BILEL Mohsni's shock emergence as a striker continued with the Frenchman bagging a brace in Southend United's 4-1 demolition of Macclesfield Town at Roots Hall tonight. Mohsni had been used as a defender until scoring as a late substitute
PAUL Sturrock has made two changes to his starting line-up for tonight's clash against Macclesfield Town at Roots Hall. Rhys Evans has replaced the ill Glenn Morris between the sticks while Bilel Mohsni has come in for Barry Corr and will start
A FILM about the eco-friendly revival of a derelict chapel is helping families to go green. Southend Council hopes the innovative and energy-saving renovation work at Prittlewell Chapel in North Road, Westcliff, could help residents cut their energy
SCHOOLS could be asked to house public libraries and children’s centres to save on running costs, a council boss has indicated. Rob Tinlin, Southend Council’s chief executive spoke as the authority prepares to wipe more than £15million from
GRANTS of up to £2,000 for keen cyclist groups are up for grabs. Young peoples’ community groups who want to branch out into cycling are invited to a council meeting on Monday to find out more. The meeting will be led by Alex Wise, a local officer
THE use of lease cars by Southend Council officers is to be phased out to save cash. This year, the council will stop anyone from joining the lease car scheme, which will save £50,000. The current scheme works by staff paying towards
A GREAT, great grandmother celebrated her 105th birthday by enjoying a nice cup of tea. Emily Ansell, known as Josie, lived independently until she was 104, but now lives in Cameron House, Pitsea. Her daughter, Josie Travell, 80, of Upminster, who organised
IN the drug-hazed and confusion-filled aftermath of giving birth, it’s practically impossible to remember little details. There’s no time to dwell on the trauma of labour once it is, thankfully, over. More often than not, it’s something most women actively
A SECRET romance in Frinton, the devastating effects of drugs and alcohol, and the hand of God, come together in a new book by a former counsellor. Jenny Rose, who is now retired, has just completed her autobiography – a moving debut book she hopes will
A MUM was horrified after finding two obscene video messages on a new mobile phone she bought for her 12-year-old son. Martine Greenwood, 43, of Canvey, visited the Tesco Extra supermarket, in Maldon, to buy two new mobile phones – one for herself and
COUNCIL house rents are to increase by about £5 a week to meet strict Government guidelines. Anna Waite, the Tory councillor for housing, said the council had to raise rents by an average of 7.2 per cent because of the Government’s rent
A MUM was threatened with a gun and a knife after three men burst into her home. The hooded robbers knocked on the door in The Greensted, Pitsea,and forced their way in after a member of the family answered the door. They covered their
COUNCIL chiefs are set to wage war on illegal green belt developments across Basildon borough. Councillors could vote to bulldoze or take out court injunctions at three separate unauthorised sites following a meeting of the development control committee
A SCHEME which has helped thousands of people quit smoking is celebrating ten years of supporting people to kick the habit. The South Essex Stop Smoking Service, founded in 2001, has helped more than 20,000 people stop smoking. As a result, the number
A SENIOR councillor plans to set up a charity in an ambitious drive to improve health services in a deprived part of Southend. Anna Waite, who represents St Luke’s ward, wants to transform a vacant shop in Cluny Square into a centre for health and community
BASILDON’S first ever mayor has defended the decision to have hundreds of lapel badges made, reminding everyone the council has changed to a borough. The council’s chief executive Bala Mahendran has ordered 300 lapel badges to be worn by councillors
A TENNIS club’s plans to build a large airdome which would allow members to play all year round, have hit a setback. Councillors on the planning committee at Billericay Town Council objected to the plans put forward by Billericay Lawn Tennis
A SURGE in reported sex crimes in Essex comes as a result of more victims coming forward to report offences against them, police say. Home Office figures show there were 1,472 reports of rape, indecent assault, and other sexually-motivated offences,
A STRUGGLING choir says it needs new singers to keep going. All-girls choir Southend Young Singers is down to just 14 members but needs about 30 to fulfil its busy calendar of performances and shows. Secretary Lyn Silverman said: “We had quite a lot
THREE bars where evidence of cocaine use were found have had a series of tough new conditions imposed on their licences. In total, 27 new conditions were added to the licences of Vie Bar, in Leigh, the Exchange and the White Horse, both in Southchurch
A HEALTH trust has stepped in after patients were given just two days notice to find alternative GPs after their surgery closed. NHS South East Essex terminated Dr Hasmukhlal Shah’s contract after the General Medical Council found him guilty of misconduct
By STEPHEN HACKWELL stephen.hackwell@nqe.com A PROLIFIC burglar has walked free from court after a judge ruled it would be “unjust” to jail him. Michael Grey, of Saffron Drive, Basildon, admitted breaking into a house in Codenham Green, Basildon,
AN MP has raised concerns about the length of time it would take retained firefighters to reach a major incident on Canvey. Rebecca Harris, Tory MP for Castle Point, has submitted official questions to Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities
A CHARITY boss pulled the plug on a training scheme which required 4,500 pages of forms to be filled in for 89 pupils. Richard Boyd, chief executive, of Disability Essex – which offers training courses to disabled people – ended a Government contract
A DRIVING instructor who taught 13 students without the correct qualifications carried out a “victimless crime”, a court heard. Lisa Branston, 40, of Link Road, Canvey, was given a six-month community supervision order at Basildon Crown Court after
A MAN was taken to court and ordered to pay £240 for breaking council rules on recycling. Leslie Brooks, 48, of Lower Street, Basildon, continued to put out his pink recycling sacks every week, despite not following council warnings to only put them
SOUTHEND United’s Scottish skipper Craig Easton wants to celebrate Burns Night with a win over Macclesfield Town this evening . The club have agreed to let anyone wearing a kilt for the clash at Roots Hall in for half price. And Easton
A CANNABIS factory was uncovered by PCSOs out on routine patrol on their pedal bikes. The police community support officers had been cycling around the Craylands estate, in Pitsea, when their suspicions were aroused. A resident told
A CONTROVERSIAL development of new homes on former school land in Billericay will soon get under way. Banner Homes is building 51 new properties in Bell Hill Close, just off Noak Hill Road, on a 4.2-acre site which used to belong to the Billericay School
NEW offices and workshops are planned as part of a major revamp of an industrial estate. Southend Council wants to build £2.6million of business units along Brunel Road on the Progress Road Industrial Estate, Eastwood, next year. It
