Friday 2nd April - Good Friday Treats

Chris Skinner joined me in the studio this morning with Delicious Hot Crossed Buns and Shredded Wheat Chocolate Nests, why not make them for yourself, the recipe and other top tips on making the most of your spare time can be found at: http://cookp45.blogspot.com/

Evening Echo:

• A planned four-day national rail strike has been called off after it was challenged in the High Court. Network Rail was granted an injunction after it convinced judges there were discrepancies in the train union's ballot for industrial action. This means the strike, which is in protest over job cuts and working hours, due to start next Tuesday, will not go ahead. Engineering work continues across the weekend with no service between Romford and Liverpool St.

• MORE than 100kg of the party drug mephedrone was seized by law enforcers at Stansted airport. The substance, known as Miaow Miaow, was found in five packages which had been flown in from Mumbai. It is thought the drugs were destined for London. *Full story in Friday's Echo
  

Weekly News

• THE fairytale of the three princesses who came to Essex is over. In the last installment of the story which has been played out on BBC Three, viewers saw how the two men chosen by two of the princesses to return to their countries, got on. Princess Xenia of Saxony in Germany, who used the name Gaby, chose Chelmsford hairdresser Elliot Rowley to return with her, while Princess Sheillah from Buganda in Uganda, who went under the name Cindrellah, took home Paul, the man she met in Asda, in Basildon. However Princess Aaliya from India was not so lucky and she invited home a female bartender Emma, from Brentwood, she had made friends with while here. For Elliot and Xenia it was just good friends as they parted and he returned to Chelmsford. Elliot says he is in regular contact with Xenia who has visited him and they are going on holiday later this year, visiting Aaliya in India.

Total Essex

• ESSEX county boss Joanna Killian remains the highest paid council chief in England and tops the list of those earning more than the Prime Minister. According to research by the Taxpayers Alliance the £265,000-a-year Ms Killian, tops a list of 16 council mandarins who earned more than Gordon Brown in the year 2008-9. Her nearest rival is the boss of Kent County on £251,000. Six other top dogs at Chelmsford Council earned £664,000 in 2008-9.

LOCAL SPORT - FIXTURES
RYMAN PREMIER
AFC Hornchurch VS Ashford Town (Middlesex)
Canvey Island VS Boreham Wood
Carshalton Athletic VS Billericay Town
Horsham VS Aveley Match
Waltham Abbey VS Dartford

RYMAN DIVISION 1 NORTH
East Thurrock United VS Thamesmead Town
Enfield Town VS Maldon Town
Great Wakering Rovers VS Northwood
Heybridge Swifts VS Tilbury
Lowestoft Town VS Redbridge
Potters Bar Town VS Leyton
Romford VS Harlow Town
VCD Athletic VS Ilford
Waltham Forest VS Cheshunt
Ware VS Brentwood Town


Hans Christian Anderson's 205th Birthday today - Happy Birthday!