Archive

  • Silver End: Brendan, 4, nominated for achievement award

    A four year old boy has been nominated for an award for his quick thinking which helped rescue his mum after she collapsed with an epileptic seizure. Brendan Denning from Silver End raised the alarm when his mum Vivien fell to the ground and lay unconscious

  • Basildon: Armed police shock

    Cinema-goers stood in amazement as armed police in plain clothes swooped on Basildon's Festival Leisure Park in an undercover operation. Security check - armed plain-clothes police officers search a white van Picture: LUAN MARSHALL The nine-strong squad

  • Braintree: Traffic fears at A120 opening

    The final section of the new A120 opens next Friday amid fears of traffic chaos at the Galleys Corner roundabout in Braintree. The 11-mile section of road, between Dunmow West and the Braintree bypass, completes a 15-mile stretch of dual carriageway linking

  • Colchester: Estate ban for teenager

    A 16-year-old who broke an acceptable behaviour contract eight times has been banned from an estate. David Bloomfield, 16, of Friars Close, St John's, Colchester, must not enter the town's High Woods estate between 6pm and 6am. He could be locked up if

  • Soccer: Prior to fill a White gap?

    Leicester City's 1997 Wembley League Cup winner Spencer Prior was training with Colchester United today. But U's assistant manager Geraint Williams went to great pains to point out: "Spencer is only coming to train with us. It doesn't mean he is signing

  • Maldon: Residents unhappy with council

    Almost half the residents of Maldon district are less than satisfied with the way the district council is being run, according to figures published this week. Nearly 50 per cent of those interviewed in a survey were less than fairly satisfied with the

  • Maldon: Town on urban sprawl blacklist

    Maldon is one of several rural areas "disappearing under bricks, mortar and Tarmac", say environmental campaigners. The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has hit out at local authorities it believes are showing poor performance with regards to

  • Brentwood: Youth jail plans scrapped

    Jubilant residents are still reeling in shock after an sudden announcement that plans for a youth jail in Brentwood have been scrapped. Council chiefs, political leaders and campaigners are breathing huge sighs of relief at the unexpected decision by

  • Canvey: Third island road 'the only answer'

    A third road off Canvey is the "only practical way forward", Essex's transport boss says. But he admits there are still no plans for one. Rodney Bass, county council portfolio holder for transport, criticised calls for a dual carriageway in Canvey Way

  • Fingringhoe: One swallow ruins a council's summer

    Controversial plans to demolish a bridge have been scuppered at the last minute ... by a family of nesting birds Workmen discovered the swallows' nest as they prepared to pull down Fingringhoe Bridge and spend £900,000 building a new one Council chiefs

  • Colchester: Pets get new holiday pals

    If your pets need pampering while you're away on holiday a new service in Colchester could help. Pals4Pets has a range of animal lovers locally who can care for your pets in their homes. Four-star care is offered by the service, where requirements in

  • Wickford: 'Lost' driver tried to drag woman into car

    A terrified woman fought off a motorist who tried to drag her into his car, police said today. The 31-year-old was walking along Guernsey Gardens, Wickford, on Monday afternoon when a man in an old Ford Fiesta stopped the car and asked her for directions

  • Maldon: Row over bid to extend church

    A vicar is expecting a fight on his hands over a bid to extend a Maldon church. Much-debated plans have now been officially submitted to Maldon District Council for a £300,000 annexe to All Saints' Church, in High Street. Canon David Atkins is hoping

  • Rugby League: Lodge is named as NL3 star man

    Essex Eels may have been finding life tough in National League Three, but one of their players has still battled his way into a league select XIII. Second-rower Gareth Lodge has been rated the top man in that position by Rugby League World magazine, even

  • Soccer: 50,000 big reasons why Brad is captain

    George Borg hailed new Braintree Town skipper Bradley Quinton - then slapped a £50,000 price tag on him. Quinton had a spell as captain of the Ryman League premier division club last season, but he was stripped of the armband after picking up three red

  • Soccer: Injured Revell sits out training

    Former Cambridge United striker Alex Revell will not be joining the Shrimpers for the start of pre-season training today. The 20-year-old hitman has yet to recover from a foot injury and is currently on crutches. "I cracked a bone in my foot but because

  • Brentwood: Work starts at Bay Tree Centre revamp

    A bevy of beefy builders are proving to be a perfect feast for the eyes as they 'fix it' for Brentwood. After years of delay shoppers are Brentwood are enjoying a sight they feared they might never see now that the demolition squad has finally moved in

  • Darts: Clarke bags Euro bronze

    Darts ace Vincente Clarke checked out of the European Cup in Germany with a bronze medal. Vincente Clarke The 17-year-old, from Halstead, was delighted to hit medal-winning form at the youth event - in his first time representing England. He won bronze

  • Manningtree, Harwich: Seeing red over colour purple

    A row has broken out over bright colours used to paint two listed buildings A colour palette of orange and purple used on a takeaway has failed to find favour in Manningtree The Dragon House Takeaway in Manningtree Now the owners have been told they need

  • Swimming: Famous five star at Palace

    Five Runnymede swimmers reached event finals in this year's Southern Counties Championships at Crystal Palace. The famous five were 10-year-old boys George Smith, William Muggleton and Alex Delicata, along with 11-year-old girl Georgie Hunt and 12-year-old

  • Chelmsford: Second blow for bank

    A Chelmsford bank, raided by armed robbers, has suffered a second break-in. Police are appealing for witnesses to both crimes at Barclays Bank in the High Street and a £15,000 reward has been offered to catch last week's robbers. The latest break-in happened

  • Brentwood: Council services rated 'good'

    A high profile review of the services delivered by Brentwood Council has rated them as 'good'. There is room for improvement in several areas, but Audit Commission inspectors carrying out a Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) have decided that

  • Soccer: Hunt signs for two years

    Versatile defender Lewis Hunt has signed a two-year deal with the Shrimpers. The 21-year-old enjoyed a solid loan spell with the League Two side last season and is delighted to be joining the Roots Hall outfit on a more permanent basis. "I'm very pleased

  • Braintree: Buyer sought for troubled company

    Administrators have been appointed for a Braintree company that laid off 140 staff last week. Business rescue and insolvency specialists McTear Williams and Wood were appointed as administrators for Carier Bulk Materials Handling Ltd. Carier Bulk Materials

  • Southend: What's in a name?

    David Alan Pollard may not seem to most people like the most offensive of names. Long list - the former David Pollard with the document confirming his lengthy new name Picture: ANNA LUKALA To one Southend man, however, it was the source of years of ribbing

  • Chelmsford: Maternity services 'on a knife's edge'

    Maternity services at St John's Hospital in Chelmsford are "on a knife's edge", according to a top doctor. The high level of caesarian births is one factor, Dr Paul Zollinger-Read, Chelmsford Primary Care Trust chief executive, told a meeting in Braintree

  • Wickford: Police in bid to cut phone thefts

    An Essex Police initiative is targeting youngsters in a bid to drive down mobile phone theft. Advice - PC Geoff Whiter shows year six pupil Sarah Moseley the phone website Picture: LUAN MARSHALL Officers were at Wickford Junior School, Market Road, Wickford

  • Golf: Weather medals with June contest

    Players in Ballards Gore's June medal were still coming to terms with the difficult conditions on the course and only two were able to beat net par. In Division One Glen Hooper (2) had a birdie and two bogeys on both nines to finish with a net 72 to take

  • Essex: Green rules begin to bite

    Essex firms could face court action if they fail to clean up their act as new green rules begin to bite. Regulations governing the storage of fuel oil could affaect companies across the board. Main risks come from poil powered heating systems, diesel

  • Darts: Clarke bags Euro bronze

    Darts ace Vincente Clarke checked out of the European Cup in Germany with a bronze medal. Vincente Clarke The 17-year-old, from Halstead, was delighted to hit medal-winning form at the youth event - in his first time representing England. He won bronze

  • Dunmow: County council halts police station plans

    Plans for a state of the art police station in Dunmow have hit a last minute stumbling block, with the county council calling for the proposal to be refused. Uttlesford district councillors were set to approve the plans at a meeting on Monday when planning

  • Golf: Rochford still in hunt for Essex silverware

    Rochford are carrying local hopes in two major Essex team competitions. They won through to the quarter-finals of the senior County team event, the Thornton Cup, after a thrilling play-off success over Theydon Bois away. They now meet Thorndon Park for

  • Chelmsford: Hero PC up for bravery award

    A police officer has been nominated as the bravest member of the Essex force. It is the first time a road policing officer had been nominated in the annual Police Bravery Awards. PC Paul Randall, based at Chelmsford, braved freezing conditions by jumping

  • Dovercourt: 'Lazy' parkers put my life in danger

    A blind woman claims "lazy" drivers who park on pavements are putting her life in danger. Sue Henshall said the problem is so bad she has been forced to walk on the road with traffic because the pavement is blocked. Now motorists in Dovercourt are being

  • Hadleigh: Child nurse guilty but not struck off

    Children's nurse Elaine Chase broke down in tears as she escaped being struck off after being found guilty of misconduct. Ms Chase, of St Marks Road, Hadleigh, was found guilty of three charges by the Nursing and Midwifery Council's professional conduct

  • Kwik cricket: Double-Kwik triumph for Alleyn Court

    Alleyn Court School's girls have been hitting their rivals for six in the sport of Kwik cricket. Bowled over - Alleyn Court's Kwik cricket girls team Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL For the second year running the Thorpe Bay based school was invited to represent

  • Danbury: Police seize drugs worth more than £500,000

    Drugs with a street value of more than £500,000 were seized in a police raid at a plant nursery in Danbury. Officers found 857 cannabis plants, along with cultivating equipment, knives and a sword in a rented outbuilding at Hyde Farm Nursery, Hyde Lane

  • Southend: Odeon farewell party

    Hundreds of well wishers turned out to bid a final farewell to the Odeon cinema, Southend. Dignitaries from Southend Council and former staff and patrons attended a party at O'Neill's in Southend. The building is set to be demolished in August. The theatre

  • Soccer: King gives Keeling Gulls chance

    One of the outstanding talents on the local non-league soccer scene is joining Canvey as the Islanders set out on their first Nationwide Conference campaign. Big date - Jon Keeling (second left) lined up with his new canvey team-mnates, Steve Ward, Chris

  • Colchester: Business backs rugby players

    Young rugby players in Colchester are set to benefit from a sponsorship boost. RMC Eastern, MacDonalds, and Essex-based solicitors Birkett Long have each donated £1,000 to Colchester Minis, the junior section of Colchester Rugby Club. The £3,000 is then

  • Tennis: Five play for Essex

    A quintet of players from south Essex clubs have been called into the Essex men's team for County Week. The Westcliff Hardcourts' quartet of Richard Barham, Simon Bonham, Gavin Bradford and Simon Harston have all been selected for the annual tournament

  • Angling: Terry's bumper bag beats the couch potatoes

    With the varied weather conditions and the vast majority of anglers glued to the television it was surprising how many fish were still landed at Doggett's Rochford lake. Terry Wheatley pulled out a haul of more than 70lb fished a feeder on the south bank

  • Colchester: Councillors tackle borough prejudice

    Plans are afoot to kick racists and homophobics in Colchester into touch. Councillors approved the idea of a diversity policy to tackle prejudice and intolerance in the borough last night. It was revealed that an "alarming" 1,400 borough residents voted

  • Basildon: Pickpocket gang hunt

    A gang of smartly-dressed women pickpocketing pensioners shopping in charity shops were today being hunted by police. The group, believed to be in their mid-thirties and from Eastern Europe, have been operating in Basildon town centre for more than a

  • Soccer: Dean's sick as a Parratt after operation

    Maldon Town midfielder Dean Parratt is sweating on his future after an exploratory operation on his knee. Parratt suffered the injury a month before the end of last season while playing for Braintree Town in the Ryman League premier division. At the start

  • Danbury: Police seize drugs worth more than £500,000

    Drugs with a street value of more than £500,000 were seized in a police raid at a plant nursery in Danbury on Saturday. Officers found 857 cannabis plants, along with cultivating equipment, knives and a sword in a rented outbuilding at Hyde Farm Nursery

  • Colchester: New business suite at St Benedict's

    Students at a Colchester school specialising in business and enterprise studies have heard it from the horse's mouth. The school, St Benedict's Catholic College, used its extra £150,000 specialist funding to set up a business and enterprise suite. And

  • Witham: Residents demand blocked footpath is opened

    Residents attempting to get open land designated a public right of way have hit a brick wall. For as long as anyone can remember the public have been able to enjoy open land and footpaths over the land, alongside the railway line between Blunts Hall Road

  • Colchester: Award for ageism fight

    An Essex employer is celebrating an award for fighting age discrimination in the workplace. Chris James, of HBOS, the Halifax in Colchester, won the Age Positive award made to employers and employees who put performance at work before age. After the presentation

  • Speedway: Victory in adversity for injury-hit Arena

    A depleted Arena Essex fought off a solid challenge to beat Ipswich 48-42 last night at the Purfleet Raceway. Already missing Kelvin Tatum (hip injury) and Greg Walasek (suspended,) the Hammers then lost their stand-in captain Leigh Lanham with a suspected

  • Southend: Girl, 3, gets arm stuck in a letterbox

    A Southend supermarket letterbox almost had emergency services licked after a young girl posted her arm as well as her mail. Firefighters were called to free the three-year-old from Westcliff when her arm became stuck in the letterbox outside Sainsbury's

  • Southend: Inferno guts shop as couple escape

    Stunned Laurie Rowe watched helplessly as his shop was destroyed in a blaze so fierce it melted parts of a car on the other side of the road. Shock - owner Laurie Rowe at the fire scene today Picture: NICK ANSELL A couple were lucky to escape with their