A 16-year-old boy who caused £100,000-worth of damage by setting fire to a sports pavilion has been given a custodial sentence. The boy set fire to the Old Heath Sports Pavilion in Colchester and then approached three people to try and create a false
Police are hunting an arsonist after a petrol bombing at a Chelmsford council house. Flames ripped through a front door at Windsor Way, Westlands, last Saturday evening as the tenant, Michelle Wright who is a mother to be, her 18-month old daughter, Sharne
An ambitious project to revamp Braintree's Market Place has moved up a gear. A series of artists' impressions are being drawn up, bringing to life some of the ideas already gathered for the square in a special concept plan. And they should go on public
Christian Corodea will be able to hone his newly-acquired football skills when he trains with the lads at Canvey football club tomorrow (Tuesday). The boys were so moved by Christian's grit as he kicked a ball about with his new artificial leg they invited
Shoppers were thrown into chaos after a bomb scare in the heart of Basildon. Part of the Eastgate shopping centre was cordoned off just after 10am on Friday when a suspect package was discovered. The unattended briefcase was found in toilets in the area
Boxer Danny Hunt has a clear idea of where he wants his career to go since turning professional. The Leigh lightweight is intent on following in the footsteps of world featherweight champ Prince Naseem Hamed and becoming a champion by the age of 21. That
Former Canvey soccer boss Ben Embery enjoyed a return to remember at Park Lane on Saturday as his Ryman League First Division side pulled off an FA Cup draw at their Premier Division pacesetter hosts. An injury-time goal from former Billericay Town striking
County cricket ace Stuart Law nearly did the double when it came to the Essex Boundary Club supporters' trophies for this summer. Essex enjoyed a splendid County Championship which saw them promoted to Division One. And the Australian star's 1,650 runs
Steve Whitton promised the Layer Road fans he would be working harder than ever this week to bring in new faces after watching his punchless Colchester United squad go down at home to Stoke City. Whitton's U's have looked a pale shadow of the force they
On an outstanding day for local clubs in the Schweppes Essex Senior League, Basildon United won 4-1 at Barkingside to knock their hosts off top spot and take over the leadership, while Southend Manor ended the 100 per cent record of Saffron Walden. Hullbridge
An Essex water company has one of the lowest leakage rates in the country, it has been revealed. Regulator Ofwat has confirmed that Essex and Suffolk Water scored well in its Leakage and Water Efficiency report. Hi-tech equipment has been brought in to
Demand for school bus services in Essex has created a business which could record a turnover of £1 million in its first year of trading. Phoenix Student Travel was set up in Chelmsford by Bob Farrell to plug a gap in the market left when Essex County
Firefighters in Maldon swapped their hoses for sponges to raise cash for charity. A group of firefighters spent Saturday washing cars and asking the owners for donations to two worthwhile causes. Their charity work only came to a halt once during the
Ford bosses have threatened workers at Dagenham that the plant may be shut down if they decide to strike. Ford chief executive Jac Nasser, directed the thinly-veiled threat at unions, while visiting the Paris motor show. He warned their possible action
Dedicated pubgoer Mick Blight threw caution to the wind when he jumped in to his most stomach-churning charity challenge to date. The zany 20-year-old amazed regulars at the Hog's Head pub in Southchurch Road, Southend, when he immersed himself in a huge
Bruce McIntyre won Basildon's Stableford competition for the Ilford Trophy with a return of 45 points. He had 21 on the front nine and 24 on the way back - despite a blob on the 18th - to win by two points from Dave Pettet. Basildon's long campaign in
Springfield Striders returned home from the Southern Counties fell running championships in Ventnor, Isle of Wight, with an individual gold and the team bronze. The championships were held over two days and consisted of three races, the St Boniface Fell
The T. Rippon Mid-Essex Cricket League celebrated its 25th anniversary with a function at the County Hotel in Chelmsford last Friday. Current and past officers of the league were welcomed by league president Mr Peter Rippon and vice president Mr Leonard
Chelmsford & District Bowls Association's Finals Day was held at the Marconi Bowls club in glorious sunshine and before a good crowd of supporters who came to watch their favourites. At the presentation of trophies after the matches, president Brian
Firefighters braved 40ft fireballs which shot into the air during the second massive tyre inferno on the A127 in three days. Trees caught fire and water jets even had to be trained on fire engines to keep them cool as crews tackled the blaze throughout
A radical plan which would bring almost 100 houses to a greenfield site on the edge of historic Coggeshall has been lodged with Braintree District Council. The application, by private developer John Horn, is for land between West Street and the A120 Cogge-shall
History will be on the move when unique 230-year-old files of the Essex Chronicle are transported to the new Essex Record Office this week. The leather-bound volumes of the first editions of the Chronicle, dating from 1764, will travel in historic and
Chelmsford's new-style charity torchlight carnival has been cancelled amid fear of disruption from the rival Eastern Region Carnival Against Capitalism. And another charity event in the town centre on Saturday has also been scrapped for security reasons
Spurs, bits and stirrups going back to 500BC will be going under the hammer at a Dunmow saleroom. The unique collection of former Braintree dentist James White, who died suddenly earlier this year, will be auctioned at Trembath Welch's saleroom today
Ford bosses have threatened workers at Dagenham that the plant may be shut down if they decide to strike. Ford chief executive Jac Nasser, directed the thinly-veiled threat at unions, while visiting the Paris motor show. He warned their possible action
A bid to save an elderly people's home could test new human rights laws for the first time in Britain. At least one resident at Beaumont Hall, Marine Parade West, Clacton, is planning to take Essex County Council to court for deciding to close the home
The Royal London Sports Centre closed its doors for the last time on Saturday, just days before the entire contents of the club goes under the auctioneer's hammer. Staff and members of the prestigious Mill Road sports centre, which has been home to many
Danbury Tennis Club held its Junior Finals Day last Sunday, and despite worsening weather conditions throughout the afternoon, an enthusiastic crowd of club members, parents and friends turned out to support the young players. The first victory of the
A Witham safety campaigner who has fought for nine years to highlight the danger of goalposts has criticised the Football Association for not living up to its promises. Brenda Smith's 11-year-old son Jonathan died in 1991 when an unsecured goalpost fell
The old adage "there's no place like home" certainly proved true when Basildon Athletic Club hosted the Essex Relays at their Gloucester Park Track. For their girls collected two top crowns - the under-15 and under-17 4 x 100m titles. The under-15 squad
Three Bramston Diving Club members were chosen to represent Essex in the Southern Counties ASA inter-counties diving competition held at the National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace last Saturday. Lisa Maguire won gold in the Ladies Highboard, Rebecca Gallantree
Just 12 months ago, Essex County Cricket Club were contemplating life as a second division county. Although that status was often dismissed as meaningless given that the two divisional structure had only just been implemented, the wounds were there and
A year of competing in various qualifying canoe marathon events around the country culminated in the National Finals, which were held at the National Watersports Centre, Nottingham last Sunday. Thirty-one Chelmsford paddlers faced high entries in all
Elderly residents at Southend's last remaining Jewish hotel will soon be forced to leave as it closes its doors for the final time. The Riverside Hotel in Cobham Road, has provided a home to five Jewish residents, some in their 90s, who lived there on
Steve Whitton has vowed to leave no stone unturned as he continues to run into a wall in his bid to strengthen Colchester United's Division Two squad. Norwich City's Northern Ireland international stiker Adrian Coote is the latest player to turn down
A warning has been given by a South Woodham doctor that any new housing development in the town should not be built within 400m of electricity pylons. Dr John Cormack, a South Woodham GP and BMA spokesman for Essex, is concerned about the potential links
Elderly people are being left to stand out in the rain and school pupils having their day lengthened because of cuts in a bus service to one of Witham's estates, it has been claimed. Now a 79-year-old pensioner, widow Mrs Ivy Philips, of Forest Road,
A defiant mother has vowed to go to court rather than send her child to troubled Thorpe Bay School. Whitney Walsh, 11, of Hamlet Court Mews, Westcliff, was offered a place there to start this term, but she has yet to attend a single class. The school,
All the stops are being pulled out to prevent £206,000 being snatched away from health services in south Essex. South Essex Health Authority stands to lose the cash from the Government's Performance Fund if it does not whittle down local waiting lists
A plan to tackle a major housing need in the Maldon district has been unveiled. Councillors are reviewing the issue after it was forecast an estimated 3,488 households may be in housing need between 1999-2006. Families with children make up 40 per cent
Nearly three years work by a dedicated team will come to fruition in just over ten days when a brand new £1million volunteer resource centre opens in Southend. JAMES TAYLOR takes a look at how the project has unfolded. There have been some hiccups along
Timing out for Little sacking The sacking of Blues boss Alan Little did not come as any great shock, but I must admit the timing did surprise me. The decision came after Little had chalked up two consecutive wins in an unbeaten run of five games which
Business leaders and politicians have been left stunned by the prospect of 700 jobs going at credit card giant FDR. The Echo finds out what prompted the drastic action from the global firm. The loss of 700 jobs at leading credit card finance firm FDR
Steve Whitton is ready to smash Colchester United's record transfer fee for a new striker as he bids to pep up his ailing Second Division attack. But the U's boss warned after watching his team fail to hit the mark again when losing at home to Stoke City
Colchester's first free street festival brought music, dance and entertainment for all to the town centre. Shoppers paused for a moment at around 11am when the day of entertainment was heralded with a parade through the town by Boadicea and her men, followed
A 34-year-old man was placed under armed police guard in hospital after he was shot in the back outside a pub in Orsett. The man suffered shotgun wounds to his back and legs but staggered back to his nearby house where he dialled 999. The terrifying incident
Police hunting a woman in connection with the attempted abduction of a Laindon schoolboy have released this E-fit. The 11-year-old, from Basildon, who has not been named, was approached while walking to school along the Laindon Link. Police believe the
A police chief has vowed Jaywick residents will not suffer because they have lost their only bobby on the beat. The promise comes after the village's designated officer was moved to another area in the Tendring division. Roy Smith, an Essex county and
Children might have been to blame for two farm fires which caused thousands of pounds worth of damage. About 300 tons of baled straw was destroyed in a blaze at Great Holland. Firemen from Frinton were on the scene for 20 hours throughout the night. About
Yobs have sprayed graffiti across Billericay's Lake Meadows park splattering the swimming pool and cricket pavilion with gold paint. It is the latest in a series of incidents of vandalism which have plagued the park through the summer. As staff at the
Southend United are expected to officially unveil David Webb as their new manager within the next 24 hours. The 54-year-old resigned from his post as manager of Conference League high-flyers Yeovil Town at the weekend, ready to take over the Roots Hall
Wakering's rare venture into the world of Sunday soccer proved an unhappy one as, after fighting back from a 2-0 deficit with only nine minutes remaining, they were beaten by a penalty converted as the Ryman League Second Division game moved into injury-time
Silence proved golden for a cancer charity as a Basildon bingo hall worker kept quiet to raise vital cash. Jilly Newman, of the Gala Bingo Club, in Southernhay, stuck to her sponsored silence as part of the World's Biggest Coffee Morning. As well as taking
A driver fled on foot after leaving two young women trapped in the wreckage of his crashed car. Police said the man, in his 20s, is probably seriously injured after his Vauxhall Astra crashed into two parked cars just before 3am on Friday in Ness Road
The British Riding Clubs National Showjumping and Dressage Championships were held at the weekend at the Three Counties Show Ground at Malvern in Worcestershire. The Juniors rode on Saturday and Epernay Kaylor, from Stock, on her 14.3 hands 10-year-old
Glendene Cycling Club took the team honours in the Eagle Road Club 50 mile time trial last weekend. Brian McCarthy, seventh overall with his time of 1 hr 57m 40s, was ably supported by Nigel Harris (2 hrs 3m 24s) and Richard Whitehorn (2 hrs 9m 27s).
Chelmsford Athletic Club's Under 15 girls and senior ladies recently gained promotion from the Southern Womens League Division Three to Division Two. Going into the last fixture at Oxford the Chelmsford team was lying in fifth place and with five teams
There was delight across mid-Essex this week at a report which showed the area's towns conquering unemployment. But all areas underlined that the massive cut in unemployment over the last three years -- down 46.8 per cent in Braintree, 44.8 per cent in
The owners of the Victoria Plaza shopping centre in Southend has hit back at claims that they are planning to clear up and sell out. London-based Bourne End Properties spoke out for the first time and vowed to spearhead the multi-million pound refurbishment
Clacton may be a long way from Sydney. And there were no records to be broken or gold medals up for grabs. But the staff at the giant Woolwich Open Plan communications centre did their best to emulate their Olympic counterparts for charity on Friday.
It was business as usual at Rayne Lodge Fishery in Braintree with big weight being once again to the fore. The Wednesday match on the top lake saw Dale Smith of Browning Trent Tackle win with 52-3-0, second was Mickey Hood (Romford Angling Centre) with
The first-ever carnival on Colchester's Greenstead estate proved to be a day of fun for all the family. The event, which took place on the Magnolia Field on Saturday, attracted visitors not just from the estate but from across the area. Although there
Martin Carruthers' new-found goal-scoring form fired Southend United to victory at high-flying Rochdale. Having claimed the winning goal against Scunthorpe last week, the Blues striker repeated the feat at Rochdale with his 31st minute strike. The win
Business leaders and politicians have been left stunned by the prospect of 700 jobs going at credit card giant FDR. The Echo finds out what prompted the drastic action from the global firm. The loss of 700 jobs at leading credit card finance firm FDR
A hat-trick from Miller put Landwick 2nd in jolly mood in their Hadleigh Carport Southend Borough Combination Faux Cup first round tie with Melchester Rovers. For the goal trio, plus two from Blackaby, helped Landwick to a 5-3 victory. Hill grabbed a
Colchester United boss Steve Whitton has scotched speculation he is chasing Barnet striker Scott McGleish and Wycombe Wanderers midfielder Sean Devine. Whitton said as he picked up the pieces from Wednesday night's aggregate four-goal Worthington Cup
Children and young people are most at risk from meningitis at this time of the year, the mother of a Southend teenager who died from the disease warned today. Gwen Pepper, whose son Matthew died seven years ago, said today (Monday) she gave her full backing
Brave youngster James Duller has lost his fight against a rare form of cancer. James, four, of Greenway, Great Clacton, died after being diagnosed with pulmonaryblastoma cancer, one of only four cases ever reported in the UK. His father Paul, 41, said
The body of an Albanian man who was stabbed to death in a Southend street has now been returned home to his family in the Balkans. Nobody has been charged since Pal Ton Qerimi was brutally killed on April 27 this year. But detectives want to trace two
A near-record number of children in Essex desperately need adoptive families, new figures have shown. Research carried out by Essex County Council show there are currently 75 children, aged between four months and 13 years, who need adoptive homes in
Reports that a 52-year-old man from Basildon was killed in a hang-glider accident in France remain unconfirmed by the Foreign Office. According to international news agencies the man died after crashing his hang-glider in the village of Passy near Chamonix
Southend United striker Martin Carruthers said it was business as usual following his match winning goal against Rochdale - the club who have been trying to sign him for £60,000. Carruthers had been unsettled by talk of a move to Spotland, before Saturday's
An Essex water company has one of the lowest leakage rates in the country, it has been revealed. Regulator Ofwat has confirmed that Essex and Suffolk Water scored well in its Leakage and Water Efficiency report. Hi-tech equipment has been brought in to
The former lawyer of Reggie Kray today described the former gangster, who died yesterday (Sunday), as a "fun guy". Harwich-based solicitor Trevor Linn, 35, said: "He (Reggie) was a fun guy, he had a very good sense of humour. He was a nice bloke, an ordinary
A driver has admitted causing an accident in which an elderly woman later died. Diane French, of Seaview Road, Brightlingsea, admitted a charge of careless driving when she appeared before magistrates in Colchester on Thursday. Magistrates fined her £300
A survey of a Southend beach turned up a disturbing amount of untreated sewage and disposable toiletries, it was has been claimed. The search was carried out on a quarter mile section between the town's marine activity centre and the old jetty on Saturday
With previous top dogs Rayleigh Town out of action, Rochford Sports and Social took over the leadership of the Southend Sunday League Premier Division when goals from M Terry and P Warner gave them a 2-0 win over Spartek. Canewdon came good against Wheatleys
An ambitious project to revamp Braintree's Market Place has moved up a gear. A series of artists' impressions are being drawn up, bringing to life some of the ideas already gathered for the square in a special concept plan. And they should go on public
Campaigners have condemned a decision to harvest a field of GM crops at a north Essex farm "under the cover of darkness". The field of forage maize at Sunnymead Farm, Alfresford Road, near Wivenhoe, was harvested on Thursday night. The shredded crop will
A mother-of-three has condemned brainless and selfish pickpockets who stole her purse. Carol Kimber, 28, of Calamint Road, Witham, warned others to be on their guard after the theft while she was shopping in Witham town centre. She had just picked up
Governors at troubled New Basildon College are considering a merger, months after it was slated by education officials. The plans, announced on Friday, could see the college merged with another college - as yet unnamed - in a bid to ensure its future.
Clacton's lifeboat was launched after a report that a yacht had gone aground on sand at Point Clear. A spokeswoman for Thames Coastguard at Walton said there was concern as the boat was left open and it looked as the owner may have fallen overboard. However
I'm quite a convert to contemporary dance having thoroughly enjoyed some of the breathtaking, even shocking shows I've seen recently. So, I was eager to experience Eartfall perform Rococo Blood, a bit of contemporary dance brought to Westcliff as the
Harwich and Parkeston fans were treated to a family affair in their latest Jewson League match. Former Colchester United captain Tony English lined up at the Royal Oak on Saturday with his 18-year-old nephew Tommy - a new signing for the club. And Tommy
Intrepid Billericay man Peter Hatchard could soon be rubbing shoulders with Prince William when he travels to a remote corner of South America to work on a project for the Raleigh International charity. Unlike the future king, Peter, 21, of Norsey View
George Burley has tabled a bid for another attacking midfielder - and vowed that his target will score goals in the Premiership. The Ipswich Town boss said on Friday the player is currently based in a country "not far from here" and he would perform a
Cancer charities and hospitals in south Essex have all missed out on the latest round of National Lottery handouts, it has emerged. South Essex Health Authority, which oversees health trusts in Southend, Basildon and Thurrock, has expressed its disappointment
Former Southend United bosses Barry Fry and David Webb would be the choice of most Blues fans for the Roots Hall helm. Speculation is already growing as to who will be the replacement for Alan Little, sacked yesterday, and become the Shrimpers' ninth
A revolutionary new Neighbourhood Watch scheme is about to be introduced across Mid Essex. Regular advice surgeries for people who want information on home and personal security could be set up throughout the area as early as December. The surgeries,
A young boy was in a serious condition in hospital on Friday after an accident at a notorious A12 blackspot. The eight-year-old was in a Nissan with his mother and siblings when it was in a collision with a ten tonne lorry at Hatfield Peverel. The vehicles
The Colchester Sea Angling Club had two competitions this weekend and the results were as follows: Children's competition held on Saturday on Walton Pier 1st David Salmon with 3 fish 2nd Jack Bradley with 1 fish 3rd Connor Bradley with 1 fish The adult
SATURDAY FA CUP Second qualifying round: Canvey Island 1, Braintree Town 1; Chelmsford City 1, Gray Ath 1; Purfleet 3, Ipswich Wanderers 1. RYMAN LEAGUE Division 2: Tilbury 1, Cheshunt 2. Division 3: Aveley 5, Kingsbury Town 2. SCHWEPPES ESSEX SENIOR
Former Colchester United boss Steve Wignall said on Friday he was not expecting a return to Football League management with Southend United. Third Division Shrimpers axed their manager Alan Little on Thursday night, but Wignall, who was linked with the
Urgent action is needed to avoid a crisis among over-worked GPs in Tendring, it has been revealed. Dr Gary Sweeney, a Clacton GP, says up to eight new doctors are needed in Tendring to stop the growing problem of too many patients and too few doctors.
Fireifighters, shopworkers, journalists and other keen swimmers all turned charity fundraisers and took the plunge in the 24-hour Colchester fire swim. The swimmers covered more than 200 miles between them and raised an estimated total of £17,000 through
Maverick MP Martin Bell may stand as an Independent in the Tory stronghold of Brentwood at the next General Election. He confirmed today (Monday) that he had been in touch with independent Conservatives in the constituency and was "seriously considering
South East Essex College is undecided over whether it will put in a bid to merge with Basildon College. New Basildon College chiefs announced it hoped to merge with another education institution within a 12-mile radius in the next year. The troubled college
Thousands of Essex commuters could face chaos after a rail union announced a ban on overtime work. Trains could be delayed or even cancelled after the Rail Maritime and Transport union announced its members at Balfour Beatty would stop working overtime
A paedophile who whipped a boy and subjected him to a series of indecent assaults has been warned to expect a jail sentence. A jury at Chelmsford Crown Court found Jonathan Morris, 46, of no fixed address, guilty of committing three indecent assaults
Bride and groom Catherine Wayland and Martin Larkin are stepping back in time for their forthcoming wedding. They will be putting on costumes from the mid-18th century for their wedding at the Moot Hall in Colchester on Saturday. Catherine, 30, said she
Maldon Town have been handed a tough draw in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup. The Mid-Essex side have reached as far as they have ever done in the competition - and will face a Cambridge City side that includes a number of former Chelmsford stars
A car was left on its side after an accident late yesterday in Eastern Esplanade, Southend. Emergency crews were called to the scene but it is not thought the driver was seriously injured. Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images
