The incident happened between 7.50am and 8am on Tuesday, November 21, when the man was approached on the Drapery, outside McDonalds, and was followed towards the bus station before being robbed.

At the time of the incident, three buses were parked nearby, close to the Debenhams store, with passengers on board who may have witnessed what happened.

A police spokeswoman said: "The suspect is described as a black man aged 25-30, 6ft 3in tall of slim build, clean shaven with short dark hair. He was wearing dark tracksuit style bottoms and dark tracksuit top."

A man arrested in connection with the incident has been released under investigation, Northamptonshire Police today revealed.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Northamptonshire Police on 101, stating incident 17000507643.

Steve Hartley, 51, of Grange Park is nominated for the Patient Champion of the Year Award at this year’s Anthony Nolan Supporter Awards (ANSAs), and will be recognised for his work supporting others in need.

Steve was first diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in August 2012 and received a life-saving stem-cell transplant in January 2013 at Leicester Royal Infirmary after being told it would give him a second chance of life.

Since 2014 Steve has used his experience to help others by regularly contributing to Anthony Nolan’s Patient and Families forum. The forum is a popular service where patients and family members can talk about their concerns, fears and achievements with others, like Steve, who have lived through transplant.

Steve has become a regular contributor and answers people's queries in a reassuring way. He said: “Even if it’s something I don’t have direct experience with I try to think of something that’s helpful and comforting - you often get a message back, such as ‘it’s good to know I’m not alone.

“The main reason I log on is to help reassure people that what they are experiencing is not necessarily unusual. The forum gives people the opportunity to ask ‘why is it happening to me?’ and, more often than not, it has happened to someone else and they can help.”

Henny Braund, chief executive at Anthony Nolan said Steve has provided vital support for many patients and has reassured them that they are not alone.

He said: “He openly shares many aspects of his transplant experience to benefit others in an honest and insightful way and is clearly dedicated to helping others. He has truly gone above and beyond in his support for Anthony Nolan and we’re grateful for everything he has done.

“This year’s awards will be a fitting occasion to bring Steve and our wonderful supporters together and thank them for helping us to save the lives of three people every day.”

The awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday, November 28 in the House of Commons, where winners will be announced at the event.

Dennis Meredith, deputy leader of the liberal democrats, said Northamptonshire County Council is on the brink of having Government inspectors taking over.

"This is the worst council in the country. This whole administration is completely mismanaged and incompetent. We are calling for the whole cabinet to be sacked or to resign.

"I'm not asking for elections. I just want them to stand up on their principles and resign.

"We are also calling for 'option 4', which is where they don't close any libraries.

"They are cutting the libraries to save £2 million each month just so they can they can run the county council. These cuts are going to severely affect vulnerable, elderly and local people.

"Libraries are vital for the community. People go to them to find company and educate themselves.

"They have taken over the role of the children's centres. Cutting libraries now is the same as cutting the children's centres all over again."

Chris Stanbra, leader of the Liberal Democrats group for the county council, said the Labour group is calling for a no-confidence motion in the county council.

He said: "It's unlikely to go through, but you never know, it might stir up some party rebels.

"I'm not calling for a formal coalition of course but we're happy to work with the Labour group for the good of Northamptonshire. It couldn't get any worse here."

Borough councilllor, Brian Markham (Lib Dem) said he is supporting people who are objecting to conservative plans and budget proposals, but in particular the library proposal.

"I'm involved in my area with the friends of Abington library but there are 30 odd libraries in the county, under threat. In particular we are supporting the call for option 4.

"The proposal, you can vote and you can say what you want on the libraries but all three options at the moment say there will be closures, we are in favour of the idea that there should be another option, option 4, which is no closures."

Jo Taylor from Desborough library brought a petition with 2022 signatures from residents over the closure of the library.

She said: "We find that the library is not just for books, it's for people using the computers, for the young mothers doing the learning groups, it's for the elderly people coming in to borrow a book and ask for advice and it's a real community hub for our town of Desborough."

Chair of Middleton Cheney Library supports action group, Richard Solesbury-Timms said cuts will make it impossible for the elderly to access support.

"Other than book-lending, the library hosts gardening club and a history society, none of that is being put forward in the footfall in the consultation.

"We also serve people in Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, being on the fringes of the border, and we are also a rural community so sending people out to Towcester, which is the one they are keeping open, is not an option for say people like George, who is 102, trying to expect him to go on the bus to the nearest library is not good enough."

People wanting to use the Sol Central car park have for the last few weeks been met with frequent 'sorry, we're full' signs.

The situation has come about since the bulk of Northamptonshire County Council staff moved from County Hall to One Angel Square, which has a single staff parking space.

Employees of the local authority are expected to use park and ride and other sustainable methods to get to work but a large number are seemingly simply using town centre car parks.

"For at least the last month the parking has been awful, with regular people queuing on the ramp, with no spaces available.

"Then people started parking on the ends of bays, against walls and some of them dangerous as restricting views for other cars driving round.

"Most days, I'd circle around at least five times, driving in and out, to find a space."

It was only later that Sara found out the reason for the influx of cars, when a Sol Central manager confirmed by email that the extra cars were owned by council staff and that more enforcement, which was needed as a result, meant discounted parking fees were now being scrapped.

Sara has since cancelled her membership because she was unable to use the gym.

The council pointed out that, although it encouraged staff to use park and ride and other methods to get to work, it could not order staff not to leave their vehicles in town centre car parks.

A spokeswoman said: “We have a staff travel plan which includes a range of affordable transport options for our staff, including car sharing, park-and-ride and cycling schemes, in a bid to reduce congestion in the town centre and promote sustainable travel to work.”

Two men have been found guilty of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Mason Phiri, 24, and Alain Mbuku-Sengua, 21, both from Bedford, were found guilty at the end of a two-week trial held at Northampton Crown Court.

Their conviction is in relation to an incident in March 2016 when a firearm was discharged at a 16-year-old boy in Gold Street, Wellingborough.

Detective Sergeant Keith Morson of Operation Worcester, a force drive to tackle gang crime, said: “Thankfully the teenager was not injured in this incident which took place in the centre of Wellingborough.

“This was a long and complex enquiry that has taken the investigative team to several counties in order to find the evidence used to bring a successful conclusion to this dangerous attack.

“Our relentless pursuit of the offenders should act as a deterrent to others who involve themselves in the illegal use of firearms and will hopefully provide some reassurance to communities that we are committed to reducing the harm that this type of offence poses.”

Phiri and Mbuku-Sengua were found guilty on Wednesday (November 22) and will be sentenced at Northampton Crown Court in January.

In the rush to snaffle up those Black Friday and Cyber Monday bargains, shoppers often fail to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves when buying online.

But anyone who lets their guard down risks falling victim to fraud, with ‘Grinch-like’ cyber-fraudsters waiting to pounce.

There are tons of savings to be had, of course, but in some cases, the deals may not be what they seem. Mercifully, there are ways to avoid being duped by Black Friday and Cyber Monday scams (check out some key tips below).

Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cyber-crime, this week released last year’s Christmas crime figures, showing that more than 15,000 victims lost around £16million, up 45 per cent on 2015.

It may come as a surprise, but men aged 20-29 were the most common victims, with online auction fraud accounting for 65 per cent of crime reports, the average loss being a whopping £727.

In demand items victims reported losing out on to fraudsters included Yeezy trainers, Kylie Jenner make-up, hair dryers, drones and Fitbit watches.

Mobiles phones continue to be the most likely thing that people try to buy from fraudsters, with clothing and accessories second on the list and footwear shooting up from sixth to third place. Watches have also overtaken jewellery and are now more commonly offered by fraudsters.

Action Fraud reckon that this year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping bonanzas are set to be the most fraudulent on record as retailers are planning to bombard consumers with more than 40 million texts.

In an attempt to combat this, Action Fraud is warning shoppers to avoid clicking on links in shopping-related SMS and Whatsapp messages, over fears that criminals are jumping on a boom in legitimate “special offer” texts to steal people’s details.

Action Fraud’s DI Chris Felton said: “Black Friday is a prime opportunity for fraudsters to target shoppers looking for deals on Christmas presents. We have recently seen a spike in reporting of Whatsapp supermarket voucher scams so people should be cautious about Black Friday deals they receive in a Whatsapp message.

“We urge people to never click on unsolicited links in messages, even if they appear to come from a trusted contact. Also clear your browsing history and cookies.

“Fraudsters may have installed cookies on your phone that track you, or add browser extensions that can be used to show you advertisements. If you believe you have fallen victim to fraud, please report it to us.”

Top tips to protect yourself

If possible use online retailers/brands you are aware of and trust. For major brands always go to the official website to find a list of authorised sellers.

Check the delivery, insurance, warranty and returns policy.

Be especially careful when purchasing expensive items.

Make sure you have adequate anti-virus software that will enable your computer to flag any untrustworthy sites

Think before you buy

If something seems too much of a bargain, it’s probably poor quality, fake or doesn’t exist.

Never click on unsolicited emails or text messages. Criminals can use the technology to make emails or texts look like they come from a legitimate business or organisation.

If you’re buying tickets, always buy from official sources and never pay by direct transfer.

If you’re buying a holiday online, research it thoroughly to ensure that is a genuine offer and check to make sure it is registered with ABTA and ATOL.

Think when you’re buying

Use methods like PayPal when buying on auction sites; never transfer money to someone you don’t know.

Secure Wi-Fi is vital for your privacy. Check that the network you’re using is secure before you make any financial transactions.

Keep your purchases secure

Always ensure that you keep your anti-virus software, operating systems and other security measures up-to-date on your electronic devices.

Create strong passwords that are unique for each account you have. A good way to create a strong and memorable password is to use three random words.

Andy Ibbott stars in the programme Employable Me that follows people with a disability advancing their careers or getting back into the workplace The programme starts next Monday on BBC2.

Andy, who suffered a stroke during a hospital operation in 2011, started a BSc Sport and Exercise Science course with the University of Northampton in September this year.

He wants to use his time studying the biomechanics, physiology and psychology that underpin sport and exercise to help sport enthusiasts get back in the game after suffering a disability.

A keen fitness buff himself, Andy has taken part in the gruelling Marathon Des Sable, a marathon across the Sahara Desert.

Andy said: “Dealing with the stroke was challenge enough, but I hope the message people take away from the programme is that becoming disabled is not the end of your story.

“Since the stroke, I’ve got myself back on my feet and re-learnt how to talk, walked across deserts in Africa and I’ve even applied for a stint at Speakers Corner in London. It’s very exciting to feature in a BBC programme, but more adventures lie ahead.”

Andy’s lecturer Tony Baross added: “Andy exemplifies all that is tenacious about the human spirit.

“Despite suffering a major set-back, he has pushed himself through the recovery process and we are proud he is starting a new phase in his life with our Sport and Exercise Science course.”

The programme will air on BBC2 at 9pm on Monday November 27.

Now in its fifth year, Small Business Saturday has been proven to promote small businesses in their communities, by boosting #smallbizsatuk social media activity and increasing customer spending on the day for small independent traders.

Small Business Saturday will take place on Saturday December 2 this year, and Northampton town centre Business Improvement District (BID) businesses have joined together to take part – all part of the BID’s ongoing objective to promote retailers and businesses and celebrate the important role they play within the town and economy.

Peter Gaynor, Grosvenor Shopping Centre manager and BID director, said: “Consumers are lucky that Northampton town centre boasts many different kinds of small businesses; family businesses, local shops, independent professional services and lots more, so this is a fantastic national initiative to get involved with.

“It is about encouraging businesses to work together and encouraging consumers to shop small. We have lots of social media activity planned in the lead up and we hope our collective efforts will have a lasting impact on Northampton town centre small businesses over the festive season and all year round.”

‘Strong sporting links, like-minded businesses, positive developments and opportunities to grow’

As part of the social media activity, town centre businesses will be spreading the word about why they continue to trade in Northampton.

MORE STORIES FROM THE CHRON:

http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/this-is-the-worst-council-in-the-country-campaigners-slam-northamptonshire-county-council-amidst-proposals-to-cut-9-6m-to-libraries-1-8259624

http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/sol-central-customers-in-northampton-vexed-after-council-staff-fill-our-car-park-every-day-1-8260364

http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/former-leukaemia-sufferer-shortlisted-for-award-after-supporting-poorly-patients-on-online-forum-1-8259989

http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/weapons-amnesty-to-be-held-in-northampton-following-shooting-1-8260116

http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/option-four-motion-to-spare-northamptonshire-s-libraries-from-cuts-rejected-by-county-council-1-8260487

Thousands of British gardeners are at risk of becoming unwitting criminals due to a lack of knowledge of basic gardening laws, experts have claimed.

Now experts from GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk have published the top seven little known gardening laws to help Britons understand what they should and shouldn’t do in their gardens.

The list covers common issues such as overhanging branches, boundary disputes, blocked sunlight and wind fallen fruit, among others.

Gardeners could be forgiven for finding the laws confusing, as they can be counter-intuitive and complex.

For example, a person may cut back tree branches that overhang into their garden, as long as they do not go past the boundary line and there is no Tree Preservation Order in place.

But they cannot keep the trimmings nor any fruit or flowers on them – nor can they simply throw the branches back into the tree owner’s garden without permission.

Disputes over boundaries may require a hard look at the house deeds, and even then, there may be issues if the boundaries have changed over time.

There can also be confusion over whether it is legal to allow a tree to block sunlight to a window.

A spokesman for GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk said: “Most of us want to be good, law abiding neighbours, but that can be difficult if we don’t actually know what the law is.

“There may be times when it would be within your legal rights to do something, but it could cause tensions with your neighbour.

“We’d always advise trying to come to a neighbourly solution first, as this is always preferable to having to call in the lawyers.

“If you brush up on the law as it stands, you may be able to avoid any sort of dispute altogether, which is always the ideal solution.”

Top Seven little-known gardening laws

1. Trimming overhanging branches

If a tree’s branches overhang into your property from a neighbour’s, you can trim them, but only up to the property line. You can’t lean into the neighbour’s garden to do this, though – this constitutes trespass.

If a tree is covered by a Tree Preservation Order, you can’t cut the branches.

2. Fruit and flowers

Although you can cut branches that hang into your garden up to the property line, they still belong to the neighbour – as do any flowers or fruit on them. Your neighbour is technically legally entitled to demand them back.

But do not just throw them into the neighbour’s garden, as this could constitute garden waste fly tipping.

3. Windfalls

Wind fallen fruit technically still belongs to the person who owns the tree. So, if your neighbour’s windfalls end up on your lawn, you might have to ask for permission if you want to keep them.

4. Fallen leaves

Tree owners are not responsible for sweeping up fallen leaves that land on your property.

5. Trees blocking light

Under the Rights of Light Act, if a window has received natural light for 20 years or more, neighbours can’t block it with a new tree.

6. Fences and boundaries

These can be tricky to resolve. The house deeds should indicate who owns fences and is responsible for boundaries (although there is no legal responsibility to keep boundaries well maintained, unless the deeds state otherwise). But boundaries can move over time and cause disputes later. You may need to contact HM Land Registry for help with boundary disputes.

7 Hedges

If a hedge grows along the boundary between two gardens, both neighbours are responsible for trimming. If a hedge belonging to a neighbour grows into your garden, you can trim it but, as with tree branches, you must, technically, return the trimmings to the owner.

Organisers of a charity ball arranged by staff at a Warwick hotel have handed over £30,000 to two good causes.

Following Hilton Warwick’s successful charity Rainbow Ball in September, DM Thomas Foundation for Young People (formerly Hilton in the Community Foundation) awarded a grant of £15,141.02 to The Myton Hospices to fund bereavement support sessions for children.

Hilton Warwick presented the funds raised at the ball to hospice staff.

Half the proceeds were awarded to the Coventry, Rugby and Warwick-based hospices to help fund the Rainbow Ripples bereavement support service.

The service runs three workshops a year for children affected by the illness and death of a close family member, providing children the chance to meet others who are in the same situation.

Using activities to support children through their loss, the therapeutic approach gives children a way to process their feelings, and also helps them to realise that they are not alone in their experience.

The remaining share of the money raised will support DM Thomas Foundation for Young People’s central grant programme, which provides specialist equipment, important resources, vital support and training to help transform the lives of young people aged 0-25.

Guests at Hilton Warwick’s Ball enjoyed live music and entertainment and took part in various fundraising games.

Simon Sheehan, Director of DM Thomas Foundation for Young People said: “Thanks to Hilton Warwick’s commitment to the Foundation, we are able to fund important support sessions to local children affected by the loss of a close family member, which will provide a space and opportunity for young people to talk and meet one another.”

Karl Turner, Regional General Manager, Owned & Leased Hotels Hilton said: “Having supported the Foundation for many years, I am proud that across my group of hotels the teams have come together to raise a fantastic amount for the Foundation.

“It is great way for the hotels to help children and young people in our local communities.”

Kettering General Hospital’s new car parking deck is due to officially open at 1pm on Friday, December 1.

The trust has reduced charges for patients parking for less than four hours and has introduced number plate recognition barriers which can be paid for with either cash or card.

The new deck provides 240 additional car parking spaces in the hospital’s car park B – boosting that car park’s overall capacity to 471.

Kettering General Hospital director of finance Nicci Briggs said: “We are very pleased to announce that our new car parking deck is due to open on December 1.

“Work started in July and has progressed well and during construction we have tried to keep inconvenience to car park users to a minimum.

“We introduced the new car parking deck to respond to the needs of our patients and visitors who were experiencing regular queuing and limited spaces on site.

“These issues have already been alleviated and the opening of the top deck of the new car parking area should improve the situation further.”

Signage in the new car park will make it clear that patients unable to climb stairs should not use the top deck of car park B as a staircase is the only way down.

The next stage of the trust’s improvement programme will be to increase the number of disabled spaces in Car park A (the car park nearest the main ward block) from 16 to 42 spaces.

Car Park A is now a short-stay, disabled blue badge holders and drop-off only car park.

This will mean stays will be limited to two hours – with the first 15 minutes free to encourage use of the drop and go zones for patients and taxis.

Hospital users should note that the emergency services red route that leads to outpatients and A&E should only be used in the case of an emergency and not for routine drop-offs.

This is to ensure this route is free at all times for emergency ambulances.

Patients attending A&E should note that car park A is a short stay car park and if you use it for more than two hours the charge is £15.

To drop off an A&E patient you can use the free 15 minute drop-off in car park A - but then you should park elsewhere on site.

To find out more about the trust’s car parking arrangements visit www.kgh.nhs.uk.

Three men who tried to kidnap a man out cycling on his bike in Northampton were jailed today.

The 41-year-old victim was cycling in Maidencastle, Northampton, at lunchtime on Saturday, November 19, when he was approached by two men who dragged him off his bike.

The victim was then forced into a car where a third offender was waiting. He was threatened and attempts were made to detain him in the vehicle, however, the victim managed to break free and seek help.

Three people were arrested a short time later in connection with the incident and were today sentenced for their part in the incident.

A fourth man was sentenced for conspiring to pervert the course of justice in relation to the incident.

A trial into in the incident concluded last week and all four men were sentenced at Northampton Crown Court today, Friday, November 24.

Detective Inspector Lee McBride, from Operation Worcester, a campaign to tackle gangs in Northamptonshire, said: “This was an audacious move by people who I believe were determined to cause significant injury to the victim.

“Crossman and Collins pulled him into their car, where Daahir was waiting for him. Daahir then chased the victim when he managed to escape the vehicle and orchestrated a campaign of harassment of the victim. Daahir worked with Gaawo to harass the victim in a bid to get him to withdraw his statement to police.”

Operation Worcester aims to tackle those people involved in drugs and gangs in Northamptonshire and has seen a significant number of people convicted of serious violence offences in the last 18 months.

DI McBride added: “We are committed to tackling those people who carry out serious offences such as this which have a significant impact on the victims and local community.

“We want to make Northamptonshire a difficult place for criminal gangs such as this to operate, and hope these convictions show that we will do everything in our power to gain the evidence needed to help convict offenders.”

Anyone with information about gangs or drug-related crime can call police on 101 or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Yesterday, 32 county councillors said "no" to a chance to spare Northamptonshire's libraries from a proposal to cut £10million from services.

Northamptonshire County Council has put forward three options for consultation on how the axe will fall on public libraries, all of which would close at least 21 of them.

The choices have been met with condemnation from Northamptonshire folk and opposition parties, who have defended them as "essential" community centres.

At a full county council meeting yesterday (November 23), a motion was put forward to introduce "option four" and offer the public the choice to ask for no cuts at all to libraries.

But it was defeated 32 to 10 against.

Today, Chronicle & Echo has published the 32 councillors who did not support giving the public a chance to say "no cuts to our libraries".

Sign the Chronicle & Echo's petition for the Government to review spending in Northamptonshire.
Over a dozen members of the public, Northampton borough councillors and county councillors spoke at the meeting to appeal for "option four", including Northamptonshire author Sue Bentley.

Speaking against the option, councillor Sylvia Hughes said: "An option of 'do nothing' is not viable.

"Northamptonshire is one of the last county councils in the country to review their libraries."

Eight councillors who represent wards in Northampton, including cabinet members Andre Gonzalez De Savage, Matthew Golby and Mike Hallam, have been contacted for comment on why they voted no.

Last night, police were given more dispersal powers to prevent crime and disorder following a number of incidents in Thorplands recently. The powers started at 6pm on Thursday, November 23, and last for 48 hours.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said extra patrols had been taking place to "reassure the community and help deter people from committing any offences".

"Section 34 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 grants a power to uniformed police officers and designated Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) to deal with individuals engaging in anti-social behaviour, crime and disorder," he explained.

"This applies not only when anti-social behaviour, crime and disorder have happened or are taking place, but when they are likely to occur, in any location. The period of exclusion from an area can be up to 48 hours and anyone dispersed and found to have returned within this period can be arrested," he said.

Under Section 34, officers have an additional power to confiscate items associated with the behaviour which has led them to order someone to disperse.

Northamptonshire Police has been tweeting during the day with advice and updates.

The book launch will be on Monday November and is open to members of the public.

The project, which is being delivered by Northampton Borough Council and the University of Northampton, aims to inspire local women to enter their stories of resilience into a competition to be included in a published book. It also aims to encourage women, where needed, to seek the support of services available in the town.

During the launch, which begins at 4pm, attendees will have the opportunity to listen to a few stories from the 2016 stories of resilience. They will learn about what types of stories can be submitted into the competition, including personal stories of being a refugee, surviving domestic violence or overcoming an illness or social barriers. Attendees will can also find out how they can enter their own story.

Local support organisations will also be on hand with information about their services and pupils of Rushden Academy will be giving a special performance of their online exploitation play ‘Add me’.

Councillor Anna King, cabinet member for community safety and engagement, said: “Stories of Resilience is a really exciting project, which will see local women celebrated in a book being published in time for International Women’s Day.

“As part of our activities for marking the 16 Day of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, we hope that the event will help to inspire women, highlight topical issues and sign-post vital services.

“I hope that people will join us at The Deco Theatre to show their support of the campaign and to find out more about how they can get involved in the Stories of Resilience project.”

Victoria Boulton, lecturer in social and community development at the University of Northampton, said: “The Stories of Resilience project is a fantastic opportunity to empower more women to have their voices heard and stories told. We are really pleased to see how the project has grown this year and look forward to receiving submissions to the competition.”

Free tickets to attend the launch on Monday, November 27 can be booked at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/add-me-performance-stories-of-resillience-tickets-39650106536

Visit www.northampton.gov.uk/16days to find out more about other events taking place in the town to mark 16 Days of Activism.

Northampton Borough Council is reminding shoppers that there are a range of parking options across the town centre this Christmas.

Throughout the festive period, car parks in Northampton Town Centre experience a significant increase in usage, such that some are often full throughout December.

The most popular car parks are the council’s multi-storeys at St John’s and the Grosvenor Centre, largely due to the free parking offer at each.

But drivers are reminded that the council has two additional multi-storey car parks - Mayorhold on Lady’s Lane or St Michaels, accessed via St Michael’s Road, which offer similar levels of free parking.

And a selection of surface car parks dotted around the town offer competitive hourly rates.

Cllr Tim Hadland, Council Cabinet member for regeneration, enterprise and planning, said: “It’s clearly great news that so many people want to visit Northampton in the lead-up to Christmas.

“In order to avoid frustration or disappointment, I would urge drivers to consider some of our lesser-used car parks which can be found in a variety of spots close to the town centre.

“You never know, as a result of varying your route you might even discover some of the hidden gems Northampton has to offer.”

If approaching from the Daventry side of town, drivers are urged to consider Mayorhold, Newlands, Commercial Street, Doddridge Street and the Marefair car park in Gregory Street.

Those approaching from the direction of Kettering, Corby and Wellingborough might use Midsummer Meadow, Upper Mounts, The Ridings, Wellington Street or Albion Place.

Visit www.northampton.gov.uk/info/200072/parking/1181/find_a_car_park for more information on Northampton Borough Council's car parks.

According to statistics, Northampton locals favour Italian food above all others, followed by American and Japanese.

As well as the most popular dishes, the prime time to order has also been revealed as Saturday at 7.28pm.

So, if you need inspiration for what to order tonight then look no further.

1. Vanilla Ice Cream from Kaspa’s

Kaspa’s is a popular dessert bar which opened in Northampton offering hot and cold desserts all under one roof. Whether you’re looking for ice cream or a warm waffle, there is something here for everyone. Located on The Drapery and with the option to get it delivered straight to your home, your favourite dessert is never too far away.

2. Rack of Ribs from Buddies

Buddies is a Northamptonshire based American-style diner offering a variety of food. This restaurant was born in Northampton in 1981 and has since opened 8 other diners all over Northamptonshire, making it a local business which highlights its focus on being ‘family friendly’.

3. Cheese Burger from Department of Meat & Social Affairs

This restaurant offers a range of food, including classic burgers and a selection of ‘craft beers’. As well as being local, its meat is all British produce. Located on Bridge Street, you can pop in for a drink and some food or get it delivered right to the comfort of your own home.

4. Moondog Pie from Lighthouse

This local pub makes the list with one of their most popular pies: Moondog. This pie contains beefsteak, chorizo, butter bean and olive. If you wanted to support some more independent businesses, then this pub food can also be delivered right to your doorstep within a few clicks.

5. Salmon Hosomaki from Ginza

If you’re looking for some Japanese food, this restaurant may be the perfect option for you. It is a ‘multi-functional recreational place presenting you relaxation and enjoyment’. If you needed some inspiration on what to order, then try the Salmon Hosomaki which is one of the most popular dishes in Northampton according to Deliveroo.

So, if you are looking to try something new or maybe it’s an old favourite for you, head over to Deliveroo who is turning one in Northampton this month and try something from this list of the top 5 most popular dishes—you won’t be disappointed.

The Caring Kindergartens team at Moulton Park was rated 'good' in all areas following a one day inspection in October.

The report gives a special mention to the new manager and leadership team, who 'work very well together in their commitment to continually improve the provision'.

Nursery manager Sue Strus, who has managed the nursery since January, said: “The recent Ofsted inspection was a wonderful opportunity to share this area, with the report, mentioning that ‘children enjoy exploring the particularly stimulating outdoor environment. Staff effectively use children's play outside to help them make links in their learning’.”

“The response from everyone has been phenomenal and we are really happy with our new garden and the good Ofsted report. Thank you everyone for the continued support at our very happy nursery."

In addition to this, Caring Kindergartens has a second reason to celebrate this month following a revamped garden, which has been officially opened by Coventry Rugby player Brett Daynes, whose daughter attends the nursery.

Sue, who is in charge of 65 children aged between three months and four years old, added: “After lots of fun and games in the garden over the summer, the area and certainly the grass was needing some TLC. With the ideas of the team, the children and their parents we have now updated this area."

The garden has now been fitted with AstroTurf, so the children can use the outdoors all year round.

As well as this, there is a new outdoor classroom to extend the activities the children usually choose to do indoors, along with new physical equipment, including a climbing wall, balancing beams and a rope bridge.

She adds: "The children have been really engaged in the activities and are looking forward to the next phase when we introduce a new mud kitchen, a role-play construction site and planting borders.

"The nursery has also benefited from a new video entry system.”

"The Press" will open next Tuesday (November 28) on the site of the former Bantam Cock pub in Abington Square.

The Press' Facebook page promises "a range of gourmet burgers, premium lagers and fine wines" and is taking bookings now.

They also offer a kids-eat-free deal between Monday and Friday from 12 to 5 and a breakfast menu from 10am, with two hours of free parking in the nearby St Michaels car park.

There is also a discount for NHS staff and students.

It comes after the Bantam Cock called last orders for the final time on October 29. The pub was found to have the highest density of violent crime on premises for any bar in Northampton in a report in May.

In October, the Bantam Cock's owners said in a Facebook post: "The Bantam will be closing permanently on October 30 and will not re-open again.

"We want to thank all our loyal customers who have supported us over the last eight years and wish you all well for the future."

More than 25 crimes involving the town centre pub, including 16 assaults and four incidents of grievous bodily harm, were reported to the police between November 2016 and May 2017, including a stabbing in April.

People donating items to Daventry’s Air Ambulance Service shop are being asked not to leave them at the back of the shop without first speaking to staff.

The request follows several instances of damaged or stained furniture and other items with no resale value being dumped at the back of the High Street store overnight.

Far from helping the charity, donations such as this actually cost the Air Ambulance Service much-needed funds in the form of disposal costs.

Daventry District Council is working with the charity to stop the issue and has put in place security measures to help prevent and detect the dumping of unwanted furniture and other materials at the rear of their premises.

Anyone wishing to donate is instead asked to visit the shop first so that staff can assess the items.

In the case of furniture or other large items, the charity is happy to visit homes to make an assessment and collect them if suitable.

The council is warning people that any items left outside the store without the knowledge of shop staff will be treated as fly-tipping, which can result in a fixed penalty fine of £400 or worse, depending on the scale of the problem.

The Air Ambulance Service has two shops in Daventry – in High Street and Foundry Walk – which help the charity raise vital funds to operate the national Children’s Air Ambulance, as well as the local air ambulance services for Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Retail area manager for Air Ambulance Service Home Stores June Green said: “We are very grateful to the many generous people who donate wonderful items to our Daventry shops, helping us to fund our lifesaving service.

“Unfortunately we sometimes get items left outside the High Street shop overnight that are badly stained or damaged and that we cannot sell. While some of these items may have been left with the best intentions, it costs us valuable time and money to properly dispose of them.

“We do not want to discourage donations, but we would ask people to please consider the suitability of the items they are thinking of donating and make sure they speak to someone in the store first, so that we can process it properly.”

Cllr Richard Auger, environmental health and housing portfolio holder on Daventry District Council, said: “The Air Ambulance Service is a wonderful charity which saves lives across our region every day.

“While we do not wish to deter people from making charitable donations to our local charities, leaving items at the back of their store is not the way to do it.

“This practice is taking much needed cash away from saving lives and spending it on disposing of unwanted and worthless donations.

“This practice has become such a problem that the Council have decided to warn people that any materials left at the rear of the shop without staff being given an opportunity to make an assessment, will be treated as fly-tipping.

“Any evidence gathered from these items will be provided to our enforcement officer so the appropriate action can be taken.”

People who need to dispose of large items are also reminded of the council’s bulky waste collection service, which costs £16.38 for up to three items, or £32.76 for six.

People can find out more at www.daventrydc.gov.uk/recycling.