A LOVE-SICK worker was so obsessed with a work colleague he tried to frame her husband for possessing child porn. Ilkka Karttunnen, 48, even broke into her house in Southend while she and her husband slept and fitted a bugging device to download
A planned four-day national rail strike has been called off after it was challenged in the High Court. Network Rail was granted an injunction after it convinced judges there were discrepancies in the train union's ballot for industrial action
MORE than 100kg of the party drug mephedrone was seized by law enforcers at Stansted airport. The substance, known as Miaow Miaow, was found in five packages which had been flown in from Mumbai. It is thought the drugs were destined for London. *Full
SIX fundraisers are set to row 100 miles along the River Thames in a 24-hour rowing marathon. The group of men, dubbed “the Brightside Six”, will be doing the caper from Leigh all the way to Windsor, in aid of Help the Heroes. The team
A FORMER landmark has returned “home” to the centre of Basildon after a five-year absence. The town centre clock has been put up at its new home in St Martin’s Square. It was restored by the Cumbrian Clock Company, which maintains Westminster
COFFEE lovers in Southend will certainly be spoilt for choice when the sixth dedicated shop opens in the High Street this week. The former HSBC bank is being taken over by continental coffee house chain Caffe Nero. When it opens on Friday, it will vie
THE founder of a Benfleet wildlife sanctuary has celebrated her 70th birthday, and has vowed to continue helping abandoned and sick animals. Veronica Mepham set up Rescuers Wildlife Sanctuary, in Watlington Road, Benfleet, with her husband, Rye, 25
RESIDENTS and councillors have voiced their anger after Southend Council approved a scheme to turn a former office site into flats and a hotel. Plans to build 216 homes, including a 12-storey block of flats, a 64-bedroom hotel and shops, on the site
ANDY Johnson didn’t attempt to mask his appearance when he arrived to drive in as the new captain of Ballards Gore dressed as Zorro. The past captains toasted him with the traditional glass of port on the patio. Fellow members helped Johnson celebrate
GARY Jones held off some stiff competition to triumph in the winter medal winners final at Rochford Hundred Golf Club. Players who had qualified during that period took part, but it was Jones (79-14=65) who grabbed the honours thanks mainly to a superb
ROBBERS burst into a Benfleet takeaway armed with a machete and a samurai sword. The two men threatened a female member of staff at KFC, in London Road, with the weapons to make her hand over more than £1000. They then ran off with the cash tray from
IT was the year Budge Patty was the Wimbledon men’s champion and Louise Brough won the ladies’ title. War in Korea was raging; the mass production of computers began and the first organ transplant took place. And in south-east Essex, 1950 saw the formation
ENGLAND have named uncapped Michael Lumb as well as wicketkeeper-batsman Craig Kieswetter and recalled Essex star Ravi Bopara and Michael Yardy in their final 15-man ICC World Twenty20 squad. Bopara’s return will leave Essex desperately short of batting
ANDY Johnson didn’t attempt to mask his appearance when he arrived to drive in as the new captain of Ballards Gore dressed as Zorro. The past captains toasted him with the traditional glass of port on the patio. Fellow members helped Johnson celebrate
COUNCIL services are now available to view and access from the comfort of your home on TV. Southend Council is broadcasting its DigiTV information service for free 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Through this new service residents can report graffiti
IT was a case of double delight for Eastwood High and St Thomas More when the Southend Senior Schools’ soccer cup finals were staged. Eastwood took the year seven prize with a 5-0 win over St Thomas More and also collected glory, although in a much tighter
SOUTHEND United skipper Adam Barrett believes Blues’ new found form in front of goal have given their survival hopes a timely boost. The League One strugglers, who play two crunch games in three games this Bank Holiday weekend, have netted eight goals
BENFLEET Cricket Club seem like they are rolling in it after unveiling their new acquisition at the weekend’s Cricket Force event. The club’s sponsors supplied them with a new grass roller in order to maintain the quality of their field throughout the
THE devastated bride of a man who drowned in a freak honeymoon accident on the Costa Del Sol has blamed Spanish authorities for her husband’s death. Yesterday, a coroner in Chelmsford ruled Russell Hawkes, 34, a welder from Basildon, drowned in a “tragic
A MAN died needlessly in hospital after his pleas for help were ignored by an incompetent nurse. Derek Sauter, 60, was even refused a glass of water during a catalogue of failings while he stayed at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Kent. After his death, the
TOTS from Centre Pre School in Basildon can now play outdoors in all weathers, thanks to their new canopy. Youngsters and staff from the school, based at the Lifelong Learning Centre in Ely Way, rolled out the red carpet to welcome Basildon MP Angela
BASILDON Council’s chief executive Bala topped up his £151,929 basic annual salary in the last financial year with bonuses of £22,925. Mr Mahendran was also paid a further £3,391 on stop of this as an allowance for attending evening meetings, plus £4,891
Basildon Hospital has been told they must make urgent improvements – or face heavy consequences. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has unveiled a new registration scheme covering all 378 NHS trusts in England - but said 22 - including Basildon
A GROUP of Chelsea Pensioners was welcomed to Southend to begin a nine-day break. The old soldiers, dressed in their famous red tunics, travelled from London to enjoy a free holiday at the Grosvenor Hotel, at the invitation of owner Pat Henstock. Southend
A COUNCIL chief has stressed there is no special treatment when it comes to the size of grave lengths at Pitsea Cemetery. Kevin Blake, cabinet member for leisure and arts, has said everyone will be made to comply with a 3ft plot length limit. This is
AN MP from Wales is fighting to get the Government to stop Basildon Council evicting hundreds of travellers illegally living at Dale Farm, Crays Hill, and Hovefields, Wickford. Labour MP Julie Morgan, who represents Cardiff North, is tabling
