BBC Local Live: Cambridgeshire

ITV has confirmed that filming has begun on the third series of Grantchester, the murder mystery series filmed in and based on the Cambridgeshire village.

James Norton and Robson Green are set to return for the show's first Christmas special and then a third series next year.

ITV says viewers are promised a "festive, snow-filled Christmas episode, full of emotion and drama".

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Diederick Santer, chief executive of producers Kudos, said: "Grantchester continues to be a delight to make and I hope will continue to delight the viewer.

"To be bringing to the audience a third series and a very special Christmas episode is a particular thrill, and we can't wait to be pouring snow onto the East Anglian Fens."

Nine men have appeared in court charged with supplying drugs in Peterborough.

The group, aged between 25 and 45 and from Peterborough and London, were arrested following a series of raids in and around the city on Wednesday morning.

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The nine, who appeared at Cambridge Magistrates' Court earlier, will next appear at Peterborough Crown Court on Monday, 19 September, according to Cambridgeshire Police.

Two women, aged 35 and 59, and a 30-year-old man also arrested for alleged drugs offences have been bailed pending further enquiries.    

Earlier we brought you news that a new leisure centre in Ely, costing £13.5m, is "now fully funded and can go ahead", after receiving a financial boost from Sport England.

I've just heard from the leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, James Palmer, who's confirmed that the current Paradise Centre, originally thought to be entirely replaced, will in fact stay open after the new project is complete. 

Mr Palmer said only the pool at the Paradise Centre will be replaced, but it's not yet known what it will become.

We've been bringing you the latest on the construction of a burial barrow in Hail Weston, near St Neots.

But why is it being built?

It's an idea that's come from Sacred Stones, a company that bills themselves as providing "tranquil final resting places for cremation ashes".

Toby Angel, managing director, said he hoped the new barrow in Cambridgeshire would offer an alternative to "ugly" crematoriums.

Mr Angel said his aunt's "impersonal" cremation service was in an "ugly, municipal building" - he hoped the new barrow would be a "more befitting final resting place than any existing alternative". 

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On the construction of the barrow, Mr Angel said: "We are using entirely traditional methods, all by hand and without cement, and we hope to set up local apprenticeship schemes."

The cost of storing ashes starts at £1,500 for a 15-year term. Mr Angel declined to say how much the building has cost.

He added there is a growing "civic need" for more burial space.

The East of England Ambulance service has updated us on the condition of the woman injured in the earlier crash between a lorry and a car on the B1102 at Swaffham Bulbeck.

It says the patient is aged about 70, and has suffered serious head and chest injuries.

A spokesman said: "She was stabilised as far as possible at the scene, and taken to Addenbrooke's with the critical care team on board."

I've been speaking to Cambridge United's Shaun Derry, who has admitted he's an unhappy manager given their poor start to the new season. 

The U's are yet to win a match in League Two and have achieved only three shots on target in three games.

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However, he doesn't want the fans to get too caught up in the recent run of form.

"You can be so high one week... and I think people get a little bit carried with the lows," he said.

"I never expected it to be a magic solution that just clicked on day one. This is a working process and we've hit a couple of games that we've lost back-to-back against opponents that should be in the top six. 

"There's no disgrace there in my eyes."

I've just spoken to Cambridgeshire Police which has confirmed there's been an accident between a lorry and a car on Green Bank Road in Swaffham Bulbeck. 

A woman who was in the car has sustained serious injuries and has been taken to hospital. 

Road closures are currently in place.

Be aware if you're planning to head to Swaffham Bulbeck. There's been an accident on Green Bank Road and road closures are currently in place.

 We're in contact with the police and will bring you more shortly.

How's this for advances in technology?

I've spent the day at the Ramsey 1940s Weekend, where in a bizarre meeting of two worlds, I've just come across a 1955 generator lorry used for outside broadcasts by the BBC... right alongside my much smaller broadcast car used today.

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The van (top), nicknamed "Thumper" for the sound it made, was one of 10 used by the BBC. 

Some of its more famous outings were to broadcast live from Sir Winston Churchill's funeral in 1965, and from the World Cup in 1966.

Take care if you're out and about tomorrow, the Met Office has warned us of some very blustery conditions throughout the day, with gusts expected to reach 40-50mph.

And here's the official Met Office warning: "A spell of unseasonably strong southwesterly winds, accompanied by heavy, blustery showers, is expected to reach the southwest of the UK during the early hours of Saturday, moving east across many parts of England and Wales through the day."  

Compared to the beginning part of the week, it's been a very dull day today.

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The outbreaks of rain are set to move into western parts of the county, spreading east. They'll ease away from the southwest later, with a few evening brighter spells possible. Feeling cooler than recently, and rather breezy. Highs of 19C.

The Met Office has also issued a yellow weather warning for the county. More on that shortly.

Here's what the local papers are reporting today:

• The Peterborough Telegraph has a story on a war hero's family being presented with new medal after "callous thieves steal the original"  

• The Cambridge News has an update on the news that a boy has died at Addenbrooke's Hospital, after bring bitten by a dog in Essex

The burial barrow, nearing completion just outside St Neots, is the first burial chamber to be built in Cambridgeshire since Roman times.

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But what is a barrow?

According to BBC Religion and Cambridgeshire County Council's historic environment team, barrows are artificial hills of earth and stones built over the remains of the dead.

• They were usually reserved for members of the social elite 
• They were first constructed in about 4,000 BC
• Cambridgeshire has more than 150 ancient barrows, ranging in date from the Neolithic to the late Roman eras
• The largest barrows in northern Europe are at Bartlow in Cambridgeshire

East Cambridgeshire District Council say a new leisure centre in Ely is "now fully funded and can go ahead", after Sport England confirmed a £1.5m lottery award. 

It was the last bit of funding required for the sports centre to be given the green light.

East Cambridgeshire District CouncilCopyright: East Cambridgeshire District Council

It will replace Ely's ageing Paradise Centre and will include an eight lane pool, health and fitness suite, sports hall and 3G pitch.

There's lots of building work under way in Ely at the moment, including a cinema complex on Downham Road, which is already under construction.

I've been spending some time at what's thought to be the East of England's largest circular burial barrow, or mound, that's under construction near St Neots.

It's believed the ancient burial structures, going back to the Stone Age, is the first to be built in our region in at least 3,500 years. 

Described as "princely burials", historians say similar chambers were used as status symbols by the wealthy.

I caught up with Peterborough United boss Grant McCann ahead of tomorrow's away tie with Oxford.

He admitted he's got no selection headaches ahead of the game after the 5-1 hammering of Millwall on Tuesday, but he did hint at interest from other clubs in his top players.

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Quote Message: If a big club comes knocking on the door, that's the way Peterborough United works. I don't think anyone would stand in their way." from Grant McCann Peterborough United manager

If a big club comes knocking on the door, that's the way Peterborough United works. I don't think anyone would stand in their way."

You can hear full match commentary of tomorrow's League One game on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire from 14:00, on 95.7FM and 1026MW.

Anglian Water engineers will today begin to repair a large hole that opened up in central Cambridge. 

The 1.2m wide void appeared on Eden Street, near the Grafton Centre, on Wednesday evening, after a sewer collapsed. 

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The company expects the work to take about two weeks. Diversions are in place.

A county councillor for Ely south and west has told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire she thinks the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group is "chipping away at parts of the system without understanding the the impact that has on the rest of the system."

A confidential report, seen by the BBC, has recommended closing all of the Minor Injuries Units in one of the country's most deprived rural areas - Wisbech, Doddington and Ely.

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Anna Bailey said she is "very worried" about the threat of MIU closure.

Quote Message: I want to see a proper holistic plan for the CCG about the future of health provision in Ely and the district, based on a proper analysis of health requirements and taking into account the future growth [of Ely]. They have assured me that is something that they will look at providing." from Anna Bailey County councillor

I want to see a proper holistic plan for the CCG about the future of health provision in Ely and the district, based on a proper analysis of health requirements and taking into account the future growth [of Ely]. They have assured me that is something that they will look at providing."

Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes when somebody dials 999? 

The East of England Ambulance Serivce has just started a 24-hour "Twitterthon" from around the region, so you can follow all the action in real time. 

Head over the service's Twitter page here.