SOUTHEND United are on course for another money-spinning Carling Cup run after sneaking past League One Cheltenham Town after extra time at Roots Hall. Lee Bradbury scored a hat-trick to complete a memorable return to the first eleven, but stand-in goalkeeper
A THURROCK social club is looking for new members. The 60 Club meets every Tuesday from 2pm to 4pm at the Stanley Lazell Hall in Dell Road, Grays. Member Judith Coleman, of Curling Lane, Grays, said: "When the club first started more than 30 years ago
ANTIQUE hunters can pick up a bargain on Saturday. St Chads Church Hall, in Clayhill Road, will be the setting for an antiques and collectables fair from 9am to 2pm. For information on how to host your own stall or for more details about the event call
YOUNGSTERS had plenty of fun learning how to save the planet during a special recycling day. Families flocked to the Paddocks on Canvey for the second free annual Rubbish Riot Day. Kids took part in drumming workshops making instruments from packaging
THE Billericay Society will be holding its latest field walk on Tuesday, August 21. Anyone wanting to take part should meet at the Windmill Tavern in East Hanningfield, GR 770010. Starting at 10am, the walk is expected to last two-and-a-half hours.
Families can watch ducks swim around then mould clay ducks' heads at a family fun day, at Essex Wildlife Trust's Langdon Visitor Centre and Nature Reserve. The event, at the reserve, off Third Avenue, Lower Dunton Road, Basildon, will take place on Friday
GRAFFITI-spraying thieves went on the rampage after breaking into an educational building. The yobs forced their way into vandal-plagued Holly Cottage in Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea, by smashing open the back door. Inside, they daubed slogans and
THE parents of a teenager who was left fighting for his life after a road accident have told of the moment they feared the worst. Daniel Stokes, 14, suffered a fractured skull when his bicycle was involved in a collision with a single-decker bus in Avelely
BIKE tagging is on track to beat the thieves as more and more people get their cycles security marked. More than 50 cyclists flocked to a second tagging' event organised by the group, Southend Cycle Watch, at Central Library, in Victoria Avenue. Mick
A MAN has told how he feared he would be dragged to his death after his ankle was trapped in the door of a train at Wickford station. Brian Sams, 63, of Jacks Close, Wickford, had just helped his disabled wife on to a London-bound train when he stepped
SOUTHEND Council has been urged to plough cash into urgent repairs and modernisation of sports facilities at Garon Park, to support potential stars of the 2012 Olympics. June Cork, of Southend Athletics Club, spoke out after plans were revealed for a
FORGET strawberries, the chance to pick your own sunflowers is enticing crowds to a farm in Canewdon. This sea of glorious sunflower heads fills five acres of farmland in Lark Hill Road. The flowers were planted by the owners of Woodford Meats farm
A SECURITY guard was threatened by gun-wielding raiders and robbed of thousands of pounds during a hold-up. The Securicor guard was delivering a cash box to Barclays Bank in Broadway North, Pitsea. As he approached the bank he was confronted by
SECLUDED by trees and tucked away behind a house is a beautiful garden brimming with flowers. Keen gardener Dorothy Goode lovingly tends the tranquil garden at Little Foxes all year long. This weekend she will open it to visitors to raise money for
BUDDING DJs had the chance to try some mixing and scratching at a free session yesterday. Children, aged between eight and 14, had a go at using turntables and mixing some hip-hop music at the event in St Mark's Hall, Rochford. The event was organised
WEST Ham manager Alan Curbishley has re-stated that his summer spending spree may not yet be over. Curbishley, who has spent more than £20million on five new signings, admitted the East Enders may make another attempt to sign Newcastle United forward
A STARVED dog is one of three hounds dumped by cruel owners. The whippet, nicknamed Whizz by staff at Gemini Kennels where he is recovering, is now looking for a new home. Abandoned Bull Terrier sisters Mable and Maud are also desperate for new owners
GREASE is the Word finalist Joanna Power has penned a ballad for missing girl Madeleine McCann. Joanna, 22, recorded the moving tune and posted it on her MySpace page to try to keep the search for Maddy alive. The British girl has now been missing for
AMATEUR graffiti artists, some as young as three, grabbed paintbrushes and spray cans to help brighten up Rochford. Construction firm Allenbuild allowed children from youth club Footprints to decorate the boards around a flat development in St Mark's
A MAN accused of stabbing his partner has appeared before the court. Nicholas Adams, 29, is alleged to have stabbed the 27-year-old woman during a domestic incident at the home they shared in Ravenscourt Drive, Vange. The woman received a stab wound
A COMMUNITY group wants power cables which hang over Billericay streets to be buried. The Billericay Society is urging members to support the idea in plans to shape the town's future. Member Ron Capes said: "We want the phone cables buried too, because
YOUNGSTERS have been learning first hand about the long arm of the law. PCSOs from Vange took a mobile police station out at the weekend to meet residents. Children were able to see how officers take fingerprints and have their own prints taken. They
A BOARD member of the firm in charge of Basildon Council housing has threatened to quit if improvements are not made to its failing repairs service. John Dornan, of St Georges Community Hou-sing Association, spoke out after the Echo exposed a catalogue
RELIEVED Scott Hayes thanked a jury as he walked free from court after being cleared of stabbing a man on his doorstep. Mr Hayes, 25, was acquitted at Basildon Crown Court of causing grievous bodily harm with intent in connection with the stabbing of
When I first moved to Station Avenue, Wickford, ten years ago it was relatively quiet and smooth. However, it is becoming increasingly busy with the new houses built in Jubilee Drive, and the roads and pavements have become potholed. Now we hear there
Renaissance Southend? Who's in charge? The Borgias? Most people would define improving things as making them better, but in Southend Council's dictionary improvement means denigration and destruction. Renaissance is a French word that in English means
Following a report in the Echo of a child getting caught in the muddy sands on Southend beach, I believe our rescue service is doing an excellent job and will always be required. This recent incident is a near miss, which should not have happened in
Wouldn't it be simple if all the world's ills could be solved by waving a few banners in the High Street (August 7). The high street protesters seemed to be linking the renewal of Trident with the morality of dropping the atomic bombs on Japan. This
CHAOTIC and dangerous, parking spaces outside school gates are no place for the faint-hearted. Clearly, the problem is not confined to Essex. It has now been addressed at EU level by the grandly-named Institute for European Environmental Policy. Despite
SOUTHEND Rugby Club's coach Kevin Harman was satisfied with his side's performance in their opening friendly at Esher on Saturday. The Seasiders more than matched their hosts, who won National League Two season, in three 25 minute periods. And that
A ROBBER punched a man in the face after stealing his iPod. The 20-year-old victim was walking down Vincent Lodge, South Woodham Ferrers, when he was approached by two thugs. They stood either side of the victim before demanding his video iPod, worth
KIDS hit the target with their bows and arrows during a sell-out summer archery workshop. Youngsters were given on tips on reaching the bull's-eye by coaches from the Deanes Sports Centre in Thundersley. A mini tournament rounded off the packed session
SOUTHEND United's under-18 side finished off their pre-season preparations with a 3-1 victory over Barking Abbey. Richard Priest hit home a double and was joined on the score-sheet by Tashan Abeyinka. Pictures: GALVINEYES
SOUTHEND Rugby Club's Richard Gill is striving to kick-start his career with the Seasiders. The 20-year-old openside flanker has joined the Warners Bridge outfit after being released from Premiership Saracens at the end of previous campaign. And
GREASE Is The Word finalist Joanna Power has penned a ballad for missing girl Madeleine McCann. Joanna, 22, recorded the moving tune and posted it on her myspace page to try and keep the search for Maddy alive. The British girl has now been missing
MARK Noble believes a limit should be placed on the number of foreigners playing in the Premier League. Some 144 of the 220 players - or 65.5 per cent - who started the opening weekend's fixtures in the top-flight were either born or registered to
MORE than 200 people welcomed a weary but jubilant fundraiser back to dry land. Heleneia Brierley, 67, completed her Colostomy Swim for Life challenge, despite being in pain throughout. She left Essex Marina, at Wallasea, in the Rochford district, arriving
BLUES boss Steve Tilson has confirmed he is still trying to bring a new striker to the club. Fears remain over the quality of the forwards currently in the Shrimpers squad. And Tilson is keen to bolster his options by signing another front-runner
BENFLEET'S hopes of grabbing the second promotion spot in Division Three were given a shot in the arm by a four-run win over Old Southendian & Southchurch. The Woodside Park club trail their local rivals by 25 points with four matches remaining after
LAKESIDE have again been rocked by injury with the news that Joonas Kylmakorpi could be out for the season having sustained a shoulder injury while riding abroad at the weekend. The Finn was forced onto the sidelines earlier in the season when he first
ROBERT Green believes things can only get better for West Ham following their opening day defeat to Manchester City. The Irons goalkeeper - the only Hammers player to draw any credit from manager Alan Curbishley - refused to blame injuries to captain
LEAGUE leaders Basildon & Pitsea suffered a dent to their promotion hopes after suffering a shock defeat against Walthamstow on Saturday. Chasing 184 to win, the table toppers were dismissed for just 158 and that disappointed captain Michael Gray.
MOTORISTS were stuck in hour-long tailbacks today following a crash on the A13. The crash was only a minor collision between the motorcycle and van and no-one was hurt. It happened on the Southend-bound track of the carriageway between the Five
AFTER finishing runner-up last year, Ilford AC's Ian Campbell, representing Metropolitan Police AC, won the Basildon 5K in aid of Little Haven's Children's Hospice. The 47-year-old won in a time of 16 mins 21 secs by 13 seconds from 40-year-old Hendrik
WESTCLIFF kept themselves on the fringes of the promotion race with victory over seemingly doomed basement club Loughton. And Horndon on the Hill moved closer to Division One safety with a comprehensive local derby win over near neighbours Orsett.
ESSEX are in talks to bring two Kent Spitfires players to the Ford County Ground. Firstly, the two counties are believed to be in discussions that would allow young batsman Neil Dexter to move north of the River Thames on a short-term contract later
THE lack of petrol stations in Southend is leading to dangerous queues of frustrated motorists, a leading councillor has claimed. Labour's David Norman says the number of garages in the town has halved in ten years. There are now only two petrol stations
WICKFORD'S hopes of escaping relegation from the Premier Division are fading fast. Taking on fellow strugglers Ilford at their home Patmore Memorial Ground home, Matt Bate's men slumped to a 144-run defeat and are now 31 points from safety. Wickford
ANDREW McClintock has been named captain of Southend Rugby Club. The 29-year-old New Zealander has taken over from father-to-be Ben Green, who has decided to step down. And McClintock is delighted to have been given the extra responsibility.
SOUTHEND United manager Steve Tilson is hoping to celebrate his 200th game in charge of the Shrimpers in style this evening. The Blues boss, who will become just the eighth man to reach the landmark, is hoping to see off Cheltenham Town in the opening
ALAN Curbishley has revealed that Dean Ashton could make his first competitive start since the 2006 FA Cup final at Birmingham City this weekend. Ashton, who missed the whole of last season with a broken ankle, returned to action as a 62nd minute
TORY plans to cut red tape affecting businesses have won a cautious welcome in south Essex. The proposals came from a Conservative Party policy review group chaired by former cabinet member and right-winger John Redwood. The policy group report, due
YOUNGSTERS got to play at being superheroes during a week-long holiday club. Crowstone Christian Centre, in Westcliff, held its annual summer holiday club, for children aged five to 11. The children looked at stories of children in the Bible and how
A WOMAN was back home within two weeks of suffering a stroke after clot-busting drugs at Southend Hospital stopped the symptoms becoming more serious. Elsa Hunter, 51, recognised symptoms of the condition when part of her body began to go numb, so she
A TORY MP has called for more support for small, independent retailers struggling to survive. Dr Bob Spink has called for fresh policies to help shops and small businesses in Castle Point. He pinned his hopes on the launch of the Conservatives' nationwide
CAMPAIGNERS have spoken of their relief after plans for a block of 18 flats were rejected by a Government inspector. Developer Steve Cohen wanted to build on the site of a car sales garage, on the corner of London Road and Louis Drive West, in Rayleigh
