Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

Earlier we spoke to Adam Pearson , who was seriously hurt in a crash that killed a Dunstable woman and three children on the A34 last year.

He was commenting on the news that drivers caught using mobiles behind the wheel will face tougher penalties from today, and called for professional drivers to be immediately sacked if are caught using a phone.

Now the mother of Aimee Goldsmith (below centre) - the 11-year-old killed with boys Ethan (left) and Josh (right) and their mum Tracy Houghton in the same crash - says she welcomes today's change in the law.

However, like Mr Pearson, Kate Goldsmith admits the changes "do not yet go far enough". 

Image source, Facebook

She says the "irresponsible practice" of using a phone at the wheel is "often considered by many as only a soft bending-of-the-rules of driving".  

"We will continue to support campaigning for further changes in the law until we see a definitive shift in cultural behaviour; when all UK citizens believe the use of mobiles while driving is no longer socially acceptable; when they will also stand by, and act upon, those words responsibly," said Mrs Goldsmith.

"The lives of our children, family and friends depend upon us making this commitment to obey the law," she added.   

Police have launched a video warning drivers about the dangers of driving with a mobile phone. 

Today punishments for drivers caught using their mobile phones increased to six driving licence points and a £200 fine. 

In a joint appeal, Hampshire Constabulary and Thames Valley Police said that 145 accidents in the last two years were caused by people using their mobile phone. 

They added that 11 people had died as a result of the accidents in the region. 

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Today, on the first day of Lent, a centuries-old tradition is set to continue at St Albans Cathedral, as the first delivery of Alban Buns arrive at the cafe.

Image source, St Albans Cathedral

The hot cross bun is said to originate in St Albans, where Brother Thomas Rocliffe - a 14th Century monk at the cathedral - developed an original recipe and distributed them to the local poor on Good Friday, starting in 1361.

For nearly 700 years the Alban Bun was part of the Easter tradition at the cathedral, although they only  returned to the menu at the cafe  - the Abbotts Kitchen - in 2009.

The original Alban Bun recipe is a closely guarded secret, but ingredients include flour, eggs, fresh yeast, currants and "grains of paradise" or cardamom, which are credited with giving the bun its spicy taste.

The buns, which also have the cross cut into the bread rather than piped on top, used to be produced by Redbournbury Mill, but this year the Abbey said "due to changes" at the mill a new baker needed to be found.

St Albans' baker Simmons stepped up to fill the gap.

The buns are on sale until Easter.

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

Three woman had to be cut free after three vehicles crashed on the westbound A421 just outside Milton Keynes.

Police believe their injuries are not thought to be serious, but they have been taken to hospital.  

The fire service was called at about 09:30 and all three were released by 10:15. 

Image source, Highways England

The westbound carriageway remains closed and there are long delays.

The air ambulance has just left the scene. 

Matt Lockwood
BBC Three Counties Radio

A Milton Keynes man seriously hurt in a crash that killed four members of a Dunstable family wants professional drivers caught using their mobiles in the cab to be instantly sacked.

Image source, Thames Valley Police

The penalties for motorists using mobiles are being increased from today. Drivers caught holding a phone to text or call will be fined up to £200 and given six points, and young drivers with less than two years' experience will lose their licence. 

But Adam Pearson, who's had a number of back operations after lorry driver  Thomas Kroker ploughed into stationary traffic last August , said the new rules don't go far enough, and lorry drivers who use a mobile while driving should be dismissed by their employer.

Kroker was changing the music on his mobile when he crashed into traffic on the A34 in Berkshire. Mr Pearson was in the first car that was hit (pictured).

In another car, Tracy Houghton, 45, died instantly along with her sons Ethan, 13, Joshua, 11, and her partner's daughter Aimee Goldsmith, also 11.

Mr Pearson said: "Any instance of phone use at the wheel should result in instant dismissal from employment, because having been in one of these accidents and sustained my injuries and seen the devastation caused to the [other] family who tragically lost four family members, this is certainly something that constitutes gross misconduct."   

Tony Fisher
BBC Three Counties Radio

The A421 is currently closed westbound near Milton Keynes after a serious crash. 

This is the scene this morning and the air ambulance has landed.   

Justin Dealey
BBC Three Counties Radio

All morning I've been at Marlow Bridge to see if people are adhering to the new police warning not to cross the bridge if they are over three tonnes. 

I've seen many vehicles that look to be over the limit and they're still going across.

So far there's been no police presence enforcing the new changes, and some drivers told me they knew nothing about it - even though there is a big sign now in place.

One van driver said he could cross as his limit was 2.88 tonnes - he's checked his log book. 

Police say "it's the driver's responsibility to know their vehicle's MGW [maximum gross weight] - and the number of passengers or luggage within the vehicle has no bearing on its MGW".   

Follow Final Score, reaction, images and social media from Saturday's Premier League action.

Police are reminding motorists they face £50 fines if they drive any overweight vehicles over Marlow Bridge. 

The Grade I listed bridge, which runs over the River Thames between Bisham in Berkshire and Marlow in Buckinghamshire, is  restricted to vehicles under three tonnes and less than 6ft 6ins wide  . 

The force said the following vehicles should not use the bridge: Range Rovers, Discoveries, Ford Transit vans, Mercedes Sprinter vans, Volvo XC90s, 4WD pick-ups, Mercedes GLE/GLS/G Classes and Audi Q7s.  

Tony Fisher
BBC Three Counties Radio

From today drivers of large vehicles, like 4x4s and vans, will be told they cannot cross Marlow Bridge - even though it has always had a weight restriction.

The bridge is a Grade I-listed structure limited to vehicles under three tonnes and less than 2m (6ft 6in) wide.

Image source, Google

The weight restrictions are being enforced after a lorry ignored them last year, leading to the closure of the Buckinghamshire bridge for two months.

To start with police will just issue advisory notices, but this will change in six weeks' time when a £50 penalty will be given to anyone exceeding the weight limit.

Thames Valley Police says enforcing the restrictions may cause short-term traffic disruption, but adds it is important the well-loved landmark remains undamaged.

BBC Weather

It's going to start out bright, with sunny spells , but perhaps the odd isolated shower for much of the day. 

Cloud will increase and will bring rain to some areas during the evening from the southwest. It'll feel chilly in the rather brisk west or south-west winds. Maximum temperature 9C (48F).

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Good morning and welcome back to live updates of news, weather, travel and sport for Beds, Herts and Bucks.

We'll be here until 18:00 and the full weather forecast will be with you shortly.

As always you can get in touch and let us know what you're doing today by   email  ,  Facebook, external  or  Twitter, external  .

Promotion-chasing Bradford made it a year unbeaten at home in League One with a draw against MK Dons.

Stevenage beat struggling Leyton Orient in comfortable fashion at a wet Broadhall Way in League Two.

Adebayo Akinfenwa scores twice for Wycombe, who have to settle for a point from a draw at Accrington.

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

That's it for today - thanks for your company.

Don't forget if anything breaks later you'll still find it here. 

We'll be back with rolling news, weather, travel and sport from 08:00 tomorrow.

Have a lovely evening, and try not to eat too many pancakes!

Julie Reinger
BBC Look East weather

It will be a cloudy start to the night, with showers and longer spells of rain continuing to push in from the west.

Skies will then clear and temperatures could fall low enough in some sheltered spots to allow a frost.

Wednesday will get off to a cold and bright start.

Thicker cloud and rain will eventually push in from the south-west, but there is still some uncertainty as to how quickly this will happen, and how far north the rain will get during daylight hours. 

There'll be light to moderate south-westerly winds and highs of 9C (48F).

BBC Weather  has a more detailed forecast for where you live.  

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

Image source, PA

Never, ever be tempted to use your mobile phone while driving. It's lethal.

And from tomorrow, police forces are doubling the penalties for anyone caught in the act. 

Drivers who use a mobile phone while driving face a £200 fine and six points on their licence.

Highways England is helping the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit , external enforce the new rules by providing a purpose-built lorry to catch drivers.

The lorry will provide a better vantage point and allow two officers inside to catch offenders in larger vehicles. 

In the first 11 months of last year, 2,796 people were caught using a mobile behind the wheel in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. 

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

Forget about the pancake pros in Olney , the second annual Dunstable pancake race took place this afternoon, with 21 local businesses and organisations taking part.

Teams included Bedfordshire Police, Dunstable Town Council and BBC Three Counties Radio.

However, it was the HQ Sports Bar team who took home the title.

Cheer up guys, better luck next year!

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

Luton-based travel company TUI has released a statement following the conclusion of the inquest into the death of 30 British tourists in the Tunisia terror attack.

Nick Longman, its managing director, said: "We have now heard the coroner's findings and his comments regarding the provision of security and visibility of travel advice.

"These are complex matters and we have already taken steps to raise awareness of the FCO's Travel Aware campaign. As an industry we have adapted and we will need to continue to do so."

Earlier we mentioned that relatives of the British victims were going to sue TUI after a coroner said they were "unlawfully killed" by the gunman at a Sousse hotel in 2015.

TUI maintained it was "wholly erroneous" to claim it had been neglectful and there was insufficient evidence of any gross failure.