FURIOUS residents have torn up maintenance bills after suffering huge price hikes. Monthly service charges have soared by up to 76 per cent since St Georges Community Housing Association started to manage Basildon Council's 12,000 homes in April. Leaseholders
AS he lies in his hammock of an evening gazing at the stars in the clear night sky, Jem Winston knows he has come a long way from his days as a taxi driver in Leigh. Back then he dreamt of building and owning his very own eco lodge, promoting green tourism
ONLOOKERS watched in horror as a car mounted a pavement before smashing into two parked cars and a telegraph pole - inches away from a dad, his little daughter and her friend. The pedestrians escaped serious injury by "a whisker" in notorious Eaton Road
A TAXI driver was robbed of his takings at knifepoint. The 53-year-old man was driving two men past Northlands Park, Pitsea, when they pulled a knife on him. They threatened him and forced him to hand over his takings. The two robbers then fled with
A QUIRK of artistic taste has seen visitors to a Wickford shopping centre doing a double take. Pedestrians and motorists passing by the Willows Centre in High Street, could be forgiven for thinking they'd spied a very still workman lingering above a
TWO men have been arrested after a Basildon man was allegedly raped. A man was heard screaming for help from a house in London Road, West Thurrock. Police were called by neighbours. Officers found a 22-year-old man bleeding heavily from an arm wound
AN MP has joined police in a campaign against race attacks. Thurrock MP Andrew Mackinlay urged the public to help a police operation to track down the thugs responsible for a series of attacks on black people in Tilbury. The Labour MP, who has a home
A BUILDER is facing a large bill after his work van and car were hit by another vehicle. Derek Bailey, from Leigh, parked his Alfa Romeo and van outside his girlfriend's home in North Crescent, Prittlewell, on Sunday night. He said: "My van has been
A MAN caught while driving under the influence of booze has been banned from driving for nearly two years. Reginald Curry, 50, was spotted driving his Porsche with the lights off on Broadmayne, Basildon. He was pulled over by police at around 1.45am
A NEIGHBOUR from hell who persistently blasted residents with deafening music has been silenced with an Asbo. Lee Goose, of Stromness Road, Southend, was slapped with an Anti Social Behaviour Order after making his neighbours lives a misery by continually
A CANVEY nightclub bouncer fraudulently claimed £13,260 in benefits. Michael High, 35, of Grafton Road, Canvey, appeared in Southend Magistrates' Court , following a joint prosecution by Castle Point Council and the Department for Work and Pensions.
A SON who crashed his mum's car after a boozing session has been banned from driving. John Haggar, 21, drunk four cans of Stella Artois before getting behind the wheel of his mum's Ford Fiesta. While taking it for a spin he smashed into the wall of
BILLY Blood Drop visited patients at Southend Hospital's Neptune children's ward - including Macauley Kent, ten, pictured - to hand out games and other gifts. The National Blood Service mascot also told youngsters about the importance of giving blood
A FATHER-TO-BE left his friend with a broken leg, dislocated foot and a five-inch gash to the head after attacking him outside a snooker club. Brett French, 22, went to Rileys pool, snooker and poker club, in Market Pavement, Basildon, to confront Danny
COUNCIL chiefs have demanded action over a former petrol station site which has been left to rot for nearly a year. The owners of the plot, located at the junction of Queens Road and Eastwood Road, Rayleigh, have been served with a summons and will be
NORTHLANDS Park regular Dagenham Dave' Pitt banked an enormous 25lb 9oz common carp to lead the way during a week that saw at least four fish of the species taken at the Basildon venue. Pitt, who normally targets the Northlands Park bream, took the
Lee Mead is looking a little tired. It's hardly surprising. He's currently doing eight performances of Joseph a week, extra rehearsals on top of that, a constant round of television appearances and publicity for the show, and he's still managed to get
A GRANNY who claimed benefits for five years while stashing £172,000 in her bank account may be forced to pay back £10,000 in legal aid. Gail Doran, 53, from Sadlers Park, London Road, Bowers Gifford, was funded by taxpayers via the Legal Service Commission
A FAMILY were all strapped in and ready for take off when their dream holiday to Cancun was cancelled. Michelle Cook, 41, partner Adam Saunders, 43, and their two children - Charlie, eight, and Raquel, 15 - were on board their plane and watching the
DOGS and their owners were put through their paces at a fun day. Organised and hosted by the Phoenix Dog Training Club, the day saw hounds taking part in agility courses, a scurry where they jumped over fences at speed and an obedience contest. The
NEW bars and clubs could be built in Southend town centre if residents give plans the go-ahead. Southend Council is reviewing its licensing policy, which includes a cumulative impact clause which normally precluding premises from being granted an alcohol
A WOMAN accused of intimidating witnesses has been cleared of the charges. Janice Vella was accused of intimidating two men outside Witham Magistrates' Court. Her trial was due to take place next month, but the prosecution offered no evidence when she
CASTLE Point Council could adopt a "faster and clearer" system of working, which would see most decisions made by a cabinet - if new proposals get the go-ahead. Plans are under way to overhaul the council's current management system and bring it into
THE Wickford Youth Band and Majorettes has assured people it is still open after receiving a number of concerned calls. The Echo told last week how the group was struggling to stay afloat and was desparate for new members. However, troupe chairman Alex
A TEENAGER who suffered life-threatening injuries in a horrific road crash is still recovering in hospital. The boy, a 19-year-old from Basildon, is in a stable condition at Basildon Hospital. He suffered severe head and chest injuries in the early
SPRAY-painting vandals have covered Wickford Library in graffiti. Much of the outside of the building in Market Road, Wickford, has been covered in tags in several attacks. Cllr Iris Pummell, Essex County Council's cabinet member for community services
LEIGH man Jem Winston drove a night taxi for six years. He then used the money to create his own paradise - now an award-winning eco-lodge in the Dominican rain forest. As an ex-cabbie, it certainly sounds like he's got the right qualifications for
BRITISH forces are fighting an arduous war in Iraq and Afghanistan, but at least they have now scored a tactical victory on the home front. Bowing to a well-focused campaign, Royal Mail is dropping postal charges until Christmas. This will mean a lot
SOME 60 people joined the Billericay Society on its annual walk through the town. The morning stroll started at Billericay train station and worked its way to the town council offices. The walk,which has been happening for the past 20 years, was lead
CHILDREN lit up the stage when they performed for family and friends at their end-of-year concert. The pupils from Helen O'Grady Children's Drama Academy, in South Wood-ham Ferrers, showed their skills at Brentwood Theatre. Almost 200 youngsters aged
FORMER Southend United striker Freddy Eastwood will make his Wales debut against Bulgaria tonight convinced he can solve his "new" nation's goal-scoring problems. The 23-year-old has already netted twice this season for new club Wolves, following his
RELIGION, along with politics, is said to be one of the great taboos for discussion in polite company. The reality, according to Tim Blake, is both provoke a good deal of conversation around dining tables across the country. That they do, he believes
ESSEX captain Mark Pettini has issued a rallying call to his troops ahead of the Colchester Cricket Festival that begins at Castle Park today. The county meet lowly Leicestershire in a four-day Championship match from today and then, on Sunday, host
TECHNOLOGY whizzkids from South East Essex College have dreamed up their own futuristic computer games console. The three BND Media (Games Development) students' design for a new kind of games computer called the Dreamer won them a state-of-the-art PS3
DINERS were thrown out of a pub by police at the weekend - after complaining their food had been served too quickly. The unusual incident happened at the Quays, Basildon, where regular customer Graham Calkin and wife, Vivien, witnessed the row. He
firefighters set up exclusion zone around Tilbury Power Station after a gas cylinder caught alight inside the plant, amid fears it might spark an explosion. Fire crews kept an overnight watch on the power station after being called to the site at 4.30pm
WEST Ham defenders Danny Gab-bidon and James Collins have both signed two-year contract extensions with the club. The pair, who are Welsh internationals, joined the club in a joint £3.5 million deal from Cardiff City in July 2005. Since then, the
ESSEX started the Colchester Cricket Festival in Castle Park today seeking the win that would retain their slender hopes of promotion in the LV County Championship. Defeat in the previous home fixture against Gloucestershire at Southend severely dented
VANDALS who have repeatedly stolen badger warning signs from the A127 are putting drivers' lives at risk, according to a group which fights to protect the animals. Signs warning motorists there may be badgers crossing the busy dual carriageway were put
ENGLAND and Essex star Alastair Cook has backed his team and housemate Mark Swampy' Pettini to lead Essex out of their current doldrums. Essex have struggled in recent months, winning just one of their last 14 competitive matches in four and one-day
CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a BMX bike track in ancient woodland look set to be shelved following fierce opposition. Castle Point councillors provisionally agreed to create the dirt jump track in West Wood, for youngsters in Thundersley and Hadleigh
A NEW rail station at Southend pierhead, to replace the one destroyed by a fire in 2005, is being planned by the council. Proposals are being submitted for new platforms with canopies and a control office. The devastating 2005 blaze resulted in the
A MALAYAN war veteran has been honoured for his role in helping the south-east Asian country more than 50 years ago. Major Frank Clark, 83, of Ashingdon Heights, Ashingdon, served in the intelligence core and spent five years in the jungle fighting Chinese
Thursday, August 23 Yoga. 7-8pm. Laindon Community Centre, Aston Road, Laindon. 01268 466641 Bingo and August Tea. National Health Service Retirement Fellowship Meeting Basildon and Thurrock branch. 1.45pm. Village Hall, Orsett. 01375 371284 Table
A FORMER serviceman has been instrumental in forcing Royal Mail to scrap postal charges for families sending parcels to loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan. David Cain, 58, from Cedar Road, Canvey, who served in the 2nd Royal Anglian regiment, launch-
CHILDREN enjoyed a wiggly wild read at Wickford library on Saturday. The theme of the special day was recycling and even the importance of worms was part of the information lapped up by youngsters. With mums and dads at their side children packed
KURT Pottle, 15, and pal Matt Herbert enjoyed a fantastic session on the long arm at Doggetts this weekend. Pottle, fishing eclipse baits, landed five mirrors weighing 16,17,17.5 and 18lbs. And, if that wasn't enough, he proceeded to capture a staggering
WORKERS at a West Thurrock factory fear their jobs could be axed to improve efficiency and profits. An employee of Proctor and Gamble, who has asked not to be named, claimed bosses from the firm, based in Hedley Road, were planning to wash their hands
FIT-AGAIN defender Simon Francis is determined to force his way back into the Southend United first team. The 22-year-old missed the start of the campaign with an ankle injury he picked up during a pre-season friendly at Canvey Island four weeks ago
KIERON Dyer is set to become West Ham's first England international in nearly two years when the national side take on Germany at Wembley tonight. The 28-year-old, who made his Irons debut on Saturday after his £7million move from Newcastle United,
ALASTAIR Cook silenced his critics in dramatic fashion by scoring his maiden One-Day International century in England's NatWest Series thrashing of India last night. The 22-year-old Essex opener - who some commentators expected to be dropped in favour
GULLS grabbed their second successive win in Ryman Division One North with a well-earned 3-0 win against Potters Bar Town at Park Lane. Leon Gordon gave the hosts a 14th minute lead with a header from skipper Craig Davidson's free-kick before an
BILLERICAY Town continued their fine start to the season by inflicting AFC Hornchurch's first league defeat since November 18, 2006. Town's goals were scored by two substitutes, ex-West Ham and Southend United winger Lee Hodges and Dave Wareham, but
JUST 12 months on from playing non-league football, Basildon boy Michael Kightly was "buzzing" after making his England Under-21 debut last night. The former Grays Athletic and Southend United winger, who is starring in the Championship with Wolverhampton
CHILDREN will get the chance to find out how the food they eat is produced at a traditional farmers' market. The market will be held at Leigh Community Centre, in Elm Road, Leigh, from 9am until noon on Friday August 24. Stall-holders will be available
A HEROIN addict who robbed a commuter in an alleyway has been given the chance to turn his life around. Phillippe Tine, 34, was so desperate to buy drugs he pounced on Peter Tanton as he walked through an alleyway shortly after leaving Grays train station
JOBS are under threat across south Essex after entertainment retailer ChoicesUK announced it is set to call in administrators. Hundreds of jobs across the country will be lost after attempts to sell the business failed and the administrators will be
A NEW trial service has been launched in Castle Point for residents to recycle their paper-based drinks cartons. Collection banks are now installed at Sainsbury's near Rayleigh Weir, Morrisons on Canvey and Richmond Hall car park, off Benfleet High
SOUTHEND town centre redevelopment plans will become a "white elephant" because no cash is available, a Tory MP said. James Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend East, criticised proposals by Renaissance Southend, He met members of the Herbert Grove
A TALENTED youngster from Canvey is poised for West End stardom after winning a coveted role in the hit show the Sound of Music. Pia Johnson, ten, fought off hundreds of young hopefuls through five rounds of auditions to land the part of Marta Von Trapp
There will be a quiz night at Ferndale Baptist Church, North Avenue on Friday, September 14 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5 which includes a fish and chips meal. For further details please ring 01702 445592.
A CHARITY which encourages disabled people to explore their creative potential through art is appealing for volunteers to help at its workshops during the coming term. The Art Ministry in Hadleigh wants eager residents to come forward and offer their
A PENSIONER had her credit card stolen as she tried to get cash out of an ATM machine. The woman, in her sixties from Chafford Hundred, was at the cashpoint at Tesco in Signet Way, Lakeside, when the theft occurred. As she waited to get money out of
