A cutback in funding could lead to staff redundancies at a Mistley-based charity. The Acorn Trust has also warned any reduction in the grant it receives from Essex County Council will mean a decrease in the services it currently provides. The problem
Southend United striker Lawrie Dudfield admitted today he did not regret turning down a switch to Yeovil Town last season. The forward rejected a move to the Glovers in favour of a permanent transfer to Roots Hall in March. And, on the eve of facing Gary
Ipswich Town face another former hero this weekend when they go head-to-head with striker Marcus Stewart. Last Saturday Jermaine Wright made his eagerly-awaited return to Portman Road. And the week before they travelled to a Burnley side boasting the
Canvey Island soccer boss Jeff King hopes to capture a new loan striker. With leading scorer Lee Boylan out until at least Christmas with a fractured ankle, and Junior McDougald nursing a hamstring injury, Gulls are short in the experienced front-runner
Residents in Witham will be asked within days what their preferred location for a new community hall is. More than 1,300 householders on the Templars estate are due to be sent questionnaires and letters asking them to make a choice and give their views
A HAVE-A-GO grandad from South Stifford has seen off a pair of thugs who mugged his grandson. Griffith Griffiths, 81, of Palmerston Road, bravely chased down the two yobs, who had threatened his grandson, Andrew, before stealing his bike and mobile phone
Lewis Price has welcomed his loan move to Cambridge United - but the young Ipswich Town goalkeeper still harbours dreams of dislodging Kelvin Davis between the posts at Portman Road. Price has joined the Abbey Stadium-side on a one-month deal to get some
Motorists could be suffering unnecessary additional pain after leaving a dental surgery. Hitting a raw nerve - unclear parking instructions are affecting motorists in Newland St Vehicle owners are receiving parking tickets from traffic wardens - although
Fabian Wilnis believes Ipswich Town's new-found defensive steel could be enough to drive them up into the Premiership. The Blues have added solidity at the back to their ability to score goals this season, helping them reach second spot in the Coca-Cola
A war hero has been granted permission to be buried in his town's churchyard. Joe French will be able to re-use his great-grandfather's grave at All Saints' Church in Brightlingsea. The 90-year-old had wanted to reserve a burial plot but changed his petition
A leading Southend company has demanded an inquiry after foul odours again emanated from a neighbouring sewage works. For years KeyMed in Stock Road have endured nauseous smells from the Anglian Water sewage works next door. On Thursday November 11 they
A crack house in Colchester has been shut down under laws used for the first time in the town. Hard at work - the flat is boarded up by police under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN (39490-1) Police and council workers emptied and
A health trust is to pick up a £100,000 cash windfall for its efforts to improve services to accident and emergency patients, the Gazette can reveal. Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust is to scoop the money as a performance bonus. It has ensured that at
One of Maldon's largest crowd-pulling events is hoping to receive sizeable financial backing from the council to make next year's the biggest and best ever. Preparations for The Real Music Festival 2005, touted as the replacement to the town's Prom Fantasia
Southend Council is to press ahead with the closure of two centres for adults with learning disabilities despite intense opposition. Banner-waving protesters and a 7,000-strong petition failed to persuade councillors to save Maybrook day centre and the
The coldest night of the year so far created a busy night for the emergency services as temperatures dropped below freezing. Essex Ambulance Service had a busy time after the first night of winter saw temperatures plummet and snow falls in the northern
A new one-stop shop for childcare and parenting could open in Maldon as soon as autumn next year. Essex County Council is hoping to set up a children's centre in the town, providing day care, health services, Job Centre Plus and parental advice all under
Colchester High Street will be closed to cars all day when the Queen visits. Police have decided to shut the road before the morning rush-hour on Thursday until crowds have dispersed after Her Majesty's departure, to ensure public safety. But they plan
Tenants are set for £30million of improvements after Southend councillors decided to hand control of 6,300 council houses to a new management organisation. The proposals, agreed by last night's full council, mean the properties will remain in council
A charity worker has proved she is all heart by handing back a £2,000 diamond ring she won in a raffle. Angela Whitelock, of Wickham Bishops, recently attended the Helen Rollason Cancer Care Centre Appeal annual ball and was stunned when her name was
Crime reduction officers are warning car owners to hide their keys away instead of putting them on view near the front door. Nearly 300 cars worth more than £4million have been driven away from Essex driveways after house burglaries in the 12 months to
A driver was injured when his Renault Clio car hit a stationary police car which then burst into flames. Crash scene - the Renault Clio and the stationary police car which it ran into on the Spring Road slip road of the A12 at Colchester. Picture: STEVE
Work has finished on an £800,000 berthing facility for Walton and Frinton lifeboat so that it can be launched faster and be better protected. New berth - Walton lifeboat will now be able to launch more safely and speedily. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN (39487
Out of favour striker Bobby Zamora insists he is happy to battle for his place in the West Ham starting line-up despite a disappointing start to the season. The former Brighton goal machine made a blazing start to the pre-season tour of Sweden before
Greg Halford doesn't mind where he is playing when Colchester United take to the field - as long as he is playing. Happy to be here - Greg Halford doesn't mind what position he's in as long as it's on the pitch. The 19-year-old has moved up through the
Demonstrators braved cold rain and winds to protest against a council decision to ban swimming in Maldon's Marine Lake. Demonstrators braved cold rain and winds during the protest. About 55 people 34 dressed as lifeguards gathered by the lake, in Promenade
South Essex folk are streets ahead of the rest of the country in recognising the value of owning your own home. More residents in Castle Point are owner occupiers than anywhere else in the country. Rochford district, including Rayleigh, comes in close
Teddy bears could be seen marching with their owners to the sound of "If you go down to the woods today" at a Witham church. Cuddling up - Jake Goodrun, 4, with furry friend at the teddy bears' picnic in Witham. Picture: NICK OBANK (39516-2) Children
Raiders broke into a popular tourist attraction by smashing a window. Baffled - Andy Rutter, secretary of the Harwich Society at Harwich Lifeboat Museum They struck at the Harwich Lifeboat Museum, in Wellington Road, on Wednesday night. When they smashed
Hospital chiefs have admitted a catalogue of blunders which meant a woman's lung cancer went undiagnosed for more than a year. Sally Watson - cancer went unnoticed for 18 months. (38527-2) Medical tests revealed Sally Watson, of Colchester, was suffering
The gloves are off is the message a parish council has declared in its fight against a compensation scheme for homeowners affected by Stansted expansion plans. At a standing room only meeting in Takeley's Silver Jubilee Hall, last night, more than 200
Paramedics dealt with a string of crashes as snow fell on Colchester for the first time this winter. Ambulances were called to 15 crashes around Essex between 7pm yesterday and 7am today. Most injuries were minor but a spokesman warned drivers to take
One word describes Colchester United's opponents Huddersfield Town's start to the season - inconsistent. The Terriers currently sit in tenth spot just above the U's, having won seven, drawn four and lost six of their 17 matches. But they are undefeated
Danny Hunt knows he is one step away from a British title fight as he gears up to defend his English lightweight crown. The Leigh boxer has already successfully defended his title once and will be out to end the hopes of challenger Lee Meager at Bethnal
NEWS that Thurrock Harriers will not be able to use the track at their Blackshots base until the spring has come as a disappointment to local runners. But the club is looking an an innovative way of helping athletes. It was hoped that the track, which
A ban on boozing on the streets of Leigh could be launched to combat vandalism and anti-social behaviour. Southend Council is looking to introduce the ban on drinking in public in Leigh Broadway following successful schemes in Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff
Southend's director of rugby Kevin Harman wants his resurgent side to demonstrate a more ruthless edge against Warner's Bridge visitors Hertford tomorrow. The Seasiders are on the up at the moment, having won three of their last four outings, and another
Thurrock Council has come down hard on local landowners who they suspect of preparing land for an influx of travelling show people. The authority was anonymously tipped off earlier this year about large-scale earth and hard-core moving operations on land
