Roger Bamforth News Today

THE leader of Colchester Conservatives says the group will call a by-election to replace a councillor who stepped down.

He won his set by more than 800 votes

AS we approach Mays election, control of Colchester Council is teetering on a knife-edge. The town hall is controlled by a coalition of Labour and the Lib Dems, who together hold 24 seats. There are 51 seats in the borough, meaning the coalition is technically a minority administration. The Highwoods Independents were part of what was then called the "rainbow alliance", but 18 months ago they packed their bags. Support is now on a vote by vote basis, meaning there are some crunch vote...

Hundreds of eager shoppers have been queuing outside Primark this morning as the shop reopened for the first time in months.