A HOUSING association says it will fix faulty lifts at a towerblock as soon as possible. One of the lifts at Beaver Tower in Mansell Close, Eastwood, has broken down and the other one has got a fault meaning it keeps breaking down - forcing
TWO brothers braved stormy seas during a gruelling, nine-week voyage around Britain to raise money for Havens Hospice. Craig and Dean Osler set off from Wallasea Island in the Rochford District on June 2 on their yacht Nebula to circumnavigate
CONCERNS have been raised over security at a rail depot where a 15-year-old boy was blinded by an explosive detonator he found there. Residents and councillors were alarmed to learn youths regularly got into the Network Rail depot – near a popular
THE idea of running a group of Basildon primary schools as academies, to improve performance, is gaining support. Basildon Council’s Tory leader, Tony Ball , welcomed the possibility. Although the borough council has no control over education
HEAVEN spent! A church is hoping to alter people’s financial habits by hosting a series of workshops on how to keep costs down. St Andrew’s, in The Fremnells, Basildon , is the first place of worship in the area to bring in the sessions, which
THE modest hero who saved a young boy from drowning described his actions as “just part of the job”. Lee Sturgeon, 38, pulled the ten-year-old from the water into the safety of his speedboat after a member of the public alerted him to the emergency
A BENEFITS cheat who was given a council flat after failing to reveal she owned a £145,000 house has been jailed for eight months. Rita Limbani said she could not afford to buy or rent a home when she threw herself on the mercy of Basildon Council
POLICE raided a Westcliff home in search of drugs. Officers stormed the house in Electric Avenue at about 1pm yesterday. They arrested a 38-year-old man from the Southend area on suspicion of drugs offences. He remains in police custody
Plans for the revamp of the Grand Hotel in Leigh have been approved. Members of Southend Council's development control committee meeting voted unanimously in favour of plans to extend the hotel in the Broadway. Mick Norcross, who stars in ITV2
FORMER Rayleigh schoolboy Phil Bigwood played a leading role in the BBC’s highly-praised Olympic Games coverage. The Rochford born 46-year-old is the broadcaster’s executive producer of TV sport. And he was thrilled to be able to play a unique
DAVID East has warned that the annual Colchester Cricket Festival must remain financially viable in order for it to continue. However, the Essex County Cricket Club chief executive is confident the popularity of the event will help maintain its
AS father to three children, all with learning disabilities, Tony Thorne knew all too well how much a music night aimed specially at those with disabilities would be valued. He set up CDS, held every Tuesday night at the Haystack, on Canvey , which
MAX Whitlock received a hero’s welcome last night as he returned to his home gym in Basildon . The double Olympic bronze medallist gymnast was greeted by fans and media at the Sporting Village before being whisked away for a surprise party at the
CAMERON Belford is backing Blues to bounce back from their 4-0 defeat at Peterborough United. The Capital One Cup drubbing at London Road on Tuesday nught was Belford’s first start since returning to Roots Hall on loan. But the 23-year-old
THE aunt of diving sensation Tom Daley spoke of her pride at watching him take Bronze – and her future hopes for the young superstar. While millions sat on the edge of their sofas, Suzanne 40, and husband Kevin Selvester, 42, were cheering Tom
THE aunt of diving sensation Tom Daley spoke of her pride at watching him take Bronze – and her future hopes for the young superstar. While millions sat on the edge of their sofas, Suzanne 40, and husband Kevin Selvester, 42, were cheering Tom
NEW equipment that detects a certain type of sexually transmitted infection could mean quicker referals for cervical cancer. The pathology department at Southend Hospital has recently introduced the Gen-Probe Panther, a new piece of equipment which
A MAN found with gun shot wounds at the Oak Lane traveller site in Crays Hill is believed to have taken his own life. The man, aged in his 50s, has yet to be officially named, but police are not treating the death as suspicious. The body was
SOUTHEND airport has welcomed its 500th staff member, firmly establishing it as one of the fastest-growing airports in Europe. The aptly-named Stuart Holliday, 37, from Wickford , has secured a job as the cleaning manager. The dad-of-two will be
A MAN has been found guilty of murdering his former girlfriend in her own home. Martin Bunch, 44, was found guilty of the murder of 48-year-old Jeanette Goodwin following a four week trial at Chelmsford Crown Court. The mother of
Basildon -based double Olympic bronze medallist Max Whitlock received a rapturous welcome when he returned to the Sporting Village, the place that helped make his dream a reality. Max, 19, looked stunned by the huge crowds that gathered to welcome
RECKLESS yobs shone a laser at the Essex Police helicopter as it flew over Basildon . The helicopter crew had been flying over Basildon in the early hours of Sunday morning, when the laser light was shone into the cockpit, temporarily stunning
AN easyjet pilot was forced to aborted a landing at Southend Airport because his plane was too high, it has been confirmed. The pilot pulled out of the landing just after 4pm on Wednesday, August 1, deciding the plane was not low enough to touch
CYCLISTS have urged the council bosses not to tinker with Hadleigh Farm’s Olympic mountain bike track too much. Essex County Council has revealed it will be tweaking the course, and its features, with work taking up to two months to complete.
PLANS to open a drug and alcohol treatment centre in the heart of Southend could be thrown out after neighbours objected. Planning officials have recommended councillors reject South Essex Partnership Trust’s application to open a new centre in
IT’S hard to imagine but, for compulsive hoarder Ian Sparks, the idea of throwing away newspapers caused him to feel an unbearable sense of loss. His obsession meant his home was filled with thousands of newspapers and Ian, now 53, felt isolated
SOME actresses might have taken offence at their partner writing a part for them in a play about a downtrodden, has-been star. Yet Elizabeth Elvin, from Leigh , was delighted, because she says it raises some interesting ideas about the industry
