Stories for 25 January 2005

Basildon,Echo,Essex News

Basildon: War hero's battlefield return thanks to Lotto

War veteran William Cross is to return to the battlefront where he fought for freedom - thanks to a lottery grant.  more...

Billericay: Chemical spill scare at school

Firefighters spent more than four hours clearing up after a chemical spill in a school classroom.  more...

Basildon: "Good Samaritan killed by PC" - court told

A good Samaritan who stopped to help at a motorway smash was killed when he was hit by a car driven by an off-duty policeman, a court has heard.  more...

South Woodham: New pool opens after 30 year wait

The 30-year wait is finally over - South Woodham Ferrers's new £4million swimming pool is open for business.  more...

Billericay: School's plea for neighbour help to catch yobs

A school has written to its neighbours asking for help in catching teenage yobs plaguing the area.  more...

Basildon,Echo,Essex Sport

Athletics: Southend High School for Boys' sponsorship plea

Southend High School for Boys have achieved one of their highest honours yet to celebrate their magnificent successes on the athletics front.  more...

Rugby: Southend climb hopes dashed

Southend's hopes of climbing back into the top half of the National Division Three South table were dashed 27-21 in a topsy-turvy clash at Hertford on Saturday.  more...

Football: Rovers run under threat

Great Wakering Rovers might find it tough tonight when they bid to increase their unbeaten Southern League Division One East unbeaten run, which currently stands at six games.  more...

Football: Bart wanted Robins reunion

Southend United goalkeeper Bart Griemink admitted today he is gutted to be missing out on the Shrimpers' clash against Swindon Town at Roots Hall tonight.  more...

Chelmsford News

Essex: Drink binge cost £10,000

An operation to rescue a man who got drunk in a remote part of the Dengie cost up to £10,000.  more...

Essex Business

Stansted: Easyjet signs on £30m repair deal

Easyjet has signed a £30 million contract to cover the engine maintenance of a number of its 737 aircraft.   more...

Eveninggazette News

Parkeston: Oil refinery bought out

A major oil refinery has been sold in a multi-million pound deal.   more...

Walton, Frinton: Police base set for renovation

The search for a new base for police patrolling Frinton and Walton could be abandoned, it has been revealed.   more...

Braintree: 25 arrested in purge on shoplifters

A blitz on shoplifting at Braintree Freeport has resulted in 25 arrests.   more...

Colchester: Pensioner dies in house fire

A bedridden pensioner has become the fifth person to die in a house fire in Essex this year.   more...

Braintree, Witham: Sex on school agenda

Sixth-formers are teaching sex education to younger pupils as part of an innovative teaching programme.   more...

Witham: Jack set to retire ... at 83

Many younger people today worry about being forced to work past the current retirement age.   more...

Chelmsford, Clacton: Man drove car with two men on bonnet

A man drove through a busy town centre with two men sitting on his car bonnet, a court heard.   more...

Colchester: Jealous man attacked girlfriend

A man punched his girlfriend and held a knife to her throat after a Christmas Day row, magistrates heard.   more...

Harwich: Handing out a little poetic justice for schoolchildren

Poetic justice will see a policeman help organise an anti-crime project he took part in as a child.   more...

Tendring: No pubs seeking 24-hour licences

Pubs and clubs in Tendring will not be looking to open up 24 hours a day when drinking laws are relaxed.   more...

Walton, Frinton: Crew's delight as £800k refit complete

A town's lifeboat is operating from its new, £800,000 modern berthing facility.   more...

Colchester: Chariot racing to make comeback

Ben Hur eat your heart out! It's taken 1,700 years, but chariot racing is coming back to Colchester.   more...

Colchester: Mum jailed after struggle with police

A mother has been jailed despite her lawyer making an emotional plea to allow her freedom.   more...

Witham: Zebra is an expensive animal

Highways bosses have explained why installing a zebra crossing could cost taxpayers up to £22,000.   more...

Witham: Uproar over 450 new homes plan

Proposals to build 450 more new homes south of Witham have caused uproar at a council meeting   more...

Braintree: Teachers forced to leave, claim

A long-serving Braintree College lecturer has chosen to take voluntary redundancy because of the way he believes staff have been treated.   more...

Braintree: Club protest to FA over racial abuse

A football club chairman has spoken out for the first time following alleged racial abuse aimed at one of his players.   more...

Colchester: Hunt for thief who took shop cash

Detectives are hunting a thief who sneaked into the back of a shop and grabbed bags of money.   more...

Mid-Essex: Quit smoking with your mobile's help

Mobile phone text messages are about to take on a whole new level by helping support people who are quitting smoking.   more...

Colchester: Pensioner dies in house fire

A bedridden pensioner has become the fifth person to die in a house fire this year.   more...

Eveninggazette Sport

Rugby Union: Mersea Island 14-41 Westcliff (Powergen London League Division Four North East)

A gutsy, spirited performance from the Islanders was not quite enough to turn over a very confident Westcliff side.   more...

Soccer: Miller on a mission to impress

Tommy Miller is desperate for Ipswich Town to fulfil their promotion ambitions this season - so he has the chance to prove himself on the big stage.   more...

Soccer: Horlock -'We have to be tighter'

Kevin Horlock felt his Ipswich Town side should have been more professional after squandering two points at Reading.   more...

Athletics: Denise's delightful season

Denise Morley has had a season to remember since becoming a veteran in June.   more...

Soccer: Sheedy plots happy return

Mark Kinsella will not allow an emotional return to Layer Road get in the way of three points tonight.   more...

Southend,Echo,Essex News

Southend: "Southend to lose its soul" - councillor warns

A senior Southend councillor has condemned planned cuts to the arts, tourism, special events and marketing team as "leaving Southend devoid of a soul."  more...

Shoebury: Urgent sea wall repairs to protect hundreds from flooding

Major repair work costing at least £200,000 has been launched on the Shoebury Garrison sea wall to protect hundreds of homes from flooding.  more...

Southend: Businessman vows to make hotel "world class"

A businessman today told of his £2 million plans to transform his hotel into a world class venue capable of catering for the massive expansion of Southend Airport expected by late 2006.  more...

Rochford/Rayleigh: Car parking charges set to soar

Traders reacted with fury today to news that car parking charges in Rayleigh and Rochford town centres are set to rocket.  more...

Southend: Prison for two men who left victim brain damaged

A 21-YEAR-old was today starting a four-year jail term for his part in a violent attack which left a man with brain damage and multiple injuries.  more...