AMERICA seems to send us pop stars aplenty – but now we’re sending one back, after up-and-coming Mitch Slack received an invite to play at a major US teen-festival. Mitch attracted the attention of organisers of Nashville’s Hootfest, when his Twitter
THE week started well with the hot weather providing good sport for both the carp and float fishermen at Rochford’s Doggetts. The tench were still spawning, so were not quite so evident, but bread and corn supplied good mixed bags especially from the
SIX Basildon schools have refused to host elections for the new police and crime commissioner. Elections for the new role – which will replace the current police authority system – will take place on November 15 this year. However, a dozen schools
RAVI Bopara’s unbeaten half-century allowed Essex to recover from a shaky start on a rain-affected first day of their LV= County Championship Division Two clash at Northamptonshire. Essex were reduced to 57 for four just before lunch but England international
A TEENAGER was hit over the head with a lump of wood during a terrifying attack. The 16-year-old boy was walking through a park in Clay Hill Road, Basildon when the thug hit him over the with a lump of wood. The boy's pockets were then searched and
OPERA and Essex? If you believed the stereotypes, you wouldn’t think the two were natural bedfellows. One is often maligned as snobby and elitist, expensive and exclusive, while the other is usually summed up in a series of colourful catchphrases
THIS man is suspected of committing fraud at a Southend cafe. Police have released CCTV of a man who they suspect of tricking staff at the Three Shells Cafe, in Western Esplanade,out of cash. He is alleged to have asked for change, and then
GLENN Poole admitted he always knew he would have “needed a moped” to catch former team-mate and new British sprinting star Adam Gemili. Gemili, right, has hit the national headlines by running the 100m in stunning PB 10.08 seconds in Germany to put
OFF-ROAD bikers are causing havoc by tearing through woods illegally, frightening horses and people. The problem has got so bad in the area around Hockley Woods police are now threatening to take away, and crush, any bikes they get hold of. It comes
ROB Denmark’s two Olympic experiences could not have been more different. As the new kid on Britain’s distance running scene at Barcelona 1992, 23-year-old Denmark went into the Games not only hoping, but believing he could win a medal in the 5,000m.
OLYMPIC fever has officially hit Basildon with the appearance of the Games’ iconic rings across the borough. The borough is embracing the Games and displaying the rings at three high-profile sites. The rings can be spotted by Basildon’s famous Hollywood-style
SOUTHEND Cricket Festival finally saw some match action yesterday — but then the rain had the final say again. Sunday’s match between Unicorns and Sussex Sharks was abandoned without a ball being bowled. But Unicorns, a side made up of young players
HADLEIGH based hooker Max Crumpton played the final 19 minutes as England’s under-20 rugby team beat Italy 64-5 in their opening fixture of the Junior World Championship in South Africa. England, who top Pool B after the first round of matches, are
PREMIERSHIP rugby could be coming to Southend next season. For big-hitting Saracens are considering holding some of their matches at Southend United’s Roots Hall ground. The Men in Black, who currently play the majority of their home matches at Watford
A Wickford Primary School has raised £116,000 for a range of new facilities for children. Essex County Council agreed to sell the unused caretaker’s house at Grange Primary School in Wickford. The council will allow the school to use
A CHARITY fire engine pull is taking place in honour of poorly youngster Daisy Palmer on Saturday (June 9). The firefighters from Basildon fire station will be flexing their muscles for the six-mile challenge as they pull the fire engine from Great Berry
A £1MILLION lottery cash injection should be spent on new youth facilities to help revive a troubled Canvey estate, residents say. Link Road is among 50 communities set to benefit from a share of a £200million Big Lottery Fund scheme to help communities
WOMEN are can joing the fight against cancer by joining the region’s biggest ever race in Basildon. This year’s Race for Life, taking place at Barleylands Farm in Billericay, is shaping up to be the largest in the East of England with space for 8,000
ONE person had to be cut free following a crash between a minibus and a lorry. The crash happened at junction 30 of the M25 at around 5.30am on Wednesday morning. The accident caused severe delays on the motorway and surrounding routes.
A GIANT sculpture costing up to £50,000 is to be installed in a prime spot in Hadleigh to commemorate the 2012 Olympic mountain biking event. Essex County Council has revealed plans for the new installation on Victoria House roundabout, linking Benfleet
THIEVES have been stealing vehicle number plates across Castle Point. Police have received a string of reports about plates disappearing from cars. It is believed crooks use them to get away with fuel without paying, to avoid parking
HUNDREDS of people waded through thick mud in a jubilee-themed run to raise money for Havens Hospices. More than 500 people squelched, slid and slipped their way through the mud at East Beach, in Shoebury, in a battle to reach the finishing line. Festivities
