Army bomb disposal experts were called to a house in Alamein Road, Burnham, after police found what is believed to be plastic explosives and a detonator in a cigar tin. Experts dismantled the device. Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001.
Three hundred Colchester troops are taking part in a major Army exercise in Canada. The troops from 19 Regiment Royal Artillery are spending ten weeks providing artillery support to soldiers from the Welsh Guards and the Royal Staffordshire Regiment during
Essex Police have no intention of backing new Government plans to make speed cameras more visible to motorists. Painting roadside cameras orange is an option being considered by the Government after ministers raised concerns about them being hidden from
Harold councillors are to have a closer look at the proposed pathways for a new woodland being created in Harold Wood. The decision was made at last weeks Community Area Forum in Harold following a presentation of the work, which is being done at the
The spirit of Saturday's medieval fair in Harwich carried over to Sunday when during the annual raft race all teams had to provide a damsel to be rescued. In the multi-race tournament, the Old Harwich Drums class race, traditional rafts propelled by oars
Harwich's medieval day became a victim of its own success when Lady Godiva had to dismount because of crowds thronging the streets. Horsewoman Marie Stanford found her steed became nervous when the way ahead was cut off by pedestrians milling around.
Mark Venus hopes Irish eyes are smiling on him when he makes his first pre-season appearance against Dublin City. The Ipswich Town defender, yet to kick a ball in anger this summer because of a groin injury, is set to make his comeback at Tolka Park tonight
Plans have been put forward to improve an open space where youngsters have been causing misery for residents. People living on the Poets Estate in Maldon have been plagued by teenagers using a piece of land to play ball games and wrecking their property
Community leaders are still investigating whether a fundraising youngster should be allowed to sell drink cans on a Great Bentley village green. Luke Edwards, 14, was selling soft drinks to bikers on the green to raise £3,000 for an aid work trip to Venezuela
A walk in the woods is on offer this month for young people in the Epping Forest district interested in taking a hike. The half-day event, which has been organised by Epping Forest District Council's leisure services department, also offers 11 to 16-year-olds
An overcrowded primary school is set to get a major new building development to help ease its classroom space crisis, it has been revealed. Frobisher Primary School in Jaywick, which was built 12 years ago to take about 150 pupils, now has more than 250
A big-name store chain is to foot a bill worth thousands of pounds to give something back to former customers. The old Co-op pharmacy building in Greenstead will be refitted for community use and become a base for Colchester Citizens' Advice Bureau, Colchester
A child suffered serious facial injuries when the car she was in overturned at a main roundabout. Two other children also needed treatment after the crash on the A120 at Horsley Cross at 9.20am on Saturday. A seven-year-old girl was taken to Colchester
Brentwood Fire Station is holding an open day next Saturday, August 11. Visitors, young and old, will be able to meet fire fighters and see the equipment they use at the station in Western Road. It will be open from 10am to 4pm. Converted for the new
A former Witham mayor has spoken of his relief after a court case against him was dropped. Michael Jones, 59, of Blunts Hall Drive, Witham was accused of failing to declare a financial interest in a £2,000 grant which was discussed at three town council
The Great Dunmow carnival has been rescheduled and will now take place September 22. The move follows a recommendation from the organisers' procession committee. It was decided by Dunmow Round Table that the event - named 'A World of Music'- will be delayed
The Citizens' Advice Bureau in Witham is changing the way its clients are seen by introducing appointment-only bookings for three days of the week. On Tuesday to Thursday afternoons people will only be seen by appointment and won't have to wait their
It was a case of stay as you are for Essex's men's and ladies's teams after County Week. The ladies retained their Group One status thanks to winning three out of the five matches they contested at Eastbourne. And the men were unable to bounce straight
An angry businessman says his factory is being turned into a war zone with dumped cars. In the latest incident, Brian Keenleyside, co-owner of Fullmen, in Kings Road, Canvey, found a Ford Fiesta rammed into his new £10,000 security fence. The metal work
A parachute which was ditched when it failed to open during a daredevil night-time jump near Colchester has been found - by a former parachutist. The red and white parachute failed to open when Red Devil Sgt Graham MacLennon jumped at the West Bergholt
Staff at a Colchester Royal Mail call centre have been banned from having a cuppa at their desk and turning up to work in casual clothing each week to raise money for charity. The ruling affects 120 staff at the customer call centre at Colne Bank House
Michael Howell, a member at Brentwood Hard courts, won the boys 12 singles at the Huggett Gregg & Co 55th Essex Open Junior tournament played at Gidea Park last week. Michael was the top seed and reached the final after a string of victories over
A councillor in Castle Point has branded the present system of declaring interests in planning applications as "unfair". Tony Wright (Lab, St Mary's) is furious that friends and workers for applicants have to stay silent during discussions while others
Another rave has rocked Essex after more than 450 revellers met up in their cars at a secluded rendezvous off the A120 between Coggeshall and Bradwell at 10.30pm on Saturday night. It was the fifth rave in as many weeks. Organisers used mobile phones
Villagers are to express their concerns about bikers parking on parts of the village's famous green. For several years, bikers have flocked to the Great Bentley green every Wednesday outside the Plough pub. In the most part the gathering was welcomed
Southend Manor's pre-season friendly at Witham Town was abandoned after 45 minutes amid chaotic scenes on Wednesday night. The Foresters Essex Senior League team were leading 2-1 on the stroke of half-time when a foul on a Manor player sparked an on-pitch
Westcliff Hardcourts toasted a triple victory last week in Essex League action. The men's first team handed out a 9-0 events thrashing to Great Baddow when they visited the mid-Essex club in division one. Simon Bonham, fresh from County Week in Norfolk
Forget Weed - it looks like Bill and Ben have found themselves a new friend. The children's television favourites left their garden home to enjoy a trip to Essex. Bill and Ben visited the Thurrock Garden Centre in South Ockendon and followed that up with
Tracey Smedley endured a decade in the athletics wilderness - but has more than made up for it since returning with a vengeance in 2001. A back injury and then two car crashes in 18 months - the second resulting in severe whiplash - forced the West Mersea
A devastated family have increased their reward to £500 for information on their dog that has been missing for four weeks. The Bigg family, of Fernside Close, Corringham, have also spent more than £250 on advertising in a desperate bid to get back Aimee
Nigerian target Finidi George arrived in Ipswich to discuss a multi-million pound move to Portman Road. The Real Mallorca winger met Town boss George Burley on Thursday night and was due for a guided tour of the Blues' facilities on Friday. A fee - thought
A four-year-old Basildon boy was "over the moon" when his favourite toy tractor was returned after someone read an article in the Echo. Charlie Perry was devastated last week when his pedal tractor went missing after he came in for dinner in Great Knightleys
Striker Kris Lee has returned to Heybridge Swifts following an unsuccessful attempt to earn a contract with Nationwide League Division Two club Cambridge United. Lee, 23, was informed by U's boss John Beck he was being released after a summer spent training
In 1999 the family of the late Peggy Dyson presented a trophy of silver spoons mounted on a plinth in memory of the two members, Peggy and Lilian. They were played for on Ladies Day and the winner for this year was Shirley Beard with 38 points on countback
Burnham on Crouch Golf Club Ladies Section saw Karen Hull celebrated her Lady Captains Day in style on Thursday. The day began with an 18-hole stableford competition and after lunch teams of four played a nine-hole "String Scramble". Heavy showers of
A water company is giving customers better service than anywhere else in the country - but charging them the most too. For the third year running Manningtree-based Tendring Hundred Water has been given a five-star rating by the water industry watchdog
South-east Essex swimmers had their busiest day of the ASA National Age Groups championship on Thursday. Four swimmers contested six events at the Sheffield event but were unable to claim the accolade of being the first individual finalist from the area
Young tennis star David Watson is making a real name for himself on the Southend junior scene. David, ten, only took up the sport last year but has already claimed three junior singles titles at Thorpe Bay Tennis Club. He won the club's ten, 12 and 14
Wish you were here - cheeky revellers paraded Clacton's streets in a carnival procession filled with postcard humour. And in keeping with the best British holiday traditions the rain came down in buckets. Crowds lined the route as the seaside-decorated
Southend AC sprinter Sarah Wilhelmy goes to the world championships believing she has yet to show her true capabilities. The 21-year-old British 100m champion has qualified for Edmonton as part of the eight-strong 4x100m relay squad. But she is frustrated
Braintree Council has stepped in to aid residents of Witham Lodge estate in their bid to protect their green from developers. The 30 luxury homes on the estate are buffered from busy Hatfield Road by the wooded green, which is owned by the district council
The only flames that fireman Danny Russell will be worried about soon are those is in his front room fireplace. For Danny, of Basildon, is about to retire after nearly 25 years service. He began his career in 1976 and has seen plenty of action in London
Police have issued an urgent appeal for witnesses after claims that a young woman was the victim of a serious sexual assault in Thundersley woods. The incident allegedly occurred in West Wood in Rayleigh Road. Officers are particularly keen to speak to
Farmers in Essex have spoken out in support of the £1million compensation payments made to farms hit by the foot-and-mouth crisis. The news came as Essex County Council confirmed it had received £67,000 compensation for slaughtered livestock at the council-owned
An appeal was today (Tuesday) made for help in catching a gang of burglars who ransacked a home and stole precious belongings. A family returned from a day out and found the thieves had been through their home in Pork Lane, Great Holland. It is thought
An elderly woman told how she begged a mugger not to take her handbag moments before he punched her and ran off with it. The robber, thought to be in his late teens or early 20s, ran into the 76-year-old, pushing her to the ground and then punching her
A brave police officer risked being consumed in flames when he stopped a young woman setting fire to herself. Quick-thinking PC Steven Wilson was covered in lighter fluid as he wrestled a cigarette lighter from the woman who had doused herself in the
Two stores have been targeted by burglars within a matter of minutes. The Co-op in Clacton and Safeway petrol station at Little Clacton were broken into in the early hours of this morning. Police were alerted by alarms ringing at Safeway in Centenary
Animal rights protesters carried their message to County Hall in Chelmsford on Thursday. They were objecting to the Essex County Council's pension fund's involvement with the Bank of New York, which also provides services to Cambridgeshire-based Huntingdon
The worst effects of the foot-and-mouth crisis on tourism by visitors from overseas could be over, official figures indicate. The number of foreign visitors to Britain in June this year dipped in comparison to the figure for June 2000, but the rate of
All eyes are on Canvey Island's Dean Macey to see if he can maintain his slender lead in the decathalon in the IAAF World Championships in Edmonton. The athlete has a one point lead on 998 just ahead of rivals Erik Nool and Thomas Dvorak. Macey recorded
All eyes are on Canvey Island's Dean Macey to see if he can maintain his slender lead in the decathalon in the IAAF World Championships in Edmonton. The athlete has a one point lead on 998 just ahead of rivals Erik Nool and Thomas Dvorak. Macey recorded
Steve Whitton is ready to smash Colchester United's transfer fee record for the mystery striker he says will complete his squad for the new season. The U's boss knows who he wants, but is not yet ready to reveal the player's identity or the fee he will
A Colchester man is swapping the bar for the bard as he heads north for a month-long stint on stage at the world-renowned Edinburgh Festival. Drama-mad Neil Hargreaves, who runs the newly-opened Act One bar in Queen Street, is performing with the New
Controversial work to extend a supermarket has been delayed by a year. The Tesco store at Fullbridge in Maldon received permission from district councillors last November to increase the building size and its range of goods. But a spokeswoman for the
Vandals torched a car with a petrol bomb less than three hours after firefighters saved it from destruction. Crews from Grays went to Blackshots Lane, Stifford Clays, just before 8pm on Sunday where a Citroen car was alight following an electrical fault
A Chelmsford student has cycled one hundred miles to raise funds to help build a new school in Uganda. Martyn Cottey, 17, a student at The Sandon School in Molrams Lane, Chelmsford, cycled from Chelmsford to Ipswich and back in 12 hours raising around
European tour blues at the New Crawdaddy Australian blues-rock guitar wizard Gwyn Ashton returns to south Essex this week for a another session of stripped-down, raw blues. Ashton, a classic singer/guitar player in the tradition of the late, great Rory
Volunteers at a Rayleigh charity shop were fuming today (Tuesday) after thieves broke into a storage shed and plundered their stock. The South East Essex Animal Trust shop in Eastwood Road, Rayleigh, raises cash for needy animals in the area but is constantly
Health bosses are undertaking fresh initiatives to attract new doctors to Colchester. While the UK is hit by a shortage of GPs, Colchester currently has just two full-time and two part-time vacancies. But the situation is likely to get worse with doctor
Police officers in Braintree have taken twice as many days off sick as any other division in mid and north Essex. In the past financial year - April 2000 to April 2001 - bobbies on the Braintree beat missed 4,583 days through illness. That adds to more
Colchester-based troops are on standby to be sent to collect weapons in trouble-torn Macedonia. Soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Barney White-Spunner, are on block leave. But many of them are awaiting a call-up to form Britain's
An elderly widow is recovering after falling into a manhole. Catherine Windebank, 77, was walking along Canvey High Street with her sister when she fell into the hole outside the Welcome Inn Chinese takeaway. She stepped on to the lid, which gave way,
Chelmsford's Town Twinning Association is gearing up for its tenth anniversary celebration at the Chelmsford Spectacular in Hylands Park this month. The asssociation is organising an art exhibition displaying works from artists from Chelmsford and its
Fran Williamson, 16, and 17-year-old Darren Swash - both members of Colchester Phoenix Amateur Swimming Club - returned home in triumph after competing over three days at the 2001 World Cerebral Palsy/ ISPA World Games at Nottingham University. The pair
Police are investigating two suspicious blazes at homes in Braintree. Two men have been arrested following the incidents, which are not connected. In the first, a man was rescued from a flat fire in Coldnailhurst Avenue at 11.30am on Friday. Black smoke
Falcon 'A' clinched the top spot in the Chelmsford & District Bowling Association League Division One by beating Chelmsford 7-3 in the penultimate match of the season. It was nip and tuck throughout the 21 ends across all three rinks but Falcon gathered
Police have appealed for witnesses after a youth robbed a woman pushing her bike on the footbridge linking Miles Gray Road to New Waverley Road, over the A127. After a struggle the youth fled with her handbag and £50. He was white, of medium build with
A mother is "incensed" by new signs at Colchester Cemetery barring her from putting a few "personal touches" on her son's grave. Sandra and Kevin Russell's son James died five years ago, aged just 12 days. Since then they, and daughter Rosie, two, have
A major fundraising initiative aimed at boosting money for a new day care centre in Clacton is proving a big hit with residents. When St Helena Hospice was rejected for a £500,000 lottery grant towards its £2.2m project it was a bitter blow. But the hospice
The director of a charity which sends second-hand bikes to Africa has repeated an urgent plea for people to help him run it. Merlin Matthews, who formed West Mersea-bassed Re-Cycle four years ago, says the toll of running the thriving charity on his own
A new recycling centre being built on Canvey will pave the way for the island's own country park, it has been revealed. Work is due to start on the £500,000 state-of-the-art civic amenity site at Waterside Farm next month. County council bosses are funding
Three hundred Colchester troops are taking part in an Army exercise in Canada. The troops, from 19 Regiment Royal Artillery, are spending ten weeks providing artillery support to soldiers from the Welsh Guards and the Royal Staffordshire Regiment during
The south Essex sky will be lit up this week as a meteor shower explodes into a dazzling display of colour. The Perseid meteor shower is recognised as one of the best showers of the year producing large meteors, many of which have long visible trains.
Canvey firefighters broke into a Renault Clio car and rescued a toddler who had locked himself inside at McDonald's car park in Northwick Road. The two-year-old boy, who had just been put into his car seat, used his foot to push down the lock and managed
A superb mirror carp of 22lb put a smile on the face of Lake Meadows regular Chris Potts when he landed a trio of big fish in a short evening session. Chris fished from the point where he tempted a twelve pounder with bread crust shortly after setting
More than 80 per cent of the Ongar public have expressed support for parish council proposals to build a £13,000 BMX and skateboard park in the town. The announcement, at Thursday night's parish meeting in Love Lane, follows a public consultation exercise
Wivenhoe chairman Kevin Foskett watched his hapless troops crash to a 16-0 defeat at the hands of Colchester United Reserves - then placed director of football Frank Thompson in charge of first-team affairs. Former Clacton and Brightlingsea boss Thompson
Billericay's pre-season goal drought continued when they were beaten by Nationwide League Leyton Orient. Facing their second football league opposition in three days on Wednesday night - they lost by the same 2-0 margin to the O's Third Division rivals
Southend United boss David Webb admitted he had no regrets leaving the club his side faced yesterday (Sunday) - Yeovil Town. Webb quit the Huish Park outfit last October to take up the Roots Hall hot-seat for a third time and he said he has never looked
A windsurfer sparked a 40-minute rescue operation when he disappeared from a group of friends. The 47-year-old man was found one-and-a-half miles offshore from Thorney Bay, Canvey at around 5.50pm on Saturday. Converted for the new archive on 19 November
Make them more visible. That was the resounding cry of Echo readers. Out of the 128 calls received by the Echo phoneline, 115 readers wanted police speed cameras to be more visible, while just 13 callers thought they should be hidden. In north Essex,
Ipswich lost their pre-season friendly to PSV Eindhoven at Portman Road. The match was Town's only home pre-season match and saw the visitors score through £11m defender Kevin Hofland and Arnold Bruggink. Town were able to hold the Dutch champions to
Nasser Hussain intends to step out on the comeback trail at Halstead tomorrow (Wednesday). The England cricket captain is due to have a net tomorrow and if he comes through that without problems, he will turn out for Essex in the second XI clash against
All eyes are on Canvey Island's Dean Macey to see if he can maintain his slender lead in the decathalon in the IAAF World Championships in Edmonton. The athlete has a one point lead on 998 just ahead of rivals Erik Nool and Thomas Dvorak. Macey recorded
Victoria Simpson and Stephanie Cornish both members of the Billericay tennis club won titles at the Huggett Gregg & Co 55th Essex Open Junior Tennis tournament at Gidea Park last week. Victoria won a hat-trick of titles, the 14 girls singles and doubles
City entertained a visiting team from Connecticut USA on Sunday and looked slightly the better of the two teams during the opening quarter of an hour, their good passing moves being thwarted by a hard working opposing defence. City's first goalscoring
A former Gazette man is set to cycle 124 miles to raise cash for cancer research - after getting the bike buzz by watching too much Tour de France on telly. Jim Clayton is hoping to raise more than £500 for the Cancer Research Campaign by riding to his
Residents in a Colchester road are appealing for a clean-up in a lane near their homes. They claim the condition of Land Lane, off East Hill, is deteriorating daily with obscene graffiti and dumped rubbish rapidly making it an eyesore. One resident, who
It was business as usual today (Tuesday) for beach trader Gary Grange who has whipped up controversy by giving away ice creams from a hut in Frinton. The 42-year-old is locked in battle with Tendring Council in a David and Goliath struggle. Mr Grange
Police are hunting a gang of white men who threatened and screamed racist abuse at a man queueing in McDonald's. The 38-year-old Asian man was waiting at the fast food restaurant, at Chelmsford Road, on the Mountnessing roundabout, when the incident happened
An animal sanctuary in Brentwood facing an uncertain future is appealing for the public to show their support at its open day. The Hopefield Animal Sanctuary is appealing for as many people as possible to come along and enjoy the fun at its open day on
A Witham factory which makes food flavourings is to close with the loss of 36 jobs. International Flavours and Fragrances will close its production facility at Colchester Road in December 2002 after a 90-day global review of the company. The firm employs
Schools around Colchester are bearing the brunt of the holidays as vandals go on wrecking sprees in the empty buildings. Several schools across the area have been the target of attacks and burglaries. The latest to fall foul of vandals was Thomas, Lord
Lottery bosses have once again snubbed the Palace Theatre in Westcliff, it was revealed today (Tuesday). The Arts Council refused an appeal for £250,000 to stage bigger and better quality productions at the London Road theatre. The bid was originally
Two muggers were found guilty by a jury of beating and stabbing a man to steal his mobile phone. The thugs, already each serving seven-year prison terms for armed robbery, almost killed 34-year-old Nigel Beale. He was rushed to Basildon Hospital where
A gun-wielding robber made off with cash and phone cards during a raid early today (Tuesday) at a service station. The man, who was wearing a balaclava, struck just after 3am at the 24-hour BP-owned Station Service Station in West Street, Rochford. He
Five men denied being involved in a massive arms dealing operation. Leslie Wassell, of Sweet Briar Farm, Thundersely, was one of the five arrested earlier this year over an alleged weapons sale. Also accused are James Love, 53, of Blackmore, Steve Franks
Britain's biggest supermarket will be sentenced at crown court for a landmark case after 146 trolleys were found in a stretch of Essex river. Tesco Stores admitted two charges of causing noxious, poisonous or polluting matter to enter controlled waters
