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Dream 100 - News in the Essex area

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Dog freed from railings

A dog has had to be freed by firefighters in Colchester after it got its head stuck in some railings.

It took 17 minutes to free the pooch yesterday afternoon on Clairmont Drive.

Leading Firefighter Quentin Sage said: "It was a whippet or greyhound type dog and what had happened is it had put its head through the railings and got it trapped by a sign which was bolted onto the fence.

"All we had to do was unbolt the sign and it was able to get itself out no problem.

"Once he was out the dog just shook his head and we gave him a drink of water and he seemed none the worse for wear for his ordeal. We were glad to get him out so quickly."

Last updated at 1:23pm, 2nd September 2010

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Illegal immigrants found working in Colchester

Three immigration offenders have been found working illegally at Colchester station by UK Border Agency officers.

The enforcement operation was part of planned nationwide action by the UK Border Agency to tackle illegal working, sham marriages, bogus colleges and organised immigration crime.

Acting on intelligence, officers visited the station late on 20 August.

They arrested three people as they arrived for overnight shifts cleaning trains.

Two of the offenders were removed from the UK yesterday.

The Namibians - a 34-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman - had both overstayed their visas.

The third offender - a 36-year-old Kenyan man - was also arrested for overstaying his visa.

He remains in UK Border Agency detention while efforts are made to remove him from the country.

All three offenders were agency workers and not directly employed by the rail operator.

Inspector Cheryl Daldry, from the UK Border Agency's Local Immigration
Team for Suffolk and North-East Essex, said: "Our enforcement visits are always based on intelligence and we appeal to the public to let us know if they have information about suspected immigration offenders."

Last updated at 6:14am, 2nd September 2010

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Arrests made after burglary in Suffolk

Three men have been arrested in Essex after someone broke into the Co-Op store at Old Barrack Road in Woodbridge on Tuesday night and stole a large quantity of cigarettes.

Officers were alerted around 10.40pm and attended the scene.

Measures were also put in place to trace the offenders and the three were arrested in Essex just before 11.20pm.

The three men - a 31-year-old and a 33-year-old from London and a 46-year-old man from Braintree in Essex - are currently in custody at Ipswich Police Station where they will be interviewed by detectives.


Last updated at 6:12am, 2nd September 2010

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Rail worker sacked for not checking crossings

A rail workers been sacked after failing to inspect level crossings across Suffolk, Essex and Norfolk.

Network Rail say a total of 9 crossings were not checked but there is no word on exactly where they are though.

Over the last 9 months around 700 of the 1 thousand crossings in East Anglia have been inspected.

It comes a few weeks after a tanker and train collided at an unmanned level crossing near Sudbury.

Last updated at 1:32pm, 1st September 2010

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£170,000 worth of cigarettes seized

800,000 cigarettes have been seized at Felixstowe Port.

Border officials found them stashed inside furniture on Friday.

They had been shipped over from China and should have had almost £200,000 duty paid on them.

Last updated at 1:29pm, 1st September 2010

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Powerboat Festival called off

There won't be another Harwich Powerboat Festival next year.

The company who organised it this year have pulled the plug and called in the liquidators as they couldn't pay all their bills.

It was the first year the event was held but tragedy struck when one of the competitors died in an accident on the water.

Last updated at 9:21am, 1st September 2010

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Burglary in Colchester

A home has been burgled in Colchester by three men pretending to be police officers.

It happened on New Kiln Road at around 7.50pm Monday, August 30.

Two men knocked on the door of the house and were shortly joined by a third man.

They told the woman, who is in her 30s, that they were officers and said they needed to search the property.

They pushed past her and carried out a messy search of the house.

The woman became suspicious and asked them to leave. She later found that a three figure sum of cash had been stolen.

All of the men wore black waterproof jackets and trousers, were of mixed race, had short dark hair and were in their early 20s.

The man in the efit, who spoke to the woman throughout the incident while the others searched the premises, was around 5ft 11ins tall, had an oval-shaped face and was of an athletic build.

The second man was about 5ft 9ins and of medium build. The third man was also of medium build but slightly taller, about 5ft 11ins.

Ds Gavin Watson said: “We are extremely keen to hear from anyone who saw the men in the area at the time, or who thinks they may know the identity of the first man from the efit.

“This incident would clearly have left the victim very shaken.

"If someone knocks on your door who you were not expecting, please challenge them for identification. Police officers and legitimate callers will always show ID when asked and will be happy to do so.

“If you have any concerns that the person you are speaking to may not be who they say they are, please contact the police immediately.”

Witnesses to this incident should contact Ds Watson at Colchester police station on 0300 333 4444 or anonymously on Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.

Last updated at 9:21am, 1st September 2010

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Extra holiday for some Clacton children

A school in Clacton won't be opening on Friday as planned.

Kids won't be able to go to Frobisher Primary and Nursery school until Monday now as building work there has run over.

Last updated at 5:57am, 1st September 2010

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Colchester Lights are Tres Bon

Colchester is getting a Christmas makeover...

The company which does the lights for the Champs Elysee in Paris and London's Regents Street has been contracted to the do same for colchester for the next three year.

The council's putting on a bunch of special events as well this winter to try and draw more visitors into the town.

Last updated at 5:56am, 1st September 2010

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Spider has lucky escape in Clacton

A creepy crawly in Clacton has had a lucky escape...

The man trying to catch it however - did not.

Fire crews were called to Oxford Road last night after a man tried to kill a spider spotted by his wife in the bathroom.

He sprayed an aerosol to kill it but couldn't see properly so lit his lighter causing a massive explosion.

The 28 year old was left with burns to his head, legs and torso.

Last updated at 3:56pm, 31st August 2010

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Young people in Essex encouraged to become an apprentice

Many young people who've finished their GCSE's here in Essex might not know what they want to do next.

The National Apprentiships Service are encouraging more people to take up a vocation.

They say it can be a good option as you can earn while you learn and gives businesses the chance to train someone up to deal with their specific needs.

To find out more head to www.apprenticeships.org.uk.


Last updated at 2:48pm, 31st August 2010

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Could you be Tendring's very own Dragon?

The council here are looking for budding entreprenuers for their pop-up
shop scheme.

TDC has used £22,000 from the Government to provide up to six people with
eight weeks each in the shop and try out their business in a high street
environment.

The first person to benefit from the scheme has his tenancy up on
September 23 and the Council is now looking
for someone to take over the premises from October 4 until November 29.

The deadline for applications for the next tenancy is September 6 and
anyone in Tendring or Colchester can make a bid to be considered by the
panel of judges.

Anyone interested should contact Rachel Fryer, TDC's Town Centre
Co-ordinator on 01255 686149 or email her on rfryer@tendringdc.gov.uk as
soon as possible.

Last updated at 1:48pm, 27th August 2010

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Clacton Airshow continues

The skies above Clacton are going to be busy again today.

It's day two of the airshow with 140,000 people expected to turn out for it.

The Red Arrows and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight are set to be some of the highlights.

Dream 100 will be down there all daykeeping you entertained.

Anyone attending is being advised to use the official airshow carpark on West Road.

It'll cost £6.00.

Last updated at 10:28am, 27th August 2010

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Tour of Britain Festival

The Tour of Britain is coming to North Essex in September and now there is going to be a
festival to celebrate it.

Stage 7 will end in Colchester and our councils are putting on the event
in Castle Park.

It is free and is going on on September 17th, starting at 10am and
finishing at 7pm.

There will be loads of free cycling-inspired activities and events on
offer in Castle Park and the High Street to entertain while you await the
arrival of the professional racers.

You can try a range of bikes and see how fast you are on a 7
seater bike in the Mega Bike time trial! £300 of cycling vouchers to the
fastest team.

You can meet the internationally renowned sportsmen after the race to grab
yourself an autograph or some free goodies!

You can also take advantage of the free bike maintenance courtesy of Dr
Bike.

You don't have to be a cycling enthusiast to enjoy the occasion - music
and art and dance performances will take place throughout the day.

The strolling entertainers and stilt walkers will also be at their best to
keep you amused. And if that’s not enough Colchester Castle will open late
and charge only £1 entry to mark the occasion!

Last updated at 10:18am, 27th August 2010

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Children in Essex struggle to read and write

Nearly one in five children in Essex are struggling with
English.

The department for Education have published the latest Key Stage 1
results.

They show that many children here are having difficulty with reading and
writing and are failing to reach the expected standard for their age.


Last updated at 6:30am, 27th August 2010