Stories for 15 March 2005

Basildon,Echo,Essex News

Laindon: Schoolgirls saw policeman behaving indecently in car - court told

Three schoolgirls caught a policeman behaving indecently as he sat in his car, a court has heard.  more...

Laindon: College fraudster told to pay up or go to jail

A college accountant who stole £37,000 to renovate her home has been ordered to repay thousands of pounds or face jail.  more...

Basildon: New law on gipsies

Basildon Council is the first in the country to use tough new powers to halt illegal green belt development, it was revealed today.  more...

Pitsea: Man admits murdering labourer

A man has admitted murdering a labourer whose body was found dumped in a river.  more...

Basildon,Echo,Essex Sport

Rugby: Rochford crowned champs

Rochford Hundred were crowned league champions after turning on the style against a hard working, but eventually overwhelmed West Norfolk at Magnolia Road on Saturday.  more...

School report: Gold delight for Scarlett

Scarlett Richard has helped the Eastern Region to a national Independent Schools Association cross-country crown.  more...

Gymnastics: South Essex joy

AT the National Development Plan compulsory level three regional competition gymnasts from Basildon's South Essex Club managed to take all three medal positions.   more...

West Ham: Pards fears fans' anger

Nothing less than a convincing win will do for West Ham as they entertain struggling Crewe Alexandra tonight.  more...

Football: Blewitt keen on Blues

New Southend United centre back Darren Blewitt has set his sights on helping the Shrimpers secure promotion after sealing his loan switch from West Ham.  more...

Rugby: Dings leave Kev down in the dumps

Southend chief Kevin Harman was left cursing another inconsistent display from his Jekyll and Hyde team after Saturday's narrow 24-19 defeat at Dings Crusaders.   more...

Chelmsford News

Essex: Mystery damage costs charity dear

A row has broken out between Age Concern Chelmsford and the Royal Mail over a £272 repair bill to the door of their day centre.  more...

Echo Echo Features

Hooray for art with a sense of humour

TWO weeks ago, I was railing against rubbish public art (yes, Life Lines and Progression, I was talking to you), and then suddenly along comes something that cheers me up.  more...

Don't panic, Warwick's here

The Echo meets Star Wars and Harry Potter veteran Warwick Davis as he joins the cast of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy  more...

Essex Business

Chelmsford: Extra touch wins awards

That extra touch of inspiration that makes the difference to a firm's success has earned awards for seven people running businesses in Essex.   more...

Essex: Lender named winner - again

An Essex building society has been named one of the top five regional lenders in the country for the second year running.   more...

Essex Vfestivalfive

V Festival: Ordinary Boys join line-up

The Ordinary Boys have been added to the growing number of bands for this year's V Festival.   more...

Eveninggazette Colchester United

Soccer: U's want relegation fears behind them

Colchester United boss Phil Parkinson wants his side to rectify their home form and extinguish any remaining relegation fears.   more...

Eveninggazette News

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette  more...

Dovercourt: Back-up needed for fight

Police needed to call for re-inforcements after a large fight broke out at a party.   more...

Colchester: Tourists threatened in town

Police are eager to talk to a group of tourists who were confronted by a man wielding a metal bar as they looked at one of Colchester's Roman sites.   more...

Brightlingsea: Help keep the music playing

Festival-goers are invited to help ensure Brightlingsea's annual bash stays free by becoming friends of it.   more...

Clacton: Use your theatre or lose it plea

Support your community theatre.   more...

Wrabness: Yobs force bird hide to shut

A popular bird hide will have to close because of repeated vandal attacks.   more...

Dovercourt: Dustbin thrown from balcony

Yobs have thrown a dustbin over a balcony and on to the road below.   more...

Clacton: Suits you, Ellie

A brave three-year-old girl who suffers from a rare hereditary condition is making significant progress thanks to a special suit made for her in Australia.   more...

Mid Essex: Commuters to get refund for tickets

Commuters have been told they can claim compensation after the chaos on the rail network.   more...

Harwich: Thumbs-up for New-look quayfront

A major consultation exercise over proposals to regenerate Harwich's historic quayfront has been hailed a success.   more...

Colchester: Hospital food gets the blues

Blue is the colour of a refurbished restaurant at Colchester General Hospital.   more...

Clacton: My addict son's drugs hell

The mother of a drug addict who died in a squalid seaside flat is to tell his story to try to stop others getting hooked.   more...

Stansted: Escaped man shuts runway

Stansted Airport was forced to close its runway after a man escaped while being deported.   more...

Colchester: Cut in town's crime

Police chiefs today celebrated a seven per cent drop in Colchester's crime rates.   more...

Colchester: Stadium petition close to 24,000 mark

The campaign to build a new stadium for Colchester is attracting support among football fans across the country.   more...

Maldon: Belt up or face a fine

Fasten your seatbelts.   more...

Chelmsford: Man, 69, wants to carry on working

A hospital worker, who is being forced to retire because he is too old, has vowed to fight the decision.   more...

Great Holland: Poet teacher's work published

A teacher who waxed lyrical about the weather has become a published poet.   more...

Eveninggazette Sport

Soccer: Blues back on track

Confident Richard Naylor believes Ipswich Town are back on track for automatic promotion.   more...

Soccer: U's want relegation fears behind them

Colchester United boss Phil Parkinson wants his side to rectify their home form and extinguish any remaining relegation fears.   more...

Soccer: Gary has major role to play

Gary Abbott insists he still has a major part to play on the pitch at Braintree Town.   more...

Soccer: Town silences critics

Ian Westlake hopes Ipswich Town silenced a few critics after their 6-0 annihilation of hapless Nottingham Forest.   more...

Southend,Echo,Essex News

Southend: Hospital dumps cleaning firm

Southend Hospital has washed its hands of a private cleaning firm in its battle against infections, it was revealed today.  more...

Southend: Three years for "serial" burglar

A serial burglar was today starting a three-year jail sentence after being caged under the "three strikes" rule.  more...

Southend: Peter Andre postpones Southend show

Heartthrob Peter Andre has cancelled his concert at the Cliffs Pavilion because his girlfriend Jordan is pregnant.  more...

Thurrock News

Corringham: Teachers get set for celebrity soccer clash

An ex West Ham United and Celebrity football team has agreed to play a fund-raising football match at East Thurrock FC, on Sunday, March 20 at 2.30pm.  more...