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Watch: Tears of joy as fans react to play-off win

Southend fans were left ecstatic and emotional after watching their side book a place in the National League play-off final.

The Shrimpers beat Forest Green 4-2 on penalties, setting up a trip to face Oldham at Wembley on 1 June and moving them a step closer to League Two.

One supporter at the Bolt New Lawn ground said the win had "reduced a grown man to tears".

"I am so proud of these boys," he said. "I've been coming here since 1969 and this is my proudest moment yet."

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Southend-on-Sea

Smoke and sand can be seen in the air after a bomb was detonated

Watch: World War Two bomb explodes on beach

HM Coastguard says it was a "loud detonation".

Firefighters are stood in front of a white timber building damaged by fire. Two are firing hose jets on to it.

Crews try to save artefacts from sailing club fire

The fire service "worked incredibly hard to save artefacts and other important items".

A car with its rear lights on is stuck in a muddy, rutted field at night with a section of metal fencing next to it. It is lit up by the pursuing police vehicle.

Suspect's car gets stuck in mud after police chase

An Audi is pursued from the city into country lanes and a rutted field.

A sign being cleaned

Social media sign cleaning star hits Essex streets

A man whose road sign cleaning videos have gone viral gets his hands dirty in his new home county.

MP Jen Craft, wearing a blue jacket and black top with shoulder-length hair, uses sign language as part of a House of Commons debate

MP opens Parliament debate with sign language

The Essex MP leads a debate on the introduction of a programme of British Sign Language classes.

A man dressed in a shirt and overcoat holds a melon on a stick to taste test it

Watch: What does a £115 melon taste like?

A shop owner selling melons for £115 each says his customers include footballers and film stars.

Man emerges from the back of a motorhome.

Watch: Migrant emerges from back of motorhome

The video shows the man being helped out of the vehicle by police and apprehended.

Man standing in front of a car.

Video shows man driving into people at McDonald's

He is jailed for causing grievous bodily harm after the incident left a man with serious injuries.

Mark Donovan at a pub in Essex after the murder

Watch: CCTV shows man go to pub after murder

Donovan walked into the pub and speaks to staff before sitting down, footage shows.

A BMW driver stood next to his white vehicle, with other vehicles queued up behind

Bus driver protects children from dangerous driver

The driver of a BMW is handed a suspended prison sentence for the road rage incident.

A digger being lifted out of mud

Watch: Stranded digger rescued from drained pond

A salvage mission pulls a sinking digger to solid ground after it becomes stuck in deep mud.

A digger stuck in a pond

'We dig holes but don't usually end up in them'

A digger becomes stuck in the silt-filled pond it is supposed to be repairing

Aidan McGurran

'Private parts' photo accusation heard at meeting

A council meeting descends into disorder after accusations are made about a member's conduct.

A speeding black Ford Focus can be seen speeding and overtaking traffic on the road at Clacton

Watch: Ambulance dashcam captures speeding drivers

One car is seen speeding past the ambulance at up to 125mph (201km/h).

Larry Lamb

Larry Lamb teases Gavin and Stacey details

The actor reveals there is a subtle change compared to the last Christmas special.

Virginia McCullough speaking to police

'You caught the bad guy': McCullough confession on police bodycam

Essex Police body cameras show arrest of Lois and John McCullough's daughter for their murder.

Olly Murs speaking into a BBC Essex microphone.

Watch: Olly Murs takes over radio show to reveal gig

The singer borrows the presenter's seat at BBC Essex to announce his biggest ever gig in the county.

Det Ch Insp Greg Wood, from Essex Police, talking to the media outside Chelmsford Crown Court

Essex Police thank the US in Holly Willoughby case

Essex Police say the US brought Gavin Plumb to their attention and helped gather evidence.

Gavin Plumb being arrested in his home by Essex Police

Willoughby kidnap trial shown footage of arrest

The defendant denies soliciting murder, inciting kidnap and inciting rape of the TV presenter.

A horse runs down an open road

Horse loose on main road returned to paddock

A witness says the animal appearing on the road left her shocked and scared.