Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

That's it from all of us here at BBC Local Live for Beds, Herts and Bucks.

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

Alex Dolan
BBC Look East weather

It'll be dry and sunny this evening, with light winds. Staying dry overnight, too, with mostly clear skies. 

Temperatures to drop, with a touch of grass frost possible.

Minimum temperature: 3C (37F).

Jane Killick
BBC Three Counties Radio

Here are the main news stories making the news this afternoon: 

• Volunteers will be working into the evening to try and move a steam locomotive in Hertfordshire to its new home in Cambridgeshire
• Detectives searching for Hertfordshire author Helen Bailey have widened their search to Kent, where she owns a holiday home
• The work of Bedfordshire Police will be shown on television tonight as a new series of 24 Hours in Police Custody, external begins

Kate Bradbrook
BBC Look East

I've just been told that volunteers are still hoping to move a steam engine from its current location in Hertfordshire today, to its new home in Cambridgeshire. 

It's been harder to move Newstead than planned and a special track is currently being built.

Alex Alder from Nene Valley Railway said: "We can't get the lorry to the train, so we're trying to get the train to the lorry." 

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

Iva Barr from Bedford will be the oldest person to run in Sunday's London Marathon. 

At 88 years young, she will be competing in her 20th marathon. 

Go Iva, go! 

Hertfordshire police are trying to find the owners of jewellery, external including watches which were found in Elmfield Road, Potters Bar. 

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

Bedfordshire Police is reminding people not to carry imitation weapons in public. 

It comes after two men were caught with airsoft guns in Luton yesterday evening. 

Image source, Bedfordshire Police

A member of the public called police after seeing two men wearing balaclavas in Highbury Road. 

Insp Julia Hand said the caller "did exactly the right thing", adding: "In a time where the country is in a heightened state of security, it’s extremely foolish to walk down a street carrying what appears to be a gun, while wearing a balaclava, regardless of whether or not it is a genuine firearm."

Kate Bradbrook
BBC Look East

An attempt to move an industrial steam train from Hertfordshire to Nene Valley Railway in Peterborough has been hampered by soggy ground.

Image source, NVR

The locomotive, called Newstead, used to haul coal in the 1970s. 

It's thought it was scrapped two decades ago but has been found preserved in a shed in Hertfordshire, the exact location of which is being kept secret.

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

You can watch a sneak preview of the new series of 24 Hours in Police Custody, external, featuring Bedfordshire Police, below. 

The first episode, external, called Human Cargo, starts at 21:00 on Channel 4.

A meeting is expected to take place tomorrow between the union Unite and managers of Monarch Airlines. 

It comes after officers at Unite claimed that 13 jobs would go at Luton, and more than 120 at Manchester, after the company announced the relocation of its maintenance hangar. 

Interim managing director of Monarch, Andy Mackay, said the company was "fully committed to retaining talent, skills and expertise within our business."

He added: "In the event that redundancies become necessary, we will offer alternative roles to all those affected, with relocation to our other facilities."

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

A car has been driven into a betting shop in Luton, external in an attempted burglary, leaving a large hole. 

Three men ram-raided Ladbrokes on the High Street just after midnight on Tuesday. 

It's believed they went into the building but left empty-handed. They then got back in the car and drove down Piggotts Lane in the direction of School Lane. 

Kate Bradbrook
BBC Look East

A steam engine that was thought to have been scrapped but was actually hiding away in the Hertfordshire countryside for decades is being moved to a new home today.

The shunting engine, built in the 1920s, was owned by a private collector and restored over many years in Suffolk and Hertfordshire. After he died, his wife contacted the Nene Valley Railway, external in Peterborough which agreed to put it in its museum.

Alex Alder from the railway told me about the importance of the find.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

The search for a missing children's author from Hertfordshire has widened to include Kent.

Image source, South Beds News Agency

Helen Bailey, who wrote the Electra Brown series, was last seen walking her dog near her home in Royston, Hertfordshire, on 11 April and specialist searches are taking place in that area (pictured).

Hertfordshire Police, external has now confirmed that Mrs Bailey also owns a holiday home in Broadstairs. 

A spokeswoman said the force had been in contact with Kent Police and inquiries were now being made.

The Duke of Cambridge has attempted to shrug off criticism of his commitment to his royal duties.

Prince William's commitment has been questioned in some quarters in recent months, with headlines in some newspapers referring to him as "work-shy William".

But speaking to the BBC before the Queen's 90th birthday, he said he took royal duty "very seriously" and emphasised the importance of his role as an East Anglian Air Ambulance pilot and the time he spent with his family.

BBC Weather

It will be a mostly dry afternoon with sunny spells across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. 

Image source, Weather Watchers/Niknak1970

Cloud will tend to increase in the afternoon with the odd light shower possible. 

Maximum temperature: 11C (52F). 

Tony Fisher
BBC Three Counties Radio

A campaign group against plans for a massive quarry next to a primary school in Hertfordshire has attracted more than 700 signatures.

Image source, Google

Stop the Bengeo Quarry, external said the gravel extraction on the green belt site would involve about 100 lorry movements a day and bring harmful dust to residents and school children.

The proposal, which would involve digging up more than 2.5 million tonnes of sand and gravel, has already been formally opposed by Hertford Town Council, external. A public consultation was due to end this week but has been extended till the beginning of May.

We have contacted developer RJD Limited and are awaiting its response.

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

An elderly couple had cash and bank cards stolen, external from their home in Harrold in Bedfordshire, after three robbers with covered faces broke into their home while they were in it. 

It happened at 23:30 on Sunday, in Peach's Close. 

PC Matt Bird said: "This incident has greatly impacted upon the victims. Those responsible are callous individuals who show blatant disregard to the effect they have on their victims and need to be brought to justice."

Jane Killick
BBC Three Counties Radio

Here are the main news stories making the news this lunchtime: 

• Searches are being stepped up to find missing Royston author Helen Bailey who hasn't been seen for more than a week
• The Unite union says 13 jobs are at risk at Luton Airport after it was revealed that Monarch Aircraft Engineering, external, which carries out aircraft repairs and maintenance, is considering closing one of its facilities and relocating elsewhere
• Bedford's 88-year-old runner Iva Barr will be the oldest person taking part in this Sunday's London Marathon

All eyes will be on Bedford's very own Iva Barr, 88, who's been taking part in her 20th London Marathon on Sunday. 

Oh and she'll also be the oldest runner in the race! 

Metro

A St Albans bar has put up a sign in their women’s bathroom, external offering to help if a date takes a bad turn.