Matthew Benton-Smith

Three people got into difficulty in the sea near Clacton Pier. A man in his 50s remained in critical but stable condition, while a man in his 20s and a teenage girl were hospitalized and recovering. Essex Police, ambulance services, an air ambulance, the coastguard and lifeboat crews responded, and police said the three people were known to each other.

Fire crews remained overnight at Highlands Farm in East Hanningfield after a major industrial fire and fertiliser-store explosion on Southend Road triggered a major incident. More than 100 firefighters had tackled the blaze, while around 15 stayed on site to extinguish hotspots and monitor small fires spreading through nearby fields. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said the area was being made safe, with Chelmsford City Council coordinating recovery information for residents and businesses.

Braintree Road is closed in both directions between Water Lane at Church End and the Braintree turn-off because of an ongoing police incident. Drivers are advised to avoid the area, follow diversions and allow extra travel time as nearby roads may experience delays.

Firefighters tackled a blaze involving a tractor and straw-filled trailer on Lower Road in Hullbridge, Essex. The fire spread to part of a nearby field and hedgerow but was brought under control within an hour. Crews remained on site with local farmers to unload the straw and extinguish hotspots while Essex County Fire and Rescue Service continued managing a separate incident at Highlands Farm in East Hanningfield.

A fertiliser explosion triggered a major fire at an industrial site at Highlands Farm between East Hanningfield and Rettendon in Essex. Around 100 firefighters initially tackled the blaze, which damaged several industrial units and spread to a nearby field; residents were evacuated as a precaution. The fire was brought under control, but smoke, hotspots and road closures remained as crews continued monitoring the scene. Officials advised nearby residents to keep windows and doors closed, said there was no wider risk to the public, and launched an investigation into the cause.

An investigation by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman found that Ronald Beamish, an 86-year-old wheelchair user with multiple serious health conditions, was repeatedly subjected to escort chains and once to double handcuffs during hospital treatment shortly before his death in October 2023. The restraints were deemed unjustified and inhumane because prison staff overestimated his escape risk and failed to account for his limited mobility and illness. The investigation also found that Beamish's daughter was not informed of his hospital admission and had to locate him herself. The Prison Service said it had accepted and implemented all recommendations, including a new hospital-escort risk assessment involving a trained medical professional.

A Humboldt penguin chick has hatched at Colchester Zoo, the third offspring of penguins OJ and Diego, and shares a May 4th birthday with its older sibling, Skywalker. The zoo reports steady development as the chick begins exploring outside its nest. The hatching is considered significant for a species classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to threats such as declining fish stocks, habitat loss, and predation. The birth supports the European breeding programme, and visitors can view the penguins on the zoo's Inca Trail.