Stories for 11 July 2007

Billericay Weekly News News

Gipsies and council square up for new confrontation

A 400-STRONG clan of travellers has put a "homeless application" into the council, warning: "Leave us alone - or find us somewhere we can all live together".   more...

Buckley: We are not going soft on travellers

BASILDON'S council leader has hit back at claims his authority has "gone soft" on travellers.   more...

Fake buyer drives off in car

A MOTORIST told of his shock after his £8,000 Ford Focus Ghia was stolen by a thief posing as a buyer.   more...

Residents can have their say on town

BILLERICAY residents can have their say on the future of the town at two mobile roadshows designed to gauge public feedback.   more...

Braintree And Witham Times News

Villagers get into the carnival spirit

COGGESHALL will be going carnival crazy with a week of fun events before the big day.   more...

CCTV improvements planned for town

COMMUNITY and business leaders are moving forward with plans to improve CCTV systems in a crackdown on crime.   more...

Fire service rewards heroes

LIFE-SAVING heroes have won awards in recognition of their achievements.   more...

Vets help Egyptian animals

ANIMAL lovers have been collecting medicines and equipment to help animals in Egypt.   more...

School heading for academy status?

A WITHAM school could become a groundbreaking academy and the first of its kind in the country.   more...

Youth worker becomes first police participation officer

A WITHAM youth worker is hoping to build better relationships between young people and the police, after being appointed to a groundbreaking role at Essex Police.   more...

Braintree And Witham Times Sport

Golf: Pease wants an England spot

Jenny Pease has set her sights on an England place following her excellent performances over recent weeks.   more...

Athletics: Coach to help Hedman quest

Japan is in Graham Hedman's sights - and he is doing everything he can to get there.   more...

Football: Play with the stars

Budding footballers will have the chance to rub shoulders with their Braintree Town heroes at a soccer camp later this month.   more...

Football: Witham host the Shrimpers

Witham Town play host to Coca-Cola League One side Southend United on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.   more...

Football: Danny eyes a big move

Leeds United target Danny Gay has not ruled out a return to Braintree Town for next season.   more...

Brentwood Weekly News News

Travellers won’t relocate to Pilgrims Hatch field

THERE is no indication travellers will move onto land in Pilgrims Hatch, according to Brentwood Council leader Brandon Lewis.   more...

‘Irresponsible driving’ led to passenger’s death

A WOMAN has been found guilty of killing a passenger in her car after she crashed on the A127, near Horndon.   more...

Gipsies face red light on planning application

A GROUP of travellers may be evicted from plots in Ingatestone after a four-year legal wrangle.   more...

Brentwood Weekly News Sport

Town have a full pre-season fixture list planned

THERE'S more than just Charlton on the pre-season fixtures list, though.   more...

Chelmsford Weekly News News

Alex has sights on a top-flight darts hope

A YOUNG darts ace has set his sights on the top, after winning a host of trophies, two years into the game.   more...

World war bomb scare in Chelmsford

RESIDENTS were evacuated from their homes after a bomb scare at a housing development in Chelmsford.   more...

Hospital ward to close

A SURGICAL ward at Broomfield Hospital is to be closed.   more...

Fresh round of strikes from Royal Mail

A SECOND round of postal strikes could bring mail services in Chelmsford to a standstill.   more...

Shoppers raise Red Cross cash

GENEROUS supermarket shoppers helped raise cash for the British Red Cross.   more...

Weekly News poem contest winners revealed

IT was presentation night   more...

Echo Education

Pupils test their engineering skills

TEENAGERS grabbed their tool boxes for a brain-stretching day exploring the world of engineering and technology.   more...

Echo News

Lady luck smiles on newborn girl

LADY Luck must be shining for a newborn baby who was born with all the sevens, considered to be one of the most fortuitous numbers there are.   more...

Rubbish truck crash

POLICE were called after a rubbish truck was in collision with a family car.   more...

It's prom time, but where are the boys?

A PROCESSION of limos glided through Canvey for a school prom.   more...

Man-made islands for Thames Estuary?

IMAGINE looking out at the Thames Estuary from Southend seafront.   more...

Fined for selling booze to children under 18

A SHOPKEEPER who ignored warnings not to sell alcohol to underage youngsters has been slapped with a £2,230 fine.   more...

Women locked in burning toilet block

TWO women were locked inside a burning toilet block when they went to investigate a fire.   more...

Fire in office block

A FIRE broke out in the bin room of an office block.   more...

Updated: Car chase after street attack

POLICE hope a mobile phone left in a Landrover will lead them to the gang of thugs who beat up a man.   more...

Rain, sun, hail, thunderstorms... whatever next?

THE British weather has always been unpredictable. One day it's raining, the next sunny. But the past few months have taken this to new levels.   more...

Massive windfall for Canvey family centre

A CENTRE giving vital help to families on Canvey has received a cash windfall of more than £50,000.   more...

No making hay while the sun doesn’t shine

FARMERS are worried about the shortage of hay this year - because heavy rainfall has spoiled the crop.   more...

Why kids are kicking classroom problems

TEENAGERS at risk of being excluded from school are taking part in new life skills sessions at Southend United's football ground to help them stay in class.   more...

Video: CCTV footage of suspected robber

POLICE want to speak to a man in this CCTV footage in connection with a burglary in which £10,000 was stolen.   more...

Parents' fears over £42m schools merger

PARENTS aired their concerns at a public meeting about turning two Basildon schools into a £42 million academy.   more...

Phone clue as police hunt gang of attackers

POLICE hope a mobile phone left in a Land Rover will lead them to the gang of thugs who beat up a man.   more...

School of rock: Children call the tune

JUNIOR singing sensations made sure they composed themselves correctly during their school open day.   more...

Charity aims to get children on stage

A RAYLEIGH charity is holding a free theatre workshop for disadvantaged teenagers or those with special needs.   more...

Third time lucky for church rebuild plan?

A CHURCH could be demolished and rebuilt along with new housing, if councillors agree to the plan.   more...

Council to reject more traveller site provision

BASILDON councillors are expected to reject calls to increase the numbers of legal travellers sites in the district.   more...

Docs go into bat for StrokeBusters

DOCTORS from Southend Hospital are swapping one white uniform for another when they play in a fundraising cricket match.   more...

Baron leaves shadow health post

BILLERICAY Tory MP John Baron has left his post as a shadow junior health minister, following David Cameron's shake-up.   more...

Two school buses for traveller camp

TWO free buses are being run to take traveller children to Crays Hill Primary School every day - even though they live less than a mile away.   more...

MP Baron's new role as a whip

MP John Baron has left his post as a shadow junior health minister after five years following David Cameron's shake-up.   more...

Manhunt launched following burglary

A BURGLARY suspect gave police the slip, sparking a full-scale search.   more...

Doorstep shooting: Victim out of hospital

A MAN blasted on his doorstep in a gangland-style shooting has been released from hospital.   more...

Brothel charges are dropped

A MAN accused of running a brothel has had the charges against him dropped.   more...

Wildlife could block eco-friendly centre

BATS and owls could scupper plans for a £2.7million visitor centre.   more...

Conmen strike at pensioners' homes

CROOKS posing as council workers duped their way into two pensioners homes in the same road at the same time.   more...

Row over street 'clutter'

TO traders it might seem like good advertising, but to councillors it was nearly worth an Asbo.   more...

Let me build homes for our young

THE mastermind be-hind a proposed huge green belt development has explained why he has scaled down the plans.   more...

Quality mark for literacy and numeracy

TEACHERS at a Leigh school are celebrating after the school picked up a Basic Skills Quality Mark.   more...

Massive windfall for family centre

A CENTRE giving vital help to families on Canvey has received a cash windfall of more than £50,000.   more...

Children saddle up for fun

YOUNGSTERS saddled up during an action-packed American- themed gymkhana.   more...

Can you give us a lift?

CASTLE Point Social Care Scheme is looking for volunteers to drive elderly and disabled residents around the borough.   more...

Waterbombers on the run

TEENAGERS who broke a bus windscreen by hurling water-bombs are being sought by police.   more...

Homes in garden back on agenda

A REJECTED planning application to develop five homes in a single garden will get a second hearing amid claims of unfair treatment.   more...

Fined for selling booze to under-18s

A SHOPKEEPER who ignored warnings not to sell alcohol to underage youngsters has been slapped with a £2,230 fine.   more...

Kind cabbies treat kids to day at seaside

LONDON taxi drivers treated hundreds of disadvantaged and special needs children to a   more...

Get close to a Vulcan bomber

PLANE spotters will have the opportunity to get a close look at a famous bomber at Southend Airport later this month.   more...

Derelict site to become flats block?

TWO derelict factories which have become a magnet for vandals could be demolished to make way for a five-storey block of flats.   more...

She follows her team religiously!

IT was an unusual send off, but then not too many vicars are ardent footie fans.   more...

£17k to help fix up hall

A SEVEN-YEAR project to revitalise a rundown hall and turn it into a home for a youth football team has moved a step closer thanks to a £17,000 grant from Essex County Council.   more...

The pensioners banned from treadmill

HEALTH-CONSCIOUS pensioners in sheltered housing have blasted barmy council officers who have told them not to use their treadmill.   more...

Action on pupils missing school to take holidays

PARENTS who take their children away on holiday during term time face tough action from Thurrock Council.   more...

Walking for kids’ dreams

DOZENS of fundraisers walked ten miles along Southend seafront to help a charity grant wishes to terminally ill children.   more...

Echo Sport

Notts hit back with a centuries hat-trick

ESSEX hopes of enforcing the follow-on in their match with Nottinghamshire at Chelms-ford were thwarted by three visiting batsmen reaching centuries.   more...

East backs new leaders to succeed

ESSEX chief executive David East believes the county's new leadership team will bring even more success to the Ford County Ground.   more...

Fairview win again to extend lead to 40 points

RAYLEIGH Fairview extended their lead at the top of T.Rippon Mid-Essex League Division Three to a staggering 40 points with a fine 83-run win over South Woodham Ferrers.   more...

Gazette Features

Terry turns the Lib Dems blue

It sounds a bit like the Night of the Long Knives.   more...

How can you tell if you’re an inspirational teacher?

How do you gauge whether two decades as headteacher of Clacton's biggest secondary school have been a success?   more...

Gazette News

Colchester: What a stink!

A pile of rubbish is causing a stink, because it hasn't been collected for almost a month.   more...

Bures: Blaze pensioner loses fight for life

A pensioner who was dragged from her burning house by passers-by has died from her injuries.   more...

Colchester: Train sets off with open doors

Rail passengers were thrown against carriage walls after a train set off while they were boarding.   more...

Colchester: Lib Dems furious at pair’s defection to the Tories

Furious Lib Dem leaders have called for councillors Terry and Craig Sutton to resign and fight a by-election after they defected to the Tories.   more...

Essex: Ciggie laws could spark fury at tills

Checkouts could become new crime hotspots with staff being on the end of violent abuse, it has been warned.   more...

Chappel, Colchester: Power failure puts end to race dreams

A village school's bid to follow in Lewis Hamilton's tyre tracks stalled when their racing kart ran out of juice.   more...

St Osyth: 'Freedom fight' as row hots up

A band of self-proclaimed "freedom fighters" has vowed to remove fencing around a historic landmark in their village.   more...

Clacton: Hovercraft calls in for a pitstop

This hovercraft paid a visit to Clacton's West Beach, en route to Scotland.   more...

Clacton, Halstead: Widow pays tribute to bike mad Gary

The grieving widow of a biker killed in a crash has paid tribute to her husband.   more...

Brightlingsea: Charity cyclists

Forget the Tour de France - pedal power was out in force in Brightlingsea as cyclists geared up for a charity fundraiser.   more...

Dovercourt: School scoops top sporting prize

A sporting primary school has scooped a top football award.   more...

Clacton: Save our school!

A seaside secondary school under threat of closure has hit back.   more...

Colchester, Brightlingsea: Alarm as bus route is axed

A vital bus route is for the chop - but a rival firm hopes to come to the rescue.   more...

Clacton: Pier leap was just a laugh says friend

Friends of a man who died when he jumped off Clacton Pier have described the moments before he took the fatal leap.   more...

Great Oakley: Hundreds enjoy village fun day

More than 800 people turned out for a village fun day.   more...

Holland-on-Sea: Gran, 84 hits out at bag thief 'scumrat'

A shocked 84-year-old has condemned a thief who ran off with her handbag.   more...

Essex: Hoax 999 callers ‘could cost lives’

Emergency phone lines are flooded with hundreds of hoax calls each month - raising fears that lives could be put at risk.   more...

Clacton: Care home owner defiant over fight

A care home owner is prepared to lose his livelihood over a fight with Essex County Council.   more...

Essex: School online plan is £4m

Essex County Council plans to spend £4 million on a new computer system that will allow pupils and staff across the county to communicate online.   more...

Maldon And Burnham Standard News

Huge plan for town centre

MALDON could be changed beyond recognition as major plans are revealed to launch up to three multi-million pound schemes in the heart of the town.   more...

Controversial plan rocked by demo

A PROTEST marked the start of a planning appeal which could now be thrown out after dramatic events on the opening day.   more...

Annie’s dream of school has come true!

A SCHOOLGIRL is finally set to receive the education she is entitled to.   more...

We’re just tops

A SCHOOL is celebrating after confirmation its pupils and staff are tops.   more...

Cows back on heath... 30 years on

LAWNMOO-ERS are being used to prevent a historic heath turning into woodland.   more...

Alarms to keep us safe

PENSIONERS targeted by criminals are being offered alarms to combat the crooks.   more...

Skaters move a step closer to getting their own park in village

A SKATE park in Maylandsea has moved a step closer after possible designs were placed on the village website.   more...

Residents: ‘We want speed calming’

RESIDENTS have told of the road hell in their neighbourhood.   more...

Thurrock Gazette News

Campus students shine at regional awards

A Thurrock student has been honoured with a special award at the Work with Schools' annual awards ceremony.   more...

Nicola bids for Divinity

A BOROUGH beauty is looking for support in her bid to be named the face of new London-based modelling agency Divinity.   more...

Marianne spins award-winning yarn

A STUDENT at Grays School and Media Arts College has won a prestigious national award and spoken of her ambition to become Prime Minister.   more...

Watchdog calls on council to change policy on contracting business

THURROCK councillors look set to reverse a plan to turn its back on local suppliers.   more...

Old folk's anger over treadmill ban

PENSIONERS have blasted a decision by Thurrock Council officers to confiscate a treadmill they have been using for three years without problems.   more...

Valued volunteers

MANY of Thurrock's young volunteers were publicly celebrated for their time and efforts recently, receiving Millennium Volunteer Awards.   more...

Firm's boost for school

YOUNGSTERS in Orsett will be sitting pretty thanks to a donation from the employees charity fund at Proctor and Gamble.   more...

Flying high over Thurrock discovery

A THURROCK park is the venue for a rare discovery that has delighted naturalists.   more...

Wacky girls set charity target

A TEAM from Grays will be walking the Trailwalker 100 km challenge on Saturday (July 14) for charity.   more...

Birthday Beavers

THAMESIDE Carina Beaver scouts had great fun competing in an It's A Knockout type tournament to celebrate their 10th birthday.   more...

Scary days in Orsett

THE Orsett Scarecrows are blossoming again this week, ready for the Orsett in Bloom Gardens Open Day on Sunday afternoon, when residents of the village open their gardens to the public.   more...

Whitewash claim over pool pic incident

GRAYS parents are outraged and have alleged a whitewash over claims that a man was caught photographing small girls at Blackshots swimming pool.   more...

Youngsters step out for prizes

WINNERS of road safety prize draws have been presented with their awards by Thurrock Mayor Diane Revell.   more...

  
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