Simon Dedman
BBC Essex political reporter

The UKIP councillor caught up in a row over his social media activity has urged party members to back barrister Paul Oakley in tonight's hustings to find the party's candidate for the Clacton seat.

Jeff Bray had received the backing of party donor Arron Banks, but now says it is "highly likely" he'll stand down.

Mr Bray is alleged to have tweeted on 27 January "@itvnews holocaust memorial to be built in London… it's about time, but will our muslim (sic) friends be offended".

He has told BBC Essex his memory was the original tweet said "would our Palestinian friends be offended" not "muslim friends" and he believes his twitter feed was doctored.

The councillor added he will talk to his party's agent about his future. 

Simon Dedman
BBC Essex political reporter

A UKIP councillor who was bidding to become an MP in Clacton has said it's "highly likely" he will withdraw from the election race, after a row over his social media activity.

As first reported in the Huffington Post, external, Jeff Bray, who was expected to bid for selection in Clacton for the upcoming general election, allegedly posted several controversial tweets.

The Clacton councillor had won the backing of the UKIP donor Arron Banks.

Now Mr Bray claims his twitter feed was doctored after it was reported he posted "would Jimmy Saville's behaviour have been acceptable if he had been muslim? (sic)".

He told BBC Essex his original tweet said "Labour party member" rather than Muslim.

Forty six years ago this month, a cockle fisherman off Foulness in Essex, was photographed. The island was considered as the site of London's third airport, but the plan was abandoned in 1974.

Image source, Getty Images

Samantha Dalton
BBC Essex

The chief fire officer for Essex, who was dismissed from his job yesterday, has told the BBC he's considering legal action.

"I want to see justice done and I don't believe justice has been done. I want to clear my name," he said.  

David Johnson was suspended on full pay from his role as Essex's chief fire officer in April 2015.

A confidential Essex Fire Authority report showed he faced 10 allegations but found no evidence of "misconduct or gross misconduct".

Essex County Fire and Rescue has not given a reason for the sacking.

Villagers consider a battle to join neighbouring Essex in a row over plans to build 144 homes.

Seventy eight years ago this month 150 parents at West Thurrock refused to send their children to school due to the failure of Essex Education Committee to provide buses to the new senior school at Bushey Pit, Aveley. Mrs C Cox (pictured), one of the parents, conducts an impromptu lesson in a back garden near the school.

Image source, Getty Images

Several police forces are warning parents to be vigilant about a social media "game" reportedly being linked to several deaths in Russia.

Saffron Walden MP Sir Alan Haselhurst (pictured) has spoken in the House of Commons for the first time after announcing his decision to step down after 40 years representing the Essex constituency.

Conservative MP Sir Alan, who won the seat at a by-election in 1977, asked Theresa May to back the concerns of the people of Saffron Walden, including improved rail links, increased broadband coverage and airspace noise.

The Prime Minister replied paying "tribute to his (Sir Alan's) service not just to the people of Saffron Walden" but also to parliament where he was deputy Commons speaker between 1997 and 2010.

She said the concerns of the people of Saffron Walden would be best addressed with a government which promoted a strong economy.

Sir Alan, who is 79, announced his decision to step down yesterday.

There has been a rise in the number of food parcels handed out at a Chelmsford Food Bank:

Nic Rigby
BBC News

Four ponies have been rescued after they were found grazing in "awful conditions" without access to food, water, shelter or bedding.

Image source, Basildon Council

After receiving reports of the horses grazing in Courtauld Road, Basildon, council horse rescue officers, supported by Essex Police, attended the site on Saturday to find four animals in distress.

One pony, a piebald mare, was discovered in a small area, without access to food or water and surrounded by live cattle wire which could have electrocuted the animal. 

Image source, Basildon Council

A second pony, a foal filly, was found tied dangerously with two wounds to her back legs from cart sores.

Two small ponies were then found detained inside a large dog kennel which was cramped and dangerous for the animals.

With the assistance of police, the four ponies were all taken away into care.

A Basildon Council spokesman said: "The owners showed reckless disregard for the wellbeing of their animals by leaving them in these awful conditions. "

Nic Rigby
BBC News

An Essex teacher has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of a child. 

Neal McGowan, a teacher at William De Ferrers School in South Woodham Ferrers, has also been charged with two counts of abuse of position of trust - one for causing or inciting sexual activity with a teenager and one for causing a child  to watch a sexual act.

The 53-year-old, of Dickonsfield, Edinburgh, is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on 24 May.

East Bergholt, the village where the artist John Constable was born, is considering leaving Suffolk to join Essex in a bid to fight against development, external, the East Anglian Daily Times, external has reported:

An acid attack victim from Thundersley has spoken to BBC Essex about his ordeal.

Darren Pidgeon had to have numerous skin grafts after he had acid thrown at him in an unprovoked attack three years ago.

Eighty seven years ago this month, a group of girls playing tug-of-war in the sea next to the pier at Clacton, Essex, were caught on camera. 

Image source, Getty Images

As we've been mentioning this morning, school transport could be high on the agenda of election issues for many voters across the county.

Currently, Essex County Council's policy is to provide free home to school transport for secondary school pupils to the nearest available school to their address, as long as it's at least three miles away.

But some parents like Lisa Hermon, who spoke to BBC Essex earlier, say they're losing out.

Scroll down the page to see what the main political parties' stances on school transport are.

School transport in Essex could be a key issue for many voters in the upcoming local elections - here is what the main parties have to say about it.

In September 2015, the Conservative administration stopped free transport for children living more than three miles away from their school. 

They argue council tax has been kept low. The Lib Dems say they'd fund free school transport as would Labour. 

The Greens agree but want safer cycle lanes for the school run. UKIP don't have a school transport policy.  

Kate Kinsella
BBC Weather

It's another cold start this morning and it's going to be a day of quite dramatic April showers.

There will be a bit of sleet and hail mixed in with the showers, and there's possibly going to be some thunder.

Sunny spells are expected in between the showers.

Temperatures will struggle to get above 8C (46F).

You can check the latest forecast for where you live on the BBC Weather website.

Jodie Halford
BBC News

Good morning and welcome back to our stream of updates bringing you the very latest from across Essex.

We'll be here until 18:00 with all the news, sport, weather and travel news you'll need.

This morning, we're going to be looking at the issue of school bus transport in the county and how it might affect how people vote in next week's local elections.

We'll bring you more on this soon, as well as a full weather forecast.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

That's the end of our regular updates for Essex, until 08:00 tomorrow. 

Scroll down for Tuesday's coverage, which includes:

• Chief fire officer dismissed after two-year suspension of full pay, but further legal action is expected
• Time trial in OVO Energy Tour of Britain set for Clacton and district in September
• Three staff made redundant in move away from Basildon by disabled people's advice service

If there's anything you wish to share with us overnight or tomorrow you can contact us via the "Get involved" button at the top of the page. 

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Tendring will host an individual time trial as part of this year's OVO Energy Tour of Britain on Thursday, 7 September. 

The 10-mile (16km) trial is billed as Stage 5 of the event.

A coastal course will start and finish in Clacton-on-Sea and will be the first time that a leading British men's road cycling event has visited the district.

Image source, Tour of Britain

Tendring hosted stages of the OVO Energy Women's Tour in 2014 and 2015 when races started in Harwich and finished in Clacton.

Tanya Ferguson, Tendring's cabinet member for tourism and culture, said it will be a huge boost.

"We had a fantastic taste of the massive interest generated by hosting the Women's Tour," she said.

"Spectators turned up along the route and supported the race; we had excellent media coverage around the world and it generated significant revenue."