Summary

  • Updates for Friday, 20 January 2017

  • Duke of Cambridge to leave his job with air ambulance charity

  • Court order to evict bed blocker patient

  • Bed blocker using hospital as hotel, claims former patient

  • Volunteers help wardens in clear-up operation at flood-hit nature reserve

  • Funding to improve coastal areas

  • Lambert 'relishing' Carrow Road return

  • World number 10 knocked out of World Professional Indoor Bowls Championships

  1. New streets with 'the' names face banpublished at 19:04 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Clarifying an address such as 'The Walk' can waste valuable time, a Norfolk council report says.

    Read More
  2. Carers cleared over teenager's drowningpublished at 18:28 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Two carers are cleared after a teenager drowned while swimming at a former quarry.

    Read More
  3. Our live coverage today...published at 18:01 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Our live coverage for the day has now come to an end, but we'll be here if there's a breaking story overnight.

    You can scroll down to see the stories we've brought you today, but here's a quick recap of some of them:

    We love to hear what's happening in your part of the county, so if you have a story or a photo that you'd like to share with us, you can get in touch on email, Facebook, external or send a tweet, external.

    We'll be back at 08:00 tomorrow. We leave you with this photo of the sunset, taken by one of our BBC Weather Watchers.

    A couple in silhouette watching the sun set
  4. A cold and frosty nightpublished at 17:17 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Julie Reinger
    BBC Look East weather

    It's going to be a dry night, with a lot of clear sky. 

    A sharp frost will develop, with some mist and fog patches, and possibly ice in places.

    Winds will be light, with temperatures falling as low as -4C (25F) in some isolated places. In cloudier places, temperatures will stay closer to freezing.

    Weather graphic for 05:00Image source, BBC Weather

    Any mist and fog may be slow to clear tomorrow, but it should then become a dry and sunny day.

    Temperatures expected to reach 6C (43F).

    BBC Weather has more details for where you live.

  5. Working together to combat church lead theftpublished at 17:12 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    A Norwich-based broadband provider, external is working on a CCTV system for churches to help deter lead thieves across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

    WiSpire is used by the Diocese of Norwich, external to help deliver broadband internet access to local communities.

    All Saints Church, DickleburghImage source, Google

    The service provider will work in partnership with the East of England Co-Op, which has been supporting churches since last summer with an alarm receiving centre. This round-the-clock monitoring of churches is linked to local police forces.

    WiSpire spokesman David Broom says by working together they can bring down the cost.

    Quote Message

    Our own broadband system and the CCTV system need some kind of back-up power supply, so if we've got one supply we can share the costs. This will bring down the cost of the CCTV system to churches."

    David Broom, WiSpire

  6. Church lead thefts 'a violation'published at 17:07 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Caroline Kingdon
    BBC Local Live

    Norfolk's police and crime commissioner says he's got "big plans" to fight against the theft of lead from churches.

    In the past few months, tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage has been caused by thieves stripping lead from churches across the county. 

    Earlier we told you of two churches in west Norfolk that have fallen victim to the raiders, one for the third time. In November a church in south Norfolk was hit for the second time. 

    Inside Little Massingham church, looking up to the damaged roof above the organ

    Lorne Green, who'll announce his ideas in the next few weeks, says the thefts are a "violation against the community".  

    Quote Message

    We're custodians of this medieval heritage, it's not just the property of Norfolk but of this country. We have a responsibility to protect that heritage for future generations."

    Lorne Green, Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner

  7. First Syrian refugee families due to arrive in Norfolkpublished at 17:05 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Six months ago, Norfolk County Council voted to accept 50 vulnerable Syrian refugees into the county.

    The first five families, who all have young children, are due to arrive in Norwich at the beginning of February. The council says the priority will be to "quietly settle the children... and introduce calm and stability".

    Work has been carried out with district councils, schools, voluntary groups and health authorities to ensure everything is in place to welcome the families. 

    In addition to these formal preparations, offers of help have poured in from residents, local faith and voluntary groups. The Norwich Diocese set up a refugee fund, external for residents to make donations, and more than £40,000 has been raised so far.

    The refugees are coming into the country through the government's Syrian vulnerable person's resettlement scheme. 

    Syrian refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos, trying to light a fire during snowfallImage source, STR/AFP/Getty Images
  8. Recorded crime increases in Norfolkpublished at 17:03 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    The number of recorded crimes in Norfolk is on the up, with 4% more recorded in the year ending September 2016 compared to the year before.

    More than 48,200 crimes were reported, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics, external, and the biggest increase was in the number of cases of robbery. That's gone up by 35%.

    Statistics for other crimes on the increase break down as follows: 

    • Possession of weapons - up 27%
    • Violence against a person - up 17%
    • Sexual offences - up 9%
    • Theft - up 2%

    But it's not all bad news, there's been a drop in the number of some offences: 

    • Drug offences - down 12%
    • Criminal damage and arson - down 2%
    • Public order offences - down 2%
    • Miscellaneous crimes against society - down 39%
  9. Charity workers stuck in The Gambia to fly home tomorrowpublished at 16:42 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC News

    Two charity workers from Norfolk who are in The Gambia, where a state-of-emergency has been declared, are to fly out of the country tomorrow. 

    Jane Moore (pictured left) and Janet Clark (pictured right)Image source, Gambian Aid Through Education

    Jane Moore and Janet Clark are having to return to the UK following Foreign Office advice about unrest over presidential election results.

    Jane Moore's husband, Nick, confirmed the pair had now been booked on an afternoon flight leaving tomorrow, and were expected back in England at about 22:00. 

    He says he's "hoping everything stays calm until then".

  10. Queen takes afternoon tea with WIpublished at 16:09 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    The Queen was greeted by Yvonne Brown, vice president of the Sandringham Women's Institute, as she arrived at West Newton village hall a short while ago. 

    The Queen, in bright cerise coat and black shoes extending her hand to Yvonne Brown, who is curtseyingImage source, PA

    Her Majesty is president of the Sandringham WI and enjoys chairing the January meeting during her winter stay in Norfolk.

    A guest speaker is invited to the event, and this year it's Dr Lucy Worsley. The historian is joint curator of the Royal Palaces, which include Kensington Palace, the Tower of London and Hampton Court.

    A close up on the Queen, smilingImage source, PA
  11. Bawsey Pits death: Carers cleared of charges after teenager drownedpublished at 15:31 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    A jury at King's Lynn Crown Court has cleared two care workers who faced charges after a teenager drowned in west Norfolk.

    Umar Balogun drowned while swimming at Bawsey Pits, near King's Lynn, in July 2013. The 16-year-old disappeared after diving under the surface. His body was later found entangled in weeds.

    Umar, who was being cared for at a Castle Homes centre in Cambridgeshire, had been taken to the beauty spot with another boy by carers Vanda Cawley and Kevin Roweth.

    Sign warning of danger, advising no swimming or diving

    The court heard that despite seeing "No swimming" signs around the former quarry, the two carers allowed the teenager to enter the lake. Neither had carried out a risk assessment or checked to see if either boy could swim.

    The carers had denied failing to take reasonable care of the boys' safety. A short while ago, Vanda Cawley and Kevin Roweth were cleared of all charges.

  12. Care workers cleared over teenager's deathpublished at 15:04 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017
    Breaking

    Two care workers have been cleared of charges following the death of a teenager who drowned in west Norfolk.

    We'll have more on this shortly.

  13. Weather: A cold but bright afternoonpublished at 14:37 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    It will be a bright and sunny afternoon, but feeling cold with temperatures reaching 5C (41F).

    It was a mixed bag of weather earlier across the county - take a look at these photos from our BBC Weather Watchers

    Sunrise over the coast
    Mist over Cromer seafront
    Catkins against blue sky
  14. Queen to visit local WIpublished at 14:05 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    The Queen will join members of Sandringham's Women's Institute later this afternoon.

    She's their honorary president and meets members once a year during her winter break in Norfolk.

    Each year there's a guest speaker... today it's historian Dr Lucy Worsley, who arrived a short time ago.

    Historian Lucy Worsley, in aqua coloured coat, arriving at the village hallImage source, Chris Radburn/PA
  15. 'The' decision referred uppublished at 13:51 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Now back to our story on the request from emergency services for the word "the" not to be included in any further street naming

    A meeting by Breckland councillors, where the matter was discussed, has now ended.

    Members decided to refer the plans to the council's Overview and Scrutiny Commission, so the proposals could be discussed in more detail.

  16. Saturday's EFL action as it happenedpublished at 13:24 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Relive the action from Saturday's EFL matches as Newcastle return to the top of the Championship and Barnsley beat Leeds.

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  17. Norfolk racing driver signs for Mercedespublished at 13:01 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    There's big news today for young Norfolk racing driver George Russell.

    The King's Lynn-born driver, who turns 19 next month, has been signed by Formula One world champions Mercedes for their junior programme.

    The other two members of Mercedes' young driver programme, Esteban Ocon and Pascal Wehrlein, have both managed to gain Formula One drives.

    Sam RussellImage source, Sam Bloxham

    Russell, pictured in 2014, will spend the 2017 season driving in the lower GP3 category. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff told the team's official website, external that they see "great potential" in him.

    Russell said: "It is an incredible opportunity to have the backing of the Formula One World Champions. I’m proud to have been given this kind of recognition for all the hard work that’s gone into my career over the years so far.”

  18. Duchess of Cambridge to visit children's hospicepublished at 12:29 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Caroline Kingdon
    BBC Local Live

    The Duchess of Cambridge is to visit the East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) in Quidenham for an update on the Nook appeal, external.

    The Duchess, who's a patron of EACH, launched the appeal for a new £10m purpose-built hospice in November 2014 (pictured below). It will be built on a five-acre site in Framingham Earl, near Norwich.

    The Duchess of Cambridge, in red dress and holding small bouquet, at the launch of the appeal in November 2014Image source, Getty Images

    EACH at Quidenham provides support for families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions. It opened in 1991, but has now outgrown its site.

    During her visit on 24 January, the Duchess will tour the current facilities in Quidenham and meet families who use the services.

  19. Charity workers still waiting for flights home from The Gambiapublished at 11:54 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC News

    More now on a story we brought you yesterday about two Norfolk charity workers who are trying to fly home from The Gambia after a state-of-emergency was declared.

    Janet Clark (seated) and Jane MooreImage source, Gambia Aid Through Education

    Jane Moore, from Taverham, and Janet Clark, from Matishall, run the charity Gambian Aid Through Education, external. They've had to cut their annual trip short after the Foreign Office advised all UK citizens to leave the country. 

    Mrs Moore's husband, Nick Moore, said: "Jane and Janet are still at the hotel and have been told that there will be three flights only out of The Gambia today and as of about 10am, they were not booked on any of them so they are just waiting for further news/instructions at the hotel."

    He says both women are "rather fed up" with the whole thing and "would rather be getting on with the job they are there to do, which is their charity work".

    The pair went out to The Gambia on Friday, taking books, football shirts and computer equipment for local schools and they were also planning to visit several villages.