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

Stories for 15 September 2003

Basildon,Essex News

Basildon: Bungalows' blaze drama

Firefighters tackling a fierce home fire have again had their efforts hampered by petty arsonists starting scrubland fires.   more...

Canvey: Shock cat loss leaves boy, 8, with shingles

An eight year old boy has broken out in shingles because his cat has run away.   more...

Canvey: Attack victim's DNA test anger

A man left unable to work following a horrific assault was today in despair after police refused to test his shirt for his attacker's DNA - because it's too expensive.   more...

Basildon: 'Don't mess with our tax powers Tony'

Hard-pressed Basildon council leaders have told Tony Blair to think carefully before bringing in powers to curb council tax increases.   more...

Pitsea: Police station to close for revamp

A police station will be closed for a week to be revamped.   more...

Canvey: Stephen's tricycle wheels

Disabled Stephen Lawrence has more freedom to roam thanks to a device that turns his wheelchair into a trike.   more...

Basildon: Elderly couple lose £11,500

A vulnerable elderly couple had their life's savings stolen by bogus callers posing as council workers.   more...

Pitsea: Police station to close for revamp

A police station will be closed for a week to be revamped.   more...

Basildon: Help catch car thieves

Police in Basildon are appealing for witnesses after a series of cars were broken into.   more...

Basildon,Essex Sport

Soccer: Canvey Island 1-1 Northwood (Ryman Premier League)

Despite his side moving up a place to second in the Ryman Premier table, Canvey boss Jeff King was an angry man after the Islanders relinquished their 100 per cent home record to a visiting outfit who had lost all four previous away games.   more...

Soccer: Gulls at home

Canvey Island start their FA Cup challenge at home for the fifth season running on Saturday week with a home tie against Division One North Uxbridge.   more...

Chelmsford,Essex News

Chelmsford: Hospital gets new scanner

Even more patients will get the help they need with the unveiling of a new state-of-the-art scanner.   more...

Danbury: Man twice drink-drive limit

Despite a breath test showing he was just over twice the legal drink-drive limit, a 34-year-old Danbury man told a court he had not been drunk.   more...

Chelmsford: Tories in fight over Parkway crossing

Conservatives are lining up against each other for the battle of Parkway crossing.   more...

Chelmsford,Essex Sport

Cricket: Gooch - No excuses for relegation

Graham Gooch was in no mood to hide behind excuses after Essex suffered a nine-wicket defeat against Warwickshire at Chelmsford that sent them crashing into the Championship's Second Division.   more...

Soccer: Chelmsford City 1-0 Moor Green (Dr Martens Premier)

It has taken nine matches, but Chelmsford City finally recorded their first league win of the season on Saturday to move off the bottom of the Dr Martens Premier.   more...

Colchester,Essex News

Layer: Barns up in smoke

Four fire crews held a night-long fire watch at a farm after a blaze engulfed three barns and 50 tonnes of straw.   more...

Colchester: Peter's party continues thanks to judges

It was obviously a weekend for forgiving and forgetting for Colchester's Fame Academy hopeful, Peter Brame.   more...

Colchester,Essex Sport

Soccer: West Bromwich Albion 4-1 Ipswich Town (Nationwide League Division One)

Two flashpoints in the last four minutes summed up this depressing day for Ipswich Town.   more...

Soccer: Angry Wilnis blasts the Blues

Fuming Fabian Wilnis was in no mood to mince his words after Ipswich Town slumped to the bottom of Division One.   more...

Soccer: Colchester United 1-0 Brighton (Nationwide League Division Two)

Super-shot Wayne Andrews hit his third goal in four games to sink highflying Brighton at Layer Road.   more...

Essex Business

Witham: Apathy led to club axe, claims centre

A number of regular sports clubs have been axed by a Witham sports centre.   more...

Maldon: £10m retail park plan is unveiled

New plans for a £10 million retail park on the edge of Maldon town centre have been received by district council planners   more...

Essex News

South Essex: Blooded driver in A127 drama

A motorist was found stumbling around the outside track of the A127 with his face covered in blood following a road smash which caused traffic chaos today.   more...

South Essex: Rail delays as repairs begin

Frustrated commuters are continuing to face delays because the August heatwave shrank clay soil beneath rail lines, causing them to buckle.   more...

Essex: Man on rape charge

A 19-year-old man from Milton Keynes has been charged with rape after a disabled woman was attacked.   more...

Little Wakering: Police baffled over pub arson

Baffled police are still carrying out house-to-house inquiries into an arson attack which has closed a country pub.   more...

Braintree: Crowds enjoy Upbeat party

Face painting, a bouncy castle and a barbecue were all on offer at a summer party in Braintree.   more...

Essex: Man on rape charge

A 19-year-old man from Milton Keynes has been charged with rape after a disabled woman was attacked.   more...

Faulkbourne: Animals lap up service

Four-legged friends were out in force at a Faulkbourne church for a special service.   more...

Mistley: Park vandals are slammed

A plea has been made for help in finding those responsible for spoiling a playing field.   more...

Walton: US experts to cast their eyes over town

A team of experts from North America are visiting Walton for a fresh set of eyes to see how the town can be improved.   more...

South Essex: Burst water main shuts A127

Motorists had a weekend of misery, with both lanes of the A127 shut off after a burst water main flooded the road.   more...

Essex: Hell's grannies saddle-up for charity ride

A cavalcade of grannies riding Harley Davidsons caused an arresting site as they raised money for charity.   more...

Clacton: Police save man in blaze

Police officers rescued a man from a burning building after running to the scene.   more...

Essex: Iraq will not get our PCs

Essex Police officers have been told they will not go to help rebuild Iraq because the county's force is under-strength.   more...

Tendring: Crime figures up 25 per cent

Crime in Tendring rose by more than 25 per cent over the 12-month period to June, according to figures being presented to the Essex Police Authority.   more...

Witham: Man robbed on way home

A man was attacked by a gang of four and robbed as he walked home in Witham.   more...

Clacton: Search for runaway driver

A driver involved in an accident abandoned the car and ran away from the scene.   more...

South Essex: Dean's life is worth more

Campaigners today condemned a "derisory" fine handed to the directors of a quarry which claimed the life of 15-year-old worker Dean Butler.   more...

Essex Sport

Soccer: West Ham United 1-0 Reading (Nationwide League Division One)

A rare Christian Dailly goal -- his first for West Ham in 82 league appearances -- was enough to settle this Upton Park grudge match.   more...

Soccer: Two jobs are tough for caretaker Brooking

West Ham's caretaker boss Trevor Brooking gave his strongest hint yet that the delayed appointment of a successor is making life hard for him.   more...

Essex,Southend Business

Leigh: Pub time set to be rejected

Moves by a Leigh pub to allow it to open for longer hours are set to be rejected by Southend Council.   more...

Essex,Southend News

Southend: Miracle baby set for first birthday

A miracle baby who was born three months premature is set to celebrate her first birthday.   more...

Southend: Asylum family seized

Campaigners were today battling to free a family of Albanian asylum seekers seized from their Southend home by immigration officials.   more...

Southend: Fossetts Farm a seat of learning?

A new employment and training centre is being planned as part of the comprehensive redevelopment of the Fossetts Farm site in Southend.   more...

Southend: Council backs project aimed at helping late-night clubbers

A safe haven for late-night revellers in trouble has won the backing of Southend Council.   more...

Southend: Is music a divine din or an unholy racket?

Divine intervention may be needed to defuse a row between residents and a Southend church.   more...

Southend: Mammoth tusk? It's an old pipe

Disappointed museum staff discovered this weekend that an object dug up in a pensioner's back garden was not a great archaeological find - it was just part of the old water network.   more...

Essex,Southend Sport

Soccer: Tigers reduce Blues to tears

Blues Boss Steve Wignall revealed his players were close to tears following Saturday's 3-2 defeat at high flying Hull City.   more...

Soccer: Hull City 3-2 Southend United (Nationwide League Division Three)

The travel sick Shrimpers may have extended their unwanted club record run of results to 13 consecutive away defeats at the KC Stadium but Boss Steve Wignall was right to praise the performance of his struggling side.   more...

Essex,Stansted News

Stansted, Braintree: Fake gun stunt at airport

A Braintree man has been arrested for trying to smuggle an imitation handgun into Stansted Airport.   more...

Essex,Thurrock News

Langdon Hills: Youngsters cheer opening of new primary school

Children were celebrating after their schools were merged to form a primary of massive potential.   more...

Essex,Thurrock Sport

Speedway: Arena's double drubbing

Arena Essex suffered two heavy defeats on their northern tour, going down to Working-ton Comets and Newcastle Diamonds over the weekend.   more...

  
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