News in Maldon

A group of Maldon community gardeners have launched a project to "sow seeds of kindness" in the local community, with help from Burnham-on-Crouch businesses.

Members of the Maldon RHS Community Gardens group have stablished a link with the district's United in Kind group - and are taking part in a project called Plant and Grow.

Today is the day that independent shops and businesses throughout Maldon, Burnham-on-Crouch and the villages of the district join a new same-day delivery online shopping platform.

From this morning (Tuesday, 20 April) Click it Local has launched across the Maldon district area, with shoppers able to select from any of their independent favourites - or explore others - online and, if they order before 1pm, get same-day delivery. After 1pm gets next day delivery, too.

The leader of a "large scale" Maldon-based criminal operation that supplied cocaine across East and North Essex has today (Monday, 19 April) been jailed for a total of 18 years.

Passing sentence at Chelmsford Crown Court on Abdul Hamid (known locally as 'Vijay' Hamid), 34, now of HMP Chelmsford and formerly of Sassoon Way, Maldon, Judge Simon Mayo QC said: "The scale of this conspiracy was enormous.

Firefighters are continuing to battle a house fire at a large detached property in Tolleshunt Knights.

Crews from Maldon, Tiptree, Chelmsford ,Colchester, Mersea and Witham were called to tackle the blaze at around 1.25pm today (Sunday, 18 April).

A COURT heard today (Friday, 16 April) how a Maldon High Street business was used as a 'front' for money laundering in connection with a three-year cocaine supply conspiracy largely based in and around the town.

It was the second day of sentencing proceedings at Chelmsford Crown Court, where Judge Simon Mayo QC has been hearing a summary of the offences of each of five co-defendants and mitigation from defence lawyers in the case of each one.

As the country prepares to pay its final respects to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at his funeral tomorrow (Saturday, 17 April) Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) has been reflecting on the achievements so many young people across the county have celebrated as a direct result of his youth awards.

ECFRS has delivered the Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) for more than 10 years and during this time the scheme has gone from strength to strength, and most importantly, seen so many of the county's young people flourish.

Danbury's Covid-19 vaccine centre volunteers have been going the extra mile, by raising money for Red Nose Day and Marie Curie while volunteering at Danbury Medical Centre vaccination clinic.

The volunteers have been getting dressed up as penguins and bunnies for Red Nose Day to raise money, while lifting the sprits of people getting their vaccine, and having a lot of fun in the process.

Essex County Council (ECC) has announced that close to 90 per cent of parents and carers have received their first choice place in primary school place allocations today (Friday, 16 April).

The allocations for the academic year starting in September, 2021, are sure to be closely scrutinised by Dengie Peninsula communities following issues with secondary school placements for local children in March, when some living in the area were initially offered places as far away as Brightlingsea. That issue was later resolved through additional places being made available at Ormiston Rivers Academy in Burnham-on-Crouch and at William de Ferrers School in South Woodham Ferrers.

Parish churches, private houses and picturesque ruins – these are the fates of most of the religious houses that once dotted our landscape.

The Photographers Resource website lists over forty such abbeys and priories in Essex, and there are more to add.

A COURT heard today (Thursday, 15 April) that a Maldon man who dealt Class A drugs for three years was kidnapped and tortured when he wanted to move away from the illicit trade.

The lurid details of the alleged torture were revealed at Chelmsford Crown Court as part of the mitigation in the sentencing hearing of Abdul Hamid, 34, now of HMP Chelmsford and formerly of Sassoon Way, Maldon.