A vital workplace-style centre for disabled people has just had a £2,116 boost from Barclays Bank plus an extra £300 cash injection. In the money - members of BOPH receive cheques from Barclays' Roy Dyos and Julie Spurgeon and councillor Terry Blackwell
Colchester MP Bob Russell is buoyed up about the future of Colchester. Following his meeting with transport minister David Jamieson, Mr Russell said: "I'm more confident and optimistic than I've ever been that the final pieces of the jigsaw are now falling
The 11th floor window where teenagers Lisa Utton and Danielle Waddington threw themselves to their deaths should have been locked. Suicide scene - a view from the window where the girls jumped and, inset, the window which has now been sealed up Pictures
Wayne Houghton is back in a Tiptree United shirt just three weeks after signing for neighbours Maldon Town. The defender, who was a major part of the Jam-makers' brilliant FA Vase run in 2002, will be in Tiptree's squad for their tough away trip to Wroxham
Dedicated health consultants will meet with Castle Point smokers next week who want to kick the habit. Smoking advisers will be dispatched to the Paddocks Community Centre on Canvey to help people from the borough give up for good. The meeting has been
A school paid a lasting tribute to a well-known headteacher when it opened a new learning facility. Remembered - Jean Ford and Alan Roach outside the new learning centre opened in honour of former headteacher Robert Ford Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY Chalvedon
It was a dream come true for new Southend singing sensation Maurice Siegel. Maurice - surrounded by call centre girls at Club La Costa Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY The 71-year-old pensioner was the centre of attention for a host of new fans when he appeared
Robbers stamped on a man's head as they stole his briefcase in Colchester town centre. The two attackers pushed the 32-year-old victim over a wall and left him with head injuries which needed stitches in hospital. But all that was in the briefcase - which
Nightclub door staff are going back to school thanks to a Maldon firm. The National Association of Licensed Door Supervisors (Nalds) training will be the first company in the south of England to run a new kind of course for door staff. Based at Heybridge
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
Plans for a major development in Shoebury have been halted after permission for the project was refused. An planning application had been made to use vacant land next to the Asda store in North Shoebury as a residential and business development with new
Aveley will be strong favourites to continue their climb into the top half of the Ryman Division One North table with home success over local rivals Tilbury tomorrow. But despite the fact that the Dockers are experiencing a torrid time at the wrong end
Both Grays and Thurrock will continue their campaigns to finish runners-up in the Ryman League Premier Division behind champions elect Canvey by searching for points tomorrow. While Mark Stimson's Grays, who visit his old club Canvey next Tuesday, face
A planned visit by the BBC's Songs of Praise to Harwich has been cancelled. Harwich was looking forward to the visit in June as part of its celebrations to mark the 400th anniversary of its Royal Charter. But now the BBC has said it will not be coming
Form does not always count for much in derby matches but recent results suggest Ipswich Town will find it a tough task to win Sunday's East Anglian grudge match. The Blues' last five matches have been a sequence of victories and defeats. It started with
A new job is being created within Castle Point Council to specifically tackle anti-social behaviour in the borough. The Home Office has made £50,000 available to bring the new officer into the area as a full-time post for two years. The position is currently
Fears of a potential air disaster have been growing among anxious residents after the lights illuminating the tall radio mast in Kelvedon Hatch went out. After the tower, in Station Road, was left in darkness for nearly two weeks, BT said work was underway
Alan Pardew has already seen Walsall wreck his promotion dreams once - and he is calling on everyone to make sure the struggling Saddlers don't repeat the trick tomorrow. Matthew Etherington - misses out on Upton Park clash with Walsall Picture: NICK
A charity scheme designed to raise money for sick children has been supported by Castle Point Council. Representatives of Little Haven Childrens' Hospice, in Daws Heath Road, Thundersley, gave a presentation at a meeting of the Health and Housing Committee
Police were today searching for a hit and run driver who made off after her car was involved in a collision with a pedestrian in Clacton town centre. The pedestrian, who is in his 30s and is from the area, was taken to Colchester General Hospital by ambulance
Historical detectives from television's top archaeology programme are to visit St Osyth. Time Team plans to film for three days in the spring. Chance meeting - Alan Williams, who believes the creek was once a medieval quay, happened to meet a director
An inquiry has been launched to see what lessons can be learned from the suicides of Lisa Utton and Danielle Waddington. Both were known to social services and mental health workers but the girls still threw themselves to their deaths from a Southend
Canvey will be without the services of Ty Gooden for tomorrow's Ryman Premier Essex derby at Heybridge Swifts. Gooden was forced off with a hamstring pull in last week's FA Trophy quarter-final win over Maidenhead. "I'd been out with a groin injury and
Safety checks are being carried out at a school branded a risk to pupils by its own governors. Education chiefs are sending in a team of experts to carry out an inspection of St Andrew's Junior School in Colchester after a damning report by governor John
The Colchester branch of an insurance company is to close, meaning 20 job losses for the town. Troubled mutual insurer, Standard Life, is cutting 360 jobs nationwide in a move to reorganise its direct sales force. It intends to cut the number of direct
The support of the public has touched the family of a Red Cap who was murdered in Iraq. Corporal Paul Long, 24, was killed in southern Iraq last June after a mob surrounded a police station in the town of Majar-al-Kabir in the aftermath of the war. He
A woman was the victim of a serious sexual assault after she was approached by men in a car. The 20-year-old was near the Esso petrol station in Rainsford Road, Chelmsford, when she was approached by the men. She was driven towards Writtle College and
As the date for the launch of this year's V Festival draws ever neaer the rumour-mill is picking up pace with another big name rumoured to be playing. Joining the list of artists already rumoured to be playing this year's V, is none other than the David
Stansted Airport's emergency procedure was triggered after a pilot noticed smoke in his cockpit. Passengers were ordered to evacuate the Aurigny Air Services flight to Guernsey as it stood at the stand before take-off, about 7pm yesterday. Firefighters
The first 'good conduct' contracts have been signed by youths in South Woodham in a bid to stamp out vandalism and yobbish behaviour in the town The Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (known as ABCs) are being used by police for the first time in a bid to
There will be two teams out to earn their Spurs at New Lodge tomorrow when Billericay Town and Braintree lock horns in continuing bids for a place in the play-offs for next season's new Nationwide Conference First Division. For two great names from Tottenham
It was all change for the Bishop of Colchester when he jumped behind the tills at supermarket giant Asda. The Rt Rev Christopher Morgan took a turn at the counter during a tour of north Colchester. He met staff and shoppers at the store, before heading
Hundreds of diners gathered last night at a special evening in a popular Hadleigh restaurant to raise cash for a breast screening unit. Success - event organiser Diane Burrow, left, with assistant restaurant manager Karen Saul and manager Tanzi Lobner
Braintree Town chairman Lee Harding believes new boss Graham Roberts will do 'a cracking' job for the club. Harding appointed the Tottenham Hotspur legend as manager yesterday and said: "I can't wait for him to get started. "He's got a great pedigree
Ricky Judd is hoping to add a European title to his CV this weekend. Flying the flag - Ricky Judd is ready to face Lubonmir Hais Picture: MAXINE CLARKE A fortnight after taking the IBA Southern Area boxing crown, the Basildon fighter is back in the ring
A gang of yobs smashed into a pharmacy and went on a wrecking spree before throwing armfuls of potentially lethal drugs into the street and a nearby park as they fled. Closed - Biju Gandecha has been forced to shut his shop Picture: ROB BROWNE Police
Action is to be taken to avert a future homelessness crisis in Castle Point. It has been decided a successful partnership which the borough council runs with private companies to provide housing will be expanded and new partners will be brought in. At
A new education programme aimed at helping teenagers get into the aviation industry took off at Stansted. Local celebrity, and former star of BBC's Airport, Jeremy Spake launched the Airport Entry To Education (E2E) scheme at the airport's Hilton hotel
A teacher in Colchester is celebrating after retrieving her passport from the Home Office, meaning she can visit her critically-ill mother in Canada. Mother-of-two Tara Haddrell had felt like a virtual prisoner in the UK after repeated attempts to get
Three people had to spend the night in temporary accommodation after a fire caused smoke damage to their property. The fire, at a ground-floor flat in Rettendon View, Wickford, is believed to have started when a candle accidentally set fire to curtains
Southend AC's Adam Hickey, currently leading the chase for the Under-17 men's Reebok Cross-Country Challenge crown with 62 points, will be out to clinch the title tomorrow. Hickey is one of a host of south-east Essex stars competing in Nottingham at the
Basildon-based Brian Salmon is back on the big time snooker scene - and determined to be in the pink on his second attempt to conquer the world's stars. Brian Salmon - with the challenge tour trophy he recently won Picture: ROB BROWNE Salmon, 25, who
A woman claims she is £50 out of pocket after cash sent to her in the post went missing. Mother-of-four Michelle Lewis, of Allectus Way, in Witham, says she received a card from her brother last week which had been slit down the side and the money he
Elderly residents in Brentwood worried about rises in Council Tax are being urged to get in touch with Age Concern Essex. The group would like to hear of any adverse effect the Council Tax may have had on your life and any problems people have experienced
The Chelmsford Chieftains play their final Premier League game of the season away to Swindon Lynx this Saturday and, whatever the result, Chieftains have already secured fourth place. Head Coach Dean Birrell said: "Finishing fourth in the league this
A family dubbed "the neighbours from hell" have been thrown out of their Braintree council home. Tina Brown and her four children were evicted from their Bartram Avenue home this week, following a long-running catalogue of complaints against the family
A huge crowd is certain at Canvey Island's Park Lane ground at Sunday lunchtime as soccer fans pack in to see some of the game's great names of yesteryear in action. Dream date - for brain tumour victim Gary Thompson (right) whose testimonial game on
Detectives today believe they are closing in on a man described as a "real danger to women" after receiving leads from the public. The culprit is thought to have attacked two women within 72 hours in Castle Point. Since a manhunt was launched a week ago
Southend United's caretaker chief Steve Tilson is urging his resurgent Shrimpers side to continue their impressive run of recent form at Bristol Rovers tomorrow afternoon. And the Shrimpers boss reckons five more wins will secure safety for the Blues,
With the new county cricket season only a month away Essex has been rocked by news that their major sponsor is pulling out later this summer at the end of their three-year, deal worth annually between £80,000 and £100,000 for the club. It's a big blow
Radiation screening could soon be coming to Stansted - but the Government is remaining tight-lipped over the exact details. The Government has unveiled a multi-million pound move to screen all traffic entering the UK, including passengers and freight,
Despite the fact that they'll face a tough two-legged semi-final with one of two Nationwide Conference teams, Shrewsbury or Telford United, Canvey remain second favourites to win the FA Trophy. Skybet have them at 5-2 with Aldershot, who meet Dr Martens
A pet poodle helped save her disabled owner after she collapsed on her living room floor Eight-year-old Suquie raised the alarm when owner Brenda Hawlent, 70, of Baddow Hall Crescent, Great Baddow, was unable to move. Woman's best friend - Mrs Hawlent
Brentford boss Wally Downes was ready to turn back the clock today to sign his former Wimbledon bootboy Scott Fitzgerald. The experienced 34-year-old ex-Colchester United club captain and former Republic of Ireland Under-21 international central defender
Unpopular plans to extend a hostel for men with housing needs have been shelved and look likely to be turned down. Colchester Council's planning committee was last night presented with plans to extend Byron House, which currently houses 16 men, so that
Mid Essex could have new hi-tech health services on its doorstep. Chelmsford's Broomfield Hospital will table multi-million pound bids for a neonatal intensive care centre and a radiotherapy unit at Monday's board meeting. Patients needing treatment would
Forgotten man Pat Baldwin could be in line for a rare first team appearance as Colchester United set out to complete a Layer Road double winning week against Division two high-flyers Hartlepool tomorrow. The lofty 21-year-old former Chelsea central defender
