Furious Ongar and North Weald parish councillors have accused Government planning chiefs of making "no effort" to inform the public of the massive development planned for the region. The angry response follows a statement from the East of England Regional
Naked Chef Jamie Oliver dressed down to meet the Queen. The tousle-haired Essex boy turned up at Buckingham Palace without a tie. Moments after collecting his MBE, he said: "I like ties but I prefer not to wear one when I'm nervous. "They said wear whatever
A family claimed victory today after a supermarket backed out of a court date and paid out hundreds of pounds following a petrol pump mix-up. After a six-month battle the Berry family, of Haron Close, Canvey, received a £471 out-of-court settlement from
Two people died following an accident near Stansted Airport. An 18-year-old woman from Harlow was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident near Birchanger at the junction of the A120 and the B1383 at 12.20pm yesterday. She was the passenger in a red
Andy Marshall today admitted he has 'cancelled out' the emotions of being a player at Ipswich Town. The goalkeeper is still on the payroll at Portman Road until the end of the season and trains with the first-team every day - but is yet to make any appearances
A security guard was today under armed guard in hospital after being shot in the thigh outside a nightclub. Scene of shooting - a fleet of police cars at the nightclub complex at Basildon's Festival Leisure Park. Picture: NICK ANSELL Armed police swooped
Snapshots of Tendring will be on display in hospitals to help brighten up the environment for patients and visitors. Photographers from the North Essex Photographic Workshop (NEPW) have been busy with their cameras across Tendring and now the results
Mid-Essex Tories were last night being urged to unite quickly behind a new leader following the vote of no confidence in Iain Duncan Smith. But while MPs and activists were rallying to present a united front, one prominent Tory, Cllr Rodney Bass, a Duncan
Mums-to-be have voiced their anger over the confusion caused by the temporary closure of a Braintree maternity unit. They are also helping to launch a petition protesting against the move. The unit at William Julien Courtauld (WJC) Hospital in London
A generous company has offered up to £30,000 to a campaigning councillor who wants to put a crossing on one of Canvey's busiest roads. Cut off - Fred Cornell, 89, Belinda Tweedle, 94, and councillor Terry Blackwell are delighted KeyMed has offered to
Three Colchester post offices are set to be axed, doubling the total already shut in the town this year. Concerned - resident Brenda Gasson outside the Mile End Post Office in Nayland Road, Colchester. And the shock announcement comes as wildcat strikes
The first phase of a major scheme to improve road safety in Clacton is to get off the ground early next year. Essex County Council is pumping £69,544 into the project in the area of Old Road and Coppins Road. It will involve a mini-roundabout, refuge,
Rebel MP George Galloway called on the people of Southend to demonstrate against Tony Blair. Rallying call - ousted MP George Galloway at last night's meeting Picture: TERENCE BUNCH Speaking at a packed meeting at the Arlington Rooms in Leigh last night
Castle Point Conservative MP Bob Spink today rapped a £9.8million Government grant to bail out the county's schools as "too little too late". Mr Spink was speaking out after the Education and Skills Secretary, Charles Clarke, yesterday announced the extra
A 21-year-old driver had a lucky escape after his car skidded and crashed into a telegraph pole. The man, of Bemerton Gardens, Kirby Cross, was travelling towards Frinton when his car lost control in wet conditions. He crashed into a telegraph pole in
West Ham midfielder Matthew Etherington is returning to his former club tonight with a point to prove. The left-winger spent three seasons at Spurs without ever being able to hold down a regular first team spot. In the summer he left for West Ham and
Five community support officers go on the beat in Uttlesford next week. One will work from Dunmow and four from Saffron Walden but they can be deployed anywhere in the area. They are among 13 officers recruited by the Braintree police division, and their
Nine superb bouts thrilled the punters at Southend ABC's recent show where Mike 'Banger' Hanger was a star of the show. Hanger was Southend's winner in the Ego nightclub marquee, having too much power for Marlow's S Shaw and winning inside 40 seconds.
A health boss has promised to investigate hiring agency midwives for immediate start at Harwich Hospital. Mike Pollard, chief executive of Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust, said he would know within 48 hours whether he could get agency cover so Harwich maternity
A security guard was today under armed guard in hospital after being shot in the thigh outside a nightclub. Scene of shooting - a fleet of police cars at the nightclub complex at Basildon's Festival Leisure Park. Picture: NICK ANSELL Armed police swooped
Wivenhoe Town boss Steve Pitt believes his 'special relationship' with Colchester United manager Phil Parkinson helped him steal a march on his rivals in the hunt for Adrian Coote. Coote made the shock move to the Ryman League division one north side
If you are seeking the perfect present for a Beatles fan, a Colchester charity shop could have just the thing. Music to their ears - Beverley McManus and manager Marina Verlander with the Beatles White Album Picture: TERRY WEEDEN Staff at Sense, Long
Reserve goalkeeper Carl Emberson was the Southend hero at Roots Hall last night as the Blues dumped Ford United out of the Essex Senior Cup. Emberson saved three spot-kicks to ensure the Shrimpers a fourth round berth after Southend striker Michael Husbands
The change in weather has seen a change in the species coming to the bank at Basildon's Aquatels. Predators are now showing in all areas of the lake, with some large pike coming to the bank. Carp are still being caught and Rod Lewsey landed a fish of
River users are claiming that planned increased charges for using Maldon port will extend to yachts as well as commercial vessels. The Maldon Harbour Improvement Commissioners (MHIC) recently announced plans to charge vessels using the port, but had said
A new doctors' surgery with 18 flats has narrowly won the backing of Leigh town councillors. To go? - Dragon Motors could be knocked down and replaced with a doctors' surgery and flats Picture: LUAN MARSHALL The support comes despite fears Leigh is being
Burglars have targeted a school again and stolen a £1,400 projector. The crooks climbed through an unlocked window into Blenheim Primary School, Blenheim Chase, Leigh, and stood on a table to unscrew the silver Sanyo projector. Just over a week ago thieves
A dentist is investing £750,000 in a new state-of-the-art centre with six new surgeries in Clacton. Ramesh Shah is demolishing six properties in Old Road to make way for the development and will start work on the project in January. He expects to have
Labour opposition in Castle Point today demanded the council stopped wasting tens of thousands of pounds and instead used the cash to fight young yobs. Dave and Terry Blackwell - the borough's only two Labour councillors - can't believe an Anti-Social
Southend United shifted the first 600 tickets for their FA Cup first round clash with Canvey Island within a matter of hours. Blues season ticket holders were given first option to snap up seats yesterday for the eagerly-anticipated meeting with their
Police are urging residents to persevere with their calls as improvements continue to call-handling. Chief Spt Sue Harrison asked residents in the Braintree district to continue to hold on when reporting crimes to police at the Police Community Consultative
A massive backlog of mail is piling up at Southend's sorting office after around 300 workers walked out yesterday, halting deliveries to homes and businesses. Today, striking postal workers claimed they were eager to get back to work as talks continued
A hi-tech child safety scheme is set to be introduced at Basildon's Eastgate Shopping Centre next month. The Child Safety Zone project will enable parents to sign-up their children's details to a secure database. Each child is then given a unique identification
Lakeside Shopping Centre is to play host to a children's TV channel next week. Some of the characters appearing at the Nick Jr Live show at Lakeside Shopping Centre The pre-school channel Nick Jr will be at the centre on November 4th and will feature
Plans to axe sports pitches at Old Heath and countryside ranger posts in a bid to save money will be reviewed, Colchester Council said. The council's cabinet last night said it would review the proposals, outlined in a preliminary budget report for the
An impressive collection of lots has been lined up for the Rhys Daniels Banquet charity auction in the hope of the event raising a record amount. Among the items on offer to the highest bidder with be an Albert Square sign signed by the cast of Eastenders
Members of Castle Point Stroke Club have enjoyed a special lunch to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the group. Handover - Castle Point Stroke Club's Eric Wild picks up a cheque watched by secretary Brenda Naylor, treasurer Pauline Freeman, Gill Tyndall
New police initiatives to cut down on loutish behaviour are being hailed a success Officers last week announced plans to try and cut down on the amount of anti-social behaviour in the Frinton, Walton, Kirby and Thorpe area. Last Monday, a joint operation
A super-slimmer who shed an incredible 7st 12lbs has met TV heartthrob Gary Lucy on the journey to possible national glory. Kerry Londors, 28, of Long Riding, Basildon, has fought off competition from 250,000 members through to the grand final of the
South Essex Tory MPs today said they were "gutted" as Iain Duncan Smith was ousted as leader of the Conservative party by 90 votes to 75. Most voted to keep the "quiet man" of politics as the party's figurehead, but their votes failed to save him. Castle
A builder needed medical attention after falling at a Braintree building site yesterday. The man, working on the Bovis Homes site in Claypits Way, Braintree, was taken to Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, after the incident, which happened at 8.30am. A
If you are seeking the perfect present for a Beatles fan, a Colchester charity shop could have just the thing. Music to their ears - Beverley McManus and manager Marina Verlander with the Beatles White Album Picture: TERRY WEEDEN Staff at Sense, Long
West Ham's goal shortage was to blame for their failure to beat Spurs in the Carling Cup last night. An extra-time strike from Bobby Zamora -- his first for Tottenham -- finally sank the brave Hammers, but only after they had created match-winning chances
Stuart Alliston got some consolation for missing out on the biggest golfing day in Rochford Hundred's calendar when he took the Baltic Cup -- a bogey competition -- this weekend. Five handicapper Alliston was reckoned to be a good bet for honours at the
Geoff Skelton took the fast handicap class honours in the fourth race of the Adnams Cruiser Winter Series. The lead changed several times in the race at Brandy Hole Yacht Club, Hull-bridge, before Skel-ton's GK29 "Rumours" saw off the challenge of Lou
More than two years of battling failing standards is finally paying off at the Thorpe Bay School, Southend Council said. Exam results in key tests for pupils are showing sure signs of improvement, a spokesman added. She added: "GCSE and national test
Scary calls to her work phone have prompted a young woman to raise cash for a personal safety charity. Emily Wood will throw herself out a plane with just a parachute for safety in November to raise funds for the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. In 1986, estate agent
A brave battle from Alan Pardew's depleted squad could not see them secure a famous win at their local rivals -- but they can leave with their heads held high. It took an extra-time strike from Bobby Zamora -- ironically a West Ham fan as a youngster
The local branch of the Faculty of Building will be holding their annual Anglian Lecture at the Moot Hall, Colchester on November 7. The event has been running for the past 16 years and this year the lecture is on the subject of the Channel Tunnel Rail
Leigh golfers Keith Ballinger and Dave Carey tasted success in the Daily Telegraph/Wilson Match-play Championship. The Tyree Rivers Golf and Country Club pair, who both play off 11, won five rounds including the area final at The Warren. This was a tense
A furious customs officer blasted a decision to close the top floors of a multi-storey car park in Southend's town centre. The council shut three floors of Baxter Avenue car park after engineers were not satisfied the building could take the weight of
Arcade bosses have been given the thumbs-up to expand their premises - despite police fears it would lead to an increase in youth nuisance. Bosses at Funzone, in Furtherwick Road, Canvey, applied to Castle Point Council for permission to take over the
Westcliff Hardcourts were celebrating a quartet of championships in the Essex leagues. Three of the successes came in veterans competition and the other in the senior league. The men's over-45 team got things rolling by beating Gidea Park 6-2 in their
Police in Wickford are urging residents to be on their guard after an elderly woman was duped into handing over money to bogus callers. Two women targeted an elderly couple in the town and tricked them into giving them a total of £150. The incident happened
After more than 30 years of selling ice cream and sweets, the landmark Rossi kiosk in the heart of Southend has been demolished. Since 1973 a generation of children and adults has queued up outside the kiosk, which stood in the middle of the High Street
Police were today scouring CCTV footage from the Festival Leisure Park to piece together the last minutes before the shooting. Scene of shooting - a fleet of police cars at the nightclub complex at Basildon's Festival Leisure Park. Picture: NICK ANSELL
Northlands Park regular Norman Kenward fished the venues cafe lake to take a 30lb-plus bream haul in an afternoon session. Norman fished the Christmas tree swim on the western side of the lake to find the fish eager to take his bait. Alternating between
The FA Cup first round seaside special between Southend United and Canvey Island at Roots Hall will be played on Sunday week with a 3pm kick-off. As with the last competitive meeting between the two sides three years ago , when Blues beat the Gulls 2-
A health boss has promised to investigate hiring agency midwives for immediate start at Harwich Hospital. Mike Pollard, chief executive of Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust, said he would know within 48 hours whether he could get agency cover so Harwich maternity
