Archive
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Tendring: Water bills may come down
Water bills for residents in Tendring could go down if the industry watchdog gets its way. The water regulator, Ofwat, today said it wanted to see charges in the district reduced by more than four per cent in 2005-06 and then kept stable over the following
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Benfleet, Southend: Friend of son cleared of stealing mum's purse
A man has been cleared of stealing a purse from the mother of his former school friend. Barry Fairbrother, 34, of Kingsmere, Benfleet, was said to have snatched the purse after sneaking into the house in Phillpot Avenue, Southend. Basildon Crown Court
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Walton: Boy, 14, recovering after being set on fire near pier
A teenager was today recovering at home after suffering serious burns in an "horrific and traumatic" attack in broad daylight in front of Walton Pier. The 14-year-old victim, who has not been named but comes from Kirby, was flown to Broomfield Hospital
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Colchester: Help Naomi be a Honey
A Colchester beauty is hoping to become the top 'High Street Honey' in a competition run by a national magazine. Vote for me - Naomi Chen drums up support for her entry in FHM's High Street Honey contest Picture: NIGEL BROWN Dark-haired Naomi Chan, of
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Soccer: Flavs - It's not all about size
Size isn't everything -- just ask Southend United goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan who is determined to provide proof after signing a new one-year deal with the Shrimpers. The 26-year-old shot-stopper is expected to start Saturday's League Two curtain-raiser
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V Festival: More talent added to music choice stage
More bands have been confirmed for V Festival's first ever Music Choice Stage line-up. Scandanavian pop-mongers, The Concretes, and Hackney funk-disco-punksters, The Infadels will be joining 2004's all-star line-up. The Music Choice Stage is set to be
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South Woodham Ferrers: Council defends grafitti classes
A council which was recently awarded compensation for having to clean up the aftermath of a graffiti spree in South Woodham Ferrers has defended holding graffiti classes in the town for teenagers. Chelmsford Borough Council was awarded a large part of
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Chelmsford: Prison recognised
Chelmsford Prison has been recognised for its performance by officers within the prison service. Its deputy governor, Mike Poselay, claims the prison and youth offenders' institute have been listed as the fifth best in the country after making consistent
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Rayleigh: Say cheese for a joke
Ask for some extra cheese with your jacket potato at one restaurant and you could end up with more than you bargained for. What a laugh - Georgina Kaim, of Make-A-Wish, shares a joke with Harvester staff Picture: ANNA LUKALA Families are set to be laughing
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Chelmsford: Prison van flips over in road smash
A Securicor prison van ended up on its side after a collision with a car. The crash took place yesterday on the A414 near Chelmsford. The ambulance service was called at 7.13pm and two rapid response vehicles and two ambulances were sent to the scene.
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Soccer: Global gold for Chris
Grays' Chris Kempsley helped England's learning disability XI claim footballing gold at the Global Games in Sweden -- thrashing Poland 4-1 in the final to claim their second major title in three years. England, who also won the World Cup in 2002, kick
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Little Clacton: Councillors want action on village surgery
Parish councillors would like to build their own GP surgery in their village rather than leave villagers waiting for answers. Little Clacton branch surgery was closed by the main Great Bentley practice earlier this year. But some months on there is still
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Stanway: Late husband's dazzling display
A widow is sending her late husband off with a bang by blasting his ashes 600ft into the air inside giant fireworks. The Colchester man's ashes will be fired into the night sky using a dozen football-sized rockets, which will then explode in a dazzling
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Athletics: Civic pride is Claxton aim
Sarah Claxton is aiming to make Colchester proud at this month's Olympics in Athens. Ready for Greece - Sarah Claxton proudly wears her Great Britain team Olympic tracksuit Picture: STEVE BAINBRIDGE The life member of Colchester and Tendring Athletics
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Castle Point: £1m homes boost
First time buyers in Castle Point will soon get a much-needed boost when £1million is used to create an estate of cheap homes within the borough. The affordable houses, to be built over the next two years at one of four earmarked sites, will also attract
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Burnham: Two taken to hospital after pesticide spill
Two members of the emergency services were taken to hospital after an accident left pesticide spilled over a road. The two ambulance crew members from Burnham were checked for minor respiratory problems and then released on Wednesday afternoon. They had
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Chelmsford: Teacher quizzed over girl
Chelmsford child protection officers are investigating allegations that a teacher at Great Baddow High School was involved in an improper relationship with a female student. He was suspended by the board of governors at the close of the summer term and
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Westcliff: Firefighters' tribute
Colleagues of Westcliff firefighter Adam Meere, who died while helping tackle a fire in East London, formed a guard of honour at his funeral. The funeral, held in Adam's hometown in Surrey, was packed full of family, friends and fellow firefighters, who
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Golf: Duo win ladies' trophy prize
Thorpe Hall Ladies' Flora Banks Trophy was won by Mrs T Hopkins and Mrs V Franklin. The pair took the 18-hole greensome Stableford with 41 points, two points clear of runners-up Mrs S Goy and Mrs Y Buzer and third-placed Mrs S Dalmon and Mrs A Tuson.
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Cricket: Brant hit by fresh injury
Essex left-arm opening bowler Scott Brant is facing some weeks on the sidelines having sustained another injury. Brant was included in the 12-man squad for the current championship match against Hampshire. But he was omitted from the starting 11 and has
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Colchester: Trainee solicitor's firm matches charity cash
A nimble-footed trainee solicitor impressed her firm so much by winning Colchester's Race for Life that it doubled the money she raised for charity. Charlotte Knappett, a trainee solicitor at law firm Fisher Jones Greenwood, beat off competition from
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Southminster: Second flood in a year
One home was flooded for the second time within a year and 75 left without water when a water main burst in Southminster. The drama began in the early hours of Sunday in Queen Street, when the Faulks family were awoken by a passer-by who reported their
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Soccer: Kightly out of opener
Southend United winger Michael Kightly has been ruled out of Saturday's clash against Cheltenham Town with a calf problem. The talented teenager originally picked up the injury in training before taking another knock during the 3-3 draw at Dagenham and
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Basildon: Suicide sparks review
Basildon Hospital has taken urgent action after a patient sectioned under the mental health act was able to kill himself. Michael Braeger, 53, was found hanging from a door handle with a belt wrapped round his neck on the morning of October 26 last year
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Castle Point: Day of play will be a real Scooby do
Scooby Doo will meet children, families, friends and carers at a special event to promote learning through play. The event has been organised by Castle Point and Rochford Area Partnership to demonstrate how children's play can be more than just a social
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Angling: Geordie's catch is king of carp
Geordie Cator's 21lb 4oz common carp was the king of the catches in a great week at Gloucester Park. His extended session at the little bay yielded 32 carp on a variety of baits, with Geordie's first 20lb-er of the year failing to a strawberry fish boilie
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Soccer: Global gold for Chris
Grays' Chris Kempsley helped England's learning disability XI claim footballing gold at the Global Games in Sweden - thrashing Poland 4-1 in the final to claim their second major title in three years. England, who also won the World Cup in 2002, kick
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Essex: Hospital staff on training course
Essex Ambulance Service is working in partnership with Broomfield Hospital to ensure staff in the A&E department are fully up-to-date with their decontamination training. In total, 60 staff are completing the one-day course, over a period of several
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Maldon: Military museum going great guns
Maldon's newest tourist attraction has been going great guns. The Combined Military Services Museum, in Station Road, has been open for a month and many people have been coming to see the collection of weapons and artefacts from centuries of battle. Curator
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Benfleet: Ancient coin was in my shed
A coin dating back to the Battle of Benfleet in 894AD has been sitting in a shed for eight years, it was revealed today. Coin find - Paul Elmy Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY Paul Elmy, 33, from Hall Farm Road, Benfleet, discovered the ancient bronze coin when
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Colchester: Arson probe
An arson investigation has been launched after a fire destroyed a flat today. Aftermath - a fire engine at the flat in Butt Road, Colchester, today. Picture: STEVE ARGENT The blaze started on bedding in the front bedroom of the first floor home in Butt
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Billericay: Puppets by poppets
Creative children enjoyed making puppets during an activity day in Norsey Wood, Billericay. No strings - Lauren Hope, Millie Callaghen and Annabel Ede get busy in the puppet-making session Picture: ROB BROWNE It was one of a series of events organised
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Cricket: Youngsters lead Essex to victory
A pair of young cricket stars had a taste of glory when they helped Essex to victory in the Ampleforth Festival of Cricket. Hadleigh and Thundersley duo Adam Soilleux and Joe Robbins were key players for the under-12s squad who took the honours at the
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Cricket: Essex CCC history on the cards
Essex fans keen on the club's history can run their eyes over some county nostalgia. A collection of sports-related items have been donated to the Chelmsford Museum in Oaklands Park. Among them are three cricket scorecards detailing the match played between
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Maldon: No bunting just some red tape
A golden opportunity to cash in on coachloads of trippers visiting Maldon during its 100th Carnival Week has been strangled by red tape. Because there are no flags or banners in the town centre announcing Carnival Week or Saturday's parade thousands of
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Essex: £50 fine for parents for term time holidays
Education chiefs are drawing up get-tough rules to crack down on children who bunk off school to go on holiday. Parents who take their kids out of the classroom face on-the-spot fines when the new rules are brought in next month. They will get one warning
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Cricket: Adams puts Essex firmly in command
After Andre Adams had produced a devastating spell of bowling to rip the heart out of the Hampshire batting, an unbeaten 63 from Paul Grayson placed Essex in a seemingly impregnable position at the end of the second day's play in the County Championship
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Basildon, Colchester: Anger over panda import
Basildon MP Angela Smith today said she opposed Essex County Council's bid to import giant pandas to Colchester Zoo. Essex County Council leader Lord Hanningfield wants to introduce a pair of pandas to captivity in this country, possibly at Colchester
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Shoebury: Firm's alert over white stuff
An alert was sparked at a Shoebury company when some white crystals were discovered. Security staff at records firm Graphic Data, in Campfield Road, found the crystals in an envelope in the site's warehouse on Tuesday night. The envelope was opened and
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Chelmsford: £120m hospital plans - first phase approved
Detailed plans for the first phase of Broomfield Hospital's £120 million redevelopment have been approved by councillors. Following outline approval given for the project in November 2002, councillors gave the all-clear to proposals which include a new
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Colchester: Tributes to 30-year-old
Tributes have been paid to a globe-trotting cystic fibrosis sufferer who lived life to the full. Simon Harris, 30, of Colchester, refused to let his illness stand in the way of work, learning new talents, travelling and enjoying himself. He gained qualifications
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Colchester: Olympic lake has local connection
A Colchester firm will take centre stage at the opening ceremony of the 2004 Olympics after turning the giant stadium into a million-gallon lake. Details of the opening ceremony are a guarded secret. But the Evening Gazette can reveal a massive lake will
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Canvey: Meeting to be held over gas fears
Gas station bosses want-ing to store an explosive substance on Canvey will meet with Castle Point councillors and residents in an attempt to reassure them. The move comes after Calor Gas revealed it was interested in storing liquified natural gas (LNG
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Golf: Hughes' double Hanover delight
Mark Hughes was a double winner at Hanover, taking the club championship and the handicap bowl on the Georgian Course. Hughes had a first-round 72 and then took 77 over the second round for 149. In the other July contests Alan Van Lint took the Division
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North Essex: Customers face costlier water
Water bills in north Essex are likely to rise by about three per cent - 14 per cent less than Anglian Water wanted. Water industry regulator Ofwat issued its draft price limit today - the maximum each company can raise its price over the next five years
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V Festival: More talent added to music choice stage
More bands have been confirmed for the V Festival's first ever Music Choice Stage line-up. Scandanavian pop-mongers, The Concretes, and Hackney funk-disco-punksters, The Infadels will be joining 2004's all-star line-up. The Music Choice Stage is set to
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Canvey: Greek holiday?
The holidays may only have just begun but one group of youngsters has already completed a summer school - based on Greece. Getting the point - youngsters take part in the play at Cornelius Vermuyden Picture: DAVE HENDERSON Thirty Canvey pupils returned
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Cricket: Adams puts Essex firmly in command
After Andre Adams had produced a devastating spell of bowling to rip the heart out of the Hampshire batting, an unbeaten 63 from Paul Grayson placed Essex in a seemingly impregnable position at the end of the second day's play in the County Championship
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Stansted: Air captain criticised
An aircraft captain has been criticised after failing to properly report an incident which affected a Stansted-bound flight last year. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) investigated after a report that ice began to form on the Aurign Air Services
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Essex: Coast staffing 'not cause of deaths'
The agency responsible for saving lives on south Essex beaches has denied allegations people are at risk because of understaffing. A report by MPs slammed the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) for "unacceptable" staffing levels, which it connected
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Castle Point: Kids to be told - Grab a dustbin and thump it!
Castle Point teenagers will be encouraged to grab a dustbin and give it a thump at a council-run workshop to beat summer boredom. Three workshops, including one called Stomp, based on the international hit show, have been set up this month for youngsters
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Tennis: Jamie to face Majdi task
Jamie Robinson has made a successful start at the Swiss Tennis Open - beating Konstantin Schmaeh of Switzerland in a closely-fought three set tussle. The 32-year-old from Shoebury came back from one set down to claim a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 victory in the Championship
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Wickford: Anger as councillors give nod to a care home
Anger has erupted over plans to build a care home for disabled people in Wickford. The scheme was approved unanimously by district planning councillors, despite fierce opposition from families living near the site of the proposed home. Basildon Council
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Cricket: Essex take second victory against Hampshire
Essex surprised County Championship Division Two promotion hopefuls Hampshire by beating them inside three days. Ronnie Irani's men looked in control throughout the 384-run victory - only their second County Championship win of the season. Jamie Middlebrook's
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Laindon: Take a peek at new look centre
A three-day exhibition was today opening to show residents how a run down shopping precinct could be transformed into a thriving centre. Lakehill Investments, which owns the Laindon Centre, is inviting residents along to speak with representatives and
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South Essex: Top rappers hit anti-drugs beat
Up and coming rappers from the capital will launch a single in south Essex to help steer the county's youths away from crack cocaine and the devastation the drug causes. The single's title takes the name from the Crack Under Pressure campaign launched
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Billericay: Heroin addict ran out of luck
Heroin addict James Brown was so desperate for a fix, he took cars to drive to London for drugs. But Brown, 24, of Crown Road, Billericay, ran out of luck when he crashed twice. After raiding the homes of two neighbours, he woke an elderly couple and