UKIP is warning there will be no Brexit if it doesn't do well in the general election.

The Eurosceptic party is warning voters that a Conservative victory would allow Theresa May to "backslide" on withdrawal from the EU.

They're accusing the Tories of picking "Remain" candidates for key "Leave" seats including Great Yarmouth, Chelmsford and Thurrock.

At a press conference in London, UKIP MEP Tim Aker (pictured) said "early warning signs" have already surfaced that the Conservatives were ready to compromise on issues such as free movement and the multi-billion pound divorce bill expected from Brussels.

"The message is clear... we need a UKIP voice in the Commons to make sure we finish the job on Brexit... without UKIP there would have been no referendum, without UKIP in the Commons, there will be no Brexit".

Mr Aker is standing for the party's top target seat of Thurrock, where he finished third in a close three-way fight in 2015 - just 974 votes behind Conservative Jackie Doyle-Price. Ms Doyle-Price is standing again on 8 June.

A "devious" couple who staged their baby's death in a "cynical charade" on a bus have been jailed for 11 years.

Image source, Met Police

Jeffrey Wiltshire, 52, from London, and Rosalin Baker, 25, from Colchester, concocted the plan to cover up the horrific abuse of baby Imani.

The 16-week-old had 40 rib fractures, a broken wrist and a fractured skull.

At a trial at the Old Bailey, jurors were told Wiltshire and Baker attempted to hide what had happened by making it appear the baby had suddenly been taken ill on a London bus.

They were cleared of murder but convicted of causing or allowing the death of their daughter, who was on the child protection register.

Sentencing them, Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC said her last days must have been "terrifying, painful and bewildering".

Ex-England captain Alastair Cook earns an automatic place in the 2018 North-South series after his fine form for Essex.

PC John Senior is accused of kicking the man in the head, face and arms a number of times.

An animal charity has warned cat owners to consider keeping their pets inside after a spate of attacks on birds.

As we've reported, South Essex Wildlife Hospital, external, just outside Orsett, has said 37 birds were killed in one day. It believes they were attacked by cats.

The charity posted a photo on its Facebook page, saying cats are carrying out a "daily slaughter".

As we've reported, Saffron Restaurant in Clacton has had its licence suspended for three months and faces a £30,000 fine after employing three illegal workers.

Essex Police has said it takes the crime "very seriously".

County licensing officer, Stephen Sparrow, said: "Employing illegal workers is not a victimless crime, it cheats the government of revenue, it gives premises an unfair business advantage and it prevents people who have a legal right to work job opportunities.

"We have future operations planned and we will continue, along with immigration officers, to take positive action against licensees who employ illegal workers across the county.

"The message is clear if licensees are caught employing persons who have no right to work they must face the consequences."

Ben Nye
BBC Three Counties Radio

Health bosses in Hertfordshire are urging patients to make complaints if they receive a poor service from the under-fire Private Ambulance Service.

Patients using the service to get to hospital appointments have complained of long waits to get through to the call centre and extensive delays in ambulances arriving.

The two NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in Hertfordshire - East and North Herts CCG, external and Herts Valleys CCG, external - have told the BBC that complaints are being taken very seriously and a dedicated e-mail address for clients who wish to complain has been set up.

The CCGs also met with the company this week to discuss their concerns and a further meeting is planned for next week.

They say the Private Ambulance Service, external, which is based in Basildon in Essex, has developed a rigorous action plan, with a clear timeline to complete improvements, and more staff training and recruitment.

The company has apologised for the problems and have said they're recruiting more staff for its call centres and providing additional training.

A restaurant has had its licence suspended for three months and faces a £30,000 fine after employing three illegal workers.

Image source, Google

Tendring District Council’s licensing committee agreed on Monday to temporarily suspend the licence of the Saffron Restaurant in Ravensdale Road, Clacton.

The decision means the business cannot serve alcohol at any time or serve food after 23:00 during that period.

Essex Police applied for a review of the licence after immigration officers found three male illegal workers in the kitchen during an enforcement operation in February.

The business had not carried out correct employment checks and they were escorted off the site.

One of the men has since been arrested and removed from the UK.

Saffron Restaurant has 21 days to appeal the decision.

A wildlife charity is urging cat owners to think twice about letting their pets out after 37 birds were killed in one day.

Image source, South Essex Wildlife Hospital

South Essex Wildlife Hospital, external, just outside Orsett, said the birds were attacked by cats.

It said a further 22 birds, a baby rabbit, a frog, two slow worms and a lizard were fighting for their lives.

A photo was posted on the charity's Facebook page, external.

Sue Schwar, from the charity, said: "It's nothing to do with hating cats, it's the reality of what our pets are responsible for.

"If we put a post up there that, for example, a dog has attacked a swan, there would be outrage, yet you can let your cat out to catch a blackbird and I really don't see the difference."

An officer from Essex Police has been charged with common assault against a man in police custody.

Image source, Google

PC John Senior is alleged to have assaulted a prisoner in his cell by kicking him in the head, face and arms a number of times.

The alleged incident happed on 1 November 2016 after the man was arrested and detained at Chelmsford Police station where PC Senior was on duty.

Charges were brought after an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

PC Senior is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on 31 May.

The ceramic poppies, famously displayed at the Tower of London, are on show in Shoeburyness.

Poppies: Wave by artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper is an artwork which marks the centenary, external of the outbreak of World War One.

More than 40,000 people have been to see it in its opening four weeks.

The installation will be at Barge Pier, Gunners Park, until 25 June as part of a UK-wide tour.

A woman charged in connection with a fatal shooting at a travellers' site is due to appear at court.

Image source, Essex Police

Harriet Crittenden, 25, of Cranfield Park Avenue, Wickford, has been charged with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon.

The charges relate to an incident on Sunday at Cranfield Park Avenue during which 45-year-old Hugh Doherty, pictured above, died after suffering a gunshot wound.

Ms Crittenden is due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court this morning.

Luke Deal
BBC Radio Suffolk

Details of a football match to raise funds for a Mildenhall man who needs round-the-clock care after being assaulted in Southend two years ago, are expected to be announced soon.

Simon Dobbin's wife Nicole says he knows the event is going to take place, and has already been to see his team Cambridge United play at the Cambs Glass Stadium.

She added: "We were invited there as a family, Simon got to go on the pitch.

"This is something I'd like to keep going, get him going to regular football matches, because this is something he did before the attack and this is something we'd like to carry on as normal as possible."

Luke Deal
BBC Radio Suffolk

Nicole Dobbin has spoken about the support she gets to look after her husband Simon in their Mildenhall home, after he was attacked following a football match in Southend two years ago.

She said: "I've got fantastic support from the carers, they support me as well as Simon, I couldn't manage without them."

Describing her husband's condition, Nicole said he's still pretty much the same as when he came home from hospital.

"He can't sit up independently, he can't move himself off the bed or anything so we have to do pretty much everything," she said.

"He's unable to walk, he can't use his hands, he's fed through a tube and all his medication goes through the tube.

"He will say words, but only when prompted."

Luke Deal
BBC Radio Suffolk

The wife of a football fan who was left brain damaged after an assault in Southend two years ago, says her husband has been happier since he returned to his Mildenhall home from hospital.

Simon Dobbin's wife Nicole said: "He's doing really, really well.

"He's had some unsettled nights, but I stayed up with him and made him comfortable.

"His mood is a lot happier since he's been home, he gets to see family, and friends come and visit regularly and he's happy in his own environment."

Simon needs round-the-clock care after the assault, which took place after a fixture between Southend United and his team, Cambridge United.

Thirteen men are due to go on trial next month, charged in connection with the assault.

A father has described vandals who damaged a memorial garden for his young daughter as "the scum of the earth".

Image source, Essex Police

Seven-year-old Summer Grant, who was from Norwich, was killed at a funfair in Harlow, Essex, after a bouncy castle she was playing on was swept away by high winds.

Staff at Valley Primary Academy in Norwich found that the garden in Summer's memory had been damaged yesterday morning. Graffiti was also left on other parts of the school.

Summer's father Lee Grant said: "I'm thinking it's probably some young kids who have been stupid, done what they have done.

"I'm hoping it wasn't against Summer, I don't think it was, but even if it wasn't aimed towards her, to do something like that is disgusting."

An inquest heard Summer probably died of multiple injuries.

Norfolk Police has confirmed it is investigating the incident.

Image source, Valley Primary Academy

Sara Thornton
BBC Weather

A much better day than yesterday, although cloud and showers are lingering in the east.

Sunnier spells inland, with temperatures reaching a high of 18C (64F).

It's downhill overnight with a band of rain pushing in from the south, heavy at times.

BBC Weather has a local forecast for where you live.

Kate Scotter
BBC News

Hello and welcome back to our live updates.

We'll be bringing you all the news, weather, sport and travel for the county until 18:00.

If you've got a story you want to tell us about, don't hesitate to get in touch by clicking "Get involved" above.

First, let's see what the weather's got in store.

Surrey qualify for the One-Day Cup knockout stages despite seeing their game at Gloucestershire abandoned.

That's it from the Local Live team today - but if any news breaks overnight this feed will still be updated.

Stories today included:

• The search for the body of murdered teenager Danielle Jones has so far yielded no discoveries.
• Private detectives have been looking at new evidence in the Lee Balkwell case - 15 years after he was found crushed under the drum of a cement mixer.
• The creator of forthcoming Essex-based BBC comedy White Gold has said how the cast and crew had the "times of our lives" filming in the county.

To get in contact with us, hit the Get Involved button at the top of this page.

We'll be back at 08:00 tomorrow - until then, have a good evening.