A Southend business is set to rise from the ashes as it prepares to reopen following a devastating fire. Wholesale food and drink business boss, Philip Walters, has revealed how he plans to relaunch Montines Food Company after securing new premises. It
Canvey Way had to be closed off for nearly an hour when around a dozen horses escaped on to the road. Police rushed to the scene and set up roadblocks to prevent the horses being hit by cars. Initial reports claimed anything up to 20 horses were running
A community group has called for an urgent law to combat gangs of underage drinkers turning Canvey seafront into a "no-go" area. Up to 150 teenagers gather along Eastern Esplanade every Friday night. Some youngsters have been seen staggering around clutching
A badly-injured heron is back on the flightpath to recovery thanks to two caring Tiptree vets. The heron was discovered in a Tiptree back garden in a emaciated condition and with a badly injured leg. But after a few days of tender, loving care and some
A permanent closing date could be in sight for Never Never Land on Southend seafront, as its owner today admitted children are just not interested any more. Mike Dolby said he was seriously considering quitting the miniature theme park when it closes
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott helped launch a new £50 million ferry in Harwich which is set to provide a huge boost to the port town. Mr Prescott and his wife Pauline launched the Stena Britannica, which was built in Spain and owned by Swedish shipping
A new chest pain clinic will be up and running at Clacton Hospital by the spring. A successful bid was made for Government funding in an effort to speed up diagnosis and treatment for patients with suspected heart problems on a more local level. Clacton
Essex needs more money to meet high-level targets for waste recycling and recovery. That is the message being taken to the government minister responsible for waste management, Chris Mullen, by a delegation representing councils in Essex on October 31
The final winner of a pre-war school award is trying to locate the honours board on which her name appears. Eva Staines (nee Nash) was the last girl to win the Bartram Medal, as a 14-year-old pupil at Bocking Church Street School in 1937. But the board
A car veered across the central reservation and collided with an oncoming vehicle during yesterday's (Tuesday's) evening rush hour in Southend. The accident happened on the A127 near the Cuckoo Corner roundabout at around 6pm. A spokesman from Rayleigh
A huge power cut blacked out 6,000 homes in north Essex and south Suffolk. Thousands of customers were without power for just over half an hour at 11am yesterday (Tuesday) morning but about 60 were blacked out for more than six hours because of an underground
The supermarkets have claimed another victim in the battle for Colchester's shoppers. That's the view of chemist David Young after the news that another shop has closed in St Christopher Road, on the St John's estate. Customers turning up at Glad's Bakery
Hospital chiefs are launching a campaign to boost the number of cardiac nurses. Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust is making the move as plans are discussed for a new £1 million cardiac centre at Chelmsford's Broomfield Hospital. It is hoped the centre
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
Christian Corodea will be able to hone his newly-acquired football skills when he trains with the lads at Canvey football club today (Tuesday). The boys were so moved by Christian's grit as he kicked a ball about with his new artificial leg they invited
Greeves took over at the top of the Sceptre League Premier Division when goals from Gubbins and Holland gave them a 2-1 win over Brit Athletic. Newly-promoted Athletico Porters had scoring efforts from Walker, Gillitt and Atkins to thank for their 3-1
A frustrated shop owner has vowed "enough is enough" after 20 jars of coffee were swiped from her store in an instant. Ms Gita Raval, who owns and lives above Hemmings Stores in Crays Hill, Billericay, is livid and puzzled at petty crooks attempting to
Our Price record shop in Southend is closing down, it was revealed today. However, the site in the High Street will not be converted into a high-tech Virgin internet store - unlike other stores across the county. Customers at Our Price have been warned
Redundancies are on the cards after a Maldon car dealership announced it is to close. Workers at Dovercourt Ford have been given less than two weeks' notice that the business is being axed. The sales showroom shut last night (Monday) - just hours after
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott helped launch a new £50 million ferry in Harwich which is set to provide a huge boost to the port town. Mr Prescott and his wife Pauline launched the Stena Britannica, which was built in Spain and owned by Swedish shipping
Leisure World in Colchester was ranked in the top three facilities in a national survey. The centre with its three swimming pools, gym, dry sports facilities, Aqua Springs steam and spa, artificial pitch and Charter Hall scored 75 per cent in the UK Quality
A pensioner had to pay a £150 taxi fare to get home from holiday after the minibus she booked for the journey failed to show up. And now Doreen Sumption, 74, is facing a fight to get all her money back. The widow, who lives in Walton, was left waiting
Traffic jams built up along Canvey Way as drivers scrambled to catch a glimpse at mischievous changes to a sign welcoming visitors to the island. The sail-shaped sign now has a new image after a prankster installed a broken surfboard next to it. It is
Basildon's showpiece glass bell tower needs £50,000 for essential work before it can open. A miscalculation in bidding for lottery cash has led to a shortfall leaving Canon Lionel Webber, the man behind the project, desperate for solutions. The majestic
Two action packed sessions at Gloucester Park have seen chub specialist John Murray landing 125 chub, along with two bulging nets of other species. John targeted the chub living in the undercut under the Gloucester Park island, casting a small feeder
Canvey Island were on the spot last night (Tuesday) to earn themselves a thrilling FA Cup battle of the Premier giants with Kings Lynn at Park Lane on Saturday week. After a disappointing 1-1 home draw with Ryman League Division One Braintree in Saturday's
Concord Rangers and Southend Manor have won through to meet each other in an Essex Senior Cup third round clash. The Schweppes Essex Senior League duo both pulled off victories in vastly different cirumstances last night (Tuesday). While Manor were pulling
Colchester-based assurance giant Royal London has succeeded in a £1.1 billion takeover bid for a fellow insurance firm. It comes just two months after the company axed more than 750 jobs in the town. No new jobs are expected to be created in Colchester
By no means for the first time this season, Billericay were left paying homage to the superb scoring talents of Paul Linger as they eased their way into the third qualifying round of the AXA sponsored FA Cup last night (Tuesday). Linger grabbed two of
A new scheme has been launched to ensure patients struck off doctors' lists for violence or aggression will still be able to see a medic. Two surgeries - at Green Lawns primary care centre, London Road, Westcliff, and at the mental health unit at Basildon
Redundancies are on the cards after a Maldon car dealership announced it is to close. Workers at Dovercourt Ford have been given less than two weeks' notice that the business is being axed. The sales showroom shut on Monday - just hours after employees
Two men underwent surgery following a road accident in which nine people were injured. One of the passengers in a red Ford Escort XR3 had to be cut free by firefighters and was taken to Colchester General Hospital by the Essex Air Ambulance following
A former games arcade in the centre of Colchester could be transformed into a bar or restaurant. The 1,000 sq ft site in Head Street has already aroused a lot of interest from people wanting to set up a bar or restaurant in the town. Surveyors Whybrow
Vetinary surgeon, Andrew Scott who has practices at Maldon and Purleigh has been installed as President-Elect of the British Veterinary Association. A ceremony took place at the AGM of the BVA in Chester recently. Five years ago Mr Scott appeared on a
George Burley is waiting to hear whether his £1.75 million bid for FC Bruge star Gert Verheyen has been accepted. The Ipswich Town boss had an offer of £1 million rejected at the weekend but decided to up the stakes in an attempt to land the attacking
Chelmsford borough councillors are set to fight without the help of their professional planning officers to prevent Beaulieu Park growing by another 150 properties. Development control committee members decided to override officers' advice and stick to
Southend United goalkeeper Mel Capleton faces at least a year on the sidelines after breaking his right leg in Blues' reserve team clash with Brentford. The 28-year-old fans' favourite shattered his leg in a brave 50-50 challenge with Bees striker Julian
A cricketer has been banned for the whole of next season by the Osborne League. And two other players have been suspended following a dispute in the same match. Tiptree United wicket-keeper Tony Gennings will have to sit out the entire 2001 season while
A tough night for Basildon Freestyle Kickboxing Club left the Pitsea-based outfit with a "you can't win them all" mentality. After a lengthy spell of success, Basildon's stable of highly-regarded fighters were brought crashing down to earth when only
Karl Duguid and David Gregory look set to win their fitness battles in time for Colchester United's Division Two meeting with Walsall on Friday. The pair missed the weekend defeat against Stoke City after picking up knocks but look set to return against
A former games arcade in the centre of Colchester could be transformed into a bar or restaurant. The 1,000 sq ft site in Head Street has already aroused a lot of interest from people wanting to set up a bar or restaurant in the town. Surveyors Whybrow
The leader of Braintree Council is stepping down after five years at the top. John Gyford, 61, who is councillor for Witham North, became leader of the council in 1995 when Labour took control but will officially step down at Monday's full council meeting
Back to old glories? With any luck, history will repeat itself in Southend as one of the biggest and best music venues is re-born. The Kursaal will begin a new chapter in October when promoter Ian Henderson takes over the Bourbon Street bar bookings.
A man badly injured in a road accident in Pitsea will need plastic surgery to repair his face. The man, from Kent, was a passenger in a Ford Transit van heading towards Southend on the A13 on Tuesday morning. The vehicle was in collision with a mobile
Life in Langdon Hills country park is never boaring - as this perfect porker proves. Park rangers including Phil Abbott got together with youngsters and families to design a wild boar, made from clay, mud sticks and ferns. It's not the first time the
An increasing number of road traffic accidents on the B1007 between Galleywood and Stock is concerning those living and working beside Stock Road. Resident Janet Elnaugh has been campaigning since the summer for the 60mph speed limit to be reduced, traffic
A terrorism expert has backed Stansted as a secure airport despite a gun and a fake bomb being smuggled past security staff. Government inspectors got the weapons past security checks at the airport without any sophisticated attempt to conceal them, it
A woman fled for her life after her bed caught fire. It is believed the woman - who has not been named - was smoking and dropped the cigarette into the bedding. She realised the danger almost immediately and escaped from her third floor flat in Thoroughgood
Newsagents in Brentwood are backing a crackdown on solvent sales. The reaction follows a warning issued by Essex Trading Standards to stop selling cigarette lighter refills to youngsters under 18, amid solvent abuse fears. Offending shops have been told
Colchester-based assurance giant Royal London has succeeded in a £1.1 billion takeover bid for a fellow insurance firm. It comes just two months after the company axed more than 750 jobs in the town. No new jobs are expected to be created in Colchester
First Great Eastern is increasing daily travelling seats on its trains in Essex by 1,000 for the winter and Braintree and Ingatestone are to be among the big gainers. The 5.20pm train to Braintree is to become a 12-coach supertrain to Witham and off peak
The second stage of the controversial A130 bypass linking north and south Essex has been given the go-ahead. It will run from the road between Sadlers Farm and the Fairglen Interchange in the Benfleet area to the Rettendon Turnpike, to link with the northern
Youngsters from Eight Ash Green and Aldham have been dressing up as Victorians for a trip back in time. Year 3 pupils at the villages' school donned long skirts and shawls, short trousers and caps ahead of a history studies day at Colne Valley Railway
Bocking and Rayne children stepped back in time as part of a historical day of education. Pupils and teachers from all over Essex, Suffolk and even Cambridgeshire have been visiting Colne Valley Railway at Castle Hedingham to learn about life in the 19th
Hadleigh's former Renault car dealership site in London Road may soon be home to a supermarket, it has emerged. Site owner Godfrey Davis has sold the land as development for a retail store after its decision to sell the Renault franchise to the Lookers
An extension may seem like a drastic way to prepare for a baby, but a Tollesbury couple are no ordinary parents. Jackie Rigby, 38, of Hyacinth Close, is expecting her third set of twins. The supermum had her first twins Jack and Jamie in 1986 followed
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
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
David Webb made promotion a priority on his return to Third Division Southend United as manager. The 54-year-old begins his third stint in the Roots Hall hot seat yesterday (Tuesday) and he immediately set his sights on making the step up to the Second
Ipswich manager George Burley is rumoured to have increased his offer for FC Brugge star Gert Verheyen to £1.8 million. The Ipswich Town boss - who has refused to comment on the speculation because the attacking midfielder is under contract - had a £1
Rayleigh town clerk, Myrna Liles, has resigned but was today remaining tight-lipped about her sudden departure. Town council chairman Mike Handford, who is on holiday in America, will be told when he flies back today and other councillors have refused
More than 1,000 homes went without mail after staff shortages and sickness took their toll on postal deliveries, it has been revealed. Royal Mail has issued an apology to the homeowners who did not get a delivery of mail on Saturday. The company provides
A Southend business is set to rise from the ashes as it prepares to reopen following a devastating fire. Wholesale food and drink business boss, Philip Walters, has revealed how he plans to relaunch Montines Food Company after securing new premises. It
A new £5 million catering centre is to be developed at the Colchester Institute to improve facilities for students. Work on the scheme for the Colchester site will begin in November after the cash was approved by its corporation board. But a spokeswoman
Teachers at a Westcliff primary school have been celebrating after education watchdog Ofsted gave them a clean bill of health. St Helen's School in North Road had been designated as having "serious weaknesses" by Government inspectors for more than two
American-style yellow school buses could be the answer to improving the county's school transport system, according to a mid Essex MP. Braintree MP Alan Hurst thinks the buses would make it easier and safer for Essex children to get to school as well
A chubby pervert exposed himself to two 11-year-old girls and performed a lewd act in the churchyard behind St Mary's Church in North Shoebury Road, Shoebury. The man was white, overweight, aged 30 to 40 and around 5ft 11ins tall. He had grey, curly hair
Two goals from Saatch helped Concord Rangers to a 5-1 win at Langdon Hills in the Vange Sunday League Premier Division. Grayburn, Gell and Larkin were also on target with George replying, while Holmes triumphed 2-1 at Signet in the other Premier match
A new £5 million catering centre is to be developed at the Colchester Institute to improve facilities for students. Work on the scheme for the Colchester site will begin in November after the cash was approved by its corporation board. But a spokeswoman
It's all systems go for a new coastguard station in Maldon. But volunteers are needed to help operate it. District councillors have approved the use of a workshop within the council's Princes Road depot as a coastguard station. The coastguard Land Rover
An historic Colchester building could soon be open for business again. Owners Whitbread brewers are close to signing a new tenant for the 15th century Old Siege House in East Street - which bears bullet scars from the Civil War. The former Beefeater restaurant
Police want to question this man in connection with a mugging where a young woman was frisked for cash and thrown to the ground. The attack happened on a footpath between Panfield Lane and Springwood Industrial Estate, Braintree. The 20-year-old victim
A rail link between Braintree and Stansted Airport has moved one step closer. A much-debated feasibility study has been given the go-ahead. Braintree is among the main candidates for a link to the Essex airport in a North West Essex Rail Services study
The second stage of the controversial A130 bypass, designed to ease traffic chaos in south Essex, has been given the go-ahead. It will run from the road between Sadlers Farm and the Fairglen Interchange to the Rettendon Turnpike, to link with the northern
A £40 million plan has been unveiled which will centralise hospital services in Colchester. If it gets the go-ahead, it will mean the closure of the town's Essex County Hospital and relocation of 450 staff. Staff and services from the Lexden Road hospital
The burial of a mystery woman who was washed up on the beach at Foulness was due to take place today in Rochford. A dignified ceremony at the Hall Road Cemetery was promised by Rochford Council, which said any family members who came forward would have
