Archive
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Tiptree: Medal shock for war veteran Basil
A second World War veteran has spoken of his surprise after receiving a medal for serving with the Royal Navy 55 years ago. Basil Harris has been sent a commemorative medal from the Greek Embassy for helping to keep the nation's islands free from Nazi
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Harwich: Terrain hampers bunker body probe
The search for clues in the body in the bunker mystery is being hampered by the rough terrain at Beacon Hill Fort. Two teams of officers were still working at the historic site in Harwich on Thursday - scenes of crimes officers were carrying out a detailed
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22,000 object to Essex waste plan
Objectors to the Essex Waste Plan who live in the Ongar and North Weald area are being urged to make sure their voice is heard at the major public inquiry into the controversial proposal. Some 9,919 individuals and organisations have lodged a total of
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Mid Essex: Ward closures jobs fear
Up to 70 health service jobs in mid-Essex are under threat, it has been claimed. Health workers' union Unison on Thursday claimed morale among hospital staff is low and there are fears they could leave the NHS altogether. The warning followed surprise
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Laindon: Joyrider, burglar vandal...aged nine
A nine-year-old has been described as a "one-boy crimewave" after detectives linked him to up to 30 offences. Because of his age, the Laindon boy can't be prosecuted and has escaped with an informal caution for his crimes, including taking dumper trucks
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Basildon: Agency nursing bill hits hospital
Basildon Hospital is being forced to pay out thousands of pounds a month as agencies cash in on a national nursing shortage. The situation has already led to the hospital trust overshooting its budget, and directors fear greater problems as the year goes
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Southend: Giant cod gets battering
Fish and chips have no plaice on our national menu, said vegetarians. Britain's favourite dish got a major battering from the organisation Peta - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals -- when campaigners sailed into Southend. The protesters landed
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Heartbroken dad to sue hospital in hunt for answers
A grief-stricken husband has paid tribute to his wife who died after giving birth to triplets at Southend Hospital, and vowed to continue his fight for answers. Martin England spoke out today (Friday) about the heartache he and his family have suffered
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Athletics: Sarah goes for glory
Long jump star Sarah Claxton will attempt to qualify for the World Championships in Birmingham this weekend. The Colchester teenager is aiming to leap into one of the two automatic slots by finishing in the top two at the AAA Championships at the Alexander
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Chelmsford: Con menace crackdown
A major campaign to target con men who prey on the elderly was launched in Chelmsford on Thursday. It brought immediate praise from the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Dr Kim Howell, who said: "I welcome this initiative. I deplore unscrupulous doorstep
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Southend: Tripping on to the telly
Described as a "whelk on the wall" documentary, Southend is exposed on national TV tonight at 10.30pm with the first episode of Trippers. Throughout this summer Anglia TV have been filming the seafront and the characters responsible for welcoming more
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Billericay: Shops suffer in eatery boom
A new Italian restaurant planned for Billericay High Street has increased fears the town's retail industry could suffer or even die. Tory councillor Peter Patrick, who fought against plans for JD Wetherspoon to move into the old Co-op site, wished the
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Cricket: Dean's here to stay
Dean Feneysey had no idea he would be playing East Anglian Premier League cricket for Halstead when he arrived in England four games ago. But the South African quickie is here to stay for the rest of the season and will be spearheading the bowling attack
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Sport shorts
Northwick Boys are on the lookout for players for their under-seven, eight and nine mini-soccer teams for next season. Ring Simon on 01268 758409. Soccer-mad youngster Nikki Edwards is desperate to find a team in which to display her skills in the forthcoming
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Great Baddow Festival of Sport
Great Baddow High School hosted the first Mid-Essex Schools Festival of Sport on Saturday. The Festival was the first of its kind in Essex because it involved an unusual partnership between the Chelmsford Borough Council, local schools and sports clubs
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Athletics: Joy for Julie
Chelmsford's World Junior Athletics champion Julie Pratt won her final race before the European Under-23 Championships when she ran 13.81 to take the 100 metre hurdles at the CGU International at Hexham on Sunday. Julie, 20, from Chelmer Village, was
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Witham: Tributes flood in for mayor who entertained troops
Tributes have been paid to a former Witham mayor who has died, aged 83. Dennis Sabin, a gunner in the Surrey and Sussex Yeomanry, teamed up with comic Spike Milligan to entertain soldiers during the Second World War. He also helped produce shows in Italy
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Maldon: Jobs promised in new mall scheme
A mini shopping mall could be built in a listed High Street building - boosting jobs for the area. Planners are set to give the all clear to twelve new shops at the property previously occupied by the Unusual Gift Shop - next to the Co-op store - in Maldon
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Harwich: Youngsters to get counselling after grisly find
A large group of children from Harwich are today being offered counselling after realising what they thought was a dummy was in fact the badly burned body of young man. The children, aged between eight and 11, found what they thought to be a mannequin
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Dovercourt: Boy stung by jellyfish
Quick-thinking Michael Hale dramatically rescued his friend from the sea after his arm was paralysed by a jellyfish sting. A group of friends were playing in the water off Dovercourt beach when 14-year-old Alex Warnes's arm went numb and he could not
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Chelmsford: Probe after blaze guts farm buildings
An investigation has been launched after a huge blaze destroyed a range of farm buildings. Arsonists are thought to be behind the fire which swept through barns at Springfield Hall in Chelmsford. Worried neighbours flooded Essex Fire and County Rescue
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Call to sell off Essex council homes
An urgent plea was today made to sell-off all Essex's council-run old people's homes to the private sector. We revealed earlier this month that the future of all Essex County Council-run homes was again uncertain because of a need to cut the social services
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Brightlingsea: Bloom organisers in fury at council
Organisers of Brightlingsea in Bloom have hit out at the town council for the "appalling" and "filthy" state of some areas being judged in the competition. They have attacked the council's "apparent lack of input" and claim there was a hidden agenda of
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Stebbing... ...Village of the Year
The character of Essex villages was celebrated this week as communities including Stebbing, Rivenhall and Writtle gained top honours in the annual Village of the Year and Best Kept Village competitions. Stebbing, near Great Dunmow, took the top title,
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Soccer: Warren back to lead U's quest for glory
New team captain Warren Aspinall will return to action on Saturday to lead Colchester United's quest for glory in a four-team tournament at Southend. The U's will join battle with Southend, Watford and Peterborough United in the two-day pre-season tournament
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Mid Essex: Anger erupts over ward closure plans
Tempers flared as hospital staff and local people confronted health bosses at a public meeting over ward closures. The outcry came at a packed meeting called by local watchdog the Community Health Council, at St John's Hospital, Chelmsford, on Thursday
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Chelmsford firm's gadget will help seek life on Mars
Solarcells developed by Chelmsford company EEV will play a vital role in the European Space Agency's mission to find life on Mars. The mission to the red planet is scheduled for 2003 and the cells will be used to charge the batteries on board a small
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Colchester: Compensation snub for bomb victim's partner
The distraught gay partner of Soho nailbomb victim John Light will not receive a penny in compensation - because of his sexuality. It was revealed today the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board does not give payouts to anyone other than "those living
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Chelmsford: Death fears over bikers in woods
Police have warned that someone could be killed as young motorcyclists use Chelmsford woods and parks as race tracks. College Wood, by Melbourne Park, Galleywood Common and Admirals Park are the main areas affected. There is particular concern at College
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Southend: Resignation call in Cliffs cash rumpus
Councillors have called for high-level resignations amid claims of a scandalous waste of public money over the failed £12 million bid to revamp Southend's Cliffs Pavilion. In a rare display of cross-party unity, members fired a devastating broadside at
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Golf: Thorpe members mourn Ina
One of the great characters of the local golf scene, Thorpe Hall's Ina Cameron, has died at the age of 81. Ina played in Thorpe's silver team for many years and made many friends from other Essex clubs. She donated the Ina Cameron Trophy to the Essex
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Cricket: Fine debut fo Essex pairing
Tim Phillips and Andrew McGarry had every reason to feel satisfied when making their first class debuts for Essex against Sri Lanka A at Chelmsford. Between them the two teenagers emerged from a day of toil with six wickets as the tourists were bowled
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Bowls: Thrilling start to ladies match
The 54th Southend Ladies Open Bowls Tournament got off to a thrilling start at Priory Park with the two-wood triples final going to an extra end. The 12-day event got underway with the Mayor of Southend, Councillor Tony North, sending down the first wood
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Angling: Lobster raise charity cash
The Lobster Smack Sea Angling Club made the most of the fine weather when they staged the Over Tide Dash competition and helped raise £101 for the RNLI. However, although conditions were very pleasant, the fishing was a little lacklustre with eel catches
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Cricket: Relegation fears for Brentwood
BRENTWOOD I.............................244-6 dec ARDLEIGH GREEN...............................89-9 (Match drawn) (Shepherd Neame Essex League Division One) Although there were many encouraging features to Saturday's match, the fact is that, for the second
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Southend: American link to new Kursaal plan
Kursaal bosses are flying to the States to launch talks over ploughing more into the seafront attraction. Directors are visiting Los Angeles next week to meet up with bosses of a mystery company interested in being involved in the Southend centre. A Kursaal
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Rochford: Marking 25 years at school
A trio of staff members at a Rochford school were today (Friday) reflecting on a quarter of a century of teaching. The teachers, from King Edmund School in Vaughan Close, Rochford, are now teaching the children of their first pupils. They were presented
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Great Wakering: Cupid's kisses for country singer Tina
Pop sensation Tina Cousins thrilled an audience with her guest appearance at a country club. Tina sang her hit songs ending with her new release, Forever, at Cupid's Country Club in Great Wakering. Delighted organiser Steven Kelly said: "She was brilliant
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Soccer: Shenfield make an upward move
Shenfield Football Club has made the step up to Intermediate Football and the forthcoming season will see the club's first and reserve teams playing in the Essex Intermediate League. Formed in 1986 by a group of Shenfield School pupils, the club has always
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Soccer: Is it lucky 15 for Lomana?
Colchester United fans were warned not to place any significance on the new squad numbers revealed by the club today. In the official list exciting winger Lomana Tresor Lua Lua is only numbered at 15. That could mean the teenage man-of-the-moment is a
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Westcliff: Snake attack on boy, six
Worried parents are warning people to be on their guard after a six-year-old boy was bitten by an adder. Kazim Salih was playing outside in McDonald Avenue, Westcliff, when he was attacked by the snake, which could be up to 4ft long. Kazim's mum, Michaela
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Phone snub for young lifesaver
A cafe owner has been condemned for allegedly refusing to let a girl use his phone to call lifeguards when her pal was in danger of drowning. It is the second time John Harvey has been at the centre of a row over his business's phone. Three years ago
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New rail link for Wickford?
Train bosses are considering linking Wickford and Benfleet as part of plans to take rail travel into the next millennium. A three-and-a-half mile stretch of new track could be built under the proposals brought forward by transport lobbying groups. Southend
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High Ongar: Lasting tribute to tragic mum
A fund dedicated to a loving mother of three killed by an drink driver from High Ongar is building a lasting memorial that will help her children's school. Eighteen months after the horrific crash which took his wife of 17 years and left his young daughter
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Harold Hill: Community policing 'completely neglected'
"In the the last two years we have completely neglected our community policing." That was the amazingly frank confession by Havering's new chief inspector, Howard Back, when he spoke out about policing in the Harold area at the Harold Hill Community Area
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Clacton: Andrew to row across Pacific
He's off again! Andrew Halsey - the first disabled person to row single-handed across an ocean - is back behind the oars ready to conquer the elements and the sea. The 42-year-old from Clacton, who suffers from epilepsy, stunned the rowing world when
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Woodham: Manager is recalled to jail
After a short taste of freedom, Stephen Craske, manager of the Lodge Inn, South Woodham Ferrers, was recalled to jail last week. He had been released from an earlier prison sentence, but was still subject to recall when he fell foul of the law again by
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Basildon: Vincent's Kosovo peace mission
Basildon soldier, Craftsman Vincent Barnes, is vital to the peacekeeping mission in Yugoslavia - he helps keep the Army's vehicles on the road. As the army's equivalent of an AA man, his unit are responsible for the recovery and repair of thousands of
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Basildon: Sex attack sparks estate rapist link
Police are keeping "an open mind" about whether the Felmores rapist has struck again after a teenager was indecently assaulted. The 18-year-old was wrestled to the ground and attacked as she walked through Northlands Park, in Felmores, Basildon. A man
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Little Bardfield: Fire crews battle Dutch barn blaze
Fire crews from across the district battled for over three hours to control a blaze which destroyed a Dutch barn on a Little Bardfield farm at the weekend. The fire broke out at Frenches Farm in Oxen End, the home of Mac and Joan Beanland for over 30
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Stebbing: Woman, 74, collapses in graveyard
A family is in shock after a grieving mother died at her son's funeral. Mary Emery, 74, was chatting to friends in Stebbing churchyard, near Braintree, following the burial of her son Chris Kittow, 55, when she had a heart attack. Her son had days earlier
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Benfleet: Heartbreak dad's vow over triplets
A heart-broken husband has vowed to sue Southend Hospital for the sake of his wife who died just a week after giving birth to triplets. An inquest into the death of 30-year-old Jane England found she died of natural causes just days after giving birth
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Canvey: Schoolboy hero in dramatic sea rescue
A 12-year-old schoolboy has told how he suffered a badly gashed leg when rescuing a youngster from the sea off Canvey. Allen Felton, from Daarle Avenue, Canvey, fought off exhaustion as he pulled the boy to safety when he got into trouble off the island
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Rollerspeed skating: Medals in abundance
Skaters from the ECL Consultants Ltd sponsored South Woodham Ferrers & Wickford Rollerspeed Skating Club won 17 medals at their own club meeting at Bromfords Sports Centre, Wickford, on Sunday. In category 7, Billy Moore finished second overall out
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Cricket round-up: Shelly's saviour...
Cupids Country Club 219-7 St Aidan's145-6 (Cupids won) A great knock of 99 from Chris Shelly took Cupids to victory over Saints in this 40 overs per side game. Fulton gave good support with 34 as Cupids, who lost their first wicket with 28 on the board
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Tennis: Essex start with two convincing victories
Essex ladies scored a convincing 8-1 win over Kent in Group 2 of the LTA Inter County Grass Court Championships at Cromer on Monday. They followed up with a whitewash 9-0 win over Sussex on Tuesday. It was a fine start to their attempt to get back into
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Soccer: Hammers give fans value for money
Heybridge Swifts enjoyed a huge pay-day as a record 3,000 fans crammed into Scraley Road - and they were not disappointed. West Ham kept to their word and sent a host of familiar faces for Wednesday night's match, hastily arranged as a warm-up for the
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Cricket: Brentwood bowled over by £50,000 grant
Members of a Brentwood cricket club have been bowled over by a lottery grant of nearly £50,000 towards a new pavilion. The Bentley Cricket Club, based in Coxtie Green Road, currently uses a ramshackle American World War II pre-fab, bought second hand
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Farm market for Witham
Witham is to launch its own farmers market recreating the traditional feel of an Essex market town as part of a drive to rejuvenate the shopping centre. Initially it will be held once a month -- on a Tuesday or Wednesday -- in the Grove Centre. To kick-start
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Dunmow: Pupils part of new scheme
Students at Helena Romanes School in Dunmow are to be recognised under a unique scheme launched this summer for commitment and effort outside the classroom. Staff have set up the Key Stage Three Baccalaureate to encourage sporting, artistic and community
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Chelmsford: Dont axe our Taxibus plea from passengers
An osteo-arthritis sufferer and a young mum with her three children were among two bus-loads of Chelmsford people who pleaded with the Eastern Traffic Commissioner not to axe the county town's Taxibus. Twenty-six supporters turned up at last Friday's
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Rochford: Hunt for gunman
Police are hunting an armed robber who held up a Rochford petrol station in the early hours of this morning (Friday). The raider, who wore a woolly hat pulled down over his forehead and a scarf around his nose and mouth, walked into the BP service station
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Athletics: Veterans ready for world event
Athletes desperate to prove the truth of the old adage "you're only as old as you feel" will descend on Gateshead next week. The occasion is the 13th World Veterans Championships which will attract a total of 5,940 athletes - 1,796 from the UK - from
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Cricket: County ton for hero Grayson
On a grey overcast day at Chelmsford, Essex opening batsman Paul Grayson brightened proceedings with his second century of the season as Essex finished Thursday 103 runs behind their opponents, although they still have seven wickets in hand. For 28-year-old
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Soccer: Home debut at last for Tolson
New Southend United striker Neil Tolson is looking forward to finally making his home debut for the Seasiders this weekend when Roots Hall plays host to a four-team tournament. Blues will be joined by Premier League outfit Watford, Essex adversaries Colchester
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Cricket: Hadleigh give stars run for their money
There were runs a plenty at the John Burrows Ground in Hadleigh when some of the great names of world cricket gathered. The occasion was the clash between Hadleigh's Select line-up and a World Invitation X1 and nearly 1,000 fans cramped into the ground
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Trampolining: Cloud Nine duo excel
If trampolining was football the Premier League championship was decided over the weekend of July 10 and 11 in Newcastle. Each year, thousands of competitors around the country aim to reach higher levels of skill by progressing through the British Trampoline
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Golf: Fiona is a three-time champion
The Warren Golf Club's Ladies Championship was played on Wednesday over 36 holes and was won for the third time by Fiona Smith (handicap 5) with an excellent gross 160 for the two rounds. The runner-up was Margaret Collier (handicap 15) with 181 gross
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Soccer: Wright ready for Town debut
Jermaine Wright will begin his Ipswich Town career with an appearance against GIF Sundsvall in tonight's (Friday's) pre-season friendly. Blues' £500,000 signing from Crewe linked up with his new team-mates on their tour of Sweden yesterday and could be
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Colchester: Bus passengers upset
The cutting down of old beech tree at Old Heath Recreation Ground, Colchester, has upset residents and passers-by. But according to Keith Nicholson, Colchester Council's head of leisure services, the century-old beech tree had to go on safety grounds.
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Clacton: Man sinks deeper in debt to pay for lifesaving care
A father has told how his family was getting deeper into debt because he needs dialysis treatment after a kidney failure. And Michael Revell, 50, of Martello Bay, Clacton, called for urgent changes in regulations which prevent him claiming benefits. Mr
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Tourists are major threat to Essex villages
A study of north Essex has highlighted problems that may be putting the area's beautiful villages under threat. Finchingfield and Thaxted were two of the villages named in the study which is featured in the latest volume of Countryside Character, an assessment
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Maldon: Plan to expand recycling trials
Plans to expand Maldon's recycling trials are being investigated. During the past fortnight a leaflet drop to 2,000 households in the trial areas of Heybridge and Wickham Bishops have reminded residents of the scheme and encouraged them to keep up their
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Kelvedon: Mans home-made road sign to prevent accidents
A Kelvedon man has put up his own road sign in a bid to stop a major accident outside his home. Fred Ambrose, of Highfields Lane, Kelvedon, wants to stop lorries and cars mistakenly hurtling along a wide road and screeching to a halt as it narrows to
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Woodham: Taking steps to cut crime
A county-wide initiative to stamp out doorstep crime will be bringing peace of mind to residents of South Woodham. Trading standards, police, social services, district councils and Age Concern have united in the Do's and Don't's Campaign which was launched
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Sandon tip call in plea
Sandon parish council is asking Environment Secretary John Prescott to call in for his own consideration a planning application which would involve the tipping of household waste at the Sandon quarry. The application, from Brett Waste Management Ltd,
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Maldon: Clampdown on doorstep crime
A countywide initiative to stamp out doorstep crime should help to protect Maldon pensioners, following a spate of incidents in the area this week. Trading standards officers, police, social services, district councils and Age Concern have united in the
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Colchester: Para's famous badges will go
The Paras' elite regimental badge is to be scrapped when they move to Colchester. More than 1,000 paratroopers will begin moving to the town from September and will amalgamate with 24 Airmobile Brigade which is already based at Colchester Garrison. But
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Chelmsford: City bankers £270,000 fraud in mid-life crisis
A resentful City banker paid himself more than £270,000 during a mid-life crisis as he watched younger men leap above him on the promotion ladder, was jailed for four years last Friday. Aggrieved at being "left on the shelf", 47-year-old Derek Boe, of
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Braintree: Town anger at ugly girls jibe
The travel writer who claims many Braintree women are ''as ugly as sea monsters'' spoke exclusively to This Is Essex this week in an East London pub. Bespectacled Bill Murphy defended his scathing comments that have outraged townspeople, insisting it
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Swimming: Albyns return with a haul of medals
Albyns swimmers performed well at the Essex Masters Championships, by bringing back a weighty 27 gold, 12 silver and five bronze medals. There were fine individual performances while the team effort was outstanding, and Albyns won five out of the seven
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Cricket: Billericay miss chance to beat leaders
BILLERICAY I...............................247-9 dec SAFFRON WALDEN I.........................212-9 (Match Drawn) (Shepherd Neame Essex League) For the second time this season Billericay got the better of league leaders, Saffron Walden, but came away
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Hockley: Stepping up battle to protect wildlife
A group of residents are preparing to go into battle to stop wildlife being destroyed by a housing development. Countryside Estates wants to build up to 66 prestigious homes on 11 acres of land around Etheldore Avenue and Wood Avenue in Hockley. However
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Billericay: Garden peace for retiring head Julie
There will be more than a few tears when a headteacher who has seen whole generations pass through her school retires today (Friday). Julie Kidner, of South Green Infants in Billericay, said she had been trying desperately to keep a hold on her emotions
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'I've got to know why Jane died...'
An inquest has recorded a verdict of death by natural causes on Jane England, who died in Southend Hospital, just days after giving birth to triplets. In a moving tribute to his wife, Martin England explains how he must carry on life without her - for
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Soccer: Waddy plays down Dozzell injury scare
Scares that Colchester United striker Jason Dozzell could miss the start of the new Second Division season have been played down by U's boss Mick Wadsworth. The former Spurs and Ipswich star is struggling to shrug off a stomach injury, but Wadsworth said
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Soccer: Rivals angry at derby game switch
The fiercely-contested Jewson League soccer derby between Harwich and Clacton has been controversially switched from its traditional Christmas and Easter slots. Since the Boxing Day programme was reintroduced at the start of the decade, the game has nearly
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Soccer: Bellamy injury is not my fault, claims Cross
Southend United starlet Garry Cross pleaded his innocence after it was revealed that his tackle had sidelined Norwich City's £6 million-rated striker Craig Bellamy for the next ten months. The Welsh international was stretched off the Roots Hall pitch
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Showjumping: A superb show in prospect
With over £17,000 of prize money on offer, the Essex County Showground Equestrian Club's grand prix meeting on July 30 to August 1 is one not to miss. Four well-watered rings, course building by top designers, magnificent sets of show jumps and 43 exciting
