Archive
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Witham: Electricity blast blacks out town
An explosion at an electricity sub-station left thousands of homes without electricity across Witham and surrounding villages this morning. Aftermath - the scene of the explosion at the electricity sub-station in Cut Throat Lane, Witham. Picture: ADRIAN
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Horndon: Men take off from France in banger rally
Two men are hoping that it's not bangers and smash this weekend when they race to Naples in a car destined for the scrap heap. Les Hedaux, 53, and Claudio Valentini, 44, today stepped into their weathered Toyota Corolla 1.3 and began the gruelling Staples
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Chelmsford: Witness plea after vicious attack
Police are advising revellers to take care on their way home and are appealing for witnesses to a "ferocious" attack on two teenagers. The two friends, both aged 19, were on their way home from a night out in Chelmsford town centre when three men attacked
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Pitsea: Ailing sanctuary hurt by robbery
A horse sanctuary on the brink of closing due to lack of funds suffered another blow when they were robbed. Thieves broke into the Essex Horse and Pony Protection Society in Pitsea Hall Lane, Pitsea, and took 300 horse rugs, which had been put away last
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Southend: Charity shop expands as business booms
A fledgling charity shop in Southend High Street is doing so well it is expanding so it can sell furniture. The YMCA shop has only been open for two months and business is booming. It is now taking over an empty unit next door, which used to be the other
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Soccer: Wardy boost bolsters Gulls' defence
Canvey Island soccer boss Jeff King admits that the availability of central defender Steve Ward has given his side a tremendous boost ahead of tomorrow's Nationwide Conference home game with Morecambe. Gull's longest serving player was set to sit out
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Chelmsford: Man set fire to own room
A man has been detained under the Mental Health Act for setting fire to a room at a housing scheme where he was living. Robert Burne, was told by a Chelmsford Crown Court judge it was clear he needed help and a hospital order was the best option. The
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Maldon: No appeal over lake death
No appeal will be made by Maldon District Council after it was found guilty of breaching health and safety rules. The council faced prosecution from the Health and Safety Executive in Chelmsford Crown Court last month, where it was found to have broken
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Shoebury: Man to walk the globe for cancer
A 38-year-old man has quit his job to raise £1million for Cancer Research UK by walking 12,500 miles around the world. Mark Cundy, of High Street, Shoebury, finished as a finance company training manager two weeks ago and began full-time training for
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Rugby: Westcliff looking for winning formula
Westcliff aim to get back on track in London Four North East against visitors Thetford tomorrow. The Aviation Way side threw away a 19-10 half-time lead at West Norfolk last weekend, suffering a dramatic collapse to lose 20-19 late in the game. This setback
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Soccer: Coventry City 1-2 Ipswich Town (Coca Cola Championship)
Joe Royle felt his side deserved to snatch three points - but admitted feeling sorry for his opposite number Peter Reid. The managerial duo are old friends and Ipswich boss Royle, having watched his team triumph thanks to a late own goal, said: "It was
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Soccer: Darlington 4 Southend 0 (League Two)
The Shrimpers were quickly brought back down to earth after their 5-3 penalty shootout win over Colchester on Wednesday. Their return to League Two action saw them caned 4-0 by Darlo, who were 3-0 up at half-time. Alun Armstrong gave the hosts the lead
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Soccer: Canvey still searching for Park Lane win
CANVEY soccer boss Jeff King was left bemoaning the elements and the lack of the "rub of the green" in front of goal after his side again failed to break their Nationwide Conference home duck. Gulls have not won in six league starts at Park Lane and Saturday's
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Wickford: Old timer finally finds a home
Digby the dog's life just got a lot better as he was taken in by loving owners after spending seven years in dog kennels. Digby has swapped the Gemini kennels in Wickford for a home life in Somerset of runs on the beach, roast dinners, and evenings lounging
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Athletics: Kenyan wins Southend 10K
A 35-year-old army electrician popped in on his way to work to end hopes of local success in the Southend 10k road race yesterday. Kenyan-born Haggai Chepkwony is based in Bristol but, discovering he was working in York in the coming week, scoured the
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Jaywick: Woman loses tribunal case
A woman who claimed that her confidence was shattered while working as a dental practice manager has had her case thrown out by an employment tribunal. Yvonne Fuller said the experience had left her unable to work since last November, and she alleged
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Clacton: Fire victim's plea for witnesses
A wheelchair-bound woman has told of her terror in the seconds before she leapt to safety from her blazing flat. Gutted - the remains of the building following the fire last week (38555-2) She has appealed for witnesses to help find the arsonist. Joanne
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Leigh: Garages fetch £20,000 each
They look like ordinary garages - but they must be the most expensive in Essex after being sold for around £20,000 each. The block of six garages in Leigh fetched an astonishing £116,050 after being swiftly snapped up when they were put up for auction
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Southend: Margate theme park looms closer for Miller
Entrepreneur Philip Miller was today a giant step closer to buying another theme park. Mr Miller wants to add Dreamland in Margate to his entertainments empire, which already includes Adventure Island and Sea Life Adventure on Southend seafront. He made
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Great Holland: Lions Den's days are numbered
An historic village pub looks set to be torn down despite a storm of protest. The proposal to knock down The Lions Den at Great Holland and replace it with a larger improved pub-restaurant is being recommended for approval by Tendring district council
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Corringham: MP fuming after another post office falls
MP Angela Smith was raging today after it was revealed yet another post office in her constituency will close. The Corringham branch in Lampits Hill is the latest casualty and the third branch to be axed in the past two months. Its imminent shutdown follows
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Soccer: Hammers boss praises defensive duo
AMID the plaudits for veteran goalscorer Teddy Sheringham, West Ham boss Alan Pardew picked out two of his less acclaimed stars for praise after the 1-0 win over Wolves. Defensive pairing Calum Davenport and Tomas Repka were each singled out for their
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Soccer: Blues look to sharp-shooter Eastwood
SOUTHEND United are today expected to secure the loan signing of striker Freddie Eastwood from Grays Athletic. The former West Ham United trainee is set to ink a month-long deal with the Shrimpers after Steve Tilson's side drew another disappointing blank
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Dovercourt: Jason faces model future
A rugby player reached the national finals of a modelling competition. Facing the future - Jason Rodgers, who lost out in the final of the Face of Yates competition in London, with his commemorative plate for winning the East Anglia heat. Picture: TERRY
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Wivenhoe: Town shamed in drink-drive study
A rural Essex town has been named and shamed for its higher than average number of drink-drivers Police and a road safety partnership have now launched a high-profile anti-drink-drive campaign in a bid to hammer home the message. A study found the number
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Tilbury: Ferry damaged in minesweeper collision
The Tilbury Ferry has been severely damaged following a dramatic collision with a state-of-the-art Royal Navy minesweeper. The incident happened when the propulsion system on board the HMS Grimsby, a 52-metre, 600-tonne Sandown class minehunter, broke
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Bradwell: Power station review
Defuelling work at Bradwell Power Station should re-start within the next couple of months. In July, operations were suspended at the power station while a "root and branch" review of defuelling activities was carried out. The review was intended to look
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Clacton: Woman jumps from fire
A woman was forced to jump from a window to escape her blazing flat early today. Badly damaged - firefighters at the scene of the flat blaze The woman, who is in her 30s, escaped with minor injuries after she leapt to safety at 3.50am in Pallister Road
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Wickford: Elderly man dies in house fire
A smoke alarm could have saved a 98-year-old man who died when his Wickford bungalow burnt to the ground this morning, firefighters claimed. Neighbours of the semi-detached house in Oakhurst Drive, Wickford, dialled 999 at 4am this morning after being
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Essex: A12 closed by lorry collision
A lorry driver was injured after being hit by his own truck when a 40-tonne HGV collided with the back of it. Crash scene the wrecked cab of one of the lorries on the A12. Picture: STEVE BRADING (38657-c) The Benfleet man had got out of his cab after
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Soccer: Blues' Bentley hoping for ref U-turn
Southend United midfielder Mark Bentley is hoping to appear for the in-form Shrimpers at Darlington tomorrow after appealing against his mid-week red card against Colchester. The energetic former Dagenham and Redbridge man controversially received his
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Southend: Sailor tells of hurricane anguish
A former navy man has told how he refused to abandon ship when his luxury yacht was battered by Hurricane Ivan on the Caribbean Island of Grenada. Ex-Merchant Navy caterer, Stephen Wooster, 53, who has been sailing his boat the Delphine around the Caribbean
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Soccer: Colchester United 2-1 Port Vale (Coca Cola League One)
The league table has a very pleasing look about it today - Colchester United are riding high in the top four with almost a quarter of the season gone. And with several key players - Karl Duguid, Kemal Izzet, Craig Fagan, Liam Chilvers and Sam Stockley
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Basildon: Think twice before phone fraud, police warn
Want to get a flash new phone? Then think twice before falsely reporting your old one as stolen to the police. Police have claimed they are winning the war on fraudsters who make bogus insurance claims for "stolen" mobile phones. Reports of stolen phones
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Colchester: Traders in fight to save businesseS
Traders who fear their businesses will be demolished as part of the multi-million pound regeneration scheme have handed in a petition signed by 3,000 customers. Save our shops - Dee Cosar of Dee's Kitchen in Eld Lane and Adrian Swaisland of Welhams hairdressers
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Ongar, Essex: Golf charity cash boost
Two Essex charities have benefited to the sum of £6,000 thanks to a day of golf. Ongar and District Healthcare League of Friends and the Essex Air Ambulance are the chosen beneficiaries of money raised by the Chairman of Epping Forest District Council
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Soccer: U's 'can go all the way'
Colchester United can go all the way to promotion. Two-goal hero Neil Danns offered that bold prediction as he entered the final few days of his one-month loan spell from Premiership club Blackburn Rovers. Danns, who netted the U's opening-half goals
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Witham: Electricity blast blacks out town
An explosion at an electricity sub-station left thousands of homes without electricity across Witham and surrounding villages this morning. The fire service was called to the station, in Cut Throat Lane, Witham, at about 7am. Trevor Routledge, engineer
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Southend: Sir Teddy lauded at Freeman ceremony
Three cheers rang out across Southend's Council Chamber as members and guests rose to their feet to salute Sir Teddy Taylor as he received the award of Freeman of the Borough. The unique call came from a Liberal Democrat, Nigel Baker, who added: "The
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Soccer: Hammers' Mullins aims to grab his chance
West Ham defender Hayden Mullins is set to continue his first team return tomorrow when Wolves visit the Boleyn Ground. Mullins, who has found first-team starts hard to come back this season, returned to the side at Derby in place of the injured Malky
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Rayleigh: Church suffers from lack of repairmen
Everyone knows there's a shocking shortage of tradespeople - but try finding a repairman the next time your antique stained-glass window is smashed. Members of the historic Holy Trinity Church are still suffering from the legacy of two callous break-ins
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Southminster: Residents' views wanted on open spaces
Residents of Southminster are being invited by Maldon District Council to join a group that will help manage and develop two new areas of open space in the town. The council is asking residents to a meeting to form a 'Friends' group, a consultative body
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Ongar: Landmark hall needs volunteers
The landmark Budworth Hall in Ongar High Street could face closure unless a willing group of volunteers can be found to take over its running. The historic hall and community centre faces an uncertain future as four of its executive committee of seven
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Chelmsford, Dunmow: Shoppers join stars to support UK bid for Olympics
Crowds flocked to see Athens medal winners and show their support for the bid to bring the Olympics to England. The county's gold medal-winning paralympian, Danny Crates, and bronze medallist Lloyd Upsdell were joined by regional organisations to launch
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Soccer: Billericay and Canvey through in FA Youth Cup
There were victories for Billericay Town and Canvey Island in last night's FA Youth Cup first qualifying round programme. The New Lodge side's youngsters won 4-1 at Burnham Ramblers, while Gulls overcame Cambridge City 2-1 at Park Lane. But the island's
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Essex: Ban on smoking backed
A hefty 84 per cent of people across the region want smoking banned in public, a new survey has revealed. The poll of almost 8,000 people found a big majority are in favour of smoke-free zones. Eight out of ten also called for a law banning cigarettes
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Essexs: Ban on smoking backed
A hefty 84 per cent of people across the region want smoking banned in public, a new survey has revealed. The poll of almost 8,000 people found a big majority are in favour of smoke-free zones. Eight out of ten also called for a law banning cigarettes
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Colchester: Heart attack man's truck clamped by bailiffs
A worried daughter has appealed for more time to pay a parking fine after bailiffs called round just days after her father was taken seriously ill. Bailiffs visited Cromwell Road, in New Town, Colchester, and clamped a truck belonging to Peter Haggart
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Barling: Deadly American spider freaks family
A car enthusiast who found a strange spider in an imported American car today admitted being shocked to discover it was a deadly black widow. Barry Ashdown, 59, from Barling, found a spider's web in his 1960 Deville Cadillac when he picked it up from
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Southend: Sludge a health risk, says report
A report commissioned by Anglian Water says sludge from Southend is acidic and a health and safety risk to workers once it reaches the treatment works in Stambridge. Fears have also been raised about its health effects on residents living near the site
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Soccer: U's 'can go all the way'
Colchester United can go all the way to promotion. Two-goal hero Neil Danns offered that bold prediction as he entered the final few days of his one-month loan spell from Premiership club Blackburn Rovers. He's the man - Neil Danns wheels away in celebration
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Cricket: So long Southchurch, hello Garons Park
It's so long Southchurch Park, greetings Garons Park, after it was confirmed yesterday that Essex County Cricket Club would be changing the future location of the Southend Cricket Festival. The announcement coincides with 100 years of county cricket in
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Southend: Residents celebrate post office triumph
Residents were celebrating today after they faced off against the Post Office and won. People on the Woodgrange estate in Southend launched a petition when they heard the Post Office was considering closing its branch in Woodgrange Drive. The Post Office
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Colchester: Jail for driver who bit PC
A Colchester motorist has been jailed for a total of four months for biting a police officer's hand. The assault happened as four officers tried to arrest Barry Trotman, 30, after he failed to provide breath for analysis, Colchester magistrates heard
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Grays: Police on the hunt for lorry thieves
Detectives hunting a gang who stole £90,000 of medical equipment in a lorry raid have issued pictures of the stolen cargo. Officers hope the new pictures will jog the memory of someone in the south Essex area who has come into contact with the goods.
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South Essex: Biker deaths still on the rise
The number of bikers killed on Essex roads is continuing to rise. Twenty-five have already died in crashes in the county this year - up on last year's total of 24 deaths with three months of the year still left. The Government has announced it will investigate
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Witham: Thief strikes in charity shop
Police are appealing for help from the public in tracing a thief who struck in a Witham charity shop. At about noon on Thursday, a woman shopping in the Oxfam shop in Newland Street, Witham, was approached by a woman who asked for assistance in reading
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Basildon: New cinema coming to town
Plans to turn a former cinema into a hotel and apartment complex were today unveiled. The proposals, submitted to Basildon Council, would turn Robin's Cinema, in North Gunnels, into a modern three-storey development. Once completed, the building will
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Basildon: Car crime soars in town
Car crime is soaring in the Basildon Division with more than £50,000 worth of vehicles stolen in the past ten days. Concerned police bosses are again urging motorists to "Lock it or lose it" in a bid to curb the problem, and will also be putting up stickers
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Harwich: Runners from over the water
A town went Dutch as hundreds of continental visitors pounded its pavements. They're off - participants in the Harwich Discovery Run. Picture: STEVE BRADING (38623-a) About 800 people, most of them from Holland, took part in the Harwich Discovery Run
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Southend: Police admit cruiser night is a risk
A pioneering scheme to stage official events for cruisers is a risk but the only way forward, police have admitted. The first event, organised by cruiser groups, the police and Southend Council, will be held on November 13 and will see Marine Parade closed
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Clacton: Ian takes French leave for children
Cyclist Ian Pearson will be using his energy to pedal to Paris to help vulnerable children and their families. Sacre bleu! Ian Pearson trains for his marathon pedal to Paris. Picture: STEVE BRADING (38645-b) Mr Pearson, 48, of Skelmersdale Road, Clacton
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South Essex: Irate passengers pull cord to stop train
Angry passengers pulled the emergency cord when their train failed to stop at a station, it has emerged. The 5:09pm Leigh to Fenchurch Street service was running 13 minutes late because of a signal fault at Pitsea when the decision was taken to miss out
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Chelmsford: Taxi driver dies as car hits road sign
A taxi driver has died after his car struck a road sign and overturned. John Moore, 27, from Churchill Rise, Chelmsford, was discovered dead in his overturned car by a passer-by shortly after 5am yesterday. The Chelmer Valley Cars driver had been heading
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Harwich: Tick-tock sparks bomb alert
Bomb experts were called to a ticking package - only to find it was an antique clock. The package was found outside staff offices at Harwich International Port on Tuesday morning. It had been left for a member of crew outside the Freight Services Building
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Laindon: Friends pay tribute to well-known local
Friends have erected signs in memory of a 92-year-old man who ran a nearby business for more than 40 years. Cliff Parkinson, who only retired in April, died peacefully on September 24, just four weeks after his girlfriend passed away. Mr Parkinson was
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Great Notley: Get planting daffs
Notley residents of all ages are being encouraged to take part in a community event that's just plain daff! A daffodil planting project, involving residents of Great Notley, pupils of the two nearby primary schools and other groups, will take place during
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Colchester: Traders in fight to save businesses
Traders who fear their businesses will be demolished as part of the multi-million pound regeneration scheme have handed in a petition signed by 3,000 customers. Save our shops - Dee Cosar of Dee's Kitchen in Eld Lane and Adrian Swaisland of Welhams hairdressers
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Thorpe Bay: Girl's screams stop her abductors
A schoolgirl's screams of terror could have saved her from the clutches of two abductors, police revealed today. They believe the nine-year-old's piercing screams led to the kidnappers freeing her just half a mile from where they snatched her. The girl
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Soccer: Hockton comes up trumps for Town again
Billericay Town won through to the third qualifying round of the FA Cup in a manner rather easier than the 1-0 scoreline at Dorking suggests. Recent arrival Bertie Brayley twice missed out on finding the target early on as the Ryman Premier club put their
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South Essex: Thousands to wait for flu jab vaccine
Thousands of patients in will have to wait for flu jabs because of a shortage of the vaccine. GP surgeries and health centres have been told they will not get enough supplies for up to four weeks to vaccinate those who need protection against the virus
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Soccer: Parky says win was most important yet
Phil Parkinson described this as his Colchester United squad's biggest game of the season to date. The U's boss said: "I told the lads that I couldn't stress enough how important the game was. "'Look at the League table', I told them. 'Win and we establish
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Basildon: Police search for violent gang robbers
Detectives were today hunting a vicious gang who held a steak knife to a teenager's throat before robbing him. They believe the gang was responsible for two violent robberies on the Craylands Estate yesterday which netted them just over £100. Shortly
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Soccer: Harwich crash out
Harwich and Parkeston player-manager Mitchell Springett heaped praise on his troops despite crashing out of the FA Cup to full-time side Hornchurch. Garry Hill's Conference South outfit cruised to a 3-0 win in the second qualifying round at The Royal
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Canvey: Holding tried to "corrupt" election, judge says
Businessman Terry Holding has been slated by a judge for trying to "corrupt" an election by flying banners with insulting comments about candidates. Holding used his wealth and his own plane to try and stop the election of three Labour members to Castle
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Soccer: Fisher wriggle past Wakering
Great Wakering Rovers produced one of their best performances of the season, but still lost out 1-0 against Southern Division One East leaders Fisher Athletic. But they were sentenced to another home defeat - they are yet to win at Burroughs Park this
