The Eastern Counter Terrorism Intelligence Unit, which worked with the Metropolitan Police, external and Bedfordshire Police, external on the investigation which led to the imprisonment of two Luton men for promoting the so-called Islamic State in London's Oxford Street said it is "working hard to engage with our communities" to "identify, protect and support" those who may be drawn into terrorism.

Det Chief Insp Glen Channer said: "Luton is a vibrant town and we are committed to working with our communities to crackdown on any small minority with extreme views who seek to radicalise vulnerable people in our society."

The Muslim convert jailed for three years for trying to drum up support for Islamic State outside Topshop in London's Oxford Street told jurors at his trial he had only wanted to practice his religion and exercise his freedom of speech.

Image source, PA

Ibrahim Anderson's home was searched and a notebook computer was seized containing three images that "formed part of a set of instructions for travel to Syria to support jihad".

Anderson, who represented himself in court, told jurors: "I have been brave enough to come and fight my corner because I know I am innocent and have done nothing wrong."

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

The two Luton men jailed for promoting the so-called Islamic State in London's Oxford Street were arrested following complaints from two Muslim sisters who, having objected to the group's views, were told to "go and die".

Image source, Getty Images

During the trial of Ibrahim Anderson, 38, (pictured) and Shah Jahan Khan, 63, prosecutor Mark Seymour told jurors that Khan, of St Catherine's Avenue; and Anderson, of Dallow Road; had spent two-and-a-half hours speaking to passers-by and distributing a leaflet.

He said both "would have been well aware that this is what they were doing".

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

The Old Bailey judge who jailed two men from Luton for promoting the so-called Islamic State outside Topshop in London's Oxford Street spoke of the dangers of inviting support while passing sentence.

Image source, Metropolitan Police/PA Wires

Ibrahim Anderson, 38, and Shah Jahan Khan, 63, were jailed for three years and two years respectively after being found guilty of inviting support for a proscribed organisation. 

Judge Kramer said the danger posed by inviting support for IS was "often to young people who are lured to Syria and Iraq and to a potential death".

Two men from Luton have been jailed for promoting the so-called Islamic State outside Topshop in London's Oxford Street.

Ibrahim Anderson, 38, and Shah Jahan Khan, 63, were found guilty of inviting support for a proscribed organisation.  

Image source, PA

Hertfordshire Police have released a picture of two unusual statues stolen from a garden in Bushey earlier this month.

Detectives say the pair are very distinctive, so it would have been obvious if someone had seen them being moved from Falconer Road on 1 January between 18:00 and 21:00.

Image source, Herts Police

Steve Swan
BBC Home Affairs Correspondent

Two men found guilty of handing out leaflets on London's Oxford Street inviting support for the so-called Islamic State have been jailed.

Ibrahim Anderson, 38, of Dallow Road in Luton, had been manning a dawah - call to Islam - stall on the busy shopping street in central London in August 2014.

Image source, Getty Images

Anderson, who was given a three year sentence, was arrested in December 2014 following complaints from two Muslim sisters who, having objected to the group's views, were told to "go and die."

His co-defendant Shah-Jahan Khan, a 63-year-old driving instructor from Luton, was jailed for two years.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

The fire service has said a house fire in Olney last night, in which an elderly couple were treated for the effects of breathing in smoke, was caused by a discarded cigarette.

Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue, external said the blaze broke out in the kitchen of a house in Spinney Hill Road at 19:45.

Mark Robinson, from Newport Pagnell Fire Station, said: “The fire started after a cigarette was put in the rubbish bin. It set the bin on fire then spread to the rest of the kitchen."

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Breathalysers will be issued to licensed premises in Bedford this weekend, following a successful trial in Luton and Dunstable over Christmas.

It's illegal to sell alcohol to someone who is already drunk, and the breathalysers - funded by the Bedford Borough Public Health team - will help licensees identify how much alcohol people have had.

PC Rob Sparkes, from Bedfordshire Police, external, said: “Hopefully it will encourage partygoers to make the right choice and call it a night when they have already drunk too much." 

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Firefighters have rescued a woman from a blaze in a flat in Milton Keynes in the early hours of this morning, after she fell asleep while cooking dough balls in the oven.

Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue, external were called to the ground-floor flat in Oldbrook Boulevard at 03:30 after reports the cooker was on fire. They said it was the third time this month firefighters had rescued someone who had dozed off while cooking,

The woman was suffering from the effects of breathing in smoke and was taken to hospital.

BBC Sport

The FA Cup fourth round clash between MK Dons and Chelsea at stadium:mk has been highlighted by BBC Sport as one of the ties to watch.

Both sides are in the bottom half of their respective divisions. The Dons are 20th in the Championship and Chelsea are 13th in the top flight - but have yet to lose in seven games since Guus Hiddink replaced Jose Mourinho.

Dons midfielder Darren Potter said: "That tells you everything you need to know... they've obviously turned a corner, putting in good performances and getting good results."

Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio

The top stories this morning:

• Two men from Luton who gave out leaflets in London supporting so-called Islamic State will be sentenced at the Old Bailey this morning
• An elderly couple escaped a fire at their home in Olney in north Buckinghamshire last night
• Councils in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire are falling short of new guidelines for home care, according to Unison

Paul Scoins
BBC Three Counties Radio political reporter

Herts Police and Crime Commissioner, external, David Lloyd, who had his plans to cut half a per cent of the council tax police precept approved last night, said it was because it got a "far better settlement" from the government than expected and also because the force had reserves in the bank.

He said: "For the last ten years we have been working very, very well financially to ensure we have money put to one side so we don't have to increase council tax by a great deal.

"And year on year we ensure we are more and more efficient in the policing we deliver."

Tony Fisher
BBC Three Counties Radio

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire, external says he would welcome mandatory GPS tagging for certain offenders after the Ministry of Justice wrote to police forces, including Hertfordshire, asking them to carry out pilot studies.

Olly Martins says he has been asking for this to be rolled out since he came into power three years ago. While offenders in Bedfordshire are already fitted with GPS tags on a voluntary basis, Mr Martins says compulsory tagging would cut crime and reduce the number of victims.

The letter said "it is envisaged pilots will use legislation to impose mandatory GPS tags on offenders".

Paul Scoins
BBC Three Counties Radio political reporter

The part of council tax in Hertfordshire which covers police in the county is to come down this year.

Herts Police and Crime Commissioner, external, David Lloyd, had plans to cut half a per cent - 80p a year for the average household - approved last night, making him one of the few, possibly the only, commissioner to drop his fees.

He said he was able to make the cut because of a favourable funding deal from government and believes it will still ensure the county has enough to cover emergencies and provide officers in target investigations like child sexual exploitation.

Two men from Luton found guilty of promoting so-called Islamic State outside Topshop in London's Oxford Street will be sentenced later today at the Old Bailey.

Ibrahim Anderson, 38, and Shah Jahan Kahn, 63, were among a group of men who set up a stall there in August 2014.

Police also found a computer in Anderson's home which contained instructions on travelling to Syria to support Jihad.

Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio

The directors of an American-style summer camp in Hertfordshire are due to appear at St Albans Crown Court charged with child neglect.

Image source, Cascade News Agency

LL Camps in Bushey was closed down last year following the arrest of Ben Lewis, 25, (pictured) from Borehamwood, and Tal Landsman, 25, from Stevenage.

Mr Lewis is also accused of possessing indecent images of children.  

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

A 12-year-old boy has gone missing in High Wycombe.

Image source, Thames Valley Police

Connor McLaughlin, described as white, of medium build, about 5ft 5ins tall, with brown hair and a scar on his left eye, was last seen in Arnison Avenue at 15:00 yesterday.

He was wearing a light grey zip-up hooded top with a black jacket over the top, grey tracksuit trousers and blue trainers.

Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio

Councils in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire are falling short of new guidelines for home care, according to the union Unison.

Image source, Thinkstock

Figures show all our councils still commission 15 minute visits, despite recommendations they should last no less than half an hour.

More that 1,100 care workers took part in the national Unison survey.

BBC Travel

The A421 is partially blocked in both directions between Bedford and the Kingston roundabout due to a broken down car.

Meanwhile, there are delays of about 15 minutes on the Thameslink, external line between Bedford and London due to a broken down train at Radlett.

Get the latest updates from BBC Travel.