Archive

  • Swimming: Stylish start for Canvey squad

    Canvey Island Swimming Club kicked off the 2003 Essex Championships in style with four gold, six silver and two bronze medals from the 20 finals they made. Three of the club's swimmers were crowned champions at Fulwell Cross with 12-year-old Chris Chenery

  • Chelmsford: Search for Eileen

    Police are appealing for help in finding a missing Romany gipsy. Eileen Thomas, 55, who was known to sell heather in High Street, Chelmsford, was last seen at 8am on Tuesday, January 21, when she was dropped off at Wickford railway station. A police spokesman

  • Benfleet: Large conman on prowl

    Police today warned elderly people to beware of a fat conman who tried to dupe a 92-year-old. The woman, who is partially blind, opened her front door in Clifton Avenue, Benfleet, at around 9.30am yesterday and found a "very large" man on her doorstep

  • Castle Point: Youth centre kids raise £30K

    Youngsters were celebrating today after raising almost £30,000 for a new youth centre in just ten weeks. Tireless Legacy XS fundraisers have been working hard since Castle Point councillors unanimously agreed the £125,000 project should go ahead. We've

  • Clacton: Hunting for Jean's killer

    Detectives hunting for the murderer of Clacton widow Jean Dicker were today sifting through a mountain of information gathered from residents on the estate where she lived. Det Supt Gareth Wilson, who is leading the major investigation team, said they

  • Basildon, Grays: Nurses are the best says Brenda

    Nurses in Basildon's hard-pressed medical assessment unit have come in for a big vote of thanks from a woman who was rushed there as an emergency just before last week's big chill. Brenda Wiggins, of St George's Avenue, Grays, ended up in the unit when

  • Westcliff: Royal watcher welcomed

    More than 100 south Essex women were entertained by BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond at a gala lunch. Ms Bond was speaking at a meeting of the Ladies Executive Luncheon Club, in the Cumberland Suite, Pembury Road, Westcliff. Good humour - Jennie Bond

  • Southend: Split views on plans for airport

    Southend Airport's multi-million pound expansion has prompted opposition from Leigh town councillors. They were even urged to reconsider their long-standing support for the future of the airport in a motion put before the finance and general purposes

  • Mid-Essex: Post offices face wait over future

    Postmasters in mid Essex face an anxious three-year wait following plans to axe thousands of urban post offices. As part of The Post Office's Network Reinvention programme 3,000 of the country's 9,000 urban offices will be shut in the next three years

  • Essex: Rooting out our danger trees

    A team of special tree officers are rooting out dangerous trees near Essex schools in a bid to save lives. An eight-year-old schoolgirl was crushed to death by a falling tree as she played during her lunch break at a Surrey primary school. But an Essex

  • Southend: For the record, we're one year old

    A record label based in Southend is celebrating its first anniversary in style - at the Brit awards. MMP Music was set up by two lads from Westcliff, Darren Harvey and Dominic Westgarth, who both share a lifelong love of music. Off to the Brits - Lisa

  • Tendring: Taxpayers facing 2.5pc tax hike

    Homeowners in Tendring face an average district council tax rise of 2.5 per cent. This amounts to an average band D increase from £108.13 to £110.83 for 2003-4. The amount charged to Tendring Council taxpayers will be added to the other demands from Essex

  • Westcliff: Concern grows for Kayleigh

    Police are becoming increasingly worried for the safety of a 13-year-old with a mental age of eight who went missing a week ago. Kayleigh Raymond, who has learning difficulties, is from Dagenham, but was being fostered by a family in Westcliff when she

  • Colchester: Army wife attacks lack of leave time

    The wife of a soldier belonging to a Colchester Garrison regiment has branded the regiment's lack of leave before being deployed in the Gulf as "extremely unfair". A wife of a member of the 16 Close Support Medical Regiment said the regiment is getting

  • Harwich, Dovercourt: John takes reins as town manager

    A new town centre manager has been appointed for Harwich and Dovercourt. John Senior, 54, has taken over from Tony Whitmarsh, who resigned after more than two years in the job. Mr Senior has had senior management experience in the public and private sector

  • Tiptree: Police baffled by tank theft

    Police have been left baffled by the theft of a sceptic tank from a house in Tiptree. The tank, worth £3,500, was stolen from a house in Grove Farm Road, Tiptree. Det Sgt Roger Napier of Colchester CID, said the thieves had cut through fences and hedges

  • Essex: Fire chief hits back at claims

    Essex's Chief Fire Officer today denied he is plotting cuts for the brigade. David Turner spoke out after Fire Brigades' Union (FBU) accusations that the region's fire chiefs are "quietly getting on with the Government's dirty work". His comments come

  • Southend: Tearaways set to be tagged

    Tough new measures - including hi-tech surveillance and tagging - are to be launched as part of a clampdown on persistent young offenders. The teenage tearaways face "Big Brother" after Southend's youth offending team was given special powers from the

  • Swimming: Runnymede's triple trail of gala triumphs

    Runnymede Swimming club were victorious by a 53 point margin over nearest rivals, Harlow Penguins, in the Pat Carlane Trophy gala at Runnymede. This competition is held in memory of one of the club's founder members and 20 victories plus ten second places

  • Tennis: Ace Helen ponders quitting

    British number seven Helen Crook is considering hanging up her rackets at the end of the year. The 31-year-old Basildon player is competing in Qatar this week but thinks it may be time to call time on her pro playing career. Retirement from the circuit

  • Colchester: Even his pants have got to go

    Colchester United fans could soon be the proud owners of ex-manager Steve Whitton's used underwear in a "desperate" fundraising stunt by the club. With the managerial hotseat still warm following Mr Whitton's departure last week, the club is auctioning

  • Dovercourt: Car sent flying after collision

    An elderly couple's car was sent flying into the air after it was hit almost head-on by a sports car travelling on the wrong side of the road, an inquest heard. Alfred, 83, and Annie Clatworthy, 82, of Keynes Way, Dovercourt, died at the scene following

  • Colchester: 150 jobs under threat at Paxman Diesels

    About 150 jobs could be lost at one of Colchester's best known firms. Talks with staff at Paxman Diesels are now underway following an announcement made to workers yesterday about the firm's future. Although no redundancy notices have yet been sent to

  • Eastwood: David Lloyd centre plans kicked out

    Plans for a multi-million pound David Lloyd leisure centre in Snakes Lane, Eastwood, have been refused for a second time. Councillors gave the application short shrift, with a large majority voting to uphold their original refusal. Roger Weaver (Eastwood

  • Canvey: Travellers make neat vow as they move in

    Travellers who have set up camp near a boatyard have vowed to leave the site as they found it when they move on. Concerns had been raised over the state the council-owned land, off Canvey Road, Canvey, would be left in after the convoy of caravans arrived

  • St Osyth: Housing development blocked

    A block has been put on plans to build 34 new homes on the edge of a historic village. RK Group Holding bought 1.78 acres of land from Essex County Council to develop part of the former Priory Meadow School site at St Osyth. Part has already been given

  • Soccer: Molby wants U's job

    If Colchester United are looking for larger than life new manager they need look no further than Danish international Jan Molby. The former Liverpool and Ajax midfielder revealed today that he is one of contenders for the vacant U's manager's job. "I

  • Chelmsford: Royal Mail centre closure to go ahead

    The closure of Royal Mail's Chelmsford distribution centre is to go ahead. Last-ditch attempts to stop the closure of the Essex Distribution Centre in New Dukes Way have failed. And it has been announced that 79 jobs will now go although there will be

  • Tendring: Charges set for youth fun event

    Charges look set to be brought in for a popular crime-busting scheme, which aims to keep youngsters off the streets of Tendring and out of trouble during the summer holidays. One parent has attacked the charge, saying she will now consider if her children

  • Colchester: Row over bike shed in front of house

    A Colchester couple are standing their ground over a shed they are building at the front of their home. Pete and Rachael Tebbs, of Lethe Grove, put up the two-metre structure as a shelter for their children's bikes. But Colchester Council stepped in after

  • Basildon: Prison term cut for addict who robbed

    A former heroin addict who lured a 70-year-old woman into a Basildon alleyway before robbing her has had her sentence slashed at London's appeal court. Lynette Saiche, 25, from Whitmore Court, Basildon, targeted Olive Richardson as she walked through

  • Southend: Hand is trapped in press

    A man suffered horrific crush injuries to his hand after he became trapped in a printing press. The 49-year-old had been cleaning the press at Britton Mailing, a polyethylene and polythene envelope manufacturers, on the Temple Farm Industrial Estate,

  • Athletics: Jumper Mitchell is making big strides

    Southend athlete Mitchell Wilkin has gained further recognition from the Scottish Athletics Federation. He gained an international vest for Scotland last summer and then won the Scottish Championships for both long and triple jumps. Mitchell also finished

  • Colchester: Anger over vagrants

    Retailers want action to stop homeless people drinking and taking drugs in Colchester town centre. At a meeting of Colchester Town Centre Forum last night, members heard how homeless people were seen drinking and taking drugs near the Baptist Church,

  • Tennis: Chadwell task is too much for Leigh lads

    A county divisional final proved a bridge to far for Leigh's junior boys team. A series of consistent performances throughout the winter season saw the quartet win the Division 3C championship. The four -- Jamie Moir, James Pilcher, Ben Hunter and Ben

  • Little Clacton: Sports pavilion revamp on table

    A revamp to village facilities is being considered by parish councillors Little Clacton Recreational Trust hopes to bring its sports pavilion at Plough Corner facilities up to football's Border League standard. The £65,000 project will see the extension

  • Southend: Sorry we said your daughter was dead

    A family was left devastated after wrongly being told by police their daughter was dead. As relatives of Karen Ambrose, 33, attempted to come to terms with the news, she was in fact alive and well at her boyfriend's house, in Malvern Heights, Southend

  • Chelmsford: Plans to make town cultural centre

    Plans to make Chelmsford a major cultural centre were unveiled by the borough council on Wednesday. The plan, which will need £30 million investment, includes a £25million multiplex theatre and concert centre at Chelmer Waterside. Council leader Mike

  • Benfleet: Inspector labels a school 'outstanding'

    Celebration filled the air at a Benfleet school after it was praised in a new report by education watchdog, Ofsted. Headteacher Shirley Tait said everyone at Kents Hill Infant School was delighted with the commendation which followed an "outstanding"

  • Soccer: Robson - from Blues to U's?

    Southend United's new head coach Stewart Robson is planning to jump ship to Essex rivals Colchester -- just 18 days after arriving at Roots Hall. The 38-year-old was appointed by Third Division Blues' co-owner Ron Martin to give extra help to Shrimpers

  • Billericay: Tapas bar for town

    A popular Billericay bar is to be revamped into a trendy tapas bar. Gary Stewart, manager of Quilters Bar, on Noak Hill Road, will take control of Webbers wine bar at the end of the month. The bar, which has been in the High Street since 1976, will be

  • Colchester: Top brass take over at busy time

    It's all change for 16 Air Assault Brigade at Colchester Garrison. Some of the top brass have been meeting with civic dignitaries in what could be one of the busiest times for the Garrison as Colchester troops await deployment to the Gulf. New Garrison

  • Grays: Club looks for home

    A club which organises activities where the physically handicapped and able-bodied can mix socially is pleading for help to find a new home. Grays Phab Club has become increasingly popular since it started five months ago, but is now facing a crisis.

  • Murder mystery probe back on

    Detectives hope to solve a 35-year-old Essex murder mystery using new technology. The sexually-motivated killing in 1968 is to be re-examined thanks to new DNA technology. Police declined to give details of the case. A number of other unsolved serious

  • Angling: Martin on song for match win

    Canvey matchman Richard Martin weighed in a cracking 16lb 4oz 8dr mixed catch to collect the first prize at Sunday's Ridley Angling Products-sponsored Gloucester Park Open. Richard fished a peg on the canal stretch just past the Eastern end of the island

  • General: Brick plan to cement future of Rec

    Plans to bring improved sporting facilities to Stanford-le-Hope have taken a signinifcant step foward. The Stanford-le-Hope Recreation Ground User Group (SRGUG) have launched a Buy-a-Brick scheme in which they aim to raise £15,000. Firm footing - Angela

  • Castle Point: Sports stars get a council salute

    Castle Point Sports Council has honoured the district's favourite sons. The annual sports council awards were presented last night and saw three sportsmen and two clubs receive trophies. Winners - lining up at the awards night were (l-r): Major Claude

  • Billericay: £650,000 renovation for Barleylands Farm

    One of Billericay's top attractions is to undergo a £650,000 renovation. Barleylands Farm Museum, in Barleylands Road, will use the money to double its number of craft studios, build a new museum barn, reception and car park. A large part of the funding

  • Clacton: Our family are off to the Gulf

    Proud parents are preparing to say goodbye to three members of their family who are set to leave for the Gulf. Sue and Geoffrey Finch, who live in Clacton, have two sons and a daughter-in-law who are putting the finishing touches to their kit before they

  • Basketball: Leopards look for points against Bullets

    Tomorrow sees the Leopards in action at the Brentwood Centre when the visitors are the Birmingham Bullets. Leopards, currently eighth in the League on 14 points, received a bonus when the team directly above them, the old foe London Towers lost both their

  • St Osyth: 1,000 visit flood display

    More than 1,000 people poured through the doors of a village hall to visit an exhibition staged to commemorate the Great Flood of 1953 The event was put on by St Osyth Historical Society over three days. Phyl Hendy said it was a major success and they

  • Southend: Hunt on for more lollipops

    A reruitment campaign was today under way to fill 18 vacancies for lollipop women and men across Southend. A council spokesman said: "This is not a funding issue, but due to the fact that at the moment we don't have enough recruits who wish to carry out

  • Colchester: Disabled woman robbed

    A thief stole a wheelchair-bound woman's shopping and then just walked away. The disabled woman had been shopping in Colchester at about 1.45pm yesterday when the man struck. She was outside Wilkinsons, in St John's Street, when a man took her shopping

  • Frinton: Store's sub-post office to shut

    A sub-post office in Frinton is to close, it has been confirmed. The post office at Pole Barn Lane Stores is to shut on Thursday, March 6, but the shop will remain open. Jan Cook, who has run the stores since 1991, said she was intending to use the extra

  • Southend: School gets glowing report

    A Southend school is just months away from being removed from the Government's special measures register following a glowing inspection report. Bournemouth Park Junior School was found to be making "good progress overall" according to the latest report

  • Benfleet: Youngsters take cakes

    Two cheeky youths stole biscuits and cakes from a Benfleet newsagents after they were refused cigarettes. The youngsters, thought to be in their early teens, entered the store in the High Road at around 11am on Monday. They sprinted off with the goods

  • Castle Point: MP's asylum warning

    Radical changes to the asylum system is the only way to develop a "fairer and safer system", according to Castle Point's MP. Bob Spink today called on the Government to take urgent action for the sake of genuine refugees and the British public. He said

  • Cricket: Basildon looking for a net gain

    With the Cricket World Cup starting on Sunday, now is the time to start thinking about the sound of leather on willow. And that is exactly what local cricket clubs are doing in preparation for the new season. Basildon and Pitsea Cricket club have started

  • Basildon: Double boost for council tenants

    Basildon Council tenants were given a double boost today with the news that rents are to be restructured and there will be more choice of homes. The council's executive board has decided there will be no across-the-board rent increases for Basildon tenants

  • Colchester: Works blueprint gets thumbs-up

    Government inspectors have given a broad thumbs-up to the council's blueprint for the future of Colchester. A public inquiry was held by the inspectors last year to look over every aspect of the "local plan" drawn up by the council to determine how the