AN EXCHANGE student ended up in hospital with a bleed to the brain after a vicious attack in a Southend park. The 14-year-old was part of a group of German girls and boys on exchange with a school in the area. The group of 14 foreign youngsters had
DOGGETTS has responded well this week to the cooler mixed weather with most swims now being free of the summer weed. As would be expected, the float-fishing for the tench has slowed but good fish are still being landed from the margin swims, with bread
CASTLE Point Council’s ruling Tories will consider revising controversial changes to waste collection services following a public outcry. Residents will be expected to dispose of food and garden waste in plastic kitchen caddies, under changes scheduled
CHRISTMAS could be saved in Southend, after a supermarket giant splashed out half the cash needed for the festive celebrations to return to the High Street. Earlier this month, members of the Town Centre Partnership revealed a shortfall in funding of
AN ELDERLY couple are relieved a gaping hole in their bedroom ceiling has finally been repaired, after their case was raised through the Echo’s Stop the Rot campaign. Clifford Collard, 80, and his wife Eileen, 73, of Ganels Close, Billericay, complained
THIS is the first image of how a new housing complex set for the former Ford headquarters in Basildon town centre could look. The artist impression reveals plans to transform Trafford House, in Cherrydown East, into 359 flats, set within landscaped terraces
A SECOND strike by London Underground workers is set to go ahead from Sunday evening, causing travel chaos for workers and other passengers on Monday, union leaders have warned. Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport union (RMT) and the
THE horror of Robert Mugabe’s regime in Zimbabwe has been well documented. But Betty Makoni, 39, lived through the brutality before she fled to start a new life in Essex. Her story is now the basis for an American documentary called
Does anyone care about the selling off of our children’s local playing fields and community recreation grounds? It certainly seems Basildon’s Conservative councillors don’t. It is clear to me after attending all three public meetings and both
An application to demolish a former doctor’s surgery at 77 The Ridgeway, Westcliff (Sept 14), is going before Southend Council on Wednesday, October 6. The development is for a four-storey block, with a design that is totally out of scale, bulk
Dave Blackwell (Sept 21) takes issue with Castle Point Council cabinet members for suggesting, just perhaps, a government body was to blame for poor standard of work on Canvey paddling pool. He says: “Here are a bunch of councillors who do not
Bus fares are set to increase and this is to be expected under the current fuel-lead subsidy system, but is this really necessary? Bus companies throughout the UK know only too well a majority of the public and many councillors have no knowledge
A DISABLED man is angry and out of pocket after a Canvey car dealer refused to honour a warranty, ignored a court order, then ceased trading. The Big Blue Car Company refused to fix his car, less than two months after he bought it from the firm’s Canvey
TWO new police officers will join the fight against nuisance yobs in the Rochford district. The pair will take up jobs as neighbourhood constables who will make their faces well known to local residents. It is hoped they will be traditional “bobbies
RUNNYMEDE’S SwimAbility Squad competed against seven other clubs in the Swim Norwich Swimability Gala at the Riverside Leisure Centre in Norwich. A week later, members of the club for disabled swimmers battled it out against each other in the 2010 club
FED-UP residents are boycotting a shop, claiming it has become a dumping ground and health hazard. People living near Seaforth Wine, in Station Road, Westcliff, said the area behind the shop is strewn with rubbish and broken furniture, which is attracting
A PENSIONER was helped to safety by a neighbour after his garage went up in flames. Fire crews were called to the blaze at noon yesterday after reports a detached double garage in Caterwood, Billericay, was on fire. Two crews from Billericay and Basildon
A GUITAR once played by Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood is up for sale with an astonishing £110,000 reserve price. Alan Jones, 59, of Westbourne Grove, Westcliff, used to sell Rolls Royces and Bentleys, but has offered to try his hand selling the guitar as
TABLE-TOPPING Basildon beat Campion 50-13 to make it three wins out of three so far this season. Playing in to a stiff wind in the first half, Basildon started badly when Campion turned over the home team’s possession straight from the kick off and
THE court building in Victoria Avenue was quickly evacuated shortly after midday today. Passers by and motorists stuck in traffic jams caused by roadworks at Victoria Circus watched as people rushed to their assembly points. However, it is thought it
CANVEY Island secured their first London Two North East victory, beating Old Steetonians 49-20. Despite the final scoreline, it was the visitors who started brightly and raced into a 14-0 lead. The Islanders hit back with a try from prop Jason Fardell
Prince of Wales Shopping + 5pm matinee £60 Fri Dec 10 2010 Price includes seat ssp £62.50 and return coaching. To book call Reader Travel on 01268 270027.
Prince of Wales Theatre Shopping + 5pm matinee £60 Friday January 21 2011 Price includes seat ssp £62.50 and return coaching. To book call Reader Travel on 01268 270027.
Prince of Wales Evening show £50 Tuesday November 9 2010 Price includes seat ssp £62.50 and return coaching.
SOUTHEND United’s under-18 side kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the second round of the Football League Youth Alliance Cup with a 1-0 win over Gillingham. Duane Ofori-Acheampong’s 31st minute winner means victory over Essex rivals Colchester
Am I the only person who regrets the demise of Renaissance Southend? This town has been my home for more than half a century and I have watched with sorrow as the High Street has slowly died. Since the inception of Renaissance Southend five
WHITE Ensign were unable to end Frenford Senior’s 100 per cent record in the Premier Division. Goals from Lee Forbes, Lee Samways and Craig Marsh condemned Ensign to 3-0 away defeat. But Rayleigh ensured that hosts Galleywood are continuing their search
ESSEX Pirates head coach Tim Lewis was left frustrated by his side’s “lacklustre” display against Leicester Riders. Pirates were seen off 90-78 at the Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre in the BBL Trophy. And Lewis was disappointed by the below par
SOUTHEND United manager Paul Sturrock was satisfied with a share of the spoils at Gillingham last night. Blues held their hosts to a 0-0 draw at the Priestfield Stadium. And Sturrock felt it was a fair reflection of the game.
SOUTHEND Rugby Club continued their splendid start to the season with a 44-32 win at Shelford on Saturday. But the Seasiders were still not satisfied. The Warners Bridge outfit ran home five tries, with full-back Andrew Frost grabbing 29 points. However
WESTCLIFF had to dig deep to see off Stevenage Town 39-25. The Aviation Way-based side, who now sit second in the table, were made to work hard for their win. But skipper Sam Newbury was delighted to come out on top. “That was a very good result,”
CONCORD Rangers reached the FA Cup third qualifying round for the first time in their history after defeating Billericay Town 1-0 in extra time. Tony Stokes scored a fine goal five minutes into the extra period after the teams produced a stalemate
FIREFIGHTERS from Southend were called out at 3.50am when a burning car was spotted in Arlington Road. The G registration Ford Sierra was badly damaged by the blaze which was quickly extinguished by the firefighers. Essex County Fire
A MAN who stabbed his housemate five times in the back has been jailed for two years. Alan Selfe, 21, stabbed Christopher Hill during an argument in Hawtree Close, Southend, in the early hours of June 5. Selfe, of Beresford Road, Southend, appeared
A DRUG dealer has had his assets seized after he made more than £106,000 selling cocaine. Richard Connell, of Mendip Crescent, Westcliff, claimed he had made a living by loaning money and selling second-hand goods, cheap tobacco and champagne. But he
