Archive

  • Colchester: Mystery closure of women-only gym

    Fitness-conscious women look set to lose hundreds of pounds after a ladies-only gym closed without warning. About 300 members of Oranges Health Club, Eld Lane, Colchester, paid up to £200 up front for one to three years' membership. But when they went

  • Soccer: Jones wants 50th goal gift

    Birthday boy Steve Jones is hoping to turn his Southend United debut into a double celebration by shooting down visitors Chester City. The new Blue will be aiming to shoot down the fellow Third Division strugglers at Roots Hall. The striker, who has joined

  • Badminton: Waterside continue to make a splash

    The top dogs in the Basildon Badminton League men's first division, Waterside A, increased their lead with a second unbeaten performance at home. BEI/Europa A stay second but, without a win at this fixture, Lake Meadows dropped from third to fifth. Linden

  • Gymnastics: Carousel girls put opponents in a spin

    Four members of Wickford's Carousel Gym Club passed with distinction when they tackled the under-10 county grade six qualifiers at Colchester. Seven-year-old Kelsey Foot, competing for the first time, made a tremendous start on beam to score 9.575. She

  • Speedway: White still skipper for Hammers

    Arena-Essex have announced that Colin White is to continue as captain of the Hammers this season. The rider, who took on the mantle last season to good effect, was delighted to be offered the opportunity to continue. He said: "I'm really pleased and hopeful

  • Colchester: Royal London set to unveil a change of image

    The caring cuddle is to go. At the end of next week the logo for one of Colchester's biggest employers, Royal London will be changed to reflect the company's new image. The cuddle has been the same for 19 years and, when it was originally introduced in

  • Soccer round-up: Southend Borough Combination League

    Old Southendian claimed the Southend Borough Combination Veterans League Third Division Cup with a thrilling 3-2 extra-time win over Haydon Manor. Manor took the lead with a Stewart header, but two Mark Jerman goals put the Old Boys in front. A scrambled

  • Harold Hill: Factory fires spark arson probe

    An extraordinary double attempt to destroy a familiar Harold landmark has been foiled - thanks to the bravery of firefighters. Crews were twice called to the old Smith and Nephew building on Colchester Road, Harold Hill, over the weekend as two blazes

  • Soccer round-up: Southend Sunday League

    Hullbridge Sports 2nd are through to the semi-finals of the Southend Sunday League Section B Cup. Goals from L Slatford and G Townsend gave them a 2-1 win over Fairfax United. In the Premier Division, Rayleigh Town's scorers in the 4-2 win at CZ 81 were

  • Soccer round-up: Southend District League

    Linford Wanderers are through to the final of the Essex Junior Cup after a 3-1 away win over Halstead Sports. Southend District League Linford, who made the semi-finals last year, went one better this time thanks to Ian Bass, Darren Ledger and an own

  • Hockley: Crane crush driver's car gift

    The boss of the firm whose 26-tonne lorry crushed a small car has offered to buy the driver a new one. Robert Lee, 76, escaped with nothing more than shredded nerves after the lorry tipped over and crushed his Fiesta at a railway bridge in Hockley on

  • Chelmsford: £100,000 computer equipment haul

    Burglars escaped with £100,000 of computer equipment after a raid on Chelmsford Council offices. They stole chips, hard-drives and memory units from the housing and engineering offices in Coval Lane, between 7pm and 8.30pm on Monday. Details of the raid

  • Westcliff: View from the Palace...

    A world premier is clinched With The Merchant of Venice up and running in the Main house and Danny Boy in the Dixon Studio, it's been a week for catching up on planning and paperwork at the Palace Theatre, Westcliff. Julius Green (of the Palace's controlling

  • Wrabness: Raw sewage seeping into protected river

    Raw sewage is seeping into a protected river - yards from a popular footpath. Tests conducted by Essex University on the Stour Estuary near Wrabness showed evidence of human sewage along with the potentially deadly E-coli bacteria. The affected area is

  • Soccer: Tiptree hopes suffer a blow...

    Five minutes of madness was Tiptree manager Steve Parnell's description of Tuesday night's shock Jewson League division one defeat, 3-2 at home by Whitton. The Jam-makers, who had only lost once in the league all season, were looking for a win after two

  • Southend: Escalator plans on the up

    An escalator link between Southend's High Street and seafront could be back on the agenda following an upbeat seafront meeting. High Street traders and the council met at the Kursaal for a think tank on how to improve the town. John Barber, chairman of

  • North Essex: Gang hits shops in £5,000 theft raids

    Police are searching for a gang of men who went on a spree of thefts across Essex totalling nearly £5,000. The thefts started in Witham on Tuesday when the group of four men left Clarks shoe shop in the Grove Centre with a purse containing credit cards

  • Benfleet: Driver's 'beast' terror

    A delivery driver fled in terror after he was confronted by what he believed to be a black panther outside a Benfleet school. The man was delivering bread to the Appleton School in Croft Road at about 3am yesterday (Thursday) morning when he spotted what

  • Maldon: Alleyway gets star treatment

    Usually it's streets, shopping centres and housing developments which have the grand opening ceremonies. But in Maldon, its the opening of a new alleyway which has been celebrated. The Friars Gate alleyway, which runs between Woolworths and Budgens onto

  • Canvey: Peanut firm's 100-job boost

    Canvey is in line for a 100 new jobs as a major peanut company today announced its plans to move to the island. The Percy Dalton Group is to set up on a five-acre site owned by Safeway and has also earmarked a further five acres on Canvey where it hopes

  • Chelmsford: ‘Weak’ subways shock

    Chelmsford's Parkway, one of the busiest roads in Essex, could be closed for six months at a time while its three ageing pedestrian subways are reinforced. The project could cost £3million if a £64,000 test, using two replica tunnel sections, shows that

  • Clacton: Helicopter pilot committed to crown court

    A helicopter pilot has been committed to Chelmsford Crown Court accused of landing his helicopter on Clacton Pier. Derek Hammond, 51, of Westover Gardens, Broadstairs, Kent, faces two charges of being the pilot in charge of a helicopter at Clacton Pier

  • Chelmsford: Rape threat man may strike again

    Police fear an attacker who robbed and threatened to rape and murder a 22-year-old Chelmsford man could strike again. The incident is believed to have been homosexually-motivated and police now want to trace anyone who can help them in their hunt for

  • Soccer round-up: Sceptre League

    Artic rolled over Rayleigh Olympiads 8-1 in the Sceptre League's Section D Spring Trophy with P Guy scoring five. In the Section B Spring Cup, Holmes and P Smith were both hat-trick heroes as Hawthorns won 6-1 at Seasiders. Results Spring Trophy Section

  • Soccer round-up: Essex Intermediate League

    It's tough for local sides at the wrong end of the Essex Intermediate League Senior Division One table. Ekco First Data's hopes of moving off the basement were wrecked when they lost 3-2 at home to Shell Club. Jones and Search scored for Southend-based

  • Soccer: Single strike sinks Witham

    Just one goal separated the teams at the end of a hard midfield struggle at Berkhamsted on Saturday. Witham's main problem was again being unable to get shots on target and home goalkeeper Nicky Webb did not have a shot to save throughout the game. Berkhamsted

  • Soccer: Agent ban plan gathers momentum

    Colchester MP Bob Russell has launched a motion in the House of Commons to curb the "parasitic" powers of agents within professional football. Russell's two-day parliamentary motion - Behaviour of football agents - comes just a week after This Is Essex

  • Colchester: Add class to your wardrobe

    Elegant bargain-hunters are viewing potential additions to their wardrobes at the contents sale of Colchester gentleman's outfitter Jolliffe's. The Crouch Street store shut up shop in February after 65 years. Shoppers can view nearly 600 lots of clothing

  • Silver End: Car crash mum tells of fight to rebuild her life

    A mother-of-four who had 20 years of memories wiped out by head injuries suffered in a car crash, has told of the fight to rebuild her life. Perlene Griffith-Barwell, 42, of Silver End, has been hailed as ''truly inspirational'' by Headway, the charity

  • Canoeing: Juniors paddle their furthest distance

    Five crews from Chelmsford Canoe Club met at Newbury for the second race of the Waterside Series on the Kennet and Avon Canal where perfect weather conditions saw three course records broken by crews from Bradford-on-Avon. Chelmsford's junior K2 crew,

  • Parkeston: Lounging lizards halt development

    Sleeping lizards have held up the creation of a park area on a small piece of waste land. A colony of common lizards hsa been found on land next to Garland Road, Parkeston, but, despite the name, the cold-blooded creatures are very rare. The redevelopment

  • Cross-country: Young runners discover gold

    There were some tre-mendous performances by South-East Essex youngsters when the English Schools Cross-Country Championships were staged at Parliament Hill Fields, London. Leading the way were the junior boys where Southend AC's Ashley Humphreys (27th

  • Chelmsford: 'Win or bust' promotion bid

    It's 'win or bust' for Chelmsford City when they take on fellow promotion hopefuls Newport (IOW) at New Lodge tomorrow (Saturday), in what is their biggest Dr Martens League Eastern Division game of the season. "Both sides have to win to stand any real

  • Ice hockey: Dynamos have no spark

    Chelmsford Chieftains have been officially crowned the English Premier Ice Hockey League Champions. They were given the trophy by EIHA chief Bill Britton after they had comfortably disposed of Invicta Dynamos in their last league match on Sunday. Chieftains

  • Running: Expecting a marathon event

    Get me to the finish on time! Madcap Paul Hodge will experience something most men don't as he pounds his way around the London marathon - pregnancy! The taxi-driver from Wickford plans to complete the 26-mile race dressed as a nine-month pregnant bride

  • Witham: Town centre car ban plan

    A new plan to ban cars from Witham's main shopping street is now on the cards. The move comes this week as the town council backed a plea by a local historian and member of Witham's think tank, the Strategy Group, to pedestrianise the town centre. With

  • Witham: Appeal against nightclub block

    Business bosses behind plans to open a £300,000 nightclub are planning to appeal a decision to reject the scheme. Residents celebrated last year when Braintree Council blocked an application to open the club at Witham's Stuart Surridge Snooker Centre.

  • Soccer round-up: Essex Senior League

    A 30-yard rocket from the Schweppes Essex Senior League's top goalscorer Ben Barnett, plus a late effort from substitute Peter Durant, put Southend Manor on the verge of clinching a place in the Ancient Order of Foresters League Cup final. Manor won the

  • Soccer round-up: Southend Borough Combination league

    Just one match was played in Southend Borough Combination knockout competitions on Saturday and this, a Cater Cup semi-final, saw Southchurch Hall OS 4th bathing in glory at Spa to win a final spot against Old Rochfordians 2nd 2-1. Nothing is settled

  • Soccer: Burley - "It's like being in a cup tie..."

    Treat it as a cup final. That was the message from Ipswich Town manager George Burley as he prepared his side for Sunday's East Anglian derby against Norwich. The Town chief, who who goes head to head with former Portman Road coach and team-mate Bryan

  • Soccer round-up: Chelmsford Invitation Football League

    DIVISION ONE NewLodge edged closer to the top of the table after Sunday's convincing 5-1 win over Danbury. Danbury took an early lead via Nick Reeves goal but Lodge then replied with three goals before the break from Mark Brown, Neil Wood and an own goal

  • Soccer: Heasman the Swifts hero

    A magnificent all-round team performance from a makeshift side earned Swifts a crucial three points on Monday, to lift them four places up the table and put a halt to the downward slide of recent weeks. The match wasn't pretty by any means, but Swifts

  • Dovercourt, Benfleet: Foster carer in sex videos

    A former foster parent has admitted taking part in making sex videos. John Hudson lost his job as a foster carer with Essex Social Services after it emerged he had taken part in many filmed sex sessions. But, speaking exclusively to This Is Essex, he

  • Hockey: Chelmsford edge low key affair

    Chelmsford returned to winning ways on Sunday when they twice came from behind to eventually beat their hosts, East Grinstead. With neither side challenging for promotion and both safe from relegation worries, the atmosphere at East Grinstead on Sunday

  • Cycling: Ipswich riders dominant

    Ipswich riders dominated the Racing Team East's Hardrider's TT with Neil Douglas, an Ipswich resident but riding for Stowmarket & District, just failing to beat the hour in 1.0.58. However, he had no team backing and Ipswich Bicycle Club stepped in

  • Soccer: Testing time for Canvey

    Canvey Island's bid to finish runners-up in their first season as a Ryman League Premier Division club could stand or fall by their results over the next four days. They follow tomorrow's (Saturday's) home clash with in-form Slough Town by travelling

  • Rugby: Pride is key for Hope

    Stanford-le-Hope are banking on home-town pride to deliver a memorable victory as they play for a place at Twickenham in tomorrow's Tetley's Vase semi-final in Roehampton. Highly-rated Herts & Middlesex side Bank of England stand in the club's way

  • Witham: Hobbies may be way ahead

    A strategy group has backed ambitious plans to transform Witham into the world's first hobby town. Resident Kes Gray, of Chipping Hill, urged Witham Town Strategy Group to consider his idea to introduce "a high proportion" of hobby shops. He said premises

  • Colchester: Traffic congestion scheme is stalled

    Costly schemes to tackle Colchester's traffic congestion have been stalled after the plug was pulled on the cash. Colchester Council leaders reacted furiously when they learned their county colleagues had guaranteed just a fifth of the £1 million needed

  • Colchester: Motorist drove with door open

    Two cars narrowly avoided a collision after a man opened the door of his vehicle while driving along a slip road on to the A12. Geoffrey Cousins, 38, of Ipswich Road, Colchester, was fined £250 by the town's magistrates on Thursay after admitting inconsiderate

  • Mid-Essex: Race to start new A120

    Essex County Council is in a hurry to start work on the new A120 road between Braintree and Stansted, but fears a costly clash with eco-protesters. This week it was revealed that the A130 road protest at Rettendon, where objectors have held out in tunnels

  • Shoebury: Garrison to get 450 new homes...

    The new owner of the historic Shoebury Garrison site, who bought it for more than £8m, has been revealed at last. The 182-acre site known as the Old Ranges and Horseshoe Barracks has been sold to Surrey-based Gladedale Homes, which aims to create around

  • Billericay: Rescue package saves pool

    The future of a popular swimming pool has been secured for at least four years after councillors drew up a rescue package. The £150,000 will be used for vital repairs to Billericay pool's crumbling building. The agreement was made after tenant Diane Freeman-Wright

  • Soccer: Whitton seeking safety

    Steve Whitton takes his Colchester United squad to Cardiff tonight (Friday) looking for the first of three wins that will see the U's to certain Second Division safety for a third season. The U's play the Bluebirds, plus Oldham and Gillingham at home

  • Cycling: Top British riders in Essex

    The cream of Great Britain's racing cyclists will be descending on Halstead and its surrounding villages this weekend for the Grand Prix of Essex. The 46th edition of this famous race will be fought out this Sunday (March 19) over 102 gruelling miles

  • Badminton: Vue looking good as division champs

    Belle Vue seconds have been crowned Men's Second Division champions of the Southend and District Badminton League. They clinched the title despite dropping their first point of the season in a 5-4 win over nearest rivals Linden (Brooks/Fair-hurst). At

  • Great Horkesley: BMX-riding gang caught out by undercover team

    Covert operation caught youths damaging an ancient woodland. A BMX bike riding gang had dug trenches through the root system of a 200-year-old oak tree in Tanglewood, Great Horkesley. And people walking through the protected wood at the end of Green Lane

  • Colchester: Stab victim's funeral

    The funeral of a man who died in a stabbing at Colchester's Playhouse pub was due to be held today (Friday). A private service for Andrew Becker, 20, also known as Andrew Wilson, was due to be conducted at Colchester Crematorium. Mr Becker, of Princess

  • Chelmsford: Robbed man threatened with murder and rape

    A 22-year-old man was dragged to a secluded spot before being robbed, assaulted and threatened with rape and murder. The victim was walking along Vicarage Road, Chelmsford, in the early hours of March 4 when he was grabbed by his attacker and taken to

  • Witham: Children's swings sabotaged

    Police are hunting "sick" vandals who sabotaged play equipment so it would collapse when children used it. Braintree Council, which owns the play area in Witham's Bramble Road, said a youngster could have been seriously injured after vital bolts and fixings

  • Laindon: 40 youths in flare-up

    Police today made a new appeal for witnesses a week after a fight broke out involving 40 youngsters. One teenager was treated at Basildon Hospital for head injuries after being repeatedly punched. Three 14-year-old boys, who left the youth club in Cress-ells

  • Chelmsford, Braintree: Safest towns in the county

    Chelmsford and Braintree are two of the safest areas to live in Essex. And that is in a county which as a whole is anyway one of the safest in England - with only two having fewer house burglaries. Latest figures reveal that both Chelmsford and Braintree

  • Vange: Girl's shock as hit-run driver kills dog

    A distraught family were today looking to the public for help after a hit-and-run van driver mowed down their six-month-old dog. Hayley Nichols, 15, had to carry her beloved pet Lucky's lifeless body home following the incident in Vange. She now hopes

  • Woodham: £65,000 raised in nine weeks

    We've done it - that was the message from the William de Ferrers School in South Woodham this week where staff, students and parents have helped raise over £65,000 in just nine weeks. At the start of this term head teacher Dennis Parry appealed to parents

  • Soccer round-up: South Essex non-league weekend results

    SATURDAY RYMAN LEAGUE Premier Division: Billericay Town 1, Purfleet 1; Chesham United 2, Canvey Island 1. Division 3: Ware 1, Great Wakering Rovers 3. SCHWEPPES ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE Ancient Order of Foresters League Cup semi-finals first leg: Saffron Walden

  • Basketball: Leopards coach's trophy prediction

    Leopards coach Bob Donewald believes that the Brentwood-based Adidas London Leopards can win some silverware next season. The prediction came as Donewald and Leopards owner Ed Simons held a question and answer session with fans after his team's Birmingham

  • Cross country: Vic and Liz lead the way to victory

    Springfield Striders had a busy weekend with teams competing in the Essex Road Relays on Saturday and the final Mid Essex Cross Country League fixture on Sunday. Once again the ladies were to the fore with Liz Turk, Denise Reed and Julie Hurst Smith finishing

  • Soccer round-up: Mid-Essex Football League

    DAVE STRACHAN CUP THIRD ROUND Cup holders Tillingham Hotspur struggled to find the net against Silver End and the Division Three side kept the score sheet blank for 45 minutes. However, second half goals from Anthony Swanborough and Barry Wilson put Tillingham

  • Hockey: Chelmsford duo for England

    Two of Chelmsford Hockey Club's brightest young stars received some good news this week when they heard that they had been selected for the England Under 18 squad. Goalkeeper David Carter, 16, a student at Chelmsford's King Edward VI Grammar School, is

  • Great Wakering: Loud music led to scuffle

    A row between neighbours in which tempers became frayed leading to a doorstep scuffle, landed them on the wrong side of the law. Simon Taylor and Angela Rawlings 34, both of New Road, Great Wakering, appeared before Southend magistrates after the incident

  • Castle Point: County vows to end road chaos

    Traffic jams in Castle Point could soon be a thing of the past after county hall vowed to look at ways to beat the borough's road congestion. Essex County Council's highways and transportation committee is to carry out feasibility studies. Canvey county

  • Billericay, Wickford: Fund crisis looms at advice bureaux

    Billericay and Wickford CABs were today facing tough financial decisions after failing to secure the full grants they requested. Basildon Council last night slashed each of their applications by a quarter - yet granted Basildon CAB the full £57,000 it

  • Darts: Murray digs deep

    Skipper Malcolm Murray kept Ridley League South Section leaders the New Barn on track for one individual darts trophy with another never-say-die show last week. Last season's league singles champion looked a 'goner' in his Captain's Cup semi-final against

  • Soccer: Moore takes Billericay reins

    Billericay Town have shown their determination to keep pace with the big boys of the non-league soccer world by appointing a chief executive to run the club on a full-time basis. Man taking over the task of moving the New Lodge club towards their eventual

  • Cricket: Irani ready for the challenge

    Named just a week ago as Essex County Cricket Club's team captain for next season, Ronnie Irani has had time to reflect on his appointment. Revealing how he heard of his new role, Irani said: "I was called to see the club chairman, David Acfield and the

  • Rugby: Chelmsford drop vital points

    Saturday saw Chelmsford turn in a poor performance, compared to the game witnessed the previous weekend and one in which they never did themselves justice. Vital league points were dropped and ones which may cost Chelmsford dearly when the leagues are

  • Point-to-Point: Sansome samples the ups and downs

    Andrew Sansome sampled the ups and downs of a jockeys life at Ampton on Sunday when scoring twice for local owner Joe Turner. He took both divisions of the Maiden race on two eight year olds, Squaddie, a convincing 20 length winner of division one, and

  • Soccer: Iron will brings win

    Thanks to a couple of opportunist goals by expert marksmen, Braintree gained three points from Saturday's game in which they were otherwise second best for most of the time. Despite the boost of an early goal, Iron never really got on top of a useful

  • Essex: Cricket for all at County

    Cricket development officers from the Essex County Club will be coming to the Southend Tennis and Leisure Centre at Garon Park on Saturday week. They'll be there to introduce the game to members of Southend Mencap Sports Club. The visit is part of Essex's

  • Roxwell: Police seek mystery man

    Police remain mystified about the death of a trans-sexual two weeks after his chained body was washed up on a Suffolk beach. Following an appeal for information detectives are now confident Bryan Hooley travelled by bus from his home to Chelmsford on

  • Colchester: Curry house owner fined over odours

    Curry smells wafting across Colchester have cost a restaurant owner dear. The balti house owner was fined by Colchester magistrates for failing to comply with an abatement order to control cooking smells from his Butt Road premises. Ikbhal Miah , 30,

  • Colchester: Schools merger plan scrapped

    Education chiefs have told headteachers of 16 Colchester schools under threat of merging or closing that the controversial plans have been scrapped. People power appears to have won the day and parents protesting outside the private meeting, at Sir Charles

  • Wickford: Country park dream agreed

    Visions of a lush green country park are set to at last become reality for Wickford's Wick estate. Councillors have backed detailed plans to develop 46-acres of land and agreed to ask local residents for their views on what the park should include. It

  • Mid-Essex: Bid to ease op backlog

    Drastic measures have been taken in a desperate bid to clear the backlog of hospital operations. Nurses are being offered a higher wage and overtime to try and wipe out waiting lists at Broomfield Hospital, in Chelmsford. A spokeswoman for Mid Essex Hospital

  • Braintree: Town sharpens up bomb scare plan

    The police and council are working on a plan to clear people from Braintree town centre in a bomb scare or similar emergency, like a gas leak. The town centre could be split into four zones to help evacuate shoppers and workers quickly. The system requires

  • North Essex: Train firms among best in country

    Great Eastern and Anglia Railways are patting themselves on the back after bucking the national trend to show improvements in service during the last year. Figures published by the shadow strategic rail authority have revealed performances worsening on

  • Mid-Essex: Flexitime to woo back NHS workers

    Nurses who have drifted away from the profession could be attracted back to the NHS thanks to a new flexitime work scheme at Broomfield Hospital. Senior nurses who set up Flexipool at the Chelmsford hospital are hoping the project will especially appeal

  • Basildon: Telewest goes national with £30m scheme

    Basildon cable giant Telewest is about to undergo a £30 million rebirth. A television campaign will be launched in the summer along with a new name for the company currently merging with TV firm Flextech. The new company will be given its own identity

  • Vange: Girls are back in the saddle

    A disabled youngster left without vital therapy after thieves stole her bike was today smiling again thanks to generous readers. Four-year-old Annlease Summerfield suffers from behavioural condition Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and needs her

  • Thorpe-le-Soken: Pensioner on murder charge

    An 82-year-old man has appeared in court charged with murdering his wife. Leslie Parsons, of Frost Farm Cottages, Golden Lane, Thorpe-le-Soken, was charged on Tuesday - two months after the death of his 87-year-old wife Dorothy from gunshot wounds on

  • Kelvedon: Parking chaos forces newsagent closure

    It survived the Napoleonic and world wars - but now a village shop has been defeated by the motor car. Parking chaos has forced a Kelvedon newsagent's to close after more than 200 years. Shopkeeper Valerie Deacon and son David, who own the shop, will

  • Soccer: Own goal offers Billericay safety boost

    Billericay Town moved closer to ensuring that they maintain their Ryman status at the highest level with their third 1-1 draw in their last four Premier Division games in Tuesday night's contest with manager Gary Calder's previous club Enfield. It took

  • Thundersley: Band gets in tune for championship bid

    Musicians from Thundersley Brass Band are busy practising for a prestigious competition. The band, which rehearses in the music room at the King John School in Shipwrights Drive, every Thursday, will be travelling to Stevenage on Sunday to take part in

  • Pitsea: Duo linked to serial attacks

    Two youngsters believed to be sleeping rough in Pitsea were today being hunted by police after a string of serious assaults. The teenagers, aged around 15, disappeared from their nearby homes two weeks ago. Officers want to speak to them in connection

  • Witham: Internet cafe plan brews up support

    People living in Witham could soon be cruising the information superhighway - thanks to the launch of a cyber cafe. Ambitious plans to open the centre are currently being discussed by the town's strategy group. The project is still in its infancy but

  • Frinton: Bistro boss to risk prosecution threat

    The owner of a Frinton bistro, who may be prosecuted after defying advice not to hold a funk night, is to go ahead with another event. Barry Fox, who owns Vinari Bistro in Connaught Avenue, ran the first of his club nights last Friday. But Tendring Council

  • Soccer: Fans's coach trip to Hull and back

    Southend United's supporters club has already started taking bookings for their fast-approaching midweek trip to Hull City. The Seasiders make the marathon journey north to Boothferry Park on Tuesday, March 21, to face the Tigers, with coach tickets costing

  • Hockey: Old boys are hit for six

    Billericay were back to their sparkling best, displaying some fine approach play and clinical finishing. The visitors were put under pressure from the outset and after some intricate passing in the D, George Kallarackal slotted home the opener. From then

  • Soccer: Gulls get Ramblers in semis

    Canvey Island are still on the trail of three knockout trophies this season - but were made to fight all the way by Schweppes Essex Senior League Bowers United at Park Lane before winning through to the semi-finals of the Eastern Floodlight Competition

  • Soccer: U's super-sub staying put

    Colchester United boss Steve Whitton has again scotched speculation that his talented teenager Lomana Tresor Lua Lua is set to sign for Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth up to £2 million. Whitton stressed on Wednesday: "I can categorically state that

  • Table tennis round-up: Mays and Marsh shine for Maldon...

    The four-horse race to win division six of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis Teague has now been reduced to three after Maldon D produced a five-star performance to hammer Danbury K 9-1. Steve Mays and Dave Marsh were both unbeaten and the only

  • Hockey: Win not good enough

    Colchester Men's Hockey Club wrapped up their home programme in the Crowe Insurance League with a 4-0 win at Leisure World. But player-coach Arthur Wormington was the first to admit they were flattered by the margin of victory. He fumed: "Three points

  • Soccer round-up: Essex Intermediate Football League

    SENIOR DIVISION ONE Takeley travelled to lowly Essex Police and returned 2-1 victors, goals from Barker and Thake winning the game while the Police goal was netted by D. Schneider. Basement dwellers Ekco First Data entertained top of the table Shell Club

  • Snooker: Carter's Celtic conquest

    Two sparkling century breaks helped Tipree snooker ace Ali Carter book a place in the sixth qualifying round for the televised stage of the 25th Embassy World Championship. A 10-6 triumph over Glasgow's Martin Dziewialtowski at the Preston Guild Hall

  • Southend: College campus scheme unveiled

    An ambitious bid to build a new millennium college campus in Southend will be one of the biggest projects the town has ever seen. Chief executive and town clerk George Krawiec told business leaders he was excited by South East Essex College's plans to

  • Castle Point: Council calls halt on phone masts

    Mobile phone masts will not be placed on top of lamp-posts in Castle Point until a report on how safe they are is published. That's the pledge of Essex County Council's highways committee after it decided to back the stand Castle Point Council made against

  • BMX racing: Unbeatable Bradley

    Having had to cancel the last three month's meetings because of the weather, it was thanks to Chairman Richard Everitt for putting a roller over the track to make conditions excellent on Sunday for the Braintree BMX Club to hold a meeting. Seventeen riders

  • Ice hockey: National call-up for Chelmsford skater

    Ice hockey player Ross Jones, from Great Baddow, Chelmsford, is flying high at the moment. After playing all his ice hockey since he first began participating in the sport, at the Riverside Ice & Leisure in Chelmsford, Ross, 17, decided to try his

  • Thundersley: Boy at club had 'gun'

    Police today warned children against the dangers of carrying firearms after a youngster took a gun and a selection of knives to his local youth club. The ball-bearing gun and the knives were confiscated by an adult at the King John Youth Centre, based

  • Pitsea: Pupils expelled after drugs find

    A headteacher today vowed to take a hard line on drugs after two pupils were found in possession of cannabis at school. The two 15-year-olds and a third pupil from the same year believed to have supplied the boys with the drug, have all now been expelled

  • Women's hockey: Deserved win for Chelmsford

    Chelmsford Highway booked their place in the semi-final of this new competition with a deserved victory in Kent on Saturday. Despite being put under intense pressure in the opening moments of the game, Chelmsford rocked their opponents with a goal after

  • Soccer round-up: Pope & Smith Sunday League

    DIVISION FOUR CUP FINAL Galleywood achieved the first step in an anticipated league and cup double by beating Boreham 4-1. Nick Cook scored Boreham's consolation goal, while Steve Lunn (2), Ben Chandler and Simon Green were on target for a joyful Galleywood

  • Burnham: Smash-and-grab

    Smash-and-grab raiders targeted Dillons newsagents, Burnham, twice in the early hours this week. On Monday, a concrete ornament was hurled through a window and £447-worth of cigarettes and chewing gum were stolen from the High Street shop. On Tuesday,

  • Colchester: Trial scheme cuts waiting times

    Waiting times for elderly patients to see medical specialists are being slashed thanks to a trial scheme in Colchester. Instead of waiting up to 13 weeks for an appointment, patients can be referred to the rapid assessment clinic within 24 to 72 hours

  • St Osyth: Farm chosen for GM crops trial

    A farm in north Essex has been chosen as part of the Government's trial for growing GM crops. Seawick at St Osyth is on the latest list of sites for a scientific programme of farm-scale evaluations to look into the potential effects on the natural environment

  • Rettendon: Midnight raid ends eco-warriors' protest

    The protest at Rettendon is finally over after the last five eco-warriors were pulled from their tunnels and arrested. The three women and two men, aged from their late teens to early 30s, were dragged from their tunnels at around midnight. They were

  • South Essex: Parents win right to sue County Hall

    A couple who suffered extreme stress and mental trauma after their four children were sexually abused by a teenage boy they were fostering, have won the right to sue Essex County Council for damages. The parents from south Essex were specialist adolescent

  • Chelmsford: Hospital gun drama

    A county councillor has called for the 'open door' policy at a Chelmsford mental health unit to be reviewed after a gun scare. Armed police were alerted after a man, believed to be armed, went into the canteen at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford. The

  • Southend: Cruisers put lives at risk

    Congestion caused by seafront cruisers is causing crucial delays to lifeboat crews answering emergency calls, it was revealed today. Convoys of hundreds of immaculately polished cars regularly gridlock the seafront from Eastern Esplanade past the pier