BBC Local Live: Beds, Herts & Bucks

Tonight it will remain dry with clear spells but temperatures drop to a minimum of 1C (34F).

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Across the weekend we'll see a mix of sunny and cloudy spells with chances of rain increasing throughout. Maximum temperature: 16C (60F)

There's disruption on the M25 anti-clockwise between J20 (A41) and J19 (Chandler's Cross) because of a broken down lorry. One lane is closed which is causing queuing traffic.

Reports suggest roads around Stevenage are still congested following the earlier closure of the A1(M) southbound J7-J6.

Six pregnant alpacas have been stolen from a yard in Hertfordshire along with a quad bike, chainsaw and strimmers.

Police said thieves cut through the padlock to a gate at Throcking near Buntingford on Tuesday night.

The owner will be speaking to Roberto Perrone at 17:40.

A woman was locked in her own house by two men who knocked at her door last night having claimed to have damaged her fence.

The incident happened about 21:20 in The Pyghtle, in Turvey, Bedfordshire.

While she went to investigate the two men entered the house and when she returned they locked her inside on their way out. Police don't believe anything was stolen during the incident.

Here are the latest updates for Beds, Herts and Bucks:

• Police have launched an appeal for witnesses after a serious accident which closed the A1(M) southbound
• A pathologist has said the bruises found on the body of a girl from Hatfield were like nothing he'd ever seen before
• Sixteen kittens and seven cats dumped by the roadside in Bedfordshire need new homes

Police have launched an appeal for witnesses after a silver Honda Civic left the A1(M) southbound this morning and collided with trees near J7 (Stevenage South).

The driver, a 55-year-old man, was taken to the Lister hospital with slight injuries. The passenger, a woman in her 50s, was taken to Addenbrookes with serious injuries.

@Russsk81Copyright: @Russsk81

The accident happened about 11:00.

The bruises found on the body of a four-year-old girl from Hatfield were like nothing he'd ever seen before, a pathologist has told a jury at St Albans Crown Court.

Carl Wheatley, 31, denies murdering his daughter Alexa-Marie Quinn in March. It's alleged he lost his temper and beat his daughter to death.

John O'Reilly/FairleysCopyright: John O'Reilly/Fairleys

The court heard Prof Rupert Risdon found 65 marks of injury across the girl's body, head and arms but he said it was the "66th" injury, a massive area of bruising that essentially covered as one, which killed her. The case continues.

Highways England have now re-opened the A1(M) southbound between J7 (Stevenage) and J6 (Welwyn) after a serious accident this morning.

Delays are expected while traffic clears.

Elsewhere, roads are looking as expected going into rush-hour on a Friday afternoon. Stay up-to-date here.

A 15-year-old Bishop's Stortford boy with a knife claimed he was carrying the blade because of "problems with travellers".

There's plenty going on this weekend but one eagerly awaited event is the Milton Keynes Marathon.

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The route of the marathon, on Monday, takes the runners along roads, cycles paths, past lakes and woodland and then finishes in the MK Dons' 22,500-seater football stadium.

Beds, Cambs and Herts Road Policing tweet: Collision scene A1M Stevenage 7-6 now cleared and road in process of being re-opened.@HeartHertsNews @bobfmuk @BBC3CR @BBCNews

A 26-year-old man was killed on the M40 in Buckinghamshire early this morning when his car was in a collision with a lorry.

Around 03:30 on the northbound carriageway between junction 1A (M25) and junction 2 (Beaconsfield).

The driver of the lorry, a 53-year-old man, was uninjured. Police are appealing for witnesses.

Two badgers have been rescued after falling into a slurry pit in Buckingham which was due to be filled with concrete.

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Workmen called the RSPCA after finding an adult badger with another thought to be about five months old, at the bottom of the large pit at Buckingham Business Park on Bourton Road on Tuesday.

East Hertfordshire Rural Police tweet: 6 pregnant Alpacas have been stolen from a yard in a village near to Buntingford. Please be extra vigilant & ring any sus activity on 101

Here's a summary of our recent updates for Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire:

• A1(M) southbound remains closed J7 - J6 due to a serious accident. Two people have been admitted to hospital
• Bedfordshire firefighter is due home this weekend after being stranded in Nepal whilst trekking near Kathmandu
• Sixteen kittens and seven cats dumped by the roadside in Bedfordshire need new homes

A bit more information on the £2.5m savings we mentioned earlier made by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Joint Protective Services units over the last year.

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Police say that despite the savings the unit has had a number of successes:

• The Armed Policing Unit has carried out 1,251 arrests and attended 1,722 incidents

• The Dog Unit has attended 1,330 incidents and 66 pre-planned operations since January

• The Roads Policing Unit has carried out 2,568 arrests and seized 1,558 vehicles in the last 12 months

A car has been destroyed and a property damaged following a fire in Argyll Avenue in Luton.

It will stay dry this afternoon with sunny spells. The sunshine may be rather hazy with high cloud spreading across the area. Light winds are also forecast.

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We'll see maximum temperatures of 13C (55F).

Watford FC's head coach Slavisa Jokanovic hasn't let last weekend's promotion news go to his head.

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The Hornets coach told BBC Three Counties Radio: "We are obligated to start celebrations after the game on Saturday, not before.

"Right now we need to concentrate, it would be silly when we still have the chance to lift some silverware."

Russ who's been stuck in traffic on the A1(M) southbound between J7-6 tweets: @BBC3CR traffic now moving. :)

Highways England tweet: We're in the process of turning traffic trapped in the #A1M closure - please be patient, we will get you moving asap. Thank you

Today's main image shows one of Buckinghamshire's Stowe House lions.

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After being auctioned in 1921, the lions were removed from their stone plinths at Stowe House and resided in Blackpool from 1926. Two years ago, the lions were back at the house following campaigns and donations amounting to £325,000.

We'd love to see your photos of interesting places in Beds, Herts and Bucks - please feel free to get in touch with us via email.

Here are the latest updates across Beds, Herts and Bucks this lunchtime:

• A1(M) southbound closed between J7 (Stevenage) and J6 (Welwyn) due to an accident. Two people have been taken to hospital
• Bedfordshire firefighter to return home after being stranded in Nepal
• Commemorative paving stone laid in St Albans to honour WWI soldier

Russ on Twitter is keeping us updated on how things are looking just past the south Stevenage junction.

He tweets: @BBC3CR no movement in traffic for 40 mins so far. Really hope all involved are safe and well.

@Russsk81Copyright: @Russsk81

Hope you're OK if caught up in the tailback. Have you taken any photographs? Tweet your pictures to @BBC3CR and let us know how it's going as long as it's safe to do so.

Police were called to junction 7 of the A1(M) at 11:10 where a car had left the carriageway and collided with trees.

One person has been taken to the Lister Hospital, Stevenage and another to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge.

Three of the seven adult female cats found dumped with 17 kittens in a taped up box at the side of a road between Everton and Sandy in Bedfordshire earlier this month have given birth.

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St Neots & District Cats Protection, who are looking for homes for the animals, said six of the original kittens had died but the new births brought the total of youngsters to 16.

Spokeswoman, Aishah Lorandeau, said people had come forward to re-home some of the kittens but more were needed for the others and the adult cats who "need feeding up and a lot of love".

Russ on Twitter writes: @BBC3CR total closure now southbound. People out of their cars talking with strangers. Like the old days. Sincerely hope all involved are ok

Are you in the queue? Tweet us a photo as long as it's safe to do so.

Beds, Cambs & Herts Roads Policing Unit tweet: Serious collision A1M7-6 Stevenage.Road closed. Air ambo on scene. Did u witness ? Pls call 101 REF 197 @bobfmuk @BBC3CR @HeartHertsNews

There are severe delays on the A1(M) southbound due to an accident between J7 for Stevenage and J6 for Welwyn.

One lane is blocked and traffic is queuing.

A commemorative paving stone will be laid in St Albans today to honour the bravery of a First World War soldier.

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It's exactly 100 years since Private Edward Warner, born in the city, defended a trench from attack before dying shortly after from the effects of gas poisoning.

He was awarded a Victoria Cross and his name appears on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres for British soldiers who died on near-by battlefields.

A Wycombe-based charity that helped give disadvantaged youngsters practical skills has been forced to close.

Bedfordshire firefighter Clive Wilkinson, who was stranded in Nepal with his wife Heather, will return home this weekend.

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The couple, from Shefford, will be returning from Kathmandu on Sunday into Heathrow airport.

His sister Karen Wilkinson-Bell said she'll be there with the rest of the family to welcome them home.

Milton Keynes-based Badminton England won the title for Best Governing Body last night at the Sport Industry awards.

They tweeted their reaction to the news: We have been named Governing Body of the Year at the #BTSIA @SportIndustry Thank you to everyone who has helped us win this award! #soproud

The British Riding Club will be holding its Intermediate Winter Championships at Bury Farm Equestrian Village in Slapton over the Bank Holiday weekend.

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More than 400 grass roots junior and senior team and individual riders will be attending the event, which will include as dressage, show jumping, eventing, showing and quadrille.

Bedfordshire Police have put out an appeal after motocross bikes and cash were stolen during a burglary at a Totternhoe home.

Offenders forced entry to the property in Church Road between 02:00 and 04:30 on Monday while the occupants of the house were asleep inside.

They made an untidy search of the downstairs rooms and garage before making off with a blue and white Yamaha Yz250F bike and an orange and black motocross bike, as well as money.

Morning - I'll be bringing you the latest news, sport, weather and travel for the rest of the day.

Here are the latest updates for Beds, Herts and Bucks:

• Combined units working across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire police forces have saved £2.5m in the last year
• Watford boss Slavisa Jokanovic has been named the Championship manager of the month for April, following the Hornets promotion to the Premier League.
• Weather: Dry throughout the day with sunny spells with a top temperature of 12C (54F).

Our three counties are full of picturesque areas and we know you've photographed many of them.

John O'Reilly/FairleysCopyright: John O'Reilly/Fairleys

Thanks to John O'Reilly for this image of Newport Pagnell. If you have a picture from across Beds, Herts and Bucks that you'd like to share with us then please email it to bhblive@bbc.co.uk or as a post to Facebook.

Watford captain Troy Deeney has called on people to remember injured supporter Nic Cruwys during their promotion celebrations.

Mr Cruwys was attacked after a game against Wolverhampton Wanderers in March.

Combined units working across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire police forces have saved £2.5m in the last year.

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The Joint Protective Services collaborate over functions including roads policing, the major crime unit, dog unit, scientific services and armed policing.

It is predicted the joint approach will save another £2.24m in the next 12 months.

The roads are looking good this morning across Beds, Herts and Bucks.

There are delays on the A355 in Buckinghamshire following an accident at the B416 at Park Road, Farnham Royal, but other than that things are fairly clear.

Keep up to date with all the latest travel news.

These are the news headlines this morning:

• A custody officer at Yarl's Wood detention centre near Bedford was suspended for allegedly using excessive force to disperse a protest

• Head teacher at Water Hall primary school in Milton Keynes, Tony Draper, says schools are having to feed, wash and clothe children from poor families

• Watford could win the Championship title tomorrow if they beat Sheffield Wednesday at Vicarage Road. Elsewhere, MK Dons must win against Yeovil and hope Preston slip up at Colchester if they are to win automatic promotion from League One

Watford boss Slavisa Jokanovic has been named the Championship manager of the month for April, following the Hornets promotion to the Premier League.

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Milton Keynes Dons boss Karl Robinson is the League One manager of the month.

It will be a chilly start today with an early frost in some places.

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It will be dry throughout the day with sunny spells. The sunshine may be rather hazy with high cloud spreading across the area. Maximum temperature: 12C (54F).

Welcome to today's live page for Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

We'll be bringing you all the latest news, sport, leisure, travel and weather across the three counties until 18:00.

I'm here to kick things off and Dani Bailey will take over at 10:00.

We'd love you to be part of this page so feel free to email your comments to bhblive@bbc.co.uk or contact us on Twitter @BBC3CR or Facebook.