A Wickford based website is celebrating its first anniversary after attracting global interest for Essex writers. More than 2,000 people have visited The Gloob website run by Bruce Bellringer from Church Road in Runwell. Mr Bellringer said visitors have
Bullies pinned down a nine-year-old boy and threatened to burn his ear off. The youngster was playing basketball when he was set upon in Witham. The boy's mum, who lives on the Templars Estate, claims three boys aged around 18 approached her son while
Jobs will be created with the building of a new hotel and pub in Boreham. Scottish and Newcastle Retail has confirmed that it will be investing £3.7 million in a 78-bedroom Premier Lodge hotel and Chef and Brewer pub on the site of farm buildings near
Hundreds of cars seized by Customs in a continuing crackdown on bootleggers will be sold off cheap. Bootleggers who try to bring back wine, beer and cigarettes through ports like Dover and Folkestone to sell on the black market could have their cars seized
The Marine Lake in Maldon's Promenade Park has been given the all-clear. It was shut a fortnight ago, when council officers suspected toxic algae was lurking in the water. Treatment has been going on for the past two weeks and were finished last night
Stanway Rovers' defender Kevin Lay is counting the cost of a moment of madness at Tiptree United in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday night. Lay collided, following a tackle, with an advertising hoarding - one of only three in the ground, but in his anger
Enterprising efforts to raise money by a Great Bentley teenager were bought to a halt after a complaint about his cash-boosting efforts. Luke Edwards, 14, needs to raise £3,000 for a trip to Venezuela to carry out aid work next summer. So he bought 200
Council tenants in South Woodham and Rettendon are to be balloted in the next fortnight on whether they want their homes transferred to a housing association. Proposals suggest the transfer of 7,000 homes, currently run by Chelmsford Borough Council,
John Easson, 48, of Frances Avenue, Chafford Hundred, Grays, has been acquitted of rape and indecent assault at Basildon Crown Court. Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Southend firefighters had to take a hose reel through a guest house to extinguish a smouldering bed and mattress. The furniture had been pushed out of a window into a courtyard to avoid anything else catching fire at the guest house in Hartington Road
A new processing plant is set to help businesses in Harold and across Havering save money. The plans were unveiled at a HSBC Business Plus Networking Lunch held in Harold Hill when a guest speaker from Cleanaway limited discussed the plans and the advantages
The anguished mother of Danielle Jones broke down after admitting that she believes her beloved daughter is no longer alive. Danielle, 15, disappeared just yards from her home in East Tilbury on Monday, June 18, as she set off for school. Since then,
A massive cash injection to cope with increasing numbers of homeless people has been agreed by Chelmsford borough councillors. The borough's executive board voted on Wednesday to put an extra £53,500 into the budget for bed and breakfast accommodation
Birthday treat - Essex chef Mark Baumann puts the finishing touches to a rather special birthday treat, a cake to mark the Queen Mother's 101st birthday this Saturday. Mark of Baumanns Brasserie, Coggeshall has made the cake, one of the largest ever to
Police are anxious to trace the mobile phone Danielle had with her at the time of her disappearance. It is known that a text message was sent from the phone a few hours after she went missing. They hope that by the Echo releasing a tape recording of her
As many as 600 new jobs are earmarked for Colchester as part of an insurance firm's aims to set up a new HQ in the town. News that insurance firm Rubicon plans to set up an HQ in the town comes just one year after Royal London announced it was axing a
Get more information on the Shepherd Neame Essex League PREMIER DIVISION Colchester & East Essex 191-7 Hadleigh & Thundersley 192-6 (Hadleigh won by four wickets) Shenfield 322-5 dec Hainault & Clayhall 170-9 (Match drawn) Gidea Park &
Colchester United may have to wait up to five years before it can move to a prestigious new stadium. Plans for the new community stadium in Cuckoo Farm, Colchester, are expected to be lodged with Colchester Council this autumn. But news that the club
Justin Bishop returned for Essex yesterday (Wednesday) as the county took 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
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
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 on Tuesday. And not even the
Young tennis star David Watson is making a real name for himself on the Southend junior scene. David, ten, only took up the sport last year but has already claimed three junior singles titles at Thorpe Bay Tennis Club. He won the club's ten, 12 and 14
Forget dogs nipping at his heels during deliveries - this milkman is more scared of cats. Leopard cub Karli has proved to be a most unusual customer for rounds to Southend Road, Rochford. Karli was hand-reared at the Great British Circus and laps up milk
A man who was blinded in a bomb blast during the Second World War has annouced plans to abseil down one of Southend's tallest buildings. Michael Worsley, 58, of Woodgrange Drive, Southend, is just one of 200 people who will be abseiling down Southend
Southend United clocked up a comfortable 2-0 pre-season win at Dr Marten's League Premier Division Cambridge City. Right-back Martyn Booty shot the Shrimpers into a first-half lead from the penalty spot after a Jason Harris cross had been handled in the
Shoebury golfer Richard McEvoy flies out tomorrow (Saturday) hoping to bring back amateur golf's greatest prize to British shores from America knowing that it is literally a once in a lifetime opportunity for himself. For, on his return home from hopefully
Steve Whitton has urged his Colchester United troops to show exactly what they're capable of in a pre-season friendly with First Division Wimbledon. The Dons - currently embroiled in controversy over their proposed relocation to Milton Keynes - have promised
Southend United boss David Webb has admitted he had no regrets leaving the club his side faces on Sunday - Yeovil Town. Webb quit the Huish Park outfit last October to take up the Roots Hall hot-seat for a third time and he said he has never looked back
All the ingredients are in place for what promises to be the most exciting Havering Show yet...and the whole of Harold is invited. The annual borough showcase is planned for Sunday August 26 and Monday August 27 at Harrow Lodge Park in Hornchurch and
A falcon owner fears a bird of prey which went missing while scaring off seagulls ten days ago may have been captured and caged by thieves. Carla, a one-year-old female Lanner falcon, vanished while working for pest control expert Mark Newman at a landfill
A family doctor facing 17 charges of indecent assault against women patients has been charged with five more alleged offences. Dr Abdullah Hoodbhoy , 57, of Long Road West, Dedham, was interviewed yesterday (Thursday) before being charged with five further
Tesco is "in the final throes" of preparing a long-awaited planning application for an ambulance station at its store on the A127. An exact date for the application has yet to be revealed, but it is hoped the plan for the Prince Avenue store will get
THREE hundred Colchester troops are taking part in a major Army exercise in Canada. The troops from 19 Regiment Royal Artillery are spending ten weeks providing artillery support to soldiers from the Welsh Guards and the Royal Staffordshire Regiment during
Jet skiers who speed across Canvey's bays are putting children's lives at risk, a swimmer has claimed. Bryan Bide, who owns Bryan's Corner Newsagents in the island's High Street, regularly swims off Canvey's shores and he is terrified one day a skier
Pensioners from Southend are taking to the streets for a mass rally. The Pensioners' Action Association (Essex region) is staging the event to focus attention on pensioners' issues. Marchers were due to assemble in Victoria Plaza Square, in Southend town
Evening Gazette paperboy Jack Chandler has been hailed a hero after he went to the rescue of an elderly woman. Jack, 13, was doing his round at Stuart Pawsey Court sheltered accommodation in Stanley Road, Wivenhoe, when the woman had a fall. He said:
England's 1966 World Cup hat-trick hero Geoff Hurst will be in Rayleigh later this month to sign copies of his new book. The former West Ham star smashed three goals past Germany at Wembley to earn England the prized cup. The revered star will be at Martin
Angry shopkeepers in Frinton have accused a beach trader of "creaming off" their earnings and threatening the image of the resort. They are upset Gary Grange is giving away ice creams from a hut on the promenade below Connaught Avenue and say it is badly
A commuter is furious to learn c2c will not compensate her for poor service during strike action. Kim Heard, 34, of Stornoway Road, Southend, was told she was not entitled to any payout for the reduced service caused by the industrial action. The Rail
Fireman Howard Singer is to swap his role and fight water rather than fire, when he attempts to stay under water for 24 hours. Howard Singer will attempt the task in a bid to raise money for the Fire Services' National Benevolent Fund. Today (Friday)
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
Disgruntled residents have demanded Royal Mail stamp out a second-class delivery service. For two years mail has been getting pushed through the wrong letterboxes in a mix-up between Park Road houses, in Dovercourt, and Park Court flats at the end of
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 on Tuesday night. Whitton said he was impressed with Scott McGleish's performance as he worked tirelessly up
Pupils and staff at Bocking Church Street Primary School are in mourning following the sudden and unexpected death of long serving deputy headteacher Pauline Hammond. Fifty-eight-year old Mrs Hammond, who leaves a widower, Norman, was taken by paramedics
Striker Dean Morgan was offered professional terms with Colchester United - and celebrated by plundering four goals against Wivenhoe. YTS trainee Morgan was given pro terms yesterday after impressing Whitton in pre-season. And the 17-year-old turned out
Thundersey King John School won three of the four Castle Point and Rochford District tennis doubles championships. Paul Gardner and Ben Barber, from year eight, won the junior boys trophy, with Michael Baynes (year eight) and Stefan Cox (year seven) beaten
Countryside Properties, the Warley housebuilder which linked up with a pop star to create prizewinning gardens, has done it again - and this time the boss was there to help them claim their prize. Having already picked up awards at the RHS Chelsea Flower
Witham's tourist information centre is hoping its revamp will encourage the public to use it more. New books, souvenirs, greetings cards and an improved security system have been installed in the past few weeks to help modernise the centre in Newland
Action is being taken to ensure a Colchester infants school opens for the autumn term. St George's Infants School has been shut since a mystery gas was discovered in June. Now Essex County Council is organising for ten temporary classrooms to be set up
If you have the face that could launch a thousand drinks, get down to Edwards bar in Chelmsford. The national bar chain, which has an outlet in Springfield Road, is running a nationwide competition with Storm, the modelling agency that discovered Kate
A drunken man walked into a police station, begged to be arrested and then swore at officers when they refused, a court heard. Francis Goodwin, 37, of Alexandra Road, Colchester, admitted being drunk and disorderly in a public place at Colchester court
Big Brother's music-mad contestant Dean O'Loughlin is coming to Essex. Dean 37, who crooned with his guitar intermittently on Channel 4's reality show, is set to wow crowds in the Virgin Radio Tent at the V2001 festival at Hylands Park, Chelmsford. Dean
Residents in Clacton were today (Friday) gearing up for a fight to prevent back-up plans for a temporary site for Clacton's new seconday school. Essex County Council has put in planning permission for land between Rush Green Road and Jaywick Lane as its
Jo Moorhouse talks to the mother of missing schoolgirl Danielle Jones to learn how the distraught family are coping with the disappearance of her 15-year-old daughter Danielle is a "very caring" girl who hopes to work with children and have a family of
A leading company handed £400,000 to Southend Council to improve road safety at an accident blackspot. KeyMed, in Stock Road, donated money and worked with the council to install central reservation fencing along the A1159 Royal Artillery Way. Group managing
GP Madeline Pretty wept as she was told she could keep her job - despite being found guilty of serious professional misconduct. She admitted handing out cocktails of drugs to addicts - one of whom later died - but pleaded with the General Medical Council
Simon Brown has made his strongest claim yet for the number one jersey after starring in Colchester United's latest friendly win. The U's defeated Nationwide Conference side Dagenham and Redbridge 2-0 on Tuesday night with Scott McGleish and Ross Johnson
Southend AC sprinter Sarah Wilhelmy goes to the world championships believing she has yet to show her true capabilities. The 21-year-old British 100m champion has qualified for Edmonton as part of the eight-strong 4x100m relay squad. But she is frustrated
Southend United battled to a creditable friendly draw with First Division Gillingham at Roots Hall. Young striker Daniel Webb lit up a low-key opening to the first-half with a well struck goal. And the Shrimpers could have put the game out of sight once
John McGreal has declared himself fit and ready for action ahead of Ipswich Town's glamorous pre-season friendly with PSV Eindhoven. The Dutch champions arrive at Portman Road on Saturday and McGreal, who has been struggling with a calf strain, is desperate
South-east Essex swimmers had their busiest day of the ASA National Age Groups championship yesterday (Thursday). Four swimmers contested six events at the Sheffield event but were unable to claim the accolade of being the first individual finalist from
A court case against a former Witham mayor accused of failing to declare a financial interest in a grant has been dropped. The charges against Michael Jones were dismissed yesterday after a court heard he was under no obligation to declare he had an interest
Nigerian target Finidi George has arrived in Ipswich to discuss a multi-million pound move to Portman Road. The Real Mallorca winger met Town boss George Burley last night and was due for a guided tour of the Blues' facilities today (Friday). A fee -
Darren Robinson and Stuart Law have made centuries to put Essex back into contention in their match Essex against Leicestershire in the County Championship. Having made 559 in their first innnings, Leicestershire had set an impressive target for Ronnie
Police and council officials were "chasing" a group of travellers around south Essex but admitted there was little they could do. The caravan families have now settled on their third site in just a few days this time on fields at Fryerns School in Craylands
There have been delays with rubbish collections across Chelmsford for a second week because of mechanical problems with up to eight of the council's 30 waste trucks. Special weekend collections will be dropped this weekend so the trucks can help with
Home moves are being delayed with some deals falling through because Braintree Council is taking twice the standard time to issue property searches. Searches carried out by the council are taking up to 22 working days to complete instead of the Charter
DETECTIVES investigating the rape of a 19-year-old Colchester woman spoke to more than 300 people in the area where the attack happened exactly a week after the rape. Twenty police officers talked to 366 people in the area near Ipswich railway station
