Archive
-
Date
Stanway: House cleaned out in burglary
Police are appealing for witnesses after nearly all the contents of a house were stolen. Burglars got into the property in New Farm Road, Stanway, Colchester, and cleaned it out on Tuesday. Among the items taken were a microwave, welsh dresser, freezer
-
Date
Boxted: Widow's plea for return of stolen momentos
A grieving widow has appealed for the return of a poem and photograph of her late husband which were in her purse stolen while she was shopping in Colchester. Mary Pugh's husband of 46 years, George, died last September and she was in a town centre shop
-
Date
Tennis round-up: Club in shock at Lloyd's LTA exit...
Members at Westcliff Hardcourts were in shock this week after club president David Lloyd was given the sack as Britain's Davis Cup captain. Lloyd has been a member of the club since his junior days and still visits the Hardcourts occasionally from his
-
Date
South Essex: Pay deal could end Ford strikes
Industrial action at motor giant Ford could be halted by the end of the week, unions today announced. White collar staff will be called on to accept the latest pay and pensions offer by the company. Union members are expected to make a decision by Wednesday
-
Date
South Essex: Ford strike decision
Ford white collar workers are due to decide today whether to accept the company's latest pay and conditions offer. Unions representing engineers and administrative staff, including many at Warley and Dunton, and workers at Basildon and Brentwood, suspended
-
Date
Brentwood: Residents escape rush hour crash
"Lucky to be alive" - that was the verdict of several Ongar Road residents after a dramatic accident outside their homes last Thursday. The incident occurred near the junction with Doddinghurst Road at about 8am, as people were preparing to go to work
-
Date
Clacton: Pupil, 14, robbed in toilet
A teenager was robbed by a woman in the toilets at Clacton Railway Station. It is the second robbery to take place at the station in the past two weeks and British Transport Police are stepping up patrols at the site. DC Alan Reed said the 14-year-old
-
Date
Braintree: We won't forget your birthday!
Newborn Jacob Marriott astonished his mum and dad after becoming the sixth member of his family to share the same birthday. Proud parents Zabrina Marriott, 20, and Mark Eaton, 26, thought it strange enough they were both born on February 23. But when
-
Date
Brentwood: Shopper shocked by worms
A Brentwood supermarket is demanding an investigation after a horrified shopper cut into his fish lunch to find it alive with worms. Craig Matthew bought the marked-down mackerel at Somerfields supermarket in Chapel High, Brentwood, last Thursday morning
-
Date
Witham, Harold Wood: Diving record success
A world record for diving endurance has finally been recognised by the Guinness Book Of Records after a six year fight. Bill Blaxland, who lived at King Alfred Road, Harold Wood, before moving to Witham three months ago, stayed under-water for an astonishing
-
Date
Basildon: Schools will not be closed
Three struggling Basildon schools will not close as a result of a new Government ruling, education chiefs vowed today. Of the six Essex schools falling short of the strict standards benchmark, three are in Basildon. James Hornsby High School, Laindon,
-
Date
Billericay: Gorman banished from the Commons
Billericay MP Teresa Gorman today started a month in the political wilderness after being thrown out of the Commons. However, local Tory chiefs have sought to reassure residents that they will continue to be represented in parliament by other Essex Conservative
-
Date
Braintree, Dunmow: Police's gang warning after latest robbery
Detectives warn that a gang of robbers could be operating in the Braintree area. Police are hunting seven men after four robberies in the past ten days. The Co-op in Bocking has been robbed twice, while Black Notley Post Office and Thomas Cook in Great
-
Date
Leigh: Asbestos scare at school
Workmen were called in to a Leigh secondary school last night to remove asbestos from pipes after a water leak caused heating to break down. Specially trained contractors sealed off a passageway in a teaching block at Belfairs High School to remove the
-
Date
Castle Point: Combating blindness
The Lions Club of Castle Point was today in the forefront of a new campaign aimed at combating the two main causes of preventable blindness. Members are urging local people to have regular eye tests to prevent glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy developing
-
Date
Golf round-up: Pam's total wins silver honours...
Rochford Ladies Silver Division bogey saw Pam Meredith win with a 1 up total with Di Fenn and Jennie Roberts both all square. Sue Clark's superb 3 up was enough for Bronze victory with Elaine Baker runner-up. Jay Rumsey pipped Pauline Richardson for third
-
Date
Soccer: Croft's in line for rapid return
GaryCroft is in line for a return to the Ipswich Town first team after playing a full 90 minutes for the reserves yesterday. The Town defender has made rapid progress after injuring his knee in the 2-1 win over Huddersfield last month. He was expected
-
Date
Soccer: Tolson targets Southend return
Crocked Southend United hitman Neil Tolson revealed today that he is still hopeful of pulling on his boots and leading Blues' firing-line again this season. Tolson went under the surgeon's knife last week to clear up a groin and stomach problem which
-
Date
Soccer round-up: Southend Junior League
Great Wakering Colts suffered mixed fortunes in Southend Junior League Cup competitions at the weekend. The under-16 side won their way through to the final when they triumphed 3-2 at Corristan Royals with goals from Walters, Galbally and Moore. However
-
Date
Colchester: Website success
An anti-bullying website developed by a Colchester student has had 56,522 hits since its launch two weeks ago. The Pupiline website was set up by Oli Watts, who attends the Gilberd School, for victims of bullying to log on to a website designed and written
-
Date
Chelmsford: Denise reaches for the sky in ward cash bid
The sky's the limit for a brave nurse who is taking a daring leap to raise money for charity. Denise Pratt, 21, who works as an auxiliary nurse on ward B8 at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, has come up with a soaring idea to raise money. She is taking
-
Date
Braintree: Knees up as sisters take time to recover
Some sisters are said to be joined at the hip, but Shirley and Sheila are connected by their knees. Both were admitted to hospital for knee replacement operations, on their right knees, at the same time and are now recovering together in their neighbouring
-
Date
Southend: TV to help Samaritans
Young people facing exam pressures can find help before they reach breaking point. This is the hope of Southend Samaritans which runs a programme of outreach work in a bid to let people know where to turn for help. Southend Round Table has just presented
-
Date
Southend: Indecent assault on girl under 14
A Southend man has admitted indecently assaulting two teenage girls, one of whom was under the age of 14. William Harris, 32, pleaded guilty at Southend Magistrates' Court to four charges of indecent assault on the younger girl, one charge of indecent
-
Date
Southend: China bike ride for intrepid Jack
Intrepid 77-year-old Jack Smith is preparing to go to the wall - the Great Wall of China. He plans a 300-mile cycle ride there and back from Beijing, in aid of Mencap this summer, once he has got his strength up. Mr Smith, of Selwyn Road, Southend, is
-
Date
Stanway: Surprise for Toni at annual cycling presentation
Lost in a carrier bag of paperwork and old photographs the accolade proclaiming pensioner Toni Plowright's record-breaking cycle ride was not quite as quick arriving as she was on her bike - it was 48 years late. In the summer of 1952, as a member of
-
Date
Maldon: River homes bid rejected
A development scheme that was set to safeguard waterside businesses in Maldon has been rejected by councillors. District councillors last night narrowly threw out plans to create a special development of offices and workshops with seven new homes on East
-
Date
Southend: High-rise flats get facelift
Four tower blocks which dominate Southend's skyline have undergone a dramatic transformation in a £4 million council revamp. The first major phase of the Town Centre 2000 project has now finished. The regeneration scheme included refurbishments to Chiltern
-
Date
Wickford: Estate's health care plight
The growing crisis in accessing health care services on the fast developing Wick Meadows estate in Wickford is to be made a major priority in a health action plan being developed for Billericay and Wickford residents. At a stormy Wickford Area Committee
-
Date
Billericay, Southend: Pupils hurt in bus crash horror
Southend school pupils were injured today when their bus crashed head-on with a car. The terrifying smash happened at a notorious accident blackspot as the double-decker bus made its way through Billericay towards Southend. The bus, which takes youngsters
-
Date
Essex: MP slams school improvements budget
A £2 million package to replace dilapidated demountable classrooms in schools was today condemned by an MP as not enough. Essex County Council wants to spend more than £2 million over the next few years on replacing the controversial structures - but
-
Date
Colchester: Student nightclub plan for town
A student-only nightclub plan for Colchester town centre has met with opposition from the Students' Union. Plans include opening a nightclub in the town, plus new buildings and improving the existing bars and Underground venue on the Essex University
-
Date
Witham: Water boards settle flooded garden row
A family was left with a flooded garden because of a dispute between two water boards. Philip and Dawn Humphreys, of Blixes Farm, Ranks Green, near Witham, contacted Anglian Water and Essex and Suffolk Water in a bid to get their "pond-like" garden drained
-
Date
Swimming: Callum strikes gold yet again
A disabled swimmer won the Havering Sports Council sports competitor of the year award and a Best International Male Swimmer accolade at an international event in a memorable week. Callum Hanslip, 16, of Astra Close, Hornchurch who attends Dycorts School
-
Date
Soccer: U's bid Richard adieu
Colchester United defender Fabrice Richard is set to leave the Second Division club. U's manager Steve Whitton revealed today the 27-year-old French defender was free to leave Layer Road and is going back to France for trials with Sochaux FC next week
-
Date
Clacton: Town may need new school
A new secondary school could be built in Clacton to deal with the increased demand for places. That is just one of the options being considered in a bid to ease the crisis situation that the town's two high schools are finding themselves in. Essex County
-
Date
Pitsea: Town due a business boom
Troubled Pitsea town centre is facing a more positive future with revelations that top high street stores and sports clubs are to move in. Two companies in the centre's Pembroke House are also preparing to employ dozens of local people as they expand
-
Date
Canvey: Minister to hear road plea
Transport Minister Keith Hill has agreed to pay a high-profile visit to Canvey to hear the case for a third road off the island, it was revealed today. After intense lobbying by MP Christine Butler , Mr Hill has pledged to spend some time on Canvey to
-
Date
Hockley: It's the end of Etheldore
Two eco-warriors were yesterday due in court after a protest camp set up to defend woods in Hockley was raided by police and security guards. Seven eco-warriors, including teenager Christiana Tugwell, were arrested on Tuesday lunchtime and taken to Rayleigh
-
Date
AN APOLOGY FROM THIS IS ESSEX
Dear readers, You may have noticed that today (Thursday) the story count in This Is Essex's Local News and Local Sport sections is lower than usual. You may have also spotted that fewer articles have pictures with them. This shortfall is due to the failure
-
Date
Rayleigh: On the road to nowhere
Frustrated motorists have their fingers crossed hoping there will be no repeat of yesterday's traffic chaos when major roadworks start on the A127 tomorrow. Long-suffering commuters struggled home to Southend last night - some journeys from Basildon took
-
Date
Battlesbridge: 3,000 homes for village
The sleepy village of Battlesbridge is set to become a commuter town with almost 3,000 new homes. Chelmsford Council has earmarked the quiet area for a major new housing development. It may also have primary and secondary schools, shops, leisure facilities
-
Date
Manningtree: Trespassers so near to tragedy
Youths trespassing on railway bridges put their lives at risk after they dismantled scaffolding near electric cables carrying 25,000 volts. The scaffolding is being used during strengthening work on the historic bridges which cross the River Stour near
-
Date
Billericay, Wickford, Brentwood: Shoplifting 'epidemic'
Teenage shoplifters from Billericay, Wickford and Brentwood are becoming a problem of "epidemic" proportions in Basildon town centre according to police. Basildon Police have now announced a "zero tolerance" attitude towards the 13 to 15-year-olds who
-
Date
AN APOLOGY FROM THIS IS ESSEX
Dear readers, You may have noticed that today (Thursday) the story count in This Is Essex's Local News and Local Sport sections is lower than usual. You may have also spotted that fewer articles have pictures with them. This shortfall is due to the failure
-
Date
Rallying: Clacton duo start at the top
Two old hands have made a spectacular return to rallying in a new team. Keith Raymond and Les Holden, of Clacton-based ASW Rally Sport, made a spectacular entry to national championship rallying by taking class honours in a showroom-style Group N 1600cc
-
Date
Rayleigh: Skating park turned down
A street-skating area in a Rayleigh park has been rejected - because it is the wrong location. Rochford councillors turned down the idea for Sweyne Park, but did not rule it out altogether, saying another place could be found for it. Members of the council's
-
Date
Rayleigh: 'A127 roadworks could kill our cafe'
The manager of a popular A127 cafe said tomorrow's major roadworks could kill her business if the chaos caused by yesterday's major gas leak was anything to go by. Christine Feeley, manager of the Blinking Owl cafe which sits on the London-bound carriageway
-
Date
Canvey: No more tanker hell for island
Calor Gas today revealed it has slashed the number of tankers thundering across Canvey, giving some much-needed relief to islanders. The company, based at the terminals in Thames Road, is now pumping 75 per cent of its liquid petroleum gas directly to
-
Date
Brentwood: Dr Fox pops in for raffle
Capital Radio DJ and star guest Dr Fox screeched into Tesco, Gallow's Corner last Friday to conduct a raffle for Computers for Schools vouchers. After arriving on his Harley Davidson motorcycle, the TV and radio music show presenter signed autographs
-
Date
Harold Hill: Knifemen rob man
An unemployed Harold Hill man was threatened with a knife by thieves before they snatched £300. Romford Police are warning people not to carry large amounts of cash around following the incident outside Secrets Nightclub, Angel Way, Romford, last week
-
Date
Soccer round-up: Eastern Junior Alliance
Southend United (Score) missed out on the chance to regain the top spot of the Eastern Section table when they drew away to East Thurrock United. That meant Canvey Island stay top of the (Seatex Design) Eastern Junior Alliance division. Canvey-based Concord
-
Date
Fyfield, High Ongar: Villages face shop closure
The village shop and post office in Fyfield will close within weeks and the one in High Ongar is under threat. The shock decision to axe Fyfield Stores less than a year after it reopened has dismayed residents. And, coupled with uncertainty at High Ongar
-
Date
Soccer: Brighter future for Sale
Former Colchester United striker Mark Sale is beating the life-threatening cancer that brought his professional football career to a temporary halt. The 28-year-old Rushden and Diamonds goalgetter has been battling to shrug off the cancer since November
-
Date
Soccer: Newman Natters...
On clean sheets: We can still make play-offs We finally managed to keep our first clean sheet of the new millennium during last weekend's 0-0 draw at Halifax Town, which was more than deserved. We've started looking a lot more solid at the back over the
-
Date
Rettendon: Eco-moles vow to burrow on
Claims that eco-activists protesting against the A130 bypass at Rettendon have already broken the previous record of 22 days underground may be premature. Disco Dave, who set the record during last year's Manchester Airport protest, claims the five eco-moles
-
Date
Weeley: Dawn pops question
A garage manager who teased his partner about marriage proposals was caught out when she proposed to him on Leap Day. Alan Kidd, 28, had spent much of February 29, the traditional day for female marriage proposals, teasing Dawn Comer, 30, at their home
-
Date
Lawford: Vintage car is lovingly restored after 60 years in a stable
A vintage car which rusted away for more than 60 years in the stable of a Lawford farm is expected to sell for thousands of pounds at a sale of classic cars later this month. Henry Poole, of Dale Hall, Cox's Hill, bought the clapped-out 1904 Talbot two-seater
-
Date
Harwich: Friends of paralysed victim set up events
Fundraising events are already being set up to help the paralysed victim of a tragic swimming accident. Former Harwich School pupil David Pells, 23, sustained a broken neck after hitting his chin on the sea bed in Oman two weeks ago. A cook with the Royal
-
Date
Colchester: Stepping through ghostly realms
Ghostly footsteps have been seen walking near Colchester Arts Centre. The footsteps, which can only be seen after dark, are a part of the You Are Here campaign aimed at drawing people's attention to the arts in town. They recently became visible in Church
-
Date
Shenfield: Kneesy does it, Sharon!
A wannabe bride was so keen to marry the love of her life she proposed to him in the middle of a busy high street. Sharon Chapman got down on one knee in pouring rain and produced an engagement ring before her stunned boyfriend Paul Hewitt. After spluttering
-
Date
Rayleigh: Village school could soon be on the move
A village school on an Essex blacklist because of its cramped buildings, could move to new premises in Rayleigh. St Nicholas Church of England primary school in Church Lane, Rawreth, is officially among the 30 worst schools in the county because of the
-
Date
Brentwood: New plans for hospital
Brentwood Community Hospital could be bulldozed to the ground to make way for a sparkling new state-of-the-art medical facility. The building, which has stood on the Crescent Drive site since 1934, is too old to accommodate the latest advances in medical
-
Date
Colchester: Mystery hero thwarts robber
Police today praised a mystery man for tackling a knifeman who was robbing a teenage girl. The Hungarian au pair was walking home from a night class along East Hill, Colchester, at about 8.45pm yesterday when a man held a knife to her chest. He demanded