An urgent call is being made for the official decision on Harwich's Bathside Bay development to be made. It comes after the Government's go-ahead for a new container terminal at Felixstowe was announced last week. The new facility will be able to handle
The government's decision to approve major expansion plans for the port of Felixstowe has been welcomed by the Haven Gateway Partnership. "This is excellent news for the whole region, especially as it follows the government's announcement in December
PEOPLE in Billericay and Wickford are being asked to let the Primary Care Trust know how they feel about the proposed shake-up of the NHS structure. Drop-in sessions take place on February 13, from 2pm at Mayflower House, Blunts Wall Road, Tye Common
A STALWART of Essex politics and community work has been honoured for his dedication by being awarded with the freedom of the borough. Ron Williams, 82, of Poors Lane, Hadleigh, was joined at an official ceremony by friends, work colleagues, fellow politicians
A new supported housing scheme for teenagers leaving care has been launched in Witham. Essex County Council and Mosaic Homes have opened the development of eight self-contained one-bedroom flats for people aged 16 and over leaving residential care homes
Move over Southend United - Colchester United are back on top of Coca-Cola League One, and are determined to stay put. Goal hero - Chris Iwelumo celebrates scoring the U's winner. Picture: ROB SAMBROOK (47694-3) The Layer Road side leapfrogged their Essex
Essex rail operator 'one' has teamed up with Chelmsford's Anglia Ruskin university to fast track three business students into work 'One' has agreed to sponsor up to three students on business and management courses each year. Students will have their
PARENTS fear their children's lives could be in danger as a result of plans to cut a dozen crossing patrols near Southend schools. Up to 12 school lollipop men and women could be made redundant and another 11 vacancies left unfilled to save Southend Council
A new directory containing key information on over 6,000 Essex businesses has been published by the Essex Development & Regeneration Agency (ExDRA). In addition to detailed business information, the directory provides information about the many business
The last two telephone exchanges in Essex without broadband are set to be switched to the high speed internet service this summer. A deal between Essex county council and BT means around 370 households and businesses at Warren Farm in Colchester and Willingale
A BASILDON school could help plug the teacher shortage crisis if plans for a £300,000 extension to be used as a training centre are approved. Chalvedon School, Pitsea, plans a a three-storey extension to house student teachers and a hi-tech medical centre
The heartbroken family of a 21-year-old woman who died in a car crash have paid tribute to her. Stacey Doyle, who lived in Browning Road, Maldon, and worked in Witham, had been driving towards Maldon on the Mundon Road on Sunday when her Vauxhall Corsa
TESTS have begun to discover if air around Pitsea flyover is breaching Government safety levels. Basildon Council ordered urgent tests near the A13 amid fears over mounting pollution levels, after analysis based on old data indicated an area within a
Phil Parkinson was pleased with the battling performance shown by his side in their 1-0 win against Scunthorpe United. Under pressure - Greg Halford stays close to Scunthorpe's Andy Keogh. (47694-5) The Iron gave the U's a stern test at Layer Road last
A FOOTBALL-MAD youngster was celebrating his birthday today with his heroes Frank Lampard and Jose Mourinho, before lining up alongside the Chelsea players as a team mascot. Tyler Needs, from Westcliff, will get to walk out on to the Stamford Bridge pitch
Cold-hearted burglars stole a safe from a children's nursery in Clacton. Crime victims - Leighton Kelly, Gia Greenslade-Wiggins and Benjamin Wilkes are upset after a break-in at Nanna's Day Nurseries in Clacton. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN (47550-2) It contained
A spectacular find by a Brightlingsea woman is being examined by British Museum experts. Sword fragment? - the gold relic found by archaeology enthusiast Corinne Mills. Corinne Mills, of Sidney Street, stumbled across an early medieval runic gold fragment
School dinners are about to get hands on for youngsters at a Colchester School. Recipe for learning - Dylan Cowling, 10, Natalie Georgiou, 10, and Emily Dustan, 11, learn about food with Home Farm School cook Mary Radford. Picture: ROB SAMBROOK (47698
A NEW village hall opened its doors to the public after being blessed by the Bishop of Bradwell. The Nevendon Community Hall, which was built with £150,000 of national lottery money, will provide a much needed resource for villagers. Published Wednesday
A TRAILBLAZING ward is being officially opened for mental health patients at Runwell Hospital on Friday. The Harman Ward includes a two-bedroom flat - the first of its kind in Essex - to help prepare patients for life in the community. The nine-bed ward
Tickets for this year's V Festival will go on sale at the beginning of March. Now in its 11th year, the festival will return to Hylands Park, Chelmsford, over the weekend of August 19 and 20. Already, rumours are abounding about what the line-up will
A luxury house builder is celebrating after being presented with a third award for a development in Harlow. The CALA Homes 'Cala Domus' development at Newhall in Harlow took home an award for best external design from the 'Your New Home' organisation.
The Essex Development and Regeneration Agency is looking for small and medium sized businesses to take part in this year's Shell Step programme. Shell Step gives local businesses the chance to employ the pick of counties business undergraduates over an
Braintree TOWN have been charged by the Football Association following the abandonment of their Essex Senior Cup semi-final. Their opponents Chelmsford City have also been charged for failing to ensure that its players, officials, employees and/or representatives
A rapist has been jailed for assaulting a woman while on bail for the sex attack. A court heard how Keith Rojas attacked the woman at his home and left her with a perforated eardrum after the assault last July. At the time, former taxi driver Rojas was
UTILITY man Neil Midgley will not be rejoining Conference side Canvey Island. The former Ipswich Town and Barnet man, who filled wing back, midfield and striker roles for Gulls during a two year spell, was released last summer. He joined Kettering Town
ANGLERS found conditions challenging at Sunday's Gloucester Park Open, with many competitors failing to weigh in. Most of the other participants found fish scarce in the early part of the match at the Basildon lake, taking most fish in the last couple
A FURRY protester has joined Camp Bling, but environmentalists want to find his owner. The ferret followed protesters back to the makeshift camp off Priory Crescent, set up to protest against Priory Crescent being widened. Door knocking and posters have
HOCKLEY Community Centre is planning a single-storey extension to its existing premises in Westminster Drive. If agreed by Rochford District Council's planning committee, it will provide toilet, changing and showering facilities for the Rochford and District
A disabled seaside resident has vowed to fight any moves to restrict motorised scooters on the seafront. Disgusted - Lillian Chisnall, 89, will be fighting any changes to seafront usage. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN (47549-1) Lillian Chisnall said she has been
Councillors have slammed proposals by business leaders to massively increase the number of homes built in Braintree. The East of England Business Group (EEBG), an umbrella group for a range of industry and business organisations in the region, claims
A mother today praised the quick reactions of a window cleaner and a family in helping to save her son's life. Eternally grateful - Jim and Jana Ramsay. Picture: NIGK OBANK (47644-2) Just over a week ago, Tom Ramsay's petrol-soaked clothes caught alight
FOOTBALL fans were able to live out their FA fantasy when they got their hands on the premiership trophy. The coveted prize was brought to the Southend High Street branch of Barclays Bank, allowing supporters of all ages and persuasions to get a close-up
Oyster suppliers are having their products tested following concerns of a virus. A number of people across the country are believed to have fallen ill with the winter vomiting virus after eating the prized mollusc. Colchester Council was asked by the
A victim of con artists selling goods from the "back of a lorry" today warned others not to fall for the same scam. A 44-year-old man, of Colchester, thought he was getting a bargain when he shelled out £100 for a plasma-screen television. The father-of-three
SOUTHEND hope to cultivate the cream of the borough's young crop of rugby talent for their first team squad, thanks to a major cash injection. The Royal Bank of Scotland's credit card operations department have agreed to donate a four figure sum to the
For many Colchester United fans there is probably a desperate search to find any nails left on their fingers today. Ecstatic - U's fans congratulate Chris Iwelumo after he scored a late first-half goal for the lead at Layer Road. Picture: ROB SAMBROOK
THE future is looking bright for Castle Point's two Essex League cricket clubs after they picked up a hat-trick of sports council awards. Hadleigh & Thundersley picked up two Castle Point Sports Council trophies, the senior sports personality title
