News in Thurrock

AN exhibition has opened in Thurrock this week telling of the 'first Christmas' in the borough in the austerity of the war years.

'THE First Christmas' a free exhibition researched and presented by Thurrock Museum Volunteers is now open at the Thameside Complex in Grays and will run until Friday 27 December (closing at 11am on 27 December).

POLICE say they would like to talk to two men whose images, captured on CCTV, they have released following an incident when a noxious substance was sprayed in Grays Shopping Mall.

Officers were called to the Mall on the High Street shortly before 12.20pm on Friday, 6 December to reports that five people were feeling unwell after a container, which police believe may have contained CS or pepper spray, was discharged.

THERE'S been good news today on environmental issues in the borough in the wake of two incidents of environmental damage.

Last month Thurrock NubNews reported on residents' concerns after trees were felled by workers to create access to power lines between the Warren fishing lakes in Stanford-le-Hope and Mucking.

MYSTERY surrounds damage to to a local waterway which may have killed off a much-cared for animal habitat - prompting concern from Wildlife TV presenter and conservationist Chris Packham.

Local wildlife campaigner and photographer Nick Lay has reported that trees and shrubs have been cut back or removed along an East Tilbury stream known as the Gobians Waterway.

POWER line workers have angered residents in Stanford-le-Hope by cutting down trees, including a large oak.

The trees were felled to create access to power lines between the Warren fishing lakes and Mucking.

Mary Carter is currently in her final year of a BA Social Work degree at Anglia Ruskin University.

Healing Hearts Centre, Bulphan, will be holding an evening of Clairvoyance at Bulphan Village Hall RM14 3RU on Tuesday 17 December with two top mediums Barbara Laurent and Barbara Almond.

A special Christmas buffet will be available and following the clairvoyance at 9.30pm a donation of £1,000 will be made to the MacMillan Palliative Care Nurses at St Luke's Hospice. Since opening nine years ago Healing Hearts Centre has donated more than £30,000 to local charities.

NEXT week High House Community Group are inviting the people of Thurrock to a brief celebration of the Christmas Season with mince pies, mulled wine and carol singing lead by the choir master of the Wesleyan Church in South Ockendon.

There will also be some traditional Christmas readings - favourite poems from our "Pigeon Lady" and an extract from "A Christmas Carol" with a special guest from Thurrock Courts Players as Scrooge.

East Thurrock United 3, Bishops Stortford 4

FAR from the goalfest that the scoreline might suggest, Tuesday night's Velocity Cup tie at the Grayers Graphics Stadium was an underwhelming affair played out in driving rain and wind.

IT might have been second time around for me, but this week's play at the Palace Theatre, Southend, was nevertheless a very engaging experience.

Agatha Christie's thriller returned to the Palace this week and I couldn't resist a second visit to the play performed by the Middle Ground Theatre Company and a very recognisable cast.