BBC Weather Watchers

Thanks to BBC Weather Watcher "1936Matt" who has uploaded this cracking photo from Clacton.

Jack Warren
BBC Local Live

Here are the main stories we have covered so far today on Essex Live: 

• Police are pursuing over 700 lines of inquiry into the murder of John "Goldfinger" Palmer, an inquest has heard
• Tendring District Council has written to the Home Office expressing dissatisfaction over the funding Essex Police recieves 
• You could be charged to use public toilets in part of Essex under new plans being considered by a local authority 

The Home Office has told us it has given Essex Police a "fair provision funding deal" after Tendring District Council expressed dissatisfaction over the funding the force had received. 

A local council has written to the Home Office expressing its dissatisfaction over the funding Essex Police receives. 

Tendring District Council, external says it penned the letter as it was concerned the force was under-resourced and unable to do its job effectively.

Carlo Guglielmi, Conservative cabinet member for finance, enforcement and community safety, said: "It is quite simple that Essex Police does not have enough resources to do its job.

"It is being forced to prioritise crimes such as internet crime and child exploitation and the force is a lot smaller than it used to be."

We have contacted the Home Office for a response. 

Notorious criminal John "Goldfinger" Palmer died in a "contract-style" killing, an inquest hears.

Speaking at today's inquest, Det Ch Insp Stephen Jennings said Essex Police was pursuing over 700 lines of inquiry into the murder of John "Goldfinger" Palmer.

Image source, Essex Police

He told Essex Coroner's Court that more than 200 witness statements have been taken.

The 64-year-old conman (pictured right, with his son) was shot six times with a pistol, which has never been recovered, the court heard.

Gareth George
BBC Look East

An inquest into the death of a notorious criminal has returned a verdict of unlawful killing.

Image source, PA

John "Goldfinger" Palmer, 65, was shot in the chest in the garden of his home in South Weald in June 2015. 

Essex Police says the killing had all the hallmarks of a professional hit. 

Mr Palmer got his nickname after being arrested on suspicion of melting down gold from the Brinks-Mat robbery, although he was never convicted. 

As she returned the verdict in Chelmsford, Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray, said: "I am sure that Mr Palmer was unlawfully killed." 

The coroner asked for her condolences to be expressed to Mr Palmer's family.

Notorious criminal John "Goldfinger" Palmer, who was shot dead in the garden of his South Weald home, was unlawfully killed, an inquest has concluded.

More follows.

A banning of drones being flown in Chelmsford has been described as impractical by one club in Essex.

Image source, AP

The city's council does not permit drones or model aircraft to be flown in its parks, green spaces or other council-owned land due to concerns about safety and privacy. 

Jason Winters, from the Essex Drone Club, told BBC Essex: "It seems like a bit of a knee-jerk reaction from them to stave off the influx of drones being brought - it's just impractical." 

A spokesman from Chelmsford City Council added: "Exemptions may be considered in special circumstances if a request is made, such as event photography, but in the vast majority of cases the policy is indeed 'zero tolerance'."

Koi carp donated by members of the public have been released into a pond at a Roman landmark after 45 fish were killed by vandals.

The animals died when an 18-year-old man slashed open a temporary container they were being kept in at the town's Castle Park while maintenance work was being carried out.  

The teenager was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and banned from keeping animals for two years after admitting the offence. 

One woman from Cambridgeshire brought her koi Banquo to help out.

Estelle Wolfers, from Comberton, said: "I was delighted there was the possibility of him having somewhere where he had more space and it's such a beautiful pond."  

Koi carp donated by members of the public have been released into a pond at a Roman landmark after 45 fish were killed by vandals.

Waltham Abbey's Steve West is out of the PDC World Darts Championship after he lost to Mervyn King.

Image source, Getty Images

The game looked as if it was going West's way, but King, who had trailed 2-0, managed to win the match 6-4 after a tie-break.

Listen to live BBC local radio commentary from Tuesday's games in the National League. Kick-offs 19:45 GMT.

An inquest is due to hear evidence about the murder of Essex conman John "Goldfinger" Palmer today.

Image source, PA

The 65-year-old, once described as Britain's richest criminal, was shot dead in the garden of his home in South Weald in June 2015.

Essex Police originally thought the conman had died of natural causes, but it later emerged he had been murdered and that the crime had "all the hallmarks" of a contract killing. 

The inquest is due to be heard at Essex Coroner's Court in Chelmsford, we'll bring you updates as we get them.

You could be charged to use public toilets in part of Essex under new plans being considered by a local authority.

Tendring District Council is looking to introduce charges at all of its loos in a bid to help make savings of £3.8m by 2019/20. 

We asked the council how much it would cost to spend a penny, but were told "it's too early to say". 

Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather

The cloud will break up gradually, followed by some decent spells of sunshine.

It should be dry, although there is a chance the west of the region could get one of two showers later.

Top temperature ranging from 4C to 7C (39C - 45F).

Watch my full regional forecast here:

For a more detailed forecast where you are, visit BBC Weather.

Good morning and welcome back to Essex Live. 

It may be a bit chilly but hopefully the thought that Christmas is just round the corner will warm you up slightly.

If you'd like to share a story with us, drop it via email, Twitter, external or Facebook, external. 

Regular updates for Essex have now finished - here are the top stories from today:

• A Colchester man who stabbed his former girlfriend to death in a "senseless attack" in Sheffield has been jailed for 26 years  
• The UK government's funding for an "Ethiopian girl band" has been placed "under review", the international development secretary and Witham MP has announced

• The RSPCA is searching for the owners of a cat after it was found to have been shot three times in Clacton  

There are long delays on the approach to J29 of the M25 due to an accident involving a police car on the Southend-bound A127.