A 77-year-old Chelmsford man died after a collision with a van on the A131 at High Garrett near Braintree yesterday. Robert Dearmun, 77, was attempting a U-turn in his Fiat Bravo from a lay-by when it was hit by a white van driven by a 55-year-old Colchester
Motorists using the A12 bypass around Witham have a year of planning to thank for the smooth flow of traffic during major resurfacing work there. A total of £10.3 million has been spent on resurfacing the four and a half kilometre road, with preliminary
Two girls who jumped to their deaths have been named. Tower block tragedy - the building where the girls died Picture: LUAN MARSHALL Danielle Waddington, 16, of Woodgrange Estate, Southend and Lisa Utton, 18, of Rochford died when they jumped to their
The switches have been flicked on Colchester's Christmas lights - but not all of them work yet. Colchester Christmas lights Shoppers watched as the town was lit up street by street, then the spectacular Parade of Light trooped along High Street. But some
Colchester climbed into fourth place in the table after two goals in a blistering final ten minutes sunk gallant Sheffield Wednesday at Layer Road The Owls looked to have secured a richly deserved point when Leigh Bromby cancelled out Scott McGleish's
Sponsor a nurse and improve the lives of children with terminal illness, staff at Little Haven children's hospice urged today. Help - nurse Sarah Quinton gets to grips with medication in the drugs room Picture: LUAN MARSHALL The public can donate £500
Detectives were today hunting armed robbers who threatened to shoot security van guards outside a bank before driving off with four bags of money. One of the three robbers was armed with a handgun which he pointed at the legs of a security guard as he
The devastated family of murdered nightclub doorman Gary Chick today made a fresh appeal to bring his killers to justice - seven years after his death. His daughter, Jenny, speaking on behalf of her sisters Laura and Roxanne and her mother Lesley, said
Wakering were ultimately disappointed not to win a game they looked like losing at half time. It's time to celebrate - Aveley mob John Whittaker after he opened the scoring but Great Wakering were unlucky not to grab all three points Picture: LUAN MARSHALL
Phil Parkinson today described high-flying Colchester United's latest win over fallen giants Sheffield Wednesday as 'awesome'. U's manager Phil Parkinson Parkinson's in-form U's side produced some of their best football to date - especially in the first
Firefighters were called when a fault in a power-line caused an explosion which set light to a telegraph pole. The crew from Chelmsford Fire Station taped off a section of St John's Road in Writtle, Chelmsford, following the incident at 3.05am on Saturday
A cyclist needed emergency surgery for broken ribs and legs after a hit-and-run accident. The 54-year-old from South Woodham Ferrers was riding along the Southend-bound carriageway of the A1114 towards the A12 and A130 when the collision occurred. As
Ambulance bosses in south Essex today told of their pride at transporting the Earl of Wessex's premature baby daughter into her mother Sophie's arms. Joy - Jane Hickling discusses the VIP trip with technician Del Hards Picture: MAXINE CLARKE Thames Ambulance
A Colchester school is celebrating after being brought out of special measures after three years. St Anne's primary school in Barnardiston Road was given the good news after an HMI inspector's latest monitoring visit. Acting headteacher Louise Evers said
Rochford policymakers have backed controversial plans for a £8,000 holocaust memorial in the centre of Rayleigh. The council is hoping there will be no cost to the council as sponsorship for parts of the scheme has already been pledged. Bosses hope further
Colchester is set to enter the record books with a bang after hosting a monster cracker pull. Hundreds of Christmas shoppers - 986 to be exact took a break from spending money to join a festive human chain for the attempt in Culver Square. Led by town
A mystery illness has disrupted the training of several dozen police recruits at Wethersfield training centre. About 45 out of 60 trainee officers fell victim to a "low-level" stomach bug as it spread around the Ministry of Defence police training centre
Dignitaries from Sopot - Southend's twinned town in Poland - paid a visit to Roots Hall last week during a whistle-stop tour of the borough. Polish visit - Brett Williams of Southend United shows the civic dignitaries from Sopot around the Blues football
A nine-year-old girl who was bitten by a Rottweiler has asked for its life to be spared, a court heard. The four year old male dog called Ty had begun circling the youngster while out with its master, Joseph Mollison. She was picked up by a passer by
Jermain Defoe could miss West Ham's next FIVE matches after an appeal against his red card at home to West Brom was over-ruled. Manager Alan Pardew had asked the FA to look again at the forward's challenge on Baggies skipper Sean Gregan, which earned
A 62-year-old delivery driver was hooded and had his hands tied behind his back while thieves stole £20,000 worth of blank videos from his parked lorry. The driver had parked in Dolphin Way, West Thurrock, at 10am on Wednesday, November 12, when he was
Police who spotted an out of control motorbike discovered its 69-year-old Panfield rider was intoxicated. Derek Metson, of Hall Road, pleaded guilty to riding his Honda through Wethersfield while above the alcohol limit on November 10 when he appeared
Bernard Jenkin saw his latest incarnation on the big screen at the premiere of Richard Curtis' latest movie. The North Essex MP and his wife Anne - a former girlfriend of the writer and director - spent last night at the premiere of sure-fire Brit-hit
Cash for better transport services and CCTV systems could be handed over in plans to transform one of Colchester's landmark buildings. Developers promised to provide road improvements funds, security cameras and educational facilities if plans for Royal
Southend United's heaviest League defeat in 21 months saw them sucked back down into the Third Division relegation zone on Saturday. Three goals in ten mad first-half minutes helped high-flying Yeovil Town secure an emphatic 4-0 victory as David Webb
Harlow Town demolished Chesham United at Hammerskjold Road on Saturday to move up to 2nd in Ryman Division One North. Wayne Cort and Danny Chapman both bagged two goals apiece as Chesham felt the full brunt of Harlow's attacking ability. The Essex club
Angry villagers are taking their concerns about missing cats to the top. Colne Engaine cat owners filled the village hall on Friday November 14 for a second public meeting to discuss their missing pets and decided to take their claims of lack of police
Colchester is set to enter the record books with a bang after hosting a monster cracker pull. Hundreds of Christmas shoppers - 986 to be exact took a break from spending money to join a festive human chain for the attempt in Culver Square. Led by town
DJ Tony Blackburn was in Chelmsford yesterday to switch on the town's Christmas lights. The popular winner of the 2002 series of TV reality show I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here appeared on the balcony of the Meadows shopping centre to turn on the illuminations
An enthusiastic and hard-working soldier has been banned from the road after drinking and driving. Thomas Watkins had been at a party, Colchester Court heard. He drank some alcohol in the earlier part of the evening and switched to non-alcoholic drinks
Two girls who fell to their deaths have been named. Tower block tragedy - the building where the girls died Picture: LUAN MARSHALL Danielle Waddington, 16, of Woodgrange Estate, Southend and Lisa Utton, 18, of Rochford died when they jumped to their deaths
Chelmsford City climbed to 17th in the Dr Martens Premier following this impressive 3-1 win at Grantham Town. The hosts were looking to recover from their disappointing FA Cup 1st Round exit at the hands of Leyton Orient last weekend, and would have fancied
Thousands of gallons of water flooded a south Essex road, causing problems for motorists as it was sealed off by police. The water escaped after a main burst on the B186 Ockendon to Brentwood road at the junction with the A127. Part of the road surface
A midwife who found an elderly woman with cuts staggering along a road says she is outraged cars passed her by without stopping. Outrage - midwife Angela Bright was furious to find motorists had passed an injured woman in a road she stopped to help Picture
Campaigners were today gearing-up to fight plans for 600 new homes on Thorpe Hall Golf Club in Thorpe Bay. Brightstar, a company fronted by property firms Robert Leonard Group and the Regis Group, has finally lodged the proposals with Southend Council
The death of a man who fell 60ft from a water tower as he tried to set up a pirate radio station was an accident, an inquest has decided. Simon Laver, 24, plummeted from the tower in Great Burches Road, Thundersley, in the early hours of September 1.
The switches have been flicked on Colchester's Christmas lights - but not all of them work yet. Colchester Christmas lights Shoppers watched as the town was lit up street by street, then the spectacular Parade of Light trooped along High Street. But some
Basildon, Brentwood and Thurrock Community Health Council has had to close a month early due to staff leaving to go onto alternative employment. The CHC, which acted as a patient watchdog for residents across Brentwood, Billericay and Wickford, closed
A mentally ill man who killed himself by taking a cocktail of prescription drugs and alcohol had planned to start a new life in Germany, an inquest has heard. Unemployed Roger Griesel, 29, was being treated at Basildon Hospital for paranoid schizophrenia
Police officers have won praise after they stepped in when an escaped murderer dragged a woman through the streets with a knife to her throat. And at a ceremony Essex Chief Constable David Stevens presented bravery commendations to some of the officers
People in Essex are being warned about a counterfeit vodka contaminated with methanol that can kill. The warning comes after tests on counterfeit bottles of Kirov Vodka, seized by Customs and Excise from an off-licence in Sidcup, Kent, showed they contained
Shoppers in Southend's "second High Street" were treated to a special Christmas light parade yesterday. Light fantastic - shoppers looked on as Santa turned up to turn on the Southchurch Road lights Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL The Southchurch Road Traders
A school has ditched plans to introduce Continental-style hours after not enough parents said they wanted a change St Helena School in Colchester, will be keeping its working day at the current hours of 8.35am to 3.15pm, rather than having an earlier
Two teenage girls mysteriously plunged 120 ft to their deaths from the 11th floor of a Southend tower block. The girls fell from the window of a stairwell at Cecil Court, Jones Close in the early hours this morning. One died at the scene at 3.20am while
England's 1966 World Cup veteran George Cohen is helping to promote an auction of sporting memorabilia in aid of seriously ill children. Surrounded by memorabilia - World Cup hero George Cohen Picture: LUAN MARSHALL The former right back who played in
Two goals in the closing stages of the first-half from Michael Hart, with Billericay Town close season, saw Dockers to away Ryman Division One North success at relegation-threatened Berko. He opened the scoring by tapping home a right-wing cross and grabbed
A doctor and his wife who were viciously attacked on their doorstep have spoken of their terrifying ordeal. Dovercourt GP Richard Perry suffered a cracked jaw after being knocked unconscious by the attacker. His wife, Elizabeth, had a front tooth knocked
Children and parents across Canvey were today warned to be on their guard after the attempted abduction of a schoolgirl. Safety fears were sparked after Furtherwick Park pupil Bernice Hill, 11, was grabbed by a man who tried to pull her into a field next
A cab driver today told of his shock when a gang of hooded thugs threw a bag full of glass bottles at his windscreen. Jim Warner, of George Close, Canvey, was taking a passenger down Link Road when he had to slam on his brakes to avoid a hooded teenager
A 43rd-minute goal from Mark Cartlidge put Rocks back on track in Ryman Division One North after a series of disappointing league results. Oxford were rarely able to open up a resolute visiting defence although former Billericay striker Colin Simpson
Two girls who jumped to their deaths have been named. Tower block tragedy - the building where the girls died Picture: LUAN MARSHALL Danielle Waddington, 16, of Woodgrange Estate, Southend and Lisa Utton, 18, of Rochford died when they jumped to their
More than 400 mourners turned up to say their goodbyes to a "larger than life" family man who died suddenly of a heart attack aged just 39. The burial of popular Andy Porter, of Brook Road, Benfleet, happened at Woodside Cemetery after a service at Thundersley
Controversial pop star Romeo has been dropped from Basildon's Christmas celebrations, it was revealed today. The So Solid Crew band member was due to make a guest appearance to mark the turning on of the town's festive lights tomorrow. But bosses cancelled
Controversial plans to charge pupils £100 a term for transport to denominational schools have been criticised by pupils and parents. Members of the public were out in force to put forward their views on the plans at a meeting of Essex County Council's
DJ Tony Blackburn was in Chelmsford yesterday to switch on the town's Christmas lights. The popular winner of the 2002 series of TV reality show I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here appeared on the balcony of the Meadows shopping centre to turn on the illuminations
Shoppers in Southend's "second High Street" were treated to a special Christmas light parade yesterday. Light fantastic - shoppers looked on as Santa turned up to turn on the Southchurch Road lights Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL The Southchurch Road Traders
A ceremony has been held to celebrate the installation of a much-needed lift at a school for youngsters with special needs. Ribbon cut - Alan Hurst opens the new lift, pictured with pupils, including Richard Green. Picture: STEVE BAINBRIDGE Braintree
A prison officer from Chelmsford jail spent seven hours in Broomfield hospital's A & E department after being injured in a scuffle at the prison in May last year, a court heard. Akim Salami, 26, of Addington Road, Canningtown, E16, was jailed for
A burning crane melted into the tarmac of Tilbury Docks and sprayed blazing diesel fuel within yards of flammable container units. The wheels of the long-reach stacker exploded under the intense heat of the flames and sent shockwaves of noise that could
Southend United legend Stan Collymore is being lined up for a sensational return to Roots Hall as player-manager. Blues deputy chairman Geoffrey King today confirmed the former England international had been having talks with the Division Three strugglers
A man who stabbed his partner's brother-in-law with a salad knife has been spared a prison sentence. Alan Crook, 57, was given an 18-month sentence, suspended for two years, for the attack on Terry Hutchinson. Crook was also ordered to pay £500 compensation
Temporary Shrimpers boss David Webb was not too despondent with his side's latest setback at high-flying Yeovil Town. "We were doing alright up until the first goal which deflected into the net and, after that, we lost our way a little bit," he said.
Have-a-go members of a Thundersley church tried their skills at the second hardest art form - mime. Mimes a challenge - Steve Murray, lying, proved a hit with church-goers Erica Keane, Pam Kingham and Mick Moss Picture: LUAN MARSHALL They were enthralled
A town centre bar and restaurant in Colchester could be allowed to open until 2am almost every day of the week. Plans have been put forward to open Chicago's in Queen Street until 2am Mondays to Saturdays and on Bank Holiday Sundays with a 12.30am closing
The £4m refurbishment of Orsett Hospital has been officially unveiled - ending years of speculation about its future. MPs Angela Smith and Andrew Mackinlay did the honours and uncovered a special plaque after having a tour of the new facilities. Basildon
More than 100 students were today celebrating after having their efforts formally recognised at an annual awards evening. Simply the best - Cornelius Vermuyden students show off their awards Picture: LUAN MARSHALL Youngsters from Cornelius Vermuyden School
A new upmarket restaurant, due to open later this month in Southend's historic Royal Hotel, has given another boost to the town's regeneration plans. Richard Perry, who took over the hotel at the south end of the High Street overlooking the pier, has
A rail users' group today called for compensation for travellers further disrupted by testing for driver-only trains. Tests are being carried out on the c2c London Fenchurch Street to Shoebury line to prepare for the introduction of driver-only operation
Top politicians, special advisors and civil servants working on the air transport White Paper will be getting a reminder of what will be destroyed if Stansted is allocated extra runways. A copy of Stop Stansted Expansion's (SSE) 2004 calendar will be
A man walking home has became the latest person on Canvey to be robbed of his mobile phone. The latest victim was walking along Rainbow Road on Thursday at around 5.20pm when a teenager ran past him and grabbed his phone while he was talking. It was the
A firm responsible for keeping the streets of Tendring clean has won the contract again. Onyx Environmental Group provides street cleansing, beach cleaning and household recycling collection throughout the district. After bidding against five rival companies
