Secret gardens have been unearthed as part of the most diverse Colchester in Bloom competition ever. Blooming difficult - Judges decide A panel of four judges armed with clipboards had the pleasure of sampling the hidden gems of the borough yesterday.
Maldon's Promenade Park will be teaming with police, paramedics, firefighters and coastguards on Sunday for the district's annual 999 Safety Day. Bombs will be exploded and chip pans will be set alight as the county's emergency services put on more displays
Campaigners fighting to save a special school are celebrating a temporary halt in its closure Parents and governors of the Leas School in Clacton yesterday made a heartfelt plea to a special committee at County Hall in Chelmsford to rethink a decision
A mystery pensioner is thanking his lucky stars after scooping a whopping £102,000 bingo jackpot. The 73-year-old Colchester man struck gold when he won the national top prize on Sunday night. But his massive slice of pot luck was halved after he was
Southend Council is stepping up its recycling efforts after the Government set new targets for the borough. The Government has set the following targets: recycle or compost at least 25 per cent of household waste by 2005, at least 30 per cent by 2010,
Teachers at a coastal school have been saying goodbye to colleagues and pupils. Mike Watson, 58, head of the 1,600-pupil Tendring Technology College, is taking early retirement after 20 years. But the end of the summer term also sees the departure of
Despite frequent showers, hundreds of teenagers still enjoyed Braintree's first youth festival. The Braintree Youth Festival was held at Weaver's Park in Bocking End. Highlights included a skating competition, local bands performing and various DJ performances
Anticipation shows on the faces of these teenagers as they prepare to celebrate the end of school. Dressed to nines - the girls, left to right, Maxine, Jodie, Claire, Georgina, Natalie, Sarah and Chelsea, travelled in style to the school ball Picture:
It's his first pre-season with the West Ham squad - and manager Alan Pardew is chomping at the bit to unleash his side on the Championship. After taking over last October it was tough for the boss to find time to develop a rapidly-changing squad during
Residents were so disgusted with their treatment at a health meeting to discuss the proposed multi-million pound health centre that they walked out. Residents from two groups, the Great Clacton Patients' Association Committee (PAC) and Residents' Action
Police cordoned off a road for two hours while a bomb disposal unit was called in to investigate a metal object dug up in a back garden. Cordon - a police car blocks the road Picture: LUAN MARSHALL 2TMS25 It turned out to be a harmless imitation grenade
Southend Customs and Excise staff remained nervous today after news that 20,000 civil service jobs are to be cut in London and the South East. MP Sir Teddy Taylor has vowed to fight to keep jobs in the town. Chancellor Gordon Brown told of the move in
Graham Napier was today just one step away from realising a dream - to play cricket at the top level for England. Ready to grab his chance - Essex all-rounder Graham Napier Picture: TERRY WEEDEN (28589-16) The 24-year-old Colchester-based Essex all-rounder
A junior school is to issue youngsters with laptop computers to help them do their homework. Prettygate Junior School in Plume Avenue is asking parents for £3 per week each to help fund the cutting-edge move, paid for in part with an £8,000 grant from
The new chief executive for Basildon is being chosen by councillors this week. The existing Basildon Council chief executive, John Robb, is retiring later this year and a panel of councillors will interview possible replacements on Thursday night. However
As far as I no Harry and Joyce Forster lived in Ilford in 1967. They had 2 kids Evon & Steven Forster. Harry was in the army fire services in Gib in 1956. My E-Mail is : carbo123_3@msn.com
Pupils were due to move back into their classrooms yesterday after rain water went through the roof of a Braintree school in storms. Ten classrooms in the maths and science block at Notley High School were sealed off two days ago when rain penetrated
Shops in a Braintree town centre precinct are to start opening on Sundays. From September 5, stores in George Yard will be following national trends and trading on Sundays. About half are expected to open their doors at first and it is hoped many others
A schoolgirl was airlifted to hospital after complaining of stomach pains at school. An ambulance was called to Gable Hall School in Stanford-le-Hope yesterday for the 12-year-old. Ambulance operations manager, Lee Gillam, examined her and wasted no time
Residents are calling for road calming measures after two accidents in a week at the same busy junction. Barbara Refeigh, of Victoria Road, Southend, said she wanted action taken to prevent the junction of her road with Northumberland Avenue turning into
Southend Customs and Excise staff remain nervous after news that 20,000 civil service jobs are to be cut in London and the South East. MP Sir Teddy Taylor has vowed to fight to keep jobs in the town. Chancellor Gordon Brown told of the move in his three-year
MP Sir Teddy Taylor today attacked a shake-up of the honours system which could see knighthoods consigned to the dustbin. Sir Teddy - one of the few knights in Essex - said there was nothing wrong with the present system which is set to be overhauled
A former motel which has been used for crisis accommodation for the homeless and asylum seekers is set to be shut down following increased protests from villagers. Residents at Thorrington claim they have suffered thefts, abuse, vandalism and intimidation
Maternity services are set to reviewed by hospital bosses after pressure from councillors and a campaign to keep a Braintree unit open 24 hours a day. Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust has announced it has decided to commission an independent review
Essex were not so much beaten but annihilated by Middlesex when they met in last night's Twenty20 Cup battle at Southgate. After labouring to 120 for eight, they were unable to steer clear of a crushing defeat as their opponents romped home by nine wickets
Have your say. Youngsters from across the Maldon district are being invited to tell the council what they want and where at a special consultation event. Maldon District Council has a pot of more than £400,000 to spend on new facilities for children and
Teenage Hadleigh gymnast Nicola Willis admitted today that making the Great Britain squad for next month's Athens Olympics is a "dream come true." In top gear - Nicola Willis in the Olympic uniform she proudly collected from Earls Court yesterday Picture
Can you please help, we are looking for any information about the bowling green pub at Elmstead market before 1965 when a William Parkins was the landlord. He was my grand-father but for some reason we have no photo's of him or the family. Has anybody
Police have launched a fresh appeal to catch the teenager who pulled a 12-inch carving knife on a sales assistant. The attempted robbery of the Fortuna store, in Maurice Road, on Thursday, June 24, was foiled when the quick-thinking 26-year-old woman
Fly-tippers who dumped two tonnes of roofing material, including hazardous asbestos, next to coastal marshland have been condemned. An urgent investigation has been launched by the Environment Agency to find those responsible. The waste was spotted by
From abseiling to karate and playing your cards right, a Wickford primary school made its summer fair a day to remember. Your move - Bethany Dawkins, eight, plays pontoon with Jean McConnell Picture: MAXINE CLARKE 2D8U5 The event at Grange Primary featured
Southend's annual Business Relay takes place tomorrow starting and finishing at the Cliffs Pavilion. It gets underway at 6.30pm and will take a route along Marine Parade, down Pier Hill, back along the Western Esplanade and then up Shorefield Road and
Shocked Navy veterans were today mourning a war hero who collapsed and died while playing a bowls match in Priory Park, Southend. Six-times decorated Dennis Dewison, 80, of London Road, Thundersley, died despite the desperate efforts of paramedics on
Colchester United's players will dust off their boots and embark on their first pre-season friendly tonight at Braintree Town. The U's are intending to send a full-strength squad to take on the Ryman League premier division side (kick-off 7.45pm). It
A young man was today recovering in hospital after being stabbed on Southend seafront. The 17-year-old was stabbed in the back outside the New York, New York arcade on Marine Parade just before 6.30pm last night. Paramedics treated him at the scene and
A schoolboy has been sent to a detention centre for two years after he tried to stage an armed robbery at a grocery store. The 16-year-old was disarmed and foiled by shop owner Kashmir Singh in Salisbury Road, Grays. Wearing a black balaclava the teenager
A construction worker suffered fatal head injuries today after he was crushed on a building site in Purfleet. The man, believed to be in his twenties, was working in a trench when he was hit on the head by a bucket which police believe had swung loose
A burglar astonished a judge by stealing a heavy ornamental griffin from a shop. The raid prompted Judge Roger Chapple to comment: "This is one of the most pointless burglaries to come before this court." John Webb, 19, smashed the front window at Pavilion
A wife has told how she had to make a heart-breaking decision to switch off a life support machine after her husband lay in a coma for a month following a tragic accident. Fred Baker, 78, of Thorrington Road, Great Bentley, was involved in a collision
Castle Point Tories have rallied behind MP Bob Spink and seen off an attempted no confidence vote. At a Conservative Association meeting, a motion aiming to criticise one of its own bodies, the Westminster Club, which raises funds locally, was rejected
Forget too hot to handle, a curry weighing in at 4.5 tonnes will be too heavy to handle. Faruk Kamali, who owns Marco Polo restaurant in Wickford, is attempting to break the Guinness Book of Records at his new restaurant in London. He is to make a giant
The man arrested by police about a murder that happened 40 years ago was today revealed to be a pensioner living in Laindon. The body of seven-year-old Kim Roberts was found in a wood in Purfleet in 1964. She had been raped before being killed. The man
Southend United striker Lawrie Dudfield will today discover the extent of the knee injury which has forced him to sit out pre-season training sessions with the Shrimpers. The 24-year-old, who netted five times in 13 games last season, has been sent for
Graham Napier is just one step away from realising a dream - to play cricket at the top level for England. Ready to grab his chance - Essex all-rounder Graham Napier Picture: TERRY WEEDEN (28589-16) The 24-year-old Colchester-based Essex all-rounder is
Residents have criticised plans to build flats in a Colchester road. Wrecked - this property in Mersea Road, Colchester, which was destroyed by fire last weekend, could be among those replaced by a 24-home development if Colchester Council gives the go-ahead
Angry residents have accused Basildon Council of hindering chances of catching arsonists and vandals by not fixing a CCTV monitor - nine months after it was broken. A mother-of-four, who did not wish to be named for fear of reprisals, said residents at
Vic Hennessy is just one step away from retaining his mixed fours title at the Southend Men's Open Bowls Tournament. Hennessy beat Wickford Royal British Legion clubmate G Folkard's line-up 34-4. An amazing game saw Folkard go 4-0 up after the first two
Looking for Ann Warren and family - Mary and John. Ann and Tom (deceased)last lived in Hainault and was friends with Win Wells (my mother). Presume Ann may have moved to St Albans with daughter Mary. Would love to contact either Ann or Mary. My E-Mail
So far, so good. The first peak period following the closure of the Ipswich rail tunnel appears to have gone off without a hitch. Traffic on the A137 at Lawford and Brantham was running smoothly yesterday morning on the first day without trains between
A Leigh family had a close call with an Second World War explosive when they considered taking it home to give to a relative as an amusing gift. Narrow escape - Hollie Grace and mum Lea made headlines finding the shell Picture: MAXINE CLARK 2TEWQ9 The
Fears have been raised that elderly villagers will be left stranded when their village shop is closed for refurbishment following a takeover. The One Stop shop in the High Street, Thorpe, is set to be converted into a Tesco Metro from next month. But
Dozens of high-flying Canvey youngsters celebrated their achievements from the past year. Delight - eight-year-olds Shaun Francis, and Rebecca Fullman were award winners Pictures: STEVE O'CONNELL 2MJGQ2 Students from all 15 of the island's primary and
Colchester Council is to make cutbacks to meet financially "troubling times". The only other way to solve its pending cash problems is to force yet another hike on the borough's council tax payers. But leader of the council John Jowers has pledged to
A lifelong sports fan will be gunning for Olympic glory this year - despite having been left paralysed by a devastating road accident four years ago. Jonathon Coggan, 21, from Orchid Way in South Woodham Ferrers, is celebrating after making it into the
Fire crews rushed to a fire in an office block in Pitsea Broadway, fearing people were trapped inside. To crews from Basildon and two from Hadleigh tackled the blaze on the second floor last night and found that no one was trapped. Two people on the top
The devastated brother of a motorcyclist injured in a serious accident at the weekend have called for greater road safety. The 28-year-old male rider, from Shotgate, is being treated at a specialist hospital in west London after the crash on Canvey Way
Athletes are running to a Colchester school to deliver the Olympic torch to fellow competitors. The torch is being delivered between the 14 Colchester schools competing in a Mini-Olympics hosted at a special stadium at High Woods Sports Centre on July
Ipswich Town play the first match of their pre-season Danish tour tonight when they face Randers. The Blues squad flew out to Scandinavia yesterday and will play two games, with the second being against Aab Aalborg on Friday. New signings Kevin Horlock
A dedicated dad pounded the pavements for ten miles in memory of his daughter Gemma, who died of Leukaemia aged 12. Gratefully received - these walkers helped raise more than £2,500 for Southend Hospital's leukaemia unit Picture: ANNA LUKALA ZEJ751 Duncan
Corringham based Paralympion Danny Crates smashed his own world 800m record at the AAAs championships in Manchester at the weekend. The 31-year-old, who won bronze at the 2000 Sydney Games, bettered his previous best with a time of 1.53.27mins to finish
Pupils at a Southend school got a taste of basketball from some of the town's leading players. High there - pupils from St Mary's get a few top tips from 7ft 3ins Southend Swifts basketball player Liam Hughes Picture: Dave Henderson 2LFWT3GF Steve Pearl
One of mid Essex's top tourist attractions opens this weekend. Visitors will once again be able to take on the great maize maze challenge at the Blake House Craft Centre at Blake End. It is now in its sixth year and has attracted thousands of people eager
