Nikki Jenkins
BBC Local Live

It's not a random inquiry after your health, we are shining a spotlight on the NHS today - we've been live from Ipswich Hospital since midnight giving you a snapshot of the struggles being faced in A&E.

The number of people waiting more than four hours to be seen in Essex's five Accident and Emergency departments has doubled. Research has also found lengthy 'trolley waits' at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow.

If you have a story to tell us about your experience the links are at the top of the page. Your opinions on the rest of the day's news are always welcome too.

Image source, PA

A man has been jailed for 18 months after a car crash in Cambridgeshire that left his passenger paralysed.

Our scheduled live coverage has now ended for the day - but if there's a major breaking story you'll find the details here.

Here's a quick look at some of the stories we've brought you today:

• Tributes after mother and baby discovered dead in Brentwood
• Woman seriously injured in Harlow  hit and run incident
• Down's syndrome toddler features on fashion posters

Have a good evening - we'll be back at 08:00 tomorrow.

Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

Staying fine and dry this evening, but turning misty and foggy in many parts of the eastern region.

Temperatures dipping to 6C (42F).

Any mist will clear to bring brighter weather and sunny spells tomorrow - but it'll turn cloudy later.

Patchy rain will follow, with temperatures reaching 12C (53F).

BBC Weather has more details for where you live.

Mike Liggins
BBC Look East

The X Factor was on the lookout for a new music star in Essex today.

Toni Parker was one of those who took part in the auditions. The 28-year-old was brought up in Norfolk and now lives and works in Clacton.

Toni has had a stammer for as long as she can remember, but it doesn't affect her singing. She told me the audition "went well" and she didn't pull any "duff notes".

As a child she used to sing a lot, has taken part in karaokes, done the odd gig here and there, but for the last few years she hasn't done so much and is "a bit rusty".

But with the X Factor auditions in Clacton coinciding with her day off, she thought it would be "rude" to miss the opportunity, so in her own words she "gave it a bash".

"I would like to make it a career, it was all I ever wanted - not an if but a when, but the whens ended up getting further and further apart," she said.

"I'd like the opportunity to know what I could grow into, be capable of."

It will be a few months yet before Toni will find out how she got on... the X Factor have told her they'll send an email within the next couple of months, possibly by July, with a "yes" or a "no".

The Highways Agency is giving advance warning of 11 major improvement schemes planned for spring/summer 2017, so if you regularly use the M11 and A120 it might be worth paying attention.

The schemes include installing digital messaging signs, resurfacing, drainage and embankment repairs.

It will affect:

• The M11 between the M25 and Cambridge
• The A120 near Stansted Airport
• The A11 at the junction with the A1307

Meanwhile, rail passengers travelling between Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and London this Easter are advised to check before they travel, as a huge package of improvement work is carried out.

Network Rail will be working from Friday 14 to Monday 17 April to carry out Crossrail construction work and to continue to replace the overhead wires at Seven Kings.

Image source, Network Rail

The Duke of Cambridge has returned to work, carrying out a late shift with the East Anglian Air Ambulance, external (EAAA) last night.

William had faced a media backlash for missing the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on Monday, to go on a "lads-only" skiing trip to Verbier.

Footage had emerged on an American gossip website, showing the 34-year-old royal dancing in a nightspot.

Image source, PA

Since the start of the year, second-in-line to the throne William has carried out royal duties on 13 days, according to listings in the Court Circular.

The Queen, who turns 91 in April, was listed as carrying out engagements and duties on 24 days.

The Duke is on the rota for more flying stints with the EAAA charity this week and next. He'll finish his work in the summer, to begin full-time royal duties.

Kensington Palace has been keeping us abreast of Prince Harry's visit to Epping today.

He was joined by local school children as he planted a tree in the forest which was opened in 1882 by Queen Victoria - his great great great great grandmother.

Epping is part of The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy, external , a campaign to create a network of forests throughout 52 countries.

Nikki Jenkins
BBC Local Live

A former teacher at Elmbridge Boarding School in Ongar has appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court, charged with 11 counts of indecent assault alleged to have taken place between 1985 and 1988.

Brian Truan, 80, of Church Road, Peldon, has denied the charges which relate to three boys aged under 16.

A trial will now take place at Chelmsford Crown Court on 16 October.

Ninety one years ago this month, a photographer captured the aftermath of a crash in Southend, in which five people were injured.

A motorcycle and side-car wrapped around a lamppost after they were flung across the road by the impact of colliding with a car.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Family photo

The first time Lily saw a giant poster of herself hanging in the Harlow branch of Matalan she took it all in her stride. Her mum, however, burst into tears.

She'd better get used to it, because two-year-old Lily can be seen in every Matalan nationwide after she won a modelling contract.

The family, who now live in Sawbridgeworth, are particularly proud of her achievement because she has Down's syndrome; a genetic condition which causes some level of learning and physical disability and a distinctive appearance.

They were approached via the charity Upwards With Downs, external , which works across both counties.

For her mum, Vicki Beddall, it's all about portraying Down's syndrome in a positive light.

"We were given such doom and gloom when she was born, what she wouldn't achieve, and how difficult life would be, but for us it's been the opposite," she said.

"Lilly is an absolute joy, she brings us so much joy and laughter every day. She has achieved everything already that they said she wouldn't achieve."

Image source, Family photo

Mihal Dobrev will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Wednesday charged with murder.

Police are searching for a hit and run driver who left a 47-year-old woman from Harlow with life-changing head injuries.

She was crossing the Southern Way with her family at around 19:30 yesterday when she was hit by a silver Ford Focus, which drove off towards the A414.Investigating officers say the car would have been damaged during the collision, and the wing mirror was smashed. Any garages approached about repairs are asked to contact police.Anyone with information about a damaged silver Ford Focus should also get in contact with Det Con Jenny Pirie on 101 or email  collisionappeal@essex.pnn.police.uk, external. , external

Richard Haugh
BBC Introducing in Suffolk

"The biggest band from Britain's second smallest town", aka SuperGlu, are in Texas and seem to be having a great time at the South By Southwest Festival.

The band, who are based in Manningtree (and Ipswich), have played two showcase gigs at the prestigious event, with more to come throughout the week.

Last night's set was broadcast live on Metro's Facebook page, external , with singer/guitarist Ben Brown telling the crowd that his guitar had been stolen.

You can watch the set here, external , but be warned there's some swearing (from the crowd).

Image source, Metro

The Conservative MP for Colchester, Will Quince, is to face no further police action following an allegation about his expenses during the 2015 general election. Officers say they investigated the matter fully and "no criminal offences were identified". 

Mr Quince tweeted his response this morning, describing the allegations as "vexatious and politically motivated".

Essex Police says "no criminal offences were identified" when it investigated the 2015 election expenses of Colchester's Conservative MP, Will Quince.

Richard Smith
BBC Essex

The Brentwood community where a young mum and her baby died is reeling after the news spread beyond her family and friends.

The ward councillor, Philip Mynott, said: "In a place like Wellesley Road, with its terraces and semi detacheds, people are physically very close and an event like this brings people even closer together.

"The family are clearly devastated, it's a huge loss in the lives of those who knew Nadine but there's a ripple as it were. There's a feeling of loss and shock which is going to be felt throughout the community."

Richard Smith
BBC Essex

Friends and neighbours have been talking about their shock at learning a young Essex mum and her two-month-old baby had been found dead at their home in Brentwood.

David Head described the woman, named locally as Nadine Loveman, as a "very good neighbour" and a "happy go lucky" mum of three. He said he'd been at a party on Saturday night and when he came back in the early hours of Sunday morning everything was quiet.  

"About nine it all went crazy, police cars, ambulances, the family was here, it was awful," he said. "The shock of it, it's so sad, there wasn't a dry eye anywhere."

Another young mum, remaining anonymous, said she'd become friends with Ms Loveman recently, as they both had young babies. They last saw each other on Friday afternoon.

"I'm shocked because when I saw her she was really happy, just like me. We were arranging to meet up this week for a playdate and a coffee."

This goes back to February last year, when Dr Michael Daly, a 77-year-old dentist from Danbury, was hit by an ambulance on a zebra crossing on Main Road.

Dr Daly had just finished his shift at the Oasis Dental Care practice when he was hit. He suffered multiple and severe injuries and was airlifted to St George’s Hospital in London, where he died four months later.

The driver of the ambulance, Faye Parson, 40, from Church Street in Braintree had been responding to a doctor's call and was en route to Burnham-on-Crouch.

She appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday, and denied causing death by careless driving.

Her trial has been scheduled for 3 July.

The Advertising Standards Authority has found against a complainant who questioned whether Stansted City Link coaches could really claim to offer "Free Wi-Fi" because the service had been intermittent on their journey to King's Cross.

The ASA ruled, external that people would understand that "because the wi-fi was accessed on the move it might drop out from time to time".

Image source, City Link