Stories for 9 November 2006

Braintree And Witham Times News

No cock-and-bull story

A new Jamie Oliver restaurant venture based in Essex is up and running, and due to feature in a TV programme.   more...

Echo News

Christmas in Iraq for Matt

Of all the Christmas holiday destinations, war-torn Iraq must be the least popular choice.   more...

Far-flung patients opt for speedy treatment

Southend Hospital is gaining a reputation as the county's most popular hospital with patients coming from as far away as Clacton.   more...

Rail strike called off

A planned strike by train drivers at the rail firm One was called off following a new pay offer.   more...

Pensioners attacked in vicious robbery

An elderly man was sprayed in the eyes and another pensioner dragged from his bed in a terrifying robbery, police said.   more...

Shop workers send robber packing

Defiant shop workers armed themselves with a bottle of Whiskey and a plank of wood and chased a robber out of an off-licence.   more...

Taxpayers fund private calls on council mobiles

Basildon Council staff are making "unmonitored" personal calls at the taxpayers' expense on their council-owned mobile phones, the Echo can reveal.   more...

Court grants camping ban

Basildon Council has secured an injunction to stop campers at Gloucester Park after a lengthy legal battle to remove just one man and his tent.   more...

Sex offenders could be removed from bail hostel

Sex offenders could be removed from a bail hostel where a convicted rapist was staying when he attacked his latest victim.   more...

02 ordered to tear down phone mast

Communications company 02 has been ordered to remove a controversial mobile phone mast just yards from a school.   more...

Echo Sport

Duo have grand designs for Gore

BBC golf commentator Ken Brown was a visitor to Canewdon's Ballards Gore Golf Club this week.   more...

SEEVIC score Twickers date

STUDENTS from Thundersley's SEEVIC College will play in front of 82,000 fans at the Twickenham home of rugby union on Saturday, as a curtain-raiser to the England against Argentina international.   more...

Bingham pockets snooker history

Basildon snooker professional Stuart Bingham has created snooker history.   more...

Gazette News

Frinton, Walton: Possible site for new health centre

A new health village could be situated on the Frinton and Walton border.   more...

Colchester: Special schooling

Pupils have praised the transformation their school has gone through since Ofsted inspectors placed it in special measures.   more...

Witham: Family homeless after lounge blaze

A family and their pets were today homeless after a fire ripped through their lounge.   more...

Tolleshunt Major: Dog in a hole lot of trouble

A pregnant dog had to be rescued by firefighters after hiding under floorboards and getting stuck.   more...

Colchester: Special visitor to market

Father Christmas took a break from his toyshop in Lapland to bring news of this year's Colchester Christmas market.   more...

Colchester: College protest meeting

Campaigners battling to save a flagship college are staging a protest meeting tomorrow night.   more...

Mistley: 'How can anyone stoop so low?’

Intruders stole a charity collection box as they ransacked a post office.   more...

Colchester: Vandals trash classroom

A school has been set back after a haul of valuable equipment was stolen in a smash-and-grab raid.   more...

Colchester: Hospital parking solution?

Hospital chiefs are looking at steps to end parking chaos at Colchester General.   more...

Colchester: Pitching for big breaks

Business boffins are to lay on Dragon's Den-style pitching sessions for entrepreneurs.   more...

Colchester: Heritage centre for records?

Some of Colchester's historical records could be kept in a dedicated heritage centre in the town, Essex County   more...

Colchester: Flash your hat for Headway this Christmas

Hat's the way to do it! It's going to be the flashiest festive season ever as the Evening Gazette teams up with   more...

Great Notley: Olympic star drops by

It is not often an Olympic gold medalist pops by to say hello, but yesterday Dame Kelly Holmes called in to meet the   more...

Essex: Don't be 'idol' - show off your pet!

Let's hear it for Evening Gazette Pet Idol - or, more specifically, Christmas Pet Idol 2006!   more...

Clacton: 'Justice has been done'

A breast cancer sufferer said justice has been done after her ex-husband was given a suspended prison sentence for   more...

Tendring: Our clean beaches

Tourist bosses were today celebrating a clean sweep for the cleanliness of the bathing water along the sunshine coast.   more...

Dovercourt: Sign or lose jobs, care staff told

Care home staff have been told they will have made themselves unemployed if they do not sign new contracts.   more...

Dovercourt: Star Sigourney inspired by Ros

A woman who inspired a film star is to speak to parents of special needs children.   more...

Little Clacton: Gran takes the plunge for charity

A gutsy grandma is set to plummet 10,000ft to raise money for a cot death charity.   more...

Colchester: One knife a week

Knife crimes in Colchester average one a week, new figures have revealed.   more...

Marks Tey: Schoolgirl hurt in collision with car

A schoolgirl was today recovering after being knocked unconscious by a car.   more...

Witham: Family homeless after lounge blaze

A family and their pets were today homeless after a fire ripped through their lounge.   more...

Maldon And Burnham Standard Sport

Soccer: Tanner is new number two

Russell Tanner has been unveiled as Maldon Town's new assistant manager.   more...

Soccer: cup exit for unlucky Swifts

Heybridge Swifts were knocked out of the Westview Cup at the fourth-round stage by Staines Town on Tuesday.   more...

Soccer: Statham happy with Swifts draw

Brian Statham almost broke the football manager's code when announcing he was delighted with Heybridge Swifts latest FA Trophy draw.   more...

Thurrock Gazette News

Horror attack on village pensioners

AN ELDERLY man was sprayed in the eyes and another dragged from his bed in a shocking robbery that has stunned police and rocked a Thurrock village.   more...