Paul Scoins
BBC Three Counties Radio political reporter

A Labour councillor from Luton who tweeted that Hitler was the "greatest man in history" has resigned from the council after the tweets from 2011 were discovered.

The posts also include one questioning the power of Jewish people in the US and another saying that Ed Miliband could never be prime minister because he is Jewish.

Aysegul Gurbuz's tweets were made before she became a councillor and she has now taken the decision to step down from the council – there will be a by-election at a date to be decided by the local authority.

Ms Gurbuz said she "apologised for letting [those who voted for her] and the Labour party down" – and said the comments had been made when she was 16 and 17, from an account she didn’t have full control of.  

Jane Killick
BBC Three Counties Radio

The top stories this lunchtime:

• Luton Labour councillor resigns over anti-Semitic tweet
• More than £140m in compensation is paid out by NHS trusts in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire over the past five years

A pub and two garages were damaged by a fire in Kempston over the weekend.

Firefighters were called to the garages in Tithe Road about 14:30 on Saturday where the fire had taken hold at two garages containing two cars. 

The fire was extinguished within the hour, but slight damage was caused to the Cross Keys pub next door. A man was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.

Justin Dealey
BBC Three Counties Radio

A man who was caught with £3m worth of drugs at his home in Luton says he's determined to change his ways. 

After spending six years in prison for dealing heroin and cannabis Farooq Khalil says he wants to help others.

He says he knows where he's "gone wrong", has reformed and as someone "who's been there and done it all" says he can help others to reform too.

BBC Sport

Watford's Anthony Joshua has said he will "walk through" fellow British world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury on his way to unifying the division.

Image source, Getty Images

The 26-year-old became IBF heavyweight champion with a stunning second-round stoppage of American Charles Martin on Saturday night.

"I'm going to walk through Fury when he's ready," said Joshua. "I mean business and I'm here to stay."

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Family and friends have paid tribute to a 49-year-old man from Hemel Hempstead, who died in a collision on the M25 on Easter Sunday.

Image source, Hertfordshire Police

He has been named by Hertfordshire Police as Kevin Heffernan, who lived with his wife Patricia and their six-year-old son in Leverstock Green.

His wife said: “He loved going to work, but most of all he loved coming home to us... He was just so happy with everything. He was just content.”

James Law
BBC Sport Online

Stevenage have extended the loan of Hull City striker Greg Luer until the end of the season.

The 21-year-old originally joined the Boro last month and has played for Darren Sarll's side five times.

Image source, Rex Features

Luer, who is yet to score for the League Two side, was not part of the squad which lost at Notts County on Saturday.

Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio

The headlines:

• The chief executive of Luton Borough Council says councillors must expect their social media to be scrutinised after a Labour councillor resigned over Hitler tweet
• Family and friends have paid tribute to a 49-year-old man from Hemel Hempstead who died in a collision on the M25 on Easter Sunday
• More than £140m in compensation has been paid out by NHS trusts in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire over the past five years

Buckingham Today

A glamorous charity ball which will raise money for animals, children and the elderly has been put at risk after vandals destroyed a promotional banner, external.

Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio

More than £140m in compensation has been paid out by NHS trusts in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire over the past five years, with West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust, external paying out more than any other trust in the region, a BBC investigation has found.

Image source, Google

The figures from the NHS Litigation Authority, external show that due to medical negligence, West Herts, covering Hemel, St Albans and Watford Hospitals paid nearly £53m to to 332 claimants.  

Bedford and Luton Hospitals paid out more than £21m and £24m in compensation, while East and North Herts, which runs the QE2 and Lister, has paid out £35m.

Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio

About 20 firefighters tackled a large blaze on open ground in a Buckinghamshire village last night.

Crews from Aylesbury and Waddesdon were called to Lower Icknield Way in Great Kimble, south of Aylesbury, at about 18:30.

The chief executive of Luton Borough Council, external has said he feels some sympathy for Labour councillor Aysegul Gurbuz who resigned over anti-Semitic posts on her Twitter account, but has no sympathy for the comments made.

Image source, Google

Trevor Holden said: "This is a difficult set of circumstances for [her] so [I have] sympathy with the individual, yes, [but] sympathy or any association with the comments made - absolutely not."

"I think anyone who stands for public office needs to make sure and be aware of the transparency of their lives," he said.

Paul Scoins
BBC Three Counties Radio political reporter

A Labour councillor in Luton, who has resigned from the council over anti-Semitic comments on her Twitter account, has told the BBC she was "horrified to read back what was written" and "apologised for them in their entirety".

In a statement, Aysegul Gurbuz said the comments - posted when she was "just 16 or 17", on an account which she did not have full control over, were "ill judged and offensive".

"As such I believe it is the right thing to acknowledge the pain I have caused and have resigned from Luton Borough Council as an elected representative," she said.   

Paul Scoins
BBC Three Counties Radio political reporter

A Labour councillor in Luton, suspended from the party over anti-Semitic comments on her Twitter account, has resigned from the council.

Image source, Google/Luton Borough Council

Aysegul Gurbuz said messages claiming Hitler was the "greatest man in history"  and suggesting Iran could develop a nuclear weapon to "wipe Israel off the map"  were made when she was "just 16 or 17" and were "ill-judged and offensive".

She said "multiple people" had had access to her account but she took "full responsibility for what was spoken in [her] name".

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Rail commuters face delays this morning on lines in to London.

London Midland, external and Virgin, external services through Milton Keynes are being affected by a major power failure in Birmingham.

London Midland said: "Currently there is no estimate from Network Rail when the signalling system can be restored."

Sara Thornton
BBC Weather

It will be dry and breezy this morning, but cloudier this afternoon, with rain arriving by the early evening.

Maximum temperature: 15C (59F).

Get the detailed forecast where you live from BBC Weather.  

Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio

Here are the top stories we're looking at this morning:

• A Labour councillor who tweeted that Hitler was the "greatest man in history" has resigned from Luton Borough Council
• Rail commuters face delays this morning on lines into London
• About 20 firefighters tackled a large blaze on open ground in a Buckinghamshire village last night

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Good morning and welcome to today's live page for the three counties where we'll bring you the latest news, sport, weather and travel for the area until 18:00.

Coming up: the latest on the Labour councillor in Luton, suspended from the party over anti-Semitic comments on her Twitter account.

If you'd like to get in touch with any stories or pictures, you can tweet us, external or email us here.