The site north-east of Norwich will help the cope with "the predicted peak in coronavirus".

Zoe Applegate
BBC News

A florist from Buckinghamshire has paid tribute to NHS workers with a poignant painting after witnessing "amazing" care of her father.

Image source, Amber Hunt/Ali Hunt

Amber Hunt, from Chesham, took inspiration from Michelangelo's Creation of Adam - painted on the ceiling of Italy's Sistine Chapel - in recreating part of the famous Renaissance image.

The 20-year-old, who studied art and art history at A-level, said the gloved hand represented the NHS workers, with the bare hand symbolising humanity and those receiving help.

Image source, Ali Hunt

Miss Hunt said her father Steve has suffered from leukaemia for five years and been treated at Wycombe Hospital.

"We've been so grateful - the NHS staff have been beyond heroes," she said.

The family has been in self-isolation for more than three weeks due to her father's condition, with reinforced paper used instead of the usual canvas due to the lockdown.

Miss Hunt said she planned to auction her acrylic piece in the coming weeks - we promise to keep you posted!

People are being warned to be on their guard against fraudsters claiming to be from a Suffolk council.

West Suffolk Council said vulnerable people had been asked for their bank details so they could be sent food parcels during the coronavirus pandemic.

But it said people would never be asked by officials to give this information in return for the essentials.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

The 99-year-old Army veteran who hoped to raise £1,000 from completing 100 laps around his garden has now raised more than £2m.

Tom Moore, of Bedfordshire, decided to raise funds for the NHS after it helped him with treatment for cancer and a broken hip.

Ellie Orton from NHS Charities Together, which will benefit from the funds, said the money will be spent on supporting Covid-19 patients, front-line NHS staff and volunteers, resources around hospitals and mental health care for NHS workers and their families.

A police chief says people spitting and coughing on his officers is a "huge worry" in the wake of coronavirus.

Image source, Suffolk Constabulary

The Suffolk Police chief constable's comments came as he revealed that the force's control room received about 150 reports a day during the Easter weekend from callers worried about people breaching the lockdown.

Steve Jutt said many of the calls concerned people having barbecues, going on unnecessarily long walks and congregating in certain areas.

While no officers were attacked while enforcing the government restrictions over the weekend, Mr Jutt said "my officers are still facing people coughing and spitting at them".

"It's a minority but it's a consistent theme and it's a huge worry.

"We have had to deal with this behaviour all the time, but with coronavirus around - and staff having to go home to their families - the strain and concern does take its toll."

However, he said the majority of people had respected the lockdown despite the good weather, with an improvement in the numbers of people across the county heeding advice to stay in.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

One of Europe's biggest skateboard and BMX parks is in danger of closing for good due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Adrenaline Alley in Corby, Northamptonshire, said ongoing costs of about £20,000 a month meant the park could only survive for another three to four months.

A crowdfunding campaign has so far raised more than £1,000 but it said much more was needed.

A letter on the fundraising site said: "The Covid-19 pandemic has created a very uncertain landscape for many UK charities, including us.

"Our current closure due to the outbreak is going to make it very challenging to remain sustainable and ensure we can reopen the doors. Every donation will make a difference in securing our future.

"Our vision is to continue providing a world-leading centre for urban sports and community use that makes a real difference to people's lives. In order to do so we must make it through this difficult time."

Seaside spots around the east coast that would normally be teeming with visitors were eerily quiet as people observed the coronavirus lockdown over the Easter weekend.

Apart from a few residents taking their permitted exercise and giving their dogs a stretch on the sand, popular beaches in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex were almost empty, these aerial pictures show.

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council went as far as publicising a "Don't Visit Southend" campaign before the weekend, urging tourists to stay away to protect the local population.

It thanked people on Twitter for staying at home and said nearly £10m in grants had been paid out to 944 small businesses to try and keep them afloat during the pandemic.

The buses depicting scenes from the teen wizard films will be used by NHS staff instead of tourists.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

The Lord Mayor's Celebration in Norwich, which was due to take place in July, has been cancelled.

Norwich City Council, external said it was not possible to organise the event "due to social distancing guidelines".

Instead of planning the three-day event, members of the council's culture and events team are assisting the Norwich Community Response Hub, which is helping those who are vulnerable during the lockdown.

The Lord Mayor's Celebration was scheduled to take place from Friday 3 July to Sunday 5 July and would have brought free performances and activities to the city centre.

Leader of Norwich City Council, Alan Walters, said: "While it has become inevitable, we are very disappointed that we will be unable to hold this much-loved, free event for Norwich residents this summer.

"The safety of artists, participants, staff and attendees is always central to our events, and this year it is not possible to achieve this while also following important social distancing guidance."

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

Two councils say they need more foster carers to support children during the coronavirus pandemic.

Cambridgeshire County Council, external and Peterborough City Council, external are asking anyone who could support children to get in touch, after the number of people enquiring about becoming carers "dipped".

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Bywater, Cambridgeshire County Council chairman of the Children and Young People Committee, said: "While many of us have family and friends who are there to support us in these difficult times, there are many children and young people across the county who are in need of that support more than ever."

The councils said all carers would receive training, 24-hour access to support and allowances.

Peterborough city councillor Lynne Ayres said teams would adhere to government advice and social distancing rules throughout the application process.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

There has been an increase in fly-tipping after local tips were closed due to coronavirus, Milton Keynes Council, external said.

Following the Easter weekend, a large amount of waste was found fly-tipped in lanes near Hemel Hempstead and Markyate in Hertfordshire.

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Last week four tonnes of rubbish was collected in an operation by Dacorum Borough Council along the A41 in Hertfordshire, which cost £28,000.

Members of the public are being encouraged to report fly-tipping through an app called ClearWaste.

The organiser, Martin Montague, said he would like to see an increase in fines for those who "continually flout the rules".

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Emily Woodger says she is "thankful" after her five-month-old daughter was treated for Covid-19.

At least one dog a day is being dumped in the Fens area of Cambridgeshire since the pandemic, a warden has said.

Caroline Trigg is a dog warden at Fenland District Council, external and also runs Ravenswood Pet Rescue, external, which needs donations to help rescue efforts and buy pet food for owners in need.

Ms Trigg said the council had been called to help 15 dogs since the country went into lockdown, while her group had delivered animal feed to 125 homes.

"We have had a massive increase - we would probably get one or two a week in general," she said.

"I think people are panicking about being able to afford to feed their dogs and vet bills.

"It is really, really sad... unfortunately, sometimes pets come at the bottom of the order of priorities in the family home."

More than 500 Easter eggs that were due to be used during an annual hunt at a wildlife park have been donated to a food bank.

Shepreth Wildlife Park, in Cambridgeshire, said not being able to hold the event was a big loss to the park, but it hoped people would still get pleasure from them.

The park says it needs thousands of pounds to keep it afloat while its doors are locked during the coronavirus pandemic.

Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, external is launching its fastest ever clinical drugs trial to see whether a cancer medicine can help people with Covid-19.

Image source, AstraZeneca

The Cambridge-based company says it is rushing through global testing for Calquence, currently used to treat some blood cancers.

It believes the drug could help to cut deaths from Covid-19 and the need for patients to be put on ventilators.

Covid-19 can trigger an exaggerated immune system response in some patients, increasing harm on the respiratory system.

There have been encouraging early clinical results, the firm said, which suggest that suppressing the inflammation caused by the immune response may reduce coronavirus's respiratory impact.

Trials are due to open in the next few days, with the firm's Jose Baselga saying: "This is the fastest launch of any clinical trial in the history of AstraZeneca."

People across the county appeared to respect the lockdown rules over the bank holiday weekend despite the great weather, councils have said.

Image source, North Norfolk District Council

It was reported to be quiet in Great Yarmouth and along the north Norfolk coast.

North Norfolk District Council leader Sarah Butikofer said the authority is preparing to welcome visitors back when the time is right.

"We have got a team who are working on that constantly... making sure just as soon as we are allowed to get things open again, we are up and running," she said.

"We want to welcome visitors back to north Norfolk just as soon as we can."

Nic Rigby
BBC News

The police and crime commissioner in the UK county of Bedfordshire has set up a £60,000 fund to provide emergency shelter for those fleeing domestic violence during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kathryn Holloway said she set up the fund after learning of increased domestic violence in Wuhan province in China following enforced self-isolation at home.

Many countries have seen an increase in reports of domestic abuse while people are forced to quarantine at home.

"Our message to anyone in such a situation is clear - don't suffer in silence, we are still here for you and will do everything we can to protect you," said Assistant Chief Constable Jackie Sebire.

Domestic abuse can be reported in the UK through a call to 101, or 999 in an emergency.

A park near Cambridge says it has "lost all income required to keep it open as a viable park" because of coronavirus.

Milton Country Park, which is managed by the charity Cambridge Sport Lakes Trust, is trying to raise £10,000 as it says it "receives no regular external funding and its survival is reliant on the support of its users and the activity and events programme it provides".

"We are fighting to remain open to provide a safe green space for people to access, exercise, and take time in while, and if, they are still able," managers say.

While the park areas are still open for people to take exercise, abiding by regulations about social distancing, no events or activities can take place and the cafe and visitor centre are closed.

So far £3,300 has been raised by more than 100 supporters.

Image source, N Chadwick / Geograph

Alex Pope
BBC News Online

A temporary mortuary site has been created in a village to serve two hospitals.

The building, which will have a capacity of up to 1,100, is on Doddington Road on the outskirts of Wollaston.

Northamptonshire County Council, which owns the site, said it was chosen because of its "reasonable distance" from Kettering and Northampton general hospitals.

Leader Matt Golby, said: "We looked at several possible sites and have agreed to go forward with Wollaston, with work already taking place to ensure it will be ready for operation as quickly as possible.

"We know this is a tough time for everyone and it is important that Northamptonshire is prepared for the worst and able to treat the death of any resident with dignity and kindness, and we will do all that we can to make sure bereaved families understand what is happening with their loved ones."

The East of England Ambulance Service will receive 37 armed forces personnel as part of a national plan to help ambulance staff battling coronavirus.

They will assist with tasks including driving and logistics.

Nearly 200 military personnel have been deployed to ambulance trusts across the UK.

Image source, PA Media