Southend's grammar schools have proved yet again today they are at the top of the tree when it comes to GCSE results. The best-ever results were achieved by pupils at Westcliff High School for Girls where 98.4 per cent of passes were at grades A* to C
A £200,000 fighting fund has been set up by the council, which serves Ongar and North Weald, to find new ways of tackling the problem of rubbish in the district. The decision to spend the cash, at a special meeting of Epping Forest policy and co-ordinating
A would firefighter who was not fit enough to join the brigade called out his heroes on hoax calls. Brian Garrett, of Witham Road, Braintree, called out fire crews 13 times in the space of five months, Chelmsford magistrates heard. And the court heard
Could highly-rated Aldershot Town star Joe Nartey be the answer to Billericay Town boss Gary Calder's striking problems? That is the question on the lips of the New Lodge club's followers after news that the man who made himself a favourite with Town
Southend United boss Alan Little is looking to add some firepower to his front line ahead of Blues' busy Bank Holiday weekend programme. The Shrimpers face two of the Third Division's promotion favourites over the next few days, with a tough away match
Chelmsford City's new striker, 27-year-old Lee Sonnex, makes his debut in Saturday's Dr Martens League Eastern Division clash at Pilot Field against Hastings Town. The former Tiptree, Diss and Harwich & Parkeston striker, signed earlier this week
After their poor performance at Hitchin only days earlier, Billericay Town followers were understandably apprehensive about a trip to The Rec to face highly fancied Aldershot with a two wins-out of two games record. But a marvellous display carefully
Sam Morrison and Gary Moore both won third place trophies in the outdoor seasons largest international inter-club rollerspeed skating meeting, which was held in Zandvoorde, Belgium. Eight skaters from the South Woodham Ferrers & Wickford Rollerspeed
A quarter-final of the B.D.R. Roger Burton Trophy saw the Central Essex players in majestic form against Elm Park B.C. On an unfamiliar rink, Brian Barnes played as though he had a train to catch, and scarcely allowing his opponent a glimpse of the kitty
In 1998 Helen Terry from Brentwood had returned from Texas (where she owns her business Lionheart Motivation) to present Nia at the UK Fitness Professionals Convention, and this was the first time Nia was presented in England. Helen has now become a popular
Gifted GCSE student Amy Burgess, who leapt to her death from a multi-storey car park, had trouble with written exams, an inquest heard. The 16-year-old, of West Mersea, was also a deeply unhappy person who did not see the point of life in general. Recording
Ford has moved this week to quash fears that it is may be getting ready to pull out of Brentwood and strike a hammer blow to the town's economy. It comes amid a flurry of media reports and rumours that Ford has moved the headquarters of its European operations
A claim that Colchester was left without fire cover for half an hour has been strongly denied. Firefighters at Colchester fire station claimed there were no engines based in the town between 11am and 11.30am on Wednesday. One engine and its crew had to
If Essex's batting display against Durham in the county championship on Saturday was disappointing, then Sunday's was shambolic. Playing against fellow strugglers Warwickshire in the National Cricket League, Essex seemed to have already accepted their
Essex are currently involved in a Championship match with Somerset at Chelmsford, the game having started on Tuesday and scheduled to finish today (Friday). Then on Sunday, it's off to Worcestershire for a National League match before the team travel
An emergency meeting has been called to ask Colchester United for reassurances over the club's future. Colchester Council Labour group leader Tim Young called the emergency meeting on Thursday for leaders of each political party to meet with the town
Relegation for rock-bottom Wickford could be confirmed on Saturday if Premier Division leaders Five & Heronians return home from the Dick Patmore Memorial Ground with an expected victory. Wickford are 35 points behind third-bottom Loughton, who they
David Geaves, of the Royal Burnham Yacht Club, finally got his new Castro 38, Fiona VIII, going well and he dominated Woolwich Ramsgate Week. Geaves capped a memorable week, in which he won both the midweek and full week Class 1 titles by lifting the
Colchester MP Bob Russell has urged the club's fans to get right behind new manager Steve Whitton and the U's players. Russell said: "The club has lost two managers inside a year so I want every football supporter in Colchester and the surrounding districts
Hockley residents opposed to the development of land at Etheldore Avenue are invited on a march through the town. The rally on Saturday has been organised by young eco-warriors who have been squatting on the site at Etheldore Avenue and Wood Avenue in
A £3.2 million swimming pool could at last be in sight for South Woodham after a 20 year campaign. Chelmsford Borough Council has now submitted an outline planning application for the pool and a bid is being made to the National Lottery for £1.6 million
Police have beaten Braintree's reputation as a speed zone for motorcyclists - promoted on the Internet as the place to ride fast. "Braintree area was advertised on the internet as the place to come and ride as fast as you like," explained Insp Mark Harman
Braintree is in danger of being left in the dark this festive season unless more money can be raised to put up this year's Christmas lights. Money for the lights, and the erection of them, is always raised by donations and sponsorships from local companies
With the new league season only three weeks away, Chelmsford Highway turn up the intensity of their pre-season preparations when they travel to Holland for a six team tournament over the Bank Holiday weekend. They will play three games in two days and
Colchester United's new manager Steve Whitton said he wants to take the U's right to the top. As he prepared his shell-shocked squad for a tough Bank Holiday programme against Reading at home on saturday and Bury away on Monday, Whitton said: "I'm not
The Three Rivers Golf Club Ladies Section competed for the August Medal and keen competition resulted in a win for Elaine Atkin in the first Division with a nett score of 68. Linda Crisp was runner-up with a nett 71. Shirley Dover won division two with
Witham looked to be coasting to a good win at home on Tuesday and in doing so securing their first three points of the season. They were leading 2-0 with just three minutes on the clock remaining when the visitors struck twice with goals from their two
Some sublime attacking led to an exciting display from Swifts, justifiably earning their first win of the season on Tuesday evening. Only two minutes had passed when Swifts skipper Ben Lewis fed Simon Parker, and his trickery opened the way for Adam Gillespie
In the end, City made light work of overcoming the Jewson League Premier Division side to move into the next round after what City manager Gary Bellamy described as a fine second half performance. "I thought they would have proved to be a stronger side
Chelmsford Chieftains' players were completing their last practice sessions this week before the league season gets underway in earnest on Sunday. Coach Erskine Doulas and assistant coach Andy Hannah will be finalising their lines and playing strategy
After several years of Southend domination, the Chelmer Cycling Club regained both of the trophies given in memory of Bob Haworth, which are competed for annually between the two clubs of which he was a member. This year's event was hosted by the Southend
CHELMSFORD I................................209-5 dec ORSETT..............................................101 all out (Chelmsford won by 108 runs) (Shepherd Neame Essex League) After the previous week's defeat to Hadleigh & Thundersley, it was imperative
Springfield's hopes of taking the Premier Division title were dashed as they went down by 58 runs at South Woodham Ferrers on Saturday. South Woodham totalled 155 for seven with Steve Bridger (53) top scoring. After tea, Springfield were dismissed for
Danbury Badminton Club has been part of the sports and social scene in Danbury for over 25 years, and has gone from strength to strength in recent seasons. Playing originally in the village hall until the late 1980's, the club moved over to the new sports
A school governor has criticised a campaign for a new school in Heybridge. Peter Gaywood, a parish councillor, was speaking at the council meeting on Thursday night after the council had been asked to support the campaign for a new primary school in Heybridge
An old hero of Harwich has returned to the town before getting set to go Down Under. Still in its old colours, but with its numbers painted out, the lifeboat John Fison which served in the town from 1980-96 steamed back home after what may be one of its
A father and son face a retrial after a jury failed to come to a verdict over an alleged crowbar attack. Tony Haslett and his son Anthony allegedly attacked two men in Dovercourt after a case of mistaken identity. Tony, 41, and Anthony, 19, both of Appleton
Villagers are celebrating after their church was declared top of the league. St John the Baptist Church in Danbury, near Chelmsford, which has stood on the hill since 1233, has been named a Grade One listed building. Now it is hoped the upgrade will help
Colchester Council has given residents cause for celebration by turning down plans for a development behind the town's Mill Hotel. Members of the council's planning sub-committee agreed to refuse the plans for 34 three-bedroom flats on Thursday night.
The world-famous Red Arrows were winging their way to Clacton today. The renowned aerobatic display team were due to be the highlight of the Clacton Air Show at 4.40 this afternoon, dazzling 25,000 people along the seafront with their daring stunts. On
A sacked banker threatened a former colleague by claiming he would bomb her house and make it look like somewhere in Northern Ireland. The threat by Alan Mayhew came during a six-month campaign against his former workmates at Lloyds Bank, Chelmsford.
A chemical spill which triggered a major safety operation in Shoebury was, effectively, a false alarm, it was claimed today. Spencer Brown, the former director of Pharmacos, claimed a leaky lid on a plastic bottle led to the alert which saw Towerfield
Two businesses were counting the cost today after a fire badly damaged a glass pavilion at a shopping centre. Fire crews from Maldon and Tiptree were called to the blaze at the Bentalls Shopping Complex in Heybridge at about 2.15 on Thursday afternoon
A playhouse which some cynics feared would never reopen will start a new season this winter. The Palace Theatre in Westcliff will open its doors on December 8 with two productions. From then on, audiences can look forward to a non-stop programme of performances
Southend's daredevil mayor risked life and limb when he took to the skies in a bid to boost his two favourite charities. Tony North was joined by Julia Amess, wife of Southend MP David Amess, in a wing-walking stunt above the town. The pair willingly
Anger, frustration and even sympathy towards a bungling teacher poured out as parents arrived at a controversial Laindon school. While some students picked up their GCSE exam marks at James Hornsby High School, others were left still waiting after drama
The girlfriend of decathlon hero Dean Macey today told how she spent the night celebrating when she heard of his triumph. Lisa Hayes, 28, of East Crescent, Canvey, said she was proud of her superstar boyfriend. Lisa, who also works at Waterside Farm sports
Ambulance chiefs were today taking action against Essex County Council after a "dangerous" road bollard allegedly caused £20,000 of damage to one of their vehicles. They claim the ambulance was on a 999 call and travelling along the A130 near Rettendon
Young eco-warriors squatting on council land were packing up yesterday after being ordered to leave by a county court judge. Christiana Tugwell, 15, and her mother Maria appeared at the Southend court to answer a case of trespassing on land earmarked
An increase in demand for the counselling of victims of rape and sexual abuse has led to a desperate plea for skilled volunteers. The Chelmsford Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre says it is facing an increasingly heavy demand for its services,
Clacton's cricketers will be aiming to write another new chapter of club history when they meet old rivals Halstead in the Jaygate Homes Two Counties League Cup final at Mistley on Sunday, 1.30pm start. The coastal club has won a host of championships
Billericay Town confirmed their top six credentials with another win on Tuesday at New Lodge. Chesham came well prepared but a Paul Linger shot on ten minutes was deftly flicked in by Alan Brett close in to give visiting goalkeeper Delroy Preddie no chance
After two defeats in their opening league matches against Stansted and Ilford, Brentwood began to show their real potential with a convincing win at Sawbridgeworth on Saturday. Michael Gore, top scorer for the last two seasons, returned from holiday and
BILLERICAY I....................................194-8 dec GIDEA PARK & ROMFORD I.......149 all out (Billericay won by 45 runs) (Shepherd Neame Essex League) A Billericay side showing just one change from the team beaten at Wanstead the previous Saturday
BRENTWOOD I.........................200-6 dec HADLEIGH & THUNDERSLEY...201-7 (Hadleigh won by three wickets) (Shepherd Neame Essex League Division One) After two consecutive league victories, Brentwood were brought back to earth, by narrowly losing
Environmental groups associated with the Essex Alliance for Sustainable Transport are claiming a significant victory after many Rettendon residents attended a meeting opposing the scale of the proposed new A130 road. About 80 people -- more than half
A Chelmsford woman has received her first letter from the sister who disappeared without trace from the area more than 30 years ago. Now she is appealing for her to contact her again. Pat Poulter, 67, was shocked when she received the letter, which had
A major manhunt was launched by police after a distressed mum-of-four threatened to drive off a cliff with her children. The woman's terrified ex-husband called in Basildon officers after she made the wild threats. She disappeared from her Pitsea home
Four security geese are being recruited to guard a Springfield garden centre after burglars struck for the second time in a matter of months. Business partners David Wood and Dean Goody, who bought the Jewels Garden Centre 18 months ago, are offering
The Canvey family of a new sporting superstar have been celebrating as he picked up his silver medal at the World Championships. Dean Macey's mum, dad, brother and sister huddled around the television to watch the young decathlete win silver in the championships
Border League side Kelvedon Football Club opened up their facilities to stage Chelmsford's City friendly for the second successive week, as again finding a pitch within the Borough of Chelmsford is proving to be a fruitless task for the City management
A stash of pirate CDs and computer games were seized during a dawn raid by trading standards officers on Canvey. More than £10,000 of computer equipment, compact discs, computer games and digital video discs (DVD) were seized in a joint operation by police
Stuart Law powered his way to a career-best 263 at Chelmsford on Thursday - and then confessed to being disappointed. "I should have gone on to get 300," said the Aussie star, who is his own biggest critic. "That's what I had my sights on after reaching
A father faced with being banned from his son's graveside has threatened to take the matter to the European Court of Human Rights. Tony Tatam, of Bradford Street, Braintree, has been locked in a battle with Great Cornard Parish Council since he was refused
A family's worst nightmare came true today when they were called home from holiday early after their house burnt down. Flames gutted the building in Pudsey Hall Lane, Canewdon, burning the roof and leaving a blackened shell. Investigators were sifting
The lives of Harold Hill youngsters are being put at risk by the groups of drug-users who have taken over their favourite playground, anxious parents have claimed. The play area at the south end of Keats Avenue has become a virtual no-go area for local
It wasn't quite V99 but the TV Hits Twix Roadshow proved just as big a hit. More than 2,500 screaming youngsters, and some parents, were at the Braintree Towerlands Arena on Wednesday night to see some of the hottest new talent the pop industry has to
A banned driver was involved in a car chase through Braintree at speeds of up to 100 mph. Police lost sight of Nigel Gribbin during the incident, but a court heard on Wednesday when officers caught up with him he told them: "I'll just pull forward a little
Clearview players enjoyed themselves at last week's Westcliff Junior Open Tennis Tournament, and Sam Burridge was the major achiever as she took two titles in the event. She won the under 14 girls singles, courtesy of a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Jade Blackman
Jermaine Wright is battling against the clock in a bid to be fit in time for Saturday's First Division match at Sheffield United. The Ipswich Town midfielder, a £500,000 summer signing from Crewe, is desperate to play in the top against bottom clash.
Heybridge Swifts can be assured of a 1,000-plus crowd when they entertain the hugely-supported Aldershot Town on Saturday. Swifts, who picked up their first win of the season on Tuesday against Walton and Hersham, will be hopeful of getting something
This team of soccer stars have bowed out of junior football in style. The boys, who all play for Rayleigh Boys Under-16 team, went to Rochford's twin town of Haltern in Germany to play in a tournament against German teams. They played well and won the
It is a busy weekend on the Schweppes Essex Senior League scene with most teams involved in two games in three days over the Bank Holiday. On Monday, there is also the prestige League Charity Cup match in which last season's Harry Fisher Trophy winners
A Brentwood woman whose home is under siege by floods during heavy rainfall says she is waiting with bated breath to see if new drains will solve the problem. Now Suzan Hearson, of Costead Manor Road, says she intends to present Brentwood Council with
A £90,000 shake-up to improve maternity services across Tendring is being planned. The Clacton and Harwich unit has been under threat several times over the past few years but the latest proposals being discussed by health bosses are to invest in and
Supermarket giant Tesco looks set to dominate the Braintree area, with plans to open its third store near the town. There are two stores - in Braintree town centre and in Great Notley - but a planning application has been submitted to the district council
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 on Monday agreed to implement central contracts for leading players, which gives England
A busy weekend for Chelmsford Athletics Club began on Saturday when the women and under 15 girls team travelled to Guildford for their penultimate match of the Southern Women's League Division Three. As at Kingston, four weeks earlier, Chelmsford were
Essex have announced that four players are to be released at the end of the season. The players to go are Jamie Grove, Tim Hodgson, Jonathan Powell and Tim Walton. Jamie Grove, 20, made his first-class debut in June 1998 against Surrey and he finished
Having lost two games in three days, Canvey Island are boosted by the return of key defender Steve Ward for their busy Bank Holiday period. Gulls follow Saturday's visit to Aylesbury with a Bank Holiday cracker at home to Essex rivals Purfleet on Monday
A mini heatwave could be on the cards this weekend, weathermen today predicted. Temperatures could soar to 26C (79F) in south Essex and southern England, bucking traditional Bank Holiday expectations. Most of England and Wales will have dry, warm sunny
Young Suzanne Noonan is set to start her new school term studying for an AS-level in German - after scooping top GCSE marks at just 12! The Billericay School student, of Tensing Gardens, Billericay, has wowed her parents and school teachers by bagging
Witham's police team has succeeded in putting the town at the top of the district's crime busting league. Across the whole of the Braintree division - one of the largest in the county - they are top at beating four out of six major types of crime and
Old Chelmsfordians, leaders for much of the season slipped up again, this time at Writtle. Writtle set a modest target of 160 for nine, Stuart Irving top scoring with 50 and Duncan Williamson adding 35, while Adam Sell took four for 36 off ten overs.
A busy weekend for Chelmsford Athletics Club began on Saturday when the women and under 15 girls team travelled to Guildford for their penultimate match of the Southern Women's League Division Three. As at Kingston, four weeks earlier, they were up against
Dean Macey's World Championships decathlon silver medal could make him a millionaire within a year and will certainly help keep him in the sport. That was the financial windfall forecast when Asics, the sports equipment company, announced they have a
Southend United face two of the Third Division's promotion favourites over the August Bank Holiday weekend - Swansea and Leyton Orient. First they travel to Swansea City on Saturday, before meeting close rivals Leyton Orient at Roots Hall on Monday. Trips
A public inquiry into a planned country and retail park in Clacton has been branded "a total waste of taxpayers' money". The inquiry into the proposed £30 million Brook Park scheme on the outskirts of the town could cost between £45,000-£50,000 and last
A £30 million shopping outlet will be the first in the country to have its own railway station. The Braintree Freeport station will serve the Chapel Hill Factory Village which, it was revealed yesterday, could create up to 1,000 jobs - 400 more than first
More than 100 campaigning residents are expected to meet with council chiefs next month in a bid to halt a £160,000 extension to Pitsea Market. Angry householders will call on councillors to back them in their fight to stop the development and throw out
Castle Point has been preparing a homecoming fit for a hero to celebrate Dean Macey's silver medal in the World Championships. Banners declaring "Well done Dean, the pride of Castle Point" will be put up around the borough to mark his return to Canvey
In a bid to cut crime, the Superdrug store in Witham is to start using cutting-edge forensic science as a way of catching intruders. The health and beauty store is among 100 others in the chain around the country, installing the sophisticated security
