The National Living Wage (NLW)  will increase from £7.20 to £7.50 in April next year, the chancellor has confirmed. 

"That’s a pay rise worth over £500 a year to a full-time worker," he says. The NLW has replaced the minimum wage for workers aged over 25.

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

Philip Hammond is a very different chancellor to George Osborne - he's not as showy, he doesn't have leadership ambitions - so it was always going to be the case that this mini budget would be "big picture" stuff with very few local announcements. 

But we will all be affected by what he's said today and the view at Westminster is that when it comes to investment, the East is likely to be one of the main beneficiaries.

Science and research parks in Cambridge, Norwich and Ipswich will be in line for the extra funding for research and development, some of the many mobile and broadband "not spots" across the region can expect to benefit from the increased funding confirmed today, we might get some of the money for new housing and the commitment to east west rail, and an express roadway from Oxford to Cambridge will make it much easier to get about and do business. 

The details will emerge in the days and weeks to come.

Critics will say it isn't enough, but for a region that feels it's been underfunded for many years, anything extra will be welcome.

It looks like it's good news on the funding front for Justice Secretary Liz Truss...

It's the news we were expecting, thumbs up for Oxford-Cambridge expressway.

The Conservative MEP for the East, Vicky Ford has welcomed news that the Chancellor Phillip Hammond is investing £23bn in innovation and infrastructure. 

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

A "massive thank you" has been shared by a Ampthill mother for National Grid engineers "going the extra mile" to help her family after they were without gas for six days. 

Amy Hillyard's two-year-old daughter, Bella, lost her "beloved comfort/bear blanket" and she shared the story on social media to try and find it. 

Luckily a team of gas engineers read the story and although they didn't find it, one of them, Darren Miller, came round to hand over a present to Bella. 

Image source, Amy Hillyard

Bella's taken a shining to her new bear, which is now known as "Gas".

Chancellor Philip Hammond is in the process of delivering his Autumn Statement... BBC East political correspondent Andrew Sinclair is in Westminster.

Geoff Doyle
BBC Three Counties Radio sport

Managerless Milton Keynes Dons remain in the League One relegation zone after losing 3-2 to bottom club Chesterfield at Stadium MK last night. 

The Dons had led 2-1, but remain without a home league win this season. 

Image source, Getty Images

Caretaker manager Richie Barker said he "doesn't know" if he'll stay in charge for Saturday's game at Coventry, but he "doesn't expect to be."

But if he [chairman Pete Winkelman] asks me to stay for another four days, then I will do."

Geoff Doyle
BBC Three Counties Radio sport

The former Milton Keynes Dons, external manager Karl Robinson is expected to be confirmed as the new manager of fellow League One side Charlton Athletic, external today. 

The Dons, who have yet to replace Robinson who left a month ago, travel to Charlton in the FA Cup a week on Saturday.

Image source, Getty Images

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

Chancellor Philip Hammond will shortly deliver his Autumn Statement, a kind of mini budget.

On a national level it is probably the most important budget statement for six years, as the new administration outlines its priorities as we prepare for Brexit.

But don't expect lots of local announcements. 

Whilst George Osborne had leadership ambitions and loved to name check as many local bits of spending as possible, Mr Hammond is a very different person. He believes in outlining the big picture and leaving it to others to reveal the local detail in the days and weeks to come. 

We will all be affected by the expected fuel duty freeze, as well as by any tax cuts or increases. We already know that money is going into science and research as well as in tackling poor broadband and mobile phone provision and it's very likely that some of that will come our way. 

But anything else? Watch this space.

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

Det Supt Liz Mead from Bedfordshire Police says the Channel Four documentary One Killer Punch, external shows that incidents like this can "happen anywhere and any time."

The programmed showed the impact the death of Brian Holmes had on the family after Alan Watts (pictured) was jailed for five years for punching and killing Mr Holmes during a row over a disabled space in a supermarket car park.

She added: "Think before you act. Don't let that red mist descend because not only could someone pay with their life but you could pay with your liberty."

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

The case of a Bedfordshire man who was killed in a row over a disabled parking space featured in a television documentary last night. 

"One Killer Punch, external", on Channel Four, explored examples of a one punch kill where a single hit that can have dire consequences. 

It featured the case of Brian Holmes who died in August 2013 after being assaulted by Alan Watts in the car park of Asda in Biggleswade. 

Image source, Beds Police

Tim Wardle, the show's director says the family took part in the show to "raise awareness of the devastating consequences a single punch can have."

Watts was found guilty of manslaughter at Luton Crown Court and jailed for five years.

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

The idea of a fast link between the university cities of Cambridge and Oxford isn't new. 

A government study has already said a "brain belt" expressway between the cities could boost the UK economy.  

If the money is forthcoming it could mean sections of the A428 and A421 between Cambridge and Buckingham would need to be dualled, including what could lead to changes to the famous Milton Keynes grid system. 

Image source, Geograph/N.Chdwick

The Department of Transport report also highlights, external the need for significant improvements to the A1 between the Black Cat roundabout in Bedfordshire and the A14 at Huntingtdon.

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

It's hoped an announcement will be made this afternoon in the Autumn Statement for £1bn to be spent on creating a new expressway between Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge.

Martin Tett, the Conservative leader of Buckinghamshire County Council, says:  "any extra money on our roads and reducing congestion is good news". 

Although he says as an estimated £12bn is needed just to repair our existing pot holes and £55bn is being spent on HS2 "it's a relatively small amount of money in the context of transportation."

Image source, WSP

Kate Scotter
BBC News

As we've been telling you this morning, householders who were affected by a damaged gas main have been donating their compensation money to the homeless charity Shelter, external.

Simon Tuck, who started the initiative, said the generosity of people has been "amazing".

He said: "I simply said if there were 6,000 of us affected, would you donate £10 - a third of the compensation you get for each day - to those who really know what it's like to be cold."

So far, £2,800 has been raised.

Mr Tuck said the loss of gas supply has also raised the community spirit.

"It genuinely created something, a genuine moment of coming together over the three towns," he said.

Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth says he may need to rethink his free-kick takers after Sido Jombati's goal at Newport.

What's going to be in the Autumn Statement? Take a look at our animated guide.  

Kate Scotter
BBC News

Over the last week we've been bringing you news that 6,000 homes in Ampthill, Maulden and Clophill were left without heating or hot water after a gas main was damaged.

Gas to almost all homes has now been restored with people being automatically compensated £30 per 24 hours. 

Rather than pocketing the compensation, many of the residents have decided to give the money to charity to help the homeless.

Simon Tuck, who started the initiative, said: "I thought why not channel this compensation into something positive for Shelter.

"Within 48 hours we raised a little over £2,500."