Four men have been arrested on suspicion of immigration offences after an incident on the M1 after being tracked down by Beds police dog unit.

At 7am today, police were called to the Toddington service station off the northbound carriageway of the M1 following a report that a group of people had jumped from the back of a parked lorry.

A group of people fled the scene as officers arrived and an officer and dog from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire (BCH) Dog Unit were deployed to assist, as well as the police helicopter.

Police Dog Kane, who is the unit’s oldest dog at eight and a half years old, was used and was soon tracking.

He led his handler, PC Graham Ashby, from the forecourt of the service station and into a nearby field.

The pair then crossed a small river, entered a second field and went through bushes before reaching the bank of another river.

Kane tracked along the riverbank and located three men. A fourth person ran, entered the river and crossed to the other side.

After the detained men were taken back to other officers, PD Kane and PC Ashby returned to the waist-deep river and waded across.

The police helicopter was overhead at this stage and directed the pair towards dense undergrowth where the person was last seen.

Kane again started tracking and quickly located the person who was also then detained.

PC Ashby from the BCH Dog Unit said: “It’s an absolute pleasure to work with Kane and, although he is our oldest dog, he still has an excellent nose and brilliant agility. We work together extremely well and we’re always happy to assist other policing teams at various different incidents.

“You can now follow our team’s work on Twitter by visiting www.twitter.com/dogpoliceBCH. Here you’ll find the latest news about, and photos of, the team and our partners on four paws.”

A far-right group which provoked anger after ‘invading’ two Bury Park mosques has announced a large scale demonstration through Luton, we can reveal.

Britain First, formed four years ago by ex-BNP members, will stage a protest through the town on June 27 to “demonstrate that Luton is an English town not a mini caliphate”.

Last June group leader Paul Golding and other members were filmed storming into Luton Central Mosque and Bury Park Mosque to hand out leaflets and bibles.

The group, which called the visit an ‘invasion’, were seen doorstepping a number of other mosques across the country in similar videos.

Next month’s protest, which has been been denounced by a number of community leaders, is expected to bring between 500-1000 protestors into the town.

Britain First deputy leader Jayda Fransen told the Luton News: “At the moment the plans that have been made are for a march through the town, then speeches will be given.

“This is the first one that we have held one in Luton so we are expecting a good turnout.

“We had around 500 turn up to one in Dudley the other week and we are aiming to get far more than that on the streets.”

On why the demonstration has been organised, Miss Fransen said: “Luton is a hotbed for Islamic extremism and locals have appealed for us to go there.

“We are against Islamic extremism but do not oppose people because of race.

“We expect to have a lot of opposition there on the day but it is not something that will put us off.”

Dawood Masood, founder and CEO of Quba Trust, criticised the plans.

He told the Luton News: “As a proud young Lutonian it does worry me that an organisation that has previously been known to dirupt and barge in to local faith institutions is intending to come and cause more anxiety into our town.

“Marching into a town centre and shouting is not really going to achieve anything.

“They are not putting “Britain” First but themselves and their own political agenda.”

He added: “I believe that groups like Britain First have a misconstructed understanding of Islam.

“I believe the hatred Britain First have for the Muslims and Islam is born out of ignorance and lack of interaction with real, decent, normal Muslims. “As a Muslim i believe, our Prophet, is a prophet of mercy, he taught us, the only way to overcome anger and hatred is through dialogue and discussion.”

Concerns have also been raised that the demonstration will be a drain on police resources.

Last November a 400 strong group of English Defence League protesters marched from the Brache to Park Square, an event which ended with six arrests.

Beds Police fielded 300 officers, ten horses and a dozen dogs to manage the demonstration, though the whole operation required the input of around 700 staff.

A subsequent EDL protest on New Year’s Eve attracted just 12 protestors, but cost the force £23,111 due to contingency plans that were put in place.

Luton South MP Gavin Shuker slammed the plans for a Britain First demonstration.

He told the Luton News: “Once again Luton is being targeted by a far right march, the difference between now and 2010 is that now we have fewer officers and a bigger hole in the police budget.

“There is a place for free speech and the police can only ban a march if it is demonstrated that they will not be able to control it.

“These extremists will come and have a few beers and a lovely time spreading their message of hate but once again we will pick up the tab.

“Luton taxpayers will be stuck with the bill for people coming in from outside of Luton.”

Police boss Olly Martins has described the current referendum rules as “an affront to democracy” following the ‘no’ vote to increase the police precept in the county.

He is calling on the Electoral Commission to conduct an urgent review of the regulations he had to follow when residents were asked to vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to an increase in the amount they pay towards policing on May 7.

He believes the referendum question and the information he was allowed to provide to taxpayers were inadequate to the task.

The Police and Crime Commissioner was “deeply disappointed but acceptant” of the outcome which saw most voters saying ‘No’ to his proposed 15.8% increase - an annual rise that amounted to £24.80 extra for a Band D property.

Condemning the unfairness of a process which he believes did not allow people to make an informed decision, he said: “The question set by the government on the ballot papers failed to mention what the cash amount of the increase was. Furthermore, it created the misleading impression that the percentage rise was on the whole of the council tax.”

He also believes that the Bedfordshire referendum, held on the same day as the General Election, “established beyond doubt that the heavily restricted amount of information and promotional activity allowed for by the regulations is insufficient to allow people to make an informed decision. This has all since led to frustrated residents expressing to me their dismay at the wording, and saying they would have voted ‘Yes’ if they had understood what they were being asked”.

Mr Martins had triggered the referendum by setting a rise in the police precept that was greater than 2%.

With Chief Constable Colette Paul advising that 300 more officers are needed to bring the force’s resource level up to the average, Mr Martins concludes: “I will continue to press for fairer funding for Bedfordshire Police, as county representatives have for at least the last 10 years, but I will also press the point that in the light of our experience the government should now review the regulations so that they support rather than stifle democratic debate.”

Artists from across the county have united to stage what may be the biggest celebration of local art ever held in Bedfordshire.

Artists Network Bedfordshire is holding its first spring exhibition at Parkside Hall in Ampthill this weekend.

It features the diverse work of some 50 artists, including woodwork master Tom Frost from Houghton Regis, and Bedford artist Anne-Marie Stijelja – whose mosaics are made entirely out of stamps.

Tom, who is one of the event’s organisers, said: “The idea came from a push to think a little bigger in our attempts to bring unique and interesting pieces of art to the people of Bedfordshire.

“Making art is a hard and sometimes lonely business, but selling it is much more effective when artists collaborate.”

Metal-work maestro Jim Francis from Willingtonwill also be showing at the exhibition.Francis is known for his metal statues (a metal hedgehog certainly made an impression on this reporter) and wall hangings.

Jennifer Steele, of Artists Network Bedfordshire, said: “It’s the largest group show ever organised by the ANB, with many artists in order to have as varied a show as possible. All the places in the exhibition have been taken, so we’re expecting an excellent show.”

Tom added: “There will be several hundred pieces of art that are unique, individual and affordable, covering everything from pottery and furniture to paintings and sculpture.”

The spring exhibition runs at Parkside Hall, Ampthill, from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24.

The event is free with refreshments provided. All art is for sale.

Opinion is split over a new sign which will welcome drivers into Luton from the motorway.

As part of extensive works to the Junction 10a airport exit a new ‘Welcome to Luton’ sign has been created out of 20mm stone chippings.

The multi-million pound project has been in the pipeline for years and is now nearing completion, though it was never previously expected the scheme would feature a ‘welcome’ sign.

A council spokesperson told the Luton News trees would be planted around the sign to improve the aesthetics of the junction.

He added there were currently no plans to place advertising on the blank space to the right of the sign, akin to the sponsoring on the 12 smaller wooden welcome signs dotted around the town.

Reaction to the new addition to Junction 10a was mixed on the Luton News’ social media pages.

On Twitter Richard Armstrong branded the sign “horrific”, adding “why isn’t it straight?” James McGrath disagreed, telling us: “It’s good, needs the town coat of arms next to it.”

On Facebook Sarah Lawlor commented: “Very nice, it certainly is an improvement.”

Another follower added that the new sign “looks fantastic”.

Othere criticised the design of the sign, branding it “dull” and “plain and boring”.

One of the more inventive reactions came from Luton graphic design studio Flipped Out Creative, which photoshopped our picture to read ‘Welcome to the Jungle’.

> What do you make of the new sign? Email editorial@lutonnews.co.uk or drop us a tweet @LutonNews

Police have released CCTV of a man they want to speak to after a theft from a Luton shop.

Several items were taken from John Smith’s book shop in the Mall, Luton, at around 1.45pm on Wednesday 29 April.

The items including a wallet, bags, stationary and protein shakes were concealed in a large bag before the offender left the store.

Anyone with information that could help identify the people pictured is asked to contact police on 101, text 07786 200 011 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Stopsley High School is mired in dissent after more than a hundred pupils urged Luton Borough Council to investigate the school.

The Herald & Post has obtained a petition, signed by 111 students, which levels a number of accusations against headteacher Karen Johns.

Mrs Johns strongly denies the claims.

The pupils claim staff departing the school or who have already left “are important members of staff and key to our education”.

A letter which accompanied the petition claimed students had been told how to behave during a recent Ofsted inspection – which classed the school as ‘good’.

It said: “We have been protesting in school about the way the school is run ...but Mrs Johns has forced us to keep quiet and threatened us with actions. There is something very wrong with the way our school is being run.”

It added: “As pupils of Stopsley High School we officially request our concerns are investigated as a matter of urgency.”

Parent Yvonne Nolan exclusively told the Herald & Post that the school is “in chaos”.

She said: “I’m getting all of this through my 16-year-old son, there has been no communication through the school which I find appalling.

“When you have got kids taking it upon themselves to get involved in these things it is shocking.

“At 16 my son should not be involved in staffing issues, he is sitting his GCSEs and does not need any distractions.

“Would it not be responsible of local authority or the school to nip this in the bud?”

Mrs Nolan added: “What is happening at the school is by the bye, my main concern is that we have been told nothing at all.

“It would be nice if they explain the steps that have been taken as at the moment the place is an absolute shambles.”

Karen Johns, headteacher at Stopsley High School, said: “These serious allegations are complete nonsense. The school is undergoing a formal restructuring process, working closely with the council’s human resources department, school governors and relevant unions to ensure all official procedures are being followed.

“We appreciate that any time of change can be difficult for everyone involved. However, Wave 2 organisational changes or redundancies affecting individuals have not yet been completed so it would be inappropriate for us to comment any further on the changes at this stage.”

New council tax bills will be sent to 113,550 homes in Central Beds following the results of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s council tax referendum.

The 15.84% increase in the police portion of the bill will be replaced by a rise of just 1.99%.

Residents will be re-billed on the basis of this lower rate which represents an annual charge of £159.67 for a band D property (as opposed to the charge of £181.35 arising from the 15.84 per cent increase).

As a contingency measure, both precept amounts were ratified by the council in February.

All council tax bills will now be reissued to reflect the referendum result and a reduction applied which will be back dated to April 1, 2015. The average reduction on a band D property will amount to £21.68 for the year.

Residents should continue to pay their council tax in the usual way until they receive the revised bill, which will be issued during week beginning June 8. The revised bill will confirm the reduced charge and revised monthly instalment payments.

For more information about the council tax referendum and its impact on council tax visit the council website www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/counciltax to read the council tax referendum frequently asked questions flyer.

A group of church ministers and community workers have urged a far-right group to reconsider its plans to march through Luton next month.

On Wednesday the Luton News exclusively revealed that Britain First had unveiled plans to demonstrate through the town on June 27 to “demonstrate that Luton is an English town not a mini caliphate”.

Last June group leader Paul Golding and other members were filmed storming into Luton Central Mosque and Bury Park Mosque to hand out leaflets and bibles.

In an open letter to Mr Golding, church leaders from across Luton have challenged the group’s self-proclaimed Christian stance and have asked for its plans to be shelved.

It reads: “Britain First regularly claim to be defending Christian Britain... however the atmosphere on your marches, and those like them, and the way you operate does not represent Christianity nor the church in Luton.

“As Christians we are committed to share our faith, but we’re also called to love our neighbour, and live at peace with them.

“Britain First seems to have a very different approach.

“We certainly have a large Muslim community in Luton, but there is no no-go zone for non-Muslims, and certainly not the mini-caliphate you claim.

“In fact three of us lead churches in Bury Park, and we are active and well-regarded all around the area, and work together with Muslim colleagues for the good of the whole community.”

It adds: “There are problems between members of our communities, but we are committed to dealing with them positively together, and have people and structures we can call on for help in resolution of things that could divide us.

“Marches like this do not deal with extremism, they simply have the potential to stir up more trouble as the Luton community feels threatened by the march, and many from all communities are angered by your intended presence.”

The full list of signatories to the letter are:

- Rev Mike Jones, Vicar, St Marys Luton

- Bishop Richard Atkinson, Bishop of Bedford (covering Luton)

- Rev Janet Mackenzie, Area Dean for Luton CofE churches.

- Rev David Kesterton, Vicar, All Saints with St Peter’s, Bury Park

- Monsignor Kevin McGinnell, Parish Priest at Holy Ghost, Bury Park Luton and dean for pastoral area of Luton and St Albans.

- Rev Lloyd Denny, Pastor, Restoration and Revival Fellowship, Bury Park

- Michael Singleton, Chair, Churches Together in Luton

- Rev Julie Bradshaw, Superintendent Minister for Methodist Churches in Luton and Dunstable

- Rev Andrew Gale, Central Baptist Church, Luton

- Tony Thompson, Hope Church Luton

- Sue Penn, Secretary, Churches Together in Luton

- Alan Smith, member Churches Together in Luton exec

- Maureen Borbonne, Churches Together in Luton exec

- Peter Adams, Working in Interfaith Relations and Peacebuilding based at St Mary’s Luton and with churches across the town

Beds police have issued a warning of the increased likelihood of raves this weekend.

They are warning all owners of land and rural businesses to check their property and ensure that all buildings and gates are locked over the weekend period. If it is not possible to secure land with a gate, it is suggested that entrances are blocked temporarily to prevent unwanted vehicle access.

Should you find any signs of suspicious activity or see vehicles arriving, please contact the Police by dialling 101.

A man who attempted to extract more than £14,000 out of his elderly neighbour has received three 12 month suspended sentences.

Ronald Christie, 31, who now lives in Dundee but who was living in Luton at the time of the offences, held his elderly neighbour at knife point and made her call her bank in order to transfer her savings into his account.

The bank worker who took the call was suspicious and stopped the transaction from going through, before alerting the police.

Previously Christie had forged three cheques from the same victim totalling £7,559.

Two of the cheques weren’t processed as two of them did not have the victim’s legitimate signature on them, however Christie did manage to con the victim out of £2500.

Christie was sentenced at Luton Crown Court on Friday.

He also received a 12 month supervision order, and a High Court Sheriff’s order of £250 was made to the bank worker who alerted police to the attempted bank transfer.

Detective constable Dave Brecknock called the targeting of the elderly victim an “abhorrent crime”.

Spectators at Luton Carnival will have a pleasant surprise on Sunday when they see the mascot leading the procession.

She’s a real beauty, and that’s not to be tusked at...

Meet Harminder, the cycle-powered elephant who will power the procession from Wardown Park to Luton town centre this Sunday, May 22.

She comes courtesy of carnival company Festive Road – based in Milton Keynes.

A statement from the company said: “Harminder the elephant was over joyed when she was chosen to ride in this years Luton International Carnival.”

It added that she would: “trundle her trunk alongside some of Carnival’s finest!”

The procession will leave Wardown Park at 1.30pm.

Police have confirmed that the bomb found at Wembley has been detonated in Bedfordshire.

The location was believed to have been Kensworth, but authorities are refusing to name the precise location.

The 110lb device was discovered on Thursday by builders working near Wembley Stadium.

A Beds Spokesman had asked the public not to be alarmed if they heard an explosion.

Weight Watchers leaders and members donned decorated bras to take part in the Moon Walk in London.

The team of five took part in the marathon night-time walk around London in aid of Walk the Walk.

Walk the Walk works with charities involved with breast cancer.

Local Weight Watchers Leader Fiona Campion said: “During our 12 weeks of training, we have walked over a total of 350 miles each.

“Throughout our training, the members of my Weight Watchers meetings have shown their support by cheering us all on via Facebook and beeping their car horns when they spotted us as we train.

“The generosity of our friends, family and members has been phenomenal to help us achieve such a huge amount of sponsorship.”

The team has lost over 22 stone between them.

Having lost over 75lbs in the last 12 months Stevie Holliman, Weight Watchers member said “This time last year I would never have dreamed of signing up to something like this.”

To find out more about how Weight Watchers can help you achieve your weight loss goals, contact Fiona Campion on 07957 515695 or visit www.weightwatcherslocal.co.uk

More than 300 people from across the county flocked to a service at Dunstable’s Priory Church of St Peter.

It was one of thanksgiving and rededication for voluntary organisations held by the Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Helen Nellis, and addresssed by the Bishop of Bedford, the Rt Rev Richard Atkinson.
VIP guests included the Duchess of Bedford, the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire and the Earl and Countess of Erroll.

The theme of the service, led by Dunstable rector Rev Richard Andrews, was social justice. It included references to the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta and the 70th anniversary of VE Day as well as the significant contribution made to county life by voluntary organisations.

It featured soprano Sofia Tselepidou and a reading from Nelson Mandela’s Peace Prize acceptance speech, as well as an extract from an untitled poem by Paul H Scott at the Runnymede Memorial.

Young musicians from Stopsley Primary School have been chosen by the BBC to promote a national music project at the Royal Albert Hall.

The Stopsley pupils were spotted by the BBC after the Luton Music Service showed the production team a video of them performing a whole class-concert for parents.

The BBC team invited four members of the class to the Royal Albert Hall to have their photos taken with percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, soprano Danielle De Niese, BBC presenter Katie Derham and conductor Nicholas Collon for the proms’ main promotional image.

Headteacher Jackie Chidwick said: ‘We were thrilled that the children were asked to go to the Royal Albert Hall. Having their photograph taken with such an illustrious team was a wonderful opportunity for them too. The ten piece children’s proms will take place in July and we are hoping that a number of our children will be taking part but this is yet to be confirmed.’

There will be two Ten Pieces Proms at the Royal Albert Hall on July 18 and 19.

A charity auction will raise funds for Relate counselling sessions for young people at Luton’s TOKKO youth space.

Currently, 70 young people are waiting for confidential Relate counselling at TOKKO.

Relate is holding its networking and charity auction event at the UK Centre for Carnival Arts on Monday June 8.

The event is at 6pm and the auction begins at 6.45pm, with plenty of low-cost items on offer, such as cinema tickets, bus passes and meals for two, as well as more costly items.

Lot number 27 is a meal for two at Luton’s new American-style restaurant Ed’s Diner, when it opens in June.

Auctioneer Russell Beard, of auctioneers Charles Ross, will be encouraging bids for the chance to learn the skills of an auctioneer.

There will be a chance to have a go on a climbing wall. Money raised from this will go towards paying for extra equipment at the TOKKO youth space, so the climbing wall can be adapted for use by disabled young people.

For an invitation to the auction, email peter.law@relatebedsandluton.org.uk

A Luton charity is nudging an online retail business closer to its aim of working with 1,000 charities this year.

Gifts4you.tv has just signed up Luton-based Happy Days charity, which sends young people with mental and physical disabilities on days out.

Gifts4you.tv provides online platforms for charities to sell licensed products, including merchandise from the likes of Dr Who, Disney’s Frozen, and football clubs such as Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea.

The website then donates a percentage of each sale to the charity linked with the site.

Gifts4you.tv was launched by Adam Maddock last October following the death of his six-year-old sister Vanessa from leukaemia.

Mr Maddock said: “We are growing our partner numbers daily and it’s great to have Happy Days on board. Our target is to be linked with 1,000 charities by the end of this year.”

Rob Cox from Happy Days said: “We send kids whose parents can’t afford for them to go on days out to places like Alton Towers, to the cinema and to concerts.

“We think this is a lovely partnership and a great concept as you can buy yourself something nice as well as supporting a local charity.

“By selling the goods that people want, more people will see the work that Happy Days do, and it’s a good way to hear about our charity.”

Find out more about Happy Days at www.happydayscharity.org

Follow the charity on Twitter @HappyDaysCharit and Facebook Happy Days Children’s Charity.

Thousands of people turned up to watch the spectacular Luton Carnival procession through the town centre today.

At 1.30pm, the famous float – lead by Harminder the remote controlled elephant – left Wardown Park on its way to the town centre.

In town, the main stage at St Georges Square hosted each of the procession’s acts – who danced to a mixture of traditional and comtemporary dance anthems.

After the procession passed the town hall, it returned to Wardown Park where the party continued until 6.30pm.

Heart FM’s Stuart and Katy spent the day teaching Chantry Primary Academy pupils as part of their work experience.

The breakfast show presenters have been challenged to do some work experience, last week they visited the Tomlinson Avenue primary school.

Headteacher Cori Bateman invited them to teach her year four classes about values.

They had to read a story, Five Minutes Peace, to the class and prompt a discussion about their value of the month, tolerance.

Mrs Bateman said: “The children had a fantastic time.

“Both classes responded brilliantly, listening attentively and then asking lots of probing questions to really challenge the breakfast show presenters!

“The children loved having the familiar voices in the class with them and it was great for them to put faces to the voices, as so many of them are only used to hearing them on the radio!

“Both Stuart and Katy commented on how brilliant the children were, and of course, we are very proud of the children for welcoming our guests so well.”

For more information about Stuart and Katy’s work experience, visit: www.heart.co.uk/fourcounties/on-air/stuart-katys-work-experience/