The Kenneth Starr report to Congress - which may end US president Bill Clinton's presidency - went live on the web on Friday evening. The House of Representatives voted to accept the report - and it was published soon afterwards. The president has vowed
The Beast of Bassett, the mythical big cat said to stalk the wilds of West Essex, is alive and well and living in a woodland lair near North Weald. The existence of the cat will be confirmed in an edition of BBC1's new wildlife series X-Creatures on Wednesday
The Kenneth Starr report to Congress - which may end US president Bill Clinton's presidency - goes live on the web this afternoon. The House of Representatives is due to vote on accepting the report - and it will be published as soon as possible after
The family of a critically-ill computer instructor rushed to his hospital bedside today after reading of his coma. Kenneth Plumb, 35, has been unconscious since he was mown down in the early hours of Saturday following a work night out. He was hit by
A MAJOR model train exhibition faces derailment in a row over signposting. Colchester and District Model Railway Club's popular show at Colchester Institute has attracted thousands of visitors to the town over the past seven years. But this year's event
A man was pushed to the ground and hit across the face with a bottle after two men approached him and asked for a cigarette. The attack happened as the 22 year-old, from Prince Avenue, Westcliff, was walking along the town's Hamlet Court Road about 1am
A couple who escaped tragedy by inches when a tree branch fell on their car today claimed that Southend Council ignored their warnings for a year. However, the council said the tree had been inspected regularly and that the incident was an act of God.
Sixty new jobs are being created by LTS Rail in Essex, it was announced today. Bosses are recruiting 50 full and part-time staff to work at stations along the Fenchurch Street line between south Essex and the City. Ten part-time customer service assistants
Denise Stevens is planning to stun crowds at the New York Marathon by tackling the 26-mile course Lady Godiva-style on November 1. The 23-year-old advertising agency worker from Stanford-le-Hope will be relying on a few strategically-placed fig leaves
Experts investigating driver fatigue were today collating the results of a survey at Thurrock service station. They expect horrific statistics to emerge from interviews with 100 drivers at the Granada Services off the M25. The drivers were asked whether
A first aider who has saved the lives of two people was today praised after bringing a premature baby back to life in a busy shopping centre. Businesswoman Joy Coulson dashed from her Victoria Plaza office in Southend and gave the kiss-of-life to three-week-old
Dogs will soon be able to paddle their cares away - with the opening of a swimming pool for pets. Owners of Gemini Kennels in Hovefields Avenue, Wickford, have spent £1,800 bringing the disused pool up to scratch. Within three weeks, dogs with aches and
A hit-and-run van driver who knocked a car off the road - trapping the badly-injured driver in his vehicle - was today being hunted by police. Ambulance and fire crews went to Thorpe Hall Avenue in Thorpe Bay, near Southend, last night as police diverted
Talks aimed at ending the four-month old Essex firefighters' dispute - called over budget cuts - were due to begin today amid hopes of a breakthrough. The negotiations will be a continuation of a three-hour meeting on Wednesday between members of the
The boss of a debt counselling and advisory service has been banned from running a limited company for seven years over his "unfit conduct". Mark Aynsworth, 34, of Main Road, Hawkwell, was disqualified in Southend County Court on September 1 because of
A councillor has warned residents they must "use or lose" new bus services linking the Maldon district to Chelmsford. Under the proposals for using money from the Rural Bus Fund, a two-hourly express service linking Burnham with Chelmsford and Broomfield
Southend's hard-working young carers are being offered special pampering as a tribute to their roles. Chil, the Southend Youth Service Group for young carers, has set up the two-hour treat, partly to relaunch its weekly meetings. Staff at the Body Shop
Town centre car parking charges must change if shoppers are to be persuaded to spend longer in the town, says Angela Rogers, chairman of Brentwood Chamber of Commerce. Mrs Rogers made her plea at the Town Forum as members debated the future of the High
Two shop workers were left shocked and stunned after a man ran up to their window and exposed himself to them. The two female members of staff at the florist shop in Sutton Road, Southend, alerted police minutes after the man ran off. Converted for the
The grieving daughter of a woman killed in last week's Swissair jetliner crash has flown home to Essex after paying her last respects at Peggy's Cove, Canada, scene of the disaster. Andrea Hamilton Smith of Stanford Rivers, near Ongar, was unable to identify
A potentially-lethal caravan stolen from a Hatfield Peverel could claim lives, police have warned. The hunt for a caravan, stolen from Nounsley Hill, has been stepped up after it was realised the mobile home's faulty heater had killed a holidaying couple
A Warehouse boss has been praised by a court for helping to stop cocaine worth more than £2 million reaching the streets. A judge at Chelmsford Crown Court said Visbeen International warehouse manager John Wood should be commended for calling in Customs
Grays' Gary Rouse faces the toughest challenge of his motorsport career on Sunday in the Group A Hot-Rod Supreme Championship. He starts on row two of the 26-car, 40-lap race and right behind his arch-rival, reigning Drivers' Champion Gary Finch. The
Cricket's new East Anglian Super League will include Essex giants Clacton and Halstead - but Colchester and East Essex have missed out. The Castle Park club will also be denied entering Essex's own super league as they did not finish high enough in this
David Gregory will clock up another major milestone when he captain's Colchester United against Gillingham in a Division Two clash at Layer Road. Gregory, dubbed Mr Consistency by his team-mates, will be celebrating his 100th League appearance for the
Southend United's forgotten man, tough tackling defender Andy Harris, has declared himself fit and ready to play his part in boss Alvin Martin's plans. Harris has been out of action for the last two months after damaging his ankle ligaments during Blues
Fugitive John Piccolo - wanted on suspicion of killing his love rival and gunning down his son and ex-lover - was today fighting for his life after turning a gun on himself. Piccolo, 51, is believed to have shot himself in the head in Ingatestone as armed
A policeman's career has been saved after he was cleared of drink driving. Det Con Ian Poynter was alleged to have driven away from Basildon police station after a drinking beano with colleagues. The Regional Crime Squad officer's 22-year career would
Chapatis and vindaloo earned a spicy amount for a mayor's charity fund. A hundred diners attended a buffet at the Maharaja Indian restaurant in London Road, Benfleet. Half their £10 tickets went to Castle Point mayor Valerie Wells' charity fund which
