Graeme Mac
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Mick McCarthy says his loyalty to striker Freddie Sears (pictured) cannot be questioned despite him dropping the 27-year-old for last weekend's match with QPR, and opting for Luke Varney again tomorrow. 

Varney made the most of his first start of the season, scoring in the 3-0 win over QPR, forcing a mistake out of QPR goalkeeper Alex Smithies. 

The Ipswich boss says the former Leeds and Blackburn man offers more of a physical presence. 

"It's hard to leave someone like Freddie out given how selflessly he works for the team," said McCarthy.

"But sometimes a change is needed. It's great when it works and it comes back to bite me if it doesn't."

Kelly McCormack
BBC Radio Suffolk

A male motorcycist in his 20s was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge yesterday evening, after a collision with a car in Mildenhall.

The crash took place on West Row Road just before 18:00.

The road was closed for a couple of hours.

Graeme Mac
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Two of Ipswich Town's most creative midfielders will again be on the bench at Bristol City tomorrow following manager Mick McCarthy's decision to stick with with Cole Skuse and Jonathan Douglas.

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace loanee Jonny Williams (pictured) is yet to start for the Blues since rejoining the club, while Teddy Bishop has struggled to establish himself in the team since returning from injury. 

"I get it that fans want the sexy players in there because they have the tricks and they go forward," McCarthy said.

"But when they're playing, Skusey has to do more work than he should have to.

"With Dougie alongside him last week, they performed very well as a pair. Let's hope they do so again this week."

Pete Cooper
BBC Local Live

We don't like to start your day with bad news, but if you are off to get a train then I'm afraid fares in Britain will go up by an average of 2.3% from 2 January.

The increase in regulated fares, which includes season tickets, is capped at July's RPI inflation rate of 1.9%.

Unregulated fares, such as off-peak leisure tickets, can go up by as much as the train companies like.

The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators and Network Rail, said the industry was working to simplify fares and improve services.

Graeme Mac
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Ipswich Town will be unchanged for Saturday's trip to Bristol City, after Mick McCarthy confirmed that the same starting XI which beat QPR 3-0 last weekend will be on display at Ashton Gate.

There were a few grumbles around Portman Road prior to kick-off last Saturday, but the manager's decision paid off, as the Blues enjoyed their biggest win of the season. 

"In the main, I make more good decisions than bad and last week I made good decisions," McCarthy said. 

"I needed a team of blokes and I knew what I was going to get out of them.

"I knew that team last week wasn't going to appeal to everybody, but I'm not bothered, and we won the game." 

Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather

Much milder, but unfortunately we've lost the sunshine, so it'll be gloomy with plenty of low cloud around and very little in the way of brightness.

Temperatures up to 9C (48F).

Winds are light and it should stay dry, although there may be a few spots of rain later in eastern coastal areas.

Watch my full forecast here...

Philippa Taylor
BBC Local Live

Thanks for joining us, it's great to have your company, and hasn't it been great not needing to tackle any icy windscreens this morning?

The team here is poised to bring you the latest news, sport and travel from across the county.

But we'll start with the weather - Elizabeth Rizzini's forecast will be with you shortly. 

A survey of MPs mental health will ask questions about depression, sense of self-worth and drinking habits.

Live updates for Suffolk have now finished for the day.

Here are some highlights of the stories we've covered:

• Kameron May, 20, of Wickham Market, is jailed for five years for a string of sexual offences involving children
• Suffolk schools remain among the worst performing in the east of England
• Ed Sheeran jokes about his face being cut by Princess Beatrice during charity fundraising gig

We'll be back tomorrow from 08:00.

Have a great evening. 

Kate Scotter
BBC News

These "brews brothers" have retired after clocking up more than 80 years between them at a Suffolk brewer.

Image source, Greene King

Twins Kenny and Keith Meekins first joined Greene King in Bury St Edmunds in the mid-1970s.

They had various jobs within the firm, from bottling lemonade to working on the drays delivering beer.

Kenny said: “Greene King has been a fantastic company to work for. They’ve been good to me and hopefully they feel I’ve been good for them.” 

They said they plan to spend much of their retirement together.

Rooney Anand, Greene King’s chief executive, said: “Kenny and Keith are so well known around the brewery and offices in Bury and will certainly be missed. 

"I’d like to thank them for their loyalty and dedication. I hope they enjoy their well-deserved retirement.”

Julie Reinger
BBC Look East weather

A dry and largely cloudy night with some clear spells across the East region.

Where skies clear, it could freeze with temperatures dropping close to 0C (32F) and patchy fog and frost is likely.

It’ll be a chilly start to Friday with some frost and fog to clear. It’ll then be a generally cloudy day with perhaps a little brightness and sunshine at times. Some parts could also see a bit of light and showery rain. Top temperature 9C (48F).

There are more details on the BBC Weather website.

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

The MP for Waveney has told parliament that fishing along the east coast could get a new lease of life if the government can negotiate the right sort of Brexit deal. 

Peter Aldous called on ministers to draw up "a bespoke fishing policy" which would include total control of territorial waters for 200 miles and allow only inshore fishermen, rather than large trawlers, to use the first twelve miles off the coast. 

Mr Aldous, who supported the Remain campaign, said now was the time to bury differences and work towards a good deal for the fishing fleet.

"We do have a great opportunity ahead of us to put in place a new policy framework which would give the fishing industry all along the coast a fresh lease of life," he said. 

Kate Scotter
BBC News

Police have warned young people to be aware of the dangers of using social media.

Image source, Thinkstock

It comes after Kameron May was jailed for five years for a string of sexual offences involving young people.

Suffolk Police said May used a number of different social media channels including Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Meow and Oovoo to get in touch with the girls.

Det Ch Insp Eamonn Bridger said: "During the investigation we found many of the girls' profiles were public and had mobile phone numbers on – making it easy for anyone to get in touch directly, regardless of who they were.

"May was abundantly aware that these girls were underage. 

"They were flattered by the attention and he quickly escalated contact by displaying emotion. 

"Sexual predators are not always much older than your child and we would urge all parents and guardians to talk about online safety."

Kate Scotter
BBC News

Police have praised the parents of the victims of the man they described as a "sexual predator" for their cooperation.

Kameron May, 20, from Wickham Market, was sent to prison for five years for a string of sexual offences involving children.

Police said the "positive reaction" from parents assisted them with their investigation.

Det Ch Insp Eamonn Bridger said: "Whilst many of them were angry, they were keen to see justice done and were receptive to agencies assisting them.

"We hope the sentence today demonstrates that the courts take these offences seriously and that police will fully investigate such allegations."

He urged any other girls who may have been approached in a similar manner to come forward.

"You shouldn’t feel uncomfortable – you are not in any trouble," he added.

Kelly McCormack
BBC Radio Suffolk

Schools in the county - which are among the worst-performing in the East of Engalnd - face various challenges, believes Ofsted's regional director.

Paul Brooker said: "The challenges are partly geographical, so there are some areas that face significant challenges in terms of raising standards, but they're also in many of our schools.

"The challenges are to do with raising standards for particular groups. 

"There's been a real focus recently [nationally] on the most able, but there's an ongoing focus on raising standards for disadvantaged pupils."

BBC Radio Suffolk

A post-mortem examination is due to take place today on a cyclist killed in a hit-and-run in Suffolk.

Image source, Suffolk Police

The 72-year-old man, who has been named locally as Colin Taylor, died after being knocked off his bike on the B1115 near Hitcham near Lavenham on Tuesday lunchtime. 

Police have released CCTV images of a white lorry thought to have been the vehicle involved.

Kate Williams
BBC Local Live

Police have revealed details of their investigation into the case of 20-year-old Kameron May, jailed today for five years for a string of sexual offences involving children.

Officers found his mobile phone was packed with 275 contacts who they were concerned could be victims. 

Police called a multi-agency meeting with the Young People's Service at the county council plus health and education partners work out how to take the investigation forward. 

Det Ch Insp Eamonn Bridger said: "With the existing profile we had of victims – vulnerable teenage girls – we didn’t want to just call them. 

"They could be unduly worried about police involvement and may be afraid about what was coming next."

May was subsequently arrested and bailed while police gathered evidence.

Image source, Suffolk Police

Kate Williams
BBC Local Live

A 20-year-old "sexual predator" from Wickham Market has been sent to prison for five years after admitting a string of sexual offences involving children. 

Kameron May appeared before Ipswich Crown Court in connection with 12 offences against eight girls aged between 12 and 15. 

They included:  

• Six counts of sexual activity with a child 
• Four counts of causing or inciting a child into sexual activity 
• One count of sexual grooming
• One count of possession of indecent images of children, relating to more than 1,000 images

Image source, Suffolk Police

Suffolk Police spoke to hundreds of contacts on May's phone in an extensive operation which involved visits to 33 other police force areas. 

Det Ch Insp Eamonn Bridger said: "May would identify someone in a social network and would pro-actively and without warning immediately contact them, quickly progressing to talking about sex and sending explicit images.

"Sexual predators are not always much older than your child and we would urge all parents and guardians to talk about online safety and to take a look at the resources available to help you have those conversations.”

Kelly McCormack
BBC Radio Suffolk

Suffolk's schools remain among the worst performing in the east of England, according to government inspectors. 

Ofsted say just 71% of secondary school students are in a good or outstanding school, which is a 2% drop on 2012 and is the second lowest in the East. 

Primary schools are performing better, with 84% of pupils in a good or outstanding school. Ofsted says standards generally across East Anglia are rising.  

Graeme Mac
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Ipswich Town midfielder Cole Skuse has been speaking ahead of Saturday's match at his former club Bristol City, where he spent more than a decade as a player.

Despite admitting that it will be an emotional fixture for him and his family, the 30-year-old has confirmed that he would celebrate, should he score what would be only his second competitive goal for the Blues.

"I served my time for Bristol City and they will always be my team, but I am very much an Ipswich Town player," he said. 

"I also don't get many goals as you know, so I would relish every moment!"