A passengers' watchdog has branded the launch of a new train timetable in Essex "as chaotic as expected". One Railway introduced a revised schedule yesterday, in a bid to improve its service. But not all passengers knew of the altered arrangements - leading
Residents in Witham are again kicking up a stink over the aroma emanating from the town's sewage works. In 2003, Anglian Water spent £200,000 modernising odour control equipment at the Blackwater Lane works At the time, many people were expressing concerns
An inmate at Chelmsford Prison spent nine hours protesting after managing to climb on to the building's roof. The drama unfolded yesterday at 2.40pm when James Happer, 31, got on to a second floor roof. Essex Police were called initially, and sealed off
Four men have been sent to prison for a total of 33 years for drugs offences in Essex. Kim Webber, Raymond Marten, David Ferguson and Francis Sims were all sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday. Webber, of London Road, Leigh-on-Sea, and Sims,
Thieves took a disabled person's mobility scooter. The theft was reported from a communal hallway of flats in Buckingham Drive, Greenstead, Colchester. Acting Det Sgt Mike Sheeran, of Colchester CID, appealed for help to track down the scooter thieves
A college has hosted its first educational exchange visit for travel and tourism students through a special partnership scheme. Braintree College has played host to students from Oberstufenzentrum Lausitz in Sedlitz, in former East Germany, Utbildningscentrum
Moneyspinning cyclists who saddled up for the 12th Tour de Tendring were rewarded at a special ceremony. Tour proceeds - sponsor Kevin Britton, second left, hands over the cheque to Jane Parsons and Colin Crawford of the RNLI as cyclist Steven Chandler
A boy had to have 22 stitches in his mouth, broke his nose and lost a tooth after his bike was tampered with when he was at school. Injured - Kye Pearson and his mum, Lorraine, with the bike. Picture: ROB SAMBROOK (40019-1) A fellow pupil at John Bramston
Talented teachers showed they had star potential at a karaoke contest. Teacher idol - head of maths Richard Blanes with his backing group. Picture: ROB SAMBROOK (40001-2) Dressed as the star they were impersonating, the staff, complete with pupil backing
Joe Dunne's Colchester United youth team are ready to tackle the cream of Premiership giants Chelsea's Academy. The two teams go head-to-head in the FA Youth Cup third round at Layer Road tonight (kick-off 7.45pm). And coach Dunne said: "The lads know
A mother has spoken of how wearing a seatbelt saved her daughter's life. Accidents a year apart Molly Stevens Ward, left, with twin sister Jessica. Picture: ADRIAN RUSHTON (34243-3) Jessica Stevens Ward, 15, was in the back of a car when it skidded, left
The years of your life. Howzat - rehearsing for Days Of Our Lives are Mike Mathieson, Gregg Weaver, Courtenay, Laura Weaver and Amy Mathieson. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN (39895-1) They may or may not be the best days of your life, but school days certainly
Cold weather in Chelmsford failed to stop sporty Santas determined to get into the Christmas spirit for children with heart disease. Father Christmas lookalikes of all fitness levels took to the town's Central Park for a five-kilometre Jingle Jog in aid
A Southend trader is demanding thousands of pounds compensation because she claims poor waterproofing on the Pier Hill development exposed her cafe below to "horrendous" flooding whenever it rains. Kelly Butcher, 45, of Barling Road, Barling, has been
Fundraisers have netted a staggering £25,000 from one event for St Helena Hospice. The annual draw with a Skoda car as first prize is organised by the Clacton supporters group and tickets are sold throughout the summer. It is their fourth annual autumn
Eight Colchester athletes represented Essex in the Inter Counties Cross-Country Championships at Stowe, Buckinghamshire. And all of them performed brilliantly. Essex dominated the team events and, out of eight races, they won five gold, two silver and
A new father has told of his fears that a baby could have been snatched from Colchester General Hospital after a security lapse. Warning - Adrian Crowther, with wife Emma and new baby Riley, has told how the door code for the central delivery suite was
Colchester won a thrilling game with a last-minute try after Stowmarket had looked to have won after staging a remarkable comeback. Colchester applied early pressure with the forwards putting together good phases of play rucking and recycling well. It
Disgruntled Southend customers who feared they would lose money when furniture giant Courts collapsed will now receive their orders. Scores of angry customers called the Echo after news the retailer had been put in the hands of the administrators saying
The former vice-chairman of Basildon Football Club is today starting a 14-year jail sentence for his part as the head of a drugs empire. Kim Webber, 46, from London Road, Leigh, was revealed as the head of an operation involving mass supply of amphetamines
Colchester United need to start turning good performances into points. U's boss Phil Parkinson That is the message from U's boss Phil Parkinson, who is well aware that his team's recent run of fine showings at home without yielding any points is not good
A lorry driver will be spending Christmas behind bars after being convicted of smuggling drugs worth £111,000 into the UK in a fake fuel tank. David Treloar, 48, of Ravenscourt Drive, Basildon, was today starting a four year sentence after being found
Westcliff dug deep to hang on and gain revenge over Basildon at Gardiners Close. The home side have had the measure of their visitors this season, beating Westcliff in both the Powergen Junior Vase and a recent league fixture at Aviation Way. However,
Colchester Harriers held their junior awards evening and celebrated one of the most successful years in their history. The club have gained promotion in both the southern women's and southern men's track and field league, the women moving up to division
A middle-aged man was taken to hospital suffering from spinal injuries after the car he was driving hit a tree last night. The man, aged in his late-thirties or early-forties, was driving a blue Vauxhall Vectra along Dunton Road, in Laindon, when it left
Southend brought an end to their miserable home run with a well earned victory against Havant on Saturday. The painful memory of three successive Warner's Bridge defeats was erased, as the Seasiders moved away from the relegation zone and jumped four
Mersea Island produced a gutsy performance against current league leaders Rochford. The Islanders pushed their Essex opponents hard for 60 minutes before running out of steam. Despite travelling without key first-team players Haycock, Blacklock, Bredin
Southend United striker Drewe Broughton has returned to Roots Hall after failing to secure a permanent switch to Rushden and Diamonds. The tall targetman netted five goals in 10 games during a two-month loan spell with the Nene Park side. But Broughton
A caring group of mums have raised £500 for the Rupert Bear pre-school. The cash will go towards providing children with a book corner and replacing storage sheds at their home in The Knares, Lee Chapel South. Crowds of people visited the bazaar on Saturday
Kind-hearted youngsters offered some festive cheer at a special candlelit procession. In harmony - youngsters sing carols during the Lucia event. Picture: STEVE ARGENT 40055-2 The children from the Ramsey Crusaders took part in the annual Lucia event
A Mid-Essex shopping centre is remaining closed on Boxing Day despite its rivals opening their doors to bargain hunters. Malcolm Tilsed, manager of the Meadows Shopping Centre said pre-Christmas business had been so good that staff and customers deserve
A child stole a mobile phone after the adult she was with distracted a shop assistant. The girl, thought to be about six years old, and a man went into an estate agency in Maldon High Street at 3.40pm on Saturday. The youngster had blonde hair and was
Concord Rangers 3 Tilbury 1 JUST when it seemed things couldn't get much worse for Southern League Division One East rock bottom club Tilbury, they managed to conjure up another depressing performance on Tuesday and suffered a second scalping at the hands
Great Bentley's monthly magazine has again been voted the best in Essex. The 36-page magazine with colour photographs beat off stiff competition from 30 others but a panel of Essex journalists gave it top marks. It is the fourth time the village magazine
A popular day nursery in Southend is launching a last-minute rescue plan to save it from imminent closure. Bruce House Day Nursery, in Clifftown Parade, is calling an emergency meeting for parents tomorrow night at 7pm to discuss ways it can stay open
