With schools closed for most pupils, many items that would normally be used have been lying dormant, until now.

Staff at the private Framlingham College, external in Suffolk have donated reusable safety goggles, masks and gloves to Ipswich Hospital.

Image source, Framlingham College

And in Bedford, 500 pairs of science googles and glasses from state-funded Biddenham International School, external have been handed over to frontline workers at the town's hospital.

Christiane Hewiston, 72, says it is "amazing" to see her husband wearing his ring again.

A Norfolk and Suffolk college has donated thousands of items of personal protection equipment to its local hospital and police.

East Coast College, which is based in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft, dropped off masks, disposable aprons and gloves to the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston and Norfolk Police.

It said the items would have been used by students on a variety of courses.

"We will continue to support our local community during these unprecedented times," it tweeted.

John Hood's partner Jayne Lindill says his friends and family are "heartbroken" by his death.

Pete Cooper
BBC News

West Suffolk College in Bury St Edmunds has donated gloves, aprons and masks to the staff at the town's West Suffolk Hospital.

The equipment came from the college's health and beauty department.

All schools and colleges in the UK are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Ipswich MP Tom Hunt has become the latest politician to be struck down with coronavirus-like symptoms, after he developed a cough and fever on Sunday evening.

The Conservative - who has not been tested - said he would be self-isolating for a week at his flat in the town, but would be able to carry on with constituency business via email and phone.

"My symptoms are quite moderate, but they did come on quickly," he said.

Mr Hunt was at Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday, when he quizzed Boris Johnson - who himself confirmed he had coronavirus two days later, shortly followed by the Health Secretary - West Suffolk MP Matt Hancock.

Pete Cooper
BBC News

Christmas events are already being cancelled due to coronavirus.

West Suffolk Council, external has said it is calling off this year’s Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fayre to "help public services concentrate on tackling" their response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Fayre was due to be held between 26 and 29 November.

Image source, Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fayre

Cllr John Griffiths, leader of the council, said: "We know how popular the Fayre is and it is with a heavy heart we have taken this decision.

"But in the circumstances, and when you see events like the Olympics being postponed, it is the right one."

The East of England Co-operative, external have announced a series of changes to how they operate their food stores to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The group, based in Ipswich and with stores across Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk said it would be no longer accepting member reward cards to avoid handling them, but advised customers to keep receipts to add the points at a later date.

Stores will also no longer hand out green tokens, which go in the charity-of-your-choice boxes.

Image source, EoE Co-op

In line with many other supermarket the Co-op will also be installing screens at checkouts and have signs on the floor to keep shoppers 2m (6ft 6in) apart.

Pete Cooper
BBC News

The 2020 Aldeburgh Festival in Suffolk, has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The classical music festival, based mostly at Snape Maltings, was due to be held between 12 and 28 June, external.

Snape Maltings’ chief executive Roger Wright said it as with "enormous sadness" that the cancellation was made.

He said they would be contacting all ticket holders soon.

The festival was founded by local composer Benjamin Britten in Aldeburgh in 1948.

John Hood's former partner Jayne Lindill says his friends and family are "heartbroken" by his death.

Pete Cooper
BBC News

A man has been charged after allegedly coughing over people at a shop.

Suffolk Police said a "number of members of the public" reported that a man wearing a mask was behaving anti-socially in the Co-op, external on Church Street in Eye on Saturday.

A 34-year-old man from the town has been charged with various offences including causing harassment, alarm or distress; disorderly behaviour and resisting arrest.

He has been released on bail and is due to appear before Ipswich Magistrates' Court next month.

Pete Cooper
BBC News

Ipswich Town footballers have been praised for calling older season ticket holders to check they are OK during the coronavirus pandemic.

Image source, Getty Images

Bill Robinson got a call on Saturday from Will Keane (pictured).

He said: "We had a very nice chat about football, exercise, golf and about his previous clubs.

"It's a great Idea from Ipswich Town and good on them for doing that."

Organisers say the party was the perfect remedy "to a dull few weeks" amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport

Image source, Rex Features

World darts champion Peter Wright, who lives in a Suffolk farmhouse, is practising with a fellow title-winner during isolation.

BBC Sport caught up with the dartist otherwise known as Snakebite, as he revealed some of the unusual forfeits in the offing for whoever loses on the oche.

A group of dancers with Down's syndrome is carrying on performing via video-link.

The Cambridge Folk Festival, external is the latest event to fall foul of the coronavirus pandemic.

The event, due to run 30 July-2 August, was to star the likes of Yusuf (formerly known as Cat Stevens), Grammy Award-winning Patty Griffin and Passenger.

Organisers said the safety of festival-goers, artists, staff and crew was their "top priority" and the event had become "too difficult to plan, prepare and deliver".

Anyone who has already booked tickets will be given the choice of a refund or the chance to hold onto their tickets for the 2021 festival.

FolkEast, external in Suffolk has yet to make a decision about its festival, which is due to take place 21-23 August.

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

Local councils are warning that they're facing a financial crisis because of a big drop in their income due to the coronavirus outbreak.

They're writing to the government asking for extra funding later in the year so they can afford to keep running services.

They say that with leisure centres and museums closed, tenants unable to pay their rent and motorists staying away from car parks, they are losing an important source of income.

Ipswich Borough Council makes £2m a month from its commercial activities while Norwich City Council earns £500,000 a month from parking charges.

I understand Cambridge City Council is warning it could be £10m in the red at the end of this crisis.

The government says it's giving extra help to councils and they should also think about using their reserves.

But councils say it's not enough - Ipswich's Labour leader David Ellesmere said "the government's given us £76,000 - that won't cover our loss of income for even a week".

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

A number of chalk messages have been left outside a Suffolk care home after it shut to visitors last Friday.

Staff at Melford Court, in Long Melford, said it was so they could let "loved ones know they are doing OK".

Image source, StowHealthcare

Amanda Atkins, care home manager, said: "A lot of relatives are naturally upset and disappointed that they can't come and see their loved ones, so we thought it would be a good idea if they were able to leave personal messages outside.

"I found some large chalks in the local supermarket and left them with a sign inviting residents to write something on the stones.

"The idea has taken off and now we have more than 20 messages," she said.

Image source, StowHealthcare

West Suffolk MP Matt Hancock says he's tested positive for COVID-19.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care tweeted the news and said his symptoms were "mild" and he was self-isolating and working from home.

Earlier, Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed he had also tested positive and was self-isolating in Downing Street.