Closing headlines for Tuesday, 19 January 2016
The leader of Huntingdonshire District Council says there will be plenty of challenges ahead, with news that RAF bases at Alconbury and Molesworth are to be sold off to free up land for new homes
Cambridge councillors have unanimously agreed to start a consultation on whether a public space protection order should be introduced on punting touts
Sam Edwards
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
The cause of a fatal Ramsey fire is currently unexplained, according to Cambridgeshire Police, external.
Image source, GoogleThe body of an elderly woman was found in a semi-detached house in Star Lane early this morning. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue said the blaze, external was put out by 07:50.
Sam Edwards
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
The body of an elderly woman was found earlier this morning after a house fire in Ramsey.
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue, external said crews from Ramsey, Stanground and Whittlesey were called out at 06:29.
The house on Star Lane was "well alight" by the time they arrived, a spokesman said.
Sam Edwards
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue, external has confirmed there's been a fatal house fire in Ramsey. It will be giving us more details as soon as possible.
Support for some of the poorest residents in Peterborough to pay their council tax is being frozen for another year, external at a reduction of 30%.
Katy Prickett
BBC News
A Russian military attache has been visiting World War Two Arctic convoy veterans, external and presenting them with a Russian naval medal.
Former gunner Jack Millard from Hemingford Grey received his medal last week.
The retired United Dairies manager said he was amazed to receive the Medal of Ushakov, a Soviet-era award named after Russian admiral Fyodor Ushakov who "never lost a battle".
Bailiffs were called in yesterday to evict a couple from the river in Cambridge, external, sparking protests and claims the action was putting a woman's health at risk.
Katy Prickett
BBC News
Government plans to sell the RAF base at Molesworth for housing would create a "middle of nowhere development", according to the leader of Huntingdonshire District Council.
Image source, Bikeboy/GeographConservative councillor Jason Ablewhite said the base is 15 miles from Huntingdon and 10 miles from Thrapston, and it will be a "huge, huge challenge" to "make that sustainable with access on the A14".
Two men have been arrested in Peterborough after reports of a firearm seen in a car, external.
Hannah Olsson
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire political reporter
Councillors have agreed to start a consultation on whether to ban punt touts from much of Cambridge city centre.
Image source, PAUnder the proposals, it would be illegal for touts to operate around areas including the market square and King's Parade.
Punt operators who spoke at last night's meeting say this will put them out of business and have asked for alternatives to be considered.
Super-sized schools could become the norm, external across Cambridgeshire as the county's rapid growth continues to put the squeeze on our under pressure public services.
Mariam Issimdar
BBC Local Live
If Spider-Man was real, he would be forever falling off vertical walls and struggling to maintain credibility as a superhero, according to new research from Cambridge University.
Image source, PAScientists at the university's Zoology department, external found the adhesive footpads that make spiders and geckos such amazing climbers are limited by body size and wouldn't work for humans, unless they had impossibly large feet.
The discovery is important, as it may have implications for the feasibility of large-scale gecko-like adhesive systems.
Sam Edwards
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
Work to renovate the grass on Parker's Piece in Cambridge has begun following the closure of the North Pole Christmas attraction.
Image source, Geograph/John SuttonThousands of people visited it over Christmas, and this, combined with the wet weather, caused a lot of damage to the turf, the Cambridge News reported, external.
Cambridge City Council said the full cost of the repairs will be met by the operator and it's hoping the ground will be fully recovered by late spring.
Sam Edwards
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
The leader of Huntingdonshire District Council says there'll be plenty of challenges ahead, following the announcement the RAF bases at Alconbury and Molesworth are to be sold off for housing.
Image source, Geograph/BikeboyJason Ablewhite, Conservative, says Molesworth could effectively be a "standalone town".
RAF Mildenhall, near Newmarket, is also among the 12 RAF and Navy bases being sold, external.
There will be a widespread sharp frost at first.
Many places will have a dry and sunny day with just a few patches of cloud. However, it will still feel very cold, despite the light winds.
Maximum temperature: 3C (37F).
David Keller
BBC News
Here's this morning's news in Cambridgeshire:
BBC Travel
The A1101 Welney Wash road remains closed in both directions between Old Bedford River and New Bedford River because of flooding.
No other major problems to report.
David Keller
BBC News
Hello and welcome to Cambridgeshire Live.
Between now and 18:00 we'll be bringing you the latest news, sport, weather and travel for the county.
