It's 15 years this week since the Bedford Clanger first hit the streets, an unashamedly positive celebration of all the things that make our town a great place to live... #Bedford #BedfordNews #BedfordClanger #BedfordIndies

Goldington Road will host the Champ Rugby play-off final next Sunday (31 May) after a shock result in the second semi-final... #Bedford #BedfordNews #BedfordSport

Marsh has joined another National League North club, while Ashmore has signed for Dagenham and Redbridge... #Bedford #BedfordNews #BedfordSport

Bedford Borough Council has been criticised after using an AI-generated image to promote a new summer campaign. The debate comes amid wider concerns about the impact of generative AI on creative professionals. #Bedford #BedrordNews #GenAI #AIimages #Illustration #CreativeIndustries #AI

Six second half tries for the Blues blew Coventry away, with a play-off final against either Ealing or Worcester waiting next Sunday... #Bedford #BedfordNews #BedfordSport

Bedford Ian has been looking at recent goings on across Bedford Borough and tells us what he thinks of it all… #Bedford #BedfordNews #BedfordIan #Satire #Politics #Resignations #Socks #DeepImpact

Bedford Ian has been looking at recent goings on across Bedford Borough and tells us what he thinks of it all… #Bedford #BedfordNews #BedfordIan #Satire #Politics #Resignations #Socks #DeepImpact

A group of Bedfordshire women who first came together through an amateur production of Calendar Girls are now closing in on a remarkable fundraising milestone... #Bedford #BedfordNews #Silsoe #CalendarGirls #LondonMoonWalk #MoonWalk #BreastCancer #Charity

Actress and presenter Natalie Cassidy visited the Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire MS Therapy Centre as part of filming for a new BBC One series about caring... #Bedford #BedfordNews #MS #MSTherapy #NatalieCassidy #BBCTV #CaringTogether

Up to 40,000 homes could be built around the former RAF Tempsford airfield under government-backed new town proposals. Local councillors have warned the current A1 “won’t be fit for purpose” if development goes ahead on that scale... #Bedford #BedfordNews #Tempsford #Housing #Growth

Tickets are still available, and the gates at Goldington Road open at 5pm... #Bedford #BedfordNews #BedfordSport

The RFL say they are not actively looking to bring in a new franchise, but the Tigers "want to remain in the conversation"... #Bedford #BedfordNews #BedfordSport

Anyone heading towards Sandy, the Black Cat or northbound on the A1 may want to check their route. Police say the closure is likely to remain in place for “several hours”. Latest update here: www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/breaking-new...

We’ve made some changes to the Bedford Independent website to make it faster, clearer and easier to use. It is part of our wider work to make trusted, regulated local news easier to access across Bedford Borough. #Bedford #BedfordNews #LocalNews #Journalism #Website

She said it's for "personal commitments", but it will put more pressure on the Borough's mayor... #Bedford #BedfordNews #Politics #Resignation #MayorWootton #BoroughCouncil

It's on 2 August... #Bedford #BedfordNews #Kempston #FireService #OpenDay #FireStation

“Exploitation thrives with people not talking about it, with people not understanding it..." #Bedford #BedfordNews #KnifeCrime #Policing #Exploitation #NotMyChild

A licensing sub-committee will meet on the morning of Thursday, 28 May... #Bedford #BedfordNews #Gambling #ClintonsCards #TownCentre #Planning

People can learn more about the latest East West Rail proposals during a consultation event on Saturday, 23 May, between 11am and 6pm at The King’s House, 245 Ampthill Road, Bedford... #Bedford #BedfordNews #Rail #EWR #Transport #Health #Hospital

The resignation has triggered immediate reaction from opposition parties, many of whom have already publicly called for the mayor to step down... #Bedford #BedfordNews #Resignation #BoroughCouncil

It's a bank holiday this weekend and here's your What's On Guide to help find the brilliant things happening around Bedford Borough... The Bedford Clanger’s What’s On Guide is kindly sponsored by Bedford Esquires. #Bedford #BedfordNews #WhatsOn #WhatsOnGuide #BankHoliday #ThingsToDo

Among the reforms are the introduction of V-levels, which will sit alongside A-levels and T-levels, and a host of new vocational subjects... #Bedford #BedfordNews #BedfordCollege #FurtherEducation #VLevels #VocationalLearning #Construction

“I felt that I could no longer stay in his cabinet any longer...” #Bedford #BedfordNews #Council #Resignation

The agreement includes Old Speckled Hen, Old Golden Hen, Old Crafty Hen, Old Master Hen and Low Alcohol Old Speckled Hen... #Bedford #BedfordNews #Beer #OldSpeckledHen #Brewing #Brewery #Business #DammUK

The closure is expected to begin at 10pm and remain in place until around 6am tomorrow morning (Wednesday, 20 May)... #Bedford #BedfordNews #WaterLeak #RoadClosure #Diversion #AnglianWater

To celebrate the latest book in the 'Monster' series, its authors are launching a treasure hunt, with the clues being released on the We Are Bedford Facebook group this weekend... #Bedford #BedfordNews #TreasureHunt #FamilyFun

While the newest four-legged recruits may look adorable, police say they are now fully trained operational dogs capable of scent tracking, searching, chasing suspects and helping keep the public safe.. #Bedford #BedfordNews #PoliceDogs #Policing #Animals #Dogs #WorkingDogs

Plans for a new drive-thru coffee shop near Bedford’s Fairhill roundabout were approved despite concerns about congestion at the busy junction... #Bedford #BedfordNews #Planning

Bedford Borough Council’s inability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply does not mean its Local Plan is “obsolete”, councillors have been told... #Bedford #BedfordNews #Planning #LocalPlan2030

Over the last five years, Pinchmill Primary in Felmersham have built their PE curriculum "from the bottom up", culminating in a rare platinum award... #Bedford #BedfordNews #Schools

Bedfordshire Police has arrested three people following the attempted theft of electric vehicle (EV) charging cables... #Bedford #BedfordNews #BedfordshirePolice

GIVEAWAY: Don't miss your chance to win four tickets to the Philharmonia Orchestra's family concert, inspired by the beloved tales of Winnie-the-Pooh... #Bedford #BedfordNews #Philharmonia #WinnieThePooh

“Improvements needed to be made at Bedfordshire YJS, but the dedication and enthusiasm of the staff will provide a solid foundation from which these changes can be implemented..." #Bedford #BedfordNews #YouthJustice #Inspection

The Mayes Yard site has become one of the most closely watched regeneration projects in Bedford in recent years, following the closure of Debenhams and the council’s £22 million purchase of the building in 2022... #Bedford #BedfordNews #MayesYard #Debenhams #TownCentre #Development

11-year-old Dylan Gilbert is putting on his first concert this month, but his ambition is to support Oasis at their rumoured Knebworth reunion... #Bedford #BedfordNews #LiveMusic

This follows a formal request from the developers to Bedford Borough Council for an opinion on whether the scheme requires a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)... #Bedford #BedfordNews #Planning #Homes #QueensPark

Both clubs have a 100% record in the early stages, as rain took hold around the grounds on Sunday... #Bedford #BedfordNews #BedfordSport

Bedford Ian has been looking at recent goings on across Bedford Borough and tells us what he thinks of it all… #Bedford #BedfordNews #Satire #GiveBlood #Respect #Politics #Campaigning #ElectricCar

Monthly column: "Our volunteering pool has, over the past year, grown, and we are so pleased to welcome new blood to help with our testing programmes..." The latest from BedsGOVET... #Bedford #BedfordNews #Columns #Volunteering #WaterPollution #Environment #CitizenScientist #WaterQuality

Letters: "He also said that in standing for re-election, he is asking the electorate to judge him on his record. This seems very odd, he might as well just resign..." A letter from Cllr Ben Foley... #Bedford #BedfordNews #Letters #Mayor #Greens #ReElection #Conservatives #Democracy

Police say the incident happened at a busy time in a public place and are urging anyone who witnessed it or has information to come forward... #Bedford #BedfordNews #Assault #Appeal #MidlandRoad

Police say the incident happened at a busy time in a public place and are urging anyone who witnessed it or has information to come forward... #Bedford #BedfordNews #Assault #Appeal #MidlandRoad

The first race of the evening card on 19 May begins at 6pm.... #Bedford #BedfordNews #BedfordSport

The council’s savings dashboard showed that 17 per cent of planned savings are currently rated red and 44 per cent amber... #Bedford #BedfordNews #CouncilFinances #Budget #PublicSpending

Here’s a time-lapse of the bridge being taken down... #Bedford #BedfordNews #QueensBridge #Demolition #RiverGreatOuse #Bridge #Construction

“If I can shine a light on work happening across Bedfordshire and support initiatives that make a real difference to young people, I will consider that a success..." #Bedford #BedfordNews #HighSheriff #Community #Tradition #CivilService #YoungPeople #Charity #Volunteering

The announcement is likely to place even greater national focus on Bedfordshire and the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor... #Bedford #BedfordNews #Cranfield #KingsCollege #University #Merger

There are reports that an internal NHS England briefing mentioned proposals to allow broader access for non-NHS staff in certain circumstances... #Bedford #BedfordNews #NHS #Palantir #DataProtection #DataPrivacy

“I respect anybody who defends freedom and democracy and tolerance, but in an election year we must have robust debate, and that makes it even more important that we are respectful of one another..." #Bedford #BedfordNews #Council #Respect #Debate #Democracy #Speaker #LocalAuthority

The two lifts serving the Thameslink platforms will close from Monday, 15 June 2026 and are expected to remain out of service until mid-September... #Bedford #BedfordNews #Transport #Rail #Accessibility #Trains #StPancras