessed by two people, the court heard.

The ongoing trial is expected to last four days.

COUNCIL tax is to be frozen for the fourth year running in Havering.

The borough council has decided not to hike charges for the coming financial year, which starts in April.

The decision means that the owner or tenant of an average Band D property will once again be asked to pay £1,195 over the next 12 months.

However, the total tax bill paid by Havering residents could yet increase because the Greater London Authority precept – currently £306 for a Band D household – has yet to be set by City Hall.

The budget proposals recommended by Havering Council's cabinet will now go to full council on February 27 for a final decision.

Councillor Roger Ramsey, cabinet member for value, said: "The council budget decision for 2013/14 reflects our determination to keep council tax stable in Havering, while managing large reductions to our funding.

"Our budget is built on a long-term approach to cutting our running costs, rather than cutting services.

"That means we can focus on the priorities of local people, who want clean, well-maintained streets, care for those in need and services like libraries and parks that improve the quality of life in Havering."

Havering's budget plans for 2013/14 are in marked contrast to some other local authorities in London and across the UK that are consulting on major service cuts or council tax increases.

This is despite the fact that Havering will receive around £1.5 million less in funds from the Government from April.

The council says it can pay for the freeze with its ongoing £40 million savings programme.

Some of its initiatives include using the Government's "New Homes Bonus" to maintain key services that improve the local environment, using the council's pension fund to invest in the borough and continuing to find more cost-effective ways of running the council and including better use of technology and new partnerships with other organisations, residents and community groups.

SALES of meat have soared in family butchers across the borough in the wake of the horsemeat scandal.

Independent meat traders in Ingatestone, Mountnessing, Hutton and Shenfield are all reporting a huge upturn in sales with burgers and beef mince flying off the shelves.

The massive hike in sales of UK-sourced beef comes after several supermarkets had to remove burgers from their shelves after the products were found to contain traces of equine DNA last month.

Duncan Hepburn, the owner of two butchers' shops under his family name, has seen a 35 per cent boost in burger sales and a 20 per cent rise in trade overall.

The father-of-two revealed that many more people have been asking questions about where his meat is sourced since the scandal broke.

He said: "What we are seeing more than anything from people is the concern, not about themselves, but for their children – they want to know what they are feeding them."

Speaking from his shop in Roman Road, Mountnessing, Mr Hepburn, who sources the meat used in his homemade burgers from UK farms, said his patties are 100 per cent horsemeat free.

He added: "We like to do things nicely here and I could never be so desperate as to earn a living by misleading the public in that manner."

Up the road in Ingatestone High Street, Martin Green, the proprietor of Green's Family Butchers, confirmed he has enjoyed a 25 per cent rise in sales of beef mince and burgers since the controversy.

"There is an uplift in trade and an awful lot of questions," the 54-year-old said.

"There is a lot more talk between customers and myself about where meat comes from and I have been advising them that my meat is local and traceable."

Mr Green, who has owned the shop for three years, confirmed his burgers are homemade and horse-free and that his latest batch of beef was bought in Billericay.

Meanwhile, L Buckle, in Hutton Road, Shenfield, has began making burgers out of season and confirmed an overall upturn in sales of around ten per cent.

Brindon Addy, chairman of the Q Guild, which represents 110 independent butchers (including Hepburns) across the UK, said: "Since the horsemeat scandal hit the news, I think consumers have become aware that there isn't transparency in purchasing meat, in particular, burgers, from their supermarket.

"This isn't the case with Q Guild butchers, who can show the provenance of all the products they sell."

A TEENAGE singer from Wickford who appeared in the BBC's Tourettes: Let Me Entertain You has qualified for the regional stages of a national talent competition.

Emily Carter, 16, of Woodham Road, has qualified for the regional stage of Teen Star, a competition which showcases young singers and rappers.

The regional final will take place at the Palace Theatre in Southend on March 17 and, if she progresses, she will compete in the national final at the O2 arena in London.

The Brentwood School pupil said: "I wasn't expecting to get through, as I entered the competition for the experience.

"The girl performing next to me was amazing and although I thought I did well, the standard was so high that I wasn't sure if the judges would select me.

"I really enjoyed the experience though and it was great to be involved.

"I have done other competitions and gigs, like Essex Factor, and I'm really enjoying taking part in singing competitively."

Thousands of hopefuls entered the competition nationwide and hundreds took part in auditions in a bid to make the regional finals.

The latter stages of the competition will provide acts with the opportunity to impress guests from record labels, agencies and the entertainment industry.

Miss Carter, who has Tourette's Syndrome, appeared on the BBC Three programme last year, in which she and other young people with the condition practised and performed live music.

Reflecting on her TV experience, she said: "It was amazing, the best experience ever and because of it I'm more confident. I love performing, it helps my Tourette's and it's a relaxing way to express myself.

"I would say my music taste is eclectic, I like a bit of everything: Paloma Faith, The Killers and Paramore.

"I'm also writing my own music at the moment and learning to play the piano but I haven't performed any of my own stuff yet.

"My tactic when I go on stage is just to be me and do my best.

"I have a unique style which the judges liked at the auditions to Teen Star."

A CREW of newly recruited part-time firefighters have signed up at Brentwood Fire Station.

The 11-strong unit, which was brought in to save cash by replacing the town's second full-time crew at North Road from April, is now in training at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS).

Many or all of the new team have full-time jobs and will be called out to incidents as necessary. The full-time crew, which is being phased out, operate in shift patterns and spend their working hours at the station.

Senior divisional officer at ECFRS, Mark Wilson, is pleased with the progress of the new "retained" crew.

He said: "The recruitment process at Brentwood has gone very smoothly.

"The first recruits have been with the service for months now and have been working alongside the existing crews for a great deal of that time.

"Now the entire retained crew are ready to join their permanent colleagues on the run and will be attending emergency incidents soon."

Controversy surrounded the decision taken in 2011 to replace one of Brentwood's two permanent crews with retained staff, with around 10,000 residents signing a petition against the cuts.

The move reduced the number of full-time staff from 52 to 28 and created a rift between the Fire Brigade Union and fire service management at Kelvedon.

The FBU claimed that losing one fire engine at the station would put people's lives at risk.

But ECFRS management said that the results of a countywide survey showed that Brentwood's fire engines were called out less than average.

They said that Brentwood's first fire engine attends 45 per cent less incidents each year than the average, and the to-be-replaced second fire engine went to less than half the number of call-outs attended by second fire engines.

ROMFORD were defeated at high-flying Heybridge Swifts, but they put up a good performance in the second half after going in three-down at half-time.

After Romford's narrow home defeat by Witham the previous Saturday, manager Paul Martin made some changes to his starting line-up.

Dave Ottley returned at right-back with James Ishmail moving inside to partner Matt Toms at centre-back.

In midfield, Tom Richardson replaced Barry and new signing Aime Blessing came in for his debut on the left, allowing Kurt Smith to go back to his customary striker role after a brief sabbatical down the left wing.

Lewis Francis was also restored to partner Smith up top. The early pressure came from Heybridge, but it amounted to nothing. Romford did not really show until they earned their first free-kick in the 14th minute.

From James Ishmail's free-kick, Smith was very unlucky after manufacturing a superb overhead kick while tightly marked.

Minutes later, a Heybridge attack ended with Matt Toms fouling the forward and although spectators nearby thought it had happened outside the box, a penalty was awarded and Toms received a yellow card.

Michael Cheek made no mistake from the spot, but was substituted immediately after with a tight hamstring.

Romford lost the match in the last five minutes of the half when, after collecting a lucky rebound, Russell Malton fired into the corner, giving Atu Ngoy absolutely no chance.

On the stroke of half-time, the Ryman League's leading scorer, Luke Callander produced a clever turn and shot which allowed Heybridge to leave the field rather flattered with their 3-0 lead.

In the second half, Romford showed their rather large and despondent travelling support that they were going to make a fight of it.

They took the game to Heybridge and had more possession and territorial advantage than their promotion-chasing opponents, but could not make a dent in the scoreline.

James Ishmail and Paul Clayton both went close and Michael Sammut pulled off an excellent late save to keep a clean sheet.

RECOIL Twisters won an amazing 26 trophies at a regional grading competition hosted at Brentwood.

The club achieved so many qualifying results, it was arguably the club's best-ever overall result at a regional grading.

All the club trainers, who coach at the Trampoline and Activity Centre, at Warley, have worked towards delivering these high standards. The successful weekend was a statement about how well Debbie Fountain, Graham Parker and head coaches Janet Hay and Sue Skinner have nurtured their talent.

Graham Parker said: "For my part, joining Recoil Twisters last summer has been like opening a flood gate for my performers; they can train in a positive environment and work on the detail we demand, aiming for national and international success. The club acknowledge that to keep this position will take hard work but no more than was needed to get here in the first place."

Grading results: grade H: U9 boys: 2 Felix Ives, in his first competition; U11 girls: 1 Lauren Reynolds, 2 Caitlin Rhodes, 4 Aimee Kettle, all in their first competiton; grade G: U9 girls: 1 Jessie Milham, qualified to Grade F, 3 Bethan Harris; U11 girls: 1 Emma Inche, qualified to grade F, 2 Charlotte Fink, qualified to grade F; U11 boys: 1 Oliver Mitchellmore, qualified to grade F; U13 girls: 2 Lily Osman, qualified to grade F, 4 Marney Easen, qualified to grade F; U13 boys: 2 Thomas Mitchellmore, qualified to grade F, 6 Ben Harris, qualified to grade F; U17 girls: 1 Kate Parsons, qualified to grade F, 2 Amber Sawyer, 3 Ashleigh Dobson; team, first. Grade F: U13 girls: 1 Cerys Jones, first competition at F, qualified for grade E, 3 Ella Sandle; team, first with Ruby Stevens; U13 boys: 2 Samuel Gaut; U15: 1 Jack Milham, leapfrogged to grade D with a massive score of 51.7; U17 girls: 1 Megan Bynoe, first competition at F and qualified to grade E. Grade E: U15 boys: 4 Owen Francis, qualified for grade D; U17 girls: 2 Ellie Hay, qualified for grade D. Grade D: U13 girls: 1 Lauren Bembrick-Taylor, qualified for National Grade C, 3 Kendra Sherlock; U19 ladies: 1 Rebecca Humphries, qualified for National Grade C, 3 Abbie Goldsmith; U19 ladies: 3 Grace Francis.

A GIANT scarecrow mounted on a 20 foot cross has been agitating more than just birds in Billericay.

The gigantic stuffed figure, complete with a miniature counterpart, has been erected in a Jesus-like pose at the junction of Barleylands Road and Southend Road – and many of the area's Christians are not happy.

Assembled in the first week of Lent, the massive scarecrow, seemingly mounted on a huge cross, has been a source of controversy for the faithful in and around Billericay.

One furious woman called the Gazette to express her displeasure over the huge bird-scarer.

The mother from Billericay, who refused to give her name, said: "I think it's incredibly distasteful and it is making fun of Jesus.

"I drove past the scarecrow with my daughter and she said, 'Look, Mummy, there's a man on a cross' – I don't think she should see that. It's an unmistakable crucifix and it's making a mockery out of my religion."

David Finkle, general manager at Barleylands Farm Park and Craft Village, helped to make the scarecrow and its smaller equivalent to promote the farm's half-term activities for children.

The giant scarecrow took a team of four people two days to make.

Mr Finkle said: "There does seem to be a difference in opinion and one or two people have said to me that they think it looks like a crucifix but everyone else has been so enthusiastic.

"He doesn't have hands or feet with nails through them, he's made of bailer twine.

"It took us ages to make his giant patchwork jacket and he is complete with raffia hair which changes in the wind. This is my first year here and I love to make stuff like this.

"I want to bring children's learning to life and I made the scarecrow so people knew about the Books, Cooks and Scarecrow week we're holding.

"Kids can make scones from scratch and then go out and make their own scarecrows. I think it's a shame that children don't do as much outside and we want to change that and bring their learning alive.

"Everyone talks about the scarecrow, he's certainly drawn a lot of attention.

"He's a brilliant example of a scarecrow stuffed with straw, we had to put him up with a forklift truck – that was the hardest part of making him."

Walking around Barleylands Farm Park, the Gazette spoke to visitors about the scarecrow.

Shelly Gunn, 31, from Stansted, was a big fan. "I think it's fabulous," she said.

"I got a photo of my two girls with him and we would love to have taken part in the half-term activities if we hadn't been busy."

Wendy King, 48, a bank clerk from Great Burstead, said: "I think it's a bit creepy. I took a second look at it when I drove past – it freaks me out."

Karen Fellows, 50, a medical secretary from Rayleigh, said: "I could see how people would think it looks like a crucifix. It would look quite scary in the dark."

James Brown, 38, a marketer from Coulter Mews, said: "I don't have a problem with it. I don't know why people would find it offensive, it's just a bit of fun."

VANDALS are believed to be behind a fire which destroyed a steel cabin on a construction site in Wickford.

The blaze, which started in Southend Road on the evening of Saturday, February 16, took fire fighters an hour to control.

The exact cause is unknown but vandalism is thought to have played a part as the windows of a digger on the building site had been smashed.

The site is owned by developer Martin Grant Jones but was to be used by Wickford Town Football Club when the work was completed.

Club chairman Tony Silk told the Gazette: "It happened late on Saturday night and I only found out the following day.

"It appears to be the work of vandals as the windows of one of the diggers on site had been smashed and it looks like someone set fire to the cabin and tea hut."

The developers were in the process of building changing rooms, a car park and football pitches.

"The site office has been completely burnt out and it looks like a deliberate act," Mr Silk continued.

"We were set to take over the grounds when the work had been completed but I have no idea how long the process will take now.

"I don't think there will be a setback as it's their site office which can be replaced."

Wickford Town Football Club uses several pitches around the town including sites on Southend Road, at Wickford Memorial Park and at Grange Primary School.

Mr Silk added: "This new site will be a home but we would still need to use the other facilities."

Essex County Fire and Rescue Services confirmed that two fire engines and 10 firefighters had been sent to the location at 10:42pm.

A spokesman added: "The cause of the fire in the steel container is unknown but police are carrying out an investigation."

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "Police were called at just after 11:30pm on Saturday, February 16, to Wickford Football Ground, Southend Road following a report of fire.

"Police are investigating and enquiries continue."

THE family of a proud Falklands War veteran from Hutton are in mourning following his shock death at the age of 53.

Able Seaman Ray Hall served on HMS Hermes during the 1982 conflict with Argentina.

The Marine Engineer Mechanic, who had enlisted in the Royal Navy five years earlier, was on board the aircraft carrier during the devastating Argentine air strikes which claimed the lives of many British sailors.

The grandfather-of-two, from Colet Road, will be honoured with a full military service and his ashes will be scattered in the sea off Portsmouth, where he was based.

According to his daughter, Mr Hall was a popular figure around Brentwood.

After leaving the Navy due to a broken leg suffered during a hit-and-run motorbike accident, he became a supporter of the Royal British Legion Youth Band in Brentwood and collected funds for the Poppy Appeal for many years.

The father-of-two also became a familiar face around the town after working on the counter at the post office in Brentwood before it closed in 2008.

His daughter Carolynne Naughton, 30, whom he supported during her time with the RBL Youth Band, explained how serving his country "meant everything" to her father.

"He always spoke really highly of the Navy, he loved it," she said.

"It was everything to him and he just loved the history and everything that comes with being part of the Navy."

Mr Hall, who adored spending time with his grandchildren, Harry, four, and Bethany, two, was born in Bermondsey, south-east London, and moved to Brentwood when he was four years old.

The Shenfield High School pupil joined in the fundraising effort to build Hutton Community Centre, and although it is now closed, Brentwood Borough Council last week announced that funds have been made available to revive the centre.

As well as his time with the post office, Mr Hall worked for a short time with P & O Ferries and for 16 years with Senate Electrical after leaving the military.

Mrs Naughton paid tribute to her father, who was "always smiling".

"He was brilliant as a father, he was so encouraging and someone who I could just talk to all the time, whether he agreed or disagreed he would always support me," she said.

"He was always happy and he never showed that anything got him down, he was a really good guy.

"Dad was just a very fun-loving character, when he went into a room he just lit it up because of his character and charisma, he was always there with a smile on his face."

In the early hours of February 8, Mr Hall suffered a sudden heart attack while at home and despite great effort, the paramedics were unable to revive him.

His sudden unexpected passing has left the family devastated, according to Mrs Naugton, who was speaking to her father on the telephone just three hours before his death.

She said: "I just cannot put it into words, it was absolutely unexpected.

"I was only speaking to him that night and then my sister rang me and told me what had happened."

John Wyndham MBE, the founder of the Brentwood Royal British Legion Brentwood Youth Band, paid tribute to Ray Hall, who remained a supporter of the group long after his daughter left the fold.

He said: "Ray was a nice man, a good man and he always had an genuine interest in what we were doing.

"He stayed a strong supporter of our band right up until he death, he took a great interest in what we were doing and that was over a great number of years."

Eunice Woolmore, who organises the Poppy Appeal in Brentwood, paid tribute to Mr Hall, who helped raise funds for the Royal British Legion for many years at Senate Electrical and in Shenfield.

"It was very sad news," she said. "Ray came to me asking to help, it wasn't that he was someone I recruited. Sadly I didn't get to meet him, he was always a voice on the phone to me, but its great that people like Ray come around to lend us a hand."

Mr Hall has been survived by his mother, Marian, 75, his wife Gillian, 53, his daughters Debra, 33, and Carolynne, 30, and grandchildren, Harry, 4 and Bethany, 2.

The former seaman's funeral will be held at Bentley Crematorium in Ongar Road, Brentwood, at 11am, on February 21.

This will be followed by drinks at The Bull pub in Brook Street, Brentwood.

Anyone who knew Mr Hall is welcome and the family request that guests dress in bright colours or military uniform.

The family has requested no flowers, but anyone who wishes to make a donation to the Royal British Legion should send payment to Bennetts Funeral Directors, High Street, Brentwood.

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: "Her family has been informed and police are investigating the circumstances leading up to her death but there are no suspicious circumstances and the coroner will be informed."

More to follow.

A MAN from Wickford who damaged a train has been issued with an £80 Penalty Notice for Disorder.

The 22-year-old removed an overhead lighting tube from the train and threw it across a carriage in November last year.

Lucy Jones, a British Transport Police spokeperson said: "Following the incident, we issued a public appeal through local media to try and gather more information and to identify the person responsible.

"Numerous members of the public contacted us with information following the appeal, resulting in us identifying a 22-year-old man in connection with the incident.

"The man, from Wickford, was interviewed and subsequently issued with a £80 Penalty Notice for Disorder for causing criminal damage.

"I would like to pass my thanks to the media, and the members of the public who got in touch, for their assistance in this case, which helped us to identify and deal with the person responsible."

A WOMAN has died after falling from the High Chelmer multi-storey car park this morning.

Police and ambulance teams were in attendance, but the woman, in her late 30s, died shortly afterwards at Broomfield Hospital having suffered severe head injuries.

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: "Her family has been informed and police are investigating the circumstances leading up to her death but there are no suspicious circumstances and the coroner will be informed."

An East of England Ambulance spokesman said: "We were called to the scene on Victoria Road South at 8.20am. Crews were attempting to resuscitate a woman in her 30s who suffered major head trauma and was in cardiac arrest. Our ambulance left the scene at 9.19am and conveyed the woman to Broomfield Hospital."

More to follow.