JACK Midson served up a treat to fire Southend United back to winning ways at Cheltenham Town tonight. The striker, who also works as a part time tennis coach, bagged an early brace as Blues grabbed a 2-0 win at Whaddon Road. And that
SOUTHEND United have parted company with assistant manager Tommy Widdrington. The 39-year-old former Salisbury Town boss was not in the dugout for last night's 2-0 win over Cheltenham Town. A club spokesman told the Echo last night that
A MAN has been charged with murdering his father. Maurice Green, 42, of Railway Approach, Laindon, appeared at Basildon Magistrates’ Court yesterday. He is accused of causing the death of his father Roy Green, 78. Green did not enter a plea at the
LABOUR councillors likened the mass evictions of travellers to “ethnic cleansing” and branded the development of Dale Farm – Europe’s biggest illegal camp – a “misdemeanour”. Phil Rackley refused to retract his comparison between the eviction and ethnic
SOUTHEND United's FA Youth Cup clash at home to Coventry City has been called off because of a frozen pitch at Roots Hall. A new date for the tie has yet to be organised but Blues' reserve side will be visiting Chelmsford City in the fourth
PAUL Sturrock has made six changes to his starting line-up for this evening's clash at Cheltenham Town. Bilel Mohnsi and Johnny Herd have both been recalled in to the Blues back four at the expense of Graham Coughlan and Luke Prosser.
FOUR fire crews spent nearly two hours clearing up a chemical spill at Tilbury Docks. Crews from Grays and Orsett were called at 3.11pm after a valve on a tank broke and ethanol, a volatile and flammable liquid, started to leak. A spokesman for Essex
A LANDMARK building in the heart of Leigh Broadway has gone back on the market just months after permission was granted for extensive renovations. The Grand hotel had been the subject of several successful planning applications aiming to turn the
A SUSPECTED burglar is due to appear in court tomorrow. Daniel Johnson, a 28-year-old unemployed man from Steeplehall, Basildon, has been charged with two burglaries in the town. A 21-year-old man from London was also arrested today on suspicion
POLICE searched a lake next to Lakeside Shopping Centre for a missing 63-year-old man. Officers were called to the complex on Saturday after Michael Forrest disappeared from his home. They had found CCTV footage, which showed him attempting to withdraw
PARTS of Rochford could be left to flood, according to controversial plans devised by Essex County Council. The proposals are intended to protect 550km of Essex coastline, from Landguard point, Felixstowe, to Two Tree Island, Leigh, against flooding
A MAN was punched in the head by two robbers in a supermarket carpark. The 33-year-old man was grabbed by the arm outside Tesco, at Lakeside Retail Park, by the ,men who demanded his mobile phone. They punched him several times in the head and body leaving
A SELFLESS grandmother has had her decades of hard work rewarded with an MBE. Retired nurse and former Southend mayor, Nora Goodman, was given the award for services to the Southend community at a ceremony conducted by Prince Charles. Mrs Goodman,
AN ELDERLY man believed to have been murdered by his son has undergone a post mortem. Police have revealed that Roy Green, 78, is believed to have died of a fracture to the neck. Officers were called to his home in Railway Approach, Laindon, at about
POLICE have arrested two people after a passer-by spotted them trying to break into a house. Officers were called to Woodham Road, Benfleet, just before 2pm after they were called by a vigilant member of the public. The police helicopter
A HAVE-A-GO hero rugby tackled a copper thief who carelessly put people’s lives in danger. Leon Stirling woke to a strange “sawing” noise in the garage beneath the block of flats where he lives, in Park Street, Westcliff. He investigated and found a
A MAN is launching a High Court legal battle against Essex Police for not prosecuting a notorious clamping company operating outside his flats. John Charville, 55, is applying for a judicial review against the force because he believes it has allowed
A TEENAGER was brutally attacked as he walked through an alleyway by a school. The 17-year-old was walking past Collingwood School, in South Woodham Ferrers, when three men asked him the time. He was then punched in the face, before he managed to run
A WOMAN was robbed by a group of youngsters as she walked through Pitsea. The 44-year-old was behind Briscoe Primary School, in Felmore End, when they punched her in the face. She was left with a chipped tooth and a swollen face.
HE’S used to hunting murderers and serial killers – but now one of the county’s top former detectives has turned his hand to hunting for a very different sort of monster. Former Det Supt Simon Dinsdale – once the head of one of the county’s
FIREFIGHTERS freed a horse trapped in a wooden fence this morning. The crews from Southend and Canvey were called to Jotman Lane, Benfleet, at 9.25am by the horse's owners. It had one back leg stuck and the firefighters used a bow saw and an electric
CRAYS Hill Primary School has been singled out as the worst in the country for truancy for the seventh year running. Around half of pupils at the school, which is largely attended by children from the under threat Dale Farm traveller site nearby, were
CRAIG Edwards branded himself and his players “useless” following their 3-0 defeat at Bury Town on Saturday. The out-spoken Billericay manager said that only midfielder Micah Hyde and full-back Greg Oates could walk away from the game with
THE Costa Coffee chain wants to open a branch in Leigh, as a heavyweight addition to to the town’s booming cafe culture. The chain wants to take over an amusement arcade, which was previously a newsagent, in Leigh Broadway. The plans include outdoor
SOUTHEND United’s youth team manager Ricky Duncan hopes history can repeat itself when his side host Coventry City in the third round of the FA Youth Cup tonight. Three years ago to the day, Blues shocked Championship club Derby County in the
A MAN threatened to set his dog on staff at Laindon railway station. It happened after a man and woman jumped over the barriers without paying for a ticket. Staff approached them and asked them to buy a ticket but they refused.
IN TODAY'S ECHO: 32-PAGE PICTURE SUPPLEMENT FEATURING LOCAL SCHOOLS' CHRISTMAS PLAYS
SOUTHEND United’s players took time out from their preparations for tonight’s clash at Cheltenham Town to deliver Christmas presents to children at Southend Hospital. Captain Craig Easton collected money from the squad and purchased gifts to take to
SOUTHEND United skipper Craig Easton wants his side to start a charge up the League Two table with victory at Cheltenham Town tonight. Blues are currently just a point above the relegation zone in 20th place after winning one of their last 11 matches
A MAN has been charged after his elderly dad died at home in suspicious circumstances. Neighbours have named the man as Roy Green, who was in his 70s. Mr Green was found with a head injury at his house in Railway Approach, Laindon, on Saturday
ANGRY commuters say they have been left shivering on trains with no heating in sub-zero conditions. Passengers on the c2c line to Fenchurch Street have complained about the problem and the train operator has now admitted something has gone wrong with
