Archive
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Soccer: Colchester's new weapon sidelined
New boy Brian Launders Colchester United season could be over. The talented Derby County loanee, signed for the rest of the season only last Thursday on transfer deadline day, visited a specialist in Bradford today where he was facing the prospect of
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Dagenham: 680 jobs go at Ford
Car giant Ford today announced 680 voluntary job losses under plans to improve efficiency. The redundancies would be spread throughout the company, including the huge factory in Dagenham, Essex, the firm said. The company said it aimed to achieve 625
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Banger Racing: Wilsher aiming for a retainer
This year's Easter Bank Holiday Monday motorsport meeting at Arena-Essex looks like being one of the biggest yet, with no less than 16 teams booked in to do battle in round one of the PRI Banger Team Championship. Romford's Kev Wilsher and the notorious
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Ongar: Farmwatch is great success
The first year of the Ongar Farmwatch scheme has been a rip roaring success - and it's all thanks to diligent farmers for making it work. That's the opinion of PC Chris Caton of Ongar Police who has been closely involved with the project since its inception
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Judo champion cheats death
As Russell Kite waited for an x-ray in hospital, he gave way to an emergency admission. Only later did he hear it was his brother, Greg, who had been rushed in by air ambulance close to death. His parents, Sue and Peter told Russell, 17, the dreadful
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Jobs boost cash plan for Billericay and Wickford
A plan designed to keep money and jobs flowing into Billericay and Wickford has received the go ahead from Basildon Council. The council claims that investment in the Basildon district has increased considerably in recent years, and is confident that
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Harold police target those who prey on elderly
Bogus callers preying on elderly Harold residents are being targeted by police in a new high profile campaign. Operation Keeper is a pan-London initiative aimed at stopping artifice burglars, or bogus callers, in their tracks and reducing the public's
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Tennis: Park are the winter champions
Cranston Park's junior team won the United Sports sponsored Chelmsford League Winter tournament at the David Lloyd Centre in Chigwell on Sunday. Sixty four young players representing 16 teams were in action in the day long tournament. The Cranston Park
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Tennis: High standard of play at Wickfords winter finals
On a beautiful spring-like day, Wickford Lawn Tennis Club held their winter finals day on Sunday. The first event, the men's singles plate, threatened to last the entire day - a two and a half hour marathon of excellent rallying left both Stewart Clark
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Rugby: Billericay romp to 89-0 win
Billericay's magnificent season continued on Saturday with a superb performance of open running ruby scoring 15 tries, 12 by the backs. Within six minutes of the start Billericay led 21-0. Firstly, winger Mike Coxford rounded his opposite number to score
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Motorsport: Billericay man needs backing
Billericay speed king Trevor Randall is offering local business people the chance to join him as he scorches his way through the motor racing ranks to Formula One. Trevor, 23, from Scrubb Rise, became Club 100 Karting Champion last year after winning
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Cycling: Prizewinning start for Gary and Mick
In the early season time trial events, Gary Glenister and Mick Scott of the Essex Roads Cycling Club have started well. In the three Tandem events that they have entered they have recorded good times and been in the prizes. In the ECCA 10 mile event they
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Billericay: The meat pie shocker
A Billericay pupil has been sampling Sweeney Todd's famous pies - food with that human touch! Naomi Bristow, 16, took part in performances of Stephen Sondheim's musical at the The Coopers' Company and Coburn School. Naomi was one of 50 pupils who were
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Rayleigh: Hero boy in pool rescue
A quick-thinking schoolboy was hailed a hero after he saved the life of a five-year-old while on holiday in Spain. Billy Leader, nine, of Bristol Close, Rayleigh, has been awarded a Royal Humane Society testimonial following the accident at a villa swimming
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Colchester: Carnival under threat
An SOS call is being made to Colchester businesses to help save the town's historic carnival. Organisers of the popular summer event revealed the cost of hiring crowd safety barriers had placed it under threat - and called on the town's firms to put their
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Chappel: Thomas off the rails...
Poor old Thomas the Tank Engine went off the rails on his way to the East Anglian Railway Museum in Chappel. Thomas ran out of steam when his trailer got stuck in mud on Spring Gardens Road - just yards from its destination at 9.30am on Wednesday. Museum
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Rugby: Chelmsford's championship-winning display
Chelmsford Rugby Club are league champions for the first time in the history of the club following their win at Wymondham. After a hard fought league season, Chelmsford finally reaped the rewards of their efforts when they took the Courage London N.E.
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Soccer: Vital win for Witham
Witham had the better of the early exchanges in Tuesday's match. The home side went close to scoring when Kevin Jopson of Witham was forced to head the ball off the line but generally the first half was evenly matched. Seconds before the break Witham
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Soccer: Simpson the star for Heybridge
This was a game Swifts had to simply win on Tuesday if they were to continue their positive fight to avoid relegation and thanks to a a goal midway through the second half they picked up three crucial points. It was also a tribute to the character of
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Cricket: Hussain hopeful for a good campaign
With the start of the 1999 season just 12 days away, the Essex cricketers have intensified their preparations in readiness for the new campaign. Skipper Nasser Hussain, in full charge of the side for the first time, believes that the squad are in good
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Bowls: Essex are best in the country
Essex's short mat bowls team have retained the National Championships for the second successive year. The county's 'A' side kept the top spot after defeating Kent 'A' 20-16, despite losing on shots by 177 to 185. Essex began with a strong performance
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Thank you for the music...
SALLY KING talks to pop singer Tina Cousins, heading for the charts again with a charity Abba medley She's blonde, she's tall, she's got the most fabulous eyes, a lovely voice and has had three Top 20 hits. Stands to reason then that she's got nerves
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Men's hockey: Convincing win for Essex
Following the end of the club league season, men's county teams are now involved in regional and national championships. The Essex men's team carried off the East Senior County Championship last Sunday in convincing style. At the splendidly appointed
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Southend: Duo's pier gift
Two songwriters want to turn their musical notes into folding ones to raise funds to save Southend Pier. Chris Jones and Jack Forbes reckon they have penned enough songs over the years about their beloved pier to make a charity CD. They have also offered
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Soccer: Chelmsford master of their own fate
Chelmsford City players have been given a big incentive to win their next three Dr Martens League Southern Division matches because the nine points will put them back up among the other promotion hopefuls. "To a degree it's all in our own hands because
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Basketball: Swifts host major event at Riverside
Chelmsford Swifts are hosting a major basketball event on Easter Monday (April 5) at Riverside Ice & Leisure Centre in Chelmsford. At 2.45 pm, England Junior Women (Under 18s) take on the Holland Under 18's in an International match for the first
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Future bright for footballer Richard
The future looks bright for Redden Court School pupil, Richard Insole, 16, who has been signed up by Southend United Football Club. A member of the club's centre of excellence programme, Richard, of Oldchurch Road, Romford, has been given a SCORE scholarship
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Soccer: Town fall at Hendon
Town dominated the first half of Saturday's match but Hendon resumed after the break as a different side and showed some of the class they had demonstrated at New Lodge earlier in the season. With Dean Parratt missing, Town had Steve Blaney in midfiled
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Soccer: Late goals secure a narrow win
Saturday saw a hard fought game that could have gone either way but Brentwood were thankful to score twice in the last five minutes to secure the three points that will give them the opportunity to finish ninth in the league table. The approach play of
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Youth soccer: Heybridge get better of Regent Park
Heybridge entertained Regents Park at Scraley Road, and with key players missing had trouble finding their form of previous weeks. Heybridge however opened the scoring through Ryan Baxter who's shot on the turn completely deceived the keeper for the only
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Rugby: Brightlingsea are undefeated champs
Brightlingsea started this game with the league title already in the bag but wanting to remain undefeated. They took the game to Norwich from the kick-off and were soon inside their 22. In the early exchanges there was some slick handling and David Day
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Rollerhockey: Colchester players' England call-up
Three of the young players from Colchester Intermediates have been selected to play for England Central in an international tournament to be held in France on the weekend of April 17-18. The three young rollerhockey players concerned are Nick Hamilton
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Cricket: Aussie duo go head-to-head
Queensland team-mates will meet head on when Essex cricketers launch their new Championship season against reigning county kings Leicestershire. State-mates and Test team buddies Stuart Law and Michael Kasprowicz - both overlooked by Australia's World
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Soccer: Top job turmoil for Taylor
England under-21 boss Peter Taylor has ruled himself out of the race to become Southend United's next manager. The 46-year-old, who made his name as a player with Blues during the 70s, had been hotly tipped to have a second crack at managing Southend,
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Witham: Youths prey on elderly
Elderly people in a retirement area of Witham are facing intimidation from youths. Some fear they can't take any more of the vandalism, damage and being frightened at night and may even have to move out. Now police are appealing for them to name the culprits
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Billericay: Clowning around
Stilt walker Jason Perry, Andy Pandy and Looby Loo dropped in at Billericay's Somerfield store as hundreds of children were treated to a packed night of fun. Face painting, games, music and an Easter bonnet competition topped the line-up at Somerfield
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Colchester: New sports science lab at Essex University
A state-of-the-art sports science lab was officially opened at Essex University today. A new course in sports science is due to start this September, and there have been almost 300 applicants for 40 places. The lab will be used by undergraduates and postgraduates
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Colchester lorry driver cleared of indecent assault
A long- distance lorry driver has been cleared of indecently assaulting a 15-year-old girl. The teenager told Chelmsford Crown Court that Robert Pratchett from Alyssum Walk, Colchester, had assaulted her after they went drinking and dancing at the Hippodrome
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Brightlingsea: Fine for solicitor
A solicitor from Brightlingsea has been fined £500 for wrongly deducting cash from a client in a legally-aided divorce case. At a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in London on Wednesday Philip Totenhofer, of Queens Street, admitted deducting £2,244.25
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Colchester: Armed raid for 4 beers
A robber held up a Colchester shop with a gun - and made off with just four cans of beer. The man pointed a handgun at the 19-year-old assistant at Dillons in Bromley Road, on the edge of the Greenstead estate. He walked in at around 9.50pm last night
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Chelmsford: Pray for a policeman
Chelmsford police are to receive spiritual support under scheme launched by churches. One church already prays regularly for uniformed as well as civilian staff based at the town's police station. Now other congregations are being encouraged by the Christian
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DIY helpline set up by Harold man
Hundreds of disappointed DIY enthusiasts are expected turn up at Harold Wood giant's B&Q store this Sunday only to find the doors tightly shut. But the company has a one man solution to the problems of bubbling wallpaper and sagging shelves over Easter
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Southend junkie hid drugs in parts of anatomy
Jnkie Donovan Tillmuth gave police quite a shock when they searched him. They discovered two plastic packets of heroin and cocaine between his buttocks, a court heard. The startled officers also found drugs concealed in other parts of Tillmuth's anatomy
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New Canvey IT centre gets go-ahead
A new school information technology centre has been approved by town planners. St Katherine's Primary School in Hilton Road, Canvey, won permission for a one-storey extension at the side of its main building. Councillors made the decision at a meeting
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Hutton: Croatia convoy for scout leader
A Hutton scout leader is heading for the former Yugoslavia this week with two lorryloads of refugee aid donated by local schools, churches and shoppers. Charles Storer left his Billericay home yesterday morning, in constant touch with United Nations aid
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Soccer: Collier Row's cup triumph
The Colts won their first major Essex Challenge Cup on Sunday, with an impressive performance against young opponents from South Woodham Ferrers, who play in the Maldon Sunday League. The match was played before a large crowd at Tiptree Football Club
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Showjumping: Hayley has a show to remember
Young Essex rider Hayley Adams made the line-up in two cup finals at the Jersey National Show Jumping Championships, staged at the British Equestrian Centre in Warwickshire. Hayley, from Navestock, began her successful run in the Jersey Junior Novice
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Rugby: Brentwood's inspiration lacking in last match
The last league match of the season between two sides with nothing to play for but pride failed to produce anything inspiring on a day when the weather conditions should have encouraged some flowing rugby. Brentwood were awarded a penalty on the OMT ten
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Maldon: Yacht club reveals £500,000 dream home site
Ambitious plans for a new £500,000 headquarters for Maldon Yacht Club have been unveiled. The yacht club, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, wants to move to a new purpose-built headquarters off Hall Road, Heybridge. Under plans being drawn
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Wickford: Truancy beaten by award scheme
A truancy-busting scheme has smashed non-attendance at a Wickford school. Since the new awards scheme was introduced, the number of pupils taking part who played hooky has been reduced - to zero! Two forms of pupils at Beauchamps School, in Beauchamps
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Chelmsford: Faye's rugby world first
Schoolgirl Faye Dyke is set to make sporting history by becoming the first girl to take part in a world rugby tournament. Faye, 11, who plays for Chelmsford Rugby Club under-ten's team, is jetting off to South Africa to take part in an Easter mini-rugby
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Colchester: Burglar sent back to prison
A burglar has been sent back to prison after stealing £3,500 worth of goods from a student house. Jamie Stevenson from Morant Road, Colchester, was convicted of burglary by the town's magistrates in February, and was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court
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Flies plague villages near Braintree
Villagers are battening down the hatches after being plagued by a swarm of flies. Residents in villages near Braintree have taken to arming themselves with fly swats in a bid to ward of the unwelcome invasion. Environmental protection manager for Braintree
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Southend: Rush for rape alarms
Women are flocking to buy rape alarms after a string of sex attacks in Southend. Sales of the hand-held alarms rocketed after a number of attacks on women in the town over the past few months. The alarms - which emit a high-pitched screech - are available
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Laindon: Parents urged to shop 'yob' kids
Parents have been urged to shop their own children after pensioners were targeted in a spate of vandalism attacks. Residents at an old folks' complex are afraid to step outside their front doors after suffering months of misery. The residents of Cromer
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Ice Hockey: Tero the hero as Blaze fall
The omens for Chieftains before Saturday's match were bleak, as they had not won in their last seven matches, while Solihull had not lost since going down at Chelmsford on February 7 and had 10 straight wins to take the league title. But play-offs are
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Soccer: Colchester duo look for Easter boost
French goal-getter Steve Germain and club captain Richard Wilkins are fighting for a place in Colchester United's Easter Holiday line-up. Both are included in the the U's team for tonight's Avon Insurance Combination top nine clash with East Anglian rivals
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Rugby: Hosts fail to go out with a bang
Colchester failed to end their league campaign with a bang when they slumped to a heavy defeat against Old Verulmanians. This game being the last league match of the season, and the outcome not affecting the already determined position of either club,
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Soccer: Chelmsford's lifeline
Chelmsford City have been thrown a lifeline and the club hope to be in their proposed new stadium at Beaulieu Park in time for the big kick-off to the 2000/01 season. Club chief executive Gary Bellamy said he was "absolutely delighted" at the news, which
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Speedway: Busy Good Friday on the cards for Witches
There's no speedway action at Foxhall stadium tonight (Thursday) as Friday sees the return of the traditional Good Friday double header against fierce local rivals the Kings Lynn Knights. With the Craven Shield action getting under way at Foxhall in the
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Wickford: Hay fire probed
Police are investigating the cause of a massive hay fire at a Wickford farm. Five fire engines were called to the blaze at Castledon Farm, Castledon Road, Wickford, at about 3.30pm on Wednesday. More than 200 tonnes of straw are believed to have been
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Maldon: Disabled champion died after step fall
Maldon's champion of disabled rights, Scott Thomas, died from head injuries after falling from his wheelchair at West Maldon Community Centre, an inquest heard last week. Coroner's officer Mr Stephen Parfrey told the Chelmsford inquest that although there
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Southend: Taxing quiz
A Southend councillor made it to the dying moments of a national quiz show on Wednesday night - only to be stumped by a council tax question! Chris Dandridge, Labour member for Victoria ward and deputy leader of the council, was the last man standing
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Canvey: Egg head!
Easter is only days away but John Stevens, pictured, is already in the swing of things. His elaborate bonnet, complete with chicken and egg, was just one of the masterpieces on show at the Phoenix Club annual Easter parade. The Canvey club is run by Eddie
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Billericay: Strawberry tree plea
Conservationists in Billericay have united to attack plans to pull down a rare strawberry tree on the St Andrews Hospital site. Developers Laing Homes have submitted plans to Basildon Council to pull down the 100-year-old tree, which has a tree preservation
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Weeley man jailed for assault on young girl
A man tried to rape an eight-year-old girl as they lay in bed together. And on Wednesday Edward Breeds, 22, was sent to prison for five years following his admission of two charges of attempted rape, three specimen charges of indecent assault and two
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Golf: Basildon flourish as Rochford suffer
Rochford had a very brief acquaintance with the Essex Junior Team Championship for the Leslie F Wood Trophy this season. For, in the preliminary round, Rochford travelled to a very strong Thorndon Park outfit and were crushed 13-2. Things were much brighter
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Soccer: Developers win Chelmsford ground appeal
Developers have won a controversial appeal which could see Chelmsford City Football Club leave the town centre for good. Now Chelmsford Council has called for an urgent meeting with Brentwood-based Countryside Properties to seek "some common ground" in
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Cricket: England call-up for Nasser
Nasser Hussain described his eleventh hour call-up to England's cricket World Cup squad as "fantastic." The talented Essex skipper said he could not believe his luck when he received the call he had been hoping for from England's chairman of selectors
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Soccer: College's great Italian job
The Colchester Sixth Form College football squad rounded off their trip to Italy with a 2-0 win over Italian semi-professionals Bussolengo. Goals from skipper Sean Caton and Greg Felgate capped a great week for the young tourists which included a tour
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Tennis: Stewart's a marathon man
Stewart Clark earned himself the title of the marathon man when Wickford Lawn Tennis Club held their winter finals on a beautiful spring-like day. The first event on, the men's singles plate, threatened to last the entire day - a two-and-a-half hour marathon
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Soccer: 101-goal Ramblers are just ton-derful
Leigh Ramblers Under-11s are the ton-up boys of the Southend Junior League. Their 3-2 win at Jones Memorial Ground over Trinity Juniors 2nd took them to 101 goals for the term and they look certs for promotion from B Division level at the end of the term
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Maldon: Dawn back for £250,000 appeal
After a five-year campaign Maldon's historic 102 year-old barge, Dawn, has been brought home. Now a £250,000 appeal is under way to restore Dawn to her former glory. "We've brought her back to Maldon for Maldoners," said Captain Gordon Swift. "So Maldon
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Businesses welcome Stansted expansion
Business leaders in Braintree this week welcomed the £200 million expansion of Stansted Airport which could bring 5,000 new jobs to the area. Work on the first phase of the development is expected to start early next year, following Monday's go-ahead
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Braintree: It's the great escape
A giant bronze sculpture of a horse made the journey from a Braintree foundry to its new home in Liverpool on Tuesday. Called The Great Escape, the sculpture stands 14 ft tall and weighs more than three tons. Artist, Edward Cronshaw, spent two years working
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Basildon: Playtime's over at Parklands
The toys have been put away and the doors finally shut on one of the most popular nurseries in Basildon. Parents and staff at Parklands Nursery, just behind Gloucester Park swimming pool, were in tears at a farewell party. One staff member, said: "Even
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Feering: Fury as pub hit by rates hike
A village publican today threatened to shut up shop and move out after his business rates more than doubled. Charles and Kim Scicluna, who run the Sun Inn at Feering are fighting the business rates rise which has seen their bill go up from £3,831 in 1998
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Colchester: Traders' anger over bus lane
Small traders have fiercely criticised Colchester's new bus lane branding it a waste of money and a danger to the public. The long-awaited scheme came into force on North Hill on Monday and is part of Colchester Council's mission to ease traffic congestion
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Brentwood: Raid exposes home working racket
A homeworking scam affecting "vulnerable" people such as single mothers and disabled people who work from home has been smashed by Essex trading standards officers. They raided a private home in Brentwood with police officers, armed with a search warrant
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Southend: Recycling is sorted with new machine
Cutting-edge equipment designed to sort household waste before it's recycled has been unveiled by Southend Council. The new materials sorting facility at Cory Environmental forms part of a desperate initiative to smash through tough Government recycling
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Shoebury: Dream of new hi-tech green flats
Green homes based on the design of a hi-tech TV dream house could be coming to Shoebury. Housing chiefs have launched a plan to bring 24 "green" flats to the borough in their bid to build environmentally-friendly homes. The properties would bring major
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Caribbean is on Canvey
Palm trees will soon be swaying in the summer breeze bringing a touch of the Caribbean to Canvey. At last, the eight foot tall palm trees have arrived from Italy as part of the Canvey 2000 campaign to enhance the seafront. Each tree has been paid for
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Canvey: Petty seafront thieves will be prosecuted
Petty thieves who stole newly-planted shrubs from Canvey's seafront will face prosecution if they continue, a group restoring the area today warned. Canvey 2000 has ploughed nearly £50,000 into brightening up the area in time for the millennium, which
