Summary

  • Man guilty of body in taxi murder

  • Child sex exploitation report suggests taxi driver database

  • Decision on new West Herts hospital 'should be made locally'

  • Protected birds of prey shot

  • Updates on Friday, 7 April 2017

  1. Lawro's predictions v singer Macdonaldpublished at 19:30 British Summer Time 8 April 2017

    BBC football expert Mark Lawrenson takes on singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald in this week's Premier League predictions.

    Read More
  2. Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Watfordpublished at 15:17 British Summer Time 8 April 2017

    Tottenham keep up the pressure on Chelsea with an impressive victory over Watford, their sixth consecutive Premier League win.

    Read More
  3. Goodbyepublished at 18:00 British Summer Time 7 April 2017

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    That's it for another week from all the team here at Local Live for Beds, Herts and Bucks.

    We'll be back with more news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 on Monday.

    As Julie Reinger has already predicted, Sunday is set to be a rather warm day, so make sure you have your garden furniture out of storage and you know where to find your sunglasses.

    Blossom

    See you again next week!

  4. 'Register taxi drivers', says sex reportpublished at 17:55 British Summer Time 7 April 2017

    The recommendation was one of 14 made by a serious case review into child sex exploitation in Buckinghamshire.

    Read More
  5. Weather: Get ready for a warm weekendpublished at 17:41 British Summer Time 7 April 2017

    Julie Reinger
    BBC Look East weather

    It will be a dry night with long clear spells. There may be some patchy mist and fog and a touch of ground frost in places. 

    Minimum temperature: 2C (36F). 

    Weather map

    It will be a cold start to Saturday, but any mist and fog should quickly clear to leave a largely sunny day. 

    There may be a bit more patchy cloud in the east for a time. Light winds and highs inland of 18C (64F). 

    Patchy mist and fog should clear very quickly on Sunday to leave another fine, dry and very warm day, with temperatures about 22C (72F). 

    Much cooler and cloudier on Monday, with a few showers.

    BBC Weather has more.

  6. Museum re-opening brings Luton Girls Choir out of 'retirement' published at 16:48 British Summer Time 7 April 2017

    The grand opening of the refurbished Wardown House, Museum and Gallery tomorrow is being marked by a special performance of Luton Girls Choir

    The group, which became world famous, was set up in 1936 but folded in 1977 when their founder died. 

    They've now reunited after 40 years and they've been rehearsing for the big day. 

    Media caption,

    Luton Girls Choir reunited after folding when the founder died in 1977

  7. Luton museum to re-open after multimillion-pound revamppublished at 16:45 British Summer Time 7 April 2017

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    For the past year Luton's Wardown Park Museum has been slowly transformed. 

    Just over a year ago it closed its door to the public so a £3.5m redevelopment could take place. 

    Now the work is complete and tomorrow its doors will open again with a new name -  Wardown House, Museum and Gallery, external

    Wardown HouseImage source, Luton Culture

    Not only will you be able to see how a wealthy Victorian family lived and how Luton has developed over the years, but it includes many interesting artefacts and even  Queen Victoria's silk stockings .

    Wardown Museum
  8. Success: No truth in Voodoo cursepublished at 16:33 British Summer Time 7 April 2017

    Nigeria's Isaac Success has only managed to start one game for Watford this season because of injuries. But according to reports in Nigeria, a curse has been placed on him by "evil witches".

    The striker explains to World Football how upset he's been by people reporting these stories stating: "I'm a Christian I don't believe in that".

    (Photo: Isaac Success of Watford shouts, Credit: Getty Images)

  9. Stolen Torah scrolls found by roadside after police appealpublished at 15:19 British Summer Time 7 April 2017

    We reported yesterday that two valuable Torah scrolls had been stolen from the house of two a Rabbis in Barnet.

    They have now been found on a roadside in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, and returned to Rabbi Larry Tabick and Rabbi Dr Jackie Tabick.

    Detectives are continuing to appeal for information to trace the suspect, who was disturbed at the property in Ashbourne Grove at 17:30 on 22 March during the break-in.

    He is described as white, around 5ft 10 ins and dressed in black with a scarf across his face.

    PC Louise Bates, of Barnet CID, said: "It is fantastic that these scrolls have been found and returned to their owners, but our efforts to try and find the person who carried out the burglary continue.

    “The scrolls were found in bushes near the Bentley Heath Cricket Club on Wagon Road. Have you seen anyone dumping anything at the roadside there in the last few days? We would like to hear from you."

  10. Chinese delegates in MK 'optimistic' about trade with UK post-Brexit published at 15:14 British Summer Time 7 April 2017

    Kate Bradbrook
    BBC Look East

    So far today the Chinese entrepreneurs have visited Bletchley Park to see some of Milton Keynes' heritage and computing history. 

    Dr Philip Smith, chairman of the MK Business Leaders Partnership, says they've come to MK because of the "high-tech" industries on offer here. 

    He told me: "They want to know how we work, how we operate." 

    He said they've already worked with Dubai and the United Arab Emirates and have other countries in the pipeline.

    Chinese Trade Delegates

    LP Yau, the chief editor of Asia Weekly in Hong Kong, says they've come to the area to "explore the latest development in the UK, in particular in the wake of Brexit to see if there are any new initiatives between China and the UK". 

    He added: "Brexit is so unpredictable, but for the time being we are optimistic." 

  11. Protected birds of prey shotpublished at 14:51 British Summer Time 7 April 2017

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    The body of a protected bird with more than 10 pieces of lead shot lodged in its body was found by a member of the public in Daintry Wood, close to Toddington in Bedfordshire. 

    Police and the RSPB are investigating after they believe the red kite was shot at close range. 

    Shot red kiteImage source, RSPB

    It comes after Hertfordshire Police, external says another red kite had to be put down after it was shot in the Furneux Pelham area of Buntingford.

    Red kite birdImage source, Getty

    The bird of prey (pictured above) is fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. 

    The RSPB says although they are now a common sight in Bedfordshire, in the 1980s red kites were one of the UK's rarest breeding birds.

  12. Chinese trade delegates welcomed to MKpublished at 14:45 British Summer Time 7 April 2017

    Kate Bradbrook
    BBC Look East

    Milton Keynes has been rolling out the red carpet to Chinese trade delegates today. 

    They've been invited to the new city by the MK Business Leaders Partnership, aimed at forging close international trading partners post-Brexit. 

    Here they are arriving at Bletchley Park. 

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  13. 'Unique talent' signs new Stevenage contractpublished at 14:10 British Summer Time 7 April 2017

    Geoff Doyle
    BBC Three Counties Radio sport

    Stevenage youngster Ben Kennedy has signed an extended contract with the club until 2019.

    The 20-year-old, who is an U21 Northern Ireland international, has made over 70 appearances for Stevenage and is being tracked by several top clubs.

    Chairman Phil Wallace said: "Ben is a unique talent. 

    "He is a big game player and we have worked hard to develop him on and off the pitch since he came to us from Northern Ireland 4 years ago. 

    "We are delighted he has agreed to extend his contract."

    Ben KennedyImage source, Stevenage FC

    Kennedy commented: "I'm really happy to sign. It has been a great season so far and I have really enjoyed playing with this team. Hopefully we finish it strong."  

  14. Thousands paid out for trampoline accident in Bedfordshirepublished at 14:05 British Summer Time 7 April 2017

    Laurence Cawley
    BBC News

    Cuts, bumps and grazes in school are nothing new, but it appears that accidents have become an expensive issue. 

    A BBC investigation has revealed school payouts have doubled in two years from £1.65m in 2014 to £3.45m in 2016. 

    It includes a payout of £11,500 after a trampoline accident at a school in Central Bedfordshire.

    Child injured being seen by a doctorImage source, Getty Images

    You can read more from the investigation here .

  15. Three bears... but no sign of Goldilockspublished at 13:36 British Summer Time 7 April 2017

    Katy Lewis
    BBC Local Live

    The first North American black bear cubs to be born at Woburn Safari Park for 18 years have emerged from their first winter hibernation and are taking their first steps in their new home.

    North American black bear cubsImage source, Woburn Safari Park

    The young bears, born at Easter in 2016, had previously been living inside a ground-level den in an enclosed half-acre pen, so they could sleep, grow and bond with their mum.

    But Alabama, Kaska and Sekani have now left their pen with four year-old mum, Phoenix, and ventured out into the main 13-acre reserve in the Kingdom of the Carnivores drive-through enclosure.  

    North American black bear cubsImage source, Woburn Safari Park
    North American black bear cubsImage source, Woburn Safari Park
    North American black bear cubsImage source, Woburn Safari Park

    The park is the only place in the UK that visitors can see this species. 

    Senior keeper Ben Davies said: "We still expect them to stay relatively close to their mum over the next few weeks as they find their feet and work out their place in the natural hierarchy.

    "As in the wild, this will be a trial and error process and they will have to learn pretty quickly not to muscle in on their dad, Xanthos' food!"

  16. Man guilty of body-in-taxi murderpublished at 13:33 British Summer Time 7 April 2017

    Ahsan Hassan convinced a taxi driver his murder victim was drunk and asleep.

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  17. Body in taxi murder: 'Jealous, controlling, manipulative' man found guilty published at 12:38 British Summer Time 7 April 2017

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    "Hassan was deeply controlling, manipulative and consumed with jealousy."

    Those were the words of Det Insp Stuart Blaik from Thames Valley police after Ahsan Hassan, 28, from High Wycombe, was found guilty of murdering Zofia Sadowska before putting her dead body into a taxi. 

    He said: "He [Hassan] evilly planned to murder Zofia and then showed cowardice when he tried to cover up his crime by falsely claiming that both he and Zofia had wished to commit suicide.

    "Hassan has never admitted his crimes, which has made dealing with the loss of Zofia even more of a terrible ordeal for her family," he added.

  18. Body in taxi murder: Woman died from asphyxiationpublished at 12:35 British Summer Time 7 April 2017

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    Thames Valley Police has released more information on what happened the night Zofia Sadowska was killed by Ahsan Hassan. 

    The force said on 18 September at about 23:10, Hassan took Ms Sadowska to a disused kebab shop on Gayhurt Road in High Wycombe, where he then murdered her. 

    A post-mortem examination revealed the 20-year-old died from asphyxiation.

    Officers then say at about 02:00 the next morning the body of Ms Sadowska was put in a waiting taxi, and she was taken back to Hassan's home on Dashwood Avenue. 

    It was then at 05:00 the emergency services were called to a report of an attempted suicide.

    Dashwood AvenueImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Dashwood Avenue

    Hassan, 28, was found guilty of murder and is due to be sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Monday.    

  19. Man guilty of body in taxi murderpublished at 11:57 British Summer Time 7 April 2017

    Alex Pope
    BBC Local Live

    A man who killed a 20-year-old woman before taking her body home in a taxi has been found guilty of murder.

    Thames Valley Police said Ahsan Hassan murdered Zofia Sadowska in a disused kebab shop in High Wycombe in September.

    The force said the 28-year-old, of Dashwood Avenue in the town, then put his victim's body into a taxi and convinced the driver she was drunk and asleep.

    Emergency services were then called to his home where Hassan told investigating officers the death was a suicide pact, police added.

    Ahsan HassanImage source, Thames Valley Police

    Hassan (above) was found guilty of murder at Reading Crown Court yesterday and will be sentenced on Monday.  

    During the case, Usman Ansar, 30, also of Dashwood Avenue, High Wycombe, was found not guilty of perverting the course of justice. 

  20. Chinese Grand Prix: Second practice called off after safety helicopter grounded published at 10:49 British Summer Time 7 April 2017

    Andrew Benson
    Chief F1 writer

    Formula 1 was forced to call off second practice at the Chinese Grand Prix because poor visibility prevented the medical helicopter operating.

    Low cloud, rain and smog in Shanghai meant the helicopter was unable to land at the designated hospital.

    Safety requirements dictate cars cannot run if the helicopter cannot fly.

    The conditions also affected first practice in which Milton Keynes-based Red Bull's Max Verstappen was fastest during 10 minutes of running on a damp track.

    Team-mate Stevenage's Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari drivers Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen managed only a total of five laps between them.

    Red Bull's Dutch driver Max VerstappenImage source, Getty Images