A 21-year-old man was twice punched in the face during a late night assault in Chelmsford at the weekend. The Braintree man was knocked to the ground in Bond street at around midnight on Saturday and sustained cuts to his lip and head. His attacker is
Northlands Park regular Matt Hall has netted a superb 20lb 8oz common carp further underlining his recent dramatic change of fortune at the venue. Not too common - Christopher Johnson shows off his 20lb common carp at Gloucester Park Until recently Matt
Southend United skipper Kevin Maher will today put pen to paper on a two-year deal. "Everything has been sorted and I will be going in this afternoon to sign," confirmed the composed midfielder. "I'm glad everything has been completed and hopefully we
A schoolboy who has undergone major open heart surgery three times is to have a huge party as his mother attempts to raise £10,000 for the hospital which treated him. Big thank you - Mark Petchey and Henry, with mum Sue, who plans to raise £10,000 as
A new zero-tolerance clampdown could further strain relations between bikers and police, a Colchester motorcycle shop owner warned today. The Essex force has declared war on reckless motorcyclists in response to the recent alarming surge in bike-related
A recovery vehicle worker from Southend suffered a head injury after being involved in a pile-up on the M11. The 35-year-old, from Eastwood, had parked on the slip road near Harlow to assist the driver of a broken-down van with ten people in it at 11am
The last picture show at Southend's old Odeon/Astoria cinema will also be one of the most memorable. Tonight's unique fireworks display, reflected against the wall of the old building, will be the highlight of a grand goodbye to what was once the town's
The next phase in the £3m development programme for Clements Hall leisure centre in Hawkwell is due to start this week. A new entrance will replace the temporary walkway customers have been using since January. An extension with floor-to-ceiling glass
Southend United striker Michael Husbands is determined to reclaim a regular starting slot for the Shrimpers next season after deciding to stay with the League Two side. And the injury hit forward, who started just four games during the previous campaign
Southend Council's Marigold Family Resource Centre, run by the social care department, has received an award for being a child friendly service. Well done - Vikki Caldwell and Kirsty Docks hand over the award to the centre's Meera Spillett and Phil Smith
A senior road policing officer has rubbished reports that a dual carriageway near Chelmsford is being used as an unofficial race track. Chelmsford Road Policing Inspector Martin Mueller said he was unaware of modified cars being raced along the A130 between
Dog patrols will be carried out at Colchester Cemetery in response to vandalism. The Mersea Road graveyard could also be expanded under development plans. These initiatives will boost the site's moves to be crowned Cemetery of the Year. The plans are
Police in Rayleigh are urging residents not to be complacent about home security for the rest of summer. In the past few weeks, a number of burglaries have been reported in which entry was made through windows or doors left open or unlocked. Police said
Commuters today suffered misery on the way to work as a Tube strike in London ground services to a halt. Services on London Underground were run down last night after last-ditch talks failed to avert the 24-hour strike. Thousands of drivers, signallers
Two young children escaped injury by fleeing from a burning bedroom. Seconds after the fire took hold, the three and four-year-old brother and sister hurried to find their mum, who was in the garden. The family fled to safety at the home of a neighbour
A Braintree mum got a surprise awakening when her three-year-old son appeared at her front door with a total stranger Toddler Ty Cripwell was fed-up with his Bob the Builder video and decided to find Thomas the Tank Engine at Braintree railway station
Colchester United hero Sam Stockley says he would be ready for Coca-Cola League One action right now despite undergoing surgery just 11 days ago. Back in action - surgery is not slowing down the U's Sam Stockley. The popular U's utility-player, sporting
Staff at Canvey's Dutch Cottage Museum say they may be feeling battered and bruised.But they're determined not to be beaten by vandals. Smashed - secretary Geoff Johnson checks the damaged windows Picture: MAXINE CLARKE However, it seems that scores of
Firms in Essex are being warned they could face heavy debts which might threaten their solvency under new laws affecting pensions. Essex accountants Baker Tilly says legislation introduced earlier this year could exacerbate the pensions crisis. Mandy
A fruit grower has tasted success as sweet as his finest apples and raspberries at the BBC Gardeners' Live exhibition. Sweet success - fruit grower Will Sibley Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL Will Sibley, 51, of Grasmead Avenue, Leigh, was awarded a prestigious
Patients, relatives and staff are set to benefit from major improvements to the cafeteria at St Peter's Hospital in Maldon. The work is to be carried out under the Enhancing the Healing Environment programme which is financed by the King's Fund. Maldon
A 140-year-old school is gearing up for £642,000 revamp to to bring it up to date. Work will begin at Bocking Church Primary school, in Bocking End, Braintree, in January to build a new hall and two new classrooms. Between them, the school and Essex County
The two Southend High Schools were again the dominant factor when the annual Borough Sports were staged at Garon Park. Starting blocks - in the year nine girls 100m The girls triumphed in the overall competition and took home all the major trophies. Girls
A man was today nursing a broken thigh after he was dragged across a garage forecourt by a car. Aftermath - one of the cars damaged in the incident at the Lindhill Honda showroom, off Ipswich Road, Colchester Picture: ROB SAMBROOK Police and paramedics
Essex Eels are looking for a change of luck as they make a temporary switch to a new home ground. The Eels, still awaiting their first win of their inaugural National League 3 season, will play their next two home games at Redden Court School, Romford
Championship rivals Leeds United have won the race to snap-up Jermaine Wright. The Ipswich Town midfielder turned down a two-year deal offered by the Portman Road club last week, but yesterday signed a three-year contract with the cash-strapped Yorkshire
A man was today being quizzed over an execution-style murder in Leigh. Armed police made early morning raids on homes in Cricketfield Grove, Leigh, and Rushbottom Lane, Benfleet. A 31-year-old Benfleet man was arrested on suspicion of murder. A man, 31
Students and staff at a Thundersley school are gearing up for a journey to Shanghai. China bound - staff and students look forward to their journey to Shanghai Picture: ANNA LUKALA The group, from the Deanes School in Daws Heath Road, will enjoy three
An Essex marketing firm has signed up as a business partner to the Prince's Trust in Essex. Award-winning Billericay PR and marketing consultancy Cadence Market Strategy has made the move as part of its commitment to the community. The Business Partner
Arena Essex return to track action tonight when they take on local rivals Ipswich in an Elite League fixture at the Purfleet Raceway. The Hammers saw their home match against Wolverhampton last week called off because of bad weather, while Thursday's
Parents cheering on their children at a sports day ended up running a race to beat traffic wardens. Snapped - traffic warden's car on double yellow lines while parents got tickets Picture by reader STEVE FROST To rub salt into their wounds, some of the
A country park has drafted in a herd of cows to encourage rare butterflies to breed in its meadows. Flutter - fences are put up to keep grazing cattle in the meadow and in the process help the rare grizzled skipper to breed Picture: NICK ANSELL Rangers
A young man has died after being found in a garden pond having been electrocuted, police said today. Paul Wallaker, 24, was found lying in a partially empty pond in Stambridge Road, Rochford, at around 1pm on Saturday. Ambulance crews called to the scene
The Friends of Disabled Bowlers club will be taking on Southend Police in a friendly to raise funds on Saturday, July 10. The clash, which will start at 2.15pm and be opened by Councillor Gwen Horrigan, has been organised by secretary Elaine Mumford who
A mother looked on in horror as a bus drove off with her 23-month-old daughter. Still shaking - Tina Wright with her daughter Zoe Picture: STEVE BRADING As Tina Wright folded her pushchair yesterday, she turned around to see the bus drive off down a Colchester
A transport company has invested more than £1m to launch a new commercial vehicle dealership in Witham. LDV main dealer in Essex, Harris Truck and Van Limited, which previously traded as Purfleet Commercials in Maldon, has been acquired by the Harris
Repair work on Pitsea flyover could be finished six weeks early, the county's bridge engineer claimed last night. Yet essential work on adjoining slip roads will take double the two weeks expected. The new information was revealed at an Essex County Council
Parents were today protesting against merger plans after an infant school was said to be failing in a Government report. Don't merge - pupils and parents at Giffards school Picture: ANNA LUKALA Giffards infants school, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Corringham
Police want to speak to four men captured on CCTV footage after a man was attacked by an intruder in his own home. Do you know him? Police want to speak to this man caught on CCTV after a man was attacked The victim was allegedly knocked unconscious when
Basildon-based telecoms company Marconi has won a £360million contract to provide engineering services to BT. The deal covers civil engineering, pole renewal and underground cabling. Staff in Basildon would lead the contract, providing cable services.
Wivenhoe Town boss Steve Pitt was beaming after capturing the signature of goalkeeper Olly Sanders. The 6ft 4in stopper, 23, has returned to the Colchester area after completing a four-year soccer scholarship in the United States. Sanders had attracted
The Shrimpers have launched their own TV channel which will be broadcast in and around the ground on matchdays from the start of next season. A total of 32 new televisions are to be installed at the stadium in Victoria Avenue as the Shrimpers show footage
Immigrants in Thurrock were asked to make a 40-mile round trip to central London - because the Government did not realise the borough was part of Essex. Immigration reportees were told to report to Becket House in Bermondsey. Des Browne, minister of state
The League Managers Association today pledged to back former Southend United boss Steve Wignall in his legal wrangle with the League Two club all the way to the High Court. Wignall is fighting Blues for around £25,000 in unpaid compensation, owed to the
Southend's two council-run theatres could be handed over to a private company under new plans revealed today. The move could see millions pumped into the Palace Theatre and Cliffs Pavilion to boost the town's reputation as the arts capital of Essex. Today
Bomb disposal experts are set to resume a search today after a fishing boat dredged up an explosive catch. It is the second time in less than three months that the trawler Lunar Beam has snared an old bomb, but its unexpected catch now appears to be the
