Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A human rights campaigner who lost his father, uncle and many other relatives in a genocide campaign in Bosnia has devoted his life to making sure his sisters were able to get an education and develop their careers.

Nedžad Avdić crawled from an execution pit at Srebrenica aged 17, wounded in the arm and stomach.

Image source, Reuters

He now has three daughters and is still living in Srebrenica. 

"Despite everything, I hope that I can teach my daughters to grow up without hatred. This will be my success," he said. 

"Early in the spring 1992, our house was burnt and destroyed by Serb soldiers. My family, father, mother, three younger sisters and me escaped from being captured and killed. 

"After months of hiding in the woods, we took shelter in Srebrenica in March 1993. We lived in difficult conditions; in a garage, a school and sometimes in the front of the houses beside the fire with other refugees." 

He was eventually caught and taken to one of the execution sites and shot, but he survived. 

In July 2015 he attended a service in Westminster Abbey where the 8,000 men and boys who died around Srebrenica were remembered.

He's now been awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Bedfordshire for his work campaigning for human rights.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A man who survived a massacre of Muslim men during the war in Bosnia in the 1990s is to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Bedfordshire.

It's for his outstanding commitment campaigning for human rights.

Nedžad Avdić was just 17 when the town of Srebrenica was taken by Bosnian Serb forces and he had to flee for his life through forests and minefields. 

After days of walking bare-footed, starving, thirsty, exhausted and frightened, he was captured and loaded on to a lorry and shot, along with thousands of others at Srebrenica. 

Despite wounds to his arm and stomach, he managed to survive by lying among the rows of dead bodies, and escape with the help of the only other man who was still alive. 

Mr Avdić devoted his life to speaking out on the need to tackle hatred and bring communities together, to prevent similar atrocities from happening to others. 

This is the third time he has travelled to the UK with Remembering Srebrenica, to speak to young people about his experiences. 

He will go on to speak to school and college students this week after the graduation ceremony today.

This was one special event spotted in Barkway in east Hertfordshire...

Gail Sanderson
BBC Three Counties Radio

A man accused of launching a racial attack on a pregnant 34-year-old woman in Bletchley has failed to turn up to court for a second time.

A warrant has now been issued for the arrest of David Gallacher, 37, of no fixed address.

He's accused of attacking a Somali woman outside the Co-Op in Water Eaton Road last August and verbally abusing her.

She later suffered a miscarriage.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

We've been reporting on the case of Mohammed Iqbal, who was caught by self-styled paedophile hunters arranging to meet up with a girl for sex.

Iqbal, 32, of Cavendish Road, Luton, made online contact with a 14-year-old called Tia, or so he thought. 

In fact, Tia was a middle-aged woman named Tracey Reid living in the north east of England who, the Luton Crown Court jury was told, was engaged in exposing adults who groomed children online.

Image source, SBNA

The court heard she spoke to Iqbal about school and wanting to go to university and a rendezvous was set up. 

Ms Reid frequently worked with "paedo-buster" Shane Brannigan, who aimed to confront Iqbal. 

Mr Brannigan told the court: "We set up fake profiles on social media sites and pose as children to weed out men and women who are willing to chat to children online, and meet them for their own sexual gratification." 

When arrested, Iqbal, who used the name "Moonwalker007" to groom teenagers on chat rooms, claimed he went to Farnham railway station to buy tickets for a cricket match between Pakistan and England. 

He said it was agreed by Tia and himself as a meeting point.

He said he was frightened by Mr Barannigan and that had made him flee the scene. 

Iqbal was convicted of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming. He will be sentenced in June.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A driver was dragged from his car at knifepoint by two men who got in and drove off in Luton on Saturday. 

The black Audi with a 56 registration plate was last seen heading for Northwell Drive after the hijack at about 12:15. 

Image source, Google

The man had been sitting in his car in Burnt Close car park when the incident happened. 

One attacker is described as black, stocky, 5ft 6in tall, and he wore black jogging bottoms, a black hooded top and black leather gloves. 

The second man was described as black, slim, 5ft 4in tall, and he wore a dark navy tracksuit and leather gloves. 

The pair also wore scarves around their faces. 

The match had been fraught with "niggles" before one player punched another, breaking his jaw.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

An internet groomer drove 70 miles from his home in Luton to Farnham railway station in Surrey expecting to meet a 14-year-old girl for sex.

However, he was confronted with a self-styled "paedo-buster" instead.

Image source, SBNA

Shane Brannigan filmed Mohammed Iqbal with a body camera, who flailed his arms in anger at being found out. 

As a result of the "sting" and subsequent investigation IT worker Iqbal, 32, was convicted at Luton Crown Court of a charge of attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming and will be sentenced on 2 June. 

Judge Nigel Lithman QC told him: "I am requesting a report with all options open, but be prepared to be sent to custody."

The court was told the police had been called to Farnham railway station last July, but didn't get there in time to stop the defendant leaving the scene. He was eventually arrested in September.

A blind man from Dunstable has been helped with "artificial intelligence glasses".

Jane Killick
BBC Three Counties Radio

An elderly couple died in a house fire near High Wycombe in the early hours of this morning. 

Image source, Google

The man in his 80s and the woman in her 70s were declared dead at the property on Skimmers Close in Holmer Green. 

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances and next-of-kin had been informed.

Midfielder Darren Potter is leaving MK Dons at the end of season after six years, the club confirm.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

A drug dealer who had a gun in storage alongside a hoard of drugs was arrested after a bag containing his belongings was found in a room during a police raid in Luton.

Image source, Bedfordshire Police

Rafal Rozalski, 37, of no fixed abode, was jailed for seven years at Luton Crown Court on Friday after being found guilty of possession of a firearm and illegal ammunition, and possession of cocaine and amphetamine with intent to supply. 

His illegal belongings were found in a dwelling in Midland Road, Luton, and an investigation was launched by Bedfordshire's gang and gun crime team.

Reality TV star Ferne McCann said she is "grateful" for the support she has received following news of her pregnancy, as her ex-boyfriend is to appear in court charged in connection with an acid attack.

Image source, Ferne McCann/Facebook

A spokeswoman for McCann, who has appeared on The Only Way is Essex, said: "Ferne is grateful for the sympathetic way news of her pregnancy has been covered."

Arthur Collins is due to appear in court today charged in connection with the incident at an east London nightclub, which left two revellers partially blinded and others disfigured.

The 24-year-old was arrested at an address in Rushden,Northamptonshire, on Saturday.

He was charged on Sunday with 14 counts of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH) and one of throwing corrosive fluid on a person with intent to cause GBH, Scotland Yard said.

Mr Collins, of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, will appear at Thames Magistrates' Court.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Eleanor Draper, 82, was the oldest woman to finish this year's London Marathon.

As with the majority of the marathons she had run before, her husband Dennis was beside her every step of the way. 

The running-mad couple from Welwyn Garden City estimate they have run five marathons a year since their first one together in 1988.

Image source, Virgin Money Marathon

Not even battles with cancer for them both could knock them down for long, with the duo's attitude that fresh air is the best cure for all ills. 

"When I was younger I vowed I would never run," said Eleanor. "I did all kinds of sports when I was younger and then I went into nursing and got married. 

"I occasionally would play netball and Dennis would play football and cricket, but we never thought about running until someone said, 'why don't you come out for a run?' 

"A year to the day I was running my first London Marathon in 1988."

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

The Great North Road in Hatfield was closed from the early hours of this morning after a car crashed into a tree. 

The fire service cut free a trapped woman, aged in her 30s, and she was taken to hospital with serious injuries. 

Image source, Google

The road was shut between the Welham Green Roundabout (above) and Brookmans Park, but it reopened a short while ago.

Police are appealing for information and witnesses.

Tony Fisher
BBC Three Counties Radio

A man accused of a racial attack on a 34-year-old pregnant woman in Bletchley is due to appear at Aylesbury Crown Court today.

Image source, Google

David Gallacher, 37, of no fixed address, is accused of attacking a Somali woman outside the Co-Op on Water Eaton Road last August. 

The woman later suffered a miscarriage, police said.

He's become one of the most famous names in the police community, both in his home county of Hertfordshire and nationally.

Police dog Finn stole the hearts of the nation when he was stabbed in the head and chest while on duty in Stevenage last October.

Image source, Dave Wardell

Thankfully, the brave pooch was nursed back to health and even made a return to active duty.

He was eventually forced to retire, but his influence has not waned.

A petition led to a parliamentary debate over whether police dogs and horses should be regarded as more than just objects.

As a result, the government has introduced new sentencing guidelines from today. It means magistrates will be able to take into consideration as an aggravating factor when sentencing if an offender has attacked an animal being used as a public servant.

Image source, Dave Wardell

We've got the general election in June but first comes the local elections.

BBC Look East's Robby West has prepared this video guide for what's in store.

Emma Midgley
BBC South

A prisoner with links to Slough has escaped from Springhill Prison in Buckinghamshire.

James Delahoye, 40, was serving a sentence for drugs offences, was last seen at the prison on Friday evening. 

 Investigating police are urging anyone who knows where he is to contact them.

Image source, Thames Valley Police

Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather

The weather today will be mainly cloudy, with some outbreaks of light rain across the region.

It will eventually become clearer as the day progresses with drier, brighter but noticeably colder conditions following along with a brisk wind from the north.

Maximum temperature: 12C (54F).