Archive
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Clacton: Parents' plea to find arsonist
Grieving parents whose daughter and grandson were killed in a house blaze have made a heartfelt plea for fresh information It is six years to the day since Jean Trigg, 27 and her five-year-old son Anthony were trapped in a house fire in Church Crescent
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Braintree: Doorstep thefts leave charity short
A charity shop in Braintree is appealing for help from the public after donations left on their doorstep were stolen. Donations made to the Barnardo's shop in Bank Street after normal opening hours had been stolen before staff arrived the next morning
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Essex: School governors go online
A new online service is being set up so Essex school governors can share and discuss ideas on education. The aim of creating this forum, which is being piloted by Essex LEA, is to provide governors with a means of helping them in their work. The online
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Clacton: Colleen cracks the big time
A teenager has just landed a model job. Colleen Davies, 17, of Ongar Close, Clacton, is set to show off top clothing labels internationally. The former Colbayns High School pupil joined up with the town's G&E Model Agency in February and has now just
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Colchester: Heartbreak for girls in mix-up
A postal mix-up has denied two Colchester girls the chance to see their soldier dad for the first time in two years. Kirsty and Courtney Smith are booked on a flight this Friday to stay with their father, who has been stationed in Germany for three years
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Soccer: Hammers ace can be England star
Mattie Etherington has been hailed as the solution to England's left-sided problem by the man who knows him best. Barry Fry, who handed the teenage Etherington his professional debut at Peterborough, is convinced the winger is on the verge of breaking
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Basildon: Steve's snip for special needs kids
A fundraiser from Basildon has cut off his locks to raise money for a playground. It's got to go - Ryan Kelly, nine, cuts off Steve Clarke's ponytail for charity Picture: DAVE HENDERSON Steve Clarke, decided to shave his head for Adventure Playground
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Cricket: Powell aids Leigh win
Leigh won the inaugural Southend Cricket Festival pro-am league event last night. In the swing - Paul Baker in action for Hadleigh and Thundersley Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL The Chalkwell Park-based Shepherd Neame Essex League side finished top of the six
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Castle Point: Tributes pour in for former mayor
Castle Point council meetings have been suspended for three days as a mark of respect for former mayor Chris Freeman who has died following a heart attack. Tory council leader Pam Challis made the decision as tributes flowed for Mr Freeman, 54, of May
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Southend: £100m revamp for hospital
Southend Hospital is set for a £100m redevelopment as part of a blueprint to boost health services across the borough, it was announced today. Health Secretary Dr John Reid named the hospital as one of 15 projects to benefit from a £4billion investment
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Worker's hand crushed
A workman on a building site suffered serious crush injuries after a two tonne concrete block landed on his hand. The accident happened on the Barrett Homes building site in Distillery Lane, off Haven Road, Colchester. An Essex rapid response vehicle
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Southend: Hospital's trust bid
Southend Hospital has been given the go-ahead to bid for flagship foundation trust status to give staff the freedom to improve services. Health Secretary John Reid yesterday gave the green light for the hospital to apply for the status which allows patients
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Soccer: Shrimpers edge closer to Prior deal
Southend United manager Steve Tilson is close to completing the free transfer signing of centre back Spencer Prior. The experienced 32-year-old did not figure in last night's 1-1 draw at Billericay Town but should soon be re-joining the Shrimpers after
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Frinton: Firefighters open their doors
Firefighters were on hand for a job of a very different kind showing the public around their station. Frinton fire station was open to the public on Saturday and about 200 people took advantage of the chance find out more. Fire safety information was
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Laindon: Gang beat BMW driver
A terrified motorist was dragged from his car by a knife gang which beat him around the head before robbing him. The victim and his girlfriend were targeted by the five-strong gang as they sat in a car at Laindon Shopping Centre. The youths pulled the
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Basildon: Teenagers jailed for vicious attack
Three Basildon teenagers were sentenced to a total of 13 months in jail after a stranger suffered a fractured jaw in a brutal and unprovoked attack. Danny Brooks, of Cattawade End, Troy Daley, of Copdoek and Martin Horvath, of Great Spenders, appeared
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Soccer: Where's Micky?
Mystery today surrounded the future of Colchester United legend Micky Cook. The Director of Youth Football was not at his post again this morning, while rumour and counter rumour were red-hot on the U's official website message board that he has been
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South Essex: Children opt for school dinners
Ten per cent more school children are ditching the traditional lunchbox in favour of hot meals, Essex County Council said today. The old days of cold custard and soggy vegetables seem forgotten as figures reveal more children choosing school dinners than
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Braintree: Thieves branded 'lowest of the low'
A man has hit out at thieves who stole his wife's motorised wheelchair. Peter and Diane Dewing, of Godric Place, Braintree, were shocked to discover the £1,000 wheelchair had been taken from outside their secure flat. The black WM wheelchair, with a Velcro
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Colchester: Athens Army support
Behind every great athlete there is a team helping them to get trained, ready and kitted out. And a small team of Colchester-based soldiers have been helping members of Britain's Olympic team, including Colchester's home-grown talent hurdler, Sarah Claxton
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South Essex: Thieves grab swim pools haul
Twenty-eight portable swimming pools have been snatched from a locked chalet, on the London-bound A127. Police are appealing for people who may have been offered a cheap inflatable pool over the weekend to come forward. The pools, of two designs, were
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Frinton: King of the castle
Youngsters put their creative talents to the test when they took part in a sand-modelling competition. Frinton seafront was turned into an artistic display of sand sculptures, which were more than just a simple sandcastle. Among the models created on
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Maldon: Gardening help for hospital
An appeal is being made to keen gardeners to give a little time to help with a project starting at Maldon's St Peter's Hospital. The area of land around Cherry Trees Mental Health Resource Centre on the hospital site is to be transformed, to be used for
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Southend: Sleeping student is coshed
A teenager who turned on a sleeping friend by smashing a champagne bottle over his head later admitted he might have killed him if he had had a gun. When student Kevin King woke up he was in agony and covered in blood. His attacker, 19-year-old Lazer
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Benfleet: Hero John's cash saves Flo's holiday
A Benfleet man has saved a holiday for an elderly woman by donating the money she had stolen by youths last week. Kiss of thanks - Flo gives John a smacker Picture: ROB BROWNE Robbery victim Florence Brooks said she had had her faith in human nature restored
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Canvey: Car recycling plant go-ahead anger
Campaigners are furious plans for a controversial £1m car recycling plant on Canvey have been agreed by planning officials rather than by councillors. Residents handed a 600-signature petition to Castle Point Council in a bid to stop the application by
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Southend: Boom in house prices
House prices in the Southend area have rocketed by almost 160 per cent in five years. MP Sir Teddy Taylor says figures by building society Halifax show house prices in his Southend East and Rochford constituency have galloped ahead of the national average
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West Bergholt: Crowds flock to classic vehicle show
Vehicles of all shapes and descriptions have drawn the crowds to a special show. Gleaming - Tommy White shows off his 1979 Bulldog Mac truck Picture: ROB SAMBROOK The annual West Bergholt Historic Vehicle Show is now in its 19th year and is as popular
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Castle Point: Taxi fares could be set to rise
Taxi fares in Castle Point could rise by an average of 4.49 per cent, it has been revealed. The new fares, requested by Castle Point Hackney Carriage Association, are to be presented to a licensing meeting on Friday. Spokesman for the Castle Point Hackney
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Soccer: Gulls out to avenge friendly drubbing
Canvey Island coach Glenn Pennyfather expects his super-fit side to make an impression against League Championship outfit Gillingham at Park Lane tonight. The corresponding friendly encounter last season saw the Kent team blast seven goals past the shell-shocked
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Chelmsford: Woman seen on train line
Train services were disrupted for an hour after a woman was seen on the railway line near Chelmsford. The woman, in her late 30s, was seen on the railway line on the viaduct over Central Park at just after 5pm yesterday, by an off-duty Metropolitan Police
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Thorpe: Youngsters go far in electric car
Youngsters got into gear as they took part in a green-powered challenge. A team of 12 pupils from Tendring Technology College at Thorpe have been working together to build an electric car. Teams from schools across the country designed and built their
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Rugby League: Ipswich Rhinos 30 - 22 North London Skolars
With an automatic place in the eastern division final and an extra rest week as a prize to the winners, this was a hard-fought defensive game. Each side pounded the other's defences through the centre of the park with few opportunities for the wide fast
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Castle Point: Sporting workshops for bored teenagers
Dozens of holiday activities have been devised by Castle Point Council in a bid to keep youngsters free of trouble during the long summer break from school. The move comes after the borough's community safety officer, Ian Kennedy, revealed there was a
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Soccer: Heale in line for Rovers debut
Great Wakering Rovers boss Tony Cross plans to unleash striker Danny Heale against Dagenham and Redbridge at Burroughs Park tonight. The new signing from Concord Rangers has just returned from holiday in Cyprus and will make his debut against the Conference
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Cold Norton: Caring for Christmas dinner
A bid to keep turkeys in tip-top condition has come before planners. More than 3,000 of the potential Christmas lunches are reared at the Lords Acre Nursery at Cold Norton and now the business owners are seeking planning permission to be allowed to live
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Braintree: Palm trees appeal
A restaurant owner has vowed to overturn an order by Braintree council to chop down his brightly-coloured palm trees which stand proudly outside his premises. King Yik has lodged an appeal against the council's recent decision to order him to fell the
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Mid-Essex: MP's maternity unit plea to Commons
The campaign to restore around-the-clock maternity facilities at a mid-Essex hospital has reached Parliament. Braintree MP Alan Hurst used a House of Commons adjournment debate, where MPs can bring up any subject they want, to raise awareness of the situation
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Heybridge: Mum's wasp sting ordeal
Two wasp stings nearly cost a Heybridge woman her life as a sharp increase of call-outs to deal with the striped pests was reported in mid-Essex. Recovering - Michaela Fairless gets a kiss from daughter Lucy Ellen after her life-threatening ordeal Picture
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Essex: Euro money helps voluntary groups
A new cashpot of £1.8m is being pumped in to support voluntary groups in Essex Essex Community Foundation is celebrating the continuation of its European Social Fund Global Grants programme which will boost a whole host of organisations. A total of 182
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Laindon: Stab threat to man, 74
A pensioner was accosted by a knife-wielding thug who threatened to stab him unless he was given cash. The 74-year-old man told his young attacker that he had no money, but was searched before being allowed to pass through the Laindon underpass. The attempted
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Chelmsford: Fury at squatters in town cemetery
Residents say they are outraged about squatters living in a mid Essex cemetery. Bryan Clark, spokesman for a group of concerned Marlborough Road residents, said there are currently two young people living in Chelmsford Cemetery, London Road, in a tent
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Harwich: New port tackles terrorist threat
Port bosses have said they would use tight security to avert terrorism threats if a container terminal was built in Harwich. It comes after concerns that bombs could be hidden in container ships by terror groups, such as al Qaida. Harwich International
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Braintree: Problem pubs facing closure
Pubs where yobs get drunk and violent face losing their licences in a crackdown on violent crime. Chief Supt Sue Harrison, Braintree divisional police commander, said her officers would be using new legislation "robustly" to shut down pubs where alcohol-related
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Darts: Relief for Lloyd
Colin Lloyd was a relieved man after booking a second-round place in the Stan James World Darts Matchplay tournament. The Witham ace overcame debutant Dave Smith 10-6 in Blackpool last night. Lloyd said: "I was a bit twitchy up there, because even though
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Rayleigh: Silver Dragon gives boxing club a hand
A martial arts gym manager has come to the rescue of a boxing club in search of a new place to train. A friend in need - Mel Spicer has offered the use of her Silver Dragon gym to members of Rayleigh boxing club whose gym was partially destroyed by a
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Cricket: Essex duo target a return to the runs
Will Jefferson and Andy Flower will be hoping the arrival of table-topping Nottinghamshire at Southchurch Park tomorrow, will see them handing out the sort of punishment they inflicted at Trent Bridge earlier in the season. Darren Gough - will be looking
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Colchester: Man's chest slashed
Attackers slashed a man across the chest as they beat him up in a Colchester street. Two men punched and kicked their victim in North Hill and he got home to find blood coming from a wound, possibly caused by a knife. Det Sgt Roger Napier, of Colchester
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Heybridge: Mum's wasp sting ordeal
Two wasp stings nearly cost a Heybridge woman her life as a sharp increase of call-outs to deal with the striped pests was reported in mid-Essex. Recovering - Michaela Fairless gets a kiss from daughter Lucy Ellen after her life-threatening ordeal Picture
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Colchester: Worker's hand crushed
A workman on a building site suffered serious crush injuries after a two tonne concrete block landed on his hand. The accident happened on the Barrett Homes building site in Distillery Lane, off Haven Road, Colchester. An Essex rapid response vehicle
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Southend: June leading club's dash to write history
A sports club which is warming up for its centenary year is asking for help to write a record of its history. On your marks - June Cork needs club facts Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY Southend Athletic Club spokeswoman June Cork is writing a book on the club's
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Soccer: Billericay Town 1-1 Southend United (Friendly)
Billericay Town centre back David McSweeney was full of smiles after "proving a point" against his former Southend United side last night. Over the top - Southend goalscorer Drewe Broughton gets in a tangle with Billericay goalkeeper David McCarthy Picture
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Southend: New fans for patients
Patients will be able to enjoy a cool summer stay in Southend Hospital thanks to the donation of ten new fans. The Friends of Sutton and Shopland was set up 14 years ago by neighbours and friends. The group has held regular events including dances, fetes
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Brentwood: Council homes for former Foyer residents
Four council homes a year are to be set aside for residents moving on from Brentwood Foyer, which houses homeless young people. The Foyer, in Chindits Lane, Warley, currently has around 40 residents aged from 16 to 25. Each has to show that they want
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Beazley End: Fitting plan for 140-year-old church
A campaigner who saved a 140-year-old church from demolition has said he is pleased with new plans for the building. The Cowper Memorial Evangelical and Congregation Church at Beazley End, between Wethersfield and Sible Hedingham, was due to be demolished
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Speedway: Belle Vue send Arena off course
Arena Essex suffered a heavy defeat last night when they were beaten 57-38 by Belle Vue in Manchester. Only Mark Loram looked capable of sustaining a meaningful challenge to the lowly-placed Aces, although Dean Barker did provide one of the Hammers only
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Canvey: Bid to move travellers
Talks were today under way in an effort to evict a group of travellers who have set up camp on land behind Canvey rugby club. Around 30 caravans and trucks moved on to the site near Castle Point golf course and Castle View School last night. Police were
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Basildon: Drift's morning suit for wedding
The bells of St Martin's Church in Basildon sounded sweet for blind Ron Whitt as he married the woman who has been a close friend for more than 18 years. Best dog - Ron Whitt and Tracy Wright with Drift Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY Two years ago, the same bells
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Southend: Council's court threat over census statistics
Southend Council today threatened court action against a Government department in an effort to stop the town losing millions of pounds in public money. The council has been involved in a long running row with the Office of National Statistics over the
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Langdon Hills: Golden celebrations for Patrick and Patricia
Patrick and Patricia O'Sullivan met across a smoky dance floor in 1951. Golden couple - Patrick and Patricia O'Sullivan Picture: ANNA LUKALA Fifty-three years later and the pair are happily married and celebrating their golden wedding. Mr O'Sullivan,
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Tilbury: Men flee as crane blazes at dock
Thick black smoke could be seen for miles when a fire broke out as workers dismantled a disused crane at Tilbury docks. The fire was caused by the workmen who were using oxyacetylene to cut up the 20 metre-high crane. The fire destroyed the crane cabin
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Frating, Great Bromley: Housing proposal is 'complete madness'
An MP has slammed proposals to create thousands of homes and jobs in a rural area as "complete madness". North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin was hitting back at a planning blueprint which could see 67 acres of countryside between Frating and Great Bromley transformed
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Westcliff: Help find my mum's killer
Tormented Ivy Slark today appealed for help in bringing her mother's murderer to justice after nearly 30 years. Ivy's sister Madeline found their mum Ivy Davies, a cafe owner, battered to death at their home in Holland Road, Westcliff, on February 5,
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Basildon, Castle Point: BP boffin to be quizzed on nasty pongs
Councillors who turned their noses up at the answers BP gave them about nasty odours plaguing Basildon and Castle Point are to be given a second chance to voice their concerns. A representative from the BP Refinery at Coryton is set to attend Castle Point's