A football fan suffered brain injuries after he was allegedly attacked by a group of youths, a court hears.

Luton hit three second-half goals as the Hatters claim a comfortable win at last term's League Two play-off finalists.

Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

Rather cloudy with a few showers across the East region this evening but these will tend to fade to leave a largely dry night with clear spells. Lows of 8C (46F).

There's a risk of some early showers tomorrow, but generally a dry day with sunny spells. Maximum temperature: 18C (64F).

You'll find your latest local forecast at BBC Weather.

Striker Tom Hitchcock and MK Dons part ways by mutual consent, after he makes just 14 appearances in two years.

Joanne Writtle
BBC Midlands Today

A football fan was left in a coma for three months after suffering brain injuries caused by an "unprovoked" attack by a group of youths following a Wolves match, a court heard.

Nic Cruwys, from Hemel Hempstead, was knocked to the ground, kicked and attacked following a 2-2 draw between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Watford on March 7 last year, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

David Lee, prosecuting, said Mr Cruwys suffered life-changing injuries.

Five teenagers deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent:

- Daniel Lloyd, 19, of Longfellow Road, Dudley

- Joseph Lister, 19, of Palmer Close, Wednesfield

- Robert Beech, 19, of Springfield Road, also Wednesfield

- Ryan Meer, 19, of Watling Street, Gailey, Staffordshire

- A 15-year-old boy who cannot be named for legal reasons

The trial continues.

Kate Scotter
BBC News

A plaque to remember the "accordion man of St Albans" has been installed in the place where he played.

Image source, St Albans District Council

John "Paddy" Delaney, who died aged 86 on 31 March 2015, had spent more than 35 years entertaining people in the city's Market Place.  

A 12ins (30cm) bronze cast plaque has now been put in "his spot" near to WH Smith.

It comes after 1,000 people signed a petition for a memorial.

Reports of sex abuse across the Thames Valley Police area have more than doubled in the last five years, which may be down to the "Jimmy Saville effect".

The force said responding to the complaints has been "challenging" due to the substantial increase, but it has been positive as more people have been convicted.

The increase in victims coming forward has been put down to high-profile sex abuse cases, such as the Jimmy Savile revelations, which has given some who were abused the confidence to come forward.

Det Sgt Fiona Pearce said: "In the wake of Jimmy Savile, figures [of reported sex abuse] have been up massively, but we're now in a position where we can bring historical cases to court that happened 10, 20 or 30 years ago."  

New figures obtained by the BBC show there's been a huge increase in serious sexual assaults reported to Thames Valley Police over the past five years. 

In 2010, the force had 700 reports, compared to more than 1,500 last year. 

Det Sgt Fiona Pearce says high profile cases like Jimmy Saville has meant more victims of historical rapes are coming forward.

The force said it can cope with the number of cases with two purpose-built units in Slough and Bletchley.  

Nic Rigby
BBC News

We're been following the news The Shamrock Club, external boxing club in Luton says it may have to close because its lease at the council-owned Wigmore Community Centre hasn't been renewed.

Image source, Google

Luton Borough Council has told the BBC in a statement: "The council is fully committed to supporting a wide range of sporting activities.

"For the last three years we have been able to provide suitable premises at Wigmore Pavilion at a reasonable agreed rent, but have received no payments since 1 January 2016. 

"Wigmore Pavilion is now becoming increasingly dilapidated and regrettably we had to give notice in August 2015 that the club's tenancy could not be renewed this summer."

The council said it had given the club time to find a new home and had suggested they speak to Active Luton to help find premises.

"The council has ambitions to refurbish Wigmore Pavilion for the use and benefit of the wider community and is working to identify funding as part of the London Luton Airport Enterprise Zone scheme," the council added. 

A boxing club in Luton has claimed it has been told it has to find a new home due to its proximity to the airport.

The Shamrock Club says its lease at council-owned Wigmore Community Centre hasn't been renewed on the grounds that it's so close to London Luton Airport. 

Image source, Google

Mervyn Turner from the club believes the council has deliberately made the community centre obsolete so that it "gives them the opening to be able to demolish it".

"They're doing a similar thing [to what happened] at the recreation centre - they slowly took all of the activities away so that it becomes a redundant facility," he said.

Mr Turner believes the centre may be in the way of plans for "hotels and such-like for part of the new Luton expansion".

Carol Abercrombie
BBC Three Counties Radio

An investigation's under way after a man died at a recycling plant in Milton Keynes yesterday.

Image source, Google

It happened at the site in Colts Holm Road, Wolverton. 

The Health & Safety Executive is carrying out a joint inquiry with Thames Valley Police into what happened. 

Several witnesses have come forward after a man was stabbed chasing car vandals in Luton, police say.

Officers are following several lines of inquiry after the incident in Trinity Road on Sunday night.

The victim, a man in his 40s, is still in hospital, but no longer in a critical condition, Bedfordshire Police said.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

A teenage karate kid was stabbed in the hand as he tackled a "ninja burglar" who had walked into his home.

Charlie McGhee, 15, his dad Arthur (pictured below) and brother Joshua, 16, chased two intruders from their home in Millers Way, Houghton Regis, early this morning.

Image source, South Beds News Agency

As they held onto one of the pair Charlie was stabbed with a Stanley knife.

Arthur McGhee said: "They came in the house. My sons came upstairs and said two blokes dressed like ninjas have come in. 

"We went up the road after them and held them. They ran off but Charlie blocked him and wouldn't let him go. 

"His mate stabbed him twice in the hand to try and let his mate go, but he held on and the police arrived.

"Fortunately both boys are tough. They do karate."

Charlie was treated at the Luton & Dunstable hospital.

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested by police.

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Nic Rigby
BBC News

One woman has been seriously hurt and at least two others injured after a vehicle collided with two pedestrians in the car park of a Bedfordshire supermarket.

Emergency services, including an air ambulance, were called to Tesco;s car park in Flitwick just before 14:00.

One of the pedestrians, a woman in her 40s, had head injuries and had to be sedated.

She's been taken to the Luton & Dunstable Hospitaland is in a serious but stable condition.

Another pedestrian, a man, suffered minor injuries and a man in a car was also hurt. 

Fire crews had to free an older woman who was trapped inside a vehicle.

Peterborough United manager Grant McCann and MK Dons boss Karl Robinson go head-to-head on the footgolf course.

Workers on the Virgin East Coast mainline - which runs through Stevenage and Hertford - have voted to strike in a dispute over jobs, working conditions and safety, according to the Rail, Maritime & Transport (RMT) union.

The RMT has accused the company of trying to "bulldoze through" cost-cutting measures which would "decimate" jobs

The ballot was called last month.

Image source, Getty Images

Dani Bailey
BBC Local Live

A 15-year-old boy from Houghton Regis was stabbed twice in the hand as he stopped two burglars. 

Image source, SBNA

Charlie McGhee, dad Arthur and brother Joshua, 16, chased two teenage boys from their home in Millers Way at about 01:00 this morning.

The family "went up the road after them" and as 15-year-old Charlie blocked one of the boys, his dad Arthur said the second boy "stabbed him twice in the hand" with a Stanley-type knife.

He was treated at the Luton & Dunstable Hospital. A 15-year-old boy was arrested and is being questioned by police.

Dani Bailey
BBC Local Live

A monkey called Ziggy has been receiving treatment in Hertfordshire after she got blades of grass stuck in her nose.

Image source, Royal Veterinary College

The mangabey monkey, which is a critically endangered species in west Africa, was taken to the Royal Veterinary College, external's Queen Mother Hospital for Animals in North Mymms after suffering sneezing fits and nose bleeds.

Three-year-old Ziggy, from ZSL London Zoo, had a CT scan so that vets could see how much grass was in her nasal cavity.

She's now back to full health and monkeying around (...couldn't help it).

Image source, ZSL London Zoo

Jane Killick
BBC Three Counties Radio

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary after an incident at a house in Houghton Regis. 

Bedfordshire Police were called to Millers Way at about 01:00 to reports of two boys attempting a break-in.

Image source, Google

One of the occupants of the house, another teenager, was stabbed in the hand and taken to hospital for treatment. 

The 15-year-old is being questioned. A second boy fled the scene.

Dani Bailey
BBC Local Live

Firefighters are dealing with a crop and combine harvester fire in Breachwood Green this afternoon.

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to Pasture Lane just after 12:00.

The crop fire is now extinguished and being damped down, but firefighters are continuing their efforts with the combine harvester.