11+ hour, 38+ min ago (168+ words) Marks & Spencer is looking to open five near food stores at locations across Norfolk. The supermarket giant has announced mass expansion plans for 500 new food stores across the country. The retailer is currently scouting out locations for the new shops, with five potential Norfolk locations earmarked. M&S is searching for sites in 500 potential locations to bring its tried and tested format for stores to modernise in existing markets and bring Food stores to new areas. The locations that M&S are looking at in Norfolk are Great Yarmouth, Diss, Holt/Cromer, north Norwich and Wymondham/Cringleford. Alex Freudmann managing director at M&S Food, said: "The strong performance of our new M&S food stores gives us the confidence to explore even more locations across the UK. "Our team want new sites where we could open a large M…...

16+ hour, 26+ min ago (842+ words) A senior figure in a major crime gang which flooded Norfolk with almost "1.5m worth of cocaine using quiet country lanes to stash drugs in Tupperware-style pots is due back in court next month. Marc Kane helped run the group which concealed their wares in hedgerows in secluded rural spots in Norfolk from where they could retrieve them when required. Drugs were stashed in hedgerows, like in Blocka Road, St Olaves (Image: Sonya Duncan) The group was caught after police placed members under surveillance and monitored members. Six members of the gang were put behind bars for a total of 27 years for their roles in supplying more than 17kg of cocaine worth more than "1.3m between March and August last year. Among them was Ashley Youngman, 34, who together with Kane was a director of the Hideout caf" in Gorleston and one of the…...

2+ day, 4+ hour ago (116+ words) A man arrested over a serious assault in" a Norfolk town which saw another man airlifted to hospital will face no further action, it has emerged. The suspect, who is in his 30s, was arrested after police were called to reports a man had been assaulted in Church Street, Cromer. He was taken by air ambulance to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge with serious injuries after the attack at about 11.46pm on May 10. He has since been discharged from hospital. The suspect had been bailed as investigations continued but a spokesman for Norfolk Constabulary has now confirmed there will be no further action. The spokesman said: "The man in his 30s arrested was released without charge."...

3+ day, 11+ min ago (1067+ words) Norfolk farm businesses have set out their industry's demands ahead of next week's autumn Budget. The industry is nervously awaiting the chancellor's statement on November 26, following last year's "seismic" decision to scrap inheritance tax relief for farms valued over "1m - leaving countless farming families facing crippling tax bills when handing land to the next generation. Farming leaders still fighting for changes to this "family farm tax" said the Budget is an opportunity for the government to "re-set its relationship" with the nation's food growers. Nick Deane, who farms at Hoveton, and is Norfolk council representative for the National Farmers' Union (NFU), said: "The government's plans to reform inheritance tax sent seismic shockwaves throughout the industry when they were first announced in last year's autumn budget. "They have managed to instantly curtail new investment and pose a real threat to the future…...

4+ day, 12+ hour ago (107+ words) A man from Norfolk has denied causing the death of a 22-year-old woman following a crash in Lincolnshire. Three vehicles were involved in a collision at Leasingham on January 11 2024 Hannah Curtis was driving one of the cars and died 16 days later in hospital. Three other people, including a young child, were injured. Calum Drake, 21, pleaded not guilty to causing her death by careless driving during an appearance at Lincoln Crown Court. Drake, of Stratton Strawless, Norfolk, was released on bail and will appear again at the same court on April 20. His trial has been set for June 15 next year....

5+ day, 6+ hour ago (188+ words) A rock legend has died just a week after announcing an intimate show in Norfolk. Gary 'Mani' Mounfield, best known for his role as bassist in the rock band The Stone Roses, announced that he would be coming to Norfolk next year. However, the 63-year-old has died his family have announced. In a post on X this afternoon, Gary's nephew posted a heartbreaking tribute. In it, he said he would now be 'reunited in heaven with his wife' Imelda, who passed away in 2023. He wrote: "Unfortunately with sad news my uncle Gary Mani Mounfield from the Stone Roses has sadly passed away today. "Thinking of his twins and my uncle Greg at this sad time. He will be reunited in heaven with his lovely wife Imelda RIP Manni Your annoying nephew." News of Mounfield's intimate show at Diss Corn Hall…...

5+ day, 10+ hour ago (199+ words) A long-awaited paperless ticket system is set to launch on buses across Norfolk this weekend. Tap On Tap Off, a new way to pay for your travel, will make its debut on First Bus vehicles on November 23. Commuters will be able to easily pay for adult fares by scanning a contactless card or payment device on the tap-off readers onboard. " First Bus confirmed they would introduce the payment system in the next 12 months in November 2024 during a crisis talk with Norwich North MP Alice Macdonald. It followed public criticism of the actions of the company's revenue protection officers who were accused of being heavy-handed in penalising infractions. Piers Marlow, managing director for First Bus, said: "This system will mean greater convenience for passengers using contactless payment methods for adult single and return tickets on the bus." A single journey will…...

5+ day, 22+ hour ago (156+ words) A yellow snow and ice warning has been issued for parts of Norfolk. The Met Office has issued the alert for the majority of the county, with temperatures set to dip below freezing tonight. The warning is in place from 5pm today until 11am tomorrow. It stretches from the King's Lynn and Downham Market area and includes Holt and Attleborough. Norwich is also included in the alert area, as is Brundall, Thetford and Blofield. The warning does not stretch as far north as Cromer or as far east as Great Yarmouth. A spokesman for the Met Office said: "Wintry showers will feed inland through Wednesday evening, overnight and into Thursday morning. "As temperatures fall during the evening, snow may begin to settle, leading to accumulations of 1cm to 2cm in places, while ice may form on untreated surfaces." Much of the country is under…...

1+ week, 5+ hour ago (189+ words) A Norfolk charity has broken its own records by supporting 4,645 clients across the county in a single year. Norfolk Community Law Service (NCLS) provided free legal advice on nearly 5,000 matters, including debt, welfare rights, immigration and domestic abuse. The charity's latest impact report revealed a 42pc increase in client numbers since 2021/22. It also helped secure "2.4m in welfare benefits and saw "1.4m of debt written off. David Powles, chief executive of NCLS, said: "Demand for our services has never been higher, and our dedicated team continues to rise to the challenge. "We change lives by giving people a voice, helping them stay in their homes, keep their jobs and live free from fear." The charity supported 331 family court hearings " a 42pc rise since 2023/24 " and reported a 28pc improvement in client wellbeing following advice sessions. Volunteer contributions were valued at more than "338,000 in social value. One…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago (175+ words) A warning has been issued for a beach in north Norfolk after a woman sank waist-deep in quicksand. Happisburgh Coast Watch raised the alarm on Wednesday after a member of the public reported "soft" sand at Cart Gap. A spokesman for Coast Watch said: "One of our visitors reported that she sank to waist deep in the sand, luckily she managed to free herself and is unharmed, but it was a very scary experience. "Please take extra care when walking along the beach. "If you do get trapped in sinking sand, sit back to spread your weight evenly across the surface. "Stop others from trying to help you, as they might get stuck too. If you get stuck, call 999 immediately and ask for the Coastguard." It comes just under two weeks after a similar warning was issued for Walcott. A…...