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

Bassett Hounds: Chester (left) with his chocolate eating twin, Basil

Chocolate warning for dog owners after mini eggs leave Basil seriously ill

4

12 events to enjoy in Essex this Easter weekend

Poo patrollers set for green light with focus on island beaches

Inspirational Callum joins classic star Alfie Boe on stage at Royal Albert Hall

Reckless drug dealer films 13-year-old boy after handing him 'bump' of cocaine

2

Police called as blades are found jutting out of children's softplay area

Traders left in fear as yobs target shop in attempted raid

£1 plots of land hold the key for town's regeneration

Bride-to-be wants compensation after cancelled Southend flight 'ruins' hen do

70

Boutique owner taunted by boasting 'thieves' who stole £1,500 worth of clothes

10

WATCH: Adventure Island bosses testing new £1m ride

3

Gender pay gap shows men now earn 18% more than women at Southend Hospital

2

Get the latest local news straight to your inbox everyday

Get involved with the news in your community

Send your stories and photos now

New pictures emerge as armed police swoop on residential street

2

South Essex set to sizzle in 20°C heat this Easter bank holiday weekend

3

Here are the supermarket opening times for Southend, Basildon and Canvey over Easter 2019

7

Major A13 roadworks stop for Easter weekend

4

A130 blocked after crash between car and tractor

Rylan Clark to co-host Strictly Come Dancing spin-off show with Zoe Ball

9

Cousins jailed for brutal killing of elderly great-uncle in botched robbery

2

Salon helps charity with cash donation again

Man pinned to the ground and arrested after reports of 'armed drug gang'

2

Manhunt as arsonists set fire to caravan

Child, 9, hit by car near train station

7

Man due in court after police officers threatened with knife

'Richard's death devastated us... and now we want to help others'

Tesco Lee's FOUR-MONTH silence while working lands more than £7k

10

Cash boost means new visitor centre for wildlife reserve

Facebook uploaded 1.5 million users' email contacts without their consent

2

Yob gang uses catapult to launch stones at houses

8

Cat rescued from six-inch gap in home wall

9

Social worker faces misconduct hearing accused of faking documents for loan claim

33

Manhunt as 93-year-old woman is targeted in street robbery

6

WATCH: Video shows moped yob run red light before seafront crash

24

Dog walker forced to give chase as gang attempt to steal family pet

10

'Operation Heatwave' launched as town prepares for tourist influx as temperatures set to soar

7

Updated

Picture shows armed police arrest man in the middle of the road

Armed gang storm house and target couple inside

5

Man arrested by armed police after reports of a 'man with a knife'

Dad's mission to make sure son James is never, ever forgotten

REVEALED: The pop-up escape room set to take over shopping centre for Easter weekend

Detective convicted of mishandling abuse cases set to be sacked

5

Police officer found with 'extreme porn' clips sent racist and homophobic messages on Whatsapp

11

Southend group confirm one member arrested in Extinction Rebellion protests

12

Hotel's three-storey expansion plans are thrown out

Four people accused of stabbing 36-year-old to death appear in court

Aggressive beggar jailed after headbutting shop worker who asked him to move

12

Woman, 93, suffers head injury after being knocked down in attempted robbery

7

Failing surgery slammed by watchdog as patients are deemed 'unsafe'

Man jailed for drug offences after cops uncover text message ads for drugs

6

Sex predator who raped uni student while she slept jailed for EIGHT years

Limited edition 007 Thunderbird once owned by Jonathan Ross on sale in Hockley

12

Asthma sufferers warned of 'deadly pollen bomb' as weather heats up

26

How you could be owed £300 from Mastercard, even if you've never had a credit card

10

Man who died in Brentwood was not murdered, police confirm

This is why you won't be able to buy a rabbit from Pets at Home this Easter

17

Updated

Schools' Grenfell cladding fears allayed after inspection

15

Boy who ‘saw red’ as he stamped on a schoolboy’s face handed referral order

11

Police chase man in a stolen car loaded with drugs

13

Drug addicted gang jailed for masked robbery at newsagents

21

Man attacked by yobs after enjoying night out at the pub

14

Yobs cause estimated £500 worth of damage to mental health charity garden

8

New scheme with hospitals supporting youths to help combat gangs

5

Wildlife trust says fire caused irreparable damage to popular nature reserve

9

Child who waved meat cleaver in front of house spared jail and told to make amends

Boy, 14, must register as sex offender after child sex abuse images found

Motorists left frustrated after quadbikers cause chaos on A13

33

Traders call in heatwave staff for Easter rush

11

Woman punched in face by armed mugger in country park

9

Homeless street party is success after 100 weeks of help

500 back room hospital staff to move into Southend as merger gets underway

5

Nearly 90 per cent of Southend kids get primary school first choices

Man accused of harassing Labour MP appears at court

All the Blues news

Blues boss Bond: It's must win for us at Walsall

2

Blues defender Lennon faces fight to be fit for Walsall clash

Blues supporters are left fearing the worst

Read more All the Blues news

Sport

East Thurrock boss Coventry may be ‘put out of misery’ this weekend

Wakering are relishing Maldon challenge

Blues boss Bond to assess fitness risks ahead of Walsall clash

The view from the other side: Walsall

Head-to-head: Walsall v Southend United

Billericay's Rushen excited to face former club C&K Basildon in final

Southend Rockets’ Efe claims international call-up

South Essex win British Team title

Jimmy shines to win in Pool English Open

Sussex: Basildon are not already on holidays despite survival

Westley: we are looking to address one-day shortfalls

Blues defender Demetriou needs knee op and will miss the rest of the season

Shrimpers fan in the stand: 'Home form has been a disgrace'

Blues defender Elvis: We have to deal with pressure if we want to stay up

Freddy bags winner as Blues go back top

The Cowley brothers complete ‘objective’ of winning promotion

Beale hails Concord's character after victory at Truro

Read more Sport

National sport

White hits new heights as Spurs take play-off series lead against Nuggets

Frankfurt boss Hutter hails ‘perfect’ evening

Unai Emery applauds his Arsenal players after reaching semi-finals

Slow starts to second half becoming a ‘big problem’ – Sarri

Marcelino could not hide his delight after Valencia reach last four

Van Gerwen thrashes Cross to return to the Premier League summit

Frankfurt stage second-leg fightback to edge out Benfica

Read more National sport

Read more National sport

Blues

Blues boss Bond: We're still up for the fight

5

Blues striker Kelman watches Wycombe clash with fans

Blues' youngsters lose to Exeter

Win the chance to be a Blues mascot at Sid Broomfield Trophy

Blues still waiting for Demetriou update

The final say: Blues facing a huge battle to stay up after Wycombe defeat

6

Boss Bond is shocked by Blues’ performance against Wycombe

6

Read more Blues

National news

Dissident republicans blamed after journalist shot dead in Londonderry

Two dead after being rescued from sea off beach

Woman, 29, dies after shots fired during unrest in Londonderry

Woman, 29, dies after shots fired during unrest in Londonderry

Charles calls for action to tackle ‘pervasive horror’ of knife crime

What the papers say – April 19

Mueller drops obstruction dilemma on US Congress

Read more National news