Summary

  • Updates on Friday, 4 August 2017

  • 500 job losses in Sudbury

  • Arrest after thatched education hut burnt down in Ipswich park

  • Passers-by tried to rescue man who jumped from bridge

  • Bialkowski could see out career at Ipswich Town

  • Ipswich Town legend says fans may have to settle for top 10 finish

  1. Voyeur clergyman avoids jail timepublished at 18:43 British Summer Time 3 August 2017

    A clergyman who filmed a teenager in a public toilet is given a suspended prison sentence.

    Read More
  2. Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 3 August 2017

    That's it for our live updates for today, we'll be back again from 08:00 tomorrow.

    Scroll down to read the stories we've been covering today.

    Don't forget, if you've got a story to share with us, click "Get involved" above.

    Have a great evening.

  3. Man charged as part of injured motorcyclist inquirypublished at 17:44 British Summer Time 3 August 2017

    A man has been charged with four offences by police investigating an incident where a motorcyclist hit a parked car in Ipswich.

    At lunchtime yesterday, the biker, in his 20s, was flown to Addenbrooke's with a serious back injury after hitting a Nissan Micra on Heatherhayes.

    A 22-year-old man has subsequently been charged with obstructing a police officer, driving a car without insurance or a licence and using a mobile phone while driving.

    Suffolk Police are appealing for information about a yellow motocross bike which was being ridden around the Stoke Park and Chantry areas on Wednesday morning.

  4. Weather: Dry with isolated showers overnightpublished at 17:16 British Summer Time 3 August 2017

    Dan Holley
    BBC Look East weather

    Mostly dry tonight across the BBC East region, but breezy with a mixture of clear spells and occasional cloud, perhaps bringing an isolated shower.

    Staying mild with temperatures only dropping to 13C (55F).

    Friday will be quite breezy, but much of the day will be dry with sunny spells and occasional cloud and just the small risk of a shower. Feeling warm in the sun with temperatures peaking at 23C (73F).

    Look East weather map

    Visit BBC Weather for a more detailed forecast where you are.

  5. Vicar sentenced for filming in public toiletpublished at 17:05 British Summer Time 3 August 2017
    Breaking

    The Very Reverend Martin Thrower, 56, of Hadleigh, has been given a suspended jail sentence for filming men in the public toilets at the Buttermarket shopping centre in Ipswich.

    More to follow...

  6. Hundreds of well-wishers send cards to crash victimpublished at 15:06 British Summer Time 3 August 2017

    Kelly McCormack
    BBC Radio Suffolk

    A schoolgirl who lost her father and broke her collar bones in a crash on the A140 has received more than 100 "get well soon" cards in the post.

    Jacee FiskImage source, Family Photo

    The family of Jacee Fisk appealed for cards to cheer up the seven-year-old who was seriously injured in the incident near Mendlesham Industrial Estate on 25 July.

    Her mum has told BBC Suffolk today she has also received vouchers and handmade gifts.

    She said seeing a smile on her face, thanks to the kindness of complete strangers, is "amazing".

    A 50-year-old man from Wisbech, Dalius Matulaitis, has been charged in connection with the crash and is due to appear at Ipswich Crown Court later this month.

    Pile of gifts and cards for JaceeImage source, Family Photo
  7. Blues 'fully focused' after Charlton horrorshowpublished at 14:20 British Summer Time 3 August 2017

    Graeme Mac
    BBC Radio Suffolk sport

    The Ipswich Town squad have watched back footage from last Saturday's 6-1 defeat at Charlton Athletic, and goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski (pictured) admits it was not pleasing on the eye.

    Bartosz Bialkowski

    "It wasn't nice, but it had to be done," he told us at today's press conference ahead of the Blues' Championship opener with Birmingham City on Saturday.

    "The only good thing was that it was a friendly game," Bialkowski said.

    "But that's all behind us and we are fully focused on Birmingham now.

    "I'm sure we have learned our lesson. We just have to make sure it doesn't happen again."

    Ipswich have a number of illness and injury concerns ahead of kick-off this weekend, but new signing Joe Garner, who scored six goals in six matches during pre-season, is expected to feature.

    Ipswich Town coverage from BBC Sport

  8. Championship fixtures in fullpublished at 13:16 British Summer Time 3 August 2017

    Find out your team's fixtures in the Championship during the 2017-18 season.

    Read More
  9. Housing campaigners consider next step in Constable Countrypublished at 11:29 British Summer Time 3 August 2017

    Campaigners in a south Suffolk village are considering the next step after plans for more than 200 homes were approved.

    A campaign poster against the housing in East Bergholt

    Babergh District Council, external has granted three different planning applications for East Bergholt.

    The authority said the proposals met the requirements of local and national planning policy, despite considerable opposition from people who live in the village, which is in the Dedham Vale area of outstanding natural beauty and famed for being artist John Constable's birthplace.

    As reported, hundreds of letters were written to the council, citing traffic issues and lack of health provision.

    Peter Dent, chairman of Action East Bergholt, said the decision may yet be appealed.

    "There's nobody in Bergholt who doesn't accept that houses have to come, but to put 150 on one site and 75 on another is an absolute nonsense," he said.

  10. Lake is 'second most popular' attraction in East Angliapublished at 11:22 British Summer Time 3 August 2017

    Luke Deal
    BBC Radio Suffolk

    A Suffolk lake and nature reserve has been named as the second most visited free attraction in the east of England.

    Needham Lake and Nature Reserve

    According to VisitEngland, external's annual attractions survey, Needham Lake and Nature Reserve, external saw an estimated 384,000 visitors last year, an increase of 16.7%.

    David Hughes, the countryside and public realm officer for Babergh and Mid Suffolk Council, put the attraction's popularity down to its location.

    He said: "It's close to Needham Market, Stowmarket and Ipswich so it's a very handy place to call in, it has good footpaths, great scenery and we try to manage it so it attracts lots of different things for people to do."

    The Fitzwilliam Museum, external in Cambridge topped VisitEngland's list for the eastern region, while Wyken Hall Gardens and Vineyards, external, near Bury St Edmunds, was ranked sixth.

    Nationally, the British Museum, external was the most visited free attraction in England last year, according to the figures.

    Needham Lake and Nature Reserve
  11. PCC to meet highways authority to review bridge speedpublished at 11:07 British Summer Time 3 August 2017

    The county's police and crime commissioner has said he will meet with the highways authority later this year to review the current speed limit on the Orwell Bridge.

    Orwell BridgeImage source, Michael Wade

    As we've been reporting, on average, a vehicle has been caught exceeding the 60mph limit on the bridge near Ipswich every hour of every day since the speed cameras were switched on a year ago.

    Almost 8,500 offences have been recorded by Suffolk Police, external.

    Tim Passmore, Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "We're having a meeting with Highways England later on this summer/ early autumn, where we look at the evidence and then review how effective the system has been.

    "That was always the agreement when the speed limit was reduced to 60mph."

  12. Speedway: Mountain surprised by Witches sackingpublished at 10:47 British Summer Time 3 August 2017

    Brenner Woolley
    BBC Radio Suffolk sport

    Ipswich Witches, external rider Connor Mountain admits he didn't see his dismissal at the weekend coming.

    Along with Justin Sedgmen he was shown the door by the club, only to be reinstated when speedway's governing body refused to sanction the move.

    Connor MountainImage source, Jeff Higgott

    Mountain's been speaking to BBC Suffolk Sport ahead of tonight's home meeting against Glasgow Tigers.

    "It was a surprise, but I'm glad to still be part of it and looking forward to carrying on with the rest of the year.

    "Apart from the home loss to Edinburgh the team was going well.

    "It seemed like there was a good bond within the team and I wasn't really expecting any changes so close to the cut-off date."

  13. Ipswich Town: Under-23s win at Burypublished at 10:30 British Summer Time 3 August 2017

    Brenner Woolley
    BBC Radio Suffolk sport

    Ipswich Town's, external Under-23s beat Bury Town, external 3-1 in a pre-season friendly at Ram Meadow last night.

    Conor McKendryImage source, Ipswich Town FC

    Conor McKendry (pictured), Ben Folami and Declan Daniels were on target for Gerard Nash's side.

    Tommy Robinson pulled one back for the Bostik League team.

  14. Ipswich Town pair receive international call-upspublished at 10:17 British Summer Time 3 August 2017

    Brenner Woolley
    BBC Radio Suffolk sport

    Ipswich Town, external duo Tommy Smith (pictured right) and Monty Patterson have been named in the New Zealand, external squad for their forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against the Solomon Islands.

    Cristiano Ronaldo and Tommy SmithImage source, Getty Images

    The first game is in Auckland on 1 September before they meet again in Honiara four days later.

    The winner of the tie will take on the team which finishes fifth in the South American qualification group in a play-off in November for a place at the 2018 World Cup Finals in Russia.

  15. Thatched-roof house blaze 'started in bathroom'published at 09:41 British Summer Time 3 August 2017

    Kelly McCormack
    BBC Radio Suffolk

    Firefighters have saved a thatched-roof house from burning down after a fire broke out there this morning.

    Suffolk Fire and Rescue, external believe the blaze in Stoke-by-Nayland started in the bathroom.

    Crews were called to Scotland Street at about 08:15 and the fire was brought under control within an hour.

    Firefighters from Suffolk and Essex stripped some of the thatched roof and bathroom ceiling away to stop the fire from spreading.

    Fire on Scotland Street, Stoke by Nayland
  16. Major fire at thatched housepublished at 09:20 British Summer Time 3 August 2017
    Breaking

    Firefighters are at Scotland Street in Stoke-by-Nayland to tackle a blaze at a thatched-roof property.

    More on this story shortly.

  17. Restoration of 17th Century lock to beginpublished at 09:20 British Summer Time 3 August 2017

    Andrew Turner
    BBC Radio Norfolk

    A historic part of navigation on the River Waveney is to be restored by a team of volunteers.

    The Geldeston Lock is one of only two that exists on the Broads - the other is Mutford Lock at Oulton Broad near Lowestoft.

    In its heyday, the lock controlled water levels and flow when wherries regularly traded between Beccles and Bungay, but it was taken out of commission by 1934.

    The lock, and river with a small boat

    Now the River Waveney Trust, external is preparing to rebuild part of the lock chamber walls. The project will cost £15,000.

    A view of river and lock wall

    Bernard Watson is their project manager, and he says it would be a shame to lose this "wonderful piece of heritage".

    Bernard Watson
    Quote Message

    It's been here since 1670 and has been a very important part of the upper development of the river Waveney... it's in bad repair now - very badly damaged by trees."

    Bernard Watson, River Waveney Trust

  18. Peregrine dies after shootingpublished at 08:36 British Summer Time 3 August 2017

    An police investigation is under way after a peregrine falcon was shot in Ipswich.

    The bird was discovered near the waterfront on Saturday. An examination by a vet discovered a pellet in its leg and, despite treatment, it died.

    Steve Piotrowski from the Suffolk Ornithologists’ Group, external said the injury left the falcon unable to feed.

    Factbox and peregrine photoImage source, Andy Thompson

    Nestboxes for peregrines have been built at the top of The Mill on the waterfront and on the Orwell Bridge.

  19. Bridge speeders are 'selfish, mindless idiots'published at 08:28 British Summer Time 3 August 2017

    The minority of drivers who speed across the Orwell Bridge are "selfish, mindless idiots", according to the county's police and crime commissioner.

    Orwell Bridge

    As reported, an average of one vehicle has been caught speeding over the bridge every hour of every day since cameras were introduced a year ago.

    Information obtained by the BBC reveals almost 8,500 offences were recorded on the A14 bridge within a year.

    Suffolk Police, external said the cameras were introduced to improve safety.

    Tim Passmore, Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "I don't believe people can't see the signs, if they can't see the signs then they shouldn't be driving a vehicle anyway.

    "I think there is a tiny minority of selfish, mindless idiots who think somehow the law is beyond them and that they are somehow superior to everybody else and they don't care about people's safety."

    Chart showing the speeding figures over the Orwell Bridge
  20. Ipswich crash victim airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospitalpublished at 08:21 British Summer Time 3 August 2017

    A biker has been left with life-changing injuries after a collision with a car in Ipswich yesterday.

    Suffolk Police said the man, who's believed to be in his 20s, was airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

    The crash took place at about 12:00 on Heatherhayes near Belstead Road.

    The road has been closed.

    Heatherhayes, IpswichImage source, Google