Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

A four-year-old boy has raised £3,000 to buy personal protective equipment (PPE) for NHS staff.

Lewis, who has cerebral palsy, walked 100 lengths of his garden in Coggeshall for 10 days in different outfits - many of which were superhero-themed.

Braintree District Council praised his efforts on Twitter, calling him a "true superhero".

BBC Essex

A seaside local authority is nervous about people coming to visit its beaches after being attracted by the warm weather during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Southend Borough Council, external has experienced a large influx of visitors this week but has fears over social distancing.

The local authority said it had put measures in place to try to keep people apart after photographs of apparently crowded beaches were published.

Government guidelines, external allow people to travel for fresh air and exercise, as long as they keep two metres (6ft) from anyone they do not live with.

Independent borough councillor Martin Terry, cabinet member for community safety, said the authority was "quite nervous", adding: “We’ve had days when we’ve had 300,000 people come down here.

"All we can do is advise people and say is please, please stay apart and be sensible."

The collection of bulky items will resume in East Suffolk after the district council temporarily suspended the service due to Covid-19.

From Monday, households can have larger items such as fridges and furniture collected from their properties.

East Suffolk Council, external said it was satisfied criteria to ensure the safety of its crews had been met.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Accommodation is being bought for homeless people amid claims the government has withdrawn its scheme to support people through the Covid-19 pandemic.

North Norfolk District Council is to spend £117,000 on a two-bed flat in North Walsham to offer to a homeless family. It follows two similar purchases earlier this year.

Reports the government would no longer fund a scheme which saw homeless people put up in hotels to keep them safe from the virus, were published by the BBC last week, following a leak to the Manchester Evening News.

Council leader Sarah Butikofer said she was "very worried" about the claims, but added "now we've managed to get those people into accommodation, it's an ideal time to work with them".

A council report stated that officers had been working to buy four properties with an agreed budget of £610,000.

An earlier statement from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "Any suggestion that the government is reneging on the commitment set out at the start of this national emergency is entirely wrong."

An inspector's rejection of plans for garden communities is a "huge disappointment", says council.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

It's emerged that public toilets across north Norfolk were closed as coronavirus spread because people were stealing toilet paper and hand soap from them before the lockdown began.

Image source, Reuters

North Norfolk District Council closed its 17 public toilets following repeated vandalism, a report for councillors said, ahead of a virtual council meeting, external held yesterday.

"As guidance on social-distancing increased during the week of 16 March and there was some evidence of panic buying of hand sanitiser, soap and toilet rolls, the authority saw some vandalism and theft from its public toilets and a decision was taken to close 17 facilities on 19 March, under delegated authority of the head of paid service," the report stated.

The thefts were described as a "response to panic buying" and the closures allowed for the "redirection" of cleaning staff to other areas and activities.

• The Lynn News, external is reporting on the economic impact of coronavirus which it says has seen unemployment benefit claims in west Norfolk jump to their highest level in nearly 25 years
• Dining greenhouses that have sprung up on the banks of Amsterdam's canals are coming to Norfolk’s waterways according to the EDP, external
• And the Great Yarmouth Mercury, external says campsite owners are geared up to adapt their businesses to keep customers safe as they keep their fingers crossed for a summer reopening

Pete Cooper
BBC News

Many recycling centres across the East have reopened today and there have been long queues.

In Northampton, the queue outside one tip meant there were delays in the post leaving, external from the nearby Royal Mail sorting office.

While in Essex, the queues outside the centre at Pitsea were up to three hours earlier this afternoon.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

We told you earlier that more recycling centres would be reopening this morning for the first time in eight weeks.

In Essex, this was the queue waiting for Southend’s Stock Road centre to open its gates at 07:00.

Council bosses are asking people to make only essential visits, warning of long delays due to new safety rules.

Guidance from Southend-on-Sea Borough Council , externalstates only to visit sites if you are unable to safely store waste at home, or are unable to dispose of the waste through alternative options including online bulky waste, external collections, garden waste services , externalor normal weekly collections, external.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Eighteen of the 24 recycling centres in Essex and all the centres in Northamptonshire are reopening today after the coronavirus lockdown rules were eased.

Image source, Google

Essex County Council , externalsaid there'll be a one-in, one-out system at its 15 sites and social distancing measures will be in place.

Southend Borough Council , externalis extending the opening times at the two tips it runs and Thurrock Council , externalsays only five cars will be allowed into its site at any one time with access via Linford only - with a stretch of Buckingham Hill Road closed during the day for the next month.

The nine sites in Northamptonshire will open at 10:00 but the county council, external is urging people to only visit them if absolutely necessary after long queues built up in other parts of the region last week.

Councillor Jason Smithers said police would be monitoring how busy the surrounding roads are.

Image source, Buckinghamshire Council

If the weather is hot again this weekend, and despite lockdown restrictions being relaxed, people are being reminded that many of the rules are still in place and common sense should prevail in terms of meeting other people.

Ipswich Borough Council is focusing on the two-metre social distancing rule.

The way everyone deals with the coronavirus pandemic is different, but if you need help and do not have friends or family to support you, West Suffolk Council is reminding you that you can call a volunteer to have a chat, get supplies or medicines.

• A Norwich taxi firm being "given the go-ahead" to install protective screens, features in the Eastern Daily Press, external
• Seven more care homes, external with suspected coronavirus outbreaks is reported in the Great Yarmouth Mercury
• A councillor's pledge not to cut services despite a £4m coronavirus hit, external, is in the North Norfolk News

Western Esplanade in Southend will be temporarily widened for pedestrians and cyclists in response to national changes to lockdown and to allow local people to safely enjoy the seafront, says the local council.

Image source, Trevor Harris\Geograph

The widened promenade will be opened from Saturday between Chalkwell and the pier along with a contraflow system that will still allow cars to travel in both directions.

Seafront car parks previously closed will also reopen from Saturday.

Ron Woodley, Southend's deputy leader said: "We are still asking people who do not live locally not to visit Southend-on-Sea and allow local people to have a safe environment and open spaces where they can exercise, enjoy the fresh air, but also keep apart from others outside of their household."

In addition, Belfairs Golf course will open later this month, and household waste recycling centres , externalacross Essex will open from Monday.

Southend Pier is a ticketed attraction and will not be able to reopen until at least 4 July under the government’s recovery plan.

Tennis is one of the sports the government says can resume as lockdown restrictions are relaxed, but it's led to varying approaches in Ipswich.

Only singles is allowed, and the town's borough council is reopening the public courts in its parks.

However, one of the town's larger clubs, Ipswich Sports Club, external, is still reviewing how it will re-open and it is expecting a delay until later this week.

"There is a lot for the club to assess as we want to satisfy the Lawn Tennis Association's recommended approach to venues to 're-open safely rather than rushing'," said Vanessa Penn, club chairman.

For the moment the club facilities, which also include squash courts and gym, remain closed.

Beach and seafront car parks will remain closed in part of Norfolk, despite the relaxation of lockdown measures announced by the government on Monday.

North Norfolk District Council said while it would open some car parks others would stay shut.

"The council has taken the decision not to open more public car parks at beach and seafront locations at this time, to avoid a potential sudden influx of visitors to these popular attractions," a tweeted statement said.

A new way to help businesses struggling during the coronavirus pandemic has been set up.

The Greater Cambridge Business Forum, aims to explore the concerns of local firms and find out the best way to help them.

It has been started by South Cambridgeshire District , externaland Cambridge City, external councils.

Image source, John Sutton/Geograph

Bridget Smith, leader of South Cambs, said: "We will continue to work with local and national government and the very accomplished business networks in our area to get our business communities through these very difficult times.

"If we all pull together, Greater Cambridge will recover well and quickly.”

Lewis Herbert, City Council leader, said: "Getting the Cambridge area economy safely out of lockdown and on to strong foundations for the new normal is the biggest economic and social recovery challenge we have had to face in our lifetimes."

Nic Rigby
BBC News

West Norfolk has seen the highest rate of Covid-19 infections in the East of England with 420 cases per 100,000 of the population.

Image source, Rob Noble/Geograph

The figures are for the King's Lynn (pictured) and West Norfolk Council area which has had 638 people infected, according to statistics released by the government.

The whole of Norfolk has had 1,913 cases of people being infected. The rate of infection is 211 across the county is 100,000 of population.

It compares to Norwich where there were 143 infections per 100,000 of the population.

In the East of England the second highest is Hertsmere where there were 359 infection per 100,000 of population.

Police, tourism bosses and politicians say they fear some areas will see an influx of visitors.

A council that has spent £18m in grants to residents coping with the Covid-19 pandemic has denied its finances are on the brink after receiving £11m back in government pay outs.

Peterborough City Council's cabinet, external is meeting at 14:00 to review the gap in its finances but the leader is confident it will receive more funding.

The Conservative leader of the council John Holdich said: "I don't think they [the government] can afford not to give us any more money - it's just a question of how much.

"We're not on the brink but, obviously, we need to keep it constantly under review and we could be in some serious trouble if they don't fill some of the holes for us."

The grants were allocated under government support schemes announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak.

Image source, Paul Bryan/Geograph