The campaign to restore a historic Leigh cockle boat to its former glory was today (Wednesday) snowballing. The Resolute, which took part in the Dunkirk evacuation, is slowly sinking in nettles in a boatyard on the Medway but there are now plans to restore
Fisherman Tony Talbot struck it lucky when he bit into a tasty meal of mussels. The 34-year-old first thought he had discovered a piece of shell when he came across something hard. Mr Talbot, of Point Clear, spat the object out and discovered it was a
The grim toll of deaths on Essex roads fell sharply in 2000. From January 1 to December 31, 2000, there were 82 fatal accidents in which a total of 86 people died, according to official police figures. That compares to 1999 when there were 100 fatal accidents
A special display of lights lit up in memory of loved ones who have died has been wrecked by vandals. The string of illuminations which poignantly graced a Christmas tree put up by St Clare's Hospice in Heybridge was slashed. The £500 decorations were
A child was showered with broken glass after youths hurled a stone through the window of a moving bus. The passengers - three children and one adult - were travelling on the number eight bus from Horkesley to Colchester. As the bus travelled along Nayland
Police are reconstructing the tragic hit-and-run accident which killed Basildon mum Tina Thorne for Anglia TV's Crime Night programme. Mrs Thorne's death will be featured in the first episode of the programme, to be screened on Anglia at 11.30pm on February
On Saturday Ipswich Town left the Portman Road turf to rapturous applause, basking in the glory of their most emphatic display of the season against Tottenham Hotspur. Two days later and the scene could not be more contrasting. Outclassed, outfought and
The fight against truancy in Southend was strengthened today (Thursday) thanks to a Government grant of more than £500,000. The money awarded to the town will help fund truancy sweeps where police or education welfare officers pick up youngsters who should
The plug has been pulled on a major youth festival planned for Leigh, it was announced today (Thursday). The outdoor event on Leigh Marshes was to have been a major coup for the town offering a platform for youth organisations to showcase their activities
An emergency control centre for council tenants and the elderly is to be given 12 months to shape up or be shut down under new proposals to cut costs. The centre at Westwood Court in Hadleigh runs several services for residents including a 24 hours a
The new year will see a new look for Basildon town centre with plans for a £500,000 facelift being unveiled. Town centre manager Jim Furnival has said the project is further evidence that the town is "on the up". The scheme, which is being implemented
Ryman League chairman Alan Turvey has confirmed that member clubs have given the go-ahead for a major restructuring of the competition. Also, the new set-up will come into effect for next season if formal proposals are passed at the annual general meeting
London Leopards bid for their first honours of the season when they take on Leicester Riders in the National Cup final at Sheffield Arena on Sunday. The two teams have met once already this term, with the Brentwood-based Leopards taking a healthy 107-
Homes and shops were without power in four villages near Colchester following a power fault. More than 2,000 homes and businesses were plunged into darkness shortly after 4pm yesterday (Wednesday) following a fault in an underground cable. A spokeswoman
Vandals have caused thousands of pounds of damage to a community hall, two schools and a children's play area in three separate attacks. They damaged a community hall after running amok through St Osyth, ripping pipes off the wall and smashing lights
Thurrock Sea Cadets have been given a lift from local firms in providing even more training for young people from Thurrock, Essex and Greater London. The cadets own the ex-Royal Navy minehunter HMS Iveston, berthed in Tilbury Docks as a training base.
Investigations are underway into a blaze which destroyed three beach huts in Dovercourt. Arsonists are being blamed for the fire near Harbour Crescent at about 5.40am on Monday. Police were alerted to the incident by firefighters, who were already at
A motorist has died in a two-car road accident on New Year's Day. The man, believed to be in his early 20s, was driving along the B1024 Colne Road in Earls Colne towards Coggeshall at about 6pm on Monday. His red Toyota Carina lost control on a right-hand
Residents of Great Baddow are up in arms over the erection of a temporary mobile phone mast. While most of the occupants of Dorset Avenue and Beehive Lane were dozing in front of the Christmas film, the mast was put up in the grounds of Marconi Athletic
The dates for Essex music festival V2001 have been provisionally confirmed. The summer event is set to take place at its usual Hylands Park venue in Chelmsford on the weekend of August 18 and 19. It is the sixth year the festival, which has been hailed
Two men have died in separate accidents on mid-Essex roads within hours. A 28-year-old man died after he fell off his moped in a three-vehicle accident on the A12 at its junction with the B1007 Chelmsford bypass at about 5.40pm on Tuesday night . A black
A mother-of-three has been found dead from a suspected drugs overdose at her Clacton home. Angela Rumsey, 32, was discovered by police at the property in Hadleigh Road. An employee of Essex Social Services called round to Miss Rumsey's home after she
Abandoned plans for an A12 link road in north Witham are back on the agenda. The Motts Lane link road project was dropped by Essex County Council in 1996 after it became clear Government funding would not be available. At present traffic and heavy trucks
Colchester United footballer Andy Arnott has revealed he is battling to save his professional playing career. The former Gillingham, Leyton Orient, Fulham and Brighton midfielder has been struggling to shrug off a long-standing groin injury and has been
Pub regulars in Westcliff got the rare chance to handle Olympic silver and bronze medals thanks to sporting hero Tracey Hinton. The blind paralympics athlete, from Cardiff, took her prized medals to show regulars at the Sherlock Holmes pub in Station
The firm which supplied specialist clothing to the doomed £4million Team Philips superyacht has revealed it spent £300,000 on the sponsorship deal over three years. However, Benfleet-based Musto said it remained upbeat despite the decision by team boss
Braintree Town boss Ben Embery has spoken of his frustration after his side's clash with Rothwell Town in the FA Umbro Trophy second round was postponed for the fourth time. The winners face a mouthwatering third round tie with either Enfield or Maidenhead
Chelmsford City's backroom team ran out of ice bags for players suffering from knocks and bruises after New Year's Day tough game at Baldock Town. But manager Gary Bellamy is hopeful all the players will have recovered in time for the Dr Martens League
George Burley has dismissed speculation linking Matt Holland with a multi-million pound move to Chelsea. The Ipswich Town midfielder is being touted as a possible replacement for Dennis Wise at Stamford Bridge. Wise still has two years left on his contract
Rod Harrington bowed out of this year's PDC Skol World Darts Championships when he suffered defeat in a thrilling semi-final against 1994 world champion John Part at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet on Tuesday. Harrington, 43, seeded number six for the championships
Round-the-world yachtsman Tony Bullimore was today (Thursday) heading for Gibraltar for emergency repairs to his catamaran, Team Legato. The boat, skippered by 62-year-old former Westcliff schoolboy Tony, developed a problem last night when a main link
Youngsters repeatedly playing a deadly game of climbing into tumble-driers have forced a launderette to close in the evenings. Groups of the teenagers were frequently going into Betty's Launderette in Hunwicke Road, Greenstead, Colchester, and climbing
Police have appealed for witnesses after a doorman was kicked and stamped on by eight men. The man, in his 30s from Maldon, was working at the Globe pub in Rainsford Road, Chelmsford, when he was set upon. The incident, which happened at about 7.45pm
