Archive
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American football: Needle match for Essex teams
It's crunch time for the region's two American Football teams as they prepare for Sunday's needle match. Essex Spartans host Southend Sabres at the Gloucester Park Astroturf in Basildon with revenge in mind after losing twice to their rivals last term
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Jaywick: Residents fume after gas explosion
Residents are fuming after gas cylinders exploded on an eyesore site The blast caused a major blaze and a danger to people living in the area. Eric Dowley, of Beach Way, Jaywick, said they have put in their third petition over the property in the road
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Maldon: Weed takes hold on river
Alien plant American Pennywort is smothering the lower reaches of the Chelmer in Maldon, making it a no-go area for pleasure boats and rowers and a danger to swimmers. Dudley Courtman, chairman of the Chelmer Canal Trust, says the weed has taken control
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Laindon: Driver escapes in car drama
A driver found himself in an unusual position on his way to work - upside-down. He was driving along West Mayne yesterday when it is believed he lost control of his car, resulting in it landing on its roof at the roundabout junction with St Nicholas Lane
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Holland-on-Sea: Twinkle-toes Lily wins ballet place
A little girl's dream of becoming a dancer has taken a major leap forward. Just a day after her tenth birthday, Lily Scotcher gained a place in the prestigious English Youth Ballet. Lily, who lives in Queensway, Holland-on-Sea, successfully auditioned
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Chelmsford: Rabbit stolen in attack on nursery
Graffiti saying "children will die" was sprayed on the doors at a Chelmsford nursery and a pet rabbit stolen in a second attack within a week. The caretaker at Care a Lot day nursery, based at Rainsford High School in Fox Crescent, found the graffiti
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Soccer: Billericay anxious to end losing streak (Ryman Premier)
It could be a case of announcing the crowd changes to the players at New Lodge tomorrow afternoon when Billericay Town host Maidenhead in what threatens to be a typical meaningless end of season affair. Both teams are mid-table with nothing but pride
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Pitsea: MP kicks up a stink
Billericay and Wickford MP, John Baron, is kicking up a stink over complaints of bad smells and nuisance gases from Pitsea Tip. He is demanding answers from the Government's environment minister, Michael Meacher, after complaints from residents in the
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Castle Point: Charity thanks
Castle Point Women's Royal Voluntary Service have raised £400 through a charity auction. The hall, in Richmond Avenue, Benfleet, has been targeted by vandals recently and the cash will go towards maintaining the building. A WRVS spokesman said: "I would
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Billericay: Street market to earn £50,000
Billericay residents can spend a penny at both a street market and new public toilet block if ambitious plans for the town get the go-ahead. Town council chairman Trevor Stansfield has been leading calls for a weekly market to be held in the town's High
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Brentwood: Plans to revamp shopping centre unveiled
Revamped, revitalized and ready for autumn 2004. That is the promise from developer Halladale (Brentwood) Ltd after it submitted its £20 million plans for the Chapel High Shopping Centre and Becket House site. The application has been delivered to the
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Hadleigh: First class idea for a record
Hadleigh pupils joined tens of thousands of youngsters from across the world for the world's biggest lesson. Doing their bit to support the Global Campaign for Education, students at Hadleigh Junior School, Church Road, joined pupils in more than 50 countries
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Soccer: Holland sets up a target
Matt Holland has set Ipswich Town a target of four wins from their last five games to stand any chance of securing a play-off spot. The Blues head to Coventry tomorrow looking to close the six-point gap on rivals Wolves and Reading. And skipper Holland
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Laindon: Roy's British food parcels on the way to our troops in Iraq
Staff at Pints 'N' Litres off-licence are busy collecting cash to send parcels out to British troops, and have had some demands from the front line. The store, in the Laindon shopping centre, hope to send off 15 two-kilogram boxes and have already sent
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Chelmsford: Crackdown on illegal traders
Chelmsford police are poised to swoop on illegal street traders and confiscate their barrows in a bid to clear the town centre. They launched Operation Fair For All in conjunction with town centre management after more than 20 pedlars took up pitches
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Soccer: Pilgrims to make the Mafia happy
Plymouth Argyle Football Club are set to make a group of Colchester United fans very happy. The Pilgrims have agreed to hand over the jersey worn by U's keeper Richard McKinney during his man-of-the-match performance in Saturday's goalless draw at Home
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Southend: Looking for the oldest helper
Are you the oldest volunteer in Southend? The Southend Volunteer Bureau in Alexandra Street is hoping to track down the oldest volunteer in the surrounding area. "There is no prize I'm afraid." said manager, Rachelle Rubin. "It's just for a bit of fun
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Basildon: Anne at hospital
The Princess Royal was visiting Basildon Hospital today as part of her tour of south-east Essex. She was to officially name the hospital's new Jubilee block, so-named in honour of the Queen's 50-year reign. Before the hospital visit Princess Anne was
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Snooker: Quarter-final for Ali
Tiptree's Ali Carter is heading into the quarter-final of the Regal Scottish Open tonight, and for once he's not playing the big names. After seeing off current snooker world champion Peter Ebdon in the second round Carter, ranked 31 in the world, looks
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Harwich: New-look hospital is unveiled
Plans for a major redevelopment of Harwich Hospital and Dovercourt Health Centre have been unveiled. Under the application, there would be a new community hospital, health centre and ambulance station. There would also be some new homes built. However
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Cricket: Flower is in for Essex
Andy Flower will be pulling on an Essex sweater when the county take on Cambridge University this weekend. The Zimbabwean, who retired from international cricket following his black armband protest against the Mugabe regime during the World Cup, did not
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Thundersley: Village's floral is sign of the times
Thundersley village will be awash with colour when 20 hanging baskets of flowers arrive thanks to the area forum. The baskets have been bought with money allocated to the Thundersley area forum for civic pride projects by Castle Point Council. Residents
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Benfleet: Pupils await more fun in £27,000 playground
Excited youngsters were today awaiting the completion of a £27,000 playground to make break times fun at their school in Benfleet. Jotmans Hall Primary, in the High Road, is investing the cash to develop a boggy, under-used part of their school playing
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Southend: Handyvan man will make homes safer
The Evening Echo is teaming up with Southend police to encourage more older people to take advantage of a free scheme to improve their home security. The Help the Aged Handyvan scheme aims to make pensioners feel safe in their homes, but police are keen
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Braintree: Sparkling news for shopkeepers
Braintree town centre will sparkle this Christmas after a £3,000 bid to boost the festive lights was successful. Members of the district council's area committee agreed to accept a request for money from the community fund for this financial year. Ken
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Tennis: Wickford's double delight
Wickford's men were celebrating the double this week after claiming the Leigh & Westcliff Jubilee Cup to add to their division one title. The quartet from the Swan Lane club enjoyed a straight sets victory over Rochford in the final of the league
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Cricket: Ronnie to pick up award
Essex cricket captain Ronnie Irani is set to receive the freedom of the City of London. Next Wednesday, the 31-year-old cricketer will have the title bestowed upon him at the Guildhall in London in an ancient ceremony dating back to 1237. The honour of
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Gymnastics: Ace Amanda scoops gold
In the National Development Plan voluntary one competition, Basildon-based gymnast Amanda Parker finished in gold medal position with a score of 31.5 Laura Rose, a team-mate of Amanda's at the South Essex Club in Cranes Farm Road, finished third with
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Billericay: Emotional marathon run for John
The London Marathon is going to be an emotional time for a Billericay runner who will be running in memory of his baby son who died from cot death. Matthew Stedeford was only a few weeks old when he died in November 2001 causing great heartbreak for his
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Canvey: A hairy time for brave teacher
Ouch - that's got to hurt! Seven tough teachers at a Canvey school had their legs waxed to raise funds for the school's annual prom. Youngsters at Cornelius Vermuyden School, in Third Avenue, had to pay just 50p for the pleasure of seeing their teachers
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Braintree: Have your say aired on TV
A film crew has taken to the streets of Braintree to seek opinions on current affairs. Britvoice Productions filmed a pilot programme, called What the People Say, giving people in the town the chance to air their views on topics they feel strongly about
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Soccer: Robson wants shrimpers job
Tomorrow's beach battle at high-flying Bournemouth could signal the end of temporary Southend United chief Stewart Robson's first brief taste of football management. The former Arsenal midfielder took over from sacked Blues boss Rob Newman on a caretaker
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Rugby Union: Kicker Chambers set to convert to retirement
Welsh wizard Ali Chambers has played a huge part in Southend's promotion push and is poised to smash the 300-point barrier at Norwich tomorrow - but he could be kicking his last conversion for the club. The winger has been ever present in the league for
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Soccer: Hammers up for six-pointer fight
The survival bid continues for West Ham as they host fellow strugglers Aston Villa tomorrow in the first of a pair of six-pointers. A win could move Hammers to within a point of safety, and would certainly put them three points behind the Midlands outfit
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Essex: Countryside Festival is a Goodie says Bill
Birdwatcher and comedian Bill Oddie was on hand to launch the Essex Festival of the Countryside. The host of Bill Oddie Goes Wild visited Abberton Reservoir Wildfowl and Visitor Centre to launch the festival, now in its tenth year. From now until September
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Braintree: Family mourns pet rabbits
A young family have been left in a state of shock before Easter after thugs killed their pet rabbits in a sick attack Gill Hughes, 36, discovered her three rabbits were taken from their hutch at the family home in Braintree. After putting a sign up in
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Castle Point: Council spending attacked
A scathing attack has been launched by Canvey Tory Councillor Jeff Stanley on Castle Point Council's "frankly ludicrous" spending policies as election campaigning got under way. However, Canvey Labour councillor Jackie Reilly rubbished his opinion and
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Colchester: Council considers converting to bio-diesel
Fuel never believe it! Colchester's bin lorries could soon be powered by ... old chip oil and lard Council bosses are banking on a breakthrough that lets trucks run on recycled cooking fat and vegetable oil. The wonder fuel slashes air pollution and fuel
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Athletics: Martin's long wait for marathon
Ten years after winning the London Marathon, Basildon's Eamonn Martin is still waiting to see another Englishman take the biggest title in endurance racing. And he's not impressed with the changes in coaching and organisation of long-distance events which
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Mid Essex: Tanks a lot
Three massive storm water tanks, one the size of two houses, are currently being 'dug in' in mid Essex to help stop sewage flooding into the Rivers Blackwater, Brain and Pant. All the £2.3 million work will shortly be finished. The largest tank is at
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South Woodham Ferrers: Family escape Sars nightmare
A woman and her teenage daughter have fled to south Essex to escape the deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) virus which is sweeping Hong Kong. Lynne Poel and 16-year-old Heather have been in quarantine in South Woodham Ferrers while Lynne's
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Southend: Flats wrecked in fire
Horrified neighbours have told how they watched as smoke from a flat fire billowed up through their floorboards. Two homes were badly damaged after the bed blaze at the ground-floor flat in Rochford Road, Southend. Firefighters from Southend and Leigh
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Southend: Postmaster recovering after attack
A Postmaster was recovering in Southend Hospital today after a burglar burst into his store, headbutted him and made off with cash. The man entered the Post Office, in The Ridgeway, Westcliff, at around 4.30pm yesterday, threatened staff and hit the postmaster
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Basildon: Hospital pays up after boy's death
A couple who blamed their young son's death on medical negligence have accepted a £62,500 out-of-court settlement from Basildon Hospital. John Garrett, who suffered from cerebral palsy due to oxygen starvation at birth, died just a month away from his
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Southend: More airport jobs hope if expansion plan takes off
Southend Airport could provide as many as 7,000 jobs if it was allowed to fully expand, says a recently published review. The suggestion of the major employment boost comes in the annual review of the Thames Gateway South Essex regeneration project. The
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Soccer: Benfleet 2-1 Ramsden (Essex Saturday Premier Cup)
First-half goals from Gary Potts and Darren Godfrey were enough for Benfleet to secure the Essex Saturday Premier Cup against Ramsden at Heybridge Swifts ground. Despite pulling a goal back before the break, Ramsden just could not break through Benfleet's
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Basildon: Police hunt for con-man
Basildon police and immigration officers are hunting a Nigerian conman who has fleeced several banks and may be creating false passports for other criminals. Cyril Uddoh, 29, made a moonlight flit from a rented flat in Plymouth Road, Thurrock, after racking
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Chelmsford: Protestors find doors locked
Anti-war protesters aiming to occupy the offices of West Chelmsford MP Simon Burns during a routine surgery arrived to find them firmly closed. One of them had issued a press release saying that they intended to occupy the surgery, in Rectory Lane, in
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Southend: Fight for leisure centre
Bosses at leisure giant David Lloyd have repeated their determination to set up a centre in Southend. The announcement comes after the £10million scheme proposed for Snakes Lane, Eastwood, was thrown out by councillors over concerns about highways issues
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Soccer: Boss Parky is a corker
Phil Parkinson is aiming for a champagne finish to Colchester United's season. And he would like nothing more than to play out the remaining five games with plenty of fizz, sparkle and style. Presented yesterday afternoon with a bumper bottle of bubbly
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Essex: Train guard blaze attack
A train guard had lighter fluid sprayed in his face and his jacket set on fire as he leaned out of a window. The horrifying attack happened as the Shoebury-based guard was travelling on a c2c train from Fenchurch Street to Shoebury via the Tilbury loop
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Benfleet: Car crime soaring
Car crime in Benfleet is on the rise, according to new police figures released today. The news comes after it was revealed just two weeks ago at least one car a day was stolen in the area. The latest statistics show how auto crime - thefts of and thefts
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Clacton: Student teams find their sea legs
Students have been finding their sea legs for a team building challenge. The epic voyage for the youngsters, who are studying pre-foundation courses at the Clacton campus of Colchester Institute, set off from Ipswich on Monday. With the help of Maldon-based
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Clacton: Water girl Orla cleans up
Schoolgirl Orl Cronin could be on her way to Sweden after winning the regional finals in a schools' environmental competition to clean up worldwide water supplies. Orla, who goes to Great Clacton Junior School, scooped first prize in the literature section
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Shoebury: Pets rescued from blaze home
Firefighters had to carry out a daring pet rescue after they were called to a house blaze. Four cats, two dogs and a rat were rescued from the house in Linnet Close, Shoebury, and firefighters had to give one of the cats oxygen because it had suffered
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Southend: Club boss's pledge
A restauranteur planning to open a club in his basement has vowed not to turn it into a drunken nightclub. Danny Bovil, owner of Zanzibar, in Alexandra Street, Southend, said the plans would merely allow for his restaurant to be extended to the premises
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Billericay: Circus comes to town
Acrobats, trapeze artists and clowns are among the highlights of a circus that has arrived in Billericay. The Arnett and Paulos Circus is at Sun Corner in Laindon Road, and hopes to woo children and their parents from the town to watch their many acts
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Athletics: Elusive title captured at last
Southend Athletic Club's under-15 boys have captured the Nike AAA of England Young Athletes Road Relay Championships at Sutton Coldfield. Strong winds caused the abandonment of this event last autumn but it was the seaside trio of Adam Hickey, Mark Bailey
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Basildon: University's lesson on crime blitz
University students are learning how Basildon has led the field in community safety for the past decade. Middlesex University graduates listened as representatives of the Basildon Community Safety Partnership - made up of nearly 100 organisations working
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Soccer: Clacton Town 1-3 Soham Rangers
Lee McGlone rifled home Clacton's late consolation but it was not enough to stop their proud nine-game unbeaten run grinding to a halt. Impressive Soham - who climbed up to third in the Jewson League premier division table after this win - were in front
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Colchester: Troubled school is back on track
It's taken more than two years and an almost complete change of staff to get an infants' school out of special measures. But St Andrew's Nursery and Infants School is celebrating. The school, in Hickory Road, Greenstead, was put under special measures
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Burnham: Man fined for keeping chippings
A man from Burnham has been fined for keeping a mountain of pallet chippings for sale without a licence. Adam Michael Wood appeared at Witham Magistrates court on March 31 and pleaded guilty to the keeping and treating of controlled waste without a waste
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Rugby Union: Southend bid for national return
The moment of truth has almost arrived for Southend RFC, who can seal a place back in the upper-echelons of English rugby for the first time in a decade tomorrow. A slip against their struggling hosts Norwich is unthinkable, and victory will almost certainly
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Braintree: Action on 'illegal' caravan site urged
A resident has hit out at Braintree Council claiming it has not done enough to rid the area of an "illegal" eyesore caravan site. Land called Twin Oaks along Coggeshall Road at Stisted has been used by people living in caravans without permission for
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Colchester: Major bill to fix town wall
The people of Colchester face a massive bill to keep the town's historic Roman walls standing unless something is done now. During the 1990s, Colchester Council spent more than £500,000 repairing the town's Roman wall, which is the oldest in England.
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Clacton: Rescued rower glad to be home
Happy to to be home alive and well - that's solo ocean rower Andrew Halsey who escaped with his life after his latest attempt to conquer the Pacific almost ended in disaster. He was rescued and is now back with his family in England. But it was almost
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Essex: Camera van crushed by lorries
Rush-hour traffic was brought to a standstill as a police speed camera enforcement van was crushed between two lorries on the A127. The driver of the van was taken to hospital with minor injuries after the smash near the Tesco roundabout, in Southend.
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Hadleigh: Mother's roaring mugger hunted
Police have renewed their appeal for information on a teenage thug who pushed a mum to the ground and roared at her before stealing her handbag. The robbery happened in a busy Hadleigh street, so police believe there must have been witnesses. The unnamed
