A SOLDIER who is set to run a staggering ten marathons in just five days is also going to attempt to smash a world record as part of his training. Staff Sergeant Jim Offord will try to break the world record for the fastest 100km (62miles) completed
LEAGUE leaders East Thurrock will be looking for their eighth win on the bounce when they welcome Cheshunt to Rookery Hill tonight. John Coventry’s men have cruised through a couple of rounds of the FA Cup, and enjoyed five straight Ryman Division One
BOWERS & Pitsea failed to capitalise on their first-half dominance as they went out to Wantage Town in the FA Vase on Saturday. Only some great work from Town keeper Gareth Tucker kept the teams on level terms at the break. And they were rewarded
THE number of empty shops in Basildon has gone up by nearly 4 per cent in the past six months, a survey has revealed. According to the Local Data Company, Basildon has a 15.8 per cent vacancy rate – an increase of 3.65 per cent over the past six months
You won’t find a chip on Francesca Martinez’ shoulder, no matter how much you look. The 32-year-old comedian suffers from cerebral palsy, but has absolutely no hang-ups. She came up with the term the Wobbly Girl. She is even prepared to say the condition
A NEW primary school could be built off Victoria Avenue as part of exciting new plans to revive the road dominated by empty office blocks. The school has been proposed for the eastern side of the road, which is the main route into Southend. It forms
A VOLUNTEER had her purse stolen while working at a Samaritans charity shop. The lavender-coloured purse was pinched from the counter of the store in Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff, between 1pm and 4pm on Saturday, September 18. It contained some
LOUTS threw a bottle at a bus as it travelled through Eastwood. They hurled the bottle at the number nine bus as it travelled along Rayleigh Road, near to The Bellhouse pub, filled with passengers. Luckily no one was injured but the damage is estimated
YOBS have caused £300 damage to Southend's pier lift. They cracked the outer door of the lift which links the pier to the High Street. Two glass panes were then smashed along the main walkway leading to the lift some time between 4pm and 7.30pm on
POLICE have issued a warning about a bogus letter which claims to name a sex offender. The letters claim to be from Essex Police and have been sent to addresses in Leigh and Rayleigh. Chief Inspector Glen Westley, District Commander for Rochford, said
A PENSIONER has been reduced to sleeping on a blow-up mattress in his lounge after the ceiling in his bedroom caved in a month ago and still hasn’t been fixed. Exasperated Clifford Collard, 80, and his wife Eileen, 73, are fuming it has taken so long
CATHOLIC United made short work of Takeley Reserves in their Essex Olympian League cup match. A John Hanrahan brace and singles strikes from Adam Moore, Tom Kearney and Nathan Roach saw Southend-based Catholic win 5-0 in the Senior Division Cup round
A FAMILY’S four-year struggle to have their son assessed for autism has taken a leap forward, thanks to the Echo. Zachary Lovett, six, has been seeing medics since he was two for behavioural problems. The Edwards Hall Primary School pupil constantly
WESTCLIFF blew a 17-0 lead to suffer defeat at Thurrock on Saturday. The Aviation Way side raced in to an early lead and were 17 points up after just 13 minutes. At this stage, Westcliff’s supporters could be forgiven for thinking that their team was
LAKESIDE Hammers speedway team defend their Elite League Knockout Cup this Friday, September 24, at the Arena-Essex Raceway against arch rivals and 2008 Cup winners the Eastbourne Eagles. Friday’s fixture is the second leg of the tie with the first leg
MOTORISTS were left facing delays after a broken down lorry spilt oil over the A130. The artic lorry broke down on the southbound track of the carriageway near to the Rettendon Turnpike at around 11.45am on Tuesday. Police carried out a rolling roadblock
IF you want a career in the police force, you’ve got to expect some action from time-to-time – but for one amazing doggy detective that’s putting it mildly. Brave police dog Brennan is about to retire after six eventful years in the job, which
TABLE-TOPPING Basildon triumphed 29-0 at Upminster but they were made to work hard for their second bonus point win of the season. In the first half Basildon played with the wind and the slope but despite having complete control in the tight struggled
A COUNCILLOR has urged motorists to help put clampers out of business, by using only designated car parks. Keith Hudson, Tory Rochford councillor responsible for planning, spoke out urging motorists to join together to “drain their income”.
A TOWN has been told to unite behind redevelopment plans if it is to succeed. Castle Point Council unveiled its Hadleigh regeneration shop in a former hairdressers in the High Street, which will allow residents to give their views on how to improve the
RESIDENTS should expect green belt land near Sadlers Farm roundabout to be built on, the landowner has claimed. Householders have protested over plans put forward by developer Fox Land and Property to build 175 homes on 14 acres of fields between the
ROCHFORD Hundred saw off local rivals Canvey Island 21-10 with a workmanlike performance. The Islanders, who were promoted from London Three North East last season, provided their hosts with a tough test. And their early pressure paid off when they
BILLERICAY will hope their miserly defence continues tonight when they host highflying Lowestoft Town. Town have not conceded a goal at home this year, and have three wins from three at fortress New Lodge. But they needed a last-gasp penalty from
IT’S always been a shining beacon of hope – and now St Luke’s Hospice is literally shining after being lit up with thousands of lights. The hospice building, in Nethermayne, was brightened up as fundraisers celebrated the climax of their Make St Luke
A LATE equaliser denied Southend United their first Youth Alliance Cup victory of the season after efforts from Fope Coker and Duane Ofori-Acheampong had put Blues ahead in their away match at Dagenham & Redbridge. Southend dominated long spells of
BLUES boss Paul Sturrock has admitted it will not be easy to attract the kind of striker his side requires. The Scotsman knows his side are crying out for another forward. But he also realises proven goalscorers are in short supply. “I’m sure everyone
ROBERT Foster-Jones is ninth in the Formula Renault standings heading into the final two races of the season. The Thorpe Bay driver was unable to repeat his race-winning form of Knockhill at Silverstone, but still turned in two solid performances
ESSEX Pirates head coach Tim Lewis was encouraged by his young side’s display against Leicester Riders on Saturday. Pirates were missing five players for the BBL Trophy clash. But they ran Riders close and, at one point, were winning by 15 points
WEST Ham boss Avram Grant admits he does not have the luxury of resting some of his first-team regulars in the Carling Cup tonight. The Hammers got off the mark in Premier League when Scott Parker’s goal earned them a 1-1 draw at Stoke on Saturday.
SOUTHEND Rugby Club’s head coach Andy Holloway felt playing with no fear helped his side stage a stunning second half fight back against Ealing on Saturday. The Seasiders found themselves 26-10 down after a hesitant first half. But Southend surged back
LOUISA Brownfield is determined to shoot England to more medal winning glory at the Commonwealth Games next month. The Thundersley-based 26-year-old was part of the team which won bronze in Melbourne four years ago. But the goal-shooter
REGENERATION company Renaissance Southend will close at the end of the year. Bosses decided to wind the five-year-old company up after anticipating that they would receive no more funding after March 31 next year. Renaissance Southend
A DAMNING report by police has shed light on bar room brawls taking place at a Pitsea pub. The Bull Inn, in London Road, could be closed when councillors consider what action to take at a licensing review meeting tomorrow. The report has revealed a
A BUILDING society is set to axe branches across south Essex leaving customers having to travel to other towns to do their banking. Nationwide has confirmed it will be closing outlets in High Street, Billericay, and London Road, Benfleet, on New Year
A TEENAGE boy is one of two men due in court today in connection with a stabbing. A woman was left needing emergency surgery after she was allegedly stabbed several times in Celandine Close, South Ockendon at around 11.40pm on Sunday. She is now recovering
RAIL company c2c has won a prestigious industry award, recognising high standards. c2c, which runs trains from Shoebury to London Fen-church Street, beat competition from other companies to be named London Commuter Rail Operator of the Year at a national
WORK is well under way at a billion-pound superport in Thurrock, despite the demise of a key government quango. DP World said work was progressing at the site of the deep sea port on the former Shell Haven oil refinery site, in Coryton. The Thurrock
PEOPLE often say Leigh is unique – from its shops to its residents and its attitude, all of which have kept the town ticking over through the recession. In Southend, the message throughout the downturn has been it has fared better than many similar-sized
PRIESTS have given their reaction to the Pope’s visit to Britain in which he met a Southend MP and saw a south Essex dance act perform. Pope Benedict XVI toured the country during a four-day visit. Among those who met him was Father
TALENTED children will get help to reach their potential, thanks to a free programme designed to open up grammar school education to children from poorer backgrounds. Westcliff High School for Boys is launching the Westcliff Centre for Gifted
A WOMAN who was given stomach-shrinking surgery on the NHS is fuming that health chiefs won’t fund a much needed follow-up operation. Ann Preston, 46, underwent a gastric bypass operation last year after her weight went up to 24 stone.
WORRIED parents have been asking for their leaking guttering to be repaired for a year to stop water seeping into their children’s bedrooms. Louise Williams, 29, is seven months pregnant and already has two young children with husband Mark, 31. Their
