22/02/2014 Look East - East

Hello. A man is under arrest after an armed siege on a housing estate

in Northampton. The area around Cardigan Close in Dallington was

sealed off for six hours after reports of a man brandishing a gun.

Six police units, as well as fire and ambulance crews, were on

stand`by. At the height of the incident, residents who were kept

out of their homes complained they were not kept informed of what was

happening. It is all cordoned off, we cannot

get in. My grandson needs medication. We have had a word with

the medics and they're trying to get in now to see we can get the

medication. A man has appeared in court this

morning charged with murdering his former partner in Southend. Leanne

Meecham, who was 26, was found with stab wounds at a flat in Westcliff

nine days ago and died yesterday. 42`year`old Simon Meecham was

remanded in custody by Chelmsford magistrates.

More than 100 jobs are at risk after receivers were called in to a

construction company near Norwich. DGT Structures, which is based at

Lenwade, has been put into administration. It makes steel

buildings and employs 119 people. Members of the Italian community in

Bedford are protesting today at the closure of the town's Italian

consulate. The office used to be open once a month for handling

passport and other enquiries, but it suddenly closed without warning.

Community leaders are meeting a representative of the Italian

government today. On to sport, and seven of the

region's rugby players will feature for England against Ireland in the

Six Nations later. Tom Wood is one of five Northampton Saints players

involved and he's relishing the intensity and physicality ahead.

Running out in front of 80,000 people at Twitter no, `` at

Twickenham really gets your blood going. There is nowhere else I would

rather be on a Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, in the Championship,

eighth`placed Bedford Blues travel to play bottom side Ealing in a

match postponed from last weekend. On to football, and Ipswich travel

to play Leicester in the Championship. And it's all the fives

for Town. They are unbeaten in their last five games, they are five

points from the playoffs and they haven't won away in their last five

matches. In League One, there's a regional

derby with plenty riding on it. Stevenage host Peterborough.

Stevenage are desperate for points in their battle to avoid relegation.

Peterborough are equally keen to consolidate their place in the

playoffs. Elsewhere, Colchester host Preston, while MK Dons travel to

play Bradford. And in League Two, Northampton's

battle to avoid relegation from the football league continues. They host

Hartlepool at Sixfields, whilst seventh`placed Southend travel to

play York City. Time for the weather.

It is a lovely day outside and that is the way it will stay for the rest

of the afternoon. A bit of closure here and there. South`westerly

breeze picking up. Temperatures this afternoon nine or 10 Celsius. It

will turn cloudy into tomorrow morning. Tomorrow and altogether

cloudier, windy day. You can see some gusts of wind up to 30 or 40

mph. A bit of brightness much later on into the afternoon. Still feeling

mild and much more unsettled and showery into next week.

I will be back later on with the news and sport. Until then, enjoy

the sunshine. Have a lovely afternoon.