Maria Byrne's mother Linda Biggs has spoken eloquently of her family's devastating loss.

In a statement, she said the "biggest victims" were her grandsons. 

"The boys were her life and she adored them, supporting everything they did. 

"We cannot bear the thought that she will never walk through our gate, that we will never be able to kiss her again and she will never again dance around the kitchen table with her boys. 

"It is an honour and privilege to be looking after them, but we shouldn't be doing it. This is Maria's job. 

"Her death has affected so many people.

"More than 200 people attended Maria's funeral but the biggest victims in all of this are the boys. 

"I can only hope that when they are adults, they will say that they had a wonderful childhood as they were surrounded by love from their family. 

"This is all we wish for as we now dedicate the rest of our lives to Maria's darling boys, for they are the most wonderful legacy and we see Maria in them every day."   

Essex Police said Maria Byrne was killed by her husband in a row when she discovered he had "rekindled an affair" with another woman.

The court heard Darren Byrne hit her over the head and doused her body in white spirit before turning on a stove in a failed attempt to set fire to their Theydon Bois house to cover up what he had done. 

The father-of-two then rang 999, saying he had returned from walking the dog to find her on fire in the kitchen.  

Paramedics found Mrs Byrne with severe burns to her upper body and face and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The former stockbroker was arrested after an initial post-mortem examination showed an accelerant had been used and his wife had been assaulted or restrained.   

Chris Flynn
BBC Essex

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Charles Gratwicke said Maria Byrne "remained living for 30 minutes" after he attacked her.

Image source, Essex Police

He told the former stockbroker and father-of-two: "Nobody sitting in this courtroom listening to the evidence would have felt anything other than sickness and revulsion as to what you did.

"What exactly happened and why, no-one will ever know. You lied to the police, her family, and clearly, by the jury's verdict, to them.

"One thing is clear: you attacked her. She became unconscious and remained living for 30 minutes.

"Not only did you extinguish Maria Byrne's life but you left her two boys motherless and her family devastated.

"The effect of your savagery will live with them for the rest of their lives."

Chris Flynn
BBC Essex

Darren Byrne has been jailed for life at Chelmsford Crown Court for murdering his wife Maria at their home in Theydon Bois in February.

The father-of-two will serve a minimum of 24 years for murder and six-and-a-half years to run concurrently for arson after being found guilty on Monday.

The jury was told she had been hit on the head by Byrne after finding out he had been having an affair.

Byrne had doused his wife's body with white spirit and had turned on the hob before going on an hour-long dog walk.

Returning to find his plan had not worked, he concocted a charade, the jury was told.

He called the emergency services to say his wife was "burned" and told the operator: "The stove was on and the frying pan's on the other side of the room. She's not breathing."

Following Byrne's conviction, police released the 999 call made an hour after he killed his wife and burned her body.

Chris Flynn
BBC Essex

Darren Byrne, who murdered his wife before dousing her body in white spirit and turning on a gas hob, has been given a life sentence and will serve a minimum of 24 years.

Chris Flynn
BBC Essex

The mother of Maria Byrne, who was murdered by her husband Darren before he doused her body in white spirit and turned a gas hob on, has read out a victim impact statement at his sentencing.

Linda Biggs was applauded by people in the court's gallery after she said: "Maria was our only child. She was beautiful, loving, loyal, kind and funny."

She went on to say she "treated Byrne like her own son".

Byrne, dressed in a dark suit with his balding hair slicked back, looked down as Ms Biggs addressed the court. He then stood up as she walked past.

A man who hit his wife over the head before dousing her body in white spirit and turning on a gas hob has entered Chelmsford Crown Court ready to be sentenced.

Image source, Essex Police

Former stockbroker Darren Byrne, 40, of Theydon Bois, Essex, was found guilty on Monday of murdering Maria Byrne. The court heard she was murderd after finding out her husband had been having an affair.

Judge Charles Gratwicke described Byrne's crimes as "wicked and heinous".  

BBC Weather Watchers in the Tendring district have been busy...

We have a squirrel that isn't sure if it's the red or a grey version, a view of Hamford Water and a crystal clear shot of the moon from last night:

Image source, .

Image source, .

Image source, .

Greater Anglia says disruption to rail services, external to and from Norwich station is likely to continue until 17:00.

A fault with the signalling system means trains are running at reduced speed on some lines. Network Rail Engineers are on site and, working to resolve the problem.

The following services have been cancelled:

• 1530: Liverpool Street to Norwich
• 1612: Cambridge to Norwich
• 1630: Liverpool Street to Norwich

A second person has been arrested after an attempted robbery at Honeysuckle Stores, in Witham, on Sunday evening.

The 16-year-old, from the town, has been released on bail until February while inquiries continue, police said, external.

A 17-year-old, arrested earlier in the week has been released on police bail until 13 January.

Stansted Airport, external has unveiled plans for a new £130m arrival building.

Image source, Stansted Airport

Bosses say the three-storey building will help it to eventually handle 35 million passengers each year. 

There are also proposals for changes to the immigration facilities and check-in counters at the terminal.

Image source, Stansted Airport

Under the plans, the current terminal building, designed by architect Norman Foster, would only handle departing passengers.

It is hoped the new building will take around three years to build, with further work to the existing terminal due to be completed by 2022.

A horse stuck in a waterlogged ditch in Holland-on-Sea has been rescued by firefighters. 

Specialist equipment was used to pull the eight-year-old animal to safety last night.

BBC Travel

Train services running to and from Norwich, external station may be cancelled or delayed by up to 30 minutes.

Greater Anglia says this is due to a fault with the signalling system. It's affecting rail travel between Norwich and London Liverpool Street, and between Norwich and Cambridge.

The disruption is expected to continue until 14:30.

These services have been cancelled:

• 13:00 Norwich to London
• 13:12 Cambridge to Norwich
• 14:12 Cambridge to Norwich
• 14:30 London to Norwich
• 15:30 London to Norwich

A former Leyton Orient footballer says he feels "lucky" he was able to stand up to a coach who went on to be accused of sex offences against young players.

An e-fit of an armed burglar has been released by police, external, following a break-in at a house in Wivenhoe on Tuesday.

Image source, Essex Police

Officers were threatened by the suspect before he fled from the house in Stanley Road at about 21:35. 

Det Ch Insp Stuart Smith said: "We have now established a gas-powered BB gun was stolen from the property and we believe this was what the suspect threatened officers with."Imitation firearms such as these will not cause serious injury, but often it can be difficult to tell them apart from a real one, and the fear felt when one is produced is just the same."

Southend's boss, external has met Nile Ranger this morning after the striker's court appearance on fraud and money-laundering charges.

Image source, Getty Images

Phil Brown said he has "a decision to make" over whether to play him on Saturday against Oldham.

Mr Ranger, 25, will next appear at Wood Green Crown Court, alongside two other defendants, in January.

Southend were unaware of Nile Ranger's fraud charge when he signed a new deal in December, says boss Phil Brown.

The Essex Police, external assistant chief constable has said he is proud of the officers called to reports of a gunman at a house in Stanley Road, Wivenhoe (pictured).

They were threatened by the suspect on Tuesday night before he fled. The man is described as about 30 years old, white, about 6ft (1.8m) tall, slim, with short, light or ash-blond hair.

Steve Worron said his officers were "clearly shocked and traumatised... I have nothing but admiration for them. They put themselves in harm's way".

Several other players have also made allegations against the former Leyton Orient coach Eddie Heath, with Tony Eaton, of Basildon, publicly speaking out about how he tried to abuse him.

The ex-footballer said Eddie Heath, who has since died, tried to touch him under a towel during a physio session.

"He started with his hand on my knee - this is after about 10 minutes - he asked me, ‘how’s the heat is it too hot'? I said 'no, it’s all right'. 

"Then all of a sudden his hand is coming up and up and up. I said, ‘What are you doing?’ 

"He said ‘You can’t treat a groin injury – it’s just heat’."

Leyton Orient has said it would be inappropriate to comment due to ongoing police investigations.

Jodie Halford
BBC News

Imagine the feeling - you've spent all day and all your money buying presents for your nearest and dearest, only to lose them on your way home. Nobody needs that.

Well, Essex Police are doing their best to help out, and have tweeted this appeal to try to reunite the presents with their lost owners. Get in touch with them if you know who they belong to!