Updates on Thursday, 17 March 2016
News, sport, weather and travel updates resume at 08:00 on Friday
That's it from the team today.
We'll be back tomorrow from 08:00 with your local news, sport, travel and weather.
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A couple from Leigh-on-Sea are celebrating after winning the £1m top prize on a Monopoly Millionaire Scratchcard.
Camelot say they have already started hunting for a dream home for themselves and their three young children.
Image source, LottoThe couple will share more details about their win tomorrow morning at a press conference at the Sands Bistro in Southend.
Ben Fryer
BBC Essex Sport
Southend boss Phil Brown said he will not be taking his "eye off the ball" despite speculation linking him with former club Bolton.
Image source, Getty"I have had no approach from Dean Holdsworth," he told BBC Essex.
"I have sat the players down this morning. We have spoken about the speculation and newspaper headlines, which inevitably you have to print.
"Speculation can take our players and my eye of the ball and that's the last thing that you need at this stage of the season."
David Keller
BBC News
The RSPCA says it's worried about a growing trend to release untrained doves at weddings and funerals. It has asked that people only use reputable companies instead of buying birds online, as untrained doves will struggle to survive in the wild.
Image source, Getty ImagesKathy Anderson, owner of True Dove Ways in Essex which supplies trained birds for special occasions, said it's a "really terrible problem".
"These poor little birds can't get home and they don't know how to look after themselves," she said.
A metal detectorist discovered an unexploded bomb, external in a field in Navestock.
It will turn cloudier this evening as low cloud spreads across the East. The cloud may bring the odd spot of light drizzle, but most places will stay dry.Minimum temperature: 1C (34F).
Nick Alliker
BBC Essex
Here are the top stories we are covering this evening:
If you've been craving longer days, take comfort from our weather forecaster Dan Holley...
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Ben Fryer
BBC Essex Sport
Chelmsford's Crystal Lane competes on day one of the World Para-cycling track championships in Italy today.
Image source, Getty ImagesShe takes part in the 500m time trial alongside Dame Sarah Storey. The event has a big bearing on selection for the Rio Paralympics later this year.
Richard Smith
BBC Essex
Tributes have been paid to a father-of-two who died in a road crash after a night out celebrating a new job.Adam Heath, 32, was a passenger in a car which hit a stationary HGV trailer in Witham last month.
Image source, Essex PoliceHis family says he was "an amazing dad" who had "a strong bond with his children".
Robby West
BBC Essex
A former cannabis dealer from Southend has admitted he paid an electrician to bypass the meter on his cannabis farm, in a trend that experts fear is rising.
Professional electricians are sometimes helping criminals cheat meters, the BBC has learned. One said he's tampered with about 20 meters and has rigged them for cannabis factories.
Charlie Jones
BBC Local Live
Harlow Council has issued updated advice about an area of land to avoid, following an outbreak of the tick-borne disease babesiosis in the area.
Image source, Harlow CouncilDog walkers are warned not to exercise their pets on land off Third Avenue following "tick research work" carried out last Friday.
The council, which is marking off the area and placing further notices up, said it "cannot exclude the possibility of ticks ending up on other land".
BBC Travel
There's queuing traffic on the M25 Dartford Tunnel anticlockwise between J1a, A206 (Erith) and J31, A1306 (West Thurrock), because of an earlier broken down vehicle.
Congestion to J2, A2 (Darenth Interchange).
Andrew Woodger
BBC News
Here is a video of the meteor which flashed across the sky above the UK last night.
Meteor flashes over UK sky
The UK Meteor Observation Network, external filmed it using its camera at Church Crookham in Surrey, at about 03:15, but it was sighted by more people along the east coast.
Ben Fryer
BBC Essex Sport
Shoeburyness golfer Richard McEvoy is the leading Englishman in the first round of the Indian Open in Delhi.
Image source, Getty ImagesHe shot a one under par round of 71. American Daniel Im leads on seven under.
Ben Fryer
BBC Essex Sport
Braintree Town manager Danny Cowley (pictured) says he's delighted to have signed full-back Sean Long from Reading.
Image source, Getty ImagesHe made his debut in Tuesday's draw with Gateshead. He’ll be at the Iron until the end of the season.
Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather
It will stay fine this afternoon with prolonged sunshine. Winds will ease as well and, in the sunshine, it should feel quite pleasant.
Maximum temperature: 10C (50F).
Nick Alliker
BBC Essex
Tom Croasdell
BBC Essex
It is believed a man had ammonia thrown in his face during a "targeted" attack in Harwich.
Image source, GooglePolice were called to Main Road yesterday to reports three men were being chased by another group of men inside a car. It's believed a chemical was thrown in a man's face, but he wasn't badly hurt. Five men have been arrested.
Robby West
BBC Essex
BBC Essex has spoken to qualified electricians who admit rigging meters and helping people run cannabis factories.
Alan Wells, of the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting, said risks included electric shocks and fires.
He said he was disappointed to learn some qualified electricians were carrying out illegal work.
