The next battle in the war against a new pub being allowed to come into Billericay will be fought at Basildon magistrates' court next week. On Wednesday January 31 magistrates will consider Whitbread's application for a licence to establish a Hogs Head
A man involved in a fatal road crash has been jailed for 18 months. Raymond Gray took a corner too fast and was involved in a collision with an oncoming car, killing the driver. At the time, 34-year-old Gray was in a bad temper as he had argued with his
Tributes have been paid to a "popular" and "hard-working" 18-year-old who died suddenly at a party. Former teachers and employees have spoken affectionately of Anthony Rand, who died last week after apparently choking, leaving family and friends devastated
A house fire which killed a reclusive mother and her young son was probably started by the boy playing with matches, an inquest heard. The bodies of Hayley Pyatt, 29, and her six-year-old son Marco were found by firefighters who broke into their home
Pupils from a closure-threatened Braintree school will not be guaranteed new places in the town, it has been claimed. Elwyn Bishop, district councillor for the Braintree ward, which includes Chapel Hill, and a member of the county council's education
Harwich's cash-strapped Ark Family Resource Centre has been forced to axe a mother and toddler group in a bid to save money. Fundraising efforts have been stepped up since it was revealed the Main Road centre was facing a cash crisis and could have to
Police are hunting a hit-and-run driver who reversed to take a look at his victim before driving off. A man, who is believed to be in his sixties, was hit by the van as he crossed busy Baxter Avenue in Southend. The van then stopped and the driver reversed
When the basketball fixtures were published before the start of the season, the news that Leopards would play Edinburgh Rocks on a Friday night ensured that a number of Leopards fans would be denied the chance of seeing the team compete in Scotland. Not
The Ongar mother-of-two whose husband was paralysed by a falling tree during last October's storms and floods has spoken of her family's determination to stay in the town. Following an appeal for readers to help trace a Good Samaritan who comforted Neil
Cheques worth a bumper £8,000 made out to Brentwood Borough Council have been lost in a bungle by the Brentwood High Street branch of HSBC bank. The error was revealed after hundreds of residents received letters last week asking them to write new cheques
A mystery benefactor has given a marvellous boost to cerebral palsy sufferer Katie Mathews, 14, with a donation that could reach £8,000. Katie's mother Ann has been desperately trying to raise £22,000 for a specially adapted vehicle, so her daughter can
A £750,000 scheme to build a new football ground and clubhouse is on the cards for a mid-Essex club. Members of Hatfield Peverel football club, which plays its senior games in the Essex Intermediate League, have set up a special committee to handle the
Matt Holland is desperate to put one over on international team-mate Niall Quinn when Ipswich Town and Sunderland lock horns in the FA Cup. The Blues skipper and Quinn have become good friends since Holland forged his way into the Republic of Ireland
A rider who was taking on the world's best last summer will lead Arena-Essex to what hopefully will be a successful 2001. Shaun Tacey has been signed from Elite League side Coventry where he had a useful average of just under 5.5. He first came to prominence
Birthday boys Steve McGavin and David Gregory will be going flat out to earn a belated present with victory against struggling Oxford United at the Manor Ground. McGavin, 32 on Wednesday, and Gregory, 31 on Tuesday, are in the Colchester United squad
Celebrations got under way in Wickford and Billericay as two elderly residents reached the milestone of 100 years. To mark the exceptional event Basildon District Council presented a bunch of flowers to centenarians Edith Andrews, of Perry Street, Billericay
Some of Basildon's poorest families may be hit by a homeless tax to help bail out the council's £1.2 million housing revenue deficit. Basildon Council's housing committee was last night (Thursday) due to take the first step towards levying an "administration
Cannabis should be legalised immediately, according to the Liberal Democrats' choice to fight the Castle Point seat at the next General Election. Billy Boulton, who is due to be officially selected as the party's prospective parliamentary candidate for
