Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

If you've been to the popular Buckinghamshire attraction Bekonscot Model Village recently, you may have noticed a new area being constructed - including a magnificent-looking church.

Well, today the church has been uncovered and the attraction has shared some interesting behind-the-scenes pictures of how it was made.

Image source, Bekonscot Model Village

Image source, Bekonscot Model Village

Image source, Bekonscot Model Village

Image source, Bekonscot Model Village

A spokesman told me it was not based on any particular church and the village surrounding it was entirely fictitious, but it was all built on the last piece of ground available for it to expand.

He also said it would be about two months before the whole of the extra area would be unveiled. 

Image source, Bekonscot Model Village

Kate Bradbrook
BBC Look East

Earlier we told you Milton Keynes-based Open University (OU) is to support 150 prisoners per year to get into higher education.

The offer of studying for a degree for free for the first year follows a reduction in state funding for education in the prison system.  

Today, I've been on the OU campus where I met Stephen Akpabio-Klementowski, who now works for the university after studying for a psychology degree while serving time.

He said: "Each stage of [the] process I reinforced to myself a sense of a new identity, a sense of being a student, a sense of being a researcher... higher education allows you to go through that process."  

BBC Weather Watchers

This afternoon will be mostly dry and bright with increasing cloud from the north.

The sunny weather has inspired our Weather Watchers to take pictures of the spring wildlife.

"Hert_Em" has posted this picture from St Albans...

And "carlas garden" has posted this picture from Stevenage...

Why don't you become a Weather Watcher ?

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Milton Keynes-based Open University, in partnership with Prisoners' Education Trust, external , is to offer free level 1 courses to 150 prisoners a year, as part of a three-year pilot scheme to help prisoners access Higher Education.

The project, which will run in England and Wales from September, is supported by a grant of £600,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation and £300,000 from the Open University Students Educational Trust charity.

The OU's external engagement director, Steve Hill, said: "The OU has led in delivering education within prisons for nearly 50 years - we know that education has the power to transform lives and prisoners who study are significantly less likely to re-offend.

"This scheme will help prisoner learners gain confidence, improve their prospects on release and change the direction their lives have gone in."

Philippa Charles, from the Garfield Weston Foundation, said it was "delighted to support this project, which will enable men and women in prison to develop their personal confidence, capabilities and improve their chances of securing employment on release".

In 2016,  The Coates Review, external  recognised that the government's decision in 2012 to withdraw funding for prisoners to study level 1 modules had resulted in a large drop in student numbers throughout the prison population. The OU saw a 42% drop in learner numbers – from 1,787 in 2012 to 1,079 in 2015.

The new scholarship scheme aims to halt the decline in prisoners taking up study,.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Earlier we told you about some  new items that had been found while preparing for the opening of the North Hertfordshire Museum.

I've been talking to Ros Alwood, the cultural services manager, who said they were discovered "completely out of the blue".

Image source, North Herts Museum

The linen and lace neckerchief dated from about 1750-60 was found in an 18th Century man's coat while an expert was making a replica to assist in teaching.

"He put his hand in the pocket and pulled out what he thought was a handkerchief, but more kept coming out and he pulled out the original neckerchief," she said.

"We hadn't a clue it was there, it was so exciting."

Meanwhile, the remains of a plant from about 700-600 BC were discovered in a Votive Aryballos from the historic city of Carthage, in modern day Tunisia.

Ms Allwood said they were getting experts to work out exactly what it was.

"It just looks like a bit of old dried herb you'd left in your kitchen for a while," she said.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

You know how you get excited when you find a stray pound coin stuffed down the back of a sofa?

Well, staff preparing items to go on display in the new North Hertfordshire Museum have uncovered some rather amazing things while cleaning.

The remains of a plant from about 700-600 BC were discovered in this votive below, while in the pocket of an 18th Century man's coat a linen and lace neckerchief was found - thought to have been untouched for 250 years.

The North Hertfordshire Museum will be next door to the refurbished Town Hall in Brand Street, Hitchin, and will display collections from the old Letchworth and Hitchin museums.

It will feature many items from around the district that have never been on public display.

The opening date is still to be confirmed.  

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Central Bedfordshire councillors have chosen their preferred retail and housing plan as they look to regenerate Flitwick town centre.

Image source, Google

They want to develop a brownfield site next to the railway station, which is owned by the council, and the adjacent station forecourt owned by Network Rail.

Residents, tenants, business owners and investors will be consulted on the plan during the summer.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

A girl and woman have been taken to hospital suffering from the effects of breathing in smoke after a house fire in Buckinghamshire.

Fire crews were called to the bedroom blaze in Reynolds Road, Beaconsfield, just before 04:30.

The fire was caused by a bedside light and the occupants were alerted by a smoke alarm, a spokesperson said.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Two clubs linked to banned Twitter row footballer Alifie Barker have raised hundreds of pounds in a charity football match for the stillbirth charity Sands.

Image source, Hitchin Town

The then-Hitchin Town player Barker, who was on-loan to Codicote FC, was  suspended for seven months  in February as a result of tweets he sent to Bournemouth's Harry Arter about the death of his baby daughter. 

A friendly match at Top Field between Hitchin Town and Codicote raised £950 on Tuesday night from "pay what you want" receipts, a bucket collection and donations from the teams and officials.

Hitchin Town secretary Roy Izzard said £2,150 had been donated to Sands from fundraising events since the row. 

"Hitchin and Codicote should be proud to have made a positive out of a negative and I would like to thank the Hitchin fans for their generosity," he said.

"I know Sands have been overwhelmed with what we have done, not just in raising money but also in increasing awareness of their work." 

Following the incident, Barker said he was "ashamed"  by his "disgraceful comments".

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

An inquest is due to open today into the death of a woman whose body was found in woods near High Wycombe.

Marlyn Knock, 64, was found by firefighters who were called to deal with a blaze in woods on the edge of the Hughenden estate in November.

The inquest will open at Beaconsfield Coroner's Court.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

An unmarked grave has been discovered at a 12th Century village church in Hertfordshire, prompting a police investigation.

The grave is in the churchyard of the Old Church of St James, external in Roydon Road, Stanstead Abbotts.

It was reported to police on Monday, but it's believed the grave may have been there since sometime last year.

Image source, Herts Police

Hertfordshire Police said it was working to ascertain the age of the bones found in the grave and identify the person who has been tending the plot, which has been well-kept.

Det Insp Anna Borella said: "The church is only used around four times a year, but we know that people regularly visit the graveyard.

"We are appealing to anyone who has seen someone visit the mystery grave or who has information which may help us identify it, to contact us.

"The grave is situated close to the church and there are no graves directly next to it, so anyone visiting may stand out."

Luke Ashmead
BBC Three Counties Radio sport

It was an emotional evening at The Valley, as Charlton and MK Dons paid tribute to PC Keith Palmer. 

The lifelong fan and season-ticket holder at the Addicks was killed in the recent Westminster attack.

Image source, Getty Images

The game was dedicated to him as a loyal supporter - just a football fan who went to work, did his job and didn't come home.  

Charlton donated 50% of all ticket sales to PC Palmer's family and the Addicks' players contributed their match fees.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

PC Palmer's brother John Curtis and 22 members of the police force joined the teams in laying wreaths and holding a minute's silence before kick-off.

The centre circle was surrounded by police officers who served alongside PC Palmer for the silence, and it was a very emotional moment as the officers came off the pitch to huge applause and shook hands with some of the staff.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty

MK Dons went on to win the match 2-0 .

Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather

A fine and bright start, before cloud gradually thickens from the north. However, some brighter or sunny spells will remain likely, especially across eastern parts.

Most places should stay dry, although the odd light shower cannot be ruled out later.

Highs of 12C (54F).

Here's my full forecast...

You can get more at BBC Weather .

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Good morning and welcome to another week of live updates from Beds, Herts and Bucks. We'll be here from now until 18:00 bringing you the very latest news, sport, weather and travel.

First, as always, there'll be a full regional weather forecast. 

If you want to get in touch, you can do it by  email ,  Facebook, external  or  Twitter, external .  

Charlton slip to a third straight defeat as goals from Stuart O'Keefe and Harvey Barnes secure victory for MK Dons.

West Brom manager Tony Pulis felt "it just wasn't our night" after a 2-0 Premier League defeat at Watford.

Watford manager Walter Mazzarri is "very, very happy" with his side after they survived Miguel Britos's sending off to register a 2-0 Premier League win over West Brom at Vicarage Road.

A resurgent Watford survive for half an hour with 10 men as they beat West Brom to earn back-to-back Premier League victories.

Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

A rather cloudy evening across the BBC East region, but it will stay mostly dry.

Any clear spells that develop will bring the chance of ground frost.

Temperatures falling to 2C (35F).

Wednesday will start bright, with sunny spells, but turning cloudy later.

Maximum temperature of 12C (53F).

You can find a more detailed forecast for where you live on  BBC Weather .

I'm afraid that's it for our live coverage across Beds, Herts and Bucks today - thanks for your company.

Don't forget if something breaks later or overnight - you'll still find it here. Otherwise do scroll down to see what's been going on today. 

And get in touch at any time via  Twitter,, externalFacebook , external or  email , or simply use the "Get involved" button at the top of this page.

We'll be back from 08:00 tomorrow. See you then.