Signs of the crimes in Blackmore

The Daily Telegraph reports an outbreak of strange vandalism in Blackmore. All references to Blackmore on the village's signs have been erased with grey paint, and even the stocks on the village green have been daubed with paint. Why would someone want to erase all traces of Blackmore? Is it something to do with the Mountnessing People's Front, the People's Front of Ingatestone or someone looking back in Ongar? Or someone with a grudge against former Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore? Mulder and Scully are set to investigate soon…

Mersea oysters on Countryfile

Good to see Mersea Island featuring on last week's Countryfile. Plenty on the problems of keeping the native oysters going and some nice footage of Matt Baker going out looking for oysters with seventh-generation oyster fisherman Richard Haward and learning how efforts are being made to replenish the depleted native oysters; and also of Shauna Lowry on the banks of the River Colne with reintroduced water voles. Click on the link to view.

Jaywick versus Siberia

Jaywick as filmed in Benefits-by-the-Sea

There's been something of a twitter-storm over Russian TV using Jaywick to show there are worse places than Russia. Jaywick has made a unlikely appearance on Novosibirsk TV. Fed up with a BBC crew filming the dodgy parts of Sibera the Russians hit back by broadcasting pictures of Jaywick, officially the most deprived area in Britain. Lots of comments on BBC Essex's Facebook page, with some Essex residents saying "fair play it's a dump" and others wanting to send a rocket to Russia. Personally I think that Jaywick might be run down, but it's got a great beach, has lots of potential and could actually benefit from EU funding should we remain in Europe. Could a new Cold War be starting over the Tendring Peninsula?