FROM next year the age youngsters must be in education or training will go up to 17 and then 18 by 2015. Millions will be ploughed into helping at least 55,000 people aged 16 and 17 classed as Neets (Not in education, employment or training), to help
AN A-Level student feels the initiative from the Government could really help people in his age group consider their future education for the better. Ryan Collins, 17, of Coombes Grove, Rochford, is studying in the sixth form at the King Edmund School
PARENTS of children with special needs are bracing themselves for the biggest shake-up of the education system in 30 years. Children’s minister Sarah Teather said by 2014, parents will be given control over their children’s special educational needs
ESSEX were once again left owing a debt of gratitude to Mark Pettini as they struggled to 182 all out on the opening day of their LV=County Championship Division Two clash against Derbyshire at Chelmsford. The former skipper proved the rock of their
FAMILIES from three homes in Benfleet are celebrating after Royal Mail finally reinstated its deliveries after a six-month row. Deliveries to 13 unmade roads in Benfleet stopped last November over claims the streets were too dangerous for door-to-door
A DISABLED teenager who was devastated when his much-loved go-kart was stolen has been reunited with it. William Weller, 14, of Common Lane, Thundersley, is delighted at the return of his beloved go-kart after it was stolen from the garden almost two
Passengers coming home from London were left with no air conditioning after being stuck in hot train carriages during lengthy delays. Commuters using the c2c line came across problems just after 5.30pm when signals failed at West Ham station
PAUL Green took the honour of taking the first-ever 30lb-plus carp from Billericay’s Lake Meadows. He fished an afternoon session and landed a fantastic common of 32lb exactly after using a variety of Nash Baits to tempt the lake record fish. David
HIP-HOP and spoken word giant Scroobius Pip will be behind the decks for a special appearance at the Pink Toothbrush on Friday. The Echo carried a story on Wednesday listing the gig as taking place on Saturday, this was carried in error and
TRIATHLON enthusiasts in south east Essex cannot wait for the Olympics to start. And many of them will be heading to Hyde Park to watch the best in the world compete – for free. Although some area of the triathlon are ticketed – the pool and most
SOUTHEND United’s player of the year Mark Phillips wants to commit his future to the club. Phillips’ current deal expires at the end of June. But the centre-back is keen to agree a new deal and remain at Roots Hall. “I love the club and I want to stay
BURGLARS broke into a Canvey home after smashing a kitchen window. They struck in Agnes DRive where they stole a 42 ins LG television and a 32 ins Samsung television. They also took a Dell laptop computer and an Apple iPhone during the break-in, which
ESSEX cricketer Graham Napier said his Olympic highlight was seeing Essex-girl Sally Gunnell win gold in the 400m hurdles in Barcelona in 1992. The big-hitting batsman also said he fondly recalled decathlete Daley Thompson’s gold medal heroics in LA
POLICE are increasing Southend town centre patrols following a spate of terrifying robberies – which culminated with a teenager being stabbed on Monday. Officers are being drafted in from Boreham, near Chelmsford, to try to help tackle the growing problem
ROBIN Womack used the disappointment of Southend United’s play-off elimination to fire him up for a successful showing at Stoke Mandeville. The wheelchair bound shot-putter, who is a keen Blues fan, produced a season’s best throw of 10.49m.
A SELFLESS ten-year-old has raised hundreds of pounds for charity after his family was affected by cancer. Kickboxer Taylor Burton was inspired to raise money for Cancer Research after his grandparents, Mark and Janice Wilson, both died from
JUST months after leaving Southend High School for Girls in the summer of 1968 and aged just 18, multi-talented Ann Wilson was on her way to her first Olympic Games. The Southend AC athlete – now Ann Sargent – was selected for the pentathlon, the long
TWO south Essex residents are getting excited after being picked to carry the Paralympic torch this summer. Terri Bush, 44, from Bowers Road, Benfleet, and Liam Hand, 23, from Ferry Road, in Hullbridge, were chosen from hundreds of hopefuls
FOUR people have been hurt and four arrested following a violent brawl. Trouble broke out between residents in Carol Close, Laindon at 2.40am on Wednesday. Four people were injured and including two men in their 30s who suffered from
Basildon’s twin Academy schools are officially failing, according to a damning report by education watchdog Ofsted. The Basildon Academies, opened in 2009 after a £50million investment, aimed at transforming the old Barstable and Chalvedon
CAMERON Belford will not be joining Southend United on a permanent basis. The 23-year-old goalkeeper, who ended last season on loan at Roots Hall, revealed in yesterday’s Echo he was keen to stay with Blues. But, after holding further
A SEVERELY-ill little boy had his scooter stolen while he was having emergency hospital treatment. Thieves waited until Daniel Hilton, seven, and his family were out before taking his prized possession. The youngster is blind and suffers
AN ITALIAN family have launched their own gelato business to bring a fresh taste of their homeland to the Essex seaside. Gelato Italia has been set up by the Siciliani family with their recipes for italian dessert products gelato, sorbetto and granitta
SHE is known for her extravagant Hallowe’en parties once a year, but now weddings and even wrestling could be on the cards. Jane Aprile-Smith has put on spooky parties at 16th century Nevendon Manor in Borwick Lane, Wickford, for the past three
DETERMINED residents have successfully fought plans to build a KFC drive-through. Basildon Council chiefs have refused to grant planning permission for a new fast-food restaurant on the former Laindon Hotel site, in High Road, Laindon.
A CAMPAIGN has been launched to stop beach huts being built in Shoebury. Southend Council has earmarked £120,000 to build 20 traditional wooden huts on the Rampart Terrace section of East Beach. The council hopes to sell them off, making an estimated
ANOTHER firm has emerged as a possible buyer for Coryton oil refinery after fears grew 800 jobs could be lost. It is understood a firm from outside the EU is looking to buy the plant, based off the Manorway in Stanford-le-Hope. as a going concern. Labour
A BUNCH of top comedians are heading for the Cliffs Pavilion. Jack Dee, Alan Davies, Frankie Boyle and Michael McIntyre have all announced dates at the venue in Station Road, Westcliff. McIntyre will be there on August 10 and 11, with only a couple
A MAN has been left fighting for his life after a two car crash. The smash happened on Stanford Road at its junction with Buckingham Hill Road in Stanford-le-Hope at 9.30pm on Tuesday. A 46-year-old from Grays, who was riding a motorbike
A NEW plaza and big screen will be put up as part of plans to redevelop Basildon’s Festival Leisure Park. The 4m-high by 8m-wide LCD screen will be put above a new plaza area at the park, known locally as Bas Vegas, off Cranes Farm Road. The first phase
A TOWN centre shopping centre was invaded by a fundraising flash mob, belting out a selection of Queen songs. Unsuspecting shoppers heard an announcement at the Royals Shopping Centre on Southend High Street calling for “Freddie to Meet Mercury
PAT Smith spent much of her life singing, and raising money to help other people to continue singing. Now some of the best vocalists in south Essex are joining forces with dancers and comics to raise money in her memory. Proceeds from tomorrow's special
