Matt Lockwood
BBC Three Counties Radio

A Christian school in Luton has said an official complaint is being made over Ofsted ranking them "inadequate".

Luton Pentecostal Church Christian Academy, external has been criticised by inspectors for teaching creationism as scientific fact. Ofsted's report, external also said the school actively promotes exclusive heterosexual marriage as God's gift and design, that school leaders don't promote respect for different minorities, and the arrangements for safeguarding children aren't effective.

It also criticised the headteacher for keeping a seven foot long boa constrictor and tarantulas in his office without a safety assessment.

Image source, Google

The school said Ofsted inspected 10 "Acclerated Christian Education" schools on the same day, all of which were previously good or outstanding and all were downgraded to inadequate or needs improvement.

"Clearly there was an agenda here which we are still determining with our legal advisors and as such we do not wish to comment other than to say that wherever the school can be improved, by giving due attention to the report, it will be improved," a statement said.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

The NHS in Bedfordshire has said it's dealing with very high numbers of patients, which is putting a lot of pressure on ambulance services and hospitals.

They have reminded the public that accident and emergency departments at hospitals are for serious or life-threatening cases only.

Details about alternatives to A&E can be found on the NHS Bedfordshire CCG website, external, but they advise calling 111 if you are unwell and are unsure where to go.

Yesterday, hospitals in Hertfordshire said they were experiencing major pressures, with doctors in the A&E departments at Watford and the Lister Hospital in Stevenage saying they only have the capacity to treat people who have serious, life-threatening or dangerous conditions. 

It followed a similar plea from Milton Keynes Hospital on Tuesday.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

A Hertfordshire footballer who mocked Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter about his stillborn daughter in a series of tweets has told the BBC he is "totally ashamed".

Image source, Hitchin Town Football Club

Alfie Barker's contract with Hitchin Town has been terminated and the Football Association is investigating. 

The 18-year-old, who has ADHD and autism and takes medication which he said should not be mixed with alcohol, has admitted to drinking before sending the tweets.

"It's disgusting and I'm totally ashamed," he said.

"I'll do anything I can to apologise to Harry Arter and his family and I'll take any action that gets given to me.

"I did not mean what I said and I'm sorry."

A teenage boy accused of stabbing a police dog and his handler is expected to appear before magistrates later.

The 16-year-old from Lewisham, south-east London, is charged with attacking the pair in Stevenage in the early hours of 5 October.

Image source, Herts Police

PC Dave Wardell received a stab wound to his hand but PD (Police Dog) Finn was left with life-threatening injuries after beng stabbed in the head and chest.

Both have now recovered and returned to the beat for the first time together late last month.

The accused has denied actual bodily harm in relation to the officer's injuries and criminal damage relating to the dog. 

He is due before magistrates at Stevenage Youth Court this morning.

Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather

After a frosty start, today is due to be dry and sunny, and cold with a maximum temperature of 4C (39F).

Tonight will also be dry and cold night, with a widespread frost forming and the risk of fog developing.

There are more details on the BBC Weather website.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Hello and welcome back to our live stream of news across Beds, Herts and Bucks.

Between now and 18:00 the team here will bring you the news, sport, travel and weather updates as we get them.

We'll bring you a full weather forecast shortly.

If you want to get in contact with us throughout the day, then tweet, external, email or Facebook, external us.

Well that's it from all of us here at Local Live for Beds, Herts and Bucks for now.

The regular updates have finished for today, but if anything breaks over the next few hours it will appear here... we'll be back from 08:00 on Thursday.

Have a great evening whatever you might be doing, I'll be taking more Christmas decorations down! 

Image source, Alex Pope

Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

Staying mainly dry this evening with long clear spells but a risk of a few showers blowing in from the North Sea which may have a fleeting wintry flavour.     

Feeling cold in the breeze overnight and a sharp frost will develop bringing a risk of ice.

Thursday will start cold but long spells of sunshine are expected although showers are possible across northern and eastern counties.

Maximum temperature: 6C (40F).

More details from BBC Weather.

Lee Agnew
BBC Three Counties Radio

Hospitals in Hertfordshire say they're experiencing major pressures, with the A&E departments at Watford and the Lister Hospital in Stevenage being stretched by the number of patients. 

Doctors say they only have the capacity to treat people who have serious, life-threatening or dangerous conditions. 

It follows a similar plea from Milton Keynes Hospital yesterday.

Kate Bradbrook
BBC Look East

Richard Kubaszewski lives a stone's throw from the Marston Road level crossing and has done so for about 48 years. 

He's not surprised someone was killed on the crossing yesterday as he told me he sees people taking their "lives in their hands" and "zig zagging" through the crossing to "take a risk and hope for the best".

He says it's the "worst incident ever" and he's not surprised it didn't happen sooner. 

He hopes because of the fatality, things will "improve".

Kate Bradbrook
BBC Look East

Network Rail have confirmed that they're currently consulting with the public to "identify a suitable alternative to the current level crossing" and a "number of options are being considered". 

One of those options is to build a bridge that can take traffic over the tracks of the Marston level crossing close to Lidlington.  

These options were being reviewed before a man died when he was hit by a train at the crossing yesterday.

As the crossing is by one of the preferred routes of the East West Rail phase 2 linking Bedford and Cambridge, it means capacity could increase so the best option has to be found.

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

A man in his 20s was stabbed in the leg during a street robbery in Luton, police say.

It happened at around 18:00 on 29 December in Marsh Road when the victim was approached by a group of black youths who demanded his bag.

He was stabbed in the leg, although his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. His bag was later found in a nearby alleyway.

Image source, Google

Det Con Dan Matcham, of Bedfordshire Police, said: "We will not tolerate callous acts of violence and would appeal for anyone who has any information at all about this incident to come forward so that we can find those responsible."

One of the group is described as being in his late teens, slim, and with a small amount of facial hair. He was wearing a woollen hat and dark clothing.

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

The Conservative MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, Peter Lilley, external, has questioned the impartiality of Britain's outgoing EU ambassador Sir Ivan Rogers.

The former Trade Secretary and Leave campaigner sits on Parliament's Brexit committee.

He described Sir Ivan's resignation email to his staff as reading half "like a CV" and the other half "like some degree of sour grapes".  

Speaking on the BBC's World at One, Mr Lilley said it was important to have someone in the post who was committed to leaving the EU.

"One has a feeling that many diplomats, Eurocrats, are actually in the business of trying to negotiate our way back in rather than committing to getting us out," he said.

"If Sir Ivan Rogers was in the former group, it's good he's gone."

Adam Williams
BBC Sport

Portsmouth manager Paul Cook feels a number of supporters "let themselves down" in their reaction to Luton's Cameron McGeehan breaking his leg.

McGeehan was booed by a section of home fans as he was carried off on a stretcher at Fratton Park on Monday.

Luton manager Nathan Jones said some supporters showed a lack of "class" towards the midfielder.

Image source, Getty Images

Paul Cook told BBC Radio Solent: "It was a moment I don't think our fans realised the extent of the boy's injury. By the time they had, it was obviously too late and we've let ourselves down, there's no issue about that.

"All we can do is apologise for our behaviour in that moment and wish Cameron a speedy recovery."

Phil Shepka
BBC Sport

After being sacked by both Hitchin Town Football Club and Codicote FC, Langford Football Club have confirmed that Alfie Barker "left the club in September of last year, to follow his playing career elsewhere".

Ian Chessum, the club's chairman, says: "Registration and all association with Langford Football Club were terminated at that time."

The future career of the footballer, who sent an abusive tweet to Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter over the death of his baby daughter on Twitter, looks now in doubt. 

Barker was also subject to an approach by Stotfold, but their chairman Phil Pateman told the Press Association: "This was prior to grotesque comments made by Barker in regard to the tragic loss of Harry Arter's daughter Renee.

"As a result of those comments Stotfold FC have, with immediate effect, withdrawn our interest in the player."

Jane Killick
BBC Three Counties Radio

A man remains in police custody in Bedfordshire after being arrested on suspicion of murder.

Investigations are continuing after the discovery of a woman's body at a house in Wivelsfield, Eaton Bray, yesterday. 

Bedfordshire Police say they are still treating the death as unexplained, pending a post-mortem examination.

Image source, Google

BBC Weather Watchers

The good news is it's set to become a largely sunny and dry day, although this photos taken by BBC Weather Watcher justjan shows a rather gloomy morning. 

The winds will ease, allowing temperatures to quickly fall during the evening, with frost forming. 

Maximum Temperature: 8C (46F). 

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

A fly-tipper has left just a few clues for police in south Buckinghamshire.

This tweet from Codicote FC sums up their day. 

They terminated the contact of Alfie Barker saying they "cannot and will not tolerate this behaviour". 

It's after Barker abused Bournemouth player Harry Arter on Twitter over the death of his baby daughter.

Phil Shepka
BBC Sport

Image source, Hitchin Town Football Club

Hitchin Town football club, external have also decided to terminate their contract with Alfie Barker after he sent abusive tweets to Harry Arter about his daughter's death. 

The club says the 19-year-old is registered to play for Hitchin Town in the Southern League and has appeared only briefly for the club in the 2016-17 season. He's currently playing at Langford and Codicote on a dual registration basis.

"In the light of the player’s irresponsible and anti-social behaviour, we are terminating Alfie Barker’s registration and relationship with the club with immediate effect."

It added: "We would reiterate that Hitchin Town, as a community club with established links with various segments of the public, has been a long-time user of social media channels and expects all club stakeholders to use them appropriately."