A new youth centre could be open by the end of the year now bosses behind the scheme have finally won council backing. Those behind Legacy XS are accelerating fundraising efforts and thrashing out construction details for the complex, in South Benfleet
The Essex U-17 Boys squad will play in the National Championships to be held at Cannock Hockey Club on March 15/16. The squad became East Region Champions earlier this season by winning all of their county matches convincingly. The majority of these boys
The new multi-million pound Virgin Active sports complex in Rayleigh Road, Thundersley, is taking shape. Contract manager Sam Rahman said today: "We have done the foundations, completed the sub-structure. The metal frame has gone up. "We are now busy
A serious knee injury may have ruled Essex ace Ashley Cowan out for the 2003 campaign, but the seamer will be keeping busy -- and retaining his sanity -- at the County Ground this year. The long-serving 27-year-old, who had operations to correct a problem
South East Essex players had a day to forget at the Essex LTA county finals. Players from local clubs contested five finals but failed to come away with any silverware. Westcliff Hardcourts' Jamie Willson was in two finals but ended up empty-handed. He
Adult students got the chance to talk about their courses when a Government minister visited Witham. Ivan Lewis, parliamentary under secretary of state for adult learning, spent about an hour at the Technology Centre, Witham. Ivan Lewis at the Technology
Tiptree Road Runners took part in three events over the weekend - the Essex Road Relay Championships at Chelmsford, the Stowmarket 10 and the Mid-Essex cross-country league at Little Baddow. For the relay squad, brothers Paul and John Green ran the two
Headteachers in Colchester have warned there are not enough secondary school places in the town. But Essex County Council has refuted the claim, saying every Colchester child due to make the move up to a secondary school in September will have a place
A woman who left her child's pushchair outside a Grays bakery for ten minutes returned to find it missing. The incident happened outside Greggs bakery in the High Street between 1.50am and 11am on Monday. Also taken were the woman's black leather handbag
A mother has hit out at vandals who damaged a memorial to her teenage daughter. Chris Callender was shocked to find an inscribed memorial stone had been removed from her garden. Chris Callender with the memorial to her daughter It was a tribute to her
East Thurrock United Ladies stormed into the final of the Essex League Cup final with a fantastic display over local rivals Billericay to keep their double hopes alive. Rocks got off to a good start when, after only two minutes, Dawn Perkins curled the
Barmaid Wendy Dadds will be spraying her hair all the colours of the rainbow to raise money for Comic Relief Red Nose Day. Wendy, 38, is changing her mousey brown locks to an array of bright colours in the hope that regulars at Thames Estuary Automobile
The search to find a new travellers' site in Colchester has moved on but a lot of work is still ahead, say councillors. The former travellers site in Haven Road closed 18 months ago as part of the regeneration of The Hythe. Ever since, Colchester Council
Marcus Bent believes he still has time to rescue his injury-plagued season and blast Ipswich Town into the play-offs. After a stop-start campaign, the striker popped up with a late equaliser in Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace. It was only his seventh
Basildon's college campus was evacuated after a gas pipe ruptured and sent lethal fumes through the building. The alarm was raised when a student at Thurrock and Basildon College in Nethermayne reported a strong smell of gas. Inspectors from the supply
Worried traders have called for action after ramraiders struck. The attack was the latest on Frinton's Triangle shopping estate in a matter of days. Nothing was stolen in the early morning raid on Sound and Vision Electronics, which happened just after
Basildon's Countryside Rangers will be flushing out the district's dog poo dodgers with a publicity blitz that spells out the dangers caused by owners who do not clean up after their pets. The opening shots in the war are being fired at Wat Tyler Country
Five Canadian social workers are to join Southend Council in May in a bid to ease major staff shortages. An officer from the council's social care department spent a week in Canada and gained the transatlantic recruits. George Krawiec, chief executive
A couple who fled to Castle Point from the troubles in Zimbabwe are set to be reunited with their beloved pet dogs they were forced to leave behind. Bruce and Iris Brinson, of Craven Avenue, Canvey, returned to the UK after becoming increasingly concerned
Essex are in the Liberty Trophy final again. At Desborough, Northants, in a real thriller of a match, the county beat Worcestershire by 126 shots to 107. After last season's disappointing semi-final defeat against Devon, there is a dogged determination
Plans to shake up flood defence committees have been met with anger in Castle Point. Ray Howard, who has been a member of the Essex flood defence committee for nearly 30 years, told how the revamp announced by water minister Elliot Morely would damage
Track star Danny Crates is set to star in front of a packed house at the World Indoor Athletics Championships this weekend. Sydney Paralympics bronze medalist Crates, a Basildon-based Thurrock Harriers athlete, has been selected to take part in a strong
A Westcliff post office looks set to close later this year as part of a widespread shake-up, it was revealed today The Post Office announced last year that it plans to completely overhaul its national network of more than 9,000 urban post office branches
A thanksgiving service is to be held to mark the end of a four-year appeal to save a historic Norman church. St John's Church, in Great Clacton, which dates back 1,000 years, launched the appeal to pay for restoration work to the church. And a thanksgiving
The controversial Priory Crescent plans are to take a step forward next month. Southend Council's cabinet members will be asked to agree the proposals as the sole trustee of the charity originally set up by local benefactor R A Jones which administers
As bulldozers moved in today to flatten a skatepark its former owner announced he was preparing to sue Southend Council for £1million. Trevor Hammond intends to report the council to the local government ombudsman and start a civil action for compensation
A multi-million pound scheme to develop Harwich Hospital and Dovercourt Health Centre has won support of Ramsey and Parkeston Parish Council. The two facilities are set for a major investment of up to £8 million which would see new services created and
A dramatic rescue operation was launched as a builder working on a big Southend town centre development was trapped under a wall. The 23-year-old man was lowered 40 feet in a cradle from the third storey of a tower where wind had blown a wooden foundation
A decision to grass over a popular crazy-paving pathway has been branded "beyond a joke". Tendring Council is to get rid of the pathway at the bottom of The Drive in Dovercourt as it is old and becoming too expensive to repair. But the move has been criticised
Karting enthusiasts can sign up for a Grand Prix event at Lakeside Karting on Sunday March 30. The racing includes three heats and a ten-lap final using the full 900m circuit boasting all the challenging features of a formula one track. Director Giles
Rochford golfer Rhys Piper reigned in Spain when outstanding Essex amateurs joined their colleagues from Middlesex in a winter sun intensive training and playing week. Piper was in sizzling form on the second of a two-day stroke-play competition at the
Campaigners who fought a lightning battle to save their post office from closure were today toasting victory. The Post Office announced yesterday it was to close Colchester branches in East Hill, Bergolt Road and Hythe Hill. But they gave those fighting
Students at Mayflower High School in Billericay have been enjoying National Science Week, by organising a range of activities set to develop their scientific and analytical thinking skills. Experimenting - Kristy Franklin and Sean O'Callaghan try out
Elderly Castle Point locals will soon be taking advantage of cut price travel. Under new laws brought in by the Government men over 60 will be able to claim a concessionary bus pass giving them cheap trips across the borough from April 1. However, borough
At the end of the weekend Leopards supporters will have been left with an acute sense of deja vu. Having watched their team stumble to a 14 point defeat against the London Towers on Saturday, they were treated to a similar display at the Brentwood Centre
Colchester United's fans will be asking Saturday's home crowd to Pitch in a Pound' to pay off a Football Association fine they believe to be unfair. And they have the full backing of U's chief executive Marie Partner and new manager Phil Parkinson. Any
Youngsters have voiced their concerns over the impending war with Iraq by writing a letter to the Prime Minister. A dozen year nine pupils from St Benedict's College, off Lexden Road, Colchester, have written a letter to Tony Blair objecting to war with
South Essex could soon benefit from a Government pledge to introduce a new breed of superschools across the country. The Government has announced funding for 240 extended schools, which will provide childcare, health and social care, lifelong learning
The first major park-and-ride scheme in Essex could be up-and-running within two years. Retailers and businesses in Chelmsford were told a bid for funding is set to be made in July. If successsful, it would make the proposal the first major one for an
Police are appealing for the return of a 170-year-old milestone which they think has been stolen. The milestone disappeared from Wrabness Road, Ramsey, and has left a big hole by the roadside where it should be. It is cast iron and says "Ramsey to London
Police today issued a picture of a man sentenced to life imprisonment for attempted murder. Mark Godfrey, 36, of Tickfield Avenue, Southend, stabbed Thomas Walsh causing wounds to his stomach and lung during the attack in Salisbury Avenue, Westcliff,
New plans for the next ten years in Southend have been unveiled. The Community Plan, launched at the Cliffs Pavilion, gives a vision of Southend as a vibrant coastal town and a prosperous regional centre where people enjoy living, working and visiting
Southend Wheelers held their first time trial of the season on the east Hanningfield/Bicknacre circuit. With blustery, but dry weather conditions, the club's riders competed two laps of the hilly circuit covering 16 miles. First to finish and take maximum
Arsonists torched tyres to start a blaze which wrecked railway carriages, investigators believe. The late-night fire at a siding at Colchester's North Station severely damaged two carriages and caused smoke damage to two others. Commuters faced a day
Fire crews braved thick smoke and the danger of explosion to search a house because they believed someone may have been trapped inside. Station officer Dave Ferris said crews wearing breathing apparatus entered the ground and first floors of the home
Tiptree United slumped to their seventh Jewson League premier division defeat in a row last night, losing 3-0 at Stowmarket. Neil Farlie's understrength Jam-makers fell to three second-half goals. Farlie said: "Out of the 23 players I started the season
A taxi driver was attacked and robbed of his money and car as he dropped off two passengers in Pilgrims Hatch in the early hours of Saturday morning. The robbers hit 63-year-old Bob Dudley over the head with his own money bag and punched him as they forced
Children from a Stanford-le-Hope school are being given the chance to see all sides of the worldwide environmental case - at a Thurrock refinery. The year 11 pupils from St Clere's School will be at BP, Coryton, with environmentalist Phil Williams, of
Key pieces making up a 21st century vision of Chelmsford were slotted into place this week, as community leaders set out their proposals for the borough's future at the heart of the county. Chelmsford's new bus station plans were given the go ahead on
Police today issued a desription of the handbag which was stolen from murder victim Jean Dicker. Mrs Dicker, 58, of Craigfield Avenue, Great Clacton, was murdered on January 29. The handbag was off-white in colour with a light brown panel across the bottom
The prolonged closure of a post office could send surrounding businesses to the wall, it is feared. Brian Wilson (Lab, St Mary's) spoke out after urging Post Office bosses to reopen Hopes Green post office, in High Road, Benfleet. The store closed suddenly
Billericay Town coach George Borg sensationally quit last night -- less than 72 hours before the New Lodge side host the Aldershot Town club he formerly managed in a vital Ryman Premier Division game. The Hampshire outfit are favourites for the title,
A frustrated resident has gathered 150 names on a petition in an effort to solve the parking nightmare in Southend. Roy Perks said the town was "a massive parking lot". He encountered angry residents each week through his work as a floor fitter. Petition
Police are hunting a baseball bat wielding attacker who struck his victim several times on the head and body. Police say the "needless" attack happened on the Five Links estate in Laindon. The 41-year-old man, who was staying with friends in Laindon,
A landmark lifeboat is to make its final voyage after a decade at Pitsea Motorboat Museum. Farewell - museum staff Barry Ballard and Steve Bennett with the lifeboat Picture: ROB BROWNE The Princess Marina has been at the entrance to the museum at Wat
A mother-of-seven escaped with an £80 fine and a conditional discharge when she appeared at Grays Magistrates' Court yesterday after admitting failing to send two of her daughters to school. The single mum, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said
Murrayfield Bowling Club celebrates its Silver Jubilee this year -- but they have fears for their long-term future. For the Basildon-based club, like others in the area, has been suffering a decline in members in recent years. And amid the excitement
Southend United today thanked their fans for digging deep into their pockets to raise £1,600 for the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Relief. England World Cup winning captain Moore died from the disease ten-years ago and to mark the anniversary Blues held
Trialist Southend United striker Scott Partridge admitted today he would definitely be interested in a permanent move to Roots Hall. The Rushden and Diamonds hitman has been frozen out of the picture at Blues' promotion chasing Third Division rivals.
Former Newcastle United and Spurs star Chris Waddle is the latest big name confirmed for Steve Tilson's testimonial. A host of Southend United golden oldies have also agreed to play in the midfielder's Roots Hall benefit match on Monday, March 31. The
"It will go ahead" - that is the devastating statement from Government minister Hilary Benn to residents campaigning against the construction of a Secure Training Centre just a short walk from Brentwood High Street. The latest blow comes only weeks after
Police today issued a warning after a yacht club was trashed by burglars. The break-in at Walton and Frinton Yacht Club was discovered by the steward today. Cash had been taken from the safe and bar till. Even an RNLI collecting box had been removed.
A club which provides activities for young people with special needs is hunting for new committee members so it can continue its good work. Activity centres in Thurrock are extremely limited for people with special needs, so the Special Needs Activity
