Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

Philip Hammond is a very different chancellor to George Osborne - he's not as showy, he doesn't have leadership ambitions - so it was always going to be the case that this mini budget would be "big picture" stuff with very few local announcements. 

But we will all be affected by what he's said today and the view at Westminster is that when it comes to investment, the East is likely to be one of the main beneficiaries.

Science and research parks in Cambridge, Norwich and Ipswich will be in line for the extra funding for research and development, some of the many mobile and broadband "not spots" across the region can expect to benefit from the increased funding confirmed today, we might get some of the money for new housing and the commitment to east west rail, and an express roadway from Oxford to Cambridge will make it much easier to get about and do business. 

The details will emerge in the days and weeks to come.

Critics will say it isn't enough, but for a region that feels it's been underfunded for many years, anything extra will be welcome.

It looks like it's good news on the funding front for Justice Secretary Liz Truss...

The Conservative MEP for the East, Vicky Ford has welcomed news that the Chancellor Phillip Hammond is investing £23bn in innovation and infrastructure. 

Chancellor Philip Hammond is in the process of delivering his Autumn Statement... BBC East political correspondent Andrew Sinclair is in Westminster.

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

Chancellor Philip Hammond will shortly deliver his Autumn Statement, a kind of mini budget.

On a national level it is probably the most important budget statement for six years, as the new administration outlines its priorities as we prepare for Brexit.

But don't expect lots of local announcements. 

Whilst George Osborne had leadership ambitions and loved to name check as many local bits of spending as possible, Mr Hammond is a very different person. He believes in outlining the big picture and leaving it to others to reveal the local detail in the days and weeks to come. 

We will all be affected by the expected fuel duty freeze, as well as by any tax cuts or increases. We already know that money is going into science and research as well as in tackling poor broadband and mobile phone provision and it's very likely that some of that will come our way. 

But anything else? Watch this space.

Kate Williams
BBC Local Live

Meanwhile, Forest Heath councillors, who support a devolution deal, say they want to make sure the county benefits from the share of money and support available. 

The council believes a deal would "deliver accelerated growth in the local and national economy and helping local people and places fulfill their potential’.  

Councillor James Waters, Leader of Forest Heath District Council, said: "The long and short of it is that we had a deal on the table but that’s now been taken off by the government, so we’re back to the beginning. 

"Now we are going to go back to government and tell them that we’re still up for a devolution deal – there’s a vast amount of money and support available and we want to make sure Suffolk gets its share."

Kate Williams
BBC Local Live

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce has joined the government in expressing its disappointment that devolution plans, which would have brought extra money and power to Norfolk and Suffolk, have fallen through.

But it says it is ready to find a workable solution for a Suffolk-only deal.

Peter Funnell, immediate past president of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, said: "Suffolk Chamber of Commerce is disappointed that the devolution offer has been withdrawn by the secretary of state. 

"The Chamber is in favour in principle of devolution of powers and decision-making from Whitehall to the regions.

"We are ready to work with Suffolk County Council, other public sector partners, New Anglia LEP and the wider business community to explore the opportunities for a Suffolk-only deal."

Suffolk County Council is to discuss a county-only deal this afternoon.

Kate Williams
BBC Local Live

Yesterday's traffic gridlock due to the Orwell Bridge closure caused a councillor to miss a meeting on infrastructure planning ideas.

Simon Barrett, deputy leader of Babergh District Council, was trying to get to a Suffolk Growth Group meeting at 10:00 in Ipswich, but never made it. 

The meeting was to discuss the issue of infrastructure planning for the next 20 years and involved participants from all seven districts and borough councils, plus the county council.

"I didn't get there," he said. 

"With the closure of the bridge it really brings it home how Ipswich gets totally jammed up."

He added that the town needed something like a northern bypass to alleviate the problems, and that the new Wet Dock crossing would make a difference.

Kate Williams
BBC Local Live

One of the knock-on effects of the closure of the Orwell Bridge was Ipswich woman Lynn Andrews missing a funeral for a friend, in north Essex.

Ms Andrews said she heard the travel reports but decided the best route was via the A14/A12.

"It's only about a 25-mile journey," she said. "When we heard that the bridge was closed we did say we'd have to leave earlier."

It took 90 minutes to get from the Asda junction of the A14 to the Sproughton junction, after which she knew she would be too late and would miss the funeral. It then took another 90 minutes to get home again, she said.

"It made us feel very sad," Ms Andrews said. "We were thinking about him, and his family, and we shall go at some point to his grave, and pay our respects like that, but it was so frustrating, but there was nothing that you could do."

Kate Arkell
BBC Radio Suffolk

Suffolk County Council says it's already investing £5m into improving traffic flow around Ipswich, after the town was gridlocked for much of yesterday because of the Orwell Bridge closure.

But the authority also says people should find alternatives to the car when making short journeys.

Yesterday's closure for nearly 12 hours caused traffic chaos, and has led to calls for improvements to the road network around the county town.

Suffolk County Council says it's investigating potential short, medium, and longer-term highway improvements to address some areas of congestion in the Ipswich area. 

It says that as well as the £5m that's being invested, there is also funding of almost £100m for the delivery of the wet dock crossing. 

And together with neighbouring councils, it's also carrying out a feasibility study into options for a potential relief road to the north of Ipswich.

Brenner Woolley
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Leiston, external manager Glenn Driver was pleased to see his side bounce back from Saturday's defeat to Hendon by beating AFC Sudbury, external 3-1 in the Ryman Premier Division last night. 

The Blues host Eastbourne Borough on Saturday.

Kate Williams
BBC Local Live

Anthony Ogogo's representatives say the operation on his broken eye socket was a success, but it's not clear when he will return to the ring.

A spokesman said in a statement: "No timescale at this point, the operation went well but we need to wait to see how the eye recovers." 

Brenner Woolley
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Anthony Ogogo has had an operation on his fractured eye socket.

The 27-year-old from Lowestoft hasn't fought since losing to Craig Cunningham in Birmingham last month.

What's going to be in the Autumn Statement? Take a look at our animated guide.  

The second stage of consultation over a new nuclear power station at Sizewell is under way, with revised plans to be discussed until February.

It's expected there will be more than 5,000 workers coming to the area during the construction phase, if it goes ahead, along with all the materials required to build the plant.

The consultation documents by EDF Energy contain a number of proposals to mitigate against the increases in traffic, which range from improvements along the A12 and B1122, to preferred sites for park and rides, and where the workers' accommodation should go. 

Image source, EDF

The plans include an option to bypass Farnham and Stratford St Andrew on the A12, but they have discounted a bypass for Little Glemham and Marlesford.

Jim Crawford, the Sizewell C project development director, said: "There's four options around that part of the  A12.

"One of which we have added specifically at the request of the local council, which is a two-village bypass. We've got a road-widening scheme, we've got a one-village bypass at Farnham, we've also got the two-village bypass.

"We're really looking forward to hearing what people think about them."

We'll have more on this later this morning.

Brenner Woolley
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Leiston, external bounced back from Saturday's disappointing defeat to Hendon by winning 3-1 at AFC Sudbury, external in the Ryman Premier Division last night.

Image source, Leiston FC

Strikes from Matt Blake (pictured), Gareth Heath and an own goal from James Baker mean Glenn Driver's men leap-frog Needham Market, external back into the top three.

In the North Division, Bury Town, external lost for the fourth time in five matches, this time 2-1 at home to Heybridge Swifts.

Brenner Woolley
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Lowestoft Town, external avoided an upset by winning 3-2 at Felixstowe & Walton United, external last night to reach the semi-finals of the Suffolk Premier Cup.

Rossi Jarvis, Jamie Forshaw and Shaun Bammant were on target as the Trawler Boys extended their winning run to three matches in all competitions.

The draw for the last-four will be held on BBC Radio Suffolk on Saturday afternoon.

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

The local government secretary says he's "disappointed" that plans for devolution in Norfolk and Suffolk have been dropped, and said the two counties had turned their backs on millions of pounds of investment. 

The government withdrew the deal, which would have seen an elected mayor for the two counties along with extra money and power, after it was rejected by councillors in West Norfolk. 

Sajid Javid said: "Local people in Norfolk and Suffolk will no longer benefit from £750m of new funding to improve infrastructure, £130m for new homes, and extra powers over transport and skills."

Councils in Suffolk along with those in South Norfolk and Broadland are hoping to try to negotiate a new deal.

Further details may be revealed when Suffolk County Council meets later today.

Kate Williams
BBC Local Live

Good morning all, and what a difference a day makes. 

We're pleased to say the Orwell Bridge is open this morning after an 11-hour closure yesterday. All routes are flowing well and there are only a couple of minor incidents to talk about. 

But stories of the knock-on effect of the closure which caused traffic chaos and gridlock in the surrounding areas are still coming in, plus a wealth of ideas on how to solve the problem, and we'll be looking at that. 

Also on the agenda today is the publication of the next consultation for a new power station at Sizewell, which starts today.

All that - and live updates for the news, sport, weather and travel for Suffolk right through until 18:00.