AAH life in the country. Peace and quiet and plenty of cultivating roses and baking cakes. Or not, in the case of Tamara Drewe, the hit Brit flick based on artist Posy Simmonds’ biting comic strip series, a modern pastiche of Thomas Hardy’s
THE rafters will ring and the hay bales will vibrate once again to the sound of music when Opera Novella returns by public demand to the Battlesbridge Rural Theatre. Novella will change little in their Night at the Opera repertoire, following last summer
ESSEX Police’s top cop says he has significant concerns over a “bizarre” court ruling which means serious criminals could escape prosecution. Chief Constable Jim Baker-McCardle, who is also the Association of Chief Police Officers spokesman
THREE people have been arrested on drug and money laundering offences in connection with a massive cannabis factory where a man died. Officers from Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate raided addresses across the south east yesterday morning.
In tomorrow's Echo (Friday): Picture special on Sweyne Park proms
THE Guinness world record for the largest portion of chips was smashed in Southend yesterday. The portion weighed a massive 70-and-a-half stones – 448kg – battering the previous record by 12-and-a-half stones, or 79.5kg. The previous record of 368.5
In tomorrow's Echo (Friday): Sweyne Park proms picture special There's always much more in the paper than online. Your Echo is in newsagents from early in the morning
ESSEX captain James Foster has been rapped across the knuckles by the club for a “serious breech of discipline”. Foster was hauled before club chiefs after he questioned the umpire’s decision after being given out during the Friends Life t20 match against
BOY, did this couple get a shock when their baby arrived in a hospital car park! Katherine Daly couldn’t quite make it to the maternity ward in time and so gave birth outside Southend Hospital. She and husband Aron got a double surprise when her baby
Don't miss today's Echo for an exclusive report about police failings during an investigation into the death of a man found dead on a cement mixer. During the inquiry into the death of Lee Balkwell on a south Essex industrial estate in 2002
THE death of cricket legend Trevor Bailey has been recorded as a tragic accident. The inquest into Mr Bailey's death was held this morning at Southend Coroners' Court. Mr Bailey died aged 87 when fire engulfed his flat in Alston Court, Crowstone Road
A SECONDARY school will be completely rebuilt after £24.5million of funding was secured. Woodlands School in Takely End, Basildon, will be knocked down and a new school built on existing playing fields and playgrounds. Work will start next summer and
SOUTHEND United manager Paul Sturrock has confirmed the club remain in transfer talks with a trio of targets. And he hopes to complete deals before his squad return for pre-season training tomorrow. Blues are still in discussions with
BASILDON Council leader Tony Ball has made a plea to Crays Hill travellers to quit their illegal Dale Farm campsite peacefully. But the Tory councillor admitted it was unlikely to happen, since travellers seem to have been given bad advice
A TEENAGE boy will spend six years in jail for terrifying a 95-year-old woman and her son during a midnight burglary. Robert Piper, 19, who was caught after his DNA was found on a discarded can of drink, was part of a hooded gang of at least five thugs
AN empty seafront pub has been bulldozed. Contractors have knocked down the New Ship, in Marine Parade, Southend. The Inner London Group plans to build a 14-storey tower block on the site between Southchurch Avenue and Pleasant Road.
PUPILS are proving not all youngsters are litter louts after buying street cleaning kits and carrying out rubbish patrols of their neighbourhood. Woodlands School in Basildon was given £500 by Basildon Council, after its pupils won a competition, to
A GIANT housing estate could be built on a Canvey caravan park. Jeff King, who runs Thorney Bay Park, has confirmed he intends to submit a planning application to develop part of his land. Mr King would not say how many homes would be built, but it’
A RELIEVED driver praised the Mini dimensions of his motor after freeing the vehicle from its concrete prison. Wesley Jones, 19, was shocked to discover his red Mini Cooper barricaded into a car park next to the Focus DIY store, off Rushbottom Lane,
In today's Echo (Thursday): Special feature on the new Belfairs School
