A MAN was taken to hospital following a car accident at the Leigh lights switch on. St John's ambulance volunteers dealt with the accident, which happened in Maple Avenue, Leigh, at 7.30pm. The man was conveyed to Southend Hospital.
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to an attack outside a bar. A 36-year-old Basildon man has been arrested by police on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm, following a confrontation outside Bellini's, in Leigh Road, Leigh, at 10.40pm on November
A WOMAN who safely delivered a baby at risk of infection has been presented with a midwife of the year award. Debra Saund, a community midwife at Southend Hospital, was commended at the Amazing People of the Year Awards, held by magazine Practical Parenting
COMMUTERS face long delays after false reports of a vehicle hitting a bridge lead to Fenchurch Street being closed. Reports of a vehicle hitting a railway bridge, between West Ham and Limehouse, led to the London station being closed and services diverted
A MOTHER has warned of the dangers of BB guns, as she anxiously waits to find out if her son has been permanently blinded in one eye by a stray pellet. Sandie Madden, 41, is waiting for doctors at Southend Hospital to assess the damage to 13-year-old
IT is a big day for Prittlewell Bowls Club tomorrow. For secretary Bernard Clark and president Brian Carrington will travel to London to collect the runners-up award in the English Bowls Association's club of the year presentations. In sharp contrast
AN ageing primary school in Hadleigh has been closed today until further notice after a ceiling collapsed. Plaster from a ceiling normally occupied by 30 nine-year-old children crashed to the ground at Hadleiogh Junior School last weekend, it was revealed
ONE of south Essex's most notorious bottleneck junctions will be upgraded - but not for at least another six years. Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged commitment to a radical overhaul of junction 30 on the M25, with the A13, to improve traffic flows
SOUTHEND United manager Steve Tilson has yet to decide who shall be his side's next penalty taker. Striker Matt Harrold has missed his last two efforts from the spot. But a replacement has yet to be confirmed. "We shall see who wants it when
A £50,000 sculpture marking the historic Battle of Benfleet is being destroyed by graffiti vandals. Three 5ft-tall limestone tablets inscribed with scenes of the battle between the Vikings and the Saxons in AD893 were install-ed in the conservation area
BASILDON could become a centre for research into eco-homes and zero carbon towns, the Government has revealed. The district's plan to kickstart environmentally-friendly home schemes was backed by Housing Minister Yvette Cooper at the Thames Gateway Forum
A SCAFFOLDING company and oil firm have been fined £28,000 for health and safety breaches which led to an employee losing his leg. Terry Ledger, 41, from Hathaway Road, Grays, was dismantling scaffolding at Coryton oil refinery, when he slipped through
SOUTHEND United look certain to be roared on by a strong travelling support at the Kassam Stadium tomorrow. The club have already sold more than 800 tickets, with 490 being snapped in a singing section which has been specially organised by the Blue
LORRY drivers putting the lives of people at risk by working over their hours or driving unsafe vehicles were the target of a massive crackdown. A wanted man was arrested, 12 lorries were prevented from travelling any further for driving-time offences
NO fewer than eight teams from five south-east Essex schools will battle out for cross-country glory in Hertfordshire tomorrow. They will all be in action in the national final of the Sainsbury's-sponsored English Schools Cup. The highest level
SOUTHEND Rugby Club fly half Ben McKeith is gunning for more glory at Nuneaton on Sunday. The Leigh-based 23-year-old, who is a former Westcliff High School pupil, scored two tries in last weekend's eventful win over Wharfedale. And he is now aiming
AS we climbed into the back of the army truck, the same thought seemed to be flitting through everyone's minds, "How did a luxury ski weekend end up like this?" We had left the warm fug of a Savoyard stew and aperitif lunch after a morning's skiing
POLICE have praised the courage of a woman who chased a thief who snatched her handbag. The thief pounced as the 45-year-old woman was sitting on a bench outside Primark, in the Royals Shopping Centre, Southend, with her handbag on the ground. A woman
LEAGUE leaders Westcliff will be looking for their 11th straight London Three North East victory when they host Brentwood tomorrow afternoon, kick off 2.15pm. The Gables-based club have yet to taste defeat this season and will be confident of continuing
CHARITIES have been getting in the festive spirit by brightly decorating trees for a new festival. The first Christmas tree festival is being held today, Saturday, Sunday and Monday at Holy Trinity Church, in Southend Boulevard, Southend. The church
PETER Benson's passion for wood carving began as a child when he was evacuated to Suffolk from his home in Ilford during the war. "Everyone had a pocket knife in those days," he says. "There was nothing else to do, so I used to make daggers and planes
SOUTHEND Pier was closed unexpectedly yesterday while a high-voltage cable was replaced. Southend Council spokesman Michael Smith said it was hoped the pier would reopen for business today. He said: "We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by the
HAVE-a-go hero Adam Mapleson made his first public appearance as he presented an award at Rayleigh's Christmas lights festival. Mr Mapleson, from Rayleigh, was shot in the chest in May after going to the defence of a female security guard during an armed
A HAUL of washing powder worth £20,000 was stolen from a lorry. The vehicle, which had come from Czechoslovakia, was parked up on the London-bound track of the A13, at Aveley, while the driver took a nap. The crooks slashed open the side curtain, causing
A BRAVE young girl fighting a rare form of bone cancer had a day's break from her battle for a special tenth birthday party. Felicia Cantone celebrated in style with her twin sister Carlotta. It started with a party at SS9 in Leigh, followed by a disco
High tides for Monday December 03 are at: 0611 and 1858 High tides for Tuesday December 04 are at: 0712 and 1956 High tides for Wednesday December 05 are at: 0810 and 2049 High tides for Thursday December 06 are at: 0904 and 2139 High tides for
DEAN Ashton believes he and Carlton Cole could form a strike partnership to strike fear into Premier League defences - and he has the evidence to prove it. Wind the clock back to February 17, 2004, and a 20-year-old Ashton made his debut for David Platt's
BLUES winger Tommy Black could be back in action at Oxford United tomorrow. The former Arsenal trainee has been out with a hamstring strain since late October. But he is now close to a comeback after coming through a midweek workout unscathed.
I remind Mr Pilley (Nov 21) that cycling on pavements is an offence and always has been, which is as it should be. Pavements are for pedestrians. The police are failing in their duty in not enforcing this law to protect pedestrians. I resent while out
There is nothing new about traffic problems at Basildon Hospital. It has absolutely nothing to do with the new multi-storey car park, as claimed Luenne Featherstone, spokeswoman for the hospital (Nov 22). When my husband was in the hospital three years
I asked similar pertinent questions about Castle Point's Cabinet consultation to those of Brian Wilson (Nov 20) when I submitted a written question to be answered at the Hadleigh/Daws Heath Neighbourhood meeting. Due to a truncated meeting, I deferred
The Echo is carrying council adverts reminding us the Basildon District Local Development Framework consultations have to be submitted by November 30. Has anyone logged on to the site yet? Is it just me or are the 45 questions as misleading as they seem
I was interested to read Flora McTavish's letter about her memories of watching a drive-in movie in Minehead and how she wished it could be applied to help revive Southend Pier (Echo, November 26). Sadly - and I am sorry for for my unashamed cynicism
One of my campaigns since being elected as a councillor has been to have decent paving in Southend. The Conservative administration bowed to the pressure of publicity and eventually found additional funding to repair and replace cheap workmanship with
I would also like to give my support to Dennis Swaysland and his fighting spirit for Basildon. We Basildon people always remember those who never give up fighting for the town. It's a pity Dennis, who wants to get a referedum on the proposed sports
Great news - we can now recycle our glass and put it out on collection day with our other waste. What's more Southend Council has also issued white sacks for textiles so they don't get mixed up with the broken glass. It all sounds great until you realise
Have you noticed how many shops and offices now laying empty in Southend? The rents are reasonably cheap, but there are few takers. Why is that? Originally, rent was the major factor, but interest rates, labour costs, national insurance and administration
We cannot produce a decent and totally committed English football team because, as Roy Keane says, there are too many bigheads and egos, too much money and very little obvious national pride. The recent embarrassing performance by our national football
The comments of Professor David Jesson of York University regarding grammar schools lead me to wonder how he obtained his professorship. Does he not realise some people are born with more academic talent than others, and certain individuals will achieve
EASTWOOD School's junior boys team are in with a shout of glory when the Sainsbury's sponsored English Schools Cross-Country Cup national final takes place in St Alban's tomorrow. They won the regional final at Basildon's Gloucester Park and are now
AS a rule, Chelsea do not lose at Stamford Bridge unless the visiting team is called Barcelona - or managed by Alan Curbishley. The Catalan giants are the only side to beat the Blues on their own patch since Curbishley's Charlton Athletic skipped off
A MAN died after walking off the end of a Southend station platform and being struck by a train. The body of the man, believed to be a 21-year-old Polish man from Canvey, was found lying by the tracks of the london-bound side of Southend East station
SHRIMPERS midfielder Alan McCormack has called on the club's supporters to turn their jeers into cheers, starting with tomorrow's FA Cup clash at Oxford United. Sections of Southend's following have become frustrated by their side's recent poor run
BLUES boss Steve Tilson has warned his side not to expect an easy ride at Oxford United tomorrow. The U's are currently 11th in the Blue Square Premier, 50 league places below Southend. But Tilson knows that will mean nothing when the two teams
CASTLE Point Council plans to take action against a car dealership which it says has too many cars on display. The council's planning committee will decide next week whether to issue an enforcement notice against CKL Motors, at 396 London Road, Thundersley
THREE Thurrock residents have been honoured by the National Blood Service after giving 75 blood donations. Alison Gleeson, 55, and John Landi, 68, from Grays, and David Bodell, 62, from Orsett, were among blood donors to receive crystal plates at a dinner
A MAN was rescued after an electric box caught fire in his home. The fire started just before 2am this morning (Fri) when the home in Preston Road, Westcliff, began to fill with smoke. The owner, in his early thirties, was staying at the home, which
A CABINET minister has agreed to take a "careful look" at what can be done to repair Southend's landslipped cliffs, following calls for action by Tory MP David Amess. Mr Amess, who represents Southend West, urged Communities and Local Government Secretary
DELIGHTED commuters who cycle to the station, were handed free transponders to improve their bikes' security, when they stepped off trains at Billericay station. The One Railway users were the latest to benefit from the company's drive to cut bike thefts
A PRANKSTER was fined £80 after he waved a sign saying "help kidnapped" at other drivers. The man, who was a passenger in the Ford Fiesta being driven by another man, was initially spotted on the M25, in Hertfordshire, by an off-duty police officer.
POLICE have released CCTV images of a man police are wanting in connection with a raid on a petrol station with a screwdriver. A man threatened a 36- year-old woman working in the BP garage, Nethermayne, Basildon, with a screwdriver and forced her to
ESSEX fishermen have the chance to share in a £97million Government grant - but they are sceptical they will see any of it. The Department for Environment, Food And Rural Affairs has unveiled the grant, which the UK fishing and seafood industries will
CHILDREN will soon have a new place to play and learn. The Summercourt Children's Centre will be opening to a fanfare of fun next week. Family fun days will herald the launch of the centre which councillors hope will become a vital resource. The centre
YOUNG starlets excelled in music, singing and acting as part of the annual Southend Music Festival. The tuneful melodies could be heard inside Crowstone Christian Centre, in Westcliff, as the youngsters competed before the adjudicators. More than 1,300
THIEVES have targeted a homeless charity for the second time in three months. About £40 was stolen from a locked office at Harp - the Homeless Action Resource Project - in Valkyrie Road, Westcliff. Crooks got in by smashing a window and breaking the
A new healthcare plan for Southend, Castle Point and Rochford has been published by NHS officials. At the heart of it is the need to tackle deprivation, obesity and smoking, as MICHELLE ARCHARD reports POVERTY. The very word conjures up images of malnourished
IF you live on Canvey, Father Christmas will be coming to a street near you sometime next week. Every year, the Rotary Club of Canvey Island lends Santa a hand, helping him tour the island to deliver Christmas cheer, while collecting for local good causes
CASTLE Point mayor Beverley Egan has hosted a tea party for talented and upstanding people in the borough. Beverley Egan invited councillors and residents to join her for an afternoon of tea, sandwiches, cake and entertainment at the council offices
NEW planning rules which could make it easier for homeowners to build conservatories and loft conversions has been announced in the Commons. The controversial Planning Reform Bill would introduce measures to cut red tape for building loft conversions
DISABLED workers have lost their battle to keep a factory open. The Remploy factory in Sutton Road, Southend, will close after Peter Hain, secretary of state for works and pensions, approved the company's modernisation plan. Devastated employees will
