Tony Fisher
BBC Three Counties Radio

Hemel Hempstead MP and former firefighter Mike Penning has said residents of the 22-storey KD Tower in the town need some official reassurance that the building is safe.

Image source, Google

Earlier we told you that the owner had written to residents reassuring them about fire safety, but the council said it couldn't vouch for the building's safety because the developer had used a private building control inspector.

Mr Penning said: "I think if you say there is a contractor out there that can say this is safe, or the fire service and the local authority can say it's safe, what would [you] prefer to have?

"I think that's where we need to be."

Tony Fisher
BBC Three Counties Radio

The owner of the 22-storey KD Tower - known as the Kodak building - in Hemel Hempstead has written to residents, and those in surrounding buildings, reassuring them over any fire safety concerns in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

The building was struck by lightning last week during storms.

Image source, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service

But Dacorum Borough Council has said it cannot vouch for the safety of the buildings, as the developer decided to use a private building control inspector.

The authority said that the owner is seeking advice on the cladding from the developer.

One resident said that even though the building was privately owned he would like the council and the fire service to step in.

"I want to be sure that I'm safe where I live, where I have my family," he said.

"I want it to be 100% safe, however long it takes."

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We earlier reported that the building is owned by Dandara. We have since learned this is no longer the case and are trying to locate the current owner

Dan Roan
BBC Sports editor

Milton Keynes-based Badminton England is among 11 sports joining forces to demand an overhaul in Olympic funding.

In an unprecedented challenge to elite performance funding agency UK Sport, the groups have joined forces to call for an urgent review of what they call "a two-class system that runs counter to Olympic ideals".

National Lottery money is currently allocated on the basis of medal potential, helping to transform the country's sporting fortunes.

The 11 sports - which include Archery GB, British Basketball, British Weightlifting, Badminton England, GB Wheelchair Rugby and Table Tennis England - were all left without funding when UK Sport announced its £345m plan in December.

This was despite one of them, badminton, meeting its medal target at Rio 2016 and sports such as table tennis and weightlifting showing signs of progress.

Badminton England has laid off staff at its Loughton-base after losing all of its £5.7m funding, which chief executive Adrian Christy has described as "being thrown under a bus".

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Yesterday we brought you the news that supermarket giant Tesco was to cut 1,200 jobs at its Hertfordshire head office as part of a major cost-cutting drive.

Image source, Getty Images

The decision is likely to affect a quarter of its staff in Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield.

Welwyn Hatfield Council has now said it will meet with Tesco management by the end of the week over the decision.

Deputy leader of the council, Conservative Mandy Perkins, said: "Obviously businesses have to make business-based decisions but we're obviously bitterly disappointed by the news.

"We will be working closely with Tesco over the coming weeks to find out how we can best support staff at this obviously very unsettling time."

Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather

If you were hoping for some sunshine today, you're going to be disappointed.

It's going to be another overcast day with lots of grey cloud, and always a risk of drizzle.

The air is still humid so it'll feel sticky without the temperatures being too high.

Highs of 19C (66F).

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Good morning and welcome to our feed of regular updates for Beds, Herts and Bucks. We'll be here from now until 18:00, rounding off the week with the very latest news, sport, weather and travel.

Speaking of weather, it's looking pretty grey outside this morning but a full regional weather forecast is coming up shortly.

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

Southern says by revising its timetable it will offer a more reliable service.

She was found with a life threatening infection and nails so long that she was unable to walk.

Jane Killick
BBC Three Counties Radio

Thanks for joining us on Local Live for Beds, Herts and Bucks today. We'll be back in the morning with more updates from 08:00.

Scroll down to see what's been going on in the three counties today.

Have a good evening, and we look forward to seeing you again soon.

Morecambe re-sign veteran forward Garry Thompson on a one-year deal after his release by Wycombe.

Myles Weston (top) is to leave Wycombe Wanderers to play for Ebbsfleet, after making a request to be closer to his family.

He came to Adams Park last summer and, after suffering injury early in the season, went on to make 26 appearances for the Chairboys and scored three times.

Image source, Getty Images

Manager Gareth Ainsworth said: "Myles came to me and was very honest in saying that the long drive around London each day was taking its toll and he needed to have the opportunity to spend more time with his partner and his two young children."

The train company that runs services from Bedford, Luton and St Albans, among others, has announced a further consultation , externalover proposals which, it says, will result in "faster, easier, more seamless journeys into and across central London".

Govia Thameslink has been involved in a long-running dispute over the role of guards on trains on Southern Rail, which has led to complaints from passengers about disruption.

Image source, Govia Thameslink

It says it will be expanding the cross-London Thameslink network and simplifying timetables.

There will be new trains, new rail routes and updated working practices to "future-proof" Southern, Gatwick Express, Thameslink and Great Northern services "where passenger numbers, in some places, have doubled in just 12 years".

The new routes through London include: Luton to the Kent Medway Towns; Little Hampton to Bedford; and East Grinstead to Bedford.

Tony Fisher
BBC Three Counties Radio

Cladding on a block of flats in Bletchley, which was damaged by a fire in May, has been sent for testing, as the safety of materials used on tower blocks comes under increased scrutiny following the Grenfell Tower blaze.

A discarded cigarette, probably thrown out of a window at Stephenson House, was blown into a gap behind the cladding where it joined others and started a fire , externalon 6 May.

Bucks Fire and Rescue had already issued a fire enforcement notice on the building and the management company says it's spent £30,000 complying with the conditions.

Image source, Kim Ashmore

But residents at Stephenson House have told the BBC they remain concerned for their safety. Worries include the block not having sprinklers, emergency lighting or reliable fire alarms.

Bucks Fire says the key issue of the enforcement notice was the fire alarm system, which has now been improved.

"The original system was working adequately and the safety of residents was always maintained, but the updated system reduces the number of false alarms and gives residents more confidence in the system when it does activate," a spokesman said.

"Had the fire inspectors had serious concerns for the fire safety of residents, there was the option to prohibit use of the building. This was not deemed necessary as the occupants were assessed as being safe during the remedial actions."

The Stephenson House Management Company says delays in complying with the fire enforcement notice were caused by not being able to get into three flats, which they will be able to do next week.

"We have spent £30,000 complying with the enforcement notice since July last year and we have an extension until the end of July to complete the works," it said.

"We have instructed fire testing of the cladding. We have also instructed an IFTO safety officer to carry out a full fire risk assessment for the building."

Northern Ireland defender Craig Cathcart pens a new four-year contract with Premier League side Watford.

A woman was knocked over in the village of Maulden last night by a 4x4 which failed to stop.

She was taken to hospital with "very serious injuries" after the collision about 22:00 on Snow Hill.

Her condition was described as "critical".

Image source, Google

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

National League side Ebbsfleet United sign Wycombe Wanderers winger Myles Weston on a free transfer.

Nearly 12 years after a massive explosion at a petrol storage depot in Hemel Hempstead, plans to store more fuel at the site have angered the local MP.

Miraculously, no-one was killed in the blast and subsequent fire which occurred early one Sunday morning in 2005, when few people were around the Buncefield depot on the Maylands Industrial Estate.

Owners BP now want to increase the amount of petrol on the site and are holding two events on Saturday 1 July to inform locals. They're at Woodhall Farm Community Centre and Leverstock Green Village Hall, between 10:00 and 12:00.

Image source, Getty Images

But Hemel Hempstead's Conservative MP Mike Penning, who met with BP officials this week, is condemning the proposals.

"I told them in no uncertain terms that I categorically do not support increased storage of petrol at Buncefield," he said.

"It was petrol vapours that caused the explosion back in 2005. They promised me then that they would not increase petrol storage."

Union officials are expressing concern following an announcement to staff at Tesco head offices in Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield that 25% of jobs are being axed.

Pauline Foulkes, national officer at shop workers' union Usdaw, said: "Tesco's head office staff are understandably very concerned that the company is proposing further large-scale job losses.

"Our priorities are to keep as many staff as possible in employment and to get the best possible deal for our members."

You can read the full BBC report on this story, here.

Image source, Getty Images

League One side Peterborough United sign Luton striker Jack Marriott for a 'substantial fee' on four-year deal.

We told you earlier how Bedford Borough Council tweeted that Mill Street in Bedford was closed after a suspected gas leak. We've now found out it's part of scheduled roadworks.

Cadant, external, which looks after the gas network in Britain, told us: "We are carrying out planned work to reinforce the local gas mains network. This work is scheduled to take place between 28 June and 3 July.

"The work is taking place at the junction with Gadsby Street and a road closure is in place to enable the work to be carried out safely and efficiently.

"We're sorry for any inconvenience this essential work may cause, but the work must be done to help ensure safe and reliable gas supplies."