Summary

  • Updates on Friday, 28 July 2017

  • 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

Live Reporting

Stuart Bailey

  1. More sheltered homes needed for older people

    Patrick Byrne
    BBC News

    Some older people are waiting four years for sheltered housing, a BBC investigation has revealed.

    Building homesGetty Images

    Figures revealed to BBC Essex, following a Freedom of Information Act request, show the average wait for a sheltered home in the county is about 10 months, with some 4,400 people on waiting lists.

    Simon Peyton, from housing provider Anchor, says local councils need to do more by building sheltered homes to match the needs.

    The Department of Communities and Local Government said: "Providing more homes for older people is vital to support an ageing population."

  2. Travellers move onto school playing fields

    A group of travellers has moved onto playing fields at Hinguar Street School in Shoeburyness, within walking distance of the town's east beach and close to an area of scientific interest.

    We hope to bring more on the council's reaction later...

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  3. Monday's weather: A damp start to the week

    Georgina Burnett
    BBC Weather

    We've got a mix of dry and wet weather to come over the next few days.

    Today we're looking pretty cloudy from the start across the BBC East region, with outbreaks of rain spreading southwards and eastwards with some drier spells inbetween.

    The best chance of any brightness or sunshine will be this afternoon, particularly for Norfolk.

    Top temperature: 19C (66F).

    Watch my full regional forecast here:

  4. Welcome to a new week of live coverage for Essex

    Patrick Byrne
    BBC News

    Hello and welcome to Monday's Essex Live.

    Between now and 18:00, the team here will bring you the news, sport, travel and weather updates as we get them.

    Here are some of the stories we'll be covering:

    • Older people face a four year wait for sheltered housing, a BBC Essex investigation has discovered.
    • New habitat on Wallasea Island created using material from the Crossrail tunnels attracts 12,000 birds.
    • Southend announces review of households in the borough claiming council tax discounts or exemptions.

    If there's anything you wish to share with us you can contact us via the "Get involved" button at the top of the page.

    But first the weather from Georgina Burnett.

  5. Whiteley six sixes in vain after Willey ton

    Ross Whiteley hits six sixes in an over but Worcestershire lose to Yorkshire, plus Sunday's T20 Blast round-up.

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  6. Glamorgan v Essex

    Listen to live BBC local radio commentary as Glamorgan play Essex in the T20 Blast.

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  7. T20 Blast: Essex v Gloucs - live radio & in-play clips

    Watch live in-play clips and listen to local radio commentary as Essex face Gloucestershire in the T20 Blast.

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  8. County ins & outs 2017

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

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  9. Middlesex v Essex

    Listen to live BBC local radio commentary as Middlesex face Essex in the T20 Blast.

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  10. Parade to celebrate Ferrari at 70

    More than 100 Ferrari cars will travel through Essex to mark the manufacturer's 70th anniversary.

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  11. Wessels hits ton, Pietersen injured again

    Riki Wessels becomes the first Nottinghamshire player to score a Twenty20 century, while Kevin Pietersen injures a calf off the first ball he faces.

    Read More