Police are warning teenagers against using mobiles while walking alone after two youngsters were violently mugged for their phones on the same day. In the first of the two robberies a 12-year-old schoolboy was walking near the site of the old Fryerns
A toilet block that has become a haven for homosexual activity and drug dealers is about to be demolished. The toilets in Dark Lane, Thundersley, which were closed following a petition from worried residents and nearby schools, will be demolished at
An undercover officer alleged to have been recruited as a hitman insisted he did not pressure a couple into going ahead with a contract killing. The officer, whose identity has not been revealed for security reasons, was giving evidence against Cherie
Southend United goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan hopes to continue the Shrimpers' good fortunes over their fierce local rivals Colchester tomorrow. Flahavan has not lost against the U's in the five clashes which have taken place between the sides in the
Luke Guttridge is unlikely to ever play for Southend United again, according to his agent Richard Cody. The 24-year-old midfielder completed a loan switch to League One Leyton Orient yesterday. And Cody admitted it does not look like Guttridge will
Basildon based English national junior cross country champion Danielle Sale completed her preparations for tommorow's European Championship trials in style. The trials take place as part of the UK Cross Challenge at Sefton Park, Liverpool and Sale
Billericay Town boss Matt Jones admits that his striking plans for tomorrow's third and final qualifying round home tie with Bristol's Mangotsfield United are far from certain. Top goal scorer Nathan Elder was confined to the bench for Tuesday's home
With the euphoria of West Ham's successful takeover still sweeping down Green Street, the importance of tomorrow's clash with Sheffield United should not be forgotten. The Blades sit just one point and two places below the Irons in the Premiership
As if there weren't enough mysteries surrounding the sinking of the Titanic, a new one has emerged. When, and how, did the Titanic sink off Southend in 1935? The mystery centres around the dramatic picture of a lifeboat rescue, published probably
The tough streets of New York have found fame in hip hop and rap music and now it's Southend's turn. Shepard Zhou is creating music he hopes people in his home town can relate to and believes his latest single does just that. "Coming from Essex
Proud students celebrated a new era for their school by designing new logos. Thorpe Bay School, Southend, is joining forces with vocational college Prospects to create a new college. Futures College aims to boost the learning achievements of youngsters
Political parties have hit back at Canvey Town Council campaigners who called for a non-political council, saying they will "fight every seat". Leaders of the main political parties have been asked to sign a pledge to stop members standing for election
A residential care home owner has accused social services of putting budgets before the care of elderly people. Deborah Reynolds, who owns The Belfry, in Ramsden Heath, said despite it having two empty beds, women in their nineties were reduced to
Yes, James Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend East, the Middle East is "a highly sensitive subject," and as such, I don't believe one visit makes anyone an expert on the subject (Nov 20). For example, while the building of the barrier is a sad fact
As a 15-year-old student, I am disgusted by the prices being charged at the ice rink in Southend town centre. Many of us will not be able to afford to use it. I know that this is a special, unique opportunity for Southend to gather in tourists, but
There is increasingly bad levels of street lighting in the Laindon area. There is no lighting half way along St Nicholas Lane, resulting in the hope that the football pitch floodlights nearby are on. This has been going on for at least a year now. The
Bob Chapman (Nov 21) confirms my contention that the white poppy faction is politically motivated and has deprived the Earl Haig Fund of 48,000 donations needed to assist the war disabled and their families. Does he also support the statement of fellow
The Castle Point Wildlife Group thanks and commends the 1341 (Thundersley) ATC. Some two dozen cadets, plus officers, joined my group for a work party in Westwood on Sunday and we were extremely impressed with their enthusiasm, politeness and hard work
What a shame some GPs are being so negative about the choose and book system. I work for a single-handed GP practice and we now do all referrals to hospital this way. The doctor sees the patient, ticks the box on a referral form for the speciality he
The Westcliff Remembrance Day Parade red poppies and all, for oicks, old, out-of-date geezers - right? So I go along because I am an old geezer and I have known death and destruction coming from the skies. They lie dead, men and women, and the white,
I am saddened at what I am recently coming to view as too much anger in some sections of the general community. I run a local Sunday football team and have experienced a lot of first-hand anger directed at me by opposition players and some of my own.
Last month, there was no hiding from the fact it was Breast Cancer Awareness Month, thanks to all the pink fundraising products on sale. This month, it's the turn of a disease that now kills more women than breast cancer, but, in contrast, seems to
Two guide dogs in training have paid a visit to the Coryton refinery, as a thank you to workers who decided to sponsor them. Target and Cracker are in the early stages of training to be guide dogs for the blind and came to the refinery to show staff
A view of bullying from a different perspective was the subject of a song written by a pupil. As part of national anti- bullying week, Thorpe Bay School student Patricia Tarehwa wrote the song One Minute More, describing life as a bully. The 13-
The bangs caused by weapons-testing at the firing ranges in Shoebury and Foulness prompt dozens of complaints every year. But few people see the essential work that goes on behind the barbed fences of the base, operated for the MoD by Qinetiq. At
They're bright, brash and have even been described as "blinging", but Christmas lights are causing a headache for green campaigners. Every year, hundreds of families across south Essex decorate their houses with sparkling Santas, twinkling trees and
South East Essex College in Southend was transformed into an airport as travel and tourism students practised their skills. There were no planes waiting for the passengers who passed through check-in, duty free and the departure lounge but the role-play
There will be entertainment all afternoon tomorrow in Leigh prior to the Christmas lights switch-on. Donkeys, ducks and sheep will be at Leigh Road Baptist Church, at the corner of Leigh Road and Marguerite Drive, between
Firefighters tackled a blaze which broke out in a block of flats in Beresford Road, Southend last night. Crews found a storage room on the fourth floor of the building was alight and a number of flats had filled with smoke from the fire. One person
Southend's lifeboat shop could lose vital support because budget problems have forced the council to stop weekday trains on the pier. The council expects to save £74,000 in wages and running costs by making four staff redundant, changing its maintenance
An armed police officer who has guarded the Queen and other members of the royal family has been released on bail following his arrest for allegedly threatening a photographer at gunpoint. Paul Page, 35, of Chafford Hundred, was arrested on Tuesday
A company battling to claw back unlawful bank charges for account holders across south Essex has told bailiffs to recoup over £2,700 from a High Street bank. Accountancy firm Sun Lane, based in St Helen's Road, Westcliff, has used a combination of
The Echo has won a victory in its battle to stop potentially deadly Polish furniture flooding into south Essex. The national Trading Standards body is backing calls from the Echo for action to prevent the sofas, which are potential firetraps, reaching
Hundreds of new homes and jobs are planned for the centre of Hadleigh and Benfleet as part of the Thames Gateway regeneration project. The Government-backed organisation proposes 300 new homes and 500 new jobs for Hadleigh town centre, with a further
