Archive

  • New date for car death inquest

    THE inquest into the death of a man who died in a car explosion will take place next month. Vimalkumar Patel, 42, was found in a car which burst into flames in the grounds of Seevic College in Runnymede Close, Thundersley, on February 6. He

  • "Despicable" woman stole from her own family at a wake

    A “MEAN and despicable” con-woman who stole from her family during a wake has been jailed. Callous Michelle Roberts, 45, was sentenced to six months in prison after going on a £270 shopping spree in Asda for stealing bank cards, cash and vouchers

  • Bus shelter traffic delay

    A NEW bus shelter will be built in High Road, Laindon. The existing shelter, opposite King Edwards Terrace, will be replaced. Temporary traffic lights will be installed to direct motorists and pedestrians. The work will be carried out between

  • Men seen breaking in

    AN eagle-eyed person spotted two men trying to break in to a house in Long Wick, Basildon, at about 2.15pm on June 23. The men realised they had been seen and ran off. Both were in their twenties, with blonde hair. One wore a black jacket and

  • Car hits teenage cyclist

    A TEENAGE cyclist suffered serious injuries after being hit by a car. The girl, believed to be 18, was apparently thrown from her bike by an uneven road surface in Southend Road, Rochford, near the Anne Boleyn pub, at about 1.20pm today. The

  • Saving pets in foreign countries

    One of the hardest things for anyone interested in animal welfare to do is go on holiday. I’m not just talking about finding a hotel or cottage where your furry friends are as welcome as your credit card, but rather those holidays to hotter climes

  • Video: Lucy charts illness on film

    INSPIRATIONAL Lucy Watts has made a short film to chart a day in her life coping with a life-threatening illness. Lucy, 20, from Benfleet, suffers from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and is supported by the J’s Hospice in Chelmsford. She has filmed

  • Happy birthday for care centre

    A RESPITE care centre in Leigh celebrated its tenth anniversary with a tea party. Christopher’s Cottage, inMountdale Gardens, is a six-bed care centre and sports hall for children and young adults with learning disabilities. It was set up thanks

  • My desert challenge

    A MUM is gearing up for a gruelling desert trek to raise funds for Havens Hospices. Stella Tredwell, from Leigh, has signed up for the Havens Sahara Desert Trek and Project. She will set off on the five-day, 100km trek on October 4. Together

  • Promise to trim borough’s grass

    GRASS will be cut more promptly in Castle Point, councillors have promised. After complaints over the state of the grass at St Katherine’s Churchyard, Canvey, the Victoria House Corner roundabout, in Hadleigh, and Thundersley Common playing field

  • Cultures unite

    SOUTHEND’S bid to be named the City of Culture for 2021 took a step forward, during a community event to rally support. The town has already been dubbed “Alternative City of Culture” by the group pushing for official recognition in 2021. Former

  • Lifeboat crews called to two emergencies on Canvey

    SOUTHEND’s voluntary lifeboat crew was called to two emergencies on Canvey yesterday. The Southend RNLI crew was called at about 2.30pm to a dismasted catamaran off of the Island. The safety boat took the vessel under tow to the Canvey Island

  • Missed the last train? We'll keep you safe

    LATE-NIGHT revellers in Southend will soon be offered a safe place to go if they miss the last train home. Southend Street Pastors, a church-based group which offers help and support to clubbers who wind up the worse for wear after a night out,

  • Fresh appeal after cyclist injured in hit and run

    POLICE have renewed an appeal for witnesses after a cyclist was seriously injured in a hit and run. A silver BMW struck a 36-year-old female cyclist in Harcourt Avenue, Southend, at about 4.30pm on Saturdady. She was rushed to Southend Hospital

  • Man wanted after nightclub attack

    POLICE are looking to identify a man in connection with an ongoing investigation into an assault inside a nightclub which left a man unconscious. The attack happened when a 25-year-old local man was punched several times in the head after having

  • Pupils enjoy tour of lifeboat base

    PUPILS from a Leigh school enjoyed touring Southend lifeboat station. A chance to try on lifeboat crew gear was a highlight of the trip for reception year pupils from St Michael’s C of E School. RNLI volunteer and former crew member Richard

  • Man wanted over nightclub assault

    A MAN is wanted in connection to a nightclub attack that left a reveller in hospital. Police want to speak to this man in connection with an assault at bar, restaurant and nightclub Churchills, in Tylers Avenue, Southend. A 25-year-old was

  • Archaeology at Seevic

    BUDDING archaeologists can take advantage of free classes at Seevic College in Thundersley. Coinciding with the launch of Seevic’s new Classical Civilisation A-Level for 16 to 19-year-olds, the college is also offering adults the opportunity to

  • Thanks for handing back wallet

    A TOURIST who left a wallet containing more than £350 in cash on a car park ticketmachine has praised a young man for handing it in. Canadian Michael Wood, 74, put the wallet on top of the machine in the multi-storey car park at the Victoria Shopping

  • Saturday parking charges plan for Rayleigh could be scrapped

    CONTROVERSIAL plans to introduce Saturday afternoon parking charges across the Rochford district could be scrapped next week as councillors have finally been given a free vote on the issue. The move to start charging after 1pm in council-run car

  • Mum's tribute to medics who saved her premature son's life

    A MOTHER has paid tribute to medics who saved the life of her premature son as he celebrated his tenth birthday against all the odds. Michelle Durah, a former mental health nurse, has thanked Southend Hospital and Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge

  • Deanes works on its academy plan

    THE long-term future of the Deanes school could finally be secured after it took giant steps towards becoming an academy by next year. The school, in Daws Heath Road, Thundersley, is on course to form a multi-academy trust with the Billericay School

  • Hospital needs 183 more nurses

    A BATTLEPLAN has been drawn up to recruit more nurses at Basildon Hospital after it was found to have 183 vacancies. The chronic shortage comes at a time when Southend Hospital’s own lack of staff forced it to close off beds. Both hospitals

  • Mum in debt stashed cocaine for dealers

    A MUM agreed to stash half a kilo of cocaine in her house for drug dealers after falling into debt. Melanie Oakes, 37, admitted at Basildon Crown Court possessing a class A drug with intent to supply. The court heard she was paid £200 a week

  • Patients ‘will be able see GP 7 days a week’

    PATIENTS will be able to see a doctor seven days a week under new plans to fix the GP crisis in Basildon. NHS bosses released a fiveyear plan after the Echo revealed the borough has just one doctor per 2,035 people – compared to a national average

  • "I'll expand A&E to ease the queues"

    THE boss of Southend Hospital says she will expand A&E to cope with the record numbers of patients coming through its doors. Jacqueline Totterdell, the hospital’s chief executive, said the extra capacity should be in place in time for the busy