Archive

  • Colchester: Famous DJ John helps launch session

    Rock DJ John Peel was in Colchester to launch an extraordinary music session. The marathon sound session was due to end yesterday (Monday) after more than 50 hours. The event was staged at the Colchester Arts Centre and featured 53 hours of work produced

  • Tendring: Community workers boost

    Cash has been secured to tackle community issues in two hot spot areas of Tendring, with the chance for residents to play a major role, it has been revealed. Tendring Community Voluntary Services made a successful bid for money to employ community workers

  • Soccer: Club's dream for new pitch

    A £750,000 scheme to build a new football ground and clubhouse is on the cards for a mid-Essex club. Members of Hatfield Peverel football club, which plays its senior games in the Essex Intermediate League, have set up a special committee to handle the

  • Rugby round-up: Steelers blunted by Wyverns ...

    RAYLEIGH WYVERNS 22 KINGS CROSS STEELERS 12 Second row man Kevin Martin put Steelers to the sword in an Eastern Counties Three Clash at Aviation Way. The Wyverns man-of-the-match crashed over for two tries in the first-half as his side crushed the winless

  • Soccer: Bramble to tie up Blues deal

    Tes Bramble is relishing the opportunity to get a crack at professional football with Southend United. The 20-year-old frontman has joined Blues on loan from Dr Martens Premier Division outfit Cambridge City, but is expected to complete a permanent move

  • Speedway: Arena sign up top star Shaun

    A rider who was taking on the world's best last summer will lead Arena-Essex to what hopefully will be a successful 2001. Shaun Tacey has been signed from Elite League side Coventry where he had a useful average of just under 5.5. He first came to prominence

  • Basketball: Leopards rout the Rocks

    Leopards travelled north to Scotland last Friday, and ripped into the Rocks with such ferocity that the game was almost over as a contest by the end of the first quarter. After four minutes of play, the Leopards had soared into a 17-4 lead which included

  • Soccer: U's finally get home game

    The long wait is over! Colchester United's soccer-starved fans are in line for a real treat tonight (Tuesday) - a League game at Layer Road. The U's faithful have had to wait 32 days for tonight's Division Two outing against lowly Swindon Town since last

  • Maldon: New help for violence victims

    Maldon District Council is playing its part in an ongoing campaign to help victims of domestic violence. National statistics show one in four women are subject to domestic violence during their lifetime and the council has produced an advice card. It

  • Essex: Cash injection for flood defences

    Essex is getting more money for protection from flooding. The Environment Agency's Essex Local Flood Defence Committee, LEDC, has been given over £9million for major improvements on flood defences and flood warning systems. The Agency will increase the

  • Braintree; Help scheme for tenants

    A new system dealing with council tenants problems is being introduced by Braintree Council. Calls from tenants in the Braintree district have previously been handled by three service centres based in Braintree, Witham and Halstead. In a bid to streamline

  • Tilbury: Thieves disturbed

    A pair of thieves were disturbed while breaking into a car in Adelaide Road, Tilbury. They smashed a quarterlight window before making off in a silver coloured Ford Sierra. One suspect is described as wearing a white hat and jacket. Converted for the

  • Corringham, Stanford-le-Hope: School's soap set for TV date

    A new teen soap opera set exlusively in Stanford-le-Hope and Corringham will soon hit the small screen. The pilot episode of the serial - called Bisbrooke - has been snapped up by ITV and if it proves a ratings winner could be turned into a full-blown

  • Mid-Essex: Lorry driver dies

    Chaos hit the A12 yesterday (Monday) after a lorry driver died and his vehicle blocked the road. Motorists were at a standstill for up to three hours as police closed the southbound track and one northbound lane at Margaretting. The lorry, driven by a

  • Shoebury: Worker hit by poison fumes

    A worker struggled to alert emergency services to a serious chemical spill after being overcome with fumes. Firefighters and environmental health officers wearing chemical suits broke into a disused building in Towerfield Road, Shoebury, to clean up dangerous

  • Essex: Posh and Becks may buy £6m island

    Celebrity couple Posh and Becks could be about to dip into their millions to buy their own private island - near Maldon. Spice Girl Victoria Beckham and her Manchester United star hubby David could well afford to buy their own tropical paradise, but instead

  • Braintree: Parents vow to fight for school

    Angry parents have vowed to fight shock plans to close their children's school. More than 100 people, including former teachers and councillors, packed into a meeting with governors from Braintree's Chapel Hill School on Friday night. They set up an action

  • Basildon: Children victims of county grants

    Poor children could lose out on their education because their parents can't afford their school uniforms. Basildon's Citizens Advice Bureau says some children have been threatened with exclusion from school simply because they do not have the correct

  • Basildon: David pops in to give drugs facts

    A budding pop star helped bring home the dangers of drugs to Basildon youngsters as part of a national campaign. David Graham, 23, visited Chalvedon School to sing and chat to pupils to promote Crimestoppers' new Snap campaign. Snap - Say No And Phone

  • Tennis: Halstead club at break point

    It could be game, set and match for Halstead Tennis Club. Closure looms if new players are not found soon and the club has issued an SOS for people who can take part in matches to come forward. Club spokeswoman Marlene Stanhope said if the club were unable

  • Billericay: Tragic death of'fighting spirit' Alex

    A university student from Billericay who died after a tragic road accident was blessed with a "fighting spirit", his father said. Alex Shoulder, of Devereux Road, died in hospital after an accident in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The ambitious 19-year-old

  • Women's hockey: Chelmsford are indoor champions - again!

    Chelmsford Ladies Hockey Club retained their National Indoor title in impressive fashion at Larkshill Sports Centre at the weekend. The fact that they won every game they played left little doubt that they were worthy winners of the Premier Division for

  • North Essex: Security review at Royal Mail

    The Royal Mail is to review security at its drop-off points after we revealed sacks full of letters were being left in a garden. The mail was being left in a garden in Valleyview Close, High Woods, Colchester. They were collected by a postman as he did

  • Clacton: Recruit for a day is 98

    The memories came flooding back for 98-year-old Sidney Webb when he made a nostalgic visit to Clacton Fire Station. Mr Webb, who lives at the Cavendish Residential Care Home in Kings Road, was shown round the site and even got to wear a new tunic and

  • Ice hockey: Chieftains swoop to sign Canadian

    Chelmsford Chieftains have signed 21 year old Canadian forward Bryan Blair. Blair is 6'5" tall, weighs 235lbs, and hails from Fort Erie, Ontario and prior to joining Chieftains he was playing for Hull Thunder in the British National League where he scored

  • Soccer round-up: Sceptre League

    FC Merlin weaved their magic in the Bukta Sceptre League clash with Dutch Village, winning 3-0 with goals from Baldwin, Pitts and Spong. Honours even - Brit Athletic and First Manor finished locked in a 2-2 draw in their Bukta Sceptre League Premier Division

  • Soccer: Webb gives referees a good talking to!

    Southend United boss David Webb thoroughly entertained the Basildon Referees Society as guest of honour at their monthly meet. The evening, staged at The Belvedere in Crays Hill, was a huge success for the Society as Webb had his audience in stitches

  • Colchester: Parents shocked as school put on special measures

    Special measures are words no parent wants to hear in connection with their child's school. But this week St Andrew's Nursery and Infants School, in Greenstead, was told it was likely to fail education standards - and told it has eight weeks to draw up

  • Maldon: Drug habit to combat depression

    A 31-year-old Maldon man smokes cannabis daily to combat depression brought on by the unlawful killing of his mother 20 years ago, a court heard. Unemployed Jimmy Smith, of Edward Bright Close, pleaded guilty to possessing 17gms of cannabis with a street

  • Shoebury: Gunfire warning

    Shoebury residents are being warned to expect an early wake-up call when the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency carries out firing exercises later this week. On Friday gunfire will begin at 7.30am and Dera today said residents could be affected. A

  • Essex: Double dose of A12 traffic misery

    Misery for A12 motorists lasted for 11 hours after a double dose of lorry accidents. Police today appealed for witnesses to the first crash which left a lorry driver dead at Margaretting at 6.15am yesterday (Monday). The lorry jack-knifed as it was being

  • Colchester: Park concert 'will have big names'

    The organisers of the popular concerts in Colchester's Castle Park have promised to lure big names to this year's event. Noble Promotions UK heard last week they had been awarded the contract to promote the open-air summer concerts. The company is still

  • Soccer: Passing of Sunday league stalwart

    It was with great sadness that the Pope & Smith Sunday Football League heard of the recent death of Mike Smith, one of the great characters of the Sunday morning game. Mike, as Secretary, was the force off the field behind the great Bakers Arms side

  • Soccer: City release Jimmy Sugrue

    City manager Gary Bellamy has released the experienced right winger Jimmy Sugrue who played only five games for Chelmsford and was substituted on each occasion. "He came on good recommendations but he failed to impress and so as it's not worked out we

  • Soccer: Brits are best, says Scowcroft

    James Scowcroft believes Ipswich Town's heavy British influence could be one of the major reasons behind their success this season. The Blues travelled to cosmopolitan Chelsea on Saturday chasing their seventh away win in the Premiership. And Scowcroft

  • Athletics: Colton overcomes another hurdle

    Basildon Athletic Club star Matt Colton retained his South of England indoor 60m hurdles title with a great run of 8.38 seconds at Bedford. The 18-year-old Chalvedon Sixth-Form College student, coached by Chris Surety at the new town club, lives at Rectory

  • Soccer round-up: Spall Brentwood Sunday Football League

    Due to the adverse weather conditions, with snow and frost in abundance, only one fixture was completed on Sunday, when Bentley travelled to play Sirocco in an Essex Junior Cup tie and were beaten 2-0 by the home team. Fixtures Essex Premier Cup Third

  • Soccer round-up: Veterans League

    South Woodham went down 2-0 in one of only two Mid Essex Veterans League matches to beat the weather at the weekend. Witham CML's leading scorer Paul Boydon added to his tally to give the home side a half-time lead and despite intense South Woodham pressure

  • Soccer round-up: Veterans Cup

    Chapel United won their way through to the semi-finals of the Essex FA Veterans Cup with an amazing 8-4 win over holders Pegasus. In the second round, Haydon Manor saw off Tag United 5-1 to earn a clash with the winners of the William de Ferrers v Maltby

  • Soccer round-up: Southend District League

    The Bukta Southend District suffered a complete wipeout of League games, but did manage some glory in knockout competitions. They kept up their superb record in the Essex Junior Trophy when Armada Sports and Stanford Wanderers both won fifth round matches

  • Soccer round-up: South-East Essex Sunday League

    The weather again disrupted the South-East Essex Sunday League programme but, for the first time in about two months, more than 50 per cent of the scheduled fixtures were completed. Crouch moved top of the Premier Division by taking all six points from

  • Southend: 'Normal' train late and short

    Rush-hour rail commuters heading for Southend were handed a flyer declaring their service was back to normal - only to find their train arrived late with half the carriages missing. Dismayed passengers waiting for the 7.04pm train from Liverpool Street

  • Basildon: Story of rape at age of 10

    A woman sobbed at the Old Bailey as she told how she was raped by William Starling, while resident in an Essex children's home. Weeping uncontrollably the alleged victim, now 38, said she didn't reveal her terrible ordeal at the time because she thought

  • Southend: Town 'failing needy'

    Older people, children and those with mental health problems have suffered at the hands of poor social services in Southend, a top-level report has revealed. No-one should underestimate the major challenges facing the department as it struggles to make

  • Mersea: Island set for cancer study

    A top college is to carry out a study of suspected cancer clusters on Mersea Island. Hundreds of worried people were told of the research at a packed public meeting about incineration plans at Bradwell Power Station. More than 300 people packed in to

  • Southend: US cliff plunge murder inquiry

    The death in California of a four-year-old girl, whose mother is from Southend, is being treated as murder. Lauren Key-Marer plunged 300ft down a cliff. Sheriff's Deputy Rick Martinez said detectives originally suspected the death was suspicious and now

  • Showjumping: Rebecca books Hickstead final slot

    Felsted's Rebecca Ockendon-Day has secured herself a place in the final of a major national show jumping championship to be held at the Royal International Horse Show in July. Rebecca, 25, won the Osborne Refrigeration Grade C qualifying competition held

  • Basketball: Leopards fans will brave all weathers...

    When the basketball fixtures were published before the start of the season, the news that Leopards would play Edinburgh Rocks on a Friday night ensured that a number of Leopards fans would be denied the chance of seeing the team compete in Scotland. Not

  • Wix: Fury over rural quad-bike plan

    A quad-biking project at Wix has stirred up a storm of protest from villagers. Opponents claim if the plan gets the go-ahead it will be a disaster for the quiet village and peaceful countryside. More than a dozen people voiced their fears at yesterday's

  • Benfleet: Millionaire chemist who rose from poverty

    A chemist who rose from poverty in Kenya to owning an eight-bedroom mansion in Benfleet has been listed as one of Britain's richest people. Vijay Patel and wife Smita have two sons and drive around the county in an Aston Martin and a Mercedes. But the

  • Colchester: School placed on special measures

    A Colchester infants school has been put on special measures amid fears it is likely to fail education standards. St Andrew's Nursery and Infants School, Greenstead, has eight weeks to draw up an action plan of improvements after a critical Ofsted report

  • Soccer: New talent for Town and Gulls

    Both Billericay Town and Canvey Island are likely to have new talent involved tonight (Tuesday) in Ryman League Cup matches. While Gulls host their Premier Division title rivals Gravesend and Northfleet in a long delayed second round affair, Billericay

  • Witham: 60 facing job axe threat

    More than 60 people face losing their jobs when an NHS distribution depot in Witham closes. NHS Logistics Authority, which distributes medical supplies to hospitals and NHS trusts throughout England, employs 65 people at its depot in Perry Road, Witham

  • Clacton: Derelict house hit by blaze

    A fire has ravaged a derelict house - days before it was due to be demolished. Firefighters from Clacton, Weeley and Frinton worked through the night putting out the blaze which started at a house on Everitts Corner, London Road, Clacton, at 10.30pm yesterday

  • Westcliff: MMR jab talks backed by mum

    A mother has spoken in support of a crucial meeting over the safety of the MMR vaccine - six weeks to the day of her young son's tragic death. Marc Raven died last month after falling ill six years earlier - shortly after having the triple measles, mumps

  • Heybridge: Thigh's the limit for Lisa

    She's got legs! In fact, Lisa Hall may well have the longest legs in the world. After a national newspaper ran an article on a Brazilian model who claimed to have the lengthiest pins in the business - 45ins from heel to hip - it was inundated by British

  • Colchester: Six cleared in chef trial

    Six men accused of conspiring to murder former chef Hok Wan Leung have been cleared of all charges. Mr Leung, 34, of Watford, died after being attacked by a machete-wielding gang at the Middleborough roundabout in Colchester in July 1999. Sales assistant

  • Soccer: Rovers' tough double

    Great Wakering Rovers have scored 12 goals in their last two Ryman League Division Two matches. However, over the next few days, they'll be happy to score one in each match providing they can stop the opposition from scoring. For tonight (Tuesday) they

  • Witham: Nursery school model damage

    Cruel thieves have targeted a nursery school's play equipment for a second time. Thugs smashed up a large Thomas the Tank Engine model at Witham Nursery School in Dengie Close. Staff and pupils were left frustrated by the attack, which damaged the funnel

  • Colchester: Parenting courses launched

    A charity has launched a series of parenting classes to help Colchester mums and dads. Two six-week courses have been launched but people who have missed the start are welcome to join for the rest of the sessions. Don Quinn, Labour councillor for Greenstead

  • Canvey: Gas leak closes road

    A Canvey road was sealed off after a gas leak was reported. Engineers were called to Thorney Bay Road, near the seafront, to secure the area after neighbours smelled gas. Gas supplier Transco responded to the emergency call by closing off the road while

  • Maldon: Fake bomb at school gate

    A hoax bomb containing nuts and bolts sparked a major alert when it was placed outside a school. The fake device could have been the work of a cruel hoaxer who wanted to cause chaos and scare pupils and residents. An eagle-eyed passer-by raised the alarm

  • Pebmarsh: Brew-haha over real ales

    A village pub must boast some of the thirstiest real ale fans in the country after serving 500 different brews in just two years. There are only 413 villagers in Pebmarsh, where drinkers at the King's Head have downed a remarkable 33,000 pints of guest

  • Lawford: Man stabbed in chest

    A man was due to be released from hospital yesterday (Monday) after being stabbed in the chest in Lawford. Police were called to the Lawford Dale Estate after being alerted by Essex Ambulance Service at about 6.50pm on Sunday. A 34-year-old man was taken

  • Dovercourt: School wood wins prize

    A specially-planted millennium wood at the Chase Lane Primary School in Dovercourt has scooped a £500 prize which will allow pupils to open a shop. The wood, planted last year alongside a new meadow and a pond at the school, was designed to liven up the

  • Abberton: Post office appeal

    An urgent race is on to find someone to run a post office in a Colchester village - or the service will be lost for good. The existing office in Abberton is to close in March after post mistress Sally Cunningham and her husband Ian announced they would

  • Athletics: Southend AC suffer a rare day to forget

    The all-conquering boys from Southend Athletic Club did not enjoy their most memorable of days in the latest round of Essex League cross-country matches at Abbey Field, Colchester. In the under-13 event, the redoubtable Adam Hickey was forced to drop

  • Castle Point: Schools unite to tackle bullying

    Headteachers from 16 primary and secondary schools in Castle Point are to discuss ways of combating bullying. The aim is to collect borough-wide information on the problem and possibly create a strategy which involves police, social services and council

  • Athletics: Kim takes the fast track to stardom

    Basildon AC sprinter Kim Wall has been earmarked as a future world champion under a radical new plan announced by UK Athletics chiefs. The 17-year-old pupil at William De Ferrers school, South Woodham, is one of 140 outstanding juniors thought to have

  • Rugby: Floods will hit rugby club's finances

    Freak weather this winter could cost Braintree Rugby Club up to ten per cent of its annual turnover. Torrential rain and floods late last year meant many matches had to be postponed and annual social events were cancelled or ruined. Even now, two months

  • Tendring: Hotel opens its doors

    A new £1 million hotel has opened in Tendring - signalling a growing economy. Whitbread officially opened its Travel Inn at Weeley yesterday. The 40-bed hotel is one of the first in the country to feature a brand new bedroom design and furnishings. The

  • Rayleigh: Vicky Booms into the charts

    Boom! Vicky Palmer has hit the big time with a new chart-topping band. The Rayleigh 19-year-old is one of six members of the band Boom! Their debut single, Falling, cruised into the charts at number 11. Vicky, a former FitzWimarc School pupil, will see

  • Soccer: Players please

    Canvey Island's stars of tomorrow are on the lookout to strengthen their line-up. The club's under-10s, who play in the Buka South-East Essex Mini-Soccer Primary League, need a goalkeeper and striker. Bob's the man trying to build a stronger side and

  • Thurrock: Polling battle

    East Tilbury is due to go to the polls on Thursday following the resignation of Labour member Andrew Hart from Thurrock Council. Mr Hart - who held the seat last May with a 200 majority - cited work, union and family commitments as his reasons for standing

  • Pitsea: Maisonette blaze probe

    A blaze which threatened to engulf a maisonette in Pitsea is being treated as arson. Two crews from Basildon fire station tackled the fire just after 8pm on Friday, bringing it under control within minutes. Station officer Dick Duane said the situation

  • Maldon: Have your say on 21st century town

    Maldon people are being urged to have their say on the way they would like to see the town develop. The aim is to establish a framework for the future of the town. The report will be called the Maldon Town Design Statement. The project has been set up

  • Southend: MPs in clash over police

    A decision to give police officers in south Essex special training to help them deal with racially-motivated incidents has divided Southend's two MPs. The decision comes in the wake of a Home Office report which said that there was "scope for improvement

  • Soccer: Op for Maldon boss

    Maldon Town boss Colin Wallington is facing a knee operation. Wallington, who snapped a tendon in August, locked a knee as he got out of his car on Tuesday and was set for an exploratory operation on Friday. Club chairman Bob Large said: "He is going

  • Running: Benfleet 15 is under orders

    Benfleet Running Club stage their 11th Benfleet "15" on Sunday with a course starting at Canvey Rugby Club in Dovervelt Road. All finishers will be given a tee-shirt designed by the art department at Castle View School. The race is sponsored by Penn Sports

  • Burnham: Too many towers, say councillors

    Burnham Town Council believes a 15-metre high tower at the Station Industrial Estate would be "visually intrusive". Members of the planning committee voiced their objections to the application by One 2 One Personal Communications Ltd which wants to build

  • Soccer: Holland looking to fox a friend

    Matt Holland is desperate to put one over on international team-mate Niall Quinn when Ipswich Town and Sunderland lock horns in the FA Cup. The Blues skipper and Quinn have become good friends since Holland forged his way into the Republic of Ireland