The National Under 19 Badminton championships last weekend, at Bath Sports and Leisure Centre, saw Simon Hardcastle, a pupil at The Billericay School, become the youngest winner of the Men's Singles' title. Still only 16, Simon was seeded fourth for the
Southend United legend Ian Benjamin will make an emotional return to Blues this week on the training field. Shrimpers boss David Webb has called on the help of his former hitman to give the Third Division club's current crop of players a masterclass in
Ipswich Town have offered Colchester United their old pitch covering - but it is not in time to make tonight's all-ticket clash with Second Division leaders Millwall a certainty. Already postponed because of snow and ice three weeks ago, the game is in
Valentines at Vocalzone 2001 is hotting up and there's a host of gigs and giggers in the South East. Starting off we have the return of Vocalzone. Launched in 1999 it aimed to provide a forum for vocal-centric jazz in Southend and was a great success
Vandals who fired golf balls at the windows of a school were caught on a security camera. Police are now examining the film of the attack on Hazelmere Junior School, Greenstead, Colchester, which happened on Sunday night. The vandals caused about £700
A dog is believed to have saved its master's life by raising the alarm when a fire broke out at a house in Thorpe. The Jack Russell started barking after candles on top of a television started to burn down, sparking the blaze at about 11.40pm yesterday
A man has been jailed for eight years after he used his pick-up truck in a revenge attack. Matthew Green was left with horrific injuries when the truck was used to attack him and his friend, Robert Carter, in a road in Mayland, near Maldon. At one point
Parents go face to face with Essex education chiefs for the first time tonight at a showdown meeting over the fate of an axe-threatened primary school. The county council announced shock proposals to shut Chapel Hill County School in Braintree more than
Two thieves made their escape in the pitch black across muddy fields after their car crashed in Weeley following a till snatch in Colchester. The men's Vauxhall Astra had been spotted by traffic police and followed into the Tendring district. It ended
The head of a primary school, which had to send pupils home because of a shortage of teachers, has warned it was just the tip of the iceberg. Brian Davis, at Frobisher Primary and Nursery in Jaywick, had to take emergency measures when five staff called
Various projects in Chelmsford and other parts of Essex have benefited from a £350,000 grant payout by the Essex Environment Trust. Among major beneficiaries is Chelmsford Community Recycling Programme, which receives nearly £55,000. Mill Race IT, currently
Grieving Colchester parents have taken back organ tissue removed from their stillborn son for a post mortem examination. Robin and Roula Bray, of Shrub End Road, Colchester, discovered this week that 20 one-inch blocks of organ tissue were still being
The UK Women Returners' Unit has been moved from central London to join Chelmsford College's Essex Returners' Unit. The new more powerful organisation is getting government cash to help people seeking to get back into work. It also helps employers of
The grieving grandmother of former Colchester-based soldier Derek Osbourne who was kicked to death outside an Austrian nightclub today told of his family's shock at his death. Mabel Radcliffe said she was still trying to take in the horrific news of his
A garage worker used a cheque from his boss to pay off a council tax debt. Gary Roberts was supposed to use the money to pay for leaflets to promote a new car being sold by his boss but he kept the money, Chelmsford Crown Court heard. Roberts, 34, of
Bosses at a major entertainment complex in Clacton have today reassured customers and neighbours about safety after asbestos was discovered in the building. The Gala Club, which operates the bingo hall and Flicks cinema in Pier Avenue, made the find when
Alf Stokes is bringing big time angling to Chelmsford's River Chelmer. He is running a 100+ peg open match on Sunday, March 4 and hopes to attract some of the big names in the angling world and made it a regular event on the Angling calendar. To enter
Living in a hut on a tropical island while coming up with a plan to save coral reefs from being ripped apart by "dynamite fishing" - will be part of the trip of a lifetime for James Fowler. James, 17, of Firstore Drive, Lexden, has just been selected
A list of approved builders and tradesmen could be available in Tendring - if a national pilot scheme proves successful. Disabled Peter Hayns, 51, who lives in Clacton, called for a register to be set up after twice being caught out with work at his home
Colchester United let a two goal advantage slide to earn just a point on their travels to Bournemouth. Recent signing Scott McGleish delighted the travelling supporters by opening his account for the U's on 22 minutes putting away a rebound. The Essex
Officials of the Schweppes Essex Senior League are hoping that the wet weather will relent to allow at least part of their full midweek programme to take place. Six League games and an Ancient Order of Foresters League Cup group match are due today (Tuesday
You wouldn't like to say that Thundersley's Deanes College side will never ever win the Heinz Ketchup Cup, but their hopes are over for this year after defeat by All Saints, Dagenham, in a bid to reach the last 32. In an entertaining home game, Deanes
The basketball girls of Greensward College put forward another distinguished performance when their under-15 side finished seventh in the national cup competition. They travelled to Rochdale, Lancashire, to contest the final stages from the last eight
Brentwood returned to winning form on Saturday determined to maintain their promotion challenge with a decisive victory over Sudbury. The deadlock was broken early in the first half from a short corner strike by Simon Wagstaff, and a second goal soon
The Amos Cup final, traditionally played on Boxing Day, but due to be played at Stanway Rovers' New Farm Road ground tomorrow (Wednesday), has been postponed again. The Ke-Connect League's prestige final, to be contested by Eight Ash Green and Walton
Essex firm the Cardboard Furniture Company will be showcasing its innovative chairs and other products at a specialist trade show in London next month. The Tiptree-based business - which is about to move closer to Colchester - will be showing how its
Colchester United have been fined £10,000 by the Football Association for their part in an on-the-pitch brawl. The U's have been handed the hefty fine following the reckless tackle by Tony Lock on Wycombe Wanderers' Alan Beeton 12 minutes from the end
Does Angling club have now agreed terms for a new five acre lake next season near to Maldon. At the moment it is being stocked with fish and plants, and this lake is an addition to six other well stocked lakes with a selection of different species of
Basildon's economy has been dealt another blow with one of the town's biggest employers announcing more than 50 job cuts. York International in Gardiners Lane is the third company in the dictrict within the past week to make staff redundant - bringing
It was standing room only as 100 angry parents gave Essex education chiefs a two-hour grilling over the fate of a primary school facing the axe. Emotions have run high since Essex County Council revealed Chapel Hill County School in Braintree could be
Police are putting extra officers on patrol and drawing up tactics for possible flash-point football matches in Colchester. Plans are being made to boost police presence at Colchester United's home matches against Millwall on Tuesday, Luton on March 31
Singing sensation Sir Cliff Richard left theatregoers stunned when he turned up to see an old friend at a performance at the Palace Theatre. The star, who topped the charts with Summer Holiday and Mistletoe and Wine, visited Westcliff to see his friend
An 88-year-old woman was left with only five pence after callous cowboy traders conned her in her Leigh home. Police say valuables worth £300 were taken during the raid in Elmsleigh Drive on Saturday. In the latest incident on Saturday, a man called on
British Transport Police praised quick-thinking railway staff who tackled a blaze after someone set fire to an evening train. As the 10.45pm Ipswich to Colchester train pulled out of Kelvedon station on Sunday, the fire alarm went off and the driver stopped
Thousands of people have pledged their support for practice nurses across Tendring in their fight to secure fair pay and conditions. More than a dozen nurses who work at GP surgeries took to the streets of Clacton on Saturday with a petition which will
Brentwood's game on Saturday was meant to have been a rearranged fixture with visitors Southend for the game cancelled on January 20, due to the icy condition of the pitch. However, the League's organisers deemed that as all the League's matches were
Canvey Island and Billericay Town both go into Ryman League Premier Division home action tonight (Tuesday) boosted by news from yesterday's FA Umbro Trophy fifth round draw. Gulls came out of the hat first to take on Stevenage Borough while the New Lodge
It would have been easy to bill Sunday's game as the Leopards opportunity to avenge the National Cup defeat at the hands of the Riders last month, but in fact after the two defeats over the previous 72 hours, the Leopards desperately needed the win to
A well-known man has been found dead in a freezing cold mid Essex canal. Folk music-loving Rodney Wright, 59, was dragged from the water from underneath the boat in which he lived at Heybridge Basin. Mr Wright, a diabetic, had been reported missing on
A consultant who stepped in to resuscitate his lifeless newborn baby is suing his former hospital for more than £50,000 damages. Gerard Lane, who until last year was head of Southend Hospital's Accident and Emergency department, stepped in when his daughter
Essex Police's new campaign to target speeding drivers comes after a month which saw 11 people killed on Essex roads - and more than 50 accidents which resulted in serious injuries. The campaign will last for a month and involve more than 200 officers
Good things come in twos! A second contender for the world's longest legs title has emerged from Heybridge. Lisa Hall was the first to bid for the world record when she revealed last month she had 49 inch pins. But now there's some new legs on the block
A man died after a fire broke out in his Clacton home just yards from the town's fire station. Four firefighters dragged the 64-year-old from his one-bedroom sheltered accommodation flat at Howard Vyse Court, in St John's Road, after the blaze broke out
Sporting memorabilia from all over the country has been sent to the aid of a school in Dovercourt. The goods will be going under the hammer at an auction at St Joseph's Primary School, in The Drive, as part of the fifth annual charity auction to top up
Shadow transport minister Bernard Jenkin pedalled into action as he launched a new Conservative policy aimed at encouraging more people to leave their cars at home and get on their bike. Yesterday (Monday), outside Conservative Central Office in Westminster
A young woman was indecently assaulted by a man as they waited for a bus at a village stop. The 21-year-old victim, who has not been named by police, was groped by her attacker as they sat on a seat on the main B1035 road through Tendring. The woman ran
Devastated restaurant owners watched helplessly as fire ripped through their business. North Hill in Colchester was sealed off to traffic and pedestrians as between 40 and 50 firefighters tackled the blaze at Monty's Restaurant on Saturday evening. The
Grieving Colchester parents have taken back organ tissue removed from their stillborn son for a post mortem examination. Robin and Roula Bray, of Shrub End Road, Colchester, discovered this week that 20 one-inch blocks of organ tissue were still being
The factors affecting the economy in the next year will be examined by an expert at the next breakfast briefing of the Business Association of Basildon District. Senior economist at HSBC bank Mark Berrisford-Smith will be the guest speaker at the meeting
Basildon Council has uncovered more than £200,000 of fraudulent benefit claims after joining forces with the Benefits Agency in an effort to beat dole cheats. The council's benefit team has been working with the agency in Great Oaks, Basildon, for the
A mum and her three children were lucky to be alive after a dangerously-placed candle set fire to their house. Two fire engines were called to the blaze in the front first-floor bedroom of a terraced house in Rowenhall, Basildon. The flames were quickly
The boss of a rapidly expanding business re-homing victims of flood or house fires today revealed how the innovative idea grew out of a brainstorming session. National operations manager of Countrywide Property Management Mike Moody said the firm's emergency
Moves to create a new leisure facility on Clacton seafront are going ahead - despite a lack of funding to pay for it. The former Clacton Swimming Club and Boxing Club building on Lower Marine Parade West has stood empty for some time. Tendring councillor
Ronnie Bridges, 17, has signed a contract with the Heybridge Swifts. Bridges has latterly been developed through the club's youth set up and this season has impressed with the Reserves and been on the bench for the first team. Swifts are justifiably proud
Waterlogged pitches again brought havoc to the local soccer programme with Billericay Town again being the major victims. The New Lodge side discovered early on Saturday morning that their FA Umbro Trophy fourth round tie at Dr Martens League Eastern
Ruari Robertson's hat-trick helped Pegasus beat Rayleigh in the Merit Table. Pegs scored first when a bounce deceived the full-back and Robertson ran in a 60-yard try. The fly-half then wriggled through for a second following a five-yard scrum on the
Support is growing for a suspended GP whose future is hanging in the balance. About 100 people have signed a petition in just two days calling for Dr Salah Garas's return to his surgeries in Golf Green Road, Jaywick, and Nayland Drive, Clacton. It is
Householders are picking up the pieces after flooding caused thousands of pounds of damage. Firefighters were called to pump out several homes across north Essex yesterday afternoon including two in East Road, East Mersea, and Wig Cottage in Wig Lane,
A man has been banned from keeping large animals for life after he was found guilty of cruelty to a cow. Richard Scarrott of Malting Villas, Rochford, was prosecuted by Essex trading standards after it found a heifer had lost a considerable amount of
Bullying in schools is a persistent problem for both pupils and staff alike. A new scheme based in Essex aims to combat the difficulties faced on a daily basis. The scheme uses a workshop delivered in each school, which is run by the London Bus Theatre
Two men - one wearing a horror mask - held a schoolboy at knifepoint in a bid to raid a mid-Essex petrol station. They burst into Jones of Chelmsford in Baddow Road carrying long kitchen knives. One was wearing a balaclava while the other had on a horror
A sub-postmaster is facing jail after admitting using pension books from dead people to claim the money himself. Kerry Peck, 48, who runs Tye Green Post Office Stores in Braintree, stole £2,804.32. Magistrates heard how Peck, who also lives at the post
A landslip has plunged commuter rail services from Southend to Liverpool Street into chaos and will cause disruption for the next two days. Commuters, who faced a second day of travel chaos after yesterday's (Monday's) tube strikes and flooding on the
Southend United have parted company with their director of youth Peter Trevivian. The 46-year-old, who had two-years left on his Roots Hall contract, left the Third Division club after coming to a mutual agreement. Breaking the news of the split, Blues
Talented Taz of Popstars fame has hit the big time - despite being kicked out of the cult TV show. Taz Hassan, from Shoebury, entered LWT's unique competition to create a new pop band but narrowly lost out when the number of finalists were cut from 22
A headteacher who threatened to quit the profession because of the growing recruitment crisis travelled to Holland to find new teachers. However Chris Richardson, headteacher at Furtherwick Park School, Canvey, said he failed to find any new recruits
