Archive

  • It’s award time for Southend Wheelers’ winners

    SOUTHEND Wheelers Cycling Club members celebrated their successes of the past year at their annual prize presentation. In the cyclo-cross category, Fergal Swanwick collected the Junior cup, while brother and sister Matthew and Hannah Kane made

  • Fresh hope for HMV

    HOPES over the future of collapsed music chain HMV were raised today after its debt was bought by the restructuring business behind HMV Canada. Hilco UK has taken on the debt from lenders Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland in a move effectively

  • Gas smell from France sparks South East alert

    A STRONG smell of gas sparked thousands of calls to the emergency helpline. People in the South East of England reported the odour, which is believed to have come from a chemical factory in northern France, to the National Gas Emergency phone line

  • Essex was second coldest place in UK

    ESSEX recorded the second lowest temperature in the UK on Monday night, Met Office figures have revealed. Cambridge was the coldest place in the UK on Monday night, reaching minus 12.2C (10F), according to Met Office figures. It was followed

  • Is this Burglar Bill?

    THIS thief was caught on CCTV - and is a dead ringer for children's cartoon character Burglar Bill. CCTV images of two men suspected of stealing electrical equipment from Waitrose on Christmas Eve have been released. Police have this morning

  • Delay in trial of former Essex police chief

    The trial of a former Essex Police chief accused of assault has been delayed due to legal arguments. Lee Weavers, 60, former head of crime and acting assistant chief constable at the force, denies causing actual bodily harm and possession of a

  • Charity at risk after council doesn't renew lease

    A POPULAR Basildon disabled charity could face closure after Basildon Council decided not to renew its lease at the Basildon Centre. This is the view of DIAL manager, Jan Stevens, and opposition councillors, who say that now the charity doesn’t

  • Pawnbroker spots Facebook scam

    A PAWNBROKER spotted a scam on Facebook where a company was trading under its name. The con affected people who were trying to buy from Essex Cash Xchange, in Ness Road, Shoebury. The victims would pay for the goods via Paypal in good faith

  • Essex Leopards tamed by top dogs Reading Rockets

    ESSEX Leopards were seen off 74-63 at unbeaten league leaders Reading Rockets on Sunday. The game was one of only five out of the scheduled 52 men’s league encounters to take place at the weekend, with Leopards making the longest trip of any of

  • Ye Olde Plough House

    Forthcoming Events Valentines Candlelit Supper with Michael Bublé Tribute  (Kai Mackenzie) Thursday 14th February 2013 Taking place in our Monks Barn Bookings taken between  7.00pm & 8.30pm Valentines Sunday Lunch with Michael Bublé Tribute

  • Ye Olde Plough House

    Forthcoming Events Valentines Candlelit Supper with Michael Bublé Tribute  (Kai Mackenzie) Thursday 14th February 2013 Taking place in our Monks Barn Bookings taken between  7.00pm & 8.30pm Valentines Sunday Lunch with Michael Bublé Tribute

  • Potholes leave pensioner black and blue

    A BASILDON pensioner has been left black and blue after tripping over one of the borough’s many potholes. Elenor Petchey, 94, from Felmores, was walking to the bus stop at Felmores End on Thursday, January 10 when she caught her foot in a four-inch

  • Me a sex symbol? It just doesn’t add up, says Rachel Riley

    SCANNING the cafe I could have easily missed Rachel Riley sitting inconspicuously on a side table by a window. The TV presenter has mastered the technique of blending in when she is at home in Essex where she lives with husband Jamie Gilbert and

  • Customers counting the cost of shop closure

    WORRIED customers have been left counting the cost after a furniture business in Leigh closed suddenly. People who have paid deposits of £1,000 for new sofas have got in touch with the Echo since Holmes Furnishers shut its doors last week with

  • Trains cancelled between Southend and London

    TRAINS between Southend and London have been cancelled or delayed. Train operator Greater Anglia cancelled the 8.30am train from Southend Victoria to Liverpool Street and the 9.55am train in the opposite direction due to congestion from earlier

  • Baroness Smith condemns job losses at Basildon Council

    FORMER Labour MP Baroness Smith said Basildon Council’s decision to put all staff on notice they could lose their jobs would leave them “numb, scared and demoralised”. Speaking in a House of Lords debate on the local government settlement, she

  • Half term parking woe at airport

    HOLIDAYMAKERS looking to get away during February half term have been left disappointed after an airport admitted its free parking scheme is not valid for that week. At the turn of the year, bosses at Southend Airport announced they were offering

  • New seafront cafe takes shape

    A TRENDY new seafront cafe designed to look like a windbreaker is taking shape on Westcliff seafront. Married couple David and Heather Gammer are behind the venture which will bring bistro style food and seaside goods to the beach. The Beach

  • Lotto cash to teach domestic abuse victims self defence

    A KARATE instructor from Basildon who carried the Olympic torch last summer will use a new lottery grant to run self-defence classes for victims of domestic abuse. Marc Grayston's scheme is one of 22 projects in East Anglia sharing £152,334 from