A kennel in Wickford has condemned heartless dog owners after enduring its worst Christmas ever for waifs and strays. The motto "A dog is for life, not just for Christmas", was ignored by many this year, it seems. The situation was so bad that one dog
It was mud, mud, glorious mud on Sunday as competitors threw themselves into Maldon's 16th annual mud race. The popular event attracted about 130 contestants who waded and splashed their way along a 400-yard muddy section of the River Blackwater, cheered
A Southend family has finally received the Christmas gift it has longed and prayed for across more than 60 years - news that their brother Bob is alive and well. Bob Lee, last heard of when he was pictured as a smiling Aussie soldier during the war, has
The grieving parents of a three-year-old girl who died just days before Christmas have spoken for the first time of their loss. Alan and Ruth Wray said their daughter Gail was a lovely, happy little child who would be missed by many people. Gail, who
A heartbroken pensioner believes he has fallen victim to professional bird thieves after almost his entire collection of canaries were stolen. The 78-year-old man from Great Totham, near Maldon, has condemned the thieves who broke into an aviary and stole
Dozens of extra bobbies on the beat have been drafted in to cope with rowdy New Year revellers in south Essex. Police are keeping their fingers crossed that the celebrations go off without a hitch but decided to take precautions - just in case. An extra
Parking charges for motorists commuting into Colchester town centre look set to rise by up to 18 per cent. But if the new charges get the go-ahead, they will not affect short-term car parks for shoppers. Under the proposals drawn up for the borough council's
A mother has hit out at thieves who stole her daughter's Christmas present and a christening gift. Thieves broke into Penny Burbridge's flat in Nayland Drive, Clacton, and made off with around £280 worth of items. They took a silver christening bangle
A town centre drinking ban has proved a phenomenal success - with no alcohol-related problems recorded during one of the busiest nights of the year. The two-hour cool-off period on Christmas Eve was introduced in Colchester for the first time last year
Claims that new pensioners have gone without the right payments over the festive period appear not to have been upheld in Colchester. Shadow Secretary of State for Social Security Iain Duncan Smith claimed the Government's failure to repair the computer
Frinton Free Church has been chosen to kick-off ITV's revamped Sunday morning religious programme. ITV is replacing its weekly Morning Worship with a new religious magazine named Sunday Morning. On Sunday Frinton Free Church's morning service will be
It's the latest in mobile phone boxes! Young Anthony Baker managed to combine the best of both worlds - old and new - at a toy train and model collectors' fair in Eastwood. He found this tiny one looking just like Doctor Who's famous TV Tardis which started
Residents are to have their say when they are asked their views on the future development of Rayleigh's Mill Hall area in the new year. During January, specialists from Loughborough University will be quizzing the public on which one of three options
Nature lovers are being asked for their opinions on alterations to bylaws planned for reserves at Mill Meadows and Norsey Woods, Billericay. Earlier this year, Basildon Council drew up the legislation using models set by officials at the Department of
A host of sports stars have been rewarded in the New Near Honours. England pace bowler Angus Fraser, the hero of last summer when he took 54 test wickets, gets an MBE. Fraser is regarded as the best England fast bowler of his generation. Former England
JANUARY Southend United made the worst possible start to 1998 by slumping to the bottom of Division Two, just eight months after their relegation from the First Division. Blues boss Alvin Martin signed Spurs midfielder Kevin Maher and Leeds defender Richard
A year of celebration is being planned in Braintree for 1999 to mark the 800th anniversary of the town's charter and St Michael's Church. Events will be held throughout the year to celebrate the granting of the market charter by King John in 1199 and
Chelmsford Swimming Club returned to Riverside Ice & Leisure last week following the third closure of the club's home pool in as many years. Chief Coach, Robin Springett said: "It is great to be back at Riverside. It has been a difficult time for
The 18th Marconi Short Mat Bowls Club's Open Tournament, the sixth for the Christmas Trophy, attracted a full compliment of 35 rinks at the club's headquarters in Beehive Lane on Monday. The Round Robin eliminating format consisted of seven groups of
The past 10 months have seen mixed fortunes for the county's professional boxers. For some, dreams have been fulfilled, while others tasted defeat or have suffered setbacks to their aspirations. March Unbeaten Hornchurch middleweight Jason Ratcliff put
As the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League reached it's halfway stage last week, Danbury 'A' were in pole position, with 32 points from 10 games. However, it is not a runaway lead by any means, as tucked nicely in second place, just one point
A weakened Chieftains' side, without Swede Anders Tjarnstrom and defender Glen Moorhouse, put up a superb battling performance against last year's British National League champions, Guildford Flames, on Sunday. Chieftains shocked their higher league opponents
Friendly postie Derek Thackwray has received letters after his name - he has been awarded an MBE. He was named in the New Year's honours list for his happy-go-lucky work in helping customers on his rounds in the Hockley area. Modest Derek chuckled when
Patients have had to wait more than nine hours for emergency treatment at Chelmsford's Broomfield Hospital, it has been revealed. And health bosses warned the situation was likely to get worse when the New Year festivities began. A total of 161 people
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
With Christmas shopping frenzy having reached fever pitch and New Year sales looming ... that means it is the busiest time of year for Colchester's only freelance store detective Louie Anderson. To the shoplifting fraternity he is public enemy number
The twisted wreckage of the jet aircraft which crashed off the coast of Bradwell-on-Sea has been recovered. A team of experts from the Air Accident Investigation Bureau sent out a barge with a crane to the wreckage a mile-and-a-half from the Bradwell
Chelmsford is defying national consumer gloom this week, attracting thousands of shoppers to its New Year sales. Shoppers packed the town centre from Sunday, with the High Chelmer centre reporting a 67 per cent pedestrian increase on the same Sunday last
Mounting rubbish could pose a risk to health and attract rats to homes, an angry resident has claimed. Up to 200 householders have flooded refuse collector Onyx with angry calls because they face a two-week wait to have their bin bags removed. Caral Davies
No wonder Moon on the Square pub manager Simon Maher is smiling - business is set to boom with the launch of his own New Year sale. The pub, in Basildon's Market Square, will be offering reduced price drinks between 3pm and 9pm from Monday January 4 to
Sensible sailing has led to a quieter year for Southend's lifeboat crew, it has been revealed. Poor weather conditions have also helped keep down the number of call-outs, according to the RNLI. The number of rescues off the south Essex coast has been
Mystery surrounds a blaze which tore through a Canvey home while the owner was away on holiday. Police were trying to track down the householder as fire investigators continued their probe into the blaze, which almost gutted the detached timber-framed
Commuters will be hit hard in their pockets with a New Year hike of five per cent in season ticket prices, campaigners have claimed. Southend's Rail Travellers' Association says the increase on the Fenchurch Street line is twice the current level of inflation
When you decide to swap your annual two weeks in the sun with a trip to the stars you've no need to worry about losing your luggage. For a Braintree businessman has decided to offer insurance for travellers to the galaxy. Simon Burgess thought up the
At Chelmsford Golf Club, despite the heavy amount of rain falling in recent days, conditions remained good enough to hold the last two competitions of the outgoing year. The Barney Cup, traditionally played for on Boxing Day, was presented to the club
Leon Gutzmore, the striker whose 51 goals carried Billericay Town into the top flight of the Ryman League, has played his last game for the New Lodge club. On an evening of frenzied activity on the non-league scene, Gutzmore, 22, was transferred to Billericay's
Scarborough striker Neil Campbell was set to sign for Colchester United on New Year's Eve. And the U's teenage midfielder David Rainford is moving in the opposite direction - until the end of the season. Powerfully built 22-year-old former York City goal-getter
JANUARY Colchester United begin the year buried in mid-table and showing few signs of a promotion challenge. Their first match of the year ends in a 2-1 home defeat to Hartlepool. Manager Steve Wignall had already said he'd be "on his bike" if Pool finished
Hunt protesters and supporters were out in force in Maldon on Boxing Day for the Essex Farmers and Union annual meeting. It was the largest demonstration in Britain attended by the League Against Cruel Sports. Protesters were also present along the route
Police have renewed their hunt for the killer of hit-and-run victim Tina Thorne on the first anniversary of the tragedy. As her husband Melvyn prepared to see in the New Year at the spot she was killed, police officers teamed up with This Is Essex feerder
Chelmsford City play their first Dr Martens League match of 1999 on New Year's Day, when they entertain Raunds Town at New Lodge, Billericay (kick-off 3pm). Raunds have had a reasonable first half to the season, but suffered a 3-1 defeat to Baldock Town
A crime-busting "fish watch" scheme is expanding by trying to thwart smugglers introducing fish to Essex rivers. Since Essex Angling Watch was launched a year ago it has helped clamp down on theft and a number of arrests have been made. And now it is
Tributes have poured in for schoolgirl Michelle Condon who died in a road accident in Great Clacton. The 15-year-old, who had two younger brothers, lived in Totlands Drive, Great Clacton, and went to Clacton County High School. Michelle died after she
The big cat of Rowhedge is - a dog. Margaret Warren, who lives in the village, exercises Jet, her eight-month-old large black lurcher, every day across the marshes. "We had hysterics when we read that he had been taken for a black panther. We laughed
Chelmsford City showed their battling qualities when they clawed their way back three times on Monday to gain a deserved point with Ian Cambridge netting a dramatic injury time penalty to round off an absorbing game. City's failure to stamp any real authority
Thirty-one Springfield Striders took part in the 200 strong field at the Witham 5 on Boxing Day and Mark Healey led home the large Strider contingent in agood time of 29.50. Andrew Mason, Lindsay Broadbridge and Paul Harris were his closest challengers
Deep concerns have been expressed over the future safety of radioactive waste stored at Bradwell power station. A report by the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate claims that storage at the plant, owned and operated by British
I'm going to visit the gym every day until my chocolate-stuffed belly regains its usual washboard look, I'm going to stop drinking reservoirs of smuggled lager and I'm never going to use my credit card again. Yeah, right. Every New Year we delude ourselves
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
