IF your enthusiasm for fighting the flab after festive indulgences is flagging, bear in mind that being overweight can seriously increase the risk of developing prediabetes, according to the health charity Diabetes UK. Those susceptible to prediabetes
IT isn’t only grown-ups whose lives are turned upside down by caring for loved ones who are seriously ill or have learning difficulties. The heavy burden of responsibility is often shared by children too. Life can be tough for youngsters
STRUGGLING to keep to your new year resolutions or lacking the motivation to even get started? Then we have just the challenge for you. To give your new-you intentions a helping hand, the Echo has teamed up with Club Kingswood, NHS South West Essex
A MAN with just three months to live has pleaded for the safe return of treasured family photographs stolen during a burglary in Basildon. Richard Fransen, 64, who has a brain tumour, said thieves broke into his son Tim’s home and took a computer and
A WOMAN saved the day after calling 999 when she saw smoke coming from flats. Emma Thair-White, 38, was on her way home from a night shift at Marks and Spencer, in Lakeside, when she smelt smoke coming from the roof of the flats in River View, Chadwell
THE owners of Pitsea Market have been condemned for letting it become a “retail ghetto”. Basildon Council has accused London & Cambridge Properties of failing to tackle graffiti problems which has blighted the area for years. Officers
TONIGHT’S pubic meeting about plans for the forthcoming Olympic mountain biking event in Hadleigh will go ahead despite the snowy weather. The meeting runs from 6.30pm until 8.30pm at the Salvation Army Training Centre tea rooms in Castle Lane
A PROJECT to build a full-size replica of the historic May-flower ship is one step closer to reality. The Mayflower Project, initially proposed almost a year ago, has been awarded charitable status after organisers had to wait six months to see if they
A YOUNG man was hit over the head in a robbery outside his Westcliff home. The 27-year-old was approached by two men in Avenue Road who struck him, causing him to fall to the ground. They then rifled through his pockets and took a Blackberry and £180
A DANCER who shot to fame on TV series Shipwrecked is starting her own dance school in Rayleigh. Naomi Millbank-Smith, 23, from Leigh, has always had a passion for dancing, and now hopes to pass it on to students at Millbank School of Dance. Naomi went
WEST Ham have been found guilty of breaching FA rules following crowd violence at their Carling Cup match with Millwall in August. Millwall have been cleared of all charges however and both clubs have had charges of failing to prevent racist behaviour
A PAIR of temporary traffic lights got stuck on red for more than two hours, causing traffic chaos in Westcliff. The lights were controlling traffic flow past roadworks caused by repairs to a gas pipe by the National Grid in London Road, between the
PARENTS of toddlers are invited to take part in a free creative course to learn about healthy lifestyle choices. NHS South East Essex is running the Mind, Exercise, Nutrition...Do it! course at a number of children’s centres from Monday, January 18.
A COUNCIL has been forced to improve security at a depot after thieves stole fuel from its refuse trucks. Castle Point Council took the action after crooks twice broke into the Farmhouse depot, in Somnes Avenue, Canvey, and siphoned diesel out of the
A GROUP dedicated to improving the lives of visually impaired people is moving to a new location. Thurrock Unsighted People’s Society is moving from the Beehive, in West Street, Grays, to the ground-floor of the Thameside Theatre, in Orsett Road, Grays
A COURSE to help people with long term health problems is set to take place in Billericay. The free six week programme wull be benefit people living with conditions such as diabetes, asthma, high blood pressue, black pain, cancer and heart disease.
A MAN and woman have been charged in connection with a cannabis factory found in Wickford. The factory was found at the house in Woodberry Road, Wickford last year. The couple will appear in court later this month. *Full story in Thursday's Echo
A DEGREE student with a love of sculpture is looking for volunteers to pose for a portrait bust. Hazel Sankey, 28, is doing a fine art degree at South Essex College in Southend. Part of the second year project is to produce art for exhibition at Southend
ORSETT post office reopens in a new location on Monday. The branch has moved 150 yards from its former home at 10 High Street, down to number 41. Customers will now benefit from an open-plan counter, a low-level serving counter, level access at the
A HOSPICE has revealed plans to build a new care centre near Leigh station. Havens Hospices, which provides respite breaks and specialist end-of-life care to terminally ill adults and children, has asked Southend Council about building on land south
ESSEX Pirates head coach Tim Lewis was left feeling frustrated after his side crashed out of the BBL Trophy in the first round, losing 95-73 at MK Lions. Pirates again began brightly at Middleton Hall and were in front early on. But
A PUB landlord will find out tomorrow if his licence will be revoked. Essex Police requested a review of the Anchor Inn’s licence after being called to 21 incidents at the Tilbury pub, in Civic Square, since it reopened in October 2008. Last July, a
CHILDREN will be taught about the dangers of playing with electricity. A workshop organised by EDF Energy Networks will be held on Monday, February 8, at Warren Primary School, in Gilbert Road, Chafford Hundred. The one-hour sessions will teach kids
A ROYAL Navy Commander, who was made an OBE after fighting Somalian piracy, grew up in Billericay. Gerry Northwood was named in the New Year’s Honours list for his part in the planning and execution of a counter-piracy mission off Somalia, codenamed
CAMPAIGNERS have produced a detailed document in their final bid to stop 18 acres of Canvey green belt being lost to developers. The 64-page dossier has been put together by the Canvey Green Belt Campaign, which is opposing Castle Point Council
A DATE has been set for the public inquiry into plans to build up to 326 houses on green belt land in Rochford. In November, plans by the Colonnade Group to build at Coombes Farm, off Stambridge Road, were rejected by Rochford District Council’s development
A TEENAGER successfully glided through a flying scholarship to achieve his Blue Wings. Ross Harris, 17, a member of Orsett Hundred’s 106 Squadron of the Air Training Corps, is now officially a Cadet Corporal. This means he has more responsibilities
Firefighters are spending January growing moustaches to raise money for charity. Members of white and green watches at Leigh fire station, in Mountdale Gardens, and firefighters from Rayleigh Weir, will stop shaving to raise cash for Cancer Research
A BURGLAR who stole to fund his drug habit has been told he faces jail. Kian Shinnick, 24, stole a laptop and jewellery worth £2,000 from a house in High Oaks, Langdon Hills, on July 15, last year. He admitted burglary at Basildon Crown Court. Jobless
SCHOOL pupils will find out what it’s like to be locked in a prison cell. Children from three schools are taking part in a workshop called Prison, Me? No Way. As part of the project, a replica of a prison cell is being taken to Hassenbrook School,
STEVE Mildenhall has returned to training after recovering from pelvic and back injuries. The goalkeeper has missed the Shrimpers’ last two matches. And a decision on his fitness ahead of this weekend’s game at Huddersfield Town will be made after
I would like to thank all the teachers and staff at Blenheim Primary School in Leigh for their efforts during the freezing conditions we’ve been suffering. The school has not once closed due to the snow, even remaining open on the last day of
OLDER residents looking to shift the Christmas pounds are being urged to take part in a new keep-fit scheme. The Fit For Life programme is offering over-55s in Castle Point the chance to take part in exercise programmes specially tailored to their needs
I read with interest councillor Ted Lewin’s attitude to Southend development control committee, of which he is a member. The committee will be dealing with one of the most important applications for the development of Southend Airport, the
Having read the letters about Basildon golf course (Jan 5), I have to wonder why Kevin Blake can assume residents would not want to protest against the proposed dumping of waste there. Has he stopped to consider the impact on the people and
I need to correct any misunderstanding created by the article “Castle Point blueprint is branded unsound” (Dec 30). The opening paragraph stated plans for the development of Castle Point have been branded “unsound” by the regional planning authority
It comes as no surprise to read Southend Council will be recommended to go ahead with the demolition of York Road market. Another iconic structure that has made up the tapestry of Southend will join those infamous other names of Talza Arcade
A TEENAGE girl spoke of her terror when she got stuck in mud, leaving her trapped by the rising tide for an hour. Katie Choules, 14, was up to her chest in water by the time she was rescued by the RNLI. A brave policewoman waded in to help, but could
ALEX Revell has joined Wycombe Wanderers. The hard-working hit-man had his contract at Southend United cancelled by mutual consent yesterday. And he has now signed for the Chairboys on a free transfer. "I am delighted to get him
CROOKS broke into two cars in the same road on the same day. They were parked in Falstones, Laindon. A grey Ford Focus van had its windows smashed, causing £200 damage. A sat nav worth £160 was stolen. A Vauxhall Astra also had its window smashed,
HEADTEACHERS may have deliberately closed school gates during the big freeze to avoid getting penalised over attendance figures, a leading councillor has warned. Essex County councillor Stephen Castle is calling on the Government to change the “nonsensical
SMALL businesses in Castle Point are being urged to attend a meeting offering financial advice on how to cope with the recession. The Castle Point Voices of Businesses Briefing will offer guidance to firms struggling to secure a loan from a high street
SCOTT Spencer is sure he can resurrect his career with Southend United. The 20-year-old striker has now completed his free transfer switch to the Shrimpers. And he is keen to prove his worth in the Football League after enduring a frustrating couple
A MEETING of art enthusiasts has been cancelled due to the continuing icy conditions. The Thames Estuary Decorative and Fine Arts Society was due to meet tonight, Wednesday, at the Freight House, in Bradley Way, Rochford, but the meeting has been cancelled
POLICE are still appealing for witnesses after a man was headbutted in the face as he left an off-licence. The 24-year-old was assaulted in West Road, Westcliff, at about 8.25pm on Friday, January 8, and suffered cuts to his nose. Another 24
TRAINS from Southend stations to London Fenchurch Street were delayed by more than ten minutes this morning, Wednesday, after an early morning train fault. The 7.14 from Thorpe Bay was delayed by 13 minutes by the problem, and the 7.20 Shoebury service
SCHOOLCHILDREN may hold the key to tracing a hit and run driver who collided with a 12-year-old boy. The Greensward Academy pupil was trying to walk home in slippery conditions and fell into the road in Plumberow Avenue, Hockley. A man driving a black
A REPORT by the NHS has confirmed the controversial plan to revamp Basildon Golf Course will not damage the health of nearby residents. Course owner Basildon Council hopes the news will bring an end to a long-running campaign to stop thousands of tonnes
LEE Mead has started a new role in an Oscar Wilde play. Southend-born Lee will play the title role in a Bill Kenwright production based on Wilde’s short story, Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime. It will be a new challenge for Lee, who played the lead in Joseph
A PATIENT had just left Southend Hospital following an exhausting bout of kidney dialysis when she slipped and broke her leg in two places. Mum-of-two Sandra James, 47, who suffered double kidney failure eight months ago, slid on ice as she walked down
A FIRE took hold at a disused Southend warehouse, causing a nearby main road to close. Plumes of black smoke poured from the building, on the corner of Sutton Road and the entrance to Rosshill Industrial Park, just before 2pm yesterday. Police closed
A NEW year is a time of optimism and hope. Most of us are keeping our fingers crossed for a healthy and prosperous 2010. But for the Fry family, from Southend, having enough money to buy clothes for the grandson they lovingly look after will
