ESSEX Carriers won one of the best ever Active Southend Evening Cricket League Cup finals in a thrilling run chase, beating Southend by six wickets, at Southchurch Park last night. On a perfect summer's evening the seasiders batted first and looked in
RESIDENTS fighting against the development of East Tilbury and Linford are planning a number of high profile protests, which may include a blockade of the A13. Plans to oppose the planned development of the area by Thamesgate Regeneration -- which could
Top tennis player Kim Clijsters took to the court to show a Hockley schoolgirl that anything is possible when you bounce back from injury. Harriet Fulcher, 13, suffered horrific injuries during a road crash in Hockley last year but was inspired to hear
The number of patients with hospital superbug MRSA at a north Essex Trust has more than doubled in the past year. New figures reveal the jump at Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust - which runs Colchester General Hospital and Essex County Hospital. Between
The Royal Naval Association Club in East Street, Prittlewell, has become the first in Southend to receive its new style licence. The council is taaking over the control of liquor licensing from the magistrates in November this year. A spokesman said only
Basildon Council's newest committee will meet for the first time tonight. The Development and Environment Scrutiny Committee, made up of five councillors, will meet every three months to discuss the council's approach to planning and the environment.
JAMIE Robinson is through to the quarter-finals of the World Team Cup - although he faces a tough task in the last eight showdown. The Shoeburyness-based British number two partnered the country's top wheelchair tennis player, Jayant Mistry to a narrow
YOUNG West Ham star Anton Ferdinand is determined to prove himself as a top Premiership-class defender. And the 20-year-old is desperate to do so at Upton Park following the Irons' return to the top-flight. Reports of a £3million bid from European Champions
An elderly pensioner caught thieves searching his home, but they still managed to steal £50 of possessions. The burglary took place in Church Road, Billericay, when two men quietly entered the grounds of the house where the 82-year-old victim lived. One
Generally the only kind of property you're likely to find sitting in the middle of a 13th century moat is a very large castle - which is why a new development in Wickford is so intriguing. Berne Hall Court is a community of six-bedroom properties, all
Firefighters with breathing apparatus had to put out a blaze that ripped through a car repair workshop yesterday at just after 4pm. Three fire engines were called to the scene at Ilfracombe Avenue, Bowers Gifford. According to an Essex Fire and Rescue
People with mental health problems as well as those with learning disabilities can live in a converted house in Old Leigh Road, Chalkwell. Despite objections by local residents, Southend Council agreed to the application from St Luke's Hospital Group.
Traditional pie and mash and a fishmongers will be new additions as the Safeway store in Hadleigh undergoes a revamp and returns as a Morrisons. The supermarket, in London Road, will have a "market street" formula, which will feature a series of small
Colchester United supporters' supremo Jon Burns today greeted news of the U's fixtures for the new campaign with mixed feelings. He told the Gazette: "I'm devastated that we have to start and finish the season away from home" The U's are at relegated
Police have spoken of their disgust at a new fraud scam where crooks pretend to represent the Vatican and dupe the public into handing over bank details. The bogus correspondence is being sent to random e-mail addresses and promises to give them ten per
Plans for an NHS dental surgery in Billericay could be scrapped after residents failed to back the scheme. Dentist Kamran Nazerati had secured planning permission and hoped to treat between 3,000 and 4,000 patients at the new surgery, in Stock Road, from
Firefighters were called to a gas leak on Canvey only to find the alert was caused by smells from a sewage plant. Canvey crews responded to a 999 call in the early hours yesterday but failed to locate a leak. Yet they soon picked up on a strong scent
A teenager has been given a 12-month supervision order for breaking a court ruling keeping him out of Rayleigh town centre. The 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has a lengthy criminal past. Southend Youth Court was also told he lashed
Customers who paid cash for orders with a Rayleigh furniture business will not get a penny after the company went bust. A creditors meeting held by liquidators Berg, Kaprow and Lewis in London officially wound up Furniture Designs Limited, in Websters
AVELEY fans can expect a number of new faces in their side next season as boss, Amin Levitt, looks to build on their mid-table finish last time out. Although no signings have yet been confirmed, Levitt is working hard behind the scenes to freshen up his
A gang of three men are being hunted by police in connection with the theft of a £50,000 tractor. The suspects stole the Volvo tractor and trailer from the Motorway Trans-port yard, in the Burnt Mills industrial estate, Basildon. The white tractor with
A young mum today told how she got more than she bargained for when she sat down for a bowl of cereal - a bout of arachnophobia! Natalie Miller, 23, had bought a box of Tesco Rice Snaps to feed her nine-month-old baby Emily, but decided to treat herself
Southend churches are collecting thousands of signatures to protest against plans for a supercasino in the town. Churches Together in Southend, a collaboration between all the different churches in the town, will present the petition to Southend Council
A CRACKDOWN has been launched on anti-social behaviour in Aveley. Following on from a similar campaign in Stifford Clays, Police Community Support Officers have set their sights on the town to reduce crime and fear of crime. The main problems raised by
THE annual charity day at Rochford Hundred raised a record-breaking £55,000. In past years the NSPCC has been the chosen recipient, but this year the cash bonanza went to Great Ormond Street childrens' hospital. The previous 15 years at Rochford has seen
POLICE have launched a manhunt after a 21-year-old Grays man, charged with raping a girl in a Purfleet hotel, failed to appear in court. Aman Nabavy, of Hathaway Road, broke the conditions of his bail by failing to attend a plea and directions hearing
The father of a young south Essex man missing in Nepal for more than two years today spoke for the first time about his beloved boy. Anthony Ratnasothy, 59, also said he was stunned the British ambassador to Nepal had claimed the country was absolutely
A young man crushed between two lorries at a dockyard was today recovering in hospital. Paramedics arrived at Deep Wharf off London Road, Purfleet, after receiving frantic calls about a man sandwiched between two large lorries. They arrived to find the
A southend pub which was the first in Essex to apply for a late licence under the new laws has had its application turned down. Police objected to the Falcon pub on the seafront serving alcohol until 12.30am fearing that a potentially extra 100 people
A South Essex MP has slated the Government's new religious hatred bill, calling it a "sop" to the Muslim community that lost faith in Labour after the war in Iraq. In a powerful address at the House of Commons during a lengthy debate, Billericay MP John
Toxic caterpillars have invaded Frinton seafront. The hazardous brown-tailed moth caterpillars have made their homes in trees and bushes on the cliffs between Frinton and Walton in recent years. Residents say they have invaded the resort promenade and
A southend seafront pub is applying for a licence to serve alcohol for 20 hours a day, from 7am to 3am. The Liberty Belle in Marine Parade is one of the first pubs in the town to seek extended hours under controversial new laws. But its owners have a
Southend police have opposed virtually all applications for late licences in the town centre for the past two years. Deputy divisional commander Steve Currell told the committee: "Our objection is not that the premises are not well run - it is the cumulative
A dedicated duo were wined and dined at the Houses of Parliament as they were honoured as volunteer heroes for years of hard work in the community. Joan Spye, 71, and Thelma Lloyd, 68, of Canvey's Age Concern, rubbed shoulders with MPs at a tea party
A fire chief today praised firefighters after they battled to put out a fire in a historic town centre pub. Dampen down - a fire engine at the Victoria pub blaze. (43550-5) Flames ripped through the Victoria pub in Dovercourt early today. The blaze, which
Nicky Forster has become Ipswich Town's first of what could be a "number" of summer signings - according to chairman David Sheepshanks. However, while the former Reading striker has joined ranks with the Blues, Tommy Miller is the third player to quit
Thick black smoke could be seen for miles across south Essex yesterday as ten fire engines were dispatched to battle a burning mound of tyres. Fire crews from Basildon, Brentwood, Ingatestone, Corringham, Grays, Orsett, and Ongar faced dangers of explosion
A field fire has sparked fresh fears among residents over their homes. Fears - one of the firefighters at yesterday's blaze at Middlewick Ranges in Colchester. (43533-d) Colchester firefighters were called to put out another blaze on Middlewick Ranges
A woman driver had to drag her children out through a car window when a motorbike and car burst into flames after colliding. The biker was taken to hospital in a critical condition after the collision with the car and was being operated on last night.
SOUTHEND United will begin life in League One by welcoming Port Vale to Roots Hall on Saturday August 6. And Blues boss Steve Tilson is hoping for a strong start to the 2005/06 season. "It doesn't really make much difference when we're home or away and
Cstle Point Council today announced budget savings of more than £450,000. It is claimed the substantial save is thanks to "increased efficiency" within the local authority. The council recently revealed its accounts and £460,899 remains from last year's
Mushtaq Ahmed's wizardry spelt misery for Essex as they opened their Twenty20 Cup campaign with a humiliating nine wickets defeat against Sussex at Hove. The veteran legspinner turned in the remarkable figures of five for 11 from just 21 deliveries as
Crays Hill travellers were today pleading with Prime Minister Tony Blair to step in and halt the eviction of their site. Representatives from the Dale Farm camp were travelling to No 10 Downing Street to hand a letter to Mr Blair, written by resident
