A PARTY celebrating Southend's tourism industry past and present will be held on the pier. Tying in with a series of national pier-based events to mark the launch of British Tourism week, the party will seek to showcase Southend’s annual calendar
The final barrier to Southend Council's £15.5million budget cuts has been removed. At a packed and fraught council meeting at the town's Civic Centre, the authority's Tory leadership brushed aside opposition from LibDem, Labour and Independent
MORE money could be made available to schools who missed out on cash after the collapse of a Government rebuilding programme. Headteachers of Deanes and Glenwood schools in Thundersley continued their celebrations yesterday after securing £23million
NUISANCE bikers have been plaguing a Canvey beauty spot again. Police are increasing patrols on Canvey Wick to clamp down on the menace and prevent any harm to wildlife. They warn bikers riding scramblers, mini motos and other off-road bikes on the
RAMRAIDERS smashed into the side of a building to reveal 500 cannabis plants. Police were called to an industrial estate in Paycocke Road, Basildon, following reports of a break-in. They arrived to find three men making off in a blue
A MAN feared his spleen had been ruptured after he was hit with an iron bar. The 30-year-old was left badly bruised following a mass brawl, which broke out at Basildon’s main bus station. An argument in the Cosmos Cafe, in South Walk, spilled out into
A HERITAGE group has welcomed colourful plans by Basildon Council to stage the borough’s first arts festival. The council has also pledged to encourage art in the borough by putting £5,000 towards insuring its back collection of art – which
A FOOTBALLER had to be airlifted to hospital after being knocked out during a game he was not meant to be playing in. Justin Johnson, 42, was due to be working and not playing for Sunday men’s side Pegasus Vets B. But at the last minute Justin managed
A SUSPECTED kidnapper was chased over garden fences by police as he was pursued by the force’s helicopter. Stunned neighbours watched the man leaping from one garden to another, being chased by two police officers. Police eventually
SOUTHEND United player Ryan Hall was today jailed for 20 weeks after admitting an attack outside a nightclub. The 23-year-old had previously admitted a charge of affray in connection with the incident outside Storm last December. He
A DOCTOR told how he was dragged to the ground during a terrifying seafront dog attack. Martin Jones, 66, was running in Thorpe Bay at about 6am when he was pounced on by what he believes was an alsatian. The animal jumped up, bit his
A MOTHER plans to lodge an official complaint against a doctor who she claims failed to spot her toddler’s symptoms. Sherri Ponsford, 33, of School Lane, Benfleet, said her 14-month-old son, Anthony, was rushed to hospital because he had an ear infection
IT’S been a week of rest and recuperation for us. It has been a very busy time for us and, without a midweek match, it was important we rested up. The boys had Monday and Wednesday off and won’t be back training until this afternoon. It’s what’s
A MIRACLE tot who spent the first 231 days of his life in hospital has finally made it home. Little fighter Callum Axford, who doctors feared would die from a rare condition, can now sleep in his own cot, after being released from intensive care at Kings
SOUTHEND’s Millennium Clock, removed just weeks ago, should be returned to a prominent town centre spot, an opposition councillor has urged. Lib Dem leader Graham Longley, who was mayor when the clock was installed outside the Victoria shopping centre
SOUTHEND United manager Paul Sturrock has hinted he could be about to swoop for Liverpool striker Jason Banton on loan. As was exclusively revealed in yesterday’s Echosport, the 18-year-old will again train with Blues today. And Sturrock confirmed he
THE Government is taking its first steps to ending controversial EU rules which force Essex fishermen to throw millions of dead fish back into the sea. Under Common Fisheries Policy rules, fleets throughout the county which are governed by catch limits
PLANS to cut £80,000 from the borough’s CCTV network have been delayed. Southend Council has extended its consultation on the future of the cameras until March 7. The Echo reported yesterday that the council was due to meet this week to discuss proposals
A £12MILLION road scheme has been held up after it was found extra work was needed to support gas and oil pipelines. The Roscommon Way extension aims to join Canvey Road to Charfleets Industrial Estate, diverting vehicles away from Long Road
A MAN was assaulted and thrown against his own car during a road rage attack. The 26-year-old was in a silver Ford Fiesta driving along Rayleigh Road, Eastwood, near to Rochford Corner, when he got into a row with another man driving a dark
A LAST-MINUTE attempts by Labour councillors to block the sale of Basildon playing fields and save the town’s annual music festival have failed. At a heated full council meeting, Phil Rackley (Lab, St Martin’s) put forward two amendments to
NEW owners have taken over this quaint little pub overlooking a lovely village cricket green in Herongate, and recently introduced a new menu. I was particularly keen to give the venue another go and make sure the standards hadn’t slipped. One thing
