Maths matters! That's the message from pupils at Grove Infants School in Rayleigh who are in the middle of a month-long project dedicated to the much-maligned subject. The aim is to make maths interesting and exciting for young and old - with parents
A Maldon church is aiming to provide support for married or engaged couples as part of National Marriage Week celebrations. The town's Salvation Army is running a Celebrating Christian Marriage Weekend to coincide with the national week. Britain has the
A village church near Maldon is set to have its most extensive changes for more than 400 years. All Saints' Church in Church Hill, Purleigh, has submitted plans to have a new meeting room, toilets and kitchen. The church was built in the 1300s and has
A bogus water official has tricked pensioners out of £3,000. The thief tricked six residents - mainly in their 80s and 90s - out of cash after getting into their homes by saying there was a water leak. Homes in Clacton, Frinton and Thorpe were struck
A number of bus services in rural mid Essex are under threat. County councillors are being asked to agree to proposals to axe up to 13 subsidised routes across the county and revise others in an attempt to save £141,000 in a year. Although the council
Creativity clearly runs in the Albarn family. Damon practically invented Britpop with his band Blur. Five years ago his dad Keith won the Colchester Arts for All Award, partly in recognition of his work as head of art and design at Colchester Institute
It takes balls to tell soccer hard man Vinnie Jones where to go. Gazza should know: his tingled for a while following his famous scrape with the Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels star after Jones put the squeeze on the then Newcastle player. "I just
A schoolgirl was fighting for her life yesterday after being struck down with deadly meningitis. Amy Traynor, 13, of Greenstead, Colchester was rushed to Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, on Friday after showing symptoms of meningococcal septicaemia
The supergrass who helped nail the Rettendon murderers has spoken for the first time about his secret life under police protection. Darren Nicholls, 33, who formerly lived in Braintree but who has now been given a new identity under the witness protection
Council tax bills are set to rise by at least 7.2 per cent despite a councillor's admission it could "land us in hot water" with the people of Essex. County councillors today flew in the face of Government advice which said the average rise should be
A woman who lost one of her fingers after a birthday treat helicopter flight ended in disaster today took her compensation fight to the High Court. Ina Jacobs, 41, also suffered bruised ribs and severe cuts to her head when the helicopter made an automatic
A dream holiday turned into a nightmare for a scuba diving fan who spent ten days ill in bed with food poisoning - then the plane flying her home crashed on take-off. Divorcee Jackie Wilson, 50, of Carraways, Witham, paid £l,040 for a two-week luxury
Police today launched robbery inquiries after two armed attacks within five minutes in Colchester. In one incident, a terrified man handed cash to a knifeman after he was confronted and forced into a secluded graveyard. The 31-year-old victim, a regular
Around 300 people packed out Harwich Amateur Boxing Club's first-ever show to make it an outstanding success. Already talk is of making it an annual event after organiser Martin Webb said: "It couldn't have gone better." In all 17 fights were held at
Cruel thieves have stolen photographs of children from their father. The burglars took dozens of pictures, which showed the children growing up, from a garage in Litchfield Close, Clacton. Paul Tarten is now separated from his wife and his children live
Church leaders and residents groups are discussing plans for a permanent church to serve Great Notley. The Archdeacon of Colchester, Martin Wallace is chairing a steering group to lead plans for an ecumenical place of worship to serve the developing community
News that former Southend United boss David Webb wants to return to Roots Hall has sparked hearty response from readers. One Southend High School for Boy's pupil phoned to say that the whole school thought David Webb should go back to Southend United.
There will be plenty of groans and grimaces when army cadets from Basildon bite the bullet to get their legs waxed for charity. The four cadets from C Company, Basildon Royal Signals, hope their suffering will raise money towards equipment for their cadet
Emma Noble's appearance at the Cliffs Pavilion today hung in the balance as she recovered from a back injury. The celebrity fiancee of John Major's son, James, was booked to play a leading role in Ben Elton's black comedy thriller, Popcorn, due to open
Benfleet angler Paul Finch added 5lbs to the size of his previous personal best pike when he landed a near 15- pounder during a short session at Basildon's Northlands Park lake. New Holland tractor plant worker Paul chose the park's cafe lake for his
Two former Southend United stars were the goal heroes last night as Canvey Island moved into the top three in the Ryman League First Division. After Steve Tilson had struck in the opening half, Andy Sussex netted his first League goal of the season after
Swifts were denied victory in controversial circumstances against Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday. With 10 minutes remaining and the sides locked at 1-1, Heybridge were pressing forward looking for the victory their second-half dominance had deserved
A mother and her two young children escaped from a burning house after being saved by a family friend. Sarah Maser-Clarke and children, Joe, five, and Tabitha, 19 months, were led to safety by Lyn Howard, after he was alerted by a smoke alarm. The family
History will be made in Southend this summer when two steam trains return to the town after more than 35 years. The LTS Rail line between Shoebury and the City will play host to the special engines over the May Day bank holiday on May 2 and 3. The two
The courage of two Basildon constables who tackled a knife-wielding thug has been recognised with a special honour. PC Mark Shaw and special constable Daren Wilkinson are among several south Essex officers whose outstanding dedication to duty will be
Anyone worried about substance misuse is invited to attend a special drugs conference in Grays on Friday. The event has been organised by Thurrock Drugs Reference Group, which is drawing up an action plan for the area. Although the conference is mainly
When sixties singing sensation Helen Shapiro announced she'd be walking back to happiness in Clacton, Gay Wiggins was one of the first at the theatre box office to book her seat. For Gay, of Arnold Road, Clacton, is not only a lifelong fan of the singing
They don't make 'em like this any more -- not the bricks, nor the men. These photographs, dating from the 1930s, are among many treasured possessions of Bill Caten, a collector of memorabilia. That's him, stripped to the waist and trundling with skill
Family and friends are becoming concerned for the welfare of a 34-year-old man missing from Canvey Island. Timothy Powell, 34, has been missing from his home on the Kings Holiday Park on Canvey Island since Saturday. He is described as white, about 5ft
Police are appealing for help in tracking down a gang of four youths on cycles who robbed a man in Basildon. An Essex Police spokesman said the 36-year-old victim was walking across a footbridge over Upper Lane in the Gloucester Park area of Basildon
A rural estate outside Maldon, with more than 1,000 acres of land, is on the market this week. With a price tag of more than £1.25 million, the 1,304-acre Mundon Hall Estate is the first 1,000-acre single tenanted estate to come to the open market in
Safety on the railways is being jeopardised - by rats. The rodents have been blamed for damaging cables at a controversial level crossing on the Braintree to Witham line. They have caused the automatic barriers and warning lights to stop working, leaving
Essex-based Ford Motor Company has bought Volvo Cars of Sweden for nearly £4 billion, it was announced today. The deal will mean Ford, which has its British administrative base in Warley, Brentwood, will now engineer, distribute, market and finance the
When a footballing legend like Bert Barlow says you're good, then it's not a bad accolade. The 1939 FA Cup-winning keeper for Portsmouth keeps his finger on the footballing pulse and has seen some good youngsters in his time. Nine-year-old Jamie Wright
A state-of-the-art £1 million library is planned to bring new life into Laindon. The cash has been set aside in Essex County Council's budget for a new building in the area. But the Laindon Centre would be the loser under the plans, with the present library
A woman who launched an appeal for two drugs rehabilitation clinics in Essex has received less than £100 towards her £2 million target - three months after its launch. And Marilyn Hawkins said she hasn't even had a letter of reply from computer firms
Pensioners in Southend could soon be means tested for services such as transport and day centres - and many elderly residents can expect to pay more as a result. Council bosses are looking at charging the elderly "what they can afford" rather than a fixed
A man was being quizzed by detectives yesterday in connection with the death of Clacton doorman Gary Chick. Police arrested a 27-year-old man at around 6am yesterday in Clacton. The man was arrested on suspicion of murdering Mr Chick in November 1996.
Healthy eating is on the menu for little monkeys at a Basildon school. Supermarket giant Asda is promoting good food by donating boxes of bananas to local schools. Whitmore Infant School pupils are ploughing their way through fruity fact packs and work
Campaigning councillors today called for Southend to be included on TV weather maps more often in a drive to boost the borough's image. Letters were being sent to the BBC and regional ITV stations in the hope of getting the town's name on screen every
The Essex Air Support Unit used its thermal imaging camera to good effect after officers were alerted to a man who had taken an overdose in Mistley. An Essex Police spokesman said police received a report just after 9pm last night that the man had taken
Dozens of banner-waving protesters have failed to stop a major shake-up of vital child care services in Southend. Under new proposals, the council will move out of the Square family complex in Rochford and set up a new "refocused" base at the Marigold
A much-awaited derby fulfilled all expectations as Rochford held off Basildon's stirring fightback in one of the best games seen at Magnolia Road for many years. A large and vocal crowd provided the perfect backdrop to a thrilling display of open rugby
A burst water main was causing traffic hold-ups in Colchester today. Maldon Road was closed off from the roundabout at Colchester Police Station and work was expected to continue until at least the end of this week. The road is closed from the roundabout
A support group for families of children with disabilities or special needs held its first meeting in Braintree this week. Chelmsford-based charity Infocus already provides a range of support services across mid-Essex and is planning to set up a weekly
Some might say it's what Essex man was born for. Head in the clouds, plenty of freedom, loads of birds around. Yet the county has just two clubs for it - gliding, that is. Maurice Quire, 69, Essex Gliding Club secretary, took up the sport less than two
When washing machine engineer Roy Rex took his dog for a walk on Southend seafront he had no idea his van would be going for a sea rinse. Mr Rex ran into trouble when he parked his van opposite the Halfway House pub on Eastern Esplanade to walk his dog
A serious accident is waiting to happen if boy racers continue driving on grass verges just yards from residents' doorsteps, it has been claimed. Irresponsible drivers are causing trouble at four roads on the Avon Road council estate in West Chelmsford
A disabled referee has slammed disgraced former England manager Glenn Hoddle. Richard Saunders, of East Bergholt, who has officiated at top games across the country, including a cup tie between Manchester United and Arsenal, has misshapen hands and short
A new scheme to combat bogus officials who con their way into pensioners' homes and steal money is to be set up. Maldon police have teamed up with Essex County Council's trading standards office to produce special information cards detailing what people
Residents and town councillors will be pressing Essex County Council to take action over a road crisis in Witham. Fears have been expressed about the state of the roads, heavy traffic and lack of speed signs in Church Street, Collingwood Drive and Rowan
A gym owner has been warned he could be jailed after he beat a man's head against the ground in a road rage incident. Scott Thake, 29, of Northfalls Road, Canvey, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm to Paul Dodounou on December 27 last year. Stipendiary
A police officer, based at Southend's mounted section, will not be prosecuted for alleged cruelty to horses, it emerged today. The Crown Prosecution Service has been examining files on Sgt Paul Hemmings for a number of weeks. There is no news yet as to
Southend United's assistant manager Mick Gooding blasted his players for showing a lack of desire following last night's narrow Essex Thameside Trophy Second Round win over Great Wakering Rovers. Blues sent a very strong team to the Burroughs Park home
Basildon's snooker sensation Stuart Bingham is turning to the teaching talents of one of the game's great stars, Willie Thorne. The veteran pro has been enlisted by Bignham in an effort to ensure he wins through to the final stages of the Embassy World
A wonder-strike from Jamie Clapham gave Ipswich their first league points since Boxing Day. But the single goal victory only hides the painful truth that on these sort of performances Town are not Premiership material. Port Vale were ravaged by injury
Colchester United manager Mick Wadsworth was still waiting to hear on Tuesday if Steve Whitton was ready to become his official right-hand man. Whitton, who played a big part as player, coach and then assistant manager to former boss Steve Wignall as
Chelmsford Canoe Club's Slade Warne and Paul Anderson are off across the world to represent Great Britain in the World Whitewater Championships which start this week in New Zealand. Paul flies out today and Slade follows three days later to take on the
Clacton's beach has got top marks in a new survey - while some of Britain's other resorts are getting worse. East Anglia's resorts are the cleanest and best maintained beaches in the country according to a beach survey commissioned by the Tidy Britain
Basildon taxpayers are set for a windfall - after the council collected £1 million more in tax than expected last year. The cash bonus could now mean £5 off the average council tax bill this year. But the sugar-coated pill masks a tax misery for payers
Teenagers are fighting to stop their youth club becoming a village hall. Their headquarters on the Plough Corner playing field at Little Clacton has been taken over by the parish council, which is discussing how the building can be used for the whole
The trip of a lifetime and the chance to make history awaits a Billericay student after he was selected for an expedition to the Mexican jungle. Bertie Donovan is one of four students from the University of East London who have been chosen to survey and
Detectives hunting a man who indecently assaulted a housewife at knifepoint have launched a special poster campaign. Police hope the leaflets, which have been put up around Wickford town centre, will provide them with some new leads. The woman is still
Volunteers are needed to help kick crime off the streets of Castle Point. Neighbourhood Watch wants to dump its curtain-twitcher image and encourage more people to take an active role in crime prevention. Area manager Maria Awang said: "We need to get
What can Trevor Taylor be talking about when he says: "It's a computerised, button-pressing world." Banking, car design, museum archives, maybe even journalism? No. Sadly, it's music he has in mind. He would much rather not feel this way. After all, he
TOM KING meets ex-docker Les Reynolds, MBE, honoured for many achievements - but not all of them... The walls of Les Reynolds home in Chadwell St Mary are lined with pictures of Sir Winston Churchill. "A giant of a man," says Les. It takes one to know
Imagine trusting your friends so much that you will allow them to lead you blindfold through a wood. Or relying on each other to scale a climbing wall or launch a boat for the first time. Think about redecorating a youth club when you've never picked
