Archive

  • Woman injured in Thundersley bus crash

    A DRIVER was injured when her car crashed into the back of a bus. The accident took place about 4.45pm in Kiln Road, Thundersley, near the junction with Runnymede Chase, when a blue BMW collided with the larger vehicle as it stopped at a bus stop.

  • Tribute to 23-year-old woman who died in Thurrock crash

    A 23-YEAR-OLD woman who died in a crash has been described as an "angel" by her grieving family. Laura Williams died at Basildon Hospital on Friday following a crash on the M25 at Thurrock. Her devastated family, plus boyfriend Dean Fox

  • Gymnastics: Basildon trio claim Commonwealth Games silver

    THREE Basildon gymnasts have won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games. Danny Lawrence, 26, Reiss Beckford, 18, and Max Whitlock, 17, who train at South Essex Gymnastics Club, off Cranes Farm Road, were part of the five-man team just pipped to the

  • Residents urged to speak out to help stop green belt homes

    RESIDENTS are being urged to make their voices heard and respond to an online questionnaire about a proposed green belt development. Developer Barratt Homes has set up the website to get feedback on its plans for 240 homes at Daws Heath Road, Thundersley

  • Man wanted on recall to prison

    POLICE want to trace this man so they can send him back to prison. They believe John Munday, also known as John Debuno, failed to comply with conditions put on him after he was released from jail. He was last known to be living in First

  • Pirates grounded by Jets

    CHESHIRE Jets picked up their first win of the league season with an emphatic 91-59 victory over Essex Pirates last night. Jets stormed out to a 30-11 first quarter lead and never let up from there. By half time the advantage was 52-28 as Pirates

  • Request for mayor a done deal?

    Keith Barber, Kevin Douse and Nicola Smith all question the wisdom of a two- week black bag collection and the consultation process that brought about Castle Point Council’s decision. Chief executive David Marchant (Sept 17) explained why we

  • Catch those clothes thieves

    When will the local authority and police stop this disgraceful offence of stealing bags of clothing etc that people leave outside their homes for recycling (Sept 29)? These thefts are committed by people who drive round on collection days, as

  • Good work by my council

    While not in agreement with the changes Southend Council is making to this town, I feel I must give credit where credit is due. We came home from holiday recently to find someone had dumped ten Castle Point bags of garden rubbish in the gutter

  • £1bn masterplan could see town centre college move

    THE proposed £1billion Basildon masterplan could see one of the town’s colleges relocated to the town centre. Basildon Council wants a new campus for the Basildon and Thurrock College, currently near the hospital site, in Nethermayne. Yesterday, the

  • Keep the old flood sirens

    The introduction of new forms of communicating information of a pending flood on Canvey is, of course, an advantage, but it should be a way of supporting the existing no-nonsense siren system. Islanders will not be evacuated nor will they receive

  • Parents, light up those bikes

    I was driving to Billericay station from Stock early one morning and as I rounded a bend a van coming the other way swerved into my path. Avoiding the van and looking in my mirror, I saw the next car was also taken by surprise. It wasn’t a tree

  • An attack on health services

    The announcement (Sept 24) that two wards are to close at Southend Hospital comes on top of the 400 full time jobs expected to go in the next three years and the scrapping of a new ward block announced in May. We pointed out at the time the

  • We must stop our open space from being stolen

    I do not dispute the fact Basildon needs a new swimming pool, but why is Gloucester Park being torn apart for a sports village? I have completely missed the part where the people of Basildon were canvassed as to their wishes. Isn’t there

  • Canvey crash man fights for life

    A CANVEY man is fighting for his life following an early morning smash. The crash happened at 1.30am on the Chelmsford Road in Shenfield, near Brentwood. A Land Rover and Ford Fiesta crashed. The driver of the Fiesta, a 22-year-old Canvey man, had

  • Residents say firm’s letters ‘intimidating’

    A COUNCILLOR has criticised a company for sending out “intimidating” letters without doing its homework. Letters sent out by ground rent management company Pier Management to residents on the Burges estate, in Thorpe Bay, appear to threaten legal action

  • Rivals have field day while champions wait

    THE new Southend and District Table Tennis League season has swung into action but the defending champions Runnymede A were without a match and must wait a week before beginning the defence of their Premier Division title. This enabled likely challengers

  • WRVS cafe is weeks away from closure

    A CHARITY which has dedicated more than 30 years to Southend Hospital will be kicked out at the end of October. The WRVS runs a cafe and a shop in the outpatient department at the hospital, with a 38-strong team of volunteers. It is being kicked out

  • Essex Police get body cameras

    POLICE have been given body cameras in the fight against crime. Essex Police have bought 82 Carmacams to provide vital evidence against criminals in court. The devices, which can also pick up sound, clip onto the officer’s stab vest and can be activated

  • Pervert strikes in Southend park

    A DOG walker was horrified when she saw a man committing a lewd act on himself in a park. The 33-year-old woman was walking past the museum, in Priory Park, Southend, when she saw the man. He is described as a white man in his early

  • John plans parachute jump for Catherine

    A TERMINALLY-ILL woman who hoped to make a charity parachute jump is too sick to carry out her wish...but a good Samaritan has come forward to take her place. Catherine Watkins, 55, of Rutland Avenue, Southend, has been told she is dying of pancreatic

  • Kids’ disaster plan project to expand

    A GROUNDBREAKING project that taught Canvey school children what to do in the event of a major disaster is set to be copied across the country and abroad. The scheme saw police, firefighters, paramedics and other people involved in emergency planning

  • UPDATED: Man arrested on suspicion of assaulting boy, eight

    POLICE have arrested a 54-year-old man on suspicion of assaulting an eight-year-old boy as he walked to school. Officers questioned the man, from Southend, after Bradley Hawes was attacked as he walked to Hamstel Junior School last Monday.

  • Great Wakering stay on the Trophy trail

    GREAT Wakering were the only one of our local sides to progress in the FA Trophy. Steve Heffer’s header and Dan Trenkel’s spot-kick were enough to give Ryan Wilkinson’s men a deserved win at Cheshunt. But it was not such good news for EAST THURROCK

  • Woolley spot on to deny Town’s Sole

    JOE Woolley’s penalty save earned a point for Thurrock at Ship Lane on Saturday. With the game at 1-1, Woolley guessed the right way to make a great save from Guiseppe Sole. Sole had given the visitors the lead from the penalty spot after 12 minutes

  • Wasted chances cost Canvey

    CANVEY were made to pay for failing to take their chances as they slipped to a home defeat to Kingstonian at the Brockwell Stadium. The visitors took an 11th-minute lead when Max Hustwick headed home Matt Gray’s freekick. The hosts were denied an immediate

  • Corr’s target of a score

    BARRY Corr secured Southend United a 1-0 win over Lincoln City on Saturday and then insisted he was the man to bag 20 goals for Blues this season. Many critics believe Paul Sturrock’s new-look side lack the firepower to push for promotion this season

  • Woman arrested for GBH on Canvey

    A WOMAN has been arrested after a fight broke out during a function at a football club. The brawl happened at Concord Ranger Football Club, in Thames Road, Canvey, and left another woman with serious injuries to her face. It happened

  • Tributes paid to BBC Essex presenter

    MOVING tributes have been paid to a BBC Essex broadcaster who has died after a short battle with lung cancer. John Hayes, 61, lost his fight against the disease at Farleigh Hospice, in Chelmsford. His professional career began in the

  • Dedicated workers are hailed heroes for years of service

    HEALTH bosses have praised eight “health heroes” who have gone beyond the call of duty with a special award. NHS South West Essex handed out the awards to deserving health workers who were nominated by their patients and colleagues for their selfless

  • Higher rate taxpayers to lose child benefit

    Child benefit payments will be stopped for all higher-rate taxpayers from 2013 to pay for wider reform of the benefits system, George Osborne confirmed today. The Chancellor said the measure was "difficult but fair" and would raise around £1 billion

  • Mental health budget facing £9.2million cuts

    MENTAL health services could be hit by cuts of more than £9million. Troubled health trust NHS South West Essex wants to slash up to £9.2million from its mental health budget in the next 18 months as part of a £52million clawback of costs. Under the