A charity set up by Northampton parents whose son died when he was just 14 months old has been shortlisted for a national award.

Daddys With Angels was launched by Paul and Helen Scully-Sloan after their son, Travers James, known as TJ, died after he caught tonsilitis and a cold in 2010. The day before he died, TJ appeared tired but showed no signs of how serious his illness was.

Following his tragic death, the family set up a charity to help others who experienced child loss. Now the charity has been nominated for Best UK Support Organisation in the 2016 Butterfly Awards.

A spokesman for the charity said: "Daddys With Angels are delighted, and at the same time humbled to be shortlisted for Best Uk support organisation in the 2016 Butterfly Awards.

"In the simplest of terms we are a group of Angel dads who know the pain of child loss and seek to use their experience to bring some comfort to others who have experienced child loss. We are all volunteers and do not seek any kudos for what we do.

"The first closed Daddys with Angels group was set up on Facebook in December 2010.

"Paul found that there was a lack of suitable support for dads and male family members following the loss of a child.

"Today DWA retains it’s closed group for male family members and also has a closed, family group for all family members. DWA has seen that some people are excluded from support because their loss was early gestation, or their child was too old, or it was too long ago, or some other nonsense.

"Daddys with Angels welcomes those regardless of the gestation or age and regardless of the cause or reason. Our ‘door’ is open to anyone who has experienced the pain of child loss," the spokesman added.

The charity has submitted a YouTube video to support its application. To support the charity's nomination visit https://thebutterflyawards.com/2016/09/17/uk-support-organisation-daddys-with-angels/

A dashboard-mounted camera has captured the moment a disgruntled driver risked a serious crash by darting in front of a van that had just overtaken him in Northampton.

The footage released by dashcam firm SmartWitness captured the moment two drivers almost came to blows following an incident in Nunn Mills Road in May this year.

It shows a van driver overtaking a grey Vauxhall Vectra, cutting him up as the two vehicles drive up the hill at 30mph, close to Northampton town centre.

But the manoeuvre enrages the Vectra driver, who accelerates and drives across the front of the van, causing a small collision.

The road rage driver then dashes from his vehicle and approaches the van driver, banging on the door of his van so hard the whole vehicle can be seen shaking in the video.

The incident was captured on the dashcam camera on May 19 and has been released by SmartWitness after new figures revealed a sharp rise in road rage incidents.

SmartWitness CEO, Paul Singh said: "This new footage shows how a camera can be a fleet van driver's greatest friend following a road rage incident.

"It is amazing what a calming effect a running camera can have on a road rage driver intent on revenge.

"In this incident, the Vectra driver is alerted to the camera by a female passenger and he calms down after he had previously tried to break into the van's cab.

"Clearly the van should not have overtaken the Vectra and cut him up on such a busy town centre road.

"But that still does not excuse the violent reaction from the Vectra driver.

"Thankfully, nothing more came of this incident but it does show the value of having a dashcam."

The RAC says 2.9 million drivers in the UK now have dashcams - one of the highest figures in the world.

They are used by more than 50% of British fleets, but are increasingly being fitted by private motorists.

Plans to build 18 new homes on part of a former haulage yard in Roade have been refused over concerns the application would result in a loss of employment opportunities and affordable housing.

South Northamptonshire Council’s (SNC) Development Control Committee agreed with an officer’s recommendation to refuse planning permission to build 18 new homes on part of the former Chaplins Transport Haulage Yard located off Stratford Road, Roade.

The application site lies alongside a much wider residential development on Chaplins Yard comprising 105 homes, which has previously been granted planning permission by SNC and is currently under construction.

As part of that application, planning permission was granted on the basis that the site retained an area of land for an employment site and also provided an adequate level of affordable housing to be policy compliant.

Councillor Roger Clarke, portfolio holder for planning and environment, said: “In 2011, The Roade Masterplan identified that provision should be made for employment development on the Chaplins Yard site

“Roade in the past has had large employment sites, and this part of the former haulage yard remains one of the last opportunities in the village for employment.

“As there was insufficient evidence from the applicant to justify why this site is not viable, the council has agreed to refuse the application for change-of-use.”

Other reasons for refusal included the omission of developer contributions to local infrastructure, insufficient information on drainage, and an inadequate level of car parking.

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A father and son have scaled the heights of the England’s tallest mountain to raise money for a national children’s charity.

Team Sharp - Tim Sharp and son Billy-Dean, known as Bills - from East Haddon, trekked up Scafell Pike in the Lake District in aid of the NSPCC.

Tim, 48, who works as a cabbie in Daventry for GB Taxis with Bills, 7, took just over 6 and a half hours to get up and down the peak.

Dad Tim who also plays drums in Midlands-based rock band The Phobias said: “It was majorly hard going and it was just up, up and more up - there was no flat.

“About halfway up we met a bunch of Welsh guys on their way down and they very kindly gave Bills some pro walking sticks which gave him the biggest smile and a new lease of life and energy.”

Billy said: “It was really hard to do but the views from up the mountain were totally wicked and it was really cool to sit on the stones at the top having a picnic.”

Tim added: “The NSPCC is a charity really close to my heart, they do fantastic work for kids in horrendous situations that they’re so sadly in.”

The team are hoping tp tackle another walk in a couple of years possibly Hadrian’s Wall as well as around Rutland Water for the charity

To support Tim and Bills and their chosen charity of the NSPCC please visit virginmoneygiving.com/timsharp

A group of intrepid cyclists have spent four days in the saddle to raise money for a centre which supports Northampton’s homeless people.

Pidy’s Ride 4 Hope 2016’s team of 28 amateur cyclists took part in a charity bike ride from Northampton to Ypres in Belgium.

The 270 mile, four-day event, organised by Northampton-based, Pidy UK, a pastry-case manufacturer, was the third in as many years in aid of the Hope Centre.

Starting off in Northampton, the pelton pedalled through Cambridgeshire and Essex via a ferry to the Netherlands ending up at the Menin Gate in the Belgian town of Ypres.

Pupils, staff and parents of Moulton Primary School have been celebrating some good news with the publication of their latest Ofsted inspection.

New headteacher Debbie Bastin and her staffs’ hard work has paid off with the school being awarded a good rating in all areas.

The report states that the quality of education has improved quickly and that, as a result pupils achieve good standards in mathematics, reading and writing across the school.

Mrs Bastin said: “The key to this rapid improvement has been the commitment of the whole staff to embrace the changes needed to move the school forward.”

Northampton Sea Cadets are urging more young people and adults to join them for their adventure-packed itinery for the rest of the year.

Over the summer the cadets already supported two major Northampton events - a joint ABF and SSAFA Beating of Retreat in the grounds of St Andrew’s Hospital and a flag-raising ceremony commemorating Merchant Navy Day, hoisting the Red Ensign, at County Hall in the presence of civic and military dignitaries.

As well as their keeping busy afloat on their summer camps in Weymouth and Portsmouth keeping their sailing skills ship shape, another group from the unit flexed their muscles in the final of the cadet rowing competition in London.

Back ashore, the cadets are now looking forward to autumn activities with highlights including a ceremonial drill competition and representing the Corps at the London Trafalgar Parade, a district 5-a-side football competition and a battlefields tour.

The Sea Cadets, who meet at the headquarters off Nunn Mills Road in Northampton, are recruiting now for adult volunteers and young people between the ages of 10 and 18 years for nautical adventure and fun.

The cadets meet on Tuesday and Friday evening from 7pm to 9.15pm www.northamptonseacadets.org.uk

Following a successful Dragon Boat Festival 2016 a cheque for over £8,000 has been presented by Paul Simpson, chairman of the Dragon Boat Committee and members of Northamptonshire Rotarians, to Tracy Grunwell of the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA).

Organiser Paul Simpson said: “I would like to thank all the teams which took part and raised sponsorship monies.

“We are very pleased on how this year’s event went and are now planning 2017, anyone who would like to know more about being part of this great event to contact me on 07791 030571.

A new jogging group for people with learning disabilities, their family, friends and carers has been launched in Northampton with the help GB runners, twin brothers Chris and Dave Lazenby who have learning disabilities.

The group has been set up to help encourage people with a learning disability to become more active. The group meet in the Boughton Centre in Ransome Road at 6.55pm for the session in at Delapre Park from 7pm-7.45pm with a 15 minute cool down.

Contact Muriel Hough Northampton Mencap on 01604 874710 or Sarah Harvey on 01604 366752. Each session costs £2 per person.

Police have released an image of a man who entered a shop in Kettering who they think could help them with an investigation.

The man entered a cash converter in Kettering, at around 1pm on August 15, with an air spray gun and an air engraving gun.

The cash converters did not purchase the items, and the man left with the goods.

If you know the man pictured or have any information, call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Friends and family of murder victim David Brickwood held a candlelit vigil outside his home to mark the one-year anniversary since he was killed.

Despite six arrests in the case, nobody has been charged with the murder of the popular 74-year-old, who was attacked in his home in Lindsey Avenue, Abington, Northampton, in the early hours of September 26, 2015.

Candles were lit and lanterns were released during the vigil on Monday night.

Vanessa Turvey, who knew Mr Brickwood for 45 years, said she could not believe it had been a year since the murder.

She said: “He was a lovely bloke. We lived in the same area and grew up together.

“It has been a pretty awful year and still we are none the wiser as to who has killed him, No one can move on until we get some answers.”

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CCTV images of a man and a woman have been released after a handbag was stolen from the Aldi store in Harlestone Road, Northampton.

The victim was shopping in the supermarket on Tuesday, September, 20 when at some point between 10.30am and 11am a woman approached her and asked her for the price of bread.

While assisting the woman, a man put his hands into her shopping trolley and stole her handbag.

Anyone with information or can contact Northamptonshire police on 101. Alternatively, they can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Thousands of pounds worth of equipment has been stolen after thieves broke into a commercial property in Northampton.

The offender(s) broke in to the building in St Georges Street sometime between 3pm and 4pm on Sunday, September 11 by entering through the first floor office window causing significant damage.

The suspected entrance point is believed to be Albion Court.

Anyone with information can contact Northamptonshire police on 101. Alternatively, they can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The owner of a Northamptonshire-based IT consulting company is one of 18 new candidates starring in the BBC1's The Apprentice.

Karthik Nagesan, aged 33, lives in Kettering and will be taking on the challenges set by Lord Alan Sugar when the new series begins next month.

According to the profile on the BBC's website, Mr Nagesan says his friends would describe him "as a born leader who takes charge and blazes a trail".

Karthik cites his role model as Alexander the Great because he was "a master strategist and a brilliant tactician".

He believes he is firm yet polite, making him the ultimate ‘human magnet’, the website adds.

He is also quoted as saying, "If I wanted to be like everyone else, I’d have waxed my monobrow".

In his interview video, he says: “I’ve got a nice little – nice big – monobrow. For the last ten years, people have been telling me: ‘Pluck it out, be like everybody else, have two eyebrows,’ but Karthik – or the big K – is not somebody who’s like everybody else.”

A selfless neighbour rallied together 59 volunteers to pull off a garden makeover for an eight-year-old suffering with Leukemia.

Helen Flemington of Chapel Brampton took it upon herself to contact local businesses on behalf of Jack Kellet, a young boy who has had Leukemia for six months.

The ‘ground force’ day took place on Sunday and volunteers worked around the clock to finish the garden ready for Jack’s arrival from the hospital yesterday.

Neighbour, Helen Flemington, said: “We’ve all got kids, there was nothing we could do to help Jack when he was in the hospital. I love bringing people together, I have that gene.”

Local causes have donated climbing frames, play houses, and money to help furnish the garden.

Only recently Jack met with the Make A Wish foundation and asked whether they would do up his garden so he could play with his siblings and friends but unfortunately the foundation was unable to help with the project as they specialise in celebrity meet-ups and holidays.

Jack’s Mum, Amanda Mills, said: “The children can now come outside and enjoy themselves. Before it was just weeds and overgrown grass. I have been travelling back and forth with Jack from Nottingham and I haven’t had the chance to be on top of everything.”

One Saturday afternoon, six months ago, Jack was spending time with his family and complained of having a sore throat.

In the space of six hours, Jack was rushed to a Nottingham hospital in an ambulance and was diagnosed with Leukemia in less than two days.

Maureen Canham, Jack’s grandmother, said: “The doctors thought it might have been meningitis. It was a very traumatic few months for us all.

“Considering his treatment, he’s coping magnificently well for a child of eight-years-old.

“The volunteers have been absolutely wonderful, it’s unbelievable how everyone has rallied round.”

Jack is due to finish his chemotherapy sessions in February 2017.

Jack's sister, Brooke Haslet, who is 10-years-old, said: “We now have loads to play on, I can use the swings and trampoline in the summer.”

All money left over from the funding page will be donated to charity.

A once tired-looking pub in Northampton is set to reopen on Friday as a modern-looking family-friendly drinking and dining venue following a £350,000 refurbishment.

A team of workers have been on site at the Hart of Duston pub in Harlestone Road, ripping out the dated pattern carpet interior once owned by the Spirit pub group and replacing it with a bright new dining and bar area.

Owner Michael Thomas, who has three other pubs with a mixed food and drink offer, and new landlord John Harrison, have gone in on a joint investment they hope will make the revamped venue a hit in Duston.

Dad-of-one Mr Harrison, who is originally from Wellingborough, said: "I think it's going to be a good pub for the community, we want to offer something for everyone. From coffee and cakes in the morning to a really good homemade lunch menu, through to table service in the evening and a carvery on a Sunday."

Though the refitted pub will feature an extensive menu, featuring steaks, pizzas and burgers alongside pub classics, Mr Harrison, 26, expects trade to be split between diners and drinkers.

"We're not moving away from the pub side of things, either.

"There’s still going to be a bar with rotating cask ales and premium beers."

The new pub, which will be tied to the Greene King brewery, is set to feature a regular roster of real ales alongside a lengthy wine list and premium lagers. Popular Dutch lager Heineken will be served extra cold, with glasses stocked in a freezer.

While Mr Thomas says the venue will not be trying to compete with the higher end of the dining scale offered by nearby food-led pubs such as the Fox and Hounds, it will appeal to the middle market, with main courses averaging around the £12 mark.

"It's a good old-fashioned pub where people can chat and socialise.

"There has been a lot of positive reaction to it already. The Facebook crowd has gone crazy for it."

The new-look Hart of Duston is set to open on Friday, though the food offer will not start until the carvery launches on Sunday.

Those attending opening night can claim their first drink free.

For more information head to the website: www.hartduston.co.uk.

A Northampton graduate has launched what could be the world's only anti-drone security company - offering products such as a firing net to capture nuisance flying machines.

Former army officer Richard Gill, completed his University of Northampton masters degree in business administration earlier this year via distance learning.

But he has now set up Drone Defence, a firm aiming to protect people, places and public events from the misuse of the aerial crafts.

Sales of the unmanned flying devices have dramatically increased over the past two years - but this has led to a three-fold increase in drone-related incidents being reported to the police.

Now Mr Gill's firm is offering clients comprehensive "drone-related" security advice, to prevent them from being bothered by unwanted crafts - as well as products including a "drone jammer" and a "net firing device."

Possible clients include prisons and airports.

Mr Gill said: “After seeing reports of drones being used irresponsibly near airports and flying drugs into prisons I thought that I should do something about it.

"After working in the commercial UAV (drone) sector for the last two years I thought I would bring that knowledge together with my previous experience and launch a business to help organisations protect themselves from unwanted drones.”

Mr Gill's firm is offering clients a drone guarding service, which can be used to protect sporting events and concerts. The company will deploy security specialists to attend an event and keep it free of the flying nuisances.

Drone Defence also has products for sale, such as the Net Gun X1, a CO2 powered net-firing device that is designed to capture drones at short range.

The Dynopis E1000MP jams a drone's control frequency, making it returns to its operator.

Mr Gill's former business lecturer, Dr Mils Hills, believes Drone Defence could be a big success.

He said: "Rick and his team are providing a cutting-edge portfolio of security solutions for a challenge that is only going to become more prevalent and where operators like Drone Defence will set the benchmark for quality and effectiveness."

A dressmaker who says she was "born in the wrong era” has opened a 1950s-inspired clothing shop in Northampton

Sandie Evans of Rectory Farm this week opened Frocks and Frillies, a store that sells nostalgic-style dresses and accessories ranging from £45 - £85.

Frocks and Frillies first opened its doors a year ago on the premises of Billing Garden Centre where Sandie’s other business, the ‘Charm Shop’, has been based for five years.

Mrs Evans said: “I’ve always loved the 1950’s, I was born in the wrong era. I love the fact women back then dressed very ladylike but also had their independence.

"Women come into my shop and they buy into the dream. When they’ve seen the dresses they are then in the mindset to take them home straight away.”

Mrs Evans’ long-term goal is to pass on her passion for sewing to youngsters in the area.

Speaking to the Chronicle and Echo, she said: “I want to eventually start holiday clubs for secondary school children so they can practice their love for needlework.”

Frocks and Frillies currently employs two seamstresses who help to work on custom designs.

The shop, which is based in Gold Street Mews shopping arcade, also designs children’s wear and stocks 1950s-style dresses bought in by Ms Evans.

Infants who have studied in a Northampton secondary school library for two years move into a  multi-million pound free school building.

Malcolm Arnold Preparatory School opened its doors two-weeks-ago to key-stage-one pupils who live within a three-mile radius from the Malcolm Arnold campus.

The school, which is the first free school to open under the David Ross Education Trust (DRET), aims to combine the best of the state and the private sector education.

The prep school was initially set up in 2014 and had an intake of 60 reception pupils who studied in Malcolm Arnold Academy library, but the new state-of-the-art building has made room for 420 students from reception to year six.

Headteacher, Marie Lally, said: “Our year two students have been able to build ethos and leadership with the younger pupils, they are our oldest students so they have set the standards. They are fantastic ambassadors and mentors for younger years."

Miss Lally, who has worked at the school for three years, added: “I have been really involved in planning the school and thinking about how it comes together.”

Pupils at Malcolm Arnold Preparatory School start the day at 8.30am and finish at 3.30pm which is typically longer than the regular school day.

Miss Lally added: “We tend to use the extra minutes in the school day to focus on the children’s reading. We run a breakfast club from 7.30am and after school clubs run until 6pm which helps parents who work late.

“At Malcolm Arnold, we have a closer relationship with parents. We also have the opportunity to get to know our staff really well as the school started as a smaller cohort. Staff and parents know that they can grow something special which they have been a part of from the beginning."

The school took 39 weeks to build from start to finish and is set to play host to its first ever open days for the new reception intake on Wednesday 4 November and Friday 6 November.

To find out more information about the open days, see link: http://www.malcolmarnoldprep.co.uk/news/open-events-september-2016-reception-intake

Unconfirmed reports suggest a serious attack may have taken place outside a Northampton pub last night, leaving a large area cordoned of by police.

Eyewitnesses have described how squad cars rushed to Palmerston road, just off the Wellingborough Road in Northampton at around 5.45pm last night.

An area was cordoned off by the Fiddlers pub, with one witness describing a "heavy police and ambulance presence" in the area around the time.

Last night forensic officers remained at the scene amid rumours that a man had been stabbed repeatedly.

A witness has told the Chron he saw a man subject to a violent attack, though police are yet to confirm what happened.

Updates to follow.