A single mother forced to resign from her job because she wanted to look after her son has been awarded £3,300 by an employment tribunal. Alison McDonald, 35, had worked at Frinton Service Station for 15 years but left in June after being given an ultimatum
Chelmsford Chieftains returned to winning ways on Saturday by beating Invicta Dynamos for the fourth time this season in five starts. In doing so, Chieftains virtually ensured themselves top slot in their Millennium Cup group with just a trip to ED1 side
Ipswich boss George Burley has set an 84-point target for promotion. Town, who are bidding to extend their unbeaten league run to eight games when they entertain West Brom at Portman Road tomorrow, are about to reach the halfway point in their season.
A group of Takeley villagers have launched a campaign to save a five-acre wood which they say is threatened by development. They fear that proposals by Countryside Properties plc to build around 700 houses in the Broadfield Road area of the village could
A nightclub boss who beat up a DJ today said "justice had been done" after his prison sentence was quashed. Chinnerys and Jack of Clubs manager Kevin Chinnery said he wanted to wish Southend a happy Christmas after walking free from the dock. Chinnery
Great Wakering Rovers stage their final home game of the century at Burroughs Park tomorrow and can reflect on what has been a fabulous year for the club. Having finished high enough in the Scweppes Essex Senior League last term to gain promotion to a
A man mourning the death of his wife from cancer has described thieves who stole a cancer charity box from his house as "callous and disgusting". Every Christmas Tony Parson, 53, of Masefield Road, Braintree, illuminates his house with hundreds of fairy
There is yuletide delight that no extra homes are being recommended for Braintree and Witham in a report, published on Tuesday, from last summer's public examination of the proposed new Essex County Plan. And independent panel chairman, Chris Offord,
Southend's long-running squeeze on secondary school places is to be eased thanks to a £4.5million Government boost. The borough has been allotted almost 600 extra spaces for pupils aged 11 and over. The news comes after Southend Council warned in September
The manager of an antique clock shop was punched to the ground after chasing a robber who snatched a £650 Mahogany mantle clock from his Westcliff shop. Paul Williams suffered a black eye and bruising to his head after the robber turned and confronted
Odds of 33-1 proved too much for a Laindon woman when she came within a whisker of scooping UK radio's first ever £1 million jackpot. Janette Parish, of Ford Road, crashed out in the first round after beating thousands of hopefuls to become a contestant
Runwell Raiders set the stage perfectly for next weekend's top-of-the-table clash with current leaders Castle Point in the Premier Division of the South-East Essex Sunday League when they won 4-0 at ISIS. The result was Runwell's fifth straight win and
Junior Blues are running two football tours of Southend United's Roots Hall home on December 24 and 29. The open day, which includes a look around the Third Division club's boot room, gyms and changing areas, costs £3 for Junior Blues, £4 for non-members
Heybridge Swifts reached the last eight of the Ryman League Cup on a bitterly cold Tuesday night at Scraley Road with a 3-1 win over neighbours Braintree Town. Braintree, who had Trevor Gunn in goal for the first half-hour with Nicky Rust delayed, took
Colchester United boss Steve Whitton is continuing his search for defensive cover after he revealed his latest target was unlikely to sign for the club. The U's chief has been trailing Arsenal centre-half Brian McGovern for several weeks and has even
A bowling club has hit the jackpot after scooping more than £150,000 of lottery cash. And a football club also scored on Wednesday when it received a grant to pay for nearly £100,000 of improvements. Members of Hatfield Peverel Bowls Club are celebrating
The heavy overnight rain had left the sloping pitch in a muddy state for Saturday's match, and it was to the credit of both teams that the game was played in such an open and attractive manner. Brentwood kicked off with the benefit of a swirling cold
Five recipients of the British Fencing Association's Achievement Awards, recently presented by Billericay MP Teresa Gorman at St John's School, Billericay's Speech Day, represent the multi-national range of pupils studying at St John's. Maxime Van der
Southend's Adam Hickey and Kristina Marshall continued the form which earned them success the previous week in the National Schools Cup in Yorkshire when the Essex Veterans and Young Athletes' Cross-Country Championships were staged at Claybury. In wet
Joe Dunne is back at Layer Road raring to go - and his first task is to help Colchester United to victory over Luton Town tonight. Three valuable points will push the U's further away from the bottom of the Second Division table. "It just seems like old
A major cash windfall will help set up out-of-school learning clubs. Ten schools in the Harwich area are to benefit from a Government grant of £127,000. The money will be given out over a three-year period by the Government's New Opportunities Fund and
Doing good works for other people often involves some kind of sacrifice. But for single mother Louise Dodds that sacrifice is huge -- she is leaving her two-year-old daughter behind to take part in a children's project in Africa. Miss Dodds, a Ministry
Safety measures on a notorious accident blackspot have been promised three weeks after the latest death crash. The A1060 road at Roxwell had been dubbed the "forgotten" road until witnessing two fatalities since February. The measures, under the Accident
A green activist has blasted the idea of a third road off Canvey. Jon Fuller, transport campaigner for Friends of the Earth, said a third road off the island would not solve any of the transport problems. He said: "The proposals for a third road off Canvey
Chelmsford Golf Club's Mens Section has held its Christmas Turkey Trot in its usual mid-December Sunday slot. 40 teams competied for the first 17 places which were rewarded with meat vouchers for the first three places and suitable Christmas beverages
Chelmsford City's two new signings - striker Stephen Morris and midfielder Keith Newby -- will make their delayed Dr Martens League Eastern Division debuts on Saturday in the home game at Billericay against Corby Town (kick-off at 3 pm). Morris, 23, formerly
Essex snooker professional Brian Morgan "came back from the dead" in superb style to earn a semi-final spot in the China Open in Shanghai. Morgan, the former Basildon and Southend favourite now living in Tiptree, was 4-2 down against fellow Englishman
Colchester United go into tonight's Layer Road clash with Luton Town seeking a first ever League win over the Hatters. And while fans' favourite Joe Dunne will be back to make his return debut, U's boss Steve Whitton is forced to make a last minute selection
Southend United boss Alan Little dismissed talk of revenge as he prepared for tonight's Third Division clash at his former club York City. The Shrimpers chief was sacked by the Minstermen last March following a string of poor results and this evening's
After the previous weeks 10 point victory over Southend, Billericay were feeling confident going into Saturday's match at Old Edwardians. As they kicked off down the slope, they were quickly into the Old Edwardians half of the pitch and threatening their
Kent Elms and Westcliff Hard booked their places in the second round of the Leigh and Westcliff LTA men's winter cup. The Hardcourts hosted Wickford in their first round game but a one set play-off was needed to settle the match. Darren Bertola and Terry
Protestors were expected to turn out in force today (Friday) as bulldozers moved in to demolish several badger holes on a site earmarked for a new leisure centre. The demonstrators were angry that work was carried out on the land in Rayleigh Road, Thundersley
A controversial teen disco was broken into - just hours after it was refused a licence to continue. The front door to the historic Leigh Coliseum building in Elm Road, Leigh, was forced open, causing more than £3,000 damage. Once inside, thieves smashed
Inmates at Chelmsford Prison have accused two officers of corruption and blamed a third warder of assault. The three officers have been suspended from duty and are the subject of a police probe. Two prisoners, now at Highpoint Prison, Haverhill, Suffolk
Parents angry at plans to amalgamate their children's schools voiced their opinions at a meeting. Governors of both St Andrew's Junior and Infant Schools, in Hickory Avenue, Colchester, called the meeting to inform parents of the proposal. The plan, part
A flu bug currently going round the New Lodge camp could prove to be Billericay Town's biggest enemy as they bid for three Ryman League Premier Division points at struggling Basingstoke tomorrow. Three players - Russell Penn, Paul Linger and Kevin Jordan
A student who was dramatically rescued after his car plunged into icy water has spoken of his ordeal. Bener Koro, 22, who studies accountancy in Chelmsford, was driving to a nightclub at about 10pm on Tuesday when his car flew off a bridge and landed
The future of the Leigh Coliseum was shrouded in mystery yesterday after a teen disco was closed down - followed by rumours that refugees could be housed there Intrigue youth disco will no longer operate from the Leigh venue after a licensing committee
The grieving parents of Lee Fitt - the 100th person to die on Essex roads this year - have paid tribute to their son. Mr Fitt, 24, of Canterbury Road, New Town, Colchester, died when a lorry was in collision with his broken down Ford Orion on the A12
A woman who almost died in a horrific car crash has ended the year smiling with a VIP treat from Harrods. Maggie Matthews was whisked up to London in a chauffeur-driven car to enjoy the world-famous store's annual Christmas carol concert. She had gone
An elderly woman woke to find a burglar upstairs in her bedroom. The pensioner was having a nap at her home in Parsons Heath, Colchester, at 6pm on Thursday night. She woke and challenged the intruder who ran downstairs, then climbed out of the kitchen
Layer Road legend Micky Cook's youngsters have been handed a plum FA Youth Cup tie against northern giants Leeds. Cook has been dusting off his video of Colchester United's historic FA Cup win over Leeds United. He was a member of the U's squad that pulled
England and Essex captain Nasser Hussain led from the front in the Second Test against South Africa with a resilient unbeaten 70 that saw him occupy the crease for five hours in a performance that staved off the threat of defeat, to earn his side an honourable
Grays IBO Inter Continental welterweight champion Darren Bruce is facing a race against time to be fit for his first title defence against Welshman Michael Smith on Monday evening's bill at York Hall, Bethnal Green. "Darren has a touch of flu, so it's
Former Southend hitman Barry Conlon is facing a fitness fight ahead of his old team-mates' visit to York City tonight. The 21-year-old striker is desperate to lead the Minstermen into battle against the Seasiders, but a niggly ankle injury is threatening
Wivenhoe Town extended their unbeaten run to five with a Ryman League division two 1-1 draw at Barking. On a heavy pitch Wivenhoe had the better of the opening 20 minutes but from then on the home side gained the upper hand. Barking took a deserved lead
An appeal has been launched by Braintree police for information following an attack on a 17-year-old girl in the town. The teenager was grabbed from behind and pulled to the ground as she walked along Rayne Road, near Peel Crescent, between 5.45 and 6.05pm
The county's bowlers have recorded another good win by defeating Hampshire at Tilbury IBC by 134 shots to 104, winning on five of the six rinks and drawing on the other. The rink scores (Essex names only) were: S Skegg, A Hawkins, G Lawrence, F Greenaway
Major boardroom changes at Chelmsford City Football Club see the return this week of former chairman, Trevor Wright. Among the five departures are the club's former director of football, Brian Honeywood. The changes, which will see a slimmed down board
Witham introduced new signing Lee Burns, who played in the middle of the defence, for Saturday's match at Spa Road, but he could not do anything to prevent Town from another heavy defeat and so their disastrous season continues. At half-time the visitors
Expectations were high for Saturday's visit to near neighbours Canvey Island, and when Simon Parker put Swifts in front after four minutes from Christian McLean's knock down, silencing the Canvey crowd in the process, it looked like the side's fine recent
ESSEX JUNIOR CUP THIRD ROUND Gidea Park Rangers beat Burntwood7-3 with goals from Kevin Warren (3), Craig Bristow (2), Paul Dykes and Dave Smith. Craig Dearman, John Rothon and Dave Karby replied for Burntwood. Paul Blunden scored to give Heath Park '
Chelmsford Highway had reason to celebrate on Saturday despite going down to old rivals Canterbury. Defeat for Doncaster who are rooted to the foot of the table, means that Chelmsford are assured of maintaining their Premier Division status next season
Despite wet conditions more suitable for ducks, Castle Point Golf Club held their annual turkey trot. A depleted field did manage to complete the course and, with club captain Des Pitt donating numerous prizes, some very good scores were returned. The
Anglian Water is losing 201 million litres of water every day through leaking pipes -- enough to supply Colchester six times over. Despite the company coming top in an Ofwat survey of leak-beating water firms, Anglian Water has pledged to continue investing
Brentwood were without influential midfielders Dave Allen, who was a flu victim, and Grant Delea who suffered a recurrence of his shoulder injury during the week so they reshuffled their line-up, with Doug Allsop making his first appearance of the season
Leopards went into their encounter against top of the Southern Conference Birmingham Bullets without Jason Kidbrough, who was injured the previous weekend at Leicester. The home fans at Brentwood were greeted with the news that Peter Deppisch had been
Richie Powling has been sacked as manager of Ryman League division two side Braintree Town by chairman George Rosling. The former Arsenal midfielder was axed after Tuesday night's 3-1 defeat at Heybridge Swifts in the league cup and has already been replaced
Canvey Island look like being without two key players for Saturday's visit to St Albans to take on an Enfield side whose season is threatening to come apart at the seams since their FA Cup demise. Jeff Brazier, who was forced off early on in last week's
An ambitious plan for a visual arts centre in south Essex has struck a chord in the county, according to the man behind the scheme. Vin Harrop, from Rosslyn Road, Billericay, has received nearly 100 responses from businesses to his proposals for an Essex
A masterplan package which would see a new supermarket and housing estate built in Tiptree would "tear the heart out of the village", it has been claimed. Outraged Tiptree residents protesting against plans for 70 houses and a supermarket near the village
A man is being treated in hospital with a punctured lung after being stabbed in the back in a Basildon street. The 34-year-old victim was grabbed by three men who leapt out of a car as he left a house in Witchards, Kingswood. It is the second stabbing
Southend has won one of the biggest handouts in the eastern region to battle congestion and get traffic moving. A total of £2.3 million will come to the town aimed at delivering the first stage of the integrated transport plan, upgrading bridges and maintaining
A student from The Peniel Academy at Brizes Park, Kelvedon Hatch, has shown that British is best at table tennis after winning 21 matches out of 21 during an international tournament in Northern France last week. Abigail Embling, 12, who lives in Pilgrims
Round-the-clock shopping has come to Chelmsford after a U-turn by councillors. They have given the go-ahead to the Princes Road Tesco superstore to trade 24-hours a day, six days a week. The decision allows 24-hour opening except for Sundays until the
City comfortably won their first game in this midweek competition for four years at New Lodge on Wednesday but what was more important for manager Gary Bellamy was that it gave his side valuable match practice after a blank weekend. He also gave debuts
Bowers United's home clash with Burnham Ramblers looks to be the pick of Saturday's Schweppes Essex Senior League programme. The Pitsea outfit enjoyed a fabulous 1998/99 campaign in which they pulled off a championship and cup double. The side has changed
This was a serious Ramblers defeat as it not only virtually obliterated their championship hopes, but it also saw them lose ground on Ilford; probably the only other side of genuine consequence in the league. It was not just the points though. Failure
The misery continued for struggling Braintree as they crashed to a heavy defeat at the hands of their rivals from the Hertfordshire side of the A120. Stortford's well drilled forwards were so effective in pushing their opponent's pack backwards that what
Any end-of-season cobwebs were blown away as the 20-boat fleet braved boisterous conditions for the third and final race of the Crouch Yacht's Red Insurance Nutcracker Trophy on Sunday. The 30 knot gusts livened up proceedings and there was much chaos
Playing up a division, Guy McKenzie turned in two good performances for Hatfield Peverel B in division three of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League by taking two singles against both ECC F and Baddow Village C. However, McKenzie's excellent
Through their inability to build on a bright start on Saturday, Braintree missed the chance to put an end to their winless run which now stretches to 10 games. On paper at least Iron looked stronger than they have done for several weeks with the return
