Graeme Mac
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Midfielder Cole Skuse has been telling us that it was an honour to captain Ipswich Town for the first time during Luke Chambers' absence last month.

The 31-year-old was seen as the obvious choice by most to step-in for a couple of games and said the first against Brentford provided him with a special moment.

"It's extra special at a club like this when you see the names of the people who have been captain here in the past," said Skuse.

"I've said many times before though that Chambo [Luke Chambers] is the best captain I've played under, so while to take the armband off him for a few days was OK, it got thrown straight back at him as soon as he returned.

"Being captain didn't change the way I played. I've done it a few times previously at Bristol City and like to see myself as a bit of a go to character for the younger players especially."

Graeme Mac
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Ipswich Town midfielder Cole Skuse has been telling us he would be delighted to extend his stay at Portman Road, but has not had any contract talks with the club's hierarchy.

The 31-year-old's current deal runs out at the end of the season, although the club has an option on a 12-month extension.

"It's out of my hands, and they might not want to give me a new contract," Skuse said earlier this week. "But if they're looking to offer me a new deal I'd like to get it done sooner rather than later because you don't want it dragging on.

"I speak on behalf of me, my wife and my kids when I say we love Suffolk. We moved here and settled here and have made it our home.

"I love the club. It's been a pleasure to play here and hopefully we can get a new deal sorted if the club wants to."

A man has been jailed for 15 years after being found guilty of a series of rapes and indecent assaults on young girls.

Karl Garnham, 27, formerly of the Grange Farm Avenue area of Felixstowe, was found guilty of nine offences at an Ipswich Crown Court trial this year.

The charges related to four girls, with offences in the Felixstowe area dating back to 2003 - when he was just 13 years old.

Image source, Suffolk police

Det Con Hayley Kennedy said he "continued a disturbing catalogue of sexual abuse into adulthood, which has had a significant effect on his victims."

The mental health of police officers in Suffolk is getting worse because the force is under-funded, according to the county's Police Federation.

Federation chair Darren Harris said: "The people that suffer are the people of Suffolk - they don't get the service that we want to provide.

"Our members have been working really hard and they just can't continue. It's having an effect on their welfare and their mental health."

Suffolk's police and crime commissioner Tim Passmore has also made a direct appeal to the Home Office for extra money.

He wants the government to cover any pay rise for officers above 1% following a wage cap lift and wants a fairer funding settlement, external for Suffolk, to reflect the challenges the county faces.

Mr Passmore (pictured), Conservative, said: "Suffolk is home to one of the largest container ports in Europe, has a coastline of over 60 miles, we have five military establishments including two American airbases and the county is home to a nuclear power station. The A14 is a major route of national importance.

"My concern is that the government does not recognise the significance of these crucial strategic national assets."

Yesterday the prime minister insisted the region's police forces were well-funded and the pay rise issue was up to them to solve, but said there were "reserves" available to help them tackle cuts.

Ipswich Town midfielder Cole Skuse hails the club's youngsters for their part in the team's fine start to the season.

East Anglian Daily Times

And finally, the front page of the west edition of the East Anglian Daily Times, external:

Image source, EADT

East Anglian Daily Times

Moving on to the East Anglian Daily Times, external - and their east edition looks like this:

Image source, EADT

Ipswich Star

Time to have a look at some of our local papers. And here's the front page of the Ipswich Star, external:

Image source, Ipswich Star

A Holocaust survivor told of the moment he saw his mother led to a gas chamber in Auschwitz.

Ipswich Star

A Suffolk library has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award, external for a project that supports diversity and integration in the county.

Image source, Suffolk Libraries/Ipswich Star

Brenner Woolley
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Ipswich Town's, external Monty Patterson has been named in the New Zealand, external squad for next week's friendly against Japan in Nagoya.

Image source, Getty Images

The match is part of the All Whites' preparations for November's World Cup intercontinental play-off.

Patterson, 20, who can play in midfield or attack, has won 15 full caps so far.

Town defender Tommy Smith wasn't considered for the squad as he is still out with a hamstring injury.

The chief executive of a troubled mental health trust announces his retirement.

Brenner Woolley
BBC Radio Suffolk sport

Ipswich Witches have it all to do if they're to win the Championship, external play-offs after a 53-37 defeat at Sheffield Tigers last night, in the first leg of the Grand Final.

Image source, Stephen Waller

"We are more than capable of pulling that back and we are very good at our own track," boss Ritchie Hawkins told the club website, external.

"We fought really hard tonight. A couple of the boys swapped bikes after a couple of bad rides and they were different riders after that.

"It is not ideal but we have done really well to keep it to 16 points and I was proud of them. We go into Saturday [the return leg at Foxhall] with everyone very upbeat."

Sara Thornton
BBC Weather

A cloudy and grey start to the day, with occasional rain through the morning.

Drier, sunnier weather will arrive in the afternoon, with winds easing.

Temperatures peaking at 18C (64F).

Tomorrow is the best day of the weekend - there'll be mainly sunny spells, with the chance of a few light showers.

We can expect blustery heavy showers on Sunday.

There's a more detailed forecast on BBC Weather.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

Mental health campaigners have welcomed the decision of the head of the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS mental health trust to stand down.

Michael Scott has announced his decision to retire from his role as chief executive of Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT).

Image source, NHS

The trust was placed in special measures by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in February 2015 but taken out in October 2016.

Mr Scott's decision comes ahead of a new CQC report.

In a statement the trust said Julie Cave, NSFT deputy chief executive and director of finance, will become interim chief executive until further notice.NSFT chairman, Gary Page, said: "We have recently undergone our third CQC inspection and as we await the inspection report, Michael feels now is the appropriate time for a new leader to take forward the recommendations that will follow in order to continue to improve our Trust.

"It has been a privilege to work with someone of Michael’s calibre and integrity, and we wish him a well-deserved retirement."

On announcing his retirement he said: "The role of chief executive is one where there is always important work to lead, challenge to overcome and improvements to drive ahead, and I feel the time is now right for a new leader to take on that mantle."I will remain committed to the NHS."

A spokesman for the Campaign to Save Mental Health Services in Norfolk and Suffolk said: "We have long been calling for a new board and management culture at NSFT which puts patients and carers first and foremost and genuinely engages with front line staff."

He said the retirement "could represent the beginning of an opportunity to turn around mental health services in Norfolk and Suffolk".

Dan Holley
BBC Look East weather

Dry for much of the night across the BBC East region, with clear spells and occasional cloud, which will thicken with some showery outbreaks of rain later.

Staying mild with a light southerly breeze, temperatures falling to 11C (52F).

Rather cloudy with patchy outbreaks of rain on Friday morning, but becoming drier and brighter from the west during the afternoon.

Breezy with a moderate south to southwesterly wind, temperatures peaking at 20C (68F).

For a detailed forecast where you are, visit BBC Weather.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

The chief executive of a troubled mental health trust, which came out of special measures in October last year, is standing down.

Michael Scott, of the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) has announced his retirement.

The trust was placed in special measures by the Care Quality Commission in February 2015, but taken out in October 2016.

It was a "terrifying experience" for anyone who heard the shots fired, a crown court judge says.

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

The Prime Minister has insisted that the region's police forces are well-funded, despite several of our forces expressing concerns over the past few weeks.

In an interview with Look East ahead of the Conservative party conference, Theresa May said: "We took a decision to protect police funding, the Labour party said police forces could take 10% cuts to their funding but we said we're going to protect that funding and that's what we've done."

Police constables and police and crime commissioners in Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire have warned that they will struggle to fund a 1% pay bonus for police officers, but the prime minister appeared to dismiss their concerns.

"It's up to individual police forces how they choose to address the issue of that police bonus," Mrs May said. "I think what's important for officers is that the government respected the decision which the police pay review body came forward with."

When told that some forces had warned they may have to make cuts, the prime minister said: "It is up to the police and crime commissioners how they wish to deal with this issue but I'm clear that there are reserves available to police forces around the country."

This reply may not go down well with some of our forces. Essex claims to have the lowest reserves of any force in the country, while Norfolk says it is already running a deficit of £9m.

Katherine Holloway, the police and crime commissioner for Bedfordshire, recently told Look East that she expected to be out of money within 18 months.

Ipswich Town defender Pat Webber signs his first professional deal after making his senior debut in August.