A TAXI driver, who raped a Basildon teen who fell ill during a night out, has been jailed for eight years. The 17-year-old victim passed out after drinking too much while out with friends in Romford. She was helped into a cab by street pastors
A MAN was beaten to death in a drug-and-drink fuelled attack at a party following last year’s V Festival, a court heard. Anton Jardin, 39, from Eastwood Road, Rayleigh, was being punched, kicked and stamped on, a jury heard. Sam Martin, 26,
HOUSING growth in Castle Point has slowed dramatically leading to a shortfall of more than 500 homes new figures reveal. Targets set by the East of England Plan meant Castle Point was previously expected to deliver 4,000 new homes between 2001
A CYCLE and footpath on one of Southend’s busiest routes will be improved. Southend Council will begin carrying out improvements to a section of path between St Mary’s Road and Priory Crescent on the east side of Victoria Avenue. As well as
THE new interim headteacher of the Basildon Academies has vowed to turn the schools round as they prepare for an imminent Ofsted inspection. Bev Bell, who took up the post in November, said she had taken to her new role with passion and drive and
LEE Wieczorek’s return to the cage to face tough northerner Mick Sinclair is one of the highlights of a stacked card for the 22nd edition of Ultimate Warrior Challenge in Southend in March. Details of the fight card have just been released, and
BLUES are waiting to find out if striker Britt Assombalonga will be fit for Saturday’s clash at Chesterfield. The forward, who has played just once since Boxing Day, has returned to his parent club, Watford, for treatment on an ankle injury.
FIVE people were arrested following a fight outside the Ivory Rooms in Billericay. The fracas broke out in the early hours of Sunday and left two people injured. One man had to be taken to hospital for treatment to fcial injuries. Police arrived
STEVE Maish has vowed to bounce back from his PDC Qualifying School disappointment. The Southend darts professional has lost his tour card for the first time in a decade. He admitted he played badly over the four-day school and is determined
SIGNING for Essex has seen Rob Quiney achieve one of his cricketing ambitions. The 30-year-old Australian top order batsman has inked a deal to play this summer and cannot wait to get started. “I am delighted to have signed a contract to play
A LIGHT of remembrance will go on a tour of Canvey to pay tribute to the victims of the North Sea Flood. Fifty-eight islanders tragically lost their lives and hundreds were evacuated when the North Sea came crashing inland one fateful night in
IT COULD be a case of one in and one out for Southend United as Paul Sturrock looks to reshape his squad for the remainder of the season. The Echo understands that the Blues boss is keen to strengthen his striking options by bringing in a young
COUNCIL tax payers will be asked to fork out an extra 40p a month to help fund the county's police officers. Newly-elected police and crime commissioner Nick Alston said the increase for policing, in the council tax precept, would amount to a £4.77
Four per cent. That’s your chances of still being around five years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Out of all the cancers out there pancreatic cancer has one of the worst survival rates. It’s known as the “silent cancer” because there
VILLAGERS are furious over plans to build 60 homes near to an historic church. People living in Canewdon say the new homes will ruin the look of the village and the view around the Grade II* listed St Nicholas Church. Rochford District Council
A HAVE-A-GO hero chased a gang of burglars up the street - forcing them to drop their haul in the road. Ben Aldridge, 26, forced the crooks to drop a stolen microwave and a vacuum cleaner in their haste to get away. They had even stolen a packet
PLUCKY independent record stores could face a rosier future following the demise of HMV. The country’s largest and oldest group of record stores shut this week, following a slump in CD and DVD sales. Owners of surviving record stores in south
A HEALTHY teenaged boy who suddenly collapsed in a Southend nightclub has died. Mark Abbott, 18, suffered a heart attack at Mayhem nightclub in Warrior Square in the early hours of last Tuesday. He was rushed to Southend Hospital, where he
CLOSING Southend Pier for two days a week during the winter could seriously harm the town’s tourist trade. That is the view of Liberal Democrats, who have asked officers at Southend Council to come up with another way of saving £50,000 a year from
BUSINESS leaders have spoken out in support of Southend Council’s plan to scrap the town’s airshow. Big name retailers, restaurateurs, seafront amusement operators and the town’s taxi association say the May Bank Holiday crowd pleaser, which is
COMEDIENNE, entertainer, singer and songwriter, Joyce Grenfell, was one of the great British performers. Celebrating her centenary year, theatre production Turn Back the Clock is a revue dedicated to Joyce. Actress Cheryl Knight will recreate Joyce
THREE budding young politicians got to experience life first-hand on their campaign trail as they launched their bids to become Southend’s Youth Mayor. Teenagers Kavi Chauhan, Chris Copley and Megan Sylvester used loud hailers and spoke to
