Ipswich will have Gary Croft available for tonight's Worthington Cup tie against Crewe after he completed his move to the club earlier today. The Blackburn Rovers player put pen to paper at Portman Road in a near-£1m deal this morning after a specialist
Colin Lewin, Colchester Harriers' number one triathlete, represented Great Britain in the ITT World Triathlon Championship in Montreal. Lewin, whose form has been his best ever in 1999, strode through the Canadian heat to finish tenth out of the 190 competitors
Swifts will be looking to bounce back from their sad FA Cup exit when they go to Aylesbury for a Ryman League Premier Division match on Saturday. Without the distraction of the cup, Swifts can now start to get their league form rolling, and there will
Caring for babies will be child's play for these Laindon youngsters - set to complete a course on babysitting! The ten 14- to 16-year olds girls are being taught how to feed, dress and wind babies as well as how to change nappies. These skills are being
This is the face of a cowardly mugger who targeted a woman in her 70s. Luckily a brave family witnessed the attack and managed to tackle him and get the victim's handbag and pension books back. The 72-year-old woman was in the Laindon Centre at about
The seeds of success have been planted at a Benfleet school, and its accolades just keep growing. Year eight pupils at the King John School in Shipwrights Drive, Benfleet, have picked up the area trophy in the Anglia in Bloom Greenfingers Challenge. The
Former Southend United chairman Vic Jobson fought for his life for ten days in a New York hospital, his son revealed today. The man who devoted so much to the Blues finally lost his battle on Sunday and his body has now been flown home for burial. Son
Another maternity service is to be closed due to a freak shortage of midwives. In-patient overnight stays are being stopped at William Julien Courtauld Hospital's maternity unit in Braintree so staff can cover for 18 pregnant midwives in clinics across
The headteacher of a school branded as failing its pupils today vowed to turn it around within the next 12 months. Graham Blois, head of Thorpe Bay School, was responding to criticism by Government inspectors who have placed the school on special measures
A former newsagent put a noose around the neck of a paperboy in a bid to find out about money which had supposedly gone missing. A court heard yesterday how Robert Robinson tightened the noose around the 16-year-old's neck and demanded to know the whereabouts
Bowled over - Darren Robinson (left) is congratulated by Ridley's managing director Greg Jephcott after being named as the brewery's player of the month for August. Darren scored 200 runs against the New Zealand at Chelmsford as Essex claimed their first
Essex all-rounder Graham Napier has vowed to come back better than ever following an operation to save his county cricket career. The England Under-19 international and Colchester and East Essex big-hitter underwent surgery for a long standing back injury
Stuart Law has signed a new contract with Essex which will see him parading his immense talent for th3e county for the next two years. The 30-year-old Australian batting star finally put pen to paper on Sunday - just 48 hours before he was due to fly
Colchester Ladies will be joining the country's elite when they compete in this year's Travelsphere National Club Bowling Championships at the weekend. Skip Brenda Brown and her Colchester team of ten will be doing battle with seven other clubs - Blackwell
Swifts began brightly, hoping to emulate similar FA Cup campaigns but the stalemate in this second qualifying round was broken by the visitors in the 18th minute, Trevor Paul netting courtesy of slack Swifts' defending. Swifts reacted well, a Tony Adcock
North Hill's bus lane should be recognised as a mistake and "put right", a councillor has said. Furious debate surrounded the issue of whether a controversial bus lane in Colchester should stay - but no final decision was reached on its fate. Colchester
Burnham Carnival is celebrating its 90th birthday this year with a brand new float for the carnival queen. The carnival on Saturday begins at 11am in Burnham High Street and promises to be an action-packed day of fun for all the family. In the morning
It could soon be time to literally get on your bike, if a new report aimed at improving the cycle paths in Braintree goes ahead. The cycle strategy, which has been put together by the planning department of Braintree District Council, aims to define routes
These cute little bunnies are looking for loving homes after their mum was dumped, pregnant and infested with maggots, at a Pitsea sanctuary. Derek Chittenden, who runs Basildon Bird Rescue Service from the garden of his home in Broomfields, found the
Benfleet showjumper Ricki Hill is set to sign off in style as a junior rider before he steps up a grade in a fortnight's time. The 15-year-old took a team bronze medal riding for England at the home international at the Wales and West Showground in Wales
Both Billericay Town and Canvey Island could be staging absorbing FA Cup final qualifying round games on Saturday, October 16. Victory at that stage would put the local Ryman League Premier Division duo among the big boys of the Nationwide League Second
Treat in store for soccer fans What a mouthwatering prospect we have got at Roots Hall this Saturday - the arrival of Barry Fry's Peterborough in a match which could see the winners go second in the table. Surely this will attract a bumper turnout - it
Tributes continued to pour in today to former Southend United chairman Vic Jobson, who died in America on Sunday. The ex-Blues supremo handed over the reigns of power at the Roots Hall club to Billericay-based property developer Martin Dawn plc last November
Despite the score line this was not the one-sided affair that the points may indicate and it was Burnham who started the stronger with confidence and for about 20 minutes had all the possession. It was only strong defence by Beccles and handling errors
BRAINTREE........................259-3 COPFORD................................135 By virtue of Saturday's abandoned match at Lakenheath, Braintree arrived at Copford on Sunday as Division Two champions. Despite winning the championship before a ball was
Eight-year-old Steven Sewell from Great Dunmow became East Anglian champion for his age group on Sunday at the Peter-borough Raceway after having easily won his three motos. The eight rider final was a close fought race with a visiting rider just crossing
Old Island Boys got their South-East Essex Sunday League season off to a perfect start with all three points in their local Canvey derby with Point Sports in Division One. Last term Point chased Old Island all the way in pursuit of the Third Division
Gipsies are still camped on land at Marks Tey despite assuring residents they would be gone in two weeks. About 25 caravans and mobile homes remain on the field off the A12 sliproad near Marks Tey Hall. But police and parish council leaders say there
Their shoes were made for walking - and that's just what 600 schoolgirls will do to raise money for a sixth form centre. Dressed as pop stars past and present, the students and staff of Colchester County High School for Girls will be pounding an eight-mile
The funeral of former model Rosemary Neale, who died from severe head injuries, will be held on Monday. Mrs Neale, 52, was found lying unconscious in a first-floor flat in St Peter's Street, Colchester, on September 2. She died later at Colchester General
A have-a-go hero saved a women he saw screaming for help vowed today to do the same again - despite being punched and bitten by her attacker. Witham-based cabbie Richard Hearn was attacked when he tried to help the woman, who was being dragged by a man
A woman was allegedly subjected to a rape by a man on home leave from prison. The 52-year-old woman had become friends with Roddy Henry, 39, while he was serving a prison sentence. But a jury at Chelmsford Crown Court heard yesterday how Henry allegedly
Police are appealing for a teenager who went missing to get in touch. Holly Sale, 15, has not been seen for two weeks and police are becoming concerned for her safety. Holly, of Maplin Way, Shoebury, was last seen leaving her parents' house at around
Three fire engines were called to Ford's research facility at Dunton last night after a test vehicle caught fire. The west wing's sprinkler system quickly put out the blaze. Two fire engines from Basildon and one from Brentwood were called to the fire
Parents could be banned from driving if their children ride off-road motorbikes on the roads. Canvey police officers, determined to stamp out the menace, have revealed that courts can punish parents as official owners of the machines, by slapping penalty
"Play for me and Colchester United or get out!" Angry U's boss Steve Whitton issued that ultimatum to his players after watching them slip to second from bottom in Division Two following another below-par display away to new table-toppers Burnley. Whitton
A mum found to be two-and-half times the drink drive limit, claimed she was unaware she was drunk because her drinks were tampered with. Rachel Greenwood, 29, told Southend Magistrates' Court she did not realise her drinks were being spiked when she was
Frustrated caravan owners in Shoebury have urged councillors to cut out rowdy behaviour at a nearby car park. Almost 50 people from East Beach Caravan Park, have signed a petition to get barbecues banned at a nearby car park. Caravan owners have complained
A project to overcome graffiti which has proved to be a success in Shoebury could soon be helping to reduce the problem in Rochford. Murals have been painted at the Friars underpass in Shoebury and the second stage of the scheme is due to be opened on
JANE O'CONNELL puts on her best face to talk to Helen Frampton, make-up artist to the stars and now a lecturer and a mum Liz Hurley, Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista - Battlesbridge hair and make-up artist Helen Frampton has worked with the cream of 1990s
Hundreds of people have signed a petition in a bid to save a Colchester petrol station from being sold off. News that Shell was proposing to sell its service station on East Hill was announced to staff in a letter earlier this month. Since then between
Southend Rugby Club today hailed a triple transfer coup as three exciting overseas players joined their bid to transform trauma into triumph. The seasiders lost all their games in London League Division One last season after many of their stars departed
He has the most unlikely job for a slight, educated and quietly-spoken man. TOM KING meets the smallest doorman in clubland Gordon Nutley, 36, is known in clubland as "the littlest doorman in Essex." Gordon makes no attempt to deny the label. With his
The ladies at the Forresters Golf Club played their autumn meeting competition which consisted of 18 hole strokeplay in the morning and afternoon a nine hole permutation stableford two from three. Mornings results winner was Muriel Loveridge net 69, second
All eyes will be on Witham Town's Spa Road ground tonight when the managerless Ryman League division two side take on Cheshunt in an FA Cup replay. Witham, under caretaker-manager Chas Stevens, picked up an excellent 0-0 draw in Hertfordshire on Saturday
Stuart Law and Ronnie Irani are the 1999 winners of the Essex Boundary Club's batsman and bowler of the year supporters' trophies. The awards go to the batsman and bowler who score the most runs and take the most wickets for Essex in Championship, one-day
Steve Whitton is set to sign Brighton midfielder Andy Arnott as part of his bid to pull Colchester United away from the relegation places. Whitton said today he was hoping to sign the 26-year-old powerfully-built former Manchester United loanee in time
Brilliant Rochford saw off their Division Three rivals in style, scoring nine tries in an entertaining NPI Cup display of running rugby in front of an appreciative crowd at Magnolia Road. From the kick-off, the home side dictated play from lineouts and
They could not have cut it any finer and with almost the last kick of the match Braintree grabbed the decider to move up to second place in the Division One table. Having met twice already in the FA Cup, this was the third time the teams had faced each
Police in Harwich today appealed for help to find a missing teenager. Gary Foster, 18, of Church Hill, Ramsey, was last seen when he left his family home shortly after 11.30pm on Sunday September 12. Gary is believed to have gone missing before but never
Environmental campaigners in Harwich have said they are "cautiously encouraged" by the results of a survey which show Harwich beach to be cleaner than last year. This year's beach watch survey was conducted on Sunday over a 100-metre stretch to the north
The ancient art of ploughing is alive and well, it was proved in Rochford. More than 80 people took part in Rochford Hundred Agricultural Society's Annual Ploughing Match and Farmer's Crop Competition. The contest at Little Hall Farms, Great Stambridge
High Street giant Marks and Spencer is to have a major refit at its Southend store. News the store is to get a £130,000 refurbishment comes just a week after the £1 million Littlewoods facelift. The future continues to look good for the town centre. Next
The father of a young electrician who had his arm amputated after an 80mph car crash said he hoped it would serve as a warning to others. The car, driven by his friend Martin Green, smashed through a fence on to mud flats with front seat passenger Neil
Youngsters in Clacton are missing out on their education because the town's primary schools are full. A total of 17 pupils are at home because they cannot be found places in local schools. And they could be off school for weeks and even months while a
Senior citizens' groups today reacted angrily to the news that round-the-clock residential care for the elderly could be scrapped. Basildon Age Concern chairman David Downton said the proposals were "unacceptable", and former Basildon Council chairman
Southend United Supporters Club, obviously boosted by the great recent run of their Roots Hall heroes, got their own Southend Sunday League Premier Division season off to a winning start with a 6-0 success at Rayleigh Avenue. M Smith, Wilkins and Benson
What an arresting line-up! These policewomen from Clacton were more than a little miffed when they spotted an advert for Virgin Atlantic which referred to a "surprisingly beautiful policewoman". They wrote to Richard Branson to put him in the dock - but
Quick-thinking police officers stopped a man from killing himself and may have prevented a gas explosion. The policemen were called to the incident at Wilshire Avenue, Chelmsford, at 6.30pm on Saturday after reports the man had intended to kill himself
Medical experts will be helping to dispose of drug users' needles and syringes as part of a new safety scheme. Under the scheme, launched by Braintree Council, a team of medical professionals will be called in to arrange proper disposal of used syringes
A road rage driver who beat up another motorist in a "moment of madness" was today behind bars. Barry Jones, 29, of Southchurch Road, Southend, was jailed for 12 months after pleaded guilty at Basildon Crown Court to causing 58-year-old financial adviser
Worshippers at a Billericay church may have their prayers answered if plans for long-awaited church halls are given the go-ahead. The £500,000 project at Emmanuel Church, Laindon Road, will complete an ambitious complex on the site of the old Archer Hall
Ipswich Town manager George Burley refused to be downbeat after watching his side tumble to defeat against Birmingham. A hotly-contested and sometimes volatile match was settled by a controversial penalty in the 11th minute. Manuel Thetis, who made way
Essex saved their best until last as they produced the recovery of the season to beat Nottinghamshire by 120 runs in their final championship clash of the campaign. They became the only team this summer to emerge triumphant after being asked to follow
Although scoreless this was an exciting cup tie on Saturday and a good result for Witham considering that the last time they met, Cheshunt won 7-2 on the first day of the season. Caretaker manager Chas Stevens made new signing Rudi Hedman his captain,
Braintree's hopes of a money-spinning cup run were dashed in wet and windy Suffolk on Saturday at the hands of a committed and well drilled Newmarket outfit. Matt Wadforth's makeshift side had an uphill task on their hands even before battle commenced
One of the oldest businesses in Southend will close next week. Curtis Shoe Fitters, of Alexandra Street, has been a family firm for more than 100 years and owner Jill Curtis is devastated she will be shutting up shop for the last time on Tuesday. She
