New plans for Clacton's oldest hotel look like being blocked. The owners of the the Royal Hotel, the resort's premier hotel building on Marine Parade West, had hoped to return it to the holiday trade. For the past two years, the hotel has been used as
Beleaguered company Marconi, which has offices in both Colchester and Chelmsford, has put in a planning application for an area of disused land. The land surrounding the Paxman's Social Club, on Hythe Hill, Colchester, is the subject of an outline planning
Victory celebrations were in order for Benfleet's SEEVIC College Under-19 netball squad as they won the Essex round of the English Schools Cup at Gloucester Park, Basildon. It was a round-robin event with schools and colleges from throughout the County
Southend Airport's expansion plans would lead to a marked increase in noise and climate pollution, an environmental campaigner has claimed. Jon Fuller, of Leigh, who is the group co-ordinator of Friends of the Earth, spoke out ahead of a public meeting
Colchester United will be aiming to maintain their encouraging record at Ninian Park when they come face to face with promotion chasing Cardiff City tonight. The U's have won there on four occasions in the last seven League meetings spanning 15 seasons
Fragile, the Yes tribute band, are hitting the Riga Music Bar in London Road, Westcliff on November 23. They went down a storm in April and being the only Yes tribute band around, playing a historic range of the band's tunes probably helps. Ironically
Essex schools are to get a £9m facelift, thanks to the National Lottery. The grant from the National Lottery's New Opportunities Fund will be used to create new sports facilities and modernise existing ones in schools across England and Wales. England
Ecoli, salmanella, BSE, foot and mouth - flick through a newspaper or turn your TV on these days and you are almost inevitably confronted by the latest in a long line of health panics. Advice - John Downer, of Food Hygiene Matters, tackles another project
Southend United must travel to Chesterfield in the second round of the FA Cup - and Blues' boss Rob Newman admitted that the draw "could have been easier" for his side. He added: "We'll be going as underdogs, but it's by no means an impossible task. "
Manningtree swimming pool may not open for public use next year. The warning came at last night's meeting of Lawford Parish Council when members were told of the lack of lifeguards and the need for more volunteers to man the pool. Margaret Francis revealed
Ongar, North Weald and Abridge residents are among those set to benefit from an exciting vision of the digital future unveiled by Epping Forest District Council this week. EFDC executive committee chairman Cllr Andrew Thompson confirmed that the council
Helping youngsters cope with school bullying has led to four Wickford teenagers being chosen to receive the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Award. The award has been made to Hannah Ferguson, Rebecca McCutcheon, Daniel Miles and Matthew Fenn for their
Jackie Hewitt-Main is many things, but a quitter she is not. She wanted to run her own business and she was not about to let her dyslexia get in the way. Team work - Jackie Hewitt-Main and Richard Main, left, have dyslexia and Stuart Main has suffered
Thurrock MP Andrew Mackinlay has just returned from America where he took part in high-level talks over the international terrorism crisis and the war in Afghanistan. Mr Mackinlay's visit - as a member of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee
Despite the dull afternoon and rather sticky track conditions, Braintree BMX held their club meeting on Sunday with 26 riders attending, including a couple of youngsters from Maidstone, Kent making the long journey for their first appearances along with
A change in the tax laws means that the once treasured company car may no longer be the valuable perk it once was, a local banker has warned. Jerry Edmans, area manager for South Essex for HSBC Bank, believes that the changes brought about by the Government's
Some consistent form coupled with attractive opposition is contributing to much improved attendances these days at Cressing Road where the average is steadily rising toward the 500 mark. Back on home ground after an absence of five weeks Iron celebrated
Southend United have their sights set on gunning down Third Division table toppers Plymouth Argyle at Roots Hall this evening. The Pilgrims are away day specialists and boast the Nationwide League's best record on the road, having clocked up five wins
Beleaguered company Marconi, which has offices in both Colchester and Chelmsford, has put in a planning application for an area of disused land. The land surrounding the Paxman's Social Club, on Hythe Hill, Colchester, is the subject of an outline planning
Wheels are in motion to organise next year's Brentwood Town Centre Cycle Race. The event was held for the first time earlier this year and a date has already been set for 2002. At a meeting of Brentwood Council's Cultural Panel councillors agreed the
Running your own brewery might sound like the stuff of dreams to many of us, but as far as Colin Bocking is concerned, it's damn hard work. Weathering the storm - Crouch Vale Brewery director Colin Bocking says changing drinking habits have hit the beer
Dangerous memorials which could kill young children are being checked out in Maldon. The district council has launched inspections at its cemeteries. A spokesperson for the council said: "We are taking steps to ensure that memorials in our cemeteries
Colchester Zoo's popular Asian black bear Bruno has been put down at the age of 35. Keepers had recently noticed Bruno was losing weight and having difficulty climbing so he was sedated in order for an examination to be carried out. He was found to be
A teeager who was born catastrophically disabled but who is only a year behind at school has won almost £2m in compensation. Samantha Griggs, 16, formerly of Vicarage Gardens, Clacton, was left physically handicapped, but with a bright mind, after she
A Rayleigh operatic group faces an uncertain future after council chiefs slapped a demolition order on their storage shed. Last act? Rayleigh Operatic face extinction unless they can find somewhere else to store their stage equipment. Picture TERENCE
Dockers weren't happy with the referee as their best run of league form came come to an end through a contentious penalty on their bogey ground at Merland Rise. It came after six minutes when referee Simmons adjudged that Paul Cornthwaite's foul on James
On hearing Canvey Island had been drawn at home to Northampton in the FA Cup second round Gulls boss Jeff King agreed: "You can't ask for more than that." The draw for the second round of the AXA-sponsored FA Cup came after two south Essex sides produced
The eighth Great Baddow Charity Races have been arranged for Sunday May 19 2001 and five local charities are set to benefit from the money raised. Around 700 runners from across the county are expected to turn out for the two races, the 10-mile road race
Fifteen mid-Essex arts projects have benefited from a £36,000 scheme operated by Essex County Council to help fund a wide range of arts activity. Chelmsford Cathedral Festival, Chelmsford Marquetry Group, The Little Totham Pump Priming Group, and The
Ongar, North Weald and Abridge residents are among those set to benefit from an exciting vision of the digital future unveiled by Epping Forest District Council this week. EFDC executive committee chairman Cllr Andrew Thompson confirmed that the council
Southend Airport's expansion plans would lead to a marked increase in noise and climate pollution, an environmental campaigner has claimed. Jon Fuller, of Leigh, who is the group co-ordinator of Friends of the Earth, spoke out ahead of a public meeting
A council investigation into the way its cabinet agreed to spend £1.7m of the £10m provided by Morrisons for the new Grays superstore quizzed several top councillors on Monday night. Cabinet members Nigel Barron, Carl Morris, Val Liddiard and John Kent
Strategic plans for an £80m redevelopment for Chelmsford's Broomfield Hospital have won broad support despite concerns over getting to, and parking at, the site. The plans would see all acute services centralised at Broomfield. The accident and emergency
Answers are being sought after two Colchester councillors were rejected as school governors. The way in which governors are appointed is to come under scrutiny following situations at Cherry Tree Primary School, Holt Drive, Colchester, and St Anne's Primary
A man who stole from an alleged murder victim boasted "I have just done the Baccy Man", court heard. Pasquale Duncan, 24, discovered retired bus driver Ronald Dennis lying on the ground behind his car in Nelson Mews, Southend on October 15. The boot of
Petitioning parents are calling for the planned redundancy of three nursery nurses to be scrapped. Angry mothers may even switch schools after the announcement that the workers at Old Heath Community Primary School in Colchester are to go because of budget
New plans for Clacton's oldest hotel look like being blocked. The owners of the the Royal Hotel, the resort's premier hotel building on Marine Parade West, had hoped to return it to the holiday trade. For the past two years, the hotel has been used as
Southend club Tots 2000 is to shut down for eight weeks next year for a major facelift - and a possible name-change. The club, in Lucy Road, will close on New Year's Day for the major revamp - including the creation of a new bar with a sea view. Although
Titus Bramble believes the time has come for Ipswich Town to abandon their 'pretty football' and adopt a more direct approach in a bid to haul themselves up the Premiership. The Blues slipped to another home defeat on Sunday, losing 2-1 to Bolton Wanderers
Grays manager Craig Edwards believes his Grays side threw away a golden opportunity to reach the second round of the FA Cup. Speaking after Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to Hinckley town, he said: "I'm devastated. "Although I can't fault the players for
With the Essex U18s first team firing on all cylinders in the FA County Youth Cup, the second eleven were given the chance to impress in the East Anglian Counties Championship against Suffolk at Bury Town on Sunday. With the squad made up of 16 and 17
A former High Street store will open as Braintree's latest pub in April. Owners of the Litten Tree pub chain SFI Group are converting the former Glasswells furniture store premises to cater for lunchtime shoppers, business people and those who want to
Wtham Town secured an excellent result at Flackwell Heath on Saturday, and it was a spectacular return to form for Town's Glen Driver who netted a superb hat-trick. There were changes in the Witham side as Dean Mahoney (goalkeeper) had been transferred
Southend club Tots 2000 is to shut down for eight weeks next year for a major facelift - and a possible name-change. The club, in Lucy Road, will close on New Year's Day for the major revamp - including the creation of a new bar with a sea view. Although
Essex Ford is a car dealership with big plans. Forward thinking - chairman of Essex Ford, Philip Maskell, has grand plan. Picture: ANDREW BELFORD 3LDFE2 Already serving a huge swathe of south Essex from its four showrooms, the company is not resting on
A Wickford headteacher has contacted his counterparts across the town after three of his pupils were confronted by a naked sex pest. Richard Thomas, head at Bromfords School, wrote to parents to warn them to be vigilant after the incident. However now
Essex Police have admitted that some cases of blocked oxygen tubes in hospital operating theatres could be accidental. Police are investigating five incidents in which breathing tubes were blocked during operations including one in Basildon and one in
Soccer minnows Canvey Island are set for a £100,000 cash bonus for their first ever live appearance on terrestrial TV. Canvey have had their AXA FA Cup second round home tie with Nationwide League Division Two Northampton Town selected for screening as
A major national recycling award has gone to Essex County Council with partners Braintree district and Chelmsford and Colchester borough councils. The award of Best Local Authority Initiative was given for the Essex Recycling in Action (era) high diversion
A mum has told how her young daughter was left sobbing and frightened as thousands poured into Basildon town centre to see EastEnders' star Michael Greco turn on the Christmas lights. Jostled - Shannon gets over her ordeal with mum Michelle and brother
A former distillery site in Colchester, once believed to be England's biggest, is to be turned into a mini-housing estate and purpose-built bowling centre. A plan for the site, centred around a mill pond and stretching from Haven Road, in the Hythe, to
Gillian Thomson braved the icy tongue lashings of the Weakest Link's Anne Robinson - and told her she was proud to be an Essex girl. Weakest Link contestant Gillian Thomson The self-styled queen of mean quiz shows, Anne Robinson, made jibes about Mrs
A civil servant who is to collect an OBE next month has paid tribute to doctors and nurses who have ensured he will be alive to pick up the honour. Grateful - cancer sufferer Bill Warren and his wife Sheila, are delighted medical treatment has helped
A former distillery site in Colchester, once believed to be England's biggest, is to be turned into a mini-housing estate and purpose-built bowling centre. A plan for the site, centred around a mill pond and stretching from Haven Road, in the Hythe, to
A motorist was punched in the head by a robber trying to steal his car at a petrol station. The 34-year-old man from the Chelmsford area was attacked at the BP Admiral Service Station in Broomfield Road in the town. Det Con Alison Finch of Chelmsford
Frustrated Colchester United boss Steve Whitton has revealed he has had a loan bid for Ipswich Town's teenage striker Darren Bent turned down. Whitton said yesterday as he continues his search for more goal power: "I wanted to bring the boy in on loan
Lee Patterson's enthusiasm for East Thurrock is legendary, but on Saturday the club's most successful manager added another string to his bow - as injury-time match winner! It's not by choice that he has often had to name himself as a sub this season,
Steve Whitton takes his Colchester United squad into the Cardiff City lion's den tonight for another battle of the haves and have-nots. Back in the frame - Bobby Bowry (left) In-form Cardiff are one of the number of clubs who appear to have money to burn
Tiptree United boss Neil Farlie wants his troops to build on their weekend success at Woodbridge and ruffle the feathers of high-flying Clacton who they entertain in the Jewson League premier division tonight. The Jam-makers triumphed 1-0 in Suffolk on
Voluntary groups are being urged to bid for money from the Development Fund set up by Epping Forest Community Partnership (EFCP). The fund is aimed at assisting charities and voluntary groups undertaking projects to boost health care, social care, social
