Archive
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Pitsea, Benfleet: Hero Alan braves blazing bungalow
A heroic special constable has told of his desperate attempt to rescue a woman from her blazing home. Alan Baldree, 35, didn't hesitate when he saw smoke billowing from the home in Malgraves Place, Pitsea, after a chip pan fire started in a nearby bungalow
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Great Baddow: Backpackers safe
Two backpackers feared dead after being missing in Central America for nine months have been found safe and well. Paul Winder, 29, of Great Baddow, Chelmsford, and Tom Hart Dyke, 24, from Kent, now look set to be home in time for Christmas after being
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Essex: Christmas rail timetable released
Railtrack today announced more details of train services over the Christmas period. There will be no trains between Ilford and Liverpool Street all day on Christmas Eve, with buses linking Ilford and Stratford for connections with the underground, Docklands
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Tennis: Bay ready for Jubilee defence
Jubilee Cup holders Thorpe Bay are set to defend their title in this year's final. Bay defeated hosts Hockley 3-0 in the semi-final to secure their big match appearance against Westcliff Hardcourts. The winning team were made up of David Tubbs, Graham
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Witham: Cycle link gets green light
A new £25,000 Witham cycle link has been given the green light by councillors. The Chess Lane cycle link will join Newland Street, the commercial heart of Witham, to the Blackwater rail trail - a route which could form a section of the developing national
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Leigh: Old wharf could go 'to town'
A historic wharf in the heart of Leigh could be handed over to the town. Leigh Town Council is bidding to take over the lease of Strand Wharf - a landmark owned by Southend Council. Under the proposals, the town council wants to take over management of
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Colchester: Unique scheme is cracking crime
Colchester is and will continue to be a safe place to live thanks to a unique community partnership aimed at tackling crime and the fear of crime. The Colchester Community Safety Partnership brought together the combined force of Colchester Council, Colchester
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Chadwell St Mary: Rachel tributes pour in
The family of Rachel Middleton have been overwhelmed with calls of sympathy from members of the public who took the courageous teenager's story to their hearts. Rachel lost her long battle for life just days after appearing on television pleading for
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Brentwood: Gunmen blast man in roadside ambush
A man escaped death by inches after a pair of masked gunmen ambushed his car and blasted him through the rear side window. The victim, a passenger in a silver Vauxhall Cavalier car, was only saved by the thickness of his jacket, say police. They say the
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Colchester: Pupils' quilt ready to be hung up
A quilt of many colours will be hung on the wall at North Primary School and Nursery in Colchester in the New Year. The large quilt is made entirely of squares of fabric woven by pupils of the school during an arts week earlier in the term. It has been
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Brentwood: Town bids to forge links with global namesakes
Young people from Brentwood are on a global mission - to find and forge links with other Brentwoods around the world. And they are now organising what is believed to be the world's first 'international namesake conference' - Brentwood 2001 - which will
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Brentwood: Students bid to help London Transport
A solution to the capital's transport problems is long overdue, but a group of students at Brentwood County High School is aiming to come up with suggestions for London Transport to consider. They have begun to study the current situation and are already
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Colchester: Knife victim turns other cheek
A doorman attacked with a knife and machete by a clubber said yesterday (Wednesday) he gets no pleasure from seeing the man start a life sentence for the crime. Michael Herlihy, 34, was working on the door of the Terrace Nightclub in August when he was
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Basildon, Thurrock: Pressure mounts on hospitals
Concerns have continued over mounting pressures facing Basildon Hospital's emergency services as staff start putting into action its winter strategy. In the last three months "severe pressure" on the hospital has led to serious complaints about the length
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Stansted: Power lines to stay
Electricity suppliers say despite calls from villagers in the Stansted area, they have no plans to replace overhead power lines with underground cables. The massive investigation and clean up operation following the Korean Airlines Boeing 747 aircrash
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Kirby-le-Soken: Giddy-up Artful!
The Snow family found a festive way to deliver their Christmas cards - by horse and carriage. Nina Snow dressed up as Mary Christmas while husband Gary drove their carriage - pulled by their horse Artful Dodger. Artful Dodger even got into the spirit
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Brentwood: Police hunt bag robber
Police are hunting a robber who forced a woman to hand over her handbag in Brentwood. The incident happened as the victim walked along Rose Valley. The thief pulled up alongside her in a dark coloured, Fiesta-sized car and threatened her, demanding she
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Ramsden Heath: Parents bid to set up walking bus scheme
A new initiative aiming to boost safety for youngsters travelling to a Ramsden Heath school is looking for help from parents. Downham CE Primary School, in Church Road, is introducing a Safer Journeys to School scheme and needs parental volunteers to
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Swimming: Taking the plunge...
Taking the plunge - two pupils from Crowstone Preparatory School, Shopland, swam with great effect for East Anglia in the national independent schools' championships at Coventry. Eight-year-old Emily Burnett (left) finished third while Hermione Isaac,
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Childerditch: Village mourns popular farmer
Traffic approaching the villages of Little Warley and Childerditch was brought to a standstill for the funeral of local farmer Peter Davis. Mr Davis died of a heart attack, aged 71, in Basildon Hospital, three days after an operation. It took half an
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Clacton, Dovercourt: Festive crime fight being won
Christmas crackdowns on crime in Clacton and Dovercourt have been hailed a success. Police launched Operation Cracker in a bid to deter shoplifters, thieves and others committing offences in the run-up to the festive period. Extra officers were sent out
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Trampolining: Billericay bounce to national glory
The Billericay school have leapt to national trampolining prominence after success in the British Schools Championships (Eastern Counties). The under-19 girls team came second in the qualifiers to earn a spot in the national championships in Port Talbot
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Ongar, North Weald: Burglars in phone con
Office workers from Ongar and North Weald are being warned to beware of a telephone scam which could lead to their homes being burgled this Christmas. Police crime reduction officer Tony Ellis, says women in particular should beware of people calling
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Soccer: Rioch and McGleish for U's?
Colchester United boss Steve Whitton is still in the market for Barnet striker Scott McGleish and Macclesfield fullback Gregor Rioch. The two players turned out for the U's Reserves in Monday's Avon Insurance Combination two-goal defeat at home to Norwich
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Basildon: Town's bid for more CCTV
Town centre chiefs in Basildon have sumitted an outline bid for £350,000 in Government cash to fund the construction of a 24-hour CCTV camera network. The bid, drawn up by the Town Centre Partnership, would link the four current systems into one, and
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Netball: School team are county champions
Brentwood School's Under 19 netball team have won the county round of the all schools national championships for the first time and will now compete at the regional finals at Watford on January 27. Competing at county level the girls held off a strong
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Soccer round-up: MacDonald fires Methane to glory
Despite not being anywhere near the force they were last year, Methane Boys under-14s stepped on the gas to move further along the Southend Junior League Cup glory trail with a 2-1 win. Methane won the under-13 Cup last season, but have lost seven players
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Swimming: Runnymede stage a splashing event
Runnymede Swimming Club's annual Jingle Bells Gala brought together a huge field of competitors from many of the south-east's best clubs. Ten Essex clubs, including squads from Southend, Basildon, Canvey Island and Runnymede's own team competed for individual
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Basketball: Swifts crush Ware to stay top of the league
Swifts overcame a half-time deficit to stay on top of the National Cadet League's Southern Conference. Competitive games are always on the cards when Swifts take on their Hertfordshire rivals and this game was no exception. Early scores from Louise Robinson
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Harwich: Officials are up-front on fake brands
Five thousand fake underpants will be given to charity after they were intercepted at Harwich port. Essex Trading Standards officials yesterday (Wednesday) seized the pairs of fake Wallace and Gromit, Homer Simpson and Tasmanian Devil underpants bound
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Braintree: Vandals smash Christmas lights
Vandals have been condemned for smashing town centre Christmas lights by taking "potshots" at them with stones. The team behind Braintree's festive illuminations has had to replace about 40 of the colourful crystal light bulbs in and around Market Place
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Doddinghurst: Conman cleans up
A conman posing as a window cleaner struck in Doddinghurst this week stealing £100 from an 88-year-old woman. The theft was at 3.30pm on Monday December 18 at Bakers Meadow when the man, complete with bucket and sponge, entered the house and went upstairs
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Havering: Samaritans in plea for help as young face festive risk
A appeal for volunteers has been made by the Samaritans of Havering to help them with an expected increase in calls this Christmas. The charity says it expects to receive around 10 per cent more calls than usual over the holiday period. Maureen of the
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Essex: Warning over charity con
Householders are being warned by Essex Trading Standards not to be tricked by bogus doorstep charity collectors, particularly over the Christmas period. The department says it has received complaints about unscrupulous businesses claiming to make collections
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Billericay: Mystery as crash victims flee scene
A mystery crash has left a Billericay man bewildered after he rescued passengers from an overturned car and then looked on as they ran off and the vehicle exploded. John Bell, 20, was walking down the driveway of his Goatsmore Lane home early on Sunday
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Ongar: Christmas candle starts house blaze
A candle falling onto Christmas wrapping paper caused a fire which devastated the lower ground floor of a house in Ongar High Street on Tuesday night. Firefighters from Ongar and Brentwood rushed to Roden Cottage - a redbrick timber-framed home next to
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Colchester: Tory takes rap over web prank
A young Tory who registered a website in Liberal Democrat MP Bob Russell's name has been rebuked in the House of Commons. Mr Russell told the House of Commons the site had been registered without his knowledge or approval. The site's domain name was www.bobrussellmp
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Colchester: Girl, 9, finds her mother dead
Four children today face Christmas without their young mother who died suddenly at their Colchester home. Samantha Ratcliffe, 29, of Trafalgar Road, Lexden, was discovered by her nine-year-old daughter, Sophie, just eleven days before Christmas. Now Sophie
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Colchester, Harwich: Ferry considered safe, inquest told
A high-speed ferry which created a huge wave killing a fisherman had been considered safe when it was introduced, an inquest was told. John Sibley, 47, of Spruce Avenue, Greenstead, Colchester, drowned off the coast of Felixstowe on July 17 last year
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Colchester: Diamond couple's special lunch
A couple are celebrating their diamond wedding with a special lunch at Williams & Griffin - where they dine every week. Jean and Walter Parker have been eating at the department store in Colchester's High Street every week for the past 21 years and
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Colchester: Historic buildings for sale?
A pair of historic listed buildings in the heart of Colchester's town centre could be sold off. Estate experts at Colchester Council are considering what to do with its Trinity Street buildings, which are currently being used as an arts forum and for
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Stanford-le-Hope: Amputee must wait for a ramp
Two months after having a leg amputated, a Stanford-le-Hope man has been told he could have to wait until February before a ramp is installed at his home. In the meantime, 72-year-old John Fawsitt is stuck in his Hudson Close home, relying on ambulance
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Essex: Police chief action demand
A family whose son died four years ago on holiday in Tenerife today called for the immediate suspension of the Chief Constable of Essex. The Justice for Garry Walton Campaign claims despite evidence from witnesses, Essex Police have still not questioned
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Colchester: Pupils get a taste of the Orient
A teacher who spent five years in Japan has decided to teach the language at his English school. Maison Urwin, 31, of Colchester, has returned to the area to teach foreign languages and has begun offering the opportunity to learn Japanese. The former
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Havering: Yob rampage sours Christmas fun event
Mindless yobs soured last week's Christmas fun night at Hilldene Shopping Centre but failed to spoil the evening for thousands of visitors who enjoyed an evening packed with festive fun. The gang of around 20 teenagers struck in the last hour of the event
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Brentwood: Shops go to town on Christmas
Brentwood's retailers are being highly praised for their Christmas shop windows. The acclaim comes from judges of a 'Promote the Town' competition who are due to make their formal presentation of trophies and champagne to the winners today(Thursday).
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Colchester: Politicians cleared of council cover-up
Two of Colchester's leading politicians have been cleared of waging a council cover-up. Colchester MP Bob Russell and St Anne's ward councillor Mike Hogg were at the centre of an investigation by Colchester Council's standards committee. The committee
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Tendring: Pensioner killed in collision
Police have made an urgent appeal for a driver to come forward after a pensioner was killed in a car crash. The 88-year-old woman from Dovercourt - who had not been named yesterday - was certified dead at the scene of the collision in Thorpe Road, Tendring
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South Essex: Anti foxhunting lobby welcomes Bill
A campaigning south Essex MP today welcomed an overwhelming vote in favour of legislation which could lead to a ban on hunting with hounds. Basildon and East Thurrock MP Angela Smith supported the House of Commons decision to proceed with the Government's
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Colchester: Camera bid to stop estate's damage
Closed circuit television could be put on a Colchester estate to stop the increase in petty vandalism. Prettygate was targeted by nuisance vandals over the weekend with damage caused to the church, library, shops and houses. But residents say this is
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Colchester: Couple con nursery
Nursery school and play centre staff are livid after bogus callers stole almost £500 it had raised for charity. Staff and youngsters at Childsplay Adventureland play centre, in Clarendon Way, Colchester, had raised £490 for Children in Need. But the cash
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Soccer: Huge mop-up to salvage Blues' Shrews visit
Shrewsbury Town have started a massive mop-up operation in an effort to save Friday night's Nationwide League Division Three home game with Southend United. The Shrews have not played on their Gay Meadow pitch since October 27 as the playing surface,
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Southend: Radio boss criticises MP Butler
The new boss of Essex Radio in Southend has accused MP Christine Butler of abusing her powers to slate the firm in Parliament. Mark Lee claimed the campaign to save the local character of Essex FM and Breeze AM during the GWR takeover was "devoid of factual
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Braintree: Muttley foils dastardly duo
A plucky pensioner forced two intruders to flee from her home after her pet poodle raised the alarm. Brave Ivy Scales discovered the burglars after her dog Muttley barked out a warning while she was on the telephone. She confronted one crook face-to-face
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Essex: Woods sold for £53m by Marconi
Woods Air Movement has been sold by Marconi for £53 million. And today (Thursday) managing director David Priest was delighted to say that for the 650 Colchester employees it would be "business as usual". The company which has had a site in Colchester
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South-Essex: Shop around the clock in store wars
The battle for Christmas trade today hit its peak as rival supermarkets opened their doors around the clock. Sainsbury's set up in direct competition to Tesco by matching 24-hour opening times in three of its major stores until Saturday night. Many stores
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Castle Point: Tory leader row 'affects business'
The growing row in Conservative ranks could have serious implications for Castle Point Council business, leader Dave Wells has claimed. Important decisions affecting the running of the council and its service to the public could be delayed because the
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Canvey: seafront revamp gets charity status
Canvey 2000 has officially been recognised as a registered charity. Volunteers have been giving time and money to support Canvey 2000 - an organisation dedicated to revamping the seafront - but the group still had to pay out vast sums of VAT as it was
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Brentwood: 'Go green' call to borough
A challenge to "green up its act and help save the planet" has gone out to Brentwood Borough Council. The call comes from Warley councillor Michael Taylor, who says he will be pressing for a greener approach by the council across all its activities. It
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Soccer: Conlon on top form
Steve Whitton has sung the praises of in-form striker Barry Conlon after watching his new recruit pilot Colchester United to victory in their last two matches. Conlon, who has put his name to a loan deal which will keep him at Layer Road until the end
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Soccer: Romford faces battle for survival
Homeless Romford Football Club could be facing a make-or-break battle to secure its existence. For the past three weeks the club been suspended from Division One of the Ryman League following its failure to satisfy league requirements over its arrangements
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Essex: £16m to be spent on our schools
Schools in Essex are to benefit from a £16 million investment in buildings and extra places. The Government has given Essex County Council the go-ahead to borrow the money in the next financial year. It is the county's portion of a £620 million capital
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Colchester: Knifeman gets life
A man is starting a life jail sentence for a vicious attack on a club doorman. Nathan Motherwell was told by a Chelmsford Crown Court judge he was a "very dangerous man and would remain so for a very long time." And it was revealed at the end of a trial
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Chelmsford: Museum turns back the clock
Chelmsford and Essex Museum is turning back the clock. It is changing its name to the Chelmsford Museum, the title it started with in 1835 when it was first founded. Nick Wickenden, Chelmsford Council's museum's manager, said the museum has had a long
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Chelmsford: Child names are not way-out
When it comes to choosing names for youngsters in Chelmsford, parents have ignored way-out names and opted for traditional ones instead. Celebrity hero worship and the outrageous names of some stars' offspring take a back seat in the town with the most
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Brentwood: Gift to show you care
A caring Brentwood schoolgirl who will be 10 on Christmas Day is hoping Santa will bring her an extra special present. Bethany Lee, of Cromwell Road, Warley, is a member of the St John Ambulance Brentwood Division, which desperately needs to raise £45,000
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Brentwood: Villagers' fury as four bus routes are axed
An 'outrageous' decision to axe four vital village bus services in the Brentwood area has led councillors and villagers to turn on Essex County Council. Residents and councillors are up in arms after it emerged services 19, 20, 21 and 22 are all to be
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Westcliff: Family back home after cruise horror
A family are facing a bleak Christmas after their dream cruise in Italy turned into a nightmare. Businessman Kevin Rowland told how he watched in horror with his wife and 16-year-old son as their cruise liner, the Costa Riviera, rolled around on high
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Witham: Cyclists told to get off their bikes
Cyclists will have to dismount to get to Witham town centre under a new one-way system approved by councillors. Guithavon Road, Witham, has been a one-way street since 1997, but cyclists have been able to ride against the flow of traffic on a blocked-off
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Colchester: Make road safer says crash wife
The wife of a man seriously injured in a road accident in a Colchester village has called for improvements to be made to the road. Louise Bradshaw said her 38-year-old husband John was lucky to be alive following the accident yesterday (Wednesday) when
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Mid-Essex: Abused wife in project launch
A domestic violence survivor who was abused by her ex-husband for 20 years has helped launch a major new initiative to support other victims. The woman courageously faced the media to promote a special info-pack designed to provide a wider help network
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Shoebury: Man loses arm in rail horror
A 23-year-old man lost his arm after being hit by a train in a horrific accident at Shoebury railway station. The accident happened at around 1.30am today (Thursday) as the last train from London Fenchurch Street pulled into Shoebury. Firefighters from
