News in Thurrock

MUSICIANS or would-be musicians of any age interested in developing or improving skills can find a helping hand in Thurrock.

Thurrock Music Education Hub is available for children, young people and adults across the borough who are interested in developing their talent or interest.

A FAMILY of five from Bulphan fled their house after being alerted to a fire in the roof by smoke alarms.

The incident happened yesterday (Friday, 4 March) at around 7.30pm at the detached village home. Firefighters from Orsett and Basildon rushed to the scene and found the property was heavily smoke logged with a fire in the roof.

A YOUNG woman from Grays, not long released from prison after serving a sentence for manslaughter and theft, is back behind bars for her role in the running of a drugs supply chain with her mother.

Keani Hobbs, 23, of Argent Street, was jailed alongside her mother, Melanie Hobbs, 42, after police busted their drugs operation – run from the mum of seven's Pitsea home - in September last year.

AS the Isthmian League season moves towards its climax, there are still significant issues to be decided for three of the borough's non-League clubs . And a fourth has the quest to find a new manager on its hands.

In the Isthmian Premier today (Saturday, 5 March) East Thurrock United travel to Enfield Town, bolstered by last week's win against Carshalton that lifted them off the foot of the table and gave them a glimmer of hope of avoiding the drop.

AN urgent appeal has been made by Thurrock Foodbank for essential items they distribute to local people in need.

Business co-ordinator Sandra Sawle says: "Due to increased demand Thurrock Foodbank currently have no stocks of jam, pasta sauces, cooking sauces, spaghetti in tomato sauce, tinned meats, rice, sponge puddings, fruit juice, long life milk, cereals, rice pudding, custard and tinned potatoes.

A MAN from Thurrock has been charged in connection with a large-scale investigation into the supply of Class A drugs in Essex.

Specialist officers from the Essex Police serious and organised crime unit, alongside the operational support group, executed a warrant in Grays in the early hours of yesterday (Thursday, 3 March).

RESIDENTS and motorists are reminded the A13 will be closed in both directions between the A1014 (Stanford-le-Hope) and A128 (Orsett) junctions this weekend, for road surfacing, lining and lane re-alignment works as part of the A13 Road Widening Project.

The closures start at 9pm on Friday, 4 March and remain until 5am on Monday, 7 March with traffic diverted via the A1013 Stanford Road instead.

THANKS have been expressed to the Tilbury, Chadwell St Mary and wider Thurrock community linked to the Gateway Academy after a significant donation of goods which are to be shipped to the Ukraine to help those displaced or affected by the current war.

The Academy acted as a collecting point for donations of food, tents, blankets, medicines and many other essential items which have now been despatched today (Friday, 4 March).

FOUR men who were jailed following an Essex Police investigation into the deaths of 39 Vietnamese nationals, who bodies were discovered in a refrigerated truck in West Thurrock in October 2019 have been ordered to pay back more than £30,000 of their criminal earnings.

Maurice Robinson, 26, of Laurel Drive, Craigavon, Northern Ireland, was sentenced to 13 years and four months in prison for 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and acquiring criminal property.

LOCAL MP Stephen Metcalfe, who represents South Basildon & East Thurrock, is encouraging any 11 to 18-year-olds interested in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) to enter the UK's largest youth rocket competition – the UK Youth Rocketry Challenge.

The Youth Rocketry Challenge involves the design, building and launch of a model rocket. The rocket must carry a payload of two raw eggs representing the 'astronauts'. The challenge is to get the rocket as close to 835 feet in altitude as possible within a goal timeframe of 41-44 seconds and the 'astronauts' must remain intact throughout the launch and landing.