The number of homeless people given a place to stay by councils during the coronavirus lockdown in Suffolk has reached about 250, with accommodation provided in hotels and bed and breakfasts.

The government has said it is going to extend funding so longer term secure accommodation can be found for everyone.

Nick, who has "sofa-surfed" and been sleeping rough, was given a hotel room by Ipswich Borough Council in April.

He said he had been "safe" and able to talk to family members.

But he said it had not been the same for everyone as "there are still some here who are leaving and do not have anywhere to go".

Critics of the power plant say proper scrutiny of EDF's plans is being hampered by Covid-19.

Jamie Finlay died after the car he was a passenger in hit an oncoming vehicle on 8 May 2017.

The man, in his 60s, fell from a third-floor balcony in the early hours and died at the scene.

A union is to ballot members on industrial action after a transport logistics company announced it was making a number of drivers redundant and was seeking to change their terms and conditions.

Image source, Google

Twelve drivers at Goldstar Transport, external in Woolpit, Suffolk face losing their jobs while more than 80 are being offered transfers to another depot at Felixstowe.

Unite, external, which will run a ballot for strike action, said that within days of requesting trade union recognition earlier this month, the management announced to its 107 drivers by email that it was ceasing haulage operations from Woolpit.

But Goldstar Transport managing director Matthew Ashworth said the depot was not closing but would be expanded as a storage facility.

"The market is changing, the industry is changing and we need to adapt and meet that demand," he said.

On changes to terms and conditions, he said Woolpit drivers were being asked to "be more flexible" and work "tramper" shifts, where they sleep overnight in their cabs.

Image source, East Suffolk Council

Anglian Water engineers have begun preparations ahead of the installation of Lowestoft's new flood defences, which are expected to start later this year.

Trial holes will be dug in three places so the water company can confirm which water and sewage pipes need to be moved or diverted.

Anglian Water says its work on the vital infrastructure project, external will mean traffic management will be in place at sites on Hamilton Road, Waveney Road and Station Square.

During the December 2013 tidal surge, some 160 homes and businesses in the Suffolk seaside town were flooded.

East Suffolk Council said its new scheme will reduce the risk of 500 homes and businesses being flooded by the sea, rivers or extreme rainfall.

The show at Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich was curated by the flame-haired songsmith's father.

A man has died after reports that he fell from a third floor flat near Ipswich waterfront in the early hours of this morning.

Police were called to the building in Duke Street at about 02:35.

Inquiries are continuing and Suffolk Police is appealing for witnesses.

There may be no Wimbledon this year, but those desperate for some tennis can watch or play the game on brand new courts at the Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds.

Image source, West Suffolk Council

Two courts will be available from 1 July.

John Griffiths, leader of West Suffolk Council, external, said: "It has long been our ambition to replace the old courts and move them to a more suitable setting within the gardens.

"It is perhaps particularly important at this time, when many of us may have been struggling to get enough exercise, that there are these opportunities to enjoy sport for our physical as well as mental health."

The authority invested £263,000 in the extension of the public gardens into the former Eastgate nursery, which includes the new public tennis courts, with funding help and approval from English Heritage.

Titan Tennis will be offering coaching sessions, external on Saturday mornings, with players asked to ensure they follow social distancing guidelines.

The Downing Street briefings began in March, when the UK's coronavirus death toll stood at 55.

Three men have been arrested in connection with suspected modern slavery offences.

Suffolk Police, external were joined by other UK enforcement agencies and police officers from Romania as they raided an address in the west of Ipswich earlier this month.

The three men, aged 29, 26 and 20, were questioned on suspicion of slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour offences.

Paperwork, payment cards and other items were recovered and a number of potential victims located, police said.

The Gangmaster and Labour Abuse Authority's, external senior investigating officer Jenni Baines said: "We know that the current pandemic also has the potential to create the conditions in which more people are exploited for their labour."

The three men have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

A town centre's food and drink festival that normally attracts 35,000 people over two days has been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Our Bury St Edmunds, external Food & Drink Festival was due to take place over the August bank holiday weekend.

Image source, Our Bury St Edmunds

The Business Improvement District (BID) organisation said it felt social distancing "would not be possible" at the free-admission event.

It said it hoped for a "bigger and better" edition next year.

William Bryant, chairman of the Bury BID, said: "We’ve taken this decision reluctantly after watching and waiting over the past three months in the hope it could have happened in a safe way.

"However I very much hope that next year we’ll see the festival return and Bury St Edmunds will continue to be regarded as Suffolk’s foodie town."

A woman who has been shielding for three months reacts to the government's lockdown rules relaxation.

The CPS has yet to respond to an appeal against its decision not to bring manslaughter charges.

A pub which was in the Guinness Book of Records for being the UK's smallest says it is too tiny to reopen.

The letter was posted in London in 1966 but has only just arrived at its destination in Ipswich.

The amount of revenue lost by the tourism sector in Norfolk and Suffolk during lockdown has been put at £1.9bn.

MHS Larking Gowen's Covid-19 impact report, external found businesses had experienced the equivalent of "three winters" through the loss of revenue at Easter, and two Bank Holidays.

Chris Scargill, a partner in the company, said: "Businesses that we surveyed anticipated on average it would take them nearly three and a half years to get them back into a position as to where they were pre-Covid.

"And that's of course if they survive through to next April when we start to see the normal season starting to ramp up."

Image source, Michael C/Geograph

A dancer praises an online festival that helps young artists get noticed in difficult times.

Two arrests have been made after a woman cyclist in her 40s was left in a critical condition after an accident involving a van.

Image source, John Myers/Geograph

Suffolk Police, external said the incident happened at about 13:10 on Monday, on the B1077, a mile south of Helmingham near Ipswich.

She was taken by helicopter to Addenbrooke's Hospital with a head injury.

The incident involved a white Ford Transit van with a distinctive orange light on the roof which was travelling south towards Ashbocking.

Police arrested a man and a woman in the van on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and officers are appealing for witnesses or dashcam footage.

Isobel Sheppard had her right leg amputated during lockdown and was not able to see her family.