Versace, Moss Bros and Nike are coming to Braintree. The designer wear, suit and sports giants are three big names signed up for the Freeport Leisure Factory Shopping Village which is on course to open at the beginning of November. And with 90 per cent
A cash bonanza could be on the cards for traders - thanks to hot-rod fans. Braintree businesses could benefit after it was revealed the town has been officially named one of the planet's most famous venues for enthusiasts of hot-rods - made popular in
A unique experiment is being carried out to try cure a poorly pooch's allergy to modern day living. Scientists hope they have finally cracked the cause of a Yorkshire Terrier's catalogue of canine complaints. Experts at London firm Kiltox Chemicals claim
Thirteen may be an unlucky number for some but not for this happy family. While others face missing holidays through the massive passport crisis, Paul and Julie Oliver and their children are heading for the sun - and it took them only 13 days to get their
Widow Annette Russill, who admitted forgery in a £1.8 million will scam, told a jury: "I cannot read or write." Russill, 65, said she traced the signature of Southend heiress Annie Kay, then practised the signature every spare moment. She used the signature
The mother of train crash victim Peter Kavanagh has spoken of her breast cancer ordeal, as she struggled to overcome the cruel side effects of her illness. Maureen Kavanagh was diagnosed almost exactly a year to the day after 29-year-old Peter died in
A new £148m hospital, bringing together services provided by Oldchurch Hospital, Romford and Harold Wood Hospital, has got the green light. The news was announced by Prime Minister, Tony Blair, who included the Havering Hospitals NHS Trust and Havering
Tatem Park, Enfield, was the venue for a rollerspeed skating meeting hosted by London Rollerspeed Skating Club on Sunday at which skaters from the ECL Consultants Ltd sponsored South Woodham Ferrers & Wickford Rollerspeed Skating Club attended, on
SPARTAN.............................................97 all out HAROLD PARK..........................................98-4 (Harold Park won by six wickets) (Friendly) Harold Park met Spartan at Fairlop on Saturday in a 40 over friendly match and came away
Witnesses who may hold vital clues about a Westcliff stabbing have been urged to come forward. The victim, a 40-year-old man, is still in Southend Hospital, with stab wounds to his leg and back and a punctured lung. He also suffered bad bruising to his
A stash of weapons, including knives, was uncovered in the boot of a stolen car. The drama unfolded when a grey Ford Sierra Cosworth was taken from Waldegrave in Basildon on Wednesday. The Q-plate car - which had been specially built - is believed to
Nightclubs in south Essex which charge higher entry rates for men have denied claims they are guilty of sexual discrimination and breaking the law. Reduced entry rates for women have been common among nightclubs for years, and the new "all inclusive"
The small team of athletes from Dovedale Flyers Disabled Sports Club achieved great success at the BT National Junior Athletics Championships in Blackpool at the weekend. They came home with more medals than there were people, but the competition was
A couple from Dubai have bought a Clacton home over the internet - without ever stepping foot inside it. Neville and Ruth Sewell found the bungalow as a result of searching the net and after pressing a few buttons they have now nearly purchased it. Estate
Over the past 12 months more than 200 goldfish have disappeared from the fountain at Brightlingsea. And fountain keeper Roy Birnie has identified the thief - a heron. "It is only one as they are very territorial and this one must be the fattest for miles
Ralph Coates will be remembered by many football fans for his wing play for Burnley, Tottenham Hotspur and England in the 1970's. Ralph hung up his football boots some time ago, but has not lost his sporting touch, as he was recently appointed the new
Saturday saw Essex engaged in a day/night National League affair against Lancashire at Old Trafford, and the visitors lost out by a seven wicket margin It was certainly 'an all the fun of the fair' carnival atmosphere as pre-match entertainment included
The Adidas Greater London Leopards, along with their head coach Billy Mims, plan to conduct three camp sessions throughout the summer to use their talents to help the community. The sessions will run from July 26-30 at the Brentwood Centre, from August
TOM KING meets John Main, the East End boy made good who insists that he is the man to trust in the fickle world of football There are hot-seats, there are white hot seats, and there is the chairmanship of Southend United Football Club. John Main is the
The Clearview Indoor Tennis Centre is to be redeveloped and enhanced early in the Millennium. The Brentwood Council Planning committee agreed at its meeting last week to proposals to build a new six court indoor complex and with it three outdoor courts
A major breakfast presentation to launch a Witham Millennium Festival flopped when only 10 organisations and companies out of 560 invited bothered to turn up. But, say the organisers, Witham's council of churches, they are not giving up and are trying
A bid for security cameras in Dunmow, costing up to £50,000 looks set to be made by Uttlesford District Council. The council plans to make a bid to the Home Office for a share in a £170 million sum to be spent on Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) equipment
A mum who invented a hands-free hairdryer in frustration at trying to style her long tresses could be sitting on a goldmine. Several major companies have shown an interest in selling Laura Grant's product - but first she needs a backer. Laura, of Norsey
Last weekend saw the Eastern Region Under 19 Basketball Tournament come to Chelmsford for the first time and also saw Essex win for the first time. Top class junior men's and women's basketball ended with a superb victory for the home county when the
Bowlers beware! Stuart Hammond is on the warpath and he's hungry for more runs. The Eight Ash Green opener has already become the first batsman in the area to enjoy the glory of reaching 1,000 runs this season. Now the 25-year-old Jaygate Homes Two Counties
The dole queue is looming large for most of Joe Dunne's eight Layer Road team-mates who were handed "frees" along with the popular Dubliner at the end of last season. Only utility player Nicky Haydon, currently training with First Division Ipswich Town
Several years of planning, much running around and hard work will see the completion of the lights by the end of July. Several other changes have also taken place. After 21 seasons as first team manager Derek Stittle is becoming the club's general manager
Colchester United Wembley play-off final hero Joe Dunne could be forced to quit professional football and take a job outside the game. One of nine players handed free transfers by Colchester United 11 weeks ago, the former Republic of Ireland Under 21
Two Essex riders are on their way back to Wembley by virtue of having gained early qualification for national finals at the Horse of the Year Show, which is to be held in September. Lauley Squibb, 15, from South Weald, secured her place when she finished
The Five Lakes (Links) Golf Club will be celebrating its 25th anniversary with a special Stableford match on Saturday. Among the guests of the Tolleshunt Knights club will be 40 past captains, including the first - Steve Hunsdon - and the wife of original
It is not often you get a hole-in-one. But two members of Colchester Golf Club achieved the ultimate golfer's dream on the same day. Both men used five irons and for both it was the second ace in their golfing career. Terry Sambridge, a finance director
Having been overlooked for the First Test match, Essex's Peter Such sent a timely reminder to the England selectors of his continued will being and form with his 13 wicket haul of wickets against Lancashire. In the last Test that he played, in January
Twenty-two Springfield Striders competed in the Constable Country Five on Friday evening. In hot and humid conditions, Dave Norman I was the only Strider to break 30 minutes, but was chased hard by Jamie Woodyard and John Beaumont. However, in the ladies
DIVISION ONE Old Chelmsfordians continue to set the pace, after their 219 for eight proved to be enough to beat Galleywood. A superb innings of 111 from Hodivala set the scene before tea, and after the break, Smith's four for seven from eight overs helped
Forget Becks and Posh or Edward and Sophie - one couple had the ultimate wedding reception ...in a chippy. John Featonby and Natalia Cuprienco knew exactly where they wanted to celebrate their marriage. They opted for John's workplace, M&A Fish Bar
Thorpe Bay's Percy Boxall was later today hoping to retain the triples title at the Midland Bank sponsored Southend Men's Open Bowls Tournament at Priory Park. In yesterday's quarter-finals Boxall, with the same line-up that reigned supreme last year,
Mum-to-be Stessa Short is hoping for the longest possible labour when her first baby is born next week. She's not a masochist - she merely wants to raise as much money as possible for the RSPCA so she has arranged for her labour to be sponsored! Stessa
A defiant mum has said she would rather go to court rather than see her daughter end up in the wrong school. Sharon Money's daughter, Karlene, 11, suffers from co-ordination and speech difficulties and a below average intelligence. A medical specialist
A virtual bus scheme could be coming to South Green in a bid to combat school parking problems. Parents would park up in a designated parking area and volunteers would then walk the children to school. Parents who volunteer would ensure the "bus" party
One of the stars of this year's hottest new movie will be appearing at a Basildon sci-fi fair this weekend. Hugh Quarshie, who plays Captain Panaka, head of the Queen's security, in Star Wars Episode One - The Phantom Menace, will make his first European
SALLY KING finds Billericay's Citizen of the Year John Stevenson has gone from a top pop band to leading one of the country's best school orchestras This year's Billericay Citizen of the Year is a softly spoken Scotsman from Fife. Not only was John Stevenson
TOM KING meets a Basildon group of friends whose main love in life is . . . the flowering pelargonium Most of us love pelargoniums, even if we embarrass them by calling them geraniums. Not everyone, however, would take the love of the livid blossom so
Angry Billericay councillors have slammed Basildon Council's decision to ignore fierce local opposition to a new pub on the High Street and give the developers the all clear. National pub chain JD Wetherspoon's plans for a real ale bar on the site of
A shocked motorist was punched on the nose as he found himself the victim of an attempted car-jacking. The Canvey man was driving along London Road, Vange, in the early hours of Thursday morning when two men forced him to stop. Det Con Doug Garton of
Resurgent Hadleigh, so close to winning a Premier Division spot last season, make three changes tomorrow when their full-strength team face one of the stiffest trips of their promotion bid. Hadleigh's fit-again opening pace attack of Elliott Wilson and
The massive former Yardley factory site could be split up and sold to different companies. Councillors will tonight decide what planning rules to make should receivers KPMG find a buyer not wishing to take on the whole sprawling site, which measures at
Oscar- winner Jan Pinkava is to show his award-winning film in Colchester - only the second time it will have been shown in public in the UK. Colchester Royal Grammar School is hosting the special event for its ex-pupil, including a presentation by the
A disabled woman, who has been housebound for ten years, has had her lifeline snatched away by an archaic law. Doris Barker, 75, of Laindon, has been severely disabled since contracting TB in her knee when she was five. She recovered enough to get married
BRENTWOOD I................................181 all out COLCHESTER I.......................................174-8 (Match drawn) (Shepherd Neame Essex League Division One) Following on from their excellent batting performance the previous week, Brentwood
Havering Council has given the go-ahead for a new housing estate to be built on derelict land near Spilsby Road, Harold Hill. A total of 97 dwellings will be built, ranging from one-bedroom flats to three and four-storey houses erected on the land which
A familiar figure has returned to the Essex coastline. Radio Caroline has moored up at the end of Southend Pier and is readying itself for a month of 24-hour broadcasts beginning in July. GARY MAC boarded merchant vessel Ross Revenge - Caroline's home
Up to 300 new jobs will be created when a hi-tech company moves to Shoebury. Sala International has bought up the former Amstrad warehouse as part of a multi-million pound expansion plan. The announcement is a tremendous employment boost for the town
A father has told how he survived tropical storms and shark-infested waters to bring his family's yacht back to Essex. Four years ago the Francis family from East Mersea sold up their business, rented out their home and set off on their dream - a round
Richard Branson wants to bring his new leisure empire to Thundersley - and the planned complex would be the first of its kind in the south and only the fourth in the country. Virgin Active is Branson's newest company which aims to move away from the health
A 73-year-old jeweller was assaulted and beaten by a masked man during a £4,000 robbery at his shop in Burnham-on-Crouch, a court heard on Tuesday. At one stage, Harold Paine felt the raider "grinding his face against a workbench", Chelmsford Crown Court
The explosion of new home building around Braintree must slow down. That is the view of council planners and the leading environmental councillor spokesman, David Mann. He has given his backing to the council's demand that future housing development for
Rapist Sean Walker was recovering in prison today after a dramatic suicide attempt only minutes after being convicted. Walker, 29, was found in a pool of blood in his cell by security guards at Basildon Crown Court. He slashed an arm with his asthma inhaler
A vicious, unprovoked attack on a Maldon man has left him needing an operation on his face. Police are appealing for witnesses to the assault which happened when Christopher Cumbers, 42, had gone to buy food at the kebab shop in Mill Road, Maldon on Friday
A woman posing as a social worker conned her way into a family home and ordered two young children to strip to their nappies. The unnerving incident today prompted police to warn parents to be on their guard. Although the children in this case were not
Forget Becks and Posh or Edward and Sophie - one couple had the ultimate wedding reception ...in a chippy. John Featonby and Natalia Cuprienco knew exactly where they wanted to celebrate their marriage. They opted for John's workplace, M&A Fish Bar
The Killerwhales maintained their recent good form at the Southern Counties Championships at Crystal Palace. Stanford-le-Hope's Lee Wightwick, 14, shattered his personal bests and the opposition to win double gold. First was Lee's favoured 200m breaststroke
Members of the Glendene CC had a successful weekend to reflect upon. On Friday evening, at Welwyn Track, Richard Whitehorn, won the 'Devil Take the Hindmost' for the second successive week. In this race the last rider to cross the finish line on each
a father and son have been praised after they pulled two men from a blazing car. Wilf Braybrook, 76, of Foxearth, near Halstead, and his son, Graham, of Liston, Suffolk, dragged the men to safety after they spotted a car on fire. The pair carried out
HAINAULT & CLAYHALL I.159 all out BILLERICAY I...........................50 all out (Hainault & Clayhall won by 109 runs) (Shepherd Neame Essex League) </B? Billericay's run of good form that had seen them rise to second in the Premier League
Victorious England skipper Nasser Hussain will be back to lead Essex in their Championship clash against Glamorgan. His return could also coincide with that of Paul Prichard who is poised to open the innings in Cardiff today (Friday) following an absence
Braintree planning councillors have ordered a pollution check on a former village gas works which is being developed for housing. Approving the Gas Lane scheme in Coggeshall, councillors asked that a contamination clause - requiring testing and remedial
Three Chelmsford boys were left tearful at the windows of their homes as a coach-load of their pals zoomed off for a fun day in France - all because their passports had not arrived in time. Adam Langley, nine, a cub with the 15th Chelmsford was in tears
What a challenge! Garage owner Paul Acreman and his friend Angela Groves are preparing to jump straight into the hearts of these two children. The pair will be doing a 12,000ft tandem free fall to raise money for Leigh youngsters Abby Davis and Callum
Disappointed fundraisers today hit out at "petty" bureaucrats who have forced them to cancel a charity concert. The Lobster Smack Inn on Canvey was ready to welcome scores of people through its doors on Sunday to see the band Rock Solid. But police saw
A tragic accident was blamed for the deaths of two experienced anglers on a fishing trip. Life-long fisherman David Burns and Thomas Latchford died after a blaze broke out on their speedboat in freezing winter weather. Southend coroner Dr Peter Dean recorded
Several former Chelmsford City players will be playing with new clubs when the forthcoming season kicks off next month. Ex-City skipper Adrian Owers, who last season was with Sudbury Wanderers, and before that, Braintree Town, has joined Jewson League
Chelmsford's Thomas Weare has achieved every golfer's dream -- a hole-in-one -- and he is just 11 years old. Thomas's memorable shot came last week at the Hylands Golf Complex in Margaretting. Using a 5 iron, his 120 yards, hole-in-one was off the red
Chelmsford City players report back for pre-season training on Saturday and will immediately face a tough new fitness regime devised by the UK's leading athletic's trainer. City manager Gary Bellamy has called upon an old friend, John Thrower, who is
Chelmsford Chieftains have continued to negotiate for the forthcoming season and have made three more signings following last week's addition of netminder Simon Smith from Guildford. Chieftains welcome defender Craig Britton back to Riverside after a
Southend United boss Alan Little was preparing to throw his men to the Lions as Blues took on Millwall in a behind closed doors friendly. The Shrimpers have only been back in pre-season training for five days, but with the big Third Division kick-off
Maldon Yacht Club teenager Philip Marshall used the Snipe Open meeting at Broadstairs at the weekend as part of his build-up to the world junior championships. He borrowed brother Iain's Devoti-built Snipe, which he will be using for the junior worlds
Two hundred children took part in a Festival of hockey which was held over two days at Chelmsford Hockey Club's headquarters in Chelmer Park, Galleywood. The festival, organised by Mrs Janet Sutton and Mrs Sue Waspe, saw members of the E.H.L. club Chelmsford
ARDLEIGH GREEN I..................231-8 dec CHELMSFORD I..................................235-1 (Chelmsford won by nine wickets) (Shepherd Neame Essex League Division One) Chelmsford extended their lead at the top of the League on Saturday with a crushing
DIVISION TWO Herongate proved not to be a place for bowlers on Saturday, as their match with Laindon Taverners produced an astonishing total of 632 runs for the loss of only 12 wickets. Having been asked to bat, Taverners openers R. Brooks (68) and Trevor
PREMIER DIVISION Springfield continue to set the pace at the top of the league. Hosting Stock on a difficult wicket, Springfield initially restricted their visitors before bowling them out for 143 in the 45th and final over. Stuart Pinkerton top scored
One of non-league soccer's top local names, John Kendall, is the new manager of Schweppes Essex Senior League Basildon United. Kendall departed from Billericay Town at the end of last season after leading the New Lodge club from the depths of the Ryman
Southend Athletic Club stage the first section of their open meeting, which incorporates the club championships, at the Garon's Park Track on Sunday. Start time is 11.30am and the second half of the programme will take place on Saturday July 24. Spectators
A manager at Walton's troubled Columbine Centre has quit. Promotions and entertainments' manager Tony Longhurst has resigned after just two months in the job. He blamed problems with Frinton and Walton Town Council's leisure committee for his departure
Ambitious plans to set up a pleasure boat service between Canvey and London have been unveiled. The boats, which would dock at the jetty at Hole Haven, could bring many more visitors to the island. The service would also allow islanders to take a trip
The Southend to Fenchurch Street railway line - once dubbed the misery line - is set for a major relaunch, it was confirmed today. The line's new identity will be unveiled next Wednesday. Company directors have so far refused to confirm details of the
A family who hoped to open a Billericay caravan park today admitted they were disappointed their application had been turned down on appeal. Christopher Philpot, whose family run Barleylands Farm, said: "It is most unfortunate. We wanted to put 20 caravans
A community action group is being launched to crack down on crime in South Woodham. The group, consisting of members of the community with different areas of expertise, will be set up by the police to pool ideas and come up with effective ways of stamping
A foster carer has told how a teenager she was looking after was missing vital education because he could not get a place in a Clacton school. Nathan Tinkler, 14, is coming up to his GCSEs but has not been in the classroom since moving to Jaywick in May
If you're a bit of a '50s rocker at heart and you have some time to spare on a Friday evening the Twenty Flight Rock Club could be worth checking out. The club is situated within the Flights Leisure Centre, Aviation Way in Southend and has been running
