Sam Russell
UK
Delivery driver who quit job after lottery win spreads joy at former workplace
Gary MacDonald, 61, delivered parcels to stores across Lakeside Shopping Centre in Thurrock, Essex, for more than 30 years before his win last year.
By Sam Russell
1 Jun 2026
Crime
Mother was fatally bitten by her dog as her two pets fought over food – inquest
Michelle Hempstead was taken to hospital but died the next day at the Royal London Hospital.
By Sam Russell
29 Sept 2025
UK
Veteran who got 16,000 cards for 100th birthday set for France’s top honour
Dougie Shelley celebrated his 100th birthday at a tea party at the Royal Naval Association branch in Southend on Tuesday.
By Sam Russell
25 Sept 2025
UK
Human remains in field confirmed as woman who was missing presumed murdered
Karl Hutchings, 48, pleaded guilty at Cambridge Crown Court last week to the murder of 55-year-old Julie Buckley.
By Sam Russell
24 Sept 2025
Crime
Epping protester who refused to uncover face argued people can ‘wear burkas’
Joshua Meadows, 18, refused to remove the covering when asked to do so by police during a protest in the Essex town on July 24, the court heard.
By Sam Russell
24 Sept 2025
UK
Second World War veteran celebrates 100th birthday with 16,000 cards
Dougie Shelley, who was on HMS Milne on D-Day, celebrated his birthday at the Royal Naval Association branch in Southend, Essex.
By Sam Russell
23 Sept 2025
Crime
Men accused of violent disorder at Epping migrant hotel set for trial
A judge at Chelmsford Crown Court set two separate trial dates for next year
By Sam Russell
22 Sept 2025
Environment
Woman, 88, facing loss of clifftop home to sea ‘told nothing will be done’
Jean Flick, 88, said she hopes to stay as long as it is safe to do so.
By Sam Russell
19 Sept 2025
UK
Rosalba Carriera painting sold at auction for more than 20 times its estimate
The sum is a world record for a work by Carriera, who died in 1757 aged 84, according to Cheffins auctioneers in Cambridge.
By Sam Russell
19 Sept 2025
Crime
Just Stop Oil activists found guilty of criminal damage over jet paint stunt
Jennifer Kowalski, 29, and Cole Macdonald, 23, appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court.
By Sam Russell
18 Sept 2025
Crime
Activist ‘hoped jet paint stunt would get Taylor Swift to speak out on climate’
Two people deny causing criminal damage to gets at Stansted.
By Sam Russell
17 Sept 2025
UK
Princess of Wales visits silk mill to celebrate UK textile industry
At the end of the visit, Kate was given a boxed gift of some fabric from the business, then posed for a group photo with staff.
By Sam Russell
11 Sept 2025
Environment
‘Pioneering’ oyster reef project aims to boost biodiversity
Juvenile oysters, called spats, will be spread across 40,000 specially designed clay bricks known as mother reefs off the Norfolk coast.
By Sam Russell
10 Sept 2025
UK
Two men die after accident unloading glass panels at football club
The incident happened at Hitchin Town FC, Hertfordshire, on Saturday.
By Sam Russell
9 Sept 2025
Crime
Man, 25, jailed for murder of ex-partner’s mother after end of relationship
Jacob Clark, 25, murdered 46-year-old Diane Cleary in a ‘frenzied’ attack at the flat he and her daughter had shared in Luton.
By Sam Russell
5 Sept 2025
UK
Police continue investigations into disorder at asylum seeker hotel protests
Multiple demonstrations have been held outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex since July 13.
By Sam Russell
4 Sept 2025
Tech
UK supermarket trials in-store avocado scanners to read ripeness of fruit
The technology, called the One Third Avocado Scanner, can measure the ripeness of an avocado in seconds.
By Sam Russell
3 Sept 2025
UK
Man and woman charged after protests over asylum hotel in Epping
Essex Police stressed that nobody had been arrested for unfurling a flag.
By Sam Russell
2 Sept 2025
Crime
Man denies violent disorder at Epping migrant hotel protest
Charlie Land, 23, of Hatfield, Hertfordshire, denied the charge at a hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court
By Sam Russell
1 Sept 2025
Crime
Video of asylum seeker’s tearful arrest is played at his sex assault trial
The defendant, who is seen sitting in the back of a parked police car with its blue lights flashing, is read his rights.
By Sam Russell
27 Aug 2025
Crime
Hospital pays out compensation after infection outbreak linked to water supply
There were three patient deaths, two of them as a result of complications linked to the outbreak at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge.
By Sam Russell
20 Aug 2025