The Conservative candidate who will replace Teresa Gorman in Billericay at the next general election is one step closer to being revealed. The Billericay Conservative Association's selection committee now has the short list down to just five. The process
Clearview Ladies Team compete in the final of the Essex Intermediate Cup at Woodford Wells on Sunday. They will face Essex Club in the final, hoping to add to the success of winning the Junior Cup last year. Also in a final are Ongar ladies who take on
Colchester United's pre-season friendly against Southend United is definitely off, U's manager Steve Whitton has confirmed. U's boss Steve Whitton today (Wednesday) confirmed the match - scheduled for Sunday, August 6 - has been kicked into touch by the
Plans to create a vibrant town centre and open up the countryside are to go before before Witham Town Council. Proposals for policy priority from Witham Labour group include plans to extend the town River Walk beyond built-up areas, providing an access
All tied up - Ty Berg overcame a star class field to emerge triumphant in the Vestall Vergins Southend Half-Marathon which took place from the Garon's Park Track at Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre on Sunday. More pictures and results in today's Echo
A school wants to expand its sixth form block because of an overwhelmingly increase in pupils. Rickstones School in Witham is hoping to get permission for two more classrooms and a large tutorial area. And it could be a race against time to have the accommodation
Bravery awards are to be bestowed on police officers who were threatened by a crazed gunman in a Westcliff street. The four officers and a special constable are to attend a prestigious Police Bravery Awards ceremony in London on Thursday - following a
A new guide to the Sunday travel network in the county has been published by Essex County Council. It includes timetables, travel information and tide tables and articles of interest. It also gives information on the money saving Sunday Saver and Sunday
Witnesses have spoken of their horror as armed police stormed a Basildon street to end a dramatic siege. Neighbours watched as more than a dozen police officers moved in on a house on Monday after a tense stake-out and arrested a man. Police were first
A trailer containing explosive chemicals has been stolen from a garage. Now police are warning the public to be on their guard as the trailer holds 22 drums of a flammable and combustible metal powder. The trailer is grey, 13.5 metres long with Eurosped
After nearly 90 contests as an amateur, Basildon cruiserweight Mark Quirey, 26, is ready to take the step into the professional ranks. At the moment he is reviewing his options with regards to training bases, but feels he has what it takes to hold his
One England fan remained patriotic despite the Euro 2000 loss against Portugal- as he stole a St George's flag. After Monday's 3-2 defeat for England, the thief climbed up on top of The Swag Shop by the pavilion on Clacton seafront, and took the flag,
Benfleet's Neil Troth has been boxing less than six month but he has already proved to be a big hit. The 26-year-old Brook Boxing Club member succeeded in knocking out Belhus Park's D Bodimeade in the third round of his first bout. "Neil is one of the
Basboxer Dean Doyle has been pencilled in to fight on the Prince Naseem Hamed world title bill on August 19. The Hamed contest is due to take place in America but super-middleweight Dean is hoping to fight on a transatlantic undercard at a venue in London
A Lottery award announced today of £2.2 million will transform Chelmsford's Melbourne Park Athletics Centre into one of the county's top sporting venues. The grant to Chelmsford Council is the biggest ever awarded in Essex by the Sport England Lottery
Southend United boss Alan Little will begin his summer squad rebuilding by attempting to lure a new centre-half to Roots Hall. The Shrimpers chief, who has just returned from a family holiday in Cyprus, confirmed today (Wednesday) that he plans to hold
Residents who kicked up a stink in the past over manure being stored behind their homes have been assured it should not happen again. The homes in Fleetwood Avenue, Holland-on-Sea, back on to land where a field shelter and caravan are used to look after
A Ramsden Heath adventurer has returned home after completing a 35-day trek across the stark frozen landscape of Greenland's ice cap. Tim Burton, 23, a former Brentwood School student and qualified geography teacher, was part of a three man British team
An armed siege at a Colchester flat has ended peacefully after a five-hour stand-off. The siege began when police received reports of a man armed with a gun in Meadowbrook Court, off Brook Street, shortly after 1pm on Monday. Heather Watts, Essex Police
Long-awaited plans for a £15 million cancer centre in Colchester have been delayed again. Regional health chiefs were due to discuss the plan in July but now they say their agenda is too full and it will probably be put back until October. Mike Salmon
A family-owned haulage firm faces ruin from a £10,000 fine after five illegal immigrants were found hiding in one of its lorries. The asylum seekers were found in the trailer at Coquelles, near Calais, France, but bosses at Tiptree-based BT Cullum have
A scheme which could create 19 new jobs in Laindon has been given the green light by councillors. Members of the West Basildon Area Committee backed proposals to demolish an existing workshop on the Toomeys site in West Mayne, and build a new vehicle
New signing Simon Clark has vowed to put his illness nightmare behind him after putting pen to paper with Colchester United. The tough-tackling central defender, signed from Leyton Orient on Wednesday, was out for five months last season with acute bronchitis
Two school news teams were at the Houses of Parliament for a special awards ceremony. Colchester's Thomas, Lord Audley repeated last year's highly commended grading in the Times Educational Supplement's Newsday competition. Hazlemere County Junior School
Burnham Week 2000 (August 26 to September 2) has been launched with a number of enhancements created from competitor suggestions and observations from previous years to offer one of the UK's most exhilarating race weeks for yachtsmen and women. Successful
Police have claimed they were powerless to prevent a van containing stinking piles of rancid chicken and live pigeons from delivering its load to a restaurant in Southend. The unrefrigerated Ford Transit was stopped for a routine check by officers from
Out-of-contract Colchester United defender Aaron Skelton is still trying to thrash out a deal with Luton Town. Skelton, 25, has been in talks with Luton boss Lennie Lawrence since the end of the season. He can sign for the U's Second Division rivals on
George Burley will have to quadruple Richard Wright's salary to tempt him to sign a new contract with Ipswich. Wright's agent, Jonathan Barnett, sat down with Burley on Friday and told him he will need to fork out £20,000-a-week to keep the £6m-rated
Planners are urging councillors to reject plans to expand a pioneering dental surgery, citing concern over parking. But the dentists say they have been offered overflow parking spaces by British Gas, and that more than half their patients walk to the
Forget Euro 2000 - a local artist is proving Britain has more to share with the Netherlands than football. Braintree College's resident artist, Terry Flowers, is currently taking part in an exhibition which crosses the borders between England and Holland
The Shaftesbury evening ten mile events on Wednesday evenings have been successfully supported, not only by Shaftesbury CC club members but by other club's riders looking for midweek training rides. On Wednesday, 50 took part in the event, probably a
Billericay have saved the day at Blunts Wall Road. The inaugural first class match to be held at the ground next Wednesday (June 21), a Natwest Trophy match between the Essex County Board XI and Warwickshire County Cricket Club, will go ahead as planned
Stock Brook Manor Golf Club's Ladies Section members were out in force to play for the Lady Carter Salver. The weather was fine when the competition started but by the end of the day the back of the field was coming in wet and tired. The winner was Heidi
The Grange Motors Shield Competition took place on Sunday on the Brentwood and Central Essex Bowling Green at King George's Playing Field. The weather stayed fine as the 12 teams drawn from some of the clubs from the Brentwood & District Bowling Association
South East Essex College has been dealt a bitter blow with its £55 million town centre relocation plan bounced back for reconsideration. The Further Education Funding Council - which was asked to plough £16 million into the project - delivered the bombshell
Time is running out for London airports facing gridlock, unless airports like Southend can come to the rescue. That is the verdict delivered by two reports with one study showing that without action the situation will soon become critical. One report,
A family-owned haulage firm faces ruin from a £10,000 fine after five illegal immigrants were found hiding in one of its lorries. The asylum seekers were found in the trailor at Coquelles, near Calais, France, but bosses at Tiptree-based BT Cullum have
Car vandals causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to cars parked in Billericay have forced a motorist into offering a reward to anyone who can help catch the culprits. James Welton, 27, is so incensed by the malicious vandalism caused to cars parked
The husband of a woman who died in a crash says he has been left devastated by the news a court case into the tragedy has fallen apart. Essex Crown Prosecution Service confirmed a charge of careless driving against Sylvia Boram, of Court Street, Nayland
A cyclist has died in a time-trial crash in Great Bromley. Today friends and former colleagues paid tribute to the cyclist, who died after colliding with a Ford Transit van at Great Bromley. The rider was taking part in an open ten-mile time-trial when
A successful drop-in centre in Brightlingsea desperately needs to find new premises to avoid closing its doors on the youth it is trying to help. The 4 Youth Centre opened in March, based in the Sand Castle Cafe on the High Street. At that time, the cafe
Football fans went wild with excitement in Pitsea as their team kicked off Euro 2000 on a winning streak. Drinkers in the specially erected stadium at the Bull pub, London Road, were among the millions county- and country-wide who were behind the England
Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital is nearly £1,300 better off thanks to a football funday in memory of Southend lad Keith Cannon. The 13-year-old died at the famous London hospital last November following a bicycle accident. His family and friends
The past few weeks have seen Cloud Nine Trampoline Club in action at national competitions in Harlow and Manchester. The grade 2 competitors, whose season is only halfway through, had a nearby venue at Harlow whilst the grade 1 performers, nearing the
Friday night will be a big one for Romford middleweight Steve Roberts. The popular unbeaten former Southern Area title holder faces South African Dingann Thobela at The Royal National Hotel, Bloomsbury as they battle it out for the vacant WBF title on
kris Lockert is going to England's crucial Euro 2000 match against Germany on Saturday. Kris, of North Road, Great Clacton, is off to Belgium at the weekend after winning two tickets in a competition. The contest was held at Rumours nightclub in Clacton
A Billericay mother was found dead by her 12-year-old son after several days of heavy drinking Basildon Coroner's Court heard last week. Sirkka-Liisa Gunnell, 47, of Kensington Gardens, had been treated for a drink problem in the past, but her condition
Police have called on residents to be vigilant after a box of shotgun cartridges was dumped on a parked car. Staff at Scarlett's old people's home in Recreation Road, Colchester, found the cartridges on the boot of a car at 6am today (Wednesday). Converted
A flagship school in Great Notley has won a coveted national award as one of the millennium's top designs.Notley Green Primary School has been chosen as the Millennium Building of the Year in the schools category. And it has also been shortlisted in another
The British military attache shot dead in Athens spoke with an Essex war veteran days earlier. Edwin Horlington is president of the Brotherhood of the Veterans of the Greek Campaign and the two men met at a reunion in Greece. Mr Horlington, said Brig
A troubled prison has been thrown into turmoil by a second vote of no confidence in its governor. Members of the local Prison Officers' Association are angry at working conditions in Hockley's Bullwood Hall Prison and blame governor, Viv Hart. They have
A courageous ten-year-old boy has been praised for the brave way he looked after his sister as she lay injured in the road. Joshua Brown-Hunter-Scott rushed to the rescue when he found his seven-year-old sister, Bethany lying injured in a pool of blood
Closed circuit TV is to be installed in a North Weald hostel for the homeless following a series of security alerts. The £5,000 system was recommended for Norway House after what local council officers called 'recent incidents.' Epping Forest housing
The owners of the historic houses that abound in the Essex countryside are to get the chance to find out how to care for them properly - thanks to the conservation experts of the county council. The council's heritage conservation group is staging a number
A rugby fan has been celebrating after his wife gave birth to a baby boy - even though it happened at the headquarters of his team's sporting rivals. The unscheduled fixture began when David Baker was following the ambulance rushing wife Alison to the
Cabbies plagued with crime and fare-dodging customers have fitted video surveillance equipment to their cars. Driver Dave Hill designed the system, which has been installed on the dashboard of selected cabs of Associated Star Cars, based in Southchurch
A rugby club's move to Wickford will mean an extra pitch - despite a councillor's assurance that it would not happen. Rayleigh Wyverns hopes to make derelict Table House in Wickford's Memorial Park its new base, and use the adjoining sports field. Malcolm
Brentwood swimmer Steve Pavitt has bagged a gold medal in the Great Britain 2000 Masters Championships at Crystal Palace. The contest took place at the weekend, and the championships attracted top level swimmers from all parts of the British Isles, with
Former professional boxer Jimmy Tibbs was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted of attempted murder. Since his release he has become a Born Again Christian and a highly regarded trainer of young boxers. Reporter IVAN SAGE met up with Jimmy
Basildon angler Neil Rayner took a tremendous 47 carp catch at Gloucester Park over the weekend. Neil fished the big bay where his homemade boilies produced a succession of good fish. 18 of his carp where double figure specimens, with many of the others
A talented teenager has been celebrating after winning the Young British Dancer of the Year competition. Jamie Bond received the coveted national award after competing at London's Royal Opera House, in front of an audience including Princess Margaret
Sheds in a car yard described as a "shanty town" have been defended by their car dealer owner. Colin James-Dale has opened a second-hand dealership near the A120 at Bathside Bay near Harwich but councillors have said it makes the undeveloped area look
Plans for a controversial £25,000 statue in the heart of Basildon have been branded a complete waste of taxpayers' money. Basildon Council Tories claim the cash should have been spent on the struggling Citizens Advice Bureaux in Wickford and Billericay
The third confirmed case of malaria among Colchester troops sent to war-torn Sierra Leone has been found -- and more cases are possible. So far 20 samples from soldiers with possible malaria have been taken to Colchester General Hospital for analysis.
Results of a probe into alleged mismanagement at troubled New Basildon College are expected to be released next week. Government inspectors from the Further Education Funding Council spent two weeks assessing the college in March and April, after it was
Canvey lake is set for a boost after a new £100,000 scheme to restore the area was unveiled today. A general tidy-up of the lake, landscaped banks and new benches and bins installed along the path could all be part of the initiative being spearheaded
An exhausted swimmer was rescued by a lifeboat half a mile out to sea - after betting friends he could swim the length of Southend Pier. An RNLI spokesman said: "It appears the swimmer was just halfway through the bet when he became tired and ran into
Young music bands from and around Maldon are being urged to tune up for stardom when the local heat of the Keep It Live contest takes place next month. The event which was previously known as the Essex County Bands Contest has been re-launched and the
Hundreds of potential murder witnesses are to be revisited by detectives after new information came to light. Those people who helped officers with information about the fatal stabbing of Danny Davis in February could now be called upon again. It emerged
Three pubs and a golf club bar were targeted as a burglar crept through a crime spree last Friday evening. The burglar got away with £130 after walking into the staff room and rest areas at the Dukes Head Pub in Laindon Common Road, Little Burstead. At
Publicity hungry artistic and creative groups in Brentwood, Billericay and Ongar are being offered the chance to appear on TV screens across Essex. South East Television and Media Workshop, the Basildon-based cable television company behind the successful
A mother has been delighted at the "amazing" public response to her plans to create a garden in memory of stillborn babies. Karla Cairns lost daughter Grace at birth eight years ago, but could not hold a funeral because the baby was born at 23 weeks,
Plans for a new cabinet-style Braintree Council have moved a step nearer reality. Councillors have opted for a leader and cabinet as their preferred choice of political management. The public will have the chance to have their say when the scheme goes
Outspoken Teresa Gorman's attacks on the committee set up to monitor MPs have been dismissed as "outrageous" by the Government. The Billericay MP claimed the Standards and Privileges committee -- which banned her from parliament for a month -- was too
Work has started on an indoor play centre for children in Clacton. Rascals, a 7,000 sq ft unit, will be at the corner of Telford Road and Brunel Road on the Gorse Lane industrial estate. It is hoped it will be open in early August and will cater for children
A Royal Mail boss has pledged that improvements to the service in Southend are a priority. The promise has come from area operations manager Mark Rush after Southend East and Rochford MP Sir Teddy Taylor stepped into the row over the town's mail service
Heybridge Swifts manager Liam Cutbush has swooped to re-sign former Swift John Pollard on a two-year contract after a spell with St. Albans. Pollard, an experienced defender or midfielder, returns to his roots after a spell in Hertfordshire, where he
Essex Police air support squad have been learning specialist safety and survival techniques. Piloting twin-engine Squirrel helicopters, the Essex air support team plays a key role in helping police on the ground. Four officers from Essex joined the course
A teenager with drink problems took his employer's car and crashed it into another vehicle, a court was told. He also had sex with his 14-year-old girlfriend who claimed she became pregnant by him, Southend magistrates heard. The Rochford 18-year-old
Leigh boxer Danny Hunt is set to step into the ring again on July 13. The lightweight is due to box at York Hall in Bethnal Green, although the opponent for his fourth professional bout is not known yet. But Hunt will be aiming to repeat the success of
A health union is due to publish its alternative plan for the future of Essex Ambulance Service. Unison has commissioned the campaigning group London Health Emergency to help it produce a report which will address the service's plan to close 12 stations
Chelmsford Sport has put together an impressive programme of 17 sporting events for the people of Chelmsford in this their first Festival of Sport to be held over three days: June 16, 17 and 18. Carol Evans, the Chelmsford Sport Event chairperson, reported
Nearly 170 teams took part in the Valley Green Youth five-a-side football tournament. Boys and girls from varying age groups were at the event held at Spa Road on Sunday. Results Under-7 boys: Winners Colchester Villa, R/up Hamlet Court. Under-8 boys:
Ronnie Irani's revitalised Essex cricketers are within striking distance of Second Division leaders Worcestershire in the revamped County Championship. Essex, who go into their latest four-day outing against Glamorgan at Cardiff on Thursday looking for
Director of youth football Tony Johnson and youth section leader Gary Elson have big plans for Witham Town Football Club for the forthcoming 2000/2001 season. They include introducing an under 16's team to strengthen the club, to build relations with
England qualified for Euro 2000 via the back door - and now they will have to do the same from Group A. Kevin Keegan did not expect defeat against Portugal in Eindhoven on Monday but now he must turn around a side beaten long before the final whistle.
There will be a chance to see some of Southend's finest young actors from tonight when the Whitehall Performing Arts College takes to the stage in its first-ever production. The students, who combine professional theatre training at Whitehall with A-level
Adverts offering to clean your credit reference file or restore your credit rating by rubbing out any record of debt, should be treated with caution according to the Government's consumer protection authority. The Office of Fair Trading warns that the
The latest baby born to the famous Dyer family of Great Tey has not yet been named. Parents Sue and Ivan of the Chase are thinking closely about naming their little boy - who narrowly missed being propelled to international fame after his birth on May
Southend bandstand will thrill to the sound of singing on Saturday, June 24. Southend Choral Society will be joined by Southend Girls' Choir and Epping Forest Band for a concert aptly named Music for a Summer Evening. The concert starts at 7pm at Cliffs
South Essex Golf & Country Club (near Brentwood), who are part of American Golf UK, will be hosting an Open Golf Day, on Saturday, July 1. The event is free of charge and is aimed at introducing complete beginners to the game of golf in a fun and
Burglars have stolen more than £1,300 of cigarettes in two separate incidents at service stations. The first happened at Rettendon Services on the A130, Chelmsford, when £200 of damage was caused to a glass panel and cigarettes worth £500 was stolen.
War veteran Jack Gladden has given Essex Social Services a stark message - don't sell my home. The council could consider selling Beaumont Hall in Clacton if no-one comes forward to buy it by Friday. But speaking exclusively to the Gazette, Mr Gladden
The streets of Vange will be a haven of peace this summer holiday as youngsters channel their energies into something positive. Residents in the district's identified hotspots, Vange and Felmores, have been dreading the lengthy school holiday which often
Former Southend United and Chelmsford City player Ron Pountney is to benefit from a testimonial match against newly promoted Premiership side Charlton Athletic at Southend United's Roots Hall ground on Tuesday, August 1. The former Southend favourite,
Lone church organist David Glover no longer feels guilty when he misses church on Sundays - because he's created a computer programme which plays the tunes when he's away. Colchester keyboard wizard Mr Glover, 44, left his systems job at Royal London
Businesses and community groups in Southend are to be given key advice on how to grab a slice of the £15 million handout being awarded to the town from Brussels. The Euro-cash boost is to be granted to five areas of the borough over the next seven years
A masked man who tried to rip off a young woman's blouse could be a serial attacker responsible for at least two other assaults on women. Police said they are linking Saturday night's attack in Electric Avenue, Westcliff, with similar attacks in the area
Southend United's chief executive Peter Storrie has parted company with the struggling Third Division club after less than a year. Storrie, who joined Blues last July after leaving the Shrimpers' Premiership neighbours West Ham, resigned by mutual agreement
Martin Weatherley, 17, from Springfield, Chelmsford has recently returned from a two week fishing holiday in France during which time he became a record breaker. Martin, who works for Brentwood Angling, caught five carp over 20lb, five carp over 30lb,
Billericay Town Council is to plough £1,350 into finding out the impact of a Sunday market on the town's High Street. Town councillors have agreed to spend the money on traffic counts to find out more about the level of disruption closing the High Street
A school in Maldon could be facing a £30,000 repair bill for its crumbling tennis courts after plans to sell it off for homes were scuppered. Maldon District Council refused planning permission for houses to be built on the site at Upper Plume School
Essex County Council has run up against widespread opposition to its plans to cut meals on wheels services. Volunteers, delivery men and local authorities gathered at County Hall all in Chelmsford, as part of the county council's attempt to gauge opinion
