Gloucester Park regular Dave Hemmings scooped the top prize at the first of the winter's Ridley Angling Products opens, taking a tremendous 16lb 6oz of roach. Bitter easterly winds reduced the chances of big bags of carp or tench so Dave opted for a swim
The British Chambers of Commerce has warned that smaller businesses do not have adequate defences against the increasing threat from electronic attacks by terrorists. The fears come after a report found small and medium-sized British companies are increasingly
Jim Magilton today spoke of his 'total relief' after sparing Ipswich Town's blushes at Brighton. The midfielder rifled home a 78th-minute thunderbolt to secure a 1-1 draw against the struggling Seagulls. And, after opening his goal account for the season
In a heated match at Park Drive last night Maldon Town did themselves justice despite losing 2-1 to Dagenham and Redbridge in the Essex Senior Cup fourth round. Dagenham started brightly and settled down quicker than the home team, although the valiant
Phil Stephens is so fed up with hit-and-run drivers smashing into his car, he is spending almost £2,000 concreting over his garden so he can park off the road. Five weeks ago, Mr Stephens parked his Subaru Impreza outside his house in Eastwoodbury Lane
Seven-year-old Mark Williams has turned his bedroom into Santa's grotto to raise funds for Little Haven children's hospice in Thundersley. Ho, ho, ho - Mark in his grotto Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY Mark has made over his room with crepe paper icicles, Christmas
Residents fighting for a reduced speed limit at an accident blackspot have handed a petition to Essex County Council People living along Ashes Road, Cressing, have been trying to get the national speed limit on the road reduced to 40mph for a number of
The planting of a tree was the final touch for a revamped shopping parade in Basildon. Council chairman Joe White did the spadework at the Jolly Friar centre in Fryerns. Work has been going on there for several months with new paving and lighting, improved
Residents near a planned college and university campus are hoping to be quids in after estate agents predicted a boom in property prices. Students looking to rent rooms near the new £52million South East Essex College site, behind the former Odeon Cinema
Customers of Witham's third largest employer are being invited to take a ride in a 44-tonne truck after their Christmas buffet. Task Force Movement and Storage will be meeting and greeting customers on Thursday, Friday, and December 17 for lunch and a
Missing teenager Danielle Jones could be alive and well after running away from home, a jury has been told. The evidence pointed towards the schoolgirl leaving home because of increasing arguments with her parents, Chelmsford Crown Court heard. The suggestion
The "centre of gravity" of the Thames Gateway proposals is swinging towards Thurrock and the borough must take full advantage, a councillor has said. Carl Morris, deputy leader of Thurrock Council, spoke at a meeting of the cabinet discussing a Gateway
Essex's top community publishers received the ultimate accolade this week when the winners of the county's Village Magazine Competition 2002 were announced. The Rural Community Council of Essex awarded first prize in the monthly magazine category to the
Great Wakering Rebels' Denny Winch will be among those pushing for changes in the rules for the South-East Counties Cycle Speedway League next season. He hopes that agreement will be reached for the Second Division to be made up of six-rider line-ups
Colchester United were today rocked with a FA misconduct charge - three months after the alleged incident. Both the U's and Oldham Athletic have been charged with failure to control their players under rule E 21 (A) in the September 21 clash at Layer
This should probably be remembered as a hard-earned point for Ipswich at their first ever outing to the Withdean Stadium. Their first half display was uninspiring to say the least, 'toothless and lacking passion' according to manager Joe Royle. Even more
Southend United's supporters club trust want fellow Shrimpers to help buy new equipment for the Third Division side's depleted physio department. The trust is urging Blues fans to sign up for their "quid a goal" sponsorship scheme for the rest of the
Plans for a £12million community hospital for Billericay and Wickford have taken a step forward. However, consultation showed fewer than one per cent of people eligible to vote on the scheme bothered to take part. The Brentwood, Billericay and Wickford
A national survey has revealed Braintree shoppers leave it to the last minute. A survey of hundreds of people by Freeport Leisure, which has five shopping village sites across the county, revealed that 71 per cent of Braintree Freeport shoppers leave
Super-slimmer Jean Norton is ready to make the most of the party season after shedding two stone. Jean, of Valley Road, Billericay, walked away with the title, Billericay's Miss Slinky 2002. Way of life - winning super-slim grandmother Jean Norton and
A neighbourhood dispute has left an elderly woman serving a four-month prison term. Magistrates in Colchester imposed the sentences yesterday after hearing Elizabeth Masters, 72, had earlier admitted breaching a restraining order. The court also heard
A Southend doorman today said violence in the town has not got worse ... it's always been this bad. The ex-military policeman said despite two recent alleged murders, most of the trouble in Southend is caused by well-known thugs. He claims the only way
Burglars broke into the Albert Pub in Chipping Hill, Witham, by using a crowbar to force open a window and then damaged a fruit machine inside. At 5.30am today, an alarm sounded in the pub and the licensee, Susan Westwood and her husband came down from
Essex leader Lord Hanningfield has made a desperate plea to the Government for more money, warning the current grant settlement will have a "devastating" affect on the county. Last week Essex County Council was given a 3.7 per cent grant increase - the
A focused and disciplined Rochford deserved their win at Hadleigh playing a tight and controlled game against their higher placed opposition. From the start Rochford settled quickly and attacked, using their formidable forward power to punch holes into
More than £150,000 of lottery cash has been scooped by a Colchester advice and help group. The cash windfall means Signpost, which helps people with CVs, job searches and computer skills, will be able to keep going for another three years. The money,
A fiery last couple of minutes settled Southend United's Essex Senior Cup win at ambitious non-leaguers Hornchurch last night. With 60 seconds of normal time remaining, Blues midfielder Stuart Thurgood was red carded for violent conduct after an attempted
Runnymede Swimming Club proved it is well and truly on the comeback trail with a string of wins at its annual Jingle Bells Gala. All of the Thundersley club's swimmers set personal best times but the girls 10 years and over group really shone. They secured
A school's Christmas show took the form of a music and dance spectacular as pupils and teachers put on an eclectic mix of entertainment Students at Cornelius Vermuyden School, in Third Avenue, Canvey, have spent the last eight weeks putting in the hours
A parking shake-up designed to ease congestion in Maldon has been backed by councillors. Members of the district council's central area planning committee last night supported a string of waiting restrictions at six congestion hotspots in the town, which
Castle Point Council has vowed to further improve its efforts to provide the public with better access to council information. There were changes earlier in the year which saw agendas and reports become available to the public five days before a meeting
A new primary school for children in Ramsey and Little Oakley is expected to be approved this week Plans for Two Village Primary School are due to go before Essex County Council on Friday. The 210-place school would be based at Lodge Field, off Mayes
Police today called for the public's help to track down thousands of pounds worth of fishing gear stolen from a Benfleet home. The burglars busted a lock to a shed which contained fishing rods and reels specially designed for catching carp. The thieves
A woman who talked Thurrock planners into refusing permission for a mobile phone mast near her Grays home admits surprise at her success. Ann Martinez spoke out at a meeting of the development control committee which rejected the scheme. She said: "I
A nine-year-old boy managed to limp home with serious leg injuries after a road accident in Colchester. He was taken to hospital and last night needed surgery on the injury. The youngster had been crossing High Woods Approach when he was involved in a
Kelvin Taverner had a morning to remember on Sunday, when playing in the last day of the popular Warren Golf Club Christmas Competition. Playing the 17th hole, Kelvin achieved a hole in one (the second of his golfing career) from 140 yards. The achievement
Firefighters spent more than two hours battling to bring a blaze under control as it threatened to spread to a business and nearby homes. Residents were forced to flee their homes as three crews tackled the inferno last night and today in Maria Street
One of the county's key economic leaders has made a plea for businesses to become more involved in decisions about the future of developments in Essex. Speaking to more than 180 people at the annual county formal luncheon, hosted by the Chamber at the
A staunch royalist today spoke of his disappointment after the Queen turned down a visit to Canvey. County councillor Ray Howard invited her to the island to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the floods which devastated the east coast. Instead, she
Billericay won their way through to the last eight of the Essex Senior Cup with a 1-0 home success over Ryman Division One North promotion-chasers Harlow. A 62nd minute goal from Roy Essandoh settled the issue for the Premier outfit against a side managed
Lee Boylan's hat-trick was the highlight of Canvey's safe passage through to the last 16 of the Ryman League Bryco Cup at Cheshunt last night. The ex-West Ham man had grabbed nine goals previously this season, but has generally failed to quite recapture
Daniel Burzotta is not resting on his laurels after winning a bronze medal at the IJJF world championships. The Westcliff restaurant boss returned from the annual International Jujitsu Federation in Uruguay and has gone straight back into his strict six-day
A father-of-three smashed a car window with a hammer after a row with his former girlfriend who had moved in with another woman. Magistrates in Colchester yesterday heard the car involved belonged to Gavin Hollands' former partner's new girlfriend. Appearing
Vandals have attacked flower tubs in Manningtree. Ten large tubs of winter flowering pansies were overturned in Station Road late on Saturday night. Ken Scott, a Manningtree town councillor and a member of the Floral Manningtree committee, said: "It's
While the Essex Leopards had last weekend off their opponents over the next few days were busy with the National Cup Semi Finals. On Friday the Leopards travel to the South Coast to meet the Brighton Bears. Last Saturday the Bears booked their place in
Sometimes it's cool to be the smart kid at school.At least it is for 11-year-old Maxwell Spence, of Faulkbourne, near Witham, now that he's made it through to the final rounds of TV's Britain's Brainiest Kid. After a mind-boggling session of written and
In their penultimate game before the Christmas break Brentwood made the arduous trip to Dereham on Saturday looking to build on consecutive victories over the past two weekends. With forced changes to the side through poor availability, Brentwood struggled
A last-ditch bid to gain support to reopen a village railway station has failed. Tendring councillors voted 26 to 19 against putting pressure on the rail authorities to get Thorrington station back in business after being closed for the past 45 years.
A strike threat to Christmas holiday flights from Stansted was avoided today when union leaders agreed a new pay deal. Talks between the Transport and General Workers Union and the British Airports Authority ended in agreement at 4am. They took place
The Prime Minister has praised Thurrock Council for its successful launch of the missdorothy.com learning programme, which teaches children how to be safe from abuse. Thurrock was the first council in the country to pilot the project at three of its primary
Doctors in Thurrock are encouraging anyone over 65 and others at risk - people with a heart problem or any other serious medical condition - to get vaccinated against flu. Figures show 25,000 more people have died during the colder months compared with
A courageous nine-year-old girl is fighting a rare form of cancer. Emma O'Hagan, a year four pupil at St Teresa's Catholic School in Colchester, was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma on the eve of the Queen's Golden Jubilee. Since then she has been receiving
A pedigree event in the canine calendar will be back in Brentwood next year. All About Dogs will take place at the Brentwood Centre showground in Doddinghurst Road on May 10 and May 11. The event will be in its third year and promises a blockbuster of
It was festive cheer all round as more than 80 revellers let their hair down at the annual Castle Point Sports Club for the Disabled Christmas party. Festive fun - revellers had a whale of a time at the clubs' Christmas party Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY Castle
Thieves trashed a school minibus for children with special needs in the second attack in two months. Staff at Market Field School, Elmstead Market, were left stunned at the attack in which the Variety Club bus was stripped of £3,500 worth of equipment
Residents were today celebrating after unpopular plans for a 20 metre mobile telephone mast in Bradwell, near Braintree, were thrown out. People power paid off as Braintree Council last night went against officers' recommendations to grant permission
The number of passengers at Stansted Airport has risen by a third. Compared to November last year, figures have increased by 33.8 per cent at the Essex airport, 13.9 per cent at Heathrow and 9.8 per cent at Gatwick. But the number of people flying across
A school is to find out tonight if Leigh councillors have given the go-ahead to a £10,000 grant towards its new sports facility. Leigh Town Council's finance and general purpose committee has approved the grant to Belfairs High School in Highlands Boulevard
This away defeat was another bad result for a troubled Basildon side this season. Wymondham scored the first points of the day, but Basildon came back to equalise within five minutes of the opposition scoring. Basildon had possession of the ball for the
Two women victims of an armed robbery at a convenience store were recovering today from their ordeal. Staff at Alldays, in Hoover Drive, Basildon, were threatened by two men armed with a handgun and a knife. Det Con Rosie Holloway, of Basildon CID, said
An urgent plea has been made to prioritise dualling the A120 at Harwich Harwich mayor Dave McLeod said the scheme, which could take up to 30 years to complete, was needed as soon as possible. While Mr McLeod welcomed the findings, he said 30 years was
Community groups could get a better deal as part of Basildon Council's plan to overhaul its grants system. It has spent several weeks meeting representatives from local groups to find out what was right - and wrong - with the procedure. The council is
Drivers watch out - clampers are about! That was the warning today from Basildon's town centre manager Jim Furnival after police were called to a centre car park by disgruntled motorists who had to fork out £50 to have their vehicles released. Mr Furnival
The planned new Farleigh Hospice is to receive a cash injection of £100,000 from Chelmsford Borough Council towards its £6 million cost of removal and redevelopment. The contribution was agreed by the council's executive at last week's meeting. Conservative
