Brenner Woolley
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Ipswich Witches, external have climbed into the Premier League play-off places after a resounding 56-34 victory over Scunthorpe Scorpions, external at Foxhall last night.

Image source, Ipswich Witches

As well as extending their winning run at home to five matches, they're now unbeaten in six meetings.

Ben Barker (pictured) and captain Danny King both scored 12 points.

The Witches are back in action at Workington Comets, external tomorrow night.

BBC Travel

The A131 is closed in Ballingdon, near Sudbury, and there's slow traffic eastbound from Middleton Road to York Road because of emergency repairs.

Guy Campbell
BBC Radio Suffolk

The MP for Waveney says the project is now well and truly under way, and the county council will be starting the planning process in the new year.

Three crossings over Lake Lothing were researched, with a central option favoured after further studies and a public consultation. 

Image source, Mike Page Aerial Photography

Peter Aldous, Conservative MP for the town, was speaking after speculation the project could be dropped, because of the decision to leave the European Union.

He says he's keen to make sure the town gets a new bridge it will be proud of, and he dismissed fears a change of prime minister and the Brexit vote had put the scheme in jeopardy.

Alina Jenkins
BBC Weather

Any early cloud will soon clear leaving plenty of sunshine during the day, although there may be some high cloud at times. Top temperature: 26C (79F).

Watch my regional forecast:

Cloud will thicken overnight, but it should remain dry for most. Lows of 15C (59F).

You can get a more detailed forecast from BBC Weather.

Philippa Taylor
BBC Local Live

Good morning.

We're delighted to be starting Friday with a couple of "good news" stories:

• Confirmation that work on a third crossing for Lowestoft will begin by 2019
• Ipswich Witches secure their fifth successive home win, making them unbeaten in six meetings

We'll also bring you a round-up of what the local newspapers are saying and check the roads and rails to see if there's anything you need to be warned about.

Thanks to Weather Watcher "Whimsical" for this early morning photo taken in Chedburgh:

Abellio Greater Anglia is to continue running key rail services in the East region after winning a nine year franchise.

That's it for regular updates from Suffolk Live until 08:00 tomorrow, but you can check back overnight in case there are any breaking stories.

As it's Thursday, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service has published its regular "Throwback Thursday, external" photographs of days gone by.

They show members of Ipswich Fire Brigade having a carrying-down drill, circa 1930.

Image source, Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service

Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

It should stay dry overnight but rather cloudy in light to moderate winds with temperatures 14-16C (57-61F).

Tomorrow will be a dry day with any early cloudy thinning and breaking to bring long spells of sunshine. Turning cloudy from the west later in the day with highs of 25-27C (77-81F). 

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

Here's proof from Weather Watcher "Angel Pop" in Sudbury that we were right this morning when we said it would brighten up during the day...

The planned closure of the barrow crossing (pictured) at Halesworth Station has been postponed as Network Rail, external announced it would install gates with additional safety warnings at the approaches to the crossing.

Image source, Network Rail

The company says there have been four near-misses reported by train drivers since June 2014 where people have attempted to cross with a departing train moving towards them.

A nine-day census earlier this year recorded more than 200 incidents of people walking behind or in front of trains in the station, and 32 cyclists who crossed without dismounting.

Comments about staff at a restaurant in Woodbridge in by a national newspaper journalist are being dismissed as ridiculous.

Tim Hayward, writing in the Financial Times, said the length of the skirts of the waitresses at the Riverside Restaurant, external was "embarrassing and awkward".

But owner Stuart Saunders, (pictured), says it's a fuss about nothing.

The chief operating officer at the West Suffolk Hospital, which has seen a fall in the number of patients dealt with at its emergency department within the target of four hours, says he is "disappointed" with its performance during June.

He said: "We are continuing to see an increase in attendances which, coupled with some staffing difficulties, saw our four-hour performance drop in common with many other trusts across the country.

"We also introduced a major new IT system across the hospital in May, which has had an impact as it has taken longer to complete electronic patient notes while staff get used to the system. 

"We have changed the way we triage patients coming to ED and have also welcomed some new doctors to the department, which should have a positive impact on our performance in the coming months."

Steve Martin
BBC Radio Suffolk

All three acute hospitals serving Suffolk have failed to meet target times for dealing with accident and emergency patients, according to the latest figures, external released by the NHS.

Figures for June show that 83.6% of patients at the West Suffolk Hospital, external were treated or discharged within the target of four hours, down from 96.1% for the same period last year. 

At Ipswich Hospital, external, (pictured), the rate was 92.8% compared with 95.7% in June 2015, and at the James Paget, external in Gorleston, which serves patients in north Suffolk, there was a drop to 92.1% from 95.1%.

The figure should be 95%. 

You may remember we brought you the story yesterday of Rufus the runaway skunk, who was captured in Stonelodge Park, Ipswich.

His owner Tony Dilkes, now reunited with Rufus, has been telling us a bit more about him, saying that he escaped after digging up a few plants in his garden.

Image source, Tony Dilkes

He says skunks are very mischievous and while they have good memories, they have no homing instinct.

So that explains why Rufus had to be rescued by Joe Underwood. wildlife and education officer with Ipswich Borough Council.

Brenner Woolley
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Ipswich Witches, external will be aiming to extend their unbeaten run to six matches when Scunthorpe Scorpions, external visit Foxhall tonight.

Image source, Stephen Waller

Danyon Hume (pictured) makes his first appearance for the Witches as a full-time member of the team, succeeding Ollie Greenwood in the number seven berth.

Team manager Ritchie Hawkins: "Scunthorpe are a capable team especially at our place, but with the form we are in and the way we are riding we've got to get a win and keep it going."

Graeme Mac
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Ipswich Town will be without striker Brett Pitman for this weekend's Championship clash at Brentford.

The 28-year-old is ruled out with a thigh injury, and joins longer-term absentee Luke Hyam on the sidelines.

"Hopefully Brett will be OK for Tuesday but we'll have to wait and see," said Blues boss Mick McCarthy.

"Aside from him and Luke it's just the usual bumps and bruises and a bit of fatigue after Tuesday, but they'll all be telling be they want to play after training tomorrow."

Graeme Mac
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy had his players back on the training field the morning after Tuesday's surprise cup loss to Stevenage.

Usually the squad is given a day off after a match night, but the Blues boss was keen to address what he felt was a below-par performance. 

"The lads usually pay me back in spades but I felt they didn't deserve a day off on this occasion," McCarthy said.

"We all suffered a bit as I didn't get a day off to see my granddaughter, but it's no hardship - we got beat and we'll deal with it."

Brenner Woolley
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Suffolk's George Pinner believes Great Britain can still qualify for the next stage of the Olympic hockey competition, despite suffering their second loss in four games.

Image source, Getty Images

Last night's 2-1 defeat to Australia means Team GB need to beat Spain tomorrow night, in their final Pool A match, to have a chance of progressing.

"It was frustrating to lose," said goalkeeper Pinner. "We came out wanting three points and we nearly salvaged a draw at the very end there." 

"It's disappointing but it's the first time in this tournament we have really put up a proper performance and that is something we can build on going into our last game against Spain."

Graeme Mac
BBC Introducing in Suffolk

Less than a month after impressing for a second time at Latitude, local band SuperGlu have been selected to play the Reading and Leeds festivals later this month. 

It follows a nomination from BBC Introducing in Suffolk.

Image source, Mila Austen

The quartet of Ben Brown, Krista Lynch, Alex Brown and Ben Ward formed late in 2014, and we have been championing them ever since we heard their debut track and single Diving Bell.

A first EP (Horse) was released earlier this year on Antigen Records who say SuperGlu already perform with the prowess of a band with a decade's worth of experience.

They are not wrong and you can see for yourself if you catch them at a local gig, or Reading and Leeds, of course.