A truck full of dolls has been stolen by thieves with an eye to Christmas. The lorry was taken from an industrial estate in Chadwell St Mary. The trailer has been recovered but police say the dolls are still missing. The trailer contained about 2,000
Television fans in north Essex could have a long wait before they glimpsing a new digital television network. Viewers wanting to gain dozens of new digital channels through their own aerial will be disappointed as the Sudbury transmitter - which serves
A petrol station cashier and a customer chased a would-be robber who drew a knife. The attack happened at the Save petrol station in Southend Road, Stanford le Hope, at about 11.45am yesterday. The crook, aged about 16 to 18, walked in, produced a knife
The ambulance service in Essex in underfunded by £2.6 million compared with similar trusts across the country, it has been claimed. And if extra cash is not found, its performance is likely to deteriorate. External auditor Mike Robinson told board members
Traders selling vehicles from the side of Colchester's roads are to be targeted with tough new measures. Councillors are seeking to introduce a sweeping new order which would leave vehicle sellers open to fines of £50. The initiative comes after it was
Developers who want to build homes on land at Thorney Bay Road, Canvey, are to be asked to meet with councillors to discuss the plan. Castle Point Council's town planning committee last night deferred agreeing an outline application from Seaside Resorts
A badly-injured caddie revealed today from his hospital bed in Spain how a horrific car smash has left his friend fearing for his golf career. Wickford cafe owner Ian Bainbridge, who has a fractured skull but is now out of intensive care, said he and
A little girl suffering from a genetic disorder is to see a special performance of a West End show. Jennifer Tyler, four, was born with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, an illness which produces tumours in the major organs of the body including the brain.
A councillor and teacher who fought a courageous battle against cancer has died. Liz Bottomley, who twice stood against Brentwood MP Eric Pickles in the General Election, lost her fight for life on Friday. She was Brentwood's first elected mayor in 1993
Animal lovers are being invited to a mass lobby of Parliament to protest against the hunting of wild animals. The south Essex branch of the RSPCA is looking for the public to support a campaign for the protection of hunted animals on December 2. The RSPCA
A woman fought off an attacker after an horrific knifepoint assault in her own home. A man, wearing surgical gloves, called at the woman's flat in Rifle Hill, Braintree, and burst in. He threatened the woman occupant with a knife and indecently assaulted
Raiders have left a family heartbroken after they stole a film of a father's family celebrations - days after he died. The burglars snatched the camcorder, which had the tapes inside, from a Clacton home. The film contained footage of Douglas Parkin's
A doctor has been praised for rushing through a burning bedroom to save his mother-in-law's life. St John Ambulance member Dr Vic Crowhurst braved smoke and flames to rescue his severely disabled mother-in-law from her burning bed at Acacia Drive, Thorpe
An ex-policeman arrested for "leering" at an undercover police officer during a crackdown in public toilets has failed in his bid to clear his name. Family man Keith Marston, of Tudor Gardens, Leigh, was found guilty by magistrates of causing harassment
Taxi driver John Lewis's 50th birthday surprise left him dumbstruck. His girlfriend arranged their whole wedding without telling him a thing. Christine Harris set the date, invited the guests, bought the button holes, chose her outfit and even had the
Bitterly cold weather might have hit Essex this week, but who would have predicted that the ground would be covered with a couple of inches of white stuff? However, in one area of Brentwood this was not snow but soap flakes! A new fountain was officially
Plans for a £40 million retirement complex have been given the go-ahead by Tendring Council. The Ryan Group wants to develop Thorpe Hall in Thorpe and provide a 52-bed nursing home, golf course, and 31 close-care units. Original plans for an American-style
Fans of one of Hollywood's most famous stars are in for a treat as a Clacton hotel is offering them the chance to live alongside a legend. The Le'Vere Hotel in Agate Road is a shrine to swashbuckling hero Errol Flynn who wowed audiences in a string of
Ambitious traffic schemes encouraging people to take the bus are to be launched in Colchester. The programme, which has won borough council backing, will see bus lanes and one-way systems installed in busy stretches of the town centre. A bus priority
Town crier Tony Appleton has got plenty to shout about. After many years courting publicity Mr Appleton, of Great Baddow near Chelmsford, plans to open the world's first school for town criers. He has seven people enrolled and is ready to start next month
An MP and his wife today spoke for the first time of how they lived in the shadow of leukaemia for six months. Dr Michael Clark, Tory MP for Rayleigh, stayed continuously by his wife Val's side as she battled back to health from the killer disease - and
Maldon town councillors have voted unanimously to suspend disgraced fellow councillor Keith Munnion. At an extraordinary meeting last night they decided to suspend him from active participation in any representative capacity - including all committees
A drink-driver who ran off from his crashed car flagged down a passing motorist - only to discover it was a police officer in an unmarked vehicle. Edward Hutchings, 52, was brought back to the scene of the crash and admitted he was the driver of the car
An MP today accused Rail Franchise Director John O'Brien of letting down commuters by delaying the replacement of antiquated rolling stock on the LTS Line. Passengers will have to put up with old-fashioned slam-door carriages for an extra three years
Householders have been warned of the dangers of faulty gas appliances after a Southend family was rushed to hospital today with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning. The four adults and one teenager from Fairfax Drive, Westcliff, were taken to Southend
There's a tuneful din coming from the Billericay School - but don't blame the pupils! Teachers have released their own CD packed with karaoke-style hits. Favourites such as Summer Nights, from Grease and Elvis's All Shook Up feature on the 17-track album
A 16-month-old baby girl was today recovering from smoke inhalation after a miracle escape from a flat fire. Station officer Martin Powell, of Basildon fire station, said baby Alexandra Richardson, her 24-year-old mother, Nicola Richardson, and 22-year-old
Council tax bills could rise by as much as £100 in parts of Essex, it has been warned. Paul White, now Lord Hanningfield, the leader of Essex County Council, fears the Government could cut its £800m grant to the authority by as much as £62 million. It
Long-suffering motorists sat in 10-mile tailbacks on the A127 today - all because of a broken-down lorry. The heavy goods vehicle broke down at the Nevendon junction at 7.30am, forcing traffic police to close the London-bound lane for an hour until the
