Southend's Mike Hanger put up a good fight to box his way into the last four of the British Club Championships. He beat the strong challenge of formidable West Ham slugger J Hedges. Hanger was matched for strength, but once again it was his faster hands
Hard-hitting Canvey Island fighter Darren Guisha will try and get his hands on a British title at the end of the month. The welterweight faces Kent's Lee Rusha at the UK Mixed Martial Arts Extreme Fighters Championship, which is being held at Purfleet's
Fan power has succeeded in persuading the Football Association to slap a three-match ban on Blackpool defender Danny Coid. English football's governing body has issued a suspension against Coid for his part in an incident in the Seasiders' Coca-Cola League
Hundreds of youngsters across the Maldon district have made their views known on how to spend £300,000 of Government cash on play equipment. More than 60 year nine pupils from the Lower Plume School in Maldon packed into the district council's chamber
Witham's long-awaited 24-hour medical centre - scheduled to open in under two weeks - faces a delay until next spring. The new facility - known as a primary care centre - was touted to be up and running on December 1. The Witham, Braintree and Halstead
David Salisbury, whose hopes of playing on next season's European Tour were ruined when he suffered a groin strain as the qualifying school tournament approached, has finally enjoyed some golfing success. After nearly three months out of playing action
A father of six has avoided jail after shooting a girl described as a "young terrorist". Douglas Halligan Douglas Halligan, 36, had put the barrel of an airgun through the letterbox of his home in Tiptree and fired the weapon, causing a bruise to the
Youngsters enjoyed the chance to learn about the responsibilities of owning a pet during a special programme at their school. Staff at Copford Primary School, in School Road, organised the pet proficiency lessons, in which several volunteers brought in
An Army inquiry into the killing of six Colchester-based military policemen in Iraq has found "no conclusive evidence" the deaths could have been prevented. But it did find the men had not received instructions about how much ammunition they should carry
Jay Smith's recurring injury nightmare has grown worse, with the talented Southend United midfielder now ruled out for the rest of the season. The former Aston Villa trainee, who has been sidelined since February with a broken dislocation of the ankle
A mother whose son was left brain damaged following a car crash will be speaking to teenagers tomorrow about the importance of wearing a seatbelt. Heather Thompson, 49, and her husband David, 53, of Colchester, are backing an Essex Police campaign urging
Sean Hillier made it four goals in five days as Clacton Town stormed back from behind to beat Stowmarket. The Seasiders were losing twice but staged a dramatic revival, thanks to Hillier's two-goal salvo and another strike for Keith Hetherington. Both
A centre providing services for disabled people in mid Essex has been opened. Ivan Peck House, named in memory of one of its founder members, marks the first time Essex County Council has worked with the Essex Coalition of Disabled People (ECDP) to run
One of the "most significant" maritime archaeological discoveries since the Mary Rose has been hauled from the Thames estuary. The Elizabethan wreck, which contained one of the country's earliest examples of cast iron cannons, was unveiled to the public
The worried parents of a missing teenager have appealed for him to come home, saying: 'Just make contact with us, let us know you're okay'. St Helena School pupil Stuart Burton, 14, has been missing from his home in Braiswick, Colchester, since Friday
Protesters will be gathering in Promenade Park today, demonstrating against plans to ban swimming in Marine Lake. Angry residents have organised the demonstration to maintain pressure on Maldon District Council's decision to axe the tradition of swimming
Work could start on Colchester's community stadium before a new A12 junction is built, under the new plan to deliver the facility within two years. The Gazette revealed yesterday how a deal had been struck which could see Colchester United playing at
A controversial proposal to extend one of Maldon's most historic buildings could still go ahead. Plans to build a £300,000 annexe on the front of All Saints' Church were thrown out by Maldon District Council last month, but an appeal is about to be lodged
About 50 new jobs are coming to Witham thanks to the expansion of a pharmaceutical company. William Ransom & Son, the country's oldest independent pharmaceutical company, already has premises in Stepfield, Witham. But now it is moving its entire pharmaceutical
TV comedian Russ Abbot has apologised for missing the switching on of the Christmas lights in Southend last Saturday after he got caught up in a traffic jam. Crowds gathered in Victoria Circus last Saturday in the hope of watching the start switch on
Southend's Mike Hanger put up a good fight to box his way into the last four of the British Club Championships. He beat the strong challenge of formidable West Ham slugger J Hedges. Hanger was matched for strength, but once again it was his faster hands
An Army inquiry into the killing of six Colchester-based military policemen in Iraq has found "no conclusive evidence" the deaths could have been prevented. But it did find the men had not received instructions about how much ammunition they should carry
A Clacton building society is celebrating a top place in a contest. Cheltenham and Gloucester, which opened in the town more than 20 years ago, has won branch of the quarter - beating 42 others in the eastern region. Manager Peter Brazewell said: "Competing
A brace from striker James Lawson secured a young Shrimpers reserve side a well deserved 2-2 draw against Crawley Town at Roots Hall yesterday afternoon. The 17-year-old, from Basildon, banged home an effort in each half and was delighted to have worked
Hard-hitting Canvey Island fighter Darren Guisha will try and get his hands on a British title at the end of the month. The welterweight faces Kent's Lee Rusha at the UK Mixed Martial Arts Extreme Fighters Championship, which is being held at Purfleet's
New childcare and youth services have been proposed for an unused school site in Braintree. The former Chapel Hill school, which closed two years ago, has been identified as the perfect home for a new "one-stop centre for parents and children". The proposal
David Salisbury, whose hopes of playing on next season's European Tour were ruined when he suffered a groin strain as the qualifying school tournament approached, has finally enjoyed some golfing success. After nearly three months out of playing action
A woman and her young family escaped serious injury after their car overturned. The incident happened shortly before 10am yesterday in Kelvedon Road, Coggeshall, near to Grange Farm. A paramedic manager was first on the scene after the call to the ambulance
Nearly 2,000 new homes may be built in Frinton and Walton in the next decade. Developers are calling for more than 20 extra parcels of land to be made available for housing. The potential plots have been highlighted for inclusion in the district council's
Jay Smith's recurring injury nightmare has grown worse, with the talented Southend United midfielder now ruled out for the rest of the season. The former Aston Villa trainee, who has been sidelined since February with a broken dislocation of the ankle
More than 60 people are interested in turning a Southend seafront shelter into a new cafe or restaurant. Sorrell, the estate and property agent which is marketing it, said between 60 and 70 people had inquired about the Bryant Avenue shelter on Eastern
A girls' group in Greenstead will fold if new leaders are not found to run it. A plea has been made to save the Colchester 1st Welshwood Rainbow Guides which serves youngsters in the area. Leader Mandy Green and seconder Lynette Owen are leaving next
The widow of a Colchester-based Red Cap murdered in Iraq has called for action by the Army. Gemma Long with her son Ben Gemma Long's plea came the day after an Army board of inquiry found there was no conclusive evidence that the men's deaths could have
A family are appealing for help after their three-year-old dog vanished at the weekend. The owners of black and white siberian husky, Kira, believe she was picked up and taken away by someone after escaping from the back garden of the family home in Mayland
Schools in north Colchester will have to cope with a housing explosion for the next five years. More than 3,200 new homes are due to be built in Myland and Severalls over the next decade, boosting the number of pupils in the area by 1,500. But education
Tiptree snooker star Ali Carter is looking forward to getting back to his own bed as he rests up ahead of his next clash in the UK Championships. The 25-year-old progressed into the third round after blowing legend Jimmy 'the Whirlwind' White away at
A mortgage broker has become the king of new businesses this year. Kings Mortgages, based in New Street, Braintree, has seen business go from strength to strength since it was formed in April by entrepreneur Stephen King, from Bocking. Mr King decided
A mid-Essex nightclub looks set to close in the new year. Luminar Leisure confirmed it is in the process of selling Zeus in Chelmsford to local developer Berkeley Street Properties - because it does not fit in with the company brand. Berkeley, based in
Residents have won their fight to stop a new house being built in the former garden of their village pub. Plans were put forward to knock down a brick store shed next to the Maybush Inn at Great Oakley and build a three-bedroom detached home on the site
A blushing bride will be all of a flutter - thanks to a Scottish palace and its peacocks. Success - Julie Francis at Abora Flower Shop with some of the 100 peacock feathers. Picture: SEANA HUGHES (39466-b) Tamsin Ashworth sparked a nationwide search after
Southend's most famous brand name, Rossi's ice cream, is on the market with a price tag of £2.5million. The 114-year-old business is being marketed as a going concern by Dedman Commercial in Southchurch Road, Southend, because its current owners want
No more lights! That's the plea from residents near Clacton Leisure Centre, who claim their lives are being made a misery. People with homes in Oxford Road, Berkeley Road and Tewkesbury Road say they cannot sleep at night because of the floodlights surrounding
A former RAF chef crippled by illness has welcomed the publication of an independent report acknowledging the existence of Gulf War Syndrome. Carl Stratford, of Burstall Close, Clacton, served with 18 Squadron in Saudi Arabia between January and March
Southend's super sporting all-rounder Adam Hickey faces one of the toughest challenges of his young but highly-successful career on Saturday. For the 17-year-old Southend AC middle distance star, who combines his athletic feats with success on the tri-athlon
Fundraisers are putting on their dancing shoes to raise money for four-year-old Olivia Baalham. Four-year-old Olivia Baalham and mum Natalie. Olivia suffers from two rare conditions which severely restrict almost everything she does. Olivia, who attends
Bus bosses were due to meet police today to work out what changes to services will be needed during the Queen's visit to Colchester. High Street, Head Street and North Hill will all be shut to traffic when Her Majesty comes to town next Thursday. Colchester
Ray Adams has joined BDO Stoy Hayward's Chelmsford office to help expand the firm's range of services to local companies. Formerly a partner in BDO Stoy Hayward's Bromley business centre, his professional experience spans a wide range of plc and private
