Seventy years ago, Stevenage in Hertfordshire was designated the UK's first New Town.

It was devised as a radical solution to London's post-war housing crisis and opened by the Queen.

It's almost that time again - Children in Need day is nearly upon us.

BBC Three Counties Radio presenter Andy Collins will be canoeing the Grand Union Canal for five days to raise money for the most vulnerable children in our society. 

His route, which is almost 70 miles (112 km) long, will take him from Hertfordshire, through Bedfordshire and into Buckinghamshire.   

This video shows the trials and tribulations he's had, even just getting onto the water.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

A police car was stolen last night - leading to a pursuit in Broxbourne, East Hertfordshire, and Essex.

Officers were called to a domestic incident in Sorbas Road, Turnford, at 21:58. Upon arrival a man was detained, but he subsequently stole a police car. 

Supt Geoff Camp said "The stolen marked car which had blue lights flashing was driven erratically and at one point was driven southbound on the northbound carriageway of the A10."

The man has been taken into custody and will be questioned on suspicion of harassment with fear of violence, aggravated taking of a motor vehicle without consent, escaping lawful custody, dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, driving without insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Lee Agnew
BBC Three Counties Radio

Business owners affected by the closure of the suspension bridge in Marlow are holding their first campaign meeting this evening. 

The bridge, which has a three-tonne limit, was put out of action in September by a lorry weighing nearly 40 tonnes.

Image source, Paul Merchant / My Marlow

Businesses have now formed the Marlow Traders Bridge Closure Claim Group, supported by Marlow Town Council, and are looking for compensation.

They're hoping to use the same loss assessor who helped traders at Cockermouth in Cumbria when their bridge was swept away by flooding.

Traders say the closure of the bridge has had a major impact, and in the meantime are encouraging people to use alternative transport to go shopping in the town. 

BBC Weather

Despite the rather grey start to the day, there will be spells of sunshine through the afternoon but also scattered showers developing. 

Don't be fooled by the glimpse of sunshine, it'll be rather breezy, especially in exposed areas such as the Chilterns.

Maximum temperature: 10C (50F).

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

The hotly anticipated John Lewis Christmas ad has been released today, and the star of the show is Buster the boxer, who lives in Bedfordshire.

Image source, John Lewis

Here are some facts for you about arguably the most famous dog in Britain (well for today at least)...

• Buster's real name is actually Biff
• Biff is a 5-year-old red and white boxer who lives in Bedfordshire with two other boxers, Betty and Darcey
• This was Biff's first ever acting job
• He was scouted at a training club by the advert's production team
• His favourite toy is his ball, and the advert creators managed to get him to nod his head up and down by bobbing a ball on a stick
• Biff's favourite treat is baked tuna cake (your guess is as good as ours)

Disruption to trains between Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and London could last until Friday, Network Rail says.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Today we've been letting you know about the continued disruption to train services on the line between Bedford and London St Pancras, as Network Rail continues to work on repairing the signalling problem caused by overhead line damage at Luton on Tuesday.

Thameslink is running a limited train service across the network, and is also offering bus replacement services to link up with other lines where passengers can use their tickets. 

Passenger services director Stuart Cheshire said: "Work carried out by Network Rail overnight has allowed us to run some more trains today between Bedford and St Pancras, but the service is still severely reduced meaning very difficult journeys for our passengers for the third day running.

"For this we sincerely apologise.

"We continue to urge people to follow travel advice at National Rail, external and to use alternative transport wherever possible.

"There is also ticket acceptance with East Midlands Trains, which is now running a near-normal service. Anyone who is delayed by 30 minutes or more can claim compensation via our website, external."

Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio

Bedfordshire's chief constable says he has met the officers involved in yesterday's fatal shooting in Luton, and they have his full support. 

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating the incident where a man died after being shot by a police firearms officer. 

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Officers were responding to reports of a woman being assaulted at Tracey Court, off Hibbert Street, police said.

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said: "I have met all the officers directly involved in the incident in Luton yesterday and I am incredibly grateful to them, and all of my officers who do such a difficult job in often extremely challenging circumstances in order to protect the communities we serve."

Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio

The draw for the second round of the Football League Trophy has just been made. 

MK Dons are away to Yeovil, Luton travel to Swindon, and Wycombe are away to Millwall.

Our three teams were all drawn away after finishing second in their qualifying groups.

The matches will be played in the first midweek of December.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

Plans for a new health centre in Kempston have been scrapped to make way for one of the country's largest Lidl supermarkets. 

The master plan (pictured) for the David Wilson Homes development in the town specified there would be a health centre, community hall and a shop no larger than 350 sq m.

Image source, Bedford Borough Council

This has now been abandoned after the local council voted in favour of a 1,600 sq m Lidl.

Martin Wright, development director at David Wilson Homes South Midlands, said: "We will continue to work with Bedford Borough Council to fulfil the obligations of the planning permission as set out by the council and develop this expanding community."

David Keller
BBC News

Nah, me neither, but the Christmas adverts are all coming out in force.

John Lewis is the latest to release its TV ad today, external, featuring this cute boxer 'Buster'...

Image source, John Lewis

But the inside knowledge of Buster has come to us from a caller to BBC Suffolk.

Val, from Stanningfield, says she knows the owner of the dog, who we believe lives in Bedfordshire... and it's actually called Biff.

"I meet the girl at boxer events that we go to around the country and I'm friends with her on Facebook and we chat from time to time," Val told BBC Suffolk.

"He's ever so smart – she's taught him lots of tricks and I think I heard somebody say that they didn't think it was possible for him to be doing the trampoline, but yeah he does. 

"Quite a few boxers do trampolining, they love it. Lots of people that have got kids with trampolines say the boxer jumps on and joins in.

"She was telling us in the summer how she was trying to teach him how to growl and we thought 'oh, that's a funny thing' and she posted little videos of him doing it and now we know why."

Here are some pictures from the scene at Tracey Court in Luton, where an investigation is continuing into yesterday's shooting of a man by a police officer.

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

While world events either surprise, delight or concern - depending on your point of view - many will be comforted to know that the fabulous and sparkly world of Strictly Come Dancing continues as normal.

This week's dances and tunes have now been released, with the news that Milton Keynes athlete Greg Rutherford will be performing the Paso Doble to Tamacun by Rodrigo y Gabriela.

But Rutherford and his partner Natalie Lowe are remaining tight-lipped about what viewers can expect.

He told sister programme It Takes Two: "One thing that I've learnt now as every new dance comes in is that it's going to be pretty intense and difficult but equally very impressive once we get it.

"Today was one of those days when I was going goodness me - my brain was hurting." 

Meanwhile Lowe said: "Let's just say it's very raw and authentic."

And just in case you missed it - here's the pair's Viennese Waltz that saw them through to this week.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

When Greg Rutherford's partner Susie Verrill dressed their son Milo one morning last week to go and watch the Milton Keynes athlete practise his Viennese Waltz, little did she realise what a stir she'd cause.

After all, dressing a toddler can sometimes be like trying to catch an eel and you're lucky to get them to wear anything.

Nevertheless, after he was featured in a VT on Saturday night's Strictly Come Dancing, showing the athlete how to spin, some people took to social media to suggest he was "dressed like a girl".

Well, Susie has now penned a feisty response in her blog My Milo and Me, external which has prompted many others to tell their stories of how they are criticised for their child's attire.

Justin Dealey
BBC Three Counties Radio

I'm in Tracey Court, Luton, where yesterday a man was shot by a police officer and later died in hospital.

I've been talking to residents about what they heard.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Milton Keynes Dons chairman Pete Winkleman says no-one has yet been interviewed about the manager's position at Stadium MK - more than two weeks since the departure of Karl Robinson.  

Image source, YouTube

Speaking on the club's YouTube, external channel, Winkleman said it might take another two weeks to make an appointment and he's "not going to be pressured into making a rash decision".

"I know this might seem frustrating to people because I know how pressured I am myself about it all, but at the same time I'm absolutely clear," he said.

"We haven't changed a manager for six and a half years, we've had some amazing managers before that. I've always been very successful in appointing the right managers, I've had time to do that in the summer and this time I've felt under pressure because time felt more limited but - you know what - I've got to do it the right way."

Sally Chidzoy
BBC Look East home affairs correspondent

A handgun and ammunition have been seized and two people were arrested during a police operation in Luton.

Image source, Google

Firearms officers from the Met Police stopped a car in High Street, near the junction with Torquay Drive, shortly before 20:00 last night.

Two men in their 20s were arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm and ammunition. They are being held in custody at a police station in north London.

The operation was not linked to a fatal police shooting at Tracey Court in Luton earlier in the day.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Here's all the information from Thameslink, external on alternative routes for passengers travelling between Bedford and London while Network Rail continues to repair the signalling damage at Luton.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Network Rail, external has said a limited train service is running across the Thameslink network, with services being cancelled, revised or delayed by up to 90 minutes.

Four trains an hour will run between Bedford and London St Pancras International, in both directions, departing on the hour and then every 15 minutes from Bedford.

No trains will run between St Pancras and City Thameslink.

Passengers are being advised that these trains will be busy so "customers should use alternative routes wherever possible".

Like yesterday, replacement buses are operating between Bedford and St Neots, Luton and Hitchin and St Albans and Hatfield to take passengers to other routes where they can use their tickets.