Archive
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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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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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Golf round-up: Salisbury offers a share of the spoils...
Pro golfer David Salisbury is hoping a plan to allow individuals and companies to buy shares in his future will pay dividends during the coming season. If the scheme does take-off, 24-year-old Salisbury is hoping to avoid the disappointment of his 1999
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Rollerspeed skating: Sam stars in Norwich
The first leg of the National Indoor Inline Series 2000 was held at Solar Skate in Norwich on Sunday. Rollerspeed skaters from the South Woodham Ferrers & Wickford Rollerspeed Skating Club were competing against skaters from across England in two
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Colchester, Frinton: Diana award for pupil
A teenager who has overcome learning difficulties is one of the first in the country to receive a special Princess Diana memorial award. Rebecca Watts, 16, was nominated for the prestigious accolade by teachers at St Benedict's College, Colchester, where
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South Essex: A130 shock - route could be changed
The route of the controversial A130 bypass could still be changed at the eleventh hour, scrapping 20 years' work. Essex County Council has advertised a number of alternatives to the proposed route made by objectors. The inspector at next week's public
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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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Woodham: Deal will protect future of marsh
Bosses at Marsh Farm were yesterday 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
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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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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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Southend: Mr Muscles 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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Basildon fears housing boom
Fears that Basildon district may be forced to try and accommodate more housing have been provoked by another independent report, this time reviewing proposals for the development of Essex up to 2011. The report is a review of the Essex and Southend Replacement
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Harold Hill: Pot-bellied pig lands police in a real pickle
Some might say the sight of pot bellies outside pubs at closing time is not a rarity. But one astounded passer-by recently spotted a pot bellied pig outside The Bear pub in Noak Hill Road, Harold Hill just after 11.30pm. The police were alerted and the
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North Weald: Move moguls set to roll in
North Weald is to star in a television mini-series produced by DreamWorks, the movie moguls behind the Hollywood blockbuster Saving Private Ryan. Key scenes from the planned film, to be called Band of Brothers, are to be filmed at the village's historic
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Rugby: Basildon's blaze of glory
Beer is so ingrained in the life of the rugby player that the loss of a club's entire stock would normally be seen as a catastrophe to rank alongside the arrival of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. But Basildon Rugby Club had far worse problems to
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Southend: Volunteers needed to help shortfall
Charity organisations in Southend are facing a severe shortage of help, says the town's volunteer bureau. Up to 200 vacancies for part-time volunteer work exists in Southend's 180 charity shops and groups and some are having to cut back services in a
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Southend: Town to get a big spring-clean
Free collection of bulky items, a graffitti-busting vehicle and the removal of chewing gum and weeds from streets are among a package of ways Southend could be cleaned up for the year 2000. The town is to undergo a millennium makeover with the council
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Ingatestone: Two raid food store
A gun-wielding robber and his accomplice held up an Ingatestone store last week. The two men, both white and in their early 20s, walked into Budgens in the High Street at about 7.30pm last Wednesday. They had been seen in the shop earlier, but this time
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Harold: Road schemes face cutbacks
Swingeing budget cuts to Havering Community Area Forums which will hit future road projects in Harold have been slammed by a Conservative councillor. Cllr Paul Rochford, says Havering Council's decision to almost halve the annual traffic management scheme
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Rugby: Billericay win well at Woodbridge
A fine all-round team performance from Billericay ensured that Woodbridge never gained control of Saturday's match in Suffolk. Within five minutes of the start, Steve Clow won a line out ball which found its way to Mark Yates who scored. Fly half John
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Billericay: Waitrose car park fees up
Billericay shoppers have been left fuming after Waitrose doubled its car parking charges. An hour's stay is now 80p and up to two hours costs £1.40, with visitors to the High Street supermarket having to spend £5 or over in the store to park for free.
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Sailing: Hannah's New Year gets off to a flyer
Top teenage sailor Hannah Stodel has made a lucrative start to the new millennium. The 14-year-old from Empress Avenue, West Mersea, has just been awarded £5,000 for a new dinghy by the Foundation for Sport and the Arts. It rounds off another successful
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Trampolining: Golden girls at Harlow
Chantelle Frisby and Emma Simmonds of the Riverside Trampoline Club won gold at the synchronised competition, which was held in Harlow. Competing in the U13 intermediate section both girls showed that not only could they perform their routines with outstanding
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Soccer: Newman Natters....
Well done to triumphant Billericay I'd like to congratulate Billericay Town on their great 3-1 FA Trophy victory over Hereford United, which has handed them the plum draw of the next round against Rushden and Diamonds. Billericay's achievement against
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Soccer: Young U's out to shock Leeds
Micky Cook's Colchester United youth team are facing the biggest test of their fledgling careers tonight - an FA Youth Cup tie against mighty Leeds United. The U's under 18 side travelled to a hotel near Elland Road this morning to prepare for the FA
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Soccer round-up: Southend Junior League
King lived up to his name for Hamlet Court by grabbing two of the goals which saw the Southend Junior League Under-14 side make further progress in the County Cup. They beat Marshalls Park 4-3. Strange continued his incredible scoring feats for Trinity
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Rugby: Shaw shines as Brentwood beat Southend
After losing narrowly the previous week to one of the league's top teams, Romford & Gidea Park, Brentwood were hosts to Southend on a cold but bright Saturday which favoured flowing open rugby. With Southend, a once mighty force in Eastern Counties
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School sports: Sisters show star quality...
Furtherwick Park pupils Sarah and Philippa Neller are going from strength to strength in squash. The Canvey sisters, who play for Kingswood Squash Club in Basildon, have been selected for the eastern England regional teams. However, that is only the tip
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Wickford: Homeless hound rescued
A dog owner with a guilty conscience tethered and abandoned this handsome hound - then told a Wickford dog rescue service where to find him. Jake, who was named by his saviours at Gemini Kennels, is now enjoying lots of TLC after being found near Tilbury
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Westcliff: An angel at any time...
Having lit up the holiday period with A Christmas Carol, the new management at the Westcliff Palace now changes gear. This powerful two-hander proves that the Palace team can "do" intimate and searing with just as much panache as they do big, buoyant
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Westcliff: Lulworth Court sold
A former respite holiday centre for the disabled has been sold for £830,000. A mystery buyer snapped up Lulworth Court, the seafront complex on Chalkwell Esplanade, Westcliff, after a hectic bidding session at public auction. Dedman Property Services
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Thundersley: Neighbours fume as Virgin territory is fenced off
Advertising boards fronting a site earmarked for a controversial leisure centre have been branded an "eyesore" by nearby residents. They claim the six boards, which stretch the full length of the site in Rayleigh Road, Thundersley, are blocking the view
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Southend: Wig raiders give shop a big headache
A wig shop owner today appealed for the return of his prized work after a smash and grab raid. Thieves broke the front window of Wigs Direct in York Road, Southend, and made off with a display of at least 24 wigs and hairpieces. One of the stolen items
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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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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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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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Soccer: Brentwood lose out to Ilford
Brentwood';s run of defeats continued on Saturday when they lost at home to second in the table Ilford. The home side created many good scoring opportunities but failed to find the target when well placed. Ilford took the lead when they broke away on
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Stansted: Emergency landing for airbus
An airbus carrying 152 passengers was forced to make an emergency landing at Stansted Airport after it suffered fuselage damage. A full investigation is under way after the Airtours International Europe-bound flight landed safely at the airport at around
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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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Castle Point: High cost of burying Dad
A grieving daughter has 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 plot
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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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Southend: Ice one, Peter!
SALLY KING gets her skates on to look foward to Peter Pan on Ice Those Russian Ice Stars are coming back to the Cliffs Pavilion for another spectacular show with glorious costumes and the most exciting stunts you are ever likely to see on ice. Twelve
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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
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Basildon: Yardley site sold
The former Yardley factory site in Basildon has been sold, it was revealed today. Receivers KPMG confirmed the 400,000 sq ft site has been bought for an "undisclosed amount" by Mirravale Properties and the Minton Group as a joint venture. The announcement
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Gestingthorpe: Late bid to save Scott flag
A battered flag which survived Scott of the Antarctic's doomed journey to the South Pole may have been saved for the nation after the Government blocked its export to the United States. The flag went with Captain Robert Scott and Gestingthorpe explorer
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Canvey: Police need your cash
Police today urged people to dig deep into their pockets and help pay for a state-of-the-art CCTV system to beat vandals in Canvey town centre. The island's police are trying to raise £30,000 to pay for the cameras which will be placed in key locations
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Rochford, Chalkwell: Who needs Blind Date?
Two Blind Date contestants may not have found love on the programme - but have found the perfect match together. Warren Root and Antonia Galbraith appeared on different occasions on the hit show - but Cilla didn't manage to find them love. However, Cupid
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Stock: Did fire death pair block help?
Two men who died in a blaze which engulfed a Stock flat may have barricaded themselves in, it emerged today. Garfield Haveron, 50, and Murray Kemp, 37, were found on the kitchen floor of the flat in Vernon Corner, Stock. Firefighters had to break down
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Colchester: Victoria's fight for TB jabs
A girl whose grandfather had TB has launched a crusade to secure vaccinations for pupils in Colchester. Victoria Thompson, 15, has taken up the cause after hundreds of pupils in north-east Essex missed out on the jabs. She feels she may be more susceptible
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Soccer: Diamond draw for Billericay in Trophy
Billericay Town have been rewarded for Saturday's superb home win over Hereford Town with a plum draw in their bid to make the last 16 of the FA Umbro Trophy. For they will host arguably the best non-league side in the country in round four on February
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Soccer: Southend's Player of the Millennium
We can now announce former Shrimpers midfielder Steve Tilson as Blues' Player of the Millennium. The 33-year-old, who splits his time between captaining Ryman Premier Division promotion-chasers Canvey and looking after the Seasiders' centre of excellence
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Rochford, Rayleigh: Parking charges increase
Parking in Rochford and Rayleigh will cost 40 pence for two hours following proposals put forward by the Hockley Residents' Association. At Rochford District Council's full meeting, councillor Ann Hutchings of the association, who represents Hockley East
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Essex: Thumbs-up for county council
Essex County Council now knows which residents are generally satisfied by its services, following the results of a major joint opinion poll conducted by NOP. The company interviewed a representative sample of more than 1,000 residents in their homes during
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Brentwood: New speed limits to cut accidents
New speed limits have been enforced on several Brentwood roads to reduce accidents. Many existing 40mph speed limits in residential areas are now 30mph. In addition, Essex Police and Essex County Council are launching a new pilot scheme aimed at identifying
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Hockey: Billericay the team to catch
Billericay seemingly started Saturday's game with a post-millennium hangover, and conceded an early goal to a Braintree short corner. Billericay worked their way back into the game and Joseph Pattara, Gary Tapsell and Matthew Hadley made their presence
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Badminton: Simon stars in the championships
Simon Hardcastle, 15, from Billericay, took all three titles in the Home Counties Under 16 Badminton Championships in Dublin at the weekend. Hardcastle, who is the current triple national champion, won the Boys Singles, the Boys Doubles with partner Andrew
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Soccer: Red card relief for Carruthers
Southend United boss Alan Little today praised referee Trevor Parkes for handing Blues striker Martin Carruthers a reprieve. The Birmingham official gave the 28-year-old hitman his marching orders for violent conduct during the recent 2-1 defeat at Barnet
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Basketball: Overtime loss for the Leopards
With six minutes remaining in regulation time of Sunday's match at the Brentwood Centre, the Leopards were leading by 14 points and seemingly had the game under control. Derby, who arrived with only seven players, were soon to have starting player Ray
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Rugby: Old boys outclassed
Saturday's victory by Stamford against second in the table Old Brentwoods virtually secures promotion for them and leaves the Old Boys to reflect on a poor first half performance with thoughts of what might have been. Despite both sides missing early
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Mid Essex soccer round-up: Spall Brentwood League...
Fixtures Essex Junior Trophy Fourth Round: Byron Red Star B v Spence Arms. Division One Cup First Round: Scotia v Burntwood. Division Three Cup First Round: Brentwood Eagles v Harwood Rangers; Spartan v Delma. Division Four Cup First Round: Doddinghurst
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Soccer: Hudson ready to sign for Wivenhoe
Giant defender Gary Hudson is set to sign an 18-month year contract with Ryman League division two side Wivenhoe Town. Hudson has been a big success at the club since joining from Clacton Town in September. And his signing, which will take place at Broad
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Shoebury: MP opens new shop to raise cash for hospice
Tory MP Sir Teddy Taylor opened a new Shoebury charity shop aimed at boosting funds for Fair Havens Hospice. The new store on West Road is the sixth shop around south Essex selling goods and raising cash for the Westcliff hospice in Chalkwell Avenue.
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Benfleet: Jo's bite at Big Apple
Teacher Jo Dennison swapped Benfleet for New York when she flew out to the States on an important fact-finding mission. The travel and tourism teacher at The Deanes School in Daws Heath Road, Benfleet, will be finding out what makes America such a joy
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Harwich: Delight as school wins special status
The Harwich School is to become a specialist language school. Education minister Estelle Morris today announced that the Hall Lane school is one of only 14 nationwide to be successful in the latest round of bids. The Government will plough £100,000 into
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Wickford, Basildon: Fresh appeal for crash witnesses
Witnesses to a fatal car crash which left a young driver dead and his friend in intensive care are still being sought by police. Kevin Stanton, 20 of Craylands, Basildon, was killed after his car was in collision with a tree on Castledon Road in Wickford
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Harold Hill: £100,000 play area 'will be wrecked'
It could be vandalised out of sight - that is the chilling message to leisure bosses about to install a £100,000 children's play area in Central Park, Gooshays Drive, Harold Hill. The stark warning comes from Havering Sports Council member and former
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Eastwood: Mum warns against meningitis complacency
A mum whose only son developed deadly meningitis has warned other parents against complacency. Julie Baker did the recommended "tumbler test" when 18-months-old Cameron fell ill with what looked like a heat rash on his chest and back. She had read that
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Dovercourt: Tribute offered to Diana memorial
Memorials are usually built to a certain formula, but a Dovercourt man is attempting to buck the trend. A Diana, Princess of Wales remembrance walk through London's West End is to be created this year and Colin Wilkin, 73, believes he has just the thing
