A teacher has spoken of her shock and sadness at the death of a gifted drama student who was killed in a horror road smash. Margaret Cooper, of Westcliff High School for Girls, said pupils and teachers were united in grief for Danielle Sutherland - the
Shocked parents spoke of their horror after hearing of a bus crash involving their children. Twelve children, a van driver, his passenger and the bus driver were all taken to hospital yesterday morning following a head-on crash on the B1022 Maldon Road
A £1 million expansion by one of Southend's largest private schools looks set to be blocked by planners. Officers at Southend Council want to stop Thorpe Hall School from going ahead with the development in its grounds because the land is classed as green
A state-of-the-art leisure complex could be built in Colchester less than a mile from the council's Leisure World. The £10 million 40,000sq ft centre would include swimming pools, world-class tennis courts, workout/dance studios, badminton courts and
A woman who lost a breast after an alleged delay in diagnosis by a cancer specialist has won a £50,000 High Court settlement. And yesterday medical secretary Christine Melton, of Coates Quay, Chelmsford, issued a warning to other women to trust their
A Carnival queen shortage has plunged carnival organisers into crisis. Just two and a half weeks remain until the new Braintree carnival queen is chosen but only one young girl has entered the contest so far. Carnival Committee member Pat Watson said:
Witham manager George Young regarded Northwood as one of the best teams they had met during the season and they proved to be that in a hard fought battle in the mud at Spa Road on Saturday. There was little to choose between the teams in a midfield struggle
The Town returned to form against lowly Watton, who are struggling against relegation, at the Wallace Binder Binder Stadium on Saturday with a convincing victory. Maldon took the lead in the 20th minute when Gold fired home after good work by Card. Card
Badly in need of a morale boosting win to restore their fast disappearing promotion chances, Braintree had their hopes dashed once again with yet another sad Cressing Road performance on Saturday. Having collected only two points from a possible 15, Iron's
At Sunday's 'S Dunmow Five-Mile Road Race, Tiptree Road Runners' Veteran Runners had a superb day on a testing and undulating course in inclement conditions. Danny Mullane, in 32:15, was the first V50 to finish coming in seventh overall. Ray Wright, in
Keen athletes and fun runners are encouraged to put their best foot forward and enter two forthcoming charity road races in Braintree and Witham. The 16th annual Witham Lions Half Marathon and Three Mile Fun Run take place on Sunday, May 2 at Spa Road
Plans to convert Basildon's Fairview School into a centre for unruly pupils have been approved by councillors. Essex County Council's education committee on Monday agreed to turn the Fairview Road school into a centre for youngsters with severe behavioural
Roots Hall is to be sold to pay off Southend United's £3.87 million debts, the Blues have confirmed. Chairman John Main revealed that Southend's home will be sold for £4 million in an effort to refinance the club. Once the ground is sold it will be leased
TOM KING talks to Rochford actress Karen Barnes Meet Mrs Mario Lanza, inamorata and wife to the most adored opera singer in the world. Mother to Mario's four children, Betty is everything you would expect of the wife of an Italian-American - voluptuous
Concern is growing for the welfare of a missing 40-year-old disabled man from Southend who has disappeared without taking his medication with him. An Essex Police spokesman said David Ravell had been missing from his home in Maldon Road since about 3pm
The quality of life for many people living in south Grays should be improved following decisions taken by Thurrock councillors. Members of the community services committee agreed that a multi-storey car park close to flats in the area is to be demolished
A fight to save a baby whale stranded on the beach at Holland-on-Sea ended in failure. The 12-ft long Minke whale was spotted on the shoreline near The Chase just before 9am yesterday. Clacton's two lifeboat crews helped in the rescue along with Clacton
Hard-up groom Edward King wooed his bride to the altar - after hand-making her beautiful white gown in just 14 days! Romantic Edward followed a book he borrowed from the library to make his step-by-step creation. The last touches were made to the gown
Patients will soon benefit from a £200,000 investment in the minor injuries unit at Orsett Hospital. Work has already started after Basildon and Thurrock general hospitals NHS trust handed over the money. The cash will mean the unit will be moved into
Relatives of a teenager who has gone on holiday with her married teacher have remained tight-lipped about the scandal which has rocked a Westcliff catholic school. Father-of-two Paul Hillen, 36, was yesterday understood to still be in Spain with blonde
Two men were rescued when a blaze ripped through a three-storey block of flats and shops today. The fire broke out in flats in Newgate Street, Walton, this morning. Two men were rescued and four people, including two children, were led to safety as around
A teacher spoke today of her shock and sadness at the death of a gifted drama student who was killed in a horror road smash. Margaret Cooper, of Westcliff High School for Girls, said pupils and teachers were united in grief for Danielle Sutherland - the
A fight to save a baby whale stranded on the beach at Holland-on-Sea today ended in failure. The 12-ft long Minke whale was spotted on the shoreline near The Chase just before 9am today. Clacton's two lifeboat crews helped in the rescue along with Clacton
A new report has slammed Chelmsford Prison as being "dreadful and totally unacceptable." And it claims staff failed to learn the lessons of a tragedy in which a prisoner was kicked to death by his cell-mate. The shocking revelations show many of the problems
A driver led children to safety today after their school bus was involved in a head-on crash with two vans. All 30 youngsters escaped serious injury but one van driver was critically injured. Fire crews and paramedics freed the van driver after the crash
Colchester United's wounded hero Aaron Skelton could be back in action inside a couple of weeks if the nasty looking injury he picked up during the 2-2 draw at Wycombe Wanderers proves not to be serious. Skelton fell awkwardly after a second half arial
Roots Hall is to be sold to pay off Southend United's £3.87 million debts, the Blues have confirmed. Chairman John Main revealed that Southend's home will be sold for £4 million in an effort to refinance the club. Once the ground is sold it will be leased
This may be beginning to sound boring, but Richard Wright is a sensation. No doubt about it. Hundreds, no, thousands of words have been written about the 21-year-old this season but anyone who has seen him will know why. Town fans may proclaim David Johnson
The days of cleaning other players' boots and scrubbing changing room floors are now a thing of the past for three of Southend United's brightest young stars. Apprentices - goalkeeper Steve Spittle, right-back Garry Cross and forward Yemi Abiodun - have
World champions could be produced in Castle Point thanks to the borough's excellent facilities, said Sports Minister Tony Banks on a tour of the borough. Mr Banks also warned that the future of Southend United was vital to the area and must be secured
Troy Pratt has confirmed he is coming out of retirement to return to Arena Essex this season. His decision to quit last July caused all sorts of problems for Hammers and they went on to finish third from bottom in the Premier League. To some fans Pratt's
A new report has slammed Chelmsford Prison as being "dreadful and totally unacceptable." And it claims staff failed to learn the lessons of a tragedy in which a prisoner was kicked to death by his cell-mate. The shocking revelations show many of the problems
Plans are being made to preserve the distinctive landscape and character of the Chelmer and Blackwater conservation area. Maldon District Council's planning, highways and environment services committee, which meets next week, is being asked to approve
A continental-style walkway with lighting and improved amenities has been suggested as part of a four-year action plan for Burnham. Town council members have met to thrash out ideas which look at youth, the elderly, employment, housing development and
A young mum attacked a man in court after he was cleared of trying to snatch her toddler son. The 29-year-old Canvey mother lunged at Chinese restaurant cook Yue Ting Chan, 45, as he walked from the dock and repeatedly slapped him around the head. The
A bid for another continental style dining area in Southend High Street is likely to be thwarted. Tesco Metro wants to puts chairs and tables outside its store where customers can sit and eat their hot and cold takeaway food. However, Southend Council
The ladies section at the Forrester Park Golf Club played a Team Texas Scramble last week on a bright, sunny morning. Winners were Elspeth Williams, Anne Straker, Doreen Mortlock with a score of 71.53. Runners-up were Mary Wood, Marion Stains, Muriel
This may be beginning to sound boring, but Richard Wright is a sensation. No doubt about it. Hundreds, no, thousands of words have been written about the 21-year-old this season but anyone who has seen him will know why. Town fans may proclaim David Johnson
The days of cleaning other players' boots and scrubbing changing room floors are now a thing of the past for three of Southend United's brightest young stars. Apprentices - goalkeeper Steve Spittle, right-back Garry Cross and forward Yemi Abiodun - have
Wickford schoolboy Derek Whitbread only took up ice hockey two years ago - because there was nothing good on TV on a boring Sunday afternoon. Now he is playing for south-east England, dreaming of a professional career in the USA, and is on a rigorous
Colchester United defender David Greene is ready to call in the Professional Footballers Association if he is forced to serve a three-match ban and pay a club fine of two weeks' wages. And there were calls from irate U's supporters yesterday to flood
Neil Campbell blasted a Roots Hall hat-trick as Southend United's second string eased past non-league minnows Maldon Town. The 22-year-old striker, who has failed to find the net at first team level in four games following a £15,000 move from Scarborough
A driver led children to safety after their school bus was involved in a head-on crash with two vans. All 30 youngsters escaped serious injury but one van driver was critically injured. Fire crews and paramedics freed the van driver after the crash in
Southend United are sending out a strong squad for tonight's Essex Thames-side Trophy Third Round clash against Maldon Town at Roots Hall. Assistant Blues boss Mick Gooding's team will include no less than nine players who can boast first-team experience
The all-conquering basketball girls of Hockley's Greensward School are in for a busy couple of weeks. The weekend after next they are involved in the national finals of the three by three Sunny D event at Wembley Arena. Also, on the same weekend, the
Rochford Town staged an amazing recovery to take over top spot in the Southend District League Premier Division. They were 3-0 down against fourth-placed Linford Wanderers but came back to draw 3-3 with Ryan (2) and Tew on target. Gray (2) and S. Talbot
Traffic is to be banned from turning right on a major road in Colchester town centre in a bid to reduce congestion. Vehicles will not be able to turn right from Magdalen Street into Wimpole Road between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday, in a bid to reduce
The Palace Theatre could be run by a private company when it re-opens in December. Trust board members have invited seven businesses to draw up individual rescue packages to drag the Westcliff playhouse into the next century. The most impressive will
An emergency services operator was today praised after she reassured a Shoebury couple as they waited to be rescued from their burning home. The senior fire operator gave the woman and her 72-year-old husband advice and talked them through their fears
Bernard the Bulldog will be hoping for the best of British when he puts his paws on the world famous Crufts showground. Three-year-old Bernard will be competing on Sunday, his first appearance at the show, after missing out on the chance last year. His
Thieves looking for valuables ransacked a church and the vestry. They broke down an interior door and tried to open the safe with a crowbar. They also stole a set of keys and tried to enter the church again but were foiled when the keys did not work.
A woman who lost a breast after an alleged delay in diagnosis by a cancer specialist has won a £50,000 High Court settlement. And today medical secretary Christine Melton, of Coates Quay, Chelmsford, issued a warning to other women to trust their own
An off-duty nurse who rushed to help the injured of a schoolbus crash today told how her daughter should have been on the vehicle. Kate Harrison was one of the first on the scene after the single-decker, carrying pupils to the Stanway School, was in collision
Demonstrators who plan to hold a march against the monarchy during the Queen's visit to Southend have been condemned by leading figures in the town. Flyers have been posted around the town featuring a picture of the Queen and Prince Philip and posing
Shocked parents today spoke of their horror after hearing of a bus crash involving their children. Twelve children, a van driver, his passenger and the bus driver were all taken to hospital this morning following a head-on crash on the B1022 Maldon Road
Father-of-two Malcolm Walsh was stabbed through the heart after simmering bad feeling about a drugs debt exploded into violence, a court heard. Mr Walsh, 32, of Shannon Close, Leigh, collapsed in a pool of blood just yards from where his young children
People with queries about the Budget can visit This Is Essex's chat rooms on Friday, March 12, and talk to tax experts directly. In a discussion organised by This Is Essex's sister site This Is Leicestershire specialists from the Leicester branch of Deloite
People with queries about the Budget can visit This Is Essex's chat rooms on Friday, March 12, and talk to tax experts directly. In a discussion organised by This Is Essex's sister site This Is Leicestershire specialists from the Leicester branch of Deloite
Thurrock's schools are looking at the problems being thrown up by the Year 2000 computer bug. A special seminar organised by Thurrock Council was attended by 20 teachers, heads and governors, who were told about the pitfalls for computer and "embedded
Plans to change the admission policy for Thurrock schools have hit a wave of opposition from parents, teachers and pre-school carers. Thurrock Council is floating plans for infant and primary schools to switch to one intake a year. It would mean many
When a Rayleigh gnome realised he had a contender for his fundraising crown, he did the honourable thing - and challenged him to a fishing competition. So the Millennium Gnome, from the Travellers Joy Hungry Horse pub in Downhall Road, cast his line and
Lee Kavanagh still doesn't think he's got what it takes. Never mind that his first dance tune has been played on the radio and no less than four record labels are looking at signing him. Most people would be popping champagne corks left right and centre
Father-of-two Malcolm Walsh was stabbed through the heart after simmering bad feeling about a drugs debt exploded into violence, a court heard. Mr Walsh, 32, of Shannon Close, Leigh, collapsed in a pool of blood just yards from where his young children
Trumpet fanfares, fast cars and one of the nation's sporting idols will greet the Queen on her visit to Basildon this Friday. Motor racing legend Stirling Moss will be among the VIP guests when Her Majesty makes her historic visit to the town. Mr Moss
A £1.5m supermarket development could transform a rundown area of Braintree if it gets the green light. German firm Aldi wants to regenerate a derelict 1,250sqm site on the corner of Railway Street and Rose Hill. The store will create around 15 new jobs
Swifts earned a vital point at Claremont Park on Monday evening with a fine draw at former manager Garry Hill's St Albans that moved the Scraley Road club out of the bottom three for the first time since the beginning of the season. Swifts Ben Lewis and
Battling midfielder Scott Lindsey is back in the Canvey squad for tonight's visit to Molesey in the Ryman League First Division. Manager Jeff King will make a late decision on whether to reintroduce Lindsey into the side at the end of his one-match ban
Trumpet fanfares, fast cars and one of the nation's sporting idols will greet the Queen on her visit to Basildon this Friday. Motor racing legend Stirling Moss will be among the VIP guests when Her Majesty makes her historic visit to the town. Mr Moss
A £1 million expansion by one of Southend's largest private schools looks set to be blocked by planners. Officers at Southend Council want to stop Thorpe Hall School from going ahead with the development in its grounds because the land is classed as green
A state-of-the-art leisure complex could be built in Colchester less than a mile from the council's Leisure World. The £10 million 40,000sq ft centre would include swimming pools, world-class tennis courts, workout/dance studios, badminton courts and
Ostriches Rocky and Roughneck face an uncertain future - after becoming entangled in a legal battle. On one side is Basildon Council, which claims the birds need to be insured under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act of 1976. On the other hand is farmer Ted
Mick Wadsworth was within seconds of suffering his first taste of defeat as Colchester United's manager until injury-time ice man David Gregory stepped up to save his boss's blushes. Relegation-threatened Wycombe were deservedly racing to only their second
The ladies section at the Forrester Park Golf Club played a Team Texas Scramble last week on a bright, sunny morning. Winners were Elspeth Williams, Anne Straker, Doreen Mortlock with a score of 71.53. Runners-up were Mary Wood, Marion Stains, Muriel
England players' shirts if they qualify for the 2002 football World Cup in South Korea and Japan could be made from material being developed in Colchester. The contract for the kit with Umbro, the England team's suppliers, has been awarded to the Defence
Wickford schoolboy Derek Whitbread only took up ice hockey two years ago - because there was nothing good on TV on a boring Sunday afternoon. Now he is playing for south-east England, dreaming of a professional career in the USA, and is on a rigorous
Mick Wadsworth was within seconds of suffering his first taste of defeat as Colchester United's manager until injury-time ice man David Gregory stepped up to save his boss's blushes. Relegation-threatened Wycombe were deservedly racing to only their second
Witham manager George Young regarded Northwood as one of the best teams they had met during the season and they proved to be that in a hard fought battle in the mud at Spa Road on Saturday. There was little to choose between the teams in a midfield struggle
Swifts earned a vital point at Claremont Park on Monday evening with a fine draw at former manager Garry Hill's St Albans that moved the Scraley Road club out of the bottom three for the first time since the beginning of the season. Swifts Ben Lewis and
The Mosey trio - father Fred plus sons Chris and Mark - enjoyed an action packed session at Gloucester Park landing more than a dozen carp between them. Choosing swims in the big bay they fished homemade boilies against the island, and were soon enjoying
This was the picture of a badly beaten man which led to two drunken thugs being locked away for a brutal attack. The pair only admitted to savagely beating up the 25-year-old victim after extensive publicity in This Is Essex partner paper the Echo made
Tagliatelle, ricotta, farfalle - Italian foods do not always roll off the tongue as easily as they disappear from the plate. A new authentic Italian restaurant is giving special lessons in the language of its food to Basildon locals who have been recruited
Vandals who trash sites in Castle Point could become the targets of a new hard line campaign, it was disclosed today. The idea was put forward by council leader Dave Wells at a meeting of Castle Point council's leisure and amenities committee. He was
Plans to convert Basildon's Fairview School into a centre for unruly pupils have been approved by councillors. Essex County Council's education committee yesterday agreed to turn the Fairview Road school into a centre for youngsters with severe behavioural
The future of Southend United is vital to the town and must be secured, Sports Minister Tony Banks declared on a whistle-stop tour of south Essex. The outspoken and often controversial MP said all efforts must be made to ensure the club remained within
Basildon-based South Essex Gym Club flew the flag for Great Britain by capturing the top honours in a competition staged in Mobile, Alabama, in the United States. Families in Mobile hosted the five gymnasts - including one on crutches who fractured her
The Town returned to form against lowly Watton, who are struggling against relegation, at the Wallace Binder Binder Stadium on Saturday with a convincing victory. Maldon took the lead in the 20th minute when Gold fired home after good work by Card. Card
It is a big night on the Schweppes Essex Senior League scene this evening with three of the five title contenders in action. Basildon United go to lowly Sawbridgeworth knowing that victory will keep them hot on the trail of the top two. In fact they would
Badly in need of a morale boosting win to restore their fast disappearing promotion chances, Braintree had their hopes dashed once again with yet another sad Cressing Road performance on Saturday. Having collected only two points from a possible 15, Iron's
Keen athletes and fun runners are encouraged to put their best foot forward and enter two forthcoming charity road races in Braintree and Witham. The 16th annual Witham Lions Half Marathon and Three Mile Fun Run take place on Sunday, May 2 at Spa Road
At Sunday's 'S Dunmow Five-Mile Road Race, Tiptree Road Runners' Veteran Runners had a superb day on a testing and undulating course in inclement conditions. Danny Mullane, in 32:15, was the first V50 to finish coming in seventh overall. Ray Wright, in
Teenage thieves in Colchester have been snatching purses in broad daylight. Shoppers are being warned to be on their guard after two girl purse snatchers struck twice in the town centre. The teenagers stole a handbag and a purse from women shoppers in
A greener, cleaner gas-powered fuel is being introduced by a timber merchant for its fleet of vehicles. CF Anderson and Son, sited just off the A12 at Marks Tey, is gradually converting its cars and vans to run on liquid petroleum gas and has its own
Creditors of a liquidated leisure company are holding a meeting in a bid to win back owed cash. It is thought other companies which have not been paid by Corringham-based fitness centre Havencrest may come forward as news spreads of the meeting. Havencrest
Workers at a chemical storage plant on Canvey were ordered to clean up a road spill spotted outside their firm's main gates. Haven Road was closed for around 90 minutes as the spill was cleaned up outside Oikoss Storage. About five gallons of sodium hydroxide
England players' shirts if they qualify for the 2002 football World Cup in South Korea and Japan could be made from material being developed in Colchester. The contract for the kit with Umbro, the England team's suppliers, has been awarded to the Defence
Essex haulier Bob Steward today threatened to take his lorry fleet to Holland if diesel and road tax was increased in the Budget this afternoon. Mr Steward of R T Steward Transport, of Station Road, Lawford, claimed costs were far higher in this country
A Carnival queen shortage has plunged carnival organisers into crisis. Just two and a half weeks remain until the new Braintree carnival queen is chosen but only one young girl has entered the contest so far. Carnival Committee member Pat Watson said:
A flood caused by a burst water main brought chaos to drivers and badly damaged a Braintree road. Residents in Notley Road were left without water overnight after the pipeline ruptured yesterday. A deluge of water poured up through the pipes in a dip
An infants school could be closed as part of an educational shake-up in the Harwich area, it was revealed today. A review of three schools is to take place. One of the options is to close the 153-year-old Little Oakley Infants School due to its small
A young mother is terrified to return home after being scared by a man. She has taken her two children to live with her sister after the third incident at her home within months. The single parent, who does not wish to be named, said she had been happy
Police are appealing for witnesses to a collision between a car and a lorry in Colchester which left a Harwich man with serious leg injuries. An Essex Police spokesman said the accident happened in Parsons Heath Road at about 10.20am yesterday. It involved
Damage valued at £5,000 has been caused to a car in Colchester after battery acid was poured on it. The attack happened in Old Heath Road, opposite a bus stop and the Magnet Kitchen Warehouse, between 6.15pm and 7.15pm on Monday night, according to an
A top French chef has caused a stew after saying he wanted to cook beef on the bone in a Rochford restaurant. Christian Germaine, who has two Michelin stars, is a friend of Derek Renouf, boss of the Hotel Renouf in Bradley Way. Monsieur Germaine is visiting
The artistic talent of Southend is on show for all to see. The first of two yearly exhibitions by the Southend Art Club is now running at the town's Beecroft Gallery, with many of the items on show for sale. The club's Spring Selective Exhibition sees
Curfews could be considered to prevent youths causing a nuisance at night in Laindon. Police say there has been a noticeable increase in youth nuisance and damage to the Laindon Centre in recent weeks. More uniformed officers are patrolling the shopping
