Siren the kookaburra is a familiar sight, walking with his owner in the Norfolk countryside.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A second year medical student, inspired by NHS war veteran-turned-fundraiser Captain Tom Moore, external, has cycled more than 200 miles in 12 hours to contribute to the campaign.

Matt Smith, 20, studying at the University of Glasgow, external, cycled for 12 hours straight on an indoor trainer in his garage at home in Hadleigh, Suffolk, to raise £1,222 and achieved a distance of 202.5 miles (306km).

He chose the venue in the spirit of lockdown and was raising money for NHS staff, volunteers and patients affected by the Covid-19 crisis.

Image source, Matt Smith

"In 2017, I cycled from London to Paris in 24 hours so this seemed like a similar challenge to take on," he said.

He admitted being "totally shattered" at the end of the ordeal, but vowed to keep cycling to keep fit.

"I didn’t want to lose fitness over the quarantine period so I decided I wanted to challenge myself with something to keep me working hard."

The florist says she wants to honour those who work for the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

A floral tribute thanking NHS staff for their work tackling the coronavirus pandemic has been placed on the approach road to Hinchingbrooke Hospital, external in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

A spokeswoman for the hospital said the display had been created by a local florist.

Lucy Teixeira watched from her home as Capt Tom Moore's target of £1,000 grew to a staggering £27m.

Martin Borley
BBC Radio Northampton

As part of BBC Radio Northampton's Make a Difference campaign we are asking schools to encourage their pupils to write letters to care homes.

The idea has been inspired by the pupils of Park Junior School in Wellingborough who wrote to and recorded uplifting messages for the residents of Bilton Court in Wellingborough.

Image source, Park Junior School

Already I have spoke to Kettering Borough Council-run housing schemes (more than 400 homes) and they are really keen their residents who are vulnerable or isolated should receive letters from schoolchildren and several schools in the area have expressed interest in taking part.

Northampton Partnership Homes have about 1,000 residents who they said would benefit from contact from youngsters and many of the town's academies will be asking their pupils to get involved.

If you are from a Northamptonshire school or care home and would like to find out more then please email us.

A "valued" healthcare assistant died after testing positive for Covid-19, a hospital said.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, external (QEH) in King's Lynn, Norfolk, said its staff were "coming to terms" with the "devastating" news that Christine Emerson died over the weekend.

Image source, Queen Elizabeth Hospital

It said Mrs Emerson was a "much-loved" wife to Michael and a "cherished" mother and grandmother.

The hospital offered its condolences to her family.

In a joint statement, chief executive Caroline Shaw and and Professor Steve Barnett, QEH chairman, said: "The whole family at QEH is deeply saddened at losing Chrissie Emerson who was such a valued colleague."

The youngsters star in a film made by a nurse to urge people to protect the NHS from coronavirus.

A street in Northamptonshire has begun holding weekly dance sessions to get through the lockdown.

Teachers at a primary school came together in a social media montage to send a message to home-schooling pupils to remind them that lessons should have begun again today after the Easter holiday.

Staff from Peterhouse Primary Academy, external in Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk, lined up with placards carrying this special message: "Children your teachers miss you so much so please take care, stay safe and remember we are here and always the Peterhouse family."

Image source, Pedterhouse Primary Academy

Parent Becky Louise Lumb posted a thank you on social media which said: "This is lovely and we miss all of you as well.

"We hope you're all keeping safe too and remember us parents are here for you as well and we appreciate everything you're doing for us too - especially all you key workers that are looking after our children."

Another parent, Louise Thompson wrote: "My girls are missing all their teachers and friends."

A youth arts group is appealing for donations to ensure it can survive the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Luton-based Next Generation Youth Theatre (NGYT), external provides accessible and inclusive dance and theatre opportunities to young people.

It aims to raise £5,000 - with half covering "core costs" of the group.

It proposes to give the other £2,500 to local artists in the form of ten £250 grants.

Image source, NGYT

With no cricket possible, women players from Kent, Essex, Middlesex and Surrey launch the London Championship running challenge.

Joanna Klenczon, 34, had worked at Northampton Hospital for 10 years.

People living at a retirement home complex in Essex now have free access to the town's large cricket pitch and grounds for their daily exercise.

Braintree Cricket Club, external is closed for practice and to the public during the pandemic crisis and much like many other sports fields has offered to help out its neighbours.

Image source, Braintree District Council

The McCarthy and Stone Retirement Home, external is nearby and the club has provided residents private access to the ground for their daily exercise in an environment they are comfortable in and can observe social distancing safely.Geoff Eveling, from Braintree District Council, external, said: "While the cricket ground cannot be used, it makes sense to allow their neighbours use it and is a nice thing to do, especially as the majority of residents are over 70 and socially isolating and have no outside space of their own."

Many of the residents' relatives also appreciated the gesture making comments on social media such as "my mum was so thankful", "brilliant work Braintree CC" and "this mean lots to them and they are loving it!".

Here's how the coronavirus pandemic is being covered by the papers in Cambridgeshire:

• Cambridge News, external has a round-up of police action taken to enforce lockdown restrictions in the county
• Peterborough Today reports, external that a local school is donating "hundreds" of items of personal protective equipment to health workers
• And the Hunts Post, external warns of "scammers" posing as council staff, who are asking for donations to food parcels

Wycombe chairman Rob Couhig would rather start a new League One season in August than finish the current campaign behind closed doors.

Here's a look at the latest coverage of the coronavirus pandemic from Suffolk's newspapers:

• Components are being made at a Mildenhall factory for pumps in adjustable beds installed at the new Nightingale Hospitals, the East Anglian Daily Times, external reports
• Volunteers from St John Ambulance have been supporting the NHS by providing staff to help clear 999 calls, according to the Lowestoft Journal, external
• Mental health hub and foodbank charity Gatehouse is running virtual art and mindfulness classes as well as looking at how it can adapt its services when the coronavirus lockdown is eased, the Bury Free Press, external reports

An annual half-marathon due to take place in Peterborough this October has been cancelled over "continued uncertainty about when the social distancing measures will be lifted".

Peterborough City Council, external said it took the "difficult decision" to call off the Perkins Great Eastern Run after discussions with the main sponsor and race managers.

It means a second consecutive cancellation for the event, which last year had to be called off on race day because of security fears.

Consultation on plans to upgrade part of the A47 in Norfolk to a dual carriageway has been extended until 23:59 on Thursday, 30 April.

The decision follows the closure of information collection points because of the coronavirus pandemic and is designed to allow more people living along the route to offer comments.

Image source, Highways England

Highways England, external has already announced its preferred option for five miles of new dual carriageway between North Tuddenham and Easton.

The scheme is part of a £300m upgrade which they say will save up to seven minutes on journeys and improve safety.

Image source, Highways England

Peter Havlicek, Highways England project lead, said: "Extending the consultation was the right thing to do in response to the disruption from the coronavirus pandemic.

"This extension will give everyone extra time to understand the changes and give us feedback, either online, external or by returning a paper response form."