Essex were left licking their wounds following a second successive Championship defeat at Chelmsford when feeble batting best explains a 114-run mauling by Hampshire. It means Essex are halfway through their season's programme and are still searching
A retired school teacher has been honoured with an MBE for 66 years of voluntary work at Southend Hospital. Gladys Mude, 81, of Ronald Park Avenue, Westcliff, has spent most of her life in various roles at the hospital and still helps out one day a week
A drugs courier found with ecstasy and cannabis with a street value of £2,200 has been sentenced to four years in prison. Jailed - drugs courier Sean Pritchard Shaun Pritchard, 25, of Sutton Road, Southend, was found with 4,000 ecstasy tablets and 1,000kg
Billericay suffered another reverse on the road as they crashed to a 33-run defeat away at Hutton. The home side were put into bat by Billericay but with young Essex prospect Dave Hammond hitting a well-groomed 84, Horndon reached a respectable 223-8
Colchester United physio Stuart Ayles has revealed how the U's players have been keeping up their fitness levels over the summer break. Kem Izzet, Greg Halford, Dean Gerken, Simon Brown, Ross Crouch and John White, as well as manager Phil Parkinson, are
A leading cancer charity is urging groups of friends to form themselves into fundraising groups in Essex. The appeal is being made by David Forster, the Essex Fundraising Manager of Macmillan Cancer Relief. He said, "We are fortunate in Essex that so
Football hooligans sparked violence in Essex after England's last minute defeat to France in Euro 2004 A police spokesman said there were a number of public order incidents in Colchester during and after the match. Two people were arrested in the town
Football hooligans sparked violence in Essex after England's last minute defeat to France in Euro 2004 A police spokesman said there were a number of public order incidents in Colchester during and after the match. Two people were arrested in the town
Like a scene from a horror film, hundreds of flies swarmed round a 24-hour supermarket, forcing customers to flee the store. But this was no film it happened at the Tesco store in Fullbridge, Maldon. A spokeswoman for Tesco said the store was evacuated
Bosses are banning council workers from flying the flag for England in the run-up to Euro 2004 branding it 'laddish and unprofessional'. Officers at Colchester Council's Colchester Borough Homes have visited patriotic workers and told them to remove the
A kitten had to be put down yesterday after it was shot in the head with a pellet gun. The owner discovered the young cat lying in the garden of her home in Glebe Drive, Rayleigh, with blood seeping from its nose. It was taken to a vet and found to have
Essex racer Johnny Herbert missed out on his second Le Mans win yesterday. Herbert, who lived in Brentwood and Billericay, saw Tom Kristensen win the event for the sixth time in eight attempts. But Herbert's Audi Velocq team clawed their way back after
Orsett proved to be the Division One equivalent of Norway's Eurovision Song Contest entry with a "nil points" tally from an overwhelming defeat by Hornchurch's hot-shots. Hornchurch look like being the main rivals to runaway leaders Wickford, who they
Work being carried out by health staff to improve the lives of older people has been showcased at a national event. James Mihill, Falls Prevention Co-ordinator for Maldon and South Chelmsford Primary Care Trust (PCT), gave a presentation at Newmarket
Trendy teenagers from the same Benfleet school scooped the top awards in a county-wide fashion competition. Sew happy - Claire Scott and Samantha Lawrance picked up awards in the fashion competition Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL Samantha Lawrance, 15, of Briarwood
David Judge has had an extra special birthday present this year - a letter from the Queen. But it wasn't any old letter, it was one to tell him he had been awarded an MBE for the tireless work he has done in his community over the last 30 years. The Queen's
A police operation to crack down on the problem of anti social behaviour in Brentwood has been hailed a success. The week long Operation Joule resulted in around 70 youths being stop checked by police officers which led to four arrests, three for bail
Essex is heading for a building boom -once it emerges from its current construction trough. Present low output on industrial and commercial premises and on infrastructure projects is likely to be reversed over the next three years. Current growth is running
A member of a Leigh gang escaped jail after he was caught drunk in the street breaching an anti-social behaviour order. Southend magistrates were considering imposing a custodial sentence but decided instead to impose another community rehabilitation
A teenager has been seriously injured in a drunken street brawl involving more than a dozen people. The 19-year-old, from Grays, was today in a serious but stable condition at hospital for treatment on severe head injuries. The drunken fighting took place
A record field of more 1,000 runners entered yesterday's annual Jim Peters' Half-Marathon. And their off - runners leave Garon Park track at the start of the half-marathon With a pre-race entry of over 800, organisers were delighted that a fine and dry
Southend came within a whisker of getting their first win of the season in this tied match. The seasiders needed three runs off their last ball to win but could only get two in what was a game of two innings. Skipper Wayne Spear was angry with his attack
The family of a man critically injured in a hit-and-run accident have told of their anger after the uninsured driver avoided jail. Robert Hall, 20, of Varden Drive, Leigh, spent a week on a life-support machine suffering from serious head injuries and
The driver of a lorry loaded with rubbish was lucky to escape without serious injuries when it overturned in Pitsea. Rubbish was strewn right across the road, under the PItsea flyover, and it took several hours before the road was reopened. The driver
Basildon skipper Paul Ayres declared his side had gone back to square one after a seven-wicket defeat to leaders Epping. Kiran Sangani (30), Frank McLeod (22) and Mark Amos (20) were the only batsmen to prosper as S Wakeman claimed 6-15 for the visitors
A building saved from redevelopment for community use could be demolished under new plans. The future of Witham's former Bridge Hospital is again the subject of controversy. A second application has been received by Braintree Council's planning department
The bride did get to the church on time. Eighteen months ago, Charlotte Clark and fiancee Barry French booked St Mary's Church, Feering, for their wedding on Saturday, June 12. Carnival can wait - bride Charlotte Clark is escorted into St Mary's Church
A major out-of-town retail giant is heading for Clacton. Matalan, which has a store in Colchester, is interested in a number of sites in the resort and has been searching for a location for some time. One of its preferred options is believed to be the
A superb bowling performance from Chris Villani proved the difference between the two sides as Leigh recorded an exciting 36-run victory away at West Essex on Saturday. Having been put into bat, Leigh were skittled out for 182 - with Dean Waller scoring
Police were today hunting a man who tried to abduct a six-year-old girl in Colchester. The man tried to walk away with the youngster from the children's play area at the junction of Speedwell Road and Old Heath Road at 8.15pm yesterday. The girl managed
An enterprising South Woodham family is taking steps to improve facilities for youngsters in the town by opening an indoor adventure play centre. Annabel Hubbert, with dad Trevor Hubbert and sister Sarah Cross, 26, plan to open a multi-level facility,
Energetic youngsters have splashed their way to more than £1,300 for a children's hospice. On the crest of a wave - Cameron Worrall, aged two, joins the splashathon Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY Four-year-old water baby Lauren Desborough led the pack of 16 children
The annual East London Cabbies Outing to Maldon could be a thing of the past as organisers struggle to find enough sponsorship to fund the event. This year's event is on July 7 as planned, but organiser Alan Libby said he does not know if the event will
Soccer fans were left crying in their beer after England's crushing defeat by France. Pubs across the county were packed out as supporters gathered round large screens and united behind the team. Insp Pete Gerrard, of Tendring police, said fans had behaved
A brave little girl with a bright personality is continuing to light up lives even after her death. The heartbroken family of six-year-old Darcie Ling have donated her organs for transplant and offered hope to four desperately sick patients. Their selfless
Essex is one of the safest counties in the country. Essex Police is one of the lowest-spending forces nationally, according to a baseline assessment of the force carried out by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC). Police forces across the
Tributes have been made to "popular" motorcyclist who was known as "Fun Jonny". Jonathan Turner, 25, was killed last week after colliding with a lorry and hitting a traffic light near the London-bound junction with Progress Road, Rayleigh. Despite undergoing
About 200 workers at Southend Council staged a short walkout after a laptop computer containing their personal details was stolen. The laptop, which held the banking details, National Insurance numbers, birth dates and home addresses of 1,400 council
Newly-promoted Westcliff are beginning to make their mark in the top flight after pulling off their second successive win. False dawn - Shenfield appeal in vain for Stephen Bridgman's wicket Picture: MAXINE CLARKE After disposing of Fives and Heronians
Southend United manager Steve Tilson will today hold more talks with an experienced centre back, although he is not naming his target. Tilson is determined to recruit another defender following the departure of Leon Cort to Hull City. And Tilson is confident
David Judge has had an extra special birthday present this year - a letter from the Queen. But it wasn't any old letter, it was one to tell him he had been awarded an MBE for the tireless work he has done in his community over the last 30 years. The Queen's
Freed Essex carer Marianne Telfer is looking forward to coming home tomorrow. She told how the four Caribbean prisons she was held in before being cleared of drug trafficking charges ranged from "basic" to "utterly disgusting". Miss Telfer, 28, had always
Wickford kept their 100 per cent record at the top of Division One when they won their sixth successive match. The latest victims of Wickford's seemingly unstoppable march to a second successive promotion were one of their closest challengers, Brentwood
Benfleet defeated Ongar by five wickets but made a meal of their win. Ongar won the toss and opted to bat first, yet made little impression against the Benfleet attack. Brown (44) was the only batsman to offer much resistance for the visitors as they
An angry mother has rapped thieves who stole hanging baskets and potted plants that she had made with her young daughter. The horticultural criminals struck at the family home in Cross Road, Maldon, during the night and stole two hanging baskets and two
A battling performance from Shoebury golfer Richard McEvoy allowed him to improve his European Tour merit placing by one up to 117th yesterday. Former Thorpe Hall internatioonal amateur McEvoy, who has just celebrated his 25th birthday, had rounds of
Angry England fans vented their frustration at their team's shock last-minute defeat by France last night. Police reported incidents of rowdy and disorderly behaviour across South Essex, as the high spirits of drunken fans turned to bitter disappointment
Daredevils plunged from a 200ft-high tower to raise cash for a children's charity. Brave fundraisers took part in a bungee jump at the Sailor Boy pub, in St Osyth. Sharp showers marred the jump, with only 15 people taking part, but £300 was raised. The
A mother who gave birth outside a locked maternity unit has criticised health bosses for not keeping it open around the clock. Raz Mack, 27, of Valentine Way, Silver End, gave birth to a baby boy called Bobby in the car park outside the locked maternity
Shopkeepers in Chelmsford are being warned not to accept Scottish banknotes on face value after a series of forgeries were found in circulation. The £20 notes have been used to purchase items worth a few pounds with criminals making a profit on the change
Euro-sceptics in south Essex have given Labour a trouncing in the elections for the European Parliament. They have more than doubled the vote of the UK Independence Party, giving it two MEPs and making it the second biggest party in the Eastern Region
A transport blueprint has been drawn up to help get patients to a new multi-million health centre proposed for Clacton. Tendring Primary Care Trust (PCT) wants to develop a site in Kennedy Way. However, it was rejected by Tendring councillors in February
