Patrick Byrne
BBC News

That's it from the Essex Live team today so goodbye and have a good evening despite the weather.

We'll be back from 08:00 tomorrow, bringing you the news, sport, travel and weather updates as they happen. 

These are some of the stories we've covered today - scroll down to see the detail:

• Students fear lights switch off after armed robberies
• Suspected Twitter troll arrested over abuse of MP
• Hunt for £1m local lottery winner will end in April

If there's anything happening that you'd like us to know about, you can contact us via email , Facebook, external or Twitter, external . 

Food blogger Jack Monroe, who lives in Leigh-on-Sea, is at the High Court, suing the Daily Mail columnist Katie Hopkins over tweets she made about vandalism of a war memorial.

Ms Monroe's lawyers said Ms Hopkins, who appeared on The Apprentice and is pictured here on Celebrity Big Brother, posted a message which said "@MsJackMonroe scrawled on any memorials recently? Vandalised the memory of those who fought for you freedom. Grandma got any more medals?"

Image source, Getty Images

Her lawyer William Bennett said the false claim that she had vandalised a World War Two memorial in Whitehall had caused "serious harm" to the food blogger's reputation.

"A widely published allegation that someone has either vandalised a war memorial or approved of such an act will inevitably cause serious damage to reputation," he said.

Ms Hopkins' lawyer Jonathan Price said the issue had been dealt with on Twitter and "no lasting harm, and certainly no serious harm" had come of it.

The case continues.

Dan Holley
BBC Look East weather

A mixture of clear spells and scattered showers across the BBC East region tonight, some heavy and locally wintry with hail.

It'll become cold with a risk of frost and ice and temperatures falling to 0C (32F).

BBC Weather has a more detailed forecast for where you live.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A search has been carried out by police and sniffer dogs for hidden weapons in Southend today. 

Criminals are known to conceal the weapons in street locations ready for use in their activities, police said.

Officers were out in force in York Road, Warrior Square and the town centre.

Image source, Essex Police

Among items recovered were a telescopic baton, a knife and a baton. Officers also carried out stop searches, but no-one was arrested. 

Sgt Ben Woollard, of the South Operations Raptor team, said: "The aim of today's weapon sweep was to search the local area for items concealed by those involved in criminality. 

"We know those involved in gang, drug-related and street crime do conceal weapons for their use in further criminality and we will do all we can to disrupt their activity."

Craig Lewis
BBC News

The number of online child sex abuse suspects identified in the East of England has nearly trebled in just three years, according to official data. 

A Freedom of Information request by the BBC revealed more than 2,000 people were identified by eight police forces in 2016, compared to 758 in 2014. 

The number of cases is said to have left at least one police force overwhelmed. 

Det Supt Andy Rogers, from Northamptonshire Police, explains the problems faced by forces...

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A crackdown on hare coursing across Essex has started with the launch of a new operation to tackle a wider range of offences. 

Offenders will be targeted and officers aim to raise awareness of problems associated with hare coursing, including criminal damage to property and agricultural land, theft and anti-social or threatening behaviour.

High visibility patrols have already been carried out in Uttlesford and the Dengie Peninsula. People suspected of being regularly involved with hare coursing activities are to get community protection warnings that impose conditions to help prevent anti-social behaviour. 

The new operation, code-named Galileo, will run alongside Operation Buzzard launched last September to tackle rural crime. 

Sgt Paul Downes said: "We take rural crime very seriously and we will continue to work hard to protect our communities."

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

The vice president of the National Farmers Union, external , who farms in St Osyth near Clacton, is calling for tougher action against fly-tippers. 

Essex landowners are having to spend thousands of pounds each year cleaning-up the rubbish that's been dumped illegally, Guy Smith said. 

Image source, PA

He told BBC Essex it's a major problem. 

"This isn't just a case of despoiling the countryside because fly-tipping comes with threats, violence and intimidation," he said.

"We think the police and courts should take the issue more seriously because country people under threat live in fear and that's just not right."

Richard Smith
BBC Essex

Students living close to the Salary Brook Trail in Colchester are concerned about the lack of overnight lighting in their neighbourhoods. 

Three armed robberies have been reported in recent weeks against two women and a man. 

Police have warned people using the trail to be careful and more vigilant.

Drama students Bekka Hudson and Natalia Georgiou are housemates at Greenstead.

Ms Hudson said she only goes out in daylight, but knows the lights are turned off at about 02:00 each night. 

Although the University of Essex had set up an hourly accompanied system to get students home safely it often means waiting round. 

"The time it is most unsafe is when the lights go out and I know from friends that people have been mugged on their way home," she said.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

An Essex farmer fears large-scale flytipping will return to his land in the next few months. 

It's been revealed in a study by the National Farmers' Union, external the problem is costing local landowners tens of thousands of pounds to clear-up. 

Image source, PA

Farmers say they're "powerless" to stop the waste dumpers who often threaten and intimidate country people.

Edward Ford, who farms near Brentwood, was a victim in late 2016.

"I devoted a lot of time over the past six months to this cause and appeared to be getting nowhere. 

"Yes, it has died down in this area, but I fear that come the spring when things dry out it will come back again."

BBC Sport

The Essex swimmer Roberto Pavoni has announced his retirement from the sport at the age of 25.

Image source, Getty Images

He competed at the London 2012 Olympics where he finished 13th overall in the heats in the Men's 400m individual medley and failed to reach the final. 

The Brentwood-educated swimmer, who trained at Loughborough University, won two medals at the European Championships two years later. 

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

A man, 40, is arrested after abusive messages on Twitter were sent about an MP's stillborn son.

Richard Haugh
BBC Introducing in Suffolk

The promoter of the first of three fundraising gigs to help get SuperGlu to a festival in the USA says the band "exemplify" everything that is good about the local music scene.

SuperGlu, external played to a packed out Hunter Club in Bury St Edmunds on Saturday night and received £925 towards the cost of travelling to Texas for next month's South by Southwest festival. 

Image source, Chris Driver Photography

Seymour Quigley, who runs the Washing Machine night, said: "Everyone involved in the evening - the support bands, the technical crew and the venue - all provided their services free of charge, so all that money could go towards helping SuperGlu get to America.

"The local music scene is such a lovely, inclusive and supportive community full of incredible bands and artists, and SuperGlu exemplify that: they're brilliant, they're nice to everyone, they've got heart-snappingly wonderful tunes, they're an incredible live band and people just really want to see them do well."

Image source, Chris Driver Photography

SuperGlu are also playing fundraising shows at Stage 3 in Hackney on Thursday and The Swan, Ipswich, on Friday.

They're due to play two showcase gigs at SXSW, with details of a third to be announced shortly.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A 40-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of sending abusive Twitter messages to an MP about his stillborn son.

The Met Police parliamentary liaison and investigation team arrested the man on suspicion of malicious communications, a spokesman said.

Colchester Conservative MP Will Quince complained on 23 February about a stream of offensive tweets about his stillborn son after speaking out in the row over proposed cuts to maternity services in the by-election seat of Copeland in Cumbria. 

Scotland Yard would not confirm whether the arrest related to Mr Quince's complaint. 

"An allegation of malicious communication regarding abuse made via Twitter was reported to police on Thursday 23 February," Scotland Yard said. 

The 40-year-old man was arrested this morning ánd remains in custody but police declined to give any more detail.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

The Home Office has been monitoring the dispute over the suspension of Essex chief fire officer David Johnson, but the minister for policing and the fire service, Brandon Lewis, external , has not written to Essex Fire and Rescue regarding costs. 

He said it was entirely a matter for the  Essex Fire Authority, external  (made up of councillors from Essex County Council, Southend Council and Thurrock Council).

"We are encouraged that the improvement panel is seeing progress being made and will continue to monitor this situation very closely," a Home Office spokesman said.

The 10 allegations against Mr Johnson include: 

• Mr Johnson stayed in luxury accommodation during the Fire Conference in Cardiff against the verbal instruction of the chairman of the fire authority 
• He failed to give adequate notice of an annual leave booking and was frequently absent from work 
• He inflamed a dispute with the Fire Brigades Union by issuing a press release ahead of strike action just before Christmas 2013

Richard Haugh
BBC Introducing in Suffolk

SuperGlu, external say they were "absolutely blown away" by the generosity of gig-goers who raised more than £900 on Saturday to help them play a festival in the USA.

Image source, Chris Driver Photography

The band, who are based in Manningtree and Ipswich, have been picked to play a series of gigs at the prestigious South by Southwest festival, external in Texas next month.

But with four members in the band and no major-label backing, it could be an expensive experience.

So promoters have organised a series of gigs to help them, starting at the Washing Machine-run event at The Hunter Club in Bury St Edmunds on Saturday, where £925 was donated.

Image source, Chris Driver Photography

"We have been absolutely blown away by the generosity of the Bury St Edmunds music scene," drummer Ben Ward said. 

"We have always enjoyed an incredible reception from fans at shows there, but this was something else.

"The money raised has helped so much, we can never thank everyone enough."

There will be further fundraising gigs at Stage 3 in Hackney on Thursday and The Swan in Ipswich on Friday.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

The brother of the suspended chief fire officer in Essex has called the allegations that have kept him away from work for more than two years and made him ill a "storm in a tea cup". 

A leading QC carried out an inquiry which found David Johnson had no case to answer, but the Essex Fire Authority is still pursuing the chief fire officer, his brother Eugene, a retired emergency planning officer, said.

Chief officer Johnson is facing a disciplinary panel this week and Essex Fire Authority said: "Progress continues to be made regarding this situation. 

"We are committed to ensure that the process remains robust, thorough, independent and fair, and fully complies with the law in relation to statutory officers. 

"This is to protect David Johnson's rights and position as well as our own. 

" Essex Fire Authority, external is not in a position or able to comment further on confidential business such as this."

Samantha Dalton
BBC Essex

The suspension of Essex's chief fire officer two years ago should have been resolved without wasting more than £1m of council tax payers' money, it is claimed by his brother Eugene Johnson. 

The retired emergency planning officer spoke to BBC Essex exclusively to support his brother, chief fire officer David Johnson, who is to face a disciplinary panel this week.

"He had no case to answer when a leading QC carried out an independent inquiry.

"The problem concerns management issues and these have grown out of all proportion into what I can only describe as a witch hunt," he said.

Image source, Google

He said the issues were a dispute over roles. 

"The chairman of the  fire authority, external  is a political appointment and should be concerned only with political decisions," said Eugene.

"Operational matters should have been left to the chief officer, but the chairman wanted to take on that role too.

"The allegations against my brother were found to be unsubstantiated in an independent inquiry and costs have mounted.

"The original inquiry cost £600,000, my brother's salary is still being paid and there are other costs too - all amounting to a total of more than £1m.

"Now rather than dealing with the management issues David is facing a disciplinary hearing and he is not well. But our campaign to get him back to work will continue."

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A lottery winner in Southend-on-Sea has just over a month left to claim a Euromillions UK, external prize worth £1m. 

The ticket is from the draw on 4 October 2016 and was bought in the seaside town - with the code JFZD 09681. 

Image source, PA

The lucky ticket-holder only has until 2 April 2017 to make their claim. 

Andy Carter, from The National Lottery, said: "Time really is running out for the winner of this prize, but we are still hopeful that someone will come forward at the very last minute to claim the money."

BBC Sport

Colchester United are assessing the extent of an injury to their forward Kurtis Guthrie. 

The U's leading scorer was stretchered-off during Saturday's 2-1 win over Hartlepool with an ankle injury.

Image source, Getty Images

The Jersey-born player joined the club in July and has netted 12 goals in 37 appearances.

He has played for several other clubs including a two-year spell with Forest Green before signing for Colchester, external .