News in Thurrock

MOTORISTS and bus users in Thurrock once more face delays and diversions as a troubled road is once more closed.

Stifford Hill between South Ockendon and North Stifford, which also offers access to Chafford Hundred, is once more closed.

MORE than 120 people have been arrested on suspicion of drug driving so far this month.

Officers made 126 drug driving arrests in the first 23 days of December, compared to 119 drink driving arrests and 44 failing to provide a specimen arrests.

VILLAGERS turned up in force to welcome Father Christmas on the last leg of his fundraising tour of Thurrock this afternoon.

The Rotary Club of Mar Dyke Valley have been taking their sleigh around the region's streets for the last three weeks and traditionally they end up with a tour of Bulphan and the Bonners Estate in Orsett.

NEW Year is fast approaching and therefore the annual Gateway Cycling's 'first day of the year' ride out…

This has been running for a few years now and has been enjoyed by many and is especially geared towards youngsters, families and those who may not be regular bike rides.

WORK has now begun on a new logistics park in Purfleet.

Planning permission for the site was not without a considerable amount of controversy and was opposed by a significant number of local residents - but its developers are hoping delivery of the project in the new year and the jobs it will create will sweeten people's thoughts.

SANTA certainly delivered a boost for the local community in Stanford-le-Hope, Horndon on the Hill and Corringham, where the Rotary East Thurrock Club have reported a 'fabulous' two weeks of sleigh runs.

Residents who were delighted to see Santa as he wended his way through local streets £6,068.68.

THE death of a delivery driver at a Stanford-le-Hope distribution centre has prompted a wave of sympathy and support from members of the local community who have contributed to an online fund to help his widow and two young children.

Paul Crush, 42, worked at the UPS hub on the London Gateway port logistics park and he collapsed and dies of a suspected heart attack last week after working a 12-hour shift for the logistics firm.

FAMILY and friends in Thurrock of a woman stalked and terrorised by her former partner have welcomed his jail sentence, though the victim says she would rather have seen him see sense before ending up behind bars.

The long and sordid tale of the stalking of the victim, (who Thurrock Nub News has chosen not to name so as not to add to her distress) was retold at Basildon Crown Court, where a judge heard the actions of Ian Wren included putting the victim's sister's Stanford-le-Hope home under surveillance and he hacked into her internet accounts as a way of finding out where her sister was.

THURROCK councillor Sue Little has added her vote of thanks to residents across the borough and beyond who supported this year's Give a Gift campaign.

Her praise echoes that of council chief executive Lyn Carpenter as exclusively reported earlier this month on Thurrock Nub News (check out the red button link below).

POLICE have issued an appeal for information after a cyclist suffered a head injury after being hit by a car outside Lakeside shopping centre.

The 26-year-old was struck by a silver Toyota Auris on the Lakeside Retail Park car park service road at around 9.55pm last Wednesday (18 December).