After a flying visit to Clacton by UKIP's major financial backer Arron Banks, the new front runner, local councillor Jeff Bray, is confident of the businessman's support.

Mr Banks confirmed he would not be standing in the General Election on 8 June.

Mr Bray said he was confident he would get the financial backing Mr Banks has promised, if he were selected as the UKIP candidate when the local party holds its hustings.

Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather

After a chilly start the morning will be dry with sunny spells but showers later will be occasionally heavy and perhaps locally turning to sleet or hail with a risk of thunder. 

It will feel cold in strengthening northerly winds. 

Maximum Temperature: 11C (52F)   

More details from BBC Weather:

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

BBC Local Live: Essex is back with regular updates until 18:00. 

The main stories at breakfast include: A man from Walton-on-the-Naze plans to sue his local leisure centre where he said he contracted Legionnaires Disease. 

And a woman claims she was almost run over walking in Basildon when a car mounted the pavement to get around a parked vehicle and asks the question are drivers getting more impatient? 

It's a cold morning and wintry showers are being reported further north so we'll bring you a full weather forecast shortly. 

To get in touch you can use the "Get involved" button at the top of this page to contact us via email, Twitter and Facebook.

Don't get left outside on polling day. Here are details of what you need and where you need to go to register for the general election on 8 June:

Arron Banks says it would be "wrong" for him to stand against local party councillor Jeff Bray.

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

Bad light denies champions Middlesex a first win of the season as Essex survive a tough final day at Lord's.

Andrew Woodger
BBC News

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

Scroll down for Monday's coverage, which includes:

• Arron Banks visits Clacton and then announces he won't be standing to be UKIP's candidate in the general election
• Arrests are made after two shops are held up by men with syringes in Colchester
• Towie star Ferne McCann confirms she's pregnant by a man accused of the London nightclub acid attack

Keep watching this page, or click here, for the latest from Lord's, but it looks as if Essex aren't going to reach the huge target set by Middlesex on the final day of their Division One match in the County Championship.

Arron Banks has announced he will not seek to become the UKIP MP for Clacton in the general election.

In a statement, he said:

"I today met with all of the UKIP councillors in Clacton and senior party figures. It was a constructive meeting and it was great to see everyone come together.

"It's clear that Douglas Carswell has been a hugely divisive figure and let a lot of people down in Clacton.

"The local branch of UKIP was full of genuinely decent people. One of the councillors, Mr Jeff Bray, has put his name forward as a candidate for the seaside constituency at the forthcoming general election.

"I have consequently made the decision to withdraw my candidacy for the seat of Clacton. I will not be standing either as a UKIP candidate or as an independent. Instead, I am putting my full support behind Jeff Bray.

"I have no intention of standing in the way of hard working activists who are the soul of the party. Therefore, after visiting Clacton I believe it would be wrong of me to stand against Jeff in the forthcoming hustings.

"Both myself and Nigel will be campaigning hard in Clacton and I have agreed to give the local party financial assistance to fight the election."

Former UKIP donor Arron Banks has announced he will not seek to become the UKIP MP for Clacton in the general election.

More to follow.

Dan Holley
BBC Look East weather

I'm afraid it could be true...

Cloud and patchy rain will clear this evening, leaving much of the night dry and clear. Showers will spread from the east, which could be accompanied by hail and sleet.

Becoming cold with a risk of frost as temperatures fall to -2C (28F), perhaps limited somewhat by the strength of the north-westerly wind.

It will be a cold start to Tuesday but with some good spells of sunshine. Any early showers will develop through the day with sleet, hail and local thunder possible.

Feeling cold in the north-westerly wind, with temperatures reaching highs of 11C (52F).

You can find out the detailed forecast for where you live on the BBC Weather website.

Former UKIP donor Arron Banks has been in Clacton today - his first visit since declaring his interest in replacing Douglas Carswell as the constituency's MP.

Mr Carswell quit the party earlier this year and has said he won't be standing again.

The pro-Brexit party is holding its hustings on Wednesday, when it will choose its candidate for the general election on 8 June.

Mr Banks met with local party officials and councillors.

Jeff Bray, a UKIP member of Tendring District Council, said: "Yes, he does want the UKIP nomination, but he's also made it very clear that if he doesn't get it, he's happy to support whoever does in many ways.

"That's extremely useful to the local party.

"It was a very productive meeting actually. A lot was learned and there's more of an understanding of what's going on now."

The Beth Chatto Gardens, external were open for free over the weekend - attracting about 2,500 visitors, according to the owners.

The gardens were started on wasteland at the site in Elmstead Market, near Colchester, in 1960.

David Ward, director of the gardens and nurseries, said: "It was the first time we've held the Spring Festival. We didn't know what to expect and we were delighted with the response.

"The aim is to get people interested in growing the right plants in the conditions you have at home - be it dry or shady for instance."

Police have arrested two men, who had to be treated in hospital, as part of an inquiry into robberies from two shops where staff were threatened with syringes.

Image source, Google

The first attack happened at Boots on Tamarisk Way, in the Greenstead area of Colchester (pictured), on Saturday afternoon. Prescription medication was stolen.

The second happened at about 07:00 on Sunday at the Martin's newsagent in the Fivefields Centre. Money, tobacco, e-cigarettes and confectionery were taken. No-one was injured in either hold-up.

Essex Police officers raided a house on Berberis Walk and found one man unconscious and two others feeling unwell.

One of them, a 39 year old, remains in hospital in a critical condition, while the other two were treated before being taken into custody where they are still being questioned.

A statement issued on behalf of The Only Way Is Essex star Ferne McCann said she was pregnant and had split up with the baby's father, Arthur Collins.

He's appeared in court today charged in connection with the acid attacks at Mangle E8 nightclub in east London.

Image source, PA

McCann's spokeswoman said: "Accordingly she does not wish to discuss the pregnancy further, given the early stage it is at.

"Ferne is grateful for the sympathetic way news of her pregnancy has been covered and people's support and obviously her first concern is for her child's health.

"Ferne is in no way seeking sympathy for her situation and is determined to do all she can to have a happy and healthy child and face the challenges of being a single parent with all her energy." 

She also said Ms McCann's thoughts were with the "victims of the horrific attack on Easter Monday".

The cousin of Billericay Town footballer Jamie O'Hara was among those hurt, while three Towie stars were in the club at the time. 

Mr Collins and another man are due to appear at Wood Green Crown Court on 22 May.

The former boyfriend of a reality TV star has appeared in court, charged with 15 offences following the acid attack in a Hackney nightclub where two people each lost their sight in one eye.

Eighteen other people were also hurt.

Image source, Metropolitan Police

Arthur Collins, 24, from Hertfordshire, faces 14 charges of grievous bodily harm with intent and one of throwing corrosive fluid.

He is the former partner of Ferne McCann, who has appeared in ITV's The Only Way Is Essex and I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here.

Mr Collins was remanded in custody at Thames Magistrates' Court in London, but he has yet to enter a plea.

He was arrested at an address in Rushden, Northamptonshire, on Saturday and appeared in court on crutches.

Former UKIP donor Arron Banks has been in Clacton for the first time since he declared an interest in standing for Parliament in the constituency....

Away from the general election warzone, Mountfitchet Castle, external is getting ready for battle.

Image source, Mountfitchet Castle

The Stansted attraction will be demonstrating its Norman-replica catapult at its May Day Spectacular next Monday.

The giant weapon was built in 2014 by the castle's in-house craftsmen.

It will be fired three times that day, but using an "assortment of missiles including soft fruits" rather than anything likely to damage the castle walls.

The arm which holds the missile is about 15ft (4m long).

Kevin Hand
BBC Radio London

All eyes remain on the skies over London as Essex have been reduced to 84-3 at lunch on the final day at Lord's.

Crucially, for Middlesex's hopes of victory, Alastair Cook has been removed by Ollie Rayner having been caught at short leg, while Tom Westley fell to a grubber from Toby Roland-Jones and the nature of the dismissal will be a great concern to the visitors.

A slight shower just after the start of play saw two overs knocked off the day's play and more rain is forecast to be heading this way. The light is also a big issue with the precedent set by the reading taken when an early close was declared on day one.