Updates for Friday, 17 February 2017
Anti social behaviour zone introduced near Basildon
Justice secretary visits HMP Chelmsford after recent criticism
Tributes paid to man who died after arrest at holiday camp
Association of Headteachers in Essex warn of 8% funding shortfall
BBC Travel
Greater Anglia is reporting train services on the Ipswich to London line through Essex have returned to normal following delays and cancellations earlier today.
A freight train that broke down between Ipswich and Colchester that blocked lines in the Manningtree area has now been moved.
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
Council tax is to increase by 3% across Essex to raise an extra £17m to support vulnerable residents, it has been revealed.
This is the biggest area of pressure for the local authority with the older population set to grow by 21%, David Finch, leader of Essex County Council, said.
Image source, Press AssociationIn a speech today he will announce that the council plans to spend:
Mr Finch will say this budget "delivers public services that are not only high quality, but are sustainable well into the future".
Details of cuts to achieve the targets have not yet been revealed.
BBC Travel
There are minor delays from Earls Court to Edgware Road due to an earlier signal failure at High Street Kensington, as well as minor delays eastbound from Barking to Upminster.
Engineering works are affecting services on the Overground between Gospel Oak and Barking, TfL Rail between Brentwood and Shenfield, and Tram between Wimbledon and Mitcham.
For the latest travel updates follow @BBCTravelAlert, external
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
The family of man who took his own life in prison are still waiting for a promised meeting with Justice Secretary Liz Truss.
Dean Saunders, from Basildon, who died in Chelmsford Prison aged 25, had been taken there in December 2015 charged with attempted murder after injuring relatives who tried to stop him stabbing himself.
Image source, Family pictureMs Truss has said a new prison and courts bill would "usher in the biggest reform of our prisons in a generation".
"Too often people end up in prison because our interventions to tackle problems like drug addiction or mental health issues don't work as well as they should," she said.
After her announcement she said she would meet the family of Mr Saunders, who died after he was found electrocuted in his cell.
Mr Saunders father Mark is looking forward to the meeting but has still not heard from Ms Truss. He said the problems with the prison system are the government's fault not Ms Truss's.
A decision not to detain his son under the Mental Health Act and to withdraw continuous observation in prison contributed to his death, he said after an inquest into the death.
Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather
A bright and chilly start to Valentine's Day.
There'll be sunny spells for much of the day, although it will become cloudy later.
Feeling less cold, with temperatures reaching 9C (48F).
essex
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
Hello and welcome to Tuesday's Essex Live.
It's St Valentine's Day and I am sure many people are waiting for the expected cards to hit the door mats and bouquets of flowers to arrive.
Meanwhile the team here will get on with providing you with the latest news, sport, travel and weather updates as we get them.
These are some of the stories we'll be looking at:
We'll be here until 18:00 and if there's anything you wish to share with us you can contact us on email, Facebook, external or Twitter, external.
Smugglers brought illegal immigrants to the UK in secret compartments in vans.
Read MoreListen to live BBC local radio commentary from Tuesday's action in the National League and National League North.
Read MoreListen to live BBC local radio commentary from Saturday's action in the National League and National League North.
Read MorePatrick Byrne
BBC News
That's it from the Essex Live team today so goodbye and enjoy the evening.
We'll be back again from 08:00 on Tuesday, bringing you the news, sport, travel and weather updates as they happen.
If you want to review and enjoy the stories we covered today here's a few highlights:
If there's anything happening that you'd still like us to know about, you can contact us via email, Facebook, external or Twitter, external.
Ben Parker
BBC Suffolk sport
Ryman Premier League side AFC Sudbury, external have been charged by the FA for failing to control their players in an orderly fashion.
It relates to a match against Hendon FC on 21 January which was abandoned close to full time after a number of players clashed.
Hendon FC have also been charged with the same breach, with Hendon coach David Smallsey also charged for his role in the incident.
I've contacted the Ryman League for comment, and will bring you further details as and when I get them.
Julie Reinger
BBC Look East weather
A dry night, with mainly clear skies, and the chance of frost in sheltered places across the BBC East region.
Temperatures falling to 0C (32F).
Tuesday will be fine and dry with sunny spells, although cloud will increase from the south west through the day.
Temperatures reaching a high of 9C (48F), with light to moderate south easterly winds.
BBC Weather has more details for where you live.
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
Former teachers are being urged to return to the profession and a new course is being set up by Essex County Council, external to bring them up to date with changes and new practices.
The council's education department has launched a free retraining programme aimed at filling vacancies.
Ray Gooding, in charge of education at the local authority, said those who take up the course could be ready for the classroom by September.
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
Justice secretary Liz Truss has confirmed she's to visit Chelmsford Prison later this week.
She is on record as saying she wanted to learn more about the death of Dean Saunders - an inmate who took his own life at the jail.
Image source, Press AssociationA review found he was badly let down by the system.
Ms Truss said she would discuss what happened with his relatives.
In a speech on sentencing, she said extra officers were being recruited to help prisoners.
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
A health service watchdog is inviting people caught up the recent accident and emergency crisis to attend meetings across Essex next month to discuss their experiences.
Healthwatch Essex, external is attempting to identify and understand what factors influence people to visit A&E and its study will also seek to examine people's views on a series of proposed changes announced at the meetings.
"This is a piece of work which has plans to change how urgent care services are delivered across Basildon, external, Broomfield, external and Southend, external hospitals," said Dr Tom Nutt, chief executive of Healthwatch Essex.
"It is important to explore how the proposals for reconfiguration will affect patients, families and carers."
Group discussions will be held in Basildon (18 March), Chelmsford (21 March) and Southend (25 March). Those volunteers selected to take part will be given £40 vouchers to cover expenses and time.
Ian Puckey
BBC Essex Political Producer
The Met Police have confirmed they are investigating a "racially aggravated offence" during Southend United, external's League One defeat at Millwall, external at the weekend.
Blues midfielder Jermaine McGlashan tweeted to say he was racially abused by a fan.
Image source, Getty ImagesIn the tweet, which received a lot of support from fans before it was taken down, he said: "Just fell short today, fans travelled in numbers again ... hope the fan that give me racial abuse gets found out, no place for that at all!"
Officers at Lewisham Borough's Community Safety Unit are investigating and said in a statement on Monday "no arrests had been made at this time and the investigation is ongoing".
The offence is "alleged to have been made by sections of the crowd", the statement added.
Ian Puckey
BBC Essex Political Producer
A teenage boy and a man, questioned on suspicion of attempted murder after three men were run over in Basildon following a fight at Festival Leisure Park at the weekend, have been released on bail.
Three men in their early 20s were hit by a car, just after 05:00 on Saturday. A Vauxhall Antara was driven into them after reports of a fight between two groups, police said.
The men were taken to hospital with injuries not thought to be life-threatening.
Detectives arrested a 16-year-old boy and a 50-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder.
The pair, from South Ockenden, were released on police bail until 6 March, while police continue to investigate.
Listen to live BBC Radio Solent commentary as Eastleigh host Braintree Town and Woking face Solihull Moors in the National League.
Read MorePatrick Byrne
BBC News
Downing Street has refused to be drawn into the row over the House of Commons Speaker John Bercow, who has been accused of ignoring the Speaker's reputation for impartiality after revealing he voted Remain in the Brexit referendum last year.
Image source, PAMr Bercow's position is a matter for MPs to consider, Prime Minister Theresa May's deputy spokesman told a regular Westminster briefing.
"The position of the Speaker is a matter for Parliament and the MPs in Parliament."
Asked if the government would allocate time for a debate and vote on the Speaker, the spokesman said: "It's a hypothetical situation in any event, but it would be a matter for the House of Commons authorities."
Calls for Mr Bercow to consider his position have been led by James Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend East.
Richard Smith
BBC Essex
A power cut hit more than 2,000 homes in the Billericay area earlier today and engineers worked all morning to restore supplies.
An underground fault in the Church Street and Laindon Common Road areas in the early hours is thought to have caused the problem, said UK Power Networks.
The company said power had been restored to all the homes affected by 13:20 GMT today.