good evening, we're live injerusalem, as diplomatic efforts to try to ease the worsening humanitarian situation in gaza intensify. the german chancellor olaf scholz has been meeting prime minister benjamin netanyahu in tel aviv, and tomorrowjoe biden is expected in israel for talks. but it's a tricky diplomatic mission. the us wants to show solidarity with israel, but also press for ways to ease the suffering in gaza, where the united nations says supplies of food, fuel and water are dwindling, and access must be allowed for aid. all this as israel masses troops on the border, ahead of a possible ground invasion, and it's aerial bombardment of the territory continues. it says it's targeting members of hamas, a group designated as a terror organisation by many western governments, including the uk, and responsible for last week's attack on southern israel, which killed at least 1,400 people. palestinian officials in gaza, say around 3,000 have been killed in israeli bombing, and around 12,000 people have been injured. tonight, we'll get a first hand account of the worsening conditions inside gaza, from our reporter there, rushdi abualouf. anna foster is on the border with lebanon, as fears rise over a possible escalation of the conflict. and jeremy bowen is in southern israel and joins us live, with the very latest from there. thanks, clive. well here in ashkelon, it feels a lot less panicked than perhaps it was in the first few days after those hamas attacks. there were alerts, there was one a minute ago when you were raiding the headlines. i think it was largely taken care of by the iron dome system. there were quite a lot of explosions as they went to take out those hamas rockets. in the course of the day we were able to get into the closed military zone which envelopes the edge of the border. and we went to a community there, which as you were saying, was taken over by hamas and we went there with one of the residents, who was going back for the first time en route we saw plenty of israeli armour and drops who are ready to go and here is my report and you may find some of the scenes in it distressing. in gaza city, palestinians who ignored the instruction to go south were digging for survivors, after another air strike. further down the gaza strip, close to the egyptian border, the americans want safe zones for civilians. so far, israel has conceded nothing. every where, anywhere can be deadly. the bombs israel says are aimed at hamas. but up israel says are aimed at hamas. but up and down the gaza strip, civilians feel fear, thirst, hunger and anger. he civilians feel fear, thirst, hunger and anger-— civilians feel fear, thirst, hunger andanuer. , , , ., and anger. he is only six years old. what did he — and anger. he is only six years old. what did he do? — and anger. he is only six years old. what did he do? nothing. - and anger. he is only six years old. what did he do? nothing. and - and anger. he is only six years old. | what did he do? nothing. and most and anger. he is only six years old. i what did he do? nothing. and most of the victims, most of the injuries, they came here to the hospital, most of them are young. none of them is adult. �* . .,,, of them are young. none of them is adult. ~ . .,,, ,., , ., adult. across the border in israel, armed guards _ adult. across the border in israel, armed guards protected _ adult. across the border in israel, armed guards protected one - adult. across the border in israel, i armed guards protected one resident making herfirst quick armed guards protected one resident making her first quick trip home, since she escaped hamas. what since she escaped hamas. what ha--ened since she escaped hamas. what happened here _ since she escaped hamas. what happened here was _ since she escaped hamas. what happened here was a _ since she escaped hamas. wiat happened here was a massacre. of people in their own homes. you can look at what happened here. new people in their own homes. you can look at what happened here. men from the villa . e look at what happened here. men from the village security _ look at what happened here. men from the village security team _ look at what happened here. men from the village security team went - the village security team went ahead, because gaza at its closest is only 50 metres away and hamas has tried to get back in. we is only 50 metres away and hamas has tried to get back in.— tried to get back in. we are going. the first step _ tried to get back in. we are going. the first stop was _ tried to get back in. we are going. the first stop was the _ tried to get back in. we are going. the first stop was the home - tried to get back in. we are going. the first stop was the home of- tried to get back in. we are going. l the first stop was the home of close friends. it the first stop was the home of close friends. , , �* friends. it is the first time i'm here. friends. it is the first time i'm here- i'm _ friends. it is the first time i'm here. i'm not— friends. it is the first time i'm here. i'm not sure _ friends. it is the first time i'm here. i'm not sure i _ friends. it is the first time i'm here. i'm not sure i can - friends. it is the first time i'm here. i'm not sure i can go . friends. it is the first time i'm - here. i'm not sure i can go inside. i don't want to see it. i'm not sure. , ., ., sure. in the sitting room, the tv remote is _ sure. in the sitting room, the tv remote is still _ sure. in the sitting room, the tv remote is still on _ sure. in the sitting room, the tv remote is still on the _ sure. in the sitting room, the tv remote is still on the table - sure. in the sitting room, the tv remote is still on the table and l sure. in the sitting room, the tv i remote is still on the table and the bedroom floor is covered in their dried blood. they had weapons and tried to defend themselves. but what has killed this couple and the rescue dogs they looked after since their three children left home. it was not a relaxing walk, right on the edge of israeli territory. 0r was not a relaxing walk, right on the edge of israeli territory. or an easy home coming for this woman who hid with herfamily easy home coming for this woman who hid with her family for 12 easy home coming for this woman who hid with herfamily for 12 hours until they were rescued. we hid with her family for 12 hours until they were rescued. we heard it. we until they were rescued. we heard it- we heard _ until they were rescued. we heard it. we heard the _ until they were rescued. we heard it. we heard the shouting, - until they were rescued. we heard it. we heard the shouting, we - until they were rescued. we heard i it. we heard the shouting, we heard the screaming. we heard... 0bviously all the fire that was going on. we saw the smoke. we smell the smoke. do you think there is a chance for peace now?— do you think there is a chance for eace now? , . , . ., . peace now? there is always chance for peace- — peace now? there is always chance for peace- but _ peace now? there is always chance for peace. but you _ peace now? there is always chance for peace. but you need _ peace now? there is always chance for peace. but you need two - peace now? there is always chance for peace. but you need two sidesl for peace. but you need two sides who want it. and you saw the wall, we are a community on the border and we are a community on the border and we said from day one, we live here, because we know we want peace and peaceis because we know we want peace and peace is possible. but you need two for that angle. peace is possible. but you need two for that angle-— for that angle. around 800 people lived here- — for that angle. around 800 people lived here. hamas— for that angle. around 800 people lived here. hamas killed _ for that angle. around 800 people lived here. hamas killed 21 - for that angle. around 800 people lived here. hamas killed 21 of- for that angle. around 800 people i lived here. hamas killed 21 of them. israel says it will wipe hamas from the earth for what it's done. but until the attacks, the government made deals with hamas, undermining other palestinians who wanted peace. down the road, hamas tried to kill a family. down the road, hamas tried to kill a famil . , ., family. they tried to get in the shelter. and... _ family. they tried to get in the shelter. and... he _ family. they tried to get in the shelter. and... he was - family. they tried to get in the | shelter. and... he was holding family. they tried to get in the - shelter. and... he was holding the handle. shelter. and... he was holding the handle- he — shelter. and... he was holding the handle. he held _ shelter. and... he was holding the handle. he held the _ shelter. and... he was holding the handle. he held the handle - shelter. and... he was holding the handle. he held the handle and - shelter. and... he was holding the i handle. he held the handle and they dro ed handle. he held the handle and they dr0pped the — handle. he held the handle and they dropped the grenade. _ handle. he held the handle and they dropped the grenade. the _ handle. he held the handle and they dropped the grenade. the door- handle. he held the handle and they| dropped the grenade. the door held, inside the father _ dropped the grenade. the door held, inside the fatherjammed _ dropped the grenade. the door held, inside the fatherjammed the - dropped the grenade. the door held, inside the fatherjammed the handle | inside the fatherjammed the handle and as the family escaped, hamas tried to kick their way in. the houseis tried to kick their way in. the house is full of fragments of the lives interrupted, all the stuff people have in their houses — kids' toys, a scooter, photographs on the fridge, the washing up done. all done on what seemed to be a normal evening. 6th before on saturday 7th hamas came here. israelis support their soldiers. they're bitterly divided about whether binyamin netanyahu is part of problem. i don't trust him. i don't trust government and i don't trust hamas. two of them need to be out of the way. hamas is responsible for what happened here, but this government is responsible as well, because they were in charge of our security. she made it back _ were in charge of our security. she made it back to her house for the first time since the family escaped hamas. the guards check the building was clear. find hamas. the guards check the building was clear. �* ., ., �* .,~ was clear. and that one? i'm taking the opportunity _ was clear. and that one? i'm taking the opportunity to _ was clear. and that one? i'm taking the opportunity to get _ was clear. and that one? i'm taking the opportunity to get some - was clear. and that one? i'm taking the opportunity to get some stuff. i j the opportunity to get some stuff. i only have two for me. she the opportunity to get some stuff. i only have two for me.— only have two for me. she is a farmer, only have two for me. she is a farmer. her — only have two for me. she is a farmer, her harvest _ only have two for me. she is a farmer, her harvest is - only have two for me. she is a farmer, her harvest is lost. i only have two for me. she is a i farmer, her harvest is lost. now israelis and palestinians need to rescue the future. i israelis and palestinians need to rescue the future.— israelis and palestinians need to rescue the future. i need to water the piants- _ rescue the future. i need to water the piants- their _ rescue the future. i need to water the plants. they only _ rescue the future. i need to water the plants. they only had - rescue the future. i need to water the plants. they only had a - rescue the future. i need to water the plants. they only had a few. the plants. they only had a few minutes and — the plants. they only had a few minutes and she _ the plants. they only had a few minutes and she says - the plants. they only had a few minutes and she says they're i the plants. they only had a few- minutes and she says they're lucky. her sis fer and niece were saved when the gunman attacking their house was killed by a neighbour, whose own son lost. her partner picked up some clothes. they don't expect to come back any time soon. the war is too close to their home. the war is too close to their home. the risks of it spreading are acute. hard days high ahead. vivid flash back to those terrible events. well, what of the situation in northern israel where tensions are rising? the israeli army says it's killed four militants trying to cross from lebanon. 0vernight, the israeli airforce carried out more airstrikes inside lebanon on targets linked to the iranian—backed group hezbollah, proscribed as a terror organisation by the uk government. the concern is that the israel/hamas war, could spill over to other parts of the middle east. anna foster is live on the israeli side of the border with lebanon for us now. clive, the warning signs are all in place here, with the regular exchanges of fire across the border, be it the masses troops or the evacuated towns, the situation in the north will be high onjoe biden's agenda when he arrives in israel tomorrow. while that goes on, we have had access to one of israel's key defence points on the northern border, a military base in the mountains, where they view cameras through the day to watch their border. when this sergeant saw men crossing the border, he knew what to do. men crossing the border, he knew what to do— men crossing the border, he knew what to do. ~ ,, ~ .,, ., , what to do. translation: i was on my shift and recognised _ what to do. translation: i was on my shift and recognised a _ what to do. translation: i was on my shift and recognised a group _ what to do. translation: i was on my shift and recognised a group of - shift and recognised a group of terrorists on the screens. i understood that something was wrong. i won't lie, it was very scary to stand here by the border. the observers in the south, all the forces caught up in the attack. i know a lot of people who have been abducted or murdered. for know a lot of people who have been abducted or murdered.— know a lot of people who have been abducted or murdered. for more than abducted or murdered. for more than a week there — abducted or murdered. for more than a week there have _ abducted or murdered. for more than a week there have been _ abducted or murdered. for more than a week there have been exchanges i abducted or murdered. for more than a week there have been exchanges of| a week there have been exchanges of fire between lebanon and israel. and as they intensify, this is where israeli soldiers keep tabs on the border. they call this the war room. there is another one the same right behind it and all of these vaccines, all of the time, right around—the—clock, are being watched and monitored and showing cameras that are trained on the bortder, people are watch and waiting. if they see anybody try to come across that border, they immediately raise the alarm. �* ,, �* that border, they immediately raise the alarm. ~ ,, �* , that border, they immediately raise the alarm. ~ ,, ~ , ., the alarm. translation: they are the e es of the alarm. translation: they are the eyes of soldiers. _ the alarm. translation: they are the eyes of soldiers, of _ the alarm. translation: they are the eyes of soldiers, of the _ the alarm. translation: they are the eyes of soldiers, of the the _ the alarm. translation: they are the eyes of soldiers, of the the entire - eyes of soldiers, of the the entire board ber and they are playing an important role. we are a company of strong women, female soldiers that know theirjob and mission. and now that they play a very important role in this war. , ., ,, that they play a very important role in this war. , ., ., ., ,, ., that they play a very important role in this war-— in this war. israeli troops are now massin: in this war. israeli troops are now massing in _ in this war. israeli troops are now massing in the — in this war. israeli troops are now massing in the north _ in this war. israeli troops are now massing in the north in _ in this war. israeli troops are now massing in the north in large - massing in the north in large numbers. it is a visual reminder of what is at stake and how seriously the threat is being taken. the us is working behind the scenes to stop an escalation. but iran, which backs his brother, isn't ruling out opening a new front. his brother, isn't ruling out oenin: a newfront. �* ,, �* opening a new front. translation: restraint cannot _ opening a new front. translation: restraint cannot be _ opening a new front. translation: restraint cannot be one _ opening a new front. translation: restraint cannot be one sided, - opening a new front. translation: restraint cannot be one sided, you i restraint cannot be one sided, you can't advise his brother to have restraint, but tell binyamin netanyahu you can commit whatever crimes you like against civilians. these are tense hours along this fragile dividing line. if it breaks, the whole region will feel the consequences. the rising fears of escalation there. well, the humanitarian situation in gaza worsens by the hour, as hundreds of lorries full of aid wait at the territory's border with egypt. the united nations is warning that people will soon start dying because of a lack of water and it's calling for "full unimpeded access" through the rafah border crossing from egypt into gaza. at the moment, it remains closed. our gaza correspondent, rushdi abualouf, joins us live from khan younis, in southern gaza. just bring us up—to—date with the conditions where you are. i know that you have been personally affected by what is going on there? yeah, since the morning, last night was very heavy air strikes around the area in khan younis and rafah, the area in khan younis and rafah, the area in khan younis and rafah, the area which was considered safe, the area which was considered safe, the israelis asked most of the 1.2 million people come to this area, it was shelled heavily this morning. i was shelled heavily this morning. i was about to go on air when we got a call from my wife saying that the near by house has been threatened, the israelis want to attack the house. and straightaway we had to evacuate the house. this is the third time we have been displaced since the beginning of this war. and we had to leave the house very quickly and we left everything behind, our belongings, our passports, our id, everything and, yeah, i was far away from the family, i was about to go on air and my wife was in the house with the kids, with my father in law and about 25 people in the same building. the whole building has to evacuate and the... all the compound was out very quickly and to the near by hospital. they were waiting there until i contacted someone and send it to him and i... i am now being joined with my family in the hospital. so we are taking the hospital. so we are taking the hospital as the shelter. this is the condition that about 600,000 people who were displaced from their homes in the north and they came to the south, because they believed it is safe. but today 100 people, over 100 people were killed, all of them are displaced from their home in the north of gaza and gaza city. the situation is really very tense. in the last five minutes we got confirmation from the palestinian health ministry that a hospital in central gaza has been bombed and they said the number of people, the victims, as they put in their statement, more than 200 or 300 people. they said also people were fleeing from the north and taking the hospital as shelter. still all initial reports, we can't verify it, because i'm in khan younis and it is taking place in rafah, in gaza sorry, but that is what came so far from the health ministry in gaza and the local authority are talking of the local authority are talking of the biggest air strike ever since the biggest air strike ever since the start of the war. fitter; the biggest air strike ever since the start of the war. stay safe, our best wishes _ the start of the war. stay safe, our best wishes to _ the start of the war. stay safe, our best wishes to you _ the start of the war. stay safe, our best wishes to you and _ the start of the war. stay safe, our best wishes to you and your - the start of the war. stay safe, our| best wishes to you and your family. let's hear again from jeremy bowen in southern israel. jeremy, it is a difficult diplomatic situation for joe biden when he arrives tomorrow. he has to show support for israel, no doubt about that, but he has to push to try and improve the conditions we've just been hearing about in gaza. how does he balance those two potentially competing aims? i those two potentially competing aims? ~ ., ., , ., aims? i think it have to be a magician — aims? i think it have to be a magician to _ aims? i think it have to be a magician to be _ aims? i think it have to be a magician to be able - aims? i think it have to be a magician to be able to - aims? i think it have to be a i magician to be able to balance aims? i think it have to be a - magician to be able to balance those things, to be quite honest with you. because he has said repeatedly, it's how you do this that matters, to israel. you have a right on your side but you have to respect international law and respect, as well, the obligation that all belligerent armies how to protect civilians, and from what we are hearing today there are very many civilians dying. israel will insist it is going after military targets and it is all based on intelligence, but in such an overcrowded area with so many people moving, that is very hard to try and do, and the question has to be asked, how hard israel is trying to do that? because in the past they have had various procedures they have used, the so—called knock on the roof, where they put a small bomb on the roof and give people time to get out. they said they are not doing that because they don't have the capacity to do that. there's also a statement that has come from the un relief and works agency, the agency that deals with palestinian refugees, and they say that at least six people were killed in one of their schools where refugees, displaced people, rather, had been taking refuge, and dozens of others including un staff were injured and this is a statement from the head of the organisation, that un agency, and he says that this is outrageous and again shows a flagrant disregard for the lives of civilians. no place is safe in gaza any more, not even our facilities. that is a statement from the head of the un agency, and all of that will certainly be fed into the meetings thatjoe biden will be having not necessarily in israel, but he is going tojordan where he will be meeting arab allies of the united states, and there will be some very hard questions and difficult answers, if it's even possible to find them. answers, if it's even possible to find them-— answers, if it's even possible to find them. , , ., ,, find them. indeed. jeremy, thank ou. find them. indeed. jeremy, thank you- jeremy _ find them. indeed. jeremy, thank you. jeremy bowen _ find them. indeed. jeremy, thank you. jeremy bowen in _ find them. indeed. jeremy, thank you. jeremy bowen in southern i you. jeremy bowen in southern israel. the family of a 13—year—old british girl who'd been missing since the hamas attacks ten days ago now say she was murdered. yahel�*s mother, lianne, was also killed. her 16—year—old sister, noiya and herfather are missing. lucy manning has more. 13—year—old yahel, just a few months ago, celebrating the moment a jewish girl enters adulthood. the future that she now won't realise. murdered ijy that she now won't realise. murdered by hamas, her older sister, by hamas, her oldersister, noiya missing. her british family shared these pictures. they said yahel was beautiful, full of adventure and mystery. a bundle of unbridled energy and joy. cheeky and sharp. we will forever miss her, they said. yahel truly lived her life. brave enough to jump out of a plane, with the family on a skydiving trip. she made them laugh before she jumped. this family hamas tried to obliterate. yahel murdered. british mother leanne also murdered. sister noiya and father ellie —— eli, also missing. noiya and father ellie -- eli, also missinr. ,, ., , , ., ,, missing. she was the funny one. she was very fast — missing. she was the funny one. she was very fast and _ missing. she was the funny one. she was very fast and i _ missing. she was the funny one. she was very fast and i remember - missing. she was the funny one. she was very fast and i remember telling | was very fast and i remember telling her, yahel, slow down. she would sit with me and show me pictures on her phone. with me and show me pictures on her hone. . �* , with me and show me pictures on her hone. ., �*, ., , , phone. yahel's uk relatives said she and her family _ phone. yahel's uk relatives said she and her family loved _ phone. yahel's uk relatives said she and her family loved coming - phone. yahel's uk relatives said she and her family loved coming here i phone. yahel's uk relatives said she| and her family loved coming here for and herfamily loved coming here for christmas and easter, enjoying the british festive season. her mother had moved to israel when she was just 19 to volunteer on a kibbutz. she was the one you wanted to celebrate with. she would sing, she taught me how to drink beer, and we were good friends. you taught me how to drink beer, and we were good friends.— were good friends. you still have ho -e for were good friends. you still have hope for noiya — were good friends. you still have hope for noiya and _ were good friends. you still have hope for noiya and eli. _ were good friends. you still have hope for noiya and eli. of- were good friends. you still have| hope for noiya and eli. of course. until we get _ hope for noiya and eli. of course. until we get a _ hope for noiya and eli. of course. until we get a clear— hope for noiya and eli. of course. until we get a clear message, - hope for noiya and eli. of course. until we get a clear message, i i hope for noiya and eli. of course. | until we get a clear message, i do not want to say it, but now i have to arrange the funeral of lianne and yahel, and i don't even know how to do it, because i never even did one the funeral. how can you arrange two or three orfour? the funeral. how can you arrange two or three or four?— or three or four? yahel brought lirht or three or four? yahel brought liuht into or three or four? yahel brought light into our _ or three or four? yahel brought light into our lives, _ or three or four? yahel brought light into our lives, said - or three or four? yahel brought light into our lives, said her- light into our lives, said her family, for the two short time she was with us. one more tragedy, on top of so many in this war, where and that's it from us here injersualem. now, back to you sophie, in the studio in london. for the first time in almost two years, the average wage has risen higher than the rate of inflation. new figures show pay rose at an annual rate of 7.8% betweenjune and august — though there is a big gap between public and private sector pay. and many people are still feeling the squeeze, as our chief economics correspondent dharshini david reports. carving out a future isn't straightforward at this brick and tile factory in dudley. it's gone from dealing with high energy bills to a slump in demand, as higher interest rates hammer customers in construction. but they're determined to hang on to staff, even if higher wages are a stretch. when demand has fallen to the levels that it has done, which is roughly 30% down, we are stuck. so it is a challenge to make the numbers work. but without a workforce that is going to be here when we come through the other side, we're not going to be able to produce at the level that we would like to. this blue line is average wage growth. skill shortages in areas such as manufacturing helped it overtake the rate of inflation. the red line over the summer, easing the strain for some on budgets. but as inflation falls, pay rises are now becoming less generous, especially as employers are hit by those higher interest rates. higher borrowing costs are shaking the foundations of the building industry, but they take about a year to filter across the whole economy, impacting jobs and spending. so the bank of england may not raise rates again next month, but because inflation is so high, it may not cut them for some time, keeping the pressure on some households. even those who've scored a decent pay rise, such as the staff and parents at this school in calder valley, may not feel they're better off. i don't think anybody�*s noticed the wage equalling out to the the cost of expenses right now, and i'm at the same standard of living. i've not noticed an extra bit of money flying around. it may also be down to tax. we're now in the middle of a six year period where income tax allowances and thresholds are not increasing whilst prices and earnings are rising fast. put that together and that is a very, very big tax increase indeed. £50 billion, that's 2% of national income. if you think of that as a single tax change, it's possibly the biggest there's ever been. prospects here might be rock solid, but many employers are hiring fewer workers. as it is the average pay packet after inflation stretches little further than it did 15 years ago. building back to full prosperity may take a while. darshini david, bbc news. scotland's first minister, humza yousaf, has given his first party conference speech as leader of the snp. he pledged to freeze council tax in scotland next year, and told delegates in aberdeen the party must focus on the economy if they're to win support for independence. mr yousaf — who has family trapped in gaza — also called on the international community to create a refugee programme for people fleeing the territory. our scotland editor james cook reports. the party that likes to say yes to independence has seen support sink in the past year after suffering a series of setbacks. i am announcing my intention to step down as first minister. nicola sturgeon quit after her plan for a second referendum was blocked. then she was arrested and released without charge by police investigating the snp's finances. scottish labour party, 17,850... and this month the snp has lost one seat at westminster in a by election and another with a defection to the tories and our first minister, humza yousaf. so humza yousaf�*s task here was to steady the ship. but with his wife's parents trapped in gaza, he began by thanking delegates for their kindness. so on my behalf, on behalf of nadia, on behalf of my girls, perhaps most importantly, on behalf of our family that is in gaza, from the bottom of our hearts, we say thank you to each and every single one of you. mr yousaf condemned hamas, called for the blockade of gaza to end, and urged countries worldwide to open their doors to palestinian refugees. scotland is willing to be the first country in the uk to offer safety and sanctuary to those who are caught up in these terrible attacks. he then turned to matters at home, promising to double investment in the arts and to spend more on building wind turbines, cutting nhs waiting lists and helping domestic abuse survivors. and then a surprise. i can announce to the people of scotland that next year your council tax will be frozen. applause. and that's the snp delivering for people when they need it the most. at the weekend, they talked here for hours about how to achieve independence. today, their leader wanted to focus on why independence is not simply an end in itself. it's inextricably linked to the cost of living crisis. it's about raising living standards. it's about protecting our nhs. above all, it's about a new wellbeing economy. this tough and emotional week for humza yousaf and his family puts politics in perspective, but it doesn't put it on pause. he knows his party needs a reset and this is his answer. he also knows if it doesn't work, he'll be in trouble. james cook, bbc news, aberdeen. after 10 years in the making, this huge wind farm off the coast of scotland can now generate enough electricity to power two thirds of scottish homes. seagreen — off the coast of angus — has just begun operating at full capacity. it's one of a series of large wind farms in the north sea being brought online this year. two key by—elections are taking place this week in england. voters in tamworth and mid bedfordshire will head to the polls after the resignations of the conservative mps chris pincher and nadine dorries. with a general election expected next year, the focus will be on whether the tories can retain the seats. alex forsyth looks at what's at stake in both constituencies. this contest was triggered when the former conservative mp chris pincher resigned, after losing an appeal against a suspension from the house of commons for drunkenly groping two men. there are several candidates standing to replace him, but the crucial battle is between westminster�*s two biggest parties, the conservatives and labour. and both have got some persuading to do. i don't see any difference that you can make or i can make as a member of the public, no matter where you're putting your cross. what are the issues that you think matter in this by—election? 0h, there's so many, isn't there? pensions, everything's going up. cost of living. potholes. fed up of all the potholes. this area is synonymous with sir robert peel, a hugely influential conservative figure and former prime minister. and in recent years, it has been pretty safe tory territory. they won by almost 20,000 votes last time, so losing would be significant. but before 2010, this was a labour area and the question is whether the party can win again in places like this, a part of the midlands that voted for brexit. it is a big test. this constituency, which covers a handful of towns, including this one and a whole host of villages, has been conservative for more than 90 years. but you just need to drive around and see the number of political placards in front gardens and windows to understand that other parties think they're in with a chance here. the by—election was triggered when nadine dorries, who was the conservative mp, quit, and in reality the contest has been underway for months. have you heard much about this by election? have i? the stuff that keeps coming through the door, keeps coming through the door. yeah, we have. for me personally, i think the issues are crime. too much building going on, really. and not enough— infrastructure being put in. cost of living. change is good. so maybe a new mp will bring new ideas. a big factor is how much appetite there is for change and who represents it. in other byelections that have seen big majorities overturned, the focus has largely been on two parties. here, both labour and the liberal democrats are insisting they're the ones to beat the conservatives and so all three are throwing everything at this seat. add in all the other candidates who are standing and this becomes an entirely unpredictable race. alex forsyth there. and you can find a list of all the candidates standing in tamworth and in mid bedfordshire on the bbc news website.

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