Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

A Herts police officer says "anything to help promote the safety of members of the police family should be looked at positively".

It comes after a petition calling for police dogs and horses to be given the same status as officers if they are injured in the line of duty has so far been signed by nearly 29,000 people.

Image source, Hertfordshire Police

The petition was set up after Hertfordshire Police dog Finn, along with his handler PC Dave Wardell (pictured), was stabbed in Stevenage last week while chasing a suspect.

Ass Ch Con Dan Vajzovic, from the Joint Protected Services for Beds, Cambs and Herts, said the force had been "overwhelmed" by the support for Finn and his handler.

He said decisions on legislative change are a government matter but he would "support legislation that offered an effective mechanism for reducing the likelihood of officers and their police dogs being subject to assault and injury".

A petition calling for police animals to be given the same status as officers if they are injured at work reaches nearly 29,000 signatures.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

A petition calling for police dogs and horses to be given the same status as officers if they are injured at work has reached nearly 29,000 signatures.

Image source, BCH Dog Unit

The Finn's Law campaign is named after the Hertfordshire police dog who along with his handler was stabbed in Stevenage last week while chasing a suspect.

A teen has been charged with criminal damage over Finn's injuries. The campaign wants those who attack police animals to face charges similar to those for attacking a person.

The petition, set up by David Burstow on the UK government's petition site, proposes that police animals "be given protection that reflects their status if assaulted in the line of duty".

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

As Strictly fans reel from the news that singer and actor Will Young is leaving the show for "personal reasons", thoughts turn to this weekend's show and what tunes their favourites will be dancing to.

This week, it's been announced that our man Greg Rutherford and his partner Natalie Lowe will be dancing the Salsa to Wrapped Up by Olly Murs.

We'd barely got our breath back from last weekend's American Smooth, which went down very well with the judges who gave him a score of 32 and left him fourth on the leader board.

Here's a reminder of how he did in case you missed it...

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

The company whose 30-tonne truck damaged Marlow bridge when the driver accidentally crossed over it has made a donation to the town's Christmas lights as a gesture of goodwill.

Image source, Buckinghamshire County Council

The bridge, which can only take three tonne vehicles, was left badly damaged and has been closed to traffic while repairs are carried out. It's left motorists facing a long detour to get into town and businesses say they are losing trade. 

Marlow Town Council says the donation by the Lithuanian company, Girteka Logistics, is entirely separate from the legal settlement for damage to the bridge or any other claims related to the closure.

Detailed investigations, including stringent testing of the bridge, are under way to work out the extent of the damage and get it back in working order as soon as possible.

The town's Christmas lights will be turned on by Great British Bake Off judge Mary Berry in November.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with grievous bodily harm after another teenager was stabbed in the leg in Watford on Saturday night.

The victim, who is also 16, suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries during the attack on Lower High Street.

Two other teenagers, aged 17 and 18, have also been arrested.

BBC Breakfast

The boss of Hertfordshire-based pub chain JD Wetherspoon, Tim Martin, told BBC Breakfast this morning that EU nationals employed by the chain are "excellent workers, excellent people".

The ardent Brexit supporter said EU staff were well-liked by customers and UK staff alike.

He said in the last survey done of his pubs about 5% of employees were from EU countries. Although that number would rise if you focused on London pubs, he added.

Regarding potential plans to get companies to reveal numbers of overseas employees, he said the idea was "nonsense".

"And once the government has calmed down and thought about it, they will realise that too," Mr Martin said.

Image source, AFP

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

More from Monarch boss Andrew Swaffield on Today. 

"We're pleased to say we're going to make over £40m profit this year, we made over £70m last year," he says. 

"This year has obviously been challenging for the UK's airlines, as you can see in the share prices of our biggest airlines.

"And it's really been a combination of terrorism and the closure of Egypt and the decimation of Turkey and then the collapse in the value of the pound after the Europe vote, so those things have meant that we needed to make sure that we secured sufficient funding to ensure a confident future for Monarch and that's what we've done," he adds.

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Image source, Reuters

More on the news that the holiday airline Monarch has been saved with an injection of new funds. 

Monarch had a deadline of this evening to satisfy the Civil Aviation Authority that its finances were robust - and this morning it pulled the requisite rabbit out of the hat with £165m from its owner, Greybull Capital. The airline employs 3,000 people and carries 6m passengers a year. 

Andrew Swaffield is Monarch's chief executive and he has been on the Today programme. 

He's asked if the new funds secure the future of the company.

"Yes, we're delighted to announce the biggest investment in our history and building on our successful turnaround we're now able to approach the future with great confidence," he tells presenter Dominic O'Connell.

There's currently slow traffic on the M1 London-bound between J9, (Redbourn) and J8, (Hemel Hempstead), because of an accident earlier on. 

Congestion now goes back to J12, at Flitwick. 

Highways England has released these photos of the earlier crash, which has now been cleared. 

Image source, Highways England

Image source, Highways England

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

A production company behind the latest Star Wars movie at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire will be sentenced this afternoon, after actor Harrison Ford broke his leg on set.

Image source, PA

In June 2014, Ford, who was 71 at the time, was returning to his role of Han Solo when he was injured by a hydraulic metal door, which was part of the Millennium Falcon spaceship.

Foodles Production (UK) Ltd, a subsidiary of Disney, pleaded guilty earlier this year to two charges brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Sentencing is taking place at Aylesbury Crown Court.

BBC Business News

Workers at Fujitsu in Stevenage are waiting for details of job losses as the Japanese electronics firm has told staff of plans to cut up to 1,800 jobs in the UK next year. 

Image source, Getty Images

It says it wants to streamline operations to remain competitive.

The company, which has 14,000 UK staff, said the losses would be across its UK offices as it looks to compete better with foreign rivals that offer IT services more cheaply.  

Trade unions called the cuts a "hammer blow" to Fujitsu's UK workforce.  

The plan, which could see the first workers leaving in early 2017, is not linked to Brexit, the company said.

Dominic O'Connell
Business Presenter, BBC Radio 4 Today programme

After three weeks of drama, Monarch lives to fly another day. How long the holiday airline retains its independence, however, remains open to question.

This morning's bailout – there is no detail on what form the extra £165m from owners Greybull Capital will take – is enough to satisfy the Civil Aviation Authority, but will not remove doubts about its long-term prospects. 

The airline's strength in flights to the Western Mediterranean, Egypt and North Africa has become its Achilles heel as terrorist attacks have dented demand to those destinations.  

On top of those short-term trading challenges, Monarch remains caught between the big low-cost airlines Easyjet and Ryanair, and the in-house airlines owned by the big tour operators including Tui and Thomas Cook. 

Securing the company’s future will require to find a profitable niche that it can defend from both those types of voracious competitors. The alternative may be a merger with a rival. 

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has confirmed it has renewed Monarch's membership of the Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (Atol) scheme until the end of September 2017, following confirmation all licence requirements have been met.

Image source, PA

The Luton-based airline revealed this morning it has secured a £165m cash injection from its owner, Greybull Capital.

A CAA spokesman said: "Monarch's licences permit them to sell Atol-protected holidays until 30 September 2017, after which they will be required to obtain a new licence in line with the annual process for all Atol protected companies.

"The CAA advises consumers to book Atol-protected air holidays to ensure they are protected in the event that their travel company stops trading."

Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather

After a bright start for many, it will be a mostly dry day, although rather chilly.  

There may be the odd shower at times, especially in the east, with temperatures reaching around 15C (59F).

Here's my full regional forecast...

BBC Weather has more details for where you live.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Good morning. We're starting our rolling news a little early this morning to tell you Luton-based Monarch has just announced a new funding package to secure its licence to operate.

The struggling budget airline has secured a £165m cash injection from its owner, Greybull Capital.

The company, which employs more than 2,000 people, was under threat of losing its Atol license at midnight if it did not secure a deal, and would not have been able to sell package holidays.

The group says alongside the investment - the biggest in its 48-year history - Monarch would take delivery of the first of 30 Boeing 737 MAX-8 aircraft in 2018.

Chief executive Andrew Swaffield said: "I'd like to thank the Civil Aviation Authority, our shareholders, partners, loyal customers and the team at Monarch for helping us to achieve this successful outcome.

"We are now firmly focused on the future as a stronger Monarch."

We'll bring you more reaction to this Monarch investment soon along with the rest of this morning's news for Beds, Herts and Bucks. 

Remember, if you have any news, pictures or comments, you can send them to us via email, Facebook, external or Twitter, external.

This week's Focus Forum asks what Bob Bradley can bring to Swansea, while John Hartson and Matthew Upson look back on their days at Luton Town.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

Thanks for your company.

We'll be back from 08:00 tomorrow with the day's news, travel, weather and sport updates. But of course, any breaking news will be posted here overnight.

Here's a quick reminder of some of the stories we've covered today:

• A woman from St Albans has denied causing the death of a cyclist following a crowdfunded campaign for a private prosecution.
• A man from Luton has died in a collision on the M1 in Northamptonshire.
• A driverless car has been tested in Milton Keynes.

Have a good evening.

BBC Sport

England Under-21s finished their European Championship qualifying campaign in style by thrashing Bosnia-Herzegovina in Walsall.

Image source, PA

The under-21s were led by Aidy Boothroyd after coach Gareth Southgate stepped up to take interim charge of the senior side.

Former Peterborough player and coach, and Watford and Northampton Town manager Boothroyd, had already seen England seal their place at next summer's finals, but has now won his two games in charge.

Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

A mostly fine and dry end to the day with some isolated showers. Overnight a mixture of cloud and clear spells. Potentially getting quite chilly where the skies stay clear with lows of 3C (37F).

A chilly start to the day tomorrow followed by sunny spells and scattered showers and highs of 14C (57F).

There are more details on the BBC Weather website.