Emily Goodwin

Dimitrije Dragovic's sentence was increased from two years and two months to three years and four months after the Court of Appeal found his original punishment unduly lenient. He had attempted to use a drone to deliver cannabis, tobacco, mobile phones, SIM cards, dongles and charging equipment to HMP Highpoint in Suffolk. Police followed him from South Yorkshire to Suffolk, where he abandoned the equipment after realising he was under surveillance before being arrested. Attorney General Ellie Reeves welcomed the tougher sentence, stressing the security risks posed by enabling organised criminals to coordinate activity from prison.

Met Office forecasters expect September temperatures in Suffolk to trend above average following a summer marked by five heatwaves, drought conditions and hosepipe bans. A temporary break from the heat is forecast for late August, with rain, heavy showers and possible thunderstorms affecting the region, but confidence in any specific September heatwave remains low.

Research from banking app Monzo identifies Lowestoft and Felixstowe in East Suffolk as among the UK's best-value locations for beach hut hire. Huts cost £30 per day or £100 per week during summer, making weekly bookings £110, or 52%, cheaper than paying for seven individual days. East Suffolk Council manages the huts, which are suitable for storing beach equipment and sheltering from the sun; many beach huts surveyed nationwide also offer amenities such as electricity, kettles and running water.

ScottishPower Renewables and Masdar have completed installation of all 95 foundations for the £4 billion East Anglia THREE offshore windfarm off Suffolk. The 1.4GW project is expected to supply clean energy to more than 1.3 million UK homes when it becomes operational by the end of 2026. Construction is supporting 2,300 jobs, with around 100 long-term roles expected, and nearly £2 billion has been invested in the UK supply chain.

Suffolk is presented as a discreet celebrity getaway, with seven locations highlighted for sightings and celebrity visits. Aldeburgh, Ipswich Waterfront, Wilderness Reserve, Retreat East, Decoy Studios, Woodbridge and Walberswick are linked to actors, musicians, television personalities and football figures. The article emphasizes the county’s luxury accommodation, cultural venues, restaurants, recording facilities and coastal communities as attractions for high-profile visitors.

A wildfire at Dunwich Heath exposed unexploded Second World War ordnance believed to be linked to Exercise Kruschen, a 1943 British military training operation that helped prepare for D-Day. Specialist teams have made some devices safe, but more may remain, prompting the National Trust to keep the reserve closed while hazard mapping and safety assessments continue. Fire crews are damping down hotspots, and additional dangers include unstable trees, cliffs, smouldering rabbit warrens and dry weather. Dunwich village remains open, while a National Trust recovery appeal has raised more than £600,000.

Greggs will open a new branch at the JET Capelgate Service Station on the northbound A12 at Capel St Mary on August 20. The petrol station is operated by Motor Fuel Group, and the opening will provide local customers with Greggs products including sausage rolls, bakes, sandwiches and sweet treats. The branch adds to Greggs’ network of more than 2,700 locations.

Reality star Louise Thompson visited the 6,000-acre Wilderness Reserve in Suffolk with her fiancé Ryan Libbey and their son Leo. She praised the estate’s privacy, lake, proximity to the beach, scenery and sense of space, recommending it to people seeking an escape. The luxury estate offers properties ranging from spa cottages to the 13-bedroom Sibton Manor and has hosted other celebrities. Thompson, who became known through Made in Chelsea, has since campaigned for improved UK maternity care and written several books, including the bestseller Lucky.

A 19-year-old man was arrested at a London police station on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with a March 22 stabbing in Moreton Hall, Bury St Edmunds. He was released on bail, as were three other men arrested the previous day. The victim, a man in his 40s, suffered life-threatening injuries but has since left hospital. Police believe the attack was targeted and poses no wider threat. Sebastian Smith has been charged with attempted murder, while four additional men have also been arrested and bailed as the investigation continues.

Brian Conley and his daughter Lucy used the Heritage Grange Hotel in Thurston, Suffolk, as a hideout while taking part in Channel 4's Celebrity Hunted to raise money for Stand Up To Cancer. After Conley accidentally revealed the hotel's address during an intercepted call with Joe Pasquale, the pair escaped in Pasquale's car and later hid in a train toilet while fleeing toward Stansted Airport.

A two-car crash at junction 43 of the eastbound A14 near Bury St Edmunds caused severe traffic delays back to junction 42. One vehicle struck the central reservation while the other reached the hard shoulder. Suffolk Police were managing traffic, and initial reports indicated no injuries.

Rendlesham Forest's circular UFO-themed route in Suffolk was ranked the second-best walk in its region and among the UK's notable accessible walking routes. The route received a 4.6-star visitor rating from 239 people and scored 60.57 out of 100 in research by care provider Lovett Care, which evaluated 289 routes for accessibility, duration and scenery, particularly for people with limited mobility. The route's accessibility and association with Rendlesham Forest's UFO folklore were highlighted as key attractions.

Ipswich Borough Council has appointed Drees & Sommer as multidisciplinary consultant for the Western Gateway regeneration project. The mixed-use scheme will transform the area around St Peter’s Dock car park, Paul’s Silo and the former Burton Son and Sanders site with new homes, workspace, leisure and hospitality facilities, alongside a central green space. Capital & Centric will act as developer, with funding support from Suffolk’s public-sector leaders. The project is intended to increase footfall, stimulate economic activity and improve visibility of the historic Wolsey’s Gate while preserving the area’s heritage.

Clare Post Office in Suffolk remains temporarily closed after shutting unexpectedly in mid-July. The Post Office has apologised, said it is working to restore services, and directed customers to alternative branches in Hundon, Glemsford and Stoke-by-Clare, but has provided no reopening timetable. Residents have warned that the closure particularly affects older people without transport and could reduce footfall for nearby businesses.

Ipswich Borough Council will renovate the play area at Ellenbrook Park, with construction beginning on August 17 and the new facility expected to open later in the year. The nature- and bug-themed playground will include eight new pieces of equipment for children aged two to 10, including accessible swings, a wheelchair-accessible carousel, an inclusive seesaw and sensory features. The project is part of the council’s £3.5 million Play Area Strategy, and the existing play area will close temporarily during construction.

Gulls in Aldeburgh, Lowestoft and other Suffolk coastal towns have been seen stumbling and behaving as if drunk after feeding on large swarms of flying ants. Viola Ross-Smith of the British Trust for Ornithology said formic acid, a mild toxin produced by ants, may be affecting the birds, although the explanation remains untested. Other observers believe the gulls may simply be distracted by the abundant food. The public is advised not to worry unless a bird appears seriously ill.

Aldeburgh Comedy Weekend will return in October 2026 with an expanded programme featuring major names including Joanna Lumley, Jo Brand, Jack Dee and Ed Byrne across Jubilee Hall and Aldeburgh Cinema. The festival, created by Paul Schlesinger and Jon Canter, will include eight events and introduce new talent through a special programme. John Lloyd will be honoured with the Lunchtime Achievement Award for his decades-long impact on British comedy.

A Valentine’s letter Amy Winehouse sent to Blake Fielder-Civil while he was imprisoned in Suffolk in 2009 is being auctioned, expected to sell for £2,000 to £4,000. Written during a Caribbean holiday shortly after Fielder-Civil filed for divorce, the note includes affectionate verses and arrives with its original St Lucia–stamped envelope. Ewbank’s will auction the item near the anniversary of Winehouse’s 2011 death. Background on Fielder-Civil’s 2008 conviction, early release, recall to prison, and the couple’s eventual 2009 divorce is also noted.