Archive
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Ramsey, Parkeston: Residents defiant over speed row
Residents campaigning for speed restrictions on a road linking their villages have won the support of their MP. And now they are demanding a public meeting with Essex County Council's highways officials. Ramsey and Parkeston residents are calling for
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GP sorry for health check blunder
A doctor who gave a clean bill of health to cab drivers without checking their full medical history has apologised. The GP, who has not been named, was investigated after it was noted a number of Hackney Carriage and private hire drivers in the Braintree
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Colchester: Fraud crackdown
Fraudsters in Colchester are being targeted by council officials through a major crackdown. During the past six months Colchester Council has stopped £233,000 of attempted and actual fraud and recovered £37,000 of illegal housing benefit claims. Benefit
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Colchester: Neighbour 'made my life hell'
A widow was close to suicide after being harassed by her neighbour, a court heard. Pamela Horsfall, of St Austell Road, St John's estate, Colchester, struggled to hold back tears as she told magistrates at Harwich how John Henson had sworn and spat at
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Thurrock: Christmas toys pour in for needy children
Toys have been flooding in to the Thurrock Toy Appeal collection points across the borough. The appeal -- run by Thurrock Council together with This Is Essex partners Echo Newspapers -- collects toys to hand out to those children less fortunate than most
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Canvey: Rescued from killer smoke
A woman who rescued a man from his smoke-filled flat was today praised by firemen. Michelle Heard battled her way through thick smoke to wake her neighbour and help him out of the flat in Dinant Avenue, Canvey. She then went back into the flat and turned
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High Ongar: Landfill site climbdown
Planners have been forced to climb down in the face of a growing storm over the Leca site near High Ongar. Epping Forest planning chief Ivan Le Gallais has formally retracted council evidence to the inquiry into the Essex Waste Plan following revelations
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Westcliff: Man chains himself to Treasury
A disgruntled bank customer chained himself to the entrance of the Treasury in London to protest against bank charges. Victor Tassell, 59, of Whitefriars Crescent, Westcliff, said he and four other men would stay at the building in Whitehall until a Government
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South Essex: Primary schools are on the up
Academic standards at the majority of south Essex primary schools are rising, new performance league tables revealed yesterday. Key stage two tests for ten and 11-year-olds show the county's youngsters are thriving. Darlinghurst School in Pavilion Drive
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Ongar: School rescue bid by parents fails
A desperate attempt by parents to save an Ongar school from closure has ended in failure. The independent Springfield School in Stondon Road has closed its doors after being crippled by a financial crisis. A rescue bid by anxious parents who tried to
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Leigh: Town may not get lights next year
Leigh may not get Christmas lights next year - as traders have moaned too much about this year's, the town council's chairman has warned. The council has received hundreds of complaints from traders on the lights that it helped pay for at the last minute
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Axe falls on 400 Anglian Water jobs
Anglian Water has announced it was cutting up to 400 posts over the next two years, the company said the redundancies were part of group restructuring in response to tougher competition and calls by the water regulator for cuts in bills. The reorganisation
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Braintree, Witham: Shops ready for late-night knees-up
Witham and Braintree are gearing up for their late-night shopping extravaganzas on Friday. In Witham, the Cockney Nite winter festival celebration is preparing to light up the town for its largest ever East End bash. Festoon lights will brighten the Grove
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Clacton: Postman cleared of murder
A postman has been cleared of murdering Clacton doorman Gary Chick. Father-of-one Paul Rowley, 28, walked free from court after a judge directed the jury to find him not guilty. He had been accused of murdering Mr Chick on November 17, 1996, near the
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Southend: Private care costs less
New means-tested charges brought in by Southend social services could backfire on them after one pensioner found he could get private care cheaper - from one of the council's own contractors. Michael Steed and his wife, Ann, have been offered the service
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Clacton: Boy, 6, stabbed by abandoned hypodermic
A mother was shocked and horrified when her six-year-old boy showed her a needle he had found in the road while walking home from school. Young Jack Roby has now been tested for hepatitis B after playing with the needle, which was left at the junction
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Pitsea: Neighbour in fire rescue
A brave neighbour who tried to rescue a six-year-old girl from a fire told today how he stared death in the face. The girl was today recovering after being rescued from the Pitsea blaze. Her 41-year-old neighbour in Crown Avenue was also taken to hospital
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Soccer round-up: South Essex non-league results
SATURDAY RYMAN LEAGUE Premier Division: Boreham Wood 0, Billericay Town 2; Carshalton Athletic 3, Canvey Island 1. FA CARLSBERG VASE Round 3: Hemel Hempstead 0, Great Wakering Rovers 1. SCHWEPPES ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE Basildon United 1, Hullbridge Sports
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Running: Southend on national high
The two Southend High Schools are on top of the athletics world today after producing stunning performances on the national stage. While the boys won the junior competition at the English Schools 19th cross-country cup final at Wakefield, Yorkshire -
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Soccer: Rangers' future secure
The future looks bright for Kingdown Rangers under-12 A side - after they were lucky to stay together last season. The team had gone through three managers and many of the boys left due to the continual upset. Then Steve Brookes, who has managed Benfleet
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Schools round-up: Fitz turn on style at Sweyne Park...
Rayleigh's Fitzwimarc School were the dominating factor when the Castle Point and Rochford Schools' Cross Country Championships were staged at Rayleigh's Sweyne Park. Having captured all four individual team prizes, they easily took the Gordon Irons Trophy
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Rugby round-up: Westcliff fail tackle test...
Bad tackling late in the game allowed Woodbridge to comfortably pull away from Westcliff to win by a less convincing margin that the score suggests. Westcliff's forwards had their usual inspiring display and gave the home side plenty to think about as
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Rugby: Basildon have the edge...
A good-sized crowd turned out to enjoy this exciting game of end-to-end rugby which Basildon clinched by three points. Westcliff continously rucked their hosts off the ball, but the new towners were superior in the mauls, gaining possession which their
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Laindon: Children try the presents as pigs fly
Christmas has come early for a group of Laindon youngsters. Members of the Flying Pigs Kids Club on the Five Links estate were given the chance to get their hands on the latest children's toys before Christmas Day. They were invited to take part in a
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Brentwood: Town centre traffic chaos
Severe disruption is expected to hit Brentwood town centre in the the New Year, when Thames Water carries out major work at Wilson's Corner to relieve flooding in the area. The £280,000 scheme will involve laying 390 metres of sewers along Ongar Road,
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Brentwood: Head claims planners are 'bullies'
The head teacher at the centre of Ingatestone's ongoing bus battle has denounced local councillors as 'bullies' intent on 'damaging' his school. Bob Reed spoke out after Brentwood Council's planning committee rejected the Anglo European School's plans
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Prittlewell: Travelling in time
Times certainly have changed. These youngsters went back to the future to demonstrate how styles have changed over the past century - and they proved a real hit with parents and friends alike. The youngsters, from the Jack and Jill Nursery, put on their
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Soccer: Southend's Storrie salary under scrutiny
Southend United chief executive Peter Storrie's mammoth £120,000 a-year salary was the main topic of conversation at a Blues fans' forum last night. Storrie, who endured calls for his head from the terraces during Southend's last league fixture at Plymouth
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Cricket: Pitch trouble hands Essex home bonus
Essex have landed the bonus of another home match at the start of next season because a pitch cannot be found for them at Lord's. They were due to meet Middlesex at cricket's most famous venue in a National League clash on April 30. But now the fixture
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Angling: Great weather, poor fishing
With 25 anglers taking part the club fished their annual pier Championship on Sunday but unfortunately the catches did not match the weather. Only a few codling, whiting and pouting made up the bags. The result: Winner: Willie Duncan 3lbs 8ozs Second:
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Soccer round-up: Southend Sunday League
Premier clubs from the South-East Essex Sunday League took a break from League action to begin their quest for a date at Roots Hall in the divisional cup finals. Two sides, ISIS and Castle Point, had to fight out a preliminary round tie to earn a clash
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Soccer round-up: Sceptre goal feast
There were goals galore in the Sceptre League Premier Division with no less than 23 being scored in the three matches staged. Castle Rangers were the kings with a 7-2 victoiry at Stambridge United with Mansfield scoring three. Results Premier Division
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Soccer: Young Brentwood side keep winning
Brentwood's winning sequence continued with a fine win over Cheshunt on Sunday. Playing a side with just one reverse so far this season, Brentwood produced an excellent display especially defensively with Tom Gilburt outstanding. Alex Reed had another
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Rugby: Burnham beaten - just!
Although Burnham just missed out on victory it was probably the best performance of the season from the side and provided excellent preparation for this week's away league local derby fixture against Old Brentwoods. However it was Southend who were to
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Rayleigh: Car parking fees pegged
Car parking charges in Rayleigh will remain unchanged - despite the council's director of finance urging councillors that by raising prices much-needed cash could be generated. Roger Crofts told the full meeting of Rochford District Council that car parks
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Southend: Teddy urges UK to get tough on French
Sir Teddy Taylor believes it is now time for Britain to stop being the "mugs of Europe", after the French refused to lift a ban on British beef. The Southend East and Rochford Tory MP said: "When we have the experts from the EU saying there are no problems
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Billericay: Phoenix set to hit Radio One
Phoenix FM's latest month long broadcast will see the local outfit toppling BBC Radio One as Brentwood and Billericay's favourite station. That's the amazing claim of Phoenix station manager Paul Golder, who is overseeing the Hermitage-based station's
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Downham: Man dies in road crash
A man in his 20s died today after the car he was driving hit a tree in Downham. The Ford Orion car was negotiating a right-hand bend in Castledon Road when it hit a large oak tree. The driver and passenger, another man also believed to be aged about 20
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New statue set for Maldon park spot
The statue of Maldon's famous Saxon warrior looks set to be placed in the town's Promenade Park. Councillors at the district council's community and leisure services committee on Wednesday night agreed the statue of Bryhtnoth should be placed in the park's
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Teenager cut free from Kirby Cross car wreck
A teenage girl had to be cut free from a car by fire crews after being involved in a road smash. Five people were travelling in a Renault Clio along Thorpe Road, Kirby Cross, when it left the road and ended up in a field at about 8.30pm on Monday night
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Colchester: Blaze at army barracks
A fire broke out in a Colchester barracks while soldiers were out training. The blaze left the accommodation block's ground floor 50 per cent damaged by smoke. About four soldiers had to be moved to other accommodation at the Hyderabad Barracks, off Mersea
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Car careers through Colchester pensioner's front garden
A pensioner was sitting watching TV when a car smashed through his garden wall. Ronald Pogson, 67, was in his flat in Daniel Drive, Shrub End, Colchester, when a Rover Metro car careered through the front wall. He said: "I just heard a noise. I was watching
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Basildon: Police raid drug factory
Detectives today claimed to have cracked a major drug-making operation primed to flood the Christmas market. Thousands of tablets, along with drug-making equipment, were seized by detectives in a raid on a Basildon home. The pills, believed to be Ecstasy
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Little Clacton: School leaps up the league
A village primary school has triumphed in the success stakes - by coming third in Essex's league table. Engaines County Primary in Little Clacton achieved the outstanding position after its pupils excelled in tests for 11-year-olds. The assessments, carried
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Basildon: Primary schools improving fast
Primary schools in Basildon are finally beating off their bad reputation - and steadily climbing up the league tables. Staff and pupils around the town were yesterday celebrating the news their results are rising along with both county and national trends
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Nice king Holmesy breezes into panto...
DJ Peter Holmes is well known as the cheery breakfast DJ, but his life holds a heart-breaking story. SALLY KING talks to him as he rehearses for the panto at the Cliffs Peter Holmes has the well-earned reputation as the Mr Nice Guy of radio but his life
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Maldon workers share in £59m will
An animal-loving millionairess has left a share of her £59 million will to her handyman and housekeeper for caring for her pets. Tony Scillitoe, of London Road, Maldon, inherited £100,000 from Christina Foyle, owner of Foyle's Bookshops in Charing Cross
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Canvey: Sting for land developers
A rare bumble bee has been found living next door to a Canvey superstore - and the discovery could halt development of a large swathe of land. The shrill carder bee is under threat of extinction, but the elusive insect has now been sighted on the former
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Billericay: Directory criticised
The first Billericay Information Directory for 20 years has been welcomed by many in the town, but some residents are wondering how they ended up marginalised. Councillors on Great Burstead and South Green Parish Council are angry their parish has not
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Mersea: Joseph to light up Mersea
Five-year-old Joseph Vince has not had it easy ... but his struggle for life has lit up everyone who knows him. And tomorrow he will switch on the Christmas lights which will light up Mersea. Joseph, of Firs Road, West Mersea, was born with a hole-in-the-heart
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Billericay: Ex-pupil composes West End show
The life of composer Stephen Edwards has all the elements of a super storyline for a musical. It might not provide the right plot for the kind of lavish productions he now works on, but still it is a compelling story of someone who has followed a passion
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Brentwood: Call for curbs on parking
Anxious Brentwood residents are demanding action to stop drivers using Seven Arches Road as a free car park before someone is killed. They claim that cars parked on either side of the entrance of Brentwood County High School are creating havoc, effectively
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Braintree: Prize tractor for worker
A farm worker won £70,000 worth of hope for the future just weeks after he was told he was facing redundancy. Neill Cowie, of Beatty Gardens, Braintree, feared he was facing a bleak Christmas after he was told he could be out of a job in the New Year.
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Soccer round-up: Southend District League
Sparkbridge moved up to second spot in the Southend District League Premier Division when they beat Sixty Acres 2-1 with goals from Kellard and Cox. Canvey Orient's Tandy was in electric form with five goals as his side took over third place by sinking
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Gymnastics: Ribbon gymnasts take a big bow
Give us a twirl - that's the message for Sarah Evans (left) and Melanie Smy, the dynamic rhythmic gymnastics duo from Basildon's South Essex Club, after they had won a silver medal in the senior ribbon duet in a major competition in Northampton. The pair
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Rugby: Last-gasp miss saves Priors...
For the third week in succession Southend started in rampant style with Lloyd Goddard and Edmund Murinyu running in tries form 40 yards. Scrum half Mark Downing converted both to put the visitors in the driving seat. But Burnham's forwards battled their
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Darts: Player dies after win
A Dovercourt darts player who collapsed during a match later died in hospital. Norman Double, known as Titch, was playing for the RA Club at the United Services Club in Dovercourt. Mr Double, of Willow Way, who was in his 70s, had just won his game when
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Soccer: Southend go from bad to worse
Alan Little was left trying to explain his side's latest disastrous performance following Southend United's Auto Windscreens Shield defeat against Cheltenham Town. The Shrimpers were sent spinning out of the competition at the first stage at Roots Hall
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Harold: Police letters to nip child crime in bud
Police are now following the example of headmasters everywhere in deterring Harold youngsters from getting into trouble by sending good old fashioned letters home to parents. The move comes from Operation Arrow, which in recent weeks has policed Harold
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Essex: County welcomes call for review of house building
Reports that Tony Blair has intervened over proposals to build 1.1 million homes in the south-east by 2016 - possibly 150,000 of them in Essex - have been welcomed with a sigh of relief in many quarters. Mr Blair is said to have called for a review of
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Canvey: All dressed up for 2000
Shoppers hunting for that special Christmas outfit may find more than they bargained for at this Fair Havens Hospice Shop. The shop in Furtherwick Road, Canvey, has millennium party outfits on offer including outlandish hats and coats, wedding suits and
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Soccer: Billericay beating all-comers
Billericay Town's third successive victory away from home, all within an eight day period, was secured on Saturday, in very cold and windy conditions. The matchday programme notes from the hosts' Chairman suggested that this was Boreham Wood's most important
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Basildon: Generous Brett helps premature babies
Presents have come early this Christmas for Basildon Hospital's premature babies - thanks to kind-hearted Brett Allen. The eight-year-old gave £50 of his life savings to the hospital's baby care unit. Brett, of Church Road, Basildon, made the generous
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Trampolining: Cloud Nine excel at National Finals
Last week more than 300 top trampolinists from nearly 80 clubs around the country were in Chippenham for the National B Finals and Brentwood's Cloud Nine trampoline club was well represented with six finalists. To qualify for this competition is itself
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Boxing: Two more successes for Harwich fighters
Two Harwich Boxing Club members made the long haul to Cambridge to box at the Lordshall Arena. Senior lightweight Nathan Proctor, 19, faced G Shilling of Needham Market. The unbeaten Shilling was always looking to pressure Proctor, but the Harwich boy's
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Soccer: Colchester young guns show the way
Micky Cook saluted his Colchester United team after they progressed to the FA Youth Cup fourth round. Two goals from the impressive Ricki Metcalfe and another from Gregg Heighway was enough to beat the Saddlers at Layer Road last night. And it was made
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Soccer: Newman Natters.....
The south also rises The great north against south divide at Roots Hall has reached even greater heights with the club's hierarchy getting bitten by the competitive bug. I told you last week about a recent golf match between all the lads in Billericay
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Soccer: Whitton bids to bring back Dunne
Colchester United boss Steve Whitton is hoping to boost the club's survival bid by bringing fans' favourite Joe Dunne back to the club. One of nine players controversially thrown out on a free transfer by former U's manager Mick Wadsworth in the summer
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Burger deal for Ford workers
Catering group Compass has landed the task of feeding workers at Ford's UK manufacturing plants, including those in Essex, the company said today. Ford's British workers are to be offered food from a range of franchises which include Burger King and Pizza
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Soccer: Score with Southend camp
Southend United's football in the community team are holding a two-day soccer camp at Thorpe Bay's Bournes Green school starting on December 22. Children aged between six and 14 can attend and will be instructed by qualified coaches. Each day, which includes
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Golf round-up: Och aye, ring in noo captain...
When Scotsman Stan Ferguson rode up to the first tee on his trusty steed, to the sound of bagpipes and pounding of hooves, it could have been Mel Gibson in a scene from Braveheart. Instead it was Stan driving in to officially open his year of office as
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Soccer: Unlucky Mowbray makes his mark
Unfortunate is not normally a word associated with Ipswich Town defender Tony Mowbray. Town's player/coach has been on a memorable journey during a career which has spanned a remarkable 18-year period and taken him to just three clubs. Middlesbrough and
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Cross-country: Morant at the double
Youngsters from all over north Essex descended on Essex University for this year's Schools Cross-Country Championships. This year's competition was more open than usual with a different winner in nearly every category. The overall winners in both boys
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Essex waste inquiry: Rayleigh pleads - 'Move waste site up road'
A site closer to Southend should be considered for a waste site or incinerator, Rayleigh protesters told a public inquiry. There are several alternative venues to the one proposed at Rayleigh sub-station, which are not in the green belt. That was the
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Pitsea: Aldi set to take over local store
Cut-price food store Aldi is all set to take over part of the long-deserted Sainsbury's building in Pitsea. The deal - which is expected to be sealed any day - will see the food company take over a third of the store. The conditions of the move means
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Harold Hill: Four-year-old fights meningitis
Staff and pupils at a Harold Hill school are hoping for the swift return of one of their classmates who was rushed to hospital suffering from meningitis last week. The four-year-old boy is a member of the reception class at Brookside School, and was diagnosed
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South Essex: Suffering dads keep mum
Thousands of fathers in south Essex may be suffering in silence, according to a survey conducted by a Hadleigh charity. Parentline Plus, an advice service based in Endway, found that few fathers called its helpline despite 60 per cent of Britain's dads
