Archive
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Hockley: Prison governor under fire again
A troubled prison has been thrown into turmoil by a second vote of no confidence in its governor. Members of the local Prison Officers' Association are angry at working conditions in Hockley's Bullwood Hall Prison and blame governor, Viv Hart. They have
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Brightlingsea: Youth drop-in base needs new home
A successful drop-in centre in Brightlingsea desperately needs to find new premises to avoid closing its doors on the youth it is trying to help. The 4 Youth Centre opened in March, based in the Sand Castle Cafe on the High Street. At that time, the cafe
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Soccer: Right up their street!
There must be something in the North Sea air. Eastcliff Avenue might seem just like any other normal street in Clacton, but it's beginning to forge a bit of a reputation for producing talented young footballers. For the last five years it has been home
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Colchester, Harwich: Baby arrives at rival rugby club
A rugby fan has been celebrating after his wife gave birth to a baby boy - even though it happened at the headquarters of his team's sporting rivals. The unscheduled fixture began when David Baker was following the ambulance rushing wife Alison to the
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Soccer: Patriotic Ken paints his pub for England
A bit of bunting just wasn't enough for Brewery Tap owner, Ken Faulkner, when it came to expressing support for the England football team in Euro 2000. "I thought, surely I can do better than that," he said. "Then I thought, yes, I'll paint the whole
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Soccer: Heard tipped for top role
Colchester United's Peter Heard has played down speculation he could become the new vice-chairman of the Nationwide Football League. The millionaire U's chairman is reported to be one of the favourites to replace the League's current vice-chairman, Ipswich
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Cricket round-up: Old Boys break 20-year curse...
Kennedy 88 all out King John Old Boys 89-4 (King John won by six wickets) King John put the record straight on a 20-year hoodoo when they took a conclusive victory over old rivals Kennedy. On a sticky wicket, Kennedy were put into bat and soon paid the
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Tennis round-up: Westcliff duo bid for glory...
Two Westcliff teams are set to battle for county cup glory this weekend in Essex finals. Westcliff Hardcourts will be going out to triumph in the Essex Senior Cup and Westcliff Lawn's ladies third team will be in action in the Essex Junior Cup. The Hardcourts
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Maldon: Maternity unit fight goes on
This fight goes on. That's the message from a group set up six years ago to campaign against the closure of the maternity unit at St Peter's Hospital in Maldon. Momms (Mums Opposed to Maldon Maternity Shutdown) has successfully fought closure twice in
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Colchester: Driver drops a brick - or two
A lorry shed its load of bricks as it went round a busy roundabout. The truck was driving round Spring Lane roundabout, Colchester, at 1.50pm yesterday (Wednesday) when the load slid off on to the roundabout. Essex Police spokeswoman Kim White said: "
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Colchester: Call to oppose ward change
Plans to divide the Myland area of Colchester into two electoral wards have been given the thumbs-down by members of the parish council. The Local Government Commission for England wants Myland Parish Council to comprise two wards - High Woods and Mile
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Vange: Activity scheme to cut street nuisance
The streets of Vange will be a haven of peace this summer holiday as youngsters channel their energies into something positive. Residents in the district's identified hotspots, Vange and Felmores, have been dreading the lengthy school holiday which often
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Southend: Stinking food in van
Police have claimed they were powerless to prevent a van containing stinking piles of rancid chicken and live pigeons from delivering its load to a restaurant in Southend. The unrefrigerated Ford Transit was stopped for a routine check by officers from
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Billericay: Reward bid to net car vandals
Car vandals causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to cars parked in Billericay have forced a motorist into offering a reward to anyone who can help catch the culprits. James Welton, 27, is so incensed by the malicious vandalism caused to cars parked
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South Essex: Hospital check on disgraced doctor
Disgraced consultant pathologist James Elwood checked test results of south-Essex patients, it has been revealed. Staff at Basildon Hospital now have to review slides dating back six years after the realisation that Dr Elwood, 78, worked in the histopathology
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Essex: Community heart testing after £50,000 campaign
A community heart testing programme has got under way. A group of 43 young sportsmen and women took part in the first ECG testing session with equipment bought by supporters of Cardiac Risk in the Young. Now an appeal has gone out to other sports groups
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Clacton, Holland-on-Sea: Conmen target four pensioners
Bogus workmen drove two pensioners to a bank to withdraw nearly £2,000. The workers carried out work on two homes and walked off with the cash. Act Det Insp Mick Ornellas said there had been four incidents in the past week in Great Holland, Holland-on-sea
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Colchester: Cyclist died in crash
A cyclist has died in a time-trial crash in Great Bromley. Yesterday (Wednesday) friends and former colleagues paid tribute to the cyclist, who died after colliding with a Ford Transit van at Great Bromley. The rider was taking part in an open ten-mile
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Brentwood: New 30mph limits could be axed
The controversial 30mph speed limit on sections of Brentwood's Chelmsford and Rayleigh Road could soon be relaxed, following a hostile reaction from motorists and residents. The new speed restrictions on a number of borough roads provoked controversy
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Epping: Council forms a noise squad
With more and more people falling prey to the nightmare of noisy neighbours, Epping Forest District Council has unleashed a new weapon in the war against the cacophonous culprits Shocked by a massive 59 per cent increase in noise complaints since 1994
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Clacton: Veteran's plea to keep home open
War veteran Jack Gladden has given Essex Social Services a stark message - don't sell my home. The council could consider selling Beaumont Hall in Clacton if no-one comes forward to buy it by Friday. But speaking exclusively to the Gazette, Mr Gladden
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Hullbridge: Power black-out
A squirrel got an 11,000 volt shock and blacked out 600 homes when it took a short cut along a power cable. The body of the unlucky animal was found by engineers after homes in the Hullbridge area lost electricity at 6.52am today. His unfortunate journey
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Harwich: Plea for more community centre volunteers
The association behind a bid to build a £500,000 community centre is in danger of folding unless more volunteers come forward. Harwich and District Community Association could come to an end, according to secretary Joan Proctor. She said it was becomingly
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Colchester: Council staff fears over privatisation
Colchester Council staff are worried over moves which could lead to a department being privatised. Cabinet members will be asked if they want to consider getting an outside firm to run Revenue Services, which deals with council tax, business rates, benefits
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Colchester: 800 teenagers expected at Christian nightclub
A nightclub for under-18s is set to be held at Charter Hall in Colchester. The event, due to take place tomorrow (Friday) night from 8pm to midnight, is expected to attract up to 800 teenagers. It is the first time the monthly Deep nightclub will be held
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Angling: 70 turn out for stingray contest
The club's All England Stingray Championship was held on Saturday at Hutleys Beach, St Osyth. 70 anglers turned out and the winner of the £300 first prize was Phil Buy with a stingray of 49lb 8ozs. The fish was returned to the water after weighing. The
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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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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 on Monday. Southend won three of the four competitions to make certain of
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Soccer: Funday pitches in for children's hospital
Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital is nearly £1,300 better off thanks to a football funday in memory of Southend lad Keith Cannon. The 13-year-old died at the famous London hospital last November following a bicycle accident. His family and friends
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Essex: Unanimous opinion of meals on wheels...
Proposals to overhaul the meals on wheels service - which could see hot meals replaced by frozen dinners - have provoked a storm of outrage. Most of the 800,000 meals delivered each year throughout Essex are provided by the WRVS. The Echo went out on
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Maldon: Charity thanks its sponsors
A Maldon charity which can continue its work thanks to generous sponsors has made a special presentation to thank them. SWANS (Sometimes We All Need Support) provides courses and classes for physically disabled and sensory-impaired adults of working age
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Laindon: Green light given to new development
A shopping and housing development in Laindon has been given the go-ahead by councillors. Basildon Council's West Basildon area committee backed the application, for a site off Willowfield, after hearing that "local" shops could encourage people to walk
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Great Totham: Upside down on honeymoon
A mechanical engineer is to be a daredevil on his honeymoon by doing a bungee jump. Craig Walling will do the leap to raise money for Cancer Research. The 30-year-old from Great Totham plans to attempt the activity backwards in Queensland, Australia,
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Colchester: Balloon ends in Belgium
Space in Belgium may be at a premium during Euro 2000, but a balloon from Colchester managed to squeeze itself in. A card attached to one of 350 balloons let off from Grey Friars College has been returned, complete with greetings from Belgium. It is the
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Brightlingsea: Chalking up a coin success
Forget hopscotch. Michaela Tedman was delighted to see her colourful millennium logo recreated in larger than life full colour on the school playground. Michaela, ten, was just one of the pupils at Brightlingsea's infant and junior schools who took part
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Cricket: Familiar batting collapse led to Essex defeat
Glamorgan beat Essex by 20 runs in the day/night National League fixture at Cardiff on Tuesday as a familiar batting collapse led to the visitors downfall. Electing to bat after winning the toss, the Welsh side reached 220 thanks to 94 from Australian
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Table tennis round-up: 3-2 scoreline is proving popular...
In a week where England's 3-2 loss to Portugal in Euro 2000 will have been reported in millions of words throughout the World this scoreline has proved decidedly popular in the first round of matches in the Chelmsford & District Summer Table Tennis
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Golf round-up: Captaincy suits Dave to a tee...
Rochford Hundred saw Dave Turner hold his Captain's Day with the top honour, the Captain's Prize, going to Steven Smyth. He had identical nines of 39 for a 78 Stableford points total to win by three from Neil Cochran (35+41). Cochran beat Richard Layzell
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Brentwood, Shenfield: MP's warning over travellers
Brentwood could be sitting on a potentially explosive "tinder box" if tough action isn't taken to deal with the problems caused by travellers. That is the warning from MP Eric Pickles this week, after police moved travellers first from Ingatestone's Seymour
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Tiptree: Tesco plan gets the go-ahead
Tesco's controversial plans for a village supermarket plus housing, business units and a community centre have got the go-ahead. The scheme for the former Tiptree Book Services site will not be decided by public inquiry, the Gazette can reveal today (
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Southend: Murder hunt plea
Southend people hold the key to bringing the killer of an Albanian man to justice, the detective investigating his murder has said. In an exclusive interview, Det Supt Ian McNeill, who is investigating the murder of Pal Ton Qerimi, 32, is adamant that
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Soccer: Thief planning to fly the flag for England
One England fan remained patriotic despite the Euro 2000 loss against Portugal- as he stole a St George's flag. After Monday's 3-2 defeat for England, the thief climbed up on top of The Swag Shop by the pavilion on Clacton seafront, and took the flag,
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Ice hockey: Head coach is released
Chelmsford Chieftains have made a change in direction in terms of coaching for the forthcoming season and will be adopting a player/coach and bench coach system. Erskine Douglas, head coach with the club since Christmas 1998, will therefore not be retained
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Maldon: Memorial award
Nominations are being made for an award given in memory of a man who devoted much of his time to a Maldon school. The Graham Mott Award, now in its fifth year, is presented to the member of staff, student, parent or anyone who has contributed significantly
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Colchester: Staff to help community
More than 130 employees from Axa Insurance in Colchester will be taking part in two days of community work as part of a global initiative involving staff from 40 countries. Axa 2000 takes place on June 16 and 17, with more than 4,000 employees across
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Chelmsford: Leisure zone proposal
A country park and a new water sports facility would be part of a proposed leisure zone to the north-east of Chelmsford. Many of the town's sports clubs could relocate to the zone, which would be a buffer between urban Chelmsford and the countryside.
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Basildon, Chelmsford: Aerospace workers face axe
Workers at aerospace giant BAe Systems were today facing an uncertain future with the announcement of 3,500 job losses. Company union officials were called to BAe's head office in Hampshire to be told about the proposed job cuts which are likely to affect
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Tiptree: Overseas work axe over asylum fears
A haulage firm has quit working overseas because of fears about illegal immigrants sneaking on board its lorries. Bosses at Tiptree-based Alexander M Frood know that if an asylum seeker was found they would be instantly fined £2,000. Under the terms of
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Fyfield: Hoping to net people power...
Residents in Fyfield are to be asked to exercise people power in a bid to solve the problem of the vanished village shop. Householders' opinions will be canvassed on what should happen following the closure of Fyfield Village Stores and Post Office earlier
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Basildon: Town's CCTV set to merge
Crime in Basildon town centre could be slashed if a report gives the thumbs-up to a merger of the town's CCTV systems. Kings Lynn firm Optimum Risk Management has been liaising with Kerry Davison, town centre manager, over the consultants' report - and
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Colchester: School news teams earn awards
Two school news teams were at the Houses of Parliament for a special awards ceremony. Colchester's Thomas, Lord Audley repeated last year's highly commended grading in the Times Educational Supplement's Newsday competition. Hazlemere County Junior School
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Soccer: Little urges trio to stick with Blues
Southend United manager Alan Little has urged three of his young out-of-contract players to commit themselves to the Seasiders. Defenders Chris Perkins, Leo Roget and midfielder Kevin Maher have been offered new deals by the Shrimpers and are currently
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Cricket: Test stars lined up for Hadleigh game
Mark Ramprakash, Devon Malcolm and Phil Tufnell are in the frame to lead a World Invitation XI in a match against Hadleigh and Thundersley cricket club. The England trio have been provisionally pencilled in for the annual fixture at the Jon Burrows Ground
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Cricket: From the pavilion...with Essex skipper Ronnie Irani
The PPP County Championship Division Two table has a good look about it. Essex are riding high in second place just ten points adrift of leaders Worcestershire as we set out to achieve a third successive win from our current four-day outing against Glamorgan
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Cricket: Floodlit match tickets are selling well
Essex are to stage their first floodlit one-day league match this season when Surrey provide the opposition at Castle Park, Colchester. The game takes place on August 23 and tickets are already selling extremely well. Acting Secretary Malcolm Fields said
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Essex: Loans alert
Adverts offering to clean your credit reference file or restore your credit rating by rubbing out any record of debt, should be treated with caution according to the Government's consumer protection authority. The Office of Fair Trading warns that the
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Maldon: Refugee meeting invitation to all
Maldon people are being invited to talk about ayslum seekers at a public meeting. Maldon and District Refugee Support Group, formed this year after asylum seekers were brought into the town, is holding the meeting at the town hall on June 27. Speakers
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Laindon: New jobs hope in showroom plan
A scheme which could create 19 new jobs in Laindon has been given the green light by councillors. Members of the West Basildon Area Committee backed proposals to demolish an existing workshop on the Toomeys site in West Mayne, and build a new vehicle
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Essex: Marconi director attacks dome detractors
The director of special projects at Marconi has hit back at critics of the Millennium Dome and its attractions. Mark Broughton branded the knockers as "armchair critics" and said they should go there first before making any comments. Marconi is the parent
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Essex: Creative county television
Publicity hungry artistic and creative groups in Brentwood, Billericay and Ongar are being offered the chance to appear on TV screens across Essex. South East Television and Media Workshop, the Basildon-based cable television company behind the successful
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Walton: Greek campaign veteran's tribute to assassinated brigadier
The British military attache shot dead in Athens spoke with an Essex war veteran days earlier. Edwin Horlington is president of the Brotherhood of the Veterans of the Greek Campaign and the two men met at a reunion in Greece. Mr Horlington, said Brig
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Maldon: Unwanted courts force school to fork out £30,000
A school in Maldon could be facing a £30,000 repair bill for its crumbling tennis courts after plans to sell it off for homes were scuppered. Maldon District Council refused planning permission for houses to be built on the site at Upper Plume School
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Essex: Ambulance alternative
A health union is due to publish its alternative plan for the future of Essex Ambulance Service. Unison has commissioned the campaigning group London Health Emergency to help it produce a report which will address the service's plan to close 12 stations
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Wickford: Troubled foster child hit the bottle
A troubled foster-child hit the bottle and set upon two youngsters in Wickford after a tense meeting about his behaviour. The 14-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, lost control following a tough meeting with his foster parents and social
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Colchester: Devastation as crash court case collapses
The husband of a woman who died in a crash says he has been left devastated by the news a court case into the tragedy has fallen apart. Essex Crown Prosecution Service confirmed a charge of careless driving against Sylvia Boram, of Court Street, Nayland
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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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Essex: Survival training for police
Essex Police air support squad have been learning specialist safety and survival techniques. Piloting twin-engine Squirrel helicopters, the Essex air support team plays a key role in helping police on the ground. Four officers from Essex joined the course
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Harold: A new look at health issues
A radical shake-up of community health services will mean more power to Harold people, according to local health chiefs. And, they say, it will enable residents to take action to combat health problems facing the more deprived areas of Havering, including
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Westcliff: Masked man attacks linked
A masked man who tried to rip off a young woman's blouse could be a serial attacker responsible for at least two other assaults on women. Police said they are linking Saturday night's attack in Electric Avenue, Westcliff, with similar attacks in the area
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North Weald: Security system hostel proposal
Closed circuit TV is to be installed in a North Weald hostel for the homeless following a series of security alerts. The £5,000 system was recommended for Norway House after what local council officers called 'recent incidents.' Epping Forest housing
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Great Notley: New school wins national award
A flagship school in Great Notley has won a coveted national award as one of the millennium's top designs.Notley Green Primary School has been chosen as the Millennium Building of the Year in the schools category. And it has also been shortlisted in another
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Billericay: Zigging that zag
Billericay youngsters from the Frances School of Drama will be going football crazy this Saturday. The older students of the school, based at the Fold, will be producing Zigger Zagger, a football fantasy set on the stands of a city football club. Younger
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Braintree: Callers kept waiting by council
Callers to Braintree Council were left hanging on the line after the local authority's phone system collapsed. Residents trying to get through to the council were left frustrated and angry with either a continuous engaged tone or a recorded message urging
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South Essex: Store to shut as C&A quits UK
Fashion chain C&A are to close all their stores countrywide - including the one at Lakeside. A statement issued today confirmed that the fashion chain's remaining stores in Dublin and the UK are to follow the same fate as the Southend and Basildon
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Canvey: Island cemetery a step closer
A start date for work on Canvey's new cemetery is set to be revealed next week. Castle Point Council will meet with Benfleet funeral directors, Willow, to thrash out the details. It had been hoped the new cemetery in Northwick Road would be open by August
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Basildon: Yum Yum's fatehangs in balance
The fate of a south Essex nightclub will be decided by council chiefs tonight amid police and council criticisms over the way it is being run. Yum Yum nightclub in Paycocke Road, Basildon - formerly Monroe's - has applied to renew its public entertainment
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Stansted: Five hours trapped on jet
Airport chiefs are reviewing diversion handling procedures after holidaymakers were forced to spend five hours trapped on a Boeing 757 aircraft at Stansted Airport. A pregnant woman had to have medical treatment and a teenager collapsed while the plane
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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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Essex: Fury over plans for thousands of homes
Government plans for tens of thousands of new houses across the south east of England every year have been denounced by angry local authorities. The draft regional planning guidance, unveiled by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott in the House of Commons
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Witham: School walls will never be the same again
Budding young artists are brightening up bland school walls by designing and painting colourful banners for display. Youngsters at Templars County Junior School, Cressing Road, Witham, painted the banners as part of a school project focusing on using
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Colchester: Travellers set to leave soon
Travellers on an industrial estate have revealed plans to leave "in the next couple of days". Six families converged on Severalls industrial estate yesterday but say they have no intention of staying in the town long. Insp John Smith, of Colchester police
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Cricket: Danny the boy for Essex at Bristol
Essex recorded their second successive win in the county championship when they beat Gloucestershire at Bristol inside three days. A fascinating dual between the two sides, uninterrupted by the weather, was closely contested throughout before the visitors
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Cricket: County round-up
Essex are currently engaged in a championship match against Glamorgan at Cardiff which commences today (Thursday), and is scheduled to finish on Sunday. On Wednesday (June 21), it's another game in the Principality when Essex travel to Swansea to engage
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Paperboy comforts pensioner after collapse
A Gazette paperboy has been hailed a hero after he helped a pensioner who had collapsed. Quick-thinking Chris Tedford, 14, was near the end of his afternoon paper round yesterday (Wednesday) when he spotted something wrong at 83-year-old Frances Gray's
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Halstead: Flower displays stolen
More displays have been stolen from the Halstead in Bloom competition bid. Girls from the 4th Halstead Brownies helped AG Pringle, a design engineering company, plant flowers outside the firm on Broton Road industrial estate. But thieves loaded the blooms
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Witham: School's first and only head to retire
The first and only head of Rickstones School in Witham has announced her retirement. Norma Turner will be leaving the Conrad Road school after 23 years in charge. Mrs Turner was the first member of staff recruited to Rickstones before it opened in 1977
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Southend: £15m up for grabs
Businesses and community groups in Southend are to be given key advice on how to grab a slice of the £15 million handout being awarded to the town from Brussels. The Euro-cash boost is to be granted to five areas of the borough over the next seven years
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Westcliff: Cats in triple shooting horror
A horrified cat-lover returned home to find her pet had been shot in a sickening attack. Antonietta Tulino, from Clatterfield Gardens, Westcliff, walked in from work to find two-year-old black and white, Gerry, screaming in agony in a pool of blood. It
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Chelmsford: Unit blaze 'may have been arson'
Firefighters believe a blaze at a derelict hospital building in Chelmsford could have been started deliberately. Three crews from Chelmsford and one from Great Baddow were called to the fire at a former isolation unit in Baddow Road at about 9.10pm yesterday
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Witham: Cybercafe to open soon
The wait for a cybercafe in Witham could soon be over. The finishing touches to the cafe, in Spa Road, are being made this week and surfers could get the chance early next week to have a look at the new equipment. Dean Russell, one of the businessmen
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Weeley: All going dotty for Tommy
Brewster Bear and friends will be going dotty in aid of the baby care charity Tommy's Campaign. The Brewster family pub restaurant at Weeley is supporting the Go Dotty Baby Day tomorrow (Friday) and will be selling the spotty ribbons and donating money
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Roundabout finally gets the go-ahead
The go-ahead has been given for the long-awaited roundabout at Cattawade crossroads in Brantham. In a surprise announcement yesterday (Wednesday), Suffolk County Council said it hoped the work would be started by next March. The move has been welcomed
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Maldon: New look for hospice shop
The St Clare's Hospice shop in Maldon High Street is temporarily closing its doors to get a new look. The shop has been open for eight years and helps boost funds for the hospice based in the Bentalls complex in Heybridge. Now it is set to get new shelving
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Ongar: Cash bid for campus site
A cash injection of £50,000 will tonight be sought to spark the continuing redevelopment of the Ongar campus site. The money will be used for essential design work on the extension of the leisure centre. Epping Forest Direct Services Board will be recommended
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South Essex: 1,000 jobs for county
More than 1,000 new jobs at call centres could be snapped up by unskilled employment-seekers across south east Essex by this time next year, research has revealed. Southend is home to several dedicated call centres which, together with Rochford and Castle
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Braintree: Residents to hit back at yobs
Residents are to take action against anti-social behaviour by youths on a problem estate in Braintree. Gangs of mainly teenage boys have been running amok in Bartram Avenue, speeding around in cars, defecating on pathways and hurling abuse at residents
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Castle Hedingham: Police hunt man who attacked woman in layby
A woman was attacked after she pulled over to a layby. It happened between Bulmer Tye and Castle Hedingham 200 yards from the A131. The woman, who was driving a dark-coloured people carrier, was followed into the Castle Hedingham road by a red Ford Mondeo
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Essex: Firefighters work to rule
Outraged Essex firefighters were on a strict "999 calls only" service today (Thursday) after a row over disciplinary action. The secretary of the Essex branch of the Fire Brigades Union instructed its members to take industrial action at 6pm yesterday
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Jaywick: Schoolgirl's face bitten by dog
A schoolgirl needed more than 80 stitches after she was bitten on the face by a dog. Joanne Stannard, 11, was in a shop when a bull mastiff bit her. Her father, Neil, of Alvis Avenue, Jaywick, said: "I sent my daughter to get some bits and pieces and
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Essex: Blair backs meals on wheels campaign
Prime Minister Tony Blair has backed the Evening Echo's campaign against cuts in meals on wheels services in Essex. The Premier's support came after Basildon MP Angela Smith called on him to denounce Essex County Council's plans during Prime Minister's
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Billericay: Accolade for safe town
Billericay is the fifth safest place in the country according to the town's police chief and despite facing problems with vandalism and shoplifters commuting into the town Insp Steve Tutton is determined to keep it that way. Insp Tutton, who has been
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Basildon: Probe launched as head is suspended
A full investigation has been launched at a Basildon school after its headteacher was suspended. Staff and pupils arrived at Barstable School, in Timberlog Close, Basildon, today (Thursday) to find deputy headteacher Jonathon Oddy temporarily in charge
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Billericay: Ritz decision d-day
Plans to demolish a historic building look certain to be rubber stamped tonight (Thursday). An application to flatten the old Ritz snooker hall in Chapel Street, Billericay, and replace it with 15 homes will be considered by the town's area committee.
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Maldon: Two supermarket safes are stolen
A major investigation has been launched after burglars unbolted two safes from a Maldon supermarket and drove them away. They struck at Budgens in the High Street, breaking in through the front door. Police believe they jemmied the lock to get in some
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Brentwood: Fire hero saves children
A Brentwood man has been hailed a hero after diving into a smoke-logged house to save two young children. John Pickard, of Knight's Way, fought his way through the smoke to rescue a three-year-old girl and a two-year-old boy. The ordeal happened at Knight's
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South Essex: 'Neurotic men' hit waiting lists
Health advice about the dangers of testicular cancer is putting those in real need of treatment on longer waiting lists. Guidance on self-examination has resulted in stampedes to GP surgeries and bumper referrals for hospital ultrasounds, it has been
