Archive

  • Man charged with drink driving

    An unemployed 48-year-old Billericay man has been charged with drink driving after a head on collison in the town. The crash happened in Meadow Rise just before 9.30pm on Monday evening between a Ford Focus and Nissan van. The occupants of the car

  • Blind campaigner attacks council

    A campaigner has accused Southend Council of not doing enough for the blind. Jill Allen-King has been registered blind since 1964 and is secretary of the Southend and District branch of National Federation of the Blind. Mrs Allen-King, 66, said:

  • Council denies plans to employ gambling counsellors

    Claims Southend Council will shell out £80,000 a year to employ gambling counsellors have been rubbished. A Sunday newspaper said Southend was one of three councils to sign up to the scheme run by gambling charity GamCare which will advise those with

  • Football: Pardew praises class of Sheringham

    The seemingly ageless Teddy Sheringham proved to be the architect of West Ham's 2-1 victory at Wigan, and drew more praise from manager Alan Pardew. Sheringham, who turns 40 this week, clambered off the bench to set up Nigel Reo-Coker's stoppage time

  • Football: Eastwood wants golden boot

    SOUTHEND United striker Freddy Eastwood inspired the Shrimpers to a 3-0 victory over Hartlepool at Roots Hall on Saturday and is now determined to end the season as the top scorer in League One. The highly-rated hot shot bagged a brilliant brace to

  • Football: Bournemouth 1-1 Southend United

    The Shrimpers remain six points clear at the top of League One despite being held to a draw by Bournemouth. Fellow promotion rivals Brentford remain second after drawing with Colchester at Layer Road. But with home games against Blackpool and Gillingham

  • Killer in your home

    Deathtrap sofas which could kill in minutes have been sold from a Basildon shop, a special Echo investigation has shown. During a specially commissioned fire hazard demonstration, this black PVC two-seater belched deadly acrid smoke and cyanide gas

  • Threat to rush hour trains

    Hundreds of commuters could lose rush-hour trains which start at Laindon station as part of a timetable shake-up, it was revealed today. Rail company c2c has promised more 12-coach trains, faster journeys from many stations and more rush hour services

  • Southend is top place for retirement

    Southend has been named as the surprise winner of a study into the best retirement destination in the country. A study by Yours magazine praised the town's social scene, beaches, High Street and its close proximity to London to claim the top spot as

  • You are never too old to find love!

    When it comes to love, age and all its woes can just pack its bags and head for the hills, according to a Canvey couple. Octagenarians Stella Bones and Leon Fievez are so smitten with each other that, despite a combined age of 164, they will tie the

  • Water load of bother!

    Blooming floral displays adorning Southend's parks and gardens will go ahead this year despite severe water shortages across the UK. Water companies, including Essex and Suffolk Water, have offered advice to conserve water following one of the driest

  • Leisure centre set to open

    Rayleigh's long awaited £3million leisure centre is set to open its doors to the public next month. The centre replaces a sports complex on the former Park School site, but boasts extra facilities. Original plans to include a swimming pool in the

  • Cops are back on the blocks

    A team of beat bobbies has begun dedicated patrols of two yob-plagued tower blocks following urgent calls for action from residents. The Echo told on Friday how residents at Royal Court, Laindon, felt let down because a dispersal order which gives

  • Dolphin found dead on beach

    MYSTERY surrounds the death of a dolphin found washed up on a Canvey beach. The dead mammal, which was about four feet long, was spotted by a passer-by near Thorney Bay caravan park. It is not known how long the dolphin had been there or how it

  • Police: We won't back down in merger row

    Essex Police said it will stand its ground against the Home Secretary and refuse to merge voluntarily with Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire forces. Essex Police Authority said it would now send a revised business case to Charles Clarke setting out how

  • "I want to be like Cilla"

    SOUTH Essex glamour girl Chantelle Houghton is hoping to become the next Cilla Black, as the host of a new ITV dating show. Chantelle, 22, is expected to follow in the footsteps of former singer Cilla - who became a household name as the presenter

  • "Strike binmen's wage giveaway"

    BIG-HEARTED binmen will donate a day's wages to a Basildon hospice. The promise came from trade union chiefs after a deal was brokered to get refuse collectors to work in Billericay on Saturday - four days later than normal. The town was originally