Craig Lewis
Beds, Herts & Bucks Live

That's all for a busy news day on Beds, Herts and Bucks Live.

We'll be back tomorrow morning from 08:00.

Craig Lewis
Beds, Herts & Bucks Live

A man has been taken to hospital in a serious condition after police attended a property in Drakes Drive in St Albans following reports someone had been stabbed.

Two police cars, an ambulance and the air ambulance attended. Hertfordshire Police say the incident is not suspicious and they are not looking for anyone else.

Craig Lewis
Beds, Herts & Bucks Live

More reaction now from Olly Martins after his plan to increase the police funding in the council tax by almost 16% was rejected.

He said the force can "only do so much with so few officers" and it is now down to the government to ensure it has the resources it needs.

He added: "To this end I will be seeking an urgent opportunity for the Chief Constable and I to meet with the home secretary to press our case."

BBC Three Counties Radio

Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Olly Martins has just told us that it will be up to the people to decide if he should continue in his job.

Mr Martins said he will face an election next year and "people will make a decision then".

He added: "No-one said being Police and Crime Commissioner would easy, but I'm getting on with it and doing the best job I can."

Paul Scoins
Political reporter, BBC Three Counties Radio

It is a return to front-line politics for Alistair Burt having left the foreign office following a re-shuffle in the last parliament.

Mr Burt was regarded as a safe pair of hands during the Arab Spring uprising and his departure raised a few eyebrows.

He was minister of the Department for Social Security during the last Tory government from 1992 to 1997.

David Cameron tweets, external: "Alistair Burt is the new Minister of State at the Department of Health."

Mr Burt is the MP for North East Bedfordshire.

Adina Campbell
Reporter, BBC South Today

David Clarke, who was earlier found guilty of wounding with intent for stabbing shop worker Rushatharan Asok last September, had been living at the Whiteleaf mental health unit in Aylesbury a few days before the attack, the court heard.

The 25-year-old victim is still being cared for in hospital eight months after he was stabbed. The attack led to him suffering a stroke and being in a coma.

Clarke, 63, who was found guilty at Reading Crown Court, will be sentenced at a later date.

Adina Campbell
BBC South Today

A man who stabbed a shop worker in the neck has been found guilty of wounding with intent, but cleared of attempted murder.

Image source, Google

David Clarke, 63, of no fixed address, had denied both offences at Reading Crown Court.

The offence took place at Bab's Food and Wine Store in Buckingham Street, Aylesbury, last September.

Craig Lewis
Beds, Herts & Bucks Live

The garage which refused to pay for all of a free meal it offered after a customer spent £700 at a Michelin-starred restaurant has confirmed it will be donating half of the cost to charity.

Image source, Google

A spokesman for Watford Audi said it will donate the outstanding £357 balance of the restaurant bill to a charity of Siobhan Yap's choice.

He said: "Miss Yap has also agreed to accept the £250 originally offered by the team at Watford Audi in full settlement, meaning that the £107 she had originally requested in addition will now be included in the charitable donation, taking the total to £464."

Craig Lewis
Beds, Herts & Bucks Live

Hertfordshire Police have released CCTV images of a man who pointed a gun at a cashier during a robbery at Coral Bookmakers in Welwyn Garden City.

Image source, Hertfordshire Police

The incident happened at 21:10 on 4 May when the crash helmet wearing man demanded cash, before making off on a motorcycle.

The man wore black clothing, a balaclava and a crash helmet. He was also wearing motorcycle gloves and what police believe are black plimsolls.

Katy Lewis
Beds, Herts and Bucks Live

The ex-fiancee of a man targeted in a love triangle assassination plot has been jailed for lying to jurors.

Nazeem Dad, 29, admitted committing perjury during the trial of ex-boyfriend Shahzad Mahroof, who was jailed last year for conspiring to murder accountant Atif Ali (pictured above).

MK Web

Charges for parking, external in the centre of Milton Keynes will increase with immediate effect on Monday 18 May.

Standard purple spaces - which currently cost 40p per hour - will increase by 10p to 50p an hour, while the cost of premium red spaces will go up from £1.40 to £2 an hour.

BBC Weather

The weather should remain largely dry overnight with clear spells.

There is a possibility it may become cloudier later in the night with light spots of rain possible in the south.

Nic Rigby
BBC News, East

Four-year-old Alexa-Marie Quinn suffered a "sustained persistent hard hitting" by her father Carl Wheatley, prosecutor Christopher Donnellan QC tells St Albans Crown Court, in his closing speech.

Image source, John O'Reilly/Fairleys

The girl died on 12 March 2014 after it is alleged she was beaten by her father at the home they shared together in Queen Bee Court, Hatfield. Mr Wheatley, 31, denies murder but admits Alexa-Marie's manslaughter.

During the trial the jury have been told the father suffers from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, but Mr Donnellan said it was the crown's case that he knew what he was doing adding "he knew right from wrong". The case continues.

Craig Lewis
Beds, Herts & Bucks Live

The thwarting of the PCC Olly Martin's ambition for an increase council tax to pay for Bedfordshire Police has been a big talking point today.

We'll have more reaction later, but first some other stories making the news in the three counties today...

PCC Olly Martins said defeat for his tax plan will mean Bedfordshire Police "is potentially a weak link in the fight against terrorism and organised crime".

He said the result would lead to a "lack of properly resourced neighbourhood policing teams" and "serious urban challenges".

"This directly impacts on its ability to gather information against and tackle terrorists and criminals and to come to the aid of the public when needed," he added.

Andrew Woodger
BBC News Online

Council taxpayers in Bedfordshire have voted against a £4.5m rise in their bills to pay for the police.

The referendum had been prompted by Olly Martins, the county's Police and Crime Commissioner, who wanted to use it to fund 100 extra officers.

Paul Scoins
Political reporter, BBC Three Counties Radio

Kelvin Hopkins MP has offered his 100% support to PCC Olly Martins despite his referendum defeat.

Mr Hopkins said attempting to increase the Bedfordshire Police, external council tax precept was "the right thing to make sure we have sufficient policing".

He added that issues like terrorism and child abuse can't be policed without proper resources.

Craig Lewis
Beds, Herts & Bucks Live

PCC Olly Martins said voters in Bedfordshire have "given a clear and emphatic verdict" in today's referendum.

But he said the "underlying problem" in the police budget has not gone away, with the vote meaning the force will miss out on £1.28m.

He added: "This will result in a recruitment freeze in the next 18 to 24 months and a reduction of up to 135 police officers, or 12% of our current strength."

Craig Lewis
Beds, Herts & Bucks Live

Colette Paul, Bedfordshire's police Chief Constable, has reacted to the referendum result by saying the force will "continue to do the best we can with the resources we've got".

She said the aim is to concentrate on community policing and keeping people safe.

"The Commissioner felt that any endeavour to secure the additional funding for the force was a risk worth taking," she said. "As a result of today's outcome, our estimated budget shortfall is £6m - which equates to approximately 135 police officers."