Simon Dedman
BBC Essex political reporter

Former Conservative universities minister David - now Lord - Willetts has described the University of Essex as "Colchester's biggest export". 

Speaking at the party's conference today, he told me student visas are one of the crucial issues for Brexit negotiations if institutions like the University of Essex are to be protected.

"The tens of millions of pounds brought in by overseas students and spent locally at that university boost the local economy," he said.

A man has died after his scooter hit a lorry in Grays this afternoon, police say.

It happened in London Road at about 12:15. A man in his 20s was pronounced dead at the scene.

The force say the road will remain closed for at least another hour. 

A murderer involved in the "Essex Boys" gangland killings is suing the Ministry of Justice for £100,000 after he was knocked unconscious in a jail assault. 

Image source, Essex Police

Michael Steele (pictured) was jailed for life for killing three drug dealers in a Range Rover in Rettendon in 1995.

In 2010, the 73-year-old was beaten with a steel pot in a kitchen after an argument over use of a telephone at maximum security HMP Whitemoor, near March in Cambridgeshire.

Although he made a good recovery from the attack, Steele is now suing the government for damages for failing to protect him.

The Ministry of Justice argued the claim had no chance of succeeding. Staff had no reason to suspect Steele was at risk of an attack, lawyers said.

But after a Central London County Court hearing, Judge Avent said the claim would be allowed to go be heard in full before the courts. 

Police are searching for a cleaner after jewellery was stolen from a house in Wivenhoe.

Image source, Google

A necklace, watch and a three-figure sum of money was stolen from the home in Caroline Close sometime this month. 

Officers are looking for a woman called Judy who had been working there as a cleaner. 

She is white, aged 40 to 50 years old with straight brown hair, and, while police believe she lived locally, they do not know her surname.

Jack Warren
BBC Local Live

Here are the top stories we've covered on Essex Live today:

• A woman has been sexually assaulted as she walked home for a night out in Chelmsford, police say
• Police are continuing to investigate the attempted theft of a cash machine in Coggeshall early yesterday morning
• A murderer involved in the "Essex Boys" gangland killings is suing the Ministry of Justice for £100,000 after he was knocked unconscious in a jail assault

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

The former boyfriend of The Only Way Is Essex star Gemma Collins (pictured) has been jailed for two years for burglary.

St Albans Crown Court heard homeless Stephen Mortimer, 35, broke into a house in Stockings Lane, Little Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, on 22 May and stole £100, days after he took jewellery from another home.

Image source, Getty Images

Mortimer pleaded guilty to committing the burglary via a video link from Chelmsford prison, where he is already serving a two year sentence for a burglary committed 11 days earlier.

His defence barrister, Jay Kallagher, told the court he was dating a reality TV star between February 2015 and April 2016, was living in an expensive property and his daily actions were reported by the media.

When the relationship finished he moved to his mother's property - a one bedroom flat in Romford, east London - but ended up living on the streets.

BBC Weather

Fine and mostly sunny this afternoon with some patchy cloud later. 

The winds will gradually strengthen with a rather cool south-easterly breeze developing.

Maximum temperature: 17C (63F).

Get your local forecast from BBC Weather.

Ben Fryer
BBC Essex sport

Colchester United defender Richard Brindley says the team needs to be more clinical in front of goal. 

Image source, Getty Images

It's four without a win for the U's after Saturday's 2-0 loss at Carlisle. They had large spells of possession and pressure in the game and Brindley says they need to make it count.

"The goals that we let in - we'll address that and put it right," he said. 

Ben Fryer
BBC Essex sport

Southend United defender Jason Demetriou says they team is improving, despite dropping back into League One's bottom four on Saturday.

The Blues conceded in injury time of a 1-1 home draw with Peterborough, but Demetriou is confident they can climb the table.

"We've had a few good games, and hopefully we can build on it," he said.

Ben Fryer
BBC Essex sport

Two Essex sides have found out who stands between them and a place in the first round proper of the FA Cup this morning. 

Braintree Town have been drawn at home to fellow National League side Bromley - while Billericay play at Maidstone United.  

The ties are due to be played on Saturday, 15 October.

The Conservative MP for Harwich and North Essex has told the BBC there should be an end to people saying "we don't know what Brexit means".

Yesterday, Theresa May announced the government would trigger the formal process of leaving the European Union before the end of March. 

Labour believes the timetable is meaningless unless proper plans are in place. 

However, Bernard Jenkin said the way ahead was very clear: "Brexit means taking back control of your own laws, own money, own borders, and controlling these things like most other countries."

Listen to live BBC local radio commentary from Tuesday's action in the National League.

A woman who was sexually assaulted in Chelmsford early this morning is being looked after by trained officers.

A woman has been sexually assaulted as she walked home from a night out in Chelmsford, police say.

It happened in the early hours of this morning as she walked home alone from the city centre. 

The victim was approached by a man wearing a hooded top who "seriously sexually assaulted" her in an alley way.

Jack Warren
BBC Local Live

I'm the first to admit I'm not professional photographer - but check out this perfectly formed rainbow I spotted while walking my dog in Ashingdon.

Image source, Jack Warren

It graced the sky on Saturday afternoon at about 17:00, following a sharp shower. 

Sadly there was no pot of gold at the end of it. However, if you also spotted it, share it with us via email or Twitter, external.

Police are continuing to investigate the attempted theft of a cash machine in Coggeshall early yesterday morning.

Image source, Essex Police

Five men wearing balaclavas used a blue Land Rover, a silver Jeep and chains to rip the cash machine from McColls in Church Street, but fled the scene when they were interrupted by officers, the force say.

The men were described as white and aged in their 20s.

Nearly 3,000 motorists in Essex have been fined for careless driving the the past 12 months, a Freedom of Information Request by The Times, external has found.

Image source, BBC/Thinkstock

The offence includes things like eating at the wheel, taking photos of accidents and shaving or doing make up at the wheel.

Police are allowed to issue fixed penalty notices for careless driving under powers introduced in 2013. 

How can you avoid a disaster before the biggest day of your life? 

Wedding planner Dominique Douglas says it's important to get references.

"There are Facebook forums you can go to and speak to other brides about their experiences," she said. 

"Dresses can take time, but there are also shops out there that have stock which you can buy, if you fit the sizes."

Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather

After a chilly start, with some patchy mist and fog in places, there'll be plenty of autumnal sunshine and lots of blue skies. Top temperature: 17C (63F).

It'll be fairly clear overnight, but not quite so chilly, with lows of around 11C (52F).

Get more on the forecast where you live, from BBC Weather.

A mum has made a plea to a Harlow wedding dress shop which has gone bust, to let customers "have their dreams".

D&Q Weddings in Harvey Centre went into liquidation last week. It's not clear if women who've bought dresses will get their outfits or their money back.

Sheila O'Sullivan's daughter Charlie is due to get married next year: "Chances are she won't get a penny of what she's paid back. I'm disgusted, I feel ripped off and I'm terribly disappointed for my daughter."

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