Police were called to an elderly man's home after he dreamt he had been robbed. The alarm was raised in a village near Colchester and concerned officers quickly got to the scene and established there had not been an attack. Det Sgt Roger Napier, of Colchester
A councillor has criticised the lack of communication between a bus company and the Post Office, both of which are withdrawing services in Witham. Witham town councillor Phil Barlow said one of the reasons given to justify plans to close two Witham post
Two Witham teenagers have helped a shopping centre celebrate 15 years of bringing business to the town. Strike a pose: potential young models Vicky Bush and Andrew Nicholls are the young faces helping The Grove Shopping Centre celebrate 15 years in business
Christmas arrives in Basildon this Saturday when Santa leads the traditional Eastgate Christmas parade. Thousands of residents and visitors are expected to pack the town centre to cheer on one of the highlights of the town's festive celebrations. The
South Woodham's Christmas lights ceremony on November 22 is promising to be the best yet. The town council hopes to make up for the disappointment over the Victorian evening, which would have been staged this month, but was scrapped when coordinators
Ipswich Town goalkeeper Andy Marshall is hoping to secure a permanent switch to new loan club Wolves. The Ipswich Town keeper has signed a month-long deal with the Premiership side - but would love to extend his stay at Molineux. Marshall, who lives on
A man who was killed as he crossed the A127 in fog may have committed suicide, police have said. Crash scene : emergency services on the A127 after the fatal collision Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL T6T7P3 The victim, who was today named as Terence Gordon,
Bernard Jenkin was today unmasked as a man of many faces in the film world. North Essex Tory MP Mr Jenkin and wife Anne have been invited to the Leicester Square world premiere of Richard Curtis' latest blockbuster romantic comedy Love Actually. And Mrs
Doubts have been cast on a historic link between swashbuckling Hollywood star Douglas Fairbanks Junior and a historic seafront home in Frinton. Ian Spencer, of Design and Development Consultancy, which plans to build on the site, told Tendring councillors
A mum has scooped a national award for her pioneering work setting up an Aspergers syndrome group in Essex. Carolann Jackson, of Plummers Road, Fordham, is the founder of Supporting Aspergers Families in Essex (Safe). She set up the group when her daughter
Essex Spartans are back in action at the weekend with their first winter training camp. The Basildon-based gridiron squad are preparing for next year's National League Division Two campaign following a reshuffle of the league structure. And the creation
Harwich MP Ivan Henderson has been to Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen. Mr Henderson and his wife Jo accepted an invitation to attend a reception at the palace, which was hosted by the Queen. The reception was attended by several MPs and MEPs, as well
The potential axing of a Hutton Post Office has been condemned by residents and labelled as "another nail in the coffin of local services". Post Office Ltd has announced the start of a six week consultation of the proposed closure of the Rayleigh Road
A businessman is to stump up a £1,000 reward after burglars stole £4,000 of mobile phones and equipment. Shattered : owner Evan Girdlestone surveys the damage left by burglars to his shopfront after a £4,000 raid Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL Burglars broke
A 63-year-old man who threw his walking stick at his female probation officer has been warned by a judge if he is ever involved in a similar incident he will be jailed. Roger Bacon, of Manilla Road, Southend, pleaded guilty to a charge of threatening
A south Essex family desperately hunting their backpacking son have told of their belief that he is still alive. For eight anxious months the Ratnasothy family have been desperate for news of 24-year-old Alexander, who was last heard of in Nepal. His
Lives could be at risk if Essex Fire Authority's plans to turn Ongar into a part time station are sanctioned - that is the warning from one Ongar firefighter. Sub-officer Paul Brannagan has warned residents in Ongar, North Weald and the surrounding villages
Hundreds of people packed into the Grays Shopping Centre as former EastEnders' television soap star Michael Greco hosted a charity auction. At the auction : Michael Greco and fan Sarah Cooper-Sutton, from Stifford Picture: DAVE HENDERSON T2Q3K1 The centre's
Police in south Essex say their resources are being "drained" by continual hunts for missing mental health patients. They have revealed on average four patients disappear from mental health wards at Runwell and Basildon hospitals - which serve the Castle
Colchester United loan signing Liam Chilvers believes his days at Arsenal are numbered. Uncertain future: Liam Chilvers is left in limbo Picture: STEVE BAINBRIDGE And the 22-year-old central defender, who only last Friday signed season-long loan terms
Colchester United loan signing Liam Chilvers believes his days at Arsenal are numbered. Uncertain future: Liam Chilvers is left in limbo Picture: STEVE BAINBRIDGE And the 22-year-old central defender, who only last Friday signed season-long loan terms
Christmas can roll on at freeport after its search for a Santa finally came to a happy end. Ho, ho, ho: Santa in the shape of Leonard Ebbage is greeted at Freeport by Lizzie Twiner and Sophie Grant. Picture: ROB SAMBROOK After putting out a desperate
Christmas can roll on at freeport after its search for a Santa finally came to a happy end. Ho, ho, ho: Santa in the shape of Leonard Ebbage is greeted at Freeport by Lizzie Twiner and Sophie Grant. Picture: ROB SAMBROOK After putting out a desperate
Flood defence funding for Halstead and the Colne Valley has been pulled by the Government. The announcement was met with fury from councillors at a meeting of Braintree Council Halstead area committee last night. At the meeting, in Earls Colne village
A teacher has told how school security will have to be reviewed after several classroom windows were smashed for the second time in a week. Aftermath : teacher Pam Mechem examines one of the smashed windows at Leigh Beck Infant School on Canvey Picture
Two Russian cosmonauts have been reliving their experiences in space. Alexander Martynov and Alexander Volkov were visitors to Chelmer Valley High School in Chelmsford. Mr Volkov was on the Mir space station for one month and had been presented with many
It is time for Southend United season ticket holders to check if their numbers have come up. In a draw more eagerly awaited than the National Lottery, Blues fans can find out who has got first refusal on the 700 tickets for the Shrimpers' FA Cup first
Two thugs who brawled with police and stewards at a Southend United game have been banned from attending any football match in the UK for the next three years. John Swinbank, 26, of Loxford, Felmores, Basildon, and Robert Ward, 42, of Stepney, east London
A businessman is to stump up a £1,000 reward after burglars stole £4,000 of mobile phones and equipment. Shattered : owner Evan Girdlestone surveys the damage left by burglars to his shopfront after a £4,000 raid Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL Burglars broke
A block of 50 flats could soon be built on a rat-infested derelict site on Canvey. The application from firm Homestead is proposed for land in Long Road, near the Haystack pub, and is set to be discussed by Castle Point Council's planning committee. Canvey
A Kiosk-holder at a town's tourist attraction claims it will be "dead" within a year because there are too many changes under way, and they are "not the right ones". Guy Piggott said until recently it was worth the kiosk-holders' while to keep their kiosks
St Aidens-Leigh II are leading the way in the Southend & District Badminton Assciation's ladies' division one standings. They have won two matches and drawn a third but still have to play Leighway, who were last year's champions. Leighway's first
Second home owners in Southend could face a whopping increase in their council tax next year, under proposals revealed today. The council's cabinet will be asked on Tuesday to cut the discount from 50 per cent to 10 per cent given for people with a second
Castle Point Council is holding talks with a specialist firm to make sure there is no mucking about when private drains get blocked. Councillor Mark Howard, who chairs Castle Point health and housing committee, revealed there had been a meeting with drainage
Southend are confident of getting back on track despite suffering a 47-22 defeat at National League Three leaders Barking in their last outing. The scoreline in East London flattered the hosts after a battling second-half show from the Seasiders saw fight
Two Manningtree firefighters are to receive long-service and good-conduct medals. Awarded: firefighters Chris Townes and Terry Richards are to get long-service awards at a presentation tonight. Picture: STEVE BRADING (31709-b) Leading firefighter Terry
A bus service withdrawn after repeated vandalism has been targeted on its first journey back on the route The evening route 21 First Essex bus service between Deanery Hill and Braintree town centre resumed on Monday with better police protection. But
A terrified schoolgirl today told how a man tried to drag her into a field - and how she was saved by a gang of teenagers. The ginger-haired attacker struck as Bernice Hill, 11, strolled along Little Gypps Road on Canvey after walking her sister, Dannielle
Around 1,200 staff at Basildon's tractor plant threatened industrial action after bosses told them they could not observe a two-minute Remembrance Day silence. Only last-ditch talks between union representatives and human resources staff at the Case New
Canvey karate star Sam Newell is back from the Emerald Isle with a World Record under his black belt. Toast of the town : Sam Newell (centre) celebrates his latest success with coach Andrew Commeri (left) and sponsor Martin Smith at the Hoy and Helmet
Inconsiderate motorists could see their cars towed away because they are causing delays for emergency crews which could cost lives. Tight squeeze : a fire engine struggles in Eastbourne Grove, Westcliff Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY TBDFH1 A campaign is under
Ipswich Town goalkeeper Andy Marshall is hoping to secure a permanent switch to new loan club Wolves. The Ipswich Town keeper has signed a month-long deal with the Premiership side - but would love to extend his stay at Molineux. Marshall, who lives on
A 15-year-old chess ace reached the semi-finals of a prestigious junior championship. Your move : Josiah Lutton reached the semi-finals of a prestigious chess championship Picture: ROB BROWNE SYQT63 Josiah Lutton, of Whitmore Way, Basildon, was one of
Arena Essex promoter Ronnie Russell flies out to Tenerife for the Promoters Winter Conference next week ready to commit the club to a move up into the Sky Sports Elite League. Russell believes that competing in the top league will prove to be a successful
A company fronted by TV actor Roy Marsden helped push Southend's Palace Theatre into a spiral of decline from which it is still recovering, a council report has said. The Edwardian landmark in London Road, Westcliff, was shut in June 2002 after management
A prototype winter bait reeled in a cracking 21lb 8oz mirror carp when Benfleet's John Mings tested it at Lake Meadows. After spotting several big carp moving in the open water between the islands Mings cast a plum-flavoured 'Sub Zero' winter boilie from
Pregnant mums have been told the reopening of a Braintree maternity unit is "not imminent". That is the stark message from bosses at Mid-Essex Hospitals Trust to expectant mothers hoping to be cared for at William Julien Courtauld Hospital. A petition
Basildon hunger striker Simon Chapman is now refusing water to force Greek authorities to give him access to his lawyer. Mr Chapman, 30, is reported to be in a "very weak" state at the maximum security prison where he has been on hunger strike for five
A fire officer has warned people to stay away from fallen high-voltage cables following a "heartstopping" close escape. On Monday night at about 8pm, firefighters from Sible Hedingham's retained station were called to a fallen high voltage electricity
New volunteering initiatives could be starting up in mid Essex as a new Voluntary Support Agency office is set to open in Witham. A £4,540 grant has been awarded to Braintree District Voluntary Support Agency (BDVSA) from volunteer charity Timebank. The
When he looked at his war medals, Second World War veteran Wally Hilling, remembered his three years as a prisoner in Singapore's Changi Prison and his comrades who did not survive the ordeal. Distraught : veteran Wally Hilling needs help to find five
Babysitter Eddie Williams has walked free after being cleared by a jury of raping a schoolgirl over a four-year period. Mr Williams, who left court under a police escort, said later he fears reprisals at his home in Lantern Terrace, on the Woodgrange
Billericay Town's recent revival crashed to a halt at Hendon last night. Billericay fell behind on the 19 minute mark when Scott Cousins and Steve Forbes set regular marksman Ricci Crace up for the opener. Four minutes before half-time it was 2-0 when
Town councillors have blasted a district council decision to sell off a piece of land for the development of a motor retail outlet on the outskirts of Maldon. They are pleading for the public's support by asking them to register their own disgust at the
Basildon's MP has written a booklet to promote the work the Labour Government has done for trade unions. Angela Smith has produced the booklet, called Six Years Of The Labour Government - But What Has It Done For Trade Unionists. Mrs Smith said: "Trade
Golfer Richard McEvoy has gone into the last round of the final qualifying school tournament in Spain knowing that only a disaster would stop him playing on the full European Professional Golf Tour next season. Ritchie McEvoy : one round away from joining
Andy Marshall is hoping to secure a permanent switch to new loan club Wolves. The Ipswich Town keeper has signed a month-long deal with the Premiership side - but would love to extend his stay at Molineux. Marshall, who lives on the outskirts of Colchester
There was a hard-fought battle between two mid-table teams in the Premier Division of the Southend and District Table Tennis League. Although the result was a 9-0 win for Hullbridge C over Rawreth C it was not all plain sailing for the winning team of
Damage to at least a dozen Mersea beach huts has been condemned as "mindless vandalism". Wrecked: West Mersea Beach Hut Watch chairman Henry Spyvee checks the damage Picture: SEANA HUGHES Locks and door bars were wrenched off and at least one window was
Youngsters and traders in Tendring have been warned not to buy counterfeit vodka from street sellers after a fresh scare. A Tendring Council spokesman warned the vodka could lead to serious illness. Earlier this year cases of vodka containing poisonous
Two petitions totalling almost 700 signatures have been submitted to Essex County Council in opposition to its controversial new school admissions policy for Braintree. The consultation period on the proposals has ended and councillors are expected to
Castle Point Council chiefs have rewarded the achievements of its own leisure staff and workers from Little Haven Children's Hospice. Congratulations : Castle Point mayor Chris Freeman presents bubbly and a trophy to Charlie Wood, left, director of operations
South Essex MP Eric Pickles has kept his job as shadow secretary of state for local government in the Conservative party reshuffle. New Tory leader Michael Howard has kept the Brentwood and Ongar MP in the post he was appointed to last year. While pleased
