Hundreds of youngsters in Southend are facing a bleak half-term after most of the activities from a holiday scheme were cancelled.

Southend Council and contractors Glendale Leisure have had to slash next week's Biz programme because of national difficulties in obtaining Criminal Records Bureau checks for staff running the schemes.

Hadleigh-based national counselling service Parentline Plus has urged families and friends to help out.

Published Wednesday October 16, 2002

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