BBC Local Live: Essex

Braintree Town manager Jamie Day is still looking for new signings to bolster his squad ahead of the new National League season.

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Yesterday, the Iron revealed that they had secured the services of three new players, including the former Southend United striker Lee Barnard and ex-Grays defender Craig Braham-Barrett. 

The manager is talking to several players and some who are away at present but he is aiming to have 10 or 12 newcomers ready for the new season.

The household waste collection contractor for Southend has apologised after 700 people complained their bags weren't taken away.

Veolia, which collects rubbish for Southend Council, is moving from a five to four days a week service.

A spokeswoman said: "We are very sorry for the inconvenience caused to many residents as a result of teething problems experienced with the new service. 

"We know many areas were affected by missed collections, streets have not been as clean as people have rightly come to expect as a result and that is not acceptable to us or the council. 

"We have therefore worked very hard to clear the backlog of waste from the last two weeks and rest assured the quality of service from this week and going forward has and will improve for local people."

Double world champion and World Cup winner Hannah Stodel, from Colchester, is still to add a Paralympic medal to her collection.

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"It's going to be about keeping our heads and accepting that things are going to go wrong at the Games and it's how we bounce back from them that's really going to matter," she said.

For Para Sailing star Hannah Stodel and her crew, the Rio 2016 Games are a chance to end on a "high note".

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Stodel and her crew were denied bronze at London 2012 after being penalised and placed fifth by officials. And sailing is being scrubbed from the Tokyo Games in 2020. 

The 29-year-old, who was born without her right forearm, said: "We're out for gold and nothing else. I've been hunting this medal for so long now. This will be my last Games, so to finish on a high note would be fantastic."

Incredible to think with all the football fever going on we're now just 50 days away from the start of the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A year ago we announced our Five to Follow, and since we've been following the highs and lows of five hopefuls from the east of England as they sought qualification and prepared for the challenges of Brazil.

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In Essex we've been following the progress of Para Sailing star Hannah Stodel, as sailing looks to be cut from the Paralympics following the end of Rio.

Today we'll bring you updates on how she's got on over the past year and tell you what other names from Essex you should keep an eye on this summer, with the Games starting soon on 5 August.  

Two Northern Ireland lorry drivers who led a ring of people smugglers have been jailed over the discovery of 35 women, men and children at Tilbury Docks. 

One of the Afghan migrants died of a heart attack in a container before they were discovered, Basildon Crown Court was told. 

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Martin McGlinchey, 49, (pictured left) jailed for eight years, drove the container to Dover from where it was transferred to Zeebrugge in Belgium to pick up the migrants. 

Stephen McLaughlin, 36, (pictured right) jailed for nine years, supplied the lorry and allowed his shipping account to be used for the container's journeys. 

A third man, Taha Sharif, 39, of High Cross Road, Tottenham, convicted in July last year and due to be sentenced at the end of June, organised the loading of the people into the container.  

All were convicted of conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK.

Essex are back in action tonight as they host Gloucestershire at Chelmsford in the T20 Blast.

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Three defeats from four games means their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals are relying on an upturn in form. All-rounder Graham Napier (pictured) should return to the side after being rested for the win over Kent yesterday. 

BBC Essex will have commentary online or on 765 MW on the radio from 19:00 BST.

Phew, what an afternoon! It's been brilliant watching the England v Wales match with all its highs and lows at Inn on the Green in Billericay.

I'm sure if Gavin, Smithy and the other Essex lads from Gavin & Stacey had been here, they'd have been cheering their hearts out too.

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I'm heading off to try to dry the beer which was thrown down the lower reaches of my back in all the excitement. 

England's third group game is against Slovakia on Monday at 20:00.

Joyous scenes at the Inn on the Green in Billericay.

England fans celebrate Daniel Sturridge's late winner against Wales.

Well that worked out well for England fans here in Billericay. You can find more reaction to Daniel Sturridge's dramatic late winner here.

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Now my eardrums have recovered from the noise everyone made when England scored, I can share this picture with you.

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Jamie Vardy's goal has completely changed the mood and was the boost this crowd so badly wanted.

Now they're even more lively, screaming at every single chance on goal.

I just had to take a photo of these fans and their faces of intense concentration as they pray for another England goal.

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With a draw against Russia on Saturday, fans have really been hoping for a win today.

We've only got a few minutes left to find out if that's possible.

Two lorry drivers from Northern Ireland have been jailed for their part in a people-smuggling operation in which an Afghan man died of a heart attack.

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Stephen McLaughlin, 36, of Rose Park, Limavady, was jailed for nine years and Martin McGlinchey, 49, of Derryloughlan Road, Dungannon, for eight years. 

They both denied conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK but were found guilty by majority verdicts at Basildon Crown Court on Thursday. 

UK Border Force officials found 35 Afghan women, men and children in a lorry at Tilbury Docks on 16 August 2014. Meet Singh Kapoor, 40, an Afghan Sikh travelling with his family, was found dead in the container travelling from Belgium.

You know just now when I said the atmosphere was good in here?

I thought I'd take a selfie with some fans to illustrate that. We're loving life (and hoping for another goal).

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The moment England scored against Wales. People in the Inn on the Green in Billericay are very happy about it.

John, who's watching with his friend Sam, says he's disappointed with how the first half went.

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"Taking Sterling off, which Hodgson has done, is what I wanted," John said.

I've moved to the front of the pub where the lads are sitting. People over this side are even louder than where I was before!"

Gareth Bale's goal for Wales just before half time has caused cries of despair among the England fans here in Billericay.

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Time to grab a drink and cool off (all the bodies in here mean it's quite warm), and fingers crossed England can come back strongly in the second half.