BBC Local Live: Essex

It will be cloudy with the risk of isolated showers this evening. These tending to die out by morning, with some mist and fog patches forming. 

Minimum Temperature: 4C (39F).

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Mist and fog patches may be slow to clear during Wednesday, making it feel cold, but some bright or sunny intervals should develop by the end of the day.

Southend United have won a behind-closed-doors friendly against a Gillingham Under-21s side 8-0.

Michael Timlin, Gary Deegan, Kevan Hurst and Stephen McLaughlin were all included in the team.

The Blues are preparing for their League One trip at the weekend following two successive heavy home defeats.

Essex can now add Colchester MP Will Quince to its list of musical talent after the Conservative performed his rendition of Bring Him Home from Les Miserables.

Earlier today Mr Quince hosted a debate on the future of local theatre in parliament.

Commuting can sometimes be a bit stressful, but Matthew Mallett has tweeted us this picturesque snap of Chelmsford railway station this afternoon. Relax and enjoy.

Here are your top stories for Essex:

• A jealous man stabbed his girlfriend more than 80 times after she tried to end their relationship, a court has heard
• The Conservative MP for Colchester, Will Quince, has highlighted the importance of local theatres during a special debate in parliament today  
• A dead greyhound dumped on the side of the road in Pitsea yesterday has been described as "unbelievable" by the RSPCA

A Conservative cabinet member on Essex County Council has resigned after failing to declare an interest in a company which has contracts worth millions with the local authority. 

Essex County CouncilCopyright: Essex County Council

Councillor Derrick Louis didn't state on the register of councillor's interests that he was chairman of the firm Provide CIC.

It followed a challenge by Labour to his position within the business. Councillor Lewis said he did not want to harm the Conservative administration and stepped down from the cabinet.

This dramatic photo was captured by Essex Fire and Rescue when a tractor caught fire in Saffron Walden earlier today.

Essex Fire and RescueCopyright: Essex Fire and Rescue

Crews attended the blaze in Littlebury Green Road at about 10:45. 

There are no reports of any injuries but the agricultural vehicle was completely destroyed.

Colchester United striker Dan Holman has left the club.

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The 25-year-old has joined League Two side Cheltenham on a free transfer.

An investigation has begun after a man was found injured and unconscious in a street in Westcliff-on-Sea on New Year's Day.

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Essex Police says the 36-year-old victim was discovered at 01:30 in Westminster Drive with head and facial injuries. He had previously been at a party in Leigh-on-Sea.

The force is particularly keen to speak to a man and woman who assisted the injured man until ambulance crews arrived.

Bosses at Southend Hospital say they're having to cancel some routine operations and outpatient clinics due to the high number of patients visiting its A&E department.

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The facility is under pressure because of an increase in emergency admissions since Boxing Day.

Emergency and cancer-related surgery isn't being affected.

Deta Hedman is safely through to the quarter-finals of the BDO World Championships at Lakeside after a 2-0 win over Australia's Corrine Hammond in the first round.

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Witham-based Hedman is hoping to win a first world title after finishing as runner-up in 2012 and 2014.

She will play her quarter-final match on Thursday.

Carole Hills, 70, and her husband Paul, 45, from Colchester have been married for 23 years. The age gap continues to raise eyebrows...

Yesterday we told you a 32-year-old man had been arrested after a Paddy Power bookmakers in Futherwick Road on Canvey Island was robbed on Saturday.

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Essex Police now says the man has now been released without charge. 

A driver was caught travelling at 75mph in a 30mph zone during a crackdown on speeding drivers.

A dead greyhound "cast aside like rubbish at the side of the road" in Pitsea yesterday morning has been described by the RSPCA as a "tragic sight".

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The male dog was found by a member of the public wrapped in bin bags in Somerset Gardens. It's not known whether he died of natural causes or as a result of neglect. 

RSPCA inspector, Marie Mammerton, said: "It’s unbelievable to think that someone could just dump his body on the side of the road like rubbish."

For the rest of today we will see a mixture of sunny spells and showers, some of which will be heavy. With fairly light winds, the showers will also be fairly slow moving. 

Maximum Temperature: 10C (50F).

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A fatal attack on Laura Davies, 21, was so forceful that the knife used was left badly bent, Chelmsford Crown Court has heard. 

Dyanne LambertCopyright: Dyanne Lambert

Jurors have already been told the horse groomer was stabbed 80 times near the Essex Horse and Pony Protection Society in Pitsea last July.

Miss Davies' ex-boyfriend, Jordan Taylor, 22, of Basildon, is standing trial after pleading not guilty to murder.

Here are your top stories this lunchtime: 

• A horse groomer was brutally stabbed to death in Pitsea after ending her relationship with her killer, a jury has heard
• A luxury Essex hotel, where two guests drowned in a pool, has been fined £200,000 over "a culture of systemic health and safety breaches"
• The body of a dead greyhound has been found wrapped in bin bags and left "like rubbish" on a Pitsea street, the RSCPA says