Undefeated in three games and back-to-back wins, there was no doubting Colchester United boss Phil Parkinson's delight at the final whistle against Port Vale. Chris Iwelumo's 34th-minute goal was all that the U's needed as they stood firm to seal a 1-
Leigh artist Paul Karslake has unveiled a smart new art centre at a south Essex school. It is designed to nurture pupils' talent and promote art in the community. The new complex at Cornelius Vermuyden School, Canvey, has been named the Karslake Centre
AFTER salvaging a point from each of their last two outings Grays are hoping to return to winning ways when they host Cambridge United at the New Rec on Tuesday. The U's have been in dire form since their fall from the Football League last year and have
A TOUCH of rock and roll came to Shoebury East Beach on Sunday when Virgo Intacta shot their latest music video there. The Southend group played their instruments on the beach to friends and fans who turned up to be in the film for new double A-side single
Essex beat Worcestershire by four wickets with five balls to spare at Chelmsford to record their 12th win of the season in the totesport League. A superb innings by Grant Flower proved to be the match-winner as he celebrated the award of his county cap
A pub's bid to extend its hours has been lost after it failed to advertise its intentions. The Rose and Crown pub on The Quay, Wivenhoe, had applied to sell alcohol until midnight from Sunday to Wednesday and until 1am from Thursday to Saturday. The pub
After years, the Ashes have finally come home - to Tollesbury that is. Barmy Army - Steve Lovell of Tollesbury, top, in the Ashes costume which hit the international media for six. Picture: ADRIAN RUSHTON (45115-1) While the England cricket team was busy
Liam Chilvers will be happy with more 1-0 wins if it sets Colchester United on their way up the table. The U's centre-back put in a man-of-the-match performance as Colchester defended Chris Iwelumo's goal at Port Vale to walk away with three points in
Armed robbers who tied up Colchester store staff have struck twice before, a concerned employee has claimed. Staples, in Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, was raided by two men wielding a knife and a gun last week. Police are still hunting the pair who tied
WITH pillow fights and greasy poles Old Leigh Regatta is unrivalled in providing fun family entertainment and this year was no exception. Crowds flocked to the Regatta on Leigh seafront over the weekend to soak up the atmosphere and possibly the last
EAST Thurrock United co-manager Lee Patterson is hoping his tough-talking will continue to pay dividends when Slough Town visit Rookery Hill in the Ryman Premier League on Tuesday. After consecutive defeats against Harrow Borough in the league and FA
MARLON Harewood's attacking display might have caught the eye as West Ham beat Fulham 2-1 on Saturday. But it was goalkeeper Roy Carroll who had manager Alan Pardew excited about his contribution. Carroll made three crucial saves while the scores were
Jim Magilton admitted being stunned by Sito Castro's controversial sending-off in Ipswich Town's derby defeat against Norwich. The Blues lost yesterday's Championship duel at Portman Road 1-0 but the clash hinged on Sito's red card - after just 18 minutes
A grieving mother has urged drivers to slow down after her 17-year-old son died in a car crash. Carl Anderson, of Pickers Way, Holland-on-Sea, died on Wednesday night when the Ford Escort car in which he was a passenger hit a parked lorry at the Gorse
It proved to be another successful year for a charity rowing event which took place near Heybridge Basin. Off we row - competitors at the start of Row4aReason near Heybridge Basin. Picture: ADRIAN RUSHTON (45120-1) About £7,000 was raised for three worthy
A glider pilot died in an accident at an Essex airfield. The man was taking off from Ridgewell Airfield on the Essex/Suffolk border yesterday afternoon when it is believed the winch cable that was launching his aircraft snapped. This sent the glider plummeting
Chronic alcoholic David Ashkettle turned on the gas and lit papers and a sofa in his Colchester house before collecting his cats and leaving. He was discovered later sitting on a bench drinking a can of beer, Chelmsford Crown Court heard. Ashkettle, 52
BASILDON United, back in the competition after a lengthy break, and much-improved Hullbridge Sports were the local heroes of the FA Vase first qualfying round. The new towners went to Spartan South Midlands League Division One Bedford United and Valerio
A PLUSH new £830,000 register office is set to be built in south Essex under ambitious plans put forward by Essex County Council. If it wins the backing of councillors, residents will be able to record births and marriages in Basildon for the first time
AFTER a brilliant start to the season, suddenly nothing's going right for Justin Edinburgh's Billericay. Following their shock midweek FA Cup home replay defeat they suffered their second successive Ryman Premier setback at New Lodge when going down 2
Hundreds of people turned out to celebrate the 200th anniversary of a family motoring business. All aboard - Edward, Wendy and Octavia Bentall with John Parker, project leader for the Museum of Power in Langford. Picture: ADRian RUSHTON (45121-1) Engines
It never rains but it pours for Ipswich Town. Making inroads - Darren Currie sets up an Ipswich attack. (44932-7) Losing key personnel in the summer was bad enough, not to mention the fact this campaign has been blighted by a crop of high-profile injuries
THE carnival atmosphere was in full swing in Wickford on Saturday, as hundreds lined the streets to watch the annual parade. Young and old clapped the floats as they made their way from Runwell Park, along Swan Lane and the High Street, before turning
A woman was fighting for her life after plunging 30ft from the top of an escalator at Stansted Airport. Police were called to the scene after receiving reports that a woman was becoming agitated in the lounge area. By the time they arrived, the woman
Everyone has to love it when a plan comes together, even if the way it is formulated at times leaves you half asleep. There is no need to beat around the bush, Colchester United were not the greatest at Port Vale. It was not a magical game, but who really
A raging fire has ripped through the heart of a derelict hospital. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN (45023-2) The blaze at the old Severalls Hospital could be seen from miles around as firefighters battled to bring it under control yesterday morning. They managed
THE braces she wore as a child inspired Nina White to become the best dental nurse in the world. Nina White, 26, of Bull Lane, Rayleigh, represented England at a ceremony in Paris and the result was a complete shock to the former FitzWimarc pupil. She
Two brothers have appeared in court accused of murder. Mark and Andrew Fredericks were brought into the dock at Colchester Magistrates' Court in handcuffs on Friday. Andrew Fredericks mouthed "I love you" to a woman in the public gallery before both men
NEW adventure trails and an interactive visitor centre are set to be unveiled following an £80,000 makeover at a Billericay nature reserve. The attractions will be opened in time for the autumn season at Norsey Woods nature reserve, thanks to funding
A silo of grain went up in flames at a historic food manufacturing plant. Silo fire - firefighters from Manningtree, Colchester, Wivenhoe and Chelmsford attended the blaze at the Edme grain silo in Mistley. Picture: NICK OBANK (45097-2) Firefighters were
HI-TECH equipment will be used to stop smells coming from Southend's sewage treatment centre if plans for an extension are approved, a water company has said. Anglian Water moved to allay fears over the proposed expansion of the works in Stock Road, Southend
A LOCAL looker could be crowned Britain's sexiest sixth former by readers of a popular teen magazine. Ross Clark, 16, of Abbotts Drive, Stanford-le-Hope, reached the final of the CosmoGIRL contest after a friend secretly submitted his photo. The newly-qualified
SHAUN Goater fired Southend United to a 3-1 victory over Tranmere Rovers at Roots Hall on Saturday - and then played down his part in securing a fourth successive win for the Shrimpers. The former Manchester City man hit home a double strike to send Steve
A farm supplier is today counting the cost after his £50,000 haystack went up in flames. Black mountain - a firefighter tackles the blaze on land at Horsley Cross. Picture: ADRIAN RUSHTON (45124-1) The blaze, involving 1,500 tonnes of straw, started at
CANVEY skipper Jeff Minton admitted that missing out on scoring the winning goal mattered little to him after the Islanders pulled of a morale-boosting 1-0 home win over Scarborough to end a run of three straight Conference defeats. Minton's 17th-minute
CELEBRITY mates Chris Evans and Robbie Williams have made £2million bid to buy a south Essex golf and country cub. The golf-mad pair - who both play off a 14 handicap - have made the offer for Ballards Gore Golf and Country Club, in Stambridge, near Rochford
Firefighters were called to two arson attacks over the weekend. In the first, a caravan was set on fire at about 12.30am on Saturday in Bluemills Road, Woodham Walter, near Maldon. Crews arrived to find the caravan "well alight". The fire was put out
THE newly-formed Palace Theatre Guild has repeated its call for local businesses to sponsor a fundraising Christmas show. Chairman Michael Heath is leading a campaign to raise money for the Westcliff theatre to be used for community performances, educational
A noisy neighbour who ignored ten warnings has had her TV and DVD player seized by environmental health chiefs because she refused to turn them down. Braintree Council's environmental protection officers served, for the first time, a magistrate's warrant
