The officer in charge reported that the first floor of the house was completely smoke logged.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were using one hose reel jet to tackle the fire.

Update:The fire was fully extinguished by 21:45hrs. Firefighters used one hose reel jet and wore breathing apparatus.

The meeting will be held at 7pm at the Jack Evans complex in Faymore Gardens, South Ockendon.

Pc Leigh Munden, neighbourhood constable for South Ockendon, Belhus and Aveley wards, said: “We always used to hold the NAP meeting during the day, which meant a lot of people that work couldn’t attend to tell us what crime problems concerned them most.

“By holding the new meeting in the evening, we hope it encourages more members of the community to come along and set the policing priorities for their neighbourhoods. At the heart of neighbourhood policing is listening to what our residents want, so I encourage everyone to come along and have their say, and we will act upon their concerns.”

If you have any crime or anti-social behaviour concerns and you live in South Ockendon, Aveley or Belhus, contact Pc Leigh Munden on the beat mobile: 07866 543494 or email leigh.munden@essex.pnn.police.uk.

Our current Youth Centre activities will continue as usual but our workers will now be able to get out and about during the day as well as running specialised training programmes. With all the publicity about our NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) young people and their needs, it is wonderful to finally be able to do something to help change their lives. The Tudor Trust has a strong base in “Encouraging progress, development and fresh ideas” which nicely fits into what we are trying to achieve in Aveley”

The first programme AVCF will be running (in partnership with Thurrock Council’s Connexions Service) is a free 10 week training programme for 10 local young people. This will include work skills training, community work, personal development and other activities designed to help them back into training or into a job. The programme starts on 20th February and if you are interested in taking part please ring Aveley Youth & Community Centre on 01708 862001.

Friday 13th saw the start of their new arts and crafts club. Running every Friday between 10am and 12 noon, people can get together and share a whole range of craft activities, have a cup of tea and a biscuit, meet new people and maybe learn a new skill.

The only thing we haven’t got is a name but they are working on it.

Membership is free as is the tea & coffee and they provide some basic materials.

CROWDS of people turned up to see the lights turned on and joining in singing of Christmas Carols led by pupils of the Aveley Primary School. This was followed by Hot Chocolate & Mince Pies in the Aveley Youth & Community Centre.

The Forum would like to extend its thanks to the local businesses who donated to the cost of the lights.

Without their support there would have been no lights for the first time in many years.

The Aveley Community Centre also held their first Christmas Dinner. This proved to be so popular we had to move to the Aveley Public Hall to hold everyone.

85 local residents joined together to celebrate with a traditional Christmas menu. Their volunteer chef, John Livermore from the Whitmore Arms, Orsett, brought a team from work and some friends to cook and serve a most magnificent meal.

Revellers were also entertained at table by Paul Clancy, a local magician, who managed to confound all of them.

The regular High Tea will be back at the Aveley Youth & Community Centre on Thursday 5th January.

The Forum would like to thank all those who gave their time to make this event so successful including the Aveley Public Hall who made us so welcome and took care of most of the washing up!

On a final note Aveley Village Community Forum is holding its AGM on Tuesday 20th December at 7.30 in the Aveley Youth & Community Centre.

The meeting is open to anyone who would like to see what they do.

Reports of burglary in these wards have increased quite substantially, after 38 were reported from November 1 to November 28, compared to 18 reports between October 1 to October 28.

Of these burglaries, a massive 74 per cent* saw burglars gain entry through the rear of the property, prompting police to urge residents to secure their gardens properly, particularly if they live in terraced houses or back onto alleys .

In one incident in Davis Road, Aveley, between 10.30am on Sunday, November 27 and 2pm the next day, a suspect gained entry through an insecure garden gate from an adjoining alleyway. They then forced open a rear door, causing £200 damage after the frame was damaged and a pane of glass smashed. No entry was gained to the property.

Police have been actively patrolling the area, and have been informing residents of ways to protect their home. Letters are currently being delivered to all households where windows have been left open, gates left open or if the property backs onto alleyways so they can take steps to help prevent being burgled.

Insp Anna Brennan, in charge of the neighbourhood policing teams for the affected areas, said: “The amount of burglaries that have been reported over the last month are staggering. Since noticing the increase, we have put additional patrols in place to curb further offences, but we need residents to help us by practising good home security. The burglaries have occurred during the day and at night and I would urge anyone who sees’s anything suspicious to ring us.

“We hope by advising residents that most of the burglaries have seen the suspects enter at the rear of the property, that they will ensure that all garden gates are fully secured with padlocks. Investing in home security lighting is also a good deterrent; no burglar wants to be seen and if they see security lights, they may think twice about targeting your address.”

Police are also advising residents to make sure all doors and windows are locked properly. A number of properties have also had their keys stolen through the letter box, so police are advising residents to hide their keys in a safe place out of view from windows and doors, only accessible to family members in the event of a fire.

As part of their crackdown, police are also targeting known prolific offenders, and visiting their addresses every day to ensure they know police will arrest them if they suspect them of being responsible.

Insp Brennan added: “By visiting known offenders, we can disrupt their daily activity, and we are letting them know that if we think they are responsible for the recent burglaries, we will arrest them and bring the full force of the justice system down upon them.”

The news comes after the Springfield Consortium have withdrawn their appeal against the Thurrock Thames Development Corporation (DC’s) rejection of their application to build back in March.

The application was for land off Romford Road in Aveley

The company was refused permission to build 550 homes on green belt land. As well as the homes, the application also included a 175-bedroom care home, 1,594 sq m of retail and 1,500sq m of office space, a doctor’s surgery and a community building.

Tory ward councillor Wendy Herd said: “Residents contacted me on receiving the letter informing them Springfield Consortium had lodged an appeal.

“They were concerned the decision may not be upheld.

“To hear the appeal has now been withdrawn is wonderful news and hopefully this will draw a line in the sand.”

This is their third season together and are part of a flourishing football scene up in Aveley.

Next year, they are planning to take part in a tournament in Butlins.

But they need some sponsorship.

Coach Faye Lambert said: “Whoever sponsored us will be well advertised and we would include their logo on websites, facebook page and on shirts etc.”

YourThurrock has also pledged that if a person/company sponsors the team we will come along and film one of the games.

For more information, please contact Faye at 07780670231

On Monday (7 November) six new 20mph limit signs were unveiled — each including a picture designed by one of the school’s pupils.

Nine-year-old Becky Foley found out her design had won the competition organised by Thurrock Council’s road safety team, last week when she and runners up were announced at Friday’s school assembly (4 November), and presented with prizes by the team.

On Monday Becky was joined by head teacher Nicola Shadbolt and local councillor Maureen Pearce outside the school with members of the road safety team as the new signs were unveiled.

The Traffic Calming and Safer Routes to School scheme also includes the introduction of speed cushions, a raised pedestrian crossing point as well as the extension of the existing 20mph zone.

After a initial objections from residents and a public enquiry, the Secretary of State refused the application as it conflicted with National Policy.

Cllr Wendy Herd said that “Ward cllrs are extremely pleased with this outcome, the destruction of greenbelt will always remain a contentious issue locally.

“Many areas that were not identified in master plans have had applications approved which has angered residents across the borough.

“There has been inconsistent messages from the Development Corporation where by one application has been refused on key points and another approved.

“Residents in Aveley should be very proud of themselves showing a tenacious attitude and outstanding community spirit with each application.”

But for the more energetic there will be guided walks and rides. The walks vary in distance and content.

Last year the fungus hunt proved a great success and with the addition of the new mural the Art and Sculpture trail is a guaranteed hit. Bring your bikes to explore the Mardyke or follow the river towards Aveley & Purfleet or North Stifford & Bulphan.

At 2 pm there will be a break in the programme, for those who knew Arthur well, to celebrate the life of former Mayor, Arthur Clarke who died earlier this year. Arthur was a Davy Down and Thames Chase Trustee and a long term governor of the former Aveley School. Diana Clarke’s family and friends will be there together with representatives who reflect Arthur’s contribution to Thurrock. Thurrock Council have donated an oak which will be planted inside the Pumping Station garden. Diana hopes that others will just drop in between 2 & 3 pm.

After 3 pm it will be business as usual with the warden bring out his menagerie of snakes, bull frogs and reptiles and giving tips to visitors on how to look after them.

The initial collision involved a VW Polo being driven towards the A13 in collision with a Nissan Micra travelling in the opposite direction. The woman in the Polo suffered minor injuries. The five men in the Micra, which had rolled, got out of their car and were on the grass verge when a Vauxhall Astra came across the accident and trying to avoid the cars, collided with two of the occupants of the Micra, causing serious injury.

Police are appealing for any witnesses who have any information to contact the Serious Collision Investigation unit on 101 or 0300 333 4444.

The road remains closed until the debris has been cleared. Five people have been arrested and will be interviewed to accertain the circumstances of the crash.

Decorated officer,PC Andy Lawrence has held the role of Community Liaison Officer for the last seven years, covering the Aveley, Belhus, Ockendon and West Thurrock and South Stifford wards, but it is claimed that under the new Essex Police Blueprint, he will be moved to a “back office post” in the Crime and Incident Management Bureau – a move which has angered local residents and politicians alike.

Conservative Ockendon councillor Amanda Arnold said, “It takes time and massive amount of effort to build up the number of high quality relationships that Andy has forged. His work has had a hugely positive effect on the community and he has become the public face of the police. We feel like the rug has been pulled from under our feet.”

Cllr Sue Gray who chairs the South Ockendon Residents Association agreed, adding, “We have been contacted by residents and community groups who are furious about this decision and want to know what they can do to make sure Andy stays.

“The posting notification states that officers have been “skills matched” to their new posts, but no officer had more contacts or had spent more time at community and multi agency meetings than Andy.”

A petition to keep PC Lawrence as part of the Neighbourhood Police Team has been launched by Ockendon Street Rep John Noon, and is expected to be presented to the Chief Constable at the meeting of Full Council on 21st September.

The van contained propane cylinders.

The incident was dealt with by 03:56 hrs. A joint Police and Fire Service investigation will be carried out to establish the cause.