This year marks the 25th anniversary of Billericay Town's third FA Vase final win when they beat Bristol based Almondsbury Greenway 4-1 beneath the famous twin towers of Wembley Stadium, an occasion when Doug Young's superb hat-trick ensured the striker
A wildlife action group wants to take over a former cemetery on Canvey and turn it into a nature reserve. Castle Point Wildlife Action Group, which has spent the last two and a half years improving North Benfleet Hall Woods, has now turned its eye to
A part of Southend's heritage is to be lost to a museum at Chelmsford, amid claims it cannot be looked after properly in the borough. An original 1890 "toast rack" pier tram was brought back to the town some years ago from Brighton, where it had been
A decision whether to grant planning permission for an Indian takeaway in Braintree has been deferred by councillors for further investigation. Members of Braintree Council's area committee voted last night to obtain more information on the filtration
Concerns over the impact blocks of flats would have on Billericay's Stock Road, were cited by residents and councillors as two planning applications were discussed at a council meeting. A blueprint to build 24 retirement flats next to Mayflower High School
Detectives investigating a home burglary which is thought to have triggered the death of a pensioner have launched a renewed appeal for witnesses after admitting they have no new leads. Florence Goodman died on the night of Saturday, February 21, after
Tributes have been paid to a 35-year-old former Frinton man who died suddenly. Father-of-two Timothy Airs, grew up in the town after his family moved to Fourth Avenue when he was 11. The analytical chemist with a Huntingdon company was admitted to Hinchingbrooke
Elvis staged an appearance in an unusual interpretation of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Cliffs Pavilion in Westcliff. Star - Lee Mead plays Pharaoh as Elvis Picture: LUAN MARSHALL Played by Lee Mead, 22, the king stole the show
Two former Springfield-based high ranking Essex Police officers travelled to Romania this week (June 2) as part of Convoy 2000, a charity project which they started five years ago to help terminally ill children, others suffering serious health problems
Low-cost airlines have slammed British Airways (BA) for raising its fares due to the high cost of fuel. The UK national carrier recently announced it was increasing its ticket costs by £5 per return journey. A BA spokesman said: "Due to the continuing
Fed-up residents who decided to mend their own road after a 25-year wait are celebrating after completing the first phase. People in Milton Road, Lawford, have been campaigning to get their unadopted cul-de-sac repaired for a quarter of a century. They
England legend Darren Gough sent a timely reminder to Essex cricket fans today that he is 'very keen' to play as many games for the county as he can. And the ever jovial 'Dazzler' would love nothing more than to celebrate that aim by skittling out his
A make-up artist is hoping she will be in pole position soon. For Cathy Gard, 23, who grew up in Frinton, is one of 16 women who are gearing up to take part in the ITV programme Formula Woman. It all started more than a year ago, when Cathy saw an advert
A multi-million-pound development with 143 flats and shops is to transform Basildon town centre after being unanimously backed by councillors. The nine-storey tower block will be built on the derelict Lookers car dealership site opposite the train station
Phones rang continually as Castle Point Council offered residents advice on tackling noise problems. Ringing success - Roy Knowles, assistant director of environmental health, gives advice Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY The authority was holding a noise action
Police are launching a campaign to cut the number of fatal and serious accidents on Essex roads by ten per cent in the next year. The force will be concentrating on enforcement, engineering and education to hammer home the road safety message. Rayleigh
A cliffhanger ending was in store when a rare book went under the hammer for charity. 'Rosemary For Frinton' was the most sought after book in the town after being put up for auction at the St Helena Hospice bookshop in Connaught Avenue. Bids for former
A family from Witham are angry at being asked to pay £10,000 up front to connect to a gas supply. David Cocker's son Marc and his partner Louise called British Gas for a quote to connect their new house in Cam Way, on the Humber Road estate. They received
Brentwood Town Football Club will be holding trials this week (Thursday, June 3, 7pm-9pm) at their Brentwood Centre headquarters in Doddinghurst Road to search for talented youngsters to join their highly rated Under 16 and Under 18 squads. The Under
Canvey angler Graham Hyde weighed in a tremendous 27lb 6oz of tench and bream to take first place at the second match of the Northlands Park Colmic Wickford Angling Centre evening series. Best man - Graham Hyde shows his Northlands Park Colmic Wickford
Benfleet Villa has became the first club in the borough to be awarded the prestigious Club SX Gold award. Shake on it - Matthew Harwood-White presents the award certificate to Carol Henwood Picture: MAXINE CLARKE The presentation took place at the monthly
Police looking to forge closer community links are to try an innovative mobile police station. It will be used in the Wickford area at Crays Hill, Ramsden Bellhouse and Ramsden Heath, which do not have a permanent station. The trial starts next week and
A seaside resort has been left in the dark, despite a £600,000 facelift. New lamp posts in Walton's refurbished High Street should have been switched on by now. But although the main shopping street has reopened in time for the summer rush, the lights
The Essex Amphibian and Reptile society would like to hear from anyone in the County who has a 'noisy' frog in a pond near them. The marsh frog which was famously introduced into Kent at Romney Marsh in the 1930's has become established in many parts
Plans for a hi-tech treatment centre designed to slash waiting times and prioritise cancer sufferers were today revealed by Basildon Hospital. Chemotherapy patients will be among those to benefit from the centre, which has just won approval from Essex
A popular lollipop lady is on the verge of quitting her job after she was pelted by a drinks can, water balloons and a stick thrown by pupils on a school run bus from Sawyers Hall College. Distressed mother-of-two Gill Hall told primary school parents
As Stansted presses ahead with expansion plans, an air safety organisation has warned Europe's skies are already dangerously close to saturation. Eurocontrol, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, has blamed the depletion of Europe's
A support line for women and young people who have experienced sexual violence has been given the royal seal of approval. Colchester Rape Crisis Line has been chosen as a winner of one of the Queen's Awards for Voluntary Service, which gives recognition
A paramedic today praised children who performed vital first aid on a friend. The 12-year-old had broken his leg after falling off his bicycle in a gravel pit in Stanway yesterday. Paramedic Adrien Paine said: "The 12-year-old from the Stanway area appeared
Stansted airport saw a rise in income but a fall in profits during the last financial year. Between April 2003 and April 2004, airport operator BAA announced revenues of £141m, a year-on-year increase of 7.6 per cent. But at Stansted, operating profits
Hi De Hi heaven... or holiday camp hell? Su Pollard at Clacton Pier Comedy actress Su Pollard took a trip to the seaside to rediscover her halcyon days as a chalet maid in the long-running BBC hit comedy sitcom Hi De Hi. Su became a household name in
Billericay-based Dave Venables claimed a hard fought bronze medal at the European Weightlifting Championships which were held in Poland last week. The 42-year-old, who trains in Stanford, came third in the super heavyweight section (over 105 kilos) --
Stanway Rovers Reserves were 2-0 up and cruising to a Tolleshunt D'Arcy Charity Cup final victory - but they ended up with only eight men and on the end of a 3-2 defeat. Opponents White Notley came back with goals from Alan Pease, David Bryant and Lee
To have and to hold took on a whole new meaning for a musician when he started a conversation about wrestling in an internet chatroom - and found an American bride. As romance blossomed Stephen Chesney, 20, of Gloucester Avenue, Maldon, and Staci Holloway
Firefighters worked quickly to contain a blaze in the loft of a house after a fire started in a garage in Stelli Avenue, Canvey. Sub-officer Andy Shane, of the island's fire station, said: "When we arrived, you could see flames coming out of every point
Plush new facilities were today promised for commuters as part off an £800,000 redevelopment of Pitsea rail station's ticket office. The main ticket office closed four years ago because of subsidence. The new one will have two ticket windows, men's and
Maldon slumped to a seven-wicket defeat against Godmanchester, despite a steady opening from batting duo Ian Elliott and Glen Batticciotto. The pair made 30 and 20 respectively, but only one of the next nine batsmen made double figures. That was Essex
A village is being kept in the dark over plans to cut off one of its main entry roads, according to its parish council. People living in Fingringhoe are set to lose a major route in and out of the village this month when work gets under way to repair
Following his seventh placing in last Saturday's Grand Prix in his native Poland, Arena Essex rider Greg Walasek aims to take the rich vein of form into this week's home meeting. The Elite League match between Hammers and Poole is being staged on Friday
Road safety measures have failed to tackle the nightmare of cruisers who meet in their hundreds and endanger lives. Residents on Southend seafront say the problems now are as bad as they have ever been, despite the efforts of Essex Police and Southend
Basildon-based BPB Recycling is set to be taken over. Multi-million-pound business DS Smith said yesterday it would purchase BPB Recycling, one of the world's biggest plasterboard manufacturers. The sale is subject to clearance from the Office of Fair
Two 12-year-old boys were robbed of a mobile phone as they left Colchester's Leisure World. They were attacked outside McDonald's, on Cowdray Avenue, by youths who took a scooter and threw it into the river, and then stole a mobile phone. A spokesman
Soaring oil prices are set to hit transport businesses hard, owners said today, as petrol stations feared a repeat of the fuel protests in 2000. Worried - haulier boss Richard Horsfall says he has can't take any more cuts in profit Picture: ROB BROWNE
The issue over publishing pupils' identities in the media remains confused with Essex schools claiming they have no idea about new guidelines on filming or taking pictures of children. The new rules, introduced by Essex County Council, mean schools will
A crackdown has been launched to stop waterbike users risking their lives on the Essex coast. The tragic death of 32-year-old Michael Taylor on the River Blackwater last year has sparked the county's police marine unit into coming down hard on illegal
Colchester athlete Sarah Claxton's quest for Olympic qualification received a boost when she sprinted to a new personal best in the 100 metre hurdles. Claxton won her race with a time of 13.05 seconds at an international event in Hungary on Saturday then
Women's Institute members had a lucky escape when their coach burst into flames. Corringham and Fobbing WI members were returning from a day trip to Eastbourne when the back of the coach caught fire as it drove through Surrey. Club member Val Turner said
School children are being urged to get their pens and paints out to create accident prevention posters. The Rochford Accident Prevention group is holding a poster competition to mark child safety week and will display a selection of the entries to drive
Southend United manager Steve Tilson will today hold talks with an experienced centre back who he hopes to lure to the Third Division club. The Blues boss, who has already targeted one defensive signing, is keen to bolster the Shrimpers' squad following
A sports store which burnt to the ground in a spectacular blaze may never reopen due to an insurance wrangle, the Evening Gazette can reveal. Harpers sports store burnt down in September 2000, but the company pledged it would reopen and the shop was rebuilt
Dean Macey's hopes of qualifying for this summer's Olympic Games have been boosted by the news he may not need to break the 8,000 points barrier to reach Athens. The Canvey Island-based decathlete has not competed since the 2001 World Championships having
Plush new facilities were today promised for commuters as part off an £800,000 redevelopment of Pitsea rail station's ticket office. The main ticket office closed four years ago because of subsidence. The new one will have two ticket windows, men's and
Rubbish collections will be running a day later than normal this week because of Monday's bank holiday. John Simpson, head of street services at Colchester Council, said yesterday: "Collections have begun again and are running according to plan. "Residents
Stansted is unleashing another new route in time for the summer holidays. Euromanx has launched a twice-daily service between Stansted and the Isle of Man. The service will fly from Ronaldsway airport near Castletown in the south of the island. Flights
A Buddhist wedding - thought to be Britain's first - was due to be held in Colchester today. Composer Tim Torry and his fiancee, Lesley Griffin, were set to tie the knot at the town's Buddhist centre. The marriage is the first held in the UK by the Friends
A company could be drafted in to open a new NHS dental clinic covering Castle Point and Rochford, it was revealed today. The move could form part of a £350,000 drive to encourage almost 3,945 people in the area to sign up with a dentist by March 31, 2005
