News in Thurrock

COUNCILLORS in Grays have welcomed an announcement that Thurrock Council is to fully externally refurbish nine high rise tower blocks located in the town.

The aim is to prolong the life of the blocks close to the Thames in South Grays and in Blackshots.

A MAN is in custody following reports a laser was shone into a police helicopter from a vehicle travelling along the M25 in Thurrock.

The 41-year-old man from Eltham, south-east London, was arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs and a knife and endangering an aircraft.

A BID by gas engineers at a troubled Thurrock road junction have been scuppered by unexpected problems and the work is now set to last into next week.

Work should have finished yesterday (Monday, 4 May) on repairing a leak at the junction of Buckingham Hill Road and Stanford Road (A1303), which is being carried out by Cadent.

THURROCK Council will mark the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE day) on Friday 8 May with a number of private tributes and virtual events.

Mayor of Thurrock, Cllr Terry Piccolo, will lay a wreath at Stanford-le-Hope War memorial and Deputy Mayor, Cllr Sue Shinnick will lay a wreath at Grays War Memorial at 11am on Friday. Due to social distancing, both of these occasions will be private and not open to members of the public to attend.

DESPITE having several outlets across the borough Thurrock has missed out in the list of 15 McDonalds restaurants that will be reopened next week as the international fast food chain slowly begins to restart its business.

The company has announced that 15 outlets and franchises will be serving local customers from a reduced menu by 'McDelivery' only from 11am on Wednesday, 13 May.

AS anticipation of a relaxation of lockdown rules grows another popular Thurrock business is about to reopen its doors.

The King Street Bakery in Stanford-le-Hope initially remained open when restrictions were first imposed but announced on 4 April that it would be closing.

ONE of East Thurrock's familiar sights and sounds returned to a borough town centre this morning.

Thurrock Nub News was there to greet Scott Rodwell, his dad Paul and all the staff at Sunny Fruits in Corringham once more put out its stalls full of fresh fruit and veg, flowers, hanging baskets and bedding plants. See our video here.

THURROCK Council appears to be distancing itself from the appointment of a 'flexible community support officer' to enforce social distancing in the borough.

Along with other media, Thurrock News has reported an advertisement that was placed on social media employment websites seeking applications for the role.

FIVE more cases of borough residents contracting the Covid-19 virus have been recorded in the latest Public health England figures released today (Monday, 4 May) but the death tally in Thurrock has remained unaltered at 51.

The number of new cases nationally is 3,985, taking the total UK number of those who have contracted the infection to 190,584.

POLICE are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dash cam footage following a collision in Chafford Hundred.

A blue Skoda Octavia and a grey/silver Audi A6 were in collision in Flemming Road at around 9.15pm on Saturday, 2 May.