Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

A virtual reality headset which puts you in the centre of a car crash is being trialled in Norfolk to try and cut down on car crashes among young drivers.

Image source, Norfolk Police

Twenty headsets have been bought at a cost of £500 each and will be taken into sixth forms and colleges as part of an accident prevention programme being run by the Police and Crime Commissioner's, external Office and Norfolk's fire service.

The goggles have already been used effectively by Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service who will be assisting Norfolk colleagues at the Royal Norfolk Show, external tomorrow where the pubic can try them out.

Boom - it's already noisy at the Norfolk Showground where preparations are under way for this year's Royal Norfolk Show, external which opens tomorrow.

BBC Look East cameraman Shaun Whitmore captured the King's Troop testing salutes a little earlier.

The show is the country's largest two day agricultural event; more from the showground later.

We'll have more from the showground a little later in the day.

Richard Haugh
BBC Introducing

Days after wowing the Park Stage at Glastonbury, The Flaming Lips made their way to the more intimate surroundings of the UEA last night.

Having witnessed their stunning stage show on TV, I wondered how this could possibly be scaled down in Norwich.

Well, Jonathan Barnes was there, and writes....

Image source, Jonathan Barnes

I was explaining to my kids this morning that I went to a gig last night where I had to get out of the way so the singer could get past on a pink unicorn.

There were glitter cannons, giant bouncing balls, 10ft cartoon characters and an inflatable rainbow, I told them. They either thought I was going mad or wondered why they weren’t invited.

I would’ve had to cover their eyes, though, for a giant balloon structure the band passed out into the crowd read ‘F*** YEAH NORWICH’.

The Flaming Lips seem to have been around forever but they show no signs of getting any less bizarre, and they must be more entertaining than ever.

Visually, last night’s show at the UEA was the most incredible gig I can recall. Musically, it was spot-on too.

Image source, Jonathan Barnes

And a word for the stage crew, who had to install, inflate and arrange various props and costumes for virtually every song.

Singer Wayne Coyne's premier party piece, climbing inside an inflatable bubble to run out into the audience, accompanied a cover of David Bowie’s Space Oddity.

It was just one highlight of an extraordinarily strange, spectacular show.

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

Arts and cultural organisations in Norfolk are to get millions in Arts Council England, external investment over the next four years.

Image source, Georgraph/Micheal Dibb

Seven arts bodies in the county will receive a total of £17,057,092 over the period - that's an average increase of £226,581 per year compared to the awards given five years ago.

The organisations to benefit are:

• Creative Arts East - £600,000
• Curious Directive - £359,272
• Norfolk and Norwich Festival Trust - £5.2m

• Norfolk Museums Service - £6.5m
• Norwich Arts Centre - £728,284
• The Seachange Trust - £1.5m
• Writers' Centre Norwich - £1.9m

Included in the funding for the Seachange Trust and the Writers’ Centre Norwich is an amount for special projects with Seachange getting £90,000 for the development of established and emerging artists and £32,000 for the Writers’ Centre to set up a national translation programme.

Hedley Swain, from Arts Council England, said: "We are delighted to increase our investment in Norfolk.

"All of our National Portfolio organisations will play an essential role in reaching more people, developing local, national and international talent, and making where they’re based great places to live, work and visit."

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

Norfolk and Suffolk's mental health trust is in the top five in the country for sending patients out of area for care.

Image source, PA

Last year more than 350 adult mental health patients were sent out of the county for treatment by the Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (NSFT).

The figures come from the British Medical Association (BMA) which revealed the practice has seen a 40% increase nationally.

Dr Andrew Molodynski, of the BMA, said: "The government needs to get a handle on this situation because patients are being routinely failed by a system at breaking point with tragic consequences.

"Being sent long distances for treatment has an impact on patients' care and recovery."

Ministers have pledged to eliminate "inappropriate out-of-area placements" for mental health patients by 2020-21.

The NSFT said it was a "priority" for them to reduce such placements.

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

Any unsafe cladding will be removed from a tower block in Norwich, the chief executive of Broadland Housing Group says - but there's a need about safe alternative materials.

Four years ago the cladding on Brennan Bank, on Norwich's riverside, was given a safety score of zero - but tests carried out over the weekend now give the covering a less fire safe rating of three.

Michael Newey, from the housing group, says: "I've got certification saying that the cladding is about the safest you can put on a building. We're confused about what testing the government has done.

"We're asking them for clarity and we're hoping to get that today or tomorrow. If they've dismantled the panel and just tried to get hold of the glue that holds the aluminium sides together then it's no great surprise the glue on it's own is combustible."

Five buildings, comprising of more than 170 flats in Norwich, are confirmed to have the cladding which has been connected to the deadly London blaze but only one is run by Broadland Housing Group, external.

The other four blocks contain privately owned flats and were developed by Taylor Wimpey who in a statement said: "The safety of residents is our number one priority.

"We took immediate and expert advice from Norfolk Fire and Rescue and Norwich City Council who have reassured us that it is safe for residents to remain in their homes, based on the building design and robust fire safety procedures already in place."

Tim Sparrow
BBC Radio Norfolk

Parents of children with autism say their future is under threat if a specialist unit at a school in Norwich is closed.

Image source, Google

The Open Academy on Salhouse Road is considering shutting the department which supports children to stay in mainstream education.

It says they're struggling to get enough staff for the specialist resource base (SRB).

Chris Hole lives in Stalham with his son, Hugo, who has a high-functioning form of autism.

He says Hugo has blossomed since attending the Open Academy.

"His attendance is near perfect. His grades are at least at expectation and in many cases are above average, that is entirely due to the SRB, external."

He added: "The thought of that now being taken away and him going back to the sort of situation where he has incredible difficulty in accessing mainstream education is frankly horrific."

In a statement the Open Academy, external group said: "It's important to remember that no decision has been made so far and that the views of parents are being sought to inform the consultation process."

Rob Butler
BBC Radio Norfolk sport

Norwich City's Jacob Murphy (pictured) could be called upon to start for England this afternoon as the Under 21's take on Germany in the semi-finals of the European Championship.

Former Canary Nathan Redmond faces a fitness test this morning after picking up an injury during the win over hosts Poland in the last of the group games.

After replacing Redmond, Murphy went on to score - helping seal the Young Lions place at the top of their group.

Image source, Getty Images

It's a rather cloudy start with rain moving in.

There will be one or two showers around and they are going to continue throughout the morning.

In the afternoon, the heavier rain arrives, coming up from the south and the west.

Highs of 18C (64F).

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

Good morning from the team who are here to bring you the county's latest news, sport, weather and travel as they happen.

If you have a story do get in touch by clicking the "Get involved" icon at the top of the stream.

The weather is up next with Kate Kinsella and it looks like we might finally be getting a proper dousing of the wet stuff.

Thanks to our Weather Watcher Hopping Frog who was up very early to capture this gloious picture of the sunrise.

Image source, -

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

That's it from the Norfolk Live team on a bright and breezy Monday.

We'll be back from 08:00 tomorrow, bringing you the news, sport, travel and weather updates as they happen.

Today we covered the investigation into blocks of flats after one of them in Norwich failed a fire safety test carried out in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy in London.

We also looked at how proposed county council budget cuts over the next four years could impact on jobs.

It was also revealed today that permanent exclusions at schools across the county are set to reach record levels for a second year.

Just scroll down for details of these and other stories.

We are always pleased to hear from you and you can contribute to the news coverage at any time via the "Getting involved" button at the top of the page.

Image source, Geograph: N Chadwick

An independent inquiry is to be launched into how the University of East Anglia mistakenly emailed hundreds of students intimate and sensitive personal information about dozens of fellow undergraduates.

Earlier in the month it was revealed that details of health problems, family bereavements and personal issues were sent by the UEA to 298 students.

Vice-chancellor Prof David Richardson today emailed students to say the UEA Council, the university's governing body, had "endorsed the commissioning of an independent inquiry".

"This will be conducted by the university's auditors PWC, who will begin their work shortly and aim to complete it by the end of July," he wrote.

"The inquiry will extend beyond the specific incident itself and cover areas such as the institution's systems, culture and management.

"Both the executive team and council are treating this issue extremely seriously, and the timetable in place means that outcomes of the investigation can be implemented by the beginning of the 2017-18 academic year.

"I would like to reiterate my sincere apologies to anyone affected by the incident, and want to reassure you that we will take all steps necessary to improve the university's data handling processes going forward."

Dan Holley
BBC Look East weather

Most places will stay dry tonight as temperatures dip to 10C (50F) in a light easterly breeze.

Tomorrow will start mainly bright but much of the day will be cloudy with showery outbreaks of rain developing.

Some heavy bursts are expected later, with perhaps a rumble of thunder. It will feel humid in a mostly light easterly breeze.

Maximum temperature: 21C (70F).

More details from BBC Weather.

BBC Sport

Canaries midfielder Ebou Adams is set to join Shrewsbury Town on a six-month loan.

Image source, Norwich City FC

Adams helped City's Under-23s reach two cup semi-finals last season and had a very strong end to the campaign.

Norwich City FC academy manager Richard Money said: "We think this is Ebou's best opportunity to get games under his belt in senior football until January.

"It's a really good loan - Shrewsbury are a good club and Paul Hurst is a good manager and someone who I know really well."

Shrewsbury Town sign Reading defender Zak Jules for an undisclosed fee and Ebou Adams on loan from Norwich.

BBC Weather Watchers

After spectacular early morning cloud across the county its skies turned different shades of blue as our BBC Weather Watchers pictures show.

Image source, Harlestonian

Image source, Charlie MB

Image source, Hopping Frog

The day began dry and warm but in many places those searing blue skies clouded over, producing hazy sunshine.

It will remain mild overnight with temperatures staying in double figures.

Minimum temperature: 12C (54F).

More details from BBC Weather:

Norfolk County Council said 290 pupils were excluded in 2015-16.

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

I have been speaking to the Broadland Housing Association, which is the landlord of Brennan Bank, a six-storey block of flats in a development near the Norwich City football ground where a sample of cladding has failed a fire safety test at the Building Research Establishment.

The problem material is believed to be aluminium composite, which is flammable and has been found in 60 high-rise buildings across the country, many in London where some councils are removing it.

There are eight or nine high-rise blocks in Norwich but none has the problem cladding. Brennan Bank was built four years ago and there are four other similar blocks of flats nearby.

The fire service, Broadland Housing and city council met over the weekend and decided there was no need to evacuate any of these buildings.

Because they were only six-storeys high it would be relatively easy for residents to get out and for firefighters to tackle the flames in the case of a fire.

The buildings were also well built with many fire safety features, they said.

But as a precaution a fire warden would be on duty in the blocks at all times, vehicles were removed from the car parks underneath the flats and if there is an incident more fire engines than normal would be sent.

The city council and the housing association said they were confident these measures would keep residents safe.

But no long-term solution has yet been discussed and only social housing has been looked at. Norfolk has a lot of private rented properties and hotel group Premier Inn is looking at its estate. What about hospitals and other buildings in the county?

There is bound to be considerable debate and discussion about aluminium composite used in construction after the Grenfell Tower disaster, but the material is compliant with current building regulations.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

Schools could be excluding pupils for minor disruptive behaviour leading to some missing out on education, a report to a county council committee reveals.

The report to Norfolk County Council from the interim executive director of children's services reveals high levels of exclusions and outlines how the problem is being tackled.

It says: "Norfolk schools were not pursuing permanent exclusion as a last resort but instead were using it as a mechanism for fairly low level behavioural issues."

The BBC has established that more than 140 of those affected have not been found places in schools for excluded pupils, with many being tutored through the internet and two-hour private lessons at home.

Des Reynolds, chief executive of the Engage Trust, head of the Short Stay Schools in Norfolk, which finds places for excluded students, said: "Currently the system for providing places for challenging and vulnerable children is under an enormous amount of pressure and there is a shortage of places.

"If children and young people are not in school that places them in a detrimental position.

"It's very important that the authorities work together to find a solution."

He said the increase in exclusions was due to cuts in school budgets and pressure to boost school results.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

More than 140 children in Norfolk are going without a school education because of record levels of exclusions, the BBC can reveal.

The county council report says the record number of exclusions from schools in 2015-16 (290 pupils) is predicted to be repeated in 2016-17.

Many excluded pupils are found places in short stay specialist schools which are experiencing a high demand for places.

The 140 plus who cannot get a place are often taught online in their homes or receive two-hour periods of private tuition daily.

The report to Norfolk County Council's children's services committee outlines how the council is trying to tackle the problem.

The council said it was funding extra school places but many of the excluded youngsters ended up waiting at home for places in short-stay schools, according to the report.