Archive
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WW2 bomber in Southend air drama
A Second World War bomber was yesterday due to fly home after being grounded by engine failure during the Southend Airshow. The Lancaster bomber, which thrilled crowds on Sunday, was unable to give a repeat performance the next day because of the mechanical
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Witham: Lorry ban 'could create rat runs'
Campaigners fear a lorry ban in parts of Witham could lead to HGV "rat runs" through the town. Moves to outlaw lorries from the town centre have received backing from the Witham and Countryside Society - but there are fears weight limits on Bridge Street
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Wickford: We want a school!
Parents have vowed to fight for a new junior school in Wickford for the sake of their children's education. Mums said they were determined to persuade the education authority to turn Wickford C of E Infants into a junior school as well and presented a
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Tweet dreams in Billericay library
There was tweeting among the text when Billericay library played host to some very special young visitors of the cute and cuddly variety. The High Street library has featured its own farmyard for the last two weeks, and real baby chicks were brought in
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Braintree: Council's safe eating plea
Eat safe this summer. That is the message from Braintree District Council staff who are hosting a series of events as part of National Food Safety Week, which starts on Monday. A district council environmental health spokeswoman explained that last year
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Southend: Happy Hi-Tec kicks off fears of a slump
Sports shoe giant Hi-Tec has pulled up its socks after reports of a crisis last November -- and now its workforce can expect a pay boost. For the company, based in Aviation Way, Southend, has just announced it made an astonishing turnover in Britain of
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Table tennis: Super seven make finals
Seven Basildon players - including two gold medallists - exploited home town advantage to reach the national finals of the disabled table tennis championships. John Seatter and Betty Jeffery clinched Eastern area singles titles at the regional finals,
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Soccer: Charity day at Witham
Up to 40 teams are expected at a charity five-a-side football tournament in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and the Meningitis Trust this Sunday. Organiser Adrian Yardley, of Witham, is hoping that his fund-raising this year brings in more
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Cricket: Maldon clinch sponsorship deal
Maldon Cricket Club have announced a sponsorship agreement with Nat West Bank. This exciting local partnership came about as the Cricket World Cup gets into full swing and is evidence of how Nat West support the game both nationally and at grass roots
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Cricket: Braintree cruise to easy win
Braintree maintained their 100 per cent winning record on Sunday when they comfortably beat Brightlingsea by eight wickets with 10 overs to spare. After being put in to bat, Brightlingsea lost two early wickets to the bowling of Dave Hale to leave themselves
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Cricket round-up: Smith's 50 in vain for Wickford
A half-century from 16-year-old Darren Smith failed to save Wickford seconds from a heavy home defeat. Wickford off-spinner Paul Davies, who took 4-81 in his 19 overs, had earlier toiled in vain to contain an Ardleigh side who rattled up 273-6. J Thornton
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Bowls: Rochford's winning streak
Rochford Bowls Club have enjoyed a good sequence of matches, starting with a victory over Southminster. Eric Overell, Mike Spackman, Brian Neville and club captain Jeff Jeffrey beat Southminster's men by 81 shots to 78. With Rochford's ladies also scoring
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Basildon: High profile policing to calm crime estate
A unique partnership plan to tackle the high crime rate on a Basildon estate will see dedicated bobbies patrolling the streets. Under the new guidelines, worried tenants on Felmores in Pitsea will also be able to dial a special police hotline to report
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Basildon: Just the job to be a party girl
JANE O'CONNELL meets Amanda Lewsey who is responsible for both Basildon's anniversary and millennium celebrations Basildon has come a long way since the bulldozers moved in on scrubland and rural slum to provide mass-market housing for more than 100,000
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Southend: High-flyer Matt drops in on home territory
Basildon-born Matt Martin was one of the star attractions at the Southend Airshow as he hurtled towards the beach at 120mph. Matt and the rest of the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team helped round off the two-day spectacular, which drew thousands of
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Lawford: Our air rage terror
A mother has told of her terrifying ordeal when she and her family were caught up in the "worst ever case of air rage". Jane Roberts had been visiting her husband Andrew's family in South Africa with their two children Alex, 11, and Alicia, nine. They
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£53,000 gifts to Southend hospital
A bumper package of gifts was the Women's Royal Voluntary Service's way of marking National Volunteers' Week. The stalwart band, who devote their spare time to Southend Hospital, spent nearly £53,000 on items including monitors for checking blood flow
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A130 link: Eco-warriors rally support
Eco-warriors campaigning against the £92 million A130 bypass could soon amass nationwide support that will help them fight through the winter. The might of the tree-top protest could even rival much-publicised campaigns against the Newbury bypass and
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Laindon: Big-hearted bookies to the rescue
A mystery lottery punter scooped a top cash prize - thanks to super sleuth bookies. Betting shop staff turned into detectives after a weekly £4,000 Irish Lottery prize went unclaimed. After hours of painstaking work poring over 2,000 lottery tickets,
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Great Bentley: Goldfish prize ban plea to fete
Some villagers in Great Bentley are in a flap over goldfish being given away as prizes at their carnival and fete. One resident has called for a ban on the practice - due to fears the fish could suffer afterwards. Alan Bishop, who has more than 30 goldfish
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Westcliff: Driver's double trouble
Shocked Westcliff driver Peter Warren only realised his Vitara was stolen when a garage gave him an identical model with the same number plate to use as a courtesy car. Peter had bought the K-reg Suzuki Vitara, a soft-top four-wheel-drive, just four days
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Athletics: Mixed fortunes for Sarah
Great Britain international Sarah Claxton suffered a rare defeat in the long jump during the Inter Counties Championships at Bedford. But the Colchester athlete had already secured victory for Essex in the 100m hurdles. Claxton was beaten into second
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Cricket: Superb Nasser puts cup woe behind him
Nasser Hussain made a triumphant return at Edgbaston as Essex thrashed Warwickshire by 129 runs to record their first National League success of the summer. If he was devastated by England's elimination from the World Cup 24 hours earlier, he did not
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Witham: Golf scheme backed
A £1 million scheme to transform a Witham golf club with a state-of-the-art health and beauty complex has been backed by the town council. Benton Hall Golf Club's scheme has been a long-running saga. The original plan won the support of Witham Town Council
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M11 works will cause delays
A £172,000 programme of concrete repairs will cause hold-ups on a section of the M11 which runs through Essex. The Highways Agency announced today that it plans to start work on Tuesday between junctions 8 and 9. The work is expected to take five weeks
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Housing shortage ups Essex prices
House prices are being pushed up by a shortage of properties, it was claimed today. As the Halifax announced a two per cent price rise in the past month, independent Essex-based agent Spicer Haart said thousands of people are looking for homes but demand
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Essex: Brace yourselves for long summer of bugs
He looks as ugly as he sounds. Blackish with brownish warts, his barbed brown hairs leave a painful rash when he comes into contact with the skin. This is the brown-tailed moth caterpillar which attacked West Mersea in huge numbers last week, prompting
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Castle Point: No site for teen village
Hopes of finding a suitable site for a teenage meeting place have been dashed. Castle Point Council officers have spent the last few months searching the borough for a place to put the "teenage village" youth shelter without success. Former mayor Valerie
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Billericay: A playground fit for a prince
This hard-working group went back to the playground as part of a community project. Volunteers from the Prince's Trust are giving the playground at Quilters School, Billericay, a makeover while pupils are on half term. As well as transforming part of
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Soccer: Conlon hopes for Eire boost
Southend United striker Barry Conlon is hoping a short break in the heart of the Scottish Highlands will help him to rebuild his international career. The 20-year-old hitman is part of the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad which has travelled north of
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Running: Record bid doomed to failure
There was disappointment last night at Colchester Garrison's athletics track as an attempt to run the first-ever sub four-minute mile in East Anglia failed. Organisers were left bitterly disappointed as the field dropped out, leaving only home town star
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Soccer: Prices up at Portman Road
Ipswich Town today increased ticket prices by an average of around 12 per cent. But they confirmed their commitment to bring the game to a wider range of fans by slashing family prices. Ipswich chairman David Sheepshanks said: "I hope all our fans will
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Cricket round-up: Centuries for both sides
SOUTHENDIAN SUNDAY XI 270-5 WESTCLIFF 274-4 (WESTCLIFF WON BY SIX WICKETS) A century for each side lit up Westcliff's rain-affected Ibex League win over neighbours Southendian. Chris Bunce made 128 and John Fielden an unbeaten 61 as Old Boys compiled
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Braintree: Town centre route agreed
Plans to build a link road between Braintree town centre and the new Chapel Hill factory shopping village have been given the green light by councillors. Braintree Council's area planning committee last night heard plans would see the road running through
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Braintree MP joins row over herbal remedies
Campaigners objecting to Government proposals which could see herbal remedies taken off the shelves have enlisted the help of Braintree MP Alan Hurst. The Labour politician was presented with a petition in Witham highlighting opposition to the planned
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Woodham pool cash boost
A swimming pool for South Woodham Ferrers is a little closer to becoming reality after County Hall finally promised a major £750,000 boost for the project. The donation will enhance the scheme's bid for National Lottery funding after receiving £100,000
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Storm causes Essex travel misery
Torrential rain and thunderstorms caused rush-hour chaos for thousands of motorists and rail travellers early today. Clouds rolled in last night bringing heavy downpours and localised flooding across the region. Trains from Essex and East Anglia to London's
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Leigh: Motorists warned 'Lock it or lose it'
Motorists have been given a helping hand in the fight against car crime thanks to the efforts of a crime-busting team of residents. New signs which warn car owners to be on their guard have been put up in four car parks around Leigh and Eastwood to reduce
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Eight Ash Green: Tortoise found in the slow lane
Turbo the tortoise has been found - in the slow lane of the A12. The owners of the reptilian escape artist yesterday made a plea for the return of their favourite pet after he disappeared from their garden over the weekend. And just hours later eagle-eyed
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Shoebury taxi driver tells of knife attack ordeal
A brave taxi driver who was robbed at knifepoint by a teenage thug was today back at work. Jerry Reeve, 60, was forced to hand over his entire night's takings to the robber who held a six-inch blade to his neck. Speaking today about his ordeal, Mr Reeve
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Rayleigh: We'll tell your parents, police warn teen gangs
Nuisance youths are being threatened with the ultimate deterrent - their parents. Crowds of teenagers who gather in the Rayleigh district over the summer holidays could be reported to their mums and dads, police warned today. The pioneering scheme to
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Castle Point: Chunnel riots terrify holiday families
Shocked holidaymakers yesterday relived the nightmare of being caught up in a violent blockade at the Eurotunnel entrance in France. Angry demonstrators terrorised a coach heading back to Castle Point after a weekend visiting the borough's twin town of
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Soccer: Ex-Colchester keeper joins Premiership elite
Goalkeeper Alec Chamberlain will be playing Premiership football for Watford next season. But there were mixed fortunes for the other former Colchester United and Ipswich Town stars who were playing in the Bank Holiday, Wembley promotion play-off finals
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Clacton: Man, 66, in thug attack
A pensioner was yesterday recovering in hospital after being beaten unconscious in Clacton town centre in a brutal attack. The 66-year-old, who has not been named, had serious head and facial injuries when he was discovered in Wellesley Road just after
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Harwich: Arson suspected as empty house gutted
An unoccupied house has been gutted by fire in a suspected arson attack a week after its sale had been agreed. Firefighters were called to the house in Albermarle Street, Harwich, shortly before 9pm on Monday night. Three crews took almost an hour to
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Soccer: Boro join chase for Town star Dyer
Middlesborough are to battle it out with Leeds United for Ipswich star Kieron Dyer. Leeds boss David O'Leary is offering £5 million for the England under-21 international but Town are looking for somewhere nearer £7 million. Now Boro boss Bryan Robson
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Cricket: New bowler earns Essex contract
Essex have awarded a contract to fast bowler David Thompson. The 23-year-old right armer has impressed in the county's 2nd XI this season with six and seven wicket hauls so far. Lambeth-born, Thompson toured with the England under-19 side as a youngster
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Soccer: Newman quits Tiptree
Keith Newman has quit as manager at Tiptree United. Newman took the Jam-makers to second in Jewson Division One before slipping down to third and losing out on promotion to Mildenhall, behind Clacton last season. The charismatic manager has blamed lack
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Cricket: Dakin boosts run tally
Neale Dakin boosted his East Anglian Premier League run tally to 353 for only twice out in four innings this season at the weekend. But his team Halstead, who climbed to the top of the league for the first time after drawing with pre-season title favourites
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Leigh: Paul's disco decor ideas
A homeowner's musical tastes should not only be reflected in their CD collection but also in the decoration of their front door. That is according to glitzy art student Paul Range-Dye of Leigh. As part of his final major project for his degree course,
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Chelsea gold for Maldon
Maldon Flower Arrangement Club has scooped a gold medal at Chelsea Flower Show. The club was one of three exhibitors for the Eastern Region in the National Association of Flower Arranging Society's marquee. The competition was entitled specialist societies
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Rochford Festival of Sport go-ahead
Plans for this year's Rochford Festival of Sport, from July 13-17, are well underway. The 16 sports will include archery, badminton, tennis, darts, netball, pool, snooker, swimming, target golf, gymnastics, basketball, cricket, and soccer. There will
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Essex refinery on green group's list
An Essex oil refinery has been named as one the main culprits for releasing cancer-causing chemicals into the air. Carless, in Parkeston near Harwich, is numbered 25 in the national list of the 100 most polluting factories compiled by the Friends of the
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Essex high in gridlock league table
Serious traffic jams are on the increase in Essex. New figures released by the AA show that London and the South-East bear the brunt of the most serious delays. The number of incidents and delays have increased dramatically over the last two-and-a-half
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Colchester: Army shows off new hi-tech gun
The British Army's most high-tech mobile weapon system has arrived at Colchester Garrison. The state-of-the-art AS90 looks more like a tank than a gun and is capable of shooting shells 15 miles. Two have already rolled into Kirkee Barracks and another
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Colchester couple aim for triathlon glory
Anne Crawshaw and Graham Sheward are a couple with a difference - in their 60s but still aiming to qualify for the British triathlon team. Often found pounding the streets or swimming in the sea off Mersea, the duo go to Bournemouth this weekend aiming
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Colchester: Care home set to be guest house
Two struck-off care home owners have applied for permission to turn one of their properties into a guest house. Vijaya and Parthasaradhi Karri were deregistered by social services chiefs after a report claimed they had failed to provide adequate care.
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Chelmsford: Cattle market shuts
The BSE crisis has been blamed for the closure of Chelmsford's historic cattle market. Operators Whirledge and Nott stopped trading as livestock auctioneers at the A12 market on Friday due to falling numbers of stock since the Government announcement
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Skating: Club brings back international meet
Competitors from Belgium joined the cream of England's clubs for the first international rollerspeed skating meeting in the UK for around 20 years. Organised by South Wood-ham Ferrers and Wickford Rollerspeed Club, the two-day event saw two races being
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Weightlifting: World record for powerlifter
A powerlifter has broken a world record - just weeks after undergoing back surgery. Adam Alderman, 16, of Hawkwood Road, Sible Hedingham, near Halstead, took home the gold medal for powerlifting at the sixth National Dwarf Championships which was held
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Cricket round-up: Frinton triumph in thriller
Frinton moved into the Jaygate Homes Two Counties Championship top four with a character-building one-wicket win over Witham. It was a result which left the mid-Essex side still searching for their first success of the season after five games. But once
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Cricket round-up: Cheryl writes women into league history
Cheryl Pinch became the first woman to take a wicket in the league's history when she dismissed three Dedham batsmen. She took the wickets for 45 runs when she stepped up to bowl for Eight Ash Green in Division Three. Pinch was called in along with Caroline
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Swimming: Castle Point get semis berth
M11 Speedo League leaders Borough of Castle Point came from behind to clinch a thrilling victory against their top rivals to win the single place available in the national semi-finals. Yet it was Basildon & District who led by four points after three
