BBC Travel

There's heavy traffic on the M11 southbound at J6 for the M25, near Epping, because of an earlier broken down vehicle.

All lanes have been reopened.  

Helen Burchell
BBC News

Here is a picture of the the 35ft (10m) whale we told you about that is currently on Shoeburyness' East beach.  

Image source, MCA/Southend CRT

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency says the minke whale is "not an environmental hazard".

BBC Travel

There's been a crash on the A124 in Dagenham, which is causing delays.

The road is closed in both directions between the Dagenham Road junction and the A1112 Rainham Road North junction.  

Charlie Jones
BBC Local Live

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has confirmed that a 35ft (10m) whale is still stranded on Shoeburyness' East beach - which is a publicly-accessible beach owned by the Ministry of Defence.

It has been to see the minke whale with a team from the National History Museum - which believes the whale was hit by a boat.

Image source, Port of London Authority

The Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme, external says the large mass visible in this image is distension of the tissue around the tongue, potentially caused by decomposition gases in the body.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

One of the two men jailed for the 'Essex Boys' gangland murders has lost the latest in a series of appeals against his life sentence.

Michael Steele, from Great Bentley, and Jack Whomes, from Brockford, Suffolk, were found guilty of killing three drug dealers who were shot dead in a Range Rover in Rettendon in December 1995.

Steele (pictured) was trying to overturn The Criminal Cases Review Commission's decision that there was not enough new evidence to go back to court, but a High Court judge has backed the ruling, saying the claimant's case was "unarguable".

Matt Precey
BBC Look East

Douglas Carswell, the UKIP MP for Clacton, says it's a "disgrace" that three out of four GP practices in the town have had to close their doors to new patients because they're oversubscribed.

Image source, Reuters

"There is a chronic shortage of doctors nationally and in our part of Essex there is acute demand," Mr Carswell said.

"I think it's extraordinary that having warned minsters, we're now facing a situation where many people in Clacton can't see a doctor when they need one."

Matt Precey
BBC Look East

The business manager of a surgery in Clacton, which is one of about 100 across England to close its doors to new patients, says not enough doctors want to move to the area.

Image source, Google

Andrew Sarek, from Ranworth Surgery, said: "Clacton isn't the kind of place where doctors want to come. There is high deprivation here.

"The number of new patients we were taking on, at 120 a month, meant we could not look after our current patients properly."

Charlie Jones
BBC Local Live

Wildlife experts are asking the public to keep an eye out for a dead minke whale which was spotted near Shoeburyness before refloating on the incoming tide.

Image source, Port of London Authority

The whale was first reported floating in the mouth of the Thames estuary on 3 January and appeared in Shoeburyness a day later, the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme, external said.

The Port of London Authority, Essex Wildlife Trust and Southend Coastguard have all been involved in the search.

BBC Travel

One lane is closed on the M11 northbound between J8 for Bishops Stortford and J9 for Saffron Walden, because of a crash.

Samantha Dalton
BBC Essex

Firefighters were called to a fire at Writtle Infant School last night, when a demountable classroom and a shed were "100% alight", a fire service spokesman said.

It was put out by 22:43. The cause of the fire is being investigated.

Image source, Google

Adam Eckley, the acting chief fire officer for Essex, says the county will still be safe, despite reports suggesting more than 200 full-time firefighter posts could be cut.

Matt Precey
BBC Look East

The British Medical Association says many GP surgeries are at "breaking point" as they struggle to fill staff vacancies.

Ranworth Surgery in Clacton has been struggling to recruit new doctors and recently offered a £9,500 bonus after failing to attract applicants.

It closed its doors to new patients after its intake saw it reach almost 9,000, which it deemed to be unsafe.

Laura Safe
BBC Essex

More than 200 full-time firefighter posts could be cut across Essex, after the government reduced the fire service's grant by up to £15m.

Adam Eckley, the acting chief fire officer at Essex Fire and Rescue Service, says it's going to be a "challenge" but insisted the service will be able to cope.

The public will get a chance to have their say when a consultation starts next month.

Matt Precey
BBC Look East

At least 100 GP practices in England, including 12 across Essex, have closed their doors to new patients because they're oversubscribed, a BBC investigation has found.

Image source, Getty Images

Three out of four practices in Clacton have stopped taking patients. 

The problem's been blamed on a shortage of doctors, but NHS England says it's investing £15m to boost the number of GPs.

Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather

Early mist and fog patches will clear during the morning to leave a mostly cloudy day.It's feeling chilly near the coast. Maximum temperature: 9C (48F).

Laura Safe
BBC Essex

• Twelve GP surgeries across Essex have shut their doors to new patients because they're oversubscribed
• More than 200 full-time firefighter posts could be cut under plans to save money at Essex Fire and Rescue
• A security guard is hoping that his attacker is caught following an assault in a fast food restaurant in Basildon

Charlie Jones
BBC Local Live

Good morning and welcome to Wednesday's Local Live page.

We'll bring you all the latest news, sport, travel and weather for Essex between now and 18:00.

If you'd like to get in touch you can email us, tweet us, external, or visit our Facebook page, external.