A lottery cash boost to improve the Tyrells Centre in Benfleet - which helps elderly people - is being celebrated by staff and supporters. Managers applied for a National Lottery grant so improvements could be made in the areas surrounding the building
A fresh bid to revamp Westcliff's Cliffs Pavilion as a top regional theatre and cultural venue for Essex could soon be launched. Southend Council is looking at ways in which cash for the multi-million pound scheme could be mustered. The plan, which would
Aerospace giant BAE Systems - which employs 1,400 workers at its Basildon branch - has strengthened its presence in America by buying another contractor. The country's biggest defence contractor has agreed to buy Mevatec Corporation of Huntsville, Alabama
With the ladies world snooker championship just around the corner, Wickford's Lisa Ingall reached the semi-finals of the Connie Goss Memorial Tournament. Lisa beat Sarah Clarke 3-1 and Caroline Walsh 3-2 before losing out 4-2 to Emma Bonney in the semi-finals
The launch of Brentwood Police's controversial name and shame campaign has been stopped in its tracks, less than 72 hours before the first poster was to be put up. Essex Police confirmed the scheme was due to go ahead after no appeal action was brought
West Ham's Lee Bowyer could face a cauldron of hatred when he returns to former club Leeds United tomorrow. The midfielder angered many Leeds fans by refusing to negotiate a new contract with the club and leaving on a cut-price deal. And with demonstrations
Southend United boss Rob Newman has ordered his troops to complete the second part of their Roots Hall mission against Bristol Rovers tomorrow. The Shrimpers chief demanded maximum points from two home games last weekend and everything went to plan with
A school sixthform, branded as failing by Government inspectors, was today on the road to recovery following a glowing inspection report. Cecil Jones High School sixthform, in Eastern Avenue, Southend, was the first school in the country to fall into
Antique hunters with an eye for a bargain were filmed at a Colchester auction house for a show which will be screened later this month. The team from Tall Tales and Antique Sales filmed goods going under the hammer at an auction at Reeman, Dansie, Howe
Novelty playing cards showing Canvey's artistic welcome sign have been printed to raise cash to help regeneration work. Games and Print Services, in Kings Road, Charfleets industrial estate, Canvey, made the 1,000 cards to support the Canvey 2000 regeneration
The number of rogue telly-addicts in Colchester caught by licencing enforcers has almost doubled in the past year. The town - and more particularly its television owners - came third in a league of shame compiled by TV Licencing. It is among the worst
Traffic could be banned from town centres in Essex. Essex County Council is drawing up a community strategy and the first draft is expected in April. One of the proposals put forward by the county council is creating clear zones in town centres. Could
Matt Holland has told how relieved he is at the closure of the dreaded transfer window. Speaking ahead of tomorrow's home clash with Sheffield United, the Blues skipper admits January was a nervous month for Town as the players didn't know who was going
Sad, surprised and disappointed Martijn Reuser was full of emotion when he was told he could leave Ipswich on a free transfer. With his first baby due any time, it was hardly the news the Dutchman wanted. But two weeks on, the 28-year-old admits he's
Roy Dyer has fired the first shot in encouraging Brentwood residents to turn in their replica guns ahead of a possible amnesty in the town. Mr Dyer, of Brentwood Events, used the guns with the Essex Dog Display Team and decided to hand them in to Brentwood
A hate mail campaign spanning four years has left a man at the end of his tether. Leon Isaac has been receiving dozens of postcards and letters from someone who calls themself the Phantom Poet. The Phantom's letters have abused Mr Isaac about his Jewish
A date has finally been set for the abolition of community health councils nationwide, including Mid Essex CHC, which has pledged to continue its work until its final day. The Government has announced that the intended date for CHCs in England and Wales
Gas masks and war medals are being hunted by children at a Benfleet school who will soon conduct a special history exhibition. Youngsters at South Benfleet primary school are searching for war memorabilia to feature in the school's World War Two museum
Pensioners are being targeted by bag-snatchers in Chelmsford town centre. Police have urged the elderly to be on their guard following a spate a bag thefts. Sgt Chris White said: "They seem to be targeting elderly people. With about 14 to 15 happening
Three girls are about to achieve a lifetime ambition by performing at the Royal Opera House. The girls, from Colchester, Rowhedge and Witham, passed an audition to appear as woodland characters in The Cunning Little Vixen, when it is performed at the
A poor three per cent rise in investment for Essex Police will result in taxpayers coughing up for the shortfall, it has been claimed. The rise announced by the Government this week, which is substantially less than the average national rise of 4.3 per
Braintree's MP today visited a school to open a new hi-tech facility. Braintree MP Alan Hurst sees the new information suite in action Alan Hurst visited John Bunyan Infants' School in Lancaster Way, Braintree, to open its new information suite and chat
George Morris was on top form as Southend Swimming Club members competed in the first Essex County Age Group competition of 2003. George rose to the occasion, swimming personal best times to take silver in both the 50m breaststroke and backstroke. And
Rail travellers could face delays to weekend journeys as work continues on the high speed Channel Tunnel rail link. The c2c branch lines between Barking and Ockendon and Pitsea are scheduled to be closed on a number of weekends as engineering work is
Taxpayers in Southend face an increase of nearly 16 per cent, but the borough is still better off than most of Essex. Members of the council's cabinet are to recommend on Tuesday a figure for an average Band D property of £941.89 next year. For Southend
Thurrock's three teams are rarely in the spotlight in Ryman One North but this weekend they take centre stage. By a quirk of the fixture list, Tilbury, Aveley and East Thurrock take on the teams that occupy first, second and third in the table. East Thurrock
A charity shop is to close after a lack of business and rising costs have left it unable to go on. The Salvation Army shop and cafe in Head Street, Colchester, will close next month after more than six years in the town. The shop and cafe were once a
Eastern Counties Two leaders Westcliff visit bottom club Old Edwardians with every intention of making it 14 wins out of 14 tomorrow. "It is more or less a case of same again for this match," said Westcliff director of rugby Don Faulkner, whose club are
Witham town centre is being overrun by a plague of rats, claim traders. Heavy rain has driven normally nocturnal rats from their burrows to forage in the daytime behind Newland Street shops backing on to the Grove shopping centre. Braintree District Council
A rethink of car parking charges has been called for in Harwich. Harwich Conservation Panel said it was concerned about parking congestion caused by people finding alternative spaces. John Donnelly told a meeting Harwich needed every encouragement in
Thieves have stolen the only means of transport for a disabled man who cares for his 88-year-old blind father. Stephen Batterham, 39, of Mason Road, Clacton, uses his bike to collect shopping for his dad, Horace Batterham, but it was taken while he was
It's a case of good and bad news for Great Wakering Rovers as they approach tomorrow's Ryman Division One North home clash with Barking and East Ham. Striker Tommy Dalgarno is back after serving a suspension, but on the debit side skipper Danny Scopes
A major cash pot of £360,000 has been secured to provide care for patients with a terminal illness in Tendring, it was revealed today. St Helena Hospice and Tendring Primary Care Trust made a successful bid for funding from New Opportunities for the money
Brentwood developer Countryside Properties has won many prizes and awards over the years but now, it has been put to the sword. The company, which has always prided itself on its health and safety record, has just been awarded the Sword of Honour 2002
An Elvis Presley impersonator could return to Canvey by popular demand after wowing guests during a charity evening. Fans of The King have already flooded the organisers of the bash - which took place at the Monico Hotel, on the island's Eastern Esplanade
A Basildon-based charity wants to ship drug users and alcoholics out to a First World War sea fortress to help them kick their habits. The Streetwise drug charity, based in Elham Drive, Pitsea, is launching an appeal for funds to use the offshore base
Two men were today being hunted after a stolen Ford Sierra crashed head-on into a police car during a chase through Basildon. Officers were on the scene in minutes after the blue Sierra sped off from a petrol station in Whitmore Way without paying for
Police teams have raided two more addresses in Colchester as part of their on-going battle against class A drugs. Officers swooped at two separate addresses in the town yesterday and arrested three people in the latest Operation Tralee drugs raid. The
Police today revealed they have a number of new lines of inquiry to follow up in their search for the murderer of widow Jean Dicker. A successful operation to speak to as many residents as possible living in the area around her Clacton bungalow has paid
About 150 jobs look set to be lost at one of Colchester's best-known firms. Paxman Diesels, which used to employ thousands at its plant in the New Town area of Colchester, today announced sweeping changes which would see just 100 workers left there. Paxman
Being a prince on television can be fun. But the whispering and staring that goes with it make Daniel Williams want to wear big sunglasses, pull up his hood or dye his hair pink. The eight-year-old Essex schoolboy has shot to fame as the face of Stephen
Members of the Southend-based Team Viper triathlon squad put forward strong performances in the Ongar Aquathlon. Tri-Sport Epping Club, who hosted the swimming and running event, laid on races for age groups from eight to 19 years with over 100 athletes
Richard Wilkins wants to continue cutting his managerial teeth at a lower level before being considered for the vacant position at Colchester United. Instead, the U's legend wants the post to go to caretaker boss Geraint Williams. Wilkins, manager of
Rotten timber has pushed up the cost of redecking work on Southend pier by £250,000. The work is intended to restore an area of the pierhead which has not been repaired since a large area was destroyed by fire in 1976. Going up - pier costs are rising
Canvey goal star Lee Boylan had good reason for yesterday turning down the chance of winning an England international cap... he is Irish! Boylan has hit the net 24 times this season, but will not be scoring for the England National Game XI which takes
A playwright in residence is one of the highlights of a Witham school's new arts community programme which you don't have to be a pupil or parent to get involved in. Lucy Traube will be taking classes on playwriting and running her independent Gag Theatre
Residents were today celebrating the completion of new safety measures at an accident blackspot almost two years after they launched their campaign for improvements. A scheme costing about £20,000 to install a new pedestrian crossing and state-of-the-art
Thurrock Harriers' Erin Engdahl collected the women's title and the over-35 crown when the Essex 20-mile Championships were staged at Rochford. Her time of 2 hrs. 15 mins. 50 secs saw her second behind overall winner and former jockey Shona Crombie-Hicks
Controversial plans to build flats on a social club car park have been accepted by Southend Council. Taylor Made Homes' plans for a three-storey block of flats on the Ambleside Social Club car park in Ambleside Drive, Southend, were recommended for refusal
Staff at a Braintree supermarket, terrorised by teenage troublemakers, are increasing their security budget by 120 per cent to employ two guards. Tesco in Market Square will be spending £1200 per month to protect staff and customers from groups of youths
Police investigating sexual assault claims found child pornography pictures when they searched an address in mid Essex. Children's clothing was also discovered when police went to Alan Hamilton's home last year. Chelmsford Crown Court heard how police
Frank Lampard Senior says he won't apply for the Colchester United manager's job but promised to speak to the club if they approached him. The West Ham legend has been out of football for the past 18 months, but told the Gazette he would be ready to come
Vandals slashed 17 tyres during a night-time attack at Colchester Institute. The tyres were attacked with a knife at Sheepen Place in the early hours of Wednesday. Five college vehicles and a car belonging to a member of staff were targeted. Firefighters
A £60 million spending spree to rejuvenate Southend has been announced. The package includes more than £2million for newly-announced schemes, including improvements to the seafront, revamping public toilets and improving disabled access to council buildings
A rice factory has defended a controversial fence which has angered Parkeston villagers. Planning officers are investigating the perimeter fence at the industrial estate in Europa Way after residents claimed it breached regulations. But Sukhi Dulai, manager
Anglers have been warned to ensure their fishing boats are up to scratch when it comes to lifesaving equipment. Southend Council is urging keen anglers to use licensed boats which will carry all the necessary lifesaving equipment. The warning comes after
Dissatisfied commuters are being urged to make a special journey and voice their misery over disrupted services direct to train company bosses. Ingatestone Rail Users' Association is calling on passengers to attend a public meeting on Tuesday when First
Former England striking legend Alan Shearer is the top target for Southend United player-coach Steve Tilson's testimonial match. A host of former England stars have already committed themselves to the match when the Shrimpers tackle a Three Lions XI at
Sexy firefighter Hayley Moran has got herself a man. The Braintree firefighter, who has been joining the boys on the picket line in recent weeks, hit the headlines last year when she was crowned Britain's Sexiest Firefighter on a TV show. The exposure
Castle Point Council is claiming £200,000 compensation after a blunder by the Land Registry. The Government department is accused of wrongly drawing up border lines for the Castle View housing estate, off Somnes Avenue, Canvey. Council leader Dave Wells
Manchester United legend Lou Macari today paid tribute to Steve Whitton for the 'miraculous' job he did as Colchester United's manager. But, despite being desperate to get back into management as soon as he can following his sacking at Huddersfield Town
Witham's River Walk is becoming a litter-strewn wilderness, members of the Town Council will hear on Monday. The linear park, which follows the course of the River Brain through the middle of the town, has been permitted to become overgrown and unkempt
A six-year-old boy from Eastern Europe whose short life has been blighted by leukaemia is coming to Billericay in March for his first ever holiday. Egor Kanashonok was born in Belarus and has been ill with the disease since he was two years old. He is
A question mark is hanging over the future of a council run employment training centre. Brentwood Borough Council has instigated a major report on the Brentwood Training Centre in Essex Way, Warley, as part of its desperate drive to save money. The centre
Flights Health and Fitness Centre have taken a weight off the minds of Southend High School for Boys pupils. Fighting fit - Southend High brothers Matthew (left) and Nick Jellett get to grips with the new equipment under the watchful eye of Flights' manager
