Stories for 8 December 2005

Chelmsford News

Knife attacker shot by taser

Armed police stormed a north Springfield house and zapped a man with a Taser after reports he had attacked a health worker with a carving knife in the third unprovoked attack of its kind in the borough in six months. The 54-year-old had barricaded himself into his house in Primula Way for nearly three hours on Friday before police burst into his home and stunned him with a burst of electricity. He was later sectioned under the Mental Health Act.  more...

Echo,Basildon News

Billericay: Hot new nightspot opens for business

BILLERICAY'S hottest new nightspot - the Ivory Rooms - will open to the public for the first time tomorrow night.  more...

Billericay: DNA clue helps pick up prize

Super sleuths scooped a prestigious prize on the BBC radio show the Naked Scientists.  more...

Basildon: £3m mental health ward plan unveiled

PLANS for a new £3million mental health ward to be built at Basildon Hospital have been handed to planning chiefs by the South Essex Partnership NHS Trust.  more...

Wickford: Drum major wins award for bravery

A CHAMPION drum major who risked his life to save his young bandmates is to receive a prestigious award for his outstanding bravery.  more...

Pitsea: Aiming to crush waste plant plan

BASILDON has cemented its opposition to a huge waste plant at Pitsea.  more...

Echo,Southend News

Southend: The Fall concert is pulled

A MUCH anticipated show in Southend by the Fall has been cancelled.  more...

Shoebury: Blues players prove a real work of art

SOUTHEND United players might show there is an art to football, but they have now inspired Shoebury pupils to create portraits of them.  more...

Southend: Lights out !

THE future of Southend's famous seafront illuminations is in doubt.  more...

Leigh: Hammer set to come down on auction room

ONE of Leigh's landmark buildings will be going under the hammer next week.  more...

Canvey: Relief over new health centre site

FEARS a community hall would be sacrificed to make way for a new health centre have been allayed after the exact location of one of the two planned centres on Canvey was revealed to the public yesterday.  more...

Leigh: Church hall sale secrecy

A VEIL of secrecy surrounds the buyer of St Clement's Church hall, in Leigh, which is thought to have sold for £1.3million.  more...

Echo,Thurrock News

Thurrock: Conmen target 6 elderly residents

BOGUS callers struck at six pensioners' homes within four hours.  more...

Eveninggazette News

Chelmsford: Police officer convicted

A police sergeant is facing dismissal from the force after being convicted of drink-driving.   more...

Braintree: Murder probe - man arrested

A murder inquiry has been launched after a pensioner was found dead in Braintree.   more...

Colchester: Smoking ban for council

Smoking is to be stubbed out in playgrounds as part of a tough crackdown.   more...

Parkeston: Arson probe

A police hunt has been launched for arsonists who set light to a building.   more...

Colchester: Dreaming? No it is a (synthetic) white Christmas!

It's snow joke! Shoppers dreaming of a White Christmas need only to head into Colchester for a winter wonderland.   more...

Buckingham: Betty is off to Buckingham Palace

One of the founding figures of Great Notley village was due to be made an MBE today.   more...

Colchester: Police hoping for crack house order

Police will today seek to get a crack house closure on a Colchester home.   more...

Clacton: Alarm at children's crazy 'dare game'

Children in Clacton are dicing with death by jumping out in front of cars as part of a potentially life-threatening new dare game.   more...

Danbury: Slaughter or sanctuary for Charles and Camilla?

Fancy tucking into Charles and Camilla?   more...

Eveninggazette Sport

Cycling: Aldous success

Shaun Aldous has won the Eastern Cyclo-Cross Association Senior Championship Trophy.   more...

Snooker: Carter still on target

Ali Carter has still got his sights on a title.   more...

Soccer: Keith delight with Cureton

Jamie Cureton has turned Colchester United into a lean mean fighting machine.   more...