The  West Suffolk Hospital, external  in Bury St Edmunds has received a letter of congratulations from the Health Secretary.

Jeremy Hunt  wrote to the trust, external  about its "exceptional performance" in a national NHS staff survey.

In the letter, Mr Hunt added that the hospital is recommended as "a place to work and be cared for, motivated and contributing to making things even better."

The West Suffolk Hospital was rated good in its Care Quality Commission inspection report, external in August 2016, however patient care was identified as outstanding. 

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

East of England MEP Vicky Ford has criticised the former UKIP leader Nigel Farage for remarks he made in Strasbourg today.

Mr Farage MEP was jeered in the European Parliament after accusing the EU of "behaving like the mafia" over Brexit.

But the response by Mrs Ford raised a round of applause among fellow MEPs.

"Calling other colleagues members of the mafia or gangsters does not show mutual respect, it does not represent the views of the vast majority of the British people and it is not the view of the British Prime Minister who wants to remain friends, allies, and partners," she said.

Image source, Getty Images

MEPs had gathered in Strasbourg to discuss and debate forthcoming negotiations with the UK following the triggering of Article 50 last Wednesday.

More than 60 MEPs spoke during the three-hour debate.  

Mrs Ford said: "When negotiating a tricky separation one needs to keep calm, but when Farage spoke it was like a herd of bulls had just been driven straight through the china shop."

Kate Scotter
BBC News

An animal inspector has reassured those who have raised concerns about horses at traveller sites near Ipswich the RSPCA is "taking the situation very seriously."

As we've been reporting, there are concerns about the horses at the West Meadows site and nearby Papermill Lane in Bramford.

Concerned individuals say horses have been tangled in barbed wire, a foal was left dehydrated and that the horses have lice and overgrown hooves.

Image source, Michele Rumsey

RSPCA inspector Jason Finch said the situation is being "carefully monitored" but it was a "be careful what you wish for" scenario.  

"At the moment we have full access to the land on both of those sites," he told the BBC.

"We can enter whenever we like, we can view the horses whenever we like, with the landowner's permission, with the owner's permission. 

"If those horses are moved elsewhere, where are they going to go? 

"I'm pretty sure if there were to be moved elsewhere, they'd be split up into various different sites that we wouldn't know about and we would lose our ability to monitor them as closely as we can at present."

He added the charity is aware "things are not perfect" and that it is working with the owner to reduce the number of horses at the sites and to improve their conditions.

Image source, Michele Rumsey

Suffolk Police has praised the bravery of two sexual assault victims after a man was jailed for 17 years for a string of offences against them.

Ronald Sharp, 52, of The Street, Eriswell, was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court for rape and other sexual offences involving a woman and a child.

Speaking after the sentencing, Det Ch Insp Barry Byford said: "This terrible case only serves to highlight the bravery of the victims in coming forward and re-living the events in order to achieve justice. 

"I hope the sentence passed today provides some level of closure and allows them to continue to recover from these traumatic experiences."

Sharp, who was described as a "manipulative bully" by the prosecution, was found not guilty of six rape charges involving another woman. 

A "manipulative bully" from Eriswell who was convicted of rape and a string of other sexual offences has been jailed for 17 years. 

Image source, Suffolk Constabulary

Ronald Sharp, 52, of The Street, was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court for offences including rape and indecent assault involving the same woman. 

At a previous hearing, Sharp pleaded guilty to four offences of indecent assault and one of gross indecency with a girl aged under 16. 

During his trial last month it was heard he had a "voracious sexual appetite".

Sentencing him, Judge John Devaux described the offences as "most serious".

Some of the offences, all of which Sharp had denied, were said to date back to the 1980s, with some as recent as 2015.

Sharp was made subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, banning contact with any girls under 16. 

Troops from this region have been training in Thetford, getting ready to be part of a military deployment to Europe.

Soldiers from the UK began arriving in Estonia last month - part of what the government's described as a deterrent against "Russian aggression".

Last night 16 Air Assault, the army's rapid reaction force, took to the skies above Norfolk, parachuting into Stanford Training Area.

Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy says defenders Jonas Knudsen and Steven Taylor could miss the end of the Championship season through injury.

A former supermarket and neighbouring drug clinic could become a new all-you-can-eat style restaurant on a busy corner of Ipswich town centre. 

Image source, Google

The borough council is looking at plans, external for the building on Civic Drive and St Matthew's Street today.

It used to be an Iceland supermarket on the ground floor with what was once the Victoria pub on the end. 

The pub closed down in 2008 and became a treatment centre for people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. 

Today's application is to change the vacant buildings into a restaurant, covering 1,000 sq m.

The planning committee is recommended to approve the plans for the Spoon World Buffet and Bar. The firm currently runs sites in Basildon, Essex, and Chatham, Kent.

It's looking like a fine day and many of you have been out and about taking photos.

Cloud is starting to move in, but some brighter or sunny spells are expected to remain likely, especially across eastern parts. 

Most places should stay dry, although the odd light shower cannot be ruled out later. Highs of 12C (54F).

Thanks to our BBC Weather Watchers for these pictures.

People have the chance to have their say on ways to improve one of Suffolk's market towns.

Image source, Getty Images

The  Bury St Edmunds masterplan, external  has gone on display in the marketplace from today.

It aims to shape the future of the town centre to ensure it continues to attract shoppers and visitors for decades to come.

Drop-in events will be held across the town throughout the week and a public meeting will be held at Moreton Hall Community Centre on 10 April at 19:00.

Richard Summers, from the Bury Society, said there should be a focus on better transport links.

He said: "The connections between the town centre and the bus station and the town centre and the railway station need to be improved.

"We need to create more welcoming approaches to the town centre."

St Edmundsbury Borough Council is seeking comments until 21 April.  

Motorists who are given a parking fine in the Waveney district have more than a 70% chance of winning an appeal, it has been revealed.

Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request show  the likelihood of successfully challenging a parking fine varies  widely depending on where drivers get a ticket.

Waveney District Council, external  accepted seven in 10 appeals, making it one of the councils which accepted the most challenges across the country.

The figures cover initial challenges to on-street parking fines received from drivers between January and October 2016.

They were obtained from 98 English local authorities through Freedom of Information requests by the Press Association.

We've contacted Waveney District Council for a comment.

Lord Derby has gone to the High Court in his latest bid to secure approval of his long-running and controversial plans to build 400 homes on his Newmarket estate.

He is challenging government minister Sajiv Javid's decision last year to reject Forest Heath District Council's approval of the plans, which were first passed in 2014.

The Newmarket Horsemen's Group, which includes the Jockey Club and Tattersalls, said the peer's proposals for Hatchfield Farm will lead to increased traffic and pose a threat to thoroughbreds using horse crossings in the area.

But a group of 15 rural parish councils, representing more than 17,000 Suffolk residents, have backed the plans.

The case was heard at the High Court today.

Justice Andrew Gilbart has reserved his decision and will give his ruling at a later date.

Ben Parker
BBC Suffolk sport

Leiston FC lost their third match in a row last night, meaning their play-off position is becoming increasingly under threat.

The East Suffolk side are still third in the Ryman Premier League but the three teams below them are now level on 68 points.

Boss Glenn Driver sounded defeated at full time, he said: "We're not good enough, I'll be honest to you now, we're not good enough, we don't have enough leaders."

Kate Arkell
BBC Radio Suffolk

Dozens of students have woken up in Ipswich today, mid-way through a sailing race.

A flotilla of 21 ships is part of the Race Of The Classics and arrived at the Waterfront yesterday.

The fleet is set to sail again this afternoon.  

Known as the biggest student sailing competition in Europe, the event sees students from schools across Netherlands race on the North Sea.

It has been running since 1989 and has been a regular visitor to the port and Ipswich Haven Marina.

Rudith Spreeuwers, who is taking part, said: "I was so excited for this experience. You meet a lot of people." 

Her fellow crew member Margolein Visser said: "It is a competition, but everyone is really friendly. It's very much fun."

Stuart Howells
BBC Radio Suffolk

A park in Ipswich has been taken over by Shaolin Warriors and a lion as the Chinese State Circus rolls into town.  

The show is being held at Chantry Park on London Road until Sunday and features 30 acrobats, jugglers and martial arts experts.

Ben Parker
BBC Suffolk sport

There is plenty to be happy about today for Ipswich Town fans after last night's 3-0 win over Wigan.

There is however some bad news in terms of injuries. 

Left back Jonas Knudsen looks to be out for the season after damaging his shoulder.

Boss Mick McCarthy says he may need surgery.

He said: "The last thing I'd want him to do is play the last game, get injured and have all the summer being operated on and recuperating and not being ready for pre-season." 

Central defender Steven Taylor also looks to have played his final match this term, he came off in the first-half of last night's match and McCarthy believes he's injured his hamstring.

Richard Haugh
BBC News

The 17th Pulse Festival, external will offer an "amazing snapshot of contemporary theatre" when it arrives in Ipswich in June, one of its curators has said.

Paul Collier was at the Wolsey Theatre last night, announcing details of the event which runs from 1-10 June. 

He said audiences would be able to see some of the best shows from around the country - and further afield - but one theme would be prevalent. "There are quite a lot of shows about death," he said. 

"There's an enormous amount of work being made about death and the end of days - maybe something to do with the extraordinary number of high profile deaths in 2016? Or seismic political events?

"Don't be put off though."

One of these shows, Ugly Chief, external , is by Victoria Melody and focuses on the terminal diagnosis given to her father, TV antique dealer Mike Melody, which turned out to be incorrect.

She'd already planned his funeral so decided to make it into a show instead.

Image source, Andy Schofield

Other highlights include Golem, external , which is described as being a "graphic novel burst into life", The Duke, external , a new solo show from Wolsey-regular Shon Dale-Jones, and Disability Sex Archive, external - one of several shows exploring the physical form.

As in previous years, the bar of the Wolsey will also host live music performances throughout the festival.

Kate Scotter
BBC News

The condition of horses at two sites near Ipswich is "totally unacceptable", according to those who have raised concerns about them.

Image source, Sheila Herd

As we've been reporting this morning, the RSPCA and Redwings have been investigating the welfare of horses at West Meadows and Papermill Lane, near Ipswich.

They are owned by a group of travellers.

Penny Hulme, who raised the concerns, said: "At the moment, we still don't think enough is being done.

"There are horses that are suffering terribly, covered in lice, with horrendous sores on their back, it's totally unacceptable."

Sheila Herd, who took the photo above, said: "A lot of people are very angry and upset that this is being allowed to continue."

The RSPCA and Redwings said they are working with Suffolk County Council, the police and the landowner to improve conditions for the horses.

Kate Scotter
BBC News

As we mentioned earlier, concerns have been raised for the welfare of horses near Ipswich.

They are at the travellers' site at West Meadows and in nearby Papermill Lane in Bramford.

The RSPCA has responded to calls about a horse being tangled in barbed wire and a foal suffering from a lack of water.

Image source, Sheila Herd

In a joint statement, the RSPCA and Redwings Horse Sanctuary said: "An RSPCA inspector attended as a matter of urgency and found the owner had removed the barbed wire that was tangled in one horse’s tail.

"The foal, which was feared to be collapsed, was up and about and did not present any cause for concern."

They said they are investigating welfare reports and are working for Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Police and the landowner to improve conditions for the horses.

Image source, Michele Rumsey

Ben Parker
BBC Suffolk sport

Ipswich Town are now nine points clear of the Championship drop zone with just six games remaining.

David McGoldrick and Freddie Sears got the goals in Town's 3-0 victory last night over Wigan at Portman Road.

Despite the comprehensive win, manager Mick McCarthy was not totally happy with his side's performance.

"There's things in the second-half I'm furious about. Free kicks we're giving away, some sloppy defending, just managing to see it out really," he said.