The Higgins Bedford is celebrating LGBT+ History Month this February with a new art display and creative events for visitors to enjoy.

This year's theme is 'Behind the Lens,' which explores the contributions of LGBT+ individuals to cinema and film through their roles behind the camera as directors, musicians, make-up artists and more.

This afternoon, Cumbrian MP Tim Farron has written to the Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper, urging him to make all railway stations accessible for people with disabilities.

It comes as new research reveals that more than one in 10 railway stations in Britain do not allow disabled passengers to "turn up and go" on some or all train services.

It is six months on from when Elstow Solar Farm first went operational, and it is already far exceeding expectations in terms of energy and income generation. The state-of-the-art solar farm has generated 1,926Mwh of energy more than originally predicted. This has led to over £127,000 more income for the council than was originally estimated.

Bedford Borough Council have announced further details of a major project improving and developing links alongside the Great Ouse from Priory Country Park to Kempston Outdoor Centre.

Developed following the Town Centre Consultation, and post-Covid, plans include refurbishment of playgrounds, planting projects, footpath repairs, improvements to Longholme Lake, new signage, and refurbishment to infrastructure along the riverside, incorporating investment from other projects at the same time.

From Saturday 11 to Saturday 18 February, families are invited to visit Bedford Borough Libraries for free fun craft activities. Bedford Central, Bromham, Kempston, Putnoe, and Wootton libraries all have activities planned. Crafts include; creating bug masks, paper bag dinosaurs, and Valentine's Day Cards. There will also be colouring and Lego clubs in all the libraries. Bedford Central Library has a special half-term Story Time on Wednesday 15 February 11:30am - 12:00pm.

A Bill put forward by Wera Hobhouse, Lib Dem MP for Bath, to end all installations of prepayment meters over the winter has been effectively blocked by the Conservative Government.

This comes after Ofgem announced the suspension of forcible installations of prepayment meters yesterday [2 February] following a Times investigation into British Gas.

The Worker's Protection Bill has passed its third reading in the House of Commons.

The Bill would create new legal liabilities for employers by treating an employer as harassing their employee if the employee is harassed in the course of their employment by third parties (such as customers or clients) and the employer fails "to take all reasonable steps to prevent the third party from doing so".

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds said of the latest energy firm profit news: "It is absolutely abhorrent that the Conservative Government has not taken stronger action against companies like Shell who have posted their largest profits in 115 years, profiteering off the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Bedford Borough Council's annual Foster Carer Awards returned last week, following a two-year break, to celebrate the borough's fosters carers and say 'Thank You' for all that they do to support the children and young people in their care.

The annual awards, which had to be celebrated online during the pandemic, was held in person for the first time since 2019, at Renhold Village Hall.

Cumbrian MP Tim Farron has raised over £4,000 for local mental health charity Wave Forward by running every day in January.

The money will go towards establishing a South Lakes counselling service for young people aged 16-18.

Tim's running totalled over 197 miles - averaging more than 10km every day - and saw him pass through the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and, closer to home, the Fairy Steps in Beetham.