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The Danes, Saxons, Romans and Normans crossed our county, put down roots here, brought to us their culture, crafts, husbandry skills and solid work ethics.

Our beginnings stretch back into the mists of time and traditions, yet we have the vision and flair to move forward and grasp opportunities that Europe offers by forging tight business links with Picardy, our French regional twin.

Our premier league grammar schools leave others for dead. Chelmsford County High School for Girls, King Edward VI Grammar School for Boys, Colchester Royal Grammar School and Colchester Girls High School jostle each other for top place in the UK league table year after year.

We are within an hour's drive or less of England's three major airports. An hour's drive away is the Ashford terminal where Eurostar can whisk us to central Paris in less than two hours. We are also an hour from Harwich, a major sea port.

We are within a stone's throw of the M25, M11 and central London, which is why relocating businesses are looking our way and settling here in droves.

Essex is flourishing as never before and if you need proof of that take a look at our housing market.

In a single week the Gazette's property pages carried details of 18 properties with an asking price of £500,000. Another 22 properties were looking to fetch between £500,000-£750,000. A further 18 were on the market at between £750,000-£1m and one property topped the heap at £2,250,000.

Surrey? Bucks? Oxford? You've got to be joking! I'm an Essex girl and I'm proud of it.

Anything that really gets YOUR goat, or just pushes your buttons? Heaven or hell, tell us what's on your mind.
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