Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

As Northamptonshire's chief constable announced that his force was "upping its enforcement activity" because people continued to flout social distancing regulations, Northampton neighbourhood police officers were checking open spaces.

They have thanked people in Upton and Hunsbury for staying home, as their video shows a pretty empty-looking green area.

Chief Constable Nick Adderley said that the "three-week grace period is over" and fines of £60 will be issued to those who breach the rules.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Cambridgeshire online library services have been proving popular during the Covid-19 crisis.

The county council said that more people than ever before were accessing the online offerings and social media channels, with more than 39,000 visiting its Facebook page in the last week alone - an increase of 522%.

Image source, Google

The library online events timetable has also been viewed by more than 10,000 people and, due to demand, the service has created a weekly online rhyme-time, daily Twitterchats and webinars.

Councillor Steve Criswell said: "With Easter coming up, the inclusion of free Ancestry and Find My Past services, along with our usual eBook, eMagazine, eAudiobook and eNewspapers offering, which is available to access free of charge, mean everyone can be sure to find something to read or explore this coming weekend."

Image source, Long Melford FC

A Suffolk junior football club has named the NHS its Player of the Year.

Long Melford Colts and Fillies FC donated the £1,000 it would normally spend on trophies for the end-of-season celebrations to frontline NHS workers instead.

Club chair Rob Bowden said: "Nick Marlow, our under-13s manager, came up with the idea and our management committee unanimously agreed.

"We know clubs up and down the country are already doing a lot to support their local communities, but we hope it's an idea which might catch on."

Two people have been jailed - and two others fined - for breaching coronavirus restrictions after a supermarket theft in King's Lynn.

The four, all from Peterborough, were arrested after reports of shoplifting at the Sainsbury's store on the Hardwick Industrial Estate on Monday evening.

They admitted the offences and appeared at Norwich Magistrates' Court for sentencing via video link.

Image source, Google

Scarlett Harvey, 29, of Eastern Avenue was found guilty of theft, drug possession and breaching movement restrictions and breaking a community order. She was jailed for 13 weeks.

Anton Oakley, 31, of Redmile Walk, was jailed for 14 weeks for a number of drug and driving offences.

Junior Modest, 46, of Crabtree, was found guilty of theft and breaching movement restrictions. He was fined £317 and given a community order.

Tanveer Bashir, 39, of Gladstone Street was also convicted of breaching movement restrictions and was fined a total of £317.

A Norfolk couple have spoken of how they have "fallen through the gaps" and are struggling to make ends meet during the coronavirus lockdown.

Self-employed roofer Ben Cuss and his wife Annie, from Wymondham, Norfolk, have seen their earnings plummet from £3,000 a month to less than £100 a week.

Their story will be familiar to countless households.

Mr Cuss is waiting to "sign on" for Universal Credit, while his wife, a care worker who is expecting the couple's first child, is on statutory sick pay during the lockdown.

"We weren't splashing out on niceties, just living comfortably with a little bit put by for a rainy day," Mr Cuss told the BBC.

"Everyone's in the same boat. It's hard."

Pete Cooper
BBC News

Brixworth Country Park in Northamptonshire has dismantled much of its gym equipment and some of its playground to "discourage ongoing use".

The park, run by Northamptonshire County Council, has also put up new safety tape and signage.

Although the park is still open, Pitsford Reservoir, which is adjacent to the park, has been closed by Anglian Water.

Image source, Brixworth & Brampton Country Parks

Image source, Brixworth & Brampton Country Parks

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A temporary mortuary is set to be built at a Chelmsford park and ride site to deal with excess deaths from coronavirus.

The facility - which will serve Thurrock, Southend and Essex authority areas - will be created at the Chelmer park and ride in Regiment Way, with the county council allocating £10m towards its management.

It is expected that the site may be required for a period of six months from April 2020.

A statement in a cabinet report said: "Urgent preparation, to ensure an effective response to Covid-19, is taking place across the council and with partners.

"Measures and resources need urgently to be put in place to provide capacity for managing excess deaths with respect and dignity and in accordance with appropriate public health requirements."

Image source, Google

The site will be managed by Kenyon International Emergency Services.

"The council is expecting extremely challenging conditions as Covid-19 takes effect," a council spokesman said.

"Without action, there is a great risk of insufficient mortuary capacity given the scale of the coronavirus crisis facing us."

The MP for Great Yarmouth, Brandon Lewis, has sent a rather sweet "get well" message to the Prime Minister as he recovers from coronavirus in hospital.

Image source, Instagram

The message was baked into biscuits by his wife, Justine.

"Mrs Lewis has been busy baking a get well soon message for the prime minister – along with colour and photography support from Miss Lewis," the MP wrote on Instagram.

"Get well soon boss."

Mr Lewis, Minister for Northern Ireland, previously baked the words "stay home, save lives" into a beef Wellington

How's this for a little key worker "mowtivation"?

Photographer Colin Reeve captured the letters, which were crafted into the front garden of a house in Marshland St James, Norfolk.

Image source, Colin Reeve

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

GP practices and pharmacies across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes will be open over the Bank Holiday Easter Weekend to support the local health system.

The Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Commissioning Collaborative said that where possible, GP practices would be open on Good Friday and Easter Monday but arrangements would differ for each surgery over the weekend so patients should visit their practice website for specific opening hours and contact details.

They should call the surgery directly if they need to speak to a GP and the voicemail will advise callers what to do if they can’t get through to them at that time.

All pharmacies have been asked to open from 14:00 until 17:00 on Good Friday and Easter Monday with some extending these hours.

Matt Precey
BBC Look East

Latest figures from Public Health England , externalhave confirmed 5,035 cases of Covid-19 in the BBC East region, up by 533 from yesterday's figures.

The actual number of people with the respiratory infection in the UK is estimated to be much higher, though - as only those in hospital and some NHS staff are currently tested.

These figures are for each ceremonial county, and include all local authority areas within them.

Essex: 1,371

Hertfordshire: 1,032

Northamptonshire: 538

Buckinghamshire: 537

Bedfordshire: 513

Norfolk: 386

Cambridgeshire: 358

Suffolk: 302

Find out how many confirmed cases there are in your area.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

In Bedfordshire, like in many other counties across the UK, firefighters are teaming up with paramedics to help bolster the ambulance service.

Simon King, from East of England Ambulance NHS Trust, said: "The projections are that, regardless of how much cover we put out from our own staff, it's just never going to be enough.

"So fire service colleagues have volunteered to come and work alongside our clinicians on our ambulances to increase the capacity to respond to the community."

A brand new team set up from staff within Northamptonshire County Council is doing a "fantastic job" taking calls from people who need help, according to the authority.

The council said its customer service centre was a "hub of activity".

Chelsea, who has been redeployed from Children First Northamptonshire’s Strong Start team said: "I’ve taken a range of calls, mostly from elderly people who need help with shopping, and other everyday tasks.

"Some of them have been upset on the call which has been quite hard. I think the scale of the situation is really starting to sink in for people who don’t have anyone to rely upon in their normal routines, and that is extremely hard for them in these circumstances.

“It’s great knowing that I can help them, and that the small part I’m playing is making a big difference for them.”

Image source, Northamptonshire County Council

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Art, entertainment, heritage and cultural groups in Watford have united to launch #WatfordTogether to help people in the town through the coronavirus pandemic.

The new initiative aims to get people creative, active or arty with a range of cultural activities, events and competitions to keep them both physically and mentally active as well as providing opportunities to connect with others.

Image source, Watford Council

Organisations involved include Watford FC, Watford Palace Theatre, the Pump House Theatre, Rifco Theatre Company, Watford BID, Visit Watford and West Herts College.

From window art competitions, live local talent and virtual workouts and pub quizzes, the full range of activities on offer can be found on the dedicated #WatfordTogether website, external– and on Facebook, external.

The artistic director of Watford Palace Theatre, Brigid Larmour, said "At times like these, community, and communication, is everything, and there is an incredible array of talent, experience and goodwill getting connected here.

"#WatfordTogether gives us all a connection with each other, and with a wonderful range of creative activities to get involved with and online content to enjoy."

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

Bedfordshire Police, external has highlighted that "gathering for drinks and a BBQ" with friends is "not permitted".

The force said it attended "a couple of incidents" in Leighton Buzzard yesterday where family and friends had met up to enjoy the weather.

The central community team urged people to stay at home and warned they could be spreading the disease to loved ones if they did not follow advice.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Adult learners in Northamptonshire have been using their spare time to make laundry bags for NHS staff at Northampton General Hospital.

Image source, Northamptonshire County Council

The bags can be used by staff to take home their clothes at the end of a shift and can be put straight into a washing machine to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

Sewing students have been following instructions handwritten by their class tutor who is leading the project and the bags have been collected and passed to hospital staff directly following social distancing guidelines.

Councillor Ian Morris said: "Not only are these learners getting to put their new skills into practice, it is also helping NHS workers to stay safe and healthy. A big well done to all involved."

Two independent food and drink businesses have experienced a surge in online sales after the Coronavirus lockdown hit their usual trade.

Fen Farm Dairy in Bungay, Suffolk, and Flint Vineyard in nearby Earsham, Norfolk, lost wholesale business overnight when restaurants and pubs were forced to shut.

Jonny Crickmore of Fen Farm - which sells raw milk, butter and cheese - said it had to furlough six staff and slow down the maturing process on its Brie, which it stopped producing for two weeks.

However, it noticed a boost in online sales and more people using its vending machines at roadside kiosks, which are regularly cleaned and have hand-sanitiser for customers

Ben Witchell, of Flint, said it closed the vineyard to the public for tours, which had a knock-on effect on sales.

"People have been going online and buying it - hopefully this has opened a new avenue to us," he said.

"We would be doing 20 cases a week but we are doing 20 cases a day.

"It's really positive; we're doing really well."

Suffolk's Chief Constable Steve Jupp has joined colleagues in neighbouring forces in urging people to comply with government movement restrictions - and stay at home this Easter.

The police chief said an arrest was made last weekend during patrols.

Image source, Suffolk Police

"We are here to support you, to keep you safe and ensure that we protect the NHS," he said.

"It is heart-breaking to see what is happening around the country – the videos of nurses coming off intensive care units.

"We will get through this - and soon - if we stick to the guidelines."

Mr Jupp thanked the public for "heartfelt" messages of support, as well as pictures and gifts from children the force had received.

Image source, Brentwood Borough Council

Refuse collectors received a consignment of hot cross buns as a thanks for all their hard work.

Brentwood Borough Council, external took delivery of 160 buns, fresh from the Shenfield Bakery oven.

The business, run by Jo Romero, has benefited from a cash grant to help it through these challenging times, the council said.

In all, £5m was distributed to 343 businesses in the borough.

Here's how the local newspapers in Beds, Herts and Bucks are reporting the coronavirus pandemic:

• The Bucks Herald, external has full details of how bin collections across Buckinghamshire will be operating a revised timetable over the Easter Bank Holiday
• Bedfordshire's chief constable has been praised by MPs after revealing the force had issued only one fixed penalty fine for non-compliance with the new laws, Bedford Today, external reports
• The Comet, external reports how a profoundly deaf Stevenage man is posting inspiring Facebook tutorials during the coronavirus lockdown
• Organisers have sadly postponed the 20th annual Hatfield House Battle Proms Picnic Concert until next year, the Welwyn Hatfield Times, external says