Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

The world's longest aircraft is ready to move into the second phase of test-flying, its developers have revealed.

Image source, Hybrid Air Vehicles

Hybrid Air Vehicles said it had received a letter from its regulators, the European Aviation Safety Agency, external (EASA), to say its Airlander 10 - a combination of a plane and an airship - can move into the phase known as Airworthiness Release 2a.

A spokesman said: "Having our regulator validate the data from our test flights and agree that we are safe to fly in a wider range of conditions is an important moment in our Airlander journey.

"Airworthiness Release 2a permits us to fly higher (up to 7,000 feet), faster (up to 50 knots) and further away from our airfield (up to 75 nautical miles away), but most crucially allows us to undertake display and demonstration activity.

"We are therefore now ready to run customer trials and demonstrations."

The Airlander has now returned to its hangar in its base at Cardington Airfield, for some upgrades, maintenance and repairs in preparation for this next phase.

Baldock Town say Alfie Barker deserves another chance after being banned for a tweet sent to Bournemouth's Harry Arter.

The M1 motorway has fully reopened after a "suspicious object" was found under a bridge - forcing an extensive closure.

The object, which Thames Valley Police says, external contained a "highly corrosive material," was discovered on the hard shoulder at 07:30 yesterday and leaked across two lanes.

Shortly after the road was closed both ways leaving hundreds of motorists stranded while emergency services and a bomb disposal team attended the scene.

The northbound carriageway reopened at 17:00, but the southbound side was not back in action until 22:30.

Police say the substance has now been cleared and added there was no evidence of a "terrorist-related incident".

Kris Holland
BBC News

Welcome back to live updates for Beds, Herts and Bucks on Wednesday, 20 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.

Luigi Basile, 48, died while he was in Stevenage custody suite last week after being arrested.

Phil Shepka
BBC News

As the clear up process is under way, we're calling it a day for our live coverage of the M1 closure.

To keep abreast of any updates keep checking our main news story, which will be updated regularly through the evening.

Thanks very much for being with us throughout the day.

Today's closure on the M1 has been one of the key stories in many papers - these are some of the headlines:

• The Northampton Chronicle & Echo reported a 'bin-liner' on the M1 not 'explosive', external
• The MK Citizen tells the story of the Olney B&B owner donating food to help stranded motorway drivers, external
• The Guardian reports no explosive element found in suspicious package, external
• And The Sun said bomb robot brought in for M1 suspect package, external

Phil Shepka
BBC News

While the M1's northbound carriageway has been reopened, the southbound between junctions 14 and 15 remains closed for now.

There is a diversion in place from Highways England for those travelling southbound, via the A508.

For the full diversion, check the Highways England website., external

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

Ch Insp Mark Lewis of the Joint Roads Policing Unit has apologies for the inconvenience caused to motorists today, but "your safety, and the safety of our officers and the staff of our partner agencies, is paramount.

"We thank the public for their continued cooperation and patience."

He added that: "Motorists are advised to avoid the area" as "the force and Highways England continue to divert motorists away from the scene."

John Howes was found not guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to a teenage scooter rider.

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

Despite the length of time motorists were held up - and the severity of the emergency from the police and fire service regarding the package involved - there were no reports of medical emergencies during today's M1 closure.

Officers from Thames Valley Police revealed this afternoon that the suspicious package contained a chemical, rather than any explosive device.

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

Image source, South Beds News Agency

If you're just joining us our main story today has been the misery on the M1 for hundreds of drivers travelling through Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire.

The 11 mile (18km) stretch between junctions 15 at Northampton and 14 at Milton Keynes was shut both ways at 07:30. The northbound carriageway reopened just after 1600.

Here's how the day unfolded:

• A "suspicious object" was found underneath a bridge on the motorway at about 07:30
• By 08:30 the road was closed in both directions

• A queue of traffic built up stretching more than six kilometres (nearly four miles)
• The bomb disposal unit arrived on the scene at about 11:30
• Road traffic police begin the task of releasing traffic from the queue by organising u-turns
• Diversions put in place via the A5/A508 with London traffic told to use M40
• Some motorists reveal they've been stuck for more than eight hours
• 15:45 Twitter users report that police are intending to cut through the central reservation
• 15:50 "Suspicious package" revealed to be non-explosive - but chemical in nature
• By 16:00 the traffic begins to move and cars are cleared
• 16:10 the northbound carriageway of the M1 is reopened

It's the moment drivers have been waiting for:

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

Highways England, external is still advising motorists to avoid the stretch of the M1 between junctions 14 and 15 for the time being.

Here's a summary of the diversions in place:

• Northbound traffic - follow the Hollow Diamond symbol - diversion via the A509 Portway to the junction with the A5/A508 Old Stratford roundabout
• Southbound traffic - follow the Hollow Circle symbol - from junction 15 take the A508 through Roade and Grafton Regis towards the A508/A5 Old Stratford roundabout
• All traffic travelling between London and the Midlands is advised to use the M40

Sam Read
BBC Look East

What a difference in the space of an hour.

The traffic on the M1 is finally on the move, after more than six hours.

From what I can see all cars have been cleared and police have started moving on the lorries.

Cars were guided to make u-turns.

The road has not reopened - but it is clearing - and one carriageway remains completely empty.

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

The closure of the M1 between junctions 15 and 14 is causing a major headache for the motorists caught in the standstill.

There's a community spirit with motorists helping each other out... while others are using the time to get creative with their social posts.

And this from the former England cricketer, James Taylor:

The CEO of Keech Hospice, Liz Searle - tweeted this earlier:

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

Thames Valley Police has just confirmed the "suspicious object" found this morning on the M1 has "no explosive element" but they can say it's some sort of chemical material.

Here's their statement:

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

According to tweets by Coventry councillor Tim Mayer, crews are on their way to cut the central reservation.

It will allow motorists to leave the motorway.

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

A spokesman for Highways England, external says the amount of traffic trapped in the M1 closure was "down to about three or four kilometres" from a previous high of six kilometres.

They could not comment on the details of the "suspicious object" discovered under the bridge which has closed the motorway between junctions 15 and 14.

Hundreds of motorists have been stuck in the queue since 08:30. We'll bring you more details once we have them.

Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live

We've just spoken to Thames Valley Police who say it is unable to give us an update regarding the situation on the M1.

A spokesperson said they are awaiting more information from officers at the scene, and would update their website, external once they have a response.