Archive
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Ray of the Kinks ready for another hit show
There is a treat in store at Chelmsford for fans of the Kinks frontman Ray Davies. The godfather of Britpop has penned some new songs to be performed at the Civic Theatre by the Britten Sinfonia and the Norfolk and Norwich Festival Chorus. Sunday's 7.30pm
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Soccer: Alvin Martin backed by bosses
Southend United chiefs today gave their reaction to the shock news that boss Alvin Martin may resign if his side are not up with the promotion chasers by Christmas. Martin dropped his bombshell, reported on last night's This Is Essex, in the wake of Tuesday's
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Soccer: Maher's big return against Tigers
Kevin Maher returns to Southend United's battered side at basement boys Hull City tomorrow for a match from which boss Alvin Martin readily admits his men have to collect three points. The midfielder, who celebrated his 22nd birthday earlier this month
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Jobs to go as furniture stores close
Staff of the Southend-based Essex Furniture chain - which has stores across the South-East - were today waiting to hear whether they will keep their jobs in a mass round of shop closures. Administrators said 19 stores have been earmarked for closure.
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TV's Roger Cook likes the Essex-built Dare DZ
Detroit, Tokyo, Coventry... and now West Mersea! The small island off the Essex coast joined the world's giant car-making cities at the 1998 British Motor Show in Birmingham. The Walklett family were displaying their innovative West Mersea-built Dare
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Tractor plant put on four-day week
Workers at one of the biggest factories in south Essex have been put on a four-day production week. The New Holland tractor plant in Cranes Farm Road, Basildon, reported a 7.9 per cent sales rise for the half year, but the Fiat-owned company says it is
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Parents reassured over drugs fears
It is not necessarily the end of the world if you find cannabis in your teenager's room, an Essex police inspector and leading authority on illegal drugs has reassured parents. Warning that drug abuse will affect everyone at some time in their lives,
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Pupils follow paw prints - to leave the car at home
A new scheme designed to make the car school run a thing of the past is being given the green light by South Green parish councillors. The laying of a trail of paw prints guiding pupils along the safest school routes, and the grouping together of children
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Judge gives men final jail warning
Two men involved in a fracas outside a Great Leighs pub have been told by a judge they missed prison "by a very short head." Simon Collins and Spencer Carrington, both 27, were involved in trouble at the St Anne's Castle pub on April 21, a court heard
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Wildlife centre is just so green
Pioneering green technology will make a proposed £400,000 conservation centre outside Wickford, Essex, a beacon of hope for the future of the environment, a local wildlife charity has claimed. As well as offering visitors the chance to watch wildlife
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Ready, steady, book! for Braintree chef Brian
Celebrity chef Brian Turner left the Ready, Steady, Cook studios behind to launch a recipe book aimed at raising thousands of pounds for Action Research. It has taken a year to collect the recipes for the 188-page publication which features 300 recipes
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Man arrested after threats to police
A man threatened police with an 11ins knife after a domestic dispute spilled on to the street. Officers alerted to the incident in Leigham Court Drive, Leigh, arrived to what they describe as a "war zone". All the windows to one of the houses were smashed
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Basildon on marks for its first marathon
Thousands of athletes will hit the streets of Basildon next year when the town hosts a marathon to beat all marathons. More than 5,000 runners, led by a field of international athletic stars, will converge on the town in September in what is being billed
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Cuckoo Farm is target site for new U's ground
Cuckoo Farm is the chosen site for the new Colchester United stadium. Councillors will meet in private on Monday to discuss the plan but the Gazette can reveal today they are being asked to approve the Cuckoo Farm site, across the A12 north of Severalls
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Traders face market blow
A festive return of Colchester market to High Street now looks unlikely to get the go-ahead. Borough council officers have warned in a report: "To satisfy the procedures, it is virtually impossible to get the market into the High Street before even Christmas
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Brave boy will be guest at big Colchester launch
A brave eight-year-old who battled back against a rare cancer is to be a special guest at a Colchester store. Christopher Napier, who was diagnosed with neuro blastoma at six and who earlier this year won a Child of Achievement award, will be at C&
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Harwich fire victim's private burial
Three-year-old Liam Whigham, who died in a fire at his Dovercourt home, will be buried on Monday. His aunt, Michelle Whigham, said today the private service would be held at Dovercourt's All Saints' Church. "We will be laying Liam to rest with just family
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Ray of the Kinks ready for another hit show
There is a treat in store at Chelmsford for fans of the Kinks frontman Ray Davies. The godfather of Britpop has penned some new songs to be performed at the Civic Theatre by the Britten Sinfonia and the Norfolk and Norwich Festival Chorus. Sunday's 7.30pm
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Thieves grab Christmas gifts from sick shopper
Police are hoping an elderly man may be able to help them catch two thieves who snatched shopping - including a Sony Play Station - from a sick shopper. The man helped a 24-year-old woman who took ill and collapsed in Waarden Road, Canvey Island, at about
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Banker Joe's fun farewell
A popular banker closed his account with a novel celebration - as 120 staff and customers descended on Peter Pan's Adventure Playground. Joe Harrington, who has been business centre manager of Barclays Bank in Southend for ten years, officially retires
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Golf: October medal is McGowan's windfall
John McGowan's long wait to win a competition at Ballards Gore ended when the 11-handicapper collected the senior section October medal. He won on 67 with Mick Heiser, who plays off seven, runner-up on 70 thanks to an eagle on the par five 17th. Third
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Hefty rise in Essex sex crimes
Sex offences in Essex rose by a startling 23 per cent last year, bucking the overall trend of falling crime levels across the county. The worrying news was revealed in figures published by the Home Office. However Essex Police were quick to point out
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Glory as soccer fan Lauren lands game's top trophy
Football fan Lauren Roche, eight, fulfilled a dream when she held the premiership trophy aloft. Football-mad youngsters and adults flocked to have their photo taken with the most prized trophy in English football. Byfords Food Hall, in Eastwood Old Road
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Children help the harvest in Thundersley
Harvest time is upon us and one church has written a shopping list. Thundersley Congregational Church will hold a Harvest Celebration at its church in Kenneth Road this Sunday. Children from the Sunday school will take part in the service and bring gifts
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80 jobs go as Braintree lighting firm closes
The global economic crisis was today blamed for the loss of 80 jobs in Braintree. Whitecroft Lighting on the Springwood Industrial Estate will stop trading by December and 80 staff are being made redundant. Work being carried out at the site, which makes
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Takeover secures Maldon jobs
Forty jobs at a Maldon-based product-testing centre have been safeguarded with the news of a £4.5 million takeover deal. Globecrown International, which moved from Chelmsford to bigger premises in Maldon High Street in 1996, has been taken over by American
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Police appeal for help over Witham break-ins
Police today appealed for witnesses following a burglary and an attempted break-in at a block of flats in Witham. A raider escaped with £200 of compact discs when he broke into a flat at Templemead, causing £200 damage. An intruder was also disturbed
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Lucky lovers tie the knot this weekend
A couple whose holiday romance blossomed into true love after the Evening Echo reunited them are to tie the knot tomorrow. Dawn Rowsell and James Manners will enjoy a spectacular white wedding at St Peter's Church in Nevendon. The pair, who live together
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Maldon residents angry at parent parking
Mothers parking in a road after driving their children to school have been criticised by angry residents. Resident Don Steady said Newnham Green in Maldon is blocked during All Saints' School starting and finishing hours because cars are double-parked
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£100,000 new centre for Canvey Scouts
A new Scouting centre of excellence is to be built on Canvey, after councillors agreed the proposal. Councillors at Castle Point Borough Council supported the scheme which will see a new centre on the King George V Playing Fields. The centre, costing
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Go-ahead for phone mast despite cancer warning
A giant telecommunications mast will go up on a Basildon estate - despite growing fears the aerials can cause cancer. Councillors controversially sidestepped public concerns to give the go-ahead to the mobile phone mast after admitting their hands were
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Girl, 18, dies in jetski horror
Tributes have poured in after a young Essex schoolgirl was killed when a jet-ski ploughed into a pedal boat in the Mediterranean. Tracy Slatter, 18, from the Bight, South Woodham Ferrers, was on board the boat with a friend off the resort of Salou on
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Southend car parking fracas man is bound over
A man has been bound over to keep the peace for a year after he got involved in fracas about car parking near his home. Kevin Everitt, 37, of Byrne Drive, Westcliff, got into a row with workers of the nearby branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland, Southend
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Colchester police face squeeze as £210,000 cut mooted
Colchester police are bracing themselves for cuts of more than £200,000. Colchester divisional commander Supt Julian Field has been asked by Essex Police headquarters to prepare a proposal to make three per cent savings on next year's estimated £7 million
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Degrees of success for Colchester student John, 62
Former schoolteacher John Cant has been back to school to study for a degree. And as well as achieving a first class degree at the age of 62 he also won a special award. The unassuming academic suffered what he described as a "slight heart attack" during
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My view: Disabled shoppers not as much of a menace as mums
Disabled shopper Frances Brandreth made a fuss after her request to management at the Lakeside, Thurrock, shopping centre to borrow an electric wheelchair for her shopping trip there was turned down. She was told the centre does not loan them at peak
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Add to our net nonsense, pleads wacky Tony
Two Essex friends are using the internet to try to put together the longest nonsense story in the world - and want This Is Essex readers to contribute. Wacky Tony Wicks and Ryan Green are putting together gobbledegook which falls into sentences but is
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Add to our net nonsense, pleads wacky Tony
Two Essex friends are using the internet to try to put together the longest nonsense story in the world - and want This Is Essex readers to contribute. Wacky Tony Wicks and Ryan Green are putting together gobbledegook which falls into sentences but is
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My view: Disabled shoppers not as much of a menace as mums
Disabled shopper Frances Brandreth made a fuss after her request to management at the Lakeside, Thurrock, shopping centre to borrow an electric wheelchair for her shopping trip there was turned down. She was told the centre does not loan them at peak
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Dr Feelgood's Wilko rocks on this weekend
Dr Feelgood are still considered legends of Canvey - and founder member Wilko Johnson is still rocking out with his own band. The Wilko Johnson Band play a rare gig in Westcliff this weekend showcasing highlights from a new album. The time was right in
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Soccer: Blues buyout nears final whistle
The long drawn-out Southend United shares saga looks set to reach a positive conclusion as early as tomorrow. Chairman Vic Jobson, as first revealed on This Is Essex and the Evening Echo three weeks ago, is negotiating to sell his major shareholding to
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Marathon heartbreak man Jim hits 80
He's ahead of them all, a-meetin' the test, following his legend right into the west. Not Davy Crockett, but that well-loved king of the sporting frontier Jim Peters. Tomorrow the famous distance runner will reach 80 years in the marathon of life. "I
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Tractor plant put on four-day week
Workers at one of the biggest factories in south Essex have been put on a four-day production week. The New Holland tractor plant in Cranes Farm Road, Basildon, reported a 7.9 per cent sales rise for the half year, but the Fiat-owned company says it is
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Horror as trapeze crashes on top of Jimi, 15
A 15-year-old boy's head was split open when heavy trapeze equipment crashed down on him as he played in a park. Now his father is calling for urgent checks on equipment in parks throughout Thurrock, warning that a child could be killed if another accident
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Carly cuts the ribbon
A Braintree youngster has marked her 11th birthday by opening a new supermarket. Carly Ryder was chosen to cut the ribbon to the new Somerfield store in Rayne Road yesterday after winning a competition run by the chain. The company took over the running
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Tashaka is having a ball at Smokey Joe's
Sat before me in the back of a black stretch limo was the sassy vixen from Smokey Joe's Cafe looking debonair in her ostrich feathers. In reality the actress Tashaka Francis is a sweet 22-year-old slightly overwhelmed by the whole star treatment, but
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Pop feature: Is this the right time for Taste Xperience?
Stardom has been a long time coming for Southend trance dance trio Taste Xperience, and they still haven't quite reached it. But the patron saints of never-give-up have never come closer than now. Their latest tune Summersault is due for release as a
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Blitz on Epping Forest council tenant debtors
Council tenants behind with their rent in Ongar and North Weald are to face a blitz on arrears. A tough package of measures is being drawn up by Epping Forest District Council which could entail rent dodgers losing their homes. Initially, letters will
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Basildon and Canvey: special children honoured
Three special Basildon and Canvey youngsters are to be honoured at a Child of Achievement award ceremony on Monday. Brother and sister Alanna and Joshua Day, of Canvey, and Jessica Plant, of Basildon, will be presented with their awards at C&A in
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TV presenter Kirsten spreads the word: drugs are bad
Children's TV presenter Kirsten O'Brien visited Braintree to spread the word about the misuse of drugs. The Essex Police and Essex FM 2 Smart 4 Drugs roadshow called in at Notley High School yesterday. The BBC presenter co-hosted the show with Essex FM
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Pop feature: Is this the right time for Taste Xperience?
Stardom has been a long time coming for Southend trance dance trio Taste Xperience, and they still haven't quite reached it. But the patron saints of never-give-up have never come closer than now. Their latest tune Summersault is due for release as a
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Bills jigsaw of village life wrecked by the A12
A chance look at an old photograph has led Rivenhall villager Bill Prime on a quest to rebuild a picture of a lost community. "I was shown a picture of a house I didn't recognise because although it is still standing it has changed so much,'' he said.
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Mencap concern over plan to charge for day care
Hundreds of people with learning difficulties across Tendring and north Essex could be faced with new charges for day care. Essex Social Services has put plans to introduce new charges for people attending day care centres out to consultation. Now Clacton
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Basildon on marks for its first marathon
Thousands of athletes will hit the streets of Basildon next year when the town hosts a marathon to beat all marathons. More than 5,000 runners, led by a field of international athletic stars, will converge on the town in September in what is being billed
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Cuckoo Farm is target site for new U's ground
Cuckoo Farm is the chosen site for the new Colchester United stadium. Councillors will meet in private on Monday to discuss the plan but the Gazette can reveal today they are being asked to approve the Cuckoo Farm site, across the A12 north of Severalls
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Danny, 8, in unicycle heartbreak
A young Brentwood boy's dreams of working for a circus have been cut short after his unicycle was stolen. Eight-year-old Danny Holder from Knights Way, is heartbroken that thieves have stolen both his two-wheeler bike and a unicycle given to him by his
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AA priority pledge after sex attack on driver
A breakdown service has reassured customers priority will be given to callers in a vulnerable situation after an unprovoked attack on a woman driver who broke down in Witham. The 31-year-old was driving along Terling Road when she started having trouble
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Newspaper backs town-wide 20mph limit to boost safety
Twenty is plenty - that's the strong message from a new anti-speed campaign launched in Brentwood. Save Brentwood Action Group (SBAG), the Brentwood Gazette newspaper and This Is Essex are - appropriately in National Road Safety Week - spearheading a
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Hockey: Brentwood at the helm
() Soccer remain at the top of Division Two South of the Premier Holidays East League following an impressive win on Saturday. Taking the initiative immediately from the push back, Brentwood took the lead through a short corner scored by Wagstaff after
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Soccer: Brentwood return with a point
Play in the early part of Saturday's Essex Senior League match was evenly distributed and from end to end, with the defences, in the main, having the upper hand. Concord took the lead in the 25th minute when goalkeeper Dave Pether made a rare error. He
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Soccer: Town go top of the league
Another late goal but it was enough for Town to win and go top of the Ryman League Premier Division on Tuesday evening, a position they are guaranteed over the weekend as the division's teams take part in FA Trophy matches. Manager John Kendall brought
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Big model railway exhibition this weekend
This weekend sees the 15 exhibition put on by the Chelmsford Society of Model Engineers. The event is tomorrow (Saturday), 10am to 5pm at King Edward VI Grammar School, Broomfield Road, Chelmsford. Admission costs £1.80 with children and senior citizens
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Air plans prompt flight safety plea
Renewed calls for tighter safety have been made following recent near misses involving aircraft over Essex. David Williams, chairman of the parish council at Navestock, near Brentwood, is demanding that a new air traffic control system is installed: "
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Weather misery for Essex drivers
Motorists in north Essex were today facing potential traffic chaos with torrential rain. Despite few incidents during this morning's rush-hour predictions that the appalling weather, roadworks and the start of the school half-term holidays were likely
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MP Sir Teddy presses for Southend by-pass plan
Tory MP Sir Teddy Taylor stepped up his "top priority" bid today for an outer by-pass around Southend. The campaigning MP revealed he was appealing directly to Government ministers to get the idea off the ground. He plans to lobby Southend and Rochford
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Blues boss joins jubilant juniors
Junior joy - Southend United boss Alvin Martin, centre, and coach Mick Gooding, right, with some of the youngsters attending the club's first Junior Blues training evening. The sessions are being held on Thursdays at Southend Tennis and Leisure Centre
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Harwich murder trial: killer intends to join victim 'on the other side'
A killer has told a jury he still intends to keep his side of a "suicide pact" with his girlfriend. Alan Royall admitted he suffocated and strangled his girlfriend but failed to kill himself despite taking a cocktail of whisky and tablets. But he told
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Essex police dog trial: prosecution concludes case
One of four policemen accused of cruelty towards police dogs was today expected to begin giving evidence in his defence. Insp Graham Curtis, Sgt Andrew White, PC Kenneth Boorman and PC Stephen Hopkins, who are all based at the Essex police dog unit in
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Harold Hill press project goes national
A school newspaper scheme that started life in a Harold Hill primary school has won government praise and is now going national. The Harold Hill Times attracted the attention of Dewhurst Butchers which was so impressed with the paper that it is expanding
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£3m investment for derelict Braintree site
Up to £3 million will be invested in a derelict factory site which has been empty for eight years in a bid to bring back business. The Lake and Elliot factory in Braintree closed in 1990 with the loss of 800 jobs. Since then the main foundry building
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Tennis: Billericay members in second-placed team
Billericay youngsters were part of the area tennis team which finished runners-up in the recent Essex Games held at the New Hall School in Boreham. The team was managed by the Billericay tennis coach Graham Lister. Vicky Simpson, Carla Bell and James
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Rugby: Brentwood in cup exit
Due to injuries, Brentwood were forced to field a front row which hitherto had not played together when they took on a side whose forwards had already gained a good reputation this season. With the blustery wind and the slope in their favour, Brentwood
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Campaign to promote town
Tens of thousands of pounds are being ploughed into a co-ordinated campaign to promote Colchester as the must-visit town for Christmas shopping. Businesses are putting up cash in a bid to combat the threat from other centres such as Ipswich and Chelmsford
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Thorpe Bay home is "hotbed of artistic talent"
You are never too old to turn your hand to something new. These works of art were created by elderly residents at Burges Court in Thorpe Bay, near Southend. After talking to residents, warden Laurel Harrison realised that the sheltered accommodation complex
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Pupils take a look at Ford Cougar's safety
Youngsters joined car giant Ford for a unique project at the state-of-the-art design centre in Dunton, Basildon. A group of 20 youngsters from Castle View School on Canvey visited the Ford Engineering Centre to work with engineers on the most important
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Basildon fireworks to spark charity cash
Basildon charities could benefit to the tune of £4,000 if this year's Gloucester Park fireworks go with a bang. Organised by the district's branch of the Round Table, the brains behind it hope to raise the impressive sum with a 25-minute display accompanied
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Colchester's Emma has close shave to raise orphan cash
It's going to be a cold, cold winter for Colchester student Emma Gambling. The 17-year-old from the town's Sixth Form College has had her long hair shaved off to earn much-needed funds for orphans in Ecuador. Along with more than 20 other students, Emma
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Chaos as lorry blocks quiet Colchester road
A road was blocked for 25 minutes by a lorry this morning on the day dubbed Carmageddon. Residents of Spring Lane, Lexden, Colchester, looked on as motorists tore up grass verges and knocked over fence posts as they tried to create room for the lorry
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Rugby: Billericay cruise to an easy win
Billericay cruised through to the third round of the Tetley Vase after an overwhelming victory against a side currently playing a division above the Willowbrook-based side. Playing uphill and with wind against in the first half, Billericay quickly found
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Basketball: Leopards lose out
Leopards returned to the Brentwood Centre on Sunday, having recorded back to back victories against league newcomers Edinburgh Rocks and a cup success at Plymouth in midweek. Leopards paraded their new forward Tim Moore from University of Houston, but
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Dr Feelgood's Wilko rocks on this weekend
Dr Feelgood are still considered legends of Canvey - and founder member Wilko Johnson is still rocking out with his own band. The Wilko Johnson Band play a rare gig in Westcliff this weekend showcasing highlights from a new album. The time was right in
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Asbestos disease fear of car park shotgun suicide
A man who shot himself mistakenly believed he was suffering from a fatal asbestos-related disease, an inquest heard. Jobless builder John May, 53, of no fixed address, was found dead in his car in a secluded Billericay car park on Friday September 11,
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Developer sad at anger over Leigh project
Residents have voiced their anger at a plan to see a new restaurant coming to Leigh Old Town. They have said the High Street does not need another restaurant. Yet the plan is part of a last-ditch bid to open up an historic wharf to public use again. Almost
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Homeowner kept four tons of fireworks
"Pure luck" led to the discovery of a four-ton £40,000 haul of fireworks being illegally stored at an Essex house last week. Essex Trading Standards officer, Joe Maerz, said the haul was recovered in Brentwood after officers on routine inspection work
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Crash tragedy girl is found dead
An Essex teenager has been found dead at her home just days after her boyfriend was killed in a car crash in which she was the driver. The body of 18-year-old Katie West was found by a family member at her home in The Rowans, Billericay. Police are not
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Victor takes on Sainsbury over 24-hour lorry plan
Disabled Victor Coppin is set to make a stand about a supermarket demanding deliveries on a near 24-hour basis over the Christmas and New Year period. The fighting 52-year-old is furious over an application by Sainsbury's, whose delivery bays are directly
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Drink drive tests on trial this weekend
Hundreds of drivers in mid-Essex will be asked this weekend to voluntarily take part in a drink drive survey and be breath tested at the same time. It is the first time drivers in the county have been invited to participate in such a scheme. The idea
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Village car park flooding probe
Braintree Council is to investigate regular flooding at an Earls Colne car park. After reports of problems at the Queens Road site, a Braintree Council engineer visited the car park to look more closely at the drainage system. After finding the drains
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Supply of Furbies has a gremlin in the works...
Toy shops in Colchester are gearing themselves up to deal with a Furby-less time in the run-up to Christmas. Furbies, the £29.99 combination of Tamagotchi and Gremlins, which have taken over where the Telly Tubbies of last year left off, are in extremely
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Mersea anger: Our holiday homes won't survive move
Chalet owners at Coopers Beach, East Mersea, are angry over plans to force them to move at their own expense. Leisure Great Britain, which runs the site, claims the change is needed to allow more caravans and repairs to the sea wall, but a group representing
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Bills jigsaw of village life wrecked by the A12
A chance look at an old photograph has led Rivenhall villager Bill Prime on a quest to rebuild a picture of a lost community. "I was shown a picture of a house I didn't recognise because although it is still standing it has changed so much,'' he said.
