PLANS for refurbishment work to a landmark Rayleigh building in the town centre have been submitted to Rochford District Council. Solicitors Todmans SRE, which owns Barringtons, opposite the parish church in Hockley Road, want to repair the 18th-century
A RAYLEIGH man is embarking on a six-month mission to South Africa to help poor and sick people. Luke Chadwick is part of a 16-strong team of volunteers who will be working with a community on behalf of Scripture Union, an international mission movement
A pensioner has been jailed after he was caught trying to smuggle cigarettes through Harwich. Customs officers discovered 65,000 cigaretes in a camper van they stopped at the port last October 17. The duty evaded by the smuggling amounted to £36,900,
Colchester United's hottest talents have no desire to leave Layer Road. Going up - Neil Danns (right) believes he can move his game on with Colchester United. (47174-4) The director's box will no doubt once again contain a number of scouts from Premiership
A LESBIAN mother is launching a gay parents' support group in an effort to stop her child and others feeling excluded because of society's attitudes towards their mums or dads. Laura, 20, from Southend, said she wanted to make sure her two-year-old daughter
Thurrock 0, Braintree Town 2 THURROCK'S hopes of winning the Essex Senior Cup for a third season in a row ended on Monday night when they were soundly beaten by Ryman Premier high-fliers, Braintree Town. Town, who top their league by three points and
Lord Newton of Braintree is to head the investigation into the Buncefield oil terminal explosions. Braintree's former MP is the independent chairman of the six-member Health and Safety Commission (HSC) board supervising the examination of the depot blasts
Bank cashpoint fraudsters are swiping thousands from the accounts of their Colchester victims. Victim - Marie Turner at the cashpoint in Head Street. Picture: ROB SAMBROOK (47307-1) Town centre shoppers have fallen foul of the tricksters who use hi-tech
Southend Manor 5, Tilbury 2 TILBURY'S recently improved form disappeared as they crashed to a Thames-side Trophy defeat at Southend Manor on Tuesday night. Injuries meant Dockers were missing top scorer Paul Cobb, Bobby Port and Joe Andrews, while Keith
MORE than three quarters of the money Rochford District Council gives as grants to local groups is swallowed up by one organisation, it has been revealed. Figures to be given to the council's finance scrutiny committee show the Citizens Advice Bureau,
IT is time to step up to the mic and prove your rock credentials as we launch Eastwood Youth Productions' Battle of the Bands competition for 2006. Backed by the Echo, the competition is looking for young bands to battle it out with one being crowned
MOST of us whinge that we're overworked - but Southend women might actually have a rightful claim to the complaint. Government statistics show women from the seaside town are the hardest working in the east of England, putting in almost an hour per week
Tony Thorpe cannot wait to pull on a Colchester United shirt for the first time. And the much-travelled 31-year-old goal-machine - 162 in 425 League and cup appearances for his previous nine clubs - is hoping that first time could be against one of his
"Turn around where possible." You want me to go where? - Chris Richards, left, programmes his satellite navigation system before setting off on his short trip around Colchester. Picture: ADRIAN RUSHTON (47282-2) Having directed us down bus lanes and the
The alternative centres that are expected to house Braintree Clinic's services when it closes can be revealed by the Gazette. The clinic in Coggeshall Road could shut in April and health chiefs have moved to reassure patients that all services will be
SOUTHEND may have stormed up to third in National Division Three South with a 42-41 win against Reading on Saturday, but coach Kevin Harman is still urging his side to improve. The Seasiders raced into a 21-3 lead during an outstanding opening 20 minutes
Kirby Cross's oldest villager has been celebrating her 105th birthday. Happy birthday - 105-year-old Ethel Wood celebrates her birthday with Iris Johnson, mayor of Frinton and Walton. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN (47219-3) Ethel Wood still lives in her own home
Big brother may soon be watching messy dog owners who flout the law. Weeley Parish Council has noticed a number of canine walkers are ignoring rules and not clearing up after their pet - despite signs warning them. As a result, the council is now looking
The brakes have been slammed on plans to build a multi-million pound community hospital for the Maldon district. A land ownership wrangle has meant Maldon and South Chelmsford Primary Care Trust (PCT) has been forced to pull the plug on buying land off
BASILDON snooker professional Stuart Bingham came close to pulling off one of the sport's greatest ever Houdini acts at Wembley last night before the sands of time ran out on him against Dubai based Peter Ebdon in the Saga Insurance Masters. Level at
SOUTHEND AC's Adam Hickey had led Great Britain to more cross country medal glory - this time in Portugal. Running in the Lisbon Junior International Championship on Sunday, Southend High for Boys student Hickey led the British team home by taking place
Fabian Wilnis plans to do everything possible to extend his career with Ipswich Town. And the long-serving Dutchman admits he has been mulling over his future since team-mate Kevin Horlock was told he could leave Portman Road. Horlock found out last week
A housebound pensioner fears he could lose his independence altogether after social services decided to halve the amount of home care he receives. Concerns - James Sharpe, with the letter from the care Trust which assessed him. Picture: NICK OBANK (47260
ALWAYS wanted to do a skydive but never had the motivation or the courage to do it? Little Havens children's hospice are appealing for 25 brave jumpers to carry out a tandem skydive from 10,000ft. Taking place in Cambridge on March 25, it gives people
Multi-millionaire businessman Robin Tomkins has sold off the thriving shopping complex he created. Robin Tomkins - described the Triangle shopping centre as one of his biggest gambles. (8492-33) In a deal worth millions of pounds, Frinton's Triangle shopping
RESIDENTS who refuse to recycle could be fined under tough new measures being considered by council bosses. Fixed penalty fines for chucking out recyclables with household rubbish are among a raft of proposals being put forward, after it emerged Basildon
MORE than 350 people were arrested across Southend in a six-week blitz on booze-related disorder. The Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign resulted in 358 arrests by Southend police. Thirty-four were given on-the-spot fines while 122 will be hauled before
Phil Parkinson will be stressing to his players tonight that they have no time to rest on their laurels. The ambitious U's boss told the Gazette: "We have two home matches in the next five days - against Bristol City tonight and Port Vale on Saturday
