Serious staff shortages have forced social services to axe some of its support. There are more than 120 vacancies across the county at the moment, particularly relating to child care and older people. Essential services are still being provided but some
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
The rest of the point-to-point racing season has been abandoned because of the foot-and-mouth epidemic. The British Horseracing Board have decided to call a halt after only six meetings out of 20 took place this year. Racing will start again in January
Sharp-shooting David Kenyon certainly has an eye for goal - as he proved by scoring after just four and half seconds of a recent match. The striker, who lives in Brantham and plays for Grundisburgh, hit the net almost straight from the kick-off during
Tributes flooded in as mourners said a final farewell to much-loved ex-Southend manager Ernie Shepherd. The funeral of Mr Shepherd, who died, aged 81, after a short illness, was held at Southend Crematorium. Born in Yorkshire, he joined Southend United
Official Government figures reveal education quality in Southend is a "postcode lottery", it was claimed today (Wednesday). Results of the national Key Stage Two tests - taken by 11-year-old children in the final year of primary school - vary alarmingly
The survival of the Citizen Advice Bureaux in Wickford and Billericay is still in question after their grants from Basildon District Council were raised only by the rate of inflation. The crisis hit CABs claim they will need further funds to keep going
Young film-makers are being called on to support a new drugs and alcohol awareness project, which is hitting Harold Hill. The wheels of the Big Deal scheme, backed by £31,000 in funding, including a £2,000 grant from the Single Regeneration Budget for
Chelmsford City have had their landlords' New Lodge ground re-inspected for the necessary 'A' ground grading for Dr Marten's League Premier Division standard. Although there is some remedial work to be carried out the club sees no problem in it being
A request for cash to help a boat patrol scheme has been sunk. The Colne Estuary Partnership had asked for £7,000 towards the cost of patrols on the Colne from Jaywick to West Mersea. But Tendring Council, which already contributes towards the partnership
A pupil has been praised for saving the life of a child with learning difficulties. Graham Woolgar, 15, who attends St Benedict's College, Norman Way, Colchester, spotted the eight-year-old boy walking along a dark, deserted road. He quickly ran to help
A woman's dog saved her from a serious sex assault when it chased and brought down her attacker. Detectives are now hunting a man who grabbed the 42-year-old Basildon woman while she was walking her Alsatian in Gloucester Park. Det Con Chris Thomas said
A factory worker killed his transexual brother-in-law, wrapped his body in chains and floated it out to sea. Charles Halfacree, 37, of Upper Bridge Road, Chelmsford, yesterday (Monday) admitted the manslaughter of Bryan Hooley, 28, disposing of his body
As Essex farmers still valiantly struggle to hold the foot-and-mouth outbreak at bay, having been the county where the disease was first identified, one high street bank is helping local businesses trying to cope with a downturn in trade by putting a
Skateboarders in Kelvedon Hatch have been left heartbroken after Brentwood Borough Council workers scrapped home-made ramps they had set up in the grounds of an abandoned old people's home. Youngsters from across the village were at a loss to understand
A Rochford pig farmer fears for his healthy livestock after foot-and-mouth culling took place at an unaffected farm in Essex. Richard Stacey, 40, owner of Scotts Hall Farm in Canewdon feared the worst three weeks ago when animals one mile away at Greenacres
Southend United's Third Division play-off hopes were dented by lowly Barnet at Underhill on Saturday. The Bees, without a win in seven games, took the lead against the run of play on 25 minutes when young striker Ben Strevens fired home from 15-yards.
A conservation group has hit out at plans to develop the Colchester Garrison saying the scheme is more apt to a "power station". The £900 million rebuild will create 2,600 homes and shopping and leisure facilities - if granted by Colchester Council. But
A new image and a new home is on the cards for Tendring Adult Community College. After more than 50 years at Green Lodge in Old Road, the college is moving down the road to the Victorian St Osyth Road School. Tenders are now out for the conversion work
Changes to the master layout plan of a new Witham housing development has received a stern rejection from town councillors. Developers' changes to the original master layout plan of 800 houses at Maltings Lane, Witham, were presented to Witham Town Council
Southend High had a thrilling two-point triumph over their old rivals from Westcliff to capture the Southend senior schools swim championship overall boys honours for the first time in their history. This was despite Westcliff taking three of the four
Colchester stormed into the Eastern Counties Colts Cup Final with a totally dominant display against Cambridge. Within five minutes No.8 Shane Jerram scored from a 5 metre scrum, and fly-half Trevor Lienberg kicked a penalty 10 minutes later.Soon after
The Campion School from Hornchurch are through to the final of this season's Daily Mail Under 18 Schools Cup competition having beaten RGS Newcastle, 17-16, in a nail biting semi-final match at Castlecroft Stadium, Wolverhampton, on Saturday. Trailing
Thorpe Bay School is celebrating a dramatic improvement in performance . A new Ofsted inspection recorded progress in: Literacy - new initiatives are working and there is evidence of improving standards Teaching and learning - the quality of teaching
Police are investigating claims a man whose legs were severed by a train had been tied to a railway track. The man, believed to be in his early 40s and from the Wivenhoe area, managed to call for an ambulance on a mobile phone after the train ran over
After the Lord Mayor's procession always comes the dust cart. That's the best way to describe this below-par performance from a Colchester United squad that had previously played out of their skins to beat both Walsall and Brentford. The U's are an enigma
A man who threatened to commit suicide was dramatically rescued by police from Southend seafront. He was discovered shortly after 11pm yesterday (Tuesday) with suspected hypothermia and taken to Southend Hospital for a check-up. The drama began at 9.20pm
Basildon and Canvey have been branded as two of the worst sea and river polluters in Europe. They were singled out and condemned by the European Commission as being two of the 33 British towns considered the worst offenders after data revealed large amounts
Both Colchester Utd and Southend Utd had an evening to forget as they lost out at the expense of division two sides. Colchester went down 1-0 to Layer Road visitors Swindon Town during their division two encounter. Michael Reddy scored the winner for
Six businessmen and women, including a top BBC executive, have been appointed to help chief executive Brian Archer run the new Small Business Service, which replaces Business Link Essex next month. The new team will be led by Gary Sullivan, a director
A new prostate cancer screening service is being launched on Friday, at the private Springfield Hospital in Chelmsford, at the start of national Prostate Cancer Awareness Week. More than 500 men in Essex are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year and
Detectives investigating the disappearance of Basildon mother-of-two Nicola Ray have called in a criminal psychologist to draw up a profile of a possible murder suspect. Det Supt Dick Madden, senior investigating officer, said he hoped Colin Johnston,
The foot and mouth crisis has begun to hit more sports, and players attending the Channels Golf Club in Litle Waltham, near Chelmsford, have been issued with directives by the Environment Agency. All vehicles that enter the club are having to drive over
Youngsters from the Colchester School of Gymnastics have reached the regional and national finals of showpiece events after success at the British Club grades. The county qualifier for club grades four to six was held at the school's Brinkley Grove Road
Karl Duguid admitted a weight has been lifted from his shoulders after he silenced the Colchester United boo-boys with a great goal against Brentford. The passion and relief clearly showed in Duguid's actions as the U's striker rounded on a section of
Only three Southend Sunday League games survived with the Carlyle Sports club managing two matches. Their first team won 4-2 at Thundersley Rovers in Division Five, but their second XI went down 2-1 to Artic in Division Seven. The only other match was
The last time three brothers put south Essex on the national tennis scene was the Lloyds back in the seventies. David, John and Tony came up through the ranks at Westcliff Hardcourts and went on to play on the international stage at Wimbledon. Now tennis
Although entries have been flooding in for the Great Baddow Charity Races, organisers Chelmsford Mildmay Rotary Club, still need more sponsors for the event of May 20. Graham Nutt, races press officer said: "We would like anyone to contact us who feels
Jobs at c2c in Southend are hanging in the balance after its parent company announced a massive shake-up. Around 50 administrative staff at the Clifftown Road offices could be faced with redundancy but rail staff who deal with the public are likely to
A Great Holland farm is at the centre of a foot-and-mouth scare, the first in the Tendring district. Anxious farmer Tom Sanderson now faces several agonising days of waiting before he knows whether his hand-reared flock of sheep will have to be slaughtered
Occupants of a flat were evacuated by firefighters after arsonists set fire to the flat below them. The fire-setters smashed their way into the empty ground-floor flat, in Dilbridge Road West on Colchester's St Anne's estate, and set light to the living
Colchester stormed into the Eastern Counties Colts Cup Final with a totally dominant display against Cambridge. Within five minutes No.8 Shane Jerram scored from a 5 metre scrum, and fly-half Trevor Lienberg kicked a penalty 10 minutes later.Soon after
Former Colchester mayor John Bird has died after a seven-month battle with cancer. Labour councillor Mr Bird, 63, was made mayor in 1983. Always keen to make people sit up and take notice, he sparked controversy before his appointment as mayor by suggesting
Governors at Chapel Hill School have a highly-recommended new headteacher lined up to take over the reins if it escapes the axe. And campaigners battling to save the Braintree school from closure, are due to put its plight to Government Education Secretary
Southend United's bid to make the first major cup final of their history ended in a brave defeat during last night's LDV Vans Trophy southern final second leg at Brentford. Blues travelled to Griffin Park knowing they had to overturn a one-goal deficit
A policewoman at the centre of the investigation into the murder of Rachel Nickell may receive £200,000 compensation for stress, it was reported today. The 36-year-old undercover officer befriended Colin Stagg after he was identified as a suspect in the
Millions of pounds are set to be pumped into secondary education in Clacton to solve the problem of pupil places. Money to build a new school will be made available and the town's other two secondary schools will also benefit. The news has been greeted
A former RAF pilot averted disaster as his two-seater plane suffered engine failure on its approach to Southend Airport. The man, who declined to be named, was on the last leg of a pleasure flight from Biggin Hill airfield in Kent, when his rented Cessna
A canvey anti-aircraft gun site dating back to the Second World War has been recognised as an area of national importance. English Heritage has earmarked the site - which is 170 metres south west of the junction between Cedar Road and West Crescent -
Police have named an 18-year-old student killed in a car crash on the M3 as Philip Robbins from Benfleet. The teenager was a passenger in an Opel Ascona which careered off the Hampshire motorway between junctions 12 and 13, near Eastleigh. The car travelled
Plans to install lights along a five mile stretch of the A12 in Brentwood have come under fire from Brentwood Council. The council is worried that the lights may shine into houses in nearby streets. Around 200 homes in Warescot Road and Hurstwood Avenue
Mid-Essex -based contractor 'Countryside in Partnership' has been shortlisted as a finalist for a prestigious industry award due to its outstanding performance over the last 12 months. From more than 100 companies Countryside in Partnership was voted
The twin horrors of the wettest winter in living memory plus the foot-and-mouth outbreak combined to make it another wretched weekend on the south Essex non-league soccer scene. At the higher level, only nine of 40-plus Ryman League matches scheduled
A dazzling display from transfer listed Joe Keith inspired Colchester United to a richly deserved 3-1 win over Brentford at Layer Road on Friday night and edged the U's ever nearer to Second Division safety. Keith netted a brilliant equaliser just before
John McGreal was more thrilled than most to play a part in Ipswich Town's deserved triumph at West Ham. The centre-half blamed himself for both goals conceded in the previous weekend's 2-1 set-back at Aston Villa. So it was a relief for him to help the
Mark Burchill was today (Tuesday) in line for a call-up by Scotland for World Cup qualifiers against Belgium and San Marino. The Ipswich Town striker, who scored his first goal for the Blues in the recent triumph over Bradford City, is currently with
Braintree Cricket Club is taking a lead in encouraging girls to take up the game. The club is seeking planning permission for an extension to the pavilion in Panfield Lane, Braintree to include changing accomodation for male and female use. Also included
Saturday's match at the Brentwood Centre was decided by two players. One played and one did not. For the Bullets the dominant presence under and around the basket of Antonio Garcia, prevented the Leopards from penetrating their zone defence as he helped
Residents are being urged to join in Wivenhoe Town Council's first e-consultation - about redevelopment of Cook's Shipyard. A draft development brief about the site has been prepared by parish councillor Peter Hill, who wants people to get in touch and
Another 800 pigs have been incinerated in a bid to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease. The preventative cull was carried out at a farm in Shalford after fears they had been in contact with infected animals at Boydells Dairy Farm in Wethersfield
Jubilant Mary O'Callaghan was today (Wednesday) celebrating after being cleared of cheating an elderly people's nursing home out of thousands of pounds. She smiled and said after her trial collapsed: "I'm so glad this is over. It has been two years of
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
Three Essex farms were yesterday (Tuesday) given the all-clear from foot-and-mouth. Wellhouse Farm, West Mersea, Brick House Farm, Peldon, and Rettendon Grange Farm in Wickford, have all been cleared after Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food investigations
Harwich hot-shot Matt Carmichael rifled home his 16th goal of the season to earn his side a 1-1 draw at Wroxham. The goal king latched onto a pass in the box and turned his defender before slipping the ball into the far corner. That was after the hosts
Essex County Council is desperately looking for new recruits to take over school crossing patrols in Hadleigh and Thundersley. There are two vacant crossings, at Kiln Road in Thundersley and at the junction of London Road and Oak Road in Hadleigh, which
Plans for a new community hospital in north Essex look set to move forward following huge public support. Health organisations serving the Braintree area are working together to get approval for plans to develop new services including a new community
A variety of measures to make walking to school safer are being introduced for six Chelmsford schools. Consultation on the "Safer Journeys to School" initiative began a year ago and the schools taking part will soon benefit from highways measures being
Determined Southend United supporters have set up an action group to help keep the Third Division club playing football in the borough. Shrimpers fans are concerned for the future of their favourites, following the continued delay of a decision on Blues
Magic Joe may be climbing the ladder to success but the young group are keen to keep their heads out of the clouds. The Colchester band, formed just a year ago, have just signed a year-long deal with BAM Management. Now Magic Joe are to perform on the
A headmaster has warned potential pupils and their parents that they may not get a place at his school. St Benedict's, a Colchester Catholic secondary school, has places for 162 pupils each year but gets applications for 250 to 280 children. Headmaster
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
Southend unveiled a new strike force at Griffin Park joining Martin Carruthers and Tes Bramble together. David Lee returned to the right-wing, with Scott Forbes starting on the other flank. And Kevin Maher and Leon Johnson took on the central midfield
Brentwood School fencers, Matthew O'Connell, 16, and Ross Tremeer, 17, have been selected to represent Great Britain at the Junior and Cadet World Championships which will be held in Gdansk, Poland in April. Selection is based on the top three fencers
The Schweppes Essex Senior League, whose programme was wiped out by rain on Saturday, will have some bright news for their clubs this week. At Wednesday's monthly meeting, details will be revealed of a brand new sponsorship deal for the League for next
Two goals from midfielder Adam French polished off rivals Hungerford and allowed the village side to climb to eighth place in the Ryman League Second Division table. Wakering's pitch stood up well to the heavy overnight and early morning rain and, while
Organisers have pulled the plug on South Woodham's biggest annual event, after a last ditch plea for sponsorship and help went unanswered. The town's Rotary Club along with Lions, Round Table and Guides, has been forced to abandon the May Day Carnival
Children often daydream about becoming the hero or heroine in their favourite book, but for one Colchester schoolgirl that wish has come true. Amy Hodgson , 11, of Wormingford Road, Fordham, is to take a starring role on the official website of one of
A town centre was left without power for more than three hours after a fault with a high voltage cable. About 2,000 homes and businesses in Braintree had no electricity yesterday after a fault with an 11,000 volt cable which cut the supply at 12.47pm.
Talks are being held to try to secure the future of one of Clacton's largest employers. Bard may close its Clacton factory as part of a consolidation of its worldwide bases. But Tendring Council is hoping it can step in and help persuade the company to
Burglars broke into a residential home and stole charity cash and a pensioner's jewellery. Phyllis Lovegrove, 75, who lives at Sea Breeze Residential Home in Carnarvon Road, Clacton, was with friends downstairs when the thieves broke into her bedroom.
Canon Lionel Webber has resigned as Chaplain to the Queen as investigations continue into the Basildon belltower fiasco. There are only 35 Chaplains to the Queen spread across the UK - Canon Webber won his commission in June 1994. He was the only church
A man who suffered brain damage 21 years ago when he was treated for a minor childhood ailment at Southend Hospital, has won £750,000 at the High Court. Daniel Lee Farr was starved of oxygen during his three-day stay at the hospital after being admitted
Staff at Broomfield Hospital are angry at having to pay to park their cars. Nurses at the Chelmsford hospital have claimed there are not enough free parking spaces for staff and some of them are having to use the pay-and-display area for visitors. One
New statistics have shown that unemployment in the UK is at a record low and fewer people than ever are claiming benefit and looking for jobs. The latest labour force survey carried out by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has shown that unemployment
Work to set up a new unit to help reduce waiting times and improve efficiency in dealing with patients with heart problems is soon to get under way at Colchester General Hospital. The project, costing between £200,000 and £250,000, involves centralising
Mick Stockwell has seen it all before in his colourful 19-year professional footballing career. He's won a Division Two championship winners medal in 1992 and a Division One promotion play-off winners gong at Wembley last season - both with his former
A great game of rugby was played out at Ashwells Road between two teams with supposedly nothing to play for: Thames' chances of promotion are over & Old Brentwoods have secured their place for next year. But by the commitment displayed by both teams
The owners of Stansted Airport claim to have won the backing of the local community over controversial plans for a second runway. Proposals to increase the number of passengers to 25 million a year have previously met with opposition locally - with Ongar
Colchester harbour could be closed within weeks. MPs have approved a parliamentary Bill meaning the town council no longer has a legal responsibility to maintain the River Colne for navigation. Graham White, council director of administration, said the
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
I have every sympathy with the SOS action group desperately worried about Southend United's future and fearful of the club becoming homeless or even extinct. They rightly say it would be a disaster if Blues folded and are hellbent on persuading the council
Another case of foot-and-mouth was today confirmed at a farm near Colchester. The grim discovery brings the total number of cases in Essex to ten. Samples were taken yesterday at Rye Farm, in Rye Lane, Layer de la Haye, near the confirmed outbreak of
A mother hit out at bus company Arriva after it replaced a double-decker school run bus with a minibus. The double-decker 62a route from Southend to Leigh at 7.45am was replaced with a minibus because it was losing too much money. It serves Prittlewell
Roll up, roll up and meet Rizla - the five-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier who is possibly the world's only pool-playing pooch. Normally, pub-dwelling dogs lie in front of roaring log fires or trail listlessly around the bar area. But not Rizla, who
Forget Popstars - this line-up has got God on their side. Tomorrow's Girl are part of a new scheme designed to make Christianity more fun for young people. Two of Benfleet's churches - St George's and Community of the King - have joined forces to kickstart
A loving wife has been left devastated by the news she will have to remove a precious flower vase from the grave side of her husband. Dorothy Fearis was sent a letter last week telling her she must remove the granite vase beside the memorial plaque dedicated
Assaults on Essex police officers have nearly doubled in a year, according to new figures. Data compiled by the force shows that in the 12 months to December 31, 2000, a total of 287 officers were assaulted resulting in a loss of 466 working days. This
Allocations totalling £50,000 have been made to local schemes by Chelmsford Primary care Group and Essex Social Services from their Chelmsford Partnership Fund. Funding for schemes approved in this financial year was available to local groups for a fixed
