A MAN was allegedly stabbed in broad daylight after a fight broke out in the street.

The 25-year-old of Chelmsford was involved in a brawl with another man on Thursday afternoon, which forced the closure of New Writtle Street and sparked rush hour chaos on the roads.

It is thought they were drinking in a pub near Wolseley Road before a fight broke out in the street.

A few minutes later he collapsed near the junction at New London Road.

One witness, who lives in Wolsley Road but did not want to be named, said: "They weren't even fighting but they walked off down the road and the next minute they were attacking each other. I saw them run off down the road and that was it.

"Twenty minutes later or so and the police turned up and sealed off the road. It was only then we knew something was up."

Nick Keating, who runs Chelmer Cycles, also saw the incident.

He said: "Apparently someone said, 'look, he's stabbed me,' and then they walked up the road.

"He must have collapsed at the end of the street.

"I saw three of them and a pushchair – but I don't know how many were actually involved."

The victim was found at about 3.20pm near The MOT Test Centre and was taken to hospital with a wound to his abdomen.

Andy King, site manager of the McCarthy & Stone development in New Writtle Street, opposite where the man collapsed, said: "We didn't notice anything until we were stuck with police up one end of the road and police at the other end.

"The helicopter was buzzing around for the whole afternoon."

A police spokesman said that the victim was refusing to assist with inquiries.

They could not confirm whether or not the man had been stabbed because he refused to hand over his clothing or cooperate with them.

His condition is said to be serious but not life-threatening.

Police are reviewing CCTV and are appealing for anyone with any information to contact the CID office at Chelmsford police station on 101.

LORD Hanningfield has won £3,500 in damages from Essex Police for wrongful arrest.

The 72-year-old claimed his arrest for the alleged fraudulent use of his corporate credit card while leader of Essex County Council was unlawful and unnecessary.

Following two days of legal wrangling at the High Court, Mr Justice Eady ruled on Friday that the Chief Constable had failed to meet the requirements of "necessity" for a summary arrest.

But Essex Police has indicated that it could appeal the decision.

"I'm very pleased," Lord Hanningfield told the Chronicle. "It was quite traumatic going back to court and giving evidence. It brought it all back. But the decision did not surprise me. I was badly treated by the police and I'm glad justice is finally catching up with me. The police should not have been so heavy handed."

On September 14, 2011, five officers raided his bungalow in West Hanningfield at 6.45am. He had been out of prison for less than a week, after being released nine weeks into a nine-month sentence for fiddling his parliamentary expenses.

He was forced to wear an electronic tag and was subject to a night-time curfew upon his release.

The officers woke him, entered his home without a search warrant, arrested him and began to scour the property for evidence, all while Lord Hanningfield was still wearing a dressing gown.

Mr Justice Eady said: "Summary arrest was never going to have any impact on the prompt and effective investigation of Lord Hanningfield's credit card expenses.

"It is not for a judge to second guess the operational decisions of experienced police officers.

"But in the circumstances of this case I cannot accept that there was any rational basis for rejecting alternative procedures. There were simply no solid grounds to suppose that he would suddenly start to hide or destroy evidence or that he would make inappropriate contact. There was only the theoretical possibility that he might do so.

"I can therefore see no justification for bypassing all the usual statutory safe-guards involved in obtaining a warrant."

A sum of £3,500 was settled on as compensation for the arrest, search and period of detention, which lawyers for Essex Police acknowledged must be unlawful if the arrest was unlawful.

Lord Hanningfield told the court he was "traumatised" by the arrest and was close to a breakdown following his detention.

After the arrest the case was passed to the City of London Police, who dropped all charges against the former Conservative frontbencher in November last year.

This prompted Essex County Council to publish details of Lord Hanningfield's credit card spending, totalling £287,000 between 2005-2010, including £80,000 on dining out and £136,000 on overseas travel.

Lord Hanningfield called the allegations of impropriety "ridiculous" and told the Chronicle that the police were too hasty to judge him.

"I have always complied with the police but they were rather heavy handed and should have done more investigation before they rushed through my door," said the peer, who was elevated to the House of Lords in 1998.

His solicitor Mark Spragg added: "This was an important case. It reminds the police that arrests should never be made without first considering whether there is a viable alternative to depriving someone of their liberty and invading their home.

"Lord Hanningfield is not above the law but neither does he fall beneath it because of his conviction."

Shortly after the verdict Essex Police issued a statement saying they were considering appealing the decision.

The statement read: "Essex Police is disappointed with the judgement and are considering the merits of appealing the decision.

"We note that the court accepted that officers had acted in good faith and that they had honestly believed the arrest was necessary.

"The decision to arrest is never taken lightly and we recognise the right of individuals to challenge such decisions before the courts."

1998: He is given a peerage after helping to set up the Local Government Association

2001: He becomes leader of Essex County Council

February 5, 2010: He is charged with false accounting He denies the allegations but steps down from the front bench in the House of Lords and is suspended from the Conservative Party. He resigns as leader of Essex County Council

May 16, 2011: Trial regarding his parliamentary expenses begins

May 26, 2011: Found guilty of expenses fraud worth £14,000 after an eight-day trial at Chelmsford Crown Court

July 1, 2011: Jailed for nine months at Maidstone Crown Court

September 14, 2011: Arrested over allegations he made fraudulent claims while leader of Essex County Council

October 2011: It emerges he plans to sue Essex Police

November 2011: The House of Lords finds that he wrongly claimed £30,000 from the second chamber and orders him to pay money back

April 23, 2012: Returns to the House of Lords

September 26, 2012: Under Proceeds of Crime Act he is ordered to pay back £37,000. The legislation allowed prosecutors to look back six years before his charge and claim for money earned from criminal activity.

November 2012: City of London police drop their investigation into Lord Hanningfield's council expenses

November 2012: Essex County Council release details of Lord Hanningfield's credit card spending from his time as leader of the authority. It shows he spent £287,000 between 2005 and 2010, including lavish meals out

February 2013: The peer wins £3,500 damages from Essex Police for unlawful arrest

SHIPWRECKED on a desert island 200 miles from anywhere, Steven Jarred and five friends found themselves stranded and unable to contact home.

Eight months into a dream trip around the world the group found themselves marooned in the middle of the Indian Ocean where they remained stuck for more than two months.

Now 30 years later Steven, 54, from Great Baddow, believes the experience changed his life for the better.

"For all of us sailing was a passion and when someone had the idea of sailing around the world it seemed an easy choice compared to my work as an audit clerk.

"Back then it was unchartered waters. We didn't have the technology that people such as Charlie Pitcher use, it was just the simple 'sun, sight, and sextant' to guide us but in many ways that just made it much more of an adventure.

"For 13 months before we left I spent every evening and weekend building the boat that would become our home, showing up exhausted at work each morning," said Steven, an IT manager.

The group of six struck out in December 1982 from Heybridge Basin to cheering crowds and police cannons being fired.

Over the next few months the 46-ft boat carried them safely through a force 10 gale off the Bay of Biscay to New Year celebrations in the Canary Islands to trading cigarettes with locals in the Cape Verde isles.

Steven added: "I just remember how kind and generous people were in the sailing communities all across the world.

"People emptied their supply cabinets to keep us fed on the trip – they were just so impressed that we were doing it."

But then disaster struck. As the friends all slept on July 30, 1983 they heard an almighty bang.

"It was about 10pm when we felt the impact. We all rushed up on deck to see what had happened and realised we'd struck land – the boat was a complete wipe-out and despite several attempts we realised we were shipwrecked.

"We later learnt we'd drifted from our route and ended up on a tiny island off the Seychelles called Astove. There were six others living there harvesting coconuts and nobody could leave except by the supply ship that came by every six months."

The nervous islanders impounded the group's radios leaving them unable to let others know of their whereabouts and the stranded friends were forced to salvage what they could from the wreck.

"Our families had started panicking back in the UK as they couldn't find any trace of us," said Steven.

"We eventually managed to get a message via radio back to the Seychelles but we ended up staying for nine weeks.

"While we were there we helped them plumb proper toilets, made them stronger wheelbarrows from aluminium stripped from the boat and also fed ourselves by fishing in the ocean.

"Julia even managed to catch a hammerhead shark using a piece of wood and some string," Steven added.

Eventually a battered supply ship arrived at the island to take the group back to the mainland.

But rather than heading home, Steven and fellow castaway John flew to Delhi, travelling back to the UK overland via Pakistan and Iran, only getting back to Essex in January 1984.

Stephen, who still stays in touch with his fellow crew members, said: "The loss of the boat meant I'd lost my life savings but what we experienced was completely priceless.

"Just on our travels home we lived through an earthquake in Pakistan and somebody trying to shoot us in Iran – it was the most incredible time.

"The trip had created a huge gap in my CV but back home I found myself getting interviews simply because people were so keen to hear about the trip, so it proved to be such an asset."

Steven has since constructed commercial boats in Kenya, lived in Texas and Australia, and notched up 23 stamps on his passport. However, now in Great Baddow with his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, Steven says there's no place like home.

"I can't put my finger on it but I've travelled all over the world and there's just nowhere like Essex – it's where I'm from and it's where I've always come back to," he said.

CHELMSFORD bounced back to winning ways with a thumping 48-6 defeat of Old Streetonians.

The conditions were difficult underfoot, despite a great deal of effort from groundsman Alan Haines and his volunteers.

After 15 minutes, the slippery ball broke loose in a tackle and Nick Hankin took off with 50 yards to go. He outflanked the defence and put the ball between the posts for Hoult to convert.

This signalled the way forward, because, if the ball could be spread wide, the Chelmsford backs had the pace, skill and flair to score tries.

Within five minutes, Chelmsford, showing excellent handling, put Seb Hill in for his first try, which was converted.

Throughout the game, Old Streetonians showed great grit, particularly in their forwards, and it was no surprise when they came into Chelmsford's half and gained three points via a penalty.

The third try scored by Chelmsford was the best team try of the afternoon. Chelmsford worked hard to turn over the ball, Josh Clarke made good ground and a delayed pass put Tatenda Gurare scorching through the opposing defence.

As he was tackled near to the line, he flicked the ball to Seb Hill, who went in for another converted try.

Before half-time both sides scored penalties, while Sid Hoult finished on his back with the ground being so slippery.

At half-time, Chelmsford led 24-6.

Chelmsford's backs attacked in the second half abd Hill scored his third try after being fed by Paul Smedley. Hill has now scored eight tries in the last three games, a tribute to his ability and to those who get him the ball.

Hankin, showing amazing elusiveness when surrounded by most of his opponents, ran in for a try from 40 yards.

Finally, Rhys Mason went in for a well-deserved try.

Coach Eddie Gooby was delighted with the result.

"Credit must go to Old Streets, they never gave up and they did not make it easy for us," he said. "We played terrific rugby, despite the conditionsm, and to score six tries in open play like we did was excellent.

"This puts the possibility of us getting back into the promotion race. This week's game will be very important if we are going to force our way into a play-off position."

This weekend, Chelmsford are at home to Woodford (kick-off 2.30pm).

THE controversial development at Sadds Wharf was last night given the final go-ahead by district councillors, as reserved landscaping matters were approved.

Work can now begin on the multi-million pound leisure complex which will consist of offices, apartments, shops and restaurants on Maldon's muddy waterfront - despite strong opposition from residents over the four years these plans have been considered by officials.

At the meeting of the Central Planning Committee last night, Councillor Lewis, said: "We've had our wrists slapped on this application before and I think now it's time to make the final decision.

"The applicants now have two years to begin work or the whole process could begin again - the clock is ticking."

Developers will now seek the necessary permissions from regulators which they hope to acquire within six months.

TRADERS from across the region will be exhibiting brand new and unique products for a weekend of shopping heaven.

The Brentwood Spring Craft and Gift Show will feature unique handmade jewellery and fashion accessories, delicious food samples in the food and drink area and beautiful shabby chic homeware.

As well as luxurious and affordable gifts, the Brentwood Gift Show, which takes place at the Brentwood Centre, on February 23 and 24 is also a chance to pick-up craft supplies .

Brentwood artisan Jessica Breedan from Jessica Elizabeth Jewellery will be selling a variety of handmade costume jewellery designed and constructed by her, as well as offering fun classes and parties where you and your friends can learn the art of jewellery-making for yourself.

It is opened on Saturday between 9.30 and 5pm and Sunday between 9.30am and 4pm. Adult tickets are £3.50 on the door or £3 on line
 
Go to  www.aztecevents.co.uk or telephone: 01702 549623 for details.

BOMB disposal teams were called to Chelmsford this afternoon after an explosive was found in Admirals Park.

Essex Police was called shortly before 2pm today, following reports that a hand grenade shaped object had found on the grass approximately half a mile into the park.

Officers attended to assess the object and put in place cordons to ensure the public's safety.

The MOD Explosive Ordinance Disposal team was contacted to attend and they have carried out a controlled explosion on the device.

The cordons did not require the closure of any public roads, and the controlled explosion was carried out at 4:20pm.

A FAIR-TRADE event serving up curry and an informative talk will be taking place next week in Chelmsford.

Local Co-operative, the Chelmsford Star, will be running an evening event for 'Fair-trade Fortnight' on Thursday, February 28 from 6:45pm. The event held at the store on Moulsham Street will celebrate 10 years since all Co-operative branded coffee was switched to Fairtrade.

The evening aims to give attendees a chance to form a greater understanding of Fair-trade. There will be a presentation by Basilio Chales Pablo from the Co-operative Todosanterita in Guatemala, suppliers of Fair-trade Coffee.

There will be a Fair-trade curry and desert followed by the opportunity to buy a raffle ticket for the chance to win a Fair-trade Hamper. The ticket money and hamper raffle will be donated to the Fairtraders Co-operative to assist some underprivileged Fair-trade project overseas.

A fair-trade quilt produced locally by the Keene Quilters will be raffled during the next month and all proceeds will go to the Chelmsford Women's Refuge.

Tickets are £5 and are available from Customer Services on the first floor at quadrant, 220 Moulsham Street or email events@chelmsfordstar.coop to reserve a space.

A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE businessman dubbed the Twitter Dragon is in talks with producers of the hit BBC show to become an official member of Dragons' Den.

Simon Dolan, 43, an entrepreneur from Chelmsford, hit the headlines after appealing on Twitter to find the best British company to invest in back in 2010.

And with the announcement that famous faces Theo Paphitis and Hilary Devey are leaving the Dragons' Den, rumour is rife that Simon will be stepping into one pair of their very expensive shoes.

"I can't say an awful lot but I know that they are looking for two people and that I'm talking to them. But nothing's really been decided," he said.

Having grown up on the Tile Kiln estate near Galleywood, Simon was thrown out of King Edward VI Grammar School at just 16 and has since embarked on an illustrious career that has earned him a place on The Sunday Times Rich List.

In the early 1990s Simon started his own accountancy firm called SJD Accountancy, which employs 200 staff and serves 11,000 clients.

He has since amassed a £72 million fortune and owns a racing team.

Now, it seems as though his next venture may involve the real Dragons, helping other entrepreneurs put their ideas into reality.

And the challenge is something Simon would relish.

"From reading some of the comments around the place, the programme has become a bit formulaic, I think probably because they have had the same people on there for a long time," he said.

"From my own point of view I could probably give a fresh take on things. I see things a bit differently to the others. At the moment if you don't know your numbers, you're out, but I would be looking more for the validity of an idea."

Simon has publicly let the world know his feelings about university education in his book, How To Make Millions Without A Degree, and feels strongly about supporting innovative business people – not only the well-educated.

"I think it's also important to try hard not to be too intimidating with people. There are other ways of getting the best out of people. You don't call them idiots because they don't know the numbers," he said.

"The programme is quite heavily edited anyway so there are an awful lot of pitches, but it generally comes down to the likeability of a person."

When it comes to programme ideas Simon, who has just returned from testing racing cars in Spain for his company Jota Sports, said: "The car-related ones would certainly interest me but I don't think I would invest in them because I know the money it takes.

"I kind of like the web-based ideas and the half-developed ones. I would like to see something that's already done, but that is not at the stage that it has a full order book."

In the meantime the father of two will keep his fingers crossed that his is the next business brain to breathe fire into the Den.

"I have doing this for a long time and I'm used to doing TV work," he said.

"If I got it, it would be exciting and certainly good fun. This is what I know."

DESPERATE families in Ongar are pleading for help after suffering vile abuse at the hands of motorists parking outside their homes.

The situation, dubbed "A Nightmare on Castle Street" by anxious residents, has come to a head following a two-year struggle with drivers nabbing spaces opposite their homes on a daily basis.

The road is so narrow between house numbers 20 and 40 that when a vehicle is parked opposite the properties, access to the residents' driveways and their own kerbside parking spaces is completely blocked.

Homeowners are therefore being forced to find other places to park, sometimes a long way from their properties.

On Sunday, mother-of-three Claire Bodiam received a threatening letter from a driver, in response to a note left on their windscreen by somebody else.

The note began: "How dare you leave your arrogant note on my vehicle."

The writer then accused the intended recipient, presumed to be a resident of Castle Street, of blocking access to the road for emergency vehicles.

The angry author added: "I will be parking here again and should you leave another note, I will forward it to Essex Police as I will deem you are now harassing me," before going on to threaten prosecution.

Mrs Bodiam, whose youngest boy is 22 months old, was left shaken after receiving the note by mistake.

"I don't want any aggravation because I've got three children but when I get notes like that through my letter box, well, it's now getting out of hand," she said.

"It could get to fever pitch down here and just get worse."

The 39-year-old, who is a member of Ongar Mums, added: "I can see someone completely losing the plot down here.

"I am quite an easygoing person but with the children you feel vulnerable in your house and to get that note really upset me and my husband."

Her neighbour, Tina Ruskin, who was once called an "idiot" during an exchange with a motorist, has been lobbying Epping Forest District Council and Essex County Council for the past two years to get parking restrictions introduced opposite their homes.

"It's so annoying when you come home from work to find that you cannot park outside your own home," she said.

"We are just calling for two yellow lines and we're fed up with being fobbed off."

Miss Ruskin says that as well as blocking access for emergency vehicles and refuse trucks, the cars parking next to the wall makes life very difficult for residents with children and elderly relatives.

Residents have sent several letters and a petition to the North Essex Parking Partnership – which decides on parking schemes in the Epping Forest district – but they have been told there is no scope for changes to the road at present.

Miss Ruskin insists that residents have always remained polite when dealing with motorists in a confrontation.

She added: "All we want is for the council to do this for us, we could even do it ourselves if they gave us a pot of paint."

A spokeswoman for Epping Forest District Council said: "Any new request for parking restrictions are within the remit of the North Essex Parking Partnership. The final decision on a scheme is taken by the Partnership Board and has to be supported by the relevant district or borough council.

"Epping Forest District Council has asked the partnership to consider a scheme for this location. Once an investigation has been carried out, a ranking score is allocated and it will then have to compete with other schemes across the district."

ELDERLY people now have to push their frail parents hundreds of metres further to reach Brentwood's High Street shops because Barclays Bank needs the disabled car park closest to the town centre.

Barbara White faces wheeling her 89-year-old father up the High Street from the Westbury Road car park or Chatham Way, rather than enjoying the convenience of parking in William Hunter Way.

In contrast, Barclays staff and customers, who currently park behind the High Street branch, will only have to walk a few metres when the disabled bays in William Hunter Way become the bank's property.

However, a spokesman for the bank said that it would work to find an amicable solution.

The exchange of the 24 disabled parking spaces for the car park currently owned by Barclays is a vital component of Brentwood Borough Council's planned William Hunter Way development, which cannot go ahead without the agreement.

The authority says that following the sale of the disabled car park, there will be a need for disabled parking elsewhere.

But residents like Mrs White have questioned how "convenient and accessible" the 15 spaces in Chatham Way and 13 in Westbury Road will actually be.

The 64-year-old takes her father Ted Tooke out shopping in his wheelchair about once a week.

She said: "Both car parks are a lot further away from the High Street than the William Hunter Way car park and both are on a slight incline."

The temporary measure will be in place during construction of the William Hunter Way development, which will eventually provide several disabled parking bays on a permanent basis.

However, there is still no word on when work is going to start.

Mrs White added: "I frequently use the William Hunter Way disabled car park when taking my parents into town.

"It is the most convenient and the spaces in the Chatham Way and Westbury Road car parks are not a satisfactory temporary location until the new multi-storey car park is built, particularly as I am the one who has to push dad in his wheelchair."

Lib Dem Ross Carter, councillor for Brentwood North, said: "We have had no discussion about this proposal at all.

"We have just been faced with a blank wall of silence.

"Why can't Barclay's staff move on a temporary basis to another car park and be provided with parking permits for the duration of the build?"

Sue Higgins, chairman of Brentwood Access Group, which campaigns for the rights of disabled people in the town, said: "Why should we have to move down to Westbury Road? It's absolutely useless for us. It's far too faraway. It's a stupid decision.

"The ground storey of the multi-storey would be much better. No one has spoken to us about this. There has been no sort of consultation.

"No one has asked for our opinion at all. The council has just gone ahead and done it."

A council spokesman said: "When these disabled car park spaces in William Hunter Way end, there will be a need to provide temporary replacement disabled parking facilities within the centre of Brentwood that are both convenient and accessible.

"We considered a number of locations for the replacement disabled parking and will be making 15 full-size disabled parking spaces available within the Chatham Way car park (at least as close to the High Street as William Hunter Way), plus a further 13 full-size disabled parking spaces within the Westbury Road car park.

"The availability of these spaces will be from when current provision in William Hunter Way ends until the completion of the multi-storey car park provided as part of the William Hunter Way development.

"Then this new multi-storey car park here will provide an adequate number of disabled parking spaces for the town centre and on a permanent basis."

A Barclays spokesman said: "There are people who really need those spaces and we will take into account.

"Barclays will consider these people and we will work to find a resolution that is amicable for everyone."

A LORRY driver is "lucky to be alive" after a tyre fell off a passing truck, bounced and smashed into the front of his cab.

Brian Wood, a haulier from Great Baddow, was driving southbound on the A12 near Marks Tey at 1pm on Thursday last week when a dustcart on the opposite carriageway lost two of its four back wheels.

The 62-year-old looked on in horror as one of the wheels hit the central reservation and was catapulted into the oncoming traffic.

"I could have died," said Mr Wood, who was delivering malt from Stowmarket in Suffolk.

"I thought 'the world is big enough – why is this thing hurtling towards me?'"

Mr Wood, a grandfather of four, braced himself as the tyre bounced in front of his lorry and flew towards his windscreen.

"All of a sudden there was nowhere for me to go," said Mr Wood, who was travelling at 50 miles per hour.

"There was a car to the right of me and a car to the left of me."

The tyre, which is thought to have fallen off the back right-hand side of a street-cleaning vehicle, then hit Mr Wood's 25-year-old red lorry.

"I saw this big cloud of dust and I saw the back end of this lorry hit the ground," said Mr Wood.

The steel bumper of the 17-tonne truck took the brunt of the damage but the tyre also rolled up the bonnet and knocked the sun visor off.

But, amazingly, Mr Wood did not stop – instead driving half-a-mile before pulling into a service station to survey the damage. "The police said I was lucky to be alive. They said it could have very easily been a fatality," he said.

The father of two, who was on his way to Lewes, East Sussex, claims his lorry, which has done 1.5 million miles, has been written-off by the accident.

"Because it is so old the problem we've got is sourcing parts for it," said Mr Wood.

"When I called my wife she started crying.

She said someone could have quite easily been calling to say I was dead."

The dustcart was a privately owned vehicle.

PC Al Cuthbertson, part of the commercial vehicles unit at Essex Police, said: "It's not uncommon. Chances are he had some tyres changed but did not tighten them up properly.

"I would remind all drivers to take care of their vehicles and make sure their tyres are fitted correctly."

"THE most satisfying win of the season and one we fully deserved on the night" was how Iron manager Alan Devonshire summed up his side as they caused one of the biggest upsets of the season by beating the league leaders at the Amlin Stadium on Tuesday evening.

"It was a great all round team performance and I'm delighted for the players, the club and fans," he continued.

"In all honesty we should have won by a bigger margin because we had easily the more clearcut chances in both halves of the match.

"We set out stall out from the start and we knew what we had to do and that was to take the game to them, learning from our defeat up at their place in November," he explained. "They were quite arrogant against us again tonight being at the top of the league but we showed them what we can do and won the game comfortably.

"I felt defensively we were outstanding and we really controlled the game from start to finish."

There was certainly no fluke about this Iron win, almost a replica of last season's 5-0 thrashing of Grimsby at the Amlin Stadium, because they had more than enough chances to have bettered that previous victory over the Mariners.

With Dean Wells and Alan Massey outstanding in the heart of the defence and Kenny Davis and Matt Pain controlling the midfield the visitors never really got a look in throughout the 90 minutes.

The key to this victory though was the pace and dribbling of the two wide players – James Mulley and Luke Daley – who simply pulled the Mariners' defence all over the place running riot all evening.

Daley, having his best game since joining the club, proved to be the match-winner scoring a goal in each half and could have had a hat-trick, but his late second half strike hit the bar before being scrambled away.

He struck first on 26 minutes when a left wing Iron move saw Sean Marks' persistence coming in from the byline and pulling the ball back to Daley, who sent in an awkward bouncing half-volley that comfortably beat James McKeown in the visitors' goal.

Wells, Mulley, Davis and young Dan Holman had all gone close before the opening goal as the Iron maintained their dominance of the game.

The second half was a repeat of the first with the Iron always in the ascendancy, controlling the game and looking to score every time they went forward.

The crucial second goal came on 74 minutes from that man Daley again and although it was a bit fortuitous it was certainly deserved.

Daley took a left wing corner sending in a low cross to the near post where it evaded everyone, including McKeown, the ball sneaking into the net to give the Iron a second goal. The Iron chances kept coming and five minutes before the end Marks somehow missed a proverbial sitter having been set up from a left wing cross from substitute Dan Walker but he sent his header wide of the goal.

Braintree Town: McDonald; Peteres, Habergham, Wells, Massey; Mulley, Paine, Davis, Daley; Holman (Walker 72), Marks. Unused subs: Symons, Sparks, Watts, Wickham.

A CHELMSFORD diver showcased his skills to millions after being selected to appear in a primetime television show.

Matthew Briggs, 22, was selected as one of a team of synchronised divers performing in Saturday night reality show Splash! in which celebrities attempt to perfect the sport of diving with Olympic star, Tom Daley.

Matthew, who works as a diving instructor at Riverside Ice and Leisure, said: "It was amazing to get the chance to be paid for doing something you love.

"We got to see how the TV series is produced and meet some of the celebrities taking part – I think Eddie the Eagle was the bravest and Linda Barker had great form.

"Tom Daley is also a really good guy – we actually used to participate in some of the same diving competitions and fame definitely hasn't changed him."

The self-confessed "water-baby" has been diving since the age of 13, training several times a week, competing across the country and even working as a show-diver in Italy.

"I just love the sport, it gives me the opportunity to continually push myself and see how much I can do.

"I also work as a swimming teacher and lifeguard so I'm rarely out of the water," he added.

Matthew was chosen for the show while performing in Amsterdam and has appeared in every episode of the programme, which has proven to be a surprise hit for ITV.

Chelmsford City Council's Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture, Councillor Ray Ride, commented: "The popularity of the diving courses we offer at Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre has grown since London 2012."

He added: "It is great to see firsthand the success that can be born from an initial interest in an activity.

"Matt's recent TV appearances show what can be achieved through hard work, passion and commitment to a sport."

A BAGGAGE handler who broke his back in an accident at Stansted Airport has won compensation through his union.

Mick Draper, 68, from Braintree, who worked for air cargo company Swissport for 10 years, was left with life-changing injuries after the accident in March 2009.

The grandfather-of-two was hurt after the driver of a buggy crashed into the luggage trolley he was working on, sending him flying backwards and leaving him with three broken bones in his back.

"He smashed right into the side of the trolley," said Mr Draper, "It threw me about five feet in the air and I ended up hitting my back on the bottom of the luggage chute."

It took 18 months for his broken back to be diagnosed, before he underwent a five-hour operation to put three screws in place.

But after three years of suffering agony and receiving no income, he has won monthly payments to help him with his costs of living.

The payments were secured by the Unite Union and Thompsons Solicitors.

Mr Draper said: "The only good outcome is that I was a member of the union and they made me apply for industrial injury benefit. Without them I would be lost.

"It was a relief because, although it's actually a trivial amount compared to what you see other people pick up, I wasn't eligible for benefits given I have a military pension.

"At least now we can cover one of the bills each month because I used up all my retirement savings during these last three years."

Mr Draper is most concerned about being unable to live an active life. He said: "My hobby was shooting but I had to pack that in."

Peter Kavanagh, from Unite the Union, said: "This member has been left disabled by an accident which could have been easily avoided.

"Swissport only needed to ensure staff were not working excessive hours and the health and safety of the workforce would not have been put at risk."

"This is a success for Unite Legal Services."

A Swissport spokesman said it was committed to the highest standards of health and safety. He said: "In 2012 Swissport reported that the number of safety incidents had reduced by 33 per cent.

"It is not the policy of Swissport to comment on individual cases.

"Swissport is constantly reviewing health and safety procedures and is committed to ensuring that all colleagues return home safely."