Green Party councillors have called for an end to plans for a new A12, and all other new major roads in mid-Essex, in a bid to reduce traffic pressures on the area. In a report out this week, the Party focuses on the need for a high quality public transport
Injured trio Scott Fitzgerald, Joe Dunne and David Gregory could be facing a long wait to to force their way back into a winning Colchester United team. U's boss Steve Whitton said yesterday (Thursday): "If the team carries on playing well and getting
Celebrate - work starts on the new stadium An important step towards establishing Chelmsford as a sports venue of national importance was taken on Wednesday when work began on a major new indoor athletics training centre at Melbourne Park. The centre,
Temperatures have hotted up in the ice cream war on Frinton's genteel sea front. The man who began the controversy in the summer by offering ice creams to beach users today said he now intends to ask permission to change the use of his deck chair station
Top railway planners have asked local rail travellers for full details of their idea for a second Witham railway station. The Witham and Braintree Rail Users Association call for a new £ 1.5m Witham North station was revealed in the Essex Chronicle recently
Maldon Town have issued a "hands-off" warning to clubs looking to snap up the services of manager Colin Wallington. After Wallington had been linked with vacancies at other clubs, Maldon chairman Bob Large today issued this statement: "Maldon Town wish
Top dog - Maldon and East Chelmsford MP John Whittingdale with Humbug, who missed out on the Westminster Dog of the Year title. Picture: STEVE BAINBRIDGE Humbug just wasn't sweet enough to be top dog. Maldon and East Chelmsford MP John Whittingdale is
Former Olympic silver medalist Sarah Hardcastle has spoken of her fears that Borough of Southend Swimming and Training Club may be forced to close. The Borough Club was facing showdown talks with Glendale Leisure today over a proposed rent hike at the
Back after injury - Scott Fitzgerald You have proved that you can win at home now let's go and do it away. Colchester United manager Steve Whitton will be drumming that point into his players as they prepare for tomorrow's vital Withdean Stadium clash
Essex Fire Service could be moving its headquarters and control to Chelmsford after the Government gave the all clear for a £20m private finance initiative. The service must now make a business case for its plans for a new headquarters, most likely away
Southend United midfielder Carl Hutchings has said he doesn't regret turning his back on a move to tomorrow's (Saturday's) Roots Hall visitors Kidderminster Harriers. The 27-year-old was offered the financial security of a three-year contract with the
Smash - one person was sent to hospital. Picture: TERENCE BUNCH A road was left closed for nearly an hour following a road smash involving a motorcyclist and two other vehicles. The accident happened around 7.05pm in Essex Way, Benfleet, near the old
Killer Jason Mills is starting a life jail sentence today (Friday) for the brutal murder of his girlfriend. Mills showed no emotion as a judge at Chelmsford Crown Court said he was a "dangerous young man". Six foot tall, 14-stone Mills carried out a vicious
Roy Ullyett, the king of sports cartoonists, died at the weekend (Saturday) after a short illness. He was 87. Roy was the longest-serving cartoonist in Fleet Street history. His career stretched for more than 60 years, from his days as a music-hall caricaturist
If you ask managers what they want from a cup draw the usual reply is to be at home. So they'll be no complaints from Tony Cross and Steve Mosely that Tilbury and Aveley respectively will find themselves on familiar territory for the second round of the
A former Colchester surgeon, who was well-known to patients in the area, has died aged 82. The family of Roland Jones, of London Road, Marks Tey, paid tribute to him today after he lost a long battle against illness earlier this week. Mr Jones moved to
Hot stuff - Siraj Ali with one of his delectable dishes. Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL Curry fans dug deep to help a Benfleet Indian restaurant swell the coffers of an international charity. Bosses at the Maharaja Indian restaurant in London Road have been
Animals at Basildon Zoo could be boarded up away from the public's gaze until they are found new homes, bosses have admitted. The business, run by the Surcouf family in London Road, Vange, will lose its zoo status from November 12, after declining to
Grays could be welcoming a very special spectator to Saturday's FA Cup game against Margate. Andy Douglas, their popular striker who almost died in a knife attack less than a month ago, hopes to be fit enough to make the journey from his parents' Cheshunt
The family of murdered mother Toni Mills today (Friday) expressed relief after her killer was jailed for life. Speaking to the Gazette last night (Thursday), Toni's mother, Susan Aris, 45, said they had not been expecting the outcome. The family had been
Upset -- Myles White, dad Paul and mum Linda mourn the loss of Kissmet, left, the family's much-loved cat. Picture: TERENCE BUNCH A family today (Friday) told of their horror after their pet cat was savaged to death by two dogs. Paul White, 48, lives
A 55-year-old Billericay woman has died of meningitis in Basildon Hospital's intensive care unit, it has just been revealed. Linda Murray was rushed to hospital after being found unconscious at her home on October 13, but died six days later. Infection
Hard-pressed medics at Southend's accident and emergency unit are treating 300 more patients a month than a year ago - with no new staff. The revelation coincides with a warning from the Audit Commission that waiting times in A & E units across
Cans of lager were taken from a store in Hamstel Road, Southend, by a teenager. The boy, described as white, aged 14 or 15 and around 5ft tall with short blond hair, took 12 cans of Stella Artois from the Drinks Cabin shop. He was wearing a white baseball
Community street wardens are coming to Colchester as part of a £50m nationwide initiative. Today (Friday), the borough was named as the location of one of 100 new community warden schemes, which will see more than 700 wardens becoming guardians of local
Having lived and worked in Afghanistan, Beryl Jonseng spoke to Gazette reporter JEREMY PRICE about the time she described as a "renaissance" for the country Kabul in 1959 became home to newlyweds Beryl and Cyril Jonsen. Mr Jonsen secured a job in the
The regeneration of east Colchester was highlighted when Transport Minister Sally Keeble visited the town. The MP praised the way hotspots had been effectively targeted in the town. She said partnerships between public and private organisations had proved
The plight of a Witham woman whose home was crowded with cats has helped spark a major campaign by the RSPCA. The woman, who has not been named, was found to have over forty cats living in her house. They were running wild, and breeding without control
A family stranded on an island near Maldon were rescued after they called for help on a mobile phone. Kate Dewis, 29, and her two sons, aged nine and seven, and eight-year-old niece, found no way back to their holiday home after a walk on Osea Island
Melissa Kendal, left and Alan Hilliar taking part in Pumpkin Day at Dorewards Farm Shop in Bocking Dorewards Hall Farm Shop in Bocking, held their own Pumpkin Day, which was also in aid of British Apple Weekend on Saturday. Braintree College provided
Grays had to give a debut to a goalkeeper in the last round of the FA Cup and expect to have to do the same on Saturday against Margate. The continued refusal by Southend to have Melvin Capleton cup-tied is the reason. To be fair to the Nationwide League
Weekend sport Colchester triumphed in a 3-1 win over local rivals Cambridge United in Division Two on Saturday with two goals from Scott McGleish and another from Gavin Johnson. Southend United though lost 2-1 to York City. On Sunday Ipswich town salvaged
History uncovered - archaeologists Laura Pooley, Simon Rulton and Ben Holloway unearthing the past at the Colchester Castle dig. Picture: STEVE ARGENT Archaeologists are carrying out an excavation at Colchester Castle before installing lights there. The
George Burley and his men welcome West Ham to Portman Road on Sunday for what is a crucial game to both sides. The Blues showed glimpses of the form that saw them storm the Premiership last season during the second half at Southampton in midweek where
Young footballers are to be deprived of their clubhouse after repeated attacks by vandals forced saddened parents to call time on it. The last straw was the discovery of the latest attack in which new front doors, which cost £1,300, were smashed as yobs
The destruction of more than a million tonnes of food in the European Union has been branded an "absolute outrage" by Rochford and Southend East MP Sir Teddy Taylor. Sir Teddy spoke out after being told in the Commons by Environment Secretary Margaret
Graham Gooch will not be content with only helping his beloved Essex to a more successful future - he also wants to play a part in ensuring England become a major force. The new Essex head coach, appointed at the beginning of the month, made this clear
A nurse struck off for a drugs blunder claimed today that the mistakes she made happened in hospitals all the time. Margaret Silver said that in her experience nurses were under such pressure because of staff shortages and a lack of resources that errors
Essex fire headquarters could move as part of a £20 million revamp of the service A dedicated training centre to attract more officers, including more women, plus a computerised incident system and faster response times could all be spin-offs of the planned
A Thorpe Bay leisure centre is set for a major facelift, thanks to a £1.5million takeover by a leading national company. The former Courtlands Health and Country Club is to be converted into an LA Fitness gym. The refurbishment will get under way on November
Essex fire headquarters could move to the Braintree or Maldon area as part of a £20 million revamp of the service A dedicated training centre to attract more officers, including more women, plus a computerised incident system and faster response times
Canvey Island will be without the services of one of their great cult heroes for tomorrow's (Saturday's) FA Cup fourth and final qualifying round home tie with Stafford Rangers. "Ginger Sex God" Steve Ward, a colossus at the heart of defence during Gulls
Southend and Benfleet Ladies first team scored a whopping eight against Clacton in a weekend of 21 goals for the seaside club. Mance Milne scored a stunning four goals, while Lora Sharples bagged a brace. Kerry Marriott and captain Anne Johnson netted
Killer Jason Mills was starting a life jail sentence today (Friday) for the brutal murder of his girlfriend. Mills showed no emotion as a judge at Chelmsford Crown Court said he was a "dangerous young man". Mr Justice Brian Leveson also told him: "You
Five more Basildon care homes are to be investigated by detectives following the jailing of two paedophiles for a string of brutal assaults on vulnerable children. The homes, under Tower Hamlets Council's control until 1989 but since sold off to become
Billericay Town boss Gary Calder admits that he will feel sympathy for FA Cup opponents Tiverton Town if, as he hopes and expects, they leave New Lodge without any financial reward but for their share of the gate receipts tomorrow afternoon (Saturday)
Southampton 3-3 Ipswich Town (Barclaycard FA Premiership) Ipswich Town may have come back from two goals down twice to earn a point at Southampton but captain Matt Holland reflected on what might have been. The Blues had to settle for a 3-3 draw against
Don't even whisper the word relegation within earshot of Colchester United favourite Ross Johnson. "The word doesn't exist in our dressing room," said the powerful central defender. And as he warmed up for tomorrow's vital Division Two top-eight clash
Plans to move historic St Laurence Church could cost millions and take up to a year to complete, an expert has warned. As part of Southend Airport's long-awaited expansion, the church in Eastwoodbury Lane, Eastwood, will have to be shifted 100 metres
A rape victim took her own life by throwing herself beneath the wheels of a train, an inquest jury heard. Mother-of-five Catherine Weeks walked off the platform at Rayleigh station into the path of an incoming London-bound train on May 17. Horrified morning
Chelmsford solicitor Paul Young failed to make par on the first hole at Benton Hall Golf Club on Friday, October 12, defending the title he won last year. Having suffered five heart attacks over the last few years and undergoing surgery several times,
Youngsters are risking their lives -- simply by walking to school every morning, it has been claimed. Pupils at St Katherine's Primary School and Winter Gardens Primary School, both in Hilton Road, Canvey, have to dodge cars to get to their school gates
A season that promised so much and yet failed to deliver ends with Arena Essex hoping to avoid defeat at a Conference League track. Tomorrow (Saturday) is the second leg of the challenge against Rye House, in which the Premier League side have a six-point
Southend United striker Tes Bramble is aiming to blast Blues back up the Third Division table - with a little bit of help from his flat mate Mark Rawle. During recent weeks, Bramble has shown glimpses of the form which saw the 21-year-old score six goals
Court victory - for good neighbour Susan Osborn, pictured outside the High Court A Rayleigh woman has spoken of her relief after winning a High Court battle to keep a £300,000 gift from a sick and elderly neighbour. Susan Osborn, of Grosvenor Road, cooked
An appeal will be lodged if the planned closure of a GP's surgery goes ahead. At a meeting of the North East Essex Community Health Council (CHC) at the Queens Hall, Halstead, last night, members unanimously voted to reject plans by North East Essex Health
