LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL Danbury booked their place in the final with a 2-0 win over Uplands Rangers on Sunday. Pasquale Cipullo's goal gave Danbury a 1-0 lead at the break and in the second half Danny Kirkham netted to send them through to their second
Division One: Witham Amber 28, Chelmsford Eagles 46; Chelmsford Doves 37, Witham Amber 44; Christchurch/Ipswich 66, Kelvedon 44; Orion 62, Abercorn 56; Kea 38, Tegate 55. Division Two: Writtle Angels 48, Benfords 34; Tiptree Panthers Black 34, Reflections
The final eight matches of the 1999-2000 Braintree District Indoor Cricket League season were played at the Leisure Centre on Sunday and therefore the final two relegation and one remaining Championship crown places were decided. The first game of the
Falcon Bowling Club entertained the Essex Farmers B.A. in a five rink match which Falcon won by 121 shots to 80. Details (Falcon first): G. Peters, D. Wood, B. Simpson, M. Smith 26; J. Ashcroft, P. English, D. Green, A. Mee 17. N. Whent, J. March, M.
The Eastern Spring Classic meeting at the redesigned Royston track on Sunday saw 67 riders competing for honours with 13 of them from Braintree BMX Club. Top rider from the Club was Matthew Sewell, 6, who added to his two excellent heat wins and a second
South Woodham & Wickford Rollerspeed Skating Club member Helen Warlow was a member of the Great Britain team that faced strong competition in the first ever European Absolute Indoor Speed Skating Championships, in Italy last week. The Italian, Spanish
A parish councillor, forced to resign following a vote of no confidence, is to stand for election at Basildon Council. Mark Dale, former chairman of Little Burstead parish council, has thrown his hat back into the local government ring by standing as
Bus chiefs have dropped plans to divert a school bus away from the scene of a horrific accident. The 512 service from Chelmsford to Southend collided with a car last month in Potash Road, Billericay, injuring 32 schoolchilden. A new route - avoiding Potash
Shoppers with mobility problems will be able to travel in style around the Eastgate Shopping Centre. The Basildon shopping complex has bought a brand new £2,000 motorised scooter for Shopmobility. The gift was handed over at a special presentation today
A Chelmsford woman who fell to her death two weeks before Christmas from a multi-storey car park had suffered from severe depression and was undergoing psychiatric treatment at the Linden Centre in Broomfield. Two police detectives administered first
Southend Council has paid £12,500 compensation to a tenant whose flat was so damp that slugs climbed up the bed. Christopher Wood, 41, suffered worsening health problems as mould flourished, and furniture and carpets rotted. For two years he repeatedly
Police were alerted when a Chelmsford man was seen on the ledge of the Market Road multi-storey car park. PC Kate Nicholson, Sgt Chris Gilgan and PC Jeff Moye who went to the car park at about 5pm last Thursday found the man, who is in his 20's, in a
Detectives are renewing their appeal for witnesses following an alleged sexual assault. The allegation was made following an incident on a stairwell in East Stockwell Street, Colchester, between 11.20pm and 11.45pm on Friday, March 24. Police believe
An internet-crazy grandmother has proved that life doesn't begin at 40, or even 50. Web-smart gran-of-three Margaret Metcalfe surfs the web, met her partner using e-mail and works with computers - and she's 64. Margaret, of Rochefort Drive, Southend,
The public are risking their lives by walking on Army firing ranges whilst troops are practising their shooting skills. The Commandant of the East Anglian Training Areas Major (retired) Harry Waller said the public are ignoring warning signs and red flags
Brentwood residents both young and old will gather in the heart of the town tomorrow to mourn the three young brothers killed in the Hutton blaze tragedy. At 4pm St Thomas' Church in St Thomas Road plays host to a public service of thanksgiving for the
A father who shopped his heroin addict son to the police has spoken of his relief after the youngster was locked up. However, Jeff Smith is distraught at the lengths he had to go to get his son the help he so desperately needed. The father, of Nelson
Loveable pooch Rose was back with her owner today after she was dog-napped by thieves. Delighted Richard Smith, 47, of London Road, Leigh, had nothing but praise for police officers who helped launch a hunt for the three-year-old pedigree bitch. Disaster
Rail travellers were left stranded on Tuesday 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
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
Football agent Barry Silkman today confirmed he will be taking Colchester United to the civil courts following the Brian Launders affair. Silkman insisted: "Although no date has yet been fixed to hear the case, there is no question that Brian Launders
Basildon Swimming club look set for a glowing future after they retained the Southend Annual Trophy Gala. The club led from the start and held off a valiant fight from Canvey to win by 11 points. Rochford were fourth and Southend fifth. Basildon had a
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
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
Chart-topping poppers Steps will be performing at this year's Chelmsford Spectacular. The band will be appearing at the annual event at Hylands Park on Saturday, August 26 with special guests. Artists for the Spectacular 2000's other concerts over the
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
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
Soccer agent Rachel Anderson took on the PFA for discrimination and won - but she's still not expecting a dinner invitation, reveals RAY BRADLEY Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. The Professional Footballers' Association and the legendary Muhammad
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
This Is Essex, the county's number one site for local news and information, has just won a prestigious national award. At a packed ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London last night, This Is Essex scooped the title of 'Best Weekly Newspaper on
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
This Is Essex, the county's number one site for local news and information, has just won a prestigious national award. At a packed ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London last night, This Is Essex scooped the title of 'Best Weekly Newspaper on
Animals have been blamed for killing dozens of chickens at Hylands School Farm in Chelmsford. The corpses of headless birds were discovered scattered near the henhouse in Hatfield Grove, on Monday morning. Police believe the henhouse was broken into over
A father-of-three was jailed for punching his wife in the face during a drunken rage. David Reeves, 46, who admitted a charge of actual bodily harm at an earlier hearing, was jailed for four months at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court yesterday. Andrew Perry
Sam Morris may not be a household name at the moment but that could all change with the screening of a new BBC comedy drama. For the 11-year-old actor from Benton Close, Braintree, has a lead role in the two-part series alongside Men Behaving Badly star
You're having a bath! - that's the message as Canvey's Dean Macey ducks down to keep his modesty. The world championship decathlon silver medallist, currently warm weather training in America for the Olympics, took time off to publicise tomorrow's national
A pensioner was making his tea when his cooker caught alight. The blaze started at a bungalow in Bockings Grove, Clacton, at about 6pm last night. Leading fireman Ray Pocock said an 82-year-old man had been cooking his tea when his cooker caught alight
Results of blood tests for hepatitis carried out on hundreds of south Essex women will not be published locally. Eleven hundred women were called for screening by Southend Hospital last week after it was revealed that a surgeon who worked there for three
Tiptree's Ali Carter added another big-name scalp to his ever growing list as he knocked John Parrott out of the Regal Scottish Masters. Carter triumphed 5-3 against the former world champion to progress to the fourth round of the competition on Monday
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
Ipswich Town were back on the box for their First Division clash at West Bromwich Albion last night. Town - who were without a game at the weekend - were hoping to make up some ground on Barnsley and Manchester City in front of the Sky television cameras
Amateur footballers breathed a sigh of relief on Tuesday 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
Southend United (Score) won 2-1 at Canvey in the top of the table clash in the Eastern Section. Also closing in on Southend Manor, the leaders of the (Seatex Design) Eastern Junior Alliance) are Hullbridge Sports, who recorded a 7-0 win over Maldon Town
This weekend's fixtures Division One Cup Final (at Herongate FC, kick off 10.30am): Mowbrays v Old Cooperians (admission £1 by programme). Spall Knockout Cup Fourth Round: Warley Stars v Havering Nalgo. Spall Knockout Cup Semi-Final: Essex Arms v Harold
New government figures show that bogus asylum seekers are costing Essex taxpayers more than £677,711 a year, amounting to £1.38 per household, says West Chelmsford MP Simon Burns. This amounted to the equivalent of providing 19 extra police officers at
Help will be available at the touch of a button on a website being developed by Witham Citizens' Advice Bureau. Witham Town Council gave the branch £7,000 to improve its information technology facilities. Part has been used to extend the computer system
A plan has been drawn up to demolish the only nightclub in Dovercourt and turn it into flats. But the landlord of Reflections nightclub and the adjoining Phoenix pub has said the immediate future of the building is safe. Terry Lindsell and business partner
When kind-hearted school pupil Steven Hughes learned about what was happening in flood-stricken Mozambique, he decided to do something to help. In a fundraising bid, the 15-year-old pupil - who has used a wheelchair since he was four - decided to get
Leigh Ramblers, beaten 4-0 the previous week by the same opposition, quickly recovered when they took on Northleigh Colts in the Southend Junior League Under-14 B Division and pulled off a 6-2 success. Tom Green grabbed a hat-trick with Chris Drake, Ryan
Members of the Chelmsford & District Sub Aqua Club are busy preparing for the forthcoming diving season. Last weekend the club's Boat Officer took a small team of volunteers to Eastbourne to service the club's RIB which is now fully serviceable. Six
Boyce Hill jeweller James Parker produced a gem of a performance at Braintree, to finish second in the qualifying competition of the finest Essex Amateur Golf Union event of the season, the Keating Trophy. Forty-five of the county's best golfers played
An epileptic council tenant was today recovering after a pile of plaster fell on her head from above a window in her bedroom at home. Shocked Sue Sutheran, 34, of Sutton Road, Southend, told how she rang Southend Council's housing department to warn them
A teacher has been suspended from Shenfield High School after a report in a national newspaper claimed that he was a "witch". Ralph Morse, who has been appointed youth manager of the Pagan Federation, is now awaiting the results of an investigation into
Essex Police will be given at least £2m by the Government towards the costs of policing the Afghan Airlines hijack at Stansted in February. They had put a case for £2.3m. Home Secretary, Jack Straw, said last Friday that the force would be granted the
A row has erupted over a council decision to axe floral displays in Colchester. Each year since 1984, town centre streets have been made more attractive with 120 council-funded hanging baskets as part of Colchester in Bloom. But budget cuts of £9,000
Sunday saw the Dunmow Demon Skater Hockey Club travelling to Harlow Sports and Leisure Centre for a series of matches. The first two matches saw current Youth League leaders Demon Aliens taking on the Demon Gremlins. With the Gremlins short of players
The first event at Channels Golf Club last weekend was for the Ladies Rover Cup. This stroke play competition was won by Pam Pamphilon who returned a gross 94, handicap 23 and a net 71. Fran Thomas was second on 97, 25, 72 scoreline followed by Jacky
It may have been April 1, but Mike Hutchinson's winning time of 18 minutes 52 seconds in the St. Ives "10" was no joke. This new record for the F1 course, so early in the season, compares favourably with Graham Obree's national record of 18 minutes 27
Southend airport has been home to a World War Two Vulcan bomber since 1986. Normally the old bird is seen, but not touched. However on Sunday, April 16 there will be a unique chance to get a close-up hands-on feel for the old plane which is lovingly maintained
We need your vote! That's the message from Castle Point Council which is urging people to choose their favourite artwork for an exciting new project at Hadleigh library. Three artists have put forward designs for the library's outside wall and locals
A couple were today celebrating after taking on the bureaucrats and winning. Jimmy and Carol Elster feared they would be thousands of pounds out of pocket after Basildon District Council told them the double glazed windows they'd had put in violated a
More women volunteers are needed for a pioneering study into the prevention of breast cancer. Extra funding has been given to the International Breast Cancer Intervention Study and one of the bases for the study is the Breast Unit at the Chelmsford and
A pedestrian was left with a suspected broken nose after a "nasty" street robbery. The man was walking from Brook Street across a railway bridge towards Magdalen Street in Colchester. He was followed across the bridge by three "scruffy looking" men who
Two care workers charged in connection with the death of a 95-year-old woman at a north Essex old people's home are to be re-interviewed by police. Kirsty Gibson, 20, of West Avenue, Clacton, and Philip Perkins, 35, of De Vere Estate, Great Bentley, are
Secret proposals to axe all ambulance stations between Shoebury and the M25 are under active consideration, it has been claimed. Frontline employees believe there are plans to shut ten bases across south Essex as part of a shake-up of the ambulance service
Colchester soldiers have been rocked by a bomb blast at their Northern Ireland garrison. And it is feared the attack on the Royal Anglians' military base in Londonderry is part of a build-up to an all-out offensive by dissident republicans Nobody was
Leigh and Westcliff LTA is celebrating its golden anniversary this year. The highlight of the festivities will be a dinner and dance on Saturday, October 28, where former British Davis Cup captain David Lloyd will be the guest of honour. The association
Shocked credit card staff today hit out at a decision to allow a cross-dressing man to use the women's loo. First Data Resources workers in Basildon said transsexual Clive Dawson should stick to the disabled toilets after female colleagues complained
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 on Tuesday. The group, which had a top five hit with More Than I Needed To
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 on
The opening meeting of the season at Arena-Essex, witnessed by special guests Greg Hancock and former Hammer Leigh Adams, was marred by a horrific crash involving present Arena star Leigh Lanham and the Isle of Wight rider Phillipe Berge. Entering the
Southend United's Combination League fixture against Colchester United may have ended in defeat, but it certainly gave Blues some optimism for the future. The Shrimpers fielded an under-21 side at Roots Hall yesterday afternoon, who put on a spirited
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
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
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 on Tuesday night threw out plans to house asylum seekers at the Chantry Hotel in Orwell Road. Pierre Oxley (Con
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
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
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 on Tuesday
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
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
Plans to install controversial phone masts in a residential area have been rejected by Castle Point Council. Members of the town planning committee refused the application by mobile giant One 2 One to build two ten metre high masts on Canvey at a meeting
Southend's council leader could be set for a 100 per cent increase in allowances under new recommendations revealed today. Annual payment for the top job could jump from £10,000 to between £15,000 and £20,000, according to a new report from an independent
A pensioner has died after falling from his bike and into bushes. Police said the 65-year-old man, who may have died from a heart attack, was cycling along a footpath in Valley Road, Clacton, at 3.15pm yesterday. A spokesman said: "He fell into some bushes
Brentwood town centre could at last be about to awake from its on-going traffic nightmare, if ambitious plans for a multi-million pound cure get government backing. Fed up after years of traffic gridlock, noise and pollution, Brentwood Borough Council
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 on Tuesday were of the feathered variety as Essex's friendly two-day match against Kent was cancelled because of, wait for it,
Southend United chairman John Main has launched a scathing attack on the struggling Third Division club's highly-paid team of underachievers. In an exclusive interview the Roots Hall supremo lashed out at the Seasiders' players, angrily blaming them for
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
It was a case of heads we win at Hampton and Richmond 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 with was
Chelmsford Canoe Club hosted paddlers from around the Eastern Region for the Chelmer Marathon on Sunday. However, an assessment race and a re-scheduled Thames race dispersed most of the top two division paddlers, meaning only three boats went the longest
Essex County Cricket Club captain Ronnie Irani concludes his three part pre-season article this week, and looks ahead to the new campaign with confidence. Ronnie joined Essex for the 1994 season and was immediately welcomed and made to feel at home by
The Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League season has reached its final week and only in two of the six divisions is it clear which team have won the title. The biggest shock of the week came in division two where Maldon B who have been third for
Without really straining, Burnham ended any thoughts of a contest with goals in the 15th and 17th minutes of Saturday's match at the Leslie Field. The first saw Arnold head home a corner for the second time in four days; then Greaves hit a glorious dipping
COWARD CUP FOURTH ROUND Woodham Town made it through to the semi-finals, with a 2-0 win at Hutton. Debell and Cornwell goals gave Woodham a 2-0 interval lead, and although Hutton came back strongly, Jess Head's goal was their only reward, and Woodham
Emma King scored a double success as members of Rochford and District Swimming Club rewrote the record books at the Harlow Penguins Sprint Meet. The team smashed four records on the day, with Emma breaking two on her own in winning both the under-12s
An open verdict has been recorded after a man drowned in a lake in Braintree. The body of Philip Haines, 53, of Beech Avenue, Braintree, was found in the lake in Convent Lane at 1.30pm on December 3 last year. At Chelmsford Coroner's Court last Thursday
More than 300 Colchester students have been enjoying extra art lessons by taking part in an Opt for Art project. The scheme is being run by Firstsite at the Minories in Colchester and involves all of the year eight students at Philip Morant School. The
A Colchester school launches its bid today for language college status. If successful, Thomas, Lord Audley School would get an extra £1 million over ten years for better facilities, an improved curriculum and more student opportunities. Its initiative
A millennium baby will be returning to the hospital unit where she spent the first month of her life, and of the 21st century. Abigail Walker weighed just 3lbs 9oz when she was born on New Year's Day - nine weeks early for mum Michelle Pettitt and dad
only three yachts got to the start line for the first of the three Crouch Yacht Club races for the Hydd Gwynn Trophy on Sunday, but racing was still competitive. Mike Harrison's Jiminy Cricket, which enjoyed considerable success last summer, took the
Martin Hogg assumed the mantle of Clacton's number one player in the finals of the Clacton and District Table Tennis League's Closed Championships. In a pulsating men's singles final, Hogg beat surprise finalist Keiran Lally 26-24, 21-12 to regain the
Versatile Lucy Schofield is looking forward to competing in the Essex Swimming Championships at Barkingside this weekend. She will be competing in the 200m medley, 100m freestyle and the 200m backstroke. But 12-year-old Lucy, a pupil of Clacton High School
A service of thanksgiving for the life of Peter Edwards, secretary/manager of Essex County Cricket Club who died last month, has been confirmed at 11.30am on Monday, May 8, at Chelmsford Cathedral. Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some
On TV rights: Pay TV could be a disaster Thenegotiations for TV rights are warming up with a number of multi-million pound offers set to hit the bargaining table - but what repercussions will the new deal have for English football? The current rights
The tragic death of their "larger than life" son has left a Ramsden Bellhouse couple devastated. Scott Witton, 24, died in Sydney late last Friday night after falling from the sixth floor window of his harbour-side flat in what Australian police are treating
Shoppers looked on in horror as a 12-year-old attacked a nine-year-old boy with a craft knife in Colchester town centre. Passers-by in Sir Isaac's Walk came to the aid of the young victim, grabbing the blade-wielding youth and detaining him until police
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
This Is Essex, the county's number one site for local news and information, has just won a prestigious national award. At a packed ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London last night, This Is Essex scooped the title of 'Best Weekly Newspaper on
