That's it from us at Essex Live for the day - thanks for joining us.

We'll be back on Tuesday from 08:00 with the latest news, sport and more for the county.

BBC Weather

It will be a dry, clear evening with the risk of coastal mist and some frost as temperatures dip to 3C (37F).

Cloud will be breaking up on Tuesday to leave a sunny day as the temperature rises to 10C (50F).

Visit BBC Weather for more details.

Today we've been reporting the death of "Princess" Joan Bates of Sealand, the tiny independent state off the East coast.

To help you with the geography, here's a map showing its position seven miles (11km) off Harwich and Felixstowe.

A Catholic priest who told BBC Essex he was gay ahead of a mass for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people at Brentwood Cathedral, external hopes his stance will help others.

Image source, John Salmon

Rev Kieran Fitzsimons is a monk who assists at St Francis of Assisi church in Stratford.

He said: "In recent history there was a fear of being identified in society, workplaces and communities and there were negative repercussions, and I think the same sadly has applied to the church and there is a fear of what may or may not happen."

Nick Alliker
BBC Essex

If you're catching up, here's the latest news in Essex.

• A man has presented himself at hospital after reportedly having a liquid thrown in his face in a suspected chemical attack in Wickford
• A Scottish firm is planning to operate regular seaplane flights from London to Osea Island
• Joan Bates, Princess of Sealand off the Essex coast, has died at the age of 86 in Leigh-on-Sea

Tom Croasdell
BBC Essex

One man has presented himself at hospital after reportedly having a liquid thrown in his face in Wickford this morning, paramedics have said.

Essex Police, external said there were reports of two men being involved in an argument outside Clarks shoe shop on the High Street.

Investigators said they waiting to have the substance analysed and inquiries into what happened were continuing. It is not known how serious the man's injuries are.

A drug dealer has been jailed after being caught in Basildon with more than 30 wraps of heroin and cocaine hidden inside his body.

Image source, Essex Police

Gavin McEwan, 22, of Essex Road, London, admitted two offences of intent to supply and he was jailed for two and a half years at Basildon Crown Court.

Essex Police said officers took him into custody last month and a search found the wraps in a small bag in his rectum.

A woman who helped establish a self-proclaimed independent state on a former World War II fortress off the Suffolk and Essex coast has died aged 86.

Andrew Woodger
BBC News

February was the worst month for road deaths in nine years, Essex Police, external said.

Ten people were killed on the county's highways with 67 drivers or passengers injured.

The force's website offers a link to the Think!, external safer driving website.

A Catholic priest who announced he was gay on BBC Essex says he believes his sexuality is God-given.

Image source, Diocese of Brentwood

Rev Kieran Fitzsimons, who assists at a church in Stratford, took part in the first ever mass for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people at Brentford Cathedral, external last night.

He said: "I don't have hotline to God, but my understanding is God is beauty and love and my sexuality is God's wonderful gift to me."

Air travel for passengers by seaplane is due arrive in Essex, according to a Scottish firm.

Image source, Loch Lomond Seaplanes

Loch Lomond Seaplanes, external is proposing to run a service from one of London's smaller airports, landing on the River Blackwater estuary to drop passengers off at privately-owned Osea Island.

At present the company mainly runs services around the Scottish islands and the west coast of Scotland.

Emma Maclean
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

A motorcyclist killed in a crash near Haddenham in Cambridgeshire yesterday has been named by police as Michael Hamilton.

The 50-year-old, of Benfleet, was pronounced dead at the scene on the A1123 at about midday.

The driver of a Mitsubishi Shogun, from Fordham, was unhurt.

Andrew Woodger
BBC News

A man was taken to hospital with serious head injuries after being hit with a large bike chain in Grays, police said.

The force, external said a fight involving 10 men spilled out of the Treacle Mine pub in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The victim of the chain attack was taken to hospital and his injuries were not life-threatening, police said.

Andrew Woodger
BBC News

Nearly 400 sets of Despicable Me children's headphones have been stolen from a parked lorry.

Image source, Essex Police

The sets, which featured the film franchise's Minions characters, were taken from a layby on the A13 in Thurrock sometime between 23 and 24 February.

Essex Police, external said the lorry had its blue curtains slashed and a pallet loaded with 374 headphones, worth about £7,000, were taken.

A Scottish seaplane company is to introduce flights from London which will land on the Blackwater Estuary near Maldon.

Image source, Google

Loch Lomond Seaplanes, external is to begin the service to the privately-owned Osea Island.

David West, company managing director and pilot, said: "We’re working with Osea on the commercial front and I’m sure flights, although primarily for resort clients, will be available to the public."

Ben Fryer
BBC Essex Sport

Southend boss Phil Brown says midfielder Kevan Hurst had a chance to leave the club earlier in the season, but turned it down.

Image source, Getty Images

Hurst made his first start since November in Saturday's 2-0 win at Barnsley in League One.

Brown said: "Kevan's been sitting patiently and I can't emphasise how professional he's been. We have had a couple of interested parties, but none interested him."

Here are a few facts you might not know about Sealand, the self-proclaimed independent state off the East coast.

• Sealand has its own flag, stamps, currency and passports

• Dramas over the years included rival attempts to storm the old tower, and a major fire
• In the 1960s Roy and Joan Bates, seen above with a friend, launched their own pirate radio station
• In 2012, singer Ed Sheeran became a "baron" of Sealand, a title also given to Terry Wogan and Ben Fogle

Essex Police, external says there is no further risk to the public in an area outside a shop where a man is reported to have had a substance thrown in his face.

Officers and fire crews were called to Clark's shoe shop on Wickford High Street at about 11:00.

There were reports two men had been assaulted in the street and one had something thrown in his face before he ran into the shop and then away from the area.

A woman was treated after being affected by fumes, the fire service, external said.

Andrew Woodger
BBC News

Specialist teams are dealing with a report of a chemical being thrown as two men argued outside a shop in Wickford this morning.

Essex Police, external said the man who had liquid thrown at him ran into Clark's on the High Street, before heading off in the direction of the railway station. The other man fled.

One woman was being treated after breathing in fumes. The incident happened at about 11:00.

Essex Fire Service, external says it has been dealing with a "chemical incident" in Wickford.

Firefighters said a woman had been affected by fumes after a liquid was spilled in a shop in the town's High Street, at about 11:00.

She was being treated by paramedics and was reported to be "conscious and breathing".