We've been covering the gas leak at Ampthill today, where 6,000 properties were cut off. 

National Grid, external is warning householders to check the IDs of any of its workers coming round to their homes to reconnect them.

Footage was shown to the court of the moments before a coach crashed into a car on the M1, killing three men. 

The coach driver has been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

A coach driver killed three people when he crashed into a car on the hard shoulder of the M1.

Bedfordshire Police says the fatal M1 crash was "entirely avoidable".

Families of the men killed and injured in the M1 coach crash have thanked police outside Luton Crown Court after Alan Peters' conviction.

Alan Peters, 78, who killed three men and injured a fourth as he ploughed into a stationary car told a court he wished he could rewrite history.

During the trial at Luton Crown Court, Peters, of Gravesend, Kent, said: "I deeply the regret the incident took place and I would do anything to rewrite history.

"My belief is that from junction 10 onwards the overhead gantry signs were displaying 'congestion - use hard shoulder' and 60mph signs. That is why I was on the hard shoulder."

The sole survivor of the M1 crash was Jake Dorling. 

He said: "I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the police and the prosecution team for their help in getting justice for this awful incident.

"I would also like to thank the emergency services that attended the incident in February last year, along with everyone else who has helped me and my family through my rehabilitation and the devastating period since Tom, Nathan, and Allan's death."

Image source, South Beds News Agency

He added: "I have been left to live with the consequences of the injuries that I received in the crash, but that's nothing compared to the devastation and loss that Tom, Nathan and Allan's families will have to cope with for the rest of their lives."

The families of the three men killed on the M1 have released a statement. 

It was written by the mother of Nathan Reeves, Lynn.

"On the 14 February 2015, our lives were changed forever. 

"The loss of Tom, Nathan and Alan, due to the actions of Mr Peters, has dealt a devastating blow to our families, a blow from which we will never fully recover.

"Throughout the trial we have really come together as a group to support each other and that has been invaluable in helping us to get through this awful process. 

Image source, South Beds News Agency

"Nothing can ever make up for the heartache caused by events on that day, but we hope that this incident will act as a reminder to all other drivers to pay attention to the road at all times.

"Tom, Nathan, and Allan's deaths were entirely avoidable and no-one else should ever have to suffer in this way due to a lack of attention on the road."

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

"This is a tragic waste of these lives and could have been avoided."

Those are the words of Charles White, the senior crown prosecutor for the Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). 

He said: "Peters was driving on the hard shoulder for almost three minutes prior to the collision, in contravention of signs denoting that the hard shoulder was designated for emergency use only. 

"The Audi was clearly visible to Peters for 1,500 metres and almost a minute prior to impact, uninterrupted by any intervening vehicles, but he was oblivious to the approaching danger.  

"Only 0.4 seconds before impact did he apply his brakes, but it was too late for him to take any avoiding action.

Image source, South Beds News Agency

"Peters claimed that he thought the hard shoulder was open to all traffic and could not account for why he had not reacted to the stationary Audi.

"This case highlights the serious consequences of failing to be alert and prepared for unexpected or challenging driving conditions."

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

Bedfordshire Police has responded to the guilty verdicts delivered to Alan Peters, who crashed his coach into a car on the M1 killing three people.

PC David Clarke said: "This was an utterly devastating incident which resulted in three innocent men having their lives cut short.

"What makes this even more tragic is that the collision was completely avoidable. 

Image source, South Beds News Agency

"Peters consistently ignored signs saying that the hard shoulder was for emergencies only and also had ample time in which to see the car and move to a different lane.

"His lack of attentiveness on that fatal morning has forever changed the lives of four families and Peters will have to live with that for the rest of his life."

Peters is due to be sentenced in December and a custodial sentence is expected. 

Alan Peters, 78, of Ambleside Valley Drive, Gravesend, Kent, has been found guilty of three counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

Image source, South Beds News Agency

The trial at Luton Crown Court heard he was driving a double decker coach carrying cheerleaders from Kent on the M1, near Flitwick, Bedfordshire, on Valentine's Day last year. 

He was driving on the hard shoulder of a "smart motorway", which the court heard was signposted "for emergency use only". 

Peters told the court he believed the motorway gantry signs had indicated "congestion, use hard shoulder". 

Travelling at 61mph, he crashed into the rear of an Audi that had stopped on the hard shoulder to deal with an oil warning light. 

Audi driver Allan Evans, 59, from Islington in London, died in the crash alongside back-seat passengers Nathan Reeves, 23, and Tom Aldridge, 20, both from Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire.

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Peters was also found guilty of causing serious injury to Jake Dorling, who was a front-seat passenger and who survived the collision.  

We've just heard the Luton Crown Court jury has returned guilty verdicts in the case of a coach driver who drove his vehicle into the back of a broken-down car on the M1, killing three people.  

A rare coin made of gold seized from a treasure ship more than three centuries ago sells for £225k.

Since PD Finn was stabbed in October, he's been recovering under the watchful eye of his handler PC Dave Wardell - who was also stabbed in the hand. 

He said: "Finn’s recovery is going really well. He has been officially discharged from the vet and he's getting stronger. 

"He is now allowed three lots of 45-minute exercise each day. Next week, we'll be increasing that to one hour, three times a day.

"Then he should be able to start training to return to work. It's all about building his muscles back up. All being well, he should be back working in mid-December."

Image source, PC Dave Wardell

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

This is a story the team here at Local Live for Beds, Herts and Bucks have been following for a while, and at last it's the good news we've been waiting for. 

PD Finn was stabbed in the head and chest when responding to a robbery in Stevenage on 4 October. 

He had to undergo a lifesaving operation, but has recovered so well he could be back to work by the end of the year. 

Image source, Herts Police

Children in Need

If you can, stop what you're doing right now and watch this. 

The money you're raising for Children in Need is helping people like six-year-old Esme, from Aylesbury, who struggles on a daily basis with Rett syndrome. 

The condition scrambles the messages from her brain and means she cannot speak - despite desperately wanting to communicate. 

The money you donate is helping Luton-based charity Rett UK care for her and her family.

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

I've been speaking to Craig Lawes on Twitter about the Bedfordshire gas leak that's left 6,000 properties cut off.

He isn't happy that his mother's home currently doesn't have any gas.

He said she's currently being treated at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge as she's terminally ill, but cannot come home to a cold house.

Mr Lawes said it's an "unfortunate situation and timing", but he's working with "carers to find solutions".

A driver is jailed for 27 months for his part in causing a crash during "silly games" in which a five-year-old boy was seriously hurt.

Gail Sanderson
BBC Three Counties Radio

Bloor Homes has confirmed a gas main was severed by the principle contractor working on its behalf at Ampthill Chase housing development on Tuesday afternoon.

Works stopped and the area was made safe. No-one was hurt. 

It says it's working closely with National Grid to resolve the problem. 

It's apologised for "any inconvenience caused".

Currently about 6,000 homes and businesses are without gas in the Ampthill, Clophill and Maulden area.   

Mousumi Bakshi
BBC Look East

I'm at Maulden Village Hall where a "one-stop" has been set up for people in Ampthill, Clophill and Maulden who're currently without gas. 

About 6,000 homes and businesses have been affected and it's thought their gas supply could be off for days. 

Customer information is being handed out as well as cups of tea.