Armed police were scrambled after people reported seeing some men with a gun in a car.

They were spotted at about 12:50 on Monday near Morrisons supermarket in Harwich.

Armed officers "quickly established it was a toy gun", an Essex Police spokeswoman said.

No action was taken against the men.

Special Constable Chelsea Ablett, who assisted the officers, wrote on Twitter that the "firearm was a toy bought from B&M".

However, she added: "It was a scary few minutes not knowing what was in the vehicle."

A man in his 40s has died at the scene after the car he was in collided with a stationary lorry at Chelmsford.

Essex Police, external said the Renault Megane hit a lorry in a layby on the A12 between Three Mile Hill and Galleywood at about 21:20 on Monday.

The northbound section between junctions 15 and 16 was closed.

The Norwich Theatre group, which manages three venues in the city, says it's relieved by the injection of £1.57bn for the arts industry.

Image source, Norwich Theatre group

Stephen Crocker said on behalf of the group that he was "hugely grateful" that the government has acknowledged the devastation coronavirus had caused the industry and it was a "very good first step".

"It's going to give us a period of reprieve," he said.

"Whilst I welcome this announcement, my call for a detailed reopening plan for venues still stands as this is an issue that is also critical for us in terms of longer-term planning."

The company said it remained concerned about people's confidence in returning to watch shows and would welcome the Prime Minister saying it was safe to do so with the right social distancing in place.

The group announced three-quarters of its staff faced job cuts and cancelled its Christmas panto last week.

The ex-Army officer had a movie clip of children with one as young as 12 months old, a court hears.

As Sound City is postponed, one of its venues is to host socially-distanced gigs streamed online.

Image source, Terry-Harris.com

A market eaterie has been temporarily closed after two positive cases of coronavirus were reported.

The Food Hall at Peterborough Market will be "temporarily shut for a deep clean", said Dr Liz Robin, director of public health for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, external.

"We have already increased proactive public health messaging in Peterborough and are using postcode level data to target our prevention and outbreak management efforts even further, through our community rapid response team, especially given the reduction of lockdown measures," she said.

"Coronavirus is still a part of all our lives and we must all continue to social distance, wash our hands regularly and follow the other public health advice", she added.

A minister calls the growth of an AONB "a worthy addition, during this unprecedented time".

Image source, Getty Images

The manager of Wycombe Wanderers has paid tribute to the American businessman who took over the club in February, after reaching the League One play-off final last night with an aggregate victory over Fleetwood.

Gareth Ainsworth said: "Rob Couhig, over in the States, who's put faith in me and for everyone, that's for you."

"Who would believe where we are? Where this ends we don't know."

The Chairboys take on Oxford at in the play-off final at Wembley on Monday.

After a successful sold-out debut in 2019, the Sound City Ipswich, external music festival has been postponed for 2020 due to the ongoing lockdown restrictions and "uncertainty around large gatherings".

It was due to take place on 2 October across various venues in the town, and has been rescheduled for Friday, 1 October, 2021.

Organisers said nine of the 10 artists booked to play would appear and tickets would be valid or refunds available. Dry Cleaning will not be able to appear next year, but others including Truemendous, Warmduscher and Porridge Radio have been re-booked.

In an email to ticket holders, they said: "We are so happy to be able to carry so many amazing acts on to next year’s festival which will be bigger and better and a real celebration of the resilience of the town and the live music industry."

Alex Pope
BBC News Online

Venues up and town the region were painted (not literally) red last night to raise the profile of arts venues, that have been hit hard during the coronavirus lockdown.

The #LightItInRed campaign on social media shows buildings and places in a red glow to "bring light to the situation of the events industry during the Covid-19 crisis".

Image source, Norwich Theatre Royal

Image source, Basildon Council

As theatres and arts venues are still unable to open, the government announced a £1.57bn support package on Sunday evening.

Image source, SMTT

Image source, Martin Bond, A Cambridge Diary

Image source, Deco Theatre

Image source, Players Theatre

Image source, The Archers Theatre

A painter and decorator has splashed out on a new decor for the front of his home in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex as a "Thank You" to the NHS for saving his life.

Oliver Browne painted the tiles in vivid colours shortly before VE Day.

The 65-year-old is a serial fundraiser for charity having completed 11 walks of 100 miles along the sea front, 47 marathons and 21 endurance walks of 24 hours.

He has raised thousands of pounds for Help for Heroes, external because his son was in the Army, and for the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, external as his mother suffered from hearing problems.

Just before lockdown he had an emergency himself and was told he was just two hours from death, but surgeons managed to remove his gall bladder and he survived.

The display was also a tribute to all the people who work for service who are making a contribution during the Covid-19 pandemic, he said.

Lord Nelson's statue in the county of his birth has been sprayed with an anarchy symbol.

Wycombe Wanderers are just one game away from promotion to the Championship for the first time in their history.

The Chairboys face Oxford behind closed doors at Wembley on Monday in the League One play-off final, six years after avoiding relegation from the Football League on the final day of the season.

Gareth Ainsworth's side drew 2-2 with Fleetwood at Adams Park last night to win the semi-final 6-3 on aggregate.

The club's Twitter feed, external said it was "a wonderful night".

"From the brink of oblivion in 2014, to the edge of unprecedented glory," it added.

"One more game to go."

Alex Pope
BBC News Online

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