BBC Local Live: Beds, Herts & Bucks

Can you take a selfie? Can you bring a pet? Can you wear political clothing? With just a few hours to go until the polls open make sure you're in the know with our light-hearted look at what's what.

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The process of voting in a polling station in the UK hasn't changed really over the years, but there are certain things you're not allowed to do in them.

Hertford and Ware Police have been updating on Twitter about the vehicle fire. They've said that the retail park on Ware Road is now open again.

Hertford & Ware PoliceCopyright: Hertford & Ware Police

There is just a small section behind the stores that remains closed as a safety measure.

McBusted's Harry Judd has been speaking to Roberto Perrone about why he's running in the Superhero 5K in Harpenden for Keech Hospice Care on 17 May.

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The drummer, whose wife is from Harpenden, said he would definitely be going all out with his costume because "without Keech, some families would have nowhere to turn".

Hertford and Ware Police tweet: Currently working alongside @HertsFRSControl at an incident on Ware Road Hertford. Please avoid the area. Further info to follow

Hertfordshire Fire Control have also been tweeting about the incident and have said that the vehicle fire involves cylinders, that a cordon is in place and an evacuation of surrounding premises is underway.

Here are your latest updates for the three counties:

• Counter-terrorism police arrest a 38-year-old man in Luton over conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering
• A lorry containing ten suspected illegal immigrants discovered in Bedfordshire after a 999 call from one of the people inside
• Dispute over £700 meal that was offered as a goodwill gesture by car company

How do you know when a cow is feeling relaxed? No it's not the start of a joke. This is the question that researchers based at the Royal Veterinary College in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, have been asking and they've found cows eyes can tell them.

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One of the researchers, Helen Proctor, told me "the eye white you can see decreases when the cows are feeling more relaxed" and that "there is a connection with their physical being and their milk production so it's an incentive to farmers for cows to be healthy and feel good".

A woman who was locked in her house in Bedfordshire last Thursday by two men who knocked at her door claiming to have damaged her fence has died, police said.

The 96-year-old answered her door to a man about 21:20 last week in The Pyghtle in Turvey. While she went outside to investigate, another man entered her house and locked her inside the house when she returned.

Richard from Flitwick has emailed about Siobhan from Watford's dispute with Audi about her 'free' meal that they now will only pay half the bill for.

He writes: I think the garage has been more than generous with its offer... This is just sheer greed."

We think it's a record breaking moment for Bedford this Thursday as people go to the polls.

Some people in Bedford will have the opportunity to put their mark on five different ballot papers.

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I've been out to film how Bedfordians are feeling about this prospect. Are they as excited as me? Watch the video here.

A lorry containing ten suspected illegal immigrants has been discovered in Bedfordshire after police received a distressed call from one of the people inside.

About 08:30, Essex Police had a call from someone saying they were inside a lorry on the A414 at North Weald and that it had been at Ashford in Kent about an hour and a half before. It was finally discovered by Bedfordshire Police at Toddington Services on the M1.

Six people are now being held in custody but the other four are on the run.

The closure of five businesses in quick succession has sparked a mixed reaction from neighbours.

The Wynd, Letchworth GC, has lost Alys Diner, Tumble Tent, Craft Cocoon, and a gardening shop, with Funkydory set to close later this month.

If you look into a cows eyes, you may well be able to tell what they are feeling, according to experts.

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Boltons Park Farm, part of the Royal Veterinary College, in Hertfordshire studied 13 cows for nearly 400 separate 15-minute periods to see whether it was possible to measure their emotions by looking at just their eyes.

The results suggested that we can read both negative and positive emotions based on the visible eye whites.

Today's latest updates for Beds, Herts and Bucks:

• Counter-terrorism police arrest a 38-year-old man in Luton over conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering
• Police ask lorry drivers to check their trailers after receiving a distressed call from someone saying they were in the back of a lorry on the A414
• Watford woman offered a meal by a garage as a goodwill gesture is now in dispute over her £700 bill

We've been following the story about the woman from Watford who spent more than £700 on a meal for two.

Siobhan was offered dinner by Audi as a goodwill gesture after the car she was buying from them was damaged on the forecourt - but now they say they'll only pay half the "excessive" bill.

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But from Michelin star dining at one end... this is one of my budget favourites at the other. What are your favourite foods to splash-out or save on? Drop me an email.

This afternoon we will see more cloud developing, with some showers merging to give longer spells of rain.

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It will turn drier and brighter this evening though. It will be windy, with gales possible across The Chilterns. Maximum temperature: 14C (57F).

A passer-by walking home in the middle of the night helped save a school hall from being destroyed by a fire.

Flames took hold of a shed behind Wavendon Gate Combined School in Gregories Drive between 01:00 and 02:00 on Monday.

There are three lanes closed on the M40 southbound in Buckinghamshire due to an overturned vehicle between J2 (A355) and J1A (M25).

Traffic is very slow and the matrix sign has been set to 40mph.

A man has been arrested in Luton this morning for conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command attended the address in Luton where a 38-year-old man was arrested. They also attended six addresses in London.

It is part of an ongoing investigation of fraud allegations linked to extremists travelling to Syria.

Lorry drivers are being urged to check their trailers after police received a distressed call from someone saying they were in the back of a lorry on the A414.

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Police are appealing for any drivers of white lorries who have entered the UK via Kent and travelled along the A414 at North Weald to check their trailers.

Essex Police received the call just after 08:30 and established the lorry they were travelling in was in Ashford in Kent at 07:07.

The latest updates for this afternoon across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire:

• A possible connection between the vandalism of 10 cars in High Wycombe and a spate of alleged criminal damage earlier this year has not been ruled out by police
• Police are appealing for witnesses after a woman was sexually assaulted in Grove Park, Dunstable, on Sunday
• Watford FC say they will cap season ticket sales at about 13,500 for the 2015-16 Premier League campaign

The Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls was in Stevenage earlier for the last day of election campaigning.

He was supporting Sharon Taylor, the Labour candidate for Stevenage, who is up against David Collins (UKIP), David Cox (Independent), Stephen McPartland (Conservative), Trevor Palmer (TUSC), Susan Van De Ven (Liberal Democrat), Charles Vickers (English Democrats) and Graham White (Green).

Find out more about who's standing in your constituency here.

Good news - the roads in the three counties are looking nice and clear this afternoon.

There is a vehicle fire on Ware Road in Hertford to be aware of, police have a cordon in place.

There are no problems on local trains.

News of Audi car buyer Siobhan from Watford who ran up a £700 plus bill while enjoying a garage's hospitality after the car she'd bought was damaged on their forecourt has got you talking.

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Kevin writes: Superb Siobhan, Audi should def pay the bill. She has bought a car for in excess of £20k and they have failed to take care of it while it was in their care...

Audi repaired the second-hand Audi A3 after the accident and offered the meal as a goodwill gesture - but did not set a price limit. They've said they will only cover half the "excessive" bill.

Customers with dementia at three Luton day centres have been taking a step back in time with Reminiscence Pods.

The 'pods' have a range of things to interact with as a way of stimulating memories and promoting a relaxed, calmer state of mind.

Chancellor George Osborne is in Bedford today as part of the Conservatives' tour of the UK. He has spent some time at the Charles Wells Brewery this morning.

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He's supporting Richard Fuller, the Conservative candidate in Bedford who is up against Faruk Choudhury (Independent), Ben Foley (Green), Patrick Hall (Labour), Mahmud Henry Rogers (Lib Dem) and Charlie Smith (UKIP).

Find out more about who's standing in your area on the BBC website.

The main image at the top of our live page today is of Brill windmill in Buckinghamshire.

Bucks County CouncilCopyright: Bucks County Council

Ownership of the windmill was officially handed over to the village of Brill yesterday. The 17th Century Grade 2* listed windmill was restored in 2009.

Do you have a stunning photograph of a landscape or well-known building in the three counties that you'd like to see showcased here? Email us a high-res version of the image and tell us a few details about it. We'll use as many as we can.

Are Audi being unreasonable by only offering to pay half of Siobhan from Watford's £700 food bill. They said they would pay for a meal as a goodwill gesture after the second hand car she'd bought for £20,000 was damaged on their forecourt.

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You've been having your say on Facebook.

Matthew writes: She took the proverbial. She should count herself lucky they're paying half. They made a gesture of good will to keep a customer happy. I think they've done all that could be reasonably expected.

A woman was sexually assaulted in Dunstable on Sunday as she walked through Grove Park, report Bedfordshire Police.

The attack happened near the bandstand in the park at about 02:00.

Det Con Joanne Merry said: "This was an unprovoked attack and we're urging the public to help us identify the man responsible.

A new TK Maxx store is set to open its doors this spring in Biggleswade creating 45 new jobs in the area.

London Road in Rickmansworth has reopened after an earlier collision.

Rickmansworth Fire ServiceCopyright: Rickmansworth Fire Service

The fire service had advised people to avoid the area as the road was closed.

Herts Fire Control tweeted: 07:56 @A07Fire@bwwatfordfire freed a person trapped following a road traffic collision on London Road, Rickmansworth.

This morning's updates for Beds, Herts and Bucks:

• Shadow chancellor Ed Balls has arrived in Stevenage as party leaders and candidates travel the UK
• Police have not ruled out a possible link between the vandalism of 10 cars in High Wycombe this week and a recent spate of alleged criminal damage
• Watford FC say they will cap season ticket sales at about 13,500 for the 2015-16 Premier League campaign

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

Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls has arrived in Stevenage on the last day of the election campaign. He was met by supporters outside Sharon Taylor's HQ where the pair had time for a selfie before some door knocking.

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Chancellor George Osborne is due to arrive in Bedford later.

Party leaders and candidates are travelling all over the country in a last-ditch grab for votes before the general election polls open tomorrow.

Hertfordshire Police are appealing for witnesses following a collision on the A1 just north of Borehamwood in Hertfordshire on Tuesday evening, which closed the road for several hours.

It happened on the northbound carriageway just before 18:30 and involved a white Fiat 500 and a silver Ford Transit van.

The Fiat driver suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to a London hospital. The van driver was not injured.

Thames Valley Police say they have not ruled out a possible connection between the vandalism of 10 cars in High Wycombe this week and a spate of alleged criminal damage earlier this year.

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Two boys or men riding a small motorcycle broke the windows of the parked vehicles in Beacham Road, Holmers Farm Way, Bedder Road and Buckmaster Road at about 16:15 BST on Monday, police say.

Four people have been charged in connection with alleged vandalism to 247 vehicles in the town between 3 March and 9 April.

Luton Town chairman Nick Owen has said injuries were the main reason the Hatters failed to gain promotion this season.

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"Every club has its injuries but this season we'd lost the spine of the team," he said.

"You could probably [name] 11 players now who would in many cases be one of the first names on the team sheet, [who have] been out for long periods this season, including the goalkeeper, centre half and captain."

Siobhan from Watford spent £20,000 on a second hand Audi A3 convertible but it was damaged on the forecourt before she could collect it.

After repairing it, Watford Audi said it would pay for a meal for two as an apology - but didn't set a price limit.

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Siobhan spent more than £700 on a two Michelin star meal which the garage says was "an excessive expenditure for two diners" and will only cover half the bill. She says this is not reasonable.

This morning on BBC Three Counties Radio, Jonathan Vernon-Smith is asking if you think Audi are being unreasonable - add your comments on Facebook or Twitter.

Today will stay windy with blustery, heavy showers and longer spells of rain.

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We'll see maximum temperatures of 14C (57F). Watch the full forecast with Kate Kinsella.

There's queuing traffic on the M1 southbound at J9 for the A5 at Redbourn this morning due to an earlier accident.

Congestion is back to J12 for Flitwick. Get the latest updates on BBC Travel.

These are this morning's headlines:

• A driver was airlifted to hospital after a collision on the A1 just north of Borehamwood last night
• Police have not ruled out a possible link between the vandalism of 10 cars in High Wycombe this week and a recent spate of alleged criminal damage
• Watford FC say they will cap season ticket sales at about 13,500 for the 2015-16 Premier League campaign

Listen to all the latest news at the top of the hour with BBC Three Counties Radio.

Watford FC say they will cap season ticket sales at about 13,500 for the 2015-16 Premier League campaign to make sure enough tickets are available for fans on a game-by-game basis.

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Season tickets go back on sale on Friday for current holders and those with League match ticket buying history against their Fan ID record since July 2012.

Nearly 11,500 Hornets' supporters renewed their season tickets before the end of the 2014-15 campaign.

Welcome to today's live page for a rather blustery 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'll get you started and Dani Bailey will join 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.