Armed police swooped on a house and arrested two people in connection with an attempted murder at Basildon Hospital. Neighbours on Felmores Estate, in Pitsea, were stunned to see dozens of officers, some from Essex Police's tactical firearms unit, surround
Police have appealed for public help to tackle the problem of off-road motorbikes in public areas, which has reached an "unacceptable level". The misuse and theft of motorcycles has been identified by police in Thurrock as an increasing problem. A police
Southend United player-coach Steve Tilson has changed the date of his Roots Hall testimonial. The big game -- originally planned for April 1 -- against an England XI will now take place on Monday, March 31, kick-off 8pm. Tilson, 36, has brought the match
Ipswich Town could have a strike force with a combined age of 35 going into Sunday's crunch clash with Norwich City. A striker crisis is brewing for Joe Royle ahead of the East Anglian derby and he could be forced to pair Darren Bent, 19, with last night's
A hospital Trust is to consider moving its £1.3 million stock market investment somewhere safer. Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust, which runs hospitals in Colchester and Halstead, has been investing donations and bequests since 1992. But in the past two
The only people living in a row of abandoned houses marked for redevelopment have told of their living nightmare. Arsonists, squatters, vandals and groups of trouble-seeking youths have plagued painter and decorator Tony Smith over the past four months
Police are keen to trace an Eastern European woman who pushed into a 70-year-old shopper and stole her purse. The elderly victim was shopping in Wickford's Ladygate Shopping Centre when the thief took her brown purse from her open bag. PC Geoff Whiter
Canvey karate stars Andrew Comrie and Sam Newell are in need of sponsorship for the forthcoming world championships. The duo, along with Lisa-Ann Gore, are all from the Fighting Spirit Club which meets at the War Memorial Hall on the island. Andrew is
Housebound residents looking to catch up on their reading have been given a boost by news that Thurrock Council is to extend its home book delivery initiative. The free scheme gives residents who cannot leave their homes, or who live in residential homes
Residents in the Harwich area are being given the chance to have faster internet access - if they ask for it. Broadband offers speedy access to the internet and Harwich and its surrounding villages could be getting it if enough people express an interest
Walton's long-awaited £40,000 skateboard park should be open earlier than expected. Work began on clearing the site last week and this week work has been going on putting up the purpose-built ramps and pre-cast units. The park, which followed an approach
Extra fire stations could be built in Essex despite countrywide fears emergency provision is to be reduced. There were concerns stations on Canvey, Leigh and Rochford could be shut after the failure of a High Court bid challenging Government plans to
The new building in Southend for South East Essex College will move a step nearer on Thursday when the foundation stone will be formally laid by John Harwood, chief executive of the Learning and Skills Council. The £52m project involves a new college
A new scheme is being test run in Essex to try to make court cases more efficient. The pilot project will see trials being given definite start dates instead of a window of several weeks as happens at the moment. It is designed to give defendants, victims
Women's football could be coming to a village if a funding project kicks off. Manningtree has benefited from a £25,000 grant under the Market Towns Initiative project, but with match-funding, the money available is much higher. Ken Scott told Tendring
One of the oldest businesses in central Southend is on the move. In the 1960s the Five Minute Car Wash, in Alexandra Street, was the first of its type in the area. Now owner George Hughes is planning a new venture at the former Montine food warehouse
Maldon Town went ahead against Clacton Town at Park Drive, but the Seasiders rallied back to win. "It was a very good result," said Clacton Town boss Richie Powling. "Maldon had the upper hand for the first 25 minutes and they went 1-0 up within that
Vandals caused more than £800 damage in the Manningtree area over a period of four days. All the attacks were on vehicles, the worst damage occuring to a Maniou forklift truck left on a building site in Kiln Lane, Mistley last weekend. The rear light
Most teenagers dream of getting their first car but all 16-year-old Jenny Phipps has ever wanted - is her own fire engine. And now, thanks to her firefighter dad Colin her dream has come true. Dream machine - Jenny with the fire engine Picture: STEVE
Two grants totaling £8,500 have been awarded to Braintree District Arts Council to help fund community projects in three villages. The National Lottery's Awards For All scheme contributed pounds5000 with the balance coming from Arts in Essex. The council
Simon Brown is rapidly making a name for himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the Second Division. If the impressive 26-year-old Colchester United number one - already a firm favourite to walk away with this season's U's Player-of-the-Year award
Shoppers at Tesco's in Southend got a trolleyfull of advice on how to beat the burglars. Good advice - shopper Asna Aiam, 31, of Rayleigh, chats to Insp Dave Northcott, of Southend police Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY Essex Police held a Keep Yourself Safe workshop
A battle to save a conservation area in Hadleigh from development has moved a step closer to success as councillors prepared to debate the issue. Castle Point mayor Charles Smith, who has fought long and hard for a conservation order, could soon be celebrating
Most little boys of six would want remote-control cars or goalposts as a birthday present - but young Cameron Clarke got a baby sister. His mum Nicola, 26, went into labour last Monday and was taken into the maternity unit at Colchester General Hospital
Southend Hospital has issued a public pledge to make its services easier to use by disabled people. To mark European Year of Disabled People, the hospital has launched a Charter of Inclusion and Equality laying down its intentions. It recognises that
A group of MA students at Essex University will soon be holding an exciting and original fashion exhibition. The aim of the exhibition, entitled The Absent Wearer, is to show the complex interrelationship between art, craft and fashion. Other themes to
Canvey schoolgirl Robyn Lane is just back from the ninth World Karate Association British Championships in Manchester - with a haul of four golds and one silver medal. Robyn, aged ten, who attends Leigh Beck Junior School, entered five different disciplines
Police today renewed their appeal for witnesses to two thefts in six hours at the Co-op in Benfleet's London Road. The first crime happened at around 7.30pm on Thursday, February 13, when a man, white with a shaven head and stubble, stole meat and fled
New Colchester United manager Phil Parkinson is confident he already has the right blend at Layer Road to make the U's a force to be reckoned with. As he settled into his first full day at the helm he confidently predicted: "Team success breeds individual
Cruel thieves have stolen specialist go-karts from a school which caters for pupils with severe learning difficulties. The caretaker of Windsor School in Holland Road, Clacton, discovered five karts missing, and children were upset at the loss when they
Folk festival organisers have said they feel let down after not receiving a grant to bolster their event. Organisers of the Walton Folk Festival said the event has been walking a financial tightrope for a number of years and relies on grants and sponsorship
Stewart Robson has reaffirmed his allegiance to Southend United. Blues' head coach had been strongly linked with a move to Second Division Essex rivals Colchester after making the short-list for their managerial vacancy. The struggling U's have named
Even more parents have been told there is no room at their chosen catchment area secondary school. Eleven youngsters who attend Friars Grove Junior School in Uplands Drive, Colchester, have been told there is no room at Gilberd School. Sir Charles Lucas
Counselling and therapy for people whose lives have been affected by problems with alcohol, drugs or eating disorders is being provided in a new practice, Progress Counselling, which has been launched in Chelmsford. The practice has been set up by a team
Almost £8m has been pumped into regenerating a seaside resort over the past seven years - and there is more cash to come. That's the message to residents who want to see more done in Jaywick in a bid to improve the environment and people's quality of
Skateboarders are likely to return to the streets after an organised park was closed over safety fears. Bulldozers could move in at Rampage skatepark in Tree Lane, Leigh, after its organiser was forced to give up the site. The news comes days after Tony
Basildon police are monitoring an internet website which they believe is responsible for more than 200 cruisers racing their cars at an industrial estate in the town. The boy racers have now moved on to wheel spinning and handbrake turns on a public road
Troops from Colchester who have been sent to the Gulf have been told to expect they will be posted in the region for at least four months. Garrison Commander Colonel Tony Barton told a briefing for more than 100 Army wives at Colchester Garrison last
Protesters were out in force as a public inquiry into plans for a £1billion superport in south Essex got under way. They were demonstrating against plans by P&O and Shell for the container port and industrial parks which would create more than 16,000
A hospital Trust is to consider moving its £1.3m stock market investment somewhere safer. Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust, which runs hospitals in Colchester and Halstead, has been investing donations and bequests since 1992. But in the past two or three
A motorist had to be cut from a car following an accident in Braintree. Two fire crews from Braintree, one from Chelmsford and one from Colchester were called to the accident in Panfield Lane at 6.18am. They found a car trapped in trees and bushes and
Shop staff are recovering after armed robbers burst into a wine store and threatened them with a handgun. The man and the woman rushed into Victoria Wine, in Prince Avenue, Southend, near the Bell pub at around 4.30pm yesterday. They threatened female
Proposals to close four of Colchester's post offices are set to be fought by residents who fear they will lose an important community service. The Post Office announced plans to close branches in East Hill, Hythe Hill, Butt Road and Bergholt Road about
Benefits claimants can no longer sign on at Witham's revamped job centre - they have to travel to Chelmsford, Braintree and Colchester instead. Existing claimants can claim back the cost of travelling to the other job centres at the taxpayer's expense
Southend United confirmed today they are seeking international clearance to extend the loan of Spurs defender Stephen Kelly for at least another month. The 19-year-old has put in a string of solid displays, making four appearances at the heart of Blues
Southend residents are being warned by trading standards officers to beware of a new spate of chain letters circulating in the town. The letters purport to come from a David Rhodes, who is said to be from Norfolk and who describes how he has made £500,000
Big-hearted Leigh Rotarians today appealed for public help to make a charity walk on Southend Pier a success. The club, which celebrates its 50th year this year, is organising the Great Pier Walk on Sunday, March 23, to boost the coffers of Fair Havens
More bobbies heading for the beat across Essex will help quash the fear of crime, Castle Point's council leader hopes. Two hundred extra police officers are coming to Essex this year and a further 300 next year. They are in training and the Castle Point
The father of a 30-year-old motorcyclist who died on the A13 told today how he was "robbed" of a precious last few minutes with his son. David Benson, 30, of Hawthorne Road, Corringham, died near the Green Acres road bridge between the Five Bells and
Multi-million pound plans for a new Southend Hospital outpatient unit have fallen at the first hurdle as efforts to snap up a prime location failed. The hospital wanted to buy 15 acres from the 22-acre allotment site in Manchester Drive, Leigh, to develop
Bravery shown by an 83-year-old woman has led to a burglar being jailed for four years. Eamon Collum, who has preyed before on lonely elderly people, broke into the frail pensioner's Southend sheltered accommodation flat. But she defiantly ignored demands
A gang of vandals is creating havoc for a street's shopkeepers. Byford's Food Hall and Joe's Newsagents, in Eastwood Old Road, Leigh, have suffered damage totalling thousands of pounds. Food hall owner Robert Byford said: "In the latest incident, our
Thousands of gallons of oil which hit Tendring's beaches has nearly all gone. About 2,000 gallons landed on beaches at Dovercourt due to a leaky pipeline just over a week ago. Then, on Thursday, more oil was spotted on several beaches along the Tendring
Heybridge boss Dave Greene was delighted after his team's Essex derby win and said it would help propel them out of the relegation mire. Second-half strikes from KK Opara, his first for the club, and David Hadrava were enough to sink a disappointing Braintree
A Laindon civil servant is bidding to get behind the wheel and burn rubber at the new Formula Woman competition. Charlotte Lewsey has joined thousands of other women in applying for an event which hopes to go head-to-head with the male dominated world
Visually impaired people could lose out on benefit cash due to a change in the pensions system, a self-help group fears. Tendring Vips - a club for the visually impaired - is worried many district residents will be denied access to their money and other
Campaigners fighting to save a community centre are celebrating a double victory. Centre Pre-school is leading efforts to preserve Colchester's Straight Road Centre for community use. Essex County Council, which owns the building, has given a conditional
Adult community learning in Tendring has scooped a £6,000 windfall to promote the services on offer to residents across the district. The money has come from a successful bid to the Information Advice and Guidance Partnership. Tendring Adult Community
The Paulo Di Canio saga descended into farce last night as the Italian star released a statement claiming he was desperate to stay at West Ham -- just hours after saying he expected to leave. Meanwhile the club's chief executive Paul Aldridge said Hammers
A care worker from Great Oakley is getting ready to spend three months working in a Madagascan orphanage. Hannah Leavett, 22, of Orchard Close, flies out to the east African island next month to look after children and run sustainable projects at a charity
A scheme to provide a purpose-built health centre for five GP practices will not go ahead unless potential transport issues can be solved. About 200 people packed out a meeting staged by the North East Essex Community Health Council (CHC) at Holland public
Disabled schoolgirl Emma Frazer is to go on her first ever holiday, thanks to a charity. The 11-year-old was born with two rare syndromes and is unlikely to live to see adulthood. Her mother wants nothing more than to take her and her brothers for a break
Long-standing members of a volunteer group have been rewarded for their dedication. Members of the Benfleet and Hadleigh branches of the Women's Royal Voluntary Service were presented with long service awards. Honour - Judith Buss, of the WRVS, presents
Canvey Island Boxing Club's Terry Dainty is delighted with the return to form shown by light-welterweight John Martin. The 25-year-old came back to the gym in bad shape, but has put in the effort to reach the ABA quarter finals after battling past David
St Peter's A made home advantage count in the mixed First Division of the Basildon and Thurrock badminton league. The Saints swept aside everyone before them to win all four matches, but remained fifth due to the fact they were already so far behind the
Ongar firemen have welcomed their first female colleague to the ranks. After 22 weeks of basic training covering everything from appliance training to the proper use of breathing apparatus, Natasha Byiast has taken her place as a firefighter with Blue
Big Brother star Jade Goody was out showing off her bump last night with proud former south Essex footballer boyfriend Jeff Brazier. The 21-year-old, who is living in Chafford Hundred with the former Billericay, Bowers United and Canvey Island player,
Wakering's five-match Ryman Division One North unbeaten run came to an end with this defeat. Fielding a below strength side, Rovers had their fair share of the game, but failed to take their chances. With John Heffer and skipper Danny Scopes still suspended
Southend seafront could be closed to traffic on Monday to allow the new pier bridge to be put in place - but no one will know until the last moment. The new bridge, which will allow high vehicles like double decker buses to pass along Western Esplanade
Karate kid Stuart Gregory picked up a silver medal in kumite at the prestigious KUGB southern regional championships held in Reading. The 14-year-old is a student at Rayleigh's Shin Gi Tai Shotakan karate club and had to call on all of his training to
Popular celebrity Frank Bruno wasn't pulling any punches when he gave the thumbs-up to a new scheme to support youth clubs. The former world heavyweight boxing champ was in Essex to launch a new booklet giving advice on how to run a successful youth club
Essex people do not want regional assemblies in place of the current system of local government. That is the message going from the Conservative-controlled county council's cabinet to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. The cabinet recently agreed its
Colchester schools returned from half-term to find a trail of damage and theft. Four schools were targeted during the week-long holiday and left with repair bills running into hundreds if not thousands of pounds. Police said vandals throwing stones smashed
