The number of vehicles on Essex's roads has decreased by over 50% according to the county council.

Traffic data from local authority showed that since the government's announcement over a week ago to "stay at home" residents were adhering to the advice.

Councilllor Kevin Bentley, cabinet member for infrastructure, said: "While it’s great to see such a reduction in travel, it’s critical that this continues to decrease, and that residents stay at home.

"Let’s not forget that in Italy and Spain the restrictions were much more stringent, with permits required to leave home and a ban on exercise outside the home."

Image source, Essex Roads Policing Unit - South

The government says valid reasons for leaving home are:

• Shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible
• One form of exercise a day - for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household only
• Any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
• Travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home

How does a football mascot keep active during the coronavirus lockdown?

He eats plenty of carrots and lifts a few weights, of course.

Here's how Peterborough United's "crazy rabbit" Peter Burrow, external is encouraging fans to keep fit while holed up at home.

With schools closed for most pupils, many items that would normally be used have been lying dormant, until now.

Staff at the private Framlingham College, external in Suffolk have donated reusable safety goggles, masks and gloves to Ipswich Hospital.

Image source, Framlingham College

And in Bedford, 500 pairs of science googles and glasses from state-funded Biddenham International School, external have been handed over to frontline workers at the town's hospital.

It looks like the Milkybar kids has been out and about in Little Chalfont, Buckinghamshire.

Thames Valley Police tweeted a very big "thank you" as a chocolate bar was left on one of its windscreens.

The pet bird, called Oreo, flew out of a house in Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk, on Friday.

Joe Skipper said with only one exercise outing a day allowed, he "better make it count".

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Cambridge United FC has opened its kitchens to cook food for families most in need.

Using the club's own food, cooked by the resident chef, on Monday they delivered 55 sets of lasagnes, soups, and bread and butter pudding and will be delivering almost 200 more across the week.

The initiative is part of the Cambridge Food Poverty Alliance, external's wider scheme, ensuring that people have access to healthy and sustainable food and builds on the successful holiday lunches which have previously been held at the club's Abbey Stadium.

It is also part of the football club'sHere For U, external’s scheme, which is offering support to the local community during the current health crisis.

The number of coronavirus cases for the east of England were released by Public Health England, external on Monday evening.

Here is latest breakdown confirmed from hospital tests:.

• Bedford Borough 34
• Cambridgeshire 109
• Central Bedfordshire 60
• Essex 301
• Hertfordshire 339
• Luton 69
• Milton Keynes 94

• Norfolk 133
• Northamptonshire 153
• Peterborough 24

• Suffolk 100
• Southend 31
• Thurrock 41

CCTV footage shows a man pulling a hand sanitiser dispenser off the wall.

Farazana Chaudry creates a woolly tableau of doctors, a cleaner and a greengrocer for her neighbours.

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

Thank you for joining us and welcome to our live updates page this Tuesday where you can keep up with all the regional news on the coronavirus pandemic.

We'll bring you all the latest developments and news from the East of England.

Regular updates have stopped for the evening.

Join us again on Tuesday morning.

A reminder that official advice is available online from the government, external and the NHS, external.

Sam Read
BBC Look East

Tower block residents in Milton Keynes who have been unable to access their balconies for six months say not having easy access to fresh air is affecting their mental health.

Balconies at flats in Mellish Court have been out of bounds for safety reasons.

Resident Tina, who lives with five-year-old daughter Tyler (both pictured), said: "I'm completely trapped.

"I feel frustrated knowing I'm stuck in one room and I can't walk out on to the balcony freely, but it has the same impact on everyone."

Nigel Long, cabinet member for housing at Milton Keynes Council, said he expects the work on the balconies to go-ahead "when this coronavirus isolation period has stopped".

"We are sorry, but we need to be careful and we need to do this properly," he added.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

From Friday, food and garden waste collections will be suspended in Milton Keynes.

The council said the decision was made "due to reduced staff number and to protect the weekly collection of black and clear sacks".

A Norfolk and Suffolk college has donated thousands of items of personal protection equipment to its local hospital and police.

East Coast College, which is based in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft, dropped off masks, disposable aprons and gloves to the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston and Norfolk Police.

It said the items would have been used by students on a variety of courses.

"We will continue to support our local community during these unprecedented times," it tweeted.

Pete Cooper
BBC News

The 2020 Milton Keynes International Festival, external has been postponed by organisers.

It was due to be held between 17 and 26 July, and would have featured family events, concerts, theatre, dance, music and visual arts installations.

Image source, Milton Keynes International Festival

Organisers said it had become "increasingly difficult for us to continue to plan, and safely and effectively deliver a large-scale international event with a number of anticipated mass gatherings at its core".

They also said the next festival, which happens every two years, will now take place in 2021.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

East Hertfordshire District Council has suspended charges across all of its car parks.

The council has also extended all permit expiry dates by three months.

Councillor Graham McAndrew, executive member for environmental sustainability said it was "to support essential NHS and police staff, as well as residents that have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic".

A primary school re-creates Lou Reed's hit song Perfect Day as a way of coming together while apart.

John Hood's partner Jayne Lindill says his friends and family are "heartbroken" by his death.

Here's what the newspapers in Essex are reporting on during the coronavirus pandemic...

• The mother of an NHS worker who had his car stolen while on shift has issued a desperate plea for those responsible to return it so he can continue doing his job - helping to save lives reports the Essex Chronicle, external
• The Echo says, external that a group of men spotted enjoying a barbecue and playing football have been labelled as ‘’inconsiderate’’
• A bus company is reducing its service after buses have been travelling around empty according to the Chelmsford and Mid-Essex Times, external.