Graffiti vandals could be sent warning emails from police as part of the latest drive to tackle the menace in Basildon. Dedicated officers have trawled the internet to gather information on top suspects in the Basildon area and believe a proactive approach
Fishermen from north-east Essex have been to Westminster to campaign about what they can catch. They held an emergency meeting on fishing quotas with Ben Bradshaw, minister for nature conservation and fisheries. Euro MP Jeffrey Titford accompanied the
Southend United have taken a giant leap towards their dream of a multi-million pound stadium at Fossetts Farm, Blues boss Ron Martin has revealed. The club's co-owner revealed a contract had been signed for 20 acres north of the club's existing Boots
AN asylum seeker convicted of indecently assaulting a 26-year-old in a park was told by a judge he had a very "unusual" attitude towards women and sex. After a trial earlier this year, Omar Aziz, of Wickham Road, Witham, was found guilty of indecently
Heybridge Swifts joint manager Keith Martin has resigned due to ill health. Martin had taken up the Scraley Road hotseat along with Colwyn Rowe during the summer. However, shortly after joining the club he had to go to hospital for a number of weeks for
A supercasino development will make Southend an all-year-round holiday resort and provide employment to combat poverty, council leader Howard Briggs said. He said any new gambling complex would have to be a "resort casino", including a hotel and conference
Plans to hand over Southend's 6,296 council homes to a new management organisation are the only way to attract £29million for housing improvements. Southend Council's community services scrutiny committee accepted handing over management of the council's
Mersea Island booked their place in the fourth round with a resounding eight-try victory over gritty Thetford. Out of my way - Mersea Island cruised to convincing win over Thetford. Despite the large margin of victory, the game was far from one-sided.
A grieving mother's plea for more ambulances on the streets of Chelmsford has been answered. Ann Sefton launched her appeal after her son Tony, 32, died in a motorcycle accident last year. Her efforts were rewarded with the launch of the latest addition
Visitors are turning their backs on Colchester Zoo, according to new figures. The Maldon Road zoo has announced a disappointing end to the financial year and is hoping to draw back the crowds. The 15 per cent drop in attendance could mean the delay of
Detectives were today continuing their hunt for a man who physically assaulted two 12-year old girls with a stick. The youngsters had been playing on a rope swing over a brook in Friday Woods, Colchester. Colin Stiff, Colchester's crime reduction officer
Colchester United boss Phil Parkinson is not losing sleep over the departure of Neil Danns. The 21-year-old midfielder had been on loan at Layer Road for the last two months from Blackburn Rovers. However, yesterday he returned to the Ewood Park side,
BILLERICAY Town have been handed a difficult task in their bid to make further progress in the FA Trophy. For they must visit current Ryman Premier leaders Yeading in the second round proper on November 27. Justin Edinburgh's men have already travelled
Tory MP Bernard Jenkin kept his word on a promise he made to the electorate of the North East and ate his hat. Bernard Jenkin, Shadow Regions Secretary and MP for North Essex, vowed to 'eat his hat' if the turnout in the regional assembly referendum was
Looking for Peter Revell from Braintree swimming pool. Hi Peter, Remember me at the Braintree swimming pool in the 1960's? Wonder where you are? Last time I saw you I was working in Colchester, now in Australia. Jenny from Braintre My E-Mail is : jencollis
Police are cracking down on gangs of car thieves as a result of rocketing car crime in the Maldon area. Special teams of officers will be combing the streets armed with automatic number-plate recognition systems during the blitz dubbed Operation Jacobean
A driver had a lucky escape when his car left the road and landed on its roof. The 34-year-old motorist, who did not wish to named, was travelling on the B1022 between Maldon and Colchester when the accident happened, where Colchester Road bends at the
Wivenhoe will be returning to league action tonight with hopes of putting two cup disappointments in the last eight days behind them. Last week saw the Dragons crash out of the Essex Senior Cup with a 5-3 defeat at the hands of Bowers and Pitsea and on
Colchester United boss Phil Parkinson is not losing sleep over the departure of Neil Danns. The 21-year-old midfielder had been on loan at Layer Road for the last two months from Blackburn Rovers. However, yesterday he returned to the Ewood Park side,
A grieving mother's plea for more ambulances on the streets of Chelmsford has been answered. Ann Sefton launched her appeal after her son Tony, 32, died in a motorcycle accident last year. Her efforts were rewarded with the launch of the latest addition
SOUTHEND United's youth team manager Ross Maclaren says his side are determined to work their way past Sutton in the first round of the FA Youth Cup tonight. The Blues babes take on the Surrey side at Roots Hall this evening and Maclaren - a former coach
A special guest presented students with their awards at a graduation ceremony. Hats off - fashion and textiles students celebrate their success with guest-of-honour Michael Brunson (39387-c) Broadcaster Michael Brunson presented 200 graduates and diplomates
Entrepreneur John Acton has kicked up a storm by trying to create the first green burial site in a national park. He wants to open one in every county, but his latest venture in the Lake District has not gone down well. Mr Acton pioneered the idea by
Clacton will get its first church school next year - despite fears that there will not be enough places to meet the expected demand. Governors at Great Clacton Junior School narrowly voted in favour of proceeding with a change in status from September
SOUTHEND'S recent mini revival was brought to a halt by league leaders Lydney at Warner's Bridge on Saturday. The Seasiders went into the game boosted by victories in their previous two outings. But their chances of making it a hat-trick of wins, and
A bogus caller victim's ordeal touched one Gazette reader so much he collected over £300 to replace her stolen money. Donation - Colin Stiff presents £300 to Mrs Rose to replace the money stolen from a bogus caller victim. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN (39101
A 34-year-old woman has admitted abducting two children outside a pub in Basildon. Janie Lacey, of Brooke House, Basildon, had denied the charges dating back to May 1 at previous hearings at Basildon Magistrates' Court. The abduction happened outside
SOUTHEND United striker Tes Bramble has received an International call up for Montserrat - despite never have visited the Caribbean island. The 24-year-old forward netted on his debut against Antigua & Barbuda last week but was unable to stop his
A horrified Canvey couple fear people could be killed or injured by the jagged metal remains of fireworks like this which landed on their patio. Brian and Janet Levett, of Roserna Road, Canvey, were shocked to discover the lethal-looking nature of the
UKIP'S Jeffrey Titford will stand for the Harwich seat in the next General Election. Mr Titford was formally chosen to represent the party at the Harwich branch annual meeting. He is currently the UK Independence Party's Euro MP for the Eastern Region
NOW that Chris Powell has agreed to extend his loan spell at West Ham into a third month, manager Alan Pardew is looking forward to some serious competition for the left-back spot. Former England international Powell is up against experienced Rufus Brevett
Changes to waste and recycling collections across Colchester, which hit teething problems when they were introduced this year, are set to be discussed tonight. A review of the service, which is facing a £603,000 overspend, will be considered at the strategic
Pupils travelled to Belgium where they climbed through muddy trenches and visited famous war memorials to remember those who lost their lives in conflict. As part of their history classes and in the build-up to Remembrance Day, the children in year nine
I am looking for researching my family tree and looking for help. Descendants of Sydney Wilfred Hayton b 1886 in Stoke Newington: I am researching my family tree and, unfortunately, have very little information on my father's side of the family. My father
The future of Maldon's Marine Lake rests on the shoulders of just ten members of Maldon District Council. Making their feelings felt - some of the many people who packed into Maldon Town Football Club to voice their concern over plans for Maldon's Marine
I am looking for information on Richard Pears, probably in the Ilford area circa 1850. I am seeking info on my Great Grandfathers family. My E-Mail is : Lizzybetti@aol.com
AUSTRALIAN fast bowler Scott Brant insists there are no hard feelings after parting company with Essex. The 21-year-old has endured two injury-hit summers at Chelmsford but still has one year left on his two-year contract. Brant has not officially been
Essex County Council was today at the centre of a row over axed buses. Protest - Vanessa Schults and Sue Potter hand over a petition to save their bus service to the town's MP, Bob Russell. Picture: SEANA HUGHES (39287-a) Colchester's number 3 bus service
A worker cut off his finger after his company failed to provide adequate training and safety procedures, a court heard. Adam Gorden, now 21 and of Colchester, was working almost two years ago as a carpenter at Cox Landscapes in Plains Farm, Ardleigh.
Colchester's mayor today urged townspeople to give the Queen a rousing welcome when she visits. Delighted - Colchester mayor John Bouckley. (36647-3) Buckingham Palace confirmed the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh would go walkabout in the High Street
Joe Royle has warned fans not to get their hopes up about an Ipswich Town homecoming for James Scowcroft. But the Blues boss has confirmed his interest in the striker, who left Portman Road for Leicester City in July 2001. Scowcroft made 248 appearances
Someone's stolen Rudolph! A 6ft-high topiary reindeer, weighing about 33 kilos, went missing from the Christmas display outside Silvertons garden centre, in Oxford Road, Clacton. Anyone seen Rudolph? Garden centre staff Martin Budd, Adrian Hume, Denise
Detectives were today continuing their hunt for a man who physically assaulted two 12-year old girls with a stick. The youngsters had been playing on a rope swing over a brook in Friday Woods, Colchester. Colin Stiff, Colchester's crime reduction officer
Police are hunting two thugs who robbed a middle-aged man as he walked home through an underpass. The 55-year-old clerk suffered minor bruising after being punched during the attack. The robbery took place minutes after the victim left the Beehive pub
A Colchester shipping firm has netted a large shipment for the Middle East. Wallis Shipping is now involved in transporting 32 containers of seven metal presses from the former Jaguar plant in Liverpool, now owned by Ford, to Iran for an Austrian client
Peace campaigners have damned the US assault on Fallujah. Town demonstration - peace campaigners call for the assault on Fallujah to stop. 39259-a Last night, a demonstration was held outside Colchester town hall. The Colchester Peace Campaign-organised
