• Testing centres are open for essential workers and over-65s with coronavirus symptoms, but the government website said the nearest available appointments were more than 300 miles away in Scotland or Cornwall, the Eastern Daily Press, external is reporting
• The treatment of Covid-19 in King's Lynn is featured in a Channel 4 documentary called NHS Heroes: Fighting to Save our Lives, the Lynn News, external says
• The manager of a pharmacy has thanked residents after they praised the branch on how well organised it has been during the pandemic, the Diss Express, external reports

Image source, PA Media

McDonald's has unveiled four restaurants in London it plans to reopen for deliveries next week, after the fast food chain closed all its sites in March at the start of the coronavirus lockdown.

In total 15 sites, clustered around London and the South East, will offer a limited menu, including some vegetarian options, delivered within their local areas.

The London restaurants - located in Tooting, Dalston, Welling and Harrow - will be open from Wednesday next week to make deliveries between 11.00 - 22.00.

Before they open, the restaurants will undergo deep-cleaning with floor markings and Perspex screens installed.

The following restaurants will re-open on 13 May:- Chelmsford Riverside- Chelmsford Westway- Ipswich Cardinal Park- Boreham Interchange- Luton Leagrave- Watford Hertfordshire Arms- Chaul End Lane, Luton- Beechings Way, Gillingham- Sittingbourne Retail Park- Gillingham Bowaters- Tooting- Dalston- Welling- Harrow- Luton George Street

Pete Cooper
BBC News

The Suffolk branch of the Police Federation said an influx of people to a Costa Coffee in Ipswich that reopened at the weekend was putting the police "at risk".

The cafe at the Euro Retail Park was one of 17 Costa branches which reopened across the UK for drive-thru customers only.

Suffolk Chief Constable Steve Jupp said the number of people at the site "caused a big issue" for police, and came at a time when two large neighbouring supermarkets were also busy.

Image source, Getty Images

The Costa was later shut by staff because of the long queues.

Darren Harris, chairman of the Police Federation in Suffolk, said: "The public's action is putting my members at risk by having to interact with more members of the public than they necessarily need to."

While not illegal, he added that it was not "a reasonable thing to do" to drive to get a take-away coffee.

A spokeswoman for Costa Coffee said safety was their "number one priority".

She said the drive-thru cafes were meant for "key workers on essential journeys" and that other branches had been open offering delivery for other customers.

The branch in east Ipswich is due to reopen later this week.

• A family has been left devastated after three brothers all caught Covid-19 and only one of them escaped death, reports the MK Citizen, external
• The Bucks Herald, external says that councillor Robin Stuchbury believes the closure of the schools could mean that this year’s 11+ will be balanced "hugely in favour" of those families who can afford private and online tuition

Alex Pope
BBC News Online

Free lunches for the NHS, police, emergency services, social and critical workers are being handed out in Luton.

Club Lewsey is also feeding vulnerable families and handing out care packages.

Image source, Luton Volunteering

The club's work has been praised by Luton Volunteering, who said Merrison Gittens and his family have been showing "acts of kindness, bringing communities together".

It said: "We want to say a massive thanks to those that are keeping the kitchen running and doing the deliveries.

"[It's] a wonderful example of business, community and individuals coming together, doing wonderful things cross Luton."

BBC Essex

A charity that supports adults with learning disabilities has said it had successfully moved all of its lessons online.

City of Chelmsford Mencap, external said 90 service users have signed up for remote learning.

Image source, Chelmsford Mencap

Helena Nussey, from the charity said: "We are really pleased with the uptake and the result."

For those not able to sign up, she added that the charity was still keeping in touch with welfare and social calls as well as delivering food parcels.

• Aldeburgh residents claim in social media posts their town is "being invaded" as second-homeowners flock there despite lockdown, the East Anglian Daily Times, external reports
• Lowestoft-based holiday firm Hoseasons has stated it was dealing with tens of thousands of customers who have had holidays cancelled, after it was slated by consumer group Which?, the Lowestoft Journal, external reports
• A Bury St Edmunds woman has become embroiled in a dispute with a travel company after a £5,500 rugby tour for under-14s rugby team was cancelled, the Bury Free Press, external is reporting

Image source, Cambridgeshire Police

A police force that drove past a rainbow artwork at a school has thanked pupils for taking the time to get creative.

Cambidgeshire Police tweeted, external to say officers spotted the "beautiful collage" by Sancton Wood School, external in Cambridge, whilst on patrol.

The school said it was was to thank key workers, including staff at Addenbrooke's and Papworth hospitals in the city.

BBC Northampton

About half the nursing and midwifery students at a university are now on placements, providing extra help during the pandemic.

Some 150 students from the University of Northampton, external have "opted in" to become NHS employees earlier than they would normally.

Julie Martin, who sorts out placements, said: "It's about making sure that everyone has clear expectations."

She said they have been talking to the relevant organisations to sure they "have a fair level of understanding on what our students can do".

Image source, University of Northampton

Hannah Shaw (pictured) has begun her placement at Milton Keynes University Hospital.

"I’ve been feeling a 50-50 mix of excitement and nervousness," she said.

"It’s an unknown situation as there are healthcare staff who have come down with the virus and staff across the country that have died from it, so it is a little bit daunting.

“But, as a team, we are well protected."

Joan Rich is completing the 560m (1,837ft) loops of her local Suffolk park before her next birthday.

Image source, Colchester Zoo

A zoo said it has been "overwhelmed" by the kindness shown to them since it was forced to close.

Dr DA Tropeano, managing director of Colchester Zoo, external, said it is currently like a "ghost town" and that is "is really odd".

He has thanked people for donating cash and food for the animals and said: "The kindness is really overwhelming to the point where it has left us almost speechless.

"We have saved no life, we have not put our life on the line like nurses or doctors so we certainly are not heroes - all we do is look after our animals.

"To have received money from so many people including children giving up their precious savings, to people who bring fresh fruit and vegetables, is simply amazing."

He added that it is now concentrating on ensuring it can get through "this winter".

The zoo said its daily running costs are about £25,500 plus veterinary care bills and other unexpected expenses.

Usual entry price for adults is about £25 - which would equate to about 1,000 entries a week if the zoo was open - income that has evaporated.

More people are taking to the airwaves to stay connected. What's the appeal of amateur radio?

Residents of part of Essex have been invited to show their appreciation of key workers during the Covid-19 pandemic by displaying rainbow artwork in a weekly collage.

Epping Forest District Council and Essex Police, external are to piece together the collage of rainbow artworks and pictures of window displays sent to them.

The rainbows represent thanks and appreciation to all the NHS staff and key workers and window displays can also give people something to look out for on their daily exercise, the council said.

Image source, Essex Police/Epping Forest DC

Councillor Nigel Bedford said: "People are getting more and more creative with their window artwork; they have already shared their stained glass windows, bead artwork, flowers and animals.

"The Community Collage project will form part of a lasting legacy. All of the artwork will be included in our real life wall murals displayed around the district."

Residents are invited to send in pictures of their artwork to the council, external to include in the weekly collage which will feature on its website.

An MP has paid tribute in the House of Commons to the staff at his local village store.

Sir Charles Walker, Conservative MP for Broxbourne in Hertfordshire, said workers at the Goffs Oak Co-op are providing a vital service for local residents.

"I am sure they are concerned about their families, I am sure they are concerned about their own welfare," he said.

"You always get a cheery smile, a warm welcome and the impression that nothing is too much to ask.

"There are many, many heroes and a number are found at the Co-op in Goffs Oak."

Image source, Google

Although all play areas are currently closed in parks, a council is using the lockdown to revamp one area.

Ipswich Borough Council, external said to "limit future disruption" and to "give you something to look forward to", work is starting this week on updating Christchurch Park's play area.

"All staff on site will be following the latest government guidance on safe working," a spokesman added.

Image source, Ipswich Borough Council

Greg Coke's friends clapped his funeral hearse as many could not attend his funeral in Southend.

A deep-clean took place after a manager at the Northampton sandwich firm tested positive.

Matt Precey
BBC Look East

The latest figures for the number of Covid-19 deaths each day in NHS hospitals in the East of England have been released by the government, external.

The total number of deaths at the region's hospitals is now 2,831.

There was a daily rise of 41 deaths in yesterday's figures, slightly higher than the previous day's rise of 37:

• Basildon and Thurrock: 3
• Bedford Hospital: 2

• East and North East Herts: 2
• East Suffolk and North Essex (Ipswich and Colchester): 4
• Essex Partnership: 1
• James Paget, Gorleston: 2
• Mid Essex: 2
• Norfolk and Norwich: 3
• North West Anglia, Peterborough and Hinchingbrooke: 3
• Northampton General: 5
• Provide Braintree Hospital: 2
• Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge: 1
• Southend Hospital: 1
• The Queen Elizabeth, King's Lynn: 1
• West Hertfordshire Hospitals: 9

The total number of Covid-19 related deaths across the UK is 28,734.

Alex Pope
BBC News Online

We will be bringing you all the latest coronavirus news from across the East of England - from the latest statistics to how key workers and our communities are coping.

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