Archive

  • Soccer: Burley-Robson reunion ends in penalty dispute

    It was billed as a nostalgic reunion between the protege and his mentor. In reality, it culminated in heated debate and a war of words. o much was said and written in the build-up to this fixture about the history between George Burley and his former

  • Soccer: Abbey days are here again

    Southend United's two-goal hero Ben Abbey was all smiles after shooting down Macclesfield Town at Roots Hall on Saturday. The substitute frontman, recently signed on a free transfer from Oxford United, marked his home debut with a stunning brace in a

  • Maldon: Home bid for Hythe is refused

    Controversial plans for a home at historic Taylor's Yard on the Hythe have been refused by Maldon councillors, but a floating jetty can go-ahead. About 130 letters of objection were received against the home scheme, compared to 13 in support. Maldon Town

  • Soccer: Taylor backs Sven

    Former Southend United boss Peter Taylor has backed England's new Swedish manager Sven Goran Eriksson to be a success. The 52-year-old coach of Italian giants Lazio has agreed a five-year deal to take over the national team next summer - the first non-Englishman

  • Stansted: Low-cost airline Go up for sale

    British Airways is to sell its Stansted Airport-based low-cost airline Go, it has been announced. The news came as BA announced a 37.5 per cent dip in half-yearly profits. BA said today (Monday): "Following the successful establishment of Go as a leading

  • Mid-Essex: Police warning to homeowners

    Homeowners in rural areas of mid Essex have been warned to clearly identify their houses - police say it could save their lives in an emergency. Braintree police have issued the warning after a series of incidents where emergency services were called

  • Great Clacton: Boy, 2, hit by stray firework

    An anxious father has issued a warning after his young son was struck in the chest by a stray firework and set alight. Dominic Morgan, 29, of Carisbrooke Avenue, Great Clacton, said he had a low-key display in the garden after a friend had come round

  • Essex: Don't panic, drivers told

    Don't panic! A rush to stock up with petrol before the fuel deadline caused some stations in north Essex to run dry at the end of last week. Worried motorists caused a boom day for services as they filled up their cars and canisters in a bid to beat the

  • Maldon: Volunteers create new nature reserve

    A new green heart is being created in one of Maldon's busiest areas. The two acre Maldon Wycke Meadow nature reserve, just yards from the town's Safeway and Great Mills stores, will include woodland, open meadow area, a large pond, walks and rides. Last

  • Battlesbridge, Hullbridge: Body found in mud

    The body of a man was found in mud by the River Crouch on Wednesday morning. Two men discovered the body on the Battlesbridge side of Hayes Farm Caravan Park at around 8am. Police, who are waiting to speak to the next of kin, say they believe the man

  • Essex: Is lamb off the school menu?

    Lamb could be chopped from school dinner menus in the wake of the latest BSE scare. However, Essex County Council said that it would wait for Government advice before withdrawing the meat. It is discussing lamb supply and its country of origin with the

  • Essex: Police set up fuel crisis HQs

    Essex Police have drafted plans for emergency headquarters in Harwich and Thurrock to cope with any problems with fuel protesters. Officers in Essex are being put on alert and placed on 12-hour shifts. The cost of the whole operation to the taxpayer could

  • Braintree: Man fights for life after car crash

    A 35-year-old man is in a critical condition after his car smashed into trees on the A12 at Witham in the early hours of Saturday. The motorist, from Braintree, is being treated for serious head injuries at Chelmsford's Broomfield Hospital after the crash

  • South Essex: Police probe killings link

    Detectives were today probing a link between the cold-blooded killings of two south Essex men. Officers from two forces were due to hold top-level talks about the execution-style shootings of Ronald Fuller and Kenneth Beagle. Mr Fuller, a former bouncer

  • Soccer round-up: Southend Combination Gladwin Cup

    The first round of the Hadleigh Carport Southend Borough Combination Gladwin Cup produced three away wins in the four ties played. This all second team affair saw Walker's brace help Leigh Ramblers to a 4-0 win at Battlesbridge, while Collier got two

  • South Essex: News shorts...

    Store raided: Raiders who broke into Rayleigh's Sainsbury Homebase store in Purdeys Way grabbed around £4,000 of tools and equipment. Man mugged: A man suffered cuts to his head after being pulled into a secluded alleyway and threatened with a broken

  • Chelmsford: Sheltered housing on council website

    Some of Chelmsford Borough Council's sheltered housing units are now being promoted on some of the council's web pages. A new site lists the areas available with details of facilities provided and rents. There are a number of sheltered complexes throughout

  • Soccer: Crocked Capleton salutes Blues fans

    Southend United keeper Mel Capleton has said a big thank you to all the Blues fans who have given him their support. The popular custodian broke his right leg during a sickening reserve team collision against Brentford at Roots Hall more than three weeks

  • Braintree: Chris coming to panto

    Top TV presenter Chris Evans has taken up an invitation to watch a Braintree theatre group's pantomime. The star has said he will go to local pantomime group Pantoloons version of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves when it airs in January. It all came around

  • Braintree: Don't be alone at Christmas

    Braintree Salvation Army is once again providing a full festive meal with turkey and trimmings on Christmas Day for anyone who wishes to join them at their Rayne Road centre. The meal will be provided free of charge and a special "turkey on wheels service

  • Maldon: Police station shut

    Frustrated residents are feeling let down by police in Maldon. The police station has been closed without any prior notice due to staff shortages. Ken Toner, of Hoynors in Danbury, wanted to report a minor accident on Friday, which can only be done in

  • Athletics: Lau benefits from scholarship scheme

    The Youth Scholarship Scheme introduced at Cannons Health Club, Riverside Retail Park Chelmsford in January has been a tremendous success. Chelmsford Athletic Club's Jordan Lau has benefited from his complimentary membership, which has allowed him maximum

  • Soccer round-up: Schweppes Essex Senior League

    Southend Manor, having held leaders Basildon United to a midweek draw, boosted their hopes of Schweppes Essex Senior League honours with a 4-1 home win over Ilford on Saturday. While the new towners were being held to a goalless draw at Hullbridge, Manor

  • Kickboxing: Basildon kickboxing club stage televised event

    Basildon Freestyle Kickboxing club thrilled a 500 plus crowd at Pitsea's Eversley Centre when it staged its second open event of the year. The evening, filmed by satellite sports channel Eurosport, saw 18 well-matched fights give the home support great

  • Soccer: Canvey heroes in action

    Canvey soccer fans tomorrow night (Tuesday) get a last chance to see their heroes in home action before the big FA Cup first round clash with Nationwide League Division Two Port Vale at Park Lane on Sunday November 19 (1pm). They host Enfield (7.45pm)

  • Great Clacton: Mum slams rocket prank

    A mother has condemned a group of teenagers who put a lit rocket through her door which could have led to a fatal fire. Jackie Bilton, of Elm Grove, Great Clacton, was still awake when the group of boys struck at 1am Saturday. She said: "I was sorting

  • Essex: Police set up fuel crisis HQs

    Essex Police have drafted plans for emergency headquarters in Harwich and Thurrock to cope with any problems with fuel protesters. Officers in Essex are being put on alert and placed on 12-hour shifts. The cost of the whole operation to the taxpayer could

  • Essex: Fuel blockades 'still in the melting pot'

    Fuel protesters in south Essex have warned the Government that blockades of oil refineries and ports were still "in the melting pot". The comments came following a meeting of the People's Fuel Lobby in Kent attended by hauliers, drivers and members of

  • Dagenham: Ford ballot on strike

    Workers at Dagenham are to be balloted on strike action after the company confirmed the ending of vehicle assembly at the plant. Unions will hold mass meetings at the site on November 15 before workers will be asked to vote on whether to take industrial

  • Southend: Mayor has a ball as Henry VIII

    Southend's mayor and mayoress swapped one set of robes for another for a charity ball. Graham Longley went as Henry VIII while his wife Maureen was Anne Boleyn. Proceeds from the mayor's event at Cliffs Pavilion will fund defibrillator machines to give

  • Tiptree: Former Quarry to become open land for water sports

    A former quarry should be turned into open land for water sports, Colchester Council has agreed. At a planning meeting members considered an application by Inworth Grange Quarry at Tiptree to extend its excavation of gravel and sand. Tiptree Parish Council

  • Soccer round-up: South Essex Sunday games...

    Concord Rangers saw their bid for success in the FA Sunday Cup come to a swift end yesterday when they lost 1-0 at home to Ouzavich, who have an outstanding pedigree in the competition, in the second round. The Canvey based side had a round one bye. In

  • Soccer: Trophy gets Billericay back on win track

    Billericay Town fans were given a perfect tonic after their team's midweek FA Cup demise - and there could be further good news on the horizon in the coming few days. For striker Colin Simpson, who made such a major impression at New Lodge last season

  • Southend: Flat fire warning

    A woman and two young children are lucky to be alive after a discarded cigarette sparked a fire in their kitchen. Two fire crews from Southend rushed to the ground floor flat in Wesley Road, Southend, to find the kitchen heavily smoke-logged. The family

  • Witham, Braintree: A12 crash - man critical

    A 35-year-old man was in a "critical" condition today (Monday) after his car flipped over and smashed into two trees on the A12 at Witham. The motorist, from the Braintree area, is being treated for serious head injuries at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford

  • Stambridge: Sludgewatch wins the day

    Campaigners are celebrating after Anglian Water ditched controversial waste treatment work in Stambridge. The company intends to stop producing environmentally-friendly soil conditioner at the plant early next year. Protesters, who have united under the

  • Colchester: Horse rider killed in A12 smash

    A rider and her horse died in a horrific accident on the A12. Samantha White, 24, of Kingsbury Close, Marks Tey, was in collision with a Jeep on the London-bound carriageway south of Marks Tey yesterday (Sunday) morning. She was out riding with her 20

  • Grays: Pickaxe thugs attack woman

    A woman left blinded after she was viciously beaten with a pickaxe handle has told how she feared for her life. Josephine Peachey was left without any vision in her left eye following the brutal attack at her home in Grays - all for just £40. The 52-year-old

  • Essex: Public support for speed cameras

    There is almost unanimous support for speed cameras in Essex towns and villages - but less on dual cariageways and motorways. The findings follow informal canvassing by authorities from a cross-section of county residents. A £4.5 million pilot scheme

  • Stanford-le-Hope: Firm to be first at Shell Haven

    A ferry firm has announced it is moving to Shell Haven - the first company to be part of the massive container port. Dart Line freight ferry services, based at Dartford, will move to the Stanford-le-Hope site in months. Parent company Jacobs Holdings

  • Castle Point: New demand for free bus passes

    The elderly should get free bus travel in Castle Point and not just the "paltry" scrapping of the £5 fee for their bus passes, say pensioners' campaigners. The one-off fee for the discount pass is set to be scrapped on April 1 next year in line with Government

  • Soccer: Howard's Say...

    Taylor has had a lucky escape I reckon former Blues boss Peter Taylor escaped from a fate worse than deathwhen Sven Goran Eriksson was named as the new full-time England manager. Taylor is in charge for the next friendly against Italy but then it's down

  • Soccer: Shearer goal offside, says Wilnis

    Fabian Wilnis believes two debatable refereeing decisions cost Ipswich Town their 2-1 defeat at Newcastle United. The wing-back claimed Alan Shearer was offside when he latched on to Alain Goma's through ball to cancel out Marcus Stewart's early strike

  • Soccer: Rocks' clash lives up to expectations

    There's never a dull moment when these two old rivals meet and Saturday's Ryman League Division Two encounter at Rookery Hill proved no exception. Having said that, Rocks' former Basildon United and Concord Rangers boss Lee Patterson would have been confident

  • Soccer: Burley anger at penalty

    George Burley was left seething after Mark Venus's second-half tackle on Alan Shearer resulted in a controversial penalty. The Ipswich Town boss said: "The referee was 50 or 60 yards away but Shearer is an experienced player who was looking for the tackle

  • Soccer: U's lacking cutting edge

    There is something missing from Colchester United's make-up! It's hard to put one's finger on what it is, apart from the obvious -- a proven scorer with a goal-a-game appetite. The U's football from penalty box to penalty box is as good -- in many cases

  • Soccer: Abbey answers Blues' prayers

    A disjointed display against Macclesfield Town couldn't prevent Southend United going fifth in the Third Division table, just four points adrift of the automatic promotion zone. The visitors made the better start and after two minutes midfielder Ben Sedgemore

  • Cricket: Match-fixing probe

    Essex County Cricket Club are ready to co-operate fully in any "official investigation" alleging match-fixing in two games involving Lancashire back in August 1991. David East, the county's chief executive, said today (Monday): "I haven't received any

  • Essex: Breeze sold to Classic

    Breeze AM has been bought by Classic Gold Digital- which is part owned by new Essex FM owner GWR. The deal, officially rubber-stamped yesterday (Thursday), included the purchase of a Breeze station in Sussex. Classic Gold Digital was recently formed to

  • Maldon: Parking cost to rise

    The cost of parking in Maldon looks set to rise from April. Increased charges to be levied at all main car parks are being recommended to Maldon District Council as part of a town centre car park review. The proposed new charges were considered this week

  • Benfleet: Shops crack down on vandalism

    Fed-up shop owners in Benfleet have joined forces in an effort to combat the ever-increasing threat of vandalism in the area. In recent months, windows have been smashed and skips have been set on fire along Church Road. Now worried store owners have

  • Canvey: Bid to set up new hi-tech industry

    A new centre for hi-tech industry could be set up on Canvey if Castle Point councillors have their way. The idea is to set up a forum to give the borough's business leaders, academics and residents the opportunity to discuss ways of improving and modernising

  • Wivenhoe: Vandals blamed for chapel attack

    Residents in Wivenhoe are counting the cost after "despicable" vandals threw rocks through the window of its chapel. The damage at the chapel, in the new cemetery between Bellevue Road and Stanley Road in the town, was discovered today (Monday) by the

  • North Essex: Residents aim to stem new flood

    Villagers were today (Monday) repelling rising flood waters as they faced a second deluge in a week. Residents in White Colne suffered a repeat of last Monday's flooding as the river overflowed again. And the water was almost coming over the bridge at

  • Colchester: Police charge duo over A12 death

    A lorry driver and haulage boss have been charged with manslaughter following the death of a Colchester man on the A12 last year. Lee Fitt, 24, of Canterbury Road, New Town, died after being in collision with a lorry on the A12 at Marks Tey on December

  • Essex: Grey Party formed

    A new political party dedicated to the interests of senior citizens has been formed in Essex. Chairman of the Grey Party, Dunmow based Len Overy-Owen, said the new party had been accepted by the Registrar of Political Parties and hoped to field at least

  • Southend: Plague of ants hits families

    Pest control experts have been drafted in to clear a Southend housing estate of some exotic but unwelcome lodgers - tropical red ants. Homes on the Woodgrange Drive estate have been infested by the insects, which normally live near the Equator. Called

  • Chelmsford: Boy, 10, was crash driver

    A boy aged about 10 was driving a car involved in a crash in Chelmsford last Saturday - with three passengers aged about 10 or 12. The car was involved in a collision with another, driven by a 32-year-old Chelmsford woman. The incident happened in Rutland

  • South Essex: Police may guard buses

    South Essex bus drivers are working in such fear of physical abuse, police could be asked to travel with them for protection. Incidents of vandalism and criminal damage are increasing on night time routes in Castle Point which has even prompted bus company

  • Canvey: Artistic Ginny's snap-happy on bike

    An artist has braved icy winds and rain over to complete a photo-shoot of Canvey - on her bike. Professional artist Ginny Reed, who lives in Leigh, is touring the island on her cycle to produce a series of pictures which will go on public display from

  • South Essex: Runwell switch backed

    Plans to transfer mental health services from Runwell to the former Rochford Hospital have been backed by councillors. South Essex Mental Health and Community Care Trust wants to use the site for elderly and adult patients when the Runwell unit closes

  • Clacton: Double degree joy

    When Harwich MP Ivan Henderson handed out the degrees at the Clacton Campus of the Colchester Institute he must have thought he was seeing double. For after Leana Moorhouse collected her qualification she was immediately followed by her identical twin

  • Southend: Arsonists with a Customs grudge?

    A massive blaze at Southend's Customs and Excise building may be linked to arson attacks in Middlesex and Surrey. The fire swept through part of Alexander House in Victoria Avenue after a window was smashed and petrol was poured into a ground floor filing

  • Yachting round-up: Twist, shout, and break...

    Pat and Nick Elmore's Twist and Shout, involved in a minor rescue recently, was at the centre of a more serious incident during last Sunday's wind-lashed fifth race of Crouch Yacht Club's Autumn series. Twist and Shout's season came to an abrupt end after

  • Rayleigh: School cleans up

    Work was today under way to clean a school playground of sewage after heavy rain blocked drains causing it to spill out. Pupils at Rayleigh's Glebe Infant and Junior Schools were kept away while council workers and staff cleared the area of waste. Heavy

  • Athletics: Lau benefits from scholarship scheme

    The Youth Scholarship Scheme introduced at Cannons Health Club, Riverside Retail Park Chelmsford in January has been a tremendous success. Chelmsford Athletic Club's Jordan Lau has benefited from his complimentary membership, which has allowed him maximum

  • Essex: MP's fears over police recruitment

    West Chelmsford MP Simon Burns believes it will be "more difficult than anticipated" for Essex Police to recruit 190 extra officers this year. The MP was speaking following a question he asked in the House of Commons about the county force. Mr Burns wanted

  • Soccer: U's slide down table...

    Colchester's loss on Saturday to old rivals Northampton saw them fall to within one point of the bottom three in Division Two. A strike in each half from Forrester and Howard respectively saw the Essex side crash to a 2-0 home defeat at Layer Road on

  • Soccer: Tony pitches in to help collect Wembley prize

    It was anything but turf luck for Tony Hoskins when Purfleet FC won a piece of the hallowed Wembley turf in a national newspaper competition. For Tony, of Prince Avenue, Southend, is the press officer at the Ryman Premier club and was asked if he would

  • Boxing: John boxes clever in national event

    Chalvedon Boxing Club's John Denard has won through to the latter stages of the National Association of Boys Clubs championships. The 15-year-old from Wickford had two fights at under-67 kilos level, beating Finchley's M Smythe and Ryan McDonald of Bushey

  • Hadleigh: New Lidl is set for town

    Budget supermarket giant Lidl is set to open a new store in Hadleigh, it has been revealed. The German-owned chain, famed for selling cut-price food and merchandise, has purchased a site on London Road, Hadleigh, which was formerly home to a Lookers Renault

  • Stambridge: Water company ditches waste site

    Campaigners have been celebrating as Anglian Water ditched controversial waste treatment work in Stambridge. The company intends to stop producing environmentally-friendly soil conditioner at the plant early next year. Protesters, who have united under

  • Soccer round-up: Southend Borough Veterans League

    The Southend Borough Combination Veterans League programme mainly centred on the Charity Cup first round. Holders Fords won the day's only all Premier clash, beating Canvey Island 4-0 with Lee Williams netting three. In the second round they will meet

  • Soccer round-up: South Essex non-league fixtures

    SATURDAY FA UMBRO TROPHY Round 1: Billericay Town 2, Farnborough Town 0. RYMAN LEAGUE Division 2: East Thurrock United 1, Great Wakering Rovers 1. SCHWEPPES ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE Barkingside 3, Woodford Town 0; Brentwood 5, Stansted 0; Concord Rangers 0

  • Wickford: £5,000 canary theft

    A man who has kept canaries for 50 years has been left heartbroken after his beloved birds worth £5,000 were stolen from his garden. John Smith, 70, of The Chase, Wickford, discovered about 70 of his birds were missing when he went out to feed them. Thieves

  • Essex: GMC says surgeon was 'irresponsible'

    A surgeon who went home while his patient was rapidly losing blood has been banned from practising. The case against Willem Bijl, a former consultant urologist at Basildon Hospital, was found proved by the General Medical Council. The Council ruled his

  • South Essex: Gangland link to gun deaths

    Detectives were today probing a link between the cold-blooded killings of two south Essex men. Officers from two forces were due to hold top-level talks about the execution-style shootings of Ronald Fuller and Kenneth Beagle. Mr Fuller, a former bouncer

  • Maldon: Maggie Thatcher in surprise visit

    Famous visitors to sung mass took regular worshippers at St Mary's Church, Maldon, by surprise. Wearing a blue coat and matching hat, former Prime Minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher and her husband Denis attended the 70-minute service on Sunday - but

  • Little Oakley: Children hurt in bus crash

    A bus carrying a group of schoolchildren was involved in a crash in Little Oakley. The vehicle they were travelling in was in collision with a van. Eight children were hurt in the accident, just after 8.30am today (Monday). The students were on their

  • Southend: Fast dresser George cuts a dash

    Tiny George Keeble was well wrapped up for winter after he took part in a clothes dash to grab a whole new wardrobe. The three-year-old, of Cromwell Road, Southend, who suffers from alopecia, had 90 seconds to put on as many clothes as he could at the

  • Soccer: Main returns to Roots

    Former Southend United chairman John Main returned to Roots Hall for the first time on Saturday, following his controversial sacking from the Third Division club's board. Main was removed from the Southend hotseat in August at an extraordinary shareholders

  • Soccer: U's robbed of penalty, claims Scott

    Recent signing Scott Fitzgerald is enjoying life at the heart of Colchester United's defence despite suffering defeat in his latest two outings. The former Republic of Ireland B international and Millwall captain said: "I am settling in well and thoroughly