Mystery surrounds the death of a pensioner whose body was found in the charred remains of her caravan. The cause of the horrific blaze which claimed the life of much-loved Hockley pensioner Peggy Duarte may never be known, detectives said. The intensity
Southend United defender Nathan Jones struggled to explain his side's latest Roots Hall setback, following Monday's 2-1 home reverse against new Third Division leaders Rotherham United. Two goals from Millers hitman Leo Fortune-West, either side of a
Exporters in Basildon are in an optimistic frame of mind for their first full week of business in the new millennium. Express carrier DHL Basildon, which serves more than 2,000 companies, claims in its annual report the company made the most of 1999 after
Neighbours went to complain about loud music and were confronted by a man wielding a rifle. Armed police officers were called in after the alarm was raised in Creffield Road, off Maldon Road, in Colchester, at just after midnight last night. Police said
Rebel butcher Dave Stephens is determined to hang on to his pounds and ounces - even if it means breaking the law. The Leigh butcher says he will continue to serve customers at Mandy's Chop Shop at Leigh Broadway in imperial measurements. As from January
Motorists are set for new year traffic disruption on the A13. Three sets of roadworks are due to get under way this month. Firstly, the London Road junction with Romsey Road in Benfleet is to be affected by work on a sewer connection for Wimpey Homes.
Taxi firms are meeting to discuss the fall-out from a new year slump in trade. Basildon Taxi Proprietors ' Association is to get feedback from drivers to try and find out why businesses in the area have been hit over the millennium. Keith Beadle, spokesman
Cat lover Moira Craighead was furious after a badly-neglected Persian was dumped on her doorstep. The expensive feline was left in a cardboard box outside Mrs Craighead's home in Dry Street, Langdon Hills, where she runs the Cat Rescue Group, on Tuesday
A pensioner has been robbed at knifepoint on the stairs of a flat in Whitmore Court, Whitmore Way, Basildon. The robber, wearing a dark-coloured scarf and bobble hat and aged about 16, came up behind the woman as she climbed the stairs at 9.30am on Monday
A middle-aged man was attacked and needed 30 stitches after he complained to neighbours about a rowdy party. The 54-year-old went to ask millennium revellers in a flat in Iceni Way, Shrub End, Colchester, to quieten down when he was hit with what is believed
A £6,000 grant has helped members of a partially-sighted club see more clearly. The generous gift from Gordon's Gin, in Fenton Way, Laindon, has given the Pathfinders club in Vange a welcome new year boost. The packaging and bottling plant, set to close
The turn of the century had a special meaning for one Shoebury couple - as it heralded the start of their 61st year together. Lilian and Fred Elder celebrated their diamond anniversary with friends at their home in Herbert Road, and reminisced about their
Millions of pounds could be given to services to fight cancer across north and mid Essex. The Government is to put an extra £100 million into NHS cancer services, Health Secretary Alan Milburn announced today. The money will fund equipment to diagnose
A gay couple who won a landmark legal victory to be named as the parents of surrogate twins in America were bracing themselves for another court battle after being told the babies were not legally entitled to British citizenship. Barrie Drewitt and Tony
More than 80 students were honoured at a Hockley school when it held its annual sixth form awards evening. Former pupils from the Greensward College returned to the school for a special celebration dinner. Awards were given to the students who left the
Children with special needs are set to receive a financial helping hand, it has been revealed. The Government announced that youngsters who need specialist help in Essex and Southend will get more than £1m from the special educational needs standards
The latest venture to try to carve out a share of the booming budget airline market took to the skies on Tuesday. Passengers arrived at Stansted Airport for flights on the new pay-as-you-go service, buzz, launched by the UK subsidiary of KLM Royal Dutch
Billericay MP Teresa Gorman has hit out at "gossip and tittle-tattle" naming her as a possible defector from the Conservative Party. She firmly rejected speculation she was set to join the anti-European UK Independence Party. Media reports yesterday claimed
The "millennium bug", which is laying thousands of people low with flu-like symptoms as it sweeps across the country, shows no signs of abating in south Essex. Ambulance services in Essex have been stretched to the limit with sufferers dialling 999, and
Shoppers besieged shopping centres and supermarkets across south Essex on Monday. Queues formed outside some stores following the two-day break and many shops reported bumper takings. On the M25, queues stretched from the Lakeside junction to beyond the
Southend United defender Nathan Jones struggled to explain his side's latest Roots Hall setback, following Monday's 2-1 home reverse against new Third Division leaders Rotherham United. Two goals from Millers hitman Leo Fortune-West, either side of a
