LUKE Day's tragic death at Ipswich Hospital sent shock waves through the community as it emerged he was the UK's youngest ever victim of the superbug MRSA.

LUKE Day's tragic death at Ipswich Hospital sent shock waves through the community as it emerged he was the UK's youngest ever victim of the superbug MRSA.

The hospital had expressed doubts about whether MRSA was to blame for Luke's death but now coroner Dr Peter Dean has concluded that it was the cause of the tragedy.

But what will be of much more interest to everyone who is a patient at the hospital - or who has a relation in the hospital - is what steps managers and staff are taking to prevent superbugs.

It is understandable that Luke's parents and other members of his family should be left feeling bitter and angry about what happened at the hospital two years ago.

A normal pregnancy is supposed to be followed by a normal birth and for the family to then be able to take home their baby after a few days.

Sudden tragedies like this, especially when it emerged that the cause of death was a bug caught in the hospital, should not be allowed to happen.

If Luke's death has forced the authorities to re-examine how they deal with preventing hospital-acquired infection, if it has persuaded more visitors of the necessity to use hand cleansers before they visit the wards then some good will have come out of this sad event.

But of course nothing can ever compensate Kevin Fenton and Glynis Day for the loss of their first child and everyone's hearts will go out to the family,

AS the inquiry into the dualling of the rail line between Ipswich and Felixstowe gets under way today, people who live near the route are understandably concerned about an increase in noise and vibration.

However if the port is to expand it is vital that the rail line should also expand. The only alternative is to push yet more lorries on to the increasingly-congested A14.

Rail has to be the main method of getting freight away from the port. As Britain's largest container port, it handles freight from all over the country and it makes sense for long-distance journeys to be made on the rail.

There have to be safeguards to ensure trains are not left revving their noisy and dirty diesel engines near homes as they wait to proceed, but overall an expansion of the rail capacity is vital for the port and the environment of the area as a whole.

TONY Ray was an inspiration to people heading into their retirement years.

The former Star photographer was determined to live life to the full, travelling around the world and telling everyone who had time to listen wonderful stories about his visits to places that most of us can only dream about.

For people who knew him, it seems incredible that the 72-year-old died so suddenly at the weekend - just hours after going on a cycle ride, going swimming, and then walking from Woodbridge to his Ipswich home.

Tony certainly enjoyed his life. It is just so cruel that it all ended so suddenly while he still had so much that he was looking forward to.