An 87-year-old who lost nearly £950 after thieves swept through her home as she watched television has urged other pensioners to keep their money in the bank. Victim - Freda with the medals she and her late husband won in the war which the burglars left
Council employees are hoping to tackle traffic congestion by setting a precedent for other motorists. Colchester Council is producing a get-tough travel plan for its staff in a bid to reduce car use - and if successful, it is hoped other businesses in
Day care centres for the elderly are among services facing major reorganisation in order to overcome a multi-million pound shortfall in Southend's social services budget. Verina Weaver, executive councillor for social care today revealed she will "fight
Three of Southend's leading bands will join forces on Saturday for a special night of music and revelry to support a pressure group. Joining 4ft Pimp are ska heroes Cisco in the Aquarium and all rounders Reeper in a benefit concert to raise funds for
Ambulance crews were given a New Year boost when it was revealed they could be moving into a state-of-the-art new station as early as April. The service was told last October it would be evicted from its temporary premises at Westcliff Police Station
The controversial licensing application for a sex shop in Kings Road is unlikely to be determined until February. It had been anticipated the application would be dealt with at next week's meeting of the Licensing Appeals Panel. However, that has become
Action to repair Southend's devastated cliffs has been put on the backburner as councillors grapple with a £10.5million social services crisis. On the backburner - repair work on the devastated cliffs has been put on hold Picture: MAXINE CLARKE Up to
The fastest growing destination for a Basildon delivery company's packages is Afghanistan. DHL in Basildon has seen deliveries to the once remote and little-known land multiply 19-fold in the course of 2003 alone. Post jackpot - David Pasley-Smith of
Great Wakering Rovers have parted company with manager Alan Hull and appointed Billericay Town reserve boss Tony Cross as his replacement. Dugout doldrums - Alan Hull (right) has parted company with Great Wakering Rovers by mutual consent following a
An allotment trust is fighting back against the vandals with plans to develop an area of its land as a safe place for the community Rush Green Allotment Trust is currently working closely with groups, including community police officers and residents,
A pair of footpaths, designed to transform the walk to school for hundreds of youngsters, were today one step nearer to being created. Safer routes - Nigel Thomas with the notice that new pathways could be placed on Hadleigh Junior School's playing field
Is there a nurse worth nominating or a surgeon worth suggesting? This is the question Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust is asking patients as it launches its VIP Awards. Nominations for the annual Value in Practice awards are put forward by mid Essex
A mobile policing unit which visits villages in the Braintree district has been hailed a success. The unit, launched in Finchingfield in January last year, aims to help reduce the fear of crime in the rural areas of the district. Robert Chambers, chairman
South Essex's tennis community have said a final farewell to well known player Ron Shelley. Players and members joined Ron's family for his funeral at Pitsea Crematorium on Monday, following his death from cancer at the age of 63. Ron started playing
Former Southend United striker Barrington Belgrave is battling to be fit for a return to south-East Essex this weekend. Belgrave's current club, Nationwide Conference outfit Farnborough Town, are at Ryman Premier leaders Canvey Island for an FA Trophy
A new barrier has been installed to stop travellers accessing a Colchester beauty spot Workers have been putting about 170 wooden posts around part of the perimeter of Spring Lane Park, off Cymbeline Way, Lexden, to make it more secure. Obstacle - Don
Police have renewed their appeal for witnesses of a road accident on Christmas Eve in which a pregnant woman lost her unborn baby. The accident happened in South Woodham at 5.50pm, when a black Ford Fiesta and a private ambulance were involved in a collision
An 11-week old baby boy has been injured in a road rage incident. It took place in Clacton yesterday evening and police are appealing for witnesses. Inspector Richard Day, of Clacton police, said: "At about 8.20pm last night there was a road rage incident
There has been plenty of action at Hockley AC, with Mark Kingswell one winner. He took top spot with 34lb at New Holland Tractor Plant of Basildon's Christmas match. Steve Warner was second with 17lb 11oz, Alan Williams third (16lb 6oz) and Kevin Williams
Safety around a community centre has been improved with the help of a £5,000 grant. The money has been used to put new lighting around the Vange North Community Centre in Vange Hill Drive and cut down overgrown bushes in the area. Caroline Kaldani Betfarhad
A volunteers group is appealing to those with civic-minded New Year's resolutions to come forward. The Southend Association of Voluntary Services is seeking volunteers for a range of activities in the borough. A spokesman said: "You'll also have the chance
Traders are being offered cash sweeteners of up to £5,000 to leave Southend's Victoria Plaza shopping centre to make way for an Asda store, it was claimed today. Lorraine Cone, 22, who runs the Penny Lanes retro boutique, believes she has no choice but
Essex Eels are quietly confident of taking their place in National League Three next season - but waiting to learn their status is not slowing preparations for the coming season. Club secretary Paul Savin has seen rumours in the Rugby League press suggesting
More than four out of five people in Colchester want its bus station to stay where it is, according to the town's MP. Bob Russell said he had carried out a sample survey of people in the town to see if they supported plans to build an arts facility on
Up to 700 jobs in Southend are at risk because a high street bank plans to export jobs to India, a union said today. The Lloyds TSB Group Union (LTU) says the jobs at Essex House, in Southchurch Avenue, are under threat as the bank looks to save money
Sensational rumours of a merger between Ryman League premier division giants Heybridge Swifts and Ridgeons League premier division side Tiptree United have today been dismissed. Murmurings of the Jam-makers and Swifts joining together have been instantly
Is Colchester haunted by a police inspectre? Spooky experiences - Teresa Collett in the police canteen Picture: ROB SAMBROOK The town's police station, built on the site of a 4th century burial ground, has been the scene of a string of ghostly happenings
Rochford Hundred golfers experienced vastly-differing playing conditions for the January medal over the weekend. Rock-hard fairways and frosty greens greeted Saturday players while Sunday gave way to mild, softer and much more receptive conditions and
More than 50 police officers were involved in an operation to crackdown on car crime in Thurrock. The two-day operation last month saw the officers carry out stop checks on drivers and look for auto crime. In the 48 hours arrests were also made for other
The bells in Basildon's glass tower could have rung in the New Year after all, council chiefs said today. Deputy leader Tony Ball rejected suggestions Basildon Council had banned midnight chimes. Leaders at St Martin's Church, St Martin's Square, claimed
Are you ready for your next Deep Fix? Deep Fix The psychedelic rock band will play their first gig of the new year at 9pm on January 24 at the Hope and Anchor pub, Upper Street, Islington. The five-piece band, fronted by lead guitarist Danny Brown and
Vital bus services have been saved from the axe. First Group put forward plans to chop Sunday services on three routes in the Clacton and Walton areas. One of them was also to lose its later evening buses. But now Essex County Council has stepped in with
Police have seen a big drop in anti-social behaviour calls after targeting hot spots in an area of Colchester. The southern community policing team (CPT), which covers Shrub End, has been picking out problem areas and monitoring them. The approach seems
Town Hall bosses have been told to try harder by independent inspectors who labelled the running and delivery of council services in Harold and throughout the borough as "weak". A comprehensive annual study of Havering Borough Council found that despite
A hundred-year-old mansion has been converted into one of the biggest nurseries in Southend after a £750,000 loan from a leading banking corporation. Kevin and Elizabeth Webb bought Oak House in Wimborne Road last year and it is now ready to open its
Schools in mid-Essex are counting the cost of fighting the fat as sweets and soft drinks vending machines, which have earned schools thousands of pounds, are ditched At the same time primary heads are now being put under pressure after it was announced
Blues caretaker chief Steve Tilson is hoping to bolster his injury-hit squad by signing a new midfielder before tomorrow's vital visit to fellow Divi-sion Three strugglers Chelten-ham Town. Tilson refused to name his target, but confirmed the player was
Where are you, Beauty? Colchester falconer Richard Wiper tracked his harris hawk for miles after a sighting of the feathered fugitive in Greenstead. His four-year-old bird of prey flew off from his home in Defoe Crescent on Friday, December 19 nearly
Essex have announced their membership rates for fans who want to see Nasser Hussain, Ronnie Irani and co in action this summer, when they will be looking to regain their Division One place in the County Championship. A season's worth of cricket at New
Thousands of pounds is being spent by a Canvey school on dedicated students who want to study more. Castle View School headteacher Russell Sullivan has told how a group of students have led the way and inspired others to take up "minority classes" through
