A TEENAGE thug pushed a six-year-old boy to the ground and robbed him of his bicycle. The boy was riding through Lime Close, South Ockendon, when he was approached by the robber who ordered him to hand over his bike. The victim refused and the thug
A NEIGHBOUR has clashed with council officials over plans to bulldoze two tower blocks in Laindon and replace them with fewer homes. Rab Fallon, Basildon Council's head of housing, met residents to explain plans for the Royal Court site. He said the
RIDING schools in south Essex are struggling to insure themselves against the spiralling cost of personal injury claims. The rising costs have led 650 schools in the UK to shut down in the past four years, according to the Association of British Riding
FORMER teenage tearaway, Charlotte Clarke, is planning a sponsored bike ride to raise cash for a trip to help less fortunate youngsters in Africa. Charlotte, 18, now works with Thurrock's Youth Offending Service, but had a troubled start in life. She
PEOPLE can try their hand at activities from crafts to yoga at a special fair being organised by the Rayleigh, Castle Point and District branch of Cats Protection. Following successful annual craft fairs, the group has decided to put on the Spring Home
THOUSANDS of bikers are expected to descend on Southend seafront this weekend as part of an annual charity ride. The Southend Shakedown will take place on Easter Monday, when people can enjoy the spectacle of several thousand motorbikes of every type
An unbroken half-century partnership featuring Grant Flower and Ryan ten Doeschate carried Essex to a three wickets victory against Surrey in the first of their pre-season warm-up matches at Chelmsford. The county got home with 13 deliveries to spare
Mark Noble has vowed to stay at Upton Park next season - even if his efforts fail to save West Ham from the relegation. The 19-year-old's recall to the starting XI has coincided with two wins and the narrow defeat to Totten-ham. Noble is a Hammers
Aveley could find themselves switched to the Ryman Division One South next season as part of the latest restructuring of the non-league scene. However, no-one at the Millers has been alerted to the possible move, reportedly mooted this week at at a
Young American Tim Gomez will make his debut for Lakeside in the Challenge match at Rye House on Easter Monday. The club had intended to use Croatian Jurica Pavlic until his Polish club withdrew their permission and the Hammers management moved quickly
THE mystery disappearance of ducks on Canvey Lake has ruffled a few feathers. Castle Point Council is investigating reports of ducknapping after a tip-off from councillor Dave Blackwell. Mr Blackwell says residents contacted him after being told
BOY racers could be the key to solving the cause of a horrific smash in which a 20-year-old man was killed. Police investigating the accident in which Alfred Field died said a group of men seen at the scene could hold vital information about the moments
A WOMAN who suffered a miscarriage has claimed she was left bleeding in hospital waiting rooms for five hours before she was seen. Lisa Calkin, 26, who was six weeks' pregnant, was losing blood when she arrived at Basildon Hospital for a baby scan shortly
Sean Morris, of Westcliff High School for Boys, was unable to take England under-18s to a third consecutive AER European Under-18 title. Their bid ended with a disappointing 10-7 defeat against Ireland in the semi-final in Tyrosse, France. A second
Southend United striker Freddy Eastwood has expressed his excitement at the possibility of being selected for Wales. The Shrimpers star can be called up by John Toshack due to his grandfather who was born in Llanelli. And the 23-year-old is hoping
A BMW driver who was seriously injured when his car hit a lamp post on a busy dual-carriageway is critical but stable in hospital. The man's silver 520 BMW hit the post with such force it was torn out of the ground and ended up underneath the car. He
A SEAFRONT amusement park will remain the same size after expansion plans were turned down by Castle Point Council. Scott Petty, owner of the Leisure Island Fun Park, on Canvey seafront, hoped to extend his business on Western Esplanade by more then
POLICE are baffled as to why a man with "no enemies" was repeatedly stabbed with a screwdriver during a frenzied attack. The 54-year-old victim was at home, in Dungannon Chase, Thorpe Bay, when the attacker plunged the tool into his chest eight times
A COMPANY which wants to build a four storey care home for the elderly is facing stiff opposition from prospective neighbours. People living in Valkyrie Road, Westcliff, are angered at the size of the scheme, which would replace the Rileys snooker club
IF you were a member of the Phoenix Leigh East Ranger Unit, (part of Girlguiding UK we would love to see you at our 40-year celebration reunion on April 14 at St Michael's Church Hall, Leigh Road at 7.30. It promises to be an evening of nostalgia with
AN application for a free-standing sign outside a restaurant has been turned down by Castle Point Council. Planning officers threw out the plans by Jill Duke for an illuminated sign outside La Quinta restaurant in Benfleet Road, Hadleigh. Officers were
Goalkeeper Robert Green believes West Ham can climb out of the Premiership relegation places "within the next few games". The Hammers have salvaged what appeared a hopeless situation with two straight wins and are now just five points behind 17th-placed
EVERY pupil at Noak Bridge Primary School helped create a giant mural. More than 230 students stitched together school badges, which were sown on to a giant canvas that will be displayed permanently in the school library. Nina Day, art and design
A TEENAGER accused of possessing two different drugs with intent to supply them to others, will stand trial. Rickki-Lee Grabham-Smith, 18, is accused of possessing both Class A drug cocaine and Class C cannabis with intent to supply. He pleaded
THE DEVASTATED dad of a man killed with a Samurai sword has told of his shock and despair after reliving the horrors of his son's trial. Terminally ill Steve Sharpe, 48, was inconsolable when he discovered the killers of his son Glen were trying to get
A NEW children's centre at Doggetts Primary School in The Boulevard, Rochford, has been given the go-ahead by Essex county councillors. Cabinet member for education Stephen Castle has approved the project, part of the Government's initiative to provide
Thorpe Hall's outstanding youngster Matthew Southgate was the star of the Essex qualifying competition for the Keating Trophy. The event is designed to allow the best amateur golfers in Essex the chance to show their skills to the selectors early in
SAND is piling up around beach huts in Thorpe Bay after being washed down the shore from Jubilee Beach. Last week, the Echo reported concerns of cafe owners on Eastern Esplanade in Southend, who have seen the beach by their businesses erode at an alarming
A MOTORIST had a lucky escape after his car was shot at by thugs. The man had just pulled off at the Wickford turn-off on the London-bound track of the A127 when he heard something hitting the side of his car. When he pulled over to investigate he found
Biggles and the St Trinians' schoolgirls have nothing on the golfers at St Clere's Hall Golf Club. At the annual drive-in ceremony the men's captain Ian Gordon donned a flying suit and his lady counterpart Karen Batch wore a schoolgirl's uniform to
SMUGGLED cigarettes worth £170,000 have been found in a series of raids on a freight transport depot. Customs officers are not revealing the location as it is still under investigation. The first stash, of nearly 260,000 cigarettes, was found in a
Paige Cerson made sure of her place in the England martial arts squad after she bagged three national titles at the WKA National Champion-ships in Manchester. The 1st Dan black belt from Canvey now holds an amazing 10 British titles. She was entered
Haringey Angels 64, Southend Swifts 63 The meeting between the top two teams in the Under-16 National League South Division was destined to be the decider. But with Southend's final opponents London Towers having defaulted from their meeting with
ECHO readers have been quick to react to news that Tesco could move into the B&Q site next to Southend Victoria station, exclusively revealed in today's paper. WHAT DO YOU THINK? CLICK COMMENT AND GIVE YOUR VIEW
SAND is piling up around beach huts in Thorpe Bay after being washed down the shore from Jubilee Beach. Last week, the Echo reported concerns of cafe owners on Eastern Esplanade in Southend, who have seen the beach by their businesses erode at an alarming
Runnymede's 8-1 defeat of a depleted Hadleigh Forum A team, courtesy of Stuart Gibbs and John Holland, has put them in contention for honours in the Southend Table Tennis League Premier Division. With the season drawing to a close, Runnymede are just
Southend United's Kevin Maher has played down tomorrow's rematch with Col-chester's controversial captain Karl Duguid. The Shrimpers skipper was angered by the U's midfielder's antics which led to him being shown a soft red card at Layer Road back
A Canvey teenager looks taylor made for success after signing a two year scholorship with Premiership outfit Charlton Athletic. Taylor Sinfield - who attends Thundersley's King John School - will begin full time training with the Addicks this summer
All roads lead to Arena-Essex Raceway tomorrow for the second match in a double day of speedway action for the Lakeside Hammers. The action gets underway at 8pm and fans are welcome from 6pm when the pits and stock car viewing positions will be open
Southend United physiotherapist John Stannard is used to treating the injuries of the Shrimpers players. But in just a few weeks time he could well be treating some of his own! For the 50-year-old is following in the footsteps of manager Steve Tilson
A group of football fans are set to get on their bikes to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Twenty-six supporters will be cycling to Southend United's Roots Hall ground from Colchester's Layer Road home for Friday's eagerly anticipated Championship
Schoolteachers in recent years have been a long-suffering group. Assaulted, demeaned, undermined, and back-stabbed - and that's just by the authorities. As for the onslaught they have had to face from some of their charges and their parents, that
PICKING a piece of art to put on your wall is being made easier by Wickford Art Club. The club is hosting it's annual Easter exhibition and with more than 400 pieces of work going on display those looking for something to brighten up their home will
MOTORISTS claim new speed cameras at the Fortune of War roundabout are more of a hindrance than a help. While the six-month-long resurfacing goes on, cameras have been installed, and 40mph signs put up yards from existing 20mph signs. Joan Garside,
COMMUNITY radio will be on the airwaves in Basildon this month. Gateway FM, supported by Basildon Rotary Concord and the management of the Eastgate Shopping Centre, will start broadcasting on the internet. The team has a restricted service licence to
COUNCIL bosses believe a trip to a lavish property exhibition in Cannes has netted them £2million. Basildon Council leader Malcolm Buckley said an initial investment of £2million had been verbally agreed during the four-day exhibition in Cannes earlier
COUNCIL bosses say there is no immediate risk to free Essex-wide bus passes, despite a decision to withhold payments connected to the scheme. Basildon Coun-cil is refusing to pay its share of a £731,000 back-payment awarded to three bus companies operating
CAR company Essex Ford has started work on a £6.5million dealership complex which is the centrepiece of its expansion plans. A ground-breaking ceremony for the new development took place this week on a five-acre site next to the Ford Technical Centre
There is confusion about how many extra homes are to be built along Southend seafront. The Echo article said about 500 homes. I understand the target was 400, but this is is now going to be 550. Is this Southend Council trying to hide the facts? It
PATIENTS and staff at Basildon Hospital will soon be told to stub it out when a total smoking ban comes into force. Smokers will be prohibited from puffing anywhere in the grounds, as the hospital follows in the footsteps of its Southend counterpart,
Last Wednesday I attended a meeting at the Towngate Theatre in Basildon about the future of Gloucester Park swimming pool. The council is planning to build an Olympic-size pool on the other side of the park. It intends to build a hotel on this site.
Columnist Nick Hallissey, who wrote about the situation regarding Canvey rector the Rev David Tudor, should read what it says in the Bible: Judge not lest ye be judged. Also: To forgive is divine. This man should be left alone to get on with his job
So Stephen Castle thinks I have missed the point about the number of quangos involved in the decision-making in our county (Echo, March 12). As evidence, he says as an elected county councillor he serves as deputy chairman of the Thames Gateway South
A FAMILY is leaving a historic Basildon pub after seven decades of pulling pints - and will say a fond farewell to a special regular who was drinking in the pub the day the current landlady was born. Geraldine Evans has worked behind the bar at the Barge
Has Southend Council completely lost the plot - or in the case of the allotments at Manners Way - dozens of them? The scheme to construct either a cleansing depot or a waste transfer station in the middle of a high-class residential area and a retail
CHALKWELL beach and Bell Wharf beach at Leigh are among a clutch of Southend beaches to win awards. The first ever Quality Coast Awards have been unveiled and include seven beaches in the borough. The selections also include Thorpe Bay beach, which
THREE Territorial Army recruits have passed a military training course with flying colours. David Foulkes, of Billericay, Paul Anderson, of Tilbury, and Antonio Milton, of North Ockendon, joined 60 other recruits who took part in the training course.
SHOPWORKERS dressed up as Wonder Woman, Bob the Builder and Shrek to launch the Co-op's charity fundraising drive. Staff from branches across south Essex gathered at the Tarpots store in London Road to celebrate the nomination of the Children's Society
BEACHES across Southend have been selected for a clutch of awards. The first ever Quality Coast Awards have been unveiled and include seven beaches in the borough. The selections include Thorpe Bay beach, which was recommended for its coastal isolation
A GANG of "happy slappers" filmed a teenager being kicked in the crotch. The attack took place as the 15-year-old victim was walking through Priory Park, in Victoria Avenue, Southend. He told police three men approached him, one of whom suddenly
BOSSES made a ground-breaking start to introduce a new £6.5million Ford dealership. Work to complete the five-acre car superstore at the site next to the Ford Technical Centre, in Dunton, should take eight months. The move comes as the current base
A CANVEY school will soon be playing host to an exhibition of artist Pete Kennedy's work. The Karslake art centre at Cornelius Vermuyden School will display 28 pieces by the artist in an exhibition called My Family and Other Works. One exhibit, the
