Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Police in Hertfordshire have urged the public to "exercise common sense" when reporting breaches of social distancing rules.

"Please be aware that we will not be able to dispatch officers for minor infringements of these rules," a statement said.

"Clearly mass gatherings of people is not a minor infringement and we would want to know about that so we can deal with it."

The force said people should do this via its online webchat, external or reporting form, external rather than its Facebook page which is not monitored 24/7.

Anyone with any questions relating to policing and Covid-19 can also visit its new FAQ page, external.

Image source, Hertfordshire Constabulary

Meanwhile, after police closed car parks at Stanborough Park in Welwyn Garden City at the weekend, cycle patrols have showed the area was clear.

Officers have thanked residents for "staying home and helping the fight".

An NHS midwife is back on the road after a local dealership came to her aid.

Brenda, from Duston, told BBC Radio Northampton that her daughter Albie had been left without transport after the garage repairing her car closed during lockdown.

But she is now back on the road after Rushden's Croyland Car Megastore stepped in...

Who's cutting onions?

A little cheer was spread across North Bedfordshire as Chase from popular children's television show PAW Patrol was out and about.

He made sure he waved, from a safe distance, reminding people to stay safe and at home.

Alex Pope
BBC News Online

Everyone loves a good story, so the early years team at the University of Northampton are sharing some of their favourites.

Are you sitting comfortably? Then Aisling Armstrong will begin with her colourful and lively rendition of Itchy Bear by Neil Griffiths.

Staff at Bedford Modern have returned to the school during the Easter break to make face shields and expanders for people working for health organisations in the area.

Mr Jones and Miss Benson have been using a laser cutter to make the shields and expanders, which are set to go to GP surgeries, pharmacies and hospices.

Pete Cooper
BBC News

This chalk art work has appeared on the pavement of Watford's Kingswood Estate

Watford Borough Council tweeted pictures, external of the drawings, created by the Lee family.

Image source, Watford Borough Council

Image source, Watford Borough Council

Image source, Watford Borough Council

Alex Pope
BBC News Online

A new "recruit" has joined Bedfordshire Police.

The force said PC Edward was now a "traffic officer" after taking part in one of its Kids Keeping Beds Safe, external activities.

A number of suggestions of how to keep children busy is on its website, including designing your own warrant card.

It said: "Please do tag us in your photos too, using #KidsKeepingBedsSafe , external- we’d love to see everyone’s work!"

Matt Precey
BBC Look East

The number of daily deaths of people confirmed to have Covid-19 announced in the BBC East region for the 24 hours between 6 and 7 April was 81, according to figures announced by Public Health England , externalon Wednesday afternoon. This previous day's figure was 105.

The figures reflect only new deaths announced, which did not necessarily take place within the previous 24 hours.

They are broken down by NHS hospital trusts.

·Basildon and Thurrock: 1

·Bedford Hospital NHS Trust: 10

·Buckinghamshire healthcare NHS Trust: 3

·Cambridge University Hospitals (Addenbrooke's): 1

·East and North Hertfordshire: 5

·East Suffolk and North Essex (Ipswich and Colchester): 6

·Kettering General Hospital: 2

·Mid Essex Hospital Services: 5

·Milton Keynes University Hospital: 4

·Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals: 1

·North West Anglia: 3

·Northampton General Hospital: 7

·Southend University Hospital: 11

·Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow: 12

·Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn: 6

·West Hertfordshire Hospitals: 4

The total number of UK deaths now stands at 7,097, according to the latest Department of Health figures, external.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Welcome to our live page where we'll bring you regional updates throughout the day about the coronavirus pandemic. Thank you for joining us.

We'll bring you the latest news from the east of England until 18:00 BST.

If you have a story you wish to share this Thursday - good or bad - please contact BBC News Online (East).

Reach us via Facebook, external, Instagram , externaland Twitter, external. Or email us.

The people were residents at a 69-bed care home in Luton.

Thanks for joining us - our updates will resume at 08:00 on Thursday.

If you have a story you wish to share - good or bad - please contact BBC News Online (East).

Reach us via Facebook, external, Instagram, external and Twitter, external. Or email us.

Pete Cooper
BBC News

The fire service in Northamptonshire has issued a warning ahead of the Easter weekend after seeing a "spike" in domestic bonfires.

Firefighters were called to four knock-on accidentss caused by bonfires last Saturday.

It said that with more people at home carrying out gardening and other DIY projects it had been expecting to a rise in in domestic bonfires as people attempt to burn materials.

Image source, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service

Darren Carson, from the service, said: "We would encourage people not to have these fires if possible but, if they do continue to have them, they should be sited well away from anything that could possibly ignite."

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service have posted a series of tips on bonfires on its website, external.

A nine-year-old girl who was having a "bad day" of homeschooling turned it around with a thank you letter to hospitals.

Caby Mitchell of Whittlebury in Northamptonshire said her daughter Evie was "angry and upset about the situation... missing her family and friends" so they channeled her thoughts into "something good".

She also signed the letter on behalf of her five-year-old brother and four-year-old-sister.

"Please keep safe and thank you for helping people get better," they wrote.

Image source, Caby Mitchell

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

The University of Hertfordshire has produced a batch of hand sanitiser which has been donated to the county council to bolster NHS and social care supplies and help keep key workers safe during the pandemic.

Using the formulation published on the World Health Organisation website, the team has now donated 35 litres so far.

Dr Richard Southern, dean of the School of Life and Medical Sciences, said: "This is an example of an outstanding team effort in responding to a call to action and using our technical expertise for the greater good. I know that the product will help ensure vital NHS and social care staff are able to continue to work safely."

Zoe Applegate
BBC News

A cardiac nurse has told how she was moved to tears by a video of her young children performing a song they had written for her and her hospital colleagues.

Laura Aitken works at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and tweeted the video to colleagues to lift their spirits.

Alice, seven, and five-year-old Jack wrote new lyrics to A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman film, with their dad Chris, who accompanies them on guitar.

Signing off with the lyrics "All we want is to grow up and be like you", Mrs Aitken said her children "see me going to work and they see that it's difficult at the moment".

Along with most other entertainment, an Essex institution has bitten the bullet and cancelled its forthcoming shows.

A statement on Frinton Summer Theatre, external's website said "in light of the current uncertainties, we have decided to suspend our McGrigor Hall productions this summer".

The repertory theatre usually runs for seven weeks every summer, and up-and-coming stars who have graced its stages over some 80 years have included Vanessa Redgrave, Gary Oldman, Lynda Bellingham and, for its 75th anniversary in 2014, Richard Wilson (pictured with producer Clive Brill).

The company is requesting donations to help it survive.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

South Central Ambulance service has appealed for disposable seat covers for its vehicles.

The NHS service, which covers Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire, mane an "urgent" call-out to any garages which could donate covers.

It has asked for anyone with a supply of the disposable covers to email CDFleetandEquipment@scas.nhs.uk, external.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

The first Hertfordshire Open Exhibition, due to have opened at St Albans Museum and Gallery has launched online in a new digital format.

More than 180 artists with links to Hertfordshire submitted their work to be part of the exhibition, which is a celebration of art in all its mediums, including painting, sculpture, print, film and photography.

Image source, UH Arts

It features 80 works by the 50 selected artists - from established ones to first-time exhibitors.

The online galleries will be launched in phases over a period of 10 days on the UH Arts website, external and the museum's website, external.

Head of UH Arts, Annabel Lucas, said: "We are so pleased to give people access to the arts as they stay at home.

"You’ll see art you love, art that makes you smile and art that really makes you think."

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

The Minister for Children has praised the work of Essex libraries for moving its rhyme time classes online.

Vicky Ford, who is also the MP for Chelmsford, said she was "loving" the YouTube videos and encouraged "those with little ones at home" to make use of the classes.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Following reports at the weekend when police had to close the car park at Cassiobury Park due to large numbers of visitors, officers in Watford said they wanted to thank residents in the town for heeding advice not to go there.

Posting a picture of a more or less deserted park yesterday, the officers said it was a "huge difference" compared to what they saw over the weekend.

Image source, Hertdfordshire Constabulary

"Officers spotted a few people out on their exercise but all abiding by Covid-19 legislation," a Facebook , externalpost said.

"This doesn't mean we aren't experiencing some issues elsewhere, with reports of people having unnecessary visitors to houses and people in the town centre still attending unnecessarily.

"We want to remind residents, patrols are ongoing and fines are being issued for the people in disregard of this."