Stories for 27 February 2002

Basildon,Essex News

Essex: Libraries step up security

A number of Essex libraries are hiring security guards to deal with rowdy customers.   more...

Pitsea: Charity climber defies odds

A partially-sighted woman has raised nearly £1,000 for charity by climbing Africa's second largest mountain.   more...

Basildon: Bar's search for next Pop Idol

Thousands of wannabe singing stars have jumped at the chance of becoming south Essex's very own Pop Idol with the chance of scooping £10,000 and a recording session.   more...

Vange: Church to pursue community dream

Church bosses are still hopeful of building a £1m healthy living centre, but desperately need some funding.   more...

Basildon: Tower block glass terror

Shoppers stared in horror as a pane of glass was blown from a ninth floor window and flew through Basildon town centre.   more...

Pitsea: Could wannabe Danielle be the Next Big Thing?

A talented teenager could be The Next Big Thing after she landed herself a place on a BBC show.   more...

Basildon: Council tax to rise

The final touches were today being put on proposals to increase council tax levels in Basildon by just under ten per cent.   more...

Basildon,Essex,Southend News

South Essex: Hunt after stolen car crash chaos

Police were today hunting five men who ditched a stolen blue Ford Escort following a four-vehicle smash on the A127 at Rayleigh Weir.   more...

Canvey: Police seek dog owner

Police are still appealing for information that may help trace the owner of a rottweiler left for dead in a hit-and-run incident on Canvey.   more...

Benfleet: Jail for Barbie drugs smuggler

A driver who hid almost £8m of drugs in a lorry carrying Barbie dolls has received an eight year jail sentence.   more...

Basildon,Essex,Southend Sport

Soccer: Canvey Island 6-1 Heybridge Swifts (Ryman League Premier Division)

Canvey celebrated the news of plans to move to a new £3m stadium in the best possible style.   more...

Soccer: Support grows for new Canvey stadium

Canvey soccer boss Jeff King has told of his delight as support grew for his ambitious £3m stadium plans on the island.   more...

Chelmsford,Colchester,Essex News

Essex: Rape support lines crisis

Victims of sex crimes in Essex are being left without vital support as rape crisis lines are forced to close.   more...

Chelmsford,Essex News

Chelmsford: Budget row rumbles on

Chelmsford Conservative Group has attacked the borough council's 2002 budget, claiming it is spending too much of the authority's cash reserves.   more...

Colchester,Essex Business

Copford: Hi-tech golf range scheme tees up

An ultra hi-tech indoor golf centre could be set up in a village near Colchester.   more...

Colchester,Essex News

Colchester: Courts martial face changes after ruling

The Government may have to make further changes to the courts martial system following a new human rights ruling.   more...

Colchester: Novices' bobsleigh test

A daredevil father-and-daughter team are hoping to hurtle their way down their first bobsleigh run to raise cash for charity.   more...

Clacton: Drink-drive doctor fined

A Clacton GP, who also worked for Essex Police, has been banned and fined more than £1,000 after admitting drink-driving.   more...

Colchester: Groups join forces to fight crime

Colchester is getting its own version of the crime-fighting, problem-solving A-team.   more...

Colchester: Governor sexually abused six-year-olds

A school governor is facing jail after being convicted of using a game of Simon Says to sexually abuse two young children   more...

Colchester: Memorial service for Mary

A memorial service for the late Mary Whitehouse CBE will be held on April 10.   more...

Colchester: Concern for missing mum

Police are becoming increasingly concerned for a mother of two who has gone missing from her Colchester home.   more...

Colchester: Pipers set for the Big Apple

Members of a Colchester-based pipe band are set to take part in a record-breaking Fifth Avenue parade in New York.   more...

Colchester,Essex Sport

Soccer round-up: Gulls clip Swifts' wings....

There were goals a plenty in last night's fixtures including seven in the all Essex clash between Canvey Island and Heybridge Swifts.   more...

Soccer: McGleish mad at misses

Scott McGleish was twice left cursing his luck after coming close to ending his Colchester United goal drought at Notts County.   more...

Soccer: Notts County 1-0 Colchester United (Nationwide League Division Two)

For the second time in four days, Colchester United were forced to settle for a share of the spoils when their efforts deserved a greater reward.   more...

Golf: Hi-tech range scheme tees up at Copford

An ultra hi-tech indoor golf centre could be set up in a village near Colchester.   more...

Soccer: Outlook black for Ipswich...

Ipswich Town are to wear an all-black kit for next month's Premiership clash at Blackburn, although it will not be available to buy.   more...

Soccer: Draw not the White result

Colchester's 1-1 draw with Notts County proved a bittersweet night for U's defender Alan White, who got his name on the scoresheet again.   more...

Essex Business

Canvey: Fun park plan set to beat ban

A £350,000 fun park which could create up to 100 jobs looks set to be built on Canvey, despite an ancient covenant standing in its way.   more...

Canvey: Receivers for boat firm

Troubled Canvey boatbuilding firm, Prout Catamarans is now in the hands of receivers, it has been confirmed.   more...

Colchester: Firms urged to show off!

One of the best annual careers' events in Essex wants more local businesses than ever to strut their stuff this year.   more...

Essex: Shoot the seals!

Fishmonger Paul Gilson has called for thousands of seals to be shot because they "risk the livelihoods" of Essex fishermen.   more...

South Essex: Terry's 25 years in cellars

Brewer Greene King has been toasting a quarter of a century of service from one of its most vital but unsung employees.   more...

Basildon: Festival park invites new firm to the party

The last vacant unit on a booming south Essex leisure park could be a "gold mine" for the company that snaps it up.   more...

Ban on shellfish

Harvesting shellfish on a stretch of the Thames estuary off Southend has been banned after discovery of a dangerous toxin, it has been announced.   more...

Basildon: Telewest bag industry prizes

Cable company Telewest's broadband internet service has landed a brace of awards at the annual Internet Service Providers Association Awards.   more...

Southend: Hi-Tec a winner in court battle

Southend sports shoe producer Hi-Tec has claimed a clean sweep at the recent National Badminton Championships.   more...

Basildon: Mum's six-hour car park ordeal

A mother has told how a shopping trip with her two young children turned into a nightmare as she was trapped in a car park for six hours.   more...

Thundersley: Health club plans still active

Bosses have insisted that Sir Richard Branson's move to sell shares in Virgin Active would not affect the company's planned health club in Thundersley.   more...

Colchester: Colbea launches new centre

Essex business leaders descended on Colchester to celebrate the official opening of the £500,000 new centre of the Colchester Business Enterprise Agency (Colbea).   more...

Essex: Canvey Island is spring clean capital

Canvey is the spring cleaning capital of Britain - and the survey commissioned by Safeway also revealed two other Essex towns featured in its top four!   more...

South Essex: College takes court action over `debts'

Southend United shareholder Martin Dawn is facing a deepening crisis as a college backed a High Court bid for the company to be wound up over alleged unpaid debts.   more...

Brentwood, Chelmsford: Cigarette smugglers jailed

A gang of cigarette smugglers have been jailed for their part in a multi-million pound illegal importation racket.   more...

Essex: Julian to champion links with Brussels

Decision-makers at the heart of Europe are to come within the reach of every small business in Essex following the appointment of a new champion in Brussels.   more...

Essex News

Ashingdon: Ringing up a big row

Battle lines were today being drawn over controversial plans for a new mobile phone mast in the grounds of an 11th Century church.   more...

Halstead: Police hunt trio in green van

Police are looking for witnesses after three homes were broken into in the Halstead area.   more...

Witham: Objectors fight housing plans

Historic walls and trees in Witham could be under threat if a proposal to build up to 15 homes is accepted.   more...

Walton: Vandals set fire to son's scooter

An angry mother has hit out at yobs who set light to her son's scooter while he was attending a lifeboat course.   more...

Colchester: Family on run are 'safe and well'

The aunt of two children on the run from social services has spoken out.   more...

Dovercourt: School warns of dangerous prank

A school is to renew warnings to students of the dangers of wave-dodging.   more...

Essex: Winds wreak power havoc

More than 1,000 people and many businesses were left without electricity as strong winds wreaked havoc with power lines in Essex.   more...

Essex: Dear criminal, mend your ways - or else!

Police sent criminals letters warning them to mend their ways - or face the consequences.   more...

Maldon: Major crackdown on rowdy youths

Police are waging war on young troublemakers by contacting parents and launching high-profile patrols.   more...

Harold: Music feast at festival

Making music will be the order of the day when the Harold Hill Infant Music Festival gets underway next month.   more...

Brentwood: New blow to animal sanctuary

Brentwood's beleaguered Hopefield Animal Sanctuary has been dealt another blow - by the recent high winds.   more...

Braintree: Schools united in tongue stud ban

All schools in Braintree are united in refusing to accept a 14-year-old girl with her tongue pierced.   more...

Wrabness: Nesting birds delay garden

A village's Ground Force-style garden project has suffered a last-minute hitch - because of anxious bird lovers.   more...

Essex Sport

Golf: Traveller calls the tune for Veterans

The group phase of the Forrester Park Golf Club men's winter league was completed without any of the seven rounds being cancelled due to bad weather and the successful teams are now poised to enter the knockout stage.   more...

Essex,Southend News

Southend: Txt msg 2 help fight crime

A trail-blazing text message service could help police fight crime in Southend, it has emerged.   more...

Leigh: Alarm alert after blaze

Homeowners are putting their lives at risk by not installing smoke alarms, a leading firefighter warned today.   more...

Southend: Gran's twin ordeal

A grandmother was dealt a merciless double blow by thieves who injured her in a violent street robbery before ransacking her home just 45 minutes later.   more...

Southend: Mocking the court system!

The Southend heat of the Magistrates' Court Mock Trial Competition for schools will be held at the courthouse in Victoria Avenue on Saturday.   more...

Essex,Southend Sport

Soccer: No Southend move for Trenkel

Southend United trialist Dan Trenkel has been sent back to Burroughs Park after a two-week stint at Roots Hall.   more...

Boxing: Cullinane bounces back to retain title

Southend ABC boxer John Cullinane made a superb comeback to retain his Eastern Counties ABA middleweight title in Norwich.   more...

Soccer: Southend United 2-1 Bristol Rovers (Nationwide Division Three)

A brace from Tes Bramble gave Southend a welcome victory at Roots Hall tonight.   more...

Soccer: Bramble back on song

Southend United striker Tes Bramble was relieved to get back on the scoresheet after firing Blues to a 2-1 win over Bristol Rovers at Roots Hall.   more...

Essex,Thurrock News

Thurrock: Help yacht club clean up

Thurrock Yacht Club is looking for volunteers to help it clean up the river frontage on either side of its clubhouse.   more...

Thurrock: Acting up in the name of science

A group of actors will be visiting four schools in Thurrock later this month to help develop an interest in science among younger children.   more...

Chadwell St Mary: Victory in phone mast fight

Residents have won their fight to prevent an 18-metre mast being built yards from a primary school and church.   more...

Stanford-le-Hope: Machete man loses jail plea

A Stanford man who brandished an 18-inch machete and demanded money from a newsagent has failed to get his sentence cut.   more...

Grays: Pearl's Downing Street day

There is not a lot that overawes Grays councillor Pearl Betts - but 10 Downing Street certainly did.   more...

Essex,Thurrock Sport

Soccer: Bedford Town 1-0 Purfleet (Ryman League Premier Division)

Essex gets its fair share of unflattering comments, but you won't find anyone at Bedford running down the county's football teams.   more...

  
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