Sonia Watson
BBC Essex

A coroner at the inquests into the deaths of 30 British tourists in Tunisia in 2015 has sharply criticised the police there. 

Coroner Nicholas Loraine-Smith said the force's response to the attack by an Islamist militant, was "at best shambolic and at worst cowardly". 

Image source, AFP

Allen Pembroke, from Chelmsford, ran towards the gunfire to try and help the injured. His actions saved the life of Cheryl Mellor, who had been shot in her arm and leg. 

Mr Pembroke still has nightmares about that day and is angry at the failure of Tunisian police to intervene sooner. His experience confirms the conclusions of the coroner. 

"I was on the beach for a good 20 minutes with Cheryl alive and saw no military or medical staff," he said. 

"It's only from recent reports that I've found out that the police waited. They fainted and hid and they should be held accountable for that."

Look East poliitical correspondent Andrew Sinclair expresses surprise that Ukip donor Arron Banks, who has ambitions to become chairman of the party, should want to challenge Clacton's Douglas Carswell, the party's only MP, at the next election.

Image source, Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A businessman and leading donor to Ukip has criticised the party's election tactics and approach to politics.

Image source, Jonathan Brady/PA

Arron Banks said Ukip needed to become more professional if it was to make further headway and that it made a mistake in the Stoke by-election poll by copying Labour policies on the NHS. 

He wants to become party chairman to oversee a new membership drive and install a new team of "trained professional agents" to focus on target seats. 

He has suggested that unless this happens, he could turn his back on the party. 

His first step is to challenge the party's only MP Douglas Carswell, external , who represents Clacton, at the next election.

Then he wants to expel from the party the MP and a group around Mr Carswell that he calls "a Tory cabal".

Adam Barrett says helping Southend United win promotion via the League Two play-offs was the standout moment of his career.

Andrew Woodger
BBC News

The defendant has told his counsel, Max Hill, that he had never been to the UK before his extradition in July.

He also denies ever using the name Marco Costa. He was asked "Did you kill Peter Stuart?" and replied: "No".

Asked "Did you kill Sylvia Stuart?" he replied: "No."

The defendant said the first he had heard of the Stuarts was when he was arrested in Luxembourg on 16 June.

The defendant, who the prosecution says is Ali Qazimaj, born on 7 July, 1973, has been answering questions at Ipswich Crown Court from his counsel, Max Hill.

He told Mr Hill: "My name is Vital Dapi, born in Albania" and said he was born on 24 July, 1972.

In response to defence counsel's question, he said: "I have never used the name Qazimaj".

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A council staff car park in Chelmsford is to be redeveloped in to a 45-home complex for retired people, costing several million pounds. 

The half-acre site on Rainsford Road is set to be sold and turned in to a retirement living complex of 26 two-bed apartments and 19 one-bed homes. 

Image source, Google

David Finch, leader of Essex County Council, said: "We received a number of ambitious bids for the site. 

"As a landowner, Essex County Council has a statutory duty to achieve the best possible sale price for the taxpayer and this option was substantially larger than any other bid, while meeting our objectives for new homes, jobs and regeneration."

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A major Ukip supporter and financial donor is to stand against the party's only MP in the next election. 

Arron Banks' office has confirmed he intends to challenge  Clacton MP Douglas Carswell, external .

Image source, Reuters

This latest row has erupted following reports in the Telegraph, external Mr Carswell had helped block a knighthood for the former Ukip leader, Nigel Farage. 

Andrew Woodger
BBC News

I'm at Ipswich Crown Court where the trial of Ali Qazimaj, who denies murdering Peter and Sylvia Stuart, of Weybread, is entering its fourth week.

The defendant, who claims he is not Ali Qazimaj, formerly of Tilbury, but actually Vital Dapi, is in the dock waiting for the jury to arrive.

His counsel says he is due to appear in the witness box. 

An interpreter is also present. 

The defendant is wearing a light grey T-shirt.

Mr and Mrs Stuart were last seen at a farm shop in Pulham Market, Norfolk.

Simon Dedman, political reporter for BBC Essex, is touring the county getting people's thoughts about Brexit and also asking them what they want included in the final deal.

In this video he is setting out from Colchester and lays out some of the options already being discussed - continued membership of the single market or border controls.

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

East Anglian Daily Times

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

Image source, Archant

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Bus company Ensign said it was shocked that driver Stephen Thompson had failed in a legal obligation to inform it and the authorities that he suffered an eyesight problem. 

The firm employed Stephen Thompson, 49, who knocked down pedestrian Derek Coleman, 82, in Tilbury on a sunny day in August 2015, Basildon Crown Court heard. 

Mr Coleman died later in hospital and Thompson was jailed for 12 months after admitting causing death by careless driving and fraud by false representation.

The bus company said it already operated robust systems linked to the DVLA database for checking all its drivers details at least twice a year, but would always be reliant on staff fulfilling their legal obligations to inform the DVLA of any change in their health that could affect their right or ability to drive.

"Sadly in this case no such declaration was made to either the authorities or to us as his employer," it added.

PC Steve Catton said: "Thompson repeatedly showed disregard for the safety of himself and other road users by failing to disclose to his employers that he was suffering with diabetes and problems with his vision."

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A bus company has expressed sorrow over the death of a pedestrian knocked over by one of their vehicles being driven by a man who failed to declare he had eyesight problems. 

Stephen Thompson, 49, of no fixed address, employed by the Ensign Bus Company, was jailed for 12 months last week following a hearing at Basildon Crown Court.

Image source, Essex Police

He knocked down 82-year old Derek Coleman in Tilbury in 2015. The pensioner was taken to hospital following the collision but later died. 

Ensign told BBC Essex the firm hoped the sentencing would give some comfort to the victim's family. 

The court heard the driver did not disclose a health condition which affected his eyesight. 

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A 40-year-old man from Southwark in London has been cautioned by police over a series of abusive Twitter messages to Colchester Conservative MP Will Quince. 

The man accepted a caution for sending malicious communications , the Metropolitan Police said.

Mr Quince received a stream of offensive tweets about his stillborn son after speaking out in a row over proposed cuts to maternity services in the by-election seat of Copeland in Cumbria last week. 

He reported the issue to police on 23 February - the day of the by-election. 

"My aim here was always to send out a message that this kind of behaviour is not acceptable," he said.

Listen to live BBC local radio commentary from Tuesday's action in the National League and National League North.

Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather

After a chilly start, some sunny intervals will occur along with scattered showers. 

Some of the showers could fall as sleet or hail, and may also be heavy.

It will feel cold in the wind, with a high of 7C (45F).

Here is my full forecast...

There are more details on the BBC Weather website .

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Hello and welcome to today's Essex Live page on Pancake Tuesday. I hope you are all looking forward to tucking in to a tasty meal tonight when all those savoury or sweet fillings will be wrapped in a firm pancake - I know I am.

Image source, PA

But first we must get through the day. Between now and 18:00, the team here will bring you the news, sport, travel and weather updates as we get them.

We hope to bring you pictures of a pancake race or another Shrove Tuesday event  alongside more serious news.

• Councillor wants street lights switched back on after three suspected armed robberies in Colchester
• MP welcomes police caution for man who sent abusive Twitter messages over his stillborn son

If there's anything you wish to share with us you can contact us on email , Facebook, external or Twitter, external . 

Camber Sands in East Sussex will be patrolled in the summer following seven deaths last year.

Southend manager Phil Brown says the referee for his side's defeat at Gillingham should be 'brought to task'.