A 21-year-old man who killed a work colleague with a single punch to the jaw at a Christmas work party last year has been found not guilty of manslaughter, after he successfully argued it was an act of self defence.

Image source, Google

William Wareham, 53, died from a single punch to the jaw at a BUPA Healthcare Christmas Party at the Park Inn Hotel in Harlow last year. 

It took the jury just 30 minutes to clear Bradley Casey of Castle Street, Thetford, Norfolk following a four-day trial at Chelmsford Crown Court. 

A 21-year-old man from Norfolk has been found not guilty of manslaughter after he killed a colleague with a single punch at a work's Christmas party in Harlow. 

More details on this shortly. 

"Unprecedented numbers of very sick patients" are attending A&E at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford at the moment, the trust says. 

It's warning that people will be waiting longer than normal today and over the weekend due to increase in demand across the county. 

A gardener is poised to learn whether the pumpkin grown from the world's most expensive pumpkin seed is itself a record-breaker... 

Matthew Oliver from Hyde Hall near South Woodham Ferrers has been growing the seed which came from a 2,323lbs (1,054kg) pumpkin and was bought by Ipswich-based seed company Thompson & Morgan earlier this year for £1,250.

We'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out if Mr Oliver's gourd is a winner, but here's what happened when we met him back in May:

An Essex Police constable has been sacked without notice for gross misconduct.

Image source, PA

An independent panel found that, between July 2009 and October 2011, Det Con Darren Paterson intentionally accessed the force's computers to view confidential information. 

The two day hearing, which concluded yesterday, also heard Paterson failed to disclose true and complete details on vetting forms.

A gardener is poised to learn whether a pumpkin grown from a £1,250 seed is itself a record-breaker.

A man has been left with a fractured eye socket after a fight involving 10 people at a bar in Colchester, police say.

Image source, Google

The 20-year-old victim was attacked by a group of men following an argument in Hudson Bar & Grill at about midnight on 10 September. 

Officers say the attack was "nasty" and the man was also left with a broken ankle.

Thurrock is the third most popular destination for people moving from London, new figures have revealed.

The latest internal migration statistics show more than 4,700 left the capital for the south Essex borough last year.

Epping Forest was also popular with those exiting London, with 4,570 residents choosing a new life there.

Buses are replacing train services on the c2c line between Grays and Upminster due to a fallen tree.

Image source, c2c

Trains are unable to run on any of the lines between these stations at the moment. 

c2c says journey times are currently extended by about 10 minutes.

If you're reading this on your commute to work, what sort of state is the seat you're sitting on in? 

One Essex man isn't happy with Greater Anglia after treating himself to a first class ticket on Wednesday, but was greeted with what he describes as a "wreck".

Image source, Geoff Burling

Geoff Burling paid £67 for the journey from London Liverpool Street to Audley End, and was less than impressed with what he found.

"The seats were falling apart and filthy. It wasn't suitable for second class, let alone first," he said.

Abellio Greater Anglia says the seat was in that state because it had been vandalised, and is bringing in more than a thousand new seats.

Simon Dedman
BBC Essex political reporter

UKIP's main financial donor Arron Banks (pictured left) has said he will stop funding the party unless Clacton MP Douglas Carswell (right) leaves.

The man with the money launched the fierce assault after months of infighting between the party on their only MP. 

The announcement from the millionaire businessman comes a day after UKIP's leadership favourite Steven Woolfe was hospitalised following a reported fight at a meeting of the party's MEPs.

Aisling Creevey
BBC Look East weather

Today will be cloudy and some places will remain dry with bright spells, but there are a few showers around.

It will stay rather cool in the easterly breeze with a maximum temperature of 15C (59F).

Watch my full regional forecast:

More details at BBC Weather.

Hello and welcome back to Essex Live.

Join us throughout the day for stories around the county as they happen.

If you've got something you want to get off your chest you can always send us an email, a tweet, external or go to our Facebook page, external.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Regular updates for Essex Live have now finished, but check back throughout the evening for any breaking news. 

Before we go, here are the top stories we've covered today: 

• One 15-year-old from Harlow remains on police bail after five others have been released with no further action by police investigating the death of Arkadiusz Jozwik in Harlow in August
• A new survey has revealed some couples aren't getting the help they need because they are considered too young to be infertile
• The European Investment Bank has agreed a £60m loan to the operator Abellio, to try to improve passenger services on the key route into London and other local services

The team will be back tomorrow morning from 08:00 with another look at what's happening in the county.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A leading fertility researcher is concerned that many causes of infertility among younger couples may be missed by GPs who have no detailed knowledge and are denying them treatment.

Image source, PA

Family doctors cannot be specialists as reproductive medicine is still a relatively young field, Dr Arpita Ray, lead clinician at Bourn Hall's Colchester clinic, said. 

"Common reasons for infertility such as blocked fallopian tubes or low sperm count won't be improved by waiting, so it is important that these conditions are addressed to maximise the chance of conception," he said.

"We are concerned by the initial findings of a research project and want more people to complete a survey, external so that it is more representative."

Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

Tonight will be mainly dry with bright or sunny spells with the chance of a light, isolated shower, with a low of 8C (46F).

Tomorrow will be a day of sunny spells and variable amounts of cloud and the chance of a shower, especially the further east you are. Highs of 16C (61F).

There are more details on the BBC Weather website.

BBC Weather Watchers

It's National Poetry Day and our Weather Watchers have joined the bard John Keats to celebrate the "season of mists and mellow fruitfulness" from his Ode to Autumn, with pictures from around the county.

Image source, .

Image source, .

Image source, .

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A display of poppies, previously on show at the Tower of London to honour each UK and colonial death of World War One, is to come to Shoeburyness near Southend next year.  

Image source, RLeaHairHRP

The poppy display, entitled Wave was created by artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper, will be at Gunners Park in April, May and June. 

Southend was the victim of one of the first air raids on the UK and many of the artillery guns used in the war were designed and tested at Shoeburyness. 

John Lamb, leader of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, said: "I'm thrilled that the iconic poppies will be exhibited at Barge Pier. 

"The ranges and garrison played a key role in both world wars, so it is apt that they should host this spectacular work of art." 

Southend United striker Nile Ranger is in contention to feature in the Blues' League One match against Rochdale on Saturday after recovering from injury.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Two organisations in Essex are helping a leading fertility clinic to overcome a commonly- held attitude that young people cannot be infertile.

Image source, PA

A survey by Bourn Hall, external, a leading IVF clinic, has discovered that some young couples are failing to get fertility treatment. It is now working with Healthwatch Essex, external and Healthwatch Havering, external to open up discussion on the causes of infertility among younger people.

Couples seeking help are frequently told they are "too young to have a problem and should try for longer", but there may be underlying causes of infertility, Dr Arpita Ray, lead clinician at Bourn Hall's Colchester, external clinic, said.

"It is well known that fertility declines with age but there are many other causes," he said.

He wants further studies of infertility affecting younger people in Essex.