SELF-confessed worrier John McDermott is determined to shed his unluckiest man in boxing tag by avoiding another travesty against Tyson Fury. Outrage greeted referee Terry O’Connor’s astonishing decision to award their first showdown last September to
BRITISH diplomat Philip Barclay spent almost four years in Zimbabwe during some of the troubled African country’s most violent and tumultuous years. Philip, who was born in Southend, recalls in particular the pivotal 2008 election which almost wrestled
RAVI Bopara produced a fine all-round performance as Essex Eagles cruised to a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over Glamorgan Dragons in their Friends Provident t20 clash at the Swalec Stadium. Despite winning the toss Glamorgan could only make 94
SOUTHEND council will plough ahead with plans to build a community health centre in a deprived area after the project stalled because of health spending cuts. The St Luke’s Healthy Living Centre, in Pantile Avenue, is a joint venture led by
BROWNIES and Guides from across Castle Point gathered for the unveiling of a flower bed to mark the centenary of the guiding movement. The colourful flowerbed has been planted outside the old Canvey Urban District Council offices in Long Road, Canvey
REGENERATION company Renaissance Southend will be gone in under two years, a Tory MP has said. Quangos and regeneration companies are in the firing line as the coalition Government makes massive cuts to public spending. James Duddridge
GREEN belt campaigners, developers, and politicians will all get a chance to make their case when a hearing into the future development of Castle Point begins tomorrow. A government inspector will open the examination in public of the council’s Core
LEIGH's farmers' market will be marking its tenth birthday with a prize raffle of goodies donated by stallholders. The monthly market, which is held at Leigh Community Centre in Elm Road, was founded in 2000 by Leigh Town Councillor, the late Janet
BOSSES at Thorney Bay Caravan Park is challenging the terms of its new licence in the courts. Castle Point Council issued the Canvey caravan park with the updated licence in March following a year-long review of the site in Thorney Bay Road. The review
A FUNDRAISING concert has been organised in honour of a popular musician who is suffering with motor neurone disease. Dave Wells was always well known on the music circuit and toured with a successful Abba tribute band as well as playing guitar
THIEVES who steal clothes from recycling collections will be hauled before the courts, Basildon Council has warned. It comes as the council launched a crackdown on crooks who target unwanted clothes left in recycling bins, or outside homes for collection
THE extraordinary generosity of south Essex people who welcomed the Royal Anglians on their march through Southend has been praised by the borough council. Sea and Army cadets spent two hours taking collection tins along the parade route and in that
LANGDON Hills youngster Grace Gilroy has shown her potential for the future by being crowned regional champion in two events at the Regional BAGCAT Championships in Norwich. The 12-year-old, who competes for Brentwood Swimming Club, came first in the
CALLS have been made for a crossing point to be installed so children can get to a new nature reserve safely. Visitors arriving at the RSPB’s West Canvey Marshes on foot have to take their chances crossing two dual carriageways, at Canvey Road and Roscommon
BOROUGH of Southend squad members continued to impress in the second half of the Essex Age Group Championships. They finished in eighth position and amassed more points than the previous two years in the top club competition, BOSS once again had the
A MAN who attacked a store security guard has handed himself in to police after he was named by Echo readers. The Echo reported how the man had stolen items from Debenhams, at the Eastgate Centre, in Basildon, on April 12. He was chased by one of the
CANVEY Island-based Cyrano Fencing Club enjoyed a successful Essex Foil Championships with two of their fencers winning the title in their respective age groups. Deanes School student Rhys Dodsworth won the under-16’s title at the tournament
JACKSON Wray was unable to help England under-20s reach the final of the Junior World Championship in Argentina. Wray, who is from Thundersley and is a former King John School pupil, was named in the starting line-up for the semi-final against Australia
A GANG has been jailed for smuggling £9.5million worth of cannabis into the country to be sold on the streets of south Essex. A dozen men were jailed for a total of 64 years and eight months for a conspiracy to import two huge shipments of
ONE of the most unpopular former Southend United players could be about to secure a much-needed cash boost for the club. That is because Nicky Bailey, who angered Blues supporters with the way he handled his transfer to Charlton Athletic in July 2007
BASILDON Athletics Club’s Kim Wall is hoping a change of coach can kick start her career this summer. Wall ran for Great Britain in both the 400m and the 4x400m relay at the European Team Championships in Norway over the weekend. And
A LARGE fire in a caravan park closed off the A127 for more than four hours on Monday. The dual carriage way was shut in both directions near the junction with the M25 at 9am after thick smoke started drifting across the carriageway. The road
A NURSE is preparing for a freezing fundraising trip to the Arctic. Eileen Craig, 46, from Aveley, is heading to the Arctic for an eight-day charity trek in aid of St Luke’s Hospice, in Basildon. Hospice nurse Mrs Craig has already been on treks to
DETECTIVES are hunting a sex attacker who targeted a teenager girl. The girl was on her way home from a party when she was attacked in Wickford Avenue, Pitsea at just after midnight on Sunday. Her attacker was 5ft 6ins tall, slim, wore jeans and a dark
A SCHOOL will spend £150 worth of vouchers it has received on books for boys. Oakfield Primary School, in Scott Drive, Wickford, has been given the vouchers by chain store WH Smith, as part of a scheme by the company to build better community links.
A MAN who sparked a seafront search after he was reported as being suicidal has been found safe and well inland. Police and Southend Coastguard carried out a sweep of Southend seafront after being alerted to the 30-year-old man at around 9.20pm
ANGRY residents have flooded Basildon Council with letters opposed to selling a field to developers. People living near the field in Kent View Road, Vange, have written 90 letters and collected an 800-signature petition, against plans to sell the site
A MAN was left suffering smoke inhalation after a blaze broke out in a flat. Fire crews were called to the second-floor flat in Robina Close, Noak bridge at 12.55am on Monday. They tackled the blaze, bringing it under control after an hour.
CROWDS of Peter Andre fans queued for hours for the chance to meet the singer and reality TV star. The former husband of glamour model Jordan visited Lakeside Shopping Centre to sign copies of his new book, My World: In Pictures and Words. Hundreds
BATON twirlers, dancers and musicians took to the streets for this year’s Basildon and Pitsea Carnival. More than 25 floats, which included majorettes, twirlers and firemen, wound their way through Leinster Road and Roundacre, through Basildon town centre
A BAN on new clubs and bars in Southend town centre looks set to be lifted. Southend Council is considering ditching its policy, in place since 2007, which prevents new licences being issued for nightspots and enforces a 2am closing time on
TWO temporary classrooms are needed at a Thundersley college to free up space in specialist teaching areas. Seevic, in Runnymede Chase, has submitted planning permission to erect two small temporary buildings. The classrooms, which are
A GENERAL store could have its alcohol licence taken away after it was caught selling booze to underage youngsters. Essex County Council Trading Standards has formally requested that Premier store, in High Road, Pitsea, should have its licence
