Stories for 19 March 2002

Basildon,Essex News

Basildon: Alert on town centre `purse dippers'

Elderly shoppers have been warned to keep an eye on their handbags after a series of "purse dippers" struck in the town centre.   more...

Laindon: Anita's pal tells of brutal death shock

A former workmate of murder victim Anita Gordon has told of her shock at hearing of the 57-year-old Laindon woman's brutal death.   more...

Basildon: An internet directory of volunteers

The Basildon, Billericay and Wickford voluntary service is set to create an internet-based directory of all the organisations operating in the district.   more...

Basildon: Denise is a Broadway babe now

A smiling Denise Van Outen took a bow at the end of her Broadway debut last night in the hit production Chicago.   more...

Basildon: Open day at rabbit centre

Children and adults are being invited to go bunny mad during an open day at a Basildon rabbit rescue centre.   more...

Wickford: 'NHS gave up on my daughter'

A determined mother has slammed the National Health Service after her cancer-stricken daughter was sent home from hospital to die - but has now been told in Germany she can be cured.   more...

Basildon: Elderly couple may hold clue in kidnapper hunt

Detectives in Basildon have urged four witnesses to come forward in a fresh attempt to catch a violent kidnapper who subjected his victim to a terrifying ordeal.   more...

Wickford: Driver escapes as car is crushed

A motorist had a lucky escape after gales blew down a tree in Wickford - straight onto his car.   more...

Basildon,Essex Sport

Soccer: Second time lucky for Gulls?

A second attempt at staging the Essex Senior Cup semi-final between Dr Martens League Chelmsford City and Ryman League Premier Division leaders Canvey Island will be made, weather permitting, at Billericay Town's New Lodge ground tomorrow night.   more...

Darts: 24-hour marathon for brave Jessica

Eight darts supremos aimed for more than the highest score during a 24-hour marathon game at a Bowers Gifford pub.   more...

Snooker: Stuart on cue for a second big break

Basildon's Stuart Bingham is feeling on top of the snooker world after qualifying for the main stages of the sport's World Championships for the second time.   more...

Rugby: Brentwood 20 - 12 Basildon (London Three)

Basildon blew a chance to close the gap on leaders Shelford with a disappointing display on Brentwood's notorious slope.   more...

Snooker: Team drop ace Stuart

Basildon snooker star Stuart Bingham may have won through to the main stages of the Embassy World Championship for the second time in his career -- but he is out of the Executive Club line-up in the Vic Harris League.   more...

Basildon,Essex,Southend News

Benfleet: Guest TV spot for Louise lookalike

Meet the girl who had dinner with Hannibal Lecter and lived to tell the tale.   more...

Basildon,Essex,Southend,Thurrock News

South Essex: MPs join in hunt ban vote

South Essex politicians sent a strong message to the House of Lords as they joined MPs calling for an outright ban on fox hunting.   more...

Chelmsford,Colchester,Essex Sport

Cricket: Essex jump to it - NOW!

This just isn't cricket. After all, it's not often Essex County Cricket Club's squad have to scale a 12 foot wall as part of its training.   more...

Chelmsford,Essex News

Chelmsford: Burns' mast scepticism

Chelmsford MP Simon Burns is not convinced by government assurances about telephone communication masts near schools.   more...

Chelmsford: Bus driver is blaze hero

A mystery bus driving hero helped stop a house burning to the ground.   more...

Chelmsford,Essex Sport

Cricket: Such a nice gesture

Former England test cricketer and Essex star Peter Such opened a new children's charity shop in Chelmsford.   more...

Colchester,Essex News

Colchester: New scheme to sell land

New plans are set to be submitted in a school's bid to benefit pupils and the local community by selling off disused land.   more...

Colchester: Threat to pre-school searching for home

A Colchester pre-school could be moving out of its home to make way for an educational support unit for youngsters.   more...

Colchester: Anti-smoking clinics for children at school

A Colchester school is battling the problem of students smoking by offering a confidential clinic to get them to quit.   more...

Colchester: Police in picture appeal

This man could hold the key to a rape of a 68-year-old in Colchester town centre.   more...

Colchester: Catholic school turns pupils away

Roman Catholic pupils are being turned away from a church school unless they have a reference letter from a priest.   more...

Colchester: Shaping science teaching

A Colchester student could help shape the way science is taught in future.   more...

Colchester: Johnny does it his way

When it comes to maths, Colchester schoolchildren and their teachers got the best man for the job.   more...

Colchester: MP's delight at St Helena victory

Residents of the South Atlantic island of St Helena have won back the right of British citizenship 20 years after it was withdrawn in a campaign backed by Colchester MP Bob Russell.   more...

Colchester,Essex Sport

Soccer: Is Woodman leaving U's?

Has Andy Woodman played his last game in goal for Colchester United?   more...

Soccer: U's boost as duo commit

Colchester United's quest for Second Division safety has been boosted by news that U's duo Kemal Izzet and Simon Brown have signed new deals with the club.   more...

Soccer: Brown to stay away

Ipswich Town defender Wayne Brown has revealed that he's keen to stay at Watford.   more...

Essex Business

Essex: Race for cancer relief

Business people across Essex are being urged to start limbering up for this summer's Race for Business event.   more...

Harwich: Talks to get more tourists in town

Talks are set to take place to encourage more tourists to Harwich.   more...

Colchester: Market opens again

Colchester's cattle market reopened today after more than a year's break.   more...

Essex: Wheel help for firms

Essex businesses struggling to make themselves more welcoming to disabled customers in time for a looming Government clampdown can now call on the help of two experts.   more...

Essex: Charity's plea to builders

Essex-based builders and engineers are being urged to help with environmental, community and adventure projects in the third world.   more...

Basildon, Thurrock: Hunt for urban work and wealth heroes

A national competition highlighting the success of inner city businesses has been expanded to Basildon and Thurrock firms for the first time.   more...

Southend: Bank will check out as a pub...

A former bank in Southchurch is set for a new lease of life as a traditional pub, thanks to a leading entrepreneur.   more...

Essex: New initative for online trade

A new initative to help small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) take advantage of eCommerce opportunities is to be launched in the county.   more...

Essex: Export help is at hand

The might of the British diplomatic service has been mobilised in support of Essex export rookies looking to tap into the £100bn European market for the first time.   more...

Essex: Bosses in U-turn on teachers' strike pay

Education bosses have performed an embarrassing U-turn and reversed controversial advice on teachers' strike pay, it has emerged.   more...

Essex: Bank group's faith in Essex man

A major international banking group is describing the appointment of its Essex chief as the first step in a campaign to corner the county's business and corporate banking market.   more...

Essex Live Music

Live Music round-up: Johnny's Rock 'n' Roll Raiders

STOP PRESS: V2002 line-up announced. For more information see www.v2002.info   more...

Essex News

Mistley: Bunker sale deal heads for courts

The new owners of a popular tourist attraction in Mistley could be decided in court.   more...

Clacton: Ready for royal visitor

Gardening volunteers have been busy putting the finishing touches to a Clacton hospice's garden in time for a royal visit.   more...

Blake End: Woman taken to hospital after accident

A woman was taken to hospital with whiplash when two vehicles were in collision at Blake End.   more...

Parkeston: Lee gets his star turn at last

"And tonight, Matthew, I'm going to be ..."   more...

Alresford: Care home evacuated after crash

A home for people with learning difficulties was evacuated after a car hit its front wall.   more...

Wivenhoe: We can go alone says councillor

A Riverside town could try to form a breakaway authority if it continues to be "treated with disdain" by Colchester borough.   more...

Dovercourt, Harwich: Rail warning to children

Police today warned children to stay away from railway lines after youngsters were spotted playing by a track.   more...

Hatfield Peverel: Raid ends with man locked up

A man has been locked up after a police raid on his home netted 130 ecstasy pills.   more...

Stansted Mountfichet: Phantom flickers at castle

An exorcist rather than an electrician may be called in to deal with flashing lights at an Essex castle as staff fear ghostly goings-on.   more...

Kirby, Walton: Boxing clever to boost guide dogs fund

Celebrity items and memorabilia will come under the hammer to raise money for a charity to help the blind.   more...

Southend: Bogus callers spark alert

Bogus callers have been targeting victims in Southend once more under the pretence of being electricity maintenance men.   more...

Lawford: Rubbish tip might open extra hour

A village rubbish tip could be open longer in a bid to deal with the county's waste.   more...

Fairstead: Gun thugs shoot Garfie the cat

A cat is lucky to be alive after being shot in the eye by cruel thugs with an air rifle.   more...

Weeley: Concerns raised over GM food trial

Worried residents are to launch a petition following a proposed GM crop trial in a Tendring village.   more...

Essex Sport

Basketball: Hockley retain national title

Hockley's Greensward College girls produced an excellent display of team basketball to win the English Schools' national under-19 final for the second year running.   more...

Soccer: Defence hold the key for Clacton

The Seasiders travel to Great Yarmouth in the Jewson League Premier Division tonight looking to extend their excellent away record.   more...

Essex,Southend News

Southend: Seaside trip ends in attack

A family day out on Southend seafront turned into a nightmare for a young girl who was victimised by a group of people while her sister was beaten.   more...

Leigh: New plans revealed for old police station

Leigh police station could be turned into a "one stop shop" after a new £2m super-station is built, if town councillors get their way.   more...

Southend: Girl tells of dart terror

A teenage girl has told of her terror after a dart was thrown at her from a block of flats in Southend.   more...

Southend: Extractor fan fire drama

A woman was counting the cost today after she switched on an extractor fan in her bathroom - only for the machine to catch fire.   more...

Southend: Youngsters book in for fun

Youngsters were shown the joys of reading by a television cartoon character as a Southend book shop celebrated World Book Day.   more...

Shoebury, Leigh: Pranksters put lives at risk

Thoughtless pranksters making malicious calls to emergency services could be putting lives at risk, firefighters have warned.   more...

Essex,Southend Sport

Soccer: Charities cashing in

Southend United and West Ham have both been busy donating FA-allocated money to good causes.   more...

Soccer: Kinnear denies interest in Maher

Third Division championship chasers Luton Town have denied any interest in Southend United's midfield contract rebel Kevin Maher.   more...

Soccer: Blues boss plotting major surgery

Southend United boss Rob Newman has confirmed he is already gearing up for a major overhaul of his first team squad.   more...

Rugby: Southend 58 - 17 Old Verulamians (London Two)

Promotion-chasing Southend avenged their opening day loss to Old Boys in no uncertain terms.   more...

Essex,Thurrock News

Stanford-le-Hope: Basement flat fire drama

Firefighters battled for more than 90 minutes to bring a blaze under control in the basement flat of a house in Corringham Road, Stanford-le-Hope.   more...

Essex,Thurrock Sport

Rugby: Thurrock 72 - 7 Met Police (London Two)

Thurrock made it six wins out of seven in London Two by laying down the law at Oakfield.   more...

  
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