Matt Holland starts for the Republic of Ireland B team against the League of Ireland in Bray tonight. The Ipswich Town midfielder, who lives in Colchester, wears the green of his adopted country for the first time and he can't wait. He said: "I'm really
A record entry of 417 competitors made this year's Ron Hill Benfleet 15 a resounding success. With very strong winds and extremely muddy conditions throughout the Hadleigh Country Park, the winning time was the slowest in the nine years the race has been
The teambuilding plans of Arena Essex co-promoter and team manager, Peter Thorogood, have been thrown into disarray. Following in the wake of the want-away plea by skipper Colin White, Dane and Arena stalwart, Jan Pedersen, has also indicated that he
Essex's Julie Pratt, the World Junior 100 metres hurdle champion, produced one of the best runs of her career to win a silver medal in the 60m hurdles at the AAA indoor championships at the NIA, in Birmingham. The Chelmsford Athlete's 8.37, a personal
A nine-year-old blind girl is bringing venues across Essex to a standstill - after being discovered by accident singing karaoke. Justine Mears, of Pitsea, was taken on a special Christmas treat by her singing teacher to the Haven Crest Country Club, Corringham
Police were today hunting serial thieves who made off with £14,000 from Superdrug in Billericay. They were working with other officers in south Essex after it was revealed that several branches of the chemist have been targeted over the past few months
One of Basildon's biggest housing estates will be gone for ever by the end of the week. The final remaining buildings of the Bluehouse Estate, Laindon, which once contained 800 houses, are being torn down. A new £34.5 million replacement will be finished
Two men needed hospital treatment after a fight at Chelmsford Railway Station. Police from Chelmsford and the British Transport Police were called to the incident, involving around eight men, early on Sunday morning. A British Transport Police spokeswoman
The people of Basildon will get the chance to meet the Queen during her historic visit next month. A detailed itinerary has now been released, revealing Her Majesty's movements during the momentous first visit to the town on Friday March 15. She will
A 15-year-old boy was today in Southend Hospital with meningitis. The boy, a pupil at St Thomas More High School for Boys in Westcliff, is said to be recovering well. He fell ill on Saturday, after complaining of feeling unwell in school last Friday.
A leading campaigner fighting to secure the future of the maternity unit at St Peter's Hospital in Maldon has warned the fight is not yet over. Nicky Crisp who is chairman of MOMMS (Mums Opposed to Maldon Maternity Shutdown) is also a member of the Mid
Trail-blazing plans to revamp term times at a south Essex school have sparked outrage among parents and pupils. From January 2000, the Greensward School in Hockley will become the first in Essex to introduce a five-term academic year. The move is designed
Ten-man Southend United turned the form books upside down at Rotherham as Blues' bravehearts staged a Great Escape act that would have made Steve McQueen proud. The Shrimpers arrived at Millmoor on the back of a disastrous run which has seen the team
(London League 2 North) On recent form Old Albanians came to Robbs Wood full of confidence on Saturday and looking forward to two easy league points and a points tally that would greatly improve their standing in this division. The news when they arrived
Dragon's keeper Darryl Trigg has joined Nationwide Division Three club Brighton on a week's trial. The 22-year-old former Colchester United youth team keeper is hoping for a permanant move back into professional football. Trigg goes into the reserve team
Police are warning pensioners in Corringham and Stanford-le-Hope to be on their guard after a con woman duped an elderly widow out of £150 of her savings. The widow was in Corringham town centre when she was talked into accepting a lift from the woman
Sainsbury's Pitsea store is to close, a move being blamed on fierce competition from two major supermarket rivals. The firm admits its profits have slumped because of the pressure from nearby giant Tesco Extra and discount store Lidl. A dramatic fall
(Swifts win 7-6 on penalties) Swifts ended a 20-year barren spell when they won a penalty shoot out at Dagenham on Monday evening. Heybridge have been unsuccessful in penalty shoot outs for both first team and reserves for as long as many can remember
Controversial plans to redevelop a former Tiptree factory site have been slammed as unimaginative and heartless by the village's councillors and MP. The specially-formed cross-party group held urgent talks over proposals for a Tesco supermarket and 70
Dentists are to be offered a "sweetener" to move into Billericay. Campaigners have been battling to get more NHS dentists in the town. But they were left with a bad taste in their mouths after their pleas went unanswered. Now, the South Essex Health Authority
Witham could have a hi-tech "roving eye" to keep a watch out for crime. It would be used both within the town and possibly on industrial estates as part of a major expansion in CCTV coverage. The scheme is being kick-started by a £17,000 cash injection
TOM KING meets ex-docker Les Reynolds, MBE, honoured for many achievements - but not all of them... The walls of Les Reynolds home in Chadwell St Mary are lined with pictures of Sir Winston Churchill. "A giant of a man," says Les. It takes one to know
A man accused of smuggling £5 million of heroin into Australia is receiving the best help available, his father said today. One of Queensland's leading counsels has been instructed to represent Paul Burchill, 20, when he next appears in court. His father
Castle Point councillors have recommended a 5.4 per cent rise in the borough's contribution to the council tax. At a meeting of the finance and policy committee, members announced that a band D household will now have to pay £133.56 towards the tax, a
U'S boss Mick Wadsworth is angling to bring in more players following the signing of Warren Aspinall on a month's loan from Brentford. Aspinall is expected to play for Colchester United's reserves against Swindon on Wednesday. But the search goes on for
Southend United boss Alvin Martin revealed today that he has finally snapped up tough tackling German midfield star Lars Unger on loan from Fortuna Dusseldorf. The 28-year-old jetted into England on Sunday night to thrash out the deal with Martin and
Southend Manor did neighbours Great Wakering Rovers a massive favour on Saturday when they went to league leaders Burnham Ramblers and pulled off a goalless draw. That result puts Village side Wakering right back in the title race following their 2-0
Rochford's awesome display of power and speed dismantled London League Three pacesetters Hadleigh. Rochford's hesitant start on a grey day in Suffolk was punished by an early penalty - but Matt Barber promptly ran in a try after some innovative work from
Steve Murray, Harlow's exciting young lightweight, showed why his promoter, Frank Warren, thinks so highly of him when he delivered another comprehensive victory. Making his fourth professional appearance, the previous being only seven days previously
Coastguards at Walton called in emergency services and put other vessels in the area on mayday alert after an 84 metre long cargo ship started sinking in rough seas off Clacton. Both Walton and Harwich lifeboats were launched Sunday evening along with
A mother has pleaded with officials not to meddle with a family support centre which saved her life. Andrea Jackson, 36, says she would have committed suicide after she lost a child if it had not been for the help of staff at the Marigold Centre. Around
Drivers across Tendring fell victim to the icy conditions today. Thorpe traffic police were called after an accident on the B1035 at Bradfield where a driver lost control of his car on the ice and hit a a road sign. He was unhurt. On the B1029, a woman
A woman injured after a birthday helicopter treat turned to disaster was today celebrating after receiving a £200,000 payout. Ina Jacobs, of Church Parade, Canvey, was awarded the lump sum in damages in London's High Court. The 41-year-old successfully
Police horses on the streets of Essex look set to be a thing of the past, it was revealed today. The mounted section, based in Southend, and the motorcycle fleet look set to be the likely casualties of the financial axe. Essex Police Authority has got
Homeless people are getting helped off the streets - thanks to a £45,000 Government grant to Basildon Community Resource Centre. The money over three years will pay for a co-ordinator, supervisor and housing assistant. It comes from the Department of
The owners of a pet shop have told of their fears that a vendetta is being waged against them in an attempt to drive them out of town. Tom and Rose Catania, who run Tom's Pet Shop in Old Road, Clacton, believe someone tried to leave poison in the latest
Volunteers are needed to help kick crime off the streets of Hockley. Neighbourhood Watch wants to dump its curtain-twitching image and encourage more people to take an active role in crime prevention. Hockley already boasts more than 30 active neighbourhood
Benfleet have enjoyed mixed fortunes in outside cup competitions. In the Essex Intermediate Cup they crashed out at the fourth round stage when hosts West Essex beat them 5-0. However, in an all-Essex Intermediate League affair in the second round of
A bingo fan from Colchester has scooped a £111,000 prize. The factory worker - who has asked not to be named - was stunned when he completed a full house of 42 numbers, and was told how much he had won. He claimed the National Bingo Game prize of £100,000
(Schweppes Essex Senior League) Though Ramblers can still win the league, performances like this one on Saturday will make it the more difficult. Simply on the day Ramblers could not find the inventiveness to break down a side who defended deeply and
(Ryman League Division One) Having suffered an 8-2 hammering at Cressing Road earlier in the season, Leyton Pennant looked determined to make amends by continuing their recent improvement under new managership. But despite making it a better contest on
A tennis club is hoping to serve up an ace at a meeting with councillors tonight to gain backing for new facilities. Hadleigh Park Lawn Tennis Club needs to rally support for its expansion plans as town planners have already hinted the scheme would not
