ESSEX coach Paul Grayson says he is proud the key role the club has played in England’s Ashes triumph — and has backed all-rounder Ravi Bopara to break into the Test side and follow in footsteps of club-mate Alastair Cook. Essex opener Cook has become
ENGLAND'S record-breaking man of the Ashes series, Alastair Cook, has arrived home in stunned disbelief at his amazing batting exploits against Australia this winter. The Essex run-machine plundered a staggering 766 Test runs at a remarkable 127.66
A TWO-car crash closed Ashingdon Road this afternoon. The vehicles were in collision outside Holt Farm Junior School, close to the junction with Holt Farm Way, Rochford. The accident occurred at around 3.15pm, and no-one was injured. SEE TUESDAY'S
AN ELECTRICAL fault knocked out the traffic lights on one of the A127's busiest junctions. Progress Road lights were out in both directions and drivers were being warned to expect long delays. UK Power Networks had engineers working
A MAN has died after falling from part of the Pier Hill lift structure. The man, who is believed to be middle-aged, fell from a bridge section of the lift complex shortly before 3.50pm this afternoon, Monday. Police, ambulance and the air ambulance
IF good old-fashioned glamour is your thing, then look no further than the Essex Antiques, Vintage, Retro and Collectors Fair at the Cliffs Pavilion. The event will see hundreds of stallholders line the auditorium of the Westcliff theatre, with antique
MIRANDA Lee has suffered harassment, violent attacks, and depression since undergoing a sex change. Born Raymond Harwood, Miranda, 40, always felt different growing up with her adopted family in Benfleet. Now living in Southend, she
IN love and looking forward to having a family, part-time model Jacqui Ainsley has moved out of her Essex flat – and in with her multi-millionaire boyfriend Guy Ritchie. Jacqui 29, has appeared in scores of adverts, including for Lynx and Elle Macpherson
GRAHAM Napier believes his Essex colleague Alastair Cook’s batting heroics Down Under have proved the truth of their county batting coach’s old adage about class and form. Cook returns from Australia with a bucket-load of batting records in his locker
POLICE have named a man who is at the centre of a suspected cannabis factory murder. Tran Duy Hai, 38, a Vietnamese national, was found dead at an industrial unit in Redhills Road, South Woodham Ferrers on December 9. A post mortem revealed Mr Tran
Billericay 0, Kingstonian 1 BILLERICAY slumped to their fifth straight defeat in a bad-tempered game on a quagmire of a pitch at New Lodge. In a game littered with eight bookings, Alan Tait’s close-range finish on 18 minutes was enough
Dartford 0, Thurrock 1 MATT Bodkin’s 68th minute strike was enough to give them a crucial win against derby rivals Dartford in Grant Gordon’s first game in charge of Fleet. Bodkin fired home from 15 yards from an angle following a quick
Great Wakering 4, Cheshunt 1 GREAT Wakering swept aside Cheshunt to record their third straight win. John Bradley scored gave Rovers the lead on 24 minutes, and a header from skipper Dan Trenkel put them two up just before the break.
I appreciate Nick Beach replying to my letter regarding how the media and others are foisting metrification on to the British public when, so far as I know, there is no legal precedence to do so. I am saddened that as a 57-year-old he finds
When David Cameron said we’re all in it together, it was a wonder he wasn’t drowned out by laughter across the nation. The fact he wasn’t shows just how credulous the people are and why politics and politicians are permitted to even exist. There
Ric Morgan (Dec 30) claims no one knows how many people in Southend object to the airport runway extension. The Stop Airport Extension Now protesters were the ones who presented the 3,000 signatures of people against the expansion. Stobart bought
I took my daughters to see Aladdin at Basildon’s Towngate Theatre. What a wonderful show it was and how much we all enjoyed it. Anyone who thinks a pantomime at Christmas is old hat really doesn’t know what they are talking about. The overall
Many of the recent anti airport letters and comments have castigated the Southend Council cabinet system, in particular Anna Waite, without which probably nothing would ever be achieved in this town. The writers are becoming increasingly desperate
I am sure Castle Point Council could have arranged something better than leaving 20 per cent of its residents without the collection of recyclables for a month and for the same residents having to keep putrefied waste on their own property for
SOUTHEND United skipper Craig Easton was again left ruing a sloppy start after his side’s 3-2 defeat to League Two leaders Chesterfield on Saturday. For the second match in succession, Blues found themselves 2-0 down before half-time at Roots Hall.
I see the hoary old annual of school assemblies has surfaced once again. One of the chief protagonists in the debate has said: “Their imposition represents an infringement of children’s human rights.” Well I never! Surely that’s what school is
The latest self-defeating idea from the scoundrels at Westminster is a charitable donation every time one uses a cash machine. There is no suggestion (as yet) that it should be compulsory, but who do they think they are? The right to put a coin
I don’t believe it! No, it’s not just having got to that time of life when I thought I’d be picking up my bus pass only to now see it disappearing Meldrew-like up the road on the escalating retirement-age express, but “speechless”’ Victor York
Southend cabinet member Anna Waite seems to have a thing about building on our seafront – from the ill-fated casino project to her latest brainwave of tower blocks for those on housing benefit. Wouldn’t that large grass verge frontage at Thorpe
The neo-communist claptrap that John Haran and his ilk trot out, trying to push the blame for the country’s economic crisis on to anyone but arch perpetrator Gordon Brown, leaves one speechless. Of course the bankers have lived the high life
MARC Gozzett has saluted the “phenomenal” achievements of Ashes hero and former Maldon team-mate Alastair Cook. The Essex opener, from Wickham Bishops, was a revelation Down Under and his fireworks with the bat proved pivotal in helping England win
I have held a Blue Badge for some years and have always regarded it as a privilege, not to be abused. The Blue Badge is not a licence to park anywhere, although an alarming number of fellow Blue Badge holders seem content to ignore this fact
One can sympathise with Brian Greenan and all the other businessmen who have or are about to invest heavily in Basildon, but as Basildon Council’s leader states the “masterplan is intended to boost the town’s long-term prosperity” and that is
I was concerned to read the article about the PCSOs (Dec 31) and the need to fight to keep them for so many reasons. I have been a resident of Milton Ward for 32 years and do a lot of work with the Shopkeepers Association, and also the residents
PAUL Sturrock has admitted he was wrong to hand Miguel Comminges his full Blues debut against Chesterfield on Saturday. The Blues boss hauled the midfielder off after just 45 minutes against the Spireites at Roots Hall. And he insisted it had been
I cannot believe Castle Point Council leader Pam Challis’s comments regarding the lack of refuse collections on Canvey over the Christmas period (Dec 30). I am amazed she thinks two weeks is acceptable when at that time of year there is an excess
Thanks to Lee Jarvis (Jan 3) for adding weight to my argument over the proposed Southend Airport runway extension. Protest group SAEN may have collected 3,000 objections in three years, but during that time there should have been a council survey
While I cannot dispute much of what Victor York says (Jan 3), I challenge his opinion that Gordon Brown was our worst PM. He will simply be remembered as a failure. However, Tony Blair, in his quest to write his name on the pages of history,
Southend councillor Anna Waite wants to build high-rise accommodation to help solve the town’s housing problems. The situation is desperate, especially for families on low incomes, not high earning professionals who she envisages will occupy
The core function of a PCSO is to gain valuable intelligence as they patrol their beat and to build up vitally important relationships between the police force and the local community. In my opinion, the £7.4million spent on the PCSOs in Essex
To those who use the A127 at Progress Road, Leigh, I say please support horseriders in their request for a pegasus crossing to be included in the ongoing improvements to this junction. For it to be included (as are cyclists) at this stage will
Good luck to Brian Ayling for winning his right to live in his garden shed (Dec 24). Surely there is a time in every bloke’s life when a spell at the bottom of the garden away from the hardships of family life is but a mere right of passage that
The report on the new Basildon town centre leafleting policy (Dec 21) stated councillors hoped to “capitalise on voluntary organisations hoping to maximise donations from Christmas shoppers.” Nothing could be further from the truth, and to suggest
Over the Christmas break many people complained of the amount of dog mess which had accumulated on the path along the sea wall on Canvey. On bank holiday Monday, I travelled from the point to Thorney Bay with a bucket and a shovel and collected
Lib Dem Leader Geoff Williams is correct in his view (Jan 6). Basildon’s electors are not stupid and a councillor performing his or her role effectively is far more important than what is going on nationally to be locally elected. At council
I agree with Gavin Inglis (Jan 4) and his attitude in respect of disabled badge parking. I also hold a blue badge and treat it with respect. I will never park anywhere that would cause an obstruction. Before Christmas, I drove around the Alexandra
A WOMAN gave up her pride and joy and shaved off all her colourful locks to raise £600 for a hospital baby unit. Lizzie Viney, 19, donated all the money raised to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Basildon Hospital. By coincidence,
A £1.2MILLION fast-food drive-through restaurant has been given the go-ahead in Southend – creating 45 jobs. Council planning chiefs have agreed proposals for the KFC in Greyhound Retail Park, off Greyhound Way. Building work is expected
POLICE have arrested five people after a warrant was executed at a house in Pitsea. The warrant, obtained under the Misuse of Drugs Act, was executed at a home in Swanstead, Pitsea, on Friday, after officers believed illegal activity was taking place
A COUNCIL has been urged to take urgent action to clean up Canvey Lake. Walker and amateur wildlife photographer Graham Lister, 51, was appalled when he spotted supermarket trolleys, a mobility scooter and even an armchair dumped in the lake
A DEVELOPER has withdrawn plans to build 165 homes on Benfleet green belt. Castle Point Council was set to decide on Fox Land and Property’s planning application to build on fields between Glebelands and Sadlers Farm roundabout next week.
IT was a project that began almost seven years ago and was meant to bring to an end the safety fears about Pitsea flyover. But despite undergoing endless repairs costing an estimated £12million, the project is still not complete. The
A TEENAGE model and dancer has ditched the “Essex Barbie girl” look for something a little more demure, thanks to the help of a TV show. Abbie Goodwin, 19, a finalist in last year’s Miss Southend beauty contest, changed her appearance after
One of the UK’s rarest wild birds has been spotted in marshes near Basildon. A bittern, a thickset heron with bright, puffy-brown plumage, was first spotted by birdwatchers at the RSPB Vange Marshes on New Year’s Day and has been seen there
AN INTERNET cafe with free wifi, a cosy coffee lounge with antique oak flooring, a chef that will cook your fresh ingredients in front of you – a Michelin star restaurant? No, welcome to the new Basildon Hospital canteen. The hospital
