A group is mounting a pioneering drive to slash the number of young women having abortions in Basildon. The district's Primary Care Group, which includes GPs and representatives from police, social services and Basildon Council, wants young people themselves
The Essex Junior League Finals were completed recently at the Southend Indoor Tennis Centre. Great Baddow girl's team were denied glory by a combined team from Old Chelmsfordians and Grove. Baddow lost the singles rubbers by 3-1, and could only snatch
Exhausted Essex firefighters have told how they fought to free victims of the horrendous Turkish earthquake which has already claimed more than 13,000 lives. Firefighters Andy Beale and Rudi Jackson were part of a 36-strong international search and rescue
A quick-thinking teenager has been hailed a hero after she saved a youngster from drowning. Tracy Smith, 19, of Elderberry Gardens, Witham, gave the kiss of life to a five-year-old who had fallen into a duck pond and almost drowned. Miss Smith was walking
Mid Essex students are celebrating a record pass rate at A level. In line with national trends, results are up on last year, with many students achieving grades they require to go on to further education or employment. At The Plume School in Maldon, the
Police looking for drugs stumbled on a counterfeit coin factory which was nearly ready to go into production. Officers were thinking drugs could be hidden in the Heybridge factory unit, but what they discovered was a well-organised machine shop ready
A national consultation document on the future of community hospitals poses no immediate threat to those in Clacton, Harwich and Halstead. Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust today reaffirmed its commitment to the community hospitals following speculation over
Springfield Striders held the third in their series of trail races recently. In bright and breezy conditions, over 50 runners set off with route descriptions at the ready, to take on the challenge of either the Downham Dash (nine miles) or the Downham
A 15-year-old boy devastated at the prospect of losing his family home has attempted to take his own life. Daniel Noddings' father, Colin, today said the pressure of knowing their mobile home in Billericay would have to be pulled down had proved too much
A Rocky-style boxing hall is set to bring fight fans and boxing enthusiasts, including women, flooding into Billericay. It will form part of a new £300,000 project which is the brainchild of Catherine Day of the Agila Health and Fitness Centre at Bebington
A conman pretended to be looking for his lost kitten so he could sneak into a 78-year-old woman's house and steal cash. The trickster spun a web of lies in order to tug at the victim's heart strings and distract her. He even continued the pretence of
Pub landlords worried about the Paras causing trouble when they come to Colchester have called for a meeting with the Army. Although licensees do not believe the Paras will be a serious problem to them, they want to ensure there is co-ordination with
One of Southend's biggest crowd pullers returns to the town on Friday. Thousands of people travelled from miles around last year to tour the world's largest ocean-going tall ship when it moored at the end of the pier. Demand for tours of the SS Sedov
Billericay Town have parted company with star striker David Adekola. Transfer-listed at the weekend after being left out of the starting line-up for the trip to Aldershot, where the New Lodge side won 1-0, Adekola has joined fellow Ryman League Premier
The BMX Summer Regional Series involved the best five results from seven rounds throughout the East of England and there were 13 Braintree BMX Club riders whose results have featured in the Regional Rankings for next season. They are: Boys and Girls Six
Saturday was Witham's first visit to the Unwin Ground in Ely, and they did not get off to a good start. They went behind within four minutes when a free kick by Steve Wilkinson sailed into the net, completely deceiving Tony William in the Witham goal.
Swifts earned their first point of the season on Saturday, substitute Terry Warwick netting a late equaliser, and the goal was his first for the club. A 5-3-2 formation gave the Swifts line up more solidity, and they started well. Simon Parker scuffed
Ramblers will be disappointed at Saturday's early cup exit at the hands of a side they looked capable of beating. The opposition, from a seemingly higher standard, contained the offspring of both Chris Hughton and Ossie Ardiles. Hoddesdon were well organised
Saturday's Cup tie was always likely to be a tight affair with both sides unbeaten in Division One so far and Leyton also being aware that on the last occasion they visited Cressing Road 12 months ago they were slammed 8-2. Right from the start this time
MALDON......................177-6 WORMINGFORD.......180-1 (Wormingford won by nine wickets) Maldon batted first on a damp pitch, the ball kept low and the Wormingford opening bowlers maintained a good line and length, thus making run scoring difficult
Union officials have requested a meeting with the health secretary to discuss plans to close wards at Chelmsford's Broomfield Hospital. Chelmsford Trades Union Council (CTUC) has written to the Secretary of State for Health, Frank Dobson, asking him for
A 15-year-old eco-warrior is to appear in court tomorrow accused of trespassing. Wildlife campaigner Christiana Tugwell and other youngsters who have set up camp in Hockley, have been summoned to Southend County Court. Rochford Council, which has brought
A brave teenager lashed out and managed to fight off a man who had indecently assaulted her in the street. The attacker limped off after the plucky 16-year-old punched and kicked him hard when he grabbed her around the neck. The victim was approached
Radio Caroline finished its latest broadcasting stint off the end of Southend Pier at midnight yesterday. As part of its radio licence regulations, the ship is only allowed to broadcast for 28 days every six months and its time is now up. The Ross Revenge
Eco-warriors protesting against the planned A130 bypass vowed to escalate their fight at an up-beat public meeting. Under the banner "YES! to a bypass...NO! to a motorway", a speaker from Friends of the Earth and protest camp representatives addressed
Billericay racing driver Matt Davies scored the best result of his British Formula Three Championship career recently when he finished second at Pembrey. Davies, 22, chased home fellow rookie Jenson Button in the second of the two races held at the Welsh
The A12 was in gridlock yesterday after a motorcyclist was killed in an accident. The crash forced police to close the A12 at the scene of the crash on the Kelvedon bypass. The road was blocked for around five hours. The accident happened at around 3.50am
Basildon's newest shopping attraction has been sold off for £29 million just weeks before opening for business. Westgate Park shopping centre, on the old Fodderwick car park, is due to open in October under new owners Commercial Union Life Assurance.
Despite 31 arrests at the V99 music festival, police have praised the crowd for their good behaviour. More than 110,000 people converged on Hylands Park in Chelmsford for the two-day extravaganza, which included a first solo appearance by Spice Girl Mel
A man has undergone emergency surgery after being stabbed once in the head and three times in the leg by intruders. The victim, in his 20s, was knifed by three men who burst into his home in Central Avenue, Canvey, at around 3am yesterday. Police arrived
Sixteen-year-old Stuart Keiller from Thurstable School, Tiptree has struck his first business deal thanks to his design skills. Friend of the family, Brian Thomas was seeking a sign for his new outsize women's clothes shop in Witham's Grove Centre. Conveniently
Proposals to reduce costs of refuse collections in the Maldon district by introducing a four-day week collection service have been rejected by councillors. At a meeting of the district council's planning committee, members agreed to maintain the current
Pollution experts were today investigating any dangers posed to the Essex coast after a collision between a cruise ship and container vessel. Emergency services were alerted at around 1.15am today after the two vessels collided around 15 miles off the
Holden Archers held their third match of the season recently when they entertained DCA (Debden Company of Archers) at their range at the Old Brentwoods, Ashwells Road, Pilgrims Hatch. The competition round shot is an Albion, which consists of nine dozen
Skaters from the South Woodham Ferrers & Wickford Rollerspeed Skating Club, which is sponsored by Laindon company, ECL Consultants Ltd, took 11 out of a possible 19 podium places at a meeting hosted by Team Alpha of Leicester, at the Birmingham Wheels
Teenage goalkeeper Andy Walker will step back into the limelight tonight as Colchester United travel to Crystal Palace looking to dump the First Division club out of the Worthington Cup. The match will also mark a big occasion for 16-year-old first-year
After starting life in the top flight with two victories, Canvey Island are suddenly finding things tougher in the Ryman League Premier Division. Following Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by a slick St Albans outfit rated third favourites for title honours
Continuing vandalism at a village playing field could lead to the removal of play equipment. Fed up with constantly having to repair the roundabout at Mistley's Furze Hill, parish councillors at their meeting yesterday agreed the time had come to seriously
A rescued horse has fought back to become dressage champion for the eastern region. Natalie Hull, from Birch, discovered four-year-old mare, Clockwork Orange V, a year ago at the Essex Horse and Pony Protection Society centre in Pitsea. Miss Hull, who
Detectives have renewed their plea to the public for help in catching two robbers who held up a club worker at gunpoint. The masked men burst into Wickford Snooker Club, in the High Street's Ladygate Centre, and sprayed a 52-year-old worker in the face
Southend's mayor is to try his hand at wingwalking - balancing on the top of a bi-plane. But daredevil councillor Tony North has chosen to undertake the feat not in his home town, but round the coastline in Clacton. He will be joined by Julia Amess, wife
A major survey of facilities for the disabled in Witham is to be carried out to help make their day to day lives easier. Organisations acting for the disabled, councils, commercial companies and shops will be invited to take part in a new style "Town
Southend United's second string romped home to a 3-0 victory over their West Ham counterparts at the Premier League team's Chadwell training ground. Teenage striker Yemi Abiodun, plus defenders Tom McDonald and Chris Perkins were on target for the Shrimpers
Essex County Cricket Club are resigned to the fact they will be without star players Nasser Hussain and Ronnie Irani for much of next season. Cricket's 18 counties yesterday agreed to implement central contracts for leading players, which gives England
Manager Alan Little believes Southend United side are more than capable of clawing back their two-goal deficit at Oxford United tonight. Away goals from the second division side's Matt Murphy and Joey Beauchamp condemned Blues to a 2-0 Roots Hall defeat
Two goals from player/manager Steve Parnell were enough to see Tiptree through to the next round of the FA Cup. Parnell's first goal, which was a thunderbolt shot, after the ball had run loose in the penalty area, came five minutes into the second half
The Lions Club of Maldon will be holding their Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Wednesday, October 6. at the Benton Hall Golf Club in Witham. The day will include a full 18 holes of golf, and a four course evening meal together with prize giving and
With only two matches remaining, Wickford and West Essex, who both have 180 points, share top spot in the Ibex Sunday League Premier Division. Wickford maintained their joint pole position with a 131-run triumph over Harold Wood, as run blasters Greg
Fire crews came to the rescue of a panic-stricken couple when they discovered their dog was trapped - in an underground drainpipe. Chimney sweep rods, thermal imaging cameras and special lighting were used to free the terrified terrier after a tense three-hour
A little boy who has been fighting against cancer has taken a step towards recovery. Oliver Headon, of Broomfield, Chelmsford, has spent the last five months in Great Ormond Street Hospital. He was diagnosed with a rare form of aggressive cancer, Non
A South Essex woman was abandoned in a locked train after falling into a diabetic coma. Susan Kelly was left unconscious in railway sidings for around four hours after suffering the insulin-induced coma, which can be fatal. It was during her journey home
