The number of drivers who use a mobile phone while behind the wheel has risen dramatically, according to research from the RAC.

This tweet from the Norfolk and Suffolk Safety Camera team shows how many motorists have been stopped and issued Traffic Offence Reports (TORs) this year, compared to 2015.

Kate Williams
BBC Local Live

A man arrested in connection with a collision on the A12 yesterday near Capel St Mary has been charged with a string of motoring offences. 

The 58-year-old from Essex has been charged with dangerous driving, obstructing a police officer, driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance.

He appeared before magistrates in Ipswich today and will appear appear again at the crown court in October.

During the summer of 1916, when the Heavy Section of the Machine Gun Corps, external was training at the Elveden Estate, external, they camped at nearby West Stow:

Image source, Contributed

It was hot work training in the tanks, with temperatures rising to 50C (122F) in the confined space.

The tank crews used the River Lark to cool off during downtime:

Image source, Contributed

Shaun Peel
BBC Look East

Today's the 100th anniversary of the first time armed tanks were used as weapons - tanks that were prepared for battle at a place in Suffolk known as the "most secret place on earth".

Image source, Contributed

Top-secret training was held at the Elveden Estate, external, where 1,000,000 sandbags were used to help transform 200 acres of farmland into a replica of the Somme, so the tanks could train in like-for-like conditions.

Brenner Woolley
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Lowestoft Town, external manager Ady Gallagher believes he's still the right man to turn around their current run of no wins in five games.

Since being relegated from the National League North at the end of last season, Gallagher has lost some key players and had his budget reduced significantly.

"I've been here 17 years and gone through a lot of stuff with this football club. I'm happy and brave enough to take flak from anyone," he said.

"If people, who don't understand the situation that we're going through at the minute, want to point fingers at me, then they really need to do a little bit of research.

"My position is intolerable at this moment in time, trying to balance everything. We need people who are actually going to support the club."

Brenner Woolley
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Lowestoft Town, external boss Ady Gallagher says people need to understand how much things have changed at Crown Meadow since last season's relegation.

The club's currently 15th in the Ryman Premier Division, external and on a run of five games without a win.

"The past is the past," said Gallagher. "We've been successful over several years, getting through this level into Conference football.

"But that's history, our budgets aren't the same now, it's a lot tougher for the club financially. We've got some very good players here and we need to support them.

"Things at the moment aren't going our way, on and off the pitch, but once things are resolved I know I've got enough quality here to still kick on."

BBC Business reporter Theo Leggett notes the differences in official responses to the Hinkley Point announcement...

Brenner Woolley
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Lowestoft Town, external have issued a statement, urging fans to stick with them through their current struggles.

Brenner Woolley
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Ipswich Town, external fans will be buoyed by the news that Aston Villa, external striker Ross McCormack could miss Saturday's trip to Portman Road.

Image source, Getty Images

The 30-year-old, who has scored 71 goals over the last three seasons, suffered a knee injury in last night's 1-1 draw against Brentford.

Winger Jack Grealish and defender Ritchie De Laet are also concerns for Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo.

Brenner Woolley
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Ipswich Witches, external have drafted in Ellis Perks for tonight's home meeting against Newcastle Diamonds, external, as a guest for the injured Danyon Hume.

Image source, BBC Sport

The 19-year-old currently rides for Plymouth Devils in the Premier League and Isle of Wight in the National League.

Chris Louis, Witches' director, said: "Ellis has been around for a couple of seasons and [his career] probably hasn't moved on as quickly as possibly expected, or he would've liked, but I'm happy to give him the opportunity.

"He was dead keen when we offered him the booking and I'm looking forward to seeing him at Ipswich," 

Brenner Woolley
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Ipswich, external boss Mick McCarthy has paid tribute to striker Luke Varney (pictured) after he scored Town's winner at Derby County on Tuesday.

Image source, Ipswich Town FC

"He's been hanging around waiting for his chance," said McCarthy. "He wants to get on, wants to play and I knew he'd cause them problems as he's a real physical threat and he's got good pace.

"He's such a positive person to have around and encourages everybody else. That's reward for him, for me, coming in and scoring the winner, it was terrific."

A campaign for a cinema in Newmarket, external is gaining momentum, with more than 1,000 people now supporting the idea.

Image source, Adrian Cable/Geograph

David Rippington, one of those behind the campaign, says interest is definitely growing: "I've spoken to Newmarket Town Council, external and they have an idea in mind, and I have a cinema owner who wants to come to the town."

A one-screen cinema which was threatened with closure 12 years ago has revealed plans to expand and create another two screens on site.

The Regal in Stowmarket, external used to have 6,000 people visiting a year - now it's more than 65,000.

Manager David Marsh says they're outgrowing their current premises: "It's a great little facility. Last year we sold out 116 times and this year we're getting close to that already.

"We don't really want to be turning customers away, so the ability for us to show more films means that we can entertain more people in Stowmarket."

The Chinese General Nuclear Corporation (CNG) has issued a statement welcoming the decision to proceed with Hinkley Point, and confirming its commitment to building new nuclear reactors in Essex and Suffolk (existing Sizewell C pictured).

It says: "We are now able to move forward and deliver much needed nuclear capacity at Hinkley Point, Sizewell and Bradwell with our strategic partners, EDF, and provide the UK with safe, reliable and sustainable low-carbon energy."

Image source, EDF

Kate Williams
BBC Local Live

Remember the story of sulking iguana Frank the Tank - who was retrieved via cherry picker from a sanctuary of his choice at the top of a 30ft tree in Pakefield?

The four-foot long (1.21m) iguana had spent three months on the loose after escaping from his owner in a private house, and spent most of it up the tree sunning himself while becoming quite a local celebrity.

However, with autumn approaching, concerns were raised that he would not survive the cooler months and, being a cold-blooded reptile, would be unable to keep warm. 

Image source, Ian Gooch

Thanks to the efforts of volunteers, he was retrieved from the tree, and a new home was found for him with Alison Gregory and Ian Gooch, who run petting animal company Zoo-Tastic, external in Lound, near Lowestoft.

And here he is, pictured above, in his new home. The couple tell me he won't actually go out visiting people as part of their business, but will be a welcome addition to their team of animals. 

Apparently he's still very grumpy that his three-month sabbatical is over. 

BBC Suffolk Live wonders if he's checking on the calendar to diary the date of his next escape?

We mentioned earlier that the decision by the government to grant approval for a new £18bn nuclear power station at Hinkley Point means that it's "highly likely" that Sizewell C will be built.

In the picture, Sizewell C is in light grey on the right, while the existing A and B plants are in darker grey.

Image source, EDF

Back in October 2015, when EDF Energy reached an agreement with China Nuclear Power Corporation for a plant at Hinkley Point, it was revealed that the agreement also set up a wider UK partnership to develop new nuclear power stations at Sizewell and at Bradwell in Essex.

While they reached Strategic Investment Agreements for all three plants, only Hinkley Point had a target date, which at that stage was that it was "supposed" to start generating in 2025.

Brenner Woolley
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Ipswich Town, external manager Mick McCarthy's hailed Bartosz Bialkowski as the top goalkeeper in the Championship.

Image source, Getty Images

Last year's Player of the Season has carried his exceptional form into this campaign, keeping three clean sheets in his last five games.

"I don't say that lightly," said McCarthy. "I'm not someone who wears rose-coloured spectacles about my team, but he's been outstanding whenever he's played.

"What I would say though is that he's got real competition for that place from Gerks [Dean Gerken]. 

"If Bart lets his guard down Gerks will be in like a shot, so he has to keep his standards up."

A man holding what appeared to be a gun in a plastic bag, demanded money from a beauty salon in West Road, Bury St Edmunds last night.

Suffolk Police, external say the man, described as being about 50-years-old with blonde/grey hair, entered All Over Beauty, external at about 19:25 and demanded money from the till. An amount of cash was handed over, and he left via the rear of the building, running off in the direction of Westbury Avenue.

No-one was injured during the incident.

More now on that nuclear power station deal...

Image source, Glyn Baker

Approval for the project, at Hinkley Point in Somerset, was postponed by Theresa May when she became Prime Minister two months ago while a review was carried out. 

The French-owned energy firm EDF will now lead a consortium to develop the plant, but there will be new conditions attached. 

These conditions means the government, external will also be able to take a special share in all future nuclear projects which will ensure that significant stakes cannot be sold without its knowledge or consent.   

The Chinese state-backed firm CGN, which is one of the three major investors in Hinkley Point along with EDF and the UK government, is hoping to build other new plants at Bradwell in Essex and Sizewell in Suffolk. 

The former power station, on the Blackwater Estuary (pictured) stopped operating in 2002 and it's being decommissioned.

The death of a man in Bury St Edmunds is being treated as "unexplained", say police.

Officers were called at around 12:15 yesterday to reports of a deceased man in a property in Samuel Street Walk on the Nowton Estate.

An investigation is under way.