CHURCH Road in Mountnessing must be high up on Essex County Council's pothole fixing priority list, according to a former teacher who says the road is a deathtrap.

Heavy lorries have damaged the surface of the road, which runs from the Roman Road to Billericay, according to Brian Smith from Kelvedon Hatch.

Earlier this month, the 73-year-old, who uses the stretch regularly, counted 25 holes in the road and believes that apart from the risk of tyre punctures – like the one he witnessed a fortnight ago – it is a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt or worse.

"This really could be the scourge of the pothole," he said.

The most dangerous sections, according to Mr Smith, are just after the railway bridge and at the T-junction between Church Lane and Old Church Road.

He said: "Why should I have to take dangerous roads because [the council] cannot be bothered or care enough to fill roads in?

"The point is they should have people who can respond quickly.

"I'm concerned about the safety of cyclists or a motorbike. What happens if a bike goes into one, faced by an oncoming car? They wouldn't have a chance."

Mr Smith, who is chairman of the Kelvedon Hatch Village Hall Trust, believes that not repairing potholes, such as the 3ft by 10 inch crater in Church Road, is negligence.

He believes the only way that roads like those in Mountnessing will come to the council's attention is if enough people make a noise about it.

He said: "I'm not doing this for the sake of it, I'm doing it to try and save someone's life.

"If the general public were more aware of what we can do as public and make a nuisance of ourselves, more could get done."

Essex County Council revealed this week that it has set aside £11 million to strengthen roads to prevent future potholes and fix the worst of those remaining.

The county council claims that in part one of the project, which was completed at the end of October, 40,000 potholes were fixed across Essex.

County councillor Derrick Louis, cabinet member for highways and transportation said: "We are taking decisive action to strengthen our road network and repair potholes as soon as possible.

"We have just experienced the wettest year on record, and we are having to deal with the damage this has caused to our roads. Residents can assist us by reporting potholes as soon as they appear."

The Highways team is also trying to keep drains clear to prevent standing water, which they say leads to potholes forming as water freezes in existing road defects.

To report a pothole or track its repair, go to www.essex.gov.uk/highways and click on "View it, track it, report it".

WHEN Joan Woodhouse plucked up the courage to send an old photograph to her former bridesmaid in a bid to rekindle their friendship after a disagreement almost 50 years ago, she got the wrong address and they may never have seen each other again.

But thanks to the Essex Chronicle and its readers, the pair enjoyed an emotional reunion and pledged to put their differences aside and make up for lost time.

Mrs Woodhouse, 82, of Braintree, had been looking through old pictures with her granddaughter, Sarah Jonasson, 40, who was visiting from Perth, Australia, when they stumbled across the old black and white picture of Patricia Sibbons, who was her bridesmaid on her wedding day.

"I told Sarah that she was a very dear friend that I missed very much, and had always wanted to get back in touch.

"So she printed off a copy on her computer and found what we thought was Pat's address on the internet and said to me 'there's nothing to stop you now'.

"I was unsure whether to send it," added Joan. "That was in August last year and I had put it off until New Year's Day.

"As far as I was concerned Pat had no way of contacting me, but I thought if I send the picture she would know that I am thinking of her.

"But it was the wrong address, and luckily the owner of the house knew the editor of the Essex Chronicle, and it just spiralled from there."

Mrs Woodhouse sent the picture with a short note that read: 'A memory from a happier time maybe? Happy New Year to you! From Joan.'

But it was sent to Paul and Glen Meyer's house of 37 years in Roxwell where Mrs Sibbons has never lived.

They contacted the Chronicle and we published the picture calling on our readers for help. We managed to track Patricia down, and when she was able to tell us who Joan was, we tracked her down too and arranged for them to meet up again.

Their relationship first blossomed in the 1940s in East Ham when they worked together on the Woolworths sweet counter.

But a disagreement, one which they both refuse to talk about, means they have not seen each other for nearly 50 years.

However, on Wednesday, Pat's husband Alan went to pick Joan up and brought her back to their home in Beech Rise, Hatfield Peverel, where Pat, 78, was waiting eagerly with a Chronicle reporter and photographer.

"It was quite emotional actually," said Joan, "We said to each other 'why has it taken so long?' " and Pat replied: "I don't really know, but we will soon put that right.

"We worked together every weekend at Woolworths," Joan reminisced, "She was my Saturday girl. I took to her so much that when I got married I asked her to be my bridesmaid."

Joan was married at Emmanuel Church, in Forest Gate, in 1952 to her late husband Tom Woodhouse. They even named one of their two children after Pat.

But in 1961 Joan moved to Braintree, where she still lives today, and Pat only visited once before their disagreement.

Pat said: "I was busy bringing up my son, Jonathan, 51, and carrying on with my business and doing everything you do in young life. We lost contact but now that is definitely not going to happen again."

Pat, who has twice beaten cancer, has had to give up driving because a condition means she has lost sight in her left eye, but she plans to visit Joan regularly.

She said: "We have so much to catch up, Joan has yet to see any of the family, I had no children or grandchildren back then.

"It'll be lovely to have someone to go shopping with rather than traipsing round with my husband – he's very good but he hates shopping."

BRAINTREE'S BMX riders were on top form at Chicksands Bike Park for the latest round of the Winter Series.

The racing got underway with the Rippers class for the 10-13 year-olds and the A final was won by Aaron Dalleywater, from Royston Rockets BMX club from start to finish.

Second place went to Braintree's George Moret, who rode with his trademark smoothness ahead of Riley Jenner and Sam Drabble.

In the B final, Braintree's Sydney Allen made up for just missing out on the A final by taking the win from Callum Rhead and Birmingham's Gee Harrison, who won the U10s class ahead of Braintree's Tyler Carter.

Up next was the youth class (age 14-15), and again riders were fighting hard for position. Braintree's Lee Golder was charging hard all day and in the A final he kept his momentum for the win ahead of club-mate Shane Redgewell, in his debut at 4X racing.

One of the hottest contests of the day was in the senior class (16-29).

The favourites went head to head in the A final in a nail-biting lap. Dave Richardson had been looking on top of his game through the qualifiers and cemented his position as the winner with an awesome run down the track.

Mitch Brooks and James Whitby had a close battle for the remaining podium places and it was Brooks who came out on top in second. The Masters, for the 30+ racers, was won by Manchester's Neil Harbour after he took advantage of an incident that saw the leaders go down.

In the B final, Julian Allen, from Braintree, took the win after a slipped pedal in the semi-final sent him out of the main event with Billy Stupple, from Dialled Bikes, giving chase behind him.

The ladies got their elbows out in their class, won impressively by Suzanne Lacey. Charging hard behind her was Michelle Eaton in second, with Helen Biggs looking for lines in third.

The racing came to a close with the Elite class, who thundered down the course in a great display of bike handling.

The B final was won by Alistair Keen, just ahead of Identiti Bikes Jordan Lunn and Love Not Moneys Lee Feery.

In the A final, there was super close racing from the gate as local guys Dan Bateson and Jack Hudson flowed through the course at high speed with Bateson holding on for the win. Round three of the series is planned for Sunday, March 10, and more details can be found at www.oldskullraceteam.com

Braintree BMX Club are holding round six of their club winter series on Sunday, March 3, at their Deanery Hill track, with registration closing at 11.30am.

A FORMER council officer who is accused of stealing nearly £400,000 of taxpayers' money is to stand trial in the summer.

David Archer, 54, of Cheviot Drive, Chelmsford, pleaded not guilty to four charges at Chelmsford Crown Court last Monday, and was released on bail ahead of a predicted week-long trial beginning on June 4.

He is accused of obtaining a money transfer of £75,985 by deception from Chelmsford Borough Council between June 2004 and June 2007 – falsely claiming that valid work had been carried out by Essex Play Council when it had not.

He is further charged with fraud between June 2007 and September 2010 by falsely representing that work to the sum of £156,469 had been carried out on behalf of Chelmsford Borough Council by Essex Play Council when it had not.

Mr Archer is also accused of a second fraud offence, of failing to disclose to his employer, Chelmsford Borough Council, between January 2007 and September 2010, information that he was legally obliged to disclose, that he was a trustee of Essex Association of Youth Clubs and an account holder and signatory for Essex Play Council, with the intention of making a gain for himself.

The last charge was that he stole an account balance of £165,548 belonging to Chelmsford Borough Council between June 2004 and September 2010.

Judge Rodger Hayward Smith QC further remanded Archer on bail until his trial.

The court heard that it was an alleged fraud over many years by a trusted council employee and involved about 50 payments.

Archer joined Chelmsford Borough Council in 1989 on a short-term contract to manage summer play activities, before becoming the Play and Young People's Services officer, serving a total of 20 years at the authority.

Since taking his leave of the council in September 2010, Archer has started up his own company, offering outdoor and free play activities for children and young people, called Mucky Hands.

On his website, which is no longer working, he said: "I have now left the Borough Council to concentrate on my key skills – and passion – of providing outdoor and 'free play' activities for children and young people."

A WOMAN who was kidnapped and raped by a man from Kelvedon Hatch has told the nation's top judge how her life has "changed dramatically" as a result of her ordeal.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was raped and molested by Billy Bennett as she made her way home after an evening with friends.

Bennett, 22, of Great Fox Meadow, was jailed for nine years at Chelmsford Crown Court last September, after admitting three counts of rape, one of sexual assault and another of kidnap.

He is now challenging his sentence at London's Criminal Appeal Court, with his lawyers arguing it was "excessive" for his crimes. His legal team says the fact his victim was allowed to elaborate on her victim impact statement by speaking to the judge sentencing him, created "unfairness" in his case.

However, addressing the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, and two senior colleagues, the victim said she felt the only way to articulate the full extent of her ordeal was in person.

She said: "I wanted to read the statement out in court because I feel it gave me the opportunity to get across that this is about people – it is not just words on paper.

"I am no longer an adult, but a dependent child."

The victim, who was praised for her "courage" by Lord Judge, said she is now unable to go out in the dark and sees every stranger as a potential threat.

She added: "I want to be able to deal with this, I want to move on, but I simply don't know how."

Bennett approached the 26-year-old victim in Chelmsford in his Ford Focus as she made her way home.

He threatened to stab her with a knife and, although the victim never saw a weapon, she believed he had one and was terrified.

She was then subjected to a sexual assault, before being driven to the former St John's Hospital site, in Wood Street, where further sex attacks took place.

The following day Bennett handed himself in to police and was arrested and charged.

His lawyers told the Appeal Court he had taken cocaine before the attack and, when he realised what he had done, he felt "nothing but remorse and self-loathing" at the harm he had caused.

In a test case, they argued the current system of victim impact statements could create "unfairness" to offenders.

Arguing Bennett's sentence was over the top, his barrister, Pavlos Panayi QC, questioned whether the victim should have been given the chance to elaborate on her statement by speaking to the judge in open court.

Mr Panayi said Bennett was "left at a disadvantage" because there were factors raised during the victim's testimony to which his lawyers did not get the opportunity to respond.

Lord Judge, sitting with Mr Justice Simon and Mr Justice Irwin, reserved judgement on the appeal – which is being heard with other cases that raise similar issues on victims' rights – until an unspecified later date.

A Muslim cleric has been ordered to pay back thousands of pounds to sponsors of a new mosque he never intended to build.

Imam Miah Rahman promised to use the cash to build the place of worship in Brentwood, because the congregation were having to use a local community hall.

But angry donors were left empty-handed when the proposals were shelved two years later and the money mysteriously vanished.

One woman had helped collect more than £84,000 for the project and two doctors handed over more than £15,000.

But when they demanded their money back Rahman argued that the cash was intended as 'gifts' and had been used for other Islamic purposes, Central London County Court heard.

He said the cash was for general work supporting Islam in and around the town.

Judge Nigel Gerald found that Rahman and his co defendant Mohammed Edoo, had never had the intention or ability to set up a mosque in the community.

He said that they had counted on the complainants not being willing to go to court against an imam.

He said: "It seems to me quite clear that these defendants hoped the claimants would cower, rather than face an imam in court.

"But the claimants were made of sterner stuff, being truly committed to the fulfilment of their article of faith."

He added that money had been donated for a specific purpose and that that purpose had not materialised.

He said: "It failed sometime before July 14, 2008. There was no intention to successfully bid at the auction, because the money had already been spent.

"These defendants have no intention or ability to carry out the original intent.

"Money was raised for a specific purpose and it has been misapplied.

"It was a game of roulette they were playing, they lost."

A total of 13 claimants brought the case against Rahman and Edoo, who was also involved in raising the funds.

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

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 under Islamic law, totalling around £10,000, 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.

Following a complaint by Dr Reshma Rasheed, a local GP who had given £1,500, police investigated both Rahman and 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.

"People were up in arms.

"I didn't know what to do. I was not in touch with Mr Rahman as I was told he had moved abroad.

"A lot of people did try and they were refused; they can't have their money back."

Rahman began campaigning to have the mosque built in October 2005, encouraging Muslims to donate money in a series of lectures, and in leaflets.

Local worshippers were initially enthusiastic about the idea, and began digging deep to contribute cash for the project.

By the summer of 2007, a 1.4 acre former garden centre in Brentwood had been found as a possible location, but Mr Edoo was outbid at auction the following year.

Soon after, angry donors began demanding their money back, realising the money they had donated was not being used for the purposes of acquiring a mosque.

In defence documents submitted to the court, Rahman and Edoo said the funds were gifts, and did not meet strict criteria for a loan under Islamic law.

But they conceded that the money had been donated with the understanding that it would be put towards a community mosque.

They claimed that they still had the intention of opening one and stated that the money should be left with them so the project could be completed in the future.

The court was also told that Rahman and Edoo had been using the same fund they misused to pay their legal fees. This is believed to be in the region of £30,000.

Rahman and Edoo denied breach of trust, but the judge found against them and order that they pay back a total of £32,415.73 with five per cent compound interest to be applied from July 2008, and £55,000 in costs.

Their assets were also frozen pending repayment of the sums ordered.

A 20 FOOT tall scarecrow affixed to a massive wooden cross which caused outrage among Christians in Billericay has been burned down.

The giant scarecrow in a "Messianic" pose was destroyed in flames after being set alight twice last Thursday. The charred remains of the 20 foot crop protector were discovered by workers at Barleylands Farm Park on Friday morning.

This follows controversy in and around Billericay over the scarecrow seemingly mounted on a huge cross which was assembled in the first week of lent.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service attended the blaze on Barleylands Road at 11:23 on Thursday, February 21 and they described the fire as deliberate. The fire was extinguished by five fire fighters within 17 minutes but at 12:10am the crew were called out for a second time.

The scarecrow has been set alight again and the remains were finally extinguished by 12:26am.

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

Mr Finkle said: "There's nothing left of the scarecrow but there's an element of me which isn't surprised.

"We rolled in on Friday morning to see the scorched, blackened remains and our hearts sank - we're bitterly disappointed. The fact that they returned back to set the scarecrow alight for a second time must have meant they had their mind set on destroying it.

"I spoke to the Crime Unit at Essex Police and they said it must have taken serious effort for the scarecrow to be reignited. All that remained in the morning was the plastic used to stuff the scarecrows head, the wooden cross made from a telegraph pole and the smaller scarecrow."

The Farm Park has since removed the smaller scarecrow which was not burnt down but stood next to the larger one.

Braintree boss Alan Devonshire could name an unchanged side when his team play host to play-off hopefuls Luton.

The Iron recorded a shock 2-0 win over Grimsby last time out and Devonshire will be reluctant to make too many changes.

Winger Luke Daley netted twice in that fixture and is certain to retain his place but striker Dan Walker is vying for a place in attack alongside Dan Holman and Sean Marks.

Goalkeeper Danny Naisbitt (ankle) is still out so Nathan McDonald keeps his place, while veteran midfielder Bradley Quinton (knee) is also unavailable.

Devonshire's side have won four of their eight league matches since the turn of the year but have lost the rest leaving them four points above the relegation zone.

Luton travel with a near fully-fit squad as they look to get their play-off push back on track.

Only striker Jon Shaw and long-term casualties Garry Richards and Danny Spiller will miss the trip to Essex.

Caretaker manager Alan Neilson has admitted there will be changes to the side beaten 3-2 at home to Mansfield on Saturday.

Neilson, 40, was also in temporary charge the last time the Hatters travelled to the Amlin Stadium where they lost 3-1, but he is hoping for a better show this time round.

"Braintree beat the league leaders at the time, Grimsby, last week on their own patch, so we know it will be difficult," he told the club's official website.

"Last year we went there and didn't show up. I'll be hoping for a better result on Tuesday night."

HOW do you boost tourism in North Weald?

Why, it's "simples" – you introduce three meerkats.

Ashlyns Farm's newest additions, Sid and Nancy, named by one of the volunteers who is a fan of the Sex Pistols, have been a great success among visitors.

The farm in Epping Road took on the pair of breeding meerkats in June last year and they have subsequently attracted great interest.

The country has become fanatical about the furry creatures over the last few years thanks to Alexander Orlov, the fictional Russian meerkat who is the star of T V's Compare the Market adverts.

Rob Dixon, manager at Ashlyns Farm, said: "They are three years old and we are hoping that they will breed.

"Nancy has put on weight so we are crossing our fingers that she is pregnant. She is the more timid of the two and Sid is quite brave.

"The pair are really popular as they are a bit different.

"Most people who come here are expecting the usual farm animals and are quite surprised to see the meerkats.

"They definitely get the public interest and the children love them.

"After the Compare the Meerkat adverts all the school children are really into them and all say 'simples' and copy each other.

"All the meerkats in the media have definitely spurred on the interest.

"The numbers of visitors have definitely picked up in the last few months and we've been very busy, particularly over half term.

"The soft play area used to be the most popular area for children but the meerkats have brought their focus on to the farm and now the animal part is busier."

The meerkats join a wide range of animals at Ashlyns, including lambs, rare breeds of pig, sheep and cattle and more exotic animals such as monkeys, llamas, emus, wallabies and rheas.

The appealing little animals live in large packs in the wild and are known for standing on their hind legs to observe the environment. Although naturally found in the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa, the meerkats appear happy in the UK.

Mr Dixon added: "The meerkats love to stand on their hind legs to sunbathe.

"They warm their bodies in the morning by standing up.

"They're also very nosy and like to look out over their neighbours the alpacas and emus and climb up high on to the heaters to spot them."

The farm is open seven days a week from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday and 9am to 5pm, on Sundays. Entry costs £4.50 for over 5s, £3.50 for under 5s and £1 for babies under 12 months.

MOTORISTS are angry that they must now fork out for a minimum of two hours' parking at Brentwood's William Hunter Way car park – regardless of how long they wish to stay.

Those who live in the town are also annoyed that their residents' discount no longer counts when they park at the facility next to Sainsbury's.

Brentwood Borough Council introduced the new charges on February 11. Two days later, the authority also launched a 'Phone and Pay' system, letting drivers pay for parking by phone rather than using ticket machines.

It now costs £1.30 to park for two hours at William Hunter Way. This is 40p less than the former charge for two hours, but 70p more than the 60p residents used to pay for a one-hour stay. It used to cost non-residents 90p for a one-hour stay.

The council has brought in a new 40p rate to park for half an hour in some car parks, but this is not available in William Hunter Way.

The new William Hunter Way charges apply from 6am until 9pm, Monday to Sunday, excluding bank holidays.

Jan Brooker, 68, from Hutton, said: "A minimum two-hour stay is too long as I only ever want half an hour at the most and I think it's outrageous that the residents' discount no longer counts."

Susan Tossun, 46, a beauty therapist from Blackmore, said: "It's ridiculous; I'm only going to be ten minutes.

"This just makes it expensive for people who want to park safely and do the right thing."

Thabo Sithole, 40, of Rollason Way, Brentwood, said: "I only found out a week ago and I don't think it's fair that we have to pay for two hours."

Kelly Saunders, 34, from Warley, added: "It's not good for residents, and having to pay for two hours is unfair when it's more than you need."

There was also much talk on Twitter about the new tariffs.

Councillor William Lloyd, the leader of the borough council's independent grouping Brentwood First, said his party had proposed a reduction in parking charges in last week's budget.

He added: "Whilst the local Conservatives penalise shoppers to the detriment of our traders by pushing up the minimum car parking cost by this eye-watering amount, the Liberal Democrats proposed a night time town tax whereby evening visitors to our town would also be charged.

"We will continue to fight such outrageous moves by the national political party politicians in Brentwood that seem to put political ideology and an inability to balance a budget way before Brentwood residents' and business's best interests."

A council spokesman said: "Brentwood Council is pleased by the success of its new parking charges, that has seen the introduction of a new bargain rate of 40p for half an hour at several car parks, including the multi-storey car park in Coptfold Road; the reduction in the price of parking for both two hours as well as for parking at evening and weekends, as well as the freeze on other prices.

"We have also introduced a new 'phone and park' system that enable customers to pay by phone, text or app and also extend their parking period in the same way. We have had very few negative comments about the new, often reduced tariffs and we have also been pleased to direct customers, who only want a short stay, to park where the 40p rate is available."

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A BEREAVEMENT suite inspired by a mother who lost her baby has opened in Romford to help parents who have to go through the tragedy of losing a child.

The Snowdrop Suite at Queen's Hospital, in Rom Valley Way, was funded by the King George and Queen's Hospitals Charity and Havering Sands, the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society.

The two charities worked together to set up the room, which is on the hospital's labour ward.

The facility is equipped with features that aim to ease the situation for parents and families at a difficult time.

The project began in 2006 after Sian Haywood from Cranham lost her son Max and asked for donations instead of flowers at his funeral.

With the help of Mandy Hunt, the chairman of Havering Sands, Mrs Haywood, 36, worked with King George and Queen's Hospitals Charity to ensure that future families were made as comfortable as possible after losing a child.

Ms Hunt said: "There's always been a need for such a suite in the hospital and Sian's vision kick-started the process.

"Finally, it is here and it has gone beyond a clinical room; for instance, the lighting can be dimmed.

"I know from losing my own baby 14 years ago that it was the harsh lighting that made things so much worse.

"You can hear the monitors, see happy families and your baby has died – you don't want to be around that.

"The new room has sound-dampening, so you can't hear heartbeats and crying babies.

"You build up a lifetime of memories from that room. We want to offer parents as much comfort and care as we can. We can't make the situation any better by providing this room but it aims to stop things getting worse.

"We've also run bereavement training with the midwifery team to help them learn to be compassionate to parents in this situation."

The Snowdrop Suite has home features such as a double bed, recliner chairs, a TV, tea and coffee refreshments, and a changing area to help ease the grieving process.

Havering Sands runs meetings for parents who have gone through a bereavement to give them a chance to talk about what has happened.

Mrs Hunt, who lives in Harold Hill, said: "We meet every four weeks and have a very positive outlook and we don't forget our babies."

Members of Havering Sands and their families helped fundraise for the suite by organising and taking part in activities including marathons, skydives and balloon releases.

At the official opening of the suite, Avril Archibold, labour ward matron at Queen's Hospital, said: "The suite is more than a room to us, it will help signify the care we can give here at Queen's.

"We used to have a sign on the door warning staff of the tragic loss that had happened to the family, now we have subtle, special vases that will have a snowdrop flower in to signify when the room is in use.

"This is just a small example of how the suite will dramatically enhance the quality of care given on the labour ward."

Averil Dongworth, the chief executive of Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, was also present at the opening.

She said: "The suite is a great example of how patients, visitors and families are working together to help enhance the services the trust can provide."

If you have been affected by a similar experience and would like to find out more about Sands call 0207 436 5881.

TEN schoolchildren are off to an Oscar-style party in London next month after their movie was shortlisted in a competition judged by Hobbit star Martin Freeman and Matt Smith of Doctor Who fame.

The youngsters, aged from 10 to 12, will head to Leicester Square for an awards bash, complete with red carpet, celebrities and an after-awards party at Planet Hollywood.

There they will find out if their movie Time Report has won the under-12 category of the First Light Film Awards 2013.

The pupils, who were all at Perryfields Junior School in Springfield when the film was made, worked with professional company Signals over two terms to write, film and edit the movie which is about environmental issues and time travel.

"We are all really excited," said head teacher of Perryfields, Doretta Cowie. "It is a very professional looking film, and the children were involved right from the beginning.

"The film has been shortlisted for the top four of the under-12s category. We will all attend the ceremony at the Odeon, Leicester Square and, like the BAFTAS, watch short clips from all the nominations for every category, before the winners are announced, and awards presented by a celebrity guest."

The 10 pupils spent every Tuesday working on the project, with the rest of the school assisting by making props and scenery. Some of the shooting was done on location at Layer Marney Towers, near Tiptree, and at Signals' studios in Colchester.

Lewis Vaughan, 11, plays the presenter of a news channel in the film. He said: "I've never done anything like this before. It was excellent. When we were filming I was not sure if I was saying my words clearly enough but when I saw the finished film it was fine."

Jacob Dennis, 11, said: "I play the director of the news programme. I was so pleased to be picked to take part because I really like acting. I loved going to Colchester to film my part in the studio. We knew the film was going to be good but when we saw it, it was amazing."

Sofia Gaeta, 11, said: "I can't wait to attend the ceremony. I so hope Matt Smith will be there as I really want his autograph.

"I really enjoyed taking part in this and hope I get the chance to do it again at secondary school."

The other pupils involved in the project are Phaedy Finch, Kurt Bradley, James Ellingford, Jack Ellingford, Anisah Begum and Sam Matthews.

THE travel and tourism industry in Essex is worth an astounding £3 billion – and with Chelmsford's recent rise to city status and new flight routes to and from Stansted and Southend Airports, that figure is only set to rise.

To celebrate the work of those who contribute to this important aspect of the county's economy, the Essex Chronicle, in conjunction with Visit Essex, is launching the Tourism and Hospitality Awards 2013.

The awards aim to recognise the best of the county's tourism and hospitality businesses and the talented and driven individuals behind them.

Finalists from each category – along with their guests – will be able to celebrate their achievements at a glittering awards ceremony at Boreham House, Chelmsford, on October 23.

There, they will meet sponsors, local dignitaries and tourism experts.

Winners of the tourism categories will go forward to represent Essex in the national 2014 Visit England Awards for Excellence.

Awards categories include: Essex Attraction of the Year; Essex Hospitality Venue of the Year; Customer Service of the Year; Chef of the Year; Young Chef of the Year; Restaurant of the Year; Outstanding Contribution to Essex Hospitality; and Outstanding Contribution to Essex Tourism.

Current sponsors include the likes of Kingston Smith, Anglia Produce, Colchester Institute and Knight Meats.

However, there are several more sponsorship opportunities available to companies associated with the tourism industry.

These can be tailored to suit individual requirements and are suitable for any business owner who would like to benefit from building relationships and contacts with other experts within this specialist sector.

Interested parties should contact awards organiser Anne Pocock on 01245 400878, or e-mail anne@apteventspro.co.uk

The awards website will go live on March 22 where you can enter your business online.

In the meantime anyone interested in entering the awards can register now at www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/tourismawards

A SCHOOLGIRL from Hutton who battled cancer at the age of 12 is running the London Marathon to support other children with the disease.

Charlotte Cox was settling in with new friends at St Martin's School when her life was dramatically turned upside down.

It was towards the end of her first year at the school that she noticed an unusual growth on her neck.

Her doctor originally thought she may have contracted glandular fever. However, following tests at Basildon Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in May 2007, it was revealed that she had mucoepidermoid carcinoma, a form of mouth cancer.

As if this news were not bad enough, the teenager, of Queenswood Avenue, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of the disease.

This meant that just a week after diagnosis, she underwent a drastic four-hour life-saving operation at GOSH to remove the lump, which, by then, had grown to the size of a small plum.

The surgery was a success and, after six weeks of precautionary radiotherapy, Miss Cox was on the road to recovery.

Now aged 18, studying for her A levels and fighting fit, the aspiring photographer recalled the terrifying moment when she learned she was ill.

"When I got told it was cancer, I think I just laughed at first and I don't think I realised how serious it was because I was so young," she said.

"I was pretty positive, but of course I was scared and pretty afraid of needles at the time, but I soon got over that."

Miss Cox goes back to hospital once a year for check-ups. She has now set her sights on raising funds to help other children who are dealing with all strains of the disease.

Listening to Michael Jackson on her iPod, she trains four times a week over 19 miles and sometimes jogs all the way from Hutton to Billericay and back, in preparation for the gruelling 26.2-mile road race in April.

"After what's happened to me it's definitely opened my eyes to what people can go through at such a young age," Miss Cox said.

"It's so hard for young children to understand the concept of what they are having to go through.

"I remember sitting in the waiting room at the hospital with children who were crying their eyes out and they had no idea what was going on – it's very hard."

With no experience as a runner, Miss Cox happened to spot that applications were open for the race while she was surfing the internet in May last year.

She signed up and is now looking to raise £1,800 for CLIC Sargent, a charity that offers support to children with cancer and their families.

She said: "I'm obviously excited about the experience, but I'm just hoping I don't embarrass myself in front of so many people."

To sponsor Miss Cox visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Charlotte-Cox2

AT A freezing cold Ship Lane, two evenly matched teams fought out a stalemate that was not short of attacking football.

Neither side were able to find the breakthrough, although Paul Clayton did have the ball in the net for the home side on the stroke of half-time only to see his effort chalked off for offside.

In-form Cheshunt fired over the top early on, before a good move from the home side ended with new signing Jeffery Campbell heading wide.

Nick Reynolds fired just over the top before a header at the other end also went just wide.

Romford continued to attack well down the flanks with full-backs Dave Ottley and Joe Oates giving great support to Duru on the right and Kurt Smith on the left.

Centre-back Clayton went close after 25 minutes when he headed Smith's corner just over after Reynolds' powerful shot had been pushed around the post by the Cheshunt keeper.

But Clayton did get the ball on target as the half drew to a close, only to see it ruled out.

The second half was a more sedate affair but ten minutes from time James Ishmail was denied after inadvertently blocking Aime Blessing's shot, while the visitors' best effort of the second period - a free-kick - was kept out by Atu Ngoy.

A HAT-TRICK from Enfield Town's Regan Coleman, plus braces in either half by Holly Brandon and Katie Wilding, inflicted a 7-1 defeat on Brentwood Town Ladies at the QEII Stadium.

The match was in its infancy when Enfield took the lead. Blues were unable to get the ball out of their own half, yet Coleman was afforded the time and space to pick her spot 20 yards from goal and she made no mistake by smashing it into the net.

Despite Enfield dominating the early exchanges, Brentwood tried to edge forward in search of an equaliser, and Carla Rose drilled a 30-yard shot past the left-hand post before Lucy Faraday half-volleyed Whinnett's centre past the near post.

On 32 minutes, a fine team goal extended Enfield's lead. Cally Browne sent the ball down the left wing for Oliver, who picked out Lovell, and she teed up the influential Coleman for a simple finish.

Brandon got her name on the scoresheet two minutes later.

Having been released on the right-hand side, she drove past Paris Smith before sending her shot into the net.

With three minutes remaining before the interval, the winger doubled her personal tally at the end of some good work by Browne on the left.

The ball was pinged to the back post, where Brandon tucked home the easiest of tap-ins.

Just before the hour mark, Blues reduced the arrears. Faraday burst through the centre of the pitch and fired past Holman, only for the ball to bounce back off the post.

As the assistant manager tried to turn in the rebound, she was clumsily brought down by Oliver, giving Sophie Lovell the chance to stroke home the spot-kick.

Brentwood continued to work hard and, with Brandon blasting over on a rare foray forward down the left 20 minutes from time, it looked as though the scoring might be over. Those thoughts were dispelled in the 79th minute when Brandon found Wilding eight yards out and she slotted the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

Three minutes later, Coleman completed her hat-trick by slipping the ball beyond Prior. In stoppage time Wilding's arcing free-kick squirmed through Prior's grasp to make it 7-1.

BRENTWOOD climbed up to fifth in the table despite a sloppy performance against bottom-placed Rochford.

The visitors kicked off down the slope on a sticky surface following the recent snow and rain, and Brentwood were immediately penalised for an illegal shoulder charge in front of the posts, but Rochford missed a relatively straightforward chance to go ahead.

The visitors continued to press, with Brentwood totally out of touch and making a stream of unforced errors, and Rochford's profligacy again came to the fore as they missed another kickable penalty on ten minutes.

The home side improved slightly after the midpoint of the first half as they started to put some phases together. A series of scrums on the visitors' five-metre line gave their powerful pack every chance for a first try, but the back-row failed to exert a decent eight-man shove and the opportunities were lost.

Scrum-half Luke Green was starting to influence the game for the home side but their momentum was lost as they went down to 14 men when centre Adam Thomas was yellow carded.

And Rochford took advantage of the extra man, taking a 7-0 lead thanks to an easy converted try.

It got even worse for the home side when Tom King was also sin-binned, but despite their two-man disadvantage, a quick break upfield set up fly-half Declan Gillet to reduce the arrears, and although the conversion was missed, the home side were just two points behind.

Rochford's No 8 was sin-binned just before the break, which helped Brentwood's cause, but it could not avenge a miserable 40 minutes for the home supporters.

Fortunately, going downhill in the second half and back to their full complement, Brentwood's structure returned.

With Green constantly probing round the scrum and ruck, Rochford were now on the back foot.

It took 20 minutes for the breakthrough though when a surge downfield led by winger Ryan Dee ended with a penalty in front of the posts which Dan Whitehead converted to put Brentwood ahead 8-7.

This score was quickly followed by the second Brentwood try. A break by Green took play into Rochford's 22, and a big drive from the scrum resulted in captain Josh Woodcock going over for an unconverted try.

The home side were now in control but handling errors kept hard-working Rochford in sight of victory.

But a final drive to the left corner put Steve Killington over for the third Brentwood try to seal victory at 18-7.

Brentwood are back in action on Saturday when they travel to face fourth-placed Colchester at 3pm.

THERE was a dramatic finale at New Lodge as struggling Billericay Town lost 3-2 against Bromley.

New skipper Glenn Poole looked to have earned the Blues a point with his 90th-minute leveller, but deep into stoppage time Mike Jones won a penalty for the visitors which was tucked away – via a post – by Danny Waldren.

Alex Osborn almost gave the home side a dream start when he capitalised on a slip by Moses Swaibu, but Joe Welch saved well.

Both keepers were kept busy in the early stages, but it was Welch who was beaten first when he could only parry Paul Semakula's shot to Osborn, who slotted home.

The visitors levelled ten minutes before half-time when good work from Jones teed up Ali Fuseini to fire past Sam Beasant.

Early in the second half, the Lilywhites went ahead courtesy of Pierre Joseph-Dubois, who fired home Ishmael Welsh's cross.

The Blues almost came up with an instant response when Poole's cross picked out Jay May, but Welch produced a superb save to preserve his side's lead.

Beasant made a fine stop to keep out Jones, before May somehow missed with the goal gaping, and Welch kept out Dave Collis' effort.

But Welch was powerless to prevent Poole firing the home side level in the last minute when he pounced on a poor clearing header to net.

However, celebrations were short-lived as Jones turned well in the box and drew a foul, allowing Waldren to end his side's six-game winless run – but make it three defeats on the spin for Billericay.

Manager Craig Edwards said: "That's twice in three games we've conceded a 93rd-minute winner. I know from when we've scored last-minute winners that to score one is the best feeling in the world, but to lose to it is the worst feeling in the world.

"We haven't been particularly strong defensively in recent weeks but I thought we defended well.

"I thought he went down a little bit softly but it was probably a penalty and it's gone in off the post and that's just about summed up our last week really."

Poole was captaining the side for the first time after replacing Rob Swaine with the armband, and Edwards added: "Pooley has played for me for a number of years, he's probably the most experienced player in the side.

"I felt that Rob Swaine was having a hard time of it and because his own game was suffering a little, he wasn't giving us the leadership we needed at this time.

"Pooley's bang on top of his game, he's got the experience and at this stage I thought he would be a better captain for us."

THERE was a small haul of two medals, one gold, one bronze and a top-four finish from the small contingent of five Havering Mayesbrook club athletes taking part at the weekend's National Indoor Age-Group Championships at Birmingham.

Alex Law confirmed his UK top ranking with a gold medal-winning performance in the U17 long jump.

The 16-year-old Hall Mead student improved his lifetime best to 6.81m in the fifth round to clinch the title by 8cm from Cambridge Harriers' Tobi Adeniyi. Only Josh Olawore has jumped further among club U17s.

Law competed, despite a tight hamstring, which was further strained during the competition, which forced him to withdraw from the 60m hurdles.

It makes him a doubt for this weekend's National Indoor Combined Events championships, at Sheffield, where he was also a medal hope.

Josh Olawore repeated his bronze medal-winning performance from last year in the U20 long jump. His 6.98m fourth-round effort was a season's best.

Olawore later improved his 60m hurdles personal-best record to 8.40sec, but was unable to progress in a high quality competition.

Modupe Shokunbi performed brilliantly in her first national competition.

After winning her U15 60m heat, she improved her club record to 7.94sec in finishing second in her semi-final and was edged out of the medals in the final, finishing fourth in 7.98sec.

YOUTH BASKETBALL: Mountune's Brentwood Fire U15 boys thrashed Stevenage Scorpions.

The game started well, with Brentwood Fire playing some great offence and defence throughout the first quarter.

After a scoring spree, Brentwood finished the quarter with an emphatic score of 37-0.

In the second quarter, Fire continued their tireless intensity with a dominating half-time score of 64-6.

In the second half, Fire played with skill and patience. Patrick King and Filipe Miranda added 18 points, while Josh Stannard secured victory in the final quarter. The final score was 118-27.

Kip McGrath's Brentwood Fire U14 girls travelled to Ipswich to play the Bobcats.

Despite an excellent warm up, Ipswich dominated the first quarter, taking an early lead 17-8.

In the second quarter, Fire took more control with some excellent plays, although the Bobcats continued to dominate, leading at half-time 34-22.

Fire came out fighting in the second half, but could not sustain the level of play. Ipswich took advantage of a loss of concentration and fatigue, which resulted in missed free-throws, giving them the advantage.

Fire continued to fight hard, scoring 10 points in the final quarter, with some excellent three-point shooting from Millie Withers, Charlotte Redhead and Carlie Abbott, but Ipswich won 73-54.

Top scorer was Tia Stack with 22 points.