Matthew Benton-Smith

Live Reporter at Newsquest Essex | BAMMJ alum @bournemouthuni 🎓| Other bylines @shrewsburytown @sportnottm @leftlion & more

[Matthew Benton-Smith @mattbentonsmith]

BREAKING: Both the Tories and Labour have refused to put a candidate forward in the Clacton by-election triggered by Farage's resignation.

Full story below.

[The Gazette @TheGazette]

Two major parties refuse to put candidates forward in Clacton by-election https://t.co/D7jUQRbEgy

[Essex Echo @Essex_Echo]

The key takeaways from Nigel Farage's speech as he resigns as Clacton MP https://t.co/rOZCkaLKJU

[Matthew Benton-Smith @mattbentonsmith]

BREAKING: Nigel Farage has said he will resign as #Clacton MP and force “a people versus the Establishment” by-election in which he will stand.

📷Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

[Matthew Benton-Smith @mattbentonsmith]

BREAKING: The MP for Clacton is set to make a statement this afternoon.

[Nigel Farage @Nigel_Farage]

I will make a statement on my future in public life at 2pm.

[The Gazette @TheGazette]

Essex artist’s painstaking Wimbledon project is capturing global attention https://t.co/vJbJYSQqcP

[The Gazette @TheGazette]

Three charged with facilitating illegal immigration after boat arrived at Essex coast https://t.co/D4YzFyMACK

[Matthew Benton-Smith @mattbentonsmith]

A cross-border investigation has been launched into suspected fraud at a collapsed Chelmsford telecoms firm.

The Serious Fraud Office is probing Internet Mobile Communications Ltd, formerly based on New London Road.

US authorities are also involved in the inquiry.

[Essex Echo @Essex_Echo]

Cross-border fraud investigation launched into former Essex company https://t.co/ioBbYXAgDQ

[Matthew Benton-Smith @mattbentonsmith]

A cannabis factory worth an estimated £500,000 has been uncovered in Cold Norton near Chelmsford.

Around 680 plants were found inside an industrial unit off Latchingdon Road following a police raid on June 19.

Full story below ⬇️

[Essex Echo @Essex_Echo]

Around 680 cannabis plants discovered in quiet Essex village https://t.co/3B53xqcGmU

[Matthew Benton-Smith @mattbentonsmith]

BREAKING: Two men have been charged with further sexual offences in an Essex Police human trafficking investigation.

Barrie Drewitt-Barlow, 57, and Scott Drewitt-Barlow, 32, of Danbury, face additional charges including rape and sexual assault.

More below ⬇️

[The Gazette @TheGazette]

Local entrepreneurs charged with further sexual offences https://t.co/Exh6sHCpio

[The Gazette @TheGazette]

Police 'increasingly concerned' for missing man as search launched https://t.co/wxnRaiz66r

[The Gazette @TheGazette]

Paedophile with hundreds of victims jailed for sickening acts https://t.co/hQUkjKtFsm

[The Gazette @TheGazette]

Rare moon to be visible over Essex this month https://t.co/mhyXR9ObS6

[The Gazette @TheGazette]

In the dock - the latest cases heard at North Essex Magistrates' Court https://t.co/SRctRHnQ47

[The Gazette @TheGazette]

Award-winning Essex beaches to visit this bank holiday https://t.co/DKlW9OslnA

[Essex Echo @Essex_Echo]

Urgent search as girl, 13, reported missing https://t.co/47X5kfWAL6

[Essex Echo @Essex_Echo]

Man arrested over alleged sexual assault of teenage girl in Southend https://t.co/WID46EPgXC

[Essex Echo @Essex_Echo]

Multiple fire and rescue crews attend as tree falls on car https://t.co/l8kJZjMVCq

[Essex Echo @Essex_Echo]

Man charged over huge haul of more than 2,700 wild birds’ eggs https://t.co/toyw2lE06O

[The Gazette @TheGazette]

More than 700 homes with power in mass outage https://t.co/RECqXPSI1t

[The Gazette @TheGazette]

Wine bottle attack in city centre left victim hospitalised https://t.co/RVGYfPD4vk