Boy dies after being bitten by a dog in Halstead
It happened at Parker Way yesterday evening
A 29-year-old woman has been arrested following the death
MP James Cleverly calls it "an absolute body blow to everybody in the town"
Updates on Friday, 19 August 2016
Georgina Burnett
BBC Weather
Enjoy the sunshine today, because the weather's due to change tomorrow.
Today will feel warm inland, but cooler on the coast. Top temperature around 23C (73F).
It'll continue dry this evening and overnight, with lows of 14C (57F), but cloud will thicken by Friday morning.
Get a full forecast where you live, from BBC Weather.
Jodie Smith
BBC News
Good morning and welcome to Thursday's live updates for Essex.
We'll bring you news, sport, travel and weather (on that note, make the most of any sunshine today as the good weather seems to be leaving us behind tomorrow) from now until 18:00.
We're going to start today by following up on one of our biggest stories yesterday - all the problems on the M25 after the QE2 bridge was closed.
One of our Essex MPs has said it's "absurd" that drivers are still being charged for using the crossing despite the long queues. More on that shortly.
Jonathan Trott hits 101 as Warwickshire defeat Essex by 70 runs in their One-Day Cup quarter-final at Edgbaston.
Read MoreRegular updates for Essex Live have now finished for today, but we'll keep you posted on any breaking news throughout the night.
A reminder, West Mersea's Saskia Clark is guaranteed a gold if she can finish her sailing race with partner Hannah Mills in Rio. There's a slight delay to the start, but you can follow commentary here.
Image source, Getty ImagesHave a great evening. We'll be back with regular updates from 08:00 tomorrow.
Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather
Staying dry overnight with long clear spells, but they'll be cloud thickening later across southern counties which could bring an isolated shower. Lows of 13C (55F).
A little cloudy across the south tomorrow with the chance of an isolated shower first thing, but generally a fine day with sunny spells. Maximum temperature 24C (75F).
Get the latest forecast where you live via BBC Weather.
Earlier we mentioned the Royal Anglian Regiment, external have been working with the Environment Agency today to learn how to assemble a temporary flood barrier.
The training took place in Shoeburyness to help prepare troops should a flood ever hit the East coast... this is how they got on.
Royal Anglian Regiment tests flood barrier response time
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Stuck in traffic for nine hours today... can you beat that?
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Thanks to everybody who has uploaded pictures to our Weather Watchers website today. Here are a few of our favourites...
Firefighters are currently at the scene of a corn field fire spanning about 150m (492ft) in Fern Hill Lane, Harlow.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
There are no reports of any injuries.
Image source, Highways EnglandThis morning's M25 misery is still continuing to have a knock on effect to motorists.
Anthony Taylor, from Chelmsford, was meant to fly to Pathos from Gatwick at 14:40, however despite leaving five hours before he was due to take off - he's still stuck on the A13 as traffic backs on from the motorway.
"We're hardly moving, it's about a cars length every 20 minutes," he said.
"Our airline are being really good, they're going to arrange flights for the end of today or tomorrow."
From dinosaurs to deck chairs, Adam Perry's toast work is a big hit on Instagram, external...
Image source, Adam Perry
Image source, Adam Perry
Image source, Adam PerryModern art is a bit like that black yeast extract spread - you either love it or hate it.
But down in Leigh-on-Sea, one dedicated dad has been creating amazing sculptures out of toast, to help make breakfast time a little more excitable for his daughter who suffers from food allergies.
Image source, Adam Perry"My nine-year-old daughter Scarlett is allergic to dairy, eggs, shell fish and nuts. She has to have two slices of white bread for breakfast each day and it can get really boring," Adam Perry said.
"So one day I decided to recreate the London Eye from her breakfast, and she loved it. I originally said I would do one a day for a year, but I think I'll do it forever now."
Image source, Adam PerryIt takes Adam the same length of time to make his creation as it does to boil a kettle. "They're all ediable, sometimes I have to use golden syrup to stick them together."
Image source, Adam PerryAdam is a man of many talents, he earns his crust as the drummer for American band Bloodhound Gang.
Since April, land usually popular with dog walkers has been fenced off after a harmful tick called Babesiosis was discovered there.
Now Harlow Council plans to fight back against the disease in Third Avenue by removing bushes and burning them, as well as cutting the grass.
Image source, Harlow CouncilIt's hoped the measures will disrupt the life cycle of ticks - but councillor Danny Purton said it was "very unlikely" that Babesiosis would be complete removed.
"This is very much about trying to control the issue and seeing what could help reduce the problem."
Yesterday we told you that a woman had been convicted of urinating on a war memorial in Grays.
Now two veterans say they were so disgusted by when they heard about the offence, they travelled from Peterborough to Basildon Magistrates' Court for the trial.
"A lot of people were flabbergasted and gobsmacked," said ex-serviceman Stan Kay (pictured right).
"I was speechless initially, but that didn't last long and it got very vocal on our social media sites very quickly."
Kelly Martin, 42, of no fixed address, is being sentenced later this month after being convicted of outraging public decency, common assault and using abusive language against a paramedic.
West Mersea's Saskia Clark and sailing partner Hannah Mills are guaranteed a gold medal later today, if they can finish the women's 470 sailing race.
Image source, PAMills, 28, and Clark, 36, hold a 20-point lead going into the finale, after finishing second and third in yesterday's races.
"It feel like we've been sailing forever to get this gold," said Clark. The pair are back in action at 17:05.
It should be a fine and dry afternoon with long sunny spells, light winds and feeling pleasantly warm. Maximum temperature: 23C (73F).
You'll find your latest local forecast via BBC Weather.
Hurray - all lanes have now reopened on the M25 QE2 Bridge. Queues are beyond J29 but not as far as J28.
Jack Warren
BBC Local Live
Jack Warren
BBC Local Live
Looking out of the window from our office in Chelmsford... and I'd imagine this is how the M25 currently looks due to the earlier problems on the QE2 bridge.
Get the latest traffic news for the county from BBC Travel.
