Summary

  • Updates for Wednesday, 16 December 2015

  • News, sport, travel and weather updates resume at 08:00 Thursday

  1. Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00

    We will be back tomorrow with more news, sport, travel and weather from the county.

    If there's a story you think we should know about do get in touch via email, Twitter, external or Facebook, external

  2. Weather: Continuing mild and cloudy overnightpublished at 17:54

    Chris Bell
    BBC Look East weather

    Tonight will stay dry and cloudy, although clear spells and mist patches will develop more widely later, with lows of about 10C (50F).

    Weather map

    Tomorrow will start dry and bright with sunny spells.

    BBC Weather has more local details.

  3. Scouts offering local postal service this weekendpublished at 17:44

    People in Reepham will be able to pay the Scouts to deliver their mail as opposed to the Royal Mail this weekend.

    Reepham scout postbox

    Collection points for cards have been set up by the 2nd Reepham Scouts, external who are charging just 25p to deliver festive post. 

    The group is thought to be the first in Norfolk to offer the service, but it's something Scout groups have successfully done in other parts of the country.

  4. Video: Volunteers from Age UK have lunch with prime ministerpublished at 17:44

    Louise Holmes
    BBC Norfolk

    Older people from Norfolk have enjoyed an early Christmas dinner with the prime minister.

    The group had lunch at Downing Street with David Cameron as part of a campaign to highlight the problem of loneliness at Christmas. 

    Derek Land from Age UK, external said it made him feel appreciated for his many years of volunteering.

  5. Headlines: 'Leaves on the line' disruption inquiry launched... Fracking under the Broads and National Parks approved by MPspublished at 17:14

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC Norfolk Live

    The main news stories this tea-time: 

    • An inquiry is being held into why leaves on the line led to major cancellations and delays on Greater Anglia trains last month
    • Fracking under the Broads and protected areas has been given approval by MPs without a debate
    • A youth leader from North Walsham is to face trial over historical sexual assault allegations

  6. Landmark Great Yarmouth hotel boarded uppublished at 17:11

    Zoe Applegate
    BBC News

    A quayside hotel in Great Yarmouth has closed after one of its owners was sent to prison.

    Star Hotel, Great Yarmouth

    The Star Hotel on Hall Quay is now being boarded up after Lloyd Thornton was jailed for three-and-a-half years for sexually harassing young women.

    He filed for bankruptcy from his prison cell in the summer and it's understood staff have now been made redundant and the building is to be put up for sale. 

  7. Watch: Inquiry launched into 'leaves on the line' disruptionpublished at 16:55

    Alex Dunlop
    BBC Look East

    I've been been finding out more about a new inquiry which is looking into why Abellio Greater Anglia , externalbranch line trains in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex were seriously delayed and cancelled for nearly two weeks last month. 

  8. MPs vote for fracking under the Broads and national parkspublished at 16:32

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC Norfolk Live

    MPs have voted in favour of allowing fracking to take place under National Parks and other protected sites like the Broads.

    Wroxham BroadImage source, Georgraph / Katie Walter

    The draft regulations are controversial because the former coalition government said there would be an outright ban on fracking in national parks.

    The government says extraction of shale gas would only be allowed 1,200m (3.940ft) below the ground, with drilling taking place outside the protected areas.

  9. Weather: Cloudy but staying mildpublished at 15:58

    BBC Weather

    This afternoon will continue grey and cloudy with the odd break in that cloud but it will be mild as well. 

    Weather map

    Temperatures reaching 14C (57F).

    BBC Weather has more.

  10. Port deal 'could improve position of energy sector'published at 15:34

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC Norfolk Live

    The East of England Energy Group, external says the sale of the port and outer harbour at Great Yarmouth could improve the position of the area's offshore energy sector. 

    The new owner is Peel Ports, external, which already owns the Port of Liverpool.

    The ownership deal was announced yesterday evening.

    Great Yarmouth port
  11. Norwich Sheriff and Lord Mayor to sleep under stars to help the homelesspublished at 15:07

    Network Norfolk

    The Lord Mayor and Sheriff of Norwich have both signed up to sleep under the stars, external for a night to help raise funds to support the work of YMCA Norfolk with homeless young people.

    Norwich Lord Mayor and SheriffImage source, Network Norfolk
  12. Octopuses found alive on Norfolk beaches: Some factspublished at 14:34

    Mark Bulstrode
    BBC News

    As we told you earlier, two lesser octopuses have been washed up at Heacham. 

    They were discovered alive on separate beaches, and taken to the Sea Life Sanctuary, external at Hunstanton, where staff are hoping they will recover enough to go on public display. 

    The octopuses have been named Sue and Sunny after woman who found one of them and her husband. 

    Graphic
  13. Franchise bid for trains discussed by MPspublished at 14:19

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC Norfolk Live

    MPs are to discuss their demands for the new East Anglia rail franchise in the House of Commons. 

    The deadline for bids to run trains between Norwich and London ends tomorrow MPs are demanding faster and more frequest train services

    Three companies are in the bidding: National Express, First Group and Abellio. 

    Train
  14. Headlines: Youth leader to face trial on historical child sexual assault allegations... 'Leaves on the line" inquiry launchedpublished at 13:26

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC Norfolk Live

    The main news stories so far: 

    • A former youth leader from North Walsham will face trial over historical child sexual assault allegations
    • The long-term future of King's Lynn Arts Centre won't be decided until next year after trustees announced the venue is to close
    • An inquiry is launched into why Abellio Greater Anglia branch services couldn't cope with leaves on the line last month
  15. MPs to vote on fracking at protected sitespublished at 12:58

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC Norfolk Live

    MPs will vote later today on whether to allow fracking to take place 1,200m (3,937ft) under National Parks and other protected areas including the Broads. 

    Norfolk broadImage source, Geograph / David Dixon

    It's expected plans to allow the extraction of shale gas in these areas will be approved. 

    Critics, including Labour and Greenpeace,have accused the government of a U-turn after it pledged an outright ban on fracking in national parks.

  16. Honoured youth leader faces trial over alleged child sexual assaultspublished at 12:39

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC Norfolk Live

    A youth leader made an MBE for his work with children is to stand trial after denying a series of historical sexual assaults. 

    Henry Day, 76, of North Walsham denies 13 counts of sexual assault on three boys, all aged under 16 at the time, between 1969 and 1986. 

    Mr Day, known as Harry, ran seaside summer camps at the Young Citizens' Guild in Hemsby between 1973 and 1995 and will face trial at the end of February. 

  17. Rail expert brought in to head 'leaves on the line' inquirypublished at 12:23

    The company that runs trains across East Anglia is launching a joint inquiry with Network Rail, external into serious disruption last month caused by leaves on the line. 

    Abellio diesel trainImage source, PA

    Abellio Greater Anglia, external cancelled hundreds of services between Norwich and Great Yarmouth and on branch lines in Suffolk and Essex after diesel train wheels were damaged by leaves. 

    A rail expert has been brought in to write the report.