Nearly 50 youngsters were netted in a truancy blitz. Educational welfare and police officers yesterday rounded up 47 youngsters in Clacton and the surrounding area who should have been in class. Ten of the students stopped were taken back to school. There
The arrival of Marlon Harewood does not spell the end for Jermain Defoe, according to Alan Pardew. Harewood, who made his West Ham debut in last night's 1-1 draw at bottom club Wimbledon, is the new boss's third acquisition and his second addition up
A Braintree school has announced who will take over when its long-serving headteacher departs in the new year. John Hartley has been leading the way at Notley High School since 1997 but will be taking the reigns at Saffron Walden County High School in
Chelmsford has done it. The county town has scooped the largest ever lottery grant in Essex and one of the biggest the Eastern Region has seen. More than £3.25million has been handed over by the Heritage Lottery Fund to Chelmsford Council to carry out
A plea by Basildon Council for a national referendum on the European Constitution has been rejected by Downing Street. The council wrote to Prime Minister Tony Blair demanding to know why a poll was not being held into the proposed new constitution. However
The Canvey Island Senior Citizen Association has struck lucky for the third time and received a cash boost from the National Lottery community fund. The 35 year-old group, based at Long Road, Canvey, was awarded £18,319, which will go towards renovations
Wakering are still searching for their first Ryman Division One North home win of the season after last night's 1-1 draw with Leyton at Burroughs park. Rovers took a seventh-minute lead when striker Glenn Bennett scored his first league goal for the club
Young people in Billericay have been going bananas in order to raise money for charity. Members of the youth group at Christ Church in Perry Street showed some pudding power by working together to make the biggest banana split the town has even seen.
There were boxes galore stacked up at Gable Hall School in Corringham - all of which will soon be heading off to underprivileged people in eastern Europe. Boxing clever - Hannah Fisher, Sarah Fisher, David Sweetenham, Billy Parker and Daryl Zaraidonis
The Government has admitted Essex schools have a funding crisis and has promised more money for next year - but Billericay MP John Baron is not satisfied. The MP joined 33 local schools last month in writing to the Government to complain about school
The long-running saga over finding a travellers site could move a step closer to being resolved next month. Talks over where to build a permanent site in Colchester are being held at a special meeting. Councillors were forced to rethink proposals after
A workshop for sports coaches is coming up at Braintree Leisure Centre. The Equity in Your Coaching workshop is to help coaches ensure everyone has access to sport regardless of gender, age, race, faith or sexual orientation. The course, which costs £15
Flats for elderly residents will be built in Benfleet after Castle Point's planning committee voted unanimously in favour of the plans. The proposals are to construct a three-storey building with 27 sheltered accommodation flats in High Road. The block
The fourth post office to close in Castle Point this year has locked its doors for the last time. Fury erupted after it was confirmed in October that the post office, in Rayleigh Road, Benfleet, would shut. Benfleet councillor Bill Dick believes the closure
He is now known simply as Ali. And authorities are desperate to trace this missing Oriental boy whose disapearance from Southend Hospital has sparked a worldwide hunt. Missing - young Ali was last seen on CCTV on his way out of the hospital Now a national
A campaigning resident today vowed to fight plans for a block of 50 flats on Canvey, calling them a "frightening scenario". No building here - Terry Sessions believes a plan for new flats should be stopped Picture: MAXINE CLARKE Terry Sessions believes
A youth drama group faces an uncertain future as its organisers say they have no regular place to practise. Children were left crying in the foyer of the theatre on Saturday when the group was told the practise room they had booked and paid for, the Dixon
Oxford United chairman Firoz Kassam has confirmed he will not let boss Ian Atkins leave the table-topping U's. Shrimpers supremo Ron Martin has identified Atkins as his number one choice to succeed Steve Wignall as manager but has so far been denied permission
Improvements to service in Braintree between 2004 and 2008 were outlined at a public meeting. Braintree Council's direction and ambition priorities for the next four years were explained at the second annual Partners and Communities Together (Pact) meeting
A last-minute decision to fish the Gloucester Park Open rather than a canal match proved a master move for matchman Paul Stanley. At the canal match he would have been hoping for two or three pounds of tiny roach, while at Gloucester Park he took the
What do you buy the person who possibly has everything? Essex entrepreneur Avi Lasarow may have the solution the world's first gift which enables the recipient to have a sample of their DNA stored in a high security underground safe deposit at London's
An emotional congregation packed into a Walton church for the last time. More than 120 parishioners went to a thanksgiving mass to mark the closure of the town's only Roman Catholic church. It was announced the small Church of St Francis of Assisi would
A 24-year-old man was left with bruising following an unprovoked attack in Chelmsford. He was walking along the High Street with two friends at about 2am on Saturday, (November 22), when a man approached him and punched him in the face. The man responsible
A mother has called on judges to do more to help law-abiding youngsters after her teenage children were set upon by a bottle-wielding gang. The mum, who has asked not to be named, spoke out after her 16-year-old son was repeatedly punched and kicked before
Southend Borough Combination Veterans League secretary Tony Hoskins today thanked all those who had sent him get well soon messages. Tony was recently admitted to hospital with chest pains that were diagnosed as stress-related. "I'm feeling a lot better
Essex Police is reminding motorists that new Government legislation, which sees the use of a mobile phone become illegal while driving, comes into effect on Monday. Drivers who use their mobile phones, other than to contact emergency services, will be
A charity which gives crucial help and support for people with learning disabilities has been saved from closure, thanks to a £112,000 lottery handout. Cash lifeline - Marilyn celebrates the good news with Mencap staff and helpers Picture: LUAN MARSHALL
Mitchell Springett felt his Harwich and Parkeston side were 'unlucky not to win' their Ridgeons League Cup third round match at high-flying AFC Sudbury. The Shrimpers clawed their way back level twice in a 2-2 draw, but failed to grab the all-important
With England's Rugby World Cup triumph in Australia as an inspiration, Hadleigh-based Charmaine Wheeler is travelling Down Under tomorrow to neighbouring New Zealand for the Triathlon World Championships. Kiwi polish - that's the aim of Hadleigh triathlete
College chiefs have revealed proposals for a new £4 million sports and teaching complex in Colchester. The project is phase two of the Sixth Form College's redevelopment plans. Bosses want to build a new hall and more than 20 classrooms off North Hill
Tim Hughes' Thurrock claimed a sixth league win of the campaign to strengthen their position in the upper-reaches of London Two North. A trip to Norfolk to tackle Diss meant they missed out on watching England's World Cup win at their club, but an 18-
A teenager who assaulted a woman in a jealous rage was today behind bars. Laura Kerton, 19, admitted causing actual bodily harm to her 31-year-old victim on July 1, Southend Crown Court heard. Robert Flach, prosecuting, told how shortly after the unnamed
Shadow health minister Simon Burns, who is MP for West Chelmsford, has slammed the government's proposals for foundation hospitals. The plans are to go ahead following a close vote in the House of Commons and substantial opposition in the House of Lords
Former Spurs star Justin Edinburgh is staying as manager of Billericay Town - but long-serving player Russell Penn is leaving. Edinburgh tendered his resignation after Saturday's 4-1 home defeat at the hands of Northwood - Town's 15th reverse in 21 Ryman
NHS bosses have unveiled a new £2million accommodation and training centre that will help boost mental health services in south Essex. Launched - South Essex Partnership NHS Trust's Geoff Williams, Stewart Thomson and Nikki Richardson at The Lodge Picture
The desperate daughters of a missing mum today appealed for her to get in touch. Sandra Gant, 45, was last seen ten days ago. Her children and police said they were becoming "increasingly concerned" for her welfare. Her eldest daughter, Carrie Cheasley
There was a very close encounter between Hull-bridge B and Thorpe Bay A in the Premier Division of the Southend and District Table Tennis League. The result was decided in the fifth and final set of the last game of the match. John Monk had already bagged
Basildon's under-16 girls continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 66-0 trouncing of Sudbury. They played their hosts, who were older and far bigger than the new town side, off the park despite fielding two rookie 11-year-olds. "They simply
A plea by Basildon Council for a national referendum on the European Constitution has been rejected by Downing Street. The council wrote to Prime Minister Tony Blair demanding to know why a poll was not being held into the proposed new constitution. However
Phil Parkinson believes his high-flying Colchester United squad can learn a lot from England's Rugby World Cup winning triumph in Australia. Phil Parkinson The deep-thinking U's boss today told the Evening Gazette: "If you want to be successful you only
A village is planning to mark 250 years of cricket with a prestigious match against the most famous club in the world. The very first match was played in St Osyth under the patronage of the Earl of Rochford in 1754. It took place on a field at the back
The number of people in Southend diagnosed with HIV has rocketed by more than 170 per cent this year, it was revealed today. Southend Primary Care Trust admitted the figures - 190 confirmed cases so far in 2003 against 70 last year - are a "concern",
Southend United defender Lewis Hunt has admitted he is keen to extend his current loan spell with the Shrimpers. "I wouldn't mind staying with Southend for a bit longer," said Hunt, whose month-long deal from Derby County ends this Saturday. Welcome -
A proposed retail park petrol filling station has been given the go-ahead despite fears it could force other smaller businesses out of business. Permission for the petrol station, a kiosk and car wash at Brook Park in London Road, Clacton, was granted
A last-minute decision to fish the Gloucester Park Open rather than a canal match proved a master move for matchman Paul Stanley. At the canal match he would have been hoping for two or three pounds of tiny roach, while at Gloucester Park he took the
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
An elderly woman needed medical treatment after bogus callers stole a four figure sum of money from her Margaretting home. The 74-year-old had had previous heart trouble and needed medical treatment after two men conned their way into her home. The pair
Former Spurs star Justin Edinburgh is staying as manager of Billericay Town - but long-serving player Russell Penn is leaving. Edinburgh tendered his resignation after Saturday's 4-1 home defeat at the hands of Northwood - Town's 15th reverse in 21 Ryman
Attendance levels at a Braintree comprehensive school have been praised in a recent Ofsted report. Staff and pupils celebrate a good Ofsted report for The Alec Hunter High School, Braintree Inspectors noted the 'remarkable' improvement in attendance at
An investigation was today under way after an ambulance on its way to a 999 call and a driving school car were in collision. Three people were taken to hospital after the crash in Valley Road, Clacton, just yards from the ambulance base. A 53-year-old
The earliest Braintree's Chapel Hill School may reopen has been pushed back up to three years. Essex County Council renewed its pledge in May to reopen the primary school within three years of its official closure of December 31 2002, but now says 2007
A plea by Basildon Council for a national referendum on the European Constitution has been rejected by Downing Street. The council wrote to Prime Minister Tony Blair demanding to know why a poll was not being held into the proposed new constitution. However
Have you seen her? I last saw here go to Tesco some weeks ago She has my car and credit cards please help. chris@nqe.com
He is now known simply as Ali. And authorities are desperate to trace this missing Oriental boy whose disapearance from Southend Hospital has sparked a worldwide hunt. Missing - young Ali was last seen on CCTV on his way out of the hospital Now a national
Banner-waving protesters cheered with delight after controversial plans for a block of flats on Canvey seafront were thrown out. Emotions ran high as more than 400 protesters packed the public gallery at Castle Point Council's planning committee objecting
Young people in Billericay have been going bananas in order to raise money for charity. Members of the youth group at Christ Church in Perry Street showed some pudding power by working together to make the biggest banana split the town has even seen.
A teenage boy was tapped on the shoulder then told he would be stabbed if he resisted a robbery. The 15-year-old was walking along London Road, Leigh, and was followed into Burnham Road. After being tapped on the shoulder he was told: "Give me your mobile
A teenager who assaulted a woman in a jealous rage was today behind bars. Laura Kerton, 19, admitted causing actual bodily harm to her 31-year-old victim on July 1, Southend Crown Court heard. Robert Flach, prosecuting, told how shortly after the unnamed
Colchester United are poised to boost their squad with the exciting signing of striker Jamie Cade. Cade, who celebrates his 20th birthday in January, has just completed a loan spell with the U's struggling Second Division rivals Chesterfield. But U's
