CONFERENCE South table-toppers Grays will be looking to expand their lead at the weekend with a home clash with Weston-super-Mare. Meanwhile neighbours Thurrock will travel to Weymouth in a bid to sustain their recent revival that has seen them challenging
A man indecently exposed himself to two young girls outside a primary school. The incident happened close to All Saints' Primary School, Dovercourt, on Tuesday. It has prompted police, who called it a "shocking incident", to put forward an appeal for
Ambitious plans for a £250 million shopping centre and bus station have just been unveiled. Plan for the future - an artist's impression of the view from St Botolph's Circus if the scheme is passed. The Vineyard Gate development and bus station are a
A new cashpot of more than £800,000 is up for grabs for community projects in west Clacton. The money is in the bank waiting to be spent and the aim is to allocate at least £200,000 of it by March 2006. The funding is being dished out in grants by the
Late night revellers in Southend are about to get help from an unexpected quarter. Volunteers from local churches will support those in need as street pastors in an experiment set to begin later this year. Every Friday and Saturday night the street pastors
Beach hut owners are furious at a Southend Council move to claim a chunk of the profit whenever one is sold. The council is demanding ten per cent of the sale price of huts at Shoebury Common, whose value has soared in recemnt years. The council owns
Phil Parkinson's Colchester United side will be heading to Lancashire in the FA Cup fourth round to take on Premiership outfit Blackburn Rovers on January 29. Mark Hughes' charges booked their spot in the next stage of the illustrious competition with
An oil spill has threatened to damage the beauty of a picture-postcard village in north Essex. Many litres of heating oil leaked into the brook at Finchingfield. It is believed to have come from a leaking tanker seen driving through the village at about
A man had to be cut free from his car after he was involved in a crash. A Saab and a red Volkswagen Polo were in collision at the junction of Potter Street and the A1124 Halstead Road, Sible Hedingham, at about 2.30pm yesterday. The 19-year-old Volkswagen
A pot-bellied pig with the winter blues needs help to get back on his feet. But portly Patch doesn't just need a hand - he needs a winch. The poorly pig, a five-year-old cross between a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig and a miniature pig, will not get up off
THORPE Bay were crowned Jubilee Cup champions after beating Westcliff Lawn 2-1 in the final. Things got off to a good start for Thorpe when the strong pairing of club coach Jon Lee and Simon Cuthbert beat Roger Peters and Ian McDonald 6-1 6-3. But Lawn
Widening Cowdray Avenue and launching park-and-ride are key to tackling jams on the roads of Colchester. Travellers' tales - Evening Gazette chief reporter Tom Weatherill presents the travel diaries to Rodney Bass, the county council's portfolio holder
A pilot and his passenger had a lucky escape when they were forced to make a crash landing in a field near Southend Airport. The challenger microlight aircraft developed technical problems and made a forced landing in a field between Nestuda Way and Prince
Stansted owner BAA saw record numbers pass through its airports last year. The company's seven airports handled 140.1 million travellers in 2004 - a 6.9 per cent increase on the year before, figures from the company showed. Southampton saw the biggest
Reigning men's singles champion Dave Cole suffered his first defeat of the season in the Colchester and District League against Chelmsford player Jon Hill. His team, Rowhedge A, remain eight points clear in division one, though, as they won 6-4 against
A couple who have five children under the age of six today told how they were struggling to get help to cope with the pressures of family life. Struggling to cope - Lorraine Page with her partner, Lee Gotts, and their children 6-month-old triplets Jamie
Jim Magilton believes cool heads are needed to help Ipswich Town get back in the Premiership. The Blues have only lost five times in 29 League matches and sit two points clear at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship. On the strength of that dynamite
Motorists fear new road safety measures introduced in a village will only lead to increased danger, not reduce it. Safety concerns - the junction of Little Clacton Road and Main Road. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN 40553-1 The scheme is currently being carried
A HUSBAND and wife are trying to rebuild their shattered lives after an indecent assault allegation was dropped. Tony De'Wet, 45, from Aveley, has had to cope with months of abuse after he was up in court facing charges of administering a poison or noxious
Boats are one of the fastest-growing businesses in Essex, according to latest figures. Last year, business in the boating leisure industry was worth more than £304 million in Essex and East Anglia - an increase of nearly 16 per cent on 2003. Nationally
HEALTH bosses have quashed fears that the borough is facing a meningitis crisis. Thurrock Primary Care Trust has moved to reassure concerned parents that there is no 'cluster of meningitis' in Thurrock, despite the news that a 14-month-old girl came within
A spate of phone box thefts has seen £53 stolen from a payphone in Shrub End, Colchester. The thieves removed the cash box of the phone in Shrub End Road at about 10.55pm on Tuesday, said police. Acting Det Sgt Mike Sheeran, of Colchester CID, said there
A shock bid to build an extra 450 homes on the Maltings Lane estate, Witham, has been greeted with dismay by the chairman of the watchdog group which oversees the development. The estate was built with planning permission for 800 homes plus a church,
Phil Parkinson's Colchester United side will be heading to Lancashire in the FA Cup fourth round to take on Premiership outfit Blackburn Rovers on January 29. Mark Hughes' charges booked their spot in the next stage of the illustrious competition with
Despite problems on the pitch, a firm is helping Norwich City off it. OfficePlan, based at Rifle Hill, Braintree, successfully won a contract to install furniture, screens and wallspace for Norwich City's Football In The Community (FITC) department. The
A village newsagent has told how a masked gang smashed their way into his shop and made off with a cash machine from inside the store. Dollar Patel said neighbours alerted the police to the raid in Clacton Road, St Osyth, early today. They woke to the
WEST Ham goalscorer Moses Ashikodi hailed a second-half fightback as the young Hammers came from behind to sink Blackburn Rovers. For 45 minutes the visitors had looked like a well-drilled outfit who probably deserved their 1-0 half-time lead. But after
Celebrities from the world of showbusiness are already lining up to support the mega two-night gala being staged for the tsunami appeal in Clacton. Rock legend Brian May, soap stars Shane Richie from BBC's EastEnders, Wendi Peters from ITV's Coronation
Plans for Colchester's new multi-million pound bus station were due to be unveiled today. Colchester's current bus station - but what of its future? (40510-1) The bus station is set to be built on what is currently Osborne Street, and link with the proposed
SOUTHEND skipper Jamie Connors today dedicated his Player of the Month award to the efforts of his team mates. The 25-year-old New Zealander was named the best performer in National Division Three South for December. However, the modest number eight,
SOUTHEND United goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan is relishing the prospect of returning to the Shrimpers first team at Mansfield Town this Saturday. The former Woking custodian kept a clean sheet for the Seasiders reserves against a strong Canvey side on Tuesday
SOUTHEND United goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan is relishing the prospect of returning to the Shrimpers first team at Mansfield Town this Saturday. The former Woking custodian kept a clean sheet for the Seasiders reserves against a strong Canvey side on Tuesday
World number two Colin Lloyd is hungry for success as the launch of the Premier League darts show gets under way. Hungry for success - Witham's Colin Lloyd. 39075-a The Witham ace is thrilled to get the show on the road tonight - even though his opening
Plans by Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust to apply for Foundation Hospital Status have been deferred until next year. Having gained three stars in the 2003/2004 performance ratings, the Mid Essex Hospital Trust Board made a successful preliminary
Shoppers at a Colchester store have dug deep to raise a record sum for charity - but it hasn't all been hard work. Picture: ADRIAN RUSHTON 40547-2 Customers at Williams and Griffin were able to enjoy an evening of indulgence and the attentions of alternative
A rare book worth up to £250,000 has been stolen from a house in Benfleet. A reward has been offered for the return of the book which has a woodcut picture on the cover and bears the title A Parallell between Robert late Earle of Essex and George late
A crisis meeting is being held by residents opposing plans for an on-shore windfarm near Maldon. People living near the planned site in Bradwell have lobbied their ward district councillor Richard Dewick. Energy company N-Power is currently carrying out
New technology to help diabetes patients combat the risk of blindness is being introduced in mid Essex. People with the condition have been invited to attend a presentation on the new digital retinal screening service by staff at Chelmsford's Broomfield
Colchester United's young guns are back in action tonight in the FA Youth Cup. Joe Dunne's charges take on Cardiff City in the fourth round of the competition at Layer Road (kick-off 7.30pm). They booked their place with a sensational 2-1 win over the
Learning how to be better citizens could help a school to £10,000. Community spirit - Ryan Vanhinsburgh and Josie Burdett (front) and fellow pupils at St Luke's Church Primary School, which has been awarded £2,000 from BT for its Learn to Care Award.
Yobs are continuing to plague a village. Now parish councillors at St Osyth are investigating the possibility of bringing in a police community support officer (PCSO). Their latest target was the village hall, where four windows were shot out by vandals
Police are stepping up their patrols after a mini-crimewave in Braintree town centre. Paul Soweby outside his Blu Orange shop, hit by raiders in Braintree. 40633-a Traders have welcomed the news and vowed to work with the police to tackle the problem.
Shrimpers manager Steve Tilson has will not be making any loan signings for Southend United. The Blues boss has been hit by a series of injuries in recent weeks but has again ruled out bringing any temporary players to the club despite hinting that he
TILBURY players will have a smart new look on matchdays thanks to local company Daybreak Windows. The Stanford-le-Hope firm have supplied the club with new tracksuits for the players, a much-needed morale booster for the struggling Dockers. Joint manager
