DOGGETTS regular Ian Simmons landed the heaviest mirror carp ever pulled out of the Rochford lake. During ideal conditions and using his own bait and rigs Simmons hooked the 32.5lb fish within feet of the bank. The first run took 70-yards of line, crossing
A charity has offered to help a 90-year-old woman who had hundreds of pounds stolen from her home by a teenage gang. The League of Gentleman, a group of businessmen from Basildon and Billericay, stepped in to help Connie Langford after they read in the
The twenty fifth Southend Borough Combination Veterans League season kicked off on Sunday and saw Eastwoodbury Ramblers as early table toppers after a 6-0 win over newly-promoted Vange & Pitsea WMC. Allen hit the first Premier Division hat-trick of
Airport operator BAA has responded to claims it is trying to expand Stansted on the cheap, calling them "hurried" and "reactionary". Following the announcement the airport owner was to launch a scheme for people whose homes had lost value following the
Skating enthusiasts will be getting longer to skate as the darker evenings approach when lights are installed. Tendring Council is set to receive £6,750 in funding to spend on lighting for the new skate park at Clacton Leisure Centre, in Vista Road. Clacton's
Doctors' patients have reacted with fury after being clamped in a surgery car park. Several people have been caught in a new crackdown at the Dipple Centre in Wickford Avenue, Pitsea, and have had to pay £80 to have the clamps removed. One man with a
THE doom-mongers have no place at Upton Park, according to manager Alan Pardew. But after leading his side to their seventh win in 11 competitive games this season the boss admits he is baffled by the lack of excitement around the club. Yesterday's 3-
Ram raiders using a stolen 4x4 vehicle today smashed into a shop and tried to steal a cash machine. Boarded up - the front of the shop today The shop has been plagued by similar incidents in the last few years, including till snatches, break-ins and an
Colchester United dumped Premiership West Brom out of the Carling Cup with an extra-time victory at Layer Road. Ben May struck the decisive goal for the U's at Layer Road on Tuesday night to put the U's into the third round. The Baggies had forced the
Essex County Council Trading Standards are placing antique sets of Victorian weights and measures under the hammer. The sets of weights were once the work tools of the county's pound police where they were used to measure the pounds, ounces, quarters
Motorists could be in for rush hour headaches when major roadworks on one of the main roads into Chelmsford get under way. The £2.7million overhaul will include footpath improvements, road resurfacing and drainage works to the A414 from Danbury to Chelmsford
Harwich MP Ivan Henderson got hands-on experience of a day in the life of an RSPCA worker. Bill meeting - MP Ivan Henderson gets hand-on experience with an exhausted cygnet He joined Essex inspector Jim Farr yesterday and helped attend to a number of
Colchester United's match-winning hero Ben May woke up very early today - he just wanted to check he had really scored the last-gasp extra-time goal that knocked Premiership visitors West Bromwich Albion out of the Carling Cup. Goal star - Ban May is
A distraught mother whose newborn son's organs were kept for teaching purposes after he died has had her hopes of compensation dashed. Devastated - Dawn Brown next to a picture of baby Aaron Dawn Brown, 29, of Langham Drive, Clacton, who has been fighting
A young man who indecently assaulted a woman has been ordered to serve a community rehabilitation order. Brin Dunn, 23, of Windmill Road, Halstead, had admitted a charge of criminal damage on August 16, 2003, and making off from a taxi without paying
Sporting hero Dean Macey refused a reception with the Queen to mark his Olympic success claiming he had not "done anything special". The 26-year-old from Canvey also turned down a hero's party by Castle Point Council in his honour to spend time with his
Plans for low-security homes for people with learning difficulties and mental health needs in small villages have been condemned. There is an on-going row at Kirby-le-Soken, where there is already one residential unit for young people and soon could be
A Southend family scored a hat trick while auditioning for a Christmas pantomime. All three children in the Tilley family, of Mayfield Avenue, caught the eye of casting directors for the Cliffs Pavilion panto, Peter Pan. More than 130 children auditioned
FORMER Cambridge United striker Alex Revell is targeting a move to the Shrimpers after recovering from the foot injury which scuppered a summer switch to Roots Hall. The 21 year-old hit-man --who scored five goals in 19 starts for the U's -- snapped a
Colchester's new waste collection service has been slammed as "an almighty cock-up". Councillors heard last night more than £600,000 is predicted to have been overspent on Colchester's waste services by the end of the year. But bosses have promised to
Loss of control by the driver of a high-performance sports car led to the death of his passenger, an inquest heard. Saleswoman Victoria Hutchings, 34, was a passenger in the yellow Lotus Esprit of her close friend Simon Kent, 35, of Little Dunmow on August
Harwich and Parkeston booked a lucrative FA Cup tie with non-league giants Hornchurch last night when they cruised past Ruislip Manor. In their first qualifying round replay, Mitchell Springett's men overcame the side who knocked Tiptree United out at
Colchester United dumped Premiership West Brom out of the Carling Cup with an extra-time victory at Layer Road. Ben May struck the decisive goal for the U's at Layer Road on Tuesday night to put the U's into the third round. The Baggies had forced the
Colchester's bid to host a prestigious cancer treatment centre is "superior", according to an expert. Prof Chris Booth, who is heading the joint bid from Colchester and Chelmsford to have the unit for urological cancer services in the town, has said the
Drivers face major disruptions next year when part of Maldon High Street will be closed to traffic for up to ten weeks for major improvements. An Essex County Council spokesman said the narrow road would close to all traffic, including buses, during the
Southend Manor may be out of the FA Cup, but they pulled off a victory last night in the Eastway Essex Senior League's own knockout competition. In their Section C League Cup home clash with London APSA, Manor bounced back from Saturday's defeat by Billericay
Shoppers have benefited from free parking in a Braintree car park after ticket machines were broken into for the second time in a month. Five of the eight machines in the George Yard multi-storey car park were broken into some time between 7.30pm on Sunday
The banana skin was there to be slipped on or avoided. And, for the second season in a row, Ipswich Town went for a tumble after lower-league opposition shattered their dreams of Carling Cup glory. This time last year a reshuffled Blues side bowed out
Colchester Mayor John Bouckley joined many shoppers and workers to travel to the town centre today without using their cars. He officially opened In Town Without My Car Day, which is part of a campaign to use public transport, walking and cycling, to
Jobs and investment at Southend's most prestigious company could be under threat if a new sewage disposal plant goes ahead. KeyMed's multi-million pound expansion has been put on ice over fears of putrid smells from the planned new plant neighbouring
A trio of mums will be taking to the sky soon to raise money for their children's school. They will be joined by three relatives when they will be attempting to tandem jump to raise money for Stisted School in The Street. All six will be jumping from
CANVEY boss Jeff King was in philosophical mood at Park Lane last night after an injury-time Chris Duffy goal saw his side avoid their third consecutive Nationwide Conference home defeat. The Islanders had been very much second best, particularly in the
Debagg(i)ed, embarrassed and sent back to The Hawthorns with their tails well and truly between their legs. May's day - Stephen Hunt and U's hero Ben May celebrate victory Newly-promoted Premiership boys West Bromwich Albion have been scuppered again
Visitors to Harwich have been seeing double thanks to a new plaque. Unveiled - Harwich mayor Andy Morrison shows off the new sign at Parkeston watched by Bernie Sadler, chairman of the Harwich Society, and fellow members A sign has been put up on the
A former Royal Navy engineer has reached his 102nd birthday. Happy birthday - Bob Wright has turned 102 Bob Wright, who was born in 1902, celebrated the big day yesterday at the Wheatcroft Day Care Centre in Wellesley Road. Mr Wright, who now lives in
Members of the Braintree business community will be hearing about a new model aiming to stamp out crime in the area at a meeting next week. Braintree Against Retail and Business Crime Group (Barc) will be holding a public meeting on Tuesday where the
