Midfield man Jon Keeling hopes that signing for Canvey Island as they prepare for their first season at Nationwide Conference level will boost his bid to make more international appearances. Keeling, a long-time Ryman Premier servant of Thurrock, played
Cut-price materials to resurface Basildon roads are causing damage to cars and could pose a threat to unsuspecting pedestrians, angry motorists and cabbies said today. Cheap or cost effective? - The quality of the resurfacing materials has sparked anger
Frightening rumours of a cluster of cancer victims identified close to Bradwell power station are unfounded and should be ignored, says an independent nuclear regulator. Rumours that a study by the Government-appointed Committee Examining Radiation Risks
Ravinder Bopara will be looking to carry on his fine form when Essex will step out on the Twenty20 Cup trail against Hampshire at Chelmsford. A capacity crowd of 7,000 is expected for the match, which begins at the County Ground at 7.30pm (Friday). It
Benfleet yacht club member Daniel Henderson enjoyed an outstanding session on the water in the Eastern Regional championships. The 13-year-old achieved a brace of first positions, three runners-up finishes and a third place, which earned the teenager
Essex will step out on the Twenty20 Cup trail against Hampshire at Chelmsford tonight (7.30pm) in front of a capacity crowd of around 7,000. It is one of five games the county face in the competition over the next fortnight and they will be hoping Ravinder
Southend United manager Steve Tilson has been holding further talks with out-of-contract keeper Darryl Flahavan. Darryl Flahavan The former Southampton custodian has been offered a new one-year deal with the Shrimpers - despite the signing of Bart Griemink
A school is looking forward to a bright future, thanks to a name change and a newly-appointed headteacher. It will be all-change for Tabor High School, in Panfield Lane, which will be known as Tabor Science College from September. The title will reflect
Southend's sporting superstar Adam Hickey has added another major honour to his ever-increasing list of star prizes. On your bike -- Adam Hickey demonstrated his pedal power in the National Youth Triathlon championships. Picture: Maria Hickey At Dorney
A £10,000 bid to stamp out drinking in Leigh's streets is under consideration by the town's council. Leigh town councillors have been campaigning for the move ever since Southend High Street and Hamlet Court Road imposed the ban in 2002. Their requests
Castle Combe race track in Wiltshire threw up an exciting weekend of Ford Formula Championship action with changeable weather and a circuit with plenty of overtaking opportunities. Neil Doran, 20, from Chelmsford, saw his qualifying hampered by a lack
Angry residents from Tolleshunt D'Arcy met on Tuesday to discuss launching a protest campaign against a proposed phone mast for the village. Scores of people turned out to the meeting of the parish council at the village hall to condemn the plans for
Basildon is getting its first internet cafe - and its 36 PCs will be open to the public from Monday. Called Fragz R Us, it will specialise in gaming, giving visitors a chance to try their hand at big name titles like Medal of Honor and Splinter Cell.
Three generations of the Anastasiou family cheered Greece into the final of Euro 2004 last night. Cheers - the family gather around the TV Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL 2HBK61 Chairman of the Greek community of Southend and district, Andreas Anastasiou watched
The showers did not dampen the spirits of festival-goers over the weekend as crowds attended three annual community events in Billericay, Stock and Great Burstead. Thousands of people flocked to the Billericay Fun Day in Lake Meadows, the Great Burstead
Former Southend United defender Mark Beard has been named director of youth at Spanish Third Division side San Pedro. Viva Espana! - former Southend full-back Mark Beard is taking up a coaching post in Spain The gritty full back made 151 appearances for
Hard-hearted council chiefs could have a family of swallows evicted to make way for a £900,000 bridge. Essex County Council is applying for a special licence to move the feathered squatters which are nesting under Fingringhoe bridge. The birds and nest
Kelvin Tatum is expected to ride for Arena Essex tonight when they travel to Peterborough. Tatum had been ruled out with a hip injury but is expected to be fit for the Elite League match which starts at 7.30pm. But Leigh Lanham could be an absentee after
Essex County Council has been deluged with hundreds of objections to the possible closure of a secondary school on Canvey. One secondary school on the island - either Castle View, Cornelius Vermuyden or Furtherwick Park - could close following a public
The dedication of these volunteers who have given over 130 years' service has been rewarded. Rewarded - the happy WRVS volunteers Picture: ANNA LUKALA ZTGG21 Medals were presented to seven volunteers from Castle Point who have given up their time to the
Controversy surrounding the planned £100m facelift for part of Colchester rumbles on. Council bosses on Wednesday night called for "an act of faith" from critics of the regeneration of the St Botolph's area. A special monitoring group has been set up
Bargain-hungry home buyers are camping out to snap up 40 ex-Army houses - more than three weeks before they go on sale. The three and four bedrooms homes, in Kohima Road, off Layer Road, don't go on sale until July 23, but already 19 people have set up
Teachers' skills were under the microscope this week as they pitted themselves against their students during a fun design and technology day. Craftswoman at work - Lauren Kurn, 13, makes a model racer at King John School Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY 2EKBR3 Year
What a performance! A Southend secondary school was today celebrating a £500,000 cash injection after being awarded specialist performing arts status. The art of success: St Bernard's pupils Katrine Bardand and Ruth Gibson Picture: ANNA LUKALA 2FHSF3
A woman today claimed a "misunderstanding" led to her prosecution for illegal dog breeding. Now Pamela Brown, of Ullswater Road, Benfleet, is urging others to check they fully know the rules to avoid the same pitfalls. Mrs Brown was given a two-year conditional
Halstead Town boss Andy Clark has showed his determination to inject extra firepower into his side - by signing three new strikers. Clark's Ridgeons League premier division team were, at times, wasteful in front of goal last season. But the manager hopes
South-East Essex will again demonstrate their strength in depth tomorrow when the national finals of the English Schools Track and Field Cup are staged at the Gateshead International Stadium. On the run -- Rayleigh's Fitzwimarc make a double bid for glory
Traffic police have criticised motorists who risk lives by driving with poor eyesight. During a month-long campaign, Bocking road policing unit officers have been left shocked at the number of drivers who failed simple eyesight tests Seven people out
Wickford snooker club have claimed a fantastic treble for the second season running - winning the Basildon Pool Premier League and cup plus the charity shield. Trophy time - for the successful team from Wickford snooker club. Picture: RON POULTER The
Hi-tech students are going ga-ga over their new radio station. The addition to Tendring Technology College, Frinton, is giving youngsters the chance to work with new equipment and broadcast live to fellow pupils. Radio Ga-Ga is at the moment being broadcast
Southend United manager Steve Tilson has welcomed his four new signings to the club. Awesome foursome - manager Steve Tilson (centre) welcomes his four new signings to the club. Adam Barrett, Wayne Gray, Andy Edwards and Bart Griemink joined their first
Sports centres across Braintree district are gearing up to support a nationwide initiative. The Commit to Get Fit campaign is in its 13th year and will encourage residents in Braintree, Halstead and Witham to take advantage of the area's sporting facilities
A motorcyclist has suffered critical injuries after being involved in a head-on collision with a heavy-duty tow truck towing a lorry. The accident happened in Southend Road at Howe Green near Chelmsford at just after 1pm yesterday. The biker, aged in
Teenager Dean Gerken said today he is 'ready to be thrown in at the deep end again' if Colchester United manager Phil Parkinson struggles to sign a new experienced goalkeeper. The 19-year-old former Layer Road youth teamer told the Evening Gazette: "I'm
Police have renewed their pledge to hunt down the killers of pensioner Thelma Avis who was murdered after conmen duped her in her own home, one year ago this weekend. The frail pensioner suffered a heart attack and died just hours after bogus callers
A brawl erupted between BNP members and anti-fascists in Southend. Police made two arrests after the BNP members arranged a meeting at the Golden Lion Hotel in Victoria Avenue, Southend, last night. Members of anti-fascist group, Southend Unites Against
A family has offered a reward for information leading to the recovery of a jet ski stolen from their Maldon caravan. Thieves broke into the Osea Caravan Park in Goldhanger Road on June 24 and stole a Kawasaki Ultra 150 jet ski that belonged to 14-year-old
Hundreds of children sung in one voice as they played their part in a special year of celebrations. About 200 primary school pupils joined together in a mass sing-song at Harwich Green, yesterday lunchtime. It had been organised to mark the 400th anniversary
Fabian Wilnis is stalling over whether to sign a new deal with Ipswich Town. The popular defender was remaining tight-lipped about the situation as he told the Evening Gazette: "I will not be speaking about it until I've sat down with the manager." The
Land at a dilapidated seafront fort could be sold or leased, it has been revealed. Bosses at Tendring Council are debating what to do with their share of Beacon Hill Fort, Harwich. They are discussing whether to get rid of the land, which has added to
A young mum today told of her fears as police armed with submachine guns swooped on Basildon's Festival Leisure Park as part of an undercover operation. Sharon Andrews was returning home from a tennis match at the David Lloyd Leisure Centre, in Pipps
The steam could be running out of the recovery in the manufacturing industry. According to the latest survey, orders weakened this month, after being "normal" in May but the long-term future for manufacturing is widely seen as bleak. John Clayton, chief
Laindon based fighter Stuart Grant is on the look out for more opponents after making a mixed start to his professional "Cagerage" career. Caged aggression - Stuart 'The Warrior' Grant is on the look-out for more opponents as he aims to expand his Cagerage
Star Trek's evil Borg Queen has launched a battle cry to save Basildon Sports Centre from weekend closure. Hollywood star Alice Krige, who played the malevolent cyborg in the blockbuster movie First Contact, is to visit the centre on Sunday for a sci-fi
The first foundations for a new garrison in Colchester have been cut by Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram. The minister got behind the controls of a digger yesterday to dig out part of the trench for the senior non-commissioned officers' mess. And the
Southend United supremo Ron Martin has revealed the reasoning behind his decision to counter- sue former Blues Boss Steve Wignall. The club's co-owner is currently locked in a settlement dispute with the ex-Colchester United chief, who endured a miserable
The steam could be running out of the recovery in the manufacturing industry. According to the latest survey, orders weakened this month, after being "normal" in May but the long-term future for manufacturing is widely seen as bleak. John Clayton, chief
Two Basildon boys got a pleasant surprise when their mum took them shopping. A flight of fancy? Conor and Daniel jump in the helicopter at Asda, while Les Walker, from the store, walks past with a line of trolleys Picture: MIKE MINERS 2FJPJ1 Expecting
Police today renewed their pledge to hunt down the killers of pensioner Thelma Avis who was murdered after conmen duped her in her own home, one year ago this weekend. The frail pensioner suffered a heart attack and died just hours after bogus callers
Essex are being linked with an "unknown" Aussie fast bowler as a replacement for legspinner Danish Kaneria. His replacement is Paul Rolfe, who was a teammate of Andy Flower when the Zimbabwean was with South Australia last winter. Rolfe made his first-class
