Budding young detectives have been discovering that cracking crime really is elementary. Twenty pupils at Grange Primary School, in Wickford, enjoyed the second session of a six-week course to teach them crime-busting techniques. As members of the new
WITHAM TOWN........................0 CHESHUNT....................................2 (AXA FA Cup Replay) After a first half with hardly a shot on goal at either end, all the action came in the last 15 minutes of this evenly matched game at Spa Road on Tuesday
SENIOR DIVISION ONE Bishops Stortford Swifts recorded a third win of the season when, at home to promoted Sandon Royals, they kept a clean sheet while scoring three through Campbell, Petrou with a penalty and Parnwell. SENIOR DIVISION TWO A local derby
CANVEY ISLAND.............7 CHELMSFORD................39 (NPI Cup) Chelmsford progressed into the second round with a sound win over Canvey Island from the league below. It was just seven minutes before Chelmsford got onto the score sheet. Paul Smith
A cat last seen being driven away in the back of a car has come home safe and well - thanks to This Is Essex partner paper the Echo. Owner Peter King, of Maldon Road, Southend, thought he might never see Ellie again as she was not wearing her collar when
Commuters will meet bus company bosses tonight in a bid to overturn a decision to axe more than a third of early-morning coaches from Southend to London. The passengers have called in their own pressure group, the Southend Bus Users' Group, in a bid to
Police were today hunting a gunman who brandished a firearm at customers inside a Hadleigh curry house. Officers were alerted by staff who saw the customer with the gun at the Star of India in Benfleet Road, Hadleigh, at around 12.55am on Saturday. Chief
Chelmsford City host Moor Green, unbeaten leaders of the Dr Martens Western Division, in the third round of the FA Cup this week. This tough test will be followed by an equally difficult FA Trophy tie against Sittingbourne a week later. "These next four
Nationwide Conference here we come! That could be the rather cheeky clarion call from Canvey Island to send shock waves through the non-league soccer world. Gulls have made meteoric progress from county soccer to the highest echelons of the Ryman League
Tim Mason, a 24-year-old off-spinner, has been signed by Essex on a two-year contract from Leicestershire. It is a move he will be hoping that leads to the same sort of success that Peter Such has enjoyed since he left Grace Road for Chelmsford nearly
A former headmaster has criticised the behaviour of pupils on a school bus. Roy Caddick described the behaviour of pupils who travel to Tendring Technology College's junior site at Thorpe as "appalling". And the Frinton councillor called for better supervision
Football thugs will meet their match today as a new law cracking down on hooliganism comes in to force. Under the new law, introduced by Chelmsford Conservative MP Simon Burns, the red card will be shown to fans shouting racist chants, ticket touts, and
Around 60 former factory homes may have facelifts after being offered free cash hand-outs. Braintree Council has offered up to £500 each to owners of Crittall houses on the east side of the town. The grants scheme aims to redecorate and repaint the outside
It was certainly great the way Southend United fans honoured the memory of ex-chairman Vic Jobson by observing the minute's silence before Saturday's game against Peterborough. There is no doubt that Jobson alienated himself from some supporters with
With their Essex hosts having gone five games without conceding a goal, Billericay Town were delighted to have grabbed two in this Ryman League Premier Division derby. The fact that the New Lodge side let in a couple themselves was not a disaster and
What a difference a week makes! Southend United, so industrious and threatening in their previous league match - a 4-1 home win over Halifax Town - were brought crashing down to earth with a deafening thump by Peterborough United at Roots Hall on Saturday
Visitors to Basildon's Gloucester Park were stunned to see top athlete Linford Christie dash by. But crowds soon gathered to watch the sports star give some coaching to 12-year-old Lauren Adair live on TV. The youngster was enjoying a quiet Saturday morning
Colchester United boss Steve Whitton today vowed to revive the club's flagging fortunes. The pledge came hard on the heels of Colchester's latest setback, when they slid to their fourth successive defeat. The U's crashed 1-0 at Millwall on Saturday to
A major revamp could be on the cards for a shopping centre under new plans unveiled today. The owner of Witham's Newlands precinct today revealed plans to create a new food store, leisure and restaurant complex at the site. Last September, the precinct
Antiques worth tens of thousands of pounds from the historic St Osyth Priory are due to go under the auctioneer's hammer. The list, which consists of mainly furniture, includes some items dating back as far as early 17th century. The items include a large
The fight is not over! That was the message from angry residents battling to protect prized Hockley woodland. Around 60 people packed Hockley public hall, in Bullwood Road, last night to vow to do all they can to stop a luxury housing development. Countryside
Owners of untidy land and buildings could soon be forced to clean up their act or face a £1,000 fine under a new crackdown by Southend Council. Councillors have agreed to enforcement notices being issued to people who allow their property to become seriously
Top marks have been awarded to a Colchester primary school in its Ofsted report. St John's Primary School, Clay Lane Grove, was said to have no major weaknesses. Inspectors said it provided very good leadership and management and it had an effective strategy
Members of the public are being urged not to panic over the rising numbers of dirty needles and syringes being discarded by drug users in and around Colchester. So far this year, 71 have been discovered in the area and there is a particular problem in
A register of troublemaking youths is being held by Colchester police. Each time an officer arrives at an incident involving nuisance youths the names of all the people present will be recorded. If the name appears a second time, police will send a letter
Basildon councillors have decided not to adopt a Government Act to stop dogs fouling, because they think it would be too difficult to enforce. A campaign to educate people was voted for instead at last night's environment committee meeting. It was estimated
Builders and handymen are being warned not to leave the tools of their trade in their vehicles following a spate of thefts. Vans appear to have been targeted across the Basildon area and police are concerned at the growing number of losses. A police spokesman
Ipswich Town hero Gary Croft said it was just nice to be back after spending the best part of a year in the soccer wilderness. Croft, who scored the winning goal on his debut in yesterday's 2-1 win over Manchester City at Portman Road, fell out of favour
Business optimism has taken an upward swing in Basildon - making it the place to be for employers. New developments are springing up and companies are encouraged to move into the area, with multi-million pound developments such as the Festival Leisure
TOM KING is taken back to the days when a day in the country entailed a chauffeur-driven car The photograph displayed above, taken in the back-streets of Westcliff, is being published for the first time. It dates from about 1937, and shows what was -
A hunt horse had to be put down at the roadside after it was in a collision with a car. Jeremy Moore, 41, of School Road, Messing, was riding with the Essex Farmers' Union Hunt when his horse, Tuppence, was hit near Peverel Hall, West Hanningfield Road
PREMIER DIVISION Little Waltham played hosts to White Notley who coming off the back of a 1-1 draw last week with Heybridge Social. No-one expected the score to be so emphatic, Notley going down 7-3. Coggeshall Town at home to Cherry Tree Sports pulled
PREMIER DIVISION Tillingham gained a narrow victory over their hosts Burnham Ramblers . John Curtis gave the Ramblers the lead equalised by Paul Henson and an own goal by Martin Hatcher put Tillingham ahead at the interval. Tony Wilkin equalised but Andy
AYLESBURY UNITED.....................................1 CHELMSFORD CITY......................................3 (AXA FA Cup Second Qualifying Round) This was an excellent performance by a City side that played the better football throughout, scoring three
TOM KING finds that dance teacher Michaela Headford has grabbed success from the jaws of personal disaster after an accident ended her own promising dancing career Michaela Headford, principal of South East Theatre School, was on holiday in Spain and
When the manager of Essex University day nursery heard one of her staff was pregnant she was over the moon. But when another five of her nursery nurses told her they were all looking forward to becoming mums too, Elaine Dixon began to think there must
The cost of forking out for day care could mean a Westcliff football supporter has to miss the highlight of his week at Roots Hall. David Wright, 24, who has Downs syndrome, surprised even his parents when he spoke at a meeting called to discuss charges
The threat of date rape is being tackled at a Colchester college after two students had their drinks spiked with drugs. Two women at Colchester Institute said they had a narrow escape last year when they realised their drinks had been contaminated with
It took a decade of sweat and toil - but Ramsden Heath's modern village hall is now open. Dignitaries including Lord Paul Hanningfield and local councillors cut the red ribbon and unveiled a brass plaque to officially open the new building in Dowsett
Chelmsford Chieftains stuttered to a far from convincing victory over bottom club Cardiff Rage last Saturday. Chieftains were without captain Karl Rogers and also Andy Hannah, Tari Suwari and Dan Oliver against a side whose average age was less than 20
A top south Essex footballer was today struggling to come to terms with his son's death following a brutal stabbing. Tony Mahoney, who played professionally for Fulham and Notts County, was said to be "very distraught" at the horrific news, broken to
Chelmsford Canoe Club once again qualified for a chance to compete in the finals for the Hasler Trophy this season. They were one of the top four Eastern Region clubs to attend, the others being Bishop Stortford, Barking and Dagenham and Leighton Buzzard
Ben Ainslie, Britain's 1996 Olympic silver medallist and reigning world Laser champion, leads a galaxy of stars at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club's Endeavour Trophy next month. Ainslie, currently in Sydney competing in the pre-Olympic Regatta, will dash
TIPTREE UTD............................0 BRAINTREE TOWN..................1 (Eastern Floodlight Competition) Fielding a mixture of first and reserve players the Iron made hard work of overcoming their Jewson League opponents at Chapel Road on Tuesday.
A murder hunt was launched today after the body of a man was found rolled up in a carpet in a quiet lane in the Colchester area. Detectives this afternoon identified the dead man as Adrian Doherty, 31, of Normandy Avenue, Colchester, an unemployed father-of-two
Lisa Birch, 15, earned herself a place in the Eastern Counties team at the national judo trials later this year when she took the over 63k gold medal at the BJA Ipswich Under 20's Championships. Lisa, a blue belt who trains at Witham Judo Kwai, threw
A chamber of trade has objected to Tesco's plans to increase the size of its store. An application by the supermarket giant to extend its present site at Fullbridge, Maldon, by more than a half is still before Maldon District Council for a decision. But
Snake-eating crabs, amazing sunsets and torch-lit expeditions into the rainforest all helped to turn a countryside officer's visit to Tobago into a trip of a lifetime. Yovone Banks, countryside education officer for Colchester Council took part in the
A march past and church service marked a special anniversary. The Braintree and Bocking branch of the Royal British Legion toasted its 75th anniversary yesterday. Led by the Royal British Legion Youth Band, the march set off from Victoria Street, Braintree
A pensioner awoke to find a burglar in his bedroom. The 79-year-old man, who was asleep, awoke to find someone shining a torch in his room. He heard the noise of a car being driven off. About £200 of items, including a TV, were stolen. The pensioner,
A Wickford hairdresser today told how the stress of running his small business had forced him into early retirement. Alan Hammond, of Alan's Hairdressers in the Broadway, retired on Saturday after almost 40 years. His strong parting message was that more
Theurviving north Essex teams in the FA Vase have all been drawn against opposition from the same division. Clacton Town will play away to Ryman League division three basement boys Tring Town in the first round proper of the competition on October 23.
The woman who found the body wrapped in carpet said today she could not get the image out of her mind. Marilyn Coham, 48, of Turnip Lodge Lane, Elmstead Market, spotted a rolled-up carpet on Carpenters Lane at 2.30pm yesterday as she was out walking her
An £80 million environmental testing centre has opened at Ford, Dunton, which can create every weather condition in the world. It contains a new laboratory with 14 test cells which can subject cars to temperatures of anything between minus 40C and plus
A Canvey pensioner has been stitching her way to the millennium with a special picture to mark the occasion. Vera Dowsing, 76, of Zelham Drive, has been working on the cross stitch since the beginning of the year. The intricate design shows different
Trouble with youngsters vandalising Canvey is getting worse, according to one of the island's councillors. Ray Howard (Con, Canvey West) claimed he is receiving more and more complaints of incidents on the island. However, Ch Insp Dave King at Rayleigh
