Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

Sunshine and scattered wintry showers end the day across the BBC East region and they will continue to feed down the North Sea, some heavy with hail and sleet snow possible.  

Some areas may have a dusting of snow first thing tomorrow and there could be some issues with ice during the early hours.  

There will be a widespread frost with temperatures dipping -1C (30F)

Wednesday will be another cold day with sunny spells and scattered showers, some wintry, but the temperature could get up to 8C (46F).

For a more detailed forecast where you are, visit BBC Weather.

Samantha Dalton
BBC Essex

An independent inquiry cleared David Johnson, the sacked chief fire officer of Essex, of any wrongdoing after looking in detail at 10 allegations of gross misconduct and misconduct. 

Costs of his two-year suspension were estimated to be in the region of £600,000 - including his salary and wages for those who acted up to cover his responsibilities.

But it's not clear how much the costs of the legal process and the inquiry will amount to. It could be several hundred thousand pounds more or even millions. 

A spokesperson on behalf of Mr Johnson said: "David has been subject to a biased process for three years, the outcome of which cleared him of any wrongdoing. 

"Councillor Anthony Hedley became fixated with refusing to allow David back to work and as a consequence chose not to believe his own investigator. 

"At this stage, David still has not had confirmation of his dismissal and this typifies the attitude towards him - that the public should know before he does. 

"The suggestion the process is fair is laughable. It is inevitable the next step is legal action."  

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

The inquiry in to David Johnson's conduct as the chief fire officer for Essex has taken two years to complete. 

During that time he was paid his £225,000-a-year salary as a right. 

A Freedom of Information Request seen by the BBC in May 2016 revealed £201,000 had been spent on Mr Johnson's suspension between 20 April 2015 and 29 February that year. 

Legal fees paid out during that time came to £116,000, and a total of £97,000 was spent on allowances paid to staff for covering the chief fire officer's responsibilities. 

An Essex Fire Authority spokesman said Mr Johnson was entitled to continue receiving his salary because his suspension was a "neutral" act.

Image source, Google

Samantha Dalton
BBC Essex

The chief fire officer in Essex, David Johnson, who has been suspended on full pay for the past two years, has been sacked. 

Mr Johnson, with a salary of £225,000-a-year, had been on sick leave since 2014 before his suspension in April 2015 while an inquiry was carried out. 

The chairman of Essex Fire Authority, Anthony Hedley, issued a statement to announce Mr Johnson's dismissal but said there would be nothing further to add from the local authority "at the moment". 

"With immediate effect, today, David Johnson has been dismissed as chief fire officer for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service," he said. 

"This dismissal follows a robust process in compliance with the law in relation to statutory officers."

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Three staff have been made redundant by a voluntary organisation struggling to meet an annual budget requirement of almost £200,000 to stay afloat. 

The information and advice service for disabled people in Basildon is also having to move out of the area to cheaper premises. 

Dial Basildon is relocating to Thurrock and is looking to change its name to Dial South Essex.

Image source, PA

Carol Edgell, chair of the organisation, said it would reopen at Crown House in Grays on Monday, 15 May between 10:00 and 15:00 Monday to Friday. 

"Initially we will only be able to see people in person by appointment, but we will operate a telephone helpline, email and text service," he said.

"Thank you to everybody that has supported us over the years and we hope that we will be able to grow again and have a presence back in the Basildon district as well as expanding through the Thurrock area."

The chief fire officer in Essex, David Johnson has been dismissed with immediate effect. 

He had been suspended on full pay for the last two years.  

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A team of 11 runners raised more than £20,000 for the St Clare Hospice in Hastingwood near Harlow. 

The youngest competitor was 18-year-old Christie Stimson, from Hornchurch, running her first marathon, achieving a time of 04:44:42 and raising £5,020. 

Her grandfather was cared for at the hospice, she said.

Image source, St Clare's Hospice

The oldest fundraiser was Colin Moody, 66, from Harlow running his 23rd London Marathon in a time of 03:38:41 "because we are his local hospice and he knows of friends who have been helped by St Clare," the hospice said. He raised £954. 

Image source, Getty Images

Research has suggested that doing moderate exercise several times a week is the best way to keep the mind sharp if you're over 50.

So if you're 'of a certain age' - or know someone who is and could benefit from a bit more movement - why not take a look at our Get Inspired guides to find something for them to get moving?    

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

East of England MEP Vicky Ford has expressed her regrets that three Conservative MPs have stepped down from constituencies in Essex following the announcement there's to be a general election on 8 June.

"I am sorry to hear that Sir Alan Haselhurst MP [Saffron Walden] has decided to follow Sir Eric Pickles MP [Brentwood & Ongar] and Sir Simon Burns MP [Chelmsford] and will also be standing down from Parliament at the forthcoming General Election," she said.

"Between them they have served the people of Essex for over 90 years. Their knowledge and experience will be greatly missed.

"I know that they will support their successors in their respective constituencies with wise counsel and that this will enable a smooth transition."

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Investigations are continuing after a three-year-old boy was bitten by a dog earlier this month in Southend. 

The youngster had been walking along Marine Parade with his grandmother when it happened and now police have issued a e-fit picture in a bid to find the woman owner.

Image source, Essex Police

She had three dogs with her but there are no descriptions of the animals and she didn't give the victim's grandmother her details.

She became verbally abusive when she stopped to speak to the grandmother after one of the dogs bit the child. 

The woman is described as white, in her 50s, with shoulder length hair which had been dyed dark red. 

She was wearing a white t-shirt and a tracksuit with the top tied around her waist. 

Police have asked for any witnesses or anyone with information to contact them.

The Hertfordshire computer hacker Adam Mudd has been sentenced to two years in a young offenders institute after pleading guilty to computer hacking offences.

Judge Michael Topolski said he took into account the defendant's diagnosis of autism in his sentencing.

But the judge also drew attention to the "truly world-wide nature of this kind of criminality" and said the defendant's offences had caused "great and lasting damage".

Mr Topolski added: "He knew full well he was committing serious crime and in doing so was taking a risk with his liberty."

Image source, Central News

The Old Bailey heard Mudd, 20, of Toms Lane, Kings Langley created the Titanium Stresser "malware" in 2013, when he was 16 years old, and sold it to cyber criminals across the world. 

The programme had 112,000 registered users who were responsible for about 1.7 million "distributed denial of service" attacks on websites, including gaming sites such as RuneScape, Minecraft and Xbox Live.  

The court heard there were about 25,000 attacks on RuneScape and the company which owns it spent £6m trying to defend itself.  

Prosecutors said Mudd carried out 594 attacks himself, including one on West Herts College, where he was studying computer science.

Other attacks including websites belonging to the University of Cambridge, UEA and University of Essex.   

BBC Weather Watchers

Sunshine will persist during the afternoon, but showers will develop and some will become heavy and perhaps turn into sleet or hail with a risk of thunder.

But it has been a day of contrast so far with frost on the ground just after dawn and glorious blue skies in the late morning as the pictures from our BBC Weather Watchers reveal.

Image source, Martin G

Image source, Frinton Belle

Image source, ebb&flow

It will feel cold in strengthening northerly winds overnight with showers, occasionally heavy and wintry, throughout. 

Minimum temperature: 2C (36F)

More details from BBC Weather.

BBC Sport

After gaining a draw with the help of bad light at Lord's against champions Middlesex, the Essex captain Ryan ten Doeschate, gives an indication of the club's strengths and ambitions.

A computer hacker has been sentenced to two years in a young offenders institution after pleading guilty to computer hacking.

The Old Bailey heard how Adam Mudd, 20, from Kings Langley in Hertfordshire, developed a hacking programme responsible for more than 1.7 million attacks worldwide, including ones on websites belonging to the universities of Cambridge, UEA and Essex.

Mudd was just 16 when he created what he called the "Titanium Stresser", which made him more than £300,000.

Image source, Hertfordshire Police

Sonia Watson
BBC Essex

A double decker bus with about 30 passengers on board caught fire in north Essex this morning.

The driver ushered the passengers off safely in Coggeshall and there were no reports of any injuries. 

Church Street was closed for a time while firefighters from Colchester tackled the flames. 

 It's believed to have been caused by an engine fault.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Sir Alan Haselhurst, Conservative MP for Saffron Walden, external, is to stand down and will not contest the General Election on 8 June. 

When Prime Minister Theresa May called the election he was enthusiastic about taking part, but has now had time to reflect, he said.

Image source, Conservative Party

"I have had time during the last seven days to consult many people, not least my family and reflect on the unexpected situation which has arisen," he said in a statement.  

"Whilst I have no doubt as to my capacity and commitment to carry out my representative duties, I have begun to recognize that it might test the friendship and goodwill of so many people whose support I have enjoyed if I sought to do so for a further five years. 

"I feel now that my initial instinctive response was premature and that I should not after all seek re-election for the Saffron Walden constituency in whose debt I am for the privilege of being granted 40 years' service." 

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

The family of a 51-year-old woman who died after being found seriously injured at St Lawrence near Maldon has paid tribute to her. 

Carolyn Hill, who died of severe head injuries on Easter Monday, was a mother and grandmother. She died on Easter Monday.

Image source, Family photograph

Ms Hill's daughter, who is not named in the statement issued via Essex Police, said: "There are not enough words to express how much Mum truly means to me. 

"She was a very beautiful lady - both inside and outside. Her natural kindness and ability to give endless unconditional love taught me how to become the person that I am today, and for that I am forever grateful.

"She was also my best friend and an amazing nanny to my two children who absolutely adored her." 

Skye Page, 37, from Burnham, has been charged with her murder and is next due in court in June.   

Graham Leach, from Walton-on-the-Naze, claims he contracted Legionnaires' disease, external at his local leisure centre.

Tendring District Council admit bacteria linked to the disease were found at Lifestyles.

Here he describes suffering from the condition:

The sentencing hearing is due to resume later for a teenager who made about £360,000 creating and selling computer hacking software.

Image source, Central News

Adam Mudd, now 20, of Kings Langley in Hertfordshire, has admitted various offences under the Computer Misuse Act.

His software was used to target the websites of games including Minecraft, Runescape and Xbox Live.

The Old Bailey has already heard that he personally attacked the websites of colleges including the University of Cambridge, University of East Anglia and University of Essex.

On Friday, Judge Michael Topolski QC said he would not be rushed in determining what Mudd's sentence would be. The hearing is due to resume at 12:00 in London.

Tom Croasdell
BBC Essex

A man from Walton-on-the-Naze is considering taking legal action against his local leisure centre because he claims he contracted legionnaire's disease there. 

Graham Leach, 68, became unwell after using Lifestyles last winter. 

He was taken to hospital in November and doctors told him he'd contracted the infection, which then led to pneumonia, sepsis and kidney failure. He was told he was just hours away from dying. 

Legionella bacteria were later found in the showers at Lifestyles. 

Tendring District Council, which runs the centre, said: "A wide range of modifications and improvements have been carried out since the positive test was recorded." 

But the councils said it would be "inappropriate to comment further because of pending legal action".