Updates for Friday, 22 September 2017
Men arrested over cannabis plants released under investigation
Holidaymaker relieved to be home after escaping Hurricane Irma
Man 'critical but stable' after falling from roof
Aleasha Kiddle refuses to give up Olympics dream
That's it for our regular updates until we clock in again in the morning at 08:00, but any breaking news overnight will still appear here.
If you're just joining us, scroll down and find out what's been happening during the day.
Have a good evening - we look forward to your company tomorrow.
Expect more showers this evening with some maybe heavy but most places should be dry by morning.
Overnight temperatures will vary significantly and depend on how much cloud cover there is, 7C to 10C (45F-50F) is expected under cloudy skies but where we get any breaks we could see something as low as 3C (37F).
Mist and fog patches are also likely.
Tuesday will see any overnight mist and fog eventually clearing to leave a largely dry day with highs of around 18C (64F).
Visit BBC Weather for the detailed forecast where you live.
A bat which was recently caught at Chigborough Lakes, near Maldon, had travelled to the county from Latvia, experts say.
Image source, Andrew PalmerThe bat, a nathusius' pipistrelle, external, was caught by members of Essex Bat Group, external as part of a national study of this migratory species.
It's the first time a bat ringed in continental Europe has been recaptured in the county and the first concrete proof of migration between Europe and Essex.
Tim Sapsford, who caught the bat at the beginning of the month, said: "Essex Bat Group are delighted to be part of this national project and to be one of the first sites in the country to trap a nathusius' pipestrelle from Latvia.
"To think this little fella, who weighs little more than a pound coin, has travelled more than 1,200 miles (1,900km) to Maldon and for us to find it is amazing."
Former England captain Alastair Cook is not picked by new county champions Essex for this week's game against Hampshire.
Read MoreA Chelmsford holidaymaker says she's been left out of pocket after Ryanair cancelled dozens of flights.
The airline, which has its UK base at Stansted Airport, says about 40 to 50 services are being scrapped each day for the next six weeks because it's dealing with a backlog of staff leave.
Bosses have apologised to those affected.
Image source, Tarryn SullivanTarryn Sullivan (pictured right), who is stuck in Budapest for the next few days, said: "The place where we're staying is charging us an extra £150 for three nights, bearing in mind we only paid £120 for five.
"We're hoping Ryanair is going to compensate me for that.
"There's things we've missed out on as well like some of the attraction things we wanted to see but now [we're] obviously having to spend that money on accommodation and living expenses."
Image source, AFPThe consumer rights group Which? has called on Ryanair to publish a full list of the flights it's intending to scrap over the next six weeks.
The company has so far only released a list of affected flights up to this Wednesday.
Rail passengers are being warned that upgrades for the Crossrail project, external and work to install new overhead wires on the line between Norwich and London, will take place at weekends from October to December with a 10-day closure at Christmas.
Image source, Network RailNetwork Rail’s engineers will spend the equivalent of 20,000 hours replacing more than six miles (10km) of overhead wire at Ilford as part of a £250m project to upgrade the wiring system on the mainline.
Once this work is complete the stretch from Chelmsford to Seven Kings will have had the new wire installed resulting in fewer delays, the company says.
Jamie Burles, from Greater Anglia, said: "We will make sure that customers can complete their journeys during all periods of engineering works, even if part of it is by bus."
Passengers are advised to check how their journey will be affected at National Rail, external, or with their train operator ahead of travelling.
A motorcyclist who performed wheelies and took a selfie while driving on the M6 has been jailed for eight months.
Pawel Zietowski, 27, was filmed by an unmarked police patrol for 16 minutes as he used his thighs to steer the bike and even rummaged through a backpack to find a mobile phone.
He was also given a driving ban of 28 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.
Image source, CMPGCentral Motorway Police Group (CMPG) said officers filmed Zietowski in June between junction 12 and Stafford services.
Zietowski, formerly of Harlow in Essex but now of Higham Avenue, Warrington, Cheshire, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at a previous hearing.
Insp Sion Hathway, from CMPG, said: "Such dangerous riding will not be tolerated on our roads.
"Zietowski showed a blatant disregard for the rules of the road, and fellow motorists. His antics could have easily resulted in tragedy."
Two men who were homeless before going to live at the Emmaus Colchester community, external, are embarking on an 80-mile (129km) sponsored walk to raise money for Colchester General Hospital.
Image source, Emmaus UKMichael Hawkins-Far (pictured left) and Ian Simpson, will be joining an Emmaus volunteer and three retired Coggeshall Scout leaders on the Essex Way trail, external, setting off from Epping on Thursday and finishing at the port of Harwich on Sunday.
They'll be raising money for the Colchester Hospitals Charity, external which wants to create a purpose-built centre to house chemotherapy and complementary treatments above the hospital's radiotherapy centre.
Fintare Petrauskaite, from Emmaus Colchester, said: "We are very supportive of Ian’s and Michael’s efforts to give back to our wonderful local community and they could not have chosen a better cause to raise funds and awareness for."
Listen to BBC local radio commentary as Essex host Yorkshire in County Championship Division One.
Read MoreThis is the front page of today's East Anglian Daily Times, external:
Image source, EADTThe leader of Harlow District Council, external is backing a call for the introduction of transit pitches for travellers, funded by the taxpayer.
Jon Clempner said: "I think all the districts need to make their contribution to provision.
"I'd be up for a conversation about transit sites in Harlow. Something needs to be done.
"There's one particular place, next to one of our permanent pitches, and in principle I'd be up for a conversation about making that a small transit site.
"But other areas in Essex need to do likewise."
The call came from Andy Prophet, assistant chief constable of Essex police.
Nic Rigby
BBC News
The writer of a play about East Anglia's Queen of the Iceni, Boudicca, who torched Colchester, then the Roman capital of England in her revolt, hopes the production could be put on in Norfolk.
Image source, Steve Tanner
Image source, Steve TannerThe new play at the Globe, external theatre in London, which has won critical praise, external, stars Our Friends in the North television star Gina McKee (pictured top) as the queen who ruled over the Norfolk based tribe and led a revolt against Rome in about 60AD.
The play's author Tristan Bernays told the BBC said he decided to write the play after actress friends told him there weren't enough "action roles" for women in the theatre.
Image source, Steve Tanner"She said girls don't get to do fun things like fight with swords, so I thought I would give them an action part - running around the stage with swords," he said.
He said he would welcome a production in Norfolk of the play.
"It would be great to see the queen coming back to her kingdom triumphant after a long, long absence," he said.
Tristan said he wrote the play before Brexit but it was "always a play about national identity".
Image source, Steve TannerBoudicca's revolt was eventually brutally put down by Rome.
The production, directed by Eleanor Rhode, also features Joan Iyiola (pictured below), Natalie Simspon, Forbes Masson, Anna-Maria Nabirye, Samuel Collings and Clifford Samuel.
The play continues at The Globe until October.
Image source, Steve TannerSouthend boss Phil Brown is determined to rid his side of the defensive "fragility" after nine games without a win.
Read MorePolice say armed and uniformed officers will continue to patrol some railway stations in the county this morning following Friday's attack on the London Underground.
Over the weekend, the UK terror threat level, external was reduced from critical to severe - meaning an attack is "highly likely".
Two men, aged 18 and 21, remain in custody over the bomb blast at Parsons Green station.
A male cyclist has died following a crash on Harwich Road in Elmstead, near Colchester, on Saturday night.
Police say they were called just after 20:00 to reports of the incident which involved a cyclist and a car, which then left the scene.
A 71-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene.
Kate Kinsella
BBC Weather
It's a grey start for many of us this morning, there are also one or two mist and fog patches out there as well.
Showers will continue through the day with one or two brighter spells between them.
Temperatures will struggle, it's going to feel quite chilly, with a maximum of 15C (59F).
Get the full forecast where you live, from BBC Weather.
Philippa Taylor
BBC Local Live
Welcome to our live coverage, it's great to have your company.
Among the stories that have caught our eye this morning;
We'll begin the day with the weather though, Kate Kinsella is waiting in the wings to tell us what's in store.
Daniel Adger, 34, died in hospital after being found injured at an Essex property in August.
Read MoreTwo goals in the space of three second-half minutes sees Southend United secure a draw with 10-man Northampton Town.
Read MoreCheltenham Town pick up only their second League Two win of the season with victory against 10-man Colchester United.
Read More
