BBC Local Live: Suffolk

Professional middleweight boxer Anthony Ogogo, from Lowestoft, is swapping the boxing ring for the Strictly ballroom when the new series gets under way tomorrow night.

BBCCopyright: BBC

The 26-year-old, who won a bronze medal in the 2012 London Olympics, says he's "excited" to be joining the show along with 14 other celebrity dancers and just "can't wait to get started".

He added his limited dancing experience could be a good thing: “I'm a blank canvas and I’m ready to be painted on." Good luck Anthony.

People in Mildenhall have been reassured work will start later this month to solve a notorious flood issue.

Flooding along the road close to the junction of College Heath Road and Girton Close has been a problem for 10 years.

Steve Boor, West Suffolk highways manager, said he has sympathy with frustrated residents: "We have been doing some work on it, albeit not as quickly as perhaps everyone would like... but we will be doing some work there which hopefully will mitigate most of the problem later this month."

Tomorrow will be an historic day for Bury St Edmunds rugby club as the players prepare for their first match in National League Division 2. Bishops Stortford will provide the opposition.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Bury's 90th season is likely to provide the club with its biggest challenges to date, but chairman Mike Robinson is intent on the campaign being a successful one, with survival the main priority. 

"We are not expecting to win every game, but certainly at home we'll aim to be tough to beat and will look to develop throughout the season," he said.

After a largely dry evening with some brightness, cloud will tend to thicken from the north overnight.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Towards the end of the night, the cloud will be thick enough to give some light rain or drizzle in places. 

Minimum temperature: 11C (52F).

We told you yesterday about repair work being carried out on the roof of St Mary's church in Combs, which had been targeted by thieves stealing lead.

A temporary cover is being put on the roof, with the final cost of repairs being estimated at about £150,000.

The stories making the headlines this tea-time:

• Exning Primary School fire "was started deliberately," say Suffolk Police
• Shotley has been named as Suffolk's Village of the Year
• Ipswich Town's Josh Yorwerth will feature tonight for Wales U21s

It's been confirmed a fire which damaged part of Exning Primary School earlier today was started deliberately.

BBCCopyright: BBC

The fire began in a shed adjacent to the school and spread to the main building, with extensive damage being caused to a classroom, the hallway and roof.

A spokesman for Suffolk County Council said work will take place over the weekend to ensure Key Stage 2 children (aged between seven and eleven) can return on Monday. Reception and Key Stage 1 children will start on Tuesday.

Congratulations to Shotley, who have this afternoon been named as Suffolk's Village of the Year by the Suffolk Association of local councils. 

The village, which will receive £1,000 as prize money, was commended by the judges for its joined up community spirit.

Commiserations to the other finalists, Grundisburgh and Culpho, and West Row (ward within Mildenhall,

The classicial music ensemble, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE), is coming to Lowestoft next month.

Orchestra of the Age of EnlightenmentCopyright: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

The visit will see them performing at the Marina Theatre, visiting local schools, working with local choirs and performing at a local pub to bring classical music to as wide an audience as possible.

Oboe player Cherry Forbes says: "OAE Education is all about increasing access and inspiring people of all ages and backgrounds. We can’t wait to get on the road, open those ears and talk to communities about what they need and want from our enthusiastic musicians."

We told you earlier of the frustration being experienced in Ipswich as BT are yet again excavating at the junction of Portman Road and Handford Road.

BBC Suffolk has also been carrying the story of businesses in Fore Street who've been without a landline for the second time this year.

We can now confirm the two stories are indeed linked. The work being done to replace underground cabling, which has become faulty due to water damage, will restore the phone service for the businesses who've been without it.

There is a good chance that Ipswich Town defender Josh Yorwerth will feature tonight for Wales U21's in their European Championship qualifier at Luxembourg and the 20-year-old says he is keen to impress for both club and country.

BBCCopyright: BBC

When Cardiff City failed to offer him a contract extension in the summer, Yorwerth was signed up quickly by Mick McCarthy and scored on his competitive debut for the first team in the League Cup last month. 

"I was happy to get out of Cardiff because I was never given an opportunity there. It's now up to me to make a career for myself and at this club I believe I have a chance of doing that," Yorwerth said.

Mainly dry this afternoon and evening.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Feeling on the cool side, with the strongest winds near the coast.

Top temperature: 16C (61F).

Highways England tweet that one lane is still closed on the A14 westbound after J51.

Our latest top stories:

• Ipswich group still hope to restore St Michael's Church, damaged by fire in 2011
• Melton doesn't need "unaffordable homes" says parish council
• The campaign to save Somersham's village pub takes to the road 

The East of England Co-op has opened a new store in Ipswich - a day after closing a smaller one nearby.

BBCCopyright: BBC

The shop, on Norwich Road near Coe's, closed for good yesterday.

A ceremony was held to unveil a larger store, including a Subway franchise, on Handford Road this morning.

A village primary school, previously rated as ‘good’ by inspectors, has been criticised in its latest check-up with a report suggesting it should be placed into special measures.

The A14 is blocked and there's stationary traffic westbound after J51 (A140, Needham Market) because of an overturned car.

After a career that has spanned 43 years and brought multiple classic winners, Newmarket trainer Clive Brittain has confirmed he is to retire at the end of the season, at the age of 81.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Brittain's greatest success was arguably a second placed finish in the Derby in 1989, when he sent out Terimon to finish second at odds of 500-1. 

"The sport has gone through numerous changes over the years in my opinion, but all for the better. I will continue to be a fan and enjoy my visits to Newmarket, which for me is still the mecca," he said.

Fundraisers have been encouraging people to buy shares to save the Duke of Marlborough pub at Somersham near Ipswich.

BBCCopyright: BBC

The Save the Duke campaign was launched after the pub shut at Christmas last year, with the hope of buying it and carrying out renovations.

The group is selling 7,000 shares at £50 each, with a minimum holding of five shares per person.

Tickets have gone on sale for the first major production at the Spa Pavilion in Felixstowe.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Ray Anderson, chief executive of NRG Theatres which owns the Spa, says they're trying to put together a star-studded grand opening, "but I can't really reveal that yet because we're still in negotiations."

The theater has been closed for two years, but is due to re-open at the end of the year with a pantomime.

The Islamic group behind the opening of a new community centre in Ipswich say the fund-raising will carry on, despite spending about £300,000 so far.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Jimas, a Muslim educational charity, bought the St Michael's Church site on Upper Orwell Street in 2011, but it was badly damaged by fire soon afterwards and wasn't insured.

Manwar Ali (pictured) says while the hall has reopened as a community centre they'll need to raise up to £800,000 more to make the main church a viable building. But the support they've received "has gone a long way in keeping this place still a dream."

There's concern in Melton, near Woodbridge, about the go-ahead for 180 new homes.

BBCCopyright: BBC

The scheme was turned down by Suffolk Coastal Council, but an appeal by the developers was successful.

Buffy Thompson, from Melton Parish Council, says they only need about 14 affordable homes: "The sort of houses we do need generally are going to be more for elderly people... a few for some with special needs... What we don't need is 120 unaffordable houses on one of the worst roads in this area."

Here are the stories we're talking about:

• A man suspected of an assault in Ipswich is still being sought by police
• A new community centre opens in Ipswich four years after an arson attack
• Veteran Newmarket trainer Clive Brittain announces he is to retire at the end of the season

The overnight fire at Exning Primary School, which has meant pupils are unable to start their new school year, is being treated by police as suspicious.

BBCCopyright: BBC

The fire is believed to have started in a shed next to the school and then spread to the main building causing extensive damage to a classroom, the hallway and roof, police say.

An investigation will try to determine the exact cause of the fire and whether it was started deliberately. Anyone who saw any suspicious activity is asked to contact Bury St Edmunds police.

Multiple classic winning trainer Clive Brittain has announced his intention to retire at the end of the season.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

The veteran Newmarket handler, 81, has enjoyed a 43-year career, winning every British Classic at least once, apart from the Epsom Derby.  

"I want to spend a few years looking after my wife. She's spent 60-odd years looking after me, so I think it's only fair I spend some time looking after her," he said.

Three Suffolk MPs have added their calls for Britain to join other European countries in offering more Syrian refugees a safe haven.  

A man is still being sought by Suffolk Police in connection with an assault in Ipswich last month.

Suffolk PoliceCopyright: Suffolk Police

The incident happened on a footpath in woodland off Quilter Drive on Wednesday 26 August about 15:15.

A woman in her early twenties was knocked to the ground by a man while she was out jogging, but she managed to get up and run away from the scene, police say.

Ipswich Town's Mick McCarthy and Ryan Fraser just miss out on being named as the Championship's manager of the month and player of the month respectively.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

The duo were beaten to top spot by Brighton boss Chris Hughton and Seagulls forward Kazenga LuaLua (pictured), who has four goals already this season. 

The awards follow Town's 3-2 loss to Brighton at Portman Road last Saturday, which saw the Sussex side go top of the division and the Blues slip to third.

Middleweight boxer Anthony Ogogo, from Lowestoft, is part of the 15-strong celebrity line-up in this year's Strictly Come Dancing.

BBCCopyright: BBC

The 26-year-old says sequins and tight shirts are "not very macho", but the competitive Olympian will be punching for Strictly victory over the coming weeks.

The new series starts tomorrow night at 19:15 on BBC One.

A new community centre is officially opening in Ipswich today in the hall alongside the burned out St Michael's church in the town centre.

BBCCopyright: BBC

The buildings were bought by the Suffolk Muslim group Jimas, but their plans were disrupted by an arson attack in 2011 which left the church as a shell, with no roof and the hall severely damaged.

Chief executive Manwar Ali,Jimas says it's been a big challenge: “There were moments when we felt despondent... we almost felt dejected, but the people support has been wonderful, everyone of all backgrounds."   

Exning Primary School will reopen "as soon as possible" after what is believed to be a suspicious fire broke out in the early hours of this morning, the headteacher says.

BBCCopyright: BBC

James Clark told BBC Suffolk: "We’re waiting for the fire investigation team to come and check it all out and have a look... we'll see how things go over the weekend, we'll let parents know as and when.

"The fire service were fantastic, there were five fire engines at one stage onsite... I think it was quite well contained, they were excellent."

If you're just joining us, here are our main stories so far:

• The headteacher of Exning Primary School, damaged by fire overnight, says 'It's a mess, we're all in shock'
• Misconduct notices are served on four police officers who investigate paedophile suspects
• Lowestoft's Anthony Ogogo prepares for the start of Strictly tomorrow night

Too much screen time can affect GCSE results Cambridge University warns after 845 teenage children from Suffolk and Cambridgeshire were assessed for their use of TV, the internet and video games.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Dr Kirsten Corder, part of the research team, said: "For every hour of TV, computer games use and internet use per day - we found this was linked to a nine-point drop in their GCSE results.

"So this equates to, say, two grades lower for one GCSE or a grade lower for two of their GCSEs," she said. 

The deputy leader of Suffolk County Council has been expressing his astonishment that BT have begun to carry out more roadworks at the junction of Handford Road and Portman Road in Ipswich.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Christopher Hudson said he was "absolutely flabbergasted" at what is thought to be the sixteenth time the area has been dug up, as the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star have been reporting.

He's meeting with the managing director of BT this morning "to see what's gone wrong, why it's gone wrong and what can be done to prevent it happening again in the future."

We'll let you know as soon as we can what BT have to say.

Ipswich leaders have voiced their outrage as a major Ipswich road is being dug up for the sixteenth time in one year – bringing chaos to parts of the town centre.  

Lots of Strictly banter this morning as the celebs get ready for the first show of the new series tomorrow night on BBC One.

The Ipswich Witches are out of the League Cup after losing on aggregate, despite beating Premier League leaders Edinburgh Monarchs at Foxhall last night.

EMPICSCopyright: EMPICS

Foxhall lap record holder Craig Cook (pictured) was missing for the away side, but the Witches still failed to overturn a 22 point deficit.

"A slow start cost us in this one. While Danny King and Nico Covatti performed well for us, the other riders struggled on the night and couldn't fully back them up," said Witches team manager Phil Hilton.

An accident on the B1116 at Easton Road in Wickham Market, is affecting traffic in both directions.

The headteacher of Exning Primary School, which was damaged by a fire overnight, says the news was a "shock".

James Clark said they received a call at about 01:00 saying the school was on fire, but that the damage had been limited "it seems" to one classroom.

He added: "... obviously first day back for the children, everything is ready to receive, it's a mess, we're all in shock still really."

There's very slow traffic in Ipswich on Hadleigh Road eastbound between Church Lane junction and the A1214 London Road junction.

There will be some sunshine, but it's going to be a rather cloudy day with further showers - some of these could be heavy. 

BBCCopyright: BBC

It'll be a cool with the winds once again strong at times particularly around Lowestoft and other coastal areas. 

Maximum temperature: 15C (59F). Watch the full forecast with Elizabeth Rizzini.

Josh Yorwerth (pictured) and Michael Crowe are in the Wales Under-21 squad that is in Luxembourg for tonight's European Championship qualifier. 

Carl RobertsonCopyright: Carl Robertson

Defender Yorwerth has made one appearance for Geraint Williams side before, while goalkeeper Michael Crowe will be hoping to make his debut. 

Yorwerth is the more likely to start, having impressed for Ipswich Town in the League Cup last month. 

Gross misconduct notices have been served on four police officers who investigate paedophile suspects for the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP).

PACopyright: PA

It's alleged there were delays into the investigation into many cases, including paedophile doctor Myles Bradbury who lived in Herringswell in Suffolk and worked at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission says four officers who held management roles in CEOP have been served the notices for allegedly failing to adequately progress and manage the referral from Canada.

Exning Primary School is closed today following what is believed to be a suspicious fire overnight.

BBCCopyright: BBC

Six fire engines were on site between 02:00 and 04:30. Ian Bowell, from Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, says it hasn't affected the whole school, although it is closed today.

This will "allow the right people to have a look and see what we can actually do to actually make the inconvenience of the school closing as minimal as possible," he said.

Here are the main stories as we start the day:

• Fire crews have spent most of the night at the scene of a fire at Exning Primary School
• An investigation's under way into how a government agency dealt with data regarding suspected paedophiles, including Suffolk doctor Myles Bradbury
• A farmer from the Beccles area has invited a group of refugees to pay a visit next week to pick produce grown on his land

Thanks for joining us. 

Between now and 18:00 this is the place to find the latest news, travel, sport and weather updates for the county. 

We'd love to hear from you as well. As I drove into work it looked as if it might have been a beautiful sunrise - did you manage to take a photograph? You can email me, or get in touch via Facebook or Twitter.