All library services in the county have been closed due to the effects of Storm Eunice.

The mobile libraries will also not be running, and there will be no home library service deliveries due to the red weather warning issued this morning by the Met Office for gusts of up to 90mph in the east of England.

A spokesperson for Suffolk Libraries said book loans would be automatically extended and would not incur any fines due to the closures.

The progress of the storm

He added: “We apologise for any inconvenience but we’ve taken this decision in the interests of staff and customers as people are being advised not to travel.

You can also renew titles online, or contact our customer service team on 01473 351249, help@suffolklibraries.co.uk.

West Suffolk Council has announced that it will be closing all gated parks and cemeteries the authority manages tonight until at least Saturday morning.

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This includes parks and open spaces such as Abbey Gardens, Nowton Park and West Stow Country Park.

Cemeteries include those at Haverhill, Bury St Edmunds and Newmarket.


A council spokesperson said the decision was taken to protect the public from possible trees and other debris damaged by the storm.

The council continues to have a team on hand, working with contractors, to clear any dangerous trees or debris.

Residents and visitors are asked to follow advice about not travelling and not to enter parks that cannot be locked due to the high wind conditions.

A review is also due to take place today about whether football matches should go ahead in Nowton Park and Hardwick Heath as well as Park Runs.

As soon as it is safe to do so, the parks and cemeteries will be re-opened.

All recycling centres in Suffolk have also been closed. Any bookings for today will need to be cancelled and rebooked for another day.

The Haughley Spectacle of Light, due to take place tonight at Haughley Park, has been cancelled, while the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary has been closed.

GP surgeries in the county remain open and appointments are continuing, however some patients are cancelling visits due to concerns over safety.

The Port of Felixstowe is closed today as winds of over 80mph batter Suffolk.

A spokesman for Hutchison Ports, which manages the port, confirmed the closure.

He said: "We expect to remain closed through until tomorrow morning."

Photographer Ruth Leach has also postponed the opening of her Faces of Woodbridge exhibition to tomorrow, Saturday, at 6pm.

The show is due to take place from 18-23 February at Artspace in Woodbridge and features portraits that had been submerged in the river Deben.

Services are running as normal at Ipswich and Colchester hospitals.

Nick Hulme, chief executive of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said: “All our services are running as normal, but if patients are worried about coming in for an appointment, our message is to stay at home and stay safe.

“We have carried out some outpatient appointments virtually, using telephone and video calls and we will rebook appointments that patients have chosen to not attend today as soon as possible.

"The most important thing is to stay safe and only come to our hospitals if you need urgent or emergency treatment.”

Supermarkets have reported that business is continuing as normal.

A spokesperson for Sainsbury's said: "We’re not experiencing any major disruption but safety is our highest priority and we’re monitoring the situation closely."