Travel: Accident closes two lanes on QE2 Bridgepublished at 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2016
BBC Travel
Two lanes are closed on the M25 QE2 Bridge due to an accident involving two lorries.
Congestion is back to the M25 at Lakeside.
Summary
Updates on Friday, 26 February 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates resume at 08:00 on Monday
Travel: Accident closes two lanes on QE2 Bridgepublished at 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2016
Headlines: Britain's largest waste plant given green light... 'Hero' student rescues escaped ponypublished at 12:45
Samantha Dalton
BBC Essex- Essex County Council has approved planning permission, external to build one of the largest waste plants in Britain near Witham
- A student has been hailed a hero after she rescued an escaped pony that had run on to the A414 near Chelmsford this morning
- A man has died and two others have been injured after a crash in Witham
CCTV released after Ladbrokes furniture attackpublished at 12:20
CCTV has been released after a betting shop worker was attacked with a stool in Burnham-on-Crouch.
Image source, Essex PoliceThe furniture was thrown at the victim in Ladbrokes in Station Road on 12 December, police say.
Anybody who recognises the man is asked to contact PC Stephen Butler on 101.
Southend announces 4% council tax increasepublished at 11:55 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2016
Southend Borough Council will increase its council tax by just under four percent, it has been announced.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe rise equates to about £47 more a year for a band D property.
Council leader, Ron Woodley, accepted the raise "wouldn't be popular" but said it was vital for the town to remain an "attractive and popular place to live, visit and do business".
'Hero' student saves escaped pony from Chelmsford rush hour trafficpublished at 11:34 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2016
A student has been hailed a hero after she rescued an escaped pony that had run on to the A414 near Chelmsford this morning.
Image source, Essex PoliceMegan Carlton, 18, from Writtle spotted the "terrified" animal running among the rush hour traffic on her way to college in Southend. "I was worried it might get hurt... I got some grass and called it", she said.
"I have my own horses so I knew how to handle it". The pony was returned to its field unharmed. Essex Police thanked Megan for "saving the day", she eventually made it to class... two hours late.
Southend United 'confident' ahead of Port Vale gamepublished at 11:12 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2016
Ben Fryer
BBC Essex SportSouthend United look for their fifth win in seven matches in League One tonight.
Image source, Getty ImagesVictory at Port Vale would lift them into the play-off places.
Defender Cian Bolger told BBC Essex Sport the team are hopeful of a result: "It'll be another tough test as they're going well themselves, but we're confident we can pick up the three points".
Wintson Churchill bust expected to sell for £80,000 at Essex auctionpublished at 10:44 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2016
A large bronze bust of Winston Churchill is expected to sell for up to £80,000 at an auction in Essex later this year.
Image source, PAThe head and shoulders casts taken from the statue of the former prime minister that stands in Parliament Square in London.
The the former prime minister statue will be auctioned at Sworders in Stansted Mountfitchet in April.
Britain's largest waste plant could be approved in Essex todaypublished at 10:30 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2016
Permission could be granted today to build one of Britain's largest waste plants and incinerators in near Witham.
Image source, Essex County CouncilPlans for the site, external at Rivenhall Airfield have been in existence for more than a decade. If it goes ahead, the plant could burn up to 600,000 tonnes of waste a year that would also provide energy.
Many local residents are against it with emissions being one of the main concerns.
Lower Thames Crossing: Jackie Doyle-Price defends Option C backingpublished at 09:55 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2016
Thurrock MP, Jackie Doyle-Price, has defended her decision to back Option C for a new Lower Thames Crossing at a packed meeting last night.
The Conservative said she knew she was "in for a pasting" by the 1,000-strong audience, but said she was trying to secure the "best possible outcome" for Thurrock.
Quote MessageWhat I want to do is move the debate on so we make sure we get the best possible route and not get foisted with the worst one which will cause traffic hell in Thurrock".
Jackie Doyle-Price, Conservative MP for Thurrock
Weather: Cold and dry, with some sunshinepublished at 09:22 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2016
Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weatherAfter a cold start with a patchy frost, there'll be patchy cloud around today. There will be sunny spells in places, although it will feel chilly.
Maximum Temperature: 7C (45F).
Stay up-to-date with the latest weather forecast here.
Man dies and two injured in Witham crashpublished at 09:01 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2016
A man has died and two others have been injured after a crash in Witham, police say.
Image source, GoogleThe accident happened at about 01:20 this morning in Freebournes Road when an Audi A4 collided with a stationary HGV trailer.
The passenger of the Audi, a man, believed to be in his 20s or 30s and from the Chelmsford area, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other men, also of similar age, remain in Broomfield Hospital.
Travel: Burst water main floods Shenfield stationpublished at 08:44 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2016
A burst water main on Hutton Road has flooded the entrance to Shenfield railway station.
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End of X postLower Thames Crossing: Boos, jeers and cheers at public meetingpublished at 08:32 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2016
More than a thousand people turned up to a public meeting in Tilbury last night about controversial plans for a new Lower Thames Crossing.
Councillors, MPs and Highways England representatives made up the panel. Conservative Thurrock MP, Jackie Doyle-Price, was booed as she told the packed room a new crossing was vital for the borough's economy.
In contrast, neighbouring Tory MP, Stephen Metcalfe, was greeted with cheers as he announced the plans could have a grave impact on their community. A consultation continues until next month.
Headlines: More than 1,000 people attend Lower Thames Crossing meeting... Waste plant could be approved in Rivenhallpublished at 08:11 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2016
Sonia Watson
BBC EssexHere are the top stories from Essex this morning:
- More than 1,000 people turned up to a public meeting in Tilbury last night over controversial plans for a new Lower Thames Crossing
- Permission could be granted today to build one of Britain's largest waste plants and incinerators in Rivenhall
- The deficit facing hospitals in the east of England has increased by 70% in a year to £441m, the BBC can reveal
Welcome to Friday's Essex Live pagepublished at 08:00 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2016
Jack Warren
BBC Local LiveGood morning and welcome to Essex Live - cold isn't it?
Until 18:00 we'll have all the latest news for the county.
If you'd like to say hello you can email us, tweet us, external, or head over to our Facebook page, external.