Essex Eels travel to Luton Vipers tomorrow looking to secure second place in the TotalRL.com Conference. The two sides are currently level on points, trailing in the wake of runaway leaders Ipswich as they go for a play-off spot. But the Basildon-based
A churchman who has died in a car fire was due to become president of his church's Ipswich and Colchester district. The Rev John Pugh, 54, minister of Stowmarket United Reformed Church in Suffolk, was pronounced dead at the scene of the blaze outside
A woman found dead in her home died of a head injury, a post mortem has revealed. The body of Joan Carter, 46, of Waldegrave, Basildon, was discovered on Tuesday. Paramedics initially thought she died from natural causes, but at Basildon Hospital bruising
Local football was today mourning the death of well-known amateur player Alan Carter. The former Monarchs player, who lived in Ambleside Drive, Southend, died yesterday and his passing sparked tributes from colleagues on the town's football scene. "Alan
A score of plus four handed Richard Kemp the bogey-par competition on Hanover's Georgian course at Hullbridge. This was followed by a Mayday Stableford competition which went to Ray Bowen, who carded 43, three shots ahead of Andy Smart. The vets medal
Asylum seekers in Southend are to become the first in Essex to form their own football team. Nearly 40 people of various nationalities have expressed an interest in playing for Southend Wanderers. Rifat Prelvukaj, who works for Southend's asylum seekers
Landlords are preparing to do battle on the briny - but a crucial element is missing. The Pub Shovel Race is being relaunched this year as part of the Wivenhoe Regatta but the original trophy is missing and the hunt is on to find the silverware. The regatta
Schools in Basildon are getting millions of pounds to encourage children's creativity. Basildon is one of 20 areas in the country to share £70million to develop links between schools and the cultural sector over the next two years. Council leader Malcolm
Driving in Maldon High Street is set to be limited to 20mph Essex County Council has announced. Brian Mead, county councillor for Maldon, made the announcement at a recent meeting with Maldon Town Council to discuss complaints of congestion and speeding
A decision to throw out a controversial scheme to build 77 new homes on a village site may be overturned, the Evening Gazette can reveal Protestors celebrated three months ago when Tendring councillors rejected Barratt Eastern Counties' project for the
Arena Essex entertain Elite League outfit Peterborough tonight in their opening British League Cup match. The visitors are expected to include 1992 World Champion Gary Havelock, Australian Shane Parker and 22 year-old rising Danish star Hans Andersen
Radio hams, would-be-DJs, wannabe broadcasters and sound engineers, your hospital radio needs you! Hospital Radio Braintree (HBR), which currently broadcasts at the William Julien Courtauld Hospital, has launched an appeal for more volunteers so it can
Essex residents have put in a record-beating performance on recycling, new figures reveal, and the Essex Chronicle's recycling campaign has been instrumental in helping out. They recycled almost a quarter of all the waste produced in the county - meeting
A heroic woman risked her own safety to tackle a van fire Maureen Taylor was at her desk when she heard a bang, looked out and saw a van on fire. Without any concern for her safety, she grabbed a fire extinguisher, rushed outside and put the fire out.
Barleylands Farm is set to hold two of its popular farmers' markets this month. To take place at the farm in Barleylands Road, Billericay, they will feature a wide variety of stalls selling all manner of local produce. Fruit and vegetables, meats, poultry
High-flying youngsters will be joined by a prominent MP when they celebrate another successful year. The third annual Canvey awards evening will soon be taking place and students from all the island's schools will be in attendance. The awards will be
An annual festival celebrating the king of vegetables is to be held in Coggeshall this weekend. Asparagus has outlived many civilisations since it was first harvested by the Egyptians and every year a festival celebrating its harvest is held at Abbey
Car dealers who flout parking rules by leaving cars for sale in one-hour stay parking bays claim they have no choice. Several dealers permanently use parking bays intended for shoppers in London Road, Leigh, which allow one hour of free parking and the
A wondermum was treated to a tour of Number Ten with Cherie Blair and bumped into the Prime Minister as well. Lesley-Anne Mills, 35, was one of six regional finalists in a nationwide competition to find Britain's Wondermum It all started in February when
Partying volunteers have been fighting it out as part of the celebration of national volunteer week. A special darts competition saw members from Thundersley-based Castle Point Volunteer Bureau battling for the bullseyes with Hadleigh-based Parentline
Skipper Ronnie Irani will again be missing when Essex go on a revenge mission against Surrey at The Oval on Sunday. He is still recovering from a knee problem which has forced him to miss the last couple of games and, in his absence, Paul Grayson will
A south Essex church will echo to the sound of Janey Lee Grace next weekend. The former singer and TV presenter, who currently presents a popular show on BBC Radio Two, will be appearing at the Emmanuel Church, in Laindon Road, Billericay, on Saturday
A group of OAPs are being taken on a mystery trip thanks to a Heybridge pub. Sheila Townley, who owns the Anchor pub in The Square, has arranged to take 15 to 20 pensioners on an outing free of charge. Ever since Mrs Townley took over the drinking hole
Five police officers from Chelmsford, Essex were each presented with a gold key to the town of Chelmsford, Massachussetts when they were guests of honour at the opening of the town's new police station. The keys were presented in recognition of the visit
Great Leighs racecourse is set to receive the go-ahead as England's first new course since the 1920s. It will put Chelmsford on the map as the first purpose-built all-weather racetrack in the UK. It will introduce the style of everyman racing that has
Champions of learning from across the county were honoured at a prestigious ceremony. A sparkling celebration was held to mark the achievements of students who had transformed their own lives or the lives of others. The Champions of Learning 2003 presentations
The demolition of a seafront house and the conversion of another to make way for flats have been opposed by town councillors Councillors from Frinton and Walton Town Council had the chance to look at the plans for Third Avenue and The Esplanade, Frinton
Parts of Hadleigh are becoming a "war zone" with many residents frightened to venture out after dark, a councillor has claimed. Godfrey Isaacs, a member of Hadleigh and Daws Heath area forum, said he felt safer walking the streets of New York than his
Kids can try out pond-dipping, hunt for mini-beasts and learn every Essex bug fact going at an event this month. Children will be able to get answers to all their burning bug questions, like whether a woodlouse eats wood, whether a centipede really has
Smart pigs from South Woodham's Marsh Farm lost their bid for the crown of the country's brainiest animal on a BBC 1 programme this week. Three of the farm's sows showed off their problem solving skills on Britain's Cleverest Animals show, broadcast on
Motor racing drivers have put the finishing touches to a pair of paramedic cars to be driven in aid of the Essex air ambulance. Mean machines - drivers Martin Cockman, left, and Gary Webb Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL Martin Cookman and Gary Webb, both of
At least 100 crack and heroin dealers are operating in Southend. But police are leading the way in getting the dealers off the streets, with more arrests and drugs seized in the borough than anywhere else in Essex. More than 1,200 of the 176,000 people
Travellers camped on Leigh Marshes could be moved more than a month earlier than was first feared. The travellers are on land near Two Tree Island and councillors were initially told the earliest eviction they could get was July 21. By the time all the
A £150,000 sports and education scheme is to kick-off in Harwich and Clacton. The Government cash has been given to the Colchester United Community Sports Trust and will be used in east Harwich and west Clacton. Starting as early as next month, it will
A disabled mother-of-three said she has been left without her weekly income since new Government tax credits came into force. Zena Wotton from Hay Lane North, Braintree, had been receiving her child tax credit by post to her home. But since the Government
A charity worker with learning difficulties was kidnapped from south Essex and taken to a Norfolk hotel where she was raped, police said today. The 21-year-old, from Shoebury, had been collecting cash outside the M25 Moto service station in Thurrock.
A struggling horse sanctuary says it relies on staff working excessive hours to survive financially - and the council has refused to help. Essex Horse and Pony Society, in Pitsea, needs a minimum of £25,000 a week for running costs with vet bills and
Police have backed council plans to install CCTV security cameras in Billericay High Street. Billericay Conservative member Phil Turner says he has received support from the town's police inspector, Richard Croft, for the proposal. Councillors are now
Southend United boss Steve Wignall confirmed today he is chasing Kidderminster Harriers targetman Drewe Broughton. The 24-year-old, who scored eight goals last season, is available on a free transfer as the Aggborough Stadium club want the 6ft 3in giant
It proved to be more than Hancox's half-hour at Southend's Victoria Snooker Centre when the 21st staging of the Whitsun Cup took place. For Craig Hancox triumphed throughout the day to win the prestigious trophy, and £50 cash prize, with a 3-1 final success
A Braintree bus depot is going up for sale - but travel bosses are refusing to reveal where the buses will be kept if the plot is sold The depot in Fairfield Road is home to a fleet of buses belonging to First, which serve the district and travel farther
Southend could finally get its own university. New Government rules could mean the dream of Southend having its own dedicated hub for higher education being realised - but not in the short term. The plans, which would scrap the internationally recognised
It was a hard day's night for audiences at the New Empire Theatre as they were smoked out during a Beatles tribute show. The performance of the Long and Winding Road at the theatre in Alexandra Street, Southend, pumped out so much smoke from stage machines
A mother has told of her shock and anger after seven of her pet rabbits were killed. The first was suffocated and the others have been let out of their hutches to die. Mum-of-three Catherine Green, of Clayton Road, Ramsey, said the problems started when
Southend Sabres are looking for their first home win of a difficult season when they take on Nene Valley Hybrids on Sunday. The squad's 20th anniversary season has not gone to plan so far, with injuries to key players and a reduced squad limiting them
Schoolboy Adam Johnson is proving to be a lucky charm on the football pitch. The eight-year-old natural goalscorer from Chestnut Road, Pitsea, has been playing for two seasons and has never been on a losing side. Lucky charm - Adam Johnson has never been
The cream of the Co-op's milkmen is Tom Smith from Witham. Customers on his round near Witham town centre were so impressed by their delivery man they nominated him for a top award. And now he has won through to become the dairy's national finalist in
Basildon boxer Micky Murnane put up a brave battle on his first visit to the Four Nations Championships in Ireland. The Chalvedon BC fighter, representing England, took on Irish champ Peter Ward, and lost 2-1 after four round. But trainer Frank Doyle
A pre-school is to celebrate 25 years of success in the community at a special summer fayre. The Poppets Pre-School, at St Edmund's Church hall, in Great Wakering, will hold the fayre at Cupids Country Club, in Great Wakering, on July 20. Original members
Flashing speed signs on a busy stretch of road where a teenager was killed are having a major effect in slowing traffic. The signs in Eastern Avenue, Southend, are near Cecil Jones High School and flash a warning automatically if motorists are exceeding
Parents whose baby died from a heart defect have donated money to the hospital which treated her. Rebekah Jane Vagg was just one day off eight weeks when she died from a major heart defect, which doctors had found ten days before. Her mum and dad, Sally
Police are investigating an attack on a woman as she left a toilet at a train station. A man, described as white and aged between 18 and 25, is said to have approached the woman in her late 20s as she came out of a cubicle of a toilet at Wickford station
Third Division rivals Leyton Orient could be planning a renewed swoop for Southend United skipper Kevin Maher. The East Enders nearly tempted the 26-year-old midfielder away from Roots Hall two seasons ago. Kevin Maher - Leyton Orient could be renewing
A disused brickworks has been given the go-ahead to be the site for Southend Hospital's new major facility. District councillors agreed the former Cherry Orchard brickworks and some scrubland on the outskirts of Rochford could be turned into a diagnostic
Sixty golfers entered the IMS Plate major stroke play competion at The Essex Golf complex at Garon Park. In great weather conditions, and with greens now in good condition, 17 competitors managed to achieve net par of 70 or better. Also, for the first
Politicians today spoke out against possible plans for a Thames crossing between Canvey and Kent which could form part of an outer M25. They also told of their environmental fears and suggested alternatives sites for a link between Essex and Kent. Castle
Teachers and pupils are celebrating the opening of a new £30,000 car park that could help save children's lives. Somewhere to park - headteacher Alison Blant, governor Tony Woodward and KeyMed's Luke Calcraft celebrate the opening of Pitsea Junior School's
Phil Parkinson was ready to jump on to football's close season merry-go-round today following the news that striker Scott McGleish has agreed to sign a new contract. The Colchester United boss said: "I'm so pleased Scotty's decided to stay with us. "His
The shot that Tom Murphy had waited 42 years for finally came on Sunday when he holed an ace at Millers Barn Golf Club. And 70-year old Irishman Murphy celebrated his once-in-a-lifetime feat with his favourite tipple an orange and lemonade. "People can't
Pictures have been smashed by vandals in the latest incident at Frinton railway station. Framed prints, which had been in the station waiting room for up to 40 years, were damaged and pulled off walls. One of the glass frames was smashed. A spokeswoman
Two hundred and fifty balloons will be released in Colchester to raised money for sick children. Staff at the town's Asda supermarket are running a balloon race there tomorrow and for £1 each youngsters will be able to take part. The money will go towards
The Court of Appeal was giving its reasons today for overturning the convictions of nine Afghan men jailed for hijacking a plane from Kabul to Stansted. Their convictions were quashed last month as "unsafe" after three judges in London heard arguments
A woman from Witham is calling for parents of children with asthma to come forward and take advantage of residential holidays specially designed for them. Kate Hayward, who works with the National Asthma Campaign, is trying to get young people involved
The parents of a 20-week-old baby who died of a heart defect are setting up a charity in his name. John Bacon and Pamela Adlington pledge to supply hospitals with life-saving heart equipment for children if they gain charity status for the Remembering
