An unprovoked attack in Moulsham Street in which three men kicked one man in the head and body resulted in one aggressor being locked up. Reece Haines, 19, of Hullbridge Road, South Woodham Ferrers appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court for sentence on Friday
Southend Council was today delighted at a £116,667 Government grant to streamline its planning process - including putting all applications on the internet. The cash has been awarded to help improve the council's performance. The number of planning applications
A former councillor has hit out at the police after calling to report some thieves but getting no response. Terry Rowland spotted a group of youths dumping rubbish out of an abandoned trailer, and then driving off in it. He rung Harwich police, but said
Essex are preparing to march into battle in the forthcoming campaign in the best possible way -- by training with the Army. Physical training instructors at Colchester was set to put the squad through its paces at a military skills training day, which
The best laid plans of local matchmen went awry on Sunday when a change in the weather conditions saw catches plummet at Sunday's Northlands Park Open. Earlier in the week matchmen practicing at the venue had taken waggler catches to over 20lb, with pole
A small school is preparing to take its place on a big stage after Stambridge pupils were selected to represent their county. The village primary school -- with less than 100 pupils -- has been asked to send a squad to the ESFA under-11 Soccer Sixes small
Vandals have driven a vehicle across one of Thurrock's most picturesque cricket pitches. The pitch, at North Stifford, has been left with deep tyre tracks across the outfield. Damage trail - tyre marks will take a lot of work to repair Picture: DAVE HENDERSON
A school has been closed after the discovery of asbestos in the building. Pupils were sent home from Wickford Infants after workmen found the potentially dangerous material when they were called in to repair the central heating system. The school is expected
Race ace Perry McCarthy will warm up for this year's Le Mans 24-hour race when he takes to the track in Florida this weekend. Billericay driver McCarthy is contesting the historic Sebring 12-hour event on Saturday in preparation for the famous French
A grieving mother whose daughter was found dead from a suspected heroin overdose pleaded today with other youngsters not to dabble with drugs. Former dance champion Nicola Heffer, 21, was found dead in a bedsit in Edith Road, Clacton, on Saturday. It
A bus route used by Stansted Airport staff and passengers is to be axed. But there are hopes the service can be saved as long as a funding agreement can be reached. Arriva, which runs the 133 bus between Braintree and Stansted, has announced it is cutting
A suspicious fire threw rail routes through Essex into chaos today. Fire investigators were this morning trying to discover exactly how a blaze started inside a train at Colchester's North Station last night. And today commuters were suffering severely
Arsonists threw rail routes through Essex into chaos today. Fire investigators were today trying to discover exactly how a blaze started inside a train at Colchester's North Station last night. But it was thought vandals were to blame for the fire, which
Residents in East Clacton are gearing themselves up to fight possible development plans on a prime green field site. They are now looking for sporting clubs and organisations who would like to put together a package to take over the running of the Gainsford
Knockout performance -- that's the girls from St Anne Line School, Wickhay, Basildon, who beat Billericay's St Peters school 7-3 in the third place play-off final of the Basildon and Billericay Small Schools netball knockout cup. Picture: DAVE HENDERSON
Rail routes through Essex were severely disrupted today following a suspicious train fire at Colchester. Fire investigators were this morning trying to discover exactly how a blaze started inside a train at Colchester's North Station last night. Commuters
Police were today investigating after a youth was chased into school by another youth apparently brandishing a knife. The incident happened just days after the chased boy reported an alleged attack at the Lakeside Shopping Centre in West Thurrock. Police
Thousands of fish could be at risk from a red-coloured weed that is spreading like wildfire across a pond. The Railway Pond, near Heybridge Approach, has been overtaken by a water-fern known as azolla. The weed, which turns its distinctive red shade during
A group of young friends have set aside their spare time to raise money for a good cause Ten-year-olds Hannah Pile, Stephanie Root and Kerry Douse, nine, set up a street stall selling cakes, toys and bric-a-brac outside shops in The Square, Notley Green
A mother fears her son will have to walk to school along a busy and dangerous road when his free taxi service is axed. Lisa Walden, of Fairmead Estate, Wickford, is challenging Essex County Council's decision to end her son Rhys's ride to school because
A woman facing jail for assaulting another woman in a Chelmsford nightclub will not have to serve the sentence. Nicola Burrels successfully appealed against the six weeks sentence imposed by magistrates when she went to Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday
Rushden and Diamonds' much travelled striker Scott Partridge will guest in Southend United's reserves today. The 28-year-old is well out of favour with the Third Division promotion chasers and will appear for Blues' second-string when they take on Leyton
A postmaster from Stapleford Abbots has spoken of his terror when masked raiders held a knife to his throat before making off with more than £4,000 from his safe. Brian Murphy, 64, was in the kitchen at the back of his Oak Hill Road shop at about 9.15am
The mystery man who stepped in to save Clacton's crisis-hit Seasiders' football club has told why he decided to help. Businessman John Shuttleworth, who lives at Little Bentley, is former director of Nationwide League Club Swansea City. Mr Shuttleworth
Three men were due to be questioned today after armed police officers seized pistols and ammunition which had come through Harwich International Port. The National Crime Squad organised the operation, which discovered nine Glock pistols and 200 rounds
Southend United goalkeeper Danny Gay today spoke of his delight at being called into the Welsh under-21 squad fold. The 20-year-old has been put on standby for two UEFA championship qualifiers against Azerbaijan at Barry Town on Friday, March 28, and
Firefighters David Hadjicostas has spent 20 years tackling blazes and saving lives but now he is getting ready for his biggest challenge yet. The 39-year-old, who lives in Shoebury, has just been elected chairman of the Fostering Network, a national charity
Policeman Steve Wynn had a hair-raising time when he popped into a Basildon school. Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY In fact by the time the copper left Lee Chapel South primary school in the Knares he was bald. But he managed to have a laugh about it as it was
Now is the chance to put Benfleet on the map, residents are urged. They are being asked to pick the signs they would like to see to welcome people to the area. There are two choices - one is to install a general public information noticeboard in central
North Essex police officers were today continuing to scour the area for a "violent" escaped prisoner. A force spokesman confirmed that a description of the hunted man, James Yardley, would have been circulated to policemen and women on patrol in the county
Literature lovers are being given the chance to buy a historic house in Witham. A three-bedroom cottage in Newland Street, Witham, has come up for sale - right next door to where the famous novelist and crime writer Dorothy L Sayers lived nearly 50 years
Colchester town centre workers could be forced to pay up to £7 a day to park under new charges. Charges at all car parks in the town are set to rise in April and workers who use one of the so-called shopper spaces would face a daily charge of £6.80. While
Police were today hunting a gang of men and women who brutally attacked an IT manager, leaving him with terrible injuries after stamping on his face. The 25-year-old victim had been on a night out when the gang pounced on him as he walked home in the
Phil Parkinson was ready to hang up his Colchester United manager's tracksuit today to don his football boots again. The slimline U's boss was planning to have a run-out for the reserves in their Avon Insurance League clash against Millwall at the New
Radical measures to stamp out violence in Southend town centre could be in place by the summer, police and council chiefs have revealed. A task force is to spearhead a range of proposals which could see roads around seafront nightspots closed off at weekends
Hoaxers who have plagued the fire service with malicious calls have had their mobile phones cut off thanks to an initiative in Basildon. Firemen at the county's busiest station have cracked down hard on the hoaxers, who have been leading them on a wild
The Evening Gazette's Sparkle Appeal has been given another boost towards our £20,000 target by a marathon running effort. Sarah Stradling, 27, of Watts Road in Shrub End, Colchester, will be raising cash for the appeal by running a gruelling 26 miles
Westcliff bowlers Nathan Birkett and Richard Hart helped shoot Essex through to the final of the Liberty Trophy. The Essex County Indoor Bowls Club members were part of the 24-man team that defeated Worcestershire in the semi-finals 126-107. Now the duo
Residents can expect longer waits for benefit claims and street light repairs - but homeless people are less likely to be put in bed-and-breakfast accommodation and museums will be promoted. Basildon Council has released its performance targets and while
A freelance projects manager ripped-up the side of the super-car he was test-driving, a court heard. Dennis Gudge scraped the length of a Ferrari Spider along a lorry, prosecutor Christian Meikle told Colchester Magistrates yesterday. He said 62-year-old
Elderly people are the main target of a gang of handbag thieves operating in Chelmsford. Over the past two weeks a number of pensioners have had purses stolen from their handbags, particularly in the market area, and police believe the same people are
Police have appealed to elderly residents not to let strangers into their homes however young they are. It follows several incidents recently where teenagers have tried to get into houses in Clacton. The first was last Thursday, when two girls went to
Ramraiders are believed to have struck in Frinton today. A vehicle was seen backed up to an electrical shop after the front window was smashed. The incident took place at Sound and Vision Electronics on the Triangle shopping estate, Frinton, just after
Youngsters were celebrating today after finally getting the go-ahead for a new youth centre. Children and project leaders were shocked when Castle Point Council's planning director Ian Burchill recommended councillors should turn down the Legacy XS scheme
A mother whose son was killed in a road accident has backed a national campaign to make roads safer. Janet Steward's son Alan died aged 20, in 1995. She is backing the Safer Streets Coalition which is calling for more Government action to tackle speeding
Although last night's late defeat at Hitchin signalled the end of a run of three games without defeat, Billericay Town's hopes of a high finishing position in the Ryman League Premier Division are beginning to fade. Two of that previous trio of matches
A once popular seafront fantasy park is to reopen to the public this summer - as tropical gardens. Never Never Land, in Western Esplanade, Southend, closed two years ago after operator Mike Dolby lost his battle against vandalism and birds' droppings.
Two brothers who own a south Essex pharmaceuticals' business have again been named as the third wealthiest Asian family in Britain. Vijay and Bhikhu Patel, directors of Waymade Healthcare, in Miles Gray Road, Basildon, are between them worth £298million
Three of the town's post offices are to close forever, despite objections from more than 1,000 Colchester residents. Branches in East Hill, the Hythe and Bergholt Road will all be closed by April 15, after an announcement by the Post Office today. But
The company formerly behind the Palace Theatre could face legal action. Southend Council is considering whether to take legal action against Green and Lenagan, the former lessee of the theatre, in London Road, Westcliff. The theatre closed its doors last
Police in Wickford are appealing for a woman driver who hit a 12-year-old boy to come forward. He was walking along the unpaved South Hanningfield Way, Runwell, on Monday towards Brock Hill when he was hit by a silver Ford Focus. Police say the driver
Colchester secured a point at Griffin Park after being awarded a controversial penalty decision. In the 83rd minute the referee spotted a handball from defender Lee Fieldwick in the penalty area which was disputed by the Brentford players. Joe Keith converted
