AN accident involving a car and a motorbike closed Canvey Way. Canvey Way in Canvey Island is partially blocked at Waterside Roundabout, because of an accident involving a car and a motorbike at around 8pm. Police closed the road as ambulance
A BUSINESSMAN has said he does not want to sell his popular bar – despite putting it on the market. Fraser Donaldson said he is trying to raise cash to pay for Bar Plazma, in Wickford, to have a much-needed makeover. He went to the bank but
MAX Whitlock made it two Commonwealth Games gold medals in the space of two days with an outstanding display in the all-around final in Glasgow yesterday. Whitlock, who trains at Basildon’s South Essex Gymnastics Club, led the way with an impressive
RAIDERS have stolen thousands of pounds from businesses across Basildon in a two-month spate of breakins. Police are investigating 23 burglaries at businesses including the Tesco supermarket in Laindon, social clubs, Goldcrest Day Nursery, in Mons
A THUG has been jailed for carrying out two brutal, drunken attacks on revellers outside a Southend club. In one of the attacks, Sam Clayton, 19, of Surbiton Road, Southend, and a gang of four pals punched and kicked a man as he cowered on the
C&K BASILDON Ladies geared up for the new football season with an 11-goal thrashing of Norflok’s Acle Ladies. Flo Gamby and Zoe Rusden netted hat-tricks in the drubbing as C&K prepare for the newly established FA Women’s Premier League.
A PARADE to mark the beginning of the First World War has been cancelled. Basildon Council organised the event for Saturday, August 9 to march through the town centre and hoped to get residents on board and taking part. But today a spokesman
BRENDA Bowyer missed out on the double when Southend Ladies’ Open Bowling Tournament reached its climax. The independent bowler reached the finals of the Ladies’ Pairs and the Singles competitions. That forced a change in the schedule with
TK Maxx’s new Basildon store will open next month, it has been revealed. The retail giant will be creating 46 local jobs thanks to the store opening at Pipps Hill Retail Park, off Miles Gray Road. The size of three football pitches, it will
FAMILES are urged to get out and about and enjoy the open spaces this week as part of the Love Your Parks week. Rochford District Council is encouraging residents and visitors to make the most of their surroundings, by visiting one of the parks
RESPECTED headteacher Alison Blant has retired after 14 years at the helm. Staff and pupils at Pitsea Junior School, in High Road, Pitsea, joined together on the school field to plant a tree to mark the start of a new era. During her time at
FITZWIMARC Badminton Club have staged their own junior tournament. There were enough girl entries in the under-11 group to have a group of their own and Charlotte Patterson was the overall winner with five straight victories. The runner-up
DISGRUNTLED customers have been forced to change banks after Barclays announced it is closing its Benfleet branch. The branch in London Road, Great Tarpots, will close on Friday, October 17. Barclays said there will be no redundancies, but
DANNY Cowley says Concord Rangers are altering their tactics as they bid to improve on an outstanding debut season in the Conference South. The Beachboys finished ninth last season plus won the Essex Senior Cup and Cowley says if they eradicate
A CONVICTED killer may be on the loose in Hockley. Welsh police are searching for a Keith Turner, 60 following an appeal on BBC television programme Crimewatch. Officers from the Gwent region are appealing for information to find Turner, who
Former champ is back and coaching GEORGIE Smith is back in boxing, coaching at Canvey’s SS8 Gym. The former IBO Welterweight champion shot to fame in south-east Essex during the 1990s before deciding to hang up his gloves on the eve of the
IT was a case of job done for Jessica Judd as she safely negotiated the opening round of the 800m at Hampden Park. And the 19-year-old’s attentions immediately turned to her semi-final the moment she stepped off the track. The Canvey teenager
CHILDREN’S author Michelle Harrison visited young patients at Basildon Hospital. The event, organised by Starlight Children’s foundation and publisher Simon and Schuster, is part of series of trips in which authors and illustrators visit poorly
BASILDON United are facing a striking crisis as the new season approaches. The Bees’ three primary strikers are crocked after picking up knocks in Basildon’s busy pre-season campaign. Assistant manager/player Craig Gillam (back), Jordan Williams
SOUTHEND United striker Barry Corr hopes to come face to face with one of his most famous former team-mates when Queens Park Rangers visit Roots Hall this evening. Corr was in the youth team at Leeds United when Rio Ferdinand starred in the senior
A GIRL has been taken to hospital after being found face-down in the sea. The five-year-old was found unconscious in the water off Three Shells Beach, Southend, at about 2.45pm. She regained consciousness under the care of an ambulance team
A LEIGH man has become embroiled in allegations a top official in the Royal Household received more than £100,000 to award contracts for work at royal parties. Ron Harper, who worked as deputy property manager at the Royal Household for 18 years
A TRIO of midfielders have joined Southend United on trial. Ex Watford man Ross Jenkins, former Northampton midfielder Gary Deegan and Irishman Patrick Cregg have all teamed up with Blues. And manager Phil Brown will give them all an opportunity
THE first gold medal has arrived for south-east Essex at these Commonwealth Games. Basildon-based Max Whitlock helped England come out on top in the team gymnastics final. But the entertaining session of gymnastics was also incredibly confusing
THESE shocking images show amother and toddler perilously close to a busy railway line at Pitsea. The images were released by British Transport Police as part of campaign to curb the number of people trespassing on the railway. BTP officers
SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown has ruled out any chance of Adam Barrett making a return to Roots Hall. Barrett, who made 289 appearances in six seasons with the Shrimpers before leaving in 2010, has now been made available for transfer by Gillingham
SEA REPORT by GRAHAM BARRATT SOUTH Essex anglers are mourning Steve Woodbine following his sudden death at the weekend. The Shoebury fisherman was only in his 30s and was a regular at Barge Pier. Steve was well known locally and did his
THOUSANDS of ice cream lovers flocked to Garon Park, Southend, to take part in a world record attempt. Organisers of the Relay for Life and Rossi Ice Cream bosses teamed up to break the record for the longest chain of people licking ice creams.
ISAAC Layne is close to completing a switch from Billericay Town to Southend United. The speedy striker has impressed Shrimpers boss Phil Brown while lining up for the Ryman Premier League side during pre-season. And Brown is now keen to bring
A WOMAN thanked the people who saved her life after she collapsed during a bowls match. Christine Sampson, 66, of Rushbottom Lane, Benfleet, woke up in hospital unaware she had suffered a cardiac arrest after playing bowls at Castle Point Bowls
JESSICA Judd is determined to erase the disappointing memories of Moscow when she makes her Commonwealth Games debut this lunchtime. The Canvey teenager still has bitter memories of 11 months ago when, carrying an injury, she crashed out in the
A HERITAGE group has won more than £50,000 in funding for a project aimed at making sure the sacrifices of the Great War are never forgotten. Basildon Heritage Group has been given £50,600 of Heritage Lottery Fund cash towards its ambitious Forget
MORE flights to France are being offered from Southend Airport after a surge in popularity. Flybe is making available an extra 2,500 seasonal seats on their routes to Northern France as it moves to offering flights six days a week. Until August
WOMEN trying to get pregnant in their twenties and thirties could have less chance after moves were made to limit IVF treatment. Southend’s Clinical Commissioning Group has launched a consultation over plans to limit woman aged 23 to 39 to just
A GIRL has been left on crutches after falling down an open drain as she waded through floodwater. Sophie Sowden, 13, was enjoying a sleepover with friends when the storm hit Canvey. Eager to see what was going on, the girls went outside to
