A motorcyclist could face jail after being convicted of drink-driving for the third time. Adam Lewis, 23, of St Agnes Drive, Canvey, was caught by police riding a blue and white Suzuki motorbike along Broadmayne, Basildon in February this year. He originally
Parents of children at a Corringham pre-school are demanding Thurrock Council replaces burnt down play equipment at their local park. Children at the Treasure Children Forever pre-school, Giffords Cross Road, spent hours on the play equipment at the Shell
A family was "absolutely gutted" when a long-awaited kidney transplant operation was cancelled for the second time. Last week, the Echo reported how Mark Wishick, 39, was due to donate one of his kidneys to his young son Oliver, two. But after the family
While Southend High are battling for school honours at the World Schools Athletics Championships in Portugal over the next few days, Basildon AC's Gianni Frankis is at the same venue looking for international success. Frankis, also well known on the local
Plans to ban smoking in some public places has met with a mixed response by pubs and restaurants in Chelmsford. Government health minister, Caroline Flint, revealed plans this week to ban smoking in pubs serving food, all restaurants and other public
Graham Napier could get a surprise recall to bolster Essex's shellshocked troops when they continue their Twenty20 campaign against Kent at Chelmsford tonight. The 25-year-old allrounder returned to action for the Second X1 against Kent at Billericay
Basildon AC are going great guns in the Eastern Young Athletes League this season and after beating their nearest opponents by more than 300 points at Braintree, are well set to make the final with just two fixtures to go. It was their third successive
A church is facing a bill of more than £1,000 after repeated attacks from vandals. Yobs smashed five windows at St Christopher's in Meadow Way, Jaywick, in less than a week leaving the church with repair costs and rising insurance premiums. It is the
A Tory MP is piling pressure on Tony Blair to foot the bill for the eviction of Dale Farm. Billericay MP John Baron today claimed the bill for the action will soar "well above" the £1.5million estimate and leave council tax payers out of pocket next year
The family of a boy left disabled following a car crash have appealed for help to aid his recovery. Eight-year-old Alex Wakeling was left unable to walk or talk after the accident five years ago. Since then he has had three trips to Poland for life-changing
Southend Hospital is to refuse formula milk to new mothers in an attempt to encourage breast feeding, it was revealed today. New mums wanting to bottle feed their baby will have to take their own supply to the hospital's maternity unit from August 1.
A woman racially abused and assaulted a schoolgirl, a court was told. Sally Lyons, 28, of Queens Road, Southend, denies racially aggravated harassment, assault by beating and racially aggravated assault by beating. Gerard Renouf, prosecuting, told the
Travellers at Hovefields Drive in Wickford who face being booted off from midnight on Sunday will today learn if they have secured an injunction against the eviction. Basildon Council was yesterday told lawyers acting for the illegally camped travellers
West Ham return to Sweden for the third year in a row to kick off their pre-season programme. This year they are based at Kungsbacka, near the southwestern port of Gothenburg, and will face three matches against lower division teams. The Swedish season
More than £50,000 has been spent revamping a public shelter that has now become home to a tramp. The picturesque shelter, overlooking the Thames Estuary, is set into the cliffs below the Westcliff Hotel and above the Westcliff Casino. Some £55,000 of
Ipswich Town will have a new-look strikeforce for the start of the season after Sam Parkin agreed terms with the Coca-Cola Championship outfit. The 24-year-old hotshot, who has signed a four-year deal from Swindon Town for an undisclosed fee, becomes
Commuters suffered a ten-mile tailback nightmare after the northbound track of the A12 was shut for four hours. Colchester was hit by traffic chaos as motorists were diverted through the town yesterday afternoon. The gridlock was caused when a lorry cab
For most shift workers with children, especially those who are single parents, the search for a babysitter or carer when they are working nights can be a nightmare. Now one children's nursery in Southend thinks it has come up with the answer - to stay
Patients can look forward to quicker and more efficient minor medical care after a new walk-in clinic opened in Vange. The new clinic, which will offer everything from blood testing to advice on how to stop smoking, was opened by Basildon Primary Care
Southend will mark the Government's official commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. But it is unclear how many ex-service organisations will be taking part. The council and the Royal British Legion are working on arrangements
Police broke up a street fight involving about 40 people in Colchester. A 16-year-old girl suffered head and chest injuries during the brawl in Shrub End. It is believed the clash started off between two groups of girls. It then escalated to involve adults
A Masterplan for the future of Chelmsford town centre will be revealed next week when residents will have the chance to give their views. The news follows yesterday's announcement that Great Leighs racecourse, the first in Britain since 1927, will open
A timebomb is ticking for Ronnie Irani as he strives to pack in a glut of county cricket titles for Essex in the short time he has left in the game. As the skipper psyched himself up for tonight's 6,500 sell-out Twenty20 Cup clash with Kent at the Ford
The 14th Leigh Folk Festival kicks off tomorrow, promising its customary mix of the traditional, the modern and the downright fun. The event, which was born thanks to an idea by Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, is now well established as one of the
A rapist serving four life sentences is suing Essex Police because he claims they used photographs of him illegally. Richard Baker, 40, from Cornwall, was jailed in May 1999 after being convicted of three rapes and a string of sex assaults. The force
Essex carnivals are struggling to survive because of a lack of community support. Organisers across the county claim public interest is waning, raising concerns about the future of this great British tradition. But many carnival planners still insist
Catching a cab will soon cost a bit extra after Castle Point Council backed proposals by taxi drivers to increase the price of fares. At a licensing committee meeting last night, councillors agreed to an average increase of almost six per cent. The biggest
Teachers have paid tribute to murdered mother-of-two Inga Losiene, describing her as a "caring and concerned parent" who did her best for her children. Inga's 11-year-old daughter and six-year-old son are being cared for by their father Vladimir and Inga's
Nearly 4,000 people and organisations have so far taken up Chelmsford Borough Council's challenge to have their say on planning the future of the borough. The response to the council's 'Help Plan The Future' questionnaire was hailed as "overwhelming"
A Chelmsford widow has found an unusual way to pay a lasting tribute to her husband. Michelle Newstead, 59, of Falkland Close, Boreham, had been married for 40 years when her husband, John, died suddenly of a heart attack at 61 years of age. And now she
The plight of illegally camped travellers facing eviction from Crays Hill has been taken to 10 Downing Street. Travellers from the Dale Farm site, off Oak Lane, went to the Prime Minister's residence in London yesterday to hand over written pleas for
Concerned residents today spoke of their fears after a pub announced plans to open until 2.30am to take advantage of new licensing laws. The Pilgrim, in the heart of a residential area in Mountnessing Road, Billericay, will have the option to open until
Basildon could run out of burial grounds within just 18 months. Council chiefs could also be forced to take legal action against grieving families following a surge of memorials being overdeveloped. Basildon Council's leisure and customer services scrutiny
Motorists have been urged to get out of their cars and walk as the heatwave is expected to prompt a dangerous cloud of smog in south Essex. The smog was forecast to develop as the sun reacted with pollution, creating harmful levels of ozone, the Government
A Great Baddow pub has become the first in the area to be allowed to change hours under the new national licensing laws. The hearing, backing the move by the White Horse pub, is likely to be followed by similar cases across mid-Essex with councils expecting
Anthoney Hendy was left cursing his luck despite getting two podium finishes in the New Era motorcycle club meeting at Pembrey. The Basildon biker was second and third in the two Clubmen of Pembrey races but reckons he could have picked up more podium
Actor Corin Redgrave is said to be steadily recovering after his heart attack in the Towngate Theatre. The 65-year-old thespian has been out of bed according to friends and has spoken to family members who remain at his bedside at the Heart Hospital in
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. Most of the changes will be carried out when the shop is open, but the shop will close for four days during
Mothers have united in their support for Southend Hospital's decision not to supply formula milk for new mothers. Vanessa Longley, of Southend, who gave birth to Ellie Mae at the hospital eight months ago, said: "When I made the decision to breastfeed
Fuming Halstead skipper Phil Toogood has warned his under-performing players to sort themselves out - or face relegation from the Two Counties top flight. Toogood says he has been having sleepless nights since his side's derby match with Sudbury turned
Four creative students from Palmers College have won their way through to the final of a national competition for designing a special pair of trainers which have a built-in pedometer and heart monitor. The business studies AS students Jamie Meek, Aaron
Timbers rescued from demolished riverside buildings and jetties have helped in the restoration of Southend Pier and gained an award for the enterprising engineer who thought of the idea. Southend Council engineer Richard Atkins wrote about his innovative
Obsessive James Cussens has been jailed for brutally lashing out at his ex-girlfriend with a hammer, before striking her dog over the head with a similar weapon. In the weeks leading up to the incident, Cussens, 22, formerly of Sturrocks, Basildon, was
The mother of a man who was struck by a car today made an impassioned plea for a vital witness to come forward. Her son, Ian Kershaw, suffered serious head injuries in the collision in Queen Street, Colchester, at the weekend. The 26-year-old footballer
Since November last year around 15 young people from Basildon and Thurrock College have created a low-maintenance garden for residents in Parkhurst Road, Pitsea. The students, part of the Millennium Volunteers, worked one afternoon every week for their
Developers planning to build on the former South East Essex College playing fields in Lifstan Way, Southend, have been given an extra three years to submit details of the proposed homes to the council. Southend Council's development control committee
Ipswich Town will have a new-look strikeforce for the start of the season after Sam Parkin agreed terms with the Coca-Cola Championship outfit. The 24-year-old hotshot, who has signed a four-year deal from Swindon Town for an undisclosed fee, becomes
Dedicated Joyce Long is hoping to build on her £750,000 fundraising total for Southend Hospital by holding her latest bargain bonanza in Thundersley. Joyce will open her charity shop in an empty store opposite the White Hart Pub in Hart Road. It will
