Twelve crews were called to the fire at its peak.
Credit: Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.

Firefighters worked through the night as they battled the blaze, though the people living there escaped without injury

Midnight fire destroys thatched cottage roof

An artist who used a typewriter to create a portrait of Tom Hanks has said he was “blown away” when the artwork was signed by the actor.

James Cook, 25, from Braintree, Essex, creates “typicitions”, or typed-depictions, using a random assortment of letters, numbers and punctuation marks to form an image using a typewriter.

Mr Cook sent a portrait to the Oscar-winning actor, who is a fellow typewriter enthusiast, but admitted he “forgot about it” until he received an unexpected letter in the post.

PA

James Cook had forgotten all about sending a portrait to the Hollywood actor - a fellow typewriter enthusiast. Then one day a parcel arrived in the post.

Typewriter artist ‘blown away’ after Tom Hanks autographs his portrait

Essex Police at scene of fatal cyclist crash on Fairstead Rd, Braintree, Essex
Credit: Essex Police

A 65-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving.

Cyclist aged in his 60s dies following crash between car and two bikes

010122 Braintree industrial fire flames Essex Fire

Fire crews in Braintree have told people living near the industrial fire to keep windows closed as they battle the blaze.

Fire crews spend New Year's Eve battling blaze at Essex industrial unit

Protestors have taken to the streets vowing to fight plans to build two 'mega prisons' in their Essex village.

The villagers fighting plans to build two prisons on their doorstep

Two 'mega prisons' holding thousands of inmates could be built around an RAF airbase in Essex, according to Government plans.

Two 'mega-prisons' set to be built near RAF airbase in Essex

The man in his 40s was found with knife wounds in the Enterprise Court Industrial Estate. Police have urged people to avoid the area

Man fighting for his life after stabbing in Braintree

The wheels of three escooters lined up next to each other

Residents of Braintree will be able to rent e-scooters for a month at a time as part of a pilot scheme being run in the town. 

E-scooter monthly hire scheme coming to Essex town

Gridserve plans to spend £1bn to build more than 100 electric charging forecourts.

The Gridserve site at Great Notley near Braintree can charge 36 cars at once.

UK's first electric vehicle charging forecourt opens in Essex

Dot Bash watches her granddaughter's wedding

A 91-year-old Essex care home resident said she was "so grateful" to watch her granddaughter's wedding over livestream.

Wedding broad-bands: Gran unable to attend ceremony watches on web 

Electric cars can be charged in around 20 to 30 minutes at the new forecourt in Braintree, Essex.

The UK's first electric car forecourt is set to open in Braintree in Essex in Autumn.

UK's first electric car charging forecourt set to open in Essex

Ministers announced that an additional £100 million will be invested in the new centre to scale up Covid-19 vaccine and gene therapy manufacturing.

Government buys 'state-of-the-art' vaccine manufacturing facility in Braintree

According to Public Health England, there were 26 positive tests in the town over the course of two days last week.

'Care home outbreak' behind spike in Braintree coronavirus cases

The family of a man who was murdered in Braintree on Sunday have paid tribute to his “heart of gold”.

Family pay tribute to popular pub landlord stabbed to death in Braintree

Mr Gilhooly, 44, was stabbed in his neck and chest at the The Swiss Bell pub in Mountbatten Road on Sunday morning.

Anglia Braintree

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