LAKESIDE Hammers suffered their first Elite League home defeat of the season as they lost 48-42 at home to Wolverhampton tonight. The visitors picked up three points to return to the top of the table, but Lakeside, who visit Ipswich tonight, stay fifth
THE annual Leigh Folk Festival is gathering speed for a climatic final weekend of music. For the first time in its 18 year history, the duration of the free music event was extended from four days to eight. Yet with more than 70 acts still to play across
A MOTORIST has been found guilty of dangerous driving after mowing down a reveller following a row outside a Basildon nightclub. However Marvin Mendez, 24, was cleared of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Jurors were told Mendez and his pals
THE countdown to the annual Basfest is on. Gloucester Park is set to come alive with music, dance and live entertainment next weekend as the Basildon Festival returns for its 13th year. Taking place on both Saturday, July 4, and Sunday, July 5, the site
MELODIC popsters the A Train will be honing their harmonies at Saks next month. The three-piece group, whose sound veers between the folkier and lighter sides of rock music, will be performing at the venue, in Clifftown Road, Southend. The date marks
PRIORY Park in Southend will play host to a huge charity concert this Saturday. Music lovers will once again be treated to classic tunes from the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra for this year’s Concert in the Park. Each year the event raises money
ELECTRIC blues band the Elevators return to the New Crawdaddy Blues Club, in Crays Hill, Thursday, June 25. Describing their sound as “electric blues for connoisseurs”, the Crawdaddy regulars reference BB King, Peter Green and Eric Clapton among their
WE’VE all heard of the place, but have you heard the sounds of the performer who goes by the same name? Solo musician Chris Farrance has taken a unique approach to making live music, looping different instruments using a guitar-effects pedal. Though
A MAN had to be given oxygen after tackling a fire at Thorney Bay caravan park. The 47-year-old security guard put out a cooker fire in a caravan at the Canvey site, at 5.30pm on Tuesday. He was called by the occupant of the caravan, who was cooking
A MOTHER who was raped while she slept at home has spoken about the ordeal. Denise Collman, 22, has left her home in Pantile Avenue, Southend, where the attack happened, and says she still has nightmares. She spoke out after rapist Nathaniel
THE family of a soldier killed in Afghanistan are still waiting for an inquest nearly two years later. John Thrumble, 21, a private in the First Batallion the Royal Anglian Regiment, was killed alongside comrades Aaron McClure and Robert Foster
AN OFFER just short of £500,000 for a pub in Benfleet has ignited fears a fast-food restaurant or flats will soon be built there. The Lighthouse in London Road is being sold by commercial estate agency Savills on behalf of owners, brewery Greene
A MAN who was stabbed in chest in the middle of Westcliff refused to be taken to hospital by paramedics. The 40-year-old was attacked by two men, who police believe he knew, in London Road near the junction of Valkyrie Road, at about 9pm on
PUPILS have been exploring different cultures and promoting them to tourists as part of a school competition. Year 7 pupils at FitzWimarc School, Rayleigh, created advertising and marketing companies to run campaigns to try to attract tourists to their
SOUTHEND High Street was bought to a standstill as hundreds of shoppers watched fire crews rescue a trapped pigeon. The bird got trapped in netting above the empty Barratts shoe shop opposite Marks and Spencer yesterday afternoon. Police
MOTORISTS have hit out at Essex County Council over chaos caused by road resurfacing. Traffic ground to virtual standstill on Monday as drivers crawled along the A13 between the Pitsea flyover and the Sadlers Farm roundabout in a bid to minimise
ONE of Basildon’s biggest firms is in the dock after it was accused of failing to ensure the safety of its staff. Case New Holland tractor plant in Cranes Farm Road is facing 22 charges of breaching health and safety legislation. Four charges relate
A CAR nut who created a lookalike Formula One car he could drive on the street is planning to put a pack of replica racers on the road. Two years ago, engineer Russ Bost, built a replica racing car so realistic it made many a hapless motorist think
A BRAVE teenager has been reunited with his girlfriend after both suffered serious injuries when they were struck by lightning. Mason Billington and Sophie Frost, both 14, were hit by the massive bolt while sheltering under a tree in the King George
A MAN was badly beaten by a gang of thugs in front of his screaming five-year-old daughter. The victim, 38, from Basildon, suffered multiple injuries including fractured ribs, a punctured lung, facial wounds, bruising and possible abdominal
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, after it is understood at least 200 workers downed tools
A COUPLE are claiming £200,000 in compensation for a fire which killed a young horse. Retired engineer Frank White and wife Anne have launched a legal battle in the High Court over a blaze at their stables next to their home in Church Road, Billericay
PLANS for a new railway station to serve Southend Airport could have hit the buffers – if only for a short time. National Express East Anglia has objected to the proposals at the last minute, saying the full impact of an extra stop on the Liverpool
A BAN on flowers at Southend Hospital started this week. The decision has been criticised by James Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend West, who believes flowers are not a risk to patients. He said a report from the British Journal of Infection
ARSONISTS torched a speed camera in London Road after putting a tyre around it and dousing it in petrol. The burning camera, near the junction of Lymington Avenue, Leigh, was spotted at 3am yesterday by a resident who heard screeching tyres
THE fate of Basildon’s council tenants and whether or not their rundown homes get much-needed improvements is now in the hands of Government inspectors. The Audit Commission is currently running the rule over St George’s Community Housing,
A MUM has beaten hundreds of rivals to win a community award after helping to raise £280,000 to set up a nursery. Sarah Gutsell, 41, was presented with the Outstanding Pre-School Committee Volunteer prize at a ceremony at the Novotel London West Hotel
UPBEAT rockers the Xcerts will perform at the Southend Arts Festival tonight. The Scottish three-piece will be bringing the energy and exuberance of their debut album, In The Cold Wind We Smile, to the Railway Hotel, in Clifftown Road. Although the
SOUTHEND, Braintree and Jaywick are all planning cultural and sporting events in July in anticipation of the 2012 London Olympics. The events on the weekend of July 25 and July 26 will form part of London 2012 Open Weekend. In Southend, a free weekend
THREE disabled Essex soldiers have set sail as the guests of a trust which encourages disabled youngsters to enjoy activities afloat. Private Martyn Tyrrell, from Dovercourt, and Private Matt Woolard, and Corporal Billy Moore, both from Southend, all
AMERICAN computer giant IBM has been revealed as Essex County Council’s choice to run a scheme it hopes will save £200million. The Tory council is hoping a deal to buy in managerial expertise from the New York-based company will help keep down
HUNDREDS of pupils got in the groove during an international dance festival. Porters Grange Primary School, in Lancaster Gardens, Southend, became the ballroom as youngsters strutted their stuff, performing dances from across the world.
INSPIRED by the bravery of a friend’s battle with cancer, Southend man Mark Dalley is planning an assault on the UK’s highest peaks to raise money for a cancer charity. Mr Dalley, 25, was so moved by former workmate Kevin Holt’s courage he
STUDENTS at South East Essex College have launched their latest clothing lines on the catwalk. The annual fashion show has taken place as part of the college’s summer festival, this year called Southend Festival Seven. Several students showcased their
MORE powers over improvements to roads and pavements are to be handed over to local committees. Under a new initiative, called Localism, area committees will advise transport chiefs on their preferred work schemes for the year. The scheme
THE makeover of a popular pub has continued with the transformation of its upstairs rooms. The bar at the Railway Hotel, Clifftown Road, Southend, got a facelift earlier this year, with original fittings and fixtures returned to their former glory after
IT WAS a four-year lifestyle of tree-top homes and nature on the doorstep, but now Camp Bling is moving on. Campaigners had been living on the site to prevent Southend Council from pushing ahead with plans to widen Priory Crescent, but when
MP JOHN Baron is continuing to refuse questions on his expenses – even from constituents. The Tory MP for Billericay has been ducking questions from the Echo, but has now refused to explain to a constituent why his mortgage interest claims rocketed.
AN ONLINE poll suggests two-thirds of Shoebury people back Southend Council’s controversial plans for East Beach. The council wants to build a 175-space car park, refurbish a toilet block and add showers, and create a coastal cycleway, and
A SICK and elderly traveller has made an emotional plea to council chiefs not to turf her out of her home when bailiffs move in on Europe’s biggest illegal traveller site. Nora Sheridan, 84, of Dale Farm, Crays Hill, is asking for a late reprieve and
PROFESSIONAL belly dancers the Eastern Roses led the fun at the East Tilbury Community Fun Day. Residents enjoyed the action-packed event which also saw live fight demonstrations from group Seaxe and Sorcery, music from the band On Mercury and entertainment
A MAN has spoken of the horrifying moment he was attacked by two thugs after he asked them to stop swearing. The 30-year-old victim may never regain the feeling in his face following the savage attack at Rochford railway station, and he needs
PUPILS who put on their walking boots to trek to school have been rewarded for their efforts. Youngsters at the Oakfield Primary School in Scott Drive, Wickford, were among children at 130 schools in the county who took part in Essex County Council’
CASTLE Point MP Bob Spink has added his thumbprint to an unusual petition designed to raise awareness of the 9.2 million African children who die every year before reaching their fifth birthday. The Save the Children petition aims to collect
CANVEY is gearing up for a celebration that will see members of the armed forces, past, present and future, march shoulder to shoulder through the town’s centre. A host of veterans and current soldiers including Chelsea pensioners, former Gurkhas and
A BLAZE of colour and a heady scent greeted visitors to the Thorpe Bay Horticultural Society summer flower and homecraft show. Visitors’ senses were assaulted on entering St Augustine’s Church hall, which was stacked with entries. Phyll Williams, from
CREDIT crunch, long school holidays, moving house or just work pressure. All these situations can make people feel extremely stressed or anxious. But a counselling service, which helps people deal with stress, anxiety, anger management and loss, is to
SOUTHEND Council is looking for champions to help boost recycling. It is calling on the public to help encourage recycling and tell others of the benefits. Two champions are already helping to spread the message. Patrick Jee, 12, from Southend, recycles
