Murder squad detectives have been given more time to hold two suspects following the death of Colchester man Westley Odger. Search - police at a house in Compton Road, Colchester. Picture: STEVE BRADING (45084-b) Police at Colchester Magistrates' Court
GRAYS Athletic delivered a 5-0 friendly thrashing to Peterborough United on Tuesday night. It was another fillip to the Conference side who are sky high after their unbeaten opening to their season. Blues boss Mark Stimson was full of praise for the way
SANITY seemed to be returning to south Essex fuel forecourts as a "handful" of protesters admitted they had a "disppointing" day. Between 15 and 20 hauliers were out yesterday to protest at the rising price of petrol at Vopak fuel depot in Purfleet. Peter
Commuters faced delays when major signalling problems caused rail chaos. All train services between Colchester and Clacton were suspended until further notice shortly before noon yesterday. It meant people travelling on trains between the two towns and
STAFFING problems at Basildon Hospital are set to be solved with the recruitment of a dozen nurses from the Middle East. Two groups of six experienced nurses from the United Arab Emirates are expected to cover vacancies in operating theatres which bosses
PUBLIC toilets threatened with closure could be saved after a U-turn by Castle Point Council. The council admits the decision to save money by closing toilets may have been wrong and is now considering upgrading outdated facilities. Conservative leader
A trucking boss from mid-Essex staged a motorway go-slow to protest at soaring petrol prices - but the threat of oil station blockades failed to materialise. Taking a stand - Steve Prince, of Steve Prince Transport, staged a protest against petrol costs
TWO people were arrested after a man was stabbed in the back at Southend seafront. The 35-year-old victim, from Southend, was taken to hospital after he was knifed between his shoulder blades in Marine Parade. A 19-year-old man was arrested by police
Sea defences are in such bad condition they would fail to protect a town from a disaster, it is claimed. Vulnerable - Gerald Wallington-Hayes inspects the flood gates which have fallen into disrepair and which he fears could be at the centre of a disaster
The introduction of identity cards will be discussed by Colchester Council's scrutiny panel to consider the benefits and disadvantages. The first hearing of a bill to introduce national identity cards is due to be heard in Parliament in October. Colchester
It's going to be downhill all the way for two former SEEVIC College students - and they couldn't be happier to grasp their opportunity. Ski stars Tom Daly and Nick Brown, who have just completed their A Levels at the Benfleet college, have been awarded
A teenager broke down and confessed his crime to his victim's daughter. The 17-year-old would probably never have been caught had he not been overcome with grief, a court heard. Sitting at Harwich Youth Court yesterday, magistrates heard the teen stole
A trio of Basildon Rugby Club girls have just returned home from England under-19 trials in Birmingham. Sarah Howard, 18, plus Holly Le Grave and Katherine Emerson, both 17, impressed under the watchful eyes of the selectors and hope to get a call up
Landlord Mark Hancock has worked his magic at a seafront pub. Just like that - magician and Old Lifeboat House landlord Mark Hancock conjures up a beer to celebrate getting into the Good Beer Guide. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN (44845-1) The publican-cum-magician
South Essex pubs given the Good Beer Guide 2006 seal of approval were: * Moon on the Square, Market Pavement, Basildon * Coach and Horses, Chapel Street, Billericay * Oakwood, Rayleigh Road, Eastwood * George and Dragon, Church End, Foulness Island *
A scientific answer to the mystery affecting Clacton car owners has been put forward. The Office of Communications (Ofcom) sent an investigator to the town after the Gazette reported bemused motorists were facing a car key conundrum. Remote control car
ANOTHER man has now been charged with the murder of a man stabbed to death in Vange less than a fortnight ago. Trevor Moriarty, 29, of Landermere, Basildon, was killed in the High Road on Sunday, September 4. Ned Cash, 36, a labourer of Roscroft, Basildon
A man who suffered from multiple sclerosis for 30 years died after asking his carer to leave two pill bottles under his pillow. Eugene Stolworthy, 57, died from drug poisoning at his home in Trottersfield, Braintree, in March this year. An inquest at
Colchester United boss Phil Parkinson has admitted being delighted after his side were given a bye for the first round of the LDV Vans Trophy. The news has come as a blessing as the clash would have fallen just prior to a tough trip to Tranmere Rovers
Ipswich Witches have a 13-point deficit to make up against Arena Essex at Foxhall Stadium tonight (start time 7.30pm). They lost the first leg of their Craven Shield meeting against the Hammers at Purfleet last night and will need to win by more than
A pensioner facing sex charges has been accused of giving girls presents for sinister reasons. A jury heard yesterday that 80-year-old John Drury would take children to museums and on trips to the zoo and some would return home later with gifts he had
Little Eloise Jones is helping to fight back against a killer disease that nearly claimed her life. Winning smile - right, Eloise Jones with mum Jessica. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN (44848-1) Now four, brave Eloise was just three months' old when she was struck
A fed-up Colchester resident has complained to the council about litter - every week for 17 years. Amazing - Des McCarron, whose wife Eleanor has rung Colchester Council every week for 17 years to get Harwich Road cleaned, says the work has just been
Shanee Martin, Colchester's champion female boxer, is ready to step back into the ring again. The super-fit, 23-year-old flyweight (51 kilos) will put ten months of heartache, torment and illness behind her on Sunday when she steps out at York Hall, Bethnal
HOCKLEY'S Silver Dragons Martial Arts Club have tasted even more success in national competition - with founder Mel Spicer again leading the way. Mel, 26, was joined at the 2005 Cimac British Open Superleague Championships by fellow Dragons, brother Martin
A GRANDMOTHER has asked the Echo to work its magic again after it reunited her with two of her favourite teachers from 51 years ago. Last year Pat Lewis asked us to help her find two of her teachers - Mary Johnson and Molly Haynes - from the time she
Parents and children have been warned by police to be on their guard after a schoolgirl was followed down an alleyway. The girl was walking to school along Chase Lane, Dovercourt, at about 9am on Tuesday when she passed a man with a dog. He then turned
TRAVELLERS have been ordered to tear down a warehouse after an Echo investigation revealed it was used as a furniture distribution centre. Basildon Council has slapped enforcement notices on the metal building because it was erected on green belt without
Fabian Wilnis is facing at least three weeks on the sidelines after pulling a muscle in his groin. The Ipswich Town defender suffered the injury during the first half of Tuesday's 2-2 draw at home to Southampton. The Dutchman was due to have a scan today
A dream will come true for Simon Bown when he pulls on his first England senior vest at the Commonwealth Games in Australia next year. Ready for action - Simon Bown has been picked to represent England in the Commonwealth Games. Picture: NICK OBANK (45009
A village firm has been given a clean bill of health to provide a mobile day surgery at its site for residents across Tendring. A Smith Great Bentley is the market leader in producing the units at its premises in Colchester Road, Frating. It is working
Tim Padbury, Mandy White and Gail Webster will be seeking a double defence of their titles when Leigh & Westcliff LTA holds its summer finals on Sunday. Thorpe Bay's Padbury defends both his veteran men's doubles and veteran mixed doubles titles with
A teenager has died after the car in which he was a passenger crashed into a stationary lorry. The 17-year-old driver is in a serious condition following the collision at the Gorse Lane Industrial Estate in Clacton last night. Emergency services were
A family who recruited a TV Supernanny to help tame their five children say they ended up naughtier. Susan and Paul Young called the TV show Supernanny in March wanting help with their five sons. The show sends in nanny Jo Frost to help the parents improve
Affordable new homes are to be built on Canvey after Castle Point Council gave the go-ahead for the sale of land to a housing association for £1. The community committee agreed to sell land at Gypps Close to south Essex-based Swan Housing Group for the
CELEBRITY Love Island star Fran Cosgrave dug deep into his pockets and handed £1,400 to the Echo campaign to give young Vickie Bristow the chance to walk. His generosity left diners at the Joy King chinese restaurant in Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff, astounded
ROCHFORD Hundred enjoyed one of the greatest weekends in their golfing history when, after winning the Essex Youth Shield for the first time since 1961 on Saturday, they followed up by collecting the senior County team competition for the Thornton Cup
A RADICAL salary shake-up could leave some Thurrock Council staff facing pay cuts of several thousand pounds as part of a job evaluation scheme. According to a council spokesman, the proposed cuts are part of a wider scheme to harmonise pay within departments
MILLIONS of pounds worth of improvements were carried out at south Essex schools over the summer break. The area's biggest spender was the former Cecil Jones High School - now Cecil Jones Specialist Business College - in Eastern Avenue, Southend. There
