A paranoid schizophrenic threatened to arm himself and hold Southend Council officials hostage, it was revealed today. Labour's Reg Copley spoke of the terrifying ordeal as planners considered proposals for a new community care home in Southend. He said
Young and old were captivated when they attended the Salvation Army's annual Carols in the Barn. The event, now in its 11th year, brings together a host of performances, ranging from line dancing and gospel choirs to brass bands and nativity plays. Captain
Detectives hunting a man who tried to strangle a young girl are pleading with the public to shop him before he strikes again. The attack, which happened three months ago, has left the 13-year-old with terrible mental scars. She is now too afraid to go
A major investigation has been launched following a serious chemical spill at a sewage plant in Southend. Six Anglian Water employees were rushed to hospital after two substances mixed to form a potentially lethal chlorine gas. People living next to the
Football came home for young Mark Watson when he met two Southend United players at a special party in the Kursaal. Mark was a guest at the Fantastic Festive Feast, run by charity the Dream Team for sick or terminally ill children, their brothers and
Southend United's Scott Houghton destroyed Hartlepool at Victoria Road on Saturday, but the modest left-winger played down his own performance. Houghton pulled the Seasiders out of the mire with an equaliser and then set up two more goals for Rob Newman
Angry Blackpool boss Nigel Worthington labelled his team's performance as "pathetic" even though they snatched a point with a last-ditch equaliser via a maiden league goal from fullback Ian Hughes. But it was frustrated Colchester chief Steve Wignall
Police have appealed for help in tracking down a convicted murderer who has absconded from an Essex hospital. An Essex Police spokesman said officers were called to Runwell Hospital in Wickford near Basildon after Philip Wilkinson, 53, disappeared on
A bus driver wearing fancy dress will become a hero of the small screen when he stars in a television news feature. Colchester-based Ernie Rutter underwent the VIP treatment as he was filmed for Anglia TV's Helen's Heroes - in which those making outstanding
A campaign to save a sports ground from sell-off has been backed by a county-wide body. Ward councillor Ray Gamble will oppose any plan to build houses on the site of a sports club house and three football pitches on Bromley Road, Colchester, owned by
Mrs Claus joined her more famous hubby on his festive tour of Stanford-le-Hope to help raise funds to send a young girl on a Cystic Fibrosis ski holiday. The Rotary Clubs of Stanford and Corringham, and Corringham Thameside joined with friends of Lyn
More than a quarter of a million pounds has been awarded to three arts organisations in Colchester. Firstsite, based at the Minories Gallery, is to receive £70,000 from the Eastern Arts Board - nearly £15,000 more than last year. The Mercury Theatre,
A garden centre beseiged by children visiting Santa has pledged to improve its arrangements after tearful youngsters queued in vain to enter his grotto. Excited children queued expectantly for Santa at Alton's Garden Centre on the A127 near Rayleigh -
A woman facing a heart and lung transplant has been granted her dearest wish - the chance to see her daughter's face light up for Christmas. Karen Biffon has travelled for miles hunting down a prized Furby toy for her daughter, despite the fact she could
Ford dealership Dovercourt today confirmed it was cutting 40 jobs. Hardest hit at nine sites are van drivers, administrative and accounts staff. The firm said the redundancies followed a reorganisation of the company including the parts business, but
A convicted killer who escaped from a mental hospital was today urged to give himself up. Philip Wilkinson, 53, was jailed for life in 1987 after he murdered his lover Mary Gidvani at their seaside home in Jaywick by stabbing her with a kitchen knife.
Cinderella Cliffs Pavilion, Southend Stars: Bobby Davro, Bella Emberg, Bob Carolgees Date: Dec 18-Jan 16 Box Office: 01702 351135 Snow White . . .The True Story Theatre Upstairs, New Empire Theatre, Southend Strictly for adults only. Live music by The
Thieves have stolen a shield which could be unique from a village church near Clacton. The icon was was wrenched off its mounting in the porch of Little Bentley Church in Church Road, Little Bentley, between December 13 and 18. The black metal crest with
The Dartford River Crossing could be paralysed if staff go on strike over a pay dispute, it is feared. Toll-booth operators and other workers who operate the twin tunnels and the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge are to be balloted over industrial action. And
The tragic triplets whose mother died just days after their birth have been allowed home from hospital in time for Christmas. Jane England, 30, from Benfleet, died a week after giving birth to the two boys and a girl. Her grieving husband, Martin, now
David Adekola came back from injury to get the goal which took Billericay Town up to second place in the Ryman Premier Division. After missing five matches with Achilles trouble, Adekola netted his 12th goal of the season. The strike was enough to condemn
If you're good enough you are old enough - and Titus Bramble proved the point with an assured second half performance in Town's 2-1 win at Sheffield United. Helped at the back by Adam Tanner and Tony Mowbray the 17-year-old local product ignored the television
Xandra, the Hustler 32 owned jointly by Derek Willshire and Jim Haylock, romped away with the Crouch Yacht Club's Red Insurance Nutcracker Trophy last Sunday. She scored her third successive victory to maintain her 100 per cent record in the series, a
The Grove girls team from Chelmsford won the unrated division of the new Essex County LTA Junior League when the final play-offs were staged at the Southend Indoor Centre last weekend. Grove took the title courtesy of a 4-2 win over Westcliff Lawn by
Chelmsford Pro-Am Kickboxing Club and its associated Chelmsford Junior and Chelmsford Young Adults Kickboxing Clubs recently returned from a successful weekend. Members won many of the trophies on offer at the 1998 WUMA National Kickboxing and Martial
Matchroom boxers Richard Evatt and Darren Bruce are young men in a hurry. Yet again, both boxers secured convincing victories at Cheshunt's Grundy Park Leisure Centre last Friday evening. First up was featherweight Richard Evatt. The IBO Inter Continental
Watch out for The Curse of Frankenstein -- not the famous old Hammer horror film, but the shadow of doom which hangs over this year's Shoebury panto about the man who made a monster. Frankenstein the Panto features a mad doctor by the name of Professor
A newborn baby girl is all shook up about her identity - because her family have nicknamed her Elvis. While mum Sarah Downing was pregnant, dad Dave Warren, 29, dubbed the unborn baby Elvis because he was a big fan of the King of Rock and Roll. But when
After their success in the southern final of Megabowl's National Fax League, Chelmsford Sliders (Debbie Edmonds, John Edmonds and Mike Rogacs) were at the national finals in Manchester last Sunday and gained a well earned fifth place. The team ended the
A man charged with a string of sex offences in Southend, London and Brighton will spend Christmas and the New Year in custody. Part-time DJ Richard Baker remained silent as he stood in Horseferry Road Magistrates' Court facing 21 charges against 10 women
The term "football fixture" has two definitions, and Howard Southwood is one of them. The presence of the sports writer's familiar lean and lofty frame in the Roots Hall press box is a Saturday afternoon institution. It remains as solid as one of the
Excited children from a Shoebury infants' school were delighted to be rewarded for helping brighten up a dingy underpass in Shoebury with a colourful mural. Youngsters from Friars Infants School in Constable Way met up with Southend mayor Nora Goodman
Firefighters had plenty of water at hand - but not to put out a fire. The crew from Sible Hedingham organised a car wash to raise cash for their benevolent fund. Almost £160 was collected during the cleaning session held at the station drill yard in Rectory
Billericay has been "invaded" by modern day Vikings - with a visit by its Norwegian fan club. Six Norwegians, who have even gone so far as to set up an Internet page on the town, visited Billericay from their home near Oslo. The four men and two women
A school which attracts Billericay and Basildon students is celebrating after being given permission to exand its numbers. St Martin's School in Hutton annually sees around 80 pupils from the two towns apply to join, with a large number proving successful
A young woman had an amazing escape when her car went out of control, rolled over several times and hit a house. And the homeowner and his friend also cheated death. They ran for their lives after seeing the car hurtling towards them as they chatted by
Animal lover Sue Cook today vowed to defy a court order to have her beloved pet dog Blackie put down - even if it means going to prison. Sue, of Tilburg Road, Canvey, has lost an appeal against a magistrate's decision for the six-and-a-half year old cross-collie
An Army officer has died in an apparent suicide in a military prison. Captain Paul Morris, 44, was found unconscious in a cell at the Military Corrective Training Centre in Berechurch Hall Road, Colchester. He was being held under close arrest after going
Dick Whittington and his Kool Kool Kat is a brash, beaty rock 'n' roll panto for the nineties being premiered at the Queen's this Christmas. Dick's cat Tommy talks with her master via her saxophone and is very jealous of his romance with spunky Alice
