Updates for Friday, 4 March 2016
News, sport, travel and weather updates resume at 08:00 on Monday
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.
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.
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).
Jane Killick
BBC Three Counties Radio
Here are the news stories making the headlines this evening:
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.
Image source, South Beds News AgencyIn 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.
Phil Shepka
BBC Sport
Southport have signed Luton Town defender Mark O'Brien on loan.
Image source, SNSThe 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.
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.
Image source, Luton Town Football ClubLuton 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."
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.
Image source, Robert Warner SmithA 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.
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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Carol Abercrombie
BBC Three Counties Radio
An 82 year-old woman has been tricked into handing over £15,000, external to fraudsters in Buckinghamshire.
Image source, Thames Valley PoliceThe 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.
Alex Pope
BBC Local Live
A second horse has been dumped in a ditch in Hertfordshire.
Image source, RSPCAThe 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".
The full inquest into the death of young Conservative activist Elliot Johnson will open on 31 May.
Image source, South Beds News AgencyToday 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.
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."
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.
Image source, PAElliott 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.
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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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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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.
Image source, Wycombe Wanderers FCThe 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."
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.
Image source, M J Richardson/GeographThe 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.
Carol Abercrombie
BBC Three Counties Radio
A Luton school which used to be part of the Barnfield Federation is to close.
Image source, GoogleThe 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.
Jane Killick
BBC Three Counties Radio
Here are the main stories making the news this lunchtime:
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.
Image source, South Beds News AgencyMr 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.