A couple have been left without a venue for their wedding day after Colchester Council announced plans to close the Moot Hall for refurbishment. Tara Beecham and Darren Bodice had booked the impressive venue at the Town Hall for their wedding breakfast
A 38-year-old pilot called for help on his mobile phone after he was hit twice by the propeller on his aircraft and received a gaping leg wound. The seriously injured man managed to apply a tourniquet to his badly damaged thigh while he waited for assistance
Southend Manor could lose second spot in the Schweppes Essex Senior League tonight - without even playing. For third-placed Burnham Ramblers, three points behind with two games in hand, currently have a goal difference three goals worse than Manor. However
One of the county's top police officers was involved in a collision with one of the force's patrol cars. Essex Deputy Chief Constable Charles Clark was left uninjured following the four-car shunt on the A12 at Hatfield Peverel on Friday afternoon. Mr
A horse died in a suspected arson attack on a stable block. Fire crews made a desperate bid to save the animal, which was trapped inside the burning stable in Honeysuckle Way, Witham, at 9.30pm on Sunday. But the animal had already died in the blaze.
Canvey boss Jeff King slammed his "cheating" players as they took their Ryman League Premier Division run to just one point from four games with an abysmal display against bottom side Boreham Wood. Gulls have slumped alarmingly since their outside hopes
A modern twist is being put on the 18th century's Beggar's Opera for a new run at the Queen's Theatre in Hornchurch, says SALLY KING John Gay became a legend in his own lifetime when he wrote the Beggars Opera in 1728. It was the first musical ever written
Mister Morris married a Morris dancer ... who arrived on the day in a Morris Minor. Care worker Jody McQuie's wedding was one to remember when she tied the knot with Peter Morris at Colchester Town Hall on Saturday. The Priory Morris Dancers club of St
A great grandmother went up, up and away in a helicopter to mark her 80th birthday. Dorothy Piper had been kept in the dark about the birthday surprise by her family who played down any celebrations when she talked about her birthday. But secret plans
A high-profile crackdown on street beggars is to become a regular feature in Colchester. The fortnight-long operation targeted aggressive beggars in particular, but also tried to reduce other problems caused by the homeless. Street people were talked
Campaigners for the environment from High Ongar and Thornwood Common have been honoured in a new set of Epping Forest District Civic Awards. Parish councillor Derek Berwin, a founder member of High Ongar Parish Yeomanry, was winner of the Environmental
A kind-hearted couple decided to celebrate 40 years of a first class marriage - by raising cash for the post office. When Peter and Hazel Ward, of Witham Road, White Notley, wanted to mark their ruby wedding anniversary they decided to give the village's
Houses had to be evacuated and a road closed after a gas cylinder caught in a blaze was just minutes from exploding. Firefighters called to the fire in London Road, Wickford, said the propane cylinder would have exploded within 15 minutes of them arriving
A daily newspaper report that green belt in Essex could be used for a future all weather racecourse is far from a 'dead cert', according to a local council. The racecourse with parking for thousands of cars, nightclub, helipad and health and fitness centre
Chelmsford Swifts Basketball Club have been invited to represent England in the Scania Cup 2000 Basketball Tournament in Stockholm, Sweden over the Easter weekend. There are 142 boys and girls teams taking part in five different age groups with teams
Colchester United are among a number of Football League clubs who have been recommended to provide more accomodation for visiting fans. U's secretary Marie Partner said: "To avoid turning away visiting fans, The Football League and the police have made
Taming horses and running a successful carriage business are all in a 13-hour day of work for ex-doorman Nick Cook, says RAY BRADLEY It was the magic day that most women dream about -- the wedding day. Then came the dramatic phone call from the distraught
Basildon fire crews have never had so many calls - but thankfully not to battle with blazes. This time the calls were from motorists who popped into the station to get their cars gleaming again. Off-duty firefighters obliged with cheery smiles and a touch
Strollers made it through to the final of the Southend Borough Combination Veterans League Executive Cup with a 2-0 win at luckless Maltby. It was Maltby's third semi-final defeat of the season. Ford Basildon still harbour outside hopes of the title after
Former Great Wakering Rovers and Canvey soccer boss Ben Embery, who still lives on the Island, has quit Jewson League Maldon Town after six years to take over as manager of Ryman Division One side Braintree Town. Applications for the vacant Maldon post
On Easter Sunday, April 23, the Southend Borough Combination will be staging their 32nd international tournament - 26 of which have been held at Easter - at their Eastwoodbury Lane headquarters. Taking part will be seven Combination teams and one touring
Jacob Lurton, 10, a pupil at St Patrick's Roman Catholic School, Collier Row, won the gold medal in both his events at The Southern Counties Amateur Swimming Association Age Group Competition. Jacob's successes came on the one metre and three metre springboards
Harold Hill were competing in their second cup semi-final in the space of a week on Sunday. After the previous week's success in the Senior League Divisional Cup, Harold Hill faced Essex Arms, a team from division two, but were coming into the match on
Car giants Nissan have dealt a blow to a family-run firm after it decided to pull its dealership franchise after almost 30 years. Lynfield Motors, of London Road, Witham, was told its contract was to be terminated by the Japanese company as part of a
Rayleigh Town are champions of the Southend Sunday League Premier Division. Despite being held 1-1 by Wheatleys in their latest game, Rayleigh have retained the title they won in such fine style the previous season. Rochford Sports won through to the
Although mathematically still vulnerable at the wrong end of the Ryman League Division One table, Braintree are now virtually safe from the threat of relegation as their troubled season drifts towards its close. Another low key display on Saturday saw
Brentwood and Ongar MP Eric Pickles has launched a survey of constituents on his website after receiving 'a significant number' of concerns regarding NHS provision in the area. Mr Pickles said: "Recent figures show a massive number of people are spending
A multi-million pound leisure complex is on the cards for Maldon. Plans have been submitted to create a £2.5 million tenpin bowling and snooker centre in the town. The scheme would also include a restaurant and three bars. More than 50 full and part-time
A suicidal teenager was today (Tuesday) in police custody after barricading himself in his bedroom with a knife and block of wood twice in 24 hours. The 15-year-old boy's mother first called police to the family's Basildon home late on Sunday. Essex Police
Fire brigade staff have been left red-faced after they accidentally set fire to their own property. They left a bonfire unattended in a training area at the back of the service's workshops in London Road, Lexden. Just after midnight today the bonfire
A police investigation is under way after the death of a mental patient who was involved in a struggle with staff at a south Essex hospital. Three members of nursing staff have been suspended from Runwell Hospital, Wickford. Michael Goldwater, from Southend
Sabres American football club are hoping their status as one of the game's true survivors will stand them in good stead during a make-or-break season for the sport in this country. The Southend-based team, who kicked off the new League season at Norwich
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 football club manager has hit out at vandals who torched its changing rooms. Chris Arif, who manages Castle Point United, spoke after a blaze gutted a mobile building used by youngsters at the Haven Road football pitch on Canvey. Chris, 32, said: "It
Never mind the goals from their teams - footy fans are showing they can score in the style stakes. While West Ham United supporters are the most stylish in Britain, according to a new report, Southend's are tops in Essex. A survey for Burton Menswear
A Colchester hotel opened a coffee shop in the town. The Red Lion Hotel has taken over the unit in Red Lion Walk beneath its High Street premises. The building has been empty since December when Mr Bumbles Eating Parlour moved out. It has been replaced
A man was seriously injured after being involved in a collision with a van in Chelmsford. The 61-year-old pedestrian was injured in the incident which happened near Widford roundabout at the junction of the A1016 and A414 at about 5.30pm on Friday. The
Great Wakering Rovers leave their struggle for Ryman League Division Three points behind tonight when they host Jewson League Halstead Town in the East Anglian Cup quarter-finals. Current leaders Rovers need five points from their last five games to go
Billericay's amazing recent climb up the Ryman League Premier Division table will see them in seventh place if they can pull off a fourth successive victory tonight. Town visit former boss John Kendall's current club Chesham and, having had the Indian
It was the last game of the season, and with the Leopards having no interest in the end of season play-offs, Coach Bob Donewald could afford to give his whole squad court time. The game was a close contest during the first half but in the third quarter
Ten-minute hat-trick hero Trevor Fitzpatrick cast his thoughts towards next season after firing Blues' reserves to a Roots Hall victory over Bristol City. The 20-year-old striker's second-half treble helped the Shrimpers overturn a two-goal deficit against
A mother has vowed to fight a decision to expel her 11-year-old son from school after he lashed out at a headteacher. The decision to exclude the boy came after he injured two teachers in a struggle at the Robert Drake Primary School in Church Road, Thundersley
The hills are alive to the sound of Elvis! The King - alias John Curtis - has been wowing holidaymakers at a skiing resort in Austria just a few months after quitting his job as an insurance broker. John, from Stambridge, quit his job in the City last
Drug dealers have been sent a warning after police raided three homes. Cannabis, speed and ecstasy were found in the raids. Sgt Andy Hooke said that on Friday night officers entered three homes in upper Dovercourt and Harwich. Cannabis was found in one
An Army wife, who faced deportation and being split from her two young children, has been told she can stay in Britain. Geraldine Thomas cried when she heard the news she would not have to leave after she split from her husband, Keith, in September last
A vet is calling for dog-owners to keep control of their animals after a pregnant deer was killed. The muntjack deer was being looked after by Braintree veterinary assistant Robin Creighton, who believes the animal was savaged by an Alsation dog. The
An investigation is underway into a school blaze from which more than 300 children were evacuated. Fire investigators were yesterday due to visit Templars Junior School in Witham to look into a suspected arson attack. The Cressing Road school was to be
Young striker Sam Myall turned in an exhibition of finishing Alan Shearer would be proud of as his school won a major local final. St Thomas More School for Boys beat Eastwood 7-1 in the Southend and District schools under-14 cup final - and 13-year-old
The long range shooting skills of Steve Blaney continue to play a leading part in Billericay Town's late Ryman League Premier Division rally. Little more than a week ago, the New Lodge side feared being dragged into the relegation dogfight, but three
A Turkish man has been shot in the face and beaten up in what police are treating as a retaliation attack following last week's football murders. Basildon police have confirmed they will consider a racial motive in their investigation into the attack
A raincoat worn by transexual Bryan Hooley may hold the key to his killing. Murder squad detectives are keen to trace the whereabouts of the calf-length raincoat Mr Hooley was wearing when he was last seen alive. They set up a mobile police station on
The mother of a primary school pupil attacked by a knife-wielding 12-year-old has thanked the passers-by who came to his aid. Nine-year-old Luke Wakefield,was waiting for his mother, Jackie, with his brother and a friend in St John's Wynd, Colchester,
FA qualified coach Kevin Beadell, who runs the Premier Soccer School, is looking for coaches to help out not only with his football activities but also his new venture, multi-sports, for the summer months. On the soccer front FA qualified coaches are
The Greene King brewery has announced it will close its Rayleigh storage depot because it needs a bigger and better distribution centre. Up to 21 workers will be affected by the closure of the depot in Stadium Way. The Suffolk-based brewery is opening
A young man who was killed when hit by a train may have been copying a scene from the sci-fi film The Matrix, an inquest heard. Martin Nutt, 29, of York Road, Southend, died from multiple injuries after being hit by a train near to Southend Central station
A mother who saved a woman from jumping to her death has spoken of her own suicide attempts. Police and firefighters were called to the parade of shops in Church Road, Basildon, after reports a woman was threatening to jump from the roof. Before they
It was difficult not to feel sympathy for Great Wakering Rovers as they continued their bid to obtain the five points needed to guarantee first-time promotion from the Ryman League Third Division. Forced to field an understrength side due to injuries,
Ambitious trekker Annie Clark is gearing up for an expedition in China to raise funds for a heart charity - after a friend's life was claimed by heart disease. The British Heart Foundation is set to benefit from Annie's efforts, after her six-day tough
Shoebury Boys under-15s and under-16s are hunting for new players as they bid to bounce back from a difficult season. The club are rebuilding again after folding around Christmas time. Call Tony on 01702 298663. Converted for the new archive on 19 November
An award-winning young film-maker, who used to live in Thundersley, is hoping to copy Sam Mendes and win an Oscar. Anne-Marie Newman, who studied media at Seevic College in Kiln Road, Benfleet, now lives in London. On leaving she went to the University
Witham are making a good end of the season run and they have now won two successive lague matches and are unbeaten for five games. Saturday's match was scrappy with not much goalmouth action with defences on top. The only goal of the game came in the
Canvey Island face a daunting task in trying to stop the Ryman Premier Division rot with a visit to hugely-supported Aldershot Town tonight. You'd think that, with just one point from their last four games, Gulls would hardly relish visiting the former
They wave white handkerchiefs at the Nou Camp if the fans want Barcelona's manager sacked. Disgruntled Reading supporters swung Y-fronts above their heads in protest at the club's disappointing start to the season. Burnley fans turned their backs on the
Unions were today (Friday) in negotiation with the bosses of a national book distribution centre following the announcement of job losses after a corporate shake-up. The Book Service, of Frating, formerly Tiptree Book Service, could be making more than
Linford Wanderers have won the Essex Junior Cup. They beat Harlow based Potter Street 1-0 with an 80th minute strike from Ian Bass in the final. They can now concentrate on retaining their Southend District League Premier Division title - they need just
Angry traders have been drawing up petitions in a bid to overturn a decision to introduce parking charges in Richmond Hall car park in Benfleet. Castle Point Council officers want to charge shoppers 20p an hour to park their cars in the area just next
Essex schools have received a major cash jackpot. Only Kent is getting more money from the Government in the latest round of its New Deal for Schools. Millions of pounds will go towards replacing demountable classrooms with permanent accommodation, repairs
