Updates for Friday, 20 January 2017
Delays on the M25 in Essex as emergency services deal with a lorry fire
Jury in Dean Saunders inquest continues its deliberations
Stolen dogs returned after being found dumped in garden
Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather
Many places will have increasing amounts of sunshine today but a little cloud is still likely at times.
It will remain dry everywhere with light winds, but also feeling cold.
Maximum Temperature: 4C (39F)
More details from BBC Weather:
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
Morning! Welcome to today's Essex Live page, where we'll bring you the latest news, sport, weather and travel updates from now right through until 18:00 this evening.
Here are a couple of things we're looking at today:
If there's something we're not talking about, or you'd like to get in touch, you can contact us by email, Facebook, external or Twitter, external.
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
That's it from the Essex Live team today so goodbye...we'll be back from 08:00 on Tuesday, bringing you the news, sport, travel and weather updates as they happen.
If you want to catch up with today's coverage just scroll down, but here are a few highlights:
If you have any photographs from around the county that you'd like to share, or if there's anything happening that you'd like us to know about, you can contact us via email, Facebook, external or Twitter, external.
Simon Dedman
BBC Essex political reporter
Residents of Essex will face a 3% increase in council tax and a cut of £106m from budgets next year.
The council says savings have had to be made because the rise in the national living wage which will cost Essex County Council £96m by 2020, plus a cut in funding from central government of £44m.
The elderly population is expected to grow by 21% in Essex over the next decade putting additional pressure on budgets.
The increase in council tax will bring in £17m and, from April, Band D households will pay an additional 65p a week.
By the end of the decade Essex County Council, external says it will need to save another £159m to balance the books.
Cabinet member for finance John Spence, said "every change will be a pain to some people" but denied the savings would lead to deep cuts.
"It's a mixture of efficiency savings, innovation and income generation," he said, but means-testing for adult social care was to be carried out.
Budget papers will be released tonight and the opposition will respond tomorrow.
Julie Reinger
BBC Look East weather
There's a very small risk of a shower overnight, but generally it'll be dry with clear spells and a few fog patches.
With light winds and, under clear skies, lows of about -1C (30F), there'll also be a fairly widespread frost.
After a cold and frosty start to Tuesday it'll be a mainly fine and dry day with a good deal of sunshine and brightness. However, in the north and west there is the potential for cloudier skies.
It'll continue to feel cold with highs of only 3-5C (37-41F).
You can find more details on the BBC Weather website.
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
Four people have been arrested and five vehicles were seized by police on Canvey Island on Wednesday, 11 January.
Officers were stopping vehicles in Long Road and Somnes Avenue.
Three people were arrested on suspicion of drug driving and another who was wanted on suspicion of harassment.
Other offences included 43 people spoken to for not wearing a seatbelt, 13 for using a mobile phone, five for having no insurance, four for having no MOT, and one for not having a licence.
There were also 24 cases of people driving over the speed limit and 21 other drivers were also spoken to for other offences.
Nick Alliker
BBC Essex
Essex Police have just released CCTV images of a man they want to speak to after a traffic warden was racially abused in Grays.
Image source, Essex PoliceThe victim, a man in his 50s, was putting a ticket on a silver Audi A6 vehicle in the High Street at 15:55 on 14 October when he was verbally attacked.
Anyone who recognises the man or has any information regarding the incident is asked to contact the police.
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
Six sculptures on Christian themes by Iranian artist Saloomeh Asgary have gone on display at Chelmsford Cathedral, external.
Image source, Saloomeh AsgaryThe display, together called the Salvation Sculptures, traces the artist's religious development after converting from Islam to Christianity.
She studied painting and sculpture in Tehran before opening her own studio there. Her sculptures cannot be shown in Iran because conversion to Christianity is illegal.
In 2009, Saloomeh left Iran for Turkey. She is now based at Elam, an Iranian theological college in Surrey.
The sculptures are on display in Chelmsford Cathedral until 20 February.
After the weekend's storms it is now calm along the coast:
Image source, Dave Virago
Image source, bruno'sbuddy
Image source, FitzyOur Weather Watchers' pictures show the sea at calm after days of rage. Later today a few showers are expected to skirt the seaside towns.
It'll be largely dry and cloudy overnight with some clear spells expected in eastern areas leading to cold and frosty conditions and a risk of fog patches.
Maximum Temperature: 6C (43F)
More details from BBC Weather:
During sentencing of a 29-year-old man for the rape of a woman in Norwich, a victim impact statement was read out to Norwich Crown Court.
The court heard how the woman is still struggling to come to terms with what happened to her, still suffers from nightmares and flashbacks, and feels panicked in social environments.
She added she that she "cannot put into words the impact that this has had on me... I've changed the way I go about things, no longer drink, run in the dark or dress up".
Earlier today, Sean Chikanda was given an eight-year jail term for the rape, which happened in the early hours of 5 October, 2014. His victim, who was heavily intoxicated, was seen on CCTV footage and described by police as "staggering and barely able to walk".
Following sentencing, Acting Insp Richard Dickson said: "Chikanda took advantage of the woman's vulnerability and her inability to consent. If someone is too drunk to consent, then the answer is no.
"Situations which are alcohol-fuelled should not be taken advantage of as the consequences can be very serious for all involved."
A man has been jailed after he was found guilty of raping a woman in Norwich.
Sean Chikanda, of Stanway, Colchester, had denied the offence but was found guilty by an unanimous jury at Norwich Crown Court in December.
Image source, Norfolk policeThe victim, who was in her 20s, was heavily intoxicated and had become separated from friends during a night out in the city in October 2014.
She was approached by Chikanda on Prince of Wales Road and the pair got a taxi back to his home address in Norwich where she was raped.
At Norwich Crown Court today, 29-year-old Chikanda was jailed for eight years and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Stuart Woodward
BBC Essex
Nick Hulme, chief executive of Colchester Hospital, claims it's been the worst winter he can remember for pressures on health services right across the board.
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The hospital has been experiencing severe pressures, having to treat people in corridors and assess their condition in queuing ambulances.
"It's been a really difficult start to the year, but I can assure the public that care has improved," chief executive Nick Hulme said.
People need to think carefully about where they go for treatment, he added.
About My Area
About My Area has a match report on Sudbury RUFC's home fixture against Chelmsford, external.
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
A house in Clacton has been completely destroyed by a fire which broke out in the early hours.
Crews were called Lupin Way just after 01:00 and reported that the house was 100% alight.
One adult was treated at the scene, the fire service said.
Image source, Essex County Fire and RescueThe fire had made the building structurally dangerous, meaning that it had to be carefully extinguished from outside only, Essex Fire and Rescue, external said.
Five fire engines arrived to tackle the blaze which was extinguished by 03:57.
Crews remained on site for some time to cool hot spots and an investigation into the cause of the fire will take place later.
Laurence Cawley
BBC News
Better psychiatric cover is needed at an Essex prison where an inmate was found electrocuted in his cell, a mental health manager has said.
Dean Saunders, 25, died at HMP Chelmsford, in January 2016. He had been arrested after he stabbed his father during a paranoid episode.
The prison's mental health nurse and clinical team leader Kathy Goodchild said psychiatrists were not always present during reviews of care given to vulnerable prisoners.
She told how when she was involved in a review of Mr Saunders' care on 20 December 2015 he eventually told her he did not intend to harm himself.
An inquest into Mr Saunders' death is taking place at Chelmsford Coroner's Court.
BBC Sport
Southend United boss Phil Brown says he's hoping for a speedy solution to the current situation with Nile Ranger.
The Blues striker has been suspended from playing by the Football Association pending an inquiry.
Brown said he believed "in a week to ten days it should be sorted out".
Image source, Southend United FCRanger, 25, admitted online banking fraud in which a woman lost £2,000 when he appeared at Wood Green Crown Court last week.
The Blues are just outside the play-off positions in League One after Saturday's 2-1 win over Rochdale, who are two places above them.
BBC Sport
Defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan, from Chigwell, reached the UK Masters quarter-finals with a 6-5 win over Liang Wenbo after coming perilously close to a shock defeat.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Chinese world number 11 fought from 4-2 down to lead 5-4 - before missing the final black in the 10th frame that would have given him victory at Alexandra Palace.
O'Sullivan will play either Neil Robertson or Ali Carter in the last eight.
French striker Marc-Antoine Fortune extends his deal with Southend United until the end of the 2017-18 season.
Read More
Chris Flynn
BBC Essex
A man found dead on remand at Chelmsford Prison after being charged with attempted murder should have been on constant watch, an inquest has heard.
Image source, Family pictureDean Saunders, 25, was found in his cell in January 2016.
Chelmsford prison manager Steve Hammerton had been warned of his state of mind, the inquest at Chelmsford Coroners Court has heard.
The court heard that Mr Saunders' mother had told Mr Hammerton that the father-of-one could take his own life.
The 25-year-old had been briefly held in a mental health secure unit in Rochford, before he attacked his brother and father in December 2015.
Mr Saunders was found dead from electrocution.
Better psychiatric cover is needed at a prison in which an inmate was found electrocuted in his cell, inquest hears.
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