A HOCKLEY school has taken a giant leap towards becoming the first non-city academy in the country. A consultation and feasibility study will now be carried out to see whether Greensward College, in Greensward Lane, should become an academy by September
NEXT year sees Benfleet Cricket Club's 60th anniversary and to herald the occasion a book detailing the club's history is to be written. Author Dave Nash, 61, is looking for the club's past players to get in touch. He has been involved with the club
"Hands off Michael Begg" - that is the message for the non-league big boys from Essex Senior League Concord Rangers. One-time Great Wakering Rovers striker Begg has produced a series of top-quality displays for the Thames Road side in recent weeks.
A CHARITY which provides tents for natural disaster victims has scotched suggestions it might help evicted Dale Farm travellers. Disaster relief agency ShelterBox has dismissed the idea it might house travellers in a tent city as "ludicrous". The Cornwall-based
PIGEONS may not be everyone's favourite feathered friend, but spare a thought for their fanciers. They have just been told they are no longer eligible for business rate relief because their pastime is not officially a sport. While HM Revenue and Customs
A WICKFORD traveller has responded to claims her family has been plaguing neighbours residents. Mother-of-four Katherine McCann, is fighting to stay on an unauthorised plot in Hovefields Drive, Wickford, and hit back on the final day of a public inquiry
PROMISING sprint hurdler Gianni Frankis has had his dreams of Olympic glory boosted by a £30,000 scholarship. The talented teenager, who claimed a bronze medal in the European Junior Championships in July, will receive the funds from Middlesex University
DENISE van Outen and Lee Mead as an item? The prospect of a relationship between the two south Essex stars is delicious. We beg them both to look at the headlines. Even if the reports are so far exaggerated, they may then think: "Mmmmm, that's a good
ANGER is probably the only response left to express feelings towards the closure of community post offices across south Essex. Royal Mail bosses have made their decisions. For the public who will lose neighbourhood branches and the post office franchisees
BENFLEET Running Club got off to a flying start in the first race of the South Essex Cross Country League at Stubbers in Upminster. Benfleet's challenge to win the trophy back from Brentwood-based Thrift Green Trotters was boosted by a 21-point win
WEST Ham will come out with "all guns blazing" as they try to avenge their midweek Carling Cup defeat to Everton tomorrow, according to striker Carlton Cole. The Merseysiders secured a 2-1 quarter-final win at Upton Park thanks to an 88th minute goal
A MUM who has not spoken to her son for five years since he was abducted by her former husband has been given hope. Grace Ciliberto's son Carl Motiwalla, now aged seven, was taken to Dubai in 2003 by his dad Carl Motiwalla senior who continues to defy
DANCING fans will be getting behind their local hero this weekend in the semi-finals of the popular BBC show Strictly Come Dancing. Professional dancer Matthew Cutler, from Southend, and his celebrity partner, Alesha Dixon, will compete against two other
JOSEPH star Lee Mead has truly met his match after hooking up with another south Essex singing sensation. The former Eastwood schoolboy has reportedly been dating Basildon star Denise Van Outen for the past month, after they met on BBC Series Any Dream
THE battle to save three popular local community post offices has been lost. Residents had been campaigning for months after hearing sub-post offices in Nevendon Road, Wickford, Greens Farm Lane, Billericay, and The Chase, Rayleigh, were earmarked for
IT IS derby day in London Three North East tomorrow as unbeaten league leaders Westcliff head to local rivals Rochford Hundred, kick-off 2.15pm. The hosts are also enjoying a fine start to the season and are sitting third in the standings. And, after
CHRISTMAS decorations have been pulled down at Southend Hospital because of the risk of infection - but will back up on Monday. Festive tinsel was put up in the outpatients' area by Leigh Rotary Club, which did not realise new rules had banned decorations
MATTHEW Upson believes West Ham need to overcome a "mental" problem if they are to improve their unpredictable home form. The Irons have won just three of the nine matches they have played at Upton Park this season, leaving the England defender mystified
THE SCEPTRE Sunday League will continue to go from strength to strength thanks to the help of two new sponsorship deals. The 10-division-strong organisation has become one of the best in Essex and the deals will help to cement this place. One of
SOUTHEND Rugby Club's Tyson Lewis will be looking to continue his try scoring exploits when Blaydon visit Warners Bridge tomorrow. The speedy winger has worked his way into the first team with some scintilating displays in the Seasiders' second team.
POLICE are warning people not to be tempted by sought-after games consoles or DVDs sold in suspicious circumstances, following a late-night store raid. A gang broke into Woolworths, on Canvey, through a toilet window and spent at least two hours loading
FULL-back Danny Kerrigan could be fit to return to the Billericay Town squad for tomorrow's Ryman Premier Essex derby at AFC Hornchurch. Kerrigan has missed the last three games through injury, but is said by joint caretaker boss Grant Gordon as having
A CASHIER office on Canvey has been forced to close temporarily due to computer problems. Castle Point Council hopes to reopen its island office, in Sydervelt Road, by next Wednesday. During the closure, residents can make payments at the council's
VOLUNTEERS braved chilly winter weather to help clear scrub from a busy bridleway in Hadleigh Castle Country Park. Nine residents rolled up their sleeves for the scrub, bashing and bonfire event, organised by fledgling environmental group, the Greengrid
A NEW cross-party board is being set up by Southend Council to ensure the town gets the best possible legacy from the 2012 Olympic Games. One of its first jobs will be to investigate the possibility of holding a large cultural event on next year's August
A PARENT has slammed the lack of gritting on the roads after his son was nearly struck by a car outside school. Michael Clough, 28, of Ark Avenue, Grays walked four year old Joshua to Lansdowne Primary, in Alexandra Road, Tilbury, when the near miss
A BILLERICAY school's choir entertained shoppers with a chorus of carols in Basildon's Eastgate Centre. The Sunnymede Junior School pupils helped raise much needed funds for Little Havens hospice, which the school has supported for eight years, raising
A FAMILY woke up to find a familiar face burgling their home. The mum and her daughter were sleeping downstairs when they were disturbed by a noise and a light in the kitchen, Basildon Crown Court heard. Frightened, the woman crept upstairs to wake
GREAT Wakering Rovers go into Essex derby action at home to Aveley tomorrow knowing that the match is a virtual six-pointer for the two mid-table sides. The Millers have made giant strides since new boss Rod Stringer, his assistant Eddie Crace and
EAST Thurrock United go in search of their first win in eight games in all competitions and six in the league when they go away to Margate FC this weekend. United's last win in the Ryman Premier came on October 16th with a 2-1 victory at home to Folkestone
THE leader of Essex County Council has called on the Government to provide "sufficient funding" for its concessionary bus fair scheme for over-60s. Speaking in the House of Lords during the second reading of the Concession-ary Bus Travel Bill, Lord Hanningfield
A DEDICATED mental health worker is retiring from a national charity after a decade of service during which she trained hundreds of volunteers. Margaret Lowry, 61, joined Rethink mental health charity in south Essex when its invaluable Good Companions
TILBURY welcome Brentwood Town to Chadfields tomorrow, knowing three points are vital to keep up with the rest of the pack down the bottom of the table. While only just behind 19th placed Waltham Abbey, defeat could possibly see Tilbury five points
AN optician is asking customers to help him help youngsters stuck in hospital or a hospice over Christmas. D Glick Opticians, in Wickford High Street, is offering free eye tests to anyone who brings in a gift to pass on to Little Havens children's hospice
A fast food restaurant's has admitted its car park is infested with rats. Burger King accepts the car park area of its Pipps Hill Retail Park restaurant in Basildon has a problem - but insists customers are not at risk. The admission comes after several
STEVE Tilson takes his Southend United back to the scene of his greatest ever managerial triumph tomorrow. For the last time the Shrimpers visited Swansea City, back in April 2006, they secured promotion to the Championship with an entertaining 2-2 draw
GRAYS Athletic and Lewes will meet for the third time this season when they clash in the FA Trophy First Round this Saturday. The two sides met back in October in the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. Having drew 1-1 initially Lewes knocked Grays
THREE men who stormed into a home in the middle of the night and attacked the startled inhabitants with a machete have been jailed. Kingsley Brown, 26 and Oseikpo Agbontaen, 27 were each imprisoned for five years for their part in the raid at a house
STEVE Tilson takes his Southend United back to the scene of his greatest ever managerial triumph tomorrow. For the last time the Shrimpers visited Swansea City, back in April 2006, they secured promotion to the Championship with an entertaining 2-2
ESSEX are set to unveil former Warwickshire and Derbyshire all-rounder Graeme Welch as the county's new seam bowling coach. Welch, who retired from the professional game through injury this summer following a successful 15-year career, will replace
PHARMACISTS are backing controversial Government plans to give out the contraceptive Pill to women and girls over 16 without a prescription. Under the plans, women would be able to obtain the oral contraceptive after an interview with qualified pharmacists
STATION car parks on the One rail line are set for a £1million boost to improve safety and services to commuters. One railway, part of the National Express Group, has appointed private company NCP to run its 62 car parks on the line. All stations between
SOUTHEND United captain Kevin Maher will become just the third player to reach the 450 game mark for the Shrimpers this weekend - but the midfielder is far from finished. The long-serving captain will take his usual place at the heart of the Blues' midfield
FAMILY and friends have been paying tribute to an A127 crash victim. John Day, 27, died last week when the Mercedes he was driving careered off the London-bound side at the junction with the A176 and ploughed into a house in Church Road, Laindon. Yesterday
UNFORTUNATELY I shall be missing out on the game at Swansea City this weekend. I went to see the doctor again yesterday and although there has been a big improvement he advised me not to play. It's disappointing but he told me if I took another knock
WANT to save yourself £400 a year? Well you can - by cutting down on the amount of food you buy. In the UK alone, 6.7 million tonnes of unwanted food is thrown away every year. This already sounds like a lot but to put the figures into context, it
A BOATMAN has been presented a lifetime achievement award by Thorpe Bay Yacht Club. Gerald Webb, 83, of Southend, began sailing dinghies across the Thames as a child before moving on to race National 12s, Hornets and Cruisers. At just nine years old
SINGERS and musicians from Westwood Primary School in Hadleigh visited a local care home to spread a bit of Christmas cheer. Staff, parents and 22 pupils spent the morning at the Elizabeth House care home in Benfleet Road and gave two concerts to the
THE Government must come up with real solutions to try to cut the binge-brinking culture in Britain, according to MP David Amess. Speaking in the Commons, the Southend West MP said he did not condemn cheap alcohol, but felt the idea of getting drunk
SKATEBOARD boys and girls are jumping for joy. They have a new haven, following the official opening of a new shop dedicated to their sport. The Switch Skatestore, situated in an alley off Broadway West, Leigh, was officially opened at the weekend.
SHOEBOXES filled with treats were sent out to poverty-stricken youngsters thanks to generous donations from Sacred Heart School. Pupils at the school in Windemere Road, Southend, were taking part in the charity Operation Christmas Child project to send
EDUCATION inspectors have given a Southend school a satisfactory rating, but flagged up inconsistencies in its standards of teaching. An Ofsted report said Hamstel Junior School in Hamstel Road, needed to ensure teaching was consistent and pupils knew
YOUNG talent is being sought by the Palace Theatre for new drama groups. Tots aged four to six years old, from the newly-formed Tiny Palace drama group, have already made their first appearance on stage, performing a pantomime version of Cinderella in
THE British National Party has been accused of hypocrisy for attacking the standards of British education in a leaflet littered with spelling mistakes. Scores of leaflets, aiming to pick up support for the far-right party in south Essex, were handed
A WOMAN has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her adoptive mother. Tracy Clifton, 37, had denied murdering 76-year-old Hannah Phillips, but at Basildon Crown Court yesterday she pleaded guilty to manslaughter and to perverting the course of justice
COUNCILLORS have agreed to continue with the £1.9million eviction of travellers from the district. Traveller campaigners had hoped human rights issues might sway Basildon Council's development control committee, but ultimately they decided evictions
A CHARITY Christmas event raised more than £1,200 for Southend Hospital's StrokeBusters appeal. The Royal Bank of Scotland at Thanet Grange, Westcliff held a staff Christmas fair with 40 stalls, three sports car simulators and Father Christmas on hand
