News in Thurrock

A MEMBER of the animal rescue team at South Essex Wildlife Hospital joined firefighters to rescue a trapped fox which had got itself into a wheel state.

The not so crafty fox cub which had got its head wedged into the middle of a wheel on Havering Road in Romford.

THE number of people allowed to attend funerals has been increased, with Thurrock council now allowing up to ten people to come together for a funeral in a cemetery.

The number is less than is being allowed at crematoriums and cemeteries in neighbouring boroughs, where 25 people can now attend.

POLICE are asking anyone who knows the whereabouts of a Thurrock man they are searching for to get in touch with them.

They are looking for Martin Wall in connection with allegations of assault and harassment.

POLICE and the daughter of an elderly couple conned out of £1,000 by rogue workmen have issued a warning to other residents to be careful.

The incident happened yesterday in Whitehall Road when one of a group of five men, described as Travellers, called at a house on Whitehall Lane, Grays, and told the occupants - a man and woman aged 81 and 91 they were cutting down a tree in a neighbour's garden.

"If this new policy of turning a blind eye to Travellers is to continue, no public park or open safe space will be safe from illegal traveller incursions" - Kerry Smith

ESSEX County Council has confirmed it is currently operating a policy of not moving Travellers on from unauthorised encampments because of government guidance.

A THURROCK man has told how he came through a two week hospital-battle against the Covid-19 virus and has praised one of the nurses at Basildon and Thurrock Hospital, who he describes as his angel.

When told he had to go onto a ventilator, Pastor Peter Nembhard, 52, of Grays, thought he was going to die after he was admitted to Basildon Hospital with coronavirus in the beginning of April.

RESIDENTS in east Tilbury have been alerted to new surveys being carried out by the tam plotting the way for the Lower Thames Crossing – but concern has been expressed about where they will be working and why.

Highways England, who are carrying out survey work prior to submitting a bid for development consent for the controversial crossing, have informed local people that they have authorised magnitude surveys that will be starting in East Tilbury village from tomorrow (Thursday, 11 June).

THURROCK's town centre policing teams in Grays and South Ockendon have reported a number of successes in their bid to curtail anti-social behaviour.

On Sunday, 7 June, PC Dedman and PC Plom located a vehicle in North Stifford following reports of anti-social behaviour. Four occupants were stopped and searched and around 200 nitrous oxide canisters were seized along with a small amount of cannabis.

THE east of the borough is set for significant traffic disruption this coming weekend, with a major closure of the A13.

As work on the widening of the carriageways in both directions continues the A13 will be closed in both directions between the Stanford Interchange (Manorway) and the Orsett Cock Roundabout from 9pm on Friday (12 June) until 5am on Monday (15 June).

A POLICE operation to track down illegal immigrants in transit through Thurrock failed to find anyone attempting to sneak into the UK – but it did net 39 driver infringements.

Officers from Essex Police assisted colleagues in Immigration Enforcement and Border Force in a joint operation last week.