Pop star Ed Sheeran has helped kick-start a new appeal to help communities in his home county recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Suffolk Community Foundation (SCF) wants to raise £2m as part of its Rebuilding Local Lives, external initiative.

The BBC Radio Suffolk-backed campaign will get vital funds to community groups and charities helping those in need during the Covid-19 crisis and as the nation emerges from it.

Image source, PA Media

SCF did not disclose the amount donated by the Framlingham singer.

Tim Holder, SCF's head of public affairs, said they were "excited and grateful" to receive the support from the 29-year-old.

He said: "Ed’s visibility as a supporter will really boost to our ability to raise awareness of the fund and this new appeal, and now we can inspire even more people to support Suffolk charities and community groups to get Suffolk lives back on track as we come out of lockdown."

A rise in reported coronavirus cases in "the most deprived areas" of Leicester is "worrying".

Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed on Thursday there had been a localised outbreak in Kirklees.

Lt Kenneth "Kage" Allen died when his F-15C Eagle jet crashed on Monday during a training mission.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The West London music venue where Bob Dylan played his first ever UK concert is fighting for survival, and has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise cash.

Established in 1954, The Troubadour in Old Brompton Road has hosted Jimi Hendrix, as well as Adele and Ed Sheeran in recent years.

Even the legendary American author Jack Kerouac has recited his works on its basement stage.

Despite having reopened for takeaway drinks and food, the Troubadour now finds itself in good company with hundreds of other independent venues that are struggling to stay afloat during the lockdown.

Last month, it launched a Crowdfunder page where fans could donate money to help it continue paying rent and other overheads.

The venue has been run since 2015 by co-directors Patricia Borzych and Giles McNamee, who both live in the US.

From her home in Boston, Ms Borzych, 39, said: “Giles and myself have been stressed about what to do for our 40 employees. We have staff who have been there since 2002.

“They are our family and it’s sad to not be able to help them help their families.”

Ms Borzych continued: “Our goal from the crowdfunding is to raise £15,000 to offset about 25 per cent of our operating costs, and we’re talking to our landlord to see what they can give us.”

Nearly £3,300 has been raised so far, from 76 supporters, including one who pledged £500.

The last batch of key worker hand sanitiser created on a university campus has been bottled.

Technicians from the University of East Anglia have created nearly 4,000 litres of the Covid-19 sanitiser over the past 12 weeks, which they reckon has cleaned 1.3 million pairs of hands.

UEA opened up labs on its Norwich campus to make the product, supported with supplies from businesses, including Southwold brewers Adnams.

The sanitiser was distributed to 15 local health and social care facilities, NHS trusts and community organisations in the East of England, but with demand reducing the university says the project has come to a natural conclusion.

Alasdair Messenger, who has special needs, was missing his weekly rides due to the pandemic.

The money from DJ Andy Palazon's live streams will go towards helping children with brain tumours.

Holiday park operator Center Parcs, external said its leisure complexes in Elveden and Woburn Forests would remain closed until at least 12 July.

"Whilst we do not have a confirmed date for re-opening yet, we’re busy working on our reopening plans and we are getting nearer to welcoming our guests back to the forest," it said.

"We have taken a best-practice approach to our plans at this stage and are now very close to finalising things."

Image source, Christine Johnson/Geograph

A hospital ward sister has said patient recovery times will be helped with visitors being allowed back on site.

Anyone wanting to visit a patient at Ipswich Hospital, external must wear a face mask, book their trip in advance, and can only stay for 45 minutes.

Image source, NHS East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Sister Naomi Gunton said: "Anxiety levels will reduce because we are able to have better conversations, and when you are ill you want your loved one there.

"It's been a really tricky three months. It was the right thing to do, not to have visitors, but it will be great to get back to some more normal processes."

The health secretary slaps a colleague on the back in the House of Commons, despite the two-metre rule.

The health secretary has been seen slapping a colleague on the back in the House of Commons.

Jason Noble
Suffolk Local Democracy Reporter

A by-election to replace a councillor who resigned amid allegations of sharing racist posts on social media cannot take place until May next year.

Conservative Frank Warby resigned from West Suffolk Council on Monday, after his party started an investigation into posts the 79-year-old shared on his Facebook account.

Image source, West Suffolk Council

The posts shared were asking questions as to why no riots took place in the UK following the death of fusilier Lee Rigby, who was killed near the Royal Artillery Baracks in Woolwich, London, in 2013.

Mr Warby also shared posts about the removal of statues with links to slavery and Britain’s colonial history.

It means that a by-election will now need to be held for his Moreton Hall seat in Bury St Edmunds, but current social distancing restrictions means the election has been postponed until May 2021, although that could be moved forward if the government deems it safe.

Mr Warby said he was deleting his Facebook account and that he has "had enough" of people "picking on him".

He added: "I’m not a racist. I have never been a racist. I am not a racist person. I did not post these images, I shared someone else’s posts."

The Guildhall in Woodbridge has become a focal point for a Black Lives Matter campaign.

Young people from the town have put up anti-racism signs outside the building.

Organiser Harry Raithatha said: "The global outcry shows it's time for change now."

He said there was "a lot of racism" in the area that just went unnoticed because it was "considered the norm".

The Dunwich Dynamo has been running for 28 years but is not officially organised.

Lifeguards will return to Lowestoft South beach this weekend following the easing of lockdown restrictions.

The RNLI has already resumed patrols at nearby Gorleston.

New measures to deal with the coronavirus pandemic mean the lifeguards will wear personal protective equipment like ambulance crews in some situations.

Image source, RNLI

New protocols for all first responders mean the lifeguards may not deal with some minor first aid cases, but will support people to treat themselves.

The charity is also continuing to urge to everyone to follow beach safety advice:

• Have a plan - check the weather forecast, tide times and read local hazard signage
• Keep a close eye on your family – on the beach and in the water
• Do not allow your family to swim alone
• Do not use inflatables
• If you fall into the water unexpectedly, fight your instinct to thrash around and instead lean back, extend your arms and legs, and float
• In an emergency dial 999, and ask for the coastguard

• The Ipswich Star reports, external a new route into policing is to be rolled out across seven forces, including Suffolk, as part of a major training overhaul
• Bury Free Press writes, external that an online petition to save oak trees in Thurston has reached 5,500 signatures

The health secretary says the footballer made a compelling case for the free school meal vouchers scheme.

A sports team is keeping fit, and brushing up on their skills, by raising money for the local hospice while maintaining social distancing.

Ipswich Ladies Netball Club, external players are trying to make a million passes by 17 July, in aid of the town's St Elizabeth Hospice, external.

The club's committee said the hospice's income had been hit by the pandemic "so we wanted to see if Ipswich Ladies Netball Club could play a small part in helping one of our local charities".

Two leading doctors said regular testing is needed to give patients confidence as the NHS reopens.