Archive
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Lawford: Early strawberry crop ripe for picking
Strawberries - it's a fast growing business on one Essex farm. In just a few weeks, a bumper crop of one million kilos of strawberries will have been picked from Pole House Farm on the Harwich Road in Lawford. Fine fruit - supervisor Jolanta Chpak picks
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Swimming: Sisters make Essex splash
One of the highlights in the recent success of Basildon and District SC has been the sibling rivalry between the Francis sisters -- 13-year-old Grace and Chloe, nine. The pair have claimed county titles at a phenomenal rate and went into Sunday's final
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Billericay: Attack on girl in park
Police were today appealing for help in catching a gang who carried out a vicious assault on a 16-year-old girl. The five teenagers are believed to have followed the girl from Billericay railway station a park. One of the boys grabbed the girl before
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Canvey: Riot cops sort out football trouble
Police in riot gear were called into action as Canvey Island FC played their biggest game of the season. The game against Aldershot had to be halted for two minutes as officers battled to reinforce the gangway separating the two sets of fans at Canvey's
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American Football: Essex Spartans 6-0 Southend Sabres
A gritty display from a below-strength Sabres squad saw them take local rivals Essex Spartans right down to the wire at Gloucester Park. But the plucky performance from the 16-strong squad was not enough to see the Southend team get off the mark. Getting
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South Essex: Car hits barrier on flyover
Early commuters were caught up in traffic jams after a car crashed into a barrier on the Pitsea flyover. The outside lane of the London-bound A13 was blocked after the driver of a Peugeot 406 lost control of his car after having to brake hard to avoid
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Soccer: Two Steves are boss favourites
Steve Thompson and Steve Wignall are the two main names in the frame to take over as Southend United's next manager, club owner Ron Martin revealed today. Former Seasiders boss Thompson and ex-Colchester chief Wignall are due at Roots Hall for second
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Essex: 'Share the Road' campaign launched
A new road safety campaign, aimed at promoting common sense and courtesy on the road has been launched by Essex County Council. The 'Share the Road' campaign encourages people to be more considerate to other road users. It focuses on everyday situations
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Hadleigh: Conservation battle 'almost won'
Mayor Charles Smith's eight-year battle to designate part of Hadleigh a conservation area is close to an end. He said today: "It was agreed at a planning meeting that the council will pursue this. "It has to go through a legal process that will take two
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Angling: Thoroughly good day for winner Ray
Ray Thorrowgood snatched victory at Sunday's Lake Meadows Open with a 10lb 8oz 8dr haul. Ray fished the sluice bank where he started well taking five bream early on. However as the sun grew brighter and the wind picked up he found fish much harder to
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Braintree: Children's fun centre planned
An adventure centre for children under 12 could be on its way to Braintree. Funtime Hire, an entertainment company based in Finchingfield, has applied for planning permission to create a 10,000 sq foot activity centre in Century Drive, next to Freeport
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Billericay: Give us your summer ideas, kids told
Billericay police have renewed their plea for youngsters to tell them what they want to do in the summer holidays. They are keen to help schoolchildren - and keep them out of trouble - by staging a series of events during the break. Community liaison
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Harwich: MP hits out over council cash claims
Harwich MP Ivan Henderson has accused the leader of Essex County Council of "scaremongering" over funding. Mr Henderson hit out at Lord Hanningfield over claims that funding to the county council would be cut over the next few years. But county hall has
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Athletics: Martin out to improve schedule
Basildon's Eamonn Martin saw the GB women's team claim a bronze in the 10k Challenge in Athens. While attention was focussed on the London Marathon, former winner Martin managed a seven-strong party in Greece and was rewarded by some good performances
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Southend: Armed police hunt for man on the run
Armed police officers stormed a street in an effort to catch a man believed to be driving around with a gun. The operation failed to stop the man and he was today still on the run. Armed watch - police on patrol in Southend Picture: LUAN MARSHALL Police
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Canvey: Cemetery work to start at last
Work on Canvey's long-awaited cemetery could start within six days. Nigel Thomas, Castle Point Council's director of technical services, revealed the plans in the agenda for the central services overview and scrutiny committee. He said: "I have recently
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Grays: Knife robbery on man
Two men held a knife to a man's throat and robbed him of hundreds of pounds. The victim was collecting money for a loan company near Vavell House in Argent Street, Grays, when he was attacked. Two men threw him against a wall and threatening to cut his
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Essex: Double success for council
Essex County Council's human resources and legal teams have been 'highly commended' in a national awards ceremony. The teams were recognised in the prestigious Local Government Chronicle Awards. The awards are seen as a good indicator of how well Essex
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Braintree: Widow died of natural causes
Braintree widow Jill Smith died in hospital after neighbours discovered her unconscious at her Chaucer Crescent address. Coroner Mrs Beasley-Murray recorded a verdict of natural causes at an inquest on Tuesday. Coroner's officer Derek Sewell said Mrs
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South Essex: Train hits poles laid by vandals
Vandals caused delays to rush-hour trains after laying scaffolding poles on the tracks. The 7.30pm First Great Eastern service from Southend Victoria hit the poles between Rayleigh and Wickford which, it is believed, damaged compressed air pipes under
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Soccer: Grimsey gunning for a win
Halstead Town could go a long way to securing a place in the Jewson League premier division when they take on Stanway Rovers tonight. Town are currently second in the first division table and need 12 points from their last six games to be sure of going
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Colchester: Royal saddle makes trip to Kentucky museum
A side saddle used by Queen Elizabeth I is about to start its longest-ever journey - to Kentucky. The saddle, made of white leather, has belonged to Colchester Castle Museum since the 1950s. Royal trip - Anne-Maria Bojko, Colchester Museums' collections
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Colchester: Give us your green waste
Free green waste collections are to be launched in Colchester. Until now people wanting to get rid of garden waste had to pay £6.59 for special green bags from Colchester Council - and their green waste was then taken off to landfill. In the bag - Paul
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Essex: Schools chief to get £77,000
A new schools' supremo is being appointed by Essex County Council at £77,000 a year - as teachers are being made redundant. The post of head of schools is also offering benefits of an extra £10,010 as performance- related pay and will involve overseeing
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Essex: Groups celebrate lottery cash tonic
Community groups have benefited from the latest round of grants to be announced by the Awards for All scheme. The scheme awards lottery-funded grants, which are aimed at small groups working on community projects. Among those to benefit from the grants
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Angling: Sword fishes for big mirrors
The extreme frosts of last week continued to upset sport for the general float fishermen at Doggetts although those ledgering with larger baits did produce some excellent results at times. Les Sword fished the south bank to the reeds landing his first
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Soccer: Canvey Island 0-1 Aldershot (Ryman Premier)
Aldershot's ability to keep clean sheets was the telling factor not only at Canvey Island's Park Lane ground last night, but throughout a season that now looks certain to bring them the Ryman Premier championship. Few home fans had any real confidence
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Soccer: Morgan to fight the boos
Colchester United's under-pressure forward Dean Morgan has vowed to battle on in spite of the Layer Road boo-boys. Teenager Morgan endured a torrid time from some sections of the home crowd during Saturday's 1-1 with Notts County. The 19-year-old was
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Basketball: Swifts swoop to play-offs
Southend Swifts achieved a unique treble in English basketball by getting all three girls' teams to their age groups' National play-off final fours. The under-14s reached the RAf Cosford showpiece, which is next month, with a 61-46 quarter-final win at
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Yachting: Tsunami edges victory
Nigel Cole and Tsunami scored a one-point victory in Royal Corinthian Yacht Club's four-race Dragon Spring series at the weekend. Cole won the opening race on Saturday and then hit back with a vengeance. When Robert Campbell, in Quicksilver II, threatened
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Fobbing: Car goes and home is raided
A shocked couple returned home from holiday to find their car stolen and £4,000 of goods taken from their garage. Thieves stole a silver Nissan Primera from the driveway of the house in Moores Avenue, Fobbing, between April 3 and April 13 and took a hedge
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Indoor Bowls: Essex 88-126 (Liberty Trophy Final)
Westcliff indoor bowlers Richard Hart and Nathan Birkett faced heartbreak as Essex crashed in the final of the Liberty Trophy. The duo were part of the county team that played Kent in the final of the national competition and lost 88-126. Essex had hoped
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Rochford: Fighting fund for legal battle
A south Essex council is to plough £1,000 into a legal battle against travellers, it was revealed today. Rochford District Council agreed the move just months after its leader, Tory Peter Webster, likened travellers to "parasites". The cash will support
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Canvey: Bogus caller steals handbag
Police today pleaded for residents to be on their guard against bogus callers after an elderly woman had her handbag stolen. The pensioner, of Tilburg Road, Canvey, let a man into her home after he knocked on her door claiming he was looking for a kitten
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Rugby: Basildon Birds have rivals in a flap
Basildon stole the show when they triumphed in the Essex Active Sports girls' tag rugby festival at the weekend. Two teams from the new town club -- the Basildon Birds and the Basildon Chicks -- contested the event in Colchester and the Birds defeated
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Soccer: Injury worries ahead of cup showdown
Boss Richie Powling is sweating on the fitness of four key players as Clacton Town gear up for the biggest game of their season - the Jewson League Cup final. The in-form Seasiders, holders of the prestigious trophy after last year's success against Dereham
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Cricket: Brant eager for new season
New Essex overseas player Scott Brant is eagerly anticipating the start of the new season having flown in from Australia to join his new team mates just over a week ago. "I've always hoped that I would get the chance to play in England and now it's become
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Westcliff: Home saved from TV fire
A man managed to save his home from a fire by carrying a smoking television out of his house. The man grabbed the smouldering television and dumped it in his front garden in Shakespeare Avenue, Westcliff, just after 6pm yesterday. Fire officer Peter Bennett
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Rugby: Woodbridge 7-67 Braintree (London NE Four)
Braintree were promoted from London North East Four as champions on Saturday after they safely delivered the expected resounding victory over whipping boys Woodbridge in front of a small legion of travelling fans. The black and ambers sensational post
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Jaywick: Residents revved up at bikers
Residents in Jaywick are getting all revved up over youngsters riding motorbikes around the unmade roads in the resort They claim they are a danger to people walking along the streets - and themselves. The main areas of concern are in Yew Way, Sea Way
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Essex: Jobserve boss Hammers sponsor deal
A West Ham-mad Essex dotcom millionaire today announced he is to sponsor the London side. Robbie Cowling, who in past years has laid on coaches for fans at Tiptree-based Jobserve to attend Hammers games, said the deal would be good for both his firm and
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Netball: King John hold district crown
Thundersley's King John have reigned supreme in the district netball finals. Three of their four successes came over Hockley's Greensward College, who were beaten 7-4 by the year 7 B team, 5-1 by year eight and 9-4 by the seniors. In the year 7A competition
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Braintree: Police hunt for alley rape men
Police today said they are searching for two men after a woman was raped in an alleyway in Braintree. The woman, who is in her 20s and from the Braintree area, had been at the H2O nightclub in the town's High Street on Saturday night. She left the club
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Basildon: Crunch talks on clamping outrage
Key talks were being held today over car clamping in Basildon town centre which has caused fury among disabled drivers. Complaints have flooded in from distressed motorists who have fallen foul of new parking restrictions. Many have been faced with £95
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Canvey: Bonniest bonnets
Members of a Canvey day centre got into an Easter mood with a bonnet parade, live musical entertainment and a free lunch. Egged on - Irene Clay, 92, with her bonnet and prize Picture: ADAM SCOREY Members of the WRVS day centre in Poplar Road dressed up
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Canvey: Scrambler loses foot in accident
A teenage biker had his foot amputated following an accident on private land. The youngster suffered severe injuries after he caught his foot in the pedal of his motorcycle. The news emerged after police revealed a group of youths had cut through fencing
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Southend: Couple collect for needy
Fundraising couple George and Lisa Henry will be collecting cash at Sainsbury's in London Road, Southend, all this week. The couple, who live in Leigh, will be raising money for their charity Hapee World, which provides equipment and medical help for
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Southend: Cigarette blamed for bedroom blaze
An elderly couple escaped from their home without injury after a bedroom went up in flames. Bedroom blaze - firefighters at the scene Picture: MIKE CLARKE The box room was gutted by the blaze in Philpott Avenue, Southend, just after 1pm yesterday. Southend
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Leigh: David's music quest
Brightening the lives of youngsters with learning difficulties means a lot to pianist David Stanley. Boost - David was given a cheque from Elsa Hobbs and Stan Jones from the Glendale Over 55s club to help start his orchestra Picture: LUAN MARSHALL He
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South Essex: Worry over missing man
Police are appealing for a south Essex man to contact them amid fears for his safety. Police issued an appeal at the weekend for sightings of 51-year-old Leo Gordon, of no fixed address. He has not been seen since last speaking to a relative on March
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Tendring: A chance to speak on your healthcare
Patients in Great Clacton and Holland-on-Sea are being given an chance to take part in a decision over the future of GP practices. Tendring Primary Care Trust (PCT) is looking to bring together four existing surgeries into one purpose-built healthcare
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Basildon: Shoot-up boost for renal unit
Thanks in the form of £300 was given to Basildon Hospital's renal unit by a group of wild west actors. The Gunsmoke Show Team travel the country performing their 'good versus bad' stage act to raise funds for charity. The team, whose ages range from 16
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Soccer: McGreal out for season
Ipswich defender John McGreal has been ruled out for the rest of the season with knee ligament damage. McGreal, who returned for the the Blues' second string side against West Ham last night was stretched off in the 34th minute. His injury is so severe
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Wickford: We're stamping out long queues!
A new post office will mean longer opening hours and better facilities, it was revealed today. Wickford Post Office is only moving 20 yards down the road - but residents have been promised a much-improved service, especially for the disabled. The new
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Southend: 'Help me catch these little urchins'
A shopkeeper whose premises have been daubed with graffiti for a second time within two years is refusing to clean it off until the culprits are caught. Graffiti - shop owner Chris Yeoman believes vandals are targeting his store Picture: LUAN MARSHALL
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Castle Point: Pupils to step in and help
School pupils could soon be helping the community with Castle Point's Volunteer Bureau. The youngsters, from Canvey's Castle View School, met bureau co-ordinator Suzie Brutnell to learn how they could help their local area. The meeting formed part of
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Swimming: Grand slam for promoted Basildon
Victory in Clacton gave Basildon and District SC five wins from five galas and, more importantly, secured their third successive Essex league promotion. Topping the second division table with a 100 per cent record means they become the first club in the
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South Essex: Danielle's killer bids for freedom
The parents of murdered schoolgirl Danielle Jones were today hopeful that her killer would fail in his bid for freedom. Stuart Campbell is to appeal against his conviction for murdering his niece, with whom he had a sexual obsession. Her body has never
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Colchester: Shock as post office shuts
A post office in Colchester has closed suddenly leaving residents in the area high and dry. Post Office Counters claims the reasons for closing the Winnock Road branch are "commercially sensitive". The move has left residents in the area without a post
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Tiptree: Thieves take tots' 3ft Lego 'mouse'
Thieves have stolen a 3ft-high Lego mouse from a children's nursery. The mouse's disappearance has left the young children upset and the owner has appealed for help to track down the Lego sculpture. Thieves targeted Kids and Co Childcare Nursery, in Grove
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Frinton: Appeal to watch TV in pub
The owners of Frinton's only town centre pub are stepping up their bid to show top sporting events on televisions in the building. Brewers Shephard Neame, which runs the Lock and Barrel in Connaught Avenue, won the right to play background music at the
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Colchester: Residents fight to stop supermarket
Almost 1,400 people have signed petitions in a bid to prevent a proposed new supermarket putting local shops at risk. Hundreds of customers at a community store have objected to the Co-op's plans for a 3,000sq ft supermarket in Wimpole Street, Colchester
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Southend: Cadets get stuck in lift
Four police cadets had to be rescued at Southend police station after a service lift got stuck between floors. The female cadets faced an uncomfortable night at the station, in Victoria Avenue, Southend, but managed to attract help and firefighters were
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Tendring: Meals service in big demand
More staff and an extra vehicle are being laid on to cope with the increasing demand for meals on wheels across Tendring. The number of drivers involved in providing the service for the elderly and housebound is being upped from 22 to 26. Two will be
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Castle Point: Cameras check out borough's finest
The hot spots of Castle Point are to get their five minutes of fame thanks to mayor Charles Smith. He was tailed by Anglia TV cameras as he introduced Essex County Council chairman Tony Peel to the borough's major landmarks. TV star - mayor Charles Smith
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Basildon: Donate us your eggs for sick kids
Shoppers are being urged to put an extra Easter egg in their trolley for children spending the holiday in hospital. Kids' treat - Travelcare staff members Natalie McIlroy, Laura Gosden, Rebecca Beale and Daniel Ryan with their collection of Easter eggs
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Basildon: Playing it safe
Basildon's Adventure Playground for people with special needs has received a makeover, thanks to kindhearted volunteers. Helpers aged between 16 and 23 carried out the clean-up at The Fryth as part of their Prince's Trust Volunteer programme. They painted
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Soccer: King - Gulls were 2nd best
Canvey soccer boss Jeff King was quick to concede that his side are second best for the third season running after losing their Ryman League Premier Division top-of-the table clash to Aldershot Town 1-0 at Park Lane last night. The Hampshire side need
