Updates for Friday, 11 November 2016
Stevenage "new town" turns 70
Trains services into London from Beds and Herts returning to normal
'World's oldest' poppy seller reflects on Armistice Day
Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio
There were defeats for both MK Dons and Luton in the EFL Trophy last night - but both sides were already through.
The Hatters lost 3-1 to Millwall, external at Kenilworth Road and the Dons lost 4-1 to Norwich, external at Carrow Road.
Stevenage beat Southend 4-0 - but still went out.
Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live
St Albans City FC, external may have gone out of the FA Cup in the first round after a 5-3 defeat by Carlisle United, but there's still plenty for them to cheer.
No doubt you've seen online Junior Morias' superb long-range strike in that match, which put the National League South side into the lead in the fourth minute.
That strike has now been voted goal of the FA Cup first round by BBC users.
Let's have a quick recap...
Plus, St Albans are now up to second in National League South after a 2-0 win at Dartford last night.
Alex Pope
BBC Local Live
A few of our MPs have been making their feelings known on Twitter about the news this morning that Donald Trump is to be the 45th president of the United States.
Although we don't know for certain what she is talking about, we can take an educated guess that Nadine Dorries, the MP for Mid Beds, isn't happy...
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Meanwhile, Alistair Burt, the MP for North East Beds, is feeling philosophical...
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You can comment by tweeting us using the #bhblive, external hashtag or sending us an email.
Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live
Thameslink says replacement buses are now operating to take passengers affected by disruption on the line to other routes.
Earlier spokesman Roger Perkins said the company had ordered buses to run to these other lines, but because of the school runs the coach companies couldn't get them until about 08:00.
He said services were "extremely limited" and the three trains it could get through an hour would be calling at all stations, but its best advice was to "seek alternative travel arrangements".
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Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live
A Thameslink spokesman says disruption on the line between Bedford, Luton, St Albans and London could continue all day.
Network Rail, external said trains are being disrupted because of a "significant fault with the signalling system" at Luton.
This was caused by a signalling wire coming into contact with the overhead wires yesterday afternoon and it has been working through the night to try to fix the problem.
Roger Perkins said Network Rail "still can't tell us when they expect to be able to repair it" as it's "such a big job".
"That's understandable, they really are doing their very best, but it means that although we're saying [disruption] until at least 2pm, this could well continue right through to the end of the day," he said.
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Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live
Commuters travelling into London from Bedford, Luton and St Albans are being warned to expect major delays this morning after huge disruption on journeys home last night.
Image source, PAThameslink and East Midlands train services have been hit by major delays because of "damage to overhead wires" at Luton yesterday.
Thameslink, external says a "severely amended train service" is running and to expect disruption until at least 14:00.
On Tuesday afternoon, damage was caused to the overhead wires between Luton and London St Pancras International.
Network Rail were able to fix the wires, but a signalling problem occurred as a result of the damage.
It has apologised for the inconvenience.
Three Thameslink trains an hour will run between Bedford and St Pancras, and Bedford to Brighton services will run between City Thameslink and Brighton only.
Replacement buses will take passengers from Bedford to St Neots, from Luton to Hitchin and from St Albans to Hatfield to link up with other lines.
You can get the latest from Thameslink's live travel information, external.
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Today will be rather cold and wet as rain, which may be heavy in places, makes very slow progress eastwards, perhaps briefly giving some sleet in the morning. Maximum temperature 6C (42F).
Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live
Good morning and welcome to another day of regular live updates of news, sport, weather, travel and more.
I'm sure you've noticed - but in the international news, it's been announced that Donald Trump will become the 45th US president. You can read all the latest here.
But closer to home we'll start today by looking at the continuing disruption to Thameslink and East Midlands services which began last night with overhead wire damage at Luton.
Commuters travelling into London from Bedford, Luton and St Albans this morning are being warned to expect major delays.
If you'd like to get in touch, you can email us, tweet us, external or contact us via Facebook, external.
Damaged overhead lines at Luton are causing major disruption on busy rush hour rail services.
Read MoreListen to live BBC local radio commentary from the Ricoh Arena as Wasps face Worcester in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
Read MoreThat's it from the team here today. Scroll back to read what's been happening across the county.
Our stories include news that a cheque processing firm is to shed 600 jobs as a result of new technology but will consolidate its business in two towns including Milton Keynes.
A jury has been hearing how a coach driver drove into the back of a stationary car on the hard shoulder of the M1 killing three men.
Plus 7,000 patients are without a doctor after a Bedford surgery closes.
The team are back tomorrow from 08:00. Have good evening.
Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather
Rain becoming more persistent and heavy through the night and it could have a wintry flavour in some areas.
Minimum temperature: 2C (33F)
Wednesday outlook: Rain is expected to linger across eastern counties through much of the day but it will become drier and brighter further west.
Maximum temperature: 8C (42F).
More details from BBC Weather.
East Midlands and Thameslink train services have been hit by major delays because of "damage to overhead wires" at Luton, National Rail said.
The main services affected are East Midlands trains between Corby, Nottingham, Sheffield and London St Pancras.
Image source, Network RailThameslink services between Bedford, Luton and Three Bridges, Sutton, Sevenoaks and Gatwick Airport are also delay-hit. Services may be amended, cancelled or delayed by up to 90 minutes.
Although its engineers are attending, Network Rail expects disruption to continue until the end of service today and has apologised.
A replacement bus is running between Kettering and Corby as well as between Wellingborough and Northampton. Auxiliary road transport is also shuttling between St Albans and Bedford, a Network Rail spokesman said.
"Due to a piece of cable coming into contact with the overhead electric lines at Luton station we are currently unable to run trains through the area," the spokesman said.
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
A firm employing about 1,600 staff in England and Scotland is to shed 600 jobs as a result of new technology to handle domestic cheques faster.
Images of cheques will be used instead of passing paper around, Northampton-based Intelligent Processing Solutions Ltd (iPSL) said.
The firm is to concentrate activities in Northampton and Milton Keynes.
Fewer staff will be needed to handle cheques, so seven of its sites will close during 2018.
For the past 12 months iPSL has been sharing developments and potential implications with employees and bank customers.
Staff and unions Unite and CWU were told of the plans this week.
Unite said: "We want to now see iPSL make the necessary investment through new technology to secure as many jobs as is possible."
Dani Bailey
BBC Local Live
A girls' football team is challenging cultural stereotypes and empowering the youth of Hertfordshire.
The girls' youth team of Stanmore Jaffery's, external wear hijab, which they believe is unique.
Shabana Khatau, from Watford, set up the girls' side in 2013. It began with just 12 players.
Three years on, about 70 girls now play with the club and the sports committee's next step is to enter the team into a league.
It was a cold and frosty start this morning but things are looking up.
It should stay dry through the day but cloud will increase towards Leighton Buzzard and the west later. Maximum temperature: 7C (45F).
Here's a picture of blanket of frost over Grove Park, Dunstable earlier today.
Patrick Byrne
BBC News
The leading domestic cheque-handling company in Britain is to close seven locations with the loss of 600 jobs to concentrate activities at Northampton and Milton Keynes offices.
Intelligent Processing Solutions Ltd (iPSL) has made the move because the Cheque and Credit Clearing Company (C&CCC) is to introduce a quicker and easier way of clearing cheques in the UK.
Image source, PAImages of cheques to be exchanged between banks and building societies will be used instead of moving paper around the country.
Locations at Bootle on Merseyside, Bradford and Copley in Yorkshire, Camberley in Surrey, Chelmsford in Essex, Clydebank and Tweed House in Scotland will close during 2018.
Dominic Hook, Unite union national officer, said: "The announcement of seven site closures and significant job losses at iPSL is tragic news for the workforce.
"This consolidation strategy is deeply disappointing and the impact will be felt widely."
A coach driver drove into the back of a stationary car on the hard shoulder of the M1, killing a man from London and two men from Newport Pagnell in Buckinghamshire, Luton Crown Court has heard.
Image source, SBNAThe case centres around the "smart motorway" section of the M1 between Junctions 10 and 13. The hard shoulder can be used as an inside lane when matrix signs allow, but on the morning of Sunday 14 February last year the prosecution say the signage was clear - it was for emergency use only.
The prosecution says coach driver, Alan Peters, 78, from Gravesend, Kent, did not heed those signs and drove straight into a stationary Audi, which was waiting to rejoin the motorway after pulling over to address an oil warning light.
Three men were killed in the collision: Allan Evans, 59, from London; and Nathan Reeves, 23, and Tom Aldridge, 20, both from Newport Pagnell.
Mr Peters denies causing death by dangerous driving but admits causing death by careless driving.
The cheque-processing company iPSL is set to close its two Scottish centres, according to the Unite union.
Read MoreHornets goalie Heurelho Gomes trains with local kids at Harrow's Cedars Youth and Community Centre, maintained by Watford FC's Community Sports and Education Trust.
Read More