Summary

  • Updates on Friday, 10 February 2017

  • £50m of cocaine found on Norfolk beaches

  • Under-pressure hospital cancels 300 ops in last three months of 2016

  • Axe hangs over more than 150 jobs in poultry firm restructure

  • Farmer heads to Brussels to challenge plan to keep free range poultry enclosed

  • Liberal Democrat Marion Millership tops by-election poll at Waterside

  1. Third arrest in Norwich murder investigationpublished at 12:47 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC News

    Detectives investigating the death of a man in Norwich last year have arrested a third person on suspicion of murder. 

    Police outside crime scene

    Michael Currer, 59, was found dead at his home address in Saffron Square in November.

    A post-mortem examination concluded Mr Currer died as a result of severe chest and facial injuries sustained from an assault.  

    The man arrested, who's in his 40s and from the Norwich area, is currently in police custody. 

    Two other people arrested, a man in his 50s and a woman in her 40s, remain on police bail pending further inquiries.

  2. Norwich MP 'prepared to resign' from front bench over Brexitpublished at 12:00 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC News

    Labour's shadow business secretary and Norwich South MP Clive Lewis has indicated he could resign from the shadow cabinet today, over Brexit. 

    Clive Lewis Labour MP for Norwich South

    He obeyed the three-line whip last week to back the government's plans for leaving the European Union, but this could change at today's third-reading vote

    "It's my intention to do what's right by my constituents and by my conscience," Mr Lewis said. "It's a really tough call."

    At a meeting in Norwich, which voted to remain in the EU, on Friday he told his constituents: "I voted for the second reading because, against my better judgement, I think we have to listen to the outcome of the referendum.

    "I am not a delegate. I am a representative. You elected me as a Labour MP but also as Clive Lewis. They come as a package. You get my values, my judgement, and the Labour brand. 

    "If, by the end of the process, the bill before us is still an overwhelmingly hard Tory cliff-edge, I am prepared to break the whip and vote against it."

  3. Boy's fatal fall was day after birthdaypublished at 11:27 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    The cause of Michael Sousa's death was a severe traumatic brain injury.

    Read More
  4. Rescue centre 'takes in 200 hedgehogs'published at 11:17 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Vanessa Baffoe
    BBC Local Live

    The RSPCA in West Norfolk says it looked after hundreds of hedgehogs over the winter because it's been too cold to release them. 

    The centre manager at the hospital in East Winch, Alison Charles, says they care for about 900 to 1,000 hedgehogs throughout the year.

    Hedgehog

    She said there were 200 at the hospital until last week, when they were able to let around half back into the wild. 

    The animals need to reach a weight of 600g before they can be released back into the wild. They won't survive if they are underweight, external.

    The hedgehog is listed as a priority species under the UK Biodoversity Action Plan, external.

    Hedgehog beds
  5. Pupil died after falling from top of school stairwellpublished at 10:51 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC News

    A 12-year-old boy died after falling from the top of a school stairwell, an inquest has heard.

    Michael SouzaImage source, Facebook

    Michael Sousa sustained a head injury after falling at Jane Austen College in Colegate, Norwich, on 23 January.

    Coroner Yvonne Blake said the pupil's life support machine was switched off at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, over a week later.

    "Michael fell from the top of a stairwell at school and sustained significant head injuries," she said.

    Ms Blake said in a brief hearing at Norfolk Coroner's Court that Michael fell the day after his 12th birthday. 

    The medical cause of death was given as severe traumatic brain injury and the inquest was adjourned for a full hearing in August.

    Norfolk Police said it's not investigating any suspicious circumstances surrounding Michael's death.

  6. Police spend £187,000 on informantspublished at 09:36 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC News

    Norfolk Police paid informants a total of £187,970.83 over the past five years, according to figures obtained by BBC Radio 5 live

    Since 2011, the amount paid by the Norfolk force has been coming down year on year. 

    • 2011/12 - £44,764.72 
    • 2012/13 - £42,264.05 
    • 2013/14 - £40,131.05 
    • 2014/15 - £32,365.94 
    • 2015/16 - £28,445.07 

    Nationally, the county's one of the lowest spenders on this kind of intelligence.

    Across the UK, the total spent amounts to £22,159,130.70 over the past five years, with the Met in London paying out around a quarter of that.

    When police forces want to sign someone up as an informant, the criminality must be taking place regardless of the informant's involvement, and they must only be playing a minor role. 

    Critics say the tactic does little to bring down overall crime, but the National Police Chiefs' Council says it's vital in bringing offenders to justice and a "highly worthwhile and cost-effective tactic".

  7. Neil criticises Canaries' defendingpublished at 09:09 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Jay Lawrence
    BBC Radio Norfolk

    Norwich City boss Alex Neil says his side should have dealt better with Wigan's set-pieces.

    The Canaries drew 2-2 last night at the DW Stadium, despite being 1-0 up at half-time. Omar Bogle scored a brace for the Latics, converting a free-kick and also heading in from a corner.

    Neil said set-pieces "shouldn't be causing an issue" for his team due to the height of the players.

    The manager focused on defenders Timm Klose, Mitchell Dijks and Russell Martin, as well as forwards Cameron Jerome and Nelson Oliveira. "That's five big lads," Neil added, "and we're disappointed to concede the goals." 

    Norwich City stay seventh in The Championship.

    Norwich City's Russell Martin and Mitchell Dijks celebrating a goal.Image source, Getty Images
  8. Canaries draw at Wiganpublished at 09:01 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Jay Lawrence
    BBC Radio Norfolk

    Despite dominating Championship strugglers Wigan, Norwich City missed the chance to move into the play-off zone last night, drawing 2-2 at the DW Stadium.

    The Canaries took a first-half lead through striker Nelson Oliveira, but two goals in 10 minutes gave the hosts the advantage. New signing Mitchell Dijks scored his first goal for the club to earn a share of the points. 

    Norwich stay seventh in the table, one point above Derby County and two points beneath Sheffield Wednesday.

    Mitchell Dijks heads in for Norwich CityImage source, Getty Images
  9. Chance of a light snow flurry aheadpublished at 08:14 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    BBC Weather

    It will be cloudy this morning with patchy drizzle and mist. 

    It'll become mainly dry this afternoon with some brighter intervals, but will feel increasingly cold in brisk easterly winds with a few light snow flurries. Maximum temperature 4C (39F).

  10. Hello and welcome back to Norfolk Livepublished at 08:02 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2017

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC News

    Morning all! Stick with us for all the county's latest news, sport, travel and weather.

    Don't forget you can keep us up-to-date with what's happening in your area via email, Twitter, external or Facebook. , external

    It's feeling cold and is rather cloudy out there. A full weather forecast is up next.

  11. Wigan Athletic 2-2 Norwich Citypublished at 21:55 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Two Omar Bogle goals on his first Wigan start help earn the Championship strugglers a draw against Norwich City.

    Read More
  12. Murder suspect claims identity mix-uppublished at 18:34 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    A defendant accused of murdering a couple claims he is not the man police were looking for.

    Read More
  13. Our live coverage today:published at 17:59 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Our live coverage has now ended for the day, but we'll be back with you at 08:00 tomorrow.

    Before we go, we'll leave you with a reminder of some of the stories we've brought you this Tuesday:

    Scroll down for more on these and other stories. Don't forget that any breaking news overnight will appear here.

    Have a good evening.

  14. Weather: Damp overnight and drizzle tomorrowpublished at 17:59 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Alex Dolan
    BBC Look East weather

    Tonight will be cloudy with some patchy drizzle, particularly across eastern counties, but starting dry and clear in the west with mist patches forming. 

    Becoming damp and drizzly across all parts later tonight, with lows of 3C (37F).

    Weather

    An overcast and increasingly cold day tomorrow will bring some showery outbreaks of drizzle, but some bright spells will develop. Highs of just 5C (41F).

    There are more details on the BBC Weather website.

  15. Murder victim was found with nine stab wounds, court hearspublished at 17:39 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    A man was found stabbed nine times near his home, a court has heard.

    As we reported earlier, the identity of the man charged with the murders of Peter Stuart, 75, and his wife Sylvia, 69, is in dispute.

    Ipswich Crown Court heard the body of Mr Stuart was found in a shallow water in woodland near his home in Weybread on 3 June.

    Prosecuting, Karim Khalil QC said: "He had plainly been murdered."

    The body of Mrs Stuart has not been found but police fear she is dead.

    "We say she has been murdered too but has been hidden more successfully," said Mr Khalil.

    The defendant, who the prosecution says is Ali Qazimaj, formerly of Tilbury, Essex, denies murder.

    The trial continues.

  16. Murder accused 'carried out contract killing', court hearspublished at 17:38 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    The man accused with the murders of a Suffolk couple claimed to have carried out a contract killing, a court has heard. 

     As we've been reporting, the trial of the man accused of the murders of Peter and Sylvia Stuart from Weybread has got under way at Ipswich Crown Court

    The court heard the defendant, whose identity is in dispute, had been told that the Stuarts were "millionaires" by their son-in-law's father Sidney Paxman. 

    The defendant was Mr Paxman's carer. "According to Sidney Paxman, he told him he had been to Serbia and on his return he said he had carried out a contract killing," said Karim Khalil QC, prosecuting. 

    The court heard on a separate occasion, when the pair were driving, the defendant made a comment to the effect that a place they were driving past "would be a good place to dispose of a body".

    The defendant, who the prosecution says is Ali Qazimaj, formerly of Tilbury, Essex, denies murder.

    The trial continues.

  17. Teenager found guilty of 'sexting'published at 17:36 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    A teenage boy has been found guilty at Norwich Youth Court of sending obscene images to a classmate.

    The practice of sending explicit pictures and videos over social media is known as "sexting".

    The youth offending team will prepare a report before the boy, who can't be named due to his age, is sentenced.

  18. Cut in the number of specialist roads police unitspublished at 17:09 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Pete Cooper
    BBC Local Live

    Northamptonshire saw the biggest cut in dedicated roads police units in England and Wales last year.

    The reduction was 74% in the county, followed by Norfolk the second highest with 65%.

    The total number of specialist road officers across all 43 forces fell from 5,237 to 4,934, according to data released by policing minister and Great Yarmouth MP, Brandon Lewis, in response to a parliamentary question.

    Northamptonshire police

    Jayne Willetts, lead for roads policing for the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: "The thin blue line is now so thin on our roads system that we are almost to the point of being invisible."

    However, Mr Lewis said some forces were unable to make a clear distinction between functions carried out by their officers, particularly for units providing both roads and armed policing.

    He added that reclassification of roles can cause fluctuations in figures from year to year.

    Suzette Davenport, National Police Chiefs' Council lead for roads policing, said: "Individual police forces decide how best to allocate resources and keep their communities safe. 

    "Some may choose to reduce the numbers of specialist traffic officers, but this does not mean that their roads are not adequately policed."

  19. Sleepout challenge raises thousands for charitypublished at 16:58 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    A team of sleepers who braved a night in the cold has raised nearly £3,000 to help raise awareness of two charities.

    The Living Room project provides a warm, safe place for rough sleepers during the winter months. It started in January, and will receive 80% of the money.

    The remaining 20% goes to the Church Urban Fund, external, which works to support local churches in bringing about change in poor communities.

  20. Plans for new schools to cope with housing developmentpublished at 16:57 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Jill Bennett
    BBC Radio Norfolk

    A new primary school and a new specialist academy are being planned for the King's Lynn area to cope with a major new housing development in the town.

    Norfolk County Council estimates that 120 new primary places will be needed because more than 450 homes are planned for North Lynn and the Lynnsport area.

    They're suggesting the present St Edmund's Academy, external, on Kilham's Way, should be moved into a new larger building as part of the Lynnsport development. The school's old buildings and the professional development centre next door would be converted into a new specialist academy run by the Catch 22 Trust, external, for pupils with social, emotional and health difficulties.

    The plans will be on show at three events being held at St Edmund's Academy and Highgate Infant's School later this month.