Two strippers who admitted blackmailing rugby player Danny Cipriani, after one of them aborted his child, have received suspended sentences.

Image source, Dominic Lipinski

Lisa Murphy, 39, from Wootton, Northampton, and Violet Smith of Slough, Berkshire, were handed a 22-month sentence suspended for two years at Kingston Crown Court.   

Murphy had a termination in the summer of 2015 after a relationship with the Wasps fly-half, the court heard, but when she was forced to miss work, due to complications, she asked him for money, which he did not pay.

Murphy enlisted her colleague, Violet Smith, 29, for help and they threatened to go to the papers with the story.  

Nic Rigby
BBC News

Commons Speaker and Buckingham MP John Bercow has defended voicing his opposition to Donald Trump addressing Parliament. 

His comments, including accusing the US president of "racism and sexism", had been made "honestly and honourably" and were within his remit, he told MPs.

Several Conservatives have criticised the Speaker, one saying his career could be in "jeopardy" and another that he had damaged the national interest.

Downing Street called his comments "a matter for Parliament".

The US president has accepted an invitation from the Queen for a state visit to the UK, which can include an address to both Houses of Parliament, later this year.  

Nic Rigby
BBC News

The man accused of murdering children's author Helen Bailey (pictured) has told the jury that as a young man he studied computing at Salford University, at a time when very few such courses existed.

Ian Stewart's voice seemed to crack with emotion when he described meeting his first wife, Diane, at university when he stole a chip from her plate.

Image source, SWNS

Later he moved to Cambridge to study for a PhD and she moved to be with him, before abandoning it to join the computer firm Olivetti for a job that was "too good to turn down".

St Albans Crown Court heard the couple had children, but his wife suffered epileptic fits which made life difficult and caused her to stop working.

His wife died in June 2010 and he was left with his two sons who were then aged 15 and 18.

Mr Stewart told the court a friend gave him a book about grief at his wife's funeral.

The book had details of a website for widows and widowers to share their thoughts.

"It was a very open forum, very good, where you could post thoughts," he said. 

"Some of the ladies arranged coffees out, or meals out, and I went to one and some of the people I met I am still in touch with."

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

The trial continues.

Nic Rigby
BBC News

A man who denies murdering his fiancé, the Hertfordshire author Helen Bailey, at their home in Royston last year has told a jury he was not the killer. 

Image source, SBNA

Ian Stewart (pictured), 56, giving evidence in his own defence at St Albans Crown Court, was asked by his barrister, Simon Russell-Flint QC, whether he had murdered Helen Bailey. "No," he replied. 

"Did you play any part in causing her death?" asked Mr Russell-Flint. "No," he said.

He was also asked about the other charges on the indictment - fraud, perverting the course of justice, and preventing the lawful burial of a body.

He denied them all. 

The mother of missing RAF airman Corrie Mckeague has appealed to the public not to link the discovery of human remains near a motorway to her son. 

Image source, Suffolk Police

A police officer on routine patrol found the remains of a man near the M40 in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, on Saturday. 

Police are treating the death as "unexplained but not suspicious". 

Nicola Urquhart, whose son went missing from Bury St Edmunds on 24 September, said: "There is nothing to initially suggest this is Corrie."

Writing on the Find Corrie Facebook page, she added: "DNA is being checked, this will take a little time.

"There will be an update provided when possible, please remember, this is somebody's child so please don't put any posts up in relation to this."

BBC Weather Watchers

Our BBC Weather Watchers have been snap happy this afternoon, sending us lots of lovely photos of Beds, Herts and Bucks.

Here are a few of our favourites...

If you would like to become one of our BBC Weather Watchers, please visit the website.

Helen Burchell
BBC News

The man accused of murdering children's author Helen Bailey sent a barrage of texts while she was missing, begging her to return or contact the police, a court has heard.

Ian Stewart, 56, began sending messages to his fiancée's phone a week after she disappeared in April, St Albans Crown Court was told.

Her body was found in July in a cesspit at the home they shared in Royston, Hertfordshire.

Image source, SBNA

He sent a string of pleading texts to her phone, beginning on 18 April, the court heard.

One said: "I have respected your wishes long enough, you have had enough space, love you whatever xxxx."

In a message the following day, he wrote: "Contact the police... they don't have to tell me if you don't want to, they can stop all the fuss."

The following day, at 03:55 BST, a text sent to her phone read: "I need you back, you promised me more, I love you whatever."

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

The trial continues.

BBC Sport

Formula 1 teams have started their build-up to the 2017 season before the first race in Australia on 26 March.

The teams kick-off pre-season at Barcelona in Spain on 27 February before returning for a second session in March.

Silverstone-based Force India (pictured) will launch their car at their home circuit on 22 February, with drivers Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon. 

Brackley-based Mercedes will also be heading to Silverstone, with drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas launching their 2017 car the day after, on 23 February.

Image source, AP

BBC Weather

Despite the cloudy and misty start, any cloud and rain will gradually clear to the east this afternoon. Some sunny spells should develop.

Maximum temperature: 9C (48F).

For the full forecast, visit BBC Weather.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

Human remains found over the weekend by a High Wycombe slip road are the body of a male, Thames Valley Police said.

They were found by a police officer during a routine patrol near the Handycross roundabout on the A404 on Saturday.

Image source, Google

A post-mortem examination was held yesterday, but the cause of death was inconclusive. 

More tests are to be carried out and officers say they are still trying to identify the person.

Investigating officer, Det Insp Simon Marples, said: "We are reviewing our missing people database as well as liaising with the local community, other police forces and partners to establish who the person is.

"The death is being treated as unexplained, but not suspicious at this stage of the investigation."

The fiance of Tunisia victim Carly Lovett told her he loved her before trying to save her life.

Emma Midgley
BBC South

Image source, Josie Campbell

A cannabis farm has been discovered inside a derelict cottage on the grounds of Legoland theme park.  

The plants were found during "routine checks" by park staff on Monday.

It is thought the building - which is not usually accessible to the public - was accessed from nearby land owned by the Queen.

A 40-year-old man from Windsor and a 34-year-old man from Burnham have been arrested on suspicion of producing cannabis.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

With Valentine's Day around the corner, Woburn Safari Park is hoping its newest arrival will prove a hit with the female rhino residents.

White rhinoceros Otto was brought in from Colchester Zoo and it's hoped romance will blossom between the 3.5-tonne male and Woburn's female rhino, Makusi (pair below).

Image source, Woburn Safari Park/Bridget Davey Photography

It was a tactical move by the safari park as its existing male rhino, Kai, wasn't making much of an impression on the female population.

The hope is the pair will successfully breed as the species is now classified as "near threatened" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Dayle Southwell joins National League leaders Lincoln City on a one-month loan from Wycombe Wanderers

Ben Ando
BBC News

The man accused of murdering his partner, Hertfordshire author Helen Bailey, told his GP he felt anxious, couldn't think straight and was panicking in the weeks after she disappeared, a court has heard. 

Dr John Howe said Ian Stewart, who denies murdering Ms Bailey, visited his surgery on 19 April 2016 - a week after he had contacted the police to say she was missing.

The author's body was found three months later hidden in a septic tank below the garage of the home they shared in Royston.

Dr Howe told St Albans Crown Court he did not feel Mr Stewart was likely to self harm, nor did he consider him to be suicidal. 

Two days later, Mr Stewart came to the surgery again and described how he was still very anxious and "could not remember things", Dr Howe said.

Mr Stewart, 56, was prescribed beta-blockers, drugs that can reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety, Mr Howe told the court.

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

The trial continues.

Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio

Councillors in Milton Keynes will tonight discuss MK Dons' plans for a new training ground at Newport Pagnell. 

The site at Tickford Fields is next to the A509, between Newport Pagnell and Sherington.

Image source, Getty Images

The Dons have already put forward plans for a training ground at Cosgrove in Northamptonshire, but it's thought the club would prefer a site in Milton Keynes.

It's not yet known what would happen to the Cosgrove plans if the Newport Pagnell training ground is given the green light.

Councillors are being recommended to sell the land to the football club.

Pete Cooper
BBC Local Live

The head of the Paedophile Online Investigation Team at Northamptonshire Police says a man jailed yesterday after officers found more than 1,500 images and videos of children being abused was "the worst case the team have come across".

Scott Ayres, 36, of Top Fair Furlong, Milton Keynes, was jailed for nearly eight years at Northampton Crown Court after pleading guilty to 11 charges. 

He was investigated by the force after being found to have connections to other known paedophiles.

Det Insp Andy Rogers said there had been an "alarming increase" in the number of offences recorded by police in the past few years.  

Since 2014 Northamptonshire Police has seen a 333% increase in online child sex offences and has grown the investigations team as a result.

The Speaker of the House of Commons, Buckingham MP John Bercow, is being criticised for setting out his opposition to President Trump speaking at the Houses of Parliament when he visits Britain. 

In an unprecedented intervention, he told MPs that opposition to racism and sexism were "hugely important considerations".

But he's been criticised by some Conservative MPs of ignoring the tradition that the Speaker should stay neutral. 

The Republican congressman, Joe Wilson, has described Mr Bercow's comments as "very disappointing".

Mr Bercow is one of three "key holders" to Westminster Hall, along with the Speaker of the House of Lords, Lord Fowler, and the Lord Great Chamberlain, a hereditary peer in charge of certain parts of the Palace of Westminster.

The Lords Speaker will address peers on the issue on Tuesday, but all three must agree in order for an address to take place.

Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather

A grey and damp start to the day, feeling chilly under the cloud.

The rain could stay for much of the day, gradually working eastwards. Maximum temperature: 8C (46F).

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

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

We'll be with you until 18:00 bringing you the latest from the murder trial of Hertfordshire author Helen Bailey. 

Ian Stewart is expected to enter the witness box later today at St Albans Crown Court.

He denies killing his partner at the home they shared in Royston last year.