Stuart Bailey
BBC News

Hertfordshire Council Council is giving its care workers a pay rise and other benefits to try and make it easier to recruit and retain staff.

The authority says it's the first in the country to use the government's extra social care funding in this way.

It was given an extra £30m and, as well as increasing wages by 71p an hour, it will also pay for care workers' travel time, sickness and holiday pay.

A spokesman said: "In Hertfordshire we need to recruit 2,000 extra care staff each year, mostly to provide care for people in their own homes, just to keep pace with increasing demand for care services.

"We're tackling this issue head on by championing social care and demonstrating our commitment to offer the best deal for care staff."

Look East reporter Kate Bradbrook has been meeting some of the people in Hertfordshire who rely on care workers. You can see her report at 18:30 on BBC 1.

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

An extra ‘e’ seems to have found its way on to a road sign in Bedford.

Local resident Rachael Rogan spotted the mistake when a new sign was put up outside a wine shop in the centre of town.

The road is called St Cuthbert’s Street and depending on which side of the road you stand on, one comes with an extra letter, but both without an apostrophe!

It’s caused much merriment on social media, with several comments including:

“you had one job”.

"Unbelievable, what a shocking waste of money."

"Think they may have popped into the wine shop first!”

"Have they gone for some kind of saxon spelling?"

Image source, James Pharaoh

James Pharaoh, the Bedford Fringe director, decided to correct the sign by covering the e up, but only for a short time, as the extra e is now back in full view.

We've contacted Bedford Borough Council for a comment but are yet to hear back.

Image source, Rachael Rogan

BBC Weather

Staying hot and dry with sunny spells this afternoon.

There is the chance of a heavy shower this evening, though most places should stay dry.

A top temperature of 29C (84F).

BBC Weather has the forecast for where you live.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

As the mercury rose across the region during the weekend the East of England Ambulance Service, external was inundated.

Staff received more than 7,200 emergency calls and patients experiencing falls, which were believed to be heat-related, were up 35%.

Image source, East of England Ambulance Trust

Two men were treated after collapsing at a triathlon event in Waveney on Sunday and sent crews to Church Lane in Fritton.

A man in his 30s and a man in his 50s were reported to have collapsed. They were treated at the scene before being taken to James Paget University Hospital for further care. Both were described as being in a stable condition.

The ambulance service received 21 further calls on Sunday relating to heat exposure, including incidents in Westcliff-on-Sea, Maldon, Hemel Hempstead, Wroxham, Cambridge, Norwich and Thetford.

"Our advice to people is to keep out of the sun during the hottest part of the day, wear sunscreen if you are going outdoors and keep hydrated," a spokesman said.

The ambulance service, which covers Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, said that Saturday was its busiest day of the year so far.

Police are appealing for help to find a missing woman from Old Stratford in South Northamptonshire.

Geraldine Turner, 74, was last seen in Willow Grove, Old Stratford, at about 06:00 this morning. Police say they are growing concerned for her welfare.

Image source, Northamptonshire Police

Ms Turner was last seen on foot, heading in the direction of Deanshanger.

She was wearing blue or brown three-quarter length trousers, grey shoes and had a heavy black and white checked overcoat with her, which she may have been carrying.

Anyone who sees Mrs Turner is asked to call Northamptonshire Police on 101.

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

The Luton Council of Faiths, a group representing Luton’s different faiths and cultures, says it is "deeply shocked" by the attack at a north London mosque.

Image source, Reuters

It said: "We strongly condemn such vile, revengeful, barbaric and cowardly act which is fuelled by hate.

"Targeting people because of their faith is a betrayal of British values of tolerance, respect and kindness which is the foundational base of our society.

"We need to nurture values and good character in our communities to combat extremism while staying vigilant."

Meanwhile, Bedfordshire Police says it will be putting on more high visible patrols in key sites following the attack.

More dedicated patrols will also be deployed at faith and community locations.

A deer spotted roaming around the grounds of a school in Hemel Hempstead has been caught on camera.

BBC Weather Watchers

Our BBC Weather Watchers have been out and about enjoying the sunshine.

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

The hunt's on for a deer which was spotted roaming around the grounds of Nash Mills Primary School in Hemel Hempstead this morning.

Teachers ushered children into the building as they arrived for lessons, and the RSPCA was called but the stag disappeared.

Its whereabouts is now unknown.

Image source, Google

Head teacher Rosie Washford-Mower said the animal appeared to be a stag and tracking it down was the main priority.

"We need to determine whether it's still on site, which is quite difficult given they're very good at camouflage," she said.

"But we will make sure there is a resolution to this as soon as possible for the children's sake. That's my prime concern."

We'll have some video of the animal shortly, but until then, here's a generic image of a stag...

Image source, Getty Images

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Train services on the London line from towns and cities across the region have been reduced to one per hour in each direction.

Kerry Worrall from Greater Anglia, external told the BBC the move was necessary because trains had to run slowly to protect equipment.

Image source, Google

"Network Rail put these restrictions in place when high temperatures are expected," she said.

"As trains go over the rails at high speed they can apply great pressure that could cause the metal to buckle.

"There is also the problem of overhead wires sagging.

"To run trains more slowly means that the railway infrastructure is protected better."

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

A derelict house in Luton has been badly damaged by fire.

Crews from Luton, Toddington and Dunstable were called to the property on Crawley Green Road just after 20:00 last night. It took about two hours to put out.

An investigation has begun into what caused the fire.

Image source, Bedfordshire Fire Service

Image source, Bedfordshire Fire Service

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

There have been some delays and cancellations on rail services in and out of London all morning.

Network Rail apologised, saying it's down to overrunning weekend engineering work on the line between St Albans and the capital.

Thameslink had said it expected things to return to normal by 09:00, but now says the disruption will continue until at least midday.

Image source, PA

So, if you're due to travel by train this morning, best check the National Rail website, external first.

With rail services facing disruption as the mercury rises, Network Rail explains why a heatwave can affect train travel.

It's all to do with the metal rail lines expanding in the heat, creating a risk of buckling.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Extra staff were called in to work over the weekend as the East of England Ambulance Service struggled to cope with the volume of 999 calls caused by people reacting badly to the heat.

The hot weather, where temperatures reached 32C (95F) in places, was the major factor in a huge boost to emergency calls, an ambulance service spokesman said.

Emergency calls came from many people who had collapsed in the heat, were dehydrated and were elderly or struggling to cope.

The ambulance service, which covers Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, said that Saturday was its busiest day of the year so far.

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

Bedfordshire's police and crime commissioner has said the county's police force had to deal with "unprecedented levels of demand" on Saturday.

Kathryn Holloway said police received almost double the expected number of 999 calls, but that many were not for emergencies.

She's urged people to think carefully before they call.

Caroline Kingdon
BBC Local Live

The former boyfriend of a mother-of-two is to be sentenced for her murder today.

It took jurors at Norwich Crown Court less than an hour last Thursday to find Joe Storey guilty of murdering Kerri McAuley.

Ms McAuley was found dead at her home in Southalls Way, Norwich on 8 January. The court heard how 27-year-old Storey, of Murrells Court, Norwich, was high on cocaine when he punched his on-off partner.

Storey was due to be sentenced on Friday, but it's understood he told staff at Bedford Prison he did not need to attend court for the hearing.

Image source, Norfolk police

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

A 23-year-old man has been arrested by police in Aylesbury on suspicion of rape after an incident near St Mary's churchyard in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Police were called to Pebble Lane at about 02:30 after reports that a woman in her 20s had been attacked.

Image source, Google

Det SgtSimon Johnson, from Thames Valley Police, said; "As a result of this incident there will be an increase police presence whilst investigation continues.

"We are asking any members of the public who might have been in the Kingsbury Square, or St Mary’s church yard areas close to Pebble Lane and have seen this incident or anything relating to a sexual incident or assault involving a male and female to come forward."

Kate Kinsella
BBC Weather

Another fine and dry day, with long spells of sunshine.

There's a slim chance of a few showers later in parts of Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire, possibly with thunder.

Winds are light, and UV levels and pollen counts are high.

Temperatures hitting 31C (88F) - but cooler in coastal areas.

BBC Weather has a more localised forecast for where you live.

Stuart Bailey
BBC News

Good morning and welcome to another week of live updates for Beds, Herts and Bucks.

We'll be here from now until 18:00 with the very latest news, sport, weather and travel.

There’ll be a full weather forecast shortly but this early morning BBC Weather Watchers picture probably says it all!

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

A judge said the woman's driving was "so appalling it was a miracle" nobody was killed.