Echo news from Southend, Basildon, Castle Point,Rayleigh, Rochford, Wickford, Billericay, Thurrock

Taxi driver sells nearly 7,000 copies of debut novel

5:30pm Friday 30th November 2012

A POPULAR taxi driver has managed to sell nearly 7,000 copies of his debut novel after being snubbed by agents and publishers.

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I ditched City career to teach kids sport

7:00am Sunday 9th September 2012

A SPORT-loving dad is happier than ever after trading in his £90,000-a-year City job for a basic wage teaching youngsters how to play dodgeball David Ascott turned his back on his 20-year -career in London after becoming disillusioned with working for some of the capital’s biggest banks and financial firms.

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Emily gets her grades – despite a year in hospital

9:20am Monday 20th August 2012

AN inspirational teenager has fought her way back from the brink to win her dream university place, after missing out on a year of school.

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Rayleigh man murdered in Chelmsford

6:31pm Sunday 19th August 2012

A MAN from Rayleigh has been found murdered at a house in Chelmsford. The 39-year-old, who has not been named by police, was found in a house off the A414 London Road in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Disgraced Lord Hanningfield wants prison reform

6:00am Monday 6th August 2012

DISGRACED peer Lord Hanningfield has revealed he is looking to use his prison experience to help others.

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Our caravan trip to see Olympic Games

8:00am Sunday 5th August 2012

EXCITED Olympic visitors have made Barleylands their temporary home as the Caravan Club hosts more than 300 caravans. The Caravan Club, which has 160 sites in the UK, has a base at the Billericay attraction for the duration of the Games. More than 1,000 people with tickets for London 2012 events have pitched up and are sleeping at the site after travelling to the capital to watch the sporting achievements. The site is only 2.7 miles from Billericay station, which has a direct line to Stratford, home of the Olympic Park, which is just a 25-minute ride away. Sporting fans from Sweden, Italy, Spain, Austria, Germany, Netherlands, France, Ireland, Great Britain and more have gathered at Barleylands. The Caravan Club has put on activities for those on the site, including lessons from the Mayflower Archers. Two Olympic diehards have travelled down from Nottinghamshire to be closer to the action. Derek Stewart, 63, and wife Marion, 62, arrived last Friday for the opening of the Games.

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Now craft village goes it alone to launch art trail

6:00am Friday 3rd August 2012

ARTISTS will display their work as Barleylands Craft Village launches its third art trail.

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