Patrick Byrne
BBC News

For nearly 80 years the case for a third crossing over Lake Lothing in Lowestoft has been made at frequent intervals, and progress finally seems to have been made.

Image source, Suffolk County Council

• Lake Lothing effectively divides the town into two parts and existing crossings cannot cope with traffic, campaigners say
• The case for the crossing states a poor road network blights the town, as businesses fail to set up or expand
• Plans show a new road would cross Lake Lothing between the two existing bridges, linking Peto Way and Tom Crisp Way
• The trigger for investment was proposed improvements to the A47, Waveney MP Peter Aldous claims

• David Cameron announced today that "over £70m" will be made available to create the crossing, which is expected to cost about £90m

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

The main purpose of David Cameron's visit to Felixstowe was to extol the virtues of the UK remaining a member of a reformed European Union.

Speaking at the Port of Felixstowe, the prime minister said: "The rational argument is to remain in the EU, but there are emotional arguments to leave to do with patriotism and what Britain could be.

"We are best when we are open to the world as a member of the EU, not when we pull up the drawbridge."

Vikki Irwin
BBC Radio Suffolk political reporter

While the promise of £70m for Lowestoft's third crossing is welcome news, it's unlikely that tomorrow's budget will feature any funding for a new crossing at the waterfront in Ipswich.

Suffolk County Council submitted plans for a crossing in January, with the project expected to cost between £80-90m.

Speaking in Felixstowe, Prime Minister David Cameron said: "We're still looking at that. We're hopeful of making progress, but I can't tell you any more about that today."

Vikki Irwin
BBC Radio Suffolk political reporter

Prime Minister David Cameron says "over £70m" will be given towards Lowestoft's third crossing in tomorrow's budget.

Proposals for a third water crossing over Lake Lothing, expected to cost up to £90m, were submitted to government in January.

Speaking at the Port of Felixstowe, Mr Cameron said: "I've seen with my own eyes, just how important this is. I think it's really important this goes ahead."

Prime Minister David Cameron is in Felixstowe, where he has announced that more than £70m is to be given towards a third crossing in Lowestoft.

Richard Haugh
BBC News

Prime Minister David Cameron is at the Port of Felixstowe, where he has been telling workers why they should vote to stay in the EU.

We'll have more on this shortly, but in the meantime... let's admire the skill required to rearrange these shipping containers.

BBC Travel

An accident has partially blocked the A1214 Chevallier Street and the A1156 Norwich Road in Ipswich both ways.

More details on BBC Travel.

It's still looking very quiet at Sailmakers in Ipswich, where the audition pod for X Factor is based today.

Our reporter Luke Deal says there's not a long queue of people wanting to showcase their talent so far.

However, he has spoken with Anna Torres, who is from Ipswich and was the first to audition... so we'll hear what she had to say later.

Etholle George
BBC Radio Suffolk

Ipswich Hospital, external dealt with 30% more accident and emergency patients in an average 24-hour period on Monday, hitting an all-time peak record.

Chief executive Nick Hulme said 297 people were treated, compared to the average 230, and 25 had to wait longer than the four-hour target time. 

Mr Hulme said all the staff responded to the need but he had to make several announcements that waits would be long, and some patients might consider seeking a GP appointment or visiting a pharmacist.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A teenage Army cadet from Felixstowe will be honoured at Buckingham Palace today for saving the life of a fellow cadet who had a stroke at an annual camp.

Image source, RFCA

Cadet L/Cpl Joseph Long, 15, will attend the Princess Royal's Reception for Young Achievers at the palace.

The Princess Royal, commandant-in-chief for St John Ambulance youth section, will also celebrate the achievements of First Aid Champions.

With an hour to go before the X Factor, external audition pod was due to open at Sailmakers in Ipswich... all looked very quiet.

A couple of years ago there were long queues of people waiting for the auditions to start, but our reporter Luke Deal said things were eerily quiet ahead of today's 10:00 start.

Mike Sorendo, manager of Sailmakers, said: "That's a bit surprising, but it's early days...they've got all day. Ipswich has a great amount of talent so we're hoping people come down today and show us what they can do."

Jon Wright
BBC Radio Suffolk

As pressure mounts on Ipswich Town as the season heads to a climax, boss Mick McCarthy says it seems only the league leaders Burnley are immune to a dip in form.

Image source, PA

Town will move to within a point of the play-off places if they beat Blackburn Rovers at Portman Road tonight, but McCarthy said: "I think the pressure to get results gets more intense as the games dwindle away.

"Professional footballers may get fatigued at this stage of the season when they have five games in two weeks, form can take a dip. I think that's been the case in the Championship across the board...except for Burnley, who are just ploughing ahead."

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Anyone who fancies their chances of being the next Olly Murs (pictured), Little Mix or Leona Lewis should head to the Sailmakers shopping centre in Ipswich this morning.

Image source, PA

Talent hunters from the X-Factor are in town, auditioning for the next series. Makers of the show say that programmes last season attracted an average 7m viewers and the final in 2015 had an audience of 8.4m.

For those who miss out, the roadshow is just down the A12 in Chelmsford tomorrow.

Two councils in Suffolk have agreed to begin the process of joining together to form one large local authority, with the aim of saving up to £1m a year. 

Waveney and Suffolk Coastal plan to join their operations together to become East Suffolk District Council, following a meeting last night.

A full business case for merging will now be drawn up and a local referendum will be held later in the year.

Ipswich Hospital's chief executive tweets: 

Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather

It will be a foggy start, particularly near the coasts, and cloudy skies will linger through much of the day. 

Feeling chilly in a north-easterly breeze. Maximum temperature: 10C (50F).

More details on BBC Weather.

Kelly McCormack
BBC Radio Suffolk

Your headlines this morning:

• Waveney and Suffolk Coastal district councils last night agreed to begin the process of merging, to form the biggest district council in the country
• A Felixstowe teenager has been invited to a Buckingham Palace reception after putting his first aid skills into action to save a friend's life
• The X Factor audition pod is in Ipswich today

BBC Travel

There's slow traffic on the northbound A12 at J33 (Copdock interchange) into Ipswich.

More details on BBC Travel.