BBC Look East

A broad range of retailers across the region are preparing to reopen next Monday with stringent safety measures in place as lockdown restrictions are eased further.

Shops which restart face-to-face trading will have to abide by the government's social distancing and health and safety guidance.

In Hitchin, Hertfordshire, Chris Holmes from HRH Holmes & Son, a gentlemen's outfitters, said: "We have to be flexible and adaptable."

He said the shop may offer appointments or customers the chance to take something home to try and pay the next day over the phone.

Shop owners will install things like hand sanitiser and perspex screens, while some will give staff personal protective equipment.

In Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk (pictured), narrow streets such as the Market Thoroughfare will be made one-way and signs have been put up to remind shoppers to social distance.

The League One and League Two seasons are both ended early after a formal vote by clubs on Tuesday.

Two hospital staff and their friends record a McFly song to "spread cheer" among key workers.

Christopher Corder suffered brain injuries in the crash involving the manager of musician Pete Doherty.

A poem that talks about the impact coronavirus restrictions have had on parents whose babies were born in lockdown, is being handed out.

West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds is behind the idea, along with the My Wish Charity., external

Robin Vickery shared a post calling for black and Asian people to be deported.

Matt Precey
BBC Look East

Government statistics recording the latest number of daily coranavirus deaths , externalshow there was an increase of nine in the region's hospitals, taking the regional total to 3,784.

The deaths, listed by NHS trust, were:

• Basildon and Thurrock Hospitals: 1
• Colchester and Ipswich hospitals: 1
• Luton and Dunstable Hospital: 6
• West Suffolk Hospital: 1

The total number of Covid-19 deaths across the UK now stands at 40,597.

Joe Ward has 32 cards of the same park and wants to find out about the "snapshot of people's lives".

A decision about the future of the League One season is likely to be made on Tuesday - how might clubs vote?

One post called for black and Asian people to be deported.

One of the downsides of the steady easing of the coronavirus lockdown measures has been the increase of litter in parks and beauty spots as people are allowed to travel again.

Image source, Essex and Suffolk Water

Image source, Essex and Suffolk Water

Essex and Suffolk Water has posted pictures on its Facebook page, external showing the effect on its sites.

The post said: "We were devastated to find the state some people have left one of our sites."

The pictures were taken at the Lound Lakes nature reserve in between Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft.

"Makes my blood boil" is a typical reply to the post.

"Perhaps it needs to close again until people find some manners," is another.

The site is managed by Suffolk Wildlife Trust, external.

Image source, Essex and Suffolk Water

Image source, Essex and Suffolk Water

Protesters gather in Christchurch Park, Ipswich as part of a Black Lives Matter demonstration.

West Suffolk Council, external has given £154,300 to the firm which runs its leisure centres to try to help it cope with the loss of income due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Abbeycroft Leisure, external runs gyms and leisure centres in Brandon, Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill, Newmarket and Mildenhall.

Image source, Abbeycroft Leisure

Staff there, and at the company's leisure centres in other council districts, have been furloughed and the finance will help Abbeycroft meet the costs for April, May and June.

John Griffiths, Conservative council leader, said: "Like other leisure operators, their income has stopped while costs continue, and we have worked with them to get them government support.

"The support will be reviewed in mid-June, when further measures for lifting lockdown are rolled out and we can work on recovery."

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

A theatre has started an emergency fundraising appeal to help it reopen when lockdown eases.

The Theatre Royal, external in Bury St Edmunds said in a statement that the coronavirus pandemic had "delivered a devastating blow" and it hoped to raise £50,000 in order to welcome visitors back.

The statement said the theatre had received "crucial" public authority funding from Suffolk County Council and West Suffolk Council, but that was a "small percentage of what is needed to survive".

"Reopening a theatre is not straightforward – we need time and money to programme and promote the season," the statement said.

"For our own shows we need to cast and rehearse – our income will not simply leap back to what is what before the crisis."

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Thieves have targeted a hospital car park to remove catalytic converters from staff already having to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

Two vehicles have been damaged in attacks at West Suffolk Hospital, external in Bury St Edmunds.

Image source, West Suffolk Hospital

"The suspected vehicle involved has been identified by the hospital security team and the relevant information has been given to the police," said head of security Darren Cooksey.

"It is disappointing that, particularly at a time when our staff are serving their community in their time of need during this pandemic, thieves have targeted our hospital car park."

He said extra patrols were in place and the site does have security cameras.

Unbeaten favourite Pinatubo will face 14 rivals in Saturday's 2,000 Guineas as the Classic season finally gets under way.

BBC Radio Suffolk

Newmarket racecourse, external will host the first day of the Guineas Festival today, but a month later than planned and behind closed doors with no cheering crowds because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nearly 40 races will be run over the next four days, including the first two Classics of the flat-race season, the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas.

Image source, Hugh Routledge/Pool

Frankie Dettori, who made a winning return to the sport at Kempton on Tuesday, has praised the safety measures being implemented.

"We are putting a good system in place, obviously with markers on the floor," he said.

"We are riding with masks and as you know it's a non-contact sport so we're very much within the guidelines and we're in the fresh open air."

Suffolk county councillor Rachel Hood, external said: "It's hugely exciting. This is a huge employer and an industry that's worth £4bn annually for the UK so it's a very important driver for the country."

A newborn girl was found dead at the site in Needham Market in Suffolk in May.

• The Ipswich Star reports, external that 'keep left' signs are among the measures to be introduced in the town as the coronavirus lockdown is eased
• The Bury Free Press, external writes that a skincare company is donating hand sanitiser to hospital and care home staff to help them cope during the coronavirus pandemic

The bundles are distributed to schools to help them support pupils with mental health.