RSPCA Insp Adam Jones, who was called to investigate reports of a cat being thrown from a second storey window, described the incident as "horrendous".

Image source, Google

"To drop a cat from such a heigh is such an incredibly cruel act and I would like to find this person and hold them accountable for the suffering they have caused to this poor cat," he said.

“We are hopeful that this puss will make a full recovery and we’ll be able to reunite him with his owners, or find him a loving home to treat him with the compassion and kindness that he deserves."

A cat is receiving treatment for a suspected broken pelvis after reportedly being thrown from the window of a top floor flat in Clacton, the RSPCA says.

Image source, RSPCA

The animal welfare charity was called to the block in Oxford Road on Friday after the one-year-old animal was found staggering and limping in the area. 

Witnesses claim a person was seen holding the cat out of a second-story top-floor flat's window, before dropping him to the ground below. 

It is not clear whether it was a man or woman.

Jack Warren
BBC Local Live

It seems the subtitles didn't quite match what our weather presenter Kate Kinsella was saying this morning (we hope)...

Jack Warren
BBC Local Live

It's better news for those visiting Basildon Hospital today. 

A spokeswoman has told me that after having to cancel some elective procedures yesterday, the hospital is no longer running an internal critical incident.

Jack Warren
BBC Local Live

Southend Hospital has had to cancel some non-emergency operations today as pressures continue on the facility's casualty services.

Image source, Google

Yesterday, the hospital declared an internal critical incident in a bid to free up beds for very unwell patients from the emergency department. 

A spokeswoman from Southend Hospital told me that so far told nine elective operations have been cancelled today. 

There has been disruption on the main train line to London.

It was caused by a points failure at Manningtree, but things are getting better...

The police and crime commissioner for Essex says knife crime is not "rife on our streets". 

Roger Hirst has been setting out his priorities in his four year plan for policing in the county.

A car has reportedly been driven the wrong way down the A127 near Rayleigh over the weekend, police have said.

Image source, Google

Officers say it passed eight vehicles while heading towards Southend on the London-bound carriageway in the early hours of Saturday morning. 

The car was later found abandoned in Conniston Road. 

A 27-year-old man from Brentwood has been arrested.

Essex Police and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst has defended claims that doubling the number of voluntary special constables in the county is "policing on the cheap".

"If we had more money available, I'd like to have more [paid] police officers across Essex," Mr Hirst told BBC Essex.

"This is a way of making sure the communities feel like they're well policed and they feel that the police are on their side."

There are half-hour delays on the main rail line between Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and London Liverpool Street.

Greater Anglia had said the disruption would last until at least 08:30.

There are long delays on some Greater Anglia, external services through Essex this morning after a points failure at Manningtree. 

A "limited" bus service is currently operating between Manningtree and Harwich town - but the rail operator warns journeys are likely to be delayed by at least 30 minutes. 

BBC Look East reporter Gareth George tweeted, external this photo from Colchester railway station a short while ago:

Image source, Gareth George

The police and crime commissioner (PCC) for Essex has been setting out his vision for the county's force over the next four years.

PCC Roger Hirst says his priorities and challenges over the next term include: more local and visible policing, tackling anti-social behaviour, prevention of domestic violence and tackling gangs. 

Mr Hirst has also pledged to double the number of special constables from 350 to 700 in Essex. 

Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather

A wet and windy morning across the region with scattered showers and high winds easing through the day.

There's even a chance of a little sunshine by the end of the day.

Maximum temperature: 10C  (50F).

Watch my full regional forecast:

BBC Weather has more details for you.

Jack Warren
BBC Local Live

Good morning.

Six months ago Roger Hirst was elected the police and crime commissioner for Essex - today he has been setting out his plans for the county's force over the next four years.

We'll hear what vision Mr Hirst has for Essex Police shortly.

Philippa Taylor
BBC Local Live

We're signing off from our live updates now, but we'll be back in the morning from 08:00.

Before we go, here are some of the stories we've been looking at:

•  A five-year-old twin whose skull was fractured during his forceps delivery has won nearly £8.5m compensation from the NHS  
• A pregnant woman and her one-year-old child have been rescued from a car stuck in floodwater
• Basildon Hospital declares an "internal critical incident" as demand for its services rises

Have a good evening, and don't forget that any breaking stories overnight will still appear here.

Julie Reinger
BBC Look East weather

It'll be a largely cloudy night with showers or longer spells of rain, heavy at times. It'll be blustery too, with winds near gale force at times around parts of the coast. Lows of 6C (43F).

Tomorrow there may be a little brightness or sunshine, but overall it will be cloudy with further rain or showers. 

However, there are some places that could see a largely dry day. Temperatures, for some of us, climbing into double figures with highs about 10C (50F).

There are more details on the BBC Weather website.

Nikki Jenkins
BBC Local Live

Four men from London who pretended to be police officers as they conned over £100,000 out of elderly and vulnerable victims in a nationwide fraud have been jailed.

The men operated in 13 different areas including Bedfordshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, and the Thames Valley area.

The Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit, which investigated, said the group would phone unsuspecting victims, convincing them they needed their money to investigate fraudulent transactions in their account.

Victims were then informed they needed to go to the bank and withdraw a large amount of money, usually between £5,000 and £20,000. The bogus officer would then send someone around, who would also pretend to be with the police, to collect the money. 

Image source, Bedfordshire Police

The four men, from London, all admitted conspiracy to commit fraud at Leeds Crown Court. 

Shah Ahmed, 22, of Toynbee Street, was jailed for four years, seven months; Rahim Ali, 22, of Vernon Road, was jailed for three years, six months; Malik Amer, 24, of Monthorpe Road, received a three years and seven months' sentence and Ruhel Miah, 19, of Chilton Street, was jailed for four years and 11 months.

Following on the heels of our earlier news about Basildon Hospital, bosses at Southend Hospital have cancelled some elective operations on Tuesday as high demand continues.

The trust says that in light of the continuing pressures on the hospital's emergency and acute services, it has declared an internal critical incident, and is trying to free up beds for very unwell patients from the emergency department.

Associate chief nurse Denise Townsend said: "We are currently evaluating our capacity to carry out elective operations and may cancel further operations to ensure we are concentrating all efforts on reviewing our inpatients, safely discharging those patients who are medically fit and freeing up more beds."

A man has died following a collision involving two scrambler bikes earlier this month.

Police were called by the ambulance service to a field near Mucking Wharf Road, Stanford-le-Hope, shortly after 17:20 on Sunday, 13 November.

One man, a 25-year-old from south London, was taken to St George's Hospital, Tooting, external by air ambulance, but died on Friday, 18 November.

A second man, a 22-year-old from Hackney, is currently in a stable condition in hospital, where he was taken with serious injuries.

Police continue to appeal for witnesses.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

Some clinical work, including one routine operation, has been cancelled at Basildon Hospital as it deals with a high number of patients needing its services.

The Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals Trust, external has declared an internal critical incident.

This is the second time in the past month that the trust has declared an internal critical incident. It is a step up from "black" alert and it reflects the high demand for urgent inpatient services.  

The trust said in a statement: "We are working closely with community partners to speed up transfer of care for patients who can return home with support."

The hospital said it has had to "cancel some elective work to release clinical staff in the hospital to see and treat patients" and is reviewing whether more cancellations are needed 

Non-essential meetings have also been cancelled and non-clinical staff are being "asked to support wards and other clinical areas wherever possible".

Image source, Google