Stories for 20 March 2002

Basildon,Essex News

Laindon: Couple offer reward for stolen parrot

A bereft couple have offered a £200 reward for the safe return of their pet parrot after it was stolen from a West Horndon bird shop where it was being boarded.   more...

Wickford: Marathon bid to beat the butties

Policeman Alan Ratnage is determined to give up the bacon butties and pint down the pub to do his bit for asthma sufferers.   more...

Laindon: Police appeal in hunt for Anita's murderer

Detectives hunting the killer of a Laindon woman have today made a renewed appeal for information.   more...

Basildon: Make a splash to raise cash for cancer fund

Swimmers are beginning a sponsored event at Basildon's Gloucester Park swimming pool to raise money for the MacMillan Cancer Relief Fund.   more...

Billericay: Judge dismisses phone box thief's appeal

A phone box thief who claimed hundreds of 10p and 20p pieces found in his pockets were from his piggy bank failed to have his conviction overturned.   more...

Basildon: £20m cost of keeping Towngate open

Nearly £20m has been poured into Basildon's ailing Towngate Theatre since it was built, it has emerged.   more...

Basildon: Pupils walk to cut chaos

A Basildon school has pledged its support for a walk to school week to reduce traffic and make children healthier.   more...

Pitsea: Mercedes stolen at petrol station

Car thieves are targeting drivers who leave their top-of-the-range cars unlocked, it has been revealed.   more...

Basildon,Essex,Southend Business

Benfleet, Basildon: Rags to riches award for brothers

Brothers Vijay and Bhikhu Patel have scooped a top accolade at the Asian Business Awards in recognition of their remarkable "rags to riches" tale.   more...

Basildon,Essex,Southend News

Canvey: School denies any shortage of staff

A school has denied it was operating amid a teaching crisis despite moves to recruit seven new members of staff.   more...

Castle Point: Private meeting ban fury

A bitter war of words has erupted over access to a controversial committee looking into the future of council-owned assets in Castle Point.   more...

Chelmsford,Colchester,Essex News

Essex: Two health authorities slammed

Two Essex health authorities were today criticised for "failing to provide an adequate service" to critically ill patients.   more...

Chelmsford,Essex News

Chelmsford: Man survives 50ft fall from car park

A man who plummeted 50ft from the top of a multi-storey car park had a "remarkable escape" from death.   more...

Chelmsford, Brentwood: Show goes on after close shave

Chelmsford Irish dancers stole the show at a charity event in Brentwood - just hours after they were involved in a pile-up on the A12.   more...

Colchester,Essex News

Lexden: Gnomes mystery for Anita

There really is no place like gnome for Anita Morris, who has received some surprise house guests.   more...

Colchester: McDonalds worker grabbed

Police are hunting two men and a woman who assaulted a member of staff at McDonald's.   more...

Colchester: Woman ill before crash

A woman who died after she was taken ill while driving and was involved in a crash suffered a brain haemorrhage, a post-mortem examination found.   more...

Colchester: Mum's fury as car just misses son

A mother has slammed careless motorists after her five-year-old son came within inches of a moving car outside his school.   more...

Maldon, Colchester: Ex-MP Lord Wakeham quits PCC

Former Maldon MP Lord Wakeham has stepped down permanently as head of the press watchdog, the Press Complaints Commission in the wake of the scandal over the collapse of energy giant Enron.   more...

Colchester: MP forces debate on Afghan troop deployment

North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin forced the Government to squeeze a three-hour emergency debate on the war in Afghanistan into its schedule.   more...

Colchester,Essex Sport

Soccer: Holland's nine-point target

Matt Holland has set Ipswich Town a target of three wins to beat the Premiership drop.   more...

Soccer: Duo offered U's deal

Colchester United boss Steve Whitton has offered professional contracts to two of his young players.   more...

Soccer: Burley's target stays the same

George Burley believes struggling Ipswich Town still need to accumulate 40 points in their quest to avoid relegation from the Premiership.   more...

Soccer: U's consider Knight move

Oxford United keeper Richard Knight was set to play for Colchester United reserves today as part of a deal that could take Andy Woodman the other way.   more...

Essex Business

Essex: Green ways up for awards

Essex companies going out of their way to safeguard the environment are in with a chance of earning the recognition of a national award.   more...

Rettendon: One stop shop for poultry

Rettendon Common poultry housing company Maywick is to show its latest equipment at the British Pig and Poultry Fair.   more...

Maldon: Buyer's plans for old hotel

A 400-year-old hotel is set to take a step back in time after finding a new owner.   more...

Southend: Jumpin' Jaks eyes up New Empire

Southend's New Empire Theatre could be transformed into a Jumpin' Jaks nightspot, it has been confirmed.   more...

Essex: Summit to bridge the skills gap

The shortage of skilled workers in Essex is set to come under the microscope at a specially arranged summit tomorrow.   more...

Essex: New coach link to airport

A new hourly coach link between Colchester and Stansted Airport, via Braintree, is being introduced on Monday.   more...

Tendring: Workers threaten action over deal

Town Hall manual workers are threatening to work to rule claiming they are not getting a fair deal.   more...

Basildon, Stansted: Heating firm is set for take off

The crisis-ridden airline industry is a chilly place to be right now but, thanks to an Essex company, there is at least one place where even the most put-upon executive will feel cosy and warm.   more...

Southend: Champion's popular

The launch of Business Champions Network has been welcomed by the Southend business community.   more...

Essex News

Dovercourt: Student's appeal to thief

Students Andrew Walker has appealed for help after thieves stole his A-level coursework - which has to be in by the end of the week.   more...

Great Wakering: Booyaka! Kellie's role in Ali G film

Big it up! Talented Kellie Bright will be keeping it real for Great Wakering as Ali G's girlfriend MeJulie in his eagerly-awaited film IndaHouse, which hits cinema screens on Friday.   more...

Maldon: Fantasia tickets on sale

Tickets for this summer's Prom Fantasia have gone on sale.   more...

Hutton: Residents grateful to flats blaze hero

The heroism of one man helped evacuate a blazing block of flats in Hutton and prevent a disaster.   more...

Alresford: Life for stab murder wife

A mother from Alresford has been jailed for life for stabbing her common-law husband to death.   more...

Harwich: Beach visitors leaving rubbish

Visitors to Harwich beach create five times more rubbish than visitors to a neighbouring resort, it has been revealed.   more...

Maldon: Anti-bully youths awarded High Sheriff's prize

Primary school children in Maldon have been learning why bullying in school is a no-no and how to stamp it out.   more...

Braintree: Council supports beleaguered school

A council has pledged to continue to support an axe-threatened school.   more...

Ardleigh: Newsagent threatened with knife by robber

A robber threatened a newsagent with a knife to get cash.   more...

Great Wakering: Buses axe discussed

A public meeting has been arranged to discuss Arriva's plans to withdraw the evening bus service to and from Great Wakering.   more...

Essex Sport

Soccer: Harwich and Parkeston 1-2 Great Wakering Rovers (East Anglian Cup)

Two of Wakering's lesser-known lights rose to glory last night to carry the village side into the group final of the East Anglian Cup.   more...

Soccer: Swift help from neighbours for Tiptree

Tiptree United have found help forthcoming from an unlikely source in their bid to land FA Carlsberg Vase glory - neighbours Heybridge Swifts.   more...

Soccer: Great Yarmouth Town 1-0 Clacton Town (Jewson League Premier Division)

Clacton boss Mick Potter saw his side 'massacre' the opposition but they still went down to a single goal.   more...

Soccer: Boreham Wood 1-2 Braintree Town (Ryman League Premier Division)

Ben Embery breathed a sigh of relief as a Steve Goode injury-time strike ended Braintree's recent nightmare run.   more...

Essex,Southend News

Southend: `Fiasco' as roof leaks hit surgery

Surgery has repeatedly been cancelled at an Eastwood clinic because a leaking roof means the operating room may not be sterile.   more...

Rochford: Council gets tough on dog fouling problem

Tough new laws to crack down on dog fouling in Rochford, including £25 spot fines, are due to come into force within the next couple of months.   more...

Southend: Pranksters glue up gates on seafront

Special measures designed to tackle seafront cruisers in Southend have been sabotaged - by a super-strength glue.   more...

Leigh: Head in child porn probe cleared

A headteacher arrested on suspicion of possessing child porn on a school computer was today cleared by police.   more...

Shoebury: Hunt for superstore's grinning purse thief

A brazen thief grinned at his elderly victim and taunted her moments after he snatched her purse in a Shoebury superstore.   more...

Southend: Cabinets on display

An exhibition showing designer art cabinets will be on display at Southend Library from today.   more...

Southend: Curtain to fall on Empire theatre

Southend's New Empire Theatre could be forced to shut to make way for a new nightclub.   more...

Essex,Southend Sport

Soccer: Gay wants number one jersey

Young Southend United goalkeeper Daniel Gay has admitted he wants to keep a tight hold on the number one Roots Hall jersey.   more...

Soccer: Big Nev stars at coaching course

There's a special bonus for goalkeepers attending the soccer courses being run by Sportacular at Westcliff High School during the Easter and Summer school holidays.   more...

Soccer: Second string Blues face Luton

Southend United's reserves took on Luton Town at home today in the Avon Insurance Combination League, kick-off 2pm.   more...

Diving: Silver success for Karen

Diver Karen Smith put recent illness firmly behind her as she claimed silver in the first leg of the GB team's World Grand Prix circuit tour.   more...

Yachting: Olympic plaque honour for club

Thorpe Bay Yacht Club received the Olympic seal of approval for their youth training scheme.   more...

Soccer: Lockwood re-signs for O's

Southend-based full-back Matthew Lockwood has signed a new two-year contract with Leyton Orient.   more...

Athletics: Battling Pascal is GB star again

Southend's Pascal Craymer has put a nightmare year behind her to recapture her place on the British junior gymnastics squad.   more...

Essex,Southend,Thurrock Sport

Athletics: Hickey gets national call-up

Southend High School's Adam Hickey gained the recognition all athletes crave when he capped another outstanding cross-country season by winning international recognition.   more...

Essex,Thurrock News

Grays: Parking problems stay un-aired

People at the central area assembly in Grays had hoped to focus on the public transport and parking problems surrounding Orsett and Basildon Hospitals.   more...

Thurrock: Talking Newspaper needs volunteers

Thurrock Talking Newspaper desperately needs help if it is to continue providing a vital link between visually impaired people and the community.   more...

Thurrock: Rules may force referendum on mayor

Thurrock Council could be forced to hold a referendum on whether to have a US-style directly elected mayor, it has been revealed.   more...

Essex,Thurrock Sport

Athletics: Bangs beats the rest

If Thurrock Harriers didn't perform quite as well as expected in the team competition they at least had the individual star at the Essex Road Relay championships on Saturday.   more...

  
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