Patrick Byrne
BBC News

The intensity and the resulting damage of the blaze which destroyed eight and damaged several other beach huts at West Mersea is shown by these pictures taken by eye-witness Coralie Meacock-Smith.

Image source, Coralie Meacock-Smith

Image source, Coralie Meacock-Smith

An investigation is under way to discover the cause of the fire .

Clive Jenner, from West Mersea Beach Hut Watch, said there had been several vandal attacks over the past year but, if this was another one, it was the worst he had ever seen.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Yellow lines that end halfway across a parking bay have mysteriously appeared on the Aveley Village development. 

Residents claim they were not consulted over the application of yellow lines and a 100-signature petition against them was presented to the council by Tim Aker MEP on 29 March. 

Image source, Tim Aker

After a public meeting on 7 April the council is now reviewing the lines. 

Mr Aker said: "Residents were gobsmacked to find these yellow lines appear almost out of nowhere, with no consultation at all. 

"I share their frustration and called a meeting with the council to see how we can resolve the situation. 

"After a very productive meeting with officers, a consultation will take place where the lines will be reviewed. 

"We have assurances that some will go and we believe that with input from residents, the nonsensical lines will disappear."

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

The first rail freight service from the UK to China has now set off from Stanford-le-Hope and it will take about 17 days to reach its destination on the other side of the world. 

The train is pulling 30 containers filled with British-produced goods on a 7,500-mile journey from the DP World London Gateway rail terminal.

Image source, Reuters/Peter Nicholls

Whisky, soft drinks, vitamins, pharmaceuticals and baby products are among the items being exported. 

Xubin Feng, chairman of Yiwu Timex Industrial Investment Co, which is organising the service, said: "Restoring the ancient Silk Road as a means by which China, north Europe and now the UK can exchange goods is an important and exciting initiative. 

"This is the first export train and just the start of a regular direct service between the UK and China. 

"Rail provides an excellent alternative for moving large volumes of goods over long distances faster." 

DP World, external chief executive Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem described the train's departure as a "significant trade occasion". 

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

GB Paralympian, Richard Chiassaro, was the first wheelchair competitor across the finish line in St Clare Hospice's 10k, external race on Sunday at Hastingwood, near Harlow, in a time of 23 mins 25 secs. 

Mr Chiassaro, who competed in the Rio 2016 Paralympics and coaches the Harlow Wheelchair Racing Squad  is pictured here (without a helmet) alongside Joe Brazier (35'30"), Adam Goldspink-Burgess (35'36") and Martin Pistorius (44'31"). 

Image source, Nigel Otter

Image source, Nigel Otter

The first man back was Thomas Grimes from Chingford-based athletics club, Orion Harriers, in a time of 33 mins 54 secs. 

Jamie Hooper, St Clare's fundraising development manager, said: "The annual charity 10k race, which has been taking place for over 20 years, is a permanent fixture in Essex running club calendars.

"This year's event is expected to raise more than £8,000 in vital funding." 

More than 300 competitors took part in this year's race around Harlow.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Rollerworld in Colchester is to reopen at 12:00 on Tuesday after having to close for a number of days due to "circumstances beyond our control". 

After a dispute with the landlord was resolved the firm, external , based at Moorside Road, sent in staff and cleaners to prepare for the reopening.

Image source, Google

It had already posted on its Facebook page: "We apologise to all our guests and are deeply embarrassed that for the first time in over 25 years we will have to let down our customers in this way." 

Rollerworld said it was closed on Tuesday and remained shut until after the weekend. 

Manager Andy Star said extra sessions would be put on every day and over the Bank Holiday weekend to recompense customers over having to close during a holiday period.

The manager declined to give further information as legal proceedings were likely to ensue.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A suspected wartime bomb near the rail line in north west Essex caused disruption to services to Stansted Airport at lunchtime. 

Essex Police said they received a call at 11:20 about a suspicious object at a building site at the airport close to the railway line at Stansted Mountfitchet.

"We put a 80m cordon in Bassingbourne Road and contacted the Ministry of Defence explosive ordnance disposal team who have since removed the device."

The team reported that it was an inert World War Two shell. 

The rail lines were then allowed to reopen with services expected to recover from the disruption during the afternoon. 

Great Anglia, external said: "Train services between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport via Tottenham Hale are returning to normal, but some services may still be cancelled, delayed by up to 15 minutes or terminated at Bishops Stortford."

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A 20-year-old man, with no fixed address, has been arrested for aggravated burglary after an attack in a house.

Police were called to reports of a burglary in Greenway, Brentwood, shortly after 00:15 today.

"A man had entered a property by force through a rear window," police said. 

"He then assaulted a man in his 70s and stole bank cards before leaving through the same window." 

The victim suffered minor injuries. 

Police tracked the suspect when he tried to use the bank cards at a cash point.

A appeal by Billericay Town FC's, external chief physio for Easter eggs to cheer children up in Basildon Hospital brought an "amazing" response from donors.

The club has been inundated and everyone is working hard to get the chocolate eggs to the children.

Kevin Head, chief physio, started the appeal and said he was "totally amazed".

"I thought we would get a few eggs and never expected the generosity of people," he said.  

Thousands of police officers across the country are falling silent to remember PC Keith Palmer, murdered in the Westminster terror attack. 

The 48-year-old was stabbed to death by Khalid Masood as he carried out his duties on the cobbled forecourt of the Palace of Westminster. 

These officers from Essex force will among the thousands who will line the route his funeral cortege will take from the Palace of Westminster, where it laid in rest overnight, to Southwark Cathedral. 

Follow live BBC coverage here .

With the 2017 county season here, keep up to date with the latest signings, departures and rumours ahead of next season.

Image source, Getty Images

Where does he find the time?

The new Gorillaz album is set to drop in a few weeks before the band put on their own Demon Dayz festivals.

But prolific song-writer Damon Albarn is already planning the next thing.

The Blur mastermind told music mag Q that he is already working on the follow-up to supergroup  The Good the Bad & the Queen ’s self-titled 2007 album.

The band, which features The Clash’s Paul Simonon, The Verve’s Simon Tong and Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen have not appeared together live together since 2011.

On writing the record, Albarn told Q that: "Brexit has obviously given us a wonderful starting point."

Well, Article 50 has now been triggered Damon, so you have less than two years to get that record out.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Passengers interfering with train doors and setting off an alarm on a service from Leigh-on-Sea to Fenchurch Street in London caused cancellations on c2c routes during this morning's rush hour.

Image source, c2c

"Due to passenger action involving the doors on a train, we had some technical issues which, as a result, led to delays with a number of trains this morning," a c2c spokesperson said. 

"Services are now running normally and we are sorry for any inconvenience this might of caused our passengers."

Firefighters spent almost 12 hours tackling a blazing hay stack near Harwich this morning. 

Emergency services were called to Primrose Lane in Ramsey just after midnight. 

 At its height, more than 20 firefighters were there. 

A woman has been told by the NHS her case for IVF treatment is not exceptional enough for her to get funding.

Kayleigh Holby, 28, from Kirby-le-Soken in north east Essex, has ovarian cysts and has started the menopause, and said she's been left with no choice but to ask for donations from strangers to pay for IVF treatments.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A train loaded with British goods is on its way to China almost three months after the first west-bound freight service arrived in east London.

Image source, EPA

The journey is said to be cheaper than air freight and faster than sea freight. 

The service is part of China's One Belt, One Road programme of reviving the ancient Silk Road trading routes with the west, initially created more than 2,000 years ago. 

DP World London Gateway, external rail terminal chief executive Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said the first freight service from the UK to China is a "significant trade occasion".

Police warn of the dangers of being exposed to cold water following death of 59-year-old in Essex.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

The first direct rail freight service from the UK to China will set off on the 7,500-mile journey from Stanford-le-Hope this morning.

It will carry 30 containers filled with British-produced goods.

Whisky, soft drinks, vitamins, pharmaceuticals and baby products are among the items being exported. 

A DB cargo locomotive will leave the DP World London Gateway, external rail terminal at 10:35. 

The journey will take the train through the Channel Tunnel , external into France and on to Belgium, calling at Duisburg in Germany before InterRail pull the cargo through Poland, Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan to arrive at Yiwu, eastern China on 27 April.

Owners on West Mersea have been left feeling devastated as 10 beach huts are destroyed or damaged in a fire that started at 02:00 on Sunday.

A 59-year-old man has died after being rescued from the sea on Saturday in Brightlingsea. 

Police were called to Waterside at lunchtime after the man had got into difficulties in the water and was being treated by paramedics. 

He was pronounced dead shortly before 16:00 and now a file is to be prepared for the coroner. 

Police published this Twitter message on Sunday:

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A three-year-old girl has gone missing with her parents, who are believed to be "involved in illegal drugs", and police are very concerned as they believe the youngster may be in a vulnerable situation. 

Peggie Happer, from the Jaywick/Clacton area, was last seen with her mother Lisa Douglas, 33, also known as Lisa Tonner, on Tuesday, 4 April. 

Police have failed to locate them and believe the pair may also be in the company of Peggie's father James Happer, 44. 

"The lifestyle Peggie's parents lead is what causes me concern for her welfare," said Det Insp Greg Wood. 

"Both are believed to be involved with drugs and that's not an environment a child should be exposed to. 

"While there is currently no legal reason why Peggie should not be with her parents, I am concerned that she may not be receiving the level of care she needs."