Essex seamer Andrew McGarry has picked up another injury in a summer that started so promisingly but has quickly gone wrong. When the Basildon-born seamer began the season with a five-wicket haul against Cambridge University and he was picked to spearhead
A widow today called for a change in the law after a driver whose lorry was involved in the accident in which her husband died walked out of court with a ban and fine Phyllis Leather, of Southgreen Gardens, Clacton, could not bear to go to the case yesterday
Thousands of holidaymakers breathed a sigh of relief when a proposed 24-hour strike by Greek air traffic controllers was called off. The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) said more than 18,000 tourists could have suffered long airport delays
Detectives are appealing for information after burglars broke into a house and stole a safe containing items worth £10,000. The theft happened between 1.40pm and 2pm yesterday at a house in Roach Avenue, Rayleigh. Police are not sure how the thieves got
Taxi drivers in Colchester today paid tribute to the six military policemen who were killed in Iraq. Brian Andrews, of the Colchester Hackney Carriages Association said they were devastated by the news. Paying their respects - taxi drivers Brian Andrews
A fresh appeal has been made for witnesses to an accident which left a 90-year-old woman with serious injuries. The Dovercourt woman is still in hospital but in a stable condition. She was left with multiple fractures after the accident in Main Road,
The bombshell news that Brentwood Council is exploring the possibility of redeveloping its sheltered housing scheme at The Retreat, off Costead Manor Road, has left many residents shocked. Consultations on the controversial proposals for the 16 bungalow
Firefighters put out a blaze in a mid Essex sports club in the early hours of today Two pumps from Braintree fire station and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were called to Cressing Sports and Social Club in Jeffrey's Road, Tye Green, at 2.45am
Booklets outlining Southend's social care strategies to help adults with learning difficulties have been launched. Opening doors - Ruth Bull, head of learning disabilities, with Paul, 39, and Kerri, 30 Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY The booklets - Opening Doors
A man has told how he trained alongside one of the Colchester-based soldiers murdered by an angry mob in Iraq this week. Lance Cpl Steven Cross, from Canvey, was in the same platoon as Military Policeman Lance Cpl Benjamin Hyde, one of the six men killed
Helen Crook has lined up a second round ladies' doubles clash with Martina Navratilova at Wimbledon. The Basildon player teamed up with Anna Hawkins to triumph in their first round match on court four yesterday. The partnership defeated Austrian Barbara
Boyce Hill Ladies staged a Guest Day with the morning competition being a Four Ball Better Ball Stableford off seven-eighths handicap which was won by Louise Daniels and Channels visitor Lyn Fazzani with 45 points. Rita Smith (Freshwater, Isle of Wight
A campaign is being launched to fight plans for a controversial shake-up of special needs education. Parents of children at Kingsdown School, in Snakes Lane, Eastwood, are joining forces to stop it changing from a school for two to 16-year-olds to those
A warning was today issued to residents to be aware of would-be thieves posing as workmen. Residents in the Great Clacton area alerted police after reports of bogus callers knocking on doors pretending to be workmen there to do a job. However, police
A Writtle resident is calling for action on a killer road following the second death crash within six weeks Colin Turbard, 23, from Ilford, was killed on the A414, just west of Writtle village, when his Suzuki Bandit 600 bike was in collision with a Toyota
A Christmas card posted in Chelmsford in December 2002 has finally arrived in Broomfield - just in time for Midsummer Day Pensioner Mary Bickmore was shocked when the pristine card from her sister-in-law, Win Johnson, of Springfield Park, came through
Big Frank Bruno was a knockout when he handed out prizes to artistic children at Lakeside Shopping Centre in Thurrock. The ex-world heavyweight champion revealed he will know by September if his bid for a comeback is successful. Well done - Frank Bruno
The Basildon District Pool League turned out to be a bonanza for Wickford Snooker A. Picture: MAXINE CLARKE They not only took the Premier Division title, but also collected the League Cup, Charity Shield and individual honours. They were also top points
Demonstrators will be hitting Billericay High Street on Saturday as they highlight the injustices in world trade. Supporters of the Justice Trade Movement in the town will be joining other groups across the country to demonstrate and lobby their local
A betrayed wife has been jailed for life for stabbing her husband to death. Rita Salmon, 55, lured Derek Salmon to his death by getting their only daughter Tara to call him to her home in Victoria Gardens, in High Woods, Colchester. It was there, at his
David Ruud will finally have the opportunity of making his home debut for Arena-Essex when he takes his place in their line-up tonight when they take on Newcastle in the first leg of the Knockout Quarter Final tie. The second leg has been arranged for
A heartless thief snatched a 75-year-old woman's handbag just moments after she had collected her pension from the post office. The woman was walking in Castleton Road, Southchurch, when the thief rode up behind her on a bike and grabbed her bag, which
Policy makers at Essex County Council are understood to be considering the possible sale of the council's remaining elderly people's homes. The Essex Chronicle understands that the cross-party Policy Development Group discussed the issue behind closed
Leigh residents are being urged to come along and find out more about running an allotment at an open day being held next month. The allotments at Manchester Drive in Leigh will be open to the public on Sunday July 6 for the third annual event to be held
Prayers were said today for the six Colchester soldiers killed while defending a police station in Iraq. The military policemen were being remembered at a service of thanksgiving at Chichester Cathedral, close to the home of the Royal Military Police
The first football team in Essex made up entirely of asylum seekers has secured a place in the Southend Borough Football Combination. Southend Wanderers, which will be made up of players from Somalia, Poland, Kosovo, Albania, Turkey and other countries
A betrayed wife has been jailed for life for stabbing her husband to death. Rita Salmon, 55, lured Derek Salmon to his death by getting their only daughter Tara to call him to her home in Victoria Gardens, in High Woods, Colchester. It was there, at his
A bid to use more land at a Walton holiday park to site caravans on has been given the thumbs-down by town councillors after protests from nearby residents. Frinton and Walton Town Council last night decided to recommend refusal for the extra use of the
A nurse has been struck off after manhandling a handicapped patient at a Billericay care home. Mahammed Jeerooburkhan grabbed the autistic and epileptic man by his neck and locked him in his room, a disciplinary hearing at the Nursing and Midwifery Council
A part-time firefighter fought back the flames with an extinguisher in a bid to save his pub from being burnt to the ground. Chris Sanderson, 42, and his son and nephew battled to control the blaze, which broke out at the Royal Albion in High Street,
Southend United boss Steve Wignall was impressed with his players on their return to pre-season training. The Shrimpers reported back to their Boots and Laces training camp yesterday and were put through their paces by Wignall and head coach Stewart Robson
Two Stansted-based airlines have been named among the top 40 companies in the world for reshaping the global economy by a US magazine. WIRED, the American magazine which looks at future trends, ranked FedEx at number 12 and Ryanair at number 30 on the
Steve Board has recovered from his toe injury and is back for Hadleigh's clash with Gidea Park and Romford tomorrow. Fresh from their first Premier Division win of the season last week, Hadleigh make one other change, with Danny Margerum replacing the
An injury crisis has crippled Essex Eels as they prepare to host leaders Ipswich Rhinos tomorrow. Eels are still hopeful of making the Harry Jepson Trophy play-offs and will have the three Ms -- scrum-half Jimmy Meadows and centres Rob Martin and Mario
The owner of a Rayne coach company has slammed the council after a planning appeal to relocate his business was dismissed. Leslie Smith, of Fargo Coachlines, appealed against Braintree Council's decision not to grant permission for the company to demolish
Although the Twenty20 Cup proved to be a welcome money-spinner for the county, the on-field performances failed to match the success off the pitch Even before the last match with Middlesex had been staged on Tuesday, Essex found themselves eliminated
A student is leaving the luxuries of home to embark on a mission to Uganda - if readers back her cause. Jennifer Fraser, 23, of Runnymede Chase, Thundersley, will be spending her break from the University of Sussex working in Uganda with registered charity
They were low on numbers and well beaten, but Southend Sabres had one great moment to remember this derby by. Although they conceded four touchdowns, their own TD at the start of the second half was one that will live long in the memory of Dave Gowers
A new anti-crime group is targeting criminals who pick on Essex University students. The problem-solving team has been set up under the Colchester Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership's United Solutions (US) scheme. Students at the university have
Councillors were today thrashing out details of a new policy to boost Castle Point's troubled leisure services. They are already exploring public/private partnership deals, following a damning report from the Audit Commission which said leisure services
Council gardeners were stunned this week after what was described as the worst act of vandalism in a Chelmsford park. A third of the summer bedding plants in Bellmead Park, near High Chelmer, were destroyed in the early hours of Tuesday. Uprooted - These
A man armed himself with two nine-inch kitchen knives before going into a pub and waving them around, a court heard. One customer was injured in the arm when he was accidentally cut and a court also heard how the man said he would kill everyone there.
Social care services for older people in Southend are serving some people well but there is room for improvement, according to a new study. The study by the social services inspectorate highlighted a number of weaknesses in the service and various recommendations
A woman who was seriously injured in a freak accident with a runaway people carrier has been moved out of intensive care. The 61-year-old woman was rescued by members of the public from the wheels of a Ford Galaxy, after it rolled into a group of people
Ronnie Irani has hailed county cricket's new Twenty20 Cup competition a "huge triumph" - even though his team failed to make it past the group stage. "Cricket has been waiting for a bold and explosive venture like this and it has certainly brought the
Parents of children at a Colchester school on special measures have made it clear that they want to see it remain open. More than 40 parents and children of St Anne's Primary School and Nursery met with experts from the Local Education Authority (LEA)
Music students at Clacton County High School have been picked to work on a unique project with the BBC Proms 2003. Musicians from the BBC Symphony Orchestra will be in school for three days to help the students compose, perform and record a soundtrack
Fearful residents today claimed their neighbourhood was being turned into a meeting-point for vandals and drug dealers. Families in Rayside, Basildon, have watched in anger as their local garage units have been systematically broken into, torched and
A heroic mother was today hailed a life-saver after dragging two people from their vehicle only seconds before it exploded into flames. Basildon Hospital worker Mandy West was driving along a deserted road after a wedding reception when she came across
A headteacher received hate mail after her staff spent a school day at Ascot, it was revealed today. Jenny Davies, headteacher of Westborough Primary School in Westcliff, was told she was a "disgrace to the teaching profession" and "scruffy" in an anonymous
Around 2,500 people have signed a petition pleading with the Government to keep the post office open in the centre of Canvey. The appeal comes as Martin's Newsagents - which houses the post office - closes at the end of the month when its lease runs out
The mother of Colchester soldier, Corporal Paul Graham Long, has paid tribute to her son. Cpl Long, 24, who lived in the town, served with town-based 156 Provost Company, Royal Military Police, and was one of the six killed in a seige at a police station
There was a fair amount of success for local golfers when the Essex Seniors Championship was staged at Chelmsford. Overall winner for the Chelmsford Challenge Cup was Colchester's Alan Macnaught with 145. Ray Rantell was runner-up on 149 with previous
Three young members of Southend Swimming Club's diving division made a clean sweep of medals in their respective events at the Southern Counties Age Group Diving Championships at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. Each collected three wins. Youngest
Voices were raised and emotions ran high as the residents and the parish council of Myland came out in protest against the new Northern Approach road. With banners flying, the group shouted their objections as Essex County Council officials cut the ribbon
A country music and line dance festival is being staged in Parkeston in aid of Essex Air Ambulance. This is the fourth year running a Funday Sunday has been held at Parkeston Railway Club for the same charity, and the organisers are hoping it will be
Adults and children in Basildon who require mobility scooters are in for a treat when a new shop comes to town. The Westworld Mobility shop will open in Market Square next month and will not only stock vehicles for adults, but will also have an exciting
A storm of protest blew up after council officials released critical figures just hours before a crunch meeting. Maldon district councillors met last night to discuss for a final time whether land should be set aside for a new multi-million pound civic
Carers and supporters of people with mental health problems were today being invited to find out about vital employment and training services. The charity Rethink was hosting an open house at 10 Benfleet Road, Hadleigh, to show how it helps people return
Canvey Island swimming club remain in pole position for a first ever Essex mini league title after their third weekend win in succession. Another storming victory pushed them 58 points clear of second placed local rivals Runnymede, thanks to some excellent
Police today warned parents and youngsters to be vigilant after a van driver tried to entice a schoolgirl into his van. The incident came as police also issued an alert about a motorist who has been following a group of boys on their way home from school
A survey to gauge the public's health priorities will be handed out in Thurrock during NHS Week next week. As an incentive to fill it in, all entries will be put into a draw and the first two pulled out will receive £10 shopping vouchers. Other events
Essex Chronicle readers have made Chelmsford teenager Stuart Rayner's dream of having an electric wheelchair come true. Thirteen-year-old Stuart has been presented with a new chair, which will mean that he can live his last years to the full. "I am so
A pressure group has been launched in support of the Bathside Bay development at Harwich. Traders, councillors and a conservation group are all behind the new organisation. Speak Out (Support Port Extension And Kill Off Unemployment Threat) is an umbrella
Another superlative performance from Southend AC's Adam Hickey highlighted the South of England Championships at Portsmouth. Taking part in the under-17 3,000 metres, Hickey left a strong field trailing in his wake to win by more than ten seconds clear
Firefighters are warning of the potential fatal consequences of mindless malicious calls after a Billericay school pupil's hoax. The move comes after an elderly woman was found dead in her flat following a fire while Basildon crews were attending Ramsden
Thousands of visitors are expected to gather in Lake Meadows on Saturday (June 28) to make "once a year friends" at the annual Fun Day. More than 40 of Billericay's groups and organisations who normally never meet up will be coming together for a date
A long-awaited skateboard facility should be taking shape within a few months. Rayleigh Town Council finally won planning permission for the hardstanding in King George V playing field, in Eastwood Road, Rayleigh, after a long-running dispute with Rochford
A Witham company will be among the first to know what number shirt David Beckham will be wearing For design firm Chris Kay International, in Station Road, has announced it will be making the numbers and letters for imprinting on to the official kit of
