Summary

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

  • The number of Covid-19 deaths in the region's hospitals reaches 3,999

  • Borough mayor responds to fears of new 'local lockdown'

  • Wycombe prepare for play-off semis - their first game since March

  1. Chelsea win to boost top-four hopespublished at 23:59 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    Chelsea boss Frank Lampard says his team will have to get used to added pressure during a nervy Premier League run-in after they beat Watford on Saturday.

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  2. 'Unrealistic' to avoid relegation - Farkepublished at 16:58 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    Leandro Trossard's winner nudges Norwich City closer to relegation as Brighton all but ensure a fourth straight season in the Premier League with a rare away win.

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  3. Friday's updates as they happenedpublished at 18:05 British Summer Time 3 July 2020

    Thanks for joining us for our live updates page.

    And don't forget you can follow live text reports from Fleetwood v Wycombe in the League One play-off semi-finals from 19:30, which follows coverage of the Portsmouth v Oxford tie which kicked-off at 17:30.

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

    Find it via your BBC News county index.

  4. Train company gets ready for 'increase' in travellerspublished at 18:03 British Summer Time 3 July 2020

    A train company is getting ready to "welcome back commuters" as it is increasing its timetable from Monday.

    Greater Anglia said it has taken additional steps to keep everyone safe including handing out facemasks and installing hand sanitiser dispensers at 20 stations.

    Jamie Burles, managing director, said: "We have measures in place to protect staff and passengers such as enhanced cleaning, social distancing markings at stations and free hand sanitiser available at major stations.

    "However, at this stage, we are still asking customers only to travel by train where necessary."

    Social distancing measures at railway stationImage source, Greater Anglia

    It is now mandatory for customers to wear a face covering when using public transport.

    Hand sanitiser dispensers are available at Billericay, Bishop’s Stortford, Broxbourne, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Cheshunt, Colchester North, Ely, Harlow Town, Ipswich, Manningtree, Norwich, Rayleigh, Shenfield, Southend Victoria, Stansted Airport, Tottenham Hale, Ware, Wickford and Witham.

  5. Photographer goes detective to find photos ownerspublished at 17:09 British Summer Time 3 July 2020

    Alex Pope
    BBC News Online

    A photographer has turned detective to try to find the owner of the following images.

    PhotoImage source, Unknown

    David Clarke, from Harrold in Bedfordshire, said his daughter purchased a second-hand camera from the Emmaus Village Carlton, external, last year.

    When Taya, 15, bought the Kodak Instamatic, she discovered there was still a film in it, so decided to use it up and get it developed.

    PhotoImage source, Unknown

    When the photos came back to them, four images survived and now the hunt is on to find out who is in them.

    "Somebody has got to know who these people are", David said.

    "We think they are from the 70s or 80s, and I've been told one was taken in Benidorm."

    PhotoImage source, Unknown

    He has asked anyone with any information to email him, external.

    PhotoImage source, Unknown
  6. 'Quarantine lifting gives us quality family time'published at 16:57 British Summer Time 3 July 2020

    Airport passengers reflect on not having to isolate for two weeks on their return to the UK.

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  7. What the papers are saying across the regionpublished at 16:17 British Summer Time 3 July 2020

  8. PPE continues to fly into airportpublished at 16:03 British Summer Time 3 July 2020

    As EasyJet flights commenced at London Luton Airport this week, although not so many passengers flights have been taking off, the airport has continued to welcome cargo flights.

    Many of the have included deliveries of personal protective equipment (PPE), as this time-lapse video shows....

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  9. Be alert to large scale gatherings say policepublished at 16:02 British Summer Time 3 July 2020

    Police are warning communities to be alert to large unlicensed gatherings after one was planned last weekend at Pitstone Pits.

    Hertfordshire Police said the occupants of a vehicle containing large speakers admitted to planning a large gathering at the beauty spot, just across the border in Buckinghamshire.

    With the gradual easing of lockdown measures, "many people have let down their guard", but social-distancing was still in place, it said.

    Pitstone QuarryImage source, Colin Smith/Geograph

    Ch Insp Chris Treadwell said: "Not only are unlicensed raves illegal but in the current circumstances, they clearly breach the government measures stating there must be no large gatherings in order to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.

    "These types of events are dangerous for attendees as there are often no crowd control measures, medical staff or security provision on site.

    "Many people will likely accuse us of being spoilsports but we are here to keep people safe."

  10. 'Stick to the rules' if visiting the beachpublished at 15:14 British Summer Time 3 July 2020

    As the rules surrounding coronavirus lockdown are eased this weekend with the reopening of pubs, restaurants and hairdressers, a warning is being shared by police, coastguards and beach patrols to be careful, cautious, aware of your surroundings and maintain social distancing outside of your "bubbles".

    Ch Insp Lily Benbo, from Essex Police, said: "Stick to the rules, look out for each other and stay safe."

    The rules include not swimming out or your depth or comfort zone, not climbing on structures in the sea where there are clear signs on them not to do so.

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  11. Lifeguards continue to return to beachespublished at 14:56 British Summer Time 3 July 2020

    LifeguardsImage source, Nigel Millard/RNLI

    Lifeguards are continuing to return to beaches across the east coast.

    The RNLI said this weekend they will have an extra patrol in at Southwold north beach in Suffolk, adding to Lowestoft South beach, which they returned to last month.

    Lifeguards will wear personal protective equipment, and "new protocols for first responders means the lifeguards may not deal with some minor first aid cases but will support people to treat themselves", it said.

    Darren Lewis, RNLI lifesaving manager, said: "We must all continue to be aware that the risks from the pandemic have not gone away, but if people work with us and the other emergency services by following social distancing and other government guidance, we hope to be able to continue to provide lifeguard services this season."

  12. Pubs, hairdressers and aquariums prepare to reopenpublished at 14:43 British Summer Time 3 July 2020

    Many businesses are getting ready to welcome customers as lockdown measures are further relaxed.

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  13. Grain store roof mangled in 'massive explosion'published at 14:06 British Summer Time 3 July 2020

    Witnesses hear a sound like "a bomb going off" as flames shoot up into the air at Tilbury Port.

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  14. Council wishes good luck to Wandererspublished at 13:46 British Summer Time 3 July 2020

    Not long now - Wycombe Wanderers kick-off at 19:30 in the League One play-off semi-final first leg at Fleetwood.

    Let's hope the M6 isn't too busy....

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  15. Starkey quits university role over slavery commentpublished at 13:26 British Summer Time 3 July 2020

    Cambridge University accepts David Starkey's resignation, saying: "We do not tolerate racism."

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  16. 'Thank U NHS' plane to fly over hospitalspublished at 12:35 British Summer Time 3 July 2020

    A Spitfire plane, with "Thank U NHS" written on its underside, will take to the skies this weekend to mark the 72nd birthday of the National Health Service.

    The legendary World War Two fighter will fly over a number of hospitals in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire starting at 16:20 on Sunday.

    It has been organised by the family-owned Aircraft Restoration Company, external, based at Imperial War Museum Duxford, external.

    Spitfire planeImage source, GeorgeLewisRomain

    The full flight route is as follows:

    • 16:20 - Duxford Airfield
    • 16:28 - Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, Welwyn Garden City
    • 16:33 - Luton and Dunstable University Hospital, Luton
    • 16:36 – Lister Hospital, Stevenage
    • 16:41 – Bedford Hospital
    • 16:47 – Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Huntingdon
    • 16:53 – Witchford, village near Ely
    • 16:58 – Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge
    • 17:00 – Addenbrooke’s and Royal Papworth hospitals, Cambridge
    • 17:10 – Duxford Airfield
  17. 'We have nothing to lose - let's go for this' says Wycombe bosspublished at 11:18 British Summer Time 3 July 2020

    Gareth AinsworthImage source, Wycombe Wanderers

    The manager of Wycombe Wanderers is feeling positive and as calm as he can ahead of the club's first leg of the League One play-off semi-finals at Fleetwood Town.

    "The remit was always to stay in the division, [so] it's a heck of a chance to [try to] take," said player-turned-gaffer Gareth Ainsworth.

    "Whatever happens on Friday, there is [still] going to be plenty to play for on Monday.

    "Believe me Fleetwood are a good side, we are ready for it."

    To the fans, he said: "We know you are there, not physically but we know the support is there and we have nothing to lose, let's go for this."

    There is commentary on Wycombe at Fleetwood on BBC Three Counties Radio on 98FM this evening (but not online) and kick-off is at 19:30.

    In the other semi-final, Portsmouth host Oxford at 17:30.

  18. 'Local lockdown' concerns addressed by mayor in high-incidence townpublished at 10:07 British Summer Time 3 July 2020

    At the start of the week Bedford had the highest rate of Covid-19 infections in the south of England.

    Rick Kirby sculpture, Bedford

    Figures recorded in the week up to 21 June showed it had England's sixth-highest infection rate overall since the start of the pandemic.

    There was concern, that with the rates increasing, it might go into a local lockdown, like Leicester.

    But latest figures, external from the government showed that the weekly number of cases were now 18.1 per 100,000 compared to last week when they were was 42 per 100,000.

    Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "If you want to know if Bedford Borough is going into [local] lockdown the simple and quick answer is 'no', but we continue to monitor the data and urge everyone to be careful, stay home if possible and socially-distance if going out.

    "We are continuing to press for better and detailed data."

  19. Earliest wall in oldest town goes up for auctionpublished at 10:00 British Summer Time 3 July 2020

    An advertising company is selling the wall as it is not allowed to place billboards above it.

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  20. PC admits 11-year relationship with crime victimpublished at 10:00 British Summer Time 3 July 2020

    PC Nicholas Musto "wilfully abused his position" to form a relationship with a "vulnerable woman".

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