The unit, in Harborough Road, Kingsthorpe, used to be an HSBC bank until it closed in July 2016.

An application submitted to the Guildhall would see the unit divided into two separate shops on the ground floor with two apartments above.

A letter from estate agents Underwoods says that, although they eventually found a buyer in February las year, they had struggled to interest potential tenants in the entire unit.

It says: "Marketing has since continued on a leasehold basis but no interest he been generated in the unit that would have seen the continuation of the premises in its current planning use.

"General feedback from applicants has been that the premises is too large and the first floor accommodation would be surplus to any requirement of a ground floor user."

A decision on whether the proposal goes ahead will be taken by councillors at a public planning committee meeting in the coming months.

An single vehicle accident has closed a road between two Daventry District villages.

The collision on West Haddon Road was first reported at 7.35am this morning (March 16).

A fire service spokeswoman said one casualty was cut out from the vehicle and left in the care of the ambulance service.

The road between Cold Ashby and West Haddon has been closed both ways, as has Church Lane.

Firefighters were called to a blaze at a property above a shop in Kingsley Park Terrace at 10.30pm on Friday (March 16).

The road remains closed in both directions.

A spokesman said: "Six crews were called to the fire at Kingsley Park Terrace at about 10.30pm.

"No one was injured in the fire and residents were evacuated from surrounding properties.

"East Midlands Ambulance Service and Northamptonshire Police also attended the scene.

"The fire has been extinguished, but crews will remain at the site today while a fire investigation team continues its work."

Peter Holman lives next door to the flat that caught fire and was at home with his partner, their five-month-old daughter and four children who they were babysitting at the time.

All were able to escape after smoke started seeping into their property.

"My partner woke me and said there was a smell of smoke coming through the wall," said Mr Holman.

"I looked outside the window and I could see lots of smoke coming from next door.

"I had to rouse all the kids and get everyone out of the building."

He added: "The flat below was already smoke filled so it was a case of getting out as quickly as possible.

"The flames hadn't broken through but the moment we got outside we could see them and the fire was out of control."

Mr Holman said a crowd had gathered on Kingsley Park Terrace after noticing the flames.

"There was a couple down the street who looked after the kids and my partner," said Mr Holman.

"In true British style, they put the kettle on.

"They didn't know us from Adam but they took us in and we were there until 1am."

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue were called to the incident on West Haddon Road at 10.22am today (March 16).

They assisted other emergency services in getting the driver out of the van.

The road linking West Haddon and Guilsborough is closed.

The vigil was led by the Hope Centre, on the steps of All Saints Church on Friday (March 15), where Robin Burgess, CEO of the Hope Centre, paid tribute to those who have died, which was shortly followed by prayer from the rector of the church, Father Oliver Coss.

All those who have died were each remembered by their own sign, which were held up by members of the public.

Robin Burgess said: "The key point about all of these people is if you look at the ages of all of them the oldest is Eddie P (senior). He was 65, occasionally he used to sleep rough behind this church and was well known to us.

"But the youngest here, who died only a few days ago, Kristian was only 22 when he died.

"Every single one of these deaths is preventable and it is premature, and as a result we must work harder to prevent these deaths from happening again in the future. Every one of these lives deserves to be remembered. Every single one of these lives mattered."

Among those who died was 46-year-old Richard Campbell, who passed away in July 2017 through an accident caused by drinking.

Known as ‘mother’, Richard had worked in the beauty and make-up industry in stores like Harrods and had once done make-up for Kylie Minogue. Many service users attended his funeral.

At the time of his death, Hope was looking at how they could support him and another service user in setting up a small social enterprise out of Hope, providing beauty services.

After Richard's death The Hope Centre started a memorial garden and have recorded each death on a stone.

Kristian O was 22 years old and passed away in February 2019.

Kristian was a well-known figure in town and busked to support himself, rarely taking advantage of services through fear of deportation and, as a Lithuanian, lacking access to housing.

Steven C died in November 2018.

A long-term rough sleeper, Steven suffered from a number of health issues, including type one diabetes. Other health problems and related street behaviours eroded his resistance to disease and he eventually died in hospital.

He had been housed in a hostel prior to his death and his winning personality meant that he endeared himself to people and was well liked.

Jerica was 38 years old when she died in early 2019.

Originally from the USA, Jerica was living rough in the St James area and was well known.

Many people reported stopping and talking with her.

Once again, she engaged in various risky behaviours that reportedly led to her death. She left behind children from whom she was separated.

Graham F was 44 when he died in February 2018.

Graham was hit by a car while wandering in the street and died in hospital.

A long-term rough sleeper, he had been excluded from the night shelter for alleged drug use the day before he died.

Fabien B was 48 years old at the time of his death in July 2018.

A Big Issue vendor supplied by Hope, Fabien died in his tent from health issues directly arising from long-term alcohol problems, which had caused his body great damage.

He died shortly after celebrating his birthday.

Though he was known for selling the Big Issue here and also in Milton Keynes, he was also well-known to people beyond the homelessness community.

Eddie P (senior) was 65 when he died.

Eddie had been housed and had somewhere to live but he had been homeless and a rough sleeper previously.

Even after he was housed he continued to sleep rough regularly because he had grown used to that lifestyle.

A very well-liked man, Eddie had been involved in the music business.

His son, also known as Eddie, sadly died from similar causes two weeks after his father’s death, though he was not homeless.

Professional organiser and declutter expert Karen Taylor – founder of Declutter Angel – is home-by-home helping people get their clothes, shoes, paperwork and everything else in order.

Karen, who swapped a stressful corporate job for her new venture, believes there's a strong link between having a tidy home and tidy mind.

"When people are struggling with a lot of emotional stuff going on it's difficult to juggle all the plates," said the 43-year-old.

"Once they declutter they have more headspace to manage things better."

"If you reduce down all those items you can start to feel energised; it clears the mind," she added.

Since the KonMari method hit UK TV screens thanks to Netflix's Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, charity shops have seen an increase in donations. And with decluttering a big trend in America it's starting to catch on in the UK.

Karen said: "Like our friends across the pond, here in the UK, we are accumulating more stuff and in turn, the space around us is shrinking with the clutter preoccupying our minds and starting to take over our lives.

"The need to declutter our possessions is growing and it's time to take back control of our lives and get organised, after all, if we were stuck on a desert island how many chipped old ceramic mugs would we actually need?"

The good news, says Karen, is you don't need to tackle the challenge of getting started on your own.

Based in Wellingborough, Karen works with clients in Kettering and Northampton.

"The most powerful question I find can be do you love it? Because if you don’t, the chances are you are not going to wear it or use it and someone else then could make good use of it.

"I always work with my clients at their pace and would never make them discard anything they didn’t want to.”

To help you get organised Karen recommends the following advice - here are Declutter Angels's top ten tips to tidy:

1) Break down areas so it's a more manageable task, Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was all that clutter collected in a day - so why expect yourself to get through it all so fast? Breaking down the task into smaller goals allows us to see the progress we are making.

2) Always start with an area which is bothering you the most. Perfect to get a positive feeling of accomplishment by braving the most irritating area first and seeing the progress.

3) Once you get started, start moving items into logical piles of recycle, rubbish, wrong place but I need it (i.e. should be in the bathroom/kitchen etc), charity and to sell (but only if you are going to commit to selling it soon).

4) Try and only keep what you use or will need in the short to medium term and avoid storage where possible

5) If you are struggling and have a 'not sure' pile really question, when did you last use it? Do you love it? This should help guide you to a decision...

6) Also think, would you buy it now? If you wouldn't, you probably don't need/want it! (this is a great one with trying on clothes you haven't worn in a while!)

7) If you can't manage a whole task at once, then try just 10 mins a day, chipping away makes a huge difference, imagine if you did 10 mins a day in 2018? What would it look like now in 2019?

8) Like the hare and the tortoise slow and steady wins the race, try tackling just a drawer or cupboard

9) Play music to keep you motivated, it might just make the whole experience more enjoyable

10) The Golden Rule: Think more about your purchases next time, every time think 1) do I love it? and 2) do I need it - buy it only if you answer yes to both and you will prevent more clutter entering your life...

For more help getting started you can contact Karen Taylor, Declutter Angel at: www.declutterangel.com or on mobile: 07948 529587 for a free no obligation chat.

JANUARY 9

Dwayne Francis, aged 34, of no fixed abode, assault; community order made, compensation £30, surcharge £85.

Sean Hamblin, aged 29, of no fixed abode, assault; community order made, surcharge £85, costs £85. Damaged two car tyres, community order made, compensation £220.

Rhea Day, aged 31, of North Holme Court, Northampton, stole items worth £196; fined £80, compensation £40, surcharge £30, costs £85.

Robert Hewlett, aged 33, of Rosedale Road, Northampton, breach of Sexual Offences Act; pleaded guilty sent to Crown Court for sentence.

Olaide Ojo, aged 39, of Stimpson Avenue, Northampton, assault at NGH; fined £180, surcharge £30, costs £620.

Lindani Ncube, aged 35, of Greatmeadow, Northampton, no insurance; fined £276, surcharge £30, costs £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Marc Turnbull, aged 43, of Ellis Way, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, surcharge £66, costs £85, licence endorsed with eight points.

Pavan Manneru, aged 28, of Great Ground Walk, Northampton, driving at 108mph in a 70mph zone; fined £553, surcharge £55, costs £85, banned from driving for 28 days.

JANUARY 10

Jasbir Gill, aged 60, of Hampton Street, Northampton, possession of a class B drug; fined £80, surcharge £30, costs £85.

Alexandru Indoitu, aged 24, of Thornhill, Northampton, drink-driving; fined £253, surcharge £30, costs £85, banned from driving for 20 months.

Reece Kipping, aged 22, of Byfield Road, Northampton, drink-driving; fined £230, surcharge £30, costs £85, banned from driving for 20 months.

Constantin Marin, aged 29, of Delapre Street, Northampton, drink-driving; fined £346, surcharge £34, costs £85, banned from driving for 20 months.

Vladimir Turcanu, aged 41, of Hedgeway, Northampton, drink-driving; jailed for 12 weeks suspended for 12 months, surcharge £115, costs £85, banned from driving for 36 months.

Ouranios Savva, aged 23, of St Leonards Road, Northampton, assault; community order made, compensation £650. Intentionally touched a woman in a sexual way without consent; community order made.

Vedo Nongmo, aged 36, of South Holme Court, Northampton, failed to give a breath test; fined £438, surcharge £43, costs £85, banned from driving for 17 months.

Zydrunas Mockus, aged 49, of Wellington Street, Northampton, drink-driving; community order made to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work, surcharge £85, costs £85, banned from driving for 36 months.

Jamie Tidy, aged 29, of Farmfield Court, Northampton, assault; community order made, compensation £50, surcharge £85, costs £85. Stole cookies; community order made.

Johnathan Luck, aged 29, of Ashpole Spinney, Northampton, drink-driving; fined £415, surcharge £41, costs £2,227.25, banned from driving for 12 months.

Asher Edwards, aged 24, of Cloutsham Street, Northampton, assault; jailed for six weeks suspended for 12 months, surcharge £115, costs £500.

JANUARY 11

Charles Brooks, aged 27, of Lyttleton Road, Northampton, no insurance; fined £750, surcharge £75, costs £200, licence endorsed with six points. Driving without due care and attention; fined £500.

Kyle Matthew, aged 18, of no fixed abode, assault; community order made, compensation £40, surcharge £85, costs £85. Damaged a table and door handle; community order made to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work. Assaulted a police officer; community order made.

Joshua Hawkins, aged 27, of Colwyn Road, Northampton, damaged a car park barrier and CCTV camera; fined £360, compensation £1,820, surcharge £36, costs £85.

Declan Colvil, aged 19, of Swaine Court, Northampton, stole a Nationwide bank card; conditional discharge for 18 months, compensation £164.86, surcharge £20, costs £85.

Christopher Coupe, aged 39, of Brookside Meadows, Northampton, drink-driving; fined £120, surcharge £30, costs £85, banned from driving for 12 months.

Nathan McBain, aged 27, of St Pauls Road, Northampton, stole a bicycle; community order made, compensation £330. Stole another bike; community order made.

John Russell, aged 20, of Melbourne House, Melbourne Road, Northampton, failed to comply with a community order; community order to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.

JANUARY 12

Sherry Bruce, aged 34, of Northwood Road, Northampton, damaged a door panel; conditional discharge for 12 months, compensation £40, surcharge £20, costs £50.

An updated local plan for Northampton that will determine how land in the area is used for planning purposes is expected to go out for public consultation later this year.

A paper on Part 2 of the Local Plan is set to go to the borough council’s cabinet in Spring before the six-week public consultation.

The council is legally bound to provide an updated version of the original Northampton Local Plan, which was adopted in 1997. The second and updated plan will set out the vision, objectives and strategic policies for delivering growth for the borough up to 2029.

The news was confirmed at the full council meeting of the borough on Monday (March 11).

Questions were raised on the issue by Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors Brian Markham and Les Marriott respectively, with the duo asking for an update on the progress of putting together the plan.

Responding to Councillor Markham, the deputy cabinet member for planning Councillor James Hill said: “The current situation is that the Local Plan Part 2 will be brought to cabinet in late spring for approval for public consultation over a six week period. The results of this consultation will be used to inform the submissions version of the plan, which will be brought back to the council for approval to submit to the secretary of state in late 2019.

“The plan would then be subject to an examination in public, the timing of which is not within the control of the borough council.”

As well as identifying where new development will go, the Local Plan would also set out policies to protect open space, green infrastructure, heritage and environmental assets.

Part 2 of the Local Plan would replace the remaining saved policies from the Northampton Local Plan (1997), and consider whether some of the policies of the Central Area Action Plan need to be updated.

It will also complement the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy Local Plan (Part 1) which was adopted in 2014, and also sets out its vision up until 2029.

Ahead of the likely move to unitary authority status next year - which would see the borough and district councils in the west of the county merge - Daventry and South Northamptonshire have already produced draft Local Plans of their own for submission.

In his written question to cabinet member Councillor Tim Hadland, who is responsible for regeneration, Councillor Marriott said: “Given that NBC is due to be encompassed into an unwelcome western unitary, why has this plan not been completed yet? As the other authorities have completed theirs this failure will undoubtedly place Northampton at a disadvantage.”

But Councillor Hadland responded: “The borough council has had to review its Local Plan Part 2 timetable on several occasions, particularly in light of ongoing housing delivery when compared against the Core Strategy trajectory, which has delayed the drafting of the Plan.”

Shocking dashcam footage captures the terrifying moment a lorry driver pulls out into the middle lane of a motorway and smashes into a car.

The hair-raising video shows Zbigniew Kaczorowski, 55, driving in the slow lane of the M1 between Northampton and Milton Keynes before he begins to indicate.

But as he pulls out he ploughs into the back-left corner of a white VW Sirocco already in the middle lane.

The car is spun round the front of Kaczorowski's HGV and then is smashed between it and the verge.

Debris from the obliterated vehicle can be seen flying all over the road as the lorry swerves past it.

As the ruined VW comes to a halt across the motorway lanes, another lorry can be seen striking it as it attempts to stop.

The two people in the white car miraculously survived with non-life threatening injuries.

The driver of the other HGV was uninjured.

The crash resulted in two junctions of the M1 being closed for three hours on March 7.

Zbigniew Kaczorowski, 55, from Poland pleaded guilty at Milton Keynes Magistrates' Court to careless driving on March 11.

He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to pay £207 in fines and costs.

Posting the video on social media, a spokesman for Thames Valley Police police said: "This dashcam footage will shock you.

"On 07/03, Zbigniew Kaczorowski, 55, from Poland pleaded guilty at Milton Keynes Magistrates' Court to careless driving after he crashed into a VW Sirocco on the M1.

"Thankfully, the driver and passenger of the VW didn’t suffer life-threatening injuries.

"Please be careful of your blind spots."

Right to Buy was introduced by the Margaret Thatcher government in 1980, offering council tenants who had lived in their home for up to three years the chance to buy it for a third off the market value.

Today, homeowners receive a 35 per cent discount at least if they have been a public sector tenant for between three and five years.

But a study by the BBC Shared Data Unit has found 523 council homes bought under Right to Buy here in Northampton since 2000 have since been sold on - with one seller profitting £148,000.

Tenants who bought their houses netted an average fo £50,000 by selling them on in the open market, having purchased them at the discounted price.

The data also shows that, in 2003, one buyer owned the property for just 27 days before selling it on at a £27,500 profit.

Supporters say Right to Buy has given millions of people the chance to get on the housing ladder and secure their families’ financial future.

But opponents blame the policy for distorting the housing market and for a huge reduction in the amount of social housing stock.

Among them is Paul Dossett, head of local government at financial services firm Grant Thornton UK LLP.

“The Right to Buy scheme has resulted in a huge shortage of social housing, with a staggering number of homes being sold off but not replaced," he said.

"Analysis from the Local Government Association shows that just one new home is built for every five sold."

Tenants who exercise their Right to Buy must repay a portion of their discount to their council if they sell the property within the first five years.

The discount repayment is based on the resale price and ranges from 100 per cent in the first year to 20 per cent in the fifth year. In addition, tenants who wish to sell their property within 10 years of purchase must offer their local authority first refusal to buy it back.

However, housing market commentator Henry Pryor said that far too many people had 'simply profited from a scheme that had much bigger social ambitions' through Right to Buy.

Here in Northampton, latest figures show that 85 new council properties are due to be built by the end of 220.

But Right to Buy sales are depleting the stock at a rate of around 145 a year. Currently, around 3,250 people are on the housing waiting list, most of whom are looking for one-bed apartments.

Northampton social housing campaigner Norman Adams, a longstanding Right to Buy opponent, agrees that the 1980-implemented policy needs an overhaul.

"What I have been saying for years is now becoming the mainstream view," he said. "Right to Buy is wrong.

"It's helping the few but affecting the many."

In 2016, Northampton Partnership Homes announced plans to build 1,000 new social homes over the next 10 years in the borough.

But the Chartered Institute of Housing says the only way stocks can remain at a good level is if Right to Buy is suspended.

A spokesman for the Institute, said: “We think the time is right to suspend it in England to stem the loss of homes for social rent – which are often the only genuinely affordable option for people on lower incomes.

"Not only are we failing to build enough homes for social rent – Right to Buy means we are losing them at a time when millions of people need genuinely affordable housing more than ever.

“Our analysis shows that we have lost more than 165,000 homes for social rent in just six years and that figure will reach 199,000 if we don’t take action now."

Counillor Stephen Hibbert, Northampton Borough Council cabinet member for housing, said: “Right to Buy was introduced in 1980 and has since allowed many families who would otherwise have struggled to get on the housing ladder an opportunity to own their homes.

“One of the consequences is indeed a reduction in the amount of social housing we have available, which is why we – with Northampton Partnership Homes – have introduced an ambitious programme of house building which we are confident will see around 1,000 new homes delivered within ten years.”

Joe Gilbert has spent three years fighting back to fitness after a horrific accident on the Swirral Edge ridge in March 2016. Now, after undergoing 11 operations, he is joining a group of friends on a cycle ride to Paris in support of the volunteer rescuers who went to his aid.
Mr Gilbert, who grew up in Oundle and whose family owns the Beans Coffee Stop in the town, was walking on Helvellyn, in the Lake District, when he fell 200m.
He said: “I broke my neck, kneecap, ankle, foot, shoulder, hand and most of my ribs. I also dislocated an ankle and shoulder and collapsed a lung.
“Over the next eight hours, the Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team somehow managed to keep me alive on the side of the freezing cold mountain.
“It took two helicopters, 19 Patterdale members and countless hours of medical and practical experience to save my life. Without them I simply wouldn’t be here.”
During the next two years, Mr Gilbert had “countless hours of physio” and eventually went back to visit the team at Patterdale to say thank you.
“It was a very humbling day,” he said. “The team is driven, dedicated, knowledgeable and seriously hardworking. The amount of their free time they give to help others is incredible.”
Mr Gilbert, who now lives in London, will be joined on his ride by former Prince William School friends Ben Norwell and Simon Felton, from Oundle, Olly Cogan from Northampton, and George Cliff from London, plus Matt Randell, from Crewe.
They will set off on Saturday, May 11 and aim to complete the ride within four days, raising as much funds as they can to buy equipment for the mountain rescue team which is run by volunteers and relies on donations.
Anyone wishing to donate to his cause can visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/joe-gilbert3

The following people have been sentenced at magistrates courts in the county:

Brendon Herburt Tafadzwo Muchikange

Pennine Close, Corby. Age: 19

On 19/01/2018 in Dryden Street, Kettering, assaulted a female by beating her.

Verdict: Guilty.

On 22/02/2017 in Shelley Road, Kettering, without lawful excuse, damaged a bathroom door intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged.

Plea: Guilty. To participate in Building Better Relationships programme for 60 days, restraining order prohibits defendant from contacting victim. This order lasts until 29/01/2020. To pay compensation of £315, surcharge to fund victim services of £85, costs of £20.

Matthew Ruddick

c/o South Brook Close, Corby. Age: 30

On 26/12/2018 in Kettering, without lawful excuse, damaged a window intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged.

Plea: Guilty. Defendant to be placed under a curfew for three months with electronic monitoring, to participate in Building Better Relationships programme for 60 days, restraining order prohibits defendant from 1) contacting a named person 2) visiting an address in Kettering. This order lasts until 29/01/2021. To pay compensation of £200, surcharge to fund victim services of £85, costs of £85.

John Mullan

Woodfield Grove, Corby. Age: 34

On 18/12/2018 in Corby damaged a marked police vehicle intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged; with intent to cause Special Constable Button harassment, alarm or distress, used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour, thereby causing that person or another harassment, alarm or distress; on 09/01/2019 failed without reasonable cause to surrender to custody at Northamptonshire Magistrates’ Court, having been released on bail.

Plea: Guilty.

To pay compensation of £75, fined £330, surcharge to fund victim services of £30, costs of £85.

Andrew Geoffrey Jay Burgess

Culross Walk, Corby. Age: 40

On 02/01/2019 attempted to enter as a trespasser a building in Purbeck Drive, Corby, with intent to steal.

Plea: Guilty. Jailed for 18 weeks suspended for 12 months, to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £115, costs of £85, order made to deprive the defendant of his tools used in this offence and seized by the police.

Richard James Pateman

Milton Road, Corby. Age: 26

On 06/08/2017 in Corby, assaulted a female, thereby occasioning her actual bodily harm.

Verdict: Guilty. To carry out Thinking Skills Programme for 30 days, carry out unpaid work for 150 hours, pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £85, costs of £500.

Aaron Luke Muggleton

HMP Peterborough. Age: 25

On 23/09/2018 without lawful excuse, damaged glass in a door to the value of £100 at Abacus nightclub, Kettering, intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged.

Plea: Guilty. To pay compensation of £100.

Tyrone Isaac Peter Sanders

Kent Road, Wellingborough. Age: 27

On 12/12/2018 stole a bottle of Barefoot Rose Wine, worth £5.99, from B&M Stores, Wellingborough; with intent to cause PCSO Asante harassment, alarm or distress used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour thereby causing that or another person harassment, alarm or distress and the offence was racially aggravated; on 02/12/2018 stole a bottle of rose wine, to the value of £5, from B&M Stores, Wellingborough;

On 28/11/2018 stole a bottle of wine from One Stop Stores, Wellingborough; on 05/11/2018 stole a bottle of wine, to the value of £4.99, from Bargain Booze, Wellingborough; on 07/11/2018 in Wellingborough assaulted a male by beating him;

On 23/07/2018 stole two chocolate Kit Kats, to the value of £1, from the Best Pol Store, Wellingborough; without lawful excuse, damaged a glazed door to the value of £500 belonging to Best Pol Store, intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged;

On 23/07/2018 in Northampton, assaulted PC Leigh Goodwin in the execution of her duty; in Wellingborough assaulted a female by beating her;

On 03/09/2018 in Gold Street, Northampton, assaulted SC Kimberley in the execution of his duty; assaulted PC Johnson in the execution of his duty.

Plea: Guilty.

Jailed for 22 weeks, to pay compensation of £300.

Alan John Campbell

Winstanley Road, Wellingborough. Age: 38

On 21/01/2019 drove Vauxhall in Mill Road, Wellingborough, after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in your breath, namely 50mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, exceeded the prescribed limit; without insurance; without a licence.

Plea: Guilty. Fined £150, surcharge to fund victim services of £30, costs of £85, banned from driving for 15 months.

Mantas Ramanauskas

Neale Avenue, Kettering. Age: 22

On 06/01/2019 drove a silver BMW in Neale Avenue, Kettering, after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in your breath, namely 127mcg of alcohol to 100ml of breath, exceeded the prescribed limit; without insurance; without a licence.

Plea: Guilty. Jailed for 15 weeks suspended for 18 months, to carry out unpaid work for 250 hours, pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £115, costs of £85, banned from driving for 30 months.

Thomas Joseph Corcoran

Minerva Way, Wellingborough. Age: 38

On 05/10/2018 stole tote boxes to the value of about £450 belonging to River Island, Rushden Lakes.

Plea: Guilty. Discharged conditionally for 12 months, to pay compensation of £450, surcharge to fund victim services of £20, costs of £85.

Dean Mains

Swinburne Road, Wellingborough. Age: 37

On 03/12/2018 drove a Seat in Main Road, Wilby, while banned from driving; without insurance.

Plea: Guilty. Fined £450, surcharge to fund victim services of £45, costs of £85, driving licence endorsed with six points.

Paul Stanley Fred Bailey

c/o Charles Street, Wellingborough. Age: 49

On 19/01/2019 drove a blue Fiat Scudo on the A45, Great Doddington, after consuming so much alcohol that the proportion of it in your breath, namely 84mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, exceeded the prescribed limit; without insurance.

Plea: Guilty.

To have treatment for alcohol dependency for six months, pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £85, costs of £85, banned from driving for 40 months.

Alexander Guy Harrald

The Headlands, Market Harborough Age: 30

On 19/01/2019 without lawful authority or reasonable excuse had with you in a public place, namely Silver Street, Kettering, an offensive weapon, namely a small vegetable knife.

Plea: Guilty. Jailed for 26 weeks suspended for 18 months, to participate in thinking skills programme for 19 days, to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £115, costs of £85, order made to deprive the defendant of his small vegetable knife.

Some of the top names in Northamptonshire’s famous footwear industry will feature in a ‘shoe-case’ of talent to celebrate over a century of a trade group.

In honour of its 120th Birthday celebrations, the British Footwear Association (BFA) will showcase shoes and boots from some of the country’s most revered manufacturers, many based in the north of Northamptonshire.

The BFA has drawn together 11 of the county’s most renowned manufacturers for a one off display of examples of their exquisite work.

Loakes, Grenson, NPS, Airwair, Cheaney, Barkers, Church’s, Trickers, Jeffery West, Sanders & Sanders and Crockett & Jones are among the names featured in the ‘shoe-case’ taking place on Thursday, March 28 in the library of Delapre Abbey, Northampton.

William Church, Joint MD of Desborough-based Cheaney Shoes and a BFA board member said: “Northamptonshire has a long and rich history in the very best of shoemaking for which it has global recognition and strong growth prospects.”

Mr Church, who has submitted a Balmoral boot, made famous by the cast of Peaky Blinders, added: “It is great that the BFA have chosen to celebrate their 120th

Anniversary with a show case of amazing shoes, each with their own story to tell.”

The event launches the BFA’s 120th Birthday celebrations and unites members to celebrate the special anniversary at the Northamptonshire Manufacturers’ Dinner.

BFA chairman Robert Perkins added: “Seeing these amazing shoes, by the finest and most talented craftsman, displayed together for the first time is the perfect start to the anniversary celebrations; they show the depth of the county shoe making skills and the power of these famous brands, who export around the world.”

A nurse found guilty of murdering her disabled husband by injecting him with insulin is set for a new fight to clear her name.

Deborah Winzar, 54, was jailed for life at Birmingham Crown Court in 2000 after being convicted of the murder of 34-year-old Dominic McCarthy, the manager of the Kingfisher Centre in Bretton, Peterborough.

But her case has been referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates possible miscarriages of justice.

Her lawyers are due to present evidence from medical experts, which indicates Mr McCarthy may have died from sepsis, at a hearing on Monday.

Mr McCarthy, who was paralysed in a motorcycle accident in 1984, was found collapsed in his bed at the couple’s home in Stonely, Cambridgeshire, on January 31 1997.

He lapsed into a coma and died in Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon on February 9.

Tests revealed Mr McCarthy had had a very high insulin level and the prosecution case was that his wife had the opportunity to administer it, and the skills to inject it.

Winzar, then a senior ward sister at Kettering General Hospital, denied any wrongdoing and maintained he must have died of natural causes but was found guilty by a jury of murder.

A previous challenge to her conviction was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in December 2002 and she applied to the CCRC in June 2005.

The CCRC previously said it considers that the new evidence “gives rise to a real possibility” that her conviction will be quashed.

Winzar, who has been released from prison, is due to have her appeal heard by three senior judges.

Cash-strapped Northamptonshire County Council is proposing to reduce the amount it pays to nurseries and childminders in a bid to reduce £1.8m from its early years payments.

Early years providers are up in arms about the proposal which comes in the midst of an 18-month ongoing payment fiasco which has seen the county authority underpaying hundreds of businesses and childminders by thousands of pounds after failing to work a new payment system.

The authority says it has overspent by £1.5m in its early years budget this year and should have reduced subsidies before now.

The authority, whose children’s services is being overseen by a Government-appointed children’s commissioner and has a new head of service, says if it does not make reduce the amount it gives to early years providers it will go £1.8m over budget in 2019/20.

It is proposing from April to reduce the amount of subsidies it pays to providers which provide what are seen as extras such as ‘quality’, given to those childminders or nurseries whose staff have certain qualifications. This could save the council £1m. There are also plans to cut the amount given in subsidies to those who look after children from deprived areas and also a special educational needs subsidy.

Childminder Lynn Haycocks, from Great Oakley, said the news has come as a big shock to early years providers as before the proposal was made public it had been thought a drop in subsidies may have been countered by a rise in the basis rate.

Former teacher Lynn receives an extra 50p per hour on top of the £3.66 per hour basic rate.

The proposal is to either remove this subsidy completely or cut it by half or more.

She said: “Working it out generally I am going to lose £600 a year just thinking the figures through quickly with three children on funded. What about nurseries?”

A report to be discussed by the schools forum being held in Northampton later today (March 18) says: “With the information we now have available it is clear early years costs including early years single funding formula payments to early years providers should have been reduced for the 2018- 19 financial year.

“This did not take place which is why the overspend is occurring in 2018-19 and will continue unless action is taken.

“The local authority is aware of the significant impact of the proposed changes, but in 2018-19 we are spending more than the government grant that we are receiving. This is not sustainable.

“If continued it would require cuts in schools or high needs budgets and services or a LA contribution which is also unlikely.”

The proposal will see the base rate of £3.66 per hour per child aged three to four stay the same. The £5.10 hourly rate for two-year-olds will also stay the same.

There are 601 early years providers in Northants who between them look after 10,453 under-fives.

The schools forum, which is made up of nurseries, teachers and schools representatives, will decide whether to back the proposal at the meeting today.

Peter Holman, his partner Lily and their five-month-old baby lived next door to the now burnt-out flat above the Krates Local shop in Kingsley Park Terrace and have been made homeless as a result of the fire.

Firefighters had to knock a hole through the wall in Mr Holman's flat to get into next door and extinguish the fire on Friday, which broke out at 10.30pm.

As a result, many items of clothing and furniture belonging to Mr Holman and his family became waterlogged and smoke damaged.

Since Saturday, the family have been staying in a hostel and after receiving various offers of beds and furniture, which they couldn't physically accept, Mr Holman started a fundraiser on Facebook, which has already reached its £1,000 target.

Northamptonshire fire service say 'no one injured' in last night's blaze in Northampton

"We don't have many friends and family around us here," said 36-year-old Mr Holman, a senior healthcare worker.

"We had so many offers from people coming forward with beds and sofas.

"Everyone was insisting on helping us."

He added: "We are blown away, just lost for words.

"We've been taken aback."

The family have lost numerous items of clothing though were able to recover some personal effects such as pictures.

Mr Holman says the money will go towards new clothes and furniture for their new home, which Northampton Borough Council is helping them find.

One of these survey questions was to rate the 'experience of making an appointment'. Below are the Northampton surgeries that scored the highest and are among the top 15 in the town.

At around 10.50am on Wednesday, February 20, a shopper at Morrisons supermarket in Kettering Road, Northampton, was approached in the car park by a man who distracted her by asking for directions to the hospital.

While she spoke to him, a second man took her purse from her bag, which she had placed in her car.

A police spokeswoman said: "It is believed the woman had been observed entering her PIN while paying for her shopping, as her bank card was then used to take out cash at several ATMs in the town."

The men pictured, or anyone who recognises them, are asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Between 6.45pm and 7.15pm on Wednesday, March 13, a property in Mead Road was broken into, with items of jewellery stolen.

Two men wearing dark clothing were seen in the area at the time, one wearing a grey hooded top.

Witnesses and anyone with information about this incident are asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101, or Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.

Police said an 18-year-old man from Runcorn, Cheshire, appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Friday, March 15, in relation to the incident.

He was remanded into custody ahead of his next court appearance.

A protest by Extinction Rebellion Northampton halted cars on St Peter's Way over the weekend March 16 by stretching a banner across the eastbound road for an hour.

They were also spotted spraying liquid chalk on the glass front of HSBC in Abington Street, delivering a speech by megaphone on the steps of the Guildhall and carrying a coffin with 'our future' written on the side.

The group say the 'civil disobedience' was to protest climate change and called on Northampton Borough Council to declare an 'ecological emergency' in the town.

A spokesman for the group said there were mixed reactions to the activists and said many motorists on St Peter's Way 'beeped horns, shouted insults' and asked the police to arrest them.

Northamptonshire Police tweeted to say they were working with the group to help manage the 'peaceful protest' on Saturday morning.

Nick Cooper, who was part of the Extinction Rebellion' march, said: "There were plenty of negative reactions but that’s kind of the point.

"In an emergency people need to get upset. That raw emotion and anger about having our way of life disrupted is what creates the space for people to begin talking about the climate and ecological emergency."

The group says they received support in Abington Street following the School Strike for Climate last week, which saw schools walk out to protest climate change.

The group called on the borough council to 'enact legally binding measures to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2025' and declare a climate emergency.

Extinction Rebellion Northampton say that they plan to hold more protests locally in the near future and have plans to reach out to more students on campus.