Stories for 3 November 2005

Echo News

Billericay: Society backs town centre traffic scheme

ONE of Billericay's oldest community groups has given its backing to a controversial traffic experiment being carried out in the town centre.  more...

South Ockendon: Court after road smash

A MAN arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a car smash involving his wife and her baby on board was due to appear before magistrates today.  more...

Echo,Basildon News

Basildon: £10k for chief's mission

TAX payers look set to foot the bill for council bosses to jet out on trips to Sri Lanka as part of mercy missions for Asian tsunami victims.  more...

Basildon: Stolen digger found near A127

A POLICE man hunt was sparked after a stolen digger was traced to a field off the A127 near Basildon.  more...

Echo,Southend News

Benfleet: Store at Tarpots approved

A MAJOR supermarket has finally succeeded in its bid to open a store in Benfleet.  more...

Westcliff: High school old boy moves up after Blunkett resigns

WESTCLIFF High School old boy John Hutton is to take over from Work and Pensions Secretary David Blunkett.  more...

Southend: Trying to stop a car thief? Create a jam!

CRIMINALS in cars may soon be snared in traffic jams deliberately created by police to prevent them escaping, the Echo can reveal.  more...

Southend: Council's £250,000 pier bill

CASH-STRAPPED Southend Council has been forced to find £250,000 to help rebuild the fire ravaged pier.  more...

Wakering: Rival bus firm to run village route

VILLAGERS on the fringes of Southend have been rescued from potential isolation after another bus firm stepped in to take over a service abandoned by Arriva.  more...

Prittlewell: Saxon king's grave yields its final treasure

AN iron lamp that used beeswax as fuel is the latest - and possibly last - treasure to be unveiled from the burial site of Prittlewell's Saxon King.  more...

Echo,Thurrock News

Grays: New register office's first gay `marriage'

A new register office will open this month - with Thurrock's first gay "marriage" to follow soon after.  more...

Stanford-le-Hope: Unit to help mums

A PRE-SCHOOL has unveiled plans to open a new baby unit to help new mothers return to work.  more...

Essex Business

Seamen enjoy a whistlestop tour of Essex

ESSEX played host to the officers and crew of a Polish naval vessel on Thursday, in an international friendship exercise organised by Haven Gateway Partnership.  more...

Eveninggazette News

Chelmsford: DNA company's director resigns

The director of a firm at the centre of a Government ministerial scandal has resigned.   more...

Ramsey: Pavement damage angers residents

Angry residents have seen their pavement crushed - only weeks after it was first fixed.   more...

Tendring: Roadshow bid to pull in crowds

A new crowd-pulling music event is being lined-up to replace the Radio One roadshow on the Tendring coast.   more...

Kelvedon: Woman airlifted after crash

A woman was airlifted to hospital after an accident on the A12 at Kelvedon.   more...

Walton: Poppy volunteers are ready for Remembrance Day

Up to ten volunteers are taking it in turns to man a poppy shop in the lead-up to Remembrance Day.   more...

Colchester: Fish exhibit has plenty of bite

This is one exhibit you don't want to touch.   more...

Wethersfield: Home sought for silly billy Willy

A loving but watchful home is needed for an escape artist billy goat.   more...

Dovercourt: Robbery at gunpoint

Armed robbers tied up a pub worker at gunpoint after stealing cash from the safe.   more...

Witham: Tesco to use the force?

Magnetic force fields could be set up around a supermarket in Witham in a bid to stop the town being blighted by dumped shopping trolleys.   more...

Braintree: School hair ban on girls

A mother today criticised a school for ordering her children out of class to take braids out of their hair.   more...

Colchester: Boy racer haven 'is now a lake'

Bemused motorists claim a crackdown on boy-racers backfired after it turned a car park into a boating lake.   more...

Maldon: Getting to bare bones of lesson

Youngsters have explored big foreign bugs as part of a Science Week.   more...

Witham: Need an NHS dentist? 2,000 places free

Thousands of NHS dentist placements are up for grabs in Witham, bucking the national shortage trend.   more...

Eveninggazette Sport

Cricket: Academy hope for stars of future

Cricketing stars of the future could be honing their skills at an exciting new centre of excellence in Colchester.   more...

Soccer: Derby County 3-3 Ipswich Town (Coca Cola Championship)

It's been a stop-start season for Ipswich Town hero Matt Richards.   more...

Soccer: Bowditch praises Richards

Matt Richards was the unlikely hero as Ipswich Town fought back to snatch a dramatic 3-3 draw at Derby County.   more...

Soccer: Point was fair at Pride Park, says Royle

Joe Royle admitted a draw was the right result as he reflected on a night of high drama at Pride Park.   more...

Soccer: Banana-skin warning

'Beware of the giant banana-skin' - club captain Karl Duguid will be shouting that loud and clear to his Colchester United team-mates as they prepare to take on non-league minnows Leamington in Saturday's FA Cup first round.   more...

Southend,Echo,Essex Sport

Treble setback for Essex boys

THE three local players all suffered defeats as Essex's under 18 boys endured a 6-3 loss at the hands of the County professionals in their annual match at Braintree.  more...

Stimmo: Freddy can hit heights

GRAYS Athletic manager Mark Stimson believes Southend United striker Freddy Eastwood is good enough to work his way into the Premiership.  more...

Eagle eager to end cup curse

SOUTHEND defender Andy Edwards is determined to shatter his FA Cup jinx at Underhill on Saturday.  more...

World double for banger racer Fuller

BANGER racing driver Matt Fuller is on top of the world after steering himself to two fantastic titles.  more...

Jason races past his Rudy rivals

DESPITE having only competed in a handful of events, cyclist Jason White captured two Rudy Project time trial titles by racing away from his rivals in Goodwood.  more...

Pardew inks new Irons contract

WEST HAM boss Alan Pardew is hoping continuity will take his side to new levels after signing an extended contract until 2010 at Upton Park.  more...

Thurrock News

Former leader is axed

FORMER Thurrock Council leader Andy Smith is the latest established name to fall following the Labour party's earlier purge of elected members, described as a debacle by one of the axed councillors.  more...

School sites plan withdrawn

PLANS to build two special schools on greenbelt land in Grays have been thrown out after rebel Tory councillors refused to toe the party line and endorse the development amid shambolic scenes in Thurock Council chamber.  more...

Thurrock Sport

Stansted's Tilbury return after abandonment

TILBURY, held to a disappointing goalless Essex Floodlight League draw at Hullbridge Sports on Tuesday, entertain Stansted in the Essex Senior Leagueon Saturday.  more...

Derby for Millers

AVELEY, who are very much on the up after two Southern League Division One East wins on the bounce at Mill Field, travel across the river for a derby with Dartford at Gravesend on Saturday.  more...

O'Connor departs

THURROCK will be looking to continue their climb up the Conference South league table with a trip to Hayes on Saturday.  more...

Rocks travel

AFTER a rare mid-week without a game East Thurrock United are back in Ryman Premier League action on Saturday when they travel to promtion hopefuls, Staines Town, who sit in fourth.  more...