The biggest shake-up of Essex fire service in decades will switch resources from fighting fires to prevention. The proposals, due to be launched on Guy Fawkes Night, traditionally one of the busiest of the year, represent a change in emphasis for the
Colchester will want to get back to winning ways when they visit bottom-of-the-table Mersea Island tomorrow (2.30pm kick-off). Mersea are looking for their first league win of the season while Colchester, having won their first three London Division Four
A monster cat, four feet high, has been spotted in Quendon Woods, between Stansted and Saffron Walden. The cat, coloured brown-red, was seen by a forestry worker from the top of his digger, who afterwards told the police: "I've never been so frightened
After the usual poor start to the season, Brentwood's performance over the past two weeks had been tremendous, with a league win over Saffron Walden and a cup win over Sidcup The club faced another daunting task on Saturday, with a visit from league leaders
Rochford Hundred held their medal winners final over the weekend with Saturday's calmer weather producing much better scoring. Division One winner on Saturday was past captain David Turner with a superb 73-4=69 -- five shots clear of closest rival Stephen
A savage thug was today starting a ten-year prison sentence after repeatedly stamping on a stranger's head and causing him brain damage. Vincent Byatt, 24, of The Hyde, Langdon Hills, attacked Peter Jeffries at a deserted Basildon taxi rank shortly after
A stern safety message is once again being issued by Brentwood fire fighters after they dealt with two house fires on Monday. In both cases the properties were not fitted with working smoke alarms and fire fighters have warned that if the fires had taken
Big hearted dancers stepped into the school spirit when they made £1,000 for Southend Hospital. Grand gesture - Lisa Durham, ward manager Claire Whittington and Ann Thompson, sitting behind the cheque, with the staff from Paglesham ward Picture: ROB BROWNE
Cash rewards could be handed out to people who 'shop' South Woodham graffiti vandals to police. The town council is proposing to dish out cash from its coffers to those who provide information leading to an arrest or conviction. Police this week gave
The teams that patrol Tendring's popular beaches during the summer months have just tackled one of their busiest seasons. Almost 900 incidents were recorded over the holiday period covering a wide variety of events Tendring Council's beach patrols and
Police today gave a lift to areas plagued by untaxed and illegally sold cars in Colchester On the move - DVLA and council staff remove a Vauxhall car from Lexden Road. Picture: STEVE ARGENT A major campaign has been started over the past two days to clear
A no-nonsense top cop today warned young troublemakers they will be severely dealt with if they dared cause mayhem during tonight's Halloween festivities. Chief Insp Tony Rayner spoke out after it was revealed a Halloween riot was possibly being planned
Just 30 families and 63 single people are seeking asylum and living in Thurrock. The figures were revealed by John Kent (Lab, Grays Riverside) during a debate about introducing an "asylum truth charter" at Thurrock Council. Neil Peace (Con, Aveley) said
A woman was denied the chance to see her sick father on the day he suffered a stroke because she could not find a place to park at Colchester General Hospital. Maria Locke, of Valentines Drive, Colchester, said she drove for five miles around the car
The vision of Southend's burgeoning future is rapidly taking shape as work on the landmark £52million university building continues apace. Taking shape - the new college landmark in Southend Picture: ROB BROWNE Scheduled to be finished next August, the
Sunday saw the Chieftains at home for their only game of the weekend against the Telford Wild Foxes. A quirk in the fixture calendar meant that, as with Milton Keynes the week before this was the second and final league trip of the opponents to Riverside
An emphatic victory over arch rivals Ipswich, including hat-tricks from Lynn Bollington and Lisa Wooding, saw Chelmsford open up a three point lead at the top of the Premier Division at Tuddenham Road on Saturday. This was undoubtedly the best result
A Wickford post office could shut after claims there are too many branches in the area. Post Office bosses have said there are too few customers to support the 16 post offices in Basildon district, including Wickford and Billericay. They have said other
Basildon AC's Denise Dignum pulled off her first cross-country triumph when she won the under-13 girls' race at the second of this season's Essex League meetings. The event was hosted by Thurrock Harriers and held at One Tree Hill and, after finishing
Joe Royle was today celebrating his second Nationwide League manager-of-the-month award since joining Ipswich Town. The Blues chief was Division One's outstanding candidate after five straight wins and a draw in October. To cap the achievement, Town have
After a whirlwind introduction to life at Upton Park, manager Alan Pardew is looking forward to catching his breath after the weekend. West Ham's trip to Coventry will be his fourth game since taking full charge on October 20 and that punishing schedule
Winegrowers are not alone celebrating bumper harvests this year - Southend maternity wards are reporting record crops of vintage quality. Proud parents - Sharon and Keith Slade with baby Ben Picture: DAVE HENDERSON Midwives at Southend Hospital are predicting
Maldon District Council will be prosecuted by the Health and Safety Execu-tive over the death of a bather in Marine Lake last year. The district council has received a summons from the HSE to appear before Witham magistrates on December 1 after a year-long
Let virtual battle commence! Seventeen youngsters from Witham's Templars estate took part in a PlayStation tournament, at Templars Junior School in Cressing Road to keep half-term boredom at bay. Braintree Council, Witham police and Templars Community
A monster cat, four feet high, has been spotted in Quendon Woods, between Stansted and Saffron Walden. The cat, coloured brown-red, was seen by a forestry worker from the top of his digger, who afterwards told the police: "I've never been so frightened
Billericay Town boss Justin Edinburgh admits that he's looking forward to a brief break from the pressures of battling in the Ryman Premier when the club start their FA Trophy challenge tomorrow. Town are rock bottom in the league and start their Trophy
Alan White is back. The big-spirited Colchester United defender is in the squad for tonight's Nationwide League Second Division clash at Wrexham and is hoping to get the nod to partner skipper Scott Fitzgerald in defence. Back in the frame - U's boss
Gentle giant Frank Bruno has vowed to be back on stage in pantomime this Christmas. The ex-heavyweight boxing champion who is recovering from mental health problems is to perform as the genie of the lamp in Aladdin at the Swan Theatre in High Wycombe
Drinkers at The Blue Boar pub in Billericay High Street can enjoy a number of award-winning real ales in spooky surroundings when it hosts a beer festival this week. They don't just serve spirits - a range of real ales are on offer during a Halloween
Postboxes across Essex could be be sealed up today as a result of continuing postal strikes. Unofficial strikes by postal workers are causing a backlog in mail deliveries across the county as staff in 16 of the county's 93 delivery offices have walked
Special constable Colin Smith has handed in his resignation after being caught without car tax. Mr Smith from Long Lynderswood, Lee Chapel North, Basildon, won a bravery award earlier this month, but was facing an internal investigation because he has
Fears a new phone mast could interfere with radios and televisions and damage health are no reason to refuse a planning application, Castle Point Council has said. Ian Burchill, the borough's director of planning told the committee that radio and television
A desperate plea has been issued to fathers across the district to help shape the future of fatherhood in Epping Forest. A group including Epping Forest Primary Care Trust, the district council and childcare services are calling on dads to tell them what
Dovercourt's prestigious Blue Flag award could be at risk if new European rules on water quality are introduced. The European Parliament has backed new, tougher, levels for bathing water quality. That may mean many British beaches that currently fly the
Post boxes across south Essex could soon be sealed up as wildcat strikes in Southend, Basildon and Leigh showed no signs of abating. Royal Mail bosses warned customers against posting unessential items as they battled to cope with a huge backlog of letters
New Southend United defender Lewis Hunt is looking forward to the challenge of getting stuck into Northampton Town at Roots Hall tomorrow. The 21-year-old has joined Blues on a month's loan from First Division Derby County and is hoping to go straight
Hundreds of Canvey soccer fans queued in wind and rain last night to make sure of getting a seat for the club's big FA Cup tie with neighbours Southend United at Roots Hall. Hours before tickets went on sale for the first time to Gulls' followers, large
Two men have been cleared of pistol-whipping a young man and robbing him of £2,500 in jewellery and property. The two were unanimously found not guilty by a jury of robbing 21-year-old Spencer Vaughan at his bedsit in Coleman Street, Southend. They were
Two Witham sub-post offices are to set to close as the cash-strapped organisation looks to streamline services in the town The proposed closures are in Rickstones Road and Wulvesford on the edge of the town. Earlier this year the company announced two
Concorde may have flown for the last time, but Anglo-French co-operation is alive and well in Witham C'est magnifique - Witham mayor Bob Evans and Grove Centre manager Wendy Barlow and David Pulford sample some French delicacies Picture: SEANA HUGHES
Police were today appealing to anyone who might have seen a man steal £60 worth of fuel from a garage in Benfleet to come forward. The man pulled into the Manor service station forecourt, in Church Road, driving a blue Ford Fiesta. He got out, filled
A burst water main on the A127 caused two-mile tailbacks during the rush hour today. The leak at the Fortune of War junction was first reported shortly before 5am when police spotted significant damage to the outside lane on the London-bound carriage.
The colourful outfits and sprightly step of a Morris dancing group raised St Luke's Hospice a handsome £500. Dancing fundraisers - Morris men Paul Smith, Dave Bennett and Dave Fuller hand the cheque to Marilyn Munt of St Luke's Hospice at the Kings Head
A health worker who looks after elderly patients at Southend Hospital today hit out at "despicable" joyriders who stole, trashed and then dumped her car. Trashed - Christine Musgrove's car was taken by joyriders Picture: MAXINE CLARKE Christine Musgrove
Revellers enjoying Guy Fawkes night on Wednesday have been warned to check their fires for hibernating hedgehogs. Rosie Catford, the owner of Wildlives animal sanctuary in Thorrington, is worried the creatures may be caught up as bonfires are blazing.
South Essex is set for 1,000 new jobs and a hi-tech business centre as a council seeks to privatise key services. Thurrock Council has taken the next step in its move to use a private company to help run its "support services", which include legal affairs
The parents of a six-year-old Clacton boy who suffers from brain damage have told how they face a race against time to raise money to send their son to a centre in Poland for specialist treatment. Appeal - mum Amanda Wakeling hopes the commmunity will
Residents are preparing to fight the possible closure of two Post Office branches in Clacton. The Southcliff branch, in Holland Road, and the St Osyth Road site are both under threat due to new proposals announced by bosses. The Post Office is now going
Southend United have linked up with Essex County FA to bring a carnival atmosphere to tomorrow's Roots Hall clash between the Shrimpers and Northampton Town. The match has been branded the Youth Football Festival and will feature a pre-match series of
Canvey islanders can now take a seafront stroll along a brand new £10,000 footpath, thanks to the efforts of a regeneration group. Members of Canvey 2000 have spent the proceeds from this year's successful Canvey Festival on laying 1,000 metres of blockpathing
A specialist school has been forced to give up trying to raise funds to build a swimming pool for its disabled children Southview School, in Conrad Road, Witham, has been attempting to find £500,000 needed to build the pool for its pupils. But it only
Drinkers using alleyways and doorways as public conveniences are being warned they will be prosecuted. Colchester police have already arrested more than eight people over the last two weekends and will be continuing to clamp down on the offence. Colchester
Commuters faced delays during last night's rush hour after reports of a lorry striking the rail bridge in Oak Road. Essex Police were called at 5.30pm yesterday by someone claiming to have seen a lorry driving at the railway bridge at Rivenhall a number
More than 50 Ford cars in Chelmsford have had £30,000 of radios or CD players stolen in the past three weeks, in what police are now calling a mini crime wave Police know of 52 vehicles being broken into, and Fords believe it will cost around £600 to
A radio system helping Braintree traders identify potential shoplifters has gained more members. Since the beginning of October, five more businesses have signed up to the Town Link initiative, bringing the current number to 27. George Yard shopping centre
When Southend entertain Dings Crusaders from Bristol tomorrow, there will be more than just National League rugby on show at Warners Park. There will also be a fair bit of naked rugby player on display as Southend launch their Tasty Tackle calendar for
Club bosses have vowed to work with police to keep the gun culture out of south Essex. The pledge came after a security guard was shot in the thigh at a Basildon nightclub. He is now recovering following an operation to remove the bullet. The 23-year-old
Trick or treaters in Harwich will face police action if they are caught breaking the law on Hallowe'en. Extra officers have been brought in to stop any trouble tonight. Sgt Peter Wood, of Harwich police, said: "Every year we get numerous calls at Hallowe'en
A naming and shaming campaign could be the next step in a council-led crackdown on the yob culture currently gripping its towns and villages It was one of several suggestions put to Frinton and Walton councillors for future urgent consideration. Residents
A blaze wrecked a converted barn, used as an office, in Green Street, Elsenham, on Tuesday night. Ten firefighters wearing breathing apparatus searched the heavily smoke logged building as they had been told that there might be people inside, but found
Top premiership football stars have been spotted drinking in a Colchester bar and playing the dating game. Manchester City's squad was invited down to Route's over 25s night, and by all accounts were quite happy to match up with the Essex girls. General
Live fireworks have been thrown into phone boxes, postboxes and even into a residential letterbox in Braintree by vandals in the run up to bonfire night And Braintree police have now issued a stark warning to anyone caught using fireworks recklessly that
Two brothers who launched a "frightening and terrifying" attack on a mini-bus driver have each been jailed for 16 months. The driver suffered a broken jaw after being assaulted by Bradley Morgan, 23, and his 25-year-old brother David. They pleaded guilty
Colchester soldiers have been honoured in the first round of awards issued for service in Iraq. Captain Grant Ingleton, 43, of F (Sphinx) Parachute Battery, 7th Parachute Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, has been awarded the Military Cross for his courage
Bitterly disappointed at being controversially denied three valuable Dr Martens League Premier Division points on Saturday, Chelmsford City manager Steve Mosely remains confident that his side will pull away from their current bottom position. "It is
A mother who believes her son died because of the MMR vaccine has refused to have his siblings vaccinated against measles despite warnings of an impending epidemic. Carole Raven, of Charles Close, Westcliff, spoke out after a specialist claimed a drop
A teenage robber was locked up for six years today for a campaign of terror against Colchester shop-keepers. Ashton Wilson armed himself with imitation guns and held up shops in New Town in a bid to get "respect" from his friends. He even called police
Magnolia Road stages a big derby tomorrow when leaders Basildon visit Rochford Hundred in London 4NE. Rochford will be looking to bounce back after their disappointing showing in the defeat to Chelmsford -- and they have tended to raise their game for
East Thurrock United and Grays Athletic will be anxious to put thoughts of the FA Cup to one side as they start their challenges in the FA Trophy tomorrow. In midweek, Rocks were looking for a cash prize of £10,000 and possible more riches before bowing
Long delays at the Army and Navy roundabout in Chelmsford since traffic lights changed to rush-hour only have infuriated drivers admits Essex County Council. Morning and evening traffic has tailed back from the roundabout since the lights were switched
Don't let your child become a crime statistic this Hallowe'en. That is the message from Colchester police crime reduction officer Colin Stiff in a bid to cut problems tonight. Don't be a crime statistic - Dean McManus, Jamie Smith and Tom Hudson, of Charles
