A fire union chief for south Essex today claimed national strike action was "inevitable" if firefighters' pay demands were not met. The claim comes after hundreds of firefighters from across the UK took part in a protest march in Belfast in support of
Angry pensioners are waiting to see if council bosses take on board their plea for a change of heart over axing the subsidy for full fare bus passes. A delegation of pensioners met senior members and officials from Brentwood Borough Council last week
Harlow moved third in the Division One North standings yesterday with a narrow 2-1 home win over Wembley. Substitute Dale Archer's double reversed a 1-0 half-time deficit presented by Chris Perisimou's strike for the North London club. Archer's first
Up to 400 rail enthusiasts were believed to be aboard a train which hit the buffers at Walton on the Naze station this afternoon. About 30 were injured in the collision when the accident happened at 1.50pm. At least one person was taken to hospital following
More than 1,100 people and organisations have given their views during a 14-week consultation into the future of health services across north Essex. And an independent initial analysis of the feedback will take place next month, with the public again
A former mayor and mayoress of Thurrock have celebrated their golden wedding. Arthur and Diana Clarke marked 50 years of marriage with a family party. The couple, who were Thurrock's first citizens in 1985/86, met at a scout and guide social at North
The Blues picked up their first win of the season with a 1-0 victory over Oxford at the Kassam Stadium. Striker Mark Rawle continued his rich vein of form when he headed home Mark Beard's right-wing cross after 20 minutes to add to his midweek hat-trick
Brothers in arms David and Neil were the heroes on Saturday, as Canvey finally kick-started their promotion quest with victory over Hitchin Town. Having slipped to the foot of the Ryman Premier after their midweek thrashing by Bishop's Stortford, the
Heybridge Swifts failed to halt St Albans' winning run, falling 2-0 at Clarence Park this afternoon in the Ryman League Premier. Defeat drops the Swifts into the relegation places, with only only one point to show from their opening three league matches
A hospital was today investigating the disappearance of a foetus after a woman suffered a miscarriage. The woman miscarried at Colchester General Hospital, said a hospital spokesman. A statement from the hospital said: "Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust
A woman died today when her car ploughed into a tree. The accident happened at about 6.20am today, on the A133 at Weeley, near to a Little Chef restaurant. The car was spotted by an ambulance crew who were on their way to work. Firefighters from Colchester
Graham Napier hit the winning runs on his home ground as Essex kept their promotion dreams alive in Norwich Union League Division Two. The Colchester-born batsman was joined at the crease by Andy Flower as Essex Eagles beat Northamptonshire Steelbacks
Firefighters from Orsett have been at the ASDA Tilbury store, to promote the use of smoke alarms. Station officer Barnie Musto tells John and Julie Berry, from South Ockendon, and their 11-year-old son Shaun about the benefits of having smoke alarms installed
Police have praised a quick-thinking man who saved another's life after finding him collapsed in a Southend street. Keith Piggot, of Burdett Avenue, Westcliff, was travelling down Victoria Avenue at 1.30pm on Friday looking to buy a washing machine when
An 18-year-old girl was raped on a walkway at the top of Southend High Street, police revealed today. Now they are appealing for witnesses to anything suspicious in the area of Victoria Plaza, or on the circular ramp down to the High Street where the
Aldershot knew too much for Braintree on Saturday, running out comfortable 3-0 winners at the Recreation Ground. It could have been so different however, if Tommy Noble had enjoyed greater luck in front of goal in the opening quarter. Instead, his efforts
Refurbishment work to a hotel gutted by fire, is near completion, and it is hoped the New World hotel will open its doors once again on October 1. Ian Hilton, the owner of the site in Great Warley vowed to fully restore the premises within a year. He
Arena Essex beat Isle of Wight 47-45 on Friday night at the Purfleet Raceway in this Premier League encounter but the closeness of the final score line belied the authority of the home side. Three race wins apiece from Leigh Lanham and Colin White plus
Residents in Jaywick are getting all revved up over cars blocking the entrance to their homes and have demanded urgent measures to tackle the problem. People living in Garden Road are finding it hard to park anywhere near where they live or gain access
An urgent investigation has been launched into what caused more than 24 hours of rail chaos for south Essex commuters. The c2c line was closed between Pitsea and Benfleet after around three miles of overhead cables crashed down onto the track and thousands
South Woodham's Tropical Wings has unveiled new plans for its bird and butterfly gardens. Owners hope to create a children's playground, special events lawn, pony ride area, goat paddock and outdoor butterfly enclosure, as well as increasing parking facilities
A Roman cemetery dating back to the third and fourth century AD has been discovered by archaeologists beneath the demolished St Mary's hopital. Colchester Archaeological Trust has unearthed the graves of about 30 former Colcestrians as they investigate
Caring homes are needed for four cats and kittens abandoned outside a country pub. Melissa and Daryl Heffer took over The Compasses, Pattiswick, near Braintree, ten weeks ago. Mrs Heffer said a strange tortoiseshell cat first visited the pub last Sunday
A century from John Stephenson has helped Essex to a four-wicket victory over Durham at Colchester's Castle Park. The win in the County Championship Division Two keeps Essex in the promotion hunt. Having been set a target of 321 runs for victory by the
The second part of a bridge-building weekend between Harwich and Holland is fast approaching So far 150 people from the Hook of Holland are expected to arrive in Harwich at the end of the month. A choir and accordion band will stage a free concert at
Billericay Town moved joint top of the Ryman Premier with a hard fought 1-0 success in Buckinghamshire. With the home side fielding five changes, Town were unsure what to expect, though they'd have been grateful for the generosity of their hosts, as Mark
Detectives are hunting a man who viciously assaulted a BMW motorist by stabbing his hands. The incident happened on Friday afternoon when the man was dragged out of his car in Moore Avenue, Grays, by drivers of a white van and a white Ford Mondeo. One
Harlow Town climbed into the promotion places in Ryman Division One North with Bank Holiday Monday's comfortable win at Hemel Hempstead Town. The Essex side join Hornchurch at the top of the table with three wins and a draw from their first four league
Thurrock Council's efforts to improve local people's computer skills have come right to its own doorstep. The latest access point open to the public is in the council's own Civic Offices, in New Road, Grays. The suite opened recently and among the first
An inquisitive horse had to be rescued after falling into a 6ft deep hole. Thomas, a 25-year-old stallion, went to investigate the building of a drive and garage at a smallholding in Wrabness Road, Ramsey, when he fell in. Firefighters and builders worked
THE Shrimpers were today toasting a successful bank holiday weekend after back-to-back wins. Rob Newman's men defeated Oxford 1-0 on Saturday thanks to Mark Rawle and picked up another three points with a 2-1 victory over Cambridge United at Roots Hall
Never has a tortoise moved so fast. Gulliver the love-sick reptile must have thought it was his lucky day as he was presented with not one, but two females Despite not seeing another tortoise for more than 20 years, he knew exactly what he wanted and
A burglar netted more than £250,000 from a series of antiques thefts from isolated properties throughout Essex. Ronald Brown targeted retired and vulnerable people during the four months before he was caught. Very little of the property he stole was recovered
Southend United goalscorer Mark Rawle dedicated Saturday's 1-0 Third Division win at Oxford to his Shrimpers team-mates. The 23-year-old front-runner's first-half header earned Blues their first League win of the season at the fourth attempt at the Kassam
Following the tragic events in Soreham a spokesman for Essex LEA has said parents should be reassured that stringent measures are in place to protect school children. All staff or people who work with school children are checked under new measures introduced
A penalty at Layer Road saw visitors Brentford take all three points in the match on Saturday. Young defender Danny Steele, on for the injured Mark Warren, was judged by referee Paul Taylor to have fouled Mark McCammon in the area. Stephen Hunt converted
Stortford missed out on the chance to go third in the Ryman Premier, leaking two late goals to claim only a point at Harrow Borough. Boosted by Tuesday night's superb showing at Canvey Island, Stortford tore into their opponents from the off, and led
Having leaked five in the week against Maidenhead United, Chesham were more than content with a point and a clean sheet at Heybridge on Saturday. It was an uninspiring encounter for both sides, with midfield possession dominating much of the play. Swifts
Police were today hunting a man who tried to snatch a two-year-old boy from his mother's car. The man tried to force down the window of a black BMW parked in Pound Lane, Pitsea, before fleeing when confronted by the 27-year-old woman. The woman, who had
Great Wakering Rovers were left kicking their heels on Saturday when the match referee ruled that the St Chad's pitch was not fit for their Division One North derby at Tilbury. The Dockers received a £30,000 summer grant to carry out work on their troublesome
Chelmsford City are still winless, though would have been content with a point against Worcester City at New Lodge on Saturday. The Clarets took the lead a minute before the break when Steve Sanders fired an outstanding drive into the top corner from
Grays are yet to find the form that has led many to install them as pre-season favourites for the Ryman Premier title, and they fell to their first defeat of the season at home to Basingstoke on Saturday. The hosts were soon into their stride though ,
Thousands of boating enthusiasts turned out to enjoy the finale of Mersea Week the town regatta. Saturday marked the end of a week of events and races and is a day of fun and games, which sees people paddling with shovels, sailing backwards and tackling
A day of fun was marred when violence broke out in Clacton. More than 80,000 people attended the town's 11th air show on Thursday and Friday. But violence flared on Friday night as two people were attacked in separate incidents and there were a number
East Thurrock United's poor start continued when they slumped to a 4-0 defeat to visitors Barking. The East Ham-based side were the whipping boys of their division just last season, though their shrewd summer transfer activity looks to be paying dividends
Police were today hunting a man who threatened to throw a teenage Asian girl from the top of a south Essex multi-storey car park. The man - also Asian - dragged the girl from toilets at the car park in Grays town centre, and forced her up several flights
