The jury at the murder trial of a man accused of killing Weybread couple Peter and Sylvia Stuart has now been sent out to consider its verdict.

If you had a look at our live updates on Friday, you may have seen that we reported Waltham Abbey police station was being put up for sale as Essex Police and the force's commissioner looked to cut costs.

We've heard from the police this morning that they're hoping to attract offers "in excess of £750k" for the building on Sun Street - complete with blue lamp outside - which closed for good in September 2016.

Image source, Stephen Craven / Geograph

It is one of several to be sold as the force's estate is reduced from 80 to 30 buildings.  

A police spokeswoman said the future use of the Waltham Abbey site "will of course be determined by any buyer and that remains a matter for the buyer".

Ben Fryer
BBC Essex

I've come to Rettendon near Chelmsford where a house remains cordoned off this morning.

On Saturday night a 19-year-old man lost his life here in a fatal stabbing. 

He was treated by paramedics but died at the scene, police said.

"We would like to offer reassurance that violent crime of this nature in Chelmsford is rare and there is no current risk to the public," the force said.

Five men, aged between 21 and 49, were arrested on suspicion of murder and are still being questioned.

The Essex entertainer Michael Barrymore has revealed that he's making his TV comeback in a new sitcom. 

The 64-year-old has been filming for the show, but hasn't revealed when it'll be broadcast. 

He told his Twitter followers if they enjoyed his 2000 comedy Bob Martin "this one will be right up your street".

Image source, PA

Mr Barrymore is currently suing Essex Police over his arrest in connection with the death of a man at his home near Roydon in 2001. 

He was later released without charge. 

The Tory MP for Chingford and Woodford Green possibly regrets this:

A warning if you need to use the A130 in the next little while - the northbound side has been closed following a five-vehicle crash at Rettendon.

There are severe delays, we're being told, and the air ambulance is on scene.

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

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

The Transport Secretary Chris Grayling says a decision on whether to proceed with a controversial new Thames crossing will be made in the next few weeks.

The final go ahead was expected to be given last autumn, but local MPs have raised concerns about how effective the new route would be at relieving congestion at Dartford, and I understand that Mr Grayling has also expressed concern about its cost and ordered a complete review of the plans, external .

Image source, Getty Images

The so-called Option C would see a tunnel built under the Thames to the east of Tilbury with a link road running from the M25 south of North Ockenden, through Orsett and onto the Thames.

Mr Grayling told the BBC "the whole issue of Dartford is very strongly on the government's agenda.

"The traffic problems there are acute, we're absolutely committed to addressing them and we'll be setting out our plans in the next few weeks."

A £38m investment and 50 new jobs come to fruition in Basildon today. 

The coffee chain Costa is opening its biggest roastery in Europe in the south Essex town. The company says it will quadruple its current roasting capacity and will allow more than two billion cups of coffee to be produced each year.

Image source, Reuters

Production Director Giorgio Fioravanti says the town is "perfect from a logistic point of view".

"It's only 20 minutes, give or take, from Tilbury where we got the coffee from and 20 minutes from the M25. It's easy from a logistic point of view for our finished goods to move forward."

The police response to the murder of notorious Essex criminal John Palmer has been described as "unsatisfactory" by the county's police and crime commissioner. 

Palmer, 65, (pictured in 1987 with his wife Marnie) was shot in a contract-style killing at his home at South Weald - but his death wasn't thought to be suspicious for several days.

Image source, PA

A report by the ambulance service says police were "not concerned" when a paramedic at the scene raised doubts about the cause of his fatal injuries. 

Essex Police said two officers had been disciplined, but their actions had not amounted to gross misconduct. 

In a statement, PCC Roger Hirst said: "I understand that this case is still open and of course as such it is an operational police matter in which I regret I cannot get involved."

Laurence Cawley
BBC News

In case you missed it, we ran a story yesterday about how a paramedic called to treat a notorious criminal gunned down in his garden raised doubts about the cause of John "Goldfinger" Palmer's fatal injuries.

The 65-year-old was initially thought to have died from natural causes at his home in South Weald, near Brentwood, in June 2015. It took a week to establish he had been shot six times.

Image source, PA

A case review by the East of England Ambulance Service revealed a paramedic told police he doubted the conman's wounds were from recent keyhole chest surgery.

But police officers at the scene were "not concerned", the report said. Read the story in full .

People living in Rettendon near Chelmsford have told the BBC they're shocked a man has been stabbed to death there. 

It happened late on Saturday night - a 19-year-old died at a property in East Hanningfield Road. 

Five people have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in police custody this morning.

Karen Swain lives down the road from where it happened. "We went around the house locking all the doors, because obviously they're searching for somebody, something major's gone on, so it does make you a little bit nervous," she said.

Train operator Greater Anglia says a train fault at Liverpool Street is causing disruption to services through Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk this morning.

Check the company's website, external for the latest information.

A man remains unaccounted for following a fire which destroyed a cottage in East Bergholt yesterday.

Crews called to the blaze in Gaston Street at 01:00 couldn't prevent the roof collapsing.

Firefighters searched the wreckage, but it's not known if the man was in the house at the time. 

Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather

A bright start to the day with early cloud in eastern areas soon clearing, and some sunshine quickly developing. 

Turning cloudier from the west during this afternoon, but staying dry and feeling rather warm with light winds.

Highs today of 14C, that's 57F.

Check the latest forecast for where you live with BBC Weather.

Jodie Halford
BBC News

Good morning and welcome to the start of another week here on the BBC's Local Live page for Essex.

Through the day, we'll bring you news, sport, weather and travel, and we'd love to hear from you as well. You can email us here.

We're starting today with a look at a significant story which happened over the weekend - the murder of a 19-year-old man in Rettendon, near Chelmsford.

Five people arrested on suspicion of murder remain in custody this morning. More on this coming up shortly.

A paramedic called to treat a notorious criminal gunned down in his garden in Essex raised doubts about the cause of his fatal injuries, a report said.

John "Goldfinger" Palmer, who previously ran a jewellery business in Bristol and lived in Bath, was initially thought to have died from natural causes in 2015. It took a week to establish he had been shot six times.

A case review revealed a paramedic told police he doubted the conman's wounds were from recent keyhole chest surgery.

But police officers at the scene were "not concerned", the report said.

Image source, PA

The bricks came down during last month's Storm Doris.

Officers say the 19-year-old died at the house in Chelmsford following reports of a fight.

A case review reveals a paramedic doubted the notorious criminal's wounds were from recent chest surgery.