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Public health officials in Northamptonshire are urging the public to comply with the guidance on wearing face coverings.

Image source, Getty Images

The Northamptonshire Local Resilience Forum, made up of representatives from local public services, said face coverings may provide protection to other people that you come into contact with, especially if you are infected but have not developed symptoms.

In England, they became mandatory on public transport on 15 June and the public have since been advised to wear them when attending healthcare settings such as GP surgeries and hospitals either as a visitor or outpatient. They should also be worn in enclosed public spaces where maintaining 2m social distancing is not possible.

Northamptonshire GP Dr Joanne Watt said: "The wearing of face coverings is an essential part of the new normal that we now must all adapt to.

"Public transport, enclosed spaces and healthcare settings are areas where the virus can spread more easily or increase the risk to key workers, therefore, I would urge everyone to use face coverings to protect those around them."

The food hall at Peterborough Market is reopening today after a deep clean.

It was closed on Monday after two people working there tested positive for Covid-19.

Image source, Terry Harris

Rob Hill from Peterborough City Council, said people who had been in close contact with them would now be traced.

"We will continue to monitor the situation and should further issues arise then, of course, we will take action," he said.

"Our environmental health team will be working with stall holders at the market to ensure their stalls, for which they are responsible, are safe for themselves and customers.

"We would ask that all individuals working and visiting the Food Hall and the wider market follow the government guidance on social distancing, good hand hygiene and wearing a face covering when in enclosed public spaces where you cannot stay two metres apart."

Alex Pope
BBC News Online

Image source, Bedford Creative Arts

A "dream team" of volunteers are today sorting out 1,500 packs of arts materials for underprivileged children.

Bedford Creative Arts (BCA) said they were going to homes across the county.

The Let's Create scheme, funded by Arts Council England, is for families who would not usually have art resources at home and includes worksheets from local artists.

Image source, Bedford Creative Arts

Kayte Judge, from BCA, said: "With many children at home for extended periods we know that art resources will help families provide positive activities as we move into the summer, so we had to make this happen here and we are pleased to have had the partnerships in place to have let us do so."

Sixteen volunteers were working hard sorting out three pallets of materials at Elstow Abbey, the charity said.

• The East Anglian Daily Times, external reports that East Anglia’s largest independent retail chain has given a new boost to food banks across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex as fears grow that the economic downturn will hit more families
• Community tensions are at risk of "boiling over" after reckless racers returned to the Pinewood area of Ipswich, the Ipswich Star, external reports
• The Suffolk Free Press, external reports that work is under way to help Hadleigh market expand following a number of years of increasing popularity

An Essex horticultural event has gone virtual for the first time ever due to the coronavirus outbreak

Image source, St Clare Hospice

More than 20 local gardens will be on show online to raise vital funds for St Clare Hospice in Hastingwoood, which has hosted the Open Gardens event for 26 years.

A dedicated web page , externalhas been created to host the walk-through garden tours and the charity asks participants make a donation to the hospice in return for their virtual experience.

Organiser Dan Bailey said: "Our Open Garden participants, some of whom have been opening their gardens for us every summer for many years, were eager to embrace technology this year to make sure the event can still go ahead."

The event starts on Saturday and runs until the end of August.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Workers at a building site in Essex have found a 3ft-long (1m) royal python curled up under plastic sheeting.

The reptile was found at the site of a new development off Brooklands Road in Manningtree on Friday.

Image source, RSPCA

RSPCA , externalinspector Adam Jones said: "Workers have been flattening the land and started foundations for the buildings and the snake has somehow slithered onto the land and was hiding under some plastic."

It is thought that the python has escaped from a home and gone on the run - or more likely on the slide.

The snake is now being looked after at a local rescue centre. Anyone who believes it may belong to them should contact the RSPCA’s appeal line on 0300 123 8018.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A judicial review into plans to redevelop hospital services in west Hertfordshire is set to be heard over two days in October.

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Last year, Herts Valleys Clinical Commissionig Group (CCG) and the West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust formally backed plans to bid for £350m of NHS funding, with the bulk of it invested on the Watford General site, and some on services in St Albans City and Hemel Hempstead hospitals.

The New Hospital Campaign questioned whether the alternative option of a new hospital was fully and fairly considered and raised £20,000 to take local NHS planners to a judicial review.

It is believed the challenge to the CCG’s decisions will focus on whether or not it made the decisions "without holding the required public consultation".

The hearing has been scheduled for 27 and 28 October and if current Covid-19 restrictions remain in place it is likely the hearing will be held virtually.

Recently, it has emerged that further funding may be available for the trust, which is now reassessing its options for further development.

• The Eastern Daily Press, external reports that owners of a popular family-run pub in Cromer are calling for more support to help them survive the winter.
• Circus hails "heartwarming" support on what would have been first show of summer season, the Great Yarmouth Mercury, external reports.
• Lynn News, external reports that emergency crews working along West Norfolk's coastline have spoken out following a suspected hoax call.

Sir David Attenborough has warned that the Zoological Society of London, which runs Whipsnade, external and London Zoos, risks "extinction" as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The financial impact of coronavirus has left the conservation charity facing its biggest challenge in its near 200-year history, according to the organisation's director general Dominic Jermey.

In a TV video appeal, external, Sir David said: "ZSL now faces its toughest challenge to date. Put bluntly, the national institution is now itself at risk of extinction.

"Without your help, we could see the closure of the world's oldest scientific zoo, the place where generations of people have forged a love of wildlife through their joyful interactions with animals."

The society, founded in 1826, was forced to close its zoos to the public at the end of March and reopened with a reduced capacity and social distancing measures on 15 June.

Onel Hernandez is Cuba's most successful footballer, but many fans in his homeland have never even heard of him.

Matt Precey
BBC Look East

The latest number of new daily coronavirus deaths, external has been released by the government.

In the East, there was an increase of five deaths in the region's hospitals.

The total number now stands at 4,025.

·Bedford Hospital: 2

·Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust: 1

·East Suffolk and North Essex (Ipswich and Colchester hospitals): 1

·Northampton General: 1

The total number of Covid-19 associated UK deaths now stands at 44,517.

People have been dumping their household rubbish at a charity collection point in Stevenage.

Essex and Hertfordshire Air Ambulance, external said it was costing about £1,000 a week to dispose of.

Image source, Essex and Hertfordshire Air Ambulance

The warehouse, in Gunnels Wood Road, stores goods that are sold at the charity’s nine shops across Essex and Hertfordshire, but since it reopened at the end of June, staff have found that many of bags and boxes have turned out to be household rubbish, including one bag containing a dead mouse.

The charity says it is happening on a daily basis and are now asking donors to put all their items in clear plastic bags to they can see what's inside.

Three bikes abandoned at railway stations in Bedfordshire have been renovated for NHS key workers at Biggleswade Hospital, external, which provides mental health services for working age adults.

Image source, Central Bedfordshire Council

Govia Thameslink donated them to Central Bedfordshire Counci, externall and Luton Council’s bike recycling scheme, so they could be renovated through the Bikes for Bedfordshire Health Heroes' scheme, where mechanics inspected and refurbished the bikes to ensure they were all in safe, roadworthy order.

One recipient, Tracy Brewer-Reeves, who works as employment specialist, said: "A bicycle will enable me to get around Biggleswade and Potton in maintaining those one to one appointments with service users and to engage with local employers and charities to develop our service further."

Thirty bikes have already been donated to staff at Luton and Dunstable University Hospital and Bedford Hospital.

Former Ipswich Town director and patron of the club, Philip Hope-Cobbold, has died.

The 76-year-old, who was part of the Cobbold family that have been synonymous with the club since its formation in 1878, died on Wednesday afternoon.

He attended his first match in 1950, taken by his uncle John Cobbold, then a director of the club and accepted an invitation from chairman John Kerr to join the Club board in January 1995.

The club said he "remained a regular and popular attendee" on matchdays at Portman Road.

"All at Ipswich Town send deepest condolences to Philip’s family and friends. He will be greatly missed by all," a statement said.

Former player Matt Holland is among those who've paid tribute to him saying he was a "fantastic man with a great sense of humour".

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

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