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. Royston fire engine crash: Video of aftermathpublished at 12:18 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    This was the scene people witnessed last night in Royston following the fire engine crash that left a pedestrian dead. 

    A police cordon was put in place and covers were placed around the engine until it was recovered.

    Media caption,

    Overturned fire engine kills pedestrian in Royston (Video courtesy of UK News In Pictures)

  2. Royston fire engine crash: Video of scene todaypublished at 11:43 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

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  3. Helen Bailey: Trial adjourned for second daypublished at 11:42 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Sarah Jenkins
    BBC Local Live

    The trial of Ian Stewart, who denies murdering Royston author Helen Bailey, has been adjourned for a second day as the defendant is still not well enough to attend court.

    Helen BaileyImage source, Hertfordshire Police

    Prosecutors in the trial at St Albans Crown Court allege Mr Stewart murdered his partner, who was worth an estimated £4m, for her money.  

    Mr Stewart, 56, also denies preventing a lawful burial, fraud and three counts of perverting the course of justice.  

  4. Hemel stabbing: Three charged with murderpublished at 11:27 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017
    Breaking

    Sarah Jenkins
    BBC Local Live

    Three people have been charged with murdering 38-year-old Adam Watt, who died in a stabbing outside his home in Hemel Hempstead.

    Adam WattImage source, South Beds News Agency

    The attack happened at Evans Wharf, Apsley Lock, on 8 January.

    Joseph Zulu, 22, of no fixed address, is charged with murder and conspiracy to supply drugs.

    Nicholas Grant, 18, of Sunnyhill Road, Hemel Hempstead, is charged with murder and conspiracy to supply drugs.

    Jackie Brewin, 47, of Sacombe Road, Hemel Hempstead, is also charged with murder.

    All three are due to appear at Hatfield Magistrates' Court.

  5. Royston fire engine crash: Vehicle 'on way to report of house fire'published at 11:23 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Sarah Jenkins
    BBC Local Live

    Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has revealed the fire engine involved in last night's crash in Royston, which killed a pedestrian, was "on its way to reports of a house fire".

    Fire engineImage source, UKNIP

    Chief fire officer Roy Wilsher, said: "This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the member of the public who sadly died at the scene. 

    "Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service are working with the police to establish exactly what happened and why."

    Two firefighters were taken to hospital following the crash for precautionary checks.

  6. Royston fire engine crash: Pictures of recovery operationpublished at 11:06 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Here are some photos of the recovery operation last night after a fire engine was left on its side following a fatal crash with a pedestrian in Royston.

    Fire engineImage source, UKNIP
    Fire engineImage source, UKNIP
    RoundaboutImage source, UKNIP

    The engine had to be winched out of a ditch at the roundabout close to Tesco after it lost control and overturned.

  7. Flowers left at scene of Royston fire engine crashpublished at 10:38 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Flowers have been laid at the scene where a pedestrian died after he was struck by a fire engine in Royston last night.

    Flowers at scene of Royston fire engine crash
    Scene of Royston fire engine crash
    Scene of Royston fire engine crash

    The engine was travelling along Old North Road and was making a right hand turn into Burns Road when it lost control and overturned.

    The victim's next-of-kin have been informed, police said.

    Four people were in the fire engine at the time of the crash and sustained minor injuries.

  8. Man chased and slashed by men with Samurai swordspublished at 10:23 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC News

    A man has been attacked in Milton Keynes by three men armed with Samurai swords. 

    The attack took place just before 22:00 on Saturday on New Bradwell High Street.

    He was chased into a house and followed by the men who slashed him across the face, Thames Valley Police said.

    High Street, New BradwellImage source, Google

    Officers say they don't believe the victim went to hospital and want to speak to him to make sure he's safe. 

    The victim is described as black with afro-style hair, which is tall at the front and flat at the back.

    His attackers have been described as black "baby-faced" men who were wearing dark clothing.

  9. Teenager to appear in court over Aylesbury stabbingpublished at 09:17 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    An 18-year-old man is due to appear at High Wycombe Magistrates' Court this morning charged with murder after a stabbing at a house in Aylesbury.

    Brandon Lavender, of Brompton Close, has been charged with murdering 26-year-old Daniel Lavender in a property on the same street.

    The victim died in hospital after the attack on Monday morning.  

    Thames Valley Police has not confirmed the relationship between the two men.

  10. Resident heard 'big bang' in Royston fire engine crashpublished at 08:33 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC News

    "It was just a bit bang. I came out about 10 minutes later to pick my son up from cadets and there was just people everywhere."

    Those are the words of one eyewitness who saw the aftermath of the fire engine crash in Royston, which killed a pedestrian.

    "All the lights were flashing, the kids were asking what was happening, they were so young so you couldn't tell them. It was really sad."

    An investigation into the crash, which happened at a roundabout near Tesco last night, is under way.

    Royston roundaboutImage source, Google
  11. Pedestrian dies after being hit by fire engine in Roystonpublished at 08:14 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC News

    A pedestrian has died after being hit by a fire engine that was responding to an emergency in Royston.

    Accident sceneImage source, Lynsey Langdon

    Police are investigating the crash, which happened at 20:45 yesterday on a roundabout at the junction of York Way and Old North Road.

    Officers said the circumstances surrounding it are "still unclear".

    The pedestrian was left with fatal injuries and died at the scene.

    A second person is understood to have suffered minor injuries and it is not yet known if any firefighters were injured. 

    Road closures were in place for several hours after the crash but have since been lifted.

  12. Thursday's weather: Milder in the north, brighter and colder in the southpublished at 08:09 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Elizabeth Rizzini
    BBC Look East weather

    There's a north/south split in today's forecast. 

    It's cloudy in the north, and also a bit milder, and cold and frosty in the south but this is where we should see the best of the sunshine throughout the course of the day. 

    Towards parts of Northampton, Bedford and Norwich we're starting above freezing, and there's plenty of cloud here, perhaps a few spots of drizzle, but generally dry just about everywhere. 

    Towards the south we've got lots of sunshine around. 

    Top temperatures about 4C to 5C (39F-41F).

    Watch my full regional forecast here:

  13. Welcome back to Beds, Herts and Bucks Livepublished at 08:00 Greenwich Mean Time 19 January 2017

    Mariam Issimdar
    BBC News

    Hello and good morning from the team. 

    We're are here to bring you all the areas' news, sport, weather and travel as they happen until 18:00. 

    First though, a pedestrian has died after being hit by a fire engine that was responding to an emergency.

    More details will follow shortly. You can keep us informed in the usual way too, via email, Twitter , externalor Facebook. , external

    The weather is next. 

  14. Zebre v Waspspublished at 22:30 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017

    Listen to live BBC Coventry and Warwickshire commentary from Wasps' crucial Champions Cup match against Zebre.

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  15. Tourist boss wary of 'army of police'published at 18:16 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017

    A tour operator says he feared extra police would scare people in the weeks before the 2015 Tunisia beach attack.

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  16. Our coverage todaypublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017

    Orla Moore
    BBC Local Live

    That's it for our live stream for today.

    Any breaking news will still appear here. We'll be back from 08:00 tomorrow.

    So what's been happening today? 

    • The trial of Ian Stewart, who denies murdering Royston author Helen Bailey, was adjourned until tomorrow because he wasn't well enough to attend St Albans Crown Court
    • A manuscript written by Bletchley World War Two codebreaker Alan Turing has gone on display
    • And St Albans-based Premier Foods is about to start a three-year cost cutting plan, which aims to make savings of £10m by next year

    Have a good evening - and do wrap up warm. It's a nippy one.

  17. Weather: Cold and frosty overnightpublished at 17:32 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017

    BBC Weather

    Staying mainly dry across the region, with clear spells in the southeast, but otherwise mostly cloudy. 

    Temperatures will fall widely, perhaps as low as -2C to -5C (mid 20s F), in Essex, but 2C to 3C (mid 30s F) across Northamptonshire and northwestern parts of Cambridgeshire - with the potential of mist and fog patches.

    Weather map

    Tomorrow will stay chilly under rather cloudy skies, with mist and fog slow to clear in northwestern parts of the region.

    BBC Weather has more local forecasts.

  18. Sentimental jewellery worth thousands snatched from woman in Bedfordpublished at 17:05 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017

    In another incident, jewellery worth more than £20,000 has been stolen from a woman in Bedford. 

    At about 18:00 on Saturday, a woman was getting out of a car in Cromwell Road when she was approached by a man, who stole her bag containing the valuables. He was wearing a dark hooded top, baggy trousers and a dark scarf. 

    Police say she was on her way to get the items valued, so at the moment they don't know it if was a "targeted attack or an unfortunate coincidence".

    Officers are appealing for witnesses.

  19. Rings, pendants and earrings stolen from Stevenage homepublished at 17:04 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017

    A "significant" amount of jewellery has been stolen from a house in Stevenage. 

    Police have just released images of the items, which were taken between 17:00 and 23:10 on 16 December. 

    Cash was also taken from the property on Broadwater Crescent. 

    JewelleryImage source, Hertfordshire Police

    Anyone who may have seen the items or been offered them has been asked to contact police.

  20. Arson attack on Luton homepublished at 15:53 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2017

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    A house has been deliberately set on fire in Luton. 

    Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said the front door of the three bedroom house on Bank Close was set alight by a "flammable" liquid at just after midnight.

    The front door was completely destroyed and the hallway, kitchen and lounge was damaged. 

    Bank closeImage source, Google

    There were people in the house at the time, but they weren't hurt. 

    Police are investigating.