Memorial flight for 'home made plane'published at 17:08 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
A memorial flight is held 50 years after a father took off in an aeroplane built in the lounge of a first floor flat.
Read MoreSummary
Updates on Friday, 6 January 2017
Car 'driven into library and set alight'
Double-fatal crash: Essex man still in custody
Memorial flight for 'home made plane'published at 17:08 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
Colchester United defender Matt Briggs set for returnpublished at 16:40 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
Tom Croasdell
BBC EssexColchester United's player Matt Briggs is set to return to action against East Thurrock in the Essex Senior Cup tonight.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe defender has been out injured since the final game of last season.
One from the archives: Queens Park at Southend Pier 1924published at 16:01 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
Ninety three years ago this month, a photographer caught the Queens Park Rangers Football Club soccer players relaxing on the pier at Southend, Essex. We're not sure why they've come to Southend as they don't play Southend United until April 1924.
Image source, Getty ImagesBasildon Council concern over garden village planpublished at 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
Nic Rigby
BBC NewsA garden village plan for about 2,000 new homes in Essex between West Horndon and Dunton Wayletts has been criticised by Basildon Council.
Image source, Andrew Smith/GeographOn Monday, it was announced by the government that Dunton Hill would be one of 14 "garden villages" in England.
The scheme was welcomed by the leader of Brentwood Council Louise McKinlay, but Basildon Council has expressed concerns about plans.
Richard Moore, Basildon Council cabinet member for planning, said: “Basildon Council objected to the proposal to create a standalone new village just over the administrative boundary in Brentwood borough in February 2016.
"The council maintains the view that there is a lack of credible and robust evidence to justify that a new village in this green belt location is the best option for meeting Brentwood borough’s housing needs and continues to have doubts that it can be demonstrated as a legitimate proposal through the planning system."
Chelmsford Business Park reopens after 'suspicious package' foundpublished at 15:58 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
Chelmsford Business Park and TA Centre reopen after closing due to reports of a suspicious package at the site.
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End of twitter postChelmsford TA centre cordon lifted after 'suspicious package' found to be penspublished at 15:24 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
The Territorial Army centre in Chelmsford has re-opened after it was evacuated following reports of a suspicious package.
The bomb disposal unit was called but BBC Essex understands the suspicious item was found to be a large package of pens.
The cordon at the centre - just off Colchester Road on Springfield Lyons Approach - has now been lifted.
Southend United boss nominated for manager of the monthpublished at 14:45 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
Tom Croasdell
BBC EssexSouthend United Football Club boss Phil Brown has been nominated for League One Manager of the Month again.
Image source, Getty ImagesHe's up against Rochdale's Keith Hill, Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder and Fleetwood Town manager Uwe Rosler. The winner will be announced on Friday.
Bomb squad called to Chelmsford TA centrepublished at 14:23 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
Nic Rigby
BBC NewsA bomb disposal team has been called to a Territorial Army centre in Chelmsford after reports of a suspicious package.
Image source, GoogleThe centre, just off Colchester Road on Springfield Lyons Approach, has been evacuated.
Essex Police received reports of suspicious package at about 11:35.
Maldon MP and ex-minister calls for Brexit-supporting negotiatorpublished at 14:02 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
Nic Rigby
BBC NewsJohn Whittingdale, the Conservative MP for Maldon, former minister and European Union exit supporter, has said it makes sense to have somebody leading for the UK in the Brexit negotiations who "clearly believes the outcomes can be beneficial to the UK".
Image source, Getty ImagesIt follows news that top UK civil servant in Brussels, Sir Ivan Rogers, has resigned.
Mr Whittingdale said that it was "fairly apparent" Sir Ivan did not believe the outcome would be beneficial.
He said: "This is somebody not just advising a minister privately, but representing Britain in the negotiations with the other member states of the EU... so it's important that that is someone who's fully committed to achieving a good outcome."
Mr Whittingdale also said he was "disappointed" that Sir Ivan's comments had been made public. Although civil servants should give advice frankly to ministers, he said, they should "also do so in private".
Asked who should replace Sir Ivan Rogers, Mr Whittingdale said he had "no doubt" there were plenty of people in the civil service who were "highly capable" of carrying out the task.
"Almost all civil servants have spent time in Brussels," he said.
Plymouth sign defender Sokolikpublished at 13:22 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
League Two promotion-chasers Plymouth Argyle sign former Southend United defender Jakub Sokolik.
Read MoreMan arrested in connection with stabbing attack released on bailpublished at 13:03 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
A 30-year-old man from Ealing in west London arrested in connection with a stabbing attack in Ipswich in December has been released on bail until 28 February.
He was held on suspicion of assisting an offender after an Audi car failed to stop for police on the northbound A12 on Monday and overturned near Colchester.
A police car was damaged in the pursuit and two officers slightly injured, police said at the time.
Nine people have been arrested and bailed in connection with the stabbing of two men in Foundation Street, Ipswich, on Sunday 18 December 2016.
The injured men were taken to hospital in a critical condition and are both now recovering.
Officers are still keen to hear from anyone who was in the vicinity of Blackfriars Court, Foundation Street, Lower Orwell Street or Rosemary Lane in Ipswich shortly before 22:00 on Sunday 18 December.
MP hits out at 'snobby' van ban estatepublished at 12:23 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
An MP accuses a housing developer of "snobbery" for banning traders from parking vans outside their homes.
Read MoreFuneral of long-serving Essex county councillorpublished at 11:54 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
Nic Rigby
BBC NewsThe funeral of one of Essex's longest-serving county councillors is taking place today.
Image source, Essex County CouncilJoe Pike, 87, a Conservative, was first elected to the council in 1977, first representing Benfleet and later his new home of Halstead. Mr Pike, who received an MBE for services to local government, died in December.
Last month David Finch, leader of of the council, said: "Joe always had a kind word for all members, whatever our political parties, but especially for younger councillors who were new to County Hall.
"You see, Joe was the kind of man that believed that the role of a county councillor was one to be respected but that respect was to be earned, not automatic."
He served as chairman of Essex County Council and the Essex Fire Authority Joint Standards Committee.
His funeral is due to take place at Southend Crematorium this afternoon.
Former Essex schoolboy shot in Antigua 'doing OK'published at 10:03 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
A former Brentwood schoolboy, who's currently in hospital after being shot in the head in Antigua, is said to be doing "OK".
Chris Tester, 37, is being treated in the UK after friends and family raised £100,000 to get him flown home for treatment.
He was attacked during a robbery at his parents' restaurant on the Caribbean island on Christmas Day.
Doctors have told his sister Vicky it is too early to know what the prognosis is.
She said: "He is quite agitated. We don't know the long-term effects will be."
Private ambulance firm rejects 'poor training' claims by former staffpublished at 10:00 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
James Melley
BBC NewsA private ambulance company working for the NHS in Essex and Suffolk has refuted claims of poor training and inadequate equipment made by former employees.
Private Ambulance Service, based in Basildon, Essex, says its blue-light driver training has been outsourced since January 2016.
This new procedure, involving an approved training organisation used by the NHS, was introduced after those interviewed by the BBC had joined PAS, a spokesman for PAS said.
"All of our staff are fully trained above the required standard, and we have full policies and procedures in place to deal with any eventuality within the business," he said.
"We are regulated and inspected by the Care Quality Commission and were last inspected in October 2016.
"Whilst we appreciate there have been some allegations made, we do not accept the nature of the allegations to be accurate."
Yaxley double-fatal crash: Man, 38, arrestedpublished at 09:49 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local LiveA man has been arrested in connection with the fatal collision on the B1091 in Yaxley yesterday in which two men, believed to be in their late teens to early twenties, died.
The 38-year-old man from Essex was arrested in Chelmsford late last night.
He has been arrested on suspicion of death by dangerous driving and ABH (actual bodily harm) and has been taken to Chelmsford police station. He is expected to be transferred to Cambridgeshire later today.
The B1091 Broadway was closed for the majority of yesterday between Yaxley and Farcet, after a BMW collided with two pedestrians, killing them both.
The driver of the car fled the scene on foot, triggering a manhunt.
Homeless man attacked in Basildonpublished at 09:37 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
Nic Rigby
BBC NewsA homeless man has been attacked as he slept rough in Basildon.
Image source, GoogleThe victim, in his 40s, also had his sleeping bag and clothes stolen near the Northlands Park Community Association building on Friday morning.
Police said he was treated in hospital for injuries to his face. They want to hear from anyone who may have information about what happened.
Yaxley double-fatal crash: Man arrestedpublished at 09:27 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
BreakingA 38-year-old man from Essex has been arrested in connection with a fatal collision in Yaxley, Cambridgeshire, yesterday, in which two young men died.
Staff claim ambulance equipment was 'dirty and inadequate'published at 08:51 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
James Melley
BBC NewsCurrent staff members at the Private Ambulance Service, based at Basildon, Essex, have claimed some equipment in its ambulances is in poor condition.
The equipment is sometimes dirty, inadequate or broken and they are asked to work dangerously long hours, they claim.
Existing members of staff at PAS got in touch with the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme about the issues they had encountered when working on non-emergency patient transport shifts.
Alan Lofthouse, Unison's lead officer for ambulance workers, said any such conditions could prove hazardous to sick people being transported.
"The patient that's got to ride in the ambulance has the right for that ambulance to be clean and in a condition that's going to support their health," he said.
A spokesman for PAS said it offered a high level of patient care to all patients transported.
Drivers given 'one hour blue-light training' by private ambulance firmpublished at 08:35 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January 2017
James Melley
BBC NewsFormer drivers for a private ambulance firm based in Basildon and providing emergency cover for the NHS in Essex and Suffolk say they were given just an hour's training to drive under blue lights.
Image source, PAThe drivers used to work for a firm called Private Ambulance Service, contracted to respond to emergencies on behalf of East of England Ambulance Service during busy times.
The firm has told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme all staff are fully trained and it doesn't accept these allegations.