Archive
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North Essex: Pupils struck down with meingitis
Two children from north Essex have been struck down with meningitis. A seven-year-old boy from Ramsey Primary School, near Harwich, was seriously ill in hospital last Monday but is now recovering. An eight-year-old boy from Millfields Primary School in
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Essex: Rail commuters call for improved value
Commuters have welcomed a minor rise in fares for the coming year - but called for better value for money from Great Eastern Railway. Season ticket holders travelling to Liverpool Street face an increase of 0.8 per cent from next month. The figure is
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Shoebury: Plant boss fined over factory blast
Former chemical plant boss Spencer Brown has landed a £6,000 court bill after a blast ripped through his factory. It was the second hefty penalty to hit 35-year-old Brown, managing director and founder of the ill-fated Pharmacos firm. Brown was also disqualified
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Canvey: Murder suspect's dad turns to drugs
The father of a teenager charged with murder was caught in possession of a quantity of cannabis because he couldn't cope with his son's ordeal, a court heard. Norman Gubb, 43, of Greenview in Canvey, admitted possessing 37.42g of the Class B drug when
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Two mums and a dad die in Braintree crash
Ten children lost a parent when three people died in a car crash in the middle of Braintree. Mothers Debbie Gibson and Sharon Wilson, both 36, and father-of-two, Carmine Giarnese, 37, died when their Ford Sierra Cosworth crashed into a brick wall. The
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Chelmsford, Maldon, Rayleigh: School pupils in death crash shock
A coach full of schoolchildren escaped uninjured from a crash in which a 17-year-old motorcyclist died. The bus from Amber Coaches, based in Rawreth Lane, Rayleigh, was involved in a smash with the teenager's motorbike and a small Vauxhall Combo style
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Rayleigh: MP calls for end to airport mystery
An MP has demanded an end to the mystery surrounding the future of Southend Airport. Dr Michael Clark , MP for Rayleigh, said it was time for airport bosses to be more open about what was happening to its long-term expansion plans. Owners Regional Airports
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Chelmsford: Staff crisis at prison
A prison officer has hit out at his bosses after staffing shortages reached crisis point over the weekend. More than 20 officers at Chelmsford Prison were called to work extra hours to cover for absent colleagues. Tony Carter, chairman of the Prison Officers
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Two mums and a dad die in Braintree crash
Ten children lost a parent when three people died in a car crash in the middle of Braintree. Mothers Debbie Gibson and Sharon Wilson, both 36, and father-of-two, Carmine Giarnese, 37, died when their Ford Sierra Cosworth crashed into a brick wall. The
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Braintree set to party on millennium eve
For all those who have not planned anything for the biggest night of the century, head to Braintree to experience the party of a lifetime. The Braintree & Bocking carnival committee is currently planning a millennium eve party in Market Square, which
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Langham: Man run over by his neighbour
A 27-year-old who was trying to phone police to report a crash was run over by his neighbour, a court heard. Paul Taylor, 31, drove straight into his neighbour's car because he was angry about being blocked in. Then as Russell Andrews rang the police
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Southend: Airport on alert for plane crash
Emergency services were put on full alert at Southend Airport today after they were told a plane was coming in to land with an engine on fire. But the incident turned out to be a false alarm after it emerged that a warning light on the single propeller
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Trampolining: Cloud Nine excel at National Finals
More than 300 top trampolinists from nearly 80 clubs around the country were in the recent Chippenham for the National B Finals and Brentwood's Cloud Nine trampoline club was well represented with six finalists. To qualify for this competition is itself
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Boxted: Balaclava pair raid post office
A village sub-post office was today closed for repairs after armed robbers threatened staff with a shotgun and crowbar. Two men wearing balaclavas went into Anchorage Stores and Sub-Post Office, Dedham Road, Boxted, at 11.45am yesterday. One robber pointed
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Soccer: Blues defender Roget in bust-up
Defender Leo Roget faces severe punishment after inciting a riot following Southend United's Roots Hall defeat against Third Division leaders Barnet. The 22-year-old stopper is in hot water with Blues boss Alan Little after a confrontation with the visitors
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Pitsea: Vandals go on airgun rampage
Vandals caused £1,000 damage to a school by firing air pellets through the windows. The late-night wrecking spree smashed six windows at Northlands infants school in Winifred Road, Pitsea. It comes just days after a spate of vandalism caused £1,000 damage
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Essex: It's snow joke
Essex was today put on alert for the first snow of the winter. Weather forecasters said there was a chance of heavy falls tonight. The county woke up to a widespread frost this morning. Forecasters said the cold weather is expected to continue for the
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Essex: Incinerator plans spark new petition
Controversial plans for burning more rubbish in Essex have sparked a new 1,000-name petition. The Essex Green Party petition calls on the Government to dump plans for more incinerators and campaigners handed it in yesterday to the Government Office for
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Lawford: Final 'house' for club
Lawford Bingo Club has folded after more than 40 years. The weekly sessions were held each Monday evening in Ogilvie Hall and over the years had raised thousands of pounds for the Wignall Street hall. Falling numbers have meant the club must close. The
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Colchester: Power cut hits homes
About 1,700 homes and businesses in Colchester were blacked out for two hours. A fault in an underground cable knocked out properties from Lexden along Cowdray Avenue, Ipswich Road, and St Andrew's Avenue just after 2pm yesterday. Engineers managed to
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Braintree: Keep an eye on elderly this winter
Residents in the Braintree district are being asked to keep a special eye on elderly neighbours and relatives, to make sure they stay well over the winter. Anyone who knows they have a neighbour or relation who is on their own and elderly, is being asked
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Soccer: Chelmsford City's bid to come home
Ambitious plans which could herald the return of Chelmsford City Football Club to the area are about to be lodged. The scheme to develop a ploughed field in Boreham into a football ground and centre of soccer learning are about to be submitted to Chelmsford
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Soccer: League was always priority, claim Ipswich
John McGreal is ready to put FA Cup heartache behind him and help steer Ipswich Town into the Premiership. The Town defender played in last night's 1-0 defeat against Southampton in front of a live Sky television audience at Portman Road. But the former
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Soccer: Young U's draw Leeds cup tie
Layer Road legend Micky Cook's youngsters have been handed a plum FA Youth Cup tie against northern giants Leeds. Cook was dusting off his video of Colchester United's historic FA Cup win over Leeds United today. He was a member of the U's squad that
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Soccer round-up: South East Essex Sunday League
Runwell Raiders set the stage perfectly for next weekend's top-of-the-table clash with current leaders Castle Point in the Premier Division of the South-East Essex Sunday League when they won 4-0 at ISIS. The result was Runwell's fifth straight win and
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Southend: Racial abuse man assaulted police officer
A man who was pulled away by police after fighting with a man spouted racist abuse and declared himself proud to be white, Southend magistrates heard. Shaun Wootton, 19, of Eastwoodbury Close, Southend, also struggled with a special police constable while
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Rayleigh: Power jobs safe
Jobs are safe at Eastern Electricity in Rayleigh despite cuts of more than 400 across the company. Eastern is due to merge with London Electricity and bring together staff who operate the distribution networks, such as overhead cables. But an Eastern
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Stambridge: Sewage plant smell'three times limit'
The Stambridge sewage treatment plant has already breached one of its strict operating conditions, a public meeting designed to quell residents' fears has been told. Odour levels at the plant have been recorded more than three times above the limit set
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Leigh: Mini passion, maximum drive...
What do lobsters,Minis and James Bond have in common? Electrician turned gallery owner Peter Restorick,discovers SALLY KING James Bond hurtles up the Thames, his craft skids past the Millennium Dome and through Billingsgate fish market, where Leigh art
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Southend: Dawn raid by police
Suspected car thieves across Southend got an early wake up call today as police swooped in a series of dawn raids. Operation Sturgate's aim was to catch persistent car thieves and those with outstanding warrants for car crime and burglaries. The operation
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Rayleigh man: 'I escaped death by inches'
'A man has spoken of the moment he feared for his life as a lorry overturned in front of him and threatened to crush his car. Retired civil servant Phil Heath, 70, said if it wasn't for his sharp braking he would have gone underneath the Leyland Daf lorry
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Southend: Christmas post hit by dispute
Christmas post deliveries in Southend look set to be thrown into chaos as more than 100 staff at the town's main sorting office work to rule. A backlog of letters and parcels has already built up for homes and businesses in the SS0, SS1 and SS2 postcode
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Gateway to Brentwood
Countryside Properties is still on a record-breaking high, with its chairman and directors confidently predicting further good progress, despite national worries about shortages of building land. "Our land holdings are an increasingly important asset
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Canvey, Southend: Bingo! I've won a £108,000 jackpot
A mystery woman was today celebrating a £108,000 bingo win at Southend's Mecca club, fast becoming one of the luckiest in the UK. The 59-year-old widow, who lives on Canvey, was so shocked after her numbers came up that she could barely fill in the claims
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Colchester: Murder squad rapped by wife
Relatives of murdered Colchester man Grant Byrom today criticised police for not finding the killer as the first anniversary of his death approaches. They believe detectives have not pulled out all the stops to arrest a man for whom for months they have
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Basildon: Ransacked zoo looks all set to expand
Basildon Zoo is looking to expand to include an insect house and a new bigger pet shop just weeks after it was ransacked. A desert scene complete with locusts is one of many ideas which could begin to take shape once plans for the insect house have been
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Boxing: More success for Harwich fighters
Two Harwich Boxing Club members made the long haul to Cambridge to box at the Lordshall Arena recently. Senior lightweight Nathan Proctor, 19, faced G Shilling of Needham Market. The unbeaten Shilling was always looking to pressure Proctor, but the Harwich
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Colchester: Masked robbers hit shop
Police are hunting four masked robbers who held up a fish and chip shop. And detectives in Colchester are appealing for information after the raiders overpowered and tied up staff before making off with cash. The men barged their way into the shop at
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Chelmsford: Gay couple make history
Two Essex men have made history by becoming the first gay couple to father their own children. Barrie Drewitt, 35, and Tony Barlow, 32, of Danbury, Chelmsford, said they were over the moon at the birth of their twins Saffron and Aspen. The babies were
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Chat to Johnny Vegas!
You have the chance to "chat" to one of Britain's brightest comedians via this web site. Regulars at comedy clubs across the country are sure to be aware of the side-splitting repertoire of Cheshire comedian Johnny Vegas. But now Vegas is offering the
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Canvey paragliders cause traffic chaos
The antics of two paragliders who are said to have plagued motorists on the way to Canvey have been criticised as "disgusting". The paragliders got up to their low-flying capers over Canvey Way on Friday evening. They were seen by police and have been
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Basildon, Wickford: Family's grief at dead son
A family have spoken of their grief after their talented 20-year-old City worker son lost his life in a freak accident. Kevin Stanton had so much ahead of him. With a string of GCSEs and A-levels under his belt, he was also a promising boxer who was much
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100 dead on Essex roads
The death toll on roads in Essex this year reached 100 today. A man was killed on the A12 shortly after midnight. An HGV recovery vehicle was in collision with a red Ford Orion - which is believed to have broken down - on the Ipswich-bound carriageway
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Holland-on-Sea: Oldest papergirl hangs up her bag
If experience is valuable, Dot Jones is worth her weight in gold. The oldest papergirl in Britain is hanging up her delivery bag at the age of 84. But she has no plans for a lie in. Dot took over her daughter's paper round more than 27 years ago and has
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Southend: Casino giant set to do a deal with the Kursaal
Plans for a casino at the Kursaal, on Southend seafront, were confirmed today. London Clubs International is to apply for a gambling licence. A hearing is expected to take place on the licence in March of next year before Southend Magistrates' Court.
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Braintree: Two named in fraud allegations
The identities of two councillors at the centre of a police probe in to allegations of benefit fraud have been revealed by council chiefs. Braintree Council leader John Gyford took the unusual step of naming Labour councillors James Unsworth and Alisdair
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Wickford: Dad saves children in bungalow blaze
A Wickford family were today lucky to be alive after a father rushed his children to safety from their blazing home. The family of four, including two adults and two children, managed to escape the blaze which engulfed the detached bungalow in Hill Avenue
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Top sports award for Dean
Canvey decathlete Dean Macey celebrated his 22nd birthday by picking up the inaugural Best Newcomer award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year show. Macey broke six personal best on his way to silver in the World Championships in Seville in August
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Essex: Rail travellers to signal way ahead
Rail users will have their chance to voice their views on the network tomorrow. A passenger watchdog is hosting a meeting to allow commuters and occasional travellers to debate with senior rail industry figures, regulators, local Government representatives
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Colchester: Call to celebrate glories of town
A major new festival to celebrate Colchester's historic past and its vibrant present is on the cards. Plans for the festival in May, 2001, would include a welcome to the Parachute Regiment as it settles in to its new home. The ambitious event is the brainchild
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Athletics: Two awards in 24 hours for Dean
Dean Macey picked up his second best newcomer award in 24 hours after being honoured by the Sports Writers' Association. The Canvey decathlete was named best international newcomer at London's Cafe Royal yesterday afternoon. On Sunday night the World
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Soccer: Southend swoop for midfielder
Southend United boss Alan Little revealed today that he is very close to bringing a new midfield man to Roots Hall. The Shrimpers chief is confident of capturing a new face over the next couple of days, who would be in line to make a Southend debut at
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Soccer preview: Harding to sit out Billericay cup clash
Billericay Town will be unable to field new winger Alan Harding in tonight's Ryman League Cup third round clash with fellow Premier Division side St Albans at New Lodge. Harding is cup-tied having already played for previous club Bishops Stortford in
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Soccer round-up: Southend Sunday League
Southend Academicals taught Kings Field Casuals a lesson with a 6-1 success in the Southend Sunday League Premier Division. In Division One, two goals from J Doyle helped Maplin United stay top with a 2-1 home win over Roche Meadow. Forrester got three
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We love Canvey!
The overwhelming majority of council tenants are happy living in Castle Point, a new study has revealed. More than 75 per cent of Canvey residents are content with living on the island, compared with just four per cent who are not. The figures were revealed
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Mid Essex: Hospital revamp will open for Christmas
Improvements to the accident and emergency department at one of the busiest hospitals in Essex will be officially opened in time for Christmas and the new millennium. The new 12-bed medical assessment unit at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, was made
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Maldon, West Mersea: Barge skipper in Thames rescue
A well-known Maldon sailing barge skipper helped rescue a young woman from the River Thames last week. Gerard Swift, who is skipper of Cabby, was on board the vessel with the boat's mate as it prepared for a charter trip from Hays Wharf, just below London
