BBC Sport

BBC Sport

Here's how Bedford's Etienne Stott announced his retirement on Twitter. 

BBC Sport

"It is time for me to announce the end of a huge chapter in my life," says Bedford's Etienne Stott as he announced his retirement today. 

"I consider myself both extraordinarily fortunate to have reached this point, and to have the full array of choices before me to take my life forward.

"Although I have won an Olympic gold medal at a home Olympics, I am sincere when I say that I value my journey in canoe slalom so much more."

Image source, Getty Images

The highlight of Stott's career came at London 2012 when he and Tim Baillie claimed gold, a year after he had dislocated his shoulder.

Baillie retired in 2013 and Stott and his new partner failed to qualify for the 2016 Olympics. Team GB's place in the men's C2 was taken by David Florence and Richard Hounslow. They took silver in Rio.

BBC Sport

Bedford's British Olympic gold medal-winning canoeist Etienne Stott (pictured right) has announced his retirement from the sport.

The 37-year-old, who partnered Tim Baillie (pictured left) to an historic first GB canoe slalom gold at London 2012, began competing in the early 2000s and also has a European Championship gold medal.

He was awarded an MBE in 2013 for his services to the sport.

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

"We'd like to know how residents think the High Street should look".

Those are the words of councillor Nigel Young from Central Bedfordshire Council on the launch today of a consultation that could see the town's High Street improved., external

Image source, Central Bedfordshire District Council

Beverley Whayman, who runs the Facebook group About Dunstable, external, says the council really needs to listen to local people. One of the options could be to put more roundabouts in and remove traffic lights.   

The consultation has been launched as when two new roads are opened in the area next year it means changes can be made.

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

A major public consultation project has been launched in Dunstable to discuss how the High Street can be improved, external. 

Image source, Central Bedfordshire District Council

It's to coincide with the opening of the Woodside Link, external and the A5-M1 Link (Dunstable Northern Bypass), external roads in 2017. 

It will mean traffic will be diverted away from the town centre and Central Bedfordshire Council will be able to put a lorry ban in place and carry out changes to the area. 

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

This morning we've been looking at the future of health care in west Herts as health bosses appear to have rejected plans for a new hospital near Kings Langley in favour of redeveloping sites in Watford and St Albans.

Image source, Google

But the joint statement from Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group, external and West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust, external (WHHT) made no mention of Hemel Hempstead Hospital.

This morning, the chair of Herts CCG Dr Nicolas Small told the BBC there is a planned new facility in Hemel which "will do a huge amount of the day to day health care that traditionally has happened in hospitals" and would hopefully answer people's concerns.

He said: "The only thing it won't have is inpatient beds, but other than that it will be a hospital, it will actually deliver care, including day care facilities and walk-in facilities for those who've got minor injuries or minor illnesses.

Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis says the supermarket is winning shoppers back and the company has steadied since its "crisis" two years ago.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

This morning we've been telling you how it looks like plans for a new hospital in west Hertfordshire have been rejected in favour of redeveloping existing sites in St Albans and Watford - but it seems there is still a small chink of hope for those in favour of a new facility.

Chair of Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group, Dr Nicolas Small, who carried out the Your Care Your Future review along with the West Herts Hospitals Trust, said it had "strongly considered" the option to build a hospital on a greenfield site at J20 of the M25 and would be doing some additional analysis.

He said: "There are still some issues about double checking our figures are right in terms of the finances and the transport links and I don't apologise for that.

"For all this time and the money that we've spent in getting to this point we don't want to close the door entirely until we've double checked everything."

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Yesterday we told you that further "stringent" tests were needed before Marlow Bridge can be reopened.

The suspension bridge, which crosses the Thames, was damaged by an overweight lorry trying to cross it last week.

Image source, Buckinghamshire County Council

This morning it's emerged that motorists and businesses in Marlow will have to wait anything between two and six months for this to happen.

Mark Shaw, the Conservative councillor in charge of transport at Bucks County Council, said: "I think the reality is a best case scenario - the bridge being closed to vehicles for about two months and we'd still allow pedestrians and cyclists to use it when safe to do so.

"Sadly the worst case scenario is that it could be up to six months but I'm a pretty optimistic person so I'm hoping it will be two months rather than six months."

Tony Fisher
BBC Three Counties Radio

Govia Thameslink managers have launched a public consultation into plans, external to shake-up its timetable.

Image source, PA

Phil Hodgson from Govia, who was at Bedford station last night, said the plans mean 16 trains an hour into London.

He said: "Eight trains an hour will run from Bedford which will form the fast service from St Albans into London, then [there will be] four additional services from Luton which will be a semi-fast service and four stopping services from St Albans... in the high peak periods."

Passengers were given the chance to question bosses last night at Bedford and this morning they are in St Albans. 

Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio

Luton, Wycombe and MK Dons are through to the knockout stages of the Football League Trophy, after wins last night in the second round of group matches.

Luton beat West Brom 2-0, Wycombe beat West Ham 3-0 and MK Dons won 1-0 at Peterborough.

Stevenage drew 2-2 with Brighton, but lost the penalty shoot-out.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

A new hospital in west Hertfordshire was always "less realistic" due to the amount of money available, a health watchdog has said. 

A review called Your Care, Your Future looks set to rule out a new hospital near junction 20 of the M25, and health bosses say they will instead focus on redeveloping existing sites in Watford and St Albans. 

Chair of Herts Healthwatch Geoff Brown said: "I think we'd all have loved a brand new hospital in the west of the county... but I think in reality the cost of building the new hospital and the amount of money available within the NHS made that option less realistic."

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

A new hospital in west Hertfordshire is looking unlikely this morning as plans appear to have been rejected by those looking at the future of health care in the area.

Image source, West Herts NHS Trust

Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group, external and West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust, external (WHHT) issued a joint statement last night which said they would instead focus on redeveloping existing sites in Watford and St Albans, with the possibility of a complete rebuild at Watford General.

The health care review entitled Your Care, Your Future, external appears to have ruled out a potential new hospital on a greenfield site near J20 of the M25 due to cost - although the proposal is still being looked at.

Chief executive of WHHT, Katie Fisher, has called for all parties involved in the review to now come together and commit to a "shared vision".

She said: "Now is the time to focus on what we have in common – we want the best possible health services and facilities for patients in west Hertfordshire that can be afforded. We need to put aside differences and focus on delivering the solution."

Georgina Burnett
BBC Weather

Today is due to be dry with some sunny spells, but it will feel cool in a brisk easterly wind.

Maximum temperature: 16C (61F).

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Welcome to another day of regular live updates of news, sport, weather, travel and more.  

This morning, we'll be looking at the news that a new hospital in west Hertfordshire is looking unlikely, after a joint statement from the Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group and the West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust was released last night.

We'll also look at how local football teams did in last night's EFL Trophy action and see what the weather has in store with a full forecast.

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

Thanks for joining us today. We'll be back from 08:00 tomorrow with all the latest news, sport, weather and travel.

As ever, stay tuned to this page overnight for any breaking news.

But first, here's a reminder of some of the main stories we've brought you today:

• The lorry driver who ignored warning signs and went over the historic Marlow Bridge in his 30-tonne truck has been fired
• The number of children excluded from Luton's schools has risen by 48% over three years
• And the jury in the James McCann trial of the facts is considering the evidence given

Have a great evening.

Relive Saracens' bonus-point victory over Wasps, which lifted Sarries to the top of the Premiership table.

Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

There will be some sunny spells this evening, but it's also turning a little cloudy in places.

Staying dry overnight and remaining rather cloudy in eastern coastal areas, where temperatures will stay a little higher. Lows down to 9-14C (48-57F).

Tomorrow, staying fine and dry with sunny spells but feeling cooler in an easterly breeze, with highs of 15C (59F).

There are more details on the BBC Weather website.

Kate Scotter
BBC News

This image shows the wreckage left at Bletchley Railway Station, Buckinghamshire, after a train crash almost 77 years ago.

Image source, Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The Night Scot train of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) collided with a shunting engine, derailed and hit the station platform on 14 October 1939. 

Four people were killed in the accident and 40 injured. 

Excessive speed and wartime blackout restrictions were blamed for the crash.