Archive
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Rayne: Couple tell of miracle escape
A couple had a miraculous escape after a car smashed into their house after landing on the garage roof. Dennis and Brenda Ryan, of Dunmow Road, Rayne, near Braintree, were in their house when a Ford Escort left the road and landed on their garage. The
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Chelmsford: Womans knife terror ordeal
A woman was subjected to a terrifying ordeal when her former boyfriend wrecked her Chelmsford flat. Adrian Bliss, 33, had a kitchen knife and, when Lucy King tried to prevent him harming himself, she ended up in hospital for stitches to head and body
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Colchester: Mercury star Alex is soap's newest villain
A member of Colchester's Mercury Theatre Company has landed a top role in Britain's most popular television programme, East- Enders. Alex Fearns made his dramatic entrance in the soap on Thursday as the gritty character of Trevor, husband of Little Mo
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Chelmsford: Fire rescue boy praised
Chelmsford's fire chief has praised a teenager who ushered a mother and her daughter to safety from their blazing home last weekend. Sixteen-year-old Alan Nock was woken by the desperate shouting of next-door neighbour Mike Packham, who had tried to fight
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Soccer: Abbey habit keeps Shrimpers smiling
Ben Abbey kick-started Southend United's festive celebrations early as he continued his amazing scoring streak at a bitterly cold Shrewsbury Town on Friday night. The Shrimpers striker headed home the decisive goal 13 minutes from the end of this Third
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Soccer: U's have so much to do
Whitton: 'There's a gulf between us and the top teams' Colchester United still have a lot of hard work to do if they nurture any dreams of flirting with the Nationwide League Second Division's promotion race. That was the view of U's manager Steve Whitton
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Darts: Lloyd aims to show some bite
Colin "Jaws" Lloyd will get his teeth stuck into the Skol World Darts Championships which start at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet tomorrow (Thursday). Lloyd, who is a familiar face in Colchester darts and lives at Witham, will line up alongside the biggest
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Soccer: Flahavan 'sick'at late howler
Southend United goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan admitted he was sickened by the blunder which gifted Leyton Orient a last minute 1-0 Boxing Day win at Roots Hall. Orient striker Carl Griffiths bundled the ball home from close range in second-half stoppage
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Soccer: Rovers up the tempo after Heffer red card
The village side bounced back from having skipper John Heffer sent off after what they considered to be a clear case of mistaken identity to earn a point in an entertaining clash with one of the Ryman League Second Division pacesetters. Heffer, booked
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Your guide to the south Essex live music scene
Resin resonate at MTV gig Resin - the Benfleet heavy alternative rock band - will be appearing at the MTV Sound Republic gig in 10 Wardour Street, Leicester Square, London on December 22. They'll have new vocalist Gareth Thomas on board and claim it's
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Braintree: Rumours of school closure denied
Essex education chiefs have confirmed a problem-plagued school in Braintree is top of their hit list for the New Year. But they are remaining tight-lipped about the long-term future of Chapel Hill School. Chapel Hill has no permanent headteacher, there
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Essex: Lorry driver's hijack ordeal
A lorry driver has told police how he was kidnapped at gunpoint and forced into the boot of a car by raiders who made off with £21,000 of computer equipment he was carrying. The 28-year-old man from Southend was forced to drive his Renault articulated
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Westcliff: Reckless driver's crash spree
Three youths are being hunted by police after a car crashed into five parked vehicles, spun out of control and skidded down a Westcliff street on its roof. A sixth car crashed into a post after it swerved to avoid the white Maestro speeding the wrong
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Colchester: Newborn get festive VIP visit
Babies receiving special care at Colchester General Hospital had a festive visit from the town's mayor. Christopher Garnett and his wife Anne stopped off at the hospital's special care unit to chat to staff and meet parents and babies. It was just one
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Chelmsford: Cash to improve prison
Chelmsford Prison will receive a massive injection of cash to improve its standards. The Healthcare Centre, always under attack, will be targeted, as will the visits area. The new healthcare centre should be completed in 2002 but the Prison Service Press
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Rayleigh: Train death not suspicious say police
The death of an 18-year-old woman, whose body was found on railway lines outside Rayleigh, is not being treated as suspicious, police have said. The woman, whose identity had not been released, was found at about midday on Friday on the line half a mile
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Little Oakley: Widower found dead in flat
A widower was found dead on the floor of his flat on Christmas Day. Police cordoned off the Little Oakley home of 56-year-old John Pope and forensic scientists were called in after his body was discovered at about 10.30pm. Officers were initially treating
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Pitsea: Cashier's knife ordeal
Two raiders threatened a female cashier with a knife before making off with £300 in cash from a Pitsea convenience store. The men, one of Asian appearance and the other black, went into Budgen's Express in High Road at about 7.30pm on Friday and demanded
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Soccer: Spencer's late strike gives Billericay draw
For the third successive Ryman League Premier Division game Billericay Town struck in injury-time to gain some reward. Previously, Gary Calder's men have scored late at Maidenhead United and against Canvey Island at home to gain all three points on offer
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Braintree: Miracle escape as car demolishes home
There was a Christmas miracle in Braintree when a driver and an elderly couple survived a spectacular car crash relatively unscathed. The accident happened at about 3.45pm on Christmas Day on the A120 at Rayne, near Braintree. According to a police spokesman
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Essex: Floods cost fire service £70,000
Flooding has cost Essex Fire and Rescue Service around £70,000 in the year 2000 and there is no mechanism for them to recover the outlay. Since the reorganisation of local government, creating the Essex Fire Authority and taking the service out of direct
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Brentwood: Charter Mark award for quality services
The award of the government's prestigious Charter Mark for the provision of high quality services to three sections at Chelmsford Borough Council was announced last week. The award is made to bereavement services (cemetery and crematorium), building control
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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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Basketball: Leopards eye cup glory
The Brentwood-based Leopards are just one game away from clinching basketball's equivalent of the FA Cup. The National Cup final is being staged at the Sheffied Arena on Sunday, January 7. At the end of last season, Leopards Coach Bob Donewald told supporters
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Brentwood, Billericay: Jessica gives asthma a trouncing
Asthma sufferer Jessica Pollard, 12, of Billericay, is leading a healthy and active life, thanks to a new breathing technique. Now there is hope for all sufferers after her success with a drugs-free treatment. Janet Brindley, from the Clinic of Complementary
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Table tennis round-up: Cook the hero of a thrilling match
The first round of the Chelmsford & District Table Tennis League's Handicap Knockout Competition produced its fair share of excitement with no fewer than five games decided by a 5-4 margin. On the down-side there were also five concessions which is
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Athletics: Run for children
East Anglia's Children's Hospices is looking for competitors in next year's London Marathon to run in aid of the charity. EACH, which runs children's hospices in Milton, Quidenham and Ipswich, aims to maximise the quality of life for terminally ill children
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Soccer: Rovers' Great display
Village side Wakering have good reason to be ending the year 2000 in contented frame of mind. Last may, at the end of their first term as a Ryman League club, they confirmed promotion from the Third Division and, as the year 2001 beckons, they show every
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Clacton: Boy robbed at sword-point
A teenager was robbed at sword-point by a gang at the side of the road. The 15-year-old, who was selling goods, was on his own on the outskirts of Clacton. A Volvo car pulled up with four people inside and one of the men jumped out and threatened the
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Soccer: Armada still ship-shape
Armada Sports have sailed through to the area semi-finals of the Essex Junior Trophy. The Bukta Southend District League side took on Hadleigh Carport Southend Borough Combination team White Ensign 2nd in the fourth round at Eastwoodbury Lane and pulled
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Westcliff: Youths leave trail of car wrecks
Three youths are being hunted by police after a car crashed into five parked vehicles, spun out of control and skidded down a street on its roof. A sixth car crashed into a post after it swerved to avoid the white Maestro speeding the wrong way down London
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Basildon: Friends mourn loss of tragic Steve
Hundreds of mourners gathered to pay tribute to tragic hit-and-run victim Steve Simpson at a moving funeral. Steve, who was just 17, suffered massive injuries and later died in hospital after being hit by a car while trying to cross the A127 at Pipps
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Brentwood: Campaign to put movie-lovers in the picture
Campaigners have resolved to carry on fighting to ensure that Brentwood gets a cinema once again. Film fans were up in arms when Odeon announced that it was closing the ABC in Chapel High last month. But now campaigner Cllr David Kendall, the Liberal
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North Essex: Meningitis baby's parents tell of heartbreak
The parents of a baby who died of meningitis just three hours after falling ill have warned of the speed at which the illness strikes. Sarah Redman, aged 14 months, died from meningococcal septicaemia on December 20 after her parents rushed her to Colchester
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Great Baddow: All Paul wants is cheese on toast and a beer
Essex kidnap victim Paul Winder was planning Christmas with his familiy after a terrifying nine-month ordeal in a South American jungle. And his first request was for cheese on toast and a lager. Paul, 29, was captured at gunpoint after stumbling across
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Colchester: Child dies of meningitis
A young child has died of meningitis. The tragedy happened after the child - thought to be under two years old - was taken to Colchester General Hospital. North Essex Health Authority (NEEHA) confirmed on Friday a child had died from the brain disease
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Dovercourt: Man in injury mystery
A police investigation was launched after a 28-year-old man was found at home with serious head injuries. The Dovercourt man was on Friday in a critical condition in Oldchurch Hospital in Romford after undergoing emergency surgery. But detectives are
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Soccer: Canvey can't clear FA Cup hangover
Canvey, who have ended the year 2000 by taking just one point from two games, must quickly put their recent FA Cup heroics behind them if they are to stay serious Ryman League Premier Division title challengers. That's the clear indication after Jeff
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Soccer: North Essex round-up...
Jimmy Clewley celebrated his arrival at Clacton Town with two goals in the Seasiders' 2-2 derby draw with Harwich and Parkeston. The former Wivenhoe Town striker, expected to sign a two-year deal later this week, curled home a shot from the edge of the
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Soccer: Orient taste East End delight
Carl Griffiths broke Southend United's hearts with a stoppage time Boxing Day goal at Roots Hall which kept Leyton Orient well ahead of the Shrimpers in the Third Division promotion stakes. The Welsh hitman capitalised on a last-gasp mix-up between Blues
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Swimming: Bathers show ice-cold courage
Courage beyond doubt! Despite biting winds and freezing temperatures, members and friends of Clacton Swimming Club gathered on the West Beach on Christmas Day morning to make their mad dash into the water. There were one or two of the regular faces who
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North Essex: Fresh lead in hunt for axe attacker
A team of detectives investigating a triple axe attack in north Essex have received new information in their bid to track down those responsible. Following further interviews with the victims they have now discovered that all three incidents occurred
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Chelmsford: Appeal to find assault victim
Police are appealing for a man who was injured in a street assault on Christmas Day to come forward. A man looked like he had been knocked out in a public order incident in Dukes Street, Chelmsford, caught on CCTV. Before police arrived on the scene at
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Basildon: Street attack by eight youths left victim with broken nose
A 16-year-old youth was left with a broken nose after he was kicked in the face by eight attackers, a court heard. He was attacked after he was given a "slap" by David Burgess - who believed he had stolen money from his little brother. Burgess, 19, of
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Braintree: Hospital may remain open
Hopes of saving St Michael's hospital in Braintree have been raised. The Witham, Braintree and Halstead Primary Care Group says it wants to keep it open. Under new health plans for the area, the hospital is to be sold off for development while a new £5.3
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Braintree: Futuristic store set to open
A new supermarket - which is expected to create hundreds of jobs in Braintree - could be open by February. Retail giant Tesco is building the store in Coggeshall Road, Braintree, and they hope it will be open by the end of spring. Up to 225 full and part-time
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Chelmsford: 'I don't want a Rolls'
A Chelmsford mother of three is selling the new Rolls Royce she won -- because she and her husband cannot afford to run it. Ford Fiesta owners Carol and Royal Mail sorter Stephen Smith would rather pay off their mortgage than keep the £159,000 Silver
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Chelmsford: Save energy, environment group urges
Chelmsford Community Environmental Trust is urging people to take action to help ensure a sustainable future. In a New Year message Robert Jones, chairman of the trust said that the key issues were saving energy, cutting road use and reducing household
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Women's soccer: Oliver's double strike defeats Street
Two Louise Oliver goals secured all three points for City last Sunday. It was an evenly contested game which saw Chelmsford go in at half time one goal ahead. The second half was again a tight affair and on a knife edge with the all important second goal
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Tiptree: Fast growth for net company
Tiptree Internet recruitment company Jobserve has been named as the 21st fastest growing company in Britain. Formed by Robbie Cowling, Jobserve has had a spectacular success and is on the point of moving out of its temporary building on the Tower Business
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Bocking: Bag(ot) yourself a rare goat
A herd of rare goats face a grim future if a new home cannot be found for them quickly. Owner Bernard Meech, 60, has been breeding the Bagot goats at his Bocking home for more than 18 years. He can no longer look after the 14 animals because of ill health
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Clacton: Weather fails to scare off brave swimmers
Some traditions just have to be maintained - whatever the weather! Despite 6ft high waves and freezing easterly winds more than 50 hardy souls braved the conditions for their annual Christmas Day dip in the sea at Clacton. Members and friends of Clacton
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Little Oakley: Man's death 'suspicious'
Police are investigating the death of a 56-year-old man whose body was discovered in his flat in Seaview Avenue, Little Oakley. Officers were called to the address at about 10.30pm on Christmas Day. An Essex Police spokesman said the death was being treated
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Dovercourt: Woman recovering after collision
A cyclist has been recovering at home after her bike was involved in a collision with a car. The woman, who had not been named and is in her 50s, was at the junction of Laurel Avenue and Long Meadows in Dovercourt when the accident happened at 7pm on
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Soccer: Conlon pleased with Oxford win
Man-of-the-match Barry Conlon enjoyed his best game yet in Colchester colours against Oxford, scoring one of the goals, having a big hand in the other two and twice hitting the crossbar into the bargain. The big Irish target man said: "I really enjoyed
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Maldon: Passions run high at hunt
Hundreds of people - both for and against - gathered to mark what could be the last ever Boxing Day hunt in Maldon. MPs will have a free vote with three choices in the new year: an outright ban on hunting with dogs; a licencing scheme; no change. One
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Braintree: Cycleway to be completed after 10 years
A cycleway is to be constructed between Springwood Drive and Panfield Lane, Braintree, completing the route that was started 10 years ago. In 1990, a three-metre asphalt path was constructed along part of the route, but the remaining 70 metres was not
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Ongar, North Weald: Be on guard for telephone and doorstep scams
Householders in Ongar and North Weald are being warned to be on their guard against conmen operating a number of door-to-door and telephone-based scams. The warning came from Epping Forest crime reduction officer Tony Ellis, who explained the tactics
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Chelmsford: Lucky man avoids jail
A teenager came within a hair's breadth of being jailed over Christmas, a Chelmsford Crown Court judge told him when he admitted obtaining over £1,000 by deception. Judge Ben Pearson told Robert Wilkins, 18, that he was "a very lucky man" when he imposed
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Billericay: Battle plans drawn to fight park vandals
A united strategy to fight the continuing vandalism problem at Billericay's Lake Meadows Park has been launched by Basildon District Council and the police in the wake of more costly damage. In the latest attacks vandals uprooted newly planted trees and
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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 two matches. Conlon, who has put his name to a loan deal which will keep him at Layer Road until the end of the season
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Mid-Essex: Success of campaign against bicycle crime
A much-loved push bike which had been stolen has been reunited with its owner, thanks to a campaign spearheaded by special constables. Officers in the Braintree division launched the bid to beat bicycle bandits back in October. Since then events have
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Rivenhall, Silver End: Villages hit by spate of vandalism
Vandals are making life miserable for residents and business people in Silver End and Rivenhall, it was claimed this week. Incidents include broken windows, damaged notice boards, manhole covers ripped up, and youngsters running through gardens at night
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Soccer: City's stadium plan pulled
Chelmsford Borough Council leaders responded to a call to a dramatic 'Save Chelmsford City' plea by agreeing to a meeting with its chairman. Club chairman Peter Stroud, exasperated and frustrated with the slow progress of plans to bring the club back
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Soccer round-up: Essex Intermediate Football League
SENIOR DIVISION ONE Nortel , playing only their fourth league game of the season took onKelvedon Hatch and the teams shared the points in a 3-3 draw. Soldiray, Fenn and Campbell netted for Nortel, with with Humphry, Page and Jellis the Hatch scorers.
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Soccer: Billericay on top in derby day cracker
Billericay Town hammered a giant dent in the Ryman League Premier Division title ambitions of near neighbours Canvey Island on Saturday. Gulls' recent heroics have obviously stirred opposition sides to strive to even greater lengths to beat them and it
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Soccer round-up: Mid-Essex Football League
ESSEX JUNIOR TROPHY FOURTH ROUND Old Brentwoods beat visitors Springfield Rouge 5-3. Rouge took the lead but by half-time the home team had scored twice to take the lead. They extended their advvantage with a third goal before Rouge hit back to level
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Soccer round-up: Essex Senior League
The big three of the Schweppes Essex Senior League gave themselves plenty of Christmas cheer by pulling off good wins on Saturday. While top dogs Brentwood triumphed 1-0 at fourth-placed East Ham, closest rivals Basildon United had a 3-1 success at bottom
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Soccer: Howard's Say...
Whistle-happy referee ruined big day Seldom have I ever seen a referee wreck a game the way Graham Barber did at Roots Hall yesterday. He awarded an incredible 52 free-kicks and booked seven players in a match which was naturally robust for a local derby
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Hutton: Mark makes more of Oliver
Consider yourself a success, young man! Mark Pearson, 12, of Langdon Hills, was the star of the show in St Martin's School's production of the musical Oliver. More than 900 people saw the show over three evenings at the school in Hutton. Among the audience
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Basildon: Gipsies to stay on green belt
Basildon Council has lost a legal battle to move gipsy caravans from green belt land. One of the country's senior judges backed a decision by the Environment Secretary to allow three caravans to remain on the land at Little Meadow, The Lily and The Paddocks
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Basildon: Family homeless following blaze
A family has been left homeless after their house burnt down in the early hours of Boxing Day. A fierce blaze ripped through the house in Handley Green, Basildon, as a family of four were sleeping. But they managed to escape thanks to a smoke alarm, said
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Southend: Golden Mile to be single-lane?
Southend seafront's dual-carriageway could be reduced to one lane each way to reduce traffic flow and curb the cruisers. The scheme would provide room for open-air attractions and encourage Continental-style cafes with pavement seating. Businesses and
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Soccer: Webb bids for Hutch
Southend United boss David Webb was trying to boost his squad ahead of the busy Christmas programme by signing Bristol City midfielder Carl Hutchings. The manager revealed he wanted to bolster the seventh-placed Shrimpers' promotion hopes by capturing
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Colchester: Cash snatch from shop
Police are hunting a thief who snatched cash from a shop till. The man struck at the Colchester and East Essex Co-op in Nayland Road, Mile End, Colchester. Det Sgt Roger Napier, of Colchester police, said: "He entered the shop and asked for some cigarettes
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Essex: Lorry driver charged with theft
A lorry driver has been charged with the theft of £21,000 of computer equipment from the back of his own vehicle. A 28-year-old man from Southend will appear at Southend Magistrates Court on January 4 after being arrested and charged on Christmas Day.
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Soccer: Amos Cup postponed
The Ke-Connect Colchester League's traditional Boxing Day Amos Cup final, this year due to be contested by Eight Ash Green and University, was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch at Stanway Rovers' New Farm Road ground. Converted for the new archive
