Beach mystery still unsolved
Police in Essex are continuing to investigate the disappearance of a man whose personal possessions were found on the beach at Southend.
Robber in scratch attack
Police have released a picture of a woman whose face was scratched in a robbery. You may find the image behind this link distressing.
New wrist for patient
A surgeon at Southend Hospital has become the first in the world to perform a new type of wrist replacement.
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A Crinkley Bottom for honeymoon couple
This is the sight that greeted a honeymoon couple when they got back to their home in Southend.
Steve and Hayley O'Rouke's terrace house was given an unexpected Mr Blobby style makeover.
Mr O'Rourke's brother Russell got to work Crinkley Bottom-style in a revenge prank after he'd returned from his own honeymoon to find a brick wall built across his drive.
Prank sees house painted like Mr Blobby
A newly-wed couple returned from honeymoon to find that their home had been painted bright Pink in the style of Mr Blobby.
The Daily Mirror reports how Steve and Hayley O’Rourke, 32 and 31, from Southend discovered the prank after their two week honeymoon
The groom’s brother Russell, 35, planned the Mr Blobby-style paint job in revenge for a similar joke six years ago.
See full story here http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mr-blobby-home-prank-honeymoon-1903094
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Appeal for witnesses after "unacceptable" assault
– Jay Thompson, Greater Anglia's Head of SafetyWe would urge anyone with information to come forward. Such behaviour is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Our staff have a right to go about their jobs without facing fear, intimidation or abuse of any kind.
Anyone with information is asked to contact to British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 quoting background reference B7/LNA of 16/04/2013. Information can also be passed to the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Station staff member punched in chest during assault
– PC Melvyn Owen, BTPAround 5.15pm, a man, who had verbally abused two women outside Southend Victoria station, followed them through the ticket barriers and onto the station platform. The women reported the man’s behaviour to a member of station staff, who confronted him and asked to show a valid ticket. As he was only in possession of a child’s ticket, a member of staff escorted him out from the train, and towards the station entrance. At the ticket barriers, the man began to verbally abuse the staff member, before punching him in the chest and making off from the scene.
CCTV released after station staff member assaulted
British Transport Police is appealing for information after a member of station staff was assaulted on board a train at Southend Victoria station.
Investigators have released CCTV of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the incident, which took place on Monday, 25 March.
War of words between Southend and Hastings
Leeds and Bradford. Southampton and Portsmouth. When it comes to rival towns, there are some long-established traditions around the country. Now a war of words has erupted between Southend and Hastings.
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Rival culture bid towns "absolute dumps"
An Essex MP has angered people bidding for the title UK City of Culture by branding rival towns as "absolute dumps". David Amess, MP for Southend East is leading the bid for the accolade in Essex.
He's suggested that the other towns bidding for the City of Culture accolade are not up to scratch. But Hastings Council Leader Jeremy Birch insists his town's bid is serious and has invited David Amess to Hastings for a guided tour.
"I don't know when he last visited our town, indeed if he ever has. We can take him to the Jerwood Gallery and to the De la Warr," said Cllr Birch
"Perhaps a walk in the Country Park and then in the evening, we can listen to three piano concertos played by the competition finalists. But the coffee is on him! Hastings and Bexhill have every reason to bid for City of Culture status."
TRAVEL - ROADS: ESSEX - Southend - Debris on A127
There is slow traffic due to debris on the road on the A127 Southend Arterial Road London bound between A129 (Rayleigh Weir) and A1245 (A130 / Fairglen Interchange). Debris is in lane two.
More than 300 new pilot roles for easyJet
easyJet has announced 330 new jobs for pilots as part of is new "career structure"
The new permanent First Officer positions will be offered across all 11 of easyJet’s UK bases, including Gatwick and Southend.
The first roles will be given to pilots employed by the company's aviation training partners.
Crook dresses like cartoon thief
All that was missing from these two thieves' outfits was a mask and a "bag of swag" after they raided a supermarket.
Police are now trying to trace the pair, caught on camera burgling a Waitrose store in Fossetts Way, Southend, on Christmas Eve.
Officers said they stole two cameras and X-box controllers.
Anyone who can name them is asked to call Dc Paul Brown on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
