Champagne corks were popping on Mersea after news of an £87,000 lottery grant. The cash will pay for the total refurbishment of the High Street community centre - from a new kitchen and main hall floor to a revamp of the entrance and car park. It was
The Conservative Party today chose Clacton Pier as the site to launch its seaside policy - promising more cash and less red tape. Peter Ainsworth, Shadow Culture Secretary, chatted to tourism bosses about how to regenerate the area. Also present was Iain
More Essex firms are using e-mail as a way of communicating both externally and internally, the latest research into the use of e-mail by UK plc reveals. With over 400 million e-mails expected to be sent per day nationwide within the UK alone within the
Daily flights to New York look set to increase Stansted's development as the fastest growing airport in Europe. It is one of 20 new routes which will push the number of destinations served by Stansted over the 100 mark. Top executive Greg Brenneman of
For God's sake, Steve Whitton - find some players with fire in their belly and a flair and a passion to win every game. If we were watching a Colchester United side playing flat out for their Second Division survival last night (Tuesday) then we had better
Under-fire Layer Road manager Steve Whitton remained adamant today (Thursday) his Colchester United squad will still be in the Second Division next season. The U's boss was speaking after watching his team get roundly booed off the pitch by the smallest
A final decision on Southend United's plans for a new super-stadium must be made within the next three months, it has just been announced. Protesters against proposals for the 16,000 all-seater stadium on Fossetts Farm, Southend, gathered outside the
With the new speedway season at the Purfleet Raceway just three weeks away - the track reopens on Friday, March 23 - Arena Essex promoting consortium member Colin Brine has expressed his enthusiasm for the new season. He told the Essex Chronicle, "Everything
Local soccer youngsters wishing to learn to play the Manchester United way get their big chance next month. For the mighty Red Devils are holding a two day soccer school at Hawkwell's Clements Hall Leisure Centre on April 16 and 17. Youngsters aged six
Harwich police station will no longer be manned 24 hours a day from June. Civilian staff who run the Tendring district's service desks will all be based at Clacton police station from the summer. The move means the Harwich station's front counter will
Ambitious plans to establish a Sunday market in Billericay High Street have been stalled after serious safety concerns were voiced over the proposals. Essex County Council and Basildon District Council have raised a number of safety issues with the town
Electricity generation at Bradwell power station has been halted after a reactor was forced to shut down. Reactor two has closed as part of a security procedure after safety sensors detected a fault. The move meant all power generation was stopped at
Yobs have been hurling abuse at the disabled and pelting their carers with stones, it has been revealed. A group of up to nine children has been verbally abusing staff at Oakwood Crafts centre at Plough Corner, Little Clacton. The centre is run by Essex
An IT student from the Witham Technology Centre has been made a director of an Essex company - just at the tender age of 19. Kevin Beck, whose aim was always a career in the IT industry, decided to pursue work-based training with the college, which arranged
Lorry drivers, retailers and tourism firms could be hit by the foot-and-mouth crisis, warned Essex's Economic Partnership (EEP). Terry Conder, the organisation's chief executive, said it was not just farmers who would pay the financial price for the outbreaks
Communities surrounding the route of the new A130 are to be consulted on possible environmental improvements through an exhibition launched this week. Essex County Council is seeking the views of residents from villages where the new road will have a
Infant school pupils descended on a Shoebury superstore to chomp their way through a healthy meal of fruit and veg. The youngsters, from Chalkwell Hall Infants School in London Road, Leigh, took part in a unique food trial to learn about the importance
Safety fears have been raised about a proposed footpath on Ramsey bridge. Should the proposed Two Village Primary School site off Church Hill get the go-ahead, a footpath would be added to the Main Road bridge reducing traffic to only one lane. A waiting
A vigilant bank worker who tipped off police about a cowboy builder's scam has been awarded £200 from public funds. Patricia Butler was also commended at Basildon Crown Court for her actions. Mrs Butler tipped off police when the gang of workmen drove
A firm offering £100-a-week for Southend hoteliers to put up asylum seekers has failed to attract business. Venture Projects Ltd, based in Brighton, has written to a number of hotels and guest houses across Southend to try to persuade them to house the
Southend United's second string clinched their third successive Avon Insurance Combination League victory at Bournemouth yesterday (Wednesday). Following a goalless first-half at Dean Court, the Cherries took the lead just 50 seconds after the restart
Troubled Colchester United slid to their fifth defeat in seven matches by losing to to Stoke City for the first ever time at the Midlanders plush Britannia Stadium in an incident-packed encounter. Once again defensive lapses proved very costly and the
Sunderland defender Chris Makin is on the brink of securing a £2 million move to Ipswich Town. The Blues have already agreed a fee for the right-back and were due to discuss personal terms yesterday (Tuesday). If the 27-year-old passes a medical, Makin
Colchester United face the stark prospect of a relegation fight after they crashed 1-0 at home to fellow strugglers Port Vale. Not that keeper Andy Woodman could have done much about the lightning strike which settled it. Dave Brammer's second-half long-range
A campaign to buy toys to cheer up youngsters at Colchester General Hospital has been given extra strength, thanks to a brave supporter. Jaine Taylor is feeling the spring air more than some now she has lad her shoulder-length blonde hair shaved off in
High Ongar is to expand by 25 houses after the district council's development committee gave the go-ahead for a new estate to be built on the former Brace's timber yard. A new £250,000 village hall and land for a village green will also form part of the
Witham scored both their goals in the first eight minutes of Saturday's game but even before then they had had a couple of scares. Straight from the kick off Egham's Steve Wilmore was put through but shot wide when he looked certain to score and Aaron
Chelmsford City have made an audacious bid for former fans favourite Ian Cambridge, who has not been starting regularly for Dr Martens League Premier Division side Cambridge City. A former Player of the Year, Cambridge left City in the summer of 1999
Children at a village primary are putting their lives at risk trying to get to school. That's the view of head Nigel Powis and chairman of governors Pandora Sarson who today demanded safety measures to be introduced outside St Andrew's Church of England
There was a mixed reaction from business and politicians in mid-Essex to yesterday's (Wednesday's) budget. With the Chancellor of the Exchequer announcing a package of around £5 billion, much of it aimed at helping families, with more for hospitals and
A leading councillor has expressed disbelief after Basildon District Council was forced to replace a set of vandalised dog bins at a Wickford park for the second time since the New Year. Cllr Tony Ball, of Wickford North, is furious at the vandalism in
A diving coach from Harold Hill has become the newly appointed chairman of Havering Sports Council. Wally Morley, 77, of Cowley Road has been the vice-chairman for the last three years and has now taken over from Alan Cunnington of Rainham. Wally has
The doors at Colchester Zoo will remain firmly closed to the public until the end of the week - with the foot-and-mouth crisis costing one of the town's favourite tourist attractions an estimated £35,000. A decision to close the zoo was taken last Thursday
A campaign to tackle adult illiteracy and innumeracy in Essex has been launched by the Prime Minister. It is part of the Government's Skills for Success strategy, with a multi-million pound package aimed at slashing the number of adults nationally who
A red-faced woman had to call firefighters after she was stuck in a deckchair for two hours. The woman, in her 50s, managed to get to a phone to call for help but crews were forced to break down the door of her flat in North Road, Westcliff. They managed
An initiative to get new operators to take over Brentwood's ABC cinema has failed. Brentwood Town Forum wrote to 17 cinema companies asking them to take over the cinema in Chapel High. But none of them think the project would be viable. So the chances
Tony Blair faced mounting pressure to call a spring election today after Chancellor Gordon Brown's £4 billion Budget giveaway received wide praise. Families, schools and hospitals were the main beneficiaries in what is almost certain to be the final Budget
ThurrockSocial Services is growing increasingly concerned about the welfare of three young children who were snatched from their foster home early yesterday (Wednesday). The children - two girls a boy - were asleep in bed when they were allegedly snatched
Armed police swooped on a Leigh street after a teenager was seen waving a handgun. A member of the public called the police after spotting the 18-year-old, who has not been named, in Lundy Close with what appeared to be a real weapon. Armed units were
An Ongar man who erected a working model of a dalek in the front garden of his Aukingford Gardens home is looking for a buyer to take it off his hands. In the five years since it was built by former engineering teacher Philip Ivey-Ray, the dalek has become
Foot-and-mouth disease has broken out at Marsh Farm, the popular children's attraction in South Woodham. It means Essex now has seven confirmed cases in the county and another farm, north east of Ashingdon, is still under investigation. The Ministry of
A bomb disposal team was called to Brentwood School early Monday morning to carry out the controlled explosions of sports bags left in the grounds. The action came in the middle of a nationwide alert after a Tube worker was injured in a terrorist bomb
Brentwood police have received two reports of indecent exposure in the last week. The first happened at the edge of Shenfield Common, Ingrave Road on Thursday March 1 at 8.30am. The suspect involved was described by the victim as a white male, of skinny
Eight former sixth formers at the Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School have won a prestigious Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Award. The girls, who left the Queens Road school last summer, were leading lights in its Open Door counselling scheme, through
One of the first British online soap operas is to be filmed in Essex. Insecurity, a pilot project by Chelmsford Arts Development team, goes live on the web from March 31 and explores what it means to live in the year 2001. Footage from 70 CCTV cameras
The Chelmsford City 'Return From The Wilderness' sponsored walk from New Lodge, Billericay to Chelmsford Town Centre on Saturday was a big success, with 350-plus supporters and officials turning out to make the jaunt. The wintry conditions were not a
Politicians from across the world will be descending on a Langham pub to enjoy a traditional fish and chip supper. On Saturday evening, 25 MPs will sit down to enjoy one of England's favourite dishes at the Shepherd and Dog in Langham, as part of the
Home advantage gave Wendy Evans a boost when she won through at the Lexus Tournament. The Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre player was top of the class, along with Thorpe Bay Tennis Club's Kris Newbury. They were among 32 people battling it out in the
Two young footballers were taken to hospital suffering from suspected hypothermia after their coach abandoned a league match during freezing weather. Now their coach Kevin Cullis could be fined and banned by the football authorities - because the referee
Former Southend United star Stan Collymore's shock decision to quit football has left two of his old Roots Hall team mates shellshocked. Steve Tilson and Simon Royce both played with the striker during his short spell with the Shrimpers. But both men
Chelmsford Athletics Club's Catherine Howe recently competed at the Norwich Union AAA Under 17 Championships at the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham. She finished fourth, just outside the medal positions, with a jump of 1.65 metres which equals her personal
Former Essex boy Geoff Roberts and his nine-year-old son have sent a sackful of Stateside support to help the campaign to save a Braintree school. Mr Roberts moved to the USA in 1972 but keeps a close eye on news from his home town of Braintree. Lately
Brentwood traffic police are appealing for witnesses to a hit-and-run incident in Queens Road on Monday evening. A 44-year-old Hutton man was walking on the footpath towards the railway station at around 5.05pm when he was struck a glancing blow from
Clacton's main hotel looks set to be full with asylum seekers for the summer season. The Royal Hotel has won part of an appeal against plans to take action against it. That means a second planning inquiry may have to be held, and that would delay the
The Evening Gazette has joined forces with Essex Police in a bid to help track down a pensioner's murderer. Roger Turnell, 70, was found dead on his bed by firefighters, called to a fire at his bungalow in Rosecroft Close, Clacton. Tests revealed the
An horrific assault by a gang of up to 15 young thugs has left a Hutton man with severe injuries and could lead to him being partially blinded in one eye. Greg Brown, 30, has also lost his job and may have to give up work as a hod carrier, following the
Three bravehearts who risked their lives by tackling criminals this week demonstrated that Brentwood is a town fit for heroes. One of them, a girl aged just 17, chased a thief who grabbed her purse and made him give it back. The other two, who averted
A plucky petrol station worker climbed onto the bonnet of a thief's car and was carried for up to two miles through the streets of Southend at speeds of up to 50mph. Mick Kelly, 64, who works in the Glen Service Station in Southchurch Road, made his high-speed
A former Southend Tory languishing in an Indian jail for arms dealing is suffering from discrimination, according to the Foreign Office. Peter Bleach, who served as Conservative chairman of St Luke's ward, was jailed for "waging war against India" by
The family of dead gunman John Piccolo have said they may take further action against health authorities. Results of the two-year inquiry into treatment Piccolo, then 51, received from some Essex health agencies were revealed on Tuesday. Piccolo's family
A new business award aiming to make a difference to up-and-coming entrepreneurs is being launched with thousands of pounds in prizes for the cream of the crop in the Eastern region. Business Link Essex is inviting companies on their "High Growth Start
The long arm of the law was stretched to the limit as PC Steve Cross tried to round up four horses in Weeley. PC "Cowboy" Cross was on his own when he responded yesterday (Wednesday) to a call from a resident, who had two of the stray animals in his back
On Sunday, Braintree & Bocking Swimming Club played host to teams from Chelmsford, Colchester, Borough of Castle Point, Potters Bar and Thurrock in a National Junior Speedo League gala. Proceedings started well for Braintree, when the mixed nine years
Simon Parker's last minute close range header gave Swifts all three points at Croydon on Monday, a game from which the home side justifiably will say they should have had some reward, and the skills of Parker enlivened an otherwise drab evening. The '
The director of Cheale Meats, where the first case of foot and mouth disease was identified, has revealed the abattoir may return to business as early as next week. Paul Cheale, said, two weeks ago, that staff at the site in Little Warley were shattered
A young motorcyclist who died in a mid Essex crash was an off-duty police officer. Adam Burfield, 24, of Clarence Close, Chelmer Village, Chelmsford, had been a constable with Essex Police for three-and-a-half years. He lived alone but was engaged to
Car thieves are blitzing Chelmsford - often stealing cars or parts of vehicles to order. As many as half a dozen vehicles are disappearing every day and last week in one incident just one door was stolen from a Citroen. New and older cars are being targeted
Colchester looks set to get a multi-million pound new court-house. Parliamentary Secretary David Lock announced the Government's backing for the court-house after town MP Bob Russell raised the issue in Parliament. He has campaigned for a new court building
A popular link in Maldon is in line for a facelift. Church Walk, which runs alongside All Saints Church between Maldon High Street and Silver Street, could get the improvement work if a grant application to English Heritage is successful. The Maldon Conservation
Pleasure craft operating in Castle Point may have to get their licences from Southend Council in the future. Castle Point Council has decided to scrap its own licensing arrangements. In the past it has licensed a dozen boats used for hire by tourists
A Southend MP has proclaimed today's unveiling of a new catering college in Shoebury as the dawning of a new era for the industry. Tory Sir Teddy Taylor said he felt the college, built on the New Ranges, would herald the start of something big for the
True success to come in time In the best traditions of our tabloid national press, writers went totally overboard after England's 3-0 win over Spain last week. But I doubt if new boss Sven Goran Eriksson will be fooled by the headlines proclaiming him
Steve Whitton has warned his Colchester United players he is ready to wield the big stick if they continue to leak goals at such an alarming rate. The U's defended poorly when handing promotion-chasing Stoke City a 3-1 victory on a plate at the Britannia
Essex Intermediate League officials, rocked by bad weather this season, thought it was too good to last when they had virtually a full programme for two weeks running. However, it was back to the bad old days on Saturday when not only were games off due
Armada Sports sailed to a 12-0 win over East Tilbury Dynamoes Reserves in Division One of the Basildon Sunday League. Floyd and M Carter scored four apiece, while Broomfield grabbed a hat-trick. Armada were 7-0 up at the break and added five more in the
Thirty-two Braintree Golf Club Ladies Section members played in the well supported winter league 4 ball better ball medal competition over nine holes. The winners were Cyd Rodford (25 handicap) and Louisa Johnson (32) with a gross 38, nett 29. Over the
Despite being written off by their critics Braintree Hockey Club chalked up another success for their Youth Section on Sunday when they won the Essex Clubs Under 19 Girls Tournament. On a bitterly cold day Braintree took a depleted squad to the Redbridge
Promotion-chasing Chelmsford discovered what life could be like in the Premier Division next season when they went down 9-3 at home to Surbiton in the sixth round of the EHA Cup on Sunday. Boasting no fewer than 15 internationals in their squad, Surbiton
Canvey Island's under-16 side are matching the achievements of the club's senior side. They beat Clacton 3-1 to win a place in the Essex Cassells Shield final. Gulls looked the stronger team in the first-half and were rewarded with a goal from captain
Essex County Council is carrying out a review of the effects of teacher shortages across the area. As part of the enquiry the authority is asking those people involved in education at all levels in the county how the current nationwide problem is affecting
A fine team performance from Premier Division Trinity Boys saw them through to the final of the Southend Junior League's Under-13 Cup. Two goals apiece from Scott Richards and Dominic Hoskins, plus a single strike from Wesley Aldridge, saw them to a 5
A former licensee of the Eagle and Child, Shenfield, who died aged 97, has been brought back to Brentwood - the town she loved - after nearly 40 years. Connie Hadley or Connie Holland as she would have been known to her war-time customers, died in December
Community-minded youngsters are to take the spotlight in a special awards scheme being launched by the Rotary Club of Billericay Mayflower. The club is appealing for youth groups and schools to nominate anyone aged between the age of 11 and 18 they feel
Special needs students took a look at the world of work - with help from a fast food giant. McDonald's, on the Mayflower retail park, Basildon, played host to a group of special needs students from Seevic College, Thundersley. The students, who were working
Staff at Braintree Council are out to prove that when it comes to energy efficient transport - they are far from fuel fools. Employees and councillors have been trying out three supercars to see how they measure up. The cars are an all electric Peugeot
The row over controversial plans to erect commercial glasshouses and a reservoir in Thornwood is set to continue after protesters vowed to fight the proposals "at every turn". Their remarks came as the boss of the North Weald herb-growing firm at the
A young woman escaped from her Billericay home on Tuesday morning when her mattress went up in flames after she accidentally left a cigarette burning. Fire crews from Billericay and Basildon dealt with the fire at her first floor maisonette in Tavistock
Investigations are still ongoing to decide the future of Never Never Land - a popular children's seafront attraction wrecked by vandals. Southend Council officers have locked up the site but are now probing the costs of clearing it and considering other
A £1m grant has secured the future of Colchester's prestigious Mercury Theatre. The theatre, which has its own resident company, has been given the lion's share of a £1.34 million investment to theatre companies by East England Arts announced today (Thursday
Concern is growing for the safety of missing 49-year-old Martin Wilson who vanished from his Wickford home more than 10 days ago. Police are no closer to locating Mr Wilson despite speaking to his relatives about where he may have travelled to, checking
Champagne corks were popping this week following the announcement that a huge injection of lottery cash will ensure the survival of the Epping Forest Volunteer Bureau until 2004. News of the £263,356 Lottery grant sparked joy among staff and volunteers
Young doctors are taking acting lessons to improve their bedside manner. The revolutionary new scheme is being run by the actors at the award-winning Mercury Theatre in Colchester. The doctors, based at Colchester General Hospital, are spending two days
A key spring festival is the latest in a string of events to have fallen victim to the foot-and-mouth outbreak. Witham Mayfest, a fundraising event held every year on the first weekend in May, has been cancelled because of fears that up to 5,000 visitors
Chelmsford City have snapped up 23-year-old Sittingbourne full-back Paul Campbell and he goes straight into the side for Saturday's Dr Martens League Eastern Division home game with Burnham (kick-off 3pm). The former Charlton Athletic youngster, who impressed
Hard-up Harold people face a huge 12.4 per cent rise in Council Tax this year - and big cuts in services. The controversial rise set by Havering Council last week will see the annual tax bill for an average band D property go up to £959 a year, an increase
