A community centre set up to help people develop skills to get work is closing after more than 20 years due to a cash crisis. Tiptree Community Resource Centre will shut its doors on December 22 as it has been unable to get funding to secure its future
Dignitaries in Colchester were among millions of Britons who observed a two-minute silence in honour of those who have died for Britain. Tribute - the scene outside Colchester Town Hall at 11am today. The High Street came to a halt at 11am and the traditional
BASILDON Council was today (Wed) planning a High Court fight to stop scores of traveller families remaining on green belt land in Wickford. In a landmark decision this week, a High Court judge backed a family who wanted to stay in their mobile home in
Taxi users are shelling out almost double to get to their destinations during rush hour in Colchester. More motorist misery has been piled on the town's old road layout, dubbed "crazy" by a car park chief. East Hill was highlighted as one of the worst
SOUTHEND town centre is set to suffer weeks of traffic chaos when a main road is closed for at least a month early in the New Year. Chichester Road, which runs alongside the High Street, will be closed between Tylers Avenue and Heygate Avenue during parts
Residents of a care home have been left frightened after a window was targeted twice by vandals. The problem started two weeks ago at Akhurst Court, in Melrose Road, West Mersea. Eric Straughan, contract manager for the home, has criticised those responsible
Homeowners watched helplessly as a torrent of water gushed down their road after a pipe burst. Flooded cellar - the second time this year that Brendan Flynn's pub, Brendan's, has been hit by water gushing into his cellar. Picture: SEANA HUGHES (39324-
Ex-Southend United goalkeeper Simon Royce is tipping Blues to upset League One leaders Luton Town in tomorrow's FA Cup clash at Roots Hall - despite currently being on loan with the Hatters. "It's going to be a good game," said the popular custodian,
CONTROVERSIAL plans to replace Billericay's Second World War memorial have been thrown out. Billericay Town Council had proposed to remove the memorial - a grade two listed building - and reset the existing name plaques in new curved wall next to its
Ram-raiders have struck again in Braintree, causing up to £15,000 in damage to a store. The incident came just days after another shop was the victim of ram-raiders for the second time in the space of two months. The Colchester and East Essex Co-operative
Canvey Island swimmers notched up some impressive results at the recent Essex County Championships held at Fullwell Cross. In particular the boys duo of Paul Williams and Ben Preston each collected the ultimate accolade of Essex champion 2004 and some
A YOUTH who went on a spree of vandalism and theft blamed anarchic television show Jackass for inspiring him. The 17-year-old from Leigh, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told police he had got ideas for at least one of his crimes from the MTV show
A trio of prizewinning gardens show just what a community can do when it pulls together. That is according to borough councillor Maureen Moulds, who attended a ceremony at Hylands House, Chelmsford, to pick up awards for three sites in the town. The Echo
Colchester United captain Karl Duguid insisted his team-mates do not have a discipline problem - despite the club receiving a £6,000 fine from the Football Association. The Layer Road side have been punished for an incident during their Coca-Cola League
Colchester United captain Karl Duguid insisted his team-mates do not have a discipline problem - despite the club receiving a £6,000 fine from the Football Association. The Layer Road side have been punished for an incident during their Coca-Cola League
Colchester United will not be able to call on the services of Kem Izzet for Saturday's crucial FA Cup first round clash at Mansfield Town. Izzet is still struggling with an ankle injury and has ruled himself out of making a comeback. The pocket-battleship
Residents have given a resounding "no" to plans to build 400 homes. Nearly 200 people turned out last night to discuss requests to extend Alresford's development boundary so more properties can be built. Put to the vote at the end of the public meeting
A caring youngster is in the running to pick up a prestigious award. Making her mark - Danielle Lewis. Teenager Danielle Lewis has already collected the title of top youth ambassador in Clacton, and is now hoping to scoop the regional title in the competition
Police officers are celebrating the success of a crackdown operation aimed at making Clacton's town centre a safer place. Operation Jute ran throughout the summer months and into the autumn. It involved the mobile police station being parked in the town
Police are looking for a young man who may have injured himself while smashing the windows of six parked cars in Stanway. A "significant amount" of blood was found in Holly Road after the early-hours incidents on October 30. PC Jim Finnigan, Stanway community
A printing company is pleading for an end to a series of vandal attacks. MPH, based in Main Road, Dovercourt, has been targeted 11 times in recent months, with the total cost now estimated about £1,500. The latest incident happened at the rear of the
A POLICE officer wept as he was cleared of grabbing his partner round the neck and threatening her with a knife. Mark Gothard, 33, of Woodgrange Drive, Southend, was found not guilty of two counts of common assault, one of affray and one of harassment
A youth has been detained by British Transport Police after a woman was shot in the leg at a train station. Officers went to Hatfield Peverel railway station, in Station Road, yesterday afternoon after reports of someone firing an air rifle. Several windows
A flag donated to commemorate the life of a 92-year-old has been stolen. The £150 flag had been given by former Harwich and Parkeston players in memory of lifelong fan Gordon Hayward, who died in August. It was intended to be flown on each match day,
A BAKERY has been forced to take immediate action following health and safety breaches including employing children. Officials from the Health and Safety Executive visited the factory based at the Bread Baking Company in Robert Way on the Wickford Business
Shoebury golf pro Richard McEvoy faces a gruelling six days as he attempts to keep his European Tour playing card. Twelve months ago former Thorpe Hall Walker Cup amateur McEvoy won the European Tour qualifying school final in magnificent style. However
Southend AC's star-studded under-17 men have captured more national glory. They travelled to Mansfield to take part in their first ever National Cross Country relay and pulled off a tremendous victory with star man Adam Hickey clocking 8 mins. 46 secs
Plans have been unveiled for a major £20 million housing development on Jaywick seafront. Five local businessmen are behind the scheme, hoping it will be a fresh start to Jaywick's regeneration and will help attract further investment. They want to build
A former farmer from Essex, who is now the shadow secretary of state for agriculture, was due to deliver a strong message to farmers at a breakfast meeting today at Great Tey. James Paice, who learned farming at Writtle College, Chelmsford, and continued
More than £1 million is to be pumped into upgrading facilities at two community sites in Clacton. Essex County Council is spending £600,000 at the Windsor School in Holland Road. The school which is for pupils with severe learning difficulties is set
Braintree and Bocking Swimming Club can boast a new Essex champion, a handful of medals and three superb junior relay teams after their exploits at the Essex County Championships. The rollercoaster ride that is a swimmer's lot was demonstrated by Braintree
Two cyclists were injured in accidents in Colchester. One woman was taken to hospital after being involved in a collision with a car today. The woman, in her 20s, was cycling along the roundabout between the Avenue of Remembrance and Westway, at 7.20am
A man was lucky to survive after fire and smoke engulfed his home as he slept in his living room. Firefighters had to break into the flat to rescue the man after the fire had started accidentally. Emergency services were called out to the first-floor
SPORTS centres and other attractions as well as Southend seafront should be considered as possible sites for supercasinos, a councillor has said. Brian Smith told Southend Council's economic scrutiny committee last night confining casino developments
Police today issued a fresh appeal for witnesses to a hit-and-run crash. Two people were left seriously hurt when they were hit by a car in an alleyway between Rosemary Road and Beach Road, Clacton, at 12.30am yesterday. The car drove into them from behind
Health chiefs in Colchester today defended their performance on coping with the diabetes crisis. A study, published today by the charity Diabetes UK, combined data from primary care Trusts (PCTs) across Britain to show inadequate plans had been put in
A refuse truck driver has told how he failed to see a motorcyclist who was involved in a collision with his vehicle. Keith Rouse, 59, told an inquest of his sympathy for the family of paramedic Lee Foster, 29, who died in the accident last year. Mr Rouse
Red-faced Royal Mail staff were seen breaking into a Colchester post box after they forgot their keys. Diligent residents in Straight Road called police when they saw two men using screwdrivers at 1.30pm yesterday. Acting Det Sgt Mike Sheeran, of Colchester
BASILDON'S new lap-dancing club will open to the public for the first time tonight (Thurs). Katz on Time Square, Southernhay, opened last night for VIPs and friends but tonight is the official grand opening. The club, which is on the site of Faces nightclub
Plans have been unveiled for a major £20 million housing development on Jaywick seafront. Five local businessmen are behind the scheme, hoping it will be a fresh start to Jaywick's regeneration and will help attract further investment. They want to build
A goat was seen wandering the streets of Colchester. The untethered animal was walking along Greenstead Road towards Tesco supermarket. A Colchester police spokesman said it was captured and returned to its owner. Published Thursday, November 11, 2004
A teenager has talked about her harrowing ordeal when she was chased by a gang of masked youths and shot with a BB gun. Safe and sound - Andrea Mallord with mum Michelle A mob of trick-or-treaters, wearing monkey masks and capes, pursued 13-year-old Andrea
Pablo Counago has rejected the chance of a loan move to Ipswich Town's Coca-Cola Championship rivals Preston North End. Boss Billy Davies made an approach for the Spaniard on Tuesday, but Counago is desperate to stay and fight for his place at Portman
Colchester United captain Karl Duguid insisted his team-mates do not have a discipline problem - despite the club receiving a £6,000 fine from the Football Association. The Layer Road side have been punished for an incident during their Coca-Cola League
Basildon's Stuart Bingham pulled off one of the great wins of his career at the Brighton Centre last night when he rocked six-times world champion Steve Davis. The new towner edged the best-of-nine frames match with one of the game's all-time greats 5
A woman suffered a broken leg after being involved in a collision with a Ford Ka car. The accident happened in Braintree at about 2.30pm yesterday near to the junction of Cressing Road and Dallwood Way. The 55-year-old, of Braintree, was taken to hospital
Hundreds of schoolchildren are hoping to pick up top tips on personal safety with a special training event being staged in Tendring. Crucial skills - Alex Pierpoint and Olivia Brown attempt a rescue with the help of coastguards David Boughton and Colin
