Stories for 10 January 2008

Billericay Weekly News News

Billericay thief begs judge for prison sentence

A THIEF who stole alcohol from a supermarket pleaded to be sent to prison, prompting a judge to warn: "Have a look at the old lags in prison and decide if you want to end up like them."   more...

Braintree And Witham Times News

Town's post office to shut, but bid made for new branch

Braintree's only town post office will close in a matter of weeks.   more...

"No excuses for delays"

A commuters' watchdog has said "there were absolutely no excuses" for engineering delays which caused chaos on the railways.   more...

Homebase eyes Braintree

DIY giant Homebase has confirmed it is interested in opening a store in the Braintree area.   more...

Local hospitals unaffected by winter vomiting bug

Braintree and Chelmsford hospital wards have been unaffected by outbreaks of the winter vomiting bug which has caused more than 70 wards across England and Wales to close.   more...

Perseverance pays off for parishioners

The new year has brought new hope to a village community.   more...

Latest GCSE and A-Level league tables are released

Headteachers gave a mixed response to the latest set of league tables, which set out the achievements of students who took GCSE and A-levels earlier this year.   more...

Braintree And Witham Times Sport

Last to assess reserves squad

Witham Town do not have a game tomorrow.   more...

Winning return for Gibson

The return of Lorne Gibson after illness helped Rayne Swan 1 to a 3-0 win over Feering Bell in the Braintree and District Petanque League.   more...

Riders excel at Pride of Essex challenge

Braintree BMX Club played host to the first race meeting of its kind - The Pride of Essex Challenge - between Braintree and Dagenham, the only two current racing clubs in Essex.   more...

Black and Ambers start new year in style

Braintree secured a well-deserved 14-12 victory over Norwich to start the new year in style in London League division three north-east.   more...

Brentwood Weekly News News

Man arrested after quad bike death

A 46-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested following the death of young Elizabeth Cooke.   more...

Chelmsford Weekly News News

Mum awaits soldier son's return

A MOTHER whose son is fighting in Afghanistan is counting the days until his return.   more...

Racecourse opening delay

A Racecourse that was due to open 14 months ago might not open until mid-March.   more...

Chelmsford school tops the national league tables

A CHELMSFORD secondary school has topped the league tables.   more...

Chelmsford schools celebrate league table results

STUDENTS and teachers in Chelmsford have proved their worth yet again.   more...

Chelmsford Weekly News Sport

City to find out opponents in cup semi

Chelmsford City will discover their FansFocus.Com Essex Senior Cup semi-final opponents this evening when the Draw is broadcast live on BBC Essex at 4.30pm.   more...

Clacton And Frinton Gazette News

Tendring: 47,000 parking tickets issued

Traffic wardens have handed motorists more than 47,000 tickets since a council took control of parking enforcement.   more...

Frinton: School will offer morning after pill

Students at a school in Frinton are being given condoms and the morning after pill as part of a new scheme to cut the high rates of teenage pregnancy in Tendring.   more...

Frinton: Unloved road adoption call

Campaigning residents are calling for a vital route into Frinton to be brought up to scratch.   more...

Tendring: Grant scheme under-fire

A GRANT-giving scheme run by Tendring Council has been accused of lacking transparency.   more...

Tendring: Website hits will save council cash

CUSTOMERS getting in touch with Tendring Council will be "influenced" towards using its website and away from face-to-face contact.   more...

Clacton: Boost for two charities

VULNERABLE children and stroke survivors in Clacton will benefit from a share of a £1,250 Co-operative Community Fund payout.   more...

Tendring: Fresh appeal for fatal crash witnesses

TRAFFIC cops have appealed for two motorists who stopped at the scene of a fatal crash in the village of Tendring to come forward.   more...

Jaywick: Wardens' purge on abandoned cars

STREET wardens are launching a purge on untaxed vehicles in Jaywick.   more...

Clacton: Chamber to tackle wheelchair issue

CLACTON Chamber of Trade and Tourism is tackling the lack of accommodation in the town for wheelchair-bound visitors.   more...

Frinton: College celebrates top marks

TENDRING Technology College has been listed in the top five per cent schools in the country in the latest GCSE league tables.   more...

Clacton, St Osyth: Murder verdict - three jailed

THE detective who lead a murder investigation in St Osyth which resulted in a three-man gang being jailed for 85 years has described the case as "unreal".   more...

Jaywick: Arrest made after suspected arson

A couple had to lead their toddler son to safety when the house next door was gutted in a suspected arson.   more...

Clacton And Frinton Gazette Sport

Seasiders have promotion in their sights

Clacton Rugby Club are gunning for promotion glory after starting the new year with a bang.   more...

Echo News

Canvey Heritage Centre needs £45,000 facelift

CANVEY Heritage Centre is hoping to raise more than £8,000 towards a much needed revamp.   more...

Billericay thief begs judge for prison sentence

A THIEF who stole alcohol from a supermarket pleaded to be sent to prison, prompting a judge to warn: "Have a look at the old lags in prison and decide if you want to end up like them."   more...

BREAKING NEWS: Woman jailed for Hannah's death

A WOMAN was jailed today (Thursday) for four years for the manslaughter of her adoptive mother.   more...

Town centre ‘being killed by rising rents’

CANVEY town centre is dying because of "extortionate" rents imposed on businesses, it has been claimed.   more...

Gun threat accused: I was at party

A MAN claimed he was at his friend's 18th birthday party at the time he is accused of threatening a sports centre supervisor at gunpoint.   more...

Student stole IDs to insure his BMW

A NIGERIAN student stole strangers' identities so he could insure his cars.   more...

Hammers give youngsters skills tips

WEST Ham United coaches trained primary school children in Billericay yesterday afternoon.   more...

MP’s attack over political donation

A SENIOR Government minister has been asked to explain a failure to declare tens of thousands of pounds in donations after the intervention of a south Essex MP.   more...

Grandfather steps up road campaign

A GRANDFATHER who is campaigning to have a crossing in-stalled outside a school has handed over a 480-signature petition to county councillors.   more...

Pothole problems set to get deeper

POTHOLES will have to be twice as deep before they are filled in, under new county council proposals.   more...

Essex Police enjoy gay day at the office

ESSEX Police has been named in the top 100 gay friendly employers.   more...

Castle Point MP slams 'railroading' Government

CASTLE Point MP Bob Spink has joined a chorus of disapproval over the Government's attempts to rush through major initiatives on law and order.   more...

Monkey shut in tiny flat for 20 years

ABANDONED puppies and kittens often need new homes after being dumped as unwanted Christmas presents.   more...

Southend MP blasts Essex Police

SOUTHEND West Tory MP David Amess has attacked Essex Police for "arrogant, silly and insulting" responses to complaints.   more...

Arriva to lease top floor of bus station

SOUTHEND Council has given up promoting the new bus station to retailers, admitting they are not interested in the site.   more...

Fines for bogus cabbies

TWO bogus cab drivers have been fined for operating illegally.   more...

Hello, hello, goodbye

SHOPPERS and traders will see a new face out on the beat in Basildon's town centre.   more...

£1,900 fine for noisy music at house party

A NOISY party has cost a woman £1,900.   more...

Search for top apprentices

THE search for the East of England's top apprentices and employers of this year has begun.   more...

Grant for school runs

PUPILS from low income families in Southend are set to receive free transport to schools up to six miles from their home.   more...

No jail for banned driver

A DISQUALIFIED motorist caught driving just weeks before his ban ended has avoided prison - because of his elderly parents.   more...

Jamie Oliver, poultry farming and a very moral TV dilemma

FIRST it was schoolchildren, fed on turkey twizzlers at school.   more...

West End treat for new dancers

STUDENTS at a new dance school in Hockley are off to the West End next month.   more...

Panto was all right on night!

THORPE Bay Afternoon Townswomen's Guild drama group performed its own version of a new panto, Oh What a Nightmare.   more...

My £25,000 gas bill!

A CHEF was staggered to get a gas bill for almost £26,000 - more than 70 times higher than what it should have been.   more...

Grant for school's new chill-out room

YOUNGSTERS attending a Billericay school will soon be able to chill-out after lessons in their own room.   more...

Engineering work affects trains

PASSENGERS will be affected by engineering works on the c2c line tonight.   more...

Setting sail for London

A SOUTH Essex company is unveiling a brand new fishing boat at the London Boat Show today.   more...

Flower power winners

YOUNGSTERS showed they have green fingers when they won a flowerbed competition to celebrate the launch of Thurrock Council's Children's Trust.   more...

Essex Police 'gay friendly'

ESSEX Police has been named in the top 100 gay friendly employers.   more...

Bulge battle begins

HEALTH and fitness clubs across south Essex have reported a surge in new members since the beginning of the year.   more...

Kids need your help

A CHARITY which helps young troublemakers turn their lives around is calling on level-headed people to become volunteer mentors.   more...

Man is jailed for frenzied attack

A MAN who plunged a knife into the chest of his baby's grandfather might never be freed from prison.   more...

Man’s body is found in home

A MAN has been found dead in his home.   more...

Denise Van Outen back with Johnny

FORMER Big Breakfast presenters Johnny Vaughan and Denise Van Outen are being reunited on a breakfast radio show, it was confirmed today.   more...

Cabbie could be hold-up witness

A CABBIE could hold vital clues about an armed hold-up in which £20,000 was stolen.   more...

Traders' surprise at flats plan

BUSINESS owners have reacted angrily after a developer put in flats plans for the parade of shops they lease.   more...

Library bosses lift ban on Rose

AN 87-year-old woman was banned from a library for refusing to pay a fine on a book she says she never borrowed.   more...

School gym will be open to the public

A REVAMPED school gym will reopen to the public this weekend - three years after closing.   more...

Ford dealership open at Dunton

A new Ford dealership has opened in Dunton - to replace the old showroom in Basildon town centre.   more...

Firm steps in to help centre

A HOMELESS centre that was forced to close over Christmas due to vandalism has been given a huge helping hand by a generous businessman.   more...

Grants will help out carers

GRANTS of up to £25,000 are being made available for organisations which help young carers and families of children with disabilities.   more...

Town centre 'being killed by rents'

CANVEY town centre is dying because of "extortionate" rents imposed on businesses, it has been claimed.   more...

Police appeal for help to catch knife-wielding raider

POLICE are hunting a knife-wielding robber who threatened a cashier before escaping with several hundred pounds.   more...

Echo Sport

Town aim to make most of home run

BILLERICAY Town have fought off the interest of five other clubs to sign striker Billy Bricknell from Ryman Premier neighbours Leyton.   more...

Winning starts for Corringham and Stanford

THE Thurrock Indoor Cricket League saw Pegasus and Corringham and Stanford le-Hope make winning starts to the Midweek Division.   more...

Kaneria ready for Zimbabwe

Essex leg-spinner Danish Kaneria's Pakistan team will host Zimbabwe later this month, despite security concerns following the killing of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto on December 27.   more...

Cook heating up for Kiwi test

IT is December 4, 2007 and the sun is setting quickly over the sacred Sri Lankan city of Kandy.   more...

Essex County Standard News

New bridge to join New Town and Gown

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Grant bid to revamp ancient church

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Pupils blast off into new year

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MP wants answers over rail delays

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Gazette Features

If we want clean streets we must act responsibly

The judge, declared Roger Buston, had got it right.   more...

Gazette News

Clacton: Memorial tree to be saved

A memorial tree which was under threat from the axe will be saved.   more...

Harwich: Man’s face kicked to a pulp

A violent assault in which a man's face was "kicked to a pulp" has resulted in his attacker being jailed for 18 months.   more...

St Osyth, Clacton: Props mistress is facing final curtain call

For more than 40 years Sue White has been visiting junk shops and rummaging through bric-a-brac stalls.   more...

Frinton: School will offer morning after pill

Students at a school in Frinton are being given condoms and the morning after pill as part of a new scheme to cut the high rates of teenage pregnancy in Tendring.   more...

Tendring: A real pat on the back!

Tendring Technology College has been listed in the top five per cent of schools in the country in GCSE league tables published today.   more...

Jaywick: Firefighters battle flames at house

Firefighters took almost an hour to put out a house fire in Jaywick.   more...

Colchester: Prison term for drug addict

A drug addict was jailed for failing to keep to the terms of a suspended sentence.   more...

Colchester: Woman injured in collision

A woman was left with serious leg injuries after she was involved in a collision with a Royal Mail van in Colchester.   more...

Colchester: Injured Para fights back to fitness

A soldier who suffered a life-threatening gunshot wound has become the first tetraplegic to return to serve with the Paras.   more...

Stansted: Bid for second airport runway

Stansted Airport is expected to lodge plans for a second runway within ten weeks.   more...

North Essex: Vindicated - Fire crews were right

An investigation into an incident which led to the closure of the A12 and traffic chaos in north Essex has ruled that the fire service "complied with national procedures", the Gazette can reveal.   more...

Colchester: Trooper needed abroad

A paratrooper was excused from doing unpaid work because he is needed on the battlefields of southern Afghanistan.   more...

Bradwell: N-plant decision today

The Government is due to announce its decision on whether to give the go-ahead for a new generation of nuclear power stations today, which could see a new one built at Bradwell.   more...

Essex: Koopa sign up for stateside deal

Chart heroes Koopa will no longer be releasing songs by themselves - after signing with an American record label.   more...

Colchester: Man abused train staff

A homeless man threatened to kill two inspectors who asked for his ticket on an early morning train.   more...

Colchester: Residents speak out on rubbish

Problems with rubbish and litter in Colchester came to a head today after a number of residents contacted the Gazette with different complaints.   more...

Great Bentley: House saved from blaze

Firefighters from Weeley and Brightlingsea were called to deal with a blaze in Linnet Way, Great Bentley.   more...

Colchester: Please use recyclables

Residents and councillors in a Colchester ward have made a plea for containers to put plastic recyclables in after high winds left items strewn about the streets.   more...

Bradwell: New nuclear plant a possibility

The prospect of a second nuclear power station at Bradwell loomed large as the Government announced its support for more nuclear plants.   more...

Colchester: Are we Essex's dirtiest town?

Is Colchester really Essex's dirtiest town?   more...

North Essex: Soldiers' blood transfusions could have been contaminated

Soldiers from Colchester could be caught up in a contaminated blood scandal.   more...

Colchester: New cancer unit open by 2012?

A NEW cancer centre could be open in Colchester by 2012 if work starts in a couple of years.   more...

Gazette Sport

Carter puts friendship on back burner

ALI Carter will put friendship to one side when he faces Shaun Murphy at the Saga Insurance Masters.   more...

Whitnell is on top of the world

TIPTREE golf ace Dale Whitnell is feeling on top of the world.   more...

Wills and Lloyd-Roberts are real winners

A REAL Tennis doubles pairing who were ignominiously defeated in the first round of a major competition got a second chance to compete - and went on to win the tournament.   more...

England call up for Francis

ADAM Francis has joined SD School of Martial Arts' team-mate Ritchie McMillan in winning selection for the England squad for the forthcoming European Junior and Cadet Championships.   more...

Gold for Kearse

COLCHESTER'S Ed Kearse took both gold medals in the junior gents category at the Rayleigh Town Archery Open.   more...

Miller maintains lead

Nathan Miller maintained his lead in the Eastern Cyclo-Cross League with a win in the Gateway/Greenspaces race at Grays.   more...

Youth soccer results

COLCHESTER AND DISTRICT YOUTH LEAGUE   more...

Halstead Gazette News

Progress on riverside walk plans

A project to create a riverside walk, which has been in the pipeline for almost a decade, is now well under way.   more...

Former villagers keep up-to-date down under

A family of four living in Australia like to keep up to date with the latest news from the Halstead area.   more...

Halstead Gazette Sport

Evason equaliser secures point for Colne

Lynton Evason's equaliser ensured Earls Colne a 1-1 draw at third-placed University of Essex, in the Essex and Suffolk Border League premier division.   more...

Halstead on the goal trail again

Halstead Town have proved they are not a one-man team.   more...

Harwich And Manningtree Standard News

Dovercourt: Royal Marine's Help For Dogs

A ROYAL Marine who set a charity to help animals abandoned in Afghanistan is back in the UK -with four-legged friends in tow.   more...

Brantham, Harwich: Football Fundraiser For Tragic Pair

THE memory of a tragic mother and daughter who died at the same spot, will live on thanks to a football fundraiser.   more...

Harwich: Curate Is Moving On

A REVEREND is bidding a fond farewell to her parish after completing her training.   more...

'Titanic' flats plan sunk?

A HOUSING block dubbed "Titanic" because of its giant ship shape would become a slum if it was built, a meeting heard.   more...

A tale of two toilets

THE recent opening of a new £500,000 toilet in Frinton has raised some eyebrows across Tendring. Last month, plans were published to build two new toilet blocks but these were to cost just £50,000 each.   more...

Squirrels plan opposed

CAMPAIGNERS have been given fresh hope in their fight to save a popular social club from being turned into flats.   more...

Harwich And Manningtree Standard Sport

Harwich make a winning start to 2008

Harwich Rugby Club travelled to Norwich to play Lakenham Hewett in their first Eastern Counties League division two game of 2008 and won 26-13.   more...

Maldon And Burnham Standard News

Bradwell Mark 2 moves closer

THE prospect of a second Bradwell Power Station looms large, after Government backing was given for a new generation of N-plants.   more...

Tiny tots taught at library

BABIES, toddlers and tots are being invited into Maldon library for special reading sessions.   more...

Blitz for Land Girl badges

A DELIGHTED museum curator has thanked the Standard after receiving almost a dozen enquiries about commemorative badges already.   more...

Appeal for pub history

THE new landlord of a pub in Maldon is asking for help with her search for pictures of the pub from the past.   more...

Maldon And Burnham Standard Sport

Tips for women's football coaches at Tiptree

One of Britain's finest exponents of player development, the Football Association's John Allpress, will be in Tiptree on Saturday January 26, to deliver a practical session and classroom workshop specifically for coaches of the female game, both male and female.   more...

Thurrock Gazette News

Body discovered in Grays flat; Police name tragic young woman found in Ockendon home

A GRAYS man who appears to have been dead for some time was discovered by police in his home.   more...

Extenuating circumstances of man who downloaded child porn

A LORRY driver who admitted downloading child porn has been spared jail.   more...

Thurrock's OK despite the moaners

IAM a little fed up with letters in the Gazette running down the area I choose to live in so here is my opposite view.   more...

Chance to nominate borough health hero

THE search is on for the borough's health heroes.   more...

Council leader sets recycling example

THURROCK Council Leader, Terry Hipsey, has set a green example' for Thurrock by recycling his Christmas cards.   more...

Return of Unplugged

UNPLUGGED, the show that gives young people the chance to perform their own music at Grays' Thameside Theatre, has returned for five confirmed dates in 2008.   more...

Awards date with TV's Ben

THURROCK slimming experts Raymond Tyler and Susan Simpson got up close and personal with GMTV heartthrob Ben Shephard at a recent awards ceremony at the ICC in Birmingham.   more...

Insurance fraud student gets suspended sentence

A STUDENT who used stolen credit card details to get car insurance was ordered to carry out 200-hours unpaid work for the community.   more...

Fishy theft

VALUABLE fish worth £1,200 were stolen from a pond.   more...

Thurrock education chiefs hit back at misleading school violence figures

THURROCK has been named and shamed in a national newspaper as one of the worst places in the country for violence to teachers - but its council has hit back by saying it figures so prominently because they are taking strong action against all troublemakers.   more...

Council crackdown on unlicensed cab drivers

THURROCK Council have issued a warning to unlicensed taxi and private hire drivers that they will be tracked down.   more...

Thurrock Gazette Sport

Grays sign Spurs keeper

GRAYS Athletic have signed goalkeeper David Button on a month's loan from Tottenham Hotspur.   more...

Grays FA Trophy preview

YORK City versus Grays Athletic in the second round of the FA Trophy on Saturday has all the makings of a classic cup tie.   more...

Danny aims to make it another golden year

AFTER a hectic 2007 away from the track, Danny Crates is set to turn his attention back to winning even more medals.   more...

  
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