Police have named the driver who died in a crash in Northamptonshire yesterday as a 69-year-old man from Wollaston.

Christopher Sutherland died following a crash yesterday morning in Wellingborough.

A police spokesman said: “We are now in a position to name the man who died following yesterday’s road traffic collision on the B573, which took place at about 11.10am between the junctions of Irthlinborough Road and London Road.

“He has been formally identified as Christopher Sutherland, aged 69, of Wollaston.

“Mr Sutherland was the driver of a silver Honda Civic which was travelling towards London Road when, for reasons as yet unknown, it left the road and hit a tree.”

Police are appealing for witnesses to this collision, or anyone who has information about it, to contact officers on the Drivewatch Hotline, 0800 174615.

A service of commemoration to mark soldiers from Northamptonshire who died in the Korean War will be held in Northampton next month.

The 60th anniversary of the armistice of the war will be marked on Sunday June 23 with a service in Abington Square, Northampton, from 2pm.

Eight soldiers from the county lost their lives in the conflict - Trooper Cyril Adams (Wellingborough), Lance Corporal Peter Garwood (Northampton), Fusilier Alan Mills (Moulton), Corporal Montague Ritterband (Northampton), Private Roy Rose (Brixworth), Lieutenant John Sharp (Wellingborough), Sergeant Sidney Streather (Kettering) and Signalman Warren Smith (Flore) were among those who lost their lives.

A memorial to all those who have died in wars from Northampton since 1945 will also be unveiled at the service. The Mayor of Northampton, councillors, veterans and serving personnel will be attending.

To allow for the service to take place there will be temporary road closures between 1pm and 4pm on Wellingborough Road (between York Road and St Edmunds Street) and Kettering Road (between the Lower Mounts and St Michael’s Road).

Councillor David Mackintosh, leader of Northampton Borough Council, said: “It is important that we as a community take the time to remember those who gave their lives to serve our country during the Korean War. This year is the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War and it is only right that we should commemorate the occasion and honour those who died. I hope members of the public will join us as we pay tribute to their memory.”

Tony Wade, chairman of the Royal British Legion Northampton Branch, said: “The United Kingdom and her allies have fought in many so called ‘small wars’ since the ending of WWII in the pursuit of freedom and peace, even to this day our troops are committed to policing troubled areas of the world costing the lives of many of our service personnel. The freedom we enjoy today here in the British Isles is due to the sacrifice these brave men and women gave and are still giving. We owe it to them to never forget. ‘at the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them’.”

Anyone wanting more information about the arrangements for the memorial service is asked to contact Northampton Borough Council’s events team on 01604 837720.

Police have appealed for witnesses after a pedestrian suffered “serious” injuries when he was knocked over in Long Buckby.

The crash happened yesterday, just after 7am, on Station Road, in Long Buckby, when a man was crossing the road.

He was knocked over by a black Peugeot 207.

As a result the 40-year-old man sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry.

Officers are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact them.

Anyone with information or anyone who witnessed the incident can call the Drivewatch Hotline on 0800 174615.

Chronicle & Echo publisher Johnston Press reported its first increase in operating profit for nearly seven years yesterday in spite of the challenging economic environment.

Ashley Highfield, chief executive of the Edinburgh-based group, said JP is on track to deliver a strong performance in 2013.

The group, which also publishes the Northamptonshire Telegraph and Daventry Express, saw like-for-like revenues fall 11.4 per cent in the 18 weeks to May 4 with the decline slowing month on month.

Mr Highfield said: “For the first time in almost seven years we are in a position to report a year-on-year increase in operating profit for the period.

“While the economic environment continued to be challenging, the implementation of our strategy progressed further with the successful completion of the relaunch of the vast majority of our titles, together with the further development of our digital business and the rollout of new hardware and software to all sales staff and journalists.

“With our reduced cost base and our continued focus on debt reduction, we remain on track to deliver a strong performance in 2013.”

JP said digital audience growth has continued, with monthly website visitors for April showing a 16.4 per cent year-on-year increase to 11.6m.

The group reported strong growth in digital revenues of 8.1 per cent.

The publisher has relaunched 183 titles and has started rolling out new websites for every title.

Police pulled over dozens of lorry drivers during a safety crackdown on the M1 in Northamptonshire

Officers stopped HGV drivers as part of a campaign to improve motorists’ safety on what is the region’s busiest section of roads, between the M1 at junction 15, and junction two of the M6.

Sunday’s crackdown was part of a six-day regional operation to tackle HGV drivers breaking the law by speeding, using mobile phones while driving, not wearing seatbelts, and drinking and driving.

Police caught 38 people driving without seatbelts, three driving without insurance, three driving while using a mobile phone, and two for not displaying a valid number plate.

Superintendent Andy Cox, head of Specialist Operations, said: “Making our roads safer is one of the force’s top priorities. This was part of a Fatal Four campaign to tackle speeding, mobile phone usage, not wearing a seatbelt and drink driving.

“We are committed to reducing the number of these offences through enforcement, education and communication”

The councillor in charge of turning around Northamptonshire’s troubled children’s services said she is delighted to be taking on the tough task.

A new cabinet-elect for Northamptonshire County Council was announced this afternoon and Councillor Catherine Boardman’s role last term as cabinet member for children’s social services has been expanded to cover all children’s services.

The change comes after the previous member for children, Andrew Grant, was ousted in the local elections this month.

She is now tasked with being the councillor leading changes in a department which has suffered two ‘inadequate’ ratings from Ofsted this year and faces the prospect of explaining five several serious case reviews into the deaths of county children.

Councillor Boardman said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have the endorsement of the leader to be able to continue the work here that I started in October.

“It’s been a very challenging time and its very difficult for the public to understand where we are but I can only say I am really delighted to have the opportunity to lead on the journey of improvement.”

Asked whether she believed her job would get harder or easier she said: “I don’t see it like that. I can only say there’s a big challenge ahead and that I’m up for the challenge.”

The cabinet was reduced from 10 members to eight. Positions were awarded to two new councillors; Suresh Patel, who will be cabinet member for adult social care, and Michael Clarke, who will be cabinet member for transport, highways and environment.

The full cabinet is:

Leader: Jim Harker

Deputy leader and member for customers and communities: Heather Smith

Children and education: Catherine Boardman

Adult social care: Suresh Patel

Health and wellbeing: Robin Brown

Finance and performance: Bill Parker

Transport, highways and the environment: Michael Clarke

Economic growth and public protection: Andre Gonzalez de Savage

Northampton’s revolutionary homeless service celebrated its first anniversary earlier today with past and present clients.

Oasis House, in Campbell Street, opened on May 14, 2012 as a result of a successful bid for Places Of Change money to build the facility.

Services at the £5.5 million development are delivered by housing provider Midland Heart, Northampton Association for the Accommodation of the Single Homeless (NAASH), Northampton Hope Centre, Maple Access Partnership and Northampton Borough Council.

Claire Kelman, aged 42, moved from a women’s refuge to NAASH’s previous base at Acorn House in Northampton, before moving into Oasis House when it opened.

She said: “The support at Oasis House is very good and it’s available 24 hours a day. The rooms here are fully equipped for independent living. Over the time I have been here I’ve seen a massive change in myself.”

Oasis House consists of 39 self-contained apartments and nine emergency units, including three dog kennels.

Councillor Mary Markham, Northampton Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing, who attended the celebration, said: “Oasis House offers much-needed accommodation to some of our town’s most vulnerable residents. In just one year we have seen a real improvement in the quality of service we can offer through having everything all under one roof. We are seeing the results of this as people are managing to turn around their life and make a fresh start.”

During the last year 115 rough sleepers have been offered temporary accommodation with support provided by NAASH.

Another 1,100 homeless and vulnerable people have benefited from Northampton Hope Centre’s drop-in day centre.

Customers also benefit from access to the in-house GP and mental health service delivered through the Maple Access Partnership.

Oasis House resident, David Deakin, aged 51, moved into the facility on the opening day last year.

He said: “When I first went into the apartments at Oasis House I thought ‘wow’, this is terrific. They are well designed, good facilities, which allow you to live independently.

“From day one I got that feel good factor about the place. Somebody has taken a lot of time and effort to build this place and help people like myself to get back into mainstream society.”

Mr Deakin became homeless around four years ago when he turned to drink after losing his job.

He said: “Seven years ago I had a really good job, a family, my own house, a new car, four children and then suddenly I got made redundant. I started to worry how on earth I was going to look after my family and I turned to drink. That was my downfall and it was a slippery slope from then ownwards.

“My marriage broke down and I lost my house and became homeless. I lost the job I had moved onto because of my drink problem. Then I lost my mother a couple of years later and my world fell apart.”

Mr Deakin moved into NAASH’s previous base in Acorn House in Northampton before moving into Oasis House when it opened.

He is hoping to move into council accomodation and start a job in the near future.

A two-year-old-girl who fell into a lake at Billing Aquadrome in March has died, police have revealed.

The little girl, who has been named as Mandi Munhuwa, was found in a lake after being missing for a short time.

The incident happened on Sunday, March 10, which was Mothers’ Day.

Mandi was taken to Northampton General Hospital and later transferred to Glenfield Hospital in Leicester.

She went on to receive treatment at Leicester Royal Infirmary where, tragically, she died on Friday evening.

It has emerged Mandi and her father, Bothwell, went to Billing Aquadrome on the day of the tragedy, leaving her mum to have a hair done as a Mothers’ Day treat.

Her parents said Mandi “was excited to see the shimmering lake water”.

While her father was asking staff at the Northampton holiday park about the swings, Mandi “sneaked out of the building” and tragically fell into the lake.

She was found by one of the attendants and needed an hour of resuscitation.

She sustained “significant brain damage” and needed a month of specialist care in intensive care in Leicester.

Mandi remained on a high dependency unit since the accident.

Trevor White, director of corporate affairs for Pure Leisure Group, which owns Billing Aquadrome, sent his “deepest sympathies” to her family.

He said: “It goes without saying that our sympathies, not just from out staff at Billing Aquadrome, but from the whole company, go out to the family.”

The toddler was originally taken to hospital in a “critical condition”.

She was given treatment having been found in a lake on a Northampton holiday park at around 4.30pm, having been missing for around 10 minutes.

Staff at the park carried out a search for the little girl after receiving reports of a missing child and quickly located her in the water.

She was given CPR before paramedics arrived and was then taken to Northampton General Hospital.

Police have said an inquest and post mortem will be held in due course.

A popular bar has created a good-luck cocktail for the Cobblers which it hopes it will be serving plenty of on Saturday night.

Sazerac, in Castilian Street, Northampton, put together a Claret Cobbler to wish Northampton Town good luck at Wembley on Saturday, when they take on Bradford City in the League Two play-off final.

Bar manager, James Maxim, better known to the regulars as Max, talked the Chron through the creation of the drink, and the results can be seen in the video above.

The cocktail contains just three ingredients - cognac, Grand Marnier and red wine. The fortified and slightly sweetened wine is cooled by ice and strained into a glass with crushed ice.

On the build-up to the game, Mr Maxim said: “It has been exciting. Quite a lot of our staff are fans of Northampton Town. They have had a lot of home wins, and hopefully there will be a good result for them on Saturday.”

Two people were rescued from a block of flats after a fire in a bin store.

Three fire crews were called to the blaze in Stonebridge Court, Northampton, at about 11pm last night.

A spokesman for Northampton Fire & Rescue Service said: “On arrival crews led one person to safety and discovered that another person had been rescued by members of the public using a ladder prior to the arrival of the fire service.

The bin store suffered severe damage by fire with the communal stairwell of the two storey block being severely damaged by heat and smoke.”

Two crews from Moulton and one from The Mounts attended the scene and hte fire was out by 11.50pm.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

London Midland will be running a number of extra trains between Northampton and London on Saturday for Cobblers fans heading for the play-off final against Bradford City.

The firm will also be adding carriages to others where possible, but is warning fans that trains will be extremely busy, and they should leave extra time for their journeys, travel early and consider using alternative stations.

With up to 10,000 people expected to travel by train, London Midland is asking fans to consider travelling from Milton Keynes, Wellingborough or Bicester instead.

David Whitley, head of marketing for London Midland, said: “Train services on Saturday mornings are already extremely busy, so we are doing all we can to prepare for the extra demand this weekend. This includes hiring trains from other operators, as well as adding carriages to our existing services.

“However, we’re still encouraging fans to use Milton Keynes, Wellingborough and Bicester stations if they can, as we won’t be able to carry an extra 10,000 people from Northampton alone.”

Details of Saturday’s extra trains will be available on the London Midland website by Thursday morning.

The number of people in Northampton claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance has slightly decreased despite national figures showing a rise in unemployment.

ONS figures released today showed 15,000 more people were unemployed in the UK three months to the end of March, with the unemployment rate now at 7.8 per cent.

However, Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants fell by 7,300 last month to 1.52 million.

In Northampton there were 122 fewer claimants in April compared with March.

Nationally, average earnings increased by 0.4 per cent in the year to March, compared with a rate of 0.8 per cent in the previous month.

Employment Minister, Mark Hoban, said businesses were doing their best in a “difficult economic backdrop”.

He said: “It’s a credit to businesses that the private sector is employing one and a quarter million more people than when this Government took office, helping us compete in the global race.

“Today’s figures show that, against a difficult economic backdrop, we’re helping people to move off benefits and into work.”

Police have blamed an increasing number of burglaries in parts of Northampton on victims leaving doors and windows open.

Detectives say they have seen a burglary spike in the north and east areas of the town, mainly because opportunistic and predatory burglars have targeted insecure houses.

Three homes were burgled in Boughton, Thorplands and Lumbertubs in the last week where the offender broke in through an open window or unlocked door.

Northampton North East Inspector, Colin Irving, said: “The warmer weather seems to encourage people to leave their properties insecure, which often results in an increase in burglaries at this time of the year.

“We ask people to make sure keys and valuable items are not left on display or in easy reach of cat flaps, letter boxes and downstairs doors and windows, and that they lock windows and doors even when leaving their home unattended for a short time.

“By taking some simple precautions, people can make life harder for thieves and reduce the risk of being a victim of crime.”

For crime prevention advice and information visit www.northants.police.uk/crimeprevention or call 101 and ask to speak to a local crime prevention officer.

A driver was followed by two vans after taking out cash from an ATM machine in Northampton, then threatened and robbed.

Detectives have today appealed for witnesses following the robbery, on Friday, between 2.30pm and 3pm, in Hunsbury Hill Avenue, in Northampton.

A man was driving a green Vauxhall Astra through Sixfields, when he stopped at a cash machine near to Boots and took out some money.

He got back into his car and drove past Sixfields towards Tesco, in Mereway.

On his way he noticed a vehicle flashing its lights at him.

He then turned left onto Hunsbury Hill Avenue and stopped his car.

However, the vehicle, which was a silver Transit van, then cut across in front of him, while a second white van blocked his car from behind.

A man got out of the Transit van and threatened the victim, who handed over his money.

A police spokesman said: “The offender then ran back to the van and drove off. He is described as white, around 5ft 7in, with black greasy hair and wearing a blue T-shirt and jeans.”

A thug from Northampton has been jailed for leading an organised fight with weapons at a fast-food restaurant, which left a man fighting for his life.

Cameron Clarke was part of a gang of six who took part in the brawl at McDonald’s in Raunds on June 4, 2011, which left a 20-year-old man with critical head injuries.

The victim spent several days undergoing specialist treatment at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, after his brain swelled.

Clarke, aged 21, of Abbey Road, Far Cotton, Northampton, was jailed for three years and four months at Northampton Crown Court on Tuesday, after being convicted of violent disorder and grievous bodily harm.

Twelve people were originally arrested after the incident, and six were charged last May after a year-long investigation.

The other five who were sentenced on Tuesday were as follows:

- Shane Tye, aged 19, of Welland Close, Raunds, was jailed for one year and nine months for violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon

- Jordan Cotter, aged 20, of The Drive, Wellingborough, was given a one year prison sentence, suspended for two years, for violent disorder

- Bethany Caffel, aged 19, of Taylor Close, Wellingborough, was given an eight month sentence, suspended for two years, for affray and incitement to commit violent disorder. She was also ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work

- Issak Willmott-Gray, aged 19, of Grove Street, Raunds, was given a suspended eight month prison sentence for affray

- A 16-year-old boy from Wellingborough was given a one year rehabilitation order with supervision order for violent disorder and affray

Detective Inspector Ali Reynolds, who led the investigation, said: “The outcome of this case follows a lengthy and thorough investigation into violent disorder and assault involving a number of people.

“We welcome the verdict and sentencing in this case, in which four men, one boy and one woman have been found guilty of offences of violent disorder, affray and assault with grievous bodily harm. The sentences demonstrate the severity of the incident, in which one person was seriously injured.

“Reducing violent crime is a priority for Northamptonshire Police and we will continue to crack down on violent offending and protect our communities from harm.

“This case shows the potential dangers involved for anyone arranging to have a fight and taking weapons to that fight. People get hurt and in this case one person was nearly killed. I strongly advise anyone else considering planned violence to think seriously about the potential consequences of their actions.”

A passenger was punched in the face on a London to Northampton train at the weekend, British Transport Police have revealed.

Officers are appealing for information after the victim was attacked on the train in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The altercation took place on board the 12.15am Euston to Northampton service.

BTP and Metropolitan Police officers met the train at Wembley Central station and a 52-year-old man was arrested for being drunk and disorderedly.

He was later released on bail pending further enquiries.

PC Tim Tubbs, the investigating officer, said: “We are currently working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the altercation.

“As part of our enquiries, I am urging anyone who was on board the train, or who witnessed the incident, to come forward and assist officers in this investigation.”

“We will have officers at stations and on trains on Saturday night and Sunday morning speaking to members of the public, reassuring passengers and handing out witness appeal leaflets.”

CCTV pictures have been released of three men police want to trace following an assault on a taxi driver.

The attack happened after the driver confronted passengers who ran off without paying their fare.

It happened near to the Bootleggers pub in Wellingborough Road, Northampton, shortly before 5am on Sunday after three men had caught a taxi from Aspers Casino.

After the three men got out of the taxi and ran off without paying, the driver got out and chased the men.

The driver managed to pick up a mobile phone one of the men dropped and told him he would get it back when the police arrived.

However, the men attacked the driver and one of them hit him with a weapon, causing him to fall to the ground.

The men continued to kick the victim and one of them went through his pockets and stole his phone and cash, while another went back to the taxi and stole the PDA dispatch radio system.

The three men then ran off. They are described white, aged between 24 and 30 years old, of muscular build and about six foot.

The first man was head and wore a white v-neck top. The second had short brown hair and wore a grey top. The third had short brown hair and wore a dark patterned top.

Witnesses or anyone with information can call Northamptonshire Police on 101.

Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The police football liaison officer for Northampton Town FC has revealed he has put back his annual leave so he does not miss out on another showpiece occasion.

Pc Nick Price will travel to Wembley on Saturday with two colleagues, having helped plan the match with his counterparts in London and Bradford this week.

He will report to New Scotland Yard ready to be briefed before the match at 6am.

Pc Price was due to begin his annual leave on Saturday.

However, having missed out on one end-of-season occasion, when Rushden & Diamonds made it to the Millennium Stadium in 2002, he has vowed not to miss another big match.

He said: “For me, it could be the only opportunity to work at Wembley, work on a big occasion with the Met, with one of the clubs I look after.”

He said his week so far has been spent talking to the club, speaking to coach companies and offering advice to supporters. Pc Price added: “It has been liaising with coach companies, finding out how many coaches have been booked, which ones are being used, linking in with the club.

“We have to do an intelligence assessment for supporters who are going to travel.”

Pc Price said: “I just want everyone to really have a good day out, be respectful, don’t drink to excess and hopefully the result will go the right way.”

Meanwhile, Northampton Town supporters have been allocated pubs to the east of Wembley Stadium, by police:

The Torch - 1-5 Bridge Road, Wembley, HA9 9AB

Crock of Gold - 23 Bridge Road, Wembley, HA9 9AB

Moore Spice - Wembley Retail Park, Unit 2, Engineers Way, HA9 0EH

Watkins Folly - 1 Empire Way, Wembley, HA9 0EW

Blue Check Café - 12-13 Empire Way, Wembley, HA9 0RQ

Alisan Bar - The Junction, Wembley Retail Park, Engineers Way, HA9 0EG

Crystal Club (Silverspoon) - South Way, Wembley

The Parish - 120 Wembley Park Drive, Wembley, HA9 8HP

First Class Sports Bar - 125 Wembley Park Drive, HA9 8HG

The Wembley Tavern - 121 Wembley Park Drive, HA9 8HG

Cheers Bar - 45 Blackbird Hill, NW9 8RS

The headteacher of Northampton School for Boys (NSB) has said he is concerned about the background information universities using on students before offering places on degree courses.

In a speech to the Higher Education Policy Institute’s (HEPI) conference today, Mr Griffiths, expressed his fears about the use of “contextual data” by institutions to check information such as postcodes or the education of a student’s parents.

Mr Griffiths, who is currently taken a secondment year form his job to be president of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), has called on UK universities to be “open and honest” about what they want from potential students, including which subjects they should study at A-level.

He said: “I’m worried that my students might be offered, or not offered, a place on the grounds that my school is successful, or unsuccessful, that their house might be in a particular unfavoured postcode or even that self-declared information about parental higher education experience or not might be used to either make, or not make, an offer.

“I believe that universities should be offering places on the basis of what an individual student can bring to that university and how much that student will benefit from a university education.”

He also said that universities needed to exercise their “power of choice” over which students they admitted responsibly.

“There must be no secret garden of unwritten criteria,” he said.

“Apart from youngsters with good academic backgrounds, just what do you want?

“We sometimes in schools get rather confused and I appreciate there is a big difference between universities, but do you want pure academics who can’t change a light bulb or do you want well-rounded individuals who can converse confidently on a range of topics and who have taken advantage of a host of experiences beyond the curriculum?”

Mr Griffiths, also called for “absolute clarity” about which subjects universities preferred, and said institutions were sometimes guilty of giving courses “sexy” sounding titles to get more applicants.

He said: “Many youngsters, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, will be attracted to courses that seem to lead to a specific career, a course with prospects.

“Some vocational subjects, such as medicine and dentistry will almost inevitably lead to employment, since careful control is kept on the numbers being trained.

“But other courses at some universities are often given more sexy sounding titles which purport to lead to a career but may well have disappointing records in placing graduates in that field.

“For instance, how many graduates of forensic science are employed as forensic scientists?

“Or are most such jobs actually given to those with a degree in, say, chemistry.

“Universities should publish data not just on the proportion of students who are employed after graduation, but also on the type of job that they are doing,” he said.

The leader of Northampton Borough Council will encourage town centre employers to take part in a flagship apprenticeship scheme at a breakfast meeting on Friday.

A small number of enhanced apprenticeships, funded by Legal & General, have been created to attract the most motivated school leavers to town centre jobs and involve them in the Northampton Alive regeneration programme.

The breakfast event, hosted by Northampton BID, will run from 7am to 8.30am at Royal & Derngate.

Speaking alongside Northampton Borough Council Leader, Councillor David Mackintosh, are BID chairman Sue Roberts and Northampton Retail Crime Initiative’s Mike Brennan.

The event is free to all businesses and places can be booked through Julie Thorneycroft on 01604 837766 or info@northamptonbid.co.uk

Councillor Mackintosh said: “It’s critical to invest in creating the skills that we need in Northampton so that we can compete in a very tough financial market.

“This is a great scheme that will have a really positive impact for young people, for employers and for the town. I’m pleased that we can make it available in Northampton and I hope it encourages other businesses to get involved.”

For more information, call Jo Stewart at Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership by May 24 on Northampton 609395.