Here's a flavour of the stories we've been covering:
Disabled pensioner Ronald King, who shot his wife in a care home, told police he modified the bullets so they would have maximum impact, Chelmsford Crown Court has heard
The driver of a car involved in a hit-and-run in Newmarket, which left an Essex estate agent needing both legs amputated, has been urged to come forward
Meanwhile, U's defenders Tom Eastman, 24, and Jamie Harney, 20, have signed new one-year contracts.
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Rita King care home shooting: 'I asked her if she’d had enough and she said yes'
Charlotte Rose
BBC Essex
Chelmsford Crown Court has heard about Ronald King's relationship with his wife Rita from interviews he gave to police.
The pair would have been married for 50 years this September, he told officers, and he visited her at De La Mer House, a care home, "once or twice a week".
"She used to wait for me to have her breakfast – she said it used to brighten her day," Mr King said.
BBCCopyright: BBC
But Mrs King started crying when her husband told her he couldn't cope with her coming home.
"I asked her if she’d had enough and she said yes," Mr King told police.
When asked if Mrs King knew he was planning on taking her life, Mr King replied: "She thought that we were going back home."
The trial continues.
Rita King 'would hardly recognise' husband
Charlotte Rose
BBC Essex
During an interview with Det Con Claire Jennings from Essex Police, Ronald King said his wife's dementia had worsened in the months leading to her death.
He claimed her health went downhill after her walking frame was taken away and she was given a wheelchair.
"Sometimes she was alright and another day I'd go [to De La Mer Home] and she'd hardly recognise me," he said.
Chelmsford Crown Court was played a video of Mr King's interview with police. He denies murder.
Ronald King trial: 'He wanted to pick something up'
Charlotte Rose
BBC Essex
A taxi driver has told how a pensioner accused of murdering his wife asked him to take him home briefly so he could "pick something up".
Edward Prevost told Chelmsford Crown Court Ronald King, 87, was one of his regular fares who he saw sometimes twice a week.
He waited 10 minutes outside Mr King's home in Walton. It is understood he had gone to collect a World War Two revolver.
He said: "I don’t recall him saying much on journey back. On collecting him he said he felt woozy.
"When I got back to the office I was told the news that Ron had shot his wife.
"I was quite surprised to be honest – I never would have expected him to do anything like that."
'I did it, I killed my wife,' court hears
Charlotte Rose
BBC Essex
A senior care worker has told a jury she heard Ronald King say "I did it, I killed my wife" after shooting her.
Cecelia Cole then showed Chelmsford Crown Court how Mr King held the weapon, a 1934 Enfield revolver, up to his head.
PACopyright: PA
But Mr King, she said, held the gun with shaking arms and declared: "I can't do it".
Mrs Cole ran to the lounge to find Mr King's wife of 50 years Rita. When she entered the room, the court was told it smelled like a "fire cracker had gone off".
The trial continues.
'We are a forgiving family' says cousin of Stansted estate agent
Jodie Smith
BBC News
The cousin of an Essex estate agent who lost both of his legs after a hit-and-run in Newmarket have urged the driver of the car to come forward.
Friends and family are rallying round Shaun Whiter, who works in Stansted and who stopped to help a friend change a tyre on Friday.
A car crashed into him and his friend Joey Abbs, but then drove off - leaving Shaun with injuries that were so severe he had to have both legs amputated.
David LeeCopyright: David Lee
His cousin Charlotte O'Brien said: "Shaun was left for dead. The doctors have told us they can't believe he's alive.
"He just can't get his head around the fact that he was left, but we are a forgiving family.
"We totally understand that in some circumstances you may panic and drive away, but just to make things a little bit easier for Shaun's recovery, we'd like the person to come forward."
Bopara disciplined over 'serious dissent'
Ben Fryer
BBC Essex sport
The Essex one-day captain Ravi Bopara has been disciplined by the England and Wales Cricket Board for showing 'serious dissent' in a T20 Blast game against Hampshire last month.
He could face a suspension for any similar incidents in the future.
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Airport police stop passenger with gun-style phone case
Essex Police have released images of a phone case spotted in the back pocket of a passenger... which caused him to be stopped earlier at Stansted Airport.
Police say the person risks being charged either with a public order offence or of carrying an imitation firearm in a public space.
We hope to have more details on the incident shortly.
It was 13 years ago, in March 2003, that MPs were asked to vote on the government motion authorising "all means necessary" for disarming Saddam Hussein. There was a rebel motion in parliament opposing military action.
Six officers from the Royal Military Police, based in Colchester, died in the conflict that followed.
Former Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell voted against the war.
He said the Chilcot report was a "vindication" of the Liberal Democrats who unanimously voted against the invasion of Iraq.
"All options had not been exhausted," he said.
"It became quite clear that Tony Blair wanted to back George Bush. Troops from Colchester were sent to Iraq. Not all of them came back. We are still suffering the consequences."
BBCCopyright: BBC
Iraq War: Two sides 13 years on
As Sir John Chilcot concludes the invasion of Iraq in 2003 was "not a last resort", two Essex MPs who disagreed on the war give their views.
North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin, voted for the war. He said: "It is far too soon to draw a judgement from this report. I have not read it yet."
He said he hoped in the future intelligence would never be used as propaganda by governments and that there would be better post-conflict planning.
"We really should have seen it through," he said. "We have contributed to the chaos."
PACopyright: PA
Ron King Trial: Care worker reported comment
Charlotte Rose
BBC Essex
A care worker who heard Ron King claim his wife would not be at a care home in two days time took it to mean he would be taking her home.
Earlier the jury heard of a brief altercation between Mr King and Danielle Cross in which Mr King said: "Rita won't be here by Monday anyway."
Ms Cross told the jury his comment was reported to a senior member of staff, but she took it to mean he planned to remove her from the De La Mer care home in Walton-on-the-Naze.
The trial continues.
Ron King Trial: 'Rita won't be here by Monday'
Charlotte Rose
BBC Essex
A disabled pensioner accused of murdering his wife in a care home told a care worker she would not be alive for long, a jury has been told.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Rita King, 81, died at De La Mer House in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, on 28 December last year. Her husband Ronald, 87, is on trial at Chelmsford Crown Court for her murder.
Care worker Danielle Cross described to the court an altercation she had with Mr King two days before the death of his wife.
While she was making dinner for residents at the De La Mer care home Mr King said Mrs King needed the toilet. It was Boxing Day - a Saturday.
He was rude, she told the jury, and said: "I can never find a carer when I need one."
Mr King then added: "Rita won't be here by Monday anyway", she said.
We'll have more from the trial throughout the day.
Rita King killing trial resumes
The trial of a disabled pensioner accused of murdering his wife at a care home has resumed this morning.
PACopyright: PA
Rita King, 81, died at De La Mer House in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, on 28 December last year.
Her husband Ronald, 87, is on trial at Chelmsford Crown Court. He denies murder.
The case continues.
Toddler in Basildon light fall near miss
A Basildon mother has told how a ceiling light collapsed next to her toddler son in his pushchair.
As first reported in the Echo Kim Heckman was walking towards a shoe shop in Basildon bus station when one of the ceiling lights fell to the ground.
Kim HeckmannCopyright: Kim Heckmann
"It just happened so quick," she told BBC Essex earlier. "I didn't actually see the light coming down, I heard a big smash and then I was in shock. It was right where people queue for buses. It could have been a lot worse."
Live Reporting
Laurence Cawley
All times stated are UK
Get involved
- Disabled pensioner Ronald King, who shot his wife in a care home, told police he modified the bullets so they would have maximum impact, Chelmsford Crown Court has heard
- The driver of a car involved in a hit-and-run in Newmarket, which left an Essex estate agent needing both legs amputated, has been urged to come forward
- Essex politicians have been reacting to the publication of the Chilcot report into the Iraq War
Alan ConranCopyright: Alan Conran 
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Essex Police/TwitterCopyright: Essex Police/Twitter 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images 
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David LeeCopyright: David Lee 
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images View more on twitterView more on twitter 
Essex PoliceCopyright: Essex Police 
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PACopyright: PA - Bernard Jenkin (North Essex)
- Simon Burns (Chelmsford West)
- Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar)
- John Whittingdale (Maldon & Chelmsford East)
- Mark Francois (Rayleigh)
- Alan Hurst (Braintree)
- Ivan Henderson (Harwich)
- Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock)
- Bill Rammell (Harlow)
- Angela Smith (Basildon)
- David Amess (Southend West)
- Teddy Taylor (Rochford and Southend East)
- John Baron (Billericay)
- Bob Russell (Colchester)
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Kim HeckmannCopyright: Kim Heckmann 
Kim HeckmannCopyright: Kim Heckmann
Latest PostOur live coverage through the day
Thanks for joining us on today's Essex Live page.
Here's a flavour of the stories we've been covering:
Join us again at 08:00 tomorrow morning for Thursday's news, sport, weather and more.
Photo: The seagull eyeing up the beach lovers
We just had to share this image sent in to us by Alan Conran.
"Took this picture of a seagull surveying the beach goers below near to Clacton Pier," says Alan.
As much as anything else, it's just nice to see a blue sky, the seaside and no rain.
Weather: Dry night ahead, cloudy start tomorrow
Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather
Time for a look at the weather - this evening should stay dry with spells of hazy sunshine.
Overnight it's going to be dry with clear intervals but also lots of cloud.
Lows of 13C, 55F.
Tomorrow should be a mainly dry day but it'll be cloudy, too, with the chance of some patchy drizzle later and highs of 21C (70F).
Check the latest forecast for where you live with BBC Weather.
What Twitter has to say about THAT gun-style phone case
Laurence Cawley
BBC News
People have reacted with surprise that anybody would go into an airport with a phone case shaped like a gun handle.
Essex Police released images of the case earlier after the man walked into Stansted Airport.
On Twitter Philip Padley said: "Some people have no common sense."
David Preston meanwhile tweeted: "There are apps for many things, but not one for stupidity."
Colchester sign Forest Green's Guthrie
In sport... and League Two side Colchester United sign forward Kurtis Guthrie from Forest Green Rovers for an undisclosed fee.
Meanwhile, U's defenders Tom Eastman, 24, and Jamie Harney, 20, have signed new one-year contracts.
Rita King care home shooting: 'I asked her if she’d had enough and she said yes'
Charlotte Rose
BBC Essex
Chelmsford Crown Court has heard about Ronald King's relationship with his wife Rita from interviews he gave to police.
The pair would have been married for 50 years this September, he told officers, and he visited her at De La Mer House, a care home, "once or twice a week".
"She used to wait for me to have her breakfast – she said it used to brighten her day," Mr King said.
But Mrs King started crying when her husband told her he couldn't cope with her coming home.
"I asked her if she’d had enough and she said yes," Mr King told police.
When asked if Mrs King knew he was planning on taking her life, Mr King replied: "She thought that we were going back home."
The trial continues.
Rita King 'would hardly recognise' husband
Charlotte Rose
BBC Essex
During an interview with Det Con Claire Jennings from Essex Police, Ronald King said his wife's dementia had worsened in the months leading to her death.
He claimed her health went downhill after her walking frame was taken away and she was given a wheelchair.
"Sometimes she was alright and another day I'd go [to De La Mer Home] and she'd hardly recognise me," he said.
Chelmsford Crown Court was played a video of Mr King's interview with police. He denies murder.
Ronald King trial: 'He wanted to pick something up'
Charlotte Rose
BBC Essex
A taxi driver has told how a pensioner accused of murdering his wife asked him to take him home briefly so he could "pick something up".
Edward Prevost told Chelmsford Crown Court Ronald King, 87, was one of his regular fares who he saw sometimes twice a week.
He waited 10 minutes outside Mr King's home in Walton. It is understood he had gone to collect a World War Two revolver.
He said: "I don’t recall him saying much on journey back. On collecting him he said he felt woozy.
"When I got back to the office I was told the news that Ron had shot his wife.
"I was quite surprised to be honest – I never would have expected him to do anything like that."
'I did it, I killed my wife,' court hears
Charlotte Rose
BBC Essex
A senior care worker has told a jury she heard Ronald King say "I did it, I killed my wife" after shooting her.
Cecelia Cole then showed Chelmsford Crown Court how Mr King held the weapon, a 1934 Enfield revolver, up to his head.
But Mr King, she said, held the gun with shaking arms and declared: "I can't do it".
Mrs Cole ran to the lounge to find Mr King's wife of 50 years Rita. When she entered the room, the court was told it smelled like a "fire cracker had gone off".
The trial continues.
'We are a forgiving family' says cousin of Stansted estate agent
Jodie Smith
BBC News
The cousin of an Essex estate agent who lost both of his legs after a hit-and-run in Newmarket have urged the driver of the car to come forward.
Friends and family are rallying round Shaun Whiter, who works in Stansted and who stopped to help a friend change a tyre on Friday.
A car crashed into him and his friend Joey Abbs, but then drove off - leaving Shaun with injuries that were so severe he had to have both legs amputated.
His cousin Charlotte O'Brien said: "Shaun was left for dead. The doctors have told us they can't believe he's alive.
"He just can't get his head around the fact that he was left, but we are a forgiving family.
"We totally understand that in some circumstances you may panic and drive away, but just to make things a little bit easier for Shaun's recovery, we'd like the person to come forward."
Bopara disciplined over 'serious dissent'
Ben Fryer
BBC Essex sport
The Essex one-day captain Ravi Bopara has been disciplined by the England and Wales Cricket Board for showing 'serious dissent' in a T20 Blast game against Hampshire last month.
He could face a suspension for any similar incidents in the future.
Airport police stop passenger with gun-style phone case
Essex Police have released images of a phone case spotted in the back pocket of a passenger... which caused him to be stopped earlier at Stansted Airport.
Police say the person risks being charged either with a public order offence or of carrying an imitation firearm in a public space.
We hope to have more details on the incident shortly.
Iraq and the East of England: In numbers
Nic Rigby
BBC News
Iraq War: How our MPs voted in 2003
It was 13 years ago, in March 2003, that MPs were asked to vote on the government motion authorising "all means necessary" for disarming Saddam Hussein. There was a rebel motion in parliament opposing military action.
Six officers from the Royal Military Police, based in Colchester, died in the conflict that followed.
Here's how our MPs at the time voted:
For military action:
Against military action:
Live coverage on the Chilcot report
Iraq War: Two sides 13 years on
Former Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell voted against the war.
He said the Chilcot report was a "vindication" of the Liberal Democrats who unanimously voted against the invasion of Iraq.
"All options had not been exhausted," he said.
"It became quite clear that Tony Blair wanted to back George Bush. Troops from Colchester were sent to Iraq. Not all of them came back. We are still suffering the consequences."
Iraq War: Two sides 13 years on
As Sir John Chilcot concludes the invasion of Iraq in 2003 was "not a last resort", two Essex MPs who disagreed on the war give their views.
North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin, voted for the war. He said: "It is far too soon to draw a judgement from this report. I have not read it yet."
He said he hoped in the future intelligence would never be used as propaganda by governments and that there would be better post-conflict planning.
"We really should have seen it through," he said. "We have contributed to the chaos."
Ron King Trial: Care worker reported comment
Charlotte Rose
BBC Essex
A care worker who heard Ron King claim his wife would not be at a care home in two days time took it to mean he would be taking her home.
Earlier the jury heard of a brief altercation between Mr King and Danielle Cross in which Mr King said: "Rita won't be here by Monday anyway."
Ms Cross told the jury his comment was reported to a senior member of staff, but she took it to mean he planned to remove her from the De La Mer care home in Walton-on-the-Naze.
The trial continues.
Ron King Trial: 'Rita won't be here by Monday'
Charlotte Rose
BBC Essex
A disabled pensioner accused of murdering his wife in a care home told a care worker she would not be alive for long, a jury has been told.
Rita King, 81, died at De La Mer House in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, on 28 December last year. Her husband Ronald, 87, is on trial at Chelmsford Crown Court for her murder.
Care worker Danielle Cross described to the court an altercation she had with Mr King two days before the death of his wife.
While she was making dinner for residents at the De La Mer care home Mr King said Mrs King needed the toilet. It was Boxing Day - a Saturday.
He was rude, she told the jury, and said: "I can never find a carer when I need one."
Mr King then added: "Rita won't be here by Monday anyway", she said.
We'll have more from the trial throughout the day.
Rita King killing trial resumes
The trial of a disabled pensioner accused of murdering his wife at a care home has resumed this morning.
Rita King, 81, died at De La Mer House in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, on 28 December last year.
Her husband Ronald, 87, is on trial at Chelmsford Crown Court. He denies murder.
The case continues.
Toddler in Basildon light fall near miss
A Basildon mother has told how a ceiling light collapsed next to her toddler son in his pushchair.
As first reported in the Echo Kim Heckman was walking towards a shoe shop in Basildon bus station when one of the ceiling lights fell to the ground.
"It just happened so quick," she told BBC Essex earlier. "I didn't actually see the light coming down, I heard a big smash and then I was in shock. It was right where people queue for buses. It could have been a lot worse."
Her son Ronny was unharmed.