IN an unprecedented move – and against a background of adverse national publicity against Thurrock Council – members of the Labour and Independent groups on Thurrock Council boycotted this week's full meeting of the council as they sought to make a protest against the council's lack of transparency.

That was the big story in Thurrock over the past week, which also featured more great work by borough firefighters who tackled a number of field fires as problems with the heatwave and drought conditions continued. Among their missions was an effort to save homes threatened by flames.

The heat and drought also played its part in a remarkable rescue event in the village of East Tilbury, where young people were at the forefront as villagers saved the lives of thousands of fish.

The past week also saw more protests from the JustStopOil campaign, who caused huge tailbacks for motorists at the Dartford crossing when activists climbed gantries over the M25 to once more bring the motorway to a standstill, with queues going back several miles in both clockwise and anticlockwise directions.

In Stanford-le-Hope and Corringham, there was a public outcry when it was announced that a popular local headteacher has resigned his post at Gable Hall School. Hundreds of people signed a petition calling for Ceri Edwards to be reinstated.

As ever though, in Thurrock, there were some great community-based stories that Nub News was delighted to feature. Among them was the completion of a 24 hour Dojo marathon!

More positive news saw another happy afternoon in Grays where volunteers brightened up the lives of older and vulnerable borough folk.

And the charity foundation formed by Grays-based Griffin Residential once more pumped invaluable cash grants into the local community. It helped Thurrock Foodbank and Giffards Primary Academy.