Police and the Civil Aviation Authority have asked to interview a Canvey businessman about allegedly dropping thousands of leaflets from his plane over Castle Point. However, millionaire entrepreneur Terry Holding said he had no intention of "making it
Two terrified 16-year-olds were attacked by robbers who beat them about the heads with a table leg and threatened them with a dog. One of the boys was bitten by the animal, described as a pit-bull, during the assault near Colchester Arts Centre last night
Stones were hurled by "mindless idiots" at three trains travelling at 80mph, smashing windows and putting lives at risk. One driver was left with shock after two windscreens and a side window were damaged in the incidents. Both of them happened within
Harwich could become a major national centre for railway and shipping history if ambitious plans get the go-ahead. Negotiations are underway to transform the derelict Harwich Station building into one of the biggest and most comprehensive railway archive
An aspiring actress who overcame arthritis has beaten hundreds of applicants to win a place at a prestigious drama college. Pip Ripley, 18, of Rydal Way, White Court, Braintree, has always dreamed off being on the stage and now her wish seems to be coming
Arsonists were today (Friday) believed to have started an inferno which ripped through two derelict flats and a shop in the heart of Southend. Victoria Avenue remained shut today after 50 firefighters on eight fire engines from across south Essex spent
A caravan park was left crippled after a bolt of lightning hit a main aerial on the office roof. The storm left Hutleys Caravan Park in St Osyth Beach without electricity. A huge surge was sent through the fibreglass aerial, shattering it and tripping
A doctor's receptionist drew out her savings and sent them to guests at her birthday party in the hope she could double the money for an Aids charity. Betty Woods, 65, of Polebarn Lane, Frinton, first came across the idea at a Christian festival at Butlin's
An award-winning gardener from Holland-on-Sea is raising money for a cancer charity in memory of his wife. Ted Pryor is opening his beautiful garden at his home in Dulwich Road, in aid of the Marie Curie Cancer Care. It is Ted's way of paying tribute
Groups in Tendring are to benefit from the council's small grants programme. At a meeting of Tendring Council's grants committee last night (Thursday), groups within the community were allocated funds for specific needs. One of the largest grants went
It's a slippery job but someone's got to do it. Children overcame their phobias when reptiles descended on Winter Gardens Junior School on Canvey. The snakes and lizards were brought into the school as part of a special eco day. The children were given
Firefighters were called to a fire in a derelict building on a disused airfield near Silver End. The fire in Sheepcoates Lane started after flames from a nearby abandoned Ford Fiesta, which had been set alight, spread to a timber-framed hut. A total of
An urgent plea has been made for cash to help secure the future of a new initiative aimed at reducing vandalism and youth crime in an area of Clacton. A street soccer league was set up on the Coppins Hall Estate in the town in an effort to help bring
A total of 2,500 homes and businesses in Chelmsford were left without electricity on Thursday, when an underground cable fault caused a power cut. The fault occurred in an 11,000 volt underground cable between Widford sub station and the Widford Industrial
Tough new targets, including cuts in waiting lists, have been set by Mid Essex Hospitals Trust in its business plan for 2001/2. Details of the plan were revealed this week, setting out how the trust is responding to the directives in the Government's
Southend was victorious today (Friday) after a £5.4million Euro cash injection was finally agreed. Civic chiefs had waited at least 18 months for definite news of the European Union's Objective Two funding which will change the face of Southend. It means
Colchester United boss Steve Whitton has issued a warning to his out-of-contract players - turn up for pre-season training on Monday or you're out. The U's chief is still waiting to hear from defender Joe Keith and midfielder Aaron Skelton, whose contracts
Basildon Town Football Club who run a senior and reserve team in the Essex Intermediate Football League and a veterans team in the Mid-Essex Veterans League are seeking new players of a good standard for all of their teams next season. Basildon Town offer
Woodford Wells 199 all out Chelmsford 200-5 (Chelmsford won by five wickets) A determined display from Chelmsford saw them overcome Woodford Wells and the victory saw them leap to the top of the table. A solid chase led by the Iliffe brothers, Tom and
Earls Colne cricketer Glenn Lesiak raced to the highest individual score of the Osborne League season so far when he clattered Tiptree United's bowlers for 196 runs in division five. And his memorable performance came just one week after his 17th birthday
The fact Wivenhoe Town are facing a "meaningless" season in the Ryman League next year is already having an impact on the division two club. Former co-managers Julian Hazel and Joff March have already left. Both were offered the vacant manager's job following
Rayleigh swimmer Nathalie Brown is relishing the challenge of her first major event after being selected to compete for Britain at the World Championships in Japan. The 17-year-old has represented the country at junior events and grand prix meetings since
The NSPCC golf day at Rochford Hundred again smashed all records when £17,500 was raised for the children's charity. That staggering amount took the total to £174,500 since the first event 15 years-ago. Nineteen teams took part in the competition which
Westcliff Ladies 105-5 NE Essex 106-7 (NE Essex won by 3 wickets) Emily Tindell's brave all-round display failed to save Westcliff from defeat when NE Essex hit the winning runs with five balls to spare. Tindell, not normally renowned for her batting
Southend Athletic Club, who gained promotion last season, won their first ever Southern Men's League division one match when they triumphed at Croydon. There were no stars in the seasiders' line-up - just a superb team effort that ensured Southend made
The captain of Colchester United's glorious FA Cup squad of 1948 and former manager of Halstead Town has died. Bob Curry, died at his home in Halstead on Saturday. He was 82. He was born in Gateshead, County Durham, and upon leaving school was signed
South-east Essex is in with a chance of picking up three of the four titles on offer when the English Schools' Track and Field Cup national finals return to Basildon's Gloucester Park track for the second year running tomorrow (Saturday). Due to be staged
Colchester United boss Steve Whitton is expecting his out-of-contract stars Gavin Johnson and Joe Keith to return to Layer Road for pre-season training on Monday. But the U's chief confessed he has no idea whether Aaron Skelton or Steve McGavin will be
This Sunday all vessels head for Southend Pier as the ever-popular Nore Race gets underway. The event, ran annually for over 80 years and now sponsored by Dauntless Boatyards Ltd, is one of the largest yacht races in the south of England with over 300
Essex's overseas star Stuart Law has admitted this could be his last season with the county. The 32-year-old Australian crowd-pleaser said on Friday: "No-one has approached me yet about returning to Essex next season. "I will be a free agent then and
Parents who drive into school grounds to drop off their children have received a telling off. Health and safety parent governor of Tendring Technology College, Paul Fieldsend, said he recently visited the Lower School site at Thorpe and was appalled at
The number of deliberately started fires in south Essex has now reached 18 in just a few weeks. Fire and police chiefs today (Friday) joined in condemning arsonists after firefighters risked their own lives searching the flats for youngsters possibly
Tributes have been paid to two young motorcyclists who died when they collided head-on, on the A120 at Wix. And police today (Friday) revealed they believe the two riders were pulling "wheelies" when they collided The front wheels of the Suzuki bikes,
A specialist is to be drafted in by Basildon education bosses to ease the district's spiralling teaching crisis. A collapse in teacher numbers across south Essex is expected to require drastic measures, including the possible introduction of four-day
Green garden waste collections are set to go even greener after Epping Forest District Council announced it is to switch to collection sacks that are totally biodegradable. The environmentally-friendly sacks, which are designed to decompose completely
Arsonists were today believed to have started an inferno which ripped through two derelict flats and a shop in the centre of Southend. Victoria Avenue remained shut today (Friday) after 50 firefighters on eight fire engines from across south Essex spent
Medical-grade gas could go on sale in vending machines at some of Colchester's premier nightspots. The idea of selling pure filtered oxygen in nightclubs is now being looked at by the Hippodrome and Chicago Rock Cafe owners Luminar Leisure. Inhaling the
A 27-YEAR-old woman had to be raced to a London hospital by air ambulance after the car in which she was a passenger collided with a van at an Aveley road junction. The accident occurred at around 1.30pm on Saturday when a white Renault master van, travelling
AN ENTIRE family travelling on the A13 in Basildon had to be taken to hospital after their vehicle careered off the road, crashed through a barrier and ended up in a field. Traffic police believe the Ford Mondeo, which was on the road between the Five
A TEENAGER had his ear nearly bitten off and his friend was beaten unconscious in what police are describing as a violent and unprovoked attack outside a Basildon nightclub. Three young men - aged between 17 and 21 - had just left the Ikon nightclub on
Mark Waugh can be assured of a fabulous welcome when the Australians play Essex in a three-day clash starting at Chelmsford today (Friday). The gifted run-machine proved a massive hit during his spell with the county in the late 1980s and early 1990s,
Ronnie Irani has told the England cricket selectors he's ready and waiting if they want him for the World Cup. The in-form Essex all-rounder said: "I would love a chance to play for my country again, whether at Test match level, One-Day internationals
Witham 178 all out Coggeshall 162 all out (Witham won by 16 runs) Two hundred of the 336 runs scored in Saturday's match came in boundaries in this thrilling encounter, a testament to Coggeshall's West Indianesque pitch. Witham won the toss, elected to
A new £2m day surgery centre at Basildon Hospital will welcome its first patients next month. The unit will offer ear, nose and throat surgery to patients from across Basildon and Orsett as part of a NHS shake-up. The move is the next phase in the on-going
A convoy of cyclists have saddled up to say a special thank you to a vital charity that helped to save the life of one of their members. A team from Ford Cycling Club are undertaking the ultimate challenge of pedalling from Lands End to John O'Groats
Police have issued a warning against a hoax letter, which is being circulated around Havering. The letter, which has been received by a number of schools and individuals, claims there are stick on tattoos in circulation, which have been impregnated with
Thousands of tenants who feared they might lose the right to buy their homes from Braintree District Council can breath a sigh of relief. A group of councillors and tenants representatives which met in private last night (Thursday) was expected to recommend
Police are baffled after thieves stole 13 chicks - including one with wonky feet. Lorraine Crayden, discovered almost half of her ten-week-old chicks had been stolen in the night. he 41-year-old only started breeding them a few short months ago for eggs
The mother of schoolgirl Sarah Payne today (Friday) told how her thoughts were constantly with the parents of missing teenager Danielle Jones. Sara Payne, whose dignity inspired the nation when their eight-year-old daughter went missing during a family
A gas explosion shot twisted metal hundreds of feet through the air and set a car yard ablaze. The force of the blast rocked the Hythe area of Colchester shortly after 1pm yesterday (Thursday) and dense black smoke from the ensuing fire engulfed surrounding
Wickford Angling Centre squad member Peter Steward landed an amazing 47lb 3oz three hour bream haul to win the latest match in Tony Cheeseman's Colmic sponsored Northlands Park Evening Series. Peter fished the caf lake from a swim on the central path
A school is looking to provide Thurrock with its first internet cafe, which could be up and running by Christmas. Senior pupils have been working with surveyors on the project at Aveley School. Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images
Developers wanting to build 500 homes in Stanway hope their plans to create a new roundabout will end a stalemate which has seen their scheme severely delayed. Regent New Homes wants to build 500 houses in Church Fields, Stanway, and building work on
Basildon AC's Rob Smith warmed up for this weekend's British under-20 championships with second spot in the British Milers Club 1,500m in Solihull. The highly-rated young distance runner, from Billericay, finished second in the B race in a time of 3:50
Essex will need some quick wickets and a strong batting performance to avoid defeat against Australia today (Sunday). The county side's young guns were the only batsmen to offer serious resistance as Australia took a commanding lead. Despite making the
Debts on Basildon's controversial belltower project are spiralling towards £1m after church leaders revealed they owed another £50,000. St Martins Parochial Church Council (PCC) uncovered the worrying development after making a call to belltower consultant
There could hardly have been better dovetailing between an amateur-professional partnership than occurred for the Ballards Gore pairing of pro' Richard Emery and his amateur partner Peter Henry. Playing at Harpenden in the North Home Counties final of
A village is banking on sunny weather for its charity open gardens event. On Sunday, eight picturesque gardens in Kirby Cross and Kirby-le-Soken will be open to the public in aid of Save the Children. Meinir James, who is chairman of the Frinton and Walton
Colchester's allotment competition is becoming something of a two-horse race. Over the past three years, Phil Faraday and Colin Wicks have battled it out for the best-kept allotment prize, each taking either first or second place. Mr Wicks' plot off East
A warning has gone out to residents in Tendring after three worrying incidents were reported to police. Crime reduction officer Calvin Heal said he was concerned people - especially the elderly who live alone - could be taken in. Mr Heal said one incident
OVER 40 firefighters tackled a fierce timber yard fire which covered the equivalent of one-and-half football fields, in Hawkwell on Sunday morning. Seven appliances, from Southend, Rochford, Leigh, Hadleigh and Rayleigh, raced to the blaze which sent
Angry passengers have slammed rail company c2c after a trip to Southend turned into a terrifying ride. Mum-of-two Marie Cowan arrived at Benfleet station to board the 10.37am train to Shoebury yesterday (Thursday) which was due to stop at all stations
Never Never Land, the derelict children's attraction situated on Southend seafront, could soon have a new lease of life as an enchanted garden feature. Southend Council is looking at the future of the land which it owns after winning a £1m lottery grant
A conservation project is calling for the Harwich area to be protected as an area of outstanding natural beauty. If the official status is given, land along the south side of the Stour Estuary would be given protection against major developments. Environmentalists
Hospital wards in mid Essex are set to get a cash boost to make them nicer places to stay. The Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust has allocated £200,000 to buy things to improve the environment of wards at Broomfield Hospital and St John's in Chelmsford
Colchester Council is investigating a money-spinning efficiency drive to sell off some or all of its many offices and move under one roof - possibly at the Royal London building. Steve Clarke, of the council's estates department, said he thought the sprawling
A woman escaped from her burning living room after the television exploded into flames. Rita Stocks had just got up and left the room when an electrical fault caused the TV to blow up, setting light to furniture and fittings. She rushed out of her ground
A bomb-type device was left in a Colchester art gallery. The burglar alarm went off at the Minories gallery on East Hill at 12.17am today (Friday). Police investigating found an incendiary device in the main gallery. Officers also found fireworks on the
For more information about the Shepherd Neame Essex League, click here PREMIER DIVISION Colchester v Saffron Walden Gidea park v Fives & Heronians Hadleigh v Wanstead Loughton v Hainault Wanstead v Shenfield FIRST DIVISION Brentwood v Billericay Ilford
East Anglia's most prestigious cycle race, the Grand Prix of Essex, has found a new home at Great Saling, on the outskirts of Braintree. This year's race will now be run on Sunday, July 22. Following last year's shock decision to move the Grand Prix from
Hutton I 204-9 dec West Essex 199 all out (Hutton won by five runs) After an easy victory in their last outing, Hutton's performance on Saturday, was just as satisfying, although the result was in doubt to the very last ball. Taking on West Essex at the
A man has died in a head on collision in Maldon. Police were called at 12.20pm on Friday to the accident which took place in Limebrook Road, near the Safeway's roundabout. The man, who was driving a Mazda, and a woman, driving a Renault Clio, collided
Essex took quick wickets to settle what had been a far closer game than expected against Berkshire in the C and G Trophy. Having set up a thrilling final session midway through the afternoon at Reading, Berkshire surrendered their last five wickets cheaply
Ipswich Town fans unable to get hold of a season ticket for Portman Road will soon be able to watch their heroes on the small screen. Sky TV have announced their live match schedule for the first four months of the season, and Ipswich are first featured
Young Benfleet sprint star Katie Flaherty is celebrating her first ever call-up to the Great Britain athletics squad. The 15-year-old Basildon AC athlete will run in the 200m for the Britain and Ireland team at the European Youth Olympics in Spain on
Shoebury Park 127 Trinity 119-6 (Shoebury won by eight runs) Shoebury Park retained their Active KO Cup in the Sirco Southend Evening Cricket League after a close-run final with Trinity. On a perfect summer's night at Garon Park, Trinity were made to
Essex spent the day in the field as Australia settled for a draw to get in batting practice ahead of the First Test. There had been expectation the visitors to the County Ground would declare at lunch giving Essex a second innings today (Sunday). But
Chart-topping band Steps today (Friday) made an high-profile appeal for Danielle Jones to come home. It came as police revealed a mobile phone message had been sent from Danielle's mobile phone after she vanished. The five-member band - the 15-year-old's
Horndon and Hadleigh & Thundersley both need a morale-boosting win when they clash at John Burrows Ground in tomorrow's (Saturday's) Premier Division match. Terry Hills' Horndon have yet to win a game in the first season in the top flight, while Hadleigh
