Cloudy for the rest of the afternoon, with snow showers likely, although they'll turn lighter and more scattered.

So, it'll be grey overhead, much like this picture taken by a BBC Weather Watcher yesterday:

Image source, .

England player Alex Scott "would've loved the opportunity to have a competition like this when I was younger".

What's she talking about? The FA People's Cup - the country's biggest free five-a-side competition which gives you the chance to make your way to Wembley.

"When I was younger, playing in a football cage, the dream was always to play at Wembley," adds Scott.

"The FA People's Cup gives anyone the opportunity to sign up to a local team in your area. You don't have to rely on your mates.

"It's a chance to meet different people, socialise in different environments. It's more than just signing up, you can get so many benefits from it."

So what are you waiting for? Sign up for the FA People's Cup, external - but hurry as the deadline for entries is the 19 February!

The lorry driver who was killed when his vehicle came off a bridge and crashed on to the A12 at Witham has been named by a relative as 30-year-old Gurdip Johal.

Image source, Family photo

He died at the scene of Wednesday's crash, which happened when the lorry came off Coleman's bridge at 15:40.

Earlier today, police said the vehicle's trailer had been forensically recovered and was being searched "to ensure that there are no other fatalities". 

As we've been telling you this morning, work is still under way on the A12 to recover a lorry and trailer which crashed off a bridge and on to the carriageway on Wednesday.

Police told us the recovery operation has been complex because of the lorry's load - a 26-tonne industrial battery.

Colin Shead, a sergeant with the Roads Policing Unit in Essex, posted this video on Twitter last night, showing some of the work that took place to make the scene safe.

A group of suspected illegal immigrants has been found on the M11 near Epping, the BBC understands.

Five people were detained at the motorway's junction with the M25 yesterday. The circumstances aren't yet known. 

Just over two weeks ago, four men and a child, thought to have illegally travelled from Egypt and Sudan, were found on the motorway near Harlow.

Image source, Google

Lindsay Whitehouse, the former acting governor of Chelmsford Prison, said he believes officers could provide "mentorship roles" for new recruits coming in.

He's been speaking to BBC Essex about a range of proposals to try to address a shortage of staff in troubled jails.

They include cutting the number of people in jail by deporting foreign nationals - and moving prisons to areas where labour is cheap.  

Mr Whitehouse said experience being passed down was "certainly something that's in short supply".

"They [new prison officers] need an experienced old hand to guide them and help their learning process," he said.

With the 2017 county season here, keep up to date with the latest signings, departures and rumours ahead of next season.

The former acting governor of Chelmsford jail has written to the justice secretary with radical ideas about how to deal with troubled prisons. 

Lindsay Whitehouse suggests urgent action to increase the number of prison officers, including re-hiring retired staff, and letting serving soldiers and police join up. 

He proposes jailing fewer low-risk criminals and immediately deporting foreign nationals - to cut the number of people behind bars.

Image source, PA

Ben Fryer
BBC Essex sport

Southend United striker Nile Ranger is available for selection for tomorrow's League One match at Millwall.

He's been suspended since 12 January for an alleged serious breach of club rules.

But the Football Association's disciplinary commission has cleared him to play.

Image source, Southend United FC

The A12 was closed between Marks Tey and Witham for most of the day yesterday, with one lane reopening southbound just after 21:30.

One lane is still closed this morning, with reports of seven-mile queues leading up to junction 22, where the crash happened.

Police said recovery of the lorry and its trailer was a "very complex operation" due to the nature of the load - it contained an industrial-sized battery, which needed to be made safe.

"Essex Police and its other emergency response partners would like to thank the public for their patience whilst this vital work takes place," the force said in a statement.

BBC Politics

Essex MP James Duddridge has tabled a no-confidence motion against Commons Speaker and Buckingham MP John Bercow over his comments about US President Donald Trump's visit to the UK.

Speaker Mr Bercow is expected to remain impartial. Earlier this week he accused President Trump of "racism and sexism" and defended the comments saying they were within his remit.

BBC Parliamentary correspondent Mark D'Arcy said other senior backbenchers doubt that Mr Duddridge's tactics would work.

He said Mr Bercow has a reservoir of support on the backbenches - particularly among pro-Brexit Conservative backbenchers - and was seen to have enabled MPs to challenge the government far more effectively.

Conservative MP Alec Shelbrooke tweeted on Thursday that he disagreed with President Trump's executive order barring migrants from seven countries, but added: "John Bercow has politicised the office of Speaker and his position is untenable."

But fellow Conservative Claire Perry said on BBC One's Question Time: "I think for us to try and remove a speaker over something that he said would be really rather drastic. He's entitled to his opinions, perhaps he just shouldn't have addressed them on this particular issue."

BBC Politics

A south Essex MP is hoping to increase pressure on Commons Speaker and Buckingham MP John Bercow by tabling a no-confidence motion.

Image source, Conservative Party

Mr Bercow said this week he would be "strongly opposed" to US President Donald Trump addressing Parliament, accusing him of "racism and sexism".

The Conservative MP for Rochford and Southend East, James Duddridge, said Mr Bercow had "overstepped the mark", although he did not expect his motion to be debated.

The Speaker is the highest authority of the House of Commons and is expected to remain politically impartial.

Mr Duddridge told the BBC: "I've done this because Speaker Bercow for a long time has been overstepping the mark and with his comments on the state visit [of President Trump] he has clearly expressed views.

"That is not the role of the Speaker, and it is impossible for him to chair debates as Speaker adjudicating on things he has expressed a view on."

He added that "once the level of discontent is known and Speaker Bercow sees the writing is on the wall, he will go of his own accord".

Mr Bercow has defended his comments to MPs, saying they had been made "honestly and honourably" and were within his remit.  

Where are the best places in England to unearth lost treasure?

A lorry which crashed off a bridge on to the A12 at Witham is "being searched to ensure that there are no other fatalities", police have said.

The driver of the lorry, a man in his 30s, died at the scene on Wednesday. It's been confirmed he was from Witham.

Image source, Chloe Willis

Officers say there was "extensive damage" to the vehicle, which was carrying a "large industrial sized battery" when it came off Coleman's Bridge and crashed on to the dual carriageway at junction 22.

One lane on the main southbound carriageway between junctions 22 and 21 remains closed, Highways England said, and there are long delays heading towards the area. 

The southbound exit and entry slip roads at junction 22 are open again.

Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather

Many places in the region saw a light dusting of snow yesterday and there'll be the risk of further wintry showers - not only today, but also into Saturday.

It will be cold and cloudy to start with, although we are mostly starting off with temperatures just about freezing. There could be some sleet around later, but generally the further west you are the drier it will tend to be.

The maximum temperature will be about 3C (37F), but in reality it will feel colder than that because of the bitterness of the easterly wind.

For more head to BBC Weather.

Jodie Halford
BBC News

Good morning - welcome to our live updates for Essex, covering the very latest news, sport, weather and travel for the county.

We start this morning with further news of what's been happening on the A12 - you'll know from yesterday that the road was closed southbound for most of the day after a lorry came off a bridge at Witham on Wednesday and caught fire. The driver, a man in his 30s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

This morning, Essex Police has told us work is still being carried out to ensure there have been no other casualties or fatalities as a result of the collision. 

We'll bring you more on this shortly.

Image source, Essex Fire and Rescue Service

Nikki Jenkins
BBC Local Live

After a day of closures I'm about to shut up shop for the night, too. A reminder that not only is the A12 still closed (updates will post here automatically to let you know if that changes) but Coleman's Bridge above junction 22, where the lorry went through the barriers, is also shut.

And on an entirely different note, the A127 will have overnight lane closures this week too: work is going on to replace all-night lighting with new energy-saving LED lamps.

Upgrades to all-night lighting in Basildon, Rochford, Castle Point, Uttlesford and Chelmsford are now largely complete. Braintree is next on the list.

The changes come as part of a two-year programme to upgrade 19,000 all-night streetlights across the county. 

Right I'm switching off, back at 08:00 tomorrow.

Image source, Thinkstock

Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

This evening will stay cloudy and cold, with the risk of further snow flurries moving in from the North Sea.

This could bring a dusting of snow in places by morning, and the risk or a frost and icy patches.

Staying above freezing on the coast, but inland temperatures will fall to -2C (28F).

Image source, BBC Weather

Some parts of the region could wake up to a dusting of snow tomorrow, and the risk of snow showers will continue through the day and overnight.

A bitter north easterly wind will push snow showers further inland during the day.

Temperatures reaching a high of 3C (37F).

Last month we told you about one woman's idea to help the homeless by setting up a free coat exchange in Colchester, and now the idea is spreading.

Bonnie Roberts found herself homeless at age 19 and is now reaching out to others in the same position. Inspired by the Colchester, scheme she's set up her own exchange in Chelmsford Library.

The scheme is simple – people are invited to donate unwanted coats and jackets by simply hanging them up, while those in need are welcome to help themselves. They don’t even have to let anyone know they have removed an item. 

Her Facebook post has been shared more than 400 times. About 80 coats have been donated already, plus another 50 items like fleeces, jumpers, scarves, gloves and hats. 

With another cold snap on it's way it hasn't come a moment too soon.