Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

There seems to be a lot of excitement in Bedford at the moment after its cultural events were analysed on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, external with guest star, John Oliver.

US TV host and broadcaster Oliver used to live in the town and went to Mark Rutherford school. 

One of the funniest segments was about a "Badgers in a Box, external" event at the Forest of Marston Vale. 

Luckily it's not about entrapping badgers, but making one.

Kate Bradbrook
BBC Look East

The fiance of Hertfordshire author Helen Bailey, who's accused of her murder, is continuing to give evidence at St Albans Crown Court this morning. 

Ian Stewart, 56, has told the court he did not administer sleeping pills to his partner at their Royston home. 

He said he was prescribed sleeping pills, but never took them as Ms Bailey had taken them from him. 

Image source, SBNA

He told the jury his fiancee had searched online for the medication and found they were not suitable, but said she might take them herself. 

He denies murder, preventing a lawful burial, fraud and three counts of perverting the course of justice.

The trial continues.

Victoria Derbyshire

A mother has told how her two young sons were given "nightmares" after they were removed from school and quizzed about their toy guns.

The children, aged five and seven, were at a Bedfordshire school when they revealed their parents had bought them toy guns in March 2016.

Their school informed the police and the two boys, who cannot be identified, were questioned.

Central Bedfordshire Council has accepted the children were discriminated against and apologised.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Thames Valley police officers, who cover Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes, are to be issued with spit guards. 

Image source, Thames Valley Police

The mesh fabric hoods are already used by many police forces, including Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. 

They are made from a light, see-through, breathable material, which goes over the subject's head and contains a plastic section which prevents a person from spitting. 

Thames Valley's assistant chief constable, David Hardcastle, said: "We've seen instances where officers have had blood spat at them.

"Not only is that a disgusting and vile thing to do but actually a risk [for spreading infection].

"We've looked at the evidence available - we've had national advice that says we should look to issue spitguards to all our officers and having looked at that we believe it's the right thing to do."  

Boys, aged five and seven, were questioned by their school and police about their toy guns.

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

Many of the events featured on "Bedford of Bedfordshire's Community Calendar, external" with the town's very own John Oliver came from The Bedford Clanger, external, which is a a monthly arts and culture magazine. 

Editor Erica Rolfe told me: "What an honour for the Clanger to be featured by John Oliver on his homage to Bedford's cultural scene. We loved it." 

Image source, Getty Images

It even mentioned "Upcycled Book Crafts" at Rogan's Books, on Castle Road.

Rachael Rogan, the owner, says she's "way too happy" about the report, adding: "We always had global domination in our sights. It's just happened a little quicker than expected. John, Stephen and the team have an open invitation to the next book craft workshop." 

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

Bedford has been well and truly been thrown into the international spotlight after it was featured on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (left) in America. 

He was interviewing TV host John Oliver (right), who grew up in Bedford and described it as a "scrappy town". 

Oliver currently lives in the US, where he hopes to stay, but if he has to come "home" if immigration laws change, it would be to Bedford. 

So to honour the county town of Bedfordshire, it was featured on the show's "Community Calendar" segment, which lets you know what's going on in "smaller towns".

You can watch the clip on YouTube, external. 

Image source, Getty Images

BBC News UK

Mums Abigail Tumfo, Sheila Navacroft and Shakeria Wright have told the BBC's Newsnight about the difficulties of raising their children in one room.

They are all living in a 45-room development in Welwyn Garden City, after being forced to leave private rented accommodation in Waltham Forest in London where council housing is sparse.

Waltham Forest council said it is doing all it can to house people in the borough and is working to repair any sub-standard housing.

BBC Sport

Wycombe Wanderers have missed out on a place in the Football League Trophy final, but Luton are now just one game away from Wembley.

The Chairboys lost their semi-final 2-1 at Coventry, with Stuart Beavon firing the Sky Blues in front early on after being played through by Callum Reilly. George Thomas' powerful shot made it 2-0.

Adebayo Akinfenwa pulled a goal back early in the second half, but the hosts held on to secure a trip to Wembley.

Meanwhile, Luton are through to the last four after a 5-2 home win against Yeovil.

The Hatters will face Oxford United in the second semi-final on 1 March for a chance to face Coventry in the final on 2 April.

BBC Weather

It will be cloudy this morning with patchy drizzle and mist. 

It'll become mainly dry this afternoon with some brighter intervals, but will feel increasingly cold in brisk easterly winds with a few light snow flurries. Maximum temperature 4C (39F).

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Good morning and welcome back to the live page where we'll bring you updates of the latest news, weather, travel and sport for the three counties until 18:00.

This morning we'll be looking at how a family has been paid compensation by Central Bedfordshire Council after their two children were taken out of class because one told their teacher they had toy guns.

Later we'll also have the latest in the trial of Ian Stewart, who is accused of killing his partner Helen Bailey, and who began giving evidence in his own defence yesterday.

Remember, you can contact us at any time via email, Facebook, external or Twitter, external.     

The Watford band, who formed in 2007, are on course for their first ever top ten position with new album Safe In Sound.

League One strugglers Coventry City reach the EFL Trophy final with a 2-1 win over Wycombe Wanderers.

Nicky Maynard's volley deep into added time earns MK Dons victory in a dour encounter against Oldham.

Women's Super League Two club Watford Ladies appoint former Charlton Athletic boss Keith Boanas as their new head coach.

Children's writer Helen Bailey's fiance says he was unaware she was dead until her body was found.

That's our updates done for the day. 

We'll be back from 08:00 tomorrow with live updates of news, weather, travel and sport - but any breaking news will be posted here overnight. 

Thanks for your company today, and don't forget to log on early tomorrow. 

We've covered more on the Helen Bailey murder case today, but here are a few tasters of today's other stories - scroll down for more: 

• Commons Speaker and Buckingham MP John Bercow criticised for Trump comments

• Paedophile with 1,500 images of abused children 'worst' offender
• Councillors to discuss plans for new MK Dons training ground
• With Valentine's Day around the corner, Woburn Safari Park is hoping its newest arrival will prove a hit with the female rhino residents

Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

Tonight will be cloudy with some patchy drizzle, particularly across eastern counties, but starting dry and clear in the west with mist patches forming. 

Becoming damp and drizzly across all parts later tonight, with lows of 3C (37F).

An overcast and increasingly cold day tomorrow will bring some showery outbreaks of drizzle, but some bright spells will develop. Highs of just 5C (41F).

There are more details on the BBC Weather website.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

The fiancé of Helen Bailey, who is accused of murdering the children's writer, told St Albans Crown Court today: "I never stopped loving her."

Ian Stewart, who denies murder, went into the witness box in the fifth week of his trial to tell a jury he was innocent of the murder of the 51-year-old Royston author.

Image source, SWNS

At the start of his evidence he was asked directly by his barrister, Simon Russell Flint QC: "Did you play any part in causing her death?"

Mr Stewart, 56, replied "No".

Asked of the differences between himself and Ms Bailey's first husband, John Sinfield, Mr Stewart said: "It became apparent over time JS (Sinfield) and myself were totally different people. He was very sophisticated, smooth and suave, and I'm not.

"It wasn't a problem for me and it wasn't a problem for Helen; Helen was totally different from Diane, my first wife. We totally clicked and worked together as a couple.

"I had fallen in love with her quite quickly but she warned me once to never say the L word, but then I went to hug her and I said it and she replied instantly, 'I love you too'. 

"I said, 'I wasn't supposed to say that, was I?', and she said 'no, but it's true - and I love you too'.

"I never stopped loving her." 

The trial continues.

Pete Cooper
BBC Local Live

The government has vowed to build more affordable houses and help people buy and rent their homes after admitting the current market is "broken".  

However, Wellingborough's MP Peter Bone told the Commons the housing shortage could be solved by reducing immigration.

Conservative Mr Bone asked Communities Secretary Sajid Javid: "Would the Secretary of State agree that the demand for housing would fall if we could reduce a third of a million people coming into this country each year?"

But Mr Javid suggested this would not make the difference "he thinks it would".

He said two thirds of demand had "nothing to do with immigration", but to do with people living longer. 

He added that even if immigration fell to zero, there would still be a two million deficit of homes.