BASILDON and Thurrock hospitals have revealed around 40 to 50 people may face redundancy, at the start of the new financial year, in April. The trust is currently facing a possible £20 million pound reduction in its contract with NHS South
SOUTHEND United centre-back Chris Barker admitted he should have done better to stop Morecambe’s winning goal. The experienced defender gave away the free-kick which he then could not stop Stewart Drummond heading home. And that frustrated
RYAN Hall was unable to stop Southend United suffering a 2-1 defeat at Morecambe on Saturday. The 23-year-old started for Blues after being released from prison the day before the game and granted bail pending an appeal against the 20-week prison sentence
ESSEX'S Ravi Bopara celebrated his recall to the England team by claiming the man-of-the-match award in his country’s vital win over South Africa. Bopara top-scored for England with 60 as they posted a below-par 171 target for the South Africans to chase
A CARE company has tried to allay fears over plans to open a hostel for teenage girls in a quiet street. Lodge Group Care UK is renting a three-storey house in Bowfell Drive, Langdon Hills, to provide four rooms as “semi-independent accommodation
A FRUSTRATED headteacher has launched a scathing attack on Essex County Council after she discovered her school was not going to get a desperately needed rebuild. Margaret Wilson, headteacher of King John School, Thundersley, was bitterly disappointed
COULD the silver screen hold the key to reviving the golden age of Hadleigh? Castle Point Council has announced the former Crown pub could be turned into a cinema as part of regeneration plans for the town. The now-closed drinking spot, which is more
THE BLUES say they have paid off their unpaid tax debts. Southend United were due in the High Court on Wednesday, March 16, for a winding-up order after a petition was issued by HM Revenue and Customs last month. It was believed the
INVESTORS who ploughed £1.2million into two businesses which later went into liquidation turned out at a meeting to quiz its sole director over the companies’ downfall. Liquidator Begbies Traynor held two separate creditors’ meetings for clients
IN 1534, simmering tensions became a religious revolution when King Henry VIII turned his back on Rome and set up the Church of England. Now, after five centures, tensions between Catholics and Anglicans are bubbling again and this time Essex is the
A DERELICT bungalow has been gutted after a fire broke out at 7.50pm last night. Two fire crews from Basildon raced to the property in Meadow Drive, Langdon Hills, which was due to be demolished. Nobody was living in the bungalow and it took firefighters
A MAN will appear in court today to face charged of burglary and possessing cannabis. Scott Munns, 39 of Broomfield Avenue, Leigh was arrested on Friday. He will appear at Southend Magistrates' Court today.
CONSULTANTS have been hired to review how day centres are run across Basildon. Rumours over their long-term future had been circulating before the announcement of the review. The council has now insisted the consultants will be looking
CRITICS have complained plans for a new Morrisons in Hadleigh town centre have been publicised as a “done deal”. The supermarket firm wants to demolish its current London Road store and build a 40 per cent larger building in its place.
CARE homes across Southend could be the first victims of Southend Council’s multi-million pound cuts. The authority wants to slice its contribution to privately-run homes which take on council-funded residents, as it strives to plug a £15.5million
POLITICIANS set aside their party differences to back a bid for £3million improvements to a “dangerous” road junction. Councillors from across the political spectrum at Rochford District Council signed a petition calling for Essex County Council
A MAN paralysed while working as a Harry Potter stunt double is pleading with Southend Council to work with him to realise his dream of a home where he can be comfortable. David Holmes, 27, is wheelchair-bound as a result of spinal injuries
A COMMUNITY hospital will be kept open, but with a reduced number of beds. NHS South West Essex has announced it will not shut Mayflower Community Hospital, in Billericay. However, it will be removing eight beds and scaling back some day
CHURCH bells will be ringing for the first time in a year as a couple tie the knot. Gillian Whitaker and John Taylor will be the first to marry to the sound of the bells at Holy Trinity Church in Rayleigh. Bells have been silent while
A MAN has turned his hobby into a second job – selling tours chasing tornadoes and extreme weather. Paul Sherman, 38, from Leigh, was bought a specialist trip to the USA by his wife Louise for his 30th birthday. Since then, he has never
