Murder update: living in Coldnailhurst - the reality

11:06am Thursday 1st May 2008

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The murder of a young man in Bocking has shocked the local community, but is living in the area really "hell"?

Following the stabbing of Alan Reilly of Trotters Field, Braintree, in Coldnailhurst Avenue on April 22 residents have talked of being afraid of youths in the area, but others have said it was not a bad place to live.

Natalie Carlisle, store supervisor of Co-op at Panfield Lane's junction with Coldnailhurst Avenue, said the area seemed a lot better than it used to be, but with the recent murder it made people think trouble was not far away from your doorstep.

She said up to about a year ago the store was having "a hell of a lot" of trouble, especially from youths hanging around, and in one instance while pregnant she was punched in the stomach by a guy trying to steal a bottle of wine.

But she believed Braintree police and Braintree Council had worked hard to improve the area, and it was "too strong" to say living there was "hell."