In recent months heavy rain, storms and severe gales have frequently battered the country – with strong winds and thunderstorms possibly continuing during the summer months.

Glen Ranger, Vice-Chairman of the Bedfordshire Local Resilience Forum, offered this advice: “Storm force winds and heavy downpours can damage buildings, cause flooding, interrupt power supplies and disrupt transport networks, as well as endanger lives by felling trees and collapsing boundary walls, for example.

“Regardless of the time of year when storm force winds are forecast, the Met Office will issue a Severe Weather Warning – and you can minimise the effects of severe weather by taking a few precautionary measures.”

If stormy weather is predicted, secure loose objects such as ladders, garden furniture, wheelie bins and trampolines, or anything else that could be blown into windows. Close and securely fasten all doors and windows. Park vehicles in a garage, if available, and keep vehicles away from buildings, trees, walls and fences.

Prepare for possible power cuts or flooding by putting together an emergency box that includes bottled water, a tin opener and tinned food, a wind-up radio and torch, a first aid kit, hand sanitisers, rubbish bags and plastic ties.

During a storm, stay indoors as much as possible - do not go outside to repair damage. If you must go out, do not walk or shelter close to buildings and trees, and keep away from the sheltered side of boundary walls and fences as they can collapse towards this side.

Do not drive unless your journey is essential, and only drive in daylight hours. Take extra care on bridges and high open roads and be prepared for gusts from side winds, particularly if you are towing or are driving a high-sided vehicle. Take extra care driving under trees and through woods.

After a storm, do not touch any electrical or telephone cables that have blown down or are hanging loose. Please check on any vulnerable neighbours or relatives to make sure they are safe and help them to make arrangements for repairs.

For more information visit BLLRF: http://ow.ly/Q7Kv0

A few years ago, Lee Warren, a sport and exercise science student at the University of Bedfordshire, was volunteering on weekends with just two or three people turning up to his football sessions.

Now, he’s a masters level graduate with an enviable job, running the football development for British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS).

How he got there, via stints at Luton Town and Stevenage football clubs, is a tale of perseverance.

“Volunteering on a Saturday with so few people turning up was very disheartening but I believe these experiences have made me come out a better individual,” he said.

Lee’s passion for football kept him going and likeminded people started to trickle in. Eventually, Lee’s activities became oversubscribed and the way was paved for a serious university futsal (small-sided, indoor football) team.

Last season, the side claimed the league and cup double, winning every game on their way to the BUCS Midlands 2B and Midlands Conference Cup titles.

Lee, who still manages the squad and has since initiated a Friday night futsal league at the University, is proud of his coaching achievements, which prepare him well for the UEFA coaching licence he plans to obtain in the future.

He is now employed by the University, as its Football Activator.

He is also now Football Development Co-ordinator, while futsal has become engrained in the BUCS programme.

Homeless Luton families are being put up in a hotel on motorway services because of a shortage of accommodation in the borough.

One young disabled couple moved into the Travelodge at Toddington Services on the M1 on Tuesday after being made homeless.

And Janet Paddison, aged 23, says she was told by the hotel that there are other families there, including one with four children who have been there for five months.

Janet, her partner Rhys, and her four-year-old daughter have been homeless since being evicted from private rented accommodation this week after their landlord decided they wanted to sell the property.

But despite knowing for almost a year that they had to find somewhere else to live, the couple have been unable to find anything in the private sector which would accept housing benefit and her assistance dog.

And Janet says despite Luton Borough Council knowing her situation, it has only been able to offer her a room in a bed and breakfast which when they turned up late on Monday was too small for the three of them.

The couple, Janet suffers from fibromalgia, and Rhys from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, cannot drive, which means they are now marooned at the services.

Her assistance dog has had to be put in kennels.

Breakfast is provided but there are no cooking or clothes washing facilities and the only food available is at inflated service station prices.

“I’ve had a really bad experience with the council,” she said. “It feels like some of my human rights have been violated.

“We don’t know what we can do, no-one seems to care.”

Janet says she has not been told how long she will be at the services and she is concerned that if they have nowhere locally by September her daughter will not be able to take up her new place at primary school.

“I don’t know what we can do,” she says. “No-one seems to care.”

In a statement Luton Borough Council said: “Luton continues to experience a severe shortage of both permanent and temporary housing for various reasons including a residential rental market which is considered to be overheated with private landlords demanding rent levels which cannot be covered in full by Housing Benefit due to legislative restrictions, competition from London authorities reducing the affordable private stock available to local residents as well as increasing number of landlords deciding to sell up making existing households obliged to seek alternate accommodation. In addition we have also lost housing stock through the right to buy which disproportionately impacts upon the supply of family sized homes.

“The Council is working hard to address the supply and demand problem through a number of measures including its New Homes for Luton programme, refurbishing town centre office blocks and derelict garage sites, bringing empty homes back into use, and also preventative work aimed at helping families before they require emergency assistance.

“We are statutorily obliged to provide accommodation to certain classes of applicants who approach the authority as homeless , however due to the shortage of accommodation available in the town we simply are not in a position to offer any reassurances or any guarantee that we can secure temporary accommodation which will enable a household residing as one family with an animal, separate sleeping rooms or rooms for the animal. Nor can we guarantee that the temporary accommodation will be in Luton or close to other family members. Our priority is to secure accommodation which prevents a crisis for the imminently homeless family.”

An empty house in Luton was wrecked by a fire last night – with nearly a quarter of the building destroyed.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue received a call at 23.39 on July 30 about a fire at Lansdowne Road.

When firefighters arrived minutes later, they found the fire raging in the ground floor of the two-storey detached house.

The building is understood to have been vacant at the time and there were no casualties.

By midnight, the fire was extinguished. Around 25% of the ground floor was damaged by fire, with 100% of the building damaged by smoke.

Firefighters stayed on scene for a short time damping down the site of the fire. The incident was closed at 00.09.

The High Court has thrown out a case against Nadine Dorries MP that accused her of smearing a rival candidate during the election.

Independent Tim Ireland lodged an election petition against the MP, whose constuency covers Toddington, Harlington and Barton le Clay in May, but last week the Royal Courts of Justice in London dismissed his claims.

The MP for Mid Bedfordshire, who won with a 23,327 majority, could have lost her seat if she had been found guilty of allegations that she made several attempts to smear Mr Ireland’s reputation.

The initial cost of lodging an election petition can be around £5,500 but costs can spiral once a trial begins, to cover the expense of a legal team.

Mr Ireland secured 384 votes - a 0.7 per cent share of the vote - at the polls on May 7.

Speaking on behalf of Ms Dorries following the ruling, solicitors Clifford Chance said: “This petition was part of Mr Ireland’s continued campaign of harassment against our client.

“Our client believes that the petition was maliciously brought and had no merit.

“We are pleased that the right outcome, namely dismissal of the petition, was achieved.”

Mr Ireland told the Luton News that the London court nullified the petition over a “technicality”.

Dallow was a hive of activity last weekend as hundreds of local residents came together for a free family event.

The ‘Cohen’s Yard’ fun day brought together residents from different communities and backgrounds for the event which included a bouncy castle, rodeo bull, children’s entertainer, archery, entertainment, family fun and games.

The Cohen’s Yard project was set up after a recent ‘drug action day’ to address local community priority issues in the Dallow neighbourhood and was led by Medina Mosque and the All Saints Church; in partnership with Luton Borough Council, Grassroots Programme, Building Blocks, the children’s centre and Beech Hill Methodist Church.

The project, which aims to inspire local community and become active and help resolve community priority issues in the neighbourhood, has also included door-to-door consultation carried out by volunteers, cleaning and painting the park’s play equipment, litter picking, shrub planting.

Cohen’s Yard was one of many local family festivals which have been held in Luton across the summer.

Cllr Jacqui Burnett, Portfolio Holder for community development said: “It’s been a fantastic summer in Luton with more festivals than ever before. Festivals are always loads of fun with lots to do, while doubling as a chance for residents to get involved in decision making, find out about local services and help shape the future of their neighbourhoods.”

British Transport Police have informed the family of the man killed on a railway line close to Leighton Buzzard on Wednesday morning.

The incident at 6.40am caused severe delays to train services, affecting the route between London Euston and Milton Keynes, with further delays felt as far away as Liverpool.

Today, a BTP spokesman said: “We were called to Leighton Buzzard station at 6.41am on Wednesday, July 29, to reports of a person being struck by a train.

“Colleagues from Bedfordshire Police and East of England Ambulance Service also attended.

“A man, believed to be in his 40s and from Leighton Buzzard, was pronounced dead at the scene. His family has been informed.

“The man’s death is not being treated as suspicious, and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”

A dad-of-four from Luton is on top form after winning gold in a powerlifting championship last month.

Gary Dada, 44, took part in the prestigious competition hosted by the British Drug Free Powerlifting Association in Telford among 600 other contestants.

He competed in the unequipped benchpress category. He accomplished three lifts of 210kg, 220kg and 228kg respectively, earning the gold award in the benchpress event and also best unequipped benchpresser of the competition.

Gary, of Caddington Road, also set a new world record in the sport.

He said: “I’ve been going to the gym since my early twenties, and back in 2010, someone said to me ‘why don’t you try powerlifting?’

“It was quite daunting to see all these big guys, but it was a big step from working out on my own but I wanted to do it.

“My kids are really proud of their dad, all of them are into sport.”

Asked what the secret was to sporting success, Gary said: “Eat all the right meals and just simple dedication. I trained five days a week and it’s helped me a lot to get my strength up and work on my technique.”

Gary trains at DW Sports, and when not pumping iron at the gym works hards as a security consultant. His next championship will be in Italy next year.

Among other accolades, he has previously won the Luton Sports Personality Of The Year. He is keen to encourage people in the community and said: “At the moment I train a few young boys and I mentor some young people.

“I don’t use supplements, all my strength comes from daily meals – just eating the right stuff. People tend to think that you need supplements, but you don’t.”

Beds Police would like to speak to a man regarding the theft of a bank card in Luton.

The bank card was stolen from a Barclay’s cash machine in Dunstable Road, Luton, on Monday, June 15.

The victim was distracted at the cashpoint while a thief made off with his card and £200.

The crime reference number for this offence is: C/23182/2015.

If you could help police identify the people the man in the picture, contact the Crime Services Team on 101. Alternatively call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Police want to speak to the man and woman pictured after a purse was stolen from a hand bag hung on a child’s pushchair.

The incident happened in Boots in The Mall, Luton, between 2.10pm and 2.35pm on Friday, June 19. The crime reference number is: C/23770/2015.

If you could help police identify the people in images, please contact the Crime Services Team on 101.

Alternatively call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

A woman arrested at Luton Airport after being deported from Turkey for using a false passport, was trying to get to Syria.

Jamila Henry, aged 22 has been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years for using a relative’s passport when trying to get to the Syrian border.

Henry was detained in Ankara, Turkey by the Turkish authorities on Monday, 16 March whilst en route to the Syrian border.

She was deported from Turkey on Thursday, 19 March, arriving at Luton Airport where she was arrested.

On Saturday, 21 March, Henry was charged with possession of an identity document with intent, contrary to Section 4 of the Identity Documents Act 2010 and remanded in custody.

On Friday, 3 July, at the Old Bailey, Henry entered a plea of guilty.

Commander Richard Walton, Head of the MPS Counter Terrorism Command (SO15), said: “We don’t know Henry’s motivation for trying to get to Syria but we do know the dangers she was putting herself in.

“We continue to be concerned about the number of Muslim women and girls who are currently being enticed to Syria. Those that travel, risk being sexually assaulted or enslaved by the terrorist group Islamic State.”

Anyone who is worried that a family member may be considering travelling can get advice and help by visiting: www.preventtragedies.co.uk

This is a dedicated webpage, created as a one-stop-shop for concerned families to visit to access further information and advice on this issue. The website also provides links to a range of further organisations working in this field.

Members of a drugs gang who conspired to import two tonnes of cannabis and multiple kilos of cocaine into the UK have been jailed for a total of 83 years and four months.

David Leitz, 63, and Paul Taylor, 64, headed up the conspiracy arranging for large quantities of cannabis to be imported into the region before Taylor, of Dunstall Road, Barton, then arranged for the commodity to be delivered onto a network of suppliers and dealers in the UK.

Leitz, who was based in Slovenia had connections in South America, South Africa and Portugal, sourced the drugs and arranged their importation to the UK with his criminal associate Taylor.

They were both jailed on Friday at Luton Crown Court after an 18-month operation by Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU).

Erik Strack van Schijndel, from Amsterdam, was in charge of arranging transport of the cannabis while David Cumberbatch, 55, from Hornsey, London, was a courier for the pair and was stopped on a ‘drug run’ on the M25 with 105kg of cannabis in his vehicle – with a potential street value of £600,000.

The group worked with Colin McNamara, 50, of Hillfield Avenue, Hornsey, who was the link to a number of London-based dealers including Luigi Salvoni, 66, of Uplands Road, Hornsey, and Gavin Leon, 49, of Nightingale Lane, Hornsey.

Barry Gadson, 33, of Mountbatten Gardens, Beckenham, and Douglas Dinsmore, 51, of Beaconsfield Road, Enfield, were also couriers for the gang.

Leitz, Taylor, Starck van Schijndel , McNamara, Salvoni, Leon, Cumberbatch and Gadson all admitted conspiracy to import class B drugs. Dinsmore denied the charge but was convicted following a trial.

The court heard Leitz and Taylor were also involved in a plot to bring multiple kilos of cocaine into the UK. However ERSOU conducted disruption enforcement action and arrested the members of the organised crime group before the drugs could be sourced and imported.

Leitz, McNamara, Rafaelle Contato, 34, of Prayle Grove, London, and Paul Jordan, 49, of Leeside, Barnet, were all convicted of conspiracy to import class A drugs following a trial.

Taylor was deemed unfit to stand trial for the cocaine conspiracy. A fifth man was cleared after trial.

In total drugs with a street value of up to £792,000 and £80,660 in cash was seized during the investigation. A small ‘sample’ of cocaine worth £500 was also seized.

Leitz and Jordan were both jailed for 18 years, Contato was sentenced to 16 years while McNamara was given a 12-year term.

Strack van Schijndel was jailed for five-and-a-half years, Taylor received four-and-a-half years, Salvoni and Gadson were each sentenced to two-and-a-half years while Cumberbatch and Leon were each jailed for 26 months.

Dinsmore was given a 12-month suspended sentence.

T/Det Chief Insp Gary Atkinson who headed up the investigation said: “This was a lengthy investigation into the managers and facilitators of an international crime group.

“ERSOU is committed to investigating organised crime which impacts across the eastern region to protect our communities from these types of offences. The harmful effects of this criminal activity are severe.

“These are dangerous substances which can damage the health of those who use them and also the communities in which they are supplied. I hope the sentences passed by the court today serve as a warning to those bringing drugs into our region – it will not be tolerated and we will do all we can to bring offenders before the courts.”

Gear up for an eyeful of classic cars as the Rotary Club of Luton Someries teams up with Luton and Dunstable MG Owners Club to present its first ever Classic Vehicle Show.

The event takes place at the Pulloxhill Showground from 10am on Sunday, August 9 and will showcase a variety of vintage models including a Ford Model T, MG, Jensen, Figaro, motorcycles and even tractors.

Someries president Steve Pattenden said: “This is our club’s first major event of my presidential year so we’re looking forward to a fine day weather-wise and an enjoyable outing for all the family.
“There’ll be lots of stalls such as auto jumble, ice cream, fish and chips, a licenced bar, photographer and more.”

Entrance is £5 per car and all money raised will go to Rotary charities including End Polio Now, Water Aid and Shelter Box.

The Someries club also organises careers mentoring, kids out, seniors out and help with the home library service.

Steve said: “We are fully committed to our community in and around Luton.”

A fundraising football tournament set up to remember a Luton lad who was tragically killed in a car crash in 2001 is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year.

The Mandip Mudhar Memorial Foundation was founded by Bobby Mudhar in memory of his brother Mandip.

The annual event has not only brought the community together but has also raised more than £7,000 for local charities.

Bobby – a director of Bedfordshire Football Association – said: “We want to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation and diabetes in the BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) communities.”

Mandip’s parents made the difficult decision to donate their son’s organs when he was taken to London’s Royal Free Hospital with severe head injuries.

He was only 20 and a first year student at Kingston University.

This year’s event will take place at Venue 360 on Saturday (August 1).

Bobby said: “It’s great to see so many of our supporters return year after year to back our cause.”

> If you’d like to help call Bobby on 07979 798528.

Volunteers put their backs into completing three tasks at Dunstable’s Weatherfield Academy for young people who have difficulties in mainstream schools.

A group from Aaron Fencing and Thomson – supervised by Luton charity Happy Days – refenced the animal enclosure, redecorated the science laboratory and created new markings on the junior playground.

Headteacher Joe Selmes said: “These projects will help our pupils become the best person they can be.”

Students at Luton Adult Learning were invited to take part in Culture Chest, an annual project highlighting the traditions and communities of different countries.

Each student filled a box with items such as photos, books, clothes and food then featured them in a short presentation to illustrate their own festivals, customs, national dress and cuisine.

They asked each other questions, sampled traditional dishes and agreed it was a fun way to find out about each other’s cultures.

Countries represented this year included Bangladesh, Brazil, England, Ghana, India, Iran, Jamaica, Lithuania, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland and Sri Lanka.

If you would like to enrol for a Luton Adult Learning class, call 01582 490033. Courses include apprenticeships, English, maths, ESOL, childcare, teaching assistants, GCSEs, family learning and leisure.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a window was smashed at a fast food restaurant in Dunstable in the early hours of Friday morning (31 July).

The incident took place between 5.10am and 5.30am, when a fight broke out near McDonald’s in Luton Road.

During the course of the incident a window of the restaurant was smashed.

PC Jennifer Buckley, investigating, said: “Damaging private property is not acceptable and we are keen to trace the group of men involved in this incident.

“I would particularly like to get in touch with a female witness who spoke to McDonald’s staff about the incident at the time.”

Anyone who saw the incident or has information which could assist police is asked to call PC Buckley on 101.

Luton-Dunstable Busway remains partially closed after a serious collision left three injured on Saturday night.

It is thought that a tyre puncture caused a bus to derail close to Kiln Way, at around 11pm.

The driver of the vehicle was among three injured in the incident.

Beds Police, East of England Ambulance Service and Beds Fire & Rescue were called to the scene, but firefighters’ assistance was not needed.

An Arriva spokesperson told the Luton News: “We can confirm that an Arriva bus was involved in an incident on the busway near the Skimpot roundabout on Saturday evening.

“Our driver and two other passengers were injured.

“An investigation has now commenced into the cause of the incident.

“The busway remains closed between Skimpot and the White Lion retail park until minor repairs can be carried out.”

Luton Borough Council has said that it is “working with Arriva to investigate the cause of the incident.”

Bedfordshire Police has urged the public to be vigilant and spot the signs of modern slavery after a new law came into force on Friday.

The Modern Slavery Act 2015 act makes it easier for police to pursue, disrupt and bring to justice those committing what they describe as “devastating offences”.

The Leighton Buzzard area made national headlines in September 2011 following a dawn raid on the Greenacres Caravan Site in Little Billington, which culminated in several family members being successfully prosecuted for offences relating to servitude, compulsory labour and assault.

Modern slavery can take many forms including forced labour, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude and street crime.

Men, women and children in Bedfordshire are subject to these offences and the act is designed to bring to justice the perpetrators and protect the victims.

New offences under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 have come into effect, simplifying the way police can combat the issue.

They also carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a considerable increase from previous offences.

It is a crime to force people into slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour.

A separate trafficking offence has come into force for if a person arranges or facilitates the travel of another person with a view to them being exploited.

Det Chief Insp David Cestaro, the force lead for modern slavery, said: “We welcome the new act, which will assist operational investigators and prosecutors to identify modern slavery cases and hopefully see an increase in prosecutions.

“We are confident that this will help us tackle the rising number of incidents and make our service to vulnerable victims much more transparent.

“Modern slavery is a priority for Bedfordshire Police.

“It is often a hidden crime and raising awareness is crucial.

“We are working hard with partners to protect vulnerable people in our county who are being exploited or at risk of being targets for these organised criminals.

“We need the help of the public to speak out and report any suspicions.”

> If you are concerned that someone is victim of modern slavery or you have any information that could assist the police call immediately on 101 or text 07786 200 011.

Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

A teenager has died after a motorbike crash early on Sunday morning.

Eitvydas Zdanys, 19, of Hatfield Road, Dagenham, Essex, suffered fatal injuries after his Kawasaki ZX600 motorcycle was involved in a collision with a silver Toyota Prius on Dunstable Road, near its junction with Skimpot Road at 2.10am yesterday.

His passenger, a 20-year-old man from Luton, suffered serious injuries and is currently at Luton and Dunstable Hospital.

The driver of the Toyota, a 47-year-old man from Luton was not injured.

PC Helen Carpenter said: “I would appeal to anyone who witnessed the collision, or either vehicle prior to it, to call police.”

Anyone with any information should call the Roads Policing Unit on 101.