Archive

  • Skate boost for kids

    A NEW skate park is being built thanks to a £25,000 Government grant. The park, which will be built near the Belhus Park Leisure Centre in Aveley, is costing £50,000 in total. The brainchild of the Aveley Village Community Forum, it already has £22,000

  • Leigh: Restaurant expansion plan

    Plans to double the size of a restaurant were given a cautious welcome by Leigh councillors. Bosses at Manoly's Thai Restaurant, in Leigh Broadway, are looking to build on to the back of their premises, increasing the restaurant area and building a new

  • Wickford: Firefighters battle blaze

    Firefighters closed a Wickford street to protect the public from nine gas canisters they feared were about to explode inside a burning caravan. Emergency services were called to the blaze along the A132, opposite Bekash Tandoori Restaurant, shortly after

  • Tendring: Appeal by help group

    An initiative set up to help youngsters with learning difficulties in Tendring is a victim of its own success - and needs more male volunteers. Circles of Support Tendring aims to help its clients make the difficult transition from school to the adult

  • Frinton: Firm fights council over flats

    Developers are stepping up their battle to demolish one of Frinton's last surviving hotels and replace it with luxury flats. Under scrutiny - the Glencoe Hotel, Frinton, which a firm wants to demolish to make way for flats. (29551-2) Sexton Construction

  • Thurrock hope for revenge

    THIS weekend sees the final round of games in the busy Christmas calendar with the Grays versus Thurrock clash undoubtedly the pick of the bunch. Colin McBride's men travel to Bridge Avenue on new year's day hoping to exact revenge on Grays who ran out

  • South Essex: Pub ends motorbike rallies

    A controversial weekly motorbike "rally" where riders reached speeds of up to 110mph will be stopped in 2005. New management at the Dick Turpin pub, on the A127 at Wickford, have decided the meetings do not fit in with the venue's family image. Police

  • Football: Tilly hunts for Gower cover

    SOUTHEND United manager Steve Tilson today revealed he had been unsuccessful in his attempts to bring a winger to Blues on loan. The Seasiders chief, whose side currently sit fourth in the League Two table, is attempting to sign temporary cover for the

  • Clacton: Action to end traffic chaos

    New measures are being investigated in a bid to help angry residents who have called for an end to traffic chaos in their roads. People living in Clacton's Anchor Road signed a petition demanding urgent action earlier this month. They are unable to park

  • Dovercourt: Collin's charity verses

    A poet is once again releasing his work to help charity. Well-versed - Collin Rossini with the diary. (40235-1) Collin Rossini, of Dovercourt, has written a poem for each month of the Poetry Diary 2005. Proceeds from the work will go to charities, including

  • Soccer: Dean enjoys Town's glory

    Dean Bowditch is loving every minute of Ipswich Town's stay at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship - despite only playing a bit-part role. The teenager has been a regular fixture on the substitutes' bench this season and was unused in Tuesday's 1-0

  • Football: Powell eager to take the initiative

    VETERAN West Ham defender Chris Powell is tired of being praised for showing character -and wants to see his side winning plaudits for controlling games. At Preston before Christmas and again at bottom club Rotherham Hammers went two goals down before

  • Colchester: Designer is ready for the big time

    A mum from Colchester is bidding for world domination after entering the world of "big" business. Big business - entrepreneur Kim Lewis, son James and Tracey Applin check the Huskyz website. Picture: STEVE BRADING (36377-b) The Gazette told in June how

  • Golf: Durban date for up and coming golfers

    TWO of South-east Essex's youngest golf professionals are jetting off early next year in a bid to further their careers. Ricki Winn, aged 19, and attached to The Essex Golf Complex at Garon Park and 23-year-old Paul Ring, from Boyce Hill, fly out to Durban

  • Obituary: Sports world mourns Ralph

    The local cricket and football worlds were today in mourning for Ralph Adler. The 70-year-old vice-president on Benfleet Cricket Club died on Christmas Day following a short illness. As well as his love of cricket, Ralph enjoyed football in the winter

  • Colchester: Mercy mission for doctors

    Two Colchester doctors were today flying to tsunami-hit Sri Lanka with medical supplies donated by town firms. Vital help - packing up supplies at East Hill Surgery are Dr Sayomi Gunawardena and Elmer Van Der Hoek with practice administrator Anne Palmer

  • Great Notley: Youth arrested after police raid

    A youth was arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs following a police raid on under-age drinking in Great Notley Garden Village. Police arrested the youth outside Tesco supermarket, where a large group of youths were gathered. A homemade offensive

  • Runwell: Fears grow for missing mental health patient

    Police are becoming increasingly concerned about the health of a mental patient missing from hospital since Boxing Day. Paul Doherty, 41, was last seen at Runwell Hospital, near Wickford, on Sunday afternoon. He has been a patient at the establishment

  • Witham: Vandals target disabled woman

    A disabled woman is in despair after a spate of vandalism attacks on her car and home. Vandalised - June Maher examines the damage after the latest attack on her car. Picture: NICK OBANK (40227-2) June Maher, of Fal Drive, Witham, suffers from the nerve

  • Soccer: 'U's can make top of table'

    Neil Danns believes that Colchester United can regain a place in the top end of the table. Danns signed for the U's last week from Premiership side Blackburn Rovers after a successful two-month loan spell earlier in the season. The Liverpool-born midfielder

  • Witham: Can you help?

    Volunteers and donations are needed for Witham's appeal to help survivors of the Indian Ocean earthquake. Kathie Tearle, Witham town and district councillor, is co-ordinating the fundraising effort at the Tesco store in The Grove shopping centre over

  • Mid Essex: Unicef branch makes appeal

    Unicef's chelmsford and mid-Essex branch is raising money for the Asian Earthquake appeal. The charity organisation is also requesting donations from any group which can assist in helping people in the Far East. Branch chairman Patrick Bermingham said

  • Abberton: Cricket scheme appeal

    Controversial proposals for a new cricket ground will be decided by planning inspectors in February. Abberton Cricket Club want to move to a new ground on farmland so their old pitch can be redeveloped for housing. But Colchester Council planners ruled

  • Motorsport: Howard on the grd with Aiken

    Basildon-based Jay Howard has signed a deal to compete for American-based outfit Aiken Racing next season. The 23-year-old, who impressed the team with some fine displays during his last visit to the States, will be racing in the Formula Ford Zetec 2000

  • Eastwood: Brass band pair chase thief

    Two musicians had enough puff left over after blowing their instruments to chase a thief who stole their band's collection bucket. Rayleigh Brass had been performing outside Safeway supermarket, in Eastwood, for five hours, when a teenager grabbed a collection

  • Soccer: We had to dig in, admits Naylor

    Richard Naylor admitted having a few nerves as Ipswich Town hung on to pip Stoke City 1-0. The Blues extended their stay at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship on Tuesday after Shefki Kuqi's first-half goal earned them three points at Portman Road.

  • Football: Friendly run out for Canvey's Boylan

    Canvey hope to give goal-king Lee Boylan a full 90 minutes match action tonight. The Gulls are hosting Eastway Essex Senior League Burnham Ramblers at Park Lane (7.30pm) in a specially-arranged friendly. Boylan has been out since early October with a

  • Colchester: Sickness bug forces ward to close

    Colchester General Hospital has had to close a ward after being hit by a virus. Peldon ward is still closed to admissions following an outbreak of the diarrhoea and vomiting (D&V) bug over Christmas. The outbreak affected 18 patients and the source

  • Holland-on-Sea: Anglers 'put dogs at risk'

    A walker has hit out at untidy anglers, claiming they are putting dogs' lives at risk. The woman, who did not want to be named, said recreational fishermen on the promenade at Holland-on-Sea were constantly discarding their rubbish, including dangerous

  • Braintree: Fire-hit family cram into room

    A family of five are having to live in one hotel room after a fire gutted their home. Homeless for now - Ben, Amy and Sam Utting with Aston Richardson-Smith outside the family home, which was badly damaged by fire on Boxing Day. (40233-6) The blaze, believed

  • Table tennis: Dedham lose 100pc record

    Dedham C, buoyed by seven straight victories, lost their 100 per cent record in the Colchester and District League after drawing 5-5 with division four leaders Tollesbury B. Dedham were favourites, especially as they were at home, but Rob King had other

  • Colchester: Vicar to pass on donations

    Money to help the victims of the tsunami is being collected in Old Heath. Father Richard Tillbrook, the vicar of Old Heath, has said he will happily receive donations, which he will send off on behalf of the community. Donations can be left at the vicarage

  • Braintree: Council to remove collapsed garage

    A pensioner who had a lucky escape after his garage collapsed on him has had the wreckage removed at the council's expense. Flashback - Mr Pews after the incident. Picture: SEANA HUGHES (39755-a) John Pews, 82, was buried under his collapsed shed for

  • Darts: Colin through to last 16

    World number one Colin Lloyd is through to the last 16 of the 2005 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship. The Witham darts player progressed after a 4-1 defeat of Canadian qualifier John Verwey. Wayne Mardle survived a huge scare against Mark Walsh before

  • Great Clacton: Village clampdown on bad behaviour

    New efforts are being made to clamp down on anti-social behaviour in a village. The community and local organisations have joined forces with police officers and Tendring Council in a bid to tackle the issue in Great Clacton with a host of new measures

  • Witham: Couple tell of tsunami horror

    A Witham couple who survived the Indian Ocean tsunami plan to raise £1m to help the recovery effort. Lucky to be alive - John Carrell and Jacqui Thompson today. (40171-2) Jacqui Thompson and John Carrell, of Bantock Way, were on a "holiday of a lifetime

  • Colchester: Debate on staff parking

    Controversial plans to charge council workers to park in town will face scrutiny. Colchester Council's cabinet agreed this month to start charging its employees to park in the town, with varying prices depending on the salary. The plan had attracted widespread

  • Soccer: New Hatfield Peverel sports facility plan under threat

    Campaigners for a new sports facility are hoping for more time to overcome objections to it. Hatfield Peverel Football Club had hoped to build a new clubhouse, pavilion, indoor sports hall and changing rooms, along with pitch lighting and an all-weather

  • Bus fare rises

    BUS users in Thurrock will face some increased fares in the new year. Arriva Southern Counties bus service has announced it will be revising fares to reflect increasing costs including employment, insurance and fuel. In addition, Transport for London

  • Dovercourt: Bid to stop vandals

    Extra police patrols will be made to try to stop another vandal attack on a popular attraction. The bandstand, in Dovercourt's Cliff Park, was attacked during the summer and a decision on its future has still to be made. The Harwich Society, which aims