A shop owner is so fed up with vandalism he has offered an £800 reward to find the yobs who smashed his windows. D Glick Opticians, which has been in Wickford High Street for 35 years, has been a regular target for vandalism despite increased police patrols
The nightmare of sleepless nights caused by boy racers tearing around a seafront car park could soon be at an end for residents, it was revealed today. Neighbours in Shoebury have complained of screeching tyres, blaring car stereos and honking horns in
The prospect of a major road running through a quiet housing estate has been met with horror from residents. People living in Jotmans Lane, Benfleet, plan to oppose a scheme that could see a new road being built, stretching from Sadlers Farm roundabout
It's been a busy year for the Essex County FA. The first edition of a new half yearly magazine comes just nine months after the Association launched their official website. The ECFA Magazine, the official publication of the Essex County Football Association
West Ham once again find themselves in the bottom three following an eventful match against Leeds at Upton Park. For 45 minutes West Ham -- inspired by the omnipresent Paolo Di Canio -- ripped apart Leeds with a dazzling display of the kind of football
A teenager was today waiting to discover the extent of leg injuries he suffered in a hit-and-run road smash. The 19-year-old has been kept in Southend Hospital with a badly broken leg following the accident in Westcliff. He was today waiting to hear if
Cash to set up vital CCTV coverage on a troubled estate has been secured -- on the very day a resident was stabbed to death. The Home Office has vowed to plough money into the setting up of security cameras on the Woodgrange estate, in Southend, where
Brave men had a really hair-raising experience as they raised cash for charity. The 12 volunteers tried their best to hide their pain when they had their legs waxed for Children In Need. But they could not fool the staff at X-Lou-Sive, in Hamstel Road
Shoebury golfer Richard McEvoy has overcome the first hurdle in his bid to play on the full European pro tour next season. McEvoy, who has just finished his first year in the paid ranks after a superb amateur career has been in action in Spain over the
Preparations were today under way to replace locks at a meeting hall after pranksters locked delegates inside and discarded the key. Members of the Citizen's Advice Bureau (CAB) were trapped in Denham House, in Denham Road, Canvey, on Wednesday night
Children are to return to a school evacuated because of health fears - even though the cause of the problem has not be found. No answer has been found for the mystery gas smell and illnesses reported by staff. Youngsters at St George's Infants School
A pilot project to reduce the level of re-offending by young offenders in Essex has been hailed a great success. The project, Restorative Justice family group conferencing, was launched by the Youth Justice Board with five counties on board. Three of
A Polish widow is battling to stay in Colchester despite being branded an illegal immigrant after her husband of ten years died. Maria Puchrowicz, 63, has lived in her High Woods home for nearly three years and previously lived elsewhere in Colchester
Former Football League star Mark Brennan is leaving Billericay Town to make the short journey down the road to join Ryman League Premier Division rivals Canvey Island. The switch was sealed yesterday and brings to an end a brief career at New Lodge for
Culture and learning have been given a boost in mid Essex with the opening of a £500,000 Learning for Life centre at Braintree Museum. The new centre at the museum in Manor Street, was officially opened by the chairman of Braintree Council, Kathie Tearle
Chelmsford council's executive - or cabinet - has given its blessing to the return of the Spectacular for next year's August Bank Holiday weekend. The popular V festival in the park, usually the weekend before the Spectacular, is also due to return, and
Thieves are believed to have set fire to a caravan after they had ransacked it and made off with a haul of goods from inside. Firefighters were called to the blaze at Highlands Caravan Park, in Thorpe Road, Great Clacton, on Friday afternoon. Initially
A bubbly barmaid buttoned her lip for four hours to raise cash for Children In Need. Silent night - pub worker Maureen Andrews-Smith goes all quiet for charity at the Lighthouse pub Picture: MAXINE CLARKE Mum-of-two Maureen Andrews-Smith, who works at
Philip Bowers reached the end of this tether when he spotted youngsters raining stones down on his garden, Colchester magistrates heard. Believing it was the latest in a catalogue of incidents, he found an old fairground air rifle in his shed, and let
Colchester Council has been criticised after suggesting the 1,000-year-old Trinity Church could be converted into a call centre Under a current accommodation review, the council is planning to cash in on the Colchester housing boom by selling offices
Police were today investigating an arson attack which saw petrol bombs barricading a resident in a flat. Emergency crews were called to the ground-floor home in East Street, Prittlewell, to discover the front and back accesses blocked by fire. Now officers
A shop raider snatched £130 from a till at the Co-op supermarket in Long Road, Canvey, on Monday October 14. Police now want to speak with this man in connection with the crime which happened at around 2.15pm. Anyone who knows his identity is asked to
An appeal has been made for witnesses to a crash which left a driver and his passenger in hospital with serious injuries. The 18-year-old driver has leg injuries and is expected to be in Colchester General Hospital for some time. His 17-year-old passenger
The problem of nuisance youths on an estate has been highlighted after one youngster fell through a garage roof. It is not believed anyone was injured in the accident in Helford Court, on the Humber Road estate, Witham, although a car was damaged. But
Karl Duguid is just 'busting a gut' to help his Colchester United team-mates climb away from the bottom of the table into Second Division safety. Frustrated at watching his Layer Road colleagues slip into the bottom four for the first time in two years
When Barbara Webb agreed to help out on a friend's ice-cream van for one day, she never expected to still be there 24 years later. Especially since she doesn't even eat ice-cream preferring a warming curry instead. But the favour sparked a career which
Former nurse Pam Racine thought when she delivered a baby 40 years ago it would be her last. But Pam, 63, had to take over and deliver her own grandson when her daughter went into labour in the bathroom. Pride and joy - baby Louie with proud mum Claudette
A South Woodham school has been praised by the town's MP after he spent half a day meeting its staff and pupils. Mark Francois, MP for Rayleigh, discussed funding and educational issues with the school's headteacher David Parry and chairman of the governors
Southend United striker Tes Bramble marked his return to fitness by sealing Blues' 1-0 victory at Bristol Rovers on Saturday. The 22-year-old hitman grabbed his fifth goal of the season to end the Seasiders' dismal run of five successive defeats. And
Pupils have given their purpose-built new school the thumbs-up. Harwich County Primary School children have visited the site of what will be their new school in Barrack Lane. The old school will close in April and over the Easter holidays everything will
A war museum could be on the cards for an Essex airfield. Plans to set up a museum to house war memorabilia at Boxted Airfield are being considered by the Boxted Airfield Historical Group. Richard Turner, the group's chairman, said they hope to set up
A 100 year-old cycle shop reopened its doors on Saturday after a 12-week revamp project. And customers were queuing down the street get a glimpse of the £75,000 worth of improvments at Cycle King in London Road, Wickford. Managing director Mark Baker,
Preparations to get Colchester switched on for Christmas are now well under way, with most of the lights now up around the town. This year will see the return of the Colchester skyline display, which was first aired last year to great acclaim. The skyline
A feast of music, dance and drama attracted crowds of young people to a community hall. Five schools from Castle Point joined forces to present the two-night extravaganza at The Paddocks, Canvey, to packed audiences. Showtime - girls of the Deanes School
The opening of a new ten-class extension at a Braintree School was marked with the unveiling of a plaque by a BBC television presenter. Former Braintree schoolboy and BBC education correspondent, Mike Baker, unveiled the plaque at Lyons Hall Primary School
Two burglars who caused £1,200 damage after going on the rampage inside Basildon's Gloucester Park swim pool have walked free from court. A judge gave one last chance to 19-year-old Gary Wildman and Brett Clark, 20, after they admitted burglary. Both
A South Essex council will have to spend more than £300,000 to present its case at a public inquiry into a superport. The figure has been revealed to members of Thurrock Council's cabinet, which was told the cost to the authority was rising. The council
A motorist has been banned for 30 months for driving while four times the legal alcohol limit. Paul Moxley, 48, was reported driving from a hotel to his Little Bentley home last April, Colchester magistrates heard on Friday. Annette Redgrave, prosecuting
Stamp collectors will be enjoying the festive season with a display of Christmas stamps at the Basildon Philatelic Society. Jean Taylor from the Billericay Philatelic Society will be making a guest appearance to show off her seasonal collection at the
Four teenagers got a shock when they hit the headlines after going to the aid of a 14-year-old hurt in a road accident. Modest heroes Lindsay Wilding, Kayleigh Blyth, Charley Fox and Holly Robinson were all sheltering from the rain at Clacton Railway
Harlow slipped to 4th in Ryman Division One North on Saturday, frustrated by a defensively minded display by Oxford City at Hammerskjold Road. The mid-table visitors suffocated the game for long spells, prefering to hit Harlow with sporadic breaks. A
A motorist who braved flames from a blazing car to drag a suspected drink-driver to safety was today praised by police. He almost certainly saved the driver's life when the crashed car burst into flames after hitting the back of a parked crane on the
Having conceded six in the midweek FA Trophy replay defeat at Premier Division Ford, Wakering's defence were under the cosh again on Saturday at a Wealdstone side who closed the gap on leaders Northwood with this eighth win in nine home Ryman Division
HEAVE ho! About 20 regulars and staff from pubs across Clacton found the perfect way to recover from Saturday night. They teamed up to pull a 16-tonne truck and trailer two miles along Clacton seafront to raise money for Children in Need. They started
Police today issued an appeal for information following the theft of four motorcycles, each worth about £1,000. The missing bikes are a blue PW50 Yamaha with white wheels with three spokes and three Huskey Boy motorcycles which have yellow and blue bodywork
A woman was subjected to a terrifying ordeal when her former partner waved a knife around and threatened to kill her. Louise Gosling was confronted by Nicolas Earle , 31, brandishing a ten-inch bread knife after he went to a house in Rowhedge, near Colchester
This bottom of the table clash eventually went Brentwood's way but only after they had trailed 2-0 at half time. A remarkable second half comeback saw them score five times in the last half hour, and earn a result that moved them four places up the Essex
Police in Tendring today launched a major operation to target nuisance youths and anti-social behaviour. Operation Joker is expected to last for several months and the aim is to improve the quality of life for residents right across the district. The
Residents affected by Stansted expansion plans have rejected government assurances regarding financial compensation. Transport Minister, John Spellar said if the aviation industry is to expand further it must respect the environment and the needs of communities
Hands-on education is being taken to new levels this week as pupils at Blenheim school are visited by a sculptor. Dave Naylor is a locally renowned artist who creates mud rock sculptures. He is visiting the school in Blenheim Chase, Southend, to help
Harry Potter madness came to Basildon's UCI Cinema, in Festival Leisure Park. Children dressed as the young apprentice wizard rode into the cinema on broomsticks as they celebrated the first preview showings of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
An exciting evening of Ice hockey was served up by both teams - a local derby full of good fast open play, passion and drama, great net minding, some dubious decisions, but all in all good entertainment. Romford struck first on 3.47, a power play goal
A man was today back with his family after he became lost at sea, sparking a three-and-a-half hour rescue search. The rescue helicopter, police and coastguards were all called out after the man was reported missing by colleagues after he and another crew
The Blues' five-match losing run came to an end this afternoon with a 1-0 away win over Bristol Rovers. Striker Tes Bramble returned from injury to grab the winner in the 78th minute to give Southend a much-needed win. The three points at the Memorial
A Colchester primary school was evacuated today after a gas scare. It is understood workmen at a house next to Copford Primary School broke through a gas pipe. Gas could be smelled in the playground and nearby school buildings. As the nearest part of
The total of the Evening Gazette Sparkle Appeal is on the move. Relaxing - Zoe Battersby, of Aspects Of Beauty, gives a facial to Wendy in aid of our appeal. Picture: STEVE BAINBRIDGE (24614-1) Thanks to a number of successful events arranged by the Evening
A temporary gap in the festive charm of Colchester has now been restored after a missing metal frame from the town's light display was found. The panel with more than 650 fairy lights on it went missing while the rest of the town's Christmas lights were
Beleaguered West Ham boss Glenn Roeder watched his side slump to a sixth home defeat of the season and promptly blasted his errant defenders. Even a second-half fightback in yesterday's 4-3 loss to Leeds United -- another side under pressure after a dismal
A former chief ambulance officer for Essex has died. Donald Bullough, of Rayne, served as the county's chief ambulance officer for 11 years between 1972 to 1983. He has died aged 84. Colin Walker, who served as Mr Bullough's deputy, said: "During Don's
A bid to solve the crisis in hiring and keeping Castle Point housing benefits staff is now under way. Last year more than one third of Castle Point's housing benefit workforce quit - leading to delays in claims. However workers are now being consulted
Clinical finishing presented Stafford Rangers with the three points on Saturday at New Lodge, with the goals coming from player/manager Phil Robinson and veteran frontman Dennis Bailey. A lively match saw Stafford start the more lively with Robin Gibson
Police believe the same burglars are responsible for two incidents in Southend where people were disturbed in their homes. In the first incident a 90-year-old man was sitting in his living room when a man walked in and asked him for money. He made off
A passenger jet was forced to return to Heathrow Airport after it developed an electrical fault over Clacton. The captain declared an emergency on the Boeing 737 British Airways flight with 68 passengers on board bound for Kiev. The fault was discovered
All three of Thurrock's sides picked up a point from their Ryman League Division One North fixtures on Saturday. They each played out 1-1 draws. Tilbury battled to a draw at a Yeading side currently one place above them in fifth position in the Ryman
