A CLASSIC car enthusiast who had to give up renovating a 1972 Rover because of ill health can be seen driving his pride and joy around Romford, thanks to his wife and a film crew from National Geographic.

Steve and Marie Barrell, from Harold Hill, will be featured in episode six of National Geographic's Car SOS on March 14, called Rover's Return.

Rover enthusiast Mr Barrell, 52, has suffered a number of health problems, including the discovery that he had to have a significant part of his bowel removed during an appendix operation.

More recently, he has suffered from ongoing hernias and is due to go into hospital on March 1 for treatment.

The problems meant his dream of renovating a 1972 P6 were put to one side, while he underwent multiple operations.

That was until, unbeknown to him, his wife called in the National Geographic Channel's Car SOS team to resurrect the British classic.

The programme-makers take a classic car in need of work and surprise the owner when they return it restored.

Mrs Barrell said: "My husband gets Classic Cars Weekly. At the back there was an article advertising for people with a sob story to enter a competition with the prize of getting their car done up.

"I entered and they said they would like to do it.

"I had to get it away from Steve, so I said I was moving it to Epping to where my daughter lives to get it out of the weather."

Mr Barrell had already started work on the car, bought for £200, but it was not running.

He had fixed the engine, a powerful 3.5 litre V8 but was unable to finish the renovation when he became ill.

Mrs Barrell said: "They did it all, the wheels, the shell, they gave it a respray, it came back like a new car. It was fantastic."

After three weeks the car was unveiled to Mr Barrell at the same bus garage in East London where he first met his wife a decade before, under the pretence of the crew making a documentary about families that have worked in the same place.

He said: "I'm absolutely over the moon. It's driving brilliantly.

"Thanks to the guys – they did a top quality job – and thanks to my wife. She's one in a million."

Rover's Return is being shown at 8pm on Thursday, March 14 on National Geographic Channel.

ROMFORD has been named as one of the UK's divorce hotspots.

According to figures from the Ministry of Justice, Romford County Court is the fourth busiest divorce court in the country, with 1,783 applications between October 2011 and September 2012.

Only Birmingham Civil Justice Centre and Family Courts, Weston-super-Mare County Court and Leicester County Court were busier.

Solicitors say there is a significant spike in divorce applications in the spring as couples seek a fresh start following the festive season, which is often the tipping point for people wanting to make a break.

Pinney Talfourd LLP Solicitors, which has branches in Hornchurch, Upminster and Brentwood, is among those firms to see a surge in divorce inquiries during January and February.

Catherine Loadman, family partner at Pinney Talfourd, said: "The first weeks of the year are traditionally the busiest time for family lawyers as the financial and emotional pressures of the festive period, together with families delaying difficult decisions until after Christmas, regularly lead to a rise in divorce enquiries.

"However, although enquiries rise this time of year, divorce is not a decision taken lightly and many couples may have been discussing separation for a while and have spoken to us months ago to consider their options.

"The time spent together over the festive period is sometimes just the tipping point."

Pinney Talfourd's lawyers, like many others, regularly advise on mediation, separation agreements and collaborative law, which can help a divorce avoid becoming messy.

The advice follows that of the Government, which wants separating couples to consider using mediation.

Family justice minister Lord McNally said: "All too often I hear stories of families going through expensive and traumatic court hearings but we know that when working out how to split assets and arrange time with the children, mediation is a far simpler and cheaper approach for everyone and leads to better outcomes.

"That is why we are changing the law so that all couples seeking a court order about child contact or a financial matter must attend a mediation information assessment meeting first, to find out about mediation and whether it is suitable for them."

The average cost of resolving property and financial disputes caused by separation is approximately £500 through mediation for a publicly funded client, compared with £4,000 for issues settled through the courts.

The average time for a mediated case is 110 days compared with 435 days for non-mediated cases.

Pinney Talfourd is offering a free initial appointment for the rest of February.

Call 01277 211755 or e-mail mail@pinneytalfourd.co.uk for a no-obligation chat about your situation or visit www.pinneytalfourd.co.uk

ST MARTIN'S School in Hutton will be representing the county at the Eastern Regional futsal finals in June after triumphing at the Essex County FA's U16 tournament earlier this month.

The U16 girls' side progressed after winning all four of their matches in the competition, which was held at The College in Braintree.

The girls will now go on to the regional finals at Gosling Park Sports Centre in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, on June 1.

A total of 11 teams competed in the girls' and boys' events at county level, including five debutant schools, showing the growth that futsal is currently enjoying in the county.

Recognised and supported by FIFA, UEFA and the FA, Futsal is now played throughout the world and differs from the regular five-a-side style familiar to many in the UK.

The main differences are marked lines rather than rebound boards – meaning the ball can go out of play – as well as square goals, heavier and 'reduced bounce' balls and a strict five-foul discipline law.

It encourages closer ball control and players use Futsal to improve their touch and technique.

RESIDENTS in Wickford will see a boost to their neighbourhood park if the council's £1 million application for funding is accepted.

Plans have been put forward for restoration of Wickford Memorial Park, Rettendon View, with Basildon Borough Council set to apply for over £1 million from lottery funding and the Veolia Pitsea Marches Trust. The park, created in 1949, is the largest memorial park in the UK and recently saw the creation of a new war memorial.

The park commemorates the lives of men from Wickford, Runwell and the surrounding area who gave their lives in the two world wars and later conflicts. If Basildon Borough Council is successful in its bid to secure funding, the park will see restoration of the Avenue of Remembrance, refurbishment to the offices and pavilion and improvements to access.

Stephen Newman, chairman of the Wickford War Memorial Association, said: "These improvements are something we've been championing for six years and will benefit the whole park.

"In 2011 we completed the first stage – a memorial at the front of the park – but it doesn't end there. One of the areas that will be restored is the Avenue of Remembrance, a tree-lined path with each tree representing a soldier who was killed. The trees have been damaged through vandalism and storms and so will be replaced."

Tony Ball, leader of Basildon Council, said: "This is an ambitious project, but through the funding and the support of local residents is one which is feasible.

"The nature of the park and its history and heritage has allowed us the opportunity to apply for funding from the Veolia Pitsea Marches Trust and lottery funding and should we be successful will enable us, in partnership with local interest groups, to meet our ambitions and create a real jewel in the crown for the borough."

Councillor Kevin Blake, cabinet member for leisure and arts, said: "Consultation over the past three years has shown there is substantial support from the Wickford community to sustain a programme of restoration of the park, and if the funding bid is successful I believe the project will help create a park that residents and future generations can be proud of."

Mr Blake added: "As well as improvements to the visual landscape of the park we are also looking at the long term, and through the project will be creating a programme of sustainable management and maintenance of the park, meaning it will continue to improve and evolve for years to come."

If the funding bids are successful the project is set to begin in March 2014.

FOR seven years the Marshalls have been selling locally produced beef, pork and chicken to the villagers of Rettendon.

And for seven years a six foot by four sign has sat outside the gates of their 12-acre farm directing new customers into the family-run butchers.

But now the family has been told to tear down the trailer-mounted sign by planning officers at Chelmsford City Council.

They have even been threatened with legal action if they fail to comply with the directive, which has been branded "ridiculous" by one parish councillor.

"It's absolutely crazy. It's been up for seven years and it makes you wonder why they want to take it down now," said Keith Marshall, 66, who runs Whitegates Farm with his wife Jennifer and son Thomas.

"I've had new customers ring in and tell me they can't find us."

The sign, which reads "Farm shop – pull in. Prime home produced beef and rare breed pork", has sat on a small trailer opposite the main farm buildings on South Hanningfield Road since the shop opened in 2006.

The land is owned by the Marshalls, but a year ago the local authority told the family to take the sign down. The family ignored the council's demand.

"I thought 'I'm not having that – this is our livelihood'," Mr Marshall said.

Two weeks ago Chelmsford City Council returned and asked the farmers to move the trailer carrying the sign.

In a show of defiance the family moved the trailer ten metres down the road, but the council came back and gave them 48 hours to move it from its current location.

The family took the sign down for a week but business suffered, so they put it back up, this time on a teleporter, a tractor with a ten-metre moveable arm.

This week, the council gave them a final ultimatum and threatened to take Mr Marshall to court if he continued to disobey their orders.

"It's just ridiculous," said Rettendon parish councillor Roy Hart. These are hardworking people who have done really well with their business.

"It is not fair. You see these signs for farm shops up and down the country. There seems to be one rule for some people and another rule for others."

A Chelmsford City Council spokesperson said: "The council has received complaints regarding the display of unlawful advertisements at Whitegates Farm.

"One such advertisement has already been refused consent by the council and is now the subject of an appeal, recently been lodged by Mr Marshall.

"We have requested that a further unlawful advertisement be removed. Mr Marshall has been allowed until Thursday, 28 February, to ensure its removal, after which time the council will consider its options for taking formal enforcement action."

SHOCKING statistics that show Maldon is facing a binge-drinking crisis have sparked further concerns over JD Wetherspoon appearing in the High Street.

Regional alcohol profiles show that the town already falls into the second worst quartile for excessive alcohol use in the East – and residents believe the pub giant will only make matters worse.

Kevin Jennings, of Keep Maldon Unique, said: "A licensed premises on the grand scale of this proposal will be utterly devastating to local health and that's why we'll be protesting strongly against it when it reaches the Planning and Licensing Committee."

The chain was granted planning permission by Maldon District Council to adapt the old post office building last week, but it must still acquire a licence to serve alcohol.

Spokesman Eddie Gershin strongly rejected claims that the pub would worsen binge drinking in the town.

"We're not aware of any such statistics. However, it seems improper for some people to suggest that if Wetherspoons opens that it will be responsible for increasing the problem.

"We've won more awards in the pub industry than any other establishment and that's because of the way our pubs are run."

Cllr Mark Durham believes it is the more traditional pubs that could be responsible for such figures.

"My view is that there is far more danger from binge drinking at the poorer quality establishments in Maldon.

"Wetherspoons is a managed pub with a strong brand to protect. I have experience of managing both types of establishment and I've found it's the smaller, independently owned places that create more trouble."

However, Mr Jennings, 33, blames the figures on a lack of facilities in the town and believes the offer of cheap beer and shots will make it worse.

"The NHS provision in Maldon is being stripped bare with national cuts and I don't know how it will cope with a venue capable of holding 300 people.

"The decision last week upset me because it was based on profit and not what is best for Maldon."

The charity shop manager intends to take to the stand at the upcoming Planning and Licensing Committee meeting.

A MARKET trader has relocated to Brentwood to capitalise on the hottest new fashion garment in town – the onesie.

Nicky Bedworth has been selling clothes in markets in Romford, Barking and Rayleigh for the past ten years but says he has never experienced anything like the craze for the all-in-one outfit made popular by ITV2's The Only Way Is Essex.

Cast member and Brentwood resident Joey Essex became the first TOWIE star to don the garment, which resembles an oversized babygro, last year.

Mr Bedworth decided to set up his stall at Brentwood's High Street market three weeks ago after a friend who runs a bed linen stall assured him it would be good for business.

In a day, he now sells on average 20 onesies, to both men and women, in an area he says "has been put on the map by TOWIE".

Mr Bedworth, 37, from Romford, said: "It is crazy how many people walk past us in a day.

"This is a small market, but because it's in Brentwood it has suddenly become huge.

"I would say it is busier here than Romford Market, which is much bigger, but doesn't have the same footfall as it used to.

"TOWIE has seriously done it – it has made the onesie huge.

"I decided to stock up on onesies at Christmas as I thought there would be a lot of people buying them for presents.

"It is mainly young boys up to the age of 25 and older women in their 30s and 40s who buy onesies."

He continued: "The market trade is like swings and roundabouts.

"Now it is quite quiet – it is called the kipper season in the trade – but we are not doing that badly at the moment thankfully because of the onesies.

"Personally I don't have a onesie, but I am too old to go around wearing one really."

Mr Bedworth said the most popular pieces are the Geek, pink Aztec and heart onesies.

At £15 a piece, they attracted the attention of shopper Tom Harding, 17, from Pitsea.

Tom, a student at Prospects College in Basildon, said: "I do wear them, they're comfortable and warm – why wouldn't you want to wear one?

"I wear it round the house but I have also worn it to Tesco and generally to the shops – my one is plain black with white cuffs.

"It's not just me, all my mates are wearing them, and the other day a saw a big group of girls walking through Brentwood all wearing the same onesie. Who would have thought a huge babygro would've caught on?

"Although it's the fashion now, I don't think it'll last, I'd give it a year."

As the second half started West Ham launched many attacks before Jaaskelainen pulled off a fantastic reflex save to deny Adebayor from heading home after substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson's shot came off the post. West Ham then attacked directly as O'Brien crossed in an inviting ball for Joe Cole who got in behind the Spurs defence and controlled well and fired in from close range before being booked for removing his shirt in his celebration. The home side should have extended their lead but Matthew Taylor failed to convert his one-on-one which saw Spurs 'keeper Hugo Lloris save well. West Ham looked as if they were going to be punished as Tottenham piled on the pressure but continued to be denied by Jaaskelainen who proved to be in inspired form. However, Bale, the source of all West Hams problems delivered a free-kick that saw Sigurdsson poke the ball into the net from a scrap at the far post, drawing Tottenham level. Tottenham's comeback was complete when Gareth Bale picked up the ball outside the box on the 90th minute and sent a wonderful strike into the top right hand corner of Jaaskelainen's net, leaving both West Ham fans and the players deflated as their best efforts had been ruled out by Bale, who is in the form of his life.

WHEN polio is eventually eradicated it will be a particularly sweet success for Billericay Rotary Club member Peter Strong, who has a very personal connection to the cause.

Mr Strong survived the disease after contracting it himself in the late 1950s, although his mother was not so lucky.

The 67-year-old said: "In 1958 my mother and I had polio.

"I was 12 and we were on a summer holiday in Dublin for a fortnight. I remember my father telling me they flew out an iron lung from Birmingham to Dublin but it didn't save her.

"Within the two weeks my mother had died aged just 42, but I survived."

He added: "I remember the foul medicine they gave me.

"The next term at school, all pupils would get the vaccination and I had it as well, even though I had already had polio.

"I got polio in Billericay as there was an epidemic that year.

"Everything changed after my mother died. My little brother was sent to boarding school and it completely changed our lives."

The Billericay Rotary Club's polio initiative was launched by Dr Chandra Gupta in 1987, following the launch of the movement's international campaign two years earlier.

Since then the club has campaigned, fund raised and donated in an bid to reach their ultimate goal – the global eradication of the disease.

To date, the Billericay Rotary Club has raised in their bid to eradicate polio, while Rotary globally has collected.

Mr Strong said: "The Rotary Club's campaign is terrific and I was always keen to help.

"We hold many events for the public and for nine years we have held Music in the Garden in Little Burstead and many other events including casino evenings.

"All these funds go to Rotary International which are then donated directly to the Global Polio Initiative.

He added: "On top of fundraising at events all of our subs which are £50 per member per month go towards the total.

Mr Strong, who is a retired architect has been a member of the Billericay Rotary Club since 1972, said eradicating the disease had not always been easy.

"Polio remains in three countries – Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan," he said.

"One of the saddest things is that in Nigeria, women are given misleading advice that if they have the polio vaccination they won't be able to have children.

"To be able to say that polio has been eradicated, there has to have been three years on the trot with no outbreaks, so we are not quite there because of the two or three hundred cases in these countries.

"Two months ago, six young student volunteers who had gone out to administer the vaccine to children in Pakistan were gunned down and nobody was spared – it's incredibly sad."

Rotarian and Billericay GP Dr Gupta remembers starting the polio initiative for the club 24 years ago.

He said: "I invited club members for curry evenings at my house and the contributions we made went to the charity.

"The donations were just a dribble to begin with but it soon built up. As a small club, we saw we could raise money to help this cause."

Mr Strong added: "If you've ever seen someone with polio you realise what a terrible, crippling disease it is. If they survive it causes withered arms and limbs – it destroys lives. Our work towards the eradication of polio is about children and their future.

"We saw that it could be dealt with by proper attention and financial backing.

"The Rotary Club's campaign to eradicate polio was very slow to start with and our club gave this part of the country a kick-start.

"We made people aware of the disease and although it seemed an insurmountable task we got the ball rolling and 27 years on, we're nearly there."

Club vice-president Keith Wood added: "A lot of people don't understand that we are instrumental in getting rid of polio worldwide."

Three years ago the Rotary distributed purple crocuses in Lake Meadows in the children's garden to raise people's awareness of the disease.

Billericay Rotary Club member Trevor Bond said: "The fact that the flowers were planted in the children's play area is particularly significant.

"The Rotary Club, through donations, charity fundraising and events has matched Bill and Melinda Gates' $220 million donation to eradicate polio on this planet. In one day, thanks to Rotary, 134 million people in India were immunised.

"Currently, statistics for the World Polio Virus show that the number of new cases continues to reduce.

"Rotary contributes millions to aid famine, water relief, shelter boxes, tsunamis and earthquakes.

"We do not seek recognition for those but we will not rest until polio is eradicated forever."

ONE of Scottish football's most celebrated players is running in the Brentwood Half Marathon in memory of his daughter's best friend, who founded a charity raising money for young cancer sufferers before she herself died from the disease aged 14.

Former Scotland captain Christian Dailly will be taking part in the event on March 24 to raise money for the Havering and Brentwood Bereavement Service (HBBS), which played a significant role in helping his daughter Rosie recover from the grief of losing her best friend Georgia Cordery in May 2010.

The 39-year-old, who won 67 international caps, and who played for West Ham 158 times, said Georgia's death was a painful experience for his whole family, not least because he and wife Kirsty had to watch their eldest daughter lose a close friend at the age of just 15.

Thousands of pounds continue to be raised for Georgia's Teenage Cancer Appeal (GTCA), which was originally set up by the former Brentwood School pupil with the help of her friends and family, before she lost her battle with the rare form of cancer, rhabdomyosarcoma.

Both Kirsty and Rosie have been deeply involved in fundraising for the charity, and will be running for the appeal, which now totals almost £350,000.

Mr Dailly, who lives in Ingatestone, said: "Rosie and Georgia were inseparable.

"They were just best pals and they had their rows like any best mates but they were never apart.

"It was a heartbreaking situation to go through.

"It was an exceptionally difficult time.

"Only the people closest to Rosie knew the level to which Rosie was going through.

"She was with Georgia up to her dying hour.

"Before that she had been her best friend and her nurse and through all those things she barely batted an eyelid.

"She did things for Georgia that we didn't even know about.

"She had so much to deal with at the time."

After her death, HBBS came into Brentwood School, where the two girls had met at the age of 11, to offer support and counselling.

Mr Dailly, who retired from professional football in July 2012 to concentrate on studying for a sports science degree, added: "It was a terrible time but I always believe that through experiences like those people grow stronger.

"But you've got to have the right people around you and the right friends.

"That is why HBBS was so important – it made sure that whatever problems existed were dealt with properly."

While Rosie will be running the fun run for GTCA and wife Kirsty will be running the half marathon for GTCA in preparation for the London Marathon, Mr Dailly, who is now a sprint coach at Chelmsford Athletics Club, will be attempting a finish in under 90 minutes.

Together with athletics coach colleague Emma Prideaux, he will be using the 13-mile event partly as a warm-up for the London Marathon on Sunday, April 21, where they will attempt to finish in less than three hours – no small challenge for a man who admits he is conditioned more for sprinting.

Mr Dailly said: "We'll give it a good go and if we don't make, at least we've tried."

BUS shelters to protect residents from the wind and rain have now been installed after an 18-month battle.

The new wooden shelters in Honeysuckle Way and Bramble Road, Witham, were put up last month after residents and local councillors requested the shelters back in June 2011.

After a failed funding application to Braintree District Council's Mi Community scheme, on the grounds the shelters were not an ongoing community project, the money was granted last September when members of the Witham Area Forum – set up by Greenfields housing – contacted Essex County Council.

Retired Mary Beckett, who helped campaign for the shelters, said: "I've used it a few times now. It's brilliant."

The two shelters were installed this month at a cost of £7,000 each and have delighted people in the area.

Paul Hawes, 78, of Bramble Road, was also instrumental in getting the shelters installed.

"They are lovely," he said.

"The people using them are very pleased – my wife uses it and they have a seat so she can sit down and wait. It means people don't have to get wet any more."

Witham town councillors Bill Rose and Patrick Horner supported the residents in their bid for the bus shelters.

Cllr Rose said: "They are nice polished wood and are in keeping with the green.

"It's good to see something positive come out of the partnership working for the benefit of the community. It shows how it can come together. I'm really pleased."

Ken Davies, chairman of Withham Area Forum, said: "The residents are delighted with the shelters as they now have protection from the elements. It was two members of the forum in particular who instigated the project: Paul Hawes and Mary Beckett.

"They worked with Braintree District Council, Essex County Council and Witham Town Council to get them built. We would like to especially thank Cllr Bill Rose and Cllr Patrick Horner for their support."

SANDON School will be representing Essex at the Eastern Region Futsal Finals in June after triumphing at the county finals last month.

The under-16 boys took on five other schools from the county in the competition at The College in Braintree, and came out on top to book their spots at the regional final.

They also won the fair play award at the competition, earning themselves a Futsal ball signed by the entire England Futsal squad who had recently played Turkey.

Sandon saw off the challenge of Shenfield High to win the competition and they will now head to Gosling Park Sports Centre in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, on June 2.

Futsal is a key part of the Essex County FA's development plans. The sport is increasing in popularity in the county, as illustrated by the appearance of five new schools in the contest.

The sport is played worldwide and differs from the traditional five-a-side style in that there are marked lines rather than rebound boards, square goals, heavier and reduced bounce balls, as well as a strict five-foul discipline law.

Essex County FA Football Development Officer Lana Gillard said: "I'd like to wish both Sandon and (girls winners) St Martin's lots of luck when they represent the County at the East Region Futsal Finals.

"Essex schools have had a good record of performing well at this stage, and last year five of our regional winners progressed to the National Finals.

"Futsal is constantly growing in the county, particularly within the education sector, and it's testament to schools like Sandon and St Martin's who have embraced the game that their reward is representing Essex in this prestigious event."

LIVE music in Brentwood will never die, if the determination of a pair of young musical entrepreneurs is anything to go by.

Music has the power to make you cry, laugh, scream and smile and that is exactly what 21-year-old former Brentwood School pupil Florian Cooper, the co-founder of Music Tailors, is tapping into.

Alongside his university pal Fergus Marr, 23, he has founded an agency dedicated to bringing live music to your living room.

The concept was borne out of the pair's passion for playing, but also a realisation that the demand was there, having both funded their degrees through performing at high-class private gigs on the side.

Mr Marr and Mr Cooper, who lives in Priests Lane, Shenfield, have built of a roster of "trusted quality musicians" and can offer everything from string quartets to a full jazz band for dinner parties, weddings and everything in between.

The duo, and their muster of musicians, have been busy and the feedback so far has revealed a real appreciation for the skill of live players.

Mr Cooper, himself a bass guitarist and cello player, said: "Live music is exciting. Of course, it can be more expensive to book live musicians, but you're paying for their real dedication and skill."

Music Tailors can also provide function bands, who play anything from Amy Winehouse to Bryan Adams, a cocktail pianist, an eight-piece soul band, and solo instrumentalists.

For more information, visit http://www.musictailors.co.uk/

Champions Manchester City took on a troubled Aston Villa side away at Villa Park. Manchester City, who have been in decent form of late didn't start as well as they would have wanted as Villa looked promising on the break as they pressed Manchester City the second they won the ball. Villa, with the home fans behind them looked to repeat the result they pulled off in the Capital One Cup earlier in the season and continued to keep City relatively quiet in the opening stages of the game. After 19 minutes of play, the Aston Villa fans started a minutes applaud for their former Captain Stiliyan Petrov who wore the number 19 shirt before he was forced to retire after being diagnosed with leukaemia. A reoccurring hamstring injury forced Jack Rodwell off after 24 minutes and he was replaced with striker Edin Džeko which aimed to boost City's attack after they had no real threat at the start. Villa looked confident and not of a team who were struggling towards the foot of the table as they passed the ball effectively worrying the Manchester City defensive midfielders and defenders. Manchester City lacked conviction in the final third and both teams were level after 35 minutes with no real openings for either team. City did come close however, when Zabaleta's shot, a result of some nice passing down the right flank, cannoned off the post. Following this attack, roles reversed and City finally woke up and piled the pressure but were continuously denied by Brad Guzan.  On the 45 minute mark, City took the lead as Džeko pounced onto the ball as Ciaran Clark slipped in his own half and shifted the ball over to Carlos Tevez who confidently dropped his shoulder to take it round the 'keeper before sliding the ball into the back of the net.

As the second half commenced, Villa restarted with some early pressure in attempt to draw back level, but were unable to find the reply they so desperately needed. A late penalty claim sent the Villa fans wild as Christian Benteke was thought to have been taken down by Nastasic but referee Mike Dean waved play on. In the dying embers of the game, Aston Villa continued to push forward in hope of an equaliser and with minutes to go they won a corner but any chance was squandered as the corner failed to stay in play. Manchester City held on and were unable to double their lead but did enough to take home all 3 points as they look to close down the gap between League leaders and rivals Manchester United.

SOME of Brentwood's most vulnerable residents say they are in financial crisis because of the so-called "bedroom tax" and changes to benefits.

Unemployed Barbara Johnson says that once all her bills have been paid, she is left with only £5 a week to buy food and clothing.

Dubbed the "bedroom tax" by opponents, the under-occupation penalty, drawn up by the Department for Work and Pensions, aims to encourage council households to downsize if they have spare rooms, freeing up their properties for larger families in need.

Yet in the case of Ms Johnson, a tenant in a two-bedroom council house in Wainwright Avenue, Hutton, this means she will now have to pay £16 from her weekly Jobseeker's Allowance of £72 to make up for a 14 per cent cut in housing benefit and a 20 per cent cut in council tax benefit.

The Government hopes its policy will make better use of almost a million unused rooms across the UK and that it will help to reduce the annual £23 billion housing benefit bill.

Mike Le-Surf, Labour minority group leader on Brentwood Borough Council, says the Tory-controlled authority is "culpable for the problem by ignoring the housing crisis tsunami".

The number of people waiting for a council house in Brentwood grew approximately ten times faster than the national average.

Figures from the council show that the waiting list rocketed from 777 in April 2004 to 2,514 in April 2011 – an increase of 223 per cent.

Mr Le Surf, who described the council's housing panel as "smiling assassins", said: "If a town is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens then Brentwood fails the test.

"While the Tory administration bend over backwards to implement Eric Pickles' every word, I have been meeting families that have suffered recent bereavements, are in poor health or have disabilities that do not allow them to work at this time."

Alongside the bedroom tax and cuts to council tax benefit, rents are going up by almost 4 per cent and fixed five-year tenancies look set to be introduced for those who live in social housing in Brentwood.

Mr Le-Surf added: "It is an utter disgrace that the Conservative administration have accepted these centrist policies without a murmur of defiance or regret."

Housing panel chairman Jan Pound said: "There are people who are being badly hit, but we are not the council without a heart and we are doing our best to deal with individual cases.

"At the end of the day, this is a Government policy but we are picking up individual cases.

"There is a hardship fund which we hope will pick up people in that safety net.

"We do have to find more housing and the process has started to build more council houses.

"That should start in the next two years. We are doing an asset review to see which pieces of land we have and which assets can be converted to houses."

What do you think of the "bedroom tax"? Are you affected? E-mail editorial@gazettenews.co.uk or write to Brentwood Gazette, 1st Floor, Hedgerows Business Park, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 5PF

TWO fathers who were working on a farm in Stapleford Tawney, near Ongar, died as one attempted to drag the other from a slurry pit, a coroner's court has heard.

Paul Gray, 48, and Craig Whipps, 27, were both overcome by fumes at Albyns Farm on July 15, 2011 after Mr Whipps became submerged in slurry and Mr Gray had tried desperately to pull him to safety.

At a hearing before a jury in Chelmsford on Monday, it emerged that Mr Whipps may have become trapped after removing bolts from a faulty valve, which caused slurry to pour out.

Shortly before the incident, Mr Whipps and a colleague, Calvin Otto, had been emptying the contents of a storage tower into a slurry tank just below.

Such was the strength of toxic fumes, (including hydrogen sulphide) released with the slurry that both men would been overcome almost immediately. Mr Gray, from Stapleford Tawney, had three children and Mr Whipps, from Norfolk, was a father-of-two.

Speaking before the inquest Mr Whipps' widow Vicky said: "Craig was a lovely husband who should have had many years of family life ahead of him.

"His whole family are very proud of what he achieved in the time he was with us.

"Now we just want to try to raise awareness of some of the hidden dangers of working in an agricultural environment in the hope that the same thing will not happen to anyone else."

Keith Barrett, a lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, representing the Gray family, said: "The Gray family have been left devastated by the loss of Paul and they hope the inquest will provide answers about the circumstances that led to his death."

A conclusion and verdict from the two day hearing in Chelmsford was expected on Tuesday after the Gazette had gone to press.