The Conservative MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock said he was "very disappointed and upset" about the announcement of the new Lower Thames Crossing.

Stephen Metcalfe, external said he was "convinced" a strong case had been made to improve the Dartford Crossing before pressing ahead with any new routes.

He said: "I am pleased the Secretary of State has said he looked closely at our arguments and considered alternatives, but regret he did not fully accept our points and has pushed ahead with what I believe to be a flawed decision. 

"I still believe option C and route 3 is a mistake in terms of addressing my constituents’ concerns about air quality and congestion and I will not stop making that point until the very last moment."

Mr Metcalfe added he will now push for an urgent meeting with the transport secretary.

The MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock has issued a warning that there will be "outrage" if the new Lower Thames Crossing doesn't solve problems.

Most of the 47,000 people who responded to a consultation chose the new tunnel as the preferred river crossing option, according to the Department of Transport, external. 

Image source, Alamy

The new Lower Thames Crossing will be designed to cut traffic jams at the Dartford Crossing (pictured).

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said in a statement: "The new Lower Thames Crossing, and other improvements in and around Dartford and Thurrock announced today, will further strengthen our economy while also creating thousands of jobs."

It has just been announced that the new Lower Thames Crossing from Essex to Kent will be a tunnel linking Gravesend and Tilbury.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, external said the new route could create 6,000 jobs and boost the economy by £6bn.

The crossing is expected to carry 4.5m lorries in its first year.

The planned route will run from the M25 near North Ockendon, cross the A13 at Orsett, before running under the Thames east of Tilbury and Gravesend.

A new link road will then take traffic to the A2 near Shorne, close to where the route becomes the M2.

A third person has been charged after a stabbing in South Ockendon on Sunday.

Image source, Google

The victim, aged 30 from London, was taken to hospital with serious, but not life-threatening injuries after the attack in Broxburn Parade at about 03:30.

The third man arrested over the attack was also treated in hospital for a serious stab wound. 

He has now been charged with attempted murder and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and is due to appear at Basildon Magistrates' Court today.

Two other people have also been charged in connection with the attack, police said, external.

Government confirms new Lower Thames Crossing from Essex to Kent will be a tunnel underneath the Thames, linking Gravesend and Tilbury. More to follow.

A tunnel underneath the River Thames is expected to be announced later on today as the government's preferred option for a new road crossing between Essex and Kent.

Highways England has previously said its favoured option - a road from the M25 between junctions 29 and 30, which would go across the river and connect up with the end of the M2 near Rochester - would reduce pressure on the Dartford Crossing. 

Image source, Getty Images

Three potential approach routes were identified north of the river in Essex and two south of the river in Kent.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling will confirm the chosen route later today.

There are problems for train passengers in Clacton, Frinton and Walton this morning because of overhead electric wire damage in Thorpe-le-Soken.

Greater Anglia said disruption was expected until midday, and train services had been suspended between Colchester Town and Walton on the Naze.

Check the Greater Anglia, external website for the latest.

Georgina Burnett
BBC Weather

A bright start this morning, but cloud will thicken through the day to leave things fairly dull this afternoon with a few spits and spots of light rain by the early evening.

Highs of 14C, that's 57F. 

A bright start this morning, but could will thicken through the day to leave things fairly dull this afternoon with a few spits and spots of light rain by the early evening.

Highs of 14C, that's 57F. 

Jodie Halford
BBC News

Good morning, and welcome back to our live updates for all the news, sport, weather and travel going on across Essex today. 

Our main story through the day will be about the Dartford Crossing - later on, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling will announce the chosen route for a new river crossing linking Kent and Essex. 

Image source, Highways England

A tunnel underneath the Thames, linking Gravesend and Tilbury, is expected to be announced as the government's preferred option.

We'll bring you more on this story and other news shortly.

A new mobile phone app has been created by Essex Police to inform and help people stay safe while enjoying nights out in Chelmsford.The Best Bar None app only features those pubs, bars, restaurants and venues which are accredited under the scheme along with lots of "stay safe and support" information.  

Ria Khan, 16, who went missing from her home in Clacton was last seen at 18:30 on Monday and police and family have concerns for her welfare. She is 5ft 9ins tall with shoulder length straight black hair and has links to Tower Hamlets in the east end of London, police said.  

Gareth George
BBC Look East

Basildon Borough Council is fighting in the High Court for permission to take down unauthorised travellers' developments on pitches at a green field site near the town. 

Travellers have settled at Hovefields in Wickford, close to where the Dale Farm evictions took place in 2011, and the council is desperate to avoid the siege situation that developed there before residents were evicted.

The council is taking action against the travellers for breaching injunctions to prevent development. 

Officials told the court they felt intimidated when visiting the site. 

The spectre of Dale Farm hangs over the case. That was an illegal development on green belt land that ended in a bloody battle. 

The council said everything was being done to avoid a repeat of that costly legal process. 

The travellers have argued that it is the result of a lack of permanent legal pitches for them.  

Paul Clark, their legal representative in court, said: "A large number of children could face very serious disruption to their lives."

The current court hearing is not about whether the travellers can remain or not - it's about what they are allowed to have on their pitches.

Gareth George
BBC Look East

Travellers living on an unauthorised site on green belt land near Basildon have told a High Court judge they're "sincerely sorry" for breaching injunctions aimed at curbing their activities. 

Basildon Borough Council is asking the court to penalise travellers in the Hovefields area of Wickford for carrying out illegal developments by replacing touring caravans with more permanent mobile homes.

The travellers' representative argued that the illegal pitches should remain as removal would disrupt the lives of 12 children who live at Hovefields and he apologised for the travellers flouting of injunctions. 

"The European Court of Human Rights recognises that the lives and culture of travelling people are under threat," he said.

The judge refused to authorise the changes they had made to their pitches.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Police have arrested a 33-year-old woman and a 44-year-old man, both of no fixed address, on suspicion of neglect following the search for a missing child who has been found safe and well. 

They are both currently in custody assisting officers with their inquiries.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

London Stansted Airport saw nearly 1.9m passengers in March 2017, which was nearly 1% down on last year, but approval has been given to build a new £130m arrivals building. 

The airport has blamed the small fall on the later Easter holidays and a temporary reduction in capacity on some Ryanair routes over the end of the winter season.

Image source, PA

In the 12 months ending March 2017:

• Stansted's passenger numbers grew by 5% compared with the previous year with the moving annual total rising to 24.3m
• More passengers took flights to Italy, Bulgaria, Spain, Germany and Poland
• Spain, Italy and Germany were the most popular countries in the past year attracting 41% of all the passengers
• Cargo volumes increased by 10.2% compared to March 2016, with over 24,000 tonnes shipped

Andrew Cowan said: "Passenger numbers during the month were broadly flat compared to March last year, which was in line with expectations due to the later Easter holidays and some capacity reductions across the winter schedule. 

"Last week we were granted planning permission for our new £130m arrivals building which will help transform our infrastructure and facilities to give our passengers the best possible experience."

Listen to live BBC Radio Bristol commentary as Somerset host Essex in the County Championship Division One.

Care England says it is "deeply concerned" about how much Essex County Council pays.

Shoeburyness is the only place in Essex where the Poppies Wave, external  sculpture/display is being hosted and it is a delight for anyone who goes there to view.

The display is free for the public to see until 25 June.

It was originally created for display at the Tower of London to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War One in 2014.