BBC Weather Watchers

It was light when I set out for work, but the day did not look that promising as the picture below from Clacton-on-Sea reveals. Then in the middle of the morning the air cleared and blue skies broke through as our BBC Weather Watchers recorded.

Image source, Matthew

Image source, Joan's view

Image source, BangaloreBabe

It's turned out to be a bright but very windy day with gusts approaching gale force in some coastal districts and the Thames Estuary. 

Despite sunny spells it will still feel on the cold side given the brisk breeze. 

Our Weather Watchers are keeping tabs on the skies and here are a few of their pictures from across Essex. 

Maximum Temperature: 7C (45F)

More details on BBC Weather:

East Anglian Daily Times

Here is the front page of today's Essex edition of the East Anglian Daily Times, external:

Image source, Archant

Maldon MP John Whittingdale , externalhas come out in support of House of Commons Speaker John Bercow.

Mr Bercow could be face a vote of no confidence after he expressed his personal politicial views, when he is supposed to remain impartial as Speaker.

Mr Bercow revealed to Reading University students he had voted Remain in the referendum to leave the European Union. He has also declined to offer an invitation to US President Donald Trump on account of his alleged sexism and racism. 

Essex MP James Duddridge, external, who has launched the vote of confidence campaign, said his revealed views demonstrated that Mr Bercow was "incompetent and incapable of fulfilling his role".

However, Mr Whittigdale does not believe Mr Bercow's "views have influenced his performance".

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

The takeover of an Essex rail franchise by an operator, owned by the Italian government, has been criticised by a leading industry union.

The c2c service that runs between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness has been handed over to Trenitalia, external, owned by FS Italiane Group, which is in turn owned by the Italian government, which runs 8,000 trains a day, serving 600m passengers. 

Mick Cash, general secretary of the RMT trade union, external, said: "Today's announcement is another stage in the take-over of UK rail by foreign states while the Tories' ideological hatred of the public sector prevents the British state ownership of our railway. 

"Profits are set be creamed off from the UK to pay for new trains and lower fares in Italy. 

"That is a national scandal."

UKIP's only MP Douglas Carswell, external has condemned recent alleged breaches of impartiality by House of Commons Speaker John Bercow as "student politics". 

Mr Bercow revealed to students at Reading University, external that he voted Remain in last year's referendum on European Union membership.

Image source, PA

Mr Carswell has also savaged Mr Bercow's attempt to stop Mr Trump addressing Parliament as "an absurd overreach ... student politics" in a blog. 

But he cautioned Brexit-backing MPs against trying to unseat the Speaker, warning it could create "Commons chaos" and increase the chance of defeat in key forthcoming votes on EU withdrawal. 

The Clacton MP said: "Parliament has some big Brexit battles ahead. We need to win them. So Brexiteer MPs should base everything they do in the Commons on a simple litmus test: does it benefit Brexit, or not? 

"That's my perspective on the latest effort to unseat the Speaker - and why I won't support it."

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

The c2c train franchise, external that serves the line between London and Southend, covering 26 stations, has finally changed hands. 

Italy's Trenitalia has completed the acquisition from National Express which has now left the UK rail market.

Image source, c2c

The £72.6m deal has been formally approved by the Department for Transport (DfT), Trenitalia said. 

Passengers will benefit from "innovative technology" which has been proven in the Italian railway market, according to the firm. 

Chief executive Barbara Morgante said: "We will continue to focus on delivering the outstanding service that helped make c2c the best performing operator in the UK and we will collaborate with the management to introduce further improvements. 

"We are strongly committed to the UK market, and look forward to passengers increasingly benefiting from our experience, competence and ability to innovate."

BBC Sport

Colchester's key defender Tom Eastman is out for the rest of the season following an injury at the end of the 1-1 draw at Blackpool on 4 February.

United's head coach John McGreal said the club had enough back-up to cover for the loss.

Image source, Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images

The 25-year-old centre half landed awkwardly and had to limp off. 

He will now be out of action for a while and an operation looks likely. The suggested recovery time is at least three months, Mr McGreal said.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Police have issued a picture of jewellery and other items found in woodland and asks anyone who recognises them to make contact.

Image source, Essex Police

A member of public found the items two weeks ago while walking near the Vange Community Centre, Basildon and handed them in to police. 

The haul was found with a white pillowcase and a small amount of foreign currency. 

One of the silver identity bracelets has the engraving "Chris & John". 

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

An Essex MP is demanding the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, should resign after revealing his own opinions on Brexit and the state visit of US President Donald Trump. 

Rochford and Southend East Conservative MP James Duddridge said Mr Bercow's revelation expressed to an audience of students at the University of Reading that he had voted to remain in the European Union in the referendum last year demonstrated he was no longer impartial. 

Mr Duddridge also criticised his outburst in the House of Commons that he did not wish to invite Mr Trump to speak to Parliament because of his alleged "sexist and racist" attitudes. 

Mr Duddridge wants Mr Bercow to resign with the week.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A dog handler and his police dog found a missing man, who had mental health issues, injured in a cemetery... and Essex Police say they could have saved his life.

Image source, Essex Police

Luke Pitchford and police dog Tex, a German Shepherd, were called to search for a man seen walking around country lanes near Halstead for several hours on Friday. 

The man had already called a mental health team to tell them he was on his way back to the town. 

PC Pitchford recalled hearing information earlier that day that the man's father-in-law was buried at a cemetery in the town. 

Within minutes, the officer and his dog located the man who said he had harmed himself and it was clear to the officer that he needed urgent medical attention. 

After calling for an ambulance the officer took the man to the police car to keep him warm.

Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather

There'll be some sunshine for most of us but it'll still feel rather cold.

There will be some cloud around, particularly closer to the coast, and more of a breeze which will keep things rather chilly. 

Top temperature between 3C and 7C (37F - 45F).

Get the full forecast where you live, from BBC Weather.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Morning! And welcome to today's Essex Live page on a bright but cold morning - for the first time since last year I arrived at work in the light.

We'll bring you the latest news, sport, weather and travel updates from now right through until 18:00 this evening. 

Here are some stories we will be covering: 

• Man appeared before Chelmsford magistrates charged with attemtped murder over a stabbing in January 
• Well behaved pupils at a Canvey school go home early but a union calls scheme "detention" for others

To contact us we're on email, Facebook, external and Twitter, external.

Reece Hall-Johnson scores Braintree's winner over North Ferriby, who slip to the bottom of the National League table.

Colchester boost their play-off chances as two first-half goals set them on their way to a deserved win over Barnet.

The teenager was one of two people arrested after three men were run over during a fight.

Fred Onyedinma heads the only goal of the game as Millwall overcome 10-man Southend in League One.

The former Conservative minister mixes up two John Clarkes in a letter to Jeremy Corbyn.

A specialist masters degree in science fiction and fantasy to be rolled out in 2018.

Pupils who behave well during the day can go home 10 minutes before those who do not.