Summary

  • Neglected baby's life 'could have been saved'

  • Headmaster of St Albans School says pupils were not missing on Brecon Beacons

  • Issac Stone killers challenge joint enterprise verdict

  • War veteran conned out of life savings

  • Updates on Thursday, 30 June 2016

  1. Goodbyepublished at 17:58 British Summer Time 30 June 2016

    That's it from the team at Local Live for Beds, Herts and Bucks. 

    We'll be back from 08:00 tomorrow with more news, sport, travel and weather. 

    You can read all our stories including local reaction to the news that Boris Johnson is not standing in the Conservative leadership race. 

    Nadine Dorries, the Tory MP for Mid Beds, summed up her day on Twitter:

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  2. Why did the duck cross the road?published at 17:47 British Summer Time 30 June 2016

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    It seems no-one is safe from the Beds, Cambs and Herts road policing team.....

    They'll even speed-check ducks crossing the road in Graveley. 

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  3. Weather: Some drizzle expectedpublished at 17:45 British Summer Time 30 June 2016

    Alex Dolan
    BBC Look East weather

    It will remain cloudy through the evening, with a few outbreaks of light rain or drizzle throughout the night. 

    Minimum Temperature: 13C (55F). 

    Weather map

    Friday will be breezy. It'll gradually become brighter throughout the day, although occasional showers are possible. 

    Maximum Temperature: 19C (66F). 

  4. Luton Town: Mullins 'here to win the league'published at 17:42 British Summer Time 30 June 2016

    Simon Oxley
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    One of Luton Town's new signings, Johnny Mullins, says he's joined the club to win the league, having won promotion with Oxford last season.

    "To be totally honest that's what I've come here to do," he said. "Having done it last season I've got an extra fire in my belly to go and do it again, because there's no better feeling in football than getting promoted."

    Johnny MullinsImage source, Getty Images
  5. Baby Imran case review: 'Thresholds for intervention' need to be 'understood'published at 17:41 British Summer Time 30 June 2016

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    A report into the "preventable" death of Baby Imran found that "a more robust intervention could have been been made which, if the mother and grandmother had co-operated, would have ensured Child E [Baby Imran] received adequate care and nutrition".

    It found Jessica Price, the seven month old boy's mother, struggled to cope with three young children under the age of four in "less than favourable" conditions and that meant the children were at "risk of further neglect and emotional harm."

    Among the report's recommendations, produced by and for Luton Local Safeguarding Children's Board, external, were ensuring professionals working with vulnerable children had a "consistent understanding of thresholds for intervention" and the need for "faltering weight to be closely monitored in line with best practice".

  6. Baby Imran case review: NSPCC says opportunities to save the child were 'missed'published at 17:07 British Summer Time 30 June 2016

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    The NSPCC has responded to a serious case review, external that has concluded the death of Baby Imran in Luton in 2014 was "preventable". 

    The charity described it as a "distressing case" that highlighted the "huge workloads child protection professionals were trying to cope with at the time".

    It says opportunities to help the seven month old boy were "sadly missed" and information gathered over a four year period was "never properly shared".

    Quote Message

    While the mother and grandmother, found guilty of allowing Imran’s death, were evasive and deceitful it is clear that more effective communication and intervention could have saved his life.

    NSPCC, spokesperson

  7. Baby Imran case review: Family lived in 'cramped conditions'published at 16:40 British Summer Time 30 June 2016

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    The review into the death of Baby Imran was commissioned by Luton Local Safeguarding Children Board.

    The report, external found hospital and community-based services raised concerns about the conditions in the family home as there was "a house full of 'clutter', often dirty due to pet bird droppings, safety hazards, smoke-filled due to heavy smoking, cramped living conditions and bed sharing". 

    Case review front pageImage source, Luton Local Safeguarding Children Board

    A plan was put in place for health visitors to monitor and work with the family. 

    They found limited engagement from the mother, Jessica Price, and improvement to the home conditions were "limited" and had "little positive impact".

  8. Baby Imran case review: Mother and grandmother 'wilfully neglected' himpublished at 16:19 British Summer Time 30 June 2016

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    Baby Imran was found dead by his mother in the family home in Morris Close, Luton, in January 2014

    He was seven months old and had lost 17% of his body weight in just a few days while under their care. 

    He had sunken eyes as a result of dehydration. 

    When Jessica and Angela Price were sentenced, the Judge Richard Foster said the pair "wilfully neglected" the boy.

    Although the exact cause of the child's death was undetermined, the post-mortem examination indicated a "significant failure to thrive". 

  9. Serious case review into baby's death finds he could have been savedpublished at 16:03 British Summer Time 30 June 2016

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    A report into the case of a baby who starved to death in Luton has found that his life could have been saved.

    A serious case review , externalby Luton Safeguarding Children Board into the death of seven month old Baby Imran concluded that intervention by health visitors could have saved his life. 

    The child's mother, Jessica Price, and grandmother, Angela Price (both pictured), are in jail for not seeking help and allowing his death.

    Angela (left) and Jessica PriceImage source, South Beds News Agency
  10. 'New policing deal' for Leighton Buzzardpublished at 15:39 British Summer Time 30 June 2016

    Katy Lewis
    BBC Local Live

    Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Kathryn Holloway has said her "absolute priority" is a "brand new policing deal" for Leighton Buzzard.

    Leighton BuzzardImage source, Google

    Ms Holloway and Deputy Chief Constable Mark Collins are chairing a meeting in the town tonight to discuss the future of its policing.

    Ms Holloway said: "Leighton Buzzard is our third largest town in the county, we can't possibly police it as if it was a village and not only that, it's expanding all the time."

  11. Wycombe bring in Southend winger Westonpublished at 15:19 British Summer Time 30 June 2016

    BBC Sport

    Wycombe Wanderers have signed winger Myles Weston on a two-year deal after his release by Southend United.

    Myles WestonImage source, Getty Images

    The 28-year-old Antigua and Barbuda international helped Southend win promotion to League One in 2015 but has only started once since November 2015.

    Much of his absence has been because of plantar fasciitis, an injury affecting the heel and foot.

  12. Berkhamsted deaths: Family of Sarah Nash 'devastated'published at 14:21 British Summer Time 30 June 2016

    Katy Lewis
    BBC Local Live

    The parents of a woman found dead inside her home in Berkhamsted last week say they are "devastated" by her death, and have asked to be "left in peace to grieve".

    Sarah NashImage source, Hertfordshire Constabulary

    Mother of two Sarah Nash, 37, was found at her Highfield Road home on 23 June after concerns were raised for her welfare. 

    Lee Guntrip, 25, from Berkhamsted, was also found dead at the property.  

    Police say investigations are ongoing but they're not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths. 

    Det Chief Insp Jerome Kent said: "This was a tragic, isolated incident and one which I know has caused concern within the wider community."

    Herts Police has referred the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission due to prior contact between the force and the deceased.

  13. This afternoon's weather: Mostly drypublished at 13:51 British Summer Time 30 June 2016

    BBC Weather

    It's due to be a cloudy and breezy afternoon, but mostly dry with just the odd shower possible.

    Maximum temperature: 19C (66F).

    Weather graphic
  14. Milton Keynes Council leader captures the mood...published at 13:34 British Summer Time 30 June 2016

    Katy Lewis
    BBC Local Live

    As everybody tries to keep up with the political world after the Brexit vote, councillor Peter Marland, the Labour leader of Milton Keynes Council, has used a screen grab from BBC News to sum up the thoughts of many.

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  15. Verulamium excavation film 'as much a part of history as the Roman finds'published at 13:16 British Summer Time 30 June 2016

    Katy Lewis
    BBC Local Live

    I must thank St Albans Museums, external for reminding everybody of this 1930s gem on British Movietone's YouTube channel.

    As Sir Mortimer Wheeler talks in perfect received pronunciation about the latest discoveries from the Verulamium Roman Town in St. Albans, including pottery finds still on display in the city today, the museum quite rightly points out that the film is "as much a time capsule of its era as the Roman finds themselves".

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  16. Watford sign out-of-contract Liverpool strikerpublished at 12:49 British Summer Time 30 June 2016

    BBC Sport

    Watford have signed out-of-contract Liverpool striker Jerome Sinclair on a five-year deal.

    Jerome SinclairImage source, Getty Images

    Sinclair, 19, made five first-team appearances for Liverpool and scored on his first start against Exeter in the FA Cup in January.

    The clubs have come to an agreement which will see the Merseysiders receive about £4m in compensation as a development fee applies.

    He is the club's first signing ahead of the 2016-17 season.

  17. Nadine Dorries - who will she back now?published at 12:38 British Summer Time 30 June 2016

    Katy Lewis
    BBC Local Live

    This morning we told you how Nadine Dorries tweeted, external that she was backing Boris Johnson to be the next leader of the Conservative Party.

    She tweeted, external a picture as she waited for his announcement, which turned out to be that he was ruling himself out of the leader race.

    The Mid-Bedfordshire MP seemed noticeably upset by the announcement.

    Nadine Dorries
  18. Luton MP calls Boris Johnson 'pathetic'published at 12:20 British Summer Time 30 June 2016

    Katy Lewis
    BBC Local Live

    As we wait for local Conservative MPs to give their reaction to Boris Johnson ruling himself out of the leadership race, the Labour MP for Luton South has made his feelings about the news very clear.

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  19. Issac Stone killers challenge joint enterprise verdictpublished at 12:08 British Summer Time 30 June 2016

    Lee Agnew
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    Four Bedford men serving life sentences for the murder of teenager Issac Stone in the town are urging top judges to overturn their convictions, following a landmark ruling.

    Issac StoneImage source, Other

    Mohammed Hussain, Fahim Khan, and brothers Javed and Rubel Miah were found guilty of murdering the 19-year-old in September 2014, on the basis they were involved in a "joint enterprise" killing.

    But they are now challenging the jury's verdicts, following a Supreme Court decision earlier this year which said the law which had allowed people to be convicted of murder even if they did not inflict the fatal blow had been wrongly interpreted for more than 30 years.

    Judges have said that if they allow the appeals, then the convictions could be reduced to manslaughter, rather than quashed altogether. The Appeal Court hearing continues, with judgement likely at a later date.

  20. Woodhill Prison probe under waypublished at 11:45 British Summer Time 30 June 2016

    Katy Lewis
    BBC Local Live

    An investigation is under way after the death of another inmate at Woodhill Prison in Milton Keynes, where there have been nine suicides since 2012.    

    HMP Prison WoodhillImage source, South Beds News Agency

    Yesterday we told you that 31-year-old Thomas Morris, from Milton Keynes, was found dead in his cell early on Sunday morning. His death is not being treated as suspicious.

    Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: "When you have a series of deaths in prison close together like this it requires, I think, a proper look at the whole institution.

    "There will be an investigation into the death of this young man by the prison's ombudsman and that always happens after a death in custody, but I would imagine that the National Offender Management Service, external will and certainly should take a look at what's happening in the prison altogether."