Maldon and Essex news, sport and information from the Maldon & Burnham Standard

Cheryl Cole in 'quickie divorce'

11:26pm Thursday 2nd September 2010

Cheryl Cole will be divorced from her footballer husband Ashley on Friday, it was reported.

BBC chief defends impartiality

11:19pm Thursday 2nd September 2010

The BBC has defended its impartiality after the director general of the corporation was photographed going into a meeting in Downing Street to apparently discuss coverage of government spending cuts.

Pakistan cricket trio suspended

9:39pm Thursday 2nd September 2010

The three Pakistan cricketers at the centre of match-fixing allegations have been suspended from playing cricket after being charged under the anti-corruption code of the sport's governing body.

Man battered wife and girl to death

7:15pm Thursday 2nd September 2010

A businessman who battered his wife and daughter to death with a mallet professed his love for his family repeatedly in the moments after their brutal killings, an inquest heard.

Shopkeeper 'battered with bottles'

6:25pm Thursday 2nd September 2010

A shopkeeper was battered to death in his own store as he tried to protect his "hard-earned money" from a gang of robbers, a jury has been told.

'Talks held' over assisted suicide

5:52pm Thursday 2nd September 2010

A team of professionals held an urgent meeting to discuss a disabled pensioner who repeatedly threatened to kill himself seven months before he ended his life at a Swiss clinic.

Diplomat: Match-fix claims a set up

5:36pm Thursday 2nd September 2010

Pakistan's top diplomat in Britain has claimed that the three cricketers facing match-fixing allegations were "set up".

Hague statement 'not easy to do'

5:04pm Thursday 2nd September 2010

Foreign Secretary William Hague has said his decision to publicly deny speculation about a gay affair with an aide was "not an easy thing to do".

Parents quizzed on 'honour killing'

2:45pm Thursday 2nd September 2010

The parents of suspected honour killing victim Shafilea Ahmed have been questioned by detectives investigating her murder.

Forces could face cuts 'Armageddon'

2:07pm Thursday 2nd September 2010

Police forces would face "Armageddon" if ministers imposed funding cuts as high as 40%, a chief constable has said.