Archive
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Colchester: Computer help is 'waste of money'
Plans to spend £90,000 issuing laptop computers to Colchester councillors were yesterday branded a waste of taxpayers' money. Labour councillor Derrick Fairbrother, said the money could be better spent improving life for ordinary residents. All three
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Colchester: Army opposes school merger
The Army will oppose any moves to amalgamate a school which serves garrison children. Staff, governors, pupils and parents at Montgomery Infants and Junior schools gave the message loud and clear to members of Essex County Council education committee
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Mid Essex: New bus links to rail stations idea
Commuters may soon be able to leave their cars at home thanks to a new community bus service. The commuter community bus scheme has already proved a great success in Coggeshall and now the Braintree Community Transport Project is seeking council funding
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Soccer: Babes to give Southend strong future
Southend United's youth policy is already paying dividends with four players making their first team debuts this season. But director of youth Peter Trevivian tells BERNIE FRIEND that this is only the beginning Southend United's youth guru Peter Trevivian
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Clacton: Children unearth blood python
Children had a lucky escape after digging up a 5ft python. The six youngsters found the snake in Pudney Wood, Clacton, after it had been buried by someone. They dragged the Borneo blood python 300 yards before the council was alerted by a passer-by and
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Grays, Southend: Gran's copter dream comes true
When Grace Clarke celebrated her 80th birthday her family organised the surprise present of her dreams. Grace's long-term ambition has been to take to the skies in a helicopter - a wish that finally came true thanks to her devoted family and Direct Helicopters
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Woodham: Multi-million pound development plan unveiled
Ambitious plans to turn derelict wasteland in South Woodham into a multi-million pound office and shopping complex have been unveiled. Two hundred jobs and 25,000 sq ft of office space is promised by local entrepreneur Dino Khan who is behind the ground-breaking
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Dedham: Goodie gumdrops! John to restore famous bike
This three-seater bicycle will be familiar to all fans of 1970s comedy. The bike ridden by the Goodies - Bill Oddie, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden - is somewhat worse for wear but is now awaiting the tender loving care of cycle collector and restorer
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Soccer: Ramblers lose their way
A disappointing display, careless and loose at both ends of the park, saw Ramblers drop points which may well come back to haunt them later in the season. They were short of four key players; and significantly, all of them with a strong physical presence
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Castle Point: High cost of burying Dad
A grieving daughter today branded Castle Point Council uncaring after it charged her double the usual rate to bury her father. Shirley Syrett, of Appleton Road, Benfleet, was shocked when told it would cost her twice the normal amount to open a double
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Tiptree, Wethersfield: Overstying their welcome?
Can you offer a pig a home? Four boars who took up temporary residence in Pods Wood, Tiptree, still cannot go wee, wee, wee all the way home - because they haven't got one. Nearly a year after being captured, the Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs are still
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Wivenhoe: National theatre role for Katy, 15
A teenager who made her stage debut at just five years old hopes gaining a place with the National Youth Music Theatre could be her springboard to stardom. Katy Osborne, 15, of Trinity Close, Wivenhoe, overcame stiff competition to be one of the 100 youngsters
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Braintree: Top status boost for college
Braintree College has become only the 13th college out of 456 in the country to achieve accredited status by the Further Education Funding Council. A one-off payment of £50,000 will be now given to the college as part of a formal agreement with the council
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Hullbridge: Trees face the axe
Trees at a Hullbridge caravan park could be uprooted because of damage to drainage. Halcyon caravan site in Pooles Lane, Hullbridge, is licensed as a mixed holiday and residential area for up to 126 caravans. Owner The Berkeley Leisure Group, which took
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Frinton: Man, 83, burned in fire
An 83-year-old man is in hospital after being badly burned in a blaze at his home. Frank Marshall, of Hadleigh Road, Frinton, was rushed to hospital after being rescued by firefighters who found him unconscious in a back room. Mr Marshall who is suffering
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Soccer: Solid defence bolsters Colchester
The year 2000 has got off to a flying start for Colchester United - thanks to their ability to learn from mistakes. Amidst the euphoria of last weekend's 5-4 thriller against Bristol Rovers it hardly seemed fair to dwell on defensive blunders. But the
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Soccer: Whitton warns of work ahead
Colchester United completed two successive victories for the first time in almost a year with their 2-1 win at Notts County. The unexpected triumph at Meadow Lane on Saturday made it six points from six after the 5-4 thriller against Bristol Rovers a
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Rugby: Burnham improving all the time
Saturday's game started well for Burnham when straight from the kick off they were on the offensive with Carrington collecting a high ball, side stepping and then running a try in under the posts, which he also converted to give Burnham a 7-0 lead. However
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Rugby: Second win of season for Harwich
Harwich secured their second league win of the season. Two Phil Armstrong penalties gave Harwich the lead, but Woodham ran back to score. Harwich hit back with an Adrian Dalby try. In the second half Harwich lost injured props Dave Southgate and Mark
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Essex: Ford workers vote
White-collar workers at Ford are today set to be balloted on strike action over pay and conditions. The professional workers, who include engineers, IT and admin staff, are demanding an equivalent settlement to the deal offered to manual workers last
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Soccer: Cardiff in for Greene
Colchester United centre-half David Greene has emerged as a shock transfer target for Cardiff City. The U's playerf has stalled on a new two-and-a-half-year deal at Layer Road and will be free to leave under the Bosman ruling at the end of the season.
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Soccer: Billericay firing on all cylinders
Soccer life suddenly seems considerably brighter for Ryman League Premier Division Billericay Town, who last night eased their way into the quarter-finals of the Essex Senior Cup with victory over Third Division promotion hopefuls Aveley. Before the weekend
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Soccer: Colchester win but ref grabs headlines
A refereeing display which saw two players sent off and nine bookings overshadowed a good win for Colchester against old rivals Wycombe. Colchester's Layer Road crowd probably thought they had witnessed all the drama they were ever likely to see in a
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Soccer: Perkins' battle to play
Young Southend United defender Chris Perkins admitted today that he faces a race against time to prove himself to Shrimpers boss Alan Little. The 19-year-old stopper, who has made five league appearances for the Seasiders, is desperate for another crack
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Stanway: Kidney-donor wife goes for surgery
A woman who is donating a kidney to help her sick husband went into surgery today. June Seymour, of Villa Road, Stanway, offered to donate a kidney to her husband Mike, 53, who has been waiting for a transplant for more than three years. The pair were
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Woodham: Deal will protect future of marsh
Bosses at Marsh Farm were today celebrating a new deal which will protect a stretch of precious coastline. The South Woodham farm has agreed with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), to conserve 48 hectares of land. This means a pledge
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Stock: Fatal fire prompts suicide pact theory
Two men who were found dead in a blazing flat may have decided to kill themselves after being accused of indecent assault. Garfield Haveron, 50, and Murray Kemp, 37, were arrested on Sunday and charged with indecently assaulting a 17-year-old girl. Police
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Colchester: Troops put cold war skills to test
Troops from Colchester are the first in Britain to be putting winter warfare skills to the test in temperatures of minus 32 degrees C. Soldiers from the 1st Battalion The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) have just started Exercise Snowshoe in the shadow
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Rochford: Mum was 'raped on hospital site'
A teenage mum sobbed as she told a jury how she was raped in the grounds of the disused Rochford Hospital. The girl claimed her brutal attacker was 21-year-old Barrie Hierons, of Doggetts Close, Rochford. They met while she was on a pub crawl during a
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Chelmsford: 'Help our Jane learn to walk'
Mum Susan Hambling dreams of seeing her daughter Jane walk like any other little girl. She is hoping world-renowned treatment in eastern Europe could boost the nine-year-old even more in her battle against crippling cerebral palsy. Last year Jane received
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Wickford: Fake policeman is back in town
A bogus policeman who hounded Wickford's vulnerable old folk last year has returned to the town. The man tried to prey on an elderly woman living in Wick Lane, and this time he had false identification to back up his claims. Fortunately the pensioner
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Angling round-up: Five-star carp haul for Geoff...
Gloucester Park regular Geoff Byatt weighed in five carp totalling 27lb 5oz to take a clear win at the latest Gloucester Park Open. Geoff fished the first peg in the canal stretch to take his fish on luncheon meat, fished under a waggler. He also lost
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Colchester: Miracle Harry defies doctors
Baby Harry Sherman should not be here. Born six weeks prematurely, at birth he was starved of oxygen and left severely brain-damaged. Doctors gave him less than 24 hours to live. His parents Alison Day, 36, and Marlon Sherman, 33, of Berechurch Hall Road
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Colchester shooting: man arrested
A man has been arrested in connection with a street shooting in Colchester. A local man, aged 40, was arrested on Monday night following Sunday night's incident in Magnolia Drive. He has been released on bail pending further inquiries. The victim, named
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Soccer: Swifts ease through in Trophy clash
With former player and more recently caretaker boss Liam Cutbush permanently ensconced in the manager's seat, Swifts made progress through to the last 32 of the FA Trophy, though not without some scares along the way. As might have been expected Dr Martens
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South Essex: Winners and losers in CCTV cash bid
A million-pound bid for more spy cameras in Southend town centre is still undecided - while a Basildon housing scheme is set to receive a £13,500 CCTV grant. The Foyer, on Basildon's Cranes Court estate, is owned by Swan Housing Association and successfully
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Clacton: Pups saved from blazing home
Six newborn puppies were rescued after candles used to light a Clacton home during a power cut caused a house blaze. A chihuahua gave birth to her puppies in the early hours of yesterday during a power cut. The dog's owner Sheila Everitt had used candles
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Soccer: We were pathetic, admits Southend winger
Southend United winger Scott Houghton apologised on behalf of his team-mates for Blues' horrendous first-half performance during Saturday's 3-3 Roots Hall draw with Rochdale. "We were pathetic to say the least during the opening 45 minutes and all the
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Rayleigh: Kiss of life for Leia
Brave Leia Baines gives her mum a big kiss after beating the meningitis bug that almost killed her. The five-year-old was rushed by ambulance with a police escort to a London hospital after doctors confirmed she was suffering from meningococcal septicaemia
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Dedham: Comic buys Constable view
A field which helped inspire one of the country's greatest landscape painters has been sold to comedian Richard Digance. Post Office Meadow, in the heart of Dedham Vale, is featured in artist John Constable's masterpiece the Valley of the Stour with Stratford
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Southend: Cost set for fire at pier
The bill to fix Southend Pier following the 1995 fire is more than £680,000, it has been revealed. Southend Council's cabinet last night agreed to the amount charged by engineering firm French Kier, despite it being more than £70,000 above the original
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Essex: Still one of the safest counties
New crime figures for Essex are "disappointing" - but the county remains one of the safest places to live in Britain. Latest Home Office figures show a 3.2 per cent increase in the crime rate in Essex. Essex Police assistant chief constable, John Broughton
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Billericay: Bistro idea is rejected
Plans for a French-style bistro on the site of one of Billericay's oldest stores are unacceptable, the town's councillors have ruled. They insist that proposals for a restaurant in the Kitts DIY site would harm the vitality of the high street and cause
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Southend: Kevin hopes to clean up
Who said housework was boring? Cleaner Kevin Everitt is launching a new service where he will clean women's homes - wearing little more than a raunchy leather apron. Father-of-two Kevin decided he was done and dusted with being a printer when he was made
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Southend: Gun-running trial delayed
A verdict in the gun-running trial of former Southend Tory Peter Bleach, who has been held in an Indian jail for five years, has been delayed again. Bleach, 47, is charged along with five Latvians and an Indian, with arms smuggling, conspiracy and sedition
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Soccer: Howard Southwood - Speaks his mind on the Blues
I don't for one minute think that Southend boss Alan Little's job is under threat following a dismal run of results. But hopefully, even if things don't improve dramatically, none of our local MPs will try and interfere the way the four far from just
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Soccer: Naylor puts off op on knee
Richard Naylor is putting off his knee operation until the summer in a bid to fire Ipswich into the Premiership. The Town forward - who scored twice in the 3-0 win over Swindon at Portman Road - will go under the surgeon's knife at the end of the season
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Soccer: Home tie for Swifts
Heybridge Swifts were due to continue their fight against relegation from the Ryman League premier division last night when they took on in-form St Albans City at Scraley Road. City, are second in the league, were set to feature in their line-up former
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Rugby: Billericay muster the perfect answer to off-field problems
Billericay bounced back from last week's frustrating off-the-field disappointments when they battled their way to a vital away win at second-placed Woodbridge. The Eastern Counties One side were stripped of two points by the League last week, but a great
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Soccer: Colchester urged to carry on scoring
Colchester United boss Steve Whitton was backing goal-machine Steve McGavin to continue his scoring form last night against former club Wycombe Wanderers. The U's front-man had scored ten goals since rejoining the club from Northampton earlier in the
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Braintree: Hunt for scarred attacker
A terrified woman managed to struggle free after she was assaulted down a dark alley by a scar-faced attacker. The 19-year-old victim was grabbed by the man as she walked down the passageway between Tabor Avenue and Peel Crescent, in Braintree. He threatened
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Thurrock: Plans for haven's future
The future of Shell Haven should be revealed soon, Thurrock councillors have been told. Members of the environmental services committee were told yesterday that council officers and Shell representatives have been meeting regularly to discuss the future
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Southend: Freedom nominations needed
The closing date to nominate worthy candidates for Freedom of the Borough, is fast approaching. The awards to mark the millennium have been set up to recognise local people from all walks of life who have made an outstanding contribution to some aspect
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Weeley: Child care worker unfairly dismissed
A child care worker has won a claim for unfair dismissal from a Weeley pre-school. Jane Palmer, of Hill Top Crescent, Weeley, was awarded £494.25 in her case against Weeley Rainbow Pre-school of Clacton Road, at an industrial tribunal yesterday. The tribunal
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Southend: Council refuses to raise lights funding
Half the cash to fund vital repair work to Southend's seafront illuminations is to come from the town's council. Traders on the promenades had asked the authority to pay 80 per-cent of the cost of overhauling the lights to meet new health and safety requirements
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Southend, Rochford: New park hopes lifted by meeting
Southend and Rochford council bosses may finally put their heads together over a new country park for the area. Essex County Council plans to sell off 41 acres next to Southend's boundary at Blatches Farm in Rochford and the idea is to turn the area into
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Chelmsford: Toddler 'ran in front of the car'
Police have formally closed their investigation into a tragic car accident. Toddler Fahmed Choudhury is still in a coma after he was hit by a car outside his home in Kings Road, Chelmsford. Little Fahmed, who was two at the time of the accident in August
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Soccer: Referee defends Colchester tie bookings
Referee Keith Hill today defended the controversial decisions which saw seven players booked and two of them sent-off in Colchester United's 1-0 win over Wycombe. Lomana Tresor Lua Lua came off the bench at Layer Road to settle the match with a goal in
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Soccer: Plaque marks where Blues started
Southend United fans have commemorated the foundation of their footballing favourites with a helping hand from Sir Teddy Taylor , the honorary president of the Shrimpers' supporters club. The Rochford and Southend East MP unveiled a special plaque at
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Thorpe: Gutted pub could open by summer
An historic village pub - which has been closed for six months - could be back in business this summer. Much of the Bell Hotel at Thorpe was destroyed when fire ripped through the building last July. Since then experts have been waiting for the 400-year-old
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Essex: Stressed bobbies get aromatherapy
Police officers may be given vouchers for aromatherapy and counselling in stress packs to combat high sickness rates. Essex Police are developing strategies to combat the amount of time taken off sick through stress. Stress anxiety and depression among
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Southend: Gun-running trial verdict delayed
A verdict in the gun-running trial of former Southend Tory Peter Bleach, who has been held in an Indian jail for five years, has been delayed again. Bleach, 47, is charged along with five Latvians and an Indian, with arms smuggling, conspiracy and sedition
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Thurrock: Hanging in there...
Seven mature artists who study at Thurrock College have their work on display in a prestigious gallery in Cambridge. Brenda Abrey from Wakering, Stephanie Bradbury from Brentwood, Ann Saxby from Grays, Barbara Harley from Okendon and Denise Ellen, Hannah
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Braintree: Freeport's car security stepped up
Security patrols are being stepped up at Braintree's Freeport centre in a bid to stop crooks raiding cars crammed with designer shopping. Police say there has been a rise in criminals targeting the shopping village's car park. Thieves have got away with
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Laindon: Man arrested in taxi attack investigation
A man has been arrested after a three year hunt for a bogus taxi driver who left a young nightclubber for dead after picking her up in Laindon. Officers swooped following a lengthy investigation by detectives, which included an Essex Police and Evening
