Essex Police has released colouring pictures of its mascot Baloo to keep youngsters busy at home over Easter.

Children’s author and artist Tom Knight has designed five pictures of retired police dog Baloo - with a rainbow - for families to pop in their windows.

Baloo, a Belgian Malinois, had to retire early in 2018 after he was hit by a car during an incident - and needed a leg amputated. He's now a valued therapy dog.

Image source, Essex Police

You can find the blank pictures of Baloo here to download and colour in, external.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

It looks like the Easter bunny - only recently classed as an essential worker by New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern - has found time in his or her busy schedule to arrive at Bucks Healthcare NHS Trust, external.

Elaine Pope from the trust told managers to go to one of their collection zones in the county to spread "a little Easter joy to our amazing teams".

Let's take a quick look at the newspaper headlines across Suffolk today:

• The Ipswich Star, external is highlighting the work of community heroes in fundraising and collecting for NHS frontline staff, including local businesses that are donating electrical items and essentials during the coronavirus pandemic

• The former Royal Court Hotel in Lowestoft, which has been empty for more than a decade, is to developed into 29 flats and a cafe, says Lowestoft Journal, external
• Suffolk’s most senior Church of England clergyman, the Right Reverend Martin Seeley, says the evil of the coronavirus will be overcome – and sees consolation and hope for all this Easter, reports the Sudbury Mercury, external

An Essex-based hospice group says its still needs the support of local communities to keep afloat - and is waiting to hear how a government package will help it.

Haven Hospices, which runs three hospices in Southend, Benfleet and Witham, welcomed the £200m rescue package announced on Wednesday by the Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

The group is working with hospitals and the clinical commissioning groups across Essex to relieve pressure from acute wards.

Chief executive, Steve Smith said it was "heartening" to see the importance of hospice care recognised by the government.

"It’s vital that our local community continues their support as it ensures we can continue supporting the NHS, caring for patients at the end of their lives and supporting their families," he said.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

Bedfordshire Police, external will be delivering 45,000 items of personal protective equipment (PPE) to frontline staff across the county.

The PPE was provided by the military and the force started distributing the gloves, masks and goggles yesterday.

As well as hospitals, the equipment will be sent to care homes, local authorities and other emergency services.

The force said the PPE "will be absolutely vital to protect frontline staff".

A drive-through swab testing facility has opened at the Norwich Research Park to test NHS frontline staff for coronavirus.

Scientists from across the park are joining forces with the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, external (NNUH) to help test for viral RNA, the material found in a virus that promotes its spread.

Frontline NHS staff in key roles, such as critical care workers, paramedics, emergency department staff, and primary care staff will be eligible for testing if they or a household contact develop symptoms of Covid-19.

It will mean staff can return to work more quickly by reducing isolation times.

Image source, NNUH

Sam Higginson, NNUH chief executive, said: "Quick and reliable testing is an essential part of the national effort to protect the NHS and save lives.

"The expectation is that staff in key clinical roles will be tested to support our staffing through the pandemic."

David Parfrey, executive chairman of Anglia Innovation Partnership LLP, which runs the research park, said: "For most of us, this is the biggest crisis we have faced in living memory.

"The combination of expertise and commitment shown by our colleagues right across the Park has underlined just how vital a resource this is to the national picture."

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

A man has been arrested for allegedly coughing in a police officer's face and telling them he had Covid-19.

Hertfordshire Police said a man ran off after being stopped in Lampits Lane in Hoddesdon at 23:30 on Wednesday for suspected drink-driving,

A man was later arrested on suspicion of multiple offences, including assaulting three officers and coughing in the face of one, and remains in custody.

The force has called for anyone with information to come forward.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

Castle Point Borough Council, external has closed all its seafront car parks "to aid social distancing".

The authority, which covers Canvey Island, Benfleet, Thundersley and Hadleigh, said the car parks would be closed "for the foreseeable future" in order to "encourage people to stay at home".

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

If you've almost forgotten what day of the week it is, let alone that the Easter weekend is coming up, then St Albans Cathedral, external has made a YouTube video, external showing people how to make an Easter garden depicting the hill at Calvary and the tomb that Jesus was laid in.

Today is Maundy Thursday, and they say if you can make it by Good Friday (tomorrow) then your seed "should have a little shoot by Easter Sunday". How lovely is that?

Obviously, it goes without saying, only do this if you have all the materials you need at home but they suggest that if you haven't got a garden or any of the items, then why not draw a picture instead?

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Today at 15:00 BST, all BBC Local Radio stations will be playing the same song.

They want you to turn the radio up loud, grab your family and take them to the front door and "Dance on your Doorstep" to say thank you to the thousands of youngsters stuck indoors unable to see their friends.

If nothing else, it could get them away from their screens for a few minutes and it's got to be quicker and easier than recording a Les Mis song!

Here's how the local newspapers in Northamptonshire are reporting the coronavirus pandemic today.

• The Northamptonshire Telegraph, external reports how a Rushden teenager is 3D-printing hundreds of free face shields
• Letters from secondary school students are bringing "joy and happiness" to the elderly in isolation, the Northampton Chronicle and Echo, external reports

Here's how the local newspapers in Cambridgeshire are reporting the coronavirus pandemic:

• The Cambridge News, external reports that a popular Cambridge restaurant has announced it will permanently close its doors after 11 years of trading, citing the present coronavirus crisis as the reason behind the closure
• The Peterborough Rape Crisis Care Group is pioneering new technology to continue to offer essential helpline services to survivors of sexual violence throughout lockdown (and beyond), the Peterborough Telegraph, external reports

Here's a quick look at what's making the newspaper front pages in Norfolk this morning:

• Norfolk and Norwich Hospital consultant Dr Deborah Easby has paid tribute to the "phenomenal efforts" of her colleagues on the frontline - describing wearing PPE like "sensory deprivation", she tells the Eastern Daily Press, external
• An NHS worker has slammed a used car dealer for selling a Mini with faults that mean she cannot drive it to work, reports the Norwich Evening News, external
• The James Paget University Hospital, in Gorleston, has launched a "Letters of Love" campaign to patients in solitary lockdown, according to the Great Yarmouth Mercury, external

Here are some of the stories making the headlines across Essex this morning:

• A driver for Argos has raised concerns over the lack of social distancing and cleaning measures at the Miles Gray Road warehouse in Southend, reports the Echo, external
• Colchester Hospital’s boss, Nick Hulme, says staff have been working "flat out" and additional intensive care beds are being provided to cope with the anticipated increase in coronavirus cases - the Colchester Gazette, external reports
• And a mum from White Roding says "hats off to teachers" - and gives tips to other parents and carers of her experiences of home schooling - in the Saffron Walden Reporter, external

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

It looks like firefighters at High Wycombe fire station have had the time of their lives (!) recording their own version of an iconic Dirty Dancing move.

"We hope that this brightens up your lockdown," they said on Facebook, external, where their moves have been viewed more than 125,000 times and shared by nearly 2,500 people.

Of course, it's important to point out, please do not try this at home. The NHS is under enough strain as it is!

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A pot of cash in excess of £60,000 has been established by a Suffolk council to support groups and projects in the district.

Babergh District Council, external has established the locality grant scheme, which gives each councillor £2,000 to spend on supporting community groups, projects, events and good causes in their wards.

That pot is expected to be an annual commitment, and is funded from the council’s existing transformation budget.

A village helped celebrate a boy's eighth birthday at a distance during the lockdown.

Cher Connelly, from Capel St Mary, Suffolk, said her son Mason was "so excited" about his birthday but could not celebrate with friends due to the current situation.

Image source, Cher Connelly

So she posted on the village Facebook page, asking people to put up a sign, sending him birthday wishes, so they would see the messages during their daily walk.

On Wednesday, people had put up banners and posters they had made, some had left out cakes and there was a man juggling outside his house to wish Mason the best.

Ms Connelly said she was "overwhelmed" by the response and that Mason felt like a "Capel celebrity".

Image source, Cher Connelly

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Hertfordshire police and crime commissioner David Lloyd has given £50,000 in emergency funding to charities supporting victims and the vulnerable and to support crime prevention and other work during the coronavirus crisis.

Image source, Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner

The funding will enable Herts Community Foundation (HCF) to award grants of up to £2,000 and will be available to community and voluntary groups to use quickly to provide help for vulnerable individuals and families in crisis.

"My role is not just about policing, I have a broad public duty to reduce crime and the fear of crime. Now more than ever the community needs to work together to overcome the challenges posed by Covid-19," he said.

The money will be distributed alongside HCF’s Coronavirus Disaster Relief fund, with Mr Lloyd's office overseeing the awards.

The £50,000 has been ring-fenced, but further money may follow if there is a demand.

Tennis star Andy Murray has recorded a video thanking NHS staff at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge as they battle the coronavirus outbreak.

"I just wanted to send you a quick message to say thank you so much for all of the work that you're doing just now. It's obviously an extremely difficult time for everyone but none more so than the healthcare workers," he said.

Murray, who attended Addenbrooke's for a scan a few months ago, spoke of staff's "dedication and sacrifices" and said when he was there, everyone was "fantastic and extremely helpful".

He said he had chosen to make a donation to Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust, external "to say thank you very much for everything you're doing".

The trust said it was "so grateful" and his support would be "a massive boost".

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, has thanked residents of Oxhey for leaving messages for the town's "incredibly dedicated" waste collection team at Veolia.

"They are still going out every day to provide us with a service which everyone in our town relies on," the elected Liberal Democrat mayor said.

"We are so grateful for everything that they do during these difficult times."

Image source, Oxhey Village Residents