Cheers, Dean! Delighted regulars at the Haystack pub, Canvey, backed their home-grown hero to the hilt as he raced to a bronze medal at the World Championships. Though he was far away in Canada clinching his medal, they felt the international sports supremo
Developers are going back to the drawing board after their controversial scheme to regenerate a former town shipyard was thrown out. Hampstead Homes (London) wanted to build 181 residential units, a marina, shops, leisure club and cafe at Waterside, Brightlingsea
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
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
Volunteers at a Rayleigh charity shop were fuming yesterday (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
Football-mad youngsters picked up tips from the experts at Colchester United's annual soccer camp. The club's first team players turned out at Essex University's sports complex to help 200 girls and boys, aged four to 14. Running for five days, the course
Colchester United's footballers enjoyed a welcome break from the rigours of pre-season training today (Wednesday) to play in the club's annual Golf Day at Stoke-by-Nayland. With the League kick-off only three days away U's boss Steve Whitton reported
FinidiGeorge is set to be unveiled as an Ipswich Town player tomorrow (Thursday) - despite reports his transfer had been put on hold. Real Mallorca were thought to have delayed the move because they had not received proof Ipswich have sufficient funds
Braintree have won their derby clash with fierce rivals Witham. The Iron comfortably won the match 4-1 at Spa Road on Tuesday night. Three quick goals from the visitors were enough for victory with Robbie Reinelt and Nicky Simpson among the scorers. In
Dean Macey set a new personal best in Edmonton to claim the bronze decathlon medal. It was a step back from the silver the Canvey athlete won at the World Championships in Seville two years ago. But the 23-year-old was not complaining too much as he fought
New signing Kevin Rapley believes his move to Colchester United has given his soccer career a new lease of life. "It was never in doubt that I was going to sign, but there were a few loose ends to tie up with Notts County because I still had a year left
Tributes have been paid by the family of a young chef after he lost an 18-month fight against cancer. Philip Bird, 22, who during his career worked in the kitchens of Colchester Military Corrective Training Centre for a year, was diagnosed as having Hodgkin's
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
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
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,
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
It was business as usual yesterday (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
Premiership side Charlton Athletic are set to pay FA Umbro Trophy winners Canvey Island a tremendous compliment by sending down a squad containing six players with first team experience for tonight's (Wednesday's) Park Lane friendly. Best known among
Witham Town have lost both of their pre-season friendlies played during the last week. On Saturday, they lost 3-0 at Clacton Town and it was one of the old players who did the damage as Mitchell Springett scored two of the goals and put Bobby Mayes through
Digging up the past has never been more popular. All 80 places on an archeology course run by Essex County Council experts have been taken up by students from all over the country, including one from New Zealand. And their work as they dig Dovehouse field
A plan for a new £500,000 sports pavilion at Springfield Hall Park has been agreed in principle by Chelmsford borough councillors. Executive member for arts and leisure, Cllr Ian Roberts, told the executive board on Wednesday that the present pavilion
Lottery bosses have once again snubbed the Palace Theatre in Westcliff, it has been revealed. 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 rejected by
Proud Brightlingsea youngster Ashley Lister had his 15 minutes of fame when he got to personally wish the Queen Mother a happy 101st birthday. His special chat with the popular Royal made him the envy of thousands, who had queued overnight to see her.
The Essex Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has welcomed two new publications. It says the independent Company Law Review and the Insolvency White Paper will help small businesses. One of the Company Law Review's recommendations is to raise the threshold
Champagne corks were popping after two holes in one were scored during Thorpe Hall Golf Club's Captain's Mixed Foursomes. Wendy Jones holed out on the 111-yard 13th and Pat Elmore repeated the feat on the 165-yard 16th. To celebrate and to start the evening's
Southend United youngster Daniel Webb hopes his goal in the 1-1 Roots Hall friendly draw with Gillingham will keep him in Blues' starting line-up. The 18-year-old striker bagged his fifth pre-season goal against the First Division outfit during the first-half
Sea Cadets from Colchester had the chance to be heard on radio when an outside broadcast was transmitted from their training headquarters. BBC Essex presenters Steve Scruton and Ian Wyatt, with Renee Hockley-Byam, were at TS Colne Light moored at The
Volunteers at a Rayleigh charity shop were fuming 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 targeted
Shoebury golfer Richard McEvoy flew out on Saturday hoping to bring back amateur golf's greatest prize to British shores from America knowing that it is literally a once in a lifetime opportunity for himself. For, on his return home from hopefully helping
Darren Robinson came to Essex's rescue after they were made to follow on against Leicestershire in their County Championship match. Chasing a total of 559 at Chelmsford, Essex made 356 in reply and despite a century each from Robinson and Stuart Law it
In the end it boiled down to a question of class. Just as they have flexed their muscles and routed lesser opposition this summer, Ipswich Town received a taste of their own pre-season medicine. And with the Blues' return to Europe now just five weeks
Ipswich Town left hosts Dublin City shell-shocked after winning 5-0 including a hat-trick from Richard Naylor. Naylor scored both Town's first half goals at Tolka Park adding a third shortly after the restart. Marcus Stewart added a fourth and Jermaine
Canvey Island athlete Dean Macey has taken bronze in the decathlon at the IAAF World Championships in Edmonton. The 23-year-old fought off a groin injury to stay in contention with the Czech Republic's Tomas Dvorak after holding a slender one point lead
The Foresters Essex Senior League have announced their opening day fixtures for the new campaign, which starts on August 18. A south Essex derby sees Southend Manor taking on Bowers United at home. Elsewhere, Basildon United host newcomers Enfield Town
Firebugs damaged steps and cushions at the Thurrock Harriers' track, Blackshots, Grays, in the early hours of yesterday (Tuesday) morning. Firefighters from Grays went to the scene shortly after 2am to find the observation tower steps on the inside of
Staff from Travelcare in Chelmsford are walking from Tollesbury to Tolleshunt D'Arcy and back as part of a national campaign to raise funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care. Their efforts will be part of an overall initiative by Travelcare's 360 branches around
A £50,000 quad biking operation has been set up in a quiet village, five months after the first plans were abandoned. The scheme is being run on a temporary basis, while full permission is sought. The idea was first unveiled in January in a bid to bring
A new service for people with mental health problems has been launched in Thurrock. MP Andrew Mackinlay was at the Thurrock Mind centre in Bridge Road, Grays, to launch its new advocacy service. Its aim is to help people in mental distress stand up for
A new website will allow a Colchester shipping company's customers to track their cargoes around the world. Wallis Shipping's sister company Dominion IT Solutions - www.dii.co.uk - has designed the website, which will later offer customers passwords to
A six-year-old boy suffered a broken leg and bruising after a frightening trials bike crash. The youngster from Kiln Road, Thunderlsey, collided with a 17-year-old motorcyclist from Rayleigh during the accident in Dartford, Kent. Both boys were riding
Colchester looks set for one of the busiest tourism seasons ever. But it could be two years before exact visitor numbers to the town are available. Apart from bustling town centre shopping and swarms of day-trippers at the town's varied attractions, the
Boxer Frank Bruno is set to finally divorce from his wife of 11 years. The boxer, who lives in the Brentwood area, has hit national headlines recently talking of his wife Laura's constant moaning. It is claimed he went on BBC's Celebrity Sleepover - where
Burnham Lifeboat crew are urging river and sea users to be prepared after a weekend of incidents and changeable weather. The crew were called out to seven separate vessels, starting with a 24 foot yacht with three crew on board who became stranded at
A sex shop has finally got an official licence - making it the second of its type in the same Colchester road. Last night (Tuesday), Colchester Council's licensing and appeals committee granted Jon Morss a sex establishment licence to open the Adult Private
The beast of Essex has been spotted in the county for the first time since the foot-and-mouth crisis, with the latest sighting near Felsted. The large greyish-black cat-like creature was seen by Debbie Lowe and Barry Hasler, 35, as they were driving towards
Police praised the quick actions of a landowner and court officials after a large band of travellers were evicted from an industrial estate in less than 24 hours. Around 15 caravans and 15 other vehicles set up camp outside a unit owned by Rochford Mouldings
A family doctor from Colchester has been named as one of a handful nationwide still prescribing single dose measles, mumps and rubella vaccines. Dr Christopher Parry said he would continue to offer single doses via a private practice rather than face
Bus firm First Thamesway needs to put its foot on the accelerator and deliver faster improvement to services in Brentwood. That was the message this week from Brentwood Bus Task Force chairman, borough councillor David Kendall. Cllr Kendall said the bus
Rookie Southend United goalkeeper Daniel Gay is hoping to extend his stay at Roots Hall. The 19-year-old shot-stopper linked up with Blues for pre-season training in July after being released by First Division Norwich City. And the teenager, who was given
Harwich's anticipated port expansion has won support from councillors. After discussions with port bosses and environmental action groups, Harwich Town Council agreed to support the major development at Bathside Bay in principle. Councillors gave their
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
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
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
French international Amara Simba took just three minutes to display the goal touch Billericay Town have been so sadly lacking in their pre-season friendly campaign. Simba, 39, who scored the FA Umbro Trophy winner for Kingstonian the season before last
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
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
An appeal has gone out 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 they disturbed
Burglars broke into a Kirby pensioner's home and stole his savings and jewellery which belonged to his late wife. They entered the house in Quay Lane, Kirby, through the back door and ransacked the 79-year-old's bedroom. The man returned from a morning
A dad thas told how his two-year-old son was left traumatised when a brick hurled by thugs shattered the windscreen of his car. Police said it was only by sheer luck that the youngster and his father were not seriously hurt, or even killed, when the half-brick
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
A gun-wielding robber made off with cash and phone cards during a raid early yesterday (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
Police were called to Madeira Avenue, Leigh, where 23-year-old David Nicklas was shouting and swearing in the street outside his house, a court heard. Nicklas was approached by the officers who discovered a strong smell of alcohol on his breath, prosecutor
After 30 years of fighting fires, Braintree's station officer David Mayes has taken his last drill. Mr Mayes will be retiring tomorrow (Thursday), as he turns 55, the retirement age for firefighters. On Monday night, he attended his final drill of the
Essex motorists can expect to see a hike in car insurance premiums following a change to the way personal injury claims are calculated. Motor actuary firm English Matthews Brockman said motorists could see the cost of their policies rise by 2.3 per cent
Southend United clocked up a comfortable 2-0 pre-season win at Dr Marten's League Premier Division Cambridge City. Right-back Martyn Booty shot the Shrimpers into a first-half lead from the penalty spot after a Jason Harris cross had been handled in the
Residents campaigning for speed humps on a Braintree estate are getting organised. At a public meeting at Goldingham Hall last night (Tuesday), residents living near Skitts Hill agreed to form a tenants' group to push for speed humps. About 45 people
Staff from the Essex Nuffield Hospital have been helping to market real ale as part of a project at St Martin's School in Hutton. Business development manager, Sarah Larkham, from the Shenfield Road hospital, was acting as a business advisor to year 12
Nasser Hussain intends to step out on the comeback trail at Halstead today (Wednesday). The England cricket captain was due to have a net today and if he comes through that without problems, he will turn out for Essex in their second XI clash against
Billericay Town Supporters Association have launched a bond scheme to raise funds for the club. The organisation want to raise around £7,500 to cover the team's travelling costs and ground developments this campaign. The cost is £90 for the season spread
The plight of a young muscular dystrophy sufferer has so touched the hearts of restaurant staff that they are brushing aside their fears to take part in a bungee jump. More than 50 members of two Beefeater restaurant staff will be raising money for a
It was business as usual today (Wednesday) for firms in south Essex despite the UK's manufacturing sector slip into recession. Official Government figures revealed that although manufacturing output rose slightly in June, it fell by two per cent over
Arsonists set fire to an abandoned car on Canvey - and accidentally ignited another vehicle nearby. Two crews were sent to the scene of the blaze, in St Agnes Drive. Sub-officer Richard Norris said: "They may have thought they were doing the community
Canvey today (Wednesday) celebrated the glory reaped by their very own superstar. Bob Spink, Castle Point's MP, said: "We are all tremendously proud of Dean and I have been following it closely. The whole of Britain is proud of him, and if it had not
The parents of missing schoolgirl Danielle Jones joined officers to deliver thousands of leaflets in East Tilbury - seven weeks since the couple last saw their beloved daughter. In the pamphlets Linda Jones has published a handwritten message thanking
Essex Police have launched a double investigation into the circumstances surrounding surgery at two Essex hospitals. The investigation will look into the circumstances surrounding the death of nine-year-old Tony Clowes at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford
A young woman was headbutted while her friend was indecently assaulted in a "completely unprovoked attack" after a night out clubbing. In what police have described as a "disturbing and unusual" attack, one of the women had her top pulled up and was indecently
A new screening campaign to raise awareness about osteoporosis is being supported by Chelmsford Borough Council. The council is planning to host regular osteoporosis testing sessions at the Civic Centre, starting on August 21. The sessions will be run
A gun-wielding robber made off with cash and £1,000 worth of phone cards during a raid at a service station. The man, who was wearing a balaclava, struck just after 3am yesterday (Tuesday) at the 24-hour BP-owned service station in West Street, Rochford
