Robby West
BBC Essex

It is understood some electricians charge as little as £50 to illegally rig a meter.

Roger Critchell, director of operations for Crimestoppers, said: "This is not the victimless crime that some may perceive it to be.

"And not only is it highly dangerous, it also has very real links to serious and organised crime."

Chris Flynn
BBC Essex

A woman from Harlow, whose american bulldog Ollie survived a deadly tick-disease, said it was "really touch and go" whether he would make it, and he is "lucky to be alive".

"He was really lethargic, he normally has so much energy but he just lost it, he went really strange," she said.

Ollie has since made a full recovery, following a blood transfusion.

Robby West
BBC Essex

One electrician, who has admitted rigging meters, says poverty is the main reason people sought his services.

"It has been single parents, people with with kids that are, I mean, in sort of poor quality housing that haemorrhage heat, a couple of old people - just all different people. Just people with no money.

"In my book they have as much right to be warm in the winter as anyone else. I wouldn't do it for someone doing it just out of greed," he said.

Chris Flynn
BBC Essex

An Essex dog owner says she's "hugely relieved" after her pet survived a deadly tick-borne disease. 

Babesiosis has been found in several animals in the Harlow area and two have died. Julie Newman is the owner of Ollie (pictured), who it's believed was the first dog with the illness in the UK, and he recovered after a blood transfusion.

Andrew Woodger
BBC News

Sightings of a large, particularly bright meteor have been made across the UK this morning.

Image source, UK Meteor Observation Network

The meteor, described as green and leaving a magnesium-white trail, has been spotted by people in Stafford, the east coast, London and Surrey.

Richard Kacerek, from the UK Meteor Observation Network, external, said: "This is the biggest meteor sighting we have recorded."

Jodie Smith
BBC News

The East of England Ambulance Service is warning people to drive carefully, as paramedics have attended several accidents in the foggy weather.

Robby West
BBC Essex

Some electricians are also breaking the law by rigging meters for criminals in the drugs trade, BBC Essex has been told.Cannabis farms have emerged as one of the biggest sources of electricity theft around the country.

More than 1,500 people were prosecuted for stealing supplies in England in 2014-15 and the crime is thought to add about £30 a year to customers' annual bills.

Robby West
BBC Essex

An electrician has admitted tampering with about 20 electricity meters, as BBC Essex reveals there have been 165 prosecutions for stealing electricity in the county in the past three years.

The electrician, who was speaking on the condition of anonymity, said he knew of other electricians and gas engineers who did the same.

Asked who he had rigged meters for, the electrician said: "They're all from different backgrounds. Mainly it's just people with no money."

Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather

Despite the chilly start this morning, it will be a fine and dry day. Winds will ease into this afternoon and it should feel quite pleasant in the sunshine. 

Maximum temperature: 10C (50F).

Sonia Watson
BBC Essex

  Here are the top stories we're looking at this morning:  

• More than 1,500 people were prosecuted for stealing electricity in England in 2014-15, and there were 165 prosecutions in Essex in the past three years
• Tributes have been paid to a father-of-two who died in a road crash after a night out in Witham
• The Labour leader of Harlow Council says mystery surrounds the outbreak of a deadly tick-borne disease in the town

BBC Travel

There's a partial closure on the A406, causing queues on the M11 and A12 this morning.

Charlie Jones
BBC Local Live

Welcome to today's Essex Live page, where we'll bring you the latest news, sport, weather and travel updates until 18:00 this evening.

If you'd like to get in touch, you can email us, post a message on Facebook, external or tweet us., external