Local News

Echo | Basildon

New £7.5m pothole fund announced to boost Essex road repairs and crews

The £7.5 million Pothole Emergency fund will increase road repair capacity with more crews and specialist machinery.

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Echo | Basildon

Heartwarming therapy dog visits bring smiles to Basildon care home residents

Evelyn May House, part of the Runwood Homes Group, welcomed therapy dog Hettie back to the home for one of her regular visits.

Echo | Basildon

Heart specialist at south Essex hospital named among top three in the UK

Adam Langley, who works at the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre, has been named among the top three echocardiographers in the UK.

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Echo | Basildon

New dog blood donation service coming to Basildon to help save lives

Pet Blood Bank UK has announced it will begin running regular blood donation sessions in Basildon.

Echo | Basildon

Dad 'lost for words' thanks to support after house destroyed in south Essex fire

A fundraiser has been launched to help a single dad whose house was destroyed in a huge blaze, who said he is "lost for words"

Echo | Basildon

Care home resident in south Essex marks 101st birthday with special celebration

Gladys Gillian Roma Claighen, often known as Gill, marked the milestone birthday while living at Cameron House in Pitsea.

Echo | Basildon

From protest to prison: The downfall of Southend safety campaigner Hollie Dance

A prison sentence for Southend children's safety campaigner Hollie Dance, handed down at Basildon Crown Court, represents a spectacular fall from grace.

Echo | Basildon

Hollie Dance and Thomas Summers: What were the defences the jury rejected?

Hollie Dance and Thomas Summers, from Southend, are behind bars for GBH after their defences were rejected by a jury in a Basildon Crown Court trial.

Echo | Basildon

Southend mum and son Hollie Dance and Thomas Summers jailed for GBH

Southend children's safety campaigner Hollie Dance and her son Thomas Summers were sentenced for GBH at Basildon Crown Court.

Echo | Basildon

Paramedic sent to hoax call at south Essex hammer attack victim's home testifies

A Billericay paramedic has told jurors in a Pitsea boy's aggravated burglary trial how she was sent to a hoax at the victim's home hours before a hammer attack.

Echo | Basildon

Teenager who beat childhood cancer donates her old trike to south Essex hospital

A teenager has donated a treasured childhood trike to the children’s ward at Basildon Hospital.

Echo | Basildon

Slightly cooler weekend ahead for south Essex after spell of very hot weather

The weekend will feel less intense than the past week, with sunshine giving way to increased cloud by Sunday.

Echo | Basildon

Burger bar boss fighting back in south Essex after undergoing emergency surgery

Burger bar boss Wayne Bond is battling back with his Basildon business after he was forced to undergo emergency surgery.

Echo | Basildon

Victim never saw boy, 17, on trial over south Essex hammer and bottle attack

A crack cocaine user attacked over a drugs debt in in 2024 has testified at Basildon Crown Court that he was told a Pitsea teenager participated in the assault.

Echo | Basildon

Victim's head split open in Basildon hammer and bottle attack, jury told

A drug user feared he would be killed in a Basildon hammer and bottle attack, the jury in a Pitsea teenager's aggravated burglary trial has heard.

Echo | Basildon

'Urgent demolition' at former south Essex sports centre plagued by vandalism

A former sports centre in south Essex has been torn down after an "urgent demolition" was ordered following a spate of serious vandalism

Echo | Basildon

'Last chance saloon' for south Essex abuser freed on bail

South Essex man Jaco Schalkwyk was warned at Basildon crown Court that he is in the 'last chance saloon' as he awaits sentence for domestic violence.

Echo | Basildon

More than 700 lung cancers caught early through screening programme used Essex

The programme, formerly known as Targeted Lung Health Checks, is the largest initiative in NHS history.

Echo | Basildon

Basildon firm named among top 10 places to work for in UK

Basildon-based company Fastwarm have been named among the top 10 small businesses to work for across the UK by The Times.

Echo | Basildon

Teen boy on trial over 'nasty' south Essex hammer and bottle attack

A south Essex teenager is on trial at Basildon Crown Court, accused of 'encouraging or assisting' two men who inflicting grievous bodily harm over a drugs debt.