Archive
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Braintree, Witham: Rail users' group fears train cuts
A rail users' group for Witham and Braintree says it fears cuts will be made to services once the Greater Anglia franchise takes over the region's rail network. The Witham and Braintree Rail Users' Association revealed its concerns in response to a report
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Laindon, Vange: Wardens on clean-up patrols
Families in Laindon and Vange can feel safer after community wardens began patrols to help clean up estates. The wardens, funded partly by the Government, give residents peace of mind as well as dealing with litter, graffiti, abandoned cars and other
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Southend: Search for attack rescuer
Detectives are seeking a "Good Samaritan" who broke up a racist knife attack and possibly saved the victim's life. They believe the man, who stepped in when a 21-year-old Asian had his throat slashed by racists in Pier Hill, Southend, could help them
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Dedham: Surgery reprieve
The surgery at Dedham has won a reprieve. Residents had fought to save the Parsons Field surgery, which had been declared unfit for staff and patients. Constable Country Rural Medical Practice wanted to transfer the patients to a modern centre in East
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Braintree: Match in memory of brave Simon
A memorial match for a Braintree Town supporter and Army sergeant, who died during the Iraq conflict, will be played next month. Braintree Town FC and the Army will play the football match on July 26, in memory of Essex soldier Staff Sergeant Simon Cullingworth
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Witham: New service for handicapped students
Witham's Southview School has now taken on the task of administering a new service for handicapped students in the area. Specially trained staff at the Conrad Road school can now assess requests from their own students and from those in other mainstream
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Rayne: New homes flood fear
Rayne residents fear flooding problems could be made worse if plans to build new homes on the outskirts of the village get the go-ahead Owner of Fargo Coachlines, Mr Leslie Smith, wants to move his depot and motor repair business out of School Road, Rayne
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Live Music: The festival alternative
Those of you who cannot make Glastonbury can take heart in mini-fest of top bands who will be playing locally and you won't need to get a ticket on an internet auction site at inflated prices. You can catch the brilliant Silversea who can put and do put
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General: Scheme for top clubs
A new club accreditation scheme for sports clubs in Essex is being launched next month. The new scheme is called Club SX and has been set up to ensure that quality sports clubs receive the recognition that they deserve. Club SX has been developed by the
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Brantham: Man dies after fall from crane
A dock worker has died after falling 115ft from a crane Dennis Burman, 51, of Brantham, died following the accident at the Port of Felixstowe. Mr Burman, who was married with two children, had only been working at the port a few weeks and was undergoing
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Soccer: James faces gridiron baptism of fire
West Ham goalkeeper David James can expect a hellish time when he arrives in the sun-kissed Floridian paradise next week. The England custodian is linking up with Miami Dolphins in a cross-sporting venture set up with the backing of NFL Europe and arrives
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Laindon: It's breakfast time for charity
Food fans will be able to enjoy a full English breakfast and still feel good about themselves at a big charity event this weekend. Members of Laindon's Steeple View Community Association will be cooking up a treat on Saturday at their Breakfast For Charity
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Bowls: Open day gives taste to newcomers
Essex County Bowling Club is holding an open day on Saturday June 28 to give a taste of the sport to new members. The prestigious Westcliff-based club is gearing up to celebrate its centenary in 2006 and is already beginning a recruitment drive ahead
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Rochford: Police fury with 'poor value' slur
A senior police officer has attacked a parish council for insulting his team by saying they provide "poor value for money". Insp Bill Coady, of Rayleigh police, said Rochford Parish Council should have approached him with concerns over policing, rather
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Benfleet: Yellow line fears for school mums
A mother has warned of serious accidents outside a school caused by parents dropping their children off by car. Samantha March, 31, of Newpark Road, Benfleet, takes her nine-year-old niece to Kents Hill Junior School, in Kents Hill Road. Now you see them
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South Essex: Fares bombshell for rail travellers
South Essex commuters face an above-inflation hike in the cost of season tickets into London. They are likely to have to fork out an extra four per cent from January following a move by the Strategic Rail Authority to remove a cap on fare increases. It
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Angling: Bren enjoys totally tropical taste of the Blackwater
Canvey angler Richard Martin weighed in a tremendous 27lb 10oz bream and tench haul to take first place in the third leg of Tony Cheeseman's Colmic-sponsored Northlands Park Evening Series. Richard fished the road lake from a swim at the end of the central
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Basildon: Council has action plan
A study has been carried out of all council services in the district and targets set for future performance. Basildon Council claims to have dozens of ideas for improving services which have been set out in its performance plan. The plan includes: Providing
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Castle Point: Florist's shop is all set to become takeaway
A florist's shop at London Road, Tarpots is to be turned into a takeaway. Castle Point Council gave permission to change the use of the premises, near the junction with Hatley Gardens, and for alterations to the shopfront. However, some councillors were
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Sailing: Hundreds to sail in Nore Race spectacular
The highlight of the local yachting calendar will provide a spectacular sight in the Thames Estuary on Sunday. Starting from the end of Southend Pier, the annual Nore Race is expected to attract hundreds of entries from around the south east and possibly
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Colchester: Blaze alert at Garrison
Soldiers were evacuated from part of Colchester Garrison in the early hours of today after a fire alert. Two fire crews were called to Goojerat Barracks at about 4am today after smoke, caused by a smouldering towel, was seen in a locked room. But it was
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Brentwood: Future of surgery under the spotlight
Crucial talks on the future of Avenue Road surgery will take place today and hopes are high they will lead to the practice taking a major step towards finally securing a move to new premises at the Clements Park development. Mounting frustration has surrounded
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Colchester: Man, 24, drops his trousers in supermarket
Hot summer weather appears to have prompted people to strip off in Colchester, with two reports of nudity. One man was seen walking along High Street naked in the early hours of today. Officers spoke to him and he put his clothes back on. At about the
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Golf: Orsett are top team
There was no individual success for local golfers when the Essex Amateur Championship was staged over four rounds at the Essex Golf Complex, Hainault. However, Orsett took the Esplen Trophy for the top team award with Steve McAnally their top finisher
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Brentwood: Harry Potter and the postmen's task
Brentwood postmen are getting ready for an extra special delivery this weekend when they transport the latest Harry Potter book to more than 600 of his fans across the borough. The Royal Mail is expecting to handle half a million copies of the new book
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Leigh: Roadworks anger traders
Angry Leigh traders claim they are losing thousands of pounds because of roadworks. Three separate sets of works have left dozens of businesses facing massive financial losses. Angry - restaurant manager Danny Liu is fed up with the roadworks affecting
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White Notley: Golf course rethink
Plans to expand White Notley golf course are going back to the drawing board for the second time, following concerns from residents. Planners are to look at the scheme again taking into account the fears of villagers living near the proposed site at The
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Soccer: Away trip to Barnsley for U's opener
Colchester United boss Phil Parkinson wasn't too unhappy with news that the U's will start next season with an away trip to Barnsley. The Layer Road side visit the Tykes on Saturday, August 9, and Parkinson said: "We would have preferred a home game but
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Colchester: New link probed in Rachel killing
The killing of former Colchester schoolgirl Rachel Nickell could be linked to a second, more recent, murder. Detectives probing the death of American artist Margaret Muller, stabbed in East London in February, have not ruled out the same person being
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Jaywick: Anger at noise from play area
Elderly residents are angry that a new children's play area has been built just feet from the back of their homes without any consultation. The play area is aimed at toddlers and has been built at Crossways, Jaywick, by Surestart. But the residents are
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Southend: Thief takes fun from kids' hospital ward
A thief who stole a hi-tech toy from Southend Hospital children's ward has been branded the "lowest of the low". The £200 PlayStation2, donated by a grateful family, was taken from the Neptune children's ward on Monday. It has left sick children toying
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St Osyth: Yobs making life hell for residents
Residents are living in fear because of youths riding on noisy dirt bikes and vandals smashing property. The residents in the Lee Wick Lane and Beach Road area of St Osyth say the problem has been getting worse over the past few months. Last week, there
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Clacton: Sports day with a difference
A school in Clacton staged a sports day with a difference including pony races and a tug-of-war event. The sports festival was organised by teacher Stephanie Smith at the Leas School for youngsters with moderate learning difficulties. She said that there
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Golf: Ace Tisdall comes back with a bang
Mark Tisdall came back to Rochford Hundred with a bang when he carried off Paul Francis' Captain's Day on Sunday. Eleven handicapper Tisdall has been away from the club for a couple of years while he was working in the north-west. But playing in his first
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Tennis: Sport mourns stalwart Goldie
South east tennis will be mourning the loss of one of the game's stalwarts tomorrow. Tributes have poured in for James "Goldie" Clark whose funeral will be held at Southend Crematorium at 4pm tomorrow. The 81-year-old died on June 11 but Goldie will be
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Cricket: Cool Dakin gives Essex first victory
Jon Dakin kept a cool head when it was most needed to get Essex back on the winning trial in the Twenty20 Cup clash against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl. When Hampshire came to the final over needing 12 runs to condemn Ronnie Irani and his players to a
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Tendring: Mystery body found in pond
Police were today waiting for the results of a post-mortem examination carried out on the unidentified body of a man discovered in a farmland pond. Scenes of crime officers carried out a search of the wooded area in Wolves Hall Lane, Tendring, after the
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Southend: Trippers mean town jobs bonanza
Southend along with other coastal towns has enjoyed a massive growth in population and jobs over the last 30 years, a new report shows today. Despite the rise in popularity of foreign beach resorts, employment in the top 43 British seaside towns has risen
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Soccer: Another chance to take up the whistle
If you fancy becoming a qualified referee by the time the new football season kicks off in August then sign up to the Essex County FA's weekend course which is running in Chelmsford this summer. After a successful course in March, which saw all 36 candidates
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Chelmsford: Lads taste stardom as they put the boot in
Four football-mad lads have had a taste of stardom thanks to a new children's television programme. The friends have spent a day taking centre stage in front of the cameras putting together a report for a new children's series called Up2U. Jordan Amaner
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Grays: Conman nabs woman's cash
An elderly woman has fallen victim to a bogus water board man A man called at the home in Hathaway Road, Grays, just after 1pm on Tuesday claiming to be from the water board and saying he had left his ID in a van. She let him in and he looked in and around
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Brentwood: Justin joins park battle
Country park ranger Justin Ruth will be on the warpath this weekend bringing history to life for hundreds of visitors. Justin will be taking part in a battle re-enactment at Weald Country Park, Brentwood where he works and lives. He is a member of the
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Braintree: Alert PC praised by judge
A policeman has been commended for his actions in catching a security guard who set fire to a house he was supposed to be guarding A judge at Chelmsford Crown Court said PC Graham Lant should be thanked for his "quick thinking and very good detective
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Basildon: Towngate opens its doors to art
The great and the good turned out for a champagne launch of an exhibition of Basildon's hidden art treasures last night. An array of 67 works were mysteriously given to the townspeople by an American cigarette manufacturer in 1978. Artistic - Basildon
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Canvey: £45m road doubts
Calls to turn a main route onto Canvey into a £45million dual carriageway may fall by the roadside because of the huge cost, it has been revealed. Anger erupted at a public meeting last night when councillors heard Canvey Way might not be dualled as part
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Southend: Amess' help for auction
Hundreds of items large and small were auctioned off for the RSPCA - and MP David Amess had control of the hammer. The Southend West Tory acted as auctioneer for the fundraising sale because he is president of the Essex South and Southend RSPCA branch
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Chelmsford: Amused, bemused and confused
Shoppers were stopped in their tracks by street diversions of a different kind in Chelmsford. The Coneheads had landed in the town to sample life on planet Earth but it was all part of street arts event Street Diversions, which took to the main shopping
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Southend: School to axe 20 staff
A primary school is to make more than 20 staff redundant and ask parents to pay for their children's stationery because of a cash crisis. Temple Sutton Primary School, the largest in Essex, is hoping to clear a crippling £200,000 deficit. Headteacher
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Golf: Alan wins UK squad place
Colchester Golf Club's Alan Macnaught has been selected in a six-man squad to represent the United Kingdom at the European Seniors Team Championship. Macnaught, who plays off a handicap of three, has done enough in UK Senior Golf Association competitions
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Southend: Pupils collect top prize for mini beach
Youngsters were today celebrating after winning a gold medal for a study of Southend seafront. Model pupils - year six students Kelly Paxman, Jack Niall and Joshua Butt with the miniature beach Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY Year six students at Bournes Green
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Southend: Peggy's luck is in with Dial-A-Ride prize
Lucky Peggy Jackson was tucking into a delicious hamper today because she was the 250,000th customer of a community transport service. Hamper gift - Ann Holland with Peggy Jackson and Sainsbury's store manager Steve Swann Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL Mrs
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Tennis: Helen's all ready for Wimbledon
Helen Crook will have to limit her Wimbledon appearances to the ladies' doubles next week after failing to qualify in the singles. The Basildon player crashed in a three-set second round affair at Roehampton yesterday afternoon in the qualifying matches
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Maldon: Marine lake is back in business
Marine Lake in Maldon has been refilled after standing empty for the last 10 months Last weekend around two million gallons were pumped into the bathing areas which had been drained following the death of a swimmer in August Officers at Maldon District
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Witham: Mum saves town's church from blaze
Church worker Anne Balfour saved Witham's ancient parish church of St Nicolas from fire. Mrs Balfour, of The Old Vicarage, was preparing the 13th century church for her weekly service for under fives when she smelled smoke on Monday morning. "I thought
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Castle Point: Row breaks over leisure services
A major row has erupted between leading Castle Point politicians over the future of the borough's leisure services. It was sparked by news that Canvey's Waterside Farm sports centre may be forced to shut for essential maintenance, and that the new Conservative-led
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Soccer: Promotion boost for Basildon . . .
Basildon United Ladies had two reasons to celebrate this week. Their first excuse to crack open the bubbly was belated promotion to Division One of the Essex County FA's Women's League. The late promotion -- Basildon finished third in Division II, one
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Clacton: Mixing learning with working
Youngsers are reaping the benefits of a new initiative aimed at tailoring their education to their interests and plans for future employment A number of pupils at Clacton County High School are combining a mix of traditional schooling with work placements
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Soccer: John's rewarded for sterling work
Maldon Town groundsman John Goodey's desire to make his pitch as good as Wembley has finally paid off with an award from the Essex FA. Goodley was named by the Essex FA as the groundsman of the year for teams in the Ridgeons and Essex Senior League. The
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Stisted: Pupils have dino-fun
Dinosaurs walk the earth again at a mid-Essex school. Pupils, staff and parents at Stisted Primary School got together this week to paint a mural on fencing surrounding building works at the school. The mural at Stisted Primary School The school, in The
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Basildon: Woman's protest at Scout hut row
Residents' lives are being made a misery by loud and late music from a Scout hut, according to a 71-year-old woman. The woman - who does not want to be named - lives 50 metres from the Kingswood Scout Hut in Deepdene, Basildon. She claims that groups
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Soccer: Fleet now known as Thurrock
Purfleet have been given permission to change their name to Thurrock from the forthcoming season. Manager Colin McBride admitted that, on a personal note, he was sad to see the name Purfleet die. But he added: "Although we've risen to the Ryman Premier
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Clacton: Extra cash to help shops crack crime
New security measures are to be introduced at six shops in Clacton - thanks to a windfall of £33,000. The money has been handed over by the Home Office in the fight to crack crime in deprived areas. The cash takes the total for Clacton to over £100,000
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Soccer: A date with Royals for Royle boys
Ipswich Town kick-start their quest for promotion next season with a visit from Reading. Alan Pardew's side - who lost in the play-off semi-finals last term - come to East Anglia for a Division One curtain-raiser on August 20. The fixtures, published
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Wickford: Sigh of relief as Euro cash rescues Rethink
Staff and members of a vocational training scheme for the mentally ill have breathed a sigh of relief after being awarded £189,905 to continue services. Rethink, in Panorama House, Runwell Road, Wickford, which runs various courses for around 50 adults
