Returning to a story we brought you yesterday, about the effect roadworks on the A1214 at Kesgrave were having on residents in the area, Suffolk County Council has now issued an apology.

A spokesman said: "We are sorry residents of Grange Farm and drivers using the A1214 through Kesgrave have once again experienced difficulties due to works on the A1214."

Image source, Contributed

Explaining that the council cannot prevent utilities from carrying out works on the highway, the spokesman added: "We have asked for work to commence between 7am and 7pm daily in order to get it completed as soon as possible to minimise disruption. 

"We have also asked for manual activation of the temporary traffic lights when needed, as well as extra signage with advanced warning signs about the delays."

Police who already have unmarked cars, bikes and a lorry to crack down on drivers using their phones behind the wheel are considering enlisting the public's help to catch offenders.

Insp David Giles said: "We're working on a system now where members of the public can send us footage. We can then look to prosecute people."

He also said the force is considering using cameras on bridges over roads, to catch drivers.

Police are planning tougher action over drivers using their mobile phones, saying they hope to use dash cam footage, photos from passing vehicles, and fixed cameras on bridges to catch culprits.

Image source, PA

Insp David Giles said: "These are all tactics that we are looking to use and explore. 

"We're not quite there yet, but I think we need to. 

"There are so many people that we can see are out there, so many comments we get from members of the public, we should actually react to it."

A man has been charged in connection with an armed robbery at a jewellers in Beccles and a burglary at a car dealership. 

Kerron Turner, 25, of York Road, Great Yarmouth, was arrested by police yesterday. 

He's been charged with carrying out an armed robbery at the shop in New Market in September.

Mr Turner has also been charged with burglary following the theft of three Range Rovers from a car dealership in Halesworth, again in September.

He is due to appear before Norwich Magistrates’ Court later this morning.

William Drake has pleaded guilty to assault, using abusive language and behaviour, and causing criminal damage following an incident during a match at AFC Sudbury in February.

We'll bring you further details from the magistrates' court in Ipswich as we get them.

The Rous Road car park in Newmarket will be closed from 16:00 until tomorrow evening, as preparations are made for the Queen officially opening the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing and Sporting Art, external.

Forest Heath District Council says other car parks in the town, external will remain open as usual, while The Severals will be available as a temporary car park tomorrow, when the Queen visits.

Kelly McCormack
BBC Radio Suffolk

Suffolk Wildlife Trust, external has raised 10% of the money it needs to create a giant new nature reserve in the north of the county in the week since the project was launched.

Image source, David Butcher

The charity wants help to buy up land around the existing Carlton Marshes near Lowestoft. It will bid for Heritage Lottery money, but also needs public donations.

So far, nearly £110,000 has been donated towards the £1m target.

A man has failed to return to a low-secure hospital unit on Foxhall Road in Ipswich.

John Gladstone, 34, who'd been on temporary eight-hour leave yesterday, failed to comply with conditions to return to the unit by 15:30.

Police say he's subject to a detention order under Sections 47/49 of the Mental Health Act, external, and is on a life licence following conviction for offences of robbery and possession of a firearm.

Image source, Suffolk Police

A footballer is due before magistrates in Ipswich today, following an incident during a match at AFC Sudbury, external in February.

William Drake, 27, who plays for Redbridge, external, was sent off during the game at the Wardale Williams Stadium.

He's charged with assault, using abusive language and behaviour, and criminal damage.

Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy says his immediate goal is to "to play well, and get something on Saturday", when the Blues travel to Sheffield Wednesday.

Speaking about his daily routine after four years in charge at Portman Road, and his future, he said: "Regularly before seven o' clock I'm in the gym, I do my work; I love working with the players and I still love working at Ipswich.

"I'd much prefer the chance to turn it around and have everybody cheering us again. 

"I'm not going anywhere. But we'd better start getting some results to make it a little bit more comfortable for all of us, me included."

Mick McCarthy says he has received interest from other clubs over the past four years, since he's been manager of Ipswich.

"There has been, and every time there's been anything mooted I've said to everybody 'there is a financial clause in my contract if you want to speak to me, then call Marcus (Evans) first and he'll have to give me permission to speak to you'."

McCarthy said it's never got to that stage, though: "I think the transfer fee's too much.

"At the moment maybe it should be reduced, I'm not sure."

Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy says he "almost got the feeling" some fans were disappointed when their team grabbed a late equaliser against Rotherham on Saturday, adding: "That is a sad feeling, almost not quite sure what to do, whether to cheer."

"Whether I get enough credit or not, I think I've had plenty of credit for what I've achieved here over my time, and I've had wonderful support as well.

"This is only a very small part of my four years over the last few weeks, so I'm not complaining about it. I understand people want to come and see the team win."

What would happen if a tanker spilled its load of fuel across a major road in our region?

Image source, Cambs Police

That was the scenario facing our emergency services as a tanker carrying 39,000 litres of aviation fuel overturned and collided with a van in a training exercise on Tuesday.

The "fake" A1 incident was created at Alconbury and involved 35 police forces, the US Airforce, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk fire services and the ambulance service. 

Image source, Cambs Police

During the exercise both the van and lorry driver had to be treated for their injuries and officers had to evacuate children from a nearby school.

Stuart Appleton, who organised the event, said it was created to test an "inter-agency response to a major incident".

Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy says the club's first win after he took over in 2012, a 1-0 victory away at Birmingham, was an important result for everyone.

He said: "When you walk through the door as a new manager, everybody wants you to do well.

"There's just such an overwhelming wave of support, I think, for when you come into a club and it's up to you to grab it, and hold on to it, and make sure that that continues. 

"Thankfully with the result at Birmingham, that's what happened because then people get of belief out of it and we can move forward, and that's what happened."

In an exclusive interview with BBC Suffolk, Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy has been talking about his four years in charge of the club.

Talking to Brenner Woolley about his arrival at Portman Road in 2012, he said: "The biggest thing was the negativity within this building, but that's kind of normal, if you're bottom of the league with seven points on November 1. 

"I remember we were sat in the coaches' room watching games from Sheffield Wednesday, and Derby I think it was - the two games prior to me coming in. 

"I sat with all the coaches and nobody was giving me anything really to cling on to in terms of a positive word about anybody." 

Temporary barriers are being unveiled in Lowestoft to protect the town against winter floods.

The work follows devastating floods that hit parts of the town in 2013, leaving people homeless and causing massive damage to some businesses.

Image source, Phil Rhodes

The Waveney MP Peter Aldous says the temporary barriers will significantly reduce the level of flooding, but won't be as effective as the tidal barrier and flood walls, which are part of a £25m flood defence project, external.

He said: "Whilst that work is going on, we're still at the mercy of weathers, with high tides. We're just coming up to the winter period when... there can be problems.

"We know where the pinch points are, where the real weak points are, and it's getting these temporary barriers in place so that when there is a warning that there could be a flash flood these can be put in place and will give us some protection."

We'll have more details about how the barriers will work later.

Brenner Woolley
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Despite dominating large parts of the game, and having a penalty saved, Lowestoft Town, external could only draw 1-1 with Billericay Town last night.

Image source, Lowestoft Town FC

Chris Henderson (pictured) got the Trawler Boys' equaliser after Michael Spillane had been denied from the spot.

The result leaves Lowestoft 11th in the Ryman Premier Division table, ahead of Saturday's trip to Leatherhead.

Ipswich Star

While the front page of the Ipswich Star, external focuses on delays in Kesgrave...

Image source, Ipswich Star