BBC Radio Suffolk

Paul Harris, delivery director at Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunal Service, has told the BBC he apologises for the "distress" caused by delays, but added they are are "working very hard to reduce those delays".

Andrew Woodger
BBC News

The justices' clerk has again rung the witness service to find out if the witnesses in a criminal damage case will be turning up in court today.

A 46-year-old man is waiting at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court to see if his trial will go ahead.

Even if the witnesses do arrive at court in Ipswich, there may not be enough time left for the trial this morning and they'll have to adjourn to another day.

Philippa Taylor
BBC Local Live

In case you've not been in a magistrates' court, it is rather different from what you may have seen on television. 

Decisions are made by a bench of three magistrates, who are volunteers who hear cases in courts in their community.

They are not legally trained, but instead are advised by a legal adviser (the justice's clerk), who doesn't make any decisions but is legally qualified.

Andrew Woodger
BBC News

As we approach 45 minutes with nothing happening in courtroom three at Ipswich Magistrates' Court, the usher has been telling me that Monday is not usually a busy day.

Two courtrooms are being used, the other one is usually for first appearances of people who have been arrested over the weekend.

I may go to sit in that court if nothing happens here soon.

Philippa Taylor
BBC Local Live

Andrew Woodger
BBC News

While nothing is happening in the current case, the justice's clerk, who advises the magistrates on the law, has left the courtroom to deal with someone complaining about a fine.

We've now spent half an hour in courtroom three with nothing happening.

Philippa Taylor
BBC Local Live

The Waveney MP is "vigorously" opposed to the loss of the magistrates' court in Lowestoft - one of those earmarked for closure under a consultation announced by the Government in July.

Image source, Google

Andrew Woodger
BBC News

A defendant from Ipswich charged with criminal damage and using violence for the purpose of securing entry into premises left the magistrates' court complaining the case was a "waste of money".

He's waiting outside until the magistrates, who've left the courtroom while the situation is sorted out, return to the court.

Nothing has happened in court for 10 minutes now while we wait to hear from the witness service.   

Philippa Taylor
BBC Local Live

The stories making the news so far today:

• Demolition work is under way on buildings in Sudbury damaged by fire last night
• Meanwhile a helpdesk has opened at Sudbury Town Hall to support people affected by the blaze
• Proceedings have begun at Ipswich Magistrates Court, which we'll report on during the day

Andrew Woodger
BBC News

Court three at Ipswich Magistrates is now sitting for the first case of the day.

A 46-year-old man from Ipswich has pleaded not guilty on 17 June to criminal damage to a plant pot valued at £80 and using violence to gain entry to a house.

There is legal argument over witness statements and, after five minutes, the bench has retired to consider its decision as they attempt to make progress.

Kate Williams
BBC Local Live

The East Anglian Daily Times, external has launched a campaign, external to fight against moves to close the courts in Bury St Edmunds and Lowsestoft, saying the county's legal system would be seriously damaged.

The newspaper says the court closures would mean Suffolk would be one of only six counties in the UK to operate with single magistrates’ court, while  Norfolk would have three courts and Essex four.

The campaign has been backed by Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner who told the newspaper:

Andrew Woodger
BBC News

I'll be bringing you live updates from South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court in Ipswich to see how quick or slow the wheels of justice are moving.

It follows a BBC report which has found cases are taking longer to get through the courts than four years ago.

Today's court list features defendants charged with criminal damage, assault, speeding, driving while not wearing a seat belt, benefits offences and non-payment of a fine.

Philippa Taylor
BBC Local Live

Suffolk magistrates are dealing with cases from across the border in Essex in a bid to help clear a backlog there, a BBC Radio Suffolk investigation has found.

In Essex, it takes an average of 75 days to get cases listed and a further 24 to get them dealt with.

For Suffolk, however, it takes roughly half that, leading to some cases being moved here instead.

Kelly McCormack
BBC Radio Suffolk

"It does look like those images from the war, when a bomb has landed on a building" - that's the reaction of the South Suffolk MP to the scene in Sudbury this morning after a major blaze in the town last night.

James Cartlidge saw the fire at its height last night, and returned to the scene this morning: "There are still firefighters up on the aerial vehicle and the one thing I must say, people think we take them for granted.

"I was watching them last night standing on that thing, firing all that water into it. That's a brave thing to do, it takes a lot of courage and I think they did bring it under control in reasonable time given the sheer power of the fire."

Kelly McCormack
BBC Radio Suffolk

It's thought the fire started in a shop and quickly spread to neighbouring buildings.

People in the flats above had to escape the flames and 20 people were moved out of their homes.

Suffolk's Assistant Chief Fire Officer Dan Fearn, says the fire developed very quickly as they were rescuing the casualty from the second floor: "This meant a change of direction as far as operations for us but we safely rescued the person before we changed our tactics to more of a defensive to protect our firefighters."

Kelly McCormack
BBC Radio Suffolk

The woman who raised the alarm last night when she saw the early signs of the blaze in Sudbury town centre was Carly Ashdown.

She told the BBC: "There were people in the flats above - that was the scariest thing, looking out the windows, sort of just staring at us and we both shouted up to them and said: 'Get out, get out, there's a fire'.

"One of the ladies disappeared from the window, another lady said that she couldn't get out because the smoke had already got up the back passage she was supposed to vacate, and she couldn't get out, she was trapped."

BBC Travel

The B1115 Friars Street in Sudbury is closed between the Market Hill junction and the Station Road junction, because of the fire which destroyed two buildings last night.

Kelly McCormack
BBC Radio Suffolk

Here are the stories leading the news this morning:

• A huge fire in Sudbury has destroyed two buildings in Market Hill
• There's been an increase in waiting times at magistrates courts in Suffolk
• A teenage girl has been questioned on suspicion of arson after a fire at a school in Exning

Kelly McCormack
BBC Radio Suffolk

Demolition work is under way in Sudbury this morning, at the scene of yesterday evening's massive blaze on Market Hill.  

Station Commander John Illingworth, of Suffolk Fire Service, says they're having to take parts of the buildings down to avoid an "uncontrolled collapse".

"We've got areas of the building that are still burning so to get to it we're having to pull away some of the brickwork so that this doesn't spread to adjacent properties," he said.

BBC Weather

It's a chilly to start in clearer parts of the west but soon warming up, then a mainly dry day with some sunny spells

Sunshine will tend to turn hazier through the afternoon. 

Maximum temperature: 16C (61F). Watch the full forecast, external with Kate Kinsella.