Our live updates have finished for this chilly January day, but here's a reminder of some of the stories we've been covering:

• The jury retires at the inquest into the death of Dean Saunders
• A dog is given an award for outstanding devotion to her disabled owner
• Essex's Police and Crime Commissioner proposes to increase the force's part of the council tax by 3.5%

You can scroll down to read more on these and other stories. Don't forget, any breaking news will appear overnight and we'll be back with our live updates at 08:00 tomorrow.

Have a great evening.

We'll leave you with this photo taken in Heybridge by BBC Weather Watcher Jools of the Basin.

Image source, Jools of the Basin

Julie Reinger
BBC Look East weather

It's going to be a dry night, with a lot of clear sky. 

A sharp frost will develop, with some mist and fog patches, and possibly ice in places.

Winds will be light, with temperatures falling as low as -4C (25F) in some isolated places. In cloudier places, temperatures will stay closer to freezing.

Image source, BBC Weather

Any mist and fog may be slow to clear tomorrow, but it should then become a dry and sunny day.

Temperatures expected to reach 6C (43F).

BBC Weather has more details for where you live.

Nick Alliker
BBC Essex

An elderly woman has been left homeless after a fire, thought to have been started by a toaster.

The blaze happened in Finchmoor, Harlow, just before 13:00 today. 

Essex Fire and Rescue Service said it is thought to have started due to an electrical fault with the toaster.

A spokesman said: "The cause of the fire has been recorded as accidental. 

"The kitchen has been completely destroyed, meaning that the lady is now homeless."

The woman was treated by paramedics for smoke inhalation.  

Thanks to Weather Watcher Tomo for sending in this scene at Roydon, taken at lunchtime.

Chris Flynn
BBC Essex

The jury at the inquest into an inmate's death at Chelmsford Prison have retired to consider their conclusion.

Image source, Family Photo

Dean Saunders, 25, was found electrocuted in his cell in January 2016.

He had been detained after stabbing his father during a paranoid episode.

Homes are being sought for six baby bunnies found running loose in a Harlow park. 

Nicknamed Buttons, Cadbury, Caramel, Galaxy, Mars, Snickers and Smarties, the mother and her six kits were found running off Park Lane earlier this week.

Image source, RSPCA

Image source, RSPCA

Image source, RSPCA

Dogs were being walked in the area and had been chasing the rabbits, RSPCA inspector Joe White said.

"I went along and managed to round-up seven in total, a mother and her six kits," he said.

"Luckily, they’re all in pretty good condition and didn’t have any injuries so, unless someone comes forward to claim them, they’ll be rehomed fairly quickly."

Lucy Watts, who uses a wheelchair, says award-winning cocker spaniel Molly joined her household as an eight-week-old puppy and immediately gave her a focus.

"Puppies bring so much joy anyway, but Molly was like a ray of light for me," she said. "She gave me the motivation to get up and out of bed again."  

Image source, PA

Before Molly, Ms Watts recalls that she often felt ignored when out in public.

Now, taking Molly out gives her greater confidence to interact with people and she feels they see past her wheelchair.

"Molly is the best companion I could ask for," she said. "She seems to instinctively know if I'm in pain or not.

"I'm absolutely thrilled she has been awarded the PDSA Order of Merit. She was never intended as an assistance dog but her devotion to me and her training has never wavered."

Molly was bought as a normal pet, but the bond between her and owner Lucy Watts was so strong that she was trained up as an assistance dog by charity Dog Assistance In Disability when she was 10 months old.

The spaniel became a lifeline for Ms Watts and supports her with everyday tasks such as picking up and fetching items on demand, removing clothing, untying shoe laces, opening doors and even helping with washing.  

Image source, PA

She's also able to warn her owner if her temperature spikes - which is an early sign of blood poisoning - by licking her hands and arms, giving Ms Watts time to get help. 

She can also alert Ms Watts when her blood pressure drops, allowing her to lie her wheelchair down to prevent a collapse.

Kate Williams
BBC Local Live

A dog who was bought as a normal household pet has been given an award for outstanding devotion to her disabled owner.

The three-year-old cocker spaniel, Molly, is only the fourth dog to be honoured with the PDSA Order of Merit after being nominated by owner Lucy Watts, who was made an MBE in last year's New Year's Honours. 

Image source, PA

Ms Watts, 23, from Benfleet, Essex, suffers from connective tissue disorder Ehlers-Danlos syndrome which, coupled with other health complications, means her condition is "life limiting".

She said that Molly had given her the confidence to work for a string of charities as an ambassador and a trustee, and it was for this work she was awarded an MBE.

Nick Alliker
BBC Essex

The Essex Police and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst says he's proposing to increase the force's part of the council tax by 3.5%. 

He says the additional money will go towards extra police officers, the doubling of the special constable programme and improvements to the 101 public contact system. 

Next year's rise would be an equivalent to an average of almost £5 per household.

The roads minister says he's backing plans to significantly upgrade the A120 in the county.

A consultation has just been launched, external into widening and improving the road between Braintree and the A12.

Image source, Google

John Hayes told BBC Essex he think's it's a much needed scheme. "I'm going to look at this closely," he said.

"I will champion the interests of the people of Essex.

"I've heard what's been said, I'm impressed with what's been said.

"We're putting together a new road investment plan and this road's got to be a player."

Police investigating the attempted armed robbery at Tesco in Clacton say they are examining a silver Volvo XC60 found abandoned in Jubilee Avenue a short time after the incident.  

Essex Police is also asking for anyone with CCTV, mobile phone or dash cam footage of the incident or the vehicle in the area to come forward.

Det Ch Insp Josie Hayes said: "This was a very frightening incident for those involved and members of the public who were present."

Kate Williams
BBC Local Live

Essex Police has recovered a car used by the people involved in an attempted armed robbery outside a Clacton supermarket, where shots were fired. 

It happened at Tesco in the Brook Retail Park yesterday. 

No-one was hurt, and no cash was taken. 

Supt Steve Johnson said: "There is no suggestion that there is any threat to the public themselves. 

"This appears to have been a pre-planned event or attempted robbery."

Kate Williams
BBC Local Live

The jury at the inquest into the death of an inmate at Chelmsford Prison are expected to be sent out later to consider their verdict. 

Dean Saunders, who was 25, was on remand after stabbing his father during a "paranoid episode".

He was found dead in his cell in January last year.

Senior Essex Coroner Caroline Beasley Murray will today sum up what's been said over eight days of evidence.

The court has heard from doctors, nurses and the prison governor, Steve Rodford. 

Yesterday he said the prison was making improvements to safety.

Kate Williams
BBC Local Live

A former deputy governor of Chelmsford Prison has told BBC Essex there aren't enough experienced staff at the jail, and that's the main factor behind a damning new report, external. 

The Independent Monitoring Board says violence, bullying and self harm are major problems at the prison.

Lindsay Whitehouse said: "I think the report identifies the root cause, and it's basically a haemorrhaging of experienced staff over the last two or three years

"Essential services are delivered by private companies and some of them frankly have just failed to deliver, and the root cause is probably that simple."

A report says there has been a sharp rise in bullying, violence and self-harm at Chelmsford Prison despite "considerable efforts" from staff.

East Anglian Daily Times

This is the front page of the East Anglian Daily Times, external:

Image source, EADT

A new report has found a sharp rise in bullying at Chelmsford Prison, external, a high level of violence between prisoners, and physical assaults on members of staff.

Image source, PA

The report, from the prison's independent monitoring board, identifies serious concerns about the health and well-being of inmates, and highlights a number of other issues including:

• The deaths of three inmates who were found dead in their cells
• Year-on-year increase in drug use
• Chronic shortage of mental health provision 

We'll have more on this later this morning.