Archive
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Soccer: Witham win Essex derby
For most of the first half of Bank Holiday Monday's Essex derby match, it was end to end football and there was little to choose between the teams. The only goal of the first period came on the half hour when Olley Sanders the Dragons goalkeeper failing
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Vange: Cruelty rap after boy burned in bath
A little boy had to be rushed to a specialist burns unit after a Basildon woman left him alone in the bath. The two-year-old screamed in agony after his older playmate turned on the hot water tap and severely burnt his feet. Joanne Fraser, of Dewsgreen
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Eastwood: Families' relief at axed home plan
Residents in Eastwood are breathing a sigh of relief after plans to build a rest home were kicked into touch. Several people living near the site at 383 Rayleigh Road complained to Southend Council about a revised proposal to build a 23-bed nursing home
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South Essex: River men in safety fight
Campaignershave stepped up their attack on the Port of London Authority over plans to axe a key harbourmaster's office off south Essex. George Baker, secretary of Benfleet Yacht Club spoke out against the proposals and warned public safety on the Thames
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Fascinating date with posh frocks
Going to see Fascinating Aida is like getting invited to a posh party which quickly gets out of control. The hosts, all sequinned frocks and nice hair, try hard to be well behaved, but as the evening goes on they just can't help being naughty. FA are
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Wickford: Angry trader urges war on town's yobs
A fed-up shop owner has urged police to step up patrols in Wickford before vandalism gets out of hand - and businesses close. Yobs went on the rampage through the town last weekend leaving windows broken and car tyres slashed. Adrian Rondeau had two of
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Laindon: Mum's fury over travellers' waste
A woman is outraged at the mess travellers left when they moved off a car park near her home. An abandoned caravan, dirty babies' nappies, domestic waste and "half-a-tonne" of hard core were left on the Commission for New Town's car park in Mandeville
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Thundersley: Spicy thwarts bunny thief
Forget chocolate - this youngster was egg-stra happy to be reunited with her stolen bunny in time for Easter. Spicy - a one-year-old lop-eared Angora bunny- was let out of her locked hutch by mean tricksters, leaving Erin Culff, four, really upset. Her
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Wickford: School gives fundraising a try
A signed England rugby ball is being offered for display to raise money for a Wickford school. Deputy head of Wickford Church of England School in Mount Road, Christine Daniel, is an honorary steward at Twickenham, showing people to their seats and helping
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Braintree: Two killed in holiday crash
A family's bank holiday trip turned to tragedy after a horror road smash in which two women died. Louisa Clowes, 88, died at the scene of the crash and a mercy dash by air ambulance to Colchester Hospital was unable to save the life of fellow passenger
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Witham woman's desert trek raises £7,000
A Witham woman and her mother have raised £7,000 for the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths after completing a trek through the Jordan desert. Alison Hayes, of Laburnum Way, embarked on the trek of more than 110km in memory of her son, Sam, who
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Jaywick: Mum may take up private legal fight
The mother of schoolboy Richard Bryant - shot in the head while playing war games with friends - may take civil action against the teenager who pulled the trigger. Mandy Bryant is upset that police have decided to take no action against the 14-year-old
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Soccer: Iron's promotion hopes scuppered
Easter time is traditionally the period when promotion and relegation issues are often settled one way or another, and for Braintree Town, the holiday certainly left no doubt that their chances of going up to the Ryman League Premier Division have finally
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Colchester: Estate residents in wreck plea
A dumped car, set on fire by vandals, has been upsetting residents for two months. Residents in Prospero Close, off Hamlet Drive, on the Greenstead estate in Colchester, are livid about the eyesore and Colchester Council's failure to move it. They say
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South Essex: Bank holiday hell on wheels
Day-trippers, DIY fanatics and bikers caused bank holiday chaos as they jammed the A127. Choking traffic congestion created some of the worst jams seen so far this year and traffic police today warned things are only set to get worse as the summer arrives
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Essex anti-waste burning alliance set to grow
Castle Point looks set to join a number of other councils across Essex to campaign against the burning incinerator issue. Councillors at tonight's environmental health committee are expected to agree to sign up to the Essex Waste Consortium of District
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Rugby: Burnham's Scottish tour defeat
Burnham Rugby Club tour side played some great rugby at times when taking on the might of Edinburgh Academicals but despite a fine second half rally they had to return south having been defeated. Arriving on Good Friday afternoon at Edinburgh the Burnham
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Soccer: Ipswich have Premiership in sight
The big time is in sight for Ipswich if they can tame the beast that is their fear. It is quite simple - they must not worry about what Bradford are doing and win their next six games. Ipswich are going great guns, and 31 points from a possible 36 since
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Rallycross: Ward's happy Easter
Braintree rallycross driver Dave Ward made amends after retiring in the first round of the Compomotive Motorsport Wheels Rallycross championship by taking a resounding win in the second round held at Lydden Hill, Dover, on Bank Holiday Monday. Dave was
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Soccer: Stadium hope for Colchester
Plans for a new multi-million pound home for Colchester United could be submitted within weeks. A 30-acre site for the new ground has been earmarked on council-owned land near the A12 at Cuckoo Farm and an outline planning application is on the verge
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Soccer: Southend brought back down to earth
It was back to square one for Southend United last night as they fell victim to a smash-and-grab raid from Third Division high-flyers Scunthorpe United at Roots Hall. Hopes were high before the game, following Saturday's tremendous 3-0 victory at neighbours
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Southend: Starlings leave park a slippery problem
Starlings roosting in a tree over a path have been leaving bosses at Never Never Land with a slippery problem. The large flock of birds have regularly been plastering the path by Snow White's cottage with their droppings. Managers at the children's fantasy
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Rayleigh: Social club axed for new building
A sports and social club near Mill Hall in Rayleigh will be demolished to make way for new facilities, councillors have agreed. The new building will form one phase of a redevelopment, which also includes renovations to the Mill Hall itself and the construction
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Soccer: Bubble bursts for Blues
New Southend United boss Alan Little was not too despondent after watching his first game in charge at Roots Hall end in a 1-0 Third Division defeat against Scunthorpe United last night. Little, who kicked off his managerial career at Blues with an amazing
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Soccer: Maldon eye promotion
Three seasons ago Maldon were in the Essex Senior League. Now manager Ben Embery believes they are ready to step up into the Southern League. They will probably finish midway in the Jewson Premier, along with Halstead, who they drew 1-1 with at home in
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Soccer: Boiling point at Clacton!
Derby day passion threatened to boil over at Clacton during the home side's 1-1 draw with Brightlingsea. The two benches had to be pulled apart after an incident involving Seasiders' defender Andy McDonald and Brightlingsea boss Gary Harvey. Harvey appeared
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40-15 to the Beeb's weekend
For days in the build up to Easter, we had been bombarded, but hardly excited, by previews of the BBC's exclusive double-bill of the Varsity Boat Race and the Davis Cup. On paper it titillated the anticipatory nerves as much as the now normal diet of
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Harwich: Coffee burns baby flown to hospital
A baby girl was flown to hospital after suffering burns at Harwich International Port. The six-month-old child was sitting in her mother's lap in the terminal building when she was scalded on the head and face by hot coffee. Staff at the port called the
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Police blitz on Southend parking fiends
Motorists who flout the law and park illegally are being targeted in a joint initiative to keep Southend's roads on the move. The hard-hitting initiative is aimed at keeping Leigh and Westcliff's roads unclogged by rogue parking as holidaymakers flock
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Essex truckers' convoy makes point over fuel
Disruption was kept to a minimum on the county's major roads as a convoy of 30 angry lorry drivers launched a protest. Drivers set off in convoy from Harwich to demonstrate against controversial fuel prices and vehicle tax. The protest comes after more
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Rochford: Carers benefit from chairman's cash
An organisation which cares for carers is set to benefit from a cash boost. The Rochford Crossroads Group will get a cheque for £3,723.28 from Rochford District Council chairman Graham Fox. Crossroads was the chairman's adopted charity for his term of
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Billericay, Wickford: New phone masts planned as objections grow
Plans to build seven telephone masts in Billericay and Wickford have been unveiled - in the week further concerns were raised about their safety. Mobile phone giant Vodaphone wants to put up four 15 metre masts on land at Kingsman's Farm in Tye Common
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Leigh: Man trapped under tractor
A farm worker has been recovering in hospital after a lucky escape when he became trapped under his tractor. Emergency crews had to battle for an hour to release the man who became trapped while trying to free tree roots from the tractor's mechanism.
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Green start to Southend's spring clean
Residents and business leaders in Southend were urged to help blow away the cobwebs and join in with the council's first spring clean campaign. The week-long spruce-up was launched to get the town ready for the summer season and council departments have
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Basildon: Essex cricketers bowl into Eastgate
Cricket fans and shoppers alike are in for a number of first-ever treats at Basildon's Eastgate Shopping Centre on Wednesday when Essex County Cricket Club visit the mall. Between 11am and 4pm, the Essex cricket roadshow will be at the centre for the
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Aveley, Dunton: Where Ford will axe jobs
Jobs look set to go from Ford at Dunton and Aveley after cutbacks were announced by the car giant. Ford is offering voluntary redundancies to 680 workers throughout the country in a bid "to improve efficiency". Dunton is expected to shed four positions
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Basildon and Tilbury lead new development
Innovative community projects in Basildon and Tilbury are being used as a benchmark for other schemes across the country. Eight new Government agencies have been set up nationwide to build on the success of various programmes already under way. They aim
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Benfleet: March on secure unit site
Hundreds of angry demonstrators are expected to join an emotionally-charged march tomorrow against controversial plans to build an £8 million mental home in North Benfleet. The protesters are determined to show that feelings are still running high against
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Soccer: Iron earn a point at Staines
At Staines on Saturday there were signs that the tide might turn for Braintree, after heavy early pressure from the home side had been successfully repelled and Iron then began to dictate the rest of the first half. Several good scoring chances were created
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Soccer: Iron second best to the Islanders
The possibility of at least a couple of their injured players being able to return for the visit of League leaders Canvey Island on Monday was not forthcoming, and indeed the Braintree side was further weakened by the absence of Simon Milton. So it was
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Maldon: No-one wants the Carnival Queen crown
Maldon Carnival could be without a queen and princesses for the new millennium. Despite appeals, there has not been one entry and -- with a week to go to selection night on April 17 -- court chaperone Elaine Staines has issued an urgent appeal for girls
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Row over Leigh Heritage Centre
Urgent talks have been called between Southend town planners and bosses of the Leigh Heritage Centre over plans for extending their headquarters. Trustees of the centre want to build a toilet block for their heritage headquarters in the High Street, in
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Firm Shells out for Basildon Athletic Club
Basildon Athletic Club has received a £450 donation to help buy a new minibus. The donation came after a team manager whose husband works for Shell UK Ltd applied for a special grant from Shell Employee Action - a scheme which promotes volunteering and
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Benfleet: Daffs take over spring show
Delightful daffodils were out in force at Benfleet Horticultural Society's spring show. The enjoyable Easter afternoon event was staged at Richmond Hall, High Road, Benfleet, on Saturday afternoon. Those going along could look around a host of seasonal
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Soccer: Clash of the titans for Senior Cup final
It's a ding-dong local derby between Bowers United and Great Wakering Rovers in the final of the Schweppes Essex Senior League Cup. The game will be staged at the Thames Road, Canvey, home of Concord Rangers on Saturday April 17. Village side Wakering
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Basildon: Police probe into suspected arson
Police investigators were today combing ground around a newsagents' after a suspected arson attack. Fire crews were called out to the blaze early today. A container was discovered alight at 6am today behind Forbouys newsagents in Ballards Walk, Lee Chapel
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Soccer: Lua Lua loses cool as U's feel the heat
Colchester United's teenage sensation Lomana Tresor Lua Lua paid the ultimate price for one moment of costly Easter Monday madness - he was sent off for stupidly kicking Burnley's Paul Cook. It cost him and his U's team-mates three crucial second division
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Soccer: Lacklustre Canvey stay in top spot
Canvey had only 24 hours to wait before discovering that their failure to beat relegation-threatened Whyteleafe at Park Lane on Good Friday had meant very little to their bid to win the Ryman League First Division title. For, on Saturday, closest rivals
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Soccer: Swifts' relegation worries eased
Heybridge's second win in a week took them six points clear of the drop zone and with games in hand on their rivals Ryman League Premier Divison football looks increasingly likely again at Scraley Road next season. The match exploded into life in the
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Southend: Union fights DIY tenants
Union leaders have stepped up their fight against a council scheme which could see tenants being paid to carry out DIY jobs to their homes. Trade union representatives for Southend's Borough Services Organisation - the workforce which maintains some homes
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Southend: Beach boys have fun in sun
Seafront traders were bracing themselves for a massive influx of Easter tourists and day-trippers as temperatures soared into the 70s. Pubs, beaches and amusement arcades have been packed out all week with families taking advantage of the school break
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Southend: Return my mum's necklace
The heartbroken victim of a burglary has appealed for the return of her mother's irreplaceable necklace. Nursery nurse Karin Elliott said the necklace is all she had left of her mum Rose who died aged 64 last September. The platinum stone set necklace
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Southend: Nurse reveals danger of stolen stitch removers
Razor-sharp stitch removers could prove very dangerous if they get into the wrong hands, a district nurse has warned. The stitch removers were among a haul of medical equipment stolen from a car as the nurse was on her rounds in Southend. Also taken was
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Hawkwell: Paintings delight for church visitors
Intrigued visitors have been queuing to catch a glimpse of a new chapel of medieval art at St Mary's Church in Hawkwell. The 14th century chancel now contains copies of mediaeval, Byzantine paintings and other visual effects which portray the great events
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School sports: Deanes cock-a-hoop over netball triumph
The successful and enthusiastic Deanes School year eight netball team have won the district rally. The team members were: Natalie Pegrum, Emma Vancoeverden, Katie Edwards, Natalie Hughes, Danielle Burr, Nicola Weatherill, Louise Jones and Rhia Mitchell
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Soccer: Billericay bounce back to clip Swifts' wings
A bright Easter has renewed hopes of a top six Ryman League Premier Division finish for Billericay Town. A bitterly disappointing February and March, during which they collected just 10 points from 11 games, had led to fears that John Kendall's men would
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Woman fights Southend sex attacker
A sex fiend who pinned a woman to the pavement and tried to kiss her was today being hunted by police. The 40-year-old woman only managed to escape the clutches of her attacker by stabbing him with a brooch pin as he tried to force himself on her. The
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Southend: Electric shock man fights for life
A man who suffered massive burns when he was nearly electrocuted on a railway line was today still fighting for his life in hospital. The 48-year-old man from Southend, who has not been named, suffered massive burns in the incident on Easter Sunday. Firecrews
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Witham, Maldon: Vandal attacks anger
Vandals made a playground unusable and destroyed a children's nature project during two separate attacks in Witham and Maldon. In the first incident thugs smeared dog mess over equipment at a play area in Bramble Road, Witham. Outraged Robin Brown noticed
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Billericay: Fairground organ adds to fun day
Newborn chicks and a fairground organ brought in the crowds despite the threat of rain during an Easter family bonanza. Barleylands Farm in Billericay welcomed hoards of animal lovers to its family weekend of fun. Little Daniel Lock got a close up look
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Whipping up a storm . . .
On the eve of his latest venture in the business of nightclubs, JANE O'CONNELL talks to wild DJ turned suited entrepreneur Dick de Vigne Nightclub king Dick de Vigne has a rakish charm which is surprisingly disarming. But then the 50-something former