Thousands of pounds has poured in to fight Government proposals to put up to three extra runways at Stansted Airport. The Stop Stansted Expansion (SSE) campaign, an offshoot of airport watchdog the North West Essex and East Herts Preservation Association
Shoppers in Southend were today warned to be on the lookout for alarm system businesses who use dubious sales tactics. A spokesman for Southend Neighbourhood Watch said: "We have received a report that an alarm company is canvassing shoppers in the pedestrian
The identity of a man found by children in a Basildon wood is still being withheld by police until next of kin have been traced. The man - whom Essex Police will only describe as local - was found by a group of six youngsters in a copse at the junction
Think local, buy local, act local - that's the rallying cry going out to Essex businesses in a crusade to boost the local economy. The call comes from the Essex branch of the Country Land and Business Association, which aims to stem a flood of imports
A Brentwood couple have blown a fuse over tactics used by a doorstep salesman. Angry Andrew King claims his wife was conned into signing a contract to switch to British Gas for the supply of electricity. Nurse Kathy King says she was tricked into signing
Jack Napier, 88, of Carne Rasch Court sheltered complex in Beech Road, Vange, died from his injuries shortly after he was in collision with a motorbike a short distance from his home on Tuesday. It was revealed today that Mr Napier was on his way home
Essex have taken a narrow lead over Durham at Colchester's Castle Park in their County Championship Division Two encounter. By tea today Essex had made 271 a lead of 12 runs over the visitors. Top score for Essex came from Graham Napier who made 54 not
Orsett Golf Club's magnificent reign in the senior Essex team competition for the Thornton Cup is over. Having won the competition for three years on the trot, they crashed 10-5 at Chelmsford against Chigwell in the semi-finals. That means that Chigwell
On a wet and miserable Saturday the Chelmsford based CM Motorsport team travelled west to the high speed Castle Combe circuit in Wiltshire to contest the sixth round of the Julius Thurgood Historic Saloon Car Championship. With various modifications to
Beer prices in East Anglia have risen by a record eight pence in the past year, according to new figures. But it hasn't affected alcohol sales in south Essex pubs, with customers moaning initially, but soon accepting the increases. Steve Hartley, head
The driving force behind an information centre today told of his joy after an essential helpline for carers in Castle Point was thrown a last minute lifeline. Gerry Moore, centre development manager at Thundersley's Tyrells Centre, felt the carers' helpline
An accident blackspot has finally got its own speed camera - but it has sat unused for six weeks because police are still waiting for the electricity to be connected. It has been installed in Runwell Road, Wickford, but the covers remain firmly on and
A man was hit on the head by a plank of wood in a busy shopping street. The 58-year-old was walking past Hughes Electrical in Colchester High Street yesterday lunchtime. The shop is having work carried out on the building and scaffolding has been put
Colchester-based troops have just returned from a month-long training exercise in Cyprus. The 90 soldiers from the 19 Regiment Royal Artillery, also known as the Highland Gunners, have been practising infantry tactics and live firing skills. As well as
Swimmers using rubber dinghies were today warned to be on their guard after strong winds blew several inflatables far away from the shore. Southend lifeboats and patrol officers were called out to at least four incidents yesterday afternoon where children
Southend angler Trevor Banham is flying high after landing two personal best carp on his first ever visit to Billericay's Lake Meadows. After reading reports in the Evening Echo, Trevor made an early visit to the venue at 5am. Choosing a swim on the houses
A Rettendon man is offering a reward after thieves stole £3,000 worth of machinery, champagne and a scooter from his garage overnight last Thursday. The anonymous resident said he will pay a "substantial" reward to anyone who provides police with information
Colchester United were today on the brink of a £150,000 windfall after former hero Mark Kinsella looked poised for a switch to Aston Villa. The Republic of Ireland star could be joined by international team-mate Matt Holland, who is also considering a
Firefighters came to the rescue after strong winds blew a front door shut, cutting a mum off from her toddler. The worried woman contacted the fire service and officers from Southend fire station arrived at the scene in the town's South Avenue at 2.55pm
Two of Basildon's outstanding cadets collected further honours when they featured in the Sir Henry Cotton Perpetual Trophy at Canons Brook, Harlow. In-form Essex champion Danny Brooks won the scratch prize and Ben Tobin the gross award. Two-handicapper
Furious Peter Claydon today told how he would rather go to prison than pay a £200 parking fine after claiming officials agreed to waive the penalty because he fell ill. Mr Claydon, 66, of Stambridge Road, Rochford, parked at Rayleigh town centre car park
A tornado hunter is investigating freak weather in Essex. Tom Defty is part of Reading University's Tornado and Storm Research Team. Mr Defty is the region's storm chaser and is looking into exactly what happened in Essex eleven days ago, when a twister
A giant green tiger has been spotted prowling the walkways of a Basildon shopping centre, but it is environmental awareness rather than tasty shoppers that tops its menu. The massive cat, christened Tiger Greenwood, is the mascot of the Eastgate Shopping
Southend United striker Mark Rawle proved his fitness with a quickfire Roots Hall hat-trick during yesterday's 4-3 reserve team win over Northampton Town. The 23-year-old, who missed Saturday's 3-2 Third Division defeat against Shrewsbury Town with a
Plans for a multi-million pound business park have been given more impetus with the development of a draft plan. The scheme for Gardiners Lane South, Basildon, follows a week-long design workshop with the community, including employers, residents, emergency
Travellers who have been plaguing police in south Essex were today believed to have set up camp in Billericay. It is thought the group split up and set off in different directions after officers spent eight hours chasing them from one site to another
Police are appealing for information after a car failed to stop at the scene of a road accident. It happened in Harold Road, Clacton, where a red Vauxhall Corsa car, silver Ford Orion car and a blue Peugeot 206 car were parked facing the seafront. A spokewoman
Six Essex parks are set to provide a purpose-designed haven for off-road cycling and mountain biking enthusiasts. Marsh Farm Park at South Woodham Ferrers is one of those to be designated as national cycling centre by the Cyclist Touring and Campaigning
A man has been jailed after he was found wandering around inside an old people's home. Jason Patmore, of Vega Close, Colchester, had been spotted in a corridor of the Eastham older people's home at Woodham Ferrers on October 31, a court heard. Manager
Artists are being invited to display their work at an art exhibition in St Mary Magdalene Church in Billericay High Street. The event is being organised by Billericay Rotary Club for the third year, and all the proceeds from a collection outside the church
Hullbridge's Hanover golf club marked their Georgian captain's week with a series of competitions -- and enjoyed some hard-fought battles. The major trophy held was the captain's cup and it produced a close finish between Jim Connor and Dave Wright. The
Police are trying to trace the driver of a black cab who may hold vital information to an armed robbery in which a Southend security guard was shot in the leg. He was one of three guards at the Safeway store in Chafford Hundred, near Grays, who were threatened
Young vandals put their lives at risk when they threw an iron bar at overhead power cables in the pouring rain, it was claimed today. Residents in Great Wakering were left without power for more than an hour after a transformer attached to a telegraph
Fifteen factories are set to be built in Rochford creating around 100 new jobs. Rochford District Council is poised to back the multi-million pound industrial complex at Rochehall Way, on the Purdeys industrial estate. South Essex's buoyant economy and
Jubilant students today jumped for joy after notching up an impressive crop of GCSE results. Celebrations were in full swing at many schools as some teenagers achieved 100 per cent pass rates with record numbers achieving the top grades. Nationally, this
Junior tournaments are taking centre stage again as the school summer holidays get into full swing. Westcliff Lawn's junior event has been running all week as youngsters battle it out to reach Saturday's finals. These start at 10am when players with rankings
A man indecently exposed himself to two 15-year-old girls in an alleyway in St John's Road, Great Clacton, at about 9pm, on Sunday. The man was described as being about 5ft 10ins tall, of a big build, with short dark hair, in his 30s and wearing a bright
Campaigners have won their battle to stop 40 new homes being built on a derelict woodyard in Westcliff. In an unexpected move, Tory councillors abstained from voting, allowing Lib Dems and Labour to refuse the controversial scheme for the old Mansfield
Firefighters today battled fierce flames and billowing smoke at a house fire in Leigh. Crews from Southend and Leigh rushed to the semi-detached property in Shirley Road after receiving reports of the roof alight. Blaze - firefighters tackled the blaze
A woman who recently found out she had lung cancer was found hanging in her home, an inquest heard. John Minney told an inquest at Weeley yesterday his wife, Pamela, 65, had been diagnosed with lung cancer in January. He said on June 19, he had gone to
Essex poets are being sought for an anthology of the best work from the Eastern region being put together by publisher Poetry Now. All poems published in the series are entered for the annual Forward Press Top 100 award with cash prizes of more than £10,000
Campaigners today appealed for financial help to renovate a war memorial in Hadleigh Park. Members of the Hadleigh and Thundersley branch say the area around the tribute needs a major clean-up if it is to avoid repeated vandalism attacks. Some of the
The death of a 16-year-old hit by a truck on the A12 remains a mystery. An inquest was held into the death of Liam Stallard, 16, of Wheatfield Road, Stanway, who suffered head injuries in the collision. His body was found on the A12 in the early hours
Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench has named a new £250 million luxury cruise ship in Harwich. Dame Judi was at Harwich International Port yesterday to name the 88,500-tonne Carnival Legend. In return for her appearance, Carnival agreed to donate 25,000
Colchester United transfer-loanee Graham Barrett boosted his chances of a big future in English football by scoring on his full senior debut for Republic of Ireland. Currently the subject of a prospective new long term loan deal with the U's, 20-year-old
A photographer has been given almost £3,000 to take pictures of Southend call centres from the same arts body which refused to save the Palace Theatre. East England Arts - a publicly funded company - rejected a £200,000 plea in June this year, to save
A Witham man who died after setting fire to himself, had suffered with mental health problems for the previous three years. Richard Mason, 49, of Epping Way died at the burns unit at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford on April 27 after dousing himself
A widow has made a desperate appeal to thieves who stole her cherished bike. The limited edition silver and pale blue Decathlon women's mountain bike was a present from her late husband and was taken from the front garden of her home. Ginny Richardson
The prospect of a mobile phone mast is looming large for residents in Doddinghurst and Kelvedon Hatch. The telecommunications giant Orange has applied to Brentwood Borough Council for a 15 metre monopole mast at Place Farm in Place Farm Lane, Doddinghurst
Five men who were arrested by police following an allegation of a gang rape in Rayleigh have been released from police bail without charge. The arrests followed a claim by a 24-year-old woman from Basildon that she was raped in the town after a night
Golf star of the future Jamie Moul has been selected in a nine-man team to represent Great Britain and Ireland. Jamie, 17, will fly out on Monday with his new team-mates to Switzerland to take part in the Jacques Leguise Trophy with Great Britain and
