BBC Business News

Borehamwood-based Just Eat's £200m plan to take over rival food delivery service Hungryhouse faces a hurdle.

The proposed deal has been referred for an in-depth investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

Both companies take online orders from customers and act as delivery middle men between them and restaurants.

However, the CMA, external is worried that the combination of the two companies could mean worse terms for the restaurants.

The probe will run until November this year.

Image source, PA

BBC News Travel

Although things are starting to get back to normal on East Midlands and Thameslink trains after the earlier signal problems, National Rail says disruption is now expected until 14:00.

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

It was the "best evening of my life".

That's what birthday boy John Fry, 84, said last night after he was honoured with leading the club out that he'd supported for more than 50 years.

He was chosen to be the Luton Town mascot after his son, Matt, organised it as a surprise birthday present.

Image source, Pete Norton/Getty Images

He got a massive cheer from the crowd when he came on next to the captain, Scott Cuthbert.

He said he was "overawed" by the whole experience and had a "fantastic time".

We believe he's the oldest mascot the Hatters has ever had.

The BBC is running an election panel, asking voters for their thoughts ahead of 8 June.

We asked:

Labour has proposed the railways should be re-nationalised. What are your views? What other transport or infrastructure issues need tackling, in your view, if any?

And you said:

Amanda, Peterborough: "I do not really have an opinion on this as I never use the railways. However, if it lowers the price for commuters and travellers then it may be a good thing."

Marilyn Samuel, Luton: "I agree to Labour's policy to propose to re-nationalise the railways and I agree to keep fares down and at a fair price, more affordable and a reliable transport system."

Barbara, Chelmsford: "I think that railways are great as they're now. No changes needed."

Jonathan, Norwich: "It would take billions to overhaul the railways, maybe the money would be better spent on trams going into major cities at affordable prices."

Jade, Southend: "Buses and trains need upgrading and a better service. If they want less people to drive cars, public transports need a lot of improvement."

Malcolm Younger, Ipswich: "If a nationalised railway could work cheaply and efficiently I would be for it. But don't think that they can so should be left as they are."

Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio

With speculation linking Luton Town manager Nathan Jones with the vacancy at Wigan Athletic, chief executive Gary Sweet has told the BBC they are already planning with Jones for next season.

Image source, Getty Images

"Nathan's our manager, there's been no formal or informal enquiry from Wigan or any other club for Nathan Jones in the last few weeks," he said.

"There was a little bit of a mumbling back at the beginning of the year but Nathan is such a Luton through and through guy and he loves this club, he loves working for us, he was so enthusiastic about next season regardless of what league we're in."

Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio

In the wake of Luton Town's defeat in the League Two play-off semi-final, the Hatters' chief executive has spoken of his pride in the club's fans.

Image source, Getty Images

Gary Sweet said the response of the crowd made him and his fellow directors all the more determined to deliver a new stadium.

"We're in a new training ground, we've got a planning application pending, we are strong, we are battlers," he said.

"I was so, so proud of these people tonight, 10,000 Luton fans in here that sung their hearts out, it was unbelievable.

"It made every one of us sitting in the director's box hair stand on end, it was such a proud moment."

BBC News Travel

The good news is East Midlands, external and Thameslink, external trains are now running again into London, but there are still delays.

The earlier fault between St Albans and Luton has been fixed and trains are now operating between Luton and London St Pancras International.

There are currently delays of up to an hour and this could continue until 13:00.

Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio

As I'm sure pretty much everyone knows by now, Luton Town will still be in League Two next season after a dramatic night at Kenilworth Road.

A stoppage time equaliser saw the Hatters lose their semi-final against Blackpool on aggregate.

Image source, Getty Images

The manager defended his decision to make just one substitution - with the prospect of extra-time looming.

After 82 minutes he took off Olly Lee bringing on Jordan Cook, but left strikers Jack Marriott and Ollie Palmer on the bench.

Blackpool used all their substitutes - one of whom scored.

"It was the right time to do it," he said.

"And then you're thinking about the penalty takers... so many things go through your mind but we just had to see it out.

"They had a corner and if we'd just been able to see that out then we would have been able to regroup and go on, but it wasn't to be."

Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather

Today will see plenty of cloud with outbreaks of rain and it will turn more showery in the afternoon. Some brighter intervals may develop later.

It will be rather breezy, although winds will ease through the afternoon.

Watch my full forecast below...

For more where you live, visit BBC Weather.

Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio

Luton Town have missed out on a promotion play-off final at Wembley after a stoppage time equaliser saw the Hatters lose their League Two play-off semi against Blackpool.

Image source, Getty Images

On a dramatic night at Kenilworth Road, Nathan Jones' side led 3-1, but drew 3-3 to go out 6-5 on aggregate.

Manager Nathan Jones said: "I'm a bit shell-shocked, a little bit devastated to be honest with you.

"When everything dies down I'll look at it with a lot of pride in the way we played tonight.

"We were a good side - we were a naive side at times and that's the reason we'll still be playing League Two football next year."

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Away from the rail disruption in Beds and Herts, if your route this morning is going to take you along Station Road in Burnham, Bucks, then be prepared for delays.

The road is expected to be closed until 09:30 after a vehicle struck a bridge.

Passengers face cancellations or delays of up to 90 minutes as a result of the fault.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

We've had an update from Thameslink to say that the signalling problem has just been fixed, but there will be continued disruption throughout the morning.

Roger Perkins from Thameslink said: "Network Rail have now got the signalling up and running again and we will soon, we hope, be able to start running our trains again, but they really are very much backed up and completely in the wrong place.

"It's such a busy service it takes a really long time to get everything back and running on the normal timetable so there will be disruption right through the morning."

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

As we've been mentioning, there's problems on the Thameslink line, external this morning - a signalling fault between Luton and Harpenden has left lines in both directions blocked.

Roger Perkins from Thameslink said the issue started just before 02:00.

"Network Rail have been doing their best to try to get to the bottom of what it is, they've been steadily restoring bits of the signalling but we're still in a situation [where] we can't run anything and that has a very major effect on the services we run, or in fact can't run unfortunately," he said.

"It means that passengers trying to get into work today are really going to face a lot of disruption."

National Rail has warned passengers services may be cancelled or delayed by up to 90 minutes.

Tickets are being accepted on Great Northern, South West Trains and Southern services via any reasonable route; buses between Elephant and Castle, Elstree and Borehamwood, and the London Underground by any reasonable route.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Commuters are being warned of "major disruption" after a signalling fault in Bedfordshire this morning.

Network Rail is investigating what has been described as a "major fault with the signalling system" on the line between Luton and Harpenden, which has left north and southbound lines blocked.

It said it is expecting the Thameslink service between Brighton and Bedford to be disrupted until at least 13:00.

Services between London St Pancras and Nottingham, Leicester, Derby and Sheffield will also be disrupted.

If you are travelling from Corby, Kettering or Wellingborough to London St Pancras you should change at Wellingborough for rail replacement bus services to Northampton, to connect with London Midland and Virgin Trains services to London Euston.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Good morning and welcome to Friday's live page for the three counties where we'll be bringing you the latest news, sport, travel and weather until 18:00.

I think it's fair to say that if you're a Luton Town supporter and you use the Thameslink line to get to work, then today is not your day.

This morning there are major problems on the railway line between Bedford and London due to a signalling fault near Harpenden - we'll keep you updated with the latest situation.

We'll also be looking at the reaction to Luton Town's defeat to a last minute winner in their League Two play-off semi-final.

Meanwhile, you can contact us at any time via email, Facebook, external or Twitter, external.

Stuart Moore's injury-time own goal sends Blackpool into the League Two play-off final with an aggregate win over Luton Town.

Bradley Cresswell never regained consciousness after he was punched by Shaikh during a night out.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

Thanks for your company - regular updates have finished, but breaking news will still appear here, including the result from Luton Town's play-off second leg at home to Blackpool.

We'll be back with regular updates from 08:00 on Friday.

Before we go, let's have a look at the main stories we've covered today...

• Man sentenced to 9 years in prison after killing man in Watford attack

• Charles Wells sells Bedford Brewery for £55m
• Barren River Colne flowing once again

Hertfordshire Police described the attack by Ridwaan Shaikh on Bradley Cresswell as "unprovoked and unexpected".

The court heard there had been confrontations between two groups and one of Shaikh's friends was knocked to the floor inside Hydeout by one of Mr Cresswell's friends.

Police said Mr Cresswell was knocked to the ground outside the club by Shaikh when he was with another group of friends.

He regained consciousness, but two groups encountered each other again 40 minutes later and Shaikh punched him again.

Bradley, of South Oxhey, had bleeding on the brain, never regained consciousness and died in hospital.

Following the nine-year jail sentence for manslaughter, Insp Pushpa Guild said: “Shaikh was intent on exacting revenge on Bradley following his interaction with Bradley in the nightclub.

“Neither were known to each other and Shaikh was not local to the Watford area however, having knocked Bradley unconscious on the first occasion, he was determined to pursue Bradley and waited for an opportune moment before cowardly striking the fatal punch, which led to Bradley’s death and resulted in Shaikh being charged with murder.

“I hope that Bradley’s family will draw some comfort from this outcome.”