Stories for 14 December 2005

Echo,Basildon News

Pitsea: Bid to block waste plant fails

AN attempt to block plans for a huge waste treatment plant in Pitsea has failed.  more...

Pitsea: Gran's £20,000 bingo win

CHRISTMAS has come two weeks early for one Pitsea pensioner after she won more than £20,000 playing bingo.  more...

Basildon: Price hikes `could finish Towngate'

WHOPPING price hikes could be the final nail in the coffin for the ailing Towngate Theatre in Basildon, it was claimed today.  more...

Billericay: Bomb victim's dad in fight for answers

THE father of a London bombing victim has accused the Government of failing to take enough measures to deal with the threat of terrorism.  more...

Echo,Basildon,Southend,Thurrock News

Essex: MPs' protest at combined force

MPs from across Essex were protesting in Westminster today at plans to merge Essex Police with neighbouring forces.  more...

South Essex: Essex firefighters praised by union

SOUTH Essex firefighters were today praised for helping to tackle the huge blaze which engulfed the petrol depot in Hemel Hempstead.  more...

Echo,Southend News

Canvey: Petrol station armed hold-up

POLICE were today hunting a masked robber who threatened staff with a gun at a Canvey petrol station.  more...

Canvey: Country park plan to bloom by spring

PLANS for Canvey Heights Country Park could be finalised by the spring, it was revealed today.  more...

Essex Business

New Stansted runway set for take-off

Options for a second runway at Stansted airport have been unveiled by British Airport Authorities.   more...

`I will survive' in Essex

Seventies hit `I will survive' by disco queen Gloria Gaynor is the county's number one karaoke song according to a survey by nationwide pub chain Hungry Horse.   more...

Magic carpet treatment for playgroup

A Saffron Walden playgroup for children with special needs has received the magic carpet treatment from a local building society.  more...

£32,000 for Little Havens from Race for Business

A massive cheque for over £32,000 has been presented to Little Havens Children's Hospice by Wollastons solicitors of Chelmsford following a sponsored race.   more...

Eveninggazette News

Colchester: Arts facility plans altered

Extra education space could be provided at a new arts facility under amended plans.   more...

Colchester: Dawn drug raids by police

Police today pounced on suspected drug dens in Colchester.   more...

Braintree: Mosque scheme wins go-ahead

Muslims in Braintree are celebrating today after plans to expand an Islamic centre were given the go-ahead.   more...

Colchester: Kind Kate sacrifices her locks

A healthcare assistant had her head shaved to raise money for needy people in South America.   more...

North Essex: Fire scenarios at centre

A leisure centre is on fire and maintenance men are trapped in a smoke-filled service area.   more...

Little Clacton: Teen injured in head-on crash

A teenager was taken to hospital after a head- on crash in Little Clacton.   more...

Tendring: Elderly couple flee house blaze

An elderly couple cheated death today after waking to discover a fire raging downstairs in their home.   more...

Harwich: Industrial park 'to safeguard jobs'

An industrial park could be created in a bid to safeguard hundreds of jobs.   more...

Harwich: `Industrial park to safeguard jobs'

An industrial park could be created in a bid to safeguard hundreds of jobs.   more...

Harwich: Health boss gets keys to hospital

Builders have handed over the keys to a new £12 million hospital.   more...

Braintree: Bullies 'wrecking Tanya's life'

A teenage girl from Braintree claims bullies have turned her life into a living nightmare.   more...

Frinton: Tree-trashing yobs spoil festive spirit

Youths have been condemned for trashing Santa's grotto - just hours after Frinton's late-night shopping.   more...

Eveninggazette Sport

Darts: Jaws is ready for challenge

World number one Colin Lloyd would trade in all of the nine open titles he has claimed this year to get his hands on the ultimate prize - the Ladbrokes World Championship crown.   more...

Swimming: Gibson misses out on finals

Witham swimmer James Gibson failed to make it past the semi-final stage at the European Short Course Championships in Italy.   more...

Snooker: Carter to face Hendry

Stephen Hendry has breezed into the quarter-finals of the Travis Perkins UK Championship and will now face Tiptree's Ali Carter in the event at York.   more...

Soccer: Town are thwarted

Ipswich Town have been thwarted in their attempts to make a loan swoop for Tottenham Hotspur's Polish striker Grzegorz Rasiak.   more...

Southend,Echo,Essex Sport

Dailly in line for Toffees tester

ALAN Pardew looks set to perservere with Christian Dailly in the heart of his defence as Danny Gabbidon misses tonight's trip to Everton.  more...

Russ saddles up for Olympic aim

CYCLIST Russell Hampton celebrated his call up into the Great Britain Olympic Development Programme by immediately setting his sights on a new double target.  more...

Edinburgh tips Town for surge

BILLERICAY boss Justin Edinburgh saw his side secure a late share of the spolis against high flying Braintree last night and then backed Town to make a surge for the play-offs during the second half of the season.  more...

Gold success for South Essex duo

BASILDON based South Essex Club gymnasts Reiss Beckford and Joseph Ben-Aderet enjoyed golden success when representing Great Britain in an international competition in Belgium.  more...