Tory MP Eric Pickles launched a scathing attack on health chiefs as the people of Ongar united to fight for the beleaguered War Memorial Hospital. Mr Pickles's outspoken condemnation of the local NHS Trust and the health authority came at a bury-the-hatchet
A high-speed chase and police tracker dogs were involved in the capture of two raiders after they broke into a Tesco supermarket in Chelmsford. A court heard how police officers were forced to chase Gerard Barry, 20, of Bean Avenue, Dagenham, and Ian
A delivery driver was trapped under half a tonne of glass while unloading his lorry in Chelmer Village. Miraculously the driver, who works for Westwood Art Frames in Cornwall, was only treated for minor injuries at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, including
Brentwood's health trust is accused of failing in its duty towards mentally ill patients at Warley Hospital. Liberal Democrat borough councillor, Michael Taylor, made the allegation following a visit to the 150-year-old Victorian main building at Warley
Highly-respected non-league manager Gary Calder has this week taken over as manager of Billericay Town following the dramatic sacking of long serving John Kendall. Calder, who moves from Ryman League Premier Division rivals Enfield, has been given a five
Romford's Tony Moss won his second Group 'A' Hot-Rod Final in a week at Arena-Essex on Sunday - an extraordinary performance for a novice. He drove his immaculate Nova to perfection in the Short Circuit Spares Supreme Qualifier and never looked like being
A top Essex athletics coach yesterday turned to sports minister Tony Banks for help in getting better use of athletics facilities in Colchester. John Hyland, who runs the highly successful Colchester and Tendring ladies' team, has been frustrated by the
Clearview finished their campaign in the National Ladies Club League with a cliffhanger against Edgbaston Priory at the weekend. Their opponents, who have already qualified for the final, put out an under-strength team which allowed Clearview to mount
Terry Benson has made his first two signings since becoming Halstead manager. Benson has snapped up experienced players Mark Farmer and Peter Emerick to help Town in next season's Jewson Premier campaign. And he has strengthened his back up staff by bringing
Parents were yesterday assured their youngsters will not be pushed out of Wickford because of overflowing schools. Education chiefs attempted to set mums' minds at rest after a 370-signature petition was handed to county councillor Iris Pummell. The protesters
Panto fun came to Southend early when Gladiator Vogue abseiled down the side of the Cliffs Pavilion to deliver the first ticket for this year's pantomime - Jack and the Beanstalk. Vogue, alias Suzanne Cox, was joined by John Inman and Breeze radio presenter
Matt Holland put transfer rumours behind him to be at the birth of son Samuel Ryan, who weighed in at 8lbs, at Colchester General Hospital. Matt was with wife Paula who gave birth to her second boy. Samuel has an older brother in Jacob. The family are
A South African cricketer has travelled almost 6,000 miles to play village cricket for Hatfield Peverel - after learning of the club's existence on the internet. Dave Kirkpatrick, a 25-year-old all-rounder from Johannesburg club Jeppe Old Boys, is already
Heaton ward councillor Denis O'Flynn has thrown his weight behind angry residents' blitz on abandoned cars on the streets of Harold Hill. The issue flared up after two cars were set alight last weekend, in Coltsfoot Path and Harebell Way, both off of
A lottery windfall of more than £500,000 is set to benefit disabled people in the county. Chelmsford-based charity Essex Disabled People's Association (EDPA) is set to receive £560,021 from the National Lottery Charities Board in what is the largest amount
The row over working conditions on the site of the new British Telecom complex escalated this week - with fresh allegations about safety standards. Contractors returned to work at the Brentwood development, in London Road on Tuesday to face a picket line
A Billericay couple were yesterday vindicated after a government ombudsman found council workers guilty of maladministration. Planning bosses at Basildon Council were reeling after the damning attack on them from the local authority watchdog. The officials
A former Tendring councillor has been given the freedom of Warsaw for fighting to defend it during the Second World War. Tadeusz Staigl, 86, of Holland Road, Clacton, was in London for a ceremony where he received a medal and the freedom of the Polish
Over 120 top MX stars from all over the country will be at the Halstead & District Motor Cycle Club's Moto-Cross circuit on Sunday when the club hosts the fifth round of the Honda British Moto-Cross Championship at Little Loveney Hall in Wakes Colne
Billericay were hosts to Woodford Wells on Saturday at the Blunts Wall Road ground. Woodford Wells, having won the toss, decided to bat and openers Marshall and Gareth Jenkins built a solid base for a total sufficient enough to challenge the in-form Billericay
A lengthy Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League Annual General Meeting saw the league's long service award; the Rosebery/Pope & Smith award, presented to Richard Hiskey for his work as League Chairman over the last year and also for his outstanding
Members of Brentwood Swimming Clubs performed magnificently in the recent Southend Stone Trophy Gala. In a close fought battle, they finished second to Clacton, after beating Southend, Harwich and Witham. The U12 girls were unstoppable with Christie Mecklenburgh
A major summer advertising campaign is being thrashed out to encourage Londoners to sample the delights of Southend. Up to £150,000 will be spent on the campaign which will paint Southend as "London's favourite playground". LTS Rail, Peter Pan's Adventure
Holiday chaos could hit Stansted Airport at the start of the summer rush after a strike threat by staff. Industrial action could paralyse part of the airport's operation from July, if workers ballot for strike action. Check-in staff, dispatch workers
Harold Park welcomed Old Gravesendians as their guests to Raphael Park on Saturday, only for the weather to have the final word. Batting first, Park were given a tremendous start by openers David Fenton and Cliff Leondiou, who took 58 runs off the first
Essex Championship debuts were given to Tim Walton and Ricky Anderson in the match against Gloucestershire, and both impressed with their performances. Of Anderson, Essex vice-captain Ronnie Irani said: "He did well, applied himself well and it was great
