Archive
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Colchester: Fires heartbreak for family and traders
A father and son were left devastated after fire destroyed their fruit and vegetable stall at Colchester market. A caravan was gutted and hundreds of pounds of stock were lost in the blaze that broke out at around 11.15pm on Friday. The stall has been
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Walton: Woman hurt in cliff fall
A woman slipped while she was searching for fossils on cliffs at Walton and had to be airlifted to safety. The woman, who was described as about 60 years old, was flown to Colchester General Hospital after suffering a suspected ankle injury. She had been
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School athletics: Southend on high in regional finals
Southend High dominated when the regional finals of the English Schools National Track and Field Cup were staged in hot but windy conditions at Basildon's Gloucester Park track yesterday (Monday). Southend won three of the four competitions to make certain
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School athletics: Southend on high in regional finals
Southend High dominated when the regional finals of the English Schools National Track and Field Cup were staged in hot but windy conditions at Basildon's Gloucester Park track yesterday (Monday). Southend won three of the four competitions to make certain
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Hail the rockabilly king...
Southend's rockabilly king, Steve Hooker, will be playing a thespian ladened gig with his band, the ST's, at the Palace Theatre bar in London Road, Westcliff on June 18. Steve, who is frequently popping over to Europe to tour with his rock and roll and
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Soccer: Football calls foul on Stan and Ollie show
A charity event has fallen victim to England's Euro 2000 football match against Germany. Now the film show planned by the Laurel and Hardy Appreciation Society for this Saturday, has been put back two weeks. Society spokesman Paul Harding said: "As in
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South Essex: From labour camp to welcoming Britain...
Her own parents were refugees. Now Jadzia Haughton is working to help the new waves of exiles cope, discovers JANE O'CONNELL Families packed together in tiny hotel bedsits, or else housed in damp, rubbish-strewn flats, some of them living in fear of their
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Earls Colne: Saucy streak in front of Queen
Two pranksters who streaked in front of the Royal Box at the Derby said sorry to the Queen and vowed: "We'll never do it again." Cheeky pals Michael Dale and Spencer Cunliffe were under starkers orders as they stripped off and gave chase while horses
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Westcliff: Woman attacked by masked man
A masked man who attacked a young woman in Westcliff before trying to rip off her blouse is being hunted by police. Officers believe two men spotted by the victim moments before her terrifying ordeal may hold the key to catching the culprit. A police
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Cressing: Terrier Fred trapped for two days
Firefighters plucked a pooch to safety after he was trapped in a rabbit hole for two days. Fred, the three-year-old jack russell terrier, was enjoying one of his usual romps in nearby fields but his owner Helen Purcell knew something was wrong when the
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Witham: Boom time for sixth-formers
A school wants to expand its sixth form block because of an overwhelmingly increase in pupils. Rickstones School in Witham is hoping to get permission for two more classrooms and a large tutorial area. And it could be a race against time to have the accommodation
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Benfleet: Accused of murder bid
A man facing charges including attempted murder in Benfleet, has been remanded in custody until Monday. Robin Halls, 34, of Victoria Avenue, Southend, appeared before Southend magistrates charged with the attempted murder of his wife Deborah Piper, wounding
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Maldon: Bands urged to 'tune up'
Young music bands from and around Maldon are being urged to tune up for stardom when the local heat of the Keep It Live contest takes place next month. The event which was previously known as the Essex County Bands Contest has been re-launched and the
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Soccer? It's our religion!
Now it's official - football IS a religion! But maybe a secondary one for the congregation at West Leigh Baptist Church in London Road, Leigh. The church's football-crazed preachers are swapping the communion cup for the Euro Cup on Saturday when they
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Southend: Pier bet swimmer rescued
An exhausted swimmer was rescued by a lifeboat half a mile out to sea - after betting friends he could swim the length of Southend Pier. An RNLI spokesman said: "It appears the swimmer was just halfway through the bet when he became tired and ran into
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Tiptree: Haulage firm facing ruin
A family-owned haulage firm faces ruin from a £10,000 fine after five illegal immigrants were found hiding in one of its lorries. The asylum seekers were found in the trailor at Coquelles, near Calais, France, but bosses at Tiptree-based BT Cullum have
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Southend: Smile, you're on cab cam
Cabbies plagued with crime and fare-dodging customers have fitted video surveillance equipment to their cars. Driver Dave Hill designed the system, which has been installed on the dashboard of selected cabs of Associated Star Cars, based in Southchurch
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Southend: Smile, you're on cab cam
Cabbies plagued with crime and fare-dodging customers have fitted video surveillance equipment to their cars. Driver Dave Hill designed the system, which has been installed on the dashboard of selected cabs of Associated Star Cars, based in Southchurch
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Thorpe Bay: Pre-school battles against eviction
A thriving pre-school has taken a step towards survival as it battles against moves to evict it from its home of 30 years. The Johnstone Road Pre-School in Thorpe Bay has submitted a planning application to allow it to carry on using a church - even though
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Weeley: Dangerous load on stolen lorry
A trailer containing explosive chemicals has been stolen from a garage. Now police are warning the public to be on their guard as the trailer holds 22 drums of a flammable and combustible metal powder. The trailer is grey, 13.5 metres long with Eurosped
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Pitsea: Short-lived joy for fans
Football fans went wild with excitement in Pitsea as their team kicked off Euro 2000 on a winning streak. Drinkers in the specially erected stadium at the Bull pub, London Road, were among the millions county- and country-wide who were behind the England
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Athletics: They can't catch Carla...
Just a blur. Manningtree School's Carla Whiddett (hooped vest) leads the way to the tape in the Year 7 girls' 100 metres race at the Essex Schools' Athletic Championships in Basildon. Hers was one of five victories for the North East Essex team and there
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Castle Point: Crucial lessons in lifesaving
More than 1,000 youngsters from across Castle Point have been learning some crucial lessons in life. The year six pupils from junior schools all over the borough took time out from reading, writing and maths to learn how to keep safe and protect others
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Cressing: Terrier Fred trapped for two days
Firefighters plucked a pooch to safety after he was trapped in a rabbit hole for two days. Fred, the three-year-old jack russell terrier, was enjoying one of his usual romps in nearby fields but his owner Helen Purcell knew something was wrong when the
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Running: Southend run's strong showing
A field of nearly 600 battled out the annual Vestall Vergens Jim Peters Southend Half Marathon. The course started at the Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre in Eastern Avenue, and victory went to Londoner Ty Berg. He won in a time of one hour. 13m. 42s
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Colchester: Cancer unit will be three months late
Long-awaited plans for a £15 million cancer centre in Colchester have been delayed again. Regional health chiefs were due to discuss the plan in July but now they say their agenda is too full and it will probably be put back until October. Mike Salmon
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Southend: 12 held in dawn swoops
Police raided houses in Southend at dawn today and arrested 12 men in connection with drugs crimes. The swoop, codenamed Operation Woodward, was the culmination of five nights' work by officers in Southend who are this week stepping up their crackdown
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Basildon: Report on troubled college expected
Results of a probe into alleged mismanagement at troubled New Basildon College are expected to be released next week. Government inspectors from the Further Education Funding Council spent two weeks assessing the college in March and April, after it was
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South Essex: Blow to £55m college plan
South East Essex College has been dealt a bitter blow with its £55 million town centre relocation plan bounced back for reconsideration. The Further Education Funding Council - which was asked to plough £16 million into the project - delivered the bombshell
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Pitsea, Grays: Mum's anguish at death of son
The mother of a Pitsea man found dead in the River Thames has told how her son's drug-related paranoia could have lead to his death. Allan Nash, 28, left home in Woodhays to DJ at a party in London's Kings Cross back in April. He never returned home.
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Colchester: Armed siege ends peacefully
An armed siege at a Colchester flat has ended peacefully after a five-hour stand-off. The siege began when police received reports of a man armed with a gun in Meadowbrook Court, off Brook Street, shortly after 1pm yesterday. Heather Watts, Essex Police
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Soccer: Keegan looking for back door again
England qualified for Euro 2000 via the back door - and now they will have to do the same from Group A. Kevin Keegan did not expect defeat against Portugal in Eindhoven last night (Monday) but now he must turn around a side beaten long before the final
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Witham: Boom time for sixth-formers
A school wants to expand its sixth form block because of an overwhelmingly increase in pupils. Rickstones School in Witham is hoping to get permission for two more classrooms and a large tutorial area. And it could be a race against time to have the accommodation
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Colchester: Third soldier has malaria
The third confirmed case of malaria among Colchester troops sent to war-torn Sierra Leone has been found -- and more cases are possible. So far 20 samples from soldiers with possible malaria have been taken to Colchester General Hospital for analysis.
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Thundersley: Virgin leisure centre in doubt
Bosses at Richard Branson's leisure company Virgin Active are debating whether to pull the plug on controversial plans to build a new centre in Thundersley. A spokeswoman for the company admitted it was considering scrapping the proposals for the centre
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Thundersley: Virgin leisure centre in doubt
Bosses at Richard Branson's leisure company Virgin Active are debating whether to pull the plug on controversial plans to build a new centre in Thundersley. A spokeswoman for the company admitted it was considering scrapping the proposals for the centre
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Colchester: Ha Ha plans to set up in town
A successful bar and canteen chain hopes to form the final piece of the jigsaw in the ambitious £10 million project to convert the old Colchester Post Office into a multiplex cinema. The old Post Office building in Head Street, Colchester, is already
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Athletics: They can't catch Carla...
Just a blur. Manningtree School's Carla Whiddett (hooped vest) leads the way to the tape in the Year 7 girls' 100 metres race at the Essex Schools' Athletic Championships in Basildon. Hers was one of five victories for the North East Essex team and there
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Chelmsford: Matching children with new parents
Social workers turned matchmakers at a unique event aimed at bringing together children who need families with prospective adoptive parents. More than 100 people were invited by Essex County Council to County Hall, Chelmsford to hear about the children
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Soccer: Premier return for D'Urso
Billericay referee Andy D'Urso is to officiate his second season in the FA Carling Premiership after getting the nod from the Football Association. Officials at Lancaster Gate have informed D'Urso that, following his first year refereeing at the top of
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Soccer: Football calls foul on Stan and Ollie show
A charity event has fallen victim to England's Euro 2000 football match against Germany. Now the film show planned by the Laurel and Hardy Appreciation Society for this Saturday, has been put back two weeks. Society spokesman Paul Harding said: "As in
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Running: Southend run's strong showing
A field of nearly 600 battled out the annual Vestall Vergens Jim Peters Southend Half Marathon. The course started at the Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre in Eastern Avenue, and victory went to Londoner Ty Berg. He won in a time of one hour. 13m. 42s
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Colchester: New threat facing Royal London jobs
More jobs could be on the line at Royal London Insurance in Colchester, it has been revealed. A major announcement is expected next month about the number of employees and amount of property owned by the firm. Last month 300 employees - about a quarter
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Tiptree: Haulage firm facing ruin
A family-owned haulage firm faces ruin from a £10,000 fine after five illegal immigrants were found hiding in one of its lorries. The asylum seekers were found in the trailor at Coquelles, near Calais, France, but bosses at Tiptree-based BT Cullum have
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Clacton: Couple jailed for ill-treating children
A husband and wife are in prison after being jailed for charges including the ill-treatment of children. Bruce and Heather Hill, of Nayland Drive, Clacton, appeared for sentence at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday. Bruce Hill, 27, had denied but was convicted
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Clacton: Blackmailer's threats to set home on fire
A woman threatened to burn down an elderly care home, a court heard. Yvonne Bates, of Epping Close, Clacton, sent a string of anonymous letters to the manager of the town's Canters Meadow. And in a letter to Clacton police she vowed to make the Ramsden
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Harold Hill: Pupils to teach IT skills in SA
Students from King's Wood School in Harold Hill will be travelling to South Africa to teach computer skills to local youngsters. The trip forms part of Expedition South Africa 2000, a project to educate young people in computing and enable Havering's
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Billericay: Safety first for pupils
Billericay now has one more zebra on its streets after months of tireless work by parents, teachers and pupils. All at Buttsbury Infants School, in Perry Street, were today (Tuesday) celebrating the completion of a zebra crossing outside the school. When
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Billericay: Safety first for pupils
Billericay now has one more zebra on its streets after months of tireless work by parents, teachers and pupils. All at Buttsbury Infants School, in Perry Street, were today (Tuesday) celebrating the completion of a zebra crossing outside the school. When
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Canvey: Residents fume over road peril
Furious residents are still fuming after councillors refused to talk about the problems surrounding a dangerous road. Angry locals in and around Nevada and Dovervelt Roads on Canvey stormed out of a Castle Point highways meeting after members agreed the
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Billericay: Church expansion plan is 'atrocious'
Plans for a controversial community church in Billericay are back under the spotlight. However, one councillor has branded the application "atrocious". Billericay Methodist Church received permission for the building on a site next to Alyssum Walk in
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Essex: Great Eastern right on time
Mid-Essex commuter railway Great Eastern is second best for on-time trains in the country according to a new report. The Shadow Strategic Rail Authority put 89.5 per cent of the 115,377 trains run by the Kelvedon Witham, Hatfield Peverel, Chelmsford,
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Rayleigh: Pub's towering tribute to soccer glory
Pubgoers were so intoxicated with football fever they decided to build their very own stadium - which even sports the legendary Wembley twin towers. The grandstand, designed to seat hundreds of football-hungry fans, has been set up at the Travellers Joy
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Billericay, Wickford: High-speed thief slips police net
The hunt is on for a thief with a haul of fishing equipment who led police on a high-speed chase in south Essex. Using a car stolen from Lakeside last month, the thief made off with petrol from garages in Wickford and Billericay before being seen stealing
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Basildon: Who nicked my milk float?
A Basildon milkman whose float was stolen from under his nose proved he'd gotta lotta bottle when he chased after it on foot. Martin Twelftree was unable to catch up with the thieves as they disappeared into the distance weaving dangerously across the
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Kirby Cross: Holiday blaze nightmare
A family's holiday turned into a nightmare after they were forced to flee their blazing caravan. Philip and Stephanie Newman lost everything, including their two year-old son Luke's precious Thomas the Tank Engine collection. Mrs Newman, 24, speaking
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Benfleet: Accused of murder bid
A man facing charges including attempted murder in Benfleet, has been remanded in custody until Monday. Robin Halls, 34, of Victoria Avenue, Southend, appeared before Southend magistrates charged with the attempted murder of his wife Deborah Piper, wounding
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Canvey: Residents fume over road peril
Furious residents are still fuming after councillors refused to talk about the problems surrounding a dangerous road. Angry locals in and around Nevada and Dovervelt Roads on Canvey stormed out of a Castle Point highways meeting after members agreed the
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Essex: New county guide to Sunday travel
A new guide to the Sunday travel network in the county has been published by Essex County Council. It includes timetables, travel information and tide tables and articles of interest. It also gives information on the money saving Sunday Saver and Sunday
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Soccer: Magilton facing misconduct charge
Jim Magilton has requested a personal hearing at the FA after being hit with an misconduct rap. The Ipswich Town midfielder was charged after the stormy play-off semi-final second leg against Bolton at Portman Road. Magilton, 31, appeared to kick out
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Westcliff: Gun drama earns police high praise
Bravery awards are to be bestowed on police officers who were threatened by a crazed gunman in a Westcliff street. The four officers and a special constable are to attend a prestigious Police Bravery Awards ceremony in London on Thursday - following a
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South Essex: From labour camp to welcoming Britain...
Her own parents were refugees. Now Jadzia Haughton is working to help the new waves of exiles cope, discovers JANE O'CONNELL Families packed together in tiny hotel bedsits, or else housed in damp, rubbish-strewn flats, some of them living in fear of their
-
Date
Weeley: Dangerous load on stolen lorry
A trailer containing explosive chemicals has been stolen from a garage. Now police are warning the public to be on their guard as the trailer holds 22 drums of a flammable and combustible metal powder. The trailer is grey, 13.5 metres long with Eurosped
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Date
Thorpe Bay: Pre-school battles against eviction
A thriving pre-school has taken a step towards survival as it battles against moves to evict it from its home of 30 years. The Johnstone Road Pre-School in Thorpe Bay has submitted a planning application to allow it to carry on using a church - even though
-
Date
Colchester: Armed siege ends peacefully
An armed siege at a Colchester flat has ended peacefully after a five-hour stand-off. The siege began when police received reports of a man armed with a gun in Meadowbrook Court, off Brook Street, shortly after 1pm yesterday. Heather Watts, Essex Police
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Date
Westcliff: Gun drama earns police high praise
Bravery awards are to be bestowed on police officers who were threatened by a crazed gunman in a Westcliff street. The four officers and a special constable are to attend a prestigious Police Bravery Awards ceremony in London on Thursday - following a
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Date
Pitsea: Short-lived joy for fans
Football fans went wild with excitement in Pitsea as their team kicked off Euro 2000 on a winning streak. Drinkers in the specially erected stadium at the Bull pub, London Road, were among the millions county- and country-wide who were behind the England
-
Date
Castle Point: Crucial lessons in lifesaving
More than 1,000 youngsters from across Castle Point have been learning some crucial lessons in life. The year six pupils from junior schools all over the borough took time out from reading, writing and maths to learn how to keep safe and protect others
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Date
Southend: 12 held in dawn swoops
Police raided houses in Southend at dawn today and arrested 12 men in connection with drugs crimes. The swoop, codenamed Operation Woodward, was the culmination of five nights' work by officers in Southend who are this week stepping up their crackdown
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Billericay: Five on list to replace Gorman
The Conservative candidate who will replace Teresa Gorman in Billericay at the next general election is one step closer to being revealed. The Billericay Conservative Association's selection committee now has the short list down to just five. The process
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Colchester: Cancer unit will be three months late
Long-awaited plans for a £15 million cancer centre in Colchester have been delayed again. Regional health chiefs were due to discuss the plan in July but now they say their agenda is too full and it will probably be put back until October. Mike Salmon
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Billericay: Five on list to replace Gorman
The Conservative candidate who will replace Teresa Gorman in Billericay at the next general election is one step closer to being revealed. The Billericay Conservative Association's selection committee now has the short list down to just five. The process
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Southend: Airport can save London rivals
Time is running out for London airports facing gridlock, unless airports like Southend can come to the rescue. That is the verdict delivered by two reports with one study showing that without action the situation will soon become critical. One report,
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Basildon: Armed police storm house
Witnesses have spoken of their horror as armed police stormed a Basildon street to end a dramatic siege. Neighbours watched as more than a dozen police officers moved in on a house yesterday (Monday) after a tense stake-out and arrested a man. Police
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Maldon: Support Prom Park Fantasia - or lose it
Maldon residents are urged to support the town's Fantasia summer event - or it could be their last. Tickets are currently on sale for the event at the Promenade Park on July 1 and 2, but Maldon District Council chairman, Roy Pipe said: "Despite a great
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Vange: New police quiz for murder witnesses
Hundreds of potential murder witnesses are to be revisited by detectives after new information came to light. Those people who helped officers with information about the fatal stabbing of Danny Davis in February could now be called upon again. It emerged
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Soccer: Keegan looking for back door again
England qualified for Euro 2000 via the back door - and now they will have to do the same from Group A. Kevin Keegan did not expect defeat against Portugal in Eindhoven last night (Monday) but now he must turn around a side beaten long before the final
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Date
Soccer: Premier return for D'Urso
Billericay referee Andy D'Urso is to officiate his second season in the FA Carling Premiership after getting the nod from the Football Association. Officials at Lancaster Gate have informed D'Urso that, following his first year refereeing at the top of
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Date
Southend: Pier bet swimmer rescued
An exhausted swimmer was rescued by a lifeboat half a mile out to sea - after betting friends he could swim the length of Southend Pier. An RNLI spokesman said: "It appears the swimmer was just halfway through the bet when he became tired and ran into
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Colchester: Third soldier has malaria
The third confirmed case of malaria among Colchester troops sent to war-torn Sierra Leone has been found -- and more cases are possible. So far 20 samples from soldiers with possible malaria have been taken to Colchester General Hospital for analysis.
