All the latest from Beds, Bucks, Cambs, Essex, Herts, Norfolk, Northants and Suffolk
Deaths in BBC East region reach 1,963
Call for waste sites to reopen after fly-tipping in Norfolk
Primary school creates Lego film for NHS fundraiser Capt Tom
Northants nurse to run "London Marathon" on treadmill
Ex-England captain sends message to 99-year-old fundraiser
Latest figures from NHS England, external confirm 1,535 people in the BBC East region have died with coronavirus.
It is an increase of 111 across the entire region since yesterday.
These are deaths announced by NHS Trusts and do not include those to have happened in care homes or the community.
Thursday is becoming Dance on Your Doorstep day as these boogie-woogie fans demonstrate.
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About £200,000 has been raised by Northamptonshire Community Foundation, external to help small charities to carry on vital work across the county.
In two weeks it has helped 54 organisations that are keeping vulnerable people safe and well by offering grants of up to £3,000.
Rachel McGrath, from the foundation, said: "We are getting funds in but we need more people to support the appeal, so that we can continue to support those groups on the front line who are helping are most vulnerable citizens."
Image source, Northamptonshire Community FoundationTwo school boys have been described as "an inspiration" after they helped make 600 face shields for the NHS.
Maciej Smolinksi and Sean Dimmock, year 10 pupils at Brooke Weston Trust in Corby, worked with a team on 3D printers to make the shields.
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A family has painted the bricks at the front of their Rushden home with chalk to create their own version of a rainbow.
The Barlow family, from Northamptonshire, wanted to show their support to the NHS and carers who are "doing an amazing job", dad Chris said.
They have also painted their fence.
"Chalk is the childrens version of toilet rolls," he said.
Image source, Chris BarlowBedfordshire Police said they have been outside the house where Captain Tom Moore lives in Marston Moretaine today, providing reassurance to the family who have found the attention "somewhat overwhelming".
Image source, Bedfordshire PoliceEarlier, the army veteran completed 100 laps of his garden, and has just hit the £14m mark in his fundraising for NHS charities. His story has unsurprisingly attracted both well-wishers and the media to the area.
A police spokeswoman said there had been "no issues" and "social distancing guidelines are being observed".
Watford Football Club in Vicarage Road has come to the assistance of Watford General Hospital by providing space for hospital staff to relax in during their breaks.
With no Premier League games being played the club said it was "nice to be able to help".
Richard Walker, from the Wasps, said: "It's just somewhere to come off site and take a proper break, as apposed to staying in the hurly burly of the situation at Watford General."
It is hoping to extend the idea by creating an extension of the staff canteen on its site.
Image source, Watford CouncilIt is also being used to store toiletries that have been donated for hospital staff.
A Thameslink train has been rebranded to show support for the NHS.
The company, which runs though Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, said it was to "mark our support and gratitude to the 200,000 NHS staff and key workers who rely on our services each week".
"Support the NHS", it said.
Image source, ThameslinkUsing art as form of "escape" has been the inspiration of a student to put her art lessons online.
Martha Kay, a second year primary education student with the University Of Bedfordshire, external, has created her own web channel.
“In my mind, the last day of my placement was going to be celebrated with fun activities for the children, humour and a positive end for a new start in another placement.
“Sometimes people forget that children still need an outlet for creativity and to get messy,.
"They are children and need to get glue all over their hands and draw unrecognisable pictures", she said.
Image source, University of BedfordshireA table-top fantasy games enthusiast, with a 3D printer to make the figures used in make-believe battles, has delivered more 1,079 visors to Peterborough Hospital, external.
James Anderson, of Oundle, who makes maps for a living, issued a crowdfunding appeal and raised £6,300 which enabled him to buy more 3D printers.
He was inspired to make the visors when he heard there was a shortage of personal protective equipment and contacted Peterborough hospital who told him face and eye protection was needed.
Image source, James AndersonJames Anderson wearing one of the visors produced on a 3D printer
Nine machines are now working to produce more than 60 "comfortable" visors a day for the hospital's nursing staff - each one takes about two-and-a-half hours to print.
The hospital's supplies manager phoned over the weekend to say how grateful they were for the visors which were a favourite of the nurses because they were comfortable to wear.
When you're stuck indoors and you can't get out to play cricket, there is only one thing left to do.....
Play in the hall of course!
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A university for the arts has turned its hand to making face shields and wash sacks for the NHS.
Norwich University of the Arts, external (NUA), said it created 400 shields in a day, and hopes to increase the number to 1,000.
Pro Vice-Chancellor Neil Powell said: "We are delighted that NUA's 3D precision print and laser technologies, which are routinely used by students in the production of their creative work, can be retasked to help protect front line NHS staff."
Image source, NUAChloe Fuller, fashion technician, has so far made 50 wash sacks for medical scrubs, which staff to safely send their scrubs for high temperature cleaning at the end of each shift.
She wanted to help as her sister, Fay, is a nurse.
Image source, NUANew guidelines to limit the infection risk will allow last goodbyes, the health secretary says.
Read MoreOne city's bin collectors have received gifts and messages of appreciation during the lockdown.
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Alex Pope
BBC News Online
A new web page had been created to offer exercise tips, mental health advice and food nutrition.
Bedford Borough Council has launched bedford.gov.uk/wellbeing , externaloffering advice for people self-isolating.
It will be updated regularly.
Councillor Louise Jackson, portfolio holder for public health, said: "It’s really important that people can continue to look after their health and wellbeing at home.
“For all of us, where possible, this means getting up and moving often, looking after our mental health and eating healthy meals.”
Police teams have been out in force across Essex, asking parents and children not to used closed play areas.
In Basildon, officers went to Elm Green and "engaged with some parents and their children who were actively using all of the play equipment".
"We know it’s easy to become complacent and “not see things right before your eyes”. However, these signs are important," Essex Police said.
Image source, Essex PoliceIn Southend, police support officers also removed groups of youths from two locations that were "clearly marked as closed".
"The restrictions are for everyone's safety. Please spread the word to young people. This is only for a few weeks," police said.
Image source, Essex PolicePiers Meyler, Local Democracy Reporter
About £2m has been earmarked by Essex County Council (ECC) to buy its own personal protective equipment (PPE) for its departments and care providers.
The money will be spent purchasing about two weeks’ supply of PPE on behalf of the council and its providers.
The government has come under increasing attack over the failure to provide proper PPE equipment to health workers, with some reports of health workers buying their own from DIY stores.
The situation has got so bad that over the last week, ECC has been running a Facebook donation page where in excess of 300 local companies and individuals have offered access to their PPE which is not being used.
“By ordering our own stock of these items now, we can ensure essential equipment is available to support where it is needed until the national supply chain is functioning properly", the council said.
Image source, Getty ImagesPolice in Norfolk are warning about people going door to door, offering to do jobs like gardening and building work.
The force says it has received reports of a van collecting rubble from people's homes in Swaffham.
No evidence of illegal trade was found, but it said door to door selling is not "essential travel" and it should not be happening.
Image source, Norfolk PoliceA Buckingham-based gin company which turned its production to hand sanitiser has been sending them out to care homes and emergency centers across Buckinghamshire.
Honest said it despatched over 2,000 bottles in just a week.
Image source, HonestA number of Norfolk firefighters have been trained to drive ambulances for the East of England Ambulance Service in the county.
The trust said: "By the end of this week, they'll have completed 64 shifts, which means 32 more ambulances will have been available for our county’s residents."
Image source, Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service