Dramatic new moves in the fight for a third road off Canvey have been unveiled. Dennis Williams, a leading Labour councillor, is launching a "people power" campaign in an attempt to win where politicians have failed. He is appealing for people to join
Chelmsford should have better drivers on its roads this summer thanks to a new course offered by a local group. And in a bid to encourage younger people to take part, the Chelmsford group of the Institute of Advanced Motorists is offering a discount to
A psychiatrist will be attending a meeting organised by Chelmsford and District Mind for the carers of people with eating disorders. The meeting is taking place on Wednesday May 8 in Chelmsford and the psychiatrist will be available to answer questions
Grays retained the magnificent silver galleon Essex Thames-side Trophy last night when they beat Ryman League Division Two hosts Tilbury in the final. Last season, Grays had triumphed by beating another Second Division outfit, Great Wakering Rovers, in
This bank holiday weekend sees the start of the Blackwater Joint Racing Committee (BJRC) series with the Smith Cup. The East Anglian Offshore Racing Association (EAORA) also stage their traditional opening races, the Pattinson Cup, from Burnham to West
St Martin's belltower was ringing out in Basildon today in honour of a much-loved servant of the church. The bells have been silent for some time because of a row over payment for the tower's construction by former rector Lionel Webber. But today they
Former Southend High School pupil Daniel Webb has got his sights set on First Division soccer with Brighton and Hove Albion next season. Daniel Webb -- is hoping to be a hit with Brighton in the First Division next season ZS9X585M The 18-year-old striker
A man has been robbed at knife point in Fairfax Drive, Westcliff. The 30-year-old was approached by two men as he walked along a secluded path on Friday, April 26. One produced a knife and demanded the victim hand over his wallet containing £60, photographs
The great-great-grandson of artist John Constable has added his voice to the debate over plans to reopen navigation in the River Stour in Constable country. The artist's descendant, who is also called John Constable, spoke out at the annual meeting of
Jazz fans in Ongar are being invited to attend an evening of gospels and spirituals performed in the rarefied setting of St Martin's Church. The concert - billed as 'Jazz on a Summer Evening' - is only the second event of it's kind ever to be staged at
Police are appealing for witnesses to an assault in Southend in which a teenager received a fractured skull. The 17-year old boy was walking under the railway bridge in Southend High Street when he was pulled to the floor. He was taken to Southend Hospital
Maldon Little Ship Club's (MLSC) annual Boxing Day rowing race last year raised just over £9,500 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). At a special presentation in Madon on Sunday a cheque for the full amount was handed over to Mrs Stella
A toddler escaped with cuts to his hand after tripping onto a pile of broken glass from a vandalised phone box. Brave - little Thomas Summers shows his injured hand. Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL 9PDTV2 Little Thomas Summers, two, was left shaken and upset
Ambulance staff in Essex are threatening to strike unless a deal can be found on overtime pay. Public service union Unison gave the stark warning to Brian Goodwin, chairman of the Essex Ambulance NHS Trust. It is also considering taking the trust to court
Thieves ransacked a store at a village cemetery - causing £1,000 damage and making off with equipment worth £800. Cemetery break-in - parish councillor John White with the damaged alarm system at the parish council's store, from where thieves stole gardening
One of the nation's smallest golden jubilee street parties is planned for people living in a Colchester cul-de-sac. Let's party - Margaret Foley and Patricia Bloom in Remus Close. Picture: STEVE ARGENT (21056-1) Just 15 homes will be taking part in festivities
South Essex's engineers of tomorrow have been gaining a unique insight into what their futures might hold, thanks to local businesses. Smiles - Southend High School's Paul White, Amy Tetchner, Anushri Patel, Zoe Miller with BAe's Sarah Bowles and Paul
Innovation and competition were on the minds of 80 members of the local business community who took part in the annual Basildon Business Debate. Advantage - Andy Glass, John Robb, Eric Moonman, Mary Spence and Alun Powell. Picture: DAVE HENDERSON 9CECC1
Commuters faced major delays today after a passenger allegedly punched a guard for banning his bike from a rush-hour train. The man was trying to load his cycle on to the c2c train at Thorpe Bay station - a practice not allowed during peak times. But
A charity casino held by a Colchester law firm has boosted the funds for a residential and day care centre for disabled adults. Great Bromley-based Hamilton Lodge Trust, which caters for adults with learning and physical disabilities, was selected by
Garages in Vange are being used as drug dens and are a haven for vandals, angry tenants have claimed. A set of garages in Pitseaville Grove have been left to become derelict and youths are using the area as a hang-out spot. Inside the buildings residents
Two 13-year-old South Ockendon boys burgled a house and spent the cash at amusement arcades at Lakeside, Basildon Crown Court heard. The boys, who admitted stealing £240 cash and £200 in jewellery, left a fingerprint on a discarded envelope following
Canvey Island Swimming Club gave their fourth annual sprint meet at Waterside Farm a new twist. Silver lady - Canvey's Phillipa Bennett on her way to silver in the relay. 9HKED13C Instead of a regular gala they hosted an event normally used for world
Organisers of the Great Baddow Charity Races have thrown down the gauntlet and are waiting to see if anyone can smash the record for the 10-mile road race at this year's event. Set four years ago by Chelmsford Athletic Club's Dale Laughlin, the tape was
An embarrassing end to the match couldn't detract from a largely comfortable Chelmsford victory. LEIGH-ON-SEA 194-5 CHELMSFORD I 195-7 (Chelmsford won by three wickets) (Shepherd Neame Essex League Cup) A belligerent innings from Tim Jones on an inconsistent
Clacton-based duo Will Snowdon and Ian Westlake are gunning for glory tonight as Ipswich Town chase championship honours in the FA Premier Reserve League. The pair are part of the Blues squad which can win the title if they get a point against Derby at
Colchester United are facing up to losing more than £500,000 over the next two years as the ITV Digital crisis deepens. Colchester United chief executive Marie Partner has warned the U's may need to make cutbacks The U's were due to receive the cash as
The parents of a paraglider who went missing in India have called off the search for their son. Facing reality - Angie and Bill Kitchen, the parents of missing paraglider Joel Kitchen now fear their son is dead. Picture: STEVE ARGENT (20760-1) Brightlingsea
Ipswich Town chairman David Sheepshanks is resigned to the fact Ipswich are likely to be relegated from the Premiership. To stand any chance, the Blues - currently three points adrift of Sunderland - need to win at Liverpool and hope the Black Cats slip
Two pensioners are to receive compensation from the family of a teenager who stole from their homes. Patrick Cawley took £300 from an 86-year-old woman as she lay in bed at her sheltered flat in Braintree and another £600 was stolen from another pensioner's
Defecting Labour councillor Peter Anderson today confirmed his decision to join the Tories - and fired off a broadside against his former party. Labour chief whip Jackie Reilly warned Mr Anderson he faced disciplinary action, accusing him of "not meeting
Gardeners in the Epping Forest district are being encouraged to dig deep for the environment by collecting up their green garden waste for inclusion in a doorstep recycling programme. The district council-run scheme is set to get underway on Wednesday
Government minister Ivan Lewis visited the Prospects College in Southend to present certificates to youngsters with new qualifications. Meeting the minister - student Luke Brown, and instructor Trevor Suckling talk to minister Ivan Lewis. Picture: STEVE
Travellers have failed in an attempt to overturn a Government decision blocking plans to put two caravans and two mobile homes on green belt land. Barry and Sean Clark asked yesterday at the High Court for Mr Justice Forbes to quash a decision to reject
Shipping giant P&O is 'misleading' the public by claiming the £1bn new port at Shell Haven would have no impact on fishing, campaigners have claimed. South Essex fishermen are terrified plans to dredge the Thames riverbed while building the port could
A fertility support group is being launched in Essex for people who are having problems conceiving. The Essex Fertility Support Group (EFSG) will be the first of its kind in the county and will offer support, comfort, help and advice to the estimated
The first stage of work to convert land at Blatches Farm, Eastwood, into the first country park in the Rochford district is now well under way. Some 100 acres of land are involved in the Cherry Orchard Jubilee Park in the Roach Valley between Rochford
Little Burstead carp angler Jason Watts is riding high after landing a cracking 23lb 4oz fish at Billericay's Lake Meadows. The big carp, a well known and much sought after fish known as Single Scale, came during an evening session at the point. The personal
The number of women in Southend who die during or soon after pregnancy is double the national average. A report, to be considered by Southend Hospital NHS Trust today, states that between 1997 and 1999, four women out of 11,140 at the hospital were victims
A woman has lost a whopping 14 stone in weight - equivalent to the size of a heavyweight boxer. Transformed - Louise today. Picture: STEPHANIE MACKRILL (21011-c) Before she went on a diet two years ago Louise Collins was so large she could never wear
Steve Ball has turned down the chance to become the new manager of Clacton Town. Ball was offered the post at the weekend by Seasiders owner Jeff Dewing, but has decided to stay with Stanway Rovers. He said: "I had a chat with Jeff on Sunday. He came
A question mark is hanging over the future of Waterside Farm's hugely popular creche on Canvey after Castle Point Council decided to begin charging users. Dave Blackwell, chairman of the authority's leisure and amenities committee, said it had to impose
Protesters against an asylum seekers' removal centre being built on land near Stansted Airport will have to wait to find out more about the Government plans. A scheduled meeting between Uttlesford Council and Home Office representatives was called off
Welding equipment has been stolen from a workshop in Brunel Road, Leigh. Thieves broke into Goldfinch Servis Ltd through a wooden door between the evening of Friday, April 26 and the morning of April 27 causing £200 of damage. A Lamborghini Arc welding
A man has appeared in court after admitting taking pictures of semi-naked children on beaches at Clacton, Walton and Frinton and during the Clacton Air Show. Dana Oneim, 47, of Church Road, Clacton, had admitted four charges of disorderly conduct at a
A call has been made for Broomfield Hospital to be placed on an equal footing with Basildon Hospital in a consultation exercise for a new specialist heart unit. A three-month public consultation period was launched this week as part of the process of
A proposed wage rise for top councillors in Tendring has been defended. Current leader Tory Terry Allen, who is set to receive more than £16,000 a year, feels it will be money well spent. He says for a council with a turnover of £70m, the increases proposed
A care home in Ditton Court Road, Westcliff, is likely to be converted into five self-contained flats. The plans by Town and Country Developments are being considered by Southend Council's development control committee today and are recommended for approval
Sussex police have launched an investigation into allegations that Peter Taylor attacked a photographer only hours before it was announced he had stepped down as manager of Second Division champions Brighton. The Thorpe Bay-based soccer boss quit on Monday
School bosses are going green in Basildon thanks in part to a £154,000 cash boost from an environmental trust. Wall art - Cleanaway's Gary Baker, centre, with Woodlands head Andy White, right, and his deputy Dave Foggerty in the school gym which is set
Great Baddow's May Fair is a much-enjoyed annual event in the town's calendar, but this year's Jubilee event is set to be bigger and better than ever. The organisers promise "fun for all the family" at the Great Baddow Recreation Ground from 11am to 4pm
Experienced Blues star Damon Searle is backing boss Rob Newman to bring together a side which can push for promotion. The 30-year-old left-sided player has signed up for another year at Roots Hall believing the current squad has the potential to go all
A piece of art by Britain's most famous contemporary artist will be shown and auctioned in a church fundraising exhibition. Getting to the point - Damien Hirst's work. Picture: STEVE ARGENT (21068-4) Work by avant garde artist Damien Hirst will be among
Dunmow Town Council has received an undertaking from the Home Office to keep it directly informed of any developments on the controversy over the proposed centre for asylum seekers at Great Dunmow. The undertaking was given in a letter received this week
Visitors to a bank in South Woodham Ferrers will be able to get tips and advice on home security this week. The town's police crime reduction officer Ray Stannard will be in the Abbey National tomorrow to give advice on ways to beat intruders. His visit
Dog-lovers from all over south Essex gathered at Hockley Woods to take part in a charity sponsored dog walk. Youngest recruit - 14-week-old puppy Bruno and owner Sarah Burton, from Pitsea, team up before the charity sponsored dog walk. Picture: MAXINE
A headteacher has vowed to work with staff and pupils to improve her school after a critical inspectors' report. Tania Perry said she has already started making headway at Castledon School by bringing in two new teachers and a speech therapist. The improvements
High Street businesses have been told to clean up their act after concerns were raised about the way rubbish is being dumped in Hart Street. Following angry letters from Hart Street based businesses the council has written to several companies and restaurants
A man was talked out of killing himself by his mother after he climbed out on to a ledge 50ft above shoppers in the centre of Basildon. Police cordoned off paths around the Brooke House tower block in the town centre yesterday afternoon when the 30-year-old
The leader of the new-look Tendring Council could be in line for a pay rise in the region of 50 per cent. The leader, currently Tory Terry Allen, is eligible to receive £10,400, but an independent review panel has recommended this should rise to £16,000
Angry Maldon traders' leaders said they should have been warned of another long round of pavement improvements due to start in town this week. More traffic jams could be on the way as 12 weeks of work begins on the east side of Market Hill to replace
Eco-friendly residents believe "two classes of citizen" have been created in Billericay because a recycling scheme does not stretch to everyone in the town. Environmentally-conscious homeowners are miffed Basildon Council has not given them the opportunity
The inaugural St Clare's Cup ended in slightly controversial circumstances when the referee appeared to blow for full time with minutes still left on the clock. The "Maldon derby" attracted a crowd of around 150 to Scraley Road on Sunday lunchtime with
Youngsters at a Thurrock school have been given an insight into the world of ghosts and spooky tales. Eleven and 12-year-olds from Torells sat spellbound listening to children's author, Pete Johnson. He started by asking how many did not believe in ghosts
We're looking high and low for a bouncy castle. This is the appeal from youngsters and their parents planning a golden jubilee street party in San Remo, Canvey on Sunday, June 2. Looking forward to it - kids and residents in Canvey's San Remo need a bouncy
Essex County Council has defended its policy of selling school playing fields, which, the House of Commons was told recently, is estimated to have raised £4m last year. Commenting on the fact that this was said to be the highest sum raised in this way
