News

Detective dogs keeping illicit products off our high streets

12 February 2026
Thurrock Trading Standards is now working to detect illegal vapes at our border points, with the help of tobacco detection dogs Dora and Grace.
Trading Standards across the UK frequently use specialist sniffer dogs (tobacco detection dogs) to uncover illegal, counterfeit, and non-duty paid products, particularly imported tobacco and vapes.

More Buses, More Often: Boost to services on key routes

11 February 2026
Residents will soon benefit from more frequent and more convenient bus services, as the Council expands operations on two of the borough’s busiest routes, delivering extra evening and weekend journeys.
From Sunday 22 February, the popular 100 service (Lakeside to Basildon, via Grays, Stanford‑le‑Hope and Corringham) will run every 30 minutes during evenings from Monday to Saturday. Sunday evenings will also see the introduction of a new hourly service, giving residents more flexibility to travel later in the day.

How to dispose of your old PC safely and securely

11 February 2026
Buying a new computer and not sure how to dispose of your old machine? Maybe you have draws filled with old mobile phones and smart tablets?
Simply throwing out IT equipment into the rubbish adds to landfill and may expose your personal data to criminal gangs.
We have the solution. Bring your unwanted computers, tablets, mobiles, and other tech to Grays Library on Saturday 21 February and donate it to Every Child Online.

Thurrock hosts special conference to share new ways to support children

6 February 2026
More than 100 staff from Thurrock Council and partner organisations attended a special conference showcasing a new approach designed to better support children and families in the borough. 
Held at Orsett Hall Hotel, the event provided an in-depth introduction to the new Families First Partnership Programme, a national initiative led by the Department for Education. 

Corringham event brings cost‑of‑living support directly to residents

6 February 2026
Residents from across Thurrock were able to access a wide range of advice and support to help them manage the rising cost of living at a free wellbeing event held in Corringham. 
Corringham Library hosted the drop-in session on Wednesday 4 February, bringing together Thurrock Council, local health organisations, and partners from the community and voluntary sector to offer practical guidance on how to navigate increasing day‑to‑day costs. 

Over 3,000 young people in Thurrock help Youth Cabinet to set its priorities for 2026

29 January 2026
Young people aged 11 to 18 years old from across the borough had the opportunity to share which topics were most important to them during a special ballot. 
There were a range of topics young people could vote for, including better PSHE lessons, the environment and Transport.
A total of 3,011 young people took part in the Youth Cabinet ballot, and the top three chosen topics were:

Thurrock comes together to mark Holocaust Memorial Day

29 January 2026
Residents of all ages from across Thurrock attended a poignant memorial service in Grays to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. 
Residents, community leaders and local schools gathered at the Herbert E. Brooks Memorial Rest Garden on Tuesday 27 January for the annual memorial service, held to remember the six million Jewish people murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of others persecuted under the Nazi regime and in more recent genocides. 

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