Jack Warren
BBC Local Live

When I was a teenager the most I won was a game of cricket, but one 14-year-old from Essex has this weekend been crowned Scalextric World Champion - despite never having played before.

Image source, Worthing HO Racing

Ted Tim from Theydon Bois was declared the winner after completing 10 laps of a 28ft (8.55m) circuit faster than 200 other competitors. 

Ted says he came across the competition while out shopping and had just decided "to have a go".

Nick Alliker
BBC Essex

Here are your top stories this lunchtime: 

• The funeral of Nick Alexander, killed in the terrorist attacks in Paris, is taking place at a church in Weeley
• A 25-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to murdering a woman in Clacton on Friday
• Colchester United will hold a press conference at 14:00 to announce their new management team

Charlotte Rose
BBC Essex

A 25-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to murdering a woman in Old Road, Clacton on Friday morning.

Scott Hilling, of no fixed address, was arrested the same day and charged over the weekend. He appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court today, where the victim was named as Kathleen Griffiths, 57.

Mr Hilling has been remanded in custody to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court tomorrow.

Gareth George
BBC Look East

About 250 mourners are inside St Andrew's Parish Church, Weeley, for the funeral of Nick Alexander, who was killed in the Paris terror attacks.

The service began at midday in the church in the village where the 35-year-old grew up. 

Mr Alexander's parents, Barry and Sheelagh, and his sister Zoe are in attendance. The service is reflecting his love of music and will include Across the Universe by The Beatles.

Gareth George
BBC Look East

The funeral of Nick Alexander, who was killed in the terrorist attacks in Paris, is now under way at a church in Weeley.

The 35-year-old was selling T-shirts at a rock concert at the Bataclan theatre when the terrorists struck on 13 November.

The service is being held at St Andrew's Parish Church in the village where he was brought up.

Laura Safe
BBC Essex

A man has been threatened with what is believed to be a baseball bat after two men were asked to leave a JD Wetherspoon pub in Harlow.

Image source, Google

Essex Police says the men were asked to leave The William Aylmer in Kitson Way because of their "rowdy behaviour" on 15 December.

When the 20-year-old left work about 40 minutes later, he was approached by one of the men who hit his car with the weapon before running off. Nobody was injured.

Essex Police, external would like to identify this man after a communal gate was stolen from a block of flats in Westcliff.

Image source, Essex Police

The unknown suspect is said to have dismantled and taken the wooden doorway in Westcliff Parade on 22 October. 

The man is described as white, thick set and has a bald head.

Colchester United have called a press conference for 14:00 this afternoon to announce their new management team. 

We'll have more details as we get them.

Ben Fryer
BBC Essex sport

Southend United striker Noel Hunt hopes the disrupted start to his career with the Blues is behind him.

Image source, Rex Features

He scored twice on his return to the side in Friday's win over Bury. 

Hunt says he is "fit enough to play in every game" over the Christmas period.

Jack Warren
BBC Local Live

The theft of a crocheted nativity scene from a Rayleigh postbox comes just six months after a pirate was taken from outside Chalkwell station.

Image source, The Craft Club Yarnbombers

The Craft Club Yarnbombers said it never knew who took the woollen seaman. However, it was returned a few days later.

On Saturday, Mary and baby Jesus were unpicked from the club's display in Rayleigh High Street. 

Ben Fryer
BBC Essex sport

Colchester United are set to appoint Kevin Keen as their new manager.

Image source, Getty Images

The former West Ham midfielder and coach was sat next to U's chairman Robbie Cowling during Saturday's defeat at Rochdale. 

He had already emerged as an overwhelming favourite with the bookmakers, who've since suspended betting.

Detectives investigating a suspected acid attack in Clacton say it appears to be an "isolated incident". 

A 21-year-old man suffered serious eye injuries after a liquid was squirted in his face on Branston Road at about 22:00 on 13 December, police say.

Det Con Mo Crawlet said: "This was an unprovoked attack on a lone man who was just walking by... Those responsible do need to be caught and prosecuted.” 

Laura Safe
BBC Essex

A 21-year-old man could be without his sight this Christmas after he was attacked with what is believed to be acid in Clacton.

Image source, Google

Essex Police, external says the victim was walking along Branston Road when he suddenly felt liquid in his face, and was then hit in the face with a hard object on December 13.

It is not known if he will fully recover the sight in his right eye.

Basildon Echo

A senior Tory councillor has been advised to avoid social media after an investigation was launched into comments he made online, external.  

Jack Warren
BBC Local Live

Mary and baby Jesus, two characters in a charity Christmas postbox decoration in Rayleigh, have been stolen.

Image source, The Craft Club Yarnbombers

The Craft Club Yarnbombers tell me it discovered the knitted figures had been "very carefully" unpicked on Saturday morning, just two days after it was put on display in the High Street.

The nativity scene, which was being used to raise money for the Castle Point Association for Voluntary Services, has since been removed by the club.

Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather

Any early showers will move away quickly to leave a dry and bright morning with some sunshine. Cloud will increase by midday with some rain or drizzle arriving during the afternoon. 

Maximum temperature: 12C (54F).

Thomas Magill
BBC Essex

A post-mortem examination of a woman found dead at a property in Clacton has revealed she died from multiple stab wounds to her chest.

Police were called to a house in Old Road on Friday morning and found the dead woman, believed to be in her 50s.

Scott Hilling, 25, of no fixed address, has been charged with murder and is due to appear before Colchester magistrates today.

Jenni Hulse
BBC Essex

The hotly-anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens opened at UK cinemas on Friday, but a booking error in Colchester left some die-hard fans very disappointed. 

Image source, Disney/Lucasfilm

Audience members at the town's Odeon found the screening they'd selected back in October no longer existed. 

Eventually guests were asked to leave and offered a full refund and free tickets as compensation. We have tried to contact the Odeon, but have not heard back yet.

Laura Safe
BBC Essex

Here are your top stories for Essex this morning: 

• A post-mortem examination of a woman found dead at a property in Clacton on Friday reveals she died from multiple stab wounds to her chest
• Kevin Keen is set to be named the new manager of Colchester United
• Cinemagoers have been offered a full refund after being told a Star Wars screening in Colchester that they'd booked in October no longer existed

Jack Warren
BBC Local Live

Good morning and welcome to Christmas week on Essex Live.

Until 18:00 we'll have all your latest news, sport, weather and travel. 

If you'd like to say hello, you can email us, tweet us, external, or visit our Facebook page, external.