News in Thurrock

POLICE have released limited information about an incident that happened earlier in the week that has led to an area of a playing field being cordoned off today (Saturday, 2 October).

The force has been able to say the incident on the Billet playing fields in the east of the town does not involve a murder or GBH offence but have remained vague otherwise.

ALL four Thurrock non-League sides are in action today (Saturday, 2October) with East Thurrock United taking centre stage as the Rocks try to pull off an FA Cup giant-killing act.

The Isthmian Premier side travel to National League North Boston United in the third qualifying round.

RESIDENTS and motorists are reminded that the A13 will be closed in both directions between the A1014 (Stanford-le-Hope) and A128 (Orsett) junctions from 9pm this evening (Friday, 1 October) and over the weekend.

The closure remains until 5am on Monday, 4 October with traffic diverted via the A1013 Stanford Road instead.

A CEREMONY took place yesterday (Thursday, 30 September) to honour three priests who have been awarded the Freedom of Thurrock.

It was held at the South Essex College in Grays when the honour was bestowed on Rev John Guest, Canon Brian O'Shea and posthumously to Father Paul Dynan.

A FORMER Thurrock primary school teacher has been banned from the profession for life after accessing child pornography.

Robert Salvage was previously employed at Stanford-le-Hope Primary School as a class teacher from September 1, 2016, until his resignation on September 19, 2019. Six days later the 38-year-old was arrested by police for accessing indecent images of children on October 30, 2018, according to a teacher misconduct report.

THE public are not behind Essex Police's struggle to keep on top of the rise of illegally ridden e-scooters, a police chief has said.

Acting Chief Inspector Martin Richards says the force could be out of step with people's wishes by clamping down on illegally-ridden e-scooters.

A CALL has gone out to youngsters and their families in the Orsett area to see if there is a demand for the creation of a new scouting group.

Whitmore Hall and The Churches Centre in the village plays host to a number of groups that offer scouting experiences for children from six to 18 years-old.

RESIDENTS in Purfleet-on-Thames will give an official welcome to their new community chaplain this weekend.

The commissioning of Rev Erica Bowler will take place at 2pm on Saturday and will be followed by a community tea. The commissioning will take place by the Beacon on the open green space by the Thames off Tank Hill Road.

A THURROCK woman has detailed the trauma and anguish she has gone through as a result of delays in the NHS.

Katie Veras, 33, from Chadwell St Mary works in the health service as a trainee dental nurse but she has been unable to work for more than a year after being stricken with Endometriosis.

THE long anticipated restart of work on Stanford-le-Hope's rail station will not begin until late June or later next year.

Planning permission for the new rail station design to the east of London Road – but not the car park or proposed bus turnaround site to the west – was granted in July. Yet it seems there is still a lot of work to be undertaken as 'detailed design works and assessments' still need to be carried out.