Stories for 27 December 2005

Eveninggazette News

Colchester: Shops packed as bargain hunt begins

Retailers are reporting a brisk start to the winter sales as the hunt for post-Christmas bargains continued today.   more...

West Mersea: Man is jailed after house burglary

A burglar has been jailed for 12 months after he broke into a West Mersea house.   more...

Clacton: Police in speed pursuit

Two police cars were damaged while in pursuit of another vehicle which sped off from Clacton's town centre.   more...

North Essex: Babies make this Christmas one to remember!

Lots of bonny babies bounced into the world on Christmas Day.   more...

Clacton: Vicious attack on pensioner

This is the battered and bruised face of disabled pensioner Brian Reeve, who was seriously hurt in a vicious attack by a group of thugs.   more...

Colchester: Shotgun raiders smelled of petrol

Customers and staff were threatened by raiders with shotguns who robbed a store.   more...

Eveninggazette Sport

Soccer: Ipswich Town 0-2 Crystal Palace (Coca-Cola Championship)

One ironic chant summed up the day for Ipswich Town - `we're supposed to be at home'.   more...

Soccer: Dean to discuss future

Dean Bowditch is ready for a heart-to-heart chat with boss Joe Royle in order to revive his career at Ipswich Town.   more...

Soccer: Joe defends single striking ploy

Blues boss Joe Royle defended his decision to use just one striker up front after watching his side go down 2-0 at home to Crystal Palace.   more...

Soccer: We're still fighting, says Phil

Upbeat boss Phil Parkinson does not believe the wheels have come off his Colchester United bandwagon.   more...

Soccer: Swindon Town 1-0 Colchester United (Coca-Cola League One)

Sickening and agonising but in no way unexpected.   more...

Southend,Echo,Essex News

Pitsea: Woman beaten in vicious assault

A woman was left badly beaten after she was assaulted by a large group of young men and women who stole her purse, coat, earings, and bracelet.   more...

Rayleigh: Man dies in road accident

A man has died after leaving a party on Christmas Day and falling into the road.   more...

Benfleet: Fire crews battle caravan blaze

Firefighters stopped a fire from spreading to house backing onto a Benfleet church in the early hours of Christmas Eve.   more...

Southend: School blaze

A fire ripped through Southend High School for Girls in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Fierce flames spread from the kitchen area of the school, in Southchurch Boulevard, Southend, to the roof of the main building.   more...

Pitsea: Elderly woman viciously attacked

An 85-year-old woman was viciously beaten in a sexually motivated attack in her Basildon home over Christmas, police said.  more...

Thurrock News

Furore over mums' home

PLANS to build a refuge for teenage mums in the middle of a quiet Grays neighbourhood have been put on hold while councillors consider whether the site is appropriate for the controversial development.  more...

Thurrock Sport

Disappointing day for confirmed boss Keith

Aveley 1, Dartford 3  more...

Derby despair for Grays

Grays Athletic 1, Canvey Island 2  more...