Archive

  • Soccer: Edinburgh happy to have fully fit Billericay squad

    Billericay Town are able to declare a fully-fit squad for their return to Ryman Premier action tomorrow afternoon. The New Lodge side host bottom of the table Kingstonian fresh from disposing of Southend Manor in the FA Cup a week ago. Former QPR striker

  • Basildon: Tories lose both seats in by-election

    Tories were today recovering from the shock of losing both seats in last night's by-election in Basildon. Seats in Laindon Park and Westley Heights were snatched by Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates in a surprise defeat for the majority party. While

  • South Essex: Lorry crash wreaks havoc

    Traffic was in chaos in south Essex today after an articulated lorry overturned on the M25, forcing the motorway's closure. The lorry careered into the central crash barrier and onto the opposite carriageway before overturning, at the A13 Lakeside junction

  • Rayleigh: Students excluded after uniform protest

    A gang of 20 pupils have been suspended from school after staging a playground protest over a new "zero tolerance" uniform policy. But the school's head today branded the demo "bad behaviour" and a "storm in a teacup". The students, aged from 14 to 16

  • Corringham: Traders' forum shunned

    An impassioned plea for a traders' forum in a south Essex town has been shunned - leaving warnings that gang culture could flourish. Campaigners for a forum in Corringham lobbied councillors and visitors at Thurrock Council's full meeting. Their placard

  • Colchester: Job cuts at council?

    Job cuts could be made as Colchester Council struggles to balance its books. Finance chiefs at the authority are trying to save £1.5 million to prevent council tax rises in April. In an internal e-mail leaked to the Gazette, chief executive Adrian Pritchard

  • c2c: We won't remove any more trains

    Rail operator c2c has insisted its customers will not lose more modern trains to Liverpool Street line passengers, despite staff claiming a "swap" arrangement is down the line. Already the Fenchurch Street to Shoebury line has lost five four-carriage

  • South Essex: Lorry crash wreaks havoc

    Traffic was in chaos in south Essex today after an articulated lorry overturned on the M25, forcing the motorway's closure. The lorry careered into the central crash barrier and onto the opposite carriageway before overturning, at the A13 Lakeside junction

  • Paralympics: Crates qualifies for 800m final

    Danny Crates qualified fastest in the T46 800m qualifying heats in Athens this morning. Pupils at the Corring-ham runners' old school, Gable Hall, saw him clock 1:58.48 in the first heat. "I ran a comfortable race," said Crates. "My goal for the final

  • Thundersley: Man wins car crush battle with council

    A motorist was today celebrating after winning an 18-month battle with Thurrock Council after his van was illegally towed away and crushed. The council has paid out £2,000 to Matthew Mullineux after admitting that it unlawfully destroyed his vehicle.

  • South Essex: We won't remove more trains, says c2c

    Rail operator c2c has insisted its customers will not lose more modern trains to Liverpool Street line passengers, despite staff claiming a "swap" arrangement is down the line. Already the Fenchurch Street to Shoebury line has lost five four-carriage

  • Billericay: Sarah's film gets festival treatment

    It's lights, camera, action for a young film-maker from Billericay who will have her budding blockbuster shown at a prestigious film festival. Sarah Pearson, 19, from Norsey Road will have her film called, Yesterday's Tomorrow screened at the Co-operative

  • Braintree, Maldon: House arsonist faces jail

    A woman has been told she is facing a possible jail sentence for burning down her former partner's house More than £100,000 of damage was caused in the fire and a court also heard how the house next door was filled with smoke during the incident. Patricia

  • Frinton: Actor's hairy experience helps cancer patients

    Hardman character actor Tony Longhurst has been putting his hairy chest to good use. In his latest part, the Frinton actor plays a boxer - with a bare chest. So, when he needed it waxed, he decided to have it done for charity. Staff at beauty salon Perfect

  • White Notley: Raccoon spotted by couple

    Thanks to the Nazis, an invasion of the UK may have succeeded where Hitler failed 60 years ago. David and Sandra Hodges point to where they saw the raccoon A mid-Essex couple have reported seeing a raccoon, a native north American mammal introduced to

  • Soccer: Tilly warns Harriers will be tricky opponents

    Southend United manager Steve Tilson is warning his Shrimpers side not to expect an easy ride against lowly Kidderminster Harr-iers tomorrow afternoon. Jan Molby's men sit 23rd in the League Two standings and have not won on the road since mid-March -

  • Soccer: U's in search of rare Boundary victory

    It is six seasons since Colchester United last tasted victory over Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park. Central defender David Greene and Lomana Tresor Lua Lua scored the goals in a 2-1 win and Steve Whitton was just beginning his four-year reign as the

  • Soccer: Garcia tipped for the top

    Manager Phil Parkinson has predicted a glittering future for new Colchester United midfield ace Richard Garcia. Tipped for the top - Richard Garcia The energetic Australian Under-23 international and former West Ham FA Youth Cup winner has shown true

  • Soccer: Chelsea clash will fire up Hammers

    ALAN Pardew believes the prospect of taking on money-bags Chelsea in the Carling Cup will fire up his players. Hammers travel to Stamford Bridge for a third round tie against Jose Mourinho's Premiership high-fliers in a game which has already captured

  • Southend: Homeless man convicted of murder

    A homeless Southend man who bludgeoned a man to death has been given a ten-year prison sentence. Daniel Markham, 20, had pleaded guilty to murdering Justin Forrest, 27, in Norwich following an argument. He suffered fatal head injuries and was found in

  • Blake End: Petition to save flurorescent palm trees

    A man has collected more than 500 signatures to save the five fluorescent palm trees illuminating the front of his Chinese restaurant. King Yik, manager of the Palm Trees restaurant in Blake End, claims the arrival of the trees in February marked a 30

  • Karate: Black belt duo have dan good

    Tokon Kai karate club students Emma Stubbings and Darren Taylor have both added the second dan notch to their black belts. Emma, 13, from Stanford-le-Hope and 14-year-old Darren, of South Woodham Ferrers, both passed their first dan test two years ago

  • Harwich: No to later hours

    A Harwich pub has failed in its bid for permission to stay open until 1am every night. Dean and Jo Bull, from The Billy pub in West Street, Harwich, applied to extend the opening hours for an extra 22 hours per week. The Billy is currently open from 12.30pm

  • Paralympics: Crates qualifies for 800m final

    Danny Crates qualified fastest in the T46 800m qualifying heats in Athens this morning. Pupils at the Corringham runners' old school, Gable Hall, saw him clock 1:58.48 in the first heat. "I ran a comfortable race," said Crates. "My goal for the final

  • Mersea: Motorcyclists making for Mersea

    More than 800 bikers are expected to turn up to a three-day rally at East Mersea. It is the 18th year the rally, which is organised by a committee of motorbike enthusiasts, has taken place and it is hoped that this year will be the best yet. People will

  • Maldon: Crossing call by accident family

    The mother of an 11-year-old boy thrown in the air after being hit by a car has demanded an improvement in road safety for children in the area. Safety call - Joseph Topliss, victim of an accident in Maldon, with mum and dad Karen and Keith and brother

  • Soccer: Shirt switch offers special chance for fans

    CANVEY soccer fans have the chance of a unique Christmas present -- after the Nationwide Conference got shirty with Gulls. The club dutifully got their yellow and blue first and white third choice strip shirts named and numbered for their first ever campaign

  • Ongar, North Weald: Free home safety advice for elderly

    Elderly Ongar and North Weald residents are being encouraged to take advantage of a free service to make their homes safer. The Freefall service run by Voluntary Action Epping Forest aims to reduce the number of elderly people who are seriously injured

  • Soccer: Chelsea clash will fire up Hammers

    ALAN Pardew believes the prospect of taking on money-bags Chelsea in the Carling Cup will fire up his players. Hammers travel to Stamford Bridge for a third round tie against Jose Mourinho's Premiership high-fliers in a game which has already captured

  • Essex: Finalists for E-Commerce awards revealed

    The regional finalists from the 2004 DTI/InterForum E-Commerce Awards have been announced. Richard Kneller, on behalf of the East of England Business Links, regional sponsor for the E-Commerce Awards said: "Out of an impressive selection of entries, it's

  • Soccer: Tilly warns Harriers will be tricky opponents

    SOUTHEND United manager Steve Tilson is warning his Shrimpers side not to expect an easy ride against lowly Kidderminster Harr-iers tomorrow afternoon. Jan Molby's men sit 23rd in the League Two standings and have not won on the road since mid-March -

  • Wethersfield: Purr-lease give us a home!

    Staff at an RSPCA centre are having kittens. Cuddly - Victoria Hull and Hayley O'Connell with some of the kittens. Picture: ROB SAMBROOK They have now got about 50 kittens to take care of, with as many as 20 coming from one home. Some are having to be

  • Thurrock: Council coughs up for illegal car crush

    A motorist was today celebrating after winning an 18-month battle with Thurrock Council after his van was illegally towed away and crushed. The council has paid out £2,000 to Matthew Mullineux after admitting that it unlawfully destroyed his vehicle.

  • Colchester: Man jailed for a year for gas threat

    Residents had to be evacuated from a block of flats after a man turned on the gas and threatened to blow himself up. It took police negotiators two hours to talk Keith Mathers out of the idea and a court heard the incident in Colchester ended without

  • Clacton: Alex is ready to move

    Plucky disabled youngster Alex Wakeling who captured the community's hearts can move into a more suitable home. Housing association the Swan Group had refused to let the brain-damaged seven-year-old move into a bungalow after a mix-up. The association

  • Southend: Home sweet home for Flora

    It was a case of home, sweet home, when an 80-year-old widow won her long legal battle to prove she owns her own house. Flora Sleebush, 80, has lived in her Scratton Road terraced house in Southend since 1948 - but her husband's death left her tied up

  • Colchester: Cuckoo Farm or cuckoo land?

    We want a community stadium for Colchester - and we want it now! They did us proud - Craig Fagan celebrates his goal during the U's fantastic Carling Cup win over Premiership West Bromwich Albion this week. Now it's time the team had a stadium to be proud

  • Colchester: Cuckoo Farm or cuckoo land?

    We want a community stadium for Colchester - and we want it now! They did us proud - Craig Fagan celebrates his goal during the U's fantastic Carling Cup win over Premiership West Bromwich Albion this week. Now it's time the team had a stadium to be proud

  • Point Clear: Residents blame lorries as road cracks up

    Residents want to know what they can do to stop heavy goods vehicles using their road because of the cracks which are now appearing. Oakmead Road, Point Clear, is an unadopted road which residents have to maintain themselves. Resident Lewis Salvoni, 75

  • Soccer: Pilgrims aiming to buck losing trend

    After a flying start, Plymouth Argyle have a point to prove when they make their long trek to Portman Road. The Devon side - promoted to the Coca-Cola Championship last season as champions - visit East Anglia on the back of three successive defeats at

  • Tilbury: Drug operation smashed at docks

    Cannabis plants worth thousands of pounds have been found in two containers at Tilbury Docks. Docks' police say they have smashed a major cannabis-growing operation in a remote area of the sprawling container port. The drugs were found a few days after

  • Soccer: Shirt switch offers special chance for fans

    CANVEY soccer fans have the chance of a unique Christmas present -- after the Nationwide Conference got shirty with Gulls. The club dutifully got their yellow and blue first and white third choice strip shirts named and numbered for their first ever campaign

  • Soccer: Magilton - "We must improve"

    Jim Magilton has demanded a 'massive improvement' when Ipswich Town face Plymouth Argyle. The Blues' Carling Cup hopes were dashed for another year on Tuesday when they slumped to a 2-0 defeat at League One side Doncaster Rovers. Tomorrow, though, they

  • Clacton: Fatal fire sparks park inspection

    A fire safety scheme is being launched at a Clacton caravan park where a man died earlier this month. Firefighters plan to write to residents at Meadow View Park, Little Clacton, asking if they would like their homes to be inspected. On September 11,

  • Karate: Black belt duo have dan good

    Tokon Kai karate club students Emma Stubbings and Darren Taylor have both added the second dan notch to their black belts. Emma, 13, from Stanford-le-Hope and 14-year-old Darren, of South Woodham Ferrers, both passed their first dan test two years ago