Stuart Bailey
BBC News

That's it for another week of live updates.

You can scroll back on this page to catch up with any Essex stories you may have missed, including:

• Man jailed for driving car into pregnant woman
• Pitsea tower blocks fail fire safety tests
• Staff shortages blamed for Chelmsford Prison violence
• Knife crime crackdown sees 40 arrests in a week
• Road flooded after burst water main

We'll be back with more news, sport, weather and travel for the county from 08:00 on Monday.

Have a good weekend.

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

Nominations close today in the latest election to choose a leader for the UK Independence Party, an election which could see one of the East of England's MEPs become deputy leader.

Norfolk farmer Stuart Agnew is the running mate of Anne Marie Waters, a controversial candidate who's seen as one of the favourites to win.

Ms Waters has made a number of disparaging comments about muslims and ethnic minorities and there is pressure on the party leadership to prevent her from standing.

But Mr Agnew says he expects her to be allowed to stand and he's praised her for her "real courage" in being prepared to talk about issues which he says, other people arn't prepared to confront.

"There is an increasing element of people who are beyond the law in this country," he said.

"Well we say we have our own way of life and culture in this country and we want to keep it."

He said it was "really really frustrating" that some people regarded such views as racist.

Nominations for UKIP's fourth leader in a year close at 5pm. The list of those standing probably won't be made public until next week.

Image source, European Parliament

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

A man who ran over a pregnant shop-worker and left her with life-threatening injuries has been jailed for three years.

Vinisha Ajanraj, 32, was working in an off-licence on London Road, Leigh on Sea, at around 17:00 on Monday, 27 March when she suspected three men of using a stolen credit card.

She chased the group after they went behind the till, took the card back and ran out of the shop with some goods.

They got into a car driven by Rico Dupres which was then reversed into Mrs Ajanraj - who was 27-weeks pregnant at the time - leaving her in intensive care with serious internal injuries.

Image source, Essex Police

Dupres, 25, of Anderson Close, London pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and dangerous driving.

Mrs Ajanraj, who has since given birth to a healthy baby girl, said: "I am still unable to walk and am in constant pain every day. My family and I are also suffering financially.

"I think those responsible for my injuries are very cruel and it upsets me greatly that anyone could do this to another human being."

BBC Weather

Cloud will continue to thicken and it will become breezy, with some oubreaks of rain.

There will be the occasional bright spell too, but it will feel cool for late July.

A top temperature of 19C (66F).

Listen to BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and BBC Essex commentary as Essex face West Indies in a three-day first-class tour match at the County Ground.

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

As we reported yesterday, The Duke of Cambridge completed his final shift for the East Anglian Air Ambulance last night.

Prince William joined the emergency service two years ago, but is leaving to concentrate on royal duties on behalf of the Queen.

Here are some photos from his final day with the service:

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Billericay Town are set to sign former Arsenal and Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant on a two-year deal.

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

Parts of cladding on two tower blocks in Pitsea have failed fire safety tests.

But Genesis Housing Association - which manages Cleves and Aragon Courts - says it won't be removing it until new government guidance is published.

Fire monitors will be patrolling the site 24 hours a day.

Image source, Google

A spokesman for Genesis Housing Association said: "In the wake of the Grenfell tragedy, Genesis Housing Association carried out tests to the cladding materials on blocks of six storeys and above across its portfolio.

"The tests have shown that parts of the external cladding used in panels on portions of Cleves and Aragon Court in Pitsea have failed the new test set by Government.

"Genesis has taken all appropriate actions recommended by the Ministers and the fire brigade including placing 24-hour fire monitors on-site to patrol and reassure residents, made sure that all relevant Fire Risk Assessments are up to date and all fire precautions are in place and functioning effectively.

"We are not currently planning to remove the cladding from the buildings until updated Government guidance is provided by the Department for Communities.

"We have written to residents to reassure them that their safety is – and will remain - our top priority. We will continue to keep them informed throughout this process and thank them for their continued patience."

BBC Weather Watchers

It's been a decent day so far with some sunshine breaking through the cloud, as captured by our BBC Weather Watchers.

Your BBC Local Radio station is broadcasting live from the Cambridge Folk Festival, external on Sunday evening.

Sue said: "This is the third year we've broadcast live from Cherry Hinton.

"The festival is a real mixed bag of music and people. It's family-orientated and I love that you can go on a journey of discovery."

Sue Marchant's show runs from 19:00 until 22:00 on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex and BBC Radio Suffolk.

She'll have interviews and music from Nikhil D'Souza, Hayseed Dixie, Frank Turner, Midnight Skyracer, River Matthews and more.

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

Two men have pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of a man who suffered fatal head injuries during an alleged robbery in Hullbridge.

Timothy Smith, 57, died two days after the incident which happened in The Drive on 19 March.

Image source, Google

Andrew McVicar, 33, of Dewsgreen, Basildon and Colin Garrod, 50, of Crowborough Road, Southend appeared at Basildon Crown Court yesterday.

They denied manslaughter and robbery and are due to stand trial on 8 January 2018.

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

There are still long delays on the A127 near Rayleigh after a burst water main this morning.

One lane is closed on the London-bound side because of flooding.

A spokesman for Essex and Suffolk Water said engineers were called at about 08:00 and that repairs were likely to take 'a few more hours'.

Image source, Google

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

The Conservative MP for Chelmsford, Vicky Ford, says she's "concerned" about the level of violence at Chelmsford Prison.

Figures released yesterday by the Ministry of Justice showed there were 122 reports of attacks on staff and inmates last year, which is an all time high.

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

The Shoeburyness golfer, Richard McEvoy, shares the lead after the opening day of the European Open in Hamburg.

He carded six birdies in an opening round 66 to finish alongside the American Julian Suri on six under.

Play is just getting under way on day two.

Image source, Getty Images

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

England will resume on 171-4 on day two of the third Test against South Africa at the Oval at 11:00.

Essex batsman Alastair Cook is 82 not out while his county colleague, Tom Westley (pictured), made 25 on his Test debut yesterday.

Image source, Getty Images

Westley said it was a day of highs and lows: "The proudest moment of my life was getting my cap this morning and it was exciting batting for the time that I did.

"But it was equally frustrating then getting out just after lunch having got a start.

"So, mixed emotions but hopefully the guys are in a relatively good position".

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

Yesterday we reported that assaults on staff and inmates at Chelmsford Prison last year were at an all time high.

Figures from the Ministry of Justice showed there were 122 reports of attacks in 2016 compared with 80 in 2015.

Nick Adams from the Independent Monitoring Board doesn't think the prison has been safe over the last few years and is blaming it on a shortage of staff: "2016, we hope, was an absolute low point.

"As far as Chelmsford is concerned, things can only get better.

"If the government follows through on this, there's money there and prison officers can be recruited and retained then things should improve."

Image source, PA

A former inmate at Chelmsford Prison said: "In an ideal world we need more staff but I understand it's easier said than done especially with budget cuts.

"In Chelmsford, when there wasn't enough staff, you'd all be locked up in your cells much longer, which annoyed everyone."

Computer hacker Adam Mudd has had his jail sentence reduced at the court of appeal.

He had developed and sold malware which led to attacks on public institutions.

Mudd, 20, of Kings Langley in Hertfordshire, made £380,000, but the victims of the software had to spend millions defending themselves against the estimated 1.7 million attacks.

Victims of the attacks included the University of Cambridge, University of Essex in Colchester, University of East Anglia in Norwich and several local councils. An attack was also made on West Herts College in Watford where Mudd was a student.

Mudd admitted creating the malicious software and was jailed for two years at the Old Bailey in April.

He successfully appealed against the length of the sentence and the Court of Appeal has reduced it to 21 months.

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

A sword, a machete and an iron bar were among about 20 items seized by Essex Police during a week-long campaign to tackle knife crime.

Officers carried out raids on properties and roadside checks - arresting 40 people - between Monday, July 17 and Saturday, July 22.

Image source, Essex Police

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Prophet said: "I don’t want the communities of Essex or those who carry knives to be under any illusions - our work to tackle this is does not stop now the week of action is over.

"Our officers continue to work every day to take knives off the streets of Essex and put those who carry them illegally in prison."

Image source, Essex Police

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

Flooding on the A127 near Rayleigh is causing long delays on the London-bound side.

The water is up to a foot deep in places and a burst water main is being blamed.

BBC Essex reporter Tim Gillett was there and said: "Muddy water with stones and bits of debris have been flowing out of a property on the side of the A127 and only the middle of the road is passable.

"Cars are having to slow down to pass through the water, which is about a foot deep and flowing fast."

Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather

A few changes in the forecast for today.

It's looking mostly dry until we get to this evening, maybe a few stray showers at times and it'll still be quite breezy as well.

The best of the sunshine is likely to be this morning, before the cloud thickens from the west as we head into the afternoon.

Top temperature across the BBC East region: 20C (68F).

Watch my full regional forecast here: