WHEN you’re strapped for cash and expecting a new addition to the family, bringing up your child to be eco-friendly might be the last thing on your mind. But there's no need to worry, being a green parent is easier and cheaper than you might expect.
R’n’B diva Beverley Knight will be bringing her soothing soul sounds to the Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff, in November. The three time Mobo award-winning singer will drop in as part of an 18-date UK tour, which includes London’s Royal Albert Hall. The
MANY great comic performers depend on a highly polished script, weeks of rehearsal and a large amount of direction before taking their comic creations to the public. But the team of comedians known as Quirkish Delight, buck this trend when they bring
PLEDGE to make a difference during National Recycle Week 2009. That’s the call from Essex County Council, as it encourages residents to think of new ways they can waste less. The theme for this year is “Let’s waste less”, which aims to encourage people
GLASS jars bob along a conveyer belt, while old newspapers whizz past on a track below, and plastic bottles are scanned and sorted by lasers. Welcome to the hi-tech world of recycling. It’s a far cry from sorting your rubbish into coloured sacks at
A MEMBER of a car smuggling gang which made millions of pounds from stealing top-of the-range vehicles has been ordered to pay back almost £800,000. Martin Clark, 48, of Antlers, Canvey, was locked up for seven years in 2007 for his part in the shipping
ARMED police swooped on a traveller camp after a man was battered with a hammer and threatened with a gun by carjackers. Police blocked off Hovefields Avenue, Wickford, as they scoured the illegal site and surrounding area for the robbery suspects
POLICE and fire crews were called to a blaze at a popular restaurant in the heart of Leigh yesterday. Leigh Tandoori, in Leigh Road, is now closed following the fire, which started outside the restaurant and spread to the kitchen. Owner Yusef Khan
THE courage of a boy who had a stroke at the age of four will be recognised at an awards ceremony today. Sam Jones, now seven, spent 12 weeks in hospital after suffering a stroke in 2006. After nine months’ therapy, Sam returned to school.
A MAN and young boy were injured when glass shattered over customers at a Chinese restaurant. The pane, measuring about 5ft by 3ft, linked the first-floor balcony to the ceiling of Aroma, in Festival Leisure Park, Basildon. Shards fell on seated customers
ARMED police swooped on a traveller camp after a man was battered with a hammer and threatened with a gun by carjackers. Police blocked off Hovefields Avenue, Wickford, as they scoured the illegal site and surrounding area for the robbery suspects using
A TEENAGER who was left with horrific injuries after she and her boyfriend were struck by lightning is looking forward to returning to school this week. Sophie Frost and Mason Billington, both 14, were hit by the massive bolt as they sheltered under
A TEENAGER who was left with horrific injuries after she and her boyfriend were struck by lightning is looking forward to returning to school this week. Sophie Frost and Mason Billington, both 14, were hit by the massive bolt as they sheltered
HUNDREDS of workers took part in wildcat strikes at Coryton oil refinery and Tilbury Power Station. A large crowd picketed outside the refinery, off The Manorway, Corringham, yesterday morning (Tues), after it is understood at least 200 contract workers
FRUSTRATED traders are battling for compensation after claiming gas works have prevented customers reaching their shops for the past two weeks. Shopkeepers at the parade of shops in London Road, Rayleigh, by the junction with Downhall Road, say trade
FRUSTRATED traders are battling for compensation after claiming gas works have prevented customers reaching their shops for the past two weeks. Shopkeepers at the parade of shops in London Road, Rayleigh, by the junction with Downhall Road, say trade
A MUCH-LOVED children's summer attraction is still closed to the public, more then three weeks after its usual opening time. The pool, a sandpit and play area at the Paddocks in Long Road, Canvey, opens every year in time for the Spring Bank Holiday
CONFUSION and rows surrounding the proposed £800,000 revamp of Canvey Lake have already stalled progress for more than six months. Castle Point Council is currently transfering management duties to Canvey Town Council after a 99-year lease was agreed
A LOTTO winner who turned drug dealer to pay off his debts has been ordered to hand over more than £100,000 of his illegal earnings. Richard Storey, who scooped £1.25million as part of a jackpot-winning syndicate in 1999, was jailed earlier this year
CASTLE Point MP Bob Spink twice claimed for headed notepaper – because he didn’t like the colour of the ink on the first batch he ordered. It has also emerged the former Tory MP, now sitting as an independent, splashed out more than £7,000 of taxpayers
MP Angela Smith used chartered accountants to give her tax advice. Mrs Smith used HW Fisher, a chartered accountancy firm which specialises in tax advice for MPs. Expenses details just released show Mrs Smith received a national insurance
SEVEN mums in south east Essex have received certificates allowing them to become breastfeeding support volunteers. The women have spent 14 weeks completing the Mum2Mum training course Claire Cleverley from Rayleigh, Natasha Dougdale from Benfleet,
WORRIED residents claimed plans to extend a housing development in Laindon would put an “unbearable strain” on schools, roads and the health service. Bellway Homes exhibited plans to build 120 new family homes, each with up to five bedrooms
A VAN driver from Basildon, arrested in connection with the death of a motorcyclist, has had his bail extended. The 43-year-old was arrested following the crash, in Braxted Road, Great Braxted, near Maldon, on Friday, June 12. Biker Steven Emsden
A VICAR has spoken of his concern over proposals to demolish part of the churchyard wall to make way for the airport expansion plans. The Rev Nigel Ransom of St Laurence and All Saints’ Church, in Eastwoodbury Lane, has spoken out after the
The Echo recently reported on the number of written questions David Amess, Southend West MP, has tabled in the House of Commons during the past year (June 12) Some of the 929 written questions relate to some pretty bizarre issues. As as MP,
Was it less than two weeks ago our unelected self-proclaimed saviour of the world promised he would listen to the people after his annihilation at the local and european elections? He failed to listen and is still here, the most unpopular prime
I strongly object to the proposed KFC drive through planned for the centre of Hadleigh to replace the Crown public house. I read some time ago the council was planning for Hadleigh town centre to be as upmarket as Leigh Broadway. How does demolishing
I have some sympathy for the man who chose to eat at a seafront cafe (June 17). The owner made a big fuss when he was 50p short to pay the bill. I would have refused to pay £2.55 for a cup of tea and a slice of bread and butter, £1.50 would have
According to information provided by the Parliamentary website, the cost to record Early Day Motions tabled by MPs costs around £1.5million, plus undisclosed costs to input and store the details electronically. Our local MP Bob Spink seems
THE first ever Armed Forces Day has proved popular in Basildon, where a new flag is being flown. Councillors joined representatives from the military and police force to gather outside the Basildon Centre, in St Martin’s Square, as the special Armed
FORMER Land Girls received special praise yesterday in the build-up to Armed Forces Day, on Saturday. They were also given medals for their achievements as they met to embrace old friends and reminisce about their time in the Woman’s Land Army. During
HOSPITAL staff gathered to pay their respects to armed forces past and present with a special flag-raising ceremony as part of the lead-up to Armed Forces Day. In line with organisations throughout the country, the hospital, raised a specially-designed
ARSONISTS torched a speed camera on London Road by putting a tyre around it and dousing it in petrol before setting it alight. The camera, which stands close to the junction of Lymington Avenue, Leigh, was spotted alight at 3am by a resident living
THOUSANDS turned out to make the relaunched Shoebury Fair – back after an absence of seven years – a huge success. A packed programme of activities, stalls and events made sure no one noticed the slightly gloomy weather, at Shoeburyness High School
CRIMINALS could carry out community work in schools across Thurrock. The proposed Community Payback scheme, devised by the Probation Service, will be piloted in the borough after it was approved at the latest council cabinet meeting. If rolled out
A FILTHY takeaway was shut down after rat droppings were found in the kitchen. Health and safety bosses closed SFC, in Southchurch Road, Southend, after an inspection found a catalogue of filth, Southend Magistrates’ Court was told. Health inspectors
A TEENAGE bank worker who passed on a customer’s account details is facing prison. Declan White, of Mayflower Close, Eastwood, was told to expect a custodial sentence, when he pleaded guilty to one count of fraud, at Basildon Crown Court. White abused
SEVEN public-spirited boys have received challenge badges following two years of hard work. The boys, aged between six and eight, were given the awards after undertaking a number of activities and good deeds for the Thundersley Beavers’ group. They
MOST people in charge of co-ordinating an organisation with more than 17,000 members would expect a fairly decent pay cheque at the end of the month. But not Maria Georgiou. For more than 17 years, the Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator has given
THOUSANDS of people flocked to a summer fair celebrating community harmony and diversity. The Big Event, organised by the Southend Community in Harmony Partnership, brought residents together to promote and share their different cultures and heritage
ROCHFORD District Council has been given an award for its fair employment policies towards disabled people. The council has been given a Disability Symbol with two ticks by Jobcentre Plus. The symbol is awarded to those organisations which make commitments
POETRY came to life at a Leigh school, as pupils acted out classic odes as part of a reading initiative. Classes of children at West Leigh Junior School, in Ronald Hill Grove, memorised and performed poems including William Blake’s Tyger, Tyger and
BUSINESS studies students from Benfleet had a lesson in the world’s biggest shop on a trip to New York. A 20-strong group from Appleton School took part in two business workshops during their trip to the Big Apple. One was in the biggest department
A GROUP of green-fingered students with learning difficulties have raised more than £150 for charity after starting their own horticultural business. The Seevic College students have their own garden at the college in Kiln Road, Thundersley, with greenhouses
SOUTHEND West Conser-vative MP David Amess claimed more than £1,500 on expenses for website design and hosting. However, the only website the Echo has been able to find dedicated to Mr Amess contained just one picture and no information about him, besides
A TEAM of workers raised hundreds of pounds for Cancer Research by taking part in the Race For Life. Six female staff from TNT Document Services, based at Festival Leisure Park, Basildon, plus friends and family, took part in the 5km walk in Gloucester
A MAN arrested on suspicion of raping a cyclist has had his bail extended. The 31-year-old, from Basildon, was arrested following the attack on a woman, 40, in Church Hill, Laindon, on Thursday April 16. The victim was approached by
NIGHTCLUB bosses have moved to reassure their customers after a reveller was sexually assaulted in Southend. An 18-year-old woman was attacked by two men in an underground car park off Leather Lane. She believes her drink was spiked at the
THE iconic Kursaal building in Southend has been officially listed on a register of heritage sites at risk. English Heritage today launched its Campaign to Save Neighbourhood Heritage, with the aim of safeguarding 9,300 conservation hotspots
THE headquarters of troubled car parts firm Visteon has moved from south Essex to smaller offices in Chelmsford. The former Visteon Engineering Services building, in Endeavour Drive, Basildon, was empty by yesterday lunchtime. It is
