Alex Dunlop
BBC Look East

Twelve men have appeared in court charged in connection with an attack that left a football fan with brain damage. 

Cambridge United supporter Simon Dobbin from Mildenhall in Suffolk, suffered life-changing injuries in an attack in Southend on 21 March last year. 

The twelve, all from from south Essex are aged between 20 and 40. All have been charged in connection with the attack - eight pleaded not guilty and four entered no plea. 

All but one were given unconditional bail. 

The case of a 13th man, who's charged with assisting an offender and possession of a weapon has been adjourned. 

The men will next appear at Basildon Crown Court at the end of the month.

Preparations are under way for a "silent march" in Harlow to remember the Polish man who died following an unprovoked assault at The Stow last weekend. 

Essex Police launched a murder inquiry following the death of 40-year-old Arkadiusz Jozwik.

Officers have been given extended powers to try and prevent anti-social behaviour in the area.

Eric Hind, who is helping to organise the march, said: "We've got properties here, we've got jobs here, we had plans when we came. One incident isn't going to change our decision straight away, but obviously it is going to make us think about the future."

A teenager has been questioned after a car was reversed into a police motorcycle in Clacton. 

The officer was carrying out a routine patrol on Wednesday when it happened. He suffered a minor back injury, although declined medical help. 

An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of various offences, including dangerous driving and assault, after going to Clacton police station. He's since been released on police bail. 

Thirteen men are due to appear at Southend Magistrates' Court today after being charged over an attack on a Cambridge United football fan in Southend in 2015. 

Simon Dobbin, 44, from Mildenhall, in Suffolk, (pictured below) was left with life-changing injuries, and is still undergoing treatment. 

The thirteen men are accused of various offences; the majority with affray.  

Image source, Family photo

BBC Essex

A search is continuing this morning for a 16-year-old girl who's been missing from her home in Shoeburyness, near Southend, since Sunday. 

Essex Police say they're concerned for the welfare of Samantha Clarke.

Image source, Essex Police

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Two dogs have died and a woman has been left homeless following a flat fire in Rose Hill, Braintree, yesterday afternoon.

Residents in neighbouring flats had to be helped outside because of the smoke.

The fire is thought to have started accidentally. 

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Two men have been arrested after a teenage girl died, having been found unwell at a house in South Ockendon.

Image source, Google

The 15-year-old victim was discovered at the property in Peartree Close about 05:45 on Thursday and later died in Basildon hospital.

Another 15-year-old girl who was also taken ill is currently being treated in hospital - her condition is not thought to be life-threatening.

Essex Police said a 19-year-old boy from South Ockendon and a 29-year-old man from London have been arrested and remain in police custody. A full post-mortem examination will be carried out.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Roger Hirst, police and crime commissioner for Essex, says he's aware of concerns about a lack of police in the centre of Harlow following the fatal attack on Arek Joswik at the weekend.  

He told BBC Essex he wants to increase the number of visible officers across the county.

"That sense of the centre of Harlow not having a sufficient police presence to keep law and order and peace all the time as led to a lot of concern about that being behind what's happened," he said.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Extra powers which were granted to police in the area in Harlow where a man was killed have been extended into next week.

Essex Police, external has got a dispersal order in place for The Stow until Monday night which means people can be forced to leave if they're suspected of being involved in anti-social behaviour and, if they don't, they could be arrested.

Arek Joswik, 40, died after an unprovoked attack in The Stow last Saturday night. 

Police say they've been working with Harlow Council, external to tackle anti-social behaviour there in recent months.

Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather

After yesterday's sunshine, it will be cloudy through much of the day with outbreaks of rain in a few places.

However, there may be bright spells, particularly at the end of the day towards Harlow and other western parts.

Maximum temperature: 21C (70F).

Get a more detailed forecast from BBC Weather.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Good morning and welcome to Local Live for Essex where we'll be bringing you news, sport, weather and travel, including news of the extension of police powers in an area of Harlow where a man was killed last weekend.

But shortly, we'll see what today has in store with a full weather forecast.

A postbox daubed in gold to celebrate a sailor's Olympic success has been repainted red despite a mayor's wish to leave it untouched.

An Essex postbox unofficially painted gold in honour of an Olympic champion has been repainted red.

Tom Westley's career-best unbeaten 238 puts Division Two leaders Essex in total control against Worcestershire.

A GP surgery which lost its licence after an investigation revealed a series of failings has its bid to have the decision overturned rejected.

That's all from the BBC Essex team until 08:00 on Friday, unless a major story breaks.

For now, here's a recap on some of the stories we have brought you today.

• A parade will be held in Harlow on Saturday, a week after Arkadiusz Jozwik was fatally attacked
• A makeshift Olympic-style gold post box on Mersea Island has been repainted red by Royal Mail

Have a good evening.

A post box unofficially covered in gold paint to celebrate West Mersea sailor Saskia Clark's Olympic medal success has been repainted red, despite a plea from the local mayor to leave it untouched.

The post box on the edge of Blackwater Estuary was painted gold some time over the weekend.

West Mersea mayor Carl Powling wrote to Royal Mail on Thursday to ask them not to repaint it.

Royal Mail spokeswoman Sally Hopkins said: "This year, Brazil, as the host nation of Rio 2016, has the honour of celebrating the Games in its own way. "This post box will be repainted red in due course."

Relive text commentary of the latest round of County Championship games, including a hat-trick from Notts' Jake Ball.

Harlow Council, external leader Jon Clempner has said Poles from across Britain are expected to turn out for a tribute on Saturday to Harlow attack victim Arkadiusz Jozwik.

People are due to gather at The Stow precinct - the scene of the fatal assault - at 16:00 where there will be prayers by a Polish priest before a silent march to St Paul's church.

Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

It will turn cloudier later, with some showery rain across the north of the region and a low of 12C (53F).

Tomorrow it'll be rather cloudy with the chance of some showery rain, possibly turning heavy at times.

There will be a high temperature of 21C (70F).

More details on the BBC Weather website.