If you're after a room with a view, a windmill in Tiptree could be the ideal home for you. The unique residence, with a circular lounge and plenty of original features, has been put on the market for £245,000. The 18th century property has four floors
Gurkhas based in Colchester for three years are now set to leave. Attached to the 1st Battalion The Royal Scots, the Gurkhas will parade at their Hyderabad Barracks base before leaving for Catterick in North Yorkshire on Friday. The Nepalese soldiers
Natasha White will have a much easier time joining the Scouts than her mum. Tracey White became the first ever girl Scout in England - by accident. And now her six-year-old daughter is to follow in her footsteps by joining 12th Clacton Scout Group as
A village store has been targeted by armed raiders for the second time in five days. Terrified staff were threatened by robbers brandishing a shotgun and hammer in the second armed raid at the Co-op Food Store, in Church Street, Bocking. The robbers ordered
An 11-year-old boy who pulled his baby sister from a garden pond was today hailed a hero by his family. James White, of Spring Lane, Eight Ash Green, was playing football while his parents and other guests rehearsed a forthcoming wedding at a neighbour's
TOM KING went along to the premiere of horror movie Green Fingers, a first film by Benfleet director Paul Cotgrove, which was shot entirely in Essex It was horrible, I tell you! Horrible! Benfleet film-maker Paul Cotgrove's first film as writer-director
The New Essex Record Office, built at Chelmer Waterside over the past two and a half years at a cost of £10.5 million, and thought to be the most up-to-date in Europe, will open its doors to the public on March 6. Assistant County Archivist Janet Smith
Southend United's major shareholder today moved to quash rumours regarding a possible Roots Hall exit for the Shrimpers' chief executive Peter Storrie. An insider at the Third Division club claimed Storrie would be leaving the Seasiders at the end of
Off and running - Steve Parmenter, who led visitors Premier Division Aldershot a merry chase on Saturday, will be hoping that Canvey can continue their great form in all competitions tonight at Park Lane when Ryman League Third Division promotion challengers
A pioneering initiative which encourages people to shop their law-breaking neighbours has been given the thumbs up. Residents on the Woodgrange Drive Estate - better known as the Kursaal estate - have welcomed the move by police and the Estuary Housing
Friends and family were due to gather today to pay their final respects to a zoo keeper crushed to death by an elephant. Darren Cockrill, formerly of Southfalls Road, Canvey, was killed in the accident at Port Lympne Wildlife Park near Hythe, Kent earlier
Everybody should have a neighbour like Freda Chapman. Mrs Chapman has won a top award for being a good friend - and an even better neighbour. She was given the Touchline Neighbour of the Year Award after being nominated by Jan Kerchell, who lives opposite
Police today told how they dramatically stopped a suicidal man jumping to his death twice in three hours. Two detectives snatched the man from the edge of one of the top floors of a Basildon town centre multi-storey car park as he threatened to leap.
Chelmsford City stormed to the top of the table with a comfortable win at their Writtle College ground last 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
There was only one way for Helen Robinson to truly celebrate leap year - by proposing to her boyfriend. Helen Robinson, who met Mark Wilson through the pages of This Is Essex partner the Echo, popped the question by declaring her love in a national magazine
Essex Budo-Kan held a successful Martial Arts Convention at Danbury Sports Centre last weekend. 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 all over the
In what tragically became Peter Edwards' last ever interview before he embarked on a working holiday to South Africa and Zimbabwe to watch the England cricket team, he talked to ROGER WATKINS about his 21 years at Essex Cricket Club. The workaholic boss
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 on Friday: "We've gone as far as we can go on his new contract terms
Back in action - Basildon United (left) on the attack in Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by leaders Saffron Walden, will be hoping for better fortune tonight when they return to the Schweppes Essex Senior League with a visit to Burnham Ramblers. Also this
Aspiring models could see their dreams come true when a top agency sends its scouts to Colchester. Select model agency will be scouring the dance floor of the Hippodrome Experience nightclub next week to seek out future supermodels. The agency, which
Heartless vandals have smashed up a play area for four-year-olds at a primary school. Teachers at High Woods County Primary School were devastated to find the damage this morning. Vandals had kicked in the doors and windows of a play house which doubles
Highways chiefs have urged motorists to avoid using part of Braintree town centre while vital road works are carried out. Visitors entering the town from the Chelmsford direction have been advised to use London Road and the multi-storey car park off Pierrefitte
A new and hard-hitting comedy is coming to the Dixon Studio at the Palace Theatre. Danny Boy is a contemporary play set in Northern Ireland and it promises to be controversial. It looks at the situation in Northern Ireland and its effect on one man. Danny
A man accused of leaving a two-inch knife blade in a victim's neck has been cleared by a jury. Paul Reddington, 30, denied causing the injury to Jay Cranch, from Pitsea. The jury unanimously found Mr Reddington not guilty of unlawful wounding at the end
The search is on for the Essex Young Musician of the year, the first of the new millennium. For the past 17 years the competition has been organised by the Ongar Music Club and every winner so far has made a career in music. The competition will be judged
Ipswich Town bad-boy Adam Tanner will not be signing for Colchester United this week - if at all. U's boss Steve Whitton said today: "Tanner has to prove to me and everyone else that he deserves another chance and he's already used up two of those." The
Canvey Island decathlete Dean Macey was among the personalities in action when The Deanes School, Thundersley, held a cross-curricular sports programme involving more than 200 Year Eight pupils. The scheme culminated in an exciting two days of sporting
Disgraced soccer star Adam Tanner's career has been thrown a lifeline after he escaped a jail term for drink-driving. Ipswich Town footballer Tanner, 26, of Beeleigh Link, Chelmsford, was appearing in court for sentence after he admitted being three times
The number of police officers in Essex has dropped by 4.3 per cent according to latest figures. But Essex Police Chief Constable David Stevens said the fall has been caused by many former police jobs now being done by civilians which he claims has improved
Broadmayne were this week's goal-scoring heroes in the Vange Sunday League. They won 10-0 at Hodgson A in the First Division with Buhagiar and Pieira both scoring hat-tricks. A Sorrell was another goal trio star with his treble coming for Signet in a
Bass provided plenty of cheer for Linford Wanderers as they went back to the top of the Bukta Southend District League Premier Division by taking all the points in a double-header with Cricketers Horndon. For Bass scored three goals in all as Linford
A return to good old fashioned home cooking and crafts saw crowds flocking to the Town Hall in Maldon. And organisers of the Women's Institute Market declared its re-launch a huge success. The market, selling goods including cakes, fresh eggs and wooden
A man has hit back at claims that neighbours did nothing to help after a house caught fire in Clacton. A stolen car crashed into a lamp post in Dahlia Close early on Saturday morning. The resulting fire set light to a nearby home and while firefighters
Barclays bank is to pull out of a third town in south Essex. The High Street bank will close its branch in the Green, Stanford-le-Hope, it has been revealed. The bank is also to quit Southchurch and the Laindon Centre. It is a major blow for councillor
Four men are being interviewed in connection with the death of millionaire businessman Tony Fetherston. Mr Fetherston, 67, a lifelong member of Walton and Frinton Yacht Club, died in January after being shot by a gunman in the garden of his property in
An angry resident from a new lakeside estate fears someone will be killed by the constant stream of lorries thundering down his road. Construction work is underway on the next phase of Lakelands estate in Stanway and HGVs have to go through the estate
Youngsters narrowly missed killing innocent passers-by when they threw two bowling balls off the roof of high-rise flats. The weighty balls plummeted ten floors - around 100ft - before smashing into the pavement leaving one slab broken into pieces. The
It was a full house at Maldon's first Saturday morning cinema. The district council's experiment paid off with 150 youngsters packed in to the town hall to enjoy Rugrats the Movie. Some disappointed children even had to be turned away. The new building
A businessman has called for extra help for police to clamp down on vandalism in Clacton town centre. Ron Talbot, a partner at Lighthouse Properties estates agent in Pier Avenue, said his premises had come under attack twice in the past month. There had
The future of a post office has been put in jeopardy as the owner's plans to save the facility have been scuppered. Vince Ranzulla of the Mile End Post Office in Nayland Road, Colchester, had planned to save the post office and general stores by changing
Four security cameras are to be set up at Braintree Railway Station, which has been plagued with theft and vandalism. The £46,000 scheme follows a campaign and 500-name petition from rail users. David Bigg, chairman of Witham and Braintree Rail Users'
Basildon firefighters today urged motorists to slow down when they see parked fire engines, after an officer was struck by a hit-and-run driver. Keith Flynn, 26, was attending a fire at Tye Common Road, Billericay, on Saturday when he was hit by a Ford
Health bosses have been warned that an appeal may be forwarded to the Secretary of State if they refuse to keep a ward open at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford. Two of the three wards originally earmarked for closure at the end of March are to stay open
A teenage trio of robbers have been sentenced to a total of 11 years behind bars for a "thoroughly terrifying" raid on a Billericay travel agent. Leon Prempeh, now 20, and his accomplices Andre Osborne, 18, and Etienne Lindsey, 19, grabbed cash and travellers
A sandwich bar manager has been cleared of groping a female customer just yards from the highest court in the country. Antonio Repole, 46, of Dacre Close, Aveley, maintained he had brushed against the 18-year-old accidentally, while reaching across the
A terrified student managed to struggle free from an attacker who indecently assaulted her and tried to pull her to the ground. Police have just released details of the assault, which happened in an alley off Avon Way, Colchester, at 6.30pm on Thursday
A man with terrorist links tried to infiltrate Colchester Garrison, it has been claimed. Reports in a national newspaper at the weekend claimed the Army base at Colchester was one of two to be targeted during the past few weeks by a breakaway terrorist
The private library of bookshop owner Christina Foyle is to be auctioned later this year. Auctioneer Christie's today confirmed the sale - which could fetch up to £10 million - will take place in the summer. Details are being kept under wraps at present
A village store has been targeted by armed raiders for the second time in five days. Terrified staff were threatened by robbers brandishing a shotgun and hammer in the second armed raid at the Co-op Food Store, in Church Street, Bocking. The robbers ordered
Thundersley schoolgirl Gemma Prigmore has spent years promoting a better understanding of the needs of disabled people. Now the 15-year-old has been chosen as one of 150 youngsters nationwide to be awarded the prestigious Children of Achievement award
A drunk man who refused to believe his flat was ablaze, argued with firefighters on the doorstep, and had to be stopped from going back inside. The drama happened in Woodfield Road, Leigh, just after midnight yesterday, when neighbours in the upstairs
A father-of-five today told how he was lucky to be alive after falling into chilly seas off Jaywick and being struck by his boat's propeller. Alan Farra, 35, praised his 19-year-old son, Daniel, for his prompt actions - as well as the crew of the Clacton
Former England striker Gary Lineker has backed This Is Essex partner the Gazette's successful goalpost campaign. The Match of the Day host responded to a letter written by Witham mum Brenda Smith, whose son Jonathan died when a set of goalposts collapsed
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
A man from Harwich broke his neck in a swimming accident and only narrowly escaped death. David Pells, 23, a second cook in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, is now in traction at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, after he made a shallow dive into the water on a beach
Village cricket club Twinstead has been hit for six after scooping a prestigious best-kept ground award. Officials at Twinstead Cricket Club were bowled over when they heard about the prize - presented by the Essex Playing Fields and Children's Play Association
A rural bus and train transport scheme linking Maldon to surrounding villages is here to stay. Essex County Council transport chiefs pledged their support for the Dengie VillageLink - despite being slammed by shadow transport minister Bernard Jenkin.
A mother today criticised safety at Colchester Leisure World after a her four-year-old son slipped and fell into the pool. But pool staff say the boy was left unsupervised and was not wearing waterwings. Kathleen Rodgers, her partner and a family friend
Ekco First Data's bid to climb off the bottom of the Essex Intermediate League Senior Division One table ended in despair. For the Southend outfit were crushed 6-1 by their Hatfield Peverel visitors with their only goal coming from M Whittington. In Senior
A big crowd is expected at Great Wakering Rovers' Burroughs Park home tonight as the village side attempt to move into joint leadership of the Ryman League Third Division. For the visitors tonight will be a major attraction as Hertford Town are now being
Billericay Town will be hoping to build a useful lead against Division One visitors Maidenhead United at New Lodge tonight in the first round of the Ryman League Cup semi-finals. Town go to Berkshire for the return a week tonight and will hope for a couple
A car blaze and a theft have combined to persuade two new Essex residents to abandon Clacton for their native Wiltshire - after just two days! Chris and Sarah Watford had lived in Essex for only two days when their house was was damaged by a car fire
Pensioners in Essex face having to pay more than £25,000 a year to live in council-run homes. Delays in selling off nine council-owned homes and a controversial new staffing structure have left Essex County Council needing to impose a 12 per cent increase
Single mum Maria Le Beau has hit out at council bosses after claims she was housed in a place "not fit for an animal". The 26-year-old broke down and cried after being given a "take it or leave it" ultimatum by Basildon Council. Maria was offered the
A teenager is recovering after suffering injuries on a night out in what is thought to be a vicious attack. The mum of 17-year-old Tony Foster - who suffered a serious eye injury during his night out - is now appealing for the truth over what happened
Southend racing driver Paul Hughes is setting his sights high in his first full season in the MGF Cup. Paul raced at Silverstone in the last round of the 1999 championship in October and is now gearing up for the start of the new term next month. Things
Colchester knew that this game against fellow strugglers West Norfolk was crucial, and their task was made harder by a number of front line players being unavailable. West Norfolk put Colchester under pressure from the beginning, but mistakes by both
Shoebury Old Boys chopped down hosts Epping Forest to win a place in the semi-finals of the much-coveted Essex Sunday Junior Cup. Goals from Baddeley, Price and Mahoney - all in the second-half after the Southend Sunday League side had defended well against
Third Division Haydon Manor cruised into the Veterans County Cup final with a 3-0 win over Premier Division strugglers Chapel United. They will now face Pegasus on March 26 at Witham Town. Fords moved to the top of the Southend Borough Combination Veterans
Runwell Raiders, current leaders of the South-East Essex Sunday League Premier Division, had stand-in goalkeeper Brian Roach to thank for securing a place in the semi-finals of this season's Charity Cup. For Roach pulled off a stunning last-minute penalty
Castle are this week's Sceptre League kings after winning through to the semi-finals of the Essex Sunday Junior Cup. They took on Harlow-based Broadley Athletic in the quarter-finals and won on penalties after a 5-5 extra-time draw. Barnard grabbed a
A rail watchdog has revealed its £3 million plans to develop the rail network. Witham and Braintree Rail Users Association has put forward ambitious plans to help improve the railway between Essex, London and Stansted Airport. Among proposals put forward
A scout group has vowed to fight back against the mindless vandals who have been targeting their headquarters. The 1st Maldon All Saints, based at the Brickhouse Farm complex, has been plagued by vandals. Over recent weeks the thugs have damaged its vehicles
Work was today under way on a permanent gipsy site for Runwell after the controversial project was saved from being axed. County councillors had threatened to pull the plug on funding for the scheme because of a series of delays. But £140,000 has now
