Updates on Friday, 22 September 2017
Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live
Welcome back to live updates for Beds, Herts and Bucks where we'll be here until 18:00 keeping you up-to-date with the latest news, sport, weather and travel as it happens.
As always, if you want to get in touch you can by email, Facebook, external or Twitter, external.
Graeme Philpot left his BMW with Drivefly when flying from Luton Airport on 30 August.
Read More
Kris Holland
BBC News
That's it for Thursday's live updates for Beds, Herts and Bucks. Scroll down the feed to look back at any stories you may have missed.
We'll resume our live updates at 08:00 tomorrow, but any breaking news stories will appear here in the meantime.
Have a good evening.
Kate Scotter
BBC News
A pony called Chit Chat will have a lot more to talk about after coming a cropper in a muddy pond.
He got stuck in the mud in Weir Lane in Whitchurch, Buckinghamshire, at about 08:30.
Image source, Bucks Fire and RescueChit Chat had to be pulled to safety by two fire crews and the animal rescue unit from Aylesbury.
Image source, Bucks Fire and Rescue
Image source, Bucks Fire and RescueLuckily, his rescuers said a very muddy Chit Chit was unharmed after the ordeal and was taken safely back to his stable.
Image source, Bucks Fire and RescueAfterwards, Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service took to Twitter to thank the vet, owner and local farmers for helping save Chit Chat.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Here's a look at what else is making the news around Beds, Herts and Bucks today:
The building will take between two and three weeks to be demolished, the county council says.
Read MoreThe Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Police Dog Unit are asking members of the public to become 'puppy fosterers'.
The force says it is looking for temporary homes, external for dogs as young as eight to 10 weeks old to live in until they are ready to begin training, at which point they would live with their handler.
Although the roles are voluntary, officers say they would provide "essential supplies" such as food, veterinary treatment and a crate.
The dog training team will also work with successful applicants on implementing a training plan for the puppies.
Image source, Bedfordshire PoliceA rare species of bat found in the Bishop's Stortford area will be protected as part of ongoing work to build a new bypass on the A120, Hertfordshire County Council say.
The Bat Conservation Trust estimate that there only 5,000 barbastelle bats,, external which are characterised by pug-shaped noses, in the United Kingdom
Specialist radio tracking surveys have been carried out to understand the behaviour of the bats, with mitigation measures designed to keep the bats away from the proposed new road incorporated into construction plans.
Image source, FLPA / AlamyLuke Casey, who has been tracking the bats and undertaking ecology surveys on behalf of the county council, said: “This is a great example of the county council, the environment agency, ecologists and a local wildlife group working in harmony to protect a rare species of bat that could otherwise have become extinct in Hertfordshire.
"The changes to the design of the bypass such as specially designed lighting, extensive hedgerow planting and a new underpass will ensure that the bats continue to thrive in their natural habitat here.”
Kris Holland
BBC News
Welcome back to live updates for Beds, Herts and Bucks on Thursday, 21 September.
We'll be here until 18:00 keeping you up-to-date with the latest news, sport, weather and travel as it happens.
As always, if you want to get in touch you can by email, Facebook, external or Twitter, external.
Kris Holland
BBC News
That's it for Wednesday's live updates for Beds, Herts and Bucks. Scroll down the feed to look back at any stories you may have missed.
We'll resume our live updates at 08:00 tomorrow, but any breaking news stories will appear here in the meantime.
Have a good evening.
Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather
This evening will stay mainly dry with clear intervals. It will turn cloudier later in the night with some light rain or drizzle.
Light winds and lows of 11C (52F).
It will be a fine and dry start to Thursday, with outbreaks of rain later.
Light to moderate winds and highs of 21C (70F).
BBC Weather has more.
Watford defender Sebastian Prodl signs a new four-year contract with the Premier League club.
Read More
Image source, Bedfordshire PoliceDetectives investigating the death of a woman in Houghton Regis have renewed their appeal for witnesses - and carried out patrols in the area.
The body of 45-year-old mother-of-two Sharon Fade was found in undergrowth at Long Meadow near her home on 12 September.
She was last seen three days before.
Det Insp Dani Bailey of Bedfordshire Police, said: "It's now been just over a week since the body of Sharon Fade was found.
"While investigations are ongoing, we are still keen to speak to anyone who has any information about her recent movements, or who saw her recently."
A 49-year-old man who was questioned by police has been released on bail.
Image source, SBNA
BBC Sport
Sebastian Prodl has agreed a new four-year contract with Watford, external.
The 30-year-old Austrian centre-back picked up the club's player of the season award for 2016-17 and has featured twice so far this campaign.
Image source, Getty ImagesTwo sisters have completed a swim across the English Channel to remember their younger sister who died of a heart attack.
Read MoreAirlander 10 returns to its hangar for upgrades before entering its next phase of testing.
Read MoreThe black bin bag held a container which had a "highly corrosive" substance inside, police say.
Read MoreHere's a look at what else is making the news today in Beds, Herts and Bucks:
Many of the photos of Freddie Mercury and the group have never been seen by the public before.
Read More
Ben Parker
BBC Suffolk sport
Suffolk won a thrilling encounter against Buckinghamshire yesterday at the golf Women's County Finals being held at Felixstowe Ferry.
Image source, Leaderboard PhotographyThe home side came out 5-4 winners after Amanda Norman managed a birdie on the 17th to clinch it.
Suffolk are currently out on the course against Yorkshire in their third match of the event.