Archive
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Southend: We'll stamp out terrible crime
A police chief today vowed to make Southend safer following three horrendous crimes in the town. Chief Supt Mick Thwaites was speaking out after an Asian man had his throat slashed in a vicious attack over the weekend. In another incident a woman was
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Stanway: Marcus proves a spin king
A schoolboy from Stanway has spun his way to a prize. Prize - Marcus Stones with sister Paris Picture: STEVE BRADING He demonstrated his skill in the latest craze to sweep the playground. Marcus Stones, who attends Stanway Primary School, came second
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Athletics: Pearce leads 550
Essex man Peter Pearce, runner-up last year, went one better in the 2003 Southend Half-Marathon by winning in a time of one hr. 17mins. 03 secs at Garon Park. Under starter's orders - Sir Teddy Taylor gets ready to start the Southend Half-Marathon Picture
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Southend: Sex fiend sentenced
A fiend who took advantage of three girls after they persuaded him to buy booze from an off-licence has walked free from court. He took the trio to a Southend flat, kissed one girl, touched another near her breasts and had unlawful sex with the third
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Great Notley: Clean-up at pond will cost thousands
This picture shows the extent of an oil spill at a picturesque village pond near Braintree. It could take weeks and cost more than £10,000 to clear up the deliberate pollution. The spill at Panners Farm hamlet, Great Notley, where 200 gallons of fuel
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Southend: Elderly urged to help in fight against crime
Older people should be encouraged to play a more active role in crime prevention within the community, a leading Southend councillor said today. Reg Copley, Labour member for St Luke's Ward and "father of the council", said: "This could help stop them
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Colchester: Peace farm festival confirmed
An organic lavender farm in Wrabness will provide the peaceful haven for a two-day tai chi and therapies festival, designed to relax, restore and de-stress. The festival will be in the fields and barns at Coperras Wood farm, near the Stour Estuary and
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Witham: Woman injured in crash
A woman was injured after the car she was driving crashed in to a wall. A Suzuki van crashed in to a wall on Witham Road near the junction with Cressing Temple Barns at about 12 noon yesterday. The van was travelling in the direction of Witham, and after
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Soccer: A final farewell to Alan
The funeral service for well-known local soccer personality Alan Carter will be held a week tomorrow (Wednesday, June 18) at Christ Church, Thorpe Bay at 2.15pm. This will be followed by cremation at Sutton Road an hour later. Alan joined Monarchs in
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Southend: Drugs girl Anna speaks of prison cell hell
Drugs smuggler Anna Bartlett has told for the first time how she risked her life by swallowing 50 packages containing cocaine, Ecstasy and hashish - all for £1,000. The 24-year-old, from Sandringham Road, Southend, spent two-and-a-half-years in a Saudi
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South Essex: MPs get taste of life for visually impaired
Two MPs have experienced the world of the visually impaired. Angela Smith, MP for Basildon and East Thurrock, and John Baron, MP for Billericay and district, have both given their support to sufferers. Mrs Smith joined Onsight, a Basildon-based project
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Walton: Singers needed
Sing out for Wind in the Willows. Chorus members are still wanted for the variety show, which is being staged in Walton. The show Wind in the Willows has been cast but the Frinton Musical Theatre would still like to recruit more people to join the chorus
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Thundersley: Armed gang rob man
An armed gang terrorised a young man before stealing his baseball cap. The robbery occurred after three teenagers pulled up beside their victim in Hart Road, Thundersley, at around 10.45pm last night armed with a small machete, hammer and butterfly knife
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Colchester: Hospice bid to open new shop
A hospice charity is hoping to open a new furniture and book shop in Colchester town centre. St Helena Hospice currently runs two charity shops in Colchester, one in Dovercourt, one in Clacton, a bookshop in Frinton and a shop in Halstead. Between them
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Brentwood: Countryside Properties sponsors cycle race
Brentwood based developer Countryside Properties has become the major sponsor of the town's cycle race. Confirming the sponsorship of the Brentwood Town Centre Cycle Race, Neil Armstrong, marketing director for susidiary Copthorn Homes, said: "We are
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Canvey: New housing deal rumours quashed
Council officials moved swiftly to squash rumours of scores of asylum seekers moving to Canvey. The confusion grew as details emerged of a new partnership deal to help provide accommodation for homeless people in Castle Point. Under the deal, private
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Hockley: Matthew hopes for stardom
Stardom moved a step closer for a Pop Idol hopeful from Hockley. Matthew Shute, 18, from Rosslyn Close, has got through to the second round of auditions for the ITV show. The ex-Greensward School pupil said: "I had to sing a song and then I was interviewed
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Cricket: Lights hailed by East
David East today hailed Essex County Cricket Club's new quarter-of-a-million pound floodlights a huge success. The delighted Essex chief executive told the Evening Gazette floodlit cricket definitely has a future after the county launched their new permanent
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Colchester: Bogus callers con woman, 96
Bogus callers, branded "scum" by police, stole thousands of pounds from a 96-year-old woman. The elderly victim was conned after answering the door of her home in De Vere Road, Prettygate, Colchester. A man claimed he was doing work next door and needed
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Leigh: Chippie saved by owner
A chip shop owner was today praised by fire chiefs after he stopped a serious blaze taking hold of his store. Leigh firefighters were called to the Riverside chip shop in London Road, Leigh, at 11.30am yesterday after one of the fryers was lit accidentally
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Rochford: Gang go on coach wrecking rampage
A gang of yobs caused devastation to a fleet of coaches when they used minibuses as battering rams during an hour-long wrecking spree. The youths wrote off a minibus and caused £30,000 of damage to ten coaches and double-decker buses - more than half
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General: Partnership to boost youth sport
A partnership between the sports college, Basildon School Sports Co-ordinator programme and the town's sports development team has been formed to provide girls in year four within east Basildon an opportunity to try various sports. All girls from the
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Canvey: Failed director's six-year ban
A director whose clothing business failed with total debts of around £176,000 has given an undertaking not to hold directorships or take part in company management for six years. Nicholas Nichols, of Hindles Road, Canvey, was the boss of Fashion Link
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Rochford: Firemen raise a cheer
Firefighters had more than 500 visitors to their open day and managed to raise hundreds of pounds at the same time. Day of success - firemen at managed to raise more than £300 at their open day Picture: TERENCE BUNCH Rochford fire station in South Street
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Cricket: Flower century gives Essex victory
Andy Flower hit his first century of the season as Essex beat tourists Pakistan by 50 runs in a day-night match. It was the first match to be played under the new floodlights at the County Ground. Flower's 115 not out helped an under strength Essex team
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Soccer: Big struggle to build Blues
Discarded Southend United goalkeeper Danny Gay believes Steve Wignall faces a tough struggle to build a new squad capable of challenging for Third Division honours next term. The 20-year-old was handed a free transfer along with 12 other Blues players
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Basildon: Art treasures of town to go on display
A new art gallery is opening this month, bringing many valuable pieces of modern art into view for the first time in decades. The collection of paintings and drawings has been held by the Basildon Arts Trust since 1978, but the group was unable to find
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Colchester: Retired Peter pays for building that he doesn't live in
A pensioner in Colchester is being charged for upkeep and furnishings at a building he doesn't live in. Retired farm worker Peter Rogers lives in council-owned accommodation in Harvey Crescent, Stanway. But a few weeks ago thanks to the new-look rent
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Shoebury, Southend: Station attacker is jailed
A man who attacked c2c security staff was today behind bars. Michael Kelly, 43, admitted punching a guard at Shoebury station on May 13 and was jailed for two months. The guard asked Kelly where he was going as he seemed confused, but Kelly lashed out
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Laindon: Georgia-Rose's TV role is slammed
A nine-year-old girl is one of the "stars" of a TV game show in which she humiliates grown-ups by biting, kicking and hitting them. Today a children's charity condemned the BBC show for exploiting the Laindon youngster - as her mum defended the decision
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Colchester: Shock closure of town bar
A town bar which won national praise for its restoration work is closing down after less than a year. McLean's, on North Hill in Colchester, has been sold to Spanish-style tapas bar chain La Tasca, and closed down at the weekend. Parts of the listed building
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Soccer: Charlton's Roberts is a Royle target
Released Charlton keeper Ben Roberts is being targeted by Ipswich Town boss Joe Royle. The Blues manager is on the look-out for a new shotstopper after handing free transfers to Andy Marshall and James Pullen. And he has admitted that Roberts - who played
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Cricket: Controversy put in focus
Essex cricketers are due to hold a high level meeting to discuss the controversy surrounding their National League defeat by Surrey. Stand-in skipper Paul Grayson, head coach Graham Gooch and injured team captain Ronnie Irani were seeking clarification
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Colchester: Soldier talks over leaked stories
A Colchester soldier has revealed how his colleagues have been hurt by stories in national newspapers about his relationship with a married woman. Capt Bob Parry, 42, said troops in 16 Air Assault Brigade were upset that a story was leaked to the press
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Braintree, Stansted: Couple to take part in interactive wedding?
A Braintree couple could take part in Britain's first interactive wedding. Sam Smith, 20, and Rob Jones, 36, made their first appearance on ITV1's breakfast programme GMTV yesterday after being selected from a thousand entries. Sam Smith, and Rob Jones
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Leigh: No guarantees for our special schools
An education chief has refused to rule out future closures of some schools following a shake up of special needs education. Under a £4million scheme to bring more special needs' children into mainstream schools, learning centres are to be set up within
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Benfleet: Boy distracts as woman is robbed
Police today hit out at a crafty doorstep scam which involved using a ten-year-old child to distract a homeowner. The shocking incident happened in Westwood Close, Benfleet, where the female homeowner, who does not wish to be identified, was in her kitchen
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Vange: Police investigate phantom gunshot
A mystery gunshot which rang out in the early hours was today being investigated by police. They admit they are baffled by the bang which was heard over a wide area of Vange and prompted several calls to the emergency services. For when police arrived
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Benfleet: Pension nightmare as firm is wound up
Devastated Ken Noden spent 26 years paying into his £36,000-a-year pension - only to be told the day before he was due to start receiving payments, he could end up with nothing. Mr Noden, of Netherfield, Benfleet, was sent a letter the day before his
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Rochford: Town must change for the better - MP
Opposing all change and development is not always the best way to protect historic towns like Rochford, according to the area's Conservative MP. Sir Teddy Taylor, MP for Rochford and Southend East, put this view forward when he spoke to the annual meeting
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Rayleigh: Charity jump to bring joy
Five plucky teachers will be flying high and falling fast in an effort to raise cash for their school. Charity jumpers - the teachers are looking forward to their feat for charity Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL Glebe Infant School, in Creswick Avenue, Rayleigh
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Petanque: Bird honoured to play for country
Simon Bird is 'honoured' that he will represent Great Britain at the Petanque World Championships. Bird, who plays in the Braintree and District Petanque League for The Angel, Kelvedon, said: "It's a great honour. "I feel that this year with the new format
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Pitsea: Head defends shorter school week
A headteacher today defended his decision to bring in a shorter school week - so that teachers can get more training. The ground-breaking plan will mean that pupils at Chalvedon School in Pitsea will no longer attend school on Friday afternoons. But to
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Essex: Bishops speak out on euthanasia
The Bishops of Chelmsford and Brentwood have spoken out against euthanasia, claiming its legalisation would radically undermine the moral and legal basis of society. Anglican Bishop of Chelmsford John Perry, who retired this week, and Roman Catholic Bishop
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Soccer: Nike kit boost for Blues
Nike confirmed today that a subsidiary of their world famous sportswear brand, Team Wear, would be supplying Southend United's first-team strip next season. The 2003/04 kit is expected to be unveiled to Blues' fans during the first Roots Hall pre-season
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Thorpe Bay, Rochford: Employer theft man gets jail term
Manager Stephen Sapsford, who stole more than £3,700 from an off-licence, has been jailed for six months. Sapsford, 36, was found guilty of stealing from his employer by a jury on a 10-2 majority. He was said to have taken the cash while working for Wine
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Cricket: Flower power sinks tourists
Andy Flower's magnificent 115 not out from 128 balls was the highlight of Essex's 50-run triumph over Pakistan in their 50-over day-night clash at Chelmsford. He batted throughout the innings as the county totalled 284-6, to which the tourists responded
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Rayleigh: Needle horror
A mum today told how she would be facing three months of hell after her six-year-old daughter accidentally stabbed herself with a syringe while playing in the park. Anne Leighton was horrified when her young daughter, who was playing in Rocket Park, Rayleigh
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Mid-Essex: Reprieve for health watchdog
The health watchdog group, Mid Essex Community Health Council, which was due to be abolished in September, has been given a reprieve until the beginning of December. The CHC, along with others around the country, is being axed as part of the government's
