Archive
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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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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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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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Soccer: Billericay bring down curtain
Billericay Town will be hoping to end their first season back in the Ryman League Premier Division for 12 years in party style on Saturday afternoon. The New Lodge side end the campaign with a home game against Aylesbury and it's worth reflecting on just
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Athletics: Southend Juniors leap to top spot
Southend Athletics Club's track and field season got underway at Garon's Park with the juniors winning the day when they contested the Eastern Young Athletes League. The under-13 girls showed clear signs of their excellence at both spectrums of the running
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Soccer: Ipswich face biggest game of the season
Nothing but victory will do for Ipswich at Birmingham. Blues boss George Burley has described Sunday's clash as "the biggest game of the season so far". He believes the result at St Andrews could decide who gets the automatic promotion spot. He said:
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Soccer: Gibbs hopes for summer move
Former Colchester favourite Paul Gibbs this week celebrated being picked for the PFA's Nationwide Division Three representative side. Gibbs joined Plymouth Argyle from Torquay, after Colchester beat them in the play-off final. And he is now set for a
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Braintree: Firms may quit over travellers
Outraged tenants of a business centre have said they could consider moving out because of continual problems with travellers. Bosses at the Braintree Enterprise Centre said they have reached the end of their tether after travellers this week left the
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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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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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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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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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Youth 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Residents rubbish Stanway tip safety claims
Claims that safety worries at a Colchester tip have been settled were rubbished as "unbelievable". This Is Essex revealed on Thursday homes bordering Bellhouse Pit in Stanway were at "very severe risk" of gas poisoning between December 1998 and February
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Strike action hits Essex post
A lightning strike by 200 postal workers led to major delays to mail deliveries across a large part of Essex today (Friday). Workers at the South East Anglia Mail office, Chelmsford, walked out at 7pm on Thursday night in a dispute over how overtime is
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Bombs buried under Southend streets?
An army expert has warned there could be scores of unexploded wartime bombs just inches below Southend's busy streets. The alert, from Retired Major Gerry Collins, Foulness Island's range operations manager, came after a shell brought traffic chaos to
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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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Soccer: Irish star sweeps the board
Colchester United's former Irish under-21 star David Greene swept the board at Thursday night's supporters player-of-the-year awards ceremony, which was held at the Embassy Suite. Greene won the supporters' player-of-the-year, the away player-of-the-year
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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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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 has been announced. "We have to do what is right for Southend United and that means
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Chelmsford: Has anyone seen Eve, 13?
A teenager has gone missing from a Chelmsford children's home. Eve Durrant, 13, was last seen at the Chignall Road home on Saturday. Although it not unusual for the youngster to leave the home on her own, police are concerned for her safety because of
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Store checks out of Pitsea
Staff and customers of Sainsbury's in Pitsea were today facing the end of an era. Around 30 members of staff will hang up their uniforms for good tomorrow when the store closes its doors for the last time. The rest of the 140 staff are taking up positions
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Pitsea: Have you been burgled?
Do any of these items belong to you? Police believe they may have been stolen during a series of creeper burglaries in Pitsea. Around 10 raids in a fortnight were recorded but none of the victims recognised these goods. Officers investigating the spate
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Springfield: Park plans go on display
Ten years after they were first suggested, plans for the full Beaulieu Park project at Springfield go on display today (Friday) for comments from local people. Developers Countryside Properties Plc say that they will be creating a sustainable community
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Bowls: One win and two defeats for Essex bowlers
The Essex County Indoor Bowling Association's annual three day tour recently took place in Derby. Matches were played against Church Gresley IBC and Derby IBA with a game on the way home against Lawson Park IBC in Bedford. The tour, under the leadership
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Purleigh teenager faces murder charge
A Purleigh teenager has denied killing a man who made sexual advances towards him. Richard Hawkes, 19, a construction worker, from Spar Lane denies murdering Keith Weller, 58 in his home in Bridport, last September. Christopher Wilson-Smith QC, prosecuting
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Autograss: Champion Bell will be hard to beat
Essex-based Concord Autograss Club are hoping get their racing season underway on Sunday at their track at Stonehams Lock, Boreham. Autograss racing is divided into ten classes, ranging from standard and modified saloons to unlimited 'specials.' Class
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Soccer: Title still in sight for rising Rovers
Great Wakering Rovers play what looks certain to be their last ever Schweppes Essex Senior League game on Saturday knowing that they are still in with a chance of departing as champions. Village side Rovers are near-certainties to finish in the top two
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Skiing: A brotherly success on the slopes
Essex ski racing brothers Tom and Freddie Clough returned home to Chelmsford this week as medal winners. The brothers, who both attend King Edward Grammar School in Chelmsford, prospered in an encouraging week at The British Land Junior National Ski Championships
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Speedway: Makeshift side record emphatic victory
Heavy rain during the afternoon in the locality reduced the size of the crowd but those that ventured forth were delighted to witness an emphatic Arena success against Exeter on Friday despite the makeshift appearance of the home line-up. The Hammers
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Soccer: Keeper the hero for City
City ended their home season with a disappointing draw at New Lodge on Monday when they had to thank an excellent performance by goalkeeper Paul Catley for ensuring a point. Catley, who has exce-lled since moving from Braintree Town, a club now understandably
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Soccer: Cambridge and Catley stay at Chelmsford
Chelmsford City go into their final game of the season on Saturday at Witney Town, struggling to put out a fully-fit side but with the added bonus that two more key senior players have pledged to stay with the club next season. Both striker Ian Cambridge
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Golf: Double silver success for Chelmsford Ladies
Strange as the pattern of weather is at the moment, the Ladies section of Chelmsford Golf Club have been able to complete two of their Essex County Ladies Golf Union fixtures. The Ladies Silver team entertained Abridge Ladies in the second round of the
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Canoeing: Marathon win for Chelmsford
Chelmsford Canoe Club were host to paddlers from all over the Eastern Region on Sunday for the annual Chelmer Marathon canoe race, and ended the day as winners to retain the shield they won in 1998. Ninety-six paddlers competed in 13 different divisions
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BMX Racing: Age no barrier
BMX riders of all ages from East Anglia descended on the Braintree raceway on Sunday for the first of the Regional Summer Series of events which comprises seven meetings. The rider's best five results from these determine their Regional rankings for the
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Braintree: Road danger fears from housing site
Families who live in a narrow Bocking street fear their children will be put in danger by construction traffic from a new building site. Braintree Council recently gave planning permission for four houses to be built on a small paddock behind Canterbury
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Billericay: Schools face parking poser
Police in Billericay are to improve links with schools in the town - in a bid to cut out worrying parking problems outside them. Councillors and police officers have been inundated with complaints about problems with parking around schools during opening
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Tolleshunt D'Arcy businesses under threat from road closure
Village businesses today said a road closure may force them to close. Essex County Council has shut off the B1026 to cars in Tolleshunt D'Arcy so it can lay paving, resurface the road and install drains. The work in North Street and Station Road is due
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Essex volunteers to help disabled refugees
Dedicated volunteers from Essex are again off on a vital mission to provide much-needed relief to Kosovar refugees. Colchester-based charity 999 to Albania has steadfastly provided essential aid to the people of Albania since its inception. But now its
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Dovercourt: Band raid fury
A band has been counting the cost after thousands of pounds of musical equipment was stolen from a lock-up garage in Dovercourt. A rare drum kit, amplifiers, cymbals, microphones and wires were stolen from the garage in Ashley Road which the group The
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Clacton: Nursing home fear after hotel sell-off
The future of one of Clacton's oldest established hotels is in doubt after it was sold at auction for more than £200,000. Hoteliers in the town fear that The Chantry, which has 24 rooms, could be turned into a nursing home. Terry McKean, chairman of Tendring's
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Basildon: London council KO'd Terry Marsh
Former world champion boxer Terry Marsh's political ambitions were destroyed by a London council, an official report has concluded. The inquiry revealed the 41-year-old former Liberal Democrat candidate for Basildon was treated "unjustly" by Tower Hamlets
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This is war, declares Maldon
If Maldon was good enough for the vikings, it should be good enough for the BBC. That was the response from the people of Maldon to the amazing snub delivered to the town by the Beeb, after bosses said it was not good enough to make a film about the Battle
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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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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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Banger Racing: Top class action at Arena Essex
This coming weekend Arena-Essex will be busy with over 300 competitors in motor racing action. On Sunday (May 2), Canvey's Vic Bilkey will be debuting a brand new SuperBanger after first smashing the 15 lap record and then smashing up his car last month
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Yachting: Burnham Week gets prime sponsorship
Burnham Week has followed the lead of other major UK regattas and announced a title sponsor for this year's event. Southend-based industrial cleaning company, Prime Clean, was this week named as the east coast regatta's first title sponsor for four years
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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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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: 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: Buzzing Bees stun Bowers to ruin championship party
Basildon United proved to be great party-poopers on Wednesday 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
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Southend: Chopper hunt for runaway rascal
A mum has spoken of her joy at finding her two-year-old son unharmed after a massive police hunt was launched when he disappeared for nearly an hour. Toddler Robert Burton went missing on Thursday afternoon from his home in Woodgrange Drive, Southend,
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Women's Hockey: Beaten but not disgraced
Chelmsford Highway's most successful season for years came to an end on Saturday as they went out of the Cup at the semi-final stage, at the National Hockey Stadium in Milton Keynes. Despite a spirited performance by Chelmsford, Premier League Champions
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Boxing: Bruce passes the test
Grays welterweight Darren Bruce maintained his unbeaten record at York Hall, Bethnal Green 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, but that
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Braintree: Speed may have led to road death
Speed may have played a part in the death of a village store owner from Panfield, Braintree, an inquest was told. Francis Finneral, 51, of Kynaston Road, died in December after his Ford Transit van was in collision with a lorry on the A1071 near Polstead
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Soccer: Chelmsford's maturity shows
City's youngsters showed their growing maturity in a comfortable win against a far more experienced Kent side at New Lodge on Saturday - and it was little wonder that watching top club scouts were the busiest notetakers all afternoon. Even without the
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Motorcycling: A good entry
The Dunmow & District Motorcycle Club have a good number of entries for Rounds of the Ace Four Stroke Solo Series and the Eastern Centre Sidecar Championships on Sunday (May 2) at Stebbing near Dunmow. The club also have a full line-up of solo entries
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Cricket: Essex take late wickets to rock Warwickshire
Mark Ilott put the smile back on Essex supporters faces by claiming two wickets in three deliveries to rock Warwickshire towards the end of Thursday's Championship action at Chelmsford. For most of the day, the county had been on the back foot as they
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Orienteering: A quintet of champions
Orienteers from Essex showed their keen sense of direction at the East Anglian Championships in Sandringham, Norfolk at the weekend with five competitors crowned champions. Joanne West narrowly defeated fellow Essex Stragglers Orienteering Society team
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All change in Witham High Street
It's all change in Witham High Street with the news of four new business projects and the closure of two well-known shops in the same week. Wimpy was revealed as the name behind a plan to convert the former electricity showroom into a new restaurant with
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Billericay banks merge
Billericay's Lloyds and TSB banks are to become the first in the south east to merge sites after major extension work. Both firms will shortly operate from just the Lloyds building in the High Street in a pilot scheme for other branches across the region
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Shots as Colchester truckers leave Albania
Two drivers belonging to a Colchester-based aid agency were caught up in gunfire as they left Albania. Just Help spent several weeks transporting vital supplies to thousands of Kosovar refugees on the Macedonian border. Lorry drivers Dave Cook of Alresford
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Extra trains for Chelmsford
First Great Eastern is to introduce extra trains after the best train travelling year in the region for a decade. GER has run more than 54 million passenger journeys over a billion miles in the last year. And the new move will see an increase in the Chelmsford
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Chelmsford: Bodyguard foils thugs' attack on tourists
A Chelmsford bodyguard risked his life to rescue a man and his wife from the clutches of three drunken tourists at a Thai cocktail bar. Stuart Easton, 34, who runs The Works fitness studio, intervened because he believed that they were in extreme danger
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Canvey: Prince funds dresses for transvestites
Prince Charles is helping transvestites become classy chicks by day and sexy vamps at night. Canvey mum Lisa Wright has been given £3,000 from the Princes' Trust to start up a business called "Tranzit" - selling women's clothes for men on the internet
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Colchester couple's 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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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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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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Soccer: Little keeps mum
Southend United boss Alan Little was keeping his cards close to his chest before naming his side for the Third Division trip to Barnet on Saturday. However, the Blues chief admitted that he will be making changes to his team before the Seasiders make
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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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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 on Thursday he said: "As far as I'm aware, permission to talk to
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Mid Essex: Lottery cash for villages
Thousands of pounds of National Lottery cash has been awarded to community groups in the Braintree area this week. Among organisations to benefit in the latest round of lottery awards are Finchingfield Almshouses Trust and Blackmore End village hall with
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Chelmsford Carnival cancelled
Chelmsford Carnival has been cancelled for the first time in living memory. According to organiser Christine Rolfe, the carnival is broke and needs time to renew and repair its rusting and creaking floats and to find money for the outfits of the carnival
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Soccer: Coggeshall cruise to victory
Six goals in the last 25 minutes saw Coggeshall Town end up comfortable winners to lift the Bromley Cup at Stanway Rovers The first 45 minutes saw the Division Four champions-elect struggle to find any rhythm against the better organised Premier Division
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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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Woodham: Counselling service axed
Vital counselling services for children in a South Woodham school are to be axed, following government cuts in grant maintained schools. A counsellor from the Sycamore Tree - the children's counselling section of Sycamore Education and Training - who
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Swimming: Braintree in fine form
Braintree & Bocking Swimming Club have gathered in their biggest ever crop of trophies at The Essex Championships. Just three swimmers were responsible for winning 13 trophies in the men and ladies events this year. Clare Carter, 17, swimming as a
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Rugby: Chelmsford pip Brentwood
Saturday's familiar end of season derby between Chelmsford and Brentwood at Coronation Park was a closely contested affair. With Chelmsford having already won promotion to Brentwood's league, the London & SE 2 North, they had a point to make and Brentwood
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Cycling: Bill was best of the veterans
Chelmer Cycling Club's Bill Broadfield clocked 57 minutes, 24 seconds and was best veteran on age standard, in the Mildenhall "25" on Sunday. Mike Hutchinson (Cambridge University) added to his successes this season with the fastest time of 52 minutes
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Wivenhoe: 'Embarrassing eyesore' is not dangerous
Claims the engine shed at Wivenhoe station is dangerous have been denied by Colchester Council. But Wivenhoe Town Council, which has described the building as an "embarrassing eyesore", said such an assertion was laughable. Town council chairman Cyril
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Police to crackdown on bikers
Nuisance motorcyclists who roar through villages are to be targeted in a high-profile police campaign. From Saturday traffic officers will actively target speeding bikers, illegal machines, or those causing problems by travelling in large groups. It is
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Stansted Airport: 'Lethal' cylinder missing 10 days
A lead cylinder containing potentially lethal radioactive material was discovered at Stansted Airport after being missing for 10 days. The package of irradium disappeared after leaving Boston, Massachusetts, on a flight bound for a construction firm in
