A gravely-ill dog was dumped in a large pile of fly-tipped rubbish.

The RSPCA, external said Penny, as she has been named by inspectors, only survived because a broken-down driver came across her by chance.

She was dumped near East Tilbury.

The RSPCA said in the last week alone, inspectors have dealt with abandoned cats, rabbits and even a dog thrown from a vehicle in Felsted.

The animal charity said almost 300 pets are left for dead in Essex every year.

Work to remove travellers from a seafront site in Dovercourt has started.

Image source, Google

A group of about 24 vehicles and caravans arrived in the town yesterday morning.

They set up camp at the very end of West End Lane, between beach huts and the Essex County Council's Recycling Centre on land owned by Tendring District Council (TDC), external.

Nigel Brown, TDC's communications manager, said the Essex Countywide Traveller Unit (ECTU) gave them 24 hours to move on.

He said: "Should they not comply with the direction the ECTU will go down the route of taking action through the courts and that can take seven to 10 days."

A family has been left homeless and their pet dog has died after a kitchen fire.

Image source, Google

The blaze broke out at a semi-detached house on Templar Road, Braintree, last night at about 19:15.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service, external said the occupants came home to find the property on fire and went in to try to save the dog but were overcome by smoke.

The fire is thought to have been started accidentally by the dog jumping up at the cooker and turning it on. Items left on the cooker then set alight.

The occupants were treated for smoke inhalation. Firefighters were able to save the family's pet rats.

The fire service said the kitchen has been destroyed and the rest of the house has suffered extensive smoke damage. The house is no longer habitable, it said.

Good morning from the team. We're here to bring you all the latest news, sport weather and travel as they happen throughout the day.

This time tomorrow, almost a thousand polling stations will be opening here in Essex for the general election.

We'll bring you all the latest on the last day of campaigning here as well as other news from across the county.

Kate Kinsella
BBC Weather

A brief bit of respite from yesterday's unsettled conditions.

It'll be mostly dry with some sunny spells, although there could be some rain first thing out towards the coast.

Elsewhere bright with some lovely sunny spells.

It'll still feel quite breezy but gradually that will become a little bit lighter.

Top temperature across the BBC East region: 19C (66F).

Watch my full forecast here:

Kate Scotter
BBC News

That's all for our live updates for Essex today.

We hope you've managed to stay dry and are up to date with all the news, weather, sport and travel for the county.

Our main story today has been the start of the trial of 13 men who are facing charges over the attack on Simon Dobbin in Southend.

Mr Dobbin, a Cambridge United fan from Suffolk, was left with permanent brain damage.

Scroll down for more on this story and other news.

Have a great evening and we'll be back again tomorrow from 08:00.

There is a risk that people will be intent on disrupting the voting process, according to one expert.

Chris Bell
BBC Look East weather

There'll be blustery rain across the BBC East region at times this evening, clearing gradually from the south and west to leave a largely dry night.

The cloud and rain may linger across north Norfolk through the night.

Fresh to strong west to southwesterly winds, with gusts of 40-45mph.

Temperatures falling to 9C (48F).

Tomorrow will be largely dry, with sunny spells and patchy cloud - although cloud may still linger across north Norfolk.

Fresh, blustery westerly winds will ease in the afternoon.

Temperatures reaching 19C (66F).

There's a more localised forecast for where you are on BBC Weather.

Southend United defender John White signs a one-year contract with the League One side.

Greater Anglia, external has revealed a mock-up of its new train carriages as it invests almost £1.5bn in an entire new fleet.

It's the first time in the history of train franchises that the entire fleet has been renewed. The carriages won't be on our lines until at least 2019, but they will enable direct services from Norwich to Stansted and Lowestoft to London for the first time.

In total there will be 1,043 new carriages - all with plugs, USB ports and air-conditioning - providing 32,000 more seats. There will no longer be sliding doors between carriages.

Andrew Pykett abused 10 victims from across the UK and one in the US.

The trial of thirteen men from the Southend area, who are facing charges in connection with an attack on Cambridge United fan Simon Dobbin, will not take place on Wednesday or Thursday.

It is scheduled to resume at Basildon Crown Court on Friday.

Mr Dobbin, 41, and from Mildenhall in Suffolk, has been left permanently brain-damaged after being assaulted while walking to Prittlewell railway station in Southend, having attended a football match at Roots Hall on 21 March 2015.

Twelve men deny planning a 'ferocious attack' which left football fan Simon Dobbin with brain damage.

Five firearms have been stolen during a burglary.

Entry was forced into a property in Mollands Lane, South Ockendon, at about 16:30 on Friday.

Essex Police, external, which has just released details of the burglary, said a "messy search" of the property was made.

Image source, Google

Colchester United's Denny Johnstone is on the road to recovery after injury, the club said.

Image source, Colchester United Football Club

The striker has been out of action since damaging his knee against Accrington in February.

A scan revealed a serious tear in his knee and the season was over for him.

The U's, external said he has been working hard on his rehabilitation programme since an operation.

"He spoke this week of being ready to ramp up his fitness ahead of returning for pre-season training.

"The U's squad return at the end of June, and Denny is sure he will be fully involved as they build up to the 2017/18 campaign," the club said.

Football fans were interested in causing "terrible and frightening violence", a court has heard.

As we've been reporting, 13 men are facing charges in connection with an attack on Cambridge United fan Simon Dobbin, pictured above.

Mr Dobbin, from Mildenhall, was assaulted as he walked to Prittlewell railway station in Southend following his team's 0-0 draw with Southend United, Basildon Crown Court has been hearing on the opening day of the trial.

Andrew Jackson, prosecuting, said most of the defendants spent the afternoon drinking in the Railway Tavern and planning the attack as "revenge" for an earlier fight involving a separate group of Cambridge fans in another pub.

Mr Jackson said one defendant wrote in a text: "Going to kick off after the game. We're going to ambush them."

Mr Jackson added: "These defendants were indiscriminate as to which Cambridge United fans they targeted as long as they could be identified as Cambridge United fans."

Mr Dobbin, 41, was left with permanent brain damage.

Eleven of the men deny violent disorder, one denies assisting a criminal offender, all 13 deny conspiracy to commit violent disorder.

The trial continues.

As we've been reporting, 13 men are standing trial over charges in connection with an attack on Simon Dobbin, a 41-year-old father.

The Cambridge United football fan from Mildenhall was left with permanent brain damage after the assault on 21 March 2015.

Twelve men from Essex are charged with violent disorder.

They are:

• Greg Allen, 29, of Western Avenue, Westcliff
• Ryan Carter, 21, of York Road, Southend
• Jamie Chambers, 24, of Coleman Street, Southend
• Lewis Courtnell, 34, of Stadium Road, Southend
• Phil McGill, 32, of Hornby Avenue, Westcliff
• Scott Nicholls, 40, of Little Spenders, Basildon
• Matthew Petchey, 26, of Lascelles Gardens, Rochford
• Rhys Pullen, 21, of Bridge Road, Wickford
• Thomas Randall, 22, of Seaforth Avenue, Southend
• Michael Shawyer, 31, of Belgrave Road, Leigh-on-Sea
• Alexander Woods, 25, of Fairmead Avenue, Westcliff
• James Woods, 25, of Fairmead Avenue, Westcliff

Mr Pullen admits violent disorder, while the other 11 defendants have pleaded not guilty to that charge.

The thirteenth defendant, Ian Young, 41, of Brightwell Avenue, Westcliff, denies assisting a criminal offender.

All 13 defendants deny conspiracy to commit violent disorder.

The trial continues.

A gang of 12 men attacked a football fan after a match in a "carefully prepared ambush" that left him with permanent brain damage, a court has heard.

Image source, Family Photo

Cambridge United fan Simon Dobbin, from Mildenhall, still cannot walk or talk after he was attacked as he walked to Prittlewell railway station in Southend following his team's 0-0 away draw with Southend United, Basildon Crown Court heard.

Andrew Jackson, prosecuting, said Mr Dobbin (pictured) was among a group of Cambridge fans who had stayed for a post-match drink in the Blue Boar, the designated pub for away supporters.

The court heard a group, looking to attack any Cambridge fans in "revenge" for an earlier fight, had scouted out potential targets in the Blue Boar then waited in the Railway Tavern, the designated pub for home supporters, to stage an ambush.

It happened at about 19:15 on 21 March 2015.

Twelve men from Essex are charged with violent disorder, 11 of whom have pleaded not guilty.

A thirteenth defendant denies assisting a criminal offender.

All 13 defendants deny conspiracy to commit violent disorder.

The trial continues.

A 29-year-old man who was attacked in a Harlow nightclub has been discharged from hospital, police said.

He was treated for a "slash injury" to his neck after the assault in Twenty One Bar on Post Office Walk on 28 May.

Essex Police said the man was attacked at the bottom of a set of stairs at about 02:15.

He suffered a 15cm (6in) cut to his neck and managed to run away before being taken hospital for his injuries.

A clean-up operation is taking place after a fire in a "discontinued fuel pipe" at a liquid storage terminal on Canvey Island.

It happened in Haven Road at about 15:00 yesterday.

Ten crews were initially sent to the scene due to the potential danger, but this was scaled back to two.

There were no reported injuries. Essex Fire and Rescue, external said the situation was now being dealt with by staff at the terminal.