Brenner Woolley
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Mildenhall Fen Tigers, external have confirmed they plan to announce the sixth member of their team for 2017 this weekend, leaving just one more berth to fill.

The news comes hot on the heels of 18-year-old Luke Ruddick's return to West Row for a third season.  

Jon Armstrong, Danny Halsey, Jordan Jenkins and Connor Mountain are the other riders already signed up.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

A ward at a hospital used by patients from Suffolk and Norfolk, refurbished as part of a £1.65m revamp, is due to open in April.

Image source, Google

NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) governing body approved plans to reopen the newly refurbished Minsmere Ward at Beccles Hospital as an intermediate care unit.

It comes following a major refurbishment of the 20-bed facility, carried out in partnership with NHS Property Services

Once the hospital reopens, eight single en-suite rooms will be available, along with three four-bed bays with separate toilet and washing facilities, all of which will meet "dementia-friendly" standards.

Cath Byford, director of commissioning and quality with the CCG, said: "This major transformation will significantly improve the experience our patients have when receiving care at Beccles while also helping the James Paget [in Gorleston, Norfolk] to discharge patients who no longer need acute care, in turn making best use of its beds."

East Anglian Daily Times

Village primaries top the rankings in Suffolk: the front page of the east edition of the East Anglian Daily Times.

Kate Scotter
BBC News

A coastal town is in a "lull before a storm of activity" over a third water crossing, a Suffolk MP has said.

Waveney MP Peter Aldous said letters will soon go out to people living in Lowestoft, close to the planned bridge over Lake Lothing, advising them of the £80m-100m development.

Backing and funding for the long-awaited crossing has come from the government. 

Mr Aldous said: "The detailed scheme will be worked up, that will go out to public consultation in the summer of next year.

"Then the planning application as such gets lodged with the Department for Transport towards the end of next year."

East Anglian Daily Times

Bid for eight-mile section criticised by councillor: the front page of the west edition of today's East Anglian Daily Times.

Ipswich Star

St Mark's primary school nets the best SAT results - today's front page of the Ipswich Star.

Kate Scotter
BBC News

The owner of a golden eagle which has gone missing says he has received almost 100 reports of unconfirmed sightings.

Stan escaped from his home at Hemingstone near Needham Market at about 16:00 last Friday.

His owner Kris Ford said calls from members of the public have flooded in since we first reported on the story two days ago.

But the bird, which has a 6ft (1.8m) wingspan, has still not been found.

Mr Ford said: "Unfortunately we haven't got there yet. 

"I've had a couple more reports and I'm hoping that this one might be turn out to be the one where Stan is actually sitting in a tree or sitting on the floor waiting for me."

He said Stan is "quite capable" of going for a week or two without food. 

Andrew Turner
BBC Radio Norfolk

I've spent the early morning with ambulance staff at the control room at Norwich in Norfolk as they face one of the busiest days of the year.

The day is traditionally known to emergency services as Black Friday because of incidents related to Christmas parties and nights out. 

East of England Ambulance Service, external paramedic Rob Chalk, who is based at the Gorleston depot, told me higher demand means resources can't always be stretched as far as needed. 

"We are professionals and sometimes it is our perception that a patient has not called us maliciously but it's not a problem for the ambulance service. And some call out of frustration because they are unable to access care elsewhere," he said.

"But it can sometimes be frustrating if you can hear on your radio that somebody does need an immediate medical response and we are unable to go because we're dealing with something we really should not have gone to in the first place."

The service is hosting a 'Twitterthon' across the day with the aim of giving us an insight into their work:

Brenner Woolley
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Ipswich Town, external boss Mick McCarthy says there's no way he'll be cancelling his players' Christmas party, whatever the result at Wigan Athletic tomorrow.

The Blues head into the game on a run of three wins in 14 games, and lie just five points above the Championship relegation zone..

"They're all trying, it's not like they've downed tools and stopped playing and working hard, that's not the case," said McCarthy. "I do believe they've earned a bit of down time. 

"Sometimes it does them good to get away and have a beer and a bit of company. 

"You find very often that the truth outs, they have a couple of beers and they might just share what they think."

Brenner Woolley
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Mildenhall Fen Tigers, external have made another signing ahead of the 2017 campaign, with 18-year old Luke Ruddick returning for a third season.

Image source, Jeff Higgott

Promoter Kevin Jolly's described the 18-year-old as "a likeable lad who gives everything and is determined to succeed". 

His arrival means that only two berths still need to be filled.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

Newspaper publisher Johnston Press, external is to offload 13 titles in East Anglia and the East Midlands to Iliffe Media for £17m.

Titles include the Suffolk Free Press, Lynn News, Fenland Citizen, Haverhill Echo, Newmarket Journal, Bury Free Press, Diss Express, Stamford Mercury, Grantham Journal, Spalding Guardian, Lincolnshire Free Press, Rutland Times and the Local (Bourne).

The group, which publishes the i, the Yorkshire Post and The Scotsman, said the deal is part of its strategy to focus on growth areas.

Johnston boss Ashley Highfield said: "This disposal marks a major milestone in our divestment strategy and puts us firmly on the path of refocusing our activities on areas with the greatest growth potential.

"The disposal will also reduce our net debt whilst putting us on a stronger footing."

Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather

It will be a rather cloudy day, but remaining largely dry.

The occasional cloud break will allow some sunny intervals to form. Mainly light southerly winds.

Highs of 9C (48F).

Watch my full forecast below.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

Suffolk Police is to get £900,000 less in 2017-18 in funding from the Home Office compared to 2016-17. 

Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk Tim Passmore said the reduction was expected, but there will be tough decisions ahead for the force.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

Good morning and welcome to Friday's Suffolk Live.

We'll have our regular news, sport, travel and weather updates throughout the day including news that Suffolk Police is to get £900,000 less in Home Office funding next year compared to this year.

In a moment we'll kick off with the weather forecast.

Philippa Taylor
BBC Local Live

We're signing off now to give our keyboards a rest, but the good news is we'll be back before you know it.

In case you're just joining us, here's a reminder of some of today's top stories:

• A sex worker says she's back on the streets of Ipswich
• A man's been jailed for creating a false dating website profile for a former partner
• Suffolk Wildlife Trust is offering people the chance to "buy" a piece of the Suffolk Broads

Have a great evening - the page resumes at 08:00 on Friday.

The Teapot Project, external, which intercepts food from supermarkets and restaurants, which would otherwise have been sent to landfill, and makes it accessible to vulnerable people, says it's opening a cookery school.

It's teamed up with Suffolk New College, external to offer the placements, and will use food from the same sources.

The pilot will be rolled out in January. 

Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

A rather cloudy end to the day but relatively mild. One or two breaks in the cloud overnight, allowing some mist and fog patches to form. Low temperatures of 4C (39F).

Tomorrow will be a rather cloudy day with some bright or sunny spells, and a high of 9C (48F).

There are more details on the BBC Weather website.

A lorry has struck the railway bridge on the B1078 Coddenham Road in Needham Market, near Lion Lane: