People living in what they say is a dangerous street are campaigning for a crossing after a woman pedestrian was paralysed following a car accident. They have raised fears about the safety elderly people and schoolchildren attempting to cross Long Road
Chelmsford businesses are facing a serious blow to Christmas trade. They fear that they will be badly affected by plans to carry out essential gas mains work on two of the county town's most congested junctions throughout the festive shopping season.
Sunday afternoon could be one of the most important in West Ham United's history. Apart from the small matter of looking for their first home win of the season against Manchester United, Hammers fans will meet under the banner of the West Ham United Supporters
Southend United boss Rob Newman will have been happy to see hamstring injury victim, striker Mark Rawle, come through 45 minutes of yesterday's 2-1 reserve win at Cambridge. His attacking options have been severely restricted for Saturday's FA Cup match
Lucy Mealing has lost her chance to be Mrs Right. Lucy, of Bertram Avenue, Little Clacton, was not chosen to stay in the house on Mr Right, the ITV dating show, and was given her marching orders. She had made it into the last five but in the end Lance
A new road to cut congestion will only go ahead if it gets the backing of the community, residents have been assured. Officials at Castle Point Council are bracing themselves for controversy over plans to improve traffic flow in Benfleet. But Nigel Thomas
Taxi passengers in Castle Point could face a seven per cent hike in fares if drivers get their way, it emerged today. Drivers across the borough are hoping council members will approve their bid to increase fares after prices have stagnated for two years
A young girl triumphed at a national dance competition beating thousands of other young hopefuls. Sadie Stewart, 12, of Southfalls Road, Canvey, won the finals of Park Resorts' dance competition for 12 to 18-year-olds, picking up a trophy and £250. Happy
A father today blamed the council for the disruption he and his family have endured since demolition work started in his road. Council tenant Rodney Adams, 34, of Little Gypps Close, Canvey, and his wife and young child were promised the windows in their
Sprucing up Billericay is top of the agenda for the town council's team of eager gardeners. A tree planting ceremony was held yesterday as part of a scheme aimed at making sure Billericay is kept green throughout the year. Tree tonic - councillors Trevor
Plans to privatise a Laindon school have been formally dismissed by Essex County Council. James Hornsby High School is under special measures and the council has been considering bringing in new managers. But the school received a glowing report in an
A rift has emerged between residents over proposals for a youth centre at Richmond Park, Benfleet. A public meeting of the Benfleet area forum heard the Legacy charity, attached to St George's Church, want the centre to give young people focus. A show
Firefighters have support from the public for their strike but not as much as before. The Gazette carried out a straw poll in and around Colchester town centre yesterday finding out whether people backed the firefighters' strike action and whether they
Police are appealing for help after an elderly woman's handbag was snatched from her shopping trolley. The 77-year-old woman was in Savacentre, in Eastgate, on Monday at around 1pm when her bag containing her purse, pension book, house keys and credit
Cemetery chiefs in Colchester claim the service has been "turned around" since proposals to sell it off were ditched. The future of Colchester Cemetery and Crematorium in Mersea Road was cast into doubt earlier this year after a range of proposals were
One of the first call-outs of Army green goddesses in Colchester ended with the crew having to be rescued. The ageing engine, one of two covering the Colchester area during the firefighters' strike action, had to call in help from another Army truck after
A public inquiry into the £1billion superport at Shell Haven has been delayed following lobbying by Thurrock Council. And instead of three separate inquiries into different aspects of the development, one single inquiry will deal with the whole project
Left-hander Peter Leslie stormed to victory in Rochford Hundred's November medal on Saturday -- Sunday's competition was rained off. Leslie notched two birdies plus nine pars on his way to 78-8=70 which was good enough to take Division One honours ahead
Basildon firefighters have hit out at the Government's fire cover arrangements during the 48 hour stoppage, calling them "grossly inadequate and poorly distributed". The station, one of the busiest in Essex, receives on average ten calls every day. United
Ambulance drivers across south Essex have hit out at the Government for trying to drag them into the firefighters' dispute. Nick Bradley, Unison regional officer for Essex, expressed his concerns to firefighters on the picket line outside Basildon fire
Southend United's second-string registered their third successive victory at Cambridge yesterday afternoon -- extending their unbeaten record to four matches. The Seasiders cemented all three points at the Abbey Stadium by staging a strong second-half
A crime-busting calendar to help beat conmen has been launched in Colchester. It will give elderly or disabled people information on avoiding the misery of falling victim to bogus callers. The idea is believed to be a first. It is aimed at making residents
Acceptable behaviour contracts are being introduced in the Braintree and Witham area as a new way of dealing with neighbours from hell. Individuals will be asked to sign a six month contract with the district council and police as a way of curbing nuisance
Troops in south Essex were kept busy by a string of hoax callers on the first night of the firefighters' 48-hour strike. Police today vowed to crack down hard on malicious callers who could have put lives at risk by diverting Green Goddess engines from
Soldiers covering for striking north and mid Essex firefighters today dealt with their first house blaze. Nationwide, three people died in house fires after the strike began. For the first few hours after the walk-outs at 6pm, the green goddess crews
A driving force behind preserving Frinton and Walton's heritage has died. Clem Jones, who was a founder member of the Frinton and Walton Heritage Trust in 1983 and its first secretary, was 87. He died at Surrey Hospital. Mr Jones, who spent most of his
Basildon Library will become an artistic mecca over the next month as some of the area's top painters display their works. Seven artists from Basildon Community Resource Centre's Art Group will be exhibiting 47 works at the library over the next month
Thought-provoking music and drama workshops are grabbing the attention of pupils at a school this week. The events are part of a project being staged at Cornelius Vermuden School, in Third Avenue, Canvey, by the Christian band Taste on behalf of the youth
A veteran firefighter today condemned the fire strike. Soldiers are covering for striking Essex firefighters and have been called to about 20 incidents across the county since the strike began at 6pm yesterday. Last night they went to put out a grass
Thomas Gaardsoe is determined to repay the faith shown in him by new Ipswich Town boss Joe Royle. The centre-half has flourished since the manager took over at Portman Road, culminating with his best performance in a Blues shirt at Sheffield United on
Five south Essex tennis players have been called up for county duty later this month. The quintet will be joining the Essex men's and ladies' squads for the LTA Winter Indoor Championships from November 29 to December 1. Janice Torr - picked to represent
Moves to install closed-circuit television cameras along Clacton and Holland seafront may be stepped up after vandals targeted more than 20 beach huts. Doors were smashed, huts ransacked and items thrown onto the beach during the raid at the weekend.
A Basildon pub team is on the brink of the golfing trip of a lifetime after progressing in the Golfing Pub of the Year contest. Stuart Michaelson, Darren Turner, Ron Wilkes and Ray Short won the area heat at Crowborough Beacon and are preparing for the
Across Essex, 13 retained fire stations are responding to emergencies during the fire strike. The situation surrounding retained fire crews during the strike has remained unclear because some retained fire fighters are members of the Fire Brigades' Union
A heavy night of rain left mid and north Essex worrying about possible flooding. Homeowners between Braintree and Maldon were warned to batten down the hatches with flooding highly likely as the Blackwater swelled to worrying levels. There was a large
A driver had a lucky escape after her car smashed into a tree and careered 75 yards down the road before stopping. The accident happened as the woman drove along Haven Road, Canvey. Fire crews from Canvey were called after smoke began to come from the
There is good news for Brentwood gardeners thanks to two special offers from Essex County Council. In a bid to encourage more to try home composting Brentwood Council, as well as most local authorities in the borough, have teamed up with Essex Environmental
Fire marshals at Colchester Council have been rebriefed on arrangements during the strike. Gareth Mitchell, Colchester Council communications spokesman, said: "Our existing fire procedures cater fully for the changed emergency arrangements during the
An investigation has been launched after a man was crushed to death The married man, who was in his 40s, was killed in the accident at Mulley's Farm, Bentley Road, Little Bromley. Farm owner Stanley Roughley went to the man's side and gave first aid,
Thousands of households in Basildon are being sent questionnaires as the council tries to find out more about housing problems. Basildon Council is sending out 14,000 housing needs surveys and will be interviewing a further 600 people face to face. It
A man has spoken of his family's fear after a series of road accidents where cars smashed into their front garden. George Beckwith, of Witham Road, Black Notley, said: "We live on a bend and in the last few months we have had three cars come off the road
Kirsty Ayre could bounce before she could walk - and six years on, she is a trampolining champ. The Rayne youngster's mum and coach Sarah Ayre, 34, of Medley Road, Rayne, also competed at the British Trampolining Association London regional finals in
The concerns of residents and a nearby school did not play much of a role when councillors gave an application for eight houses the go-ahead. Members of the Wickford Area Committee were taken to the proposed area on and to the rear of Mount Road, Wickford
Pupils are causing hundreds of pounds' worth of damage as they travel in and out of Chelmsford on school buses. Les Smith, who has run Fargo buses for the past 25 years, is constantly having to deal with upset drivers and damage to his buses, which serve
A young mother has been sentenced for assaulting another woman in a nightclub. Amy Dean, 20, of Land Close, Clacton, punched the victim in the face, leaving her with a black eye. She was thrown out of Rumours nightclub in Clacton on June 28, by doormen
Joe Royle is aiming to complete a cup hat-trick tonight when he leads Ipswich Town into battle against Slovan Liberec. The Blues boss has a 100 per cent record in the UEFA and Worthington Cups so far, having inspired his side to a first-leg success against
The future of Ipswich Town football star Mark Venus "hangs in the balance" today after he was fined £3,000 for drink-driving in Colchester. Magistrates in Colchester heard how Venus, 35, of Boxhouse Lane, Dedham, was caught driving in Colchester with
A final decision on plans to build homes on a former woodyard in Fairfax Drive, Westcliff, will be made by Southend Council at its full meeting today. The proposals by Higgins Homes for houses and flats on the site, including ten affordable units, have
Shops in Colchester have been urged to take extra care during the strike. Recommendations made to shops include taking special care how combustable goods are stored and being more vigilant generally. Derek Ashbee, Culver Centre manager, said: "The advice
Plans for a massive new leisure complex for Southend have been rejected by councillors. The proposed site for a new David Lloyd Leisure club was described as "totally unsuitable" at Southend Council's development control committee. David Lloyd Leisure
Green Goddesses were forced to abandon Castle Point, Southend, during the first night of the fire strike to answer emergency calls as far away as Orsett and Chelmsford. Troops had to trek to Chelmsford to deal with two burning abandoned cars, to Grays
A Colchester firefighter, who was due to come on duty as the strike began, spoke of his feelings about the action. The officer, who did not want to be named, said he thought firefighters would be worried about the kind of emergencies which could happen
Every ward in Castle Point is to get perked up with a £5,000 cash boost, councillors decided. A full meeting of Castle Point Council agreed the extra budget which each area forum will decide how to spend. Canvey East Area Forum, which meets next on Wednesday
Pupils at a Brentwood school took a step back in time in an attempt to learn about classroom life in the Victorian era. Youngsters at Brentwood Preparatory School, in Shenfield Road, donned pinafores, mop hats, waist coats and peak caps for the day. Even
A controversial security fence put up without permission is to stay despite strong objections from environmental protesters. Harwich International Port fenced off Bathside Bay, an area it has earmarked for major development, last year. Tendring Council
A teacher has become one of the first in the country accredited to teach sex and relationship education. Karen Andrews, 36, received a certificate from Baroness Ashton, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for School Standards, at a special ceremony
