Summary

  • Updates on Friday, 30 September 2016

  • Stevenage-built Rosetta spacecraft "deliberately crashed" into comet

  • Three teenage boys arrested after Hertfordshire barn fire

  • Murder arrest after woman found dead at a house in Buckinghamshire

  1. Bedford prison: Reform plans under waypublished at 09:10 British Summer Time 27 September 2016

    Sarah Jenkins
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    Following on from criticism about HMP Bedford, a prison spokeswoman has revealed plans to reform the "substandard" prison.

    Responding to comments from the Howard League for Penal Reform, the spokeswoman said "safety in prisons is fundamental to the proper functioning of our justice system and a vital part of our reform plans".

    The plans focus on tackling the problem of the availability of psychoactive substances within the prison by introducing mandatory testing of synthetic drugs.

  2. Bedford prison 'unsafe, overcrowded and understaffed'published at 08:43 British Summer Time 27 September 2016

    Sarah Jenkins
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    Bedford prison is a "good example of everything that is wrong with the prison system", according to the Howard League for Penal Reform.

    HMP Bedford

    The chief executive of the charity, external, Frances Crook, branded HMP Bedford "unsafe, overcrowded and understaffed". 

    It comes after a report by the HM Inspectorate of Prisons, which among a number of criticisms said inmates claimed it was easier to get hold of drugs than clothes or bedding.

    The Prison Service said it was taking action to address the level of substance misuse at the prison. 

  3. Weather: Cloudy start but turning brighterpublished at 08:08 British Summer Time 27 September 2016

    Georgina Burnett
    BBC Weather

    Today will be cloudy with some light rain in places and there will be a slight breeze. 

    Cloud will begin to clear later. 

    Maximum temperature: 19C (66F).

  4. Welcome backpublished at 08:00 British Summer Time 27 September 2016

    Sarah Jenkins
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    Thanks for joining us for another day of live news, sport, weather and travel until 18:00 this evening.

    It's looking rather grey outside this morning and shortly we'll have the full weather forecast for Beds, Herts and Bucks.

    We'll also bring you our top story about Bedford Prison, which has been described as a "good example of everything that is wrong with the prison system" by the Howard League for Penal Reform.

    If you'd like to get in touch, you can email ustweet us, external or contact us via Facebook, external.   

  5. Watford bullied by Burnley - Deeneypublished at 23:47 British Summer Time 26 September 2016

    Watford's players were "bullied to a man all over the pitch" during their 2-0 defeat at Burnley, says captain Troy Deeney.

    Read More
  6. Watford 'could not handle Burnley'published at 23:08 British Summer Time 26 September 2016

    Watford captain Troy Deeney says his side's performance during their 2-0 defeat by Burnley at Turf Moor was not good enough.

    Read More
  7. Dyche delighted with Burnley displaypublished at 22:44 British Summer Time 26 September 2016

    Burnley boss Sean Dyche is pleased with his side's performance as they beat a lacklustre Watford 2-0 at Turf Moor.

    Read More
  8. Burnley 2-0 Watfordpublished at 22:29 British Summer Time 26 September 2016

    Burnley's record signing Jeff Hendrick scores his first goal for the club to help his side beat a lacklustre Watford at Turf Moor.

    Read More
  9. Our live coverage through the daypublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 26 September 2016

    Live updates have finished for today but we'll be back with the latest news for Beds, Herts and Bucks from 08:00 tomorrow.

    Here's a round-up of some of our top stories today:

  10. Police complaint over race attack delaypublished at 17:54 British Summer Time 26 September 2016

    A complaint is made to Thames Valley Police over the time it took to investigate an attack when a pregnant Somalian woman lost her unborn twin babies.

    Read More
  11. Weather: Rain clearing to leave a largely dry nightpublished at 17:28 British Summer Time 26 September 2016

    Julie Reinger
    BBC Look East weather

    Rain will clear north-eastwards this evening. The rest of the night will be largely dry and cloudy with a few clear intervals. We may get some further outbreaks of rain developing in the west of the eastern region later. 

    Minimum temperature 11C (52F).

    Weather map of the East of England

    Tomorrow, after some early brightness it’ll generally be cloudy and with some outbreaks of rain at times as temperatures peak at 20C (68F).

    Get your local forecast from BBC Weather.

  12. Missing Sandy teenager has learning difficultiespublished at 17:18 British Summer Time 26 September 2016

    Police in Bedfordshire are concerned for the welfare of a missing 16-year-old boy with learning difficulties.

    Adam CloughImage source, Bedfordshire Police

    Adam Clough was last seen at 07:00 this 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.

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

  13. A5-M1 link: Bridge demolitionpublished at 17:13 British Summer Time 26 September 2016

    If you were travelling around Bedfordshire overnight this weekend and had cause to use the M1, you may have found yourself in a bit of difficulty...

    The last two weekends, the carriageway has been closed between junctions nine and 12 northbound, and J12 - 11 southbound, in order for two bridges to be demolished as part of the A5-M1 link road, external works.

    This was what the old Houghton Road bridge looked like during demolition this weekend:

    M1 bridge being demolishedImage source, Highways England
  14. Meet 'easyJet's youngest female airline captain'published at 17:03 British Summer Time 26 September 2016

    BBC Newsbeat

    Kate McWilliamsImage source, PA

    If Kate McWilliams got a penny every time someone asked how old she was, she'd be on to a good thing.

    Luton-based easyJet says the 26-year-old is their youngest ever commercial female airline captain.

    Kat McWilliamsImage source, PA

    She flies to around 100 destinations across the world and says most people "are pleasantly surprised and impressed" when she tells them her age.

    Kate began flying in the air cadets when she was 13 years old, but admitted to the Press Association she never thought she could become a commercial pilot.

    She flies Airbus A319 and A320 planes to locations across the world, including Iceland, Israel and Morocco. Read more here.

  15. Driver of crashed train 'warned others'published at 16:39 British Summer Time 26 September 2016

    A train that crashed with another service was able to cut its speed by more than half before the impact after receiving an emergency warning, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch says.

    Read More
  16. Teen stabbed near Dunstable leisure centrepublished at 16:15 British Summer Time 26 September 2016

    Tony Fisher
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    Court Drive in DunstableImage source, Google

    A 17-year-old has been arrested after a stabbing near Dunstable leisure centre at lunchtime.

    An 18-year-old man was taken to hospital, but his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. 

    Police were called to Court Drive at 13:20. The teenager remains in police custody for questioning.

  17. Relive Sunday's Premiership Rugbypublished at 16:01 British Summer Time 26 September 2016

    Relive Sunday's Premiership action as it happened as Worcester beat Newcastle and Wasps beat Harlequins.

    Read More
  18. Ex-BBC man to face trial over alleged Milton Keynes sex assaultpublished at 16:01 British Summer Time 26 September 2016

    A former BBC employee is to face trial over allegations he indecently assaulted a woman in Milton Keynes in the 1980s.

    Geoffrey Wheeler, 70, is said to have assaulted the woman at a BBC studio in the town when he worked at the Open University for the broadcaster.

    Southwark Crown Court

    Southwark Crown Court heard a range of allegations against Mr Wheeler, of Milton Keynes, including putting his hand up the woman's top to try and touch her breast.

    He denied five counts of indecent assault and was bailed until his trial in March next year. 

    Mr Wheeler - not to be confused with the BBC broadcaster and former Songs of Praise presenter of the same name who died in December 2013 - was charged under Operation Yewtree, the police investigation into historical sexual abuse following the aftermath of the Jimmy Savile scandal.

  19. Baby rats dumped in Aylesbury 'may not survive'published at 15:16 British Summer Time 26 September 2016

    Nine baby rats found at the side of a road in Aylesbury may not survive without their mum, the RSPCA say.

    The rats were found on a grass verge in Fairmile on 21 September and are thought to be less than two weeks old.

    Baby rats dumped in sawdustImage source, RSPCA

    "They are so young and their eyes aren't even open yet," said Stephanie Law, an RSPCA inspector.

    Ms Law says the mum could have been dumped with the babies, but that they "can't rule out that somebody still has mum".

    "The rats were dumped in a pile of sawdust, so it looks like someone just scooped them up out of a cage or a box with the sawdust then walked away."

    Anyone with information is asked to contact the RSPCA, external.