Archive
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Queen's Southend visit: BBC rapped
Southend's council boss has delivered a blistering attack on BBC television for ignoring the Queen's historic visit to the borough. Chief executive and town clerk George Krawiec fired the broadside yesterday (Thursday) after Newsroom South East cut Southend
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Brentwood: EastEnder Ross beats killer disease
Brentwood's EastEnder's star Ross Kemp has been at the centre of a life-threatening health scare after fighting off the potentially fatal disease malaria. The 34-year-old, who plays Grant Mitchell in the BBC soap, spent four days in the Princess Grace
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Brentwood: Council leader resigns
The Leader of Brentwood Borough Council's Conservative Group, Cllr Valerie Fletcher, has resigned. The shock news came on Tuesday night with members of her group being informed by letter on Wednesday morning. Speaking exclusively to This Is Essex Cllr
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Southend: Grounded - in the airport mud
One trip from Southend Airport was over before it began when this plane became a stick-in-the-mud. As the Boeing 757 taxied up the runway, its wheels went off track and ended up in a ditch. The emergency services were called to the incident on Wednesday
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Southend: Woman sexually assaulted
A man dragged a woman into an outbuilding and sexually assaulted her shortly after she left a pub in Southend town centre. Police are appealing for the public's help in tracking down the attacker. The 24-year-old woman suffered a cut to her head in the
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Essex waste anger spills over
Campaigners battling the Essex waste plan have hit back at accusations that they are scaremongering. The charges follow a rally at County Hall in Chelmsford on Saturday where hundreds of protestors were demonstrating against the proposal. The backlash
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Colchester: Sales stop shock for Royal London
Royal London Insurance is to suspend sales of life assurance and pensions after a watchdog inspection. The Colchester-based company, which has 1.2 million customers and is one of the town's main employers, will cease regular business on Monday for immediate
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Manhunt after Southend sex attacks
A major police hunt is under way after one woman was raped and another was sexually assaulted in Southend town centre. Detectives were not ruling out a link between the two because a description of the two attackers was so similar. The first attack happened
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Rugby: Basildon aim for county final spot
Basildon's bid to face fellow London League Three high-fliers Rochford in the Essex Cup Final has reached crunch time - with Sunday's enticing last-four tie at home to a side struggling in the division above them. The new towners, fourth-placed in L3
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Soccer: Ipswich get Magilton for another month's loan
Jim Magilton will play for Ipswich in their clash at West Bromwich Albion. Town have taken the Irish midfielder on loan for another month from Sheffield Wednesday but expect him to make a final decision about staying at the club by Monday. Blues' boss
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Rugby: Mersea look for first silverware
Mersea will be hoping to lift the first silverware in the club's 10-year history, when they host Thurston in the Suffolk Plate Final, on Sunday (kick-off 2.30pm). The Eastern Counties Two outfit will be looking for a repeat of the result when the two
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Basketball: Battle of big cats
Leopards returned to Brentwood, in what was billed as the battle of the Big Cats. After dominating the first half, the Leopards fell victim to a lethal combination of the Tigers John McCord and some bizarre refereeing calls. As a result, the Tigers came
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Fencing: Chelmsford's Pryor gets GB call-up
Tom Pryor, a 17-year-old Brentwood School champion fencer, has been selected in the Great Britain Under 17 Epee team to compete in the World Championships in Hungary next month. Tom, who lives in Chelmsford, is ranked as the No 2 Epee fencer in Britain
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Maldon: ÂŁ60,000 community centre revamp
Plans to revamp West Maldon Community Centre have been given the thumbs up by district councillors. The community association has unveiled plans to extend the hall and create a bar and carpeted seating area. Maldon District Council leases the centre to
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Boxing: Ayers is on top of the world
Romford-based Matchroom Boxing has a new world champion - lightweight Michael Ayers. And what an inspired performance he produced to claim the vacant IBO world title after knocking out gutsy Columbian Luis Florez. Promoter Barry Hearn may not have been
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Dunmow: Teen city project
Dunmow teenagers could have somewhere to go in the evenings following the launch of a working party to look into their needs. The Teen City Working Party was unveiled at last week's Dunmow Town Strategy Group meeting and will assess ways of providing
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Chelmsford: Viaduct notice sparks firms fury
Railtrack has admitted it made a mistake in not consulting businesses in the Chelmsford station viaducts before issuing them notices to quit. One family business couple have been saving to send their son to see an American brain specialist for special
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Chelmsford elderly are con victims
Two elderly women have been tricked out of cash by a Chelmsford doorstep caller who said that he had carried out work on their roofs. Both crimes were committed on Sunday afternoon between 2.30 and 3.00. The first was in Nalla Gardens, when the trickster
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Braintree: Wolf boy case dropped
Two sisters accused of kidnapping their severely autistic "wolf boy" brother have had all charges dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service. Elizabeth Roberts, 30, of Danbury, and Jeanette Rachell Roberts, 28, known as Gina, of Saffron Walden, had been
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Southend: Beach hut revolt over cost of leases
More than 85 beach hut owners packed into a Southend Council meeting demanding to know why the cost of their leases is to go up by as much as 76 per cent. They expressed their anger at the massive hike which officers claim brings Southend in line with
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Soccer: Roget keen for Southend return
Central defender Leo Roget is relishing the chance of relaunching his Southend United career at Darlington on Saturday. Loan star Barry Hunter has returned to Second Division promotion chasers Reading and Roget is set to fill the gap in the Shrimpers'
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Soccer: Sky TV pundit Alan tips City to take Colchester
Sky TV pundit Alan Brazil has stuck his neck out and tipped Manchester City to beat Colchester in the pay-per-view clash. Brazil last watched the U's at Layer Road in November when they drew 1-1 with Macclesfield. The former Ipswich, Manchester United
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Soccer: Brazilian ace's Colchester debut against Man City
It's the big one - the game every Colchester United fan has been waiting for all season has finally arrived. And U's manager Mick Wadsworth believes he has the perfect match-winner in Brazilian ace Jose Antunes Fumaca who he predicts will "set the place
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Cycling: Riders prepare for Grand Prix of Essex
The Chiron Diagnostics Grand Prix of Essex cycle classic takes place on Sunday over 102 gruelling miles in and around Halstead. With more than 50 full internationals expected on the start line, the race promises to be one of the best in its illustrious
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Hockey: Maldon to surf the internet for results
Maldon Ladies will be surfing the internet tomorrow night to find out if they are to be crowned champions of the EWHA Hockey League Division One. The red hot mid Essex ladies side are currently five points clear of Dunmow at the top having completed their
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Soccer: Confident Chelmsford cruise to victory
City literally coasted to their easiest win of the season at the Firs on Saturday and could have come away at the end with double their goals tally - the home side's defence was so embarrassingly bad in what was, for long periods, a one-sided game. It
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Rugby: Chelmsford's title hopes boosted
Chelmsford knew a win would virtually secure their promotion to London North East 2. The game remained tight throughout and closely contested. Bury kicked off and the first 15 minutes were played at a frantic pace. This led to several mistakes including
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Golf: Hole in one can prove expensive
When the Channels Ladies and Gentlemen took part in the Channels/Regiment Way Challenge last week two of the Channels players took the two "Nearest the Pin" prizes. Simon Larner on the 13th and then the Lady Captain, Lis Gander, the 17th at NIL inches
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Youth rugby: Rochford get top honours
Rochford under-14s' rugby stars underlined the growing stature of the club youth section by sharing the top honours in the highly-prized Colchester Festival. Rochford beat Harlow and Aylesbury in the round robin games, but lost to Saracens 14-0 and Wymondham
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Man faces rapes trial
A man arrested by detectives hunting a serial sex attacker was due to make his first appearance in front of a judge at the Old Bailey today (Friday). Part-time DJ Richard Baker was expected to appear at the court to face a string of 20 charges against
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Injured Shoebury woman: Man held
A 60-year-old man was in police custody today (Friday) after a woman was found in Shoebury with severe head injuries. Police refused to release the identity of the 39-year-old woman or her address until investigations had been made. Southend officers
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Frinton: Anne's wins battle to entertain diners
A Frinton restaurant can stage night-time entertainment - despite protests from residents. A meeting heard that a residents' group reneged on a pact to drop its objection if the plan for Anne's restaurant in Connaught Avenue, was scaled down. Tendring
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Witham: Safety fears over subway lighting
Pedestrians have been left in the dark for more than a fortnight after council workmen failed to repair broken lights on a gloomy subway. Safety fears have been raised because every night for two weeks the graffiti-covered walkway beneath Spa Road, in
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Maldon: Council gipsy plan setback
Plans for short-stop places for gipsies in Maldon district have provoked a huge response from residents. The district council was analysing more than 200 comments from the public this week, including a 410-signature petition against a scheme at Heybridge
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Squash: Mixed fortunes for Brentwood
Having been narrowly beaten into second place in the national schools squash finals in 1998, Brentwood School's Under 19 boys' and girls' squads entered this year's finals at Winchester last week with total commitment. The boys hit top form to defeat
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Soccer: Ipswich's Magilton deal in the balance
Ipswich's signing of Jim Magilton is hanging in the balance, with the player asking for more time. Yesterday (Thursday) the club insisted the next 24 hours were crucial. Blues' chairman David Sheepshanks said the club were doing all they could to secure
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Rochford pupil in car fire drama
A brave schoolboy has been hailed a hero after he helped to rescue a man from a burning car. Christopher Vernon, a pupil at the King Edmund School in Rochford, has been commended by Rayleigh traffic police. Christopher, 14, of Anne Boleyn Drive, Rochford
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Girl's terror of Pitsea sex stalker
A 12-year-old girl was left so traumatised by a man who exposed himself and followed her she kept the horrendous experience secret for a week. The youngster, who lives in Pitsea, was walking to Chalvedon School in Wickford Avenue when the man struck on
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Council's computer used to view porn
A county councillor resigned as chairman of the Essex Fire Authority because his son accessed internet pornography from a council-owned computer, it was revealed today. Labour's Tony Wright, also a Castle Point councillor, had already admitted that the
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Colchester: Pupils receive techno lowdown
Pupils from ten north Essex secondary schools have been converging on Colchester Institute. They have been discovering the wealth of job opportunities which exist in the world of technology. The youngsters have attended workshops which form part of the
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Closure threat averted at Clacton home
A vital facility for the deaf and blind is battling back against the threat of closure. St Anne's Holiday Home in Harold Road, Clacton, was hit by falling numbers and looked as though it could be forced to shut a year ago. But with usage having jumped
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Anger at plan to extend Colchester club's hours
Angry residents are campaigning against plans to open Colchester's Hippodrome nightclub until 3am. The new owners of the High Street club - soon to change its name to Zeus 2000 - want to extend the opening times for an extra hour each night. They have
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Police hunt for Harold Wood car sniper
Harold police are reopening the hunt for a phantom sniper who has been terrorising drivers in Harold Wood. Terrified drivers in Harold Court Road have been left covered in broken glass after air rifle pellets shattered their windscreens. However police
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South Essex: New A130 gets green light
A controversial new bypass - labelled as an alternative to the M25 - is to be built in south Essex thanks to a ÂŁ92m Government windfall. Plans for the new A130 road have caused mixed reactions during the battle to earn funding. County councillor Ray Howard
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Shoebury: It's four babies for Isabel!
A Shoebury couple are celebrating their new family - the first quads to be born at Southend Hospital. Proud mum Isabel Martin brought quads Greg, Olivia, Madeleine and Brooke into the world at around 11.30am on Thursday. Southend Hospital staff were left
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Police accused of beating Benfleet boy
The family of a teenager who claimed police coshed him over the head and sprayed CS in his face, today vowed to "fight for justice to the bitter end." The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was taken to hospital afterwards and had five staples
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Cressing publican's hell facing attempted murder charge
A businessman who employed a private detective to clear his name has told of his 20 months of hell living in the shadow of an attempted murder charge. Father-of-nine Paul Baker, 50, had to give up running The Pullman pub, Cressing, and saw work at his
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Chelmsford: Heroes in car fireball rescue of woman, 81
Two men saved the life of an 81-year-old woman when she was dragged her from her blazing car in Chelmsford. Britvic employee Gary Woodhatch, 41, of Beechenlea, Chelmsford, leapt over his firm's fence and ran 150 yards to the car in Westway, screaming,
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Speedway: Witches get off to a flier
Ipswich Witches got off to a flying start in this their first meeting of the season, racing to a comfortable Craven Shield victory over the Oxford Cheetahs at Foxhall Stadium last night. Skipper Chris Louis set the standard and was unbeaten by an opponent
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Braintree: Wethersfield farmer's market plan
Farmers in the Braintree district are hoping to set up a market selling their fresh produce direct to customers. Despite a lack of financial backing from Braintree Council, Wethersfield farmer, Roy Threadgold, is co-ordinating plans to establish a regular
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Blackmore End: Villagers fight housing plan - again
Villagers in the hamlet of Blackmore End are poised to fight another bid by lorry firm, Courtenham's, to develop its haulage depot for housing. The company has appealed against Braintree Council's refusal of planning permission for new homes on the five-acre
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Ice Hockey: Chelmsford boys go Dutch
Ross Jones, 15, and Paul Chambers, 15, have become the first boys from Chelmsford Junior Ice Hockey to be selected for a Great Britain team. They will be travelling to Holland with the Great Britain Under 16 team, to take part in an international tournament
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Hockey: Chelmsford have to sweat it out
Chelmsford Men lost the chance to control their Division One destiny by going down 3-0 at home to Barford Tigers. Having dropped out of the top eight for the first time this year with one match remaining, Chelmsford know that even a win next week away
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Ladies basketball: Top talent on parade in Chelmsford
An historic weekend of sport in Chelmsford saw some of the very best female sporting talent in the country assembled for a spectacular display of basketball skills and thrills at the Riverside Ice & Leisure Centre. The basketball feast started with
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Ice Hockey: ChieftainsÂ’ dismal defeat
Chelmsford Chieftains' recent poor away form continued with a dismal 10-4 defeat at the league's smallest ice pad on the Isle of Wight on Saturday. Chieftains were never really in a game which Raiders needed to win to secure points desperately needed
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Netball: Sophie stuns poor Pegasus
Division One Hullbridge Blue pulled off the biggest win of the Southend & District Netball League week. Sophie Walford was their star player in a 49-31 defeat of Pegasus, for whom Toni Bowling was rated as the top performer. Shooter Barbara West came
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Table tennis: Spectacular results for Brentwood academy
All seven table tennis teams from Peniel Academy, Brizes Park, Brentwood, returned as National Champions after the National Schools Table Tennis Championships, held at Kesteven and Grantham Table Tennis Centre in Grantham. The seven teams had qualified
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Chinese man blindfolded and beaten, court heard
A blindfolded Chinaman was taunted about his love life, forced to sing songs and was repeatedly beaten while held captive, a court heard. Illegal immigrant Chen Fen Xiang, 20, was taken hostage last June, and wept as he told Kingston Crown Court how his
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Tendring residents' shock over council tax
Thousands of people across Tendring got a shock with their council tax bills. Having opted to pay by ten monthly instalments by direct debit they were presented with a demand for the whole amount by April 1. Around one in 20 people who have already received
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Witham: Woman robbed on River Walk
Witham police have told women they should not be afraid of using the town's River Walk after the latest in a string of incidents on the path. On Friday a young woman was pushed off her bike and robbed as she cycled along the isolated path at lunchtime
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Swimming: County contest continues
Killerwhale swimmer Jodie Swallow was unable to compete fully in the second round of the Essex Swimming Championships last weekend, due to an athletic commitment. Nevertheless she made her mark in the three events on the Sunday, at Fullwell Cross Pool
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Soccer: Richard joins Colchester
French defender Fulvio "Fabrice" Richard is set to become Colchester United manager Mick Wadsworth's second foreign signing in successive days. And the U's boss, who on Wednesday signed Jose Antunes Fumaca until the end of the season, revealed that he
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Soccer: Pether saves Brentwood's day
This was an interesting game, with play swinging from end to end throughout the 90 minutes. Basildon thought they had taken the lead when from a free kick Hewes hit a fierce shot onto the underside of the crossbar. Just like in the 1966 World Cup final
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Soccer: Docherty tips Colchester to beat Man City
Legendary Scotland and Manchester United manager Tommy Docherty has backed the U's to beat Manchester City and for the Reds to win the European Champion's League. Speaking after a dinner at Stanway Rovers, Docherty said: "Manchester City are on a bit
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Rugby: Billericay's 'town on terraces' appeal
Billericay's victorious rugby team want the town on the terraces as they seek to rekindle sporting glory days on the hallowed turf of Twickenham. As the dust settles after their close-fought 18-6 win over Scarborough at the Willowbrook ground on Saturday
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Judo: Richard sets his sights high
British judo champion Richard Blanes sets his sights on the next level this weekend when he competes in an international event in Poland. The 26-year-old schoolteacher is hoping to pick up enough points to earn himself a place in the World Championship
