Summary

  • Updates on Thursday, 13 April 2017

  • HMIC has 'serious concerns' over Bedfordshire Police

  • Chinese community in Milton Keynes want more police protection

  • Virgin Trains East Coast staff to stage 48-hour strike

  • Woodland wedding venue attacked by arsonists

  1. Lawro's predictions v Sting and his sonpublished at 19:22 British Summer Time 15 April 2017

    BBC football expert Mark Lawrenson takes on Newcastle fan Sting and his son Joe Sumner in this week's Premier League predictions.

    Read More
  2. Teenager raped on side of roadpublished at 18:34 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    The 18-year-old had been walking away from a village railway station when she was attacked.

    Read More
  3. That's all for todaypublished at 18:09 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Sarah Jenkins
    BBC Local Live

    Thanks for your company.

    We'll be back after the long weekend on Tuesday with live updates of news, weather, travel and sport - but any breaking news will be posted here for you.

    We hope you have a lovely extended break, and for anyone working, give yourself a pat on the back!

    Hitchin bird
  4. Infant's stolen birthday presents returnedpublished at 17:59 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    A five-year-old boy, who thought he would never see his presents again after they were stolen, has had them returned.

    Jayden celebrated his birthday on 21 March, and the presents were stolen from the boot of his dad's car sometime between Monday, 3 April and Wednesday, 5 April.

    The car was parked on Monklands in Letchworth.

    The presents were found dumped in a front garden on Icknield Way by a passer-by who called the police.

    Det Sgt O’Toole said: "He was clearly over the moon to receive his presents back and I would like to publicly thank the member of the public who saw the dumped boxes and alerted police."

    Jayden Wijemunige and his presentsImage source, Herts Police

    Manjula and Watsala Wijemunige, his parents, said: "Jayden was so sure that police were going to get him his presents back, but we realised it might not happen.

    "However, we are so pleased that they did and we can’t thank them enough for making our son smile again. He is a very happy boy now."

  5. Woodland wedding venue fire - more picspublished at 17:48 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    As you can see, there's nothing left of the treehouse and the tree whose trunk it was built around is scorched.

    A trailer with a canister forms part of the police inquiry.

    Lila's Wood tree showing scorched trunkImage source, Lila's Wood
    Trailer with canisterImage source, Lila's Wood
  6. Hertfordshire county council backs Crossrail 2published at 17:21 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Jane Killick
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    Hertfordshire County Council, external is among 40 local authorities backing a call for ministers to rally behind the Crossrail 2 project, which they say is "crucial". 

    The line would run from Surrey to Hertfordshire, with the exact route still to be decided. 

    A letter to the transport secretary says mainline stations in London like Euston will buckle under the strain of overcrowding and the benefits of HS2 will be lost in chaotic transport connections if Crossrail 2 doesn't go ahead.

  7. Wedding venue victim of arsonpublished at 17:10 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Sarah Jenkins
    BBC Local Live

    A wedding venue has been targeted by arsonists just days before their wedding season kicks off.

    Hertfordshire Police are investigating the incident which took place at Lila's Wood in Hastoe, near Tring,

    The venue specialises in woodland weddings, but last night their centrepiece - a large treehouse - was set alight.

    Offenders gained entry to the venue by damaging a surrounding fence.

    It took firefighters three hours to control the blaze.

    Lila's Wood treehouse before fireImage source, Marie Kent Photography

    Owner Faye Messenger said: "This is devastating for us, it's been our labour of love for the past three years.

    "We created this space not only as wedding venue, but for local people like Brownies, Scouts and schools to enjoy.

    "We would like to re-build what was there before and if anyone in the local community would like to help, we would greatly appreciate it."

    Treehouse afterImage source, Sharon Grufferty

    Det Sgt Victoria Coleman said: "This mindless act caused significant damage to property and had the potential to put people’s lives in danger. 

    "Thankfully no one was hurt, but it could have easily been a different story with very serious consequences."

  8. Grandmother thanks community for her new bikepublished at 16:22 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Sophie Sulehria
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    An 89-year-old grandmother from Berkhamsted says she's been overwhelmed by support after her bike was stolen last week.

    Mary Hampton

    Mary Hampton had left the bike unlocked outside Waitrose in the town last Thursday.

    In just 24 hours after it became known she'd lost it, the community had clubbed together to get her a new bike and a lock.

    "It was an old-looking bike, I didn't think anybody would be going to steal it," she said.

    "One bad action happened, but think of the wonderful kindness and caring that's come from it."

  9. Motorist performs handbrake turn and drives wrong way on M1published at 15:37 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Sarah Jenkins
    BBC Local Live

    Police are trying to trace the driver of a van who performed a handbrake turn before driving the wrong way on the M1.

    On Sunday, 2 April at 02:49 officers signalled for the white Citroen Berlingo van (registration - X641 WRM) to pull over in Grove Mill Lane, Rickmansworth, as the vehicle had no MOT or insurance.

    Hertfordshire Police said the driver failed to stop which led officers on a pursuit along the A414 before the van turned around and traveled in the opposite direction along the dual carriageway.

    For safety reasons, police withdrew from the pursuit.

    Van driving wrong way on M1Image source, Hertfordshire Police

    Shortly after, police re-established the pursuit, following the van to J8 of the M1.

    The van then performed a handbrake turn and drove the wrong way on the northbound carriageway.

    Once again officers withdrew from the pursuit for safety reasons.

    CCTV later showed the van exiting the M1 at J5 for Watford.

    Sgt James Bessant said: "This is an example of extremely dangerous driving and the driver’s reckless actions put members of the public at unnecessary risk.

    "If you think you may know the identity of that person, or you have any further information to share with us, please call us on our non-emergency number 101, quoting crime reference C1/17/1707."

  10. Bouncer bitten in suspected race attackpublished at 14:41 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Jane Killick
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    Police in Luton are appealing for witnesses after a doorman was bitten in a suspected race hate crime.

    Flame nightclubImage source, Google

    The bouncer was verbally abused, bitten and had punches thrown towards him at Flame nightclub in Wellington Street at around 02:45 on Sunday. 

    A 22-year-old Luton man has been arrested and bailed.

  11. Afternoon weather: Cloudy but drypublished at 14:24 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    BBC Weather

    It will turn cloudier through the afternoon but it should stay mainly dry throughout. 

    The best of any brightness will be across southern areas with light winds throughout. 

    Maximum temperature: 12C (54F).

    For the full forecast where you are visit BBC Weather.

    Bird in Hitchin
  12. Police spot driver with no insurancepublished at 13:50 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

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  13. Travel: All lanes now open on M1 southboundpublished at 13:10 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    BBC News Travel

    All lanes have now re-opened on the southbound M1 in Bedfordshire following an collision this morning involving a lorry and a van between J13 (A421) and J12 (A5120).

    The hard shoulder remains closed due to barrier damage.

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  14. Number of trespasses on railway tracks at 'all-time high'published at 12:53 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Sarah Lee
    BBC South

    Across Britain, one person trespasses on the railway every hour, according to new data.

    Figures from Network Rail and British Transport Police show an increase in the number of people risking their lives on the rail network by trespassing on the tracks in the south-east region.

    The data, which looks at trends over the last five years, shows trespass incidents are at all-time high in the region, while nationally one person trespasses every hour:

    TresspassImage source, ALAMY

    Number of trespass incidents in the last five years:

    Reading: 

    2012: 98

    2013: 94

    2014: 94

    2015: 109

    2016: 127

    Number of young people under the age of 18 who came to the attention of BTP in 2016 while trespassing: 

    Berkshire: 7

    Buckinghamshire: 4

    Hampshire: 14

    Oxfordshire: 2

  15. 24 Hours in Police Custody nominated for BAFTApublished at 12:10 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Sarah Jenkins
    BBC Local Live

    The Channel 4 documentary 24 Hours in Police Custody, which follows Bedfordshire Police, has been nominated for a BAFTA.

    The series, produced by Garden Productions, has been nominated in the Factual Series category.

    The team is currently filming with Bedfordshire Police for another series.

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  16. Free as a birdpublished at 11:28 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Sarah Jenkins
    BBC Local Live

    Free range chickens will get their first taste of a bit more freedom today - as a ban on keeping poultry out in the open has been lifted.

    Back in December, owners across England were told they had to keep their birds inside to protect them from an infectious strain of bird flu.

    The government has since carried out a new assessment to evaluate the risk of poultry becoming infected by wild birds and has now relaxed the safety measures.

    The BBC's Stuart Ratcliffe watched one flock's release:

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  17. Travel: Delays M1 southboundpublished at 11:10 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    BBC News Travel

    There are still delays on the southbound M1 in Bedfordshire due to an earlier collision involving a lorry and a van between J13 for the A421 and J12 for the A5120.  

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  18. HMIC 'satisfied' with most aspects of Hertfordshire Policepublished at 11:00 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Sarah Jenkins
    BBC Local Live

    Government inspectors have revealed they are "satisfied" with most aspects of Hertfordshire Police, after the force acted quickly to rectify issues raised in a report.

    Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), external said it is "pleased" by the force's approach to tackling anti-social behaviour, preventing crime and tackling serious and organised crime.

    But inspector Zoe Billingham expressed her concerns about the force's approach to investigating crime, suggesting improvement is needed in how it engages with victims,

    In a closing statement Ms Billingham said: "I am generally satisfied with the service that the force provides, and I am reassured that it is taking action to address the specific areas of concern that I have described."

    The Police and Crime commissioner for Hertfordshire, David Lloyd, has "welcomed" the annual assessment.

    He said: "Whilst some areas of improvement were identified in previous inspections, the inspector has told me she was pleased by the constabulary’s response in dealing with the issues.  

    "As a result I expect the re-inspection to show that Hertfordshire’s performance has returned to its normal high standard."

  19. M1 link road to open todaypublished at 10:33 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Ben Nye
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    The new Woodside Link road is being opened in Bedfordshire today.

    The road will connect the Woodside Industrial Estate in Dunstable with the new J11A, external on the M1 - but that junction isn't ready to open yet, and neither is the A5-M1 Dunstable bypass, so it will just serve local traffic in Houghton Regis for now.

    Woodside link mapImage source, Central Bedfordshire Council

    The Woodside Link is one part of a bigger project to ease traffic congestion across Dunstable and the road's development has been overseen by Central Bedfordshire Council.

    The M1 junction 11A and the bypass are being managed by the Highways Agency, which has denied it is running late. 

    A spokesman said it was fully on course to open as planned before the end of June.

  20. Virgin Trains East Coast staff to stage 48-hour strikepublished at 10:07 British Summer Time 13 April 2017

    Phil Mawson
    BBC News

    Staff on Virgin Trains East Coast - which run rail services through Stevenage - are to stage a 48-hour strike in a row over the role of guards and jobs, the RMT union has announced.

    Virgin East Coast trainImage source, PA

    The stoppage, on 28 and 29 April, follows recent strikes by three other train operators in rows over staffing.

    The union said it wanted "explicit clarification" from Virgin on the future role of guards.

    Virgin, which operates services between London, north-east England and Scotland, has yet to comment.