Archive
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Southend: Death trap factory set ablaze again
Firemen have pleaded with youngsters to stop setting light to an old shoe factory in Southend. Firefighters were called to the derelict building on Ely Road when "pretty professional" fire-starters set light to some wood and opened up a drum of diesel
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Pitsea: No peace for Jamie
This is the shocking sight that greeted a grieving mother when she went to lay flowers on her son's grave. Underneath the dumped dirt lies the grave of her eight-year-old son. Devastated mum Beverley Sincock today demanded to know how cemetery workers
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Incinerators now only the last resort for Essex
Campaigners have failed in their battle to scrap plans for strategic waste sites across Essex. Around 9,000 objections had been made against the scheme outlining eight possible locations for the facilities which could see incinerators burning tonnes of
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Soccer: City seeking new kit sponsorship
With the new football season only weeks away, Chelmsford City are looking for a new shirt sponsor. The decision by last season's sponsors QM Asphalt to pull out at the last moment means that City are now seeking a new name to go on their claret and blue
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Canvey: Meet my neighbour - she's heaven-sent
You've heard of the neighbours from hell - now meet the neighbours from heaven! That's the title bestowed by pensioner Mary Lowe on people living near her in Kent Avenue, Canvey. Mary, 75, lavished praise on each of her neighbours and urged us to highlight
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Rayleigh: 'Just my job' says hero rescue cop
A hero policeman who saved a teenager from drowning in the sea off Southend said today he only did what was necessary. PC Graham Warboys, of Rayleigh traffic police, played down his daring rescue which saved the life of the youngster. He said: "It was
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Basildon boxer set for British title bid
Not since October last year have Georgie Smith's fans seen their man in action - but now a British title fight looms on the horizon. Defending his IBO Inter-Continental title against Scotsman Charlie Kane at Southend, a lack-lustre display saw Smith lose
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Judge halts Basildon defendant's case to watch tennis
Jurors were stunned when a judge adjourned a case for six months - so he could go and watch Wimbledon! Basildon defendant David Hunter must now wait until December before his case is heard, because the judge could not resist the temptation of prized tickets
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Cricket: Essex pair recalled to face Lancs
Steve Peters or Tim Hodgson will get the nod to take over from England captain Nasser Hussain when Essex play Championship rivals Lancashire at Old Trafford today. Both have been named in a party of 13 for a clash in which the County will come up against
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Westcliff: MP opens school art buildings
Excited students are busy settling in to a £275,000 art and design centre at Westcliff High School for Boys. Tory MP David Amess was on hand to open the building, complete with a suite of computers linked to the internet. The centre, designed by Leigh-based
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Southend: On the move? Don't bank on it!
Confused? You will be! Bank bosses were baffled when new signs went up outside their branch. The old Lloyds bank on the High Street, Southend, suddenly ended up in Victoria Avenue, according to the new sign. The re-branding was due to be completed yesterday
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Canvey: Going green for 2000
Green-fingered pupils from a Canvey school have been getting their hands dirty to help tend to a garden project. Organisers of Canvey 2000 - a community scheme to regenerate the island for the next millennium - unveiled a scented garden and water feature
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Cricket: Another 50 up for John
The Castle Park scoreboard records 50 as Colchester and East Essex stalwart John Wright celebrates his half century with the club. Wright, of Great Horkesley, was one of the most prolific run-scorers in Essex club cricket and played for more than 30 years
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Cricket: Half-century of service for John
John Wright is halfway to his 50th century and it has taken a good deal longer than the previous 49 accumulated by one of the most stylish and prolific run-getters in club cricket. Wright made his second team debut for Colchester and East Essex 50 years
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Soccer: Bees in hunt for new boss
Basildon United are looking for a manager to take them into the new millennium, with chairman John Moran predicting a bright future for the Schweppes Essex Senior League club. Micky Hall has had to step down from the managerial hot seat due to work commitments
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Boxing: Basildon Georgie's D-day
Comeback man Georgie Smith launches his two-fight bid for the top tonight with this message for his fans: The best is yet to come. The welterweight boxer, 28, from Basildon, knows victory in this evening's six-rounder at York Hall, Bethnall Green, against
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Soccer: Parnell in charge at Tiptree
Tiptree United Football Club have appointed Steve Parnell to the position of first team manager with the Club. Parnell will take over the running of the club's Jewson League Division One team following the resignation of Keith Newman at the end of last
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Basketball: Maldon cock-a-hoop
Maldon District Council have announced the successful allocation of two basketball goals by the Lottery Sports Fund. The two goals will shortly be installed at the multi-games area at the Dengie Hundred Sports Centre, Burnham-on-Crouch. Securing the new
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School sports: Saints' sights are set high
While the two Southend Highs continued the overall domination they've enjoyed for many years at the senior schools Borough Sports athletic championships at Garon's Park, St Bernards continued the giant strides they have made in recent years on the girls
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Witham: Alarm over road
More than £150,000 is needed to repair a major Witham road which has reached a critical condition. Alarm bells have been raised by Essex County Council highways chiefs over the state of The Avenue. Years of heavy traffic using the route as a cut through
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Jaywick: Medical centre closes its books
A medical centre has closed its books to new patients. The Jaywick Community Care and Health Centre has stopped taking patients because it has reached its limit. County and district councillor Roy Smith, who supported the introduction of the health centre
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Colchester: Saved! Kitten left to die in hole
What kind of person would dump this adorable 14-week-old kitten in a hole and then block its only way out? That's the question animal-lover Lorna Flint has been asking herself after the tiny creature was discovered abandoned on Colchester's Greenstead
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Colchester: Parents fight plan to merge schools
Parent power could be the key to safeguarding Colchester schools against any plans to merge them. Essex County Council is reviewing the provision of infant and junior schools and one of the options being looked at is combining infants and juniors into
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Chelmsford: Lesley to cash in on car's link with royalty
The proud owner of a 1968 Morris Minor saloon is on for a right royal pay day - after an MOT discovered the motor had a regal pedigree. Lesley Wheeler, of Chelmsford, bought the car for a little over £1,000 a year ago but after spotting the name of a
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Braintree: Undercover fight against dog mess
Undercover patrols armed with walkie-talkies are being drafted in to combat the dog mess menace. Braintree Council wants to clean up its streets and make the district a dog dirt-free zone. Last year its officers had to deal with more than 40 tonnes of
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Maldon market will be on trial
Maldon's first Sunday market will operate from this weekend on a six-month trial. Tony Collinson, market operator, hopes it is tipped for success and will draw in visitors. The day at the White Horse car park behind the walled area will run from 10am
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Maldon councillors to carry on smoking
Proposals for a complete ban on smoking in council offices provoked heated reactions from Maldon district councillors. A motion proposed by Cllr Ms Alison Lamb was rejected by a narrow margin after much discussion. The motion suggested that council members
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Braintree: Volunteers plan a garden for First Stop
A group of unemployed Braintree young people have set themselves a green-fingered summer challenge -- to build a garden for the people who use the town's FirstStop centre. The 12-strong team are all members of the Prince's Trust Volunteers, and have pledged
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Month-long nightmare over as Colchester families reunited with girls
Two Colchester schoolgirls who sparked a police search when they ran away almost a month ago have been reunited with their families. Police last night found Marnie Aldridge and Katherine Barham at a hostel in Enfield in Middlesex. They were brought back
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Holland-on-Sea: Thieves steal wheelchair
Thieves have stolen a disabled man's electric wheelchair. Alf Harrison, 76, of Chamley Court, Holland-on-Sea, was at The Tavern in the town with his son-in-law Michael Bennett when the theft happened. The wheelchair, worth about £1,000, had been left
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20mph speed limit for Rochford?
A 20 mph speed limit could be imposed in Rochford, it was revealed today. The reduction from 30 mph in the town centre is just one of a package of measures put forward by county highways chiefs to improve the town for residents, motorists and pedestrians
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Canvey: Have your say on £9m new road
Plans for a new road on Canvey which could hold the key to another route off the island are to go on display this week for public approval. The traffic-busting proposals for a link from Roscommon Way to Thorney Bay Road would see lorries diverted around
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Southend: PC plucks youth from rising tide
A policeman was today hailed a hero after he braved freezing water to rescue a teenager stuck in the mud off Southend seafront. PC Graham Warboys, of Rayleigh traffic police, was on routine patrol in Southend at just after midnight yesterday morning when
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Southend: Firemen lasso man ready to jump from building
A man threatening to jump from a Southend car park was dramatically rescued by firefighters. Crews used ropes to lasso the man who was sitting on the edge of the top floor of the Farringdon Road multi-storey and then lifted him onto the aerial ladder
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Eastwood: Rigging his way to top spot
Meet the fastest rigger in the west! Get Steve Staples to put up your aerial and you might just miss him. For he has been named the best and fastest in a national aerial rigging contest. Steve, 34, owner of ASTEC Aerial and Satellite Technology in Rayleigh
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Women's hockey: Chelmsford have a difficult opening
When the Women's National Premier Hockey League fixtures were drawn up for next season, newly promoted Chelmsford Highway were given a difficult start in what is anticipated to be a gruelling campaign. With preparations for the Olympics starting early
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Soccer: Dream deal for Clacton
Jewson League Clacton Town have signed what is believed to be one of the biggest sponsorship deals in non-league football. The newly-promoted Seasiders have teamed up with radio station Dream FM in an agreement worth £120,000 over three years. The figure
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Motor racing: McCarthy debuts Audi at Le Mans 24-Hour
The Le Mans 24-Hour race is said to be the greatest motor race in the world and after the running of the 67th event on June 12/13, which contained more thrills, spills and overtaking than you see in a whole season of Formula One -- it can easily lay claim
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Fishing: Hanningfield plays host to Euro contest
Hanningfield Reservoir played host to the second leg of the prestigious 1999 European Fly Fishing Championship recently. This International Championship over three legs - the first staged in Belgium in April - and the final, third leg, scheduled for October
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Cricket: He's our captain - of England!
Nasser Hussain admitted to feeling "immensely proud" at the confirmation of the news we predicted four days ago - he's the new England cricket captain. This Is Essex even got it right in naming the day the Essex skipper would be named to lead the country
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Bocking: Memories shared at Resting Seat House
Shared memories of Braintree and Bocking, plus a packed diary of social and educational activities are all on the agenda at Resting Seat House. The sheltered accommodation scheme in Bocking is now home to 10 older people since its complete refurbishment
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Billericay: My spaceman bridegroom
Wacky Billericay couple David and Fay Keary made it a wedding day to remember - by getting married in fancy dress. David, 41, showed he was out of this world when he donned a space suit instead of a traditional morning suit. Fay, 43, said of her spaceman
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Jaywick: Seven escape flat fire
A ten-month-old baby was among seven people taken to hospital after a fire at a flat. A fire spokesman said yesterday the blaze had been caused due to an unattended pan of oil. Firefighters went to the ground floor flat at Brampton Court, Broadway, Jaywick
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Westcliff: 'Mary Poppins' boy stuck in chimney
A boy is recovering after being stuck down a chimney for more than four hours. Inspired by Mary Poppins, Jonathan Grosvenor, nine, climbed onto the roof of his Westcliff home and clambered down the chimney pot. He slipped down the stack and was eventually
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Clacton: Young woman found dead
A teenage woman has died in Clacton. The body of the 18-year-old woman was found at 8.15am today in a flat on the corner of West Avenue and Old Road, Clacton. It is believed she suffered from diabetes. Police and ambulance crews attended the flat and
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Clacton: Tourists' rescue drama
Friends were today anxiously waiting to hear if six Clacton holidaymakers were involved in a dramatic cable car rescue in Norway. A group of passengers from the Splendour of the Seas cruise ship were stranded for almost eight hours on two cable cars which
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Southend: Terror of double rapist
A rapist who struck twice in Southend in the space of just two hours will be sentenced next month. Burly Michael Mason, 26, of Weston Road, Southend, subjected two women to terrifying ordeals as they walked home alone. The rapes sparked a massive manhunt
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Colchester couple sent batty by furry intruder
A couple thought they were going batty when they found one of the furry rodents in their second floor flat. Colchester pensioners William and Eileen Presdee feared they had bought more than memories of sand, sun and sangria back from their Spanish holiday
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Cricket: Performance pleases Burch as Leigh thrash Brookweald
BROOKWEALD 131 LEIGH 135-1 (LEIGH WON) Leigh skipper Simon Burch had words of sympathy for overwhelmed Brookweald - and words of optimism for his Division Two leaders. Steve Adelaine's unbeaten 68 headlined Leigh's nine-wicket success, although, in Brookweald's
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Cricket: Ian's drive for the top
Howzat! There cannot be many county cricketers who can claim to have been given out leg before coal bucket or caught in the outfield by a vase. Essex opening batsman Ian Flanagan can. And the cricket crazy Colchester left-hander is equally at home whether
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Diving: Karen dives her way to a bronze
Shoebury diver Karen Smith travelled to Edinburgh for another round in the World Diving Grand Prix circuit - and returned with an unexpected medal. The 23-year-old was laid up for two days in the Scottish capital with a cold virus, but went on to compete
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Wickford: Rubbish blooms in Mary's garden
Imaginative Mary Simpson is never hurt when her artwork is described as rubbish - because that is exactly what it is. Old greenhouses, plant pots, dustbins and anything else thrown out by her neighbours in Highcliff Drive, Wickford, is turned into attractive
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Southend: Two face will fraud charges
A couple are accused of conspiracy to defraud the £1.8 million will of a Southend widow. Unemployed lorry driver David Spillman and his wife Annette deny the charge which is related to the will of 87-year-old Annie Kay, of Dawlish Drive, Leigh. Mrs Spillman
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Power cut hits Canvey
Bleary-eyed commuters who rely on electric alarm clocks woke up late today after a power cut on Canvey. A fault in a high voltage cable on the island meant that power to 1,800 homes was cut off at around 2.15am. Electricity was restored via a back-up
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Canvey: Fury over 2am pub extension
Furious residents today vowed to fight for action against "unbearable noise" after a pub was granted consent to open until the early hours of the morning. Castle Point Council agreed the upstairs music bar in the Haystack pub in Furtherwick Road, Canvey
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Cricket: Baker puts the Burnham boys through their paces
Tuesday saw a good turn out of players as Burnham Rugby Club starts to prepare itself for the coming 1999/2000 season. The coaching was taken by Co-ordinator of Coach and Club Captain, Ian Baker, who put the players through their paces after the break
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Soccer: Keeper tops Colchester's wanted list
Management and club officials returned to Layer Road today to set about securing a new goalkeeper for Colchester United. Assistant manager Steve Whitton said a keeper was the U's top priority with the new Nationwide League season only five weeks away.
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Cricket: Half-century of service for John
John Wright is halfway to his 50th century and it has taken a good deal longer than the previous 49 accumulated by one of the most stylish and prolific run-getters in club cricket. Wright made his second team debut for Colchester and East Essex 50 years
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Cricket: Braintree fall to Maldon
MALDON I.........................................292-3 BRAINTREE I..........................255 all out (Maldon won by 37 runs) (Jaygate Homes Two Counties Championship Division Two) Looking to maintain their 100 per cent record on Saturday, Braintree
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Soccer: Bees in hunt for new boss
Basildon United are looking for a manager to take them into the new millennium, with chairman John Moran predicting a bright future for the Schweppes Essex Senior League club. Micky Hall has had to step down from the managerial hot seat due to work commitments
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Essex launch for new jobs scheme
A new scheme aimed at getting more people into work has been launched by Government Education and Employment Secretary David Blunkett. Mr Blunkett was joined by Social Security Secretary Alistair Darling in Chelmsford yesterday to launch the One strategy
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Colchester: Farmers' market set for success
Colchester's first farmers' market looks like being a roaring success - if the response from local growers is anything to go by. More than 15 farmers have either applied for a stall at next Friday's event or asked for an application form. A Suffolk organisation
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Witham: Rickstones welcomes Polish students
Witham's Rickstones School turned its sixth form centre into "open house" for a week for 14 visiting Polish exchange students Head teacher Norma Turner, who visited the Polish school in Schweidbodice last winter with staff and a school governor, said:
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Maldon: Riverside plans are deferred
Plans to develop a major riverside complex at Sadd's Wharf have been deferred for further consideration. Maldon district councillors agreed last week that a working party of members and officers will be set up to examine alternative uses for the site,
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Maldon: More need Citizens Advice Bureau help
More than 6,000 people needing help and or specialised information contacted the Maldon and District Citizens Advice Bureau last year. At the annual general meeting of the bureau last Thursday, Ken Harris, the bureau manager, reported that 6,036 people
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Braintree: Reunion party marks 60 ATC years
Former members of Braintree Air Training Corps are being sought for a reunion party to celebrate the diamond anniversary of the formation of 158 squadron in 1939. Flight Lieutenant Glenn Mayes, the commanding officer, said: "Ex-members are now resident
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Braintree: Anti-social tenants to be outlawed
Council housing in the Braintree district could be withheld from applicants guilty of anti-social behaviour. Under the terms of a new scheme applicants can be 'fined' by suspension from the housing list for periods from six months to up to several years
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Braintree police 'struggling to cope with number of travellers'
Top police chiefs have claimed they are struggling to cope with "overwhelming" numbers of travellers swamping the Braintree district. Speaking at a packed meeting of the Essex Police Community Consultative Group in Braintree last night, Supt Peter Sheldrake
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Cricket: South Essex round-up
Stitson sets up Hordon HORNDON-ON-THE-HILL 239-5 ORSETT 193-8 (DRAW) Horndon gained minor revenge for their National Village Cup exit against their closest neighbours when Dave Stitson's latest major knock helped them to 11 points. Stitson, one of the
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Phil to head the united voice of Essex disability
Disabled rights campaigner Phil Miller has been appointed the first director of the Essex Coalition of Disabled People, which plans to open offices in Witham by the autumn. Phil, who has been an active disabled people's rights campaigner for many years
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Perfect day for Maldon
The people of Maldon took to the streets on Saturday, celebrating the long and proud history of their town with the first-ever Town Fair. Thousands of people packed the High Street, which was closed to traffic from Market Hill to Butt Lane, throughout
