Summary

  • Updates for Friday, 21 October 2016

  • Investigation into why whale washed up on Holkham beach

  • Woman driver in her 80s dies in crash near Thetford

  • King's Lynn finish sixth in speedway Elite League after cancellation

  1. Cancer charity hosts virtual marathon fundraiserpublished at 10:24 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

    The charity supports breast cancer patients and is getting "creative" with fundraising in lockdown.

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  2. Charity dad returns full-time to NHS front linepublished at 01:52 British Summer Time 26 April 2020

    Paramedic Tristan Cork says he faced a dilemma but wants to "be part of the fight" against Covid-19.

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  3. Norwich expect up to £35m losspublished at 08:07 British Summer Time 25 April 2020

    Norwich City will "stick to their guns" on a decision to furlough non-playing staff and expect to lose up to £35m.

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  4. Why going without physical touch is so hardpublished at 00:06 British Summer Time 25 April 2020

    Touch is the first sense humans develop in the womb - is that why so many are finding lockdown difficult?

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  5. Phones, desks and chairs donated to ambulance servicepublished at 15:01 British Summer Time 24 April 2020

    Furniture on a lorryImage source, Whitbread

    More than a 100 phones, desks and chairs that are no longer needed by brewers-cum-hoteliers Whitbread have been redistributed to the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS).

    The office supplies were left over when Premier Inn relocated its headquarters from Luton to Dunstable.

    After hearing the EEAS needed additional equipment for its expanding call centres, the supplies were sent to Bedford, Norwich and Chelmsford.

    Huw Thomas, head of facilities at the company, said: "Quick thinking by one of our key partners enabled us to put to good use equipment that we no longer had need for."

  6. A&E nurse pens 'love poem' to the NHSpublished at 12:35 British Summer Time 24 April 2020

    Piers Harrison-Reid reflects on the health service as its staff tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

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  7. Road markings say a big 'thank you' to NHSpublished at 12:30 British Summer Time 24 April 2020

    Nic Rigby
    BBC News

    A road markings firm has said a big thank you to the NHS and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital by painting on the road.

    Thank You NHS line paintingImage source, East Anglian Road Markings Ltd

    East Anglian Road Markings Ltd, with the permission of the hospital, has written "Thank You NHS" with rainbow-coloured heart on two roads at the hospital site.

    Richard Clarke, from the painting firm, said: "After a very definite 'yes' from my contact on the site we thought it would be nice to show our appreciation to our key workers for the outstanding work they do during these very difficult times.

    "We installed these to remind people who the real heroes are today and for many days to come."

  8. Asylum seekers housed at former RAF airbasepublished at 11:50 British Summer Time 24 April 2020

    Jessica Frank-Keyes
    Local Democracy reporter

    A Norfolk MP has praised Britain for its “long-held belief that we should look after people in need” as he spoke out to quell concerns over asylum seekers temporarily housed at a former RAF base.

    Jerome MayhewImage source, Jerome Mayhew

    The old officers’ mess at RAF Coltishall, used by fighter pilots during World War Two, is being used to offer temporary housing to asylum seekers who have fled from war-torn countries, says the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

    Some 77 rooms were used by asylum seekers, while 20 were available for councils to house homeless people.

    The Home Office said the move to house asylum seekers while their status was being considered was not permanent and was "to help in the fight against coronavirus".

    Broadland Conservative MP Jerome Mayhew (pictured) said 24-hour security at the site was in place "not because there’s any increased risk, but to provide reassurance".

    "I’m in discussions with the council to help in that process, which is to answer questions, provide reassurance and make sure we have the right level of scrutiny and oversight, whilst living up to our country's long-held belief that we should look after people in need," he added.

    The Home Office said it would review the measure before the end of June.

  9. On the Brightside - The Killers reschedule summer stadium concertpublished at 09:08 British Summer Time 24 April 2020

    Alex Pope
    BBC News Online

    The Killers in concertImage source, Getty Images

    We should always try to look on the (Mr) Brightside of life, so with that in mind, Somebody Told Me that The Killers have set a new date for a concert that was due to take place at Norwich City Football Club, external this summer.

    The US band will now perform at Carrow Road on 2 June, 2021, instead of 1 June this year.

    All tickets purchased for the concert will remain valid for the rearranged date, the club said.

    Ben Kensell, chief operating officer, said: "It’ll be an exciting and much-anticipated appearance and hopefully something that all those who have purchased tickets for can look forward to."

    The band also had stadium concerts scheduled, external in Falkirk, Middlesbrough, Coventry, Doncaster, Manchester, Southampton, Bristol and London.

  10. East comes together to Clap For Carerspublished at 08:17 British Summer Time 24 April 2020

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    For the fifth week in a row, people across the country have opened their windows and gone to their front doors to celebrate carers and key workers.

    Many emergency services congregate by hospitals to show their appreciation.

    Here is a very small sample:

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    In Cambridge... emergency workers and the public gathered at the heart and lung hospital...

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    Whereas at the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary in Stonham, they're claiming a clap with a difference...

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  11. Coronavirus deaths rise in the Eastpublished at 08:08 British Summer Time 24 April 2020

    Matt Precey
    BBC Look East

    The latest figures for the number of Covid-19 deaths in the East of England has been released by the government, external.

    In the BBC East region, statistics for the NHS hospital trusts show a rise of 101 deaths in total, up from the previous day's figure of 80.

    The total number of deaths at the region's hospitals is now 2,144.

    • ·Basildon and Thurrock: 2
    • ·Bedford: 4
    • ·Buckinghamshire Healthcare: 3
    • ·Addenbrooke's: 3
    • ·East and North Hertfordshire: 5
    • ·Colchester and Ipswich: 11
    • ·Kettering General: 6
    • ·Luton and Dunstable: 3
    • ·Broomfield, Chelmsford: 3
    • ·Milton Keynes: 4
    • ·Norfolk and Norwich: 2
    • ·Norfolk Community: 1
    • ·North West Anglia, Peterborough and Hinchingbrooke: 5
    • ·Northampton General: 11
    • ·Northamptonshire Healthcare: 1
    • ·Royal Papworth, Cambridge: 2
    • ·Southend: 6
    • ·Princess Alexandra, Harlow: 1
    • ·Queen Elizabeth, King's Lynn: 6
    • ·West Hertfordshire Hospitals: 20
    • ·West Suffolk: 2

    The total number of coronavirus-related UK deaths in hospitals is 18,738.

  12. Trial seeks ventilator alternativepublished at 15:36 British Summer Time 23 April 2020

    James Paget University Hospital

    A new clinical trial to find alternatives to ventilators in the treatment of coronavirus patients will take place at Norfolk's James Paget University Hospital, external (JPUH) – the only hospital in the East to take part.

    It will compare the standard care for critically ill patients, which includes intubation and ventilation, with two non-invasive techniques.

    If the two alternatives - continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) masks driven by oxygen or high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) through the nose - prove as effective, it could reduce the pressure on the NHS to find ventilators and the staff to operate them, both of which are in short supply.

    All three treatments are already commonly used in hospitals, but it was not yet known which is more effective in treating critically ill Covid-19 patients, said the JPUH.

    Dr Venkat Mahadevan, a consultant leading the trial, said it would be “a tremendous boost to find effective, alternative ways to treat patients with Covid-19”.

    The study is being led nationally by a team at Warwick Medical School, supported by the National Institute for Health Research, external.

  13. Former RAF base to house homeless during pandemicpublished at 08:53 British Summer Time 23 April 2020

    Katy Lewis
    BBC News Online

    A former RAF base in Norfolk is offering shelter to needy people in the midst of the coronavirus crisis.

    RAF ColtishallImage source, Geograph/DI Wyman

    The old officers' mess at what was RAF Coltishal, near North Walsham, is being used as accommodation for homeless people and will also house some asylum-seekers who have nowhere else to go.

    Fran Whymark,councillor in charge of housing at Broadland District Council, said: "We've been able to give people accommodation which they otherwise wouldn't have had."

    She said it was a better outcome for people than housing them in bed-and-breakfast accommodation.

  14. Cancer patients to be treated at private hospitalpublished at 16:59 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    Nikki Fox
    BBC Look East

    Cancer patients are to receive treatment at a private centre to protect them from coronavirus and free up space in NHS hospitals.

    The entire chemotherapy unit at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital has moved to the nearby Spire Hospital along with 60 NHS nurses.

    It's part of a government deal to use private hospitals which will operate on a "not for profit basis".

    Cancer treatment
  15. Smudge the Jack Russell 'claps for carers'published at 16:07 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    This talented dog has joined the rest of the country in clapping to show his appreciation for NHS and care workers, animal shelter staff have said.

    Jack Russell Smudge, six, lives at the RSPCA Eau Brink centre near King's Lynn in Norfolk, as his previous owners could no longer look after him.

    Penny Skate, chairman of the Norfolk West branch trustees, said: "Every time he’s asked to clap for the carers it really looks like he is putting his heart and soul into it.

    "It’s a lovely sight to see Smudge so happy and enjoying himself. We really want to share his video with the country and hopefully Smudge clapping can help to put a smile on people’s faces during these uncertain times."

  16. Thousands of dissolvable laundry bags given to NHSpublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    The bags dissolve on a 60C wash, says manufacturer Aquapak which has donated 46,000 so far.

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  17. Westlife stadium tour called offpublished at 14:16 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    Westlife

    Westlife's summer stadium tour, which was scheduled to visit three venues in the East of England in June and July, has been called off.

    The Irish pop group had been due to play Carrow Road in Norwich on 19 June, Peterborough's Weston Homes Stadium on 21 June and Castle Park in Colchester on 11 July.

    The band say promoters will contact ticket holders to process refunds.

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  18. Exercise tips for home workerspublished at 12:03 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    If you're one of the many people working from home during the coronavirus pandemic, this might help.

    Verity Booth, an osteopath from Norwich, has put together this short workout aimed at easing tight shoulders and neck from working at a laptop, or PC.

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  19. Coronavirus deaths continue to rise in Eastpublished at 09:07 British Summer Time 22 April 2020

    Matt Precey
    BBC Look East

    The latest figures for the number of Covid-19 deaths in the East of England has been released by the government, external.

    In the BBC East region, statistics for each NHS hospital trust show a rise of 100 deaths.

    The total number of deaths at the region's hospitals is now 1,963.

    • Basildon and Thurrock - 8
    • Bedford -2
    • Buckinghamshire Healthcare - 9
    • Addenbrooke's, Cambridge - 12
    • East and North Hertfordshire - 3
    • Colchester and Ipswich - 5
    • Hertfordshire Community - 1
    • James Paget, Gorleston - 3
    • Kettering General - 4
    • Luton and Dunstable - 3
    • Broomfield, Chelmsford - 12
    • Milton Keynes - 3
    • Norfolk and Norwich - 2
    • Norfolk Community - 1
    • North West Anglia, Peterborough and Hinchingbrooke - 1
    • Northampton General - 4
    • Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge - 1
    • Princess Alexandra, Harlow - 10
    • West Hertfordshire Hospitals - 16

    The total number of coronavirus-related UK deaths in hospitals is 17,337.

  20. Dumped building waste suspected of polluting streampublished at 15:58 British Summer Time 21 April 2020

    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    Building waste dumped in a ditch has blocked a stream and leaked foam, leading to calls for council tips to be re-opened.

    Leona Bursnell, who found the waste in Felthorpe in Norfolk, said: "It must be polluting the water."

    She said the local council, Broadland, had been informed but a spokesman said because it was on private land neither it nor the Broads Authority, external could remove it.

    Fly-tipped waste near WinchesterImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Some councils report a rise in fly-tipping - which led to this road being blocked in Hampshire

    Dave Thomas, councillor for Horsford and Felthorpe, external, said: "I imagine there’s probably more fly-tipping than being reported. There’s more happening out there, in my view."

    Reports of a lorry load of waste being illegally fly-tipped in Thetford woodlands has prompted calls for councils to reopen refuse centres closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    But Breckland Council, external said the waste would not have been accepted at a tip.

    Several district councils are experiencing significant falls in fly-tipping:

    • Broadland down 27%
    • North Norfolk down 33%
    • South Norfolk down 45%
    • Breckland down 50%
    • West Norfolk fall of between 14-22% since January

    Norwich City and Great Yarmouth councils did not respond with their data, and both saw an increase, according to Norfolk County Council.