A motorcyclist has died after colliding with a lorry on the A127 near the Hobleythick Lane junction in Westcliff this morning, police say.

More follows.

An Essex brain-box has given football video gaming a makeover by immersing players in the world of virtual reality using goggles.

The trial of two men convicted of the burglary heard they kicked and punched their 67-year-old victim and stole a box, which was thought to contain about £2,000.

Simon Smith, of no fixed address, and Anthony Smith, of Ceylon Road, Westcliff, were found guilty and both jailed for eight-and-a-half years for one count of burglary at Inner London Crown Court yesterday.

They were cleared of murder and another count of burglary.

Image source, Google

Police said the men had "exploited [the victim's] vulnerability and ruthlessly targeted him because of it" at his home in Cedar Close, Southend (pictured).

"They invaded his home and the severity of their sentence bares testimony to the callous nature of the crime," Det Insp Danny Stoten said.

Police said the murder inquiry remained open.

The A127 in Southend is currently closed in both directions due between the Bell and Tesco following a serious accident involving a bike and a car.

Traffic is building up in and out of the town.

Two men have been jailed for eight-and-a-half-years each for burgling the home of a "vulnerable" elderly man, who was found dead there a week later after a fire.

Albert Williams, of Cedar Close, Southend, is believed to have been murdered before his flat was set alight on 8 August last year.

Image source, Essex Police

Anthony Smith (left), 44, of Ceylon Road in Westcliff, and Simon Smith, 40, of no fixed address, were found not guilty of murder and a second count of burglary, but were sentenced yesterday for the first count of burglary at Inner London Crown Court.

The case against Ismail Celik, 34, of Grays, who was charged with two counts of aiding and abetting burglary, was dropped, police said.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

A Norfolk writer, who won the Waterstones Book of the Year Award, external with her second novel The Essex Serpent, has spoken of her inspiration for the book.

Image source, British Library

Sarah Perry's book is loosely based around a folk tale about the serpent of Henham, near Saffron Walden, which was retold in a 17th Century pamphlet (pictured above).  

Ms Perry (below), who was born in Chelmsford and now lives in Norwich, said: "My husband and me are both from Essex and we were driving through Henham when he asked me if I had heard about the story of the Essex Serpent which a 1669 pamphlet says was seen menacing the villages.

Image source, Profile Books

"And I thought: 'What if it came back in the 19th Century at the time of Charles Darwin (and the then new theory of evolution) and I talked to my husband for about 45 minutes and mapped out the novel."

Image source, Profile Books

The jury in the trial of three men facing charges after a millionaire was shot in his house has been sent home for a long weekend, and will resume its deliberations on Tuesday.

Timothy Mardon was shot in the leg at his mansion in Sible Hedingham near Halstead in February.

Charlie Simms, 23 of Great Yeldham denies charges including attempted murder and aggravated burglary.

Two other men deny charges including wounding with intent.

Jurors at Chelmsford Crown Court retired yesterday, but did not reach verdicts and were sent home.

The court is not sitting today or on Monday, so jurors will return on Tuesday.

An early reunion and a boss with a second chance feature among BBC Sport's stories to watch in the FA Cup second round.

Pete Cooper
BBC Local Live

We don't like to start your day with bad news, but if you are off to get a train then I'm afraid fares in Britain will go up by an average of 2.3% from 2 January.

The increase in regulated fares, which includes season tickets, is capped at July's RPI inflation rate of 1.9%.

Unregulated fares, such as off-peak leisure tickets, can go up by as much as the train companies like.

The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators and Network Rail, said the industry was working to simplify fares and improve services.

Live BBC coverage of the UK Snooker Championship quarter-finals.

Jack Warren
BBC Local Live

Meet three-year-old Sofia Harmon from Clacton. 

She's been a bit of a hero after recently saving her mother's life when she collapsed at their home.  

Image source, Essex Police

Mum Patricia became ill and Sophia dialled 999 and got through to the police.

The operator was able to keep her on the line and establish where they lived.

Essex Police call taker Julie Buckley said: "Sofia is the real hero. For a child of her age, it was amazing that she knew exactly what to do."

Thankfully, Patricia is doing fine, and yesterday her daughter was presented with a bravery certificate and cuddly toys at police headquarters.

Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather

Much milder, but unfortunately we've lost the sunshine, so it'll be gloomy with plenty of low cloud around and very little in the way of brightness.

Temperatures up to 9C (48F).

Winds are light and it should stay dry, although there may be a few spots of rain later in eastern coastal areas.

Watch my full forecast here...

Jack Warren
BBC Local Live

Hello and welcome back. 

Stay strong... the weekend is almost here. 

We'll keep you up to date with the latest news for the county between now and 18:00 on Essex Live.

Next up, what's the weather got in store?

Live updates for Essex have now finished for the day.

Here are some of stories we've covered today:

•  A 15-year-old boy has been charged with manslaughter after the death of a Polish man who was attacked in Harlow
•  A visitor to a council-owned leisure centre in Walton-on-the-Naze was taken to hospital after contracting Legionnaires' Disease
• A judge and her husband admit forging a relative's will

We'll be back tomorrow from 08:00.

Have a good evening.

Julie Reinger
BBC Look East weather

A dry and largely cloudy night with some clear spells across the East region.

Where skies clear, it could freeze with temperatures dropping close to 0C (32F) and patchy fog and frost is likely.

It’ll be a chilly start to Friday with some frost and fog to clear. It’ll then be a generally cloudy day with perhaps a little brightness and sunshine at times. Some parts could also see a bit of light and showery rain. Top temperature 9C (48F).

There are more details on the BBC Weather website.

Alex Dunlop
BBC Look East

The mother of Arkadiusz Jozwik told me that she is "reassured" after a 15-year-old boy was charged with manslaughter, but added "nothing will bring Arek back".

Mr Jozwik, 39, was assaulted on 27 August in The Stow, Harlow, and died in hospital.

The teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, will appear at Chelmsford Youth Court in January.

Speaking through an interpreter, Ewa Jozwik, said she did not feel safe in Harlow because "people are still being attacked".

She also said she was finding it "very hard".

"I go to the cemetery most days. It's a nightmare. I can't believe that he's dead. He was a normal easy-going boy. He didn't drink and go out partying. It's a nightmare," she said.

You can see more on this on Look East at 18:30.

A former judge and her husband forged a will to inherit two cottages and stole more than £23,000 to renovate the property, a court hears.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

A retired judge and her husband, who admitted forging a will, ended up living in the dead man's house after stealing a relative's cash to do up the property.

Ex-solicitor Margaret Hampshire, 69, and her builder husband, 67-year-old Alan Hampshire, pleaded guilty to forging the will of Martin Blanche, who died in 2007.

The couple had been part-way through a trial at Nottingham Crown Court before changing their pleas and admitting a total of six offences on Wednesday.

They knocked-through two properties in Rolleston, near Newark in Nottinghamshire, and moved there.

They included admitting forging a document to avoid inheritance tax.

The offences happened while Mrs Hampshire was still a practising tribunals judge. 

A series of other charges against the Hampshires, of Church Road in Wickham Bishops near Witham, was ordered to lie on file.

They are due to be sentenced on 20 December.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

A fitness room and showers have been closed at a pool and gym after a customer was admitted to Colchester Hospital with Legionnaires' Disease, external.

Work is being carried out to locate and eliminate the source of Legionella bacteria discovered at Lifestyles leisure centre in Walton-on-the-Naze.

Image source, TBC

A test sample was taken in a new shower area last month and laboratory analysis came back with a positive result.

Tendring District Council (TDC), which runs the leisure centre, was informed of the result yesterday and is undertaking further investigations.

The tests were initially carried out after Public Health England told TDC on 18 November that a customer had been admitted to Colchester Hospital with Legionnaires' Disease.

The customer taken to hospital had recently used the fitness room and shower facilities at the site and this was identified as a possible source.

TDC closed the fitness room showers to all users and they will remain closed until testing returns a negative result.

Lynda McWilliams, TDC's cabinet member for leisure, health and well-being, said: "As soon as we were contacted by Public Health England, the showers used by the customer were closed down and test samples taken.

"All the necessary bodies were informed while we awaited the results of the tests which were carried out at an independent laboratory."

The pool and gym remain open.