A proposal for a barrage to be installed across the River Blackwater looks set to be rejected by Maldon district councillors. Details of the scheme have only just been made public after weeks of private discussion. The idea was for a "tidal bar" to be
A 21-year-old woman who took her mum to play bingo as a Mother's Day treat won more than £82,000. The Maldon woman - who has asked not to be named - took her mother to the Mecca Club in Southend and ended up scooping the big money jackpot. Now the kind-hearted
Businesses and local councils have joined forces to shape the future prosperity of south Essex - six months after they formed an economic partnership to spruce up trade in the region. The South East Essex Economic Group, consisting of members from Southend
Colchester United manager Steve Whitton has paid tribute to the club's Supporters Association for their "tremendous" generosity and backing. The U's boss, who scoffed at media speculation linking him with the Sheffield Wednesday manager's job, said: "
It was a case of heads we win at Hampton and Richmond last night as Billericay Town lifted themselves up four places into the top ten of the Ryman League Premier Division with their second 2-1 away win in the space of four days. The biggest shock to start
Southend United chairman John Main has revealeid the Shrimpers' failure to win promotion this season may jeopardise the futures of staff working off the pitch. The ailing Third Division outfit is currently wrestling with a crippling £1.5million a year
Tiptree chalked up another fine win to open up a five point gap at the top of Jewson division one. Starting the game in determined mood the Jam-makers opened their account within the first five minutes when David Barefield prodded home from close range
Children at a Colchester primary school have been sent home for a second time after further problems with fumes from building work. About 90 children in the reception and year one classes have been sent home and told not to return to St James primary
Drivers faced serious delays on the M25 this morning following an accident on the QE2 bridge. Four heavy goods vehicles were involved in the accident which happened at 5.40am today. Three lanes were closed off as one of the vehicles involved was a petrol
Banned go-ped driver Colin Francis was back before Southend magistrates for failing to stick to a community service order. Late last year Francis, 21, of Holt Farm Way, Rochford, was convicted of driving while disqualified, after he was seen driving a
Rail travellers were left stranded last night when a mail train caught fire on the main London Liverpool Street railway line at Colchester. The train's tractor unit caught fire just after 9pm as the driver was approaching North Station from Norwich. Firefighters
A charity shop today raised itself from the ashes by opening again just one week after a major fire. Clothes and other donated items left at the back of the Sue Ryder shop in the Laindon Centre were set alight causing serious damage to the back exits
A former Walton lifeboat has been named among the country's top historic ships and boats. The James Stevens No 14, used as a houseboat in recent years, is being restored to its former glory. The 43ft vessel, which was used from Walton between 1900 and
A national alert has been issued after revelations that 5,000 wrongly labelled packs of diabetic testing strips have been sent out by a Basildon firm. Patients who use the strips to check blood glucose level have been asked to check the packaging by company
A Colchester man raped a teenager within hours of being released from prison for another brutal attack. Vicious sex beast Kevin Chambers was yesterday starting a life sentence for raping a 19-year-old woman less than a day after completing a six-year
Motorists faced traffic chaos after a four-car accident on the A12. Part of the road was closed after the pile-up on the north-bound carriageway between Hatfield Peverel and Witham at around 8.10am yesterday. Commuters faced major delays throughout the
Hungry web-surfers can now plaice their fish and chips orders online at a Colchester chippie. Hicks Fish and Chip Shop in the High Street has launched its own website, www.hicksrestaurant.co.uk , complete with e-mail ordering facility. Linking silicon
Surprised Harold health chiefs caught out by a shock multi-million pound government windfall are hurriedly trying to work out what to do with it. Barking and Havering Health Authority has found itself with an extra £5,383,000 in its pocket to spend on
The shortage of social workers in Essex is approaching the 200 mark. Currently there are 178 vacancies with 100 in children's services and the remainder in the community care sector. The shortfall in staff means that in some parts of the county, people
Pop band Scooch thrilled 300 pupils when they performed at a Clacton school. The pupils from Holland Park School saw the band as part of their nationwide tour when they visited yesterday. The group, which had a top five hit with More Than I Needed To
Three new projects being developed by the Essex youth offending team will aim to prevent young people from embarking on a life of crime. The team, one of many set up nationwide by the Youth Justice Board to spearhead the Government's reform of the youth
Braintree chart-topping techno punks the Prodigy have vowed to carry on after dancer Leeroy Thornhill quit to go solo. Leeroy, 30, is to concentrate on his own musical project Flightcrank. Leeroy got engaged recently to the new Radio 1 Breakfast Show
9 years later it's still the same Nothing it seems ever changes down at Roots Hall. A pal gave me a cutting from a Sunday newspaper back in 1961 when Blues lost 1-0 at home to Watford. The report of the match began "what a tough job manager Ted Fenton
Billericay Town almost certainly put all fears of being dragged into the Ryman League Premier Division dogfight behind them with a well-deserved success over a St Albans side who went into this game in fourth place in the table. A return to form of midfielder
Luton Town 3 Colchester United 2 (Nationwide League Division Two) Anxious Colchester United boss Steve Whitton is ready to get back to basics as he bids to keep the U's out of relegation trouble. "The defenders have got to defend properly and the midfielders
Witham turned in a good all-round performance against the team fifth in the league to keep alive their slender hopes of avoiding relegation. Witham had chances as early as the sixth minute when Glen Driver and Chris Bassett were put through but on both
A crazy ten minute first half spell, and a Lee Parish hat-trick, cost Wivenhoe this clash on a dull afternoon at Broad Lane. It was largely uninspiring stuff from the Dragons, who looked to still be feeling the effects of their Thursday night defeat at
Brightlingsea secured a well-earned point at North Road as they held visiting Haverhill to a goal-less draw. The home side currently third from bottom of the Jewson League's division two need every point they can grab to keep them away from the relegation
Record signing Leon Gutzmore returned to haunt his old team-mates and put a big dent in their promotion hopes. Gutzmore signed for the Iron from Bedford earlier this year after an unhappy spell there. And now the promotion contenders will be rueing letting
Amateur footballers breathed a sigh of relief yesterday as the Southend Borough Combination League's Eastwoodbury Lane ground was granted a brand new 21-year lease of life. The league has been based at its present home since 1981, but had genuine fears
Maldon manager Ben Embery was full of praise for his side after their exemplary performance at Gorleston. Maldon made the long journey to Gorleston with a depleted side missing regulars Dean Kelly, Darren Weeden and Lee Edwards. But it didn't affect their
Long-serving Garry Britnell turned from villain to hero as Canvey Island shared the spoils with relegation-threatened hosts Hitchin in this incident-packed Ryman League Premier Division affair. Gulls' boss Jeff King rung the changes after last week's
Fake designer clothes on sale at the Southend Airshow cost a former market trader £4,500 after they were seized by trading standards officers. Jabir Mohamed admitted 26 offences under the Trades Description Act and of selling counterfiet goods when he
Calls have been made to urgently demolish the derelict St Mary's Hospital in Colchester after homeless people moved back in just weeks after it was wrecked by a fire. The blaze, in March, had accidentally been started by vagrants setting light to rubbish
Shenfield residents fed up with being trapped on their own driveways by 'stupid' motorists have demanded action to rid their streets of parked cars. For years, people living on Kilworth Avenue and Alwyne Avenue have been growing increasingly frustrated
A woman died after being hit by a train at Harold Wood Station on Monday morning. The victim, named as 59-year-old Margaret Trollope, from Harold Wood, is believed to have been killed instantly by the Liverpool Street-Southend Victoria train which was
This weekend's fixtures Senior Division One: Bishops Stortford Swifts v Shell Club; Ekco First Data v Kelvedon Hatch; Essex Police v Sandon Royals; Frenford Senior v Metpol Chigwell; Hatfield Peverel v Runwell Hospital; Takeley v Rayleigh Town. Senior
After Colchester had cancelled the scheduled fixture Brentwood travelled to Rochford for a friendly encounter on Saturday. However, with the home team having beaten the visitors in the first round of the Eastern Counties Cup earlier this season there
Hutton Cricket Club held its annual Spring Dinner at the Hutton Banqueting Suite on Friday, the event being attended by over 150 members and guests. The evening was a great success with excellent speeches from the guest speakers. Bob McLintock, Deputy
On paper, this was an end of season affair between two struggling teams. However the Brentwood faithful saw an eagerly-contested match where the home side were determined to finish their Brentwood Centre schedule with a win. The opening minutes revealed
Brentwood School's under 19 squash team defended their 1999 national title brilliantly at Winchester Tennis and Squash Club. They beat Wycliffe College from Stonehouse, Gloucestershire 3-2 in the final after eliminating the leading team from Scotland,
Two more snooker players have moved a step closer to taking on Big Break TV star John Virgo in special one-frame challenge matches. Lee Fairbrother won the latest senior competition qualifiers at Wickford Snooker Club, while the junior event went to Chris
Police officers stopped a woman from taking her own life when she threatened to jump from a multi-storey car park. Officers dashed to Great Oaks car park in Basildon town centre at around 11.40pm yesterday after seeing the distressed 19-year-old on the
There was still a cold nip in the air at the weekend, and this was evident in the performances of the riders who were brave enough to face the timekeeper. Many were wearing the type of clothing that would normally indicate they were out for a training
Brentwood recorded their fifth successive league victory with a hard-earned win on the ground of the reigning league champions on Saturday. They scored the only goal as early as the second minute when Jason Fairweather back headed a cross from Darren
Fixtures Premier Division: Hannakins Farm v Braintree & Bocking United; Hullbridge v Outwood Common; Marconi v Ravens. Division One: Anglia Poly v Margaretting; Outwood Common Res v White Roding; Latchingdon v Writtle; Marconi Res v Writtle Manor.
Several clubs have entered teams to compete in the Chelmsford Junior Tennis Association One Day Winter competition which is being held at the David Lloyd Centre, Chigwell on Sunday. Fourteen clubs have entered the competition which is sponsored by the
Plans for a new pub and drive-through McDonald's restaurant at the Turner Rise "teardrop" site in Colchester look set to be put on hold. Applications for the two separate developments will be discussed at a meeting of Colchester Council's planning and
The furious mother of a man beaten up by a mob of yobs on Brentwood High Street has demanded police action to sweep the teenage troublemakers from the town centre. The 21-year-old victim and a friend were walking towards the Litten Tree pub at around
The cause of a fire which engulfed a Chelmsford restaurant is still not known - but foul play is not suspected. Hundreds of cinema-goers and shoppers had to be evacuated after the blaze swept through the eaterie, called The, in Kings Head Walk, Chelmsford
Building work on a £4million expansion programme at the Essex Nuffield Hospital at Shenfield Road has started. Manager Jose Perez with Brentwood and Ongar MP Eric Pickles , launched the start of the work at a special ceremony on Friday. Mr Perez said:
Dozens of diners, cinema-goers and car owners fled Chelmsford town centre last night as a huge blaze rapidly engulfed a brand new wine bar. The inferno began at 'The' an upmarket bar-restaurant at Kings Head Walk just thirty feet from the Odeon Cinema
Fuming motorists were stuck for hours in queues along the A12 after a section of it crumbled near Colchester. The surface of the north-bound carriageway began to break up in the road widening and resurfacing works at Stanway shortly before 3.30pm yesterday
Two students from The Peniel Academy at Brizes Park, Kelvedon Hatch, near Brentwood, have won major table tennis championships in recent weeks. Both students were competing in the derby Four Star Junior Open Table Tennis Tournament held at Moorways Sports
A neglected house in Maldon is set to get a new lease of life thank to its new owners. Evelyn House on Market Hill has been declared a building at risk by Essex County Council because of its poor state of repair. But now the Maldon Conservation Area Partnership
A man is recovering today after he was hit on the head and had fluid sprayed in his face in a vicious robbery. Police were called just after 5.30pm on Monday after reports that an Esso service station staff member had been attacked in his car while leaving
A cash pot of more than £5 million is to be spent upgrading council housing in the Braintree district. The investment is part of a drive to ensure everyone has access to decent, affordable property and to reduce short-term repair costs. Eileen Davidson
It seemed like a good idea at the time. Take the boys on a team-building exercise to develop that kindred spirit and enhance the togetherness the players have showed on the park all season. Maybe last Thursday's trip to the dogs was seen by Town boss
A night that could have propelled Romford flyweight Francis Ampofo to former glories, ended in disappointment at York Hall, Bethnal Green. Ampofo, a former British and Commonwealth flyweight champion, was striving to win the vacant bantamweight versions
David Johnson will not be disclipined for his petulant shove on Ipswich Town team-mate Jim Magilton. The Town striker has been widely condemned after pushing his hand into the face of the Northern Ireland international midfielder during last night's 1
Colchester's crack indoor bowls duo Brenda Brown and Elizabeth Tunn have added another national title to their impressive collection. Brenda and Liz have scooped the British Women's Indoor Pairs Championship crown for the first time to complete the second
You could say that Ryman Division Three leaders Great Wakering Rovers were left with Egham on their faces on the day that League chairman Alan Turvey came to watch them play. Not only did their understrength side suffer a setback to their title aspirations
Air passengers landing in Essex could have their tickets tested for traces of illegal drugs as they enter the country. Under an ambitious scheme announced by Keith Hellawell, the Government's drugs tsar, incoming passengers would put their tickets into
Extensive consultation with residents will determine the final look of a new 46 acre country park for the Wick estate, Wickford. Basildon Council is planning to transform the site into a thriving centre for both people and wildlife over the next few years
Essex County Council has unveiled plans for a groundbreaking, hi-tech traffic control system across the county. The council recently announced a new contract with Siemens Atkins 2000, a partnership between Siemens Traffic Controls Ltd and WS Atkins Consultants
A battling mum is campaigning for safer goalposts after a horrific accident left her son needing plastic surgery. Debbie Gibson is calling on football clubs to do away with metal hooks on which to hang the nets, or to use protective plastic covers. Her
World championships in Irish dancing are beckoning three talented youngsters from south Essex, discovers SALLY KING Three young dancers are set to compete in the Irish Dancing World Championships in Belfast this Easter. Kyleigh Cullis 14, from Basildon
A home for cats has been given planning permission - despite a complaint about the animals' mating habits. Tendring Council's planning sub-committee gave permission for some outbuildings in Totland Drive, Clacton, to be retained to house cats. There were
The headmaster of a Rochford school has hit out at vandals who set fire to a toilet in the school grounds. The toilet, used by outside groups who use the King Edmund School at Vaughan Close, Rochford, was destroyed by the fire, which was started deliberately
Intrepid postmistress Val Hicks weathered desert storms and burning temperatures during a strenuous charity trek. Now she has returned from the Sahara with more than £2,814 raised for the cancer support charity, Macmillan and a wealth of once-in-a-lifetime
Thieves have left a young mother heartbroken by stealing jewellery of great sentimental value. Julie Herlihy, 28, of Providence Place, Colchester, gave birth to Imogen six weeks ago. To mark the occasion she was given a two-colour gold charm in the shape
Plans to transform the redundant Crittall Sports Ground into a state-of-the-art health complex have collapsed. A health and fitness club was on the brink of buying the Springwood Industrial Estate site - but talks broke down at the eleventh hour. The
The likely cost of controversial plans to transform Kelvedon Hatch Police Station into a new rural policing headquarters has spiraled upwards by 60 per cent, according to a new report. The new section station, one of ten being established in rural areas
Police have been called in to probe a bizarre bank account scam which left an Ongar builder £1,800 out of pocket. A fraudster managed to get the sum switched from 31-year-old Mark Beale's account into his own. Mr Beale, of Millbank, only discovered his
One of the biggest matches in Rayleigh Town's history, the Essex Intermediate Cup final, had to be postponed on Saturday when the water system at Heybridge Swifts ground was left on and flooded the pitch. A new date for the clash with Harold Wood Athletic
A last-minute own goal gave Heybridge some much needed breathing space in their fight against Ryman League premier division relegation. The match was not a great spectacle, but the grit and commitment shown by the Heybridge team earnt its reward when
Canvey Island's superb first season at Ryman League Premier Division level has gone badly off the boil at precisely the wrong time. Just ten days ago, Gulls' fans were still cherishing outside hopes of catching runaway leaders Dagenham and Redbridge for
"Men against boys" was Shrimpers boss Tony Hall's reaction to their defeat at the hands of Wroxham. Harwich went behind by two goals in the first half and didn't look as if they would pull anything back before the interval. If anything it was the home
It's nice weather for ducks out there, so the cricket season must be about to start. But the only ducks at the County Ground yesterday were of the feathered variety as Essex's friendly two-day match against Kent was cancelled because of, wait for it,
Halstead sunk further into relegation trouble as they were convincingly beaten by a resurgent Diss side. With just three games remaining before this one, Shaun Bailey's team knew that they desperately needed something to pull them away from the teams
A successful scheme that has got youngsters walking to school is in need of a boost in the form of volunteers. The walking bus scheme at West Leigh Junior School in Ronald Hill Grove, Leigh, has been a runaway success - but now more adult "'drivers" and
Head girl Suzie Cox has been rewarded for her warmth and compassion with an award in memory of Princess Diana - the nation's Queen of Hearts. Staff at Southend's Cecil Jones High School put Suzie forward for the accolade which was launched to recognise
JoeGriffiths, six, of Thundersley, feels the Force as new Star Wars villain Darth Maul. Tesco Extra in Pitsea organised face-painting as part of the celebrations to mark the video launch of Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace. Angry - Joe Griffiths
A spot of babysitting led to a lifetime of love and care for one couple who are celebrating 50 years of wedded bliss. Derek and Vera Dennis, of Wakering Road, Shoebury danced the night away at a special party to mark the occasion. The pair, who met while
UK dance legends Underworld are among the three latest acts confirmed for the V2000 music festival in Chelmsford this summer. Creators of one of the nation's favourite anthems, Born Slippy, the outfit will appear on the JJB Arena stage at Hylands Park
A murder inquiry has been launched into the death of a transsexual whose body was found weighed down with body-building weights on a beach. Bryan Hooley's naked body was found near Kessingland Beach, near Lowestoft, on March 2. Initially, Suffolk Police
U11 League Cup: Emblem Yth 2, Roneo Colts B 1; Chelmsford City Colts B 1, Romford Yth A 5; Raiders 5, Millennium Redstars 3; Intersports A 0, Ongar Jnrs 2; Kingsborough 3, Mountnessing Juniors 5; Romford Yth B 2, Gallow Utd 3; Gt Notley Jnrs 4, Mercury
A new service to help people with mental health problems is to be launched in Southend this week. The Southend Advocacy Service aims to provide aid for people who have a mental health problem and live in the community. The scheme will give a flexible
A war of words has broken out this week after a West Horndon pensioner, who was honoured in last month's Brentwood civic awards, was banned from the 265 bus route which runs through the village. Bernard Turner, 73, of Thorndon Avenue, picked up a lifetime
An under-age girl was persuaded to pose for topless photographs when she went to a Witham house for a cleaning job. And a court heard how she was indecently assaulted by a man while his wife took a photograph of her. Chelmsford Crown Court was told yesterday
An 11-year-old boy has been suspended from school after injuring two teachers in a struggle. The pupil lashed out as staff tried to restrain him in front of his classmates at Robert Drake Primary School, in Church Road, Thundersley. Governors and staff
People in need of help from Wickford police could find the doors firmly locked when they next visit. New arrangements mean the station, in London Road, will now close early if "operational commitments" require it. When civilian staff are unavailable to
A man who was hurt outside a Harwich pub has died. The 53-year-old was assaulted at 7.30pm on Monday outside the British Flag pub in Harwich. Police said a man pushed the victim who then hit his head on the pavement, suffering a fractured skull. He was
In the Brentwood and District Table Tennis League, the Handicap Cup final will be between Warley Stars 'A' and South Weald C. Stars overcame the handicap to triumph over Herongate B. Nigel Lamb won all his three singles even though two of the three matches
The tragically short life of a 12-year-old boy killed in the horrific Omagh bomb blast is to be honoured in music, thanks to a Brentwood composer. Shaun McLaughlin died on August 15 1998 at the hands of dissident Republican terrorists, just two months
Plans to house asylum seekers at a hotel in Clacton have been thrown out amid fears it could devastate the town's tourism trade. Councillors last night threw out plans to house asylum seekers at the Chantry Hotel in Orwell Road. Pierre Oxley (Con, Southcliff
The first international event of Britain's show jumping calendar took place at the Towerlands Equestrian Centre when it hosted the sixth running of the Braintree International Young Rider's Show. Over 150 horses and ponies descended upon the Essex venue
A frightened mother has called for a police crackdown after her teenage daughter was targeted four times in two months by flashers. The mum has spoken out about her fears that the incidents are happening close to where young children play. As summer approaches
