A teenager fears she could be left blind in one eye following a horrific incident in a town centre nightclub Police today made a public appeal for information as part of their investigation. The 18-year-old, of Braintree, was struck in the face with a
Wine tasting, a craft fair, an art exhibition and live entertainment will be among the attractions at the annual English wine festival and open day at New Hall Vineyards in Purleigh, near Maldon on Saturday September 7 and Sunday September 8. The craft
A seaside resort has once again been the focus of television cameras. Thames Television has been in Frinton since Friday filming Wish You Were Here for a series on alternative holiday destinations in the UK. Residents and holidaymakers in the town were
A burglar struck while the occupant of a house in Shoebury was in their garage. The victim left their house and car keys in the front door lock and intruders made their way in, before leaving with a mobile phone, cash, a purse and various cards and keys
A terrified mother today described a man she saw trying to snatch her son from her car as "scum". Hermione Carleton, 27, from Pound Lane, Pitsea, says she had parked her black BMW on her driveway after a trip to Lakeside shopping centre and took her shopping
A man has escaped a jail sentence for a road rage assault involving a teenager. Anthony Hazelton drove carelessly and then hit the youth as he thought his driving was bad. Chelmsford Crown Court heard how 18-year-old Simon Marsh was driving his Vauxhall
Teachers with criminal records could start work in Essex schools next week - or children could be sent home while their background is checked, it was revealed today. The Criminal Records Bureau, which vets school staff, still faces a backlog of 1,000
A housing trust was today investigating cracks which have appeared in five homes in a Wickford street. The probe centres on houses in Innes Close on the town's Wick estate. Bosses at owners London and Quadrant Housing Trust say that evidence so far suggests
Two Colchester fish and chip shops look set to be cooking up success in a national competition. The top ten finalists in the regional heat of the Fish and Chip Shop of the Year have now been announced. And it seems Colchester is spoilt. Fish 'N' Chick
John Stephenson was the star of the show for Essex Eagles as they beat Gloucestershire Gladiators under the floodlights at Colchester's Castle Park by five wickets. Stephenson took three wickets for 14 and then put 44 on the board himself as Essex won
A gang left a man with a perforated ear-drum and a black eye after assaulting him and two friends. The unprovoked attack by five men happened at about midnight in Maldon Road, Colchester, as the 21-year-old victim and two others walked home. Police said
Police warned parents and newsagents in Shenfield to be on their guard after a 13-year-old paperboy was grabbed by a man who jumped from behind bushes and knocked him off his bike, trying to hit him. The boy kicked his attacker and escaped, arriving home
Matt Holland admits Ipswich Town need to buck their ideas up fast if they're to launch a successful promotion bid from Division One. The Blues' hopes of getting back in the Premiership suffered an early blow on Monday night as they crashed to a shock
Police are offering Castle Point motorists free holders for car tax discs in the latest effort to cut car crime in the borough. Leslie Bramhill, crime reduction adviser for Castle Point, said car crime is the simplest of all categories to reduce. It takes
The world's biggest shipping service provider has appointed a new head for military operations and logistics - and he will be based in Tilbury. Capt Richard Sheridan, together with his team, will co-ordinate Inchcape Shipping Services' navy operations
The Great Leighs bypass will give many residents a quieter life but a farmer says it will lead to the closure of part of his business. Turkey farmer David Partridge, 66, of Rochester Farm, on the present A131 which runs through Great Leighs, is closing
Tattooist Ian Knell is a big softie when it comes to children and animals. So when client Donna Turner, 25, told him about her sick son, Ian lost no time in offering to help raise cash for a dream holiday. He is going to hold a marathon tattooing session
Burglars broke into a radio-controlled model shop for the second time, leaving the owners devastated. The raid, at A1 Models in London Road, Lexden, was reported after two men were spotted smashing glass in a door to get in, just after 5am yesterday David
Residents were left shocked but unhurt when a Transit van crashed into their home. The incident, on the north-bound A12 at Stratford St Mary, blocked one lane of the carriageway at just after 3pm yesterday, causing traffic disruption. The van was involved
The mother of murdered Canvey teenager Tony Mahoney is struggling to cope with her son's death, a year after his killer admitted the crime. Mum Michelle Harrison was outraged it took James Gubb 18 months after he was imprisoned to own up to knifing her
Bradwell Power Station is on target to have removed all the fuel elements from the cooling ponds by the end of August as part of its decommissioning. Stocks of irradiated fuel elements are currently being removed, and between July 25 and August 8, five
A facelift is proposed for the Bread and Cheese pub in London Road, Benfleet, incorporating a new front porch, side extension and alterations to the side porch. There are also plans to develop the car park next to the pub. Castle Point Council planning
Southend Council has pledged to do everything within its power to keep the town's annual cricket festival. Cabinet member in charge of leisure, Tony North, made the comment after news that Southchurch Park could be dropped from the county club's fixture
Skateboarders have been able to make use of new facilities after a skatepark was finally completed. Equipment at the Dovercourt skate park, Low Road, was installed on Friday night and has been in use since. Gerald Wallington-Hayes, chairman of Harwich
Police were today hunting a knifeman who stabbed his victim twice in the head on Southend seafront. The shocking attack resulted in the victim, a man in his mid-twenties, needing 36 stitches for his injuries. The victim was walking along the seafront
An urgent call was today made for new safety measures to be introduced on Tendring's most dangerous road. The move follows the death of 41-year-old Beverley Brace, of Tewkesbury Road, Clacton, after her car crossed to the opposite side of the A133 and
A 39-year-old man has been cautioned by police for common assault after he drunkenly tried to hit a taxi driver with a baseball bat. The incident happened when the driver took the man to his home in Laburnum Avenue, Wickford, and asked for the £40 fare
A pensioner today told how she may give up driving after young joyriders stole her car and smashed it up. May Hurst, 65, said she almost burst into tears when her silver blue Toyota Carina estate car was discovered dumped behind Walton's Columbine Centre
The annual Mersea Street Festival raised more than £5,000 for numerous charities Organised by the Mersea Lions, the 23rd consecutive event was opened by BBC Essex presenter Liz Mullen and saw a variety of charity stalls, a live music band called Legacy
When second round ties in the Hadleigh Carport Southend Borough Combination's Pete Simmonds Cup were staged at Eastwoodbury Lane two went to extra-time. In one of them Weir Sports reached the semi-final with an amazing 7-3 victory over White Ensign 3rd
More nurses, therapists, and social care staff are providing skilled mental health care in Billericay and Wickford thanks to a new trust, chaired by a Wickford woman. Health chief, Jai Tout has been delighted at a new mental health trust's achievements
The long-awaited Grays western bypass has opened to traffic. Linking London Road and Devonshire Road, the new road is aimed at reducing the amount of traffic filtering through Grays town centre. The new road - and London Road, east of its junction with
A tug-of-war match, bird of prey exhibition and a Rodeo mechanical bull were just some of the entertainment on offer at Great Wakering Parish Council's annual bank holiday fayre. More than 4,500 people visited the fayre during the day and wandered round
Southend may be about to lose one of its most popular annual sporting events - with vandalism being a major cause of the loss if it happens. For the death knell of the Southend Cricket Festival could be sounded tonight with Southchurch Park losing its
Clacton Pier is among the top free entry attractions in the land. The pier has proved itself to be a terrific crowd puller by increasing its visitors while the national trend was for those going to free attractions to go down. So many visitors went to
The Buffaloes are coming. Tendring's tourist trade is to get a massive boost with the influx of more than 1,200 visitors to a worldwide conference next year, it has been confirmed. About 600 delegates and their families will be travelling to the event
Castle Point MP Bob Spink today urged school chiefs in the borough to log on and make the most of a new recruitment service on the web. Headteachers can advertise for staff free of charge on SchoolPosts and Mr Spink feels the opportunity will make a real
The Kursaal, one of Southend's most famous landmarks, is the subject of a major exhibition. Visitors will be able to find out all about the building, constructed in the 1890s and famed for its dome, at Southend Library. The display, which runs until the
Evening fishermen have been reaping the benefits at Rochford's Doggetts Lake. Steve Campion went without a bite as he fished on during the hot daytime weather, but during the early hours his luck changed dramatically. Using a float fished worm bait, Steve
Colchester United boss Steve Whitton could have some serious competition for the signature of Graham Barrett on a loan deal - should Arsenal decide to let him go. Following Barrett's explosion onto the full international scene last week, when the 21-year-old
Revitalised Southend United defender Mark Beard today dedicated the Seasiders' Bank Holiday weekend resurgence to Blues' management team. The 27-year-old started his first two games of the season as the Shrimpers picked up a maximum six-point haul with
Thousands of protesters are expected to voice their opposition to the planned airport at Cliffe Marshes in Kent when a public meeting is held in south Essex. Organisers are anticipating a massive turn-out for the protest meeting at The Paddocks in Long
Make returning to school a lot more fun by asking your teacher to take part in an art competition. The Barbie Prize is looking for the school with the best artists and will give them £20,000 for new equipment. You can enter anything from drawings to 3D
A memorial service will be organised to commemorate the floods of 1953 which devastated Harwich. Harwich Town Council agreed something should be done to mark the 50th anniversary of the floods in February next year. Town councillor Lawrie Payne suggested
South Essex over-50s are being wooed by supermarket giant Asda as it attempts to fill dozens of vacancies at its local store. The chain has launched a recruitment drive to lure even more mature workers to join the dozens it already employs at its giant
A drug dealer has been jailed for five years after police caught him twice with heroin. David Jackson, 36, was bailed by police after he was found with 17 grammes of the drug at Hatfield Peverel railway station on January 16. But a court heard yesterday
ALWAYS go home by the same route ALWAYS tell your teacher or parent if a stranger talks to you ALWAYS ask mum or dad before you go with anyone, even someone you know ALWAYS play within sight of somebody, especially if you are on your own NEVER take anything
A Southend nightclub boss was today threatening legal action after a power cut left hundreds of revellers in the dark. Lou Manzi, who owns Talk Nightclub in Lucy Road, claims he lost thousands of pounds when the music and lights went out. Clubbers were
We have all been following the tragic news about Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells. Sadly it shows it is important to keep yourself safe. I got in touch with PC Beryl Fennell, Schools Liason Officer for Rochford District, whose job it is to go talk about
An oxygen-sapping algae was today named as the killer of thousands of shrimps and prawns and dozens of fish and crabs found floating dead in a Canvey lake. The Evening Echo reported last Friday how mystery surrounded the deaths in Smallgains Lake, off
It's D-Day for floodlit Cricket at Castle Park. A decision will today be made which could mean the end of Essex cricket under lights at Colchester. David East, the county's chief executive, today revealed that this year's big day/night extravaganza -
The ultimate one night stand is set to be offered up at Brentwood Theatre in the autumn after one of its headline acts received a top comedy award at the Edinburgh Festival. In October the Shenfield Road theatre is set to host a two week professional
South Essex rail passengers face another series of disruptions in early September as vital upgrading work is carried out between Pitsea, Grays and Stanford-le-Hope. Work on the 9.7km stretch of track is being carried out by train operator c2c to ensure
Eminent world experts on heart problems are heading to London for a unique summit at the invitation of a brave Brentwood mother. Anne Jolly, whose 16-year-old son tragically died suddenly in his sleep, has shown indomitable spirit by organising the first
A top detective today told of his fears for the health of the 86-year-old victim of a brutal robber. The elderly woman now faces surgery after she was punched to the ground by a young thug, leaving her with a fractured thigh. And the man leading the hunt
Residents and businesses in Hamlet Court Road today told of their relief that nobody was killed when the fire broke out in the Mind shop. Firefighters have now boarded up the front of the charity shop, although the alarm could still be heard ringing inside
Hundreds of youngsters have been enjoying the supervised Summer Fun Time at Waterside Farm Sports Centre, Canvey, now in its last week. Summer fun - Robbie Speroni and Chloe Parish making starfish Picture: LUAN MARSHALL Programme manager Irene Blackshaw
Basildon matchmen Stan Howard and Neil Payne landed a terrific 187lb 4oz of bream at Billericay's Lake Meadows. At the scales Stan broke the magic 100lb barrier weighing in a total of 109lb. Neil, who fished just a few yards away from Stan, added 78lb
Environment officials were today still warning people not to come into contact with water in an Essex river following a health warning. It is believed more than 500,000 large fish in the River Blackwater between Coggeshall and Great Braxted have died
A traditional town regatta was given a revival much to the delight of Wivenhoe residents. After a gap of ten years it was decided this, the jubilee year, was the ideal time to reinstate the Wivenhoe Town Regatta as an annual event. Fishing smacks, Wivenhoe
Which is faster, land or sea? Jovial rivals Mike Vadden and Malcolm Spooner have battled over this question for seven years - and raised thousands for charity into the bargain. Lift - walker Malcolm Spooner gets a piggyback from sailor pal Mike Vadden
