A motorist killed in the horrific crash on the A127 was a pillar of the deaf community, his family revealed. Michael Harvey, 62, of Shoebury, was treasurer of Southend Deaf Club for 18 years. He was also a devoted family man who went bowling with wife
A road which cuts through a village near Colchester has been dubbed one of the "most dangerous" in Essex. A tour of traffic danger spots in Marks Tey was given to North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin by villagers concerned about safety for pedestrians, drivers
A new mini-housing estate with up to 140 homes is to be created in Witham. Unconditional contracts for the sale of Bridge Hospital in Hatfield Road, Witham, have now been exchanged and work to develop the site is set to begin in three or four months.
An eighties singing star visited South Essex Wildlife Hospital - in her new role as patron. Getting to know you - Hazel O'Connor with Sue and a young deer Picture: DAVE HENDERSON Hazel O'Connor won several awards for her singing, acting and writing skills
Billericay Town's small squad will likely face extra pressures tonight when they visit a Hitchin side battling against the drop in the Ryman League Premier Division. With striker Jamie Wallace still nursing a groin injury, goalkeeper Jerome John plus
A chain of estate agents have added another Essex town to their network. Beresfords, who were established in Essex thirty five years ago and have offices in Chelmsford and Billericay, have recently set up an office in Braintree High Street. The office
Police believe arsonists who broke into a house may have stolen the family budgie. Officers are treating the blaze at a house in Pierot Steps, on the Woodgrange estate, Southend, as arson after someone broke in and set fire to a sofa. The blaze was kept
Ipswich Town star Fabian Wilnis has labelled tonight's Division One clash at Crystal Palace a "must-win" game for the play-off chasing Blues. The Dutchman, still buzzing from his wonder goal in the recent derby victory at Norwich, told the Evening Gazette
Shoppers resting their feet for a coffee in Chelmsford had a surprise when a famous fictional prison officer came to town. Jack Ellis, star of ITV drama Bad Girls, was visiting stores and cafes in the county town which sell Fairtrade products. Ellis,
An arthritic man who walks with a walking stick was beaten up and left lying on the roadside with head injuries. The thug who repeatedly hit the 44-year-old on the head from behind, did not steal anything from him and the attack appears to have been motiveless
A homeowner has hit out at Braintree Council accusing it of wasting taxpayers' money by sending him council information to his home - near Colchester. Bill Bateman, of Cornwallis Drive, Marks Tey, near Colchester, said he regularly receives promotional
Colchester United have been fined £1,000 for their part in the Layer Road fracas with Oldham Athletic last September. As she prepared for tonight's rearranged trip to Brentford, U's chief executive Marie Partner said: "I'm amazed. "I'm pleasantly surprised
Essex Eels have lined up their first friendly game since forming this year. The Basildon-based rugby league club will be taking on the Greenwich Admirals on May 5. And Eels chief Greg Heldon knows it will be a good chance for his fledgling team to test
An organisation is set to be launched to train people to help improve basic literacy and numeracy in the area. Basildon Link Up will be formally starting up with an event attended by Basildon and Thurrock MP Angela Smith at the Holiday Inn at the Festival
Concerned Harold Wood residents say Havering Council has "turned its back" on their repeated cries for honesty regarding the development of the Maylands Field Green Belt site near the A12. The Maylands Green Belt action group, which was set up to oppose
A violent man who subjected his former girlfriend to a terrifying ordeal has absconded from prison. James Arthur Yardley, who was jailed for six-and-a-half years for false imprisonment, is believed to have left Hollesley Bay open unit in Ipswich between
Motorists were today warned to expect disruption for the rest of the week as part of the seafront was closed to install the new Southend Pier bridge. Marine Parade and Western Esplanade are closed to allow the new pier bridge to be put into place. The
Schoolboy Bradley Hayward, 15, who has worked tirelessly to raise money for charity is to receive the prestigious Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial award tomorrow at a special assembly. Bradley, a pupil at Appleton School in Benfleet, raised £600 for
The last surviving member of a dramatic lifeboat rescue more than 65 years ago dropped in on the descendants of the men who saved him. Now aged 88, Ted Oliver was the guest of Clacton lifeboatmen at their station yesterday He brought along press cuttings
Police were today hunting a man in a blue bobble hat after an attempted robbery at a petrol station. The attempt was made at the Shell Garage, in Old Road, Clacton, at 2.23am Insp Peter Smith, of Clacton police, said: "Someone tried to hold up the garage
Philip Morant School in Colchester is solving the problem of teacher absence with the launch of an innovative Learning Centre. Computer learning - Pupils at the Learning Centre launch The ICT Learning Centre at the school enables 120 students to access
An elderly woman was left terrified after her house was rocked by an explosion because water had been leaking from an upstairs flat onto her electric bed. Widow Hetty Gray, 83, of Cobham Road, Westcliff, was left shaking and in tears following the incident
Rochford marched into the final of the Essex Cup with a 27-12 derby win at Basildon, seven days after edging past them in the league. The home side managed to prevent the kind of mistakes that allowed Rochford the early advantage last week, but Rochford
Councillors have been asked to "seriously consider" a report concerning the future of Severalls Concert Hall. The report, commissioned by Essex County Council, Colchester Council and Colchester Institute, was instigated by county councillor Jeremy Lucas
Southend High School for Boys were very much the dominant factor when the Essex Schools' Cross-Country Championships for years seven and eight were staged at Hylands Park, Chelmsford. For they captured the team honours in both age groups for the boys
Two quick-thinking councillors saved an elderly people's home from going up in flames after yobs set it alight. Canvey's Dave Blackwell and Barry Dixie rushed to put out the fire which had been started when a gang of youths sprayed lighter fluid on the
A new clinic has been set up to help the hard of hearing. Old and young alike can visit the new hearing help session at the Gables, Bocking End, to have their hearing aids serviced and to find out about home equipment specially designed for the deaf.
Billericay is to become the first town in Basildon's police division to stop people boozing in the street. In a bid to crack down on nuisance yobs and anti-social behaviour, often fuelled by alcohol, police are forging ahead with the plan to stop people
Southend United coach Stewart Robson was interviewed for the manager's job at Second Division relegation candidates Northamp-ton Town, it was revealed today. Robson, 38, recently swore his allegiance to Blues after meeting Colchester United officials
A neighbourly act by Billericay Town has saved Ryman Premier title-chasers Canvey Island from becoming embroiled in a fixture controversy. Gulls play Hendon in the two-legged semi-final of the Bryco Cup on successive Tuesdays, March 18 and 25. But due
Despite objections from residents and councillors, a new bus-only access and 40mph speed limit are set to be imposed as part of a new road scheme in Colchester. At a meeting of Colchester Council's cabinet last night, councillors approved the placing
Picking up top soccer tips the Tottenham Hotspur way certainly proved a spur to the football-loving youngsters of south-east Essex. On the first night of the Premiership club's football development centre, at the Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre in
Young people in South Woodham Ferrers are being encouraged to speak up over the youth events and facilities they would like to see in the town. Resident and Chelmsford Borough Council councillor Maureen Moulds says that young people are no longer backing
Ipswich will tonight aim to bounce back from their goalless draw with Stoke at the weekend. But they face a Palace team who Joe Royle ranks as the only side "to have truly beaten" the Tractor Boys in his five-month spell at Portman Road. Trevor Francis
Two lucky pupils from Cecil Jones lower school, in Wentworth Road, have won tickets to a Southend United football match after their school was the first to register to take part in a competition being run by Southend Neighbourhood Watch. The competition
Stop the War protesters took their message to south Essex motorists when they draped banners over an A127 footbridge. A dozen activists from Southend Stop the War Coalition unfurled banners either side of the Kent Elms footbridge, in Leigh, reading "Stop
Southend United legend Chris Powell today thanked Blues' player-coach Steve Tilson for helping him forge a top level career for both club and country. The 33-year-old Charlton Athletic left-back returns to Roots Hall at the end of the month to play in
Colourful artwork by talented youngsters is to brighten up a busy corridor at Broomfield Hospital. Pictures created by pupils from Little Waltham Primary School are to go on display as part of the Broomfield Arts Project. The youngsters will be the first
A professional company will be drafted in to run Castle Point golf course, councillors have decided. The future of the course, in Somnes Avenue, has been up in the air after its owners - Castle Point Council - were forced to close it for lengthy periods
A 64-year-old was popping the champagne corks today after winning a bumper £81,000 at Southend's Mecca bingo club. The lucky player, who is from Southminster but asked not to be named, won the National Bingo Game prize of £80,000 plus a regional prize
Marcus Bent believes Ipswich Town fans need to keep the faith as their side enter the make-or-break promotion run-in. The striker was reacting after Saturday's 0-0 draw with lowly Stoke at Portman Road. Bent told the Evening Gazette: "It was a disappointing
Anti-social yobs outside Canvey library could soon be caught on camera, it was revealed today. Fed-up residents and councillors are determined to stamp out such anti-social behaviour and the Canvey East area forum has been looking at measures it can put
Hundreds of rare and endangered great crested newts have been discovered in a pond - just as it was being filled in by workers. Riffhams Pond, an ugly dumping ground for refuse, in Northlands Park, Basildon, was due for destruction when the tiny creatures
Union negotiators have met Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary for "frank" talks on the future of 600 employees at low-cost airline Buzz. The Irish carrier is due to take over the airline on April 1. On Saturday, it issued 460 redundancy notices to
Rats, Cockney nights and river walks are an unusual combination. But it seems they are among the most important isues for Witham residents. At last night's annual meeting of Witham Town Council, members of the public were given the chance to directly
One piece of silverware slipped through Westcliff fingers at the weekend, but another is within touching distance after a crushing semi-final win over Burnham. While the seconds were edged out by Burnham II in the final of John Adlet Trophy, Westcliff's
Thieves snatched the purse of a wheelchair-bound grandmother with multiple sclerosis. Audrey Tuck, 66, could not believe how low thieves would stoop when she discovered that her purse - with only £16 in it - was missing. Whenever Mrs Tuck, of Burnham
Caroline Launder has been voted Temporary of the Year by Chelmsford-based secretarial and office support recruitment consultants Office Angels. The 23-year-old administrator was nominated for the award after praise from several local companies for her
Basildon Under-16 Girls have been picked as one of the best in England - and are going on to represent the country at a tournament in Wales. They will join a group of 16 English teams in a competition with their leading Welsh counterparts following a
Fast food giant McDonald's has launched an investigation after a mother claimed she found a dirty dishcloth in a burger box. Lisa Elton, 24, was looking forward to a Big Mac when she visited the restaurant at Rayleigh Weir, but claimed she opened the
The multi-million pound refurbishment of Rochford Hospital to provide new facilities for patients with mental health problems is to be given the go-ahead. South Essex Partnership NHS Trust is putting forward the scheme which will mean the demolition of
A major investigation into the traffic problems plaguing Brentwood High Street has arrived at its final destination. The long awaited report by traffic experts Mouchel Computing Ltd has been handed to Brentwood Borough Council bosses. The document began
Restaurant owner Saddam Hussain today protested his innocence after police raided his council flat in the hunt for suspected illegal immigrants. Saddam, who has the same name as the Iraqi leader, is known by his middle name of Pablo. He said he gave up
Police are appealing for information after thieves broke into a car in Woodside Avenue, Benfleet. The thieves stole a jack from the blue Ford Mondeo and attempted to take the alloy wheels which were found lying on the ground. Police would like to trace
Town councillors have agreed to seek an additional £100,000 loan to pay for the building of Champions Manor Hall. Despite a redesign, the £1.1 million community centre for South Woodham was still overbudget. The facility on Hullbridge Road is to be built
Six-year-old Lewis Peters, who has emigrated to Australia with his parent had some good news - thanks to the Evening Echo. Lewis, from Hockley, was distraught after learning the arrival of his pet dog Wilf had to be put on hold because he had gone missing
A shop is celebrating a quarter of a century in existence. Barbara Navin had no capital behind her when she set up the Little Shop in Southminster in 1978. But 25 years later, the sale-or-return second-hand clothes business is still going strong. The
Travellers changing from train to bus at Southend Victoria rail station could soon have a better idea of when their bus will arrive. Southend Council's traffic and parking working party will be recommended to put up three new real time passenger information
A pavement only laid last week might need to be done again Pavements in Kenworthy Road and Collins Close, Braintree, were resurfaced last week. But just hours after the new surface was supposed to be dry, residents saw it washing away. Essex County Council's
Resident-only parking permits could turn the vibrant Leigh community into a ghost town, a trader has warned. Bookshop owner Martin Grindley has organised a poster and leafleting campaign to discourage residents from accepting a proposal by Southend Council
An 85-year-old has sent Premier Tony Blair a defiant message over a possible war on Iraq - by cutting up her Labour Party membership card. Quit - former Labour party member Bernice Clarke Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL Bernice Clarke, of Kensington Road, Southend
