Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Thames Valley Police said it was coping well in Buckinghamshire as the UK lockdown continues.

More than 200 retired officers have said they're willing to rejoin the force.

Chief Constable John Campbell said the force, which also serves Berkshire and Oxfordshire, had been able to focus resources on different areas.

"What we have seen is that some of the behaviours of the public have led to a reduction of the type of traditional calls that we would normally get," he said.

"There's no night-time economy and obviously people are in their homes so we're seeing less incidents in that regard and on the roads as well.

"It's important to have that capacity because we also need to be encouraging and enforcing the [new] legislation where necessary, in order to protect people, the community and ultimately the NHS."

Healthcare assistant Emily Rash, 19, fears access to food and accommodation will become a problem.

Pete Cooper
BBC News

Northampton-based building firm Travis Perkins said it had donated all its stock of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the NHS.

The need for PPE is an on-going issue for frontline staff and unions have warned doctors and nurses' lives are being put at risk.

The company, which also owns DIY chain Wickes, has also provided materials and tools for the recently opened NHS Nightingale Hospital in east London's ExCel centre.

Image source, The Marquis

A pub is providing free biscuits, cake and bread to those self-isolating or vulnerable who need help.

The team at The Marquis at Layham in south Suffolk wanted to do their bit so a number of the chefs volunteered to do some baking, the pub owner said.

If you’re in the Raydon, Layham, East Bergholt or Hadleigh area and need a bit of help get in touch with the the pub via its Facebook page, external or call 01473 377977.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Image source, Getty Images

Workers in bars, restaurants and cafes in St Albans who are currently unable to work due to the coronavirus lockdown, are offering their services to local farmers who need help to harvest crops and keep the local food supply chains operating.

Sean Hughes, from the St Albans Independent Hospitality and Retail Association, said: "The workers from our hospitality businesses­ are all experienced in safe food-handling, passionate about quality and want to help.

"They have seen the plight of farmers across the nation, who urgently need vegetable and fruit pickers to ensure their crops don't go to waste and that the scarcity of food does not become a reality."

The group has contacted the National Farmers Union to offer support and said Hertfordshire farmers in need of help should contact Save St Albans Pubs, external on Facebook.

A town pub has adapted to keep its community going and help those in need during the pandemic.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

When you have "quiet time" scheduled into your home schooling routine but don't know what to suggest (because really you just need a break and don't want to have to think any more?), then a puppetry and storytelling company from Bedfordshire are doing free live sessions online every weekday afternoon.

The Potton-based Theatre of Widdershins is telling a tale a day on their Facebook, external page at 16:00.

Today's tale is The Three Spinners and you can also let them know if you want a shout out!

Image source, Widdershins Theatre

Chris Lamb's run for Tom Rawsthorne took him past his dead friend's house with every lap.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A series of outdoor summer concerts that would have brought former Oasis mainman Noel Gallagher back to Suffolk has been called off.

Forestry England, external has cancelled Forest Live 2020, external at all its venues, including High Lodge Visitor Centre in Thetford Forest, because of coronavirus restrictions.

A spokesman said: “We really hope that everyone’s support to fight COVID-19 means the situation will have improved by the summer.

"As well as our valued customers, we work with a large number of volunteers, artists and contractors to make these concerts happen and have taken this decision in the interest of safety for everyone involved."

Ticket holders will be automatically refunded but Forestry England asked for everyone's "patience and understanding at this busy time".

These were the headline acts that had been due to appear the venue at Santon Downham in Suffolk:

• Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - 18 June
• James Morrison and Will Young - 19 June
• Madness - 20 June
• Rag‘n’Bone Man - 21 June

Rag'n'Bone Man recently played a surprise gig in Gorleston in Norfolk as a favour for his dad.

Andrew Woodger
BBC News

Image source, Port of Tilbury

Dockers at the Port of Tilbury in Essex have expressed their thanks to health workers in container form.

Crane operators "shuffled" the containers around to spell out "NHS" on Thursday evening when the nation took part in a second Clap For Carers event.

Ross McKissock, asset manager at the port, said: “The team at the container terminal came up with the idea... it took most the day to identify and reshuffle the 137 empty boxes to bring the message to life.

"Our drivers undertook around 400 moves to create the message which now greets all lorries entering the container terminal."

Footage of the Tilbury event was posted on Vimeo, external.

Image source, Port of Tilbury

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

Hertfordshire County Council, external has appealed for personal protection equipment for care workers.

In a tweet the council said staff needed goggles, masks and protective clothing "to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and protect the people they care for".

It has asked for anyone who is able to donate equipment to email businessvolunteers@hertfordshire.gov.uk, external.

BBC Look East

BBC Look East has been answering your questions on the coronavirus outbreak.

Thanks for sending in all your questions so far. If you have any more, please email BBC Look East.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Ipswich market, external traders have decided to suspend operations until further notice to comply with government rules that people should stay at home to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

"Everyone was disappointed they can't continue to trade," market spokesman and fishmonger Mike Youngs said.

He said the weeks leading up to the decision were very nervy and the traders had regular meetings to discuss the future.

The traders had to decide whether to buy new stock which could have left them "in a pickle", Mr Youngs said.

Some of the traders donated remaining stock to worthwhile causes.

Ipswich Borough Council, external said the town centre had seen a 70% drop in footfall this week compared with before the start of the government’s main coronavirus measures.

On Tuesday, 31 March, just under 4,000 people were recorded on town centre sensors, rather than 14,000 people on Tuesday, 10 March or 18,000 people on the busiest Tuesday in December.

Pete Cooper
BBC News

Schools in Northamptonshire have been donating personal protective equipment (PPE) to the county's hospitals.

Sarah Golley, head of science at Wrenn Academy in Wellingborough, has organised the delivery of 400 pairs of goggles, 400 aprons and 70 boxes of gloves to staff at Northampton General.

While Kettering's Buccleuch Academy has sent 300 pairs of science safety glasses to Kettering General.

Vice-principal Phillip Henton said: "We've got parents who work there, we've done fundraising for different wards there and they asked us if we had any protective eyewear.

"We went straight into school and packaged up the glasses."

The health secretary has promised 100,000 tests a day but there are questions about how it will be achieved.

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

• Struggling residents should be exempt from paying council tax for at least three months, a councillor said, the Bucks Free Press, external reports.
• Luton Today, external reports that the crisis could blow a £35m hole in Luton Council's finances for 2020-21.
• The founder of Stevenage’s People for People community group appeals for help to keep going, the Comet, external reports.

The elderly man needed oxygen when he knocked on his window in Littleport to alert Amanda Hellman.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

A decontamination expert from the University of Hertfordshire, external has been using his skills in the fight against coronavirus.

Image source, University of Hertfordshire

Alex Kingstrom, senior technical officer at the School of Engineering and Computer Science, was trained in chemical warfare decontamination while serving in the United States Air Force.

He has been volunteering and sharing his expertise at the Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge where has been asked to lead a programme that decontaminates personal protective equipment (PPE) for re-use.

"It’s a difficult job, but I am honoured to do my bit. NHS staff have been fantastic during the pandemic, they’re truly a national treasure," he said.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Museums in Herts, Beds and Essex have joined together to put some of their treasures online during the coronavirus pandemic.

Using the hashtag #LocalMuseumsUnite on Twitter, each day has a different theme which this week has included a museum's smallest or largest animal. Today, contenders for the strangest animals are being posted.

Tim Wheeler
BBC Radio Northampton

Lee Daggert, the former Northamptonshire cricketer who is physio at Northampton Saints rugby club, spoke to me about his wife Helen who is an NHS consultant.

He said that she and her colleagues have been putting in an "amazing amount of work".

The 37-year-old said the "Clap for Carers" on Thursdays "helps big time".

He was out with his young son and said "hearing people clap for mummy is a powerful message".

Image source, Getty Images

Daggert also told me about what he is doing as a physio for the Saints.

He said: "It's difficult, it's just about getting the players to maintain where they are at, keep contact with the lads and keep them going."