Pole angler Martin Murfitt really put his tackle to the test when he fished an evening session at the Gloucester Park little bay - using just 2lb line to take ten tench, plus carp of 10lbs and 16lbs. Martin's after work session saw him fishing a single
New signing Kemal Izzet ensured Colchester took at least a point from their home encounter with Peterborough by scoring his first goal for the U's. Barry Fry's team made the early break through in the Division Two clash with a goal on 11 minutes through
Braintree Town can take a giant leap towards promotion when they host Thame United in the Ryman League first division tonight (Wednesday, kick-off 7.45pm). The Oxfordshire side are one place above the Iron in third and are level on points. But a win tonight
The body of a man found by a walker on Good Friday has been confirmed as that of a missing pensioner. Police yesterday (Tuesday) confirmed the body found in the backwaters of Walton-on-the-Naze was that of 70-year-old Cyril Woodhouse, who had been missing
A piece of history is being returned to the people of Maldon. The silver cradle, which marks the mayorship of Alderman Edward Fitch more than 100 years ago, in 1888, is due to be donated to the Maldon District Museum in a ceremony next month. Presented
The driving force behind Basildon Zoo has demanded a Government rescue package to bail out the tourism industry over the foot-and-mouth crisis. Yolande Surcouf spoke out after losing out on thousands of pounds of trade after the zoo closed for six weeks
Last Sunday saw the belated start of the Essex Road Race League following cancellations due to the foot and mouth crisis. In the Maldon Road Race at Steeple, East Essex, Richard Whitehorn opened the Glendene's account with fourth place in the third, fourth
It is becoming more and more difficult to come up with adequate superlatives to describe the talents of Hornchurch boxer Steve Roberts. Time and again, Roberts, the WBF light middleweight champion, has delivered the goods with the minimum of fuss and
A spate of vandalism at a recreation ground has led to frustrated committee members calling in the police. Alf Martin, long-serving groundsman at Great Yeldham sports ground, discovered vandals had defaced the cricket pitch by scuffing initials into the
Road rage incidents and deaths caused by drowsy drivers could be cut by an innovative new in-car gadget, according to a north Essex firm. But Essex Police are remaining tight-lipped about the impact the aromatherapy essential oil distributor could have
A couple from Maldon were amazed after bumping into two sets of old friends on a world cruise. Leslie and Eve Flower, of Wantz Chase, were stunned to find the old acquaintances, who they had not seen for about 50 years, were at their dinner table on board
This is the first picture of a man detectives want to quiz about an armed robbery in which a terrified postmaster was struck over the head with a gun. A man, believed to be in his early thirties, kept the postmaster's wife talking as his accomplice assaulted
The man police officers found dying in a Dovercourt flat has been named as 30-year-old waiter Stephen Meachen. A murder inquiry has been launched following the discovery of the fatally-wounded man. Police were called to the ground floor flat in Cliff
Golfers marked the first anniversary of the death of heart attack victim Chris Barker by raising £10,124 for the British Heart Foundation. IT consultant Chris, of Copperfield Gardens, Brentwood, died aged 25 last March and his family and friends held
A ten-year-old girl was today (Wednesday) recovering in hospital after being in collision with a car as she crossed Woodgrange Drive, Southend. The girl lost some of her teeth in the accident at 4.40pm yesterday (Tuesday) and suffered from shock. She
New signing Kemal Izzet ensured Colchester took at least a point from their home encounter with Peterborough by scoring his first goal for the U's. Barry Fry's team made the early break through in the Division Two clash with a goal on 11 minutes through
A team of archaeologists hope to uncover an ancient temple thought to be under the St Mary's Hospital site in Colchester. Experienced excavators from Colchester Archaeological Trust yesterday (Tuesday) started work on a dig which could also save buried
Workers at New Holland tractor plant in Basildon are planning to strike for a further two days next week in their fight against poor pay and conditions. Production line workers are planning to stage yet more one-day strikes on Monday, April 23, and Wednesday
A battered and bruised pensioner has told how she was in collision with a man driving a disabled scooter the wrong way down a one-way street in Clacton town centre. The 76-year-old, who did not want to be named, warned others to keep a careful watch for
Southend nightclubs were today (Wednesday) hoping for consent to serve alcohol for an extra two hours on a Sunday night. The Special Hours Certificate, which allows certain venues to serve drink beyond the normal licensing hours of 11pm on weekdays and
The man police officers found dying in a Dovercourt flat has been named as 30-year-old waiter Stephen Meachen. Police today (Wednesday) confirmed the man had been living in the flats with his wife and young child. A post mortem carried out this morning
Forget the limited entertainment value and ignore the fact Ipswich Town were far from their best. The only thing which mattered after 90 minutes at Portman Road on Saturday was the score. Three more precious points courtesy of Marcus Stewart's clinically-executed
Marcus Stewart has a dream to be able to tell his grandchildren he played in the Champions League. Ipswich Town's top scorer took his tally for the season to 21 as the Blues grafted out a 1-0 win against Newcastle United. And, after burying the decisive
A vital support group could be made homeless as church officials look at selling a town centre hall to clear debts of £500,000 from the ill-fated Basildon glass belltower project. Bosses at St Martins Parochial Church Council are looking to lift protection
A cashier was assaulted in a raid on a Witham petrol station. The robbery at the BP service station in Braintree Road happened just before 6pm on Monday evening when a man with distinctive dreadlocks walked into the shop on the forecourt. A police spokesman
Fast-food giant McDonald's has had to scrap plans for a new drive-through restaurant in Colchester. The land at Turner Rise, earmarked to become the fast-food chain's fourth restaurant in the town, will now become a self-storage depot. The new restaurant
George Burley is taking nothing for granted in the race for Europe - and believes his Ipswich Town high-flyers must keep looking over their shoulders until qualification has been secured. The 2-1 win at Middlesbrough on Monday left the Blues just a point
Canvey Island continue their "impossible dream" of snatching the Ryman League title from runaway leaders Farnborough with two key games over the next 24 hours. They follow tonight's (Wednesday's) home clash with struggling Maidenhead United by visiting
Colchester United are determined to make us sweat all the way as they struggle to get past the winning post that brings Division Two football back to Layer Road again next season. Is a hard-earned point from this draw with East Anglian rivals Peterborough
Southend United striker Neil Tolson has revealed he is looking forward to a medication-free footballing future. The 27-year-old hitman made his long-awaited comeback for Blues' reserves last week, playing 45 minutes and setting up a goal in a 2-1 defeat
A mid-Essex rail watchdog has claimed peak hour rail services are improving for the first time since the Hatfield disaster. Witham and Braintree Rail Users' Association said early morning commuter trains from Braintree and Witham were improving and more
Electricity firm 24seven had to bring in generators after cold weather and bumper visitor numbers caused power surges along the east coast. A huge overload on the power grid caused an electricity failure at one of Tendring's largest holiday parks. Hundreds
Tendring twinners are putting the final touches to a visit to the German counterparts next month - but are lacking one vital ingredient. They are desperately searching for a youth football team keen for a bit of European competition. The side, which needs
The Leopards closed their home programme for the season with an emphatic victory over their arch-rivals the Towers at the Brentwood Centre last Thursday. Leopards are coming into form at the right time for the play-offs. Thursday's conquest of the Towers
The emergency services were yesterday (Tuesday) getting back to normal in the wake of the Easter weekend. With two bank holidays at Easter, Essex Police, Essex Fire and Rescue and the Ambulance Service were geared up to deal with anything that came their
The line-up for Chelmsford's V2001 has just been announced. And among the big names set to grace the stages at Hylands Park are Coldplay, David Gray and Texas. There were fears the pop festival - one of the most popular in the country - would have been
A yacht carrying eight people was left high and dry on sandbanks after running aground. The Easter Monday pleasure trip came to an abrupt end when the vessel struck Cork Sands, about three miles off the Walton coastline, just after 11am. Walton lifeboat
A murder inquiry has been launched - eight years after a couple vanished without trace. China Rose Sims and her husband, David, mysteriously disappeared from their home in Lonsdale Road, Southend, in February 1993. Detectives have also revealed that David
This divine commandment may be a new addition to the biblical ten rules, but according to the vicar of St Michael's Church in Braintree it is definitely not a sign from God. Church leaders were at first dumbfounded about who could have bolted the sign
A murder inquiry has been launched following the discovery of a fatally-wounded man at a flat in Dovercourt. Police were called to the ground floor flat in Cliff Road, Dovercourt, at 6.15pm last night (Tuesday). There they found the 30-year-old with what
The past few weeks have been memorable for Colchester United new boy Kemal Izzet. First he had a Football League debut to celebrate and now, just three games later, he's scored a first League goal. "Now I've opened my account I hope it's the first of
Big-hearted rubbish collector Goldie Anderson celebrated Easter by having his head shaved to raise cash for sick children. Goldie, of North Street, Rochford, came up with the idea to help terminally ill youngsters at the Little Haven children's hospice
Detectives have been hunting a thug who brutally attacked a man in the face with a glass bottle. The 20-year-old victim was left with a five-inch laceration and had to have 30 stitches to his face. The attack took place on Porters Grange roundabout, at
Southend's mayor has announced he will be stepping down following the local election date reshuffle. Graham Longley (Lib Dem, Blenheim) could have stayed in his post until June 7 but will now step down on May 10 after pressure from Tory leaders. He will
Clean up our district! That's the plea from residents in Tendring who are calling for major efforts to improve the environment. From Frating to Frinton, they have complained about the state of roads, footpaths and grass verges. And many long-standing
At the Leopards end of season social last Sunday, it was announced that Leopards' Rico Alderson had been named BBL Player of the Month for March. This is the first time this season that a Leopard has won the award, and, for Alderson ,this is acknowledgement
An amber rating has been awarded to Mid Essex Hospitals NHS Trust -- meaning that it achieved an acceptable level of cleanliness during unannounced spotchecks. The results were announced by Health Secretary Alan Milburn as he unveiled the first national
Judith Smith achieved a hole-in-one on the eighth while competing in Boyce Hill Ladies 11-hole Stableford off full handicap. However, her 18 points total was not enough for victory. This went to Pat Skeels on 19. Judith did manage runners-up spot, beating
Colchester United have never won a League game on Bristol Rovers' territory. In fact in 11 times of trying since the 1950-51 season their first in the old Division Three (South) the best the U's have ever managed is four draws and two of those were in
Vandals went on the rampage, damaging at least 15 cars in Clacton town centre. Reports started flooding in to police last night (Tuesday) and this morning as the damage was discovered by owners of the vehicles. PC Dave Lawrence, of Clacton police, said
Southend United's rescheduled Division Three game with Mansfield Town will not go ahead tonight (Wednesday), as originally hoped. The match was abandoned after referee Mike North collapsed just before half-time during Monday's game and later died. It
The man police officers found dying in a Dovercourt flat has been named as 30-year-old waiter Stephen Meachen. Police today (Wednesday) confirmed the man had been living in the flats with his wife and young child. A post mortem carried out this morning
A terrified shop assistant locked himself in a store cupboard after a crazed customer threatened him with a knife. The thug calmly walked into the store brandishing a kitchen knife and when the shop assistant, a man aged 29, asked if he could help, the
William Hague is coming to the Maldon district to meet farmers affected by the foot-and-mouth crisis. The leader of the opposition will be joined by his advisor, Maldon and South Chelmsford MP John Whittingdale as he tours farms in Southminster and Latchingdon
An eight-year-old boy sparked a police search after he went missing while on a trip to Adventure Island in Southend yesterday (Tuesday). He was with his older brother and two friends when he became separated from the others, who looked for him but could
Parts of the A12 will be closed from Saturday to clean up piles of rubbish along its sides. Braintree Council staff will start to clear litter on a 15km stretch of road between Hatfield Peverel and the district's boundary with Colchester borough, just
Colchester's crestfallen man-of-the-match Scott Fitzgerald has offered no excuses for the U's below-par display in losing to Bristol Rovers on Saturday. The former Millwall captain summed up the performance: "We got what we deserved. It was very disappointing
Southend Council has defended its waste policy after Basildon said the seaside town should deal with more rubbish. The suggestion came from John Potter, Labour leader of Basildon Council, in reaction to plans for an incinerator in Courtauld Road, Basildon
