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Live Reporting

Alex Pope

All times stated are UK

  1. Good bye for now

    Alex Pope

    BBC Local Live

    That's it for regular updates from all the team here at Local Live for Beds, Herts and Bucks. 

    We'll be back from 08:00 on Monday morning with all your news, sport, travel and weather. 

    You can read all the stories from today by scrolling through the page.

    As you can see the champagne is nearly on ice at Herfordshire's Elstree studios. 

    It is of course the venue for the return of Strictly Come Dancing tonight on BBC One at 21:00.

    Stictly Come Dancing Champagne

    The photo was taken by Milton Keynes' Greg Rutherford who's paired up with Natalie Lowe. 

    He says "because it's personalised I can't drink it and feel I need to save it". 

  2. Overnight and Saturday weather: Dry and clear, with spells of sunshine

    Dan Holley

    BBC Look East weather

    It will stay dry tonight with long clear spells, but high cloud will increase from the west through the early hours. Not as chilly as last night, with temperatures falling to 8C (46F) in a light southerly breeze.

    Weekend weather forecast

    It should be dry on Saturday with spells of hazy sunshine, although large amounts of high cloud at times. Feeling warm with temperatures reaching highs of 24C (75F), but with a noticeably gusty southerly wind.

    Get the full forecast where you live at BBC Weather.

  3. Possible strikes by Easyjet pilots suspended

    The threat of strikes by pilots who work for Luton-based Easyjet is being suspended while new proposals on tackling fatigue are considered.

    Union Balpa says it has met with the company to discuss a new set of proposals to "mitigate pilot fatigue", which will be put to pilots in a consultative ballot. 

    Earlier this week pilots voted in favour of industrial action.

    easyJet plane
  4. Back to school for Victoria Pendleton

    BBC Look East

    It was back to school for Victoria Pendleton as she returned to her old alma mater today. 

    The Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist opened a new £2.5m sports complex at Etonbury Academy, now known as the Pendleton Centre. 

    The MP for North East Bedfordshire, Alistair Burt, was also there and said he was "deeply impressed" with the sporting star, saying she "spent a huge amount of time with the students - great role model".  

    Alistair Burt and Victoria Pendleton
  5. Two charged with arson attack on Aylesbury property

    Jane Killick

    BBC Three Counties Radio

    Two people have have been charged after an arson attack on a house in Aylesbury.

    Nine people were in the house on Bedgrove at 01:30 on Monday when the front of the property was set fire, police said.

    The man and the woman have been charged with arson with intent to endanger life. 

    They have been remanded in custody and are expected to appear at High Wycombe Magistrates' Court on 25 October.

  6. Watford: 'I like a team that attacks', says Mazzarri

    Geoff Doyle

    BBC Three Counties Radio sport

    You can expect plenty of excitement, attacking play and goals under Watford's Walter Mazzarri

    The head coach favours this approach in contrast to the conservative and defensive tactics of his predecessor, Quique Sanchez Flores. 

    "I like a team that attacks. We like attacking play if possible. Of course it depends on how strong the other team is but that's what I like – the attacking game."

    "If you think of all the chances we created against West Ham and Manchester United – not just the goals but the chances we created."

    Walter Mazzarri giving Etienne Capoue instructions at football game
  7. Watford: Mazzarri 'believes' in his team

    Geoff Doyle

    BBC Three Counties Radio sport

    Watford head coach Walter Mazzarri has been discussing the form of his midfielder Etienne Capoue.

    The Frenchman has scored four goals in five Premier League games. 

    "I believe that if I believe in them, they believe in themselves and I probably improved him by making him believe in himself," says Mazzarri. 

    Walter Mazzarri

    Watford are currently ninth in the table ahead of the match at Burnley on Monday night, so does the coach see his side as a top 10 team? 

    "It's still early. I haven't been here long. I need to verify the progress of this team and we will see on Monday what the progress is and then we will make more evaluations."

  8. Watford: Janmaat out of action with injury

    Geoff Doyle

    BBC Three Counties Radio sport

    Watford will be missing Daryl Janmaat in the Premier League match at Burnley on Monday night. The midfielder has a suspected fractured shoulder. 

    The Hornets are also waiting on the fitness of fellow defenders Younes Kaboul, who missed the Manchester United win, and Jose Holebas who has a leg injury.

    Watford have won their last two league games scoring three past United and four against West Ham. Head coach Walter Mazzarri recognises the confidence that brings: "I think we have shown we can fight against anyone. I want to see how we behave against a club like Burnley."

    Daryl Janmaat
  9. Makers of Airlander 10 up for innovation award

    Alex Pope

    BBC Local Live

    The skies over Cardington in Bedfordshire are a little empty at the moment, as test flights for the Airlander 10 are on hold following its heavy landing over the summer.

    But there is some good news for the makers of the world's longest aircraft. 

    The Airlander 10

    Its operator, Hybrid Air Vehicles, has been nominated for a Wired magazine innovation award.

    It's to recognise the "boldest businesses and individuals as they rip up the rulebook to create a better world".

  10. Road safety team goes on safari

    What do you get when you cross a rhino, monkey, leopard and a parrot with Fireman Sam?

    View more on twitter

    A rather fun fire crew, if not slightly scary...

  11. Watch: M1 bridge demolition

    Parts of the M1 will be closed this weekend so a bridge can be demolished over the busy road. 

    The same happened two weeks ago when the old B579 Luton Road Bridge was taken down. 

    You can see how Highways England did it by watching the video below. Just look at the number of diggers!

    View more on twitter
  12. Police identify man killed on Milton Keynes road

    Jane Killick

    BBC Three Counties Radio

    Police say they have identified a man in his 30s who was killed when he was hit by a car after walking onto a road in Milton Keynes. 

    Last week they appealed for the public's help to find out who he was after the crash on Watling Street, by Roni's hand car wash, at about 20:20 on 13 September.  

    He's been named as Slovakian Jozef Toth, who was living in the MK area. 

    The man's next of kin have been informed. 

    V4 Watling Street
  13. Sixteen arrested in total over Bedford summer shootings

    Alex Pope

    BBC Local Live

    Regarding our earlier story about the latest charge, Bedfordshire Police has confirmed so far it's made 17 arrests after four shootings in Bedford over the weekend of 9 and 10 July. 

    Officers say 15 of those are currently on police bail and two have been charged. 

    One of the men, who's charged with two firearms offences, appeared at Luton Magistrates' Court today and has been remanded in custody. 

    He's next due at Luton Crown Court on 24 October.

  14. Stotfold GP cleared of indecent and sexual assault

    Alex Pope

    BBC Local Live

    A Bedfordshire GP has been found not guilty of five charges of indecent assault and one of sexual assault by a jury at Luton Crown Court.

    Dr Robert Lewis, 51, from Northridge Street, Shefford, was accused of groping female ambulance and fire brigade recruits during breast and hernia examinations. 

    Judge Michael Kay QC had earlier ruled he had no case to answer on two other charges of sexual assault.

    Dr Robert Lewis

    Lewis, who was based at Larksfield Surgery at Stotfold, near Hitchin, was found guilty in November of four charges of indecent assault during medical examinations he was carrying out for the emergency services in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

    On those charges he's due to be sentenced on Thursday. 

  15. M1 to close on Saturday night

    Katy Lewis

    BBC Local Live

    Highways England is reminding motorists the M1 will be closed again this weekend for a second bridge demolition, as part of the building of the new A5-M1 link.

    M1 bridges

    Work will start at 20:00 on Saturday to demolish the old Houghton Road bridge, with the motorway set to re-open at 14:00 on Sunday. 

    It will be closed northbound between J9 for the A5 and J12 for Toddington, although one lane will be open so drivers can get to J10 for Luton Airport and J11 for the A505.

    It will be closed between J12 and J11 southbound.

  16. Millions to be spent improving Harpenden leisure facilities

    Alex Pope

    BBC Local Live

    A new leisure, arts and cultural hub could be built in Harpenden. 

    The green light has been given for the £18m development by St Albans City and District Council. 

    The council says it's needed as the current facilities like Harpenden swimming pool (pictured) and the sports centre are ageing and in separate buildings, so they are hard to manage and maintain. 

    The project will be added to the council's Capital Programme and budget, and the next step is to sort out its design. 

    Harpenden swimming pool