Archive

  • Canvey: Battle of the pong

    A stomach-churning smell lingering over Canvey sparked calls on Friday for an official investigation. Furious islanders bombarded police, the fire brigade and local councillors with complaints about the sickening cabbage-like stench, believed to be gas

  • Basildon: 50 new jobs at holiday store

    A travel agency promising the glamour of Hollywood is to bring 50 new jobs to Basildon. In a joint venture by three companies including holiday operator First Choice, a giant Holiday Hypermarket is being built in the Fodderwick development in the centre

  • All change for LTS line

    The Southend to Fenchurch Street rail line could be changing its name as part of a major revamp. LTS Rail, once dubbed the misery line, could soon take on a brand new identity. Bosses will not confirm the name change, which is rumoured to be C to C, but

  • Tolleshunt Major: Timber blaze arson probe

    Four hundred tonnes of timber went up in flames in a suspected arson attack on Friday. Police and fire officers were at Colchester Timber and Boards Company in Tolleshunt Major for most of the day after flames ripped through the stack of wood in the early

  • Cricket: Nasser: I've learnt a lot!

    Nasser Hussain admits to having had a baptism of fire in his first game as England cricket captain. After leading his country to a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the First Test at Edgbaston, Essex skipper Hussain admitted: "I thought it might take

  • Hadleigh: Sex attacker in assault on boy

    Police were today hunting a man who indecently assaulted an 11-year-old boy on Hadleigh Downs. The young boy was playing football near Hadleigh Castle with a friend when the man approached the pair and joined the game. The man then indecently assaulted

  • Running: Malseed misses big Colchester race

    Robert Malseed was not defending his Colchester 10km road race title yesterday. The Colchester-based athlete was instead running in the Inter Area Midlands Championship road event in Birmingham. The event, organised by Colchester Harriers Athletics Club

  • Ingatestone: The hot team

    What, you might ask, do a plumber, retail manager, two landscape gardeners, a painter and decorator, a lighting technician and a couple of builders have in common? Well, for a start, none of them are frightened of heights which is just as well as they

  • Colchester: Traffic calming gets go-ahead

    New traffic-calming measures have been given the go-ahead for the St Anne's estate in Colchester. Highways chiefs have listened to residents who told a public consultation exercise one of their biggest concerns was the speed of cars near their homes.

  • Chelmsford: Just seconds to spare as man is saved in fire

    Firefighters saved the life of a man who was only a few seconds from death in his smoke-filled Chelmsford flat just after midnight on Sunday morning. They had been alerted by three friends returning home early from a night-spot. The friends' swift action

  • Chelmsford: Car dealer helps Farleigh funds

    Matthams Motors, the Mitsubishi dealers, based in Colchester Road, Springfield, are helping to drive fund-raising for Farleigh Hospice forward with an unusual initiative. They have set a target to sell 50 Carisma cars by the end of August -- and for every

  • Little Baddow: Boating Festival 99 raises much-needed funds

    Little Baddow's picturesque Paper Mill Lock played host on Sunday for the first time to the annual Boating Festival. Organised by The Friends of the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation, the fun-filled event began in sunshine, but ended in showers. Despite

  • Colchester: Passport for Tanya in nick of time

    Relieved bride-to-be Tanya Trood was on Friday celebrating the news that her honeymoon was back on after an eleventh-hour plea secured her a passport. On Thursday This Is Essex revealed that Tanya, 28, was facing a wedding with no honeymoon after the

  • Mid Essex: Hopes rise in cancer service fight

    Hopes are rising that radiotherapy services for cancer patients in Mid Essex will be retained in Colchester rather than being centralised in Ipswich. The prospect of cancer patients having to travel to Ipswich for radiotherapy treatment had caused a storm

  • £37 million development in heart of Chelmsford

    Property giant Countryside is investing £37 million in a major office project in the heart of Chelmsford. The development, known as the Coval Wells campus, will breathe new life into the former abbatoir and Co-op dairy depot site off Parkway, which has

  • Colchester: 'We deserve to be city' says mayor

    Colchester mayor Martin Hunt said yesterday he believed scrapping the town's application for city status was wrong. A committee of Colchester councillors decided on Tuesday that the bid to switch from a town to a city might jeopardise the Colchester boast

  • West Bergholt: Wedding holiday woe

    A distraught bride-to-be will miss her honeymoon this weekend because her passport is sitting on a desk in Peterborough. Tanya Trood marries her fiance Steve on Saturday in a fairytale white wedding in Little Horkesley. But the fairytale has fast descended

  • Braintree: Prosecution likely over sewage leak

    Anglian Water could be prosecuted over a sewage leak from its Braintree treatment works which polluted the rivers Brain and Blackwater last week, the Environment Agency has announced. If a case is brought before magistrates the company could face penalties

  • Canvey: Battle of the pong

    A stomach-churning smell lingering over Canvey sparked calls today for an official investigation. Furious islanders bombarded police, the fire brigade and local councillors with complaints about the sickening cabbage-like stench, believed to be gas, which

  • £37 million development in heart of Chelmsford

    Property giant Countryside is investing £37 million in a major office project in the heart of Chelmsford. The development, known as the Coval Wells campus, will breathe new life into the former abbatoir and Co-op dairy depot site off Parkway, which has

  • Athletics: Lack of entries could cost Chelmsford dear

    Last Saturday saw Chelmsford Athletic Club Ladies Team travel to Hillingdon for their third Southern Women's League meeting of the season. A mid table position before the meeting meant that a good result could set the club up for a push for promotion,

  • Tolleshunt Major: Timber blaze arson probe

    Four hundred tonnes of timber went up in flames in a suspected arson attack today(Friday). Police and fire officers were expected to be at Colchester Timber and Boards Company in Tolleshunt Major for most of the day after flames ripped through the stack

  • Golf: 1966 World Cup winners at Channels

    Channels Golf Club in Little Waltham played host to the Alexander Forbes Corporate Golf Day on Thursday. Pictured right with James Houlder, the Managing Director of Alex Forbes Special Risks, and his guests, are two members of the 1966 England World Cup

  • Soccer: Little Friday-night fun for Colchester fans

    Colchester United fans face disappointment after it was revealed there will be little Friday night action to watch in the coming season. The amended fixture list, now completed, shows Layer Road will stage just two Friday games in 1999-2000 - compared

  • Great Leighs: Chess star Alastair

    Thirteen-year-old Chelmsford chess prodigy Alastair Hung (above) will be taking on UK Grand Masters Matthew Saddler and John Speelman in the UK chess championships at Nottingham University this month. And in August he will be taking part in the British

  • Witham school hits cash jackpot

    A Witham school has hit the jackpot just in time with two huge cash donations to meet the £35,000 needed for its bid to become a technology college. A computer company and a trust came up trumps as Rickstones head teacher, Norma Turner and her staff explored

  • Soccer: Parkin just the ticket for U's?

    Wimbledon goalkeeper Brian Parkin was ready to stake a claim for a new career with Colchester United today. But the Selhurst Park deputy to the Dons Scottish international Neil Sullivan could be put under pressure from former Spurs keeper Simon Brown.

  • Golf: Clacton and Braintree keep the flag flying in cup

    Clacton and Braintree will fly the north and mid Essex flag in the quarter finals of the countywide Thornton Challenge Cup. In the third round of the competition, Clacton built their victory on an outstanding morning in the foursomes against Rochford

  • Running: 10k run goes West

    Peter West claimed a unique double in the Colchester 10km road race title yesterday. The Colchester Harriers ace recorded a time of 34 minutes 22 seconds to come in ahead of Colin Pitts (34.37) and Tom Payn (35.41) in the men's event. And it was his win

  • Cricket: Price too good for lowly hosts

    Horndon 187 Walthamstow 93 (Horndon won) Horndon looked in trouble in Division One at 93-8 but were rescued by an "Alex Tudor style" recovery, with number nine batsman Mark Warren wading in with an unbeaten 53. Lowly hosts Walthamstow were always struggling

  • Tennis: Preparing for championships

    Essex mens and ladies teams are in action in the LTA Inter County Grass Court Championships in a couple of weeks. The men are back in Group One after three years in the lower reaches and play at Eastbourne and hoping to win the national title. They will

  • Soccer: Colchester back in training

    Colchester United returned to training on Thursday after their summer break with assistant boss Steve Whitton enthusing "let's play football". Training began without manager Mick Wadsworth, who has been absent through illness all week, so Whitton took

  • Chelmsford: Cameras help police tackle violence in the home

    Chelmsford Police Domestic Violence Unit is out to prove that pictures speak just as loud as words. Four sponsored polaroid cameras will be available to officers from today (Friday) to help with instant evidence and ease the fears of domestic violence

  • Chelmsford: Bobby at Boswells

    <A multi-talented ensemble, including musician Bobby Crush, 11 BBC radio presenters from local stations across the eastern region and members of the BBC Symphony chorus have recorded Swinging on a Star -- to help the BBC Children in Need appeal go

  • Southend: 'I'll turn around failing school'

    A failing school has been placed on the Government's special measures register amid serious concerns over academic standards. Grant maintained Thorpe Bay School in Southchurch Boulevard, Southend was singled out for urgent attention following a snap inspection

  • Braintree: New housing on old depot

    An estate of affordable homes has been approved for a brownfield site in East Braintree. The 49 two and three bedroomed terraced houses will be built on Braintree Council's Hay Lane depot as part of the area's regeneration plan. Plans for the development

  • Grays: Gorillas in the midst of the schoolchildren!

    A fleet of flying gorillas are heading towards the Thameside Theatre! However, budding David Attenborough's have no need to look to the skies - the Flying Gorillas are a dance company who will be making a special appearance at the theatre in Orsett Road

  • Great Leighs: Chess star Alastair

    Thirteen-year-old Chelmsford chess prodigy Alastair Hung (above) will be taking on UK Grand Masters Matthew Saddler and John Speelman in the UK chess championships at Nottingham University this month. And in August he will be taking part in the British

  • Cricket: Essex saved by super Such Skipper

    Spinner Peter Such kept Essex in the hunt for victory with career best figures of 13-213 in the Championship match with Lancashire at Old Trafford. Having been set a daunting 301 for victory, Essex will need a further 268 runs today, with all their second

  • Ice Hockey: Chieftains sign top netminder

    The preparation for the 1999/2000 ice hockey season has begun in earnest for the Chelmsford Chieftains Ice Hockey Club. Having appointed Erskine Douglas as head coach and named Andy Hannah as Douglas' assistant, the club is now busy in the ever difficult

  • Soccer: Tilson back to his Roots

    Former Southend United star Steve Tilson has returned to Roots Hall to play a vital role in producing the Third Division club's future stars. The 32-year-old fans favourite has been made director of Blues' new centre of excellence - made possible by the

  • Soccer: Hammers' top man joins Southend

    Former West Ham supremo Peter Storrie will be named as Southend United's new chief executive today. After months of top secret negotiations Echosport can reveal that Storrie, who quit Upton Park in May, will officially join the Third Division club's hierarchy

  • Great Leighs: Farmer David's amazing maze

    A race against time helped a farmer achieve fame by creating the world's largest maze - but only for 24 hours. David Partridge, who owns Rochester Farm in Great Leighs, near Braintree, could find himself in the Guinness Book of Records for his 4.2 mile

  • Cricket: Poor batting leaves Essex fearing drop

    Essex were sent crashing to another National League defeat at Old Trafford where Lancashire coasted home by seven-wickets after being left a modest target of 169. Brittle batting once again explains why the County were unable to make a decent fight of

  • Soccer: Little Friday-night fun for Colchester fans

    Colchester United fans today faced disappointment after it was revealed there will be little Friday night action to watch in the coming season. The amended fixture list, now completed, shows Layer Road will stage just two Friday games in 1999-2000 - compared

  • Soccer: Ipswich pair sign new contracts

    Ipswich Town pair James Scowcroft and Titus Bramble today (Friday) both signed new four-year contracts. The fresh deals will keep them at Portman Road until June 2003 and boost the club's chances of reaching the Premiership next season. Boss George Burley

  • Running: Malseed set to miss big Colchester race

    Robert Malseed will not be defending his Colchester 10km road race title on Sunday. The Colchester-based athlete is instead running in the Inter Area Midlands Championship road event in Birmingham. The event, organised by Colchester Harriers Athletics

  • Athletics: Schools poised for track and field test

    One of the top events on the senior schools' athletics calendar takes place tomorrow when the Track and Field Team Cup national finals are staged at Corby, Northants - with South Essex line-ups having excellent chances of grabbing gold. The English Schools

  • Cricket: New directive causes confusion

    A new directive aimed at protecting young bowlers from injury has been causing confusion among league clubs. The England and Wales Cricket Board has introduced restrictions on the number of overs a young fast bowler can bowl and has also issued instructions

  • Athletics: Lack of entries could cost Chelmsford dear

    Saturday saw Chelmsford Athletic Club Ladies Team travel to Hillingdon for their third Southern Women's League meeting of the season. A mid table position before the meeting meant that a good result could set the club up for a push for promotion, but

  • Soccer: Billericay boss brings in some familiar faces

    New Billericay Town boss Gary Calder has continued his busy summer shopping spree as the new Ryman League Premier Division campaign rapidly approaches. As with his first three buys, the latest list of new Calder captures is packed with names closely associated

  • Laindon: Baby cruelty charges

    A Laindon couple have been charged with cruelty after a baby was rushed to hospital with serious injuries. The man has also been charged with grievous bodily harm after being quizzed by police officers from the Rayleigh Child Protection Unit since Wednesday

  • Tendring: Funds lifeline for seven schools

    Seven primary schools in Tendring have such bad conditions they are being given priority in a bid for private funding. Frinton, Great Bentley, Great Bromley, Harwich, Engaines in Little Clacton, Ramsey and Wix primary schools are part of a preliminary

  • Witham: Town’s Medieval Fayre smashes all the records

    Chipping Hill's annual Medieval Fayre smashed all records on Saturday, raising a best-ever figure of over £5,200 for St Nicolas' Church in Witham. Over 3,000 people packed the churchyard and Chipping Hill green for the event, which is now in its 23rd

  • Woodham: Roadshow and soccer stars at town’s big event

    A bigger and better line-up than ever is planned for this year's South Woodham Spectacular. Organisers are hoping to smash last year's profits of £5,000 at the event to be held at St Joseph's Primary School on Saturday, July 10 from 12-5pm. Highlights

  • Uttlesford: Bright future for community transport

    Uttlesford Community Travel will meet the transport needs of even more disadvantaged people in the future, its new transport manager, John Wells, pledged this week. Mr Wells, who took up his appointment this month, will be working to increase the scheme's

  • Police praise Chelmsford man's sea rescue bid

    A Chelmsford electronics engineer on a weekend trip to the Isle of Wight has been praised by Hampshire police for trying to revive an elderly man in the sea. Christopher Hayes, 26, was walking between Collwell Bay and Totland around 2.45pm on Sunday when

  • Essex: Care for elderly confusion

    Help the Aged is calling on Essex MPs to demand action from the Government on long term care. In the past 12 months the charity has taken 455 calls from older people in Essex who are confused and anxious about their care and how to pay for it. The concern

  • Essex TEC awards to further equality

    Essex Training & Enterprise Council (TEC) has announced the winners of their new 1999 Equal Opportunities Awards for Suppliers. The scheme, which is in its first year of operation, has been initiated by Essex TEC to reward those companies who have

  • Chelmsford: Police in hunt for sex attacker

    Police are examining closed circuit television footage after an early morning sex attack near a Chelmsford park. The 37-year-old victim was walking home by Bellmead Park around 3.25 on Saturday when she was indecently assaulted. Ds Pete Redman, of Chelmsford

  • Mid Essex: Hopes rise in cancer service fight

    Hopes are rising that radiotherapy services for cancer patients in Mid Essex will be retained in Colchester rather than being centralised in Ipswich. The prospect of cancer patients having to travel to Ipswich for radiotherapy treatment had caused a storm

  • Chelmsford: Drugs seizures total 165 in year

    Individual drugs seizures in Chelmsford police division have totalled 165 in the last year. And the division's police chief, Superintend-ent Brian Storey, has said that there were 307 arrests involving drug-related crime during the same period. Police

  • Chelmsford: Tenth anniversary for breast screen service

    Chelmsford's breast screening service is celebrating its tenth anniversary - and it has come a long way since being sited in an X-ray department behind the former Chelmsford and Essex hospital. The screening service spread its wings and moved into the

  • Mine host of the old school...

    TOM KING meets the landlord of the latest Pub of the Year, John Vereker, of the Bell Inn at Horndon on the Hill Mine hosts, the genuine, merry, roaring, high-living, warm-blooded, wide-girthed good old boys who hold court like princelings of hearty fare

  • Essex: Masked ball for the new millennium

    There is a fabulous masked ball planned for tomorrow night to raise thousands of pounds for Essex good causes. Arranged by the Essex Millennium Festival, there are still tickets available for the event which will take place in the home of the High Sheriff

  • Tales and legends of Essex country walks

    A walk through the history of Essex is promised by a new book published this month. Walking with our Heritage in Essex, details 10 walks across the county, each with an historical perspective. The book reflects the twin passions of author George Hassan

  • Little Baddow: Boating Festival 99 raises much-needed funds

    Little Baddow's picturesque Paper Mill Lock played host on Sunday for the first time to the annual Boating Festival. Organised by The Friends of the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation, the fun-filled event began in sunshine, but ended in showers. Despite

  • Thundersley: 20 injured in pub brawl

    Police officers were needed to break-up a huge pub brawl which left more than 20 people injured. Violence broke out at the Bread and Cheese pub, London Road, Thundersley, at closing time on Saturday. During the fight between drinkers and a stag party,

  • Shoebury: 500 jobs hope for garrison

    Up to 500 new jobs were promised today by the first bidder to declare a hand in the high-stakes competition for Shoebury Garrison. The key plan to revive and regenerate the derelict barracks and vast land holding was revealed as a catering college and

  • Clacton: Steve on hand to take early delivery

    Builder Steve Lipscombe turned midwife to deliver his newborn daughter - including calmly freeing the cord from around her neck. The DIY delivery started after Steve's girlfriend Michelle Clayson decided she would go out with the couple's other child,

  • Rising toll of Braintree road deaths 'disgrace'

    A top-ranking police officer has branded the soaring death toll on the region's roads as a "disgrace". Divisional commander Supt Peter Sheldrake said the Braintree district's roads were among the most dangerous in Essex. He said: "There were 20 fatalities

  • Frinton boy 's £1.1m award

    A seven-year-old boy who suffered brain damage due to doctors' failure to give him vitamin K after his birth today won £1.1 million in compensation at the High Court, London. Jordan Ovenden, of Pole Barn Lane, Frinton, sustained "significant structural

  • Chelmsford: Drugs seizures total 165 in year

    Individual drugs seizures in Chelmsford police division have totalled 165 in the last year. And the division's police chief, Superintendent Brian Storey, has said that there were 307 arrests involving drug-related crime during the same period. Police

  • Pilgrims Hatch: Head marches class out of sex education play

    Children from Pilgrims Hatch were led out of a sex education play at Brentwood Theatre halfway through because their head teacher thought it was too explicit. The children were attending a performance of We Don't Talk About It, an English translation

  • Chelmsford: Detectives in hunt for killer await test results

    The detective leading the hunt for the brutal killer of Chelmsford pensioner Ron Cousins said on Wednesday that he was awaiting results of scientific testing, but still believed that someone locally knew the murderer. Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Macey

  • Double top! Title glory for Essex schools

    Southend High for Girls and King John, Thundersley, were today revelling in being national schools' athletic champions of England. While Southend High were winning the junior girls' title on Saturday, King John triumphed in the similar boys' competition

  • Tales and legends of Essex country walks

    A walk through the history of Essex is promised by a new book published this month. Walking with our Heritage in Essex, details 10 walks across the county, each with an historical perspective. The book reflects the twin passions of author George Hassan

  • Colchester: Parrot masterminds the snake escape

    The great snake escape in Colchester, which put a school on its guard, was masterminded by... a parrot. Teacher Rachel Goodfellow, of Philip Morant School, spotted a black, red and yellow banded snake in the school woods. After being captured it was realised

  • Brentwood: Trust fined £20,000 after death of patient

    A health trust has been fined £20,000 after a Warley Hospital patient was killed by a reversing lorry. Pensioner Albert Walters, 72, died minutes after the lorry, carrying prepared food, crushed him in the grounds of the Brentwood Hospital. Barking, Havering

  • Basildon: 50 new jobs at holiday store

    A travel agency promising the glamour of Hollywood is to bring 50 new jobs to Basildon. In a joint venture by three companies including holiday operator First Choice, a giant Holiday Hypermarket is being built in the Fodderwick development in the centre

  • Basildon: Guilty! Lonely hearts rapist

    Lonely hearts rapist Sean Walker today faces a long prison sentence after being convicted of hideous sex attacks on three former girlfriends. The length of the sentence will be decided after Walker has been examined by two psychiatrists -- one independent

  • Colchester: Passport for Tanya in nick of time

    Relieved bride-to-be Tanya Trood was today celebrating the news that her honeymoon was back on after an eleventh-hour plea secured her a passport. Yesterday This Is Essex revealed that Tanya, 28, was facing a wedding with no honeymoon after the Passport

  • Rising toll of Braintree road deaths 'disgrace'

    A top-ranking police officer has branded the soaring death toll on the region's roads as a "disgrace". Divisional commander Supt Peter Sheldrake said the Braintree district's roads were among the most dangerous in Essex. He said: "There were 20 fatalities

  • Westcliff: Drive-thru garage

    Teenager Ciaran O'Shea got a wake up call with a difference today when a car ploughed through a concrete post and into his parents' garage. The 17-year-old leapt out of bed when he heard a screech and a loud crash directly outside the house in Kings Road

  • Cricket: New directive causes confusion

    A new directive aimed at protecting young bowlers from injury has been causing confusion among league clubs. The England and Wales Cricket Board has introduced restrictions on the number of overs a young fast bowler can bowl and has also issued instructions

  • Soccer: Ipswich pair sign new contracts

    Ipswich Town pair James Scowcroft and Titus Bramble have both signed new four-year contracts. The fresh deals will keep them at Portman Road until June 2003 and boost the club's chances of reaching the Premiership next season. Boss George Burley said:

  • Motorsport: Annie's steady race

    Brentwood racer Annie Templeton, driving the 'Talk Radio' backed MGF, was back in action at Brands Hatch last weekend in round six of the 1999 MGF Cup Championship. For Templeton, the weekend started with qualifying, where she qualified in 22nd place,

  • Soccer: Burley bid to keep Petta

    George Burley is still hoping to persuade Dutchman Bobby Petta to stay at Ipswich Town. A club spokesperson said today the Portman Road boss would be meeting the unsettled 24-year-old tomorrow in the hope of settling a deal. Petta is understood to have

  • Golf: Alan's best of the county's seniors

    Alan Macnaught is the new Essex senior golf champion. The 52-year-old Scot, who plays for Colchester Golf Club, lifted the prestigious new trophy after winning the two-round competition held at Chelmsford. Staged for only the second time, the over-50s

  • Chelmsford pupils quiz top editor for internet

    Intrepid young reporters from Larkrise County Primary School in Chelmsford have interviewed the editor of the Times newspaper Peter Stothard. Mr Stothard, a former pupil at the school, faced tough questions about his work and childhood memories during

  • Burnham's grand finale

    The month-long Burnham '99 Festival of Music and the Arts reached its grand finale last weekend, attracting some 600 visitors each day. Youngsters took part in a youth showcase at Millfields, and a five-hour concert was given by blues and rock bands including

  • Billericay residents fail to stop bar plan

    Controversial plans to turn a Billericay supermarket into a pub have been given the go-ahead. Protesters shouted cries of "whitewash" from the public gallery as the Wetherspoon pub planned for the High Street was approved. Around ten objectors were on

  • Cricket round-up: Bluehouse overpowered...

    BLUEHOUSE 147 WOODHAM MORTIMER 148-6 (WOODHAM WON) Batting first, Bluehouse failed to register enough runs to trouble second placed Woodham Mortimer in this Division Three encounter. Mason (25) and Fayers (22) were the best Bluehouse had to offer defending

  • Golf: 1966 World Cup winners at Channels

    Channels Golf Club in Little Waltham played host to the Alexander Forbes Corporate Golf Day on Thursday. Pictured right with James Houlder, the Managing Director of Alex Forbes Special Risks, and his guests, are two members of the 1966 England World Cup

  • Cricket: Parker's 54 in vain...

    Basildon 124 Harlow 125-4 (Harlow won) Outstanding batting side Harlow left struggling Basildon nursing another Mopsies Park setback after the home outfit had been dismissed for 124. An outstanding knock by Steve Parker (54) helped Basildon along and

  • Mid Essex: Power cut hits homes

    Hundreds of people across mid Essex were left without electricity after lightning struck power supplies. The powerful storm hit in the early hours of Saturday morning, and caused a number of power cuts across the Braintree area. Between 200 and 250 households

  • Southend: Baker's Bar fire

    Around 500 people were evacuated from popular Southend nightspot the Baker's Bar when a fire broke out in a ventilation system on Saturday. The late-night fire was the second in three days and firemen said engineers had been called to thoroughly examine

  • Rochford: Hospital rape claim

    A man was today due to appear in court charged with raping a teenager. Police were called by the 18-year-old alleged victim in the early hours of yesterday morning. She claimed she had been attacked in the grounds of Rochford Hospital. A man was arrested

  • Canvey: Lost youngster

    A five-year-old child was today with foster parents after being found wandering alone around a Canvey caravan park. Police were alerted to the youngster's plight after he was spotted walking alone in Kings caravan park on Saturday. The boy, who was said

  • Canvey: House saved as garage burns

    A family returned from walking their dogs to see their garage destroyed in a blaze. Firefighters acted quickly to stop the garage blaze destroying the family's home in Park Avenue, Canvey. Crews from the island's fire station were called to the detached

  • Asbestos alert at Runwell Hospital

    Potentially deadly asbestos has been uncovered by contractors working at Runwell Hospital. The material - believed to be the more hazardous blue variety - was found in ducts in a corridor of the Wickford hospital's medium secure wing which is being renovated

  • Clacton: Steve on hand to take early delivery

    Builder Steve Lipscombe turned midwife to deliver his newborn daughter - including calmly freeing the cord from around her neck. The DIY delivery started after Steve's girlfriend Michelle Clayson decided she would go out with the couple's other child,

  • Southend: Hunt for naked swimmer

    A naked man seen walking into the sea at Southend in the early hours of this morning sparked a major search by rescue services. The man was spotted heading for the water at around 1.30am. Worried witnesses called police who in turn alerted the coastguard

  • Rayleigh: Bus driver in telegraph pole smash

    A bus driver was taken to hospital after being involved in a smash in Rayleigh today. The driver was not seriously injured but needed a check-up at Southend Hospital after the vehicle, which was not carrying any passengers, is believed to have collided

  • Pitsea: Stilton's my little pony

    A seriously-ill Shetland pony has been adopted from a Pitsea sanctuary - by the vet who is nursing him back to full health. The pony, named Stilton, was sent to the Essex Horse and Pony Protection Sanctuary from Tilbury by the RSPCA. The neck of the four-year-old

  • Benfleet: We're friends for life

    Best friends forever - that's the claim from two seven-year-olds who have won through to the final of a TV contest to find the closest pals in the country. Kate Marris and Natalie Jackson are one of three pairs of lucky finalists who will be featured

  • Maldon: Thumbs down to Tesco plan

    Plans for a major extension to the Tesco store in Maldon which would almost double its size have been given the thumbs down by town councillors. Councillors on the planning committee voted this week by a narrow margin to oppose an application to increase

  • Chelmsford: Tourism action plan

    Chelmsford Council is to consult on the borough's first draft Tourism Strategy aimed at producing a vision and action plan to develop tourism in the borough in a co-ordinated way. The 46 page strategy, drawn up by consultants, and covering the period

  • Chelmsford: The Tumble Tots way to a fun day

    Fun filled The Meadows shopping centre in Chelmsford at the weekend when hundreds of youngsters and their families joined in the Tumble Tots birthday party and Sunday Funday. The event, in aid of the charity BLISS - Baby Life Support Systems - celebrated

  • Recycling is way for Essex rubbish now

    A decision has been taken to recycle the county's rubbish wherever possible in a bid to avoid the need for incinerators. Essex County Council, which has to dispose of the refuse collected by district and borough councils, has bowed to massive opposition

  • Basildon: Man who killed for Jesus

    A family torn apart by a senseless killing five years ago are still struggling to put the tragedy behind them. Psychiatric patient Karl Edgley, who fatally stabbed young Basildon dad Paul Smith, has been locked away indefinitely after finally being declared

  • Frinton boy 's £1.1m award

    A seven-year-old boy who suffered brain damage due to doctors' failure to give him vitamin K after his birth today won £1.1 million in compensation at the High Court, London. Jordan Ovenden, of Pole Barn Lane, Frinton, sustained "significant structural

  • All change for LTS line

    The Southend to Fenchurch Street rail line could be changing its name as part of a major revamp. LTS Rail, once dubbed the misery line, could soon take on a brand new identity. Bosses will not confirm the name change, which is rumoured to be C to C, but

  • Witham school hits cash jackpot

    A Witham school has hit the jackpot just in time with two huge cash donations to meet the £35,000 needed for its bid to become a technology college. A computer company and a trust came up trumps as Rickstones head teacher, Norma Turner and her staff explored

  • Chelmsford: Detectives in hunt for killer await test results

    The detective leading the hunt for the brutal killer of Chelmsford pensioner Ron Cousins said on Wednesday that he was awaiting results of scientific testing, but still believed that someone locally knew the murderer. Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Macey

  • Chelmsford: Blunkett and Darling visit

    Education Secretary David Blunkett and Social Security Secretary Alastair Darling were in Chelmsford on Monday -- to launch one of four national pilot schemes where the Government's new deal for jobs and welfare are brought under ONE roof. They were visiting

  • Ice Hockey: Chieftains sign top netminder

    The preparation for the 1999/2000 ice hockey season has begun in earnest for the Chelmsford Chieftains Ice Hockey Club. Having appointed Erskine Douglas as head coach and named Andy Hannah as Douglas' assistant, the club is now busy in the ever difficult

  • Essex: Masked ball for the new millennium

    There is a fabulous masked ball planned for tomorrow night to raise thousands of pounds for Essex good causes. Arranged by the Essex Millennium Festival, there are still tickets available for the event which will take place in the home of the High Sheriff

  • Arty Iris has them in stitches

    Artistic Iris Farrington will have two examples of her exquisite handiwork on show at Olympia next week during the National Quilt Championships. Mrs Farrington who has lived in Sidwell Park, Benfleet for the past 16 years, retired from her job as an industrial

  • Chelmsford: Tenth anniversary for breast screen service

    Chelmsford's breast screening service is celebrating its tenth anniversary - and it has come a long way since being sited in an X-ray department behind the former Chelmsford and Essex hospital. The screening service spread its wings and moved into the

  • Rayleigh: Hands off our playing fields

    A playing field that has been protected from development in a pioneering land deal could set an example in the fight to save the British countryside, campaigners said today. Protesters gathered at Sweyne Park playing field in Rayleigh today, the only

  • Wickford, Runwell: Who poisoned my Samson?

    A dog was today recovering after eating deadly slug pellets believed to have been planted by animal haters. Ronica Venus was forced to rush her 11-year-old golden labrador Samson to the vets after he started vomiting violently. She had earlier taken him