Category: Bedford

Police are appealing for the publics helpAuthor: Shaunna BurnsPublished 9 hours agoBedfordshire Police are appealing to the public to help to locate Lexi, a missing 14-year-old from Houghton Regis.Lexi has not been seen since Wednesday, 24th June, and there are growing concerns for her well-being. She is described as 5’2″ with a fair complexion, blue eyes, and long ginger hair. Lexi has a silver nose ring and was last seen wearing pale blue cycling shorts, a dark grey t-shirt, and black sliders. Detective Chief Superintendent Zara Brown expressed increasing concern for Lexi’s safety, urging anyone with information to come forward. Brown directly appealed to Lexi, asking her to contact the police, emphasizing the distress her absence is causing to loved ones, and ensuring a safe return home. People who have seen Lexi are encouraged to call 999 immediately.Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.

Road users travelling between Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire are set to benefit from significant improvements sooner than expected, with National Highways confirming that the majority of the new A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet scheme will open during spring 2027.The phased opening will allow motorists to begin using much of the upgraded route while the final and most technically demanding element of the project is completed later in the year.Once open, the scheme will provide a new 10-mile dual carriageway linking the Black Cat junction in Bedfordshire with Caxton Gibbet in Cambridgeshire, creating faster, safer and more reliable journeys across one of the region’s busiest transport corridors.Several major pieces of infrastructure will become operational during the first phase, including the new A421 flyover at Black Cat junction, fully upgraded junction arrangements at Caxton Gibbet and new dual carriageway access to the Cambridge Road junction.Together, these improvements are expected to ease congestion and improve connectivity for communities and businesses travelling between Milton Keynes, Bedford, St Neots and Cambridge.The final phase of the programme, scheduled to open in mid-summer 2027, will see the completion of the new A1 underpass at Black Cat junction.National Highways describes the underpass as the most complex engineering element of the entire project.During construction, project teams encountered a greater number of underground utility services than originally anticipated, including water, gas and telecommunications infrastructure that had to be carefully identified and relocated before construction could safely continue.Many of these essential services have been installed over several decades, and in some cases historic records have been incomplete. Protecting supplies to local homes, businesses and communities has therefore required detailed investigation and close collaboration with utility providers before work could progress.Because these specialist diversion works must be undertaken by the individual utility companies, the programme for the underpass has been extended to ensure the work is completed safely and correctly.By adopting a phased opening strategy, National Highways is ensuring that road users begin benefiting from the investment at the earliest possible opportunity rather than waiting for every element of the scheme to be completed.The project represents one of the largest road infrastructure investments currently under construction in the region and is expected to deliver long-term improvements in safety, network resilience and journey reliability while supporting future economic growth across Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.With the majority of the route due to open next spring, drivers will soon begin experiencing the benefits of a scheme that has been designed to improve connectivity across the East of England for decades to come.

The theme park will be named Universal United Kingdom Resort, with enabling works on the Bedfordshire site currently in progress and construction soon to begin.
Universal expects the site, the company’s first theme park and resort in Europe, to generate nearly £50 billion of economic benefit for the UK economy by 2055.

The name and logo of the UK’s Universal theme park have been unveiled, as investments of £7.3 billion into the project were announced by the American company and the Government.The theme park is expected to attract millions of visitors each year including more than a million additional overseas visitors, with the resort set to become the UK’s most popular tourist attraction.
Comcast NBCUniversal has committed to invest more than £5 billion in the entertainment resort complex during the expected five years of construction, as well as an additional £1 billion in capital investment over its first 10 years of operation.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said it was “one of the largest-ever investments in the UK tourism sector” and would bring nearly 20,000 jobs during construction and a further 8,000 jobs when the resort opens in 2031.

An artist’s impression of Universal United Kingdom Resort (UDX Corporate Communications/PA)The Government will support the project with an investment of £1.3 billion on regional and local community infrastructure to “ensure the park can operate successfully, with improved transport links for local residents and visitors from across the UK and abroad”, DCMS said.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves visited the site on Wednesday morning and met some of the first workers employed on the project after being greeted by Mark Woodbury, chairman and chief executive of Universal Destinations & Experiences.
Speaking to Mr Woodbury and Universal workers on her first visit to the site, Ms Reeves, who donned a hi-vis jacket and hard hat, said: “Thank you for choosing the UK.
“I know that you could have chosen locations in other parts of Europe.
“We’re really thrilled you’re going to be here and we’re determined to work with you to make it the massive success that I know it’s going to be.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves visited the site on Wednesday (Chris Radburn/PA)Mr Woodbury said the resort would bring “immersive storytelling, thrilling attractions and unparalleled creativity and innovation to the UK”.
He told Ms Reeves the company was “ready to break ground and make this the most spectacular theme park in all of Europe, if not the world.”

Molly Murphy, president of Universal Creative, said the company was “thrilled” to have the Chancellor visit to mark the beginning of enabling works on the site.

Asked why Bedfordshire was selected, Ms Murphy told reporters: “We chose Bedfordshire because it is an exciting place.
“There’s an amazing amount of creative talent in the UK that we can tap into and this place is a perfect location to build the greatest theme park in all of Europe, so we’re very excited about doing that.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves visited workers at the site of the theme park in Bedfordshire (Chris Radburn/PA)Following the site visit, the Chancellor and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy hosted Brian Roberts, chairman of Comcast Corporation, and Mr Woodbury at 11 Downing Street to unveil the resort’s name and logo.
Mr Roberts said the company looked forward to “creating a spectacular destination that supports the UK creative industries and brings joy to millions for generations to come”.
The Chancellor said: “This landmark investment in the heart of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor will unlock nearly £50 billion of economic growth and create tens of thousands of jobs across Bedfordshire in construction, hospitality, creative and technology sectors.
“Our own investment in transport and infrastructure means that local people will benefit – improving connectivity, backing our creative industries, and bringing millions of visitors to the UK from across the world.”
The Chancellor said the investment will unlock nearly £50 billion of economic growth (Chris Radburn/PA)As part of the £1.3 billion investment, the Government will provide a grant of £400 million through the Exceptional Regional Growth Fund and DCMS will provide a grant of £438 million to invest in new community infrastructure to “maximise the benefits of the development and support growth across the region”.
These grants will be paid only once Universal has completed the community infrastructure (in the case of the DCMS grant) and officially opened the theme park and resort.

The Department for Transport will also upgrade the strategic road and rail network, on the A421 and at Wixams train station at an expected cost of £474 million.
DCMS said Universal choosing Bedford for its first European park is “a testament to the strength of the UK’s visitor offering and creative industries”.
It added that Universal had “committed to world-class training opportunities for the next generation of its workforce, including through a range of apprenticeships and internships”.
Culture Secretary Ms Nandy said: “This unparalleled investment is a huge vote of confidence in the UK and puts rocket boosters under our entertainment industry.
“When it comes to creating world-class experiences, the UK is second to none. We’re proud to be backing British industry, investing in local talent and partnering with powerhouses like Universal to create jobs, growth and opportunities across the UK.”
More than 100 people in the UK have already been employed to work on the project, with Universal receiving expressions of employment interest from some 33,000 individuals.

The Universal United Kingdom Resort’s logo (UDX Corporate Communications/PA)Around 80% of employees at the theme park and resort are expected to come from Bedfordshire and the surrounding regions.
Dame Caroline Dinenage, chairwoman of the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee, said the investment had “potential to provide a welcome boost to our tourism industry at a time when there are concerns that the policy landscape is making the UK a less attractive destination for overseas visitors”.
Dame Caroline added: “The Government must work with Universal to ensure the project brings long-lasting benefits, not just to tourism, but also to our wider creative industries.”
Universal theme parks in the US contain rides and attractions from its stable of big blockbusters and movie franchises, which includes Minions, ET and Jurassic Park, as well as Kung Fu Panda, Fast & Furious and Shrek.

Universal currently has five entertainment and resort complexes around the world – Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood in the US, Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Universal Beijing Resort in China and Universal Studios Singapore.

The theme park will be named Universal United Kingdom Resort, with enabling works on the Bedfordshire site currently in progress and construction soon to begin.
Universal expects the site, the company’s first theme park and resort in Europe, to generate nearly £50 billion of economic benefit for the UK economy by 2055.

The name and logo of the UK’s Universal theme park have been unveiled, as investments of £7.3 billion into the project were announced by the American company and the Government.The theme park is expected to attract millions of visitors each year including more than a million additional overseas visitors, with the resort set to become the UK’s most popular tourist attraction.
Comcast NBCUniversal has committed to invest more than £5 billion in the entertainment resort complex during the expected five years of construction, as well as an additional £1 billion in capital investment over its first 10 years of operation.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said it was “one of the largest-ever investments in the UK tourism sector” and would bring nearly 20,000 jobs during construction and a further 8,000 jobs when the resort opens in 2031.

An artist’s impression of Universal United Kingdom Resort (UDX Corporate Communications/PA)The Government will support the project with an investment of £1.3 billion on regional and local community infrastructure to “ensure the park can operate successfully, with improved transport links for local residents and visitors from across the UK and abroad”, DCMS said.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves visited the site on Wednesday morning and met some of the first workers employed on the project after being greeted by Mark Woodbury, chairman and chief executive of Universal Destinations & Experiences.
Speaking to Mr Woodbury and Universal workers on her first visit to the site, Ms Reeves, who donned a hi-vis jacket and hard hat, said: “Thank you for choosing the UK.
“I know that you could have chosen locations in other parts of Europe.
“We’re really thrilled you’re going to be here and we’re determined to work with you to make it the massive success that I know it’s going to be.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves visited the site on Wednesday (Chris Radburn/PA)Mr Woodbury said the resort would bring “immersive storytelling, thrilling attractions and unparalleled creativity and innovation to the UK”.
He told Ms Reeves the company was “ready to break ground and make this the most spectacular theme park in all of Europe, if not the world.”

Molly Murphy, president of Universal Creative, said the company was “thrilled” to have the Chancellor visit to mark the beginning of enabling works on the site.

Asked why Bedfordshire was selected, Ms Murphy told reporters: “We chose Bedfordshire because it is an exciting place.
“There’s an amazing amount of creative talent in the UK that we can tap into and this place is a perfect location to build the greatest theme park in all of Europe, so we’re very excited about doing that.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves visited workers at the site of the theme park in Bedfordshire (Chris Radburn/PA)Following the site visit, the Chancellor and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy hosted Brian Roberts, chairman of Comcast Corporation, and Mr Woodbury at 11 Downing Street to unveil the resort’s name and logo.
Mr Roberts said the company looked forward to “creating a spectacular destination that supports the UK creative industries and brings joy to millions for generations to come”.
The Chancellor said: “This landmark investment in the heart of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor will unlock nearly £50 billion of economic growth and create tens of thousands of jobs across Bedfordshire in construction, hospitality, creative and technology sectors.
“Our own investment in transport and infrastructure means that local people will benefit – improving connectivity, backing our creative industries, and bringing millions of visitors to the UK from across the world.”
The Chancellor said the investment will unlock nearly £50 billion of economic growth (Chris Radburn/PA)As part of the £1.3 billion investment, the Government will provide a grant of £400 million through the Exceptional Regional Growth Fund and DCMS will provide a grant of £438 million to invest in new community infrastructure to “maximise the benefits of the development and support growth across the region”.
These grants will be paid only once Universal has completed the community infrastructure (in the case of the DCMS grant) and officially opened the theme park and resort.

The Department for Transport will also upgrade the strategic road and rail network, on the A421 and at Wixams train station at an expected cost of £474 million.
DCMS said Universal choosing Bedford for its first European park is “a testament to the strength of the UK’s visitor offering and creative industries”.
It added that Universal had “committed to world-class training opportunities for the next generation of its workforce, including through a range of apprenticeships and internships”.
Culture Secretary Ms Nandy said: “This unparalleled investment is a huge vote of confidence in the UK and puts rocket boosters under our entertainment industry.
“When it comes to creating world-class experiences, the UK is second to none. We’re proud to be backing British industry, investing in local talent and partnering with powerhouses like Universal to create jobs, growth and opportunities across the UK.”
More than 100 people in the UK have already been employed to work on the project, with Universal receiving expressions of employment interest from some 33,000 individuals.

The Universal United Kingdom Resort’s logo (UDX Corporate Communications/PA)Around 80% of employees at the theme park and resort are expected to come from Bedfordshire and the surrounding regions.
Dame Caroline Dinenage, chairwoman of the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee, said the investment had “potential to provide a welcome boost to our tourism industry at a time when there are concerns that the policy landscape is making the UK a less attractive destination for overseas visitors”.
Dame Caroline added: “The Government must work with Universal to ensure the project brings long-lasting benefits, not just to tourism, but also to our wider creative industries.”
Universal theme parks in the US contain rides and attractions from its stable of big blockbusters and movie franchises, which includes Minions, ET and Jurassic Park, as well as Kung Fu Panda, Fast & Furious and Shrek.

Universal currently has five entertainment and resort complexes around the world – Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood in the US, Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Universal Beijing Resort in China and Universal Studios Singapore.

A city centre post office that was damaged in a suspected arson attack has reopened a year after it was forced to shut.The shop at Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes, has been totally renovated. It was due to reopen in November, but the date was pushed back after the Post Office said major repair work was needed. Thames Valley Police charged a 47-year-old man, from London, with arson with intent to endanger life in connection with the incident, who is next due in court in October.

Brenland has upped his support this week, handing out water, wet wipes, ice lollies, suncream, snacks and basic toiletries from The Bus Shelter Ipswich.Parked up in a sheltered spot in the town centre, it also offers the chance for shade and a cooling shower.”We just do what we can,” added Brenland, who founded the community interest company.”Members of the public are generally kind enough to make sure [rough sleepers] have got food and drink and the essentials, but it’s always nice to have a base that they can come to if they need to.”A 34-year-old man in Ipswich, who did not want to give his name, said he had suffered sunstroke twice in recent weeks.”It’s hard, especially with my fair skin,” he said. “It’s horrible.”

WARWICKSHIRE Ladies booked their place at the national finals of the Walker Cup after triumphing against three other counties.
The Warwickshire Women’s Bowling Association (WWBA) took on teams from Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire in the West qualifier at Devizes Bowls Club.
And Warwickshire thrashed Worcestershire 8-0 before beating Wiltshire 6-2 and thumping Gloucestershire 7-1 in a dominant display.
Matches featured pairs, triples and fours games as Lily Adams and Emily Kernick played the pairs and Dawn Horne, Michelle Meadowcroft and Kirsty Richards the triples.
And the squad of Liz Wooding, Anita Cowdrill, Tracy Wheeler, Moira Parsons and Jane Chedgzoy competed in the fours matches.
The WWBA also celebrated their 90th anniversary at Stoke Bowling Club in Coventry with a gala for more than 60 players and guests.
County president, Vanessa Brazier, thanked all the players, volunteers and supporters who had been a part of Warwickshire’s journey over the last 90 years.
Ladies too strong for Bedfordshire
Earlier this month, Warwickshire hosted Bedfordshire at Rugby Railway Bowls Club as the visitors won the rink one match 15-10 despite the best efforts of Liz Crowther and Pat Gagg of Lillington supported by Velisa Brown from Southam and Margaret Boldy from Wellesbourne.And Bedfordshire claimed a narrow 17-15 win on rink two as Janice White of Royal Leamington Spa, supported by Joy Cooke, Sherwood Park, and Christine Harding and Becky Lever, both Rugby Thornfield lost a closely-fought contest.
County president Brazier helped Warwickshire to a 17-12 win on rink three skippered by Jenny Wickens, Royal Leamington Spa with Linda Linney, Stratford, and Margaret Grosvenor, Avenue Coventry in support.
Warwickshire also triumphed on rink four as Stratford pair Elspeth Summers and Pam Jowers combined with Brenda Beere from the Grange and Pat Moore, Three Spires Bowling Club, to win 18-16 in a back-and-forth contest.
And Warwickshire continued their momentum on rink five as Maureen Edwards and Pat Lowe, Rugby Thornfield, Ginny Burns, Warwick Boat Club and Pippa Mace, Lillington claimed a 17-12 victory.
Warwickshire players Ann Hardwood, Nuneaton, Heather Tredgold, Southam, Anita Cowdrill and Dawn Horne, both Royal Leamington Spa, secured the highest winning rink with a dominant 19-8 success on rink six to celebrate a 96-80 victory overall.


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A hospital said some of its MRI scanners were “not operational” due to the current high level of heat and humidity.Scans at Bedford South Wing Hospital are being postponed as the MRI machines cannot be safely operated, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said.A spokesperson added: “This is as a result of the older cooling systems at our aging site not being able to achieve the required temperature and humidity levels.”The trust is contacting patients affected by the delays and said it would reschedule appointments as soon as “the situation stabilises”.”Our scanners at the Bedford North Wing Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) and our Luton and Dunstable University Hospital (L&D) sites are unaffected and remain fully operational,” the trust said.It apologised to everyone affected, and said any emergency MRI scans would be carried out at the CDC or L&D sites.”If you have not been contacted then please continue to attend your appointment,” the trust added.It comes after the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust declared a critical incident on Wednesday, saying its MRI cooling systems had been affected by the hot and humid weather.This led to hundreds of appointments being cancelled.Do you have a story suggestion for Beds, Herts or Bucks? Contact us below.

25 Jun 2026

By Lewis Berrill

The industrial park owner and operator will develop automated self-storage facilities on the sites in Bedfordshire, Leicestershire and Merton, south London.

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Britain’s rail industry is beginning to outline its safety response after the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) issued a preliminary update into the fatal collision between two East Midlands Railway passenger trains near Bedford in Bedfordshire, an incident that left one driver dead and around 100 people injured.

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RAIB sets out early picture of Bedfordshire collisionThe RAIB’s update, published this week, provides the first structured account of the events leading up to the 19 June collision near Elstow, just south of Bedford. Publicly available information indicates that a southbound East Midlands Railway service from Corby to London St Pancras struck the rear of another London-bound train that had come to a stand on the same line.The branch’s early findings describe how the second train passed a red signal protecting the route ahead before colliding with the stationary train at speed. Data from on-train systems and signalling records is being used to examine the sequence of signals displayed, the braking profile of the moving train and any technical anomalies in the train or trackside equipment.The RAIB update confirms that investigators are examining the performance of the signalling and train protection systems, the way traffic was being regulated on the busy Midland Main Line, and the actions of railway staff in the minutes before impact. The branch is also assessing how the design of the trains and the condition of the track influenced the pattern of damage and injuries.While the document stops short of drawing conclusions, it highlights a series of lines of inquiry that will shape the industry’s technical response, including signal overrun risk, rear-end collision protection and communication between control staff and drivers on intensively used corridors.Network Rail and operators focus on signalling and traffic managementNetwork Rail and East Midlands Railway have both indicated through public statements and service updates that they are working closely with RAIB and the Office of Rail and Road while the investigation continues. According to published coverage, engineers have been scrutinising signal sighting, interlocking logic and the way trains were sequenced through the Bedford corridor at the time of the crash.Operational briefings released since the update show that temporary restrictions and additional checks are in place on sections where trains converge onto the fast lines south of Bedford. These interim measures include closer monitoring of train regulation decisions, extra validation of route setting in signalling centres and reinforcement of rules covering movements behind failed or delayed trains.Industry commentary suggests that operators are also reviewing driver training on signal awareness and degraded-mode working, looking at how real-world traffic patterns and late-running services are represented in simulators. Several rail safety specialists have noted that the Bedfordshire crash occurred on a route that routinely handles densely timed intercity and commuter traffic, increasing the importance of robust traffic management tools.Infrastructure managers have drawn parallels with lessons from previous RAIB cases on overspeeding and signal adherence, where recommendations led to changes in control room procedures and use of data from train protection systems. Those earlier findings are now being revisited in light of the Bedfordshire collision to check whether further adaptations are required.Regulators link Bedfordshire update to wider safety themesThe RAIB update arrives against the backdrop of its wider programme of investigations into recent collisions and derailments across Britain. The branch’s annual reporting for 2024 highlights recurring themes such as adhesion problems, infrastructure condition and the importance of clear operating rules when systems do not behave as expected.Regulators and safety bodies are using the Bedfordshire case to underline that rear-end collisions, although rare, remain a critical risk in a modern railway that depends heavily on signalling integrity and human decision-making. Publicly available briefings from the Office of Rail and Road indicate that existing work on signal overrun protection, driver vigilance and real-time data sharing between trains and control centres is being cross-checked against the circumstances described in the RAIB update.Some technical commentators have pointed to recent RAIB reports into other collisions, including those involving track fastening failures and low wheel rail adhesion, as evidence that safety recommendations increasingly cut across traditional boundaries between operations, rolling stock and civil engineering. The Bedfordshire investigation is now seen as another test of how effectively different parts of the industry can respond in a coordinated way.Analysts note that the rapid publication of a preliminary update, just days after the crash, reflects a broader trend towards faster communication of emerging safety findings, intended to support early risk mitigation while full reports are still in preparation.Level crossing and corridor risk management back in focusAlthough the Bedfordshire collision did not involve a road vehicle, the RAIB’s update has prompted renewed discussion of how mixed-traffic corridors and interfaces such as level crossings are managed as traffic grows. Recent documents from Network Rail on level crossing risk, published separately from the Bedford investigation, show that collisions between trains and road vehicles, as well as an increase in near misses, continue to feature in national safety statistics.Industry specialists argue that the Bedfordshire crash reinforces the need to consider corridor risk as an integrated whole, rather than treating signalling, crossings, lineside access and timetable planning as separate issues. In practice this can mean re-examining how close together trains are scheduled, how quickly routes can be changed in response to disruption and what additional protections are in place when one train is stopped on the line ahead of another.Commentary in technical media suggests that route studies on the Midland Main Line are likely to look again at the configuration of crossovers and the balance between capacity and resilience. Questions being raised include whether further automatic protection measures could help to reduce the consequences of a signal being passed at danger in circumstances similar to those outlined in the RAIB update.Local concerns about disruption and diversionary routes south of Bedford, reflected in regional news reports, are also feeding into discussions about how major incidents are managed on busy intercity corridors that have limited alternative paths for long-distance and commuter services.Next steps as RAIB prepares full reportThe RAIB update makes clear that investigators expect to continue gathering evidence on site and from railway systems for several months before issuing a full report with formal safety recommendations. That document will examine the interaction between human factors, technical systems and organisational decisions in more detail, including any underlying factors that may have increased the risk of a collision.In anticipation of those recommendations, rail companies and regulators have started internal reviews to identify changes that can be implemented quickly if RAIB highlights similar concerns to those raised in other recent investigations. These range from refresher briefings for drivers and signallers to the potential acceleration of planned upgrades to signalling and train protection technology on intensively used routes.Industry bodies with a remit for standards and training are also signalling that they will use the Bedfordshire findings to inform future guidance. Published material suggests that particular attention is likely to be paid to route knowledge, communication protocols when trains stop unexpectedly on running lines, and the way control centres manage conflicting demands for punctuality and safety during disruption.For passengers, the most visible short-term impact remains continuing disruption between Bedford and Luton while the damaged trains and infrastructure are recovered and repairs completed. Longer term, the RAIB’s full report is expected to play a significant role in shaping how Britain’s railways balance capacity pressures with the need to keep rear-end collision risk as low as reasonably practicable.