East of England live updates

1. All the latest from Beds, Bucks, Cambs, Essex, Herts, Norfolk, Northants and Suffolk
2. Seven new Covid-19 deaths recorded at region's hospitals
3. Authorities investigate high rate of coronavirus in Bedford
4. Northampton Town head for Wembley, but Colchester's season is over
5. Group cut off by tide on Norfolk island
6. Three arrested in modern slavery raid in Ipswich

Keane nets winner at strugglers Norwich

By Shamoon Hafez

BBC Sport

Tuesday's updates as they happened

Thanks for joining us to find out how the East of England is reacting to the coronavirus pandemic.. as well as coverage of other stories.

Live updates have now finished for the day

Join us again on Wednesday when a live page will resume at 08:00.

Find it via your BBC News county index.

Van driver dies after hitting parked car

A van driver in his 50s has died following a collision with a parked vehicle in Essex.

Police said, the driver of a white Renault Kangoo, hit a parked car in Rickstones Road, Witham, at about 10:35 on Monday.

He was taken to hospital, but died later.

Google

"We need anyone who saw the Kangoo and how it was being driven, has CCTV or dashcam footage, or has any other information, to call us," a police spokeswoman said.

Three men arrested over modern slavery offences

Three men have been arrested in connection with suspected modern slavery offences.

Suffolk Police were joined by other UK enforcement agencies and police officers from Romania as they raided an address in the west of Ipswich earlier this month.

The three men, aged 29, 26 and 20, were questioned on suspicion of slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour offences.

BBC

Paperwork, payment cards and other items were recovered and a number of potential victims located, police said.

The Gangmaster and Labour Abuse Authority's senior investigating officer Jenni Baines said: "We know that the current pandemic also has the potential to create the conditions in which more people are exploited for their labour."

The three men have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Football steward racially abused by teen at match

Lister Hospital celebrates Filipino nurses' 20 years service

Sarah Jenkins

BBC News

The Lister Hospital in Stevenage has celebrated 27 Filipino nurses who have worked for the NHS trust for 20 years.

In June 2000, 64 nurses arrived in the UK from the Philippines to "pursue their dreams of working abroad".

Twenty years on, 27 of those nurses still work for the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, in what the hospital said was "an incredible feat of long service".

What the papers are saying in Essex

• The Colchester Gazette is reporting statistics from Public Health England show 10 additional cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Southend with 30 more in the Essex County Council area and 12 in Thurrock
• The Southend Echo is reporting the county is set to sizzle in six days of sun and the Met Office has said temperatures are going to reach highs of 29C
• The Witham and Braintree Times reports a green-fingered great-granddad from Dovercourt believes he has grown one of the tallest garden flowers in the country - which now stands at an impressive 14ft tall

Amazon centre evacuated after fire in cardboard store

Firefighters have been tackling a blaze that broke out at a goods distribution centre in Peterborough.

It is believed about 50 tonnes of cardboard were alight next to the staff building at the Amazon depot in Flaxley Road.

Terry Harris

Amazon said none of its staff were hurt, but the fire forced the firm to evacuate its distribution centre.

The fire started at lunchtime and several fire engines and appliances were sent by Cambridgeshire Fire Service.

Coronavirus: Seven new deaths in the East

Yesterday's figures showed no new coronavirus deaths in the region's hospitals, but the latest government daily figures released this afternoon show there were seven more, taking the total in the East of England to 3,938.

The deaths, listed by the NHS trust, were:

• Basildon and Thurrock Hospitals: 3
• Bedford Hospital: 1
• East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals: 1
• James Paget University Hospital, Gorleston: 1
• Southend University Hospital: 1

The total number of Covid-19 deaths across the UK now stands at 42,927.

School sells face masks in aid of food bank and refuge

An private school in Essex is selling anti-coronavirus facemasks in aid of local charities.

Nearly 300 homes reapproved despite concerns

Food and drink festival cancelled due to virus

A town centre's food and drink festival that normally attracts 35,000 people over two days has been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Our Bury St Edmunds Food & Drink Festival was due to take place over the August bank holiday weekend.

Our Bury St Edmunds

The Business Improvement District (BID) organisation said it felt social distancing "would not be possible" at the free-admission event.

It said it hoped for a "bigger and better" edition next year.

William Bryant, chairman of the Bury BID, said: "We’ve taken this decision reluctantly after watching and waiting over the past three months in the hope it could have happened in a safe way.

"However I very much hope that next year we’ll see the festival return and Bury St Edmunds will continue to be regarded as Suffolk’s foodie town."

Investigation to find out why coronavirus rates so high in town

Alex Pope

BBC News Online

Bedford Borough Council

Health officials are working with a council and a biosecuirty centre to carry out a "deep dive" into why coronavirus cases are relatively high in a county town.

Dr Aliko Ahmed, Public Health England's regional director, said it was working with the Joint Biosecurity Centre and Bedford Borough Council "to explore the high coronavirus infection rate in Bedford and investigate why the rates are not falling as quickly as other areas".

As it was responsible for analysing the data from tests and tracing the virus, by examining this information, he said "it should be possible to identify the emergence of ‘hotspots’, so that appropriate action can be taken to help reduce the spread”.

Dave Hodgson, Mayor of Bedford Borough, said the "deep dive investigation" is needed to answer questions.

"We need detailed data to be able to take effective action to control the spread of the virus at a local level."

There have been 776 reported cases in the borough and a rate of 452 per 100,000 people, making it the 11th worst unitary authority relative to population in the country, according to government figures.

For contrast, Peterborough has a rate of 231, Milton Keynes 191, and Luton 390.

Two hundred deaths have been reported at Bedford Hospital and 21 care home deaths in the borough.

Plans to increase disabled adult care charges frozen

Paul Moseley

BBC Radio Norfolk

A plan to make 2,400 disabled adults pay more for care has been put on hold.

Norfolk County Council had delayed the changes because of coronavirus.

The council said government funding meant the charges could be frozen for 16 weeks and said the freeze will now stay in place for the forseeable future.

What the papers are saying in Cambridgeshire

• The Hunts Post is reporting that some dentists have reopened after almost three months in lockdown
• The Cambridge News is reporting that a serial arsonist tried to blame his actions on a fictional twin brother
• The Evening Telegraph is reporting that fire crews have been at the Amazon plant in Peterborough, where 50 tonnes of cardboard are believed to be alight

Lorry driver dies at scene of M40 crash

A lorry driver in his 50s has died after a collision between two lorries on the M40 in Buckinghamshire.

Thames Valley Police said the incident between junctions three and four at High Wycombe happened at about 06:25 on Monday.

The other driver, also in his 50s, was taken to hospital with serious leg injuries.

PC Sandra Terry said: "We are appealing for anyone who witnessed this tragic incident, or who has any information to please come forward.

"I would also urge any motorists with dashcams to check any footage in case it may have captured something that could assist with the investigation."

Wrong-way train almost crashed into Tube service

'Our pub is too small for any social distancing'

By Rachael McMenemy & Laurence Cawley

BBC News

Honorary degree bestowed upon Captain Tom Moore

Alex Pope

BBC News Online

An honorary degree has been bestowed upon Sir Captain Tom Moore for his services to the local community and the country.

Cranfield University, in Bedfordshire, presented the achievement via a video call, making him an Honorary Doctor of Science.

The 100-year-old Marston Moretaine resident walked more than 100 times round his garden and raised £32m for NHS charities.

Captain Tom said: "This is something very special for me.

"I have heard so much about Cranfield and I am pleased we are both putting Bedfordshire on the map.”

Cranfield University

Prof Sir Peter Gregson, vice-chancellor and chief executive of the university, said: "Captain Tom’s now well-known saying 'tomorrow will be a good day' echoes our own university’s motto from our RAF background 'after clouds, light'."

The university's air traffic control centre, controlled the flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, to mark his 100th birthday on 30 April.

Policeman accused of sexual activity with a child