Conservative MP Sir Teddy Taylor died aged 80 last month.

Nearly 140 children are now in 'limbo' over their special needs assessments.

Julie Reinger
BBC Look East weather

A dry and cloudy night, with some clear intervals.

Feeling warm and humid for the time of the year, with temperatures only falling to 13C (55F).

Saturday will be mostly dry with a fair amount of cloud, but there should be some bright or sunny intervals.

The moderate SW wind should eventually fall light, and temperatures should reach around 20C (68F).

Another dry day for Sunday, with more in the way of sunshine - although high cloud may turn it hazy at times.

Temperatures could climb to 24C (75F).

Looking ahead to Mnoday - it's expected to remain largely dry and warm, with sunny spells. There's some uncertainty as to when a cold front will push in from the west, bringing the risk of a few showers and cooler air.

Carolyn Hill suffered a brain haemorrhage after her partner of three years hit her in the face.

Two men are arrested by police investigating alleged historical abuse at a boarding school in Essex.

The 28-year-old man sold images of a steam locomotive in a local shop, police say.

An Essex funeral director says bereavement support dog Otis is making a big difference.

The victim, Daniel Adger, was found injured at a property in Essex and later died in hospital.

A four-figure sum of money has been stolen from a post office in Lawford.

A man entered the Waledgrave Way business at 12:30 yesterday, and demanded money from staff.

He ran behind the counter and pushed a member of staff before grabbing the cash from the till before running out towards Long Road.

The victim was unhurt.

The suspect is described as white, in his mid 20s, about 5ft 5ins (165cm) tall, of slim build and clean shaven.

Image source, Google

A man has been given a community resolution for using a drone without a licence.

It happened on Saturday, 12 August when the Tornado steam train came to Kirby Cross.

The man was flying the drone within 50m of other people and property, out of their control.

The 28-year-old, who was also selling the images he had taken in a local shop, was reported on Sunday, 1 October.

Image source, Getty Images

It was the first drone incident Essex Police has dealt with. Along with British Transport Police, they are clamping down on the illegal use of drones.

Network Rail spokeswoman Wendy Welsh said if a train was in collision with a drone, it could cause a serious accident.

"A drone could fly into and damage vital equipment such as overhead wires or pylons, costing thousands to repair and causing hours of delays", she said.

The funeral of the former Rochford and Southend East Conservative MP Sir Teddy Taylor is to be held in Southend today.

The Scottish born MP died last month, aged 80.

He was a long time advocate of Britain leaving the EU and represented Southend East for a quarter of a century following a by-election in 1980.

The funeral will take place at St Mary's Anglican Church in Prittlewell.

Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather

A generally cloudy and windy day, with some warm or bright spells.

It'll be mostly dry, with the chance of a few spots of light rain or drizzle.

It's very warm for the time of the year, with temperatures peaking at 19C (66F).

BBC Weather has a more localised forecast for you.

The Court of Appeal deemed Lisa Connelly's original 12-year sentence "excessive".

Staying fine and dry across the BBC East region with clear spells, but variable cloud arriving from the west.

It'll drop to 9C (48F).

Friday will be rather cloudy at times, but high pressure to south and east will bring sunny spells and highs of 20C (68F).

Greater Anglia passengers are being asked not to pull the emergency cord if there's a medical emergency on board a train.

The rail company and the East of England Ambulance Service have agreed a new process for their control rooms to work together to allow them to get to the aid of sick passengers as quickly as possible.

It asks passengers to either dial 999, or ask a member of staff for help, but not to pull the emergency cord.

The ill passenger would be helped off the train when it arrives at the next station.

If the cord is pulled, the train might stop between stations and may be inaccessible for a conventional ambulance.

This could result in the passenger having to wait longer for medical assistance, as well as causing delays to train services.

Last year it says trains were delayed to the equivalent of seven days due to passengers becoming ill on the Greater Anglia network.

A four-figure sum of money was taken in a robbery at a betting shop in Maldon yesterday.

Three men, dressed in black and wearing balaclavas, had gone to the bookies on The Street at about 20:00.

Two of them, one armed with a hammer, went inside and demanded the money, before all three left the scene on foot.

No-one was injured.

Essex Police are asking for anyone with information to contact them on 101 or Crimestoppers.

Bounty has a contract with hospitals in Essex, paying for access to maternity wards to sell products to new mums.

A spokesman for the Basildon, Broomfield and Southend hospitals says the Bounty reps were monitored by their midwives.

He said the trusts receive a nominal fee per birth, and this money is reinvested directly back into maternity services.

The heads of midwifery agree on the services and products on offer to ensure it all meets the needs of the women and their families. He continues by saying they find the existing Bounty reps "very professional and friendly".

Image source, PA

Colchester Hospital also has a contract with Bounty, and says reps have to ask the ward sister if it is OK to approach women, adding that permission is not given if the baby or mum is unwell and that parents can opt not to meet the rep at all.

"Bounty reps" have contracts with hospitals across the country, and are allowed to approach new mums after they've given birth with the offer of products, photos and other services.

Katy Pearson, a journalist, experienced the sales pitch after she'd given birth and feels they shouldn't be allowed on maternity wards.

In a statement, Bounty says they've provided the service for over 55 years, providing mums with free packs containing valuable health information, advice from leading charities, product samples and money-off coupons.

Image source, Getty Images

The statement continues as follows:

"Independent research confirms the vast majority of mums enjoy the Bounty lady visit and free packs. Every mum is offered a pack irrespective of whether she chooses to join Bounty.

"Data is only shared with partners when mum gives permissions and mums can choose to be removed from the database at any time.

"There's a strict Code of Conduct to safeguard privacy and dignity, reviewed regularly with the NHS stakeholders and an independent advisory board."

A writer and blogger who gave birth to her son at Southend Hospital 18 months ago, says commercial sales reps shouldn't be allowed on maternity wards.

The "Bounty reps" pay for access to hospital wards, to sell new mums products and services.

Katy Pearson experienced the sales pitch after she'd given birth.

She says she assumed that if somebody's walking around the ward unchecked, they're something to do with the hospital.

"They've got this pack, offer to take photos, they're quite persistent... you feel your privacy has been invaded.. you've got a tiny tot, just given birth and you don't need a complete stranger at your bedside," she said.

Image source, Getty Images

Katy says if the reps were on the hospital's reception, and the onus was on the mums to go to them, it could be a useful service.

An empty cash box stolen from a security guard has been found abandoned.