Summary

  • Updates for Friday, 20 January 2017

  • Tributes paid to Royston fire engine crash victim as investigation continues

  • Helen Bailey murder trial resumes after being halted for two days

  1. Bournemouth 2-2 Watfordpublished at 18:07 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January 2017

    Benik Afobe scores a late equaliser as Bournemouth come from behind twice to draw with Watford at the Vitality Stadium.

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  2. Goodbyepublished at 18:01 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2017

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    That's it from all of us here at Local Live for Beds, Herts and Bucks for this week. 

    If anything happens between now and Monday morning, it will appear here on this stream. 

    We'll be back on Monday at 08:00 with more news, sport, travel weather and lots of reports to mark 50 years of Milton Keynes - the town famous for having the first multiplex cinema and some rather famous bovine artwork. 

    Concrete cowsImage source, Rude Health/Geograph
  3. Overnight weather: Dry with a widespread frostpublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2017

    Julie Reinger
    BBC Look East weather

    It’ll be a dry night across the BBC East region with mainly clear skies, a widespread frost and some patchy mist and freezing fog.  

    There’ll be light winds and temperatures in some spots could fall as low as -5C (23F).

    Overnight weather map

    Some mist and fog may be slow to clear Saturday morning. 

    Overall it’ll be a dry day, but thicker cloud is likely to feed in from the North Sea, perhaps producing some patchy rain in north Norfolk. 

    The best of any sunshine and brightness will be in the south of the region with highs around 6C (43F).

    Get a full forecast where you live from BBC Weather.

  4. Video: School will have memories of Prince William's helicopter rolepublished at 17:30 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2017

    As Prince William announces he's to step down as a helicopter pilot with the East Anglian Ambulance Service, one school with have fond memories.

    HRH touched down at on the playing field at John Henry Newman School in Stevenage earlier this year and joined children for lunch.

    Media caption,

    Prince William lands for school dinner

  5. Safe landing?published at 17:19 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2017

    Tony Fisher
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    What a day it's been for Peaky, the Ohbot robot, external, who was set into the stratosphere just before midday from Roysia Middle School in Royston. 

    Ohbot going into the sky

    He went for a bit of a journey into near space and this afternoon he landed near the shore of The Wash close to Boston in Lincolnshire.

    Landing site of OhbotImage source, Ohbot Robot

    The Ohbot team quickly set about trying to find him and luckily they did, announcing on Twitter "he's alive, external" just a short while ago.

    Ohbot foundImage source, Ohbot Robot
  6. Milton Keynes MP speaks out about fears 'being gay would stop me being MP'published at 17:08 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2017

    BBC Politics

    Iain Stewart, MP for Milton Keynes South, has told the the House of Commons he feared he would not be able to pursue a career in politics because he was gay. 

    He said he was worried he would be "cast aside and prevented from doing it, exposed, whatever, because of who I was".

    The MP was speaking during a debate about repealing defunct laws which suggested it was possible to dismiss a seafarer for being gay.

    He warned the law could create a fear in young people that they could not pursue a vocation they wanted, because they were different.

    Media caption,

    Iain Stewart: I feared being gay would stop me being MP

  7. Birthday treats for MKpublished at 17:02 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2017

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    On Monday Milton Keynes will be officially 50, so events are being held across the city, external this weekend to mark the event. 

    Some won't cost you anything, but only if you're an MK resident. 

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  8. Prince William: 'A privilege to fly with air ambulance charity'published at 16:58 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2017

    Caroline Kingdon
    BBC Local Live

    Recently, there had been a number of reports that the Duke of Cambridge was to leave his role with the charity and spend more time with his family in London, away from their Norfolk home of Anmer Hall on the Sandringham estate.

    It's now been confirmed the Duke of Cambridge will leave the charity in summer, and spend more time in the capital where his children will attend school.

    Prince William standing in front of an air ambulance helicopterImage source, PA

    In a statement released on his behalf by Kensington Palace, Prince William speaks of his time with the flying medical service:  

    "It has been a huge privilege to fly with the East Anglian Air Ambulance. Following on from my time in the military, I have had experiences in this job I will carry with me for the rest of my life, and that will add a valuable perspective to my royal work for decades to come.

    "I would like to thank the people of East Anglia for being so supportive of my role and for letting me get on with the job when they have seen me in the community or at our region's hospitals. 

    "I would especially like to thank all of my colleagues at EAAA, Babcock [helicopter support company] and Cambridge Airport for their friendship and support. 

    "I have loved being part of a team of professional, talented people that save lives every day. 

    "My admiration for our country's medical and emergency services community could not be any stronger."    

  9. Jury in Natalia Wilanowska case retires to consider verdictpublished at 16:49 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2017

    The jury in the trial of a man accused of concealing the truth about the death of Natalia Wilanowska in Luton has retired to consider its verdict.

    Joseph Doherty, 73, from Glasgow, denies one charge of perverting the course of justice, one of obstructing the coroner by giving a false account of Ms Wilkanowska's death and one charge of preventing her lawful burial.

    Natalia WilanowskaImage source, Bedfordshire Police

    Luton Crown Court was told Gerald Doherty killed Natalia, who was his ex-wife, in 2003 and went on to kill himself. Her body was found in a garden in Luton years later.

    Another brother, Daniel Doherty, 67, from Luton, was cleared of all charges yesterday.

    The court has adjourned for the day and the jury will return to consider its verdict on Monday morning.

  10. Prince William's nerves on first day with air ambulancepublished at 16:44 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2017

    The Duke of Cambridge began his job with the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) on 13 July 2015.

    It was an early start for the former RAF helicopter pilot - his first shift at Cambridge Airport began at 07:00. Like all of us starting a new job, Prince William admitted to feeling nervous.

    When his role with the charity was announced, Patrick Peal, chief executive of the EAAA, said it would help boost their profile and they would benefit from William's skills as a pilot.

    Prince William standing on door ledge of an EAAA helicopterImage source, PA

    Last July, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the charity's new base at the Egerton-Smith Centre at Cambridge Airport. 

    The royal couple were given a tour by the Duke of Cambridge, and met some of the charity's medics, support staff and pilots.

    The Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and Prince WilliamImage source, PA

    In September, the Duke of Cambridge spoke about his work with the flying medical service, saying that when he put his air ambulance hat on he's "one of the team".

    "At the end of the day I feel like I've made a difference and a contribution to whatever it is I've done that day.  

    "There are some very sad, dark moments. We talk about it a lot and that's the best way of dealing with some of these situations.

    "It's hard... it can be quite difficult."

  11. Rail services to and from Stansted affected by points failurepublished at 16:26 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2017

    BBC Travel

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  12. Murder accused 'grinned' at officerspublished at 16:24 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2017

    The man accused of murdering children's author Helen Bailey "grinned" when questioned by police, a court hears.

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  13. Prince to quit job with air ambulancepublished at 16:16 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2017
    Breaking

    Caroline Kingdon
    BBC Local Live

    The Duke of Cambridge is to leave his job as a pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance, external (EAAA) in the summer and spend more time in London.

    A statement has been issued by Kensington Palace, in which William says it was a "privilege" to fly with the organisation.

    Prince William in the Airbus H145 based at Cambridge AirportImage source, PA

    The statement added that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge want to increase their official duties on behalf of the Queen and their charity work.

    In September, three-year-old Prince George will begin school in London. His sister, Princess Charlotte, who'll be two in May, will start at nursery in the capital. 

    The EAAA flies two helicopters out of Cambridge and Norwich, and flies missions all over East Anglia - as this incident map shows:

    Mission map for the east Anglian Air AmbulanceImage source, EAAA

    It has declined to issue a statement about Prince William's decision to leave.

  14. Migrants found in lorry on M1published at 15:58 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2017

    Jane Killick
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    Bedfordshire Police has detained 10 suspected illegal immigrants found inside a lorry on the M1.

    It was stopped at Toddington Services after it headed northbound into Bedfordshire at about 14:30 this afternoon. 

    Two people have been taken to hospital as a precaution.

  15. Helen Bailey: Ian Stewart didn't 'want to be interviewed' after missing reportpublished at 15:32 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2017

    Kate Bradbrook
    BBC Look East

    This afternoon at the murder trial over the death of Helen Bailey we've heard from Det Con Hollie Daines.

    She went to the author's home in Royston to carry out a video recorded interview with Ian Stewart following Ms Bailey's disappearance.

    Ms Dains told St Albans Crown Court Ian Stewart, 56, who's on trial for Ms Bailey's murder, "did not appear as if he wanted to be interviewed".

    "He didn't see the point. He seemed quite blasé and non-committal," she said.

    Ian StewartImage source, South Beds News Agency

    She explained it took a few days to carry out the interview due to him saying he was "not well".

    She added he "was prepared to do it" but "he was really not happy" and said, "I do not like this".

    Mr Stewart denies all charges against him.

  16. Robot a head for heightspublished at 15:28 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2017

    Tony Fisher
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    There was much excitement at Roysia Middle School in Royston this morning...

    School children cheering

    Pupils were getting ready to launch a robot into near space. 

    Ohbot about to be launched

    The Ohbot is an easy-to-program robot head used by school children...

    Launch of Ohbot

    and it was let into the stratosphere using an expanding balloon just before midday. 

    Ohbot being launched into the sky

    Named "Peaky", he's programmed to react to the flight and could be chattering his teeth!

    Peaky

    He's expected to stay in the sky for a few hours and could travel as far as The Wash.

  17. Wycombe re-sign midfielder Saunderspublished at 14:48 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2017

    League Two side Wycombe Wanderers re-sign Brentford midfielder Sam Saunders on a free transfer until June 2018.

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  18. London Midland says it has 'no intention of removing conductors' from trainspublished at 13:50 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2017

    BBC News England

    London Midland said the proposed changes were in reaction to feedback from staff and passengers.

    A spokesman for the train operator said: "The security contractors are in addition to the senior conductors and have different duties.

    "This is about safety as we have told the RMT many times. We have no intention of removing conductors from our trains."

    london midland

    The RMT said it had been "left with no option but to ballot" after London Midland management failed to respond to its questions and proposals.

  19. London Midland conductors threaten strike actionpublished at 13:49 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2017

    BBC News England

    Train conductors on London Midland have announced they will take a vote over strike action.

    Rail union RMT said it was balloting its 523 members over the proposed imposition of security contractors on trains.

    London Midland

    The union says the company's move was made without agreement. The ballot closes on 2 February.

    RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: "The imposition of external contractors who have no additional skills or powers of authority to remove unruly passengers or fare dodgers is something we are totally opposed to."

    London Midland said it was "very disappointed" the RMT was threatening action.    

  20. How many?published at 13:46 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2017

    How many people can you fit in a seven seater car? 

    The answer's below...

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