Eastern Daily Press

Here is the front page of today's Eastern Daily Press, external:

Image source, Archant

Paul Moseley
BBC Radio Norfolk

A major proportion of 57 jobs being shed by a newspaper publisher will be in Norfolk, the BBC has been told.

Image source, Google

Archant, external, best known for publishing the Eastern Daily Press and Evening News as well as several weekly titles, is believed to be axing 24 jobs in the county, but it will create 25 new roles. 

The BBC has also learned the new roles are a result of Archant's aim to improve the content it delivers online. 

Officially the firm said it couldn't confirm how many jobs are at risk, but a consultation had begun with staff.

Norwich Evening News

Here is the back sports page of today's Norwich Evening News, external:

Image source, Archant

Norwich Evening News

Here is the front page of today's Norwich Evening News, external:

Image source, Archant

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A Norfolk MP has questioned the step by the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, external to increase parking charges for patients.

Image source, Google

North Norfolk Liberal Democrat Norman Lamb, a health minister under the coalition government, said the hospital has questions to answer over putting its prices up to £3 for a stay of 30 minutes to two hours - a rise of £1 and then 50p rises for longer stays of up to eight hours.

The trust announced yesterday its charges would increase from today and the extra money would be spent directly on patient care and maintaining the car parks. 

But several visitors left waiting in long queues of traffic told the BBC they were frustrated by the lack of parking spaces and the extra cost was not warranted.

Chris Goreham
BBC Radio Norfolk sport

The head of rugby at Norfolk's top club side has admitted he is being tough on the players this season. 

North Walsham RUFC, external are fourth in London 1 North and face third-placed Brentwood at home this weekend. 

Image source, BBC Sport

The former Wasps and Northampton player James Brooks took over at The Vikings in the summer and has signed a three-year contract. 

"I want to improve every area of our play, that's my job," he said. 

"I don't want to be patting people on the back if there are things I can see [which are wrong, but I can be a little bit tough on them at times." 

Chris Goreham
BBC Radio Norfolk sport

Robert Green has been paying tribute to Norwich City's fans on the eve of his Carrow Road return. 

The 36-year-old is likely to start for Leeds United against The Canaries tomorrow.  He started his career with Norwich before being sold to West Ham in 2006 after playing 241 games for City. 

Image source, Getty Images

"A lot of them will be saying 'Who is that guy?'" Green joked. 

"They sell out every week, it's a fantastic club, but until you go and feel the passion of the people it's a really difficult thing to understand." 

Chris Goreham
BBC Radio Norfolk sport

Norwich City manager Alex Neil deserves the chance to turn round their recent run of poor form according to former striker Chris Sutton. 

The Canaries lost 5-0 at Brighton last weekend and are fourth in The Championship having gone four matches without a win ahead of Saturday's visit by Leeds.

Image source, Getty Images

Sutton joined us on The Scrimmage last night on BBC Radio Norfolk and gave his backing to Neil. "Norwich aren't an Aston Villa, they aren't in free fall but they have to react and he deserves a chance to get his act together and the team's act together." 

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Music fans are expected to crowd the Carrow Road offices in Norwich again today as Take That, external give them a second chance to get their hands on tickets for another performance at the ground. 

The band announced a further date on Thursday, 15 June to add to date on Friday, 16 June. 

Tickets go on sale this morning , externalfrom 09:30, but fans are warned to get there early as last week non-hospitality tickets for the first date sold out in 90 minutes.  

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A controlled explosion of a nitrogen phenol chemical used in science lessons has been carried out at a Norwich school. 

A bomb disposal team carried out the blast at Hellesdon High School last night. 

Image source, Google

New government guidance recommends dealing with the chemical in this way if it is suspected of becoming unstable when not stored correctly. 

Several other cases have been reported at schools around the country and Norfolk Police said at no point was anyone in danger.

The school is expected to comment later.

Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather

Variable amounts of cloud will develop today, but bright spells are expected too. 

Rain at times in some places, but it will turn drier later while remaining chilly. Maximum temperature: 10C (50F).

More details at BBC Weather.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Hello and welcome to Friday's Norfolk Live. Between now and 18:00, the team here will bring you the news, sport, travel and weather updates as we get them.

These are some of the stories we'll bring you today:

• A controlled explosion has been carried out at a Norfolk school as a chemical used in science classes becomes unstable
• Stalham police station closes today as Norfolk Constabulary plans £26m budget cuts by 2020
• Patients complain over increased parking charges at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

We're always interested in what's happening in your part of Norfolk. If there's anything you wish to share with us you can contact us on email, Facebook, external or Twitter, external.

That's it folks from the team today. Check back and see what's been happening across the county. Here are a few of the stories that we've covered today:

• Police reward teens with burgers and movies for 'good deeds'
• The owners of the Eastern Daily Press announce job losses
• A nursery school rated as inadequate by Ofsted was found 'not ready to spot signs of extremism'
• King's Lynn Stars to be part of speedway's new-look Premiership in 2017

The team will be back tomorrow from 08:00. Have a good evening. 

We've just had a statement from Archant, which reads: “Archant can confirm it will be making changes to its content teams across the company to radically transform how it works as it continues to develop its audience-first strategy.

"This is to ensure it remains the most relevant media in the communities it serves, whilst protecting its journalistic values. It has started a consultation process with affected staff.”

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

Scientists in Norwich have discovered a new way in which ash dieback is spreading.

It means they can now look at new ways to fight the disease.

It was thought the disease was only spread by spores carried on the wind, but now scientists have found out the fungus spores survive in the ground and continue to infect the trees.

Image source, PA

Professor Allan Downie from the John Innes Centre said: "We thought that it was spores that could travel great distances that were spreading the disease but these asexual spores are able to infect trees locally."

Scientists have been extracting the DNA from the fungus to try and find out which genes are actually evolving and adapting in the hope of finding a cure.  

Ash dieback, also known as Chalara and first discovered in Poland, came to the UK via diseased nursery stock in 2012 and is responsible for killing thousands of trees in Britain.

BBC Radio Norfolk

Norwich-based newspaper group Archant, external, publishers of titles including the Eastern Daily Press and East Anglian Daily Times, is proposing to make redundancies as part of plans to "radically transform" its operations.

Staff have been told of the plans at a company briefing this afternoon.

Image source, Google

In an email to staff, seen by the BBC, the company says it is proposing to make "a number of today's existing roles redundant" as well as creating "a number of new roles across the group".

It has yet to announce how many staff will lose their jobs, but the BBC has been told 57 existing roles are at risk and 40 new roles will be created.

BBC Weather Watchers

Today has been one of contrasts across the skies of Norfolk as our BBC Weather Watchers are showing - from the purple haze of early morning at East Winch to the autumn tranquility of an afternoon in West Runton and Denver.

But a cloudy night with patchy light rain spreading across some areas is expected, although most places will remain dry. 

 Frost is possible again, especially in rural spots, as the temperature dips to 7C (45F).

More details from BBC Weather.

Thieves have stolen lead from the roof of one of Norfolk's most historic churches. 

They struck at St Mary's in Newton Flotman in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Image source, jon Welch/Geograph

The church was targeted several months ago, but that time the thieves left empty-handed. 

Its vicar, the Reverend Canon Sally Gaze, says the theft has knocked the whole community as the church is "very lively".

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

Norfolk Police has been described as good by inspectors for the way it manages its budget. 

In a new report, the force has been praised for running a cost-efficient service as well as reducing crime.

Zoë Billingham, Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary, external, said: "Norfolk is a real stand-out force. In terms of understanding where its crime is happening and understanding the communities most likely to be subject to harm in the future."

Chief Constable Simon Bailey welcomed the result saying: "It is pleasing to be congratulated for the clear focus we have on protecting the vulnerable and identifying those crimes victims may be reluctant to report while ensuring we are using the resources available to us efficiently. 

Rob Butler
BBC Radio Norfolk sport

Big changes have been announced for the sport of speedway, with King's Lynn racing in the top flight next year.

The Stars will be part of a new look Great Britain Premiership along with eight other teams.