BBC Essex

Essex Police are assessing if a fire that killed a pregnant woman and her unborn child on Saturday was a "targeted attacked". 

Speaking on BBC Essex, Ch Insp Simon Anslow said: "The fire was set in a communal area close to the victim's door". 

Mr Anslow appealed for anyone with information about Saturday's blaze at the Balmoral Road flats in Westcliff to come forward. 

The unborn child of the pregnant lady who died in hospital days after a blaze at a block of flats in Westcliff could also not be saved, Essex Police have confirmed.

Image source, Essex Police

A 30-year-old woman, who was in the late stages of her pregnancy, died yesterday after the fire on the ninth floor of the Balmoral Road flats on Saturday.

Ch Insp Simon Anslow (pictured) said: "Her family are now having to come to terms with their devastating loss." The force has launched a murder investigation.

A woman from Leigh-on-Sea says she has had to cancel her trip abroad to pay for damages to her car which was "keyed" all over. 

Image source, Stacey McConville-Reynolds

Stacey McConville-Reynolds, who only moved to the area on Saturday, found her car covered in scratches after leaving it parked overnight in a nearby street.

She told BBC Essex: "I was in disbelief - gobsmacked... I've had to pay nearly £500 in excess. I was supposed to go to Barcelona yesterday but couldn't go."

More than 15 firefighters have tested how they would respond to a "horrific road accident" on the A12. 

Image source, Essex Fire and Rescue

The exercise, which took place in Lexdon, simulated casualties trapped in cars halfway down a ditch by the side of the road. 

You can see a full gallery on the fire service's Facebook page, external.

A man was found with a puncture wound to his abdomen in Walton High Street last night, police say.

Image source, Google

The 26-year-old attended the Premier shop at about 21:15. His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. 

A man, 25, was arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent, but was later released without charge. Officers are now trying to establish a motive. 

The new police and crime commissioner for Essex says a rise in gang crime in the county is partly down to a successful campaign by the Metropolitan Police.

Roger Hirst, Conservative, said criminals, particularly from east London, had been "forced" to cross the border.

"We need to learn from them [the Met], and I'm sure they'll be prepared to help us understand what they've been doing so successfully," he said.

Essex have continued to dominate their tour match against Sri Lanka. 

After declaring on 412 for 4 in their innings, Essex have reduced the tourists to 42 for 2. 

Sri Lanka will resume their second innings on day three 116 runs behind - however, looking at today's forecast there isn't much hope of play at the moment. 

Ian Puckey
BBC Essex

The Conservative group on Southend Borough Council has struck a deal with UKIP to take control of the authority. 

BBC Essex has been told UKIP will back the Tories on certain key issues like votes on leadership and budget. 

The deal gives the Conservatives control of the council for the first time in two years.  

Ben Fryer
BBC Essex sport

Braintree Town manager Danny Cowley says he will talk to Lincoln City about their vacant managerial role.

Image source, Getty Images

But, less than 48 hours after their National League play-off defeat, he told me he is not in the right frame of mind to make an "intelligent decision" just yet. 

Fellow National League side Lincoln made an approach yesterday.  

Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather

Today will be mostly cloudy with outbreaks of showery rain throughout. There will be heavy downpours at times, with the risk of thunder too. 

Maximum temperature: 18C (64F).

You can stay up-to-date with the latest forecast with BBC Weather.

Sonia Watson
BBC Essex

Here are the top stories for Essex this morning: 

• A murder investigation has been launched after a pregnant woman who was injured in a fire at a block of flats near Southend died
• The Conservative group on Southend Borough Council has struck a deal with UKIP to take control of the authority
• Braintree Town manager Danny Cowley says he will talk to Lincoln City about their vacant managerial role

Here's what we know so far about the flat fire in Westcliff-on-Sea, which has now turned into a murder investigation:

• Seven people, including a baby, were taken to hospital after the blaze on the ninth floor of the Balmoral Road flats at about 23:00 on Saturday
• A pregnant woman sustained life-threatening injuries and subsequently died last night
• Essex Police said it was treating the blaze as suspicious and has since launched a murder investigation 

Jack Warren
BBC Local Live

Essex Police is asking witnesses or anyone with information that could help its murder investigation to contact 101 or email: scdappeals@essex.pnn.police.uk, external. 

We'll bring you more on the murder investigation throughout today. 

Image source, Google

A 30-year-old woman from Southend was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries following a fire on the ninth floor of a block of flats in Balmoral Road, Westcliff, on Saturday evening.

Essex Police says she died yesterday evening.   

The fire is being treated as suspicious and the force is investigating the circumstances leading up to the incident. A murder investigation has now been launched. 

We start this morning with some breaking news.

Police have launched a murder investigation after a pregnant woman, who was injured in a fire at a block of flats in Westcliff, died in hospital last night.

More to follow.