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. Norwich murder inquiry: Two men remain in custodypublished at 15:18 British Summer Time 31 July 2017

    Two men remain in police custody following the death of a woman at a property in Norwich at the weekend.

    Her body was discovered at a flat in Godric Place, near Bowthorpe Road, shortly before 14:30 on Saturday by detectives following concerns for her safety.

    Inquiries led officers to an address in Windsor Road, Lowestoft and two men and a woman were arrested in connection with the incident.

    The woman has been released under investigation while inquiries continue. The two men remain in custody.

    Police tape and forensic tent at the property

    A seal remains in place at the scene in Norwich and Lowestoft, and house-to-house inquiries are being carried out in the area today and tomorrow.

    The victim has not yet been identified.

  2. Greater Anglia warn of disruption on Ipswich to Peterborough linepublished at 15:18 British Summer Time 31 July 2017

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  3. Collision closes A14 eastbound at Copdock - drivers warned of severe delayspublished at 15:06 British Summer Time 31 July 2017

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  4. Belgians back down on red dieselpublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 31 July 2017

    Andrew Sinclair
    BBC Look East political correspondent

    The Belgian government appears to have backed down in a row which had put off English boat owners from visiting the country this summer.

    Marinas along the east coast tell me that a number of boat owners changed their travel plans after the Cruising Association called for a boycott because three British boats were recently each fined about £450 for using red diesel.

    They are supposed to be allowed the cut price fuel in their tanks when visiting other EU ports providing their owners have receipts to prove that 100% tax was paid on the purchase.

    But in recent weeks the Belgian authorities have been getting tough arguing that our rules on marked fuel are not in line with EU legislation.

    Now the Belgian ambassador to the UK has told the Cruising Association that "no further fines will be levied" by his country until the matter is discussed by the European Commission at the end of September.

    "We are telling our members that they travel to Belgium for now without fear of being fined," said John Lansdale fro the Cruising Association.

    But this row may return in the autumn...

  5. Optometrist wins manslaughter appealpublished at 13:48 British Summer Time 31 July 2017

    Honey Rose failed to spot an eye condition in an eight-year-old boy, who later died.

    Read More
  6. Feeling pleasantly warm in sunshinepublished at 13:43 British Summer Time 31 July 2017

    This afternoon will continue to see some spells of sunshine, and although there may be one or two showers, many places will remain dry.

    It will feel pleasantly warm in any sunny spells, with highs of 22C (72F).

    Here's a quick trip aound the county to show what the weather's been like so far:

    Field of crops in Mickfield
    Pond in Stowmarket
    Looking out to sea from Felixstowe
  7. A14 Orwell Bridge now open againpublished at 13:25 British Summer Time 31 July 2017

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  8. Man dies following Lakenheath collisionpublished at 12:46 British Summer Time 31 July 2017

    A motorcyclist has died following a collision between his bike and a car in Lakenheath.

    Police say they were called last night just after 22:00, to reports on the crash, on Eriswell Road.

    The man in his 50s was taken to the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds with "serious" injuries and later died.

    The car driver was unhurt.

    The road was closed for several hours between The Street at Holywell Row, and the B1112, The Street in Lakenheath.

    West Suffolk Hospital
  9. Call for parent and child spaces in council-run car parkspublished at 12:23 British Summer Time 31 July 2017

    A Lowestoft mother, who has been fined for parking over the lines of a car parking space, is lobbying her MP for parent and child spaces in Waveney District Council-run car parks.

    Home of Waveney Council

    Kayleigh Smith, who has two young children, was recently fined for parking outside a bay at the Britten Centre car park in the town.

    She said she had to park that way so she could get them out of the car, and not damage adjacent vehicles: "They're saying they use the minimum required spaces which, when that car park was built, was in 1984.

    "Cars have grown a considerable amount in size [since then] and I believe that car park is never full.

    "If they were to put even eight parent/child spaces, that's not going to completely reduce the number of bays."

    Waveney Council, external said: "As long as all drivers park responsibly, our bay spaces should be sufficient for all drivers and although we appreciate that there are a number of larger vehicles now on the road, it is extremely rare for drivers to complain about a lack of room, either with children or without.

    "Over 1.5 million people park in Waveney car parks each year and we receive no more than around a dozen inquiries on this topic in any 12-month period."

  10. Background to quashing of optometrist convictionpublished at 11:42 British Summer Time 31 July 2017

    Vinnie Barker, 8, from Ipswich, died in July 2012 after fluid built up on his brain.

    During her trial last year, optometrist Honey Rose told Ipswich Crown Court she conducted all the required tests during Vinnie's eye examination at the Ipswich town centre branch of Boots on 15 February 2012.

    Vinnie BarkerImage source, Barker Family

    The jury heard there were "obvious abnormalities" in both of Vinnie's eyes visible during the examination.

    Photographs taken by another staff member of the back of his eyes, shortly before he was examined by Ms Rose, suggested he had bilateral papilloedema - a condition in which optic discs at the back of each eye become swollen because of raised pressure within the skull.

    The prosecution said this "would have been obvious to any competent optometrist" and should have led to an urgent referral to treat "a life-threatening condition".

    A build-up of fluid on the brain increased pressure in Vinnie's skull and ultimately led to his death.

    The optometrist had claimed her examination of Vinnie was tricky because he had closed his eyes to the light and looked away during the test.

    Her barrister Ian Stern QC said during the trial: "For whatever reason, she did not look at the back of the eye. She had no foreseeability as to the consequences."

    Judge Jeremy Stuart-Smith accepted Ms Rose's lack of diaignosis had been a "one-off", but said she had tried to "cover up" her actions when she found out Vinnie had died.

    Honey Rose, who appealed against her conviction for gross negligence manslaughter, has now had her conviction quashed by judges at the Court of Appeal.

    Honey Rose joutside Ipswich Crown Court
  11. McCarthy condemns Charlton 'shambles'published at 11:24 British Summer Time 31 July 2017

    Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy says his team's display in their final pre-season friendly was an 'unnatural disaster'.

    Read More
  12. Optometrist wins appeal in case involving death of eight-year-old boypublished at 11:15 British Summer Time 31 July 2017

    Optometrist Honey Rose, who failed to spot symptoms of a life-threatening brain condition during a routine eye test of eight-year-old Vinnie Barker from Ipswich who later died, has had her conviction quashed.

    Ms Rose appealed against the gross negligence manslaughter conviction and judges at London's Court of Appeal agreed with her.

    Honey Rose

    Vinnie died in July 2012, after fluid built up on his brain.

    Honey Rose, 35, from Newham, east London, had performed a routine eye test on the child five months earlier at Boot's in Ipswich. She said she had "done her best" for him.

    But jurors at Ipswich Crown Court found her guilty of gross negligence manslaughter in August 2016.

    Ms Rose, a mother of three, (pictured during last year's court case) was handed a two-year jail sentence, suspended for two years and was ordered to do 200 hours of community service.

  13. Sir Bobby Robson 'never forgotten' says Ipswich Town on anniversary of his deathpublished at 10:56 British Summer Time 31 July 2017

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  14. Optometrist conviction quashedpublished at 10:43 British Summer Time 31 July 2017
    Breaking

    The conviction of Honey Rose, the optometrist found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter in August 2016 following the death of an eight-year-old boy from Ipswich in 2012, has been quashed at the Court of Appeal.

    We'll bring you more details shortly.

  15. Family pays tribute to stabbing victimpublished at 09:50 British Summer Time 31 July 2017

    The family of a man who died from multiple stab wounds at his Bury St Edmunds home earlier this month, have paid tribute to him.

    Geoffrey CatonImage source, Suffolk Police

    Geoffrey Caton, 57, of Cumberland Avenue, was found dead at his home on 20 July.

    His family say they are still trying to come to terms with what happened: "Therefore, at this stage we would ask that you respect the privacy of the whole family."

    Police say the family want to thank friends and neighbours who tried to come to Geoffrey's aid, and also the emergency services for their efforts.

    Mourad Belarbi, 43, of Lake Avenue in the town, has been charged with Mr Caton's murder.

    His trial is scheduled to begin in January.

  16. Felixstowe Pier open for business - but what do you think?published at 09:27 British Summer Time 31 July 2017

    Felixstowe Pier, external reopened to the public over the weekend, giving people the chance to view some of the changes made during the multi-million pound reconstruction.

    Have you been to see it yet?

    We'd love to know what you think - contact us via the "Get involved" link at the top of this page.

    Felixstowe Pier head buildingImage source, Suffolk Coastal District Council
    Felixstowe Pier from the beachImage source, Suffolk Coastal District Council
  17. Brain-damaged Utd fan's wife to campaign for tougher sentencespublished at 09:09 British Summer Time 31 July 2017

    Adam Jinkerson
    BBC Local Live

    The wife of a man left with brain damage after a brutal assault following a football match has called for harsher sentences for violent attackers.

    Cambridge United fan Simon Dobbin, 44, has been unable to walk or talk since the attack in Southend two years ago.

    Twelve men have been jailed, with all handed sentences of five years or less.

    "I understand the maximum sentence for violent disorder is five years, but they will serve two-and-a-half years," said Nicole Dobbin.

    Nicole Dobbin

    "We've already done that - we've got a life sentence."

    Mrs Dobbin, who lives with her husband in Mildenhall in Suffolk, said she planned to campaign to ensure anyone convicted of violent disorder would go to prison for at least 10 years.

    She said she also wanted each individual in groups of attackers to be charged with the same offence in cases where someone has been seriously hurt.

    Mr Dobbin spent a year in hospital following the attack which happened after his team, Cambridge United, faced Southend United at Roots Hall.

    Mrs Dobbin revealed her plans on Saturday at the first match between Cambridge and Southend United since March 2015, when her husband was attacked.

    Simon Dobbin with his family at a football match

    "If it prevents one person from joining in an attack, we will have achieved something," said Ms Dobbin, who gave up her full-time job to become her husband's carer.

    The twelve men involved attacking Mr Dobbin were handed jail terms of between 16 months and five years earlier this month.

    A 13th man will be sentenced in August.

  18. Ceremony marks Battle of Passchendaele centenarypublished at 09:06 British Summer Time 31 July 2017

    Kate Arkell
    BBC Radio Suffolk

    A wreath has been laid at the cenotaph in Ipswich to mark the centenary of the beginning of the Battle of Passchendaele.

    Robin Vickery, from the Royal British Legion, said: "It's one of the biggest and most well-known battles that happened in the first world war, certainly the bloodiest, with 500,000 casualties as a combined figure of both the Allied and German forces - it was just a killing field, it was horrendous."

    Members of the RBL around the cenotaph

    To commemorate those who died, veterans and cadets gathered in Christchurch Park, together with Ipswich mayor Sarah Barber, who read out a list of the names of men from Ipswich killed in the battle.

    "I was struck at the range of ages, 19 to 41 - so somebody's son, and somebody's husband and somebody's father," she said.

    "I always find it really moving coming to these events, because I think of the loss that people suffered - not just that day, but throughout our lives and how much it affects our community even now."

    Wreath laying at Passschendaele ceremonony
  19. Darts: Wright well beaten in Blackpoolpublished at 08:44 British Summer Time 31 July 2017

    Brenner Woolley
    BBC Radio Suffolk sport

    Mendham's Peter Wright (pictured right) will have to wait at least another year before getting his hands on the World Matchplay, external trophy.

    Phil Taylor and Peter WrightImage source, Getty Images

    The UK Open champion and world number three, lost 18-8 to Phil Taylor in last night's final.

    Taylor, who is retiring after the next World Championship, has now won the title 16 times.

  20. Speedway: Witches forced into 'embarrassing' sacking u-turnpublished at 08:43 British Summer Time 31 July 2017

    Brenner Woolley
    BBC Radio Suffolk sport

    It's emerged that Ipswich Witches, external owner Chris Louis dismissed two of his riders yesterday afternoon, only to reinstate them hours later.

    Chris Louis

    Louis wanted to strengthen the side by replacing Justin Sedgmen and Connor Mountain, but failed to get the sport's governing body's approval.

    "This isn't the club's finest hour," said BBC Suffolk's speedway reporter Stephen Foster. "Thursday's home defeat to Edinburgh prompted what I reckon was a knee-jerk reaction."

    He added: "To be fair Sedgmen's form has been patchy while young Mountain has struggled at times, so Louis wanted to strengthen up for the business end of the season.

    "Whatever he wanted to do didn't get the green light, which means he had to go cap in hand to persuade Sedgmen and Mountain to stay. It's an embarrassing situation."