BBC Weather Watchers

It's still a bit dark and dank out there, but hoping you can admire the beautiful photographs from our avid Weather Watchers who have braved the inclement weather this morning to get these snaps. 

Image source, Judy/Tiptree Heath

Image source, Weather Watchers/Sub Zero

Image source, Weather Watchers/Daisy

Listen to BBC local radio commentary from Dulwich Hamlet v Braintree in the FA Trophy and Stalybridge Celtic v Kidderminster in the National League North.

Simon Dedman
BBC Essex political reporter

Ministers will admit England's housing market is "broken" as they unveil new plans to build more affordable homes.

The government says 250,000 new homes are needed each year and says it is lagging behind schedule.

In Essex the county's house building plans are showing a shortfall of 47,000 properties. 

Our political reporter has been to a corner of Essex where a garden village is proposed:

Richard Smith
BBC Essex

The MP for Rochford and Southend East has criticised the Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow, for saying he doesn't want President Trump to make a speech to Parliament. 

Mr Bercow was applauded when he told MPs that opposition to racism and sexism were hugely important considerations. 

But he's coming under fire for overstepping the boundaries of his job. 

Conservative MP, James Duddridge tweeted that he'd "prefer to hear Donald Trump speak in Parliament than to hear the Speaker pontificate on international affairs."

Mr Dudderidge added Mr Bercow was there to facilitate debate and allow members of the House to come up with views. 

"He's not done that, he's just unilaterally decided without fully consulting either Parliament, the government or indeed the House of Lords and that simply is not his role."

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

A total of 3,755 motorists banned from driving have been caught behind the wheel in Essex in the last decade, placing Essex 11th out of the table of 43 police jurisdictions in England and Wales. ·  

Image source, PA

The figures, obtained by the BBC using Freedom of Information requests, show that in 2015 more than 40% of the county's banned drivers were given immediate custodial sentences averaging three months. 

The DVLA says across Great Britain the number of motorists flouting driving bans is increasing each year with 14,500 caught in 2016.

Stuart Woodward
BBC Essex

A Conservative councillor's calling for a referendum on plans to introduce fortnightly waste collections in Colchester. 

The borough council will stop weekly residual waste pick-ups in June, in an effort to boost recycling. 

Some areas will get wheelie bins for non-recyclable waste, while other households will only be allowed to fill three black sacks. 

But Dennis Willets, who leads the Tories on Colchester borough, external says the people must decide.

Have a listen to the arguments for yourself: 

Simon Dedman
BBC Essex political reporter

The county needs 180,000 new homes over next 15 years but many Essex authorities are struggling to come up with build plans to meet demand. 

Image source, Glyn Baker/Geograph

So far Essex councils are planning for 133,000 homes. 

The shortfall is mainly in south Essex where authorities are finding it politically hard to build homes on green space. 

The leader of Castle Point told me he hopes the government will come out with more reasonable housing plans for areas like Canvey and Benfleet.

The government will today outline its plans to build more homes for people who rent. 

A man from Essex is to due to go on trial later, accused of the murder of a husband and wife from Suffolk.

Image source, Suffolk Police

Ali Qazimaj, who's 43 and originally from Tilbury, is charged over the deaths of Peter Stuart and his wife Sylvia. 

Mr Stuart's body was found in the village of Weybread in Suffolk last June, while his wife's body has not been found.  

CCTV images showed the couple were last seen at a farm shop in Norfolk.

The trial will take place at Ipswich Crown Court. 

Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather

A grey and damp start to the day, feeling chilly under the cloud.

The rain could stay for much of the day, gradually working eastwards. Maximum temperature: 8C (46F).

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

Good morning on this rather damp and dreary start to the day. 

But don't worry, the team are here to hopefully cheer you up and keep you abreast of all that's happening around this glorious county of Essex.

You can keep us informed too, via Twitter, external, Facebook, external or traditional ole email. 

Wishing you a good day. 

The Reverend was accused of not handing over funeral and wedding fees to the diocese.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

Regular updates for Essex Live have now finished for today - here are some of the top stories we've covered:

• Essex county cricketer Alastair Cook has resigned as England Test captain
• Two men, one from Essex, have admitted breaching gambling laws after an inquiry into a website which allowed children to bet "virtually" on Premier League matches
• New figures show every main hospital in Essex was almost full in December and January and the bed occupancy rate was at an unsafe level, according to NHS guidelines
• The mother of a man who took his own life in HMP Chelmsford says she feels let down by the service

We return tomorrow from 08:00.

A woman in her 50s has been sexually assaulted in Chelmsford.The victim was approached from behind by a man in New Bowers Way at about 05:20 on Friday and he grabbed and sexually assaulted her.The victim was left shaken but uninjured. The man is described as white, tall, of medium build and wearing a black coat and white jeans. Anyone with any information is asked to call Essex Police.

Julie Reinger
BBC Look East weather

Tonight will be cloudy with outbreaks of rain spreading east, some of this will be on the heavy side.

We could see some low cloud and fog forming in places.

Most parts should stay frost-free, with temperatures no lower than 3C (37F).

The east of the region is expected to remain cloudy tomorrow, with outbreaks of rain and drizzle. In the west there's a greater chance of it becoming drier, with a few showers and some brightness and sunshine.

Temperatures climbing to 8C (46F).

BBC Weather has more details for where you live.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

A Conservative Essex MP has expressed concerns about plans to shake up school funding.

The government is looking at a new funding formula which it says aims to increase money targeted at schools with additional needs.

Sir David Amess (pictured) said he could not back the proposals as every school in his Southend West constituency would lose out.

Speaking during education questions in the Commons, Sir David said: "Whilst appreciating the challenge you face in finding the fairer funding, and appreciation also that this is a consultation period, do you realise that if these changes were to go ahead as they are suggested, that every single school in Southend loses out?

"And that is something I certainly cannot support."

The mother of a man who took his own life in prison says she feels let down by the service.

Reverend Canon Ian Finn is found not guilty at Ipswich Crown Court of defrauding the church of thousands of pounds collected for funerals and reading wedding banns.

More to follow...

One of the chapters in Alastair Cook's reign as England cricket captain was the saga of Kevin Pieterson's return and exile from the squad, which BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew goes into in his analysis piece.

Pieterson has tweeted this today:

If you open it you'll see it's prompted a range of responses, from "even more cringe when you tweet it yourself" and "no national team has space for his ego" to "he would've played over 100 tests if he stayed in SA. He's too talented to ignore".

Nic Rigby
BBC News

We've been following the story of Dylan Rigby, of Colchester, Essex, and Craig Douglas, of Ferndown, Dorset, who both pleaded guilty to breaches of the 2005 Gambling Act

Opening the facts of the case against both defendants, prosecutor Philip Kolvin QC said the offences centred around the Futgalaxy website, which permitted youngsters to place bets in a virtual currency.

Image source, Thinkstock

The court heard the site, which took bets on football matches played in Britain, France, Germany and Italy, was promoted by Douglas, whose YouTube channel had more than a million subscribers.

Mr Kolvin said gaming, betting and lottery features were offered by the site, which evaded gambling regulations over a long period and built up a 1.4 million-strong Twitter following.

The barrister, prosecuting on behalf of the Gambling Commission, told the district judge hearing the case: "We are concerned with a website named Futgalaxy that used a virtual currency to allow its customers, including children, to gamble."

Nic Rigby
BBC News

Two men, one from Essex and one from Dorset, have admitted breaching gambling laws after an inquiry into a website which allowed children to bet "virtually" on Premier League matches.

Image source, YouTube/Nepenthez

Craig Douglas (pictured), 32, and 33-year-old Dylan Rigby both pleaded guilty to breaches of the 2005 Gambling Act during a hearing at Birmingham Magistrates' Court.

Douglas, of New Road, Ferndown, admitted a charge of being an officer of a firm which provided facilities for gambling without an operating licence, and a further offence relating to the advertising of unlawful gambling.

Rigby, of Creffield Road, Colchester, pleaded guilty to two charges connected to the provision of facilities for gambling and a third offence linked to advertising illegal gambling between July 2015 and February last year.