Got a TV Licence?

You need one to watch live TV on any channel or device, and BBC programmes on iPlayer. It’s the law.

Find out more
I don’t have a TV Licence.

Live Reporting

Philippa Taylor

All times stated are UK

Get involved

  1. Our live coverage across the day

    We're signing off now for the long weekend, but we'll be back on Tuesday morning from 08:00.

    We'll leave you with a reminder that at Ipswich Crown Court today, optometrist Honey Rose was given a two-year suspended sentence after being found guilty of the gross negligence manslaughter of eight-year-old Vinnie Barker.

    Scroll down for more on this, and other stories making the news across Suffolk.

    Honey Rose
  2. Weather: Staying dry this evening, possible thunderstorms tonight

    Dan Holley

    BBC Look East weather

    Tonight will start dry with clear spells allowing a few mist or fog patches to form, but cloud will increase from the south with one or two thunderstorms possible later. 

    A fresher night for sleeping, with temperatures down to 11C (52F).

    Weather map for the East of England

    There will be some hazy sunshine in places on Saturday, but showers and thunderstorms will tend to merge into longer spells of rain, giving the risk of some local flooding. 

    Feeling quite humid, with temperatures potentially as high as 25C (77F).

    Get your local Bank Holiday forecast at BBC Weather.

  3. Ipswich Town: Wark sees Preston as a 'tricky game'

    Ipswich Town legend John Wark believes Town will need to repeat their impressive East Anglian derby performance if they're to beat Preston tomorrow.

    John Wark

    "They've just beaten QPR 2-0 and they don't let many goals in. They've got a decent midfield in (John) Welsh, (Paul) Gallagher and (Daniel) Johnson, plus the threat of Jermaine Beckford up-front.

    "So if we're not at it like we were against Norwich it could be a tricky game," said Wark.

  4. Ipswich Town: I'd stick with Sears - Wark

    Brenner Woolley

    BBC Radio Suffolk sport

    Ipswich Town legend John Wark believes goal-shy Freddie Sears would benefit from a change of formation.

    Freddie Sears

    The 26-year-old will be hoping to end his run of 31 appearances without scoring when the Blues host Preston tomorrow.

    "I would keep him in the team but I'd play him in a two (up front)," said Wark. "I just think that in a three he works his socks off and gets up and down the pitch in the wide areas, but he doesn't look like scoring."

  5. Oulton Broad speedboat crash: Broads authority investigating

    The Broads Authority is investigating the collision between a speedboat and a stationary vehicle at Oulton Broad last night.

    A spokesman said: "Broads Authority officers will be working with Suffolk Police, the Marine Accident Investigation Bureau and the Marine and Coastguard Agency to investigate the collision."

    Oulton Broad

    The authority confirmed that a woman suffered a fractured back and skull, and a seven-year-old girl received forehead injuries.

    Another girl, aged 10, and a man sustained minor injuries.

  6. Trading Standards warning about illegally imported puppies

    Trading Standards are warning people to be cautious abut illegally imported puppies, after they quarantined a Bichon Frise puppy when a vet discovered it had been brought into the UK illegally.

    Her owners, who live in Stowmarket, had been unaware that the puppy had come from Romania and had been vaccinated too early to be effective.

    Bichon Frise puppy

    Matthew Hicks, who's responsible for public protection with the county council, said: "The main issue around illegally imported puppies is that we cannot guarantee that the dogs are properly vaccinated and rabies-free.

    “These puppies are usually sold via adverts on the internet and in newspaper small ads. 

    "The dogs are often accompanied by incomplete, false, and forged documentation which lead buyers to believe they have been imported legally or bred in the UK."

  7. 'Unexplained' death in Haverhill

    Steve Martin

    BBC Radio Suffolk

    Police are investigating the death of a woman in Haverhill. 

    Emergency services were called to Parkside at 06:20, following the sudden death of the 85-year-old. 

    A cordon has been put up and police have been at scene all day. The death is currently being treated as unexplained. 

    Police tape
  8. Custodial sentence 'was not required' for optometrist, says judge

    During the sentencing of Honey Rose, Judge Stuart-Smith said an immediate custodial sentence was not required to bring home the importance of optometrists properly discharging their duty to patients.

    He said the case had been highly publicised and had already caused great concern to the optometry profession.

    A letter from the Association of Optometrists said there had been an increase in practitioners' concerns about the way they were doing their job, said Jonathan Rees QC, prosecuting.

    Crown Court building
  9. Boots issue statement following Honey Rose sentencing

    Boots Opticians has issued a short statement following the sentencing of Honey Rose, who worked as a locum at a branch in Ipswich.

    Managing director Ben Fletcher, said: "We reiterate our deepest condolences to Vincent Barker's family.  

    "Our thoughts throughout this difficult period have remained with the family following these tragic events." 

    Boots, Ipswich
  10. Honey Rose to apply for permission to 'appeal'

    Honey Rose is to apply for permission to appeal after being convicted of gross negligence manslaughter, according to the Association of Optometrists (AoP).

    A spokesman declined to comment further on the case due to the ongoing Fitness to Practise hearing she faces before the General Optical Council.

    Ipswich Crown Court

    At Ipswich Crown Court, Jonathan Rees QC, prosecuting, said a letter from the association said there had been an increase in practitioners' concerns about the way they were doing their job and whether they were following procedure.

    He said it added there was no evidence that practitioners were becoming more risk-averse and referring more patients to other professions.

  11. Honey Rose described as a 'hard-working, dedicated mother of three' by defence lawyer

    Honey Rose was described by her barrister today as a "hard-working, dedicated mother of three children, who'd taken great pride in her profession".

    Ian Stern QC, mitigating, described Rose's failure to examine the back of Vinnie's eyes as an "inexplicable lack of action" and a "one-off".

    Judge Justice Stuart-Smith said he believed Mrs Rose was a generally competent optometrist, adding that her failure was a "straightforward, very serious lapse, once".

    Sentencing Mrs Rose, he said her conduct was "not merely a breach of duty, it was a criminal omission".

  12. Honey Rose sentencing: Police 'satisfied' with sentence

    Speaking outside court, Det Supt Tonya Antonis, of Suffolk Police, said: "We're very satisfied with the sentence that has been given. 

    "We feel it's proportionate in the circumstances. This was never about a custodial sentence. It's always been about something much bigger than that. 

    "It was never the Barker family's intention that Honey Rose should go to prison. 

    "What they wanted was some accountability by the profession and to ensure this doesn't happen to anybody else." 

  13. Optometrist's husband 'in tears' during sentencing hearing

    Kim Riley

    BBC Look East

    Honey Rose's husband Louis was in tears at Ipswich Crown Court as the optometrist was sentenced.

    He said "sorry" across the court to Vinnie Barker's family.

    Mr and Mrs Rose
  14. Barker family have been supported by East Anglia's Children's Hospices

    Kim Riley

    BBC Look East

    Ipswich Crown Court heard an impact statement from Vinnie Barker's mother Joanne, (pictured with husband Ian).

    She said the family had had help from East Anglia's Children's Hospices, to manage their grief.

    She said the knowledge that Vinnie should have been saved was "intolerable to live with" and that the void in their lives would never heal.

    Vinnie Barker's parents
  15. Further detail on Honey Rose sentencing

    Sentencing Honey Rose at Ipswich Crown Court, Judge Jeremy Stuart-Smith said it was the first case of its type, as convictions for manslaughter by gross negligence generally involve multiple lapses over time in the face of patients who were displaying obvious symptoms that called for immediate treatment.

    Rose was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and given a 24-month supervision order.

  16. Recap of Honey Rose trial

    During the trial of Honey Rose at Ipswich Crown Court in July, Jonathan Rees QC, prosecuting, said abnormalities in Vinnie Barker's eyes "would have been obvious to any competent optometrist" and should have led to an urgent referral to treat "a life-threatening condition".

    Vinnie Barker

    Vinnie Barker, eight , and from Ipswich, died in July 2012, five months after he had a routine eye test at a branch of Boots opticians in the town.

    A build-up of fluid in his brain increased pressure in Vinnie's skull and ultimately led to his death, the court heard.