BBC Sport

Southend United host League Two club Newport County in the first-round of the EFL Cup, tonight.

The Shrimpers made a winning start to their League One season on Saturday, beating former Premier League side Blackburn Rovers 2-1 at Roots Hall.

Meanwhile, Colchester United will entertain Aston Villa in the first-round on Wednesday.

BBC Essex will have coverage of both fixtures on FM, AM and DAB, but not online due to rights issues.

PC James Brewer from Essex Police has tweeted to say that a paramedic from the East of England Ambulance Service has helped the force arrest a man suspected of shoplifting in Southend-on-Sea.

The officer said that the paramedic joined the chase as the shoplifter made off from police, before catching him...

Highways England say that the earlier closure of the A12 between junction 11 and 12 is now over, but delays remain in the area...

Essex's cricketers were due to be facing Yorkshire at Scarborough for day three of their match in Division One of the County Championship, today.

But the reason they aren't is less to do with poor weather, and more to do with them wrapping up an emphatic eight-wicket victory on Monday evening.

Top of the table Essex, who were promoted from Division Two last season, won the last of their six County Championship crowns in 1992 under Graham Gooch.

Highways England reports that the A12 northbound is closed between junctions 11 and 12 following a collision and subsequent oil spill, this morning...

This Google traffic flow image gives an impression of the delays around Brentwood, which also appear to be having a knock-on impact for motorists on the M25 at junction 28...

Image source, Google

Officers were called to reports of vehicles with windows, wing mirrors and lights smashed.

John Pordage died after being shot in the chest outside the BP garage in Baddow Road.

Essex Police are investigating after a large number of cars were damaged over the weekend in Colchester.

Up to 60 vehicles had their windows, wing mirrors and lights smashed on the Whitehall Industrial Estate in the early hours of Sunday morning.

BBC Essex has been along to see the damage...

A teenager has been charged in connection with the murder of John Pordage in Chelmsford.

Police say the 16-year-old boy from Chelmsford, who was arrested on Sunday, has been charged with murder, possession of an offensive weapon, handling stolen goods and perverting the course of justice.

Mr Pordage, 34, was shot in the chest outside the BP garage in Baddow Road, at about 02:10 on Saturday.

A post-mortem examination confirmed he died of his wound.

The teenager has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court today.

Kate Kinsella
BBC Weather

It's a wet start across much of the BBC East region, this morning.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain,, external with thundery downpours possible.

A top temperature of 18C (64F).

Kris Holland
BBC News

Welcome to live updates for Essex on Tuesday, 8 August.

We'll be here until 18:00 with the latest news, sport, weather and travel updates from around the county.

Image source, OSJ

You can contact us at any time via email, Facebook, external or Twitter, external.

Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant and Republic of Ireland international Kevin Foley join non-league Billericay Town.

Our live updates for Monday have come to an end, but we'll be back with more news, sport, weather and travel updates at 08:00 on Tuesday.

Enjoy your evening.

Essex strengthen their bid for a first County Championship title since 1992 with victory over Yorkshire inside two days.

Scattered showers this evening and overnight across the BBC East region, some on the heavy side.

Eventually these showers will become confined to the north west of the region and many places becoming dry with some clear spells. Lows of around 12C (54F) and light winds.

Tuesday will see some further showers and some of these could be heavy, slow moving and perhaps thundery.

Some areas could miss the showers entirely, but other parts could see two to three hours of heavy rain.

There is a yellow warning in place for this rain, with the risk of localised flooding.

The occasionally wet weather is due to last until Friday.

For a detailed forecast where you are, visit BBC Weather.

Image source, .

John Pordage died after being shot in the chest outside the BP garage in Baddow Road.

Colchester United sign winger Kyel Reid on loan from League Two rivals Coventry City until January.

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

BBC Weather Watchers

It's been a mostly cloudy day so far in Essex, but our BBC Weather Watchers have been capturing the county in all its glory.

Image source, .

Image source, .

Image source, .

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

Travellers, who've so far refused to leave a car park in Walton-on-the-Naze, have been issued with a court summons.

The group was evicted from a playing field in Clacton last week and moved to the Coronation Car Park, external at the leisure centre/Columbine Centre.

They ignored Tendring District Council's request to leave and have now been issued with a court summons.

Image source, Tendring District Council

Paul Honeywood, cabinet member for housing, said that it is now likely the group will leave the site by Wednesday, the date of the court hearing.

He said: "We will have to see where they go next, but hopefully it will be out of the district.

"If it is not and they once again relocate on Tendring District Council land then we will have to go through the entire process again.

"It can be a game of cat and mouse for the entire summer if they decide they want to stay in Tendring."