Latest News

Come along and have some ghoulishly good fun. Image: Central Bedfordshire Council.

Free spooky slime making at Leighton Buzzard Library this Thursday

A Poundland discount shop (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP via Getty Images)

Future of Poundland stores in doubt as company could face insolvency

Town councillors Jo Symes and Andrea Kidd celebrating the free Christmas buses. Image: Leighton Buzzard Lib Dems.

Ride on the L service for free during all four Christmas Saturdays

The coffin of Pte McIntosh is carried to the graveside as his family looks on (Crown Copyright)

Bedfordshire soldiers laid to rest on the Western Front

Clockwise from top left: Bedford Borough Council, Luton Town Hall, Milton Keynes Council and Central Bedfordshire Council

Devolution deadline day - but agreement still uncertain

Millions of UK households face another broadband bill increase in April 2027, even if they are locked into an existing contract, prompting fresh calls for a ban on mid-contract price rises.

Broadband customers face fresh £48 bill warning

Workhorse: the Ryichi wind-up radio is compact but could be a lifesaver

I tested this £29.99 emergency radio for power cuts

Blue Sapphire Care Ltd provides personal care to people living in their own homes

Leighton Buzzard care home provider told it Requires Improvement

Cllr Mark Arnull (right) Leader of West Northamptonshire Council at the England’s Economic Heartland meeting with (from left) Cllr Adam Zerny, Leader of Central Beds Council, Cllr Martin Griffiths, Leader of North Northamptonshire Council and Cllr Tom Wootton, Leader of Bedford Borough Council.

Devolution plan for Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes raises questions

People

One of three Leighton Buzzard warehouses let by Adroit Real Estate Advisors

Three Leighton Buzzard warehouse lettings signal a positive for business
Demand for industrial space in the town continues to outstrip supply in Leighton Buzzard with three more warehouse units now let.
Olga Norford

Neil with his fellow presenters at The 950 Mindset, Sacha and Dan. Image supplied by Neil Mills.

Charity champion takes on skydive and starts mental health podcast

Enjoying the thrill! Bethany takes to the skies. Image: Bethany Waters.

Daughter's charity skydive raises over £3k in honour of dad

Tricia is pictured second from right on the back row

Lioness Tricia helps England roar to victory in mini football World Cup

'Best Pizza in Town': Paulo's car. Image: Paulo Benfeito

That's amore! Fresh pizza to your doorstep thanks to car boot kitchen

Cost of Living

One in five workers are putting parenthood plans on hold

Employees delay parenthood due to concerns over parental leave

Nearly half of homeowners have incurred late payment fees

Disorganised households estimate they pay an extra £801 on bills

Sick of soaring bills? They’re not all going up

The household bill that costs less than 10 years ago

Novuna Consumer Finance is one of the UK's leading providers of retail point of sale finance and personal loans

Ad Feature One in eight households couldn't cover essentials for two months

Crime

Goodness Sokoh used Snapchat to target his victims. Photos: Thames Valley Police and Getty Images

Rapist who used Snapchat to lure victims is jailed for 21 years

Jamie Peck

Police hunt wanted man with links to Bedfordshire

Over 100 arrests since Live Facial Recognition introduced

File photo of a police officer

Man arrested in Bedfordshire after police officer shot in Nottingham

A police car in the Mentmore Road area. Image: Bedfordshire Police.

Police step up patrols after reports of man 'concealing knife'

The motorbike pictured on the kitchen camera before it was stolen. Image supplied by Adam Tester.

'There's no urgency' Police criticised after motorbike stolen

Business

BT, EE, TalkTalk and Vodafone have been named Britain's most complained-about broadband providers in new Ofcom figures, as campaigners call for an end to mid-contract price rises that can add £48 a year to household bills.

Four broadband giants top Ofcom complaints list
New Ofcom figures reveal which broadband companies attracted the most complaints, as millions of customers face the prospect of another £48-a-year increase in their bills.
Marc Reeves

The cheapest supermarket pumpkins might not be where you’d expect them to be this year

Aldi and Lidl beaten by two supermarket rivals in pumpkin price test

The Government recommends households gradually build an emergency kit with practical essentials such as a torch, first aid kit, emergency radio and portable power bank.

Explainer What you need in a Government 3-day emergency kit

Taffy and Chaloner working together in 2025. Image: Mark Lewis.

Leighton Buzzard Railway brewing up 'Coffee Pot' locomotive festival

M&S Sparks customers can earn up to £15 in festive rewards this Christmas by shopping for eligible drinks, flowers and café treats. Photos by Marks and Spencer.

M&S Sparks shoppers can earn £15 in rewards when Christmas shopping

Traffic and Travel

Roadworks stock image. Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images.

Road closures to watch out for in the Leighton Buzzard area

The OOONO Co-Driver No1 traffic alarm alerts drivers to speed cameras

Speed camera warning device reduced to £27

Traffic and travel news. Image: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images.

End in sight to 'chaos' on Hockliffe Street and Hockliffe Road

A pothole on London Road. Image: Iconic Media Group.

£30m plea to government to fix Central Bedfordshire's worst roads

Health

Ambulance control room

Ambulance service handles record 1.5 million 999 calls

Nurosym's earpiece has helped people relieve various symptoms

This unusual earpiece claims to help with anxiety, fatigue and pain

Emergency flashing lights are seen on an ambulance at Royal London Hospital (Photo by Peter Nicholls/Getty Images)

Ambulance service faces busiest year ever as 999 calls surge

'Out of Control?' Image: Home-Start Bedfordshire.

Charity Home-Start Bedfordshire exposes reality of post-separation abuse

The ICB says the main delay currently is funding the clinical director roles (Picture: Brian Jackson, stock.adobe.com)

Funding 'sticking point' for neighbourhood health areas

The GAMSTOP website. Image: GAMSTOP.

Coroner calls for National Lottery inclusion in scheme to block gambling access

Politics

Clockwise from top left: Bedford Borough Council, Luton Town Hall, Milton Keynes Council and Central Bedfordshire Council

Councils urged to work together as devolution deadline looms
Pressure is being applied to Central Bedfordshire Council and Bedford Borough Council to tow the party line on devolution for the county and Milton Keynes.
Euan Duncan, Local Democracy Reporter, additional reporting by Laura Hutchinson

The lift when it was boarded up. Image: Neil Cairns.

Multi-storey car park lift fixed - and repairs to library lift in progress

Mowing grass with a petrol lawn mower in spring. container with the mown grass to it in the compost

Garden waste collections to stop for winter across Central Bedfordshire

Road closures have been announced

Road closures to watch out for including Leighton Buzzard bypass

Latest from NationalWorld.com

BBC Look East presenter Susie Fowler-Watt

BBC presenter quits after 35 years for new career

Why can't we just agree on a direction for plugs to point in, and then stick to it?

The Gadget Agenda: Awkward plugs are driving me up the wall Gareth Butterfield

Millions of UK households face another broadband bill increase in April 2027, even if they are locked into an existing contract, prompting fresh calls for a ban on mid-contract price rises.

Broadband customers face fresh £48 bill warning

The Government recommends households gradually build an emergency kit with practical essentials such as a torch, first aid kit, emergency radio and portable power bank.

Explainer What you need in a Government 3-day emergency kit

UK Trending

Shoppers are preparing for Black Friday by tracking prices and researching products before buying.

Brits fear autumn budget will put pressure on finances

Research found more than four in 10 Brits are envious of Spain’s laid-back approach to mealtimes

Eating out in Britain has become an increasingly rushed affair

Original fireplaces, exposed beams and cornicing have been named the ultimate signs of good taste in the home, according to new research

Period features still deemed 'most stylish' property features

Jenny Ryan put teams through their paces as part of a special celebration for Skipton Building Society members

Quiz star Jenny Ryan stuns punters with surprise pub appearance

Guests were matched with blooms tailored to their mood, leaving with a bouquet designed to uplift, calm or energise

UK’s first ‘Flower Pharmacy’ opens

Guests were matched with blooms tailored to their mood, leaving with a bouquet designed to uplift, calm or energise

UK’s first ‘Flower Pharmacy’ opens

Weather

Leighton Buzzard Railway has moved its steam gala to October due to the prolonged spell of dry weather

Leighton Buzzard Railway steam gala delayed due to dry weather

Another warning as Bedfordshire braced for 'up to 38 degree' heat

Anglian Water is asking people to save water where they can

No hosepipe ban but Anglian Water urges people to save water

Education

MP Alex Mayer was among guests at celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Oak Bank School

Rooted in success: Special school marks 50th anniversary

Maths stock image

Workshop offer adds up to free maths courses in Bedfordshire

Temporary classrooms. Image: Chiltern Learning Trust.

Temporary classrooms needed after leak flooded school building

The final poster design

Schoolchildren join campaign to spread message there is ‘no place for hate’

News you can trust since 1861

© 2026 Iconic Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved.Terms and Conditions Privacy notice