Summary

  • Cars and buildings damaged by arson attack in Haverhill

  • Suffolk people needing treatment for an eating disorder are having to wait on average 31 days for help

  • Updates for Thursday, 7 April 2016

  • News, sport, travel and weather updates resume on Friday at 08:00

  1. Anger in Haverhill over lack of action on potholespublished at 17:54 British Summer Time 7 April 2016

    Steve Blower
    BBC Radio Suffolk

    A Haverhill town councillor says Suffolk County Council is treating residents like "idiots", because of a lack of action to repair potholes at Duddery Hill.

    Pothole

    Maureen Byrne said: "They think we have to accept everything that they say. We're angry now... we feel intimidated by Suffolk County Council, they're totally ignoring the seriousness of this piece of road."

    Suffolk County Council says it is dealing with a backlog of repairs in many areas, but funding means it has to do things gradually.

  2. 'We can get justice for victims of historical offences' say Suffolk Policepublished at 17:36

    Kate Williams
    BBC Local Live

    Suffolk Police say the jailing of 62-year-old Joseph Page today for indecent assaults dating back to the 1990s shows it is possible to "get justice for victims of historical offences".

    Det Con Natalie Cole said: "A friend of the victim had encouraged her to tell her partner about the abuse and, after receiving their support, she decided to report to police.

    "Any allegations will be investigated and, even if you do not wish to go to court, support and help is available."  

  3. Overnight weather: Generally rather cloudy, with a few clear spellspublished at 17:28

    BBC Weather

    The odd isolated shower may persist through the night, but otherwise it'll be generally cloudy with a few clear spells. Lows of 4C (39F). 

    Overnight weather map

    Tomorrow will be mostly dry with sunny spells but a few showers may develop during the afternoon. It will feel more pleasant than today with light winds. Top temperature: 11C (52F).

    Get more on the forecast where you live at BBC Weather.

  4. Travel: Further delays on A14, this time eastbound at Claydonpublished at 17:19 British Summer Time 7 April 2016

    BBC Travel

    One lane is closed and there's queuing traffic eastbound before J52 (B1113 Claydon) because of a broken down lorry. There's congestion to J51 (A140 Needham Market).

  5. Forest Heath council reconsiders solar farm investmentpublished at 17:13

    Philippa Taylor
    BBC Local Live

    A new £14.4m deal could see Forest Heath District Council become the owners of a large-scale solar farm at Toggam Farm in Lakenheath.

    Solar Farm

    The council had originally considered investing in the solar farm last year, but in September announced it would not go ahead.

    Stephen Edwards, the councillor responsible for resources and performance, says: "We recognise that this is a big sum of public money that we are looking to invest so this will only go ahead when the commercial conditions have been met."    

  6. Travel: Broken down lorry causes delays westbound on A14 at Beytonpublished at 17:08 British Summer Time 7 April 2016

    BBC Travel

    There's very slow traffic, and one lane is closed westbound on the A14 at J46 (Beyton), because of a broken down lorry.

  7. Early evening headlines: Public rejects plans for fire service shake-up... Solar farm investment back on agenda for Forest Heathpublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 7 April 2016

    Philippa Taylor
    BBC Local Live

    A final look at Suffolk's top stories:

    • Plans for a major shake-up of the fire service in Suffolk have been rejected by the public
    • Forest Heath council reconsiders solar farm investment
    • Businessman Peter Dawe becomes the first person to declare an intention to stand for election as East Anglia's first mayor for Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire
  8. Picture released of Haverhill arson attackpublished at 16:38 British Summer Time 7 April 2016

    Philippa Taylor
    BBC Local Live

    More now on the story we brought you earlier about an arson attack in Haverhill yesterday morning...

    Fire damaged carImage source, Suffolk Police

    Suffolk Police have released this photograph of one of the vehicles involved. In total three cars and three properties were damaged in the blaze.

    Police have asked for any witnesses to come forward.

  9. Greater Anglia warns of problems on Felixstowe to Ipswich linepublished at 16:04 British Summer Time 7 April 2016

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  10. Major fire service shake-up in Suffolk 'rejected'published at 15:52 British Summer Time 7 April 2016

    Steve Blower
    BBC Radio Suffolk

    Plans for a major shake-up of the fire service in Suffolk, with the possible loss of 20 posts, have been rejected by the public.  

    Sudbury fireImage source, Suffolk County Council

    Roy Humphreys, brigade secretary of the Suffolk Fire Brigades' Union, said he was "not surprised" by the public's opposition to the cuts and hoped the council would reject the reduction in services.

    The council's cabinet member for public protection, Matthew Hicks, said: "I want to reiterate that no decisions have yet been made".  

  11. First person throws their hat into the ring to be East Anglian mayorpublished at 15:31 British Summer Time 7 April 2016

    BBC Look East

    Devolution plans have yet to be signed-off, but a local businessman has become the first to declare an intention to stand for election as East Anglia's mayor for Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire... if the role comes to fruition.

    Peter Dawe

    Ely-based Peter Dawe, who made his reputation by developing internet services, says the biggest asset of the region is the farming industry.

    "The rural issues are very common. They're about access, transport, deprivation, and these are common across all the three counties," he said.

  12. Darts: Wright looking for revengepublished at 15:15 British Summer Time 7 April 2016

    Brenner Woolley
    BBC Radio Suffolk sport

    Suffolk's Peter Wright faces a tough challenge in the latest round of the darts Premier League in Sheffield tonight.

    Peter WrightImage source, Getty Images

    The 46-year-old is up against two times world champion Adrian Lewis, who beat him 7-3 earlier in the competition.

    In the match of the night, current world champion Gary Anderson will take on six times Premier League winner Phil Taylor.

  13. Ipswich Town confirm Daryl Murphy will miss Brentford matchpublished at 14:51 British Summer Time 7 April 2016

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  14. Afternoon weather: Sunny spells and scattered showerspublished at 14:09 British Summer Time 7 April 2016

    BBC Weather

    There'll be a mixture of sunny spells and scattered showers this afternoon. Some of the showers are likely to be heavy at times with hail and thunder possible, particularly in the west of the county.

    Top temperature: 11C (52F).

    Rainbow in EykeImage source, Weather Watcher Steve Nicholls

    Today's image of a rainbow in Eyke was taken this morning by Weather Watcher Steve Nicholls. If you'd like to be a Weather Watcher too, take a look at the BBC website.

  15. Lunchtime headlines: 13-year jail sentence for Ipswich man for indecent assaults... Farmers discuss impact of leaving EUpublished at 13:47 British Summer Time 7 April 2016

    Philippa Taylor
    BBC Local Live

    Here's a look at Suffolk's top stories:

    • An Ipswich man has been jailed for 13 years for a number of indecent assaults on a girl
    • Farmers debate the impact of leaving the EU
    • Former Ipswich Town centre-half Ibrahima Sonko says it's "a shame" the club is having a bad run
  16. Travel: Broken down lorry causes delays on A12 northbound at Blythburghpublished at 13:19 British Summer Time 7 April 2016

    BBC Travel

    The A12 is closed northbound in Blythburgh and there are delays between the A1095 and the B1126, because of a broken down lorry.

  17. Former RAF employee admits fraudpublished at 13:03

    Philippa Taylor
    BBC Local Live

    A former employee at RAF Honington, external has admitted defrauding the RAF of more than £72,000, by transferring cheques and cash to her own bank acccount.

    RAF HoningtonImage source, Google

    Zowie Davis, 38, who was detained under the Mental Health Act in 2015, took the money while working as a mess clerk at the Suffolk station between 2012 and 2014, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

    Sentencing has been postponed until next month, to allow an up-to-date psychiatric report to be prepared.

    A further hearing will be held in July under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

  18. Arson attack damages cars and homes in Haverhillpublished at 12:30

    Philippa Taylor
    BBC Local Live

    An arson attack in Haverhill has damaged three vehicles and buildings.

    Police believe one car was deliberately set alight yesterday morning and the blaze then spread to two other cars.

    The heat also damaged the front of three houses, causing windows to crack.