Jack Warren
BBC Local Live

The Essex Live team is now signing off for the weekend - here are the top stories we've covered today: 

• The Walton-on-the-Naze Lifestyles leisure centre has been closed "indefinitely" after Legionella bacteria was found
• Braintree Town are feeling "no pressure" going into their first ever second-round FA Cup match against Millwall on Sunday

• A motorcyclist has died and a lorry driver arrested following a crash on the A127 in Southend

We return on Monday from 08:00.

Have a great weekend. 

Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

This evening will be rather cloudy with some showers clearing eastwards. 

Clear spells will develop and bring the risk of a frost in places and the odd fog patch. Lows of -1 to 4C (30 - 39F).

Saturday will be a little cloudy at times, but staying dry with some bright or sunny spells. 

Chance of an isolated shower in eastern counties, with highs of 7C (45F).

There's more at BBC Weather.

Tendring District Council says a meeting is being held on Monday with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regarding the Legionella bacteria found at Lifestyles in Walton-on-the-Naze.

A council-owned leisure centre has been closed indefinitely after a man was treated in hospital after contracting Legionnaires' Disease. 

The customer, who had used the fitness room and shower facilities, fell ill on 18 November, but has since been discharged from hospital.   

Tendring District Council said the Walton-on-the-Naze Lifestyles centre is now closed to the public as a precautionary measure.

Police want to speak to these two men after a jewellery shop was raided in Brentwood last month.

Image source, Essex Police

Four men riding moped smashed their way into Bonds of Brentwood in Ingrave Road on 11 October, making off with watches worth a five-figure sum.

The Walton-on-the-Naze Lifestyles leisure centre has been closed indefinitely this afternoon after Legionella bacteria was found.

More follows...

Image source, Tendring District Council

Image source, Google

An Essex care home that received an "inadequate" rating, external by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) last week is to close down.

Bupa, the company which runs the home, said Carnarvon in Clacton will shut its doors once new homes for residents have been found.

Bosses added the facility was closing due to issues of adapting the building and not because of the recent CQC report.

The elf has ditched his shelf and is making his way around Essex.

Keep your eyes peeled. 

Nic Rigby
BBC News

We're been talking to Norwich writer Sarah Perry about her novel The Essex Serpent, which has just won the Waterstones Book of the Year Award, external.

Image source, Profile Books

The story first surfaced in written form in a pamphlet produced in 1669 which says the account of the giant serpent appearing near Henham in Essex was "attested by many credible persons".

"It's a great unsolved mystery. Some say it was all a hoax, a monster that was hand-built by a man and his son," said Perry.

Image source, British Library

"Others say it was a crocodile and some such creature escaped from the Tower of London (which contained a royal menagerie from the time of King John to 1832) and made its way to the Essex marshes."

She said she was always interested in myths and the "dark places that inhabit the corner of your eyes".

BBC Weather

The early part of the afternoon has been dry and mainly cloudy, with a few bright or sunny intervals. Outbreaks of light rain will move into coastal areas later and it will feel a little chilly. 

Maximum temperature: 9C (48F).

Popping out? Get your local forecast from BBC Weather.

After the death of a cyclist in Buckhurst Hill following a collision with a small lorry, Essex Police are appealing for information.

Det Insp Dave Jones said: "I would urge the driver of the vehicle to come forward and contact us.

"Equally if there are any transport managers or transport companies who have noticed anything suspicious about one of their vehicles, particularly that it may be missing a wing mirror, please get in touch urgently.

Image source, Google

"Additionally I would urge any shops in the Loughton, Debden and Buckhurst Hill areas that receive deliveries from a vehicle matching that description to also contact us."

The picture show the southern junction of Roding View with Loughton Way.

A cyclist, in his 40s, has died a day after a collision in Buckhurst Hill, where the driver of the other vehicle failed to stop after the incident.

It happened at about 04:15 yesterday in Roding View. The cyclist was taken to the Royal London Hospital, but died yesterday evening, Essex Police said.

Officers said the dead man was believed to have been on his way to work.

The vehicle was a small, white or light-coloured lorry, probably less than 7.5 tonnes.

A wing mirror, believed to belong to the vehicle was found in the area. 

A cyclist who was involved in a crash in Buckhurst Hill in Epping Forest yesterday has died.

More to follow...

Jack Warren
BBC Local Live

Here are the top stories from Essex so far today: 

• A motorcyclist has died and a lorry driver arrested following a crash on the A127 in Southend
• An Essex brain-box has given football video gaming a makeover by immersing players in the world of virtual reality using goggles  
• The welfare officer of the Essex Football Association says the sport in the county is safe, despite of allegations of non-recent child abuse across the country

Britain loves an underdog - and Braintree certainly go into Sunday's historic FA Cup second-round match at Millwall as one. 

Here's what the bookies think...

A spoof news site releases a charity song for Christmas, mocking an infamous river crossing.

The welfare officer of the Essex Football Association says the sport in the county is safe despite of allegations of non-recent child abuse. 

Essex Police is one of 16 forces currently looking into historical child abuse claims. 

Helen Hever from the county's FA told BBC Essex many grassroots clubs have been in touch to get reassurance that they have the right procedures in place.

History will be made on Sunday as Braintree Town play in the second-round of the FA Cup for the first time in the club's 118 years of existence.

Image source, Braintree Town

The Iron head to Millwall in what promises to be a thrilling match as 41 goals have been netted in Braintree's last nine games in all competitions. 

Chairman Lee Harding has hailed it a "great occasion" for the club.

"We go into it with no pressure and get a bit of a windfall out of the share of the gate, and there might be some TV money for the highlights," he said.

A rider on a yellow Honda motorcycle has died after colliding with a lorry on the A127 in Southend this morning, police say. 

It happened at the Hobleythick Lane junction at about 08:45. 

The lorry driver has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving.