GIRLS from Eastwood School dressed in costumes inspired by Fame the Musical to raise funds for charity. They took part in Leigh Rotary Club's Great Southend Pier Walk, to raise money for Southend Hospital's StrokeBusters Appeal. Sunday's walk along
THE Castle Point branch of Crossroads was one of several organisations to receive a grant from Essex County Council's Millennium Fund. The organisation supports carers who look after people with a disability. The Castle Point branch has received £4,700
A POPULAR restaurant has won permission to extend its opening hours after overcoming objections from residents. The Sand Bar & Seafood Company, in Leigh Broadway, will use its extended hours to hold private parties and special wine tasting evenings.
A 23-YEAR-OLD man has been charged with robbery in connection with an armed raid on a Leigh vets. Terry Byrd, of Glenwood Avenue, Westcliff, was due to appear before Southend Magistrates Court on Saturday morning. Three other men, two aged 26 and one
MILITARY banners will be flying high when war veterans, former pilots, cadets, Scouts and Guides proudly parade through the streets for a special celebration to mark the 90th anniversary of the RAF. Basildon Branch of the Royal Air Forces Association
SPARKBRIDGE meet Thundersley Rovers in the Wickford Carparts Southend District League Ramuz Cup tomorrow at Gloucester Park Bowl (2.30pm). At Eastwoodbury Lane next Thursday Rayford Athletic take on Trackback (7.30pm) in the Section D Southend Charity
AN absorbing day's play today saw Middlesex pass the Essex first innings total of 276-6 with one wicket and 8.1 overs remaining to record victory by one wicket in this two-day friendly at Chelmsford. The visitors' victory owed much to an innings of 74
CASTLE Point Conservative Party is hoping to reclaim some seats on Canvey in the upcoming elections on May 1. The Canvey Independent Party currently has 15 out of the 17 available seats on the island, with just Tony Belford and Ray Howard clinging on
Winning start - Basildon Athletic Club staged their first open meeting of the new track and field season at their Gloucester Park stadium on Wednesday night and host club runner Millie Smith is on her way to 600 metres under-11 girls victory. Results
FANS attending tomorrow's Burroughs Park action could enjoy cheap entry - as long as they bring a child with them. But to qualify for half-price admission adults must be accompanied by an under-16, who will themselves gain free entry. The promotion
CHINNERY'S have pulled out all the stops again to book the Futureheads for a live show. The band, best known for their cover of Kate Bush classic Hounds of Love, come to the Marine Parade venue on Friday, May 30. Tickets are £11 and bound to sell out
THE three leading rivals for the Essex Senior League title should all pick up further three-point tallies tomorrow. It's very much a case of as you were after midweek wins for the trio. Barkingside lead with 65 points from 26 matches, while Enfield
JO ENRIGHT compares being on stage to being on a first date. So lets hope it's a case of love at first sight when she comes to Basildon tonight. "You have to make it look like you're not afraid," explains the stand-up comedian. It's very different
The chase is on - as action gets underway in the year seven boys' race at the Southern Inter-Counties Schools Cross-Country Championships at Basildon's Gloucester Park. Four races, for school years' seven and eight girls and boys, were staged but results
HE'S constantly crooning "come fly with me" and "fly me to the moon", but there's one place you'll never find Frank Sinatra impersonator David Abrahall - on a plane. Although he's notched up a successful career performing as Ol' Blue Eyes, he has had
HAVING won two home games in the past week to lift themselves into the top half of the table, Grays now face two tough away fixtures in quick succession. They follow tomorrow's visit to play-off hopefuls Burton Albion by visiting a Weymouth side not
HOSPITAL bosses have been accused of double standards over a planned £20,000 trip for senior staff while offering a 2 per cent pay rise for employees. A five-day-trip to an exclusive hotel and golf club complex has been arranged for senior doctors, nurses
THURROCK Ladies first team are celebrating their return to the Women's East Premier Division after notching up an emphatic 4-1 victory over Folkestone in East League Division One. Needing a win to ensure promotion after just one season back at this level
A BURGLAR who was convicted of raiding a home and stealing £4,000 of valuables has been locked up for four years. Kevin James, 39, was found guilty at Basildon Crown Court of burgling the house in Long Riding, Basildon, and stealing more than 30 items
BENFLEET Villa, an FA Charter Standard Club, is looking for new players for its four under-10 mini-soccer sides to make the transition to under-11 football for next season. Parents of interested children, who must be in school year five, should call
A SOUTHEND couple will be reunited on the Royal Terrace soon. In September 2006, musician Harry Day died and his memory is celebrated with a seat on the cliffs, overlooking the Thames Estuary. On March 27, his widow Rose, 79, died after a long fight
A NEW group that aims to represent the views of the 35,000 retired people in Southend has met for the first time. The Southend Older People's Assembly met on Wednesday, April 2, at the council chamber, in Victoria Avenue. Improvements in public transport
WHITE Ensign will look to step-up their LFC Insurance Essex Olympian League Premier title bid tomorrow when they host Epping at Eastwoodbury Lane (2.30pm).
FORMER Southend United loanee Dean Morgan is expected to return to the Crewe starting line-up tomorrow. The winger, who can also play up front, scored three goals in eight games while on loan at Blues earlier on this season. And having missed out on
Competition Winners January/February 2008 Winners Opera Competition 1st Prize Susan Hume Hadleigh 2nd Prize Mr Nicholas Wright Rochford 3rd Prizes Janet Watterston Maldon Mrs Jennifer Palmer Laindon Mrs A.Botly Hullbridge
THE sands of time are running out for East Thurrock United in their bid to beat the drop. Second from bottom, Rocks will hope to improve their hopes of staying up tomorrow when play-off chasing AFC Hornchurch, currently fourth, visit Rookery Hill.
COMMUTERS are angry after the fees at a council car park were increased by 50p per day. A day's parking at the Castle Point Council-run School Lane car park, near Benfleet rail station, now costs £4.50. The new charges, which came into force this week
A NEW graveyard has opened in the Basildon district. The ten-acre site will be run by private firm Crematoria Manage-ment, next door to Basildon Crematorium, off Church Road, Bowers Gifford. It is hoped the new cemetary will curb Basildon's ongoing
A COUNCIL blunder has wasted more than £70,000 earmarked for a pedestrian crossing at a dangerous junction. Rochford district councillors were shocked to discover a £73,000 contribution from a developer had to be handed back to the company because it
BUDDING Banksys - the famous graffiti artist - have been brushing up on their spraypainting techniques by taking part in an urban art project. Basildon youngsters aged 14 and over have been joining in two-day courses all this week. They are designed
A FORMER member of a patient group says he is not surprised by a damning inspection at Southend Hospital after he raised issues of cleanliness more than 16 months ago. Bill Barker, who was a member of the patient safety group, called the Echo after reading
BILLERICAY Town will hope to celebrate former Southend United defender Dave Mc-Sweeney's 200th game for the club by keeping their outside play-off hopes alive. The New Lodge side, currently ninth, visit second-placed AFC Wimbledon who have faltered recently
AS Southend Hospital staff are being asked to come to terms with a 2 per cent pay rise, managers can spend £20,000 on what can only be described as a junket. The hospital has 50 staff going off to a hotel and conference centre in Bedford for five days
TWO-legged entrants and four-pawed participants are being invited to help reel in the cash for St Luke's Hospice. The hospice, in Nethermayne, Basildon, which cares for the terminally ill, is making a slight change to its annual sponsored walk this year
EXTREME cleaning, tidying and painting took place as young people gave up their school holidays to volunteer. Extreme Hope project was held this week in Shoebury, with about 300 teenagers helping out Shoebury Baptist Church and Friars Baptist Church
CCTV cameras to combat crime and antisocial behaviour around Castle Point have been unveiled. Councillors on the community policy development group were the first to get a look at one of the six £9,000 cameras. The long-range cameras, which are due
WEST Ham's bid to attract the brightest international talent to Upton Park was stepped up this week as 12 promising American youngsters arrived to train with the club. The dozen were selected to visit the Hammers Academy from the United Soccer Leagues
CANVEY Island will be hoping to continue their free-scoring ways in two vital games over the next four days. Currently a place outside the play-offs in sixth spot, with a game in hand on three of those above them, Gulls go to eighth-placed Bury Town
WITH little but pride to play for, Thurrock face a tough time tomorrow when they host second in the table Eastbourne Borough. The Ship Lane outfit are currently 12th in the 22-team table, but are four points away from a top half placing.
CASTLE Point Council will reconsider plans for 50 flats on Canvey because of ongoing negotiations over affordable housing. The council had agreed in principle four years ago to the plans at 35 Long Road, next to the Paddocks community centre, provided
Properties to Let in South Essex CANVEY Units to Let £50-£60 pw Please call Clair or Paul on 01268 691500 SOUTHEND Room to let, dble furnished bedrooms, clean and tidy, working tennant only £65-£85 all bills inc. 07966 289222 LEIGH BROADWAY
DURING the High Court judicial review of traveller evictions, at times it felt like the Echo was on trial instead of the council. Judge Mr Justice Andrew Collins said there had been "poisonous" national and local media coverage of the Dale Farm issue
A GROUP of youngsters enjoyed a circus skills workshop in Hullbridge yesterday. Riverside Infant School was the venue for the event, hosted by Scott Poleykett, from Scotty's Circus Workshop. The group couldn't initially get in, as the school gates were
POLICE community support officer Duncan Latham Green went beyond the call of duty to help a homeless man. Mr Latham Green spotted smoke coming from a pillbox near Fossetts Farm, Southend, while on patrol and found a 53-year-old man sleeping rough. The
A 24-YEAR-old woman was mugged - right after withdrawing £750 from a cashpoint. Police are warning bank customers to take extra care when using cash machines after the robbery, at Lloyds TSB's London Road, Westcliff branch. The robber is thought to
ESSEX have agreed deals to bring Danish Kaneria and Andre Nel to the county for the 2008 season. As the Echo exclusively revealed on March 26, South Africa paceman Nel will join the club later this month before departing after the Friends Provident Trophy
LAKESIDE Hammers will be without star rider Andreas Jonsson when they meet Swindon at the Arena-Essex Raceway this evening (Friday) in the first home Elite League match of the season. The Swedish ace broke two fingers on his left hand and a broken right
MOST senior citizens are still waiting for their new bus passes, but Liberal Democrat councillor Ric Morgan is the proud possessor of two - with different photographs. Across south Essex, most pensioners failed to receive their new passes, part of a
PATIENTS have expressed concerns about schoolchildren using Southend Hospital as a short cut on their way to and from school. Groups of up to 14 children are using corridors there as a cut through, rather than going around the building and its grounds
CREWE are in a real dogfight right now and these type of games are often the hardest ones to play in at this stage of the season. They have been on a decent run just lately too, and with both Leeds and Forest winning during the week it's important we
THUNDERSLEY-based Deaneswood's current under-16s have enjoyed three fabulous seasons, winning league titles each time. Now they're out to make a mark at under-18 level in the Southend Junior League. However, they will need a new goalkeeper and outfield
TWO teenagers were rescued by RNLI crews after they became stranded near Southend pier. Crews at Southend RNLI think the warmer spring weather tempted two teenagers from Basildon to walk almost a mile to the low water mark. When they got there the 16
ALTHOUGH six points clear of second from bottom Wivenhoe, who have a game in hand, Tilbury desperately need to get some reward from tomorrow's home game with 16th placed Waltham Abbey if they are not to get real relegation jitters. Aveley, down in 10th
A DYSLEXIC police recruit who was systematically bullied has won a claim of disability discrimination against Essex Police. A tribunal agreed Owen Brooking, 24, of Stilwells, Rochford, was treated by supervisors and officers as if he was "thick and stupid
BOYS from Basildon's South Essex Gym Club have enjoyed success in two competitions. At the London Open, in the under-14 category, Brinn Bevan (10) took the title with another great performance. He scored 76.25 and was followed by team-mate Anthony Wise
COLIN Smith's brace and a stunning strike courtesy of assistant manager Dan Starkey helped Southend Borough Combination division two side Emstar United record an emphatic 3-0 victory over Sheering in the final of the Essex Saturday Junior Trophy at Maldon
SOUTHEND Rugby Club will be looking to retain their Essex Senior Cup crown when they head to Eton Manor tomorrow, kick off 2.30pm. The Seasiders saw off Thurrock in last season's final and will be looking for a repeat performance this time around. And
SOUTHEND born rock star Gary Brooker has today won his Court of Appeal battle to reclaim full royalty rights for a worldwide hit. Gary, lead singer of Procol Harum, fought a ruling by the High Court in London in 2006 that organist Matthew Fisher had
Stampede - as more than 200 girls, many in fancy dress, took part in the Sports Relief Mile on the playing field of Southend High School for Girls. Outstanding year eight runner Aimee Garnett won, beating all the male teaching staff and sixth form boys
RICHIE Foran has returned to Roots Hall but is unlikely to play again this season after picking up a knee injury. The winger had spent the last six months on loan at League Two side Darlington. And the Irishman will be looked at by the specialist today
A WESTCLIFF garage has been hit by thieves 100 times in the past year, police have revealed. Insp David Colwell has hit out at a BP store for failing to put in place simple security measures to stop shop-lifters targeting the Marks & Spencers store at
First published April 4, 2008 BY now I'm sure you've read about plans to shake up the parking enforcement system. So the authorities are now allowed to catch you on double yellows via camera and send tickets through the post without placing one on
A BUSINESSMAN is sending county councillors a bill for lorry tyres damaged by potholes he claims highways officials are simply ignoring. Alan White says he has lodged 20 complaints with County Hall about huge potholes near his home in Oak Road, Crays
A MAN has been freed after his arm became trapped in a conveyor belt at a recycling plant. The incident happened at Coolrec, on the Burnt Mills Industrial Estate, Basildon, at about 7.40am. Firefighters used specialist cutting equipment to release the
YOUNGSTERS from Canvey have been enjoying trips to London, football coaching and arts activities during their half-term break. The extended schools partnership organised a family fun day at Castle View School where more than 300 parents and children
Another Government idea has been met with the usual accusations from a small minority of lazy, selfish people that the new green waste bins being issued by the council are all a money making exercise to rip us all off. Tons of green waste that
My sister and I were delighted to learn of the recognition of the Bevin Boys. Our father became one in 1943 aged 38, he had always worked in an office in the City of London. After training he was employed at Sherwood colliery, Mansfield, down
I have worked for Reliance Coaches of Benfleet for almost 14 years and in that time have taken school children on our school run by coach to King John School. Over the years it has been a problem in dropping off the children because of parked
The tragic motorcycle accident outside the Bread and Cheese pub in Thundersley (Echo, March 27) involved a colleague and friend of mine. Steve Capp served at Hadleigh fire station on White Watch as a firefighter. He was a good mate, a good fireman,
I see the Home Secretary Jaqui Smith has given the police more targets to reach including call handling and dealing with victims. This is to be called customer focusing. When will politicians realise it is crime prevention that is the important issue
As chief executive of Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, I was disappointed by the two recent Echo articles regarding the state of cleanliness of the hospital. I feel compelled to clarify the facts to uphold the good name of the hospital
BLUES boss Steve Tilson does not want Crewe to derail his side's push for promotion. The Shrimpers head to Gresty Road tomorrow with their season back on track having not lost for nine games. And the former Southend midfielder is demanding another professional
RICHARD Blois may be 81, but he still has a spring in his step - and is determined to run the London Marathon for the 23rd time. The agile pensioner has competed in several international Masters Games, taking home four silver medals, as well as his 22
THORPE Bay Angling Association will be holding their annual beach open match on Sunday. The event runs on the beaches from Southend to Thorpe Bay between 11am and 4pm. The early draw was made at the TEAC club in Eastern Espanade last night and the draw
LAKESIDE produced a magnificent performance on last night to force a 45-45 draw at Peterborough and the result ensures them of a place in the Craven Shield final later in the season. Reserve Ricky Kling was the Hammers hero with 14 points from six rides
BUSY commuters heading to work can pass on any crime worries to police as officers take to the platforms. Officers based at Leigh police station have begun visiting the platforms of Leigh, Prittlewell and Chalkwell railway stations, to talk to residents
THIEVES caused more than £1,000 damage to a van and a car to steal just £50 worth of hand tools. The crooks targeted the two vehicles, which were both parked outside the same home at the Thorney Bay Caravan Park, in Thorney Bay Road, Canvey. They forced
DARRYL Flahavan will move up to second in Southend United's all-time appearance list for goalkeepers tomorrow. The custodian will again be between the sticks as the Shrimpers travel to struggling Crewe. And he is hoping to celebrate moving up the rankings
IVY Marshall celebrated her 100th birthday with relatives she never knew she had. Distant cousins tracked her down while researching their family tree and came all the way from Yorkshire for her party, at the Guild Hall in Southend. Mrs Marshall has
BIRTHDAY girl Winnie Dunmore was marking her 100th with a family meal on Friday. Mrs Dunmore has already toasted the big day with friends and fellow residents at the Wedgwood Court home, Rochford, where she has lived for 11 years. Manager Josie Hart
BUBBLY Gwen King celebrated her 100th birthday at a residential home in Westcliff. Sister King, a retired church deaconess, was presented with her birthday card from the Queen by Southend mayor Daphne White at a party. She has been at Westerley LWP
CONCERNS have been raised about the redrawing of flight paths above south Essex. Basildon councillors expressed their fears about the new proposals by National Air Traffic Services, which could see flight routes changed above Billericay, Southend and
MODELS of all shapes and sizes strutted along the catwalk to raise thousands of pounds for the StrokeBusters charity. The show, which took place in Thorpe Bay Golf Club, Thorpe Hall Avenue, on Wednesday evening was packed with visitors eager to glimpse
A DAY centre for the elderly is £1,000 better off thanks to the Royal Pigeon Racing Association. Major Claude Hill, who is now retired, belongs to the association and asked for a donation to the Tudors Day Centre, at the Tyrells Centre, Thundersley.
