IT'S been an important week in the lives of borough teenagers who received their GCSE results this week.

You can find out how the students at Gable Hall, Gateway Academy, St Clere's, Grays Convent and Hassenbrook did in our round of up the results – plus what the civic leaders had to say.

Also checking the numbers were supporters of local football clubs and it was a good week for East Thurrock United and Grays, who made progress in the FA Cup – but Tilbury went out and Aveley took a thumping in the league.

And if you fancy catching up with a new sport, why not pop along and watch Kabaddi at Blackshots on Sunday?

The eco-warriers from the JustStopOil group once again targeted the borough this week with a series of demonstrations, which including some campaigners embedding themselves inside tunnels they created under busy link roads – then they blamed the police for putting their lives at risk!

The Orsett Show takes place next week and we started out countdown to the big day by looking back on more than a century of memories.

It's been a long, hot dry summer but the moment we got a bit of rain, Stanford-le-Hope was once again hit by flooding at a spot residents and motorists were told had been sorted out for good.

There was a happy ending to a story that made national news as a missing Thurrock student nurse was found safe and well more than 100 miles from her Chafford Hundred home. The prayers of the mum of Owami Davies were truly answered when the 24-year-old was found in Hampshire.

Meanwhile the beat will go on in Stanford-le-Hope after organisers of a music festival defied their critics and pressed ahead with arrangements for a night of head-banging sounds.

The organisers were not particularly enamoured with the decision-making of Thurrock Council officers and neither were some planning councils, who turned into rebels and stood their ground to approve a new home application that they had been advised to reject.

Also not best pleased with the council, but looking forward to a weekend of fun nevertheless are the organisers of the Stanford and Corringham Carnival.