BBC Local Live: Essex

Patchy rain will move eastwards at first this evening, but becoming dry everywhere by 22:00 with clear spells and patchy cloud developing. 

Minimum temperatures: 9C (48F).

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Some spells of hazy sunshine to start tomorrow, but staying mainly dry through the day.

An Essex energy provider says it's a "great shame" the government is to cut subsidies for small-scale solar electricity panels on homes.

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The subsidies will be cut by 64%, although this is less than the previous proposal of an 87% reduction.

Tim Purbrick from Hive Energy said: "All the opportunity now for solar is now sadly lying overseas". 

A scheme which allows motorists to pay for parking tickets using their mobile phones has halved the number of fines handed out in Rochford District car parks since it was introduced.  

A Wickford man who was at the centre of a row over travellers in Basildon says he has been moved to Africa after the ordeal "destroyed his life".

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Len Gridley lived next door to Dale Farm which was eventually cleared in 2011 after a decade-long dispute.

"After the eviction the travellers just parked along down the road next to the site... I've left England for a better life", Mr Gridley told BBC Essex.

Here are your top stories for Essex this afternoon:

• An inquest has delivered a verdict of accidental death on a 22-year-old man who died while training at his hockey club in Chigwell last week
• A hospital doctor who went on the run after covertly filming up women's skirts in a Harlow shopping centre almost five years ago has been struck off
• Caretaker boss Wayne Brown has withdrawn from the running to be League One Colchester United's next manager

Thanks to Terry Stone who sent us this picture of the Maldon Smack Race, which features at the top of our live page today.

Terry StoneCopyright: Terry Stone

If you would like to share your photos with us, you can email them or post them on our Facebook page.

A Harlow doctor who went on the run after secretly filming up women's skirts caused his victims "significant and understandable distress", a hearing has been told.

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Biju John, 44, was struck off by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service yesterday. 

In reaching its decision, the panel said: "Public confidence in the medical profession would be seriously undermined if Dr John was not erased from the medical register".

At the end of November Thurrock Council’s trading standards team warned local people about the dangers of hover boards.  

It may be unseasonably warm for December, but in January 2003 it was a completely different picture.

The main roads in the East became gridlocked in blizzard conditions. Hundreds of drivers were trapped overnight in their cars, without food or drink.

We've been looking back at our archive footage from the time.

Essex Police could have more money to spend next year, if it is prepared to raise more cash locally.

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The government has granted the force just under £172m for 2016-17, a reduction of nearly £1m on this year. 

However, assuming the Police and Crime Commissioner increases council tax by the maximum allowed, the total budget will see a slight increase.

An inquest has delivered a verdict of accidental death on a 22-year-old man who died while training at his hockey club in Chigwell last week.

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It's believed Tom Wilson, a member of the men's Old Loughtonians first team, suffered a blow to the head at the club on Luxborough Lane on 8 December.

He was airlifted to hospital but didn't survive.

Wayne Brown has told me he has ruled himself out of becoming the next permanent manager of Colchester United. 

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

The U's interim boss had been the favourite to replace Tony Humes who left the club last month. 

Brown said: "I've hardly slept thinking about this but it's the right thing both for myself and the club."

We have some good news for you - Essex Police tells us missing pregnant woman, Rebecca Williams from Chelmsford, has now been found safe and well.

One lane is closed on the anticlockwise M25 at J31 for the Dartford Crossing because of an accident.

Further pictures have been released following the discovery of class A drugs by Shifty the Essex Police dog.

Essex PoliceCopyright: Essex Police

The spaniel sniffed out the wraps of heroin and cocaine which were hidden in a car door in Pitsea on Tuesday, the force says.

A 26-year-old man is due to appear at Basildon Magistrates' Court. Two other teenagers who were arrested have been released on police bail.

Southend United midfielder David Worrall says the squad have kept their "match sharpness" despite a lack of games recently.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

The Blues have played just one match this month but return to League One action at home to Bury tomorrow.

The MP for Southend West, Sir David Amess, has criticised rail operator c2c after it made changes to its timetable connecting Essex and London. 

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Hundreds of passengers complained of over-crowded trains and a poorer service since the alterations earlier this week.

Speaking in the Commons, the Conservative MP said: "The timetable changes have transferred what used to be the happy line back into the misery line". 

A teenager has been left “disgusted” by thieves who ransacked his Braintree home and stole charity money along with £5,000 in jewellery and cash.