Summary

  • Updates for Friday, 5 May 2017

  • North Walsham hit-and-run driver jailed for 10 years

  • Conservatives gain control of Norfolk County Council

  • UKIP and the Green Party 'wiped out' of the council

  • Tories win 55 of 84 seats

  1. Our live coverage for todaypublished at 17:58 British Summer Time 5 May 2017

    Nic Rigby
    BBC News

    That's it for the Local Live coverage from the BBC Norfolk team.

    Today we saw the Conservative Party take control of Norfolk County Council and UKIP lose all its seats.

    The election also saw Blur's drummer Dave Rowntree become a councillor.

    We also reported on hit-and-run driver Darren Blackmore being jailed for 10 years after leaving a man with life-changing injuries after mowing him down in a car park last summer. 

    Have a great weekend and we'll be back at 08:00 on Monday.

  2. Tories' vote share in East trumps national averagepublished at 17:55 British Summer Time 5 May 2017

    Deborah McGurran
    BBC East political editor

    These elections have seen UKIP wiped off the county council political map. Most surprisingly, they lost every single seat in Essex, an area that fostered their growth and of course, until recently boasted their only MP. In all they lost 48 seats across the east and now have no representation across its six counties.

    The Conservatives appear to be the beneficiary. They have regained control of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk and strengthened their grip on Essex, Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire.

    Labour held on in some of its heartland seats but suffered elsewhere, particularly in Stevenage and Harlow, where the Conservatives made gains.

    Conservative candidate Dick Madden celebratesImage source, PA

    It was a mixed picture for the Liberal Democrats who lost seats on Essex, Suffolk and Northamptonshire but they made some gains from the Conservatives in Norfolk.

    The Green Party lost their stronghold in Norwich but made a gain in Suffolk where they now hold three county council  seats.

    The vote share from yesterday's local elections confirms that across the east the Conservatives are once again the dominant party.

    With all the votes counted, the Tories share of the vote ranged from 43% in Suffolk and Essex to a staggering 51% in Northamptonshire. The national average appears to be about 38%.

    Labour saw a small surge in support in its traditional heartlands and its average share across the region was 13.7%. But that's way below the national average of 27% and shows how little support the party has in our region.

  3. Possible leadership challenge at Norfolk County Councilpublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 5 May 2017

    Look East Political Correspondent Andrew Sinclair is hearing rumours of a possible leadership challenge to Norfolk County Council Conservative group leader Cliff Jordan - following the Tory victory:

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  4. Norfolk's share of Conservative vote higher than national averagepublished at 17:29 British Summer Time 5 May 2017

    In Norfolk, the Conservative party gained 114,038 votes in yesterday's local elections - 48.74% of the vote.

    It's higher than the national projected vote share for the Tories, which stands at 38%.

    The projected national share figures are what the share of the vote would be if all parts of Britain had local elections and had voted in the same way as Thursday's English County Council elections.  

  5. Norwich band Sink Ya Teeth releasing singlepublished at 17:25 British Summer Time 5 May 2017

    Nic Rigby
    BBC News

    A Norwich band Sink Ya Teeth, external supported by BBC Norfolk Introducing has secured a record contract and is releasing a single.

    Sink Ya TeethImage source, Sink Ya Teeth

    The single If You See Me, which has already been played on BBC Radio 6 Music and championed by DJ Steve Lamacq, is being released by 1965 Records, external -  a label that discovered The View.

    The record is being launched at a gig at the Norwich Arts Centre, external on 31 May.

    Gary Standley, producer of BBC Norfolk Introducing, said: "Sink Ya Teeth have produced an amazing electro beat track that shows this band is really going places and getting noticed."

    The band is made up of Maria Uzor and Gemma Cullingford (pictured) who have both been long-time members of Norwich’s vibrant music scene, partnering up 18 months ago to form Sink Ya Teeth.

    Their influences range from Grace Jones to Nina Simone and Howlin’ Wolf.

    “I’m interested in the human experience,” Maria, Sink Ya Teeth’s lead vocalist, explains.“Particularly through a lens of desire and regret.”

  6. Road crash on A47 at Scarningpublished at 17:19 British Summer Time 5 May 2017

    Police have been called to a serious road traffic accident the A47 in Scarning.

    Officers were called shortly before 15:00 today to reports of a collision involving a car and lorry on Grange Road at the junction of Manor Road.

    The road has been closed while emergency services are in attendance and is likely to be for some time. 

    Diversions have been put in place and motorists are being urged to find alternative routes where possible. 

  7. Weather: Mild tonight, cloudy and cooler tomorrowpublished at 17:19 British Summer Time 5 May 2017

    Alex Dolan
    BBC Look East weather

    This evening it will be staying mostly fine with some areas of cloud at times. One or two spots of drizzle possible overnight, but staying mild.

    Winds will be moderate, with lows of 7C (45F).

    Weather map

    It will be a rather cloudy start to the day tomorrow. Generally cloudier than today with some brighter spells, but feeling cooler.

    Winds light to moderate and highs of 10C (50F) on the coast and 14C (57F) inland.

    There's more at BBC Weather.

  8. Hit-and-run driver jailed for 10 yearspublished at 16:34 British Summer Time 5 May 2017

    Darren Blackmore was high on drugs and talking on his phone at the time of the crash, a court hears.

    Read More
  9. North Walsham hit and run: 'Shocking' crash could have been deadly, say policepublished at 16:24 British Summer Time 5 May 2017

    Police have echoed a judge's comments following the sentencing of a driver to 10 years in jail after a man was seriously injured in a hit-and-run crash.

    Victim struck by carImage source, Norfolk Police

    Judge Mark Dennis said people could easily have been killed in the incident, as he passed sentence on Darren Blackmore.

    Det Insp Matt Dyson, of Norfolk police, external, agreed the "shocking crime" could have had "fatal consequences".

    "The very serious deliberate act was most likely due to a relatively minor matter earlier the evening before, a matter that the victim and his friends had no part in. 

    "We hope the sentencing provides some comfort for the victim,” he said.

    Archive: Police release CCTV footage in appeal

  10. UKIP loses 12 seats in county electionpublished at 16:20 British Summer Time 5 May 2017

    UKIP loses all its 12 seats on Norfolk County County as the Conservatives regain control.

    Read More
  11. North Walsham hit-and-run: 'Never able to explain its impact', says victimpublished at 15:54 British Summer Time 5 May 2017

    Zoe Applegate
    BBC News

    The victim of the North Walsham hit-and-run crash suffered "extensive" injuries and now has a permanent limp, Norwich Crown Court heard earlier today.

    Darren BlackmoreImage source, Norfolk Police

    Matthew Knowles, 30, was left with a fractured pelvis, leg and shattered kneecap after being thrown high into the air when he was driven at by Darren Blackmore last summer.

    In a victim impact statement, the father-of-one said it was initially thought he might not walk for a year although he can now get around with the help of splints.

    Before the crash Mr Knowles said his life was "simple and happy"... and he would "never be able to explain the impact".

    Despite living in the town, he has been unable to return to the scene of the crash, prosecutor Stephen Mather told the court.

  12. Rooting out the next generationpublished at 15:24 British Summer Time 5 May 2017

    #GetInspired

    Kids playing All Stars CricketImage source, ECB

    Know any young children who might be interested in having a go at cricket?

    Now's the time to get them involved with the England & Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) grassroots programme for five- to eight-year-olds called All Stars Cricket.

    All Stars Cricket is an eight-week course that is being introduced in May through local cricket clubs and centres, offering youngsters a first experience of the sport.  

    Sign up here, external and children will receive a backpack of cricket gear. 

  13. North Walsham hit-and-run: 'Pure chance all three men not killed'published at 15:04 British Summer Time 5 May 2017

    As we've just reported, hit-and-run driver Darren Blackmore has been jailed for 10 years after leaving a man with life-changing injuries after mowing him down in a car park last summer.

    The victim being thrown into the air by a carImage source, PA

    Victim Matthew Knowles, 30, was out with two friends in the early hours of 23 July when he was hit in the Vicarage Street car park.

    Judge Mark Dennis told Blackmore that it was "pure chance all three were not killed".

    In summing up, Judge Dennis said it was a "gratuitous act of violence by you of three innocent people... defenceless, unaware, unable to protect themselves.

    "You used the car as a weapon."

  14. Blur drummer elected to council seatpublished at 14:48 British Summer Time 5 May 2017

    Dave Rowntree held the seat for Labour with 1,173 of the 1,997 votes cast.

    Read More
  15. North Walsham hit-and-run car park driver sentenced to 10 years in prisonpublished at 14:45 British Summer Time 5 May 2017

    Tim Addicott
    BBC Radio Norfolk

    A motorist who drove into a group of people - throwing one man up into the air and leaving him with a broken pelvis - has been jailed for 10 years.

    Darren BlackmoreImage source, Norfolk Police

    The victim suffered multiple fractures and now has a permanent limp after being struck in the hit-and-run in a car park in North Walsham last year.

    Darren Blackmore, 44, formerly of Cantley Lane, Norwich, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

    Norwich Crown Court heard he was high on drugs and talking on his phone at the time of the crash, which was caught on CCTV.

  16. Tory council leader 'very pleased' with county resultspublished at 14:38 British Summer Time 5 May 2017

    The Conservatives have regained control of Norfolk County Council, winning 55 out 84 seats.

    Leader Cliff Jordan said he was "very pleased" with the results.

    Cliff Jordan

    "It’s justification of the hard work the Conservatives have done over the last two years and particularly the last year," he told BBC Radio Norfolk.

    "I always thought we’d do well because there’s a culture of work it out bottom up - not top down - and we are genuinely listening.

    "We’re going to deliver our manifesto – that is a contract between us and the public – they can hold us to account on that."

  17. 'Impressive' turnout across Norfolkpublished at 13:53 British Summer Time 5 May 2017

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  18. All done in Norfolk... here's how things lookpublished at 13:37 British Summer Time 5 May 2017

    Election map for NorfolkImage source, Norfolk County Council

    The main headlines:

    • The Conservatives have taken control of Norfolk County Council
    • UKIP and the Green Party have been wiped out, and no longer have any seats on the council
    • The Liberal Democrats gained seats in the north, and Labour in Norwich
    • But the Tories won 55 out of the 84 seats
  19. Conservatives gain control of Norfolk County Councilpublished at 13:28 British Summer Time 5 May 2017
    Breaking

    The Conservatives have gained control of Norfolk, after winning 44 of 84 seats so far, with some divisions still to declare.

  20. UKIP 'wiped out' in Norfolkpublished at 13:27 British Summer Time 5 May 2017

    Our political correspondent for Look East tweets...

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