A market day clampdown on traffic in Bank Street and Swan Side in Braintree Town Centre is being sought after a woman was injured by a runaway car. The move for restrictions comes after traders at the town centre strategy group expressed concerns over
Protesters are threatening to hijack the grand opening of Colchester's £8m Northern Approach road. Myland Parish Council had vowed to boycott the official opening on Thursday. But now councillors are planning a demonstration to clash with the event. They
A popular pie shop hit by arsonists nearly six months ago was due to reopen its doors today after a £60,000 re-fit. Stacey's Pie Shop in Timberlog Lane, Basildon, was completely gutted following the fire in January. Owner Terry McDowell was devastated
Thirsty tea drinkers have brewed up more than £2,000 for St Luke's Hospice. The money was raised as part of the nationwide Tea at Three campaign, which saw hundreds of local residents meet up to hold charity tea parties. Tea and cakes - Kelly Cartwright
Great Leighs has been given the go-ahead for Britain's first new racecourse since the 1920s The British Horse Racing Board (BHB) has granted a licence for the venue removing the final barrier to the project. Work can now begin on the all-weather oval
Concerns about the impact of changes at the Ministry of Defence base at Shoebury have been raised in the Commons. At question time, Sir Teddy Taylor (C, Rochford and Southend E) said recent changes included privatisation of the range facilities, the removal
A schoolgirl has been banned from school after refusing to remove her new hair extensions. Lia Sesniak, 14, saved up £150 from boot sales to get her long plaits. Defiant - Lia Sesniak and her controversial plaits Picture: ROB BROWNE But when she turned
Two new options are to be put out to public consultation in a bid to solve the crisis over primary school places for youngsters in Clacton. Last year, Essex County Council said it was looking into building a new 210-place primary school and it was later
A school orchestra is celebrating after being invited to perform at a prestigious national festival. Pupils from John Ray County Junior School in Notley Road, Braintree, will be performing at the finals of the National Festival of Music for Youth next
A stolen car smashed into a play area's fences, throwing its future into doubt. The car rammed the railings at the Ramsey War Memorial's play area four times before driving off. Cordoned off Ramsey War Memorial recreation ground after the attack. Picture
Children showed their parents they too have a lot to learn during a family workshop. Enjoying themselves - twins Rhys and Owen Bennett Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL Around 100 families turned out for the drop-in workshop organised by the Early Years Development
A man who was moving house put five bags outside his home - and a recycling firm drove off with the lot. The man was shocked to come out of his house to discover the bags, containing personal items worth about £1,000, had vanished. Police are investigating
Colchester United are looking to rearrange at least four of their home games for next season. And Bristol City have already agreed to put back the August Bank Holiday Monday, Layer Road clash 24 hours - subject to Nationwide Football League approval.
Once again the girls from St Hilda's School, Westcliff, were in triumphant form at the Independent Schools' Association regional championships in Colchester. Alyce Baglow, Emma Dossor, Thea Marriner and Iman Taboada, all from year seven, won the 4 x 100m
Chelmsford could have one of the first permanent park and ride schemes in Essex if a £5m bid for a site is approved by the Government. The site would probably be south of the urban town area. The county council's highways and transportation policy development
Police today revealed a man whose body was discovered on the edge of a farm pond did not meet a violent death. Det Insp Mick Ornellas, who is working on the investigation, said further forensic tests were taking place after a post-mortem examination proved
Police today warned young vandals who throw stones at buses that they could be jailed for life Officers are to clampdown on the dangerous thugs after a Thamesway bus packed with passengers came under attack in Bull Lane, Rayleigh, on Saturday evening.
A man - holding a box of matches - threatened to blow himself up after flooding his flat with gas. Police were called to St Ann's Road, Southend, to find the street stinking of gas and a man inside a ground floor flat holding a knife to his throat. Residents
It was a case of sunshine all the way for the two Southend High Schools as they almost totally dominated the senior Borough Sports at Garon Park in hot and sultry weather conditions. Trailing in her wake - Westcliff High's Nikki Baynes left the rest of
There was no escape for Brentwood vicar Ian Jorysz when he volunteered to be locked in the stocks to raise funds for a church appeal. Parishoners handed over their cash to give the popular reverend from St Peter's Church in South Weald a jolly good soaking
Traders were today fighting plans to demolish a parade of shops and kill off 40 jobs. A planning application has been submitted to Castle Point Council to knock down the parade, near Benfleet railway station, and replace it with a housing development.
Youngsters took advantage of the weekend's fine weather as a pre-school threw open its doors for a fun day. Face painting, a bouncy castle, a hook-a-duck game and a tombola were all on offer at the Maldon Community Pre-School fundraiser. Parents considering
Improving sports facilities across the town and increasing the number of school pupils taking part in physical activities are cornerstones of two new Southend Council strategies. Cabinet members will hear today the intended future of sport in the borough
Police are hunting a man who approached two nine-year-old girls at a Witham playground and threatened one with a knife The girls were playing on swings by Stevens Road, near The John Bramston School, when the attack happened at 7.30pm yesterday. A police
One in three people in the Basildon district cannot afford get on to the property ladder, a survey has revealed. The Housing Needs Survey by Basildon Council looks at the current housing situation in the district and is used by the authority to decide
Sam Stockley promised he will be back better than ever when Colchester United kick-off their pre-season friendlies in 22 days time. The popular 25-year-old full-back is already well on the way to recovery after undergoing surgery to both legs in a Leicester
A music teacher was celebrating today after he scooped a top award at the equivalent of the teaching Oscars. Michael Murfin, who teaches at Castle View School, in Meppel Avenue, Canvey, said he was still stunned by the news he had beaten thousands of
Evacuation - drivers being waved on by staff at Sainsbury's. Picture: STEVE ARGENT Shoppers were forced to leave a supermarket after a fire broke out today Firefighters were called out to Sainsbury's store at Tollgate, Colchester, at about 10am when automated
Crash driver Lorraine Barber walked away from her wrecked car leaving two injured passengers trapped upside down. Barber, 41, had already driven away from another collision in which an 11-year-old boy was badly shaken, Basildon Crown Court was told. The
Five storey block of flats could soon be fronting onto William Hunter Way if the ambitious plans get the go ahead from Brentwood Council. The residential block would be the first of its kind on what was previously known as the North Service Road. The
An old school chum of the prankster who claimed to have kissed Prince William on both cheeks today recalled their time together at the posh City of London Boys' School. Anthony Hegedus, a 36-year-old IT manager, of Harebell Close, Billericay, told how
Holland Park Primary School are back among the trophies. Never mind Wimbledon, the Clacton school secured their 18th sports trophy of the year with victory in the Kirby Tennis Club Schools Short Tennis Tournament. This time it was the turn of the seven
Essex cricket's young-guns could be squaring off against England fast bowler Alex Tudor and number three batsman Mark Butcher in tomorrow's second XI Trophy game against Surrey at Castle Park, Colchester. Surrey coach Alan Butcher has pencilled in England
A primary school is to be shut down after being in special measures for more than two years. St Anne's School, in Colchester, has been without a permanent headteacher since Will Hawkesworth resigned in January 2002. Closing down - pupils arriving at St
Two girls were left distressed after a man indecently exposed himself. The girls were walking to a secondary school along Bluebottle Grove in Lexden when a man approached them and opened his rain coat. Det Sgt Roger Napier said: "After the man exposed
A man has been jailed for a burglary at the mental health unit where he had been receiving treatment. Mark Dutnall also handled stolen property from The Linden Centre at Broomfield Hospital, a court heard. Dutnall, 22, was stopped by police in Moulsham
Train operator c2c has apologised to customers following another morning of commuter hell - caused by cable problems and a cow. Travellers endured severe delays during the rush hour yesterday following two overhead wiring faults. The chaos was made even
Three teachers had their drinks spiked with laxatives at a special school. Police are treating the incident as a poisoning. The three members of staff at a children's support unit at The Avenue, Benfleet, had taken a break for lunch yesterday at about
A man was starting a jail sentence today for a £68,000 rip-off which netted him expensive cars and jet skis. John Benson used stolen cheques to buy two Mercedes cars and two jet skis, a court heard. Benson, 46, used local newspapers and the internet to
Youngsters went on a sponsored toddle to raise cash for good causes. Picture: ROB SAMBROOK The 10 O'Clock Mother and Toddler Club in Great Oakley held the walk to boost its funds and to help children's charity Barnardo's. Thirty people set off from the
A violent career criminal was today walking free after being released from prison because of a judge's mistake. Appeal Court judges overturned a four-year jail sentence imposed on Mark Jefford for attacking and robbing a neighbour of £8. They quashed
Braintree town centre may see the advent of a Sunday Christmas market during the festive season The possibility of extra market days in the run up to Christmas was discussed at a Town Centre Strategy Group meeting. Ken Game, group chairman, said: "There
Brilliant sunshine saw record numbers flock to Tiptree carnival. Crowds watched as 15 carnival floats paraded through the village before making their way to Grove Road park. Tiptree jam giant's boss Peter Wilkin officially opened the carnival. There were
You'd have to go a long way to find a bookie prepared to offer odds against Mark Evans' fabulous Wickford side waltzing away with the Second Division promotion. Wickford have won all but one of their league matches this season and West Essex, hovering
A coach carrying children and staff on a school trip caught fire on the A12. Three appliances, two from Chelmsford and one from Great Baddow, went to the incident on the London bound track between the A130 and the Galleywood turn off at 9am today. The
Safety chiefs have been accused of putting children's lives at risk after axing a school crossing patrol because the road is too dangerous The safety patrol was withdrawn on Friday after a lollipop lady was almost knocked down in Colchester. It is the
Southend United have finally solved their goalkeeping headache by agreeing a two-year contract with Carl Emberson. The 29-year-old, who played under Blues boss Steve Wignall at his former club Colchester, will join on a free transfer after being released
The controversial entrance to Southend Pier is now fully open to the public. Confusion reigned last month when the new steel and glass structure was officially opened and then closed a few days later. Contrast - the new pier entrance has attracted criticism
Essex County Council is to pilot a three year project to raise awareness of disabled rights and benefits across the county. The Community Legal Service Partnership (CLSP) will oversee an extensive training programme to help front line staff identify people's
A teenager had his mobile phone stolen by a man in Chalkwell Park. Police say the 16-year-old had been talking to the man just after 10.30pm on Friday when he turned on him and demanded to know if he had a mobile phone. The boy handed over his Nokia phone
Arsonists were today being blamed after a car was set on fire just feet away from an electrical sub-station. Firefighters called to the scene in Beveland, Canvey, at 10.45pm yesterday were met with huge flames pouring from the burning vehicle and black
A pair of teachers have won their way through to the national finals of a prestigious awards ceremony. Rowena Simmons, of Stanway School, Colchester, and Judy Hilton, of Little Waltham Primary, Chelmsford, were honoured at this year's Teaching Awards.
Taxi fares are to rise in the early hours to encourage more drivers to work and hopefully help to stamp out town centre violence. The proposals will be considered by the council's licensing committee at its meeting on Monday and are expected to be given
Police were today investigating an arson attack in a high rise block which could have left ten people dead. A 12 ft long trail of flammable liquid was poured from the staircase up to and against the door of a seventh floor home in Longbow flats, Sherwood
Two pizza parlour workers today told how they got the shock of their lives when they were struck by lightning. Braintree teenagers Stephen Kelly, 18, of Hunter Drive, and Matthew Walter, 17, of Dover Close, were left shaken but not stirred when the thunderbolt
