Chelmsford's County Hall is expected to be besieged tomorrow by opponents of the plan to end free transport to denominational, which in Essex are mainly Roman Catholic, schools. A special meeting of the full county council is due to decide if parents
Problems in the Deanery Gardens area of Braintree are set to be addressed as part of a joint initiative between Braintree Council and the police. Braintree councillor for Bocking North, Tony Everard, revealed talks with residents were imminent in a bid
Basildon Sports Council is holding its annual presentation evening at Bowers United Football Club on December 5. And there is still time to nominate clubs and individuals for the major awards presented on the night. But applications must be sent in quickly
Brentwood High Street is gearing up for Christmas with more than 30 shops planning to open for Sunday trading in the run up to December 25. Starting on November 30 shops including Argos, Edinburgh Woollen Mill, Marks and Spencers, Next, Ottakars and Sainsbury's
Parts of Colchester town centre will be made either one-way or bus-only under proposals branded "radical but brilliant". Highways experts and town planners in Colchester have been working on ways to keep the historic core of Colchester as traffic-free
These three new machines are making a clean sweep across Castle Point. Clean sweep - Martin Smith, Dave Bridges and George Moon with their new machines Picture: DAVE HENDERSON They are set to help give the borough a thorough brush up as part of an ongoing
Southend United were poised to make an imminent announcement about their new manager today. Southend United players mob Jay Smith after the midfielder's second great strike sealed an injury-time win for ten-man Blues over local rivals Canvey Picture:
A goal right before full time has put Southend into the second round of the FA Cup. Southend hero - Jay Smith scored twice at Park Lane last night Jay Smith was the hero for the visitors as he netted twice including the winner as the Shrimpers beat Canvey
A community has welcomed the opening of a new park in Parkeston. Schoolchildren, residents and councillors gathered in the rain yesterday for the official opening of Jubilee Park. Mick Lowe, chairman of Ramsey and Parkeston Parish Council, and George
A police officer is to be stationed in two Basildon schools under a 12-month Government pilot scheme. Class patrols - De La Salle headteacher Steve Heffernan, left, Chief Supt Peter Sheldrake and Jacqueline White, James Hornsby High's headteacher Picture
Balloon racers - Beauchamps High School pupils have done their part for the BBC's Children In Need telethon on Friday by launching a sponsored balloon race. Picture: MAXINE CLARKE Fundraising activities at the Wickford school culminate tomorrow with teachers
The foster sister of Danielle Waddington today rubbished stories of family rifts and binge drinking as "preposterous". Natalie Smith, 17, said 16-year-old Danielle from Wickford was a strong-minded, popular young woman with everything to live for. She
A major clampdown on anti-social behaviour and vandalism in Castle Point was today being thrashed out following a community meeting. Way forward - the police, traders, residents and head teachers were among the groups at the meeting thrashing out a vandal
The West Ham United board of directors have vowed to "vigorously" defend their record against claims of incompetence which could see them axed. After shareholder group Whistle called for a vote of no confidence in three directors, the board have proposed
Angry naval veterans were today in uproar after being banned from marching along Southend's Victoria Avenue to mark the anniversary of Pearl Harbour. For the past 20 years, the Southend branch of the Royal Naval Association has held services at St Mary's
A student was punched, kicked and racially abused after he got off a train and was making his way home from college. The 19-year-old student, of Clacton, had just left the town's railway station when the attack happened. Insp Richard Day, of Clacton police
Eye-catching displays and demonstrations helped parents and children understand Indian culture. Awareness day - Natasha Glover, 7, with Sue Craggs and Veena Baxi Picture: ADRIAN RUSHTON Saturday's Asian event at Braintree library aimed to raise awareness
Don't fall foul of date rape drugs. That is the message being pushed by a pre-Christmas campaign being launched at a Colchester club next month. The event will be at Route nightclub and members of the public as well as people who work at pubs and clubs
Port workers' jobs and safety will be at risk if a proposed European law is passed today, an Essex MEP has warned. Richard Howitt, Labour MEP for Essex, spoke out against the law, which if agreed will allow foreign ships' crews to unload and load their
Chelmsford GPs may be asked to save money by prescribing cheaper medicines rather than more expensive branded products. The move could be part of major health care cuts in services and grants as Chelmsford Primary Care Trust struggles to avoid a £2 million
Hospital bosses in south Essex were today on tenterhooks as the future of controversial foundation trusts went back into the melting pot. Basildon Hospital has already applied to become one of the first foundation hospitals in the country - giving it
The future of hundreds of jobs at Harwich International Port is due to be decided in a crucial European vote today. Cargo handlers employed by the port could lose their jobs to foreign workers if a new law is passed in the European Parliament. MEPs will
It is now or never for Hutton's problem ridden Tommy Wilson youth centre as Brentwood Council launches a last stand to make it a success. The decision to give the green light for an urban arts project to go ahead as soon as possible came in the wake of
Plans for youth shelters on Canvey are about to be unveiled as police hope to find suitable space for them in the next couple of weeks. The shelters, the brainchild of Canvey's Insp Steve Rawlings, are hoped to help keep kids entertained and off the streets
Jay Smiths second-half double took Southend United through in a dramatic FA Cup 1st Round clash against Canvey Island at Park Lane last night. Canveys gallant 1-1 draw in the first match at Roots Hall had given the Ryman Premier favourites the edge going
Alan Mahon is highly unlikely to feature in Ipswich Town's weekend duel with Sheffield United at Portman Road. The Blackburn loanee has recovered from a hamstring injury but has been laid low with flu, forcing him to miss Tuesday night's reserve game
Drivers faced rush-hour gridlock after eight cars crashed on a Colchester road. The town came to a standstill at about 4.25pm when the collision happened in Cowdray Avenue, right outside the town's fire station. The scene of the accident in Cowdray Avenue
Jay Smith's second-half double took Southend United through in a dramatic FA Cup 1st Round clash against Canvey Island at Park Lane last night. Canvey's gallant 1-1 draw in the first match at Roots Hall had given the Ryman Premier favourites the edge
A couple face homelessness after they failed in a High Court fight to keep their home. Richard and Paula Brown of Runwell - who made a home for themselves out of two mobile homes bolted together into an L-shape - had asked a top judge to quash a Government
Southend United were poised to make an imminent announcement about their new manager today. Southend United players mob Jay Smith after the midfielder's second great strike sealed an injury-time win for ten-man Blues over local rivals Canvey Picture:
Council leaders in Essex have reacted with caution after finding out how much the county will receive in the latest round of Government grants. Essex will get a 5.5 per cent increase but there are fears it won't be enough. That could mean council tax
Balloon racers - Beauchamps High School pupils have done their part for the BBC's Children In Need telethon on Friday by launching a sponsored balloon race. Picture: MAXINE CLARKE Fundraising activities at the Wickford school culminate tomorrow with teachers
Maldon's Marine Lake is to get a major overhaul in a bid to make it safe for youngsters to play in. The district council looks set to pay for the revamp itself rather than by handing the popular tourist attraction over to a private businessman. The council's
A father spoke today of his nightmare wait to find out how his son died. Stevie Eaton died in July of a rare heart condition while working at Harwich International Port. The 25-year-old suffered from idiopathic fibres, which affects about one in a million
Anger today erupted after it was revealed that Essex Police will get just an extra £5million from the Government. The latest funding increase of 3.25 per cent will not be enough to cover police spending, said Essex Police Authority chairman, Robert Chambers
Canvey Island soccer boss Jeff King rallied his vanquished troops with a "let's go out and win the league now" battle cry after seeing his side's latest money-spinning FA Cup run come to an end. It's all over - Jeff King leaves the field at the end of
A 22-year-old Braintree student mum is too frightened to go home after returning from university to find a teenage boy and girl in her house. The second break-in in three weeks at the two-bedroom council house in Braintree was the last straw for Danni
The opening of a newly refurbished flagship post office today gained a lukewarm welcome when it opened for trading. New look - little Max Steward joins the queue in Rectory Grove post office Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL The first customers through the door
Hospital bosses in south Essex were today on tenterhooks as the future of controversial foundation trusts went back into the melting pot. Basildon Hospital has already applied to become one of the first foundation hospitals in the country - giving it
Members of the public are to be consulted about the future of Spring Lodge community centre At last night's executive committee meeting of Braintree Council, Witham mayor Dr Bob Evans called for a deferral on the decision about the future of the community
Residents across Tendring have handed over thousands of pounds in an overseas lottery scam with no hope of seeing anything back for their money. Many people living in the district have responded to telephone calls and letters telling them to hand over
A campaigning grandmother has taken her fight to save her post office to the top. Dorothy Higgins, 82,of Clacton, has written to Prime Minister Tony Blair about threats to close down her nearest post office in St Osyth Road, Clacton. She has been out
Bogus council workers stole purses from two women in Colchester after talking their way into their homes. Both crimes were reported in Greenstead and prompted a police warning about people who call at people's doors. In the first incident, a man visited
Proposals to open a sex shop in Kings Road will now not be discussed by Brentwood Council until the New Year. It was expected that the Licensing Appeals Panel would discuss the issue at its meeting on Monday, December 1, but the matter has been postponed
Chelmsford City Football Club will be back playing in the borough "somewhere, sometime next season." But where it will be remains a secret after a behind-closed-doors meeting between club directors and leaders of the Tory-controlled borough council. City
The countdown to Christmas will officially begin in Rayleigh on Saturday. Rayleigh will be bathed in a festive glow on Saturday when its Christmas lights are switched on by Joyce Giles, chairman of the town council and Roger Buxton of BBC Essex at 4.30pm
New safety measures at a Thorpe Bay school will help to make life easier for both pupils and nearby residents. Slow down - a 20mph speed zone outside the school is one of the new safety measures Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY A wide-ranging series of measures
Anglers at Hockley's Open doubles match had to pick their way through the leaves on Sunday. The 40 competitors were split into two fields, one for silver fish and one for carp, and the overall winners were decided on points. Winners were Jim Hodges and
The countdown to Christmas will officially begin in Rayleigh on Saturday. Rayleigh will be bathed in a festive glow on Saturday when its Christmas lights are switched on by Joyce Giles, chairman of the town council and Roger Buxton of BBC Essex at 4.30pm
Hooligans smashed a resident's house and car windows yesterday morning after he challenged them for being noisy outside his home while he was trying to sleep. The man confronted the trio in Fane Road, Benfleet, who were roaring up and down the road on
Residents across Tendring have handed over thousands of pounds in an overseas lottery scam with no hope of seeing anything back for their money. Many people living in the district have responded to telephone calls and letters telling them to hand over
Fire wrecked a flat above a shop in Maldon High Street leaving a family homeless. The blaze, which started early Wednesday afternoon, also damaged the Maldon Conservative Association constituency office used by MP John Whittingdale. Blaze scene - firefighters
A woman did not mean to kill herself when she fell to her death from Chelmsford's multi-storey car park, an inquest has heard. Loraine Roberts, 38, of Dixon Road, Chelmsford, died in Broomfield Hospital after falling from level nine of the car park into
