DEAL TOWN ... 2, BRAINTREE TOWN ... 0 After a long and unproductive trip into the depths of Kent on Saturday, Braintree manager Ben Embery was left no nearer to establishing what is likely to be his first team line up for the opening Ryman League Division
The doors closed for the last time on Friday at Laindon's gin factory, ending a 16-year era. The last few workers at the United Distillers and Vintners plant, where the world-famous Gordon's Gin was made and bottled, were downing tools tonight for the
A Battlesbridge man is set to make his way into the Guinness World Records book after recently rowing the width of Britain. Roy Hart, 54, who rowed for up to 11 hours a day for around two weeks, is believed to be the first person to row his way across
Three people were taken to hospital after a barn containing 2,000 bales of hay went up in flames at Woodside Farm, Eastwood. The three people who received minor injuries included a farm worker suffering from shock and smoke inhalation and a firefighter
A slice of Maldon history is being opened up to the public. Maldon Archaeological and Historical Group's premises have been refurbished and re-opened after thousands of pounds were spent on a face lift. The group, based at Brickhouse Farm in Heybridge
Sweeping schedule changes and the axing of top presenters are being lined up for the two Southend-based independent radio stations. Two of Breeze AM's most popular shows are being scrapped while the entire programme line-up of both Breeze and sister station
A police sweep of ancient woodland was called off on Friday afternoon after the owners of discarded children's clothes were traced and found safe and well. A child's top, trousers and a sock were discovered by a member of the public in Chalkney Woods,
Southend's beleaguered pier could receive a slice of a £12million cash boost from the Government aimed at helping England's seaside towns. Tourism minister Janet Anderson begins a tour of coastal resorts this week following the news that an extra £2million
When Claire Morgan lost her valuable charm bracelet through the wooden slats on Clacton Pier, she thought it was gone forever. But she had failed to take into account the skills of Gary Otley and his metal detector. Despite the fact the bracelet fell
Golfers got a shock when a controlled explosion was carried out just yards from where they were playing. Royal Navy bomb disposal experts were called in from Portsmouth after blast charges were discovered in a rock breakwater on Jaywick beach. The team
An arson probe was under way today after another blaze at a derelict Colchester hospital. The fire at St Mary's - the second major one this year - damaged a wooden building on the site. It also brought evening road chaos as police closed off the town's
Traffic chaos is expected to hit drivers using the A127 from tomorrow as essential work on underground gas pipes is carried out on one of south Essex's busiest roads. Transco, which is carrying out the improvements to gas pipes at the Fortune of War A176
A woman was recovering in hospital today after she plunged from a bridge over the A12. The 41-year-old woman was seen by passing motorists falling from a footbridge over the road at Marks Tey. She fell 20 feet on to the road and landed on the nearside
A 95-year-old woman was today still in shock after a man posing as a policeman stole her engagement ring, cash box and pension - on what would have been her wedding anniversary. The elderly woman was in her Leigh home on Friday morning when the thief
A fitness instructor's business is being destroyed by foul-mouthed, stone-throwing youths who bare their backsides at her clients. Dawn Connaway has suffered at the hands of the yobs for the last six weeks - and is furious police seem powerless to deal
Plans for Chelmsford City's £3 million new community stadium on a 14.8 acre site to the north-east edge of the town were finally handed in to borough council planners on Wednesday afternoon. The stadium, which will initially have 1,000 seats and terracing
Thousands of superferry passengers were delayed after a legal challenge by the family of a fisherman swept overboard by its bow wake "arrested" the vessel. A Marine Accident Investigation Bureau report recently confirmed Marilyn Sibley's claim that her
Fifteen years after he hung up his boots for Southend United, midfielder Ronnie Poutney is getting his testimonial at Roots Hall. Ronnie made 403 appearances for the Shrimpers and netted 35 goals for the club in a career that spanned just over ten years
The first of the group of 31 Afghans who claimed asylum after arriving in Britain on a hijacked plane has lost his appeal against deportation. The 21-year-old former medical student, who has not been named, had told immigration officials he would rather
The doors of Monken Hadley residential care home closed for the last time after a two-year campaign to keep them open. After months of uncertainty, the few remaining elderly residents were last week moved to new accommodation from the home on Broad Road
Pedal power is all set to make a return to Witham with a proposed network of cycle paths criss-crossing the town. Witham Cyclists' Association has been reviewing the town cycle provision in partnership with Essex County Council, and has collated a report
Colne Valley Golf Club owner Paul Curry still has a chance to finish high in the standings at a US tournament. Curry is five shots behind with eight holes to play at the rain-interrupted $2.6 million John Deere Classic competition in Illinois. The Colchester-born
All roads lead to Billericay Town's New Lodge ground on Saturday, as Chelmsford City have their most prestigious pre-season friendly, when they entertain a strong Manchester United XI, with the match scheduled to kick-off at 3pm. City manager Gary Bellamy
Former Clacton schoolgirl Zoe Cray will be packing her bags for the Olympics after qualifying for the 50m backstroke competition. The 26-year-old, who used to attend the town's County High School, broke her own British record with 29.82 seconds at Sheffield's
The hard work of volunteers and workers at a popular country park was ruined after vandals axed down trees and wrecked new signs. High Woods Country Park, Turner Road, Colchester, has seen a spate of vandalism over the last few months. In the latest incident
The mother of a 12-year-old boy expelled for supplying drugs at school has appealed for her son to be returned to classes. The boy was expelled from Clacton County High School earlier this month after he was discovered with cannabis in April. He has not
A farmer, who offered his land as an alternative for a controversial mobile phone mast, fears it will not yield a solution. Worried villagers objected to plans by Mercury One-2-One to put a mast in Station Road, Rayne, near to the Scout hut. As a possible
An RAF Nimrod spotter plane today joined a search and rescue operation off the Essex coast as fears grew for a yacht destined for Harwich. The 28-foot Tuila should have reached the harbour six days ago in a crossing from Holland that can take as little
Police today launched a crackdown on speeding motorcyclists after two crashes brought the death toll of bikers on Essex roads this month to eight. While it is too early to say whether speed was a factor in the fatal crashes, police are shocked by the
Anglian Water is the second worst company in England and Wales when it comes to polluting the environment, says a report by the Environment Agency. The firm paid out £71,250 in pollution fines and appeared in court six times last year. The only other
Prince Charles visited Essex last week to officially open a restored Victorian kitchen garden. The walled garden, at Audley End, the home of the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Lord Braybrooke, has been restored by English Heritage and the Henry Doubleday Research
A quick-thinking pensioner closed the door on a bogus woman caller who started to share her marriage problems and then said the house needed new guttering. The incident happened at Lawns Close, East Mersea, Colchester, Thursday morning . The elderly householder
The mother of a two-year-old boy who fell in to a garden pond has praised the quick-thinking youngster who dragged him out. Jack Titmas was playing with friends during a barbecue when he fell into the 2ft-deep pond. His mum, Adele, was on the scene in
A partially-sighted 61-year-old man suffered a fractured skull after being attacked in an attempted robbery. The man was working in the cycle repair workshop near the edge of the car park at Alton Park Road near the junction of St Osyth Road, Clacton,
A freight train container holding 31 tonnes of the highly corrosive substance benzol chloride started to leak at Harwich International Port. Fire crews from Dovercourt were sent to the scene of the spill at about 2.30pm on Thursday but found only a small
A fundraising event for next year's Burnham Festival has been planned for September. The event on September 22 will feature various musical 'Friends of the Festival' to create a night of mostly accoustic entertainment. More fund-raising events are being
The doors of Monken Hadley residential care home closed for the last time after a two-year campaign to keep them open. After months of uncertainty, the few remaining elderly residents were last week moved to new accommodation from the home on Broad Road
Pedal power is all set to make a return to Witham with a proposed network of cycle paths criss-crossing the town. Witham Cyclists' Association has been reviewing the town cycle provision in partnership with Essex County Council, and has collated a report
The hard work of volunteers and workers at a popular country park was ruined after vandals axed down trees and wrecked new signs. High Woods Country Park, Turner Road, Colchester, has seen a spate of vandalism over the last few months. In the latest incident
When Claire Morgan lost her valuable charm bracelet through the wooden slats on Clacton Pier, she thought it was gone forever. But she had failed to take into account the skills of Gary Otley and his metal detector. Despite the fact the bracelet fell
Areas of Southend, Basildon, Rochford and Castle Point could soon become hotspots for catching speeding motorists with new high-tech speed cameras. Essex Police are among eight forces nationally to be selected for a pilot scheme, launched across Britain
Investigations are underway after a derelict Colchester hospital went up in flames for the second time in six months. Four fire crews attended the blaze at St Mary's Hospital and Balkerne Hill had to be shut for a time as the flames took hold at about
Premier Division: Arnold a Waltham winner Bottom of the table Old Chelmsfordians dismissed visitors Little Waltham for 175 with Phil Arnold (31) top-scoring. Dave Grainger took four for 45 and Simon Trowell two for 37. With Arnold in form with ball as
Investigations are underway after a derelict Colchester hospital went up in flames for the second time in six months. Four fire crews attended the blaze at St Mary's Hospital and Balkerne Hill had to be shut for a time as the flames took hold at about
It was a right royal occasion for Maldon Yacht Club on Sunday when they combined both the Coronation Cup and the Millennium Cup - and won them both. With Iain and Richard Marshall, Barry Foulds and John Leader and Mike Hedgecock filling the first three
BENFLEET 196-7, OLD BRENTWOODS 122-7 (Match drawn) Rain that fell with five overs of the opposition innings remaining may have robbed Benfleet of only their second Shepherd Neame League Third Division win of the season. Put in to bat on their home Woodside
WITHAM TOWN ... 6, HALSTEAD TOWN ... 2 Within half an hour of Saturday's pre-season friendly at Spa Road, Witham had built up a four goal lead against a weakened but resolute Halstead side. Gerry Hawes gave Witham the lead after four minutes when he took
COLCHESTER UNITED ... 0, IPSWICH TOWN ... 3 In the end it boiled down to a question of class. With a healthy serving of local pride at stake, Ipswich simply overwhelmed their East Anglian neighbours with a slick, polished display of football. From the
Richard Wright was today expected to put pen to paper and sign a new two-year contract with Ipswich Town. The England goalkeeper was transfer-listed last month after failing to agree new terms with his hometown club. But after weeks of speculation about
Southend United's major shareholder Ron Martin today attempted to ease the fears of Blues fans worried about the future of their football club. The cash-strapped Third Division side's supporters are unhappy with plans to remove Southend chairman John
Failure to unravel the mysteries set by Shane Warne best explains why Essex's winning streak in the National League came to an end at Southampton. The great Australian leg-spinner returned his competition best figures yesterday of 4-32 as Essex struggled
More than 1,000 neighbours of a controversial mental home have been urged to help put a stop to the centre taking higher risk patients. A newsletter has been handed out in Bowers Gifford near Pitsea, advertising the next meeting of the Basildon Council
Complaints about dogs have risen nearly 20 per cent prompting a drive to educate canine owners. Southend Council is planning to launch a campaign aimed at responsible dog ownership after the setting up of a working party on the contentious issue. Last
