Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio

Plans to increase parking charges in Milton Keynes have been put on hold. 

Milton Keynes Council , externalwanted to increase the price for low-carbon vehicles, and for permits for those who car share.

Conservative councillor John Bint has welcomed last night's decision, which means officers will have to come up with a different plan.

He said: "We got the win we wanted last night, which is that it's not going to be implemented for the time being."

Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio

Police officers from Hertfordshire are due to give evidence in the Helen Bailey murder trial today. 

Her partner Ian Stewart denies murdering the 51-year-old author at their home in Royston last year.

Image source, SWNS

Yesterday, St Albans Crown Court heard from his two sons Jamie and Oliver, who were living with the couple when Helen went missing. 

Oliver's then-partner is also due to give evidence today.

Nicola Haseler
BBC Three Counties

A Central Bedfordshire councillor is calling on the government to "give communities back the right to decide where houses are built". 

Adam Zerny, an independent councillor from Potton, has set up an online petition with 40 other campaign groups from around the country. 

He said that residents in Potton were left "banging their heads against a wall" as they tried to fend off nine separate planning applications for a total of 700 new homes in the past six months. 

Mr Zerny said he wanted communities to have the right of appeal on planning decisions.  

Nigel Young, who is responsible for regeneration at Central Bedfordshire Council, told Andy Collins on BBC Three Counties Radio: "There is a need for housing and we do have to continue to provide housing.

"Local communities would far rather be more selective about where that housing goes and the benefits that it brings to local communities and I have sympathy with that - but the country does need houses."

The brother of missing Milton Keynes mother Sherena Begum has appealed for her to get in touch. 

Image source, Thames Valley Police

The 29-year-old was last seen dropping her daughter off at school in Fishermead on Friday morning.

Her brother Zakir Miah, speaking to Roberto Perrone on BBC Three Counties Radio, said: "Sherena, we love you. Just get in touch - just let us know you're OK."

People can call police with any information on 101.  

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

A police sergeant who made sexual comments or approaches to female colleagues has been sacked for gross misconduct.

Northamptonshire Police found Ian Caffel guilty of breaching standards of professional behaviour.

A panel heard he made comments to seven women and had a sexual relationship with a vulnerable colleague between March 2010 and August 2016.

Mr Caffel was not present at the hearing, no mitigation was offered and he was dismissed without notice.

The hearing, chaired by Chief Constable Simon Edens, was also told Mr Caffel, who had been with the force for almost seven years, had previously received management advice from Bedfordshire Police following an investigation into his conduct with younger female colleagues at that force.

Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio

The government is promising to give "careful consideration" to proposals to change the local government system in Buckinghamshire. 

The county council is proposing one authority covering the whole of the county, while the district councils yesterday voted for two - one for Aylesbury Vale, the other combining Chiltern, South Buckinghamshire and Wycombe.

The Conservative MP for Chesham and Amersham, Cheryl Gillan, told the Commons that ministers should treat each application equally.

Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather

Many places will have increasing amounts of sunshine today but a little cloud is still likely at times.

It will remain dry everywhere with light winds, but also feeling cold. 

Maximum Temperature: 4C (39F) 

More details from BBC Weather:

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

Good morning and welcome back to live updates of news, sport, weather and travel for Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

We'll be with you until 18:00 today bringing you the latest on the trial of Ian Stewart, who is accused of murdering Hertfordshire author Helen Bailey.

Shortly we'll have the full weather forecast for you and as always if you want to get in touch you can email, tweet, external or Facebook, external us.

Luton Town sign Malta international Luke Gambin from Barnet for an undisclosed fee on a deal to the summer of 2019.

A gunman who shot 30 British tourists on a Tunisian beach could have been stopped sooner, an inquest hears.

The man accused of murdering author Helen Bailey twice tried to invoke power of attorney while she was missing, in order to sell her flat, a court hears.

Today we've been closely following the Helen Bailey murder trial, broadcasting appeals for a missing mother from Milton Keynes and providing news on how adult social care is crippling our councils. 

Sorry if there's not been much to cheer you up on Blue Monday, but if you're a fan of The Jam there are also some sweet memories if you scroll back.

Essential updates will appear here overnight - full service resumes tomorrow at 8:00. 

See you then.

Luton Council spent almost 40% of its budget on adult social care this year. 

The picture was similar in Bedford Borough, where social care accounted for 38% of its budget and Central Bedfordshire was not far behind, with 35% of its funding going on adult social care.

Adult social care is the largest single cost for those councils providing vital services for elderly people, whether they live in care homes or in their own homes.

But councils across the region say their finances are buckling under the strain of rising demand, increased costs and a fall in the amount of government money.

In Luton, the proportion of the borough council's budget being spent on adult social care has risen by 8% in just six years. This year, the cost of providing the service is about £53.8m.

Central Bedfordshire Council has been spending steadily more on adult social care over the last three years and it's expected to rise to 36% next year, when it is estimated the service will cost £69.3m.

Bedford Borough spent 27% of its budget on adult social care six years ago, and this year is spending 38% on the service, equivalent to £50m. 

Meanwhile, Milton Keynes Council spent nearly 29% of its budget on adult social care six years ago. This year the figure has risen to 32%, which amounts to £65m.

The issue was discussed on Sunday Politics East yesterday. You can watch the programme here.  

Julie Reinger
BBC Look East weather

There's a very small risk of a shower overnight, but generally it'll be dry with clear spells and a few fog patches. 

With light winds and, under clear skies, lows of about -1C (30F), there'll also be a fairly widespread frost.

After a cold and frosty start to Tuesday it'll be a mainly fine and dry day with a good deal of sunshine and brightness. However, in the north and west there is the potential for cloudier skies. 

It'll continue to feel cold with highs of only 3-5C (37-41F).

You can find more details on the BBC Weather website.

Kate Bradbrook
BBC Look East

The trial of Ian Stewart, who denies murdering partner Helen Bailey, also heard evidence from another of his sons. 

Oliver Stewart, 21, explained he often spent nights away from the house at his then girlfriend's house.

Image source, South Beds News Agency

He told St Albans Crown Court he got home late from cadets on 11 April - the day of the alleged murder - at about 23:30 and didn't see anyone. 

The following day his father told him Ms Bailey had gone for a break at Broadstairs. "I didn't find that to be unusual. He seemed OK," he told the court.

The jury heard how he had told police there were no problems between his father and Ms Bailey, and no reasons why she would be upset.

He said he visited his father after his arrest and it was then when he told him of two men called Nick and Joe. 

"He made me aware these two guys had been to our house on a couple of accounts when me and my brother were at work. He said they were coming to find out from Helen about some paperwork," he told the court.

He said his father told him Ms Bailey knew nothing about it. Ian Stewart claimed on one occasion they punched him in the stomach and they gave him a phone to contact them on, he said.

Oliver Stewart said his father told him he hadn't mentioned it earlier, but could now as one of them - Joe - "had been dealt with".

Under cross-examination he said his father had implied, but not explicitly said, the men were connected with Ms Bailey's disappearance, and his father said he was worried for his and his brother's safety.

The case continues.

Kate Bradbrook
BBC Look East

The sons of Ian Stewart have given evidence at his trial, where he denies murdering Royston author Helen Bailey.

First up was Jamie Stewart, 24, who lived with the couple. 

Image source, South Beds News Agency

He said on the day of the alleged murder he got home late after a bowling match and assumed Ms Bailey was in bed. He said it wasn't unusual and assumed the dog, Boris, was with her.

The next day he said his father told him Ms Bailey had gone to Broadstairs. In the following days "he became more stressed. I got the impression he was missing her", he told St Albans Crown Court.

He said they noticed various items of Ms Bailey's missing, including her Wellington boots, green wax coat and a yellow and black dog collar and lead.

Jamie Stewart told the court his father had been unwell and couldn't even reach dinner trays. He told police: "I don't know how my dad could have moved her body.

"I couldn't imagine him wanting to harm her at all."

Next to the stand was his brother Oliver - we'll have more on his evidence soon.

Nikki Jenkins
BBC Local Live

We all know that early diagnosis saves lives, but if your child had a brain tumour would you recognise the symptoms? 

Ian Pudney from Tring didn't. His son Charlie was diagnosed when he was just seven years old. Now he's campaigning for greater awareness of the signs. 

Image source, HeadSmart

Charlie had been unwell for little more than a few weeks with lethargy, vomiting in the morning and the occasional headache. 

What they thought was a wildly speculative CT scan led to the devastating diagnosis of a grade three anaplastic ependymoma - a rare and malignant tumour that affects fewer than 40 children a year in the UK.

"The question we've been asked most often in the last 18 months is, 'how did you know?' At the time, the answer was we didn't - we were lucky that during a coincidental visit to A&E, one of the hospital doctors joined the dots for us and booked a CT Scan," said Mr Pudney.

But the signs were there.

The brain tumour charity HeadSmart, external is campaigning for greater awareness and today has identified new signs to look for.

Image source, Brain Smart

Kate Bradbrook
BBC Look East

We've heard more from the trial of Ian Stewart, who's accused of murdering Royston children's author Helen Bailey.

St Albans Crown Court heard Ms Bailey had considerable assets, including a flat in Gateshead which was being sold for £185,000. 

Timothy Penn, the solicitor dealing with the sale on her behalf, told the court that Ms Bailey was due to come to his office in Royston on the day she disappeared - 11 April - at 16:30, but never arrived. 

However, her fiancé, Mr Stewart, 56, who denies murder, visited in Ms Bailey's place to discuss the sale.

Mr Penn said Mr Stewart claimed she was "unwell" and took documents on her behalf. 

Mr Penn told the jury Mr Stewart also called the office once Helen Bailey's disappearance had been made public to ask if "we can carry on the transaction in the meantime?"

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Mr Penn said he told him, "no". He said Mr Stewart talked about the power of attorney and he told him he would need to hear directly from Ms Bailey.

Mr Penn said in July Ian Stewart attended again in person to ask if the transaction could proceed.

He again mentioned registering the power of attorney. Mr Penn described him as "very anxious" and the news it could not proceed "did not go down very well".

The case continues.

A holidaymaker from Cannock, Staffordshire relives the Tunisia beach massacre in 2015 has spoken out about the terrifying moment she hid from the gunman.

Kate Bradbrook
BBC Look East

The trial has resumed in the case of Ian Stewart, who denies murdering Royston author Helen Bailey.

The jury at St Albans Crown Court heard evidence this morning from Lynne Hull, a nurse at Ashwell surgery where Ms Bailey's partner Mr Stewart was being treated for an abdominal wound resulting from an operation.

She told the court that on 11 April, the day Helen Bailey disappeared, Mr Stewart, 56, was due for an 11:30 appointment to have his dressing changed, but he postponed because of "car trouble". He rearranged his appointment for 15:00 the same day. 

Image source, South Beds News Agency

She said they had not built up a rapport and he appeared "very distant" at the appointment. She said: "Normally you can engage in general chit chat, but nothing of that nature."

Mr Stewart kept "gazing out of the window" with "minimal eye contact", added the nurse.

She said that at another appointment with her colleague, Mr Stewart appeared emotional and was upset about the disappearance of his partner. But she said the appointment on 11 April stuck in her mind because he was pre-occupied and vacant.

The case continues.