Jane Killick
BBC Three Counties Radio

NHS doctors at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital failed to diagnose the medical condition of two unborn twins, leading to the severe disability of one twin and the death of the second, the High Court has heard. 

The girl who survived, known as "A" for legal reasons, had the extremely rare twin transfusion syndrome, external before her birth in 2001. 

She was left blind, with severe physical and mental handicaps, and isn't expected to live much beyond the age of 30.

Image source, South Beds News Agency

The Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Foundation Trust admitted full liability for what happened in 2008 and issued an apology. 

Today, a judge approved the £6m compensation payment, which is made up of a £2.6m lump sum, and annual index-linked payments to cover the cost of A's care for the rest of her life.    

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

There's been a rise in the number of children in the East of England who are either overweight or obese, with 31.7% of year 6s (10-11 year olds) having a BMI of 25 or over: an increase of 1% on last year. 

The highest figure is in Luton, where 40.9% of children in that age group are classed as being obese or overweight.

Image source, Thinkstock

The regional figures released by the NHS, external for 2015/16 are: Bedford: 33%, Central Beds 29.4%, Herts 29.2%, Luton 40.9%, Milton Keynes 38.8%, Buckinghamshire 28.7%

The Liberal Democrat's health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "These figures should be a wake-up call to the government.

"I fear we will see these figures continue to rise, as unhealthy, sugary foods will continue being aggressively marketed to children, meaning they will develop unhealthy eating habits which may stay with them for years to come." 

Jane Killick
BBC Three Counties Radio

The Watford Observer has a great story today, about a group of photos found behind a mirror, external bought in a charity shop.

The find includes pictures of a couple smiling in front of a Christmas tree, a baby in a bonnet and a hand-written note.

The paper is appealing for anyone who recognises those depicted to get in touch.

Here's the latest on the fire affecting the Bedford to Bletchley rail line.

London Midland says firefighters remain at the scene and a rail replacement bus service has been ordered.

Looks like this fire could hit commuters on the Bedford to Bletchley line.

Jayda Fransen, the deputy leader of Britain First, has been fined almost £2,000 for hurling abuse at a Muslim woman as she walked through Luton's Bury Park with others from the right-wing group.

District judge Carolyn Mellanby said she believed the group had gone to the area "looking for trouble". She found Fransen guilty of religiously aggravated harassment and wearing a political uniform.

Image source, PA

Fransen, 30, of South Norwood, admitted telling Sumayyah Sharpe, who was wearing a hijab, that Muslim men force women to cover up because they cannot control their sexual urges. 

Ms Mellanby told her that she had no doubt that Fransen's words to Ms Sharpe represented what she believed in.

"In other words, offensive, insulting, abusive and, in my judgment, intended to cause offence and alarm and distress to her religion," she said.

Dani Bailey
BBC Local Live

Luton Airport's plans for a new rail link have gone on display to the public.

The £220m link would replace the shuttle-bus service to Luton Airport Parkway station. 

You can see the plans on Saturday, from 10:00-14:00 at Luton Central Library.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Finn's Law campaigners say they are "elated" that the petition they set up on the government's official petition website is to be debated in Parliament.

Image source, PC Dave Wardell

Their call for police animals to have the same status as police officers if injured in the line of duty received more than 100,000 signatures.

The campaign was named after police dog Finn, who nearly died after being stabbed in the head and chest while trying to stop a suspected robber in Stevenage, 

Mark Tasker, from the campaign, said: "We are absolutely elated, we always knew this was something that would capture the public's imagination and it seems that Parliament recognises just how offensive it is to classify the killing or serious attack on a police dog or horse as criminal damage."

Carol Abercrombie
BBC Three Counties Radio

A Milton Keynes lawyer has been rebuked by the solicitors' regulator following social media comments he made about a special education needs tribunal. 

Mark Small, from Baker Small, appeared to be gloating of a great win, external over parents of vulnerable children after winning a case against them.

He admitted that the tweets in June were unprofessional and offensive, and that he failed to behave in a way that maintained the trust of the public. 

The Solicitors Regulation Authority, external also instructed Mr Small to pay the £600 costs of the tribunal. 

It acknowledged that he acted promptly to delete the tweets, posted a written apology and made a donation to charity.

Thanks to Weather Watcher Mac66 for this great shot.

Kate Bradbrook
BBC Look East

Milton Keynes Council has said there is no one answer to looking after homeless people in the town. 

Campaigners have demanded the council takes immediate action following the death of a third homeless person this year.

The authority is bringing forward the opening of what it's calling a winter night shelter, but the homeless won't be able to sleep there overnight.

Labour councillor Nigel Long, who's responsible for social care, says putting all homeless people under one roof isn't a long-term solution.

"The idea that you take all the homeless people in Milton Keynes and stick them in an empty building is absolutely the wrong approach, it reminds me of the workhouse," he said.

"Each person who's sleeping rough has a different challenge, some people have come out of the army and are very distressed, they need one kind of support, other people have long-term drug and alcohol problems, they need another kind of support."

Kate Bradbrook
BBC Look East

I was at a public meeting in Milton Keynes last night, with campaigners demanding Milton Keynes Council takes immediate action following the death of a third homeless person this year.

Jimmy Owen's body was found in a tent near the railway station at the weekend.

Any possible solution is going to cost money, and one idea put forward was for the council to handover buildings to house the homeless.

Milton Keynes Council says there's no simple solution. It is working with voluntary organisations and assessing the needs of individuals.

A winter shelter for use during the daytime is due to open in the next couple of weeks, but what everyone seems to agree on is that a long-term solution is needed. 

CCTV footage showing three people breaking into a house in Dunstable has been released by police.

The home in Royce Close was broken into on 17 October, between 21:45 and 22:00.

Bedfordshire Police says that despite the offenders having their faces covered, members of the public may be able to recognise them by the way they move.

Detective Constable Dan Matcham said: "We also suspect an individual was involved in the offence as a get-away driver, who was not caught on CCTV." 

A petition calling for police animals to be given the same status as officers if they are injured at work is to be debated in Parliament.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

A woman died in a two-vehicle crash on the southbound M40 last night.

She was driving a green Ford Fiesta between J4, for Handy Cross, and J3, for the A40, just before 22:00 when the car collided with the central reservation.

It came to rest in lane two, where it was in a crash with a grey Mercedes E-class.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, while the male driver of the Mercedes sustained minor injuries.

The road remained closed until about 04:30.

Geoff Doyle
BBC Three Counties Radio sport

Watford owner Gino Pozzo has insisted the club is not guilty of any wrongdoing following allegations of supplying false financial information to the Football League.   

Image source, Getty Images

It's claimed Watford submitted a forged bank letter when Pozzo took over prior to the 2014-2015 season when they were promoted to the Premier League.   

The Hornets have completed their preliminary investigation, and will forward the details to the EFL, but yesterday Hornets chairman Raffaele Riva stepped down. 

Riva said he's stepped down as chairman, following the article in the Telegraph, external, but maintains his innocence.

Scott Duxbury will now take over the executive chairman's role as well as keeping his chief executive position.

Watford owner Gino Pozzo followed Riva's resignation statement by insisting he wouldn't allow the club's name to be tarnished after all they'd achieved, and that they'd acted in good faith with the letter incident.

The club that took its nickname from a 52st man features among BBC Sport's FA Cup first-round stories to watch.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

The Duke of Edinburgh will officially open a state-of-the-art science building at the University of Hertfordshire today.

Image source, PA Wire

This occasion celebrates the completion of a £50m project at the College Lane campus to bring together all of the university's science facilities in one place and create a modern teaching and laboratory space for students and staff.

The duke will tour the building with guests including the Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, the Countess of Verulam and Lord Salisbury, the chancellor of the university.

A man has been charged with killing Kevin Kelly in Luton on 1 May.

The 27-year-old was attacked in Upper George Street in the early hours of the morning and died later in hospital.

Richard Wood, 23, of London Road, Bognor Regis, has been bailed to appear at Luton Magistrates' Court later this month, charged with manslaughter. 

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Following the news that Finn's Law, the campaign to give police animals better protection should they be assaulted in the line of duty, is to be debated in Parliament, Hertfordshire Police has said it supports any legislation that lessens the likelihood of its officers and animals being injured.

Image source, Hertfordshire Police

Herts police dog Finn and his handler PC Dave Wardell were both injured while trying to stop a suspect in Stevenage last month.

Assistant Chief Constable Dan Vajzovic said: "It has been uplifting to see how much the public have got behind the issue and given their support.

"Anything to help promote the safety of members of the police family should be looked at positively, but ultimately the decision on legislative change is a matter for the government.

"Naturally we support any legislation that offers an effective mechanism for reducing the likelihood of officers and their police dogs being subject to assault and injury."