Patrick Byrne
BBC News

More than 100 cases of large scale industrial flytipping have been recorded across the Essex countryside over the past six months.

Image source, Getty Images

The National Farmers Union, external (NFU), who compiled the statistics, claims the activity is linked to organised crime. 

Industrial trucks have been dumping large amounts of waste on farmland, costing tens of thousands of pounds to clean up, the NFU said.

Brenner Woolley
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Suffolk's two title chasers in the Ryman Premier Division, external both dropped points on Saturday.

Image source, Ryman League

Needham Market, external remain six points off the top after drawing 2-2 with leaders Bognor Regis while it's now three defeats in a row for sixth-placed Leiston, external who lost 2-1 at home to Wingate & Finchley.

Relegation-threatened AFC Sudbury, external lost 1-0 at Metrpolitan Police.

Just two of the county's clubs picked up maximum points - Lowestoft Town, external won 2-1 against Enfield Town and Bury Town, external beat Maldon & Tiptree 3-2 in the North Division.

While other competitors are getting injured left, right and centre, The Only Way Is Essex star Lydia Bright is through to another week on The Jump, external .

Image source, Channel 4

Last night's episode featured speed skiing and ski cross.

The rapper will play two dates in the UK in mid-August in Staffordshire then Essex.

East Anglian Daily Times

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

Image source, Archant

Newly-created boy band Five To Five won BBC TV show  Let It Shine and a year's contract as stars of a new touring musical inspired by Take That's songs.

But Nick Carsberg, from Great Dunmow, a member of the band created for the show helped fight off competition from the two other finalist groups, with an injured leg. 

His family said on Twitter that they were delighted with the win and especially Mr Carsberg's performance.

Head judge Gary Barlow, who has been developing the musical with former EastEnders star Jack Ryder, told the group: "You know we start work tomorrow morning, right? 

"We go on stage in September in Manchester."   

Five To Five's victory songs were You Can't Stop The Beat from musical Hairspray and Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus. 

Mr Carsberg hurt his right leg while performing on stage, but danced through the pain on Saturday's show. 

He told the Press Association beforehand: "There is not much I can do, I've just got to tough out the pain." 

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A woman remains in a critical condition in hospital after being found injured on the southbound carriageway of the A12. 

The discovery was made at Margaretting at about 15:30 yesterday and the road was closed for several hours. 

The woman in her 50s was taken by air ambulance to the Royal London Hospital for treatment, but details of her injuries have not been released.

Samantha Dalton
BBC Essex

Suspended Essex chief fire officer David Johnson is the victim of a "witch hunt", his brother claims. 

Mr Johnson has been off work since April 2015 and so far that has cost council tax payers at least £600,000.

His brother Eugene Johnson has spoken exclusively to BBC Essex and says his brother is keen to get back to work after being suspended for 22 months, but is prevented by continuing "witch hunt" investigations. 

He was facing 10 allegations of misconduct, but an independent report by a leading barrister found there was no evidence to support the claims. 

A new series of disciplinary hearings, to decide the chief fire officer's future, are to begin tomorrow.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A third suspected incident of a gunman targeting people on a Colchester footpath has been reported to police. 

A 25-year-old man was stopped as he was walking along the Salary Brook Trail on Saturday at about 16:35 by a man carrying what he thought was a firearm.  

Image source, Google

The victim fled and alerted the police, who are now looking at whether it's connected to two other reports - one by a 19-year-old woman on Friday, 17 February and another by a woman in her 20s the next day. 

Both said they were threatened by a man in a balaclava, carrying a firearm, who robbed them. 

Detectives are urging people who walk on the path to be vigilant, particularly outside daylight hours.

.

It's a reasonably mild start, but this week it'll get much colder.

It'll be an unsettled day, with some frequent showers, which could be quite heavy as well.

They're blown through on fresh south-westerly winds.

There may be some hail mixed in the showers, some thunder, and some lightning potentially as well. 

Top temperature: 7C (45F).

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Hello and welcome to Monday's Essex Live page.

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

You may need an umbrella later today as rain is expected despite the mild dry start to the morning as shown by our Weather Watcher's picture from Chelmsford.

Image source, Shantelle

These are some of the stories we aim to cover today: 

• Suspended Essex chief fire officer is the victim of a "witch hunt", his brother claims 
• Large scale flytipping is costing the county's farmers tens of thousands of pounds to clear up 

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

A terminally ill bishop says he wants the Church of England to "immediately affirm" same sex marriages.

Shape of You star, Ed Sheeran dropped in to an Essex hockey club to watch his girlfriend play and made fans very happy.

Colchester United boost their League Two play-off hopes with victory over struggling Hartlepool United.

Braintree and Maidstone played out a goalless draw in the National League at Cressing Road.

Two Josh Wright goals in the space of four first-half minutes secure Gillingham victory over 10-man Southend.

Eccentric? Perhaps a little. Just don't expect a cast of Willy Wonka types.

Callum Hutchins, 21, and Conall Regan, 22, opened fire on the other car during an early-morning pursuit.