Updates on Friday, 2 June 2017
Black-winged stilt chicks 'eaten'
8,000 cyclists expected on Tour of Cambridgeshire this weekend
Hills road gearing up for roadworks
Bernie Sanders talks at Cambridge Union
Increased police numbers at Strawberry Fair
Internet speeds increased across Cambs and Newmarket
Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live
That's it for live updates today, and for this week. Thanks for joining us.
We'll be back from 08:00 on Monday.
Scroll down through this page to find out what you've missed.
Have a great weekend.
Helen Burchell
BBC News
You might remember we've told you before about Jasper, the three-legged cat who's become a favourite with Cambridge University students?
Image source, Marshall LibraryHe's become the ultimate stress-reliever for students at the Marshall Library of Economics, where they've just run their latest "tea with Jasper" afternoon.
Taking tea with a three-legged bundle of fluff has proved a hit again, with students posting their favourite pictures on the library's Twitter , externalfeed.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Isn't he adorable?
Image source, Marshall LibraryHelen Burchell
BBC News
A woman, who moved the body of a man who died in her home to a nearby park, pleaded guilty to disposing of a corpse to obstruct a coroner at Cambridge Crown Court today.
Kelly Ann Almond, 34, of Fairview, Peterborough, used a mobility scooter to move the body of Stuart Wilkinson, 53, who died in her home on Sunday, 4 April, to a nearby park where it was later discovered.
A further charge of perverting the course of justice was dropped.
Mr Wilkinson’s cause of death has yet to be determined, however it is not believed to be suspicious.
The case has been adjourned for sentencing until the week of 7 August.
Almond will remain on remand in custody.
Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live
Police say there will be a slight increase in presence at this year's Strawberry Fair, external in Cambridge, in light of the recent attacks in Manchester.
Some 43 years on from its debut on Midsummer Common, the festival returns tomorrow.
Image source, Andreas BeckIt's expected around 40,000 visitors will attend the festival across the day.
The annual event has seen the police numbers reduced over the years, with the force saying they "recognise the organiser’s responsibility to deliver a safe event".
Supt Laura Hunt said: "Following recent events in Manchester all events in the country have been reviewed and our response has been modified appropriately.
"With regards to Strawberry Fair, appropriate adjustments have been made to policing numbers, but there has been no intelligence to suggest there is any threat associated to this event."
Safety issues at Hamerton Zoo Park which were raised by inspectors in 2013 were addressed, the local council says.
Read MoreAdam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live
You may have seen in other local press that US politician Bernie Sanders was a guest speaker at Cambridge Union, external today.
Mr Sanders, who lost out to Hillary Clinton to become the Democrats' candidate in last year's presidential election, spoke for about an hour in front of a sell-out crowd, with the Cambridge News reporting that tickets for the event sold out in just 38 seconds, external.
Image source, Twitter/@DrNikiSolMr Sanders joins a long list of high-profile speakers at the union, including most recently Piers Morgan, Mary Berry and Stephen Fry.
Dr Niki Sol, a lecturer at Anglia Ruskin who was at the event, said that she "loved the fact that he was able to bring about a lot of different points that mobilised the audience".
"I thought he was a very dynamic speaker," she said.
"Bernie Sanders said that Donald Trump's idea to pull out of the Paris climate agreement was a stupid decision, which the audience agreed with."
On whether she thought it was important Mr Sanders came to the union, Ms Sol said she was "not sure".
"I thought it was an interesting choice. I don't know if it was important to him from a political perspective simply because he is a senator," she said.
"But I think that part of his job working for social justice is that he knows he needs to mobilise as many people beyond himself, which I think he saw as a great way to talk to a lot of influential people that may be in power in the future."
Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live
Take care if you're travelling around Queens Road in Wisbech.
There's been a two-vehicle collision at the junction with King's Road, which police are currently dealing with.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Police say there have been injuries, but they're not thought to be life-threatening.
We'll bring you more as we get it.
Two historic Norfolk churches are fundraising this weekend to pay for urgent repairs to their buildings.
At St Peter's Church (pictured below) in Walpole St Peter, in the Fens, the annual flower festival (pictured) hopes to raise thousands of pounds towards the £130,000 needed to mend the roof of the north aisle.
Image source, Google
At All Saints church (pictured below) in North Runcton, near King's Lynn, the only Georgian church in use in Norfolk, the roof repair bill is expected to be at least £100,000. They are also holding a flower festival to raise funds.
Image source, Google
Sam Edwards
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
Thousand of cyclists are set to descend upon the East of England Showground over the weekend, for the Tour of Cambridgeshire.
The mass cycling event is now in its third year, and takes in parts of Peterborough, Huntingdonshire and Fenland.
The tour first came to Peterborough in 2015 and has been a roaring success, drawing in cyclists from across the world.
The action starts tonight, with an Electric Bike Time Trial and a Folding Bike Fondo.
Tomorrow, 800 riders take part in a time trial, before the mass participation race on Sunday, with some 8,000 competitors.
Road closures and diversions are in operation around Sawtry, Ramsey and Whittlesey.
David Webster
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire
Hills Road in Cambridge is gearing up for another period of roadworks, as the council looks to add to its growing portfolio of cycle lanes, with an extension of the Hills Road cycleway.
The work will add two 350m (1148ft) cycle paths to each side of the road at the junction of Long Road and Queen Edith's Way. It will join the existing path which starts at the Cambridge Leisure Park, and currently runs for 1km (0.6 miles).
The road will be closed southbound for more than three months between Long Road and the Addenbrooke's Hospital roundabout.
The existing cycle lane which starts at Cambridge Leisure Park, stops just short of the Long Road junction. When finished, the path will connect the leisure park to Addenbrooke's.
Lewis Herbert, leader of Cambridge City Council, says the length of closure "is a balance".
"The key thing here is that we've come up with a scheme that is going to be far less inconvenient than the 21 months that the earlier scheme took - which allows for continued northbound flow," he told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.
"The earlier discussions were whether or not to shut it completely.
"So for 14 weeks, during the summer where traffic is quieter, we're going to have one way shut."
No sign of today's forecast of torrential rain yet, although there are definitely some signs across Cambridgeshire.
Our BBC Weather Watchers have been out and about capturing the sights... before they get drenched!
Stuart Bailey
BBC News
The A1(M) through Hertfordshire is slowly returning to normal after a crash this morning in which a motorcyclist died.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Stuart Bailey
BBC News
Police have confirmed that a man died in a crash which closed part of the A1(M) in Hertfordshire this morning.
They received reports that a motorcyclist had collided with the central reservation on the northbound carriageway close to junction six for Welwyn just before 07:30
The air ambulance was called, but the rider was pronounced dead at the scene.
Both carriageways were closed, but it is gradually being reopened.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
PC Andy Ralph from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Forensic Collision Investigation team, said: "It is very important that we fully investigate the incident to try to establish the circumstances that led to the collision.
"In order to do this I am asking anyone who witnessed the collision, or the events leading up to it to contact me.
"Additionally, a lot of motorists have dash-cams installed in their vehicles now and it’s possible the incident may have been captured on video.
"If this is the case, again please contact me."
Nick Fairbairn
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire sport
Ben Strang, head of football operations at Cambridge United, believes their new signing Gary Deegan will be a leader "on and off the pitch".
The Us signed the experienced midfielder on a two-year deal, after the 29-year-old former Hibernian and Southend man left Shrewsbury on Wednesday by mutual consent.
Image source, Getty ImagesHe's the fourth summer signing for the Us after David Amoo, Jabo Iberhe and Emmanuel Osadebe.
"It was a prerequisite to that position, to bring in someone who can not only control the game, but also control the dressing room and be a big character in there," Mr Strang said.
"What you see on the pitch is what he is off the pitch.
"He's a real competitor and a winner."
Helen Burchell
BBC News
Sad news for bird lovers. The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, external (WWT) has just confirmed the little black-winged stilt chicks which hatched at Welney Wetland Centre have indeed been taken by a predator.
Earlier we heard from a bird watcher who believed they'd been eaten, and Mark Simpson, from the WWT's Slimbridge HQ in Gloucestershire, has now said "it appears the chicks are no more".
Image source, WWT WelneyHe said: "We understand two chicks hatched at the fenland centre, but earlier this week the parents were spotted flying away to the other side of the reserve, alerting staff to the fact 'something was wrong'.
"There are predator-proof fences which would protect the ground-nesting wader birds from attack by foxes or badgers, but a bird predator or stoat could have possibly been responsible.
"It's very sad, but we're hopeful the adults will come back next year and try again."
In 2014, the RSPB reported that black-winged stilts had hatched in Britain for the first time in 27 years, external.
Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live
More than 20,000 households and businesses can now get some of the fastest broadband speeds in the country.
Openreach has begun switching on pilot areas in Cherry Hinton, Huntingdon and Newmarket for a partial fibre service called G.fast.
It's claimed the technology can boost speeds to more than 10 times the UK average - allowing a two-hour film in high definition to be downloaded in just 90 seconds.
Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live
As you can see from the picture, work to improve the Grand Arcade car park in Cambridge is well under way, with new flooring being laid on the top level.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The work, which began on 15 May, is part of a £1.2m scheme to improve three car parks in the city, and also includes Grafton East and the Queen Anne.
All three will have a reduced number of spaces available while the work is carried out, through until 24 September.
Stuart Bailey
BBC News
There's some good news for drivers delayed by the A1(M) closure in Hertfordshire this morning but it looks like disruption will continue for some time.
The air ambulance was called to reports of a motorcyclist colliding with the central reservation at junction 6 for Welwyn at about 07:30.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
After the scorching weather we had across the region yesterday, the Met Office is now issuing a yellow weather warning for rain.
They say there is the risk of torrential downpours between 13:00 and 23:00
It's all because a patch of very warm, humid air is on its way from France, which brings the threat of thunderstorms.
"Whilst most places will miss the worst, it could lead to localised surface water flooding and difficult driving conditions. Frequent lightning and perhaps hail could be additional hazards," says the Met Office website, external.
However, if you've got hay fever, look away now...
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Stuart Bailey
BBC News
Hertfordshire Police has told us more about this morning's serious collision on the A1(M), which has closed a section of the road in both directions.
Officers were called to reports that a motorcyclist had collided with the central reservation near junction six for Welwyn just before 07:30.
Emergency services including the air ambulance are at the scene.
Highways England said that the road is likely to remain closed for several hours - northbound between junctions four and six and southbound at junction six.
Image source, Google
