The Daily Politics

Cambridge plays host to the BBC's live election debate later, featuring seven parties.

But on the other side is Britain's Got Talent, so can politics tempt the viewers away?

Ellie Price took the Daily Politics Moodbox to the city to find out.

Eric Cooper is accused of indecency with a boy between 1967 to 1970.

Helen Burchell
BBC News

An 81-year-old former football coach has denied indecently assaulting a boy.

Eric Cooper, of The Shade, Soham, Cambridgeshire, is accused of two counts of indecency with a boy under 14, which allegedly took place between 31 December 1967 and 1 January 1970.

He was charged as part of a police investigation into alleged abuse in football in the county.

Mr Cooper pleaded not guilty at Cambridge Crown Court and will face trial on 11 December.

The court was told Mr Cooper had been involved with non-league football in Cambridgeshire and the charges relate to his time as a coach.

He was released on bail until his trial.

Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live

Pictures sent to us via Twitter show the chaos that an earlier collision on the A14 at Hemingford Grey is still causing.

There are delays of up to an hour-and-a-half on the A14, which is partly closed due to a crash between two lorries.

The road is shut westbound between Girton and Fenstanton while spilled diesel is cleaned off the carriageway.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd is set to stand in for Theresa May tonight and it doesn't look like that's going to change.

A Conservative spokesman said: “There are no changes to the Prime Minister’s plans.

"She is out campaigning today, engaging with voters about the issues that matter, not swapping sound bites with six other politicians."

A Conservative source added: “The public want to see a leader who can stare down the EU-27 at the negotiation table, not someone who will need their iPad to remember their dodgy facts in a debate.”

Image source, Jeff Overs/BBC

Here's a sneak preview of the set for tonight's BBC TV debate in Cambridge.

Presenter Mishal Husain says Jeremy Corbyn - who has just announced he will be taking part in the debate - will be joining Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, SNP deputy leader Angus Robertson, UKIP leader Paul Nuttall, Green co-leader Caroline Lucas, Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood and Conservative home secretary Amber Rudd.

The audience has been chosen by a polling company to reflect the country as a whole.

Some are undecided voters and come from different parts of the country - and half voted to leave in the EU referendum, and half voted to remain.

A selection of submitted questions have been chosen, but Mishal says the seven politicians taking part will not get a chance to see them in advance.

Image source, Jeff Overs/BBC

Image source, Jeff Overs/BBC

Image source, Hamerton Zoo

Police have confirmed they are investigating the death of zookeeper Rosa King, who was killed by a tiger on Monday.

Miss King, 34, who is understood to be from Chippenham, Wiltshire, died at Hamerton Zoo Park in Cambridgeshire.

Cambridgeshire Police are now collaborating with the district council in the investigation.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says he will take part in a seven-way BBC general election debate, taking place in Cambridge later.

Image source, Getty Images

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, UKIP's Paul Nuttall, SNP deputy leader Angus Robertson, Green co-leader Caroline Lucas and Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood will take part.

Theresa May has refused to take part in any debates, so Home Secretary Amber Rudd will be representing the Tories.

Labour had said that Mr Corbyn would not take part unless Mrs May was there.

Mishal Husain will moderate the debate, which will be shown on BBC One from 19:30-21:00 and livestreamed on Twitter, external.

Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live

The westbound carriageway of the A14 is currently closed at Hemingford Grey due to an oil spillage.

It follows an earlier collision on the road involving two lorries and a car transporter, there aren't believed to be any injuries.

Congestion is currently stretching back to junction 30 for Dry Drayton and motorists can expect delays of up to 90 minutes.

Highways England has predicted the incident is likely to be cleared by 15:15.

Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live

For the first time ever, a pair of unusual wading birds, called black-winged stilts, have chosen to breed on the reserve at the Welney Wetland Centre, external.

Image source, WWT Welney

Black-winged stilts, external are easily identified from other waders with their black and white plumage, thin black bill and long, spindly red legs.

It's also the first time this species has successfully hatched chicks at a WWT reserve in the UK.

Image source, WWT Welney

It's a species of bird that has been vagrant - meaning an animal that appears outside it's normal habitat - to the UK for decades.

They are normally found around the Mediterranean, nesting within wetland habitat where they feed on insects in the water and mud. When conditions in their normal breeding areas are drier than normal, the birds can be displaced further north to the UK, to find more suitable conditions.

The birds have chosen to nest on an area of wetland which was only created 10 years ago. It's outside the Ouse Washes so is not affected by the late spring flooding which can occur after a period of heavy rainfall.

Ben Ando
BBC News

I'm at Hamerton Zoo Park, where we've just had confirmation from a spokesperson that it will remain closed "for the time being" due to the death of a keeper.

In a statement, the zoo said: "It is with huge regret that we confirm that Rosa King, a senior zoo keeper who was an invaluable and highly respected member of our team, died on Monday morning after entering a tiger enclosure at Hamerton Zoo Park.

"Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Rosa's family and friends, many of whom worked alongside her at the zoo.

"We are co-operating fully with the investigation that is currently being conducted by Huntingdonshire District Council Environmental Health Department."

Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live

A new campaign called Tidy Fenland is to begin tomorrow, aimed at tidying up the streets.

The district council says it currently spends £1,000 a day cleaning up dog fouling, littering and fly-tipping.

They are "urging people to help identify hotspot areas" for the crimes.

"The intelligence will then be used to form tough enforcement patrols; with 'on the spot' fines being served on offenders," a statement on its website says.

The new campaign launches just days after a new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), external was launched in the area to tackle dog fouling.

Anyone caught breaching the new dog control PSPO will be handed a £75 fine.

Image source, P L Chadwick/Geograph

Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live

It appears that police had to become wildlife experts for this rescue in Peterborough earlier...

The swan felt the full force of the old 'bill'...

I'm here all week.

Georgina Burnett
BBC Weather

After a cooler start it should warm up during the day.

It'll be bright rather than blazing sunshine, although there should be some breaks in the cloud to give us some sunny spells.

There are a few showers around, although they're fairly isolated and should be quite light, so many of us across the region will have a dry day, with a top temperature of 21C (70F).

Watch my full forecast here:

Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live

Good morning and welcome back to live updates for Cambridgeshire on Wednesday, 31 May.

We'll be with you until 18:00 keeping you up-to-date with the latest news, sport, weather and travel as it happens around the county.

Coming up today we'll bring you more on the death of a zoo-keeper killed by a tiger, plus the election debate coming to Cambridge tonight.

First up, a full weather forecast for the day.

You can get in touch by email, Twitter , externaland Facebook, external.

Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live

That's it for our live updates for today.

Scroll down for more on the death of a zoo-keeper at Hamerton Park Zoo yesterday, who was killed by a tiger.

We'll be back from 08:00 tomorrow.

Have a great evening.

A number of police officers received minor injuries while attending a domestic violence incident in which a Taser gun was deployed.

Norfolk police were called to an address in Wisbech shortly after 21:00 last night. A man in his early 20s was arrested nearby on suspicion of assault and resisting arrest. He was taken to King's Lynn police station.

Several police officers suffered cuts and bruising during the incident, but did not require medical treatment.

A local resident describes the "shock" after hearing a zoo-keeper was killed by a tiger.

The man, who lives close to Hamerton Zoo Park, says that Rosa King who was killed when a tiger entered the enclosure she was in, was "very important to the zoo".

In the run up to the general election, the BBC is running an election panel. We've been asking members of the public for their views on key issues.

We asked:

How should we ensure that the elderly are properly cared for? What should we do about pensions? Which party do you think has the best policies to support us in our later life?

And you said:

Simon, Chelmsford: "Labour have the most comprehensive solution, though the most expensive. We should all pay a little extra on NI contributions to fill the gap."

Julia, Northampton: "More state run care provision, pensions need to be kept in line with inflation, I think the lib deems have the best policies."

Frances, Norwich: "Ensure that those who have saved their hard earned assets retain them to benefit themselves if and when care is needed. I think that both the Labour and Green Party are more likely to provide the best policies for elderly care."

Vijay, Peterborough: "Pensions should be increased and those people who have saved fur their old age should not be penalised . No party has addressed this issue to my satisfaction."

Sandra, Ipswich: "No party really has it nailed but I think Labour have the best offering at the present moment in time. I'm not a politician so have no idea how it can be done,but there are ways,as have been shown in the past,to help the elderly."