Pig farmers in Essex are facing mounting bills for feeding livestock which has not been sold on yet because of bans on moving pigs after the outbreak of swine fever at five farms in East Anglia. Nigel Rowe, the chairman of the Colchester branch of the
Residents are living in fear of boy racers terrorising their Colchester estate. It is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed by speeding drivers tearing up and down the narrow streets, according to community leaders. David
Detectives released more details of the gunman they are hunting for the cold-blooded shooting of Ron Fuller. His killer sped away on a moped or scramble bike bearing L-plates. A postmortem, carried out late on Tuesday, found that the bullets used were
House prices in Southend have rocketed in the past year and those in fashionable Leigh have increased by as much as 20 per cent, it has been revealed. Leading estate agent Dedman property services revealed the average price of a home across the Southend
Preliminary investigations into a freak accident where a competition official was hit on the head during an athletics meeting have found no fault. Norman Stang, 58, of Stane Fields, Marks Tey, remained in a critical but stable condition on Thursday at
Bosses at Canvey's Kings Club were today celebrating after securing a live performance by one of the biggest dance names in the charts. Staff were busy preparing for hundreds of fans who were flocking to the Hindles Road nightspot tonight to catch a glimpse
English Schools' 200 metre champion Kim Wall narrowly missed out on a medal in the 400m at the Norwich Union AAA Under-20 Championships in Bedford. Kim, who runs for Basildon Athletics Club, claimed fourth place in the sunshine in an event that also doubled-up
A campaigner has called for traffic-calming measures on a busy road after a teenager died in an accident. David Conway, of Ashingdon Road, Ashingdon, says new safety measures are needed. Bradley Rayner, 15, of Barry-more Walk, Rayleigh, was walking along
Bomb disposal experts blew up a World War Two shell found at low tide off the Thorpe Bay coast. Police say they were first contacted on Sunday when a member of the public noticed the object while out walking during low tide. The shell was safely blown
Motorists were left fuming after yet another rush-hour snarl up on Basildon roads meant long queues and heated tempers. New lights at the junction between Eastmayne, the Nevendon Road and the A127 Arterial Road meant a huge queue of traffic at rush hour
A 79-year-old retired doctor has completed a sponsored climb up Ben Nevis ... despite having three artificial joints. Dr 'Sandy' Sandiland from Orsett has raised more than £1,000 for charity by scaling Britain's highest peak in a marathon nine-hour climb
More than 400 patients needing operations at Basildon Hospital don't appear on the official waiting list, it has been revealed. They don't figure on the list because they are unable to undergo surgery straight away, officials have admitted. But the hospital
Brazen burglars took £5,000 of jewellery from a pensioner while she watched television. The pair called at the 75-year-old's home in Field Way, Wivenhoe, and found the front door unlocked. They sneaked inside at about 4pm on Wednesday and raided the woman's
A generous bequest from a Leigh yachtsman will form a significant chunk of the £500,000 bill for a new lifeboat station on Southend Pier. RNLI bosses have revealed the cost of the project was being largely met by the generous donation of Peter Royal.
TV celebrity Denise van Outen pleaded guilty to driving at nearly double the speed limit in her VW Beetle and was warned she faces a ban. The 25-year-old Basildon celebrity admitted the offence by letter and did not appear at Beaconsfield Magistrates
A woman and her teenage daughter were forced to sleep rough in Belgium after a coach party left them stranded without their passports. Patricia Harris of The Chilterns, Southend, treated her 14-year-old daughter Samantha to a day trip in Bruges but lost
In the first few days of the season Ben Embery's new look Braintree team have experienced the harsh realities of life in division one of the Ryman League. Following the dream start with a scoring spree at Walton & Hersham, Iron were soon brought down
Sue Waller enjoyed double success at the Westcliff Lawn open junior tournament. The Cranston Park player won the under-18 and under-16 girls' singles titles on Saturday. She defeated the host club's Frankie Hickland 6-2 6-3 in the under-18 final and saw
Colchester United boss Steve Whitton has shrugged off the latest speculation that the U's are ready to sell man-of-the-moment Lomana Tresor Lua Lua. "Lomana's not for sale at any price right now," said Whitton. "He's our player and that's how I want it
Basildon athlete Steven Surety is following in his father's footsteps this weekend by running the 400m hurdles for England against France, emulating his dad Christopher who did exactly the same nearly 40 years ago. Steven 20, from Langdon Hills, is making
Chelmsford City manager Gary Bellamy is set to further strengthen his championship chasing squad with the addition of two new players within the next few days. Determined to keep up the pressure on his existing players and ensure competition for places
Billericay Town will be without striker Richard Dunwell on Saturday as they attempt to continue their Ryman League Premier Division unbeaten run with victory at a Carshalton side yet to achieve their first three-point tally. Dunwell, captured from Enfield
Ipswich Town chairman David Sheepshanks was at the centre of a health scare after he was rushed to hospital with breathing problems. The club today (Friday) said the 47-year-old businessman was recovering well after he suffered complications from a sporting
Chelmsford Chieftains have added three further players to their squad for the forthcoming 2000/2001 English National Premier League campaign. Canadian Scott Stephenson has signed on the dotted line and will bring two years' British National League experience
A boat involved in an infamous murder trial is to be auctioned off in September. The Lady Jane became a focal point in the trial of Albert Walker, of Little London Farm in Woodham Walter, near Maldon, who was convicted of murdering his business associate
New parking signs on Holland Marshes to prevent travellers stopping have failed - as the caravans are in the wrong place. Essex County Council recently put down new road restrictions on the marshes so vehicles could not park there for any length of time
Urgent action is needed to stop areas of St Anne's, Colchester, being an eyesore for the majority of residents. Dumped rubbish, abandoned furniture and cars, overgrown gardens, rubbish fires and noise are a constant problem around Frank Clater Close,
A £2.1 million overhaul of Colchester Council's IT system has been dubbed one of the most important moves the organisation has ever made. Colchester Council's five-man cabinet has decided to refer a new IT strategy to the full 60-strong council. The new
Changes to key bus routes in Chelmsford are about to come into force. Buses running along New London Road away from the town centre will now go straight across Parkway instead of having to loop round the Odeon roundabout. A new stop has been put in on
THE number of lizards hiding out on a building site could reach into the hundreds. Experts patrolling land at Nether Court, Halstead, have already discovered more than 100 of the reptiles. Barratt got the go-ahead two weeks ago to build more than 50 homes
ONE of the first football fans to face a travel ban under new laws has had his case adjourned for two weeks. Mark Dalziel, 35, of Britten Close, Greenstead, Colchester, received notification of Essex Police's application 14 hours before his appearance
Up to 60 asylum seekers could be given temporary housing in Braintree. If agreed by Braintree Council's community committee, 14 housing units at Craig House, Manor Street, would be set aside to house asylum seekers. Each unit could house a family or a
A 32-year-old man was left with broken bones after being in collision with a Thamesway bus in Thundersley. The accident happened at around 4.30pm on Thursday when the pedestrian, who has not been identified by police, was walking along Kiln Road, near
A window fitter who started his own business only six months ago has had his shop window smashed for the second time. Dickie Bird , 44, who owns Sunrise Windows and Doors in Old Road, Clacton, arrived to find a 7ft by 4ft laminated window at the front
A disabled man, two women in their 80s and another in her 90s were targeted by conmen who stole from four homes in the space of an hour. Police have issued an urgent warning to the vulnerable and elderly living alone. Four victims in Clacton, Thorpe,
Wivenhoe lead the local FA Cup charge when they travel to Wingate and Finchley in the competition's preliminary round. The Dragons, unbeaten in the league, will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing midweek reverse at promotion rivals Marlow.
Police are hunting burglars who struck six times at shops within yards of each other in Braintree. The raiders targeted premises in the main shopping area during the Bank Holiday weekend spree. They stole cash from Bernard Chapman Florists in Bank Street
An unconscious woman was rescued by firefighters from her smoke-logged flat after a blaze started in the kitchen. The 27-year-old woman was found hanging from a window when crews arrived at the home in Hayes Road, Clacton, at 8pm Tuesday night. Sub officer
A long awaited road helping link Braintree to a new retail area is to open. The road from Railway Street to Lakes Road, completing the new links between the town centre, Freeport Designer Village and the A120, will open on September 4. It is hoped the
Stolen goods are to be returned to their owners as part of a pioneering shop hunt campaign by police. Basildon Police are set to tour secondhand shops and scan goods for postcodes. Any postcodes found will be traced and goods proved to be stolen will
Questions remain unanswered for the family of a man who lay down on a woodpile and set fire to himself. Eric Reading, a 56-year-old tree surgeon, doused himself in petrol at his timber yard in Small Gains Lane, Stock, on July 5, an inquest heard. A petrol
John Main has been officially booted off the board of Southend United, despite fans' support for the disputed Blues chairman at an extraordinary general meeting. Three hours of intense debate on Wednesday at Boots and Laces ended in a show of hands which
Hundreds of pounds have been spent on a clean-up campaign after a group of travellers were evicted from a succession of sites across Billericay. Basildon District Council claims it cost around £500 to deal with the rubbish dumped at Hannakins Farm Community
Murder squad detectives have revealed they are not linking the killing of a Grays man to the shooting of two door staff in Essex. Ex-bouncer Ron Fuller, 30, was gunned down at point-blank range on the doorstep of his home in Parkside, Grays, on Tuesday
Detetective have stepped up their hunt for a callous conman who preys on the elderly in Basildon. In the latest incident the man befriended a pensioner outside the Gala Bingo Hall in Southernhay, Basildon. He promised the victim cheap cigarettes and agreed
A man thought to have poured lighter fluid over himself and set it alight has died in hospital. John Reynolds, 32, of Maldon, suffered 90 per cent burns after the incident in Cherry Garden Road, Maldon, yesterday morning. Emergency services were called
Belfairs' Kennedy Cup, a 36-hole medal, went to Ray Beadell (19). He followed up a first round 67 with an impressive 62 for 129. That gave him a seven-shot win over Mike Price, who had two steady rounds of 68. Bob Mace was third on 138 with Mace also
Wembley's twin towers will soon be just a fond memory, but football fans may yet be able to get their hands on a piece of the hallowed turf before the bulldozers move in. Colchester Youth Enquiry Service (YES) is one of a number of charities across the
SHENFIELD ... 120 all out, CHELMSFORD ... 121-3 (Chelmsford won by seven wickets) (Shepherd Neame Essex League Premier Division) In an Associated Media Base sponsored fixture, Chelmsford recorded their second win of the season, against Shenfield, at Chelmer
Star members of Southend Athletic Club have been hitting the headlines with record-breaking displays. In a British Milers' Club meeting at Solihull, 27-year-old Charlotte Cutler broke a 22-year-old club record set by the Barbara Lock. Charlotte shaved
Essex were forced to endure a hard day's labour as Glamorgan seized back the initiative on the second day of their vital promotion duel at Southchurch Park. Centuries from Michael Powell and Matthew Maynard carried the Welsh county to 360-6 to leave them
A football fan has been banned from attending any matches for a year after he ran onto the pitch and started kicking the ball during a game between Southend United and Brighton and Hove Albion. Brighton supporter Gary Syphus, of Tavy Close, Worthing in
Parents shopping in the busy Basildon town centre are being urged by police to keep a tight rein on their youngsters. Officers in the division's town centre police station are becoming increasingly concerned at the number of young children losing their
SHOPKEEPERS in Essex are warned to be aware of the law following an undercover trail which saw 13 shops out of 20 sell butane gas to a youngster. Trading Standards officers accompanied a 15-year-old young man to shops where the youth attempted to buy
Health bosses in mid-Essex are launching a major recruitment drive to boost the number of nurses and midwives. Mid Essex Hospital Services Trust hopes to tempt qualified nursing and midwifery staff back to work and give people who may be interested in
A railway company has refused to change the name of a train station which has caused confusion for a town's visitors. A request was put forward to change the name of Braintree station after many people got off at the Freeport Shopping Village - signposted
A Maldon councillor has called for action over what he says is the growing problem of rubbish being dumped in the countryside. Independent Brian Mead, who represents the Maldon North West area, is urging people to report anyone seen dumping rubbish in
A new day centre for people with mental health problems could soon be up and running on Canvey. The National Schizophrenia Fellowship has applied to Castle Point Council to turn an empty office building in Denham Road into a small centre for sufferers
The future of almost 50 employees at a printing company in Eastwood are secure after an eleventh hour takeover deal. Businessman Harry Hoy stepped in at 11am on Thursday to save the ailing Progressive Printing Company in Progress Road, which fell into
A crackdown on doorstep conmen has been intensified after a recent spate of bogus callers at pensioners' homes. Chelmsford Doorstep Initiative is having a publicity drive to again alert the elderly to tricksters who pose as policemen, roofers and utility
