Summary

  • Trespassing on UK railways hits record high

  • Concerns raised about plans to build waste and recycling plant

  • Virgin train strike to go ahead

  • Latin graffiti almost removed from Cambridge luxury homes

  • Early queues form for Sheeran's old clobber

  • Updates on Thursday, 13 April 2017

  1. Goodbye for the weekpublished at 18:10 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    That's all from the team providing regular updates of news, travel, sport and weather in Cambridgeshire for this week. Here are some of today's stories:

    We'll be back fully from 08:00 on Tuesday, but any breaking stories will still appear here.

    Have a good Easter.

  2. Housing demonstration in Cambridgepublished at 17:34 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Police preparing for a demonstration in the centre of Cambridge are advising people to "go about their daily business as usual" on Saturday.

    Officers have been informed that a London-based protest group is planning to demonstrate outside King's College from 14:00.

    This follows reports of "houses for local people" campaigners spraying graffiti in Latin on new-build houses in Water Street last week.

    Supt Jon Hutchinson said: "We will work in partnership to provide a proportionate policing response to the protest, balancing the needs and rights of protesters with those impacted by the protest."

  3. Remember this: PM Margaret Thatcher visits Cambridge school in 1981published at 17:22 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Some 36 years ago this month, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and, on her left, Kenneth Baker MP, watched pupils Neil Cassidy (right) and Robin Ward at Long Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge.

    They were using the new prototype mini-computers that were going into British schools.  

    British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and, on her left, Kenneth Baker MP, watching pupils Neil Cassidy (right) and Robin Ward use the new prototype mini-computers that will be going into British schools, at Long Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge in 1981Image source, Getty Images
  4. Cambridge gets ready to jump to it... againpublished at 17:11 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Katharine Park
    BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

    A tradition that it's claimed has its roots in a pagan ritual will be revived on Parker's Piece in Cambridge tomorrow. 

    Between 1838 and 1939 families would gather in the centre of the city to skip together, external in celebration of spring. 

    Skipping on Parkers PieceImage source, Cambridge Collection, Cambridge Central Library

    Taking place on Good Friday the practice had its roots in more ancient rituals of jumping that symbolised leaping into the future in the hope of better times to come.

    The re-enactment will take place at 11:00. Anyone is welcome at the free event which will feature World Jump Rope Champion Adrienn Banhegyi, external.  

  5. Man arrested in Wisbech murder inquirypublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a woman in Wisbech.

    Ambulance crews were called to an address in Orange Grove on 5 April and found Dzilva Butiene, 48.

    Detectives launched a murder investigation yesterday following a post-mortem examination which found she had died of a trauma of the abdomen.

    A 46-year-old man from Wisbech has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

    Anyone with information is asked to contact Cambridgeshire Police.

  6. Man arrested for Wisbech murder investigationpublished at 16:42 British Summer Time 13 April 2017
    Breaking

    A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a 48-year-old woman in Orange Grove, Wisbech.

     A 46-year-old man from the town is in custody.

  7. Prickly puzzles set to find hedgehogspublished at 16:20 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    David Webster
    BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

    Forget hunting for Easter Eggs, it's all about hedgehogs in Wisbech. 

    This Sunday at the Octavia Hill's Birthplace House, external, more than 50 hedgehogs will be taking part in a big game of hide and seek.

    The creatures have been made by a number of volunteers and placed all over the home and grounds of the founder of the National Trust. 

    Octavia Hill’s Birthplace HouseImage source, Brenda Thorlby, Diane Parker and Brenda Donald

    Whatever child finds the most will win an egg. 

    So get cracking and try and solve the rather prickly puzzles. 

  8. Ed's cast offs sell like hot cross buns (we're trying to be seasonal)published at 15:39 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    As we reported earlier, items offered up for sale the new East Anglia's Children's Hospices, external shop in Cambridge, by the charity's ambassador Ed Sheeran have been selling like hot cakes (or should that be hot cross buns, as it's Easter?).

    In their first hour of trading the shop in Cherry Hinton took £925. 

    Ed Sheeran's itemsImage source, EACH

    One of the shoppers was Lauren Seager (left), who came down from Scotland to visit her relative, Penny Haggarty (right), one day early, so she could browse the singers cast-offs. She started queuing at 08:30. 

    Penny said: "Ed Sheeran’s been very, very nice [donating his clothes]. I thought it was absolutely amazing and I hope the shop does really well in Cherry Hinton."

    Lauren Seager and Penny HaggartyImage source, EACH

    The charity has just confirmed that only a small selection of Ed's tops and shoes remain. 

    They’ll be in the shop until Saturday and if they haven't gone by then, they'll be sold online. 

  9. Latin graffiti nearly gonepublished at 15:01 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    Workers have been busy removing Latin graffiti that was painted on four new £1m-plus homes in Cambridge last week. 

    The tweet below by Richard Taylor shows what the buildings currently look like. 

    Work is expected to start again next week to paint over the graffiti which remains. 

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  10. Blooming wonderful Cambridgeshirepublished at 14:42 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    A blooming marvelous site has been spotted in Brampton, external

    The bluebells are in full bloom as this tweet shows:

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  11. Latin graffiti almost removed from Cambridge luxury homespublished at 14:04 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    Latin graffiti, written across luxury homes in Cambridge has nearly been removed

    Four new five-bedroom river-front houses were painted with the words Locus in Domos Loci Populum by a "local housing for local people" campaigner, last Tuesday (see pic at bottom).

    Paul Ursell MD of HC Moss (Builders) Ltd told me that the paint has so far come off the brickwork, glass and windows frames. 

    Worker cleaning graffiti

    It's mostly gone from the boards, but as it can still be seen it's set to repainted from next week.

    Graffiti on housesImage source, Richard Taylor

    He expects the repair bill to remain close to the estimated £4,000 costs.

  12. Cloudy and dry afternoon aheadpublished at 13:53 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    BBC Weather Watchers

    It will turn cloudier through this afternoon, but it should stay mainly dry throughout, as the best of the BBC Weather Watcher pictures show. 

    River in Longthorpe
    Blossom
    Bluebells

    Maximum temperature: 12C (54F). For a more detailed forecast, visit BBC Weather.

  13. U's Corr still injuredpublished at 13:13 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Peter Swan
    BBC Radio Cambridgeshire sport

    Cambridge United will again be without star striker Barry Corr for tomorrow’s crucial trip to Grimsby in League Two. 

    Corr has suffered another groin problem and is expected to miss the entire Easter weekend programme, which a home tie against Exeter on Monday.

    The U’s are just two points away from the League Two play-off places.

    Midfielders Piero Mingoia (groin) and James Dunne (heel) remain doubtful, but defender Scott Wharton (hamstring) should be fit.

    Barry CorrImage source, Getty Images
  14. 'Exciting talent' Borg signs professional contract with Poshpublished at 12:19 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Nick Fairbairn
    BBC Radio Cambridgeshire sport

    Peterborough United's teenager midfielder, Andrea Borg, external, has just signed a two-year professional contract. 

    Borg, who has recently returned from a Malta under-19 training camp, is expected to be included in the team's Good Friday clash with Fleetwood Town. 

    He joined Posh last summer and scored his first goal at the ABAX Stadium earlier this week for the reserves in a 5-2 victory over Newport County. 

    Andrea Borg and Grant McCannImage source, Joe Dent

    Under-18s manager Jack Collison said: "He is an exciting talent. He likes to take people on, create goals and score goals and it has been great to have him at our disposal."  

  15. Early queues form for Sheeran's old clobberpublished at 11:36 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    The excitement of buying some old clothes from a well-known singer has proved very popular for some shoppers in Cambridge this morning. 

    East Anglia's Children's Hospices, external opened its new charity store in Cherry Hinton, with some people queuing from 08:00. 

    New charity shop being openedImage source, EACH

    Twenty items of clothing worn by Ed Sheeran were put up for sale - the latest in many giveaways from the Suffolk songwriter who is an ambassador for the hospices.

    Ed Sheeran's itemsImage source, EACH

    The new shop is in the former Lloyds Bank premises on the High Street. 

  16. Waste lorries 'will have no impact' on villagespublished at 10:42 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    One of the biggest concerns raised at last night's meeting about a proposed Mick George recycling site in Hemingford Abbots was that more lorries would drive through the area. 

    Jon Stump, finance director of Mick George, said they will create "no go areas" and will take a "zero tolerence" approach to drivers not driving where they should. 

    He added that although there would be a haulage yard on the same site as well as waste recycling, a handling area and concrete mixing plant, they don't expect there to be "any impact on the villages". 

    He said this will be achieved by building acoustic bunds and carrying out a lot of work inside. 

    Hemingford Abbots High StreetImage source, Hugh Venables/Geograph

    Meanwhile, Hemingford Abbots Parish Council, external member Bridget Flanagan said it was "shambolic" there was no PA system which meant not everyone could hear what was said. 

    Mr Stump agreed and said a PA system would be provided at the next meeting, which is planned so they can discuss the issue further when a full planning application is submitting.

  17. Concerns raised about plans to build waste and recycling plantpublished at 10:19 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    More than 100 residents of two villages met last night to talk about plans for a major waste and recycling plant to be built in their area. 

    Construction firm Mick George wants to open the facility on the former golf course at Hemingford Abbots, next to the A14.

    It could be the size of about nine football pitches. 

    Old golf courseImage source, Google

    Some residents say they are concerned about an increase in traffic and the mess it could cause. 

    It was a chance for both sides to be heard. 

    More to follow....

  18. Deadline to register to vote loomspublished at 09:34 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Hannah Olsson
    BBC Radio Cambridgeshire political reporter

    Today is the last day to register to vote in the local elections on 4 May. 

    Cambridgeshire County councillors will be elected, along with a new mayor who will lead the new Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. 

    The deadline is midnight tonight, external, but if you would like a postal vote that date is 18 April.

    Quy Village HallImage source, East Cambridgeshire district council
  19. Maris signs new Cambridge dealpublished at 09:17 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Cambridge United midfielder George Maris signs a new two-year contract at the League Two club.

    Read More
  20. Trespassing on UK railways hits record highpublished at 08:51 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    The number of people risking their lives by trespassing on railway tracks is on the rise. 

    According to Network Rail, last year in Cambridge alone there were 120 reports - compared to 85 the previous year, that's a rise of 41%, and the highest number since 2012.

    Nationally, more than 8,000 people walked onto tracks.  

    Trespass footage stillImage source, Network Rail

    Richard Tew from Network Rail said: "As the railway gets busier we must work harder to keep young people safe by making them aware of the dangers. 

    "It may seem harmless to take a shortcut, or fun to play on the tracks, but this is not only illegal, it is also very dangerous. 

    "Taking a short cut or messing around on the tracks can result in serious life-changing injuries or death."