Armed police were called to Thorney Bay Caravan Park, Canvey, after a member of the public reported hearing gunshots. They arrived at about 9.50am and arrested a 39-year-old man they feared had a gun. Detectives quizzed him on suspicion of possessing
SOUTHEND United’s Ryan Hall was full of smiles after continuing his fine scoring sequence against Oxford United in Saturday’s 2-0 victory at the Kassam Stadium. Hall blasted home a first half free-kick to make it four games in succession he
TWELVE people have been left homeless after their homes were flooded. Firefighters were called to Quebec Road, Tilbury, at 11.40am where five houses had been swamped by water. The twelve people lived in two of the affected homes. The officer in charge
FIREFIGHTERS rescued five adults and three children after they became trapped in flood water. They managed to get the group out of four cars which became stuck in Watery Lane, Hullbridge, at about 8.10am today. They were all carried
A BENEFITS cheat from Westcliff has been fitted with an electronic tag. Joanna Needs, 28, of Fairview Drive, was caught working while dishonestly claiming benefit. She admitted seven counts of making dishonest statements to obtain Housing
THE Relapse may be 316 years old, but it doesn’t look or sound its age. In Madeleine Ayres’ highly-recommended production for Southend Shakespeare Company, this prince among Restoration comedies retains its humour and five-star entertainment rating
IT took a break last year, but music fans will be delighted to hear Southend’s own arts and music festival, Village Green, is returning this year with a top line-up. There’s a strong focus on locally rooted, but high-profile talent, with stars including
WHEN you picture film festival directors being wooed by film-makers, you imagine cocktails, schmoozing and glitzy events, but when Paul Cotgrove discovered the gem that he’d pick as the opening gala film for this year, it couldn’t have been further from
A WOMAN and child were rescued from the sea off Southend Pier. The pair were spotted by Southend RNLI who had been having a cheque presentation on the pier yesterday [Saturday], when they saw someone in the water. The crews launched the
Russell Kane takes a gulp of his steaming onion soup and shifts a little restlessly in his seat. He’s in the middle of a hundred and one different things and can barely sit still enough to eat. “Two phone lines, four lives, it’s mega. Mega
A SINGLE mum who spectacularly failed her English exams at school has finally made the grade – winning a short story competition. Hayley Houghton overcame sleepless nights and the stress of caring for two tots under two, to beat hundreds of others in
AS far as theatre debuts go, Essex actor Danny Young’s is going to be a baptism of fire. Aside from a couple of appearances in panto, this will be the first time the Brentwood-based former Coronation Street star will have trodden the boards – and
IN 1932, a family of Italians by the name of Rossi moved to Southend to realise their dreams of starting a small ice cream business. Fast-forward 80 years and the Rossi name and its delicious ice cream is an iconic brand that is as much part of the
