This is the first picture we have from the scene of the lorry crash in Witham.

Image source, Joe McCallum

Adam Pipe, from Essex Roads Policing Unit, says a "significant incident" has closed the A12 in both directions but cannot talk about casualties.

He said an HGV came off Coleman's Bridge and landed on the A12.

Mr Pipe said: "We have multiple units on the scene. This is going to have a massive impact this evening.

"A diversion will be set up at Marks Tey and there will be a significant diversion.

"People need to start planning their journey home. We are going to be on the scene for a number of hours.

"Hopefully overnight things will be brought back to normal."

The A12 will be closed from north Chelmsford to south Colchester.

We understand a lorry has come off a bridge and fallen on to the A12 in Witham, in what's been described as a "significant incident".

A councillor has called for street lights in Essex to be switched back on all night long to help women feel safe. 

Essex county councillors voted to turn streetlights off during some of the night in 2013, to save money.

The Conservative-run council says 70% of its street lights operate on limited hours overnight.

Julie Young, a Labour member of Essex County and Colchester Borough councils, said: "The Labour group at Essex County Council have always said that we should have the lights on all night long, because women should feel safe in being able to walk the streets and go out for early morning runs. 

"You shouldn't have to worry that you're going to get attacked, and I think lighting is one of the things which is going to make us feel that bit safer."

A spokesman for Essex County Council said: "The safety of Essex residents is of utmost importance and we will listen to any request from the police on an individual basis if there are concerns about safety in an area covered by part night lighting. 

"The council continues to work with Essex Police to monitor any patterns of crime, anti-social behaviour and road collisions that could be linked to part night lighting across the county."

The place where three rabbits were found abandoned in Hertfordshire has been the inspiration for their names.

Stilton, Edam and Babybel were found on Bread and Cheese Lane, Cheshunt, on Monday afternoon. 

The RSPCA said they weren't in "great condition" and have now been sent to an animal home in Essex, where they will be re-homed unless claimed. 

The charity said: "The trio were fairly cheesed off... but now their future looks brie-t!"

Image source, RSPCA

Essex Police has paid informants £450,325 over the past five years, according to figures obtained by BBC Radio 5 live.

The research found UK police forces spent £22m on informant payments during that period, with the Met in London paying out around a quarter of that figure.

Critics have said the measure does little to bring down crime levels, but a former head of CID at Essex Police has said paid sources are invaluable.

David Bright said: "Informants...are the lifeblood of a working detective. They are an essential tool in the fight against crime and terrorism, etc."

Informants can get anything from a few pounds for basic information, up to several thousand pounds for helping to break up organised crime.

Brenner Woolley
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Promotion-chasing Leiston, external are back in action tonight in the Ryman Premier Division.

Image source, Leiston FC

A win for Glenn Driver's side at home to Tonbridge will move them up to third in the table, just a point off Needham Market, who are second. 

Elsewhere, AFC Sudbury, external visit Leatherhead. 

A victory for the Yellows would see them go above their hosts in the table.

A closed down police station is to be put up for sale, Essex Police, external has announced.

Image source, Google

The Corringham station, in Gordon Road, is one of several to be sold as the force continues to cut its number of buildings from 80 to 30.

It has said it wants to use the £30m that would be spent on the buildings' maintenance on "fighting and preventing crime".

Corringham's police counter was shut in 2011 but was used by officers and the Thurrock youth offending team until last November.

Planning permission is being sought so the site can be used for housing.

Men head for the shed to help conquer their loneliness after finding themselves at a loss.

Men in Essex have been heading for the shed to help conquer loneliness and isolation after finding themselves at a loss.

The shed has long been seen as a sanctuary at the bottom of the garden where men can escape to while fixing and tinkering with things. 

But in Maldon, the Men's Shed, external - as it is known - has a more serious purpose, to help get members out of the house, make new friends and work together.

Alex Dunlop
BBC Look East

At the second day of the Weybread murders trial, the prosecution has revealed blood and hair found in the defendant's car matched the DNA profile of Peter and Sylvia Stuart. 

The prosecution claims Ali Qazimaj, 43, quit his job in Essex after Mr Stuart's body was found - suggesting he had "done a bad thing".

The defendant claims he is called Vital Dapi, and that he is not Ali Qazimaj.

Ipswich Crown Court heard that blood on the door of a car found in Dover matched the DNA profile of 75-year-old Mr Stuart, while hairs in the boot of the car matched the profile of his 69-year-old wife.

Mr Stuart's body was found with nine stab wounds in the river near his home in Weybread in June. Mrs Stuart is still missing, but is presumed dead.

The couple were last seen alive on CCTV footage at Pulham Market on 29 May.

The defendant denies the charges against him.

Braintree Town, external manager Hakan Hayrettin says he won't accept any of his players not giving their all in games.

His side was beaten 5-2 at Dulwich Hamlet in last night's FA Trophy third-round replay. 

The Iron equalised in the first-half through Jerome Okimo, but Manny Parry's goal proved to be just a consolation. Sean Clohessy was sent off in the match.

Hayrettin said: "I wasn't the best player, I wasn't the worst player but what I did do, I gave 110% for my team and some of them will have to realise that from now on that's what they will have to do.

"I won't accept failure in whatever I do and neither should they. 

"They have got to typify what I am all about on the pitch, and if they don't they won't be playing."

Earlier, we told you how Colchester MP Will Quince failed to win the judges' votes in getting through to the televised stages of Britain's Got Talent.

He shared the tape of his first audition for the ITV show - and we don't think he was too bad, especially if you love a musical.

Passenger charged by Metropolitan Police in case unrelated to plane's changed route.

Police have said the man arrested at Stansted Airport and charged with fraud was not held over any problems on board the flight from Lahore yesterday.

The Met Police said it planned to arrest the 52-year-old man, from east London, when the plane from Pakistan reached Heathrow Airport. 

He was then held at the terminal after the plane was diverted to Stansted instead.

The Pakistan International Airlines plane landed in Essex after an anonymous phone call triggered a major security alert on Tuesday afternoon.

Colchester MP Will Quince, external has suffered a defeat at the hands of a demanding selection committee. 

Not by the electorate, not by his party - but by the Britain's Got Talent, external judges. 

Mr Quince entered the ITV talent show to raise money for charity after his gift for singing was discovered on BBC Essex, but he hasn't make it through to the televised stages.

Whatever your politics, we think he sounds rather good... 

A man arrested after a passenger flight was escorted to Stansted Airport by RAF fighter jets has been charged with fraud, Scotland Yard says.

The Pakistan International Airlines plane, on its way from Lahore to Heathrow, was diverted after an anonymous phone call sparked a major security alert yesterday afternoon.

Police said a 52-year-old man from east London was due to be arrested on arrival at Heathrow but was instead detained at Stansted. 

The man, a UK national, has been charged with committing fraud by false representation and has been bailed to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in London on 23 February.

It is not believed he had any involvement in the cause of the diversion.

Detectives are still questioning a 52-year-old man who was arrested at Stansted Airport - after a passenger plane was diverted there under escort by RAF fighter jets. 

He's being held at a London police station this morning, on suspicion of fraud offences. 

The Met Police had been planning to arrest him when the flight from Pakistan reached Heathrow. There were earlier reports that the flight was diverted, because of a disruptive passenger. 

Image source, PA

While Essex Police believes there was no threat of hijacking or terrorism, aviation analyst Julian Bray says air passengers must be alert to the risks.

"It's not only up to the authorities, it's up to each one of us to make sure that we are aware of what's happening," he said. "So don't be surprised if you do see lots of policemen with guns or you do see jets outside your window as you're flying in to one of our airports. 

"The point is that our forces are aware, they are trained and the whole thing is to get the best possible outcome."

BBC Weather

It will be cloudy this morning with patchy drizzle and mist. 

It'll become mainly dry this afternoon with some brighter intervals, but will feel increasingly cold in brisk easterly winds with a few light snow flurries. Maximum temperature 4C (39F).

Kate Williams
BBC Local Live

Morning all, and welcome to Wednesday. 

On my way in to work this morning I heard a piece of exciting news; the East of England has a (small) chance of a snow flurry later today. 

As ever, we'll be bringing you news, sport, weather and travel from around Essex today. 

And in the meantime, the forecast, with more information about that snow flurry, is up next.