HISTORY will come to life for visitors to Hadleigh Country Park as an Iron Age home is inhabited and recreated by a group of actors. The Roundhouse is a realistic reconstruction of an Iron Age dwelling and on Sunday it will be inhabited by a “chieftain
THE world’s last sea-going paddle steamer, the Waverley, is a familiar sight to many and she is back in Southend. A piece of history, the lovingly restored boat will be ferrying eager passengers along the coast and under Tower Bridge from tomorrow until
WESTCLIFF will be bidding to bounce back from last weekend’s disappointing defeat to Thurrock when they host Stevenage Town tomorrow. Westcliff led 17-0 against the Tees before losing 23-17 and that saw them slip to fourth in the London One North standings
TOMMY Leech, musician and songwriter, died 39 years ago, but he is due one final encore. Southend in the Fifties and Sixties was full of larger-than-life characters, but Tommy headed the bill. For almost half a century he was the authentic sound of Southend
THE TRAFFIC wardens’ head office has had lead stolen from the roof. Thieves stole £200 of the metal from Clarence House, in Clarence Road,. This comes after a further £300 if lead was removed from a building in nearby Clarence Street. Police are
A REFERENDUM on how Castle Point Council is run has moved a step closer after a campaigner handed in a petition signed by 4,441 residents. Under the Local Government Act 2000, if 5 per cent of registered voters sign a petition, councils must go to the
A REVELLER had a bottle smashed round his head in the toilets of a Southend nightclub. The 22-year-old man was enjoying a night at Mayhem, in Warrior Square, whene he was hit twice round the back of the head. He was taken to Southend
A YOUNG man was punched in the face as he walked along Southend High Street. The 22-year-old was attacked by two men at about 7.45pm on Monday. He was left with a bruised face but did not need hospital treatment. One of the suspects was wearing a white
IT’S Shelford away tomorrow and that will see us locking horns with tight-head prop James Armitage who we had playing for us last season. He did a good job for us before deciding to join his home-town club so it will be a good tussle against him and
A COUNCIL worker who tried to steal more than £750 from an old people’s centre, has avoided a jail term. Claire Smart, 30, was working as an administrative assistant at the Laindon Day Centre, in Aston Road, Laindon, when she committed the fraud. Basildon
SOUTHEND Rugby Club’s speedy winger Mark Billings will be aiming to continue his flying start to the season at Shelford tomorrow. The former SEEVIC pupil has scored four tries in the Seasiders’ opening three matches of the new National Two South campaign
ESSEX Pirates’ Jamell Anderson believes playing for Great Britain’s under 20s during the summer will help him impress in the BBL this season. The talented forward, who will face Leicester Riders at home in the BBL Trophy tomorrow, figured for
BATTERED railings are an eyesore to one of the main roads to Canvey, according to the chairman of the town council. The 100m stretch of barriers on Canvey Road, near Benfleet Creek, have long been in a state of disrepair. The metal railings are mangled
A MAN who was attacked by a gang in Westcliff said he feared he would be run over after he was left injured in the middle of a road. Scott Novis has spoken of how he was viciously attacked outside the Cricketers pub, in Westcliff, and left in the path
POLICE are warning motorists to make sure they lock their vehicles after a spate of car crime in several Southend roads. Thieves attempted to get into a Honda Accord in Pantile Avenue but left empty handed. A steering wheel was stolen from
PAUL Sturrock takes his team to Hereford United tomorrow insisting they are not out of form. Blues have been beaten by Northampton Town and Morecambe in their last two outings. But Sturrock believes there are signs of promise from Blues
Plans for a £30million library in Southend town centre have been backed by senior councillors. The building, in Elmer Avenue, on the site of the rundown Farringdon car park, would be shared between the council, University of Essex and South Essex College
THE Sands Restaurant, on Southend’s Western Esplanade, has hosted the annual Whitebait Festival for a second year. The ancient festival was revived by Southend Chamber of Trade and Industry in 1934. The event was presided over by the mayor’s chaplain
FIREFIGHTERS at Southend are the first in the county to take delivery of a new specialist fire engine. Essex Fire and Rescue Service crews are currently training to use the new aerial ladder platform – known as an Alp, for short. The new machine can
A SOLDIER proved he’s no mere marathon man, but an ultra marathon marvel by smashing a world record. Staff Sergeant Jim Offord proved he was a lean mean running machine when he pounded 62 miles on a treadmill carrying a 40lb backpack. The 34-year-old
WORK has begun on a £14million regeneration scheme in Pitsea. Building has started at Station Lane in Pitsea, where a major development scheme is being built between the Tesco superstore and Pitsea town centre. A total of 120 affordable homes, five
BARRY Corr wants to right the wrongs of last weekend at Hereford United tomorrow. Despite hitting the back of the net, the Irish striker was disappointed by his display in last Saturday’s 3-2 at home to Morecambe And he is determined to make
A MAN suspected of driving a stolen van was dramatically arrested in front of stunned motorists. Police swooped on the Transit on the Southend-bound carriageway of the A127 at Wickford, just past the Dick Turpin pub. The white van was believed to have
A GROUP of dancers are aiming to tap their way into the Guinness Book of World Records and raise money for Children in Need. Leighanne Phillips, 30, who runs LA Dance, will lead the world record attempt at Pitsea Leisure Centre, in Northlands Pavement
RESIDENTS who have been true blue all their lives say they will try to oust the Conservatives from Basildon Council if they sell off the playing fields. Thousands of people have joined campaigns to stop the Tory-run council selling playing fields off
PLANS for new zebra crossings, yellow lines and street lighting have been thrown into doubt because of a lack of cash. Projects in Rayleigh and Rawreth were expected to go ahead with money from Essex County Council, but these have been put on hold due
CHALKWELL Park hosts the free Village Green Festival tomorrow, Saturday. There will be five separate stages, with numerous acts including soul singer Carleen Anderson and Snowboy and the Latin Section. There will be comedy from Markus Birdman and Francesa
SOUTHEND United manager Paul Sturrock is hopeful of signing a new striker on loan before tomorrow’s trip to Hereford United. The Scotsman has been keen to bolster his forward-line for several weeks. But Echosport now understands the
RESIDENTS promised a permanent town centre Christmas tree in time for this year’s festive season will have to wait another year. Last year Hadleigh and Daws Heath Neighbourhood Forum agreed to pay about £1,000 out of the meeting’s £15,000 annual budget
