Residents are living in fear as young thugs hold a reign of terror in their neighbourhood. Bleach has been thrown at a child, rocks were thrown at a baby, syringes have littered the floor and excrement and hate mail have been posted through letterboxes
A burglar burst into tears and pretended to have lost his cat after being caught red-handed by an elderly woman in her home. The callous ruse confused the pensioner, believed to be in her 90s, so much that the burglar managed to escape with a handbag
Detectives are still waiting to talk to a man who lost his legs after a train ran over him. The victim of Tuesday night's incident at Wivenhoe station called police on a mobile phone to say he had been tied to the track. The man, believed to have a history
The South Woodham Ferrers & Wickford Rollerspeed Skating Club, which is sponsored by the Nawab Indian Restaurant in South Woodham, has two new champions in its ranks. Chanelle Moore, ten, and Richard Webb 11, are the new British Indoor Champions of
Northlands Park regular Martin Camp fished the venue's cafe lake to land four big bream and lose three others. Martin fished the Christmas tree swim using a quivertip and groundbait feeder to land fish to almost five pounds. His bream were taken during
The husband of a wheelchair-bound woman is planning a mass protest in his fight to create and improve disabled parking spaces in Basildon. Ted Hucks, 78, of Holden Gardens, Basildon, feels disabled parking facilities in the town centre are inadequate.
A quartet of ladies will be taking their next step towards national glory after winning the south Essex heat of the Lexus National Championship. Claire Goodman, of Rayleigh and Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre; Westcliff Lawn's Birgit Bryant, Sue Jackson
A worried mum has claimed traffic problems will increase on a village road - by the arrival of two new recycling bins. Louise Herbert said the junction at Plough Road and Station Road, Great Bentley, was already dangerous. So she was shocked to find out
Brentwood sealed their second successive promotion to the Crowe Insurance League Premier B Division with three games still left to play, following Saturday's convincing win. Scott Reilly gave the visitors the lead on 18 minutes after some good work by
A new strategy to combat crime in Tendring has been revealed aiming to cut drug use and vandalism. The three-year plan also looks to tackle criminal damage, reduce car accidents and prevent domestic violence. The strategy was launched by John Hawkins,
All households in Colchester should get forms for a postal vote, it is claimed. As it currently stands voters have to write to the council to get a postal vote. Tim Young, leader of the Labour group, has written to the director of administration at Colchester
Saturday's eagerly awaited WBU light welterweight title clash between Rettendon champion Jason Rowland and Ricky Hatton is off. Influenza combined with a chest infection ruled Rowland out of action a fortnight ago and he has now vacated the title so that
Midwives at Southend Hospital want to hear mothers' views on their maternity services - to avoid being included in a catalogue of childbirth misery revealed in a survey. The national survey revealed that many pregnant women felt as if they were on an
A north Essex eye expert has said people will have to pay more for their glasses and contact lenses under new plans by Customs and Excise. Steve Cole, chairman of the north Essex Local Optical committee, has said the nation's eye health could be damaged
Hopes of staging a 30th anniversary Weeley pop festival this year have been abandoned in the wake of the foot-and-mouth crisis, it was revealed today. Instead the organisers hope the event, which had been planned for the summer, could be restaged next
Delighted teachers and parents of a Harold Hill infant school are set to get the zebra crossing they have been campaigning for - after a battle lasting nearly two years. The proposed crossing outside Brookside Infant School, Dagnam Park Drive, took a
A period house which makes up part of a Colchester school has been put on the market in a bid to raise funds for school improvements. The late Victorian building, next to Colchester Royal Grammar School in Lexden Road, is expected to sell for more than
Half the animal classes planned for this year's prestigious Tendring Show have been axed due to the foot-and-mouth crisis. Show secretary Anne Taylor told the Gazette yesterday (Thursday) that all cattle, sheep and goat classes had been cancelled for
Runwell Cricket Club has been forced to abandon its home of 18 years blaming the abuse it has had to endure from travellers. The club claims that while playing at Runwell Park its members have been targeted by catapults, rock throwing and foul and abusive
A farmer whose flock of sheep is stranded on Foulness has launched a scathing attack on agricultural bosses, accusing them of penny pinching over the foot-and-mouth crisis. David Hull made a heartfelt plea for his 1,750 sheep and lambs to be culled or
A firm has been convicted of breaking safety rules after a man working at Stansted Airport fell through a roof. Peter Lawley was working on a new smoke duct under the airport concourse when he slipped and fell seven metres through a fragile roof on to
The county's top police officer has opposed plans to change stop and search procedures. The Home Office is asking for feedback to proposals that officers should record more details every time they stop a member of the public. But Essex Chief Constable
Animals have been valued and were to be slaughtered at the tenth Essex farm to contract foot-and-mouth disease. Samples were taken on Tuesday at Rye Farm, in Rye Lane, Layer de la Haye, near the confirmed outbreak of the disease at Wick Farm, as part
Bag snatchers who go thieving while pushing children in buggies are preying on elderly shoppers in Braintree town centre. Police are warning shopkeepers and shoppers to be on their guard against the pair, whose last victim was a woman in her 70s. Both
Powerful anti-aircraft machine guns, hand grenades and a mortar were among a terrifying arsenal of weapons seized by detectives targeting a major gun-running gang. Six people were arrested after 50 armed police swooped on Woodside cemetery off Fane Road
Help could be at hand for businesses suffering as a consequence of the foot-and-mouth crisis. Paul McMorris, local taxation manager, said while Colchester Council was awaiting government clarification about exactly what could be done locally, some help
Plans to introduce traffic-calming measures to a Colchester accident blackspot have been opposed by residents who say it is not enough. They have continually campaigned for years about the safety of Defoe Crescent, Mile End, which has a junction with
Following last minute practice at their Courage Hall venue in Brentwood on Saturday (with an impromptu display to a trampolining party underway at the same time), three of Cloud Nine's Grade 1 competitors, Sarah Ainsworth, James Davies and Hannah Davies
Graeme Hick is delighted to have bounced back after his final Test disappointment as England prepare to begin the one-day internationals in Sri Lanka tomorrow. Hick notched a welcome 86-ball century in the 51-run victory over a Board President's XI and
Essex were hoping for their first win in the Inter County Premier Team Championship when they contested the final against neighbours Kent at the Redwell Leisure Centre in Wellingborough on Sunday. Despite their opponents having been successful three times
Steve Coppin of Bromages has once again been in fine form, most recently at the Wednesday match at Rayne Lodge, which was fished on the top, and middle lakes. Coppin was pegged on the top lake on peg 21 and netted 45-8-0 to win the match. Second place
Smith's solo effort seals Falcons' fate A goal late in the first-half from Lee Smith, who broke through the middle and scored from 12 yards, took Felmores Youth into the Southend Junior League under-12 Cup final. Their 1-0 success over Falcons Youth in
