West Ham boss Alan Pardew is desperate for some relief from the run of injuries that has thrown his side into turmoil. In addition to the suspended Marlon Harewood and Hayden Mullins, Pardew is also coping without Teddy Sheringham, Christian Dailly, Malky
A firm which aims to help small businesses improve their administrative efficiency has been launched by a Colchester couple. The idea came to Paul and Joy Smalley, of Rowhedge, while they were having work done on one of their property projects. Mr Smalley
A firefighters' union leader is due to visit mid-Essex on Monday. Fire Brigades Union (FBU) general secretary Andy Gilchrist plans to address a meeting of control room staff and union officials at the union's regional office in Atlantic Square, Witham
A police operation to catch Chelmsford burglars has seen 10 arrests and a reduction in offences. Operation Crackdown is an intelligence gathering initiative and, following three weeks of covert work, officers are now calling on residents to come forward
A Chelmsford firm of solicitors has raised a whopping £35,700.66 for the New Farleigh Hospice appeal. Wollastons solicitors of New London Road raised the money from their 3.5 mile sponsored 'Race for Business' through the streets and parks of Chelmsford
Disaster during the Queen's meal at Colchester's Moot Hall was averted - thanks to an electrician. Royal walkabout the Queen meets crowds of all ages in Colchester High Street. (39637-9) A power failure struck just as the main course was put in the oven
WHEN Lucy Howe was studying catering at South East Essex College, she had a clear-cut ambition. Lucy recalled: "Everybody else was aiming to go and work in West End restaurants or other posh places. Me, I wanted to run a traditional greasy spoon. "It
Defiant parents ignored a controversial ban on pupils taking time off for the royal visit to Harwich. Banned pupils - headteacher Jacky Froggatt. Pupils from the Harwich School could not resist the chance to skip lessons and join the crowds which turned
When Lucy Howe was studying catering at South East Essex College, she had a clear-cut ambition. Lucy recalled: "Everybody else was aiming to go and work in West End restaurants or other posh places. Me, I wanted to run a traditional greasy spoon. "It
Canvey Island look set to ring the changes in a big way tomorrow as they attempt to end a mini-slump at Accrington Stanley. After a steady run of five games without defeat had put them in touching distance of the Nationwide Conference play-offs, Gulls
Tommy Miller is desperate to be fit for Ipswich Town's clash at home to Brighton this weekend. The Blues midfielder will discover tomorrow whether his elbow injury suffered in Town's 1-0 win against Leeds two weeks ago has cleared up enough to allow him
Essex's ambitious plans to create a centre of cricketting excellence in Southend could push one local club to the brink of extinction. The county hope to secure funding to transform the Garon Park Cricket Bowl into a satellite ground to their main Chelmsford
Ipswich Town boss Joe Royle is eager for his side to continue their good form at home to Brighton tomorrow. The Blues are unbeaten at Portman Road this season, but go into their Coca-Cola Championship clash against the Seagulls off the back of a 2-0 defeat
MICHAEL Bierton is one of the few people in Essex who enjoys commuting and now he's made a business out of his pleasure. Michael has started the quad bike company, Quads R Us, to exploit a new social trendthe increasing number of people who chose to travel
Southend United striker Wayne Gray is hoping to fire the Shrimpers to a vital victory against Grimsby Town tonight. The former Wimbledon front-runner has not netted in his last three games, but is bidding to end that barren run this evening as Steve Tilson's
The relocation of Maldon's market could mean an increase in trade in the town. The district council's central area planning committee will decide whether to allow the retail market, currently held twice a week in the White Horse Lane car park, to move
One of Britain's largest building firms has set up a new team with a brief to identify building sites in the Thames Gateway. Redrow Regeneration, part of the Redrow group, will particularly seek to identify brownfield sites for housing in the Essex Thames
Two robbers stabbed a man in the knee as he struggled to stop them stealing his briefcase. The pair attacked the 53-year-old victim in the early hours of today while he was in Colchester's Castle Park. He managed to keep hold of the case and, bleeding
BUSINESSES, like individuals, hit crossroads in their lives, which accounts for the name of a new management training and business coaching company set up in Shoebury. Chris Bradford, founder of Crossroads Change Management, claims a special skill that
Eighty jobs are being created when Clacton's Safeway store is converted into Morrisons in the new year. The store on the Waterglade Retail Park in Old Road will change in the new year. Human resources manager Geraldine Buttermere said: "The changeover
Forget chestnuts roasting by an open fire - the best way to have a really cool Yule is to dive into a tub of ice-cream courtesy of the goats of Christmas present! Festive feast - farmer Warren Goff with his goat, Opuntia, and ice cream. (39444-2) Farmers
Southend face a tough task bouncing back against promotion chasing Essex rivals Barking at Warner's Bridge tomorrow. The struggling Seasiders looked to have turned the corner with three wins out of four games, before last weekend's 21-16 home defeat against
Residents fear their homes could be overlooked and dominated by plans for a four-storey block of flats in Billericay town centre. The application for eight two-bedroom flats in Shereday's Yard, off the High Street, will be considered by Billericay Town
A traditional christmas meal organised by the Salvation Army is under threat of cancellation this year. Braintree Salvation Army has traditionally provided a Christmas dinner on December 25 for people on their own or having difficulty providing a meal
The cost of bringing the Queen to Colchester was a modest £9,000, Colchester Council has revealed. Chief executive Adrian Pritchard said that businesses, who sponsored the lunch given to the royal party, had helped keep expenses down. He said: "The overall
Southend athlete Adam Hickey admitted gaining a place in the Great Britain team for next month's European Junior Cross-Country Championships had compensated for missing out on the Commonwealth Youth Games. After taking on and beating most of a top-class
Great Wakering Rovers, who've failed to win in 10 games in all competitions now, face a tough Southern League Division One East task tomorrow at promotion-chasing Berkhamsted Town. The village side, now second from bottom, haven't taken three points from
Ipswich will be aiming to dodge a banana skin when they entertain lowly Brighton and Hove Albion. The Blues are riding high in second spot in the Coca-Cola Championship, despite Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Sunderland. Brighton, on the other hand, have lost
Michael Bierton is one of the few people in Essex who enjoys commuting and now he's made a business out of his pleasure. Michael has started the quad bike company, Quads R Us, to exploit a new social trendthe increasing number of people who chose to travel
Colchester United midfielder Gavin Johnson has put pen to paper to see out the season with the U's. Putting pen to paper - Gavin Johnson has signed a new contract to see out the season with the U's The former Ipswich Town player has signed on to continue
A mother and child had a lucky escape after a car went out of control and struck their house. Mum-of-two Debbie Thirlwell spoke of the shocking incident which unfolded at 1.30pm yesterday in Old School Court, Hatfield Peverel. Miss Thirlwell, 31, said
On Tuesday Colchester United secured their first win since the 2-1 win over Port Vale in October when they knocked Mansfield Town out of the FA Cup 4-1 - and now U's boss Phil Parksinon wants more. He said: "I think it's a great feeling to win a game
With their outstanding FA Cup run having just ended, Billericay Town are hoping to embark on an FA Trophy glory story. To help achieve this they have a difficult hurdle to overcome tomorrow when they visit Ryman Premier rivals Yeading, who currently lead
A series of one-stop health centres across Southend and Castle Point will form the centrepiece of a £30million transformation of medical services in the area. Canvey will get the first super centres as part of the plans, after health secretary John Reid
Organisers of the crowd-pulling Tendring Show are investigating ways of combating rising costs. But assurances have been given that there are no financial problems - and they are promising a high-quality event again next summer. Robert Hutley, chairman
A Manslaughter prosecution could be brought after a Laindon man was killed in a petrol tanker explosion, it was revealed today. Derek Thorburn, 54, from Albyns Avenue, Laindon, died when the vehicle he was working in exploded. A joint Essex Police and
Travellers who won a High Court battle to live at a green belt site may have packed up and moved from the plot, Basildon Council said. A woman known only as Mrs R Temple and her children were granted permission to remain at The Paddocks - formerly known
A major hotel development planned for Chelmsford could bring with it an urban country park and 100-place day nursery. The massive scheme on the outskirts of the town centre featuring a country park, 72-bed hotel, public house and 100-place day nursery
Southend Airport cleared its final hurdle last night in its long campaign to expand its passenger services. Rochford District Council's planning services committee unanimously voted in favour of plans for a new passenger terminal, train station and visitor
Councillors last night called for urgent action after it was revealed serious offenders - including rapists - are free to drive a taxi within seven years of being convicted. Current employment criteria for new Hackney Carriage drivers employed by Basildon
A major crackdown on car crime using a specialist piece of equipment has been hailed a success in the Braintree area. Number plate checks are taking place daily across the Braintree division, thanks to a new system launched in July. Police have now had
Businesses, like individuals, hit crossroads in their lives, which accounts for the name of a new management training and business coaching company set up in Shoebury. Chris Bradford, founder of Crossroads Change Management, claims a special skill that
An explosion rocked a street on Canvey early on Friday. An electrical sub-station in Meadow View Walk blew up leaving a hole in the ground. It happened just before 8am as children walked to school and people were leaving for work. Eyewitness Sharon Couzens
ONE of Britain's largest building firms has set up a new team with a brief to identify building sites in the Thames Gateway. Redrow Regeneration, part of the Redrow group, will particularly seek to identify brownfield sites for housing in the Essex Thames
