Anti-bloodsports campaigner Angela Smith was today celebrating the Government's decision to ban hunting with dogs. Mrs Smith, MP for Basildon and East Thurrock, has actively supported the campaign to ban the blood sport, including appealing to the public
Budding young tennis players had the chance to show off their skills at an open day hosted by Dedham Tennis Club. The initiative was part of a play tennis scheme organised by the Lawn Tennis Association. Despite a heavy downpour just before play was due
If anyone had been trapped in a suspicious fire which gutted a flat they would not have survived, fire bosses said today. Fortunately, the first floor flat in Chale Court, St Margaret's Avenue, Stanford-le-Hope, was empty when flames ripped through it
Two men were left red-faced yesterday when they became stranded off-shore on an inflatable toy. Southend RNLI Inshore Lifeboat and Southend Coastguards went to the assistance of the two men shortly after 4pm. Tim Smith, Coastguards watch officer said:
A man was robbed of his mobile phone and beaten up by three Asian thugs. The 20-year-old was in Lapwater Close, Leigh, when one of the gang grabbed his £80 Nokia phone while another yob searched him. When they couldn't find anything else they punched
Beggars in a Colchester town centre alleyway are hitting trade, a shop manager has claimed. Jeweller Alan Farren, who works in Pelhams Lane, off High Street, said he loses customers because shoppers are intimidated by people begging and causing trouble
Southend's famous open top buses could be heading for the end of the line, it was feared today. The service - the last of its kind in Essex - may be taking visitors along the seafront for the final time this summer after Southend Council withdrew a vital
Student Moses Walakira who set up a thriving drug-selling business in Basildon's Gloucester Park has been sent to a young offenders' institution for three years and nine months. The dealings by the 18-year-old from east London came to an end when he sold
Margaret Deasy returned to winning ways at the five-mile night event in the picturesque Haughley Park near Stowmarket. It was her first race since running a brilliant debut in the London Marathon, where she finished third in the over-35s in a remarkable
Colchester Romans youth rugby league side played their first competitive games at a nine-a-side tournament in London. They travelled with 24 players and made up two squads of 12, each with an equal number of under-14s and under-15s. One squad played as
By-laws could be introduced to clamp down on drinking in public places in the Braintree district. It is one idea of Braintree Council's new executive, which has drafted its objectives to improve community safety. Graham Butland, (Con, Great Notley &
Two police officers from Southend were honoured for their bravery today by Home Secretary David Blunkett at a prestigious ceremony. PCs Gail Lawmon and Danny Nice were nominated after their daring exploits helped save a 22-month-old girl and her six-year-old
Essex were left settling for a draw from their labours against Kent after rain ruined the final day of their Championship clash at Chelmsford. Only 56 overs were possible during which the visitors added a further 138 to their overnight total to finish
Police are anxious to trace the female driver of a white Nissan Micra car who may be a valuable witness to a robbery. They are also keen to hear from people sitting on benches close to the Black Bull public house at the junction with St Osyth Road, Clacton
A charity shop facing possible closure because it cannot afford a five-fold rent hike has been offered just £42 off and told to apply for a grant. The Diamond Taskforce charity shop, in Whitmore Way, Basildon, has done just that and applied for a grant
A raid on a public phone box has prompted calls for the facility to be permanently disconnected. Jon Avery believes the box at the junction of King George's Road and Larchwood Gardens in Pilgrims Hatch has reached the end of the line because of repeated
Police are to set up a dossier on trouble-making youngsters in a bid to crack down on vandalism and petty crime in two south Essex towns. And the scheme - the first in the county - would see senior officers visiting the youngsters' parents and teachers
A social club has said it will be homeless if the Co-op goes ahead and moves from the Colchester building where it holds meetings. Bill Mitchell, who is the chairman of the Co-op Employees Club, said it has been told the Co-op wants to vacate the building
A leading firefighter has warned that people could be killed after petrol bombs were used by Thundersley arsonists to start two fires in less than 24 hours. Firefighters were called to the Zach Willsher pub in Church Road, Thundersley, after youths threw
The victim of a vicious knife attack in Colchester is recovering after being stabbed three times. The 45-year-old man was walking in the Hythe area of the town when four men got out of a car, knocked him to the ground and knifed him in the ribs, neck
More than 70 bungee jumpers plunged from the skies at St Osyth on Saturday in an effort to raise funds for the Essex Air Ambulance. Grant Sharpe and Neil Stacey, of the Sailor Boy pub, laid on the fun along with a whole host of other entertainment to
Harwich MP Ivan Henderson has been to the launch of a group bidding to bring the Olympics to London. Mr Henderson is a member of the all-party group aiming to secure the 2012 games. He said: "If the Olympics come to London, there will be tremendous possibilities
Two young women were beaten up by a pair of female thugs who fought them three times in one evening. The 20-year-old victims, from Wickford, were trying to find a taxi after leaving Talk nightclub in Lucy Road, Southend. They had walked along Chancellor
Some top DJ talent is on its way to Chelmsford and Staffordshire for this year's V Festival. Tayo Event organisers have revealed the following will be performing in the Strongbow Dance Arena over the two days of the V Festival at Hylands Park, Chelmsford
Police are warning people not to take short cuts to Braintree Freeport over the railway line leading to Braintree Station. PC Dave Vint, of the British Transport Police, gave the warning today after he caught two young boys crossing the line with push
Cosmetics firm Lush is moving into Colchester . The shop will be opening in Sir Isaac's Walk at the end of July and will create ten jobs. Molly Morris, Lush property manager, said: "I really like Colchester and feel Lush will fit perfectly into the historic
Braintree MP Alan Hurst has officially opened an outdoor play area at a Witham nursery with a fence which enables children to play in safety. Mr Hurst was at Treetops Pre-School, based at the Forest Road Community Hall, Forest Road, yesterday to see the
A man who brandished a hammer at a young couple in a road-rage incident has avoided prison. Barry Duff, 55, of Humber Close, Rayleigh, broke down in the dock as he was given a three month jail sentence suspended for one year. Duff had pleaded not guilty
Chalvedon yet again put in a fine performance to almost totally dominate the annual Basildon Senior School Sports at Gloucester Park. The final hurdle - it's all clear for Chalvedon's Mark Billings However, a number of other schools have increased their
Children in Writtle will be looking at their village with closer interest in future, thanks to a launch of a heritage trail produced especially for six to 11 year olds. The trail, in the form of an easy to read and well illustrated booklet, is the brainchild
Thieves used a beer barrel to smash their way into a store. The gang, believed to consist of three men, pulled up outside Woolworths in Furtherwick Road, Canvey, in a red Ford Orion. An eye witness then saw the men hurl a barrel through the front glass
A mum whose home was destroyed in an explosion today told of her brush with death. Joanne Thorpe had been out celebrating a friend's birthday but as she made her way back to her home in Merrivale, Benfleet, she saw fire engines in her street. Demolished
Jim Magilton was today named as the new captain of Ipswich Town. The midfielder was one of the favourites to land the coveted job following Matt Holland's transfer to Charlton. Town boss Joe Royle revealed yesterday that he had a player in mind but admitted
Six pupils from a Clacton school will be heading off to New York in November for lessons at the Fame school. The invitation has come following a visit by Barbara Pollard from La Guardia High, the school which gave rise to the hit television series. Pupils
Southend United will know if they have captured Barnet playmaker Mark Gower by the end of the week, the Third Division club revealed today. Blues boss Steve Wignall confirmed he had met the 24-year-old midfielder and his agents for transfer negotiations
After inflicting convincing defeats on the top two teams in the last couple of weeks Pegasus & Corringham suffered a crushing thrashing at the hands of lowly Great Burstead. Only a seventh wicket stand of 64 between brothers Gareth (40no) and Mark
A national childcare competition has picked a Southend carer as its winning entrant. Kids' Clubs Network has awarded Jackie Deacon the Prima Childcarer of the Year as part of the Kids' Clubs Network Excellence in Childcare Awards 2003. Jackie was presented
A disabled driver says motorists are clamouring to join his boycott of Basildon town centre in a continuing row over parking. Leonard Banks and other disabled drivers want an apology from the Town Centre Management Company after having to pay £95 to have
A knife-wielding man who went on an early-morning tyre-slashing spree has been jailed. Philip Cecil, 50, left a trail of dozens of stabbed tyres, causing more than £5,500 damage, Colchester magistrates heard. Sentencing him to six months imprisonment,
Uttlesford will have four police community support officers, if the district council contributes an initial £50,000 towards the cost The council is considering whether to meet the 50 per cent funding, the rest to come from the Home Office and the county
The manager of an Indian restaurant has been ordered to pay more than £10,000 after admitting 17 breaches of hygiene regulations. Emran Khan, 24, of the Authentic Indian Brasserie, formerly the Shapla restaurant, in Furtherwick Road, Canvey, blamed cowboy
A new service catering for heart patients across mid and north Essex has been unveiled. The Cardiac Angiography Suite was officially opened at Chelmsford's Broomfield Hospital yesterday Don Gearing, chairman of the Chelmsford Cardiac Support Group, cut
The Alzheimer's Society of Epping Forest is gearing up for national Alzheimer's Awareness Week and has received the support of MP Eleanor Laing as they warn "Mind Your Head". As part of the week, which runs from July 6 to 12, the society will be giving
Essex Police will soon have a faster and more economical fleet of vehicles following a decision to replace existing engines with new diesel powered models. The new vehicles are faster than their petrol equivalents and also give out less nitrogen oxide
A restaurant owner has made an appeal after thieves stole his 5ft statue for the second time in two months. Leewatt Tripibunsuk says he feels "disappointed" after the statue was taken from the entrance of the Siam-on-Sea Thai restaurant, in Rosemary Road
South Essex firefighters have branded a Government White Paper outlining sweeping changes in the fire service as out of touch and risky. The blue print for the future of the service was outlined today by Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, in the Our
New site must again be found for Little Oakley's war memorial. For many years, the memorial stood in the grounds of the parish church but after St Mary's closed it was moved to the Methodist church more than 25 years ago Now the Methodist church is to
Mid Essex rail users have reacted angrily to the news that it will take another five years to restore train punctuality to the pre-Hatfield crash levels of three years ago. David Bigg, chairman of the Witham and Braintree Rail Users' Association, said
A Canvey school was today celebrating after raising a record amount at its annual summer fete. Leigh Beck infant and junior school, in Point Road, raised £3718.40 on Saturday. All aboard - a model steam train was a big draw for the young and not so young
Join the line! That was the call as the fourth annual Funday Sunday was staged at Parkeston Railway Club. About 100 people turned out for a 12-hour line dance festival to raise funds for Essex Air Ambulance. Line dancers take to the floor at The Railway
Colchester United boss Phil Parkinson this morning completed a sensational double swoop. Following weeks of speculation over who Parky would bring in to boost his squad, both Wayne Andrews and Phil Hadland have signed on the dotted line in the last 24
Police are appealing for information about an attempted theft of a motorcycle parked in Springfield Road, Chelmsford on June 13. A man, described as aged 19 or 20, stocky, six feet two with light ginger hair, was seen tampering with the Aprilla 125. He
A knife-wielding crook robbed a man of his mobile phone, £15 and a neckchain. Police said the 21-year-old victim was walking along Riviera Drive in Southend when he was approached by the robber. The crook snatched the neckchain from the man's neck and
Colchester councillors have paid tribute to the six soldiers who were killed in Iraq. A minute's silence was observed by borough councillors from all parties at a special meeting at the town hall last night. Councillors hold a minute's silence in memory
Jon Dakin's name has been pencilled in for a return to Championship duty when Essex start their four-day battle against Lancashire at Chelmsford tomorrow. The all-rounder missed the last game against Kent with a heel injury, but was hoping to confirm
Travellers turned a beautiful strip of greenery into a rubbish dump before clearing off from an unofficial site, an irate resident has claimed. The 57-year-old claims she can no longer walk her labrador on the path between the A127 and Miles Gray Road
Budding artists can win £60 worth of computer games by designing a poster for the York Road Market regeneration campaign in Southend. Entries should depict the market through the ages and the winning poster will be displayed around the town to advertise
An Eastwood pub has been given permission by Southend Council to run more public entertainment events for a trial period after objections from residents were over-ruled. Southend councillors have given the Oakwood, in Rayleigh Road, permission for three
A new plan has been launched to bring key groups together to boost the quality of life for Castle Point residents. The Castle Point Local Strategic Partnership has been designed to link people from Castle Point Council, Essex County Council, South Essex
A discarded cigarette could have been the cause of a fire in a bedsit. The fire in the ground floor front room of the house in Southend town centre had been smouldering for hours before it turned into a blaze. Flat blaze - firecrews checked for people
Children using walking frames and in wheelchairs were joined by teachers, carers, parents and a dog when they set off on a sponsored walk for the Meningitis Trust. We're off - Danny Smyth leads other walkers along Western Esplanade Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL
Pupils from Deanes School, Daws Heath Road, Thundersley, are revving up for the regional heats of a national engineering contest on Thursday. They are set to display their top projects for the Young Engineers for Britain competition at Anglia Polytechnic
A lucky building society customer has won the chance to drive a Ferrari. Nicola Maguire, of Brightlingsea, a company director for Maguire and Hilliard Roofing, entered a prize draw competition held by the Clacton branch of the Norwich and Peterborough
A teenager who died after a car crash in a quiet Essex village, "was a girl everyone would like as their daughter". Camilla Hamilton, 15, of Littley Green, a hamlet between Dunmow and Chelmsford, was a passenger in a Mercedes ML 4x4 being driven by a
