THE housewife of the Sixties living the suburban dream has become something of a cliche these days. But behind the image of a frilly pinny and tea on the table for the working hubby, were a group of women determined to shake off the stereotype. Fifty
BUSINESSES are being offered free training to help them stay competitive. Rochford District Council is offering free training for businesses that have signed up to the Shop At My Local campaign which aims to support local enterprises and encourage
A YOUNG ice hockey star was thrilled after a waste firm helped fund his trip to an international tournament in Austria. Jake Luton, 13, of Beachcrofts, Canvey, was able to represent South East England squad at the competition after Veolia, who own the
PAUL Robinson has resigned as a director of Southend United. A short club statement issued by Blues said Robinson had departed because of the demands of his growing legal practice and other commitments. But it also added that as a life-long
A TWO car crash in Laindon blocked a busy road during the rush hour. The crash happened at about 5.30pm and it left High Road completely blocked in both directions. Police are on their way to the scene which is just outside the railway
A WOMAN was bitten by a Staffie while she was out walking her dog. The 66-year-old victim was in Southchurch Hall Gardens, Southend, when the unleashed Staffordshire Bull Terrier ran over to her. She picked up her own dog to protect it but as she
IGNORANT vandals carried out a spate of vandalism in Eastwood over the weekend. They kicked down the walls of seven homes leaving the owners facing a bill of over £2,500 to fix the damage. Five of the walls are in Lambeth Road and two are in Rayleigh
A PROBE has been launched after a fire broke out in among the rubble of a demolished building. Fire crews were called to Cranes Court in Church Road, Basildon after a the blaze on what used to be the Basildon Foyer, which provided shelter for homeless
MEMBERS of the Athenaeum Club heard stories from one of soccer’s top personalities when ex-England and Arsenal star Paul Merson was guest of honour at their latest sportsman’s dinner. The night was a big success with Merson, now a popular member of Jeff
WOMEN in Southend are being urged to seize their last chance to enter Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life at Garon Park. About 3600 women have already accepted the charity’s invitation to sign-up for the 5k women-only event at Southend Leisure & Tennis
THE final details of a £6million scheme to cut congestion in Basildon and Castle Point are set to be unveiled. The A13 Transport Improvement Scheme caused controversy when it was announced, as it proposed chopping down trees in Hadleigh to
UNITED States defender Jonathan Spector believes West Ham team-mate Robert Green should be England’s first-choice goalkeeper at next month’s World Cup in South Africa. With doubts over David James’ fitness and Joe Hart’s lack of experience, Green could
THE Southend Sunday League Charity Cup finals have taken place at the Len Forge Centre, Eastwoodbury Lane. In section A, Wheatleys beat Bell Sports 1-0, in section B Wakering Hart saw off Venables 4-0 and in section C Legacy triumphed 5-4 against Sutton
A MAN has admitted growing cannabis plants. Paul King, 33, appeared at Basildon Magistrates’ Court to admit growing 30 plants. King, of Christchurch Road, Tilbury, also admitted illegally abstracting electricity to power hydroponic equipment, including
A MAN has appeared in court, charged with a series of sex offences, including rape. Jason Levins, 25, is accused of raping a woman, assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault. He is also charged with causing a female aged 13 or
THOUSANDS of people descended on south Essex for a new music festival. The first SX Festival took place, at Tabors Farm, in Shopland Road, Rochford, on Saturday and Sunday. Organisers said about 6,000 revellers showed up, seeking sunshine
A MAN has been released by police who were investigating a street robbery in Westcliff. The attack happened on London Road near to its junction with Hamlet Court Road shortly before 5am on Sunday, March 21. A 20-year-old man had his mobile phone stolen
HAVING picked up four vital Elite League points the previous night with a 50-43 win at Ipswich Witches, Lakeside Hammers continued their unbeaten home form on Friday by sinking leaders Poole Pirates 53-40. This clash between Hammers and the top dogs
Southend Council is made up of 51 elected members to represent the people and govern our town on our behalf. However, the reality does not match up to this democratic ideal. Under the cabinet system, powers are concentrated in the hands of
What is Laura Trusier, who had her car clamped, complaining about (May 12)? By her own admittance, she knew she had parked on private property. Whether for two minutes or two hours, she still deliberately parked on someone else’s land without
There is a short cycle path at the top of Southend’s York Road outside Iceland that is used for parking by blue badge holders. I asked an owner of one of the cars if she would mind refraining from parking in the lane. I was told in no uncertain
Let us hope new Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris can be strong and stand up for fair play for all. Basildon Council can include all political parties in its cabinet, so why can’t Castle Point Council? Perhaps leader Pam Challis can explain? Cindy
It seems a frequent question asked during the election was how much the European Union costs us. Yet again the old red herring is still used “three million jobs depend on the EU and we must be in it”. Tony Blair said back in 2000: “Of course
I accept and respect people’s decision to remove me from public life. I do so without regret since I very much enjoyed serving, and have been honoured to serve, the people of Castle Point over the last 20 years. I thank everyone who helped me
Protests and lobbying have taken place for and against the improvements at East Beach, Shoebury (May 11). The council listened to these and other advisers and the current improved position arrived at. The areas now identified for parking were
SOUTH Essex MP Mark Francois has taken a job as a senior whip after being overlooked for the role of the Government’s new Europe minister – a post he served as a shadow minister for three years. Last week it emerged that Mr Francois’ expected
BASILDON United yesterday appointed John Doyle as their first team manager. Also joining the Essex Senior League club are Mark Reed as assistant manager and Paul Rogan as coach.
KENT have signed Tony Palladino from Essex on a one-month loan deal. Seamer Palladino said: “I have been with Essex for 11 years, from youth team through to the first XI, but my chances have been limited this season. “I am very much looking forward
ESSEX predictably completed a five-wicket victory over Bangladesh at Chelmsford – but not before they suffered some anxious moments. Left with a target of only 130 after bowling out the tourists for 211 in their second innings, Essex lost half their
FORMER Thorpe Hall and Basildon tournament professional Bill Longmuir produced a stunning success to win the first of the British tournaments on this season’s European Seniors Tour. Longmuir produced another stunning run of birdies to win the Handa Senior
SOUTHEND United manager Steve Tilson wants to keep unsettled right-back Simon Francis at Roots Hall. The 25-year-old has told the Echo he would like to leave following Blues’ relegation in to League Two. But Tilson hopes Francis, who was named the club
ESSEX pair Danish Kaneria and Mervyn Westfield will be able to carry on playing for the club despite being arrested in an investigation into spot-fixing. Pakistan leg-spinner Kaneria, 29, and 22-year-old pace bowler Westfield attended Brentwood police
Monday 17th May 2010 CLACTON BUCKHURST HILL WALTHAM ABBEY BASILDON BENFLEET CHELMSFORD Tuesday 18th May 2010 COLCHESTER BASILDON SOUTHEND LEIGH ON SEA Wednesday 19th May 2010 MALDON BRENTWOOD
SOUTHEND has lost one of its hard-won Blue Flag awards for the quality of its beaches. The popular Three Shells Beach missed out on an award this year under a scheme, which rates beaches for water quality, cleanliness, clean water, good facilities and
SIXTEEN people were evacuated from a parent and baby centre after an outside electrical box started melting. A 17-year-old girl was treated by paramedics after breathing in smoke at the Parent and Child Project, in Heygate Avenue, Southend. Fire crews
A MAN was arrested after a fire broke out at his ground-floor flat. Firefighters were called to Church Road, Basildon, after a man reported a blaze in his bedroom on Saturday morning. On arrival, fire crews found the room was well alight, but it was
CAMPAIGNERS have forced councillors to ask for more details on a huge prison which could end up on their doorsteps. A council meeting was due in a fortnight’s time to consider the controversial application to build a jail where the old Runwell Hospital
