Matt Precey
BBC Look East

The latest figures for the number of Covid-19 deaths in the East of England has been released by the government, external.

In the BBC East region, statistics for the NHS hospital trusts show a rise of 101 deaths in total, up from the previous day's figure of 80.

The total number of deaths at the region's hospitals is now 2,144.

• ·Basildon and Thurrock: 2
• ·Bedford: 4
• ·Buckinghamshire Healthcare: 3

• ·Addenbrooke's: 3
• ·East and North Hertfordshire: 5
• ·Colchester and Ipswich: 11
• ·Kettering General: 6
• ·Luton and Dunstable: 3
• ·Broomfield, Chelmsford: 3
• ·Milton Keynes: 4
• ·Norfolk and Norwich: 2
• ·Norfolk Community: 1
• ·North West Anglia, Peterborough and Hinchingbrooke: 5
• ·Northampton General: 11
• ·Northamptonshire Healthcare: 1
• ·Royal Papworth, Cambridge: 2

• ·Southend: 6
• ·Princess Alexandra, Harlow: 1
• ·Queen Elizabeth, King's Lynn: 6
• ·West Hertfordshire Hospitals: 20
• ·West Suffolk: 2

The total number of coronavirus-related UK deaths in hospitals is 18,738.

Earlier we were telling you about Rebecca Johnson, of Great Blakenham, near Ipswich, one of 80 riders "cycling around the world" from their homes to support frontline healthcare workers.

Starting at 04:00, she rode for 12 hours and was encouraged by friends watching and supporting her online.

This was how she looked when she finished her epic ride.

Image source, Rebecca Johnson

“It was actually really humbling having so many people join me on Zoom and ride with me," said Miss Johnson, 29.

"Two friends both did over 100 miles. I think I got round on ‘happiness watts’ as I spent the whole time chatting to amazing people."

A Suffolk cyclist is one of 80 riders "cycling around the world" from their homes to support frontline healthcare workers.

Rebecca Johnson, 29, of Great Blakenham, near Ipswich, is taking part in world record-holder Mark Beaumont's World in a Day, external in aid of The Sun's Who Cares Wins , externalappeal for the NHS Charities.

The core team of 80 riders, including Beaumont and paralympians Steve Bate and Mel Nicholls, are all around the globe

Each rider is completing 240 miles (386km) in a day on their home cycle trainers.

Miss Johnson, who started at 04:00, said she's had a "constant stream of happy faces" joining her virtually as she takes part in the event, including friends from New Zealand, Switzerland and Scotland as well as those from her home county.

Some also joined her while on their indoor trainers to keep her company while she pedalled.

It is expected the riders will finish in time for tonight's Clap for Carers at 20:00.

Image source, Suffolk police

More than 130 student paramedics, community first responders, military personnel and other new recruits at the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) are receiving specialist driver training to help them support the front-line services.

The six-week training, offered by the police and fire service in Suffolk, will teach people to drive patient transport service vehicles.

Des Pooley, lead for driving training at Suffolk Police, said: "We are looking to train at least 132 people to drive ambulances in the next six weeks and this valuable, practical work is already successfully underway.

Marcus Bailey, chief operating officer with EEAS, said: "Covid-19 represents an unprecedented challenge and we truly appreciate the fantastic support we have received."

Image source, PA Media

• A painting by renowned Suffolk artist Sir Cedric Morris is due to be sold months after another of his works broke auction records, reports the Ipswich Star, external

• Ipswich Town fans fear a proposal to "regionalise" League One to help struggling clubs during the lockdown could be "disastrous", according to the East Anglian Daily Times, external
• And plans have been submitted to create a two-storey, two-bedroom flat above the Grade II-listed Mumfords shop in High Street, Southwold, the Lowestoft Journal, external reports

Some 40 staff will lose their jobs at a fee-paying school which has 61 pupils.

Police in Suffolk have had their briefing room brightened up, thanks to pictures and posters sent in by young people.

Officers in Ipswich said they might need a new notice board, though...

Greenbelt Festival, the annual three-day Christian music and faith event in Northamptonshire, has been called off because of Covid-19.

Previous acts to perform at the festival include Pussy Riot, Frank Turner and comedian Russell Brand.

This year's event due to take place from 28-31 August, will now be held from 27-30 August 2021.

Greenbelt, external has been hosted by Boughton House near Kettering since 2014 and it attracts about 20,000 people. The first event, in 1974, was held in Charsfield, Suffolk.

Matt Precey
BBC Look East

The latest figures for the number of Covid-19 deaths in the East of England has been released by the government, external.

In the BBC East region, statistics for each NHS hospital trust show a rise of 100 deaths.

The total number of deaths at the region's hospitals is now 1,963.

• Basildon and Thurrock - 8
• Bedford -2
• Buckinghamshire Healthcare - 9
• Addenbrooke's, Cambridge - 12
• East and North Hertfordshire - 3
• Colchester and Ipswich - 5
• Hertfordshire Community - 1
• James Paget, Gorleston - 3
• Kettering General - 4
• Luton and Dunstable - 3
• Broomfield, Chelmsford - 12
• Milton Keynes - 3
• Norfolk and Norwich - 2
• Norfolk Community - 1
• North West Anglia, Peterborough and Hinchingbrooke - 1
• Northampton General - 4
• Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge - 1
• Princess Alexandra, Harlow - 10
• West Hertfordshire Hospitals - 16

The total number of coronavirus-related UK deaths in hospitals is 17,337.

Nick Hulme says he wants the "gold standard" for his team but may "have to make some compromises".

An inquest hears Naomi Clover struggled to come to terms with the death of her only son Ewan.

Bin crews in West Suffolk received 200 Easter eggs as thanks for their continuing work during the coronavirus pandemic.

They were among a range of key workers who shared 500 eggs donated through NHS Supply Chain, external based in Bury St Edmunds.

Image source, West Suffolk Council

Child minder Tara Chandler said: "It is the key workers who are allowing life to go on, and we wanted to recognise that.

"A friend of mine who works for the NHS Supply Chain asked if I could help to distribute some extra Easter eggs that had been kindly donated.

"I got in touch with West Suffolk Council, external and the local NHS doctors’ surgeries and pharmacies and the wider Bury St Edmunds community and delivered the eggs over three days."

The plans for an indoor snow facility have been in the pipeline for 16 years.

• Ipswich tailor Richard Grimes and his wife Lynn have assembled a nimble-fingered taskforce of 15 seamstresses to sew scrubs for NHS staff, according to the Ipswich Star, external
• Pubs, restaurants, theatres and sports venues are unlikely to reopen to the public much before Christmas, a Suffolk MP and former health minister tells the East Anglian Daily Times, external
• Staff missing their pupils at a school near Bury St Edmunds have made a video compilation of wishes and messages with a musical backing of Elton John, the Bury Free Press, external is reporting

BBC Look East

A new coronavirus testing site for key workers has opened on the outskirts of Ipswich.

The government has requisitioned the park and ride site at the A12/A14 Copdock junction, aiming to test 200 people a day, with a full capacity of 500.

The tests are by appointment only for NHS and care home staff, police and fire service employees and prison officers.

The results should be known in a matter of days.

Ava-May Littleboy suffered a fatal head injury when an inflatable trampoline exploded in Norfolk.

Police are treating the blaze that destroyed the replica Neolithic building as arson.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A second year medical student, inspired by NHS war veteran-turned-fundraiser Captain Tom Moore, external, has cycled more than 200 miles in 12 hours to contribute to the campaign.

Matt Smith, 20, studying at the University of Glasgow, external, cycled for 12 hours straight on an indoor trainer in his garage at home in Hadleigh, Suffolk, to raise £1,222 and achieved a distance of 202.5 miles (306km).

He chose the venue in the spirit of lockdown and was raising money for NHS staff, volunteers and patients affected by the Covid-19 crisis.

Image source, Matt Smith

"In 2017, I cycled from London to Paris in 24 hours so this seemed like a similar challenge to take on," he said.

He admitted being "totally shattered" at the end of the ordeal, but vowed to keep cycling to keep fit.

"I didn’t want to lose fitness over the quarantine period so I decided I wanted to challenge myself with something to keep me working hard."

Here's a look at the latest coverage of the coronavirus pandemic from Suffolk's newspapers:

• Components are being made at a Mildenhall factory for pumps in adjustable beds installed at the new Nightingale Hospitals, the East Anglian Daily Times, external reports
• Volunteers from St John Ambulance have been supporting the NHS by providing staff to help clear 999 calls, according to the Lowestoft Journal, external
• Mental health hub and foodbank charity Gatehouse is running virtual art and mindfulness classes as well as looking at how it can adapt its services when the coronavirus lockdown is eased, the Bury Free Press, external reports

Here's a look at the latest coverage of the coronavirus pandemic from Norfolk:

• The chairman of the National Care Association has told workers in Norfolk to travel to their nearest Covid-19 testing centre in Sheffield, a 300-mile round trip which would take more than five hours, the Eastern Daily Press, external reports

• Four more patients have died at the Queen Elizabeth ll Hospital in King's Lynn from Covid-19 bringing the total to 56, according to the Lynn News, external

• An eight-year-old boy from Oulton Broad has made his neighbours smile by hanging his hand-crafted wooden heart up on his driveway - emblazoned with the names of key workers and NHS staff, the Great Yarmouth Mercury, external reports