Archive

  • Brentwood: Name and Shame poster campaign

    Criminals around north Essex could be named and shamed on posters Essex's police force is launching the crime-fighting idea in Brentwood and it is believed to be the first of its kind in Britain. Officers plan to put up photos in places such as garages

  • South Essex: Opinions sought on drinks ban

    The use of drinking bans to curb the problem of youths swilling beer in public places is to be discussed at a meeting next week. Members of the public are to thrash out concerns at the Benfleet Area Forum, to be held at Castle Point Council's offices

  • Colchester: Garage comes down, homes set to go up

    More new homes are set to be built in Magdalen Street, Colchester. Higgins Homes has acquired land on which is a large detached house and a disused former filling station. The developer, based in Loughton, near Epping, plans to build one and two bedroom

  • Chelmsford: Pumpkin pleaser's giant pumpkin for charity

    Curry lovers with a taste for fundraising could help raise thousands of pounds. A Chelmsford Indian takeaway and restaurant are joining forces to create a mouth-watering chicken and pumpkin curry which will go on sale for Children in Need. But the Shapla

  • Soccer: Ambrose buzzing over recall

    Darren Ambrose is 'absolutely buzzing' at the prospect of being recalled by Ipswich Town. But the midfielder, rested for Wednesday's Worthington Cup success over Middlesbrough, is taking nothing for granted when it comes to being back in the side for

  • Soccer: More police for Swifts' Bristol City clash

    An extra 30 police officers are being drafted in for next weekend's Heybridge v Bristol City match. The Bristol City fans were third in the Home Office's football-related arrests table for Division Two last season with 44 arrests - more than half at away

  • Brentwood: We are the community champions!

    Community champions, local heroes and people who have courageously faced adversity will be given well-deserved recognition at the prestigious Essex Achievement Awards ceremony. A total of 25 people of all ages from across the county will be receiving

  • Basildon: Mum's fury on 'disaster' home

    A mum today slammed Basildon Council after discovering the house that she was allocated was uninhabitable. Karen Johnston, 25, was offered the house in Luncies Road, Vange, but claims it is riddled with problems. Karen, who has a 14-month-old son, Tyler

  • Southend: Caution plea on Thames crossing

    A council which has thrown its weight behind plans for a new Thames crossing was today warned to wait for more details before giving its support. Castle Point Tory MP Bob Spink was speaking out after a special cabinet meeting of Southend Council backed

  • Soccer: Dockers go gunning for vengeance

    Tilbury have the chance for revenge on Yeading tomorrow in a Ryman First encounter. Dockers were knocked out of this season's FA Cup at the preliminary round stage by Yeading, whose victory back in September was the beginning of a tremendous run of form

  • Southend: Tragic Brian laid to rest in Zambia

    The grieving family of tragic Southend schoolboy Brian Mulenga have laid their son to rest in his native Zambia after a massive response to an appeal to raise cash to fly them home. Friends and colleagues of his mum Hildah, a staff nurse at the Wellesley

  • Soccer: Kennedy gets call for the Italian job

    Canvey midfield star John Kennedy is facing an Italian job after picking up a major soccer honour. Kennedy, one of the Islanders' most consistent stars over the past two years, has been named in the England semi-professional squad to visit Italy later

  • Southend: Surgery wait increases

    A huge reduction in the number of patients having their surgery cancelled just hours before they are due in theatre is unlikely to be maintained at Southend Hospital. In three months to the end of September, 33 patients were told on their admission date

  • Athletics: Basildon runner makes his mark

    Basildon's Mark Sanford led the way at the latest round of the Essex League cross-country championships at Chelmsford's Hylands Park. He won the men's race in 27.35 and the new town club enjoyed further glory as the girls' under-15 team won that event

  • Canvey: Anger over road work

    A Canvey road was today branded "disgusting" as dirt caused by building work spilled out into the street. The Thorney Bay development has been under way for some time but is still causing controversy among residents. A stretch of the Thorney Bay Road

  • Golf: McEvoy's fighting fit in bid for Euro Tour card

    Shoebury pro golfer Richard McEvoy is keeping up his fitness LA style in a bid to make the breakthrough on to the full European tour next year. Fighting fit -- Richard McEvoy at LA Fitness. Picture: DAVE HENDERSON FEHWZ1 McEvoy, 23, has just finished

  • Shoebury: Four hurt in factory blaze

    Four people were today recovering from smoke inhalation after a blaze broke out at a factory. Fire crews from Southend, Shoebury and Rochford were called to EGL Homecare, in Campfield Road, Shoebury, to find the building filled with thick black smoke.

  • Soccer: Farlie wants more of same

    Tiptree United will attempt to prove last season was no fluke when they begin their quest to land the FA Vase tomorrow. Their run in the major non-league competition surpassed all expectations as they eventually lost in the final at Villa Park to Whitley

  • Essex: The show goes on

    The Essex County Show is set to be back in 2004. Essex Showground owner John Holmes, today firmly quashed rumours the event was to be discontinued. And he said he is fully committed to relaunching the 144-year-old show in 2004. Recent reports claimed

  • Southend: Leisure centre on way?

    A massive new leisure complex could be on the way for Southend, it was revealed today. Southend Council's development control committee will be asked next Wednesday to back the plans by David Lloyd Leisure for land in Snakes Lane, Eastwood. Included in

  • Stansted: Airport faces strike threat

    Stansted Airport could be brought to a halt after firefighters, security guards and support staff voted to strike in a dispute over pay. Around 400 took part in the ballot at the Essex airport but bosses hope further discussions will help to understand

  • Rugby: Injury-ravaged Rochford pull out

    Rochford have been forced to pull out of their scheduled Intermediate Cup third-round clash at Shelford tomorrow. The burgeoning injury list and other unavailabilites has resulted in insufficent registered players available at the London Three North-east

  • Soccer: Robins looking to maintain record

    Bristol City take on Colchester United at Layer Road tomorrow boasting an undefeated away record stretching back to early September. In fact, the Robins' last defeat in any competition was way back in late September when they crashed 3-1 at home to Queens

  • Tendring: Founder of Ardleigh squash club dies

    The man who built Ardleigh Hall Squash Club, which has attracted some of the world's top players, has died. Pearse Lucas Rooney, of Rose Farm, Crown Lane, Tendring, was 84 Mr Rooney, whose wife is former Tendring district and Weeley parish councillor

  • Southend: Gladiators fighting flu

    Gladiators came to Southend to do battle ...against the flu! Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY NHS staff Charlie Cogan and Dave Kovar, dressed in full Roman battledress, posed outside the Post Office in the High Street in a stunt for Southend Primary Care Trust to

  • Soccer: Stockley signs for U's

    Colchester United pulled out all the stops to secure the signature of Sam Stockley today ensuring his availabilty for the game against Bristol City. After impressing on an initial two month loan spell, the U's had been confident that they had signed the

  • Brentwood: Brave New World

    We're back in business is the roar from staff at the New World Inn, the Brentwood hotel which was devastated by fire more than 18 months ago. More than £3m has been spent rebuilding and revamping the hotel in Great Warley Street which has now reopened

  • Soccer: East Thurrock Ladies 2 - 0 Southend United Ladies

    Former Shrimper Debbie Ursell returned to haunt Southend United ladies when she scored the opener in East Thurrock ladies' 2-0 Essex Cup win. Ursell smashed a 25-yard shot into the top right-hand corner on 68 minutes after Vicci Pritchard cut the ball

  • Soccer: Spurs legends assist charity

    Tottenham legends will be in Purfleet on Sunday to raise funds for the Meningitis Research Foundation. Martin Chivers, Ralph Coates, Paul Allen and Mark Falco are expected to turn out for Spurs when they take on Directa Hotspur, a team from the Cold Norton-based

  • Darts: Dickey kicked by rivals

    Last year's finalists the Kicking Dickey are out of the Ridley League Darts Cup, beaten by local rivals Felsted Chequers on a night of agony for home skipper Keith Sweeting. In a see-saw clash, the Dickey went into the singles 2-1 up. Paul Rudd's defeat

  • Basketball: Southend Swifts 77 - 53 Taunton Tigers

    Southend international Sarah Hopkins returned from injury to maul the Tigers in Women's Senior National League Division Two. The England under-20 player had been missing for ten months with a serious cruciate ligament injury. But she bagged 23 points

  • Colchester: Pickpockets on prowl warning

    Don't give pickpockets an early Christmas present. That is the message to Colchester shoppers as the festive season - a bumper time for thieves - gets under way. There have been several town centre thefts in the last few days in which people lost cash

  • Colchester: Business joins travellers site fight

    Businesses have joined the fight to stop a travellers' site being set up in Old Heath, Colchester. Owners are concerned that the proposed site in Grange Way is too near their premises in the Whitehall Industrial Estate. The council has said the location

  • Little Clacton: Vandals hit hall for the sixth time

    Vandals have struck at a village hall - smashing windows for the sixth time this year. It is the latest in a long line of damage and theft at Little Clacton Village Hall and trustees running the site have had enough. But they are at a loss for ideas on

  • Athletics: Sping in the step

    Tracey Apps and Jamie Woodyard brought home the silverware for Springfield Striders at the Great Bentley trail race on Sunday. Apps was first lady and Woodyard first man in the eight mile trail around the beautiful country surrounding Stoke by Nayland

  • Southend: Phone snatched

    A man was robbed in Southend when he stopped to tell a stranger the time. The 18-year-old victim was walking along Marine Parade, talking on his mobile phone, when a man approached him to ask the time. He took his phone away from his ear to look at the

  • Canvey: Sheltered home to be flattened

    Demolition crews are now preparing to bulldoze a ten-year-old Canvey sheltered housing scheme where 35 elderly people used to lived. Little Gypps Court in Little Gypps Road, Canvey, has been boarded up ready to be flattened. Castle Point Council housing

  • Grays: Health club branded an 'eyesore'

    A plan to build a two-storey health club on the former bus depot site off Hogg Lane, Grays, has been refused and slammed as an "eyesore". Bannatynes Fitness -- which runs a club on the Chafford Hundred estate -- was seeking permission to create a swimming

  • Soccer: Flavs targets goal shut-out

    Southend United goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan is determined to get Blues back on track with a rare clean sheet at Bristol Rovers tomorrow. The Shrimpers are 15th in Division Three -- five points behind the promotion play-off zone -- but have lost five matches

  • Billericay: Thug beats up postman

    A postman suffered severe facial injuries after he was attacked by a young thug while doing his delivery round. The assault on 34-year-old John Church happened outside Alldays newsagents in Stock Road, Billericay, on Friday. He suffered severe injuries

  • Tilbury: Protect burglar says a judge

    A judge has written to prison chiefs and urged them to protect Paul Sinclair, a burglar he jailed for six months. Sinclair, 28, fears that while behind bars he will become the revenge victim of vicious thug Mark Court. In a drunken rage, Court attacked

  • Boxing: Winning start for debutant

    Chalvedon Boxing Club's Chris Rooks got his boxing career off to a dream start at a show at Rayleigh Mill Boxing Club. The 21-year-old Wickford debutant stopped M Stacey (Haddenham) with as superb left hook in the second round of a scheduled three-rounder

  • Soccer: McBride wants special K's show

    Colin McBride's third-placed Purfleet will be hoping to enhance their title claims in a big way should they win at Kingstonian tomorrow. K's are another of those very much in the thick of an open title race, having lost just the once, although due to

  • Clacton: Chance to learn about nursery

    An open day is being staged for families interested to learn more about a new nursery initiative being set up in Clacton. The facility will be up and running at Colbayns High School from January. And although it is partly aimed at helping to provide places

  • Basildon: Tories' fragile power

    Basildon Council turned Tory last night - but a Lib Dem chairman still holds the casting vote. The meeting to decide the future of the council was called following the resignation of the Labour group. Although Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the two

  • South Essex: End to traffic nightmares?

    Traffic nightmares in Southend could be solved with plans for an outer relief road and a lower Thames crossing, it has been claimed. Council leader Charles Latham has firmly placed old plans for the relief road back on the political agenda. He told a

  • Soccer: Troubled Roeder is ready to fight

    Under fire West Ham boss Glenn Roeder is ready to come out fighting when his side face Leeds United at Upton Park on Sunday. And the manager insists he has no fears about facing the Upton Park boo-boys so soon after the Hammers continued their miserable

  • Essex: More A12 jams on the way

    Motorists have been warned to expect long jams when major roadworks start on the A12 Witham bypass. Highways bosses have confirmed the works will start in April and could last for four months. It will be a similar project to last winter's resurfacing

  • Basildon: Festival full of eastern promise

    Children had fun celebrating the Hindu festival of Diwali as part of their multi-cultural curriculum. Pupils at Greensted Infant School and Nursery made clay deities and decorated their hands during a week of workshops linked to traditional Diwali activities

  • Soccer: Stern test for Rovers from Wealdstone

    Great Wakering Rovers could hardly have chosen a tougher task as they bid to get their Ryman League Division One North programme back on the win trail tomorrow afternoon. After their FA Trophy first round heroics -- the village side held Premier Division

  • Laindon: Paedophile hell is over

    A man cleared of indecently assaulting a nine-year-old girl by a Southend Crown Court jury today told of his months of "hell" since being accused. Bradley Burgess, 25, of Somercotes, Laindon, said he could hardly eat or sleep in the eight months after

  • Witham: Festive lights to cost more

    Decking Witham's halls with boughs of holly will cost £255 more than it did last year. Witham Town Council has been using Eastern Contracting to put up the town's Christmas lights for many years. But the company has decided to increase its price. Last

  • Tendring: Bus services under threat

    A number of bus services across Tendring are under threat because they do not attract enough passengers Essex County Council, which subsidises the routes, will decide next month on whether they are to continue to be run or be scrapped. Ron Williams, cabinet

  • Southend: Mum's misery at housing wait

    A mother has spoken of her misery as she and her four children are forced to live in one room while their new Southend council home is made safe. Natalie Dunk, 25, has been waiting for more than three weeks for the house allocated to her by the council

  • Soccer: Stadium go-ahead gives Town boost

    Billericay Town boss Gary Calder admits that Basildon Council's vote in favour of plans to build a new 8,000 capacity stadium at Basildon's Gloucester Park has given the club a major lift prior to tomorrow's big match at leaders Aldershot. He said: "It's

  • Clacton: Windmills to whip up tourist power

    The world's largest wind farm off Clacton is due to seek planning approval in the next few weeks. And yesterday the company behind it said 'thank you' to residents of the town and the surrounding district for their support. Dan Pearson, Project manager

  • Benfleet: Homes could be bought up

    Residents were today warned their homes could be bought up and demolished to make way for road improvements. Benfleet residents are being urged to attend an Essex County Council exhibition to find out what they could be up against with the list of options