Summary

  • Main headlines for Wednesday, 4 November 2015

  • An Essex chip shop owner has lost a Supreme Court battle over parking charges

  • A number of venomous snakes are found by police during the dismantling of a cannabis factory in Basildon

  • An underground fire closes a road in Brentwood and causes 24 homes to lose power

  • We'll be back with more news, travel, sport and weather from 08:00 on Thursday

  1. Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:02

    Wednesday's Local Live page for Essex has finished - we'll be back from 08:00 tomorrow with the latest news, sport, travel and weather for our county.

    Have a good evening.

  2. Thousands of knives handed over in Essex amnestypublished at 17:50

    The charity Only Cowards Carry, which was set up after the fatal stabbing of the Essex teenager Jay Whiston, says more than 2,500 knives have been placed into its amnesty bins so far. 

    This X post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on X
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip X post

    Allow X content?

    This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of X post
  3. Your pictures: More cobwebs in all their glorypublished at 17:45

    Jack Warren
    BBC Local Live

    Thanks to the Old Forge Cafe who sent us this picture of a cobweb along the River Colne.

    We love to see your photos of Essex, so why not send us an email?

    Cobweb on the River ColneImage source, Twitter/@oldforgecafe
  4. Weather: Cloudy with rain tonightpublished at 17:34

    Chris Bell
    BBC Look East weather

    Patchy rain will continue to move northwards overnight, with the odd heavier burst possible. It will stay rather cloudy but feeling mild.

    Minimum temperature: 11C (52F).

    Weather map for Essex

    Tomorrow will be mostly dry during the morning but rain could arrive by the afternoon.

  5. World champion Whitlock gets hero's welcomepublished at 17:27

    Tom Williams
    BBC Look East sport

    Gold medallist Max Whitlock has returned to Basildon, where he lives and trains, as a World Champion.

    He was greeted with quite a cheer.

  6. Ugley road sign that suggests drivers can break national speed limit 'an act of vandalism'published at 17:22

    Herts & Essex Observer

    Essex Highways has confirmed that a rogue sign painted on the main road in Ugley, that suggests drivers can break the national speed limit, external, is "an act of vandalism".

  7. Priests Lane reopens following underground firepublished at 17:17

    Chris Flynn
    BBC Essex

    I've been to Priests Lane in Brentwood where an underground fire closed the road earlier this afternoon.

    Scene on Priests Lane

    An engineer has told me the electrical box which caught fire has now been put out, and the road has reopened. 

    The traffic lights are still not working, and some homes are without power.

  8. Headlines: Police remove venmous snakes from Basildon cannabis factory and man released over 'Goldfinger' murderpublished at 17:11

    Nick Alliker
    BBC Essex

    Here are your top stories for Essex:

    • Essex Police says it has removed more than 30 reptiles, including two venomous snakes, from a cannabis factory in Basildon this afternoon
    • A car parking company has been defending its charges after an Essex chip shop owner lost an appeal against a fine in Chelmsford
    • A 43-year-old man who had been arrested in connection with the murder of John "Goldfinger" Palmer has been released from police bail
  9. Non league side prepare for Colchester FA Cup tie on Saturdaypublished at 17:00

    Glenn Speller
    BBC Essex Sport

    Today I've been to Wealdstone FC ahead of Colchester United's FA Cup tie on Saturday. 

    The National League South side are making sure they're prepared for the match. Wednesday is clearly laundry day and the kits were drying in the stands.

    Laundry drying in a stand at Wealdstone FC
  10. Poppies sown at 'Hollywood' Basildon signpublished at 16:50

    This X post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on X
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip X post

    Allow X content?

    This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of X post
  11. Parking fine ruling 'sensible', law specialist sayspublished at 16:40

    Jodie Smith
    BBC News

    A consumer and driving law specialist who advises management company ParkingEye has described the Supreme Court decision on Barry Beavis' case as "an entirely sensible ruling".

    Mr Beavis' claim against ParkingEye over an £85 charge for breaching a two-hour parking limit was thrown out by the Supreme Court today.

    A parking meter

    Derek Millard-Smith from JMW Solicitors said the case showed the charges levied against Mr Beavis were "necessary to protect the great majority of motorists who abide by parking rules".

  12. Venomous snakes removed from Basildon cannabis factorypublished at 16:28

    Jack Warren
    BBC Local Live

    Essex Police has told us it has removed more than 30 reptiles from a cannabis factory in Basildon today.

    Two snakes found in BasildonImage source, Essex Police

    Two venomous horned vipers are now in the care of the RSPCA after being discovered at the property in Ravensfield, alongside 22 other live snakes and six which had died.

    The reptiles were found alongside 56 cannabis plants, believed to be worth about £30,000. 

  13. Two men bailed following Southend flat fallpublished at 16:14

    Nick Alliker
    BBC Essex

    Two men who were being questioned after a teenager was found seriously injured at a block of flats in Southend have now been released on bail.

    Barringtons

    Essex Police says the youngster, who is believed to 17, was discovered on the first-floor canopy of Barringtons in Sutton Road on Sunday night. 

    It's said his injuries are consistent with falling from a height.

  14. Colchester striker on 'different world' earlier career exposurepublished at 15:58

    Ben Fryer
    BBC Essex Sport

    Colchester United striker Marvin Sordell has described the media exposure earlier in his career as a "completely different world". 

    Marvin SordellImage source, Getty Images

    Sordell, who was once the subject of a £3m transfer, is preparing to take on his former club Wealdstone in the FA cup first round this weekend. 

    "I'd say the exposure of playing for England and going up to the Premier League for me is just a completely different world", he told BBC Essex Sport. 

  15. 'Poisonous snakes' found in Basildon cannabis factorypublished at 15:44

    An Essex Police officer has tweeted that "poisonous snakes" were found during the dismantling of a cannabis factory in Basildon.

    We've contacted the force to find out more information.

    This X post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on X
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip X post

    Allow X content?

    This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of X post
  16. Properties without power following Brentwood underground firepublished at 15:28

    Ian Puckey
    BBC Essex

    UK Power Networks says 24 properties in Brentwood are currently without power following an underground fire. 

    The incident happened at 12:30 on Priest Lane. The road is currently closed whilst firefighters deal with the blaze.

  17. Parking charges are 'fair', management company sayspublished at 15:15

    The management company responsible for the car park which issued Barry Beavis an £85 charge has issued us with a statement after the Supreme Court ruled in its favour

    Quote Message

    The Supreme Court’s Judgment provides much-needed clarity to motorists and the parking industry as a whole and confirms that our parking charges, which are approved by the British Parking Association, are fair and legally enforceable"

    ParkingEye spokesperson

  18. John 'Goldfinger' Palmer murder: Man released from bailpublished at 15:01

    A 43-year-old man who had been arrested in connection with the murder of a notorious Essex criminal has been released from police bail. 

    John 'Goldfinger' PalmerImage source, PA

    The man was questioned after John "Goldfinger" Palmer (pictured) was shot dead at his home in South Weald in June. 

    Essex Police says it is continuing to investigate.

  19. Brentwood underground fire causes disruptionpublished at 14:52

    Ian Puckey
    BBC Essex

    Essex Fire and Rescue has told us Priests Lane in Brentwood is closed at the junction of Ingrave Road following an underground electrical fire. 

    Nearby traffic lights are out. Essex Police is helping with traffic. 

    Priests LaneImage source, Google
  20. Braintree manager does his homework ahead of FA Cup clashpublished at 14:36

    Ben Fryer
    BBC Essex Sport

    Braintree Town manager Danny Cowley says he's got plenty of footage of League Two Oxford to go through as he eyes an FA Cup upset this weekend.

    Danny CowleyImage source, Getty Images

    The Iron have never beaten a Football League side in the competition, and have never made it past the third round.