Stories for 1 December 2005

Echo,Basildon News

Billericay: Schools welcome Oriental guests

TWO Billericay schools welcomed a group of Chinese headteachers during a special visit to share teaching philosophies.  more...

Pitsea: Charity's last day of help

BASILDON'S Crossroads charity was holding its last ever carers information day at the Pitsea Leisure Centre today.  more...

Basildon: Glimmer of hope over waste plan

HOPES were today rising that Basildon may be saved from a huge waste plant after Tories hinted at a change of heart.  more...

Basildon: Wait till spring to see grand design

BOSSES in charge of the £18.5million revamp of the rundown Craylands estate in Basildon say a development "masterplan" will be available next spring.  more...

Laindon: Festive fun is a real gas

HIGH-powered Christmas frolics were the order of the day for pupils at a Laindon school.  more...

Pitsea: Landowners in dark over rail waste plan

LANDOWNERS who identified their Pitsea site as a possible home for hundreds of travellers today admitted they were "unaware" their land was also earmarked to take millions of tonnes of Crossrail waste.  more...

Echo,Southend News

Southend: Christiana's new mission

GREEN campaigner Christiana Tugwell and her young son Aaron have joined the "Camp Bling" anti-road protest.  more...

Rayleigh: Charity shop is a winner

THE Little Havens Charity Shop in Rayleigh High Street has won the top prize in this year's best dressed window competition.  more...

Leigh: No action over wrecked cottage

A COMPANY which demolished a 19th century cottage in Old Leigh conservation area without permission will not be hit with any enforcement action.  more...

Southend: `Too early' to approve scheme

COUNCILLORS have refused to agree a multimillion pound scheme to rejuvenate Southend seafront.  more...

Southend: Roller doors row may close theatre

CLAIMS were today made that another Southend theatre could face its final curtain after a decision by council bosses.  more...

Thundersley: Joe's charity concert plan

A YOUNG pianist is preparing for his own charity concert.  more...

Eveninggazette News

Colchester: Forgery suspect is on wanted list

A man linked to Colchester has made Crimestoppers' UK top 20 most wanted list.   more...

Maldon: Post office is set to close

Maldon town centre's post office is set to close, with its staff fearing they could be out of a job in the New Year.   more...

Colchester: Car ploughs through hedge into garage

A man was taken to hospital after a spectacular crash in Colchester.   more...

Essex: Drink-drive crackdown

Essex Police launch a Christmas drink-drive campaign today and are urging people to tip off officers about boozed-up motorists.   more...

Frating: Residents pack meeting against industrial sites

Defiant residents packed into a meeting vowing to fight plans they claim will destroy their homes.   more...

Colchester: Drivers hurt in crash

A motorist's arm was broken in a head-on collision on a busy Colchester road.   more...

Harwich: Dockers' Euro mission to save jobs

Dockers from Harwich have travelled to Brussels to protest against legislation which could threaten jobs.   more...

Colchester: Woman theft victim has excrement thrown at her

Excrement was thrown over a woman in a busy Colchester street during a distraction theft.   more...

Brantham: Blast victim `still critical'

A man who suffered serious burns in a factory explosion is in a critical condition.   more...

Tendring: Blazing bugs!

War is being waged against toxic caterpillars in a bid to eradicate them from the Tendring coastline following an invasion last summer.   more...

Walton: Stop that pigeon!

Hundreds of pigeons are causing a stink in a seaside resort.   more...

Colchester: HIV cases up 50 per cent

HIV cases in Colchester have risen 51 per cent in two years.   more...

Colchester: Warm farewell to popular Westley

The family and friends of a man who died after an altercation at a cashpoint heard warm tributes paid to him at his funeral.   more...

Maldon: Planting peace and tranquility for hospital visitors

A green-fingered gang has created a haven of peace and tranquility for patients and visitors to a Maldon hospital.   more...

Eveninggazette Sport

Soccer: Injury ends McEveley's campaign

Jay McEveley has added to Ipswich Town's injury-stricken woes after discovering that he will play no further part this campaign.   more...

Golf: Diana marks her debut in style

New Braintree Golf Club ladies' captain Diana Hughes will not forget her first day in a hurry.   more...

Martial Arts: Medal glory for Dragon quartet

Four members of Dragon Martial Arts School travelled to Coventry to compete in the BCCMA (British Council for Chinese Martial Arts) Northern Championships.   more...

Soccer: Witham boy out for U's

Colchester United beware - Witham's Ben Smith is on the warpath again.   more...

Southend,Echo,Essex Sport

Sewell steps up a gear

RAYLEIGH bike rider Andy Sewell is ready to race again and cannot wait for the new season to begin next March.  more...

Cobblers eye Nathan

BILLERICAY Town boss Justin Edinburgh believes Nathan Elder is good enough to succeed at league level after impressing for Northampton Town reserves this week.  more...

Bill relishing US tour opportunity

FORMER Basildon and Thorpe Hall tournament golf professional Bill Longmuir admitted that he "can't wait" to start his challenge on the United States senior tour.  more...

Thurrock News

Port plan is key part of deal

PLANS for a £1.4bn container port and business and logistics port at Corringham remain on track despite the proposed takeover of its developers P&O.  more...

School in top 100!

STAFF and pupils at a Thurrock primary school have been celebrating winning a place in the top 100 schools in the country that have shown sustained improvement over the past four years.  more...

Thurrock Sport

Vital match for Keith

AVELEY caretaker boss Keith Day's future at the club is under increasing question after a recent dip in form and he will be desperate for an away win for the relegation-haunted Millers on Saturday.  more...

Tough test says Colin

COLIN McBride's Thurrock may be getting less of the limelight since neighbours Grays overtook them and got into the Conference but they have been quietly going about their own business and are on the cusp of the play-off positions in the Conference South.  more...

Rocks' early kick-off

CONTINUING work on the floodlights at Rookery Hill means that East Thurrock United's home Ryman premier League match with Margate on Saturday has been brought forward to a 1.30pm kick-off.  more...

Big night for Grays

GRAYS have had their fair share of massive games over the past year but according to their manager, Mark Stimson, Friday's FA Cup Second Round match at Mansfield is the "biggest match in the club's history."  more...

Make or break for Dockers

TILBURY face a must win game at Concord Rangers on Saturday.  more...