A dog was today recovering after eating deadly slug pellets believed to have been planted by animal haters. Ronica Venus was forced to rush her 11-year-old golden labrador Samson to the vets after he started vomiting violently. She had earlier taken him
Hundreds of people across mid Essex were left without electricity after lightning struck power supplies. The powerful storm hit in the early hours of Saturday morning, and caused a number of power cuts across the Braintree area. Between 200 and 250 households
A family returned from walking their dogs to see their garage destroyed in a blaze. Firefighters acted quickly to stop the garage blaze destroying the family's home in Park Avenue, Canvey. Crews from the island's fire station were called to the detached
Superstardom could be just around the corner for a teenage actor from Hatfield Peverel. Oliver Jones, 16, landed himself a part in a rock and roll version of Romeo and Juliet with theatre company Pinpoint Productions. He hoped to clinch the lead role
Devious Annette Russill disguised herself as an elderly Southend spinster in a plot to fiddle a £1.8 million will, a court heard. She put on a wig and clothes to pretend she was 87-year-old Annie Kay - who later died in March 1997 - so she could rewrite
A new directive aimed at protecting young bowlers from injury has been causing confusion among league clubs. The England and Wales Cricket Board has introduced restrictions on the number of overs a young fast bowler can bowl and has also issued instructions
Ipswich Town pair James Scowcroft and Titus Bramble have both signed new four-year contracts. The fresh deals will keep them at Portman Road until June 2003 and boost the club's chances of reaching the Premiership next season. Boss George Burley said:
Horndon 187 Walthamstow 93 (Horndon won) Horndon looked in trouble in Division One at 93-8 but were rescued by an "Alex Tudor style" recovery, with number nine batsman Mark Warren wading in with an unbeaten 53. Lowly hosts Walthamstow were always struggling
Essex were sent crashing to another National League defeat at Old Trafford where Lancashire coasted home by seven-wickets after being left a modest target of 169. Brittle batting once again explains why the County were unable to make a decent fight of
Former West Ham supremo Peter Storrie was to be named as Southend United's new chief executive yesterday. After months of top secret negotiations This Is Essex can reveal that Storrie, who quit Upton Park in May, was due to officially join the Third Division
Southend High for Girls and King John, Thundersley, are revelling in being national schools' athletic champions of England. While Southend High were winning the junior girls' title on Saturday, King John triumphed in the similar boys' competition - sharing
It was not an ideal day to be driving a convertible! Torrential rain caused chaos around the Braintree district as roads and homes were flooded. Severe storms caused freak flash floods making some roads impassable to the north of Braintree - causing major
Hundreds of worshippers took part in the annual Bradwell pilgrimage. The Christian event saw about 2,000 people take part in the pilgrimage, which began with the opening worship at Bradwell Church on Saturday. The pilgrimage marks the arrival in the Seventh
Images of stark, grey institutionalised drabness have been swept away at Runwell Hospital - thanks to the decorator's paintbrush and some inspired imagination. The first phase of a £1.7 million project to transform living conditions for seriously-ill
A Rayleigh dry cleaner's is open again today - days after its shop was virtually demolished by a bus. Assistant Maureen Briggs was shocked but otherwise unhurt when the single decker came crashing through the wall of the shop in Station Road. The Thamesway
A terrified teenage flower seller flagged down a passing motorist for help after two youths threatened to "smash" his face in. The 14-year-old, from Pitsea, was operating a flower stall on the Lower Dunton Road, Basildon, outside the Ford Dunton plant
Chalvedon were again overall champions at the Basildon senior schools' district athletic championships, staged at Gloucester Park. They triumphed on 1018 points from Mayflower, Billlericay, on 792 with Billericay third on 579. For boys' events, Chalvedon's
MALDON IV.......................................146 all out GREAT BENTLEY....................................147-9 (Great Bentley won by one wicket) Maldon's fourth team made the journey to Great Bentley whose main claim to fame is having the largest
Shoebury Park's Kevin Watkins, rated a good bet for honours before the singles began at the Midland Bank sponsored Southend Men's Open Bowls Tournament, is living up to that billing. When play got underway in the United Friendly Trophy yesterday, Watkins
This Is Essex partner paper the Evening Gazette has linked up with Colchester United to sponsor the main stand at the U's Layer Road ground. And the deal, worth almost £10,000, will give readers the chance to win tickets to watch the U's in League and
Harwich was host to a prince and a fleet of vintage cars which were taking part in a charity rally. Prince Michael of Kent, pictured right, is heading a 3,000 mile drive across five countries to raise money for the charity the Friends of Russian Children
An Essex-based company has been acquired in a £550 million deal. From today Cable and Wireless, in Duke Street, Chelmsford, will join Bermuda-based Global Crossing, owner and operator of the first independent fibre optic network. Cable and Wireless Global
Rural route bus drivers have been sent back to school to brush up on their customer service skills. Drivers from Essex's Village Link services are being shown how to best respond to passengers needing help with buggies, luggage, heavy shopping, walking
Commuters faced mounting delays today after a freight train broke down at Hatfield Peverel station. The problems began when one of the train's wagons split from another. For safety reasons it could not be moved. The first Colchester to London train at
Bookworms in Essex are being treated to one of the best library services in the country, it has been revealed. And almost half the people living in county used their library cards last year. Statistics presented to the county's library committee showed
Angry residents have demanded more facilities for children who have been over-running their estate. Last night's meeting on Clacton's Cann Hall estate heard a disused field and a youth club could be among the possible solutions. About 50 people crowded
A last-ditch attempt at averting strike action at Stansted Airport was being made this afternoon. Some 230 Servisair check-in staff, dispatch workers and clerical staff who are members of the GMB union have already rejected a 2.4 per cent pay offer and
English Nature is supporting Essex Biodiversity Week today at Tiptree Heath site of special scientific interest. Tiptree Heath is the county's largest surviving heathland where drastic management works have had to be undertaken to restore areas of heath
Pensioners at a Canvey care home were today facing an uncertain future after learning it will close at the end of the month. The 16 residents of Beveland Lodge, aged between 76 and 98, will be forced to find another home when it shuts its doors on July
Braintree Foyer welcomes a new face this week - Tyneside-born Terry Armstrong. Terry, 53, is new training co-ordinator at the housing and training scheme for young people aged between 16 and 25. After 22 years in the RAF as an aircraft technician, Terry
Wimbledon goalkeeper Brian Parkin was ready to stake a claim for a new career with Colchester United yesterday. But the Selhurst Park deputy to the Dons Scottish international Neil Sullivan could be put under pressure from former Spurs keeper Simon Brown
Peter West claimed a unique double in the Colchester 10km road race titleon Sunday. The Colchester Harriers ace recorded a time of 34 minutes 22 seconds to come in ahead of Colin Pitts (34.37) and Tom Payn (35.41) in the men's event. And it was his win
Police officers were needed to break-up a huge pub brawl which left more than 20 people injured. Violence broke out at the Bread and Cheese pub, London Road, Thundersley, at closing time on Saturday. During the fight between drinkers and a stag party,
Cash-strapped schools have condemned plans to spend more than £250,000 on academic research instead of saving teachers' jobs. Education chiefs want to spend £262,000 funding a three-year-long political study at Essex University - enough to pay ten top-level
Chelmsford Enterprise Agency held another successful Women in Business seminar this month. The seminar was on stress management, time management and confidence building, sponsored by Barclays Bank. Carmel Briggs gave a lecture on relaxation, visualisation
Potentially deadly asbestos has been uncovered by contractors working at Runwell Hospital. The material - believed to be the more hazardous blue variety - was found in ducts in a corridor of the Wickford hospital's medium secure wing which is being renovated
Colchester students will be able to save up to £240 a year on travel costs from this autumn. The cost-cutting trial follows a deal between Colchester Sixth Form College and First Group, the bus and train operator. Students will qualify for savings of
A playing field that has been protected from development in a pioneering land deal could set an example in the fight to save the British countryside, campaigners said today. Protesters gathered at Sweyne Park playing field in Rayleigh today, the only
A family torn apart by a senseless killing five years ago are still struggling to put the tragedy behind them. Psychiatric patient Karl Edgley, who fatally stabbed young Basildon dad Paul Smith, has been locked away indefinitely after finally being declared
Police are hunting a man who indecently assaulted an 11-year-old boy on Hadleigh Downs. The young boy was playing football near Hadleigh Castle with a friend when the man approached the pair and joined the game. The man then indecently assaulted one of
A race against time helped a farmer achieve fame by creating the world's largest maze - but only for 24 hours. David Partridge, who owns Rochester Farm in Great Leighs, near Braintree, could find himself in the Guinness Book of Records for his 4.2 mile
Lonely hearts rapist Sean Walker faces a long prison sentence after being convicted of hideous sex attacks on three former girlfriends. The length of the sentence will be decided after Walker has been examined by two psychiatrists -- one independent,
Up to 500 new jobs were promised today by the first bidder to declare a hand in the high-stakes competition for Shoebury Garrison. The key plan to revive and regenerate the derelict barracks and vast land holding was revealed as a catering college and
Two warm summer nights and music to suit all tastes combined to make Maldon's fifth PROM FANTASIA 99 a soaraway hit. Although audience figures at Saturday evening's pop concert were down on last year, organisers, Maldon District Council, say it allowed
Billericay residents were today celebrating after people power forced a phone giant to ditch controversial mast plans. Residents teamed up to bombard Anglian Water, which owns the site, with letters of objection. Bosses from the firm came down to look
Basildon looks set to house one of the biggest cinemas in the country, if ambitious plans are given the go-ahead tonight. UCI bosses have applied to expand their Festival Leisure Park multiplex to 20 screens, making it the third largest complex in the
A grieving father today paid tribute to his daughter who died tragically of a brain haemorrhage, aged just 18. David Southern said daughter Michelle, of West Avenue, Clacton, had just started her first full-time job. And she was planning to surprise her
Intruders have escaped with four young turkeys and chicken eggs from Dedham Rare Breeds Farm. Owner Peter Harris thinks the burglars, who may have been responsible for similar raids in the past, knew what they were after. The birds taken were black Norfolk
A boy left with severe disabilities after being starved of oxygen at birth has been awarded almost £3 million compensation by the High Court. Now the grandmother of James Aston, six, has said the £2.9m awarded to him was a "just" figure. James, of Longshots
A pregnant woman had to be rescued by medics after she was trapped in her home by a mudslide caused by flash flooding. The woman raised the alarm at 6pm yesterday after storms lashed her home in Wethersfield Road, Sible Hedingham. An ambulance service
Thirteen-year-old Chelmsford chess prodigy Alastair Hung (above) will be taking on UK Grand Masters Matthew Saddler and John Speelman in the UK chess championships at Nottingham University this month. And in August he will be taking part in the British
Nasser Hussain admits to having had a baptism of fire in his first game as England cricket captain. After leading his country to a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the First Test at Edgbaston, Essex skipper Hussain admitted: "I thought it might take
A bright new talent has become the first guitarist to scoop the prestigious title of Essex young musician of the year. Clive Carroll, 24, of Blackmore End, Braintree, beat off stiff competition to win the £500 prize money. The competition attracted top
A public exhibition is to be set up to find a solution to the accident blackspot at Foley Corner, High Garrett, in Braintree. Councillors at Braintree District Council's Braintree area committee last week rejected Essex County Council recommendations
The owner of a popular Southend nightspot has praised staff for leading customers to safety after two fires in less than a week. Robin Levy, of Baker's Bar, said customers were not in danger during the two incidents - sparked by electrical fires in the
STOWMARKET..............................85 all out BRAINTREE............................................86-2 (Braintree won by eight wickets) (Jaygate Homes Championship Division Two) Braintree bounced back from the disappointment of their first defeat
Most of the region's professional and leading amateur golfers have been taking part in the pre-qualifying rounds for this year's Open. Clacton Golf Club playing professional Andy Duffin made it through to the next qualifying round after a superb 67, at
He's the greatest grasscourt player ever. That is the verdict on Pete Sampras by the man whose Grand Slam singles record the fast-serving American has just equalled - Roy Emerson. Both Emerson, in the 1960s, and Sampras in the 1990s, have won 12 Grand
This Is Essex partner paper the Evening Gazette has linked up with Colchester United to sponsor the main stand at the U's Layer Road ground. And the deal, worth almost £10,000, will give readers the chance to win tickets to watch the U's in League and
Basildon 124 Harlow 125-4 (Harlow won) Outstanding batting side Harlow left struggling Basildon nursing another Mopsies Park setback after the home outfit had been dismissed for 124. An outstanding knock by Steve Parker (54) helped Basildon along and
In the ever popular "Constable Country" five-mile race at Stratford St Mary, Tiptree Road Runners turned out in force and Malcolm Bailey led the 'Reds' with a good effort to finish just outside the 31 minute mark. Deb Childs produced another personal
Of their last five matches, Hunters Carpet Bowls Club have won just one, this being at home to Notley Green. They have lost at home to Pleshey and at Little Waltham and Stisted. Hunters' latest encounter was a return match at Pleshey, with eight games
Chalvedon were again overall champions at the Basildon senior schools' district athletic championships, staged at Gloucester Park. They triumphed on 1018 points from Mayflower, Billlericay, on 792 with Billericay third on 579. For boys' events, Chalvedon's
Colchester United fans were handed another boost today with the news there could be up to five Division Two games switched to Friday nights at Layer Road this season. U's managing director Stephen Gage revealed the move just four days after the club said
A cat which went walkabout the day before its owner went on holiday has been found safe and sound. Jane McCausland, of New Road, Stanway, put off the packing on Friday night when Alice the Persian puss did not come home. Mrs McCausland, who has eight
An invention which could have netted a fortune for a ten-year-old schoolboy is to appear on the market because someone else beat him to it. Benjamin Fitch dreamed of the future of dental hygiene in the form of a toothbrush with a built-in supply of toothpaste
A problem-plagued corruption trial involving a former Maldon mayor has been put off again. Ron Daws, now of Hasketon, Suffolk, and property developer Stephen Sibley of High Street, Thorpe-le-Soken, had been due to face a jury at Chelmsford Crown Court
Firefighters went to the rescue of a toddler who was accidentally locked in his home. The boy's mother had gone to put some rubbish out thinking the front door was latched but it slammed shut behind her. Crews from Dovercourt were called to help out at
The prospect of a town centre pub in Frinton remains open all hours. But it will certainly be well into the millennium before the first pint is pulled. And in the meantime the large former ironmongers in the genteel resort's only shopping street is set
Dog owners are being asked to keep their animals on a lead after one savaged a cygnet in Dovercourt. Stephanie Tyrer, chairman of the Harwich Environmental Action Team, said the baby swan which was killed was one of five which lived on the boating lake
A woman has been jailed for her part in an incident where her boyfriend slashed another man with a knife and robbed him. Clare Parobij received a 12-month sentence when she appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday on theft, deception and offensive
The number of police officers in Essex has fallen by 70 in just two years, it was revealed today. The figures equal a cut in percentage terms of three times more than the national reduction. Government statistics show on March 31 there were 2,891 police
Price wars at Stansted Airport look set to intensify after low-cost carrier EasyJet announced it would be flying out of the centre. It joins rival Go at the Essex airport - which could mean a bargain bonanza for passengers. The Luton-based airline, headed
TOM KING meets the landlord of the latest Pub of the Year, John Vereker, of the Bell Inn at Horndon on the Hill Mine hosts, the genuine, merry, roaring, high-living, warm-blooded, wide-girthed good old boys who hold court like princelings of hearty fare
Got to sing? Got to dance? If your child is a budding star then Sandie Singer would like to hear from you. Sandie is one of the few selected casting agents who places children into West End shows, and she has recently set up on her own, after a period
