Plans for a new park in Braintree are set to become a reality after a major breakthrough. The Tabor Triangle site is to change hands from Essex County Council to Braintree Council following years of negotiations. It means Braintree Council will finally
Hospitals and GPs are continuing to deal with the festive rush but bosses insist it is nothing unusual. Despite dealing with major increases in the number of people visiting A&E, staff are coping well, according to health chiefs. A spokesman for Colchester
A family returned from a shopping trip to find their house ablaze. They were made homeless when their house was wrecked by the fire. Everything was destroyed in the blaze, including Christmas presents. Martin Luff, of Harwich Road, Little Clacton, had
When the world record holder says someone has the potential to be an Olympic medallist - you know he doesn't say it lightly. But that is just what the world's best, Russian Yuri Sedykh, said when he saw Heybridge's Liz Pidgeon in action. Nothing unusual
The New Year brought new arrivals for the Ramsey family. Sooty, Snowball, Freddy and Millie arrived unexpectedly as owners Alison, Duncan and their son David, eight, welcomed in the new century at the pub. The family arrived home in the early hours to
Shoppers were today urged by trading standards experts to be careful about one-day sales which claim to offer luxury goods at bargain prices. The warning comes after a sale at St Gabriel's Church in Pitsea. Bargain-hunters claimed that, despite an invitation
An all-party delegation will lobby Government minister John Hutton next week for more cash to help fund social services in Southend. The plea for more money comes as Southend Council faces another potential funding crisis next year. Early predictions
A shortage of men in black is causing headaches for the organisers of the Colchester Sunday League. They are suffering from a lack of referees, which is leading to the cancellation of some Sunday morning games. And they are appealing for anyone who wants
A woman was left shaken but unhurt after a brick was thrown through the window of her car. The attack happened as she stopped at traffic lights on the junction of Shrub End Road and Norman Way, Shrub End, Colchester, at about 10.20pm last night. Det Sgt
Staff at the George Hotel in Colchester's High Street put their feet up and celebrated the millennium with family and friends as the hotel was shut for refurbishment. Owner Michael Slagle, who bought the hotel in 1994, said he decided to shut over the
Another claimed sighting of the infamous Beast of Essex has been made. Colchester man John Shelley was driving home along the A12 on Monday night when he says a big black animal ran out in front of his car and across the carriageway. Mr Shelley, of Orsino
Angry parents today told how they took their children to school for the first day of the new term - only to discover four classes were closed due to a heating breakdown. Coppins Green Primary School in Clacton took the decision to close the reception
A refugee subjected a 16-year-old girl to nearly a month of verbal abuse and intimidation, Southend magistrates were told. Albanian Bajrami Myzafer, of Macdonald Avenue, Westcliff, followed the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in his car and
Drivers in Wickford should face New Year misery as major roadworks start on a stretch of worn road on the town's inner relief road. The road works, which will strengthen and resurface the section of the A132 between Runwell Road roundabout and London
Excitement, joy, relief, it is difficult to define the emotion of Leopards players and supporters at the final buzzer of their vital "bottom of the table" clash at the Brighton Centre. The Leopards, still reeling after their Uniball Trophy exit barely
Blues Roots Hall form must be improved We desperately need to sort out our form at Roots Hall before it is too late! Our record of five defeats and one draw from our last six League and Cup outings at home is awful, and is costing us a place nearer the
A technology initiative is set to change the E of Essex into e for electronics. The Essex Commerce Centre, based in Writtle Road, Chelmsford, has been offered a multi-faceted package from Microsoft - the largest computer company in the world. Centre manager
A safer seafront could be on its way to Leigh Old Town thanks to a European grant. Just over £7,000 has been awarded to help fit five spy cameras in the Old Town. Another £7,000 in match-funding will come from Leigh Town Council and Southend Council.
In the Premier Division of the Brentwood & District Table Tennis League, there was a clash between Cranston Park and Buttsbury, the teams laying in first and second places respectively, and after an exciting encounter, the match finished in a 5-5
A major appeal is launched today to erect a permanent memorial to flyers from North Weald and Stapleford Tawney who sacrificed their lives during the Battle of Britain. And This Is Essex partner paper the Ongar and North Weald Gazette is backing the campaign
The contrasting elements that go to make up the local community - from a millionaire businessman to the organiser of a local boys club - have all won recognition in the New Year Honours list. Alan Sugar, chairman of Brentwood-based electronics company
A former Mersea islander has started life on a remote, storm-lashed Hebridean island - as a castaway. Peter Jowers, 52, and his wife Sheila are among 36 men, women and children who volunteered to spend a year on Taransay for the BBC documentary Castaway
Major repairs to Harwich Parish Church have been put on hold after failing to attract lottery money. Essential repairs are needed to the spire, buttresses and parapets of St Nicholas' Church - work expected to cost more than £245,000. An application was
Angry parents grilled County Hall officers about their plan to merge two Colchester schools. Nearly 200 parents from Prettygate infant and junior schools confronted Essex County Council officials and county councillor David Westcott last night. The Plume
A major expansion by a DIY store could create 250 jobs in Colchester. Household giant B&Q has already secured planning permission for a DIY and garden superstore in the Hythe area of the town. Today it announced it hoped to launch the new superstore
Hospitals in south Essex are battling to cope with the huge surge in patients as more people are knocked out by winter illnesses. Both Southend and Basildon Hospitals have had their busiest Christmas and new year ever, topping even last year's record-breaking
A new casino planned for the vacant second floor of the Kursaal will not be held up by Southend Council. Now the decision whether to grant a licence for London-based London Clubs to open the town's third casino will rest with the Gaming Licensing Committee
Controversial waste plans for the county are unlikely to be decided before the end of the year. Yesterday saw the final day of a six-week public inquiry into the Draft Essex and Southend Waste Plan, a framework for dealing with the county's waste for
A mum-of-two has told of her festive season from hell. Karen Pullinger, of Hellendoorn Road, Canvey, thought things could not get any worse when there was a flood in her home on Christmas Eve. But that was only the beginning of a series of disasters for
Korean Airlines has today announced it is to suspend all its flights from Stansted Airport until further notice. The move comes two weeks after a Korean Air 747 fell from the sky and crashed in a ball of flames two minutes after taking off from the airport
A Colchester school today paid tribute to a teenage pupil who died after an epileptic fit. Elizabeth Haher, 13, of St Paul's Road, Colchester, suffered a seizure while in the bath on December 29. St Benedict's College pupil Elizabeth was enthusiastic
A new attempt to block plans for a pub in Frinton has failed - and the genteel resort is now one step closer to its first ale house In a mammoth debate on Tuesday evening,Tendring Council's planning committee took nearly three hours to finally agree the
Detectives have confirmed they were no nearer solving the rape of a 24-year-old in Wivenhoe more than a year after the investigation was launched. British Transport Police said no-one has been arrested and charged with the crime, despite numerous appeals
Two brave pupils have taken a very cold plunge to raise cash for charity. Rebecca Simons and Kezia Wiggins of the Colne Community School, Brightlingsea, swam their way around Bateman's Tower, in the River Colneto raise money for the Children's Promise
Leigh have booked themselves a second round spot in the Leigh & Westcliff LTA Mixed Doubles Winter Cup after defeating St Peters in straight sets. Anne Wright and Ben Oakes got the ball rolling by beating Shirley Eastern and Don Edmonds 6-0 6-0. Then
Basildon Council's Sports Development Team are looking forward to consolidating their successes in 1999 as they enter the new millennium. The team have formed successful partnerships with schools, clubs and organisations like This Is Essex partner paper
Gidea Park Tennis Club have been celebrating making club history, after both their ladies and mens teams were declared champions of their respective Slazenger Essex League Division One. It was the seventh time that the ladies had won the title and the
After a break between Christmas and the arrival of the new millennium, the young soccer stars of South-East Essex return to action this weekend. Along with the players themselves, Echosport's youth football photographer MALCOLM STOCKWELL will again be
A family firm is to close after 65 years in Colchester. A decline in trade, parking problems and Sunday trading are being blamed by gentlemen's tailors and outfitter W A Jolliffe and Son, in Crouch Street, for its reluctant decision to shut early next
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
The death of a former leading light of Pitsea Market was today hailed as a "sad loss". Alf Cohen, who died aged 84 on December 22, was one of a five-generation dynasty which had held stalls at the market since 1926. His grandson Martin, who worked on
When Dave Tansley realised there was a gap in the market for a book he did what many others talk about but rarely achieve - he wrote it himself. Now Dave, who works as a systems manager in the city, has seen his computer guide to Linux and Unix shell
A painting depicting 1,000 years of community life will be revealed this week to mark the new millennium. Artist Brian Woodcock will be on hand to watch his acrylic picture, titled Spirit Of 2000, unveiled at Friars Community Centre, Constable Way, Shoebury
A teenage couple from Basildon are thought to be the country's youngest parents to have had a millennium baby. Seventeen-year-old Diane Monahan became a mum for the first time when she gave birth to bouncing baby Brooke as her friends were still busy
A charity is to set up support workshops for parents of children with behavioural disorders. Basildon-based ADDing Su-pport was launched two years ago for parents and carers of children with Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder. The group became
Traffic chaos gripped Chelmsford after a cyclist was killed in a road smash. The town centre was gridlocked after accident investigators shut off the A414 Essex Yeomanry Way at Great Baddow as the rush-hour started on Tuesday afternoon. The cyclist was
A proud Colchester mum is celebrating a major honours medal hat-trick scored by her family. Three of Iris Licence's sons have been made MBEs for their services to the Army. Mrs Licence, of Kings Meadow Road, said she burst into tears when son Ian, 43,
An urgent warning to users of mobile heaters which burn liquified petroleum has gone out from Brentwood-based fire chiefs. They spoke out last week following six deaths nationally over the past six weeks, all of which have been attributed to carbon monoxide
Essex Police today said they were disappointed that three per cent of drivers chose to drink and drive over the festive period. Figures from the Christmas and New Year campaign saw 209 breath positive tests from 6,749 carried out by officers. These figures
Pirate radio broadcasters endangering their lives for the sake of their station were today given a stark warning - give up or get hurt. The broadcasters repeatedly risk life and limb by climbing onto the top of a lift and riding it to the top of Basildon's
Tributes today poured in for former MP Sir Bernard Braine, who has died aged 85. The long-serving Tory sat in the House of Commons for 42 years - first as Billericay MP for five years from 1950, then as member for south-east Essex. He then took on the
A Brentwood schoolboy was left for dead in a pool of blood after a gang of thugs unleashed a whirlwind of blows against the youngster in a frenzied New Year's Eve attack. The 13-year-old victim, a keen rugby player, was out jogging near his Priests Lane
A car was ripped in two and its driver killed in a horrific head-on smash with a fire engine. The engine was responding to a 999 call and had its blue lights flashing when it was involved in the tragic rush-hour collision in South Woodham Ferrers. The
Chelmsford's Rod Harrington and Witham wizard Colin Lloyd have vowed to bounce back in the first year of the new millennium after a disappointing end to their season at the Skol PDC World Darts Championship at Purfleet's Circus Tavern last week. World
Schools and youth groups are the first to be consulted about a £192,000 revamp for Braintree's main square. Braintree Council has launched a scheme to refurbish Market Place in a bid to make the town centre more attractive. And council officers have taken
Two Harold Hill residential care homes are to be closed soon, with a third to follow within three years. Westmarsh Lodge, Neave Crescent and David Crompton Lodge, Gooshays Drive - homes for people with learning difficulties - are to close 'as soon as
After a two week break, there is a chance to look forward to see where our winners may be coming from. In Senior Division One, current champions Bishops Stortford Swifts are sitting at the top of the pile a little earlier this time round, but there is
Kevin Maher today staked his claim for a place in Southend United's quickly disintegrating midfield. Blues' loan star Nigel Pepper, signed from Aberdeen to beef-up the Shrimpers' options in the centre of the park, has picked up an ankle injury that will
Adam Dyer's heroes are neither Robin Hood or William Tell but the archers who won the day for England against the French at Agincourt. The Brentwood school sixth former has just completed the challenging test to gain a coveted Red Badge as an under 18
Former Chelsea centre half David Lee is set to join Colchester United on a non-contract basis. The U's will take a look at the 30-year-old defender - who was playing for Saturday's opponents Bristol Rovers last season - to gauge his fitness with a view
Roger Cook and Dave Shevill won Basildon Golf Club's New Year Foursomes competition. They scored a total of 39 points - 20 out and 19 back - in the Foursomes Stableford, which was held in conjunction with new captain Colin Hodges's drive-in. Kim Bishop
In Basildon Badminton Association's ladies' second division Linden B have opened up a fair old lead to leave second-placed Rayleigh Park three points behind. BEI/EUROPE, in third, now find Waterside B breathing down their necks by virtue of a clean sweep
Town had the ill luck to play a side propping up the table on Bank Holiday Monday and very nearly found their opponents' desperation for points too much for them. Having gone behind to a soft goal early on, Town did not take long to get back on terms
Worshippers at a Southend church hope their seven-year search for a permanent home may soon come to an end. Southend Vineyard, an evangelical religious group, has applied to convert a distribution depot into a place of worship. Last year its application
Troubleshooters have been called in to help crisis-hit Broomfield Hospital. A team of NHS managers and clinicians will be spending time at the troubled Chelmsford hospital putting together a review of the best way forward. The news comes after the continuing
A Colchester housing estate is set to make history by hosting its first-ever carnival. The ambitious idea for a parade of floats through the roads of Greenstead has been put forward. Residents have suggested a carnival to improve community spirit and
A former Colchester teacher, accused of indecent assault and child cruelty, is to stand trial at Chelmsford Crown Court. Richard Moss, 35, a former teacher at the Oxley Parker School in Mill Road, Mile End - which has since been demolished - faces three
Essex trading standards have landed a major blow against software pirates who hoped to exploit the Christmas and New Year market, by seizing more than £300,000 worth of bootleg software. Over the past three months Trading Standards' Operation Cybergeek
A grieving woman has lost a treasured locket containing her late father's ashes and a lock of his hair. Tracy Rowlands returned from a shopping trip in Colchester town centre to find the gold keepsake missing from her neck. It contains some of the ashes
