Gareth Lloyd
BBC Three Counties Radio

When you move into a new home you normally hope for a house-warming present, like a large bottle of wine.

But for some, a large ball is all that's needed.  

That's the present that was given to five sisters who're African hunting dogs at Whipsnade Zoo.

They've just moved into their new purpose-built enclosure, complete with new toys. 

Image source, ZSL

The animals are famed for their larger ears, sociable nature and incredible stamina that makes them one of the most successful predators in the world. 

Daniel Pressland planned to use some of the paintings as "skateboard ramps", a court hears.

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

A body has been found by a dive team in the River Ouse in Bedford after a man was reported missing last week. 

Ellis Williams, 26, from Kempston, was last seen on 23 March. 

A body was discovered last night and has yet to be identified, but Mr Williams' family have been informed. 

The death is not being treated as suspicious by police.

Andy Holmes
BBC Three Counties Radio political reporter

I've been in a packed room in Watford at a modern slavery conference. 

The Home Office estimates there are up to 13,000 people currently enslaved across the UK.

Officials from all over Hertfordshire have come together to see how they can prevent and tackle the problem.

Some of the key people who've attended include the Hertfordshire police and crime commissioner, the Anti-Slavery Commissioner's victim support and partnership advisor and the vice-chair of the Human Trafficking Foundation.

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

Earlier we brought you news that pupils from Dr Challoner's school in Amersham were playing Thomas Hardye in the Under 15 vase final of the Schools Cup rugby finals day, external . 

Sadly they didn't win, beaten 62 points to 7. 

This afternoon at 14:00, it's the turn of Buckingham's Royal Latin School, who face Trent College in the Under 18 vase final.   

Carol Abercrombie
BBC Three Counties Radio

As the Wardown House, Museum and Gallery prepares to reopen next week following its year-long £3.5m refurbishment, we've taken a peek behind the scenes to see how they're getting on.

The museum will chart the development of Luton and celebrate the stories of the diverse communities the town is home to today, as well as taking a glimpse into life in a wealthy Victorian family home.

The redevelopment has been funded by £1.8m from the Heritage Lottery Fund, £1.6m from other trusts and the remaining amount raised by fundraising and public donations.

Everyone is working very hard putting things together and we've been assured it will be ready for the official opening, on 8 April at midday.   

Danny Shaw
BBC Home Affairs Correspondent

In September, police watchdog the IPCC warned that the five officers involved in the Julian Cole incident may have a case to answer for gross misconduct, regarding how they carried out their duties and responsibilities.

Four of them face allegations relating to their "honesty and integrity". 

One police officer has retired, but the others could be sacked if the disciplinary charges are proved. 

After the IPCC investigated in length what happened outside the Bedford nightclub in 2013, it sent its findings to the CPS.

However, prosecutors have confirmed today the police will not face criminal sanctions.

The family of Julian Cole do have the right to have the decision by the CPS reviewed. We've approached them for comment.

However, we've just been sent a statement from Bedfordshire Police after it was confirmed that no police officers would face criminal proceedings regarding the 2013 incident.

The deputy chief constable of the force, Mike Colbourne, said: "We are aware of the CPS decision not to bring any criminal charges against the officers involved in this case. 

"A gross misconduct hearing will now take place in due course so it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."

Image source, Cole family

"Our thoughts remain with Julian Cole's family and friends who have had to wait almost four years for this decision. 

"It is disappointing that the investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission took such a long time to get to this point, which has put added strain on Mr Cole's family and the officers involved," he added. 

The IPCC previously apologised to the family over the length of time it took to investigate what happened.

Danny Shaw
BBC Home Affairs Correspondent

In May 2013 Julian Cole , a talented athlete and footballer, broke his neck and suffered a severe injury to his spinal cord. 

Now aged 23, he's brain damaged, paralysed and needs 24-hour care - every day his mother spends hours by his bedside in a nursing care home. 

He was injured during an incident involving bouncers and police outside the now closed Elements nightclub on Mill Street in Bedford, when he was arrested and restrained. 

The case was investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), and it referred its findings to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) last September. 

But the CPS has now confirmed the officers will not face criminal charges.

A CPS spokesperson said: "Following a referral from the IPCC, in September 2016, of five officers from Bedfordshire Police over the injuries sustained by Julian Cole, CPS lawyers considered charges of misconduct in public office, perverting the course of justice and breaches of health and safety law. 

"They have now concluded that there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction against any of the officers and no further action will be taken." 

Danny Shaw
BBC Home Affairs Correspondent

BBC News has been told no police officers are to face charges over the way they dealt with a man whose neck broke during an incident outside a Bedford nightclub in 2013. 

Julian Cole, a sports science student, suffered severe brain damage and is now in a vegetative state.

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

Jewellery worth about £100,000 has been stolen from a family business in Luton.

Police have just released the information after the burglary at BJ Pattni Jewellers on Dunstable Road on Sunday.

They say two men broke into the property at 05:20 by damaging a wall, then left along Oak Road with a bag containing the items. 

Image source, Google

Officers want to hear from anyone who may have been offered a large amount of Asian jewellery in the past few days.

Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio

Two Buckinghamshire schools are playing at Twickenham today on Schools Cup rugby finals day, external . 

Dr Challoners School from Amersham face Dorset school Thomas Hardye in the Under 15 vase final, which started at 11:00. 

This afternoon at 14:00, Buckingham's Royal Latin School face Trent College in the Under 18 vase final. 

Here's the link to watch the games. , external

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

The MP for Hemel Hempstead, Mike Penning, says the NHS is to further examine plans for new hospital in west Hertfordshire.

Image source, West Herts Hospital Trust

Campaigners want a new hospital built by the M25 at Kings Langley, as opposed to West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust's plans to redevelop the existing Watford General Hospital.

Last week, the deputy chief executive of the trust, Helen Brown, said the cost to develop a new hospital on a greenfield site would be in the region of £125m greater than building new facilities at Watford.

However, Mr Penning told us the NHS would look at any decision not to pursue a brand new hospital.

"I've got hold of NHS England and said, 'if the trust goes ahead with this, can you guarantee to me that you will impartially look at this, see if their analysis works, see if you agree with the way their sums are adding up, before anything goes further forward', and they have agreed to that," he said.   

The chief executive of NHS Improvements, Jim Mackey, confirmed in writing to Mr Penning that when it receives proposals for a replacement hospital in Watford, his resources committee would "rigorously test for the robustness of its methodology and financial costing assumptions".

Follow text and radio reaction as Man Utd snatch an injury-time equaliser against Everton, while there are wins for Leicester, Watford and Burnley.

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

Following the march to the ground, The Band of the Parachute Regiment played the national anthem.

In the end Bedford beat the Army 55-26. 

The band proved so popular supporters asked for it to be there at every game. 

The memorial match is an annual event and next year it will be held at Northampton Saints' Franklin's Gardens.

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

The Bedford Blues took on the British Army last night at the annual Mobbs memorial game, external at Goldington Road. 

First played in 1921, the game honours Lt Col Edgar Mobbs who was killed 100 years ago in World War One. 

He was born in Northampton, educated in Bedford and represented England at rugby. 

Before last night's match The Band of The Parachute Regiment marched from the Bedford Cenotaph on the Embankment, where a wreath laying ceremony was performed, to the ground. 

Next year the match will be held at Northampton Saints' stadium.

Here they are on their way, with video taken by Chris Brodie...

Mike Cartwright
BBC Look East

A former employer of Khalid Masood has described him as a middle-class family man who was the "antithesis of a violent radical".

Farasat, who wanted his identity to be protected, was a manager at an English Language Adventure School in Luton where the Westminster attacker worked between 2010 and 2012.

Gareth Lloyd
BBC Three Counties Radio

This is the new road set to link two towns in Bedfordshire to an M1 junction when it opens in June.

The  Woodside Link road, external  will connect Houghton Regis and industrial estates in Dunstable to a new M1 junction.

Work began on the 2.9km (1.8 miles) long link road in 2015.

It is part of Central Bedfordshire Council's Dunstable Town Centre Masterplan to regenerate the area.

I drove along the route ahead of its opening.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

About 20 firefighters tackled a blaze at a house in Chesham last night.

Crews from Chesham, Amersham, Great Missenden and Wycombe were called to Hodds Wood Road just before 20:00.

Bucks Fire and Rescue said everyone was accounted for.

Mike Cartwright
BBC Look East

A week on from the Westminster attacks, a past employer of Khalid Masood said he could not believe his ex-colleague was a killer .

Farasat - who does not wish to be identified - was a manager at the English Language Adventure School in Luton where Masood (pictured) taught English between 2010 and 2012.

He said: "He was the last man I thought would do a heinous crime."

Masood drove into and killed three pedestrians and stabbed PC Keith Palmer to death in last Wednesday's attack.

Farasat said: "I thought it must have been a different Khalid Masood.

"I was completely horrified and bewildered when I heard his name."

Farasat added: "Many people are asking which mosque he was from. It is completely irrelevant. None of the mosques in Luton are radicalised.

"If he was radicalised, I definitely would have identified the signs. He was not radicalised in Luton."