Stuart Bailey
BBC News

A 20-year-old motorcyclist has been killed in a crash near Colchester. 

It happened on London Road in Stanway, near its junction with Straight Road, just before 22:50 last night.

Essex Police says the victim, who was from the Colchester area, was in collision with a Vauxhall Corsa and died at the scene

A 24-year-old man from Hornchurch has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. 

The road was closed for forensic examinations and reopened shortly after 03:15 this morning.

Laurence Cawley
BBC News

The owner of a restaurant in Essex where under-fives are banned has been explaining why she thinks the rule is necessary.

Hilary Penning opened the Organic Kitchen, external in Buckhurst Hill three months ago.

Image source, Organic Kitchen

She says it's a ten-table restaurant and there isn't enough room for buggies and pushchairs: "It is a small intimate dining experience.

"When you have waitresses and waiters having to step over buggies while carrying boiling water, it is a serious health and safety issue."

Hilary admitted the decision has "stirred up a hornets' nest" on social media and that she has even been stopped in the street and labelled a "disgrace to motherhood".

As well as the ambulance service across the region, Essex's other emergency services are taking to Twitter today to show the public what they do in an average 24-hour period.

They'll be tweeting the sorts of calls they're taking and cases they're dealing with until 06:00 tomorrow. 

We'll bring you some of the highlights through the day.

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

Essex emergency services are live-tweeting today to show the public what goes on in a 24-hour period.

Laurence Cawley
BBC News

The owner of a restaurant who decided to ban under-fives says she has been stopped in the street and labelled a "disgrace to motherhood".

Hilary Penning only opened the Organic Kitchen in Buckhurst Hill near Loughton three months ago.

She and husband Adam, who have a toddler themselves, decided prams and buggies were a health and safety hazard in their bijou restaurant.

Their decision has triggered a fierce backlash both on social media.

Image source, Thinkstock

As well as claims on social media that the restaurant was being "discriminatory" and "awful", Mr Penning said there had also been "intimidation" including SUVs slowing down outside the eaterie and Hilary being stopped and abused in the street.  

"It [the backlash] has surprised us and the biggest element of surprise has been the vehemence and vitriol in the backlash against a policy which was taken for various reasons.

"It seems to have brought some of the worst out of local people. It is a minority. The majority have supported us.

"It has stirred up a hornets' nest."

(Our picture is not from Organic Kitchen - it's just to brighten the page!)  

Andrew Turner
BBC Radio Norfolk

I've spent the early morning with ambulance staff at the control room at Norwich in Norfolk as they face one of the busiest days of the year.

The day is traditionally known to emergency services as Black Friday because of incidents related to Christmas parties and nights out. 

East of England Ambulance Service, external paramedic Rob Chalk, who is based at the Gorleston depot, told me higher demand means resources can't always be stretched as far as needed. 

"We are professionals and sometimes it is our perception that a patient has not called us maliciously but it's not a problem for the ambulance service. And some call out of frustration because they are unable to access care elsewhere," he said.

"But it can sometimes be frustrating if you can hear on your radio that somebody does need an immediate medical response and we are unable to go because we're dealing with something we really should not have gone to in the first place."

The service is hosting a 'Twitterthon' across the day with the aim of giving us an insight into their work:

A 21-year old man is due to appear in court today charged with attempting to rob the West Ham United footballer Andy Carroll (pictured).

It follows an incident where the England international was allegedly pursued by motorcyclists in Chigwell.

Image source, PA

Jack O'Brien from Romford is accused of trying to steal the striker's watch, as well as ten counts of burglary, four counts of attempted burglary and one count of handling stolen goods.

He's due to appear at Basildon Crown Court alongside a second man who has been charged with burglary.

Darren Byrne, 40, is beginning a life sentence for murdering his wife Maria at their home in Theydon Bois.

The judge at Chelmsford told him he would have to serve a minimum of 24 years before being considered for parole.

Image source, Essex Police

Maria's mother Linda Biggs, speaking on behalf of the family including husband Chris, said: "Maria was our only child.

"She was everything to us, our whole world. 

"She was brought up surrounded by love and she was simply our darling girl. 

"Our world ended on 13 February this year when we were told by police that Maria was dead.

"I have lost the daughter of my dreams, my baby. 

"Maria and I did everything together and we confided in each other. 

"Our hearts are broken in two. One half is filled with rage towards Darren and the other is filled with the overwhelming love for Maria and her two boys."

Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather

It will be a rather cloudy day, but remaining largely dry.

The occasional cloud break will allow some sunny intervals to form. Mainly light southerly winds.

Highs of 9C (48F).

Watch my full forecast below.

Pete Cooper
BBC Local Live

Essex firefighters are issuing a new warning this morning over the dangers of candles after a tea-light started a Christmas tree blaze.

It happened in Great Horkesley near Colchester yesterday evening. There are no reports of any injuries.

Essex firefighters say candles should never be placed near Christmas trees or any furnishings. 

Pete Cooper
BBC Local Live

Good morning

We are back with live updates for Essex.

We'll be bringing you all the news, weather, sport and travel that you need.

And in a moment we'll bring you the all important weather forecast.

Zoe Applegate
BBC News

That's all for today from BBC Essex on a day when the jailing of Darren Byrne for his wife Maria's murder has dominated the headlines in the county.

Today we've heard how:

• Former stockbroker Byrne has been jailed for life and will serve a minimum of 24 years for murdering his wife Maria in Theydon Bois
• Maria's mother Linda Biggs has given a heart-rending statement, saying how she and her husband should not be bringing up her only child's "darling" two boys
• Judge Charles Gratwicke told Byrne no-one in the courtroom would have "felt anything other than "sickness and revulsion" at his "savagery"

We'll be back tomorrow from 08:00.

A Clacton man has already bought a "dream home" for his family after scooping £1m on the lottery two weeks ago.

Image source, National Lottery

Laundry worker Iain Cockburn, 50, lives with his mother and brother and said he plans to carry out his "lifelong wish" to build a library in his new home for his military book collection.

"As soon as the win was verified we started looking for a bungalow," he said. 

"We’ve already found the perfect one and had our offer accepted so the three of us will be able to leave rented accommodation behind and move into our dream home."

A husband who murdered his wife before dousing her body in white spirit and turning on a gas hob is jailed for at least 24 years.

Olympic gold gymnast Max Whitlock has revealed how he is cutting down his hours in his Basildon gym after contracting glandular fever last year.

The 23-year-old said he wants to remain at peak fitness beyond Tokyo 2020 and does not want to "fade out".

He said: "Ever since I got glandular fever in 2015, I haven't been able to train with the same intensity or the same amount of hours that I did beforehand, and that might continue. 

"I am taking the longest break of my career at the moment, so I am hoping to benefit from that and I will be reducing the amount of hours I spend in the gym for the whole of the next four-year cycle."

Whitlock is nominated for this Sunday's BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.

As we told you earlier, Stansted Airport has unveiled plans today for its new £130m arrivals building.

Image source, Stansted Airport

The airport is the fourth biggest in the UK and currently handles 24m passengers - but bosses hope the new building will help it receive an estimated 34m travellers.

It will be based next to the existing terminal and the airport says it will complement the original architecture, designed by Sir Norman Foster more than 25 years ago.

Stansted bosses expect to hear if Uttlesford District Council, external has approved the proposals in February or March.

Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

A rather cloudy end to the day but relatively mild. One or two breaks in the cloud overnight, allowing some mist and fog patches to form. Low temperatures of 4C (39F).

Tomorrow will be a rather cloudy day with some bright or sunny spells, and a high of 9C (48F).

There are more details on the BBC Weather website.

The Crown Prosecution Service has said Darren Byrne's plan to claim his wife had "burned to death while making him a bacon sandwich" had failed. 

Punam Malhan, CPS East of England senior district crown prosecutor, said: "Darren Byrne concocted an elaborate alibi to cover up that he was responsible for the murder of his wife after she discovered he was continuing with an affair he had promised was over. 

"Initially he was treated as a grieving husband but tests showed his wife was unconscious when the fire started and had white spirit on her body. 

"He had the motive, means and opportunity and we were satisfied there was sufficient evidence to prosecute him for murder and arson being reckless as to whether life is endangered. 

"Our thoughts are with the family of Mrs Byrne and we hope the sentence imposed can give them some comfort."

The senior investigating officer in the Maria Byrne case said her husband Darren had "thought of no-one but himself".

Image source, Essex Police

Det Ch Insp Stephen Jennings, of Essex Police, said: "He told the court he had panicked. But that is absolutely no justification for what he did.

"He will now have plenty of time to reflect on his actions that day and the devastation he has caused to his own family and those who loved Maria."