Thanks for joining us for our live updates today.

Essex Live has now finished, but we'll be back tomorrow from 08:00 with the latest news, sport, travel and weather updates for the county.

Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

Clear spells at first this evening but increasing cloud from the west could bring a few spot of rain later.  

Most southern and eastern areas expected to stay dry. Winds picking up during the night. 

Minimum temperature: 6C (43F).

Image source, bbc

Simon Dedman
BBC Essex

I've learned 78 asylum-seeking children arrived in Essex last year, most of whom are in their mid teens. 

Seven children told authorities they had travelled here from Syria. 

Image source, Reuters

It comes as the government announced Britain will take in more unaccompanied Syrian children. This is on top of the 20,000 who'll be re-homed from the refugee camps in countries neighbouring Syria.   

Charlotte Rose
BBC Essex

• Southend Hospital has declared its third critical internal incident in a month
• BBC Essex has learned 78 asylum-seeking children arrived in the county last year
• A 77-year-old woman from north Essex who died in a crash in Suffolk has been named

David Keller
BBC News

Teenager Jordan Cox has always gone the extra mile to save money. 

But when he looked at train prices from Sheffield to his home in Essex, he realised it was cheaper to go an extra 1,000 miles - by flying via Berlin. 

The only snag was it took him more than four times as long, as BBC Look East's Neil Bradford reports.  

Ian Puckey
BBC Essex

A 30-year-old man has denied attempted murder after another man's hand was severed in Loughton.

Paul Saunders, of Biggin Lane in Grays, was remanded in custody after pleading not guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court this morning.Charges against his brother, Luke Saunders, 21, of Stanford Road, Stanford-Le-Hope, have been dismissed.  

BBC Travel

The M11 is partially blocked and there's queuing traffic northbound between J4 for Woodford and J5 for Loughton, because of an accident.

Andrew Woodger
BBC News

I've been talking to Laurence Munday, the shop owner who's been screening CCTV footage to "shame" shop lifters in his store.

Image source, Wellworth-a-£

Videos of crimes taking place are being shown at the Wellworth-a-£ discount shop in Harwich, Essex, which he says "clearly works as a deterrent".

He said his cameras were capturing an average of six shoplifters a month on film until screenings began in October, but no thieves have been filmed so far in January.

Thomas Magill
BBC Essex

I've been to visit the Co-Op store in Flitch Green, where police say a ram-raid took place last night. Three suspects tried and failed to steal a cash machine.

The shop is open as normal, with a police cordon around some shattered glass. The cash machine is still fully functional.

BBC Travel

Two lanes are still closed and there severe delays on the M25 QE2 Bridge clockwise from J31 to J1a, because of a diesel spillage and an earlier accident.Tailbacks are now eight miles long and there is congestion to J29.

The bridge will fully close at 22:00 for resurfacing.  

Charlie Jones
BBC Local Live

A man has died at Witham Leisure Centre after going into cardiac arrest.

An ambulance was called at 11:51 to reports a man had collapsed at the site on Spinks Lane.

Two ambulance crews and the East Anglian Air Ambulance were dispatched and treated the man, but he died at the scene. 

Charlie Jones
BBC Local Live

A dogs home in Basildon is trying to find someone to adopt a terrier cross called Betty, who fractured her pelvis after being hit by a car.

Image source, Dog's Trust

Lisa Cooper, deputy manager of the Dog's Trust centre, external, said the four-year-old needs a permanent home, after it couldn't track down her previous owner.

"Understandably it will take her a while to build-up her strength, but with a loving family who can continue to lavish lots of TLC on her we've no doubt she'll be in top shape in no time," she said.

Ian Puckey
BBC Essex

Two Essex men are among six former brokers to be cleared of trying to rig international lending rates. 

Image source, AFP

James Gilmour, 50, from Benfleet (left) and Terry Farr, 44, from Southend (right), were cleared of conspiracy to defraud at Southwark Crown Court in London. The men were accused of helping another trader fix the rate at which banks lend money to one another over a period of four years.   

David Keller
BBC News

A passenger who died in a car crash on Tuesday has been named by police as 77-year-old Jeanette Harrison from Clay Hills, Pebmarsh.

Image source, Google

Police were called to the accident involving a Range Rover and a Vauxhall Astra on the B1115 in Great Finborough, Suffolk, at 14:40.

Ms Harrison was a passenger in the Astra and died at the scene, police said.

BBC Weather

It will be a fine and dry first part to the afternoon, with some good spells of sunshine for many. 

However, it will turn increasingly cloudy from the west and will become breezy by the end of the afternoon. 

Maximum temperature: 9C (48F)

Nick Alliker
BBC Essex

Here's this lunchtime's headlines:

• Detectives investigating the murder of a man in Southend last year have made further arrests
• A 30-year-old man has been remanded in custody after another man's hand was severed in Loughton 
• Essex Police are investigating another ram-raid in the county

Ian Puckey
BBC Essex

Southend University Hospital has once again declared a critical internal incident due to overcrowding at A&E.

It's the third time in a month this status has been reached due to the high number of critically ill patients needing beds, when the hospital is already at full capacity. The hospital is urging people only to go to A&E if they are seriously unwell or critically injured.  

Tom Croasdell
BBC Essex

Southend United's Luke Prosser has joined League Two leaders Northampton Town on loan, external until the end of the season - when his current contract at Roots Hall also expires.

Image source, Getty Images

The defender has made 16 appearances for the Blues this season, but only a handful in recent months. 

Prosser could be in-line to make his debut for Chris Wilder's side in the Cobblers' next game on 6 February.

Tom Croasdell
BBC Essex

Essex County Cricket Club, external has signed 23-year-old Adam Milne, external for the second half of this year's T20 Blast campaign.

Image source, Getty Images

The fast bowler - who's featured in 14 T20 matches for New Zealand - will join the side in June and feature in seven matches for the Eagles.

Head coach Chris Silverwood said: "He is exactly what we were looking for from an overseas player, with his real pace offering something different to our attack."

Nick Alliker
BBC Essex

Detectives investigating the murder of Albert Williams in Southend last August, who was assaulted and died from internal injuries, have made further arrests.

The 67-year-old was found dead at his flat in Cedar Close, Southend, when fire crews were called to deal with a blaze at the flat. 

Image source, Google

A 34-year-old man, from Grays, was arrested at his work address in Southend this morning on suspicion of conspiracy to burgle. A second man, aged 43 and from Westcliff, was also re-arrested at his home on suspicion of murder and burglary.