Updates for Essex Live have finished for today. 

We'll be back in the morning with the latest news, sport, weather and travel for the county from 08:00.

Have a great evening.

Nick Alliker
BBC Essex

Essex Police has released CCTV pictures of three men who officers want to speak to following an assault in Chelmsford. The 21-year-old male victim was attacked in Market Street in the early hours of 28 December. He was left with a fractured jaw after being punched and kicked.   

Image source, Essex Police

BBC Weather

There will be clear spells at first and it will be mainly dry during the evening, but turning cloudy and wet later in the night.  

The rain will turn heavy at times, particularly across western counties. Becoming windy as the rain band moves through. Minimum temperature: 5C (41F).

  There's more on the forecast where you live from BBC Weather.  

Ian Puckey
BBC Essex

A man from Basildon says multiple chances were missed to save the life of his nephew, who was found dead in Chelmsford Prison on Monday. Dean Saunders, 25, (pictured with his 14-month-old son Teddy) had been remanded in custody after attacking two members of his family.

Image source, Martin Saunders

His uncle, Martin Saunders, told BBC Essex that the family repeatedly asked for him to be sectioned instead of going to prison. We are still waiting for a response from The Ministry of Justice. 

Nikki Fox
BBC Look East

Hundreds of GP surgeries in England have stopped taking on new patients or have applied to do so, a BBC investigation has found.

Charlie Jones
BBC Local Live

The two oldest houses in Clacton, which were built in 1871, are to be demolished after the council decided they were beyond economic repair.

Image source, Tendring District Council

The buildings in Rosemary Road will be replaced after a £4m scheme to create 23 apartments, two shops and cycle and car parking facilities was approved.

Demolition will start over the coming weeks, Tendring District Council said.

We've just had the warmest December on record, but what caused it to happen?

BBC Look East weather forecaster Dan Holley explains.

Laura Devlin
BBC News

Just hours before she was killed, Laura Davies had a conversation on Facebook with her half-sister Joanne Bright, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.

Ms Bright told the jury: "She said he (Jordan Taylor) had become very controlling and had decided to end their relationship but didn't want to see him out on the street."

Jurors heard the attack which killed Miss Davies began in the flat in Basildon. When Miss Davies fled outside in her pyjamas, Mr Taylor, who denies murder, is said to have chased after her and continued stabbing her.

BBC Travel

One lane is closed and there's heavy traffic on the M25 clockwise between J26 for Waltham Abbey and J27 for the M11, because of a crash.

Clacton and Frinton Gazette

A shop owner in Clacton says he is lucky to be alive after a hit-and-run driver smashed into his store., external

Robby West
BBC Essex

Here's a short video I filmed this morning that shows the sheer size of the dead whale that has washed up on a beach in Shoeburyness.

It is not yet known how it will be disposed of.

Charlie Jones
BBC Local Live

A man who was found dead in a stairwell in a block of flats in Pitsea a week ago has been identified as Sirjeet Singh.

Image source, Google

Mr Singh, 32, of Pitsea, was found unconscious in Appleford Court, where he was given first aid before being declared dead.

Two men questioned on suspicion of manslaughter have been released on bail pending further inquiries.

Laura Devlin
BBC News

Laura Davies' mother has told Chelmsford Crown Court that Jordan Taylor would not allow her daughter to wear short-sleeved or low-cut tops, and they would often argue.

Image source, Essex Horse and Pony Protection Society

Dyanne Lambert said: "She became very quiet and didn't want to talk about what was going on."The couple had started seeing each other at the start of last year, after Miss Davies allowed Mr Taylor to move into her flat when his parents threw him out. He denies murdering Miss Davies.

Laura Devlin
BBC News

A man accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death had taken control of her bank account and prevented her from going out, a jury has heard.

Image source, Dyanne Lambert

Laura Davies, 21, suffered at least 80 stab wounds near the Essex Horse and Pony Protection Society base in Basildon, where she lived and worked. Jordan Taylor, 22, of Basildon, denies murder and is on trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Charlie Jones
BBC Local Live

More than 100 prisoners in Chelmsford have completed a reading course backed by Essex libraries.

The Reading Ahead scheme, external offers offenders a chance to improve their reading skills through choosing six books.

One prisoner at HMP Chelmsford said: "Before coming to prison I had never read a book start to finish. It feels like I have actually accomplished something very positive."

Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather

It will be a mostly cloudy afternoon with any showers mainly confined to coastal areas, however, some bright spells are also likely. It'll feel chilly near the coast in brisk southeasterly winds, otherwise they'll be light with a maximum temperature: 9C (48F).

Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/Sweetpea

Thanks to BBC Weather Watcher 'sweetpea' for this shot from Brightlingsea this morning.

Chris Flynn
BBC Essex

A former worker at Essex County Council who's accused of using his position to obtain contact details for a 15-year-old girl, who it's alleged he then propositioned for sex, has appeared in court. 

Aaron Whitman, 26 of Pirie Road in West Bergholt, is facing five charges.

He's next due to appear at Ipswich Crown Court on March 11.

Nick Alliker
BBC Essex

• The UKIP MP for Clacton, Douglas Carswell, says it's "disgraceful" that 12 Essex GP practices have closed their doors to new patients because they're oversubscribed
• One of the two men who were jailed for the gangland murders of three men in Rettendon in 1995 has lost his latest appeal against his life sentence
• More than 200 firefighter posts could be cut across the county

Ben Fryer
BBC Essex sport

England captain and Essex batsman Alastair Cook has again failed to make an impression with the bat on the final day of the second test against South Africa in Capetown.

Image source, Getty Images

Cook scored just seven and is now averaging just over 10 in the series.

You can find the latest scores here.

BBC Newsbeat

Last night saw the launch of Channel 5's Celebrity Big Brother programme.

The 16 contestants include ex-EastEnders actress Daniella Westbrook, former X Factor contestant Christopher Maloney, Geordie Shore's Scotty T and Towie's Gemma Collins (pictured).

Image source, Channel 5