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  1. Our live coverage across the day

    Alex Pope

    BBC Local Live

    That's it from the team here at Local Live for Beds, Herts and Bucks. We'll be back from 08:00 on Thursday with all your news updates. 

    The stories we've been covering today include a testy exchange in the Commons between Sir Philip Green and Bedford and Kempston MP, Richard Fuller, and a guilty verdict in the case of a St Albans man who kept a homeless man as a slave.

    You can read all the updates by scrolling down the page.

    But our top trumps ending has to be this video of Elizabeth, a five day old elephant born at Whipsnade Zoo...

    Video content

    Video caption: Baby elephant born at Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire
  2. New blood on way to Blues

    Bedford Blues have signed two front row forwards.

    Hooker George Edgson has joined the club from Wasps and tighthead prop David Spelman from Cambridge University.

    Edgson, 20, already has Championship experience having spent the second half of last season with Rotherham Titans.

    Spelman, 23, was part of the Cambridge team that suffered a narrow defeat to Oxford in the Varsity game at Twickenham in December.

  3. 'Where else am I supposed to look,' says Bedford MP told off by Sir Philip Green

    Roberto Perrone

    BBC Three Counties Radio

    I've just spoken to Bedford and Kempston MP, Richard Fuller, who's made the news today for being told off by Sir Philip Green at a House of Commons select committee meeting

    He told me during the five and a half hour session, the former BHS boss showed "extraordinary behaviour" as many times he "tried to run the show".

    On being told his stare "unnerved" Sir Philip he said, "where else am I supposed to look... yes I was looking at him...if that unnerves him I'm really sorry... but I'm not going to get him to tell me who I can look at or not".

    Philip Green
  4. Herts tennis player courts Wimbledon qualifying spot

    Geoff Doyle

    BBC Three Counties Radio sport

    Hertfordshire's Katy Dunne has been given a qualifying spot for Wimbledon. 

    The 17-year-old Hemel Hempstead player will play next week to try and book a place in the Ladies Singles event.

    She's has trained at both Halton tennis club in Buckinghamshire and Gosling tennis academy in Welwyn Garden City.

    Katy Dunne
  5. Cloudy with a chance of thunder...

    BBC Weather Watchers

    Scattered heavy showers and a few thunderstorms are possible tonight with of the same tomorrow, but as these pictures from our Weather Watchers show today's cloud formations are making for some superb photographs.

    Royston
    Bedford
  6. Homeless man forced to carry out labour in slavery case

    Lee Agnew

    BBC Three Counties Radio

    Cameron Biggar was picked up by Johnny Moloney on the Strand in London in June 2004, and was taken to his home in St Albans.

    He admitted in court this week he was "down on his luck" and saw it as an "opportunity not to be homeless anymore".

    He said at first he was made to feel welcome at the Moloney's family home in Watford Road, St Albans, but was kept in servitude to carry out forced labour and was hit on about five occasions.

  7. Lengthy sentence expected in slavery case

    Lee Agnew

    BBC Three Counties Radio

    A man who kept a homeless man as a slave has been told by a judge he's likely to face a lengthy period behind bars.

    St Albans crown court

    It comes after the week long trial at St Albans Crown Court found Johnny Moloney, from Watford Road, St Albans had forced Cameron Biggar to carry out unpaid block paving and building work for Moloney. 

    Mr Biggar had been taken to work in Ireland, Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham and Norway and Sweden.

    Moloney is due to be sentenced at St Albans crown court on Friday.

  8. St Albans man found guilty of holding homeless man as a slave

    Lee Agnew

    BBC Three Counties Radio

    Johnny Moloney, 30, of Watford Road, St Albans was found guilty today of knowingly holding a person in slavery or servitude and knowingly requiring another person to perform forced labour in St Albans between April 2010 and December 2014. 

    It was after he picked up homeless Cameron Biggar with the promise of work and accommodation. 

    Instead he was forced to live in a shed, and work 14 hours a day without pay.

    Johnny Moloney
  9. BreakingHertfordshire man found guilty of slavery offences

    A Hertfordshire man has today been found guilty of slavery offences at St Albans Crown Court.

    Johnny Moloney, also known as Johnny Murphy, 26, of Watford Road, St Albans held Cameron Biggar between 2010 and 2014.

    More details to follow.

  10. Trumpets sound for new Whipsnade arrival

    Dani Bailey

    BBC Local Live

    When the lead keeper of Whipsnade Zoo turned up for work on Friday morning he was met with an unexpected surprise.

    Darren Fellowes found 17-year-old Karishma had given birth to a baby Asian elephant.

    Although the calf was due to be born, she arrived a bit earlier than planned and was already getting to know the rest of the herd.

    Elizabeth the elephant

    To trumpet her arrival just ahead of the Queen's official 90th birthday celebrates she was named... yes, you've guessed it... Elizabeth.

    Elizabeth the elephant
  11. What is a 'Phantom' hoverfly?

    Alex Pope

    BBC Local Live

    The first ever recorded sighting a rare hoverfly has taken place in the Chilterns, but just what is a Phantom Hoverfly, or to give it it's proper name; Doros profuges?

    • It's 1.5cm long with an elegant narrow waist and black and yellow bands across its body
    • Across England, there are between one and two sightings of the insect every year
    • The Phantom Hoverfly is listed as a priority species on the UK Government’s Biodiversity Action Plan
    • It's believed the management of chalk downland on the estate for rare Duke of Burgundy butterflies has also benefited the Phantom Hoverfly
    • It's likes to stay in the trees canopy and only descends to the ground to breed
    Phantom Hoverfly
    Phantom Hoverfly
  12. Rare 'Phantom' haunts the Chilterns

    Alex Pope

    BBC Local Live

    A haunting site has been spotted in the Chilterns.

    A hoverfly species that's so rare it's named the 'Phantom' has been seen near Ivinghoe Beacon on the National Trust's Ashbridge Estate.

    It was discovered by entomologist Peter Brash, who first saw one 23 years ago... but only in a picture. 

    Phantom Hoverfly

    It's thought to only survive for 10 days as an adult and lives on chalk grassland.

  13. Copper worth thousands stolen from Hertfordshire church

    Jane Killick

    BBC Three Counties Radio

    Thousand of pounds worth of copper has been stolen from the roof of a 12th Century church in Hertfordshire.

    Police say the theft at St Mary's Church in Clothall, Baldock happened between 2-8 June, but as it wasn't discovered for a couple of days, rain water got into the building and caused further damage.

    Half of the copper on the roof was taken and tiles had to be removed to get to it.

    St Mary's Church, Baldock
  14. Noah Serra-Morrison death: Mother googled 'my baby is hurt'

    Katy Lewis

    BBC Local Live

    A mother accused of killing her baby son used her mobile phone to google terms including "my baby is hurt" and "my baby is breathing, but not moving" shortly before she called an ambulance.

    Ronnie Tayler-Morrison, 21 and her partner Hardeep Hunjan, 26, both deny the murder of 13-month-old Noah Serra-Morrison in Crawley Road, Luton on 20 November.

    Luton Crown Court heard on the night he died, Miss Tayler-Morrison is also alleged to have phoned her sister to say she had put her son in his cot, but when she went to check on him she found him lying on the floor. An hour and a quarter later she called an ambulance.

    Paramedics found Noah was not breathing, had no heartbeat and had swelling on the right side of his head. He was rushed to Luton a& Dunstable Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

  15. Noah Serra-Morrison death: Mother and partner 'pedalling lies'

    Katy Lewis

    BBC Local Live

    The prosecution in the case of a couple accused of killing 13-month-old Noah Serra-Morrison has said his mother and partner had been "pedalling lies" about the circumstances surrounding the child's death.

    The baby sustained a fractured skull and 15 fractures of his arms and legs at his home in Crawley Road, Luton, on 20 November last year. His mother Ronnie Tayler-Morrison, 21 and her partner Hardeep Hunjan, 26, deny murdering the child, claiming to police, doctors, paramedics and neighbours he had fallen out of his cot.

    Luton Crown Court heard a doctor told police at the hospital the mother's explanation was "suspicious" and the injuries were not consistent with a fall from a cot. Prosecutor Jane Bickerstaff QC said the injuries were consistent with his head having been smashed against a hard surface like a "wall or a floor".

    The trial continues.

  16. Noah Serra-Morrison death: Toddler's injuries 'not an accident'

    Katy Lewis

    BBC Local Live

    A baby boy died from a head injury which his mother later claimed was caused when the child fell out of its crib, a court has heard.

    Luton Crown Court

    Ronnie Tayler-Morrison, 21, and her partner Hardeep Hunjan, 26, deny the murder of 13-month-old Noah Serra-Morrison in Luton on 20 November. They have also pleaded not guilty to causing or allowing the death of a child and cruelty by wilful neglect.

    Luton Crown Court heard the injuries inflicted "could not have been an accident".

    Prosecutor Jane Bickerstaff told the jury the toddler died of a "massive head injury" and the prosecution could "prove Noah's death was murder". She said in addition to the fractured skull the baby had suffered 15 fractures of his arms and legs that same night.

  17. Letchworth pool remains closed after floods

    Alex Pope

    BBC Local Live

    The Letchworth Outdoor Pool will remain closed after it flooded at the weekend following heavy rain.

    Although ground surface water has now been pumped from the site, the pool is currently being drained so it can be thoroughly cleaned.

    Letchworth pool

    As you can see, North Common is also still closed and the council is monitoring the situation.

    North Common play area
  18. Watch the moment Sir Philip Green tells Bedford MP off for 'disturbing' him....

    Paul Scoins

    BBC Three Counties Radio political reporter

    "You looking at me? You looking at me? Then who else are you looking at - you looking at me? Well, I'm the only one here."

    Or something like that...

    If you want to see a more accurate version of the moment Sir Philip Green told Bedford's MP Richard Fuller off for staring at him,  you can watch the footage via parlimentarylive.tv

    If you forward to 09:50:04 you'll fine the moment Sir Philip starts to feel "uncomfortable".

    Sir Philip Green
  19. Police say tackling cybercrime is one of their 'main priorities'

    Alex Pope

    BBC Local Live

    Online crime costs Hertfordshire businesses more than £6m last year - but in which areas? 

    Hertfordshire Police say there were 51 cases of Mandate Fraud, which is when fraudsters get victims to change a direct debit or standing order by pretending to be someone they make regular payments to. Last year more than £2m was lost like this.

    Image depicting online fraud

    Corporate employee fraud is also rising with 27 cases being reported. This works by employees or ex-employees getting property or compensation through fraud or misuse of corporate cards and expenses.

    Police also say hacking is still an on-going problem and "driving down cybercrime is one of their main priorities".

  20. 'Sloppy habits' means online crime is on the rise, warn Herts police

    Alex Pope

    BBC Local Live

    Over £6m has been lost by businesses in Hertfordshire, according to figures from Get Safe Online and Action Fraud.

    They show between March 2015 and March 2016, 37,070 crimes were reported - a 22% increase on the year before. 

    Hertfordshire Police say businesses need to do more, siting a "lack of knowledge or sloppy habits by employees".

    Computer