Updates on Friday, 23 December
Tributes pour in for house fire victims
Greater Anglia warns of disruption to rail services over Christmas
Co-op recalls chocolate Santas after 'tampering'
Drink driving on the rise in Essex this Christmas
Richard Smith
BBC Essex
People have started leaving bunches of flowers outside the house in Braintree where a woman and child died in a fire last night.
Colleagues of the woman who died have come to pay their respects, saying she was "so friendly" and "always keen to help other people".
Richard Smith
BBC Essex
I've been speaking to Allen Littlechild, who lives on South Street near to the house where a fire claimed the lives of a woman and child.
He told me he and his wife heard screaming late last night, not realising at first it was coming from outside their house. But he said it quickly become clear something was seriously wrong.
Quote MessageYou could see flames leaping out of the top of the building and we heard the sound of the heat cracking the roof tiles. We could hear terrible screaming and that was almost spine-chilling."
Allen Littlechild, South Street resident
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Police have told us they're investigating after a man was found with serious head injuries in the early hours of this morning.
He was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, where his injuries "are thought to be life changing but not life threatening", police said.
The force is investigating the circumstances that led to the man being injured.
Richard Smith
BBC Essex
I've been speaking to Claire Deloubes, who lives on South Street in Braintree (pictured below as it looked in September).
"We heard screaming so we came outside and a woman was distraught," she told me.
Image source, Google"People were trying to break the front window and they didn't manage to.
"Within minutes the house was ablaze and the fire service came, and we were asked to go back inside.
"It was horrendous."
If you're just joining us, we've been focussing today's live updates on a fatal house fire in Braintree, which has claimed the lives of a woman and child.
Two other women were injured in the blaze in South Street, which started at 22:45 GMT.
Essex Police and the county's fire service are investigating the cause of the fire.
An MP has told of his shock and sadness over the death of a woman and child in a house fire in Braintree.
Read MoreRichard Smith
BBC Essex
Following last night's fire, there's a number of police and fire officers in South Street this morning.
They're all working towards trying to establish what caused the blaze in which a woman and a child died.
At the moment, we don't have any more information about their ages or relationship to each other.
Bishop Stephen Cottrell has tweeted about last night's fatal fire in Braintree.
"Very sad news in Braintree today. Churches in @chelmsdio, external praying for all involved," he wrote.
Richard Smith
BBC Essex
I've come to South Street in Braintree, where a woman and child lost their lives in a fire last night.
Two women managed to escape from the property, fire crews said.
This morning, there's still a slight smell of smoke in the air and there's a cordon around the house.
I can see some emergency service workers in white protective overalls getting ready to go inside the property.
Braintree MP James Cleverly has spoken of his shock and sadness over the death of a woman and child in a house fire in Braintree.
Police are investigating the cause of the blaze in South Street along with the fire service.
Braintree District Council's chairman, Frankie Ricci, has tweeted about the fatal fire in South Street, expressing his sadness at the deaths of a woman and child.
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Laurence Cawley
BBC News
I have just spoken with BBC Essex Reporter Richard Smith, who has arrived at the scene of the Braintree fire tragedy.
He told me: "The detached Victorian-style home has been completely destroyed. The roof has burned through from the front gable to the rear.
"All of the windows are broken, both on the first floor and ground. Beyond the police cordon, around the house debris lies all around.
"People are very quietly pausing outside to look."
Image source, VizMapsLaurence Cawley
BBC News
Braintree MP James Cleverley was contacted by police early this morning to be briefed on the deaths of a woman and child in a house fire.
"It is such sad and shocking news when members of a young family lose their lives in any circumstances and at any time," he said.
"But obviously, under these circumstances, just before Christmas, it is absolutely tragic."
Tom Croasdell
BBC Essex
BBC Essex reporter Richard Smith is currently on his way to the scene of the house fire in Braintree, which has tragically cost the lives of a woman and a child.
The latest from Essex Police is that the force is not yet in a position to confirm the relationship between the child and the woman killed.
Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather
Today will be noticeably colder than it was yesterday, and while it should gradually brighten up through the morning, some fog could linger into the afternoon in places.
Top temperature: 8C (46F).
Watch my full regional forecast:
Elizabeth Rizzini brings us the region's weather prospects
Here is the statement in full that we have received from Essex Police:
"Police are working with the fire service to investigate the cause of a fire in which a woman and child have died.Emergency services were called shortly before 10.45pm yesterday, Wednesday December 21 with reports of a fire at a house in South Street, Braintree.Officers, a police helicopter, the fire service and ambulance service attended. Two women had managed to get out of the property before emergency services arrived. They were taken to hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation.Sadly a woman and a child were trapped inside and died at the scene.Police and the fire service will carry out a joint investigation. The road is currently closed."
Laurence Cawley
BBC News
A joint police and fire investigation is under way into the cause of the fatal blaze in Braintree.
Image source, Essex Fire and RescueEssex Fire Service says the house was "completely alight" when it arrived at 22:45 on Wednesday.
Two women managed to escape the fire and are currently in hospital.
Laurence Cawley
BBC News
Image source, Essex Fire and RescueWe start this morning with some breaking news. A woman and child have died overnight in a house fire.
Two women were rescued from the house in South Street, Braintree, by firefighters at 22:45 on Wednesday.
But a woman and child were trapped inside and died at the scene, Essex Police said.
We'll bring you more soon.
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