Archive

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Car on roof following road traffic collision in Rayleigh

A CAR was turned onto its roof after a road traffic collision in Rayleigh this afternoon. The A129 London Road was blocked just after 2pm due to the incident, close to the junction with Victoria Avenue. A police spokesman said: "We were

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Police release CCTV of Southend fight suspects

POLICE have released images of two men they believe may have been involved in a fight in Southend High Street. Six people were seen fighting on June 2 at 4.30am, and a 29-year-old man from Wickford was injured when he tried to stop it. Police

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Benefit changes plan sparks row

PLANS to force the long-term unemployed to take part in work placements in return for their benefits prompted a mixed reaction from business leaders and the jobless. The scheme is part of the Government’s push to reduce welfare spending. Chancellor

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Chief claims some police officers are faking sickies after nights out

POLICE in Essex have been accused by their boss of phoning in sick after a heavy night out. Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh said the force and the community were being let down by a minority of officers who abused the absence system. Officers

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Motorcyclist involved in Basildon crash

A MOTORCYCLIST was involved in a crash in Basildon this evening. A collision between a bike and a car took place at the junction of Cranes Farm Road and East Mayne just before 6pm. One carriageway in East Mayne, was closed, northbound heading

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Radical crown in the bag for Bradley Smith

BRADLEY Smith made it back to back championship wins with a brace of victories at Donington. The Billericay racing driver claimed the Radical Clubmans Cup last season and stepped up to the Radical SR3 Challenge this year. And the twin wins

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Tributes paid to teen who died in crash just before 19th birthday

TOUCHING tributes have been paid to a popular teenager who died in a road crash just days before his 19th birthday. William Andrews died in the crash on Saturday morning, September 28, after a white Ford Escort van carrying four passengers left

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Basildon Rugby Club off the mark with victory against Braintree

BASILDON recorded their first victory of the season at the third attempt, beating Braintree 34-28. But, despite the final result, it was Braintree who started strongly and deservedly took the lead with an early penalty. Basildon gradually dragged

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Rochford Hundred's winning habit comes to an end with narrow defeat at Chelmsford

ROCHFORD Hundred’s unbeaten start to the season ended with a 21-17 defeat at Chelmsford. Hundred went into the game on the back of two successive defeats. But they were brought firmly back down to earth in a very close and competitive encounter

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Mum died of stab wound to the neck

AN inquest has opened into the death of a mother who was found dead at her home. Tolu Kalejaiye, 44, was found last Thursday in a pool of blood at her house in Wetherfield way, Wickford.  Her son Oludotun Emmanual Kalejaiye, 21, appeared at

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£5,000 reward to catch burglars who beat up 95-year-old woman in her home

THE charity Crimestoppers is offering a £5,000 reward for anyone with information about a burglary in which a 95-year-old woman was attacked in her own home. The elderly victim's face was left battered and bruised after three burglars broke into

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Patched up Canvey Island beaten by Beccles

CANVEY Island’s poor start to the season continued with a 41-12 defeat at Beccles. The Islanders have now lost their opening three games of the campaign. But coach Steve Murphy was keen to remain upbeat following the latest reverse in Norfolk

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Rick Compton's joy as Westcliff sew up Haberdashers win

WESTCLIFF’S first team manager Rick Compton was a happy man following his side’s 45-17 win at Old Haberdashers. The victory was Westcliff’s fourth in succession to keep them top of the London One North table. And Compton was pleased by the

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Woman, 94, who was hit by car dies

A 94-YEAR-OLD woman, who was hit by a car in Billericay in an accident which shut the High Street, has died. The incident happened at High Street at about 12.50pm last Wednesday, and closed off the road for several hours. The elderly woman,

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Southend man wanted over Benfleet burglary

POLICE are searching for a Southend man over a burglary in Benfleet. Daniel Slater, 25, was last known to be living in Cambridge Road, Southend. Police say they want to speak to him in connection with a burglary in Mornington Crescent, Benfleet

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Essex Leopards coach Robert Youngblood adds Ronnie Baker to Big Cats mix

ESSEX Leopards coach Robert Youngblood has strengthened his squad with the addition of England’s most capped international Ronnie Baker. The 44-year-old has collected 156 caps in an international career that lasted 18 years, culminating with a

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Michael Guess brace helps Southend Rugby Club continue fine start to season with win against Canterbury

MICHAEL Guess bagged a brace of tries to help Southend continue their fine start to the season with a 34-27 victory against Canterbury at Warners Bridge on Saturday. The prop forward touched down twice to help the Seasiders come out on top.

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Bail extended in sex case

A MAN arrested in connection with an ongoing investigation into sexual exploitation of teenagers in Southend has answered bail. The 34-year-old man, from Shadwell, East London, was arrested in Southend on July 1 on suspicion of committing sexual

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Take chances if you want to beat St Neots, warns Canvey Island boss Danny Heale

CANVEY Island boss Danny Heale has urged his team to start taking the chances coming their way, beginning with tonight’s FA Cup replay at St Neots Town. The Gulls drew 2-2 with the Calor League Premier side club at the Prospects Stadium on Saturday

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Concerns over staff numbers at hospital A&E

CONCERNS have been raised about the numbers of staff in Accident and Emergency at Southend Hospital, particularly with the extra demand that winter brings. The staffing situation in the busy casualty department was discussed at last week’s Clinical

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Concord Rangers gear up for a tough FA Cup test at Histon

DANNY Cowley’s Concord Rangers is facing up to the challenge of an extremely tricky FA Cup third qualifying round encounter. The Beachboys will square up to Skrill North side Histon on October 12 knowing that their opponents have plenty of firepower

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Wanted: boys to roll into girls' game

ESSEX'S first men’s roller derby team is looking for new members. John Webb, 33, who referees a female Roller Derby team called Seaside Siren Roller Girls has decided to start a team of his own. Roller Derby isafast, full-contact sport played

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Police want to speak to this man over liquid soap theft

POLICE want to speak to this man after liquid soap was stolen from a Westcliff supermarket. A man entered the Co-Op on Hamlet Court Road, and put two bottles of the gel in his rucksack, and left without paying for them. The suspect is described

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Essex Leopards burnt by Dragons' recovery

LAWRENCE Brown was left disappointed after Essex Leopards started their season with a 76-68 defeat by Bradford Dragons at Southend’s Garon Park on Sunday. Brown led the Bigs Cats’ scoring with 14 points but that was not enough to stop his side

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Winning start for Southend Rugby Club's Karl Pryce

KARL Pryce enjoyed a winning debut with Southend Rugby Club, helping his new side beat Canterbury 34-27 at Warners Bridge. Pryce, who has bagged 83 tries in his Super League career playing Rugby League, lined up at centre as the Seasiders recorded

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Southend United squad get chance to impress manager Phil Brown in friendly at Colchester United

SOUTHEND United’s out of favour players will be aiming to send a message to manager Phil Brown when a strong reserve team travels to local rivals Colchester United this afternoon. The Shrimpers have now not triumphed in their last six league games

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CCTV released after fare dodger punched member of train staff at Southend Central

POLICE are hunting two fare dodgers, after one of them punched a member of rail staff in the face. They have just released CCTV images of two men who were at the station at the time, who they want to speak to about the attack at Southend Central

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School strikes: all the latest from south Essex

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Is Basildon the dumping ground of Essex?

BASILDON has been branded the dumping ground of Essex after plans to build a biogas plant were submitted. The scheme to build a plant on farmland at Marsh Farm, off the A13, in Vange, has been criticised by both Labour and Tory councillors.

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Paul's Christmas lunch for the needy

A ROADSIDE diner might not be the most sought-after location for Christmas dinner, but for 50 vulnerable people, it is where they will spend the festive day. Paul Croucher, owner of the Roadhouse Diner on the A127 at Wickford, is opening the restaurant

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New £28million Canvey school gets Ofsted's seal of approval

PUPILS at a Canvey school are celebrating after seeing significant improvements in their latest Oftsed report. Inspectors from the education watchdog visited Castle View School in July for the first time since the reopening of their new £28million

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Machete terror for homeowner on Canvey

POLICE are hunting two men who burst into a house and threatened a homeowner with a machete and handgun before stealing thousands of pounds. Police are appealing for any witnesses who were in Jasmine Close, Canvey, on Wednesday at about 6.30pm.

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Pitsea campaigner: Switching off street lights will be a disaster

A PITSEA campaigner has slammed Essex County Council for refusing to spend just 29p a month on every household to ensure street lights can stay on. Charles March, 60 is concerned for the safety of his community if streets are plunged into darkness

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Pupils open new store at Garrison

SCHOOLCHILDREN were the first to get a glimpse of a new food store in Shoebury Garrison. Youngsters from neighbouring Hinguar School helped to cut the ribbon and declare the Sainsbury’s Local store in New Garrison Road officially open. Store

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Canvey backlash as island’s branded one of UK’s chav hotspots

ISLANDERS have hit back at claims they live in one of the “chavviest” places in the UK. Canvey has been rated as one of the worst places to live in the country in an article on the website www.chavtowns.co.uk The post, which has been shared on

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Dragon’s Den school opens

A THEATRE school funded by Dragon’s Den star Duncan Bannatyne recently launched at the Sweyne Park School in Rayleigh. Razzamataz Theatre Schools have been opening across the country since founder and director Denise Hutton-Gosney appeared on the

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Hawkwell homes ‘out of our reach’

A HOUSING development in Hawkwell has been slammed for pricing first time buyers out of the market. Three-bedroom homes on Christmas Tree Farm, now known as Clements Gate, will start at £330,000, with prices soaring past £500,000 for a five bed

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Councils to defy Pickles over spy cars

SPY cars will continue to patrol the streets of south Essex despite Government calls to scrap them. Southend and Basildon councils have rejected calls from Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles to get rid of the controversial cars which film

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Yob scarred himself when he broke shop window

A DRUNKEN teenager who smashed a tattoo shop window with a hammer after threatening its owner, cut his own face in the process and ended up with a scar. Southend Youth Court heard the 15-year-old needed two stitches after breaking the glass.

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Council in stalemate over new Fair Havens

A CAMPAIGNER is calling for Southend Council to remove planning hurdles which could prevent a hospice being built on a prime development site in Southend. The former Ekco land on the Prittlebrook industrial estate is earmarked for housing and uses

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Schizophrenic found dead next to father’s body in Westcliff

A SCHIZOPHRENIC was found dead next to the body of his father, after being released from hospital on leave. Doctors allowed Emet Makar, 26, to return to his father’s Westcliff home, despite earlier catching him with a knife and hearing him say

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Pop star Michelle Heaton surprises Britain's little hero Kelly

THERE was not a dry eye in the room when celebrity Michelle Heaton surprised a courageous schoolgirl after picking her as Britain’s Little Hero. Inspirational Kelly King, seven, has been coming to the rescue of mum Rachel Bottomley, 25, who suffers