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Crime Series “Strike” filming in Norwich brings BBC crime drama to city locations

People moving through the city centre of Norwich today may have noticed television production activity as filming for a crime drama takes place in public spaces.

Filming for the crime series Strike is underway in Norwich with a production crew of up to 70 people working in the city. The BBC crime drama stars Holliday Grainger as Robin Ellacott and Tom Burke as Cormoran Strike. The series is adapted from novels written by JK Rowling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.

The shooting in Norwich follows recent filming in Cromer, where scenes were recorded last week. The current production relates to the seventh novel in the series, The Running Grave, which centres on an investigation into a unsettling religious cult.

Producer Alex Rendall said to the BBC: “I didn’t know Norwich particularly well, so I’ve enjoyed spending some time in Norwich. I love it – I’m a big fan of Norfolk.”

The Strike series first appeared on television in 2017 with a three-part adaptation of The Cuckoo’s Calling. That story was based on the first book in the series, originally published in 2013.

Explaining the current storyline being filmed, Rendall said: “They basically come to Norfolk to investigate a cult which Robin infiltrates, so we are doing some scenes today where she is in disguise working with the cult.

“So actually, [Cormoran] Strike’s not around at all today.

“The main cult place is in Norfolk. While we would love to come to Norfolk for longer we are only really here for eight days to film some exteriors but the rest of it will be filmed in and around London.”

Within the narrative, Cormoran Strike travels to Norfolk to gather evidence aimed at discrediting the fictional Universal Humanitarian Church. The group is portrayed as having recruited a character called Will and drained his trust fund. As part of the inquiry into allegations of ill-treatment and abuse, Robin Ellacott goes undercover at the cult’s remote headquarters.

Strike filming in Norwich includes locations such as Norwich Market and the Royal Arcade. Rendall said the day’s shoot began early and was expected to continue until nightfall.

Reflecting on his personal connection to the county, he said: “We used to bring our kids here for summer holidays. I have been crabbing on the pier in Cromer several times so I really like Norfolk.”

It is expected that the latest Strike serial, filmed in part during Strike filming in Norwich, will be broadcast by the end of the year.

A12 Overnight Closures Between Essex and Suffolk Start Monday Until January’s End

Drivers using the A12 between Essex and Suffolk should prepare for a series of overnight closures over the coming weeks. Work is scheduled to begin on Monday and will continue until 31 January, affecting the northbound carriageway between the Crown Interchange at Colchester and the Copdock roundabout near Ipswich.

The closures will take place each night from 20:00 to 05:00 GMT.

National Highways has confirmed that the work involves resurfacing the road, along with the replacement and refreshing of road markings and cat’s eyes.

Motorists travelling towards Ipswich during the overnight closures are advised to follow a diversion route. Drivers will leave the A12 at junction 29, the Crown Interchange, and use the B1035 Clacton Road via the A120/B1035 roundabout. The route continues north along the B1352 Long Road to Lawford, then onto the A137 to reach the A14 junction 56 at Wherstead Interchange. From there, traffic can rejoin the A14 and continue to junction 55 at the Copdock Interchange.

The National Highways Website said “Once complete, the A12 will offer more reliable journey times, improved road conditions, and a safer driving experience for all users.”

National Highways has urged drivers to plan ahead and allow extra time for journeys. The temporary closures are intended to improve road safety and driving conditions along this busy section of the A12.

Cambridge’s Qureight Appoints Rebecca Simmons as COO to Scale AI Lung and Heart Disease Platform

Cambridge-based techbio company Qureight has named Rebecca Simmons as its new Chief Operating Officer, strengthening its leadership team as it expands global operations.

Qureight develops AI-powered CT imaging biomarkers and a clinical data management platform aimed at improving the study and treatment of lung and heart diseases. The company said Simmons will oversee operational growth and support initiatives designed to scale its platform across clinical trials.

Rebecca Simmons brings more than two decades of experience in operational leadership. She joins from Riverlane, a quantum computing company, where she was COO and helped grow the organisation from ten to 100 employees over five years. During her tenure, she contributed to closing Series A, B, and C funding rounds that raised over £100 million and secured more than £20 million in government grants and contracts.

Before Riverlane, Simmons co-founded THIS Institute, the Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute, where she established strategic partnerships with NHS stakeholders. She has also served in senior advisory roles at the Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy. Her academic background includes a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Cambridge, an MBA from The Open University, an MSc in Epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and a BA in Human Sciences from the University of Oxford.

Muhunthan Thillai, co-founder and CEO of Qureight, said, “Rebecca’s experience, expertise and people-centric leadership approach will be instrumental in supporting the team as we scale the company, accelerating our mission to advance the understanding of lung and heart disease. Her blend of rigorous academic training with commercial acumen made Rebecca the natural choice to lead this next chapter of growth for Qureight. Welcome to the team, Rebecca.”

Dr Simmons said, “Qureight’s pioneering AI-powered CT imaging biomarkers and data management platform is enabling real insights to be drawn from complex and diverse health data, to ultimately deliver real impact for patients. The team is already incredible, with an expert team of clinicians, scientists and machine learning engineers. I’m delighted to join the company and am looking forward to an exciting year.”

Qureight’s platform applies AI to clinical trial data, including CT scan images, physiological measurements, and blood biomarkers. The technology allows pharmaceutical clients to access structured trial data in real time, supports AI-guided image workflows, and enables the creation of synthetic control arms to assess treatment effects. Collaborations with partner hospitals provide access to real-world data that informs machine learning models and accelerates drug development for complex lung and heart conditions.

Interstitial lung diseases, a group of over 200 conditions that cause scarring and damage to lung tissue, are among the areas Qureight focuses on. These include Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Sarcoidosis, and Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis. Treatments vary widely and may include steroids, immunosuppressants, antifibrotic therapies, or, in severe cases, lung transplantation.

Bertil Lindmark, Chief Medical Officer at Vicore, commented on the collaboration: “Qureight is becoming a real powerhouse in understanding lung fibrosis and related pathological lung processes. Our collaboration helps us gain key insights regarding patient characteristics and drug effects on fibrosis and lung vasculature, and showing how Buloxibutid works in IPF.”

Qureight continues to advance its AI-driven approach to data curation and imaging analysis, aiming to shorten drug development timelines, reduce diagnostic costs, and improve patient outcomes in lung and heart disease research.

Thetford Photography Competition Opens with Deadline Approaching

Photographers in Thetford have just over five and a half weeks to submit their images for a new town-wide competition. The initiative invites residents to capture scenic views of the market town, with the chance for their work to be displayed on Thetford Town Council’s website.

The competition is open to all ages, though under 18s must have parental consent. High-resolution JPG or PNG images should be emailed to communications@thetfordtowncouncil.gov.uk by Friday 20th February 2026. Organisers have requested that entries be free from watermarks and clearly credited with the photographer’s name and contact details.

Selected images will be featured on the council’s website, providing a platform to highlight the creativity of local photographers. One standout entry will also appear on the cover of the summer edition of the council’s newsletter, “Our Town”. The chosen photographer may be asked to participate in a publicity post holding a printed copy of the newsletter, which could feature on the council’s website, social media, and in wider press coverage.

Thetford, situated in the Breckland District of Norfolk, has a history stretching back to the Iron Age. The town has seen significant development over the centuries, from the establishment of Thetford Castle and the Cluniac Priory of St Mary to its growth as an “overspill town” after World War II. Modern-day Thetford offers a mix of historical architecture, including the well-preserved 19th-century railway station, and natural beauty with the nearby Thetford Forest and the River Little Ouse.

Gaining recognition in the competition offers participants the opportunity to showcase their work against this backdrop of heritage and landscape. In addition to public exposure, the competition serves as a celebration of Thetford’s identity, inviting photographers to highlight the town’s landmarks, open spaces, and everyday charm.

Terms and conditions stipulate that all images must be the photographer’s own work and that submission grants the council permission to use the image for marketing purposes, including on the website, social media, and in printed materials. Those entering are encouraged to provide clear credit and contact information to ensure proper acknowledgment.

With the deadline approaching, organisers are urging photographers to capture the essence of Thetford and submit their work promptly. The competition promises to offer both recognition and a lasting presence for the winning images in the town’s official communications.

Norfolk Council coordinating with families after unexpected Marham nursery closure

Norfolk County Council has begun coordinating closely with families in the Marham area following the unexpected closure of a local nursery, which has been unable to reopen after the Christmas break.

The Rainbow Centre, located on the RAF base at Marham, remains closed after Ofsted suspended its registration. The suspension can last for up to six weeks and is affecting around 400 children across the area.

The nursery provides a range of services, including early years provision, wraparound childcare for school-aged children and stay and play sessions for families. Ofsted has said the suspension is in place to ensure children are safe and that an investigation is currently under way.

Although the council does not operate the nursery, it is supporting parents and carers to secure alternative childcare arrangements while the suspension remains in force. Norfolk County Council is also exploring options to provide temporary stay and play activities for families impacted by the closure.

Parents and carers who require assistance are being directed to the council’s Family Information Service, which can offer guidance on available childcare options. Support is available by calling 0344 800 8020 or by emailing fis@norfolk.gov.uk.

Cllr Penny Carpenter, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “Parents and carers have my sympathy at this sudden closure. I know how much families rely on childcare and I really hope that the nursery can reopen soon, so long as it is safe to so.

“In the meantime, we are doing all we can to try to support families to find alternative places, including wraparound at the schools in the area. We are doing this as quickly as we can and we are grateful for the support we are receiving locally.”

Local county councillor Jim Moriaty said the situation was challenging for families in Marham but stressed that safeguarding must remain the priority. “The Rainbow Centre is a popular nursery and this is a difficult situation for families locally. Children’s wellbeing must come first but I hope that the investigation can happen quickly and the nursery can reopen as soon as Ofsted are assured it is safe to do so.

“If parents need help with finding other childcare, then I would urge them to call the council on 0344 800 8020, where they can get some support.”

Alongside supporting families directly, Norfolk County Council is also working with the nursery to review its policies and procedures during the suspension period.

Suffolk SEND Services Make Progress but DfE Sets Clear Expectations

The Department for Education has acknowledged progress in Suffolk’s services for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), while setting out clear expectations for further improvement. The recognition comes following a stocktake visit assessing governance, quality assurance, leadership, timeliness, and multi-agency working.

Suffolk’s SEND services are delivered through a partnership between Suffolk County Council, the NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB, the Suffolk Parent Carer Forum, and local education providers. The DfE highlighted a shared commitment across these organisations to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

The department’s letter, addressed to Sarah-Jane Smedmor, Executive Director of Children & Young People’s Services at Suffolk County Council, and Dr Ed Garratt OBE, Chief Executive of the Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, noted progress in clearing the backlog of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). It also reported that plans are now being delivered above the national average for timeliness, though further work is needed to ensure they reflect families’ views and provide timely, appropriate support.

Despite these improvements, the DfE cautioned that many families have yet to feel the benefits, with ongoing frustration around statutory processes and communication. Some planned initiatives, including preparation for adulthood, are still in early stages. Concerns remain regarding waiting times and assessments for neurodevelopmental needs.

Sarah-Jane Smedmor said: “We welcome the Department for Education’s recognition of the progress made across Suffolk, while being clear that we must go further and faster to ensure families genuinely feel the difference. Scrutiny from the Department for Education is extremely important as it holds a mirror to every area of reform, offering expertise and sharing best practice from across the country. We know that progress is being made and we are heading in the right direction, but it is doubly reassuring that colleagues at the DfE agree. Our priority now is translating those improvements into real, measurable impact for all children and young people with SEND and their families.”

Dr Ed Garratt OBE added: “Improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND depends on strong, joined-up working across education, health and care. The progress highlighted in the stocktake reflects the benefits of closer integration, shared leadership and clearer accountability across the system. We are committed to continuing this work, particularly in strengthening mental health and neurodevelopmental pathways and ensuring that children, young people and families receive the right support at the right time.”

Sue Willgoss, chair of trustees for the Suffolk Parent Carer Forum, said: “Some parents and carers appreciate that there has been progress in some areas, but many families are still not experiencing the consistent, high-quality support they need. It is vital that improvements in process are driven by genuine co-production, matched by quality and better lived experiences for families. Once meaningful change is established, it needs to be embedded so the same old problems don’t appear again.”

The DfE has set out next steps for Suffolk’s SEND partnership. These include producing a Local Area Inclusion Plan by 29 January 2026 to replace the Priority Action Plan, delivering a strategy for preparing for adulthood and transitions, clearing the EHCP backlog and maintaining national average timeliness, completing a SEND sufficiency strategy by December 2025, and strengthening communication, co-production, and use of lived experience. The next review of SEND services by the DfE is scheduled for the end of the spring term.

Cambridge Student Dev Sharma Warns Junk Food Ad Ban Has Been Weakened by Loopholes

A Cambridge University student who began campaigning against junk food advertising while still at school has warned that new restrictions coming into force this week have been weakened by corporate lobbying.

Dev Sharma, 20, who is studying Human, Social and Political Sciences at Cambridge, says the long-awaited ban on junk food advertising has been undermined by loopholes that allow major brands to continue targeting children. Despite being hailed by ministers as a “world-leading” measure, he argues the law still permits companies such as McDonald’s to reach audiences as young as eight through brand-only advertising.

“This ban has more loopholes than a box of Cheerios,” said Sharma. “McDonald’s can still broadcast ‘I’m Lovin’ It’ into the bedrooms of kids watching YouTube after school. They just can’t show a burger. The manipulation hasn’t stopped. It’s got smarter.”

The legislation, announced in the Queen’s Speech in June 2021 and due to take effect on 5 January 2026 after repeated delays, bans advertising of products high in fat, salt and sugar before 9pm on television and online at all times. However, a brand exemption inserted after lobbying by the food industry allows companies to advertise logos, slogans, mascots and other imagery, provided no specific product appears.

Sharma says that exemption fundamentally weakens the policy. “From the moment we’re born, junk food marketing has us surrounded,” he said. “It’s forced down our throats. It’s the cultural wallpaper. This ban was supposed to rip that wallpaper down. Instead, we’ve peeled off one layer and left the rest.”

He describes how advertising followed him throughout the day while growing up. “It wasn’t just online,” said Sharma. “I’d see a fried chicken ad on Instagram at 3:15pm, right before the school bell rang. Then I’d walk out and see the same branding on the bus stop. They built a corridor of temptation from my classroom to my front door.”

Sharma launched his campaign from his bedroom in Leicester during lockdown, after becoming frustrated by junk food adverts interrupting his GCSE revision on YouTube. He created an open letter to then prime minister Boris Johnson, designed so that every signature automatically emailed Downing Street and the health secretary. The campaign gained tens of thousands of supporters and high-profile backing, including from chef Jamie Oliver, and led to Sharma meeting ministers.

“I was 16, trying to watch a maths tutorial on YouTube,” he said. “I couldn’t learn a quadratic equation without being interrupted by a burger ad. My phone knew I was hungry before I did.”

Now, six years on, Sharma says the same companies are using the same marketing techniques on a new generation of children. While government estimates suggest the restrictions will remove 7.2 billion calories from children’s diets each year, he argues brand advertising delivers the same commercial impact without breaching the rules.

“While the government celebrates removing 7.2 billion calories, McDonald’s is already running brand campaigns that do exactly what product ads did,” he said. “The golden arches are more recognisable to British kids than the England flag. You don’t need to show a Big Mac to sell one.”

Health organisations including the Obesity Health Alliance and Action on Salt have criticised the brand exemption, which was formalised through a statutory instrument, saying it leaves children exposed to persistent marketing pressures. Bite Back research suggests UK children are exposed to around 15 billion junk food adverts each year, while official figures show 22% of children are overweight or obese when starting primary school, rising to 36% by the time they leave.

Sharma, a founding member of Bite Back 2030 and a recipient of the Diana Award, is calling for an urgent review of the exemption within six months, with all loopholes closed by 2027.

“Children deserve protection that actually protects them,” he said. “Not a ban with a backdoor.”

Corby Town Council launches £5,000 Grass Roots Fund for winter support

Corby Town Council has announced the launch of a new Grass Roots Fund worth £5,000, aimed at supporting residents during the winter period and the early weeks of the New Year.

The fund is intended to provide rapid, small-scale financial assistance to local groups working to support mental wellbeing, social connection and financial resilience across the town.

Grants of up to £250 are available and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The council said the scheme is designed to deliver funding quickly so that community support can be put in place without delay.

A key feature of the Grass Roots Fund is its accessibility. Corby Town Council has confirmed that non-constituted groups are eligible to apply. Groups do not need formal legal status or a written constitution, provided they are known within the local community.

The council said this approach is intended to ensure funding reaches a wide range of neighbourhoods and informal support networks, making it one of the most accessible funding schemes it has offered.

The initiative recognises that the period after Christmas can bring increased emotional and financial pressures for many residents. The fund will support a range of local activities, including wellbeing and mental health sessions, projects tackling loneliness, warm spaces for residents to meet, and youth engagement initiatives during the winter term.

The application process has been kept deliberately simple to allow funds to be distributed swiftly.

Cllr Simon Rielly, Leader of Corby Town Council, said: “We want this scheme to provide timely support when residents need it most. By launching after Christmas, we are targeting a period where mental wellbeing pressures often increase. This fund will enable local groups to step in with meaningful support and create stronger, more connected communities across Corby.”

Tributes Paid to Former Peterborough Mayor and Councillor Alan Dowson

Tributes have been paid to former Peterborough Mayor and long-serving city councillor Alan Dowson, who has died aged 87.

Cllr Dowson represented Labour in Fletton and Woodston from 2016 and served as Mayor of Peterborough between 2022 and 2023. He was widely remembered for his dedication to public service and his commitment to local residents.

Cllr Shabina Qayyum, Leader of Peterborough City Council, described Cllr Dowson as “truly the People’s Mayor and Councillor,” recalling his support during the pandemic and his dedication to helping women from ethnic minority backgrounds in politics.

“He made me his consort when he became Mayor in 2022 and gave me a platform to stand by his side and assist him in this role that he loved,” Cllr Qayyum said. “Alan was a friend to everyone. He was loyal to the party he loved and remained loyal to his dying day.”

Born in Middlesbrough, Cllr Dowson moved to Peterborough in 1968. He served in the RAF before becoming a mature student and lecturer, teaching at Peterborough Regional College and later the College of Adult Education. After leaving the college in 2000, he worked as an education consultant until retiring in 2016.

He was first elected to Peterborough City Council in 1971 and served several wards over the decades. His tenure included work on heritage projects, including saving 16 historic buildings during the Queensgate development in the early 1980s.

Cllr Dowson was also a nuclear test veteran, having witnessed thermonuclear detonations on Christmas Island in 1958. He spent his later years campaigning for justice for nuclear test veterans and their families, helping to fund memorials in Central Park to commemorate those affected by Britain’s nuclear testing programme in the 1950s and 60s. These memorials are believed to be the first of their kind in the country.

Cllr Qayyum praised Cllr Dowson for his tireless work, describing him as “a true Socialist in every sense of the word” who stood on picket lines alongside workers and advocated for the voiceless in his community.

“Alan leaves an endowment of public service to this city that is unmatched,” she said. “The Labour Group and I, alongside councillors across the political spectrum, will truly miss him. I am comforted by the thought that he will now join his beloved wife Annie, as he missed her so very much.”

Cllr Dowson’s long and varied career in public service left a lasting legacy in Peterborough, with his contributions remembered fondly by colleagues, residents, and the wider community.