PONCHO-wearing pickpockets and bogus charity collectors are targeting residents and businesses. Police have warned hairdressers and estate agents in Rayleigh to be on their guard after a series of distraction thefts. They are also warning elderly
TWO flights from Spain have been significantly delayed. The 5.40pm EZY7442 to Tenerife South will now arrive at Southend Airport at 9.54pm while the 9.45pm EZY7416 to Alicante will now arrive at 10.06pm.
A WOMAN in her nineties was treated by paramedics after her flat in sheltered housing caught fire. Three fire crews and ambulance crews arrived at the flats on Pintails, Pitsea, at about 8.15pm on **Feb 25** where they found the woman, who had
POLICE officers have renewed an appeal for any witnesses to two sexual assaults to come forward. Two women were assaulted in Laindon on the evening of February 21 within 20 minutes of each other. The first assault occurred shortly before 8pm
AT a time of heightened tension, following the Paris and Copenhagen shootings, Southend Hospital was suddenly plunged into an emergency situation – one that had some of the trappings of a potential terrorist plot. The discovery of a live hand grenade
LEE Mayo had tears in his eyes when he won his dead friend’s Muay Thai belt. The Southend fighter was a good pal and business partner of Joe Emmons before his death in November. Emmons had been due to defend his light heavyweight belt in Thailand
DARREN Rigg is returning to the octagon after a five-year absence in memory of his friend Joe Emmons. And the 46-year-old from Southend admits it will be an emotional moment when he fights at Garon Park at a night remembering Emmons, who was found
A GAY Roman Catholic priest on trial for sex abuse has admitted being shown a child porn film by a close friend. Tony McSweeney, 68, was father at St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in Eastwood Road North, Eastwood, before being moved from the church
ROTARIANS are boycotting a budget supermarket after volunteers collecting donations for children’s charities were thrown out. Staff at Aldi, in Rushbottom Lane, Benfleet, kicked out members of the Rotary Club of Hadleigh Castle, who were collecting
A BLAZING car has caused traffic chaos on the A1245. The car, which was outside the View Garden Centre on Chelmsford Road, Wickford, was fully alight by the time two fire engines arrived at about 6pm, blocking traffic on the main road. Crews
A SOUTHEND Member of Parliament has delivered a petition to Downing Street calling for a ban on wild animals in circuses. Sir David Amess, who represents Southend West, joined Animal Defenders International (ADI) at Downing Street today to deliver
The RSPCA is appealing for information about a dead horse found dumped amongst fly-tipped rubbish in Dunton Road, Basildon yesterday. The body of an adult skewbald mare was found still warm and in an extremely thin state between Dunton Wayletts
Manor have announced Rochford-born Will Stevens will be one of their drivers as the team continue to make strides towards making the season-opening Grand Prix in Melbourne. Last week the team formerly known as Marussia announced they are to enter
POLICE are continuing to quiz a man about two sex attacks in Laindon. The 39-year-old, from Basildon, was arrested yesterday, on suspicion of sexual assault. In the first incident, a 23-year-old woman was approached by a man as she walked
A SELFLESS teacher who donated a kidney to one of his pupils is celebrating after being honoured by the Royal Family. Ray Coe, 53, of Kingsmere, Thundersley, was invited to Buckingham Palace to collect his MBE from PrinceWilliam in recognition
A MAN admitted driving nearly three times over the legal limit. Raymond Orchard, 50, of Meadway, Benfleet, has been banned from driving for two years after being spotted on the A13 in Leigh in his black Ford Fiesta. He was arrested on Dawlish
BOXING promoter Danny Morgan has backed cruiserweight fighter “Iron” Mike Bourne to step up a level after his latest knock-out performance. Westcliff boxer Bourne knocked Bradford’s Brad Carter to the canvas in the third round of last Saturday’
TWO men have been arrested on suspicion of going equipped to steal motor vehicles in the early hours of this morning. A 21-year-old man from Waltham Forest and a 26-year-old man from Walthamstow were arrested on the A127 in Leigh after the vehicle
DETECTIVES investigating a robbery at a jewellers have today released a CCTV image of two men who they would like to speak to in connection with the incident. They were pictured visiting the Gold and Diamonds store in Furtherwick Road on the day
THE A127 was blocked today a vehicle broke down. A vehicle has broken down on the Londonbound carriageway between Progress Road and the Rayleigh Weir with the A129. One lane has been blocked since the breakdown at about 11.30am but the road
BASILDON Council is looking to recruit a globetrotting officer to try to encourage foreign firms to set up in the borough. The council wants a senior international development officer to jet abroad and lure international firms to the borough and
ESSEX firefighters have been called to several fires since a walkout began at 7am. Crews started a 24-hour strike this morning in a row over pensions and retirement age. At 9.15am crews were called to a road traffic bollard on fire in Southchurch
PEOPLE could soon be living in the middle of an industrial estate if plans to convert former offices into flats are approved. Developer Oaklawn wants to use new legislation – which allows unused offices to be converted into housing, provided there
GIANT POLLOCK HAUL FOR FISHERMEN IT was a case of third time lucky when a trip out from Newhaven rewarded south Essex anglers Phil Browning, Rory Coase and Mick Toomer with some cracking pollock to just over 16lb. The trio had originally planned
CRAIG Edwards says his Billericay Town side are well placed to make a late push for the play-offs, despite the impending prospect of having to play three matches a week. Town have been in superb form of late, and have not lost a home game in the
SOUTHEND Diving’s Duran Omer claimed two medals at the British Gas Diving Championships in Plymouth but still believes his best is yet to come this season. The 17-year-old, from Southend finished second in the one metre springboard junior final
The final phase of a 440-home development off the A127 is set to be given the green light. Detailed plans for 163 more homes at Dunton Fields, a development on land to the east of Ford’s Dunton Technical Centre, in Laindon, are likely to be approved
SOUTHEND & Benfleet saw off Wapping fourths 1-0 in a rearranged encounter. The original clash between the two teams was called off due to a frozen pitch earlier on this year. But Southend were not to be denied and came out on top thanks
SOUTHEND United manager Phil Brown is keen to introduce three year apprenticeships for the Shrimpers’ young players. Blues and most other Football League clubs currently offer their teenage scholars a two year contract. But Brown does not feel
MOTORISTS suffered long delays this morning following a crash on the A12. The accident, involved three vehicles and happened on the Colchester-bound carriageway between junction 17 for Howe Green and junction 18 for Sandon. Traffic is queueing
SOUTHEND United midfielder Gary Deegan wants to repay manager Phil Brown for saving him from the footballing wilderness by winning promotion with the Shrimpers this season. Deegan has revealed he would have returned to Ireland and played part time
VILLAGERS raised the alarm after plans for 37 homes off a busy country lane were submitted to Rochford District Council. The brownfield site, at 90 Main Road, Hawkwell, was previously home to businesses Benchmark Doors and Auto-Plas International
LONDON-BOUND commuters faced cancelled or delayed trains this morning as overhead wire problems affected c2c trains. The issue, between Laindon and West Horndon, was first identified by c2c before 6am, with customers initially told trains would
ROCHFORD continued their quest for promotion with an emphatic 12-1 win over neighbours Old Southendians on Saturday. The rescheduled game started with a great intensity from both sides and Old Southendians were unlucky not to take the lead in the
BASILDON darts player Ritchie Edhouse missed out on the chance to rub shoulders with some of the sport's biggest names next month. Edhouse lost in the amateur qualifying final at Rileys in South Benfleet against north Essex player Kevin Edwards
Sitting down to make a card or a lovely piece of jewellery is one of the few times Rhyanne Griffiths forgets she is ill. The 20-year-old finds she can focus on something she enjoys and lose herself in the activity. Rhyanne has cervical and
A BRAWL broke out outside a popular bar during its opening night following a revamp. Up to ten people were seen fighting near Bar Blanco in Eastwood Road, Rayleigh, after they were refused entry for being too drunk. The club had been closed
ESSEX firefighters will walk out for 24 hours today. It will be the 66th time FBU members have been on strike since the bitter row over pensions and retirement age broke out two years ago. THe strike began at 7am today. The union has accused
HOSPITALS are at breaking point with wards in Southend and Basildon almost full every day, the Echo can reveal. New figures shows Basildon Hospital was full on nine days last month, and more than 99 per cent full on every other day but one.
