Residents who live near the new 800-home development in Witham are fed up with the amount of traffic clogging up their road. They are planning on putting together a petition to get it resolved. Andra Chandle, who lives off Maltings Lane, like many residents
The Colchester and Tendring Athletics Club Open Meeting is to be held on its normal day of August Bank Holiday Monday at the Garrison Athletics Track. The Open presents a fun day for all the family and a great opportunity to sample athletics. And being
Showjumper Ricki Hill has hit the gold standard again with the GB team. Two years ago he took the top medal at the European Under-18 Championships and the Benfleet rider has now added the under-21 title to his list of successes. Ricki teamed up with Robert
A bare-chested youth is suspected of being behind the theft of an earthenware tips bowl from a Westcliff coffee shop. The theft took place at Thistles Coffee Shop, in Hamlet Court Road, where the bowl, containing cash, was taken from a counter. The suspect
Residents packed the public gallery at the town hall for a meeting about gipsies in Colchester but were told they would have to wait to air their views. Colchester Council arranged last night's meeting after concerns from many people in the borough at
Aveley, East Thurrock and Tilbury all start their Ryman Division One North home campaigns this evening. Rocks, having been thrashed 4-1 at Essex rivals Wivenhoe on Saturday, host a Slough Town outfit who have fallen through the Pyramid at remarkable speed
A three-year old girl suffered serious head injuries after she fell 30ft from a top floor window. The child toppled on to concrete from the back bedroom window of a semi-detached house in Green Lane, Walton. Essex Air Ambulance was called to the scene
Talented Sarah Rayment was today on cloud nine after winning a once-in-a-lifetime trip to a safari in Kenya after hours of painstaking work making a scale model of her dream tree house. The ten-year-old saw the competition on the Disney Channel and set
Police today appealed for witnesses after a 31-year-old old man was attacked in Colchester. He was left with a broken ankle, broken ribs and a bruised face. The victim was taken to hospital and needed stitches after the assault by four men, which police
Having started life in the Ryman League First Division North with a creditable home draw against Harlow on Saturday, Great Wakering Rovers will be looking for away success at Yeading tonight. Tonight's hosts started their season with a 2-0 defeat at Herford
Nearly 1,000 homes and businesses in west Braintree were blacked out by a huge power cut today About 990 24seven customers were affected by the power failure, which happened at about 7.15am. CD's Sandwich Bar in Sandpit Lane, which opens at 7.30am, said
Teams of inspectors will be making visits to check health and safety standards at businesses in Witham this week. The visits, which will take place tomorrow, are in the wake of a health and safety commission report, which sets targets for reducing accidents
A schoolgirl was shocked to the core when she bit into an apple to discover a gold ring hidden inside. Jamie-Louisa Arnold, 12, said: "It was shocking. I hurt my tooth a little bit. This is the weirdest thing I've ever found in my life." She said the
Model Lucy Stone could be on her way to setting the world on fire as Miss World. The former Colchester Sixth Form pupil and Miss London 2002 is off to the Miss UK finals next month where she could book her place in the world's biggest beauty pageant.
High tides could be a problem for the 70,000 people expected at the two-day Clacton air show. Last minute preparations are under way but the high tides will limit the amount of beach space available to spectators. The event, which takes place on Thursday
A new parking area is on the cards at a Witham woods to help stamp out illegal dumping. Witham Town Council has lodged an application with Braintree Council to construct a gravel parking area for eight cars at James Cooke wood off Maldon Road. The 15
Billericay went top of the Ryman League Premier Division with a comprehensive win at Borehamwood last night. Looking to follow up Saturday's success at home to Harrow Borough, Town fielded an attack-minded formation in Hertfordshire. Early indications
Youngsters spent a week clowning around and learning circus tricks at the annual Southend Summer School for Performing Arts. Open to all budding performers aged eight and over, it attracted more than 200 children to Southend High School for Girls. Spin
Tonight's Essex derby between Harwich and Parkeston and Tiptree United has every sign of being more than interesting after the weekend's results. The Shrimpers started badly, losing 6-0 away at Wroxham, while the Jam-makers thrashed Diss Town 5-0. Harwich's
Two people had to be evacuated from their Tilbury home after fire broke out in the flat below in the early hours of Sunday morning. Crews from Orsett and Grays went to Cowper Avenue, where the blaze had broken out in an empty ground floor flat. A spokesman
Midfielder Jay Smith revealed today he had moved to Third Division Southend United to keep his Premiership dream alive. The Aston Villa youngster has joined Blues on loan for three months, but said he still hadn't given up all hope of making the grade
A disabled man who had his car stolen has told of his delight it has been found - even though it was badly damaged in an accident. Michael Brett said he was glad that nobody had been injured when thieves lost control of the stolen vehicle. Police finally
Furious cabbies today refused to rule out further industrial action after councillors lifted limits on the number of taxi drivers in Rayleigh. Rochford District Council's taxi licensing sub-committee took the first step towards deregulation of taxis,
A man has been jailed for 8 and a half years for the rape of a girl aged 11 and another sex attack Stuart Woolman raped the girl as she was delivering a Christmas card. Woolman, 21, denied rape but was convicted after a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court
Arsonists were today blamed after a blaze ripped through a block of ten bedsits in Southend. Firefighters tackled ferocious flames licking the front of the building in Hastings Road at 6.20pm yesterday and restrained a resident who was insistent about
A south Essex pub sheltered 150 people after a man dug up a Second World War bomb in his garden. Householders in Warley Hill, Brentwood, were shepherded to their local pub for safety after the device was found at lunchtime. The rusting bomb, described
The managing director of a shoe company was today planning legal action against Basildon Council after his shop windows were smashed four times in just a week. The Shoeworld store in Market Pavement has been the target of mindless vandalism since April
A group of residents on the edge of Writtle who fear big changes if a gravel extraction and reservoir scheme at Writtle College proceed are urging people to object to the environment ministry. They say minister Nick Raynsford is their last hope in getting
Injury-plagued Colchester United favourite Joe Dunne's has volunteered to forfeit a month's wages in a bid to save his career. Dunne is currently recovering at his Kent home after the latest of a number of operations on his legs. He said: "I am currently
Singing hopeful Carol Lynch was "absolutely fantastic" and "went down a treat" as she belted out a song at a Basildon nightspot. The 19-year-old from Caister Drive, Pitsea, sang I Love The Way, a song she wrote herself more than a year ago, in front of
Collectors' cars, steam engines and a chance to bake bread were major attractions for crowds attending a rally at Walton Hall Museum in Linford, Stanford-le-Hope. Museum owner Frank Wood, who opened up a Victorian bakery to let children have a go, said
Children came in their dozens to test run a new pirate fantasy maze at a Braintree tourist attraction at the weekend. Dorewards Hall Farm in The Chase, Bocking Churchstreet, has had a maize-made maze at the farm for several years but the owners recently
Former tribute band member Sue Brierley made it through to the second round of the Popstars: The Rivals auditions...before being told she was two months too old. Today Sue, from Audley Way, Basildon, said the show's bosses knew she was just 25 - the age
Essex were dealt a massive blow to their double promotion hopes today with the news that captain Ronnie Irani could be out for the rest of the season. And there could be even worse news concerning the future of strike bowler Ashley Cowan who is battling
Residents in south Essex have been sensationally snubbed by Government officials carrying out a consultation into the proposed Cliffe airport, it was claimed today. Information packs have been sent to every home in Kent affected by the four-runway, £11.5billion
An 18-year-old woman was jailed for four months after hitting a man on the back of the head with a bottle. Emily Hall, from St Helen's Road, Leigh, pleaded guilty at Southend Magistrates' Court to striking the man after he walked into the Carlton pub
A brother and sister who helped save a three-year-old girl from drowning in a swimming pool have received a second honour for their brave efforts. Darren and Danielle Griffiths, of London Road, Clacton, sprung into action after the youngster was spotted
Unarmed police today tackled a gunman in a Leigh street just three hours after a man was stabbed in the throat with a penknife. Police said the man, in possession of a semi-automatic pistol, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. The dramatic
A council has been warned it may have to pay back £1.3million if it privatises a beach park. The park, at Grays Beach, could be handed over to private enterprise after a best value review. But the Cory Environmental Trust, which has poured more than £1million
A 14-year-old girl who has been missing for six weeks may have become embroiled in London's drugs and prostitution scene, police said today. Danielle Russell, of St Marks Field, Rochford, was last seen by her mother on June 28, but police have only just
Hadleigh closed the gap on the Division One promotion places with this derby victory over the stricken Old Boys. Dave Leather blasted an unbeaten 80 to lead the way, with wicketkeeper-batsman Duncan Paveling weighing in with 53. But Old Boys were kicking
A hit-and-run driver who left two toddlers injured was today being hunted by police. The two-year-old cousins, a boy and a girl, were taken to Southend Hospital after the incident in Ilfracombe Avenue, Southend, at 7.30pm last night. The mother of one
Mobile phone giants have a fight on their hands to install a mast near angry residents. An action group has been set up to fight Orange's plans to install a 15m mast in London Road, Leigh. The mast, next to Portsmouth Stationers, will include three antenna
Maldon boss Mick Potter is keeping his fingers crossed for a warm reception when he makes an emotional return to Rush Green Bowl. The former Seasiders chief - now joint-manager at Park Drive alongside Colin Wallington - enjoyed success in the premier
Fewer motorists have been caught drinking and driving during the first half of a special crackdown than during the same period last year. The annual summer drink-drive crackdown got under way at the beginning of the month. Essex Police have released the
Residents who want their council tax reduced due to the state of their road have been told there is no chance of that happening. People living in Milton Road, Lawford, unhappy at the state of their road, which is unadopted, asked the parish council to
A Braintree man today told how a bolt came quite literally out of the blue when lightning struck his top floor flat. The strike came as a double shock as thundery skies had begun to clear. A "huge bang" sounded and the building shook when lightning hit
Canvey Island will have a brand new goalkeeper in action tonight when they start their Ryman League Premier Division home campaign against Bishop's Stortford (7.30pm). Danny Potter, with Dr Martens League Premier Division Chelmsford City last term, is
Chelmsford-based soft drinks company Britvic Soft Drinks has finalised the acquisition of the Red Devil energy drink. The deal will see production of Red Devil taking place at Britvic's Widford factory, where the J20 fruit juice drink is also made. This
Three former Ford apprentices will be battling for success in a top television series. Team captain Darren Hayden-Ball, Luke Jackman and Graham Warner - all from East Tilbury - will be going for glory in this Friday night's episode of Robot Wars on BBC2
A leading Clacton store is to unveil its £300,000 new-look next week. Marks and Spencer in Pier Avenue, is undergoing a major refit in a bid to provide a better shopping environment for customers. At the top of the list of changes will be an improved
Commuters did their best to help after two men noticed smoke and flames coming from their car engine. The pair stopped their vehicle and set off down the A127 London-bound track in search of help. Luckily a Green Flag rescue vehicle stopped and the driver
New moves are underway to unlock a pot of cash to improve facilities for youngsters across Tendring. A special seminar is to be staged for groups and organisations in the next six weeks. And once information has been gathered about what is needed, efforts
Manningtree could still get its own council office if groups from the area help out. That was the message from Lionel Randall at last night's meeting of Lawford Parish Council. Tendring Council has turned down the idea of a council office at the former
Two homes in the same street have been targeted by burglars while the occupants were asleep inside. At the first, a house in Surbiton Road, Southend, burglars got in through a window which had been left open on the ground floor. Once an untidy search
Police hunting a gang of youths who robbed a man at gunpoint are now seeking four men in connection with the incident. The robbery, which occurred in South Woodham Ferrers, saw a man threatened with what officers believe to be a handgun before being kicked
Town centre figures are confident Braintree's Christmas lights display this winter will be bigger and better than before. Braintree Town Centre Strategy Group arranged for decorations to be put up by a festival lighting company after seeing a display
PREMIER DIVISION Colchester & East Essex 254-9 Loughton 159-9 (Match drawn) Hainault & Clayhall 284-3 Shenfield 285-9 (Shenfield won by 1 wicket) Orsett 257 Fives & Heronians 144-9 (Match drawn) Saffron Walden 216-9 Gidea Park & Romford
