Nick Alliker
BBC Essex

A 57-year-old man has been seriously injured during an armed robbery at a house near Rayleigh. 

The victim, from The Drive in Hullbridge, was threatened by two men, one of whom appeared to have a gun, late last night.  

Image source, Google

He's now being treated at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge where his condition is described as critical. 

Cash was stolen in the attack but no arrests have yet been made, police said. 

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A clutch of Easter chicks has arrived early at Mountfitchet Castle, external in Stansted. 

These rare Frizzles, named after their distinctive ruffled feathers that grow towards their heads, were spotted wandering around the grounds of the medieval village.

Image source, Mountfitchet Castle

Bury Free Press

Former Essex batsman Jaik Mickleburgh views signing for Suffolk as the potential springboard, external for a return to the first-class cricket circuit.

Image source, Bury Free Press

Nick Alliker
BBC Essex

A second person has been arrested on suspicion of murder following a fatal stabbing in St Osyth near Clacton. 

A 23-year-old man died in Colchester Hospital after suffering neck and chest injuries earlier today and a 29-year-old woman, from Clacton, was arrested this morning.

A 35-year-old man from London has been detained and the two arrested people are to be questioned later, police said.  

BBC Weather Watchers

Rain is spreading across Essex, after a morning of contrasting skies and downpours, and it will turn heavy at times. 

Our BBC Weather Watchers have been keeping an eye on the skies as the pictures show, but a huge contrast across the county has been revealed.

Image source, ebb&flow

Image source, Karry

Image source, youcantbecirrus

Rain will clear away later to leave a mostly dry and bright end to the day. 

However, it will become chilly later as most places have a clear night, and temperatures fall close to freezing in rural areas.

A few showers may arrive perhaps falling as sleet. 

Minimum Temperature: 3C (37F) 

More details from BBC Weather :

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A new scheme to ban lorries from overtaking on a stretch of the M11 in north Essex getting underway today has brought criticism from transport operators. 

The ban is being introduced on a section between Stansted Airport and the A11 in Cambridgeshire.

Highways England the new scheme would mean faster and safer journeys. 

But  Chrys Rampley, from the Road Haulage Association, external , claimed the scheme was far from ideal. 

"Longer term improvements to the road would have been better," he said. 

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

There are calls to stop council tax money from Essex being used to fund a country park in Hertfordshire.

An act of Parliament passed over 50 years ago means neighbouring authorities share the costs of Lee Valley Park.

Image source, Geograph/Malc McDonald

Essex County Council paid £1.4m this financial year.

However, independent Basildon councillor Kerry Smith said he wants the 1966 Act, which requires Essex and Hertfordshire county councils to pay a share of the park's costs, along with all 32 London boroughs, to be abolished. 

Essex County Council leader David Finch said: "Lee Valley, under the Lee Valley Park Act 1966, is empowered to raise a tax in order to fund the operation of the park from Hertfordshire, London boroughs and Essex.

"But we have systematically sought to reduce the amount of money that is paid to the park as a precept over the years.

"While we recognise that it makes a valuable contribution to the public in the counties and boroughs who subsidise it, we are continuing to explore how we can decrease any of the funding that we need to provide, while sustaining the park's services."

The Lee Valley Regional Park Authority said it "has reduced the levy for seven years running, while increasing income from other sources".

"The 10,000-acre park is a regional, not local, asset," a statement said.

BBC Sport

Chelmsford Chieftains ice hockey club took the National Ice Hockey League, external Cup 8-5 in a two-leg fixture against Kent-based Invicta Dynamos this weekend. 

Without key players Liam Chong, Darren Brown and Carl Graham,  Chieftains, external grabbed the league championship in a closely fought away fixture. 

With a slender 4-3 advantage from the first home leg, they faced a partisan home crowd in Gillingham as they took to the ice.

Image source, Chelmsford Chieftains

Goals from Juraj Huska and Jake Sylvester in the second quarter gave the Chieftains a two-goal cushion. 

In the third Chieftains extended their lead further when Brandon Ayliffe hit the back of the net only for the home side to give themselves an outside chance of a comeback three minutes later when Nicky Lewis scored his second of the night. 

The Chieftains shut up shop and when Grant Bartlett scored Chieftains fourth of the night with just seconds to go, the travelling supporters began the celebrations.  

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Delays are easing on the southbound A12 which was closed for several hours after a six-vehicle collision. 

The road is now fully open in both directions. 

Adam Pipe, from Essex Police, said two crashes, one on each carriageway near Witham, caused major disruption for thousands of motorists. 

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

An illegal rave involving up to 80 people near Braintree was broken up by police early on Sunday morning. 

Officers were called to the event held in a wooded area in Cornish Hall End Road, Stambourne.

The people were asked to leave and they dispersed, so no arrests were made. The site was cleared by lunchtime after a police operation involving the landowner and district council officials. 

"It is important to remember these events are not regulated in relation to health and safety measures and that the environment is not necessarily a safe one," Supt Nick Morris said. 

East Anglian Daily Times

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

Image source, Archant

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Lorries are to be stopped from overtaking on some uphill sections of the M11 in Essex.

Work is due to start today on the restrictions between 07:00 and 19:00 on both carriageways of the motorway between J8 for Stansted Airport and J9 for the A11. 

The Highways Agency, external said the scheme would improve journeys times and make the route safer for drivers.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A crash on the A12 southbound between the junctions with the A120 at Colchester and the A130 north of Chelmsford is causing delays of one-and-a-half hours, the Highways Agency , external said.

There are long tailbacks and the road is not expected to be cleared until about 11:45. 

A lorry driver had to be cut free from his cab by emergency services and several other vehicles were involved in the crash. 

Other vehicles caught in the jams are reported to have broken down adding to the problems.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A 23-year-old man has died in hospital after being stabbed at an address in St Osyth near Clacton. 

A 29-year-old woman from Clacton has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in custody awaiting questioning.

Image source, Google

Police were called shortly before 04:45 following reports a man had been stabbed in Rochford Road.

Officers carried out resuscitation on the victim until the ambulance service arrived. He died a short time later after being taken to hospital.

Detectives appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to contact Essex Police.

Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather

It's a grey and damp start to the week with some patchy rain first thing, although some places will start dry. 

Rain will spread across all parts during the day, heavy in places, with a fairly brisk breeze as well. 

Top temperature between 9C and 13C (48F to 55F).

Watch my full regional forecast here:

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Morning all! 

Welcome to today's Essex Live page on the United Nations International Day of Happiness.

Alongside the latest news, sport, weather and travel updates we aim to reflect a happy day in some of our stories.

We'll be here from now right through until 18:00 this evening.

But the weather outlook, to be published shortly, is not one to fit in to the happiness feeling - you'll need a brolly if you're out on foot.

If you want to contact us we're on email , Facebook, external and Twitter, external .

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Southend United stage a stunning second-half fightback to beat Walsall in a thrilling League One encounter.