1. Autumn Statement: Living Wage to risepublished at 13:32 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    The National Living Wage (NLW)  will increase from £7.20 to £7.50 in April next year, the chancellor has confirmed. 

    "That’s a pay rise worth over £500 a year to a full-time worker," he says. The NLW has replaced the minimum wage for workers aged over 25.

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    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’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  2. Big picture Autumn Statement should benefit the Eastpublished at 13:26 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    Andrew Sinclair
    BBC Look East political correspondent

    Philip Hammond is a very different chancellor to George Osborne - he's not as showy, he doesn't have leadership ambitions - so it was always going to be the case that this mini budget would be "big picture" stuff with very few local announcements. 

    But we will all be affected by what he's said today and the view at Westminster is that when it comes to investment, the East is likely to be one of the main beneficiaries.

    Science and research parks in Cambridge, Norwich and Ipswich will be in line for the extra funding for research and development, some of the many mobile and broadband "not spots" across the region can expect to benefit from the increased funding confirmed today, we might get some of the money for new housing and the commitment to east west rail, and an express roadway from Oxford to Cambridge will make it much easier to get about and do business. 

    The details will emerge in the days and weeks to come.

    Critics will say it isn't enough, but for a region that feels it's been underfunded for many years, anything extra will be welcome.

  3. Autumn Statement: Increase in prison officers expectedpublished at 13:18 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    It looks like it's good news on the funding front for Justice Secretary Liz Truss...

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    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’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post 2

    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’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post 2
  4. Autumn Statement: Investment news welcomedpublished at 13:18 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    The Conservative MEP for the East, Vicky Ford has welcomed news that the Chancellor Phillip Hammond is investing £23bn in innovation and infrastructure. 

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    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’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  5. The Autumn Statement: What can the East expect?published at 12:21 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    Andrew Sinclair
    BBC Look East political correspondent

    Chancellor Philip Hammond will shortly deliver his Autumn Statement, a kind of mini budget.

    On a national level it is probably the most important budget statement for six years, as the new administration outlines its priorities as we prepare for Brexit.

    But don't expect lots of local announcements. 

    Whilst George Osborne had leadership ambitions and loved to name check as many local bits of spending as possible, Mr Hammond is a very different person. He believes in outlining the big picture and leaving it to others to reveal the local detail in the days and weeks to come. 

    We will all be affected by the expected fuel duty freeze, as well as by any tax cuts or increases. We already know that money is going into science and research as well as in tackling poor broadband and mobile phone provision and it's very likely that some of that will come our way. 

    But anything else? Watch this space.

  6. Racehorses worth £36m fly out from Stansted Airportpublished at 12:12 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    Next time you're struggling to get your holiday gear into a suitcase, spare a thought for the person responsible for getting 72 elite racehorses on a flight from Stansted to Kuwait. 

    The animals, worth a combined £36m, were flown from the north Essex terminal last week to the Middle East, where they will spend the winter months training and racing in a warmer climate. 

    RacehorseImage source, ETIHAD

    During the 10-hour flight, a team of six grooms handled the horses ensuring they were comfortable and calm.

    Racehorses being loadedImage source, ETIHAD

    It's not the first time prized animals have been transported through Stansted, according to head of cargo, Conan Busby.

    "Many of the horses taking part in this year’s Olympic Games and the Queen’s 90th Birthday celebrations passed through Stansted’s dedicated equine facility," he said. 

    Racehorses being loadedImage source, ETIHAD
  7. 16 Air Assault Brigade takes part in Spanish training missionpublished at 11:33 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    Some of our soldiers from the county have been training abroad over the past couple of weeks. 

    Troops from the Colchester-based 16 Air Assault Brigade have been taking part in a two-week training exercise with their Spanish counterparts, in a bid to develop relations between the two.

    Media caption,

    16 Air Assault Brigade take part in Spanish training mission

  8. How do changes to A&E in Essex affect you?published at 11:01 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    Three Essex hospitals could soon work together with one specialist A&E department shared between them - but how will this affect you? 

    BBC Essex reporter Simon Dedman explains...

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    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’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  9. CCTV released after dog 'cruelly beaten' on trainpublished at 10:44 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    CCTV has been released after a dog was hung by his lead and then swung against the wall of a train.

    CCTVImage source, BTP

    The incident, described by the British Transport Police (BTP) as an "unbelievably shocking act of cruelty", is said to have happened on a train travelling between Braintree and Witham.

    The unknown hooded man is said to have also pushed his foot against the dog's face. 

    Sgt Paul Thompson is urging anybody who witnessed the attack, which happened at about 22:30 on 10 October, to contact the BTP by sending a text to 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40.

  10. BBC's Nick Robinson heads to Essex ahead of Autumn Statementpublished at 10:19 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    In a short while, Philip Hammond will deliver his Autumn Statement - but what's the mood like in Shenfield, where the chancellor used to be a car salesman?

    The BBC's Nick Robinson has been there to find out...

    Shenfield Motors

    Simon Morris, of Shenfield Motors, went to the same school as Mr Hammond. He says that sales have dropped off in recent months because people are nervous about what might lie ahead.

    Nevertheless, he said, he wanted Mr Hammond to be honest about the state of the economy, even if it makes people cautious.

    "I would go the honesty route, because it will change, people will spend their money again, it always happens," he said.

    Read more about Nick's trip to Shenfield here.

  11. Pictures from scene of Ongar petrol station stabbingpublished at 09:58 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    We have been sent pictures of the scene from yesterday's stabbing at a petrol station in High Street, Ongar. 

    They were shared with us by local news outlet Everything Epping Forest, external

    Scene of stabbingImage source, Everything Epping Forest
    Scene of stabbingImage source, Everything Epping Forest
  12. Teenager stabbed and 'sprayed with CS gas' in Ongarpublished at 09:39 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    An investigation is continuing this morning after a teenager was stabbed and sprayed with what police believe to be tear gas near a petrol station in Ongar. 

    High Street, Ongar

    The county's force says it happened yesterday afternoon close to the Tesco Express forecourt in High Street. 

    A 19-year-old man was taken to hospital with facial injuries, which are not thought to be life-threatening. 

  13. Autumn Statement: An animated guidepublished at 09:09 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    What's going to be in the Autumn Statement? Take a look at our animated guide.  

    Media caption,

    What's the Autumn Statement all about?

  14. Doh! Braintree Town player turns up at wrong groundpublished at 09:06 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    Braintree Town were almost a man down yesterday after one of their players turned up at the wrong ground.

    Simeon Akinola/Bromley Football ClubImage source, Getty Images/Google

    The Iron were hosting Bromley in the National League, but striker Simeon Akinola got himself in a bit of muddle and turned up 67 miles away in Bromley's car park. 

    Luckily, Akinola managed to get back to Cressing Road for half-time.

    Not only that, he came off the bench in the second half and helped set up the equaliser in the 2-2 draw.

  15. What do BBC editors expect from the Autumn Statement?published at 08:45 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    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’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  16. Specialist A&E sharing 'not about closing capacity'published at 08:30 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    The chief executive of both Broomfield and Basildon hospitals says plans for a specialist A&E department to serve mid and south Essex isn't about downgrading.

    Clare Panniker

    Speaking on BBC Essex this morning, Clare Panniker said: "After all of these changes have taken place, these three hospitals all will still be thriving big hospitals as they are now.

    "This isn't about closing capacity and removing beds. The number of the beds in the hospitals will stay the same, they will just be used for different things."

  17. Plans for three hospitals to share one specialist A&E announcedpublished at 08:15 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    Three Essex hospitals could soon work together with one specialist A&E department shared between them.

    Southend, Broomfield, Basildon

    The proposals from the NHS affect Southend, Broomfield and Basildon hospitals. 

    All three would retain some form of A&E units, but there would only be one major trauma centre. 

    It's part of local health plans being developed for south and mid Essex hospitals to prevent a multi-million pound deficit by the end of the decade.

  18. Good morning Essexpublished at 08:12 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    Jack Warren
    BBC Local Live

    Welcome back to Essex Live.

    Our top story this morning: Southend, Basildon and Broomfield Hospital are to share one specialist A&E department under plans announced today to stop a £400m deficit by 2020. 

    A&EImage source, PA

    We'll have more details on this shortly.   

  19. Weather: Rather cloudy with some chance of rainpublished at 08:10 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2016

    Kate Kinsella
    BBC Look East weather

    It will be a cloudy but mainly dry day, with just the odd chance of rain. Still feeling fairly cold with a high between 8C and 10C (46-50F).

    There are more details on the BBC Weather website.

  20. Braintree Town 2-2 Bromleypublished at 23:04 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November 2016

    Bromley extend their unbeaten run to four matches with a draw against relegation-battling Braintree at Cressing Road.

    Read More