Archive
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Stansted: A wing and a prayer
Around 50 men and women of God descended on Stansted airport to learn about its growth and impact on the region. The group were all members of the Industrial Mission Association (IMA), which is made up of 80 workplace chaplains. The IMA encourages a relevant
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Soccer: Irons will wait to play new boy Rebrov
West Ham's pre-season build-up continues at Colchester United tonight -- but new signing Sergei Rebrov will not be involved until Saturday. The Ukrainian international received his work permit late yesterday, but is not expected to make his debut until
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Canvey: Farmer sees plane drama
A microlight pilot and his passenger had a lucky escape after they were forced to make an emergency landing. Drama - police with the microlight forced to make an emergency landing Picture: MAXINE CLARKE The pair were flying towards Canvey Way when their
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Southend: Six post offices in town to close
Six post office branches in Southend are to shut in September it was confirmed today. They are: Station Road, Westcliff; Wentworth Road, Southend; Bridgwater Drive, Westcliff; Earls Hall Parade, Prittlewell; the Ridgeway, Chalkwell; West Road, Southend
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Colchester: Two jailed after anti-drugs op
Two more drug dealers have been jailed as part of a long-running operation staged by Colchester police. Ten people have now been jailed for more than 40 years as part of the Operation Tralee probe. The latest two jailed at Chelmsford Crown Court were
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Police uncover large cocaine haul
Scotland Yard has made its biggest haul of cocaine in more than a decade, following on from Metropolitan Police officers seizing a large amount of cannabis at Tilbury Docks. The cocaine haul - weighing about 370lb (168kg) - was found in 180 packages at
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Thundersley: Freeze! You are in our movie
Two hardworking students are pulling out all the stops to become the Steven Spielbergs of the future. Action - Paul Schiernecker and director Luke Bridger discuss the next scene Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL Despite college finishing for the summer Paul Schiernecker
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Essex: Woman hurt in A120 crash
A pensioner was airlifted to hospital after her car left the new A120 and became entwined in deer fencing. Dunmow firefighters were sent to the scene between the Dunmow West and Stansted Airport junctions at Little Canfield yesterday A Volkswagen Golf
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Colchester: Break-in bid by knife man fails
A knife-wielding man wearing a balaclava tried to break his way into a home. The raider was foiled by two men who fought him off on their doorstep in Compton Road, Colchester, last night. Police say there was a tussle in which the attacker fell to the
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Angling: Robert adds another big carp to the Pile
Robert Pile added yet another whopper to his Gloucester Park list when he tempted a 20lb common carp from the eastern end of the Basildon venue's island. One more for the list - Robert Pile with another big carp catch from Basildon's Gloucester Park The
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Soccer: Lee - I should have stayed at Blues
Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder David Lee regrets turning his back on the Blues. The 24-year-old, from Stanford-le-Hope, will face the Shrimpers at Roots Hall tonight having left the Essex outfit for Hull City in 2001 after just one season with the
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Corringham: Army back on street duty after confusion
Charity volunteers thought they were given their marching orders when the council booted them off their usual patch. They're like family - Dennis Reeve-Smidmore is glad to see the Salvation Army collectors back on their Corringham pitch Picture: DAVE
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Brentwood: Health promotion for residents
A new approach to promoting the health of Brentwood residents could see the whole borough being designated as a 'Healthy Living Centre'. The Local Strategic Partnership has placed boosting the health and fitness of those living in the area at the heart
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Southend: Fire sweeps through casino
One of Southend's most popular attractions came close to being wrecked by a fire that swept across its roof. Smoky scene - firefighters tackle the blaze at Westcliff Casino Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL Staff and customers were evacuated from Westcliff Casino
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Soccer: Micky leaves U's
Colchester United have confirmed that Micky Cook has left Layer Road. The club's highly-successful Director of Youth Football has been made redundant, ending an association which stretches back almost 30 years. A club statement said: "The club are extremely
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Harwich: Port development 'will shatter peace'
Residents claim a massive port development would shatter their peace with noise pollution. They argue a £300m expansion of Harwich International Port would disturb people's sleep and breach human rights. John Noble, of Harwich Fishermen's Association,
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Ashingdon: Joy as rehab centre plans are rejected
People power scored a huge victory as hundreds watched controversial plans for a drug and alcohol rehab centre in the heart of a village rejected. Police were present at the meeting of Rochford District Council's planning committee in Rayleigh last night
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Basildon: Football training at community centre
If watching soccer ace Wayne Rooney during Euro 2004 has encouraged you to improve your football skills, then help is at hand. To celebrate the recent launch of the Basildon Community Football Project, the council's leisure services has organised 25 coaching
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Canvey: Island party ready to help out elderly
The new Canvey Independent Party pledged to shame the council into improving life for elderly residents on the island. Party leader Dave Blackwell spoke of his plans after the Evening Echo newspaper revealed yesterday that elderly people in two residential
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Speedway: Arena looking for same again as Swindon return
Arena Essex take on Swindon at the Purfleet Raceway tonight in a Skybet Elite Speedway League "B" fixture starting at 7.45 pm. It is the second time this season that the Robins have visited the home of the Hammers, the previous occasion was back in April
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Woodham Mortimer: Monument mystery has been solved
The mystery surrounding the origins of a village monument has been solved. The monument, situated alongside the Maldon Road towards Woodham Mortimer near Maldon, is overgrown with brambles. It actually belongs to the Coopers' Company of London which owns
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Maldon: Driver dies as car hits telegraph pole
A young man has died following a car crash on the A414 near Maldon today. A police spokesman said the man, who was in his 20s, was driving in the direction of Maldon when his silver Honda car left the road and hit a telegraph pole. The accident happened
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Basildon: Basketball camp will develop kids' skills
Basildon's first basketball camp has bounced into action, with qualified coaches offering expert guidance on how to carry out the perfect slam-dunk. Basildon Council has organised three camps. The first began yesterday at Markhams Chase and continued
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Swimming: Under nationals spotlight
South-east Essex swimmers will be under the microscope when they compete at the National Age Group and Youth Championships this week. A quartet from clubs in the district will be in action at Ponds Forge in Sheffield from tomorrow where British Swimming
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Rochford: Police flex their latest muscles
Police in Rochford have used new powers to deal with teenage tearaways 14 times since they were introduced little more than a week ago. Officers can now break up groups of more than two youths if they believe they may cause trouble. They can also take
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Stansted: Ticket price hike attacked by airline
A Stansted-based airline has hit out at proposals which could see passengers pay up to £2 per ticket more to prevent them getting stranded if an airline collapses. An Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (ATOL) scheme currently protects travellers on package
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Abridge: Sports dream closer to reality
The dream of a group of young people in Abridge to open a sports area in the village has taken a massive step towards becoming a reality. The Abridge Village Youth Partnership is celebrating a pledge of £10,000 from the Village Hall Trustees which means
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Tendring: A120 dualling meeting
Hauliers and councillors have called a meeting to try to push for the dualling of one of Tendring's busiest roads. Harwich councillor Dave Rutson, an experienced haulier, has arranged the meeting to discuss the A120. He is not happy with proposals put
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Castle Point: Spink praises rivals' anti-Euro stance
Castle Point MP Bob Spink has congratulated rival UKIP MEPs on exposing the "waste, excesses, corruption and stupidity" of European institutions. Mr Spink called for Britain to quit the Common Agricultural Policy and Common Fisheries Policy. He said:
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Essex: Wanted - lifts for my 35 bridesmaids
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something like 35 bridesmaids and ten page boys? Wedding helpers - bride-to-be Mandy Hawkes with some of the 35 bridesmaids at her wedding. It might not be traditional to have 45 people follow you up the
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Essex: Hoses to the rescue
Firefighters have come to the rescue of the owner of an award-winning nature reserve. Frinton firefighters help out at Pedlars Wood nature reserve Pensioner Pam Garrad had been finding it heavy going watering 200 newly-planted plants at Pedlars Wood.
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Jaywick: Residents oppose library move plan
Angry residents in Jaywick are opposing plans to move their library. Library protest - councillors Roy Smith and Kevin Watson hand over the petition to save Jaywick library to county councillor Bonnie Hart. Picture: TERRY WEEDEN About 800 people are fighting
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Colchester: Oh flip! Pancake shop chairs row
A pancake shop's cafe culture bid fell flat after it was tossed a £1,000 bill by the council. Angry - Peter Richardson, owner of the Pancake Parlour in Colchester, has been told to pay up or lose the table and chairs outside his shop. Picture: STEVE BAINBRIDGE
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Soccer: Duguid looks to another ten years
Ten years gone, another ten to go. That was the message from Colchester United stalwart Karl Duguid ahead of his testimonial match against West Ham United at Layer Road tonight (kick-off 7.45pm). Karl Duguid The 26-year-old, from Hitchin, has come a long
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Clacton: Major facelift for rail station
A major project is under way to upgrade facilities for passengers at Clacton railway station. The improvements will include new closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) and waiting rooms. The work is being carried out by Network Rail and the Strategic
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Essex: Sex offender figures revealed
Essex has one of the lowest rates of sex offenders in the country, according to figures out today The number of registered sex offenders in the county has gone up from 440 to 542 in the last year, a jump of 24 per cent. But this is a cumulative figure
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Maldon: Police quiet on raid on family's home
Police are refusing to release details of an incident in which it is believed a family were subjected to a terrifying ordeal at the hands of masked intruders. It is thought the family, from Lodge Road, Hazeleigh, near Maldon, were targeted by thieves
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Harold Hill: School's Spain trip cut short
A disappointed head teacher has spoken about the lessons learned after his school was forced to cut short a trip to Spain because of the behaviour of "a minority" of pupils. Chris Rudge, principal of King's Wood School in Harold Hill, said he was sad
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Leigh: Pub to look into bouncer behaviour claims
Shocked drinkers watched in horror as a burly pub bouncer ripped off his shirt and charged screaming at terrified customers. Witnesses say trouble flared up at The Grand, in Broadway, Leigh, at around 10.40pm last Friday night. Customers were forced to
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Braintree: Olympic baton to be greeted by town's children
An Olympic relay baton containing good luck messages from sick children across the country is to stop off in Braintree today. The baton contains messages from all 33 children's hospices in Britain and is due to be greeted by Jackie Pell, chairman of the
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Colchester: Town's biggest estate 'looks like rubbish dump'
Colchester's biggest housing estate is starting to look like a rubbish dump. That's the assessment of a campaigning councillor trying to get a civic amenity centre brought back to Greenstead. Tim Young (Lab, St Andrew's) says bulky rubbish has been left
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Brentwood: Firefighters need old cars
Firefighters in Brentwood are seeking vehicles to practice their rescue skills using new state-of-the-art equipment. Station commander, Jack Imrie, said: "Due to the strategic importance of Brentwood Fire Station with its attendance at Road Traffic Accidents
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South Essex: Trains chaos
Commuters today suffered another morning of train chaos as workers battled to repair power lines between Leigh and Benfleet. Five c2c trains from Shoebury to Fenchurch Street were cancelled this morning and other services were disrupted across south Essex
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Pitsea: Hang on to your handbags warning
Police today urged shoppers to be on their guard after a spate of thefts from handbags. Thieves unzipped a woman's bag at the Alldays store, in Northlands Pavement, Pitsea, on Saturday and stole a wallet containing £80. Hours later, a 72-year-old woman
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Soccer: Great Wakering Rovers 3-2 Dagenham and Redbridge XI (Friendly)
Danny Heale picked up where he left off last season when he made his debut for Great Wakering last night. The striker was the top scorer for Canvey club Concord Rangers in the Essex Senior League last term. And he wasted no time in opening his account
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Frinton, Clacton: Crash driver twice limit
A convicted fraudster was twice the legal drink-drive limit when a car he borrowed without consent flew through the air and landed in a front garden. Paul Birtles of The Esplanade, Frinton, was jailed for four months by Colchester magistrates yesterday
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Harwich: Ex-boxer jailed for punching landlord
A former boxer has been jailed for attacking a pub landlord and breaking his cheekbone. Seth Fowler had been escorted from his local in Harwich after complaints about his behaviour when he punched landlord Jamie Shrive in the face. The blow fractured
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Bowls: Henstocks bounce back in mixed pairs
Rose and Vic Henstock secured a quarter-final mixed pairs berth at the Southend Ladies Open Bowls Tournament after a dramatic third round fixture. The Runwell duo found themselves 11-0 down on the seventh end in their match against South Benfleet's Judy
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Athletics: Photo finish for Daniel and Dominic
Race-walking twins Dominic and Daniel King enjoyed a weekend of overwhelming success at a prestigious international event in Manchester. The Great Horkesley duo finished first and second respectively in their five-kilometre race at the Norwich Union under
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Soccer: Canvey Island 1-2 Gillingham (Friendly)
Canvey Island coach Glenn Pennyfather had every right to be happy with the performance, but was disappointed by the result of last night's friendly defeat against Gillingham. It's there - John Kennedy puts Canvey ahead from close range after 28 minutes
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Harwich: Sea defence work given go-ahead
A £200,000 sea defence scheme in Harwich has been given the go-ahead. The two-fold scheme to strengthen sea defences and improve public access to Harwich seafront was approved by Tendring Council. Cash has been put aside to carry out vital repair work
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Soccer: Westlake doubtful for Town
Ian Westlake has emerged as Ipswich Town's only injury worry ahead of tonight's mouth-watering pre-season friendly against Premiership side Newcastle United. The Clacton-based midfielder - last season's supporters' player-of-the-year - missed training
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Essex: A12 carriageway repairs
Part of the A12 faces an overnight closure to replace worn-out concrete carriageway. The northbound carriageway of the Kelvedon bypass will be closed from 9pm on Friday until 5am on Saturday, with traffic diverted through Kelvedon and Feering. Roger Chenery
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Leigh: Burglary terror of woman, 85
A burglar ripped a phone from its wall socket as a terrified 85-year-old called for help as he burst into her bedroom. The man, who had his nose and mouth covered, forced a kitchen window of the house in Flemming Crescent, Leigh, and kicked open a locked
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Karate: Double success for Shin Gi Tai
Rayleigh's Shin Gi Tai Shotokan karate club were today celebrating after two more students achieved great success. Senior student Angela Gregory performed fantastically to pass her dan black belt course in Hendon, while 12-year-old Grace Thompson, who
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Basildon: Pigs trotter left on Muslim's doorstep
A pig's trotter was left on the doorstep of an Islamic leader as part of a racially motivated attack on his property. Two people wearing masks smashed a window during the attack on the Basildon home of Sarfraz Sarwar. It is the third time in three months
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South Essex: Dick Turpin motorbike crackdown continues
Police renewed their crackdown on reckless bikers last night as hundreds of motorcyclists gathered at the Dick Turpin pub on the A127. Officers from Laindon Road Policing Unit were again out in force to try to snare dangerous motorbike riders who put
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Tilbury: Police in large drugs find
Scotland Yard has made its biggest haul of cocaine in more than a decade, following on from Metropolitan Police officers seizing a large amount of cannabis at Tilbury Docks. The cocaine haul - weighing about 370lb (168kg) - was found in 180 packages at
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Maldon: Maps designs are talk of the town
Wearing a map of the Maldon district might seem like a strange idea, but a budding designer has made the Essex coastline fashionable. Budding designer - Louise Austin with some of her designs featuring the maps. Picture: ADRIAN RUSHTON A collection of
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Stansted: New A120 'built for airport'
BAA and Essex County Council have been accused of building a road that helps Stansted grow rather than creating a solution to traffic growth. The last 11-mile section of the new dual carriageway A120 linking Braintree and Dunmow has just opened. But the
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North Essex: Hospital staff feel pressure
Spiralling emergency cases are putting increased pressure on hospital staff in north Essex. The number of emergency patients has soared by almost a third this year to more than 8,000 - 1,900 above hospital chiefs' predictions. Bosses are now looking at
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Angling: Gary far from Lowe after heavy capture
Gary Lowe, carp consultant at Angling Direct Essex, returned to Thurrock club lake action and caught a perfect 32lb 6oz common and a 21lb 4oz common. The tackle used was -- 12ft x2.3/4lb Chubb Vantage rods, Shimano 10,000 XTE's, Diawa 15lb sensor mainline
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Laindon: Wham! I've won a holiday
A miniature George Michael, who beat the odds when he was born three months premature, has won his family a free holiday to Torquay after a winning rendition of the Wham classic I'm Your Man. Shane's your man - the eight-year-old won his family a holiday