Samuel Armstrong is suspended from his role as chief of staff to MP Craig Mackinlay.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

An Essex mum, who claims her daughter was abused after being groomed, has said it is useful for the situation to be shown in dramas such as Coronation Street.

The soap has been looking at the issue through the character of Bethany Platt and her older boyfriend, Nathan.

Laura - not her real name - said: "You never know how you're going to react to that kind of news and seeing that drama - [it] doesn't always portray how it actually comes out but everybody's different and I suppose the more it's seen the better." 

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Essex Fire Service is reassuring people in Brightlingsea, that they shouldn't worry if they see a lot of fire engines in the town today - or smoke coming from a boat - because it's a planned training exercise.

It's taking place between 11am and midday.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Officers say they're looking for any drivers who may have recorded dashcam footage in the fortnight before a fatal crash near Mistley.

Image source, Facebook

Carys Hammond,18, from Bradfield, died on 17 April when her car left the road at Brickman's Hill, between Bradfield and Mistley, and hit a bridge.

Officers want to speak to anyone who drove through the location prior to the collision and has footage, or anyone who has recently been involved in a collision and struck the bridge. 

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Fire crews in Saffron Walden have said it took them nearly four hours to get a fire involving 30 tonnes of hay under control.

Image source, Essex fire

They were called to Nettleditch in Littlebury at about 15:30 on Thursday. The blaze was contained by about 19:00 but Essex Fire said it would continue to monitor the burn until it was safe to leave.

There are no reports of any injuries.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Officials say they are determined to catch those responsible after a large amount of rubbish was left at a church by a group of travellers.

Thousands of items have been left in front of St Nicholas Church in Laindon.

Image source, Chris Jackman

Basildon Council has now confirmed it is footing the bill for the work and officials have said it could take weeks to clear.  

Andrew Barnes, a borough councillor for Laindon, said: "It appears a group of travellers got access to the site on Friday night - at some point during their stay before the eviction notice was served they've dumped a large quantity of rubbish.

"We know who these people are, we've served an eviction notice, we need to use the powers that we have to prosecute."      

A major clean-up has been taking place after a massive amount of rubbish was left in fields in Laindon. Council officers and Essex Police have been at the scene near St Nicholas Church. 

Residents and councillors say the rubbish was left on land by a "convoy of caravans" which have since left the site. 

Car parts, mattresses and bags of building materials were among the items dumped. The bill for the clean-up is expected to be picked up by Basildon Council.  

A "convoy of caravans" left a large amount of rubbish in Essex.

Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather

A bright but chilly start.

Through the day, there will be good spells of sunshine with most places staying dry.

The cloud will tend to increase by the afternoon.

Highs of 13C (55F).  

Keep up-to-date through the day on the BBC Weather website.

Hello and welcome to another day with the Essex Live team.

From now until 18:00, we'll be here with the latest news updates from across the county.

It's a bit chilly but the sun is bright.. the weather forecast follows shortly.

That's all from our live updates for the day, we'll be back again tomorrow from 08:00.

Here's a brief recap of some of the stories we've been covering:

• Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn visits Harlow
• Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh's contract is extended for another four years
• An appeal is launched after a dog was found tied to a dustbin and dumped

Have a great evening.

Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

This evening will be rather cloudy with some rain or drizzle. 

Increased cloud cover will bring the risk of some showers overnight, but as skies clear later, temperatures will drop to 0C (32F), giving the risk of frost and icy patches.

Largely dry with sunny spells on Friday after a chilly start. Top temperature: 12C (54F).

Victoria Polley
BBC Essex

A major clean-up operation has started after a large amount of rubbish was left at a church after a convoy of travellers' caravans left the area.

Image source, Chris Jackman

Thousands of items have been left in front of St Nicholas Church in Laindon.

Eleven caravans and a number of vans moved onto land on St Nicholas Lane, opposite the junction of Ballards Walk, on Friday morning. They have since moved on.  

Rubbish left includes car parts and bags of building materials.

Andrew Barnes, a borough councillor for Laindon, said: "It is disgusting that it has been left in that state. 

"I understand that travellers have a culture to travel but there is no excuse for leaving it like this. 

"I would say [to the perpetrators] you have done a great deal of damage to our community and undermined the relationship between yourselves and our residents. 

"To leave somewhere in that state is going to upset residents - myself included." 

You can hear more about this story on BBC Look East and BBC Essex tomorrow morning. 

The county's tourism board has come up with a "bucket list" of 20 things to do in Essex. 

Image source, Visit Essex

Here are the first five suggestions on Visit Essex, external's list:

1. Osea Island: Essex has 35 islands in the county and Osea is consider a "gem" and "idyllic get-away".
2. Mersea and Maldon oysters: Mersea Island is where the county's native Mersea oysters are harvested from – try them with a little vinegar and tabasco. Maldon oysters are just as good too, and served in top restaurants all over the world.
3. Wilkins & Sons of Tiptree: Essex is home to the famous preserve makers Wilkin & Sons of Tiptree - and you havn’t truly experienced an Afternoon Tea unless it’s been served with their Little Scarlet strawberry jam.
4. Chelmsford City Racecourse: The only racecourse in the UK with an all-weather track, and plenty of indoor viewing areas if it rains or gets a bit chilly. 
5. Lee Valley White Water Centre: Ever wanted to know what it feels like to be an Olympian?  Well you can pretend to be one when you ‘ride the rapids’ at the White Water Centre at Lee Valley.

Image source, Visit Essex

Essex will "support the majority" after a new city-based eight-team Twenty20 tournament was given the go-ahead.

A five-year-old boy and his family have thanked those who helped save his life when he had a heart attack. 

Image source, East of England Ambulance Trust

Alfie Hustwayte, of Lucas Avenue in Chelmsford, was at home on 29 December when his health began to deteriorate suddenly, and he was coming in and out of consciousness. 

His mother Sara called an ambulance which arrived within eight minutes.

When emergency medical technician Debbie Quirk and student paramedic Elliot Jones arrived, Alfie had stopped breathing completely.

Alfie was taken to Broomfield Hospital before he was transferred to St Mary’s Hospital in London.

He has since recovered and has now met the people who saved his life.

His mum Sara said: “It means a lot to me to be able to thank them all in person, I couldn’t have asked for a better level of service and care. The affection we were all shown on that day and the weeks after meant the world to me.”

Ms Quirk said: “Alfie’s story is a great example of everyone’s effective teamwork and in his case it saved his life.”    

Listen to live BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and local radio commentary from the One-Day Cup as Essex face Gloucestershire.

The county's chief constable has been praised for his "strong and positive leadership".

Roger Hirst, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, has extended Ch Con Stephen Kavanagh's contract for a further four years.

He said: "The chief constable has shown strong, positive leadership over the last four years and has led the service through a number of significant changes to help modernize and improve how they operate. 

"This has led to better treatment for victims of crime and stronger capabilities in terms of tackling online crime and organised crime." 

The decision to extend the chief constable's contract will now be presented at the next police and crime panel meeting on 1 June.

Jeremy Corbyn has responded to a Labour peer's "Essex man" joke.

Shami Chakrabarti previously said “don't lock me in a room with Essex man”, a reference to the exodus of anti-Jeremy Corbyn members following the leader’s re-election.  

During his Harlow visit, the Labour leader said he was "very happy" to be in the county. 

The county's chief constable has had his contract extended for a further four years.

Steven Kavanagh, who was brought up in Essex and started his policing career with the Metropolitan Police 32 years ago, said it was a "privilege" to be asked to continue the role. 

He said: "I don't underestimate the challenges policing holds in the future but we won't shy away from them. 

"I will, along with the rest of the force, meet these head-on with the interests of the public at the forefront of every action.

"Criminals coming here to commit crime will be met with force and victims will be treated with compassion. I commit to remain open and honest, putting vulnerable people and the welfare of police officers first."

The decision to extend his contract will be presented at the next Police and Crime Panel meeting on 1 June.