WALES manager John Toshack has paid tribute to captain fantastic Craig Bellamy after the West Ham United striker's goal clinched a fine 1-0 friendly win in Denmark. The 29-year-old forward netted a superb 77th minute winner in Brondby - his first international
A GROUNDSMAN’s shed which went up in flames is thought to have been torched by arsonists. Firefighters from Basildon station were called to the incident in Gloucester Park, Basildon, just after 7pm this evening and spent an hour battling the blaze.
WEST Ham United's international contingent enjoyed a memorable evening of goalscoring action on Wednesday. Matthew Upson capped a man-of-the-match performance by scoring his first ever international goal as England secured a deserved 2-1 win in Germany
THE Lunar Pilots touch down at Bar Lambs, Westcliff, on Friday night. Five guys hailing from Essex and Cambridge, they play original indie pop, but also have the ability to blast-off into a frantic rock-out when the tune demands it. The quintet’s songs
WHEN it comes to landing a big break, it’s not just about what you know, but who you know. Vocalist Matt Forder, 27, will vouch for that simple philosophy after meeting up with one of the biggest groups in the world in a kebab shop. Now,
WEARING football shirts in class would be frowned upon in most schools. But for a group of soccer-mad youngsters at Shoeburyness High School, it forms part of their uniform for one day a week. The school, with the help of Southend United, has developed
SKY-reaching highs followed by nose-diving lows are the turbulent forces which have piloted Beatglider’s musical journey to date. The Southend band are currently soaring again, with a new album Witches, released by Enraptured Records.
MERCURY Prize winners Elbow nudge their way into the Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff, on Sunday, March 1. Elbow were handed the prestigious award in September on the strength of their album, the Seldom Seen Kid, beating off the rivalry of big favourites Radiohead
A THURROCK indie rock band have been busying themselves on the south Essex and London music scene. The Hooks are a five-piece who formed in April this year and already have an impressive CV. The band consists of lead vocalist, Amy Clayton, 25, rhythm
AN up and coming heavy rock band are set to raise the roof at a charity gig in aid of the John and Bridie’s Batten Disease Charity. Safehouse Theory are playing at Grays Poker Club, above the Working Men’s Club, in London Road, on Saturday, November
LUCAS Neill captained Australia to a barely-deserved 1-0 2010 World Cup qualifying win over Bahrain in Manama. The West Ham United defender was part of a disappointing Socceroos performance capped by a last-minute strike by Palermo midfielder Mark Bresciano
THE music of a bygone era is being revived at a Leigh school after their newest and rather special instrument was unveiled. Pupils at Eastwood School, in Rayleigh Road, will be able to discover the complexities of the theatre organ, the instrument which
FORMER Strictly Come Dancing hopeful Mark Foster has been quick to step to the defence of political journalist John Sergeant, who quit the show yesterday. Olympic swimming champion Foster, 38, who grew up in Southend, said he thought the judges had been
A FORMER police officer who spent 30 years on the frontline has been recognised for her lifetime of achievements. Cheryl Callow, an inspector until she retired from Essex Police this year, was named a runner-up for the Lifetime Achievement in Policing
A PROLIFIC thief who conducted a crime spree across south Essex spanning four years has been spared jail. Glyn Smith, 28, was given the chance to turn his life around by Judge Rupert Overbury, who said his drug use had led to the crimes. Smith was eventually
GENEROUS pupils at a Leigh school are spreading the Christmas spirit to some of the world’s poorest children by packing shoeboxes full of festive gifts. The children, at Eastwood Primary School, brought in toys, sweets, toiletries and school supplies
Children gave each other back and neck massages during an assembly as part of National Anti-Bullying Week at Hamstel Infant School, Southend. Deputy headteacher Jackie Dillnut said: “They were so careful and gentle with each other.”
A FATHER, who allowed his three sons to smoke and sell cannabis at the family home has confessed to the Echo that a “decent parent” would not have turned a blind eye to the crimes. With tears in his eyes, Stephen Polley, 48, admitted he was wrong to
A VIOLENT thug has been jailed for 21 years for the murder of a 64-year-old cleaner. David Graham, was sentenced yesterday for the attack on cleaner John Murray at the Sunrooms bar, Market Place, Southend. Graham, 32, of no fixed address, was sentenced
A TRAVELLER who is expecting triplets says she fears for her unborn children if she is forced out of her home. Jean Sheridan, 24, is one of up to 400 people who could be turfed out of the illegal Dale Farm camp, at Crays Hill, if Basildon Council
PLANS to allow up to 100 homes to be built on school playing fields have been criticised by Essex County Council. Castle Point Council has earmarked the land at the back of Castle View School, Canvey, to help it meet the building target of 4,000 homes
FISHERMEN are demanding action from the Coastguard to man its tower at Shoebury 24 hours a day. They spoke out after Leigh fisherman Colin Dolby was declared lost at sea after his boat, the Louisa, sank in gale force winds last Monday.
A 13-YEAR-OLD boy was sprayed in the face with CS spray during a brutal robbery during which he was knocked to the ground and beaten. Up to five people are believed to have taken part in the assault on the boy who before they stole his Sony
THIEVES escaped with two cars worth £42,000 following a burglary in Headley Road, Billericay. They forced their way into the home and stole the keys to a silver Mercedes C200 and a grey BMW 320 before driving them away. They also took a purse containing
SEVERAL homes were saved from flooding after a water main burst in a Basildon street. Water gushed out of the main in The Upway, leaving residents facing a torrent of water heading for their homes. But quick-thinking firefighters saved the day by digging
A CHURCH has celebrated a £300,000 revamp. The rededication service for St Peter and St Paul’s Parish Church in Grays was carried out by the Rev Darren Barlow. Special guests included the Bishop of Bradwell, the Rt Rev Laurie Green and Archdeacon of
SOUTHEND Hospital is behind a new month-long campaign to help people spot the early signs of lung cancer to save more lives. The hospital diagnosed 248 new cases of lung cancer during 2007, and more than 37,000 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed
A HEARTBROKEN tourist whose partner died suddenly on holiday has reached out to the Southend family who may have taken some of the last photographs of her lost love. Tina Vipond, 52, has appealed to the family she met while holidaying in Alanya, Turkey
FAMILIES in Southend are helping to make the new food recycling scheme a huge success as 60 tonnes of food a week is being steered away from landfill. The scheme to collect food waste including vegetable peelings, egg shells and leftover food started
PUPILS at East Tilbury Primary School learned how to save energy with a little help from energy firm NPower. The Climate Cops initiative aimed at children, aged four to 11, tells the story of three kids trying to find ways to save energy and help the
VOLUNTEERS who are keen to be green are being urged to give up some free time to help the environment. Chiefs from the RSPB South Essex Marshes, a suite of nature reserves scattered around Pitsea and Canvey, are putting together a team to help manage
THUGS threatened a youth with a kitchen knife. The 19-year-old victim was walking through Sparrows Herne, Laindon, when he was approached by two men. One of them pushed him into a front garden, threatened him with the blade and asked him to hand over
RETAIL giant Argos is to open a superstore at Rayleigh Weir. The new store will be in unit three of the Rayleigh Weir retail park when it opens after Christmas, according to an employee at neighbouring store Smyth’s Toys. Argos confirmed it is looking
AN enormous 41lb catfish was the surprise of the day when fishery manager Mick Toomer netted Lake Meadows to remove roach and bream. The monster fish was returned to the lake, as were numerous carp to more than 20lb which were also taken in the net.
MUMS and dads had to prove they weren’t in a muddle with maths when they were quizzed by their kids. Kents Hill Junior School in Kents Hill Road, Benfleet, hosted a maths at home day where parents were invited to take part in workshops with their children
ONE of Southend’s biggest employers is set to announce new jobs for the town as it extends its offices in Victoria Avenue. Converso Contact Centres, based at Thamesgate House, which runs call centres, already employs more than 250 people in
KEVIN Read completed his hat-trick for Rawreth A in the last game of the match against Rayleigh Mill in the Premier Division to give his team the 5-4 win. The score was 4-4 when he came up against Duncan Taylor who had already won two of his games and
ESSEX Police has become the first force in the country to pledge to pay its bills to small firms within 20 days to help beat the credit crunch. The announcement was made by Assistant Chief Constable Peter Lowton at the launch of an Essex Business
FRANCK Moussa has extended his loan spell at Wycombe Wanderers for another month. The 19-year-old Belgian has not figured for the Shrimpers since being sent off against Brighton and Hove Albion in late August. And he will now spend another four
BAILIFFS demolished the remains of an illegally-built traveller home more than two years after the botched first attempt. A heavy digger this morning smashed up an empty building and ripped up hardstanding at the home called Dunroamin in Hovefields
PAUL Grayson believes Essex’s aspiring youngsters will “grow up” by spending their winters overseas. England Under-19 international wicketkeeper Adam Wheater and batsman Jaik Mickleburgh will spend time in both Australia and South Africa, while Romford-born
Dani Behr thinks she is pregnant. Bosses on ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’ are reportedly sending a pregnancy test into camp for the 34-year-old presenter, and may have to withdraw her from the show if the result is positive. Queasy Dani
Nicola McLean can “eat anything” after winning a Bushtucker Trial. The glamour model said chewing scorpions, kangaroo’s testicles and silkworms during the ‘I Scream Van’ challenge earlier this week has given her the confidence to tackle anything she
Esther Rantzen was offered the chance to be made into a WAG - but received a warning she would have to share her boyfriends. The 68-year-old presenter - whose husband Desmond Wilcox died in 2000 - was asked if she wanted to hang out with footballers
Two new contestants will be kidnapped as they enter the jungle tomorrow (20.11.08). The unsuspecting stars - believed to be former Mis-Teeq singer Su-Elise Nash and Dollar star David Van Day - will be ensnared in giant nets and caged deep in the heart
Robert Kilroy-Silk claimed victory in the Bushtucker Trial yesterday (18.11.08) - only to be told he hadn't completed the task correctly. The politician thought he had beaten actor Joe Swash in 'Chamber Of Horrors' after setting himself free
Isthmian League Cup: Promotion-chasing East Thurrock rested a couple of players in preparation for their FA Trophy trip to Bath City at the weekend, but still had enough to win 1-0 over Division One North rivals Great Wakering Rovers. The first half
Essex Senior Cup: A much-improved performance from Billericay Town saw them through to a fourth round date at Ryman Premier rivals AFC Hornchurch next month. Town ran riot with a five-star show for which hosts Harlow Town had literally no answer. Although
Ryman Division One North: Tilbury went through another disappointing evening at Chadfields – losing 3-0 to WIngate and Finchley – and suffered the embarrassment of seeing one of their own players storm off the pitch claiming racial abuse from his own
FOR the second week running, the lights went out on Grays Athletic as last night’s FA Cup first round replay with Carlisle United was abandoned after just 20 minutes for floodlight failure – just seconds after Sam Sloma had given the Blue Square Premier
Ryman Premier League: Canvey Island were in top form last night as Boreham Wood were swept away 4-0 at Park Lane. Captain Craig Davidson was on the spot with two successful penalties last night as Gulls maintained their promotion challenge. After Gabriel
Essex Senior League Cup: Hullbridge Sports did near neighbours Southend Manor a big favour last night when they drew their Group C match 1-1 at Barking. For the result means that Manor go through to the quarter-finals as group runners-up rather than
SOUTHEND United goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall wants his display in last night's FA Cup success over AFC Telford to be a sign of things to come. The Shrimpers advanced to the second round of the competition with a 2-0 triumph over their Blue Square North
BASILDON professional Stuart Bingham has slipped to 20th on the provisional rankings covering the last campaign and the current season following the Bahrain Championship. In a good 2007/08 season he picked up 14,775 points and has gathered 4,594 so far
ESSEX train operator National Express East Anglia is to axe jobs to save cash. The firm said it was too early to say how many redundancies were on the cards but the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) predicted 314 posts would go including
TRAIN lines will be closed again this Christmas. The National Express line from Southend Victoria to London will shut down for repairs between Liverpool Street and Ilford from December 25 to 28. It will reopen on December 29. Thousands
A QUICK-thinking neighbour sprang to the rescue of a teenage girl trying to escape a house fire. The man, thought to be in his 30s, used an extension ladder to get the 17-year-old down from the first floor window of the house in Prince Avenue
BASILDON Council will have to pay £45,000 to developers should the £30million sporting village collapse. Three firms have been shortlisted for the contract, but the winning bidder will not now be announced until March. In the meantime, each firm has
COULD we soon be saying Viva Bas Vegas...? The campaign to officially rename Festival Leisure Park as Bas Vegas has so far attracted support from more than 2,200 people. The Facebook campaign group feels it would be a fitting tribute to Las
ROCHFORD will celebrate the 25th anniversary anniversary of its link-up with German twin town, Haltern, with a series of events next year. The Rochford Twinning Association is planning to host families from Germany for a weekend next May as part of a
A MEETING of the town’s philatelic society will take place at 7.30pm on Wednesday, November 19. A display of stamps and associated discussions will take place at the meeting. It will be held at the Fold Arts Centre, Laindon Road, Billericay. For details
A NON-UNIFORM day was held to raise money for the Children in Need appeal at the Billericay School. Not content with coming to school in everyday clothes, some of the pupils dressed up as tigers, robots and even Minnie Mouse. The school raised £1,400
Kick off your festive celebrations with a Christmas charity night at Barleylands, in Barleylands Road, on Thursday, November 20. The event will include roasted chestnuts, mulled wine, pearly kings and queens and traditional carols. Children
A SCHOOL is celebrating an Ofsted report which has rated it as outstanding in several categories. Buttsbury Infant School, in Billericay, was given an overall good rating, an improvement on its last inspection, and was praised for its style of learning
CHILDREN have been doing their bit to improve road safety near to where they live. Youngsters from the Nevendon After-School Activities Club, who live in the Moat Housing estate, in Cricketers Way, Nevendon, have spent the last month doing
SMOKERS who drop their butts on the ground face £75 on-the-spot fines. Environmental health officers launched a three-month awareness campaign yesterday, which will focus on Basildon, Wickford, Billericay, Felmores shops and Basildon Hospital
