BASILDON has seen a sharp increase in the number of pickpockets preying on the elderly and vulnerable. The town has suffered a rising trend in the number of purse snatches, with 91 reported incidents over the last three months. Over the last few days
HORNDON on the Hill might not have things as easy as might have been expected when they bid to step up their Shepherd Neame Essex League Division Three title challenge in tomorrow's penultimate round of matches. For Horndon visit bottom of the table Ongar
ESSEX Spartans hit the play-off trail on Sunday with a trip to Oxford Saints. It's the first time the team have extended their season since returning to Basildon four seasons ago. That's a fitting reward for a club which has steadily grown after an uncertain
THERE were outstanding performances from a host of local athletes as Essex boys and girls joined forces to claim the under-15 championship trophy with 104 points at at the South of England inter-counties match at Abingdon. The match was held jointly with
A GARDEN show has raised hundreds of pounds for state-of-the-art equipment for Southend Hospital's Radiotherapy Unit. Visitors to the Aztec Garden Shows at Garon Park, Southend, gave £850 towards the £350,000 needed in the new Pinpoint Cancer Appeal.
Colchester United fans will see a new Greg Halford tomorrow, according to boss Phil Parkinson. The U's manager has spoken out after fans criticised Halford's recent performances for the club. The England Under-20 international recieved jeers and boos
Southend rugby club begin another season in Division Three south with a trip to North Walsham tomorrow as boss Kevin Harman strives for another solid season. "We don't want to put pressure on ourselves but if we play the way we can every week then we
A baby-faced schoolboy is believed to have become the youngest criminal in the county to be given an anti-social behaviour order. A judge branded serial offender Steven Patmore a "little devil". The youngster could barely see over the dock when he appeared
NEW Tory MP for Rochford and Southend East James Duddridge has pledged his support for David Davis in the approaching Conservative leadership contest. As one of the "new boys" in the House of Commons, his vote has already been courted by the prospective
Police have launched an appeal for a man who chased two girls with a kitchen knife. The 12-year-olds were playing in a park in Dovercourt when the man jumped out of bushes and rushed at them. When he pulled out the knife, the terrified girls ran away
A FAMILY was left shocked after a car smashed through their garden wall ending up on its roof, leaving the wreckage strewn across the road. Lisa Knox, 35, of Manor Road, Benfleet told how a silver Citroen Saxo and a white Ford Courier van collided. The
A WOMAN was left stunned and dismayed after reading in the Echo how her home of 54 years is to be bulldozed and replaced with a plush new Southend seafront development. Florence Tall owns a house in Southchurch Avenue, Southend, that stands in the way
FIREFIGHTERS rescued a man from a lift which fell seven storeys before jamming on the fourth floor. White watch from Orsett fire station, along with a rescue tender from Grays arrived at George Tilbury House in Godman Road, Chadwell St Mary just after
Security measures are being put in place in an effort to stop yob attacks on a town's public toilets. Vandals have repeatedly been on the rampage in blocks of toilets in Dovercourt during the summer. Police have now stepped-up patrols of the surrounding
RESIDENTS in Stanford-le-Hope are being invited to air their views on a major new development planned for the town. Hills Residential and Mersea Homes are to submit a planning application to Thurrock Council next month to develop new riverside housing
A heartbroken Chelmsford family, torn apart when their son was taken into foster care, are the latest parents to claim they have been targeted because the mother has learning difficulties. For two years the 10-year-old and his parents, who cannot be named
SOUTHEND United midfielder Luke Guttridge has revealed how a talk with Blues boss Steve Tilson helped him rediscover his very best form. The former Cambridge United youngster was outstanding in the victory over Colchester last Monday after acting on his
RICHARD McKinney appears to have won the right to the number one goalkeeping shirt at Canvey Island. A string of outstanding performances in Gulls' first five games have seen the former Colchester stopper, who came close to joining Southend United a year
SOUTH Essex postal deliveries are more reliable than ever before according to figures released by Royal Mail. The news represents a turnaround since they were branded one of the worst in the South East. The figures for Southend, Castle Point and Basildon
A CUT in interest rates has sparked a boost in the property market across Southend, according to one of the town's leading estate agents. Craig Wakeling, director of Dedman in Southchurch Road, said there had been a tremendous amount of interest in homes
Legal agreements which will open up development for north Colchester are still waiting to be signed, after more than two years. The redevelopment of Severalls Hospital for housing was given planning permission, subject to legal agreements being signed
FRESH from a stunning Bank Holiday weekend that saw them beat two of the Conference heavyweights, GRAYS will be looking to stretch their unbeaten start to six games tonight (Friday) when they visit a resurgent Forest Green Rovers. The Gloucestershire
THREE clubs have taken advantage of avoiding clashing with live screening of England's World Cup qualifier in Wales tomorrow by kicking off early. Among the 1pm starts is the top-of-the-table Bridge Avenue clash between early leaders AFC Hornchurch and
A baby-faced schoolboy is believed to have become the youngest criminal in the county to be given an anti-social behaviour order. A judge branded serial offender Steven Patmore a "little devil". The youngster could barely see over the dock when he appeared
BRAVE Jason Ryan is hoping it is third time lucky after surviving his second heart transplant. Mr Ryan is now on his third heart after a viral condition at 15 and blocked arteries this year meant his only chance of survival was a new heart - and fast.
POLICE have been carrying out a series of sting operations on newsagents and off licenses across the borough in a bid to crack down on underage smokers and drinkers. In connection with trading standards, police have been setting up shops to see if they
Karl Duguid hopes his team-mates can put on a display tomorrow that will bring the crowds flocking to Layer Road. Colchester United will be under the glare of the TV cameras tomorrow afternoon when they take on Bristol City at Ashton Gate in the Coca-Cola
PLANS to allow revellers to carry on clubbing until 6am have been submitted to Basildon Council. The owners of Lava and Ignite on Festival Leisure Park, Basildon, want to extend opening hours until the small hours for special events and occasions. Although
