A pub has been given permission to allow caravans on its land for longer - despite complaints from a neighbour. The Strangers Home caravan site in Bradfield used to be able to let caravans stay during the summer for up to 14 days. It applied to Tendring
A row has erupted at Castle Point Council over fears the authority will run out of cash by next year. Angry opposition members branded the Labour budget a "cock-up". They spoke as the borough council fixed this year's council tax increase at just six
The new owner of a historic house at the centre of a long-running dispute hopes it will eventually be restored. But Peter Thompson Bates, a Manningtree town councillor, has warned it will take time. Nutcrackers, a mid-terrace Grade II listed building
A man who punched a taxi driver in the face is starting a prison sentence. Nickolas Wilson, 24, of Gascoigne Way, Billericay, tried to get into a taxi ordered by another man in Shoebury on December 9. Southend Magistrates' Court heard the men agreed to
A campaign to try to halt plans to build the world's largest offshore wind farm has been taken to the top. Tendring councillor and Frinton mayor Nick Turner has taken his protest to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry after failing to get backing
Diver Mick Brown is holding his breath to see if he has created a new world record. Mick, 50, stayed underwater for seven hours and 15 minutes on a single 12-litre tank of air. The previous record was about six hours. Mick, of Salisbury Road, Holland-on-Sea
Christmas may be a long forgotten dream for most of us - but for St Luke's Hospice in Basildon, the presents are still flowing in. Christmas bonus - Marilyn Munt from St Luke's accepts the cash from estate agent partner Anthony Quirk Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY
A Canvey pup came within a whisker of being named Britain's top dog in a national competition searching for the best-looking pooch. Toby, a two-year-old retriever from Canvey, was entered in the "pick of the pooches" competition by owners, the Nuckley
Campaigners held a candlelit vigil in protest at Southend Airport's plans to demolish their church. Members of St Laurence Church in Eastwoodbury Lane, Eastwood, attended a special service where they prayed for the church's survival. Silent vigil - candles
Castle Point mayor Charles Smith has accused neighbouring Basildon Council of being racist. The damning accusation was made in response to criticism from the leader of Basildon Council, Malcolm Buckley. Mr Buckley accused Castle Point of appearing to
The parents of a young man who died in a car crash paid tribute today to their "fun-loving" and "popular" son. Matthew O'Shea, 20, was driving his Ford Ka along Rayleigh Road, Eastwood, when he lost control and hit a lamp post near the junction with Tudor
Stunned Rod Oldham was speechless when a 7ft high ice cream cone appeared outside his Westcliff fish and chip shop - five months after it was stolen. Happy return - Rod Oldham with the cone Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL Rod, who owns Oldham's in West Road,
Colchester police have been called on to answer calls faster. It follows an incident in the Monkwick area in which a woman tried to contact the police station, off Butt Road, about children setting paper alight near her home in Sturmer Court. Despite
Canvey Island hope to have ex-Football League star Jeff Minton fit as they resume their Ryman Premier title bid at home to Basingstoke tonight. Former Port Vale, Brighton and Leyton Orient man Minton gave a man-of-the-match performance in the 2-1 FA Trophy
Southend Airport cannot survive unless St Laurence Church is moved or demolished, according to bosses. Other alternatives to give the required new safety measures at the airport could have cost more than £50million and led to massive property demolition
Southend United utility man Daryl Sutch will commit himself to the Shrimpers until the end of the season this week. The 31-year-old joined Blues on a free transfer from First Division Norwich City at the beginning of January and has proved his value,
Douglas Carswell has won a bottle of whisky from the man whose job he wants. Mr Carswell, the Conservative who will be contesting the Harwich MP's seat at the next General Election, took part in a raffle to raise funds for St Nicholas' Church spire appeal
A Colchester United player is to swap defending her goal-line for defending her country. Women's first-team member Jacqui Crombie has received her call-up papers and is off to the Gulf in about a week with 12 other Army prison officers. She said: "I'm
A mother-of-four studying in her spare time appealed today to thieves to return two years of coursework stolen from her car. Teresa Peters, of Rochester Way, Basildon, has been going to Basildon Adult Community College for almost two years. Victim - Teresa
A new project being piloted in Chelmsford Prison - and funded by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) - is aimed at encouraging convicted prisoners to become honest businessmen. The initiative was first conceived by the Southend Enterprise Agency
Parents and staff at a centre for disabled children are celebrating after winning their battle to keep it open. Fairways Observation Centre came under threat when Southend Council proposed the transfer of the children to mainstream schools. Thumbs up
A competition contestant was so determined to win his cash he carried on playing the radio challenge despite being involved in an accident. Richard Saltmarsh, of Church Street, Witham, had pulled over on the A127 during the big freeze on Friday morning
Previous meetings between the two local rival clubs have been heated affairs and this one did not disappoint. The cold, wet conditions made for a game full of dropped passes. Billericay suffered a crucial blow after ten minutes when centre David Draper
Never say never were the sentiments of Norwich City first team coach and Colchester United managerial target Steve Foley today. "The timing couldn't be worse," he said "I've still got another two-and-a-half-years to complete at Carrow Road and I'm very
A futures trading company which arrived in Essex three years is now planning 'DIY Share Trading' courses aimed at opening the mysteries of the stock market to the public. Arjun Rose, one of the directors of the Candlestick Trading Company which operates
Rochford residents are being invited to enjoy the best of the district as it bursts into spring - and improve their health at the same time. Rochford Stepping into Spring is a programme of health walks which are fun - and also beneficial. The 30-minute
William Edwards from Grays won the Tag Festival held at Oakfield that featured 11 schools from the Thurrock and Dartford areas. Smashing grab - a player gets ready to tear an opponent's tag off during the match between William Edwards and Aveley School
Southend United new boy Stephen Kelly today thanked Blues for giving him the chance to play first team football. The 19-year-old centre-half breezed through both his Shrimpers and league debut during Saturday's 3-0 drubbing of Hull City, after signing
A man who threatened a Shoebury shopkeeper has received a community sentence. Robert Fishlock, 38, of Coleman Street, Southend, admitted two charges of threatening behaviour on March 14 and 17 last year. Fishlock was said to have threatened the female
Almost £60,000 of benefit fraud has been investigated in the Braintree area as a direct result of tip-offs to a confidential hotline. Braintree Council's "fone a fraudster" line has gone from strength-to-strength since being set up in 2000, and this financial
Steve Wignall today threw his hat in the ring for the Colchester United manager's job. The former Layer Road central defender-cum-team boss, who guided the U's to two Wembley finals and into the Second Division via two promotion play-offs in his four
Patients who have been treated in mid Essex hospitals are being asked to give their views about the services they have received. As part of a national patient survey programme 1,700 patients who have been through the accident and emergency department
Funky blues merchants the Rockin' Armadillos play their first Essex gig of 2003 on Friday. Frontman Tim Aves promises Friday's show, in the Club Room at the Ship, in Leigh's New Road, will feature the Armadillos' new twin-guitar lineup (with ex-Red White
A blind woman is worried for her own safety and that of her guide dog because vandals regularly target her home. Barbara Gilhooly even feared she would lose her three-year-old dog Harmony as the damage to her garden breaches Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
Three sailors had a lucky escape when their boat hit Southend Pier and sank. The men climbed up the pier seconds before the 22ft angling boat went under just after 2pm yesterday. The boat had engine failure and Southend inshore lifeboat was on its way
A gang of youths robbed a man with learning difficulties in broad daylight. The 37-year-old was approached by the gang in Lavenham Close, Clacton. One of the youngsters threatened to punch him before the gang ran off with the man's stereo and speakers
Police are appealing for witnesses after two men rammed an unmarked police car and escaped on foot. One man was caught following a chase through Southend yesterday afternoon but the other man, believed to be the driver, is still at large. The incident
Two Colchester schools are to be redeveloped and expanded to cope with about 650 new pupils. Both Thomas, Lord Audley School and Language College, in Monkwick, and Alderman Blaxill School, in Shrub End, face a giant increase in pupil numbers over the
The price of bus passes in Basildon could be reduced after pensioners and Labour councillors won the right to have the subject reviewed. The scrutiny committee of Basildon Council has called in the decision on concessionary fares and may choose to refer
The victim of a "horrific attack" who died in the hallway of her home was just beginning to get her life back together after the death of her husband. Jean Dicker, 58, was coming to terms with the loss of Len her husband of more than 40 years who died
Claims that tunnels under the Cliffs Pavilion in Westcliff, could have led to recent landslips continue to cause controversy. Builder David Layzell, 57, of Wimborne Road, Southend, backed reports that there were deep tunnels under the cliffs while the
Plans for South Woodham's Champion's Manor Hall are still to be finalised. At a town council meeting last week, councillors considered revisions to the plans for the community centre on Hullbridge Road. Councillors will now meet on February 17 to decide
The controversial Virgin Active site in Thundersley is starting to take shape. The start of major features like the swimming pool are already in evidence at the multi-million pound sports complex in Rayleigh Road. Contract manager Sam Rahman said: "We
Police have appealed for information about two teenage girls who went missing last weekend. Chantelle Louise Watson, 13, and 16-year-old Kelly Monk were last seen together at 1pm on Sunday, February 2, in Southend High Street. Chantelle told her mother
There's plenty of action in the Ryman League Bryco Cup tonight with Grays hosting Aylesbury in the fourth round and possibly lining-up their second clash with Canvey Island in four days. The two meet at Grays Rec in the Premier Division on Saturday and
Although Southend ran away with this game after half time, it was a hard-fought physical battle. Indeed, it became over-physical at one point, with one of Southend's players suffering a broken leg as a result of an unpunished off-the-ball incident. Club
An in-depth review of parking in Ingatestone is getting under way in the coming weeks. The parking plagued village was promised a full review during negotiations over the decriminalisation of parking within the borough and now a working group is being
Southend United's loan winger Daniel Marney admitted today he still wants to have a long term future with First Division strugglers Brighton and Hove Albion. The 21-year-old has proved a useful acquisition for Blues on the right-flank and is currently
A Colchester printing company has blamed problems with converting the pound into euros as part of the reason why it is shedding 39 jobs. Technotrans Graphics will be shutting down part of its manufacturing business in the town and moving it to its headquarters
Teenager Jenny Canavan has every right to be smiling after beating off the challenge of thousands of other hopefuls in a modelling competition. Jenny, 13, has been shortlisted as one of six finalists for the national contest - with a modelling contract
Westcliff took their unbeaten league record to 13 when completing the double over Old Brentwoods. The teams were well matched but the early attacks came from the visitors. Old Brentwoods looked certain to go into the lead with a penalty goal when Westcliff
Robin Knight and Catherine Wass were crowned male and female sports personalities of the year at last night's awards evening. The Evening Gazette/Colchester and District Sports Council personality of the year event was held at the Moot Hall in Colchester
