Hazel Schmidt has come full circle by working back at the school where she started her education. The Skills Training Centre, where she works as the administration manager, has relocated to the former site of St Mary's, in Prittlewell - where Hazel started
Tulip the toy poodle looks a pretty picture as he poses in the winning Crufts trophy. The beautiful mutt, whose real name is Claude, squared up to bulldogs Winnie and Mabel as he prepared for the prestigious dog show, which starts on March 9 at the NEC
Detectives revealed on Thursday that a 20-year-old fisherman was coshed from behind across the head and robbed before being pushed into a freezing Basildon lake. His attackers made off with £3,000 of fishing equipment and gold jewellery at 11.30pm on
Rochford Town had a real ball as they went to the top of the Southend District League Premier Division with a 5-0 home win over Thundersley and Hadleigh. For C Ball grabbed two of the goals with Ames, Holyland and M Spence completing the tally. Canvey
There was a predictable result when two of the main challengers for the Southend Borough Combination Premier Division title clashed. The match finished in a 1-1 draw with leaders Southchurch Hall OS, who scored through O'Malley, keeping their one-point
Chelmsford City stormed to the top of the table with a comfortable win at their Writtle College ground on Sunday. On 30 minutes, Paula Drane beat the hesitant goalkeeper to a through ball and was brought down. Angelina Robinson stepped up to make no mistake
Police say someone could have been killed after a giant sea shell was thrown through the window of a house early yesterday. The homeowner was left in shock after the vandalism at around 3am which happened at Box Mill Lane, Halstead. Sgt Bernie Thomsett
A popular tourist attraction today fought back after Britain's leading E.coli expert condemned farms as a hotbed of infection. Bosses at Marsh Farm in South Woodham said the farm had never suffered a health scare and was a modern hygienic facility. Professor
A decision on the future of Ongar's threatened War Memorial Hospital could be taken by the summer. However, the newly-formed Primary Care Trust for the district, and members of the Ongar Health Care Review are determined not to be rushed. But long-time
Villagers took to the streets of Colchester to battle against controversial new plans for a supermarket and housing development. The 60 protesters from Tiptree marched from St John's Street to the town hall where councillors were meeting on Wednesday
Three years of anguish and frustration were yesterday coming to an end for the mother of a man killed in the Southall train crash. Maureen Kavanagh, from Laindon, who has fought tirelessly for justice since her son Peter died in the crash, was due to
Pubgoers will have one foot in the past when they visit a new bar and restaurant in Colchester. Before work began to construct Quilters riverside pub at Middleborough, a survey was carried out by the developers and Colchester Archaeological Trust. They
Are you ready for this, AuctionHunters? This Is Essex is joining forces with fsauctions from Freeserve, the No 1 Internet service, to create a bigger and better marketplace for your auctions online. You may already be a fan of the auction room that opened
A jogger from Braintree could be left paralysed after he was involved in a hit and run accident. The 28-year-old man, of Churchill Road, Bocking End, suffered serious spinal injuries after he was hit by what is believed to be a silver-coloured Mercedes
A family have been left in a state of shock after a piece of debris from a tree-felling exercise was thrown through their window. Gary and Julia Taplin, of Blake Road, on Witham's Templars Estate, had only been home for ten minutes when the incident happened
Colchester lorry driver Simon Morgan unknowingly carried some extra cargo into Britain yesterday after two Kosovan refugees sneaked onto his HGV. Mr Morgan, 34, of Rowallan Close, realised someone was inside his lorry when they banged on the headboard
The Soho pub bomber has admitted killing Colchester mum-to-be Andrea Dykes and her friend John Light. But at the Old Bailey on Thursday, prosecutors warned David Copeland's defence team they were unlikely to accept his pleas of guilty to manslaughter
Superstar Basildon voluntary worker Laura Armstrong travelled in style to meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Mrs Armstrong was picked up from her home in Ballards Walk by a limousine and whisked off to London for an evening reception with hundreds of
A council inspector suffered head and neck injuries in an horrific attack by a man wielding a bat. The foreshore inspector was set upon while on duty alone in his office at Bell Wharf in Leigh on Thursday at 1pm. The attack comes five years after the
Basildon Town continued their march up the Essex Intermediate League Senior Division Two table when goals from Chivers, Lawrence and Wakeling gave them a 3-2 win at Herongate Athletic. The new towners are now up to fifth place. Up in the First Division
Colchester United are looking at a season's first on Saturday - a complete sell-out. On Wednesday morning there were only 1,500 standing terrace tickets left for the clash with Burnley and even these are being snapped up. Commercial manager Brian Wheeler
Popular football official Jack Hayward has been elected as president of the Essex County Football Association. Mr Hayward, 82, was unanimously elected to replace Hugh Ashton, who stood down last month, in the county FA's top position. He said: "This is
The first Saturday morning cinema club will open its doors in Maldon tomorrow. The club for children, based at the town hall, Market Hill, has been launched by the town council which is hoping for good response. Doors open at 10am and all seats will be
Trading standards officers across East Anglia and the south east have promised a crackdown on dodgy workmen. They agreed, at a conference in Chelmsford, to pool intelligence to beat what Essex trading standards says are criminal workmen who offer to resurface
The Street in Little Totham was the scene for this year's fourth annual village pancake race. This year Little Totham's All Saints Church took on St Peter's Church from Goldhanger and more than 40 people joined in the challenge. There were three pancake
Essex Budo-Kan held a successful Martial Arts Convention, at Danbury Sports Centre, on Saturday and Sunday. The course was in aid of the 20th anniversary of the founding of the original Essex Budo-Kan. Instructors and Students on the course came from
Another eventful weekend of ice hockey saw Chelmsford Chieftains set a new club record by winning their 14th successive game as they beat Swindon Chill for the second week running. They have now won 22 out of 23 matches in a spell that stretches back
Youngsters learnt all about ball control when they got a few tips from those in the know - the London Leopards. The top basketball team were at James Hornsby School, Laindon, recently promoting a healthy lifestyle. Hoops for Health was launched five months
Heybridge Swifts look set to take on Runcorn for a place in the FA Umbro Trophy quarter-finals without Nicky Hayden and Nicky Simpson. Both players are rated as "very doubtful" by manager Liam Cutbush after both picked up ligament injuries. "I will have
Chelmsford City have signed one of the region's most prolific non-league goal scorers - 29-year-old Gary Bennett - and he goes straight into the side to lead the attack in Saturday's Dr Martens League match at Wisbech Town. Bennett, who scored 36 goals
In the Southend Charity Competition semi-finals, Borough Combination Shoebury Town kept alive their hopes of retaining their hold on the senior Section A Shield. They took on star-studded District League Linford Wanderers and triumphed 3-0 with all three
Brave shopkeepers fought off an armed robber who attacked two Colchester stores within the space of an hour. In the first raid at Winnock Road sub-post office in New Town a raider armed with an iron bar threatened the sub-postmaster and his son. But instead
Chelmsford Highway concluded their league fixtures with a hard earned point against Olton at Chelmer Park on Saturday. A victory for the home side would have seen them leapfrog their opponents in the final league position, but they had to be content with
Rowhedge looks set to get a facelift after councillors agreed major plans for the village. A meeting of Colchester Council's planning and traffic regulation committee Thursday night agreed the outline application which will see a former scrapyard and
A nursery school cannot be built on Colchester's new Turner Rise development. A meeting of Colchester Council's planning and traffic regulation committee last night agreed the proposed nursery and housing should not be built on the area between Turner
Recollections of Witham's history may soon be captured on tape to create a spoken snapshot of life and times in yesteryears. The plan is firmly on the cards as part of the proposed new museum for the town, which took another step further to becoming a
A new day care centre which will provide specialist care for elderly people has been opened in Chelmsford. The 20-place centre, Charles Dickens Court in Nickleby Road, is part of a partnership between Essex social services, Chelmsford Borough Council
Residents of a Southend block of flats were taken to the Civic Centre for refreshments after a flat fire caused a power cut. A flood in one of the flats at St Mary's Court, in Victoria Avenue, caused a blaze in an electrical junction box which shorted
Barclays Bank is pulling out of the troubled Laindon Centre, it was revealed today. Barclays, which has been in the centre since the early 1970s, will close on April 7. Its cash machine will also go, leaving just one machine at Lloyds Bank to serve the
The body of a pensioner who died at a Clacton care home will be exhumed next month on the island of Jersey. Police investigating six suspicious deaths at the Carnarvon Lodge Residential Care Home revealed that George Fowler's remains will be removed from
A birthday party ended in disaster for a Braintree family after a fire started by young revellers left them homeless. The blaze happened at the home of mum-of-five Davene Wood, in Rosemary Avenue, Braintree, who had been celebrating the birthday of her
A ten-year plan to encourage affluent youngsters to spend in Maldon shops features in a new retail survey of the district. The report, prepared as part of the revision process for Maldon's local development plan, says too many 15 to 25 year olds desert
Firemen went to the aid of an elderly woman last night after rain water started to leak through her roof. The woman phoned for help about 11.15pm after she spotted water coming through her ceiling. A crew from Canvey fire station dashed to her home in
A man who became stuck up to his waist in mud had to be rescued by the fire service. The middle-aged man tried to land his boat at Fingringhoe, just off the end of Ferry Road, at about 6pm on Wednesday night but ran aground on mudflats just short of the
A pollution scare was narrowly avoided when a tanker carrying diesel and gas slid off the causeway linking Osea Island with Maldon. The incident happened at about 9.30am yesterday(Thursday) when the tanker went off the side of the road between the island
Adult escorts for school buses have come a step closer after £200,000 was earmarked by county councillors But the cash will only be spent if a report says escorts are necessary. And there was a political row over not giving the schools the money directly
Soccer-mad youngsters have taken the half-term holiday as an opportunity to brush up on some of their skills. Colchester United's Football in the Community team have been holding courses throughout the week. Head coach Steve Downey led an advanced course
Essex Air Ambulance's big red bird has turned yellow. The helicopter has just undergone a dramatic change of colour thanks to massive sponsorship by the Automobile Association. Last July the AA came on board to enable the helicopter to operate seven days
An outraged mother today called for action after her young daughter found a used heroin needle in a play area. Annette King, of Ferdinand Walk, Colchester, said she was shocked when eight-year-old Aimee returned home with the needle after visiting the
Richard Wright is praying for his England chance after joining up with Kevin Keegan's squad. The Ipswich Town keeper, who played a key role in the 2-1 win over Crewe, is in the full squad preparing to face Argentina at Wembley today. Keegan has already
Great Wakering Rovers may push key central defender Tommy Dalgarno into a full-time striking role on Saturday as they attempt to halt something of a Ryman League Division Three goal drought. Rovers have taken just one point from the last six on offer,
Superstar Ian Wright will have to wait another week to get his name on the Burnley scoresheet if Colchester United boss Steve Whitton has his way. The free-scoring former Arsenal, West Ham and England ace failed to cap his Clarets debut with a goal in
The boss of a Southend bookshop has defended selling a book which gives details about how to grow cannabis. Waterstone's in the High Street came under fire for selling "Marijuana - a Grower's Guide" which - although not illegal - is a detailed guide on
Speakers from the US visited Chelmsford last week to discuss new approaches to strengthening marriage. Local church leaders, who arranged the meeting, hope they will be able to implement some of the ideas in Chelmsford. The evening was chaired by Eileen
Colchester United defender David Greene has been offered a free transfer - but U's boss Steve Whitton insists there could still be a future for the player at Layer Road. Whitton said: "We've gone as far as we can go on his new contract terms so we are
SATURDAY RYMAN LEAGUE Premier Division: Canvey Island 3, Billericay Town 0. Division 3: Abingdon Town 1, Great Wakering Rovers 0. SCHWEPPES ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE Ilford 3, Sawbridgeworth Town 0; Southend Manor 2, Eton Manor 0; Saffron Walden Town 1, Brentwood
Chelmsford's slim chance of promotion disappeared on Sunday when they could only manage a draw at home to Barford Tigers. Chelmsford, sponsored by Teakglobe Trading Limited, never really found their rhythm in a frequently niggly game that saw five yellow
Police have urged publicans and shopkeepers to be on their guard after a spate of attempted burglaries. Officers issued the warning after a group of burglars, made up of people of eastern European appearance, have been targeting businesses in the Witham
Woodham businesses are lending their support as organisers get plans ship-shape for the town's major event. The town show and carnival - with a nautical theme this year, as the town is by the river - will be spread over three days. This Is Essex partner
A young child escaped serious injury when he fell about 25 feet over a bannister at a Clacton hotel. The five-year-old, who has not been named, dropped to the floor below and complained of pains in various parts of his body. Paramedics were on the scene
One of Wickford's oldest businesses was today preparing to "rise from the ashes" after being gutted in a blaze. Workers were busy refitting Moore's shoe repairs and dry cleaning services in a £40,000 venture to get the business back on its feet. The High
A man who received his wife's kidneyin a transplant operation has been released from hospital following fears his body was rejecting the organ. Mike and June Seymour of Villa Road, Stanway, underwent the surgery at the beginning of the year. However Mr
A hydrotherapy pool built in a back garden to help a disabled youngster may have to be pulled down - because it was put up without planning permission. But yesterday the mum of four-and-a-half-year-old Joshua Newton vowed: "They will demolish it over
The parents of brain-damaged Jodie Nicholls, who suffers from a rare condition only affecting another 120 youngsters nationally, have made a heartfelt appeal for help. Brian and Debbie of Clare Avenue, Wickford, need at least £4,000 a year to help ensure
Aarron Todd, 24, who has been in a coma at Colchester General Hospital, is improving. Last week we told of his family's appeal for better care. Now elder brother Craig says the hospital has promised a nurse for Aarron, who was injured as a pedestrian
A Chelmsford man whose home was wrecked by fire last week is convinced his life was saved by a smoke alarm. Ian Forbes was woken by the alarm at midnight in his rented cottage in Chignal Smealey. "It was the most terrifying experience of my life. My jumper
A quiet residential street was today split down the middle after eco-warriors moved in to defend nearby scrubland. While residents on one side of Golden Cross Road in Ashingdon welcomed the green protesters with open arms - the other side wants them to
A plan for all pubs to be open until midnight during the summer today received a cautious welcome from police in south Essex. The idea of extra time between the end of May and the end of August has come from the Millennium Festival Team of the New Millennium
Government health chiefs have been slammed by Brentwood and Ongar MP Eric Pickles for an "unacceptable" shortage of the vaccine against killer disease tuberculosis which, he says, is putting young lives at risk. And he hopes to force the Government to
Mothercare is to pull out of the Eastgate Shopping Centre in Basildon. No closing date has yet been decided, but the store is already holding a closing down sale with shoes going for as little as £2 a pair and maternity dresses for £5. The store is next
Southend Manor are in with a real chance of lording it with a tremendous double in the Schweppes Essex Senior League. Already through to the semi-final of the League Cup, the Southchurch Park side are now just three points behind leaders Saffron Walden
Tributes have poured in to former Essex cricket chief Peter Edwards, who died in South Africa after suffering a heart attack. The county secretary and general manager was leading a party to watch England's winter tour to South Africa when he had a heart
Stanway Rovers' Jewson League division one promotion hopes were dealt a blow as they went down 2-0 at Whitton United. Two late goals sealed a win for the home side after Rovers had dominated much of last night's game. But they just could not find that
Two worthy causes are hoping for a big boost at a special variety night next month organised by a Southend publican at the New Empire Theatre. Ray Lambert, licensee of the Cornucopia on Marine Parade, today urged people to support the event on Saturday
Former employees of Chelmsford building firm Frederick J French Ltd have been getting in touch following a recent feature on the century-old firm in This Is Essex partner the Essex Chronicle. Managing director Stan Bakowski said: "Obviously the feature
Council tax bills for Chelmsford borough residents are set to rise by an average eight per cent. Householders with a band D property will pay between £812.84 and £864.03 a year depending on where they live. That compares to last year's £752.90-£801.58
Southend Oakwood Sports saw their superb run in the FA Umbro Sunday Cup come to a crushing end at the hands of strong Birmingham outfit Grosvenor Park. In the quarter-finals, at Aveley, Southend Sunday League Oakwood lost 6-0 to the Midlanders, who had
Police have again repeated warnings for people to be on their guard from bogus workers calling at their homes. In the latest in a string of similar incidents, a man yesterday called at the home of an elderly couple in St Clair's Drive, Colchester, and
A sacked bank worker carried out a campaign of harassment against his former employer. Allan Mayhew made 35 telephone calls over two days to Lloyds Securities in Chelmsford, the town's magistrates heard. He also telephoned a bank employee even though
Cliff Richard was nowhere in sight but the double decker bus was when a mum decided to take her son on a birthday treat with a difference. Bus driver, Hillary Sprigg, created her very own version of the hit 60s film Summer Holiday when she took her son
The mother and son who died in a five vehicle crash on the M11 on Monday have been named as Mrs Jeanette O'Sullivan, 37, and six-year-old Robert, from Rainham. Daughter Amy, 10, is said to be "serious" in Great Ormond Street Hospital, London; but husband
