As we've been reporting, Essex County Council's pension fund has more than £60m invested in tobacco companies.

The council also spent £1.9m on its lifestyles programme last year, which includes anti-smoking campaigns.

Here are some smoking statistics for Essex from Action on Smoking and Health, external:

• Annual cost to the county: £381.1m
• Cost of each smoker per year: £1,867
• Every year in Essex early deaths due to smoking result in 5,208 years of lost productivity, at a cost of £94.6m
• Smoking breaks cost Essex businesses about £157.9m
• Workers take 308,400 smoking-related sick days, costing about £27.5m
• There are 44 smoking-related fires a year, resulting in two or three deaths, at a £6.1m cost every year
• The 811 million filtered cigarettes and filtered roll-ups smoked per year in Essex create 138 tonnes of waste annually, of which 32 tonnes discarded as street litter.

Image source, PA

BBC Weather Watchers

It certainly is a wet and windy day out there. It's not stopped our Weather Watchers picking up their cameras and taking snaps.

The duck captured certainly appears to be enjoying herself:

For the latest on the aftermath of the attacks in the London Bridge and Borough Market area on Sunday, follow the BBC's live page.

The trial of 13 men accused of violent disorder which left a football fan with brain damage is opening this morning.

Image source, Nicole Dobbin

Cambridge United supporter, Simon Dobbin, 44, suffered life-changing injuries after he was injured in an assault after he left Southend United's Roots Hall ground in March 2015.

Mr Dobbin has only made a partial recovery since returning to his home in Mildenhall.

The trial is being held at Basildon Crown Court and the jury was selected yesterday.

Twelve of the men have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit violent disorder.

One man faces a charge of assisting an offender and possessing a prohibited weapon, which he denies.

Plans to build a new garden village, with up to 17,000 homes, near Marks Tey, have been backed by Braintree District Council, external.

Last night, councillors voted to support a draft of the area's local plan, which includes the new development in West Tey.

A public consultation will take place later this month.

The leader of the Conservative-run council, Graham Butland, has said it's part of a "long-term plan".

A bit more on that smoking story....

As we reported, Essex County Council's pension fund has more than £60m invested in tobacco companies.

It said the pension fund operates separately from the services it provides.

Action on Smoking Health said Essex was about mid-table for pension holdings in tobacco in terms of English councils.

Image source, Gareth Fuller/PA

Stevie Benton, from the pressure group, said: "We would of course like to see that come down. The tobacco industry causes harm throughout the world and is a massive barrier to development.

"It's harmful to health, education, the economy and the environment. Other more ethical investments are available which provide a comparable return on investment."

Mike Mackrory, a Liberal Democrat opposition councillor at the county council, added: "The pension contributors themselves are never consulted on this.

"They ought to be give the choice for where they want their money invested."

A council's pension fund has more than £60m invested in tobacco companies, new data has revealed.

According to the information seen exclusively by the BBC, Essex County Council, external also spent £1.9m on its lifestyles programme last year, which includes anti-smoking campaigns.

The council's pension fund invests cash for about 150,000 people including council workers, firefighters and teachers.

A county council spokesman said the pension fund operates separately from the services it provides.

The spokesman added: "Investment in tobacco and the defence and aerospace sector represents just 1.5% of the £6b total fund.

"The council is committed to helping people quit smoking, which is why we've pledged £1.9m this financial year to the wider Essex Lifestyle service."

The council's quit smoking campaign has a 72% success rate which is said is one of the best in the country.

Kate Kinsella
BBC Weather

It's quite a damp start to the day, we've had some rain overnight, and there's more rain to come through the day.

The rain will be quite light at first, but there'll be heavier pulses of rain moving in from the west, with a strong and gusty wind.

It's going to feel pretty chilly, with a top temperature of about 14C (57F) inland, cooler on the coast.

Watch my full forecast for the BBC East region here:

Kate Scotter
BBC News

Hello and welcome to our live updates on this damp and dreary Tuesday.

We'll brighten up your day with all the news, weather, travel and sport from the county.

If you've got a story, don't hesitate to get in touch by clicking "Get involved" at the top of this page.

First, here's Kate Kinsella with today's weather prospects.

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

...has come to an end. Do scroll down and take a look at some of the stories and issues we've covered.

Among the stories we've covered:

• Essex has been told it can expect to see more armed police on the streets as a precaution following on from the recent terror attacks
• The former MP for Castle Point, Bob Spinks is to be tried for electoral fraud alongside a UKIP agent
• A woman, who was told it was safer to swim with sharks rather than have a baby because of the risk to her life, is now the proud mum of a baby girl

Our regular updates resume at 08:00 tomorrow, unless a story breaks overnight when it will automatically drop into this stream.

Have a good evening.

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

The saga of Southend United's long-awaited move to a new stadium has taken a new twist.

The Blues have been trying for years to relocate from Roots Hall (pictured) to Fossetts Farm.

Image source, Getty Images

British Land became the potential saviour when supermarket giant Sainsbury pulled out, with plans for the new ground to incorporate a major shopping and leisure complex as well as new homes.

But, they've now given BBC Essex a statement saying:

"Discussions are currently on hold between British Land and SUFC as it has not been possible to reach a satisfactory agreement.

"SUFC have recently submitted a planning application for the development.

"The parties remain on good terms and discussions in relation to the retail element of the scheme may be progressed in the future if a satisfactory planning consent is granted."

Julie Reinger
BBC Look East weather

Outbreaks of rain will move eastwards across the BBC East region overnight, turning heavy at times.

Blustery winds will ease for a while, before picking up towards morning.

Temperatures falling to 10C (50F).

Tuesday will get off to a cloudy start with some further outbreaks of rain, which should eventually be confined to Norfolk.

Other parts of the region will become brighter with sunny spells and scattered blustery showers, heavy at times.

Moderate to fresh west to south-westerly winds, with gusts of 40-45mph.

Temperatures in the sunshine could reach 17C (63F).

You can find a more detailed forecast for where you live on BBC Weather.

A 27-year-old man has been charged with traffic offences.

Six people have been treated at Colchester Hospital for the effects of breathing in fumes at a north Essex factory.

Emergency services were called to the Earls Colne Industrial Estate at lunchtime.

The building was evacuated, but staff were allowed to return two hours later.

The fumes came from a machine which is used to heat bottles on a conveyer belt.

The heater had melted the plastic inside the section of machine which caused the fumes.

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

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

The leader of Colchester Borough Council is defending a decision to switch to fortnightly waste collections.

New wheelie bins are being delivered to around 12,000 homes from today to replace bags for general household waste.

Councillor Paul Smith says food waste will continue to be collected weekly, negating any health risk.

"What we'll see is an improvement in our recycling rates, less waste going to landfill and that's going to be good for the environment and good for the council's finances as well," he said.

A woman who was told she was unlikely to survive pregnancy has celebrated her daughter's first birthday.

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

A motorcyclist accused of performing wheelies and taking selfies while driving on the M6 in Staffordshire has been charged with traffic offences., external

Image source, CMPG

Officers videoed a biker on Saturday afternoon between junction 12 and Stafford services on the northbound M6.

A 27-year-old motorcyclist from Harlow has been summonsed to appear in court at a later date, where he will face several road traffic charges.

Acting Sgt Steve Millward said: "This kind of behaviour on our motorways will simply not be tolerated. It is dangerous."

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

An extra £56,000 is being made available to cover the costs of new equipment at Clacton swimming pool.

Image source, Google

Tendring District Council, external is putting up the cash towards the new ventilation system which is now coming in at more than £200,000

The council originally put aside £50,000 for the work, but further investigations by a mechanical consultant meant another £120,000 was added to the pot.

The new equipment will be in place later this year.

Mike Carran, TDC's head of sport and leisure, said that swimmers have been patient in waiting for the improvements for quite a while.

"It is the physical mechanical costs and the added cost of not closing the pool which has meant the bill is so much higher than initially anticipated."

The leisure centre and the swimming pool account for an estimated £200,000 a year in income through casual use and lessons.