That's all from the East of England live updates team for today - but just before we go, a quick mention of a couple of great things on TV and on BBC Local Radio tonight.

On your radio (see the links at the top of the page) from 19:00 is "Race and Covid-19", a special programme looking at the disproportionate number of deaths of people from ethnic minorities.

On television, Captain Tom: We Salute You is on BBC One at 19:30.

The programme retells the story of World War Two veteran Capt Tom Moore who aimed to raise £1,000 for NHS charities to mark his 100th birthday and became a global sensation on his way to raising more than £30m.

Have a good evening and join us again on Thursday, when a live page will resume at 08:00.

Find it via your BBC News county index.

A music venue has organised a 12-hour open mic session to help raise funds which will allow it to survive the coronavirus crisis.

The Hunter Club in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, like many other live venues in the region, faces potential closure because of a total loss of income and grant funding, and uncertainty around reopening.

Their day of live streamed open mic sessions are part of an attempt to raise £15,000.

Performances of each act can be found on The Hunter Club's Facebook page., external

It started at 10:00 today and runs throughout the evening.

• The Eastern Daily Press, external write that an alcohol click and collect service has launched at The Waterfront in Norwich to keep the venue afloat and make sure no stock goes to waste
• The Great Yarmouth Mercury, external reports that Norfolk Freemasons have teamed up with a Loddon-based production firm to supply face shields to community carers and health visitors
• And North Norfolk News, external reports that seven out of 10 beaches across the country will not be patrolled by RNLI lifeguards this summer, should the lockdown be lifted

Publicans up and down the country will be raising a glass to mark VE Day - and Captain Tom Moore's local has been chosen to lead the national toast.

The 100-year-old World War Two veteran, who raised more than £32m for the NHS by doing a sponsored walk, lives in Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire.

Image source, PA Media

Karl Clark, publican of village pub The Bell, said: "We want to make sure we also recognise his achievements during WW2 and raise a glass to him and his fellow veterans."

The British Beer & Pub Association , externalhas called on its members, who represent more than 20,000 pubs and 90% of the beer brewed in Britain, to join the celebrations (virtually) at 15:00 on Friday.

Image source, Geograph/MJ Richardson

Image source, Diamond Hampers

Volunteers have packed 71 hampers full of essential goods to give to care leavers after an appeal by local authorities in Cambridgeshire.

Food, toiletries, baby products, nappies, cleaning products and birthday presents were among the donations given to the young people, many without family support, as they cope with the lockdown.

Re-Imagine Resource Centre in Witchford and community organisation Diamond Hampers were among the donors.

Conservative member of Cambridgeshire County Council, Simon Bywater, thanked them "for everything they are doing to make life a little easier for others".

• The Echo, external reports that a teenager from Canvey Island is stranded on a cruise ship with dwindling food supplies in the Philippines
• Essex Live, external writes that New Holland Tractors - one of the biggest employers in the county - has put some 400 of its staff back to work
• And The Gazette, external has spoken to a pensioner who is on the brink of completing a 110km garden walk for the NHS

Over the past few weeks, we have heard plenty of heart-warming stories about children who have written cards and dropped off presents to emergency workers.

Well now, Northamptonshire Police are returning the favour.

Image source, Northamptonshire Police

One of their officers (the force isn't naming him) has created three handrawn pictures for children to download and colour in, external.

Those who do so are being encouraged to stick them in their windows - and officers who spot them while on patrol will take a pic and tweet them - or you can take a photo of your child with their completed picture - and tweet @NorthantsPolice, external.

The founder of a computer company has warned "an entire decade of progress in narrowing the educational divide" could be "erased" if schools remain closed until September due to the pandemic lockdown.

Eben Upton, who created Cambridge-based Raspberry Pi, external, is appealing for philanthropists to fund the donation of hundreds of computers to low-income households - in a move he is calling Pi Drop - to ensure children can continue their education at home.

He has arranged the distribution of 20 out of 1,000 computers currently available through the Cambs Youth Panel, external and said: "This is a once-in-a-century moment when rapid action can have life-long consequences for disadvantaged young people."

The government has set up a scheme to lend laptops to deprived pupils - but only for year 10 students who are taking their GCSEs.

Leah (below), a primary school pupil from Cambridge, said: "The biggest change since I received my Raspberry Pi is I get to do all the homework set."

Healthwatch Suffolk is asking people to complete a survey about their experiences of local health services during the coronavirus pandemic.

There is a local Healthwatch in every area of England. They act as watchdogs which scrutinise medical and social care and are meant to make the NHS more accountable to patients.

The organisation said feedback was needed to understand how the health service can improve - and also serves as an opportunity to say thank you for positive experiences.

The survey can be completed here., external

Katy Prickett
BBC News

Image source, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

When Ivy Reeves was planning her 100th birthday for 1 May, she had hoped to hold a party in a tearoom with family and friends.

Instead she found herself at Wycombe Hospital in Buckinghamshire after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Luckily, her symptoms began to improve so the hospital allowed her son Alan to visit her.

He wore personal protective equipment to deliver the traditional message from the Queen, help her open her cards and enjoy some cake - while the nurses sang Happy Birthday.

He said: "It was magical to be able to do that, I’m very grateful - the nurses have been fantastic, just brilliant."

The Vauxhall plant is finalising major changes which will allow it to reopen the site safely.

Earlier we told you about some recycling centres re-opening across Buckinghamshire.

Well the inevitable has happened - queues.

Seems like lots of households in lockdown have amounted much "essential waste" to dispose of.

• The East Anglian Daily Times, external has spoken to a man who is taking on a 12-hour table tennis challenge to raise money for Ipswich Hospital, where his wife is receiving care for terminal cancer
• The Ipswich Star reports, external that Suffolk-based pubs and brewing giant Greene King has launched a hardship fund to help its 38,000 staff
• And the Bury Free Press, external write that families have been left in limbo after travel companies delayed refunds due to coronavirus

Neighbours welcome home Omar Taylor, who was in a coma and had a stroke while battling coronavirus.

West Suffolk Council says it will reintroduce its garden waste collection service from 1 June, after it was stopped due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The service was suspended on 30 March, with more than 40 of its staff either having to shield themselves or someone vulnerable in their home from the virus.

The authority says there may be a change to collection days when the service resumes, and said it will contact customers with further details.

Image source, Reuters

Families whose financial situation has been transformed for the worse during the lockdown are being urged to find out if their children are eligible for free school meals.

Liberal Democrat councillor Michael Headley, portfolio holder for finance at Bedford Borough Council, said: "We are concerned that families now struggling financially because of the coronavirus outbreak may not realise their child could be eligible for free school meals or where to go for help."

Parents or carers in Bedford can find out more here, external, as vouchers worth £15 a week are available until schools reopen.

And if this is you but you don't live in Bedford, check out your own council website - it will have its own scheme.

Martin Barber
BBC News

When taking our daily permitted exercise we all need to observe the guidelines on social distancing - even if you're taking a stroll with your Lego mini-figure friends.

This was the scene in New Catton, Norwich, earlier when Hugo, 6, reminded mum the tiny plastic people should all be socially distancing while out on their walk.

Image source, Lyndsey Fisher

"While playing with Lego, Hugo reminded me people to be socially distancing themselves," mum Lyndsey Fisher said.

"I laughed and then immediately moved the characters under my child’s watchful eye. I'm very proud how Hugo is dealing with all these changes."

Ex-Norwich City player Darren Eadie says professional football should not restart until it is safe to do so - even if games are played behind closed doors.

Eadie, who also played for Leicester City, said the sport seemed to be trying to get back to normal too quickly which showed "arrogance and vulgarity" and he felt players were "being used as pawns in a game of riches".

Speaking to the Pink Un podcast,, external Eadie, who is now joint manager at Suffolk non-league club Leiston, external, added that the players' union - the PFA - should be doing more to stand against matches being played during the pandemic.

It comes as the PFA's chief executive Gordon Taylor suggested halves of less than 45 minutes could be considered when football resumes.

Club members have turned to WhatsApp to push and motivate each other to train during the pandemic.

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

More recycling centres are being opened across the country and in Buckinghamshire the disposal of "essential waste only" resumes.

Image source, Press Association

Five recycling centres at Amersham, Aston Clinton, Buckingham, Beaconsfield and High Wycombe will be open seven days a week.

The county council, external said residents will be asked for identification to prove their address.

"You should only visit the site if you cannot safely store your waste at home," its website said.

Limits will also be imposed on the number of vehicles allowed on sites.