Stories for 17 June 2007

Echo Education

How Crays Hill's confounding the critics

A SCHOOL which suffered from plummeting pupil numbers and high truancy figures is making a remarkable recovery.   more...

School's £2m hi-tech boost

A SCHOOL will receive a £2million injection of Government cash to improve its computers and information technology.   more...

Echo News

Cannabis catches fire

A CANNABIS plantation caught fire at a house in Westcliff.   more...

Boy injured in crash

A BOY suffered serious head injuries when his dad's car was in collision with a motorbike.   more...

Town leads trend of garden homes

GARDENS are quickly disappearing in Basildon as developers use the land for seven out of ten new homes.   more...

Arson safety fears

A DEVASTATED woman said she fears rebuilding her family business in case racist arsonists attack a third time.   more...

Fined...fot turning bungalow into house

A MAN has been ordered to pay £16,000 for turning his bungalow in the green belt into a house.   more...

War on illegal tobacco trade

SMUGGLERS have been dealt a devastating blow after Customs officers seized more than seven million cigarettes in just two months.   more...

Boy arrested for possessing firearm

ARMED police arrested a 12-year-old boy after he was seen brandishing what was believed to be a handgun.   more...

Friends beaten and robbed

TWO teenage friends were beaten and robbed by a gang of thugs.   more...

Man's balaclava ban

A NEIGHBOUR from hell has been banned from wearing a balaclava for the next ten years after he failed in his attempts to have his strict antisocial behaviour order reduced.   more...

Police action paying off

A CLAMPDOWN on youths gathering in a busy car park has reduced antisocial behaviour problems, police have claimed.   more...

Tributes to blaze victim

A NEIGHBOUR has paid tribute to a man who died in a shed fire.   more...

Big fall in asylum sekkers

THE number of asylum seekers in Southend has fallen dramatically in the past year - there are currently just 13.   more...

Forced to introduce spy cameras

A COUPLE say they have been forced to put up CCTV cameras after losing more than £2,000 of belongings to thieves in recent weeks.   more...

Busman can keep licence

A BUS driver has been allowed to keep his licence - despite being caught driving his car without insurance.   more...

Police warning to homeowners

THIEVES are targeting plants and garden ornaments in Southend, police have warned.   more...

School's £2m hi-tech boost

A SCHOOL will receive a £2million injection of Government cash to improve its computers and information technology.   more...

Ebay scammer locked up

A TEENAGER has been locked up after he defrauded Ebay shoppers out of more than £13,000 by selling goods that did not exist.   more...

Battle on the gas giants

TWO energy giants will go head to head at a public inquiry deciding the future of Calor Gas's expansion plans.   more...

Council's £300,000 bill for auditors

CASTLE Point Council has had to fork out more than £300,000 in external auditing fees in the past two years in an effort to improve on its "poor" status.   more...

Consultation costs double

THE cost of a consultation on the future of Hadleigh has more than doubled, it has been revealed.   more...

Basildon boy is latest BB contestant

BASILDON boy Brian Belo has walked into the Big Brother house.   more...

Thurrock Gazette News

Day to remember at Purfleet

On Sunday, June 25 a special one-day event will take place at the Purfleet Heritage & Military Centre.   more...

Getting healthy and having fun

An opportunity to improve your health and fitness - and have fun while you're doing it - is the promise of a new programme of keep fit classes, organised by Thurrock Healthy Living Centre.   more...

Friends rally to hospital with hi-tech donation

PATIENTS with certain kidney problems could be saved the need for surgery, thanks to the donation of a high-tech piece of equipment.   more...

Off duty cop's arrest ends with man in court after bus crash

A MAN will appear before Grays Magistrates on Monday after an off-duty police officer caught him trying to escape after a road crash.   more...

Thurrock Gazette Sport

Rocks girls land sponsorship

EAST Thurrock United Ladies FC held a party at their Rookery Hill ground on Saturday to celebrate the formation of their new club and to recognise the achievements of their players during the 2006-07 season when they played under the Corringham Cosmos banner.   more...