Shoppers at Asda in South Woodham Ferrers met local comedian and London's Burning star, Terry Alderton, who was raising money for Children in Need on Monday. Terry, who plays Charlie the driver in the hit series, walked around the store talking to customers
Billericay Town's scheduled Ryman Premier Division clash at Hitchin last night was called off due to a waterlogged pitch. Town are missing a match this Saturday -- it is FA Cup first round proper day and opponents St Albans are taking on Stockport. That
Essex Libraries won two awards at a national library award ceremony in London on November 1 for schemes promoting reading in the county. Essex Libraries' Quick Reads was joint winner of the Sponsorship and Partnership category awards with Readers, a reading
A new residential care home could be built on part of a former RAF airbase at Wethersfield. Care Homes GB has lodged plans with Braintree Council seeking permission to build a 52-bedroom residential care home in Wethersfield. The company wants to build
The M25 was closed at Junction 28 today after an accident involving a car transporter just before 6am. A police spokesman said the transporter hit the central reservation after being "nudged" by an articulated lorry. It came to a rest across two lanes
More than 350 customers were without electricity in Ardleigh. The sudden power cut in Old Ipswich Road just before 1.30pm yesterday left providers 24seven baffled. Engineers managed to re-route power to bring back light to 270 properties within 20 minutes
Christmas cards will be helping to raise money for a group of Scouts during the festive season. The 1st/2nd Parkeston Scout Group will be providing its annual Christmas card delivery service for 15p per card and will cover Harwich, Bathside, Dovercourt
Southend Jikishin Ju Jitsu fighter Dave Patterson grabbed bronze in his club's 12th International Course and Competition. Dave narrowly missed out on silver at Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre while competing in the random attacks section. Club instructor
Voluntary organisations in the Ongar and North Weald area are being urged not to miss out on a chance to apply for funding from the Epping Forest Community Partnership (EFCP). With just under a month to go until the deadline of Friday, December 6, the
Sceptre Sunday League chiefs have got their hands full thanks to a new sponsorship deal with a Southend sports shop. Halt Sports' proprietor Tony Hall has provided the league with matchballs for their finals at the end of the season. You've got to hand
Major worries about airplane traffic over Castle Point will be sounded loud and clear at a national air transport meeting, a councillor has promised. Brian Weller, the lead member for transportation, is to attend the event - Air Transport of Tomorrow
Government cash could be used to get rid of traffic bottlenecks across Castle Point, it emerged today. The news came as Essex County Council asked locals for their views to cut down traffic congestion. Residents have been invited to a series of exhibitions
A call has gone out to boost neighbourhood crimefighters in the Frinton district. It is part of a district-wide overhaul of Neighbourhood Watch's thousands of members in the area. Inside the railway gates there are more than 45 active Neighbourhood Watch
A woman was shocked when she found an unwelcome guest had interrupted a special family dinner. Debbie Searle, 31, of Mersea Road, Colchester, was enjoying a meal with her family to celebrate her engagement to her fiance Alex Cheeseman , when she noticed
British Telecom bosses are being urged to rethink their decision not to make broadband internet access available in Ongar. Local MP Eric Pickles was responding to an announcement on the telecom giant's website informing potential customers that it is
A major mid-Essex arts venue has been forced to close after asbestos was discovered in the building Chancellor Hall in Chelmsford had to close its doors after the material was found in the main hall. Workmen were carrying out minor alterations to the
Major delays were suffered by Essex commuters on their way home yesterday because of a death on the line at Romford. Trains from London to Essex experienced delays of up to 70 minutes because of yesterday's incident, which happened just before 4.30pm
Shadow defence secretary Bernard Jenkin has come under attack for suggesting that firefighters were "being paid" by Saddam Hussein. Mr Jenkin, MP for North Essex, told BBC London that firefighters should not be allowed to strike as they were a vital emergency
A dad today started three months in jail for racially abusing a post office manager and smashing up his shop. Southend magistrates were told Colin Reed, 22, of Holland Road, Southend, had problems getting child benefit from Mr Hussain's post office in
For any up and coming young tennis player the dream to play at Wimbledon and compete at tournaments around the world must seem almost unthinkable. However, for 14-year-old Benjamin Smith from Frinton, the dream has already been half completed. Ben, ranked
An auction organised by Clacton Lions raised more than £1,300 for the charities funds. The event was staged at the Brotherhood Hall in St Osyth Road on Saturday and was totally packed out with standing room only. Adrian Robinson, press officer for the
A government watchdog has been called in to investigate Southend Council's "improper" granting of planning permission for a large housing development. A complaint has been lodged with the ombudsman by a residents' group concerned over the proposed plans
Steve Whitton handed the Colchester United fans a pre-FA Cup boost today. The success starved U's boss revealed that he would like to bring big Bristol City striker Peter Beadle to Layer Road. But any chance of a loan deal is unlikely to happen before
A distraught mother today made a plea for the return of photographs of her young son who died of cancer last year. Nicola Harmon was shopping in Clacton yesterday and left her purse, along with some nappies, in the Mothercare store in Pier Avenue at about
A sparkling evening's entertainment is guaranteed when fantastic band Flying High put in a special appearance on Saturday. The band features members from the hit Abba musical tour Mamma Mia and members have given up one of their rare days off to do the
Police are appealing to the public for help in catching this man who indecently assaulted a young woman in Basildon town centre. The man approached the 18-year-old Laindon girl as she walked through the town centre precinct at just after midnight. She
A popular seaside carnival association is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Clacton Carnival Association was formed in 1953 when it took over from the former Clacton Urban District Council. The council took the decision to stop running the
Ali Carter has taken the scalp of snooker legend Stephen Hendry in the British Open. Tiptree's Carter continued his excellent record against seven-times world champion Hendry, making it three wins out of four, to reach the last 16 of the British Open
The idea of twinning Castle Point with Venice and Rome has received a mixed reaction. Richard Howitt MEP gave the twinning idea a big thumbs up. But Castle Point MP Bob Spink said although the Italian cities were beautiful the real issues for Castle Point
A campaigner was celebrating victory today as a crucial bus link serving Orsett Hospital was restored - thanks to her crusade. Resident Kate Wignall was so furious when Arriva buses withdrew bus route 387 which provided a vital link to the hospital, that
Dan Trenkel's first-half strike against Wivenhoe Town last night finally put Rovers back on the win trail after six weeks. Wakering last picked up three points with a 1-0 win over Leyton Pennant at Burroughs Park on October 1. And with only a point against
The rain fell and the wind blew, but perhaps that was apt for the launch of the new all-weather regional centre of excellence for netball at Hassenbrook School in Stanford-le-Hope. Parents, teachers, pupils and Basildon MP Angela Smith watched the All
A ring worth £200 was stolen during a burglary in Windsor Road, Westcliff. Thieves forced open a front door on Sunday between 12.45pm and 5.30pm, and broke into a ground floor flat. The gold sovereign ring, bearing an image of King Edward, was taken along
Green Goddesses have been out on the streets of Colchester after firefighters rejected an 11 per cent pay offer. The ageing machines were trundling in and out of barracks in Mersea Road in readiness for the strike planned to start at 6pm today. With pickets
A trio of sisters are hot-footing it to stardom after bagging top trophies for their dancing skills. Nikki, Kym and Kayley Robinson took part in the grand final winners' week at John Fowler Holiday Park, in Cornwall, and managed to beat most of the contestants
A good Samaritan has been left with two black eyes and bruising to his face after he stepped in to stop a group of youths bullying a teenager. Jim Gray was walking with his wife and young son along Queens Road, Southend, and saw the gang of youths - when
Police are appealing for witnesses after two men were injured when their cars were involved in a head-on collision. The accident happened on the Walton Road, Thorpe, at 8.50am yesterday, between a Citroen Saxo and a Perodua, with the Citroen ending up
A tennis club is planning to use a revolutionary system of floodlighting at its seafront site. Thorpe Bay Tennis Club, which has courts in Thorpe Bay Gardens, is one of the top ten clubs in Essex and the only one without floodlights. The club has submitted
Hundreds of Harwich residents have demanded that Trinity House stays in the town. About 1,800 residents signed a petition organised by the Harwich and Manningtree Standard newspaper to try to save the lighthouse authority. Trinity House is considering
Despite continuing advances in communications technology, Braintree police are asking people to post them a letter. Chief Supt Sue Harrison, Braintree divisional commander, chose last night's Police and Community Consultative Group (PCCG) meeting to tell
Five puppies at Gemini dog kennels in Wickford are desperate to find new homes after being born to a rescued stray. Appealing - new mum Pebbles with her puppies at Gemini Kennels, Wickford. Picture: DAVE HENDERSON FNE2B9 Jack Russell bitch Pebbles was
The Army today moved into Essex with its ageing Green Goddess fire engines as the county braced itself for a 48-hour strike by firefighters. Fire crews will walk out at 6pm for the first national firefighters' strike in 25 years in support of a 40 per
Southend United striker Daniel Webb today admitted he was delighted to re-join First Division strugglers Brighton on loan. The 19-year-old has returned to the Withdean Stadium for a month and was a non-playing substitute during Monday night's 1-1 draw
A burglar escaped on a stolen mountain bike after he was disturbed by a homeowner. The thief smashed a window next to the front door of the home in South Avenue, Westcliff, to break in. The noise woke the resident but the raider still managed to make
Martijn Reuser is ready to be patient in his quest to get back in action for Ipswich Town. The Dutchman has returned to light training after undergoing a knee operation last month. But, rather than putting himself under extra pressure, he is determined
Cars parked at town centre bus stops are frustrating night-time bus drivers and passengers. Drivers are unable to pull in on Head Street and High Street to pick up passengers as three quarters of town centre stops are full with cars. Passengers using
An arson attack on a tower block today could have been disastrous had it come 24-hours later during the fire dispute, emergency crews warned today. Disaster waiting to happen - firefighters don't believe the Army is equipped to deal with tower block blazes
Temporary road works are being introduced over the next six weeks due to the new dual carriageway of the A130 between the A12 and the A127. There will be single lane closures initially on the northbound slip road from Hawk Hill Roundabout and some temporary
Exciting plans could see Italy's sinking city twinned with flood-fearing Castle Point. The adventurous project could also see Venice and Canvey linked with two districts of Rome. The idea began when Castle Point mayor Charles Smith attended a special
Europe will be flush with portable toilets as a mid-Essex company increases its exports across the Channel. Shorelink has pulled the chain on its competitors and upped its turnover by 60 per cent to £1.6 million. As UK house and road building programmes
Women giving birth at Basildon Hospital will have a home-from-home environment thanks to a £1million investment. Work starts next week on modernising the 1970s maternity unit to bring it up to 21st Century standards, using money from the Government's
Kidney patient Bob Flack isn't usually lost for words - which is just as well, as he has just become national Scrabble champion! But what makes his achievement more remarkable is that he couldn't compete in the competition without his usual dose of dialysis
Cartoon duo Itchy and Scratchy will stop tearing into each other long enough to tear down the paper hiding the Williams and Griffin Christmas window in Colchester High Street. The violent cat and mouse of Simpsons fame have been drafted in to star in
South Essex fish and chip shops today said they will hardly be affected if European chiefs decide to close down over-fished cod areas of the North and Irish seas. The boats will simply catch cod elsewhere or supplies will be bought abroad. EU fisheries
