Summary

  • Updates on Wednesday, 15 June 2016

  • Former Cambridgeshire MP Sir Clement Freud accused of child abuse

  • Thousands visiting Cereals 2016, dubbed the "Glastonbury for farmers"

  • Father of a teenager who took his own life criticises mental health system

  • Updates resume at 08:00 on Thursday

  1. That's all for todaypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 15 June 2016

    We'll be back tomorrow at 08:00 with live news, sport, weather and travel updates until 18:00.

    And don't forget, if you have any pictures, stories or comments you want us to feature get in touch via emailFacebook, external or Twitter, external.

  2. Watervole spotted while cycling in Cambridgepublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 15 June 2016

    "Who else can say their commute had a water vole hazard in it?"

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    That's the question cycling trainer Rad Wagon posed as he and his cycle-cam came face-to-face with an elusive water vole on his commute to Cambridge earlier this week.

    The endangered creature clearly didn't know how precious he was as he sauntered across in front of the speeding bicycle on Snakey Path in Cherry Hinton.

    Mr Wagon swerved and the vole scurried off to the safety of the water.

  3. Weather: Scattered, heavy and thundery showers tomorrowpublished at 17:38 British Summer Time 15 June 2016

    Alex Dolan
    BBC Look East weather

    There will be scattered thundery showers continuing into the evening, before easing for most places overnight. Minimum temperature: 10C (50F).

    Weather map

    Tomorrow will see a mainly dry start, with further scattered showers developing from mid-morning. These becoming locally heavy and thundery by the afternoon, with torrential downpours possible. Maximum temperature: 19C (66F).

    BBC Weather has the latest.

  4. Coroner: Misinterpretation of heart rate led to death of baby Alfiepublished at 17:21 British Summer Time 15 June 2016

    Mark Williamson
    BBC Local Live

    "What becomes clear, having looked at all of the evidence, is there was a misinterpretation of the recording of Alfie's heart rate during the second stage of labour." 

    This was the conclusion of the coroner at an inquest today into the death of newborn baby Alfie Field at Addenbrooke's Hospital.

    Alfie died on 20 December after being born with brain damage following a "complicated birth". 

    Recording a short narrative conclusion at Huntingdon Town Hall, David Heming said: "An expedited delivery from 10.10 onwards would, in balance, have led to survival".   

  5. Baby would have survived had doctors delivered him sooner, says coronerpublished at 16:59 British Summer Time 15 June 2016

    Mark Williamson
    BBC Local Live

    A newborn baby would have survived had it not been for the failure of doctors to spot problems with his heart rate during labour, a coroner has ruled. 

    Alfie Field died at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge on 20 December last year, little more than a day after being born with brain damage following a "complicated birth". 

    Addenbrooke's sign

    The hospital had been placed in special measures just months earlier following a Care Quality Commission (CQC) report in April last year which rated it "inadequate". 

    Parents Mark and Kym Field attended the inquest at Huntingdon Town Hall. They heard opportunities to deliver Alfie during a two-hour window leading up to his birth, potentially avoiding complications, were missed. 

    Coroner David Heming said Alfie would have survived had doctors and midwives acted to deliver him sooner.

  6. Government to allocate more money for housing as part of East Anglia devolution dealpublished at 16:44 British Summer Time 15 June 2016

    Andrew Sinclair
    BBC Look East political correspondent

    I understand that the Treasury has agreed to put another £30m into the East Anglian devolution deal, external to help with housing in Norwich and Ipswich.

    At least half of the £175m already announced for housing in the region will be given to Cambridge.

    If approved, councils and government officials will work on the finer details of the scheme, external over the summer, with a final announcement being made in the late autumn. 

    Elections for the new mayors, one for Norfolk and Suffolk and one for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, will take place next May. 

  7. Brexit supporters 'poorly educated', says Peterborough councillorpublished at 16:33 British Summer Time 15 June 2016

    Mousumi Bakshi
    BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

    A Labour councillor from Peterborough says people who want to leave the European Union are "poorly educated". 

    Ed Murphy, who represents Ravensthorpe ward, made the remarks on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire ahead of Nigel Farage attending a UKIP rally in the city tonight. 

    "The polls show people who are very poorly educated are likely to vote Leave," he said.

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    UKIP's eastern region MEP Patrick O'Flynn described the comments as "disgusting snobbery".

    Mr Murphy is planning to protest outside the UKIP rally tonight. He told presenter Paul Stainton he was "fed up to the back teeth" with Out campaigners "going on about immigration and foreigners".

  8. 'Tentative' deal reached on East Anglian devolutionpublished at 16:28 British Summer Time 15 June 2016

    Andrew Sinclair
    BBC Look East political correspondent

    I understand that a tentative agreement has been reached on East Anglian devolution, with council leaders from Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire agreeing to take it back to their respective councils for approval.

    East Anglian flag

    Under the deal there will be two separate authorities with two mayors - one for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and one for Norfolk and Suffolk, working together on matters of regional importance. 

    It is likely they will be in charge of housing, transport and other strategic planning issues.

    The deal will have to be approved by all 23 councils in the region, but the government has said that if one part of the region chooses to reject the deal but the other accepts it, devolution will go ahead in that area.

    Details are expected to be published on Friday.

  9. World famous artist Ai Weiwei brings exhibition of sculpture, video and wallpaper to Cambridgepublished at 16:09 British Summer Time 15 June 2016

    BBC Look East

    Filming with world famous Chinese artist Ai Weiwei was interrupted by a fire alarm today - but for a moment we thought it might be part of his latest exhibition.

    He was at Downing College for an exhibition of some of his latest works that include sculpture, film, video and wallpaper. 

    Ai Weiwei filming interrupted baby fire alarm.

    You can see him on BBC Look East at 18:30 on BBC One talking about making sculptures from tea, crystal and discarded wood fragments.

    Ai Weiwei: Cubes and Trees, external runs at the college from 17 June – 9 October.

  10. Duke of Cambridge appears on cover of gay magazinepublished at 15:37 British Summer Time 15 June 2016

    The Duke of Cambridge has become the first member of the royal family to appear on the cover of a gay magazine.

    He spoke to Attitude, external about the issue of homophobic bullying, saying: "No-one should be bullied for their sexuality or any other reason."

    Magazine coverImage source, ATTITUDE/LEIGH KEILY/PA

    The duke invited the magazine to bring members of the LGBT community to Kensington Palace to discuss bullying and its mental health repercussions.

    Kensington Palace said William had been "moved" by the stories he heard.

  11. Man arrested on suspicion of murdering Rikki Neave re-bailedpublished at 15:16 British Summer Time 15 June 2016

    Emma Maclean
    BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

    A man arrested on suspicion of the murder of six-year-old Rikki Neave has been re-bailed.

    Rikki NeaveImage source, Cambridgeshire Police

    The boy's naked body was found about five minutes' walk from his home on the Welland Estate in Peterborough in November 1994.

    An investigation into his murder was reopened a year ago.

    A man in his 30s, from Peterborough, was arrested in 9 April, and today had his bail extended until 20 September.

  12. Papers report on Edward Mallen inquestpublished at 14:49 British Summer Time 15 June 2016

    Mark Williamson
    BBC Local Live

    The case of 18-year-old Edward Mallen, who took his own life at Meldreth Station in February 2015, is getting a lot of coverage in today's papers:

    • "Gifted pianist and A* student voted 'most likely to become prime minister' killed himself after telling a nurse that he thought about throwing himself in front of a train," says the Daily Mail, external.
    • The Daily Telegraph reports, external "Parents not told of teen Edward Mallen's suicidal thoughts".
    • While locally the Royston Crow, external says "Meldreth teenager who committed suicide 'slipped through the cracks' of mental health system, inquest concludes."
  13. Weather: Scattered heavy, thundery showers developing todaypublished at 14:16 British Summer Time 15 June 2016

    BBC Weather

    The sun has struggled to break through at times today with a fair amount of cloud around. This picture was taken by BBC Weather Watcher "Dave's Patch" near Yaxley.

    Field near YaxleyImage source, Daves Patch / BBC Weather Watcher

    It will be mostly dry with some sunny spells this afternoon. 

    However, scattered heavy and perhaps thundery showers are expected to develop later.  

    Maximum temperature: 20C (68F). For more, head to BBC Weather.

  14. More needs to be done to tackle mental illness, says father of Edward Mallenpublished at 13:26 British Summer Time 15 June 2016

    Helen Burchell
    BBC News

    Steve Mallen says his son's death shows more needs to be done to "rebalance the inequity between physical and mental health". 

    Edward MallenImage source, Mind Trust

    Following yesterday's inquest into the death of 18-year-old Edward Mallen, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) admitted it could have "done better" to stop him taking his own life.

    Mr Mallen, from Meldreth, told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire thousands of families are enduring "the same pain".

    Quote Message

    What this tragic case reminds us of is that mental illness is a disease that can impact on anybody from any walk of life. No matter how strong and capable they are, no matter how good their background and their family... and unfortunately and terribly it has obviously struck our family."

    Steve Mallen

  15. Edward Mallen: NHS trust's response to 'terrible tragedy'published at 12:49 British Summer Time 15 June 2016

    Helen Burchell
    BBC News

    The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust has described the death of Edward Mallen as "a terrible tragedy".

    Edward MallenImage source, Mallen family

    The parents of the 18-year-old from Meldreth were not told of the suicidal thoughts he expressed to medical staff shortly before he killed himself, an inquest heard.

    The trust says it held an internal enquiry and commissioned an independent report into the death of Edward Mallen and is "implementing the recommendations" of both.

    Quote Message

    We think that Edward's family's campaign to raise awareness of young people's mental health and to improve funding for their care is highly significant and positive."

    Spokesman for CPFT

  16. 'I made my son a promise', says father of Edward Mallenpublished at 12:13 British Summer Time 15 June 2016

    Mark Williamson
    BBC Local Live

    "I made my son a promise in church while I stood next to his coffin. I promised I would investigate his tragedy and I would seek reform on his behalf."  

    Steve Mallen's words this morning after an inquest heard his son Edward "fell through the cracks" after seeking help from the NHS for suicidal thoughts.

    Steve Mallen

    Mr Mallen, from Meldreth, has been campaigning for reforms to mental health services since his son took his own life on 9 February 2015.

    "I'm taking steps towards honouring the promise to my lad and also at the same time hoping to help many other thousands of families out there who are suffering similar difficulties," he told the BBC.

  17. Edward Mallen: Mental health service 'not fit for purpose', says fatherpublished at 11:38 British Summer Time 15 June 2016

    Helen Burchell
    BBC News

    The father of a teenager who took his own life says his death proves the mental health system in England is "not really fit for purpose".

    Edward Mallen (pictured), 18, died at Meldreth rail crossing on 9 February 2015.

    Edward MallenImage source, The Minded Trust

    Yesterday an inquest in Huntingdon heard how the teenager had seen a GP two weeks before his death after having suicidal thoughts.

    The doctor said Edward should be seen by mental health professionals within 24 hours, but Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust deemed him not to be at significant risk.

    Father Steve Mallen, who has been campaigning for reforms to mental health services since his son's death, told the BBC the NHS was "underfunded and overwhelmed".

    The trust has admitted it "could have done better".

  18. Cereals 2016: People coming from around the world to agricultural eventpublished at 11:21 British Summer Time 15 June 2016

    Johnny Dee
    BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

    "We've got one group coming from New Zealand," says Cereals 2016 organiser John Day, as thousands of farmers head to a rather soggy field near Duxford.

    The agricultural event is one of the biggest in Europe, featuring more than 500 stands where farmers can meet members of the arable industry.

    Cereals 2016
  19. Watch: Candles lit in the rain for Orlando victimspublished at 10:33 British Summer Time 15 June 2016

    Dotty McLeod
    BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

    Here's some more footage from the vigil for victims of the Orlando shootings in Cambridge yesterday.

    Although the rain was pouring down, people still gathered to light candles and leave messages.

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  20. Thousands head to Cereals 2016published at 10:10 British Summer Time 15 June 2016

    Johnny Dee
    BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

    Thousands of people are heading to Chrishall Grange, near Duxford, for one of the biggest events in the agricultural calendar - Cereals 2016.  

    The event described as "Glastonbury for farmers", expects to see 25,000 people visit today and tomorrow.

    People arriving at Cereals 2016

    As you might expect, the roads in the area are a lot busier than normal. Head to BBC Travel for the latest updates.