Archive
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Colchester: Students hit by rubella outbreak
Health bosses are warning people to ensure they have up-to-date vaccinations after a rubella outbreak at Essex University. Forty cases of German measles have been confirmed at the Wivenhoe campus since January. The majority of those affected were Greek
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Colchester: Cameras spot dogowners' dirty work
A dog owner has praised Colchester Council's use of video cameras to catch inconsiderate dog walkers. Kenneth Root was taking his greyhound Elle for a walk off Maldon Road, near Chestnut Field, when he was asked to pay up when an enforcement officer claimed
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Bradfield: Jobs threat as home goes on the market
Twenty staff are facing redundancy with the sale of a Bradfield nursing home. And 14 elderly people will have to be rehoused if the buyer of Bradfield Place Nursing Home does not continue running it as a home. Sandra Hunt, the home's manager, said: "It
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Soccer: Waddy rules out Tyke switch
Mick Wadsworth has pledged his future to the U's and denied he is in line for the vacant Barnsley job. Barnsley is Wadsworth's home town and he has strong connections with the Tykes. But today he said: "As far as I'm aware, permission to talk to me has
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Reprieve for Ongar hospital unit
Campaigners fighting to save Ongar Memorial Hospital are celebrating this week after forcing health chiefs into a U-turn over their emergency closure plans. The board of Essex and Herts Community NHS Trust met in Bishops Stortford on Tuesday to discuss
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Soccer: Colchester fans want their say
Colchester United fans are pushing to have a representative of their supporters association on the Layer Road board. Managing director Stephen Gage was asked to accept at least one fan as a director of the club. At first Gage joked he would welcome anyone
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Sailing: Heath brothers net win
The second in Gunfleet Sailing Club's Spring Series was held on Sunday under bright sunshine. However, a stiff breeze made the sea lumpy and for many it proved quite difficult to launch. Eight boats took part and as the fleet headed towards the Kingscliff
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Rugby: Thurrock spoil Burnham's party
Thurrock stole victory in an exciting testimonial match in recognition of Alex Knapton who is stepping down from the number eight position of the Burnham first team after a long and illustrious rugby career. The game started well with Burnham immediately
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Soccer: Just reward for Colchester
Colchester United proved there is some justice in football when they won this vital rearranged second division game. For the U's were leading 3-1 when the original match last October was abandoned at half-time by Woking referee Lee Cable - the same referee
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Arson attack at Colchester flats
Families with young children were evacuated and a man jumped from a window after an arson attack on a Colchester flat. Flammable liquid was poured through the letterbox of the ground floor property in Forest Road, Greenstead. Neighbour Martyn Goldsmith
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Film snub to Maldon over famous battle
BBC bosses have delivered an amazing snub to an Essex town, by saying it is not the best place to make a film about its famous battle. Instead of the original location of the Battle of Maldon in 991 on land near the causeway to Northey island, just outside
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Rayleigh inferno
Dozens of businesses were destroyed when fire and explosions ripped through workshops near the Rayleigh Weir. More than 60 firefighters risked exploding gas cylinders as the blaze gutted about 40 workshops behind the Blinking Owl cafe on the A127, forcing
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All eyes on Castle Point election
Castle Point's voters go to the polls a week today - in one of the most closely monitored and keenly-fought contests in the region. BBC and ITV news have both shown interest in covering the May 6 borough elections - and especially the count at Canvey's
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Rayleigh: Traders lose everything in blaze
The owner of an industrial estate devastated by fire has spoken of his grief at seeing his tenants' livelihoods destroyed. Anthony Rust watched in frustration as the flames engulfed the estate, behind the Blinking Owl cafe on the A127, while he was made
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Bowers Gifford: Aid worker tells of Kosovo horrors
An aid worker has returned from the war-torn Balkans to tell of the ill-treatment and suffering of animals caught in the crossfire. Trevor Wheeler, from Bowers Gifford, was part of a two-man team from the World Society for the Protection of Animals which
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Benfleet: Quit - but leave your animals
A devoted animal lover has been told his pets can live on his land - but he has to move out. Pensioner Maurice Ellis has taken in 32 cats, ducks, geese, two pigs, sheep, goats, horses, chickens, ponies, pigeons, doves, quails, bantams and hens which have
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Basildon: New HQ brings 250 jobs
Nearly 250 jobs have been secured with the opening of a new company headquarters in Basildon. Asbestos removal specialists Pectel are to mark the opening of their new £1.5 million head office on Burnt Mills Road with a visit by football stars Pat Jennings
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Blooming nightmare for Harwich
Bungling workmen mowed down a floral display in Harwich donated by the Dutch - just days before the visitors from Holland came to see the tribute. Then to cover up the mistake, the Tendring Council contractors painted the Hook of Holland crest on the
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Athletics: Braintree's encouraging start
The first East Anglian League meeting was held at Cambridge University track on Sunday. Although the rain held off it was quite a cold day, but even so there were some good performances by Braintree & District Athletics Club members. David Duffus
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Snooker: Triple triumph for cue ace Lisa
Snooker starlet Lisa Ingall of Wickford is celebrating a triple coup. The 18-year-old reached the last eight of the women's World Championships for the first time, became the first female ever to qualify for the Essex under-19s final and has been given
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Angling: Barnes' stormer sets record
Basildon youngster Bobby Barnes is flying high after the British Record Fish Committee accepted his claim for a new British Record black bullhead catfish. Bobby caught the 1lb 0oz 1dr fish at Billericay's Lake Meadows Fishery on March 20th. The fish was
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Soccer: Colchester's popular 33% price hike
Watching the U's in the second division will cost fans up to 33 per cent more next season. But the move has been welcomed by fans hungry for success next season. John Burns, vice chairman of Colchester United Supporters Association said: "Everyone I have
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Boxing: Stuart's pleased as Punch
History-making heavyweight Stuart St John has covered himself in glory by becoming the first ever boxer from Berry Boys to win a senior national title. Now the powerful fighter, who has been with the Pitsea-based club for 12 years, has been picked for
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Athletics: Outstanding Colchester and Tendring performances
Colchester and Tendring saw some outstanding performances in Sunday's Eastern Young Athletes meeting. The young band of under 13s found stiff competition, but provided some excellent places with Samil Khan and Jonathan Claxton placing second in the A
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Table Tennis: Catholic cruise
The Brentwood & District Table Tennis League season has now drawn to its conclusion with some of the most exciting encounters in the league's history. The cream on the top of the cake was the final of the Knockout Cup played between Billericay Catholic
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Southend: Cabbie chases rape suspect
A hero cabbie today told how he chased a man for miles after being flagged down by a tearful woman who claimed she had been sexually attacked. Brave Derek Pryor and his passenger have been praised by police for the dogged way in which they tailed the
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Marina for Canvey
A multiI-million pound luxury marina could bring a long-awaited third road off Canvey and a massive jobs boost, it was revealed today. Plans are in the pipeline for a state-of-the-art facility at Hole Haven creek and talks are already under way with Euro
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Billericay: Jenny's Bolivia-bound
A year-long community project helping Bolivia's homeless and street children is the challenge awaiting a Billericay teenager. Jennifer Harley, 18, of Grosvenor Gardens, will fly out to the South American country in July to begin her mammoth task. The
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Southend: D-day over beach huts
Sparks are set to fly tonight when Southend councillors try to increase the cost of beach hut leases - by as much as 76 per cent. More than 85 beach hut owners packed into a meeting in March expressing anger at the huge hike, which officers claim simply
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Be a shining Shoebury star
Forget Stars in Their Eyes or Opportunity Knocks! Southend's wannabe performers are being offered the chance to shine - at this year's Shoebury Fair. More than £500 of prizes will be up for grabs for contestants, young and old, taking the stage at the
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Soccer: Thetis says best is yet to come
On the pitch Manuel Thetis has sometimes looked like a Raging Bull. The Frenchman has 13 yellow cards and one red since joining Ipswich and taking them to the verge of Premiership football. But the £200,000 bargain signing from Seville has vowed things
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Tennis: Essex aim to retain the cup
Essex boys and girls teams are in action this weekend in the LTA 13 and under Inter County Cup. The boys are the defending national champions and compete in Group One at Bath University and the team includes Ben Higgins from Gidea Park. The rest of the
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Soccer: Buzzing Bees stun Bowers to ruin championship party
Basildon United proved to be great party-poopers last night as they ruined the championship celebration plans of local rivals Bowers. Tony Cross's Pitsea outfit have enjoyed a fabulous season and won at Gardiners Close 3-0 last weekend. In the return
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Fencing: Mariette's a national champion
Shenfield has its own national champion fencer after Mariette Mason won the British Intermediate Women's Foil Championship. Mariette, 42, from Chelmsford Road, who fences for the Wickford Club, had qualified for the national finals by finishing in the
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Cycling: Reed close to personal best
The strength in depth of the Shaftesbury Cycling Club was once again put to the test in their promotion of their Middlemarkers and Invitation 25 mile time trial. Last minute course changes due to roadworks and problems with a flooded car park at the HQ
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Cricket: Essex beaten by the rain and Lightning
Essex were engaged in two matches in the past week starting with a low-key affair at Fenners against Cambridge University. The three-day friendly was ruined by rain although there was time for a number of the Essex batsmen to enjoy valuable time at the
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Soccer: Billericay fall to Carshalton
The last away fixture of what has been a highly satisfactory first season back in the Ryman Premier League saw Billericay Town visit a Carlshalton side who found themselves propping up the table in bottom place. Indeed nothing less than a win would have
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Boxing: Bruce passes the test
Grays welterweight Darren Bruce maintained his unbeaten record at York Hall, Bethnal Green on Tuesday evening with an impressive victory against Derby's Dennis Berry. This had promised to be Bruce's toughest contest to date - and his first scheduled eight-rounder
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Basketball: Scorpions sink to skilled Dolphins
Southend Scorpions, despite being 25 shots in arrears from the home leg, were in celebratory mood when they travelled to Leeds for the second leg of basketball's Founders Cup final. The game started promisingly for the Southend team as they kept with
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Walton: MPs pledge help for threatened landmark
Pledges of help were today given to save Walton's crumbling Naze. Coastal protection minister Elliot Morley was in Walton and Harwich today to see how a £30 million dredging project was taking shape. Harwich MP Ivan Henderson , who persuaded Mr Morley
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Brentwood High Street blacked out
Angry caf proprietors and traders in Brentwood have hit out over power cuts which cost them thousands of pounds in lost business. The cuts affected premises on the northern side of the High Street near Wilson's Corner last weekend but intermittent failures
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Billericay: Off licence man attacked in raid
Billericay Police are appealing for help to track down a vicious robber who rained punches on a brave shop assistant as they struggled over a £21 bottle of champagne. The assistant's ordeal began at around 8.30pm on Sunday when a man walked into Unwins
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Billericay: High Street set for leisure revolution
A leisure revolution is set for Billericay High Street after developers announced plans to transform some of the area's oldest and best-loved buildings. The old town hall, surrounded by mystery and rumour since it was put on the open market last year,
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Witham: Shop's closure marks end of era
One of Witham's best-known firms is to close after 35 years of High Street trading. Drapers and haberdashers Coopers, which has stores in Newland Street, Witham, and High Street, Braintree, has gone into voluntary liquidation. The firm closed its doors
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Clacton: Tributes to tragic dad
Tributes have been paid to a father-of-two who died in police cells at Clacton. Denny Douglas, 49, of Marine Parade East, collapsed after being detained at the town's station. A post-mortem examination revealed he died from natural heart disease. Mr Douglas's
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Southend: Palace Hotel up for sale again
The Palace Hotel is up for sale again, it was revealed today. The freehold of the landmark building on Pier Hill, Southend, has been advertised in the trade publication, the Estates Gazette. It is being sold as a prime seafront hotel with 220 bedrooms
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Basildon: Pup playmate for Rambo's pal
The owner of Rambo the mongrel, who died after a spell at Basildon police station, has found a new puppy to make him smile again. The RSPCA and Essex police officers are working together to find out why the 11-year-old dog was left lying in a pool of
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Colchester couple tell of holiday riot hell
A Colchester couple were told to stay in their hotel on a dream holiday as riots rocked Jamaica. Ron and Marianne McKeon, of Jessica Close, Greenstead, got caught up in the drama while on the two-week luxury break. In downtown Montego Bay, just over a
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Westcliff: Fire hero caretaker saves man
A caretaker has been hailed a hero after he saved an elderly man whose clothes were on fire. The victim was having a cigarette in a designated smoking area of a residential home in Ailsa Road, Wesctliff, when his trousers caught alight. Without hesitating
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Rowhedge: Heartbreak for brothers
Two promising young motocross stars could be forced to quit the sport after their specialist racing bikes were stolen. Brothers Paul and Richard Dixon were forced forced to pull out of two Bank Holiday weekend competitions after the machines were taken
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Braintree: Expansion plans hang in the balance
A businessman told a planning inquiry he would be heartbroken if his company's planning appeal to secure a £2.5 million expansion deal fails. Jack Russell, managing director of Courtenham Warehouse and Distribution, wants to move from his current site
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Soccer: Morrish strike gives Witham deserved victory
With many changes in their team, due to injuries and suspensions, the Witham line-up at Banstead Athletic on Saturday looked somewhat depleted. However, with several youngsters drafted in, and Town manager George Young also playing, Witham battled well
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Brentwood: Wedding bells for Edna, 89 and Jack, 90
"A couple of old lovers" proved age really doesn't matter when they tied the knot at Brentwood Register Office - aged 89 and 90. Edna McDougall-Brown, 89, became Mrs Jack Meldrum, in front of scores of guests including grandchildren and great-grandchildren
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Soccer: Late goals sink Swifts
Saturday's visitors to Scraley Road, Bishops Stortford, were still battling hard to escape the drop to Division One of the Ryman League. Missing from the Swifts line-up were Wayne Adcock and Colin Wall (both suspended) while Liam Cutbush, Ben Lewis and
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Soccer: Iron return victorious
Although it has come too late to guide them towards a promotion spot, Braintree have rediscovered the art of winning with a second consecutive league victory, for the first time in over two months. Saturday's well earned win at Uxbridge followed the four
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Running: Brigid steals the show
The popular Canvey Island Five Mile Road Race on Sunday was re-visited by 14 runners from Tiptree Road Runners, half of whom were juniors. Martyn Byford set the standard by running well inside 30 minutes on the fast, flat, out and back course close to
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Rugby: Rochford spoil Braintree's end of season celebrations
Braintree's end of season celebrations became muted when the first and fifth team's opposition cried off and fixtures for them were unable to be found. With their side bolstered by a large contingent of higher team players, and with the home support egging
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Athletics: Harriers' girls stake claim
Colchester Harriers Ladies made their debut into Division Three of the Southern League at Southend on Saturday with a fantastic victory. The under-15 girls collected a handful of wins including Catherine Holdsworth in the long jump and 75m hurdles and
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Basildon: Truants' parents in court
Ten parents at a Basildon school are to be prosecuted as education chiefs get tough on appalling truancy rates. The rare step of bringing in an Essex County Council education welfare team to the newly-formed James Hornsby School was taken earlier this
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Clacton: Drawing may be a Renoir
A drawing which could be a Renoir worth £50,000 has been hanging on the wall of a home in Clacton. John Mills, owner of Clacton Auctions in Old Road, visited a retired Clacton man to carry out some valuations and saw the red chalk drawing hanging on the
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Brentwood: Wedding bells for Edna, 89 and Jack, 90
"A couple of old lovers" proved age really doesn't matter when they tied the knot at Brentwood Register Office - aged 89 and 90. Edna McDougall-Brown, 89, became Mrs Jack Meldrum, in front of scores of guests including grandchildren and great-grandchildren
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Stanway pit gas shock
Homes bordering Stanway pit in Colchester were at "very severe risk" of gas poisoning earlier this year, This Is Essex can reveal today. A horrifying list of problems relating to December 1998 and February 1999 have been highlighted in an Environment
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Soccer: Canvey are kings of Essex
Canvey Island are the soccer cup kings of the county. At Roots Hall on Monday night they overcame brave resistance from a basically young Leyton Orient side to carry off the Essex Senior Cup for the first time in their history. Steve Tilson, back on the
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Cricket: Warwickshire visitors to County Ground
There's no place like home - or so we are led to believe. But try telling that to the Essex players and you will run the risk of having to duck under a few verbal bounces. The county went into yesterday's clash against Warwickshire seeking their first
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Athletics: Lara hotfoots it to athletics success
Talented athlete Lara Black is hoping to follow in her famous father's footsteps. Dad is former Southend Athletic Club member Steve Black, who competed for Great Britain as a hurdler in the early 1970s. Lara has just returned to her family home in Sydney
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Soccer: Injured Southend duo in operation wait
Southend United defender Rob Newman and goalkeeper Martyn Margetson face the prospect of going under the surgeon's knife to clear up their injury problems. Newman, who is Blues' top scorer with eight goals, has missed the Seasiders' last seven Third Division
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Rugby: Nigel hangs up his boots
Sunday's match between a Mistley XV and a President's XV may, to most readers, have seemed just like another annual end-of-season get together. But for one local rugby union character, it was the end of a distinguished rugby career. Nigel Brown, now 42
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Soccer: Phillips the main man for Clacton?
Ian Phillips has emerged as a front runner to take over as manager at Clacton Town. Former Colchester United star Phillips has had preliminary talks with owner Jeff Dewing and vice-chairman Colin Harris and another meeting is imminent. Phillips said:
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Soccer: Ipswich sell-out
Ipswich Town's crunch game with Sheffield United at Portman Road is a sell-out. The match could decide if Town go up automatically or are destined for the play-offs. And Town have sold more than 3,500 tickets for the trip to Birmingham in the televised
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Tennis: Ace play is icing on cake for finals
Some excellent displays of tennis were the reward for the dozens of spectators who watched the Leigh and Westcliff 14th winter annual championships. The event was held Kent Elms Tennis Club and was given a feeling of tennis tradition with professional
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Swimming: Whyman back with a win
There were fine performances from Albyns swimmers at the Southern Counties Masters, Crystal Palace at the weekend. Jill Whyman showed a pleasing return to form by winning the 100m backstroke. Sybil Warn was also in excellent form, winning both 100m and
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Rugby: Chelmsford overcome Brentwood
The last game of an eight month long season will not go down in the annals of Brentwood's history. Things started well enough for them with Shaw taking a quick tap penalty 12 metres out and powering his way through after four minutes to score his seventh
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Rare tree saved in Billericay
The future of a rare strawberry tree on the site of the former St Andrews Hospital in Billericay has finally been safeguarded. Developers Laing Homes, who are building a 128-home estate on the burns unit site, have withdrawn an application to pull down
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Canvey election signs targeted by vandals
Vandals were today condemned by politicians for wrecking election posters and signs. Labour and Conservative campaigners claimed to have seen hoardings damaged and pulled down - and it has all been concentrated in the Canvey Winter Gardens ward. The candidates
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Minister praises crime group
Voluntary groups in Castle Point have been praised by the Home Office for helping to build a crime reduction strategy. Christine Butler MP praised the "landmark legislation" of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 which involves police and the council working
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Speedway: Desperate Witches
Ipswich Witches will be desperate to get back into the winning habit at Foxhall stadium tonight (start time 7.30pm), when they entertain the powerful Wolverhampton Wolves. After three consecutive defeats the management have confirmed that they are now
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Soccer: Hammer blow at Southend
Southend United's plans to relaunch their reserve team next season will bring an end to Premier League side West Ham United's use of Roots Hall for their second string, it was announced today. "We have to do what is right for Southend United and that
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Banger Racing: Wilsher so close to win
Romford's Kevin Wilsher came within an ace of winning the annual Rob Belchamber Memorial Trophy at Arena-Essex in a phenomenal 45 car race. Wilsher - who has won the prestigious event once in his career back in 1990 - spent the whole race on Sunday chasing
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Soccer: Gunners shoot to glory in cup final
TWO Southend Junior League sides enjoyed vastly different fortunes in Essex cup finals. In the Under-14 County Andrews Cup, Shoebury-based Blackgate Gunners triumphed 3-2 over Grasshoppers after extra-time, thanks to goals from Woolf, Barton and White
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Golf: Special women's day boosts standards
More than 70 current and potential lady golfers were at the South Essex Golf and Country Club at Herongate for the "Women in Golf" Day. A totally free event designed by American Golf to introduce golf to women in a fun and non-intimidating environment
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Little Clacton: Sacked trucker in tribunal victory
A trucker lost his job after he blacked out while driving and crashed a company pick-up, an employment tribunal heard. But the company had unfairly dismissed Derek King, who was unlikely to have suffered more black-outs, the tribunal ruled. After the
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Knifemen threaten Brentwood pub staff
Two raiders brandishing large kitchen knives threatened staff at a Brentwood pub before escaping with more than £7,000 takings. The two balaclava-clad robbers burst into the Golden Fleece pub at 10.15am on Monday, and forced the manager to open the safe
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Harold Wood: Memorial hall Lottery joy
Champagne corks have been popping at Harold Wood War Memorial Institute, which has scooped a super cash bounty from the National Lottery Charities Board. The £85,000 grant, to be paid over two years, was awarded to the group after two previous unsuccessful
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Harold Hill: Moves to tackle racial hatred
A special task group to combat the silence surrounding race hate crime and to encourage victims to come forward is being set up in Harold Hill. The joint police and council initiative comes after shock figures revealed that Gooshays ward had the second
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Brentwood: Court spares the life of Billy
A Brentwood family whose dog has been living under a possible death sentence for more than a year have been speaking of their relief after a Judge decided to spare him. The lives of the Dines family of Crow Green Road in Pilgrims Hatch were thrown into
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'Speciality' food plan for Marks Tey pub site
A former pub could be knocked down to make way for an upmarket grocery complex. The Prince of Wales, in Marks Tey, closed earlier this year and has been earmarked for retail development by a client of Fenn Wright. The new owners want to sell high quality
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Coggeshall: Horses lead funeral cortege for Siddy, 23
A horse-drawn carriage led a funeral procession of more than 500 mourners. The procession, which ran from Stisted to Witham, paid tribute to 23-year-old Siddy Breaker, of Coggeshall Road, Stisted, who died two weeks ago. The procession gathered at Mr
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Police seize drugs haul
A team of detectives have swooped on a Little Burstead house, seizing cannabis worth up to £70,000. Officers from the National Crime Squad raided Holmleigh, a house on Laindon Common Road, at around 10.30am on Monday. After searching the house, they uncovered
