Katy Lewis
Beds, Herts and Bucks Live

Mr Martins, who proposed the council tax increase in January, consulted on whether it would be accepted by the public saying he wouldn't go ahead with the vote unless he was "reasonably confident of getting an affirmative result".

A YouGov poll he commissioned suggested 70% of residents would reject the idea, but the PCC said other research showed "strong support" for the rise.

Paul Scoins
Political reporter, BBC Three Counties Radio

MP for Luton North Kelvin Hopkins has blamed the wording on the ballot paper for PCC Olly Martin's referendum defeat.

Mr Hopkins told BBC Three Counties Radio: "I think it was a brave and honest thing. I certainly voted yes myself.

"The problem was the wording on the paper. If it had said 'would you be prepared to pay 18p a week extra for 100 extra police officers' people might have said yes," he said.

Bedfordshire PCC tweets, external: PCC says there will be recruitment freeze in the next 18 to 24 months and reduction of up to 135 police officers or 12% of current strength.

Sally Chidzoy, BBC Look East's home affairs correspondent, tweets, external: 301,799 voters cast vote. PCC "disappointed ..police resources so thin it's like trying to cover a double bed with a single duvet".

Paul Scoins
Political reporter, BBC Three Counties Radio

Police and Crime Commissioner Olly Martins has comprehensively lost in his bid to increase the council tax precept by 15.85%.

There were 207,551 who voted against the proposal and only 91,086 for.

Katy Lewis
Beds, Herts and Bucks Live

Police and Crime Commissioner Olly Martins proposed a council tax increase saying 15.85% more must be collected in police precept to raise an extra £4.5m per year for the Bedfordshire force.

As this was more than the government's 2% rise limit, a vote had to be held.

The increase would equate to 32p extra a week for a band A property and 48p for band D, some of which would be invested in 100 extra police officers, he said.

Paul Scoins
Political reporter, BBC Three Counties Radio

We are five to 10 minutes away from a declaration in the referendum - will PCC Olly Martins get his tax hike to pay for extra officers?

Paul Scoins
Political reporter, BBC Three Counties Radio

Votes in the Bedfordshire referendum are being counted at the Inspire swimming pool in Luton as well as in Bedford and at the Central Bedfordshire council offices in Chicksands.

Mr Martins has arrived at the pool ahead of the declaration, now due about 13:30.

Craig Lewis
Beds, Herts & Bucks Live

Hero police dog Tai, who helped track down a missing man, has been praised by his boss.

Sgt Vicky Stoughton from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Dog Unit, said: "I'm happy that the man was located safely and proud that Police Dog Tai and his handler played such a vital role in finding him.

"This is an excellent example of our unit working with other policing teams effectively."

Katy Lewis
Beds, Herts and Bucks Live

Remember the garage which refused to pay for all of a free meal it offered after its customer spent £700 at a Michelin-starred restaurant? Well, a compromise has been reached.

Watford Audi had said the bill Siobhan Yap, 27, presented from L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon in Covent Garden was "excessive", and offered to pay half.

This morning Siobhan told the JVS show on BBC Three Counties Radio Audi has now agreed to pay the full amount, with the other half going to a charity of her choice.

Beds on Sunday

A historic pub in Ampthill has re-opened following a £1.5m refurbishment, external.

The White Hart, a Grade II listed 18th Century coaching Inn, shut its doors in 2013, but owners Punch Taverns entered into an investment last October.

Paul Scoins
Political reporter, BBC Three Counties Radio

It is now expected the Bedfordshire referendum will finish between 12:30 and 13:00.

Original estimates had anticipated the result would be in around 15:00. We'll have more on this throughout the day.

Craig Lewis
Beds, Herts & Bucks Live

A coach carrying school children caught fire on the southbound A1(M) this morning between junctions six and four.

Image source, BCH Road Policing

Officers from Herts Fire & Rescue Service attended to put the blaze out at 07:40 and no-one was injured.

Two lanes were closed while fire fighters put out the fire on the 53-seater coach. The road was re-opened at 10:45.

Craig Lewis
Beds, Herts & Bucks Live

Not sure what the Bedfordshire referendum is all about today?

Police and crime commissioner Olly Martins made the decision in January to ask the public if he could increase the council tax precept by almost 16% to fund more officers.

The increase would provide an extra £4.5m per year for the force.

Craig Lewis
Beds, Herts & Bucks Live

Police dog Tai has been heralded as a four-legged hero after finding a man who had been reported missing from Luton.

Image source, Bedfordshire Police

The animal, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Dog Unit, tracked the man for just under a mile across fields in Hertfordshire after his car was found.

The search had involved a number of officers and the police helicopter and concluded after police were called to Dyke Lane in Weathampstead on Friday afternoon.

Lee Agnew
BBC Three Counties Radio

These are the main news headlines so far today:

• A result in the Bedfordshire Police referendum asking for more to be paid towards the force in council tax will be known later

• The funeral of a man found dead at a travellers site in Buckinghamshire takes place today. Police say the large funeral procession is likely to disrupt traffic through Dunstable and Houghton Regis

• Luton Borough Council is being criticised for threatening to take a 101-year-old woman to court after a letter was issued automatically by its computer system

BBC Three Counties Radio reporter Tony Fisher tweets, external: "Is it a case of sink or swim for Beds PCC @OllyMartins as counting begins on referendum at Inspire swimming centre in #Luton?"

Mr Martins has increased the amount of the council tax precept for Bedfordshire Police by 15.84 per cent - a move which has triggered a referendum, external.

BBC Sport

Wycombe Wanderer's manager Gareth Ainsworth wants people to come out to support the Chairboys on Thursday when they host Plymouth in the second leg of the League Two play-off semi-final.

Image source, PA

The Chairboys beat Plymouth 3-2 in Saturday's first leg at Home Park with the Pilgrims netting both their goals in the last five minutes.

"I just hope the Wycombe fans... go home and tell their friends to come along on Thursday and get behind us because we're going to need them," he said.

Craig Lewis
Beds, Herts & Bucks Live

Thanks to Katy for the early updates this morning. I'm here until 6pm, keeping you up to date with all the latest news from across Beds, Herts and Bucks.

As always, I'd love you to get involved as well, so feel free to email your comments to or contact us on Twitter, external or Facebook, external.

Election 2015

A tide of blue washed across the East of England as the Conservatives claimed 55 of the possible 61 seats in the BBC Look East region.

A full break-down of the results in your constituency is available from the BBC Election 2015 website.