BILLERICAY Town are ninth in the Ryman Premier league following a 1-0 win away at Horsham. East Thurrock are still one place off the bottom of the table despite a 3-1 win at Rookery Hill against Ashford Town. Rocks remain in danger of the drop but the
AUTHOR Patricia Burns is an Essex girl through and through - and damn proud of it! The prolific author - whose new novel, We'll Meet Again, is published on Monday, April 21 - loves small village life and taps away her chapters in a sleepy cul-de-sac
BODKIN earned Thurrock a share of the spoils in their Blue Square South Essex derby at home to Braintree Town. Shinn gave the visitors a first-half lead when he put Town in front in the 38th minute. But with Braintree looking set for a win Bodkin grabbed
GRAYS looked set to earn a point at Blue Square Premier relegation battlers Northwich Victoria. But the hosts dropped out of the drop zone thanks to Michael Carr's 90th minute goal. Chances were at a premium for both sides, although Vics goalkeeper
THE Hammers finally returned to winning ways with a 2-1 home win over relegated Derby County. Bobby Zamora put the Irons in front on 20 minutes with a header. But Tyrone Mears blasted an equaliser past keeper Robert Green on 65 minutes. And the Rams
IT'S all change for the Little Theatre Company. Not only have they changed their name from club to company, but they've found a new home for their latest production. After a ten year absence, the group have returned to the Palace Theatre, Westcliff
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a hit-and-run collision with a teenager. The collision left the youngster with minor injuries. The 14-year-old boy from Laindon was hit by a black Mitsubishi Colt, driven by a man, as it was reversing. The vehicle
TWO swimming teachers are taking the plunge to raise funds for the renovation of a school pool. Gillian Griffith and Caroline Grange are taking part in a skydive in aid of West Leigh Junior School's swimming pool. The cash raised will help pay for new
A COMMUNITY radio station is hoping to get people all shook up and raise money to build new studios. Link Radio broadcasts into old people's homes around Castle Point 24 hours a day, all year from its studios at Westwood Court, Hadleigh. But the temporary
A MAN has collected 38,000 supermarket vouchers in a month towards buying computer equipment for Basildon Hospital's children's ward. Brian Jiggens, 55, of Kenneth Road, Pitsea, has been asking family, friends and shoppers, to donate any Tesco Computer
EASTENDERS Alf and Ann Williams are celebrating 60 years of wedded bliss. Alf, 81, and Ann, 78, met at school in Bow, East London, and were married in a church up the road. The couple moved to Basildon in the Seventies, where they have spent the majority
THE Leigh branch of St John Ambulance is looking for volunteers aged between six and 60. Children who join will study first aid, citizenship, fire prevention, DIY and other subjects, as well as gaining experience in dealing with injuries and accidents
GRAYS boxer "Big" John McDermott has been crowned the English heavyweight champion. The Basildon-born fighter defeated Birmingham opponent Pele Reid at York Hall in Bethnal Green, east London, to claim the vacant title. McDermott was declared the winner
KEEPERS at a wildlife park got a surprise with the birth of five meerkats. Staff at Tropical Wings, in South Woodham Ferrers, discovered the new babies after the introduction of Kalahari, an adult female, into the existing meerkat population. The newborns
ALLIGATORS and poisonous snakes are just some of the weird and wonderful creatures living in south Essex. Under the Dangerous and Wild Animals Act 1976, pros-pective owners of exotic creatures need to apply to their local authority to obtain a licence
BOY, were these students feeling blue! The South East Essex College students brought a whole new aspect to having a blue day when they wore blue body paint, blue clothes and wigs. They were raising money to fund an art exhibition. The five girls raised
PLANS to develop Southend Pier have been hailed by as a way of breathing life into the landmark. However, others say the artist's impressions shown in Friday's Echo are disappointing. The £50million plans include a spectacular viewing tower, theatre
