Chelmsford City Football Club has secured additional sponsorship for the next three seasons with £25,000 a year backing from Countryside Properties plc. This welcome pre-season boost for the Dr Martens League side comes at a crucial time for the club
Chelmsford darts professional Rod Harrington has retained his World No.1 spot in the PDC world rankings after beating Phil Taylor by four sets to one in the Golden Harvest Canadian Championships in Saskatoon. Harrington, 41, from Boreham, has held 'top
Steve Freeman brought his tally of Chelmer Cycling Club records to six, when clocking 20 minutes 26 seconds in the Colchester Rovers Open "10". He took third place to Colchester's Rik Van Looy, whose 19m 5s ride over the new course was also a record for
Perky pensioner Reg Griggs revealed how he overcame walking problems and a cataract operation to return with yet another six-wicket haul. Yet Rayleigh Fairview's record wicket-taker, 67 next month, is finally considering defeat - on the advice of a surgeon
Colchester United manager Mick Wadsworth was on the brink of signing a new goalkeeper today after contract rebel Carl Emberson failed to meet yesterday's deadline. And Wadsworth revealed Queens Park Rangers' Nigerian international Ademola Bankole was
Years of hard work for the community have earned veteran former councillor Alf Dove a top honour - his very own MBE. The 80-year-old Labour stalwart was delighted to read in the weekend papers he had been chosen. He said: "I feel very honoured and yet
England may have been humiliated in the cricket World Cup but one group of Billericay youngsters hope to be starring at the thrilling finale. Billericay School's West African drum band has been invited to play during the lunch interval at the tournament's
Excited boxer Georgie Smith has revealed the two-fight plan that could "transform my whole career". Georgie, 28, from Basildon, has not fought since losing his Inter-continental welterweight crown to Charlie Kane last October, but has lined up a UK title
Struggling seaside towns and coastal resorts in Tendring are facing a fresh crisis. And councillors have called for them to be classed as a regeneration priority. New sources of cash to provide leisure facilities to enable resorts to keep up with the
Raindrops were falling on their heads but music lovers at Lake Meadows did not let the bad weather dampen their spirits. For the second year running, a torrential downpour sent the 1,800-strong audience at Billericay's Music from the Lake outdoor concert
An 84-year-old woman escaped unhurt after the house she was in suffered a direct lightning strike. The house in Frog Hall Close, Fingringhoe, had part of its roof destroyed by fire after it was hit, just before 6pm on Saturday. Firefighters from Colchester
The oldest school in Hadleigh could be bulldozed to make way for new houses, it was revealed today. Plans are in the pipeline for a new Hadleigh Junior School to be built next to the infant school in Bilton Road. The existing school land and buildings
Four people were injured following two separate crashes involving fire engines on 999 calls in Colchester. Both Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service have launched inquiries into the incidents. In the first, two firefighters were taken
Chelmsford City will face at least three new clubs next season - Stamford, Spalding and Wisbech Town - if proposals for a major shake-up of the Dr Martens League are accepted by clubs at the annual meeting in Bournemouth tomorrow (Saturday). Out will
Plans for a racecourse in Essex moved a step forward with the developers asking for a formal meeting with council planning chiefs. Arena Leisure wants to build an all-weather track at South Ockendon on 200 acres of green belt land to the north of Grangewaters
An elderly woman is being forced to remove a surround and angel from her husband's grave. Daisy Tompkins said the Rev John Pratt had told her the items had to go from the immaculately-kept grave as they did not have diocesan approval. Her husband George
A lucky Basildon woman had a very happy 40th birthday when she scooped top prize in a pub draw. Annette Younger, of Sandon Road, has been a regular at the Winged Horse for 22 years. She won £500 after entering a free prize draw run by the owners of the
Police have discovered the identity of a mystery man found lying unconscious in Laindon. Christopher Wahab, 28, was finally named by a pal after being discovered in Somercotes, Basildon, at around 6.50am on Monday morning. He was initially taken into
Firemen tried in vain to save the dog of a former colleague when they were called to a house in Great Wakering. Nine-year-old border collie, Patch, was found unconscious in the upstairs of the house in Lee Lotts. Retired fireman Roger Sampson, 56, and
Post Office staff cowered behind the counter in fear when a youth strode into the Basildon store brandishing a sawn-off shotgun. Detectives were today seeking witnesses to the attempted raid which happened in Timberlog Lane just before lunch yesterday
Staff at Southend airport are to work to rule as a bitter row develops over contracts. Firefighters, refuellers and warehouse staff are furious that pay increases are being used as a lever to make them do more work. GMB Union spokesman Gerry Graham claimed
