IT'S known as the eco-friendly Ebay and now has over three million members worldwide. The popularity of internet system freecycling has soared as people see the benefits to them and the environment of giving away unwanted goods. There are 412 groups
A BREED of cannibal ladybird which bites humans could decimate populations of native insects. The first British sighting of the Harlequin was in Essex in 2004. Since then it has gone on to populate large areas of the South East and insect experts at
SAILOR Tony Bullimore plans to head out on what he hopes will be a record-breaking around-the-world voyage on Sunday, April 8. Mr Bullimore, 67, who was born in Rochford and grew up in Leigh, will leave Bellerive Yacht Club, in Tasmania, Australia, if
JUST a short gondola ride from the magnificent Three Valleys, the resort of Brides les Bains offers spectacular skiing at an affordable price. While Brides is less well known than its more famous counterparts, such as Courchevel or Meribel, it offers
WHETHER you like your beats brand new or prefer a musical blast from the past this weekend's dancefloors have it all. Hot names from the DJ world will be celebrating Easter with partygoers in Southend as they head to the town's clubs for three packed
IT may have been a normal working day for the rest of us, but Castle Point Council closed its doors to the public at lunchtime yesterday. The majority of staff at the offices in Kiln Road, Thundersley, had left their desks by 1pm and the reception was
RICH, smooth milk, bitter, intense dark, or creamy, sweet white - You will almost certainly be consuming some form of egg shaped chocolate this weekend. It's naughty, but very nice, and despite high calories and health advice, the average Brit eats around
Tide times for week commencing 9th April 2007.... High tides for Monday April 9 are at: 0313 and 1532 High tides for Tuesday April 10 are at: 0403 and 1624 High tides for Wednesday April 11 are at: 0504 and 1733 High tides for Thursday April 12
East Thurrock United are still fearful of the drop into Ryman One North. They have slumped back into the Ryman Premier League relegation zone after an amazing 5-4 defeat at Harrow last weekend, when they managed to score four own goals! Manager
WHAT should have been an early birthday treat nearly got a lifelong football supporter banned from every stadium in the country. Although David Gibson had a valid ticket for the Southend v Leeds match on March 17, he was still arrested trying to get
IT'S not often teachers slave over a hot stove for their pupils, but staff at a Canvey school were determined to lay on a treat for hard working youngsters. The Northwick Park Primary School netball team celebrated the end of their season with
COUNTY chiefs have shown the first signs they may buckle to people power and reconsider plans to force a second huge waste plant in Basildon. Hundreds of people have added their support to the Echo's campaign against Essex County Council's plans for
DETERMINED burglars caused £250 damage after breaking into a house. At first the thieves tried to get into the house in Lenthall Avenue, Grays by forcing open a fanlight window at the front of a house. When they failed to get in their they climbed on
CROOKS stole building equipment worth nearly £1,000 from Basildon Hospital. The thieves stole the compacter plate, used to smooth over concrete, from outside the hospital in Nethermayne, Basildon. It was taken from outside the hospital between 8am
CASTLE Point Council failed to meet the Government's target for deciding major applications in 2006, it has been revealed. In the past year, the council fell well short of dealing with at least 60 per cent of large applications within the designated
A COUPLE who ran a brothel from a rented home have been spared prison. Robin Elliot, 36, of Haven Road, Canvey and Tanya Kavanagh, 28, of Roman Road, Lowestoft, in Suffolk, ran the £70-a-session brothel in Gorleston, Norfolk. Elliot was given a nine-month
Jamie Cureton's hat-trick handed Colchester the double over their Essex rivals and piled more agony on relegation-haunted Southend. The vocal jausting between the fans had barely started when the striker opened his account with his 19th goal of the
RESIDENTS have until next Friday if they want to have their say on how Castle Point will shape up over the next five years. Local people and businesses are being asked to give their views on Castle Point Council's core strategy for the borough. The
Billericay Town go into a vital weekend of promotion-seeking action knowing that they are almost certain to be without the services of arguably their most influential player next term. With interest at a higher level gathering on winger Chris Whelp-dale
Turn the clock back to February 1, 2006, and West Ham are celebrating after becoming the last team to beat Arsenal at Highbury. The Hammers' emotion-charged 3-2 win saw a broken Sol Campbell flee the stadium at half-time after his errors allowed Nigel
LEADERS of Basildon's three main political parties have united to urge voters to snub the British National Party after learning the party will field 11 candidates at next month's elections. The far-right group - which is against a multi-cultural Britain
A MAN whose son is serving in Afghanistan is supporting a campaign to scrap postage charges for sending parcels to soldiers overseas. Peter Pulham, 47, of Clinton Road, Canvey, says he spends at least £15 a week sending his 24-year-old son,
Basildon-based international athlete Danelle Sale is back. After a cross-country season ruined by a virus, Sale returned when she competed for Southend's South East Essex College at the British Colleges national championships. Sale took the silver
SCOUTS have a new boat thanks to the generosity of a Rochford-based company. Parents of children in the 4th/6th Leigh Seascout group had already raised £300 towards a boat,when Thermoshield Windows agreed to donate the remaining £600. The 10ft rowing
On the back of a three-match unbeaten run which has lifted them out of the Conference relegation zone, Grays face an Easter double header. Tomorrow they travel to Woking and on Monday play host to Northwich Victoria. Both opposition sides have struggled
LEIGH fishing village of the early 19th century may appear picturesque in photographs, but like many waterfronts it was a rough, tough place with a murky reputation where strangers seldom ventured. Any unaccompanied woman rash enough to enter the village
LEIGH fishing village of the early 19th century may appear picturesque in photographs, but like many waterfronts it was a rough, tough place with a murky reputation where strangers seldom ventured. Any unaccompanied woman rash enough to enter the village
Great Wakering Rovers face a vital spell in their bid to match last season's finishing position of 13th when they play four games in eight days. That run starts tomorrow when much-improved second from bottom side Flackwell Heath - who still look doomed
Colchester United manager Geraint Williams is hoping to guide the U's to their first Roots Hall success in 18 years today. The Layer Road outfit saw off the Shrimpers 3-0 back in November. And Williams is keen to give Colchester supporters plenty
Thurrock boss Hakan Heyrettin believes a win at Ship Lane against fellow strugglers Hayes tomorrow will give his side a "great opportunity" of beating the drop. Fleet secured a precious Conference South win against Welling last time out and Heyrettin
Basildon's Holly Le Grave helped England's Under-19 women's rugby side make it two wins from two, with a 29-5 victory over Canada at RAF Halton. Just 10 days previously, the England young guns had defeated the United States 31-7. Now Giselle Mather's
Canvey were hoping to steal a march on the three teams chasing them for the fourth and final play-off spot when they face Arlesey Town at Park Lane today (1pm). Gulls have hit a rough spell in which they have lost four of their last five matches and
STUDENTS have visited Sense charity shop in Corringham to give £370 to manager Debbie Kellerher following school house fundraising events. Sonny Smart and Chay Appleyard, both 16, who are house captains at Hassenbrook School, Stanford-le-Hope, visited
A DEDICATED Guide leader has stepped down after more than 40 years of service to Guides and Brownies. Janette Walker, of Dowsetts Lane, Ramsden Heath, received presents, including flowers and a plate, to mark her last day as the village Guide leader.
WHEN John Willis was given a photograph of a pretty young woman, little did he know it would turn out to be the key to more than 50 years of happiness. A friend of John gave him Patricia's address and photo when he did his National Service, so she could
THIEVES stole £6,000 cash from a golf club in broad daylight. The crooks got into an office in the grounds of the St Cleres Hall Golf Course, London Road, Stanford Le Hope, after the door was left unlocked. Once inside, they helped themselves to £6,000
TRADERS and sunbathers are looking forward to a bumper Easter break, with a long weekend of sunshine predicted. Forecasters at the Met Office are predicting plenty of fine and warm weather over the bank holiday weekend, providing ideal conditions to
Southend United midfielder Alan McCormack is determined to prove the doubters wrong when the Shrimpers take on Colchester in another vital clash at Roots Hall today, kick off 12.30pm. Many pundits have already condemned Blues to the drop after their
RICH, smooth milk, bitter, intense dark, or creamy, sweet white - you will almost certainly be consuming some form of egg shaped chocolate this weekend. It's naughty, but very nice, and despite high calories and health advice, the average Brit eats around
Southend United look set to finish their Championship season in front of three sell out crowds at Roots Hall. All tickets in the home end for today's clash with Colchester have already been snapped up. And there are just limited tickets left for
PATIENTS and staff at a home care service have criticised conditions there, describing a catalogue of problems including understaffing, missed pay and poor service. Highfield Home Care, based in Clarence Road, Southend, has been experiencing problems
A RESURGENCE in the popularity of illegal raves has prompted a police warning to Easter weekend revellers. Essex Police has issued a joint warning with colleagues from neighbouring counties after receiving intelligence large outdoor parties were being
TIED to a lamp post after a drunken night out may seem a common end to a stag-do, but one groom-to-be has decided to do something positive to celebrate his impending nuptials. Jon Gurel, of Bosworth Close, Hawkwell, has arranged a football match between
Former Southend AC member Peter Marlow is going to next year's Beijing Olympic Games - as the chief judge in the walking races. Marlow, who now lives at Bury St Edmunds, is no stranger to Olympics, having officiated at the top international level
THREE detached houses are to be built close to Rayleigh Mount despite opposition from the National Trust. Councillors at Rayleigh District Council approved the plans for the homes and garages in Hillview Road and the demolition of the existing property
Canvey strengthened their bid for a Ryman One North play-off spot with a home success over Arlesey in front of a 359 crowd at Park Lane. The only goal as Gulls moved up a place to fourth in the table came from the penalty spot and was scored by skipper
POLICE are hunting a racist thug who attacked a black teenager with a bottle. The 16-year-old was with some friends near Luncies Road and Kirby Road, Basildon, when he was approached by another man. The attacker pulled out a bottle and smashed it in
CYCLISTS are being asked to put in some pedal power to raise money for a children's charity. A new bike event will see riders travel from Priory Park, Southend, to Maldon and back on a 60-mile round trip to raise money for Little Havens Children's Hospice
A MAN is angry because he claims Southend Council refused to collect rubbish for recyling which was packed in transparent sacks. Trevor Miles, 45, of Westcliff Park Drive, Westcliff, has been putting his recyclable waste in see-through white sacks for
THE management of a landmark Southend seafront pub is up for grabs. The owner of the Esplanade, on Western Esplanade, is offering the day-to-day running of the busy family food pub on a franchise lease. Owner Mitchell and Butlers, is pulling out its
A 74-YEAR-old man has been jailed for nine months for trying to set fire to his neighbour's flat after a row about booze. David Mills, formerly of the Jordans sheltered housing scheme, Maple Square, Southend, pleaded guilty to reckless arson. Basildon
Lakeside Hammers are in action twice today - and both matches are against Ipswich in the Elite League. The teams meet at Foxhall Heath this afternoon with the first race scheduled for 2.30 pm. Then the clubs lock horns again in the evening, back
A picturesque rural unmade road which leads people into the heart of Langdon Hills country park has become the subject of a bitter row. The rural idyll was shattered when the private road, known as Southway, was fenced off by a homeowner. It is now
