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This 4-bed house is our Property of the Week (Picture courtesy of Russell Killner Estate Agents, St Neots)

This immaculate house in Waterloo Road has a mega loft conversion

Highfield care home, in Avon Drive, Brickhill

People using communal lounge at care home were left in the dark

Police patrolling Slade Walk (Picture: Bedford Community Policing Team)

Police step up patrols near primary school after reports of drug dealing nearby

Alistair Strathern

Mid Bedfordshire MP in appeal for furniture at new Flitwick office in Flitwick

Approximate boundary for development at the former Driving Standards Agency site on Harrowden Lane, Harrowden. Screenshot Google Maps

Plans submitted for up to 204 new homes on former DVSA site

In Bedford, 65.2% were screened as of March this year – a fall from 67.6% in 2022

Fewer women in Bedford completing cervical screenings

Photo from Getty Images

How you can help suspected domestic abuse victims in Bedfordshire

Domestic abuse adobe stock image

'Mind control' abusers have over victims means it's not easy to walk away

Left to right: Dean Westcott - CFO, BLMK ICB; Felicity Cox - Chief Executive, BLMK ICB; Barbara Matthews - Chair, Wixams Surgery Action Group; Saqhib Ali - Chair, Wixams Parish Council; Leon Staszak - Chair, Wixams Residents’ Association. Image: Wixa

Care board says it 'can't commit' to new healthcare centre in Wixams by 2025

People

Mum Louise with son George Fox. Picture: Louise Fox / SWNS

Ricky Gervais' joke is disgusting says mum whose son got 'Make-a-Wish' message
"I was so offended when I saw the clip - it honestly floored me”

Police accident stock image

Woman in her 60s dies after crashing in Bedford hamlet

Sexual predator Loui Cadman features in the latest episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody

Sexual predator featured in Sunday's episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody

Festus Akinbusoye Close Up Stern Image supplied by OPCC

Right now a woman can't leave her home because of a controlling partner

Aled Jones MBE

It’s not lonely this Christmas with Inspired Villages

Cost of Living

Rightmove have released their forecast for 2024.

Rightmove forecast for property buying in the UK next year

Aspiring UK homeowners aren't feeling so optimistic

The top 10 business challenges CEOs face

The dates benefits recipients can expect their payments over Christmas and New Year in 2023

The dates benefits recipients can expect their payments over Christmas

Crime

Student officer Lee Rogers had dreamt of being a police officer since he was 10.

Bedfordshire Police force searching for more ‘heroes’ to serve their community

William James

Worker jailed for life after sexually abusing THREE RESIDENTS in care home

David Darnell with Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst

Kempston man saves stepdaughter from savage axe attack

File picture of police police officers carrying out a stop and search (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Police should carry out more stop and searches says councillor

Festus Akinbusoye. Image supplied by OPCC

PCC concerned' over number of police being investigated for sexual misconduct

A police officer trains using a taser gun at the Metropolitan Police Specialist Training Centre. Picture: CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images

Black people in Beds over three times as likely to experience forceful policing

Business

Actor Larry Lamb launches Xmas campaign

This Christmas Frankie and Benny's pledge to be Secret Santa to vulnerable child...
Gavin & Stacey Actor Larry Lamb supports Secret Santa Christmas campaign 2023

Central Beds Council

Trans woman who applied for job at council loses discrimination claim

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Dementia charity brings Christmas joy to Bedford stores

The new Poundland store in Midland Road

Take a look inside as Poundland opens bumper new store in Bedford

Office for National Statistics figures show around 1,025 businesses in Bedford ceased trading in 2022 – up from 870 the year before

More than 1,000 businesses folded in Bedford in 2022

Traffic and Travel

Delays could be anything up to half an hour

Bedford drivers warned to expect FOUR overnight delays on the A421

East West Rail protest signs.

East West Rail company refuses to answer questions says mayor

The money will be spread over 11 years. Stock image.

Central Bedfordshire Council to receive nearly £22million for highway repair

The retrieved bikes, found in Raglan Green, Bedford, following a tip-off from the public (Picture: Bedford Community Policing Team)

Police urge Bedford bikers to be vigilant after spate of thefts

Health

The WoW Bus at Bedford

WoW Bus hits Bedford to help fight male cancers

Anton Du Beke and Team Lottie.org at the launch of Nights On Lottie 2022

Callout For Bedford Carers: £1000+ gifts exclusively for UK carers to celebrate ...

Sue Ryder Nurses at Sue Ryder St John's Hospice in Bedfordshire

Behind the scenes at Moggerhanger-based hospice

Expect delays if you go to A&E (Bedford Hospital/Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS FT)

Bedford Hospital A&E "very busy" as patients warned they'll have to wait

There were about 115 finished hospital admissions with a primary or secondary diagnosis of an eating disorder for people living in Bedford in the year to March 2023 – including 35 under 18-year-olds

Rise in hospital admissions for people with eating disorders in Bedford

File image of a doctor sitting at a desk

£9million earmarked for new GP surgeries in Bedford says mayor

Politics

Borough Hall, Bedford Image LDRS

Row breaks out between political parties over vote on mayor’s “ambitious vision”
A vote on the Conservative Group's "wish list" has underscored the ongoing challenges and divisions within Bedford borough's political landscape

You can fill the survey in online or request a paper copy

Share your experience of domestic abuse to help council shape support services

Central Bedfordshire Council Leader explains the budget consultation is so important in a video on YouTube.

Cuts to services and 5% tax increase proposed by council

Borough Hall, Bedford. Image LDRS

Conservatives accused of "misleading and diversive" politics in council row

UK Trending

Emergency crews at Babbs Mill Lake, Kingshurst, Solihull, West Midlands. December 11, 2022.

Video looks back at the tragic loss of the Babbs Mill Boys in icy lake

These are the most loved and hated Christmas traditions

These 'new' Christmas traditions are slowly pushing old ones out

Swimsuit collection designed for those spending Christmas abroad

Cars on fire at Bristol Airport

Moment fire "completely destroyed" cars parked at airport

Cameron McNeil drove his car through a tornado in Clarksville, Tennessee on Saturday Picture: Cameron McNeil / SWNS

Dashcam captures man driving through deadly tornado

Weather

Stay hydrated, drink plenty of water and avoid alcoholic or sugary beverages as they can contribute to dehydration

Bedford council urges neighbours to check on the vulnerable as temperatures soar

Climate activists (Photo by Omer Messinger/Getty Images)

Bedford could see heat-related deaths treble warns report

A stray 6ft boa constrictor found under a garden shed

Bedfordshire warned over deadly snake attacks in heatwave

Education

The Health Sciences and Digital Centre (Photo by Cllr Henry Vann)

New look £12.6m tower at the Bedford College riverside campus is unveiled

Department for Education figures show disadvantaged children in Bedford secondary schools received an average score of 33 out of 90 points for ‘Attainment 8’ in 2022-23, while their peers achieved a much higher score of 46.7

Bedford disadvantaged pupils score lower than their peers at GCSE

Pupils exploring their garden. Picture: Central Bedfordshire Council

Schools awarded Green Flags for their commitment to sustainability

17% of parents said their child was not happy at their school while 11% said their kid did not feel safe

A third of parents say Bedford schools not dealing with bullying effectively