Archive
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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 on Tuesday 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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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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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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£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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Cricket: Robinson goes early for Essex
Paul Grayson was pressed into action as an opener when Essex finally got under way in the Championship clash against Hampshire at Ilford today. The Yorkshireman found himself moved up the order to partner Darren Robinson after Paul Prichard was on 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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Strawberry time is here
It may be hard to believe, with this week's torrential storms and cold weather, but summer is here. It's strawberry season - a sure sign that Wimbledon and barbecues must be on the way. The succulent soft fruit has taken a bit of a battering over the
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Chelmsford: Lottery boost for disabled
A lottery windfall of more than £500,000 is set to benefit disabled people in the county. Chelmsford-based charity Essex Disabled People's Association (EDPA) is set to receive £560,021 from the National Lottery Charities Board in what is the largest amount
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Chelmsford: Glass traps lorry driver
A delivery driver was trapped under half a tonne of glass while unloading his lorry in Chelmer Village. Miraculously the driver, who works for Westwood Art Frames in Cornwall, was only treated for minor injuries at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, including
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Chelmsford: Store burglars in high speed chase
A high-speed chase and police tracker dogs were involved in the capture of two raiders after they broke into a Tesco supermarket in Chelmsford. A court heard how police officers were forced to chase Gerard Barry, 20, of Bean Avenue, Dagenham, and Ian
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Colchester jail break!
Being held to ransom behind bars - but all in a good cause. Shoppers in Colchester High Street saw mayor Martin Hunt led away from the town hall by off-duty police officers to join other "prisoners" in Colchester Castle. And until they raised £500 each
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Sunny Sarfend to get ad booster
A major summer advertising campaign is being thrashed out to encourage Londoners to sample the delights of Southend. Up to £150,000 will be spent on the campaign which will paint Southend as "London's favourite playground". LTS Rail, Peter Pan's Adventure
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Colchester: Lifting lid on garrison town
The Colchester public will be glued to their television screens tonight for the first episode of the controversial docu-soap Soldier Town. The six-part series has attracted nationwide attention for the way it portrays local women and what troops get up
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Shoebury: Beach bomb mystery
An investigation was under way today after a mysterious bottle - thought to be a home-made bomb - was unearthed on a Shoebury beach. Military experts were called out yesterday when the device was handed to staff at the Ministry of Defence's New Ranges
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Kelvedon: Ton up for Felix?
Felix the tortoise is living proof that taking it easy leads to a longer life. The ancient pet has been gently strolling through the gardens of the same Kelvedon street for more than 90 years. And he has even staked a place in the history books, with
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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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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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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: 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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Motorsport: Mondeo team on a roll
Ford Team Mondeo continued its run of form with a strong third and fourth place finish in the Auto Trader British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park on Bank Holiday Monday. The Ford duo of Alain Menu and Anthony Reid qualified alongside each other
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Motorcycling: Top riders in Halstead
Over 120 top MX stars from all over the country will be at the Halstead & District Motor Cycle Club's Moto-Cross circuit on Sunday when the club hosts the fifth round of the Honda British Moto-Cross Championship at Little Loveney Hall in Wakes Colne
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Cycling: Bank Holiday success for Shaftesbury members
The Shaftesbury Cycling Club had a fine Bank Holiday weekend, with some superb results being returned by club members. Saturday saw two riders take part in the Norwich 10 miles event on the Bungay course in Norfolk. Terry Anderson and Tony Hanlon rode
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Cricket round-up: Law and Swile steer Billericay to victory
Billericay were hosts to Woodford Wells on Saturday at the Blunts Wall Road ground. Woodford Wells, having won the toss, decided to bat and openers Marshall and Gareth Jenkins built a solid base for a total sufficient enough to challenge the in-form Billericay
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Cricket round-up: Hot Burns
LEIGH 178-4 BENFLEET 179-0 (BENFLEET WON) Paul Tremain (91 not out) and Troy Burns (an unbeaten 79), whose partnership began thunderously, saw Benfleet home by an incredible ten wickets in Sunday's friendly. Vic Hewitt (39) and John Monk (39) had earlier
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Banger Racing: Moss the master
Romford's Tony Moss won his second Group 'A' Hot-Rod Final in a week at Arena-Essex on Sunday - an extraordinary performance for a novice. He drove his immaculate Nova to perfection in the Short Circuit Spares Supreme Qualifier and never looked like being
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Strike threat by Stansted Airport staff could lead to chaos
Holiday chaos could hit Stansted Airport at the start of the summer rush after a strike threat by staff. Industrial action could paralyse part of the airport's operation from July, if workers ballot for strike action. Check-in staff, dispatch workers
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Clacton: Warsaw honour for old soldier
A former Tendring councillor has been given the freedom of Warsaw for fighting to defend it during the Second World War. Tadeusz Staigl, 86, of Holland Road, Clacton, was in London for a ceremony where he received a medal and the freedom of the Polish
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Colchester: Campaigners take a ride into town
Horse riders campaigning for more bridleways in the Colchester area rode into town and handed their plea to the mayor on the Town Hall steps. Mayor Martin Hunt welcomed the riders and four horses this afternoon. Antoinette Tubbs, chairman of the Colchester
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Cricket round-up: Orsett pipped
Brentwood were delighted to register their first league win of the season last Saturday, after overcoming both Orsett & Thurrock, and the weather in a tight finish. On a good pitch with a fast outfield, it was clear from the outset that bat was likely
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Soccer: Matt's delight at arrival of his new son
Matt Holland put transfer rumours behind him to be at the birth of son Samuel Ryan, who weighed in at 8lbs, at Colchester General Hospital. Matt was with wife Paula who gave birth to her second boy. Samuel has an older brother in Jacob. The family are
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Cricket: South African nets club place
A South African cricketer has travelled almost 6,000 miles to play village cricket for Hatfield Peverel - after learning of the club's existence on the internet. Dave Kirkpatrick, a 25-year-old all-rounder from Johannesburg club Jeppe Old Boys, is already
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Cricket: Essex debutantes impress
Essex Championship debuts were given to Tim Walton and Ricky Anderson in the match against Gloucestershire, and both impressed with their performances. Of Anderson, Esesex vice-captain Ronnie Irani said: "He did well, applied himself well and it was great
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Table Tennis: Richard rewarded for his efforts
A lengthy Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League Annual General Meeting saw the league's long service award; the Rosebery/Pope & Smith award, presented to Richard Hiskey for his work as League Chairman over the last year and also for his outstanding
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Swimming: Brentwood excel in Southend
Members of Brentwood Swimming Clubs performed magnificently in the recent Southend Stone Trophy Gala. In a close fought battle, they finished second to Clacton, after beating Southend, Harwich and Witham. The U12 girls were unstoppable with Christie Mecklenburgh
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Soccer: More get wells for former Blue
Get well wishes have continued to pour in for former Southend United hitman Jeroen Boere following his horrific stabbing in a Japanese nightclub. More than 300 Shrimpers fans have bombarded the big Dutchman's current club - Second Division J-League side
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Soccer: Kendall out, Calder signs at Billericay
Highly-respected non-league manager Gary Calder has this week taken over as manager of Billericay Town following the dramatic sacking of long serving John Kendall. Calder, who moves from Ryman League Premier Division rivals Enfield, has been given a five
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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
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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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Harold Wood: Cruel thieves steal pension
A 79-year-old Good Samaritan had his pension stolen by a pair of callous pickpockets after he was tricked into stopping to help them after one dropped some of his own cash. The Harold Wood man fell victim to the two while he queued at a busy bus stop
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Brentwood: Police plea to vital witness
A vital witness to a vicious assault in which two police officers were brutally bludgeoned by a dangerous masked burglar armed with a crowbar is being sought by police. They are urgently appealing for a woman who contacted them shortly after it was revealed
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Brentwood: Picketers lobby over BT site
The row over working conditions on the site of the new British Telecom complex escalated this week - with fresh allegations about safety standards. Contractors returned to work at the Brentwood development, in London Road on Tuesday to face a picket line
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Benfleet: 25 years of animal magic
A wildlife haven was today looking forward to at least another 25 years of weaving its own kind of animal magic. Rescuer's Wildlife Sanctuary, in Watlington Road, Benfleet - which takes injured animals and birds from across the county - is now a step
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Belt up or else, police warn south Essex drivers
Drivers who fail to use their seat belts face a crackdown across Basildon, Billericay and Wickford. Police are carrying out random checks on drivers to make sure they are driving safely in an attempt to reduce the number of injuries caused in accidents
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Basildon Council axes children's treehouse
Council workers have defended pulling down a treehouse built and used by more than 30 youngsters. The children - aged eight to 13 - spent hours putting up the playhouse in fields off the Hatherley to while away the school holiday. Now, father-of-two Steven
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Brentwood: No privacy for patients claim
Brentwood's health trust is accused of failing in its duty towards mentally ill patients at Warley Hospital. Liberal Democrat borough councillor, Michael Taylor, made the allegation following a visit to the 150-year-old Victorian main building at Warley
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Basildon Council gets a roasting
A Billericay couple were today vindicated after a government ombudsman found council workers guilty of maladministration. Planning bosses at Basildon Council were reeling after the damning attack on them from the local authority watchdog. The officials
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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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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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Golf: Richards hole in one
A hole in one is an achievement for any golfer but when you're just 10-years-old it really does bring your name to the fore. Little Richard Collins of Chelmsford Road, Blackmore, realised he had really got into the swing of the game after potting the
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Ashingdon: Author's animal magic
Ashingdon author Garry Kilworth has just released the third and final part of his children's trilogy about the Welkin Weasels, Windjammer Run. Books one and two told about a colony of weasels and stoats who live in the mythical, medieval world of Welkin
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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 yesterday 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
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Housing shortage ups Essex prices
House prices are being pushed up by a shortage of properties, it was claimed yesterday. 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
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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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Angling: Merchant profits from big carp
Northlands Park Lake continues to produce some tremendous carp, with two anglers landing personal best 20lb-plus specimens over the bank holiday. The biggest fish fell to 15-year-old Michael Merchant, who landed a superb 21lb 9oz mirror carp from the
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Cycling: Colins fine form is maintained
Colin Crickmore, who recently joined the Essex Roads Cycling Club, has excelled in recent weeks. He recorded 21m 50s for 10 miles and third place in the Border CA event, he took fourth place in the ECRA 25 with 59m 16s and first handicap and 10th place
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Cricket: Park have to settle for a draw
Harold Park welcomed Old Gravesendians as their guests to Raphael Park on Saturday, only for the weather to have the final word. Batting first, Park were given a tremendous start by openers David Fenton and Cliff Leondiou, who took 58 runs off the first
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Tendring Council rap over Martello Towers
Tendring Council has come under attack for not playing its part in the upkeep of two ancient monuments along the Clacton coastline. It was accused of leaving the fate of one of the historic Martello Towers in the hands of the Scouts and ignoring the dilapidated
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New youth hostel plan for Colchester
A new youth hostel could be created in Colchester to help boost tourism by encouraging visitors on a low budget, coach parties, walkers and cyclists. Councillors are expected to support the plan at a meeting next week. East Bay House, East Hill, was closed
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Chelmsford: Teenager has bike robbed
A teenager had his bike stolen by a youth who pushed him from the machine. The 16-year-old, from Chelmsford, was cycling along the footpath along Princes Road, heading in the direction of the Army and Navy roundabout, when the incident happened between
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Soccer: Dyer ready for Sweden clash
Ipswich Town's Kieron Dyer should start for England in their under-21 clash against Sweden. The Ipswich midfielder is expected to be named in the starting line-up to play as right wing-back at Huddersfield's McAlpine Stadium tomorrow night as England
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Tennis: Thorpe to host finals
This year is going to be a very big year for Thorpe Bay Tennis Club and one person who could not be more pleased is chairman Mike Baggs. The club will be hosting the Essex County Junior Closed Championship for the 25th year running, the Essex Cup finals
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Tennis: Clearview retain their premier status
Clearview finished their campaign in the National Ladies Club League with a cliffhanger against Edgbaston Priory at the weekend. Their opponents, who have already qualified for the final, put out an under-strength team which allowed Clearview to mount
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Soccer: Prices up at Portman Road
Ipswich Town yesterday 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
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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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Southend: Engineers rebuilt bridge - but no-one noticed!
Technical experts have completed major structural works to a Southend bridge - without the public even noticing! Engineers have been working since January on a £235,000 strengthening programme for the little-known bridge, which carries Victoria Avenue
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Ongar: Consultation's the key
Tory MP Eric Pickles launched a scathing attack on health chiefs as the people of Ongar united to fight for the beleaguered War Memorial Hospital. Mr Pickles's outspoken condemnation of the local NHS Trust and the health authority came at a bury-the-hatchet
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Hadleigh: Climbing the walls
Park rangers created a half-term hullabaloo with crazy activities and games at Hadleigh Castle country park. Youngsters were able to try their hand at scaling a challenging climbing wall or pitting their wits in the crystal maze. The two-day event was
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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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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. On Tuesday night Braintree Council's area planning committee heard plans would see the road running
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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 yesterday that it plans to start work on Tuesday between junctions 8 and 9. The work is expected to take five
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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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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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Running: Record bid doomed to failure
There was disappointment 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 on Tuesday night as the field dropped out, leaving only home town
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Soccer: Southend offer big ticket tempter
Huge cash savings are on offer to Southend United fans who take advantage of a special season ticket offer within the next few weeks, Roots Hall chiefs announced today. Blues supporters purchasing a season ticket before Saturday, June 19, will not only
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Sandon: Police dogs go through their paces
The workings behind the Essex Police Dog Section were unveiled to the public at a special open day. Visitors to the Sandon dog unit, near Chelmsford, were treated to demonstrations of drug searches and other examples of the crimebusting work carried out
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Maldon: Meet the new enforcers
They are the enforcers. Dave Revell and Tony Corbey are the two men drivers in Maldon will either love or hate, depending on whether they find themselves facing an excess charge ticket or not. They are Maldon District Council's newest car park enforcement
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Rollerspeed: Successful first Euro meeting
The South Woodham Ferrers & Wickford Rollerspeed Skating Club hosted the first international rollerspeed skating meeting in the UK for about 20 years, over the weekend with skaters from Belgian clubs competing against most of the best from England's
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Athletics: Coach appeals to sports minister over track
A top Essex athletics coach today turned to sports minister Tony Banks for help in getting better use of athletics facilities in Colchester. John Hyland, who runs the highly successful Colchester and Tendring ladies' team, has been frustrated by the lack
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Soccer: Boss Benson makes first swoop
Terry Benson has made his first two signings since becoming Halstead manager. Benson has snapped up experienced players Mark Farmer and Peter Emerick to help Town in next season's Jewson Premier campaign. And he has strengthened his back up staff by bringing
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Speedway: Arena Essex slip up to Berwick
A battling performance by Arena on Saturday at Berwick saw them nearly pull off a shock win against a side that currently enjoy second place in the Premier League. That the Hammers failed to procure the match points was down to mechanical misfortune that
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Wickford: Plenty of room say education bosses
Parents were today assured their youngsters will not be pushed out of Wickford because of overflowing schools. Education chiefs attempted to set mums' minds at rest after a 370-signature petition was handed to county councillor Iris Pummell. The protesters
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Rayleigh: College for old school
Students from around the world could be heading to Rayleigh if plans for a new college go ahead. Under the proposals, the closed Park School in Rawreth Lane would become a transport museum and college, teaching specialist renovation skills and creating
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Harold Hill: Dumped cars anger heats up after arson
Heaton ward councillor Denis O'Flynn has thrown his weight behind angry residents' blitz on abandoned cars on the streets of Harold Hill. The issue flared up after two cars were set alight last weekend, in Coltsfoot Path and Harebell Way, both off of
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TV treasure hunt in Colchester
Cameras will be rolling in Colchester this summer as filming gets under way for a new television drama which offers supersleuths a £30,000 jackpot. TV Production Company Atlantis Virtual World will be making Keith Park's book The Treasure Trail for the
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Southend: Gladiator Vogue's beanstalk challenge
Panto fun came to Southend early when Gladiator Vogue abseiled down the side of the Cliffs Pavilion to deliver the first ticket for this year's pantomime - Jack and the Beanstalk. Vogue, alias Suzanne Cox, was joined by John Inman and Breeze radio presenter
