Witham could have a hi-tech "roving eye" to keep a watch out for crime. It would be used both within the town and possibly on industrial estates as part of a major expansion in CCTV coverage. The scheme is being kick-started by a £17,000 cash injection
Drivers across Tendring fell victim to the icy conditions yesterday. Thorpe traffic police were called after an accident on the B1035 at Bradfield where a driver lost control of his car on the ice and hit a a road sign. He was unhurt. On the B1029, a
A man accused of smuggling £5 million of heroin into Australia is receiving the best help available, according to his father. One of Queensland's leading counsels has been instructed to represent Paul Burchill, 20, when he next appears in court. His father
Castle Point councillors have recommended a 5.4 per cent rise in the borough's contribution to the council tax. At a meeting of the finance and policy committee, members announced that a band D household will now have to pay £133.56 towards the tax, a
One of Maldon's most cherished buildings has been bought by the boss of a computer firm. Chris Clarke, of Fox Computers Ltd, plans to turn the derelict Victorian east railway station in Station Road into the nerve centre of his flourishing software business
Swifts ended a 20-year barren spell when they won a penalty shoot out at Dagenham on Monday evening. Heybridge have been unsuccessful in penalty shoot outs for both first team and reserves for as long as many can remember, but that ghost was finally put
Though Ramblers can still win the league, performances like this one on Saturday will make it the more difficult. Simply on the day Ramblers could not find the inventiveness to break down a side who defended deeply and doggedly. They have improved since
Dragon's keeper Darryl Trigg has joined Nationwide Division Three club Brighton on a week's trial. The 22-year-old former Colchester United youth team keeper is hoping for a permanant move back into professional football. Trigg goes into the reserve team
One of Basildon's biggest housing estates will be gone for ever by the end of the week. The final remaining buildings of the Bluehouse Estate, Laindon, which once contained 800 houses, are being torn down. A new £34.5 million replacement will be finished
A nine-year-old blind girl is bringing venues across Essex to a standstill - after being discovered by accident singing karaoke. Justine Mears, of Pitsea, was taken on a special Christmas treat by her singing teacher to the Haven Crest Country Club, Corringham
A 15-year-old boy was yesterday in Southend Hospital with meningitis. The boy, a pupil at St Thomas More High School for Boys in Westcliff, was said to be recovering well. He fell ill on Saturday, after complaining of feeling unwell in school on Friday
A woman injured after a birthday helicopter treat turned to disaster was today celebrating after receiving a £200,000 payout. Ina Jacobs, of Church Parade, Canvey, was awarded the lump sum in damages in London's High Court. The 41-year-old successfully
Police horses on the streets of Essex look set to be a thing of the past, it has been revealed. The mounted section, based in Southend, and the motorcycle fleet look set to be the likely casualties of the financial axe. Essex Police Authority has got
An elderly pedestrian involved in a road accident in Kirby Cross has lost her fight for life. Doris Gunning-Stevenson, 89, of the The Meers, Kirby Cross, was involved in a collision with a red BMW in her home village on January 21. The accident happened
Police are appealing for witnesses after a man armed with a handgun raided a bank in Writtle near Chelmsford. An Essex Police spokesman said the armed robber walked into Barclays Bank in Lodge Road at around 2.40pm on Tuesday and demanded money from staff
A child rapist who subjected three youngsters to an horrific reign of terror was today awaiting sentence after being found guilty of carrying out a series of sickening sex attacks. A Basildon Crown Court jury took nearly ten hours to find Westcliff man
Buckingham Palace has upset Southend councillors by announcing the Queen will not see the seafront during her first visit to the town. Council leader Graham Longley said he was "disappointed" the Royal party would not be visiting the Golden Mile. Councillors
The teambuilding plans of Arena Essex co-promoter and team manager, Peter Thorogood, have been thrown into disarray. Following in the wake of the want-away plea by skipper Colin White, Dane and Arena stalwart, Jan Pedersen, has also indicated that he
The manager of Pitsea market has been forced to launch a poster campaign to quash rumours of its closure. While shoppers can breathe a sigh of relief, food lovers will be reeling today at the news the nearby Bella Pasta restaurant is to close this month
A record entry of 417 competitors made this year's Ron Hill Benfleet 15 a resounding success. With very strong winds and extremely muddy conditions throughout the Hadleigh Country Park, the winning time was the slowest in the nine years the race has been
U'S boss Mick Wadsworth is angling to bring in more players following the signing of Warren Aspinall on a month's loan from Brentford. Aspinall is expected to play for Colchester United's reserves against Swindon today. But the search goes on for Wadsworth
Kieron Dyer was today confident his England career was still on track even with a new manager. The Ipswich Town midfielder usually plays wing back for his country but Howard Wilkinson has gone straight to a 4-4-2 formation for the friendly against World
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
A mother has pleaded with officials not to meddle with a family support centre which saved her life. Andrea Jackson, 36, says she would have committed suicide after she lost a child if it had not been for the help of staff at the Marigold Centre. Around
The people of Basildon will get the chance to meet the Queen during her historic visit next month. A detailed itinerary has now been released, revealing Her Majesty's movements during the momentous first visit to the town on Friday March 15. She will
A tennis club was hoping to serve up an ace at a meeting with councillors last night to gain backing for new facilities. Hadleigh Park Lawn Tennis Club needs to rally support for its expansion plans as town planners have already hinted the scheme would
Dentists are to be offered a "sweetener" to move into Billericay. Campaigners have been battling to get more NHS dentists in the town. But they were left with a bad taste in their mouths after their pleas went unanswered. Now, the South Essex Health Authority
On recent form Old Albanians came to Robbs Wood full of confidence on Saturday and looking forward to two easy league points and a points tally that would greatly improve their standing in this division. The news when they arrived that Braintree centre
Benfleet have enjoyed mixed fortunes in outside cup competitions. In the Essex Intermediate Cup they crashed out at the fourth round stage when hosts West Essex beat them 5-0. However, in an all-Essex Intermediate League affair in the second round of
Controversial plans to redevelop a former Tiptree factory site have been slammed as unimaginative and heartless by the village's councillors and MP. The specially-formed cross-party group held urgent talks over proposals for a Tesco supermarket and 70
A robber burst into a Colchester barber's - but was sent packing when the hairdresser threatened him with a cut-throat razor. And 30-year-old crimper Lisa Channon, of Greenstead, has been praised for confronting the man. He had come into Henrei's Barber
A 16-year-old South East Essex College student is recovering at his Hadleigh home from a suspected case of meningitis. The teenager, who is on the first year of a GNVQ advanced media course, was being treated in Southend Hospital for an unrelated illness
Matt Holland was due to start for the Republic of Ireland B team against the League of Ireland in Bray last night. The Ipswich Town midfielder, who lives in Colchester, was wearing the green of his adopted country for the first time and he couldn't wait
Southend United boss Alvin Martin has revealed he has finally snapped up tough-tackling German midfield star Lars Unger on loan from Fortuna Dusseldorf. The 28-year-old jetted into England on Sunday night to thrash out the deal with Martin and will stay
The next time football crazy Lewis Swift, 11, steps on to the pitch it will be in front of 80,000 cheering fans with the likes of Michael Owen. Lewis, of Turpins Lane, Kirby, is over the moon after being chosen to lead the England side out at tonight's
A distraught dog lover, whose pet died after swallowing a lethal metal hook, today hit out at careless fishermen. David Long's prized Irish wolfhound puppy, Tess, gulped down the four-inch fishing hook during a walk on Canvey seafront and later died in
