Man found dead with three others in Norfolk had called 999 over mental state

Four people found dead in home named by police force as Independent Office for Police Conduct starts investigation

A man who was found dead in his home near Norwich along with three others was told to seek medical advice when he expressed concerned about his mental state in a 999 call earlier that morning, the police watchdog has revealed.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) announced on Tuesday that it has launched an investigation into Norfolk constabulary’s prior contact with the man, and its failure to respond to a call before the deaths last Friday.

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Gaynor Lord: police say no evidence of third party involvement after body of a woman found – as it happened

Body found in search for 55-year-old woman who went missing after leaving work in Norwich last Friday afternoon. This live blog is closed

A body has been found in the search for Gaynor Lord, the 55-year-old woman who went missing after leaving work in Norwich last Friday afternoon, Norfolk police have said. Although the body has not been formally identified, Lord’s family have been informed, the force added.

A pair of divers could be seen recovering a body from the River Wensum at about midday on Friday, nearly a week after she was reported missing. The area, marked with an orange buoy, was about 100 metres downstream from where the search had been focused the day before. Officers previously said there was a “high probability” Lord went into the river at Wensum Park near to where a number of her belongings were found, adding there was no evidence of third party involvement.

A body was found in the River Wensum after a “detailed and methodical” search, police have said. Speaking at a press conference in Norwich, chief superintendent Dave Buckley said: “A team of specialist divers have found the body of a female in the River Wensun after a detailed and methodical search over the past few days. Whilst we establish her identity, our thoughts are with Gaynor’s family at this difficult and distressing time.”

A post-mortem examination will be carried out into the body found during the police search for the missing Gaynor Lord, Norfolk Police have said. Chief superintendent Dave Buckley said: “I am keen to say that this remains a missing person inquiry at this stage. “I’m also satisfied at the moment, based on the evidence we have, that Gaynor did not meet anybody on the way to the park and we now have a better understanding of her movements through the city centre. Whilst this is not the outcome we wished for, our search is always predominantly focused on the river and the park.”

Floral tributes to Gaynor Lord have started to be laid near the gates of Wensum Park in Norwich, with three bunches left by 3pm on Friday. One of them said: “Gaynor may you be at peace. God bless your family.”

A body has been found in the search for Gaynor Lord, the 55-year-old woman who went missing after leaving work in Norwich last Friday afternoon, Norfolk police have said.

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‘High probability’ missing Gaynor Lord went into river, Norwich police say

Police working with officers who investigated disappearance of Nicola Bulley in January as search continues

Police have said there is a high probability that Gaynor Lord, who has been missing since last Friday, went into the river in Norwich, as detectives confirmed they are working with officers who investigated Nicola Bulley’s disappearance.

Lord, 55, disappeared after leaving work in Norwich city centre earlier than scheduled on Friday afternoon, and her belongings – including items of clothing, her mobile phone, glasses and jewellery – were found scattered through Wensum Park later that day.

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New nature reserve to act as ‘green beating heart’ for Norwich

Sweet Briar Marshes has been created in heart of city with fewer public footpaths than any other in England and Wales

Hidden between a hectic ring road, a chemicals factory and housing estates are 36 hectares (90 acres) of “a green beating heart, pumping nature” into the surrounding city.

Traffic noise and sirens are muffled by ancient oaks, while late-season dragonflies sweep over hawthorns laden with blood-red haws as a kestrel hovers, head down, searching for field voles hiding in the tufty grasses.

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Rebekah Vardy says she was sexually abused in Jehovah’s Witness childhood

Footballer’s wife tells how she was ‘shamed’ and ‘blamed’ as she recalls the trauma of her early years for TV documentary

Rebekah Vardy has said she was sexually abused while growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness, an ordeal her former community failed to protect her from.

Vardy, 41, opened up about her upbringing in a Channel 4 documentary titled Rebekah Vardy: Jehovah’s Witnesses and Me, which will air on 16 May.

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Wildflower meadow on tennis courts bulldozed by Norwich council

Despite protests from locals and Green councillors, wildlife haven will become hard courts at cost of £266,000

A wildflower meadow containing 130 different flowering plants, dragonflies and rare bats that sprung up on Norwich’s last public grass tennis courts has been bulldozed.

Despite protests from local people and Green councillors, all-weather hard courts with floodlights and fencing are being installed in Heigham Park, where species including whiskered and brown long-eared bats, pygmy shrews, hedgehogs and 18 species of dragonfly have been recorded.

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Woman who coughed in police officer’s face jailed for 12 weeks

Joanne Turner became abusive after officers confronted her over damage to a parked car

A woman has been jailed after she coughed in a police officer’s face, claiming that she had coronavirus.

Joanne Turner, 35, became abusive when officers spoke to her after she had kicked and damaged a car parked outside Norwich train station at around 11pm on Wednesday.

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Clive Lewis: Labour must push for proportional representation

Leadership hopeful stresses need for radical change, saying party must act ‘or it will die’

Labour must embrace proportional representation and learn to work with other parties among other radical changes, the leadership contender Clive Lewis has said, adding that the party “needs to modernise, or it will die”.

In a speech formally launching his campaign, the Norwich South MP said Labour needed to become less centralised and more collaborative, warning that debate was being stifled by “sectarianism and tribalism”.

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‘A shambles’: hundreds demand refunds from Fortnite Live festival

Computer game-themed event near Norwich underwhelming and understaffed, visitors say

Hundreds of people have demanded refunds after a Fortnite computer game-themed festival was branded a shambles.

The two-day Fortnite Live event at Norfolk showground near Norwich had visitors queueing for hours to enter the site and collect wristbands on Saturday. Attendees complained that the attractions were underwhelming and understaffed.

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Man denies turning home into restaurant despite sign above door

Photo of house also appears on TripAdvisor, while flyer said: ‘Book a table for sushi’

A man has denied running a Japanese restaurant from his home, despite neighbours’ complaints and a large illuminated sign hanging above his front door.

Norwich city council said it was investigating the address on Earlham Road in Norwich, which features a large sign reading “Orlando’s” above the door, a phone number and a web address.

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