Sarah Jenkins
BBC News

A theatre has started an emergency fundraising appeal to help it reopen when lockdown eases.

The Theatre Royal, external in Bury St Edmunds said in a statement that the coronavirus pandemic had "delivered a devastating blow" and it hoped to raise £50,000 in order to welcome visitors back.

The statement said the theatre had received "crucial" public authority funding from Suffolk County Council and West Suffolk Council, but that was a "small percentage of what is needed to survive".

"Reopening a theatre is not straightforward – we need time and money to programme and promote the season," the statement said.

"For our own shows we need to cast and rehearse – our income will not simply leap back to what is what before the crisis."

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Thieves have targeted a hospital car park to remove catalytic converters from staff already having to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

Two vehicles have been damaged in attacks at West Suffolk Hospital, external in Bury St Edmunds.

Image source, West Suffolk Hospital

"The suspected vehicle involved has been identified by the hospital security team and the relevant information has been given to the police," said head of security Darren Cooksey.

"It is disappointing that, particularly at a time when our staff are serving their community in their time of need during this pandemic, thieves have targeted our hospital car park."

He said extra patrols were in place and the site does have security cameras.

Unbeaten favourite Pinatubo will face 14 rivals in Saturday's 2,000 Guineas as the Classic season finally gets under way.

BBC Radio Suffolk

Newmarket racecourse, external will host the first day of the Guineas Festival today, but a month later than planned and behind closed doors with no cheering crowds because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nearly 40 races will be run over the next four days, including the first two Classics of the flat-race season, the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas.

Image source, Hugh Routledge/Pool

Frankie Dettori, who made a winning return to the sport at Kempton on Tuesday, has praised the safety measures being implemented.

"We are putting a good system in place, obviously with markers on the floor," he said.

"We are riding with masks and as you know it's a non-contact sport so we're very much within the guidelines and we're in the fresh open air."

Suffolk county councillor Rachel Hood, external said: "It's hugely exciting. This is a huge employer and an industry that's worth £4bn annually for the UK so it's a very important driver for the country."

A newborn girl was found dead at the site in Needham Market in Suffolk in May.

• The Ipswich Star reports, external that 'keep left' signs are among the measures to be introduced in the town as the coronavirus lockdown is eased
• The Bury Free Press, external writes that a skincare company is donating hand sanitiser to hospital and care home staff to help them cope during the coronavirus pandemic

The bundles are distributed to schools to help them support pupils with mental health.

Matt Hancock was asked abou the fears people in ethnic communities had about going back to work.

Brian Powlett shares his experience of being racially abused in a Suffolk village street.

The UK Statistics Authority has criticised the government's handling of Covid-19 testing data.

Pete Cooper
BBC News

Jockey Frankie Dettori has said that his mother, who is over 70, in Italy has had to be "very careful" with the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Italy imposed a strict and lengthy lockdown on 7 March - initially in the north, then nationwide.

With 33,000 deaths, it has suffered the third highest number of fatalities by country - behind the US and UK.

Dettori, who lives near Newmarket in Suffolk, said his mother, father and sister were in Milan, where he was born and "fingers crossed they have been very lucky".

Image source, Getty Images

Dettori said his family are "following the guidelines, staying in their staying in their home".

In early May, some restrictions in Italy were were relaxed and people are now able to travel for longer distances, as well as visit their relatives in small numbers.

Travel between regions and to and from the country will be allowed from 3 June.

He said: "I know it's frustrating for everyone, but Italy seems to be coming out of it at the moment.

"I think we are just two weeks behind them so hopefully, very soon, we will be able to lead a normal life and we will get the crowds back to the sport."

Pete Cooper
BBC News

Anglian Water said its water parks in the east of England would reopen to the public from today.

The water company runs Pitsford Water, Ravensthorpe Reservoir and Hollowell in Northamptonshire, Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire, Alton Water in Suffolk, Taverham Mill in Norfolk and Rutland Water.

Anglian Water, external said there would be "a number of changes on site with some facilities still closed".

It also said visitors should park in its car parks and "not in local villages".

The water parks were closed ahead of the government lockdown in March.

Image source, Stour and Orwell Society

The head of the UK's statistics watchdog writes to Matt Hancock, saying data is "far from complete".

Pete Cooper
BBC News

One of the most famous names in horse racing, Frank Dettori, said he "cannot wait to go racing" ahead of the Guineas Festival in Newmarket.

The jockey, who lives near the Suffolk racecourse, external, said he was "like a kid on Christmas morning". He's due to ride for trainer Aidan O'Brien in Saturday's 2,000 Guineas and Sunday's 1,000 Guineas.

He told BBC Breakfast: "It's over three months since I actually competed.

"We still have to exercise the horses and in Newmarket, we have 3,000 of those."

Image source, Getty Images

Dettori said watching the racing in Newcastle yesterday was "nice" but admitted it was "a bit weird" with no crowds around the track.

The 49-year-old also spoke about having to race with a mask covering his mouth and nose.

He said: "I have been training in the gym with it and I've been riding in the morning to get used to it.

"Obviously is not the same but we have to do everything we can to keep everybody safe.

"This is not going to be forever so for the time being we have to wear it."

The latest number of new daily coronavirus deaths, external has been released by the government.

In the East of England, they show an increase of 18 deaths in hospitals, taking the total number to 3,677. The new deaths have been recorded at the following NHS trusts:

• Basildon and Thurrock: 2
• Buckinghshire Healthcare (Stoke Mandeville): 2

• East Suffolk and North Essex (Ipswich and Colchester hospitals): 1
• Essex Partnership (Wickford): 1
• Kettering: 3
• Mid Essex (Broomfield): 2
• Norfolk Community Care: 1

• North West Anglia (Peterborough and Hinchingbrooke hospitals): 2
• Northampton General: 4

The total number of UK deaths associated with Covid-19 has reached 39,045.

A headteacher says children were not as "bubbly and lively" as they were before lockdown.

HM Coastguard says it was called to the body of what was "likely to be a small minke whale".

Nic Rigby
BBC News

The number of cases of coronavirus in Suffolk stands at 1,502 according to the latest figures.

That's up from 1,464 confirmed cases at the beginning of last week.

A breakdown of the number of cases by district council area shows that of those tested there are 348 cases in Ipswich, 608 in East Suffolk, 174 in Mid Suffolk, 147 in Babergh and 225 in West Suffolk.

Ipswich with 253 cases per 100,000 of the population has the highest number of cases relative to the size of its population.

But the borough only saw three more cases this week compared to last week.

A 39-year-old woman has been charged with coughing at a police officer in Newmarket and attempted robbery.

On Thursday morning, a 19-year-old woman was walking along The Avenue, when another woman grabbed her bag which was across her shoulder.

A brief struggle ensued, which resulted in the victim falling to the floor, but she managed to keep hold of the bag and get away from the offender.

A woman was later arrested and coughed in the face of a police officer claiming she had coronavirus, said Suffolk Police.

The accused is due to appear at Ipswich Crown Court later this month.

All seven members of her family, including five children, had coronavirus symptoms over six weeks.