Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

MEND (Muslim Engagement and Development) is one of the organisations behind Islamophobia Awareness Month. 

A spokesman told me it is "surprised" that Bedfordshire Police has decided to stop using the #Iam logo for the campaign, which shows a finger on a hand pointing upwards.

He said the logo has been used since 2012, is a finger used to signify the "oneness of God in Islamic Prayer Ritual" and the I in #Iam2016. 

The organisation believes it's been a "knee jerk" reaction to some harassment and doesn't think anyone else has stopped using the logo. 

It added it was "open to comments" and could "review" it. 

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

Bedfordshire Police has released a statement on Facebook, external saying it has deleted all of its social media posts for Islamophobia Awareness Month, after using a logo similar to a gesture used by so-called Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists.

The force says the "pointing finger logo" was produced by a national charity and was used in "good faith". 

It added because of its similarity to the terrorist group it has deleted the posts to "avoid offence".  

Islamophobia Awareness Month aims to encourage the reporting of hate crimes against Muslims.

The charity MEND (Muslim Engagement and Development), external is one of the founding members of the month. We've contacted it for comment.

A gas pipe was damaged close to Abbey Lane in Ampthill last night, on the site where workmen are building a new housing estate. 

As this is a "major operation", National Grid, external says "every effort is being made to restore supplies ASAP... however, it is too early to say when gas supplies will be restored".

An assistance centre has been set up at Maulden Village Hall and the National Grid enquiry line is 0845 835 111. 

Justin Dealey
BBC Three Counties Radio

We've just spoken to Central Bedfordshire Council, external which says it expects the gas problem in the Ampthill area to take between four and five days to fix. 

An assistance centre has been set up in Maulden Village Hall, external to offer "a one-stop shop for shelter, information, help and a cup of tea".

The council says if anyone is aware of vulnerable residents that need visiting to email them, external or call 0300 300 8840.

National Grid has confirmed it's started the lengthy process of switching off the gas to every home and business affected in the Ampthill, Clophill and Maulden area of Bedfordshire. 

That's 6,000 properties in all. 

As previously mentioned, the work is expected to take "days" and not "hours" and can be sped up if someone in each home can be around to open the door to the workmen.

Justin Dealey
BBC Three Counties Radio

There are no smoking signs all around the Abbey Lane area in Ampthill, as engineers work to fix the gas problem.

The community seems to be coming together to help each other. 

I was talking to CJ, who said he saw an elderly gentleman wandering around this morning wrapped in a blanket. 

He told me people are getting all their information from social media and radio, but they're not being "told anything" by the authorities.

Justin Dealey
BBC Three Counties Radio

We've just heard from Sarah Wilcox from the National Grid, who's confirmed it's doing all it can to fix the gas problem in the Ampthill, Maulden and Clophill area. 

She said workers on a new housing development hit a medium pressure pipe, meaning 6,000 homes and businesses are now without gas. 

It's a "major operation" to get gas back on to everyone and it's expected to take days and not hours, she said.

The reason it takes so long is that every property has to have its gas switched off, so the company says the repairs will be sped up if someone is in the property so they can do this. 

Once this has been completed, workers then have to return to each property to turn it back on again. 

Justin Dealey
BBC Three Counties Radio

A joint base has been set up this morning at the village hall on Ampthill Road to help those affected by the loss of gas in the area. 

National Grid, Central Beds District Council and other agencies are there. 

The local council has a list of vulnerable people and is assisting with issues such as heating.

Anyone with concerns is asked to go there.   

Justin Dealey
BBC Three Counties Radio

This morning I'm in Abbey Lane in Ampthill, which was closed last night while the authorities tried to deal with a gas leak. 

The road has now re-opened and I'm close to a building site where we believe the gas line was damaged. 

We've just been told that now about 6,000 homes are affected in the areas around Ampthill, Maulden and Clophill. 

Image source, Google

Justin Dealey
BBC Three Counties Radio

I've been talking to Lee who lives in Ampthill, who has been without gas since last night. 

He said he's got no heating at all and it's been "pretty cold".

He told me he got some information about what happened last night, but hasn't really been "told anything". He also has no idea when it will be restored. 

Justin Dealey
BBC Three Counties Radio

Abbey Lane in Ampthill is currently closed while the authorities deal with the gas leak.

Bedfordshire Police, external says it was called at about 16:50 on Tuesday to reports of a damaged gas main and a number of agencies have attended to make sure the issue is resolved.

The good news is there's no need to evacuate the area and we've been told there's no risk to the public. However, people are being asked to avoid the area to ease congestion while the road is closed.

BBC Weather

A typical autumnal today with very little change expected over the next 24 hours.

The day will start grey with glimmers of bright spells amongst the patchy rain. 

Mild for the time of year at 12C (54F) and it will be rather breezy throughout the day too. 

Tonight will remain cloudy and the rain should diminish overnight.

BBC Weather has your local forecast.

Justin Dealey
BBC Three Counties Radio

It's thought about 4,000 homes in mid-Bedfordshire are without gas this morning, after builders constructing new homes damaged a gas main in Ampthill yesterday afternoon. 

It's affecting people in Ampthill, Clophill, and Maulden.

National Grid says the damage is extensive. Engineers are on site, and will have to visit every home to check the supply is turned off.

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

Good morning and welcome to Local Live for Beds, Herts and Bucks. 

Between now and 18:00 we'll be bringing you all your news, sport, travel and in a moment a full weather report. 

We'll also be bringing you more on a gas leak in the Ampthill where around 4,000 homes are currently without gas. 

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

Thanks for your company.

We'll be back with regular live updates of news, sport, weather and travel from 08:00 tomorrow, but any breaking news will be posted here overnight.

For any of you wondering how radio presenter Andy Collins is getting on with his canoe canal challenge for BBC Children in Need - you can see the progress him and the team made today by visiting here, external.

Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

This evening and tonight will be cloudy with further outbreaks of rain across southern counties, becoming mostly dry with clear spells elsewhere.

Minimum temperature: 9C (48F).

Any early rain will clear in the morning, and it'll become bright with sunny spells, although there's a chance of some showers developing later.

Feeling cooler as the breeze picks up, with highs of 13C (55F).

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

Hitchin Ladies Rugby Club, external has gained a rather unusual fan in the form of American rapper 50 Cent.

The music star shared an article about the team's naked calendar (with a rather cheeky image) on his Facebook page, external, which has more than 37m followers.

The team thought the calendar would be a good way to raise money to make sure the club could continue to develop women's rugby in Hitchin.

Image source, Google

Speaking about the Facebook post, team member Claire Crompton, 27, from Stevenage, said: "We were a bit shocked. My dad told me about it, I didn't know my dad was a 50 Cent fan.

"A few people have tried to tweet him."

She said she didn't mind his macho reputation as "any good publicity is good publicity - we can't complain".

Miss Crompton said they had sold 400 calendars so far, with 20 now going to the US.

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

Four of the region's police forces are piloting a new tagging system designed to monitor the movements of offenders on early release from prison.

Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire, external will trial the new tags, which will use GPS technology.

Hertfordshire already uses tagging, but it's been on a voluntary basis until now. 

The tags will allow police to track the locations of prisoners, enforce curfews and prevent contact with victims and other criminals.

Image source, Herts Police

Regional project lead, Det Insp Craig Flint from Hertfordshire Constabulary, said: "All those selected to take part in the pilot have been carefully considered and fully risk assessed. 

"Throughout this pilot the public's safety and protecting people from crime remains a priority.  

"This tagging technology is being used in support of, and not as a replacement for, other more traditional policing methods."

Four prisoners are currently wearing the new tags - all aged between 26 and 44 years. 

The pilot will run for 12 months.

The Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Roads Policing Unit has tweeted this photo of a driver it caught doing 90mph on the M1, despite having "poor forward vision"...

BBC Weather

It's going to be overcast and very mild, with some hill fog possible today. 

A few bright intervals may develop before outbreaks of mostly light rain spread south-eastwards, this will most likely be over higher ground such as the Chilterns. Maximum temperature: 15C (59F).