Staff at GEC Marconi have been promised a "very bright future" with the revelation of a £7.7bn buy out. Jobs were said to be safe at all branches of the electronic systems company, which has bases in Basildon and Chelmsford. British Aerospace has come
A decision to allow a Braintree kebab shop to extend its late-night opening hours has angered a neighbouring undertaker. The Best Kebab House, in Manor Road, will now remain open until 11.30pm every night after winning a battle to extend its hours of
A Billericay managing director has been banned from driving after he raced through a 30mph zone in his Porsche - at 106 mph. Andrew Diggory, 33, of Copford Road, was caught driving at three-and-a-half times the legal limit in Billericay Road, Herongate
Disabled cricketers, including blind and deaf players, are keener than ever to show that the only boundaries for them in the sport are those around the outfield. The proof, they hope, will arrive in the first summer of the next millennium. Two Basildon
A Chelmsford MP has protested to Health Secretary Frank Dobson after it was revealed hospital waiting lists in mid-Essex have shot up in the past two years. Figures released by Simon Burns , the Tory MP for West Chelmsford, show that the number of patients
A woman has condemned the 20-yard stretch of road outside her home as a treacherous accident blackspot after three cars ploughed into her front garden in one morning. Andrea Richardson, who has lived in Bartholomew Green, Rayne, for 14 years, first voiced
A man suffered burns to his hands when he threw a blazing gas heater out of a house. John and Gwen Double yesterday said if it was not for the quick response by fitter George Green - and the fact they had a smoke alarm - their bungalow in Whinfield Avenue
A GP deputising service has defended its actions after unprecedented demands caused problems over the festive season. Healthcall, which covers the area out of normal surgery hours from bases in Westcliff and east London, has been attacked by Basildon
Outspoken Colchester United boss Steve Wignall has hit out at the "greed and hypocrisy" he claims is threatening to cripple small Football League clubs like the U's. Wignall was speaking out following the intrusion of players agents and the collapse of
The Today's Runner Cross Country League ventured into Suffolk for the customarily tough Hadleigh hill hiking session on Sunday. The organisers contrived to make full use of the hilly terrain with tough uphill slogs; fast downhill racing and sticky mud
Police believe they have seized drugs worth more than £300,000 following raids in Halstead and Heybridge. An Essex Police spokesman said 100kg of what is believed to be amphetamine sulphate - colloquially known as speed - was seized after officers executed
TIM STOUT is on song to talk with singing teacher Margaret Cozens You could say that Margaret Cozens was the Voice of Southend. Voices of Southend would be more accurate. Down the years this joyous lady has coaxed goodness knows many bubbling streams
Hundreds of mourners let the tears run free as they said goodbye to their special young friend who exuded happiness. Sports-loving Lewis Roche was a team player, both on and off the pitch, said his headmaster Philip Bell. And there was no substitute.
Southend Council has reprieved more than 200 jobs threatened with the axe as part of a major social services shake-up, it was revealed yesterday. Senior officers have found alternative posts for dozens of care workers affected by the closure of three
Steve Wignall is one of only five managers to guide Colchester United to promotion in their Football League history. Benny Fenton, the late Neil Franklin, Jim Smith and Bobby Roberts are the other four. Three former Layer Road icons - Smith, Roberts and
It's music all the way with a series of concerts promoted by Southend Council's Arts Department to take us into the new year. There will be six concerts from January to June at the Plaza Centre, Southchurch Road starting on Friday, January 29 with the
Matt Holland has promised Ipswich will bounce back from their recent run of league defeats. Holland was skipper for the day with Tony Mowbray suspended and scored a smashing first half goal to give Town hopes of at least a point before going down 2-1
A young sailor from the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club in Burnham demonstrated his extraordinary talents when he achieved second place in the World Championships in Australia last month. Richard Elphinstone, 16, from Beauchamps in Burnham, and his team mate
Purfleet's achievement of going to the top of the Ryman Premier League is one of the most extraordinary in non-league soccer. Only formed in 1985 when starting life in Division One of the Essex Senior League (they beat Canvey Reserves in their first game
A widow has hit out at Tendring Council after it accidentally "desecrated" her husband's gave. When Veronica Sweeney went to her husband's grave at Burrs Cemetery, Great Clacton, she found the headstone and its surround had been removed from the plot.
Plans to convert a popular Southend sports centre into a new casino have been dealt a major blow. The Gaming Board has lodged an objection to the £4.5m bid for Courtlands Country Club in Thorpe Bay. The industry regulator believes there is not enough
Police have appealed for help to catch an attacker who robbed a man in broad daylight in an alleyway in Clacton town centre. The victim was hit in the face and knocked to the ground before the robber made off with cash from his pockets. The 23-year-old
Thieves stole a footballer's kit on the eve of a local derby, causing her to miss the match. Left-back Debbie Nicklin, 37, of Brooklands Road, Brantham, had been due to play for Colchester Ladies in a crunch match against arch-rivals Colchester United
Braintree completed a 'win double' over Coastal with a comfortable victory on a heavy pitch which made attractive football difficult to play. It took just six minutes for Town to open the scoring when James Hawton netted with a shot from the edge of the
Two Canvey football clubs have joined forces as part of a new scheme to develop youth football in the borough. Dave McNeill, deputy director for leisure at Castle Point council, told committee members how the Island Boys and Concord Rangers Football Clubs
Police have released the name of the victim murdered in a "frenzied" drug-related attack in Basildon. The 26-year-old was set upon by a gang of men wielding various weapons at a home in Cranes Court, off Cranes Farm Road, Basildon. An Essex Police spokesman
Colchester United slumped out of the Essex Senior Cup going down 5-3 at home to Leyton Orient. The U's fielded six first team regulars coming back from injury and suspension. Paul Buckle put the U's ahead after getting forward well and latching on to
