Southend councillors' allowances for the work they do for the town are set to be frozen with only an inflation-linked increase next year. The figures are expected to be agreed at today's full meeting of the authority having been proposed by an independent
Division Two 'bad boy' Craig Fagan has vowed to clean up his act - if he is selected by Colchester United boss Phil Parkinson. Craig Fagan Fagan - seven yellow cards and one red - is currently topping the Nationwide League Second Division's foul play
Canvey's Dion Macfayden won the Stanford Beach Open at the weekend -- but the golden peg prize rolled over yet again and now stands at £690. "I had a bad first hour but then caught two or three fish a cast," said Macfayden, who landed 21 fish (19 flounders
Confusion today surrounded what is to become of two green spaces where children play on Canvey. The areas - in Miramar Avenue and Thomas Drive/Church Parade - are currently under scrutiny by the council's asset management panel. It is believed they will
A pilot had an amazing escape from the mangled wreck of his light aircraft which plunged thousands of feet to the ground after suffering engine failure. Mess - miraculously the pilot was pulled out of this wreckage with non-life threatening injuries Picture
A headteacher is leaving the classroom to take up her position on the putting green. Pat Elliot has been running Westcliff High School for Girls for the last 13 years but after more than a decade of success she is hanging up her mortarboard to take up
Basildon Ladies' December medal was won by Josie Wilby on a net 70. She beat Hilda Burgess (74) and Daphne Saitch (75) into second and third place. Earlier it had been Angie Smith's turn to dominate proceedings at the new town course. She won the club's
Police investigating a horrific bottle attack have made a fresh appeal for witnesses. A 16-year-old was repeatedly punched and kicked before being smashed over the head with a glass bottle by a gang of youths outside Alldays Store, in Hoover Drive, Laindon
Anxious residents are protesting at plans to build a detached house near to an accident hotspot. Similar proposals were recently passed for nearby Fitzgerald Cottages in Dovercourt, all close to a dangerous, blind bend. Now an application has been made
Undercover police on buses in Castle Point form part of a three-pronged plan to combat yobs who terrorise drivers and passengers. Drivers will also get their own police hotline on buses which will link them up with police and extra bobbies on the beat
A man today told of his shock at discovering a former friend was black widow killer Dena Thompson. Thompson, 43, was jailed for life for killing her husband, Julian Webb. She killed him with a drugs overdose disguised in a curry. Gary Wilson, of Clacton
Fewer people failed breath tests in Essex last month than in November last year. But officers found that more drivers refused or were not able to do the tests after they were pulled over by officers. And seven motorists were arrested on suspicion of driving
Essex Charities and local organisations who benefitted from donations made by VIP guests at the 2003 V Festival were presented with their cheques at a recent event. Representatives of the charities at Hylands House At the special event at Hylands House
New powers given to Castle Point councillors will help boost community projects in the borough by thousands of pounds each year. Residents who own two homes in the borough currently get a 50 per cent council discount on the second home, as do owners of
Commuters were given a cure for morning-after "dog breath" today - by a south Essex train company. First Great Eastern trains, which runs services between Southend Victoria and Liverpool Street, was giving out Christmas cards containing a packet of mints
A woman who worked on the Soham inquiry has told how murderer Ian Huntley displayed an unnatural interest in the murder hunt. Killer Huntley was yesterday jailed for life for the murders of schoolgirls Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells. Essex Police press
A courageous ex-policeman saw off three youths he suspected of trying to break into a Colchester social club. Mick Saunders, of Defoe Crescent, Mile End, gave chase when he stumbled on the trio. The 54-year-old had volunteered to be a designated driver
Essex charities and local organisations who benefitted from donations made by VIP guests at the 2003 V Festival were presented with their cheques at a recent event. Representatives of the charities gather at Hylands House At the special gathering at Hylands
The driver of an automatic car which crashed into the front of a property in Marks Tey probably pressed the accelerator by mistake, an inquest has heard. Bronwyn Thorpe, 67, of Wellside, died in Colchester General Hospital almost four weeks after the
Tributes were paid today to a teenage girl who died following a car accident. Amy Field, 15, from Thorrington Road, Great Bentley, died yesterday afternoon in Great Ormond Street Hospital's intensive care unit. She had been critically injured following
Crews from Brandy Hole Yacht Club are anxiously awaiting the announcement of the final positions in the Adnam's Cruiser Winter Series. The ninth and final race of the annual event saw Geoff Skelton and his team win the fast handicap class in GK29 Rumours
Andy Marshall has extended his loan stay at Premiership side Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Ipswich Town goalkeeper - who lives just outside Colchester - has agreed to stay with the Midlanders until December 31. He initially signed a month-long deal after
The UK's first new racecourse for 75 years being planned at Great Leighs is to be powered by the sun. Some £295,700 of Government money has been granted for a renewable energy project at the £40 million scheme on the former Essex County Showground site
Arena Essex have been rocked by the news that Henning Bager will ride for Elite League rivals Peterborough next season. The popular Dane was due to return to Purfleet, but because his sponsorship and lodgings were provided by Peterborough's owner he found
Rail chiefs are to give commuters a £5 million present by transforming the line between Chelmsford and Shenfield next year, part of a series of major engineering projects costing £13 million. Next year will see three extensive works on the Great Eastern
A school in Burnham has been put into special measures by OFSTED inspectors after they decided it was failing to give its pupils a satisfactory standard of education The report, not yet published, identified four key issues where St Peter's High School
A knife-wielding robber followed a woman from a cash machine then mugged her in a park. The 44-year-old was threatened with a pen-knife after the thug approached her from behind and knocked her to the ground in Dews Green, Pitsea. He demanded cash before
An extension to a sports pavilion has been given the green light, despite protests from residents. Lawford Parish Council applied for the village's sports pavilion to be improved. Tendring Council's development control committee, which received five letters
Victim Support Essex (VSE) is appealing for more volunteers to help them continue their good work in 2004. Tom Elliot, area manager of VSE said that the charity looked back at 2003 with pride and satisfaction, especially as the year had seen the six community
Two vehicles were burnt out within minutes of each other in a suspected arson attack. A car and a van were burnt out in neighbouring streets in the Old Heath area of Colchester. Colchester police believe the fires are suspicious and are connected to each
Essex are to charge members admission to next season's Twenty20 Cup matches. That is the shock news that will be dropping through letter boxes during the next few days and it is bound to meet with an angry response from county fans. Many will interpret
Green campaigners have brought in specialist equipment to help give two ponds in woodland a clear out. Digging in - green campaigners are giving ponds in North Benfleet Hall Woods a much-needed clear out Picture: DAVE HENDERSON Members of Castle Point
Frustrated commuters today criticised a high-tech bus information system in Castle Point after suffering months of misinformation, no information and now irrelevant messages. The Travel Real-Time Information and Priority System (TRIPS) boards - situated
The streets of Southend should soon look much cleaner. Binmen will be keeping the town's streets extra tidy with 24 new dustcarts. Halfway through its ten-year contract, Southend waste management bosses at Cory Environmental have spent hundreds of thousands
A family is off on a magical trip to see Father Christmas at Lappland. The Munson family, of Mountbatten Drive, Colchester mum Sheena, dad Andrew, with children Bethany, 11, and seven-year-old Dominic picked up their prize at Wyevale Garden Centre at
A stray dog could be to blame for a horrific smash on the A13 which claimed the lives of three people, police said today. The crash, near the junction with the A1089 Dock Approach Road, Grays, has taken the total number of people to die on the road to
An investigation into Philip Morant's English results found its key stage three tests did not reflect the "unaided" and "independent" work of pupils. The key stage three results were unveiled yesterday and the Colchester school and college got a zero
Wet weather played havoc with Ballards Gore's Christmas Classic, a better ball with draw for playing partners. A number of players pulled out in the morning and many of those who did arrive went home again when their partners did not turn up. In the end
A loving father killed in a tragic lorry accident was popular, funny and committed to his family, his partner said. William Doyle, 40, was run over by an articulated lorry at the Tilbury docks haulage yard. Claire Thompson, who lived with him and their
Kelvin Davis today gave the thumbs-up to Ipswich Town's signing of former team-mate Nathan Abbey. The Blues goalkeeper progressed through the youth ranks with Abbey during their time together at Luton. And, reacting to yesterday's one-month signing of
It is definitely going to be a White Christmas for two youngsters from Horndon-on-the-Hill. Fan-tastic! - Sam (left) and Luke Twyford can't wait to be mascots at White Hart Lane Picture: MAXINE CLARKE Tottenham-loving Sam Twyford, five, and his younger
Detectives have issued a warning after bogus callers escaped with almost £2,000 from elderly people's homes. In one raid, an 88-year-old woman lost £1,060 when she let three men claiming to be from the water board into her home in Gobions, Basildon. An
Colchester is closer to ruling the waves after the council agreed to lobby for a future Royal Naval vessel to be named after the town. A meeting of the full council last night gave its backing for the Queen to be asked to name a future naval vessel as
The identity of a man's body found washed up on a Southend beach is continuing to baffle police. The body was discovered off Western Esplanade on Tuesday morning by beach cleaners just below the Cliffs Pavilion sparking a massive operation by Thames Coastguard
A council-led crime-busting initiative to introduce community police support officers on to the streets of Frinton and Walton has moved a step nearer. Earlier this year, concerned residents voted to fork out extra council tax to provide part-funding for
Girls' football is going from strength to strength in Britain and Assandun Vikings are mirroring that success. The Ashingdon-based club was formed in 2002 and in just 18 months has attracted around 80 youngsters who play and train with the Vikings. It
Essex charities and local organisations who benefitted from donations made by VIP guests at the 2003 V Festival were presented with their cheques at a recent event. Representatives of the charities at Hylands House At the special gathering at Hylands
More than 580 pupils said farewell to their headteacher, who has retired after 10 years in the post. Howard Williamson, 56, finished his last day at Cann Hall Primary School in Clacton yesterday after a career spanning more than 35 years. A former head
Former Bradford City boss Nicky Law is believed to have been interviewed for the vacant Roots Hall hot-seat. Sources close to the Shrimpers claim the 42-year-old has held talks with the club's co-owner Ron Martin and is being considered as the next Blues
Essex Charities and local organisations who benefitted from donations made by guests at the 2003 V Festival were presented with their cheques at a recent event. Representatives of the charities at Hylands House Just over £100,000 was collected from VIP
A family has finally being reunited in time for Christmas after fleeing from Robert Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe. Reunited - Coral with daughters Jayde, Michaela and Amber with Coral's mum Iris Brinison Picture: MAXINE CLARKE Coral Tapsell, 34, her husband
The mother of a Chelmsford primary school pupil has condemned the "nanny state" attitude which has led to schools banning parents from taking photographs at school plays. The move is aimed at protecting youngsters from paedophiles. Ann Capps, of North
Innovative measures being taken by Maldon and South Chelmsford Primary Care Trust to help prevent falls among the elderly have attracted widespread attention. The PCT's Falls Prevention Co-ordinator, James Mihill, has been approached by North Manchester
Essex Charities and local organisations who benefitted from donations made by VIP guests at the 2003 V Festival were presented with their cheques at a recent event. Representatives of the charities at Hylands House At the special gathering at Hylands
Mixed Division One leaders Wickford gave closest rivals Rayleigh a tremendous advantage by handing the second-placed team a walkover. Just one point separates the two teams at the halfway stage of the Leigh & Westcliff LTA winter league after Wickford
Pennypinching local businesses have been blamed for a festive blackout which will leave Ongar High Street in the dark this Christmas. The Ongar Town Partnership has cancelled plans to put up Christmas lights in the town due to "a dreadful lack of support
Essex County Council has revealed it is considering mounting a legal challenge against the plans. Branding the move "unwanted and unworkable", leader of the council Lord Hanningfield said lawyers would be consulted. "The case for expansion is far from
Hadleigh's Charmaine Wheeler is back from from 11 days in New Zealand where she competed with the Great Britain amateur Triathlon squad in two world championships with major success. Wheeler was involved in both the World Aquathlon (swim-run) Championships
Firefighters have presented a charity with smoke detectors. The 75 life-saving devices have been given to Help the Aged for distribution to the elderly in Chelmsford and Maldon as part of its Handy Van scheme. The detectors are fitted free of charge to
Scrooge criminals are spoiling Christmas by stealing presents and wrecking decorations. Vandals were seen trying to pull down a festive display in the garden of a home in Heath Road, Wivenhoe. They pulled up outside the house in a van late on Tuesday
It's a happy Christmas for University of Essex director of business development Linda Jones as she celebrates getting the keys of the former Odeon cinema in Elmer Approach, Southend. Key building - Southend Council leader Howard Briggs, college chief
At last Thursday's annual meeting of Braintree Town Football Club, Chairman George Rosling stood down and also as a director of the Club, citing increased commitments from his successful engineering business. Before stepping down however, Mr Rosling presented
The lights on Canvey seafront will be officially switched on today by deputy mayor of Castle Point Wendy Goodwin. The deputy mayor will be joined by the longest serving member of Canvey 2000, Frances Robertson, at the ceremony which will be held at 4pm
Hospital bosses have confirmed it is "unlikely" post-natal care at a maternity unit will start again before Christmas. Mid-Essex Hospitals Trust said low-risk deliveries will still be run from the William Julien Courtauld Hospital in London Road, Braintree
A Tory MP has called on the Government to tighten a loophole in the law allowing offenders named on the Sex Offenders' Register to work as home education tutors. Billericay and District MP John Baron urged Home Office minister Paul Goggins to act during
Parliamentary history has been made by Colchester's MP Bob Russell when he turned up too late to ask his own question. Mr Russell usually allows a minimum of 30 minutes extra to get to Parliament. But on Monday his train journey from Colchester into the
All-year-round late-night shopping is on the cards for Colchester. It is just one of the ideas unveiled today to try to encourage more families and older people into the town centre at night. Other ideas in the report, called Managing the Evening Economy
