Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

This news East of England MEP Richard Howitt is standing down will come as a big blow to Labour supporters in the East.

For many years Richard Howitt has been the face of Labour in the region, the linchpin who held the party together after the the disastrous election defeat of 2010, the politician who could always be relied on to turn up at a local branch fundraiser.

But what will also come as a blow will be the fact that he has chosen to leave politics now. 

As an MEP, he knows he will lose his job when we leave the EU in a few years time, but for now there is still a job to be done in Brussels arguing for the UK's interests as Brexit negotiations get under way and the party would more than likely have rewarded his hard work with another job back in Britain.

Friends tell me that Jeremy Corbyn's leadership of Labour has been a factor in today's decision: he worries for the future of the party he loves and he fears Labour will be unelectable for some time to come.

But he also feels that as a British MEP he is starting to lose his influence, he's in his mid-50s and wants another career challenge before retiring.

There are many reasons for his decision, but there's no denying that for Labour in the East this is a big loss.

Luton Town hammered Wycombe Wanderers 4-1 in the League Two local derby on Saturday.

Danny Hylton netted a hat-trick at Kenilworth Road, helping the Hatters storm to the top of the table...

Image source, Getty Images

But it could have been more than four. During the match, Jordan Cook (pictured) was brought down by Stephen McGinn to win a penalty, which was easily saved by Jamal Blackman...  

Image source, Getty Images

Meanwhile, Matt Bloomfield scored Wycombe's only goal in the game...

Image source, Getty Images

BBC One

...and who was champion long-jumper Greg Rutherford paired with for his dancing stint?

Australian dancer Natalie Lowe, who has been gracing the Strictly dancefloor since 2009. They both seem very pleased about it!

Roll on Saturday when we get to see more.

BBC One

It's a miserable Monday morning out there, so let's brighten it up a bit with some glitz and glam...

Strictly Come Dancing was back on our screens on Saturday evening with Woburn Sands' very own Olympian Greg Rutherford.

But what is he most looking forward to and how will he cope with the glitter and sequins?

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at Monza

Nico Rosberg cut Lewis Hamilton's championship lead to just two points with victory in the Italian Grand Prix.

Stevenage's Hamilton, who took pole position in a scintillating performance on Saturday, dropped to sixth at the first corner after a dreadful start.

Image source, Getty Images

The world champion fought back to second and despite closing on Rosberg, he could not challenge for the win.

Hamilton told his Brackley-based Mercedes team the poor start was his own fault.

A teenager who escaped police custody in Hatfield has handed himself in.

The 17-year-old boy escaped on August Bank Holiday Monday after being arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle.

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

A senior Labour MEP has announced plans to stand down from the European Parliament, external later this year.

East of England Euro-MP Richard Howitt, who has been in the European Parliament for 22 years, said he is to become chief executive of the International Integrated Reporting Council, external (IIRC), which links companies with society, the environment and the wider economy.

Mr Howitt, as well as being the senior serving MEP for the East of England, is also the Labour spokesman on foreign affairs in the European Parliament.

He is also the Socialist and Democrat Group Human Rights spokesperson, the European Parliament Rapporteur on corporate social responsibility and the president of the All-Party Disability Rights Group, external of MEPs.

Lee Agnew
BBC Three Counties Radio

Firefighters have put out a blaze in Buckinghamshire caused by someone setting a wasps' nest alight. 

The burning nest caused the porch roof at a house in Iver Heath to catch fire yesterday. 

No injuries were reported. A spokesman for the county's fire service said tackling nests in this way was "never a safe or effective method".

A controlled explosion has been carried out in the Bedfordshire village of Turvey. 

Image source, Google

Police were called after an object, believed to be a device from World War Two, was found in a garden along Newton Lane at about 15:45 yesterday.

Houses in the area were evacuated while the explosion took place just before 19:00.

Georgina Burnett
BBC Weather

Any early mist and fog patches will lift during the morning. However, it is likely to stay rather dull and cloudy for many. 

A few cloud breaks are possible later which will bring spells of warm sunshine for some of us, with a high of 21C (70F).

Here's my full forecast...

There are more details on the BBC Weather website.

Dani Bailey
BBC Local Live

Good morning and welcome to today's live page for all things Beds, Herts and Bucks.

It's a rather damp day out there, so if you're heading off to work or school I'd advise taking a waterproof and/or brolly. We'll have the full weather forecast for you shortly.

We'll also bring you details soon of a controlled explosion carried out in the Bedfordshire village of Turvey last night.

If you'd like to get in touch throughout the day you can email us, tweet us, external or contact us via Facebook, external.