TRAMPOLINIST Josh Newman has set his sights on reaching the individual final at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival on Saturday — but he knows it will not be easy. The 14-year-old from Noak Bridge will be up against the best teenagers in the
MICHAEL Spillane has completed a switch to Southend United from Dagenham and Redbridge. The 23-year-old midfielder has signed a deal until the end of the season with the option of a further year on top of that. And Blues boss Paul Sturrock
THE last few results haven’t gone the way we would’ve liked, but there is certainly no need to be panicking just yet. In our last three league games we’ve lost to Burton, Gillingham and Exeter, who are all good sides in the top six, and I don’t
A CHARITY has been awarded around £37,000 to extend a vital befriending scheme less than a year after it was launched. Lonely and isolated people across Castle Point have been benefitting from the scheme since last May, which aims to help them
A FATHER-OF-THREE is hoping to raise £10,000 for a children’s charity by riding the length of the UK on a scooter. Dedicated fundraiser Scott Langley, 37, of Leigh Heights, Hadleigh will be travelling around 1,000 miles from John-o-Groats to Lands
POLICE investigating an assault at a Southend nightlcub have issued a new photograph of a man they wish to talk to. The incident occurred at Element in Alexandra Street,on October 27, last year where a 24 year old man from Rayleigh was assaulted
COUNCIL tax set by Essex County Council is set to be frozen next year. A draft budget issued by County Hall aims for the freeze, allowing it to claim a government grant equivalent to a one per cent rise. The decision will mean a Band D home
A PITCH inspection will take place at Roots Hall on Friday morning ahead of Southend United's home clash against Plymouth Argyle. The pitch has been covered to improve the chances of the game being played. But with temperatures dipping to minus
BARRY Corr wants to fire Southend United back to winning ways against Plymouth Argyle this weekend. Corr took his tally to five goals in four games by hitting the back of the net again in Tuesday night’s 2-1 defeat at Brentford in the FA Cup.
CAMPAIGNERS fear work to develop a controversial recycling depot is already underway before planning permission is approved. Residents and politicians are concerned about the level of activity taking place on the land off Terminus Drive, Pitsea
MAX Crumpton has been selected in England rugby team’s under 20 squad for the forthcoming Six Nations Championships. The 19-year-old, who plays at hooker, has previously played for his country at under 16, 18 and 19 age groups. And his father
SOUTHEND United goalkeeper Paul Smith wants to build on his magnificent man of the match display against Brentford. The experienced shot-stopper had made a shaky start to the season after signing on a free transfer. But, on his return to Griffin
THE committee responsible for running a popular sports and social club which is under the threat of closure is to put forward a make-or-break buyout scheme to members. After growing frustrated at the lack of communication offered by administrators
FORMER England coach Dick Best has joined the backroom team at Southend Rugby Club, the Echo can reveal. Best led the national team to grand slam glory in 1992 and the following year was part of the coaching set up for the British Lions’ tour of
IRATE residents and drivers in Stanford-le-Hope say barriers at the train station are being left down for half-an-hour at a time, causing “bedlam” in the mornings. The Echo has been contacted by several people about delays at the level crossing
A TROUBLED Canvey charity has received a huge boost after being told it will receive funding for the next 12 months. The Canvey Island Youth Project almost went out of business towards a year ago but Calor Gas stepped into the breach and offered
EXTRA fines, more residents parking schemes and additional pay and display charges could be introduced across Castle Point in a bid to generate more income. The proposals, suggested by the South Essex Parking Partnership, have been drawn up in
TWO much-loved ballets come to the Cliffs Pavilion next week when Swan Lake and the Nutcracker arrive in the hands of the Russian State Ballet of Siberia. The company is known for its exquisite, traditional renditions of classic pieces and artistic
WHEN Ben Fletcher took his own life last year, his friends and family were devastated – but the popular Southend punk fan will be celebrated in style as his pals throw him a memorial music bash to be remembered. Dedicated to Punk Ben, as he was known
A DISABLED man who was rescued from a fire in his flat is not expected to survive. Wheelchair-bound Shane Bland, 26, survived a dramatic rescue in November from a blaze which badly damaged four flats in a house in Fairfax Drive in Westcliff
A life on stage under the glittering lights of showbusiness can look like the most glamorous of careers. But beneath the beaming smiles and colourful energy, there’s hard graft, gruelling schedules and months of anxiety and financial instability between
Commuters were stranded this morning after a train broke down. Passengers on the c2c line from Shoebury to London were stuck after the 7.03am train broke down near Limehouse. Engineers were sent in and trains stuck between West Ham and Limehouse
A PRIVATE litter firm, made up of ex-cops and soldiers, and paid to keep Basildon's streets clean, has been dumped by Basildon Council. The authority employed the services of XFor in April 2012 for a year-long trial. Despite announcing that
THEY say they formed by mistake in 2010, but Absolution have been writing, playing and developing ever since. Describing themselves as a blues-rock power trio, they compare themselves to a souped-up Cream, while Blues in Britain magazine likened
HMV has been announced as the next big name high-street retailer to face administration. The largest British CD and DVD retailer is now facing closure, with more than 4,200 jobs at risk at the 238 stores nationwide. The news will affect South
AN ANIMAL lover helped saved a cat from being drowned by a heartless thug. The brave woman stepped in to save Billy the cat who was being held in a bucket of water by a youth at an unnamed road in Southend. She was alerted by the distressed
HUNDREDS of people packed out a gallery for its reopening after a devastating fire. The popular TAP gallery in North Road, Westcliff, threw open its doors to the public for the first time since the blaze last May. A van set light by vandals
JAMIE Oliver is set to take over a Southend Pier cafe for a second series of his hit Channel Four show, the Echo can reveal. The celebrity chef has exchanged contracts with Southend Council over using the former Pier Head Cafe for a second series
STUART Bingham let a four-frame lead slip as world number one Mark Selby claimed a remarkable comeback win at The Masters tonight to set up a quarter-final with Mark Williams on Friday evening. Bingham led 5-1 in the first-to-six encounter but
