A Government minister got stuck in to a town regeneration project that could create a park, pond and play area on residents' doorsteps. In the rough - Reg Copley, Kevin Robinson and Ben Bradshaw survey the site for the new community park Picture STEVE
Residents are starting to win their fight to clean up Clacton and rid it of litter. Rubbish and filth is causing problems for residents living in the Meredith Road area of Clacton. One of the problems is the Warwick Castle market site which backs on to
A woman was subjected to an indecent assault in Colchester High Street while she was shopping with her teenage daughters. A man approached the woman outside the Next store at about 5pm on Saturday and started making lewd suggestions to her and pushed
A twenty per cent increase in council tax or services slashed to the bone - it's your choice. A borough-wide referendum will give residents the stark choice of council tax rises or significant cuts in services, including those supporting vulnerable children
Castle Point MP Bob Spink practised what he preached when he received a flu jab at the House of Commons. The Tory MP has been campaigning for residents in the borough who are considered by medics to be in the at-risk category for catching flu, to come
Spending a penny could cost you £80 if you do it on the streets of Colchester. Deterrent - Colchester police licensing officer Michael Aitchison with the poster warning against urinating in public in Colchester Picture: TERRY WEEDEN Posters are being
A concerned father had to ban his kids from playing in their back garden after raw sewage seeped out from a manhole following heavy rain. Antony Jones, 29, of Eversley Road, Benfleet, said he could not risk the health of his children five-year-old daughter
Stirring choruses of Swing Low Sweet Chariot from the crowd could not lift Southend as they slumped to a disappointing home defeat. Spectators were in high spirits after England's World Cup triumph but, unfortunately, Southend could not follow up with
A cycle route planned for Sadlers Farm has been put on the backburner while major junction improvements are planned for the busy roundabout. The path - part of a county-wide plan to link all cycleways - was supposed to be created in August after months
Motorists and cyclists were today warned to park their property in garages overnight after the latest spate of thefts. Police have revealed a car, a motorbike, a moped and three bikes were stolen on Canvey over the weekend. A Yamaha moped worth £1,500
Blues midfielder Neil Jenkins has been handed a two-match ban for his recent red card at Yeovil Town. The former England U20 International was dismissed for foul and abusive language and will now miss matches against both Torquay United and Lincoln City
Two members of Wickford based Carousel Gym Club were among the medals when the inter-county teams level three and FIG Championships were held at Ipswich. Medal marvels - 12-year-old Charlie Atkins (left) and Felicity Clarke, 11 Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY In
A man who downloaded internet pictures of child pornography fainted in court as he was jailed for four-and-a-half years. Police searched Julian Pannell's home after a tip-off from the US authorities about purchases he made from an American website. Officers
Star of TV's Cold Feet, Hermione Norris, helped to give a major boost to Southend Hospital's appeal for a new children's centre at the Kingsdown School in Snakes Lane at Eastwood. Delighted - actress Hermione Norris with Imelda Callowhill from the Sunflower
Southend supremo Ron Martin has revealed the reasoning behind his decision not to appoint fans' favourite Stan Collymore. "The club is in a potentially precarious position and for Stan to take the reins at this time would be a risk," he said. "After careful
Southpaw Mick Murnane turned on the style to out-point the number one fighter in the country in the NABC quarter-finals. Sixteen-year-old Murnane beat Repton's top-ranked B Sanders with a convincing display to seal his 16th victory on the bounce. The
Billericay has been firmly put on the map at a special exhibition set in the 17th century. Map work - actors Gary Knott and James Rushbrook get to work Picture: ROB WELHAM The Cater Museum in the High Street, was home to the exhibition and saw two actors
Racenights at Arena Essex are to switch from Fridays to Wednesdays with an earlier start time. Hammers promoter Ronnie Russell confirmed the move days after announcing his speedway team were stepping up to the Elite League for the 2004 season. "It's been
A scathing attack was today launched on Castle Point's council leader by an angry member of her own party. Tory councillor Lionel Hart spoke out after Pam Challis organised a meeting with Chief Supt John Mauger behind his back. Furious Mr Hart said he
Parents have voted unanimously against the closure of a school for children with special needs in Clacton. Essex County Council wants to officially shut the Leas School for pupils with moderate learning difficulties at the end of August 2005. At a special
Essex begin their quest to reclaim their First Division place in the County Championship when they make the long haul to Yorkshire on April 21 before they commence their home fixtures in the competition the following week against Somerset at Chelmsford
Residents in Harwich will get the chance to have a major input into the plans for the town's new hospital. That's the promise from health bosses building the facility in Main Road. Dr Sue O'Connell, project director for the scheme, said healthcare professionals
Adrian Mussett once again did Colchester Harriers proud as he remained focused on his goal of representing England at the European Cross Country Championships. Running in the qualifier at Liverpool, he needed to finish in the top six to gain automatic
Former EastEnders' star Martin Kemp will be in south Essex this weekend to spark off Christmas celebrations. Martin, who played Steve Owen in the soap and is currently starring in Family on television, will join with Santa to lead the Grays Christmas
A Businessman has returned to work after an unprovoked attack in Colchester town centre in which he lost the sight in one eye. Ian Francis, 52, the owner of Flower Vogue in Head Street was walking up the hill with a friend when they were confronted by
A hairdresser has gone back to his roots and fulfilled a life-long ambition by releasing a fundraising CD. Owner of Headlines in Billericay and Wickford High Streets, Simon Harris, took a break from his stylist career to record the album to raise money
Cash starved schools in Southend will soon be forking out for staff to cover duties which teachers are no longer required to do. The Prittlewell College, has been chosen to pilot a scheme to employ minders to ensure students toe the line under a new Government
An angry mum today blasted cinema bosses who forced her ten-year-old son to walk home in the pouring rain after not allowing him to make a quick phone call. Refused a phone call - Daniel Smith and his friend Scott Harvey Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY Daniel Hole
Shrimpers supremo Ron Martin was today hoping Oxford United would change their mind and allow him to talk to top Blues boss target Ian Atkins. The Southend United co-owner has finally confirmed Atkins as his number one choice to succeed Steve Wignall
Elderly and disabled people were today vowing to defy a council ban on parking their electric buggies outside their homes. They were fuming at the move - by Rochford Council - which also accuses some residents of stealing electricity from the council.
This Christmas residents of Ongar and North Weald are being invited to buy a very special gift which could prove a lifesaver for elderly or vulnerable relatives. Epping Forest Crime Reduction Partnership is encouraging people to buy their friends or family
Plans for a piece of artwork costing £390,000 of public money for Southend's Pier Hill have been revealed. Famous artists have been lining up to win the commission for the work, part of the revamp of the area currently being carried out. Southend Council
The quest for a victory takes Alan Pardew and West Ham to unfamiliar territory tonight, but there will be no change in the team's approach. Hammers go to Milton Keynes where they visit Wimbledon's new home for the first time knowing that only a convincing
A fisherman has been ordered to do community service for harassing his ex-mother-in-law over a £3,000 debt. Kevin Haggis, 41, of Portobello Road, Walton, had denied the charge which involved Rhonda Brooke-Taylor. But magistrates sitting at Colchester
The quick-thinking actions of a firefighter helped prevented two youths from causing criminal damage to a nearby house. The White Watch firefighter was at Hadleigh fire station, in High Street, when he looked out of a window and saw the teenagers. PC
Crime is on the rise across Essex, with a 15 per cent increase in house burglaries, police figures revealed today. The number of reported offences rose by 17 per cent in Rayleigh, 13 per cent in Southend, 12 per cent in Basildon and 12 per cent in Thurrock
A children's day nursery and a new dental surgery could soon be built if councillors give plans the go-ahead tomorrow. Developers want to build a one-storey nursery and a two-storey building, which would house the dental surgery and four flats, on land
Budding volcanologists and geologists were back to hitting the books today - after two days of art and model making. Year ten youngsters at Cornelius Vermuyden School, in Dinant Avenue, Canvey, were taken off curriculum for two days last week and given
A motorist who was caught drink-driving twice within 48 hours escaped prison despite "extremely high" breath-test readings. Adrian Queen, 44, had admitted two separate charges of driving while over the limit. He appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court
Braintree Council's leader has said he hopes to keep next year's council tax increases at or below the eight per cent increase levied this year. David Finch (Con, Hatfield Peverel) was speaking after a private meeting of the council's executive discussed
Former Southend United striker Stan Collymore has expressed his disappointment at being discarded for the vacant Roots Hall hot-seat. Collymore had been hotly-tipped by many to take over from Steve Wignall until Shrimpers director Ron Martin announced
A man who told police he fantasised about young girls and had 54 indecent photographs of children has been jailed for six months. Chelmsford Magistrates' Court heard yesterday how Simon Edwards 43, of Sceptre Close, Tollesbury, possessed a picture of
A school choir has hit the high note after being named the best in England in a singing contest. Simply the best - St Philomena's School, Frinton, named the best in the BBC's Songs of Praise, Junior School Choir of the Year competition Picture: TERRY
Ambulance staff have hit out at thieves who raided their station and stole cash while they were out answering 999 calls. Thieves took £55 which had been collected for a colleague's wedding present and another £30 from the tea collection at the station
A South Essex woman who lost her new-born triplets 16 years ago is staging a charity event to help fragile babies win their fight for life. Personal experience - Alice Cox, who lost new-born triplets 16 years ago Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL Alice Cox, 49
Thurrock Council's street wardens are on the lookout for festively decorated homes. Prizes ranging from chocolates and wine to a food hamper are on offer to households that - in the opinion of the street wardens - make the most effort to give the outside
With third from bottom Berkhamsted having produced a shock win at East Thurrock on Saturday, Great Wakering Rovers' need for success at home to Leyton tonight is more acute in Ryman Division One North. The village side are currently second from bottom
Firefighters battled to bring a late-night house fire under control. Crews from Manningtree, Colchester and Weeley were called to the smoke-filled home in Harwich Road, Great Bromley, after the blaze started. No-one was in the two-bedroomed house and
Police are hunting a skinny woman who stole a car from outside the Circus Tavern in Purfleet. They believe there had been a fight and the car's owner dropped the keys where they were picked up by a young woman who got in the car with another woman and
