A gruelling record attempt will climax at Southend pier later this month. A six-man crew from Dittons Skiff and Punting Club, Thames Ditton, will row more than 185 miles along the River Thames, from Lechlade Bridge, Gloucestershire, to the town's famous
Essex pace bowler Ryan Ten Doeschate produced a devastating burst to bring the Notts innings to a swift conclusion in the county's second friendly clash of the season at Chelmsford. The 23-year-old claimed four wickets in the space of eight deliveries
Visitor numbers are rocketing at one south Essex country park. Two years ago Wat Tyler Park in Pitsea was getting 150,000 visitors a year, but now 240,000 people are using the park - a 60 per cent increase. Basildon Council, which owns the park, puts
A man was dragged unconscious from his flat after a fire started in his tumble dryer. The 53-year-old was overcome by smoke after fighting a blaze in his dryer with a dry powder extinguisher. Two firemen wearing breathing apparatus forced their way into
A team has been set up by Basildon Primary Care Trust to help keep people with a severe chest condition out of hospital. The new service brings together nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists to support and treat patients with chronic obstructive
County cup first round matches saw south-east Essex teams in the thick of the action over the weekend. Thorpe Bay hosted Westcliff Lawn I in a Senior Cup derby tie but lost .5-3.5 to Lynsey Watt, Diana Carradus, Jacqui Moody and Sarah Ball. Lucy Lauretta
Detectives were today hunting an armed gang who bound and gagged a couple before stealing a large amount of cash. The men forced their way into the couple's south Essex home, attacked the husband and wife and used a stun-gun on them to keep them subdued
A new landmark has arrived in the High Street with the unveiling of the heritage column commissioned by the Brentwood Town Centre Partnership. The column created by artist blacksmith Gary Thrussell is designed to celebrate Brentwood's history and provide
Despite high hopes, Thorpe Hall were unable to break the long standing inability to progress further than the early rounds of the Essex junior team championship for the Leslie Wood Trophy. Playing Forester Park, near Maldon, the morning foursomes proved
Tendring's golden sands are the tops Tourist bosses are celebrating all five of the district's main beaches scooping prestigious yellow flags under the nationwide Seaside Award scheme Clacton was judged best in East Anglia and equal seventh best resort
Last call can you help?? trying to find information about Sarah Osborne she used to live at Lamb corner Dedham with Frederick Osborne. Also trying to find Harriet Raison married to Willie Raison they lived "Westgate" cottage Dedham any information please
A school volleyball team did themselves proud after competing in an international competition. Tendring Technology College were chosen to represent England at the Volleyball Schools World Championships in Cyprus. After a week of intense physical and mental
Tensions ran high and nerves were in tatters as the finalists in the Evening Gazette competition to win a car took part in their closing challenge. Winner - Rubina Kauchali with her sons in the new Panda. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN From the thousands of people
A teenager was today being quizzed by police on suspicion of the murder of a year-old baby boy. Heartbreak - a family notice on the door of tragic baby David Evans's home Picture: ANNA LUKALA The 19-year-old man was arrested by Essex Police's child protection
Stanford-le-Hope Cricket Club has been awarded £4,500 by Awards for All for a two-bay artificial cricket practice facility. This important new innovation will be a key part of the continued development of youth cricket at the club. It will also provide
Bill Hutchin deserves a drink after giving up booze for 40 days and 40 nights to raise cash for charity. Down the hatch - charity fundraiser Bill Hutchin ends his extended self-imposed drought with a cooling draught of beer at his local, the Lighthouse
A teenager has been locked up for stabbing another youth and puncturing his lung. Richard Oliver, 18, was told by Chelmsford Crown Court Judge Rodger Hayward Smith QC there was no alternative sentence as he could have killed his victim. The 16-year-old
The Severalls Hospital site and Turner Village will be handed over for development as part of a groundbreaking deal. Low-cost homes for key workers, such as nurses, police and teachers, will be built on surplus NHS land across the country. The land will
A Canvey businessman is offering a £500 reward in a bid to catch two conmen who robbed a 94-year-old woman. Tony Brittain decided to put up the reward after reading in the Echo how two con artists tricked their way into the pensioner's home in St Katherine's
Two men were today being quizzed by police after a cannabis factory was discovered in a raid on a house. Flushed out - cannabis plants discovered growing in the bathroom of a house in Grimston Road, Basildon Picture: LUAN MARSHALL More than 30 cannabis
Essex pace bowler Ryan Ten Doeschate produced a devastating burst to bring the Notts innings to a swift conclusion in the county's second friendly clash of the season at Chelmsford. The 23-year-old claimed four wickets in the space of eight deliveries
Film and TV actor Nigel Havers was revealed as the second guest celebrity to be waiting in the wings for the Cliffs Pavilion production The Play What I Wrote. Surprise! - Nigel thrilled the Cliffs Picture: DAVE HENDERSON The show, an affectionate tribute
I'm looking for my dad, he was last known to be in the southern england region. Dad has 7 children 2 boys and 4 girls & was married to Bridget. I am living in Canada now dad knows this and would like to make contact with him. E-Mail channeline@attcanada.net
Ipswich Town midfielder Tommy Miller has received his latest call-up to the Scotland squad. Miller, who has scored ten goals this season, has been picked in a preliminary squad which will face Denmark on April 28. It is the 25-year-old's third selection
Police are to impose 9pm curfews on youths as part of trail-blazing new measures to crack down on youth crime. Tough - Inspector Basil Thornton, of Rayleigh police Picture: ANNA LUKALA Canvey is one of the first areas in the country to adopt radical powers
Jason Leonard - the world's most capped rugby player - dropped into King John school to put children through their paces. Jason Leonard - gets ready to offer his rugby experience to the 60 youngsters at King John School Picture: MAXINE CLARKE The 35-year-old
Masked raiders made off with a haul of cash from the Brentwood Centre after hitting a member of staff over the head. Police are appealing for witnesses to help them track down the violent duo who targeted the council run leisure centre in Doddinghurst
Arena Essex reached the Knockout Cup Semi-final when they beat a determined Oxford side 48-46 to record a 94-93 aggregate success after a last-heat decider at the Purfleet Raceway last night. The Hammers hero was veteran Kelvin Tatum who returned a five-ride
Firefighters today launched a rescue operation after a dog became stuck 5ft below ground in a badger's hole. Dug out - pet Jack Russell Sid, safe and sound after his ordeal, with Chris Davidson, 16, and firefighter Mark Eaglestone Picture: ROB BROWNE
Stanford golf professional David Wood has won the Essex PGA Closed Championship. Top trophy - David Wood shows off the Essex PGA Championship trophy Picture: DAVE HENDERSON Wood, based at the St Cleres course in Stanford Road, took on the cream of the
A developer has hit back at accusations he will be destroying a historic landmark on Southend's seafront. Andy Innell, 43, has owned the derelict lifeboat station in Western Esplanade for 17 years, but plans to replace it with a restaurant. Today he has
Plans for a £2m facelift of Maldon's Promenade Park and Marine Lake could have adverse effects on the river and surrounding areas according to some river users. Concerns have been raised that temporary jetties could cause problems with the river's tidal
Essex businesses would lose their competitive edge if EU policy-makers were to abolish the UK's opt-out from the 48-hour maximum working week, claims the head of the county's Institute of Directors. Nicholas Cook, the institute's Essex branch chairman
The people of Brentwood have delivered a resounding NO to the part pedestrianisation of the High Street. Initial results from the public consultation exercise indicate that two-thirds of the public who completed the official questionnaire do not want
Leigh based sailor Richard Beechey and his team-mate Jon Wells have linked up with a top Olympic coach to help boost their bid for European Championship glory. The Essex Yacht club duo are currently working alongside Jim Saltenstall who helped make Great
Swimmer James Gibson is more determined than ever to challenge for his place at the Athens Olympics. Witham's 100 metres breaststroke world champion believes he is in top form to make the qualifying time in the British National Long Course Championships
Southend libraries as well as local schools are getting involved in "homework clubs" to help youngsters study for their exams. After the Easter holidays, the new initiative Open Minds will be launched for youngsters aged between eight and 14. It is the
A campaign is promoting Braintree as a place for business and to give traders a greater voice in the town's affairs. An appeal has been made to traders in Braintree to get involved in the Town Centre Traders Association, and co-ordinator John Jemison,
A South Woodham teenager has hit out at the cruel vandals who smashed windows and terrified elderly residents at his grandmother's retirement home. Kieron Humphries, 17, said the vandals struck in the early hours of Friday morning. "My nan feels very
Four goals from Linda Wilsher, who came on in the second-half to play in an unfamiliar striking position, saw Billericay Town Ladies beat their Colchester United counterparts 5-1 in the Essex County Women's League First Division. Their other goal came
Mysterious moggie Nelson delighted owner Marina Smith after he turned up at her workplace following an eight-month absence. Back home - Marina Smith has been reunited with her lost cat, Nelson Picture: STEVE BAINBRIDGE Ms Smith gave up on the black and
Southend United winger Steven Clark has revealed he is still some way off making a return to the Shrimpers first team - despite playing 90 minutes for the reserves yesterday afternoon. The 22 year old was unable to stop the rock-bottom Blues crashing
If any one knows Claire Humphies as was I lost contact some years ago and would love to get in touch last known living in Colchester although a Walton girl My E-Mailis : Simon Musgrave My Address is : 5 Sundown Court, Narangba, Queensland, 4505 Australia
Thieves are suspected to have sedated lorry drivers with a gas attack while they stole their cargo at motorway services near Stansted on Monday night. Dunmow police believe thieves pumped gas into the cabs of two lorries and knocked their occupants out
A gruelling sequence of two games in two days proved too much for Southend Swifts Cadets and under-14s as they fell short of a place in the Final Fours at RAF Cosforth. The Cadets beat Notts Nova 70-59 on Saturday, thanks to a commanding third quarter
A large crowd is expected at Thurrock's Ship Lane ground tomorrow for the derby with Canvey (1pm). Victory for the visitors will finally see the islanders crowned as champions of the Ryman Premier Division after three straight years of finishing runners-up
Police in Harold Hill are hoping to take the fight against yobs and anti-social behaviour to the next level by using the latest powers handed down by the Government. The successful Community Task Force is bidding to secure one of the first Designated
The future of Frinton's famous WI hall could be in doubt unless it can raise up to £13,000 in six months. That is the estimated sum needed to install disabled toilets in the Fourth Avenue building to bring it in line with the latest Disabilities Act.
Police investigating alleged prostitution in Colchester arrested two women in a raid on a flat. They moved in after complaints from people living near the two-bedroom home in Clarendon Way. One woman was arrested on suspicion of running a disorderly house
A deputy headteacher has confronted the Government's schools minister after discovering his teaching assistant wife earns less than a Tesco check-out assistant. Deputy headteacher of Chelmsford's King Edward VI Grammar School in Chelmsford, Robin Bevan
The first Anti-Social Behaviour Order has been issued in Chelmsford against a man who has clocked up 10 offences since Christmas. The 44-year-old Melbourne man was issued with the order by Chelmsford Magistrates last Tuesday after answering charges of
Southend High's Charlie Atkins helped the Eastern region to third place and a team bronze in the British Schools Apparatus Championships at Newcastle. Bronze glory - for Carousel's Charlie Atkins at the British Schools' Apparatus Championships Picture
A deteriorating church building is set to benefit from £134,000 towards its restoration. It means the scheme to save St Nicholas' Church, in Harwich, should be finished by the autumn. An appeal was launched to save the weather-beaten spire 18 months ago
