The police area commander for Harlow says despite perceptions from some, the Brexit vote hasn't led to a rise in violence.

There have been two separate attacks on Polish nationals in recent weeks, one of which was fatal. Some Polish residents have said the town has become less tolerate of minority communities since the European Union referendum.

Ch Supt Sean O'Callaghan said: "We are treating the recent incidents as hate crimes, but there's no suggestion at all that there's any increase in these incidents in Harlow as the a result of the referendum."

Image source, EPA

A motorcyclist who was seriously injured in a road crash in Harwich yesterday was taking part in the Essex Air Ambulance motorcycle run, it has emerged. 

Thousands of bikers were involved in the charity event. 

One was hit by a trailer which had become detached from its vehicle on the A120. 

The victim, who's in his 60s and from the Sudbury area, suffered a serious head injury. 

Essex Police said he was taken to hospital in a "life-threatening" condition.

BBC Weather

Temperatures are set to rise through the afternoon, becoming increasingly humid as well.

Staying dry, too, with highs of 25C (77F).

Check out the latest forecast for where you live here.

Relive text and social media commentary from the County Championship as Middlesex drew with Lancashire and Durham beat Surrey.

Ben Fryer
BBC Essex sport

The van carrying it was stuck in delays on the A12 earlier.

Relive text and social media commentary from the day's County Championship games, including Somerset's win against Yorkshire.

Relive text and social media updates from the day's County Championship action which saw Essex secure promotion from Division Two.

Hampshire wicketkeeper Adam Wheater signs a two-year deal with Essex, after initially re-joining his former club on loan.

Nick Alliker
BBC Essex

There will be some happy faces behind the scenes at Stansted today, as the airport has announced August was its busiest month for nine years.

The "peak period" of the summer holidays saw 2.5 million people pass through the departure gates, which is 260,000 more than August last year.

Andrew Cowan, Stansted's CEO, said growth was driven by increased traffic to Spain, Portugal, Greece and the USA.

Image source, Stansted Airport

One lane has been opened on the northbound A12, between the Brook Street Roundabout and Mountnessing, following this morning's crash.

Traffic is able to get past the scene now, but police are still investigating what happened.

Follow live text and radio commentary as Essex face Glamorgan in the County Championship.

Ben Fryer
BBC Essex sport

BBC Essex cricket commentator Don Topley has tweeted to say the crash on the A12 means Glamorgan's kit van hasn't reached Chelmsford yet, meaning the start of the match will be delayed.

The match is now due to start at 11:30, and will see Essex try to gain promotion to Division One.

Jodie Smith
BBC News

We've just heard a bit more information about the A12 crash from Essex Police.

The force said the crash happened between junctions 11 and 12 on the Chelmsford-bound carriageway just after 07:00, when a car collided with a lorry and then hit a tree.

The injured man has been airlifted to the Royal London Hospital.

"This is a serious collision and it is vital that full forensic investigations are carried out following such a serious incident," a spokeswoman said.

Jodie Smith
BBC News

Essex Police's Deputy Chief Constable Matthew Horne is one of those stuck in traffic on the A12, where there's been a "really serious incident" which has closed the road.

"We will try to get this cleared as quickly as possible but we've got to save people's lives first," he said.

Adam Pipe, casualty reduction manager, estimated the investigation work and delays would take a couple more hours, but the force was "hoping to try and get at least one lane running past the collision northbound".

Ben Fryer
BBC Essex sport

Essex will hope to wrap up the County Championship second division title in the next 48 hours. 

They need just six points from the home match against Glamorgan, which starts today, to clinch promotion to Division One.

Seems like they're putting their game face on down at the County Ground in Chelmsford...

Essex Fire and Rescue Service says three fire engines are at the scene of the crash on the A12, between junction 11 for the Brook Street roundabout and junction 12 for Mountnessing.

The service said the crash involved two cars and an HGV.

Essex Police's road unit said the force was "facilitating turnaround of trapped traffic".

BBC Travel

We've just heard the A12 is closed at the Brook Street Roundabout heading northbound up to junction 12 for Mountnessing.

It's after a crash involving a lorry and a van.

Have a look at the BBC Travel website for further details and updates.

Ian Puckey
BBC Essex

Over the weekend, about 40 people attended a community meeting in Harlow about recent attacks on Polish people in the town, including a fatal assault on 39-year-old Arek Jozwik.

Mira, a Polish woman who lives in Harlow, said the attitude of local teenagers often makes her fearful.

"We are scared to be honest with you, because the kids, they do whatever they like," she said.

"They swear at people, they even had a problem because they heard that I speak partly Polish and partly English."

Mira said the teenagers asked her "if she had a problem", and said she found it "absolutely disgusting" that teenagers of 12 or 13 could behave like that.