Southend Hockey Club experienced the highs and lows of competitive play during a weekend of mixed results. The first team beat West Herts 3-2 on Saturday to push themselves into the top quarter of the Printwize South Division Two thanks to a brace from
Property developer Martin Dawn has been frozen out of its third land deal in as many weeks. Essex County Council has agreed to sell a prime piece of Benfleet land to Castle Point Council rather than Billericay-based Martin Dawn. Ron Martin, chairman of
Peter Taylor has turned down a return for a second spell at Southend United to manage Brighton and Hove Albion. The former England Under-21 coach decided yesterday (Wednesday) to join the Second Division outfit instead of his former team. Southend had
Racist taunts were hurled at rival players during a Braintree Town Football Club's match, it is claimed. Allegations made on the message board of an unofficial website dedicated to the Cressing Road side, said the abuse happened during the 3-2 win over
An assault charge against Southend United player Tes Bramble has been dropped. The 21-year-old had been due to appear for a trial next month after an alleged incident at Ipswich nightclub, Liquid, on Feburary 4 this year. Yesterday (Wednesday), at South
A new £500,000 national call centre opens its doors for business in Colchester yesterday (Wednesday). Bunzl Vending Services's(BVS) new call centre, in Brunel Way, on the Severalls Industrial Estate, Colchester, will employ 20 communication specialists
Doctors in Chelmsford have supported a primary care group's move to become a trust. At present it is a sub-committee of the North Essex Health Authority comprising a partnership of local GP surgeries together with representatives from social services
Canvey Island 2-0 Maidenhead (Ryman League Premier Division) Two goals from attack leader Neil Gregory allowed Canvey to move smoothly into second place in the Ryman League Premier Division table. The Gulls are two points behind top dogs Braintree with
A new Corporate Partners Scheme has been launched to strengthen the support companies can show for Little Haven Childrens Hospice. So far a total of 14 companies have signed up for the scheme so far and have already become involved in fundraising initiatives
A loving mother this week paid tribute to two remarkable children who are helping her through a living nightmare. Tragic mother Kerri Emptage, whose sons Ricky, Lewis and Jack perished in a house fire, says she would still be in the darkest depths of
The widow of an alleged murder victim has told how he had been given a second chance of life after a heart attack five months ago. Ironically, Ronald Dennis was certified dead on arrival at Southend Hospital - but was resuscitated by medics. However,
A major new Canvey festival could take the island by storm next year. The summer fiesta would replace the former Canvey Carnival which stopped last year after a 75-year run. The new event, which is hoped to rival neighbouring Southend Carnival, will be
Post for swathes of Essex was delayed after sorting office workers feared anthrax was leaking from a parcel. But police yesterday (Wednesday) said the chances of the county being targeted were minimal and there was no need for panic. In the wake of current
Canvey Island Swimming Club amassed 73 medals, including 14 gold, 14 silver and nine bronze, at the Harlow Open. They eventually finished second behind a strong Romford squad, but ahead of hosts Harlow and Borough of Southend. Paul Barauskas claimed six
Essex has netted a £65,000 grant which should help in a bid to put the county on the seafood map. Work has been going on behind the scenes to develop an Essex for Seafood brand to promote the county as a first-class place to produce, buy and enjoy seafood
A 19-year-old woman with leukaemia, who put her life at risk to have a baby, has made a desperate plea for a bone marrow donor. Kelly Byrne needs to find a donor so she can have a bone marrow transplant to fight off the cancer. She is determined to do
This is south Essex student Talaal Omer, who police fear may have been the victim of racist killers. His body was pulled from the Regent's Canal in east London and although a postmortem revealed he died from drowning, detectives are treating his death
The UK's largest PC manufacturer is bringing dozens of new jobs to Essex. Tiny Computers has agreed a deal with the nationwide Powerhouse electrical firm, for 140 showrooms to open its stores across the country. Seven stores in Essex, including ones in
A woman police officer feared she had contracted anthrax when she was covered with a white powder by a would-be mugger, it has been revealed. The 50-year-old officer was taken to Basildon Hospital as fire decontamination officers stood by in case the
A woman claims she lost out on a £136,130 lottery win because of a mistake by a shop operator. Elaine Clark, of Fairhead Road, St Anne's, Colchester, bought two tickets as usual from Alldays store in nearby Harwich Road. But it was only after realising
Grounded: The plane at Southend Airport Cocaine worth £32million was seized at Southend Airport in Britain's largest ever drugs haul. Customs officers swooped on a Boeing 707 aircraft after suitcases were thrown from its cargo door as it taxied on the
The playground at Bradfield Primary School has had a facelift to add an extra dimension to lunch breaks. A colourful selection of paintings have been drawn onto the ground surface to provide pupils with a variety of games and puzzles. Student councillors
Keys to a restored artisan's cottage in Maldon will be handed over on November 2. The 1830s weather-boarded cottage at the rear of the High Street has been restored by the Mid Essex Historic Buildings Trust during the past six months. It will be handed
A mother-of-four has told of her fears after her eight-year-old son found a used drugs syringe outside their family home. Samantha Smith says it is only a matter of time before an unsuspecting child's life is "ruined" by touching a dirty needle. Ms Smith
Security guards are to patrol a Southend estate to help police tackle drugs. The radical move is part of a new project being launched next month on the Woodgrange estate - formerly known as the Kursaal. Covert operations will also be carried out by the
A coach carrying passengers on a trip to the theatre was in a drama of its own when it was involved in an accident with a van. It happened near roadworks at Wix Road on the A120 just outside Dovercourt at about 2.30pm yesterday (Wednesday). A police spokeswoman
A new medical centre for East Bergholt could mean the village getting its first pedestrian crossing. A crossing or other road safety measures are among the conditions imposed by Babergh councillors before giving the go-ahead for the two-storey Heath Road
Patioents seeking Bupa private healthcare checks will have to travel to Brentwood or Norwich from next month. Colchester's Oaks Hospital will not be offering Bupa Wellness assessments from November 1, because the insurance giant is withdrawing its health-screening
Fire crews and police raced to a car which hit a tree and burst into flames last night (Wednesday). They were told petrol had spilled from the vehicle after the crash and caught light and people were possibly trapped inside. But when they got to the scene
Westwood Karate Club saw its members win two national championship titles and one bronze in the English Karate Governing Body children's championships at Crystal Palace. Gold medal winners were Craig Suckling (boys 13-15 years brown belt) and Kimberley
It's a case of happiness begins at home for south Essex teams still competing in this season's AXA sponsored FA Cup. Both Billericay Town and Canvey Island have been drawn to host Dr Martens League Premier Division sides in the fourth qualifying round
David Gildersleve of the Falcon Indoor Bowling Club in Chelmsford represented England for the first timelast weekendat the Victory Indoor Bowling Club in Portsmouth. In a very tight triples match and with the scores level, everything depended on the last
Giant Walsall target man Brett Angell and young West Ham striker Richard Garcia have turned down the chance of a move to Colchester United. U's boss Steve Whitton revealed on Monday that his attempts to bring the two players to Layer Road on loan had
Pictured with one of the boards is Maldon District Council chairman Penny Channer with Terry Hogarth from Hutton Construction. New boards to illustrate the history of the area around Friars Gate alleyway and library in Maldon were unveiled last week The
There was a hectic end-of-season for members of the Dunmow Bowling Club which finished on a high note recently with the annual dinner and prize presentations before they took to the floor to music from Kid Tidiman's New Orleans Jazz Band. The dinner,
John McGreal and Alun Armstrong were injury doubts for today's (Thursday's) UEFA Cup second round first leg tie with Helsingborgs at Portman Road. Both had aggravated back injuries they suffered last week but hoped to be fit in time for the match, which
Chelmsford City will be left to wonder what could have been after Harlow progressed in the FA Cup, beating the visitors 3-0. Despite being reduced to ten men in the first half after Marvin Samuel was sent off for a second bookable offence, Harlow made
Peter Taylor has turned down a return for a second spell at Southend United to manage Brighton and Hove Albion. The former England Under-21 coach decided yesterday (Wednesday) to join the Second Division outfit instead of his former team. Southend had
Thorpe Hall's bid to reach the final of the Essex Scratch League competition ended when they were beaten at Ilford by Channels in the semis. Channels now go on to meet West Essex in the final, being staged at Thorpe Hall on Sunday. Thorpe went down 3-
Property developer Martin Dawn has been frozen out of its third land deal in as many weeks. Essex County Council has agreed to sell a prime piece of Benfleet land to Castle Point Council rather than Billericay-based Martin Dawn. Ron Martin, chairman of
Watch out Tiger Woods - pupils at St Benedict's College could soon be hot on your heels out on the fairways. In a change to the traditional football, hockey, rugby and netball, year eleven pupils will be practising their driving and putting skills during
Controversial plans to allow people to live all-year-round at a Canvey beach park have narrowly been agreed. However, the decision has angered campaigners who fear it spells bad news for the town's tourist industry. Castle Point councillors battled over
Terry and Humphrey are enjoying a feast of new fresh grass - but their appetites have not won favour with everyone. The sheep have been enjoying grazing among the gravestones in St Mary's churchyard, Little Bromley. Now leaflets have gone out asking those
A Brentwood restaurateur is planning to raise diners' eyebrows by adding crocodile and kangaroo to his menu. Matthew Mason, who runs Mason's Restaurant and Bar, says that diners have been jumping over each other to sample pan-fried strips of kangaroo
A heavily pregnant woman was today (Thursday) recovering in hospital after being assaulted by a burglar in her home. The 27-year-old woman found the intruder in the house in Kiln Road, Benfleet. When she confronted him, he assaulted her, grabbed some
A new independent mediation service has been launched for the Chelmsford and Colchester area. Essex Mediation has been established by an experienced team to offer an impartial environment for people who are divorcing or separating to negotiate issues
Staff from Plume Housing Association based at Heybridge have raised more than £4,500 for charity after bleaching their hair blond and taking part in fundraising activities Jason Amos, Steve Welch, Lee Brace and Shane Everitt and Dave Weightman, second
Overseas teachers brought into Essex to plug classroom gaps are already packing their bags, education chiefs have admitted. Iris Pummell, Essex County Council's cabinet member for education and learning services, said headteachers were already reporting
Vandals have daubed Mistley's famous swans with paint. The swans which grace the River Stour have been painted in gold, red and turquoise. Alex Smith, of Swans in Need, said: "At first I thought perhaps some paint had been spilled from one of the ships
Essex Police have warned that anthrax hoaxers would be hunted down after eight alerts across the county. They also appealed for calm in the wake of the panic which has followed the confirmation of anthrax cases in the US. Hundreds of workers were evacuated
A 34-year-old Chelmsford woman rescued from the bedroom of her smoke filled home at the weekend praised Chelmsford firefighters...and a burglar alarm for saving her life. "The fire brigade were brilliant - and I also have the alarm fitted by the previous
WORKERS at Marconi in Chelmsford were today due to find out if their jobs were safe Union leaders were today meeting executives from the troubled telecommunications company to discuss the wave of redundancies announced by the company and to protest at
The Witham and Braintree Citizens Advice Bureaux could merge. Cllr Robert Evans (Lab, North) told a Witham Town Council meeting that the two organisations had been in talks with each other and were considering teaming up. The Witham CAB's annual grant
An angry businessman is threatening to sue Anglian Water over its pollution leak into the River Crouch. Roy Hart, who owns a ski shop in Battlesbridge, has accused the water company and Government watchdog the Environment Agency of "playing down" the
Diver Mark Girdlestone has returned after helping to lift a stricken Russian nuclear submarine from the seabed. During the dangerous operation, his eardrums were burst after an underwater explosion. Mr Girdlestone, of Brightlingsea, was part of an £80m
Dozens of teaching posts in Essex advertised last year are still unfilled according to delegates at a union conference. Representatives of teachers union National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) in East Anglia met to discuss
The brother of a man allegedly beaten up by three doormen at a Southend nightclub told a court he was threatened with more of the same when he tried to protect him. Russell Bellamy said that he approached bouncers at Baker's Bar, in Alexandra Street,
A list of important decisions affecting Tendring has been published - but gives little away. Tendring Council's new cabinet-style of local government has held its first meeting in private. As a result it has now published a Forward Plan, a list of key
Tendring is still one of the safest places to live in Essex, according to new crime figures. Officers have had major success in reducing house burglaries, but still aim to do better. Chief Insp Craig Robertson said burglaries were down by ten per cent
A popular newspaper vendor at Leigh train station has been told to quit his post. Rail firm c2c has refused to renew Wilfred Raleigh's lease and has instead opted for another company to take over his news stand. Michael Buchereau has sold papers on behalf
A middle-aged woman is recovering after being knocked to the ground as a street robber pounced. The robbery took place in Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff when she was crossing a railway bridge. The attacker grabbed the woman's handbag and caused her to fall
A man who lost his job almost four months ago is celebrating after scooping £500,000 on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Peter Spyrides, from Hutton, near Brentwood, was the fifth contestant to win half a million pounds in the three-year history of the
Kevin Maher backed Rob Newman to become Southend United's next manager after the caretaker boss steered Blues to a 4-2 Roots Hall win over Swansea City on Saturday. Central midfielder Maher converted two penalties as the Shrimpers netted four second-half
Southend United put four past Stevenage Borough as they progressed to the second round of the LDV Vans Trophy. The Blues were three up in 26 minutes on Monday as they asserted their superiority over their opponents with goals from Tesfaye Bramble, Mark
In a disjointed display, Chelmsford Hockey Club opened their Division One campaign with a disappointing defeat at St Albans on Sunday. The start of the game was delayed for an hour as umpire Leo de Salis failed to arrive, although the teams and spectators
Cold, hard facts just do not lie. Colchester United are going to have to tighten up at the back or they face the danger of losing every match. The slipshod U's defence simply threw this game away by gifting Blackpool's two-goal hero Brett Ormerod a vital
Alun Armstrong chose to focus on the positives after Ipswich Town's 0-0 draw with Everton at Portman Road on Saturday. A close-fought contest ended in stalemate as the Blues kept their first clean sheet of the season. Armstrong said: "We've got to use
Canvey firefighters were called to a fire in the bedroom of a house in St Christophers Close. A fire spokesman said a bed burst into flames. Nobody was hurt. Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost
RSPCA officers today appealed for information after they rescued a puppy left to die in a Shoebury park. The nine-month-old black and white cross-breed was found tied to a post in Gunners Park, in Ness Road, Shoebury. His owner failed to return and the
Parents in Basildon have lost their five-year campaign after a top-level report rejected calls for a new secondary school in the town. The Essex County Council study, ordered by education cabinet member Iris Pummell, concluded that enough school places
A major scheme to upgrade tidal defences off Frinton and Holland-on-Sea is on target to start later this month. Tenders for the £1.2m project were returned at the end of September and applications have been made for marine licences and consents for the
A new footpath is to be opened in an Army training area. The four-mile walk across Friday Wood in Colchester has been created by the Ministry of Defence. There is information at the start of the walk which tells walkers about the flora along the route
Hindus across Southend have stepped up their search to find a permanent place of worship. For 30 years, leaders of the Southend Hindu Association have been seeking a large building in the town to convert into a temple. The nearest is in London, which
Southend United's supporters club trust are taking travel bookings for Blues' next two Third Division trips to York City and Scunthorpe. The Shrimpers hit the road to York this Saturday and the coach will depart Asda in Shoebury at 8am. Seats are £20
This is south Essex student Talaal Omer, who police fear may have been the victim of racist killers. His body was pulled from the Regent's Canal in east London and although a postmortem revealed he died from drowning, detectives are treating his death
Council chiefs are holding crisis talks after the Tilbury to Gravesend Ferry management closed down its operation for good on Tuesday. The move followed strikes by six employees from Saturday to Tuesday, in protest at not being paid wages and redundancy
Babysitter Alan Wagg is planning to flee the Basildon area after being cleared by a jury of breaking a little boy's leg. Mr Wagg, who could not explain the five-month-old Rayleigh baby's injury, had become the target of a hate poster campaign in the town
Members of a disabled swimming club will be left high and dry if vital equipment cannot be found. Blackwater Barracudas Club must move from Maldon's Blackwater Leisure Centre during development work there next year. And the group's search for a new venue
Four men have today (Thursday) been charged with drug smuggling offences after cocaine worth £32m was seized at Southend Airport. The men were from Somerset, North Yorkshire, West Sussex, and Lagos, Nigeria. Customs officers were still questioning a Serb
A list of important decisions affecting Tendring has been published - but gives little away. Tendring Council's new cabinet-style of local government has held its first meeting in private. As a result it has now published a Forward Plan, a list of key
Staff from Plume Housing Association based at Heybridge have raised more than £4,500 for charity after bleaching their hair blond and taking part in fundraising activities. Jason Amos, Steve Welch, Lee Brace and Shane Everitt and Dave Weightman, second
Martial arts enthusiasts from across Europe flocked to the seaside as Clacton Judo Club staged their second international festival. More than 400 juniors, seniors and veterans took part in the showpiece event at the town's leisure centre. Fighting talk
Teenage French wizard Thomas Pinault has followed Joe Keith and signed a new contract with Colchester United. Former AS Cannes midfielder Pinault has agreed a new deal that will keep him at Layer Road until July 31, 2004. The 19-year-old said: "I have
Essex are planning another day-night clash at Colchester's Castle Park next year. They will play Gloucestershire on August 27. They will also stage a floodlit game at Chelmsford for the first time against Middlesex on July 22. More information about Essex
Boxes containing proposals which will transform both the north side of Colchester and the future of football in the town have been handed to planning officers today (Thursday). It was a case of next stop Lexden Grange, as a double decker bus packed with
by STUART FORSYT Design of first phse gomDetails of development's first phase shows how it will loounveileof developmenHomes design gets approveof new homes approveNew homes architect's drawings showing how homes will lookHomes design get approveGggggg
South Woodham Ferrers player Neil Hitchens picked up a top trophy at the Essex Junior Squash Championships. The Club Woodham member won the under-17 boys title at the event, which was held at Harlow Sports Centre. Neil's success came a year after he won
Chelmsford councillors are being recommended to give the go-ahead for a five storey office building with surface and basement car parking at the junction of Parkway and New London Road, Chelmsford. The borough council's planning committee is being told
A £750,000 boost could be coming to Maldon in recognition of a school's special artistic talents. The Plume School is to apply for specialist status in music, art and drama which could land it supporting payments over the next four years. Headteacher
New boards to illustrate the history of the area around Friars Gate alleyway and library in Maldon were unveiled last week. The boards use large-scale drawings to illustrate the history of the area occupied since Saxon times. The site includes what was
Workmen treating timber in a Rayleigh church were amazed to find a 17th century shoe tucked into the rafters. The find, in Holy Trinity Church, is thought to be the historical equivalent to a "Fred was here" message from craftsmen of old. The tiny shoe
IT is like coming home for the new head of a primary school. For David Silver, who this term took up the headship of the Holy Family RC Primary School in Maltings Lane, Witham, already has strong links with the establishment. He taught at Holy Family
by JENNY ANDREW A MAN who has made 17 complaints about the post in the last 18 months was given the telephone number of the chairman of Consignia. But when he rang the London number to seek an answer to his complaints, he was put through to Dr Neville
A shocked mum and her three young children had a narrow escape after a car smashed through their garden wall and careered towards their house. Tina Clark, 35, was in the kitchen of their home at Grasmere Gardens, Frinton, when the car shot through the
Youngsters got wise on the subject of owls when one came to their nursery. Children at the Woodlands Lodge Nursery, Coach Road, Great Horkesley, learned all about the nocturnal bird of prey as part of a topic on night and day. A tawny owl was brought
An aviation watchdog has dropped an investigation involving a millionaire businessman who was accused of dropping 20,000 leaflets over Castle Point. The Civil Aviation Authority spent four months probing allegations that businessman Terry Holding dropped
Charitable Chelmsford people gave 44 tons of food in just five weeks for a mercy mission to Eastern Europe. The 2,800 boxes of food aid have all been donated as part of this year's Harvest for the Hungry campaign and were donated by 36 churches and 32
Another football pitch for the town is being called for by a Maldon councillor. Paul Rew (Lab, Maldon East) has said a central piece of land must be handed over to the community, as outlined by the draft local plan from Maldon District Council. Primrose
The idea of a town centre manager for Braintree has received strong support from town centre traders. Russell Everard, Braintree Council economic development manager, who raised the idea at the Braintree Area Forum last night, said Braintree Town Centre
The future of the Thameside complex in Grays is still in doubt - but the councillor responsible for the building says he promises to do all he can to keep it or all the services it provides going. It was in November last year that it was revealed the
RSPCA officers have appealed for information after they rescued a puppy left to die in a Shoebury park. The nine-month-old black and white cross-breed was found tied to a post in Gunners Park, in Ness Road, Shoebury. His owner failed to return and the
Campaigners have welcomed Basildon Zoo's decision to stop keeping dangerous animals. The business, run by the Surcouf family in London Road, Vange, will lose its "zoo status" from November 12, meaning the rehousing of its big cat collection. Basildon
Thirteen guards, fresh out of training school, were being sent out on to the frontline by c2c today (Thursday), in an effort to boost strike-hit services. The firm was reacting to a sixth 24-hour strike by the Rail, Maritime and Transport union on the
A major £100m redevelopment is set to create a whole new face for an important part of Chelmsford town centre. As Anglia Polytechnic University vacates its six acre central campus between Victoria Road South and Park Road to locate entirely on its Rivermead
