Children in Colchester have been learning about Easter's biblical story in a most unusual way. Nearly 120 youngsters went on a treasure hunt round the town's Myland area, unscrambling clues, but also gathering cream eggs, ice creams and hot cross buns
A furious Ongar mother has hit out at the "prejudice" she claims is threatening proposals for a sheltered housing scheme for learning disabled adults like her son. Brenda Rugeley, who is chairman of the local social services group for people with learning
Basildon Ladies moved a step further in their quest for the coveted Mary Forster Bowl when they won the third round of the competition, which was played on home turf. The four teams of Basildon, Haste Hill, Brent Valley and Rickmansworth had been lying
Chelmsford staged a stirring second-half fightback to snatch all three points from their trip to Nuneaton Borough. The magnitude of this victory can be summed up in the fact that Borough were eyeing up an outside shot at the Dr Martens title just a few
A school minibus has been targeted by vandals, who smashed nearly every window on the vehicle. Out of action - the Tabor High School minibus, which had nearly every window smashed by vandals. Picture: NIGEL BROWN (34931-3) The minibus, owned by Tabor
An aid charity offering vital support to war torn Croatia continues to be supported by youngsters at Brentwood Ursuline Convent High. One former student from the school, Mari-Claire Price, is even getting ready to travel across Europe with Convoy of Hope
Burglars escaped with more than £30,000 of goods after ransacking two homes in the same street. They even fled with cash from children's piggy banks from houses in Park Lane, Ramsden Heath. PC Lydia Harvey, investigating from Basildon CID, said: "A substantial
English lightweight champion Danny Hunt has returned from America boxing clever. The 10-day training visit saw Hunt in the gym at 8am every morning under the supervision of Buddy McGirt and coach Anthony Ham. Despite the early starts Hunt is pleased at
Colchester United hero Craig Fagan marched off the pitch after netting his first Nationwide League hat-trick and promised: "I want to score many more! Craig Fagan "It's without doubt the highlight of my career," said the ace U's hot-shot, who went into
An attacker shoved an 80-year-old woman to the ground during a daylight robbery. The robber, who got out of a dark-coloured car, struck as the victim walked along Mumford Road, West Bergholt. He pushed her over so he could steal her bag of shopping, her
A good day for our Essex representatives in Division One North, with East Thurrock United the only side not to come away with a three-point haul. Thurrock were up against one of the form sides of the division, Chesham United. A flurry of early goals was
Canvey Island are planning a massive Bank Holiday party to celebrate winning through to the highest level of non-league soccer. Applause - the Canvey squad clap their fans Picture: ROB BROWNE XMGQU6 Officials from the Ryman League were due at Gulls' Park
Players and managers involved in a bust-up at the end of an under-18s football match have been warned by police about their conduct. Braintree Town U18s and Canvey Island team Concorde Rangers U18 were suspended from the Eastern Junior Alliance league
Canvey Island clinched the Ryman Premier title on Good Friday, winning 2-1 at Thurrock to welcome Conference football to Park Lane next term. The Gulls have been a class apart in everything they have done this season, and are favourites to bring the FA
Horseracing at Essex's new racecourse could be seen regularly by a multi-million television audience after the sports governing body struck a new deal with Channel 4. The channel emerged from talks late on Wednesday with the Racecourse Holdings Trust,
Hundreds of residents who suffered misery without water and gas this Easter may not be reconnected until the end of this week. More than 800 households in Laindon and Lee Chapel North had their supplies cut after builders using a digger ruptured a gas
Families were left with no cooking facilities and limited heating over the Easter break after gas and water pipes were severed on the Laindon estate. Unhappy - Sarah Morgan said her back garden had been covered in sludge after water pipes were cut Picture
A vital new scheme to loan medical equipment to sick and disabled residents in Castle Point is searching for volunteers to kick-start the project. The British Red Cross medical loans service aims to make life easier for those in need, helping them to
Craig Fagan registered his first Nationwide League hat-trick to send struggling Notts County hurtling ever nearer to the Second Division relegation trapdoor. Poor County, just one off the bottom of the table, simply had no answer to the pace and guile
Every point counts as Ipswich Town go into the first of six 'cup finals' tomorrow at Rotherham United. That is the message from Blues goalkeeper Kelvin Davis as Town focus on finishing an inconsistent season on a high with a final run-in to the play-off
It is 40 years since the last broadcast but Radio Caroline is back on the airwaves and moored in Harwich. Ooh arr, me hearties the ship the pirates from BBC Essex took over to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Radio Caroline. Steve Scrunton, Tim Gillett
Scott Fitzgerald is one player who will be very disappointed whatver the outcome of this afternoon's Second Division clash between Brentford and Colchester United at Griffin Park. The former U's captain is currently on loan to the relegation-threatened
Missed chances at both ends summed up a season's work for both sides as the points were shared at Clarence Park. Heybridge look to have enough quality to be safe this year, although a top 13 finish was a realistic aim until the Essex side's considerable
A massive £10,000 cash boost has been secured to fight scourge of graffiti and target the vandals who spray paint the walls of Ongar and North Weald. Epping Forest District Council, which says there is a direct link between graffiti and other anti-social
A solitary point for Billericay leaves Justin Edinburgh's men still staring over the precipice. On another day, two late guilt-edged chances for top scorer Danny Hockton would have nestled into the back of the net. But goalkeeper Craig Stoner blocked
Southend United midfielder Mark Bentley admitted the Shrimpers were unlucky to suffer an undeserved 1-0 defeat at high flying Huddersfield Town on Saturday. Fight for the ball - Blues' loan signing from Arsenal, left-back Nicky Nicolau, chases after a
John McGreal steeled his Ipswich Town charges for their 'biggest' test of the season against fellow promotion-hopefuls Sunderland. The Blues gave their play-off hopes a welcome boost after beating Rotherham 3-1 at Millmoor on Saturday. And with Millwall
A disabled man was assaulted after he disturbed an intruder trying to break into his garage. The 58-year-old victim, who walks with the aid of a walking stick, was hit in the stomach when he went with a torch to investigate after he heard noises from
Typically sloppy, it was another defensive error that cost Braintree the points as Kettering escaped Cressing Road with an undeserved away win. In a quiet but mildly entertaining first period Braintree efficiently played a neat possession game, limiting
A worker cowered in fear as a gang wrecked a fleet of coaches causing more than £120,000 damage. They knew which ones to vandalise - Supreme Holidays MD John Bridge and Roland Smith next to one of the wrecked coaches Picture: ROB BROWNE XVDQE14 Vandals
Grays still have an eye on a top two finish, although they'll need to be more clinical in front of goal if they are to achieve that aim, having lost two points from Saturday's trip to struggling Northwood. Northwood's battle against the drop saw them
A traffic warden suffered a punctured lung and head injuries in a collision with a people-carrier outside Stansted Airport. A man has been arrested following an incident in which a Ford Galaxy crashed through a barrier, colliding with the 58-year-old
A father is to whip up support for Essex Air Ambulance in thanks for the life of his daughter. Terry Chambers, who has recently been granted planning permission for a coach museum at his home, is organising an event to raise funds for the service that
