We've just worked out after Monday, we're going to have to wait another 91 days until our next bank holiday so we're heading home to start making the most of the long weekend as soon as we can.

If you're just joining us, or you've been dipping in and out of our coverage during the day, the best way of finding out exactly what's been happening across the county is to scroll down and bring yourself up-to-date.

Have an enjoyable weekend, whatever you've got planned, and set yourself a reminder to join us again on Tuesday from 08:00.

Chris Bell
BBC Look East weather

It's set to be a beautiful evening across the BBC East region, with fine and dry weather and clear skies, though it could feel muggy overnight. Some sea mist and fog may move in along the Norfolk coast for a few hours.

Tomorrow is going to be another dry and sunny one, feeling hot and humid. Cloud will increase from the west and bring the risk of a few isolated heavy showers or thunderstorms during the afternoon, although many places will remain completely dry.

Moderate southeasterly winds, becoming light southwesterly by the end of the day.

Highs of 28C (82F).

Nic Rigby
BBC News

The former Conservative deputy leader of Basildon Council has said the new coalition's failure to appoint a leader could damage the authority.

Last night political leadership of Basildon Council switched from the Conservatives to a loose coalition of Labour, UKIP, Independence from the EU and Wickford independents.

Image source, Ron Galliers/Geograph

The coalition has decided not to have a leader and have a committee system rather than a cabinet system.

Former deputy leader Kevin Blake told the BBC that the committee system slowed up the process of administering a council and the coalition of left wing and right wingers would lead to "confusion" in the governing of the council.

He added: "I don't know of any other council without a leader in the whole country. Why have they done this?"

Image source, PA

Councillor Mr Blake said in May next year the Conservatives hoped to regain control of the council.

Independence from the EU group councillor Kerry Smith (pictured above), a member of the coalition who chairing the housing committee, said the decision to take the key posts from the Conservatives was a rejection of the Tory administration being dominated by Billericay Conservative members.

He said the Conservatives allowed housing developments anywhere but Billericay.

"People put their political differences aside to revolt against the Billericay Conservatives," he said.

Mr Blake rejected the idea that Tories put Blillericay ahead of other parts of the authority area.

He added: "The only thing this coalition is going to give Billericay is more housing."

Nic Rigby
BBC News

The political leadership of Basildon Council has switched from the Conservatives to a loose coalition of Labour, UKIP, Independence from the EU and Wickford independents.

Image source, Terry Joyce/Geograph

No one party has overall control at Basildon with 19 Conservatives, nine Labour members, nine UKIP members, two Wickford independents and two from the Independence from the EU group.

The Conservatives had run the authority as the largest single party, but at a meeting last night the non-Tory councillors banded together to change the cabinet system to committee system and divide up the committee chairmanships between themselves.

Labour's Gavin Callaghan (pictured) has been elected chairman of the policy and resources committee - traditionally the post held by the leader of the council.

Image source, Labour Party

The other key chairmanships include senior members of Independence from the EU, UKIP and the Wickford independents.

Mr Callaghan said: "All of us need to commit ourselves to listening to what our constituents and our communities are saying and to making sound decisions based on good evidence and careful consideration. We will need to work together and listen to each other too."

The council had been led by Phil Turner of the Conservative group.

Mark Church
BBC Radio London commentator

A busy morning at Chelmsford. When Rory Burns won the toss he would have been delighted to say, "we will have a bat thank you".

An hour later, Surrey found themselves 31-5 and scratching their heads about what had happened. The answer: Matt Quinn and Jamie Porter were outstanding with the new ball and there was far more for the bowlers than conditions indicated.

Kumar Sangakkara is a very good man for a crisis and he has steadied things a touch. At the other end Sam Curran has illustrated his excellent temperament but Essex will settle down for lunch and be very happy with their morning's work. Infact they might just be pinching themselves.

BBC Sport

At lunch Surrey cricket club are 67 for five. The wickets were taken by Matt Quinn and Jamie Porter.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

A Brentwood GP practice manager and garden designer has been elected as the new chairman of the UK's leading feline welfare charity.

Image source, Cats Protection

Linda Upson is now in charge at Cats Protection, external. She'll be leading the charity's nine volunteer trustees. It helps almost 200,000 cats each year.

Ms Upson said: “It is an honour to be chairman of Cats Protection and I am looking forward to continuing the projects started by my predecessor, Heather McCann.

"We will be increasing the number of adoption centres, volunteer run branches, and homing and information centres, as well as expanding our education programme to reach as many people as we can."

Cats Protection has a national network of over 250 volunteer-run branches and 34 adoption centres.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

A herd of Red Poll cattle has taken up residency in Colchester’s High Woods Country Park, external to help control the growth of grass to benefit flowers, and the insects, birds and mammals that depend on them.

Image source, Essex County Council

As well as being one of Colchester’s beauty spots, the County Park has a combination of marshy areas, hayfields and scrubland, providing the perfect habitat for thousands of different birds, mammals and plant life.

Colchester Borough Council is working in partnership with Essex County Council, to deliver conservation grazing to benefit the local wildlife and landscape.

Image source, Terry Joyce/ Geograph

Simon Walsh, Essex County Council’s cabinet member for the environment, said: "We are delighted to be adding High Woods to our growing list of conservation grazing sites.

"We hope visitors will enjoy the sight of the cattle."

For more information on conservation grazing or to enquire about volunteering visit Legacy Grazing's website, external.

Mark Church
BBC Radio London commentator

I certainly didn't see this coming under blue skies on what looks like the perfect day to bat.

The ball is nipping about and the Essex bowlers have been exceptional. Matt Quinn has three wickets and Jamie Porter the other two. When Surrey won the toss, Porter and Quinn might have groaned, but they have caused havoc.

Kumar Sangakkara is still there and Surrey have to believe that batting will get easier. After what we have seen so far, that might not be the case.

Image source, Rex Features

BBC Sport

Surrey are on 13 for two after wickets from Essex's Matt Quinn and a catch by Dan Lawrence.

BBC Sport

The Essex team coming out to play.

The BBC is covering live the cricket match between Essex and Surrey. You can also find a full commentary here.

Surrey won the toss and will bat. But the teams first paused for a minute's silence as a mark of respect to those who lost their lives in Manchester on Monday night.

Mark Church
BBC Radio London commentator

Rory Burns captains Surrey with Gareth Batty missing the game with a toe injury. Off-spinner Amar Virdi makes his Surrey debut while James Foster is in the Essex starting XI for the first time this season in the Championship, replacing Adam Wheater behind the stumps.

Burns did his first job very well. He called correctly at the toss and Surey will bat first under blue skies in Chelmsford.

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A man from Essex was airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital after sustaining multiple breaks to his leg in a two-vehicle collision southbound on the A12 at Washbrook yesterday.

A woman, also from Essex, who was in the second vehicle, received injuries to her wrists and ankles and was taken to Ipswich Hospital.

Diversions were put in place, with the northbound carriageway fully re-opening just after 19:00, and the southbound carriageway at about 23:00.

Police, who are appealing for witnesses, say the collision, which occurred at about 17:35, involved a green VW Golf and a black Ford Kuga.

Fifty nine years ago this month "Haywire", one of the snowcats used by Dr Fuch's and his Commonwealth explorers on their journey across the Antarctic continent, arrived at the port of Tilbury from New Zealand, via Antwerp.

Image source, Getty Images

Southend Borough Council says thousands of illegal cigarettes have been seized from two shops in the town. A joint operation was carried out by the local Trading Standards team and Essex Police. Premises in Southchurch Road and Sutton Road were raided.

An Essex teenager is hoping to make it through to the semi-finals of Britain's Got Talent this weekend.

Image source, PA/TOM DYMOND/SYCO/THAMES

Harry Gardner (pictured above), from Ongar, wrote the ballad "Not Alone" after his Nan developed dementia.

It raised thousands of pounds for Alzheimer's Research UK last year.

His performance in the first round of the TV show provoked a powerful response from the judge Amanda Holden.

Image source, Getty Images

John Taylor from Billericay, who lost his 24-year-old daughter Carrie when four bombs exploded in London on 7 July 2005, talks to BBC Essex about his experience of loss.