CROOKS broke into five homes in the same area of Billericay in less than 12-hours. The burglars targeted homes in Foxhunter Walk, Hollyford, Bridleway and Norsey View Drive all in Billericay. The break-ins happened between 10.20pm on Sunday June 19
THE family of a young girl who almost drowned in a Canvey swimming pool is to sue the council. The seven-year-old girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, got her hair caught in an underwater vent at Waterside Farm Leisure Centre’s pool. Last
SHAUN Hollamby was back at the wheel of Thurrock-based AmD Milltek Racing.com’s car at Croft as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship reached its halfway point. The team principal drove the team’s VW Golf for the first time this season following
WHEN a show ends with the whole of the Cliffs Pavilion on their feet, dancing wildly and screaming for an encore, it’s fair to say it’s gone down a treat. For on-their-feet value, Buddy – the Buddy Holly Story was a success. You could almost believe
ESSEX will hope for a more fruitful journey when they head back down the M4 tonight for a clash with Glamorgan in Wales. The Eagles made the 180-mile drive to Bristol on Friday, only to see their match with Gloucestershire rained off without a ball
FIFTY people have been made unemployed after an engineering firm shut down with debts of more than £1.5million. Belmar Engineering, which was based on Eldon Way industrial estate, Hockley, has been handed over to administrators Begbies Traynor, after
HUNDREDS of people got into the party spirit as a colourful array of floats took to the streets for the annual Basildon and Pitsea Carnival. Dozens of street dancers, musicians and peformers paraded from Leinster Road, Laindon, finishing at
THE Independent Schools Regional Athletics Championships was held at recently at Garon Park in Southend and proved a happy hunting ground for youngsters from Alleyn Court school. Top performences from several pupils of the Thorpe Bay school meant that
FOOTBALL, boxing and swimming shone brightly as more than 120 students attended South Essex College’s Annual Sports Awards evening. Eighteen awards were presented on the night. And Alan Pease, Academy Manager for Sport, Enterprise and Lifestyle Services
THE spiralling cost of adult home care has left health bosses with a £6million headache. The primary care trust, NHS South East Essex, had budgeted £10.9million to fund care for housebound adults with chronic health problems this year.
PUPILS staged a protest against staff cuts at their school. About 100 children from Basildon Lower Academy gathered in the school grounds to protest against plans to slash up to 30 jobs at their school and Basildon Upper Academy. They grouped together
AN ELDERLY couple who were ripped off by cowboy builders are overjoyed after four businesses carried out a £13,000 replacement of their roof for free. Peter and Peggy Heard, who are in their seventies, were distraught when they paid £3,000
ARTISTS and community groups have been invited to rent space at Hadleigh’s old fire station after a new operator was found for the building. Essex County Council has confirmed the Association for Cultural Advancement through Visual Art will take over
TWO new airlines could be on their way to Southend Airport, hot on the heels of easyJet. The Echo can reveal continental firms Join Airlines and ViaTriskel, which are yet to start operating, have ambitious plans to fly from Southend to a number
A GROUP of angry mums have joined forces to organise a rebel prom after their children were banned by a school. About 20 pupils, including the head boy and head girl, have been told to stay away from the official prom, which is being held at
CONCORD have brought in a trio of left-sided players as they prepare for their second year in the Ryman Premier. Michael Noone, 22, has arrived from Tooting & Mitcham, and Sam Collins, 22, from Maidenhead United. Full-back Sam Holloway, 25, who played
FORMER Southend United skipper Adam Barrett believes Alassane N’Diaye would do a good job for Blues next season. The French midfielder remains in talks over a season-long loan switch to Roots Hall from Crystal Palace. And Barrett, who spent last term
SOUTHEND United will be hoping V will stand for victory after revealing their new kit for next season. Paul Sturrock’s side will line up wearing the blue shirt with the white chevron at Roots Hall when the new campaign kicks off in August. And young
A COUPLE have set up a charity after their two children were diagnosed with a rare medical condition. Amanda and David Cordell, from Thorpe Bay, want to raise awareness and offer support through FABED, Families Affected By Eosinophilic Disorders. Mrs
A PERSON has died after being hit by a train this morning. The incident happened on a secton of track between Rayleigh and Hockley stations, and officers from British Transport Police are in attendance. The ambulance service also attended
ESSEX County Council is today set to agree a £6.5 million project which will see some street lights turned off at night. Essex County Council’s cabinet is due to agree to pay Plextek for 130,000 remote controlled photocell sensors with a view to switching
OPPONENTS have claimed council plans to make the cabinet system more democratic do not go far enough. Castle Point Council is set to announce reforms that will allow backbench councillors to ask questions at meetings of the cabinet committee. The authority
THE family of a teenager with cerebral palsy hope to raise £30,000 so he can live more independently. Jamie Nicholls, 16, was diagnosed with the condition that affects his movement and speech when he was two. His family have made various
A MAN who terrorised a woman and her two small children has been jailed for six months. However, 62-year-old Dominic McGrath, already the subject of a ten-year antisocial behaviour order, will be freed within days after already serving half
BUILDING changes are not designed to increase the size of a Thundersley college, its principal has stated. Seevic College has been granted planning permission to make alterations to its Runnymede Chase campus. The changes will create
