Bedfordshire

My mum was robbed at knifepoint while walking her dog in our local park on Sunday lunchtime.

Bedford Tigers' application to be the new side in the RFL Super League setup has been unsuccessful as the Rugby Football League confirmed Goole Vikings will be the newest side to join RFL League One...

The site of a former gasworks off Ford End Road in Bedford will be turned into housing

The number of families in the area who have signed up for a Tax-Free Childcare account on the government’s website has increased by 18.9% from 4,645 families in 2022/23 to 5,525 families in 2023/24. This is well above the national average of 13.8%.

It means that working parents of 7,200 children (compared to 6,040 children in 2022/23) are receiving help with the cost of childcare.

Despite this increase, we are keen to ensure that all families who are eligible for Tax-Free Childcare have signed up for the provision.

Tax-Free Childcare provides help with childcare costs for working parents. The scheme is open to all parents of children under 12 (or under 17 if disabled). For every £8 a parent pays into their Tax-Free Childcare account, the government will add an extra £2, up to a maximum of £2,000 per child per year (or a maximum of £4,000 per year for disabled children or young people).

Tax-Free Childcare can be used to pay for childcare including childminders, nurseries, nannies, after school clubs and play schemes.

Councillor Steve Owen, Executive Member for Children’s Services, said:

We are thrilled to see an increasing number of families in Central Bedfordshire benefiting from the Tax-Free Childcare scheme. The scheme is so important, helping to reduce childcare costs for working parents, helping them better balance their professional responsibilities and ensuring their children have access to quality care. If you're a working parent or carer, you can get up to £500 every three months to help with the costs of childcare, which is up to £2,000 a year per child. That’s a huge saving, and that’s why it’s important that parents find out if they are eligible for support by visiting the government’s website.

Find out more information about Tax-Free Childcare, about the eligibility criteria and how to set up an account.

Bedfordshire’s chief constable will “retire” in October before returning to the post, the police and crime commissioner (PCC) has announced.

Bedfordshire Police has released an image of a teenage girl who has gone missing.

Passengers are being warned that engineering works are set to disrupt rail services over the next two weekends – with a rail replacement bus service in place.

Luton, Bedford and Biggleswade commuters face delays on Thameslink trains this afternoon.

Planning for a new Bedford KFC drive-thru has been delayed so councillors can check the traffic for themselves.

This month, The Future Sessions will bring four of the area’s best new and emerging young bands to Esquires, celebrating original music from the next generation. On Friday, 27 September, Daybreak...

Police are searching for a missing Bedford woman who has links to Luton and Milton Keynes.

Plain clothes officers from Bedfordshire Police will be in bars and clubs this week amid concerns over drinks spiking

Bedford Borough Council is “very confident” that the staff at King’s Oak Primary School can handle additional Early Years entitlement, a senior councillor has said.

More than a dozen people in Bedford did not return to vote after being turned away at the polling station at the recent general election, figures show.

Bedford Borough Council has stepped in to support local people who may be impacted following the unexpected closure of PWC Building Control Services Ltd (PWC) who have filed for voluntary liquidation...

Following a soft launch, Bedford Borough Hub has now officially opened.

Walking sports have been taking the country by storm in recent years, but Bedford Hockey Club was a forerunner in establishing its Walking Hockey team back in 2018. At that time...

Steps are being taken by Central Bedfordshire Council to prevent data protection breaches, which have affected the local authority’s children’s services department.

A Bedford man who groomed a 13-year-old boy on Snapchat and drove to Worthing to rape him has been jailed.

A man has been taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries after a serious collision between Houghton Regis and Brogborough on the M1 this morning (Monday).

Firefighters battled a huge haystack blaze early yesterday morning (September 15) near the Gravenhurst junction on the A507.

Avoid Ampthill if you can as Church Street is currently shut.

Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) has recognised it was at fault over delays to an education, health and care plan (EHCP) for a pupil with special educational needs, and apologised after her father complained to a local government watchdog.

Each month, the Bedford Clanger chooses its 'Great Bedfordian' and asks them to recommend their favourite local places for us to check out. September's Great Bedfordian is singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Alfie Templeman...