BBC Look East

A man who referred himself to a domestic violence prevention programme has challenged others to be "totally honest" and make a change.

Speaking of the moment he punched his partner so hard she needed plastic surgery, he said: "At the time I thought I was right in what I was doing... it was when I was arrested that I felt absolutely devastated about what I had done.

Image source, Thinkstock

"It dawned on me what I had done. I was shown pictures by the police. I hurt her and this was someone I loved, someone I really cared about and I'd caused this pain to her."

Figures from Respect showed 668 men self-referred to such programmes last year. In the east of England, it included 24 referrals in Essex and 11 in Hertfordshire.

A number of our police forces are launching campaigns leading up to Christmas. In this region it's estimated 142,000 and 81,000 men were victims of domestic abuse in the last year.

Here's the latest update from our travel team:

Image source, PA

• Delays of up to 60 minutes and some services cancelled between Audley End and Newport 
• Replacement bus service running between Ipswich and Colchester due to broken down freight train at Manningtree
• Service suspended between Sudbury (Suffolk) and Marks Tey (Essex) due to broken down train  

BBC Look East

"Prison, without a shadow of a doubt. Prison and rightfully so."

The words of one man speculating where he would have been if he hadn't referred himself for treatment after punching his partner so hard she needed plastic surgery.

Image source, PA

Domestic abuse charities in the east of England have told us that working closely with perpetrators is key to breaking the cycle of violence. They say a growing number of men are approaching them for help.  

Figures from men's charity Respect shows 668 men nationally accepted referrals to such programmes last year.

Andrew Turner
BBC Radio Norfolk

The inquest into the deaths of a couple found dead in Breydon Water opens today.

The bodies of Graham and Jennifer Slack, from Bradwell near Great Yarmouth, were found by a bird spotter in September.

The couple, who were in their early 60s, are believed to have entered the River Yare in Gorleston, and were taken inland on the rising tide to their resting point near the rail lines.

Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather

We're in for a cloudy day with outbreaks of rain, which will be heavy at times.

It'll become dry later and mild, with temperatures reaching 12C (53F).

Here's my full regional forecast:

You can find more details on BBC Weather.

Hordes of angry commuters talking about the delays on Greater Anglia has got the service trending UK-wide on Twitter, external.

Image source, Twitter

Caroline Kingdon
BBC Local Live

Welcome to another day on Norfolk Live. 

We'll start with news of problems for rail passengers... services between Norwich and London Liverpool Street are suspended due to a broken down freight train.

Greater Anglia, external is advising passengers from Norwich and Diss to travel via Cambridge, and to allow extra time for their journeys.

We'll have further updates on this along with our regular news, sport and travel throughout the day.

Kate Kinsella's weather forecast follows shortly, and we could see temperatures in double figures.

Liberal Democrat Health spokesman, Norman Lamb, urges government action on the crisis in social care funding.

Caroline Kingdon
BBC Local Live

Our coverage has ended for the day. We'll be back at 08:00 tomorrow, unless there's a major breaking news story.

Here's a quick look at some of the stories we've brought you:

• Former cabinet minister Lord James Prior has died
• A drink-driver who caused the death of another motorist has been given a prison sentence and disqualified from driving
• A second man has been charged in connection with a murder in Norwich last month
• Norwich City manager Alex Neil admits he picked the wrong team for the 2-1 defeat at Barnsley, and fielded questions about his future at a press conference

Before we go, the secret behind door 12 of the BBC Norfolk Live advent calendar is about to be revealed:

Julie Reinger
BBC Look East weather

It'll be a misty, murky night with further outbreaks of light rain and drizzle that will eventually clear to the North Sea. 

It’ll then be largely dry with some clear intervals, and lows of 5C (41F).

Tomorrow will see a dry start for many, although cloud will thicken as another band of rain moves in from the west.

Highs of 12C (54F).

Get the full forecast where you live, from BBC Weather.

Norwich has narrowly missed out on being named as Britain's High Street of the Year in a national competition. 

The Castle Arcade district was named runner up in the city category as part of the Great British High Street Awards, external. 

It was beaten by Derby, following a public vote.

Image source, Keith Evans/Geograph

Andrew Turner
BBC Radio Norfolk

A draft master plan for Great Yarmouth town centre has been produced, with the aim of making the seaside town more attractive for residents, visitors and investors.

There's a lot in this plan and it's something the Conservative council leader, Graham Plant, has said they can't do alone.

Among the ideas is a new cinema and beverage development on part of the King Street car park, the market moving further north in the market place, creating a new event and performance space, and re-positioning the six day market stalls and the two-day market closer to the Minster.

The route from Great Yarmouth train station to the town centre is shown as a pedestrianised tree-lined street with many sites redeveloped. Only Futters, Normans, Enterprise GY and the job centre survive that redevelopment.

The Great Yarmouth Borough Council, external plan will go out for public consultation. 

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

The leader of the largest public sector workers' union has warned that more job losses can be expected in Norfolk over the next few years. 

Dave Prentis, the boss of Unison, external, which represents workers in local government and the health service, was speaking in King's Lynn where he opened a new staff training centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Afterwards he said that staff in the public sector faced "enormous difficulty" as they struggled to provide a good service against a background of continued efficiency savings. 

He said: "People don't realise that 600,000 jobs have gone from our public services across the country over the last few years and these are not back room jobs, but essential front line jobs - working with young people, elderly people and vulnerable people." 

Mr Prentis accepted that savings were needed in public spending, but he warned: "We cannot provide the same standard of service as we've done before and the worst thing is that another 400,000 public service jobs will go in the next three years according to the government's own statistics." 

During James Prior's period of office as Northern Ireland secretary there was a reduction of violence in the province...

During an interview with BBC Radio Norfolk in 1984, Mr Prior said that he'd done probably as much as he could in Ulster and that maybe it was time to return to the back benches.

His remarks provoked a great deal of criticism, and although he later apologised for his unwise error, many believed the slip was deliberate as there had already been rumours of a cabinet re-shuffle.

Image source, PA

In July 1984, he acknowledged for the first time in the Commons that he intended to leave his post in the re-shuffle, planned for September. 

When he resigned, the possibility of some progress being made towards peace in Ulster was more hopeful than at any time during the previous decade. Mr Prior stated he was giving up full-time politics, but would continue to support the government from the back-benches.

Lord Prior's eldest son, David, followed in his father's footsteps and became MP for North Norfolk in 1997, serving until 2001. He was made a life peer when appointed a health minister in David Cameron's government in 2015, a position he retains under Theresa May.

Network Norfolk

Norwich Christian charity pioneer Robert Glover has accepted a gruelling and ambitious fundraising challenge, external to celebrate his 60th birthday this week and to raise £60k to start Care for Children’s latest project in Vietnam.

Image source, Network Norfolk

Caroline Kingdon
BBC Local Live

James Prior, who became the Conservative MP for the old Lowestoft constituency in 1959, was reputed to be one of Edward Heath's closest cabinet colleagues.

He was Mr Heath's Parliamentary Private Secretary for five years while the Conservatives were in opposition and one of his campaign managers during the victorious 1970 general election.

Early in 1975, Mr Prior was one of four candidates defeated by Margaret Thatcher in the contest for leadership of the Conservative party after Mr Heath stood down. 

Image source, Family photo

Mrs Thatcher made him a member of her shadow cabinet, where as opposition spokesman on employment he encouraged a conciliatory approach to the unions.

When Mrs Thatcher came to power in 1979, Jim Prior became employment minister (he is pictured on the front row, second from the left) with responsibility for getting through trade union reforms. 

During his later period of office as Northern Ireland secretary there was a reduction of violence in the province, although it's impossible to say how much of this was Mr Prior's responsibility.

It has been announced that Lord James Prior has died - the former Conservative MP who represented Lowestoft and Waveney.

Lord Prior, who was 89, grew up in Norwich, and attended Pembroke College, Cambridge. 

For a short time he held a commission in the Royal Norfolk Regiment. 

After leaving university he became a professional farmer and had little political experience when elected, on his first attempt, to represent Lowestoft in 1959.

He became Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food between 1970-72, and Leader of the House of Commons 1972-74. 

Lord Prior served for five years in Margaret Thatcher's cabinet where he was regarded as one of the leading "wets" who opposed her monetarist economic policies.

He was originally appointed employment secretary when she became Prime Minister in 1979, and was moved to the post of Northern Ireland secretary two years later. 

The move was widely regarded as a sign of her frustration at his refusal to press ahead more quickly with her trade union reforms.

Lord Prior stood down from the House of Commons in 1987 and was made a life peer as Baron Prior of Brampton. 

Kim Riley
BBC Look East

The widow of a man killed by a drink-driver, who was sentenced today at Ipswich Crown Court, said: "My heart is broken... shattered into a million pieces."

Joanne Smyth recounted how her last words to her husband Mark, as he left for work on 9 October were "drive carefully, I love you".

But she said she had no anger in her heart towards Raimondas Saveikis, 33, from Thetford, who held his head in his hands, and sobbed as she spoke.

Saveikis was jailed for 56 months, and disqualified from driving for three and a half years.

He was said to have had at least twice the legal limit of alcohol in his blood at the time; the prosecution also suspected he may have used his mobile phone shortly before the crash.

If you're looking for something eye-catching for your Christmas party, then look no further.

These killer heels were made by celebrity shoe maker Milly J, who's just opened up a shop in Norwich.

Milly J says Kylie Minogue is among the celebrities who love her individually-designed creations and are looking for something good for the paparazzi. 

But she's not just a shoe maker to the stars... it's for everyday people who're looking for something a little bit special... maybe for birthdays and even weddings.

These bridal trainers (pictured to the right of the white heels with red hearts on) are not designed for brides who want to run away on their big day, but for those looking for comfort. 

And if you fancy treating yourself to something festive for your Christmas outfit, these red and green shoes may be just the thing.