BBC Local Live: Beds, Herts and Bucks

Summary

Updates for Friday, 2 December 2016
Europe presses ahead with Stevenage-built Mars rover
House badly damaged by fire in Hertfordshire
Man stabbed near Luton train station
Woman in critical condition after crash on A10

Live Reporting

Homeless MK: Night shelter openspublished at 12:47 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016
Justin Dealey
BBC Three Counties Radio
Last week I slept rough for a night on the streets of Milton Keynes to get a feel of what it's like to be homeless.
It's because so far this year in the new city, three rough sleepers have lost their lives.
During my reports I've been constantly told there is nowhere for people to go, which the council denies.
But last night the Winter Night Shelter , externalopened at The Buszy, which is run by volunteers, and I was there.
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Woman and baby treated after firepublished at 12:07 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016
Alex Pope
BBC Local Live
A woman and a baby boy were given oxygen after a fire in a first-floor bathroom, external in a Bletchley flat this morning.
Several crews attended the blaze in Nevis Grove.
The first floor was 30% damaged by fire and the ground floor was 10% damaged by smoke, the fire service said.
Image source, Bucks and MK Fire
Neilson's move to MK Dons a 'logical' one - Hearts directorpublished at 11:19 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016
Luke Ashmead
BBC Three Counties Radio sport
Hearts director of football Craig Levein says the club is looking for a "young and energetic" coach to replace MK Dons-bound Robbie Neilson (pictured), after it accepted a compensation offer for him on Thursday night.
He believes the move is "logical" as "he's always wanted to manage at the top level down in England", hoping it would lead to "getting a higher level club - he saw that as his pathway".
"I don't want to be disrespectful to MK Dons because they have a bigger stadium than us and they have the potential to be a good team. He goes with my best wishes," Levein added.
Image source, Getty Images
Herts house fire: Praise for 'farmers' that helpedpublished at 10:43 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016
Alex Pope
BBC Local Live
A moment ago we mentioned praise had been given to three farmers who helped supply water to tackle a house blaze in Great Horemead.
A whole 100,000 litres (22,000 gallons) was used in fact...
Nice work all.
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Herts house fire: 'Our thoughts go out to the family'published at 10:26 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016
Alex Pope
BBC Local Live
More photos have been released showing the extent of the damage to a house in Great Horemead, close to Buntingford.
Image source, Sawbridgeworth Fire
Crews from Sawbridgeworth, Wheathampstead, Much Hadham and Hoddesdon attended.
Image source, Sawbridgeworth Fire
Firefighters from Sawbridgeworth praised the crews involved and said "our thoughts go out to the owners".
Image source, Sawbridgeworth Fire
East Herts Rural Police gave a "massive thanks" to three farmers who helped them with the water supply.
Image source, Sawbridgeworth Fire
Robbie Neilson expected at Stadium MKpublished at 09:23 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016
Luke Ashmead
BBC Three Counties Radio sport
Milton Keynes Dons, external says it has agreed terms with Hearts manager Robbie Neilson and his assistant Stevie Crawford to take up the vacant seats at the club.
Neilson and Crawford are expected at Stadium MK today to finalise personal terms.
We believe caretaker manager Richie Barker will again be in charge of the team for tomorrow's FA Cup trip to Charlton, where Barker will be up against new Charlton and former Dons boss Karl Robinson.
A further statement is expected later.
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Nico Rosberg thanks Lewis Hamilton and says world title is 'unbelievable'published at 09:16 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016
Yesterday we brought you this Lewis Hamilton tweet to world champion Nico Rosberg...
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Last night Nico Rosberg replied with this...
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Lewis Hamilton: Mercedes need him, so how do they manage Abu Dhabi fall out?published at 09:06 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016
BBC Sport
The fall out at the end of the Formula 1 World Championship continues, with Brackley-based Mercedes wrestling with what to do about Lewis Hamilton's disobedience at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
From Mercedes' point of view, it all ended well - Stevenage's Hamilton won the race, Rosberg finished second to clinch the title, having navigated his way through what he described as an "intense" 90 minutes or so.
Here the BBC's chief F1 writer Andrew Benson looks at what Mercedes might do with the Stevenage driver now, and how it affects them going into next season.
Image source, Getty Images
Woman critically injured after crash on A10published at 09:03 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016
Stuart Bailey
BBC News
A woman is in a critical condition in hospital after a crash on the A10 in Hertfordshire last night.
Her silver BMW left the southbound carriageway and ended up in a field between the Hailey interchange and Hoddesdon just before 17:50.
Image source, Google
Image caption,
The car had been travelling on this southbound stretch of the A10.
The woman was the only person in the car at the time.
Police are investigating and have appealed for any witnesses to contact them.
FA Cup second-round stories to watchpublished at 08:55 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016
An early reunion and a boss with a second chance feature among BBC Sport's stories to watch in the FA Cup second round.
Read More
Man stabbed near Luton train stationpublished at 08:42 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016
Stuart Bailey
BBC News
A man is being treated for stab wounds to the leg after an attack in Luton last night.
Police were called to the town's train station just after 18:30.
The man's injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
Image source, Google
Train fares to rise by average of 2.3%published at 08:41 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016
Pete Cooper
BBC Local Live
We don't like to start your day with bad news, but if you are off to get a train then I'm afraid fares in Britain will go up by an average of 2.3% from 2 January.
The increase in regulated fares, which includes season tickets, is capped at July's RPI inflation rate of 1.9%.
Unregulated fares, such as off-peak leisure tickets, can go up by as much as the train companies like.
The Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators and Network Rail, said the industry was working to simplify fares and improve services.
House badly damaged by fire in Hertfordshirepublished at 08:19 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016
Stuart Bailey
BBC News
Fire crews have finally left the scene of a large house fire in the village of Great Hormead, near Buntingford.
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At its height, 10 pumps were used to tackle the blaze at the thatched property.
The fire started early yesterday afternoon and people were initially told to avoid the area.
It was under control by 02:30 this morning.
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Friday's weather: Gloomy with little in the way of sunshinepublished at 08:04 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016
Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather
Much milder, but unfortunately we've lost the sunshine, so it'll be gloomy with plenty of low cloud around and very little in the way of brightness.
Temperatures up to 9C (48F).
Winds are light and it should stay dry, although there may be a few spots of rain later in eastern coastal areas.
Watch my full forecast here...
Welcome backpublished at 08:00 Greenwich Mean Time 2 December 2016
Stuart Bailey
BBC News
Good morning and thanks for joining us.
The weekend is nearly upon us and it's feeling tropical out there!
Well, not quite, but it is milder than it's been so far this week so you shouldn't have to scrape the windscreen this morning. We'll bring you that all-important weather forecast soon.
Plus we'll have the usual news, sport and travel updates for the three counties between now and 18:00 this evening.
As ever, we'd like to hear any stories from you. Drop us a tweet, external or visit our Facebook page, external.
MK Dons agree terms for Hearts' Neilsonpublished at 21:25 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2016
Breaking
MK Dons agree terms with Hearts for head coach Robbie Neilson to become their new manager.
Read More
That's all for todaypublished at 18:01 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2016
Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live
Thank you for your company.
We'll be back from 08:00 with regular news, weather, travel and sport updates, but any breaking news will be posted here overnight.
Before we go, here's a lovely photo of the Stevenage sky from one of our BBC Weather Watchers, 'Carla's Garden'.
Weather: Freezing tonight with fogpublished at 17:31 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2016
Julie Reinger
BBC Look East weather
A dry and largely cloudy night with some clear spells across the East region.
Where skies clear, it could freeze with temperatures dropping close to 0C (32F) and patchy fog and frost is likely.
It’ll be a chilly start to Friday with some frost and fog to clear. It’ll then be a generally cloudy day with perhaps a little brightness and sunshine at times. Some parts could also see a bit of light and showery rain. Top temperature 9C (48F).
There are more details on the BBC Weather website.
Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue tackling blaze in Great Hormeadpublished at 17:07 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2016
Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live
Firefighters are asking people to avoid the Great Hormead area while they tackle a blaze.
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Luton and Bedford school performance 'woeful'published at 17:00 Greenwich Mean Time 1 December 2016
Jane Killick
BBC Three Counties Radio
Schools in Luton and Bedford are in the bottom five nationally for pupil achievement at the age of 11.
The annual report by the schools inspectorate, Ofsted, external, says the performance of too many primary and middle schools in the area has been "woeful".
Image source, PA
In primary schools, the proportion rated good or outstanding in Luton is 8% less than the national average, with the authority ranked in the bottom 13 in the country.
Bedford and Luton were also among the five poorest performing areas when it comes to pupils reaching the expected standards in reading, writing and maths.