Stories for 6 December 2005

Echo,Basildon News

Billericay: Tory big wig at dinner

SHADOW secretary of state for health Andrew Lansley was guest speaker at the Billericay and District Conservatives annual dinner and dance at Stock Brook Manor, Billericay.  more...

Crays Hill: Prescott urged to stop travellers' camp

PRESSURE today mounted on John Prescott to pull the plug on plans to move hundreds of illegally camped travellers from Crays Hill to Pitsea.  more...

Wickford: Reindeer bring festive feel

WICKFORD shoppers were surprised to hear sleigh bells jingling and a troupe of reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh down the High Street.  more...

Laindon: Kids' quake relief gift

GENEROUS parents and children at a Basildon primary school have donated more than £1,000 towards the Pakistan Earthquake relief fund.  more...

Pitsea: Tories urged to do U-turn on waste plant site

THE FIGHT to stop a huge waste plant in south Essex is gaining pace.  more...

Vange: Chance to save funday

A meeting will be held next week to discuss plans for the Vange Funday.  more...

Echo,Basildon,Southend,Thurrock News

Essex: We will fight Police merger

ECHO readers have voted to save Essex Police from merging with neighbouring forces.  more...

Echo,Southend News

Rochford: Councillors support mental health centre

A £21MILLION centre for mental health patients at the old Rochford Hospital has won the support of planning councillors.  more...

Westcliff: New Tesco helps the hospice

A NEW supermarket in Westcliff has made a great start when it donated £500 to Fair Havens Hospice.  more...

Rochford: Website for tourism

TOURISM in Rochford can be boosted with a website and a set of new leaflets, the district council is being told.  more...

Westcliff: Garden walls knocked down

VANDALS knocked down ten garden walls and pushed over gates in a wrecking spree in Bridgwater Drive and Carlton Avenue, Westcliff.  more...

Southend: Pupils boxing clever for charity

HUNDREDS of gift-filled shoeboxes are on their way to poor children in Eastern Europe thanks to the generosity of a Southend school.  more...

Echo,Thurrock News

Thurrock: Battle on for council after by-election joy

FOLLOWING a swing back to Labour in Thurrock after two by-election victories, it seems the Tories face a real battle to hold on to power in next May's elections.  more...

Eveninggazette News

Essex: Same-sex couples in rush to tie knot

Hundreds of gay and lesbian partners applied to tie the knot in Essex as a new law came into force.   more...

Essex: Force motorcycles to return

Essex Police motorbikes are to return to the county's roads.   more...

Black Notley: Women in crisis offered lifeline

Women who seek guidance and advice about abortions or miscarriage can now receive free counselling at a new pregnancy crisis centre.   more...

Little Clacton: How could they stoop so low?

Angry staff and residents at a home for the disabled today condemned cruel thieves who stole their Christmas tree.   more...

Dovercourt: Tours of £12 million new hospital arranged

Builders are set to hand over the keys to a new £12 million hospital.   more...

Essex: Don't do it!

Your Evening Gazette today launches its seasonal campaign to stop people drink-driving.   more...

Ramsey, Harwich: Driver flees car blaze after covering engine

A car caught light on a busy trunk road after the driver forgot to remove an insulating blanket from the engine.   more...

Clacton: It'll be a very bright Christmas round at the Rounds'

A small house in a quiet Clacton street has been transformed into a winter wonderland.   more...

Clacton: Tatum's Disney wish comes true

Little Tatum Kemp is off on her dream holiday to Disneyland Paris, thanks to the kindness of Evening Gazette readers.   more...

Brightlingsea: Town elects its new deputy

An historic ceremony was held in which the Freemen of a town gathered to choose their deputy.   more...

Essex: Police divisions to be cut to five

Essex Police's nine divisions are to be reduced to five as part of a major shake-up.   more...

Braintree: Brave Andrea jumps in sister's memory

A brave woman from Braintree is jumping out of a plane to raise money for the charity which helped her sister.   more...

Braintree: Good news for tax?

Taxpayers across the Braintree district should expect a lower increase than last year.   more...

Braintree: School to review policy over pupils' hairstyles

A school has launched a review into its hairstyles policy after a mother criticised a decision to take her children out of classes for wearing braids.   more...

Witham: Santa sets out on his annual town tour

Father Christmas has paid a visit to good boys and girls in Witham at the start of his annual tour of the town.   more...

Eveninggazette Sport

Soccer: Iwelumo - 'We have belief'

Hartlepool had better watch out - Colchester United are coming to get you.   more...

Soccer: Pat still searching for return to team

Pat Baldwin is suffering mixed emotions.   more...

Swimming: James on course to defend crown

Witham's James Gibson remains on course to defend his breaststroke title at next year's Commonwealth Games.   more...

Soccer: Westlake on target for Blues

Ian Westlake came through Ipswich Town's second-string triumph over rivals Norwich City Reserves with no ill-effects.   more...