My wife Victoria and I would like to take this chance to thank all of you who have sent us cards, letters and messages of congratulations on the birth of our first son Rollo and also of condolences for the tragic events surrounding Victoria's family.

Victoria and I have been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of messages and we hope you will understand if we have not responded to you personally.

As you can see from the photograph, Rollo is a lovely baby who gives us both a great deal of pleasure.

Like his father, he has a healthy appetite and is growing every day.

ASPERGERS UPDATE

A further meeting between Norfolk County Council Adult Services, Aspergers East Anglia, the Norfolk Autistic Society and mothers with adult sons suffering from Aspergers and other Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) took place recently.

The main problem is a lack of understanding by social services of the difficulties faced by adults with Aspergers.

They are usually highly intelligent people but they find it hard to make emotional and social contact and often they cannot express what troubles them.

This causes frustration which can then turn to violence, making them difficult to live with.

The county promised funding is available to train at least one named member of staff in the Mental Health and the Learning Difficulties Services to identify Asperger sufferers and to choose which services best suit each individual's needs.

The council also put forward the successful Liverpool Asperger Team model as a possible solution to help adult Asperger sufferers get the right care and support.

The current range of care options does not address their needs.

CHIEF CONSTABLE

Last week I met with Chief Constable Ian McPherson for an update on Norfolk Constabulary.

It was good to hear the force is doing well in cutting crime such as domestic burglary, vehicle and violent crime.

Even better, the chief constable clearly understands local residents are not impressed with statistics, but remain worried about gangs of youths roaming the streets in the early hours causing havoc.

Safer Neighbourhood Teams should help: so far, 36 teams, manned by 189 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), are in operation across the county.

Sixteen more teams with another 91 PCSOs are planned. The police have to ensure they spend taxpayers' money where it can make a difference on things which matter to local people.