THERE might not be a card from the Queen, but that won't stop the celebrations for a 100th birthday party tomorrow. Pupils and staff at Leigh Infant School are celebrating their centenary this week and have been learning about the history of their school
SIR Teddy Taylor has joined the call for changes to the National Anthem to make it more inclusive. The former Tory MP, who represented Rochford and Southend East from 1982 to 2001, believes a little-known verse of God Save the Queen about "rebellious
A FAMILY of four has been made homeless after smouldering candles set their home alight. The family was out when their detached home, which is in Thorpe Leas, Canvey, set fire at 1.50pm today (Wed). An investigation into the cause of the fire has established
A SENIOR probation officer has spoken of his "deep regret" at failing to stop a convicted sex attacker striking again in Pitsea. Rory Griffin, 24, was staying at Felmores Bail Hostel when he raped a woman in Northlands Park in May, 2006 - just 13 days
A MUSLIM leader who was the victim of a race-hate campaign is to appear in court accused of racially-aggravated harassment. Sarfraz Sarwar, 59, who leads the Basildon Islamic Centre, is accused of racially taunting a group of Nigerian children in July
A LONG-established playgroup has been forced to move because a cut in council subsidies has led to its rent quadrupling. The Balmoral Pre-School is packing its bags at the end of the week to relocate from the Balmoral Community Centre, Westcliff, to
RESIDENTS have blamed poor road markings for a collision which left a man needing to be cut free from his car. Their comments came after a Toyota Avensis and a Citroen Saxo collided at the junction of Stanley Road and Chesterfield Road, Benfleet, just
FAMILIES will have to wait for two weeks for nappies and some other rubbish to be collected as part of a shake-up of waste services from next April. A new contractor is being appointed by Rochford District Council to carry out the area's rubbish collections
COUNCIL tax dodgers are being warned "one-strike-and-you're-out" under tough new plans to boost collection rates. Residents who miss their payment date on the 6th of the month are currently given two warnings before court. From next April, officials
FORMER Southend MP Sir Teddy Taylor wants parts of the National Anthem rewritten, especially the bit about bashing rebellious Scotsmen. Do we need to bother though? Most Scots don't have time to be rebellious. Starting with the man in Downing Street,
BOXING has figured second only to hunting as a political punchbag. As a result, too many young people have been denied access to an activity which can vastly improve their lives. So the sport's planned rehabilitation in Essex schools is welcome. A
AN MP paid a visit to a postal sorting office to see for himself how much goes into ensuring everybody's cards and presents get delivered on time. After visiting the Canvey Royal Mail sorting office, Conservative MP Bob Spink said: "Our Royal Mail posties
A TEENAGE boy has admitted stealing hundreds of pounds from his mum's purse. Yesterday the 15-year-old boy from Basildon, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told Basildon Youth Court he had "learnt his lesson". Prosecutor Meredith Collins told
PATIENTS at a care home have been enjoying the sights and sounds of a new sensory room. The room, which has been opened in Woodberry Court Care Home, in Tavistock Road, Laindon, offers music, touch and feel artwork and special lighting for patients with
A CHAUFFEUR had a "panic attack" about a missing credit card mo-ments before he ploughed into the back of another car, a court was told. Southend Crown Court heard Paul Prior, 38, of Hillway, Westcliff, had been worried about the card when his Audi A8
A SCHOOLBOY super snapper has been praised for capturing the essence of a new heritage trail destined for Basildon with his photograph of the town's most famous tower block. He may be only ten, but Callum Smith is already on his way to becoming the next
A MAN who repeatedly rammed his ex-girlfriend's car has been given a four-month pris-on sentence. Dean Garner, 38, argued with Della Weaver at her home in London Road, Benfleet, before she fled and drove away. Garner, of The Watermills, Langdon Hills
POLICE officers could soon become a regular sight in the corridors of the county's schools, as part of a Government plan to tackle yobs. Schools across south Essex, including Shoeburyness High and Futures College, Thorpe Bay, have pioneered the scheme
COMMUNITY police have been spreading the "Be Safe, Be Seen" message, by giving away reflective stickers and keyrings to youngsters. Police community support officers Ian Pealling and Alex Courts handed out the shiny accessories at Canvey Library, in
A WOMAN who was struck by a car in a horrific smash has died. The 28-year-old woman from South Woodham Ferrers was the passenger in a silver Mitsubishi Carisma when the crash happened. Police said she fell from the vehicle while it was moving travelling
FIREFIGHTERS rescued an elderly man who was trapped in a burning building. The 94-year-old disabled man was unable to escape his flat in Wilkin Court, Kingswood Chase, Leigh, when it went up in flames. Fire crews arrived at 9.40am and used a battering
IT was a case of double trouble for Santa when twins Riley and Bailey Cripps gave their Christmas wish lists to him. Santa visited the Little Tewkes Nursery and Children's Centre on Canvey, where more than 160 children were getting in the festive spirit
THERE is nothing better to build an appetite than a spot of Christmas gift buying. Having done battle with the bevy of fellow seasonal shoppers at Lakeside one evening we decided to reward ourselves with a hard earned bite to eat. The Broadwalk
CHARLIE MacDonald may have bagged a brace in Blues' 3-0 FA Cup second round replay triumph over Oxford United last night - but the striker still left Roots Hall a disappointed man. For the forward, who replaced Leon Clarke in the starting line-up, failed
FOREST Glade are on the lookout for players of a good standard to join their under-12 A team. The team plays in the A Division of the Southend Junior League and is based a Barleylands in Billericay. Contact Paul Desau on 01268 768355 for details if
SOUTHEND and District Bowling Association won on all eight rinks when they thrashed Gillingham hosts Prince Arthur 197-89. Scores (Southend District first): K Williams 24, T Bucklee 10; B Hennessy 18, A Robinson 16; K Boobyer 33, A Lee 11; K Brown 28
A NEW seven-a-side football team require players aged 25 plus. Games are played outdoors on Sunday evenings, with matches beginning early in January. All abilities are welcome and players interested can contact Terry on 07786 528097 for details
GRAYS Athletic have signed Tom Cruse on a non-contract basis from East Thurrock United. Cruse has returned to the Rec following a spell with East Thurrock United reserves. Grays' Essex Senior Cup quarter-final fixture against Heybridge Swifts will take
GROWING up on one of Basildon's poorest estates, Ralph Dartford was a million miles away from the luvvie world of theatre and acting. His family were builders and he says it was "probably because I was lazy" that he yearned to tread the boards.
Billericay Town caretaker bosses Jason Broom and Grant Gordon took their undefeated run since they took over to four games with this sharing of the spoils in Kent. But there was disappointment in the visiting camp that the New Lodge side failed to
CANVEY'S Concord look to be set fair for a place in the semi-finals after winning the home leg of their quarter-final in style. Hot-shot Michael Begg, who has pledged his future to Rangers for at least the rest of this season, grabbed a hat-trick while
Canvey's nine-match unbeaten run in all competitions came to an end in freezing conditions at Park Lane. But for some outstanding saves from keeper Ricky Wiseman the Islanders could have caught a far greater cold in the first-half than the 1-0 deficit
IS BOXING just an excuse for people to thump each other, or a sport which teaches discipline, sportsmanship and fair play? Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe is an advocate of the latter argument. He is a firm backer of boxing and wants to see schools take
TEENAGE angler Daniel Herrera christened his new rods in style when he landed a cracking 20lb common carp from his local Northlands Park Lake. Herrera, 14, who had bought his new rods after saving up for more than a month, fished below the Northlands
POAS/Unison squad member Mick Noakes stormed to victory at the Ridley Angling Products Gloucester Park Open weighing in a tremendous 50lb 4oz haul to more than double the runner up weight. Noakes fished halfway along the cockle bank at the Basildon lake
The popular Northlands Park Christmas Pike match will take place this Sunday. The event at the Basildon water will be judged on overall weight of pike, with the usual Christmas hamper prizes going to the winners. Entry will cost £12 all in, comprising
A NEW South Essex record label has released a compilation of songs by the most exciting bands in Southend. Enterprising musicians Lennie Usselman, 30, of Leigh Road, Leigh, and Nick Vaughan, 36, of Westbourne Grove, Westcliff, have formed Two Tree
- Gillingham Strand Open Charity Match: Rochford angler Russell Clark won his zone and picked up £50. Rollo Rawlings ensured more success for the south Essex anglers in Kent by winning his zone. The Southend fisherman also had the biggest fish of the
LAKESIDE Hammers management duo of owner Stuart Douglas and co-promoter Jon Cook have surprised supporters by announcing the complete Hammers line-up for the 2008 season earlier than anticipated. They had been expected to reveal the "missing" three names
Mixed martial arts fighter Valentino Petrescu moves up to the big leagues in January when he joins team Bulldog to compete in the International Fight League in America. Petrescu, a regular competitor at the Ultimate Warrior Challenge events held at the
WEST Ham Reserves stretched their unbeaten Barclays Premier Reserve League South run to five matches with a 0-0 draw against Chelsea at Bishop's Stortford. Junior Stanislas and captain Jack Collison (twice) came closest to giving the Hammers the lead
WEST Ham boss Alan Curbishley believes Everton are a side the Irons should look to emulate this season. The Toffeemen have impressed in recent seasons, qualifying for the Champions League in 2005 and the UEFA Cup this season. And Curbishley said his
WEST Ham captain Lucas Neill is desperate to add a Carling Cup winners' medal to his sparse collection - and get one over old friend Tim Cahill in the process. The Australians spent four seasons together at Millwall before Neill left for Blackburn Rovers
EVERTON are the Premier League's form horse. The Merseysiders are unbeaten in ten matches in all competitions, having scored 23 goals and conceded just four since losing 2-1 at home to cross-city rivals Liverpool on October 20. During that run, the
PLANS to build a block of 17 flats in Hullbridge have been rejected by council officers. Unless any members of Rochford District Council ask for the plan to be discussed by the development control committee, it will be turned down. Hullbridge Parish
A MAN chased a thief who stole his mobile phone as he was making a call - only to be hit on the head for his efforts. The 45-year-old man had stepped out of his van in South Avenue, Southend, to make a call, when a gang of six young men approached him
AN eminent ballet master is getting some rare quality time with his family in south Essex while he stages a Christmas-themed production in the West End. Julian Moss, 47, who was discovered as a schoolboy by a Leigh dance academy, has had a distinctive
FIREFIGHTERS have carried out demonstrations to highlight the danger of homemade Christmas costumes, after a schoolgirl was left with severe burns. The head girl at St Bernard's High School, in Westcliff, suffered 40 per cent burns to her neck and arms
A SCHOOL has won Thurrock Council's road safety team's "walk to school" competition. Staff and pupils at Warren Primary School, Chafford Hundred, attended Thurrock Garden Centre in South Road, South Ockendon, to pick up their prize - a £10 voucher to
EFFORTS to keep Grays Beach have gathered momentum. Government planners are looking at the option of rebuilding the popular play area at Riverside Park in Kilvert Playing Fields, less than a mile away. In its place, the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development
ESSEX assistant chief fire officer Andy Fry is moving on after two decades working in the county. He will leave on December 31 to join Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service as deputy chief fire officer. During his 20-year career in the county, Mr Fry has
THE lights went out at County Hall last night - in a symbolic gesture to remind residents to save energy. Peter Martin, county councillor responsible for the environment, launched the new Switch off for Essex campaign at 6pm. The campaign aims to encourage
REPAIR work at Coryton oil refinery is expected to cost as much as £7million following an explosion at the plant in October. Petroplus, the Swiss-based oil refinery, has drafted in 200 extra workers to complete the repairs. A huge explosion, which was
CHRISTMAS spirit rang out on Canvey as the island's Rotary Club went out to raise money for charity. The group descended on the Sainsbury's supermarket on Canvey to play Christmas carols and raise money for local charities. All this month the Rotarians
A DEVELOPMENT of 14 houses and ten flats near the centre of Rochford have been thrown out by district council officers. The homes would have been built on the corner of Ashingdon Road and Ironwell Lane, opposite Coachman Court retirement flats. However
A THIEF has been described as "callous beyond belief" after tricking his way into the home of a 100-year-old and stealing her purse. The crook, described by the woman as "terribly ugly" got into the home, in the Sutton Road area of Southend, and left
CHARITIES are being forced to put down unwanted dogs because of a lack of new homes. The RSPCA is now making an appeal to kind-hearted Echo readers to step in and help the animals. Southend RSPCA rehoming officer Bonita Boddie, said: "It's awful. We
A TEENAGE girl accused of stabbing a schoolboy has appeared in court. The 15-year-old girl from Laindon is alleged to have stabbed her victim, a 15-year-old Billericay boy, twice at the Royal Court block of flats, also in Laindon. The boy was left with
PATIENTS who suffered major strokes celebrated with the professionals who saved their lives. At Southend Hospital, a group met doctors, ambulance crews, nurses, radiographers and staff from the acute stroke and day assessment units to express their gratitude
A CENTENARIAN who has seen 21 prime ministers in power and six monarchs on the throne has celebrated her 109th birthday. Ethel Merrickin, a resident at Priory House, Westcliff, is one of the oldest people in the country but still enjoys chatting and
DISCARDED tyres, plastic patio furniture and a rusty car door were among the junk cleared from open land during a big litter pick. Volunteers from the Greengrid Taskforce, a fledgling environmental and conservation group, turned out to clean up the run-down
A WOMAN who was badly burned in a fire in her car has died. The woman, in her late 50s, was left with serious injuries after the blaze in her Ford Escort in Dunnings Lane, Bulphan. Paramedics and firecrews rushed to the scene, at 6.40am last Wednesday
URGENT repairs will be made to Warriors Swim Centre to avoid it being closed down for health and safety reasons. The Echo reported two weeks ago the swimming complex had been surviving on emergency lighting for the past five months, after the main lighting
AN AUTHOR is asking residents to share their own memorable adventures around Southend seafront as he prepares to write his latest novel. Jason Shelley, 37, of Beresford Gardens, Hadleigh, is due to publish his fourth work, entitled Daytime Notes From
A CHAUFFEUR had a "panic attack" about a missing credit card moments before he ploughed into the back of another car, a court was told. Southend Crown Court heard Paul Prior, 38, of Hillway, Westcliff, had been worried about the card when his Audi A8
