A blunder which saw Essex County Council's private security arragements posted on the web was today magnified as it was revealed the Queen may visit one location featured within weeks. Yesterday, the it was revealed that sensitive information about CCTV
A crackdown on abandoned vehicles in the Braintree and Witham areas has led to a dramatic drop in the number of cars cluttering up the roadside. But council chiefs say they are still facing problems dealing with false reports of abandoned vehicles. Tough
A company which produces porcelain models of village scenes has admitted to a blunder which left residents angry and confused. Kent-based Decor Art Creations upset Great Bentley villagers after advertising a crockery set it claimed had been designed for
A meeting addressing the "state" of Castle Point will soon take place involving all the borough's councillors. The annual debate will be next Monday at the council headquarters in Kiln Road, Thundersley, at 7.30pm. Borough secretary John Waugh said "The
A young mum has spoken of her fears after her home was repeatedly targeted by burglars. Lynn Guy says she is now too scared to stay in her Greenstead home after burglaries "cleared her out" on two occasions - once when she was asleep in another room -
Not a single drug dealer has been caught by a £20,000 CCTV system - because it is still sitting in its box Colchester Council revealed last May that it had won Government cash to spend on two portable cameras to hamper drug selling and taking on the town's
Southend United manager Rob Newman today offered Blues fans the chance to question him face to face. Some fans have been calling for the Shrimpers chief's head following Saturday's 1-0 defeat at fellow Third Division strugglers Carlisle. Upwardly mobile
Signet are a relatively new youth soccer club with a real ring of confidence about their future. For the Basildon-based outfit, formed in June 2001 by former Hullbridge under-18 boss Liam Quinn and another dad with just two players as they weren't happy
Controversial plans to completely demolish historic St Laurence Church to make way for an expansion of Southend Airport have been revealed. Make-or-break proposals have been lodged with Southend Council to demolish the 11th Century church to allow the
An investigation is under way today after two Army helicopters made heavy landings after experiencing difficulties. The two Lynx helicopters, from RAF Wattisham in Suffolk, landed in a field near Tillingham yesterday afternoon. A Ministry of Defence spokesman
Mobile phone giant Vodafone had its wrist slapped today after a toddler nearly choked to death on a promotional throat lozenge. Linette Richardson, 35, of Lombardy Close, Pitsea, complained to the Advertising Standards Agency after son Ryan, two, swallowed
Health bosses are to ask for plans to close a surgery near Colchester to be put on hold Members of Colchester Primary Trust's (PCT) board discussed plans for the Constable County Rural Medical Practice, which wants to close its Parsons Field Surgery because
Joe Dunne could be back in action for Colchester United by the end of the season. But only if his recovery from vital knee surgery continues to improve as it is at the moment. The U's favourite told the Essex County Standard this week: "I want to get
Coastguard call-outs where rescue services helped those at risk in Essex almost tripled last year. Figures for 2002, which were released this week, show that rescue teams were called out 283 times and they rescued 151 people. During the year 1018 people
A decision to name a street in Tiptree after a boy who died of cancer is to be reconsidered after parish councillors said the boy had not lived in the village very long. Chris Arnold, Colchester Council's transport portfolio holder, had agreed a new road
New moves are to be made in a bid to back struggling Tendring farmers who have diversified into tourist-related activities. They are being offered free promotional help to pull in the visitors - and even a specially dedicated website, if the response
This is the animal which gave motorists in mid Essex an "allaming" experience when they saw it walking along the A120 near Braintree. Bizarrely it turned out the llama was on a sponsored walk with its owner Rosita Apasa. Essex Police and the RSPCA received
Explosive liquid started to leak from a petrol tanker which left an icy road and overturned into a ditch. The vehicle was travelling along Bentley Road in Weeley when the accident happened. Emergency services at the scene of the tanker accident It was
Southend Volunteer Bureau is hoping local people will make a new year's resolution to help others less fortunate than themselves. The bureau can offer a whole range of opportunities to choose from, including advice work, befriending, childcare, fundraising
The best decorated shop, house and pub in Wickford for Christmas will be rewarded with trophies and rosettes today. The winners are: Best decorated shop - 1 Garbett chemist, 2 Medcalf's electric store, 3 Images hairdressers, 4 Geo's hair salon and 5 Prime
A lifeboat stalwart is to get a top award. Philip Oxley, secretary of the Walton and Frinton lifeboat, is to be presented with the RNLI's gold badge in recognition of his long and outstanding operational service. Mr Oxley has been a volunteer with the
A young man has appeared in court after swearing at a teacher on school property. Gavin Foakes, 20, of Mundon Road, Maldon, admitted two charges of causing a disturbance at the town's Upper Plume School in Fambridge Road. Chelmsford magistrates yesterday
This is the gun believed used by three youths who have been arrested by police over a sniper who has been randomly shooting vehicles in Billericay. The three youngsters, who have not been named, were arrested after this gas powered BB gun was recovered
Domestic violence on the Northlands Park estate in Pitsea is due to be tackled by a drama group and police. Pitsea police have received £3,000 from Interlock Northlands Park to produce a video raising awareness of domestic violence and encouraging residents
Major plans to develop a Clacton town centre site for a new pub and restaurant have been put on ice for the next year. Woking-based SFI Group - which operates the Litten Tree - has a lease on the former amusement arcade in Pier Avenue. The company was
The freezing temperatures may have put off some of their friends in other zoos but the animals at the Colchester attraction are taking it in their stride. Humboldt penguins in Chester Zoo stayed indoors but in Colchester it was only the babies, still
An 82-year-old widow told today how she has been without heating since being sent home from hospital ten weeks ago. Rose Day has been forced to wear a woolly hat and wrap up in blankets at her sheltered housing flat in Basildon because storage radiators
Homeless children were treated to a slap-up party by Southend Taxi Drivers' Charity. The 30 youngsters from the town's homeless centre and women's refuges enjoyed clowns and a disco before a tasty hot meal. Tasty - Luke and Damion Baker have a great time
When the Essex apparatus finals were held at Colchester, six gymnasts from Wickford based Carousel Club qualified at various levels. At Level Three, Wickford's Dawn Scholey became champion, winning gold for her dynamic vault and also taking first place
A driver who crashed his Jaguar after skidding on ice criticised the council's lack of preparation for the bout of snow. Nicholas Scott, 31, of Hart Road, Thundersley, smashed his 18-month-old Jag on his way to the gym yesterday morning. Plea - Nicholas
Thousands of Colchester council tenants could be affected by Labour's plans to slash "right to buy" discounts. The plans, announced by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, would halve discounts on buying council houses in property hot-spots. With 6,500
Firefighters in Basildon were today celebrating after being the only region in Essex to notch up a year free of fire-related deaths. It is the first time in more than a decade that the area - the busiest for fires in the county - has achieved the distinction
Drivers are angry at the state of the main road from the Tendring coast to Colchester after long delays getting into work They claim the A133 was not properly gritted to deal with Monday night's snowfall and freezing temperatures which made driving conditions
Castle Point MP Bob Spink has demanded the Government hands out medals to those who worked on submarines during the Cold War. Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Spink said: "Will the Prime Minister consider awarding a campaign medal to recognise the
A woman was left shattered after burglars stole her father's ashes while she tended to her terminally-ill grandmother. Michelle Shani, of Woolmergreen, Basildon, was burgled while she was at her grandmother's home. Burglars entered Michelle's house, taking
Castle Point MP Bob Spink was guest of honour at the opening of a kids' club that has had to change venue as it is so popular. The Woodside Kids Club is now being run from Montgomery Infants School, in Rushbottom Lane, Benfleet, as it has a bigger hall
Heavy snow caused chaos across south Essex today. Roads were closed as blizzard conditions caused dozens of crashes. Snow way out - the wintery scene at Cranes Farm Road in Basildon today Picture: DAVE HENDERSON The A13 was shut by police at Bread and
Rapid response "clean" teams were called to a Braintree estate after youths threw about 40 rubbish bags around a street. Margaret Horracks, of Stanes Road, said there were 40 bags strewn across nearby Camberton Road, by the garages and at the end of the
People with learning difficulties in Southend could soon have their own "parliament" to make sure their interests are represented in the life of the town. The decision to set up the forum was made at a conference for people with a learning difficulty
There was bad news for Essex skipper Ronnie Irani today as he captained England to defeat against Australia's Bradman XI. Australian captain Mark Waugh scored 108 to lead the Bradman XI past England's total of 279 for eight with three overs to spare.
A Co-op store could be built next door to another Co-op shop. Colchester and East Essex Co-Operative Society has submitted a planning application to Colchester Council seeking permission to build a new store in the car park of its existing store in Chapel
A war of words has broken out over a blocked ditch which is causing a chicken farmer's field to flood. Bill Brown, who owns the farm in Thorpe Road, Little Clacton, says the ditch in Holland Road which runs beside his land is not draining because it is
It will be the end of one era and the beginning of another one at one of Colchester's top music venues after the announcement The Twist pub in Military Road is being sold. Run by Kev Hiles for the last 12 years, he and his wife Hollie decided to sell
A new traffic system will mean the temporary closure of a lane on Balkerne Hill in Colchester. Traffic lights are set to be installed at the corner of a road halfway down the hill which leads to the former St Mary's Hospital site. It will be used to allow
A man who was assaulted in Witham has been left blind in one eye. The Witham man, in his 30s, was injured in the area of the White Hart pub, Newland Street, on New Year's Eve. He was taken to hospital with severe head and facial injuries and there were
Leopards fans arriving at the Brentwood Centre on Sunday afternoon for the "derby game" were probably not filled with optimism. Recent performances at Chester and Birmingham had been below par and the record book showed that Towers had won the last five
Southend United's reserve team boss Steve Tilson admitted he was stunned by the late postponement of last night's Essex Senior Cup quarter-final at Conference League Dagenham and Redbridge. With fans already inside the Daggers' ground and the players
Southend Airport will close unless it gets approval for its latest plans, claims Rochford and Southend East Tory MP Sir Teddy Taylor. He said he was a strong supporter of the airport and believed the proposals were the best alternative. He added: "The
James Hornsby School head caretaker Alan Turp came to the rescue when the two-day New Year West Ham in the Community Soccer School went ahead at the Laindon venue. For it was a case of "everybody in" when monsoon-like rain which hit the south-east during
A special exhibition at Southend Central Library in Victoria Avenue to mark the anniversary of the Holocaust has been opened by the town's mayor Alan Crystall. It is part of the commemorations which the borough is planning for Holocaust Memorial Day on
Work to dual the A120 between Braintree and Stansted Airport is still on track despite the recent heavy rain. Most major bridge and earth works were completed before the worst of the winter weather set in and most of this year will be spent laying road
Basildon's Alan Busby went home £100 richer after claiming first place at Sunday's Ridley Angling products sponsored Gloucester Park Open. Alan, whose 18lb 2oz haul consisted entirely of roach, fished the incoming canal using pole tactics and caster baits
The troubled Woodgrange Estate is to get CCTV after residents voted overwhelmingly to pay for its upkeep. Estuary Housing Association, which owns the 600 homes on the estate where 27-year-old Barry Redsull died in November, has secured funding to install
The manager of an Indian restaurant whose chef was kidnapped and racially abused has told how staff and customers are determined to work through the trauma caused by the incident. Rupa Miah, 28, who runs the Baburchi restaurant, in Stock Road, West Hanningfield
An Essex councillor has been given a tongue-lashing by feminist writer Germaine Greer when he tried to enlist her backing for the Stop Stansted Expansion campaign. Alan Dean, of Uttlesford District Council, called at her Great Chesterford home hoping
A teenager was killed after being hit by a minibus. The 18-year-old, from Billericay, was walking along the carriageway of the A132 at Battlesbridge last night. He was travelling north-east towards South Woodham Ferrers at around 11.35pm when he was hit
Tiptree United saw their fourth round Essex Senior Cup match with Waltham Abbey called off for the FIFTH time last night. The Chapel Road pitch was frozen as temperatures plummeted and Jam-makers manager Neil Farlie joked: "The players didn't have ice
A stretch of coastline in the historic Shoebury Garrison is to be opened up for the first time in more than 150 years as part of massive redevelopment. The 180-acre garrison site, including several miles of coastline, has been off limits ever since the
After the frustrations of rain, Billericay Town's plans of getting back into Ryman Premier action last night were scuppered by a frostbound pitch. Gary Calder's men had been hopeful of going ahead with their scheduled home match with Boreham Wood -- originally
Homes in the Witham area are being leafleted to encourage people to use a long-campaigned for new bus route to Broomfield Hospital - or face losing it. The 344 service from Witham, Hatfield Peverel and Terling to Broomfield Hospital and Chelmsford was
This is the face of one of the men who carjacked a chef and subjected him to a six-hour ride of terror. Police have released the e-fit picture of one of the duo they believe kidnapped the chef before dumping him in a field. It is believed the image may
Nearly two people a week are looking at setting up new neighbourhood watch groups in Colchester. Dozens of new neighbourhood watch groups got up and running in 2002 and many more look like being set up this year. The current number stands at well above
Benfleet residents were today urged to express their views on a series of traffic improvement schemes planned for Castle Point. The public will get the chance to give their opinions on a number of proposals that will be showcased at the Benfleet area
Mid Essex could be getting its second mosque. The Maldon Islamic Cultural Association (MICA) is hoping to buy a cycle shop in Wantz Road, Maldon, and convert it into a place of worship. The registered charity is currently using the town's Labour Hall
