BBC Local Live: Suffolk

Patients from Ipswich Hospital could be sent to Colchester for treatment, and vice versa, under health service bosses' five-year plan for care in Suffolk and North Essex. 

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Ipswich Hospital chief executive Nick Hulme is now also in charge at Colchester, as he tries try to address problems there. 

He said: "There are some services which we provide at Ipswich which we have better clinical outcomes at Colchester, and vice versa. 

"There's also the financial aspect, it's very expensive to run duplicated services across both sites, so what we will be doing is looking at all of those services. 

"I think the important message is that we won't ask people to move just for the sake of it."

It will continue to be fine and dry, feeling warm and humid.

There's a small risk of an isolated thunderstorm during the evening and overnight, although north Norfolk and around the Wash are most at risk. It will be warm, with a low of 17C (62F).

Tomorrow will be largely fine and dry, with a high of 26C (78F).

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Ipswich hockey player George Pinner says he has a "really exciting few weeks ahead", as he prepares for the Rio Olympics."The belief in this team is that we could go out there, we could win a medal, and we are aiming to win a gold medal," he told the BBC.  

Norfolk and Suffolk police are seeking new recruits to join Maggie, pictured below, for training as a specialist police dog.

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They say the ideal candidate would be either a young springer or cocker spaniel, or Labrador, aged between 10-18 months old, energetic but controllable, with a high play drive.

The selection procedure involves an assessment in their current environment, followed by an invitation to take part in a training course to assess their suitability.

If successful they are signed up to a handler and begin their police career with the forces' 25 dog handlers. 

A spokesman said: "Our specialist search dogs detect explosives, drugs, cash and firearms. The constabularies use a variety of breeds for this role, however, the majority are spaniels and Labradors."

The MP for Bury St Edmunds says she's disappointed the main Post Office on the Cornhill is to close, with the service moving next door to WHSmith. 

Jo Churchill says she will ask for a review about the decision if access for groups such as the elderly is not good enough.  

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Thousands of people signed a petition against the proposal when the consultation was launched, but the Post Office says the new branch will provide a seven-day-a-week service, and will be open for longer. 

The Cornhill branch will close on 2 November, and reopen the next morning inside the High Street store. The future use of the vacated building will be discussed with St Edmundsbury Borough Council.

People who report dog owners who fail to clean up their pet's mess could be given a £100 reward.

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The scheme is being considered by St Edmunsbury Borough Council to tackle dog fouling "hot spots". 

It can currently fine offenders up to £50, but wants to increase that to £100. It wants to offer a "reward" of part or all of the fine, as an incentive for people to report incidents.

The scheme could succeed because of the "implied message" that someone could be watching, the council said.

A musician who went on from playing in the South Norfolk Youth Symphonic Band to establish an international career is coming home for two special concerts.

Lisa CooperCopyright: Lisa Cooper

Here was the scene at Brockford Station earlier, as Mid-Suffolk Light Railway's restored first class smoking coach was lifted on to its chassis. 

Summer signing Adam Webster looks set to make his first appearance in a Town shirt during this evening’s friendly against Colchester United at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, while striker Daryl Murphy is also in the 27-man squad.

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Greater Anglia will be running a "reduced timetable" due to the heat tonight. 

A number of services have already been cancelled. 

Quote Message: A reduced timetable will be in operation this evening in order to accommodate the speed restriction imposed by Network Rail. Some services have been cancelled and others altered to include additional stops, so customers are advised to check details before travelling and allow extra time for their journey. We would like to apologise to customers affected by these changes." from Greater Anglia spokeswoman

A reduced timetable will be in operation this evening in order to accommodate the speed restriction imposed by Network Rail. Some services have been cancelled and others altered to include additional stops, so customers are advised to check details before travelling and allow extra time for their journey. We would like to apologise to customers affected by these changes."

Temperatures will soar to 30C (86F) this afternoon as the county basks in long periods of occasionally hazy sunshine. 

It'll be hot and humid, although some isolated thundery showers could develop through the afternoon and evening, mainly in the west.  

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A woman in a wheelchair managed to hold onto her bag as three men tried to steal it from her in Lowestoft, Suffolk Police says.

The force said the woman, who is in her 50s, was at Horn Hill when three men approached her in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The three tried to take her handbag from her lap, but she held onto it. One of the men struck her in the face, leaving her with bruising and swelling, but nothing was stolen. 

Phil Lawler is the new chairman of Suffolk FA and takes over from David Porter, who is standing down after four years in the role.

Suffolk FACopyright: Suffolk FA

Lawler, 54, pictured, has been involved with grassroots football in the county since the age of nine and was elected at Suffolk FA's recent AGM in Stowmarket.

"I believe these are very exciting times for football in our county," the new chairman said. "We have recently seen a number of new facility projects in Suffolk approved for national funding."

Goalkeeper Michael Crowe has returned to Town following his two-week trial with League Two Portsmouth. 

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Here's a snapshot of the painstaking process of lifting the restored smoking carriage onto its chassis at Mid-Suffolk Light Railway.

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The blaze broke out at an agricultural business in Metfield in the early hours of yesterday morning.

At one stage 100 firefighters had tackled it, and although under control, Suffolk Fire Service says it will stay there for the remainder of today. 

The back end of the building has melted and crumpled away.

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A fire crew is still on the scene of an agricultural business blaze near Halesworth.

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It's been more than 30 hours since fire broke out at the equine bedding firm in Metfield. 

At its height the fire spread to four barns and outbuildings.

It may not even be lunchtime yet, but it looks like it could be another evening of misery for commuters travelling home tonight. 

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Cancellations have already been put in place for some London Liverpool Street services via Colchester, Southend and Ipswich between 16:00 and 20:00 due to "high temperatures" causing minor delays to services to Norwich.

We'll hear a bit more from Abellio Greater Anglia shortly. In the meantime you can keep up-to-date with the service status here. 

It's a big day for Mid Suffolk Light Railway as it begins the task of uniting its restored first class smoking coach with its chassis at Brockford Station. 

John Reeve, from the railway, says it has taken several years to makeover the seven tonne coach.

Mid Suffolk Light RailwayCopyright: Mid Suffolk Light Railway

"The coach was originally commissioned by the Great Eastern Railway over 150 years ago and our team have returned it to its former glory.

"It will now become part of our regular rolling stock enabling the Middy to run three coach trains for the first time since the line closed in 1952."

Mid Suffolk Light RailwayCopyright: Mid Suffolk Light Railway