St Martin's School of Hanging Hill Lane, Hutton Under 13 boys' trampoline team were triumphant when they recently won a place in the National Finals of the British Schools Gymnastics Association trampoline competition. The school had two teams competing
Billericay and Wickford sportsmen and women are being reminded they can take advantage of a scheme offering financial support to their sporting aspirations. Those involved in sport at all levels, whether Olympic athletes or club members, can benefit from
Karen Smith and Tracey Richardson booked their places at this summer's European championships by splashing to glory at the recent British National finals in Sheffield. The Southend Swimming club duo joined forces in Yorkshire to take the 3m Springboard
A bid for help by a group which holds football matches is to go into extra time before a decision is made. Little Clacton Recreational Trust has been unable to stage football matches at Plough Corner since October due to bad weather. It asked the parish
Poor early-season form has denied both Clacton and Maldon a crack at the Jewson League title, but there was no lack of commitment from anybody as honours ended even in this game. Maldon started playing into the wind last night (Tuesday), but overcame
The appropiately named D Winters cracked a hat-trick as Arctic beat the freezing weather conditions to triumph 3-1 over Carlyle Sports 2nd in the Southend Sunday League Division Seven. In the Eighth Division, J Adkins was the unluckiest player of the
Two vital Essex County Council properties in Colchester are to be sold and a new "regional HQ" set up in Stanway. The council intends to sell off two of its historic properties, East Hill House and its learning and environmental services base in Park
The next Northlands Park Pike match will take place on Sunday March 11th. Anglers should meet at the Northlands Park Car Park from 7.00am for a 7.30am walk off. Fishing time will be 8.00am till 3.00pm. Baits will be restricted to sea dead baits and artificial
If you've got a problem - and no-one else can help - maybe you should call - a ten-year-old robot designer. Earls Colne pupil Stuart Gardener has scooped second place out of thousands of entries in the Blue Peter robot design competition. His plans for
One of Castle Point's most senior and respected Tories has been dumped by his local party - just four months after he called for General Election candidate Bob Spink to resign. Richard Reeves, president of the borough Conservative association for five
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 huge proportion of offenders signing up to a drugs referral scheme at Basildon police station are heroin users, the head of the project has revealed. Ian Swift, who runs the scheme, also noted the increasing tendency for participants to be users of
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
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, Great Clacton. Tests revealed
An army of angry residents demanding action over the increase in rural crime awaits Ann Widdecombe when she arrives in Braintree today (Friday). The Shadow Home Secretary will be at Braintree police station meeting police officers, councillors and members
The son of Rayleigh PC Rod Daniels is paying the highest possible tribute to his father - by taking on his precious officer number. PC Daniels, 53, died instantly a month ago today (Friday) when he was hit by a car as he attempted to guide vehicles away
The first session of a new roller skating facility at the William de Ferrers Centre, South Woodham proved a popular success at the weekend. The event, which was run by the South Woodham Roller Speed Skating Club, attracted youngsters and even one or two
Police are hunting burglars who struck at two homes in Barnston near Dunmow in daylight on Tuesday. Electrical equipment, including a video camera and jewellery was taken from a house in High Easter Road between 9.30am and 2pm. Another home in Barnston
Burst pipes forced teachers to shut down Hadleigh Infant School - just weeks after the nearby junior school was closed because of a gas leak. More than 240 children have been at home since Tuesday after teachers discovered a major leak in a pipe serving
Maldon shopkeepers have united to promote the town in a bid to boost trade which they say has suffered as a result of the High Street roadworks. Essex County Council has been carrying out pavement improvements since January but traders fear people have
A tormented young mum suffering from postnatal depression almost burned down her house after setting light to her favourite teddy bear. Jodie Blackford, 23, nearly succeeded as a blaze ripped through the house in Ashfields, Basildon, causing £10,000 damage
A woman taxi driver was threatened at knifepoint by a man who got into her car. Today police put out an urgent warning to all taxi firms to be on their guard for the attacker. The taxi driver was sitting at a taxi rank in Station Road, Clacton, in the
The Bukta Southend District League programme was decimated by snow, waterlogged pitches and now the foot and mouth outbreak, but two key games did take place. The top two met in Division One and leaders Stanford Wanderers extended the gap at the top to
Southend United have slashed Roots Hall executive box prices for this Saturday's big promotion showdown with Blackpool. Blues want to give their fans the chance to watch David Webb's men take on their seaside rivals in style as the Shrimpers do battle
Tiptree eased their Jewson League relegation fears with a resounding 4-0 win over visiting Felixstowe and Walton. Dave McKrory fired the Jam-makers ahead on 20 minutes, while Steve Wareham made it 2-0 five minutes into the second half. McKrory made it
Braintree made it three wins in a row after a tremendous 2-1 victory over second-placed Bedford in Ryman League division one. But the Iron had to show their mettle after going behind in just the second minute at Cressing Road. The home side settled down
Romford's light middleweight world champion Steve Roberts was in blistering form on Saturday evening at Wembley. The referee had to step in as Roberts impressively demolished Argentinian Sergio Acuna inside the first round to retain his WBF title in terrific
John McGreal is the latest Ipswich Town star to sign a new long-term contract at Portman Road. The defender, a hero of last season's promotion campaign, has put his name to a deal which ties him to the Blues until 2004. McGreal follows Jamie Clapham and
Combining a job with a time-consuming hobby is never easy, but at least if you are a semi-professional ice hockey player, it has benefits. This is just the case for Daniel Farren, a PE teacher at King's Wood School, Settle Road, Harold Hill. In between
Saturday sees Brentwood cruiserweight Garry Delaney challenging British champion Bruce Scott for his title at York Hall, Bethnal Green. Scott could hold a psychological advantage over Delaney having beaten John Keeton to win the British title - Delaney
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 on Wednesday night then we had better
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
Under-fire Layer Road manager Steve Whitton remained adamant yesterday (Thursday) his Colchester United squad would 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 woman has been cleared of cutting a former friend with a glass in a row at a nightclub. Elaine Barker, 25, of Hordle Street, Dovercourt, had denied a charge of common assault, and Colchester magistrates yesterday (Thursday) accepted she was acting in
On Saturday Falcon entertained Thames Sports and the hosts won a close match by 100 shots to 93. Details (Falcon first): R. Sibthorpe, Margaret Katterhorn, R. Coleman, Pat Woodward, 16; T. Martin, 23. Helen Calver, Renee Gathercole, F. Solari, I. Shipton
DIVISION ONE Danbury lost their 100 per cent record when they were beaten 4-2 by Intersports on Sunday, a result that moved Intersoports up to second place. Intersports led 3-1 at the break, Adam Baker and Simon Lang (2) on target for Inter and Danny
The New Hall School, Boreham swimming team were overall winners of the Mid-Essex Secondary Schools Sports Association Swimming Gala where 12 schools from the Brentwood and Chelmsford compete in a yearly event every February. Hosted by New Hall School
Chelmsford Chieftains missed out on the chance of defending the League Cup after letting a three-goal advantage slip at the hands of the Isle of Wight Raiders. Close to the end of the second period of Sunday's second leg tie, Raiders fans were already
Basildon AC's Helen Smith has picked up the first major award of her blossoming athletics career. The 16-year-old high-jumper, from Rayleigh, was named junior sports personality of the year at the Rayleigh council sports awards. She beat off several other
Sarah Claxton is tonight (Friday) set to begin her pursuit of medals in the World Indoor Athletics Championship. The Colchester star is due to take place in the 60m hurdles in Lisbon. Claxton, 21, has reaped the benefit of concentrating on hurdles this
Colchester United boss Steve Whitton has made a bold bid to bring £2.25 million star Lomana Tresor Lua Lua back to Layer Road for the rest of the season. Whitton, under fire following a sequence of poor results, revealed today (Friday) he has contacted
A hat-trick from Reynolds saw Leigh Rockets soar to a 4-0 success over Deaneswood Youth in the Bukta South-East Essex Mini-Soccer Primary League under-9 Second Division. In the same section Blues Youth had a 5-1 win at Ashingdon with Cuthbert weighing
PREMIER DIVISION Old Chelmsfordians came back three times to equalise against Brookhouse and with five minutes to go Neil Fergus struck home what proved to be the winner for them. The other old boys' goals were netted by Peter Dewisson, Andy Cook and
PREMIER DIVISION Tillingham Hotspur led visitors Hannakins Farm 3-0 at half-time and shortly after the restart increased their lead to 4-0. Hannakins, who were reduced to 10 men through injury, staged a fine comeback and netted three goals to put the
Vandals caused around £2,000 of damage after going on a wrecking spree at Basildon railway station yesterday. Police were called by a taxi driver at around 1.20am who noticed glass on the street outside the station. A BT telephone booth outside had its
A woman set fire to her home only hours after she was served with an eviction notice, a court has been told. Denise Gill returned from Colchester County Court and set fire to curtains and belongings at her Hilltop Close house in the town. Firefighters
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
SATURDAY FA UMBRO TROPHY Round 6: Canvey Island v Telford United. RYMAN LEAGUE Premier Division: St Albans v Billericay Town. SCHWEPPES ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE Bowers United v Saffron Walden; Brentwood v Burnham Ramblers; Eton Manor v Leyton; Ilford v East
An open farm was today (Friday) planning to cull 875 of its 1,000 animals after an outbreak of foot-and-mouth. Sheep at Marsh Farm in South Woodham Ferrers, which is visited by thousands of schoolchildren every year, showed signs of the disease two days
BARRY Conlon capped a great Colchester United performance with a super goal as the U's turned the form book upside down to see-off promotion chasing Second Division rivals Walsall at their own Bescot Stadium. Big target man Conlon finished off a great
THREE shotguns were among a £10,000 haul of items stolen by burglars. They took jewellery, electrical items and the guns from a house in Church Road, Rivenhall, near Witham. And now police are appealing for information about a blue Ford Sierra hatchback
EMERGENCY services carried out an extensive search of the Holland-on-Sea coastline after a naked man was reported wandering around the area. Police contacted Thames Coastguard at Walton at around 3am on Saturday after the man was spotted near the public
The first case of foot-and-mouth disease in the Colchester area has been confirmed - on the same day a mid-Essex open farm centre began slaughtering its infected animals. MAFF veterinary surgeons confirmed the worst fears today (Friday) after taking samples
Time is fast running out for Paul Grimsey and his Halstead boys. Without a fixture due to postponements, more damage was done to Town's chances of survival in the Jewson League premier division last weekend and in midweek as both Tiptree United and Harwich
A top Labour councillor, accused of driving dangerously and assaulting a police officer, today had his case committed to crown court. Tim Young, 40, of Damask Way, Stanway, Colchester, appeared before Colchester Magistrates this morning (Friday). Young
A watchdog group has slammed plans for a massive new estate on the outskirts of Witham. Work starts this summer on the 115 acre Maltings Lane estate. It will attract some 3,000 people into more than 800 homes, plus dozens of firms which will move onto
Southend United's second string clinched their third successive Avon Insurance Combination League victory at Bournemouth on Wednesday. Following a goalless first-half at Dean Court, the Cherries took the lead just 50 seconds after the restart when frontman
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
Basildon's ongoing belltower fiasco could become a test case for the reform of parochial church councils. The call by Peter Reid, acting chairman of Basildon St Martin's PCC, have been echoed by the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev John Perry, who also
Police are appealing for witnesses to a possible arson attack in Stansted on Saturday. The premises of Datamech at Braemare House in Water Lane were discovered alight at 8.50am. Police believe the fire was started deliberately. The brick and timber building
The driver of a coach which crashed killing 27 - including a Brightlingsea couple - has admitted causing the deaths. John and Marian Clifford died when the tour bus they were in plunged down a mountain in South Africa's treacherous Long Tom Pass in September
Essex roads have never been in such poor condition, Essex County Council said this week. Years of minimal maintenance and this winter's appalling weather have taken their toll. But the largest maintenance spending of the decade is on the cards in an attempt
A Chelmsford school could become one of the best educational facilities in the region with a potential £5 million windfall -- if a developer's offer is accepted. Parents of students at Hylands are being invited to discuss the offer made to the school
Three children snatched from their foster home by their own parents have been returned to the care of social services. The youngsters were returned to Thurrock Council social services late last night (Thursday), but while a council spokesman refused to
A Braintree farmer has called for a change in the law after police refused to stop an all-night rave on his land. Robert Bucknell watched helplessly as the partygoers took over a former turkey packing shed on Onchors Farm, at Blake End, Great Saling,
With only eight games played in the Hadleigh Carport Southend Borough Combination, there were some surprises. In the Premier Division, Shoebury Town were at home to Leigh Ramblers and it is apparent that the former are not the power they were in the immediate
Back in October the Tigers had defeated the Leopards at the Bracknell Leisure Centre, and on Saturday night it was time for the Leopards to right that performance and after previous victories at Chester and Milton Keynes to record their third successive
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
Southend schoolgirl Somma Power is on the slippery slopes to top athletics glory - after dashing back from a skiing holiday to earn a medal in a major championship. Somma, of Basildon Athletic Club, travelled overnight on her return from a ski holiday
With heavy rain again falling yesterday, the south Essex parks football scene looks like suffering another bad weekend. A number of pitches are certain to still be waterlogged and many clubs will again be out of action due to the decision of local authorities
Billericay Town will be hoping to end a run of four games without a win tomorrow (Saturday) when they visit former boss John Kendall's current club, St Albans. Having been knocked out of two cup competitions in four days, Town have drawn their last two
The local soccer world has lost one of its great characters with the death of Dave Golding Snr. His namesake son had a long playing career with Bowers and Basildon United in the Schweppes Essex Senior League and Dave Snr was well known at grounds throughout
Only nine Southend Sunday league matches plus an Essex Premier Cup fourth-round tie beat the twin menace of the foot-and-mouth outbreak plus bad weather. In the county competition, Lodge Athletic's great run finally came to an end after a brave fight
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 '
A heroin addict who stole two cars was chased at high speed by police, smashing into vehicles and ending up embedded in a traffic bollard, a court heard. Deborah Sneddon, 29, of Edith Way, Colchester, admitted charges of aggravated vehicle taking by virtue
A BUNGLING armed robber fled from a Pitsea off-licence empty-handed after he failed to open a cash till. The man, who was wearing a balaclava, struck at the Drinks Cabin, in Rectory Road, at 8.30pm on Saturday. He threatened staff with a black-coloured
Chelmsford Partners men started their National League match against Plymouth well and looked to be in command with a 2-0 lead, but they then saw the match squared before losing out in a tense and tight deciding set to go down 3-2. This was a game where
Heybridge Swifts manager Liam Cutbush will use the same 14 players that earned a point at Croydon on Monday, for the Swifts home game with league leaders Farnborough Town. Still missing are Mark Cranfield, Andy Potter, Benson Miyoba, Dave Streetley, Phil
Jim Magilton will miss the trip to former club Southampton after receiving a one-match ban from the FA. The Ipswich Town midfielder was hauled before the authority yesterday charged with using abusive language to referee Andy D'Urso. Magilton was infuriated
Great Wakering Rovers need to start picking up some quick wins if they are to finish their first season in the Ryman League Second Division any higher than mid-table. Rovers were well up the table at one stage, but this was always something of a false
Big target man Conlon finished off a great move by man-of-the-match Karl Duguid and Joe Dunne to register the only goal of the game in the 56th minute as the U's put their lack-lustre midweek defeat at the nads of Port Vale behind them. It was one of
BARRY Conlon capped a great Colchester United performance with a super goal as the U's turned the form book upside down to see-off promotion chasing Second Division rivals Walsall at their own Bescot Stadium. Big target man Conlon finished off a great
Southend United came off second best during Saturday's seaside promotion clash at Roots Hall against Blackpool. Experience shone through for the Tangerines against a young Blues line-up and the visitors took the lead after just 11 minutes. Midfielder
The Shimano and JP Tackle Chelmer Masters was held on the River Chelmer and proved that it is no ordinary river when it produced a top weight on a cold day of 87-5-0 for matchwinner Steve Copping from Suffolk. He found the carp, bream and chub for his
Managing directors Tim Price, of J L French Ltd UK, and John Bradley, of French Kier, showed visitors around the 7,000 square feet of the new J L French factory in Freebournes Road, Witham, on Friday. Built by French Keir, the factory is part of a £20
The owner of a Basildon takeaway is picking up the pieces after fire ripped through his shop, causing £3,500 damage. Police are awaiting the findings of a fire report which will establish whether or not to treat it as arson. But Foyzur Rahman, who took
The self-styled "Linford Christie of window cleaning'' has shattered his own world record - by cleaning three panes of glass in under 10 seconds. Terry "Turbo'' Burrows shaved 1.43 seconds off his previous best of 11.34 seconds, leaving the three 45-inch
Bingo fanatic Gloria Graham is jetting off to the Mediterranean after beating "phenomenal" odds to win £1,000 three weeks in a row. Bank worker Gloria, 37, from Delimands, Basildon, is to spend her winnings on a family holiday in Cyprus with husband Trevor
Braintree is losing one of its major attractions, the annual International Custom Car Show, because of roadworks disruption. Organisers of the popular August Bank Holiday weekend event have decided to pull out because work on the A131 Great Leighs by-Pass
Relaxed gambling and planning laws are needed to boost Clacton's tourist trade, tourism leaders have said. The Conservative Party launched its seaside policy in the resort yesterday (Thursday) with Peter Ainsworth, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture
Westcliff's flagship Palace Theatre is disappointed at being "completely overlooked" in the latest round of Government cash handouts. Around £25 million of Government money is to be ploughed into theatres across Britain. The Palace has received a share
Hadleigh Carport Southend Borough Combination champions White Ensign have secured a substantial sponorship deal with Kent Elms Coachworks, of Rayleigh. It runs for two-and-a-half years and will end at the conclusion of the 2002/03 season. Ensign, celebrating
Wivenhoe Town's Steve Pitt and Julian Hazel have been rewarded for six straight wins with the Ryman League division two's manager of the month award for February. The Dragons have got themselves right back into the promotion frame with the great run -
Football clubs feeling the pinch after a disastrous winter for matches will get some of their cash back - but not yet. Several clubs have called on Castle Point Council for a refund of their hire fees because 11 out of 18 sporting weekends had to be cancelled
Colchester United boss Steve Whitton is ready to give youth a chance the moment the U's Second Division status is safe for another season. Whitton said he was very keen to see what players such as French teenager Thomas Pinault and Chris Keeble, whose
What, you might ask, could an Essex girl teach an Austrian boy? The answer is skiing. Nineteen-year-old Karen Milton who, when she's not skimming down black runs high in Austria's magnificent Alps, lives with her family at Linnet Drive, Chelmsford, is
Spinner Michael Davies has arrived in Essex with his sights firmly set on returning to regular first-team action. The 24-year-old, who joined Essex from Northamptonshire, had a difficult time last season when poor form led to him being dropped to make
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
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
Another casualty of the foot and mouth outbreak is the English Schools Cross Country Championships that were due to be held at Hylands Park, Chelmsford tomorrow (Saturday). This was the first time for over 40 years that Essex has played host to these
Chris Makin is for the second time in a week plotting the downfall of Aston Villa after completing his £1.25 move to Ipswich Town. The right-back, signed from Sunderland, helped the Black Cats secure a point against John Gregory's troops in Monday's 1
A chance meeting with top promoter Frank Maloney has belatedly opened the door to boxing success for Leigh's Danny Percival. At 27, the heavyweight thought his chance at the big-time had gone. Although compiling a solid record of 10 wins in 14 amateur
Relatives were today (Friday) laying to rest the tenth member of their family to have died from the same incurable disease. Single mum Teresa Spencer, aged 35, of Rickstones Road, Witham, died of the muscle- wasting illness Motor Neurone Disease just
Canvey will be without top scorer Wayne Vaughan tomorrow (Saturday) as they bid for a place in the semi-finals of the top non-league knockout competition in the country. Vaughan, the ex-Spurs academy youngster who's netted 20 goals in all games for the
Teenage Southend United defender David McSweeney is ready to help Blues fight their crunch Third Division promotion battle against seaside rivals Blackpool at Roots Hall tomorrow. The 19-year-old from Basildon should earn a first team recall against the
SENIOR DIVISION ONE The leagues top two sides met on Saturday when leaders Bishop's Stortford Swifts entertained Rayleigh Town . Swifts had played three more games than their visitors and were six points clear at the top before the match, but Rayleigh
SATURDAY RYMAN LEAGUE Premier Division: Billericay Town 1, Harrow Boro 1; Purfleet 0, Canvey Island 1. Division 2: Chertsey 2, Tilbury 0; Windsor and Eton 1, Great Wakering Rovers 0. SCHWEPPES ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE East ham 2, Woodford Town 0. HADLEIGH
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
ESSEX clergy have voted overwhelmingly in favour of allowing divorced people to re-marry in church. At a meeting of the Chelmsford Diocesan Synod at Shenfield High School on Saturday only 28 of the 139 members present did not want to see the church rules
Hullbridge Sports will hopefully set out on the trail of a cup final spot tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon. They travel to Barkingside in the first leg of the Harry Fisher Memorial Trophy semi-final, but fans travelling to the game should check before setting
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
Big target man Conlon finished off a great move by man-of-the-match Karl Duguid and Joe Dunne to register the only goal of the game in the 56th minute as the U's put their lack-lustre midweek defeat at the nads of Port Vale behind them. It was one of
