Summary

  • Updates for Norfolk on Friday, 15 January 2016

  • Live updates resume at 08:00 on Monday

  1. Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00

    Patrick Byrne
    BBC News

    Goodbye from the Norfolk Live team on Friday...we'll be back from 08:00 on Monday, bringing you the news, sport, travel and weather updates as they happen. 

    If you have any photographs from around the county that you'd like to share, or if there's anything happening that you'd like us to know about, you can contact us via email, Facebook or Twitter, external

  2. What are you doing next weekend?published at 17:56

    Play five-a-side? Every fancied giving it a go? Vowed to get fit this January? Fancy the chance to be at the FA Cup final?

    There’s one thing that could be the answer to all those questions – the FA People’s Cup., external

    Competitors taking part in the FA People's Cup

    It’s a FREE-to-enter knockout competition (with the first round on 22-24 January) for male, female and disability players across 10 categories, ranging from under-14s through to the over-35s - with the chance to go to Wembley for the FA Cup final at the end.

    But hurry - the deadline for entries is midnight today!

    You can find out all about it here.

  3. Weather: Clear spells bring frost and icy patchespublished at 17:52

    Clear spells will bring widespread frost and icy patches and the risk of scattered wintry showers.

    Weather chart

    Tonight will see a mixture of clear spells and patchy cloud with snow or sleet showers, mainly in the north and east.

    Temperatures will fall to around freezing but a few degrees higher near the coast. Minimum temperature: -2C (28F).

  4. Starlings form spectacular murmuration in Yarmouthpublished at 17:49

    Andrew Turner
    BBC Radio Norfolk

    The sky over Great Yarmouth comes alive every evening as thousands of starlings perform their nightly dance. 

    The flock ebbs back and forth as if moving with one mind as it searches for a roost for the night. It's known as a murmuration and I was lucky enough to film it.  

  5. Christmas car park brings medical first aid training boostpublished at 17:39

    Patrick Byrne
    BBC News

    Volunteer lifesavers have received a boost from a Norwich insurance firm that raised £18,000 by opening up its staff car park to Christmas shoppers.

    First respondersImage source, East of England Ambulance

    The cash raised by staff at Marsh will help train community medical first responders across Norfolk. 

    These volunteers are trained by the East of England Ambulance Service, external to perform first aid and attend 999 calls such as cardiac arrests, diabetes emergencies, choking incidents, seizures or people suffering breathing problems and chest pain.

  6. Robot patient helps staff learn life-saving techniquespublished at 17:38

    Patrick Byrne
    BBC News

    A lifelike robot patient is giving clinicians hands-on practical experience of treating physical and psychological conditions at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT). 

    Simulator manImage source, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

    The full-size "Sim Man" at Hellesdon Hospital in Norwich can recreate a wide range of different scenarios to help staff improve communication skills, confidence and team-working, the Trust said. 

    Computer software can make the robot cough, breathe and hold a conversation with doctors and nurses as well as falling suddenly into a critical condition like a real patient. 

  7. Raising Fens road to avoid flood would cost £5m, claims councilpublished at 17:30

    Andrew Sinclair
    BBC Look East political correspondent

    Plans to raise the road at Welney to prevent what has become annual flooding would require "significant work" and could cost as much as £5m, it has been said at a flood summit today in west Norfolk.

    Welney in flood

    A feasibility study by Norfolk County Council, external concludes the road would need to be raised by 10ft (3.3m) to stop villages being cut off by floods every winter but neither the county council nor the Environment Agency can afford that, despite pleas from MPs and enterprise agencies.

    Environment Secretary Liz Truss, also MP for South West Norfolk, said it was not acceptable that the road was closed for so long every year.

  8. Banish the winter blues and save lives this summerpublished at 17:21

    Patrick Byrne
    BBC News

    A call has gone out from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, external (RNLI) for lifeguards for beaches in Norfolk and Suffolk. 

    LifeguardsImage source, RNLI

    New recruits - often teachers, students, stay-at-home parents, business owners or gap year travellers - will be kitted-out, paid and trained to patrol at 12 beaches across the two counties this summer. 

    Vincent Pank, RNLI lifeguard manager in East of England, said: "I can't think of a better way to cure the winter blues than applying online on our website to become an RNLI beach lifeguard and get paid to save lives this summer." 

  9. Fog may have disoriented fatal crash helicopter pilotpublished at 17:12

    Patrick Byrne
    BBC News

    The pilot of a helicopter that crashed in thick fog at the Norfolk home of Tory peer Lord Ballyedmond could have become disorientated because of a lack of visual signals, an inquest has heard.

    Crash location map

    The deaths of the peer, also known as Dr Edward Haughey, and his foreman Declan Small, 42, both of Co Down; and pilot Capt Carl Dickerson, 36, of Lancashire; and co-pilot Capt Lee Hoyle, 45, of Cheshire, at Gillingham Hall, near Beccles, on 13 March 2014 was ruled an accident by a jury in Norwich.

    Air Accidents Investigation Branch investigator Peter Wivell said the pilot may have been disorientated by an optical illusion caused by the fog as no mechanical defects were found on the helicopter.

  10. Cold War tensions inspired DIY Grade II-listed bunkerpublished at 17:02

    Paul Moseley
    BBC Radio Norfolk

    Anxiety over the Russian invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s inspired Taverham resident Noel Barrett to build a survival bunker for his family in private woodland in his back garden.

    Entrance corridorImage source, Historic England

    The DIY bunker has now been granted Grade II-listed status due to its historic importance as one of the surviving reminders of the fear and tension of that time. 

    Heritage Minister Tracey Crouch said: "Though never used, it's a part of history that should be conserved for generations to come and this Grade II listing will help do that."

  11. Fatal helicopter crash in thick fog ruled accidentalpublished at 16:49

    Patrick Byrne
    BBC News

    A fatal helicopter crash in thick fog at the Norfolk home of one of Northern Ireland's richest men has been ruled an accident.

    Lord Ballyedmond

    A coroner's jury in Norwich concluded the crash at Gillingham that killed Lord Ballyedmond, 70, also known as Dr Edward Haughey, and three others was an accident. 

    The helicopter crashed shortly after take-off on 13 March 2014, killing the Tory peer, his foreman Declan Small, 42, from Co Down, pilot Capt Carl Dickerson, 36, of Lancashire and co-pilot Capt Lee Hoyle, 45, of Cheshire. 

  12. Traffickers jailed for exploiting 'vulnerable' twin brotherspublished at 16:35

    Tim Addicott
    BBC Radio Norfolk

    Two Lithuanian men who trafficked twin brothers and forced them to live in squalor while working in food factories in Suffolk for virtually no money have been jailed for three-and-a-half years at King's Lynn Crown Court. 

    Konstantin Sasmurin, 34, (left) and Linas Ratantas, 31, (right)Image source, Norfolk Police

    Konstantin Sasmurin, 34, (left) and Linas Ratantas, 31, who both lived at Caister-on-Sea, admitted trafficking the brothers and taking £3,766 of their earnings. 

    The court heard the two vulnerable victims were threatened with violence. Judge Dennis said the crime had been organised and was to satisfy the defendants' greed.

  13. News headlines: Twin brothers kept in squalor worked for no wages...12-hour wait for out-of-hours medical care criticisedpublished at 16:10

    Tim Addicott
    BBC Radio Norfolk

    These are the early evening headlines:

    • Two Lithuanians from Casister-on-Sea are jailed for keeping vulnerable twin brothers in squalor while forcing them to work for nothing
    • The county council received calls to protect transport and archaeological services in budget consultation, external
    • Leaked report reveals patients waiting up to 12 hours for out-of-hours medical care
  14. Biggest ever response to county's budget consultationpublished at 15:50

    Patrick Byrne
    BBC News

    About 2,900 responses to budget proposals, external have been received by Norfolk County Council - hailed as one of the highest ever received. 

    County Hall

    Petitions were received to save cuts to the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service, council transport for adults in social care, North Walsham Library and the Norfolk Historical Environment Service, external

    Council leader George Nobbs said after a decision to support transport for young people, many people asked that the same should be done for older people and to protect transport services.

  15. Bowls: Big names progress at Potterspublished at 15:35

    Chris Goreham
    BBC Radio Norfolk sport

    There were no upsets in the first round of the World Indoor Bowls Championship, external at Potters in Hopton-on-Sea on Thursday. 

    Seeded players David Gourlay, Greg Harlow (pictured), Darren Burnett and Jonathan Ross are all safely through to the second round which starts on Tuesday. 

    Greg HarlowImage source, Getty Images

    There's a big match in the mixed pairs this evening as Norfolk's Mervyn King and Rebecca Field find themselves playing each other.  King is with Laura Thomas while Field teams up with Paul Foster.

  16. Weather: Bitterly cold with further snow showerspublished at 15:19

    It will be cold and breezy with isolated sleet and snow showers in the east at times. 

    Weather

    The west will stay mostly dry enjoying some brighter periods. 

    Maximum temperature: 5C (41F)

  17. Back garden Cold War bunker gets Grade II-listed statuspublished at 15:09

    Paul Moseley
    BBC Radio Norfolk

    A bunker built by a Taverham resident in his back garden at the height of the Cold War to protect his family in case of nuclear attack has been granted Grade II-listed status.

    Bunker entranceImage source, Historic England

    The bunker is equipped with home comforts like television, radio and carpets but also contains a spa bath normally a luxury item. 

    Noel Barrett said he built the bunker in 1982, mainly using second-hand materials such as reinforced concrete, steel and brick, to put his mind at rest.

  18. Linnets miss out on Spalding midfielderpublished at 14:53

    Chris Goreham
    BBC Radio Norfolk sport

    King's Lynn Town, external have pulled the plug on a deal to sign the Spalding United midfielder Josh Moreman. 

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    The Linnets take on Southern Premier leaders Poole Town away from home tomorrow. 

  19. Vehicle found after fatal fail-to-stop incident on A47published at 14:13

    Patrick Byrne
    BBC News

    A vehicle believed to have been involved in a fatal fail-to-stop crash that closed a main road near Norwich for more than six hours on Thursday has been found by police. 

    Watton junctionImage source, Google

    The body of a man, in his 40s, from the Norwich area was discovered on the side of the eastbound carriageway of the A47 near the junction of the B1108 Watton Road. 

    Police said they would interview the driver "in due course" but would still like to speak to witnesses or anyone with information.

  20. Norwich City sign midfielder Godfreypublished at 13:31

    Rob Butler
    BBC Radio Norfolk sport

    Norwich City confirm they have signed 18-year-old midfielder Ben Godfrey from League Two York City.