Stories for 14 February 2005

Basildon,Echo,Essex News

Laindon: House ruined in ferocious gas blast

A man knocked unconscious by a ferocious gas blast which blew his home to ruins managed to signal to firefighters as he lay underneath the rubble.  more...

Basildon: Redundancies at troubled store

Staff at the troubled Allders store in Basildon were ordered to pack up their belongings and leave as part of immediate job cuts announced by the company.  more...

Basildon,Echo,Essex Sport

Football: Hammers cut up by Blades

It is one of the oldest consolations in the sport, but there was little else for West Ham manager Alan Pardew to fall back on after a penalty shoot-out defeat to Sheffield United.  more...

Football: Nervous Blues frustrate Tilly

Southend United manager Steve Tilson was disappointed with his side's disjointed display in Friday night's 0-0 draw with Scunthorpe.  more...

Football: Big game Hunter on target

Billericay Town boss Justin Edinburgh hailed midfielder Leon Hunter after the former Southend United youngster bagged a brilliant brace in a 2-1 victory over Windsor and Eton on Saturday.  more...

Football: Gulls fight back for draw

Wing-back Chris Duffy made himself a strong contender for Canvey's goal of the season prize with a stunning 30-yard plus strike but insisted: "I've scored better than that".  more...

Chelmsford News

Essex: Tourism gets a £1 million boost

The Flitch Way country park is set for a £1 million facelift that will transform it into a major leisure and recreational draw.  more...

Echo,Essex News

Basildon: Millions needed to save ailing leisure services

Millions of pounds of public money will have to be ploughed into repairing ageing leisure complexes and community centres across Basildon.   more...

Basildon: Worker used dead babies names to help illegal immigrants

Basildon Council today defended employing a man as its race advisor who had been jailed for an immigration racket.   more...

Westcliff: Great granny hurt in mugging

A great-grandmother was dragged to the ground in a ruthless mugging.   more...

Laindon: Man has miraculous escape as explosion destroys home

A man miraculously escaped with minor burns after a ferocious gas explosion blew his home to ruins in the early hours of yesterday morning.   more...

Southend: Rabbi fears escalating attacks on Jews

A Southend Rabbi has told of his concern at a massive increase on the number of violent attacks on Jews.   more...

Basildon: Debenhams to buy Allders

The future of Basildon's Allders store was today set to be secured in a multi-million-pound buyout.   more...

Canvey: Concern growing for missing man

Fears are growing for a missing man from Bedfordshire who left his personal items in a Canvey pub.   more...

Westcliff: Gunman swoops on Tesco cash van

Terrified security guards were confronted by an armed raider who escaped with a cash box stuffed with money.   more...

Echo,Essex Sport

Cross-country: Alleyn on track for national success

Pupils from Alleyn Court School will be gunning for national glory after regional success.   more...

Football: FA Cup holds no fear for Grant

The prospect of a long FA Cup run holds no fears for West Ham assistant manager Peter Grant as the team prepares for Sunday's replay at Sheffield United.   more...

Football: Broughton set for Rushden switch

Southend United striker Drewe Broughton is set to join League Two strugglers Rushden and Diamonds in a permanent deal.   more...

Football: Flavs aims for milestone win

Southend United goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan is hoping to mark his 200th appearance for the club tonight by helping the Shrimpers secure another vital victory against promotion rivals Scunthorpe.   more...

Soccer: Southend Utd 0-0 Scunthorpe Utd (League Two)

The Shrimpers remained fifth in the League Two table as visitors Scunthorpe went top following this draw at a packed Roots Hall.   more...

Essex Airambulance News

Ford fleet assists in Air Ambulance fundraising initiative

On 22 and 23 February 2005 Essex Air Ambulance will launch a mammoth tin collection trawl across Essex with the help of Ford Motor Company's Diagnostics and Service Products Europe Group based at Dunton Technical Centre, Laindon. Ford is offering the charity the use of 20 employees who will journey across Essex, in a fleet of Ford cars, on a mission to visit all businesses that hold Essex Air Ambulance charity collection tins.   more...

Essex Business

Essex: Care sector sees growth surge in value

Now is the time to go into the care business, according to a review of market growth in Essex over the past 12 months.   more...

Stasted: EasyJet numbers on the increase

No-frills carrier easyJet saw passenger numbers rise by almost 24 per cent in January - but said the outlook for 2005 was still uncertain.   more...

Essex: Pension survey crisis solution?

The country's looming pensions crisis could be forestalled by ending forced retirement on age grounds, according to business leaders.   more...

Essex News

South Essex: Casino to be built in Thurrock?

A multi-million pound casino could soon replace a derelict nightclub, it has been revealed.   more...

Essex Tilburyfc

Errors cost Dockers dear

Tilbury 1, Barton Rovers 3  more...

Essex,Eveninggazette Colchester United

Soccer: Tranmere Rovers 1-1 Colchester United (Coca-Cola League One)

How many times have we seen Phil Parkinson's Colchester United rally against the odds and come out trumps at the end this year?   more...

Essex,Eveninggazette Sport

Soccer: Tranmere Rovers 1-1 Colchester United (Coca-Cola League One)

How many times have we seen Phil Parkinson's Colchester United rally against the odds and come out trumps at the end this year?   more...

Essex,Thurrock News

Thurrock: Transport boost

Thurrock could receive more than £15million to improve transport in the borough.   more...

South Ockendon: Murder - man charged

A man has been charged with murder after a body was discovered in an alleyway.   more...

Eveninggazette Colchester United

Soccer: Drop threat baffles Joe

Joe Keith is baffled as to how Colchester United are in a scrap for safety in the Coca-Cola League One.   more...

Soccer: Parky proud of players

Colchester United manager Phil Parkinson was gutted that his side did not manage to secure a win in their Coca-Cola League One clash against Tranmere Rovers.   more...

Eveninggazette News

Stansted: Airport worker may lose job in gel row

An airport worker has been suspended for having too much gel in his hair.   more...

Colchester: Beaten senseless for just £4 change

A mugger who savagely attacked an 81-year-old man in Colchester escaped with just £4 in loose change.   more...

Mersea: Schoolgirl airlifted

A nine-year-old girl was airlifted off Mersea Island after she hurt her back at school.   more...

Mersea: Pair trapped by high tide

Firefighters had to rescue two people who were stranded by high tide on The Strood in the early hours of Sunday.   more...

Braintree: Directors triumph in tsunami appeal football match

Support was great for a charity football match at Braintree Town.   more...

Little Oakley: Danger crossing

Children's lives will be at risk as they cross a major road on their way to school, it has been claimed.   more...

Colchester: Shoplifting drug addict is jailed

A drug addict stole meat worth £200 to fund a trip to see his dying father, a court heard.   more...

Braintree: Beware bogus TV caller

A bogus caller targeted an elderly resident in Braintree by asking to see his TV licence.   more...

Harwich: Ex-nurse admits assaults on girls

A former nurse has been told to attend a sex offenders course after he admitted indecent assaults on two girls.   more...

Braintree: Clubgoers arrested

Four men from Braintree have been arrested following a disturbance at a town night spot.   more...

Tollesbury: Feelings are put into verse

Romantic couples celebrating Valentine's Day shared a little bit of their love by helping to raise money for charity.   more...

Frinton: Missile thrown at car

A motorist had a lucky escape when a vandal threw a large object at his car.   more...

Colchester: No jail for boss

The boss of a plant hire firm has been told he will not be jailed after he was convicted of stealing from his own company.   more...

Holland-on-Sea: Say it with spuds...

You can say it with flowers - but now it seems that you can even say it with potatoes.   more...

Lawford: Rector keeps it in family

All weddings are special, but for the rector of Lawford the ceremony at St Mary's Church on Saturday afternoon was one she is unlikely to forget.   more...

Witham: Challenge to Charles

A campaigner for the legalisation of cannabis will stand against the Home Secretary at the General Election.   more...

Frinton: Drug dealer loses appeal

A drug dealer jailed after he was caught collecting about £10,000 worth of cocaine has failed in an Appeal Court bid to clear his name.   more...

Gosfield: Couples say 'I do' again

Love was in the air as couples joined together to renew their wedding vows.   more...

Chelmsford: Girl, 13, in taxi accident

A 13-year-old girl was taken to hospital after the taxi she was in hit a roundabout.   more...

Colchester: Soldiers urged to vote

Soldiers stationed at Colchester Garrison have been urged to ensure they are registered to vote.   more...

Stoke-by-Nayland: Man, 23, dies in crash

A man died after his car left the road and hit a tree near Stoke-by-Nayland.   more...

Colchester: Search for missing climber stopped

A search for a Colchester climber reported missing on Ben Nevis has been suspended with no sign of the man.   more...

Essex: Love-in at Liverpool St

Research has shown those looking for love on Valentine's Day should head to Liverpool Street Station.   more...

Stanway: Police in hunt for van driver

Police are eager to trace the driver of a white van after a car crashed into the central reservation of the A12 near Stanway.   more...

Great Baddow: Sporting cash is received

A mid-Essex school has received an award of £840,322 for new sports facilities.   more...

Colchester: Christmas date for community centre

Christmas is the ambitious target set to open a community centre in a Colchester neighbourhood.   more...

Colchester: Attackers told to pay victim

A man is to receive £1,000 after he was attacked in a Colchester pub.   more...

Heybridge: Couple find true love... in store

It was love in the aisles for a couple who met in a supermarket.   more...

Braintree: Three arrests in hunt clash

Three people were arrested as protesters and supporters clashed at a hunt near Braintree.   more...

Colchester: Oriental extravaganza in the park

Rather than a cock-a-doodle-do, the bang of fireworks marked the Chinese New Year in Colchester.   more...

Essex: Search for climber

A search for a north Essex climber reported missing on Ben Nevis has been suspended with no sign of the man.   more...

Chelmsford: Knife man locked up

A man has been locked up for brandishing a knife in a street and threatening to kill a young couple.   more...

Brightlingsea, Manningtree: Amazing reunion for family

A mother has been reunited with a daughter she had not spoken to for 15 years in an amazing twist of fate.   more...

Bradfield, Great Clacton: Woman stole in bid to lose job

Problems with inappropriate sexual touching, violence and abuse escalated at a home for traumatised teenagers, a court heard.   more...

Clacton: Cleaver attack - man's appeal fails

A father who took his son on a bloody revenge mission in which the wrong man was beaten with a meat cleaver while he slept, has failed to win a cut in his sentence at London's Court of Appeal.   more...

Harwich: Another award for Harwich-based movie star Clive

Award-winning actor Clive Owen, who lives in the Harwich area, has scooped another trophy.   more...

Dovercourt: Sweet smell of retirement

A couple will enjoy the sweet smell of retirement after 37 years running a flower shop.   more...

Colchester: Woman mugged at knifepoint

A woman was mugged at knifepoint on a Colchester street.   more...

Colchester: Search for missing climber stopped

A search for a Colchester climber reported missing on Ben Nevis has been suspended with no sign of the man.   more...

Colchester: Hospital plans are put forward

Detailed plans for the multi-million pound redevelopment of hospital services in Colchester have been put forward for approval.   more...

Braintree: £18m retirement village planned

An £18 million retirement village with more than 100 homes is planned for Braintree.   more...

Hatfield Peverel: 250 homes lose power

A power cut hit more than 250 households in Maldon, Heybridge and Hatfield Peverel.   more...

Eveninggazette Sport

Soccer: Parky proud of players

Colchester United manager Phil Parkinson was gutted that his side did not manage to secure a win in their Coca-Cola League One clash against Tranmere Rovers.   more...

Soccer: Scowcroft's Town return

James Scowcroft is on his way back to Ipswich Town.   more...

Soccer: Ipswich Town 2-1 Leicester City (Coca Cola Championship)

Another week, another mediocre performance but three more vital points for Ipswich Town.   more...

Soccer: Royle relieved at final whistle

Joe Royle admitted he was relieved to hear the final whistle after Ipswich Town's 'scrappy' success against Leicester.   more...

Soccer: Drop threat baffles Joe

Joe Keith is baffled as to how Colchester United are in a scrap for safety in the Coca-Cola League One.   more...

Soccer: Maldon Town 1-0 Barking and East Ham United (Southern League Division One East )

Maldon Town stormed to their tenth Southern League division one east win in a row after this 1-0 victory over Barking and East Ham United.   more...

Southend,Echo,Essex News

Eastwood, Canvey: Efforts to find pensioner draw a blank

Efforts to find Eastwood resident Walter Routh have failed to find the missing pensioner despite a week-long search by police, friends and family.  more...

Rochford: Benefits crackdown saves £40,000

A scheme to combat benefit fraud in Rochford has saved council taxpayers £40,000.  more...

Westcliff: Failing school gets new head

A school left without a permanent headteacher following a damning Ofsted report now officially has a new leader at the helm.  more...

Southend: Talks over "missing" 16,000 people

High-level talks were launched today (Monday) to raise Southend's population by at least 10,000 who were missed from the 2001 census.  more...

Thurrock News

Charged with murder

A MAN has been charged with murder after a body was discovered in an alleyway. Police were called to Orchard Road, South Ockendon, early on Saturday morning.   more...

Thurrock Sport

Thurrock slip again

THURROCK'S hopes of promotion took another knock on Saturday with their seventh Conference South home defeat of the season.  more...

  
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