Guardian reporter

Police facing funds shortfall
ESSEX Police is facing a �759,000 shortfall in the money it will receive from the Government for the next financial year.

PAH volunteers receive awards
THE ladies who serve teas and cakes at the WRVS refreshments shop in the outpatients department at Princess Alexandra Hospital have been named as health trust chairman Robert Powell's volunteer team of year.

Victorian event pulls in the crowds
VISITORS to the Royal Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey, stepped back in time to experience Christmas during Victorian times. More than 600 people attended the event at the Beaulieu Drive attraction, run by GM Education. Vistors had the chance to try dressing as a Victorian, and make their own Christmas decorations. Children played with traditional Victorian toys, and the highlight of the day was a visit to see Santa, who gave Victorian presents to the youngsters. Company director Gillian Norris said: "The event was very well attended. I've been doing this for the Gunpowder Mills for three years now, and we have people coming back every year. The children really seemed to like the toys, especially the spinners, which are like a Victorian Beyblade."

Arrest follows fatal crash
A 45 YEAR OLD man has been arrested following an accident in Roydon in which one man died and another was injured.

Drunken duo plead guilty to theft and burglary
TWO drunken men were stopped by a police officer at 5.15am as they walked along Hemnall Street, Epping, carrying the proceeds from a burglary and theft, a court heard.

Stansted passengers reach record levels
STANSTED Airport, the UK's fourth busiest airport, handled over 1.5million passengers last month, an increase of 19.5 per cent over the same month last year.

Surprise roadworks cause total chaos
PARENTS endured "chaos" and had to walk their children through traffic when they arrived at Chigwell Row infants school to find their path blocked by roadworks.

STANSTED; BAA: We are pleased Government has taken such a long-sighted view
AIRPORT owner the British Airports Authority says it intends immediately to draw up plans for Stansted Airport's expansion.

STANSTED: Soaring demand was the cause of expansion, says transport minister
PASSENGER numbers at Stansted have soared in recent years, with nearly 19 million passengers using the terminal this year compared to under seven million passengers just five years ago, Transport Secretary Alistair Darling told the House of Commons.

STANSTED: House prices will rise because of expansion
LOCAL house prices are set to rise following the announcement that Stansted is to get a second runway within ten years, a local estate agent has claimed.