Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

The Chinese community in Milton Keynes is demanding police do more to protect them, following the murder of a woman in the town.

Hang Yin Leung, 64, (pictured) died in hospital after a gang of men forced their way into her home in January. 

Image source, Leung family

In a letter to the chief constable of Thames Valley Police, Samuel Wong, from the Chinese Christian Church, said: "This crime has greatly shaken the Chinese community and caused a huge concern among Chinese people.

"Apart from this recent crime, a growing number of similar crimes against Chinese people have also been reported in Milton Keynes over the last few years. 

"We feel we have been let down by the authorities and a lot of the time when incidents happen it seems that we're only left with a crime number so it's very inadequate."

Thames Valley Police has said there's no evidence the Chinese community is being targeted. The force said so far this year there have been eight burglaries within that community which equates to 4% of offences.

Chief constable Francis Habgood said: "We are also not currently in receipt of any information which has identified any specific risks to the Chinese community."  

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Earlier we told you that the Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), external has said it had "serious concerns" about Bedfordshire Police, saying planned improvements would take too long.

Chief constable Jon Boutcher has said it is "disappointing" that the comments "fail to acknowledge the huge amount of positive work being carried out to rebuild and restructure" the force.

"It is for the force to change the opinion of the HMIC and we are doing everything possible to do that," he said.

He said that amongst other things, it had "invested heavily" in creating a team dedicated to investigating domestic abuse and serious sexual offences, and in the Cyber Hub, which tackles online and internet crime.

It has also merged its Child Sexual Exploitation team with its Missing Persons unit to enhance the way it protects young, vulnerable people from harm.

"We also have the on-going challenge of being a rurally-funded force with complex crime challenges such as guns, gangs and terrorism more usually seen by a large metropolitan force," he said.

"I am the first to acknowledge that the force has some way to go to, however it is important to recognise we are on a positive journey.

"Indeed the performance data in the recent HMIC reports put Bedfordshire in line with other forces.

"We will continue to work hard for our communities, it is they whose judgement is most important and more and more local organisations and groups are acknowledging the progress and improvements in the force."

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Government inspectors have heavily criticised Bedfordshire Police - saying plans to improve the force will take too long.

Image source, Google

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, external has released their annual Peel Assessment reports, combining all the inspections in 2016, with an updated view on each force.

It says Hertfordshire Constabulary, external acted quickly to rectify issues raised and Thames Valley Police, external is praised for a good level of service.

But in a statement posted online, inspector Zoe Billingham said: "I have some very serious concerns about many aspects of the overall performance of Bedfordshire Police. 

"In view of this, I have been in regular contact with the chief constable about the improvements that are needed.

"I continue to be very concerned that the people of Bedfordshire are not being well served by their police force. 

"The force has struggled to balance the need to protect the most vulnerable with maintaining a preventative policing presence throughout the county.

"I am disappointed that, despite repeated assurances that it would do so, beyond isolated pockets of good practice, the force had still not put in place effective and consistent preventative community-policing across the force area."

You can read the full statement on the HMIC website, external.

We have contacted Bedfordshire Police for a response.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

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

We understand that two lanes remain closed - we'll bring you more when we get it.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Train services from Bedford and Luton into London are still facing disruption this morning following last night's building fire close to the railway line at Hendon.

The M1 was also closed following the blaze at a builder's merchants, which also involved gas canisters.

Thameslink, external and East Midlands, external say the lines have reopened, but due to the length of time that lines were blocked, trains and train crew were displaced.

Disruption is expected until midday. 

Toby Wadey
BBC South

A detective who allegedly placed a toy monkey on a black colleague's desk has been accused of gross misconduct.

Det Sgt Andrew Mottau is alleged to have told the woman to make him cups of tea "when the black monkey starts to sing", Thames Valley Police said.

He is also accused of making racist remarks and asking her to "embrace" the monkey in the period between 15 August and 15 September 2016.

A four-day misconduct hearing will start in Oxford on 24 April.

Image source, LOW CARBON OXFORD

Sara Thornton
BBC Weather

There'll be some sunshine, but make the most of it, as cloud will increase as we go through the afternoon. 

The cool north westerly wind may bring a little drizzle much later on, but mostly we've got a dry day ahead of us.

Top temperature: 12C (54F).

Watch my full regional forecast here:

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 marks the last day before the long Easter weekend, with more than 20 million cars expected to be on the roads and more than 200 rail engineering works taking place over the period.

Apparently the busiest day for what is always called "the great getaway" is today, and there are already travel problems on Thameslink services and the M1. We'll bring you the latest news as we get it.

But 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.  

The sculptor's early pieces will be shown alongside those of artists who influenced him.

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

That's it from all of us here at Local Live for Beds, Bucks and Herts. 

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

But before we go, look who we spotted while looking through the BBC Weather Watchers pictures. 

See you tomorrow!

BBC Weather

This evening will be rather cloudy with the chance of a few spots of light rain. Skies will clear later, leaving low overnight temperatures of 3C - that's 37F.

Tomorrow will start chilly but it will be mainly dry with sunny spells and the odd isolated shower. Highs of 12C, that's 54F.

BBC Weather has more local forecasts. 

BBC News Travel

Commuters in and out of London will be affected by travel problems this evening as the M1 northbound and southbound is currently closed. 

There's currently stationary traffic due to smoke blowing across the road from a building fire between J1-J4. 

London Fire Brigade says 60 firefighters are attending a blaze in Brent Cross.

Thirty-three residents were saved, but two women died in the blaze.

BBC One

Two years ago the BBC was granted unparalleled behind-the-scenes access to the life of Watford's World Heavyweight Champion, Anthony Joshua.

This exclusive documentary called "Anthony Joshua: The Road to Klitshcko" is a rare insight into a young fighter's rise to the very pinnacle of boxing's most prestigious division. 

Below is a sneak preview of the programme that will be shown on BBC One on 25 April, at 21:45. 

Meanwhile, Wladimir Klitschko has warned Joshua that fighting him will be like "facing Mount Everest" when the two meet on 29 April.

The Ukrainian, 41, who lost his heavyweight title to Tyson Fury in November 2015, will fight Joshua for the IBF, WBA Super and IBO titles.  

Kate Bradbrook
BBC Look East

So far we don't know exactly how much money was taken from Metro Bank in Milton Keynes this morning, when four men crashed into the building with a dumper truck and stole a cash machine. 

The site has caused much local interest, with lots of people stopping to take photos and video of the devastation. 

When I was there the clean-up operation had started and mounds of glass was being shovelled up, and it looked like mounds of snow. 

Although the damage is vast, it certainly was a spectacle.

An unwanted away record and two penalty saves in a game are among things you may have missed from Saturday's EFL action.

A spot-kick hat-trick and milestones for a former England keeper and Scotland striker are among five things you may have missed in the EFL.

After Leyton Orient move on to their fifth manager of the season, BBC Sport takes a look at some of the hottest seats in world football.

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

In two days' time a new exhibition will open in Hertfordshire to mark the 40th anniversary of the Henry Moore Foundation starting up in Perry Green. 

The facilities have just undergone a £7m revamp and today the press were allowed in to preview the new Becoming Henry Moore, external exhibition. 

Here's a brief snapshot of what is being displayed...

Image source, PA

Image source, PA

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

A Milton Keynes woman who was rescued by a famous reporter at the age of four in the run-up to World War Two has died.

Helped by journalist Clare Hollingworth, little Margo Stanyer - nee Drotar - was on the last ship out of Poland and arrived in Britain two days before the war broke out.

Image source, Stanyer family

Margo (pictured above in 1944) and her mother were arrested in Poland in 1939. The family, who were communists from Hungary, were fleeing the advance of Hitler through eastern Europe when they were detained.

They starved for five days in jail. Desperate that Margo should live, her mother held her up to the bars of the cell and told her to cry and a passing woman got in touch with the resistance in Katowice jail in Poland.

Margo's family was smuggled into an apartment, where they were interviewed by a British woman with clipped tones.

It was Clare Hollingworth, who it is estimated that between March and July 1939 helped to process visas for between 2,000 and 3,000 refugees to come to Britain and beyond.

Last October, at the age of 81, Margo recorded a message of thanks to Clare who was celebrating her 105th birthday.

"Happy Birthday darling Clare," said Margo (above) in her message.

"Live for a hundred years again. I will think of you to the end of my life.

"Thank you very much for what you gave me, and for all those other people. Thank you."

Clare Hollingworth died in January.