BOGUS callers and rogue traders in Basildon have been targeted by Essex Police's state-of-the-art ANPR machine as part of a countywide campaign. The automatic number plate recognition machine was employed on the roads of Basildon, Wickford and Billericay
Heart and courage - that, according to defender Jason De Vos, is what Ipswich Town need to show as they set about the task of two successive away games - tomorrow's trip to Leeds and Tuesday's trek to Burnley. Giving his all - Ipswich defender Jason De
Members of the public will be asked to man police desks in a bid to extend opening hours at vital rural stations across mid-Essex. Neighbourhood Watch members will be invited to volunteer at stations throughout the Chelmsford division. The main station
Residents and their MP have had an apology from Braintree Council for knocking over their relatives' gravestones. Upset - Buster Nolan near graves at the cemetery in London Road, Braintree. Picture: NICK OBANK (44532-2) At a meeting organised by Buster
A teenager was knocked unconscious when three men attacked him with a piece of wood in an unprovoked attack. The assault took place at the junction of Tewkesbury Road and Berkeley Road in Clacton. The 19-year-old man was sitting on a bench with his girlfriend
A REPORT obtained by the Echo casts doubt on Castle Point Council's estimate of £2.9m needed to get community halls in shape. The estimate was given by the council as the main reason for controversially selling off or leasing the buildings. Yet the official
SOUTHEND Council is facing a budget black hole of between £8million and £11million next year. Extensive savings in the current year, including the planned closure of the Palace Theatre, cuts to community centres, and school transport cutbacks, amounted
A ban on cold-calling could be introduced in parts of Clacton, it has been revealed. Essex County Council Trading Standards is considering making it illegal to call uninvited or without an appointment in designated streets in the town. It wants to slap
Brought up as a Hammer and with a spell at Spurs on his CV, there are few games which mean more to Bobby Zamora than facing Arsenal at Upton Park. And the frontman is hopeful of keeping his place in the West Ham starting line-up for Saturday's clash with
AN "urban beach" with areas for children's activities and beach volleyball could be created on South-end's seafront. The idea, proposed for Marine Parade, is included in the eagerly-awaited report from Southend Renaissance on the regeneration of the seafront
Essex play their final match of the season on Sunday when they meet Northamptonshire at Wantage Road - hoping to maintain their distinguished record in the totesport League. Ronnie Irani's side have suffered just one defeat in 15 matches and illustrated
A Royal Mail manager was in prison today for stealing items from a sorting office. David Evans was put under surveillence after mail bosses got an anonymous tip-off about what he was doing. A court heard how he had been seen taking postal packets into
WITH his warm smile, Alan Sobratty will be a welcome sight for people with incurable illnesses as he knocks on their door. Alan is the first male nurse in Essex to join a new team set up to care for people with long-term conditions in their homes. He
NURSE Clare Whittington was hailed a hero after she used her medical knowledge to help save a pensioner on her day off. When Clare came upon a crash scene in Oakengrange Drive, Southend, she stopped her car and raced across to find the man unconscious
Phil Parkinson is determined to keep the Colchester United machine rolling. The Layer Road supremo has seen his team go three games unbeaten, which includes back-to-back wins against Doncaster Rovers and Port Vale. He now wants them to rise to another
Schoolchildren celebrated the official opening of a new school extension - paid for by a generous former pupil. Hands up - children enjoy the traditional street party. (45196-11) The youngsters from Layer de la Haye Primary School marked the occasion
STRAIGHT-talking nutritionist Gillian McKeith gave a Leigh cafe her seal of approval while filming the TV show You Are What You Eat. The television presenter is famed for transforming the diets and lifestyles of unhealthy people and championing healthy
ECSTATIC screams saw Melissa Stone take her first steps on a path to glitz and glamour as she was crowned the most beautiful babe in Essex. Melissa, 19, of Mount Road, Benfleet, strutted her way into the limelight above 40 other finalists at the 2005
Hard work and community spirit paid off for the winners of the Anglia in Bloom competition. We're the best - Val Gilders and helpers celebrate their hard-won awards. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN (45136-2) Brightlingsea scooped the prestigious top prize in the
Residents are being asked to contact a special hotline if they spot large holes appearing in the road where they live. Essex County Council has been monitoring Layer Road, Colchester, but is asking the public to report evidence of subsidence so it can
DEVELOPERS have submitted plans to build 250 new riverside homes at an industrial park in Stanford-le-Hope. Hills Residential and Mersea Homes have submitted a planning application to Thurrock Council for a residential-led scheme at Stanhope Industrial
A floral demonstration was part of an ongoing exhibition in Braintree. And now for something completely different - Yolande Turgoose works on one of her displays. Picture: SEANA HUGHES (45184-a) Spikey, Seedy, Nutty and a bit Strange at Braintree library
The thrill of the silver screen could be coming to a car park near you. Clacton's Chamber of Trade wants to have a drive-in cinema in the town next summer. Pierre Oxley, chairman of the Clacton Chamber of Trade, said the idea was discussed at a Chamber
An introduction into competitive kickboxing proved remarkably fruitful for three members of Colchester's SD School of Martial Arts. High kicks - hard at work in the ring Shaun Mansell and Paul Clark take part in a sparring session. Picture: ROB SAMBROOK
ANGRY residents stormed out of packed talks over controversial plans to rename roads on Five Links housing estate, branding it a "waste of time". More than half the people at the Lee Chapel North community panel upped and left, saying it looked as though
Great Wakering Rovers boss Iain O'Connell admitted today he was disappointed with ex-skipper Danny Scopes' decision to go on the verbal offensive. The long-serving midfielder claimed he was "forced out" of the village club after being dropped for a recent
SOUTHEND has come up smelling of roses again after its public greens continued their winning streak with yet another award. The town is a habitual winner at the Chelsea Flower Show and boasts no fewer than five green flags for its public parks, so expectations
A college used by hundreds of adults in the Maldon area may have to make dramatic cuts in the number of courses it offers following changes in Government funding policies. The East Essex Adult Community College, which has a base in Maldon, has been hit
Let miaow-t! Daisy the cat got into a hole lot of bother after being bricked in under a building site floor. Not moving - builder Ben Cook tries to tempt Daisy out of the hole at Cleveland Lodge. Picture: ROB SAMBROOK (45180-1) The black-and-white moggie
Fabian Wilnis today backed himself to make a shock return for Ipswich Town. The defender is in contention for tomorrow's Championship trip to Leeds United - despite being ruled out for three weeks last Tuesday. That was the original diagnosis when he
A competitive youngster will be seen on television alongside one of the country's top comedians. Rising star - Ben Brice shows off the souvenirs from his appearance on Harry Hill's children's television show. Picture: STEVE ARGENT (45191-1) Stanway School
A pair of thieves were today slammed as "despicable" after swiping a purse from the lap of a woman in a wheelchair. The two teenage girls struck in an area of Colchester yesterday lunchtime, which is becoming notorious for pickpockets. The town's community
Leave your car at home - that was the call going out to people in Colchester as the town took part in a special day to give shoppers and workers the opportunity to try out new ways of travelling. On their bike - Goodys solicitors staff with Colchester
HUNDREDS of revellers packed a bar on Basildon's Festival Leisure Park for the penultimate heat of an X Factor-style Rock Academy contest. Five performers took to the stage at Chicago Rock Cafe to please an expert panel of judges, as well as the crowd
People living in rural areas could get to play a greater role in the way their areas are policed, it has been revealed. Essex Police are considering an idea already in force in other areas in the country where volunteers help do day-to-day menial jobs
CASTLE Point mayor Godfrey Isaacs got a chance to see students in action in the new science wing of a Canvey school. Castle View School students played host to Mr Isaacs, who watched youngsters taking and recording temperature changes of liquid when poured
Brought up as a Hammer and with a spell at Spurs on his CV, there are few games which mean more to Bobby Zamora than facing Arsenal at Upton Park. And the frontman is hopeful of keeping his place in the West Ham starting line-up for Saturday's clash with
An unexploded grenade was found during a shed clear out in Colchester. Shocked residents were evacuated from their Lexden homes as they waited for the bomb disposal team to arrive. Police cordoned off the scene at about 3pm on Wednesday following the
MORE than 100 pieces of work created by people with mental health problems, health staff, artists and school pupils, were unveiled to an excited audience. The South Essex Partnership NHS Trust held the free art exhibition at the Towngate Theatre, in St
A former wartime flying veteran has told Prince Charles to leave his medals at home. Medals insult - veteran pilot Alfred Norris, 79, who flew a Swordfish bi-plane as part of his Second World War service. Picture: NICK OBANK (45108-2) Alfred Norris, 79
Controversial plans for an ambitious £20 million countryside visitor attraction are back in the frame. Visitor attraction - Stephen Bunting, of Bunting and Sons, who want to transform a redundant tomato glasshouse nursery into a Heritage and Conservation
Canvey will put results before entertaining football as they bid to continue their climb up the Nationwide Conference table. That's been made clear by Island coach Glenn Pennyfather as Gulls attempt to build on gaining four points from their last two
Southend hit the National Division Three South road tomorrow, with Kevin Harman confident his team can pull off victory at early season strugglers Reading. The Berkshire side have lost both their opening games - away at Rosslyn Park and Cambridge - and
COUNTY council bosses will today consider plans for a waste treatment plant near Rayleigh - days after deciding to forge ahead with plans to open a regional waste plant less than ten miles away. Waste engineering company Flowline wants to use the 0.75
Harwich joined the likes of Barcelona and Monte Carlo as a stop for a giant cruise liner. Westerdam brought more than 1,800 passengers, who were given tours of the town. Picture: STEVE BRADING 45223-e Westerdam, the largest cruise ship ever seen in the
