News in Thurrock

YOUNGSTERS and families who are part of Thrrock's Open Door network joined Grays Beachcombers this morning (Sunday, 5 January) to take part in the monthly litter pick along the bank of the River Thames.

The pickers meet at Thurrock Yacht Club on the first Sunday of every month and are frequently joined by members of local companies and organisations.

ONE of the strongest critics and ardent campaigner against the proposed Lower Thames crossing has given a new year message to residents that the fight against it is not lost.

Laura Blake, who is a member of the borough-based Thames Crossing Action Group, spoke up after a picture on a social media post showed a workman decked out in crossing branded hi-biz protective gear.

A FITNESS programme which has proved highly successful in 2019 is offering the opportunity for Thurrock men to join the programme.

'Shift the Timber' is a service run on behalf of Thurrock Council and with support from Thurrock CCG and provides twice weekly sessions for men.

THURROCK Courts Players start the new decade with a bang with their first production in what promises to be an exciting year ahead.

The Players have been hard at work over the recent months on a classic piece of comedy theatre set in the early 1900s . "When We Are Married" by J.B. Priestley tells the story of three couples all married on the same day in the same chapel somewhere in the North of England.

THURROCK'S police commander has moved on to a new job - the latest is a succession of senior officer to come and go in the borough.

Chief Inspector Claire Talbot has been promoted to Superintendent for Contact management and on Monday will begin her new job.

DETECTIVES are urging pub-goers in South Ockendon to come forward with evidence after a disturbance at the Woodlands Edge pub in December.

A member of staff was assaulted between 10.30pm and 10.40pm on Saturday, 7 December.

FOUR men have been sentenced today (Friday 3 January) after crew members were threatened on an international container ship as it sailed within UK territorial waters headed for Tilbury.

Toheeb Popoola, 27, received two years and seven months for making a threat to kill and affray, Joberto McGee, 20, received two years and eight months for making threats to kill and affray, and Samuel Jolumi, 27, and Ishola Sunday, 27, received a year and four months for affray at Central Criminal Court.

PLANS are being made to return residents to Corringham's Collins House, which had to be evacuated on New Year's Eve because of a major power failure.

Residents and their families have been praised for their stoic response to the situation.

A NEW academic term is about to start in Thurrock and nowhere will it be celebrated more that at Beacon Hill Academy.

For the fourth time in a row the coeducational special school in South Ockendon has been judged as 'outstanding' following a recent Ofsted Inspection.

THURROCK Council has been awarded a small share of more than £4 million allocated by government to crack down on criminal landlords and letting agents.

The £27,000 funding will be used to develop a multi-agency approach in targeting landlords operating unregistered care homes that provide residential accommodation to young adults from outside of Thurrock.