The future of Melbourn village will be discussed at a council meeting this weekend.
The village’s plan will be examined and discussed and the public will be given the chance to raise concerns and questions.
The village plan steering committee will host the event on Saturday, December 3 in All Saints Community Hall at 2.30pm.
A man who died in a car accident in Fordham has been named by police.
Stephen Floyd, 53, of New Road in Exning, sustained fatal injuries when the car he was driving left the B1102 Station Road and hit a tree.
A passer-by found his body at around 8am yesterday.
Road closures in both directions between the Toyse Lane junction and the A142 Market Street junction were imposed and a diversion was put in place.
A burglar fled from an Indian restaurant in Park Lane, Newmarket, after being disturbed by a staff member.
The offender forced his way into the Haldy restaurant and takeaway at 2.50am on Friday, November 25, and left empty handed.
He has been described as a 6ft black male of slim build, aged 20 to 30, and he was wearing a black hooded top.
Call Newmarket Police on 101 with the reference NE/11/2261 if you can help.
A stately home was transformed into a winter wonderland for a taste of the Victorian era.
Families had the chance to experience traditional festivities from the 1800s at Audley End House and Gardens, in Saffron Walden, as part of its Victorian Christmas event at the weekend.
Costumed characters prepared for Christmas in various parts of the house, with people showing off the decorations and entertaining guests with storytelling.
Cooks and servants were busy preparing Christmas puddings and mince pies.
Visitors even had the chance to watch as staff stuffed and decorated a traditional boar’s head.
Children enjoyed taking a special trip to meet a reindeer, which was stabled at the site for the weekend, as well as visiting Father Christmas in the Victorian stable yard.
Lucy Hutchings, event manager for English Heritage, said: “It was a lovely event and very busy.
“The weather was beautiful and Audley End just makes for the perfect backdrop for a Victorian Christmas event.”
A family is heartbroken after their “lovable” dog was stolen from their garden.
Callous thieves took 2-year-old auburn chestnut pet Athena from her pen while her owners were out.
Wendens Ambo resident Emma King, 27, says she cannot stop crying since Athena, which she has had from a puppy, was taken.
Mother-of-one Emma said: “We’re so upset. I can’t believe anyone would do this. It’s like losing a member of our family.
“She’s so lovable and friendly and loves being around people. I walk into our home now and it’s awful her not being here.”
Emma, who is a teaching assistant, says her 9-year-old son Terry is also sad their dog has been taken.
Athena, a rottweiler cross Staffordshire bull terrier, lives in the family house, in Claver End, at night but during the day stays outside in a fenced pen, next door to four neighbouring dogs.
Barry Fisher, Emma’s partner, went fishing and said when he returned Athena was not there.
He said: “She couldn’t have jumped out – she’s never tried to do that before and there was no evidence that she’d got caught in the hedge by trying to jump or anything like that.
“I didn’t realise how much this would affect me but she’s so important to us. We’re heartbroken.”
Emma said the gate to the pen, which is more than six feet high, did not have a lock on it because she felt it was a safe neighbourhood.
She said: “It’s quiet and secluded around here, so I just didn’t think I would need to lock it. I want to warn other dog owners about this as I don’t want it to happen to anyone else.”
Athena was taken between 9am and 2pm on Thursday.
Anybody who saw anything suspicious or who has seen the dog since should contact Saffron Walden police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Carols in a barn and fun with animals helped raise money for a farm club.
Dozens of families attended Saffron Walden County High School’s Farm Club Advent Sunday event to raise £1,400 for the club, which teaches youngsters about looking after animals and basic horticulture skills.
As well as getting a chance to stroke the rabbits, play with the guinea pigs and admire the ferrets in pets’ corner, families were also treated to a fair of more than 20 craft and gift stalls.
Dave Crosby, who runs the farm club, said one of the highlights for youngsters was having the chance to visit Santa in his grotto.
He said: “It went very well and was well attended. It’s an important fundraiser for us as it costs £300 every month just to keep the club running, without hay and straw, and if an animal needs treatment it’s also extra.”
The event was rounded off with Christmas carols.
Cameras worn on the clothing of police officers are to be used in the fight against crime.
Police in Uttlesford are using the new technology to catch purse thieves and shoplifters.
In the run up to Christmas, Pcs, special constables and PCSOs will be patrolling major shopping and late-night entertainment areas using the body-worn cameras, which record both sound and video.
Sgt Colin Cox said: “Our aim is to prevent and deter shoplifters and purse thieves from committing crimes and to ensure that everyone can have a safe and peaceful night out in our restaurants, public houses and other entertainment venues.
“I’m delighted that this year some of our officers will be using body worn cameras which clip onto officers’ protective vests and, when activated, record both sound and video which can later be used as evidence in court.
“The cameras will also be extremely effective when we are patrolling town areas during the day and the evening and will provide an instant record of any incidents of anti-social behaviour”
There are five body worn cameras available to officers in Uttlesford and Braintree districts.
Sgt Cox added: “Our message to the thieves is clear. If we catch you trying to ruin the Christmas of ordinary people, you may have your Christmas ruined by spending it in the cells.”
A woman who siphoned more than £12,000 from a Cambridge company in just over a year has avoided a prison sentence.
Katerina Johnson, of Wood Hall, Arkesden, near Saffron Walden, was found guilty of 14 counts of false accounting, taking £12,397 during a 13 month period from Local Secrets, an internet company based in Cambridge.
The 45-year-old was hired as a self-employed bookkeeper for the firm in January 2008 and started stealing from the company in November 2008, transferring roughly £1,000 a month to her personal bank account.
However, it wasn’t until 2010 that the money transfers were noticed.
Johnson was sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court yesterday by deputy circuit judge Peter De Mille. She was given a 36 week custodial sentence suspended for 18 months with a supervision condition.
She also has to complete 100 hours of unpaid work within 12 months.
Speaking after the case, Neal Robbins, managing director of Local Secrets, said she “nearly put us out of business”.
A man has been found dead after the car he was driving crashed into a tree on a Cambridgeshire road this morning.
The man, who has not been identified, suffered fatal injuries after the vehicle left the B1102 Station Road in Fordham and collided with a tree.
His body was discovered by a passer-by at around 8am but police have not yet established when the accident happened.
As a result the road was closed in both directions between the A142 Market Street junction and the Toyse Lane junction, with a diversion in place.
A police spokesman said: “A man has died after suffering fatal injuries when the car he was driving collided with a tree. Emergency services were called to the serious road traffic collision involving one vehicle.
“The road is closed and motorists are advised to avoid the area.”
For the latest updates see our Traffic & Travel section.
The family of a 3-year-old boy killed in a head-on collision have spoken of their relief after the driver pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
Henry Blacklock died and his father Martin Blacklock was seriously injured in the crash on the B1063 at Ashley, near Newmarket, on October 23 last year.
After more than a year, Ahmed Aldubaili, who was driving a Jaguar on the wrong side of the road when he struck the Blacklocks’ Renault Clio, admitted the charge yesterday, as well as driving while uninsured.
John Farmer, prosecuting, told Cambridge Crown Court Aldubaili – who was staying in Centre Drive, Newmarket, on a break from Dubai – had driven the car, belonging to his friend Keith Clazie, to Mr Clazie’s house in Ashley before turning round to return to his address.
Mr Farmer said: “He completed a multi-point turn to retrace his steps, but made the error of driving on the wrong side of the road.
“Witnesses at the nearby Crown pub described him driving perfectly normally as he passed, but being on the wrong side of the road.”
Around three-quarters of a mile later, the 31-year-old smashed into the Clio, instantly killing Henry.
Ian Bridge, mitigating, said his client was badly affected by the crash, and had suffered a variety of depressive mental health symptoms for which he has been treated at a clinic in Windsor.
He said: “Now he is much improved and he understands what is alleged against him. He wants to plead guilty.”
Aldubaili was disqualified from driving on his Dubai licence in the UK by Judge Anthony Bate and was released on bail, to remain at the clinic, until sentencing on January 3.
After the hearing, Martin Blacklock, who has suffered from a severely damaged jaw, loss of hearing, three broken bones in his legs, and short-term memory loss since the crash, described the agony of the last year.
Mr Blacklock, from Newmarket, said: “We are glad he has made his plea but we wish he could have been sentenced before Christmas. I still think about my son every day and that will never go away.”