Echo news from Southend, Basildon, Castle Point, Rayleigh, Rochford, Wickford, Billericay, Thurrock

Stories for 17 January 2003

Basildon,Brentwood,Essex News

Billericay: Mugging victim calls for CCTV

A council has promised to look at improving lighting and drainage in the area surrounding the skateboard park in Lake Meadows after a man was mugged in the area.   more...

Basildon,Essex News

Canvey: Blue watch are family's heroes

Firefighters today told how they rebuilt a disabled boy's bike after it was almost destroyed by arsonists.   more...

Basildon: Wall to stop boy racers

A Basildon retail complex is spending tens of thousands of pounds to prevent "boy racers" turning it into a racetrack.   more...

Canvey: Island lake will be dredged back to life

A picturesque Canvey lake could soon receive a much-needed facelift, it was revealed today.   more...

Basildon,Essex Sport

Soccer: Strength in depth lifts Gulls' hopes

Canvey Island are moving closer to having a full squad available as they head for a crunch period in their fight for Ryman Premier honours.   more...

Chelmsford,Essex Business

Chelmsford: Seeds removed after poison discovery

Discovery of the deadly poison ricin in a North London house last week has resulted in a Chelmsford garden centre taking castor oil seeds off its shelves.   more...

Colchester,Essex News

Colchester: Ex-student cleared of lip attack

An ex-student has been cleared of biting off part of another man's bottom lip.   more...

Colchester: Vicious attack on teenager

A teenager was viciously beaten by robbers in Colchester after they stole £100 from him   more...

Colchester: Roads bosses say 'sorry' for diversions

Highways bosses have apologised to people in Colchester who will be affected by a major road closure this month.   more...

Colchester: Soldier died from lethal cocktail

A paratrooper who was in pain after a parachuting accident died after taking a lethal mix of home-made wine and paracetamol, an inquest heard.   more...

Colchester: Tributes paid to Jeanette

Tributes have been paid to a "wonderful and bubbly" mother-of-two who died suddenly after a brain haemorrhage.   more...

Colchester,Essex Sport

Soccer: U's look to end Wigan's winning run

Joe Keith is ready to make Second Division leaders Wigan Athletic pay the penalty if they slip up against Colchester United tomorrow.   more...

Soccer: Thomas - We can defy odds

Thomas Gaardsoe believes Ipswich Town are still in with a shout of defying the odds and qualifying for automatic promotion.   more...

Essex Business

Stansted: Airport baggage staff accept pay deal

Industrial chaos at Stansted Airport and others across the country has been averted after ground staff accepted a pay deal.   more...

Tendring: Rice firm plan fear

Fears that a rice factory could be in breach of planning regulations will be handed to Tendring Council.   more...

Southend: Airport is `fighting for survival'

At least 300 new jobs will be created if Southend Airport is allowed to carry out its expansion plans, it has been revealed.   more...

Harwich: Streets not right for cash machine

Plans to give the centre of old Harwich its first cash machine have hit an unusual snag - its streets are in the wrong place.   more...

Essex News

Cressing: Accident at blackspot

Another accident has taken place at a notorious blackspot where campaigners have been fighting to have the speed limit cut.   more...

Clacton: Alison drives over desert - in a Lada

A Clacton teacher has taken part in a 3,157-mile rally across the deserts of North Africa... in a Lada car.   more...

Uttlesford: Mobile paramedic plan

A mobile paramedic could soon be boosting health services in the Uttlesford area.   more...

Kirby: Care home change

A village nursing home is set to become a residence for adults with learning difficulties.   more...

Essex: Prince to stand in at flood service

Prince Edward will be standing in for the Queen at a service in Essex commemorating the tragic East Coast floods.   more...

Rayleigh: Bedsit elderly to get flats

The first stage of an £482,000 refurbishment scheme for an elderly housing complex has been launched.   more...

Essex: 15 hours of chaos on M25

Drivers on the M25 in south Essex endured serious tailbacks in today's rush hour after a lorry got stuck in a drain next to the central reservation.   more...

Witham: Children saw knife attack on mother

Young children watched in horror as their father attacked his wife, severing the tendons in her hand, a court heard.   more...

Braintree, Witham: New-look wardens on the beat soon?

Controversial street wardens paid to help police fight crime could soon be on the streets of Braintree and Witham.   more...

Benfleet: School's memorial to head

Hundreds of people were tonight expected to pay tribute at a special memorial service for a former Benfleet headteacher.   more...

Braintree, Halstead: Delays at Foley Corner

Motorists using a road between Braintree and Halstead faced delays at peak times as urgent repair work was done to the road surface.   more...

Castle Point: Bob bids to ban street boozers

Youngsters could soon be drinking their last tipple in public.   more...

Witham: Residents want rid of lorries

A total of 350 Witham residents have signed a petition appealing for heavy lorries to be kept out of Bridge Street.   more...

Jaywick: 'What's the point of useless CCTV?'

Government-funded spy cameras in Jaywick were never connected to the CCTV monitoring centre and no longer work.   more...

South Essex: Directors sent to crown court

Two company directors accused of the man-slaughter of 15-year-old Dean Butler will be tried at Basildon Crown Court.   more...

Rayleigh: Ramraider nabs cigarettes haul

More than £1,000 of cigarettes were stolen today after a ramraider smashed his way into an off-licence in Rayleigh.   more...

Witham: Scheme asks residents to rethink their rubbish

The first stage of rolling out Witham's controversial recycling scheme to Braintree and Bocking is taking place.   more...

Clacton: Kung-fu enthusiast meant no harm

A man accused of practising martial arts in a town centre told a court he did not mean to frighten or alarm anyone.   more...

South Woodham Ferrers: Driver shaken after gun incident

A bus driver was left badly shaken after a youth pointed a gun at his bus in South Woodham Ferrers.   more...

Essex Sport

Soccer: Canvey ace Rudi is on the hunt for big game

Canvey's new signing Jukka "Rudi" Ruhanen is a man for the big game -- and not just on the football field.   more...

Soccer: Irons plan to shock leaders

West Ham look to continue their survival bid by pulling off an unlikely result away to league leaders Arsenal on Sunday (kick-off 2pm).   more...

Soccer: No transfer news says Royle

Joe Royle today quashed the latest batch of transfer rumours surrounding Ipswich Town.   more...

Rugby: Braintree face double test

Braintree face up to a gruelling two games in 48 hours this weekend - providing the perils of the English winter don't intervene and thwart their plans to play their first competitive rugby of the new year for a second week running.   more...

Essex,Southend News

Southend: Blaze mum dies

A pregnant woman who became a human fireball has died.   more...

Southend: Five rescued in blaze drama

Five people were rescued from a burning building when a blaze ripped through a first floor flat in Northlands Lodge in Southchurch Road, Southend, early today.   more...

Shoebury: Puppy's killer `must be caught'

A leading animal rights campaigner has urged Shoebury residents to help catch the killer of a puppy stabbed and left to die.   more...

Southend: Bypass on agenda again

Plans for a new northern bypass for Southend could again be on the agenda at Essex County Council.   more...

Essex,Southend Sport

Soccer: Captain's honour suits long-serving Beard

Southend United right-back Mark Beard said he would be honoured to carry on as captain when Rochdale visit Roots Hall tomorrow.   more...

Rugby: Southend want return to form

Southend will be looking to bounce back when London Nigerians visit Warners Park tomorrow (2.15pm) for a London One clash.   more...

Rugby: Westcliff lifted by coaching pairing

Westcliff Rugby Club are resurgent again this season -- and it's all down to their new coaching duo.   more...

Soccer: Robson signs for Southend

Former Arsenal, West Ham and Coventry City midfielder Stewart Robson will be unveiled as Southend United's new first team coach today.   more...

Essex,Thurrock News

Grays: New road plan to end queues

The much-criticised Grays town centre one-way system will soon disappear.   more...

Essex,Thurrock Sport

Soccer: Purfleet need good neighbours

They're neighbours rather than friends, but Purfleet will reckon it's about time that Grays did them a favour.   more...

Athletics: Nunn strides to join the big league boys

There were plenty of local successes when the Essex Cross-Country League season came to fruition with the final round in cold conditions at the Stubbers Centre, Upminster.   more...

Soccer: Arlesey offer test for Tilbury

Tilbury's recent revival will be put to the test at Arlesey.   more...

  
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