Stories for 12 April 2002

Basildon,Chelmsford,Colchester,Essex,Southend News

Essex: Police cash boost to fight crime

The fight against crime in Essex has been given a cash boost totalling roughly £250,000 by the Home Office.   more...

Basildon,Essex News

Basildon: Tributes to hit-and-run victim

Emotional tributes were today paid to an 82-year-old great-grandmother who was killed by a callous hit-and-run driver.   more...

Billericay: Leaders face up to growing discontent

Civic leaders today insisted Billericay Town Council still has a role in the town, despite mounting criticism it is a waste of taxpayers' money.   more...

Basildon: Motorists holding key to killer hunt

Police hunting the driver who killed Basildon widow Eileen West today targeted two motorists who could have crucial information.   more...

Basildon: Fears over stolen drugs

Police have warned parents and children to be on the lookout after more than 250 prescription pills were stolen from a house in Vange.   more...

Basildon: New bobbies on the beat boost

More bobbies will be pounding the Basildon beat if a new recruitment drive is successful, it has been revealed.   more...

Basildon,Essex Sport

Athletics: Eamonn's tips boost marathon man Nick

Basildon AC's Eamonn Martin could be celebrating London Marathon glory once again on Sunday night - this time as a coach.   more...

Soccer: Billericay in for Harrowing time

Billericay Town go into tomorrow's Ryman League Premier Division penultimate home game against Harrow Borough knowing that it's a match that has more significance for the opposition than themselves.   more...

Snooker: Bingham's race to return is in vain

Snooker pro Stuart Bingham's quick dash back from the Regal Scottish Masters to play for Executive A in the Vic Harris Snooker League team KO quarter-finals proved in vain.   more...

Basildon,Essex,Southend News

Castle Point: Fraud chiefs stop cheats

Fraud investigators have stopped housing benefit cheats tricking an estimated £100,000 out of Castle Point Council.   more...

Canvey: Mystery of broken leg death

An 81-year-old retired machinist died after suffering complications following a broken leg.   more...

Basildon,Essex,Southend Sport

Golf: Misses in the mist

After a misty start, youngsters taking part in the Essex girls fun competition at Hullbridge's Hanover Club enjoyed excellent conditions for golf.   more...

Soccer: King rallies Gulls for run-in

Canvey Island boss Jeff King has issued a "we've got three cup finals" rallying call to his players and fans on the eve of tomorrow's Ryman League Premier Division visit to draw specialists Basingstoke.   more...

Chelmsford,Essex News

Mid-Essex: Man dies in road tragedy

A man has died and three other people have been seriously injured in a road crash near Chelmsford.   more...

Chelmsford: Pro-hunting group campaigns

Supporters of hunting swung into action today in Chelmsford to launch a summer of campaigning to save the controversial sport.   more...

Roxwell: Wheel turns full circle for mill

Roxwell Mill faces demolition under proposals going before borough councillors next week.   more...

Chelmsford: Essex Radio moves in

Essex Radio, the county commercial station, is set to get its first centre in Chelmsford.   more...

Mid-Essex: Group keen to do more

The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers is seeking projects to help wildlife and communities in mid-Essex.   more...

Chelmsford,Essex Sport

Cricket: Essex's Grayson is all smiles

Paul Grayson had most to smile about as Essex squeezed a two-wicket victory against Middlesex at Chelmsford.   more...

Colchester,Essex News

Colchester: New scheme to spruce up town

A new-look car park is in the pipeline for a Colchester estate as part of £700,000 improvement plans.   more...

Colchester,Essex Sport

Soccer: Cynics will spur us on, says Burley

Ipswich Town's Titus Bramble is being linked with a summer move to Liverpool.   more...

Soccer: Shakers will hand out tough test

Crisis-torn Second Division strugglers Bury are certain to give Colchester United one of their toughest tests of the season when the two clubs meet at Gigg Lane tomorrow.   more...

Soccer: Ipswich set fair for Europe!

Ipswich Town can still qualify for next season's UEFA Cup despite their lowly position in the Premiership - thanks to their excellent disciplinary record.   more...

Essex Business

Clacton: Year's delay for care plan

Developmentof a prime site on Clacton seafront will not get under way for at least a year.   more...

Basildon: Sparks to fly at new college

Budding electricians in Basildon have had the route to their chosen career made significantly smoother with the opening of a new centre of excellence.   more...

Chelmsford: Big new contract for cable giant

Chelmsford's world-leading undersea cable communications company, Global Marine, has won a major new contract.   more...

Colchester: Casino plan for cinema

Colchester could be getting the first casino in north Essex, with the former Odeon cinema in the heart of the town centre as a possible venue for the scheme.   more...

South Essex: Traffic chaos looms as A127 shuts for weekend

Motorists are being warned of severe congestion when the A127 Southend Arterial Road closes this weekend and diversions put in place while work is done on the new A130 bypass bridge.   more...

Essex: New e-business club launched

A new club designed to 'unlock the potential of technology' for smaller businesses has been launched in the county.   more...

Nayland: Pub saved from closure

An historic pub believed to be the site of the last press gang in England has been bought up in a bid to save it from closure.   more...

South Essex: Cautious welcome to bridges plan from business

The prospect of a new Thames crossing opening up south Essex to the continent has been given a cautious welcome by the local business community.   more...

Canvey: Three-lane plan to stop A127 jams

Plans to widen the A127 to three lanes each way, costing £100m, could be favoured by Essex County Council over the long-awaited third road off of Canvey.   more...

Wickford: Grille peril for shoppers

Shoppers have been having to duck to visit a Wickford shopping centre after a security grille was ripped off its hinges.   more...

Essex: Juliet is new face on board

The organisation behind the supply of support services to small and medium-sized companies in Essex has unveiled the newest member of its board.   more...

Essex News

Stanway: Residents say no to travellers' site

Concerned residents turned out in force to make sure the message came across loud and clear that they do not want a travellers' site in Stanway.   more...

Blackmore: Minister escapes Israel bomb blast

The new minister of Blackmore Baptist Church has narrowly escaped death after a bomb blast in Israel.   more...

Braintree: Recovering Kelly hit by pneumonia

A teenager who had a bone marrow transplant and treatment for leukaemia has suffered a major setback on her road to recovery.   more...

Weeley: Police find body at station

The body of a man has been found next to a railway line near Weeley station.   more...

Braintree: Meal truck fire

Braintree firefighters had to be called out after a van delivering meals to a residential home in the town caught fire.   more...

Clacton: Vandals making lives a misery

Vandals have been making life a misery for residents in Clacton.   more...

Clacton: Cleaner stole cash from pensioner

A cleaner has been convicted of stealing cash from an 83-year-old woman.   more...

North Essex: Asylum centre for air base?

Stansted Airport and former RAF bases at Wethersfield and North Weald are the best sites for an asylum seekers removals centre, according to councillors who are threatened with it on their patch.   more...

Tendring: Clean-up blitz on illegal dumping

A zero tolerance policy is to be taken over illegal dumping across Tendring in a ground-breaking move.   more...

Clacton: Killer's bid to see son

An escaped murderer who is dying of cancer could be in Clacton in a last-ditch bid to see his teenage son.   more...

Braintree: Closure decision criticism

A headteacher has said Essex County Council's decision to close her school was taken before an inspector's report was published.   more...

Essex Obituaries

Quinton Winch (Colchester)

Former editor of the Essex County Standard and Colchester Gazette Quinton Winch has died. He was 96.   more...

Prim Osborn (Brightlingsea)

A familiar face in Brightlingsea sailing circles and the mother and mother-in-law of Olympic gold medallists, Prim Osborn has died. She was 87.   more...

Essex Sport

Soccer: Tough at top for Rovers

Having lost 3-1 to second-placed Lewes at home on Tuesday night, Great Wakering Rovers are likely to discover how tough life can be at the top tomorrow.   more...

Athletics: James ready for marathon event

Pounding the streets of London on Sunday will be Maldon runner James Knight.   more...

Essex,Southend News

Southend: Hearty thanks for helpers

Volunteers with a big heart have been recognised for their years of dedicated service in a Southend charity shop.   more...

Southend: Homeless families still on the increase

The number of homeless families in Southend increased again last year, prompting calls for the Government to spend more money on affordable housing.   more...

Southend: Appeal over gang rape

Police urgently want to speak to two young men who may have vital clues about the vicious gang rape of three teenage girls on Southend seafront.   more...

Westcliff: New clue halts inquest

A coroner has ordered a fresh investigation into the death of crash victim Joanna Martinson after hearing crucial evidence from a witness at an inquest.   more...

Southend: 'We'll seal off the seafront to traffic'

Southend's police commander has warned he will shut Southend seafront to traffic in a desperate effort to tackle cruisers and boy racers.   more...

Hockley: Twirl girls' prizes galore

Baton-twirlers from a Hockley majorette troupe are popping the champagne corks after storming to success in a national contest.   more...

Rochford: Chairman Sylvia dies

Tributes were today paid to Rochford District Council chairman Sylvia Lemon who has died after a brave battle against illness - just weeks before her term of office was due to end.   more...

Essex,Southend Sport

Soccer: Newman calls for last push

Southend United manager Rob Newman has ordered his players to finish off their Roots Hall season on a high against promotion hopefuls Shrewsbury Town.   more...

Tennis: Lawn enjoy the start of summer

The start of the Essex League summer season has seen mixed fortunes for south-east Essex teams.   more...

Tennis: Winter Cup joy for Bay

Thorpe Bay won Leigh and Westcliff LTA's Winter Mixed Cup for the first time with a thrilling final victory against reigning champions Kent Elms in a deciding set.   more...

Women's basketball: Swifts' fantastic four join England

Four members of Greensward College's talented basketball squad are in international action this weekend.   more...

Soccer: Newman gets all-clear for squad boosting

Southend United boss Rob Newman has been promised the means to strengthen his squad for a serious Third Division promotion bid next term.   more...

Essex,Thurrock News

Grays: Warden's attacker is freed

Security officer Graham Coulson, who injured a woman traffic warden, has won a fight against a four-month prison sentence.   more...

Thurrock: Talking Newspaper saved

The threat to the future of Thurrock's Talking Newspaper has been lifted following an appeal in the Thurrock Gazette   more...

South Ockendon: David's a big winner

A man from South Ockendon has been named runner-up in Chat magazine's Mr Fat 2002, a national competition that aimed to find Britain's sexiest fat bloke.   more...

Thurrock: Noise scuppers motocross scheme

Planners have rejected plans to create a moto-cross track next to the M25 just inside the Thurrock boundary because of the noise nuisance it would cause.   more...

Stanford-le-Hope: Nine achieve gold standard

Nine youngsters belonging to the St Clere's Duke of Edinburgh Awards Centre in Stanford-le-Hope have secured their gold awards.   more...

Brentwood, Thurrock: Gran's birthday bingo bonanza

A birthday dream has come true for a Brentwood grandmother who scooped a bumper £57,000 bingo win on her 58th birthday last week.   more...

Essex,Thurrock Sport

Soccer: Rocks keep rolling...

East Thurrock's performances over the past month have been one of the surprises of the season.   more...

Soccer: Thurrock rivalry is starting to hot up

The race for top Thurrock honours in the Ryman League Premier Division could hardly be closer.   more...

  
Restrict search to 12 April 2002