Sunderland accept a bid from Watford for Younes Kaboul, with the defender wanting to move for personal reasons.

Regular updates for the three counties have now finished for Thursday, but check back throughout the night for any breaking news stories. 

Today we've covered jubilation in Rio as MK's Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge won bronze in the Olympics, and news that a man arrested yesterday in connection with the death of a man near Leighton Buzzard has been charged with his murder.

We'll be back with regular updates from 08:00 tomorrow morning... but before we go, here's a few scenes from across the East region as students got their A-level results today.

Have a good evening.

Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

This evening will be fine and warm, and it'll stay dry overnight turning cloudier from the west later. Lows of 13C (55F).

Friday will start dry and bright, but there'll be outbreaks of mainly light and patchy rain developing, which may be heavy in places. Top temperature: 20C (68F).

BBC Weather has a more detailed forecast where you live.

Follow live text coverage from Vicarage Road as Watford host Chelsea in the Premier League.

Dani Bailey
BBC Local Live

Ollie the otter? Olive the otter? Whatever you think sounds good, it could be your chance to name one of five otter pups born in Bedfordshire.

Image source, Woburn Safari Park

The litter of Asian short clawed otters were born at Woburn Safari Park last month to mum Kelani and dad Kovu, after the pair were introduced to each other in April.

As the pups start to emerge from their den, people are being invited to submit name ideas, external for the five little ones by next Friday. Keepers will then pick their favourites.

Image source, Woburn Safari Park

BBC Entertainment and Arts

ITV is switching off all seven of its channels for an hour to encourage people to get off their sofas and take part in sport following Team GB's Olympics success.

Image source, Reuters

ITV will stop broadcasting from 09:30 on 27 August as part of the I Am Team GB campaign.

The move, organised with the National Lottery, will also see thousands of sports clubs open to let people try new sports for free.

Olympic medallists, including Woburn Sands' long jumper Greg Rutherford, will take part in the campaign.

What's it like to be an undercover police officer? The BBC News home affairs team has been following Kamal who's been working in Luton for 20 months to find out.

Image source, Met Police

The long-running undercover police operation in the Bedfordshire town has contributed evidence to two recent counter-terrorism trials, and helped build up an incredibly detailed picture of the depths of loathing for Britain felt by the men at the heart of the investigation.

Read the full story here.

A government study says a "brain belt" expressway between Oxford and Cambridge could boost the UK economy.

BBC Sport

Not since Gail Emms and Nathan Robertson won mixed doubles silver at Athens 2004 have Great Britain had a badminton podium finish in any event at an Olympic Games.  

It follows an impressive run in the Olympic badminton competition for Marcus Ellis and Chris Landridge, who won their final two group games to reach the quarter-finals - where they defeated Japan's Hiroyuki Endo and Kenichi Hayakawa.

Image source, Getty Images

Today's result against China's Chai Biao and Hong Wei now puts them in the history books.

Speaking to Badminton England, external before the semi-final, head coach Jakob Hoi said "we have never been as well prepared as we are now". 

BBC Sport

Here's the team at Badminton England, based in Milton Keynes, celebrating Marcus Ellis and Chris Landridge's historic win for Team GB in the Olympics badminton.

GB's last badminton medallist, Nathan Robertson, is also delighted for the pair...

They beat China by two sets to one, with 21-18 19-21 21-10 being the final score.

BBC Sport

Jubilation in Rio as MK's Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge win bronze in the men's doubles badminton, beating their Chinese opponents by two games to one.

The pair, who performed an attacking masterclass, are ranked just 22nd in the world compared to China, ranked fifth.

Two men are arrested after a woman was raped and robbed in a park in Slough.

Justin Dealey
BBC Three Counties Radio

Earlier today I was at the University of Hertfordshire for its Clearing Live, external event.

The Hatfield-based university has been the first to stream a live webcast on campus, offering advice and support to students. 

About 400 people were manning the phones at the university today for those A-levels students using the Clearing route to get a place on a course.

At the start of the day it had roughly 500 places available to be filled.

Louise Parry
BBC Three Counties

A record number of students have been offered university places, as teenagers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland pick up their A-level results. 

Three percent more places have been offered compared to last year - about 424,000.

Image source, PA

The vice chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire, Bill Rammel, said that high fees shouldn't put people off from going into higher education.

He said the university will take about 2,000 calls for Clearing today, as students who may not have got the grades they expected choose courses.

Usman Azad
BBC Three Counties Radio

Nearly 6,000 drivers have been caught breaking the 20mph speed limit in Dunstable in the past three years.

The figures come from a Freedom of Information request, that show police caught drivers speeding on four streets including Drovers Way, Langdale Road, Lowther Road and Meadway, from July 2013 to the end of June this year. 

On Drovers Way, 4,282 drivers were flashed by the fixed camera - that's an average of 27 drivers a week.

The Alliance of British Drivers says speed cameras are criminalising the majority of the population.

Rod King, founder of the 20's Plenty for Us, external campaign, said such speed limits are in force to make roads "safe, comfortable and convenient for all road users, for pedestrians, cyclists and people who even just want to stand at the end of the road talking".

Paul Scoins
BBC political reporter

A government study has said a "brain belt" expressway between Oxford and Cambridge could boost the UK economy, external.  

Image source, WSP

The Department for Transport has published the results of an investigation into linking existing roads between the two cities, via Bedford and Milton Keynes. 

It says upgrading the network and addressing gaps could improve journey times by up to 30 minutes. 

And the study warns a failure to act could "constrain economic growth".  

BBC Business News

These robots are being rolled out to Amazon's warehouses across the UK.  

Watch them in action at the warehouse in Dunstable, Bedfordshire.

BBC Weather Watchers

This afternoon will continue to be dry and it feel warm in the light winds. Maximum temperature: 25C (77F).

Get the latest forecast at BBC Weather.

A man arrested yesterday in connection with the death of a man near Leighton Buzzard has been charged with his murder.

Patrick Maloney (pictured), 43, died as a result of "multiple crushing injuries" after he was hit by a vehicle at Toddbury Farm, Slapton Road, Little Billington, on 2 August.  

Image source, Bedfordshire Police

Christopher McCarthy, 21, of Toddbury Farm, was charged today and has attended Luton Magistrates' Court for a hearing, Bedfordshire Police said.

The force said he is next due to appear at Luton Crown Court on Monday.

Thomas McCarthy, 24, also of Toddbury Farm, has previously been charged with murder and a 42-year-old woman arrested over the death remains on bail.   

As we mentioned earlier, it's A-level results day.

Schools, universities and businesses across Beds, Herts and Bucks have been speaking to students about their next steps.

Redborne School in Ampthill is celebrating its best ever results with a pass rate of 99.6%, and all students achieving places at their first choice university.

Here are a few photographs from sixth forms and colleges. Biddenham School sent us this picture...

Image source, Biddenham School

This photo comes from Milton Keynes College, which says it has seen top grade A-level results increase for a second year running.

Image source, Milton Keynes College

The Sele School in Hertford also tweeted these pictures.