BBC Local Live: Essex

Broken cloud and also some clearer intervals this evening and overnight with perhaps one or two light wintry showers this evening though most places will stay dry. 

Minimum Temperature: 2C (36F).

BBCCopyright: BBC

Cold with a good deal of cloud on Saturday, the best of any brightness across north Essex. The south likely to see patchy rain or sleet at times. 

Ahead of the Prime Minister's crunch meeting in Brussels, Look East and the Sunday Politics will be spending the next week trying to explain why the forthcoming referendum is so important to our region.

I've been looking at the main arguments in the debate...

Here are your top stories for Essex this evening: 

• A man has been found guilty of manslaughter following the death of university student, Anton Levin, in Southend in 2014
• A man has been jailed for 18 months after being found guilty of kidnapping and assaulting a 50-year-old man in Basildon
• Twenty brand-new ambulances have arrived in the region as part of a £53m vehicle investment programme  

Braintree Town have signed winger Joe Gardner after his Concord Rangers deal was terminated, according to the National League South club.  

Andy SmithCopyright: Andy Smith

The 25-year-old made 72 appearances for the Beach Boys, scoring 11 goals, and reportedly turned down a deal to join Welling United last season.

He previously played under Iron boss Danny Cowley at Concord.

Braintree sign Concord winger Gardner

Braintree sign winger Joe Gardner after his Concord Rangers deal was terminated, according to the National League South club.

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A horse has been rescued from inside the grounds of Tilbury Fort.

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Staff from an animal rescue charity called Essex Fire and Rescue Service at 14:45 to report a horse had fallen on its side and was in need of help.

It took three fire crews more than 90 minutes to pull the horse to its feet. It has been left in the care of its owner.

A man has been jailed for 18 months after being found guilty of kidnapping and assaulting a 50-year-old man in Basildon in July 2013.

Essex PoliceCopyright: Essex Police

Bakall Ahmed, 28, of no fixed address was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court yesterday having spent two years on the run. 

He was eventually found in Sweden, where he was bor,n and extradited back to the UK to face trial.   

A distraught Essex shopper has begged thieves to return sentimental photos of his partner, who died of cancer just four weeks ago.

The family of 86-year-old Joan Shelley of Burnham-on-Crouch claim she was neglected by social services for three weeks after leaving hospital.  

I've been to meet her son Simon, who usually lives in West Yorkshire. He says Mrs Shelley was left lying in excrement as his nearly 98-year-old father Tom Shelley struggled without carers.

As two Essex firefighters are on for £20,000 after backing Leicester City to win the league at the start of the season, we asked Betfred what bets are also priced at 2000/1. 

Getty Images/PACopyright: Getty Images/PA

• Jamie Carragher to be the next Manchester United manager
• Andy Murray's new baby daughter to become a Wimbledon winner

A man who was extradited from Norway following the death of a university graduate in Southend in 2014 has been found guilty of manslaughter. 

Essex PoliceCopyright: Essex Police

Anton Levin (pictured), 24, from Dagenham was stabbed at a house in St Anns Road, Southend on 19 November 2014, and another man was injured.  

Abdulfatah Suleiman, 28, of no fixed address, was cleared of murder, but was convicted of manslaughter as well as robbery and unlawful wounding at Chelmsford Crown Court today. He will be sentenced next month. 

Good news - police searching for Katie Grimes, 17, from Harlow say she has now been found in Suffolk.

We have an update on a story we brought you last week: Essex Police says it is now investigating whether a member of the public verbally abused a teenager with special needs on a bus in Colchester.

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It was initially thought a driver may have used an abusive term to 18-year-old William Wragg on a journey to his school in January. 

Officers are now examining whether a passenger made the comments. First Bus have told BBC Essex that it's no longer looking into the matter.

Twenty brand-new ambulances have arrived in our region as part of a £53m vehicle investment programme, the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust says. But how much do they cost?  

EEASTCopyright: EEAST

We're being told firefighters are currently trying to stop a blaze at a house in Loughton spreading to nearby buildings. 

Essex Fire and Rescue says it was called to Newmans Lane just before 13:00.

Crews are trying to contain the fire which appears to have got into the loft and roof space. There are no reports of any injures. More updates as we get them. 

Surface improvements to the A127 will begin two months earlier than planned, Essex County Council has announced.

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The road, which runs between Southend and London carrying 74,000 vehicles per-day, will be repaired in phases at 16 sites starting this month.

The authority says any lane closures will be advertised in advance on the Essex Highways website. 

An Essex fireman who could win £10,000 if Leicester City become champions says he'll use the winnings as spending money for his holiday in Las Vegas. 

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Mitchell Baldock, 25, from Thurrock, who is actually an Arsenal fan, backed the Foxes after his colleague accidentally bet £5 on Leicester to win the league. 

"If [they] do become champions I will have plenty of spending money. We’re watching all the results now, of course, with Leicester having only 13 games to go", Mr Baldock said. 

A generally fine and dry afternoon ahead with variable amounts of cloud and some bright or sunny spells. The odd shower may affect Harwich and other coastal areas at times.

Maximum Temperature: 6C (43F).

BBC Weather Watchers/Vron's ViewsCopyright: BBC Weather Watchers/Vron's Views

Thanks to BBC Weather Watcher, Vron's Views, who took this snap in Thorpe Bay earlier, reporting sunny spells.

Here are your top stories for Essex this lunchtime:

• A 29-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of GBH after a man, 34, was stabbed on Canvey Island last month
• The leader of the opposition at Essex County Council has described a man's allegations of neglect by social services in the county as heartbreaking  

• Two firefighters from Essex are in line to win £10,000 each after a betting shop mix-up left them backing Leicester City to win the Premiership this year

As Essex County Cricket club appoints Anthony McGrath as their assistant head coach, here's what we know about the 40-year-old's history in the game:

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