Play fight

A warm welcome, good food and a fine ale can make living in a commuter village about more than just motorway links and train connections, says Ruth Bloomfield

To blame Margaret Thatcher for the loss "of millions of highly skilled manufacturing jobs abroad", as Alan Hinnrichs seeks to do (letters, 17 December), is like blaming King Canute because he could not stop the tide rising.

Liverpool have beaten a string of other Premier League clubs for the signature of 16-year-old Wycombe striker Jordon Ibe.

Aidy Boothroyd has returned to management with npower League Two strugglers Northampton.

The Football League Column: David Platt, Danny Murphy, Geoff Thomas, Rob Jones, Dean Ashton and Seth Johnson all came through the Crewe system

The England Under-21s manager, Stuart Pearce, feels Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain can only get "better and better", both for club and country.

Colchester's Firstsite has a dramatic new building, a golden curving shell designed by Raphael Viñoly that hugs a garden and gently preserves an ancient Roman mosaic under a glass floor at the heart of the gallery. The Berryfield Mosaic was discovered in 1923 with a human skeleton, oyster shells and pottery, and it can be read as a kind of cornerstone for Firstsite's opening exhibition, Camulodunum (the exhibition title taken from the old name for Colchester). The tone is set by Danh Vo's huge sculpture We the People (2011), part of a larger work in which he is making a replica of each part of the Statue of Liberty in copper. Packing crates, tools and rags are strewn around a huge hand, which will never likely never find its way on to an arm.

The new space could put this part of Essex back on the map

A senior female teacher who had a sexual relationship with a teenage pupil will be sentenced today.

A single mother has denied attempting to incite a riot, saying comments made by BlackBerry Messenger were a joke.

A man escaped with just minor injuries after his mobility scooter became stuck at a level crossing and was hit by a train travelling at 100mph.

Tranmere manager Les Parry has confirmed Bayern Munich have made an undisclosed offer for teenage striker Dale Jennings.

We're kicking off with an exclusive discount this week courtesy of Ecocamel, the specialist in energy-efficient bathrooms. Until June 4, Bargain Hunter readers will receive a 25 per cent discount on the brand new Jetstorm shower head – a fantastic product which, if used by a typical family of four, could save them 56,000 litres of water per year and reduce their annual energy bill by up to £240. The shower head normally costs about £50 but readers entering the discount code EC2 on the Ecocamel website can buy one for just £37.45. For more details about the Jetstorm or to make your purchase visit www.ecocamel.com.