Stories for 20 April 2007

Billericay Weekly News News

Ex-Billericay chef faces jail for alcohol-fuelled assaults on women

A FORMER chef could face up to seven years behind bars after being convicted of trying to kidnap a schoolgirl as she walked along a Hutton street.   more...

High Street trader reckons plant crime's potty

A GREEN-fingered thief hacked through a padlock and chain at 5.30am to steal a £100 potted plant from outside a Billericay shop.   more...

Council pulling the plug on car wash

BASILDON Council has taken tougher action on a car wash business on land owned by a leading councillor.   more...

Church leaders to meet

CHURCH leaders and ministers are heading to Billericay for a Spring Synod.   more...

GP seeks to reassure patients over surgery phone change

A DOCTORS' surgery is hoping patients will get behind its decision to switch to an "0844" phone number - despite already receiving complaints from people who believe it will cost them more.   more...

Arsonists target bins

YOBS set fire to five dustbins in an arson attack causing £200 damage.   more...

Arrests after raid

FOUR Billericay men were among those to appear in court last weekend, following a joint Essex and Metropolitan Police drugs investigation.   more...

Striders prepare for the big London race!

DEDICATED members of the Billericay Striders have stepped up a gear to get into shape for the forthcoming London Marathon.   more...

Insp Sue Heaton takes over the reins of Billericay police

A NEW top cop with 20 years' experience under her belt is taking over the helm of Billericay police station.   more...

Billericay Weekly News Sport

Table tennis round-up, April 19

PREMIER DIVISION   more...

Blues’ fading hopes of top spot

BILLERICAY Town's hopes of winning the Ryman Premier title and only automatic promotion spot faded badly following Saturday's crushing 3-2 defeat at Carshalton.   more...

Rugby: Champs in fine form

Billericay 70 East London 14   more...

Braintree And Witham Times News

Dads scale new heights

A group of dads have decided fatherhood is not enough of a challenge - and plan to climb three peaks in 30 hours.   more...

Jailed father's appeal could be brought forward

A FATHER jailed in Cyprus over the death of a teenage motorcyclist could have his appeal against the sentence brought forward.   more...

Baby rescued from fire

A baby was rushed to hospital after her mothers' cooker caught fire.   more...

Train chaos "over by 4pm"

Rail companies have apologised for last night's train service disruption, promising to restore "a good service" by 4pm on April 20.   more...

New head outlines plans for special measures school

A NEW principal is on a mission to turn a school placed in special measures into an outstanding beacon of best practice.   more...

Legal action against football club withdrawn

A FOOTBALL club is relieved after threats of legal action to recover a £23,000 debt were withdrawn.   more...

Runner attacked by wild dog

A COLLEGE lecturer had to pull out of this Sunday's London Marathon after she was mauled by a wild dog in Goa.   more...

Brentwood Weekly News News

On the run for my mum, the mayor

THE mayor's daughter maybe living in China, but that hasn't stopped her from raising money for Brentwood.   more...

Celebrate St George’s Day with a banger

CALLS to make St George's Day into a national holiday have so far fallen on deaf ears.   more...

200 CDs among crooks' house haul

TWO cameras and 200 CDs worth a total of £2,850 have been stolen from a house in Brentwood.   more...

Sanctuary throws open donkey doors

A FUN-filled event for families is just around the corner.   more...

Burglars grab £118,000 haul in five raids

CROOKS netted £118,000 worth of goods in burglaries on five homes in Brentwood this week.   more...

Get help and advice from mobile bureau

Citizen's Advice Bureau services are now available in the borough's nine parishes, thanks to partial funding from Essex County Council.   more...

Mandy's high point is peak

MANDY White (pictured right) of Mount Crescent has just climbed a mountain and dropped two dress sizes while raising cash for charity.   more...

Catch the fiddler in Ingatestone

FIDDLER on the Roof opens next week, promising an enchanting evening of musical theatre.   more...

Hutton man faces prison for alcohol-fuelled assaults on women

A FORMER chef could face up to seven years behind bars after being convicted of trying to kidnap a schoolgirl as she walked along a Hutton street.   more...

Brentwood Weekly News Sport

Blues start chilling the bubbly...

THE champagne will be on ice at the Arena on Saturday when Brentwood Town can finally get their hands on the Essex Senior League title.   more...

Table tennis round-up, April 19

PREMIER DIVISION   more...

Chelmsford Weekly News News

Healthy boost for charity

BAGS of delicious goodies are winging their way to some of the most deserving mums and kids in mid-Essex - thanks to the generosity of gym members in South Woodham Ferrers.   more...

Pub boss hopes to pull some pics

THE landlord of a Chelmsford pub is appealing to residents for historical photographs.   more...

Pensioner tricked by doorstep con

A PENSIONER has been burgled after a bogus caller claimed he was from the water company.   more...

Star’s birthday is cause for co-op celebratory bash

A CHELMSFORD co-operative society toasted 140 years of community business.   more...

Rettendon duo appeal

A FRESH battle to free two men convicted of the notorious Rettendon Range Rover murders is being launched in Europe.   more...

Bus station attack

POLICE are appealing for witnesses to an incident in which a man punched a woman in the face after trying to steal her mobile phone.   more...

Thousands flock to Stables Centre opening

THOUSANDS flocked to Hylands House to celebrate the opening of the Stables Centre.   more...

Bungling burglars damage church

THE bungled burglary of a church caused £500 damage.   more...

Alan signs the Doc!

WRITTLE College patron Alan Titchmarsh will be in Chelmsford to sign copies of his latest work of fiction.   more...

How our CCTV helped trap a sports peeper

CHELMSFORD CCTV helped police capture a peeping Tom near the town centre.   more...

Stroke unit appeal off to a good start

CHELMSFORD mayor Margaret Hutchon has helped Broomfield Hospital staff get a new charity appeal for the stroke unit off to a flying start.   more...

Buddies to keep an eye out for the new kids

A CHELMSFORD school has launched a buddy system to combat bullying and bridge the age gap.   more...

Dangerous roads are a ‘disgrace’

RESIDENTS have continued to voice their outrage about dangerous Chelmsford roads.   more...

Wardens started Danbury Common blaze

A BUSH fire on Danbury Common last week was started by park wardens, the Weekly News can reveal.   more...

Firefighters save cow from river

FIREFIGHTERS spent three-and-a-half hours on a rescue operation to save a cow stuck in a river.   more...

James lost control of motorbike, inquest hears

A POPULAR motorcyclist who was involved in a fatal road crash days after his 21st birthday died as the result of an accident.   more...

Jobless ups and downs

JOBLESS figures in Chelmsford are a mixed bag, according to MP Simon Burns.   more...

County highways chief stands down

THE man who turned the lights out in parts of Essex has stepped down after a failed leadership bid.   more...

Man 'had 10,000 indecent images of children as young as three'

A CONVICTED pervert has been jailed after thousands of indecent images of children were found on his computer.   more...

Chelmsford Weekly News Sport

Chelmsford Youth League Under-10 Knockout Cup Final

CHELMSFORD CITY 2 BADDOW SPARTAK 1   more...

Play-off hope for Clarets

CITY go into this weekend's trip to Slough knowing automatic promotion is now beyond them after a disappointing 3-1 defeat at home to Margate at Melbourne last Saturday.   more...

Division One hockey for town next season

IN the English Hockey League Playoffs, Chelmsford secured Division One status with a 3-1 victory over Barford Tigers   more...

Writtle lose out in final rugby conflict

IN weather better suited to cricket rather than rugby, the Wanderers travelled to local rival Maldon for their final league game of their maiden season in Essex division one but lost 14-10.   more...

Clacton And Frinton Gazette News

Frinton: Barclays flooded

BARCLAYS in Frinton has flooded for the second time in a week.   more...

Clacton: War vet victim of home raiders

A GULF War veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder was beaten up in his own home by three men.   more...

Clacton And Frinton Gazette Sport

Soccer: Coyle insists his players are fired-up

Clacton Town coach David Coyle is backing his players to be more determined than ever for their biggest game of the season at Cambridge Regional College.   more...

Golf: Seasiders make cup progress

Clacton's golfers made the most of home advantage to progress through to the first round proper of this year's Thornton Challenge Cup.   more...

Table tennis: double delight for Rodriguez

There were double honours for Annabelle Rodriguez at the Clacton and District League's Closed Championships, retaining her ladies' singles crown and, for good measure, her ladies' doubles title.   more...

Echo News

Demand for play area revamp

ANGRY mums have launched a petition calling for better play equipment at a Thundersley playground.   more...

Updated: Tributes to Sheri

DOZENS of floral tributes were laid at the scene where a young woman was killed in a horrific crash.   more...

Pupils re-launch refurbished store

PUPILS popped in to cut the ribbon at a newly- refurbished shop.   more...

Woodland path is a danger, claim walkers

UPSET residents have branded a new concrete path laid through a nature reserve an eyesore and danger to walkers.   more...

Mum and children saved by smoke alarm

A MOTHER escaped from her home with her children when shirts she was boiling in a pan caught fire.   more...

Did you see road attack?

POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a vicious assault on a motorist on Canvey.   more...

Speeding driver used dead man's identity

A man who tried to escape prosecution for speeding by using a dead man's driving licence was jailed for two-months.   more...

Irene joins fight to end poverty in Africa

A CAMPAIGNER has taken her fight to end poverty in Africa to Europe.   more...

Volunteers needed to guard avocets

AN ARMY of volunteers will be keeping watch to stop thieves stealing rare avocet eggs at a breeding ground in south Essex.   more...

Glass collection can save council millions

A WEEKLY glass collection service is to be introduced by Southend Council to boost recycling and avoid millions of pounds in fines.   more...

Change to planning applications

A DELUGE of planning applications in Leigh has prompted the town council to change the way it makes recommendations.   more...

£20million school revamp

A £20MILLION revamp of Southend's Thorpe Bay School has been backed by councillors.   more...

The green green grass of home

A HOME brimming with cannabis has been discovered by police after a tip-off by neighbours.   more...

Bogus shares conman jailed

A conman who admitted duping investors into buying almost £75,000 in bogus shares has been jailed for 21 months.   more...

Miss Basildon contest axed

THE Miss Basildon competition has been ditched at the last minute - despite a record number of applications.   more...

Teenager robbed

A TEENAGER was threatened and made to withdraw cash by a thug during a frightening robbery.   more...

College ordered to improve safety

A COLLEGE has been forced to take action to improve safety.   more...

Fire leaves gas cut off

BUSINESSES evacuated from an industrial estate after a fire at a gas substation are slowly returning to normal.   more...

Hockley 'a no-go area'

HOCKLEY on a Friday night has become a "no-go area", a leading councillor said.   more...

Council blunder runied our privacy

SOUTHEND Council's chief executive has personally apologised to a 71-year-old man for a planning blunder that has ruined his privacy.   more...

Ill health forces councillor to resign

A WELL-KNOWN Tory councillor has been forced to stand down after failing to attend meetings for the past six months because of ill health.   more...

Call for probe over housing transfer

A TENANTS' group has called for an inquiry into the choice of Swan Housing to be their new landlords.   more...

New island signs

VISITORS to Castle Point will now be greeted with new welcome signs, thanks to a councillor.   more...

Gazette Features

Feel safe? We are safe, really

Apparently, you have more chance of a good win on the lottery than being robbed at gunpoint in north Essex.   more...

Gazette News

Mid-Essex: Mother’s fright as boy falls in pond

A mother has spoken of "never being so scared in my life" as her toddler fell in to a duck pond and repeatedly went underwater.   more...

Parkeston: Village church suffers vandalism

Vandals have attacked a village church will stones and bricks.   more...

Essex: With no April showers, will we be seeing May flowers?

April usually means showers - yet we haven't had a drop of rain all month.   more...

Colchester: Oh boy, let’s make play-offs

A toddler born the day Colchester United won promotion is going to his first U's game on his first birthday and hoping for a dream present - a place in the Championship play-offs.   more...

Thorpe: Villagers call to calm traffic on high street

Residents are calling for traffic-calming measures before problems increase in their village.   more...

Colchester: Work on stadium could start soon

One of the final legal agreements to allow Colchester's new community stadium to go ahead is on the brink of being signed.   more...

Harwich: Pupils sample life at a foreign school

TV appearances, newspaper interviews and an audience with the mayor greeted students on an exchange visit to Belarus.   more...

Essex: ‘Crime is down and we will do better’

Crime in Essex is continuing to decrease, figures show, and detection rates are up.   more...

Essex: Commuters will be chuffed by service

Rail chiefs are promising more improvements to services from north Essex into one of Britain's busiest train stations.   more...

Dovercourt: Scott gets his teenage kicks chart-topping

A young musician is about to release his first demo with his eyes set on the charts.   more...

Dovercourt: ‘Secret’ sign is criticised

Charges are to be introduced at another coastal car park.   more...

Colchester: William stops off on whistle-stop tour

Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague has stopped off in Colchester during a whistle-stop pre-election tour of Essex.   more...

Colchester: Laptop to help Lauren stay in touch

A computer has been donated to help a girl with leukaemia keep up to date with her schoolwork and friends.   more...

Colchester: ‘Give up’ fear over the yobs

Residents are demanding action after yobbish behaviour "wrecked" a children's play area.   more...

Colchester: Scouts start special year

Scouting centenary celebrations are off to a patriotic start with the Colchester St George's Day Parade planned for today.   more...

Colchester: Chefs’ prize menu

Five aspiring cooks have been competing to create the great Colchester menu - with the help of a top chef.   more...

Halstead: Blueprint for town of future

A new supermarket, better precincts and bypass could revamp a town centre under proposals drawn up.   more...

Walton: Pub hit by fire

A man and his dog were rescued from a blaze in a seaside pub.   more...

Lawford: Fears for fruit in the heat

Global warming has claimed an unlikely victim.   more...

Clacton: Home alone dogs rescued

RSPCA officers have swooped in to rescue three dogs after neighbours complained about the noise they were making.   more...

Essex: Police - watch your speed

Speeding drivers are being warned to kill their speed or risk being caught as police pledge to continue a crusade to make Essex roads safer.   more...

Essex: Commuters face rail chaos

Commuters have faced two days of lengthy delays after power lines fell down on the line between London and Colchester.   more...

North Essex: Litterbugs fail to get the message

Litterbugs are making beaches worse than ever.   more...

Clacton: War vet victim of home raiders

A Gulf War veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder has told how he was beaten up in his own home by three men.   more...

Gazette Sport

Soccer: Coyle has his players fired-up

Clacton Town can take a huge stride towards premier division safety tomorrow if they sink fellow strugglers Cambridge Regional College.   more...

Maldon And Burnham Standard News

Friends’ tributes to 'pillar of community'

A CLERGYMAN described as a pillar of the community of Maldon has died peacefully in his sleep.   more...

'Best ever' crime cut for district

MALDON police are celebrating their best-ever crime reduction rates - and are assuring local people they live in a safe place.   more...

Yobs being let off from court action

INCREASING numbers of yobs are being given on-the-spot fines instead of going to court.   more...

Cash boost for Tracie’s charity cycle challenge

LOCAL radio presenter Tracie Young was wheelie delighted when members of the Dengie Hundred Round Table boosted her forthcoming charity fundraising efforts with a £1,000 cheque.   more...

Youngsters get active

FUN was the order of the day when 60 young people from across Essex spent a day of their Easter holidays learning new activities.   more...

Edna marks her 103rd

A FEISTY woman who used to ride a motorbike in the 1920s has just celebrated her 103rd birthday.   more...

Nursery scores top marks with Ofsted

A CHILDREN'S day care centre has been rated outstanding by Ofsted inspectors.   more...

Dog's adder agony

A FATHER is warning residents to be on their guard after his dog was bitten by an adder.   more...

Maldon invasion

HORDES of visitors could descend on Maldon this summer thanks to the relaunched Maldon Promotions Group (MPG).   more...

Building blocks are ‘falling into place’ at council

FOLLOWING its damning report last year, the Audit Commission has found Maldon Council has made vast improvements.   more...

Campaigners on cycle path trail

A MEETING to launch a campaign to make cycling safer between Southminster and Burnham proved such a big attraction it was forced to move to a larger venue.   more...

Volunteers take to the airwaves

FULL-TIME broadcasting by Burnham's own Saint FM radio station is due to start this year.   more...

Highways boss quits cabinet

ONE of Mid-Essex's most influential politicians has announced he is stepping down from Essex County Council's cabinet.   more...

Town shocked by air crash deaths

AS the town comes to terms with the tragic death of a respected pillar of the community, tributes continue to flood in.   more...

Tributes to mother and father killed in air accident

THEY were very loving and caring and were always keen to do absolutely anything they could for us.   more...

Maldon And Burnham Standard Sport

Dutch win is magic for Ben, 13

YOUNG Burnham sailor Ben Harden returned from Holland as part of a victorious British team.   more...

Indicators are good for another strong season at cycling club

TO better the unprecedented success of the Maldon & District Cycling Club's activities in 2006 seems a tall order, but at this early point in the season, there are strong indicators that this may well come about.   more...

Injury-hit Swifts fight back for draw at Hendon

HEYBRIDGE Swifts' dwindling season continued with a 1-1 draw at Hendon.   more...

Shave sees red at Ware

MALDON Town edged a step closer to gaining a play-off place in Ryman League division one north when they drew 1-1 at Ware.   more...

Maldon triumph over Writtle Wanderers

IN WEATHER better suited to cricket rather than rugby, Writtle Wanderers travelled to local rival Maldon for their final league game of their maiden season in Essex division one but lost 14-10.   more...

Thurrock Gazette News

Graffit on memorial angers residents

EAST Tilbury residents have been left sickened by the actions of vandals who have covered the much cherished Bata War memorial on Princess Margaret Road with graffiti.   more...

Hit and run drama

The driver of a stolen van who deliberately reversed into a Grays motorist is being sought by Thurrock Police.   more...

McFly back drugs awareness tour

Chart-topping band McFly have recorded a special video message for all the children attending this year's 2 Smart 4 Drugs tour.   more...

Station expansion plans announced

RAIL Commuters from Thurrock could be waving goodbye to cramped trains sooner than they think, after Network Rail announced improvement plans.   more...

Thurrock sex text cop sacked

A THURROCK police officer has been sacked after texting naked pictures of himself to a young woman.   more...

Safety under review at BP refinery

SAFETY precautions at BP'S Coryton oil refinery are still under review, almost six months after two workers were injured in a fire at the plant.   more...

Thurrock Gazette Sport

Crunch time for Fleet and Hayrettin

THURROCK boss Hakan Hayrettin has called on his team to stay calm and focused as their season-long battle against relegation from the Conference South reaches its climax.   more...

Edinburgh confident as fans call for united effort

Grays Athletic face one of the biggest weeks of their footballing lives.   more...

  
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