Summary

  • Updates for Friday, 3 March 2017

  • Bird flu outbreak on Norfolk-Suffolk border

  • 'More help needed' for former service personnel suffering from PTSD

  • Protest at MP's comments about mental health

  • Fare-dodging 'costs train companies millions'

  • Repairs to take place on City Hall's clock tower

  • Crunch weekend for Norwich City

  • Culverhouse makes first signing

  1. Sheffield Wednesday 5-1 Norwich Citypublished at 17:05 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2017

    Jordan Rhodes scores two as Sheffield Wednesday consolidate their place in the play-offs with a thumping win over Norwich.

    Read More
  2. That's a wrap from Norfolk Livepublished at 17:59 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2017

    Caroline Kingdon
    BBC Local Live

    That's all from the Norfolk Live team for the day and for the week, we've hope you've enjoyed our coverage.

    Here's a recap of some of the stories we've brought you today:

    Whatever you're doing, we hope you have a good weekend. 

    We'll be back at 08:00 on Monday.

  3. Weather: Rain later, but feeling mildpublished at 17:42 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2017

    Alex Dolan
    BBC Look East weather

    A mainly dry evening, but rain will spread across the whole of the BBC East region later.

    It'll turn misty, but feel mild with temperatures falling to 7C (44F).

    WEeather graphic for 15:00 Saturday

    A grey and misty start to the weekend, with outbreaks of rain.

    It will become drier and brighter by Saturday afternoon, with sunny spells by the end of the day.

    Feeling mild, with temperatures reaching 11C (52F).

    Visit BBC Weather for more details where you are.

  4. Clive Lewis: Leadership reports "utter rubbish"published at 17:30 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2017

    Andrew Sinclair
    BBC Look East political correspondent

    The Labour MP for Norwich South says reports that he's plotting to stand against Jeremy Corbyn in a leadership battle are "complete rubbish". 

    Clive Lewis, Norwich South MPImage source, PA

    In his first broadcast interview since resigning from the shadow cabinet he's told the BBC Sunday Politics East show: "I'm not ready and to be frank I don't want to do it.

    "It's very flattering to come into politics and be told by people that you should become leader but I'm not ready .....and I don't want to do it because Jeremy Corbyn was elected twice to become our leader and he's the person who leads our party."

    Mr Lewis said he would never rule out standing for leader at some stage in the future. 

    He said "there is a lot of mischief going on at the moment".

    You can see his interview on the  Sunday Politics East at 11:00 on Sunday on BBC1 .

  5. Lifetime ban on owning animals after ponies were kept in the dark published at 17:30 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2017

    A man has been banned from keeping animals for life after admitting neglecting a mare and foal and keeping them in the dark for more than 18 months.

    A dog walker, who'd accidentally strayed from a footpath, discovered the two ponies in an isolated barn in the middle of a 20-acre field.

    Until its rescue, the foal had spent his entire life inside and had never been out in the sun.

    
          Charlie, a black foal, with mare Bella in the background - both standing inside a barn
        Image source, RSPCA

    The animal welfare charity said the two ponies were in a very poor condition, emaciated, with overgrown feet and covered in lice. The mare, Bella, was terrified of people.

    Frederick Charles Stannard, 64, of the High Street, Methwold near Thetford appeared at Norwich Magistrates' Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to four offences.

    He was given a lifetime ban on owning all animals, and a 12-week prison sentence for each offence, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to pay £150 costs and a £115 victim surcharge. 

    Bella, and her foal Charlie, have been rehabilitated at Redwings Horse Sanctuary, which will now be their permanent home.

  6. Police officer disciplined for insulting special need students published at 16:46 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2017

    A Norfolk police officer who verbally insulted students during a visit to a special needs school is to receive management action following an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

    The matter was referred to the IPCC following a complaint by a parent to Norfolk Constabulary about the incident, which occured on 3 December 2015.

    Investigators found the officer had made offensive comments about one student's appearance, and abused another for wearing braces and having curly hair.

    The investigation concluded the language used was not discriminatory, and that during a subsequent arrest the officer's conduct was appropriate to the situation.

    A second officer who was present during the school visit had no case to answer.

    Associate commissioner Tom Milsom said the officer's language "fell well short" of that expected from the police, "who are trained to deal with confrontational situations".

  7. Darts: Webster spearheads Norfolk challenge at UK Openpublished at 16:33 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2017

    Chris Goreham
    BBC Radio Norfolk sport

    Norfolk has three players in what's known as "the FA Cup of darts" this weekend. 

    The UK Open in Minehead, external features an unseeded draw so the sport's top names could meet each other at any stage. Norwich's Darren Webster is in good form going into the tournament. 

    Darren Webster

    North Walsham's Steve Beaton and Bradwell's Mervyn King are also in the competition entering at the third round stage. 

    The draw for that is made after rounds one and two have been completed. 

  8. Big night ahead for Norwich boxerpublished at 16:18 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2017

    Chris Goreham
    BBC Radio Norfolk sport

    Norwich's Zaiphan Morris is the headline act in his home city for the first time tonight. 

    The 32-year-old continues his rapid rise when he tops the bill in a title fight against Latvia's Aleksandrs Birkenbergs at The Halls in Norwich, external

    Boxing posterImage source, Shamrock promotions

    Among the other fighters on the bill is Norwich's Nathan Dale who is making a comeback after suffering a defeat in his last fight. 

  9. MP 'never intended to cause offence' by his commentspublished at 15:57 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2017

    Mid Norfolk MP George Freeman has told us he never intended, and deeply regrets, that the words he used on the radio about the need to prioritise Disability Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) for those with the most serious physical disabilities inadvertently caused any offence to those suffering from mental illness.

    He said: "The PIPs are designed to provide those with disabilities a more personal, flexible and specific fund to cover the costs of coping with living at home with their disability - for example the blind who need housing adaptations or those on home dialysis - than the old Disability Support Allowance. 

    "This government is absolutely committed to making sure we get this PIP part of our £50bn per annum disability budget to those with specific extra reimbursable costs of chronic disability. 

    "In explaining this focus of PIPs on last Sunday's Radio 5 live talk show I was not in any way intending to suggest mental illness isn’t very "real" or debilitating. It is. 

    "As I know from my own direct personal experience in my own family of the trauma caused by depression, anxiety and the often-connected alcoholism and, as MPs of all parties have paid tribute to, I have a track record through my work as a local MP and minister helping those affected by disability, dementia and childhood depression and anxiety."

    Mr Freeman added that he would have liked to explain this to the campaigners at his office today, but was out in his constituency on prior commitments.

  10. Darts: A warning for Wright's rivalspublished at 15:39 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2017

    Brenner Woolley
    BBC Radio Suffolk sport

    Despite throwing the second highest televised average in history last night, Suffolk darts player Peter Wright believes there's more to come from him.

    Peter WrightImage source, Getty Images

    The Mendham thrower averaged 119.50 on his way to a 7-2 Premier League, external win over Adrian Lewis in Exeter.

    "I'm so happy just to get the two points, but to play so well is brilliant," said Wright. 

    "That first leg set the pace and I got control of the match, but it felt like a magnet was pulling the darts into the treble."I saw my average at 117 on the big screen and I wanted to get it higher, but I think there's loads of improvement to come."

  11. MP's comments 'belong in last century'published at 15:32 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2017

    Campaigners say the Mid Norfolk's MP apology over comments he's made about mental health will not repair the damage he's done.

    Today disability rights campaigners marched through Wymondham town centre to his office.

    Protestors with banners march through Wymondham

    They say his comments about mental health reveal an ignorance about disability, and belong in the last century.

    
          Protestors set off from Wymondham market cross on their march

    Wymondham Access Group, external  says it works to make the town accessible. Its chair, Neil Seach, says "invisible disabilities are sometimes the hardest for people to understand... however they shouldn't be discounted or glossed over."

    Protestors outside the office of George Freeman MPImage source, bbc
    Quote Message

    It's hard to believe, whatever the true sentiments behind the words, that the MP of Wymondham could support changes that will result in cuts to some of the most disabled members of his constituency."

    Neil Seach, Wymondham Access Group

  12. Location of avian flu outbreak confirmedpublished at 15:13 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2017
    Breaking

    Kate Arkell
    BBC Radio Suffolk

    Gressingham Foods, external has confirmed the outbreak of avian flu is at Grange Farm, Redgrave in Suffolk, close to the border with Norfolk.

    None of the 55,000 ducks has avian flu, but it has been detected in the environment.

    The birds will still be killed.

    Grange FarmImage source, Google
  13. Magic moments from FA People's Cuppublished at 15:11 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2017

    #PeoplesCup

    Cheeky chips, celebrations and managerial sackings - watch 10 magic moments from the first round of the FA People's Cup...... 

    Media caption,

    More than 6,000 teams signed up for the 2017 FA People's Cup, which has 16 separate categories

    You'll be able to watch a highlights programme from the first round of the nationwide five-a-side competition on the iPlayer from 06:00 GMT Saturday, 4 March and on the red button from 14:10 GMT on Saturday and throughout the weekend.

  14. Protest at MP's comments about mental healthpublished at 15:10 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2017

    Disability rights campaigners have been protesting against comments about mental health, made by the Mid Norfolk MP George Freeman. 

    Earlier this week the MP said that disability benefits should only go to those who "really disabled people" and not those who were "taking pills at home, who suffer from anxiety". 

    His words were branded as "crass and ignorant", by campaigners who protested at his office in Wymondham this lunchtime.

    
          Protestors with banners outside the door of George Freeman's office in Wymondham

    They say the government's plans to make new cuts to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will leave disabled people and those with serious mental health conditions prisoners in their own homes.

    Joy Batley is the vice-chair of Wymondham Access Group, external which helps people with disabilities. She's a wheelchair user, and explains why Mr Freeman's words have angered her:

    
          Disability campaigners holding banners as they march through Wymondham town centre
    Quote Message

    I can say something to somebody and be really rude about them banging into my wheelchair but then if I say I'm sorry I've taken it back, that's already said and that's already been harmful to a lot of people - and I just feel we should be helping disabled people not discriminating against them."

    Joy Batley, Wymondham Access Group

  15. Defra: No risk to public health from bird flu outbreakpublished at 14:40 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2017

    Andrew Sinclair
    BBC Look East political correspondent

    The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has moved to re-assure people following another outbreak of bird flu near Redgrave in Suffolk.

    A statement from Defra said: "Public Health England advises that the risk to public health from the virus is very low. 

    "The Food Standards Agency is also clear that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk."

    The precautionary cull of 55,000 birds could get under way later today. 

    Defra says that after that the premises, which are not being publically identified by Defra, will be cleansed and disinfected. 

  16. Another bird flu outbreak in Suffolkpublished at 14:22 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2017
    Breaking

    Andrew Sinclair
    BBC Look East political correspondent

    Defra says another outbreak of bird flu has been detected in Redgrave near Diss on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. 

    The government department says that while investigating last month's outbreak in the village it found the H5N8 virus at a separate premises.

    Some 55,000 birds will be culled as a precautionary measure while protection and surveilance zones in the area will stay in place. 

  17. 'Science triangle won't suffer' under Brexitpublished at 14:20 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2017

    George Freeman, the Conservative MP for Mid Norfolk, says the hub of scientific research in East Anglia won't suffer as a result of Brexit.

    The former life sciences minister's comments came as the multi-million pound Quadram Institute, external on the Norwich Research Park reached an important stage in its construction yesterday.

    It's aiming to strengthen the life sciences triangle of Norwich, Ipswich and Cambridge, and will house 300 scientists and 100 hospital staff under one roof. They'll be researching food, diet and health, and treating patients.

    Mr Freeman, who voted Remain in last year's referendum previously voiced concerns about the impact of leaving the EU, and spoke after the last foundations were poured for the research centre.

    George Freeman MP
    Quote Message

    To make a success of Brexit we're going to have to be a truly global centre of innovation - that means being open to talent to come into this country and allowing our best scientists, academics and entrepreneurs to travel the world... that will have to be at the heart of our negotiation."

    George Freeman MP, (Con) Mid Norfolk

  18. Ed Sheeran: 'Ipswich Town were the team to follow when I was young' published at 14:03 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2017

    Ed Sheeran watching Norwich City v Ipswich on SundayImage source, Reuters

    Ed Sheeran says Ipswich Town were the "team to follow" when he was growing up - but he also has an allegiance to Chelsea.

    The singer was seen at Carrow Road watching Ipswich Town play Norwich City on Sunday.

    He has told the BBC he grew up as an Ipswich fan, but has split allegiance to Chelsea, who his father supports. 

    "My loyalties aren't super, super strict, but if you were going to say I was something I'd be blue," he said. 

    "When I grew up the team to follow was Ipswich. My dad's a Chelsea fan, and I just enjoy watching the games."

    Ed SheeranImage source, Getty Images

    Sheeran, who lives near Framlingham in Suffolk, said he watched the 1-1 draw with his friends who are "avid Ipswich supporters". 

    "We were in the Norwich section," he said. "When they scored the first goal they all jumped up and then realised where they were, and snuck off to celebrate elsewhere. It was quite funny." 

    Sheeran said he had been to "a lot of Chelsea games and a few Ipswich games". 

    His loyalties, however, are not split when it comes to a potential gig venue. 

    "I would love to play Portman Road," he said. 

    "I don't know when that's going to happen, but it will happen eventually in my career." 

  19. Canaries Friday press conference under waypublished at 13:58 Greenwich Mean Time 3 March 2017

    Norwegian midfielder Alexander Tettey is taking to the media ahead of Norwich City's trip to Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow.

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