Summary

  • Updates for Friday, 4 March 2016

  • News, sport, travel and weather updates resume at 08:00 on Monday

  1. Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    That's it for this week from the Local Live team for Beds, Herts and Bucks. We'll be back on Monday morning from 08:00 with all the latest news, sport, weather and travel for the three counties.

    Have a great weekend.

  2. Weather: Clear spells and ice patches possiblepublished at 17:58 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2016

    Dan Holley
    BBC Look East weather

    We'll see lengthy clear spells for the first half of tonight which will allow a frost to develop and possibly some icy patches. 

    Weather Map

    However, cloud will thicken through the rest of the night and by dawn, patches of rain and sleet will begin to move into Bedford and other northern parts. 

    Minimum temperature: 0C (32F). 

  3. Headlines: Tory activists family say today's pre-inquest ruling is a 'step-forward'... No foul play suspected in Hertfordshire goose deathpublished at 17:50 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2016

    Jane Killick
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    Here are the news stories making the headlines this evening:

  4. Family of Tory activist says today's pre-inquest ruling is a 'step forward'published at 17:42 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2016

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    The father of Elliot Johnson, a young Conservative activist from Cambridgeshire whose body was found on rail tracks in Bedfordshire last year, has responded to today's pre-inquest ruling.   

    Alison and Ray JohnsonImage source, South Beds News Agency

    In a statement released via lawyers, Ray Johnson called the ruling "an important step forward for the family".He said he was pleased that Mr Osborne has said he will "keep an open mind in relation to any further information" that comes out in relation to the death.

  5. Luton's O'Brian goes to Southport on loanpublished at 17:40 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2016

    Phil Shepka
    BBC Sport

    Southport have signed Luton Town defender Mark O'Brien on loan.

    Mark O'BrienImage source, SNS

    The 23-year-old centre-back joined the Hatters , externalat the start of the season following his release by Derby, but has not featured for them since November.

    The former Republic of Ireland Under-19 player is available for the Sandgrounders' National League game against Halifax on Saturday.

  6. Luton manager praises the fanspublished at 17:36 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2016

    Geoff Doyle
    BBC Three Counties Radio sport

    Luton Town manager Nathan Jones has been hailing the support of Hatters fans, external and particularly those who travel to watch his side. 

    Nathan JonesImage source, Luton Town Football Club

    Luton are at Leyton Orient tomorrow in League Two, six points from the Play Offs and will take a large following of 1,385 to London. 

    He said: "it's ridiculous. We take more than Championship clubs. We want to give them another performance they can be proud of. We love the away fans, we love the away support we get and to take that many people is outstanding."

  7. No suspected foul play in goose deathpublished at 17:24 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2016
    Breaking

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    A goose that was exhumed from a Hertfordshire village after it was allegedly shot is believed to have died from natural causes. 

    Grumpy GertieImage source, Robert Warner Smith

    A full forensic post-mortem examination carried out yesterday on Grumpy Gertie from Sandon found it hadn't been shot. 

    The precise cause of death is unknown and further tests are to be carried out to see if foul play is involved. 

  8. Litter pickers are Cleaning for the Queen in Borehamwoodpublished at 17:10 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2016

    Thousands of volunteers are expected to tidy their neighbourhood this weekend as part of the Clean For The Queen, external campaign, and it looks like they've started early in Borehamwood. 

    It's part of an initiative to get people to tidy their areas ahead of the Queen's birthday on 21 April. 

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  9. Thousands taken from elderly Buckinghamshire womanpublished at 16:51 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2016

    Carol Abercrombie
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    An 82 year-old woman has been tricked into handing over £15,000, external to fraudsters in Buckinghamshire. 

    Beware of courier fraud noticeImage source, Thames Valley Police

    The woman, from Flackwell Heath, was phoned at the weekend by fraudsters who claimed they needed her help to identify forged bank notes. She withdrew the money from her bank account and handed it a courier who came to her door. 

    Police are now urging families to talk about courier fraud and place Prompt Cards, external (shown above) by the front door. 

  10. Second dead horse dumped in Hertfordshire ditchpublished at 16:25 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2016

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    A second horse has been dumped in a ditch in Hertfordshire. 

    Bradmore LaneImage source, RSPCA

    The RSPCA, external is appealing for information after the body of a young black filly was found by police on Bradmore Lane, Brooksmans Park in Hatfield on Wednesday. 

    Another dead horse was found in a Hatfield ditch a month ago.

    The charity has described the incident as  "disgusting". 

  11. Tory activist's inquest to open in Maypublished at 16:01 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2016

    The full inquest into the death of young Conservative activist Elliot Johnson will open on 31 May. 

    Alison and Ray JohnsonImage source, South Beds News Agency

    Today the coroner released his report following a pre-inquest hearing at Ampthill Coroner's Court on Wednesday.  

    Elliott's parents, Alison and Ray Johnson (pictured above) were fighting for the inquest to look wider into the culture of the Tory party. 

  12. Coroner describes Tory activist's death as a 'sad and tragic case'published at 15:41 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2016

    The coroner into the inquest of a young Conservative activist has described it as a "sad and tragic case". 

    Elliott Johnson was found dead on railway tracks in Sandy after claims of bullying within the Tory party. 

    Tom Osborne, the coroner for Bedfordshire and Luton, said: "I emphasise again that an inquest is not a trial. The purpose is not to determine whether the allegations of bullying set out in the letters left by Mr Johnson were true and I will not allow the inquest to be used as a tool for putting anyone on trial."

  13. Coroner will not probe Tory bully claimspublished at 15:32 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2016

    Tom Barton
    BBC Look East political reporter

    An inquest into the death of a young Conservative activist will not look at allegations of bullying in the party, a coroner has ruled.

    Elliott JohnsonImage source, PA

    Elliott Johnson, who was found dead on railway tracks in Sandy, Bedfordshire, claimed he was bullied by Tory supporters.

    His parents fought for his inquest to be widened to look at the culture in the Conservative Party.

  14. Elliott Johnson: Inquest will 'not be used as a tool for putting anyone on trial'published at 15:10

    Tom Osborne, the coroner for Bedfordshire and Luton, has said the inquest into Elliott Johnson's death will not look at allegations of bullying in the Conservative party.

    Read the full statement from the coroner, external.

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  15. Elliott Johnson: Coroner will not widen scope of inquestpublished at 14:55

    News of the decision on whether or not to widen the scope of the inquest into Tory activist Elliott Johson's death has been made ahead of the expected announcement from the coroner's office at 16:00.

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  16. Wycombe Wanderers sign Rowan Liburd on loanpublished at 14:42 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2016

    Geoff Doyle
    BBC Three Counties Radio sport

    More now on the story that Wycombe Wanderers have signed Reading forward Rowan Liburd on a one-month loan. 

    Rowan LiburdImage source, Wycombe Wanderers FC

    The 23-year-old has scored 11 goals in 14 appearances for the Royal’s development side. 

    Chairboys boss Gareth Ainsworth says: "He's a big lad who’s very quick across the ground and knows where the goal is. He is someone we’re confident can give us another dimension up front and I’m sure the fans will warm to him very quickly."

  17. Hertfordshire libraries could move into fire stationspublished at 14:30 Greenwich Mean Time 4 March 2016

    Jane Killick
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    Plans are being put in place that could see libraries in four towns and villages in Hertfordshire move into their fire stations. 

    Redbourn libraryImage source, M J Richardson/Geograph

    The money saving proposals are being considered in Buntingford, Redbourn, Sawbridgeworth and Wheathampstead. 

    The scheme, which would save about £98,000 a year, is being discussed by Hertfordshire county councillors, external today and if approved could go out to public consultation.

  18. Luton Studio School to close in the summerpublished at 14:00

    Carol Abercrombie
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    A Luton school which used to be part of the Barnfield Federation is to close. 

    Studio SchoolImage source, Google

    The Shared Learning Trust, external who now run the Studio School say it will shut in the summer due to falling pupil numbers as they currently have 66 pupils, the school's capacity is 300. 

    It was one of the first Studio Schools, external to open in 2010, set up to teach the National Curriculum, external alongside vocational courses.

  19. Headlines: Luton school to close... BA pays out after a Hertfordshire pilot sexually abused children in Africapublished at 13:40

    Jane Killick
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    Here are the main stories making the news this lunchtime: 

    • A Luton school created just five years ago is to close after only having 66 pupils
    • British Airways has agreed to pay an undisclosed amount to children who were sexually abused by one of its pilots who came from Hertfordshire
    • A second horse has been found dumped in a ditch in Hatfield
  20. Elliot Johnson inquest: Decision due by 16:00published at 13:20

    Charlie Jones
    BBC Local Live

    I've spoken to the coroner's service about the decision that's expected today on whether to widen the scope of the inquest into Tory activist Elliott Johnson's death.

    Elliott Johnson's parents, Ray and Alison JohnsonImage source, South Beds News Agency

    Mr Johnson made a complaint about bullying weeks before he was found dead on railway tracks in Bedfordshire.  

    His parents Ray and Alison Johnson (pictured), who live in Wisbech, want his inquest to be widened to include evidence about the culture in the Conservative Party.

    The coroner's office said the decision will be sent out on email before 16:00. It will also announce the date of the full inquest.