WHEN teenager Ben Kinsella was knifed to death in June last year, his murder prompted public outrage. Following his senseless killing, in Islington, his sister – former Eastenders actress Brooke Kinsella, who teaches at the Future Faces Theatre
BACKSTAGE is a word that conjures up images of famous faces, restricted access, exuberant excess and an air of mystique. While this may ring true in the music business, it is a rather different scene behind the curtains of an opera or ballet
BRACE yourself for an insect invasion when heavy rockers Breed 77 tear up Chinnerys. The Gibraltar-born, but London based five-piece, intrude on the Southend venue on Friday, in support of their new album Insects. “The idea is about
TWO cars were destroyed and another was left with heat damage following a suspected arson attack. Firefighters from Basildon were called to a burning Volkswagen Golf behind the Owl and Pussycat Pub in Clay Hill Road, Basildon, at around 7.40pm on Wednesday
SIX illegal immigrants have been deported after they were caught working on stalls at Lakeside. Officers from the UK Border Agency swooped on Thurrock’s Lakeside Shopping Centre where they targeted workers on two stalls. They found six people, who were
THIEVES stole a car worth £1,2000. The grey Toyota Celica was parked in Wharf Road, Stanford-le-Hope when it was stolen between 11.15pm on Monday and 10.30am the next day.
A BRAVE boy from Leigh took centre stage in front of millions of people on talent show the X Factor. More than 14 million people watched the show on Sunday night, which told the story of Oscar Parry, ten, who has battled leukaemia for most of his life
ESSEX X Factor hopefuls Olly Murs and Stacey Soloman can count on the support of staff at Southend seafront’s main attractions. Employees at Adventure Island, Sea-Life Adventure and the Three Shells Beach Café have been telling TV audiences
ANGRY residents have slammed Highways bosses for "illogical" plans to put speed bumps and mini roundabouts along a busy stretch of road. Residents living on Whitmore Way, in Basildon, say the proposals - which would see the sleeping policeman
CONCERNS have been raised about the changing face of Leigh Broadway, as a new Tesco store prepares to open its doors today. Known for its unique appeal, the town has seen several independent retailers close their doors for good as the recession
ALLOTMENT holders and police have launched a project to deter vandals from tearing up fruit and veg. Allotment Watch will work in the same way as a Neighbourhood Watch, and officers hope to introduce it across Castle Point. First to sign up was Hadleigh
I read with interest the article reporting the opinions of Mick Thwaites concerning the proposals to expand Southend Airport (Nov 13). I feel I should point out some facts that appear to have escaped his notice. A traffic census was conducted
It comes as no surprise that yet another plan for Southend Pier’s development vanishes into thin air through lack of funding. Time and time again Southend Council opts for the big development and time and time again it flops. Blame is put on
PEOPLE who have suffered domestic violence are to parade through Basildon Town Centre on Monday. A walk to honour and remember abuse victims is being organised by Basildon Council to mark Domestic Abuse Awareness Week. The parade will begin at the
A declining membership has forced Rochford’s twinning association with Haltern, in Germany, to close. Formed in 1984 with the support of Rochford Council, extensive cultural and commercial links were created alongside many personal friendships
It was a great surprise when I read in the Echo that another Prospects college was to be built. My grandson went to the one in Southend and did the plumbing course. He was told there would be an apprenticeship place found at the end of the course
I would like to respond to your article “Illegal scrapyard can now stay open” (Nov 12). The story, regarding the Treetops yard, reports that Basildon Council has “U-turned and decided not to demolish an illegal scrapyard, three years after it
LEE Barnard wants to help Southend United end their MK Dons hoodoo at Roots Hall tomorrow night. The Shrimpers have never beaten the Dons in the six previous meetings between the two teams. But Barnard is hoping it can be a case of seventh
MK Dons are coming to Roots Hall tomorrow night and they have been a bit of a bogey team for us. We haven’t beaten them in the six games we’ve had since they formed and it’s strange how these things work out. Even when we were going
A £4BILLION plan for a new road and rail link between Canvey and Kent has been mooted again, as part of a consultation over flood protection measures in the Thames Estuary. The ambitious proposal, put forward by private consortium Metrotidal, would
PARKED cars on the Two Tree Island access road behind Leigh rail station are causing problems for emergency vehicles. Now Southend Council;s traffic and parking working party has agreed to introduce double yellow lines on parts of the road. Other parking
POLICE have issued CCTV images of a suspected shoplifter. They believe this man stole two bottles of red wine from the Total garage, in Kiln Road, Thundersley, worth a total of £10. The theft happened at 5.30pm on November 8. Anyone with information
FOUR men have been arrested following an attempted armed robbery at a Hadleigh supermarket. The men struck at Morrison's, in London Road, at about 8am today and the police helicopter had to be scrambled. Officers fired three tyre deflating
URGENT repairs are needed for a 15th century building if it to stay open to the public. Porters, the Civic House in Southchurch Road, South-end, is used for mayoral and civic functions, as well as private charitable events and weddings. Woodworm and
Lord Hanningfield is facing fraud charges over his House of Lords expenses claims, it was claimed today. The Daily Telegraph reported that detectives will "imminently" pass a file on the Tory peer and Essex County Council leader to the Crown
PLANS to pedestrianise part of Elmer Approach by the University of Essex building in Southend High Street have been given the green light by the council's traffic and parking committee. The road would be paved from Storm nightclub to the
MOTORISTS in south Essex have welcomed moves to restrict cowboy wheel clampers. The Government has announced plans for a law limiting the amount clampers can charge, regulating towing-away practices and setting up a fair appeals system. The move was
SCHOOLS in Southend could be in line for an £80million Government grant. The money could be used to rebuild six secondary schools across the town. As part of the Government’s Building Schools for the Future programme, Belfairs High School
OSCAR-WINNING actress Dame Helen Mirren took time out to remember her home town with a special message of support for Southend Hospital. The message was sent by Dame Helen to mark the opening of the hospital’s new bereavement suite. Read out by hospital
A LANDMARK Southend nightclub has changed hands. Talk nightclub, formerly known as Tots, in Lucy Road, is now under a new owner and management. It is the second time the club has changed owners in its 37-year history. Roy Gray has bought the club from
