Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

A cloudy evening, but staying dry across the BBC East region.

Clear spells will develop later. It'll feel chilly, with a touch of ground frost in sheltered spots as temperatures fall to a minimum 2C (35F).

Image source, BBC Weather

A fine day tomorrow with sunny spells, but it'll turn cloudy later with a maximum temperature of 10C (50F).

BBC Weather has more details for where you are.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Abu Dhabi

Lewis Hamilton says he will be "proud" of his performance in 2016 regardless of whether he wins the world title in Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Hamilton is 12 points behind Brackley-based Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg, who will win the title if he finishes in the top three, even if the Briton wins the race.

Image source, EPA

"It has been a challenging season in terms of ups and downs," Stevenage's Hamilton said.

"But I've managed to strengthen in terms of turning the negatives into positives. I am really proud of what I've achieved."

A Bedfordshire MP is warning the government that victims of the NHS contaminated blood scandal could be worse off under a new support scheme. 

The scandal erupted when thousands of people were infected with Hepatitis C and HIV through NHS blood products in the 1970s and 80s. 

Image source, Conservative Party

Under the plans, all those affected would receive a regular annual payment for the first time. 

But in the Commons, the Conservative MP for North East Bedfordshire - and former Health Minister - Alistair Burt said he's concerned that some discretionary payments could disappear. 

Jane Killick
BBC Three Counties Radio

A cyclist injured in a collision in Dunstable early this morning is in a critical condition in hospital, police say.

The crash, involving a Vauxhall Tigra, happened at the junction of Dunstable Road and Poynters Road at 05:20. 

The man, in his 30s, is being treated at Addenbrooke's in Cambridge.

Earlier we mentioned the Stevenage MP Stephen McPartland had blasted the town's car park charges.

Image source, Google

In response to the criticisms Ralph Raynor, executive member for Economy, Enterprise and Transport at Stevenage Borough Council, said: "Car parking charges in Stevenage town centre are tailored to the different car park users: railways station users, town centre shoppers and residents. 

"Charges for shoppers in Stevenage are comparable with other large town centres in Hertfordshire." 

Let's have a look at what some of our local papers are reporting today...

• The MK Citizen, external reports of Thames Valley Police warning shoppers of cyber crime ahead of Black Friday tomorrow
• The Royston Crow, external tells the story of a woman who went in to labour on the platform of Royston train station
• The Herts Advertiser, external report of the woman raising funds for nurses from Watford General Hospital's neonatal unit after their Christmas party was cancelled

Kate Bradbrook
BBC Look East

In the last few minutes, Bedfordshire CCG's governing body has announced it will continue to fund one round of IVF treatment on the NHS.

Stopping IVF provision was one of a number of measures being considered to save money and "provide value".

Earlier this year the matter was put out to consultation, and in September a decision was delayed.

Today the governing body unanimously approved proposals to retain current services. 

Its chairman, Dr Alvin Low, said at his GP practice he dealt with couples who struggle to have children and said it was often "soul destroying" and that this decision was the "right thing to do".

However, he added that with budgets under continued pressure, he could not guarantee when the issue could be back on the agenda.

Lewis Hamilton says he will be "proud" of his performance in 2016 regardless of whether he wins the world title in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

BBC Weather

Good news - it will slowly brighten up with some sunny intervals developing by the afternoon. 

Don't be fooled by the sunny spells though, as it's a breezy day with the north-easterly winds strong at times, especially over higher ground such as the Chilterns. 

Maximum temperature: 10C (50F).

Jonathan Vernon-Smith
BBC Three Counties Radio

Dunstable residents have told me they'll be avoiding the area this weekend as they're "concerned" about a gypsy talent show that will bring hundreds of travellers to the town. 

The Gypsy Factor, which is being promoted by My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy Doherty, will take place at the Dunstable Conference Centre on Saturday night.

Image source, Google

A local resident Jan, who spoke on my programme The JVS Show earlier, said she will no longer be going out in Dunstable this weekend, saying "I'd rather stay at home and know that I'm safe."

Meanwhile, Mr Doherty reassured local people telling BBC Three Counties Radio "everything's going to go great". 

He went on to explain that travellers should not all be tarred with the same brush, saying "there's good and bad among everyone."

Former Luton, Barnsley and Grimsby defender Paul Futcher dies at the age of 60.

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

Image source, Thinkstock

The Shadow leader of the House has told MPs that yesterday's announcement of funding for an expressway between Oxford and Cambridge was elitist because it ignored more successful universities.

During business questions in parliament, Labour's Valerie Vaz said the Autumn Statement had been "a statement of the elite".

"The chancellor said the expressway would become a transformational tech-corridor drawing on the world class research strengths of our two best known universities," she said.

"But the league tables of 2017 put Oxford and Cambridge in 3rd and 4th place. Imperial was first, LSE second. 

"Can we have a statement on what will be available for the other universities which don't have the historic wealth of Oxford and Cambridge?"

The leader of the House David Lidington accused Ms Vaz of "antiquated class war".

He said: "The expressway will benefit places like Milton Keynes and Bedford... it's a sign of the times that the party has given up on such communities for whom the corridor offers opportunities for economic growth."

The government was warned of "an alarming decline in safety" at Bedford Prison two months before a riot there, it has emerged.

Image source, PA

Sixty inmates were removed from the Category B jail and three were arrested after unrest on 6 November.

Alexander Daye, chair of the Bedford Independent Monitoring Broad, wrote to Justice Minister Sam Gyimah in August ahead of the prison's annual report, external release because the "current dire situation requires urgent attention".  

Mr Daye told the minister there had been "sharp increases in the numbers of assaults and serious assaults on prisoners and staff" accompanied by a rise in self-harm, two deaths in custody and staff had "voiced fears for their own safety".  

The Ministry of Justice said it was overhauling the prison system and bringing in more officers.

Earlier we mentioned that Bletchley Park looks set to become the site of a new cybersecurity school.

So with this news we thought we'd take a walk down memory lane and have a look at some old photos of the historic site.

Image source, PA

Bletchley Park was the base for wartime teams of codebreakers, who famously managed to break the German Enigma encryption system.    

Image source, PA

Image source, Getty Images

Tony Fisher
BBC Three Counties Radio

Friends of a woman who was killed on a level crossing in Aylesbury have said they are raising funds to have her repatriated with her family in Argentina. 

Earlier this month 31-year-old Mercedes Guadalupe Palomero was hit by a train as she crossed the tracks on Mandeville Road. 

Local people have previously labelled the crossing a death trap and Network Rail has said it is considering replacing it with a footbridge.

Ms Palermo's friend, Waqaas Ahmed, set up the fundraising page and told Andy Collins on BBC Three Counties Radio this morning that the cost of repatriation "can go up to £20,000". 

Mr Ahmed said a group of friends are doing all they can "to help raise anything that might help."

The MP for Stevenage has accused the town's borough council of being "addicted" to car parking charges.

Conservative Stephen McPartland told MPs that Stevenage Borough Council raises more than £3.5m a year from parking charges. 

He said the town centre "wasn't fit for purpose" and warned that the council's action was putting people off visiting or shopping in Stevenage.

Mr McPartland called on the government to back a local campaign to force the council to provide three free hours of parking in Stevenage town centre. The local government minister, Marcus Jones, said he "fully supports" the idea.

A cyclist has been seriously injured after an early-morning collision with a car.

The accident happened in Poynters Road, Dunstable, at about 05:25, Bedfordshire Police say.

Image source, Twitter

The A505 Luton Road is closed in both directions between the Ewe and Lamb pub and junction 11 for the M1. Motorists are being warned of severe delays in the area.

We'll bring you more details as we get them.

A decision on the future of NHS-funded IVF for couples in Bedfordshire - except Luton - is due to be made today after being deferred in September. 

The Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, external said it needed to take into account additional comments made since it consulted on stopping the free treatment. 

Image source, Science Photo Library

It's not the only health group in the UK facing difficult decisions about IVF provision, but if this affects you, we'll bring you the outcome from this afternoon's meeting when we get it.

Lee Agnew
BBC Three Counties Radio

Hundreds of travellers are set to visit Dunstable this weekend for a Gypsy version of the X Factor.

Organisers are hoping the singing competition will shine a positive light on the travelling community.

It's taking place at Dunstable Conference Centre on Saturday. The venue was selected as it's easily accessible from all over the country, organisers said.

Here's something to put a spring in your step, a smile on your face and make you feel warm and fuzzy... we know, it's not even 09:00!

Image source, Dave Wardell

We've told you a lot about police dog Finn, recovering after being stabbed while protecting his handler and "dad" from a suspected armed robber in Stevenage last month.

Well, look what "dad" PC Dave Wardell sent us... yep, it's a "find Finn" quiz. Which one of these little furballs is Finn?

The truth is, even PC Wardell isn't sure...

"I can't tell you which one, but he's in that bundle of joy somewhere," he said.

Image source, Dave Wardell

Here's Finn as he looks now... can you guess which one of those seven-week-olds was Finn as a pup?