News in Thurrock

IN the latest incident of vandals attacking buses and putting services at risk windows have been smashed by gun pellets this evening.

It happened in the Chadwell St Mary and Tilbury area and three buses operated by Ensign Buses on the 77A route have been damaged.

TWO Thurrock Conservative councillors are to 'challenge' plans by the authority to start stripping cladding from more tower blocks in the borough.

Over recent weeks, following the breaking of the story by Thurrock Nub News, there has been growing concern about the state of six tower blocks in south Grays where the council has removed cladding – leaving residents in them subject to cold, mould and damp.

THURROCK'S MP has drawn attention to 'flunkies in Number 10' and of the 'self-indulgent bureaucracy' surrounding the Prime Minister.

Jackie Doyle-Price spoke up in the House of Commons this afternoon, quizzing PM Boris Johnson just hours after the two shared a visit to Tilbury for the official opening the UK's latest port – Tilbury2 - today (Monday, 31 January).

A PROMISING young Thurrock artist from Corringham has launched an Instagram page featuring his works.

Joshua Saunders, 13, who home schools, has hopes to make a career as a painter – having already sold a number of his works.

ONLINE opportunities to learn more about apprenticeships, whether you are about to leave school, college or sixth form or are already in an established job or career, will be hosted by Thurrock Inspire Youth Hub in February.

A number of virtual webinars will take place throughout National Apprenticeship Week this year, providing an insight into how apprenticeships can provide people of all ages with the skills and experience to develop their career.

TODAY may rank as one of the most important and difficult ones in Prime Minister Boris Johnson's battle to retain the confidence of the country with the arrival of Sue Gray's report into covid breaches in Downing Street, but he started it on a high note in Tilbury.

Mr Johnson was in Thurrock this morning (Monday, 31 January) where management at the Port of Tilbury welcomed him to officially open Tilbury2 port.

ESSEX Police has issued pictures of its new fleet of high performance vehicles.

A statement from the force says: "We're continuing to invest to keep you safe on our roads and have added new vehicles to our fleet.

VOLUNTEERS who support a borough-based charity that helps the homeless and struggling in Thurrock reported a busy night at its most recent gathering on Friday (28 January) and have issued a plea for more help, if possible, from the local community and businesses due to the rising numbers of people in need.

The Friends of Essex and London Homeless regularly run a soup kitchen and help event outside Grays Baptist Church in Grays on Friday evenings.

RESIDENTS are being urged to attend a meeting in February when the focus of attention will on the increasing number of HGVs using a busy road through Chadwell St Mary.

The town's community forum will be meeting on Thursday, 17 February in Emmanuel Church, Sleepers Farm Road starting at 7pm.

A THURROCK knitting group has once more hit the fundraising trail for good causes.

The Grays-based Needles and Chat group have been making knitted hearts which they are selling to support the British Heart Foundation.