Archive

  • Safety advice for summer road users

    ROAD safety bosses are warning drivers and bikers to stay safe this summer. The Essex Casualty Reduction Board – made up of Essex County Council, police and the fire brigade – are warning drivers to take extra time for journeys so they don’t take risks

  • Schools' tea and toasts

    TEACHERS were in celebratory mood when they were invited to high tea, courtesy of Thurrock Council. The event at the Culver Centre, South Ockendon, was held to celebrate schools’ successes over the past year. The council’s deputy leader and cabinet

  • Tilly impressed by Clapham and Grant

    BLUES boss Steve Tilson admitted to being impressed by left back Jamie Clapham in tonight's 1-0 win at Billericay Town. The former Ipswich Town defender played the full 90 minutes at New Lodge. And he will again be in action for the Shrimpers at Chelmsford

  • Essex on course for victory

    ESSEX are on course to enter Twenty20 Cup Finals Day on a high after finishing day three of a feisty LV County Championship clash with Gloucestershire just 31 runs short of victory.An unbroken stand of 143 between Ravi Bopara (83 not out) and on-loan

  • Hunting for historic Basildon

    MOST historians specialise in a particular period or subject, such as the Napoleonic Wars or the exploitation of women from caveman times to present day. Retired history teacher Frances Clamp is no exception, but her special subject is a bit

  • Hospital to get new £5m endocsopy unit

    OUTDATED and inadequate. Two words to describe endoscopy facilities at Basildon Hospital. Now they are set to be replaced after the go- ahead was given for a new £5million unit. Health chiefs have backed the call to move the existing unit, based next

  • Rochford recycling questions answered

    THE new recycling scheme in the Rochford district has caused confusion and headaches for many residents. They say they have been left in the dark about the new three-bin system. Problems have included changed collection days and the failure

  • Red light district 'worse than ever'

    SOUTHEND’S red light district is worse than ever. That’s the view of residents who say girls are selling their bodies 24 hours a day. In the past five weeks, families living in Ambleside Drive and Riviera Drive say they have noticed

  • Medical trials in Basildon hotel

    A MEDICAL trial which could help find a cure for the common cold is being conducted in a Basildon hotel. The Holiday Inn, on the Festival Leisure Park, is hosting the medical study, but some hotel staff are concerned. The Echo understands

  • Youngsters head off on a bling-bling ride

    PARENTS treated their children to a very special ride on their last day of school. Three enormous stretch Hummers lined up to take 43 year six pupils from St Margaret's Church of England Primary School, in London Road, Basildon, on a trip to Southend

  • MP's mum gets Land Girl medal

    MP David Amess surprised his mother with a trip to Downing Street to join 50 surviving members of the Women’s Land Army as they were honoured for their contribution to the war effort. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who hosted the event, handed commemorative

  • Choirs are off to Australia

    TWO leading Southend choirs are about to make the trip of a lifetime, which will include a performance at the Sydney Opera House. Southend Boys’ and Girls’ Choirs are heading off to Australia and Singapore. The 49 singers, who range from ten

  • Updated: Fire crews tackle grass fire

    FIREFIGHTERS have told how a strong wind and poor access caused them difficulty in tackling a fire on grassland in East Tilbury. The fire started at around 2.50pm today on grassland off Fort Road, near to the Tilbury Power Station. Around

  • Old cockle shed is seafood restaurant

    A COCKLE shed in Old Leigh is being transformed into a seafood restaurant. The first cockle shed in the row is taking shape as the Simply Seafood restaurant with 24 seats inside for diners. It was a cockling factory 20 years ago, but

  • Let's preserve the character of Leigh

    A CAMPAIGN has been launched to preserve the image of Leigh as a pretty fishing town, packed full of independent shops. The initiative, called Good for Leigh, is aimed at encouraging residents to take responsibility for their own area and retain

  • Youth theatre group for Woodham

    South Woodham Ferrers is to get a new youth theatre group. Chelmsford Civic Youth Theatre is starting a group for children aged 12 to 21, in Woodham, on September 11. It will meet at the village hall, in Hullbridge Road, every Thursday evening

  • Teachers get a soaking at Giffards fete

    THERE was fun at the fete, as pupils got their own back on teachers at a traditional end-of-term event. Giffards Primary School, Corringham, put on its summer fete, with face painting, a teddy tombola, bouncy castles and a wet the teacher game

  • Children get certificates for their hard work

    OUTSTANDING pupils were celebrating after receiving awards for their hard work. More than 20 Year 6 pupils at Sunnymede Junior School, in Meadow Way, Billericay, were recognised by awards given by the school governors. The children, aged ten and 11,

  • Treat for not playing hookey

    MORE than 300 children from Chadwell and Tilbury had a treat when they abandoned their classrooms for a fun morning. Primary school children who achieved 100 per cent attendance, or had shown the most improvement, descended on Tilbury Manor

  • A13 chemical spill driver praised

    A LORRY driver has been praised by firefighters following his quick action after a chemical spill on the A13. The spillage closed all four lanes of the road between Junction 30 with the M25 and the North Stifford interchange. Fire crews from Orsett

  • Kingsdown walkers raise £4,700

    A SENSORY room at Kingsdown school, is a step closer to being refurbished – thanks to thousands of steps taken by staff and supporters. Staff, therapists, parents and friends of the Southend special school raised more than £4,700 on the Echo-sponsored

  • School opens its own Eden Project

    Visitors to Felmores Primary School could be forgiven for thinking they’d stumbled into Cornwall’s lush Eden Project by mistake. The school in Pitsea now has two large solar domes in its grounds. One of the domes contains a tropical garden where pupils

  • Swifts fly the nest – move to Eastwood

    SOUTHEND Swifts are flying their FitzWimarc School home in a bid to strengthen their position as one of the leading development basketball clubs in the country. The club will move their playing base to Eastwood High School, where they will join with

  • Woman rescued from sea near Westcliff

    A WOMAN has been rescued from the sea by Southend's Lifeboat. The lifeboat was launched at 3.10am on Wednesday to pick up the woman from the water by the Alexander Yacht Club near Westcliff. She was described as being in a distressed

  • Drug courier keeps assets

    A MAN who was caught red-handed with £2.7million of cocaine in his car will not have to give up any of his assets. Ryan Ludlow, 26, is serving nine years in jail for picking up around 30kgs of cocaine last summer. Ludlow maintained at

  • School security fears over summer holidays

    POLICE are asking people to keep a close eye on empty school buildings over the next six weeks after two break-ins. The thieves targeted Eastwood School, in Rayleigh Road, Leigh, at 5am today and Westborough Primary School, in MacDonald Avenue

  • Southenders pay less for their gas

    SOUTHEND residents pay less for their gas than other areas across the country, according to new research. Price comparison website, moneysupermarket.com, found wide regional variations in the cost of electricity and gas of as much as ten per

  • Recycling has already saved Southend £726,000

    FAMILIES in Southend are recycling more rubbish than ever – and saving the council more than £700,000 in the process. In the past year, the amount of rubbish recycled by householders has increased from 32 per cent to 36 per cent. This means the council

  • Top jobs shake-up to improve services

    CASTLE Point’s council hierarchy has been streamlined in a bid to improve services. From September 1, the council’s senior team will be cut from 14 to just eight posts. Three jobs are being lost in the restructure, while three employees will be taking

  • Playground work hit by vandals

    VANDALS have trashed equipment and fencing at a children’s park on Canvey. Windows were smashed on a digger being used to revamp the play area at Waterside and the fencing surrounding the site was pushed over. Castle Point Council is paying for the

  • Council's website gets 12,000 hits a month

    MORE than 12,000 people used Castle Point Council’s website last month – but only two per cent of these tuned in to watch council meetings shown on the website. Castle Point is one of the only local authorities, along with Brentwood, to broadcast their

  • Pupils benefit from free first aid classes

    YOUNGSTERS have been benefiting from free first aid lessons. The project, funded by Canvey Town Council and Thames Ambulance Service, involved every Year 7 pupil at Castle View School being taught basic first aid skills. The scheme is the first

  • Pair forced to walk the plank every day

    A VANGE couple have had enough of living next door to a “death trap”. Natasha Lindfield and Mike Jennings, quite literally have to walk the plank to get in and out of their home in Middle Crockerford. Developers Hill Partnerships are building 120 affordable

  • Pauline takes Ladies’ Day honours

    LADY Captain’s Day overall winner at Boyce Hill was 21-handicapper Pauline Clark, whose net 67 saw her capture the Captain’s Prize and Pat Skeels Trophy. Lin Shepherd (22) was runner-up on 68 with Chris Noden (15) a shot further back. Scratch Prize

  • Digging deep into history

    A SCHOOL is taking a big step back in time – by installing a Second World War air raid shelter. Edwards Hall Primary School, in Leigh, has learning support assistant Tracy Cox to thank for the addition to the school’s resources. She said: “It will be

  • Doctor warns of pill which promises huge weight loss

    A WOMAN who ordered Size Zero slimming pills cancelled her order after discovering the pills may contain horse medication. Mum-of-four Angela Owen was horrified to learn a “miracle diet” pill had the same brand name as a drug widely criticised on the

  • Jack makes his mark on debut

    JACK Woolcott ensured his debut in the Southend & District LTA summer finals was a memorable one by winning the men’s singles and doubles titles. The Wickford tennis club player beat Thorpe Bay coach Jon Lee on his home courts in straight sets to claim

  • Thorpe show spirit to snare Kindred Shield

    THORPE Hall played host to four local clubs when the Kindred Shield was staged and they emerged with home success. Thorpe, along with Belfairs, Rochford, Boyce Hill and Southend selected teams for a greensome foursomes competition. A windy Thorpe proved

  • Robbers said they would stab boys

    ROBBERS threatened to stab two teenagers unless they handed over their mobile phones. The two boys, aged 16 and 19, were at Basildon railway station when they were approached by two men. The robbers threatened to stab them if the boys didn’t do as they

  • Parade a sea of cadets

    SHOPPERS looked on as sea cadets paraded proudly through Basildon Town Centre. Members of the Basildon Sea Cadets were joined by other local military organisations as they took part in a special sea parade in front of shoppers. The youngsters, who meet

  • School’s future in the balance

    A SCHOOL faces an anxious wait while its future is decided. The Chetwood School, in South Woodham Ferrers, has still not received the independent school adjudicator’s decision on its appeal against closure. It was originally thought the choice would

  • School named top performer

    STAFF and pupils at Eastwood School have started the summer holiday on a high note after receiving a top award. The Department for Children, Schools and Families has named it as a high performing specialist school and the Government body was so impressed

  • Melanie upset over missing ferret

    A MUCH loved ferret has gone missing in Laindon – leaving its owner heartbroken. Four-month-old Blossom escaped from her cage in Temple Close on Monday afternoon and hasn’t been seen since. Not only has it left 20-year-old Melanie Cottage devastated

  • No big dogs on buses, please

    A cat, carried in a cage, coming home from the vets, no problem. A small, well behaved dog, perfectly OK. But I thought the rottweiler being allowed on the crowded bus to slobber over and alarm the passengers, was a bit much. No big dogs on our crowded

  • Yoga brings families together

    YOGA has got quite a serious image. Adored by many, it’s a time for quiet reflection, while building inner and outer strength. So what happens when you add a group of energetic children to the mix? A lot of laughter, if the Family Yoga class at

  • Liverpool diva Tayla will sing the blues

    QUIET Night Out Club showcases four more great live acts on Friday, August 8, at Bar Lambs, in Westcliff. First up is a taste of the Mersey blues, with 20-year-old soul diva Tayla Kate heading south from Liverpool with her band. Phillious Williams

  • Sizzling back nine hands Loxton win

    A SIZZLING one under par gross back nine helped cadet Craig Loxton take Rochford Hundred’s top July Sunday medal. The youngster comfortably won Division One thanks to four birdies plus 12 pars for 69-4=65 to see off closest rival Ray Weidner. A birdie

  • Former England man out to make his Mark

    FORMER England fly-half Mark Mapletoft is the new head coach at Southend Rugby Club. The 34-year-old will work alongside the Seasiders’ director of rugby Ben Green. And he will combine the role at Warners Bridge with coaching the successful England

  • East Ender Beckham is still the main man

    FOR West Ham United supporters, the sight of David Beckham lining up against their heroes tonight is likely to fill them with dread. For the last time the Leytonstone-born England legend shared a pitch with the Hammers, his Manchester United side ran

  • Rockit launch fundraiser to beat racsim

    SOUTHEND’S Rockit Club is counting down to a Love Music Hate Racism fundraiser at the Sunrooms on Saturday, August 2. The brain child of Leigh’s Oliver Abbott, Rockit launched itself into orbit after breaking free from the pioneering Junk Club, which

  • Hadleigh hosts the big names

    A WHOLE host of stars were in attendance at Hadleigh and Thundersley Cricket Club’s annual International Festival. Ex-West Indies captain Jimmy Adams joined England old boys Chris Lewis and Devon Malcolm for what proved to be an exciting 40-over clash

  • Kaneria and Midders leave visitors in spin

    ESSEX finished a topsy-turvy day two of their LV County Championship match against Gloucestershire at Chelmsford well on course for a fourth victory of the campaign. First, feisty batting from James Foster, James Middlebrook, Graham Napier and tail-enders

  • No welcome home for Lee

    SOUTHEND United striker Lee Barnard will be under added pressure to perform at Billericay Town tonight. The 24-year-old, who attended Mayflower School during his youth, still lives in the town near to the club’s New Lodge home. And that means several

  • Let's protect our bandstand

    At last the bandstand has been found a new home albeit a temporary one. If it is finally returned to the Cliffs, no doubt it will be targeted by vandals at night. So let’s employ Gurkhas that have been so neglected by this Government to be on site to

  • Kids can swim as much as they like for £15

    SCHOOL’S out and children are free to immerse themselves in a range of fun, summer activities. Southend Council is ensuring the borough’s pools form a big part of activities during the holidays and is offering a Southend Summer Passport

  • Heads say hands off our long holidays!

    SOUTHEND school heads have defended the six-week school summer break, after a think tank suggested it should be cut. The Institute for Public Policy Research is worried pupils’ reading and maths skills are suffering during the long summer break

  • Charity sky dive chance

    DARING volunteers are being sought to take part in a charity skydive. Little Havens hospice in Thundersley is looking for people to make the leap from 10,000 feet and freefall at more than 120mph while strapped to an instructor. The event is open to

  • Pair face jail for helping would-be assassin

    TWO men admitted helping a gunman flee the scene of a gangland-style doorstep shooting. Businessman Douglas Turner, 52, was shot in the arm and stomach and lost three fingers after he was blasted with a shotgun at his home off Stock Road, Stock

  • Thug hit teenager with a pole

    POLICE are hunting a thug who hit a man five times with a metal pole. The teenaged victim was left with injuries to his head, arm, shoulder and back following the attack in Maidstone Road, Grays. The attacker got out of a light blue

  • Southend or Spain? There's no contest!

    TOURISTS are set to flood into Southend this summer, new research has found. Nearly ten per cent of people across the country voted Southend as one of their top ten tourist destinations within the UK. The survey by the hotel bookings

  • Driven to theft by cost of fuel

    HIGH petrol prices are leading to more fuel thefts, it has been claimed. Price comparison website, PetrolPrices.com, says thefts are up 50 per cent nationally and have blamed the soaring cost of fuel. In the last six months, unleaded petrol has risen

  • Pass-out ceremonies for young firefighters

    SPECIAL pass-out ceremonies were held at Orsett and Grays fire stations for the 40 Thurrock teenagers who completed young firefighter courses. The 17-week courses teach 14 and 15-year-olds ladder work, hose drills, search and rescue techniques, road

  • Phew! We can raise the Green Flag again

    GRAYS Beach Riverside Park has won back its Green Flag status after it lost the award last year. The site was praised for a “fantastic” range of activities for all ages, including its giant sand pit, free entertainment, bouncy castle and splash pool

  • Truman's horsing about at the library

    MOTORISTS slowed down to look at one of the more unusual visitors to Southend Central Library – a shire horse named Truman. Truman helped to launch the Big Summer Read campaign and met young fans of Rachael the Railway Horse, a children’s book by Ian

  • MP fights for Post Office card account

    A TORY MP is spearheading a campaign to make sure post offices keep a card account allowing customers to collect benefits, tax credits and state pensions over the counter. MP Mark Francois has received about 600 postcards from angry constituents who

  • Man is robbed in the street

    A MAN who was asked for change for a £10 note ended up being robbed by three thugs. The victim offered to help when two men and a woman asked him for change, in Park Lane, Southend. But as he pulled cash out of his pocket, the thieves

  • Fete raises £5,700

    WESTLeigh Infant and Junior Schools’ summer fair was opened by Conservative MP for Southend West, David Amess. The fair raised £5,700 which was donated to the schools’ swimming pool fund on behalf of the Parents’ Association.