This year's Braintree and Bocking Carnival was been hailed as "one of the best ever". Fabulous floats - Robin Hood was the theme for the Tabor Centre Despite the early threat of rain, hundreds of people lined the procession route as it snaked its way
Pubs and bars in the Basildon district are being urged to beef up security after fights broke out following England's Euro 2004 defeat. Police have told licensees that it is their responsibility to ensure there is no trouble on their premises following
Corringham-based middle distance runner Danny Crates cannot wait for this summer's Paralympics after enjoying a pleasing start to the season. The 31-year-old, who won 400m bronze at the 2000 Sydney Games, produced a string of promising performances while
Calendar Girls and Prime Suspect star Helen Mirren is adding a splash of big-screen glitz to Colchester students' degree celebrations. The former Essex girl is heading back to her home county to pick up an honorary degree next month. The twice Oscar-nominated
Tears of joy and relief met Essex care worker Marianne Telfer today as she arrived back in England after four months in a Caribbean jail. Back home - Marianne Telfer has arrived back in England An emotional Ms Telfer was met at Gatwick Airport by her
Colchester United's out-of-contract goalkeeper Simon Brown could be in line for a shock move to Scottish Premiership club Hibernian. Hibs' new boss Tony Mowbray, a former Ipswich Town coach until last month, is believed to be very keen to make the U's
A mother-of-three has been left shaken and appalled after a barrage of verbal abuse from a bus driver. Hazel Thomson, of St Catherine's Close in Colchester, got on the First bus yesterday to go to work at the Officers' Club in the town centre. She only
Desperate visitors and disabled people have nowhere handy to spend a penny because public toilets are often locked, an angry Canvey resident has claimed. Desperate - Ivy, 80, outside the seafront loo which is locked Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY Ivy Trudgon,
A mother today praised the staff of the special care baby unit at Colchester General Hospital after her baby was born ten weeks early. Home at last - Maria Tyrrell holds baby Samuel at their Halstead home Picture: STEVE BAINBRIDGE Maria Tyrrell, 36, of
A Second World War veteran received a parking ticket in Brentwood Town Centre after returning to his car just three minutes late, despite having a prominently displayed disabled badge. Outraged - Courtenay Webster with the penalty notice from the council
Masala masterchefs have turned up the heat by trying to make the biggest-ever curry. Staff from the Mogul Restaurant, in Manningtree, attempted to set a new world record yesterday by cooking four tonnes of vegetable masala. The curry - all 14,000 portions
Prince's Trust volunteers have got busy down at the car wash to support a charitable project in Braintree. The sponsored car wash was raising money to help pay for gardening work at Trinity House, a supported housing development for people with mental
A man who launched a "prolonged assault" on a police officer has been jailed for six months. Andrew MacDonald, 31, picked up an aerosol can and claw hammer when police, investigating reports of an assault, burst into his Colchester home, a court heard
Britain's first new racecourse for 60 years is odds-on to showcase top-flight racing. It has been announced that Great Leighs racecourse will be given preferential treatment by the British Horseracing Board (BHB) for its first nine years of operation.
A Navy officer who led all submarine operations in the war against Saddam Hussein's Iraq has been awarded an OBE. The award for Acting Capt Iain Arthur, of Tollesbury, was announced in the Queen's birthday honours list on June 12. Mr Arthur, 47, headed
Jody Brown has made his first signing as the new Tiptree United boss. Brown has appointed Colin Hart to lead the club's second-string. The post became vacant after Brown took charge of first-team duties following the resignation of Neil Farlie. Tiptree
Darren Gough was predictably in upbeat mood before travelling with the rest of his Essex team mates for today's Cheltenham & Gloucester quarter-final tie against Worcestershire. The county can hardly be brimming with confidence after suffering two
An unusual form of transport will be on the streets of Colchester this week to encourage people to use two wheels. A rickshaw will be available to take people around the town as part of promotions for BikeWeek and is being arranged by Colchester Council
A 50-year-old man from a village outside Colchester was found dead on a train. Michael Clegg, of Honey Tye, Leavenheath, was found on the last carriage of a train which finished its journey at Stowmarket. Police have described the death as "sudden and
A woman was airlifted to hospital following a five car crash on the A12 near Chelmsford on Monday. The 49-year-old Kelvedon woman was driving a blue Honda Civic along the London bound carriageway of the A12 when she was involved in a collision at just
Castle Point Labour Party denies its defeat at the ballot box last week will affect its chances in the next general election. In the local elections Labour lost its last remaining seat on Castle Point Council, but party officials still think they will
Proposals to introduce an alcohol no-go zone has been approved by Braintree Council's cabinet. The cabinet has revealed plans it intends to apply to the Secretary of State to approve a bylaw banning the consumption of alcohol in an area marked provisionally
Essex have been knocked out of the C&G Trophy this afternoon as they were beaten by Worcestershire by 21 runs in the quarter finals. Worcestershire managed to make 204 during their innings but Essex could not quite match the total with Andy Flower
The University of Essex has been awarded more than £2m to fund initiatives to develop business in the county. The cash comes from a Higher Education Funding Council fund to support activities to improve the ability to respond to all kinds of busineses
A teenager has undergone 14 operations after he was seriously injured in a quad bike accident. Lee Lunness, 14, has been in hospital for eight months. Today his mother spoke out to warn youngsters of the dangers of quad bikes. Lee, of Greenford Road,
The devastated owner of an eight-month-old kitten which died after being shot in the head, said she could not understand how anyone could shoot a defenceless animal. Karen Wood, 26, of Glebe Drive, Rayleigh, was lost for words over the incident which
Angry Bill Dawson today told how he felt forced to go abroad for hip replacement surgery after refusing treatment at Basildon Hospital. Angry - Bill Dawson went to Germany and paid £6,500 for his hip op. He claims his mum Alice, died in Basildon Hospital
The controversial scheme for a multimillion-pound two-storey pavilion and community centre on King George V playing field in Rayleigh has finally been dumped. As the Conservatives took control of the town council for the first time since its formation
An immigration support officer and a justice of the peace have been named in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. Allen Smith, of Braintree, who works for HM Immigration Service at Stansted Airport, has been made an MBE. He has worked at the airport for
Coastguards today warned coastal fun lovers to beware after a man in an inflatable dinghy had to be rescued after he drifted out to sea. The small dinghy was seen drifting out to sea from Martello Bay, Clacton, at about 5pm yesterday. Clacton coastguards
The death of the Rev Derrick Iorns sees the end of an era. He was of the old school of clergymen who ran an open-door policy for all of his working life and devoted his long ministry stretching over three decades to his parishioners who, in the end, became
Southend United new boy Adam Barrett today declared his delight at "coming home" after signing a two-year deal with the Shrimpers. Firm foundation - Southend's assistant manager Paul Brush (left) is delighted to have Adam Barrett in the heart of Blues
A couple got more excitement than they bargained for when their baby decided to arrive early during a Peter Gabriel concert. Nick and Helen Waring, of Juniper Crescent, Witham, went for one last night out before their baby's due date, only to end up in
Residents in Clacton are being plagued by youngsters riding motorbikes, smoking drugs and drinking alcohol in a leisure area opposite their homes, it has been claimed. And now they are calling on police to take action against offenders. People living
Details of Basildon's radical new primary health vision, which involves creating up to six new multi-centres, have been delivered to every home in the district. And 2,700 replies have been received and logged, the majority of which offer their support
Castle Point Wildlife Action Group is meeting with councillors tomorrow in a bid to manage more nature reserves. The Evening Echo reported earlier this month how the action group is interested in turning the old cemetery, in Northwick Road, Canvey, into
Volunteers are being sought for a summer playscheme for children with disabilities, following the success of an scheme run at Easter time. The Daybreak scheme for children with learning difficulties will be running in Chelmsford during in the summer holidays
A three-legged pub crawl in aid of a dance school could raise about £1,000. Alison Leonie Dance School pupils are preparing to perform at Disneyland Paris in August next year, but will need to pay for travel and accommodation themselves. To help boost
Two Thundersley schools will be saying goodbye to a popular cook who treated pupils' tastebuds for more than three decades. Retiring - Sheila Brand, centre, puts her feet while colleagues Margaret Walker, left, and Joanne Humphrey bid her farewell Picture
Colchester's Sarah Claxton was agonisingly close to achieving her dream of reaching this year's Olympics. The Belgrave Harrier was just five hundredths of a second outside the A qualifying time of 12.96 seconds - that would have sealed a place in the
South Essex commuters were today being urged to support a campaign to get back train coaches loaned to another line. Give 'em back - Maurice Austin and Lynne Collins lobby travellers at Benfleet Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY Four coaches have been snatched from
