A six-year-old boy was yesterday fighting for his life after he was involved in a road accident yards from his home. Adam Puffett, of Glenmere, Vange, was in a critical but stable condition in intensive care at London's Great Ormond Street Children's
A project costing more than £1million has been launched aimed at helping hospital patients in Clacton and Harwich to return home more quickly and free up much-needed bed space. The collaborative care project launched in Colchester last year by Essex Rivers
A family has been made homeless after a child playing with matches is believed to have started a blaze in a bedroom. Firefighters from Clacton and Weeley went to the fire at the house in Goose Green, Tendring, at around midday on Sunday. The mother and
Veteran popster Gene Pitney calls in with his show at the Brentwood Centre this month. TIM BOWDEN catches up with him during his nationwide tour Singer Gene Pitney is determined to make sure life on the road is not just an exercise in nostalgia. The American
A prison officer has denied punching a teenage inmate - and claimed he actually protected him from other prisoners. Paul Cook told the inquest into Christopher Walker's death that he also let him out of his cell when other inmates were not allowed out
What a way to be escorted from your wedding! Groom Stephen Ashby decided to give his blushing bride a surprise when they emerged from their nuptials at Clifftown Reformed Church in Nelson Road, Southend, and whisked her to the wedding reception in an
Wedding bells will soon be ringing for a couple thanks to This Is Essex partner paper the Echo. Cheryl James, 45, will marry Gary Raynham, 43, on October 21 - after meeting through Matchmakers in January last year. The couple, who now live together at
Two men wrestled with a moving chainsaw in a row over smoke from a bonfire. Owen Martin was left with cuts to his thighs after Robert Sansom, 51, of Coggeshall, grabbed for the "lethal weapon", Chelmsford Crown Court heard. Matthew Owens, prosecuting,
The mother of Southall rail crash victim Peter Kavanagh today felt she had been "punched in the stomach" at the tragic news of the Paddington rail crash. Maureen Kavanagh, of Somerset Road, Laindon, has just marked the second anniversary of her son's
A pilot and his passenger had a lucky escape when their light aircraft crashed and smashed into a tree as it was coming in to land at Clacton. Both men from the Shoreham area of Brighton had to be cut free from the wreckage by firefighters and were flown
Ipswich boss George Burley was left deflated after watching his side concede two "horrendous" goals at Grimsby. Kevin Donovan evaded his marker to head Grimsby into the lead before Lee Ashcroft capitalised on a hapless backpass from John McGreal to stab
Colchester United's Wembley FA Trophy-winning hero Steve McGavin could be back in U's colours today. And there is a return to action for record signing Neil Gregory - transfer-listed by Whitton several weeks ago - who is back in the Layer Road fold after
A call for a green commuter policy for staff and councillors of Maldon District Council has been rejected. Under the scheme a survey would have been carried out into the journeys made by council staff to discover if they could be made by public transport
Caring Wickford motorists have taken a pledge to cut their speed, in a bid to slash the number of road accidents. The anti-speeding Commitment Campaign drew slowly and safely into Wickford police station, to encourage drivers to sign their names and agree
Two pupils from the Deanes Sports College, Thundersley, are in line for international selection. Louisa Brownfield and Collette Maskell were both picked out by talent scouts to attend England netball trials. They play for Deanes' under-16 netball club
Wickford-based Carousel Gym Club started the new season with Essex success when the County in and out of age levels championships were held at Basildon's South Essex Club. The competition was also a qualifier for the regional finals of the out of age
Who is the real Sammy the Shrimp? TV star Darren Posnack, 26, of Gordon Road, Southend, who is to feature in an ITV programme on football mascots tonight, claims he is the real Sammy the Shrimp. But schoolboy Ben Duncan, of Lavender Grove, Westcliff,
Colchester Harrier Paul McHugh was first across the line in the open five-kilometre race around Maldon's Promenade Park. The event, organised to raise funds for the town's SWANS charity, also included a race over one kilometre for under 15s and a wheelchair
A Colchester toy store had a special visitor when Barbie dropped in for the day. The blonde bombshell signed autographs and gave away yo-yos at Toymaster Kingdom in Culver Street West. Youngsters who went to the store on Saturday could also enter a wordsearch
They say a gambler never wins but one charity has had a windfall thanks to a bookmaker. The Essex Air Ambulance Appeal has been given a £50 boost thanks to Ladbrokes in Wickford High Street. It could have won a lot more, but was let down by a horse who
An action plan to curb rampaging youths on a council estate is being studied by council chiefs. Castle Point Council is considering closing alleyways on Canvey's Avenues Estate - a focal point for vandalism and drunkenness all summer. The move comes after
A warehouse worker today faced an anxious wait to learn his fate after he was found guilty of helping steal about £300,000 of goods from his employer. Jason Brock, 27, stood silent in the dock as the jury foreman delivered a majority verdict of 10-1 at
Four pupils have been suspended from school after a pupil was injured in a playground airgun incident. A boy took two plastic replica airguns to Philip Morant School, Prettygate. Russell Moon, headteacher of the 1,600-pupil school, said yesterday: "During
No, it's not Henry the escaped Burmese python on the loose again - but another member of the same scaly species. This handsome Burmese python - just like hungry Henry, who sparked a major alert when he escaped from his Leigh home last week - was one of
Chris Wilson, a year ten pupil at The Deanes School, Thundersley, has been chosen to join Wimbledon Football Club's soccer academy. He will be training at the Premiership club two evenings a week and at weekends will take part in tournaments against other
Council must back United Blues' chief executive Peter Storrie is to be commended in his efforts to get some of the missing thousands back to Roots Hall, but I fear he faces a huge job. Initiatives like the new family enclosure where a dad and son can
Southend racing driver Bill Stilwell is looking forward to next weekend's final round of the MGFCup at Silverstone knowing that he has built a solid foundation for next year's championship. The 36-year-old came into the championship as a rear-wheel drive
A group set up to fight for the reintroduction of escorts on secondary school buses will not give up until they have achieved their aim. That was the message from Parents Against Unescorted School Transport which held a public meeting at St Osyth last
Charity shop volunteers have condemned a thief who stole £270 in cancer research money. The man, aged around 18, walked into the Cancer Research Shop in Bank Street, Braintree, before grabbing cash out of a storeroom and running away. There were two staff
A car thief went mad and rammed two cars - then ran off, leaving his best pal to face angry owners of the cars. Andrew Rosendale, 26, of Harlech Close, Pitsea, was surrounded by a mob of baying neighbours who had streamed out of their homes when they
Southend United chairman John Main confirmed today that Blues would be stumping up the cash to ensure as many Shrimpers fans as possible can make the trip to Brighton next year. Seasiders supporters feared a mad scramble for tickets at Brighton's new
Young duo Chanelle Moore and Matt Richardson helped South Woodham Ferrers & Wickford Rollerspeed Skating Club round the season off in style by hitting top form in an outdoor meeting hosted by Southend-based Team Belotti. Moore came first in both category
Two goals from J Davis enabled Linford Wanderers to continue the bright start to their defence of the Southend District League Premier Division championship. Their latest triumph was by a 4-1 margin over Sixty Acres. In Division Two, Stanford Wanderers
People's champion Manny Weiss has been honoured during a ceremony which celebrated the life of a man who always gave 101 per cent to the community. Manny, of Brightwell Avenue, Westcliff, died in the Royal Marsden Hospital in June this year. He was aged
When it comes to needing more space to work, chiropodist husband-and-wife team Matthew and Claire Bland have put down the scalpel and picked up towels and spirit-levels to build their new surgery themselves, TOM KING discovers So there's these two chiropodists
The former chairman of a seafront traders' association has escaped jail to appeal against his conviction for assault. Kevin Chinnery, 36, was handed the three-month jail term after being found guilty of common assault following a fracas at his seafront
A move which would create hundreds of new jobs at a Clacton business estate has been given the all-clear. There were fears the scheme to boost Oakwood Business Park by an extra 36 acres could be called in by the Government. But Tendring Council has revealed
The family of a father who died after an incident in a London pub has spoken for the first time about their grief. Simon Kenworthy, 38, of Fairleigh Drive, Leigh, died ten days after being injured in the Red Lion pub in Pall Mall. His funeral, at St Clements
A decorated war hero may be forced to sell his medals to pay for medical treatment. Leonard Greetham, who received the Military Medal for his heroism in Italy during the Second World War, was considering the move after being told he would have to wait
MP Teresa Gorman is pressing for drastic changes to the fire and ambulance services - to make better use of firefighters' time. Her calls come as the Government plans its own overhaul of the so-called racist, sexist and homophobic culture of the fire
Thrillseeking Timothy O'Hara was today counting the cost of messing about on the water in his speedboat at three times the speed limit. O'Hara of Cossington Road, Westcliff, endangered lives and swamped smaller vessels in a swollen wash from his boat
A motorist with five drink-drive convictions has been jailed for mowing down a father while three times over the limit. John Lee, who also had six offences of driving while disqualified, was serving a ten-year driving ban when he killed Tony Stevens.
James Pullen, Heybridge Swifts' talented 16-year-old goalkeeper, will be joining Division One high flyers Ipswich Town in the next few weeks. Following outstanding displays this season for the Swifts' first team against high class opposition including
An ice hockey team has gone from skates to Skodas in its bid for glory. Kind-hearted staff at Thrifty Car Rental in East Mayne, Basildon, helped turn out a n-ice deal for Chelmsford Chieftains ice hockey team. The young blades were given three cars to
Rochford went into their league campaign at home to Havering Seconds and after early chances at both ends, it was Havering who opened the scoring. The lead was short-lived, however, as Rose Grover soon equalised.As the game progressed, Havering found
Colchester United chairman Peter Heard has warned the board of directors cannot go on running the club at an annual loss of £450,000. The millionaire U's chief has urged U's fans to rally behind the club and help the Layer Road bigwigs achieve their vision
Police are appealing for two tractor drivers to come forward after a head-on collision in which two children were injured. Children aged nine and 12 suffered minor injuries after a white BMW was in collision with a black BMW in Church Hill, White Notley
Jailed pensioner Annette Russill had an unexpected 300-mile round trip in a prison van - because of a legal hitch.. She was taken to Basildon Crown Court from Bristol to spend about six minutes in the dock. Russill, 65, is serving an 18-month sentence
A policewoman is furious after an estate agents told her she had to get a mortgage through them before an offer on a house would be accepted. Nicola Kerr is about to join Southend police and move out of her mum and dad's Chelmsford home into a new house
Building on a new "millennium pavilion" for Rochford Bowls Club begins this week - with memories of an outstanding season still fresh. Rochford's clubhouse is being demolished and the new National Lottery-funded pavilion should be ready for the 2000 term
FA CUP (sponsored by Axa) Third qualifying round: Wembley Town 0, Canvey Island 3. SCHWEPPES ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE Concord Rangers 1, Burnham Ramblers 1; Ilford 6, Woodford 1; Leyton 1, Basildon United 2; Saffron Walden 3, Eton Manor 1; Sawbridgeworth 3
Heybridge Swifts have swooped to sign highly-rated central defender Gary Waters from Canvey Island. But Swifts manager Robbie Nihill has released assistant manager Tony English and midfielder Mitchell Springett, who has joined Clacton Town. Waters signed
Eco-warriors have claimed victory after charges against them were dropped - but say they are disappointed not to have had their day in court. The six men and one woman were accused of criminal damage and burgling two houses in Rettendon. The two properties
An underpass is now bright, artistic and graffitti-free thanks to the hard work of school pupils. MP Teddy Taylor attended the unveiling ceremony of a new breath-taking mural they painted on an underpass which leads to Friars Junior, Constable Way, Shoebury
