Stories for 11 March 2002

Basildon,Chelmsford,Essex,Southend News

South Essex: Hospital workers celebrate

Staff at Basildon and Southend Hospitals were celebrating today after scoring five stars each in a guide to hospital services across the UK - but a Chelmsford centre fared less well.   more...

Basildon,Essex News

Laindon: Wife row man killed himself

A wealthy businessman, whose death sparked fears of a murder, shot himself after an argument with his wife about his excessive drinking, an inquest has heard.   more...

Basildon: Ups and downs of being a twin...

Visitors to a children's playground should expect to see double - or even triple - this weekend as a multiple birth group appeals for new members.   more...

Pensioners' meals all set to rise 40p

The cost of pensioners' lunches at day centres in Basildon is set to increase by 40p to £2.   more...

Basildon: World Cup fans hit by booze ban

Magistrates look to be on a collision course with pubgoers as landlords compete for World Cup and Golden Jubilee celebration trade.   more...

Canvey: Mystery of mayday call

Mystery today surrounds a cry for help heard over the airwaves.   more...

Laindon: Fox cubs home alone

A family of foxes found themselves homeless after builders moved onto their territory.   more...

Laindon: Battling school's sixth form

A school which linked up with a neighbouring college to improve its failing standards today announced it is to expand to include a sixth form.   more...

Basildon: More lottery cash for `needy' town

Basildon is to benefit from a Government review into areas short-changed by lottery handouts.   more...

Pitsea: Man targets young girls

Police have urged young girls to be on their guard following a spate of indecent exposures in Pitsea.   more...

Canvey: Shopkeeper hits out at scratchcard thieves

An angry shopkeeper today hit out at burglars who broke into his store and stole £1,200 worth of scratchcards.   more...

Basildon: Denise makes all-time top 100 lookers list

Basildon babe, Denise Van Outen has been voted among the top third of the 300 most beautiful women of all time.   more...

Billericay: Travellers told `no' to site plans

Extension plans for a travellers' site have been refused to the delight of 100 residents who packed out a meeting.   more...

Basildon,Essex Sport

Rugby: Youngsters get a taste of tag

Canvey Island Rugby Club have been passing on their knowledge to schoolchildren from years five and six as part of an Active Sports programme on the island.   more...

Motor Sport: David aiming for life in fast lane

Speed king David Guy is within touching distance of fulfilling a life-long ambition to become a professional racing driver.   more...

Soccer: Gravesend and Northfleet 1-0 Billericay Town (Ryman League Premier Division)

Billericay gave a good account of themselves on Saturday though eventually fell to Ryman League title favourites Gravesend and Northfleet.   more...

Basildon,Essex,Southend News

South Essex: House prices jump again

House prices in south Essex rose by more than £2,400 last month, new figures reveal today.   more...

Benfleet: Lamp post snaps

Benfleet High Road was shut for an hour yesterday afternoon while firefighters removed a broken lamp post which was dangling on some telephone cables.   more...

Canvey: Phone mast fight

Worried protesters have joined forces in a renewed fight against plans for a mobile phone mast on a Canvey industrial estate.   more...

Basildon,Essex,Southend Sport

Soccer: Canvey Island 3-3 Bedford Town (Ryman League Premier Division)

Canvey's title hopes suffered another setback on Saturday as Bedford left Park Lane with a deserved point in a 3-3 thriller.   more...

Chelmsford,Essex News

Chelmsford: Carnival hoping for brighter outlook

Christine Rolfe is hoping to bring the financially strapped Chelmsford Carnival back as a torchlight procession this autumn.   more...

Chelmsford: Week-long crime blitz

Criminals beware! Prepare for a major crackdown in Chelmsford as part of the borough's Crime Reduction Week.   more...

Chelmsford: Former department store boss dies

Thomas Wray Bolingbroke, former managing director of Chelmsford's long established family-run departmental store Bolingbroke and Wenley's, has died at the age of 85.   more...

Chlemsford: Cash boost to slash op wait

A £4.6 million cash boost has been secured to build urgently-needed hospital facilities for mid Essex patients   more...

Chelmsford: City status decision due

There are only a few days to go until Chelmsford knows if it is to be a city for the 21st century.   more...

Chelmsford: River to become healthier for wildlife

Water in the River Chelmer will be healthier for wildlife and better for drinking as a result of cuts in nitrate pollution from sewage treatment works.   more...

Chelmsford,Essex Sport

Cricket: County side back at Valentines Park

Essex will be playing first-class cricket at Ilford's Valentines Park this season.   more...

Soccer: Worcester City 1-1 Chelmsford City (Dr Martens League Premier Division)

Chelmsford returned from St George's Lane with a useful point on Saturday, holding hosts Worcester City to a 1-1 draw.   more...

Chelmsford,Essex,Southend News

Essex FM to switch towns

Southend's prestige was dealt a blow today as Essex FM revealed it is set to quit the town in favour of Chelmsford.   more...

Chelmsford,Essex,Southend Sport

Tennis: Garon's promotion at Writtle expense

Garons Tennis Academy were the aces of the pack when Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre hosted the Essex Junior League finals on a home and away basis.   more...

Chelmsford,Essex,Southend,Thurrock Sport

Athletics: Runners to get England vests

Two young athletes are to appear for their country after outstanding performances in the English Schools Cross-Country Championships at Hylands Park, Chelmsford, on Saturday.   more...

Colchester,Essex News

Colchester: Man exposed himself to girls

A man who exposed himself to schoolgirls has been handed a community rehabilitation order   more...

Colchester: Man robbed at knifepoint

Two robbers threatened a man with a knife then stole cash and a mobile phone as he walked along an alleyway in Colchester.   more...

Colchester: University research boost but teaching grant falls

Research funds for Essex University are to receive a £1m boost of Government cash but an after-inflation cut in its teaching grant.   more...

Colchester: Men con £800 from couple in their 80s

A couple in their 80s paid hundreds of pounds to "mean" bogus callers who gave them scraps of carpet but never returned to fit them.   more...

Essex: County's police are off target

Essex Police blamed resource-sapping major inquiries for missing crime reduction and detection rate targets.   more...

Colchester: Hotfoot over the Sahara

Fitness trainer Jim Mazzoni-Dalton is preparing for a tough challenge crossing the hot Sahara Desert.   more...

Colchester: Alison's night to remember

It was a night to remember in more ways than one for a Colchester woman who sang a duet at Wembley with a world-famous pop star - and was then proposed to the same evening!   more...

Colchester: Antiques con on pensioner

A pensioner handed over £24,000 of antiques to a conman who paid her just £4,000 in a week-long sting operation.   more...

Colchester: Children dig up bomb in garden

A shocked father called the police after his children dug up a mortar shell in his front garden.   more...

Colchester,Essex Sport

Soccer: Whitton's dead sorry

Apologetic U's boss Steve Whitton made a vow to Colchester fans today that the club will only make the drop to Division Three over his dead body.   more...

Soccer: Fry satisfied with Posh performance

It was a very satisfied Peterborough boss Barry Fry who readily heaped praise on his players after they dominated the wind-swept clash with Colchester United.   more...

Soccer: Posh test for Brown

Simon Brown takes his goalkeeper's gloves to Peterborough tomorrow hoping for a big change of luck and a Colchester United win.   more...

Squash: Disasterous result for Tek Sing

Tek Sing Lexden had a disastrous result against Lee-on-Solent, losing 4-1 in the penultimate match of the season.   more...

Soccer: U's boss looking to fill defensive spot

Manager Steve Whitton has revealed that he would like to bring in at least one new face before this season's transfer deadline.   more...

Soccer: Peterborough 3 Colchester United 1 (Division Two)

Colchester United produced their worst performance of the season when being blown away by lowly Peterborough in farcical galeforce conditions at London Road.   more...

Soccer: Marshall shoulders responsibility for defeat

Andy Marshall held his hands up and accepted full responsibility for Ipswich Town's 2-0 defeat at Leeds United.   more...

Essex Business

Rochford: Buses axed as profits soar

A bus company planning to axe vital services in Rochford to reduce costs today announced a nine per cent annual profit increase.   more...

South Essex: Make-over dream for area's shopping precincts

Shopping precincts across Castle Point could all be given facelifts if councillors have their way.   more...

Colchester: Small - but region's best

An Essex company has been dubbed the best small business in East Anglia at a recent awards ceremony.   more...

Essex: Profile for a better job

Personality profiling could spell the end of the misery that afflicts the lives of thousands of business people every year - the realisation that you have given years of your life to the wrong job.   more...

Chelmsford: City status decision due

There are only six days to go until Chelmsford knows if it is to be a city for the 21st century.   more...

Leigh: Jobs go at travel firm

A well-known travel firm has gone into receivership leaving all its employees redundant.   more...

Stanford-le-Hope: Part of store to become clinic

Planners have granted consent for part of a large store in Stanford-le-Hope to be turned into osteopathic clinic despite the community's determination to protect shops in the town centre.   more...

Essex: Advisers highlight route to success

Business Link for Essex has urged potential entrepreneurs not to let fear of failure stand in the way of their dreams of success.   more...

Stansted: Airport praised for environmental management

The owners of Stansted Airport have been heralded by Business in the Environment (BiE) as the best example of environmental management by a transport company.   more...

Colchester: End of the robe for wedding shop

A new gallery coupling work by local artists with refreshments for visitors could be coming to Colchester based at a closing wedding shop   more...

Grays: Mystery liquid scare

Police and fire crews cordoned off a road close to Grays town centre for several hours on Saturday after a mystery substance came up from the drains.   more...

Braintree, Colchester: High winds cause car park chaos...

High winds caused chaos in parts of Essex at the weekend - and at Braintree a car park closure hit trade.   more...

Southend: Award for safety record

A Southend factory's exemplary safety record has won a major award.   more...

Purfleet: Blaze on industrial estate

Firefighters from Grays spent much of early Monday attempting to put out a large bonfire on the Juliet Way industrial estate in Purfleet.   more...

Harwich: Backing for Bathside project

The controversial Bathside Bay development at Harwich has received a major boost with two of the town's leading groups agreeing to back it.   more...

Chelmsford: Building award at Bishops Mead

Architecture-based on delightful styles of historic north Essex houses has won a new accolade for top architects Reeves Bailey for their designs at Chelmsford's Bishops Mead development.   more...

Southend: Troubled firm's jobs put at risk

A Southend computer services company has warned staff of impending redundancies, in spite of signs that its fortunes are improving.   more...

Colchester: Mum's courage in commerce

Brave mum Sharon Moor, who has battled back to health after a kidney transplant, is the new owner of the former Navy and Army store in Colchester.   more...

South Essex: Mortgage firm's new award

Staff at a South Essex mortgage advisers have been celebrating another honour.   more...

Maldon: Crowds reach new Heights

A new multi-million entertainment complex for Maldon opened its door with over 1,000 people attending on their first day.   more...

Essex News

Brightlingsea: Man dies in horror road accident

An elderly man from the Brightlingsea area died after his Renault Laguna car was in collision with a lorry.   more...

Castle Point: Green light for traffic calming

Plans for traffic calming measures outside Castle Point schools are to go ahead - despite local objections to the scheme.   more...

Brentwood: Boundary shift to shake up political scene

A massive re-shaping of electoral boundaries is set to shake up the political scene when voters go to the polls in the district council elections on Thursday, May 2.   more...

Brightlingsea: Probe into fatal crash begins

Investigators were today probing the cause of a three-vehicle pile-up in which a motorist died after his car was in a collision with a lorry.   more...

Witham: Doorstep antiques dealers warning

Police are urging people to think twice before using doorstep antiques dealers.   more...

Maldon: Cracking down on car badge thefts

Maldon Police are contacting local schools in a bid to stop a resurgence of a criminal craze which hits car owners.   more...

Essex: War hero dies four days after wife

A Polish man who came to Essex after liberating his wife from a Nazi concentration camp died just four days after she did telling his family he could not live without her.   more...

Alresford, Thorrington, Frating: Scott takes seat

Liberal Democrat Gary Scott was today celebrating after winning a seat on Tendring Council.   more...

Braintree: Ben gets No 1 reason to be sent home

First there was Faye Cowig, 15, off school because she had braided hair.   more...

Tendring: Man jailed after dozens of raids

A prolific burglar who stole more than £40,000 worth of goods from people's homes in the Tendring area has been jailed for four years.   more...

Stanway: Head vows to appeal over plans

A headteacher today vowed to appeal after plans to sell off disused playing fields to fund vital improvements were rejected.   more...

Wix: A quiet corner to remember Oliver

A village pre-school will build a memorial to remember a little boy who died of cancer.   more...

Brentwood: Youth counselling launch

A Brentwood-based counselling service for young people aged 13 to 25 is preparing to set up surgeries in local secondary schools after receiving a £5,000 grant from the Jack Petchey Foundation.   more...

Clacton: Historic dolls going under hammer

Unique historical dolls including two famous Essex women are set to go under the auctioneer's hammer.   more...

Frinton: School's expansion gets the go-ahead

An overcrowded private school in Frinton will be able to expand and create more space for pupils and staff.   more...

Billericay: Extra security for station

Commuters are celebrating after securing extra security measures at Billericay railway station.   more...

Tollesbury: Who wants to be 'Queen'?

Tollesbury is pushing out the boat to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee, and a committee has been formed to co-ordinate a weekend of fun, games and events from Saturday June 1 through to Tuesday June 4 reigned over by the village's own "Queen Elizabeth."   more...

Brentwood: Volunteers wanted for Hospice

Volunteers to help comfort someone suffering from bereavement are being sought by the Saint Francis Hospice.   more...

Harwich, Dovercourt: Cash needed to stop vandalism

An anti-vandalism campaign has been backed by police but several hundred pounds are needed to run it.   more...

Great Bentley: Secrets of village green

Metal detector enthusiasts want to seek out hidden treasures under Great Bentley's 43-acre village green, the biggest in the country, if residents agree.   more...

Essex: Student bus service faces axe

Essex County Council is planning a growing up lesson for future 16-19 year old school and college students - by axing their school bussing arrangements.   more...

Frinton: Determined Alex making progress

Footballing teenager Alex Campbell, whose neck was broken in a car crash, has undergone a long-awaited operation to get him back on the road to recovery.   more...

Maldon: School fire is investigated

A fire at a Maldon school is being investigated by police.   more...

Dovercourt: Bojit the clown's in a spin!

Slapstick star Bojit will be swapping the big top for the big drop in his most daring trick yet.   more...

South Woodham: Young skaters get cash

The unveiling of a blueprint for a new skateboard park could mark the revival of a town's youth council.   more...

Essex: Concerns raised at schools' deal

Serious concerns have been voiced over multi-million pound plans to get the private sector involved in Essex's education system.   more...

Witham: Parents tell of heartbreak at toddler's death

Parents of quadruplets have told of their heartbreak after one of their baby sons died.   more...

Tendring: Skateboarding park is priority

The newest and youngest councillor in Tendring has been getting his skates on to publicise his top pledge.   more...

Woodham: Rush-hour smash up

Morning traffic was plunged into chaos following a two-vehicle smash in South Woodham Ferrers.   more...

Gestingthorpe: Family safe and well after thatched cottage fire

A family of four had to flee after their 14th century thatched cottage caught fire.   more...

Walton: Club's lap-dance plan

A new lap-dancing club is set to open in a seaside resort.   more...

Braintree: Hopes rising for new watch groups

New neighbourhood watch groups are likely in Braintree after a high-profile police operation in the town.   more...

Essex Obituaries

Thomas Wray Bolingbroke (Danbury)

Thomas Wray Bolingbroke, former managing director of Chelmsford's long established family-run departmental store Bolingbroke and Wenley's, has died at the age of 85.   more...

Essex Sport

Junior Soccer: Rangers seek sponsors

Fairfax Rangers have been established in the Southend area for over 20 years and, in that time, have built a reputation for quality and excellence.   more...

Soccer: Bishops Stortford 3-0 Thame United (Ryman League Division One)

There were no troubles for Bishops Stortford on Saturday, with a comfortable 3-0 win against Thame - a result which sees them climb to 2nd in the Division One table.   more...

Soccer: Heybridge Swifts 0-2 Boreham Wood (Ryman League Premier Division)

A goal either side of half-time saw visitors Boreham Wood record a deserved 2-0 success at Heybridge on Saturday.   more...

Soccer: Walton and Hersham 1-1 Harlow Town (Ryman League Division One)

Harlow's promotion hopes faded on Saturday as Marcus Rose scrambled in an injury time equaliser for Walton and Hersham in a 1-1 draw at Stompond Lane.   more...

Soccer: Last takes Witham post

Tony Last has been appointed the new manager of Witham Town.   more...

Golf: Triumph for Cawte and Lukins

Keith Cawte and Mike Lukins triumphed as Thorpe Hall Golf Club started its competitions at the weekend.   more...

Point to Point: Double for Braithwaite

Andrew Braithwaite, the 20 year-old jockey attached to the Sporborg yard at Bishop Stortford, will have happy memories of Horseheath, the Cambridgeshire course hosting the Thurlow point-to-point last weekend.   more...

Essex,Southend News

Westcliff: Face of con man who preys on elderly

Police today released this e-fit of a man calling himself Stephen Martin who preyed on elderly residents at a Westcliff sheltered housing complex.   more...

Southend: Knifeman robs shop

A woman shop worker was left shocked after a robber burst in brandishing a knife.   more...

Southend: Boss pledges better post service

An opposition party leader on Southend Council has renewed calls for a referendum on controversial plans to widen Priory Crescent.   more...

Southend: Man knocked out in attack

A man was left unconscious for five hours after an attacker jumped up and down on his chest during a horrific early morning assault in Southend.   more...

Cruisers fight back at out-of-town nuisances

Local cruisers have blasted claims that they are a menace to society and urged residents to get off their backs.   more...

Shoebury: Any Questions puts town on the map

Is Robert Mugabe getting away with murder? Have the courts become a playground for lawyers at the expense of justice for crime victims?   more...

Leigh: Gregory's toys for brave kids

The parents of brave cancer victim Gregory Culff made a moving gesture minutes after burying their five-year-old son.   more...

Southend: Busy time for lifeboat

Southend lifeboat was scrambled twice to rescue stranded sailors over the weekend.   more...

Rayleigh: Three hurt in A130 accident

A motorist and his two passengers were taken to hospital after their car rolled over on the A130 at Rayleigh.   more...

Rochford: Work need on leisure

Rochford District Council needs to develop "clear priorities" in its leisure services, according to a report by the Audit Commission.   more...

Essex,Southend Sport

Soccer: Newman demands decisions

Southend United manager Rob Newman will demand answers from the six players he has offered new contracts at a crunch Roots Hall meeting today.   more...

Get on your bike with Raleigh plan

Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre will host the Raleigh Challenge 2002 on March 23 (11am).   more...

Tennis: Girls make history

A quartet of girls from Leigh Tennis Club warmed to the Essex County LTA winter league by earning themselves a place in the history books.   more...

Soccer: Colton fires winner for Chalvedon

Chalvedon Boys reached their first ever Roots Hall cup final thanks to a Billy Colton goal against Outwood Common.   more...

Soccer: Southend United 0-0 Rochdale (Nationwide League Division Three)

The Blues made it three draws in a row as they held promotion-seeking Rochdale to a dull stalemate at Roots Hall.   more...

Soccer: Blues looked goal-shy, says boss

Southend United manager Rob Newman admitted his players rarely looked capable of conjuring a goal during Saturday's 0-0 Roots Hall draw with high-flying Rochdale.   more...

Soccer: Newman blasts players

Southend United boss Rob Newman launched a scathing attack on three of his star players ahead of tomorrow's Roots Hall clash with high-flying Rochdale.   more...

Tennis: Gaffe hands Lawn team a win bonus

Westcliff Lawn III turned a 4-2 points reverse into a 5-1 win thanks to an oversight by Westcliff Hard IV.   more...

Essex,Thurrock News

Thurrock: Council finds Gateway to benefits

Council leader Andy Smith has given members an update on how the authority's membership of the Thames Gateway has benefitted the borough.   more...

Tilbury: Skip service dropped

A neighbourhood in Tilbury is to lose its free rubbish skip service because of the callous behaviour of a section of the community.   more...

Grays: Accommodation plans for schoolhouse

A school is looking to boost teacher recruitment by building communal accommodation for staff on its campus.   more...

Chadwell St Mary: Sniper rifles found

Police are appealing for help after two .308 sniper rifles were discovered in a field behind flats in Chadwell St Mary.   more...

Grays: Mystery liquid scare

Police and fire crews cordoned off a road close to Grays town centre for several hours on Saturday after a mystery substance came up from the drains.   more...

Bulphan: Cycles stolen from lorry

Police are appealing for help after 16 £400 bicycles were stolen from a French lorry while the driver was asleep.   more...

Thurrock: Concerns over adult education funding

Changes to the way adult education is funded nationally has sparked concerns for the service in Thurrock.   more...

Grays: Man clubbed with wheel brace

Police are appealing for key witnesses to come forward to help them in the hunt for a man who carried out a brutal assault in a town centre.   more...

Tilbury: Father guilty of wounding

A father has been found guilty of unlawfully wounding a doorman at Tilbury Dock working men's club.   more...

Essex,Thurrock Sport

Soccer: Purfleet 3-2 Braintree (Ryman League Premier Division)

Captain Jimmy McFarlane clinched the Essex derby on Saturday yesterday with an injury time winner for Purfleet against Braintree Town.   more...

Soccer: Chesham United 3-5 Grays Athletic (Ryman League Premier Division)

Grays kept up their superb recent form, rocketting five past Chesham United in a Buckinghamshire goal spree.   more...

Soccer: Ryman League Round-Ups (Divisions Two and Three)

Great Wakering Rovers stayed third in Ryman Division Two with the top three all winning on Saturday.   more...

  
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