A lack of audio cues means visually impaired people struggle with online classes, a charity says.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

What started as a request to Watford FC, external for meeting rooms has now turned into a full-blown sanctuary for staff at neighbouring Watford General Hospital.

Image source, West Herts NHS Trust

The collaboration between the club and West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust , externalstarted with meeting rooms at the Vicarage Road stadium to plan the trust's Covid-19 response and moved onto providing breakfast, lunch and a place to sit and chat after a tough shift.

Now there is overnight accommodation and counselling rooms for staff who want help with emotional trauma.

And for anyone who wishes to remember loved ones who have died during the outbreak, the chaplaincy team from the trust has created a memorial room.

Staff; including nurses, doctors, managers, cleaners and porters are even finding the sight of the pitch relaxing.

Chief executive Christine Allen said: "Watford General is only a few yards away, but the environment is so different and really seems to lift the mood.

"Of course, football fans want to see the pitch full of players, but for us, the empty green space has a very calming effect. And whilst our sole focus is our patients, the ability to get away makes all the difference."

Image source, West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust

He had been working until March and relatives say he wanted to keep going "for many more years".

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

Nadiya Hussain has been busy baking cakes for key workers at Milton Keynes University Hospital, external.

The Great British Bake Off winner, who was born in Luton but now lives in the Buckinghamshire town, said she didn't know how else to say thank you "but cake seems the best way for now".

The hospital's charity said staff were sure to love the "special treats".

The father of Peterborough MP Paul Bristow passed away at home with a brain tumour.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

A greenskeeper at a floral public gardens has thanked people for observing social distancing.

The Abbey Gardens, external in Bury St Edmunds is on the site of the former abbey - once one of the richest, largest and most powerful Benedictine monasteries in England

Steve has worked in the gardens for 31 years and said they will be staying open for people's "enjoyment" as long as they obey the rules and stay at least two metres apart.

"We will all get through this together," he said.

• The Northampton Chronicle and Echo reports, external that a quarter of businesses in the south of the county which are eligible for a grant payment to help them during coronavirus have not yet applied
• Meanwhile, the Northamptonshire Telegraph says a group of 15 people were caught flouting social distancing rules by playing football at a park in Corby, external
• And the Daventry Express writes, external that carers from an agency are wearing personal protective equipment made by their manager due to the worldwide shortage

A new online resource has been launched to help people find online arts and culture experiences during the current lockdown.

The new Let’s Get Cultural and Creative web directory, external is being hosted by Suffolk Libraries with the content co-ordinated by Suffolk County Council and local arts organisations.

It includes a choice of links to local and national activities including dance exercises from DanceEast, external, Time Out, external’s virtual gallery tours, free National Theatre, external pieces and the Ipswich-based theatre company Red Rose Chain, external has produced short films about real life Suffolk experiences.

Melissa Matthews, from Suffolk Libraries, said: "It’s a really tough time for everyone but many organisations are working hard to focus their work online and provide new and accessible experiences for people to enjoy.

"We hope the ‘Let’s get Cultural and Creative’ resource will help to point them in the direction of some excellent content.”

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust, external said more than 140 people had been tested at its drive-through Covid-19 staff testing facility in Watford since it opened on Thursday.

Essential workers in their first 72 hours of having COVID symptoms should bring their work ID to the facility at the Central Watford Leisure Centre in Peace Prospect between 10:00 and 16:00.

It will also test family members over the age of five and there is no need to book.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News Online

A 105-year-old woman has been discovering how WhatsApp helps her to stay in touch with relatives during lockdown.

Eileen, a resident of a care home in Buckinghamshire, said it was "wonderful" to be able to talk to her daughter on a tablet which the care home provided.

The technology has also enabled other residents to speak to relatives living in New Zealand, South Africa, Spain and Australia.

Entries to the Northampton Film Festival include tales of a dog's life and a runaway ball's journey.

The sculpture capturing the fans' favourite leaping for a header will be erected outside Portman Road.

Here's how the newspapers in Hertfordshire are reporting the coronavirus pandemic:

• Herts Live, external reports how the temporarily closed Paradise Wildlife Park is now trying to keep afloat despite the astronomical running costs
• A Scrub Hub has been set up in Hertfordshire to respond to the desperate need for medical clothing in the county’s hospitals, clinics and GP surgeries, the Comet, external reports
• The Herts Advertiser, external reports that a dog called Teddy is telling tales to schoolchildren in lockdown

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News Online

A woman who was due to be running the London Marathon yesterday completed the 26.2 miles on a treadmill at her home.

The event has been postponed until October due to lockdown measures.

Kate Rogers was running to raise money for Wycombe Homeless Connection, external. The Buckinghamshire charity aims to prevent homelessness before it starts and support those who do find themselves without a home.

Meet the staff and animals at Suffolk Rural college keeping each other company during the lockdown.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Police on patrol in Billericay who spotted a series of identical white vans discovered they were some of the mobile Covid-19 testing vehicles that a local company is supplying to places around the UK.

The ones pictured are ready to go to the Armed Forces who will be going up and down the country distributing them.

Image source, Essex Police

One garden centre said it has managed to avoid throwing any plants away despite being closed for several weeks.

Alton Garden Centre, external in Wickford, Essex, is shut due to the lockdown, but it has cleared all the vegetables and plants which would have gone to waste.

One of its directors, Jay Bunker, said: "We came up with an idea with the local schools of dropping off some plants for the local key workers and children that were there.

"We had about 40 schools in the end so that was nice."

Image source, Google

Colin Price, 52, of Lowestoft was due to be touring Australia and New Zealand with Iron Maiden.

Kris Holland
BBC News

Northamptonshire's Silverstone Circuit - the home of British motorsport - says that if the 2020 British Grand Prix goes ahead, it will do so without fans.

Last year, more than 140,000 supporters turned out for Sunday's race day and this year the race was supposed to be on 19 July.

It comes as F1 unveiled plans to begin its season in Austria in July.

Silverstone's managing director said the race would be available to watch live on Sky and Channel 4.

Norwich City will "stick to their guns" on a decision to furlough non-playing staff and expect to lose up to £35m.