Letchworth GC residents expressed their fears that their neighbourhood would become a building site after Network Rail put in an application for a new rail viaduct where the Cambridge line joins the east coast main line. Homeowners in the Wilbury area of

Letchworth GC residents expressed their fears that their neighbourhood would become a building site after Network Rail put in an application for a new rail viaduct where the Cambridge line joins the east coast main line.

Homeowners in the Wilbury area of the town were worried that construction traffic travelling to and from the site would make their lives hell. One estimated that a heavy goods vehicle would pass her front door every two minutes.

The council were preparing to put their concerns to the rail company who hoped to begin construction in 2014 if planning permission was granted.

Over 30 firefighters from across the area were scrambled to tackle a factory fire in Letchworth GC after an arson attack.

The Swift Force shop fitting unit on the Ascot Industrial Estate was badly damaged in the blaze which was started after a stolen van was rammed into the doors of the building and torched.

The Stevenage father of West Ham and Wales international footballer Jack Collinson was killed in a crash on the M25.

Ian Collison, 46, of Mendip Way, was killed when he lost control of his Honda motorbike at major road works on the way to watch his son play at Upton Park.

Jack, 20, who went to Robert Bloomfield Middle School in Shefford and Samuel Whitbread Community College in Clifton, played until the 89th minute of the 2-1 defeat to Spurs unaware of his father's death.

Councillors in Central Beds warned that the authority could soon be as much as �8m in the red as a budget crisis loomed.

The leader of the council, Tricia Turner, warned fellow councillors they must work harder or go as the financial fallout from combining the two former authorities, South and Mid Beds, became clear.

Lib Dem opposition councillor Nigel Aldis argued that overspends should have been known about and feared services would have to be cut.

It was announced that Stevenage Carnival, absent from the town's streets for five years, would make a return next summer.

The event was axed in 2004 after Rotarians could no longer cover the costs. But Stevenage Borough Council's decision to back the festival makes its return more viable.

Former carnival committee member, Ian Begg, who helped form a new steering group, said: "It had to die to be resurrected. It needed new blood and now is the time to do it. We need to put the spirit back into Stevenage."

A torso discovered in Aston woods led to a rapid police and forensic investigation only for officers to discover it was a plastic prop for a film being shot on location.

The filmmakers had hidden the fake body in bushes while taking a break from shooting a short horror film.

The Comet campaign to Live Local, Buy Local, Love Local was launched with backing from businesses, politicians and organisations across the area.

In an attempt to create a well-spring of support for our local shops, services and clubs during the recession we set out our plans to give free listings to all those involved and reward our readers with great deals to them to stay local.

We also asked people to get involved in the community by giving a little back through volunteering and fundraising.