Archive
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Colchester: Bogus callers' £1,000 floor con
Tricksters promised two householders a bargain kitchen floor - then disappeared with nearly £1,000 of their money. Police have issued a warning after the bogus trio struck twice in Colchester yesterday. The crooks first knocked on a door at about 10am
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Rayleigh: Weir supermarket to double in size
A huge expansion of a busy supermarket has been approved by planning officials. Sainsbury's, in Stadium Way, Rayleigh Weir, is to grow to more than 45,000 sq ft after its proposals to demolish a nearby warehouse formally owned by Texas and to take over
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Great Notley: Woman saved by revolutionary drug
A 37-year-old woman has been given a second chance by a revolutionary new drug which saved her life following a massive heart attack. Alexandra Charlsworth, of Great Notley, is getting her life back to normal just three weeks after the scare. She was
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Cricket: Wargent helps Maldon draw
Maldon's Peter Wargent cut through the Godmanchester batting line-up, taking seven wickets as his team etched out a draw against their Cambridgeshire opponents at Drapers Farm. Godmanchester were in a strong position by lunch, moving their total comfortably
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Essex: Legislation is proving difficult
Hundreds of small businesses in Essex are worried they cannot cope with the raft of new legislation on workers rights. They claim the 26 Acts relating to employment on the statute book is making it difficult for small firms to administer. Government plans
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Angling: Nets fill in hot weather
Anglers at Basildon's Aquatels lake have been making the most of the hot weather by filling their nets with fish of most species. John Ashton cast his rod into the back straight and landed tench to 6lb, as well as several good sized roach and perch. On
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Tendring: Radio station set to be back on air
A radio station which set up for a month for the first time last summer is returning to the airwaves of Tendring. Coast 107FM will be operating for the whole of August and is intending to apply for one of the licences being offered in the area later this
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Colchester: Castle celebrates grant
Displays of Norman and Saxon artefacts will go on show in new galleries thanks to a £79,000 grant paving the way to the redevelopment of Colchester Castle The Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund has awarded £79,200 to Colchester Castle for
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Chelmsford: Prestige cars targeted
Damage running into tens of thousands of pounds has been caused by thieves in a smash-and-grab effort to steal high-value cars at a specialist mid-Essex service centre. Thieves stole cars with a joint value of £150,000 from authorised Mercedes Benz centre
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Soccer: Che plays for keeps
Southend United's Che Wilson is hoping to continue his recent revival and become a regular in the Roots Hall side this season. The former Norwich City performer endured a miserable first campaign with the coastal club -- starting just 11 league games
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Southend: Did you see car chase?
Police are appealing for witnesses to a high-speed car chase through Southend. A Vauxhall Astra was pursued by a police car on Woodgrange Drive, along Victoria Road and into Shaftesbury Avenue until it was abandoned in Camper Road. The chase took place
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Colchester: You've ruined my life, court told
A man told magistrates they had ruined his life when they jailed him for possession of a flick-knife. David Boles denied owning the weapon and said he found it 15 minutes before he was stopped by police in Mersea Road, Colchester. The 37-year-old, of
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Writtle: Staff find deadly spider in crate
A deadly black widow spider crawled into a shipping crate in the United States and ended its journey some 5,000 miles away in mid-Essex. Staff working at Sutch and Searle in Highwood Road, Writtle, uncovered the arachnid when they unpacked the crate containing
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Bocking: Mum's praise for brave neighbour
A mother has thanked the brave neighbour who saved her baby after a fire broke out in her flat's kitchen. Grateful - Angela Williams with baby Louise Picture: STEVE BAINBRIDGE Baby Louise Tompsett was saved by neighbour Richard Smith when fire broke out
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Essex: Showground set for improvements
Proposals which could improve showground and racetrack facilities in mid-Essex, have been approved. Chelmsford borough councillors agreed to an amended application made by the Essex County Showground, for a new centre on its existing site in Great Leighs
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Basketball: College spot for Arayomi
Southend Swifts star Yetty Arayomi is heading to North Carolina -- after being accepted at a top American college The 18-year-old, who has been with Swifts for two years, will study at the Davidson University, following in the foot-steps of former team-mate
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South Woodham Ferrers: Cannabis find in car
A carrier bag stuffed full with cannabis has been found in the car of a teenager in South Woodham Ferrers. Police arrested a 19-year-old male and a 17-year-old male, who were found to be in possession of the drug, in the town on Friday. A subsequent search
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Dovercourt: Vandals attack graves
Vandals have carried out a number of attacks on a graveyard. The spate of incidents have taken place over the last few days at Dovercourt Cemetery, off Main Road. Headstones have been covered in purple paint, and the vandals also tried to break into a
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Essex: £2m loss for taxpayers
Mismanagement by a council-owned careers service has seen £2m of taxpayers' money lost An investigation was launched following a suggestion that fraud and/or corruption at Essex Careers and Business Partnerships (ECBP) had led to the £2m loss. ECBP went
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Basildon: Women muggers flee with handbag
Two women robbers were today being hunted after they attacked a young woman and stole her handbag as she walked home alone in Basildon. Police today praised the 24-year-old victim for her "plucky" effort to keep hold of her property even though she was
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Southend: Companies ready with pier cash
A string of companies have stepped in to pump millions into Southend Pier, it was revealed today. Southend Council has attracted a "good response" from businesses keen to create a "beautifully redeveloped pier" following a national advertising campaign
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Essex: Praise heaped on agency
The Government has lavished praise on the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) for boosting the region's economy. Statistics from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) show that for the year 2003-4 Some 2,909 jobs had been created or safeguarded
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Kirby Cross: Renewed appeal over fatal crash
Police investigating a fatal crash which claimed the life of a 15-year-old girl have renewed appeals to a motorcyclist and passenger to come forward. Rebecca Fenton, from Bemerton Gardens, Kirby Cross, was riding pillion on her father Desmond's Honda
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Cricket: Jefferson hits Hants hard with double ton
Will Jefferson struck a career-best 222 yesterday as Essex were bowled out for a highly satisfactory 416 on the opening day of the County Championship match against Hamp-shire at Southampton. The lofty opener's highly disciplined innings allowed his side
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Soccer: Kuqi turns down Hansa Rostock
Shefki Kuqi has rejected the chance of a trial with Bundesliga side Hansa Rostock. The Ipswich Town striker, who scored in Monday's pre-season friendly against Osasuna, had been given permission by boss Joe Royle to spend two days in Germany. Although
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Pitsea: Racists strike yet again
Police fear racist thugs are at large in Basildon after a third hate-attack inside a week. Today they released this e-fit of one of the suspects as two homes in Moretons, Pitsea, had bricks thrown at windows in the latest attacks on ethnic families. The
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Tendring: £50k riding centre will go ahead vow
A vital project to set up a £50,000 riding centre for the disabled in Tendring will go ahead - even if it means finding a new site for the scheme. Amanda Pound, chief executive of Tendring Trust for the Disabled, today told the Evening Gazette that she
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Wickford: Plan for 70 new homes kicked out
Residents cheered victoriously as plans to build 70 homes at the bottom of their road were binned. Basildon Council last night unanimously agreed to refuse planning for the homes off Bridge Road, Wickford, in front of a packed public meeting. The controversial
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Canewdon: Revived country pub clicks with Camra
A rural pub which was closed and derelict five years ago has won a prestigious award from the Campaign for Real Ale. Martin and Julie Ryecroft took a gamble when they bought the rundown Shepherd and Dog in the hamlet of Ballards Gore, near Canewdon, after
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Dovercourt: New group to help disabled children
A new class is being set up to help children who suffer from a ligament condition. Sessions will be held at St Joseph's Primary School in The Drive, Dovercourt, for pupils with hypermobility syndrome or similar disabilities. The condition can make joints
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Soccer: Carrick cash crisis looms for Irons
If Michael Carrick does not sort out his future soon it could plunge West Ham into administration. Michael Carrick - could cause problems for the Hammers Picture: NICK ANSELL That is the stark message from manager Alan Pardew as he tries to persuade the
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Witham: Over the Moon at rare drum find
A jobless drummer hit the jackpot after snaring a missing piece of ultra-rare rock history on the internet. Snared it - Antony Cummings shows the drum once owned by The Who's Keith Moon to drum shop owner Peter Lewis. Picture: ROB SAMBROOK Antony Cummings
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Brentwood: Tribute to unsung hero
A touching tribute has been paid to one of Brentwood's unsung heroes. Former chairman of Brentwood Mind, Ken Evans, died peacefully at his Ingatestone home after suffering from a long illness. A glowing tribute has been paid to him by long time friend
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Soccer: Holland backs Brown's captain role
Matt Holland believes Wayne Brown has the attributes to become an excellent skipper for Colchester United. Brown joined the Layer Road outfit from Watford during the summer and has been appointed stand-in captain while Karl Duguid remains on the sidelines
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Essex: Bikers deaths in the county double
The number of bikers killed on Essex roads this year has doubled. There have been 14 motorcycle fatalities in the first seven months of 2004, compared to seven last year. The toll is despite statistics which show overall road deaths in the county are
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Ongar, North Weald: £3m road safety boost
A massive £3m pound cash injection has been assigned to improve safety and reduce accidents along a notorious main road which runs through Ongar and North Weald. The money has been made available by Essex County Council for improvements on the A414 from
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Witham: Amy's home town show
A promising musician and artist is exhibiting in her home town for the first time. Amy Fry's latest work is currently being shown at Witham library until Monday, August 16. The 19-year-old former Howbridge Infant School pupil is keen to exhibit her work
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Laindon: Knife threat thug is hunted
Police have re-issued an appeal for information about a knife-wielding thug who threatened a pensioner. Officers believe the suspect may have struck again since the attack. They hope a description from the original incident will now trigger someone's
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Stanway: Villagers say no to caravans
Villagers have recommended that plans for six caravans on land in Stanway are turned down. Stanway Parish Council's planning committee considered the application for change of use on the land at Turkey Cock Lane for six caravans with two toilet and shower
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Canvey: 40 flee blaze at factory
Firefighters today praised a firm for the effecient way 40 workers were evacuated when a machine at a factory caught fire. The drama happened yesterday evening at Games and Print Services in Kings Road, on Charfleet Industrial Estate, Canvey. Manager
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Westcliff: Burglar's blade threat in night
A man was threatened with a "sharp object" when he confronted a burglar who had broken into his home during the night. The owner of a house in Southbourne Grove, Westcliff, heard noises in his downstairs study about 4am on July 23 and went to investigate
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Soccer: Cook's sadness at U's exit
Micky Cook today revealed his 'extreme disappointment' at being forced to leave his Director of Youth post at Colchester United. The U's legend has been made redundant - ending his 30-year stay with the U's - but admits the future looks bright for the
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Leigh: Gun raid on security van
Detectives were today hunting an armed gang who escaped with a substantial haul from a security van in a late-night raid. Scene of the raid - the Nationwide in Leigh Broadway Picture: ANNA LUKALA The robbery in Leigh Broadway was the second similar raid
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West Hanningfield: Hunt for bogus caller
Police are seeking a bogus caller who stole a handbag containing £140 in cash from a retired woman living on an Essex travellers' site. A man in his 20s entered the 68-year-old's caravan after she left it to help him look for his lost cat. Someone was
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Soccer: Aveley 0-2 Billericay Town (Friendly)
Billericay Town continued their preparations for their forthcoming campaign in the Isthmian Premier Division with a comfortable 2-0 victory at Aveley last night. Striker Danny Hockton and midfielder Gavin Herrera were the men on target as Justin Edinburgh's
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Canvey: Wildlife to come first at new business park
A £6m business park on Canvey is a step closer, with work expected to start soon on its nature reserve. A detailed application relating to ditch work for the area has been submitted to Castle Point Council and the proposal is out for public consultation
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Leigh: Bye-bye, Bembridge - hello plastic duck
One of Leigh's marine landmarks will be towed away at the end of the month to become a floating restaurant. The Bembridge has acted as Essex Yacht Club's headquarters for the past 27 years on a spot between Leigh and Chalkwell. But time and tide wait
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Soccer: May issues a goal pledge
New Colchester United signing Ben May insists he has not scored his first and only goal for the U's. The striker, poised to sign a two-year loan deal from Millwall tomorrow, netted a dramatic 80th-minute leveller for Colchester last night in their final
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Basildon: Groups to share £11,000 windfall
More than £11,000 in grants are being given to the community by Basildon Council. Scouts, artists and disabled people will benefit from the cash. Stephen Horgan, cabinet member for community development, said: "We are pleased to be able to support these
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Soccer: Canvey Island 2-2 Charlton Athletic XI (Friendly)
Experienced Football League star Ben Sedgemore has thrown his weight behind Canvey Island's first campaign at Conference level. New signing - Canvey's latest acquisition, midfielder Ben Sedgemore (left), on the ball against Charlton at Park Lane last
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Soccer: May issues a goal pledge
New Colchester United signing Ben May insists he has not scored his first and only goal for the U's. The striker, poised to sign a two-year loan deal from Millwall tomorrow, netted a dramatic 80th-minute leveller for Colchester last night in their final
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Colchester: Asbestos fears of building site dust
A demolitions expert has spoken out to quash concerns over dust coming from a Colchester building site, which contains asbestos. Asbestos fears - tool-maker Paul Ost is concerned about dust coming from a building site in Hawkins Road, Colchester People
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Brentwood: Police continue clamp down on nuisance
Police officers in Brentwood have confirmed their war against youth nuisance in the town will continue through the summer. Operation Joule has proved such a success since it was launched in June that officers will keep the project running until the end
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Pitsea: Cops seize booze haul from young drinkers
This is the haul of alcohol seized by police in an undercover operation targeting young drinkers. Stash - Sgt Lee Ward with some of the alcohol seized in the Pitsea area Picture: ROB BROWNE Police launched a crackdown on gangs of boozing underage youths
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Basildon: Toddlers just love doodling
Toddlers have something to smile about in Vange after the introduction of the Doodles and Dance group. Creative - Angie King and Michelle Richardson with children at the Doodle session Picture: ROB BROWNE Doodles takes place on Tuesday at Gordon Hall