Updates on Friday, 5 February 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates resume at 08:00 on Monday
That's it for this week's Suffolk Live.
We'll be back on Monday morning from 08:00, and hope you'll join us then.
If you're a rugby union fan, then may whichever team you support have a successful opening game in the Six Nations.
Chris Bell
BBC Look East weather
Tonight will be mostly cloudy and mild with a chance of some patchy light rain at times. Minimum temperature 8C (46F).
Saturday will be mostly cloudy and windy, with a band of more persistent rain edging in from the west at times. Top temperature: 12C (54F).
Graeme Mac
BBC Radio Suffolk sport
The Mayor of St Edmundsbury, Patrick Chung, has been at Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club, external today to officially open a new fitness and development centre at The Haberden.
It has been branded as a state of the art facility that can help take the National League Two side and the club's junior section to the next level.
"We've been very pleased at how quick this has gone up," said Bury Chairman Mike Robinson, external (second right). "It's thanks to hard work from sponsors, club members and volunteers."
Philippa Taylor
BBC Local Live
A man from Lowestoft has been jailed for eight years for the rape of a 12-year-old girl from west Suffolk.
Image source, Suffolk PoliceOscar Fitzgerald, 26, of Church Road in the town, was jailed at Norwich Crown Court today.
He'd made contact with the girl via social media, and had taken her to his home where the attack took place, after which he took her home again.
Philippa Taylor
BBC Local Live
Preparatory work has begun to strengthen the Westley railway bridge on Newmarket Road in Bury St Edmunds where "temporary" traffic signals and safety barriers were erected in December 2013.
Image source, Suffolk County CouncilOnce Network Rail, external has approved temporary scaffolding proposals, the main strengthening works to the bridge deck and carriageway can start, says Suffolk County Council, external.
The first phase of the work is programmed to continue until the end of March, with the final stages due for completion by August, with various traffic management measures put in place as required.
Nicholas Churchill, 40, from Brandon, left a trail of destruction when he took a 20-tonne dumper truck from his employer, while working at a quarry near Spixworth, Norwich, on 20 July last year.
Image source, Norfolk PoliceIpswich Academy is improving rapidly and may be taken out of special measures, according to a new Ofsted report.
Image source, Ipswich Spy
Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent
Suffolk and Norfolk insist that they're still committed to devolution for East Anglia despite being rebuffed by Cambridgeshire.
I've learnt that MPs have been trying to persuade the three counties to form a combined authority.
There will be more on the story on Sunday on BBC1 at 11:00 on Sunday Politics East.
Philippa Taylor
BBC Local Live
A Romanian man has been remanded in custody, after being formally charged at Ipswich Magistrates' Court with four offences following the sexual assault of a 25-year-old woman in the Shakers Lane area of Bury St Edmunds last May.
The 20-year-old, who was arrested by police in his home country on 22 January and brought to the UK yesterday, will appear at Ipswich Crown Court on 4 March.
He's been charged with attempted rape, sexual assault, causing a female to engage in sexual activity without consent, and assault.
Children enjoyed games of Quidditch, external on school playgrounds yesterday and last night discussed the popular J K Rowling novels at libraries.
Image source, East Anglian Daily Times
Kelly McCormack
BBC Radio Suffolk
An inquiry into what's been dubbed by Suffolk commuters as "leafgate" should be published next month.
Image source, PAFallen leaves damaged trains in the autumn and left services on branch lines between Felixstowe and Ipswich, and Marks Tey and Sudbury, suspended for 11 days.
Steve Hooker from Network Rail, external believes climate change could be to blame for the problems they faced: "In just a single week we had 40% of the leaves coming down... I guess every year is different, we all know the climate is changing, so we're seeing things now we've never seen before."
Kelly McCormack
BBC Radio Suffolk
The first Aldeburgh and Suffolk Coastal Young People's Film Festival, external launches today, catering for children aged three and upwards.
Image source, Andreas Schlieter/Attraction Distribution CanadaIt's been developed by the Aldeburgh Cinema Trust, and as well as showing films, local schools are invited to get involved by entering a short film competition.
Among the highlights are:
Here is the Haverhill Echo, external back page.
Image source, Haverhill EchoNicholas Churchill went on a two-hour rampage in the stolen dumper truck on July 20 last year.
During the ensuing police chase he:
Image source, Norfolk PoliceGraeme Mac
BBC Radio Suffolk sport
Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy says he would love to have winger Ainsley Maitland-Niles in his squad again next season.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe 18-year-old is currently on a season-long loan from Arsenal, and has made 26 appearances for the Blues, scoring two goals.
"At times he has been different class and all in all he has been seven out of 10," McCarthy said. "If you got that out of your senior players you would take it."
Graeme Mac
BBC Radio Suffolk sport
Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy says he was extremely unhappy by the reaction of some supporters towards on-loan winger Ainsley Maitland-Niles on Tuesday.
The 18-year-old was substituted at half time during the 2-1 win against Reading, and McCarthy pointed towards a few moans and groans from the crowd as the youngster left the field.
"It's not going to help him," McCarthy said. "We have taken a young player from Arsenal, he's here to help us, and he mainly has."
Kate Williams
BBC Local Live
Police who tried to stop 40-year-old Nicholas Churchill as he left a trail of destruction in a stolen dumper truck said they were "petrified" by his actions.
Image source, Norfolk PoliceChurchill, who admitted dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle-taking and driving while unfit through drugs, was jailed for 14 months at Norwich Crown Court, and banned from driving for two years.
An officer who was inside one of the police cars rammed by the truck, said in a statement read to the court: "I thought I was going to die, I was petrified and never felt anything like this before in my career... I believe the vehicle was so large and heavy it could have driven over our police car."
Philippa Taylor
BBC Local Live
Nicholas Churchill, who has today been jailed for 14 months and banned from driving for two years, was followed by six police cars and a helicopter for two hours over more 37 miles (60km) across Norfolk and Suffolk in the stolen dumper truck.
The prosecution said after driving around the Norwich ring road, forcing cars to swerve out of his way, Churchill headed to the A11 dual carriageway.
Shoppers scattered as his truck careered down a high street and over a pedestrianised square before coming to a halt near his home in Brandon.
Kate Williams
BBC Local Live
Nicholas Churchill, jailed for 14 months for going on a 37-mile (60km) rampage in a stolen dumper truck and leaving a trail of destruction in his wake, had a "red mist" descend on him, his barrister told Norwich Crown Court.
Image source, Norfolk PoliceLindsay Cox said, in mitigation: "It may not have been hot that day but it had been a period of very hot weather and the defendant, for what's it worth, had repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction at doing hot work in the hot cab of this vehicle.
"He was effectively told 'like it or lump it; carry on working or go home' and the red mist descended." Churchill's journey was finally halted near his home in Brandon, Suffolk.
Graeme Mac
BBC Radio Suffolk sport
I've been to Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club, external where the local mayor has just officially opened a new fitness and development centre.
Now he is trying the equipment out for himself with help from first team captain Josh Walker!
