Summary

  • Updates for Friday, 17 February 2017

  • Tributes paid to man who died after Pontins incident

  • Man arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill

  • Peter Wright causes a shock in Leeds

  • Coastguard finds 25 WW2 bombs on a beach

  • Important historical records to go on display

  1. Is this your car?published at 15:04 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Do you know whose car this is? If so, Norfolk police would like to hear from you:

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  2. Ali Qazimaj trial: Jury hear statements from witnesses who worked with himpublished at 14:44 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Kevin Burch
    BBC Look East

    Witness statements from people who worked with Ali Qazimaj at an environmental company in Essex have been read to jury at Ipswich Crown Court.

    They said Mr Qazimaj, who is accused of the murders of Sylvia and Peter Stuart from Weybread, Suffolk, was known as a bit of a gambler, who'd been given advances on his wages, and also borrowed money from colleagues.

    One described him as a bit of a fantasist.

    He told them he'd witnessed war in Montenegro and suffered gunshot wounds.

    A comment about planning a robbery on a house in Ipswich or near to it was dismissed by Joshua Sage, a fellow worker, who said in his statement that he thought he was just chatting rubbish.

    On 3 June last year, Mr Qazimaj had appeared subdued and withdrawn, the jury was told, and after an altercation he said he was quitting and was escorted from the premises.

    On leaving Mr Sage said he'd asked him .. "Where are you off to then?"

    The reply ... "Best you don't know".

    Citroen C3 carImage source, Suffolk Police

    The court was told that two days later, a Citroen C3 car registered to Mr Qazimaj, was found parked close to the port of Dover.

    The police broke in and found a sports bag and a cricket bat in the boot.

    In the passenger footwell was a shopping bag containing a torch which was still switched on.

    The trial continues.

  3. Money to repair church's thatched roofpublished at 14:40 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    A Breckland church has been given a £2,000 grant to help pay for re-thatching of its roof.

    Holy Cross, Caston, is one of a few churches in Norfolk to have a thatched roof. It needs to replaced every 50-70 years. If not, the water will get in and cause damage.

    Caston church with the village sign in the foregroundImage source, Google

    The Grade I listed church, on the edge of the village green, is currently fund-raising to pay for a new roof and for new facilities including disabled access.

    The grant was made by the Norfolk Churches Trust.

  4. Avian flu: A 'concerning time' for the poultry industrypublished at 14:28 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Kim Riley
    BBC Look East

    Four chicken sheds containing more than 20,000 chickens are at the centre of the latest avian flu outbreak.

    The poultry facility at Bridge Farm, near Redgrave, is managed by Banham Poultry. The company says birds at its other farms appear healthy and there's no evidence of any spread of the infection.  

    Chicken sheds at Bridge Farm

    A new Temporary Control Zone has been put in place following confirmation of the outbreak on Sunday.

    Notice on fence at bird flu farm warning of no unauthorised entry

    Duck specialists Gressingham Foods has a large processing factory nearby. The zone extends around its plant at Redgrave and all bird movements in the area have been halted.

    Gressingham Foods says production has been transferred to their headquarters near Woodbridge until further notice, and the infected farm had no connection to them, adding all their birds are in good health.

    Gressingham Foods at Redgrave
    Quote Message

    It's the most extensive outbreak we've had for many years... there is concern, but there's also determination to work with Defra to stamp out bird flu."

    Richard Griffiths, Chief executive, British Poultry Council

  5. Alex Neil: Newcastle game biggest yetpublished at 14:26 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Jay Lawrence
    BBC Radio Norfolk

    Norwich City manager Alex Neil says tonight's match against Newcastle United is his team's most important so far.

    The Toon will travel to Carrow Road later, top of the Championship table and 15 points above the Canaries.

    However, City haven't lost at home in nearly two months and have just come off the back of a storming 5-1 victory against Nottingham Forest.

    "I think we're at that stage now where the games are going to get bigger and bigger," Neil said.

    Norwich City boss Alex NeilImage source, Getty Images

    He added: ""e're coming to the crunch end of the season where each point we pick up is going to bigger than the last. 

    "This is certainly the biggest game for us going forward and I think the next one after that is going to be even bigger again because we're going to have to continue picking points up."

  6. Romance fraud: Spot the scammerpublished at 13:23 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Feeling unloved on Valentine's Day and thinking of looking for romance online?

    Beware of romance fraud, warns Norfolk police. They're using social media to help people spot the warning signs of internet dating scams.

    Cellophane wrapped red roses, in bunches of 12Image source, PA

    Nearly £40m was lost through dating fraud between 2015-16, and at least 4,000 people fell victim to online dating scams last year. One male victim from Norfolk handed over £15,000.

    Paul Maskell is a cyber crime security advisor for Norfolk police. He says the fraudsters set up a fake relationship and ask for money. 

    Quote Message

    They may create a crisis and potentially ask for money, and exploit the connection they've made... there's a whole different type of dating scams across the board."

    Paul Maskell

  7. Weather upate: A dry and sunny afternoon aheadpublished at 12:29 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    The rest of the day will be dry with some hazy sunshine and feeling less cold than recently.

    Turning cloudy later, with temperatures reaching a high of 9C (48F).

    And on valentine's Day we couldn't go without mentioning those three little words... BBC Weather Watchers - they were up bright and early, to capture these stunning pictures of the early morning sun.

    Sunrise over meadows, with architectural ruin in foreground
    Early morning sunrise over country lane
    Early mornign sun over Gorleston beach
  8. Ali Quazimaj trial: Jury told of cash transactions on Sylvia Stuart's bank cardpublished at 12:11 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Kevin Burch
    BBC Look East

    The trial of Ali Qazimaj, who is accused of the murders of Sylvia and Peter Stuart from Weybread, has been told a bank card belonging to Mrs Stuart was used to pay £25 at Goodies Farm shop in Pulham Market, Norfolk, where she and her husband were seen on CCTV for the last time on morning of 29 May 2016.

    Last sighting of Peter and Sylvia StuartImage source, Suffolk Police

    The next day, at night, £300 was taken from the account in two quick withdrawals from a cash machine in Grays in Essex. 

    The jury at Ipswich Crown Court was told that in the next few hours further attempts were made to withdraw a total of £1,300 from other cash machines in the area but all declined. 

    CCTV cameras at some of the cash machines at the time filmed someone in a hooded top and dark clothing. 

    Ali Qazimaj is accused of the murders of Mrs Stuart, who's still missing, and her husband who was found stabbed near their Suffolk home last June.

    But the defendant denies it and claims he's the victim of mistaken identity.

    The trial continues.

  9. Avian flu: Extent of control zonepublished at 12:06 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Defra says a 10 km (6 mile) temporary control zone has been installed around Bridge Farm, near Redgrave, where avian flu has been confirmed.

    Map showing control zoneImage source, Google

    Within that area, there is a Protection Zone, external with a 3 km radius (1.8 miles) where anyone with premises must observe a number of controls, and a wider Surveillance Zone, external, for people further away from the farm, but yet within the 10 km zone.  

  10. Mart heralds start of Showmen's yearpublished at 12:02 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Jill Bennett
    BBC Radio Norfolk

    King's Lynn Mart, external has been going for more than 800 years and it's just getting under way in King's Lynn's Tuesday Market Place.

    For the showmen, it's the start of the year. One of them is Nipper Appleton. The rides today are "trailer mounted", he told me - so when they arrive on site they can be pulled into location and erected quickly. It took him just 90 minutes to get his helter skelter up and running. 

    Over the winter months, he said they do a lot of maintenance on the equipment in order to get a certificate to operate - without this, it's a no-go.

    Nipper Apppleton, standing in front of one of his rides

    Mr Appleton's helter skelter is 45 years old, a youngster compared to others, He  told me that some are 100 years old, but families keep them in good condition so they can still be used.

    Quote Message

    You get the thrill of being on the fairground... when you go out there it's in the family's blood... I like the Mart, we all get a buzz from being at King's Lynn Mart... I love being down there with my family."

    Nipper Alppleton

  11. Market Place to be filled with all the fun of the fairpublished at 11:32 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    In just under 30 minutes time, the bell will ring for the grand opening of the King's Lynn Mart, external.

    For two weeks, the Tuesday Market Place will be filled with fairground attractions, white knuckle rides and the traditional dodgems and waltzers.

    It's the first funfair in the Showmen's calendar, and many have come with their families since they were born.

    John, from Essex, operates the Extreme ride. He's just changed its 10,000 bulbs to LEDs, costing him "quite a bit", but says it looks a lot nicer. 

    He says the event is "a joy to come to... it has a special atmosphere."

  12. A number of theories on why cocaine washed up on beachespublished at 10:59 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Holdalls containing the drugs, weighted down with floats, lying on Hopton beahImage source, National Crime Agency

    A former Border Control special branch officer says there's a number of reasons on how £50m of cocaine washed up on beaches in Norfolk and Suffolk.

    Chris Hobbs says the sighting of a Border Force or Royal Navy vessel could have panicked the drugs traffickers, leading to them throwing everything overboard.

    "Or a pick-up that went wrong... it had been left somewhere, maybe tethered to a buoy to be picked up later, and somehow it came adrift."

    Suffolk police have confirmed that a package found on Kessingland beach on Saturday is linked to the drugs haul. 

    A dog walker discovered holdalls containing the drug on Hopton beach, near Great Yarmouth, last Thursday (pictured) and further discoveries were found round the Norfolk coast at Caister.

  13. Sedge Fen fire may have claimed life of occupantpublished at 10:49 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Suffolk Fire Service says it's working on the basis there was someone in the bungalow at Sedge Fen, near Lakenheath, when it was engulfed by fire yesterday evening.

    Road leading to fire bungalow

    Describing it as a "very hazardous operation", spokesman Ali Moseley said the bungalow was engulfed by fire when crews arrived, with the roof already "structurally unsafe and starting to collapse".

    He said they quickly got information there may be someone in the premises "so we've been working on that basis".

    Mr Moseley added: "We feel we may have identified the location of the occupant within the premises, but that hasn't been confirmed because of the structural safety issues so that investigation is on-going.

    "Investigation teams are out there now assessing what can be done to make things safe so they can actually get hands-on and start excavating the scene." 

    Police presence close to bungalow
  14. Fancy a cuppa?published at 10:48 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Before you turn on the tap, have you ever wondered how the water gets to your home?

    For 600 years, the River Wensum has been supplying water to people in Norwich... watch this Anglian Water video to find out more:

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  15. Pictures of avian flu poultry farmpublished at 10:30

    Our cameraman Shaun has just sent these pictures from Bridge Farm, near Redgrave.

    There's little sign of activity at the poultry rearing site, which is managed by the Norfolk-based Banham Poultry.

    The farm doesn't produce meat, instead it's a breeding rearer farm.

    Outbuildings seen through padlocked gate
    Outbuildings, with generator
  16. How the media is reporting Redgrave bird flupublished at 10:11 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    News that the H5N8 bird flu strain has been identified at Bridge Farm near Redgrave has been reported by several other media outlets

    Bridge Farm
  17. 'Be vigilant' to help stop spread of avian flupublished at 09:29 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    A 10km (6m) Temporary Control Zone, external has been placed around the site of a poultry premises in Redgrave, close to the Norfolk/Suffolk border, following an outbreak of avian flu.

    More than 20,000 affected birds at the poultry rearing facility are to be culled in the next few days.

    Anthony Greenleaves, lead vet at the Animal and Plant Health Agency, says they were alerted to the possible outbreak of the H5N8 virus on Friday evening and the disease was confirmed on Sunday following investigation.

    Birds in a poultry rearing shedImage source, Submitted

    Since December, preventative measures have been in place to reduce the risk of bird flu spreading. 

    Commercial and domestic poultry keepers are advised to keep the birds in side a suitable building where possible and put netting over openings to stop contact with wild birds.  

    Quote Message

    "When we get an outbreak, it's a challenging business, causing problems for the poultry sector... be vigilant and keep taking measures to stop the disease recurring."

    Anthony Greenleaves, Animal and Plant Health Agency

  18. How to spot avian influenzapublished at 09:08 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    It was back in December that poultry keepers were told to keep their birds inside for 30 days, or take steps to separate them from wild birds, to protect them from the highly-infectious strain of avian flu in Europe.

    Hens out of doorsImage source, AFP

    The H5N8 bird flu strain had been found in poultry and wild birds in 14 countries including Germany and France.

    The main clinical signs, external of the more serious type of bird flu (highly pathogenic avian influenze or HPAI) are:

    • Swollen head
    • Blue discolouration of neck and throat
    • Loss of appetite
    • Respiratory distress
    • Diarrhoea
    • Fewer eggs laid
    • Increased mortality

    DEFRA says that clinical signs can vary between species of bird, and some species (ducks and geese) may show minimal clinical signs.

  19. Fire crews spend night at scene of major house firepublished at 08:40 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Firefighters have spent the night at the scene of a major house fire near Lakenheath. 

    Fire engineImage source, Suffolk County Council

    It broke out at a property in Sedge Fen, close to the borders of Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, just before 20:00 last night.

    Crews from the three counties attended and at its height more than 35 firefighters were at the scene. 

    The blaze took about five hours to put out and crews are still there. 

    Suffolk Police, external has also been in attendance and the scene has been cordoned off while an investigation is carried out. 

    Police have said that nobody is unaccounted for, but have not confirmed whether there have been any casualties.

  20. What is avian flu?published at 08:37 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) says the H5N8 strain of avian flu, which has been confirmed at a poultry farm at Redgrave on the Suffolk/Norfolk border, has been found in both wild and farmed birds in the UK.

    Avian influenza (bird flu) is an infectious disease of birds. Public Health England, external says the risk to public health is very low and human infections with avian influenza are rare.

    The Food Standards Agency, external says there is no food safety risk for UK consumers, explaining that "thoroughly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat".