A number of residents in Shenfield have said they are fed up with constant noise through the night from new Crossrail trains.

Image source, Crossrail

People living on Hunter Avenue, near where there is a siding, said the trains start up automatically through the night.

They said the idling trains go on for about 20 seconds, and off for about three minutes.

Brian Hyam, who lives nearby, said: "We knew there was going to be a siding there but we assumed trains would be stored overnight and would be shooting off the next morning.

"What we didn't expect was trains to be left on all night, often 12 hours.

"It's difficult to sleep, it's causing widespread disruption."

Neighbour Mohammed Ahmed said: "It's just been a nuisance."

Transport for London, external, which runs Crossrail, external, has apologised and said it is looking at putting up a fence to reduce the noise.

An Essex police officer has taken to social media to criticise US President Donald Trump after he banned transgender people from serving in the US military.

Mr Trump has cited "tremendous medical costs and disruption" for the move.

Front line sergeant Gina Denham, who is a transgender woman, wrote "words fail me" on her Twitter account and "trans is not a barrier".

Sgt Denham said Essex Police, external and her colleagues were very supportive when she came out as transgender.

Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather

A dry start to the day, with sunny spells.

Showers developing later, and these will become heavy at times with the odd rumble of thunder.

Temperatures reaching a high of 20C (68F), but feeling cooler in the wind.

BBC Weather has more details for you.

Hello and welcome to today's live updates for the county.

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

If you have a story to share, don't hesitate to get in touch by clicking "Get involved" above.

First, let's take a look at the weather.

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

Sadly, we've come to the end of Wednesday's live updates.

Feel free to scroll back to catch up on any stories you might have missed, including:

• Man arrested on suspicion of rape in Southend
• Second group of travellers told to move in Clacton
• Essex Fire service changes branded 'reckless'
• Southend striker Nile Ranger due for return to training

We'll be back with more news, sport, weather and travel for Essex from 08:00 tomorrow.

Have a good evening.

A pathologist giving evidence at a trial into the death of a man who was killed by a single "superhuman punch" said his injuries included more than one fracture to his skull.

Dr Charlotte Randall (pictured) said it demonstrated how hard Arkadiusz Jozwik had hit the ground near a row of shops in Harlow last August.

She told the jury at Chelmsford Crown Court that Mr Jozwik had been a fit and healthy man who had received a single punch to the back of the head.

That punch had caused him to fall and strike his head on the ground and Dr Randall said he was rendered unconscious immediately.

His brain swelled up and despite doctors attempts to relieve the pressure, his condition deteriorated and he was declared dead two days after the incident.

A 16-year-old accused of killing Mr Jozwik has denied manslaughter.

The court has also heard that Mr Jozwik, who had been sitting on a bench eating pizza with a friend, had also been drinking vodka near a group of teenagers at 23:30 that night.

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

Tendring District Council says it's taking action against travellers who've parked up on a Clacton playing field.

Two caravans, three vehicles and three tents have arrived on a site off Burrs Road.

Today they're being issued with a special notice giving them 24 hours to leave.

It's the second traveller camp that's been set up on council land in recent days.

Image source, Tendring District Council

Seven caravans and a number of vehicles pitched up on St Johns Road last Friday but have since left after being told to leave.

Paul Honeywood, the council's cabinet member for housing, said: "I am extremely pleased that they have taken heed of the notice served on them and that it has not been necessary to take court action in this particular case.

"A Direction to Leave has worked a couple of times already this year and I hope that those who turned up in Burrs Road yesterday will also follow the same course and move on once they receive their notice."

BBC Weather Watchers

It's been a mostly cloudy and drizzly day so far in Essex but our BBC Weather Watchers - and these dogs - have been making the most of it:

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

As we reported yesterday, Essex's police and crime commissioner is to take on responsibility for the county's fire and rescue service too.

Roger Hirst is to become the UK's first combined police and fire commissioner in October.

The government hopes the changes will result in better collaboration between the police and fire service.

But the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has described the move as "reckless".

Alan Chinn-Shaw, secretary of the FBU in Essex, said: "The neutrality of the fire service means we can gain access to areas of society where the attendance of police officers has not always been so welcome.

"It is vital that the fire service and police force maintain distinct and separate identities."

The move will include the sharing of administrative functions and premises but no details have been given about any job losses.

An FBU spokesman added that it was "seeking assurances" that there will be no further cuts from the frontline service.

BBC Weather

Once the rain clears, it will turn drier through the afternoon with the odd glimmer of brightness but it will stay breezy.

A top temperature of 19C (66F).

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

UKIP is calling for action on persistent fly-tippers in Thurrock.

The party says the problem is particularly bad on the old A13 in Purfleet.

The local UKIP councillor Peter Smith said: "Enough is enough - residents are sick and tired of the eye watering amount of rubbish being dumped.

"The damage is caused by indiscriminate parking of HGV vehicles over time and now we need to put the interests of our residents first."

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

Firefighters have been dealing with 100 tonnes of straw alight near Witham.

Crews were called to Langford Road in Wickham Bishops at about 20:43 last night.

The stack was left to burn out under control and there were no reports of any injuries.

The cause is not yet known.

Image source, Twitter/@TORNADOTITAN

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

Violent crime will be the focus of a debate later with the Chief Constable of Essex Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Latest figures show there were more than 12,500 victims of violent crime in the county last year, including 15 homicides.

Det Insp Al Pitcher was in charge of the investigation into Michael Beckwith's murder in Harwich and says the work can take its toll on officers:

"Coping with those types of incidents is difficult for all officers and I do see some horrific crime scenes.

"We always try to give as much support to officers as we can, who've seen a tragic incident, to help them through if they're having difficulties."

Essex Chief Constable Steve Kavanagh (pictured left) and Police and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst will be taking calls about violent crime from 16:00 on BBC Essex - and we'll bring you updates from the debate here.

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

Stansted Airport's runway is now operating as normal after being closed briefly this morning.

A spokesman said a "minor" problem was spotted on the tarmac but that emergency repairs were carried out in about 20 minutes.

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

The runway at Stansted Airport has been temporarily closed to carry out emergency repairs.

Flights will be delayed, a spokesperson said.

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

A businessman from Little Baddow has bought his son a hair transplant for his 18th birthday.

Roger Bigwood paid £3,000 for Owen to have the procedure and then had it done himself the next day.

He said Owen (pictured) had completely lost his confidence when he started losing his hair at 17.

"Where he was all bubbly before, he was just retiring in every kind of setting.

"It knocked the shine off everything because he was aware that he was different than other young men."

Image source, Roger Bigwood

The photo on the left is of Owen before the procedure and the one on the right shows how his hair looks three months on.

Image source, Bella Vou

Hair expert Benedetto Cusumano says social media is contributing to a rise in men getting hair transplants: "Social media and selfies all have a role. I have guys flicking through their Facebook in clinic showing me how their hairline has changed.

"So I think it's making people more aware of how they're looking and how they're changing."

Glenn Speller
BBC Essex sport

The Southend United manager Phil Brown says Nile Ranger (pictured) will need to accept discipline is a key part of what is needed for the rest of his career.

The striker is due to return to the club this week having served time in prison for fraud.

The Blues were beaten 3-0 at home by Brighton in a friendly last night and boss Brown says Ranger will need to catch-up quickly: "Discipline's a key factor in any player's performance.

"Nile has to understand that these players are playing with discipline and have done for the last three or four weeks in pre-season and they're getting ready for the 5th of August.

"The best we'll get out of Nile is about a week's work before the 5th of August and that won't be enough for him to be fit for the season."

Image source, PA

Southend United will give striker Nile Ranger a chance to relaunch his career when he is released from prison.

Glenn Speller
BBC Essex sport

The Colchester United head coach John McGreal feels his players will have learned a lot from last night's friendly with Ipswich.

The U's were beaten 1-0 at The Community Stadium to suffer their first defeat of the pre-season schedule.

McGreal said: "It just proves that, against a higher class of opposition where they move the ball quickly, we've got to think quicker.

"So it's a great exercise to build on."

Image source, Rex Features

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

Police are investigating after a woman in her 20s was raped in Southend.

The attack happened near Royal Terrace between 19:00 and 21:00 on Wednesday, 14 June.

A 19-year-old man arrested on suspicion of rape has been released under investigation.

Image source, Google

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.