Summary

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

  • Number of Covid-19 deaths in the region rises by three to 3,970

  • Dispersal order in place after 'disturbance' in Essex

  • Train company increases seat availability, while airport ready to introduce flights

  • Cobblers celebrate play-off final win at Wembley

  1. EasyJet plans to close bases and cut staffpublished at 18:14 British Summer Time 30 June 2020

    The airline says it is consulting on plans to close bases at Stansted, Southend and Newcastle.

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  2. Countdown to '100 days of lockdown' Facebook live eventpublished at 18:11 British Summer Time 30 June 2020

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC News

    Thanks for joining us for our live updates page, which is closing down for the day.

    We have been asking you on our BBC News: East of England Facebook page, external for your experiences during 100 days of lockdown.

    Teacher and pupil during lockdownImage source, Rebecca Trigg/Facebook

    Rebecca Trigg posted this wonderful picture of dedication at Stapleford School in Cambridge.

    "My daughter hadn’t seen her teacher in months. Our brilliant teacher suggested a lunchtime gate visit - here they are having an impromptu lesson on decimals," she wrote.

    "Thanks to all the teachers doing what they can to make it work."

    Join the live conversation here from 18:45...

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

    Find it via your BBC News county index.

  3. £11.2m aims to 'kick-start economy' post-lockdownpublished at 18:11 British Summer Time 30 June 2020

    A business agency says action is needed to prevent job losses reaching a forecasted 200,000.

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  4. Stowaway hen lays egg after 90-mile lorry trippublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 30 June 2020

    A "bedraggled" hen is rescued after a two-hour trip stuck under lorry and immediately lays an egg.

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  5. Mayor confident shopping centre will survive INTUpublished at 17:29 British Summer Time 30 June 2020

    The elected mayor of Watford says the future's bright for the town's shopping centre despite Intu going into administration last week.

    shopping centreImage source, Getty Images

    The firm, external runs the former Harlequin Centre, as well as the former Midsummer Place in Milton Keynes and 15 other retail sites in the UK.

    Peter Taylor says he's confident the centre will remain open because the Watford Borough Council, external owns the freehold.

    "The main thing to reiterate to everyone is that the shopping centre is staying open. It's very profitable," he said.

    "The team have done a brilliant job as its reopened... but we're confident that Intu Watford, or whatever its called in the future, has got a successful future."

  6. More on 100 days of lockdownpublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 30 June 2020

    BBC East is hosting a live broadcast later on this page and on Facebook, external looking at what we have learned during the first 100 days of lockdown.

    We're been inviting you comments in advance.

    A reply from About Dunstable, external said: "Waiting for my grandchildren’s smiley faces to pop up on my phone, going on long local walks I didn’t know existed!

    And keeping my community page going, trying to keep spirits high and keep everyone in touch. Stay safe and take care everyone. We’re not over all this yet I fear x."

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  7. Stolen disability ramp leaves man stuck indoorspublished at 16:54 British Summer Time 30 June 2020

    A disability ramp has been stolen from outside a flat in Norwich, leaving a disabled man housebound.

    rampImage source, Norfolk Police

    The folding ramp, valued at £1,000, was taken on St George's Street sometime between noon and 15:00 on 14 June.

    Norfolk Police, external is appealing for information.

  8. Woman whose body found in river is identifiedpublished at 16:41 British Summer Time 30 June 2020

    Police appealing for information after the body of a woman was discovered in the River Nene in Peterborough on Sunday have identified her.

    She was found by a member of the public near Potters Way.

    Cambridgeshire Police, external said her death was still being treated as unexplained and a post-mortem examination was due to take place next week.

    The woman was said to be between 50 and 70 years of age and had no visible signs of injury.

    Her name is not being issued publicly by police.

  9. What the papers are saying....published at 16:38 British Summer Time 30 June 2020

    • The Northants Telegraph, external reports on a village pub where diners can eat in their own igloo to allow social distancing
    • The beach clear-up continues in Gorleston following the easing of lockdown rules and the rush to the coast and is reported in the Great Yarmouth Mercury, external
    • Norwich Theatre Royal is cancelling its Christmas panto reports the EDP, external

  10. Lawes & Biggar among 19 new Saints dealspublished at 16:16 British Summer Time 30 June 2020

    Courtney Lawes, Dan Biggar and Rory Hutchinson are among 19 players to sign new contracts with Northampton Saints.

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  11. School where boy was stabbed in special measurespublished at 16:16 British Summer Time 30 June 2020

    Ofsted inspectors say "pupils do not feel safe" at Stantonbury International School.

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  12. Lioness has paws full with five new arrivalspublished at 15:52 British Summer Time 30 June 2020

    Pride of lion cubsImage source, Woburn Safari Park

    Dakota, the lioness has got her paws full after giving birth to five cubs at Woburn Safari Park, external in Bedfordshire.

    Cubs with lionessImage source, Woburn Safari Park

    The nine-week old mini pride stepped out together for the first time to their specially-built playground.

    The latest arrivals were born on 24 April and is Dakota's second litter having given birth to five in 2014.

    The cute cubs, along with the pair that were born in July last year to Dakota’s own daughter, Zuri, has seen the pride increase to 13.

    Keepers have increased her feeds to ensure she is able to produce plenty of milk for her large litter, until they are fully weaned at around six to eight months old.

    Craig Lancaster, head of carnivores, said: "Dakota’s natural mothering instincts are brilliant and as this is her second litter she has settled into life as a mum again really well."

    Lioness and cubImage source, Woburn Safari park
    Image caption,

    It's "roar-right" Mum's just tickling me!

  13. Fans greet promoted Cobblers on return to stadiumpublished at 15:48 British Summer Time 30 June 2020

    Hundreds congratulate Northampton Town's players and staff on their Wembley success.

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  14. Your stories of 100 days of lockdownpublished at 15:47 British Summer Time 30 June 2020

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC News

    We've been asking for your stories of the lockdown to date via BBC News: East of England's Facebook page and many responses have been positive., external

    But for Elizabeth Jerome-Smith, who works in a hospital theatre, lockdown hasn't seen her able to learn new skills such as baking bread.

    Elizabeth Jerome-SmithImage source, Elizabeth Jerome-Smith/Facebook

    "This sums up my ‘lockdown’: No baking cakes, no homeschooling, no treasuring unexpected time to make memories with my children, the memories my children will have of lockdown is an exhausted mother with a sore face.

    "Covid isn’t over, we are still working long shifts and extra hours like this in hospitals across the country, to look after the ill and injured, and to try and catch up with the backlog of urgent surgical patients that had to be cancelled to make capacity for Covid patients.

    "Please don't forget this as lockdown relaxes and you get back to 'normality'. For some of us this is our new normal, so please, wear a mask, keep your distance, stay safe and enjoy the freedom that relaxing lockdown brings, but don’t forget that Covid is still here."

  15. School teaches all pupils on site before summerpublished at 15:02 British Summer Time 30 June 2020

    By staggering their return, it has made sure all its pupils have been taught on site for four weeks.

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  16. Manager Campbell leaves Southend Unitedpublished at 14:48 British Summer Time 30 June 2020

    Former England defender Sol Campbell leaves his role as manager of Southend United by mutual consent.

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  17. University and BT set up £9.6m technology learning hubpublished at 14:24 British Summer Time 30 June 2020

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    The University of Suffolk and BT have teamed up to launch a digital technology hub for students and apprentices.

    CGI of new technology learning room at DigiTech Centre, Martlesham’s Adastral Park, SuffolkImage source, BT

    DigiTech Centre at Adastral Park at Martlesham, will be used by students and graduates from the Ipswich-based university, BT apprentices and companies to help train future industry professionals.

    The £9.6m project will feature artificial intelligence systems, a forensics lab and smart living test facility.

    The first cohort of students and apprentices are expected to begin using the space from January.

    Once fully up and running, the centre will be used by around 500 students and 145 apprentices each year.

    Course leaders are working on a tie-up with police forces to develop cyber-security and forensics training, but will also be used by wildlife and ecology students to study environment conditions.

  18. 'You know it's summer when the longhorns arrive'published at 14:14 British Summer Time 30 June 2020

    Weston Hills Local Nature Reserve recently welcomed some familiar four-legged visitors to graze in its meadows.

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    The English longhorn cattle and sheep visit annually as part of the conservation grazing regime at the site at Baldock in Hertfordshire.

    Grazing helps to encourage a wider variety of plants and insects.

    Ivel Springs, also in Baldock, will welcome English Longhorn Cattle to its grassland in July.

    Steve Jarvis, of North Hertfordshire District Council, external said: "You always know that summer is here when the longhorns and sheep arrive on our nature reserves."

  19. 100 days of lockdown: Spending lockdown in a stately homepublished at 13:16 British Summer Time 30 June 2020

    Tim Stokes
    BBC News

    Today marks 100 days since the lockdown began in England.

    Back in May, we heard from workers who have been spending lockdown maintaining the UK's historic palaces, mansions and stately homes.

    Franchesca Derry spoke about her "surreal" experience living at Audley End House in Essex.

    Audley End HouseImage source, ENGLISH HERITAGE

    The buildings at all the sites still remain closed to the public, although some have been able to open their gardens with tickets available online.

    Hampton Court reopened its grounds on 18 June while the gardens at Audley End House will open on 4 July.

  20. Commercial flights to resume at airportpublished at 12:54 British Summer Time 30 June 2020

    Commercial flights from Norwich Airport are resuming from July with the first flight to Bourgas in Bulgaria.

    Richard Pace, MD, Norwich AirportImage source, Norwich Airport

    The airport said from August people will be able to travel to Amsterdam, while more scheduled planes will operate to Aberdeen.

    Flights to Edinburgh will start in September, with winter season flights to Tenerife scheduled from 8 October.

    Norwich Airport, external has remained open for offshore helicopter flights, medical and military flights during the lockdown.

    The airport said safety measures include enhanced cleaning in the terminal and the rest of the site, additional hand sanitiser units and a one-way system in place for passengers.

    Richard Pace, managing director of Norwich Airport, said: "In the middle a difficult period for aviation and UK business as a whole, a return to commercial flying marks the first signs of recovery and gives a much-needed boost to regional and international air connectivity."