BBC Local Live: Essex

The winds will strengthen overnight as a rain band approaches from the west. There'll be lengthy periods of rain after midnight, heavy at times perhaps with some sleet in places. It'll turn drier and clearer later with the risk of frost and ice forming in places. Minimum temperature: 3C (37F).

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About 130 drivers were stopped by police in Basildon yesterday for various offences, including having illegal number plates, defective cars and driving while using a mobile phone.

Essex PoliceCopyright: Essex Police

One driver was arrested for overstaying in the UK, another had his licence revoked after failing a roadside test and 66 people were spotted not wearing seatbelts.

Officers were at East Mayne and Great Oaks in Basildon as part of a series of operations across the county.

Three derelict homes are on fire in Southend.

The blaze in Southchurch Avenue started just before 16:00. Southend's Transport and Highways Team says it has caused road closures in the area.

The X Factor has announced it will hold auditions in Southend, as part of a tour of more than 40 towns and cities across the country.

Singers who impress at the auditions at The Royals Shopping Centre on 18 March will then be invited to try out in front of the judges at a later date.

GeographCopyright: Geograph

Auditions will also take place in High Chelmer in Chelmsford on 16 March and at the Lakeside Shopping Centre on 19 March.

An Essex Police officer has been given a final written warning after he accessed a work database without having a policing purpose. 

Det Con Leigh Valentine appeared before a misconduct hearing earlier this week. It heard that he looked at records of someone known to him in 2010 and 2011.

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The officer was found to have breached the standards of professional behaviour in terms of confidentiality, orders and instructions and discreditable conduct.

NHS bosses have confirmed that the Grays walk-in centre will close its doors at the end of the month. 

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Its future was under the spotlight last year, with campaigners fighting to keep it open. However, today the Thurrock Clinical Commissioning Group has announced that the centre will shut on 31 March. Health managers say there'll be "enhanced' facilities" at four local health hubs instead.  

Detectives have been given more time to question three men arrested in connection with the stabbing of a 70-year-old man in Hythe Hill, Colchester, in November.Yesterday, police arrested a 20-year-old man from the Manningtree area on suspicion of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. A 49-year-old from Manningtree and a 45-year-old from Colchester were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.They remain in custody after magistrates granted police extra time to question them.   

The A127 Prince Avenue in Southend-On-Sea is closed and there are delays southbound between Cuckoo Corner and the Fairfax Drive junction, because of a serious accident.  

A video to accompany a song written by a schoolboy about the devastating effects of his grandmother’s dementia has been viewed nearly 5,000 times in just eight days on YouTube.

In the video, Harry Gardner, 15, of Chelmsford, sings about how his nanna Maureen McGuinness, 76, used to ruffle his hair and carry chocolate treats in her handbag for him.

He wrote Not Alone, which he will perform on tonight’s BBC Look East, after a recent visit. “I had never seen my nan like that before and it really hit me hard," he said.

Police have released a CCTV image of a man they want to trace in connection with fires at the rear of an amusement arcade in Southend.

Essex PoliceCopyright: Essex Police

The fires happened on 23 and 25 February at a disused building to the rear of the Happidrome arcade in Marine Parade.Officers say he was wearing dark grey trainers, dirty blue jeans, a dark khaki green or black jacket, baseball cap with a white peak and was holding a carrier bag.  

It will turn increasingly cloudy this afternoon, with perhaps the odd light shower.

However, it'll feel warmer than yesterday in a light westerly wind. 

Maximum temperature: 8C (46F).  

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A 15-year-old boy from Chelmsford has released a poignant song about his nan, who has advanced dementia.

Harry GardnerCopyright: Harry Gardner

Harry Gardner said he was “so shocked” by how his nan Maureen McGuinness, 76, had deteriorated after a recent visit that he immediately went home and wrote a song, Not Alone.

He said his school friends had bought downloads of the song to help raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK, and the YouTube video – filmed at Hylands House – had clocked up more than 4,600 views in just over a week.

Here are your headlines this lunchtime:

• Detectives investigating the death of Vilson Meshi in Pitsea have arrested three boys on suspicion of murder
• Police are continuing to question three men following the stabbing of a 70-year-old man in Colchester 
• A dog owner says she's trying to complete a 'bucket list' for her pet, after he was diagnosed with bladder cancer

Our story yesterday about Lynne Groves, the Chelmsford woman who won £1m on the Lotto raffle, is continuing to reach new people and is currently the most read story on the BBC website.

Our reporter Richard Smith visited Ms Groves, 57, from Chelmsford and was told she planned to treat her family and friends to a fleet of cars and foreign holidays.

Here she is celebrating.

Two 16-year-old boys and a 15-year-old boy, all from Basildon, were arrested last night on suspicion of murdering Vilson Meshi.

Anthony ChooahCopyright: Anthony Chooah

The 30-year-old was found dead in a car in Pitsea on Saturday. A post-mortem examination found he died of smoke inhalation.

Mr Meshi's friend Anthony Chooah described him as a "big cuddly bear" and "one of the nicest people you could ever meet". 

West Mersea sailor Hannah Stodel says "controlling the circus around you" will be the key to winning a Paralympic medal. 

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

The 30-year-old, who was born without her right forearm, will compete in the Sonar class in Rio this summer, in what she says will be her last games. Stodel and her crew were denied bronze at London 2012 after being penalised and placed fifth by officials.   

The owner of a dog who is working his way through a bucket list after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, says she wants to treat him "in the best way possible" during his last few months.

Chuckie, a 13-year-old Staffie, has already ticked off eating doughnuts and riding in a police car and a fire engine, but has yet to achieve the goal of meeting a celebrity.

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His owner Toni Lawless said: "I want to have a photo of Chuckie on my wall with any celebrity that is happy and loves dogs.

"I also want to take him to a doggy hotel in London and take photos of him with the human statues and in front of the London Eye and Big Ben."

Police have released CCTV images of two men they want to speak to in connection with an assault in Basildon.

Essex PoliceCopyright: Essex Police

A 44-year-old man from Grays was approached by a group of men in a car park outside Katz, in Time Square, at 04:20 on 3 January.

He was assaulted and suffered a large cut to his forehead, which required hospital treatment.