The chief executive of a troubled mental health trust announces his retirement.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

Mental health campaigners have welcomed the decision of the head of the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS mental health trust to stand down.

Michael Scott has announced his decision to retire from his role as chief executive of Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT).

Image source, NHS

The trust was placed in special measures by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in February 2015 but taken out in October 2016.

Mr Scott's decision comes ahead of a new CQC report.

In a statement the trust said Julie Cave, NSFT deputy chief executive and director of finance, will become interim chief executive until further notice.NSFT chairman, Gary Page, said: "We have recently undergone our third CQC inspection and as we await the inspection report, Michael feels now is the appropriate time for a new leader to take forward the recommendations that will follow in order to continue to improve our Trust.

"It has been a privilege to work with someone of Michael’s calibre and integrity, and we wish him a well-deserved retirement."

On announcing his retirement he said: "The role of chief executive is one where there is always important work to lead, challenge to overcome and improvements to drive ahead, and I feel the time is now right for a new leader to take on that mantle."I will remain committed to the NHS."

A spokesman for the Campaign to Save Mental Health Services in Norfolk and Suffolk said: "We have long been calling for a new board and management culture at NSFT which puts patients and carers first and foremost and genuinely engages with front line staff."

He said the retirement "could represent the beginning of an opportunity to turn around mental health services in Norfolk and Suffolk".

Nic Rigby
BBC News

The chief executive of a troubled mental health trust, which came out of special measures in October last year, is standing down.

Michael Scott, of the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) has announced his retirement.

The trust was placed in special measures by the Care Quality Commission in February 2015, but taken out in October 2016.

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

The Prime Minister has insisted that the region's police forces are well-funded, despite several of our forces expressing concerns over the past few weeks.

In an interview with Look East ahead of the Conservative party conference, Theresa May said: "We took a decision to protect police funding, the Labour party said police forces could take 10% cuts to their funding but we said we're going to protect that funding and that's what we've done."

Police constables and police and crime commissioners in Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire have warned that they will struggle to fund a 1% pay bonus for police officers, but the prime minister appeared to dismiss their concerns.

"It's up to individual police forces how they choose to address the issue of that police bonus," Mrs May said. "I think what's important for officers is that the government respected the decision which the police pay review body came forward with."

When told that some forces had warned they may have to make cuts, the prime minister said: "It is up to the police and crime commissioners how they wish to deal with this issue but I'm clear that there are reserves available to police forces around the country."

This reply may not go down well with some of our forces. Essex claims to have the lowest reserves of any force in the country, while Norfolk says it is already running a deficit of £9m.

Katherine Holloway, the police and crime commissioner for Bedfordshire, recently told Look East that she expected to be out of money within 18 months.

A newly imposed mobile phone ban at Reepham High School has attracted attention from abroad.

A French TV news crew has been at the north Norfolk school today, to see how the ban is working out.

Pupils can have smart phones to and from school, but once there they have to be switched off and out of sight - or they'll be confiscated.

The school says it's to promote learning and pupil well-being, and the result of numerous instances of inappropriate use of phones.

It's down to teachers and prefects to ensure mobile phones aren't used on school grounds.

Loic de La Mornais, of France Televisions, says it could be implemented very well in schools in rural areas of France, but it could be more difficult in the suburbs of Paris.

Andrew Turner
BBC Radio Norfolk

The head of a primary school in Great Yarmouth is back at work after being suspended following an alleged row in a pub.

Kimberly Morton, who's in charge of Cobham Academy, external, was suspended after a complaint was made about an incident at the Quay Pride bar in Great Yarmouth.

An altercation was said to have taken place at around 22:00 on Friday 8 September shortly after a cabaret act went on.

At the time, James Goffin, a spokesman for The Inspiration Trust, which runs the academy, said it had received a complaint, triggering the immediate suspension of Ms Morton.

He said the suspension was routine, to allow it to investigate, and the matter was not being looked at by police.

The Inspiration Trust says the principal is now back at work, but says it will not comment on the outcome of its investigation.

It said it was an internal HR matter and no further details would be given.

Caroline Kingdon
BBC Local Live

Work on a £10m refurbishment of a holiday park in Hemsby is due to begin in November.

Planning permission was recently granted to the Richardson's holiday company for the 45 acre site on Beach Road. The current park will close after the half-term holiday.

Image source, Paul Robinson Partnership

Greg Munford, chief executive of the Stalham-based business, told me: "We are very excited to be putting a spade in the ground, and starting the demolition in the first week of November."

Image source, Paul Robinson Partnership

Once complete, the holiday development will house more than 400 lodges, bungalows, caravans and chalets.

The site will also include a leisure complex, restaurant, and sports facilities.

Image source, Paul Robinson Partnership

The park is scheduled to reopen on Good Friday, 30 March 2018.

Paul Roberts was found guilty of assault after being filmed punching a passenger.

A clip of Paul Roberts and a passenger exchanging blows was shared extensively on Twitter.

Norfolk's Police and Crime Commissioner Lorne Green has given £90,000 to the local charity Break, external, in a bid to stop young people becoming offenders.

It's a three-year grant to support young people people coming out of care with steps to independence.

Break spokeswoman Rachel Cowdry said the grant helped the charity provide more intensive support to care leavers, particularly those that are more vulnerable to being drawn into offender behaviour.

Andrew Turner
BBC Radio Norfolk

Historic England says it will look into an application to list an art deco pub in Great Yarmouth.

The Iron Duke, on North Drive, was built by Lacons Brewery in the 1940s but has been closed for several years.

Many of its original features are intact, with some of the woodwork reputedly from a Royal Navy ship which took part in the Battle of Jutland.

After concerns that it may be demolished, Caroline Jones, who lives in Gorleston, applied to Historic England for it to be listed.

"We've lost too many buildings over the years and this would be one too many," she said. "Historic England are doing a full investigation, and hopefully the building might be able to be preserved and bought by somebody who'll bring it back to life."

Cromer is losing two of its banks, and a third is cutting its opening hours.

Santander is shutting its branch in Church Street today (pictured), and Barclays is following suit in December.

Both say that fewer people are using the branches they are closing, and they're investing more in internet banking.

Lloyds says it is only going to open three days a week. It leaves Nat West and HSBC open full-time in the town.

Gary Dickenson, president of the Cromer Chamber of Trade, says some small businesses will feel the effects of the closures.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

The RSPCA in Norfolk is appealing for people to donate towels to help with the care of animals like seals, hedgehogs and ducklings.

The East Winch Wildlife Centre currently gets through more than 10,000 towels a year.

Each time a seal in the centre's isolation unit receives food or medication, it has to be wrapped in a fresh towel to prevent the spread of disease.

Image source, RSPCA

Hedgehogs also get through a fair amount of towels, and often face cloths are used to keep them warm and comfortable.

Alison Charles, centre manager at East Winch, said: "While the towel might just seem like a common everyday item for many people, for us they are like gold dust and are really important for our day-to-day work at the centre.

"Sadly though, the generous supplies we have been given have dried up, so I am once again calling on the help of the kind-hearted residents of Norfolk and further afield to donate their unwanted towels."

Image source, RSPCA

The charity say the towels do not need to be new, so any old towels that may be of no use would be perfectly suitable for the animals

There are a number of collection points in the local area, including Tesco stores in Swaffham, Dereham and on the King's Lynn Hardwick Estate.

Donations can also be placed in a special yellow bin outside the wildlife centre on Gayton Road, East Winch.

People living on a main road in North Walsham say they've had enough of speeding traffic outside their houses.

Aylsham Road has no footpaths in places and parents of children in the road had resorted to chalking warnings to drivers on the road surface.

Now a concerted campaign has been launched with most houses along the road displaying mock 20mph speed limit signs. The current speed limit is 30mph.

Residents and neighbours have gathered there with signs in a demonstration of feeling.

Elaine Addison, who lives nearby and is a member of North Walsham Town Council, said: "The traffic really does thunder down this road morning, noon and night."

Norfolk County Council said the road had a very low injury accident record.

But a spokesman added: "However, we share their concerns about the lack of a footway and with this in mind, we are meeting a residents' group next week and are happy to work with them to look at ways to reduce speed along this road and to consider options for funding any possible scheme."

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

The journalist and broadcaster Janet Street-Porter has defended a strict head teacher of a new academy in Great Yarmouth.

Ms Street-Porter has written a column in the Independent, external backing Barry Smith's strict rules introduced this term at Great Yarmouth Charter Academy and criticising parents who object to them.

Under previous leaderships the school had the worst set of exam results in the county.

A Facebook, external page set up by the parents has seen criticism over "draconian" rules that forbid slouching, talking in corridors and dictate strict bedtimes.

About 20 children have been withdrawn from the school since it opened on 6 September.

Ms Street-Porter says the head should be supported and parents themselves are in need of some of the head's discipline.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

Police say a lot of money has been stolen from a building society in Hunstanton.

It was taken during a raid at Nationwide on Greevegate. Witnesses say they heard a loud bang and an alarm just after 02:20 today.

When police arrived on the scene they found the cash machine at the front of the building was badly damaged and thieves had got inside.

Image source, Paul Tibbs

While it's not clear how much was taken, officers believe a large of amount of cash was stolen

Police are appealing for anyone who saw anything suspicious to get in touch with them.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

Quidditch team the Norwich Nifflers, external are on the lookout for new players.

The team are hosting a taster session for anyone who is keen to find out a bit more about the sport, which originated in the Harry Potter books.

Image source, QuidditchUK/Rowena Haigh

The formerly fictional sport has grown in popularity recently, with more than 40 teams in the UK.

The Norwich Nifflers qualified for the British Cup last season, and are hoping to boost their success this year.

A quidditch match involves two teams of seven players, all with brooms between their legs, aiming to score as many points as possible.

Image source, QuidditchUK/Rowena Haigh

Players can score points by throwing the "quaffle", or volleyball, through the opposition's hoops; hitting members of the other team with "bludgers", or dodgeballs; and catching the "golden snitch", a tag attached to a person's shorts.

The Quidditch taster session will take place on Sunday 1 October, at Earlham Park, Norwich, from 13:00.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

Families in Thetford say they're "disgusted" at mementoes being removed from the town's cemetery.

Thetford Town Council says it took items such as like vases and toys from the London Road cemetery because the site had become "cluttered".

Relatives found letters placed on graves saying personal items needed to be removed.

Cheryl Lawson, whose mother is buried in the cemetery, said the council's actions were "disrespectful".

"I'm very angry, as a lot of people are," she said.

"It's hurtful because it's a way to express your grief.

"It's my mum's birthday next month and I was told that I won't be allowed to put a balloon here. I was told it would look unkempt and messy."

Mayor Denis Crawford said there was room on plinths for families to leave mementos but that the council had to be firm when things were placed around plots.

"The problem arises when people start moving items into the grass areas," he said.

"We have to maintain these areas and it's difficult if you're trying to mow the grass and there are items down there."

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

The number of babies being born by elected and emergency Caesarean sections in the East of England has risen by 18% and 5.8% respectively in the past five years.

The combined figure is twice the national average.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in King's Lynn has the biggest rise in the number of C-sections, up by 72%.

It's followed by Peterborough and Luton hospitals, where the number of total Caesareans has increased by 52% and 47% respectively.

Rising obesity and older mothers are behind the rise, according to both the Royal College of Midwives, external and the Royal College of Obstetricians, external.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn is unique among hospitals ranked in the top 10 for increased elective C-sections in that it had an overall reduction in births over five years.

In 2011-12, 148 mothers had elected Caesareans, out of 2,332 births.

By 2015-16, that number was 255 out of 2,300 births - an increase of 72%.

It's National Fitness Day with plenty of fitness centres putting on free taster sessions or open days.

All you need to do to get involved is type in your local postcode into the National Fitness Day activity finder, external and see what's available near you.

Image source, UK Active

If you're still not sure, we've put together five suggestions for you.