Updates on Friday, 16 June 2017
Man in court accused of murdering teen Koy Bentley
Former Bedfordshire chief constable dies
Call to turn pop stars' bus into homeless shelter
Woman driver dies after three-vehicle crash on A1
Nic Rigby
BBC News
That's it for our live coverage for today - thanks for joining us. Updates will resume on Monday from 08:00.
Scroll back through today's feed for anything you may have missed and we'll see you again soon!
Julie Reinger
BBC Look East weather
Best get your suntan ready if you're heading to the beach or having a barbie...
Tonight will see a dry night with variable amounts of cloud and some clear spells. Feeling warm with light winds.
Then Saturday will be fine and dry with spells of sunshine and temperatures inland around 28C (82F). It'll be a few degrees cooler on the coast with an on-shore wind.
Then Sunday will be even hotter, with a possible high of 30C (86F). The sea breezes will make it more comfortable on the beach where temperatures will again be a few degrees lower.
And if you think it was finished there, Monday will be hotter still!
With inland highs of 32C (90F), there could be a few isolated thundery showers too.
Find the weather where you live on the BBC Weather website.
It looks like your misery around the Kingsmead Viaduct at Ware, external is finally coming to an end after weeks of delays...
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Continuing the space theme, budding young scientists and engineers from across the region got the chance to meet a Mars robot prototype, as they took part in a schools competition.
The UK Mars Rover prototype called Bridget, created by Airbus Defence and Space in Stevenage, was put on display at Haileybury, a co-educational school near Hertford.
Image source, HaileyburyIt's been developed as part of a programme to send a robot to the Red Planet to look for signs of life.
She was the star of Haileybury's STEM Challenge 2017 - a space-themed competition which saw Year 5 children from 16 schools in Hertfordshire and beyond competing in science, technology, engineering and maths challenges.
The winner of the competition was Charlotte House Prep School in Rickmansworth.
Arthur Kattavenos, head of science at Haileybury, said: "We are thrilled and honoured that Bridget has visited Haileybury. She has really brought science to life and I am sure has amazed and inspired a new generation of scientists."
Nic Rigby
BBC News
The University of Hertfordshire's new inflatable planetarium has gone on show at the Letchworth Festival, external, which runs until Sunday.
The planetarium, which is normally on show at the university's Bayfordbury Observatory, external, is the biggest of its kind in the UK.
The 6m-high (20ft) dome is used to educate people about the wonders of the universe, offering a guided tour of the solar system, the Milky Way and beyond.
Image source, University of HertfordshireInside the planetarium is a High Definition (HD) projector that beams galaxies and stars across its dome, as well as a 360-degree sound system.
It's primarily used as a cosmic teaching tool for schools, but is fully portable and can be used anywhere including parks and festivals.
Based at Broadway Gardens, the planetarium will include public shows with Hertfordshire astronomers and will run on the hour from 12:00 to 19:00.
Dr Mark Gallaway from the School of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics, external at the university, said: "The planetarium is an excellent and exciting way to explore the solar system and beyond.
"Rather than people having to visit the observatory, we can now bring the solar system and galaxy to them."
Police want to trace a man who was reported to have been injured in a street fight in North Weald last night.
Witnesses believe a stun gun was used during a fight involving a group of men on High Road shortly after 23:30.
Police said the victim has not been found and they were "concerned for his welfare".
The suspects left in a black Ford Fiesta which they abandoned on Tumbler Road in Harlow at about 23:45.
Two men from Welwyn Garden City, aged 18 and 24, have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, with the older one also questioned on suspicion of failing to stop and drink-driving.
Officers believe the gun incident is connected to a disturbance earlier that evening near the King's Head pub in North Weald which happened at about 22:20.
Bedfordshire Police has issued a statement following the death of its former chief constable, Alf Hitchcock, this morning.
A spokesman said: "Alf was a hugely popular chief constable throughout the force, across partnerships, and many organisations that he became involved with across Bedfordshire.
"We are liaising closely with the Ministry of Defence Police where Alf was serving as the chief constable, and our condolences and thoughts are very much with his wife and their two daughters.
"Our force flags are being flown at half-mast as a mark of respect, and a book of condolence will be opened in due course."
Eighty six years ago this month, a photographer captured two parachutists standing on the wings of an RAF Vickers Vimy at Henlow Air Pageant in Bedfordshire.
Image source, Getty ImagesNic Rigby
BBC News
The former chief constable of Bedfordshire Police - Alf Hitchcock - has died, it has been announced.
Image source, South Beds News AgencyMr Hitchcock, who served in Bedfordshire from 2011 until 2013 when he became chief constable of the Ministry of Defence Police, "passed away this morning following a short illness", said the MoD.
Mr Hitchcock was made a CBE in the New Year Honours list for services to policing.
He had also served at the Metropolitan Police, the Lancashire force and for the National Policing Improvement Agency. He was in his late 50s.
Fifty eight years ago this month Whipsnade Zoo worker Jennifer Foyle was photographed releasing a baby Chinese Water Deer that had to be hand-reared after its mother deserted it.
Image source, Getty ImagesSunderland will travel to Bury in the EFL Cup first round following their relegation from the Premier League.
Read MoreNic Rigby
BBC News
Welwyn Garden City-based Tesco has today been ordered to pay more than £8m in fines and costs after pleading guilty at Preston Crown Court to a pollution incident.
Between 2 and 3 July 2014 approximately 23,500 litres (5,169 gallons) of petrol escaped from a station filling tank in Haslingden, Lancashire.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Environment Agency's joint investigation with partners found the incident resulted from Tesco's failure to address a known issue with part of the fuel delivery system. There was also an inadequate alarm system and poor emergency procedures, the agency said.
A Tesco spokesperson said: "We sincerely regret the fuel spillage incident at our petrol station in Haslingden and we're sorry for the impact it had on the local environment, our customers and the community.
"This was a deeply unfortunate isolated incident and one for which we have taken full responsibility.
"Following the incident, we have inspected all relevant petrol stations, introduced a new real-time monitoring system and made a number of further improvements to protect against similar incidents happening again."
Nic Rigby
BBC News
Two men have been stabbed in the Matalan car park in Bletchley.
Thames Valley Police was called to the attack on Watling Street shortly after midnight.
Image source, GoogleTwo men, both in their 20s, suffered facial injuries and were taken to hospital by ambulance.
They have since been discharged. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, said police.
No arrests have yet been made.
The draw for the first-round of the EFL Cup has just been made.
MK Dons will travel to newly-promoted League Two club Forest Green Rovers, while Stevenage go to Championship side Millwall - who won the League One play-off final last month.
Elsewhere, Luton Town will host Championship side Ipswich.
The ties will be played in the week beginning Monday, 7 August.
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Nic Rigby
BBC News
A 21-year-old man appeared at St Albans Crown Court today accused of the murder of teenager Koy Bentley in Watford.
Abdi Ali, 21, of Boundfield Road in Lewisham, has also been charged with perverting the course of justice and conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
Image source, Hertfordshire PoliceHe was remanded in custody by Judge Andrew Bright QC.
Koy Bentley (pictured), who was 15, died from a fatal stab wound to the chest inside a flat on Water Lane, Watford, on 5 June.
On Wednesday a 15-year-old boy from Willesden, north London, who was earlier charged with Koy's murder, was also remanded in custody when he appeared at the crown court.
A plea hearing has been set for 13 July. A trial date was set for 13 November with a two to three week estimate.
A 24-year-old man from Greenwich, who was arrested on suspicion of murder, has been bailed until 4 July.
Nic Rigby
BBC News
A campaign to convert a double-decker bus used by pop royalty into a shelter for homeless people in Milton Keynes is launching a campaign to raise £20,000.
The Bus Shelter MK, external, which has 16 bunks, was previously used on tours by stars including Robbie Williams and Rod Stewart.
Image source, The Bus Shelter MKThe charity has already raised £10,000 to purchase the former band bus and Bus Shelter MK must now find an additional £20,000 to complete the project and welcome their first residents.
Thomas Davis (pictured), who started the project, said: "Sleep is just the beginning.
"All that many homeless people want is a chance to turn their life around and build a better future.
Image source, The Bus Shelter MK"It's hard to find a job when you don't have the right advice, professional support or even a postal address - the Bus Shelter MK will provide all of this."
The bus will provide a warm and safe place for people to sleep that will be open every day of the year.
A separate bathroom and laundry unit will be parked alongside and residents will be given a mailing address so they can access medical services and apply for work.
Nic Rigby
BBC News
A woman has died after her car hit a van and a lorry on the A1 near Borehamwood.
The crash happened on the northbound carriageway just before 11:10 on Wednesday.
Police said a Ford KA struck a Mercedes Sprinter van and a Daf 44-tonne lorry, both of which were parked in a layby south of Rowley Lane.
The driver of the KA, a woman in her 40s, suffered serious injuries and was taken to St George's Hospital in London for treatment, but died later that day.
The driver of the van suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment. The lorry driver was unhurt.
The northbound carriageway remained shut for almost five hours to allow the emergency services to investigate the circumstances.
PC Jackie Lister said: "I am appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision, or the events leading up to it, to please contact me."
Georgina Burnett
BBC Weather
Today will be sunny across the BBC East region with temperatures reaching 21C (70F), although it will feel cooler on the coast.
There will also be high pollen and UV levels.
It's be followed by another warm night with temperatures dipping to 16C (61F).
For a fuller forecast where you are, visit BBC Weather.
Adam Jinkerson
BBC Local Live
Welcome back to live updates for Beds, Herts and Bucks on Friday, 16 June.
We'll be here until 18:00 keeping you up-to-date with the latest news, sport, weather and travel.
It looks like it could be scorchio today.
A full forecast for the day is on the way shortly.
You can get in touch by email, Twitter, external and Facebook, external.
Our regular updates have finished for the day, but we will resume at 08:00 on Friday.
Scroll down for today coverage, which has included: