Andrew Woodger
BBC News

Our live coverage resumes for the final day of the year on BBC Local Live: Essex.

We begin with pictures and reports from the beach vigil for two teenagers who were killed when their car crashed as it was being followed by police in Southend.

Meanwhile, I've just driven to Chelmsford from north east Essex and it's very misty out there, so make sure you give extra time for your journey.

Don't forget to you can get in touch via the BBC Essex Facebook page, external if you have anything you'd like to share with us.  

A vigil is being held to remember two teenage boys who died when a car crashed while being followed by police.

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

Hope you've enjoyed our stream today. If you've just found us, scroll back and see what you've been missing.

Here's a few of the stories we've covered:

• A dog found paralysed after it was thrown from the window of a moving car has had to be put down
• There's been a rise in the number of drivers with poor eyesight having licenses revoked  
• A beach vigil is being held tonight for two teenagers who died in a crash near Southend after their car was followed by police
• Highways England reveals the extent of roadkill on the region's roads 

The team are back with regular updates from 08:00 although any breaking news will drop here overnight. 

Have a good evening. 

Stansted Airport is looking to reunite this forlorn little teddy with its owner. Can you help?

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) says it's examining the actions of police officers in a patrol car and in the control room "prior to a collision" in which two teenage boys died.

The boys, both aged 17, were passengers in a maroon Ford Escort, which was being followed by a marked Essex police car, when it collided with a silver BMW before hitting a wall.

One of the two boys died at the scene while the other died in hospital yesterday. 

The IPCC says investigators conducted door-to-door enquiries and have identified CCTV that may have captured the events leading up to the collision.  

IPCC Operations Manager, Colin Sparrow said: "This is a tragic incident, especially at this time of year, in which two young people have lost their lives. My thoughts are with all those affected by their deaths at this time."

Essex Police has arrested a 16-year-old boy.

Delays clearing following oil spill between Manningtree and Nacton: 

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

A total of 63 drivers have had their driving licences revoked this year after failing eyesight tests at the roadside in Essex. In 2015, 49 drivers had licences taken away. 

Image source, Thinkstock

Essex Police, external say they failed eyesight tests at a distance of 20m (66ft) and were believed to present a severe risk to other drivers and pedestrians.

In February 2013 the DVLA, external gave police powers to request a driver’s licence be revoked within hours of them failing an eyesight test.

The change came exactly two years after 16-year-old Cassie McCord, from Colchester, was hit by an elderly driver who failed a police eyesight test.

The schoolgirl had been walking in Head Street when she was killed after the driver mounted the pavement and crashed into her in February 2011. 

Three days earlier officers had spent two hours trying to persuade the man not to drive again after he was involved in a minor collision.

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

A vehicle and its occupants are being sought by police after they crashed into several cars in a supermarket car park in Colchester.

It happened at Sainsburys in Stanway on Wednesday.

Officers say a man and woman, who are believed to have stolen items from the store, crashed and damaged several cars with their vehicle before driving off. 

Essex Police, external is looking for a Citroen Xsara Picasso. 

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

An online fundraising page has been set up for the two teenage friends killed after the car they were in crashed in Southend. 

Image source, Gofundme

Friends and family of the victims, named locally as Reigan Knight and Liam Phillips, have gone on Facebook, external to remember the 17-year-olds.   

The police watchdog, the IPCC, is investigating the circumstances leading to the crash after it emerged the car was being followed by a marked police vehicle. 

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

The mum of one of two teenagers, killed in a crash near Southend, has posted on social media to say she's been "overwhelmed" by messages of support. 

The crash happened in Leigh-on-Sea on Tuesday morning. 

Friends and family of the victims, named locally as Reigan Knight and Liam Phillips, have gone on Facebook, external to remember the 17-year-olds. 

Liam's mum, Cindy, posted that she "can't believe two young lives have been taken so needlessly."

She said Liam had taken a difficult path and she was desperate to get him back on track, but fate has intervened. 

The police watchdog, the IPCC, external, is investigating the crash as the car was being followed by a marked police vehicle at the time.

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

Of the 6,849 calls taken by the East of England Ambulance, external over Christmas, the highest number was received in Essex.

1. Essex: 2,133
2. Hertfordshire: 1,123
3. Norfolk: 1,047
4. Cambridgeshire: 1,016
5. Suffolk: 880
6. Bedfordshire: 650

Sandy Brown, director of nursing and clinical quality, said: "Going into the weekend and the New Year celebrations, people need to be mindful that the consequences of over-doing it are avoidable with just a bit of care. 

"Soft drinks and square meals, plenty of hydration, and avoiding being out in the freezing temperatures will make all the difference and prevent people from starting 2017 in hospital.”

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

It's been another busy festive season for our ambulance staff.

Three control rooms at the East of England Ambulance Service, external handled 6,849 calls between 19:00 GMT on Christmas Eve and 23:00 GMT on Boxing Night. 

That's almost 800 more than the same period last year.

This year saw 3,624 calls handled on 27 December alone, compared to 2,846 in 2015.

Image source, EEAS

Sandy Brown, director of nursing and clinical quality, thanked frontline staff “in the midst of unprecedented demand”.

“These spikes in demand are experienced nationally and are hard to explain," he said. "But as we see colder weather affect people who are vulnerable, we do urge people to use their common sense - try to minimise risks so something doesn't worsen and then need emergency treatment.”

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

A dog found paralysed after it was thrown from the window of a moving car has had to be put down.

Image source, RSPCA

The female pug was thrown from a car in Writtle near Chelmsford, earlier this month. 

The RSPCA said Crumble, as she was named by vets, had to be "put to sleep" after going into kidney failure. 

A spokeswoman for the charity said: "Our inspector and the staff at the practice are devastated."

The RSPCA said there were signs she had given birth to several litters and may have been discarded by a breeder. 

It is appealing for anyone who may know where Crumble had come from, or who may have seen her being thrown from the car, to get in touch with the charity. 

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

A woman who runs a wildlife sanctuary in north Essex, says she thinks the number of animals found dead on our roads has been greatly underestimated. 

Earlier we told you about new figures from Highways England which revealed more than 2,000 animals were killed on major routes across the country last year with 126 of those in our region. 

Rosie Catford runs a rescue centre in Thorrington, near Colchester, and says with more housing and busier roads more wildlife is at risk.

"I think those figures are very underestimated because we probably have as many admissions as they said for the region coming here into our centre, never mind those going to other vets and sanctuaries."

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

Image source, Lupus Films/BBC

The life-story of author Raymond Brigg's parents, proved to be one of the highlights of the BBC's Christmas schedule as an audience of nearly four million tuned in last night to watch the feature-length animation.

The hashtag #ethelandernest, external also trended at the top spot for two hours on Twitter following the screening. 

Image source, Lupus Films/BBC

Image source, Lupus Films/BBC

Mr Briggs, (pictured) who also created The Snowman wrote "Ethel and Ernest a true story" in 1998 as a tribute to his parents, two ordinary Londoners living through a period of extraordinary events and immense social change.

Roger Mainwood, who directed the film and lives near Colchester, says the viewing figures are "amazing and incredible". He added that it was "extremely audacious of the BBC to screen an animation at that time of the evening."

Many on the comments on Twitter praised the film, some people saying it brought "tears to their eyes" and was "simply beautiful". 

It can now be watched on the BBC iPlayer for the next 30 days.

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

A wallaby, a pig and a cow were among just some of the animals killed after being hit by vehicles on the East of England's roads last year.

Highways England, external says 126 animals were killed and many more were injured.   

There have been several sightings of wild wallabies, which are native to Australia, in Norfolk in recent years according to the department. 

Deer were the most common animal killed or injured, being involved in around one in four cases, with cats, dogs, otters and swans among the 10 most frequently killed.

The Road Traffic Act 1988, external states that drivers must stop and report to police any incident in which they hit dogs, horses, cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, donkeys and mules on the road. 

People can do this by calling 101.

If you heading out today then take care and leave a little more time for your journey. The sun might now be up, but it's still icy on the roads and under foot.

Another cold start to the day... this is how it looked at 09:00.

But that was all pretty toasty compared to the temperatures shortly after 01:30.

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

Six teenagers have been charged in connection with a burglary in Basildon. 

A car was stolen was among the items taken from an address in Southwark Path in September.

A 17-year-old boy from Basildon was charged with burglary and handling stolen goods and is due to appear at Basildon Youth Court at the end of next month.

Two girls, aged 13 and 14, and two 16-year-old boys, all from Rainham and a 12-year-old girl from Basildon, have been charged with handling stolen goods and are also due to appear at Basildon Youth Court. 

The car and other property were recovered by police. 

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

Friends and family of two teenagers who died after a crash near Southend on Tuesday will gather at the beach in Leigh-on-Sea later to remember them.

Family friend Lee Shuter said: "For any mother to lose their child at this time of year… it's just awful."

The 17-year-olds have been named locally as Reigan Knight and Liam Phillips. 

A 16-year-old boy, from Great Wakering, has been arrested following the crash. He's due back in court next month. 

A Shoebury 17-year-old arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs has been released on bail until 14 January.  

The police watchdog, the IPCC, is to look into what happened after it emerged the car involved was being followed by a marked Essex Police vehicle at the time.