There are plenty of groups in Suffolk ready to offer a helping hand or a friendly ear.

Here’s our round-up of organisations that can offer you support during this crisis:

• Home But Not Alone Volunteer App, external: Suffolk County Council has launched a free app, called Tribe Volunteer, and phone line - 0800 876 6926 - to connect volunteers with those needing help. The number operates 09:00 to 17:00, seven days a week
• Age UK Suffolk, external: 01473 357070/01473 351234
• Community Action Suffolk, external: For information for volunteers and communities contact 01473 345400
• Suffolk MIND, external: Help available for emotional needs and mental health on 0300 111 6000
• Domestic Abuse: Call 0808 2000247 if you don't feel safe
• Samaritans, external: 116 123 or jo@samaritans.org
• Alzheimer’s Research UK, external: If you, or someone you care for, needs support and information call the dementia info line on 0300 111 5 111
• Suffolk Trading Standards, external: 0808 223 1133 or go to its Facebook page

Here's how the local papers are reporting the coronavirus pandemic:

• The MK Citizen, external says bin lorries are struggling to get down streets in the town because so many cars are parked up outside houses due to the lockdown
• Buckinghamshire Health NHS Trust says it is well prepared to deal with an 'anticipated' increase in coronavirus patients, the Bucks Herald, external reports
• Herts Live, external has a round-up of the "Herts heroes" that pulling us through the first fortnight of lockdown
• A man who claimed to have Covid-19 allegedly coughed in a Co-op customer's face in Hatfield, the Welwyn Hatfield Times, external reports

Coronavirus measures mean the annual event to mark the 2009 tragedy could not go ahead in Aberdeen.

Staff are said to be "petrified" at the lack of protective equipment during the coronavirus crisis.

Fabio D'Andrea says he wants to bring "some comfort" to people during the coronavirus pandemic.

Annabel Amos
BBC Radio Northampton

England and Northampton Saints fullback George Furbank said he was "really hoping" England coach Eddie Jones has not been watching his social media.

Furbank has been posting dance routines filmed at home with team-mate and house-mate Alex Mitchell, external.

He also said the two of them, along with fellow Saints housemate David Ribbans have "spent a lot of hours playing back-yard cricket".

Image source, Reuters

The 23-year-old admitted "although you've got more time, motivation levels are lower, but we are staying on top of our fitness and still going strong".

He also told me about making his England debut earlier this year against France with his parents watching on.

He said: "I owe them a lot. It was special to share that moment with them."

Zoe Applegate
BBC News

A man has admitted kicking, coughing and spitting on three police officers in Essex.

The officers were assaulted in The Broadway, Leigh-on-Sea, on Saturday evening after being called to help a shop worker at a nearby Tesco Express.

The man, 28, from Leigh-on-Sea, faced magistrates in Chelmsford and admitted a string of charges including drink-driving, driving with no insurance or a licence and failing to stop.

He will be sentenced later this month.

Assistant Chief Constable Paul Wells said: "Unbelievably, we have seen suspects using the Covid-19 virus as a weapon against officers - who, in these incredibly challenging times continue in their duty to keep the community safe."

Police also revealed officers in Ongar were coughed at and bitten on Saturday morning while arresting a man accused of stealing alcohol.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

Two medical wards at Luton and Dunstable Hospital have been turned into a critical care unit.

The Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , externalsaid it was moving all patients requiring intensive or high dependency care onto one floor, tripling capacity from 16 to 48 critical care beds. By treating these patients in one location staff would have more support and can work more safely, it said.

Image source, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Assistant director of nursing at the hospital, Helen Judkins, said thanks to "amazing team work" the challenge had been completed within three days.

Patients would be treated in the new unit from today, she added.

Elderly people are being warned to be on their guard following a spate of scam phone calls from fraudsters pretending to be police officers or government workers.

Image source, PA

In the last 24 hours, Norfolk Police said a number of pensioners have been targeted by callers telling them their bank cards were being used fraudulently or asking them to visit banks to withdraw money.

Another elderly resident was phoned by someone who said they were from Public Health England, before being asked if they were being supported by family and friends during the coronavirus lockdown and then trying to get personal details.

The force said neither banks nor its officers would ever ask for PIN numbers or bank card details over the phone.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News Online

Cambridgeshire Police has set up a pop-up shop for its busy officers.

An officer said on Twitter they had been volunteering at the shop which aims to provide items to officers who "work long shifts and have very little time to buy essentials".

Nikki Fox
BBC Look East

The number of people who have died from coronavirus continues to rise in the East of England.

Last night, Public Health England , externalannounced the statistics for 31 March at the region's hospital trusts:

• Basildon - 10 more deaths

• Luton & Dunstable - 1
• East & North Herts - 5

• Norfolk & Norwich - 2
• Northampton - 2
• Southend - 3
• Queen Elizabeth, King's Lynn - 3

• James Paget, Gorleston - 2
• Addenbrooke's, Cambridge - 2
• Essex partnership (mental health inpatient) - 1

• West Herts Hospitals - 4
• Stoke Mandeville, Aylesbury - 2
• Wycombe Hospital - 3

If a hospital trust is not listed it means no deaths were recorded there on Tuesday.

The total number of confirmed (tested) regional cases now stands at 1,945.

Across the UK, the death toll stands at 1,789.

Rachael McMenemy
BBC News

Image source, Nas Ahmed

A doorman who usually runs security for bars, clubs and pubs in Bedford has taken on a new role as "food police" at some of the town's supermarkets during the coronavirus pandemic.

Nas Ahmed said: "It's a surreal feeling to be dressed up in club doorman clothes and telling people 'sorry that's too much milk' ... it's a bit different to dealing with drunks and drugs in clubs and pubs.

"I’ve been walking up and down the aisle checking customers trolleys like the food police."

Mr Ahmed says it's been especially difficult to tell elderly and vulnerable people they need to put items back.

He added: "In general, people have been fantastic.. I've seen people queuing up and writing thank you cards to give to staff and one person spotted a paramedic and had an envelope with cash in it which they handed over."

Elouise Simpson had open "foetal repair" surgery last year following a spina bifida diagnosis.

The advice comes as the government faces growing criticism over a lack of testing for frontline staff.

Bethan and Holly Botterill say they wanted to combat the "doom and gloom" in the news.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

St Albans food bank has said it supplied items to more than 200 people on Tuesday which is three times more than normal.

It said it anticipates at least 120 more people today and appealed to the public for more "generous donations".

Details of items it needs - including long-life milk and fruit juice; tinned soup and potatoes; and instant mash - can be found on its website, external, together with food collection points in St Albans, Harpenden and Wheathampstead.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

The Mall in Luton has sent an "appreciation package" to ambulance workers in the town.

The shopping centre tweeted that it wanted to thank crews for "all their hard work" so sent a package "full of tasty treats".

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

A school in Billericay has sent gifts to workers at Basildon Hospital to thank them for their "amazing work".

Quilters Junior School said parents had donated their own Mother's Day gifts for the gesture.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Cambridge United Football Club, external has confirmed it has furloughed the vast majority of its staff and will place 2020-21 season tickets on sale for a short period of time by the end of this week.

Chief executive officer, Ian Mather, said the coronavirus outbreak had "significant financial implications" for the League Two club.

Image source, Getty Images

He said its landlords, Grosvenor, had "in effect written off" rent for the Abbey Stadium for the forthcoming period and the government had provided a way for it to retain staff through its Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, external which allows employers to claim money to cover wages for employees on furlough (temporary) leave.

"We are effectively, hibernating the football club until a point in which we have further clarity around when the current season will conclude and next season will begin," Mr Mather said.

"This has not been an easy decision to make, but I would like to thank all of our staff who have acted diligently and professionally to perform their roles during a period of such uncertainty."

He added the club would put season tickets on sale for a two-week window starting at 09:00 tomorrow to "allow those supporters who are willing and able to buy their season tickets now to support the cash flow of the Football Club".

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

Police officers in Wycombe have expressed their delight in finding empty skateparks while on patrol.

The officers said they were "very happy" with what they saw and tweeted a "massive thank you" to those who had followed advice and stayed indoors.