diff --git a/scripts/local_testnet/README.md b/scripts/local_testnet/README.md
index 921fd1cf2..c9fb38768 100644
--- a/scripts/local_testnet/README.md
+++ b/scripts/local_testnet/README.md
@@ -15,6 +15,32 @@ make install-lcli
 
 ## Starting the testnet
 
+Modify `vars.env` as desired.
+
+Start a local eth1 ganache server plus boot node along with `BN_COUNT`
+number of beacon nodes and `VC_COUNT` validator clients.
+
+The `start_local_testnet.sh` script takes three options `-v VC_COUNT`, `-d DEBUG_LEVEL` and `-h` for help.
+The options may be in any order or absent in which case they take the default value specified.
+- VC_COUNT: the number of validator clients to create, default: `BN_COUNT`
+- DEBUG_LEVEL: one of { error, warn, info, debug, trace }, default: `info`
+
+
+```bash
+./start_local_testnet.sh
+```
+
+## Stopping the testnet
+
+This is not necessary before `start_local_testnet.sh` as it invokes `stop_local_testnet.sh` automatically.
+```bash
+./stop_local_testnet.sh
+```
+
+## Manual creation of local testnet
+
+These scripts are used by ./start_local_testnet.sh and may be used to manually
+
 Start a local eth1 ganache server
 ```bash
 ./ganache_test_node.sh
@@ -59,13 +85,13 @@ You can create additional beacon node and validator client instances with approp
 
 ### Adjusting number and distribution of validators
 The `VALIDATOR_COUNT` parameter is used to specify the number of insecure validator keystores to generate and make deposits for.
-The `NODE_COUNT` parameter is used to adjust the division of these generated keys among separate validator client instances.
-For e.g. for `VALIDATOR_COUNT=80` and `NODE_COUNT=4`, the validator keys are distributed over 4 datadirs with 20 keystores per datadir. The datadirs are located in `$DATADIR/node_{i}` which can be passed to separate validator client
+The `BN_COUNT` parameter is used to adjust the division of these generated keys among separate validator client instances.
+For e.g. for `VALIDATOR_COUNT=80` and `BN_COUNT=4`, the validator keys are distributed over 4 datadirs with 20 keystores per datadir. The datadirs are located in `$DATADIR/node_{i}` which can be passed to separate validator client
 instances using the `--datadir` parameter.
 
 ### Starting fresh
 
-Delete the current testnet and all related files using:
+Delete the current testnet and all related files using. Generally not necessary as `start_local_test.sh` does this each time it starts.
 
 ```bash
 ./clean.sh
@@ -82,6 +108,5 @@ Update the genesis time to now using:
 ./reset_genesis_time.sh
 ```
 
-> Note: you probably want to drop the beacon node database and the validator
-> client slashing database if you do this. When using small validator counts
-> it's probably easy to just use `./clean.sh && ./setup.sh`.
+> Note: you probably want to just rerun `./start_local_testnet.sh` to start over
+> but this is another option.
diff --git a/scripts/local_testnet/beacon_node.sh b/scripts/local_testnet/beacon_node.sh
index 6b66bec05..883c66602 100755
--- a/scripts/local_testnet/beacon_node.sh
+++ b/scripts/local_testnet/beacon_node.sh
@@ -1,25 +1,54 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
 #
-# Starts a beacon node based upon a genesis state created by
-# `./setup.sh`.
+# Starts a beacon node based upon a genesis state created by `./setup.sh`.
 #
-# Usage: ./beacon_node.sh <DATADIR> <NETWORK-PORT> <HTTP-PORT> <OPTIONAL-DEBUG-LEVEL>
 
 source ./vars.env
 
-DEBUG_LEVEL=${4:-info}
+SUBSCRIBE_ALL_SUBNETS=
+DEBUG_LEVEL=${DEBUG_LEVEL:-info}
+
+# Get options
+while getopts "d:sh" flag; do
+  case "${flag}" in
+    d) DEBUG_LEVEL=${OPTARG};;
+    s) SUBSCRIBE_ALL_SUBNETS="--subscribe-all-subnets";;
+    h)
+       echo "Start a beacon node"
+       echo
+       echo "usage: $0 <Options> <DATADIR> <NETWORK-PORT> <HTTP-PORT>"
+       echo
+       echo "Options:"
+       echo "   -s: pass --subscribe-all-subnets to 'lighthouse bn ...', default is not passed"
+       echo "   -d: DEBUG_LEVEL, default info"
+       echo "   -h: this help"
+       echo
+       echo "Positional arguments:"
+       echo "  DATADIR       Value for --datadir parameter"
+       echo "  NETWORK-PORT  Value for --enr-udp-port, --enr-tcp-port and --port"
+       echo "  HTTP-PORT     Value for --http-port"
+       exit
+       ;;
+  esac
+done
+
+# Get positional arguments
+data_dir=${@:$OPTIND+0:1}
+network_port=${@:$OPTIND+1:1}
+http_port=${@:$OPTIND+2:1}
 
 exec lighthouse \
 	--debug-level $DEBUG_LEVEL \
 	bn \
-	--datadir $1 \
+	$SUBSCRIBE_ALL_SUBNETS \
+	--datadir $data_dir \
 	--testnet-dir $TESTNET_DIR \
 	--staking \
 	--enr-address 127.0.0.1 \
-	--enr-udp-port $2 \
-	--enr-tcp-port $2 \
-	--port $2 \
-	--http-port $3 \
+	--enr-udp-port $network_port \
+	--enr-tcp-port $network_port \
+	--port $network_port \
+	--http-port $http_port \
 	--disable-packet-filter \
-	--target-peers $((NODE_COUNT - 1))
+	--target-peers $((BN_COUNT - 1))
diff --git a/scripts/local_testnet/kill_processes.sh b/scripts/local_testnet/kill_processes.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..c729a1645
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/local_testnet/kill_processes.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Kill processes
+
+# First parameter is the file with
+# one pid per line.
+if [ -f "$1" ]; then
+  while read pid
+    do
+      echo killing $pid
+      kill $pid
+    done < $1
+fi
+
+
diff --git a/scripts/local_testnet/setup.sh b/scripts/local_testnet/setup.sh
index edc19e024..6f0b07091 100755
--- a/scripts/local_testnet/setup.sh
+++ b/scripts/local_testnet/setup.sh
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 # is now + $GENESIS_DELAY.
 #
 # Generates datadirs for multiple validator keys according to the
-# $VALIDATOR_COUNT and $NODE_COUNT variables.
+# $VALIDATOR_COUNT and $BN_COUNT variables.
 #
 
 set -o nounset -o errexit -o pipefail
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ lcli \
 	insecure-validators \
 	--count $VALIDATOR_COUNT \
 	--base-dir $DATADIR \
-	--node-count $NODE_COUNT
+	--node-count $BN_COUNT
 
 echo Validators generated with keystore passwords at $DATADIR.
 echo "Building genesis state... (this might take a while)"
diff --git a/scripts/local_testnet/start_local_testnet.sh b/scripts/local_testnet/start_local_testnet.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..cdae9b2ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/local_testnet/start_local_testnet.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Start all processes necessary to create a local testnet
+
+source ./vars.env
+
+# VC_COUNT is defaulted in vars.env
+DEBUG_LEVEL=${DEBUG_LEVEL:-info}
+
+# Get options
+while getopts "v:d:h" flag; do
+  case "${flag}" in
+    v) VC_COUNT=${OPTARG};;
+    d) DEBUG_LEVEL=${OPTARG};;
+    h)
+        validators=$(( $VALIDATOR_COUNT / $BN_COUNT ))
+        echo "Start local testnet, defaults: 1 eth1 node, $BN_COUNT beacon nodes,"
+        echo "and $VC_COUNT validator clients with each vc having $validators validators."
+        echo
+        echo "usage: $0 <Options>"
+        echo
+        echo "Options:"
+        echo "   -v: VC_COUNT    default: $VC_COUNT"
+        echo "   -d: DEBUG_LEVEL default: info"
+        echo "   -h:             this help"
+        exit
+        ;;
+  esac
+done
+
+if (( $VC_COUNT > $BN_COUNT )); then
+    echo "Error $VC_COUNT is too large, must be <= BN_COUNT=$BN_COUNT"
+    exit
+fi
+
+# Init some constants
+PID_FILE=$TESTNET_DIR/PIDS.pid
+LOG_DIR=$TESTNET_DIR
+
+# Stop local testnet and remove $PID_FILE
+./stop_local_testnet.sh
+
+# Clean $DATADIR and create empty log files so the
+# user can "tail -f" right after starting this script
+# even before its done.
+./clean.sh
+mkdir -p $LOG_DIR
+for (( bn=1; bn<=$BN_COUNT; bn++ )); do
+    touch $LOG_DIR/beacon_node_$bn.log
+done
+for (( vc=1; vc<=$VC_COUNT; vc++ )); do
+    touch $LOG_DIR/validator_node_$vc.log
+done 
+
+# Sleep with a message
+sleeping() {
+   echo sleeping $1
+   sleep $1
+}
+
+# Execute the command with logs saved to a file.
+#
+# First parameter is log file name
+# Second parameter is executable name
+# Remaining parameters are passed to executable
+execute_command() {
+    LOG_NAME=$1
+    EX_NAME=$2
+    shift
+    shift
+    CMD="$EX_NAME $@ &>> $LOG_DIR/$LOG_NAME"
+    echo "executing: $CMD"
+    echo "$CMD" > "$LOG_DIR/$LOG_NAME"
+    eval "$CMD &"
+}
+
+# Execute the command with logs saved to a file
+# and is PID is saved to $PID_FILE.
+#
+# First parameter is log file name
+# Second parameter is executable name
+# Remaining parameters are passed to executable
+execute_command_add_PID() {
+    execute_command $@
+    echo "$!" >> $PID_FILE
+}
+
+# Start ganache-cli, setup things up and start the bootnode.
+# The delays are necessary, hopefully there is a better way :(
+
+# Delay to let ganache-cli to get started
+execute_command_add_PID ganache_test_node.log ./ganache_test_node.sh
+sleeping 2
+
+# Delay to get data setup
+execute_command setup.log ./setup.sh
+sleeping 15
+
+# Delay to let boot_enr.yaml to be created
+execute_command_add_PID bootnode.log ./bootnode.sh
+sleeping 1
+
+# Start beacon nodes
+BN_udp_tcp_base=9000
+BN_http_port_base=8000
+
+(( $VC_COUNT < $BN_COUNT )) && SAS=-s || SAS=
+
+for (( bn=1; bn<=$BN_COUNT; bn++ )); do
+    execute_command_add_PID beacon_node_$bn.log ./beacon_node.sh $SAS -d $DEBUG_LEVEL $DATADIR/node_$bn $((BN_udp_tcp_base + $bn)) $((BN_http_port_base + $bn))
+done
+
+# Start requested number of validator clients
+for (( vc=1; vc<=$VC_COUNT; vc++ )); do
+    execute_command_add_PID validator_node_$vc.log ./validator_client.sh $DATADIR/node_$vc http://localhost:$((BN_http_port_base + $vc)) $DEBUG_LEVEL
+done
+
+echo "Started!"
diff --git a/scripts/local_testnet/stop_local_testnet.sh b/scripts/local_testnet/stop_local_testnet.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..47f390ba7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/local_testnet/stop_local_testnet.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Stop all processes that were started with start_local_testnet.sh
+
+source ./vars.env
+
+PID_FILE=$TESTNET_DIR/PIDS.pid
+./kill_processes.sh $PID_FILE
+rm -f $PID_FILE
diff --git a/scripts/local_testnet/vars.env b/scripts/local_testnet/vars.env
index 293a46d58..f88e9eb71 100644
--- a/scripts/local_testnet/vars.env
+++ b/scripts/local_testnet/vars.env
@@ -15,10 +15,16 @@ GENESIS_FORK_VERSION=0x42424242
 VALIDATOR_COUNT=80
 GENESIS_VALIDATOR_COUNT=80
 
-# Number of validator client instances that you intend to run
-NODE_COUNT=4
+# Number of beacon_node instances that you intend to run
+BN_COUNT=4
 
-GENESIS_DELAY=180
+# Number of valicator clients
+VC_COUNT=$BN_COUNT
+
+# Number of seconds to delay to start genesis block.
+# If started by a script this can be 0, if starting by hand
+# use something like 180.
+GENESIS_DELAY=0
 
 # Port for P2P communication with bootnode
 BOOTNODE_PORT=4242
diff --git a/scripts/tests/vars.env b/scripts/tests/vars.env
index 43dad52e2..6cc0dd3b8 100644
--- a/scripts/tests/vars.env
+++ b/scripts/tests/vars.env
@@ -15,9 +15,15 @@ GENESIS_FORK_VERSION=0x42424242
 VALIDATOR_COUNT=80
 GENESIS_VALIDATOR_COUNT=80
 
-# Number of validator client instances that you intend to run
-NODE_COUNT=4
+# Number of beacon_node instances that you intend to run
+BN_COUNT=4
 
+# Number of valicator clients
+VC_COUNT=$BN_COUNT
+
+# Number of seconds to delay to start genesis block.
+# If started by a script this can be 0, if starting by hand
+# use something like 180.
 GENESIS_DELAY=0
 
 # Port for P2P communication with bootnode
@@ -29,14 +35,14 @@ NETWORK_ID=4242
 # Hard fork configuration
 ALTAIR_FORK_EPOCH=18446744073709551615
 
+# Spec version (mainnet or minimal)
+SPEC_PRESET=mainnet
+
 # Seconds per Eth2 slot
 SECONDS_PER_SLOT=3
 
 # Seconds per Eth1 block
 SECONDS_PER_ETH1_BLOCK=1
 
-# Spec preset
-SPEC_PRESET=mainnet
-
 # Enable doppelganger detection
 VC_ARGS=" --enable-doppelganger-protection "