News in Thurrock

Occasional Nub News columnist Monty Panesar pays tribute to the late, great Shane Warne and tells how inspired generations of cricketers.

SHANE Warne was rightly regarded as the Einstein of cricket.

TO celebrate the 25th anniversary of World Book Day, Orsett Church of England Primary School in Thurrock created an Amazon Wishlist of books that they were hoping to add to their library shelves over the coming weeks.

The list started relatively small, with a collection of culturally diverse books that the school were eager to introduce to the children as part of their extra-curricular reading, and was sent out to parents with the option for them to donate a book should they wish to get involved.

THE Thurrock-based Katie's Heart Appeal has now supplyed every school in Thurrock that responded to the offer with a defibrillator paid for from funds at the Christmas lights event staged at the Stanford and Maple Park housing estates in Stanford-le-Hope.

And a defibrillator has just been handed to Little Thurrock Post Office where it will be mounted in a cabinet funded by Grays Thurrock Rotary Club. The Post Office branch also took part in fundraising and its contribution will be used towards a defibrillator for the new Thames Park secondary school once the building is finished.

POLICE are carrying out an extensive search and have launched an appeal in a bid to find a missing 42-year-old Thurrock man from South Ockendon.

A statement from Essex Police on Monday , 28 February said: "Deri Stephens left home overnight and has not been in touch with anyone since. This morning, we are carrying out thorough enquiries locally to try and find him."

UK Power Networks says a power cut that briefly hit large swathes of homes and businesses in the Stanford-le-Hope and Linford areas this evening was caused by a faulty cable - possibly connected to heavy rain over recent days.

The outage happened around 9.30pm and power was down across a significant area before being switched back on in stages.

AN unheralded and presumptive statement by Thurrock council leader Rob Gledhill that prompted claims of 'distraction politics' from his rivals has been described as 'the elephant in the room' at a meeting of senior council officers and councillors.

As reported on Thurrock Nub News last week, Cllr Gledhill produced a surprise twist to plans to build council homes on the site of one of the authority's office blocks.

THANKS have been expressed by a Thurrock-based charity for the donation of a gift to be auctioned and the generosity of a buyer - which has resulted in a contribution to funds to help the people of war-torn Ukraine, and a treat for lonely borough residents.

The local co-ordinator for the Re-engage charity, Loraine Coleman, has spoken warmly of the generosity of Stanford-le-Hope's Wonderland Events and to one of its own supporters for their actions.

WITH more closures planned by Thurrock Council on and around the A13 as its long-overdue and controversial road widening project continues, motorists have been warned of further works in the vicinity to the east.

After another weekend of disruption and problems of significant congestion on, local road because of the closure of the A13 between Stanford-le-Hope and Orsett, further closures are planned over the next two weekends.

SOUTH Essex's economy could be "transformed" over the coming years by Thames Freeport, according to bosses who say they are beginning discussions to bring in companies of "national importance".

Construction is already underway for more vast warehouses on the sprawling DP World site at London Gateway port to cater for businesses attracted by the perks that go with being situated within a freeport.

GRAYS Athletic enjoyed a convincing win to strengthen their bid for promotion from the Isthmian North to the Premier Division, but it's looking increasingly likely that East Thurrock United will be going in the opposite direction after the Rocks suffered a defeat on the road.

Anointed Chukwu netted twice from the spot in Grays' 5-2 win against Barking at Parkside in front of a crowd of 403. Many of them were club youngsters who attended joined in a celebration of the club's diversity policies.