Maria Veronese
BBC Look East

Donations have been coming in thick and fast to staff at the Norfolk and Norwich hospital.

Pots of hand cream have been handed out to staff, as well as shower gel and shampoo.

Other donated items includes microwaves, kettles and fridges so a pop-up kitchen can be made for workers.

Prof Nancy Fontaine, chief nurse at the hospital, said: "Your support is phenomenal, keep it coming we need you."

Sam Read
BBC Look East

I've been out on patrol with Northamptonshire Police in a very quiet Northampton town centre.

According to officers and the chief constable, it seems that almost everyone is sticking to the new rules around social distancing set out by the government.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

The assistant chief constable of Bedfordshire Police, external has thanked a Luton school for its donation of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Challney High School for Boys said it was a "privilege" to send a supply of goggles, face masks, gloves, hand wash and paper towels to the force.

Jackie Sebire said on Twitter, external the donation was a "fantastic gesture" that would "be put to good use".

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A hospice that needs £400,000 a month to provide care for terminally ill patients said it was in "dire straits" after its 31 charity shops were forced to close and fundraising events cancelled because of coronavirus.

St Elizabeth Hospice, external in Ipswich is also preparing to receive more patients needing end-of-life care, so has launched an online fundraising campaign.

Image source, St Elizabeth Hospice

The hospice expects to get busier as the pandemic gets worse, so has increased the number of beds from 18 to 24, it said.

Staff are expecting calls to a 24/7 rapid response line, which already takes 2,000 a month, to double.

Orla Moore
BBC News

A digital designer has shown his appreciation to the NHS with a little chalk handiwork.

Alexander Melville has drawn messages on the main guided busway entrance to the Cambridge biomedical campus - home of Royal Papworth and Addenbrooke's Hospital.

Frontline staff will see the heartwarming messages when they arrive and leave shifts.

The nation will join in a second Clap for Carers event at 20:00 tonight.

Image source, Alexander Melville

BBC Radio Suffolk

Rainbows beautifully drawn by key workers' children are set to be placed in the windows of police and ambulance drivers' vehicles.

The works of art were made by pupils at Place Farm Primary Academy in Haverhill, Suffolk.

Crews working for the East of England Ambulance Service said they were "grateful for the kind messages".

Image source, Haverhill Police

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

A minor injuries unit in St Albans will shut on Friday, as NHS bosses in the county divert staff to where they are most needed.

Image source, Google

West Herts NHS Hospitals Trust , externaland the Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group, external said the unit at St Albans Hospital had been attended by fewer than 10 people a day during the last week.

A joint statement said: "After careful consideration we have decided that the skills of the staff could be better directed to care for patients at Watford General Hospital who are very unwell, or to fill the roles of colleagues who are now working in newly-created areas for patients suffering from severe Covid-19 symptoms."

It will close at its normal time on Friday (20:00 BST) until at least the end of April, only reopening when circumstances permit.

Alex Pope
BBC news Online

A police force out looking for painted rainbows in St Neots said it found a "group of youths who were not social distancing".

Policing Huntingdonshire, part of Cambridgeshire Police, said on its Facebook page , externalthat "another youth came to join the party, but unfortunately brought some illegal drugs".

Image source, Policing Huntingdonshire

It led to a man being arrested.

Image source, Policing Huntingdonshire

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Two hospitals in Northamptonshire have freed up almost 400 beds in readiness for the peak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Yesterday there were 386 empty beds at Northampton General and Kettering General Hospital after existing patients were discharged.

Chief executive of NHS Northamptonshire clinical commissioning group,Toby Sanders, said: "The past couple of weeks have witnessed an extraordinary effort from colleagues across the NHS, social care and the wider public sector to respond to this unprecedented and fast-moving situation.

"Thanks to the incredibly hard work of staff at our two acute hospitals, in care homes and out in the community – with support from families and carers – we have been able to safely discharge a great many people to free up hundreds of hospital beds ready for those who will need them."

Image source, Kettering General Hospital

The policeman has to self-isolate after a man claiming to have coronavirus allegedly coughed on him.

BBC Northampton

More than 10,000 volunteers have signed up to help vulnerable people across one county.

The Northamptonshire Resilience Forum was created to make sure those most at need get help.

The leader of Northampton Borough Council, Jonathan Nunn, said it had been a very "effective" way of matching people up.

"Northamptonshire and its great people are fighting back to help others and it's really fantastic."

A support line, external has also been set up across the county. Anyone who needs help is asked to call 0300 126 1000 and press option 5.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

A Luton teacher has started making face shields for medical professionals.

Design technology and engineering teacher Dan Pallett said he was inspired by fellow teachers across the country who had been producing the protective equipment.

Image source, Dan Pallett

"I've had offers of help from other teachers and there is about six of us now working to make these shields," the Chiltern Academy teacher said.

"We've made 200 so far but now we have a production area up and running I reckon we can produce about 150 to 200 a day.

"We are going to make as many as we can."

Mr Pallett delivered the shields to the Luton and Dunstable Hospital and said staff were "shocked" but "grateful" for his donation.

The face shields have also been given to GP surgeries in the area and the Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge.

The teacher has asked for anyone who can provide plastic that is less than 0.75mm thick or 10-15mm elastic tape to contact him on Twitter, external.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

A musician and student from Essex has found a way of performing to hundreds of people around the world without breaching the coronavirus lockdown.

Image source, Facebook

Norwich University of the Arts student Emily Frith, whose family GP Dr Habib Zaidi died from Covid-19, performed The Isolation Room , externalgig earlier this week from her student accommodation in Norwich.

The Isolation Room was set up to hold live online concerts during the lockdown.

Ms Frith, whose family home is in Leigh-on-Sea, said news of Dr Zaidi's death had made her "realise this was not something to take lightly".

"It is so close to home. It's heartbreaking. It shows how important it is to stay home," she said.

She added the online concert was a good way to connect with people at a time of no gigs in pubs and clubs.

"It's like doing a live gig and was really cool. There were people from Mexico, Ireland and Germany watching me," she said.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

The de Havilland Museum in Hertfordshire is offering virtual museum tours to show visitors its treasures during its enforced closure.

The opening of its new £3m hangar just six weeks ago at the site near London Colney was described as a "game-changer", because it would make it a weather-proof attraction.

Image source, De Havilland Museum

But, like other museums, it is not UK lockdown-proof - so curator Alistair Hodgson is making films about the vintage aircraft that can be seen there and is posting them on its Facebook , externalpage.

Visitors can discover fascinating facts about exhibits including the Hornet Moth, Mosquito, Tiger Moth and Comet 4 flight simulator, plus aerodynamic concepts are explained.

"Because you can't come to the museum, I want to bring the museum to you," Mr Hodgson said.

BBC Essex

The family of Terry Cutmore, who represented Rochford North on Essex County Council, has confirmed he has died of coronavirus.

He was described as a "generous, clever, witty man and a loving father".

Council leader David Finch described Mr Cutmore as "extremely well-liked" - and a man who was "committed to serving his residents".

MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, Mark Francois, said Mr Cutmore would be "sorely missed", especially at Rochford District Council which he had led for 15 years.

Kayleigh Alden-Hollinsworth from Felixstowe gave birth to adorable twin girls on Wednesday and has praised "the incredible NHS" at Ipswich Hospital.

She said she was "petrified" because of the current coronavirus pandemic.

Her partner Shane Baxendale had to wait in the car while she was assessed due to new restrictions at the hospital.

Shane was able to join her during her C-section to meet daughters Esmae and Nellie.

Image source, Kayleigh Alden-Hollinsworth

In a post on Facebook that has over 18,000 likes, Kayleigh said: "Please do not be scared, I know it’s not the best time for this all to be taking place but everyone was amazing."

Congratulations Kayleigh and Shane!

Cambridgeshire Police, external said officers came across a group of 10 teenage boys when on patrol in Cambourne.

All but one ran away, the force said, so officers spoke to the remaining boy about the importance of not mixing with people from outside his household.

The boy said he "hadn't thought about the consequences", with his mother having health issues, police said.

Image source, Cambridgeshire Constabulary

"We understand it's hard for young people who want to go out and see their friends, but parents please ensure they understand the potential risks to themselves, their families, friends and beyond," a police spokesman said.

"The government advice is there to protect us all," he added.

The decision to cancel this year's Chelmsford Marathon, external "was not taken lightly", the charity that organises it has said.

Havens Hospice said the event, which was due to be held on 18 October, raises thousands of pounds for the Essex-based organisation.

Judy Grocott, voluntary income manager, said: "We desperately wanted to go ahead as a lot of hard work and preparation had already gone into the race.

Image source, Regal Photography

"The situation around coronavirus is changing rapidly and we would rather avoid prolonged uncertainty to give our participants as much time as possible to reschedule their training plans.

"We have not taken this decision lightly as the Chelmsford Marathon raises thousands of pounds every year for our charity as well as the many other fundraising events which we have already postponed."

Those already registered will automatically be transferred to next year's event on 17 October.

How do you motivate a hormonal teenager to get out of bed and study?

Sam Barlow, a head teacher at two Suffolk primary schools, has some tips to help you homeschool your children.

Nikki Fox
BBC Look East

The number of people infected by the coronavirus continues to rise.

Public Health England, external released the latest figures last night, but they are only from hospital tests and are a few days behind.

They are as follows:

• Hertfordshire - 480
• Buckinghamshire - 195
• Norfolk - 180
• Northamptonshire - 187
• Cambridgeshire - 141
• Peterborough - 36
• Suffolk - 125

• Milton Keynes - 117

• Central Bedfordshire - 81
• Luton - 91

• Bedford Borough Council - 60
• Essex - 420
• Southend-on-Sea - 44
• Thurrock - 62