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.

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.

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. 

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).

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 us, tweet us, external or contact us via Facebook, external.   

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

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

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

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

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:

• 'Racist' attack in Bletchley prompts police complaint
• Luton-based Monarch denies speculation it's in financial trouble
• Fire extinguished at derelict Luton nightclub

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.

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).

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.

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

Image 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.

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:

Image source, Highways England

BBC Newsbeat

Image 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.

Image 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.

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.

Tony Fisher
BBC Three Counties Radio

Image 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.

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

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 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.

Here's what some of the newspapers in Beds, Herts and Bucks are reporting today:

• Headteacher condemns arsonists that caused £20,000 of damage, external to school
• Eastenders fan spots soap star, external in Bedfordshire
• Cyclist taken to hospital after crash in Hertfordshire bike race, external

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.

Image 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.