Hundreds of people hoping to get their hands on a can of red hair spray for Comic Relief have been left disappointed. Bags O'Fun, in Head Street, Colchester, received a delivery of 150 cans of red dye at about 1pm yesterday, but by 1.35pm the entire stock
A charity worker and war veteran took a homeless person into his flat as an act of kindness - only to see his benefits cut. Former Army sergeant George Nicholas was offered the flat in George Street, Colchester, rent-free when he returned to Britain from
Telephone giant BT is leaving campaigners fighting to stop the closure of phone boxes in Chelmsford in the dark - according to one councillor. The national company has put forward plans to close 44 telephone kiosks in the county town. Although Chelmsford
Traders in Clacton today welcomed a £1 million project to revamp the town centre Tendring Council has secured the money from Essex County Council to pay for an improvement scheme. It will be used to make changes to traffic routes and may include banning
A Southend councillor could soon be taking over the mantle of youth champion in the town. Members of the council cabinet will be looking at the proposal which has come from the Youth Council in the town. The responsibilities of whoever is chosen to fill
Nearly 30 businessmen and women today backed a Southend restaurant ranked by the BBC as the UK's worst. Two The Mews, in Nelson Mews, will be crowned Britain's Worst Restaurant in the BBC programme of the same name, which will be screened on April 16.
A girl was airlifted from school in an ambulance after she dislocated a knee for the second time in weeks. Hannah Dixon, a pupil at Honywood School, Coggeshall, was left in pain on the school field at the start of a football lesson yesterday The year
The last time Aldershot Town visited New Lodge little more than a year ago two of their players, Ollie Adedeji and Mark Graham, were sensationally red-carded for fighting each other. Both players were shown the door by the former Football League outfit
Members of a motoring club gathered to pay tribute to a young car fanatic who died in a horrific accident on the A127 - warning that cars are lethal pieces of equipment. James Webster, 22, of Wavertree Road, Benfleet, died just before midnight on Saturday
Police are celebrating a successful drugs raid where £100,000 of ecstasy tablets and cannabis were seized from a house. The massive seizure of more than 1,000 tablets and 80 blocks of cannabis resin in Southend has now been taken out of the local underground
A strike by guards and other workers on the First Great Eastern rail line planned for Monday has been called off after a pay offer was increased. Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union at First Great Eastern had been due to walkout for 24 hours
Although Southend's Adam Hickey took the individual honours locally by finishing second in the intermediate boys race and earning international honours, there were golden performances from south-East Essex girls in the English Schools Cross-Country Championship
Thundersley's King John School have leapt to the top in the world of gymnastics. Beaming smiles - (left to right): Joanne Woodward (17), 18-year-old Kathryn Parker and Charlie Perry, aged 11, enjoyed success for King John in the Essex County Gym Championships
Essex is to miss out on a share of £10million to help police officers with housing costs. Home Office Minister John Denham announced the cash boost which will help officers who would normally be priced out of the housing market. The move follows detailed
Tickets for the 2003 V Festival have been selling like hot cakes since they went on sale last Saturday, breaking all previous records for first week sales. Festival Director, Bob Angus said: "We were always fully confident that tickets would sell quickly
The parents of a man who was the driving force behind a Leigh skatepark have spoken of their heartbreak after the site was bulldozed to the ground yesterday. Alan Hammond spent the last years of his life running the Rampage Skate Park near Two Tree Island
Saltcoats Park in South Woodham Ferrers will host two afternoon sports sessions for children this Easter. Coaches supplied with cricket and rounders' bats will organise free sports events for six to 14-year-olds on April 15 and 24. Jim Barnett, chairman
Controversial plans to build a block of 11 flats next door to Billericay's Mayflower School were thrown out by the town's councillors last night. The two-bedroomed flats, in Stock Road, would have been built in a three-floor block, with the top storey
Disabled and able-bodied pupils got together for a dance and drama day. Year eight pupils from Rickstones School in Witham joined forces with pupils from the town's South View School, many of whom have special needs or are in wheelchairs, to take part
A blueprint for a better Witham has received a clean bill of health from Braintree Council The Witham town plan, published by Witham Town Council as a blueprint for town development over the next ten years, has received general recommendation from a senior
The official national equivalent of a big tick and gold star have just been awarded to a Canvey school. Winter Gardens School in Hilton Road, Canvey, has achieved a prestigious quality mark from the country's Basic Skills Agency. Top marks - Mike Blant
Title challengers Bishop's Stortford provide a daunting test for Thurrock, who still have half an eye on the relegation zone, tomorrow. "We don't really know where we stand," said coach Tim Hughes, whose team are sixth in the 12-team section. "If only
Talented Sophia Gilvargas is following in the footsteps of her big brother after winning a scholarship to a top performing arts school. Arts scholarship - Sophia Gilvargas's talent has won her a place at a top Picture: MAXINE CLARKE The ten-year old,
A parent and toddler group in Jaywick is temporarily closing due to lack of numbers. The St Christopher's Parent and Toddler Group, which meets at st Christopher's Church, Meadow Way, Jaywick, has been forced to close temporarily due to a fall in numbers
Southend seafront was open to traffic again today after the installation of the steel structure of the new new pier bridge. The closure of Marine Parade and Western Esplanade caused some traffic disruption but this was minimised as forewarned motorists
Council chiefs reacted with fury today to the news a bid for lottery funding to restore a historic windmill has been rejected. Rochford District Council has been seeking nearly £150,000 to upgrade and improve access to Rayleigh Mill, near Mill Hall, in
Chelmsford City Football Club will be returning home to the county town before Christmas. Planning permission for the Dr Martens League Premier Division side to take up residence at Melbourne Park was finally granted by councillors on Tuesday evening.
Rookie Southend United striker Mark Salter is on standby to make his full league debut at Third Division leaders Hartlepool tomorrow. The 22-year-old has spent the last six months working hard in Blues' reserves, scoring five times in 13 games, after
A teenager who committed a series of "terrifying" offences on youngsters has been sentenced to more than three years in a young offenders' institute. Paul Chignell, 18, appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court for sentencing yesterday. The teenager, of Laurel
Phil Parkinson has one special reason for urging Colchester United's fans not to miss tomorrow's vital Division Two home clash with lowly Huddersfield Town. "I want them to come and see the new Dean Morgan," said the U's boss. Safe pair of hands - Colchester
Canvey youngsters will be hoping for a hole in one as they tee off in aid of a national charity. Seven boys from Futherwick Park School, in Futherwick Road, will be participating in the annual British Heart Foundation's Junior Golf Championship. Enjoying
Skateboarders are preparing to try out their wheels on a new park at Walton. The official opening of the long-awaited £40,000 park will be tomorrow Mayor Nick Turner, of Frinton and Walton Town Council, will cut the tape on 10.30am. The park followed
A shadow has fallen over Canvey's transformation into a tropical paradise after yobs made off with a new palm tree and uprooted others. The £100 tree was one of five palms planted by Canvey 2000 in Eastern Esplanade, near the sea wall. Committee members
Schoolchildren in Basildon who should be in class may find themselves caught out in future thanks to an innovative scheme. A new telephone hotline has been set up in the district which will allow the public to tell tales on truanting youngsters. Anyone
A man who is thought to have stolen nearly £2,000 of goods from a Leigh shop pretended to be looking for his father when he was found trespassing. Burglars got into Cohen TV Aerials in London Road through a side door, took keys from a safety deposit box
Southend United Ladies are hoping for a big crowd when they play at Roots Hall for the first time on Sunday. The girls, who play in the London Premier League, have benefitted from closer links with the third division Shrimpers in recent months. And after
Les Ferdinand is gunning for a piece of history at Goodison Park tomorrow - and could win himself an extension to his playing career in the process. The 36-year-old striker has scored 15 goals against Everton in his time with QPR, Newcastle and Spurs
There were heavyweight performances all-round when Colchester Boxing Club staged their annual show at the Embassy Suite. A bumper crowd turned up for the showpiece event as fighters from across the region turned on the style. Action from the annual boxing
Former U's boss Mick Wadsworth returns to Layer Road tomorrow but they'll be little time for reminiscing. His cash-strapped and injury-hit Huddersfield team go into the game third from bottom. And, having picked up just 12 points out of a possible 54
After a particularly disappointing winter, in which the low-lying nature of Thorpe Hall and the almost continuous rain has caused constant full or partial closures, the club is coming alive again with the first full competitions of 2003. On the plus side
Grays police are appealing for witnesses after a motorist was forced to fend-off a knife-wielding attacker. The attempted robbery took place at around 11.10pm on Sunday in Pilgrims Lane, South Ockendon, turning an unwitting driver into a vigilante. The
Pablo Counago is praying lightning strikes twice when Ipswich Town go head-to-head with struggling Sheffield Wednesday. The Spaniard bagged two goals when the Owls visited Portman Road in October two days after the sacking of George Burley. And he knows
Police are reclaiming the notorious Five Links estate, despite protests by some resident groups that not enough is being done. Pat Denne, chairman of the Five Links Action Group Resident's Association, believes the problem of youth gangs and truanting
A decision on the future use of Mistley's Secret Bunker looks set to be made by the end of the month. After eight years as a museum, the 52-year-old Furze Hill bunker was closed three months ago to undergo major refurbishment. James Fox, Bunker Preservation
Southend should become a safer place as police, council, other agencies and the community continue to play their role in the fight against crime, the police chief claims. Chief Supt Mick Thwaites believes the co-operation between Southend police and council
Footballers' Wives star Gary Lucy was celebrating two birthdays when he visited Basildon's Festival Leisure Park last night. Birthday visit - Chicago's Holly Judge, Kerry Warr and Jenie McManus with Gary Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY Scheduled to appear to celebrate
Stanway Rovers boss Steve Ball has labelled tomorrow's clash with Long Melford as 'huge'. The two sides are chasing promotion from Jewson League division one and Ball doesn't expect the Hawthorns' meeting to be one for the faint-hearted. He told the Evening
It doesn't need to be pretty, just effective, that's the message from Southend coach Paddy Dunston, whose title challenge continues at Harlow tomorrow. "We've trained well and just have to go out there and work hard," said Dunston. "I don't care at this
New or expectant mums and dads will be able to get a host of information and goods for their baby or toddler at a fair being held in Billericay. The baby, toddler and pregnancy fair is being held at Mayflower School in Stock Road, and is organised by
Youngsters found out exactly how bosses cope with the recruitment process in a special workshop set up by the HSBC bank in Southend and the Prince's Trust. Group discussion - the Prince's Trust youngsters met with Helen Springett and Julie Godfrey from
A teenager has been cleared of hitting another girl over the head with a bottle in a Colchester nightclub. Joanne Wickett, 18, denied causing the girl actual bodily harm at the Hippodrome last October and was found not guilty after a trial at Chelmsford
Every dog has its day and in the case of police dog Ronnie it was being top dog after a competition involving 18 other police forces. Look of pride - Ronnie and PC Colin Elsegood celebrate the win Picture: LUAN MARSHALL Ronnie and his handler, PC Colin
Police would like to speak to a driver who fled the scene after a serious accident in the Festival Leisure Park near the junction with Cranes Farm Road last night. The man, who is described as black, was last seen running down Cranes Farm Road, Basildon
Billericay Town chairman Rod Moore has issued a "we'll miss you" message to tenants Chelsmford City as the Dr Martens Premier Division side prepare for a return back home. Chelmsford Council's planning committee this week gave City approval for a temporary
Rush-hour motorists faced traffic chaos today after yet another serious smash on the A127. A woman driver was injured after the five-vehicle pile-up near to the A130 junction. Crash - a fire rescue team cut a victim out of a car Picture: ROB BROWNE The
Champions Westcliff make a few changes for the short division two trip to Aveley to take on struggling Thames. The selectors have decided to promote several men from the replacements' bench, with props Peter Moffatt and Darren Chapman having first go
Vandalism to a community office set to open within weeks has been met with a sense of dismay. Windows of the demountable building in Shaw Road, Witham, have been smashed, thought to be from a pellet fired from an airgun. The Braintree Council office is
An 18-year-old student cheated death after she swerved off the Strood at Mersea, through the sea barrier Luckily the tide was out as her red Ford Fiesta landed upside down in the thick mud of the saltmarsh, after she braked to avoid a collision. Crash
Drinkers could be staying out later in Braintree High Street as pubs and bars look to extend their hours. Wizard Inns has applied for Bailey's cafe bar to extend its opening hours on Fridays, Saturdays and Bank Holidays to 1am. Nearby Keenan's bar is
Donating blood will take on an unusually comic feel today as the National Blood Service team dress up to support Red Nose Day. The team will be getting into the Comic Relief spirit when they carry out donor sessions at the public hall in Witham. The team
Naming new roads after Witham soldiers killed in the First World War would create an emotional minefield, members of the town council have been warned. They may have to drop a plan to name streets in the Maltings Lane estate after some of the 100 war
A struggling football club may face a financial crisis after being targeted by thieves. Since last year St John's Football Club, in Lyndhurst Road, Clacton, has had a run of bad luck. It heard just before the season started that one of the club's major
Yachtsmen breathed a sigh of relief after discovering their treasured display of trophies had not been pocketed by raiders. For many years the trophies have been part of the furniture at the 82-year-old Walton and Frinton Yacht Club. But when the club
A football hooligan jailed for attempting to murder a man was a danger to the public, according to a police officer who helped to snare him. Mark Godfrey is starting a life sentence after being convicted for the attempted murder of Thomas Walsh. The judge
