BBC Local Live: Beds, Herts & Bucks

Staying dry tonight with clear spells bringing the risk of a patchy frost, but areas of low cloud may feed in from the North Sea at times.

The northeasterly breeze will gradually ease, with temperatures falling to 1C (34F) in rural spots.

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Tomorrow, mostly dry with some occasional bright or sunny spells. A chilly northeasterly breeze, but temperatures still reaching 11C (52F) in the best of any sunshine, feeling cooler along the coast.

Luton Town FC’s plans to relocate to Power Court have hit a stumbling block, as Luton Borough Council has not agreed to make changes to its draft local plan.

Here are the latest headlines: 

• The children's services department in Buckinghamshire is being warned that if it doesn't improve enough, the government will appoint a commissioner to take over.
• A woman was sexually assaulted in Dunstable on Friday evening after she got off a bus
• A prison chapel minister from Bedfordshire has failed in his claim that he was unfairly dismissed after quoting "homophobic" Bible passages to inmates

A prison chapel minister, from Sandy, Bedfordshire, who claimed he was forced to resign from the jail after a row about "homophobic" Bible verses, has failed in his bid for unfair dismissal.

South Beds News Agency/ GoogleCopyright: South Beds News Agency/ Google

The employment tribunal which heard the case last year announced its decision today.

Ordained Pentecostal Christian minister Reverend Barry Trayhorn read to inmates at HMP Littlehey in Cambridgeshire verses from the Bible for the "repentance of sin".

Bedfordshire Police are appealing for help to trace some men following a burglary in Wymington at about 03:00 this morning where the offenders gained entry through a dog flap.

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The burglars, who also gained entry to the Church Close property by breaking a window, took a number of items including a black and green BMX bike, cash and a car key.  

One of the men is described as white, in his late teens to early 20s, of average build, and wearing a light grey hooded top.

Luton Airport representatives are to attend a meeting of St Albans District Council to take questions about noise pollution.

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They willl give a presentation on the plans to expand the airport.

Members of the public are being asked to send in questions which can be raised with the officials.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is warning householders to take care when lighting fires after it was called to chimney fires three times at the weekend, including two at the same property.

Bedfordshire Fire and RescueCopyright: Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue

Firefighters were first called to a fire at a house in Lynch Hill, Kensworth at about 15:20 on Saturday then had to return at about 14:45 on Sunday to extinguish another.

The other chimney blaze was in Hatley Road, Potton at about 12:25 on Sunday. Fire officers have warned people to have their chimney swept before they light a fire if it hasn't been used for some time as it can become blocked by debris.

Forget the EU debate and the pros and cons of in or out, the Labour MP for Luton South had other things on his mind at the weekend.

Gavin Shuker told his Twitter followers the children's programme Hey Duggee was the most "consistently brilliant" on TV.

But when challenged by BBC Three Counties political reporter Paul Scoins that he had discounted CBeebies' Swashbuckle, the MP was scathing in his dislike of the pirate game show, saying it was "the noise of a thousand children screaming in pirate hats. It's like what I see every day when I close my eyes".

Here are a few figures from Watford's 2-1 win over Arsenal in the FA Cup at the Emirates Stadium yesterday - for Hornets fans to impress their friends. 

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Adlene Guedioura smashed home Watford's second goal as they won a place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup with a 2-1 victory over Arsenal.

Odion Ighalo scored his first goal in 599 minutes to put the away side ahead early in the second half after Arsenal had spurned a series of good chances.

Earlier we told you of claims that doctors' surgeries aren't being built quickly enough to treat the growing population of Milton Keynes.

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More than 6,000 new homes are being built along the western edge of the town but surgeries won't be available there until 2019 but Labour councillor Rob Middleton, has said the council will be "stepping into that void" with money.

He said: "We're not going to leave the residents simply to queue outside doctors' surgeries - it's simply not acceptable, we're going to step up and we're going to sort it."

This afternoon will be largely fine with good spells of sunshine and a chilly wind.

Maximum temperature: 9C (48F).

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Get more on the forecast where you live at BBC Weather.  

A member of the Thames Valley Police domestic abuse team has said she agreed to be part of the BBC One documentary Behind Closed Doors in the hope it will help other victims, because "people who suffer this abuse should not continue to suffer".

Thames Valley PoliceCopyright: Thames Valley Police

Det Con Julia Jacobs said: "There are so many [kinds of abuse] from serious physical abuse and sexual abuse all the way to putting somebody down all the time in front of other people and making them feel worthless.

"The unit's role is to bring offenders to justice and support the victims during the process."

Here are the top stories we're looking at this afternoon:

• A documentary following the work of the domestic abuse team at Thames Valley Police will be broadcast on BBC One tonight
• Watford will play at Wembley next month in an FA Cup semi-final after they beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates 
• A injured cockerel found dumped along a lane near St Albans has had its sight restored after treatment

Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores says his side's FA Cup quarter-final win at holders Arsenal is the "most important moment" of his career.

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The Hornets won 2-1 at the Emirates on Sunday thanks to goals from Odion Ighalo and Adlene Guedioura.

He said: "We try to enjoy this moment, this team, this journey. We get to play in a semi-final at Wembley... I think this is the most important moment of my career."

A 17-year-old trumpeter from Aylesbury has won the BBC Young Musician Jazz Award 2016, beating her older brother to the title.

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Alexandra Ridout competed against her brother Tom, 21, and three other finalists aged 15-21 for the prize at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff on Saturday.

Alexandra, who has played the instrument since she was nine, said: "The whole thing has been an amazing opportunity. I can't believe I even got this far. I wasn't expecting to win, but now that I have, it's incredible."

A space-probe that will look for signs of life on Mars has blasted off from the Baikonur spaceport in Kazakhstan.

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What has that to do with Beds, Herts or Bucks you may ask? 

Well, the European Exomars mission is being put into orbit ahead of the Mars lander - which is being built at Stevenage and due to take off in two years' time. You can watch its progress live on the European Space Agency website.

Watford captain Troy Deeney has called yesterday's 2-1 win over Arsenal in the FA Cup a "great day".

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He said: "We're not used to being in winning positions at the Emirates... so we naturally dropped off and they had a few chances.

"Thankfully we did it and [it was a] great day. The fans are happy, the manager is happy... he might give us a day off now." 

A documentary following the work of the domestic abuse team at Thames Valley Police will be broadcast on BBC One tonight at 21:00.

Shot over 12 months, Behind Closed Doors follows the cases of three women from the moment a 999 call is received.