WEST Leigh Primary School finished as runners-up in a national tag rugby tournament — but they will not have long to wait to avenge their defeat. Pupils from the junior school lost out to Stanley Junior School from Teddington, Middlesex, in the final
NATHAN Smoothy has come a long way since he ran part of his first triathlon in bare feet. The former Eastwood School pupil has been called up to represent Team GB at the World Student Triathlon Championships in China in September. And he took a break
The changes to rubbish collection by Basildon Council do not make sense. The plan, from August 1, to collect pink sacks weekly and stop issuing black sacks has many flaws. The council will legally lose the ownership of rubbish that is left in
I live in Westcliff, where the parking of vehicles on pavements and double yellow lines is an everyday occurrence. As a pedestrian, I can see the advantages of spy cars. Some vehicle owners ignore yellow lines and park their vehicles where they
We are told (July 19), there has been an increase in the number of elite serving Southend Council who earn £1,000 to £2,000 weekly. Meanwhile, chief executive Rob Tinlin graciously reduced his pay to about £3,400 weekly. At the same time, staff
We have had 15 years of mismanagement of public services by the Labour Party and its cronies in the trade unions who have shown complete contempt of the taxpayer with their disregard of what they were employed to do in the first place. Public
For the past five weeks we have walked from Winter Gardens Primary School, Canvey, with two classes of four and five year olds to Canvey Beach as part of a project in conjunction with Essex County Council. On our journey, we are forced to play
A FAMILY have been made homeless after a fire broke out in a caravan. Crews were called to Thorney Bay Caravan Park on Canvey at 7.40am yesterday morning. Firefighters donned breathing apparatus and used two hoses to tackle the blaze.
I have read with increasing frustration the letters in support of Havens Hospice proposals to build on our precious green belt land at Belton Way, Leigh. We must ask ourselves if such support would be given to a less favourable organisation
CHILDREN from Chalkwell Hall Junior School are enjoying their best kwik cricket season yet — and the best is yet to come. The team will be playing at Lord's during the interval of the England versus India one-day international on Sunday, September 11
A MAN who has defied bailiffs by barricading himself inside his home with his 80-year-old mother fears they will both be sent to jail. Nick Markos believes Southend County Court has issued a warrant ordering police to arrest him and his mother, Milica
ARMED police stormed a derelict building after three people were attacked with a blade and a metal pole. Police were called to West Street, Southend, at 1.35pm this afternoon, Tuesday, after reports three people had been attacked. The
Relocating Basildon College to a town centre location is meant to help solve the problem of so-called Neets – youngsters not in education, employment or training – according to Conservative councillor Stephen Horgan. He has reiterated this in
To receive radiotherapy for cancer, you have to go to Southend Hospital. I have received treatment there on many occasions. On my last visit, my son parked in the blue badge bays immediately outside the treatment areas, with my badge clearly displayed
Southend Council’s deputy leader John Lamb and his team commented (July 16) on City Beach road layout. They were quoted as saying: “The lack of crossings and signs improves safety”; “Putting a lot of signs will make the area look ugly”; “When
Why is the word “victims” used in relation to those people who have been caught endangering the lives of children outside schools through illegal parking? If these two cars act as a deterrent to dangerous parking in residential areas and those
Southend pier celebrates another summer of stagnation since the major blaze there in 1976 and once again dithering over its future continues. This time ruddy turnstones are being blamed for scaled-back plans and delays, which is similar to the
A NEW firm is to take over the enforcement of Canvey’s main shopping centre car park and plans to get tough with drivers who overstay their tickets. Euro Car Parks will be responsible for clamping down on illegal parkers at the Knightswick
CAMPAIGNERS battling to save green open spaces across the borough are uniting to create Basildon’s biggest-ever protest march. Residents have been running a series of separate campaigns to stop Basildon Council selling-off green space to housing
RESIDENTS have vowed to fight plans for a major housing estate on a huge area of green belt. Nottinghamshire County Council confirmed it wants homes built on 126 acres of farmland, off Pound Lane, between Pitsea and Bowers Gifford, to raise
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SOUTHEND United’s youth team chief Ricky Duncan saw his side triumph in the Cars4All Trophy at the weekend and then insisted his young stars would continue to shine for the club. Blues beat Premier League Academy duo Wolverhampton Wanderers and Norwich
BILLERICAY boss Craig Edwards says there will be no hard feelings if he comes face to face with three former players at Maldon & Tiptree tonight. Defenders Adam Flanagan and Ian Cousins, and striker James Lawson, all left New Lodge this summer to join
JULIAN Dicks says he is desperate to get involved with football again after a two-month absence. The 42-year-old West Ham legend says he has been “climbing the walls” since quitting as Grays manager in mid-May. Dicks, who passed his Uefa B coaching
SOUTHEND United manager Paul Sturrock has ordered Bilel Mohsni to keep his temper under control this season. The fiery Frenchman was substituted to stop him getting sent off during Friday night’s friendly with Ipswich Town. And Sturrock
OLYMPIC silver medallist Colin Jackson has backed Pitsea’s Gianni Frankis to rise from the ashes of a tough last two years and qualify for next month’s World Championships. Pitsea-based Frankis burst onto the scene as one of GB’s brightest young 110m
DRUG-BUSTING teams which operate from stations across Essex are set to be disbanded. The plain-clothed officers who raid cannabis factories and seize hauls of cocaine and ecstasy will be replaced by a team of officers, possibly based in Boreham
A TEACHER who grew up a stone’s throw from her school’s gates has said an emotional farewell after 30 years of service. Assistant head Margaret March, 57, spent her last day at Thundersley’s Deanes School on Friday, three decades after she began work
DELIGHTED pensioners will be able to watch their favourite flicks after generous members of the public footed the bill for their movie licence. All good films deserve a happy ending, and so it has proved for the residents of the Lawns sheltered
DISABLED people are having to ask permission to use the toilet at Basildon Hospital’s A&E unit due to continuing works. The accident and emergency department is having £17million worth of improvements carried out. During the works, the department’s
A BAND who were arrested minutes before stepping on to the stage have been cleared of any wrongdoing. London Undaground, who are based in Southend, were due to perform at Scala nightclub in Kings Cross, London, when they were accused of illegally graffitiing
TALK about beefed up security! Superfit security guard Richard Onyeji is through to the final of a male modelling contest. Richard, 37, of Brempsons, Basildon, is hoping to win the title of Mister Supernational, which aims to find the UK’s most physically
A MAN arrested on suspicion of a sexual attack in Southend has been released without charge. A young woman had reported she was sexually assaulted in Tylers Avenue on April 23. Police arrested a 20-year-old Southend man before releasing him on bail.
TRAFFIC jams must be at least 12 miles long before toll barriers at the Dartford Crossing are lifted. The barriers will also only be lifted in an emergency situation and if traffic is travelling at a continuous speed of 10mph. It means
A NEW pizza restaurant will be built on Southend seafront after councillors gave it the nod. Adventure Island owners, the Stockvale Group, applied to Southend Council to create a family pizzeria and entertainment arcade at the Pizzas of Eight
In today's Echo (Tuesday): Your chance to enter the Echo's 2011 Modelsearch competition
RAIL and union bosses are on a collision course over plans to cut the number of signallers that could cause chaos for Essex commuters. A new automated signalling centre is due to open in Romford by 2014. It will cover the whole of East
Frustrated residents are calling for changes to a controversial bus lane after the county council agreed to change another one on the same stretch of busy road. Highways chiefs said last week they will alter the London Road lane on the steep downhill
RAIL and union bosses are on a collision course over plans to cut the number of signallers that could cause chaos for Essex commuters. A new automated signalling centre is due to open in Romford by 2014. It will cover the whole of East Anglia and make
OLYMPIC-weary residents are upset about parking restrictions planned for a Castle Point mountain biking event. Roads are set to be closed, street parking is to be banned and one-way streets will be redirected on the day of the Hadleigh Farm
BLUES boss Paul Sturrock declared himself satisfied by his side’s 5-0 victory at Needham Market. The Scotsman used the friendly to boost the fitness of several squad players. And he also took a look at three trialists – left-back Andre
EASYJET is to fly from Southend to eight European cities from April next year, it was announced today. With seats on sale later today, passengers will have a choice to fly to Amsterdam, Alicante, Barcelona, Belfast, Faro, Ibiza, Malaga and
