West Mersea RNLI has been praised after picking up a Colchester Scout and his would-be rescuers from just ten feet offshore. The boy, a member of the 17th Colchester unit, became stuck in the Strood Channel mud near the causeway. Unit chairman Mike Kerr
Essex County's Richard Layzell, who last year became one of the youngest ever winners of the Southend Men's Open Bowls Tournament singles, is on the march again in the 2004 competition. The first two singles' rounds were played at Priory Park yesterday
Youngsters are to get a double dose of sport later this month as part of the Southend Cricket Festival. Children aged six to 14 will be invited to take part in a morning coaching session at Southchurch Park organised by Southend United. They will then
A businessman is just weeks away from a deal to open a 10,000 sq ft skatepark in Basildon. A vacant warehouse on the Pipps Hill Industrial Estate is thought to be the venue for facility. However, the Leigh-based entrepreneur is reluctant to reveal his
It was a case of out of Africa and into Laindon for a mini-carnival to celebrate arts on the continent. On the beat - dancer Sharon Tendai Kapumha Picture: ANNA LUKALA The procession paraded through the town to the Afro Centre in Laindon's shopping centre
A landmark Leigh supermarket is set to be sold off, prompting fears it could be developed as a block of flats. Safeway, in London Road, Leigh, is likely to be sold off to the highest bidder by new owner Morrisons, which bought the chain earlier this year
A primary school has celebrated the official opening of its newly-refurbished buildings. Wix and Wrabness Primary School held a ceremony to mark the completion of the project. Funding for the improvements at the site in Colchester Road, Wix, was made
A new ID card scheme for thousands of teenagers is to be launched in schools across Essex. Education chiefs want all 100,000 11 to 16-year-olds in the county to carry an identity card so they can prove their age. The scheme will be launched at the start
Vandals have been slammed by a councillor after a newly-revamped High Street landmark was turned into a fountain of foam when it was filled with washing-up liquid. Shoppers and passing motorists in Braintree were left stunned yesterday after vandals left
Orsett golfers Ross Dee and Steven McAnally used local knowledge to keep their hopes of playing in next week's Open Championship alive when their home course was used for the regional qualifying competition yesterday. A total of 1,600 golfers were on
Youngsters are facing a summer without a youth club after firebugs torched a sports pavilion, destroying its sports equipment. Firefighters from Braintree were called to the pavilion at the fields near Bendlowes Road, Great Bardfield, after witnesses
Martijn Reuser today issued a good luck message to his old team-mates at Ipswich Town. The popular midfielder completed a free transfer to Dutch side Willem II over the weekend, ending his four-year association with the Blues. And, after netting 19 goals
Carousel Gym Club's Charlie Atkins saw her brand new floor routine bear fruit when she competed in the Heathrow Teddy Tournament invitational competition. Ready Teddy go - Charlie Atkins and Zoe Amner were both among the medals for Wickford based Carousel
A mother today praised the community and the police for finding her seven-year-old daughter after she went missing. Little Taylor Silverback disappeared while playing in the garden of her home in Alexandra Road, Sible Hedingham. Her worried mother Angela
A pilot scheme to get children out of the car and walking to school has got off the ground. Coppins Green Primary School, in Melbourne Road, Clacton, has joined the Essex County Council's safer journeys to school initiative. A walking bus was launched
Scott Brant was the star performer for Essex as the Eagles completed a convincing eight-wicket victory over Kent Spitfires at Maidstone. Brant took 4-20 as the home side were bowled out for 125, Shahid Afridi the top-scorer with 25. Captain Ronnie Irani
Former Castle Point councillor Lionel Hart faces being expelled from the Conservative party. Mr Hart, who was a councillor for Canvey East, was deselected as a candidate by the local Conservative association in April. He then decided to stand as an independent
A centre which cares for adults with physical disabilities has received a welcome financial boost to its minibus appeal courtesy of the royal family. The Earl and Countess of Wessex have donated thousands of pounds to the Tabor Centre's appeal to buy
A Thundersley school is about to say goodbye to a beloved governor who is retiring after a quarter-of-a-century's service. Cedar Hall School governors and staff are having a party next Tuesday for Betty Whittingham, who was appointed as a governor 25
Detectives today stepped up their hunt for a rapist as they revealed he subjected his victim to a sickening attack lasting nearly an hour. New information released by investigating officers gave details of a "serious and prolonged" sexual attack. The
There were solid performances all round for East Essex Tri Club juniors at the Rob McLean Junior Triathlon. The club, which caters for children aged eight and upwards, had 16 young triathletes competing at Cambridge in the second round of the Eastern
A long-serving teacher said farewell to her pupils in true style. Grand entrance - teacher Maire Hughes. Picture: SEANA HUGHES Staff at St Philomena's School in Frinton threw a surprise retirement party for Maire Hughes, who has worked at the school longer
Mersea Island Rugby Club Ladies are waiting on a funding decision. The new team is in talks with Colchester United Sports Trust regarding a cash boost to get them up and running. The Trust's decision will be revealed at the club's annual meeting on Thursday
An anxious mother is calling for action to stop a rat infestation which she says is making residents' lives a misery. Dawn Wallis, 26, claims about 30 rats have invaded her home and that other houses in Clayton Road, Ramsey, are also overrun. She fears
A woman has died after an incident in a swimming pool at a house in Abridge. The ambulance service was called to Hoe Lane at 4.02pm on Monday. An ambulance and Rapid Response Vehicle from Loughton and the Essex Air Ambulance were sent to the scene. Aircrew
The future of a group which provides valuable rehabilitiation and facilities for stroke victims has been saved Clacton and District Stroke Association was faced with the prospect of closing at the end of last month due to a funding crisis It had to find
Keep the pressure on is the message from residents in one Maldon road. Those who attended the Wantz Road Residents' Group's annual meeting in Elim Church, voted unanimously to keep the pressure on highways bosses to make the road safer. The road has been
Multi-million pound plans to build a marina complete with hotel, restaurant and bars in Old Leigh were today revealed. Ron Fraser, the owner of Leigh Marina, the old Johnson and Jago boatyard near Leigh rail station, announced his ambitions to build on
It was strictly blind date for a Southend woman looking for a dance partner when she appeared on television. The chosen one - Gill Light found a new dance partner on a Strictly Come Dancing dating special Picture: MAXINE CLARKE Gill Light, 40, a dance
Canvey Independent Party today shrugged off any suggestion it was backing a campaign for a new council for the island. Independent Leader Dave Blackwell has vowed to gatecrash a meeting tomorrow night where campaigners will discuss how to set up an independent
The battle lines have been drawn between Leigh residents and Southend Council on a new plan for flats. Following outrage over approval for apartments on the Overtons site in the Broadway, a plan for five-storey flats at the Midel building across the road
Delighted residents gathered around when Coronation Street heart throb Bradley Walsh popped in to visit a relative at a Basildon sheltered housing unit. Bradley, Danny Baldwin in the hit soap, popped in to see his nan-in-law Annie Derby, who turns 90
A 60-year-old Chelmsford woman who fell off her motor scooter suffered such a painful arm injury that she had to be anaesthetised at the scene. The ambulance service was called to Margaretting Road in Galleywood, Chelmsford at 11.47am on Monday. A Rapid
Southend Council has apologised for outraging Muslim traditionalists with a questionnaire asking if an Islamic community centre should be a religious place for "bearded and hejabi types". Southend Islamic Trust, which runs Westcliff Mosque, off West Road
A total of 10 athletes from Thorpe Bay's Alleyn Court School were selected to represent East Anglia at the ISA national athletic championships in Birmingham. Heading in the right direction - the triumphant Alleyn Court athletes Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL
It may resemble a building site at the moment - but this will soon become a new nursery for 50 children. Building site - the nursery will cater for parents and youngsters Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY The Neighbourhood Nursery and Children's Centre, based on
A 90-year-old woman who suffered head injuries after being mugged has died. Grandma of six, Betty London was left in intensive care and fighting for her life following the robbery near her home in Thistley Close, Leigh, on June 10. The frail pensioner
Colchester United have handed a trial to former Tottenham Hotspur and England Under-21 international Ben Bowditch. The 20-year-old -older brother of Ipswich Town star Dean - joined up with the U's yesterday for the second week of pre-season training.
Anti-drink drive campaigners today blasted magistrates for not jailing a mum who drove off with her young son after knocking back a bottle of wine. Deborah Thompson, 40, of Cressells, Basildon, was already banned from driving and had no insurance when
Cab drivers have not ruled out shutting Southend down with a blockade if a brewing dispute with a hire car company is not resolved. The dispute is between licensed Hackney carriage cabbies and hire car drivers who pick up customers from Westcliff station
Southend claimed their second win on the trot as the defeated leaders Epping by 55 runs. Seasiders skipper Wayne Spear opted to bat and saw opener Ben Wathen hit 98 before he was caught on the boundary. Support came from Ifan Khan (17), Numan Khan (13
A high street bar has hit back after it was branded the most violent pub in Colchester. Police say they were called to more incidents at the Wig and Pen last year than any other pub in the town. Only Colchester's three major nightclubs accounted for more
Crowstone Preparatory School had 12 pupils competing in the Independent Schools' Association national athletic finals at the Alexander Stadium, Birmingham -- and returned with a glittering array of silverware. National headlines - for the athletic youngsters
Billericay Town are back in training and for the first time are using the facilities at Billericay School for the early sessions as manager Justin Edinburgh and new assistant Matt Jones work on their fitness. New signings are expected to be confirmed
A man out walking his dog called the police when he found an object which looked like a torpedo on the beach. The incident happened at 8.05am on Sunday near Tower Camp, Jaywick. The area was cordoned off within a 100-metre radius. Coastguards attached
Steve Wignall is today set to meet with Southend United's deputy chairman Geoffrey King as their compensation dispute rumbles on. The club are still waiting to sort out the ex-Colchester United's chief settlement sum and speaking at last night's AGM,
A family who lost their son to a rare heart condition are raising funds to create a park in his memory. Jason Adams, 35, of Vicarage Hill, Benfleet, died suddenly after collapsing at Southend Hospital in May. His family are now trying to raise enough
Callous teenager Russell Mayo, who killed a man for his mobile phone, was today starting an eight-year sentence behind bars. Jailed - Russell Mayo has been sent to prison for eight years Mayo, 19, and his pal Justin Bailey, 24, set upon supermarket worker
A unique memorial service for the Southend construction manager gunned down in a terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia will be held in Shoebury. Anthony Mason, 57, was just a month from retirement when he was killed at the Exxon Mobil refinery complex in the
Hundreds of protesters turned out to oppose a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts and alchoholics, forcing a council meeting to be moved outside. More than 300 residents deluged an emergency meeting of Ashingdon Parish Council to vent their anger over
Ronnie Irani today urged his players to pull out one more big effort and send Essex Eagles soaring into the Twenty20 Cup quarter-finals. The big-hitting Essex skipper believes victory over undefeated South Division leaders and reigning champions Surrey
A deal could be struck to build a much-needed community centre in exchange for housing. Old Heath is one of Colchester's only areas not to have its own community centre. Last night, members of the newly-named Old Heath task group heard about a proposal
Bosses at a Basildon design company who helped bring to life the multi-million pound Princess Di Memorial in Hyde Park were today celebrating its official opening. Business partners Neale Williams and Mark Mason of Surface Development and Engineering
A pot-smoking construction worker was still in bed when police arrived with a warrant to search for drugs. One bedroom in the Cressing Road, Witham, address had 10 cannabis plants growing hydroponically, said Christopher Paxton prosecuting at Chelmsford
Facials to make the girls as gorgeous as the firefighters were part of the attraction at Basildon Fire Station's annual open day on Saturday. Facial - Sue Chivers from Virgin Cosmetics gives Sandra Penn from Laindon a face make-over at the fire station
A Basildon man who jumped from a town centre roof garden is set for a record £4m compensation deal. Austin Waymark was 21 when he was allowed to leave Basildon Hospital's mental health unit. He later tried to commit suicide and suffered such extensive
A project showing a ten-year blueprint of the Maldon area is well ahead of schedule. Maldon District Council's Draft Replacement Local Plan was the subject of a presentation by James Doe, planning policy officer at Maldon District Council, at a meeting
Basildon skipper Paul Ayres issued is team with C+ half-term report after they lost by eighht wickets at Old Brentwoods. Kiran Sangani (92no) starred again for the towners, with Luke Daw (26) also prospering. But the other batsmen persished as Gooday
Southend United manager Steve Tilson today confirmed midfielder Jay Smith will face another long spell on the sidelines. The former Aston Villa trainee, who is currently training alongside his team-mates, is due to have a metal plate removed from his
