In today's Gazette: Colchester United emerged victorious in their battle to extend their hours at their training ground in Tiptree.

The club said the decision will safeguard the U's academy, its 200 youth players and 40 jobs.

* A moutain of 70 black bags has been left in a bin store because Colchester binmen refuse to pick them up on safety grounds.

There has only been one collection in eight weeks at the flats in Titania Court, Greenstead, because crews said the bin store is too dark and they are not allowed to put their hands where they cannot see.

* Two robbers who told a cashier they had a gun before grabbing £970 from her till have been jailed.

Scott Butcher, 25, was jailed for four years while Robert Duke, 29, of St Andrew's Avenue, Colchester, was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison.

* The family of a soldier killed in Afghanistan have thanks supporters for helping them to raise £42,000 in his memory.

Colour serjeant Kevin Fortuna, 36, from Lexden, was killed while serving with the 1st Battalion the Rifles.

For more on these and other great stories, see today's Gazette. There is always more in the paper than there is online.