Daniel Pressland planned to use some of the paintings as "skateboard ramps", a court hears.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

A Southend-on-Sea resident who spent three years making a scale model of the borough has unveiled his work at the Civic Centre in Victoria Avenue.

Image source, Southend Council

Ralph Swallows, 85, of Shoeburyness, has used thread soaked in glue and numerous pieces of recycled wood found across local beaches and streets to create his miniature masterpiece.

Mr Swallows has painstakingly recreated the entire borough - including local landmarks such as the Pier, High Street, London Southend Airport (with miniature plane ready for take-off) and the Civic Centre - all from his Shoeburyness apartment.

John Lamb, leader of the borough council, said: "This is amazing; the miniature scale and attention to detail is superb.

"Other models made by Mr Swallow have in the past been displayed in the Barbican Centre in London, so we are very grateful to share his work with the people of Southend-on-Sea by displaying it here in the Civic Centre.

"I would urge local people to take a look and view his extraordinary craftsmanship."

The model is currently on display at the Civic Centre First Floor Foyer in Victoria Avenue.

Sixty-two years ago this month, local youngsters were photographed in Southend enjoying a free ride on the Jungle Express in the Children's Pleasure Gardens by Southend Pier.   

Image source, Getty Images

A childrens' charity has called for a digital child abuse unit in every police force after an Essex vicar admitted possessing dozens of indecent images.

The Rev Peter Low, 65, of Crescent Road, Heybridge, downloaded a collection of images, some of which depicted the most serious category of abuse, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images of children and one count of possessing prohibited images of children.

Children's charity the NSPCC said: “Possessing and sharing images of abuse is child abuse full stop and behind every indecent image is a young victim who will need support to recover.

“We must never forget that children have been seriously abused to create these vile images and the crushing effects will be life-changing.

“The NSPCC wants to see a specialist digital child abuse unit in every police force, trained to deal with sexual and other online offences against children.”

Nic Rigby
BBC News

A detective has been dismissed from Essex Police for gross misconduct after he formed an "inappropriate relationship" with an alleged sex offence victim. 

Image source, Google

A misconduct panel chaired by John Bassett found on 28 March that Det Con Carl Wakefield had breached the standards of professional behaviour in the areas of honesty and integrity, duties and responsibilities and discreditable conduct.The hearing in Chelmsford was told that Det Con Wakefield, 44, who was based in the public protection command at in Rayleigh Police Station (pictured), formed an inappropriate relationship with the victim of an alleged sexual offence.In determining the officer should be dismissed, Mr Bassett said: "The officer put his personal interests before his duties and responsibilities as a serving police officer. 

"His conduct was completely contrary to the ethos promoted by Essex Police amongst its officers and the wider community.”  

A teenage girl was left "shaken" after she was grabbed by a man in Great Cornard. 

Police are appealing for witnesses after the incident in Nursery Road, just before 10:00 yesterday. 

The girl said a man grabbed her left arm and spoke to her whilst holding "an unknown object" against her back.

The two walked a short while together before the girl was able to break free and run away. 

Image source, Google

Officers do not believe the incident is related to an assault on a woman in her 40s in Poplar Road, Great Cornard, earlier this month.

Insp Danny Cooper said: "While we are aware that incidents such as this can cause concern to the community, I would like to reassure them that a full investigation is under way to determine exactly what happened and to trace those responsible.

"I would urge anyone with information regarding either incident, or who believes they may know the identity of the men, to come forward.”

We've been reporting on arrests following a demonstration at Stansted Airport to stop deportations to Africa.

We asked the Home Office for a comment and a press spokesman said in a statement: "We respect everyone's right to peaceful protest but we are clear that removal is an essential element of an effective immigration system.

"We expect those with no legal basis to remain in the UK to leave voluntarily but if they do not, we will seek to enforce their departure."

The Reverend Peter Low is suspended from all of his duties as a vicar at the Diocese of Chelmsford.

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

The forthcoming Brexit negotiations will be conducted at a local level but there are a number of areas which local MPs will be closely watching. 

Top of the list, by common consent, is science and technology, for which Cambridge is an important centre. 

Image source, Getty Images

Hi-tech firms and researchers across the region have benefitted from European investment and partnerships. While the government has promised that funding for the sector will continue, MPs also want to ensure international cooperation and shared trials can continue without disruption. 

Ease of movement is another big wish: those research companies want to be able to bring in staff from Europe and send people abroad without hassle, farmers need foreign workers to help with the harvest and care homes are worried about losing staff. 

Image source, Getty Images

A lot of the food we grow stays in the UK but food producers still want to be able trade with Europe with few, if any barriers. Fishermen hope we'll have full control of our waters again and be able to resurrect an industry in decline. 

Ports like Felixstowe will be affected by any changes in trade tariffs, airports like Stansted and Southend will hope that the open skies policy stays in place while all our universities want to be able to continue exchanges and shared courses. 

Many MPs see Brexit as an opportunity but they all accept that getting there is likely to be a complicated process.

Flights were temporarily halted on Tuesday evening after protesters locked themselves in an aircraft.

Police arrest second man over blaze at Islamic centre:

Nic Rigby
BBC News

A protester involved in a demonstration at Stansted Airport to stop deportations has apologised for disrupting passenger flights.

Image source, End Deportations

Seventeen people have been arrested after the protest which temporarily halted take-offs and landings last night.

Those involved were trying to stop a charter flight which they claim was due to deport people to Nigeria and Ghana. 

Lilly, from End Deportations, one of the three groups involved, told BBC Essex: "We are sorry to anybody who has been disrupted. 

"The intention was a peaceful protest to stop a deportation. Up to 50 people were stopped from being taken away from their family and friends.

"The charter flight was stopped for the first time in the entire history of charter flights."

We have contacted the Home Office for comment.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

Earlier we reported that three people had been arrested after protesters  locked themselves in a plane at Stansted Airport . It has since emerged that a total of 17 people have been arrested.

The airport has issued a statement.

Spokesman Mark Davison said: "At approximately 22:00 (Tuesday 28 March) Stansted Airport's runway was closed as a precaution while police dealt with a number of individuals who had entered a remote area of the airfield, away from the runway and main passenger terminal.

"The situation was quickly contained but the police carried out a full inspection of the airfield in advance of confirming it was safe to re-commence flight operations at 23:17.

"Twenty-three inbound aircraft were diverted to other airports as a result of the runway closure." 

Anti-deportation protesters have spoken out after a demonstration at Stansted Airport yesterday evening:

Police have found missing Patrick Casey, a 13-year-old boy reported missing from Frinton.

Patrick O'Flynn, UKIP MEP for the East of England, says Britain should conduct itself "with dignity" as Article 50 is triggered.

Yesterday Theresa May signed a letter which will formally begin the process of leaving the EU, and it will be handed to the president of the European Council around lunchtime.

Image source, PA

Mr O'Flynn said: "It would be really stupid to go around gloating and to ignore the fact that at least there's trepidation and worse among the 16 million people who voted to remain. 

"So we have a heavy responsibility to conduct ourselves with dignity. So far I'm relatively reassured with how Theresa May is approaching it and I'm sure we will come together; of course we will."

Nic Rigby
BBC News

A 25-year old man has been charged following a crash in Leigh-on-Sea that left a pregnant woman seriously hurt.

The man from Enfield, north London, is due in court today. 

He has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, fraud, dangerous driving and failing to stop following a road traffic collision.

The woman was taken to hospital where she was also found to have internal injuries. Her baby is thought to be unharmed.

The woman is in a stable condition in hospital but police say she is showing some signs of improvement. 

Last night's protest at Stansted Airport took place on a non-commercial runway.

It ended with three people being arrested, but only after 23 incoming flights were diverted to other airports, including scheduled arrivals from Naples, Cologne, Glasgow, Riga, Belfast and Bilbao.

Image source, Stansted Airport

The protest involved 10 people. They were trying to stop a charter flight which they claim was due to deport people to Nigeria and Ghana.

Essex Police acting assistant chief constable Sean O'Callaghan said police "quickly contained" the protesters in one area of the airport.

He added there was "minimal impact" on the airport.

The activists posted images of the protest on social media, including a photograph of people lying on the ground as they were surrounded by security staff and police.

One of them, Susan James, said: "I don't want to stay silent in the face of mass deportations that are deliberately rushed and secretive."

Essex Fire and Rescue says a large grass fire at a college in Rochford was started deliberately.

Crews were called to Rocheway yesterday evening. There are no reports of any injuries.

The fire involved a grass area in the centre of the college site and did not spread to the building.

Three people have been arrested after protesters locked themselves in a plane at Stansted Airport .

Image source, PA

They said they were trying to stop a charter flight which they claimed was due to deport people to Nigeria and Ghana.

Bosses at Stansted say the situation last night was quickly contained, but 23 inbound flights were diverted to other airports while the runway was closed.