Archive
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Keep children safe at the seaside
A CAMPAIGN has been launched to promote Southend seafront's free wristband scheme to keep children safe. The wristbands, created by Southend police, allow parents to write their mobile number on them, so if their children go astray, a phone call can
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Fundraising gig tribute to heart victim
GET ready to rock out with Essex band Glasshouse who, for the third year running, are staging a charity gig to raise money for the Cardiomyopathy Association. The cover band's guitarist Matt Sykes lost his brother-in-law Paul Davies to cardiomyoptahy
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Havens hospice heroes
ACHING limbs are starting to heal after this year's London Marathon, which saw 35,000 runners take to the city's streets. Maasai warriors, stormtroopers, stilt walkers and several Supermen pounded the 26 mile course despite lightning and heavy downpours
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Chris runs with the stars
THE last time I wrote on these pages about the London Marathon I finished by saying how such prolonged pain meant I would never run it again. But what I did not account for was being bitten by the marathon bug and I was back on the start-line on Sunday
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Clacton: town gets Hollywood Treatment
CLACTON has been given the Hollywood treatment in the latest film starring James Bond star Daniel Craig. In Flashbacks of a Fool, due to open tomorrow, Daniel Craig plays the once golden boy of Hollywood, handsome actor Joe Scot, who has fallen out of
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Havens Hospice heroes
ACHING limbs are starting to heal after this year's London Marathon, which saw 35,000 runners take to the city's streets. Maasai warriors, stormtroopers, stilt walkers and several Supermen pounded the 26 mile course despite lightning and heavy downpours
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Rawreth take title with two weeks to spare
WITH just two weeks to go to the end of the season, Rawreth A are champions, being too far ahead of their rivals to be overtaken in the Premier Division of the Southend District Table Tennis League. A 9-0 win for Legra A over Warehouse A puts them into
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Nel has wickets in the bag after luggage goes missing
ANDRE Nel jetted in from South Africa to spearhead the Essex attack on the opening day of the County Championship season against Northamptonshire. And the paceman wasted little time in announcing his arrival with a wicket in his third over of the morning
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We’ve raised £170k in memory of Emily
A FUNDRAISING family have collected a staggering £170,000 for charity in less than a year in memory of a close family friend who died of cancer. Paul and Anita Gayler and their daughter Lauren, 21, launched their fundraising drive for the Teenage Cancer
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Island’s player hunt
CANVEY Island Youth under-14s require good quality players for next season. Season 2008/09 age groups apply. Ring Liam on 07800 774940.
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ATM cash snatch
TWO people have been arrested on suspicion of robbing a security guard as he filled a cash machine. CCTV operators spotted two people acting suspiciously before the robbery and police were called at around 12.30am yesterday. As the security guard filled
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Burglars smash rugby club
BURGLARS smashed their way into a rugby club, flooded the place with booze and stole charity money. The crooks forced open the main doors of Canvey Island rugby club before draining the optics of JD, Bacardi, Malibu and Cinzano. They also opened the
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Councillor in the clear over football tickets
A POLICE investigation involving a Castle Point councillor has been dropped. Former planning chairman Bill Sharp was told yesterday no evidence had been found by police since the launch of the investigation in March 2007. The 59-year-old councillor
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Arsenal legends play dads
A TEAM of former Arsenal footballers and celebrities will play a charity match against dads from a local school at Billericay Town Football Club's ground. The game is not taking place at St Peter's Primary School, Billericay, as was stated in the Echo
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Ten years for sex fiend who raped girl, 8
A PREDATORY paedophile who raped a young girl and indecently assaulted another has been jailed for ten years. Wayne Bruce, 50, of Rettendon View, Wickford, was found guilty of one count of rape, two counts of attempted rape and five counts of indecent
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Department store evacuated
A DEPARTMENT store was evacuated this evening after a fire alarm went off. Shoppers were forced out of Primark, in the Royals Shopping Centre, Southend High Street, when the alarm was activated about 5.40pm.
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Long spell reaps rewards for Lee
A CRACKING mirror carp of 26lb was the icing on the cake for Basildon angler Ricky Lee when he fished his local Northlands Park lake. The big fish was his third carp of the session, with the other two scaling 20lb 4oz and 20lb. Lee had intended to stay
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Slave labour in south Essex
DOWN and are being used as slaves on traveller sites across Basildon. The black market workforces are made up of vulnerable people society forgot. They have included tramps, drug addicts, a care home runaway, mental health patients, illegal immigrants
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‘Dossers’ no strangers to police
REPORTS of "dossers" found and arrested on traveller sites have previously featured in the Echo. In September 2005, we reported how police caught a fugitive during a series of stopchecks with trading standards officers at Hovefields, Wickford. An 18
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Discovery of boy, 16, led to investigation
THE 16-year-old boy looked terrified as police ordered him to empty his pockets. Dressed in filthy clothes, not washed for weeks, the teenager was arrested and taken away. It was October 2006, and I was covering an eviction at the Hovefields camp. Something
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‘Some enjoy their lives’
SOURCES trusted by the Echo, settled residents who have grown up alongside travellers in Basildon, told how dossers can be great for touting for work. One said: "Most people spot a traveller knocking at their door a mile off. "Give a tramp with an English
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Police reluctant to give details over homeless man’s kidnap
A HOMELESS man escaped from traveller bosses by jumping from a van as it sped along the A127. The man, known as Snowy, was living rough in London when offered labouring work. He was taken to Hovefields and given accommodation. The man was reportedly
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Slaves are still common
A GIPSY activist openly told how the "slaves" were a focal point to some travellers' lives and how many families favoured "strong workers of low IQ". Dr Donald Kenrick, an expert in Romany language who helped travellers turn green belt into permanent
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Traveller jailed for keeping a slave
A BASILDON traveller was jailed for keeping a homeless man as his slave at the Oak Lane site in Crays Hill. John Williams, now 37, was locked in a stable with barred windows, a broken heater, and two inches of water on the floor on Halloween in 1998.
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Where dossers are in south Essex
DOSSERS have been living at various sites across south Essex: According to neighbours of Sadlers Park caravan site, London Road, Bowers Gifford, a team of Bulgarian workers sometimes live in a mobile home there. Travellers won planning permission
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Immigrant 'hit on head with axe'
A TERRIFIED illegal immigrant was hit on the head with an axe, just a week after being taken to Hovefields. Sam Nguchta Njorje, 35, needed treatment for a severe gash after the racially-motivated attack. Two men burst into Mr Nguchta Njorje's caravan
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Rogue traders unmasked
GERRY McCann and his workforce are rogue traders who flytip, use false names and don't always finish their jobs. The gang drives unmarked vehicles and one worker has convictions for theft and assaulting a police officer. Mawgan Nurding, 20, is a member
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Protest fails to save creche
A PETITION signed by more than 1,700 people has failed to save a leisure centre creche. Angry mums started to protest after the facility at the Waterside Farm Sports Centre, Canvey, was closed at the end of March. Anne Wood, a Canvey Independent councillor
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Paving firm run from Hampton Court
THESE men are the latest recruits of a secretive traveller-run black market workforce based at Hovefields in Wickford. The four labourers report to Irish traveller Gerry McCann - also known as Archie - who lives on an illegal plot named after King Henry
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Late showing gives Matt an early lead
MATT Tinworth is the leader of Stanford's ultra competitive series after the first stage of the competition at the Match Lake. The open Junior Championship saw 11 competitors take part. All the entrants were given bait and items of tackle presented
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What McCann told the planning authorities
THE McCanns claimed Hatchertang was home to a single mother at a public inquiry just two weeks ago. Mary McCann, Gerry's daughter, in her twenties, told planning inspector Diane Lewis that Hatchertang was a base to educate four children. Yet Echo investigations
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Trophy time for colleges
GRAYS Athletic Football Club are hosting the Byron Coomer Trophy this month. The under-19 Colleges Cup Final is between South East Essex Sixth Form College and Thurrock & Basildon College. The game is scheduled for Wednesday, April 23, and kick-off
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Blues: Vote now for goal of the season
THE Echo will again be awarding the official goal of the season for Southend United. A shortlist of five has been made and votes must be made before 5pm Wednesday April 30. Cast your vote here now http://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/goaloftheseason/
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Basildon team face challenge
ASPIRING young basketball stars are representing Basildon in an inter-country knockout competition against other sides from Essex and east London. Taking place at Basildon Sports Centre, more than 60 youngsters aged between 12 and 19 will be competing
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I’m a good doctor, I just can't use a computer
A TECHNOPHOBE doctor blamed his ignorance of computers for his failure to keep proper patient and prescription records, a GMC hearing was told. Dr Satya Das was suspended from Basildon PCT in 2006, after failing to improve standards at his two surgeries
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Bandstand moves to Priory Park
THE temporary moving of Southend's famous bandstand to Priory Park is set to be completed by the beginning of summer. Southend Council says £60,000 has been put aside in the budget for CCTV cameras to protect the iconic structure from yobs and vandals
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Island ‘road to nowhere’ is called waste of £12million
CANVEY independent councillors have called for controversial plans for a £12million "road to nowhere" to be scrapped. Neville Watson, a councillor for Winter Gardens, said the idea to extend Roscommon Way around the south of the island should be abandoned
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Fire leaves mum and son homeless
A MUM and her son, aged about nine, have been left homeless after a fire ripped through their home. The pair were not home when their end terrace house, on Cedar Road, Canvey, caught alight at around 11.30pm on Monday night. Arson has not been ruled
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Liverpool St to close again
AN ESSEX commuters' group has raised fears about train chaos after it was announced London Liverpool Street station is to close again. The busy mainline rail station - where engineering work overran at the new year - is to be shut again for more work
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Wyverns win final on merit
RUNWELL Wyverns saw off Pegasus Palmerians 25-0 in the BL Merit final. Runwell started the game brightly and opened the scoring from a line-out which resulted in number eight Matt Hemmings piling over for a try. Robin Groves then kicked a penalty to
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Congrats, Chris
ECHO reporter, London Marathon runner and star magnet Chris Phillips, spent so much time consorting with the celebrities it's amazing he ever managed to start the race. But he completed it in an impressive four hours, 25 minutes. Clearly our Chris was
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Bandstand good news at last
THERE can't be many people who don't root for Southend's historic bandstand, left homeless since the 2002 cliffs landslide. The seafront has been a much sadder place since the music stopped. Yet six years have passed, and it was starting to look as if
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Mobile home removed from green belt
ROCHFORD District Council has taken direct action to remove a caravan and hardstanding from the green belt. External contractors were brought in to remove the mobile home and hardstanding on land off Trenders Avenue, Rayleigh after an enforcement notice
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Storm in D-cup
SOUTH East Essex College has protested against the opening of a saucy Hooters restaurant in Southend. The college says it does not want to become known as "the college behind Hooters." This negative response is misguided. The proximity of Hooters could
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Belgian gives Maish misery
STEVE Maish endured a miserable weekend at the Antwerp Darts Trophy. The 44-year-old was knocked out 3-1 in the first round by Belgian Kim Huybrechts, who himself went on to beat Dutch world number one Raymond van Barneveld on his way to the fourth round
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Gallian banking on a bright future
JASON Gallian is banking - literally - on Essex having a bright future after choosing to end his playing days with the county. For the 36-year-old, who has moved to the Ford County Ground from Nottinghamshire on a two-year-deal, has already started
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AJ back as Lakeside make Craven final
LAKESIDE have received a double-whammy of good news in the past 48 hours. Firstly influential number one rider Andreas Jonsson successfully came through a meeting in Poland on Sunday and he will be making his return to the Hammers colours for this Friday's
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Robber’s appeal may change law
A PAROLE hearing of an armed robber, formerly from Southend, is being used as a test case which could see a change in the law. Wayne Black is serving a 24-year jail term for a string of crimes, and was appealing against the refusal of parole at the Appeal
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Fears as Liverpool Street closes again
AN ESSEX commuters' group has raised fears about train chaos after it was announced London Liverpool Street station is to close again. The busy mainline rail station - where engineering work overran at the new year - is to be shut again for more work
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Boss fights for his cooking oil supply
A COMPANY which produces environmentally friendly fuels from used vegetable oil is on the brink of collapse because of a huge surge in demand. Colin Newman, co-owner of Rainbow Fuels, on Canvey, says he almost quit two weeks ago after struggling to find
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Teenager Collison staying positive
JACK Collison is desperate to put the disappointment of a difficult full debut at Bolton behind him by impressing West Ham's fans at Upton Park. The teenager made his first start for the Irons - and his second appearance overall - at the Reebok Stadium
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Scrap Lotto cash for anti-racism group, says MP
AN MP has called for lottery funds to be scrapped for an organisation which combats racism. Billericay Tory MP John Baron claims the Essex Racial Equality is biased against Basildon Council over its dealings with travellers on illegal sites, including
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Trisha's thanks to RNLI
A TEACHER who was saved by the RNLI has found a special way of saying thank you to the volunteer lifeboat crew. In January, Trisha Rivers, 53, of Maine Crescent, Rayleigh, was on holiday in Devon when she was taken seriously ill in a cottage with no
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Injured schoolboy on the mend
A SCHOOLBOY who was badly injured after his bike collided with a car in a hit-and-run crash, is on the mend. Police say the 12-year-old Canvey boy who was thrown 100 yards following the collision in Canvey Road last week is in a stable condition in Basildon
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Nel jets in in time for Essex opener
SOUTH Africa paceman Andre Nel has flown in in time for Essex's opening LV County Championship match of the season against Northants, which begins at the Ford County Ground, Chelmsford, this morning. Nel spent last night on a flight from Cape Town
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Kids will make eco friendly car
SCHOOLKIDS can learn how to get their motor running in an eco-friendly way thanks to a new project. The newly-launched Basildon Young Engineers Club is giving twelve youngsters the chance to learn how to build an environmentally friendly electric car
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Ensign remain the leaders
WHITE Ensign maintained their leadership of the Premier Division with a 3-2 win at Harold Wood Athletic. Chris Baddeley, Mike Shelley and Mike Trenkel got the goals.
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Ekco battle back for cup
EKCO Thames Park 3rd captured this Southend Borough Combination trophy at Eastwoodbury Lane last night when they came from behind to beat Emstar United 2-1. Daniel Kenton and Dave Spencer got the Ekco goals with Sam Cattaneo netting for Emstar.
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Canvey in final after 4-2 win
CANVEY Island won through to the final, in which they will visit either Brimsdown Rovers or Bowers and Pitsea, with a 4-2 home win over Ryman One North rivals Ilford. Their goals came from a Chris Bourne corner, Richard Halle's free-kick, Nicky Rugg
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Rangers in title fight
CONCORD Rangers are right back in the title race after current leaders Enfield 1893 suffered a shock 3-1 home defeat at the hands of Romford last night. Canvey-based Concord were beating Hullbridge Sports 5-0 at the same time with a hat-trick from Danny
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Thurrock lose 3-1 to Bath
THURROCK'S second long trip of the season to Bath ended in a 3-1 defeat, as it did the first time. In November, Fleet bowed out of the FA Trophy 2-0 at Twerton Park and again they came off two goals worse in this twice-postponed Blue Square South meeting
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Grays suffer late collapse
GRAYS succumbed to a late blow and 2-1 defeat at Crawley in a Blue Square Premier clash that had a dramatic finish. The Blues had hauled themselves level through substitute Jeff Goulding's 84th minute goal but then lost Jon Ashton, sent off for a foul
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Mullins vows to break scoring duck
HAYDEN Mullins has revealed that he is desperate to score a goal for West Ham this season - if only to silence captain Lucas Neill. Midfielder Mullins, who has failed to find the net in 38 league and cup appearances this season after notching three
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JJB stores face closure
THREE SPORTS shops in south Essex could be under threat of closure. The JJB Sports chain has announced the closure of 72 outlets across the country, with a loss of 800 jobs. Chief executive Chris Ronnie said: "They are being closed because they are
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Jet-setter Nel gives Essex a flying start
ANDRE Nel is hoping to get Essex's season off to a flying start this morning - just hours after stepping off a plane from his native South Africa. Fast bowler Andre Nel was originally expected to miss today's LV County Championship opener against Northampton-shire
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Northants still smart over ECB ruling
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE go into the new season still coming to terms with the ECB's decision to ban two South Africans, Andrew Hall and Johan van der Wath, from joining the county. The pair, who would both have been Kolpak signings, were barred after playing
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MP accuses county of neglect
A SOUTH Essex MP has accused the county council of neglecting the area's creaking road infrastructure in favour of improvements in the north of the county. Angela Smith, Labour MP for Basildon, said: "My constituency always seems to be at the bottom
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Irons light SPARC to end injury problems
West Ham have enlisted the help of one of the UK's top sports science centres in an attempt to put an end to an injury crisis that has caused players to miss a staggering 386 games this season. The Irons' attempts to launch an assault on the Premier
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Student talks fair trade with MEP
FAIR Trade to tackle poverty in Africa will only be achieved if Europe takes the lead, according to a Basildon student who took her message to the heart of the European Union. Grace Ndongme, from Basildon, was invited to the European Parliament by Essex
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Blues to bid for Mulgrew?
SOUTHEND United's assistant manager Paul Brush has hinted that the Shrimpers could be interested in signing on loan left-back Charlie Mulgrew on a permanent basis. The Scottish under-21 international has impressed since arriving from Wolverhampton Wanderers
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Show warns kids to get smart about lawbreaking
A ROADSHOW aiming to steer kids away from drugs and crime is returning to Basildon. The 2Smart roadshow tours the county every year using dancing, theatre and comedy to warn youngsters about drugs. This year it starts in Basildon at the Towngate Theatre
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Ballroom champs return with silverware
DANCERS of all ages have twirled to success to put south Essex on the map in a national competition. Thirty dancers from the Western Dance Centre, in Hadleigh, made their way to the Nationwide Medallist of the Year competition in Blackpool, after qualifying
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E-mails helping fight crimes at allotments
BETTER protection for allotment holders against criminal damage and theft has been announced as part of a neighbourhood watch scheme. Allotment Watch uses an e-mail alert to warn gardeners of any issues they should be aware of, such as arson attacks,
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A quiet summer for Castle Point
ROWDY residents in Castle Point should watch out because the borough noise service will be working overtime this summer. The council's out-of-hours noise reporting line was launched last summer to help residents report rowdy neighbours. During the winter
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Sports village backed by councillors
MULTI-million plans for an Olympic sports village in Gloucester Park have won backing from councillors. Basildon Council has also agreed to sell Markhams Chase leisure centre to house builders and the South Essex Gymnastics Club in Cranes Farm Road,
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£10m per mile - the cost of making the A12 safer
Widening the A12 could cost at least £10 million-a-mile, a top civil engineer warned today. This would equate to a bill of more than £1,400 for every home in Essex. Francis Connolly, a recently-retired senior partner at global firm Peter Brett Associates
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Manual helps ease the challenge of fostering
WELCOMING a child into your home can be a daunting task, but foster children may be the only ones who come with a manual. Futures for Children, a Southend-based fostering agency, provides ongoing training, support and has even written a guide to help
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Learn all about Plotlands
A TALK on the Plotlands and Old Laindon will be given at Laindon Library. Local historian Ken Porter will give the talk, from 3pm to 5pm, on Wednesday, April 23. Plotlands were small areas of land across Basildon district, which people from London bought
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Faults found in Canvey sewer
A WATER company is to start essential repair works on a Canvey sewer after discovering problems. Anglian Water will carry out repairs on the sewer pumping from Long Road Pumping Station to Canvey Island Wastewater Treatment Works in Thames Road. The
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My concern over Dad’s superbug
THE daughter of a man diagnosed with the superbug clostridium difficile while being treated at Southend Hospital has criticised infection-prevention measures there. Gill Edwards spoke out after the Echo reported an NHS inspection team had highlighted
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Train delays on c2c
COMMUTERS on the c2c line suffered slight delays this morning due to signalling problems. Trains travelling between Pitsea and London Fenchurch Street ran up to seven minutes late during rush hour.
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Mayor to take tea with unsung heroes
THE latest invitations to honour the hardworking members of the community in Castle Point have been sent out. Castle Point Mayor Beverley Egan has hosted three afternoon teas since August to thank the community for their good deeds or achievements.
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Objections to 8 homes plan
CONTROVERSIAL plans to demolish a bungalow to make way for four semi-detached houses and four bungalows have been revealed. The new homes would be built at 58 Victoria Avenue, Rayleigh, if the plan is approved by Rochford District Council. Head of planning
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Burglars £6,500 off-licence haul
BURGLARS escaped with cash and cigarettes worth £6,500 from Threshers wine shop in Southend. The crooks got in to the shop in Southchurch Road, overnight between Sunday and Monday. They got into the office and found the keys to two safes, which they
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Blues fans in fury over car parking fines
BLUES fans are furious after leaving Roots Hall to find their cars had been slapped with parking fines in a previously free council car park. Brothers Paul and Alan Davis had parked at the council car park next to the Civic Centre to watch Southend United's
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Robin, 70, joins Lily for 30,000ft plunge
A DIABETIC schoolgirl will jump from a plane for charity, alongside her 70-year-old grandad and a nurse. Grays Convent pupil Lily Harris, 16, her grandad, Robin Gray, and nurse Chris Bounds, 34, will take the 30,000ft plunge for Diabetes UK in July.
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Keira, welcome to Essex
An A-list celebrity is rumoured to be on the verge of buying a glamorous countryside mansion in Essex. Alresford Hall has a price tag of £4 million and would make an ideal rural hideaway for someone famous with cash to spare. Hollywood beauty Keira
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Church's anniversary
CORRINGHAM'S baptist church is holding a three day celebration to commemorate their 70-year anniversary this weekend. The fun begins on Friday when the church, in Springhouse Road, plays host to the Martin Claydon Swing Band from 7pm to 9pm. On Saturday
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Chains to beat purse snatchers
SHOPPERS have joined the fight against purse thieves with a simple device. Purse chains enable people to secure their wallets to their bags and prevent pickpockets from stealing them. Police community support officer Daniel Brady joined colleagues from
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Buglife to battle on against Royal Mail
WILDLIFE campaigners plan to appeal a High Court decision to allow the creation of a Royal Mail distribution centre in Thurrock. Conservation trust Buglife has announced its continued fight at the same time as Royal Mail is launching a set of stamps
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Arts and crafts day
YOUNGSTERS, including Elise Davis, ten, above, from Rayleigh, were treated to a day of arts and crafts at the Roundhouse in Hadleigh Castle Country Park.
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Russian tall ship sails for Southend
A SPECTACULAR tallship will soon be moored off the shores of Southend. The world's largest tallship, the Sedov sailed out of the harbour of Portugal's capital Lisbon yesterday bound for Southend where she's scheduled to arrive at the Pier at about noon
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Petition to keep Warriors pool open
HUNDREDS of people have signed a petition calling on Southend Council to keep Warriors swim centre open. The pool, in Southend town centre, will be demolished for development when a new £10million pool is completed at the Southend Leisure and Tennis
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charity Walkers gather for stroll around sea wall
MORE than 30 walkers gathered at Waterside Farm for an annual sponsored walk around Canvey's sea wall. In the past 12 years, the walk has raised more than £12,000 to buy items of medical equipment which are then loaned to local residents and GP surgeries
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We all had a blast at fun day in park
YOUNGSTERS made the most of the school holidays at a fun day at Shoebury Park. A range of of activities were on offer to entertain children of all ages - from an easter egg hunt to a display from Cycles UK and a 35ft-long obstacle course. Southend United
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Our hard work at beauty spot
LOVERS of the outdoors pulled on their wellies and gardening gloves to get muddy at a conservation day in Billericay. Helpers banded together to take part in a clear-up of Mill Meadows. The volunteers gave up their time for a day of hard work at the
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Library gets bookworms together
LITERATURE fans in Basildon are about to discover it's not only the likes of Richard and Judy who can enjoy their own book club. Bookworms in the area eager to discover new authors and stories or who enjoy reading and chatting about books are being urged
