Morning briefing: We all know how busy life get these days so here are all the headlines on Wednesday briefly.

Parents are set to be given rapid Covid testing kits for their children to help curb the spread of coronavirus in hotspots across Basildon.

The tests will be offered to parents of school pupils in areas with the greatest number of cases.

READ MORE >>> Basildon coronavirus: plea to children to respect Covid rules

Five governors at a junior school have resigned as they were left feeling “impotent” in their roles after several decades.

The governors of Bournes Green Junior School in Thorpe Bay, run by the Southend East Community Academy Trust (SECAT), sent an open letter to chairman Karen Dovaston on Sunday.

READ MORE >>  Five governors resign from Bournes Green Junior School after ‘breakdown in trust’

A dog owner has issued an urgent plea for people to properly dispose of face masks after her pooch swallowed one whole.

Julie Samuels was out walking her golden retriever Logan near her home in Ladram Road, Thorpe Bay, when he sniffed out a discarded face mask on the ground, and ate it.

READ MORE >>> Thorpe Bay dog swallows face mask dumped on the ground

Basildon Council leader Gavin Callaghan has officially lodged a request for schools across the borough to close next week.

In a letter to Essex County Council’s public health director, Dr Mike Gogarty, the Labour council boss said: “I believe we should be encouraging schools to do the same as universities and end their winter term early.

READ MORE >> Basildon schools: 'Close them on December 11 to beat Covid-19'