BBC News England

A two-day strike by Virgin Trains East Coast workers was called off after talks, a union said.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) were due to walk out in a row over the role of guards, on the service that runs through Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire. 

General secretary Mick Cash said the company had confirmed there will now be a train manager on every passenger service carrying out duties previously carried out by the guard.

The action was due to take place on Friday and Saturday.

Image source, PA

David Horne, managing director of the Virgin Trains route, said "We're making exciting changes on the east coast as part of the customer-centric revolution which has seen us embark on a £140m investment programme in our trains and stations."

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Detectives investigating a shooting in Luton on Monday afternoon have said they believe it was a "targeted attack".

Image source, South Beds News Agency

A man was shot from a car on Whipperley Ring opposite the Pace Garage in Farley Hill at about 15:30, as children were making their way home from school.

It is suspected the shot was fired from a blue Audi A3.

The victim is still his hospital but is said to be in a stable condition and his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. 

Bedfordshire Police said it's likely that someone in the community knows who is responsible and has urged any other witnesses to come forward.

Det Insp Alan Page said: “We would like to reassure the public that based on our investigation we feel strongly that this was a targeted attack." 

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

A man has been injured after a lorry left the road and went down an embankment on the M1 this morning. 

Bucks and MK Fire service say the accident happened just after 05:00 on the southbound carriageway between junction 15 for Northampton and Newport Pagnell Services near the Cattle Creep underpass. 

Crews from Newport Pagnell, Broughton, Mereway, and Aylesbury attended. Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance have confirmed they attended.  

The man has since been released. 

Image source, Bucks and MK Fire

The road remains closed southbound between junctions 15 and 14, causing lengthy hold ups in the area.

Diversions are in place, external.  

BBC News Travel

Hopefully traffic will begin to get back to normal on the M1, after an earlier lorry accident on the southbound carriage between J15 for the A45 and J14 for the A509. 

Kate Bradbrook
BBC Look East

The father of a man murdered on a night out in Bedford has spoken of his decision to join a group of volunteers helping those who have too much to drink.

Bedford Street Angels was set up after 17-year-old Robert Gill was mugged and then murdered on Boxing Day 2007.

His father Fred Gill said: "The street angel teams are out every Saturday night and there is always somebody needing help.

"Quite often there are people in similar situations to our Robert - they've got so drunk that they're not able to look after themselves and we're there to look after them and see that they get home safely."  

BBC Business News

Luton-based Vauxhall showed "a reckless disregard for safety" in allowing customers to keep driving Zafira B cars after a fire risk was identified, MPs have said.

Image source, SWNS

It was "morally reprehensible" for the car maker not to warn customers sooner, MPs on the Transport Select Committee said.

And Vauxhall was too slow in general to take action over the fires, which came to prominence in 2015, MPs said.

Vauxhall said there were "lessons to be learned" from the Zafira fires.

The fires started behind the glove box in the heating and ventilation system, and were a problem in Zafira B cars, which are still subject to a recall.

BBC Sport

Anthony Joshua has challenged Wladimir Klitschko to "stand up to the power" after the Ukrainian branded him only "a puncher" in the run up Saturday's bout.

Image source, Getty Images

Klitschko, who is entering his 29th world title fight, revealed on Thursday he has made a video of his prediction for their heavyweight bout at Wembley.

That has been saved on a memory stick which will be sewn into his robe.

"It's strategy," said Joshua, 27. "An attempt at a mind game. I didn't take it the way he wanted to express it."

Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather

A bright but chilly start.

Through the day, there will be good spells of sunshine with most places staying dry.

The cloud will tend to increase by the afternoon.

Highs of 13C (55F).  

Keep up-to-date through the day on the BBC Weather website.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

There are delays on the southbound M1 this morning between J15 for the A45 and J14 for the A509 due to an accident involving a lorry.

Bucks Fire and Rescue earlier tweeted, external that the vehicle had gone down the embankment.

An air ambulance has landed.  

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Yesterday we told you that Asda was forced to close its superstore in Watford during the afternoon due to flooding. 

The supermarket said it believed the problem was caused by a burst water main.

We've spoken to the store this morning and it is open for business as usual after being closed for three hours yesterday.

Judging by these pictures from Families Online Watford, external, some people must have worked very hard on the clean-up. 

Image source, Mary Tsui/Families Online Watford

Image source, Mary Tsui/Families Online Watford

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Good morning and welcome to another day 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.

Today is Ed Balls day - and if you're new to this concept, here's an explanation why a Twitter "fail" in 2011 is still remembered today.

Ed is not local but we thought it was worth a mention because who, six years ago, would think that the then shadow chancellor would come to be known for this?

Coming up - a full regional weather forecast.

Electoral Reform Society says many people feel their vote does not count.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

Thanks for your company.

We'll be back from 08:00 tomorrow with live updates of news, weather, travel and sport - but any breaking news will be posted here overnight.

Scroll down for all today's updates...

We hope the residents of Milton Keynes have had a great #LoveMK day.

Here's MK Dons and Red Bull Racing showing their appreciation for the town.

Have a lovely evening.

Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

This evening will be rather cloudy with some rain or drizzle. 

Increased cloud cover will bring the risk of some showers overnight, but as skies clear later, temperatures will drop to 0C (32F), giving the risk of frost and icy patches.

Largely dry with sunny spells on Friday after a chilly start. Top temperature: 12C (54F).

Lee Agnew
BBC Three Counties Radio

Asda has been forced to close its superstore in Watford this afternoon due to flooding. 

The supermarket says it believes the problem has been caused by a burst water main, and will try to re-open as soon as possible.

Image source, googl

Milton Keynes has been named as one of the three "best, most enduring or most improved" towns in the UK and Ireland. 

It's made the final shortlist of three for the Great Town Award 2018, alongside Corby and Coventry. 

The awards are organised by The Academy of Urbanism, external, and the winner will be announced at a ceremony in November.

Milton Keynes' Mayor, Cllr Steve Coventry, said: "Milton Keynes is a place to be proud of and we are very excited to have been shortlisted as one of the Top Three 'Great Towns' in this prestigious competition. 

"Milton Keynes has a great mix of town, city and country life and the thousands of people who live and work here are passionate that it is indeed a great place."

Lee Agnew
BBC Three Counties Radio

People in Bedford are being asked to look out for a woman suspected of a stabbing in the town this afternoon. 

Police were called to Mallard Hill shortly before 12:30 following reports that a woman had been stabbed.

Image source, Google

The offender is described as a woman in her 20s, wearing a black hooded top with the hood up, black trousers and black trainers. 

She is believed to have black hair, which she was wearing up with a fringe, and is around 5ft 4in (1.6m) tall.

The police helicopter is up in an attempt to find her.   

Lee Agnew
BBC Three Counties Radio

A 15-year-old boy is in a critical condition after being attacked in Milton Keynes.

Emergency services were called to Beadlemead, in Netherfield, shortly before 18:00 yesterday.

A children's play area has been cordoned-off by police while an investigation takes place.

Two 19-year-olds have been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and police have increased patrols in the area, although they believe it to be an isolated incident.

Police are appealing to anyone who may have seen a group in the area yesterday afternoon to come forward.

A school building has been opened in honour of a man who was killed when he was hit by a fire engine in Royston.

Mitchell Bailey was 58 and had been a governor at Roman Way First School in Royston for 18 years.

Headteacher Emma Edwards said naming the classroom after him will help them remember a man who contributed a lot.

"His loss is felt tremendously by us but his passion for school will live on," she said.

"There will be lots of things that will keep him in our memory." 

Buckinghamshire County Council had sought to take Effie Stillwell into care.