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
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
A 16-year-old South East Essex College student was yesterday 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
A distraught dog lover, whose pet died after swallowing a lethal metal hook, has 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
Halifax Town's midfield hard man Peter Butler can't wait to get stuck in against his old Southend United team at The Shay on Saturday. The 32-year-old, who joined Blues for £75,000 in 1988 from Cambridge United before moving onto West Ham five years later
A Colchester housing estate could be the backdrop for a Hollywood movie. A film charting the life of a former drug addict on the streets of Monkwick is being planned with the backing of top Hollywood producer Gary Kurtz, it has been claimed. The movie
Billericay folk are being encouraged to pull on their walking boots and get fit by taking part in a series of health treks. The town's Mayflower Rotary Club has just published a set of ten walks in and around Billericay. Members hope locals will be encouraged
Three heroes who saved a young motorist engulfed in his blazing car were praised by firefighters. Robert Rice, 22, suffered multiple injuries when his Ford Fiesta XR2 careered off the road and smashed into a telegraph pole. He was trapped in the car as
The days when Basildon was the cheapest place to park your car or rid your house of fleas may soon be over. The price of being buried is also set to increase as part of a package to balance the books. Councillors were due to decide last night on higher
Conundrums, sums and an hour of fame beckoned for Pauline Latham. But after two triumphant Countdown shows, millions of viewers saw the mum-of-two from Colchester knocked out of the words and numbers game on Channel 4 on Tuesday. Pauline, of Magnolia
A robber stole £75 from a pizza delivery man who was returning to a Harlow restaurant after dropping off some food. An Essex Police spokesman said the 20-year-old Pizza Hut employee was robbed just after he had parked his bike in the town's Eastgate centre
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
Health-conscious residents have vowed to oppose more antennae and satellite dishes on a telecommunications tower in their town. Karen Sheen, 34, of Central Road, Stanford-le-Hope, said she and her neighbours are fed up with the continual growth of aerials
A bitter war of words has broken out between council tenants and housing staff after a scathing attack on Castle Point's housing services. The row flared up after the borough's tenants' association openly criticised the way the housing department is run
A 94-year-old woman is among 12 elderly people being turfed out of a residential hotel in Westcliff. Hettie Palester has lived in the New Redstone Hotel for 18 years - but she and the others, who are like a family together, have all been given notice
Emergency services told today how they raced against time and the elements to save the life of a disabled woman who fell between rocks at Walton's Naze. The drama started at 3pm yesterday when Kirsty Allinson-White was on the boulders which form part
All seemed well in the first 20 minutes of Saturday's match with the home side producing some good passing movements and generally having the better of the play. Then in the 23rd minute things changed when Bowers brought their height and pace into play
Former Lithuanian international Lawrence Trumpauskas lifted the mens singles and mens doubles titles at the Finals Night of the M&G Chelmsford Closed tournament, but only after a superb struggle with Steve Dettmar which went all the way to 24-22 in
New for 1999 at the Harwich Sports Centre is the start of the singles and doubles badminton leagues, played on a box system. These commenced on February 1 and consist of participants playing four matches per month. The winner of each box will be promoted
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
Angry residents of High Ongar are protesting about road hogs who speed in the village. Residents living in King Street near the Wheatsheaf pub between the A414 and Blackmore are raising a petition calling for a 40mph speed limit. Their action follows
Harold Hill and Harold Wood have made a shocking entry into the top 20 TV licensing board league of shame. A staggering 1,566 TV licence evaders were caught out in the RM postcode area, which encompasses Harold, putting it in 18th place in a national
A Billericay councillor has condemned the scrapping of a local commuter bus route as 'absolute madness'. First Thamesway decided to axe the 32/32a service, which ran every 10 minutes between Ramsden Heath and Billericay Railway Station, after research
As the funeral of 14-year-old meningitis victim Mitchell Kemp was taking place in Basildon today, health officials continued to take the situation in their stride. Mitchell, a student a Appleton school, Benfleet, died last week within four hours of reaching
Basildon celebrates its 50th anniversary with many events - including a marathon for the town's St Luke's Hospice. Here, Georgina Jupp, from the nearby Club Kingswood health centre, starts an advice column on how to get in shape for the ultimate run.
England's football hopefuls may have been disappointed but soccer crazy Lewis Swift was certainly not - well, only slightly. The 11-year-old had the time of his life after being chosen to lead the England side out in front of the 74,000 crowd at Wembley's
The seventh Cricket World Cup is being staged in England this summer and Essex are honoured to be hosting two of its group matches. Chelmsford will also be the venue for two warm-up games when the full Essex team will be playing against England and Bangladesh
German midfielder Lars Unger revealed today that Euro 96 played a big part in his decision to join Southend United. Unger, who has joined Blues on loan from Fortuna Dusseldorf until the end of the season, was spellbound by the atmosphere when his country
Basildon Council's soccer schools are all set to kick-off again during next week's half-term break. The four-day course at Markhams Chase Leisure Centre, Markhams Chase, Laindon, is the first of 12 schools that have been organised this year as part of
Two Southend Junior League sides battled through to the semi-finals of the Essex Andrews Cup with sparkling performances. Canvey Orient overcame County Park on penalties, while Shoebury-based Blackgate Gunners beat fellow Junior League outfit Woodside
A vicious attack on a Sunday league football referee left him bleeding and unconscious, just 10 minutes after kick off. The senior Spall Brentwood Sunday League game between Harold Wood-based Wood United and Elm Park had to be abandoned when referee Michael
Billericay stretched their winning run to 20 matches with a comprehensive victory over second in the table Old Cooperians and it also saw them pass their 600th league point of the season. Without skipper Paul Daly, being rested before next Saturday's
Two Brentwood Ursuline pupils excelled in the sport of basketball recently when they became the Girls NBA-2 Ball Basketball London Area Champions. Frances Hopkins (right), from Brentwood, and Grace Stimpson, from Collier Row, are both Year 11 students
Sheets of shimmering glass are giving a revolutionary £30million "office of the future" a futuristic look. Building work on BT's new Workstyle building, on the site of the old St Faith's Hospital at London Road, Brentwood, is on schedule with a May completion
Thousands of pounds are to be sunk into a controversial Wickford psychiatric hospital even though it is just months from closure. Runwell Hospital closes its doors in 2001 after a chequered history during which it has been dogged by controversy. In 1995
Robbers wielding a shotgun and a baseball bat have escaped with a haul of cash after raiding a mid Essex post office. Police have appealed for witnesses to the theft, which happened at about 5.25pm last night at the post office in Panfield Lane, Braintree
Exhibitors from throughout the south of England flocked to Corringham to show their miniature poultry at West Essex Bantam Club's annual show. Nearly 350 birds were on display at the Shell Club in Springhouse Road. The show also attracted a steady flow
Midwives were forced to turn a hospital car park into an impromptu maternity unit to deliver a baby. Baby Christopher King, of Heybridge, near Maldon, was due on March 1 but could not wait. Mum Carol, 26, went into labour on Tuesday in the front seat
An investigation by television reporters has revealed that Colchester Zoo bosses breached guidelines when they rescued maltreated elephants from Mary Chipperfield. But defiant zoo director Dominique Tropeano today said he would do the same "again and
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
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
A new defender is to have talks with the U's as competition for places hots up. Colchester United boss Mick Wadsworth refused to name him until talks are further along the line as he looks to strengthen the squad to ensure Division Two survival. But it
Billericay's Robert Smith is in celebratory mood after becoming the fastest under 17 cross country runner in Essex. Robert, 16, who trains at Basildon AAC, gained the prestigious title after winning the Essex League U17 Championship, being the Essex County
The next few weeks will see plenty of action involving some of the region's favourite boxers. First up will be Havering-atte-Bower cruiserweight Dominic Negus, who will battle it out with Kevin Mitchell for the vacant Southern Area title on Thursday,
A father today spoke of his pride for his son who was electrocuted. Thirteen-year-old Simon Boutflour died after a pipe he was upending touched an overhead 33,000-volt power cable at the family farm in Spinnels Lane, Wix. At the inquest into his death
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
A dream to create acres of open space to be enjoyed by Wickford's growing population was today a step closer. About £300,000 has been set aside to finally build a 46-acre park for Wickford's growing Wick estate. The cash has been included in Basildon
A woman injured after a birthday helicopter treat turned to disaster has been 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
SARAH OXLEY looks at the likely effects of the decision to axe police horses and motorbikes from the streets of Essex On the streets of Essex, police horses and motorbikes are to be a thing of the past. They are set to be axed as part of £7.1m cuts forced
Nearly one million pounds was raised in just two hours - through a radical sell-off of 26 Basildon Council homes. About 300 people flocked to the auction to try to pick up a bargain property as 15 homes went under the hammer. Originally 26 houses and
Sex monster Duncan Gurney was jailed today for 14 years for raping two schoolgirls and being cruel to a young boy. Gurney, 49, stood emotionless in the dock at Basildon Crown Court as Judge Philip Clegg described attacks on the children as "sheer wickedness
A cup semi-final, a capacity crowd, scores level with 14 seconds to play, this game had everything. Chelmsford Swifts played in their first ever National semi final when they took on Manchester Flames, the most important game in the club's three year
A comfortable win for the men from Colchester I.B.C. who played Jack's Centre Latchingdon in the Essex League winning by 12 points to 1 and by 39 shots overall. This was a good team performance winning on all away rinks by 32 shots. Rink Details: Home
Kieron Dyer is confident his England career is still on track even with a new manager. The Ipswich Town midfielder usually plays wing back for his country but Howard Wilkinson went straight to a 4-4-2 formation for the friendly against World Champions
Football crazy Lewis Swift, 11, stepped on to Wembley's hallowed turf last night in front of 80,000 cheering fans. Lewis, of Turpins Lane, Kirby, was over the moon after being chosen to lead the England side out at last night's Wembley international with
Nuisance caused by young people in North Weald and Shelley, near Ongar, has been targeted by police in a new bid to cut disturbances. It has been one of the main issues tackled along with criminal damage and non-dwelling burglaries. The initiative will
People power does have an effect on crime says the Metropolitan Police after figures released this week show that 1998 was a record-breaking year for the Crimestoppers line. The figures show a staggering 72 per cent hike in the number of arrests and clear-ups
Youngsters at Hadleigh County Juniors saw the age of the Romans come to life thanks to a visit by a travelling theatre group. The group, called Legion 14, used drama and their costumes to help give pupils a greater insight into life at the time. Some
Alex Birch, of Hutton, this week received confirmation that he has been selected for the Great Britain Youth Basketball team. Alex, 16, a pupil at the St Martin's School, Hutton is captain of the school team and also finds time to play for Essex, England
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
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
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 was expected to play for Colchester United's reserves against Swindon yesterday. But the search goes on for
Zoe Truscott, the club coach at the Brentwood Hard Court club, is holding an Adult tennis course at the club, starting on March 3. The six week course will be held every Wednesday evening, and for further details, telephone Zoe on 01277 623488. Before
Billericay Town FC is pleading with Basildon Council to reconsider plans which could send its rent bill soaring by as much as 500 per cent a year. The cash-strapped council, which owns the Blunts Wall Road site on which the club's New Lodge ground stands
New Rochford captain Richard Campbell-Carr was so nervous before stepping onto the tee for his driving in ceremony that he went for a lesson 15 minutes beforehand. However, that didn't stop him spanking a superb effort nearly 240 yards down the fairway
The life of a 22-year-old Brentwood man hung in the balance for several hours after he was punched and kicked to the ground in a savage assault. The victim is recovering from emergency surgery on a blood clot and broken jaw after being rushed to Oldchurch
You can take the millennium and stick it - on a letter or a parcel, or just in your stamp album. Thousands of philatelists will be rushing to buy the latest work from Dedham artist Allan Drummond. The art teacher, illustrator and writer will see his design
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
Bike and car fanatics are in for a treat if they visit Battlesbridge during the coming months. Several events are being held at the village's motorcycle museum and antiques centre in Maltings Road. The Essex scooter rally is planned for May 2 followed
A host of fund-raising events have boosted a major appeal. Members of the Stanford Ladies' Guild pulled out all the stops to raise £300 for the Lady McAdden's BUST breast screening unit. Brenda Hopcraft of the guild presented the £300 cheque to Frank
Castle Point Council's leisure department is celebrating becoming the borough's first department to win Investors In People status. The department received the honour from Essex Training and Enterprise Council after a rigorous assessment procedure and
Three cases of skin cancer have been detected by Brentwood's Court House Clinic since it opened just three months ago. The patients were unaware there was a serious problem and were positively diagnosed after visiting the clinic about wrinkles. The blatant
Former radio operator for Monty John Uppard had something of an explosive career, as TIM STOUT discovers As a boy, John Uppard was a regular visitor to the Science Museum in London. Who would have thought, watching him turn handles and press knobs on
A state-of-the-art cinema in Basildon is a step closer to becoming one of the biggest in the UK. The 12-screen UCI cinema on the town's Festival Leisure Park would be just the second in the country to have as many as 20 film screens. The venue, which
