Summary

  • Updates on Wednesday, 24 May 2016

  • More news, sport, weather and travel updates from 08:00 on Wednesday

  1. Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00

    Our live coverage today has been dominated by the murder of a woman in Overstone Road, Luton.

    Keep an eye on our full story for any updates throughout the evening, or scroll through this page to catch up with what we know so far.

    We'll be back tomorrow at 08:00 with any updates from that story and throughout the three counties.

    Overstone Road
  2. Beef jerky firm takes over smokehousepublished at 17:50

    BBC News Scotland

    Europe's largest producer of beef jerky, formed after a merger with a Milton Keynes company, has taken over the tenancy of a former fish smokehouse in the Highlands.

    Beef jerkyImage source, Thinkstock

    The Meatsnacks Group has said it will make a new salmon jerky product at the facility in Grantown on Spey, owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

    Meatsnacks was formed after a merger of Forres-based Jerky Group and Cruga in Milton Keynes. It employs about 110 people across Scotland and England.

  3. MK Dons extend keeper Burns' contractpublished at 17:40

    BBC Sport

    MK Dons have triggered a one-year option in goalkeeper Charlie Burns' contract to keep him at the League One-bound club for next season.

    Charlie BurnsImage source, Getty Images

    The 20-year-old was given his full debut this season against Sheffield Wednesday and made a further three appearances for Karl Robinson's side.

    Burns previously had loan spells at Cambridge City and Truro City.

  4. Prime Minister says holidays will rise by £230 if UK leaves EUpublished at 17:30 BST 24 May 2016

    Jane Killick
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    David Cameron has been in Luton this morning, keeping up his campaign against leaving the EU. Today he warned family holidays could be more expensive if the UK leaves.

    Mr Cameron has been addressing staff at easyJet's headquarters at Luton Airport. 

    David Cameron in LutonImage source, PA

    Those campaigning to leave the EU are questioning the calculations, but the Prime Minister put a specific figure on it: "If we were to leave and the pound were to fall, which is what most people expect and what the Treasury forecast, that would put up the cost of a typical holiday for a family of four to a European destination by £230."

  5. 'Nothing has changed' at suicide prison, family claimpublished at 17:18 BST 24 May 2016

    Andrew Woodger
    BBC News

    The family of a man who killed himself at Woodhill Prison says it has not "learned any lessons".

    Woodhill PrisonImage source, PA

    The jail has the highest number of suicides in England and Wales, with five in 2015.

    Relatives of Kevin Scarlett, who killed himself in 2013, claim there were missed opportunities to prevent his death and "nothing has changed" since.

    Prison minister Andrew Selous MP said the jail launched a review into the way prisoners at risk were supported.

  6. 'No lessons learnt' over prison suicidepublished at 17:05 BST 24 May 2016

    The family of a man who killed himself at a jail with the highest number of suicides in England and Wales say the prison has not "learned any lessons".

    Read More
  7. McCourt leaves Luton to return to Northern Irelandpublished at 16:54 BST 24 May 2016

    BBC Sport

    Paddy McCourt has left League Two side Luton Town by mutual consent to return to his native Northern Ireland.

    The 32-year-old ex-Celtic and Brighton winger joined the Hatters on a two-year deal last summer and played 26 times.

    "Paddy has had to face up to some personal problems in recent weeks," said boss Nathan Jones., external

  8. France murder accused 'capable of crime'published at 16:40 BST 24 May 2016

    The ex-wife of a man accused of killing his British lover in rural France tells a court she believes he was capable of committing the crime.

    Read More
  9. Woodhill Prison suicide rate: 'Not enough being done'published at 16:25 BST 24 May 2016

    Tony Fisher
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    A Milton Keynes man says not enough is being done to tackle the suicide rate at Woodhill Prison after his step-brother killed himself there three years ago.

    Lee Jarman's step-brother Kevin Scarlett had a history of mental health problems and his call comes as a charity says prisons need to change to enable staff to build relationships with prisoners and reduce the risk of suicide.

    Woodhill PrisonImage source, SBNA

    The Howard League for Penal Reform, external says prisons need more staff, with specialist skills, and better training in mental health awareness.

    The Ministry of Justice, external insists it is training new staff to respond effectively to prisoners experiencing mental health issues.

  10. Weather: Plenty of sunshine this afternoonpublished at 15:33 BST 24 May 2016

    BBC Weather

    There will be plenty of sunshine this afternoon, although cloud will gradually begin to increase and it will stay breezy. Maximum Temperature: 17C (63F).

    This is what Potters Bar in Hertfordshire has been looking like this morning...

    Blue skies in Potters BarImage source, BBC/Goggy
  11. French gardener murder case: Ex-wife believes him capablepublished at 15:13 BST 24 May 2016

    Dani Bailey
    BBC Local Live

    The ex-wife of a French gardener accused of killing a woman from Hertfordshire has told a court she believes he was capable of committing the crime.

    Patricia Wilson (right) with her mother JeanImage source, Slater and Gordon/PA

    Jean-Louis Cayrou, 54, of La Salvetat-Peyrales, is on trial for the murder of Patricia Wilson, 58, formerly of Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. She vanished from her home in Southern France in August 2012 and her body has never been found.

    Sylvie Escaffre, 53, the former wife of Mr Cayrou, said he became a violent, abusive husband. Cayrou denies murder, calling the case "lies".

  12. Luton mother-of-four murder: Police cordon in two roadspublished at 14:48

    Tony Fisher
    BBC Three Counties Radio

    Not only is there a police cordon in Overstone Road, where a woman was murdered at a property last night, there is also a cordon across Atherstone Road.

    Police cordon on Atherstone Road, Luton

    The roads run parallel to each other from Dunstable Road to Bradley Road.

  13. Luton mother-of-four murder: What we know from policepublished at 14:36 BST 24 May 2016

    Dani Bailey
    BBC Local Live

    Police in Overstone Road, Luton
    • A woman died at a house on Overstone Road, in the Challney area of Luton last night
    • She had suffered serious injuries
    • Police were called by the ambulance service to the scene just after 11.30pm
    • A murder investigation has been launched by the Beds, Herts and Cambs Major Crime Unit
    • A police cordon remains in place
  14. Chelsea Flower Show: Bedford family-business get goldpublished at 14:20 BST 24 May 2016

    Dani Bailey
    BBC Local Live

    Oh look! It's Doug McMurdo, from Bloms Bulbs in Bedfordshire, which has won another medal at the Chelsea Flower Show this year.

    The family-run business have won a total of 66 gold medals so far from Chelsea. Not many then...

    Bloms Bulbs medal at Chelsea Flower Show
  15. The Garden Bed wins gold at Chelsea Flower Showpublished at 14:14 BST 24 May 2016

    Dani Bailey
    BBC Local Live

    Milton Keynes' Frosts Landscapes has won gold at the Chelsea Flower Show for its Artisan Garden, The Garden Bed, external.

    The garden is made up of a real hospital bed as a centrepiece to encourage visitors to view the hospice garden "through the eyes of a patient".

    The quilt of foliage and flowers was designed by Alison Doxey, while Stephen Welch helped design and create the rest of the garden with her.

    Alison and Stephen with awardImage source, Frosts
    Garden bedImage source, Frosts
  16. Luton murder investigation: Local news round-uppublished at 13:56 BST 24 May 2016

    Here's how some of the local newspapers are reporting the incident...

    The Luton News' headline states: "Police launch murder hunt into death of Luton woman". Read their coverage here, external.

    Luton on Sunday's headline reads: "Woman found dead in Luton last night had suffered 'serious injuries'". Read more here, external.

  17. Murder investigation launched after woman's deathpublished at 13:45 BST 24 May 2016

    Dani Bailey
    BBC Local Live

    Police have launched a murder investigation in Luton following the death of a woman at a house in Overstone Road last night.

    Police tent in LutonImage source, SBNA

    "We are following a number of lines of inquiry and are keeping an open mind as to what led to this tragic incident," said Det Ch Insp Adam Gallop.

    Officers say it's "of the utmost importance that anyone with information" contacts them immediately.

  18. Luton murder: 'Spate of burglaries' in Overstone Roadpublished at 13:40 BST 24 May 2016

    Jo Black
    BBC News

    I've been told there has been a spate of burglaries in the Challney area of Luton recently.

    Neighbours were speaking of unconfirmed reports of a disturbed burglary in Overstone Road, which has led to the death of a woman.

    Cars have also been vandalised in the area.

  19. Luton death: Murder investigation launchedpublished at 13:36 BST 24 May 2016
    Breaking

    Dani Bailey
    BBC Local Live

    Police are saying they have launched a murder inquiry after what they were previously caling a "suspicious" death in Luton.

  20. Luton 'suspicious' death: Family screams alerted neighbourspublished at 13:26 BST 24 May 2016

    Neighbours in a Luton street were alerted to the death of a woman when her family began screaming upon returning to the home, it's reported.

    "The first I knew that something was wrong was when I heard [relatives] screaming in the street," one neighbour, who didn't want to be identified, said.

    Reports, unconfirmed by police, say the woman was lying in the hallway of the property having suffered stab wounds.