Archive
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Pilgrim's Hatch: Historic pub destroyed by fire
Charred timbers were all that remained of the roof of the Black Horse pub in Ongar Road, Pilgrim's Hatch on Wednesday morning, after flames ripped through the building overnight. Sixty firefighters tackled the blaze, which is believed to have been started
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Harold Hill: Residents get hump over wacky racers
Boy racers are likely to keep using a notorious Harold Hill accident blackspot as a racetrack in spite of the council's efforts to stop them, claim local residents. A raft of measures designed to stop motorists speeding along Whitchurch Road - including
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Billericay: Home at last for town council
After years of wandering, Billericay's nomadic town council is at last to get a home of its own, right at the town's historic heart. Since its creation in 1997, the town council has had to carry out its business from a borrowed room at Basildon Council's
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Darts: Lloyd's run at an end but Harrington marches on
Essex darts player Colin Lloyd crashed out of the World Matchplay Championships in Blackpool on Thursday night. Newcomer Lloyd, who had done well to reach the quarter finals, lost 16-8 to Peter Manley. The 25-year-old former Aldham man, now based in Witham
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Soccer: Tough test for City
Chelmsford City face a stern test this weekend when they take on Heybridge Swifts at Scraley Road on Saturday. They then host Gary Hill's new-look Dagenham & Redbridge side at New Lodge on Monday (kick-off 7.45pm). Back into the reckoning for City
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Soccer: New deal boost for young Blues stars
Garry Cross and Yemi Abiodun, two of Southend United's brightest young stars, are set to land improved deals with the Third Division club. Shrimpers boss Alan Little has decided to extend the 18-year-old duo's contracts at Roots Hall by another two-years
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Wickford: A dash for the goodies
Young Chloe Fineman proved she's such a sweetie by grabbing handfuls of her favourite choccies during a trolley dash. The seven-year-old, of Melville Drive, Wickford, was ecstatic with her £80 haul of goodies after racing round the town's Co-Op store
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Cricket: Hutton back to winning ways
HUTTON I............129 all out EPPING I................75 all out (Hutton won by 54 runs) (Shepherd Neame Essex League Division Three) Hutton looked to get back on course in their push for promotion on Saturday, following a poor performance the previous
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Basildon: 'My escape from abuse hell'
An abused Basildon woman has given new hope to victims of domestic violence - by making a film about her experiences. The 25-year-old mother suffered at the hands of her cruel husband but managed to escape his clutches and turn her life around. Now her
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Junior Cricket: Bentley have a month to remember
Seven straight wins in July set Bentley Cricket Club Under 13's on their way to winning the Brentwood & District Cricket Association Cup and League titles. Throughout the season, the colts had been neck and neck with Billericay. This continued throughout
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Colchester murder: 24 up in court
Twenty-four people appeared before a magistrate on Thursday charged with conspiracy to murder. A magistrate heard the charges brought against them in connection with the murder of a man in Colchester on Sunday. All appeared at Southend Crown Court charged
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Chelmsford: From mechanic to medic
For four years mechanic Stephen Hill spent his days covered in oil, tinkering beneath the bonnets of cars - but on Monday he starts work as a doctor at Broomfield Hospital, in Chelmsford. Stephen left school at 16 with seven O-levels and took a job as
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Basildon: Sick attack on disabled Derek
A disabled charity worker from Basildon is recovering from two severe epileptic fits after being set upon by thugs in a vicious attack. Two men tossed away Derek Chittenden's walking stick before dragging him to the ground and standing on his face. They
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Basildon: 'My escape from abuse hell'
An abused Basildon woman has given new hope to victims of domestic violence - by making a film about her experiences. The 25-year-old mother suffered at the hands of her cruel husband but managed to escape his clutches and turn her life around. Now her
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Colchester murder: 24 up in court
Twenty-four people today appeared before a magistrate charged with conspiracy to murder. A magistrate heard the charges brought against them in connection with the murder of a man in Colchester on Sunday. All appeared at Southend Crown Court charged with
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Basildon: Collie Calvin cheats death
A dog is lucky to be alive after he was tossed from a speeding car and run over by two other vehicles in Tilbury. Calvin, a collie cross, was thrown from the vehicle's window and into the path of oncoming cars. He was rushed to a veterinary surgery and
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Colchester: 'Parents to blame for problem children'
A damning report has blamed children as young as seven for much of the trouble at Greenstead, Colchester - and their mums and dads for having "poor parental control". The condemnation comes from a meeting called to discuss problems with vandalism and
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Southend: Pier into the future
This is the first picture of a large dome set to be built on the end of Southend Pier as part of multi-million pound plans for a giant rollercoaster. The artist's impression shows the dome where thrill-seekers will queue up for the tallest white knuckle
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Thorpe: Village pub gutted in blaze
Shocked villagers today woke to a scene of devastation after fire ripped through one of Thorpe's oldest buildings. The blaze virtually destroyed the 400-year-old Bell Hotel and the former verger's cottage nearby. Thirteen residents were made homeless
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Soccer: Ipswich close to full strength for Twente
George Burley is sending a virtually full-strength Ipswich Town team into battle against Dutch side FC Twente at Portman Road. Town are playing their last big friendlyon Saturday before the season kicks off next weekend against David Platt's Nottingham
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Soccer: Trinity in battle to survive
A Southend club which provides a home for more than 300 sportsmen and women faces a battle for survival after the town's council increased their rent by a staggering 500 per cent. Trinity FC, who are 40 years old, have been told that their annual ground
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Women's hockey: Chelmsford start at home to Ipswich
Newly-promoted Chelmsford Highway will start their Premier Division campaign with three home fixtures, commencing with a fixture against local rivals, Ipswich. Team training began in the first week in July, with the exception of Becky Alltree and Katy
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Soccer: Hammers hold soccer school in Broomfield
West Ham United Football Club's community department will be holding their seventh annual soccer school at Broomfield Football Club between August 9 and August 13. Under the guidance of West Ham's Trevor Lewin, those attending will receive coaching in
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Cricket: A woeful day for Billericay
WICKFORD I...........................198 all out BILLERICAY I.........................187 all out (Wickford won by 11 runs) (Shepherd Neame Essex League) Saturday saw a hugely disappointing result for Billericay. Just a week after they had gone close
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Darts: Awesome Lloyd in last eight
Essex darts star Colin Lloyd claimed a major scalp as he moved dramatically into the last eight of the World Matchplay Championships in Blackpool. Lloyd, of Witham, thrashed Alan Warriner - one of the world's top players - 13-2 on Wednesday to earn himself
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Athletics: Chelmsford at their best
Chelmsford Athletics Club held their home meeting of the Eastern Youth Athletes League on Sunday, the penultimate fixture in a series of five meetings for younger athletes in the under 13, under 15 and under 17 age groups. Poor turnouts in the last two
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Could you spot a star?
As Southend Athletic Club fast approches its 95th anniversary, DICK MARSHALL reveals a desperate plea for help from the successful Garon's Park outfit Imagine Arsenal without Arsene Wenger or Eddie Irvine minus his highly-trained team of mechanics when
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Soccer: Wadsworth angry as top clubs boycott reserve league
Colchester boss Mick Wadsworth has issued a verbal broadside at Premiership clubs for deserting the Avon Insurance Combination League. Wadsworth claims the decision by the Premiership clubs to snub the Combination - a league that has provided football
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Billericay: Home at last for town council
After years of wandering, Billericay's nomadic town council is at last to get a home of its own, right at the town's historic heart. Since its creation in 1997, the town council has had to carry out its business from a borrowed room at Basildon Council's
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Southend: Victim's grateful thanks
A woman involved in a car smash in Prittlewell Avenue, Southend, today praised her rescuers and passers-by. Tazim Paye of Kings Road, Benfleet, was involved a collision with another car at a junction near the fire station. The ambulance turned up within
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Southend: Kursaal swings back to a bygone age
The Kursaal was swept back to the days of big band sounds as Southend Jazz Festival got into full swing. The Norman Britton Swing Band, performing as part of the Southend Jazz Festival, sent visitors back in time with their instrumentals of Frank Sinatra
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Rochford: Council row over gipsy site proposals
Travellers could soon have a dedicated camp of their own in Rochford. The district council has agreed to work with Essex County Council to look at finding areas for travellers to stay in. At the district's full meeting, most councillors agreed it would
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Cricket: A woeful day for Billericay
WICKFORD I...........................198 all out BILLERICAY I.........................187 all out (Wickford won by 11 runs) (Shepherd Neame Essex League) Saturday saw a hugely disappointing result for Billericay. Just a week after they had gone close
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Billericay: £1m health club opens
A new £1 million health and fitness club was today ready to welcome hundreds of members through its doors. LA Fitness, in Radford Way, Billericay, has already recruited around 1,000 people to take advantage of its top-of-the-range facilities and will
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Cricket: Essex lose top trio for Northants clash
Essex travel to Northampton tomorrow for their next County Championship match when they meet Northamptonshire but the visitors will be missing key players because of injury. Nasser Hussain sustained a broken finger in the Test Match at Lord's against
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Soccer: Wadsworth angry as top clubs boycott reserve league
Colchester boss Mick Wadsworth has issued a verbal broadside at Premiership clubs for deserting the Avon Insurance Combination League. Wadsworth claims the decision by the Premiership clubs to snub the Combination - a league that has provided football
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Cycling: Marcus the main man at Glendene
Sunday saw the Glendene Cycling Club promote its annual road race, 'The Hell of the Ends', one of a series of races for second, third and fourth category riders that make up the Essex Road Race League. The 58 starters looked forward to a race of 88 miles
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Cricket: Vallance leads the way to victory
SOUTH WEALD II....................................198-9 HAVERING BLUES .........................156 all out (South Weald won by 42 runs) (T. Rippon League Division Four) South Weald won an important promotion battle when they beat Havering Blues by 42
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Cricket: Hutton back to winning ways
HUTTON I............129 all out EPPING I................75 all out (Hutton won by 54 runs) (Shepherd Neame Essex League Division Three) Hutton looked to get back on course in their push for promotion on Saturday, following a poor performance the previous
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Bowls: Baddow in a king sized win
The Great Baddow Bowling Club won the 'King Cup' and the £200 first prize at the Chelmsford Open Men's Fours Bowls Tournament on Sunday. The event, staged by the Chelmsford Bowling Club and sponsored by Hansen Lloyd Asset Management, attracted 24 entries
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Chelmsford: Howzat, Courtney?
West Indies cricketer Courtney Walsh bowled into a Chelmsford bookstore to sign copies of his autobiography. Eager fans popped into Waterstones book store in The Meadows Shopping Centre to meet the star. Courtney was in town to promote his new book, Heart
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Bowls: Bowlers turn up the heat
The heat was certainly on at the 54th Southend Ladies Open Bowls Tournament as the singles and mixed pairs and battled it out yesterday. On what was probably the hottest day of the competition so far, the finalists of the singles were decided. Sheila
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Braintree: Disabled group may lose home
The only centre for physically disabled in the Braintree district could be made homeless. Now the 70 people who rely on the Tabor Centre, Braintree, fear they could be left without a specialist facility dedicated to their needs. Time is running out for
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Tennis: County ladies power back into the top flight
Essex Ladies powered their way back into Division One of the National Inter County Tennis Cup last week. Having been relegated last year, Essex captain Christine Jolly was determined to see her team bounce back as quickly as possible. Playing their Division
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Battlesbridge: Hay field venue for a story about countryfolk
Battlesbridge, the pretty riverside village between Wickford and South Woodham Ferrers is staging its very first summer festival this weekend. Roy Hart, owner of Skee-Tex a ski-wear store based in the village, has organised a production of Lark Rise,
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Basildon: Dave needs talent for his big show
A 13-year-old Basildon schoolboy is aiming to put on one of the biggest talent shows ever staged in Essex. Dave Reynolds hopes the performance, scheduled for later this year, will raise lots of cash for Children in Need. He also hopes the show, called
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Passenger badly hurt in A12 crash
A man suffered serious head injuries when the car in which he was travelling overturned and was involved in a collision with an articulated lorry on the A12. Michael Cohen, 30, of London, was a passenger in the car when the accident (pictured left) happened
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Chelmsford: Steve gives youngsters a model opportunity
Has your youngster ever made a kit model? Do you remember all those pots of paint and glue everywhere, only for them to give up halfway through and ask someone else to take over? Well, Steve Kaser is the man who can help. He has set up a model-making
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Southend: Pier into the future
This is the first picture of a large dome set to be built on the end of Southend Pier as part of multi-million pound plans for a giant rollercoaster. The artist's impression shows the dome where thrill-seekers will queue up for the tallest white knuckle
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Essex care homes future decided
Plans for the future of old people's homes in Essex have received a mixed reaction from campaigners and councillors. Essex County Council has decided on a mixture of closures, leasing to the private sector and retaining control as a way of trimming millions
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Chelmsford: Art genius in the sands of the gods
Holiday snaps taken abroad earlier this year by Chelmsford tourists have fascinated and amazed their friends. The scenes, photographed at resorts in Spain and India, feature the latest craze sweeping the world's beaches -- the creation of fantastic sculptures
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Chelmsford: Anglers protest over clogged river
Disabled anglers have got their hooks into the authorities over a weed and rubbish clogged stretch of the town's River Can through Central Park. But there is disagreement between the government's Environment Agency, and Chelmsford Borough Council over
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Braintree: Green light for school sites development plan
The future of two Braintree school sites was decided this week. On Tuesday members of Braintree Council's area planning committee approved three applications by Essex County Council for the Tabor High Middle School site in Panfield Lane and the school's
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Southend: Jazzing all over town
Jazz will be bubbling all over Southend this weekend, as the eighth Southend Jazz Festival culminates in a feast of music throughout the town. Tonight there are two treats lined up with the Southend Jazz Orchestra performing in the Maritime Room, Cliffs
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Soccer: Iron triumph in friendly derby
Braintree Town won their local derby with Witham Town to record their first friendly victory of the season. A double strike by Gavin Crane won the day for the Iron in a match which turned into a real midfield struggle. The first goal came after just six
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Essex homes decision: 'We'd rather lose job than move'
A worker at an old people's home earmarked for closure said today that staff would rather be made redundant than move to another home. The woman, who does not wish to be named, works at Marylands, Shrub End Road, Colchester. The home could close if proposals
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Clacton: Vote goes against 200 jobs scheme
Councillors are divided over plans for a leisure and retail park which could create 200 jobs. Residents packed the gallery at last night's Tendring Council development control sub-committee for the two-hour debate on developer Britton Construction's scheme
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Chelmsford: Batsman in recycling drive
Taking a break from the crease England cricketer Graham Thorpe encouraged fans to recycle their empty cans. The batting star visited Chelmsford to help promote a recycling drive in the town. Alcan Aluminium Can Recycling estimates thristy cricket fans
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Stansted protest takes off
Angry councillors are campaigning against a plan to increase the number of passenger flights over Brentwood and Ongar using fast-growing Stansted airport. All MPs in Essex are to be lobbied to over-turn the decision by Transport Minister Glenda Jackson
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Ongar: Revamp hopes for play areas
An ambitious plan to spend £100,000 on children's play areas in Ongar has been launched as part of a major drive to improve facilities. The move comes as a safety survey has revealed faults in existing play equipment, most of it 30 years old, and a potentially
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North Weald: Airfield could go Biggin Hill style
Villagers battling to save North Weald airfield are gathering ammunition for the dogfights that lie ahead. A group of parish councillors visited two former Battle of Britain bases in Kent at the weekend to check how they have developed since the end of
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Mountnessing: Eyesore campaigners are all set for victory
A festering 'eyesore' that has blighted the lives of the villagers of Mountnessing for nearly a decade is to be swept away at last - to make a way for a new hotel. For eight years, people living on Lower Road have had to put up with an ugly scrapyard
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Harold Hill: Residents get hump over wacky racers
Boy racers are likely to keep using a notorious Harold Hill accident blackspot as a racetrack in spite of the council's efforts to stop them, claim local residents. A raft of measures designed to stop motorists speeding along Whitchurch Road - including
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Hutton: Council to focus CCTV on hellish neighbours
Brentwood Council is planning to join the battle against nightmare neighbours ruining the lives of helpless Hutton residents by installing the latest high-tech CCTV equipment. The lives of the council's tenants in Tendring Court and Tollesbury Court on
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Harold Hill: Health boost for town
Harold Hill is set to receive a massive health boost, with a planned development at the health centre in Gooshays Drive described as "potentially the biggest the borough of Havering has ever seen." The proposals are part of the Barking and Havering Health
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Chelmsford: Korean giants in canine call
The canine stars of the Essex Dog Display Team will be on their best behaviour next week when representatives from South Korean electrical giants Samsung come to Brentwood. The company hopes to set up its own display team in South Korea, and is flying
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Witham: Innocent man branded pervert and assaulted
Three men went looking for a "pervert" who followed a woman when she walked home at night through a Witham graveyard. But Jason Stevens picked the wrong man, punching and kicking him, Chelmsford magistrates heard. Of previous good character, Stevens,
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Chelmsford: Campaign launched over Broomfield proposals
A public campaign to halt the closure of three wards at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, has been launched -- amid fears that losing 84 beds will have a long-term effect on health care in mid Essex. The campaign is led by Chelmsford and District Trades
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Old folk's homes future decided
Plans for the future of old people's homes in Essex have received a mixed reaction from campaigners and councillors. Essex County Council has decided on a mixture of closures, leasing to the private sector and retaining control as a way of trimming millions
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Pilgrim's Hatch: Historic pub destroyed by fire
Charred timbers were all that remained of the roof of the Black Horse pub in Ongar Road, Pilgrim's Hatch on Wednesday morning, after flames ripped through the building overnight. Sixty firefighters tackled the blaze, which is believed to have been started
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Ingatestone, Ongar, Loughton: £10m fakes go to charity
Essex Trading Standards will today hand over to a national charity £10m worth of counterfeit goods, seized in raids at Ingatestone, Ongar and Loughton. Karen Fulcher, Trading Standards Press officer said: "There are about 100,000 items to present to the
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Westcliff: Flower power
Heads turn when they pass Kathleen Smith's Westcliff garden. Full of blooms, the carefully tended lawn and beds in front of her flat in The Leas is her pride and joy. Judges of this year's Southend in Bloom competition were so impressed they awarded green-fingered
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Wickford: Cruel blow for disabled club
Disabled bowlers face disappointment - after thieves stole a box a T-shirts from a Wickford garage. Michael Woodgate runs a bowling league for adults with learning difficulties at the Ashleigh Centre in Whitmore Way, Basildon, and had been given the polo
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Southend: Sylvia leads the way for zoo trip
Youngsters on a hard-hit Southend housing estate are looking forward to a day out at the zoo thanks to a community-minded woman. Sylvia Hallett, of the town's Kursaal Estate, has organised the holiday trip for people living on the estate. And around 100
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Pitsea: All eyes on Jim's garden
All things bright and beautiful are pulling in the crowds at a street in Pitsea. One garden in particular has been the focus of much attention since owner Jim Holt planted a few seeds. The small front yard, in Malgraves, Pitsea, is now bursting with colour
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Southend: Trophy time for poignant players
A poignant play performed by the East Essex Players has already taken top honours in the Southend amateur drama festival. Now it has gone on to win the trophy for the best one act play at the National Drama Festival British All Winners Festival. The competition
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Ongar: Lifetime of music for Nellie, 95
As a six-year-old evacuee billeted in Ongar during the last war, Jean Easter would sit every Sunday in the town's United Reformed Church and muse, as children do, that the organist, Nellie Korf, was "very old". Today Jean is a grandmother and still attends
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Ongar: Lifetime of music for Nellie, 95
As a six-year-old evacuee billeted in Ongar during the last war, Jean Easter would sit every Sunday in the town's United Reformed Church and muse, as children do, that the organist, Nellie Korf, was "very old". Today Jean is a grandmother and still attends
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Colchester: 'Parents to blame for problem children'
A damning report has blamed children as young as seven for much of the trouble at Greenstead, Colchester - and their mums and dads for having "poor parental control". The condemnation comes from a meeting called to discuss problems with vandalism and
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Hockley: We'll fight for newts
Campaigners today hit out at councillors who have given the thumbs up to controversial plans to build luxury homes on wildlife-rich land. Rochford Council approved proposals for 66 homes on Etheldore Avenue and Wood Avenue in Hockley on Thursday night
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Sentence for trio in £1.8m will sting
Three people who tried to net £1.8 million in a will fraud were being sentenced today (Friday). David and Annette Spillman and her mother Annette Russill set up a sting operation to try to swindle the estate of kindhearted spinster Annie Kay. But they
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Walton: Lifeboat rescues stricken junk
A Chinese junk and its crew were rescued by Walton lifeboat soon after the start of a voyage to Hong Kong. The vessel called Thames Coastguards on a mobile telephone off the Tendring coastline after it ran into difficulties. Walton lifeboat went to its
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Golfers out in force
Open qualifier Jon Bevan was among those taking part in the Colchester Golf Club Pro-Am '99 at their Braiswick course today. The event, sponsored by This Is Essex's joint publishers Newsquest, featured 46 teams with all profits going to St Helena Hospice
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Cricket: Star studded line-up for Nassers benefit
Stars from the worlds of sport, television, music and the media are set to play in a Benefit Match for England and Essex Cricket Captain, Nasser Hussain. The match at Billericay Cricket Club in Blunts Wall Road on Wednesday, August 11, starts at 1.30pm
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Tennis: Essex leading the way for IC week
Essex will be at the forefront when the International Tennis Club of Great Britain goes for glory at IC week at Wimbledon. Leigh tennis hero David Lloyd will be taking a break from his Davis Cup captain duties to skipper the men's team at the event, which
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Cricket: Vallance leads the way to victory
SOUTH WEALD II....................................198-9 HAVERING BLUES .........................156 all out (South Weald won by 42 runs) (T. Rippon League Division Four) South Weald won an important promotion battle when they beat Havering Blues by 42
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Chelmsford: No fortune for Sophie's car
The newest royal family member has some way to go before she achieves the popularity enjoyed by Prince William or Diana, Princess of Wales - that's if a car auction is anything to go by. For a motor which once belonged to Sophie Rhys Jones has been sold
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New Essex rail link?
Wickford could become the hub of a multi-million pound Essex-wide railway network linking the north and south of the county if an ambitious scheme proposed by transport campaigners gets the go-ahead. Under the scheme, proposed by lobby group Transport
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Canvey: Canvey queen may abdicate...
Canvey carnival has been kept in the family, started by Ted Andrews 74 years ago and continued by daughter Mary Dallas. JANE O'CONNELL talks to Mary about the future Carnival queens may have come and gone on Canvey over the past 75 years, but there is
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Soccer: Benson - 'Schultz is staying'
Halstead Town boss Terry Benson has moved to allay fans' fears over the future of club captain Richard Schultz. Schultz had signed registration forms with Ryman League division two side Wivenhoe Town as well as the one already signed with Jewson League
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Castle Point: Rubbish collection goes eco-friendly
Plans are under way to encourage residents to put out their peelings alongside their rubbish and recyclables. Members of Castle Point Council's environmental health committee has agreed a six month kerbside collection trial for kitchen and garden waste
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Southend: Healthy boost for doctors' surgeries
Patients in Southend are getting a £250,000 boost for more nursing services and other improvements at GP practices. Already Valkyrie Surgery in Valkyrie Road, Westcliff, is having alterations and extensions to give more room for patients as a result of
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£35m retail plan for Southend
Plans for three new retail areas in Southend, set to create 760 new jobs, have been submitted to the council. Property company Lansbury Holdings wants to invest a total of £35 million in the projects in separate parts of the borough. The first is a retail
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Builders told to leave trees on Notley site
Developers at the former Black Notley Hospital site have lopped protected trees without permission, Braintree councillors heard this week. At Tuesday's meeting of the Braintree area planning committee, members were told that McLean Homes had lopped two
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Canvey: Grandad dies in smash
A grieving widow told today of the moment she realised her husband had died in a horrific crash as they returned home from holiday. Stanley Starkey, 83, of Lakeside Path, Canvey, was killed instantly when a car ploughed into the cab in which he and his
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Chelmsford: MPs delight as football bill becomes law
West Chelmsford Conservative MP, Simon Burns, was jubilant this week that his Private Member's Bill to crack down on football hooliganism has become law. The new legislation is expected to enhance this country's chances of hosting the World Cup in 2006
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Clacton: Six-hour rescue mission to save seal
A baby seal sparked a six-hour rescue attempt when it was washed up on a beach. Crowds of people came to watch as Thames Coastguards teamed up with the RSPCA to scour four miles of coastal waters in a bid to find the creature, which it was feared was
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Cricket: Essex set to slash squad
Essex County Cricket manager Peter Edwards has warned dozens of First Class cricketers could be thrown on to the scrapheap at the end of the season. And as county cricket clubs across the country face up to a looming financial crisis, Edwards confirmed
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Motorcycling: National glory for Len
Copford grandad Len Hunt is a new National Classic Motorcycle racing champion thanks his latest successful racetrack exploits. The 60-year-old ace is so far ahead in his field - the Boyer Bransden 501cc to unlimited period class - that he cannot be caught
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Bowls: Final four in singles glory
A new name is set to grace the cup in the singles at the 54th Southend Open Ladies Bowls Tournament. Current holder Peggy Taylor (Prittlewell) and 1995 singles champion Barbara Overall (Castle Point) were among the casualties in Tuesday's competition.
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Soccer: Wilkins misses Colchester trip
Colchester United's Wembley winning skipper Richard Wilikins will be missing when the U's wrap up their pre-season programme with games against Gateshead and Workington this weekend. The former Layer Road captain has a neck injury which has prevented
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Golf: Essex trio beaten
Clacton golfer Jason Levermore failed at the first hurdle in his attempt to win the English Amateur Championship at St Mellion in Cornwall. And there were also first round exits for Braintree's Robert Oldaker and Andy Pye. Levermore, who celebrated his
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Soccer: Another cup for Colchester
From the moment the U's opened the scoring in the 14th minute, they were always going to win this match - and with it the Harwich Charity Cup Centenary Shield. Manager Mick Wadsworth fielded a team with only one player over the age of 19 for Tuesday night's
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Yachting round-up: A busmans holiday for Webb...
It was a bit of a busman's holiday for lifeboatman Andy Webb at the Marconi Sailing Club's 12th East Coast Piers Race on Sunday. When Webb, coxswain of the Harwich lifeboat and a winner of the long-distance event back in 1993, and crew Paul Gray holed
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Soccer: Swifts look in fine form
Swifts continued their impressive pre-season form with an excellent win over Ley-ton Orient on Tuesday. Swifts took the lead in the 17th minute when Dave McCory nipped in and slotted the ball home from close range. Seven minutes later the sides were level
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Road Racing: Brame a record breaker
John Brame of Tri Sport Epping carried all before him in the Springfield Striders' Tour of Little Baddow, by breaking course records on all four days. On Sunday, in the road race around Ulting, Brame took an early advantage over his clubmate Steve Smith
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Darts: Rod arrows in at Blackpool
Defending champion, Chelmsford's Rod Harrington, booked his place in the third round of the 1999 PDC World Darts Matchplay with a first round 10-7 win over veteran John Lowe at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, and a second round success over Steve Raw
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Boxing: Smith aims to prove a point
Just under two years ago, The Pride of Basildon, Georgie Smith - then fighting as a light welterweight - looked to have a sparkling future ahead of him. Flamboyant, skilful, immensely popular, and with a remarkable knockout record behind him, he had been
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Cricket: Star studded line-up for Nassers benefit
Stars from the worlds of sport, television, music and the media are set to play in a Benefit Match for England and Essex Cricket Captain, Nasser Hussain. The match at Billericay Cricket Club in Blunts Wall Road on Wednesday, August 11, starts at 1.30pm
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Soccer: Another cup for Colchester
From the moment the U's opened the scoring in the 14th minute, they were always going to win this match - and with it the Harwich Charity Cup Centenary Shield. Manager Mick Wadsworth fielded a team with only one player over the age of 19 for Tuesday night's
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Billericay: Student helps build fast car
"Absolutely amazing. It was incredible." That's how Andrew Lytheer, 21, describes his experience at the wheel of the car he helped design and build for Formula Student - an international car design competition for universities and colleges around the
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Wickford: Horse rescue
Firemen used a fork-lift to rescue a horse out of a muddy ditch in Wickford. Fire crews spent 90 minutes rescuing the animal out of the four foot ditch. The fork-lift equipment was on a rescue tender from Leigh which was called to the dyke in Oakfield
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Westcliff: Hygiene rap for kosher baker
A baker has been banned from running part of his business after environmental health officers found dead flies and mouse droppings on the premises. Yehuda Grinberg, 49, owner of the Westcliff Bagel Bakery, was banned from running a bakery when he appeared
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Golf round-up: Castle Point aim for county glory...
A new name on the Leslie F Wood Championship is guaranteed - after quarter-final triumphs for four clubs who have yet to win the county title, including Castle Point. The Canvey-based club, the only public golf course to reach the semis, beat Ilford 8
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Motor racing: Race ace Davies equals best ever
Title-chasing Matt Davies underlined his status as one of the country's leading young drivers by earning his second top three finish in the British Formula 3 Championship. The 22-year-old from Billericay finished third at Snetterton, behind championship
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Showjumping: A grand meeting at the showground
With over £17,000 worth of prize money on offer, the Essex County Showground Equestrian Club's grand prix meeting, which starts today (Friday), and goes through till Sunday, is one not to miss. Four well-watered rings, course building by top designers
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Soccer: Campbell adds to Southend striker crisis
Southend United's striker crisis scaled even greater heights today when it was revealed that big frontman Neil Campbell was losing his race against time to be fit for the start of the season. Blues boss Alan Little has already lost Irish forward Trevor
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Boxing: Title-bid Georgie so confident
Boxer Georgie Smith today turned up the heat on his dream UK title bid tomorrow by claiming: "I can't believe how good I feel - and I'm definitely going to win!" The 28-year-old Basildon welterweight jetted up to Newcastle this morning, ready to face
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Cricket: Chelmsford's good run is halted
BRENTWOOD I.................................218-7 dec CHELMSFORD I......................................155-7 (Match drawn) (Shepherd Neame Essex League Division One) After their recent run of good results, Chelmsford put in a disappointing performance
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Cricket: Chelmsford seconds cruise to victory
HORNCHURCH...176-9 dec CHELMSFORD II.......177-2 (Chelmsford won by eight wickets) (Shepherd Neame Essex League Division One) A true all-round team performance saw Chelmsford to only their second League win of the season as they built on the improvements
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Tennis: Taylor and Yusuf at the double
The third of the Open Tournaments planned for the 1999 season took place at Braintree Lawn Tennis Club's Clockhouse Way headquarters on Saturday. Unlike the earlier Ladies' Doubles tournament, which had to be abandoned because of rain, the Men's event
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Cycling: Haxell rides to a fine time
There was a full field of 120 riders for the annual 50 miles time trial promotion, which was staged by the Southend & County Wheelers on the Hatfield Peverel-Galleywood-Stanway course on Sunday. A star-studded entry meant that times should be fast
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Cricket: Essex's dull game
Because of a number of injuries, it was a depleted Essex side that met Sri Lanka 'A' in a four-day friendly at Chelmsford last week. The home side included five teenagers but on a featherbed wicket, bat ruled ball throughout proceedings. The visitors,
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Soccer: Trinity in battle to survive
A Southend club which provides a home for more than 300 sportsmen and women faces a battle for survival after the town's council increased their rent by a staggering 500 per cent. Trinity FC, who are 40 years old, have been told that their annual ground
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Ingatestone, Ongar, Loughton: £10m fakes go to charity
Essex Trading Standards has handed over to a national charity £10m worth of counterfeit goods, seized in raids at Ingatestone, Ongar and Loughton. Karen Fulcher, Trading Standards Press officer said: "There are about 100,000 items to present to the Birth
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Soccer: Benson - 'Schultz is staying'
Halstead Town boss Terry Benson has moved to allay fans' fears over the future of club captain Richard Schultz. Schultz had signed registration forms with Ryman League division two side Wivenhoe Town as well as the one already signed with Jewson League
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Darts: Awesome Lloyd in last eight
Essex darts star Colin Lloyd claimed a major scalp as he moved dramatically into the last eight of the World Matchplay Championships in Blackpool. Lloyd, of Witham, thrashed Alan Warriner - one of the world's top players - 13-2 to earn himself a quarter-final
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Thundersley: A stitch in time for the millennium
A tapestry will help put Thundersley on the map after being stitched by youngsters to hang in the Millennium Dome. Pupils from the Cedar Hall Special School have been working hard on the picture for the last six weeks. The hand-stitched work of art has
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Junior Cricket: Bentley have a month to remember
Seven straight wins in July set Bentley Cricket Club Under 13's on their way to winning the Brentwood & District Cricket Association Cup and League titles. Throughout the season, the colts had been neck and neck with Billericay. This continued throughout
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Boxing: Smith aims to prove a point
Just under two years ago, The Pride of Basildon, Georgie Smith - then fighting as a light welterweight - looked to have a sparkling future ahead of him. Flamboyant, skilful, immensely popular, and with a remarkable knockout record behind him, he had been
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Woodham: Scrooge boosts coffers
Young performers from The Grosvenor School of Dance and Drama in South Woodham are busy rehearsing for a production of the musical Scrooge, to raise money for Guide Dogs for the Blind. Performances will take place on Saturday and Sunday August 7 and 8
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Bowls: Stone eases his way into the last four
After losing two qualifying games, Harry Stone recovered against more favoured opponents and threaded his way to the top of his division to reach the semi-finals of the Central Essex B.C. Two Woods Championship. Stone met the experienced Stan Hawthorn
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Woodham: Leisure site plan unveiled
Plans for a half-million pound community leisure facility at Champions Manor Hall in South Woodham were unveiled at a lively public meeting on Wednesday. The proposed centre to be financed by the town council will consist of a building containing a hall
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Police stop coach trips
Essex police involved in coach and bus spot-checks found two Polish drivers without legal documents and they were immediately taken off the road. Replacement drivers had to be sent by the Midlands-based operator and passengers were forced to wait several
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Maldon: Orange mobile phone mast bid thrown out
Maldon district councillors have thrown out plans by Orange to erect a telecommunications mast at Criers Wood, Great Braxted. It was the company's third attempt, and this application had a simplified design with a slimline pole. The company says that
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Maldon: Action to save silted estuary
Concerns for the future of Maldon's estuary are to be raised by MP John Whittingdale at a meeting with the Environment Agency. He has called the meeting on August 20 after hearing residents' fears about siltation in the River Blackwater in the light of
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Colchester murder: 24 up in court
Twenty-four people appeared before a magistrate on Thursday charged with conspiracy to murder. A magistrate heard the charges brought against them in connection with the murder of a man in Colchester on Sunday. All appeared at Southend Crown Court charged
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Canvey: Grandad dies in smash
A grieving widow has told of the moment she realised her husband had died in a horrific crash as they returned home from holiday. Stanley Starkey, 83, of Lakeside Path, Canvey, was killed instantly when a car ploughed into the cab in which he and his
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Braintree: Road to the shopping village opens
The final stretch of Millennium Way in Braintree opened to traffic on Monday, opening up the eastern area of the town. The £1.3 million, half-mile stretch of road was funded by landowners, Wyebrook Developments, in a community gain deal negotiated by
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Billericay: Student helps build fast car
"Absolutely amazing. It was incredible." That's how Andrew Lytheer, 21, describes his experience at the wheel of the car he helped design and build for Formula Student - an international car design competition for universities and colleges around the
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Soccer: Play-offs the target for Colchester skipper
New Colchester United skipper Warren Aspinall has targeted a place in the Division Two play-offs in the coming season. Aspinall lifted his second trophy in three days after the U's beat Harwich 2-1 to win the Harwich Charity Cup Centenary Shield - and
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Thorpe: Village pub gutted in blaze
Shocked villagers woke to a scene of devastation on Thursday after fire ripped through one of Thorpe's oldest buildings. The blaze virtually destroyed the 400-year-old Bell Hotel and the former verger's cottage nearby. Thirteen residents were made homeless
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New Essex rail link?
Wickford could become the hub of a multi-million pound Essex-wide railway network linking the north and south of the county if an ambitious scheme proposed by transport campaigners gets the go-ahead. Under the scheme, proposed by lobby group Transport
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Sandon: Residents to stage landfill protest
Furious campaigners plan to disrupt a council meeting after they learned of plans to approve a vast landfill site near a quiet village. The pit - in Sandon, near Chelmsford - would be loaded with domestic waste and is expected to take ten years to fill
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Soccer: Blues poised for Eagles test
Southend United finish their pre-season friendly fixtures with a tough clash against First Division crisis club Crystal Palace at Roots Hall. Palace, who are battling for survival against a staggering £15 million debt, will be bringing a full-strength
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Holland-on-Sea: Rescuers track seal
A difficult search was today under way to rescue a baby seal from the sea. The seal was spotted by a passer-by in waters at Holland on Sea at about 8am and coastguards were alerted. Since then the sick creature has been drifting in and out with the tide
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Shenfield: Students raise cash in memory of friend Sophie
Kind-hearted pupils at Shenfield High School have presented a cheque for £1,200 to the Cystic Fibrosis Holiday Fund, raised at a concert in memory of one of their friends who died from the disease. Sophie Dornan attended the school in Alexander Lane before
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Hutton: Inquiry into woods future
The on-going battle for Brindles Wood continues with an inquiry into Brentwood Council's refusal to allow the London Borough of Newham to build on the Hutton site. A government-appointed inspector, Mr A.J. Bingham, opened a public inquiry and heard representations
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Brentwood: Town centre trade boost
Owners of the Chapel High centre are planning a multi-million pound investment to breathe new life into the precinct. Axa Sunlife confirmed this week that it has architects and other experts working on new plans for the centre and that the project would
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Chelmsford: First female vicar welcomed
The Church of Our Saviour in Chelmer Village has appointed its first female vicar, Rev Clare Nicholson. She has joined the church from Prestwood in Buckinghamshire, and is enjoying her time in Chelmer Village. She said: "I think Chelmer Village is lovely
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Walton: Lifeboat rescues stricken junk
A Chinese junk and its crew were rescued by Walton lifeboat soon after the start of a voyage to Hong Kong. The vessel called Thames Coastguards on a mobile telephone off the Tendring coastline after it ran into difficulties. Walton lifeboat went to its
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Hutton: Council to focus CCTV on hellish neighbours
Brentwood Council is planning to join the battle against nightmare neighbours ruining the lives of helpless Hutton residents by installing the latest high-tech CCTV equipment. The lives of the council's tenants in Tendring Court and Tollesbury Court on
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Westcliff: Heroin addict jailed
A burglar addicted to heroin who has already spent one third of his life behind bars has been jailed for another four years. John Marchant, 30, of Ronald Park Avenue, Westcliff, stole to feed his drugs habit, Southend Crown Court heard. He was sentenced
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Boomtime at Battlesbridge
The boom of shells exploding will fill the air as antique field artillery thunders into Battlesbridge. The Acorn Gunners, a charity display team, will demonstrate its impressive range of Second World War weaponry at the village's antiques centre. Visitors
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Southend: Pier benches get a lick of paint
Giving a lick of paint to the benches on the pier is all part of a day's work for this merry band of women. The seasonal workers are ensuring life on the pier and foreshore runs smoothly this summer by helping visitors and undertaking basic maintenance
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Laindon: Volunteers wanted to join litter blitz
Laindon is going to be a little tidier thanks to the efforts of a seven-year-old girl and her friends. Amy Gallacher from the Five Links estate went to the area's information centre and volunteered to do what she could to help clean up the town. Volunteers
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Eel-catchers ended up in London's mire
TOM KING sniffs out the scandal of London's sewage solution The bulk of Londoners have probably never even heard of Canvey, and think that Vange is something that gets you thrown out of the Kennel Club. Yet the landscape of Canvey Island and the spread
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Stanford-Le-HopeTrain treat turns sour
A tot's first train journey turned into a nightmare when he and his aunt became trapped in a deserted depot. Three-year-old Jay Wylie has a fascination with trains and his aunt, Jennylyn, decided to take him on a real one as a special treat. They set
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Canvey: Taxi death grandfather should have been on coach
A twist of fate led to the death of a man in a horrific crash, it emerged today. Grandfather-of-two Stanley Starkey, 83, and his wife Joyce were due to catch a coach from Dover on the last leg of their journey home to Canvey from a nine-day trip to Bavaria
