This from our reporter Richard Smith, following the deaths of a mother and her son in Brentwood.

Richard Smith
BBC Essex

Neighbours are understandably shocked following the news yesterday that a mother and her baby had been discovered dead at a house in Wellesley Road, Brentwood.

Police are still there this morning, as their investigation into the "unexplained" deaths continue.

The deceased have been named locally as 36-year-old Nadine Loveman and her two-month-old son, Stevie.

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

In the eastern region, the Waterbeach headquarters was built to answer all emergency fire calls from Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hertfordshire and north Essex.

However, the project was  abandoned in 2010  after the coalition government determined the "requirements of the project cannot be delivered to an acceptable timeframe".

The unused building centre has been  for lease  ever since.

It costs about £2m a year to maintain, the Fire Brigades Union says.

Its eastern regional secretary Riccardo La Torre (below) said that money could have funded 16 fire stations for a year.

"The cost of it - up to £2m a year, we're being told - that's the cost to the taxpayer, just to fund this empty room... is perverse, to say the least," he said.

"The money spent on this building could have been invested much more productively in the fire service, at a time when we're seeing record cuts to the fire service in the East of England."

The Department for Communities and Local Government said it had "revised the contract for ongoing maintenance of the remaining control centres [in the UK] and the maintenance of specialist equipment has been reduced to the minimum legislative requirements for an unoccupied space".

However, it added that it cannot sell the building until the lease expires - which means the taxpayer has to foot the bill. 

The BBC has asked the department twice when the lease expires, without response.

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

Remember this - the massive fire control centre in Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, that was set to replace all the existing county controls in the East of England?

It cost £23m to build back in 2009.

But eight years on - it's still empty .

The Labour government's plan to centralise fire control centres to one regional unit was abandoned in 2010. 

But the building still costs the taxpayer more than £5,000 a day.

The Fire Brigades Union, external has described the ongoing cost as "perverse".

The Department for Communities and Local Government, external , which is responsible for the centre, said: "Due to the terms agreed by the previous administration from 2007, we're unable to sell the regional fire control centres until their leases expire, which means taxpayers continue to pay for the costs of maintaining these empty buildings." 

A 37-year-old man has been charged with the murder of 19-year-old Denis Petkov, who was fatally injured in Rettendon on Saturday night.

Mihal Dobrev, 37, of East Hanningfield Road, Rettendon, will appear in court this morning.

A 21-year-old man from Chelmsford, arrested in connection with the incident, has been released on police bail until 27 July.

Three men, aged 24, 30 and 42, who were also arrested have been released without charge. 

BBC Weather

Once the mist and fog clears this morning, it'll be a bright and sunny day for most across the region.

Any cloud should break to reveal a pleasant, hazy day.

And staying mild - highs of 15C (59F). 

Sonia Watson
BBC Essex

Bulgarian media are naming a teenager stabbed to death near Chelmsford at the weekend. They say Denis Petkov, who was 19, was the victim of an attack in Rettendon.

He was found seriously injured at a property in East Hanningfield Road on Saturday night, but later died. Police have been questioning two men on suspicion of murder.

Image source, Google

Nikki Jenkins
BBC Local Live

The M25 looked like an impressionist painting this morning as the sun burned through the fog, really quite beautiful in an urban major road way... 

But I've just heard there's been an accident in the Holmesdale tunnel which has probably knocked the gloss off it.

So what have we got for you today? If there's any more information about the death of a mother and her baby in Brentwood we will let you know. 

On a lighter note, Prince Harry is coming to see us.

(By the way the image below of Impression Sunrise by Monet is a replica made entirely out of 5mm pieces of bread which went on display in Tokyo in 2013, probably a bit stale by now but impressive none the less.)

Image source, Getty Images

Colchester boost their play-off hopes and damage opponents Mansfield's similar aspirations after running out winners at home.

Early goals by Nile Ranger and Ryan Leonard give Southend victory at League One bottom club Coventry City.

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

That's it for Tuesday's Essex Live. Thanks for your company.

Don't forget you can scroll down for all the stories making the news in the county today: 

• Tilbury man Ali Qazimaj has been sentenced to life - and ordered to serve at least 35 years in jail - for the murder of Suffolk couple Peter and Sylvia Stuart.
• Police have been granted more time to question two men in connection with the death of a teenager in Chelmsford at the weekend. Three others have been released without charge.
• And the deaths of a woman and two-month-old baby in Brentwood are being treated as unexplained. 

You can send us your pictures and drop us a line using the Get Involved button at the top of this page. 

We'll be back from 08:00 tomorrow morning to do it all again.

Have a lovely evening. 

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

A senior British Army officer has faced a court marshal at Colchester Garrison, external after paying his sons' school fees with taxpayers' money. 

Brig Charles Beardmore, 51, is believed to be the most senior officer to face an Army court martial since 1952. 

He admitted negligently performing his duty at an earlier hearing . The court martial heard there was no suggestion of dishonesty.

Image source, PA/Chris Radburn

Prosecutor Col Nigel Jones said Brig Beardmore, of the Defence Medical Services in Whittington, Staffordshire, had claimed so-called Continuity of Education Allowance for his two sons - without declaring that his wife had not been living at the same address as him for more than 90 days in a single year.

Brig Beardmore was sentenced to "forfeit all seniority" by a board of three Army brigadiers.

The punishment means he doesn't lose his rank - but falls to the back of the queue for promotion and benefits.

He was also ordered to pay a service compensation order of £11,750 to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) within 14 days.

Image source, PA

Brigadiers, external are senior to colonels - and outranked only by generals.

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

A Victorian community centre is to be converted into 13 homes under ambitious plans by Essex County Council.

Longmeads House in Writtle, external , near Chelmsford, was built in the 1880s and has belonged to the council since 1950. 

The council has struck a deal with developers Marden to restore the building, create housing and redevelop the existing centre.

David Finch, leader of Essex County Council, external , said: “Longmeads House has been an iconic part of village life in Writtle and continues to play a vital role by hosting all manner of community groups and clubs, events and a bar.

“The proposal means we can restore Longmeads to its former glory, provide 13 new homes and a brand new community centre fit for the 21st Century.”

Image source, Google

The new facilities could be available to the community by the summer of 2018.  

BBC Weather

Tonight will be largely dry and cloudy with some clear spells, light winds and temperatures no lower than 7C (45F).

Image source, BBC Weather

Tomorrow will see a largely cloudy start with some mist and fog but eventually it should become brighter with spells of sunshine developing. 

Highest temperatures around 15C (59F) and the wind remaining light in strength.

BBC Weather  has more local forecasts. 

Luke Deal
BBC Radio Suffolk

Here's war veteran Thomas Welsh from Sudbury with the medal he has been awarded for his part in liberating Norway during World War Two.

Mr Welsh was part of the 1st Airlanding Brigade that was parachuted in, just outside Oslo, in May 1945. 

He helped organise the orderly surrender of German officers. 

He was presented with the Norwegian Government's Commemorative Medal at a special ceremony at the town hall. 

Receiving the award, Mr Welsh said: "Words fail me at the moment. After 70 years, this has suddenly been recognised.

"The fact is that there are very few of us left and when I was told about it, I couldn't believe it, after all of this time. I'm overwhelmed."

Luke Deal
BBC Radio Suffolk

The bravery of a Sudbury man who helped liberate Norway during World War Two "will never be forgotten".

Thomas Welsh, 91, was part of the 1st Airlanding Brigade that parachuted in, just outside Oslo, in May 1945.  

He has been presented with the Norwegian Government's Commemorative Medal.

Col John Olsen said it was an "important award".

He said: "It recognises the bravery of those who helped liberate Norway, those who fought with the Allies, during the Second World War.

"Tom Welsh and others fought so hard for us and our freedom, that is something we shall never forget."

A pre-inquest review is held into the deaths of five men at Camber Sands, with a full hearing expected before summer.

The daughter of Peter and Sylvia Stuart has said she has felt a "rollercoaster of emotions". 

As we've been reporting, Ali Qazimaj, 43, formerly of Tilbury, Essex, has been  jailed for the murders  of Peter and Sylvia Stuart from Weybread, near Eye. 

In a statement read out at court, the Stuarts' daughter Christy Paxman said: "I had to listen to the defendant blatantly lie and not show a flicker of remorse for what he has done. 

"He was talking about his mother and her jewellery, arranging her funeral. 

"He went to his mother's funeral. I cannot have a proper funeral for my mum as she has not been found. I don't even have a date of death for my mum. 

"I had to listen to the defence barrister implying that my mother is not dead. I have a death certificate - how can he be saying that? 

"I am left wondering if there will come a day when a police car will turn up at my house to tell me that they have found my mum. 

"I worry that this will happen when I am no longer here and my daughter has to deal with this trauma in year to come." 

The daughter of Weybread murder victims Peter and Sylvia Stuart has said her own daughter has been deprived of her grandparents. 

Ali Qazimaj, 43, formerly of Tilbury, Essex, has been  jailed for the murders  of Peter and Sylvia Stuart from Weybread, near Eye.  

In a statement read out at court, the Stuarts' daughter Christy Paxman said: "I have had to explain to my daughter that her granddad was stabbed to death and we do not know where her nanny is. 

"For the first 10 years of her life my mum and dad were like second parents to her; this evil person has deprived my daughter of her grandparents. 

"Even now I sometimes think I will just call my mum for a chat, I forget she is no longer here. 

"I can no longer see my dad chatting and laughing with my daughter. 

"They are not here. Apart from my husband and our daughter, I am now alone." 

Charles Beardmore is believed to be the most senior officer to face an Army court martial since 1952.