Alan Sheehan's sublime free-kick earns Luton a draw at 10-man Hartlepool and moves the Hatters up to second in League Two.

A 60-year-old man who was extradited from Germany is charged with murdering a man in 1993.

Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live

That's us wrapped up for the day, thanks for your company.

We'll be back bright and early from 08:00 tomorrow morning with the latest news, sport, weather and travel as it happens.

Stay tuned to this page for any breaking news from across the three counties overnight.

We'll leave you today with this great shot in Bedford captured by Weather Watcher "Judge Roy".

Have a great evening.

Dan Holley
BBC Look East weather

Cloud and patchy drizzle will clear, to leave a dry night with clear spells.

It will stay mild, with temperatures falling to 9C (48F) in a south-westerly breeze.

Image source, BBC Weather

Wednesday should be mostly dry, with some lengthy sunny spells. Feeling warm, with temperatures reaching 23C (73F).

BBC Weather has more details for where you live.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Three Counties Radio

A Romanian man has pleaded guilty to raping a woman in Hemel Hempstead in March.

Stefan Padure, 31, of Windmill Road, Hemel Hempstead, appeared at Luton Crown Court via video link from Bedford prison and admitted three charges of rape and one of assault by penetration.

Judge Lynn Tayton QC said the case was "very concerning" and a substantial custodial sentence is "inevitable".

Padure is due to be sentenced on 25 November.

Bedfordshire Police says it "will not tolerate anyone who seeks to exploit those who are at risk of harm", after an officer pleaded guilty to misconduct over sexual communication with a vulnerable woman.

Ass Ch Con Mike Colbourne said it was "incredibly disappointing" that PC Andrew Hurst, 31, from Carmichael Drive in Shortstown, "became involved in such an inappropriate relationship".

"We expect the highest standards of our officers," Mr Colbourne said, apologising to the victim and her family.

Hurst appeared at St Albans Crown Court earlier and will be sentenced on 25 October. 

Tony Fisher
BBC Three Counties Radio

Travellers have managed to set up an illegal camp in Dunstable, despite the area being sealed off by breeze blocks.

Central Bedfordshire Council had installed earth mounds and blocks around the old courthouse behind Asda in an attempt to stop encampments occurring there again.

The barrier is wide open, but police have found no signs of forced entry so the council will be trying to evict them in the standard way. 

A policeman urged a vulnerable woman he met in the cells to send him naked photos and videos, a court hears.

Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live

A 60-year-old man has been charged with murder in connection with the death of Paul Milburn in St Albans more than 20 years ago.

Mr Milburn, 43, from Surrey, was killed in Noke Lane, St Albans, on 26 April 1993. He was shot in his car and died at the scene.

Justin Clarke, of no fixed address, was extradited back to the UK from Germany yesterday. He had been arrested under a European Arrest Warrant by police in Berlin on 4 February.

Today he was remanded in custody by Hatfield magistrates to appear at St Albans Crown Court on Thursday.  

Mr Clarke also faces charges of conspiracy to defraud, offering to supply controlled drugs and possession of a firearm to commit murder.

A man has been charged with murder in connection with the death of Paul Milburn in St Albans more than 20 years ago.

More to follow.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Three Counties Radio

Luton-based airline Monarch has been told it must renew its Atol licence if it wants to continue selling package holidays.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said the airline had until Friday to renew the licence, which compensates passengers in full and makes sure they are not stranded if a holiday company goes bust.

The company denied speculation it's in financial trouble earlier this week. 

The CAA said there are no set criteria for approving applications for Atol licences, but the process involves assessing a company's finances, business model, corporate governance and group structure. 

We've contacted the airline for comment and will bring you its response as soon as we have it.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Three Counties Radio

Two men who stole frozen food, power tools and golf clubs from garages in Henlow while drunk have been given suspended prison sentences.

Paul Wilkins, 37, of Bilberry Road, Clifton, and Paul Davis, 41, of Southfields, Shefford, broke into garages on the exclusive estate on Gardeners Lane in January this year.

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Luton Crown Court heard Wilkins was "extremely embarrassed" by what happened and both men said they wanted to stop offending.

Judge Lynn Tayton QC sentenced them to six months in jail, suspended for 18 months, and ordered them to carry out unpaid work alongside a rehabilitation programme.

Jane Killick
BBC Three Counties Radio

A man on a moped fired gunshots at people in Luton during an attack in which another man was stabbed.

Image source, Google

Police said three men sitting in a parked car in Copenhagen Close were approached by a man at about 19:45 last night.

One of them was stabbed when he got out of the car. Shortly afterwards, a man arrived on a moped and fired shots at the three. 

No-one was hit by the gunfire. The stabbed man was taken to hospital, but his injuries aren't life-threatening.

BBC Weather

It's a rather cloudy afternoon, but the cloud will gradually thin and break allowing some bright or sunny spells to develop later. A maximum temperature of 20C (68F).

Here's a picture of the cloudy Hertfordshire sky from our Weather Watcher, David, in Goffs Oak.

You can keep up-to-date with the weather in your local area by visiting the BBC Weather website.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Three Counties Radio

Travel organisation Abta has highlighted the long commute some passengers at UK airports face when travelling from the check-in desk to departure gate.

Luton Airport was listed as one of the worst offenders, with passengers having to walk a maximum distance of 900m - over half a mile - before catching their flight.

Abta warns this can lead to passengers with walking difficulties missing their flight if assistance is not organised in advance.

A spokesman for Luton Airport said: "London Luton Airport is the most compact site of all major airports making it quick and easy to use. 

"A free service is available for all passengers requiring assistance to reach their boarding gate."

Here's what some of the local papers are reporting today:

• Lewis Hamilton's F1 suit helps to raise £47k, external for the Herts Air Ambulance
• Reckless moped and motorbike riders could have vehicles crushed, external
• Up to 30 men involved in town centre street brawl, external in Paul's Row, High Wycombe

Nicola Haseler
BBC Three Counties

Image source, SBNA

A Bedfordshire police officer has pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office after engaging in sexual communication with a vulnerable woman.

St Albans Crown Court heard PC Andrew Hurst, 31, from Carmichael Drive in Shortstown, encouraged the woman, who he met through his police duties, to send him naked photos and videos of her on Facebook and via text message between May 2014 and March 2015.

The prosecution called it a gross breach of the public's trust.

Mr Hurst is suspended from Bedfordshire Constabulary and will be sentenced on 25 October.

He was told by Judge Stephen Warner he should expect a custodial sentence.

Dani Bailey
BBC Local Live

A police helicopter is being used to search for a missing teenager with learning difficulties in Bedfordshire, with officers saying they are "extremely concerned".

Image source, Bedfordshire Police

Adam Clough was last seen at 07:00 yesterday morning, leaving his home in St Neots Road, Sandy.

He is white, about 5ft 6in (1.68m) tall and was last seen wearing a green bomber-style jacket, jeans and a dark baseball cap.

A dozen people from the Midshires Search and Rescue team are also looking for the teenager.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police as soon as possible.

Tony Fisher
BBC Three Counties Radio

A coach company serving Bedfordshire schools has been spoken to about its performance following criticism from parents, but not issued a written warning. 

More than 100 people put their names to an online petition complaining Barton Coaches puts on services that regularly break down, are late, and don't stop at correct stops.  

Central Bedfordshire Council said discussions had taken place with the firm about the criticisms. 

Darrell Whitworth, senior transport coordinator at the authority, told BBC Three Counties the coach contracts expire in December, so a decision over whether to renew will be made "over the coming weeks".

The director of Barton Coaches, Steve Gildey, said the company transports more than 1,000 children to school each day and that if a parent complains, that complaint is responded to.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Three Counties Radio

Our top story this morning is about a damning report on Bedford prison.

Image source, Google

We've talked about criticism from the Howard League for Penal Reform - but what are the issues at Bedford prison?

Here's a list of problems that were found when the HM Inspectorate of Prisons visited in May:

• Twice the number of prisoners said it was "easy" to access drugs, compared to a previous inspection in February 2014
• Incidents of self-harm had almost doubled from 67 to 121 since the 2014 inspection
• Prevalent use of the psychoactive substance "spice" - which mimics cannabis  
• The use of drugs previously known as "legal highs" was having a "serious impact" on safety

• Damaged furniture, graffiti and dirty showers
• Shortages of clothing