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 doors. In the first incident, a man visited a woman
It is one of the most famous places in Southend. Ooops! - The pier sign Picture: MIKE MINERS Currently Pier Hill is being transformed in one of the town's biggest regeneration projects. But signs put up to warn motorists of the road's closure have been
People trying to get pizza delivered and late-night revellers looking for a ride home are among the latest idiots to make 999 calls to police. Essex Police receive around 1,200 genuine emergency calls every day, but on top of this they have to deal with
Billericay Town look like being without key players Danny Hockton and Jamie Dormer as they host lowly rivals Northwood in the Ryman Premier tomorrow. Top scorer Hockton is again likely to be missing with a knee injury picked up in training, while utility
Southend AC's under-17s men continued their reign of glory in the annual Margate Open International Cross Country races. The event covered the whole range of age groups and was held on a very fine day -- the sun was shining in a clear blue sky and although
Orsett Hospital League of Friends has presented the physiotherapy department with 12 machines which allow patients to manage their pain better. TENS boost - members of the League of Friends hands over the machines to Lorna Stoddart Picture: DAVE HENDERSON
Fans hoping to give Stan Collymore a rousing reception as new Blues manager at home to Rochdale tomorrow look set for a disappointment. Sources close to the club suggest that ex-Southend United and England star Collymore appears to have slipped down the
More than 100 workers took to the picket line at a south Essex factory today. On strike - employees at York International Picture: ROB BROWNE The one-day strike at York International, makers of industrial air-conditioning units, in Gardiners Lane, Basildon
Staff eager to raise £20,000 for a specialist scan machine are another step closer thanks to a donation. Thank you - the hospital's clinical nurse specialist Dan Cummins and Dr Tony O'Brien collect the cheque from the association's Tracey Godfrey and
DAVE FILMER (Echosport rugby correspondent) Pommie-bashing may be a national pastime Down Under -- and they can call Woody's boys boring as often as they want -- but the Aussies are going to have a taste of humble pie tomorrow. England are going to lift
A courageous Ongar post master told how he confronted a hostage taking armed raider in his shop despite being "terrified" when a gun was turned on him. High Street postmaster Richie Patel, who has run his post office and stationary shop for 14 years,
A worker was trapped under a mini-digger after it toppled over at a West Mersea farm. He was airlifted to Colchester General Hospital after being freed from under the machine he was operating at the site in Haycocks Lane. The Essex Air Ambulance helicopter
Michael Carrick and Jermain Defoe can make England's Euro 2004 squad according to manager Alan Pardew -- but only if they produce consistent form for West Ham. Injury-plagued midfielder Carrick has endured a nightmare over the past 18 months as a persistent
One of the hidden glories of Southend is set to re-open tonight in an entirely new guise. The assembly room of the Royal Hotel at the bottom of Southend High Street was built in the 18th century when the town began its early development into a seaside
Messing residents are divided over their support for historical descendant President George W Bush as he makes his official state visit to the UK. Enthusiasm for the President, whose ancestors came from the village near Tiptree, has waned since his election
David Culverhouse is hoping Hitchin Town do not scupper his and Dean Parratt's ambitions of becoming the new Braintree Town managers. The duo are set to have talks with the Iron directors over the next fortnight and they believe a win at home to Hitchin
Great Wakering Rovers may find it tough bidding to continue their recent improved run tomorrow when they go to high-flying Boreham Wood in Ryman Division One North tomorrow. After drawing with Aveley at home last weekend, the village side pulled off a
Canvey FC hit back today at claims their supporters threw a brick at a coach carrying Southend United fans away from Wednesday's FA Cup replay match. An ambulance was called to treat a young Southend supporter who needed treatment after glass shattered
British Telecom engineer-cum-chauffeur Darren Nicholson has had the brakes put on his stretched limousine business. Councillors on Tendring Council had a special trip out in the left-hand drive American limousine yesterday. But they ruled it must be a
Residents in Canvey East will have to wait to air their views at their area forum until next year after a meeting was cancelled as everyone was watching a crunch football match. A meeting of the forum was scheduled for Wednesday night at 7.30pm - the
An appeal is being made to businesses in the Chelmsford area to give their backing to the Chelmsford Crossroads charity which is facing imminent closure because of a funding crisis. The charity, which helps more than 100 families by giving vital breaks
A new appointment to a church will bring new ideas and help attract larger congregations. James Roskelly has been appointed team vicar of St Michael's and Grovewood Church in Rayleigh. The town's team rector, David Parrott, welcomed his new man who will
Chelmsford Borough Council looks set to end its support for the South Woodham Ferrers Forum, but could ask the town council to take it over. That was the decision of the borough council's executive last week after considering a report which said there
Kind-hearted children from Benfleet have made up more than 100 boxes full of Christmas goodies to send to poor children on the other side of the world. For the children - pupils from Holy Family Primary School with boxes of gifts for needy children Picture
A new post office has been given the green light to be set up in a farm shop in Abberton. Described as a potential godsend by campaigners, the plan was given delegated approval by Colchester's planning committee last night. It is hoped it will serve a
Money is continuing to pour in for a six-year-old boy who suffers from brain damage and needs specialist treatment in Poland. Steve and Amanda Wakeling, of Burstall Close, Clacton, need to raise £5,000 to send their son Alex to Mielno by next March. Alex
A Southend MP has backed calls for greater access in town centres for guide dogs and other owners. Southend West Tory David Amess is supporting the moves by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and the British Retail Consortium. The moves were launched
Essex County Council has won a Government award for its flexi-working practices. The £5,000 prize comes in the form of a work-life balance solutions toolkit. It is the second year running the county council has won the award. Some 2,000 of its 2,700 county
Ten men are celebrating after shredding the pounds to reveal a thinner version of themselves. Some of the slimmers who have shed the pounds Don Atkinson, Brad Leggett, Chris Evans, Derek Payne, Lee Harmon, Michael Swanson, Owen Thurlow, Simon Whitnall
A neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator is calling for something to be done to stop vandals causing damage to cars and property in his area. Paul Gorton, the Watch co-ordinator for the area, said there had been between 18 to 25 cars damaged. On Monday, at
An eastender who grew up on a tough council estate and left school with hardly any qualifications is set to challenge to become Basildon and East Thurrock MP. Aaron Powell has been picked by the Basildon Conservative Association as their Prospective Parliamentary
Top DJ and comic Phill Jupitus will be bringing his BBC Radio 6 breakfast show back home next month. Coming home - Phill Jupitus is brining his show to Essex next month Essex-born-and-bred Phill will be hosting his show from five Essex towns during a
Two Frinton swimmers are bidding for national glory today. Eleanor Dooley, eight, and Rebecca Dickinson, seven, both from St Philomena's School, in Frinton, are taking part in the Independent Schools Association national swimming finals in Coventry. This
A shocked motorist was hit in the face during a road rage attack by a man who accused him of cutting him up. The ordeal began yesterday at 9am as the male victim was driving to work along Ashingdon Road, Rochford. Sgt Paul Saunders said: "The motorist
One of the oldest residents at Colchester Zoo - Pat, the patagonian sealion - has died at the age of 24. Pat arrived at the Zoo in late 1984, and was always very popular with visitors and keepers alike. Initial post-mortem examination results show Pat
A proud unbeaten run, goals galore and a lofty perch just outside the play-off zone in Division One. Life has been fairly sweet for Ipswich Town recently, not to mention ever-present goalkeeper Kelvin Davis. But, as far as the shotstopper is concerned
Colchester United will write a new chapter of club history tomorrow when they run-out at Nene Park for a first-ever clash with Rushden and Diamonds. The two clubs have never met before at any level, even when the ambitious Northamptonshire side was known
Arena Essex will be competing in the Sky Sports Elite League next season. That was the chief news for local fans following the BSPA Annual General Meeting in Tenerife. The Hammers will be one of ten clubs involved in the top-flight with Swindon also making
The Government has decided against making St Peter's Hospital in Maldon a listed building, clearing the way for health bosses to sell the site for development. The Department of Culture, Media and Sport was requested to consider listing the Spital Road
All traffic lights on Chelmsford's Army and Navy roundabout were turned off for good on Monday and traffic has been flowing "ace" says the man behind the idea. Cllr Rodney Bass, political head of transport at Essex County Council says it's "So far so
A mum who turned to prostitution to clear her debts and fund her social life was today behind bars for killing her baby son by gross neglect. Hayley Onley - admitted manslaughter The baby's heartbroken father, Steven Austin, 23, of Rectory Road, Pitsea
A major bid will be made in Braintree to stamp out crime and anti-social behaviour in the town centre during the festive period. The town's police are set to increase foot patrols from Monday, December 15, until the New Year in an initiative codenamed
Council chiefs were today celebrating success and national recognition in winning five Green Flag awards for the area's parks. We're the tops - council chiefs including mayor Charles Latham and Tony North celebrate the award Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL Southend's
Colchester General Hospital is still hovering between the equivalent of red and amber alert. Staff at the Turner Road Hospital have been trying to avoid postponing routine operations as far as possible, a spokesman said. The hospital has recently been
Joe Royle is more excited than usual about picking his Ipswich Town team for tomorrow's Nationwide League Division One clash at home to Sheffield United. Hit by a recent run of injuries and suspensions - he had to name four academy players on the bench
A little girl running through a sunny park filling her pockets with daisies is the lasting memory of a mother whose daughter, Lisa, fell to her death from a Southend tower block. Jan Utton, who refuses to believe that her beautiful and vibrant daughter
Canvey boss Jeff King knows that his side could hardly face a stiffer challenge tomorrow when they return to their main task of the season, trying to win the Ryman Premier title. All thoughts of glory, national headlines and big cash pickings, all of
The people of Basildon are being urged to send a message of hope to prisoners of conscience worldwide this Christmas. The Amnesty International group in Basildon will be setting up a stall at the Basildon Centre in St Martin's Square on Friday, December
Big changes could be on the way in how council housing is run in the Braintree district. Braintree Council is embarking on a review of the way it funds social housing in a bid to prepare for funding tough new decency standards on housing being introduced
A woman who was abducted and raped in a country park was today being questioned by specially trained officers. The woman was attacked in woods in Langdon Hills Country Park off High Road, Langdon Hills yesterday morning. Scene - police seal off the area
Rush-hour traffic in Southend ground to a halt yesterday because of an electric toothbrush. Police closed Victoria Avenue at around 4pm as army bomb disposal experts moved in to investigate a suspicious package at Customs and Excise offices in Alexandra
A Mid-Essex road that has seen 527 accidents over the past 10 years is set for improvements if funding is available. Statistics for the A414 from Chelmsford towards the M11 show that there were 18 fatal, 108 serious and 401 minor accidents between October
