Archive

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Colchester: Remand prisoner faked medical certificate

A remand prisoner suffering from a chronic stomach disorder faked a medical record in an attempt to get bail, a court heard. Robert Cauldwell produced the certificate at Chelmsford Crown Court in December 1997. Cauldwell, 29, was in custody at the time

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Rayleigh: Somerfield store up for sale

Somerfield superstore in Rayleigh has been put for sale - just six months after store bosses spent £1 million revamping it. The 20,000sq ft store in Eastwood Road is to be sold off in line with the firm's new strategy for concentrating on small and medium-sized

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Frinton: Burglars ransack actor's home

Thieves have ransacked the home of veteran actor Jack Watling - but missed three valuable paintings by Augustus John. Jack, who was given the paintings by the famous Welsh artist, said they may have been left because they would have been too easy to trace

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Running: Marathon duo eye next race

Runners Justine Worman and Chris Perry have set their sights on international events next year after completing the New York marathon. The south Essex pair arrived home exhausted after running the 30th marathon the Big Apple has hosted. But they have

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Brantham: Firm takeover link

A Brantham-based plastics specialist has received a take-over approach. Wardle Storeys said it had received a 441p-a-share takeover approach, valuing the group at £113.5 million. The group did not reveal the identity of the potential bidder but said the

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Colchester: Bus lanes cause gridlock!

Bus and taxi firms yesterday blamed bus lane work for severe delays in Colchester on Monday night. Work on the installation of the bus lane at St Botolph's, caused the rush-hour gridlock of the town, with traffic backing up down Queen Street, East Hill

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Maldon: Victorian party will take over town centre

Christmas shopping with a Victorian theme is all set to give Maldon town centre a party atmosphere for the 15th year running. This year's late night events are on December 9 and 16 and are organised by the Chamber of Trade with help from the town centre

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Basildon: DIY clean-up for council tenants

Sweeping changes are to be proposed today in a bid to make Basildon's housing estates spick and span. The plan includes encouraging more tenants to take on cleaning of communal areas in blocks of flats. Councillors are to be asked to consider a review

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Thundersley: Grandmother killed by hot water bottle

A 90-year-old grandmother has died after receiving horrific burns from a faulty hot water bottle which burst on her lap. On Monday a coroner's officer issued an urgent alert for similar bottles to be returned after it emerged that Boots the Chemist had

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Thundersley: 'Virgin would tempt pupils' claims head

A headmaster today hit out at councillors who gave the go-ahead for a multi-million pound leisure centre to be built in Thundersley. Paul Beashel is concerned pupils may climb the fence between the school and the proposed Virgin Active complex in Rayleigh

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A130 road rage at County Hall

A Friends of the Earth member was removed from the public gallery at County Hall when he made a dramatic outburst about the planned new A130. Essex County Council members cleared the floor as Jon Fuller, transport co-ordinator for the group, shouted:

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Maldon: Pub's unclean kitchen charge

A pub kitchen was covered in flies, grease and filth when an environmental health inspector called, a court was told. And a report by council health officers said there was "a risk of microbiological and physical contamination from the flies" at the Jolly

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Basildon: Beef war butcher defies police warning

A Basildon butcher today gave a defiant two-finger gesture to complaints about a sign he has displayed in protest at the French ban on British beef. Jim Smith, owner of Smith's in the town centre, vowed today he would not bow to police pressure to remove

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Dovercourt: Sea Scout group rocked by affair

A Sea Scout leader has been asked to leave his group after he left his wife and two children for a 16-year-old schoolgirl. Adam Baker, 24, was a warranted Cub leader with 4th Dovercourt Sea Scout group - where his mother-in-law is the Akela. Now his wife

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Soccer: Shrimpers are easy prey for Tigers

Southend United's promotion hopes took a nosedive as Blues tamely surrendered against lowly Hull City in farcical circumstances. Friday night's game at Roots Hall saw the Shrimpers frustrate fans and manager alike as they gave away all three Third Division

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South Essex sport shorts

Bright end to session Roger Bright and Alex Lynham played their cards right at Rayleigh Bridge Club's weekly session. They won with 66 per cent, with Ray Cornell and Mike Case in second with 60 per cent. Third place went to Alan Drew and Sonya Moorman

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Soccer: Southend's keeper battle

Southend United's latest signing, Mark Prudhoe, has revealed his burning ambition to become Blues' first-choice keeper. The 36-year-old player-goalkeeping coach, who joined the Shrimpers on a free transfer from Bradford City last week, is desperate to

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Cricket: Clubs hunting for new home

Two Osborne League cricket clubs are searching for a new home ground for next season after the announcement by Royal London Insurance that they are planning to sell off their sports facilities. Second division Colneside have played their home matches

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West Mersea: Fountain's fall 'end of an era'

It's the end of an era at West Mersea. The Fountain Hotel, the subject of a long planning battle, is being reduced to piles of rubble. The former pub, built in the early 1900s, has been in the news since 1992, when residential plans for its Queen's Corner

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Weeley: Police warning after girl approached

Pupils at a primary school have been warned to be extra vigilant after a ten-year-old girl was approached by strangers in a car. The youngster was walking home from a friend's house at Weeley Heath at the weekend when she was called over to the vehicle

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Colchester: Rider banned and fined

A motorcyclist who rode his motorbike without a licence, insurance or a crash helmet was banned from driving any vehicle for three months by Colchester magistrates. Steven Peacock, 19, of Wilson Marriage Road, Colchester, admitted to driving without a

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Angling round-up: Chef Dave serves up big mixed bag...

Rochford angler and top chef Dave Martison has taken a string of ton-up catches at Basildon's Gloucester Park Lake, with his latest visit serving him an estimated 140lb-plus haul. Dave, who has applied his culinary talents in Las Vegas and on the QE2,

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Boxing: Star referee dies

Harry Gibbs, Britain's most famous boxing referee, has died at the age of 79. Gibbs, who grew up in Bermondsey, south London, but spent his later years living in South Woodham Ferrers, near Chelmsford, collapsed while on holiday in Spain. He officiated

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Badminton: Barstable set the pace

Barstable B established an early lead at the first meeting of the Ladies' Third Division in the Basildon and Thurrock Badminton League, hosted by B&BP. An unbeaten performance saw them push Lake Meadows B into second place with one defeat, with the

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Soccer: Nihil quits after Swifts snub Rod

Heybridge Swifts manager Robbie Nihill has resigned in a row over providing a new big-name backer for the club. Nihill, and his assistant Ken Varney, parted company with the Ryman League club before last night's 4-2 defeat at home to Purfleet. Tony Adcock

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Soccer: Ipswich take draw as compliment

Ipswich Town striker Richard Naylor described the stifling tactics which earned battling Tranmere Rovers a point at Portman Road as a "compliment". Rovers - playing the offside trap at every opportunity - escaped with a hard-fought 0-0 draw thanks to

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Soccer: Howard Southwood - Speaks his mind on the Blues

I was surprised when I switched on my TV last week and saw one of the most unsuccessful Blues managers of all time, Dick Bate, now in the England set-up. Bate is managing the country's under-15 squad which, in the televised game, beat Scotland 2-1. But

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Soccer: Junior Blues on move

Junior Blues' Saturday morning club is moving to Garons, Eastern Avenue, Southend, between 10am and midday. The club has moved just up the road from its current home at Southend United's training ground at Boots and Laces. Converted for the new archive

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Rugby: Westcliff fell Sevenoaks

WESTCLIFF U15 19 SEVENOAKS U15 12 The visitors arrived for this friendly a few players short and had good reason to thank Westcliff for lending them Andrew Bakonyvari. He was one of three players the hosts donated to the Kent side and scored their only

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Karate: Duo get taste of the Far East

Two young teenagers from the Seishan Martial Arts have returned from the trip of a lifetime. Sensei David Phillips organised for two of his members, Craig Phillips, 18 and Daniel Cotter, 11, to train in Japan. The two attended coaching sessions at the

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Deadline looms for sports award

Time is running out if you have not entered Basildon Sports Council's personality of the year awards. Nominations must be received by the council by Saturday, November 20. The search is on for the sports personality of the year, the junior personality

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Tendring: Pupils arrested after boy hurt

A teenage boy was wounded in the leg during a lesson at Tendring Technology and Sixth Form College. The 13-year-old boy, who has not been named, was taken to Clacton Hospital where he received six stitches for a cut in his thigh and treatment for a puncture

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Rayleigh: Cross to bear for soccer nut

Soccer nut Anthony Jacobson spent an hour having his head daubed in England's colours for the battles against Scotland. But sadly his hopes were dashed when he realised he was booked to work for his hairdressing salon during both matches. The 19-year-old

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Colchester: Pupils prepare for new jabs

The first schoolchildren in north-east Essex to be vaccinated against meningitis C will be given their jabs in Colchester. School nurses from the Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust will be at Thomas, Lord Audley School at Monkwick between 9am and 2pm today

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Soccer: Penalties end Blues' Youth Cup hopes

Southend United's youngsters suffered spot-kick heartache at Roots Hall last night as they lost out to Wycombe Wanderers in their FA Youth Cup second round replay. It was rough justice on the brave Blues babes, who had kept themselves in the tie via midfielder

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Rugby: Braintree Colts show promise

Cry-offs by two sets of opponents forced Braintree's development side to travel to rural Suffolk on Saturday, to blood the current crop of promising youngsters at the club. Original opponents Shelford cancelled their fixture at Beckers Green Road 48 hours

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Leigh: BBC role for madcap Evans

Madcap comedian Lee Evans has signed a deal thought to be worth around £1 million to appear in a new BBC1 sitcom. The star, who lives in Leigh, is working on a new series Lee Evans: So What Now?, his first for the channel. Evans, who had his own series

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Thundersley: Virgin centre gets council thumbs-up

Richard Branson's £5 million blueprint for a leisure centre in Thundersley has cleared another major hurdle. Members of Castle Point Council agreed on Monday night to give the go-ahead for the Virgin Active complex in Rayleigh Road. But now the decision

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Colchester: 'Keep your hands off our school!'

Fighting talk filled the school hall at St George's Junior School when parents, governors, neighbours and friends of the school pledged to stop its closure. Essex County Council has revealed plans for a radical shake-up of infant and junior schools in

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Southend: Petrol raid drama

A garage attendant was thrown from the bonnet of a car when he tried to tackle a man who made off without paying for petrol. An attendant at the Shell garage in Prince Avenue, Southend, approached the man who was in a gold-coloured Toyota Celica and was

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Canvey: Mum's phone mast battle

An angry mum today declared war on plans to build a mobile phone mast next to a primary school. Jo Simmons, of Point Road, Canvey, has hit out at plans by Mercury Personal Communications to put up the mast on top of the Castle Point Transport Museum,

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Soccer: Southend's six of the best

Six of Southend United's players have featured prominently in this month's newly-published Carling Opta stats for the Third Division. Blues players have made the top ten of all five categories, with striker Martin Carruthers topping the attackers' section

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Soccer: Lucky thirteen for Colchester

Colchester United made it lucky 13 with a richly-merited win at Oldham Athletic. It was celebration time at Layer Road after a first-half goal from Lomana Tresor Lua Lua plus a second-half penalty from David Greene earned the U's a morale-boosting 2-1

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Women's soccer: Three lions on Wivenhoe shirts

Kevin Keegan's boys were not the only soccer team feeling proud of themselves in an England kit this weekend - just ask the Wivenhoe Girl's U13 side. The Essex girls' soccer team members were also smiling as they received their reward for winning this

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Maldon: All revved up for rally glory

A firm which develops engines for racing cars will be revved up for victory this weekend as it awaits the results of a major race meeting. Mountune Racing based on The Causeway, Maldon, has provided engines for ex-World Rally Champion Colin McRae and

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Colchester: Battle against web child porn

A morality campaigner today called on Britain to lead the way in the battle against people who set up child porn websites on the internet. John Beyer, director of the Colchester-based National Viewers and Listeners Association, said now more people were

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Chelmsford: Teenager locked up for 16 months

A teenager who fractured a man's cheekbone because he thought he was staring at him has been locked up. Michael Sparks, 19, of North Avenue, Chelmsford, was sentenced to 16 months in a young offenders' institution by a judge at Chelmsford Crown Court

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Brightlingsea: Health wait over for pensioner

A pensioner from Brightlingsea is near the end of a 15-month wait for a hospital appointment. Terence Carey, 78, of Love Lane, was put on the waiting list in August last year. Mr Carey, who had a heart attack before he started suffering from giddy spells

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Running: Amin breaks course record with top run

Amin Kolkai broke the Pitsea Five course record this year by 1 minute 39 seconds. The Ilford AC member clocked 24.25 to set what was one of the top ten fastest five miles of the year. Basildon ladies took the women's team title, while Chelmsford's gents

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Soccer: North Essex cups round-up...

Gravesend and Northfleet 5 Braintree Town 2 Braintree Town did well to lose only 5-2 to premier division Gravesend and Northfleet after having to take the field with just ten players after three were involved in a car crash on the way to the game. As

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Snooker: Tiptree cueman Ali's setback

Rising snooker star Ali Carter suffered a setback as he crashed out of the Liverpool Victoria UK Championships in Bournemouth. Carter, 20, from Tiptree, went out in the second round as he lost 6-3 to Gary Ponting on Monday. The youngster, who recently

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Soccer: Dulwich defence makes Gulls pay

Despite dominating for long periods of the game, Canvey slipped a position to fourth in the Ryman League Premier Division with defeat at second-placed Dulwich. Gulls were particularly strong in the second-half with Paul Abrahams sending over a stream

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Soccer: Billericay bounce back to share the spoils

Fans who gave the big international a miss to catch the action in this Ryman Premier Division clash were rewarded with a six-goal thriller which saw Billericay take their unbeaten League run to four matches. With Gavin King injured, Billericay fielded

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Soccer: Strike force puts Rovers through

Wakering's great strike partnership of Paul Flack and Mark Hampshire were again both among the goals as the village side moved smoothly through to the third round of the FA Carlsberg Vase. The victory over their Ryman League Division Three rivals at Burroughs

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Rugby: Score did not do us justice, say Westcliff

After this clash most of the team agreed with skipper John Brayley that the score did not do justice to this game. Peg were held in the scrums and matched in the lineouts, where Bruce Gander and Dave Davis-Collins took a lot of possession. But the when

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Colchester: Firefighters set for training in the dark

A team of Colchester firefighters is taking a novel approach to training by going on exercise in an arena used for fun shoot-outs with laser guns. Blue Watch are spending a day in the Quasar arena at the town's Rollerworld because of the realistic conditions

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Clacton: New investment aims to improve water

Pollution in the sea at Clacton will be tackled by new investment from Anglian Water with support from Tendring Council. The announcement comes after figures released by the Environment Agency showed Clacton was one of only two beaches on the east coast

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Soccer: Braintree players in car smash

Braintree Town's preparations for their Ryman League Full Members Cup match with Gravesend last night were thrown into disarray when three of their players were involved in a serious car crash on their way to the game. Lee Hunter, Ian Brown and Ben Woolnough