It expires after 2.5 years and costs about £1,400 each time. How’s the immigration department preparing for Brexit? I foresee massive wait times. What will that mean for my husband and his status - including his right to work?

A. After March 29, EU citizens will need to apply for settled or pre-settled status to remain in the UK. This obviously won't apply to your husband as he is Japanese but I can see why you are concerned about increased waiting times if most EU citizens do need to contact the UK Visas and Immigration department at a similar time.

The good news is that the deadline for applying will be June 30, 2021, if we leave with a deal in place, or December 31, 2020 without a deal, so hopefully applications will be spread out over that time period.

Read more: How Brexit will affect every ingredient of a full English breakfast

To prepare, the UK Visas and Immigration department, under the Home Office, is opening new service centres in Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Cardiff, Belfast and Croydon to help people applying for work or study visas, settlement or citizenship from within the UK. There will also be 50 enhanced service centres nationally for people who are willing to pay for things like same day appointments, and on-demand services, along with a premium lounge in London. An additional seven dedicated Service and Support Centres will be located in in Belfast, Cardiff, Croydon, Glasgow, Liverpool, Sheffield and Solihull for anyone who needs more support with their applications.

All of this should help ease the burden and decrease delays. However, even the best laid plans can go wrong, especially when it involves such a large initiative, so what would happen if your husband didn't get his visa back in time?

Well, the government has confirmed that, providing he makes his application at least 28 days before his visa ends, that his immigration status will stay the same..

He’ll still have the right to work, access education and receive benefits while he waits for a new visa.

.Do you have a Brexit-related question? Email gemma.jimmison@jpress.co.uk

The son of a Luton Herald & Post columnist has appeared on the big screen in his film debut in The Kid Would Be King.

Seb Hendrix, son of nightlife columnist Tony Hendrix, was a featured extra in the film about a group of kids who embark on a quest to defeat a medieval menace.

On Monday, 12-year-old Seb and his friends and family went to Beford’s Vue cinema to watch the film before it is released on Friday, February 15.

Before moving to Bedford, Seb and his family lived in Luton where he attended Moorlands School (now known as The Linden Academy).

He started acting and was signed to a Bedford agent in 2016, and his first job was the Summer Asda 2017 advert. He is now signed to Bonnie and Betty, a London agent.

Emma Firman, Seb’s mum, said: “He was really excited to see how the film cam together because it wasn’t shot in sequence.

“We were invited to the cast and crew premiere but we were away so we decided to take his friends with us to see it, there was about 28 of us that went.

“It is his first film and he really enjoyed it, it was a really good experience.

“He doesn’t have any lines but he is in the classroom with a group of children and the main character.

Seb, who attends Rushmere School, continued his studies while filming, while he was doing the longer days in Leavesden Studios in Watford, they were tutored for at least five hours of the day,

His mum added: “On the days where filming was a bit longer and it was term time, they would do work that the school had given him or the tutors would give them work.

“It was good that they helped them keep up with their studies, but it meant it would be quite long days sometimes, it would often be 8am till 8pm or 10am till 10pm. The school were really supportive and encouraged Seb.

“He is not sure what he wants to do next but he really enjoyed this experience and he liked seeing what goes on behind the scenes.

“This was one of the best experiences he has had the pleasure to be part of, and made a great group of acting friends along the way!”

Love is in the air with Valentine’s Day just a day away, so what do you have planned?

Maybe it’s a slap-up meal, a bouquet of flowers, or a romantic card...

You might get an inkling of what your other half might have planned thanks to online greetings card/gift retailer Funky Pigeon.

They sent this website some localised stats from their 23 million strong customer base which reveals if men or women are the most romantic in Luton, Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard and also which names are most likely to splash out at a florist.

Let’s start in Luton where 74% of Valentine’s Day cards are sent by females, and 26% by males. The top female card senders in Luton are:

1. Sarah

2. Claire

3. Louise

4. Nicola

5. Rebecca

Of those sending flowers, a high proportion are men (91%), leaving just 9% coming from Luton women. The top male names who send flowers are listed as:

1. Michael

2. David

3. Lee

4. Sean

5. Paul

Over in Dunstable, of card senders for Valentine’s Day, 71% are sent by females, and 29% by males.

The top female senders are:

1. Nicola

2. Laura

3. Sarah

4. Louise

5. Karen

Of flower senders, 67% are from the men of Dunstable, and 33% from the ladies.

The top male names who send flowers are Stuart and Hendrik.

In Leighton Buzzard 68% of card senders are female, 32% male.

The top female senders on Valentine’s Day are:

1. Sarah

2. Gemma

3. Lisa

4. Kelly

5. Wendy

As for Valentine’s flowers 89% come from men, 11% from the ladies. The top male gifters are:

1. Stuart

2. Richard

3. Thomas

4. Stephen

5. Simon

The company has also created an interactive tool to test lovers’ compatibility, predicting what you will receive for Valentine’s Day. https://www.funkypigeon.com/blog/most-romantic-valentines-day/

A. This is a popular question where Brexit is concerned.

The answer is that there's no need to do anything until your current passport is ready for renewal. British passports will change after we leave the EU, with blue and gold passports making a return from October 2019, but you'll still be able to travel on your old burgundy passport until it runs out.

You will need to have at least six months left on your passport to travel to an EU country although this won't apply to you for some time. If you renewed your passport before it expired, then any extra months won't count either. In other words, your passport should not be any older than nine years and six months when you travel. This is only applicable if we leave with no deal. If we leave with a deal, then current travel rules will still apply, at least during the transition period.

A ‘ghost broker’ from Luton has been sentenced for setting up fake companies and stealing the details of real companies to buy 10 fraudulent fleet insurance policies.

The policies covered approximately 70 different vehicles, some of which had been involved in criminal activity.

Following an investigation by the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED), Suhail Hussain, 29, of Armitage Gardens, Luton, was sentenced to two years in prison at Inner London Crown Court on Monday.

Between December 2013 and February 2016, Hussain registered seven fraudulent companies with Companies House and also used stolen details of five legitimate companies, both with the aim of buying fake fleet insurance policies.

When setting up some of the fake companies, Hussain lied about being a solicitor, and this was proven false by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). A statement from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) also confirmed that he wasn’t authorised to act as an insurance broker.

By taking out fleet policies, he could add numerous vehicles onto them for a fraction of the price of real cover.

Some of the vehicles his policies covered had been involved in criminal activity, and it’s believed they were added to these policies to make them harder to trace.

Hussain bought 10 insurance fleet policies, worth a total value of approximately £60,000, and over 70 different vehicles were added to them.

IFED also discovered that Hussain had used the details of two real companies to make fraudulent insurance claims for two car accidents, worth £6,990.

Detective Constable Andrew Porcher, who the led the investigation for IFED, said: “Not only did Hussain act deceitfully to take out numerous false fleet insurance policies, he also helped facilitate wider criminality.

“This should act as a warning to anyone who is thinking of setting up fake companies or exploiting the details of real ones to commit insurance fraud, you will be caught and you will be punished.”

The Rotary bandstand for Luton is now being built following more than four years of delays, with a complete architect redesign to satisfy Luton public’s opinion and council’s planning department.

The beginning of building work was marked with a ground-breaking ceremony on Monday attended by the Bishop of Bedford, the Rt Rvd Richard Atkinson and Lord McKenzie of Luton, a former Parliamentary under-secretary for the department of communities and local government.

MP Kelvin Hopkins, leaders of the Rotary movement in Luton, plus the Rotary district governor for Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire Dave Ford were also there.

The new building to replace the original bandstand is of Victorian design and will be sited at the north westerly side of Wardown Park, approached via an avenue of trees. Building work is expected to take 14 weeks.

When complete the bandstand will be available for all kinds of cultural activities such as music and drama and be a great addition to Luton’s cultural heritage.

Four Luton Rotary clubs worked assiduously to set up the bandstand for Luton, led by Alan Corkhill a member of the lead club, Luton North.

The bandstand will cost £250,000 and has been financed by the Steel Charitable Trust, local donations and other supporters of Rotary. It has been gifted to Luton Borough Council who will be responsible for its maintenance and the control of the entertainment.

Lord McKenzie, the project’s patron, said: “It’s a wonderful day for Luton and congratulations to the Rotary clubs who have worked hard on the project. The bandstand will be a fantastic facility for the local community and will add to the many exciting things in our town.”

Dunstable’s last remaining nightclub Club Cookies closes its doors this Saturday 16th February for its final farewell party.

Following nine very successful years of throwing the biggest and best parties in Bedfordshire, owners of the venue have decided to call it a day.

Last year Club Cookies was the overall winner for Dunstable and Houghton Regis in the Central Beds Council-run Best Bar None awards

This is a massive blow to both Luton and Dunstable’s nightlife. The venue also served as a home for Luton’s young clubbers.

Over the years Dunstable has been the victim of many closures, The Nags Head, The Saracens Head, Unity NightClub which survived just six weeks, The Crown, the list just goes on and on.

It now appears that the only night time entertainment available locally for the youngsters is the dreaded club in a pub!

Over the years Cookies & Cream/Club Cookies have spent over £250k on entertainers and acts including chart topping global stars such as Jason Derulo, DJ EZ, Yxng Bane, Not3s, Professor Green, Pendulum and more.

It’s so sad that today’s youngsters will have no fond memories of any major nightclubs like their parents had... to name a few Genies, Mirage, Charlie Browns, Ritzy, The Zone and Legends.

Nightclubs are now done, it’s just a matter of time till they become extinct.

There is very little money to be made in clubs and unfortunately the society we live in today the risk of public order offences and booze-fueled violence can too easily lead to forced closure by the authorities .

A few words from Club Cookies owners: “We would like to thank all of the customers, staff and local businesses that have made the last 9 years so successful and would like to throw one last party this Saturday to see out ‘Cookies’ in style.”

No - if there is no deal there's no transition period.

The transition period was set up as part of the EU Withdrawal Agreement. If this goes ahead, then the transition period would run from March 29 when we officially leave the EU up until December 2020 (although the European Union has already said it would be willing to extend the period to 2021 or 2022).

During this period, the UK would trade with the EU in the same way we do now while the two parties agree a new and permanent relationship. It would help businesses, individuals and the government to prepare for new arrangements and minimise the disruption from any changes.

If the withdrawal is rejected, then this is what is being called a no deal Brexit, and there will be no transition period. If this happens, all changes would happen immediately on March 29.

We're getting to the bottom of all your Brexit-related questions. Email gemma.jimmison@jpimedia.co.uk

Luton’s bin collection change has had an unexpected bonus - it’s help catch some dodgy landlords.

The news came as councillors agreed to roll out food waste collections trials in Barnfield, Bushmead and Saints ward.

These weekly collections are the latest phase of the borough council’s plans to make savings on its household waste costs.

Money saved during the initial stages of the switch to fortnightly bin collections led to the food waste round being brought forward to the end of this month from May.

Councillor Tom Shaw told an executive meeting: “The trial’s underway at the moment.

“Every week it gets better,” he said. “People are getting used to it. It’s exactly as we suggested.

“There are a lot of people trying to blame us over any bit of flytipping in the town.

“When we investigate, it’s not true. What we have done is found a lot of unlicensed houses in multiple occupancy (HMOs).

“One of them resulted in a £67,000 fine.

“It’s working and recycling is up four per cent,” he added. “That gives us a big saving, which allows us to introduce the food waste round.

“Hopefully, if we can increase the savings even more, we’ll be able to fetch in more food waste rounds even quicker.

“We can only do that when we’ve achieved the savings.”

Councillor Shaw said the interviews with large families about the bin collections have been done again.

“They are coming round on our side over the recycling.

“We do need to start enforcement in certain parts of the town where people just can’t be bothered to do it, mostly rented accommodation.

“The landlord won’t enforce them. But hopefully we’re going to make that part of the private sector licensing agreement so that they’re responsible for the cleansing outside their properties.”

Cllr Aslam Khan said: “We need to speak to those landlords who are not responsible for the HMOs and when they throw their mattresses and other items on the street.

“We need to take action. We have got the powers to reinforce that, so it’s looking good.”

The council adopted a ten-year waste strategy, last March, with a vision of ‘Waste less, Recycle more’.

In November, the Liberal Democrat opposition group criticised the failure to coincide the new household collection schedule with the introduction of food waste bins.

Cllr Shaw said: “When people want interviews for the larger bins they can have that interview,” he said.

“We will look at giving them an extra large bin. It wasn’t happening, a hiccup I will personally apologise for.

“We will get it sorted out. We’re already in the process of sorting it all out because that kind of stuff should not be happening now.

“We’ll need another review in six month’s time to see how the food waste round has gone.

“If we can stop that stuff going to the tip then we’ll have more savings than you asked me for and we can reinvest that back into the service.”

Councillors agreed to have a further update on how the waste collections are progressing in six months’ time.

Staff from Sacred Heart Primary School in Luton took part in defibrillator training on Monday.

The life saving equipment was donated to the school by Sarah Pyatt, a fundraiser for Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS UK) in memory of her son, Jake Gallagher who passed away in 2013 aged 16.

The donation is part of SADS UK Big Shock Campaign to make defibrillators available in all schools, through her fundraising Sarah has already put defibrillators in a number of schools in Bedfordshire.

The defibrillator works to restore the heart rhythm if a person goes into cardiac arrest. In this emergency, the

earlier a defibrillator is used the better the chance is of survival.

The defibrillator donated to the school is easy to use by the layperson and provides voice prompts to the rescuer.

Sarah, from Houghton Regis, said: “I continue to raise money and awareness of SADS. I feel proud of the fact I have made ten schools heart safe.

“Seeing the memorial plaques above them is heartbreaking as it reminds me Jake is not here. But it also keeps Jake’s memory alive.

“I just love helping people and hope to make a difference. I would also like to thank every one for their continued support.”

The SADS UK Big Shock Campaign to legislate to make defibrillators available in all schools and widely in the community has the support of the ambulance services, the charity’s Patron Dr Hilary Jones, Good Morning Britain and Dame Helen Mirren who heads the charity’s defibrillator leaflet.

Anne Jolly, Founder of SADS UK, the Ashley Jolly SAD Trust, said: “SADS UK is grateful to Sarah Pyatt who has supported the charity significantly.

“SADS UK is pleased that Sacred Heart Primary School will benefit from having a defibrillator on the premises to restart the heart if there is a cardiac arrest on the premises.

“SADS UK works with schools and highlights the fact that as schools are a major hub in the community they should have defibrillators in place to save lives.

“Using CPR alone provides a 5% chance of survival but early use of the defibrillator as well increases the chance of survival to over 50%; this is why SADS UK and its members are so passionate about putting this lifesaving equipment in schools.”

After meeting with policymakers, SADS UK is pleased that the Department for Education is advising schools to consider the defibrillator as part of their first aid equipment.

This gives the Big Shock Campaign for legislating for defibrillators in all schools an enormous boost, defibrillators in schools will save young lives.

Copies of ‘The Warning Signs’ leaflets have been provided to the school to assist people who may have an underlying cardiac condition to be identified and treated.

The latest data from the Office of National Statistics shows that the average property in the area sold for £239,607 – slightly above the UK average of £230,776.

Across the East of England, property prices have risen by 0.2% in the last year, to £289,602. The region underperformed compared to the UK as a whole, which saw the average property value increase by 2.5%.

The data comes from the House Price Index, which the ONS compiles using house sale information from the Land Registry, and the equivalent bodies in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The average homeowner in Luton will have seen their property jump in value by around £87,000 in the last five years.

The figures also showed that buyers who made their first step onto the property ladder in Luton in December spent an average of £212,042 – around £77,000 more than it would have cost them five years ago.

Looking at the national picture, Frances Clacy, residential research analyst at estate agents Savills, said: "House prices across the UK increased by 2.5% in 2018 leaving them at an average of £230,776. This compares to average increases of 4.5% and 5.2% in 2017 and 2016, respectively.

"The figures are in line with our mainstream house price growth forecasts for the five years to 2023, which represent a small closing of the gap between London, the South East and other regions.

"That said, the gap remains wide – the average house price in London is £473,822 compared to £164,352 across the North West, the region we expect to show the strongest growth over the next five years.

"In the short term, sentiment will remain the primary driver of house price movements and the economic implications of Brexit, and what this might mean for household finances lies at the heart of this. We are anticipating growth of around 15% across the UK as a whole."

Between November 2017 and October last year, the most recent 12 months for which sales volume data is available, 2,358 homes were sold in Luton, 16% fewer than in the previous year.

The highest house prices in the country in December were found in London's Kensington and Chelsea, where properties sold for an average of £1.39 million – 17 times the cost of a home in Burnley, where the average property cost just £84,000.

The shocking experience of mums-to-be and new mothers across Milton Keynes, Bedford, Central Beds and Luton has been revealed in a survey of 900 women.

Following a national focus on the issue, hospitals and community health leaders across the Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes area (BLMK) have taken a look at maternity services and asked mums what they thought.

They found a need for perinatal mental health services, which had not previously existed in Bedfordshire or Luton, and in Milton Keynes there is a small unit that has been underfunded. Now £1.2million is being invested to improve the quality of care across the area.

Speaking at a meeting of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, held at Milton Keynes Council on Tuesday (Feb 12), health officials said they would involve women in the development of the new perinatal mental health service.

Michelle Summers, communications lead at BLMK said: “Women’s views are at the centre of everything we do.” She spoke of a “grassroots” campaign to listen to mums at children’s centres throughout the area.

Milton Keynes councillor Alice Jenkins chairs the committee, and said she filled in a survey form after giving birth herself. She said the committee would keep the issue of the development of the perinatal mental health service on the agenda for future scrutiny of key developments.

For Luton and Bedfordshire it will be the first time a perinatal mental health service has existed. The service has been “soft launched” with a full official launch due later this year.

The feedback from women spoke of some traumatic experiences, including tragic baby deaths and the need for a bereavement service, and their views about the care they received. Some of the feedback was very positive but much was highly critical.

A Bedford mum wrote: “I suffered moderate antenatal anxiety throughout my pregnancy which was not picked up and this continued as postnatal anxiety for most of my now three year old’s life and affected my bonding with him.

“I have had to diagnose this myself and have had to seek treatment from my GP. I feel this should have been picked up during my pregnancy due to how was acting and the questions I was asking.”

Another said: “Please bring back one midwife for the entire pregnancy. first named terms, reassurance for the mums and reduce anxiety from the mish mash service of a service that’s underfunded and too red taped for patients and midwives too. Make the system better for all.”

A new mum from Milton Keynes said: “Although I did have a great experience during my pregnancy with NHS staff in hospital, I would have preferred to have one midwife throughout the experience. As it was my first child, I felt confused and unsettled speaking and dealing with so many midwives. The midwives who helped deliver my baby were fabulous! Friendly and helped me every step of the way.”

One mum told of her experiences in Luton and Bedford. “I transferred my care to Luton after a terrible birth in Bedford, it was very complicated to do and only achieved by knowing someone who helped. After care in both hospitals was dire. Community care was great!

“Breastfeeding – zero help! Which is just tragic, and I needed all the community help possible to achieve this. Why? It should be a priority. I had excellent care as both kids had tongue ties and snipping those in hospital was excellent!”

Some of the comments about Bedford were positive.

“I have had two births at Bedford Hospital, one live and one stillbirth. The care I received during both labours was great for each experience. Having made relationships with the staff there, the idea of having to go anywhere else to have my third child makes me very anxious.”

One Bedford mum said she felt her mental health concerns should have been picked up. “I suffered moderate antenatal anxiety throughout my pregnancy which was not picked up and this continued as postnatal anxiety for most of my now three year old’s life and affected my bonding with him.

“I have had to diagnose this myself and have had to seek treatment from my GP. I feel this should have been picked up during my pregnancy due to how was acting and the questions I was asking.”

Another Bedford mum spoke of warning signs being missed. “Problems were missed in both of us both which could have been fatal! Our notes were not checked, they should have been looked at!”

A common thread in the feedback was concern over a lack of continuity of care. “To be honest I felt like cattle being herded from one thing/ person to another.

“I had five different midwives during my pregnancy and never saw the same doctor. This was my first baby and was a very impersonal experience.

“I thought I’d be made to feel special and important and everything discussed with me how I wanted it but this wasn’t the case. Even after having my baby C Section I was left on my own the first night in hospital not a single person come to check on me the whole night.”

Another Bedford mum spoke of the potential life and death decisions being made for both the child and the mother.

“I haemorrhaged very severely. The midwife dealing with me brushed me off when I said there was something very wrong. I struggled to even hold my son for days. I would like midwives to be held accountable for their words and actions during a birth rather than it being brushed off because I lived.

“A midwife walking past my (open) door actually spotted me and saved my life.”

Baby deaths do tragically happen and another mum made a heartfelt appeal.

“There needs to be a bereavement midwife in Bedford Hospital, my daughter passed away in Nicu after six hours and feel more could have been offered to help me, not just box ticking to say things are done, also once discharged and after the 10day check I was left to own devices more could have been done and feel a bereavement midwife would be extremely helpful to grieving parents.”

Another mum said: “My baby died as a result of poor communication amongst staff on shift during labour. They didn’t hand over properly and then didn’t communicate with the on call registrar either. Also lack of training to read trace graphs was another factor.”

A Milton Keynes mum added: "We need to encourage the doctors and some midwives how to care for mothers experiencing loss of their child!

“I gave birth to my son at 22weeks 21hours and he died the morning he turned 23 weeks! At that point he was the legal age for medical professionals to fight for he’s life and even though we begged for that to happen the doctors didn’t even care to see or speak to me!

“The midwives were amazing but after I left I feel like they had forgotten about me after two weeks! I don’t feel cared for and I have no answers! I feel like the system failed me significantly and it needs to be improved!”

Personal birth choices are also being ignored, some say. One Bedford mum wrote: “Your midwives need some education in understanding that choices are ours not theirs.”

Understaffing on hospital wards and staff under pressure was also highlighted.

One mum wrote: “The hardest thing for me was being given my baby overnight after Caesarean and expected to care for him whilst I could barely keep my eyes open.

“I ended up in tears begging the nurses to take him so I could get a few hours sleep as I couldn’t get up to put him in his crib and was so worried about falling asleep and dropping him.”

A Milton Keynes nurse who became a mum wrote: “I fully understand the nurses were extremely busy, I could see how busy they were and I am a nurse myself in the same hospital. Therefore I know the stresses they are under. However being a patient who didn’t have my baby with me I found a serious lack of emotional support. I believe it’s because they were understaffed and clearly stressed. The nurses on the ward didn’t know how my baby was, and rarely asked.”

Some women appealed for their partners to be able to stay with them. One said: “The service I received was second to none from start to finish. However, I often think fathers are excluded from the process. His experience of delivery was worse than mine, in many ways. This should be considered and changes made to reflect the paternal journey too.”

Another wrote: “I think it is very important that birth partners are able to stay with their partner and child overnight post-birth. I had to have a Caesarean and was in hospital for four nights. Having my husband with me helped my recovery, confidence and our bonding as a new family. He was able to support me with simple things like lifting my daughter out of her crib to allow me to feed her and change her. The fact the partners can’t stay as standard because other patients don’t want them there can be incredibly distressing and anxious.”

The experience of giving birth can be a painful one, leading to longer term mental health problems. One woman wrote: “Since I ended up losing approx three litres of blood, needed surgery and had a blood transfusion with four bags of blood and one of plasma.

“During the seven days before my haemorrhage my body didn’t produce sufficient breastmilk and my baby starved and lost nearly 15 percent body weight. It was a traumatic experience and two years on I have had no mental support regarding this experience.”

One mum says she won’t go back to the same hospital. She said: “Even the thought of going for a scan or appointment leaves me trembling and anxious, I am currently 14 weeks pregnant with my third baby and I am so traumatised by my experiences that I have not even seen a midwife and feel I will have no choice but to have an unassisted home birth. I sincerely hope the service to these women improve and no other woman or her child are put through an ordeal like this!”

To prepare for a no-deal scenario, the UK government has drawn up a new logo, called the UKCA - UK Conformity Assessed.

This is the marking that will be used, subject to parliamentary approval, for certain goods being placed on the UK market. In many cases, firms will still be able to use the CE marking to demonstrate they are sticking to the legal requirements, but in some cases they will need to apply the new UKCA marking to products being sold in the UK.

Read more: Don't fall foul of new passport rules after Brexit

The rules for using the new UK conformity marking will be the same as those now used for CE marking.

Do you use the CE marking on your products? Read the full technical notice here for more information.

A. The answer to this all depends on whether we leave the EU with or without a deal and when you want to travel.

At the minute, you are supposed to have a pet passport for your dog if they’re travelling from the UK to the EU and vice versa, although it is my understanding that there are no checks on pets crossing the Republic or Ireland and Northern Ireland border at the minute.

Pet passports list the different treatments your pet has had and ensures they are microchipped and up to date with their rabies vaccine.

Read more: JD Wetherspoon favours more UK products as Brexit moves closer

The passport means your pooch won't have to go into quarantine on arrival.

If the UK leaves without a deal, then the rules will change and pet passports issued in the UK would no longer be valid.

In this case, pet owners would need to get a health certificate - and the bad news is, this will take at least four months. Your dog will need a rabies vaccine with blood samples (to be sent to an EU-approved laboratory) taken 30 days after the jab. You will then have to wait three months after the samples come back clear to get the health certificate.

The best thing to do is contact your vet for the latest advice four months before you hope to travel.

A man has been arrested over a missing student whose disappearance was not reported to police for over six weeks.

Joy Morgan, a University of Hertfordshire student, is missing from Hatfield and was last seen in Ilford on December 26, 2018.

She was reported missing to police on Thursday, February 7

A 40-year-old man from London has been arrested and released on bail while enquiries continue.

Joy is described as black, of slim build, around 5ft 5in tall, with black afro-style hair which she often covers with a scarf. She also wears glasses.

Welwyn Hatfield Chief Inspector Tannis Perks said: “This is a complex missing person investigation and we are working hard to establish the circumstances surrounding Joy’s disappearance. Understandably her family are extremely worried about her and are desperate to know that she is OK. I would like to appeal to Joy to get in touch to let us know that she is safe.

“If you have information about Joy’s whereabouts please get in touch on 101. For immediate sightings, call 999 straight away.”

On Tuesday, February 12, on her 21st birthday, Joy’s family issued the following appeal:

“We love you, we miss you. Wherever you are, text or call so that we know you are alright. It doesn’t matter what has happened, just come home.”

Joy has links to Ilford, Battersea and Cricklewood in London, as well as Bedfordshire.

Any information about Joy’s whereabouts can be submitted online here: http://socsi.in/xBoCE.

If you have seen Joy since she was reported missing or have information about where she has been, please call Hertfordshire Constabulary’s non-emergency number 101. If you believe you are with Joy now or have seen her in the last few moments, please call 999 immediately.

Here's the answers to your questions:

What is the new Brexit Party and how do I join?

The Brexit Party was launched with the support of ex-UKIP leader Nigel Farage in January and recognised as an official party at the beginning of February 2019. It is a pro-Brexit party. Farage has said he will stand as an MEP under the party if the UK does not leave the EU or if Article 50 is extended. An official website is coming soon, and you should be able to sign up then, but in the meantime you can search for Brexit Party UK on Facebook.

Will my passport be valid after Brexit?

There's no need to do anything until your current passport is ready for renewal. British passports will change after we leave the EU, with blue and gold passports making a return from October 2019, but you'll still be able to travel on your old burgundy passport until it runs out. If there's a no deal Brexit, you'll need to have at least six months left on your passport to travel to an EU country. If you renewed your passport before it expired, then any extra months won't count either - your passport should not be any older than nine years and six months when you travel.

What is ERG?

This stands for the European Research Group, which is a group of pro-Brexit Conservative MPs chaired by Jacob-Res Mogg. It is lobbying on issues surrounding Brexit. The group was in the news as it is expected to rebel against today's House of Commons motion which asks MPs to reiterate its support for renegotiating the controversial Irish backstop.

Read more: Will UK workers lose their rights and entitlements after Brexit?

Will EHIC still be valid?

At the minute, if we fall sick or get injured while visiting the EU, then we can access the same free or discounted medical care that is available to residents of that country. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) proves your eligibility. Regardless of the deal reached, the government will need to renegotiate the reciprocal healthcare arrangements. At the minute, a bill called Healthcare (International Arrangements) Bill is being passed through Parliament to help reach such an arrangement. It is important as the scheme provides healthcare for an estimated 190,000 UK expats living in the EU as well as 50 million UK residents who travel abroad to EEA countries each year Until a new initiative is in place, you should check what the agreement is with the country you're visiting as EHIC may not be valid. Make sure you have travel insurance too (you really should have this anyway).

Will I need a visa for my holiday?

Not for short-term stays for holidays or business purposes. This is providing the UK offers the same deal for EU citizens who want to visit us. We will, however, have to to pay a fee to visit Europe after Brexit. From 2021, you'll need to fill in a ETIAS application form so other countries can check you're not a security threat. This is similar to the US ESTA scheme. ETIAS is not a result of Brexit, it was being brought in anyway, but we wouldn't have had to pay as a member of the EU.

What is the date of Brexit?

The UK is scheduled to leave the EU on March 29, 2019. This is providing article 50 isn't extended in the meantime.

If you have any more questions, then email gemma.jimmison@jpimedia.co.uk

A Leagrave man has appeared in court charged with a number of offences.

Ricky Tan, 38, of Simpson Close, Leagrave, was charged with possession with intent to supply a Class B drug, possession of an offensive weapon, and the possession of a weapon for the discharge of a noxious substance.

He was also charged with dangerous driving and refusing to provide a roadside specimen.

He appeared at Luton Magistrates’ Court this morning (Thursday) and was remanded into custody pending a further hearing on March 18.

Bedfordshire Police has issued a warning to several Luton schools about a man spotted “acting indecently”.

The warning issued to schools describes the man as dark-skinned and driving a red Nissan Micra.

A Beds Police spokesman said: “We have received a report of a man acting indecently in a car near to a school in Abotts Wood Road, Luton at around 1.40pm on Friday, February 8.

“We are taking this report extremely seriously and are working closely with the nearby schools, and have additional hi-visibility patrols in place in the area.

“Anyone concerned is encouraged to speak to one of our officers.”

A child at a school in the town centre has also allegedly been chased by the same man.

Members of the public with information are advised to call 101 quoting 40/8296/19.

A man has been arrested by police after he was allegedly seen behaving indecently near a Luton school.

A Beds Police spokesman said: “A man in his 40s from Luton has been arrested in connection with an incident in Frederick Street.

“He has been arrested on suspicion of public order offences, possession of a bladed article and driving whilst qualified. He remains in custody.

“Community officers are continuing to carry out high visibility patrols in the town.”

Anyone with any information that can assist police with their enquiries should call 101.

Data released by the Police.uk website tracks the number of reports of violent crime and sexual offences across the city.

This data is based on the latest available information, which tracks reports of violent crime and sexual offences for December 2018 in each area. There were a total of 422 reports of violent crime and sexual offences. Areas listed are a rough guide based on policing districts and images are for illustrative purposes.