Businesses in South Cambridgeshire, external that need financial support in the current climate will be sent letters by the district council inviting them to apply for grants.

The government has two schemes to help small firms ride the storm during the coronavirus restrictions:

• The Small Business Grant Fund: A one-off grant of £10,000 for those who pay little or no business rates
• The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund: Grants of either £10,000 or £25,000 depending on businesses' rateable value

The council estimates that about 1,700 businesses in its district are eligible for one of the grants.

Firms are advised to check the council website.

Cllr Peter McDonald, who is leading council efforts to support small business, said: "Every day I am hearing stories of local companies doing all they can to stay in business and we will support them."

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Beach patrols by Essex Police, external, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, external and staff from Tendring District Council, external at the weekend revealed some people ignored official instructions to stay at home.

But the vast majority of people heeded the warnings to stay away earning them a thank you from the council leader.

Image source, Tendring District Council

Neil Stock said: "Thank you to everyone, Tendring residents and beyond, who heeded the guidance and stayed away from our beaches."

“With the Bank Holiday weekend approaching I would remind everyone that this advice – to stay away – is still in place for now.”

Image source, Tendring District Council

One council warns it would be impossible to keep services going if relief was applied "across the board".

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Virtual council meetings are to take place across Suffolk to ensure key business can continue during the coronavirus pandemic.

The government passed emergency legislation on Saturday which enables councils to hold meetings remotely via video calls while social-distancing measures are in place.

The chief executives at each of Suffolk’s six local authorities currently have delegated powers to carry out any urgent decisions, but the latest legislation means that key committees like cabinets and planning committees can meet.

Most of the councils have confirmed they are now in the process of setting up systems which will allow meetings.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

An exhibition marking the visit to Essex in 1945 of youngsters who had survived the Holocaust during has been postponed until next year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Boys: Holocaust Survivors in the Epping Forest District was due to open in May at Epping Forest District Museum and will now be on display from 8 May 2021 to 4 September 2021.

Image source, Epping Forest District Museum

Holocaust survivors came to Holmehurst hostel, Loughton, after the end of World War Two in December 1945, therefore rescheduling the exhibition in 2021 will commemorate 75 years since the boys’ arrival.This exhibition will tell survivors' stories.

Nigel Bedford, portfolio holder for communities and partnerships at the council, said: "We feel postponing the exhibition means we can still tell the survivors’ stories with the care, respect and compassion they deserve."

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Peterborough City Council, external said bin crews were "hugely encouraged" by messages of support left out for them and it called for residents to help them further by making their jobs "a little easier and safer".

Help would include:

• Only placing rubbish in their black bins and not in plastic bags alongside it as non-essential waste will slow crews down
• Wiping the handles of bins before and after they are put out for collection
• Leaving notes, drawings and messages of support and waving to crews as they go by

Image source, Peterborough City Council

Councillor Marco Cereste said: "I’d like to thank everyone who has left messages to the bin crews for carrying out this vital function. They are key workers and in the past I think everyone has taken them for granted – not anymore.

“I know they are hugely encouraged by all the drawings, notes and waves they have been receiving."

In addition, bulky waste collections have been temporarily suspended in the city for the next four weeks to put more frontline crews on general waste and recycling collections.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Ipswich market, external traders have decided to suspend operations until further notice to comply with government rules that people should stay at home to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

"Everyone was disappointed they can't continue to trade," market spokesman and fishmonger Mike Youngs said.

He said the weeks leading up to the decision were very nervy and the traders had regular meetings to discuss the future.

The traders had to decide whether to buy new stock which could have left them "in a pickle", Mr Youngs said.

Some of the traders donated remaining stock to worthwhile causes.

Ipswich Borough Council, external said the town centre had seen a 70% drop in footfall this week compared with before the start of the government’s main coronavirus measures.

On Tuesday, 31 March, just under 4,000 people were recorded on town centre sensors, rather than 14,000 people on Tuesday, 10 March or 18,000 people on the busiest Tuesday in December.

All political party leaders and the club agree to new proposals that include 1,300 homes.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News Online

Sheltered housing condemned as unsuitable for habitation last year has been brought up to scratch in seven days.

East Suffolk Council, external transformed the property in Avenue Mansions in Lowestoft to help accommodate vulnerable people during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Image source, East Suffolk Council

Eight flats were left empty because the water systems had been drained down, and the heating, electrical and fire detection systems had been decommissioned.

Richard Kerry, cabinet member for housing, said: "It was a huge challenge to get these flats to a standard where they could be brought back into use … and the seven-day turnaround is evidence of the effort that everyone involved put in to make it happen."

BBC Essex

The family of Terry Cutmore, who represented Rochford North on Essex County Council, has confirmed he has died of coronavirus.

He was described as a "generous, clever, witty man and a loving father".

Council leader David Finch described Mr Cutmore as "extremely well-liked" - and a man who was "committed to serving his residents".

MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, Mark Francois, said Mr Cutmore would be "sorely missed", especially at Rochford District Council which he had led for 15 years.

Nikki Fox
BBC Look East

The number of people infected by the coronavirus continues to rise.

Public Health England, external released the latest figures last night, but they are only from hospital tests and are a few days behind.

They are as follows:

• Hertfordshire - 480
• Buckinghamshire - 195
• Norfolk - 180
• Northamptonshire - 187
• Cambridgeshire - 141
• Peterborough - 36
• Suffolk - 125

• Milton Keynes - 117

• Central Bedfordshire - 81
• Luton - 91

• Bedford Borough Council - 60
• Essex - 420
• Southend-on-Sea - 44
• Thurrock - 62

BBC Essex

Barriers, tape and padlocks have been removed from a play area that was cordoned off by a local authority.

Thurrock Council in Essex said it had reports that people were "climbing into these areas".

"This kind of behaviour puts the most vulnerable at risk and will only help spread the virus and possibly prolong restrictions," a spokesman said.

Image source, Thurrock Council

Police searching for a missing 59-year-old woman have recovered a body from the River Ouse.

Shirley Cranston, from Burgh-le-Marsh was last seen on March 12 when she left her car in a car park in Skegness.

Lincolnshire Police said the body of a woman had been recovered from the river at Clenchwarton, near King's Lynn.

A force spokesperson said: "Although the woman has not formally been identified, we believe this to be Shirley Cranston."

The West Essex Clinical Commissioning Group says "demand is outstripping supply" across the NHS.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

A disused property has been refurbished in a week to provide urgent accommodation for rough sleepers.

The owners Babergh District Council, external worked "round the clock" to repair and decorate The Lees in Sudbury.

Essential appliances and furniture has been brought in and the first seven households moved in on Monday.

Image source, Babergh District Council

Councillor Jan Osborne, cabinet member for housing, said: "It is testimony to how council staff and local business have worked together during a time when we are facing so many challenges in being able to complete this project in just five days.

"It’s excellent to now be able to offer somewhere safe for people sleeping rough, staying in night shelters or assessment hubs, who didn’t have a secure home or somewhere safe to self-isolate if required."

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News Online

Basildon Borough Council, external says it has found accommodation for every known rough sleeper in the town.

Leader of the council Gavin Callaghan said although some people refused offers or did not respond to calls, there was accommodation available for all.

Image source, Getty Images

"By this morning our staff had accommodated 16 of the 20 people sleeping rough who are known to us, and we are waiting to hear back from the other four in order to get them into the accommodation we have for them," he said.

"Basildon Council is taking unprecedented action to keep people healthy because our number one goal right now is to save as many people’s lives as possible."

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News Online

East Suffolk Council, external has suspended charges in all of its car parks.

The local authority said it was "to help support our local key workers and community volunteers during the COVID-19 outbreak".

Councillor Norman Brooks, cabinet member for transport, said: "As well as supporting our wider communities throughout this crisis, our priority must be to make life as simple as possible for the frontline key workers and volunteers and we hope that this small step can make a difference.

"Additionally, this move will enable us to redeploy some of our operational staff to other services which are currently in great demand."

Image source, Google

A stall which was used by volunteer groups handing out food to homeless people has been removed.

Norwich City Council said it had taken down the covered stall on the Haymarket opposite Primark, following advice on social distancing during the Coronavirus outbreak.

"We’re not planning to bring our stall back," it added.

"The expert medical guidance on social distancing has highlighted the importance of best practice around food provision for the most vulnerable.

"This is about making sure we get food to people safely, rather than bringing people to food, and we are working positively with a number of groups involved in providing food in this way."

It said it was working with organisations to engage with rough sleepers, secure temporary accommodation and deliver food to people directly.

Some volunteer groups criticised the decision on social media, as reported in the Eastern Daily Press, external.

Image source, The People's Picnic

Pete Cooper
BBC News

Christmas events are already being cancelled due to coronavirus.

West Suffolk Council, external has said it is calling off this year’s Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fayre to "help public services concentrate on tackling" their response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Fayre was due to be held between 26 and 29 November.

Image source, Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fayre

Cllr John Griffiths, leader of the council, said: "We know how popular the Fayre is and it is with a heavy heart we have taken this decision.

"But in the circumstances, and when you see events like the Olympics being postponed, it is the right one."

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

A council has issued a warning after some residents received letters claiming they had "failed to obey" self isolation and social distancing procedures.

The letters, purporting to be from Huntingdonshire District Council,, external said they had photographic evidence of multiple infringements and while they will not "peruse" [sic - we think they mean pursue] the matter further on this occasion, they may do in the future.

The council said they were not from the authority and people should disregard them.

It says they "do NOT issue this type of letter about individual whereabouts".

"We remind residents to practise social distancing and self isolation as laid out by government guidance," a further tweet, external added.