2+ week, 2+ day ago (830+ words) A new report has revealed the remarkable decline in access to physical money in Norfolk - and the impact on people who do not want it to disappear. The Norfolk County Council study reveals how older and disabled people, businesses and charities are suffering because it is getting harder for them to get hold of notes and coins. Analysis by County Hall officers found the number of cash transactions in Norfolk fell from almost than 19.1m in 2019 to 10.3m in 2024, with the value plummeting from "1.3m to "880,000 over that period. It also found, over the same period, the number of automated cash machines in Norfolk dropped from 784 to 536 in 2025, as many banks closed their doors. Scores of banks in Norfolk have closed their doors (Image: PA) But surveys also found that, despite an era when many use digital banking and make payments using cards,…...

3+ week, 4+ day ago (249+ words) The biggest and brightest supermoon of the year will rise above Norfolk this week. A full moon can be called a supermoon when it looks bigger than normal. This happens when the moon is positioned closer to the Earth. The moon's distance from the Earth varies because it does not orbit in a perfect circle - it travels in more of an oval shape. The first full moon of November is called a Beaver Moon. This year's Beaver Moon will be the second of three consecutive supermoons, after October's Harvest Moon and before December's Cold Moon. The Beaver Moon will be closer to the Earth than the supermoons in October and December, making it the biggest and brightest of them all. The Beaver Moon will be at its fullest on November 5 - when plenty of people will be out celebrating Bonfire Night....

2+ week, 5+ day ago (931+ words) "The Armistice is signed. "We heard the bells ringing, then Conty, who was in the village, brought the news in at tea time. "The post office had wired to the aerodrome. "After tea, she and I went out. An important new book. The Dark Black Days of War by Honor Elwes, transcribed by Juliet Webster (Image: Supplied) "We saw the "drome bonfire and they sent up coloured lights and we talked, and the distant roar of the sea four miles away was like the solemn cheering of the souls of the killed, it is almost unbelievable after four and a half years long years." The words of Honor Elwes, who was brought up at Little Congham in West Norfolk, and spent the long days of the First World War writing in her diary. Her thoughts and words are a harrowing,…...

3+ week, 5+ day ago (806+ words) A builder harassed, intimidated and preyed upon families who spent thousands of pounds on projects he never completed - or sometimes even started. James Morgan agreed to carry out building, landscaping and home improvement works to 10 customers across Norfolk between April 2021 and March 2023. Norwich Crown Court heard the 39-year-old took "124,000 from the customers in total, but failed to carry out or even start much of the works paid for. Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) Laura Phillips, prosecuting on behalf of Norfolk Trading Standards, said Morgan had behaved "aggressively" and "erratically" related to "work not completed or work completed so poorly as to have not been started at all". Morgan, of Market Place in Harleston, appeared at court on Monday (November 3) after he admitted 10 counts of theft. In addition he asked for two further offences of theft to be taken…...

2+ week, 3+ day ago (179+ words) A 24-hour weather warning for heavy rain has been issued for Norfolk. The yellow warning will come into force at 6am on Friday and remain in place until 6am on Saturday. It covers the majority of England, including Norfolk. The Met Office said there will be heavy and prolonged rainfall, which may lead to flooding in some areas. Disruption includes the chance of power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses. Spray could lead to difficult driving conditions, road closures and cancellations of bus and train services. The forecaster has also warned that there is a small chance that some communities could become cut off by flooded roads. Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong said low pressure was dominating the week's weather. "There are increased sensitivities now compared to earlier in the autumn due to recent heavy rainfall…...

2+ week, 2+ day ago (283+ words) Norfolk's police and crime commissioner has resigned from the Labour Party in protest at the government's decision to scrap the role. Sarah Taylor was Norfolk's first Labour police and crime commissioner (PCC) and the first woman to take on the role, having garnered52,445 votes to take on the job in May 2024. In a letter to No. 10, Ms Taylor wrote: "That a party which says it wants the best for our country should be actively reducing democracy and replacing elected with unelected (representatives) is staggering. "Your government's actions have consistently and repeatedly failed to reflect what used to be called 'Labour values', those that first attracted me to join the party back in 2006." She added that she was concerned about the "significant reduction in scrutiny and accountability that will result from this decision". In a Home Office statement released on Thursday, it…...

2+ week, 2+ day ago (494+ words) The controversial 'reimagining' of Norwich's Hay Hill and the multi-million pound transformation of the city's Norman castle keep have been named among the best new architecture in the county. A dozen Norfolk projects were announced as winners of the Design and Craftsmanship Awards 2025 in a ceremony at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts on Thursday (November 13). The awards were given to projects which have a high standard of design and craftsmanship, that meet the needs of their users and contribute to public enjoyment of places, and take account of the wider environmental implications, including minimising impact on climate change. Hay Hill in Norwich (Image: Steve Adams) Hay Hill: The reimagining of the city centre space to create "a vibrant, green and accessible oasis", designed by Norwich City Council's landscape design team and Ingleton Wood. The project sparked controversy due to…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago (252+ words) Norfolk could be hit with snow and ice this week as temperatures plummet. The East Midlands, West Midlands, North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber are under a cold health alert until 8am next Friday, meaning temperatures drop so much that it is likely to have an adverse impact on people's health. Although there are no alerts in place for Norfolk, the Met Office has urged people across the UK to keep a close eye on the weather forecast as warnings for snow and ice could be issued. Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Dan Holley said: "As Storm Claudia retreats to the south, high pressure to the north west will drive a cold northerly flow from the Arctic across the UK. "This will bring much colder conditions than of late and, while generally drier than recent days, there will…...

1+ day, 23+ hour ago (164+ words) A weather warning has been issued for Norfolk with heavy rainfall of 20-30mm forecast. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain that will be in place from 6am to 12pm on Saturday. The wet conditions may accompany strong winds, particularly across eastern parts of England on Saturday night. Across Norfolk, the forecast looks very similar, and the weather could cause travel disruption and flooding this weekend. The Met Office warns that spray and flooding on roads will probably make journey times longer. Bus and train services will probably be affected, with journey times taking longer, with a chance of cancellations where flooding occurs. There is a slight chance of power cuts and loss of other services to some homes and businesses alongside flooding. A spokesman for the Met Office said: "There is uncertainty in the corridor of heaviest rainfall…...

2+ week, 5+ day ago (188+ words) Two new trustees have been appointed to the board of one of Norfolk's largest charities. Voluntary Norfolk has announced Tessa Haskey as its new chair of trustees and Mark Trenavin-Body as chair of the charity's Finance and Audit Committee. The announcement comes as Voluntary Norfolk begins a strategic review of how best to meet the needs of individuals and communities across the county and beyond. Michael Kitching, chief executive of Voluntary Norfolk, said: "We're thrilled to welcome Tessa and Mark to our board. "Their skills, experience and enthusiasm will be invaluable as we look to the future and define how Voluntary Norfolk can have the greatest possible impact." Ms Haskey, a solicitor at Howes Percival, also serves as chair of the Norwich Business Improvement District. Tessa Haskey (Image: Supplied) She said: "I feel very honoured to have been appointed chair…...