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

Stories for 8 August 2003

Basildon,Brentwood,Essex News

Billericay: Tributes flood in for tragic Amy, 8

Tributes today poured in for crash victim Amy Harris, the "bright, bubbly" girl who was always smiling.   more...

Basildon,Essex Business

Canvey: Ramraid blow to computer shop

Ramraiders reversed a car so fast into a Canvey computer shop it ended inside the building.   more...

Basildon,Essex News

Canvey: Train buff steaming

A train enthusiast was devastated after thieves stole three rare railway steam engine name plates worth £60,000.   more...

Basildon, Canvey: Chisel man finally has op on arm

A man who was left on a drip for three days at Basildon Hospital after part of a chisel was buried in his arm has finally had an operation to remove the shard of metal.   more...

Laindon: Dumped rubbish is a fire hazard

Residents have blasted litterbugs who are throwing rubbish on to garage roofs and creating a fire hazard.   more...

Pitsea, Benfleet: Cycle path on hold

Fears of a major traffic snarl-up has prompted council chiefs to shelve work on a new cycle route at Sadlers Farm during peak hours.   more...

Basildon: Fare row cabbie is set to sue council

A furious cab driver today threatened to sue Basildon Council after a charge against him of accepting an illegal fare was dropped.   more...

Canvey: Facelift for arts week

An extravaganza weekend is set to offer youngsters a chance to try their hand at a huge number of activities.   more...

Basildon,Essex Sport

Swimming: National glory for golden girl Grace

Thirteen maybe unlucky for some, but for Basildon swim star Grace Francis her 13th year has been one to remember for sporting success and a national title.   more...

Basildon,Essex,Southend News

Castle Point, Southend:Medical firm is all heart

St John Ambulance volunteers have said a big thank you to a medical firm which donated £3,000 for a vital piece of equipment.   more...

Basildon,Essex,Southend Sport

Soccer: New boy Mellor sits out opener

West Ham have completed the loan signing of Liverpool striker Neil Mellor, but the youngster is not likely to feature in the starting line-up at Preston North End tomorrow.   more...

Brentwood,Essex Sport

Basketball: Essex Leopards are forced to close

Basketball fans in Essex will be without a club for the 2003/04 season following the closure of the Essex Leopards.   more...

Chelmsford,Essex News

Chelmsford: Badge holders snapped up by disabled drivers

Nearly 400 badge holders have been snapped up by disabled drivers following the Essex Chronicle's campaign to highlight problems over displaying Blue Badges   more...

Chelmsford: Town centre road works for 18 weeks

Eighteen weeks of road works will start next week in the heart of Chelmsford as an old gas main is replaced.   more...

Chelmsford,Essex Sport

Soccer: Iron chief unfazed at Chelmsford visit

Gary Bellamy faces Chelmsford City tomorrow for the first time since he left two years ago.   more...

Cricket: Irani delighted with upturn in Essex form

Essex make the trip to Grace Road on Sunday seeking the double over their Leicestershire opponents to extend their unbeaten National League run to four matches.   more...

Colchester,Essex News

Colchester: Man growled at burglar

A man whose Colchester home was targeted by a burglar bit back by scaring off the would-be intruder by growling.   more...

Colchester: Four hurt in night car crash

Four people were injured in a late night car crash in Colchester.   more...

Wormingford: Man's leg caught in machinery

A man had to be cut free after getting his leg caught in a poultry machine.   more...

Colchester: Too-small robbers flee empty-handed

Bungling robbers fled in fear after threatening to pull a knife on two larger men.   more...

Colchester: Residents' fears over bar plans for Georgian house

A decision over the future of a Georgian building in the town centre has been deferred amid concerns that the night economy in Colchester is reaching saturation point.   more...

Colchester,Essex Sport

Soccer: Doubts over Tykes match

A cloud still hangs over Colchester United's season opener at Barnsley.   more...

Soccer: Royle ready for Reading

Joe Royle is ready to pit his wits against one of the rising managerial stars in Division One.   more...

Essex Business

Wrabness: Businessman left in the soup over order glitch

A businessman has been left in a stew after a computer glitch landed him with 250,000 tins of lentil soup.   more...

Shenfield: Traders protest over parking

Angry Shenfield traders have launched another stinging attack on Brentwood Borough Council, claiming the introduction of Pay and Display parking has led to a loss of business as shoppers stay away.   more...

Laindon: Water aid for charity

Thirsty workers are helping to raise money for parched countries every time they visit the water cooler.   more...

Tendring: Company answers concerns

The company behind plans for a £300 million development of Bathside Bay has come out fighting by answering a string of concerns.   more...

Benfleet: Revamped pub ready to shine

A pub has reopened after a £200,000 facelift and now boasts giant TV screens.   more...

Copford: Probe into nightclub extension

A move to extend a nightclub in Copford has been deferred for investigations into reducing noise from the existing building.   more...

Essex News

Jaywick: Heritage role for Martello tower?

A councillor has welcomed proposals to redevelop a Martello tower in Jaywick.   more...

Benfleet: Cycle safety

A team of keen cyclists earned certificates and reflectors, after spending a week learning some manoeuvres to help them use the roads safely.   more...

Colchester: Leap of faith for sons

The mum of three-year-old twins with cystic fibrosis is set to break a world record to raise funds for research   more...

Braintree: Crackdown on parking considered

Residents-only parking restrictions could be extended to new streets in Braintree under proposals to be considered next week.   more...

Cressing: 'Dem bones, 'dem bones are 2,000 years old

A 2,000-year-old horse skeleton is being dug up in mid Essex.   more...

Brightlingsea: A bite that angler John didn't want

A fisherman's patience finally paid off when he got a big bite... from a poisonous snake.   more...

Essex: 136 arrested on child porn

A total of 136 Essex men, believed to have used their credit cards to access an American child pornography website, have been arrested since the county's police launched Operation Perry - a year ago   more...

Mid-Essex: Avoid that op wait ...go to Uxbridge

Patients in mid-Essex can have their operations in Uxbridge - in a bid to cut waiting lists.   more...

Hawkwell: £2m work to start on flagship leisure centre

Work is set to get under way on a £2million refurbishment programme at Rochford District Council's flagship leisure centre.   more...

Walton: Police inquiry as body found in sea

Police today launched an investigation after a man's body was discovered in the sea off Walton   more...

Essex: County facing 200 vacant teaching posts

Essex is facing a teacher shortage when term starts next month.   more...

Dovercourt: Nightmare trip from London

A family has told of its four-hour nightmare to get back home due to rail chaos.   more...

Witham: Bomb scare at station

A suspect package left at Witham railway station held up trains serving north Essex.   more...

Bypass first to get hi-tech studs

The new solar-powered generation of a classic road safety feature will soon be coming to a dual carriageway near you.   more...

Leap of faith for sons

The mum of three-year-old twins with cystic fibrosis is set to break a world record to raise funds for research   more...

Dovercourt: Sidonie is a young star

Talented Sidonie Spooner could soon be on television - after winning her way through to a Stars in Their Eyes final.   more...

Braintree: Cyslist foils armed raider

A modest have-a-go-hero who tackled a robber has been given a cash award from a judge.   more...

Little Clacton: People issue SOS - Save Our Surgery

Save our surgery! That's the plea from residents in Little Clacton who fear they may lose their village doctors' surgery.   more...

Rayleigh: Sex attack ordeal

A woman was indecently assaulted as she walked home at night along Eastwood Road, Rayleigh.   more...

Essex: A12 roadworks may last six months

Motorists may get hot under the collar when parts of the A12 at Witham and Rivenhall are coned off for at least six months from today (Friday)   more...

Weeley: Police warning of railway danger

Children are being warned about the dangers of playing on the railways.   more...

Dovercourt: Record number of visitors

Record numbers of visitors have flocked to Dovercourt Bay, making it one of the most successful summers yet.   more...

Ardleigh: Gnome magic gets Tango'd

You gnome when you've been Tango'd Gnome expert Michael Bridges was left scratching his head after 100 fishing elves turned up on his doorstep filled with empty Tango fizzy drinks cans.   more...

Castle Point: Angry parents attack swim policy for kids

Parents face continued difficulties in taking more than one young child swimming at a time, following a controversial ruling by Castle Point Council.   more...

Witham: 'Hulk' bends steel bar

Witham police are on the lookout for a Ôhulk' who appears to be able to bend steel bars with his bare hands   more...

Wivenhoe: Arson victim tries to save his home

An arson victim battled to save his home after petrol was tipped over it and set on fire.   more...

Ardleigh: Gnome magic gets Tango'd

You gnome when you've been Tango'd. Gnome expert Michael Bridges was left scratching his head after 100 fishing elves turned up on his doorstep filled with empty Tango fizzy drinks cans.   more...

Dovercourt: Safety work on crash road

Work is to take place to improve road safety at a spot where a woman was killed by a speeding driver.   more...

Heybridge, Holland-on-Sea: Driver, 72, hit child at road crossing

A pensioner collided with a child after failing to stop at a pedestrian crossing in time, a court has heard.   more...

Essex Sport

Cricket: Learn from Test master

Indian Test star Dev Gandhi will once more be passing on his expertise to youngsters at three-day coaching sessions over the next two weeks.   more...

Golf: County boys keep crown . .

Essex enjoyed a comfortable 12-6 win over Suffolk at Crowlands Heath to retain the under-14 boys' Anglia Shield.   more...

Essex,Southend News

Southend: Jailed Tory fails in new appeal

A former Southend Tory chief serving a life sentence in an Indian prison for arms dealing has had his second plea for a pardon rejected.   more...

South Essex: Cruiser crackdown extended

A crackdown on car cruisers has been extended throughout the summer thanks to its "resounding success".   more...

Westcliff: £5,000 raid haul

Thieves with an expensive taste in home entertainment stole £5,000 worth of property in a single raid.   more...

Southend: Wartime bombs double danger

A rare wartime bomb discovered by a trawlerman off Southend has been blown up and scattered along the seabed.   more...

Southend: £5.7m plan to bring in cafe culture

Southend's new-look Pier Hill will have a contemporary theme designed to encourage a shift in the town's image towards a "cafe society".   more...

Westcliff: Terror as 'gun' robber holds up bookmakers

Police are hunting a robber who threatened to shoot everyone in a Westcliff bookmaker's shop.   more...

Leigh: Bogus builders con 89-year-old

Bogus callers swindled an 89-year-old out of £600 after offering to do building work for him.   more...

Westcliff: Building work starts on new nursing home

A ceremonial turf cutting heralded the start of work on two new nursing homes for older people with mental health needs.   more...

Essex,Southend Sport

Soccer: Wignall can't wait for kick-off

Southend United manager Steve Wignall can't wait for the big Division Three kick-off when Cheltenham Town visit Roots Hall tomorrow.   more...

Athletics: National hat-trick for Viper triathletes

Southend triathletes competed a title hat-trick when Team Viper struck gold in the junior male section of the National Relay Championships.   more...

Athletics: Seasiders sign off with record victory

A totally dominant performance saw Southend sweep all before them a set a club record points total in the Southern League at Bournemouth.   more...

Soccer: Izzy's Blues trial

Defender Izzy Iriekpen has joined Southend United on trial.   more...

Soccer: We'll soon be scoring goals

Southend United forward Drewe Broughton today admitted he was confident the Shrimpers would soon start scoring on a more regular basis.   more...

Soccer: Stuart ban news is a relief

Roots Hall boss Steve Wignall is delighted that left-back Jamie Stuart will only miss the first three matches of the season.   more...

Essex,Thurrock News

Orsett: Cor! Apples can be fun

Pitsea sisters Abbie and Megan Janaway were their grandmother's lucky guests at a special summer fete.   more...

Grays: Cheeky girls hit at show

Singing, dancing and comedy where all on the agenda as 17 acts battled it out for the top spot at a school's show night.   more...

Tilbury: £1m hi-jacked lorry found intact

Police today revealed a lorry hijacked by a gang of armed robbers has been found with its £1million load of electrical equipment still intact.   more...

Essex,Thurrock Sport

Banger racing: Sonny in title chase

South Ockendon's Sonny Sherwood starts as one of the favourites for the Brian Orgles Memorial - a race second only in prestige to the Banger World Final - at Arena Essex on Sunday.   more...

Speedway: Rye House hunt revenge at Arena

Arena Essex host Hertfordshire rivals Rye House tonight in a British League Cup contest.   more...

Athletics: Games star Liz is a medal marvel

Grays transplant sporting star Liz Hosford has returned from the World Transplant Games and British Transplant Games weighed down with medals.   more...

  
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