Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather

It will be a cloudy but mainly dry day, with just the odd chance of rain. Still feeling fairly cold with a high between 8C and 10C (46-50F).

There are more details on the BBC Weather website.

That's it for our live coverage, on a day when the closure of the Orwell Bridge left most of Ipswich gridlocked until some time after the bridge reopened at lunchtime.

Scroll down to read mixed reactions to the closure, and see how the day unfolded.

Other stories we've carried include:

• Four men are in custody following reports of a shooting incident in Ipswich
• An assurance that Suffolk's libraries will remain open, despite a further proposed cut in funding
• Concerns from the NFU over the level of rural policing in the county

We'll leave you with this somewhat unusual photograph of the Orwell Bridge, taken at about 11:00, almost two hours before the road reopened:

Image source, John Fairhall

Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

Any showers fading this evening and becoming dry overnight with the risk of mist and fog patches later.

Lows of 4C (39F) across the region.

Wednesday will be mainly dry and rather cloudy, although there'll be some bright or sunny spells too. 

Thicker cloud could bring some damp conditions later.

Top temperature: 9C (48F).

Our final email commenting on the closure of the Orwell Bridge comes from David Jamesson, who ends up saying: "Come on folks, get a grip".

He says: "It's par for the course to hear all the whingers complaining about today's closure on safety grounds, but these conditions were flagged up days ahead and everybody locally should already have made it their business to know that the bridge is closed when winds at the highest point reach 60mph. 

"Everyone should also have enough nous to realise that is very different to the wind in your sheltered back garden.

"Not everyone, but a lot of those people commuting into Ipswich today from the towns doorstep i.e. the likes of Kesgrave, Martlesham and Capel could have biked or even walked into town if they'd bothered to check before jumping in the car."

Chris Bond
BBC Sunday Politics East

Digital minister and West Suffolk MP Matthew Hancock says the county is "just behind" the rest of the region when it comes to upgrading to superfast broadband. 

But he told BBC Sunday Politics East that the plan to have 95% of Suffolk upgraded by the end of next year was still on track.

"At the moment, we are at 91% for the East and Suffolk is just behind at 90%, because it is a bit more rural than average," said Mr Hancock. 

In tomorrow's Autumn Statement, Chancellor Philip Hammond is expected to announce £400m for a new Digital Infrastructure Investment Fund, designed to improve broadband speeds. 

"Broadband has gone from nice-to-have to an essential utility for households and families, but it is especially true for business," said Mr Hancock. 

The Conservative manifesto for the 2015 General Election pledged to get 95% of the UK on superfast broadband by the end of 2017.   

"For people who don't have decent broadband it is increasingly hard to be part of modern life," he said.

In the wake of the Orwell Bridge closure, we mentioned earlier that we'd return to the subject of a northern relief road for Ipswich.

The Ipswich Star reported in March, external that a feasibility study was to be carried out, looking at options for a new road network, and it's understood plans for a potential route are to be drawn up.

In a statement, James Finch, county councillor responsible for highways and transport, says: "Over the next two years, around £5m will be invested in local traffic flow improvements on the main roads into Ipswich.

"Working closely with neighbouring district and borough councils, Suffolk County Council is currently carrying out a feasibility study into options for a potential relief road to the north of Ipswich."

An online petition has also been launched calling for the by-pass, which states: "Ipswich needs action and the building of the Northern Bypass will help increase the town's profile and relieve the traffic issues of Ipswich."

We're still receiving emails about this morning's closure of the Orwell Bridge, due to high winds, which caused major traffic congestion in Ipswich.

• William Tucker asks: "Why are we reliant on forecasts? What is wrong with some information? Can't they afford a few quid for a wind gauge rather than those stupid signs saying the road is clear?"

• Nigel Palmer makes the suggestion: "Closing the Orwell Bridge to (a) high sided vehicles or (b) all traffic is a judgement issue, but why, when it happens, don't they stop all lorries leaving Felixstowe and prevent them from going into Ipswich and gridlocking the town? They could be put into storage on the old A14 in a reverse 'operation stack'."

Image source, John Fairhall

The county councillor responsible for finance and heritage says they're "still negotiating" with Suffolk Libraries, external, over next year's budget, adding: "We don't have a final figure."

Image source, Google

Suffolk Libraries, the industrial and provident society which was set up when the council decided to stop running the public library service itself, says it is being proposed that the £6.14m grant it gets from the local authority will be cut by £230,000 next year.

Councillor Richard Smith, Conservative, said: "I don't want to see libraries closed and I firmly believe that this figure that we're asking them to save will not lead to library closures."

Why does the autumn weather affect our rail services ? Greater Anglia has the answer, external.

• Wet weather and leaf mulch that sticks to rail tracks gets compressed and hardened by the train wheels, creating a slippery layer similar to black ice
• Wheels lose grip and can be damaged, and the mulch can also cause electrical faults
• Six specialist trains to clean tracks and remove vegetation have been brought in by Network Rail - and a specially adapted Land Rover, known as a Sand Rover, will clean the track between Marks Tey and Sudbury
• A mobile wheel lathe at the Norwich depot will fix train wheels damaged by slippery rails, to bring them back into service

The National Farmers Union, external says it's concerned there is just one civilian police officer dealing with all rural crime across Suffolk.

Incidents of hare coursing (photograph shows damage allegedly done to a field by criminals) appear to be increasing, and Rachel Carrington, from the NFU, said the county doesn't have the resources to deal with it.

Image source, Simon Dain

She explained: "Hare coursers target the easiest areas... a couple of years ago we were doing a great job in Suffolk and keeping them out, but now the tables are turned.

"Cambridgeshire are keeping them out, they're all coming into Suffolk."

PC Mark Bryant, the county's rural crime officer, responded by saying: "It's no different to any other crime that would take place in the middle of a town.

"It is a crime in progress and therefore it qualifies as a 999 call."

The East of England Ambulance Service, external (EEAS) is urging road users to take extra care to avoid winter collisions.

Last winter, their control rooms handled nearly 8,000 calls about road traffic collisions between November 2015 and February 2016. This is a county breakdown of the number attended: 

• Essex - 1,579
• Hertfordshire - 996
• Norfolk - 922
• Cambridgeshire - 846
• Suffolk - 657
• Bedfordshire - 654

In a push to reduce the number of incidents this year, EEAS is promoting Brake's Road Safety Week, external, which has this advice for drivers:

• Wear hi-vis clothing and use lights in walking or cycling in the dark
• Keep to speed limits and drive to road conditions
• Leave an appropriate distance between your vehicle and the one ahead
• Allow extra time to get to your destination, particularly in icy condtions
• Don't drink and drive

The East Anglian Air Ambulance, external (EAAA) charity has flown nearly 20,000 lifesaving missions since it was launched in 2000.

It's now been honoured for its work across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. 

Three of its workers picked up honours from the Association of Air Ambulances, external at an event in London.

Capt Steve Norris, from Norwich, has been named Pilot of the Year. 

Steve, 50, (pictured below, second from right) who's worked with EAAA for 10 years says "it's a lovely feeling at the end of the day to know we've helped someone in their hour of need".

Image source, EAAA

Volunteer of the Year went to 73-year-old Jamie Edghill, from Cromer (pictured below holding his award).

Following a career with the fire service, he became a volunteer 12 years ago, and has raised over £600,000 for the charity. He also visits local schools to educate youngsters about the work of the emergency services.

Image source, EAAA

Alastair Wilson, 68, from Great Massingham, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award in honour of his work with air ambulances both in the UK and further afield. The skilled surgeon (pictured below second from right) has been EAAA medical director since 2014.   

Image source, EAAA

The chief executive of Suffolk Libraries, external has said the further cuts it faces in funding next year from the county council will be painful, but she's promised there'll be no library closures.

Image source, Google

Alison Wheeler said: "We're not going to see libraries close, and it would be irresponsible of me to speculate on precisely what the impact is at this stage.

"We employ staff - they, like our customers, will be worried by all of this. I'm not going to add to that worry by speculating."

The service got £6.14m from Suffolk County Council this year and it being proposed this is cut by £230,000 for 2017-18.

It follows a cut of £350,000 for the current year.

Suffolk Libraries said its budget had been £8.9m in 2010-11, when the cuts in public spending under the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government began.

Four men arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, following reports of a shooting in Ipswich in the early hours of this morning, remain in custody, say police.

Image source, Suffolk Police

The four men, a 27-year-old, 26-year-old and a 22-year-old, all from London, and a 20-year-old from Ipswich were detained shortly before 03:00.

Police were alerted just after midnight, to reports of a loud noise at Siloam Place near the University of Suffolk, and a few minutes later, received a call from the ambulance service reporting that someone had been attacked at the same location, and had injuries to his upper arms.

An hour later, an 18-year-old man was reported as having arrived at Ipswich Hospital with a suspected gunshot wound to his shoulder.

It's understood his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

With the good news from Highways England that both carriageways on the A14 are now open on the Orwell Bridge, it's time for us to take a look at what else has been happening in the county.

• Four men arrested on suspicion of GBH remain in custody, following an incident in Ipswich which resulted in a man being treated in hospital for a suspected gunshot wound to his shoulder
• The NFU says it's concerned there's just one civilian officer dealing with rural crime in the county
• Suffolk's library service is facing more cuts in funding from the county council

We'll bring you more on these stories later.

It's been a bit of a case of "is it/isn't it?" with the reopening of the Orwell Bridge westbound this lunchtime, but caller "Bob" has phoned in to say that traffic is beginning to move again, heading away from Felixstowe.

The eastbound carriageway reopened a little earlier.

Our Facebook page, external has been buzzing with reaction to today's closure of the Orwell Bridge, and the knock-on effect it's had in Ipswich and surrounding areas.

Here's a few suggestions of how the situation could be avoided in future - with the warning that most of them are clearly somewhat tongue-in-cheek:

• Steve Shapland writes, external: "Why don't they put a roof on it...no wind ..no snow no rain ...oh yes that's a tunnel OVER the river."
• Graham Sharplin suggests, external: "Let's have a ferry ⛴ crossing duty free 🍷 😜"
• Grant Goulding posts, external: " Build a tunnel under the river. I reckon would only cost 1 billion. They could increase the council tax for all people in Ipswich to pay for it! Sounds fair to me."
• Mark Holloway says, external: "Northern bypass needed now not in 15 years."

We'll bring you a reminder on the Northern bypass a little later.

Ipswich Star

The Ipswich Star, external reports: Police cordon remains in place after alleged shooting in Siloam Place, Ipswich, this morning.

Image source, Ipswich Star

Services between Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester, Chelmsford and the capital should be back to normal:

Callers to BBC Radio Suffolk are confirming that the westbound carriageway of the Orwell Bridge is yet to reopen.

Traffic is only flowing on the eastbound carriageway.