TOM Westley led the Essex run chase on day one of their two-day friendly against Surrey at Chelmsford. Westley hit 48 before being bowled by Jon Lewis as Essex chased a Surrey total of 212 all out in 56.4 overs. The hosts' reply reached 73-2 at the
WESTCLIFF teenager Jacob Cleaver says he would love to turn-out for Southend United one day after attracting interest from professional clubs following a stunning display in a trial game. The former FitzWimarc pupil scored six goals in a 7-
ESSEX set about toughening up for the new season with a bruising training session with rugby giants Saracens! The county side spent most of Monday working out with the reigning Premiership champions at their St Albans-based training ground. Essex’s
Three cars crashed and closed a road earlier today. The vehicles collided in Hullbridge Road, Hullbridge, near to Lords golf club. The road was blocked shortly before 4pm for about an hour today after the blue Renault Traffic, white
THEY launched the image of a squeaky clean boy band with matching haircuts and cheesy grins that would inspire a thousand copy cats to the formula. And original outfit the Osmonds will be at the Cliffs Pavilion this Saturday on their last-ever
Tax-free personal allowance to rise by £1,100 from April 2013 to £9,205, making 24 million people £220 a year better off. Meanwhile, the top rate of income tax reduced to 45p from April 2013. Changes to taxes on the rich announced today
Duty on all tabacco products to rise by 5% above inflation from 6pm today - the equivalent of 37p on a packet of cigarettes. No further changes to existing plans for fuel duty, which means a 3p rise in fuel duty will go ahead in August.
BASILDON Council has begun the next round of enforcement action at Dale Farm traveller site. Council officers accompanied by police started serving "breach of planning condition" notices to families living on the legal site and road next to it. Several
Millions of workers may have to work longer before they can retire, Chancellor George Osborne signalled in his Budget today. Mr Osborne told MPs: "I can confirm today that there will be an automatic review of the state pension age to ensure it keeps
Chancellor George Osborne predicted better than expected economic growth today as he unveiled a Budget which "rewards working families and helps those looking for work". Mr Osborne said the Office for Budget Responsibility expects UK plc "to
BILEL Mohsni’s future at Southend United still remains unclear. The Frenchman had appeared unlikely to play for the club again after losing his temper after last month's 1-0 defeat at Morecambe. But Mohsni watched last night’s 1-0 defeat
SOUTHEND United manager Paul Sturrock insists he remains baffled by his side’s poor form at Roots Hall. Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat to Aldershot Town means Blues have now triumphed just twice in their last 12 home games. But Sturrock
FAMILIES evicted from Dale Farm failed to persuade senior judges today that Basildon Council should have offered them another site instead of bricks and mortar. John Sheridan, 34, estranged wife Barbara and Mary Flynn, aged in her 70s, were
Why does Basildon need regenerating? After only some 60 years or so the oldest buildings could only recently have been cleared of the debt charges and more recent structures are presumably still to be paid for. It would be a disaster if all
Spy cars and expensive parking are driving people away from Southend High Street, not single mums. Over the past few weeks there have been endless letters about Southend High Street’s decline, and reasons for this. If there were to be free parking
It may be the slip road at the A176/A127 junction at Basildon conforms to some Driving Standards Agency specification, but that does not mean that the spec is infallible. The problem, is that unlike a normal slip road, the traffic you are merging
Railings are going to be placed along Shoebury beach to stop motorists parking on the path because residents have been complaining since 2007. It’s only taken more than five years of complaints to finally get something done. Bravo Southend Council
BUSINESS owners have launched a petition against council spy cars which are “destroying” their trade. Company bosses on the Stock Road Industrial Estate, Southend, claim the combined effect of double yellow lines and CCTV cars, which patrol
A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after a car smashed into a hair salon, causing £20,000 damage. A black Ford Fiesta veered off London Road, Hadleigh, and smashed through the front of Hed Candi and Too Dam Glam in the early hours
POLICE are hunting thieves who target restaurant diners before stealing their phones. Crooks went into the Harvest at the Five Bells in Vange and asked diners if they wanted to buy greeting cards. While they were distracted the thieves
A STREET was cordoned off after a car crashed into a wall and ruptured a gas main. The car collided with a lamp post and smashed into a lamppost, bollards, fence and wall in Swan Lane, Wickford, at 5.15pm yesterday (Tuesday). On impact
A TEENAGER will appear in court next month following an alleged large-scale disturbance. The 16-year-old boy from Basildon was charged following an alleged fracas in Somercotes, Laindon on February 20 this year. The boy will appear at
HERE is one of the peregrine falcons said to have set up home in a derelict office block due to be demolished. Echo photographer Anna Lukala swooped to capture these shots of the birds of prey flying around Portcullis House, in Victoria Avenue
MORE than half the people trying to buy their first home in Castle Point can’t afford to do so, new figures show. Castle Point Council revealed 55 per cent of people looking to get on the ladder can’t save up the deposit needed. Private
DEMOLITION has finally started on eight fire-damaged homes. The empty properties in Bockingham Green, on the Felmores estate, Basildon, were destroyed after a huge fire started by vandals in November 2009. They will now be replaced. A £4million scheme
AN eight-year-old boy has been hailed a hero after his quick-thinking actions saved his dad’s life. Cool-headed George Valentine rallied to the rescue after he found his diabetic dad unconscious in bed. He immediately realised he had suffered
