A schoolgirl was terrified when a man robbed her at knifepoint as she waited for her parents in a shopping centre car park. The 16-year-old was waiting in the car at the Royals shopping centre car park, in Southend. The robber appeared at the car door
Joe Royle today admitted he would be 'very sad' to see Matt Holland quit Portman Road. The Ipswich Town skipper is considering a transfer to First Division champions Portsmouth after the Blues accepted a £750,000 bid from Portsmouth. And the Town boss
The 40th Braintree Carnival will kick off in style on Saturday with the man at the helm having been involved in the organisation for 39 years. Robert Watson, now carnival committee chairman, says the format will be similar to previous years, to provide
Released Southend United right-back Mark Beard today looked back on his second Roots Hall stint with mixed emotions. The 28-year-old was handed a free transfer at the end of the season and is now hunting for a new club, with Conference sides Farnborough
A county highways boss has promised to back any proposal to upgrade the whole of the A12 to three lanes. The new Essex County Council cabinet member for highways and transportation, Rodney Bass, believes it is necessary to unite local authorities ahead
Southend United owner Ron Martin claimed today that sacked manager Rob Newman was given adequate opportunity to bring in his own coach. The former Shrimpers boss has been critical of the Third Division club's head trainer Stewart Robson, who was hired
Sixteen-year-old Michael Bridger will never forget his first Leigh & Westcliff LTA tennis match -- he won while partnering league chairman Peter Jackson. The Invicta II pairing defeated Rochford II's Dave Laverack and Allen Farin in a Men's Division
Protesting mothers gathered outside a school to complain about their children's classes being merged. Cann Hall Primary School in Constable Avenue, Clacton, which has 560 pupils, may have to lose four of its 21 teachers from September due to funding problems
The long-awaited arrival of summer made for great conditions at Doggetts of Rochford, while the acrobatic antics of spawning carp and tench kept everyone entertained. But it was the bream shoals that provided most of the sport for those who groundbaited
Mourners today gathered for the funeral of murdered widow Jean Dicker. Tributes were paid to a devoted mother, wife, sister and friend. Farewell - Jean Dicker's coffin being led into the Clacton Cemetery Chapel, off Burrs Road today. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN
The mother of a teenage burglar told a court she hoped he would "get what he deserves". She told Harwich Youth Court yesterday: "I think he (my son) needs help. "I think unless he can get the right sort of support, I don't hold out much hope. She added
It's a hat-trick! Dovercourt Bay was today awarded a Blue Flag for the third year running Encams, UK co-ordinator for the Blue Flag award, named Dovercourt as a premier beach. The award means it is recognised as one of Europe's best beaches and has been
A thief asked a woman the time, then snatched her handbag as she tried to help him. He struck in Colchester's Upper Castle Park at about 3.45pm yesterday as the victim was sitting on a bench. The man walked up to her, asked what time it was and when she
Travellers camped on Leigh Marshes may not be moved on until August, a councillor has revealed. Peter Wexham, Liberal Democrat councillor for West Leigh ward, said the group failed to comply with a five-day notice to quit, which expired on Tuesday. Camp
Funding of about £170,000 is needed to build a new museum in Harwich. Co-ordinators behind the Harwich Railway and Shipping Museum have begun the search for cash needed to transform the town's station into a working attraction. Bernie Sadler, chairman
An angry trader believes changes to the taxi rank system outside Brentwood station could spell doom for neighbouring shops and businesses. Carol French, who owns Callico's hair and beauty salon in Warley Hill, collected a seven page petition in a bid
Langham's support for a fundraising bonds scheme has been so good that a second issue has been released. The committee behind plans for a community shop and post office came up with the idea as a way of financing the stock requirements of their enterprise
Artistic youngsters at Stambridge Primary School have transformed a boring outside wall into a colourful masterpiece. Gwen Simpson, a member of the Leigh Art Trail, worked with 12 boys and girls this week to paint a mural based on the children's book
A boy aged around 12 narrowly escaped serious injury after he was hit by a car and knocked off his motorised scooter outside a school. The crash happened outside Leigh Beck School, in Point Road, Canvey, yesterday afternoon. The force of the crash sent
A plumber has undergone emergency surgery after a power tool cut through his foot. Paramedics and fire crews from Basildon and Grays rushed to help construction worker Paul Pidgeon, 31, who dropped an angle grinder while working on a loft conversion in
Braintree Town will kick-off their pre-season campaign with a match against Nationwide League Division Three side Leyton Orient. The Iron, fresh from a succesful relegation fight in the Ryman League premier division, play the O's at Cressing Road on Thursday
Wickford tennis club is giving non-players a chance to get on court and give the game a go. The club, in Swan Lane, is holding it's Play Tennis day on Saturday, June 14, between 10am and 1pm. There will be free coaching, a ball machine and a service speed
It will be a case of "Cut!" for six talented youngsters thanks to an exciting film project. Northwick Park Junior School, in Canvey, will be working with Essex County Council to produce a 20-minute film next week. Their chosen theme is aviation and youngsters
Castle Point schoolboy golfers Michael Bruce and Charlie Loveday travelled to Abridge for that club's prestigious junior open competition -- and returned as major winners. Both are aged 14 and Michael, a pupil at Furtherwick Park School, pipped his friend
Conditions in the blood testing room at Maldon's hospital are yet to improve with complaints still flooding in, it has been claimed. Health bosses have agreed there is room for improvement and are trying to increase the facility to help better the "cramped
Stop Stansted Expansion protesters are ensuring that the Government's consultation process on airport capacity in the south east ends with a bang. The campaign group is playing the part of its Government ''enemy'' by launching a symbolic assault, spearheaded
Police were today investigating after an Olympic starting pistol was thrown over a wall into Chelmsford Prison. An Essex Police spokesman said they were keeping an open mind about the incident but refused to rule out "sinister" motives, including an escape
Colchester's controversial Northern Approach Road is finally set to open after nearly two years of construction work, traffic chaos, delays and setbacks. The road, which will eventually provide a new link from Colchester to the A12, has cost more than
A publican was brutally hit in the head with the butt of a shotgun during an attempted robbery at Stock, near Billericay. The raiders, wearing stockings or tights over their heads and wielding a sworn off shotgun, targeted the Old Kings Head Pub in Stock
Former Walton schoolboy Jake Ritzema will be seen by millions of television viewers when he appears in two big prime time programmes Eighteen-year-old Jake, whose family home is in Princes Esplanade, Walton, is in two top cult programmes this summer.
Visitors to Maldon's Promenade Park will see big changes to the new-look Marine Lake this week as work starts on getting the attraction open in time for the summer holidays. Hundreds of tonnes of sand have been imported to create a new beach in place
A young mother-of-two claims a burst water tank has left her and her children homeless. Donna Ward, 25, returned from a week-long holiday in Turkey to her home in Somercotes, Laindon, with daughters Disney, 18 months, and Bayley, six months, to find the
Joe Royle today likened new signing Drissa Diallo to former England defender Earl Barrett. The Ipswich Town boss has swooped to make the Guinean international his first permanent signing since arriving at Portman Road. And, in singing the praises of the
A cyclist with rotten teeth attacked a woman after she gave him directions outside her home. The assault happened in Lynton Road, Benfleet, yesterday afternoon, as the victim approached her home. The middle-aged cyclist stopped her and asked how to get
Thurrock MP Andrew Mackinlay has written to ask the Home Secretary to establish a Royal Commission on animal experiments. The Labour MP's call follows the publication of the House of Lords Select Committee Report on Animals in Scientific Procedure. Mr
More measures to ban heavy goods vehicles could be placed on a road in Rivenhall. Last year, Rivenhall Parish Council successfully applied for a weight restriction on a section of Oak Road from the junction with Henry Dixon Road in to the village. But
Police have been forced to shut down a website offering help to victims of drug rape after sick hackers broke in and redirected visitors to a child pornography page. Anyone trying to access the Drug Rape Trust website - which was set up by a senior Metropolitan
A sporting star today expressed his delight at the news that a popular running track will soon be up and running again. Professional decathlete Dean Macey, who has won silver and bronze medals at World Athletics Championships, says he can't wait to see
Arsonists started a blaze which badly damaged a bungalow. Two crews of firefighters from Clacton were called to Sunbeam Avenue, Jaywick, today and spent a couple of hours at the scene. When they arrived at about 1.45am, the front door of the property
Former Colchester United hero Mark Kinsella today issued a no-nonsense message to international team-mate Matt Holland: "The Premiership is the only place to be." The Republic of Ireland midfielder was reacting to yesterday's news that Ipswich Town have
Who needs text messages to tell people a flood's coming when a set of sirens do a perfectly good job. That's the view from emergency planners from Essex County Council who will not be rushing to take up a new scheme pioneered in Oxfordshire which sees
Dean Birrell has accepted the position of Head Coach for the Chelmsford Chieftains for the forthcoming season. Last season Dean shared the Head Coaching role with Erskine Douglas who has decided to move back down the A12 to Romford. It was an automatic
Friends of an Essex pensioner killed by a drink driver have spoken of their anger at the sentence handed out to her killer despite it being one of the severest on record. Robert Mills, 35, from Harold Hill was this week sentenced to seven years in prison
Thorpe Hall's 26th Junior Open was won by Rochford's up-and-coming star Rhys Piper in a very exciting finish. The two-handicap County boys player had recorded a 74 in the morning -- one stroke behind Wanstead's Michael McPherson whose 73 won the Daily
Concerns over the recent influx of travellers into the Brentwood area heightened this week, as the borough council stepped up its efforts to have groups removed from land in Mountnessing, Ingatestone and Warley. In recent years travellers have set up
Murder squad detectives were today probing the mysterious death of a 46-year-old woman found slumped in her home. Investigation - police search Joan Carter's house after she was found dead Picture: MAXINE CLARKE Forensic experts sealed off the area around
Castle Point was today in line for a share of £15.4million after the Government acknowledged it was one of the worst constituencies in the country for attracting lottery grants. The Heritage Lottery fund has earmarked Castle Point as one of six development
The opening of Maldon's Marine Lake in time for the summer holidays is hanging in the balance. The lake, at Promenade Park, has been closed since last summer following the death of a visitor. Maldon District Council had wanted to re-open it by mid-July
A motorist escaped with minor injuries after a car collided with a lamppost. The motorist, believed to be a woman, was travelling up Hatfield Road, in Witham, towards the town centre when the wheel of the car clipped the kerb, mounted the pavement and
Chelmsford Canoe Club lost ground in their quest for Hasler Final qualification. With the smallest turn out of the season, the Club could only muster two K2's and two K1's at the Waveney marathon. Both Leighton Buzzard and Norwich entered strong teams
Hardworking volunteers from Hadleigh, Benfleet and Canvey attended a thank you celebration organised by their borough councillors. The annual volunteer day, designed to correspond with National Volunteer Week, was organised by the council and the Castle
A ten-year-old boy with a medical condition is being taught with children half his age because his school does not know what to do with him. Joseph Barnard has a condition known as low tolerance, which means he does not react appropriately to situations
A young family narrowly avoided being run over by a double-decker bus on a zebra crossing. The near miss was almost a tragic rerun of the accident that claimed the lives of two other family members 38 years ago. Crossing fear - Debby Strode with children
Ambitious Halstead Town have bolstered their squad by signing Harwich's Gareth Heath. The midfielder-cum-striker top-scored for the relegated Shrimpers last season after bagging 23 goals. Halstead have swapped divisions with Harwich after winning promotion
The mother of a crack addict jailed for armed robbery has spoken of her her own battle with drugs - and her anger at his "lenient" sentence. As Essex Police launched a campaign to wipe out the evil of crack cocaine, the 43-year-old mother of David Dennington
Showjumper Ricki Hill has scooped one of his biggest wins in the ring yet. The 19-year-old Benfleet rider rode Prince of Wales to victory in the £2,000 Grand Prix at the Suffolk County Show. Hill saw off the challenge of fellow top British riders such
Furious parents are to lobby Basildon Council over plans to open a sex shop in Laindon within 500 metres of three local schools. The council is considering an application from Robert Dalgleish to open a Big Red's Adult Store. Campaigners say they are
Basildon-based gymnast Reiss Beckford got a taste of silver when competing in the national development plan finals in Newcastle. Silver success - for 11-year-old Reiss Beckford in Newcastle Picture: MAXINE CLARKE Competing against the best 11-year-olds
An up-and-coming school has scooped a major award. A School Achievement Award has gone to Mistley Norman Primary School. Sheila Braithwaite, headteacher at the Remercie Road school, said: "The hard work and dedication of teaching and support staff are
A total of 172 golfers from South-east Essex clubs and societies took part in a charity competition organised by the Rotary Club of Thorpe Bay and held at Ballards Gore. Winners of the main prize for men's teams were Molegrove Ltd (124 points) from J
A team of officers from the Environment Agency have joined the fight to put an end to the fly-tippers and litter louts who plague Witham and surrounding villages. The council has granted the seven agency officers the same powers as their own officers
Police have issued a danger warning to off road motorcyclists after two teenagers crashed on unroadworthy bikes. Areas of wasteground around the Braintree district are being used by people riding small motorcycles and mopeds, which may be unfit to drive
Teaching job cuts in Essex are the second highest in the country because of a national funding cash crisis. A survey by the Department for Education and Skills and National Union of Teachers has revealed 43 full-time jobs will be axed to cut costs, more
A century partnership from Ben Hutton and Ed Joyce held up Essex after Jon Dakin had plunged Middlesex into early trouble on the opening day of their Championship clash. Dakin struck three times in his first six overs before Middlesex had moved out of
Something fishy is going on at Southend's Sealife Adventure. A series of courses called Something Fishy will be run by experts at the aquarium on Southend's Eastern Esplanade. covering all aspects of fish and fishing. The course is one of 1,400 free three-hour
The Essex County FA have announced the winners of their 2003 Football Workforce Awards -- and they include two local club officials. Football Workforce is an FA initiative which ensures that volunteers are recruited, rewarded and recognised for their
Major efforts will be made to help spin-off industries if port development at Harwich takes place, it has been revealed. The Haven Gateway Partnership is looking to provide training and promote spin-off jobs in the area, should the Bathside Bay plan be
Prison reformers have slammed Chelmsford jail for failing to evacuate a prisoner after fire broke out in his cell, leaving him inside the smoke-logged room until firefighters arrived. Instead of opening the door, the single prison guard on duty in F block
Volunteers are being sought to help out at the Rochford and Rayleigh Citizens Advice Bureau. This week is National Volunteers Week, which is a celebration of the 21 million people who volunteer nationally. The Rochford and Rayleigh CAB - which has offices
The site of the new community hospital for Maldon to replace the aging St Peter's Hospital is set to be announced soon. Maldon and South Chelmsford Primary Care Trust director Mike Harrison said that he expects the final location to be decided in the
Children from across Castle Point were today urged to stand up and be counted in a fresh drive to improve a vital resource centre in the borough. Suzie Brutnell, the co-ordinator at the volunteer bureau based at the Tyrells Centre, wants people to come
New-style police workers will be hitting the streets of Braintree and Witham to crack down on anti-social behaviour. Thirteen Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) will be employed to target trouble hotspots in the Braintree division from October.
Quarrelling neighbours have been seeking help in droves for solutions to their differences. They have found lots of use for the Maldon District Mediation Service, which was set up nearly four years ago. Now the service, involving 16 fully-trained mediators
Colchester United are giving their fans yet another opportunity to beat the big season ticket 'pay out' for the new term. The club are offering their fans a special June saving of ten per cent on season ticket sales. This follows a highly-successful venture
The postal service for first class mail in Brentwood is among the worst in the country, according to statistics released by the independent consumer council Postwatch. It is currently conducting an investigation with the Government's industry regulator
Police are appealing for information after a man approached two teenage girls in Maldon. Between 7pm and 8pm on May 24, two young teenage girls waiting in Mariners Way for one of their parents were approached by a man in a car claiming that there was
Chelmsford's fledgling Borough Plan, which includes the controversial scheme for nearly 2,000 more homes at Boreham, looks set to be dumped by the new Conservative controlled council. And the administration, elected on May 1, taking over from a Liberal
Clearer signs for visitors are needed in Halstead town centre, say traders. At a meeting of Halstead Town Centre Strategy Group, town centre traders agreed more signposts are needed to point out car parks in the town centre. Mike Simons, vice-chairman
A police operation to stamp out vandalism in South Woodham town centre has seen 20 youths arrested in recent months. Operation Lara was launched to tackle unruly teenagers who have been waging a campaign of destruction in the town on weekend nights, breaking
Winning four of the five morning foursomes saw Thorpe Hall march into the last 16 of the senior Essex team competition for the Thornton Cup. They eventually beat Toot Hill 13-2 to earn a home third round date with Warley Park on June 29. Ready for action
Carers can have a fun day out - with all the costs picked up by the council. The event being held in Essex this Sunday will include live entertainment and pampering. It is open to all unpaid carers and their families and friends and was organised to mark
Dunmow's community policing team is trying to track thieves who crashed a Peugeot 205 car after taking it from the drive of a house in Canfield Road, High Roding. It is the second time that the 69-year-old owner, who has not been named, has been a victim
