Bedford News

Bedford’s most popular newspaper, the Bedford Independent, is proud to provide up-to-date Bedford Borough news for Harpur Radio listeners…

• Bedford Borough Council sent wrong data to DfT which led to ‘red’ pothole ranking

  Bedford Borough Council admits sending incorrect roads data to the DfT after being branded “red” for potholes, as the Mayor, MP and government trade blows over funding, figures and transparency...

• Four from Bedford and Kempston charged with house sale fraud

  Four people from Bedford and Kempston have been charged with conspiracy to defraud over the 2021 sale of two houses in Luton and Hampshire, and are due to appear at Luton Crown Court...

• Wilstead teen becomes cuddly toy-owning world record holder

  A teenager from Wilstead has become a Guinness World Record holder thanks to her cuddly toy collection. Hope Roberts, 19, officially has the largest collection of Jellycat toys in the...

• 170 under-18s referred to drug or alcohol services across Bedfordshire last year

  More than 130 under-18s were referred to drug or alcohol services in Central Bedfordshire last year, with 87 young people entering structured treatment, according to figures released...

• Column: Labour’s plans to scrap some jury trials defies all logic 

  Trial by jury is a centuries‑old safeguard, dating to before the Norman Conquest and guaranteed by the Magna Carta, designed to ensure that an individual can be judged guilty only by their peers...

• Bedford Borough Council minutes amended after accusation they downplayed exploitation allegations

  A Bedford Borough councillor has secured a change to official committee minutes after arguing they downplayed the seriousness of allegations involving the treatment of a care worker...

• Weekly food waste collections to launch across Bedford Borough in March

  Bedford Borough residents will start weekly food waste collections from Monday, 30 March 2026, with new kitchen caddies and outdoor bins helping turn leftovers into green energy and fertiliser...

• Match funding boost on offer for Bedford Charities as Small Charity Week 2026 opens

  Small Charity Week 2026 applications are now open, with organisers urging more East of England charities to apply after 10% of selected organisations in 2025 came from the region...

• What’s on Bedford: 14 – 25 January 2026

  Your weekly what’s on guide for Bedford and the surrounding area from The Bedford Clanger. Never miss a thing in Bedford ever again. From theatre to film, live music to art exhibitions, The Bedford...

• Opinion: Why are local newspapers digging their own graves by advertising Amazon products?

  Some local news outlets are posting increasing amount of adverts from multi-national billion-dollar companies such as Amazon, so we asked: Why would they do such a thing..?

• Bedford Rowing Club looks ahead to the new year after successful 2025

  Bedford Rowing Club is looking ahead to bigger and better achievements in 2026, after the previous year featured a pair of World Championship triumphs for two of the club's big names...

• Real Bedford kick off calendar year with win at Sudbury

  Real Bedford, playing in the first game of 2026, picked up an all important three points with a convincing victory over relegation threatened, AFC Sudbury in Southern League Premier Central...