Summary

  • Updates on Friday, 13 October 2017

  • 10-year contract to manage Cromer Pier

  • Woman dies in A47 collision

  • Plans to extend NDR 'back on the agenda'

  1. Witness appeal to collision between tractor and motorbikepublished at 10:26 British Summer Time 10 October 2017

    Witnesses to a collision between a motorbike and tractor are being asked to contact Norfolk Police.

    The incident, between a Suzuki Bandit bike and a JCB tractor, happened on the Stibbard Road, Fulmodeston near Fakenham at around 12:00 yesterday.

    The vehicles were travelling in opposite dierctions.

    Emergency services were called to the scene, including the air ambulance.

    The male rider of the motorbike was taken to hospital with serious arm injuries.

  2. Lorry crashes into house near Long Strattonpublished at 10:08 British Summer Time 10 October 2017

    A lorry transporting pigs has crashed into a house near Long Stratton

    It happened at about 06:00 on Gilderswood Lane, Forncett St Peter.

    Neither the people in the house, the lorry driver or the pigs have been injured.

    Police say the road is closed whilst UK Power Networks deal with a overhead power cable which was also brought down in the crash.

    Scene of crashImage source, Norfolk Police
  3. Watton mum to lobby MPs over medicinal use of cannabispublished at 08:32 British Summer Time 10 October 2017

    A mother from Watton, who illegally treated her terminally-ill son with cannabis, is lobbying MPs at the Houses of Parliament today.

    Person using cannabis oilImage source, PA

    Callie Blackwell gave her 14-year-old son Deryn cannabis oil to ease his pain, after he'd undergone four years of treatment for two separate cancers, and he made a remarkable recovery.

    She says there are many other people who've been in their shoes: "When pharmaceutical drugs were killing him, cannabis didn't.

    "You'll see today outside Parliament, there'll be thousands of people there who all use cannabis as their only medicine because pharmaceutical industries have let them down."

    Newport West Labour MP Paul Flynn, external is introducing a 10-minute rule bill calling for medicinal use of cannabis to be legalised, and patients and families are lobbying as well.

  4. Tuesday's weather: Becoming brighter - mainly drypublished at 08:00 British Summer Time 10 October 2017

    Georgina Burnett
    BBC Weather

    There'll be a fair bit of cloud around today.

    There are some mist and fog patches around first thing, but these will clear and we'll see some brightness, and even some sunny spells.

    It will be mainly dry, but there are a few showers coming through. Top temperature: 17C (63F).

    Watch my full forecast for the BBC East region here:

  5. East of England 'has fewest gay people'published at 20:38 British Summer Time 9 October 2017

    The number of people who identify as LGBT in the region is the smallest in the country.

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  6. Ghost claim rejected in sweet shop noticepublished at 20:21 British Summer Time 9 October 2017

    The shop owner says he put up the notice after becoming tired of ghost hunters visiting.

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  7. Abandoned seals released into the wildpublished at 18:54 British Summer Time 9 October 2017

    The seals were rescued after being abandoned by their mothers.

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  8. Man airlifted to hospital after collision near Cromerpublished at 17:09 British Summer Time 9 October 2017

    A motorcyclist, believed to be his 20s, has been airlifted to hospital following a collision in north Norfolk earlier today.

    The NHS East of England Ambulance Service received a call shortly before 12:00 to a report of a collision between a motorbike and tractor on Stibbard Road in Fulmodeston, near Cromer.

    The man was treated for a serious arm injury and airlifted to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital for further treatment.

  9. Case dropped against lewd remark huntsmanpublished at 17:06 British Summer Time 9 October 2017

    Master of the Middleton Hunt Charles Carter had been charged with hunting a wild mammal with dogs.

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  10. Rescue seals returned to the Washpublished at 16:54 British Summer Time 9 October 2017

    Jill Bennett
    BBC Radio Norfolk

    Eight common seals have been released into The Wash after being rescued from Norfolk beaches during the summer.

    Seal in the sea close to the beach

    The pups were looked after by Hunstanton Sealife Centre, external over the summer, but the aim was always to get them back to the wild.

    Robert Pedley, an aquarist at the centre, said: "They're all doing really well, they all came in at roughly the same time, so it's just convenient they've all been released at the same time.

    "They're all just over 25kg (55lbs), which is a good release weight, and basically we release them a little bit fatter than probably what we need to, just so they're out with a 'packed lunch' so to speak.

    "It gives them a couple of days to go and find some food, they can go out together and hunt for the fish that they need."

  11. Govt money aims to 'close social mobility gap'published at 16:25 British Summer Time 9 October 2017

    Andrew Sinclair
    BBC Look East political correspondent

    More on the plans to improve education and social mobility in Norwich, which we mentioned earlier...

    The city was made an Education Improvement Zone last year and is now in line to receiving extra funding and support.

    The local body which will oversee this, the Norwich Opportunity Area Partnership Board, external has now published its plans which will focus on four key areas.

    Primary schools will work together to improve early years' speech and language development. There'll be extra support for children at risk of expulsion and "leadership training" for 90 senior staff within the city.

    The board is also promising that every secondary school child will have access to "four high-quality encounters" with local employers over the next year to encourage them to think about future careers.

    The schools minister Robert Goodwill said: "Children from less privileged backgrounds don’t achieve as well academically or in employment as the average.

    "That gap has been closing, but in areas like Norwich we need to do more.

    "It's not fair that a child's future is often mapped out by the family they're born in to, and not by their abilities"

  12. County council admits mistakes in caring for young peoplepublished at 14:31 British Summer Time 9 October 2017

    A report on BBC One's Inside Out tonight will expose how care leavers are being neglected, and even left cold and hungry, and without a roof over their head.

    Local authorities have to provide support until care leavers are at least 18, if not older.

    But the BBC has found by looking at Ofsted reports that more than half of councils in England have been told they need to improve how they look after care leavers.

    Norfolk County Council has investigated the cases of four young people, and Childrens' Services director Matt Dunkley admits mistakes were made: "There's more we could have done to support those young people in their placement as well as some things that 16 Plus, external [a private company which has had contracts with the council] could have done differently.

    "It's difficult always to get that balance right between oversight and monitoring what they do and keeping them safe at the same time as promoting independence.

    "This is the unregulated sector where almost no local authorities provide for themselves in the country.

    "If we could have the resources to afford for the whole of the sector to be regulated, as children's homes are, I'd be delighted.

    "It's partly about money, [but] it's not all about money."

    Norfolk County Council says it is closely monitoring any teenagers already with 16 Plus, but is yet to place new young people with them.

    16 Plus say they're happy for Norfolk County Council to monitor them on a weekly basis.

  13. King's Lynn signings: 'Everything's fitted in really nicely'published at 13:35 British Summer Time 9 October 2017

    At the King's Lynn Town FC, external press conference on the signings of ex-Norwich players Grant Holt and Simon Lappin, club chairman Stephen Cleave said: "They're probably the two biggest signings the club has ever made. I'm looking forward to the rest of the season."

    Grant Holt, Norwich CityImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Grant Holt scores for the Canaries at Manchester City in 2013

    The pair are rejoining Linnets' manager Ian Culverhouse, who they both know from Norwich City.

    Grant Holt said: "I've had a lot of offers. I've got the opportunity where I can do coaching as well as playing, so everything's fitted in really nicely."

    Simon Lappin said: "I've spoken to Ian over a couple of weeks and we know what to expect and what we're getting with him.

    "If you asked the [Norwich City] group from a few years ago... they'd say the coaching was unbelievable.

    "He's got a good squad together and it's something I'm really looking forward to."

    Simon Lappin of Norwich CityImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Simon Lappin celebrates promotion to The Championship from League One in 2010

    King's Lynn's next match is at home to Hitchin Town tomorrow night in the Evostik League Southern Premier Division, external.

  14. Ex-Norwich stars sign for King's Lynnpublished at 12:53 British Summer Time 9 October 2017

    King's Lynn Town FC have signed the former Norwich players Grant Holt and Simon Lappin.

    Here's the news conference which took place earlier.

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  15. Funding on its way to city to improve opportunities for young peoplepublished at 12:12 British Summer Time 9 October 2017

    Norwich is getting £1m of government money to develop life skills for disadvantaged 11 to 18-year-olds as well as receiving a share of £72m of funding from the Opportunity Area , external(OA) initiative.

    The OA funding is designed to improve links between businesses and education to give young people higher expectations of getting a job.

    Dr Tim Coulson, chair of the Norwich Opportunity Area Partnership Board, external, said: "Norwich is a great place.

    "This plan aims to ensure that every child and young person, regardless of their background, has a successful education and the opportunity to succeed."

  16. Loyle Carner kicks out 'sexist' fan from gigpublished at 11:54 British Summer Time 9 October 2017

    Loyle Carner kicks out a fan after he allegedly shouted sexist comments at a support act.

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  17. F-22 Raptors fly in to Lakenheathpublished at 10:57 British Summer Time 9 October 2017

    The United States Air Force has deployed F-22 Raptors, airmen and associated equipment to RAF Lakenheath for a flying training deployment to conduct air training with other Europe-based US aircraft and NATO allies.

    The aircraft, from Virginia, arrived on Sunday.

    F-22 RaptorImage source, US Air Force
    F-22 Raptor on the runway at LakenheathImage source, US Air Force
  18. Arrest over attempted kidnappublished at 10:41 British Summer Time 9 October 2017

    A man is being questioned in connection with the attempted kidnap of a woman in Norwich on Sunday, police say.

    The victim, who's in her 20s, was walking along Marriott's Way on a section of footpath next to Baker Street between 17:00 and 17:15 when she was approached from behind and grabbed.

    Following a short struggle, the victim managed to escape and the suspect fled in the direction of Drayton.

    Less than an hour later, police say, a man in his 30s was arrested in connection with the incident at an address in Norwich.

    He is being questioned at Wymonday Police Investigation Centre.

  19. MP shares cafes' concernspublished at 10:31 British Summer Time 9 October 2017

    The new 90-seater Costa Coffee shop will open on the site of two former charity shops in Church Street in Cromer.

    It's rattled many independent cafe owners, who are worried the arrival of the high street coffee chain.

    The Chamber of Businesses is backing them, saying it would have a big impact on the character of the town.

    The North Norfolk Lib Dem MP Norman Lamb says he shares the concerns of the traders.

    "I think it's the size and scale of it, a place offering 90 covers... other places could lose businesses and they may not become viable, and these are people whose livelihoods depend on it, if their business closes, they're out of work".

    Two charity shops in Cromer

    North Norfolk District Council says the planning permission given to Costa was in line with its current policies.

    Costa Coffee has declined to comment.

  20. Coffee chain plans cause concern for Cromer cafe ownerspublished at 09:26 British Summer Time 9 October 2017

    Small independent cafe owners in Cromer say they're worried about the impact a new Costa Coffee shop would have on their businesses.

    A 90-seat branch of the national chain is to open soon - and it's the first national restaurant or cafe chain to come to the seaside town.

    Mike Fuhri stands in open doorway of Crab Pot Cafe

    Sarah and Mike Fuhri opened the Crab Pot Cafe in May. Sarah says the Costa will change the character of the town.

    "We want Cromer to be known for what it's always been known for - it's individuality and the different look - you're not going to walk down the High Street and see Costa here, another branded name here and another there."

    Quote Message

    None of us are adverse to development or to progress, but it's important that these things are measured, and we feel the sheer size of Costa coming in is not measured - it's predatory because of its size."

    Sarah Fuhri, Crab Pot Cafe