Summary

  • Updates on Friday, 13 January 2017

  • Seventeen severe flood warnings are in place along the East Anglian coast

  • About 4,500 people thought to have evacuated their homes in Great Yarmouth - but many others refused to leave

  • About 200 troops were sent to Great Yarmouth to help with evacuation plans

  • High water has peaked in the town and Lowestoft with 'no significant issues'

  • Environment Agency says a change in wind direction averted possible flooding

  • Great Yarmouth Borough Council leader: "I don't believe we over-reacted"

  • Homes in Jaywick, near Clacton, are evacuated - but sea wall is not breached

  1. England's first 'beauty area' extension since 1991published at 10:35 British Summer Time 7 July 2020

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

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  2. Arts venues across region 'light it in red'published at 08:37 British Summer Time 7 July 2020

    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".

    Norwich Theatre Royal in red lightImage source, Norwich Theatre Royal
    Image caption,

    Theatre Royal, Norwich

    Red Basildon SignImage source, Basildon Council
    Image caption,

    Basildon, Essex

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

    Red light on theatreImage source, SMTT
    Image caption,

    Mill Theatre, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire

    The Portland Arms in redImage source, Martin Bond, A Cambridge Diary
    Image caption,

    The Portland Arms, Cambridge

    The Old Savoy in redImage source, Deco Theatre
    Image caption,

    The Old Savoy, Northampton

    Players Theatre in redImage source, Players Theatre
    Image caption,

    Players Theatre, Lowestoft, Suffolk

    The Archers Theatre in redImage source, The Archers Theatre
    Image caption,

    The Archers Theatre, Clifton Reynes, Olney, Buckinghamshire

  3. Serial fundraiser's tribute to NHS life saverspublished at 08:24 British Summer Time 7 July 2020

    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.

    Oliver Browne

    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.

  4. Pier reopens for walkers to make 2.6 mile round trippublished at 17:46 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    Southend PierImage source, Getty Images

    Southend Pier, external has reopened but for walking only and due to current government social distancing the trains will not be running.

    Visitors can still stride out along the 1.3 mile (2km) walk to the end of the pier and the same distance to return.

    Takeaway services will be open every day offering drinks, snacks, ice cream and fish and chips.

    Anglers will also be welcomed back, but only at the end of the pier.

  5. Riverside town's new name is 'nod to the past'published at 13:10 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    A town adds "-on-Thames" to its name to help make it a "destination of choice".

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  6. Firefighters controlling prolonged grain silo blazepublished at 12:11 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    A grain silo that caught fire at Tilbury Docks in Essex on Friday is still smouldering and crews remain on site to ensure flames do not reignite.

    Incident commander Martyn Hare said they were monitoring "hotspots".

    "Firefighters are working with site staff and partners to let the fire burn in a controlled environment to protect the surrounding risks.”

    Grain store fireImage source, Tony Agg

    One witness described Friday's explosion as lifting the roof of the silo with flames shooting "75 metres" in the air.

  7. Images reveal erosion of 'at risk' 1665 shipwreckpublished at 01:03 British Summer Time 6 July 2020

    Heavy shipping propellers are washing away the wreck's protective mud, a diver says.

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  8. Tributes to 'gentle soul' killed in care homepublished at 18:30 British Summer Time 5 July 2020

    Harry Hennessy's family say he showed everyone "kindness and understanding".

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  9. Coronavirus social media group has 'saved lives'published at 09:40 British Summer Time 5 July 2020

    Founder Peter Dutch, who gave up his job to run the group full-time and says he "couldn't walk away".

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  10. Murder charge after death of man at care homepublished at 10:31 British Summer Time 4 July 2020

    Police were called to reports an assault at a residential home in Wickford, Essex, on Thursday.

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  11. Two more arrests over fatal car park stabbingpublished at 18:44 British Summer Time 3 July 2020

    A man and woman are held on suspicion of murdering Stephen Morrisson, who was stabbed to death.

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

  14. '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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  15. Pubs, hairdressers and aquariums prepare to reopenpublished at 14:42 British Summer Time 3 July 2020

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

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  16. 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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  17. How are travel rules being relaxed?published at 11:07 British Summer Time 3 July 2020

    From Friday, fully vaccinated people travelling to the UK no longer have to take any Covid tests.

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  18. Murder arrest over care home deathpublished at 08:18 British Summer Time 3 July 2020

    Officers were called to reports that a man had been assaulted at a care home in Essex, police say.

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  19. Earliest wall in oldest town goes up for auctionpublished at 18:13 British Summer Time 2 July 2020

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

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  20. Three arrested over balcony death plungepublished at 15:56 British Summer Time 2 July 2020

    Three people are arrested on suspicion of murder after Gary Henderson, 64, died in Ipswich.

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