Brian Powlett shares his experience of being racially abused in a Suffolk village street.

Pete Cooper
BBC News

Jockey Frankie Dettori has said that his mother, who is over 70, in Italy has had to be "very careful" with the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Italy imposed a strict and lengthy lockdown on 7 March - initially in the north, then nationwide.

With 33,000 deaths, it has suffered the third highest number of fatalities by country - behind the US and UK.

Dettori, who lives near Newmarket in Suffolk, said his mother, father and sister were in Milan, where he was born and "fingers crossed they have been very lucky".

Image source, Getty Images

Dettori said his family are "following the guidelines, staying in their staying in their home".

In early May, some restrictions in Italy were were relaxed and people are now able to travel for longer distances, as well as visit their relatives in small numbers.

Travel between regions and to and from the country will be allowed from 3 June.

He said: "I know it's frustrating for everyone, but Italy seems to be coming out of it at the moment.

"I think we are just two weeks behind them so hopefully, very soon, we will be able to lead a normal life and we will get the crowds back to the sport."

Pete Cooper
BBC News

Anglian Water said its water parks in the east of England would reopen to the public from today.

The water company runs Pitsford Water, Ravensthorpe Reservoir and Hollowell in Northamptonshire, Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire, Alton Water in Suffolk, Taverham Mill in Norfolk and Rutland Water.

Anglian Water, external said there would be "a number of changes on site with some facilities still closed".

It also said visitors should park in its car parks and "not in local villages".

The water parks were closed ahead of the government lockdown in March.

Image source, Stour and Orwell Society

Pete Cooper
BBC News

One of the most famous names in horse racing, Frank Dettori, said he "cannot wait to go racing" ahead of the Guineas Festival in Newmarket.

The jockey, who lives near the Suffolk racecourse, external, said he was "like a kid on Christmas morning". He's due to ride for trainer Aidan O'Brien in Saturday's 2,000 Guineas and Sunday's 1,000 Guineas.

He told BBC Breakfast: "It's over three months since I actually competed.

"We still have to exercise the horses and in Newmarket, we have 3,000 of those."

Image source, Getty Images

Dettori said watching the racing in Newcastle yesterday was "nice" but admitted it was "a bit weird" with no crowds around the track.

The 49-year-old also spoke about having to race with a mask covering his mouth and nose.

He said: "I have been training in the gym with it and I've been riding in the morning to get used to it.

"Obviously is not the same but we have to do everything we can to keep everybody safe.

"This is not going to be forever so for the time being we have to wear it."

The latest number of new daily coronavirus deaths, external has been released by the government.

In the East of England, they show an increase of 18 deaths in hospitals, taking the total number to 3,677. The new deaths have been recorded at the following NHS trusts:

• Basildon and Thurrock: 2
• Buckinghshire Healthcare (Stoke Mandeville): 2

• East Suffolk and North Essex (Ipswich and Colchester hospitals): 1
• Essex Partnership (Wickford): 1
• Kettering: 3
• Mid Essex (Broomfield): 2
• Norfolk Community Care: 1

• North West Anglia (Peterborough and Hinchingbrooke hospitals): 2
• Northampton General: 4

The total number of UK deaths associated with Covid-19 has reached 39,045.

A headteacher says children were not as "bubbly and lively" as they were before lockdown.

HM Coastguard says it was called to the body of what was "likely to be a small minke whale".

Nic Rigby
BBC News

The number of cases of coronavirus in Suffolk stands at 1,502 according to the latest figures.

That's up from 1,464 confirmed cases at the beginning of last week.

A breakdown of the number of cases by district council area shows that of those tested there are 348 cases in Ipswich, 608 in East Suffolk, 174 in Mid Suffolk, 147 in Babergh and 225 in West Suffolk.

Ipswich with 253 cases per 100,000 of the population has the highest number of cases relative to the size of its population.

But the borough only saw three more cases this week compared to last week.

A 39-year-old woman has been charged with coughing at a police officer in Newmarket and attempted robbery.

On Thursday morning, a 19-year-old woman was walking along The Avenue, when another woman grabbed her bag which was across her shoulder.

A brief struggle ensued, which resulted in the victim falling to the floor, but she managed to keep hold of the bag and get away from the offender.

A woman was later arrested and coughed in the face of a police officer claiming she had coronavirus, said Suffolk Police.

The accused is due to appear at Ipswich Crown Court later this month.

All seven members of her family, including five children, had coronavirus symptoms over six weeks.

Elite sport can resume in England from today, provided that it does so behind closed doors.

Horse racing will be one of the first sports to benefit from the relaxation, with Newmarket Racecourses, external to host the Guineas Festival this weekend.

Charlie Fellows, a trainer based in Newmarket, said it was a chance to "showcase" the sport.

"We've not seen racing in this country now for just short of three months. There is a huge amount of relief," he said.

Traditionally run on the first weekend in May, this year's rescheduled 2,000 Guineas on Saturday is the first of the flat racing season’s five "classics", followed by the 1,000 Guineas the day after.

More than 24,000 soldiers were treated at the facility where the vast majority of staff were female.

The East Anglian Daily Times, external has published a special report on the 152 deaths linked to Covid-19 in Suffolk care homes.

The Bury Free Press, external reports that after markets reopened with food stalls this week, stalls selling plants, flowers, coffee, cakes, cleaning products, whole foods and pet foods will return from Tuesday.

The Lowestoft Journal , externalreports that the North East Suffolk Citizens Advice Bureau has been as busy as ever, helping clients remotely.

The structure was constructed by staff at an events company whose children attend the school.

BBC Radio Suffolk

Giant tipi-style marquees have been loaned to three schools in Suffolk to be used as outdoor classrooms or lunch areas for young children returning after their lockdown ends.

The marquees have been loaned to two schools by Maui Waui Events, of Theberton, which said the coronavirus pandemic had been disastrous for its outdoor shows, events and music festivals.

The tents have been loaned free-of-charge to Bramfield Church of England Primary, external and Sibton Nursery School, external, but more may be loaned to other local schools, said Silas Rayner, of the firm.

Events Under Canvas of Capel St Mary has also loaned tipis to East Bergholt Primary School after its programme of weddings and social events was called off.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Six areas in Ipswich are being explored as possible cycle-friendly routes to make alternative transport easier after the Covid-19 lockdown has ended.

Suffolk County Council, external is considering creating cycle-only zones, widened cycle lanes and changes to junction designs as more people are expected to walk or cycle to work.

Image source, Adrian Cable/Geograph

While no scheme has yet been finalised, Conservative cabinet member for highways, Andrew Reid, said the authority had a “long list of potential schemes” and measures for the following areas in Ipswich were being explored:

• Rushmere
• Portman Road
• Elm Street/Museum Street
• Princes Street
• Between Ipswich Hospital and the University of Suffolk
• Heath Road and Bixley Road

The council is waiting to find out how much of the government’s £250m pot it is to receive for the temporary measures, but the Waterfront has already been closed to traffic and on Wednesday it was confirmed that Milner Street would also be closed.

Mr Reid said: “There is quite a lot of interest in creating cycleways that serve the needs of towns and make it easier for them to have greater connectivity."

Bill Quinton, opposition spokesman for Ipswich from the Labour group, said: “We are yet to see the details regarding these specific proposals, but to get them right, Suffolk County Council now needs to develop the plans with local residents and councillors before pushing ahead with schemes that will affect their communities."

Pte Harry Cole wrote the letter to his mother just before he was killed but it never made it back.

The family of Pte Cole who died in World War Two says receiving his final letter was "unbelievable".

Thanks for joining us to find out how the East of England is reacting to the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown.

Live updates have now finished for the day, but you can catch BBC Look East's creation of a "virtual" Suffolk Show at 18:30 tonight. Here's a sneak preview:

Join us again on Thursday when a live page will resume at 08:00.

Find it via your BBC News county index.

Community wardens have helped provide social distancing markings outside a Suffolk takeaway.

The orange and blue symbols have been painted to help people keep a two-metre distance while queuing outside Youngs Chinese in Sudbury for when it reopens.

Sudbury Town Council's Community Wardens , externalhave been providing the service for free.

They have also put markings outside First Friends Nursery in Great Waldringfield, Springfields Nursery in Great Cornard, and at Specsavers and Timpson in Sudbury.