Thanks to those of you who've taken the time to email us on the subject of the closure of the Orwell Bridge:

• Rae Beeson writes: "I need to be in Enfield to take my parents who are both in their 90s to hospital appointments this afternoon. Due to the bridge being closed I am still sitting at home in Woodbridge feeling extremely stressed."
• Robert Hawtin says, in response to Highways England's explanation for the closure: "Well done!  That will help your readers understand.  80mph gusting side winds are clearly too high for any vehicle to safely cross.  It may be ok at 'ground' level, very different on top of the bridge.  It also lets Highways England know that there is a serious, if necessary, impact to these decisions and helps teach them to keep people informed.  That way, the public is much more tolerant and understanding."

Stuart Woodward
BBC Essex

Not only does a 95 stone (600kg) pumpkin float, it's pretty nippy in the water too. 

It's pictured closest as it takes part in the "world's first pumpkin boat race" at Hyde Hall near Chelmsford.

After 11.5 hours, the Orwell Bridge has finally reopened and it's been confirmed by BBC staff who can see traffic moving in the distance when they look out of our office on St Matthew's Street.

Stuart Woodward
BBC Essex

Remember the UK's heaviest outdoor pumpkin that was grown in RHS Hyde Hall a few months ago?

The seed for it was bought at auction for £1,250 by Ipswich-based merchants Thompson & Morgan.

Well, I've returned to the gardens today as the record-breaking gourd is about to be turned into a boat in celebration of its success.

At the moment we're just waiting for the pumpkin to be scooped out before setting sail.

Updates to follow....

Luke Deal
BBC Radio Suffolk

It's now more than 11 hours since the A14 was closed over the Orwell Bridge, between J55 (Copdock) and J58 (Nacton).

As you can see from these photographs taken shortly after 12:00 of Colchester Road in Ipswich, the closure is still having a major effect on traffic:

Network Rail engineers who were called to a points failure north of Manningtree station in Essex have repaired some damaged cable, and Greater Anglia say rail services to London are now returning to normal.

BBC Radio Suffolk presenter James Hazell had hoped to send his Sky Cam East drone up over the Orwell Bridge this morning to try and see how windy it is.

He's told us at ground level measured by his anemometer at his house, the wind speed was 10mph (16km/h), so they assumed it was safe to send it up.

But he explained that once the drone got above 50 or 60ft (15/18m) the winds were "significantly stronger" and the operator struggled to control it, so landed it immediately.

Philippa Taylor
BBC Local Live

There's been a lot of talk on social media about whether Highways England made the right decision to close the Orwell Bridge (pictured on an earlier occasion) because of concerns over wind speeds, some of which we brought you earlier.

We've been trying to find out exactly what speeds have been recorded in the area.

Image source, John Fairhall

I spoke to BBC Weather forecaster Kate Kinsella, who said the nearest anenometer for which she has access to readings, is at Wattisham, where gust speeds of about 38mph (61km/h) were recorded on a couple of occasions since 01:00.

But she added that there will be "gusting" every time a shower goes through.

The Met Office told me they'd recorded gusts of up to 40mph (64km/h) from about 03:00 but again, said these speeds are not on the top of the bridge.

Both our experts agreed that safety is a priority, and the most important thing to be considered.

We've been looking at the problems for motorists and passengers caused this morning by the closure of the Orwell Bridge, with some people telling us that journeys which normally take less than 15 minutes, have taken more than an hour-and-a-half.

This video, showing the queues heading towards Felixstowe Road and Trinity Park, was shot by a passenger in a car heading north along the A1156 towards the Seven Hills interchange at Nacton:

The closure of the Orwell Bridge, and subsequent traffic misery for drivers trying to get into Ipswich has, not surprisingly, prompted quite a few comments on the BBC Suffolk Facebook page, external:

• Carl King writes, external: "Shame they can't just close it to lorry and high sided and let cars use it with maybe a speed restriction. Closing it for the morning rush hour seems to cause a slight problem."
• John McCue says, external: "Why hasn't Ipswich Council formulated a contingency plan for traffic when the bridge is closed.Highways England would not have made the decision to close the bridge lightly. They would have been subjected to even more criticism if they hadn't closed the bridge and an incident occurred forcing its closure."
• Stuart Jay posts, external: "Several people have said how it's not to windy where they are so why is the bridge closed, the bridge is a lot higher than most the surrounding area so the wind has no obstructions before hitting the bridge, also the the river will act like a funnel for the wind making it even stronger when it gets to the bridge."

You can join in the discussion too, or send us an email with your thoughts.

BBC Suffolk has just been told by Highways England, external that the Orwell Bridge will reopen "hopefully within the next hour".

Simon Amor said: "We had hoped to open at about 09:00, but the wind speed picked up again.

"Our current forecast shows that we should be able to reopen within the next hour."

He explained the decision to close the bridge earlier, at 01:00, was a combination of actual wind speeds, and expected wind speeds: "We've got wind speed monitors on top of the bridge, so we look at those.

"We use Met Office forecasts, we've got Met Office forecasters that work with us, so we use a variety of methods.

"Our wind speed readers on top of the bridge at the peak, round about 08:00, were showing wind speeds just under 80 mph (129 km/h) - our threshold for closing the bridge is 60 mph (97 km/h) - so we were well above that threshold."

NB: This picture is not from today.

More than 1,000 people are backing a social media campaign to bring back one of Norfolk's best known radio presenters.

Rob Chandler was axed by Radio Norwich last week. The station is one of three owned by Anglian Radio, external, including The Beach and North Norfolk Radio.

Image source, Google

The company is merging the three stations and all will eventually share the same programmes coming from Norwich.

Changes are already happening, and we understand Radio Norwich's Rob Chandler was told he'd been taken off air after he'd finished his breakfast show.

Anglian Radio has been asked to comment, but we've not heard back from them.

Chandler was previously a presenter on Broadland and on BBC Radio Suffolk, where the Ipswich Town fan hosted a Saturday show of football memories.

Highways England say they're getting ready to reopen the bridge, within the next hour.

We'll bring you more details shortly.

There has been disruption on the main train line to London.

It was caused by a points failure at Manningtree, but things are getting better...

As we wait for Highways England to reopen the Orwell Bridge, your Tweets continue to come in regarding its closure this morning.

The traffic information section of the Highways England, external website says "normal traffic conditions are expected between 10:00 and 10:15 on 22 November 2016". 

By way of example, the BBC's Mark Bulstrode has had a frustrating time getting to BBC Suffolk on St Matthew's Street from his home in Kesgrave:

Highways England, external should be reviewing its decision to close the Orwell Bridge, any minute now.

Speaking an hour and a half ago, Simon Amor said: "The current weather forecast shows that gusts will continue until about 09:00.

"We'll review the situation then and hopefully we can look at reopening it shortly after."

We'll let you know as soon as we hear anything.