Campaigners fed up with the authorities' apparent inability to clear land of illegally camped travellers have launched a petition to Prime Minister Tony Blair. Jacky Court, from Aveley, has been investigating the problems faced by landowners, the council
We have been asked to point out that the Bus Stop Bakery in South Walk, Basildon, is no longer owned by David Smith, who was jailed for two years fiddling £400,000 from the taxman. The shop was bought eight months ago by Gary and Christine Bernard and
A couple are hoping for a F.A.B wedding this month before they blast off to their own Tracy Island. Thunderbirds' fanatic John Rondeau and fiance Linda Barrett have planned the wedding with a twist on Saturday week. John, 46, will arrive at St Margaret's
Defiant Gary Grange has vowed to continue giving out ice creams from a hut on Frinton promenade - despite threats to close him down. Mr Grange, 42, has fallen foul of Tendring Council which leases him the building. He claims he is allowed to hire out
Toursit chiefs are keeping their fingers crossed after a record-breaking summer sizzler. As Britain baked, sunseekers flocked to the east coast resorts of Frinton, Walton, Clacton and Dovercourt to cool down. And while it was not the 91F recorded at Heathrow
A superb mirror carp of 22lb put a smile on the face of Lake Meadows regular Chris Potts when he landed a trio of big fish in a short evening session. Chris fished from the point where he tempted a twelve pounder with bread crust shortly after setting
Stanway Rovers' defender Kevin Lay is counting the cost of a moment of madness at Tiptree United in a pre-season friendly last night (Tuesday). Lay collided, following a tackle, with an advertising hoarding - one of only three in the ground, but in his
Canvey came away from their final match before Saturday's Essex Senior Cup final against Dagenham and Redbridge with honours even. A first half goal for Ryman Premier Gulls from Andy Jones gave Canvey the advantage at the interval before Berkhamsted substitute
Southend United boss David Webb believes tonight's (Wednesday's) Roots Hall friendly clash with First Division Gillingham will provide a good pointer for their season. Blues have only lost once in ten pre-season outings - against Premiership Leicester
Second-half goals by Scott McGleish and Ross Johnson were enough to defeat a strong Dagenham and Redbridge outfit. The Daggers featured former Luton Town striker Mark Stein and ex-Ipswich star Mark Brennan in their line-up last night (Tuesday). And not
Leicestershire have taken charge against Essex at Chelmsford's County Ground with an impressive batting display. At tea today (Wednesday), on the first day of the sides' four-day County Championship Division One match, the visiting side had reached 232
Canvey's Dean Macey insists he has nothing to fear from his rivals in the race to become decathlon world champion. On paper, the 23-year-old athlete has a difficult task on his hands in Edmonton next week against the big three of the decathlon world:
Most people only see one or two, but a Heybridge resident has witnessed three centuries of life. Lillian Lewis, who lives at Colne House, has celebrated her 103rd birthday, meaning she has lived through parts of the 19th, 20th and now the 21st centuries
There must be a public inquiry into growth at Stansted Airport - that was the demand from the Council for the Protection of Rural Essex this week. The group, made the plea following a meeting in Great Dunmow last Friday, when members were joined by representatives
There has been a spate of egg throwing incidents in the Maldon area recently. The most recent occurred in Frobisher Close at about 8pm on Saturday, when a group of youths were seen throwing eggs over different vehicles. At about 9.30pm on Thursday, somebody
James Scowcroft scored within minutes of his Leicester City debut after finalising a £3m move to Filbert Street. The former Ipswich Town midfielder wasted no time in opening his goal account for the Foxes, heading home in a 2-0 pre-season friendly success
Colchester United boss Steve Whitton has praised his striking duo that led the line so convincingly in the 2-0 win over Dagenham and Redbridge last night (Tuesday). Whitton said he was impressed with Scott McGleish's performance as he worked tirelessly
A woman has been ordered to carry out 140 hours of community service after admitting making false statements to obtain more than £17,000 in benefit. Caroline Kendle, 30, of Mill Road, Maldon, admitted 11 charges of making a false statement for the purpose
A man could be deported after he admitted possessing indecent pictures of young children. Julian Griffiths was caught with a "large quantity" of images downloaded from the internet after a computer was examined. Chelmsford Crown Court heard on Monday
Essex Police yesterday (Tuesday) launched their summer drink-drive campaign. The slogan is "Stopping for Another? It's Time To Take The Train," with the month-long campaign set in motion at Chelmsford Railway Station. First Great Eastern Railways is supporting
Convicted killer Jeremy Bamber's appeal against his conviction is due to go ahead in the new year. Judges at the Court of Appeal in London said on Monday that the appeal hearing should be held "as early as practicable in 2002". Lord Justice Rose, sitting
More than 100 firefighters battled the huge blaze which engulfed a tyre depot and badly damaged a Southend fish warehouse. It was believed the old tyre store in Beresford Road - next to Gilson's Fish Yard - also contained numerous poisonous gas canisters
A scheme to build four homes in a "horribly crowded" area has been passed, by one vote. The bid was to build four three-bed homes in Station Lane, Harwich. At last night's (Tuesday's) Tendring Council development control sub-committee councillors voted
No more plans will be put forward by architects planning a new future for Colchester's historic Jumbo water tower. Architect Simon Plater has had his two visions for Jumbo thrown out by Colchester Council. The building's owners Jumbo Colchester Ltd and
Train guards are squaring up to their c2c bosses again by staging another one-day strike today (Wednesday). The company has admitted it will only be able to run a quarter of its normal trains - meaning commuters can expect cramped, uncomfortable journeys
Four groups running community learning projects in Tendring have scooped more than £128,000. It is their share of a £1 million cashpot from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Essex. It is aimed at getting adults back into learning, improving literacy
The response to an appeal for information on the rape of a Colchester teenager in Ipswich has been disappointing, according to police. Police said the sight of a young woman crying on a bench near Ipswich Station should have stuck in people's memories
Essex Police has launched its summer drink-drive campaign, which promotes letting the train take the strain. On board is train company First Great Eastern, which will support the force as it reminds motorists of the consequences of drinking and driving
Astonished passersby called police after spotting two men having a midnight swim - in a Colchester town centre fountain. The pair were diving to the bottom of the Culver Square centrepiece just after midnight today (Wednesday) to grab handfuls of the
Hawkwell Athletic are hoping to put girls' football on the map in south-east Essex. The football club have applied to join up with Sport England as part of a nationwide plan to give the game a boost. Approved by the Football Association, the aim is to
Nabil Abidallah is hoping for an early birthday present when Ipswich Town face Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven. The midfielder turns 19 on Sunday - less than 24 hours after the European heavyweights arrive at Portman Road for a glamorous pre-season friendly
Justin Bishop has returned for Essex today (Wednesday) as the county take on Leicestershire in their Championship duel at Chelmsford. The 19-year-old seamer was left out at Northampton in the last match as skipper Ronnie Irani opted to go into action
The mystery of how a man died in a well may never be solved, an inquest has heard. The body of electrician Ashley Fricker was found after he disappeared two months earlier in the City. Mr Fricker, 21, of Rowan Grove, Aveley, went missing after being refused
Traffic issues in Witham will come under the spotlight at a public forum. Witham Town Council has arranged a town meeting on traffic issues on September 24. The date has been set after the council received 64 suggestions for traffic management from the
Thieves have stolen milk from an elderly couple's doorstep in Silver End. A couple in their 80s had two pints of milk taken from their doorway after their regular milkman noticed two boys hanging around his float early that morning. The pensioners, who
Multiple small-scale traveller sites should be found in Colchester rather than one big site, it has been claimed. The call comes amid discussions over what will happen to Essex County Council's traveller site in the Hythe. At present, Essex County Council
The future of Warley's Winifred Dell House is in question yet again after Essex County Council announced plans to review all services for the elderly. Last year, Brentwood councillors and residents plus Winifred Dell staff fought off proposals to sell
Schools across Essex are set to take in more than 150 overseas recruits in September in an effort to plug classroom gaps. The teachers, nearly half of the new recruits, have been taken on to help the teaching crisis gripping the county. Essex County Council
Castle Point has smashed recycling targets set for three years time. The borough notched up 18 per cent recycling last year - easily beating the target of 16 per cent set for 2003 and 2004. Health and housing director, Alan Longford, said: "We are in
A welfare charter to protect against the exploitation and abuse of horses in Thurrock has been adopted by the council. Thurrock Council's cabinet agreed the charter, created following an incident on the A13 near Grays in January which resulted in three
A village post office and shop is being given a new lease of life, thanks to its new owners. The business in East Mersea has been taken on by its next door neighbours, owners of Hasten's restaurant, Keith Nicholson and business partner Gillian Mills.
People living in an area of Colchester suffer from some of the biggest debt problems in Britain, research has revealed. Figures from the Consumer Credit Counselling Service put residents with a CO4 postcode, which includes Mile End, High Woods, St John's
Rescue boats patrolling Southend seafront rescued more than 24 people in the past few days as inexperienced swimmers flocked to the town's beaches. Crews patrolling the seven-mile stretch from East Beach at Shoebury to Two Tree Island in Leigh, were involved
This is the aftermath of a crash which police have blamed on cruisers racing along the A127. The passengers of the Ford Escort XR3i miraculously survived and are recovering in Southend Hospital. A 19-year-old Romford girl is in a critical condition with
Basildon District Council has come under fire after only one Billericay resident turned up to a meeting aiming to consult local people on the future shape of the town. The workshop style meeting entitled Where Do We Build in Billericay? was designed to
Firefighters cut two drivers free from their cars after they were involved in a head-on crash near Southend seafront - the second in a matter of hours. Both men were taken to Southend Hospital with suspected spinal injuries after the collision in Eastern
Seven people died in a weekend of horror and tragedy on the roads of Essex. A 57-year-old man from Ongar died in his Vauxhall Astra at Norton Heath on the A414 after a collision with a camper van on Sunday afternoon. A young Colchester woman died after
A pensioner was left on the roadside after being injured in a hit and run incident. Police are searching for the lorry driver involved in the collision with cyclist Evan Roberts. The 66-year-old retired man was pedalling along Langford Road towards Hatfield
Around 8,200 homes and businesses were left without electricity twice in three days following two massive power cuts. The double whammy hit the same properties in Brentwood, Great Warley, Navestock, Pilgrims Hatch, South Weald, Harold Hill, Gidea Park
The Green Party is calling for Braintree councillors to say "No" to a new Eastern route for the A120 between the town and Marks Tey to prevent the more damage to the countryside. Councillors James Abbott and Phil Hughes say the council should back improvements
A nine-year-old boy stumbled across a drunken intruder who fled with cash from the family home. The man entered the house in Main Road, Dovercourt, through a door which was closed, but unlocked, and appeared to fall asleep in the lounge. When the boy
Copford Primary School has been highly praised by Ofsted inspectors. It was described as "a very good school with some excellent features" and significant improvements have been made since its last inspection four years ago. There was praise for provision
A GP has told how she was forced to prescribe high-dosage cocktails of drugs to addicts because lesser doses would have had no effect. Dr Madeline Pretty defended her action in prescribing tablets - including pain-killers and tranquilisers - to patients
Train operators Anglia Railways and First Great Eastern have been praised for the compensation given to unhappy customers. The survey carried out by consumer magazine Which? placed Anglia Railways and First Great Eastern, which serve the line from London
An incident in which medical records were left lying around a disused hospital has been branded "inexcusable, unacceptable and indefensible". An urgent inquiry was launched after confidential medical files were found scattered at the derelict St Mary's
Motorists face traffic chaos after a huge hole appeared in the middle of a major route through Dovercourt. Engineers discovered a sewer had collapsed in Main Road, and the road was in danger of collapsing into it. A 20ft-wide hole has now been dug and
Essex will have its own digital account of the county's history after it was awarded a £300,000 Lottery grant. Essex is to use its share of a £1.2m National Lottery New Opportunities Fund award as part of a consortium with Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and
A couple who want to live and work on Maldon's waterfront have defended their plans. Homes are not allowed in the protected area, according to the Maldon District Council's local plan, but yesterday (Tuesday) a public inquiry began into the application
Essex managed to take just one wicket before Leicestershire posted a three-figure score in their County Championship match at Chelmsford. By lunch today (Wednesday) Leicestershire had made 104-1 at the County Ground, Chelmsford. Only the wicket of Trevor
Detectives are hunting an armed robber who fled on a motorcycle after raiding Fobbing post office with a sawn-off shotgun. The man escaped with hundreds of pounds after he threatened a postmistress with the gun at the store in High Road at around 9.15am
An 11-year-old girl butted a man in the head after he molested her in a bush. The man struck at Southchurch Hall Park, Southend, when the young girl was playing with a friend. They were approached by the man who started stroking the girl on her face and
The successful recycling trial covering 9,000 homes in Witham is to be extended to cover 2,200 homes Kelvedon and Feering during the next two weeks. The Braintree Council eight-strong new executive has already announced it is also committed to extending
Intrepid sailor Stuart Hill has told how his solo round-Britain trip was progressing well - despite sailing into an RAF bombing zone. Mr Hill, 58, of Maltings Wharf, Manningtree, is in anchor north of Hartlepool after strong winds forced him ashore. On
A Witham firm may close with the loss of up to 120 jobs. There is speculation that JDS Uniphase, which has three units on the Eastways industrial estate, is proposing to shut its fibre optics production in the town. An agenda for an employees' meeting
A distraught teenager found out her father had died - in a letter from the Child Support Agency. Jackie Walsh, 42, of Fairmead Avenue, Westcliff, received a frank notice from the agency telling her back maintenance for her 18-year-old daughter, Lindsay
Essex and Suffolk Water has achieved a five star rating for customer service from the watchdog Ofwat. A report from the regulatory body compares water company performance across a range of categories, including supply interruptions and response to customer
There were a number of vandalism incidents in the Fambridge Road and Cross Road areas in Maldon in the early hours of Sunday morning. One woman in Fambridge Road was woken at about 1.15am when she heard a bang. When she looked out she did not see anyone
A tyre warehouse which lay derelict in Beresford Road was an "accident waiting to happen", a resident claimed. John Dobson, 42, was evacuated from his flat by firefighters after flames ripped through the empty building, previously a father-and-son company
Hatfield Peverel Football Club Under 15's were presented at their home ground Strutt Memorial Park with their new strip for the coming season by their sponsor Mr Archie Christie of A J Christie Management. Mr Christie is keen for youth football and brought
The final of the County Inter-Club Bronze Shield was fought out in a nail-biting match between Braintree and Warley Park at Bentley Golf Club. From the beginning of April, 52 teams had competed for the bronze shield. Warley Park had been three times past
Hundreds of soccer fans soaked up the scorching sun at Southend United's Meet the Blues Day at Boots and Laces on Sunday. The main attraction was the launch of the Shrimpers' new 2001/02 navy blue home kit which was eagerly snapped up by supporters. And
A patient could be banned from receiving NHS treatment in Colchester after she was carried out of casualty shouting and swearing after abusing hospital staff. Lindsay Kilpatrick, 22, of no fixed address, was waiting to be seen at Colchester General Hospital's
A man's death from a blood clot after a long flight, could make legal history and help prevent similar tragedies. Fit, active, Nigel Walcott, of Benfleet, collapsed and died from deep vein thrombosis the day after an eight-hour flight from Barbados. The
A Midsummer Night's Dream has become a reality for clever kids at a Clacton summer school arts course. Some 40 able and gifted children from Tendring's three secondary and 20 primary schools are off to London on Thursday to see the open air Shakespeare
A burglar who raided one house and handled stolen goods from another has failed in his bid to get a five-year jail sentence reduced. Michael McCann, 33, of Melton Close, Clacton, had challenged the sentence handed down at Chelmsford Crown Court in January
Lakeside shopping centre in Thurrock has been controversially labelled the worst performing centre in the country in a new retail rent survey. And retail rents in Basildon town centre have slumped for the first time in six years, flying in the face of
The amount of reported crime at Basildon Hospital showed a drop last year, with the number of burglaries, thefts and assaults on the decrease. The total number of reported incidents during the 12 months to March 31 this year was 127, compared with 212
North Essex Health Authority said it will "watch with interest" as West Sussex Health Authority makes plans to send patients to Germany for hip replacement surgery. The move by the Crawley primary care group is aimed at cutting above average waiting times
It was a case of show me the way to go home when Charlie the disorientated racing pigeon had to be driven 180 miles back home. The bungling bird obviously had not read the chapter in A Racing's Pigeon's Guide to Homing Instinct and refused to budge from
A suspected arson attack sent £80,000 worth of digging vehicles up in smoke. The blaze engulfed equipment at a building compound underneath the Pheonix bridge on the A120 at Parkeston. Crews from Dovercourt Fire and Rescue were called at about 5.30am
A flyover or underpass to solve gridlock at a notorious traffic blackspot in Southend would cost £15m and mean the demolition of 50 homes. The figures, which include £5m paid out in compensation, would ease congestion at Southend's Priory Crescent and
Parents have been given an urgent warning after police said a girl could have been abducted in Great Totham. Officers are urging parents to tell their children to keep away from strangers after a 12-year-old was approached by a man. The girl was waiting
A new scheme for collecting discarded needles and syringes has been launched across the Uttlesford district. Members of the public can now report any sightings to a special 24-hour phone line, which will in turn activate a clean-up response. Darren Connew
Multi-million pound plans have been put forward to turn a former sports and social club into a private gym and fitness centre with swimming pool. The plans have just been lodged by Xpect Leisure Plc, which recently bought the Crittalls Sports and Social
Captain Calamity Stuart Hill is not one to give in easily. He has been beset with problems since attempting to sail round Britain single-handedly. This morning he was spotted by Coastguards sailing past the top to the Tyne, in the north of England - further
