Archive
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Wickford trader pelted by racist yobs
An Asian shopkeeper today spoke of his terror when three youths pelted him with stones in a racist attack. The Indian man, who has asked not to be named, was locking up his shop in Appletree Way, Wickford, when he felt something hit his neck. He turned
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Southend's new mayor chosen
Shoebury Conservative councillor Tony North is to be Southend's next mayor. Deputy headteacher Mr North, of Church Road, Shoebury, will be the first mayor appointed under a new convention signed by the three major political parties. Council leader Liberal
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Southend man fights for life after skip accident
A man almost crushed to death between a 40-tonne lorry and a skip was yesterday fighting for his life in hospital. Bernard Jennings owes his life to quick-thinking paramedics who pulled out all the stops to get him the emergency treatment he badly needed
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Essex Tories lose control
The Conservatives have lost their overall majority on Essex County Council after a shock resignation. Brentwood county and parish councillor Alison Enkel decided to stand down from the Conservative group - the day before she stands in the local parish
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Clacton: Exam resit fear for students
Students are facing an anxious wait - after vital papers went missing. Up to 15 students at the Harwich and Clacton centres of the Tendring Adult Community College took exams in accounts and databases. They were studying under the newly-formed Oxford,
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Soccer: In memory of Sir Alf
Sir Alf Ramsey's memorial service will be held in Ipswich and not London. Hundreds of senior figures from the game, including the victorious 1966 squad, will assemble in Ipswich for the service in what appears to be a calculated snub to the football establishment
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Soccer: Clacton U16s left fuming
Clacton Town under-16s have been robbed of a league and cup double after officials cut their season short with six games left to play. The Seasiders beat Great Wakering Rovers 1-0 with a Chris Senk goal to take the Essex County Cup but Witham have been
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Southend: Peerless among piers
A new book on piers shows what a rich crop the country has, but TOM KING is sure that Southend's splendid edifice is still the tops Here in south Essex, we tend to be, understandably, a bit smug on the subject of piers. Yet the fact that we have the best
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Basildon: No carnival atmosphere for woodcraft children
The news of the axe falling on Basildon's annual carnival has left this group of tots sad. The Basildon and District Woodcraft Folk, based in Vange, reopened in October after closing 20 years before. This year's carnival was going to make the club's first
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Braintree: Life for savage attack
A man was yesterday starting a life jail sentence for a "savage attack" on another man in a Braintree pub. John Cowland was left with a broken jaw and a mis-shapen face after he was given a severe beating by Troy Willing, 33. Chelmsford Crown Court heard
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Fury at Southend air-sea rescue hoax
Furious coastguards have hit out at a trickster who sent them on a wild goose chase. Emergency services launched a massive search off the Southend coast following a call from a member of the public who claimed to see a man having difficulties in the water
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Horses die in Basildon blaze
Firefighters have been praised after leading terrified horses to safety during a farm inferno - but the brave rescuers couldn't save them all. One horse owner said many horses would have perished without the quick-thinking crews. Despite their best efforts
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Thurrock: Little orphan badgering for help
This orphaned badger is desperately in need of your help after being found badly injured by a concerned passer by. Thurrock Wildlife Concern took the badger in after it was discovered in Laindon Road, Billericay. It had earlier been spotted by an off-duty
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Kosovars likely to be directed away from Essex
Kosovar refugees will be directed away from Essex and the South East when they arrive in Britain, it was revealed today. According to the Local Government Association (LGA), most will go to the North West, the North East and the Midlands. In recent years
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Guards to patrol Basildon Hospital
Basildon Hospital is hiring its own team of security guards to tackle a rising number of violent assaults on staff. Until now, an outside contractor has provided security personnel to patrol the hospital and guard the maternity and accident & emergency
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Snooker: Frinton head for first division
The second division promotion race has ended with Frinton Memorial B joining Red Triangle Club B in the first division despite losing their last couple of games. The first division has also been settled as far as promotion goes with Conservative Club
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Boxing: Marcus wins four in a row
Harwich Amateur Boxing Club's most experienced boxer, 12-year-old Marcus Poston, travelled to Purfleet in order to take on Eltham ABC's Billy Arter. Marcus showed signs of ring rust in the opening round in this contest, his first for two months, as he
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Cricket: Essex on the move?
Essex County Cricket Club have admitted that they would like to move from their current Chelmsford headquarters - to boost their hopes of staging top England games. Although the county have no firm plans to switch at present, they do have a potential
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Sailing: Cruise West from Clacton
Clacton Sailing Club held its annual "Cruise West" on Sunday with eight boats travelling to the Martello Point beach from the club house at Holland Haven. The chilly breeze in the morning made for an uncomfortable and easy journey to Martello Bay. The
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Golf: Schools championship suits students to a tee
The inaugural Castle Point, Rochford and Southend Schools Golf Championships, staged at Boyce Hill, proved to be a swinging success. An Essex Schools Golf Association was set-up by FitzWimarc's Craig Hands when it was discovered that they were the only
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Why I quit Essex Tories
Brentwood's warring Tories have again been plunged into crisis this week following the shock resignation of another leading member. Cllr Alison Enkel, who represents Brentwood Rural on Essex County Council, announced on Wednesday that she has decided
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Ongar has no vision
Ongar needs a vision - and a bold new blueprint for its future is being drawn up by those anxious to see that the town shapes up in the one they want it to. Members of the parish council and Ongar Consultative Group want to make sure Ongar takes control
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Havering: Police blitz on drugs crime
Havering Police will be joining the fight against drugs in the capital with a three year anti-drugs plan designed to take The Met into the Millennium. The strategy was launched this week, by The Met's drug directorate. The aim is to reduce drug use and
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Harold Wood: ME centre spearheads breakthrough treatment
A major breakthrough in the treatment of the crippling disease ME, will see patients not only from Harold and Brentwood, but from all over the UK and Europe, flood through the gates of Harold Wood hospital. The National ME Centre based at the Gubbins
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Boxing: Barking mad boxing bill
Dagenham boxing promoter Graham Moughton is hoping to include Gary Steadman on a bill at the Broadway Theatre, Barking on May 20. Other boxers lined up for the bill include light welterweights John Humphreys and Garry Harrison, both of whom will be making
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Cricket round-up: Brandy's ton sinks Basildon
Billericay blitzed their way past Basildon & Pitsea in the Essex League Cup after young centurion Damion Brandy provided the perfect batting tonic. They followed up a massive 282 in only 33 overs by limiting Basildon & Pitsea to 103-8, with Mark
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Soccer: Little warns of tough test
Alan Little expects nothing less than a victory from his Southend United team when they travel to Canvey Island for tonight's Thames-side Trophy semi-final. Non-league Canvey are the current holders of the competition and Blues will be sending a mixture
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Athletics: Jamie leads UK team home
Castle Point athlete Jamie O'Rawe, recently picked to race walk for Britain earned his selection and international spurs in France on Saturday. Jamie, 26, beat all his team mates to become the first British walker home at the 20K World Cup Champion-ships
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Gymnastics: Danielle aims for the top
She may be just seven, but Danielle Taylor is already being touted as a future star. The Dovercourt schoolgirl impressed so much in her first-ever competition that she has been selected for the East Region squad and has been invited into the British club
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Rollerspeed Skating: Sam stars in Belgium
Skaters representing the South Woodham Ferrers & Wickford Rollerspeed Skating Club competed in an international inter-club meeting hosted by RSC Wuustwezel, in Belgium, over the weekend. The skaters were up against others from Holland, France, England
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Motor racing: McCarthy ready for Le Mans
Brentwood racing driver Perry McCarthy was left anxiously to watch from the pits as team-mate Andy Wallace pre-qualified their Audi R8C (pictured) for the Le Mans 24 hour race with just two minutes of the afternoon six-hour qualifying session remaining
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Motor racing: Davies makes the F3 podium
Billericay's Matt Davies had his first podium finish of the year in third place in the sixth round of the Formula Three championship on Sunday. Matt, 22, has raced in France for the last two season winning the 1997 French Formula Ford title and in 1998
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Cricket: Hussain delighted with victory
Essex captain Nasser Hussain was naturally delighted with the team's performance against Warwickshire. He said "They all worked hard during the winter and had nothing to show for it until today. They deserve the success. ''We shouldn't get giddy about
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Bowers Gifford: Tudor tykes are mad about history
These hardworking youngsters are taking a well-earned break after serving their masters and working on the farm. The pupils, of St Margaret's School, Bowers Gifford, were in role as Tudor characters during an educational trip to Kentwell Hall in Suffolk
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Colchester: Thanks from bomb victim's parents
The parents of Soho bomb blast victim Julian Dykes today thanked the people of Colchester for their messages of support. Mr Dykes, 26, was caught up in the blast at the Admiral Duncan pub in London last Friday and is still unconscious in hospital, unaware
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Colchester: Getting health care you deserve
The new and powerful organisation looking after grassroots health services in Colchester has held its first public meeting. Colchester Primary Care Group unites GPs, dentists, opticians and pharmacies and will commission what services their patients need
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Southend: Blues blessing for newlyweds
A pair of soccer-mad newlyweds will be kicking off a new life together on Saturday - in the centre circle at Roots Hall stadium. John Everitt and Marie Fenn, both 33, will by tying the knot at Southend register office on Saturday followed by a blessing
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Benfleet: Pizza row could takeaway 50 jobs
More than 50 new jobs hung in the balance today - because of a council ban on late Sunday trading. Food chain Pizza Hut was planning to open a new kind of takeaway restaurant in Benfleet - one of seven new shops in the south-east - as part of a £1.2 million
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Southend: Thanks from HRH
Southend Council has been given a special certificate of thanks - in recognition of its support of The Prince's Trust. Mayor Councillor Nora Goodman was on hand to pick up a certificate of thanks from the trust. The charity helps young people aged between
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Laindon: New library was a cop shop
Bosses have chosen the former police station in New Century Road, Laindon, as the site for a £1 million new library. The town's books are currently housed in a building at Laindon Shopping Centre, but the library is closing as a result of increasing rent
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Colchester: Ex-soldier set for extradition
A former Colchester soldier has lost his High Court battle to avoid extradition to Hong Kong. Barry Miller, 41, is to stand trial over the death of a man in a bar fight. He was based at Colchester Garrison between May 1997 and November 1998 and worked
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Clacton: It's love not war for soldier Rob
A soldier who had to postpone his wedding because of the Kosovo crisis has finally got married. Clacton couple Rob Kennedy and Amelia Kent were due to tie the knot in March. However, mechanic Rob, 27, has been in Macedonia caring for some of the thousands
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Castle Point: Teenage village vandalism row
A retired Methodist minister leading the campaign against a controversial teenage village today claimed a spate of vandalism on the site proved it was unsuitable. Castle Point's crime prevention officer, PC Gordon Sinclair, put forward the site on the
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Soccer: Wadsworth turns to youth
Colchester United manager Mick Wadsworth is turning to youth for the U's final game of the season at Blackpool in two days' time. And exciting "find of the season" Lomana Tresor Lua Lua will be back from a three-match ban to work his wizardry on the ground
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Soccer: Canvey focus on future
Canvey may still have the defence of their Essex Thames-side Trophy to consider - but thoughts are very much turning towards next season. A couple of hours before Gulls host Blues in tonight's semi-final, manager Jeff King and coach Glenn Pennyfather
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Brightlingsea: Ambitious plan for shipyard
A businessman has launched a project to buy a waterfront site in Brightlingsea to preserve it for public use. Retired sailmaker Jim Lawrence hopes to raise the funds to buy the former James and Stone shipyard site to turn into parkland for the town. Mr
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Harold Hill: Bus terror of machete raid
Robbers armed with a one foot long machete have terrorised bus passengers on a rampage in Harold Hill. Their first victim was a 16-year-old boy. He was ambushed on Tuesday last week while he was sitting alone on the top deck of a 174 bus travelling along
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Eastenders finds star role for Leigh
Soap stars Patsy Palmer and Sid Owen drew curious crowds when EastEnders went on location in Leigh old town. The pair - Bianca and Ricky Butcher in the hit BBC1 drama - were filming scenes for a future storyline featuring their characters' new baby, Liam
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Mid Essex: Blast victims in hospital security alert
Victims of the Soho bomb blast were at the centre of a major security alert at Chelmsford's Broomfield Hospital. Police sealed off a car park at the hospital after a letter was sent to the victims by members of the Mormons religious group. The two men
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Garden roller sparks Canvey bomb panic
Roads were sealed off and bomb experts called after a Canvey dad dug up a mysterious cylinder - that turned out to be a garden roller! Naomi Winn feared for her children's lives after her husband struck a metal object as he dug a vegetable patch in their
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Soccer: Main's money probe vow
Southend United chairman John Main on Tuesday promised to launch a full inquiry into the Seasiders' financial demise. The Blues supremo has sold Roots Hall for £4 million to pay off the Third Division strugglers' crippling debts, but Shrimpers fans are
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Rugby: Stewart's a sports star at the double
Braintree Rugby Club's Stewart Cornelius has scored another kind of success this week - passing his Diploma in Sports Psychology with flying colours. At 15 Stewart, who has been player of the year for the Braintree Under 16s side, is one of the youngest
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Wickford: Neighbour choked by fire fumes
An elderly woman was rushed to hospital after she inhaled smoke from a home blaze - on the other side of her street. The woman, who has not been named, was taken to Basildon Hospital after a blaze broke out in a terrace house in Appletree Way, Wickford
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Soccer: Colchester boss swoops on Premiership
Welsh international Mark Bowen is set to become Colchester United manager Mick Wadsworth's first new signing for next season. And there are exciting new moves afoot for seasoned Welsh dragon Geraint Williams and teenage youth team goalkeeper Andy Walker
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Table tennis: Youth Championships a huge success
The Essex Youth Open at Colchester Leisure World held over May Bank Holiday weekend attracted a reasonable entry despite a regrettable clash with the English Schools Individual finals. And it was pleasing to see players travelling from as far afield as
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Speedway: Witches go down
Five-man Ipswich Witches put up a battling performance at Hull Vikings before going down 50-39. Ipswich used the rider replacement facility for Tomasz Gollob who was absent because of food poisoning. And in heat two, Jason Bunyan sustained a wrist injury
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Soccer: Skipper 'Mogga' lands top award at Ipswich
Tony Mowbray has been voted Ipswich Town's players' player of the year. The 35-year-old central defender has been outstanding for Town all season after coming back from a knee injury last summer. A stalwart at the back, Mowbray has grabbed two goals,
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Youth soccer: Beech add cup to championship glory
There's just no stopping the brilliant boys of Basildon's Beech United under-13s. They won the East Anglian Cup when they triumphed 4-0 over Bedford Park Rangers on Monday in the final at Cambridge. Three goals from top scorer Raymond Gibbs took them
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Tennis: Girls pipped by Herts
A strong Essex line-up was pipped by Hertfordshire in the first round of the Barclays Challenge. They finished second to Hertfordshire at the event which was organised by Norfolk and held at Corby Indoor Tennis Centre. Four counties took part in the competition
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Colchester: Brave shop worker praised
A 66-year-old shop worker today told how he was threatened by a robber wielding a bottle. The thug walked into Unwins off-licence in Maldon Road, Tiptree, at about 6pm yesterday and threatened the relief manager. He picked up a bottle of beer from the
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Clacton, Harwich: Probe into missing vital exam papers
An investigation is to be launched after vital exam papers went missing. Up to 15 students from the Harwich and Clacton centres of the Tendring Adult Community College are waiting for certificates. They were studying exams in accounts and databases under
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Ongar: Bobbies on beat pledge
Police have pledged there will be no reduction of coverage in the Ongar and North Weald area when the Essex force absorbs part of the Metropolitan area next year. The assurance comes as a new community policing initiative is adopted throughout the county
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Harold Hill: Police hunt pervert
Police are hunting a pervert who exposed himself to four children in Harold Hill. The four 12-year-old girls were walking behind the play area in Central Park when the sex pest struck at about 6pm on April 30. He did not say anything to the children but
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Boxing: Injury means Negus misses his Bacon
Southern Area cruiserweight champion Dominic Negus, from Havering-atte-Bower, has been forced to pull out of Saturday's scheduled British title eliminator contest at Bethnal Green against the oddly-named Chris P. Bacon. Negus was injured while sparring
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Soccer: Billericay finish with a whimper
Billericay Town manager John Kendall and his team received fulsome and well deserved applause from around 150 fans who stood their ground in the London Road stand at the end of Saturday's match. This was, however, more to mark the end of a season where
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Rugby: Shield win crowns memorable season
Billericay rounded off a superb season on Sunday by winning the Essex Presidents Shield Final and achieving the unique treble, having already won Eastern Counties Division Two and the Tetley Bitter Vase final at Twickenham. Having been forced into playing
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Motor racing: Bill roars to best finish yet in MGF Cup
Southend-based racing driver Bill Stilwell notched up his best finish yet in the MGF Cup at Oulton Park in Cheshire. Bill started 25th on the grid but moved up the field in an incident-packed race to finish 15th. He had previously come in 22nd and 23rd
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Boxing; Winning ways for Cook and Steadman
Last week's bill at York Hall featured two promising young boxers in the form of Nicky Cook and Gary Steadman. Super bantamweight Cook, 19, from Dagenham, was making his third professional appearance and extended his unbeaten record with an impressive
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Downham: African tales spark young imaginations
Pupils at Downham Primary School had a lesson in African culture and enjoyed stories, music and dance from performer Winston Lewis. Headteacher Judi Byrne said: "The overall topic being studied in school is Africa. This visit has been a very good stimulus
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Billericay: Man hurt in train punch-up
A man was left with a broken wrist after a fight between two gangs broke out on a Billericay train. The victim needed hospital treatment after he collapsed on a platform at Billericay station. The trouble first erupted in Southend High Street but continued
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Low-fuel plane causes another Essex air scare
A major safety investigation is under way after an aircraft is believed to have flown over Clacton into Heathrow Airport with a dangerously low level of fuel. The flight path of the Far East-operated 747 took it over the town before continuing on to London
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Westcliff: Two hurt in house stabbing
A 36-year-old man was today arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man and a woman were stabbed in a Westcliff house. The woman, believed to be in her 30s, and the man were taken to Southend Hospital suffering from what police describe as "
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Decision soon for Ongar hospital
A decision on the future of Ongar's beleaguered War Memorial Hospital is likely be made in the next few weeks. The prediction by a Government spokesman comes as Health Minister John Denham has agreed to meet local Tory MP Eric Pickles and campaigners
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Vandals plague Wickford home
Managers at a Wickford home for people with multiple disabilities have pleaded with vandals to call off their mindless plague of destruction. The Southend Road home, which is run by Billericay-based charity The Hamelin Trust, has suffered a barrage of
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Corringham, Stanford: Garage gang strikes
Thieves have hit a series of garages in Corringham and Stanford-le-Hope in the middle of the night, once again sparking police calls for people to be vigilant. The raids all took place on one night. In one incident a block of garages were broken into
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Experts hunt cause of Basildon farm blaze
Fire investigators were today expected to pinpoint the cause of a massive farm blaze which left two horses dead. Forensic experts spent the day sifting through the debris of the fire at Hovells Farm near the Five Bells roundabout in Basildon. They said
