THOUSANDS visited the annual Orsett Show to enjoy a bumper line-up of motorbike displays, helicopter rides and circus workshops. Crowds soaked up the sun and enjoyed a range of displays, including steam engines, heavy horses and a horse and
PROTESTERS gathered outside Southend Hospital to demonstrate against proposed changes to the NHS. Members of Southend Against the Cuts group joined the national Keep Our NHS Public campaign to stage a vigil in Prittlewell Chase. The
IT was a weekend of glory for south Essex athletes at the UK School Games. Four teenagers – Jessica Judd, Hayley McLean, Poppy Lake and Kaylee Dodd – all won gold medals at the under-17 event in Sheffield. While Sophie Riches claimed a silver medal
IT was a weekend of glory for south Essex athletes at the UK School Games. Four teenagers – Jessica Judd, Hayley McLean, Poppy Lake and Kaylee Dodd – all won gold medals at the under-17 event in Sheffield. While Sophie Riches claimed a silver medal
POLICE have taken several thousand pounds of cannabis off the streets of Southend. Officers were attending a flat in Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff, at about 6.30am today to deal with an un-related matter. Their suspcicions were roused so they forced
A MAN who failed to keep with the terms of his release from prison has handed himself into the police. Officers in Southend had been searching for Jacob Utton, 22, after he did not comply to the terms of his licence following his early release from
A MAN was beaten unconscious in a gang attack onboard a train. The 22-year-old victim blacked out after he was set upon by about 12 men. Even after he had passed out, they carried on kicking him in the face and body. He was left with
BENFLEET’S Kiera Tippett claimed the best result of her young career at the British Triathlon Championships. The King John School pupil surprised even herself by winning a silver medal in the 11-12 category. “It’s definitely the best result of my career
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a man smashed through a front door in an attempted burglary. The culprit, described as white, 5ft 6in to 6ft tall, in his early 20s and wearing dark blue jeans and a black jumper, tried breaking into
ASHINGDON-based photographer Nicky Hayes has been shortlisted for the Barclays Premier League Shot of the Season award for his snap of Didier Drogba's mid-air celebration against Blackpool. Hayes, 53, took the shot as the Chelsea forward marked his
POLICE in Basildon and Thurrock have solved just one of 31 sex attacks in recent months – and police chiefs suggest victims need to do more to help. The figures, recorded between April and June, also show only four arrests were made after 33 rape complaints
LEAGUE Two defences beware - Southend United’s makeshift striker Bilel Mohsni is about to start playing with even more energy. The fiery Frenchman could not eat during daylight hours in August as he observed Ramadan. But the strict Muslim is now able
BILLERICAY will face Stotfold in the FA Cup after the Spartan South Midlands side knocked out Enfield Town with a 2-1 win on Saturday. The teams will play their first round qualifying match at New Lodge on September 17. CANVEY are at home to Stansted
SOUTHEND Manor players have been told to grab their chance to go on a memorable FA Cup run, starting with victory at home to Cheshunt tonight. The Essex Senior League leaders held their Ryman One North opponents to a goalless draw in Hertfordshire on
COLIN Sing will return for a third season with Essex Pirates after agreeing terms with the Southend club. Sing, who leads Pirates' all-time appearance list, was the subject of attention from numerous other clubs before committing to Pirates. And he
THURROCK started their season with a 45-17 win over Ruislip at the weekend, thanks to a scintillating debut from former Southend centre Mike Stanley. He bagged 30 points and ran home a hat-trick of tries. Garth Taylor, Jake Barrand and Ben Timson also
SOUTHEND’s director of rugby Chris Green offered no excuses after his side were comprehensively seen off 55-28 at Richmond on Saturday. The Seasiders sunk to their first defeat of the season following a disappointing second half display in Surrey. And
WESTCLIFF’S first ever game in the National Leagues ended in defeat as Staines triumphed 46-15 at the Gables. Westcliff ran away with the London One North title last term, losing just one game all season. But they now know things will be much tougher
ROCHFORD Hundred started life in London One North with a 32-22 defeat at home to Brentwood. The men from Magnolia Road won promotion from London Two North East last season. But that momentum was ended by a spirited second half comeback from Brentwood
CHRIS Barker knows Blues must improve at the back if they are to maintain a push for promotion this season. The Southend United skipper has seen his side concede nine goals in their six league outings so far. And the centre-back is fully aware they
STUART Bingham has set his sights on breaking into the world’s top eight ahead of his Essex boys showdown with Judd Trump in China today. The new dad from Vange is currently ranked the 11th best player in the game, and now says he feels ready to consistently
BISHOPS who united to condemn the eviction have dodged questions of church land being made temporarily available to travellers. Bishop of Chelmsford, the Rt Rev Stephen Cottrell and Bishop of Brentwood, Thomas McMahon have been vocal in calling the council
OVERNIGHT high winds may be the reason problems with overhead power cables bought Hockley to a standstill this morning. Residents called the Police shortly after 10am after hearing explosions and wires arcing in Spa Road. Firefighters
A 1930s paddle steamer could be a cost-effective alternative entertainment venue to a £3million cultural centre on Southend Pier. The outlandish proposal is being floated by a group of councillors who want Southend Council to shell out about £150,000
VANDALS caused £1,150 of damage to a string of cars in Great Wakering. They first struck in Little Wakering Road where they scratched the bodywork of four cars. Three Ford Focuses and a Renault Scenic were taregeted between 2pm and 4pm on Saturday September
HUNDREDS of lives are being put at risk as reckless thieves are stealing vital firefighting equipment. The thefts of the dry risers at Brooke House in Basildon town centre could mean firefighters are unable to fight a blaze on one of the building’s higher
FAMILIES who oppose new homes being built on Gloucester Park are angry contractors have installed a 7ft-tall hoarding blocking their access to the site. The fencing has been put up as builders prepare to demolish buildings in the park and construct hundreds
LEIGH police station could be knocked down and replaced with a multi-storey car park, shops and community centre. Southend Council’s leader Nigel Holdcroft believes the station’s imminent closure presents a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity to build on
TRAVELLERS asked Basildon Council for £6million to leave Dale Farm, the Echo can reveal In a series of secret meetings, including one at the Downham Arms pub in Wickford, traveller leader Richard Sheridan discussed the audacious offer with
Southend Pier has been indefinitely closed after high winds swept a repair barge underneath it. The barge, which was installing a new fire main along the Grade II-listed structure, became trapped shortly before 8am today. The accident has damaged several
HUNDREDS of cyclists got on their bikes to raise cash for Leukaemia Research at the 17th annual Southend Bikeathon. Bikers could do one or two laps of a 13-mile route from Shoebury East Beach to Barling, Great Wakering, and back. It is hoped the event
DON'T miss Tuesday's Echo as we can reveal the amazing secret talks between travellers and council chiefs that could have stopped the looming eviction. Travellers at the Crays Hill site were given official notification on Monday the eviction
A SLIPROAD that caused hours of congestion for thousands of drivers when it was closed, has been reopened. Motorists had suffered lengthy delays when the sliproad from Canvey Way on to the A13 was closed in June, as part of a £68million overhaul
A NEW 24-hour casino could be created within Southend’s Palace Hotel. The £6million-plus complex would create more than 120 jobs. Bosses of multinational firm Rank Group, which runs Grosvenor Casinos, want to capitalise on the popularity of the hotel
TRAVELLERS who claim they have nowhere to go are living next to an almost empty legal camp. About half of Dale Farm has planning permission and it is the illegal site which is being bulldozed. A community of Irish travellers known as
