New dad Aareon Down had the shock of his life when his girlfriend gave birth on the back seat of their car while he was driving her to hospital. Safe and well - baby Ebony with mum Charlotte Eastley Picture: DEREK ARGENT The 27-year-old didn't even have
There is still more transfer activity to come at Upton Park following the arrival of Hayden Mullins and Robbie Stockdale last week. Manager Alan Pardew does not believe his squad is big enough to sustain a promotion challenge as things stand, and points
Essex Police is hoping to reduce peoples chances of becoming a burglary victim, especially now the nights are getting darker quicker. With the clocks going back one hour last Sunday, Insp Dave Northcott, the force crime reduction officer, said: "Over
Colchester United Football Club is urging children to Be Safe, Be Seen this winter. The club has teamed up with the Government to promote the THINK! road safety campaign. It highlights the fact that children should wear fluorescent clothes when out on
A Stansted worker whose parachute failed to open during a charity skydive insisted the incident was nothing to make a fuss about. Janine Harris, office co-ordinator for the Stansted-based cargo carrier Volga Dnepr, took part in a 13,500ft skydive late
Colchester clubbers could be staying out later if plans to extend a nightclub's opening hours are given the go ahead. An application by Queen Street club Route to stay open until 1am on Mondays and Tuesdays and until 2am on Wednesdays is due to be considered
Another around-town bus service in Witham faces the axe, it has been revealed. The number 38 bus is a commercial service operated by First, and serves much of the north of the town, including Forest Drive, Redwood Close, Humber Road and Chipping Hill.
Mystery surrounds the sale of an Ongar public house which, until recently, had been the subject of a planning battle to turn it into housing. The row over the Foresters Arms in High Ongar has taken another twist with the news that it has been sold to
Chaos was caused to rush hour traffic in Chelmsford following a road accident near the Army and Navy roundabout. An Essex Police spokesman said a Vauxhall Nova car had been involved in a collision with three vehicles on Parkway between the Odeon roundabout
A family of gipsies was today celebrating a High Court victory protecting them from eviction by Basildon Council. The Cooper family faced being removed from green belt land behind Fanton Hall Cottages, in Harrow Road, North Benfleet, where they have lived
A new and improved family planning clinic, which has been officially opened, is to pilot an innovative screening service. Special service - John Kingsley-Ward stands by the centre named after him, with centre manager Karen Payne Picture: MAXINE CLARKE
Firefighters dealt with six fires at the same spot in Harwich. A burning pile of grass cuttings was set alight several times under the Phoenix Bridge, on the A120, during the weekend. Developers are clearing land nearby and the fires have happened in
Five police cars were needed to stop a speeding motorist after a car chase, a court was told. Chelmsford Crown Court heard how 30-year-old Nicholas Staines, of Glendale Gardens, Leigh, sped off when he saw police and reached speeds of 70mph in a 30mph
Hotshots from Basildon Disabled Sports Club proved they were among some of the country's top guns following a hat-trick of competitions. On target - (l-r) Adam Fontain, Betty Jeffery and Terry Nelson Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL Terry Nelson picked up two
Youngsters in Tendring want the voting age lowered to 16. That's the message from those who took part in a special initiative aimed at getting more teenagers to vote. The result at the polls reveal that the majority felt they should be able to slot their
Devastated Pauline Knight believes her two cherished donkeys have been stolen to order by professional thieves. Pauline, 51, of Chapman View, off Marine Parade, Canvey, could not believe her eyes when she went to her stables and found Wurzel and Donald
A warning was today issued to traders urging them to make sure their premises are secure after a spate of break-ins. Three companies based in Charfleets industrial estate, Canvey, have been targeted by thieves and police are keen to alert other traders
Runners raced their way along Clacton seafront to raise cash for a good cause. Organiser Jason Ridgeon, of Jubliee Avenue, is calling the eighth fun run the best yet. The Clacton postman has been helping to organise the bi-yearly events for about four
A new multi-storey car park is on the cards for Colchester... while other town centre car parks face the chop. Transport bosses in the town are eyeing up the bus station site off Queen's Street as a base for a new multi-storey with room for hundreds of
East Thurrock United and Grays Athletic will tonight be bidding to make the first round of the FA Cup. The pair travel to Conference clubs for fourth qualifying round replays with the prize of joining Thurrock in the first round in their sights. Ryman
A hairdresser from Colchester has narrowly missed being voted as the UK's top young stylist in a nationwide competition. Ian Duggan, 21, pitted his skills with comb and scissors against seven others in the Student Hairdresser of the Year contest at London's
Mike Goff (left) of the Hollywood Restaurant, Shipwrights Lane, Benfleet, receives a Sceptre League tie from league chairman Malcolm Binstead. Picture: DAVE HENDERSON The Hollywood Restaurant has been sponsoring the league for four years. "He's a nice
Shelters for teenagers to meet in and more play facilities for disabled children are among the measures being considered for Witham's young people. Witham Town Council's playground sub-committee, set up in the summer, is reviewing safety, how the existing
Castle Point Council is to fork out more than £3,000 after a worker fell through an asbestos roof and injured his ankle. Southend Magistrates' Court heard how self employed doubleglazing fitter Paul Vidler was trimming a window at a council-owned home
Car owners woke up to discover thousands of pounds worth of damage to their vehicles in Harwich. Vandals targeted a row of parked cars in West Street, running up a total repair bill of £3,000. The incident happened between 10pm on Friday and the early
Southend United and Canvey look set to miss out on sharing a £100,000 bonus for their FA Cup first round tie being shown live on television. Although an official announcement from the Football Association is not due until later today, it is understood
Taxpayers will no longer have to fork out to save a piece of Colchester's history. The former Charles Brown and Sons hardware store in East Street includes buildings dating back to the 14th century. Due to the state of repair, Essex County Council had
Colchester-based firm Hutton Shopfitting has won two major contracts to change the face of well-known names on the High Street. The Hutton team has won a £1.4 million rolling contract to convert dozens of former convenience shops into a new generation
Colchester United manager Phil Parkinson believes Adrian Coote struggled with the pressure of being the club's record signing. Parkinson was speaking after the big striker had his contract terminated by mutual consent. Then-U's boss Steve Whitton paid
A woman suffered suspected spinal injuries when she fell from her horse in a riding accident. She had been riding across a field in Ramsey when the incident happened at about 11am on Sunday. Emergency services had to get to her by tractor because the
Wayne Tredwell cashed in with the boot as Thurrock beat Bank of England 18-15 at Oakfield in London 2N. Their third win of the season should have been far more comprehensive and coach Tim Hughes was pleased with the performance. He said: "It looks a tight
Scores of people turned up at a bazaar to support a church which has been repeatedly targeted by vandals. Soft option - Samantha Verlander and Jeanne Gubb at the event Picture: ROB BROWNE Congregation members at Canvey Methodist Church, in the island's
A protest campaign has been launched by Vange families to halt the building of a refuge for unmarried teenage mothers. Not here - field users, disabled Peter Turvey and Reilly Gray, 11 with other people who use the field Picture: MAXINE CLARKE About 50
A right to speak at town council meetings and attend all council functions are among the ideas to rejuvenate Witham's youth council. It was set up by Witham Town Council about three years ago to provide a forum in which teenagers could exchange views
An Essex charity is looking for volunteers from Braintree and Witham to stand up for the rights of pensioners in the district. North Essex Advocacy Teams (Neat), which provides advocacy partnerships to people over 60 who are experiencing difficulties
Former England captain and Arsenal legend Tony Adams joked with security guards and warmly greeted the Evening Echo when he appeared in Southend - for divorce proceedings. Despite his light-hearted touch, the 37-year-old, at Southend County Court for
Southend United will use tonight's Essex Senior Cup match with Ford United at Roots Hall to step up the fitness of a host of first-team players. The Ryman Premier side, managed by Blues' former youth coach Craig Edwards, cemented their place in the FA
Billericay youngsters are running out of time to get their hands on prizes courtesy of the town's Cater Museum. Making a point - Alex Win and Christine Brewster of the Cater Museum with the dagger Picture: TERENCE BUNCH The museum has joined forces with
Police stations in Essex are set to receive a £500,000 boost to improve facilities for its vulnerable victims scheme. The money is part of a £20million grant announced by the Home Office which will be shared between stations across the country. In Essex
A keen angler has been left devastated after thieves made off his prized collection of rods. Martin Lungley has lost rods owned by his father, who died ten years ago, and a pair of rods bought by his wife for his birthday. He took the lines to the garage
Westcliff got back on the winning trail with an excellent 19-7 victory at Maldon -- and they did it with 11squad membersmissing through injury. Don Faulkner, Westcliff's director of rugby said after the top-flight win:"It was a gutsy and spirited display
Teacher Alan Liddell is celebrating after scooping a national award. Mr Liddell, 33, a chemistry teacher at Beauchamps School, in Beauchamps Drive, Wickford, won more than £25,000 for the school after winning the Teacher Training Agency Award for Science
Vandals trashed a string of phone boxes on a rampage through Southend High Street. Smashed - phone boxes in Southend High Street Picture: ROB BROWNE The boxes were all smashed over the weekend in the latest attack of drunken violence to hit the town.
Scouts in Thorpe have staged a major fireworks display for many years but a dampener was put on proceedings when it looked as though it may have to be scrapped this year. The event only broke even last time due to terrible weather and 3rd Thorpe Scouts
Get fit for free and make friends at the same time - that is the aim of a new exercise programme designed to get Wickford people walking and talking. The Billericay, Brentwood and Wickford NHS Primary Care Trust says its new Healthy Walking initiative
Low-cost operator Ryanair will soon launch its 13th Spanish route. Ryanair's new service will fly to Valladolid, the former capital of the Spanish Empire, and the city where Christopher Columbus died. The twice-daily flights between Stansted airport and
A primary care trust has asked the Government not to go ahead with plans to sell off part of a hospital's unused land. The 0.76 hectare piece of land at Harwich Hospital had been transferred to the Secretary of State's ownership from Essex Rivers Healthcare
It was a case of jobs galore at Stansted airport. A retail and catering jobs fair was staged by the Stansted airport job centre, which has over 100 vacancies on its books in these categories alone. The idea behind the fair was to provide a meeting place
MP John Baron says he is furious a £4.3million housing development opposed by more than 350 residents could be given the go-ahead by planners in Bristol. The controversial plans for Kings Crescent, Laindon, were turned down by Basildon Council but developers
A girl was involved in an accident after she crossed while pedestrian lights at a busy Colchester junction were still red. The 16-year-old, of Kelvedon, was crossing the Middleborough junction with North Hill at 4.30pm yesterday. A police spokesman said
Praise was today heaped on a new law which allows police to seize unopened cans of booze from under-age drinkers. Cedar Hall councillor Norman Ladzrie told how the loop-hole closing legislation has been welcomed across Thundersley by residents, police
A samaritan in Billericay is urging kind hearted residents in the area to join the charity and help people with emotional distress in the run up to Christmas. Forty-nine-year-old Paul Markey has worked for the Basildon and Thurrock branch for three years
A woman covered in blood and clutching a baby stood screaming from a window after being taken hostage by a man brandishing a gun. Armed police wearing bulletproof vests and protective helmets surrounded a house in Chapel Street North, in Colchester town
Hard grafting midfielder Richard Johnson is ready to give Colchester United more options in the middle of the park. The no nonsense Australian, who had over ten years of first division football with Watford ,is desperate to get back into football after
A campaigning mother today called on the Government to "get tough" with Egyptian authorities over claims her son was tortured by police. Abi Nawaz, of London Road, Westcliff, is demanding urgent action in a meeting with foreign officer minister, Baroness
New dad Aareon Down had the shock of his life when his girlfriend gave birth on the back seat of their car while he was driving her to hospital. Safe and well - baby Ebony with mum Charlotte Eastley Picture: DEREK ARGENT The 27-year-old didn't even have
Business owners in Tiptree will not be getting CCTV cameras outside their stores because of a lack of interest in the past. Tiptree Parish Council heard a request had been made for cameras to be placed around shops in the village after a number of recent
Former royal aide Jane Andrews was today on a life-support machine in Southend Hospital. Andrews, who is serving life at Bullwood Hall prison in Hockley for murdering her boyfriend, was taken to the hospital following an apparent suicide attempt. The
Injuries are mounting up for Southend, who have four more players seeking space in the treatment room after picking up injuries in the hefty defeat at Launceston. Luke Irvine could be missing from the front row for three weeks with rib trouble, Nathan
Pupils from across Tendring have put their artistic talents to good use to highlight the dangers of fireworks. Youngsters were asked to come up with posters by the Cheltenham and Gloucester Building Society. The standards of entry were very high and the
