Archive
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Stanway: Blow to school move hopes
Stanway School's multi-million pound bid to move sites has been dealt a major blow. The 700-plus pupil secondary school's appeal for financial backing from the Department of Education and Employment has been rejected. The department has turned down the
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Southend: Former Blues chairman cleared of dangerous driving
Former Southend United chairman Vic Jobson has been cleared by a court on a charge of dangerous driving. Mr Jobson, 62, of Benfleet Road, Benfleet, had been accused of driving his P-registered Jaguar dangerously in Fairfax Drive, Southend, on October
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Feering: Snow in summer? No, just a lorryload of trouble
It was like a snowstorm in summer. There was a white-out in a road in Feering when a lorry shed its load of thousands of tiny polystyrene balls. Children passing by found it funny and climbed on to the unusual mounds before the clean-up operation started
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Doctor criticised over Canvey man's death
A doctor who failed to record the vital signs of a man who died hours later has been criticised by an independent inquiry. Healthcall, the GP answering service, has also been blasted in the review panel's report after Richard Joiner, 53, waited almost
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Chelmsford: Boy's TV show lifeline
A mother-of-eight has told how a television programme helped her keep a toddler alive after he was in collision with a car. Good neighbour Tina Taylor rushed into action and gave two-and-a-half-year-old Fahmed Choudhury the kiss of life after the accident
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Cricket: Warn leads the way to fine win
LAKENHEATH.................................210 all out BRAINTREE..............................................211-3 (Braintree won by seven wickets) (Jaygate Homes Championship Division Two) Braintree collected a further maximum 20 points haul on Sunday
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Cricket: Carriers' last-gasp defeat
AZTECS 180 ESSEX CARRIERS 177-8 (AZTECS WON) Essex Carriers suffered a last-gasp defeat in this tight Reefers 90 League encounter with Hainault-based Aztecs. The Hadleigh side got back into the game thanks to a 104-run stand from Steve Rogers (69) and
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Athletics: Relegated Harriers blast track
Colchester Harriers' senior men's team has criticised Colchester Council and the Army after they were relegated from division three of the Southern Track League. The Harriers, after five successive promotions, had their relegation confirmed at a boiling
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Southend: Dream Team - wife resigns
The wife of attempted child abductor Paul Dean has dramatically resigned as a trustee of children's charity the Dream Team. Her resignation comes as a result of our revelations about her husband's murky past. Maree Dean worked alongside Paul Dean and
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Hadleigh: Mourners in pub punch-up
Police were yesterday questioning three people after a massive punch-up between mourners at a wake. More than 20 police officers waded in to break up the fight after ten police cars, two dog units and a foot patrol were sent to the fracas at the Crown
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Basildon: Grim discovery ends bad smells mystery
A mother was sickened to find a dead dog under her house after investigating a nasty smell. Karen Stevens, 29, said the smell had got so bad in the recent hot weather she was unable to stand on her doorstep or leave the front door open of her house in
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Star cars in Ongar
Jaguar owners and classic car enthusiasts from across the region converged on Ongar at the weekend. The Essex Thameside group of the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club held its annual show at Blake Hall on Sunday, the fifth year in succession that it has been held
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Hockley: Young protesters face eviction
Young protesters fighting to save a beauty spot from developers were today facing eviction from their tree-houses. Rochford Council is set to take action to turf out the youngsters, who have set up camp in Etheldore Wood in Hockley where 66 homes are
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Bomb alert on Canvey Island
A depressed man who was arrested after police found a live grenade in his flat confessed he had hidden two bombs on Canvey. Police were alerted by the man's friend who feared for his safety. Officers stormed his Ilford flat and found the volatile Second
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Athletics: Jarvis makes a good early impression
Sunday saw Braintree Athletic Club host the third Eastern Young League Division Two match. A fixture clash saw a number of athletes travelling to another venue, nevertheless those at Braintree enjoyed a hot afternoon's athletics. For the Under 13 Boys
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Cricket round-up: Brown leads strugglers to third win...
Second division Brightlingsea's Jaygate Two Counties Championship successes could be counted on two fingers before their latest encounter with Coggeshall. But the riversiders made up for lost time when recording only their third victory in 16 matches
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Winning cricketers in rules wrangle
A team of young cricketers have been denied a place in this summer's Raffinger Matchplay quarter finals - despite finishing all their group matches with a 100 per cent record. Maldon have been eliminated following a dispute involving the outcome of their
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Motor racing: Matt looks for Dutch delight
Billericay's rising race star Matt Davies is in confident mood going into the Marlboro Masters of Formula 3 in Holland this weekend. The driver is currently sixth in the UK Formula 3 championship, but will be taking on the best in Europe at the annual
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Colchester: It's a boy - and a nice big cheque for the RSPCA.
After nine long hours spent giving birth, Stessa Short not only produced a beautiful baby boy, but also raised more than £250 for the animal charity by being sponsored for the number of hours she was in labour. Stessa, 20, of Burlington Road, Colchester
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Lottery cash blow for Shenfield fundraisers
Plans to restore and revitalise the valued but rundown Shenfield Parish Hall have received a serious blow, with the refusal of lottery cash. The National Lottery Charities Board has turned down requests for cash to help the £500,000 project. Parish hall
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Essex MP's air safety fears
A decision to sell off Britain's air traffic control service has led to new fears about safety in the overcrowded skies above Essex. Brentwood and Ongar Tory MP Eric Pickles is seeking assurances after the Government's unveiling of the £500million sale
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Brentwood: Traffic switch gets full backing
Plans for a two way North Service Road got the go ahead on Monday night, when the proposals were passed by Brentwood Borough Council without opposition. Despite fierce Tory criticism of the plan, claiming the change to North Service Road, would herald
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Brentwood: Aussie soap star opens new Superdrug
Home and Away star Kimberley Cooper officially opened Superdrug's bright new Brentwood store. Kimberley, who plays Gypsy in the popular ITV soap opera, conducted the ribbon cutting ceremony at the High Street store, following its refurbishment. The store
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Cricket round-up: Singleton in fine form for Hornchurch
In Group One of the Raffingers Matchplay Cricket Competition, a competition for clubs' under 16 teams, Hornchurch recorded an emphatic 116 run win over South Woodham Ferrers. Hornchurch were dismissed for 180, Greg Singleton top scoring with 42, and they
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Soccer: New boy McGreal's Premiership aim
Ipswich Town signing John McGreal today revealed how the lure of Premiership football was behind his decision to leave his beloved Merseyside. McGreal - who signed for the Blues last night in a £750,000 deal from First Division rivals Tranmere Rovers
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Tennis round-up: Club aims for local leagues...
South Essex's newest tennis club is keen to make a mark on the local scene. The David Lloyd Club at Basildon's Festival Leisure Park opened earlier this year at a cost of £8m. It has already attracted more than 2,000 memberships and now club chiefs are
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Athletics: Denmark calls for new test ruling
Top international athlete Rob Denmark has called for a failsafe drugs testing procedure to be implemented in the wake of Linford Christie's positive drugs test. Christie has vehemently denied the charge and Denmark - a former Commonwealth Games and reigning
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Soccer: Colchester stars boost soccer camp
Football-mad David Beckham wannabes have had a chance to play with their Colchester United heroes this week in the U's annual Summer Soccer Camp at Essex University. Around 80 boys and girls aged between seven and 14-years-old have been flocking to the
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Cricket round-up: Gardiner is grand...
NORTH SHOEBURY 275-5 TURLING IIs 130 all out (NORTH SHOEBURY WON) Brian Gardiner's 102 took him soaring past 1,000 runs for the season as North Shoebury surged more than 60 points clear in the T Rippon Mid-Essex League Division Seven. Jim Cousen (59)
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Table Tennis: Brentwood win retains Challenge Shield
Brentwood & District Table Tennis League team manager Bill Wall and his five teams travelled to Peterborough to play in their annual Challenge Shield match on Sunday. This prestigious challenge evoked table tennis of the highest order. Bill's opposite
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Showjumping: Top class show at Great Leighs
Spectators were treated to show jumping of the highest calibre at the weekend when the Essex County Showground Equestrian Club hosted its third annual Grand Prix show. The event attracted many of the top showjumping names, including former European champion
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Golf: Warley Park duo off to St Andrews
Warley Park Golf Club members Dave Dowse and Sandy McNay are heading for St. Andrews in October thanks to a memorable victory in their Club Qualifying of the Famous Grouse Shotgun Foursomes. Dowse and McNay shot a superb sub-par 69 to win their club competition
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Tennis: Juniors excel in the heat
Janice Torr of Billericay opened up with a win in the girls 16 singles of the 'Save & Prosper' Essex Open Junior Tennis tournament at Gidea Park on Monday. The tournament, which has 300 young competitors from all over the country participating, started
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Soccer: Duo face early bans
Wivenhoe player-boss Julian Hazel and new Harwich defender Glen Cowan face early-season suspensions after being sent off in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday night. The sides' clash at Broad Lane, which Wivenhoe won 2-0, was far from friendly and things
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Soccer: Cash boost will not aid Colchester boss
Colchester United manager Mick Wadsworth said he was "in the dark" about a Football League handout that will benefit the club by an extra £60,000 this season. But with the new Second Division season just two days away and his new-look squad facing an
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Holland-on-Sea: Look no stick - brave Carol walks down aisle
Brave bride Carol Marrable walked without a stick for the first time in five years - down the aisle at her wedding. Carol married James Swaine at Holland Methodist Church. She has suffered from back pain since she had an accident at work five years ago
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Stanford-Le-Hope: Flooding could leave school with £40,000 bill
A estimated £40,000 of repairs could be needed in a sports hall at a school severely damaged by a burst water main. The sports hall at St Clere's School, Butts Lane, Stanford-le-Hope, is below ground level and was left under a foot of water when the main
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Basildon: Police tackle gay prejudice
Gays and transexuals are to get a new voice in a police crackdown on homophobia. A panel has been established for gays and transvestites in a bid to encourage them to come forward when they fall victim to crime. Gay and lesbian officers will now be available
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Ongar, North Weald: Youth crime crackdown
Police have vowed to crack the problem of youth nuisance after a series of incidents in Ongar and North Weald. Patrols have been stepped up after vandalism and damage in the Chipping Ongar Primary School area of Greensted and the playground at the top
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Buttsbury: Animal sanctuary open day nets £3,000
Hundreds of visitors had a day out full of animal magic at the Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary open day, raising thousands of pounds for mistreated and abandoned animals. Visitors flooded into the Buttsbury sanctuary on Sunday, taking advantage of the
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Basildon: Burglar stole from his own neighbours
Burglar Matt Boulton was jailed for 15 months after he chose to prey on his neighbours. Boulton, 21, actually bumped into one woman victim and chatted to her before she went away for the weekend. When the neighbour returned home she discovered her home
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Soccer: Witham finish well-beaten
Witham put up a spirited display before going down 4-1 to a Southend United side that included eight players with first-team experience. The result was effectively decided by half time as Republic of Ireland under-18 international Trevor Fitzpatrick hit
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Swimming: Water babes boost
Team spirit coupled with some outstanding swims ensured Basildon and District Swimming Club returned with the winner's trophy after visiting Braintree to participate in their annual gala. It was the strength of the younger age groups that helped to build
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Karate: Success for Simon
Braintree's Simon Williams entered the Funakoshi Cup which was held at the Whitechapel Sports Centre in London, and after competing against some high standard Karate Ka, Simon took first place in the senior Black Belt Kata section. Then, as a member of
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Athletics: Tyrone guns for Olympic glory
Benfleet's "adopted" high jumper Tyrone Peacock has set his sights on the Millennium Olympics - after a new personal best earned him silvers in the national championships of both Britain and his native South Africa. The 22-year-old, a sports massage therapist
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Feering: Snow in summer? No, just a lorryload of trouble
It was like a snowstorm in summer. There was a white-out in a road in Feering when a lorry shed its load of thousands of tiny polystyrene balls. Children passing by found it funny and climbed on to the unusual mounds before the clean-up operation started
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Two women...one dream
This is a tale of two women. They hail from different backgrounds and have followed quite different careers. Both, however, have been single parents. All their lives they shared an identical dream. This month, for both Padma Amliwala and Toni Stacey,
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Basildon Bond girls
From Pitsea with Love - trainee Bond girls Sophie and Jade Gradwell were delighted to clamber aboard a speedboat used in a classic 007 film. The boat is now stationed at Wat Tyler Country Park, as one of the many attractions on offer at the motorboat
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It's a boy - and a nice big cheque for the RSPCA.
After nine long hours spent giving birth, Stessa Short not only produced a beautiful baby boy, but also raised more than £250 for the animal charity by being sponsored for the number of hours she was in labour. Stessa, 20, of Burlington Road, Colchester
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Colchester: Bomb victim partner backs payout move
The gay partner of Colchester man John Light, killed in the Soho pub bombing, has welcomed Government plans to review compensation payouts to crime victims. Gary Partridge said the plans were "brilliant news for the gay community." Under a review announced
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Clacton: Night prowler wakes woman
A 72-year-old woman disturbed a night prowler raiding her home today. The pensioner was asleep at her house in Stanley Road, Clacton, when the burglar broke in during the early hours of the morning. But he switched on the light when he went into her bedroom
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Essex's £1million lung cancer care boost
A £1million investment in the fight against lung cancer is set to benefit patients in Essex. Part of the money will be used to improve lung cancer services at Princess Alexandra Hospital. The money will be targeted at speeding up diagnoses, reducing waiting
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Tube delays...on Southend seafront
A tube train caused chaos on Southend's seafront - when it got stuck on a roundabout! Sweltering drivers fumed as miles of jams built up when the train, on a low-loader, was caught at the mini-roundabout at the bottom of Pier Hill yesterday afternoon.
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Soccer: Brazilian to return to Colchester?
Brazilian star Jose Antunes Fumaca could be in line for a shock return to Colchester United. The 22-year-old former Benfica forward was being touted as the mystery player lined up by U's boss Mick Wadsworth on Monday if his injured strike force of Lomana
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Diving: Karen makes splash at European finals
A series of spectacular somersault routines helped Southend Swimming Club diver Karen Smith clinch a top ten placing at her European Championships finals debut in Turkey. Karen, who recently finished second in the UK national finals, jetted out to Istanbul
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Cricket: Record-breaking day in Osborne League
Silver End crashed to an all-time low on Sunday as they were bowled out for just 18 runs against Chappel and Wakes Colne. Chasing a huge total of 323 for 3 - in which openers Jay Hope (108) and Bill Maytham (100) put on 201 for the first wicket - End
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Soccer: Fans' dream clash lit up by Dave's cracker
Southend United fans were put firmly in their place by the Blues' first team - but still had the night of their lives. They also had the memory of netting a goal that Shrimpers goalkeeper Mel Capleton rated as one of the best he had ever seen. Blues supporters
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Soccer: 'We will be good enough' pledges Burley
Ipswich Town are ready for the new season - whether or not boss George Burley succeeds with a last-minute signing. That was the message from Portman Road yesterday as the squad prepares for Saturday's game against Nottingham Forest. The Blues boss has
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'Don't panic over student loans delay' says county council
Please be patient is the plea from Essex County Council to students who have applied for a student loan and help towards tuition fees. Because of Government difficulties in the supply of essential information systems needed to process claims, there are
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Billericay: Clocks timely move
A Victorian time machine touched down in Billericay at the weekend - thanks to a unique partnership between a national supermarket chain and a local museum. The 159-year-old clock, which once graced the clock tower of Charles House - Billericay's old
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Colchester: Transfusion service thanks contributors
A Colchester grandmother who gave blood plasma to help save the lives of unborn babies has been praised by the Blood Transfusion Service. Gina Urwin, 55, of Straight Road, Colchester, was one of 80 people who regularly gave blood plasma at the Brentwood
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Colchester: Super centre gets setback
Hopes for a centre for visual and media arts in Colchester have been set back. Optica, the name for the proposed £4.5 million centre, has not been chosen to apply for funding from the Arts Council's lottery programme. It was one of about 300 organisations
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Golf round-up: Rooney rewarded in Basildon clash
Steve Rooney lifted the Chairman's Cup at Basildon golf club following a close tussle with Steve Hutchinson. A tally of 43 points on a countback, 24 of which were claimed on the back nine, were enough for club champion Rooney to lift the trophy from his
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Soccer: Duo fight for Colchester start
Either Jason Dozzell or Kelechi Opara is set to be given the nod if Colchester United new boy Jamie Moralee is not fit enough to lead the attack in Saturday's opening game of the season at Chesterfield. Former Brighton striker Moralee is looking a certain
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Cycling round-up: Rick races to first place
It was a fantastic Sunday morning for the Essex Roads Cycling Club to promote their annual 50 miles time trial on the new Boreham to Galleywood, then out to Stanway and back to Boreham again. There was a star studded field of a maximum 120 riders who
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Soccer: Abrahams rejects Exeter offer
Colchester United Wembley winner Paul Abrahams has turned down a chance to stay in the Football League with Exeter City. The 25-year-old, a key member of the U's promotion play-off final win over Torquay United 14 months ago, revealed today he has rejected
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Soccer: Search still on for Little
Southend United boss Alan Little has promised to keep searching for a new midfielder following Steve Bushell's shock decision to reject a move to the Third Division club. Later editions of yesterday's Echosport revealed that the 26-year-old Blackpool
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Maldon: New group's lottery joy
A new family support group is today celebrating a cash windfall of more than £62,000 - just two months after it was set up. Home-Start Maldon District has been handed a £62,469 grant by the National Charities Lottery Board. The voluntary group provides
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Hedingham: TV star's flying visit
Cadfael actor Sir Derek Jacobi is making a flying visit to Hedingham Castle to present a television documentary about the identity of William Shakespeare. Sir Derek is the patron of a society which believes Edward de Vere - the 17th Earl of Oxford who
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Warley: Hiking scouts head for Poland
A gruelling 100 mile hike in the unforgiving heat of a Polish summer awaited two intrepid scouts when they jetted off last Sunday. They were both, however, relishing the challenge and looking forward to their epic walk through the hills and villages of
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Wickford: Silent victory for sports complex protestors
Jubilant campaigners are celebrating after plans for a multi-million-pound sports complex on their doorsteps were quietly dropped. For more than two years, people in Beauchamps Drive, Sharlands Close and Highcliffe Way in Wickford have been protesting
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Westcliff, Southend: Drink-driver's 'moment of madness'
Jilted Matthew Savill acted in "a moment of madness" when he got a call from his girlfriend at a nightclub. Savill, nearly three times over the drink-drive limit, jumped in his car and went looking for her. Instead, the law got to the 18-year-old art
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Thurrock: Fresh boost for young jobless
Unemployed young people in Thurrock can give their career prospects a boost thanks to a new initiative being launched in the borough. The council's youth service has joined forces with Essex Business Partnership to provide a new service called Kick-Start
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Basildon: Get on the bus or we'll scrap it
Use it, or lose it! That was the message to hundreds of youngsters today who have abandoned a bus service they had battled to get. A free bus service has been set up throughout the summer holiday after youngsters claimed it was too difficult to get to
