Summary

  • All the latest from Beds, Bucks, Cambs, Essex, Herts, Norfolk, Northants and Suffolk

  • Covid-19 deaths in the region's hospital's rises by 29 - a drop compared to the previous day's figures

  • Fry's words turn Cambridge blue

  • Schools will 'work out best way' to deal with pupils' return

  • Usual Eid celebrations replaced by voluntary work

Live Reporting

  1. Nurse died due to lack of PPE, brother claims

    Andrew Ekene Nwankwo was so desperate for PPE he tried to buy it himself, his family claims.

    Read More

  2. Heart in the sky for NHS workers

    Look closely at this image in the sky.

    Families turning out to applaud NHS and key workers were joined by the sound of aircraft engines.

    clap heart

    The smiley face and heart were produced by two small planes over Girton, near Cambridge, during the Clap for Carers at 20:00 last night.

  3. Essex reality TV show's Bobby sees 'terrifying rise' in online abuse

    Towie's Bobby Norris sees 'terrifying rise' in online abuse

    Bobby Norris, from ITV reality show The Only Way Is Essex, says trolls have "far too much time on their hands" during the lockdown and he talks about the homophobic abuse he has been subjected to.

    Bobby Norris sees 'terrifying rise' in online abuse

    Towie's Bobby Norris says trolls have "far too much time on their hands" during the lockdown.

    Read More

  4. Northants plan T20 games in front of fans

    Northants are looking to host T20 Blast matches in front of reduced crowds of around 1,500 fans this summer.

    Read More

  5. Stephen Fry helps city shine a light on kindness

    Alex Pope
    BBC News Online

    Lights on The Mathematical BridgeA Cambridge Diary

    The Mathematical Bridge

    The words of Stephen Fry have been projected on a city landmark to celebrate kindness during Mental Health Awareness Week.

    Part of the former Cambridge student's quote was shone on the Mathematical Bridge at Queens’ College, where he read English.

    It said: "The more in the world that you encounter kindness (and cheerfulness - which is its kind of amiable uncle or aunt) - the better the world always is."

    The Cambridge Belfry HotelThe Crane Event

    The Cambridge Belfry Hotel has been supporting NHS staff

    It was for the Shine Bright project which lights up different buildings in a blue glow to mark the weekly Clap for Carers event.

    The city's Belfry Hotel and Emmanuel College were also chosen.

    Emmanuel CollegeThe Crane Event

    Emmanuel College was chosen to highlight the community feel that has kept their students together over the past few months

    Dame Fiona Reynolds, master of Emmanuel, said: "Our college community has become stronger than ever, with our Student Union organising regular online yoga sessions, bake-off competitions, regular Zoom catch-ups with the master, weekly film nights, and even pets dressed in Emmanuel jumpers."

    The #ShineBright team is made up of The Crane Event, JMPS, Pink Lamp, Blueshed, and JezO’s.

  6. 'I've been wearing Peppa Pig scrubs'

    Peppa Pig and Thomas the Tank Engine scrubs are some of the many designs donated to a hospital.

    Read More

  7. Coronavirus deaths in the East falls again

    Matt Precey
    BBC Look East

    Figures revealing the latest number of new daily coronavirus deaths have been released by the government and it shows a declining trend in the East of England again.

    In Thursday's statistics, there was an increase of 29 deaths in the region's hospitals, compared to a rise of 44 new deaths in the previous day's figures.

    It takes the region's total number of Covid-19-related deaths to 3,402. The latest daily figures show deaths by hospital trust:

    ·Anglian Community, Fryatt Hospital: 1

    ·East Suffolk and North Essex (Ipswich and Colchester hospitals): 5

    ·James Paget, Gorleston: 1

    ·Kettering General Hospital: 1

    ·Mid Essex Hospital: 3

    ·Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals: 2

    ·North West Anglia (Peterborough and Hinchingbrooke hospitals): 5

    ·Northampton General: 3

    ·Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow: 1

    ·Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn: 2

    ·Southend: 3

    ·West Hertfordshire Hospitals: 2

    The total number of Covid-19 deaths across the whole UK now stands at 36,042.

  8. Welcome to Friday's coronavirus updates

    Katy Lewis
    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.

    If you have a story you wish to share - good or bad - please contact BBC News Online (East).

    Reach us via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or email us.