A special Islamic peace day is to be held in Southend just over a week after Northern Alliance fighters entered into the Afghanistan capital of Kabul. But there are fears that members of the right-wing British National Party may cause trouble at the meeting
Staff at courier giant DHL's Basildon Service Centre have swapped their familiar trucks and vans for push bikes in a bid to raise money for charity. On their bikes - DHL staff got back in the saddle to raise money for Childline The team, consisting of
Arable farmer James Jolly is following in his father's footsteps by becoming new chairman of Maldon and Southminster National Farmers' Union. Not only is his dad, John Jolly a former chairman of the branch but he is also coming to the end of a two-year
Southend's business community is back with a bang - that's the verdict following the Echo's Southend Business Awards 2001. Party on - On-Line Financial management A record-breaking 510 people poured into the Cliffs Pavilion earlier this month to celebrate
Fines and costs totalling nearly £20,000 were imposed by a judge on Friday for exposing people to the risk of asbestos at Danbury Conference Centre. A carpenter and people using the library at the Centre in August 1998 were exposed to dangerous brown
Basildon-based BAE Systems Avionics Group has revealed the role it expects to play in the world's biggest ever defence deal. The company, based in Christopher Martin Road, was part of an Anglo-American group led by US defence giant Lockheed Martin that
City will go into next weekend's clash with league leaders Crawley Town in good heart, despite Saturday's defeat at Weymouth which gave the Clarets their sixth successive league and Cup defeat away from New Lodge. With Danny Hockton only meriting a place
A report on conservation work being undertaken within the Epping Forest district has been released by the council. The annual report completed by Epping Forest Country Care includes details of a variety of projects including various project being undertaken
"Very cold and very slimy" were Christine Gallant's words after she let children throw custard over her for charity - not once, but twice. Custard caper - Christine Gallant gets soaked. Picture: STEVE BRADING (18324-a) The event for Children in Need was
Essex farmers have been urged to help themselves forge a better future by joining forces and using up-to-date technology, in a speech given by the Government's rural recovery co-ordinator Lord Haskins. Addressing some of the issues affecting the 150 farmers
A man who had not been clean shaven for 20 years had his beard lopped off for charity. Tony Watson, a customer account advisor at the Woolwich open plan call centre in Jackson Road, Clacton, faced the razor as part of a day of fundraising events for Children
Hysteria hit Basildon town centre when soap star Michael Greco was whisked away by police after being mobbed by crowds of over-excited teenagers. Switched on - EastEnders star Michael Greco switches on the Basildon Christmas lights. Picture ELISE GOW
The manager of a shopping centre has rejected the notion that his precinct is run-down. And Roger Southam, manager of the Newlands Centre in Witham, has hit out at Braintree Council for not co-operating with his company's efforts to improve the area.
Wind turbines standing more than twice as high as the Jumbo water tower could be set up in Colchester to help the town generate its own power. Each year Colchester homes and businesses use 75 megawatts of electricity. Calls have now been made for the
Cash from the East of England Development Agency could help the troubled fishing industry in Southend and Leigh, it was revealed today. A grant of £75,000 has been negotiated by the economic regeneration team at Southend Council. It will fund a project
Harry Potter mania has well and truly cast its spell at a mid Essex school. Children and staff at Powers Hall Junior School, in Spa Road, Witham, had a wizard time when they dressed as characters from the film and books for Children in Need. And they
Giant-killers Canvey Island have home advantage to face Northampton Town in the second round of the FA Cup. The Ryman Pemier Division outfit pulled off a shock result at the weekend by defeating nine-man Wigan Athletic 1-0. Southend United will face an
Giant-killers Canvey Island have home advantage to face Northampton Town in the second round of the FA Cup. The Ryman Pemier Division outfit pulled off a shock result at the weekend by defeating nine-man Wigan Athletic 1-0. Southend United will face an
Opening Essex batsman Darren Robinson is among a group of players who have yet to commit themselves to the county next summer. The right-hander, together with pacemen Ricky Anderson and Ashley Cowan - plus middle order batsman Stephen Peters - on Friday
Staff at courier giant DHL's Basildon Service Centre have swapped their familiar trucks and vans for push bikes in a bid to raise money for charity. On their bikes - DHL staff got back in the saddle to raise money for Childline The team, consisting of
Colchester United 0-0 York City (FA Cup 1st rd) Southend United 3-2 Luton Town (FA Cup 1st rd) Southend United have successfully negotiated a path to the second round of this season's FA Cup, but Colchester United face a nerve-wracking replay after being
Perhaps the greatest indication of the success of the bottled water industry is that those who find the very idea of selling the stuff of life absurd - once the overwhelming majority - are now forced to keep their doubts to themselves, terrified of being
Colchester Paras today insisted they were primed to go in to Afghanistan, despite claims delicate negotiations had delayed their departure. Sources claim the delay has come amid fears about how the crack troops would be received by Northern Alliance forces
Concerns have been raised over mental health patients undergoing prison sentences with no back-up from support teams or continuing care. Staff at the Colchester branch of the mental health charity Mind have spoken out following the jailing of a 32-year-old
A leading car auctioneers has pledged to work with police in their battle to stop the number of cars being abandoned on Tendring's roads. The pledge, by Manheim Car Auctions, which has a site at Frating, follows a crackdown by police as part of Operation
Fears for the safety of frontline staff in Southend's Benefit Agency has prompted union officials to lobby for protective screens to remain in place, it emerged today. Government proposals are in the pipeline for benefit agencies and job centres to merge
A school is calling for help after costs for tests into a mystery gas swallowed a third of their emergency funds. So far St George's Infants School in Colchester has had to pay £10,000 of the £12,000 test costs, eating into their contingency funds. It
The first flight in an aeroplane can be a nerve-wracking experience at the best of times, let alone in the climate of nervousness and anxiety that pervades since the events of September 11. Free-falling - Chad Gray But Chad Gray, head of technical services
Wind turbines standing more than twice as high as the Jumbo water tower could be set up in Colchester to help the town generate its own power. Each year Colchester homes and businesses use 75 megawatts of electricity. Calls have now been made for the
Dave Rainford's cry of anguish seconds after the final whistle was a graphic illustration of the despair felt by Grays and their supporters. Never had there been a better opportunity for Blues to reach the FA Cup second round, but being favourites in
Cash from the East of England Development Agency could help the troubled fishing industry in Southend and Leigh, it was revealed today. A grant of £75,000 has been negotiated by the economic regeneration team at Southend Council. It will fund a project
Perhaps the greatest indication of the success of the bottled water industry is that those who find the very idea of selling the stuff of life absurd - once the overwhelming majority - are now forced to keep their doubts to themselves, terrified of being
Ipswich Town FC have responded to fans' criticisms over tickets for the UEFA Cup date in Italy with Inter Milan. A number of supporters booked flights and hotel accommodation without buying tickets, presuming availability would not be a problem. Director
Wivenhoe Town fell to their worst home senior defeat 9-1 against an on fire Leatherhead side. The main instigator of the home team's torment was former Leyton Orient and Exeter player Alex Inglethorpe who bagged five goals. Inglethorpe looked head and
This must rank as the weekend from hell for Ipswich Town. As if slipping to a second consecutive home defeat was not depressing enough, the Blues also suffered body-blows in the shape of long-term injuries to Marcus Stewart and new signing Ulrich Le Pen
A new council service is forging ahead in a drive to clean up the streets of Thurrock. For the last six months, members of Thurrock Council Street Cleaning Team have carried out a full road sweep and gully cleaning operation in a number of areas around
FA Cup first round wins have been almost as rare in recent seasons for Colchester United as goalless draws. History-maker - Dean Morgan (right) became the first U's player to feature in FA Youth Cup and FA Cup games for Colchester in the same week. Picture
Distraught parents today paid an emotional tribute to their "vivacious, outgoing" daughter who died following a horrific road smash. Joanna Martinson, 19, was critically injured after she apparently lost control of her Suzuki Vitara jeep and crashed it
Setting up a new company to run Basildon Council's housing stock would cost council tenants £500,000, it has been revealed. This is one of the factors both councillors and officers have to weigh up as they consider whether to bring in a scheme on council
Residents of a problem-plagued estate are so sick of graffiti they are buying their own cleaning kit to scrub up after vandals. The plan for the High Woods estate, Colchester, is just one launched by a new task force set up to tackle nuisance behaviour
Essex is leading the country in the battle to claw back Britain's training deficit with its international competitors. A total of 533 organisations across the county - one of the best figures in the country - have now achieved Investors in People recognition
Incinerators to get rid of Essex waste are almost inevitable. That is the warning to the Government from the county's executive councillor for waste management Kay Twitchen. However, unless Whitehall stumps up the cash it promised councils to fund the
Political leaders were today at a loss to explain the mystery of a missing councillor. Chris Bacon, Labour district councillor for Braintree West, has not attended meetings since June. It is believed he has gone to Singapore but even his party and the
Hundreds of pre-school children with learning difficulties have been helped by the Witham Child Development Unit, which marked its 30th anniversary last week. Pictured with nursery nurse Jackie Walker and Dr Joyce Brown are Emily Baker and Lawrence Eastell
A Chelmsford management services company which lists clients such as Marks and Spencer, Nissan and P&O Stena Line, is claiming the credit for an upswing in teacher recruitment. EWA, which works out of Tattersal Way in the county town, also handles
Animal-lovers are urging motorists to kill their speed after a number of deer were mown down on a country road. Distressed neighbours in Weald Road, Brentwood, are calling for a 30mph speed restriction and more deer warning signs following the carnage
Essex farmers have been urged to help themselves forge a better future by joining forces and using up-to-date technology, in a speech given by the Government's rural recovery co-ordinator Lord Haskins. Addressing some of the issues affecting the 150 farmers
A man whose evidence helped snare gay killer Colin Ireland today warned against his early release. Andrew Harris said he would fear for his own life if Ireland is released from prison early because of changes in the law being thrashed out by European
Double Dutch. That's how a family announced the birth of its two most welcome additions. Double Dutch - the two Dutch families and their new arrivals. For brothers Peter and Gary Dutch became first-time fathers within four days of each other when their
The use of the number 13 in house numbering schemes is presenting Chelmsford borough councillors with a dilemma. No unlucky thirteen, please: Vincent and Angela Bellam outside their current number 14 home. They were being asked to decide last night whether
Canvey Island's giant-killing exploits in the FA Cup have hit the headlines for the second season in a row thanks to this last-gasp away win at Wigan. Gulls made of light of the fact they were without their inspirational skipper Steve Tilson to outwit
