A hospital trust has set up a new email and messaging service to allow relatives and friends to maintain contact with patients during the Covid-19 pandemic when visiting is restricted.

The Letters to Loved Ones, external service, using email or a voicemail for the team to deliver, has been established by the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, external, which covers Colchester and Ipswich hospitals, Aldeburgh, Clacton, Halstead, Harwich and Felixstowe community hospitals and Bluebird Lodge near Ipswich.

“We understand that it is really difficult to not be able to visit the people you care about while they are in hospital, particularly in these challenging times," chief executive Nick Hulme said.

Eastern Daily Press

A couple in Beccles hoping to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary with family and friends, until the coronavirus lockdown postponed their dream, were given a great surprise by their neighbours.

Percy Harris and his wife Margaret expected to spend the special day with just each other but were pleasantly shocked when neighbours came together in commemoration of their marriage.

Neighbour Hollie Pigney organised a card to be signed by residents and the town mayor joined them in a round of applause when it was delivered.

Kyreis Davies was convicted of murdering Tavis Spencer-Aitkens, 17, in Ipswich.

Zeb Fitts was so aggressive the West Suffolk Hospital nurses treated him in a police van, a judge hears.

• The East Anglian Daily Times, external reports that a Halesworth man has been asked to stop playing music requests for his neighbours during lockdown following complaints from some of them
• Elsewhere, the Ipswich Star reports, external that recycling centres in Suffolk could reopen next month - but would do so under strict new rules
• And the Star also has news, external of how train operator Greater Anglia is reaching out to the region’s rail enthusiasts

Ipswich Waterfront is being closed to traffic from today to allow people to exercise at a safe distance during the coronavirus pandemic.

Social distancing guidlines say that those not self-isolating can exercise once a day but should keep two metres apart from people not in their household.

The waterfront is a popular thoroughfare for walkers and the closure, between Custom House and Coprolite Street, will last for 21 days.

Councillor Andrew Reid from Suffolk County Council, external said the temporary closure would "create a safe open space for over 2,000 local residents who live close by, many of whom live in flats, and do not have access to a garden."

The authority also said it would consider closing other roads for similar purpose in the future.

A donation made by four Ipswich Town, external players is being spent on providing NHS workers with protective phone cases designed to prevent infections.

Jack Lankester, Brett McGavin, Liam Gibbs and Tommy Smith, who all come from the Bury St Edmunds area have made a donation to the My Wish, external charity at West Suffolk Hospital.

It will be used to buy antimicrobial-type phone cases for doctors and nurses, who use hospital mobile phones to communicate.

Image source, Getty Images

Lankester (pictured), who came up with the idea, said: "My mum and girlfriend work for the NHS and I know a lot of friends who work at West Suffolk Hospital, so I thought there's got to be something we can do.

"So I got in contact with the charity... and asked if there was anything that needed ordering now or anything that we can just order for you."

More than 100 NHS staff and health workers in the UK have now died with coronavirus, it has been confirmed.

As the nation fell silent at 11:00 to remember those who have passed away, here we remember and pay tribute to 14 from the East of England whose deaths have been reported to the media.

Bedford Esquires becomes the latest live music venue to turn to crowdfunding to survive lockdown.

Jason Noble
Suffolk Local Democracy Reporter

A small Ipswich music venue has started an online fundraising plea to help keep it afloat.

The Smokehouse, external on South Street is one of hundreds of venues forced to close last month because of the social distancing measures announced in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

With social distancing expected to remain for the coming weeks and months, even once lockdown measures are eased, the future for music venues remains unclear.

Image source, Miff Pleasant

Joe Bailey, who runs the venue, said: "These are difficult times across the whole industry, for venues, artists and promoters.

"There are venues across the world facing the same challenges as we are - an uncertain future after building such a strong reputation."

So far, more than £3,600 has been pledged by supporters towards a target of £12,000.

NHS staff and other key workers stopped to remember colleagues who have died battling coronavirus.

A minute's silence has been held in the East of England as the region paid tribute to key workers who have died during the coronavirus pandemic.

Healthcare staff in Milton Keynes, Letchworth, Bedford and King's Lynn were among those paying respects to their colleagues at 11:00 BST.

At Southend Hospital, empty shoes were laid out in front of the site to symbolise UK workers who have lost their lives.

Shoppers in Bury St Edmunds also stopped in their tracks and Cambridgeshire police officers fell silent outside their Huntingdon headquarters.

BBC Radio Suffolk

A hospital chief executive is appealing to anyone who feels unwell not to worry about attending their GP and A&E clinic during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nick Hulme, who's in charge of Ipswich and Colchester hospitals, was responding to an emotional email from a BBC Radio Suffolk listener in Australia, whose sister had been afraid to attend hospital with an infection.

She died of sepsis on 25 April.

"I'm worried about people who are a bit concerned about their health, who would normally seek medical advice from their GP or hospital," he said.

"They're simply not doing it.

"We've seen a massive reduction in referrals from GPs of people who might have cancer - those referrals are down by 75%.

"I've spent years trying to tell people not to attend A&E [unless necessary] - my message this morning is the opposite.

"If you don't seek medical advice, the consequences could be very serious."

How the likes of Spider-Man and Wonder Woman are helping to spread cheer in their communities.

Luke Durbin, who disappeared in 2006, was a drug dealer who owed money, a documentary reveals.

Organisers of the three day festival, which began in 2006, say it will return in July 2021.

The organisers of the Latitude festival in Suffolk have confirmed, external this year's event, due to take place in July, has been cancelled.

East Anglia's Children's Hospices says the coronavirus lockdown will mean a loss of £1.8m in weeks.

Bells on Sunday comes from St Mary’s Church, Bentley in Hampshire. The tower contains a peal of six bells. Two were cast by Samuel Knight in 1703 and four lighter bells were cast by Gillet and Johnson of Croydon in 1912. The Tenor weighs twelve and three quarter hundredweight and is tuned to E. We hear them ringing Double Oxford Bob Minor.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

A greenskeeper at a floral public gardens has thanked people for observing social distancing.

The Abbey Gardens, external in Bury St Edmunds is on the site of the former abbey - once one of the richest, largest and most powerful Benedictine monasteries in England

Steve has worked in the gardens for 31 years and said they will be staying open for people's "enjoyment" as long as they obey the rules and stay at least two metres apart.

"We will all get through this together," he said.