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 on Thursday night, but while a council spokesman refused to disclose
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
Sports college status would bring a "buzz" to Thurstable School akin to being promoted from the First Division to the Premier League. Nick Hammond, headteacher at the school in Maypole Road, Tiptree, spoke of the undisputed benefits of gaining specialist
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
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
Karl Duguid openly admits he is not the apple of the Layer Road fans' eyes. But the big-hearted striker was undoubtedly the darling of his team-mates and the small but loyal band of travelling Colchester supporters as he produced one of the finest all-round
There was no happier man on the pitch than livewire man-of-the-match Karl Duguid once the final whistle signalled a tremendous Colchester United victory. The never-say-die, all action striker said: "The lads played brilliantly and the margin of victory
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
Essex roads have never been in such poor condition, Essex County Council said last 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 17-year-old American judo champion with sights on the Olympics managed to defend his girlfriend and himself from serious injury when they were attacked by a frenzied group of around 12 girls in Chelmsford trying to rob them. Now his father, Stephen
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
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
Foster carers are being urgently sought by Essex social services for an 11-year-old boy whose mother can no longer look after him. The county council says around 800 children in Essex need foster care. Most will return to their families, but some need
Plans for homes on the former Dovercourt Motors site at the junction of Fambridge Road have been turned down by Maldon district councillors. Members of the central area planning committee refused the scheme by Chelsteen Homes Ltd despite officers' recommendation
Maldon District Council's staff turn-over compares favourably with other similar councils and is below the national average for local authorities. In a report to members of the treasury and public accounts select committee this week, head of corporate
The young Colchester side put in a passionate performance in awful conditions against second-placed Upminster, but were finally beaten by an injury time try. Following their heavy defeat at Billericay a fortnight earlier Colchester started the game well
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
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
The Colchester Sea Angling Club fished on Walton Pier yesterday (Sunday). Fishing was poor with a lot of undersize whiting, but seven out of the 22 anglers who fished managed a weigh-in. The result was: <UL1st Ken Rook 1lb 7ozs 2nd Mick Carlin 13ozs
Parents are being warned they should apply now for a primary school place for their child - or miss out. Essex County Council is urging mums and dads to make sure they are first in the queue to avoid disappointment. The vast majority of children should
Parents and teachers in Writtle fear a tragic road accident involving a young child because the village schools no longer have a crossing patrol. Writtle Junior and Infant schools have been without a patrol since the February half-term holiday, and fears
Arsonists who caused £6,000 damage to a portable building outside a Southend school were not pupils, maintained the headteacher. Bob Hellen, head of Cecil Jones School in Eastern Avenue, Southend, was convinced no members of the school had carried out
Ministers have been visiting Southend to praise councillors' pioneering vision for the future. A Government delegation arrived at the Cliffs Pavilion in Station Road, Westcliff, to speak about a £99 million Euro cash handout for the East of England. Trade
The grim discovery of a man's body in a field near Colchester has sparked a major police investigation. The man, thought to be about 30, was found in the field at the border of Colchester with Wivenhoe by a couple walking their dog yesterday (Sunday).
Burning of more than 1,000 animals has begun at a farm near Colchester following the first outbreak of the disease in north Essex. Vets from the Agriculture and Food Ministry, Maff, confirmed the worst fears on Friday after taking samples from animals
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 Jock Wadley Memorial Road Race, due to be staged yesterday (Sunday), was called off due to the foot-and-mouth epidemic. Colchester Rovers, who organise the event - one of the largest in Essex - took the decision to cancel on Friday after an outbreak
Ipswich Town will almost certainly play worse than this and win before the season ends in May. In fact, quite how they slipped to defeat against such confidence-sapped opposition remains a mystery. Town never hit top form themselves but at half-time the
Ecstatic Colchester United boss Steve Whitton described the U's one-goal win at Walsall as the U's biggest and best yet this season. Whitton said after watching his team's Bescot Stadium triumph against one of the Second Division's hottest sides on Saturday
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 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
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 on Thursday with Peter Ainsworth, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media
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
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
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 on Friday after taking samples
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
Underworld informants are thin on the ground in some parts of Essex - much to the dismay of police top brass. There simply are not enough people spilling the beans to their handlers for money, according to a new report. The shady world of the informer
Less than two per cent of thieves who break into cars in Essex were caught at the beginning of the year, a new report reveals. The figures, to be put before Essex Police Authority today (Monday), show there is less crime but, of those committed, more
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
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
Parents campaigning to save Braintree's Chapel Hill County School are all set to take their protests to County Hall on March 26, when the matter is due to be discussed by the education panel. This is the latest in a line of action from campaigners who
A body set up to improve standards throughout the NHS is preparing to take a patient's eye view of Southend Hospital. The Commission for Health Improvement visit, scheduled for June, is part of a rolling programme to scrutinise every trust, health authority
More than £2,000 is being set aside to ensure the future of four community projects for all ages across Tendring. A sum of £800 is being pumped into the Environmental Award Scheme for School, which is run in association with Clacton Rotary Club. Last
Residents in an area of Colchester were kept awake until the early hours of the morning by an illegal "rave" style party. Police were called to the event in the early hours of Sunday after angry neighbours rang to complain about the noise. A spokesman
Two Essex residents are about to take part in an endurance game to win a Toyota Land Cruiser The bizarre televised contest has the simplest rules. All the 20 contestants have to do is to touch a £40,000 vehicle - and the one still left standing at the
The proposed development on fields between Maltings Lane and the A12 bypass at Witham has been given a mixed welcome. With 840 homes, plus business premises, it will attract about 3,000 people to the town over the next few years. Criticised as too much
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
Chris Makin refused to be downbeat after kicking off his Ipswich Town career with defeat at Aston Villa. The Blues were doubled for the first time this season after Julian Joachim struck with a two-goal salvo to overturn Alun Armstrong's fortuitous opener
George Burley confessed to being "shell-shocked" after watching his side crumble to defeat at Villa Park. The Ipswich Town boss felt his troops did at least enough to earn a point after carving out an early lead through Alun Armstrong. Villa hit back
Canvey Island drew the toughest opponents this afternoon when the draw was made for the semi-finals of the FA Umbro Trophy. The Gulls, who beat Telford United 1-0 in the quarter-final at Park Lane on Saturday, have home advantage for the first leg on
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,
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
Relatives were on 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 two months
Mobile homes in Hullbridge could be swept away if the River Crouch flooded, a resident said. John Whitcher, 65, who lives off Kingsmans Farm Road, Hullbridge, spoke after Rochford District Council planning committee approved a £900,000 scheme to improve
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
A new village scheme to support carers has just been launched in Burnham. The Maldon Carers have appointed Sue Palmer, carer support worker, to restart a group that was initially set up in Burnham in 1998 but because of various reasons was unable to continue
Plans to improve the environment of the villages near the route of the northern section of the new A130 - due for completion in the autumn - are now out for public consultation. In a bid to direct through traffic to the new road, and give the long-suffering
A man charged with offences under the terrorism act has been remanded in custody until his next hearing. Thomas Mellon, of Londonderry, Northern Ireland, will reappear at Southend Magistrates' Court on Monday, April 9. He is charged under section seven
Staff threatened by redundancy at a Colchester college are to vote on taking strike action. At a meeting of members of the largest lecturers' union, NATFHE, on Friday, a ballot was approved which will mean staff will decide what action to take to protest
Bosses at Colchester Zoo have spoken of their fears for its future following a foot-and-mouth outbreak just a couple of miles away. The popular attraction has been closed voluntarily for two weeks since the first outbreak of the disease was announced.
