The week in review Dec 16-22

Weekend Sport

Colchester won 3-0 at struggling Luton while Southend with 72nd minute substitute Thomas Pinault adding to earlier strikes from Barry Conlon and David Gregory.

It was the first time Colchester had won agains the Kenilworth Road side in league of cup matches.

In division three Southend won 3-2 against league leaders Chesterfield. .

Abbey double- Ben Abbey netted twice in Southend's 3-2 win against Chesterfield. .

Monday

In News

Colchester, Chelmsford, and Southend all learned they had failed in their bid for city status.

Fire and police investigations were launched into a spate of potential arson attacks in Colchester.

A high-tech anti-bullying scheme incoporating CCTV cameras at key areas of Chalvedon school,Basildon, has led to the discovery of culprits who made a schoolgirl's life misery.

In Sport

Chelmsford Chieftains reluctantly released ice hockey player Scott Stevenson.

Southend United owner Ron Martin expects Blues' long-winded planning application for a new stadium to finally be considered by the town council early next year.

Tuesday

In News

Former Tory councillor in Stanford-le-Hope,Michael Dalton, 51, who set fire to his girlfriend's home causing £60,000 worth of damage, started a five-year prison sentence.

A proud father hailed his son a hero after he saved two people from death when a car exploded into a ball of fire.

John Bell's son, John junior, came home from a night out in Basildon and dragged two helpless passengers out of a car involved in a high speed crash.

New home needed - A herd of rare Bagot goats were looking for a new home after breeder Bernard Meech, of Bocking, said he could not look after them any more due to ill health.

In Sport

Halstead Roadrunner Andy Carter got more than he bargained for when he took part in the Essex Junior and Veterans Cross Country Championships at Hylands Park, Chelmsford.

He sustained a bruised shin and foot during an amazing collision with a deer while running in the championships on Saturday.

New Southend United left-back Shane Wardley was looking forward to swapping sofas for full-time soccer.

The 20-year-old furniture maker had just joined Blues for £5,000 from Dr Marten's Premier Division outfit Cambridge City on an 18 month contract.

Wednesday

In News

A man was starting a life jail sentence for a vicious attack on a club doorman.

Nathan Motherwell was told by a Chelmsford Crown Court judge he was a "very dangerous man and would remain so for a very long time."

Schools in Essex are to benefit from a £16 million investment in buildings and extra places.

The Government gave Essex County Council the go-ahead to borrow the money in the next financial year.

Ice work-The Travellers Joy pub, Rayleigh, installed a replica igloo as a reminder to customers of the perils global warming.

In Sport

The Brentwood-based Leopards were just one game away from clinching basketball's equivalent of the FA Cup - The National Cup.

At the end of last season, Leopards Coach Bob Donewald told supporters that he would build a team that would bring silverware to the town from the competition at the Sheffield Arena.

The Billericay School achieved success at the British Schools Trampolining Championships (Eastern Counties).

At the recent County Championships the Girls Under 19 Team came second and qualified for the National Championships which will take place on Saturday, January 27 in Port Talbot, South Wales.

Thursday

In News

Two backpackers feared dead after being missing in Central America for nine months were found safe and well.

Paul Winder, 29, of Great Baddow, Chelmsford, and Tom Hart Dyke, 24, from Kent, looked set to be home in time for Christmas after being released by their Colombian captors.

Woods Air Movement was sold by Marconi for £53 million.

Dastardly duo foiled- Pet poodle Muttley was the hero of the hour when he alerted pensioner Ivy Scales to intruders in her Bradwell home.

Mrs Scales confronted one crook face-to-face but he and an accomplice fled.

In Sport

Homeless Romford Football Club could be facing a make-or-break battle to secure its existence.

It follows a fire at the Ryman League first division's Sungate ground in Collier Row in June.

Steve Whitton sung the praises of in-form striker Barry Conlon after watching his new recruit pilot Colchester United to victory in their last two matches.

Friday

In News

Chelmsford mother of three Carol Smith said she was selling the new Rolls Royce she won - because she and her husband cannot afford to run it.

She would rather pay off the mortgage than keep the £159,000 Silver Seraph.

Flooding had cost Essex Fire and Rescue Service around £70,000 in the year 2000 and there was no mechanism for them to recover the outlay.

More than 20,000 homes and business in Basildon and Pitsea were plunged into darkness by a massive power cut - disrupting the journeys of hundreds of commuters on the Fenchurch Street line.

A new Tesco supermarket - which is expected to create hundreds of jobs in Braintree - could be open by February.

Diamond dinner- Walter and Jean Parker celebrated 60 years of marriage by booking a table at Williams and Griffin's restaurant - where they have eaten every week for the last 21 years.

In Sport

Top flight Billericay referee Andy D'Urso has received a tremendous early Christmas present after a call from European football's governing body, UEFA.

The 36-year-old looks set to oversee some of the top international fixtures.

Southend United boss David Webb was trying to boost his squad ahead of the busy Christmas programme by signing Bristol City midfielder Carl Hutchings.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.