A £5 million project to develop new housing on the former Lakeview House care home site in Northampton is underway.

The scheme in Boothville is being managed by Northampton Partnership Homes on behalf of Northampton Borough Council.

The site was once the derelict county council-owned Lakeview Care Home.

But, when it is completed it will be a 45 two-bedroomed apartments for residents over the age of 55.

The main structure of the apartments has been created offsite from specially engineered timber and was recently installed on site.

During the planning stages of the project, Northampton Partnership Homes staff consulted with over 700 homes in the area and met up with residents to talk about the plans and take on board their views.

Helen Town, asset management at Northampton Partnership Homes said “We’re really pleased with the feedback we’ve received from residents and the possibilities this new project will bring.”

The development is set to be complete by Christmas 2018.

The outdoor cinema will be returning to Brixworth Country Park on Friday, May 25, with a screening of Pixar's Toy Story, in aid of the Northampton Hope Centre, after it was cancelled last weekend due to the poor weather.

Families and friends can enjoy the Disney Classic as part of the evening with popcorn, pizza and a travelling tea room with milkshakes and hot drinks.

There will also be bouncy castles, face painting and sumo suits, along with raffles and a silent auction with a grand prize of a family holiday to Cape Verde.

A spokeswoman for the Hope Centre said: "We sincerely apologise for postponing the event due to adverse weather conditions, however, this decision was the most suitable option for the type of event and the safety of our attendees."

The evening starts at 6.30pm on May 25 with the film starting at 8.45pm.

Tickets are priced at £12.95 per adult, £6.50 for children and free for under 3's. A £35.00 family ticket is also available.

For more information, email cinema_thestars18@hotmail.com or ring 07972855290.

You can pre-order tickets here

Timothy Smith, 70, from Moulton, was riding home from a pub when he lost control of his motorbike and was flung into a ditch on Boughton Fair Lane in October 2017.

Although he survived the crash and was rushed to hospital, he died of health complications a week later.

At his inquest yesterday (May 16), the coroner heard how Mr Smith's motorcycle collided with the kerb, veered across the carriageway and crashed into a verge.

In a statement read out by the coroner, Timothy's eldest daughter Eva said: "My father was happy in Northampton and had lived there all his life. He had many interests, but the one passion that stood out was motorbikes.

"He was a big part of all our lives and we have all felt the emotional upset of his passing."

The coroner recorded that Mr Smith died of an accidental death.

The store closures will leave the baby retailer with 78 shops throughout the country by 2020.

A spokesman for Mothercare today neither confirmed or denied whether the St James Retail Park shop was among those to shut as part of cost-cutting measures.

He said: "We can’t comment on individual store closures until all staff have been informed, which is our absolute priority.

"Of course, we regret having to close stores and the impact this will have on colleagues.

"However, we had no alternative to executing a CVA (a Company Voluntary Agreement to pay off the company's creditors).

"The business was in an unsustainable situation and was in clear need of an appropriate resolution and today’s comprehensive measures provide a renewed and stable financial structure for the business and will allow Mothercare to accelerate its adaptation to the shifting dynamic towards online."

A Northampton shop has expanded its offer to customers on the King’s Heath estate with the opening of a Post Office counter.

The new Post Office, located at Londis in Park Square, is part of the modernisation and investment programme taking place across the Post Office network.

As one of his last duties, Mayor of Northampton Cllr Gareth Eales cut the ribbon to open the new branch alongside new Postmaster Ash Odedra.

Mayor of Northampton, Cllr Gareth Eales, said: “I was delighted to be asked to officially open the new Park Square Post Office and I congratulate the Post Office for working to deliver this.

“I know that Post Offices are often a focal point for the community.

“It’s great that local people will be able to benefit from this brand new post office.”

Brothers Ash and Nim Odedra have owned Londis Kings Heath since 2004.

Postmaster Ash Odedra, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Post Office into the store.

“It’s a great addition to our business and I am looking forward to welcoming new people into the branch.

“I am proud to say that our store plays a vital part in serving our local area.”

The new Post Office services will be available seven days a week throughout the store’s usual opening hours, offering customers 109 hours of Post Office service.

Post Office Network Operations Area Manager, Anthony Bayley said: “I’d like to wish Nim every success in his new venture.

“We understand how important having a Post Office is to Northamptonshire residents and we are confident that this new modern service will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.”

Petty theft, break-ins and customers pocketing cups and cutlery has pushed a Harry Potter-inspired coffee shop in Northampton town centre to close down.

The Magic Bean Emporium, in St Giles Street, will shut its doors for the last time this summer.

Owner Michella Dos Santos says she is "heartbroken" over the decision after a year of seeing expensive stock go missing and a series of devastating break-ins have together cost the business some £4,000.

She told the Chronicle & Echo: "It's been a huge factor in the decision. Because we've got quirky stock our cups, milk jugs and cake forks just go missing. I've got tired of replacing things.

"We had 24 of these glass mugs for serving tea. Now we've just got five.

"When customers steal cups from Costa or Starbucks it costs them pennies. To us, it's £12 a pop."

The cafe, which opened in 2014, is known for its fairytale-themed decorating and is ranked the number one coffee shop in Northampton town centre on Trip Advisor.

But Michella says a "particularly tough year" has only been made worse by the opening of Rushden Lakes, which she says has led to a drop in footfall and "one of the quietest Christmas' for Northampton in years".

She said: "It's been a very hard decision. We've had around 1,000 messages since the announcement. You expect people to say 'I'm going to miss that shop for its toasties or the milkshakes. It's surprised me how many people use it as a pick-me-up or a comfortable place for their mental wellbeing.

"I've met some wonderful regulars and thank you to everyone who supports their independent businesses. Let’s remind each other that there is still magic in this town."

However, Michella says she would consider offers to buy the Magic Bean brand.

Metro Bank has this week confirmed to the Chronicle & Echo that it will be opening a new branch in Abington Street, next to the Grosvenor Centre entrance, creating 25 new jobs.

In order to accommodate Metro Bank, shopping centre owners Legal & General agreed to demolish the canopies covering the Abington Street entrance when it was granted planning permission.

But the bank - that controversially uses text messages to verify its online customers contrary to critics - has left a bad taste in customers' mouths.

In total, 73 per cent of 227 reviewers on Trust Pilot have rated the bank as 'bad' with customers telling of how money was wrongly withdrawn from their account by fraudsters.

Pramod Rai said: "On numerous occasions, monies from my account were withdrawn by the fraudsters. I have experienced this issue only with Metrobank and not with any of the other banks.

"The amounts, which were withdrawn, were in the ranges of £900, £200, £500 on multiple occasions. I will avoid such bank where my hard earned monies are not safe and secure."

In February this year the Guardian reported how a UK businessman had fallen victim to sim-swap fraud. Paul Graham lost £20,000 after fraudsters drained his Metro bank balance by hacking into his phone account and setting up a series of new online payments.

Other reviewers, including reviewer Maximilien Letek said: "The worst business bank ever. Don't hold your breath for simple business services such as an overdraft. Fees are extortionate and generally, I would not recommend this bank for start-ups or small businesses."

Alex N said: "After reading all the reviews on here, I decided to close my account and transfer to a main high street bank.

"I liked the idea of supporting a smaller bank, but what with people having their accounts frozen, for seemingly no reason, and the fact my nearest branch is 300 miles away, I thought better of it."

However, 18 per cent of reviewers voted the service as good, one per cent voted the service as great, two per cent said the bank was average and seven per cent rated the service poor.

Cosmin Stefan gave the bank five stars. He said: "I don't have any idea why they have such a low rating on Trust Pilot, this is the best bank I [have] ever used!"

A Metro Bank spokesperson said: “At Metro Bank we believe in providing our customers with the very best banking experience however, whenever and wherever they choose to bank.

"One of the channels we’re proud to invest in is our stores.

"Open early-to-late, seven days a week, 362 days a year, our stores enable us to provide business and personal customers with traditional face-to-face relationship banking, supported by state-of-the-art technology.

“For us, stores aren’t just a place to do your banking in, they also provide tangible benefits to local people.

"So, whether it’s being able to print a new or replacement debit or credit card on-the-spot, offering safe deposit boxes to store your valuables in, being able to count your change for free, or even hosting networking, charity and financial education sessions; our stores play a vital role in helping make customers’ lives easier."

The Northamptonshire County Council headquarters were among seven other buildings to win an East Midlands award the ceremony at The Engineering Building, University of Leicester, last night.

It will also be considered for a RIBA National Award on June 21.

"Angel Square responds to an ambitious brief to combine workforces from 12 separate properties in a single excellent headquarters building," said the judges.

"The project, however, goes beyond a spatial planning exercise and capitalizes on bringing together the 2000 strong workforce by creating a building that actively promotes collaborative working.

"This philosophy is clearly evident throughout all aspects of the design."

"One Angel Square demonstrates a highly competent and elegant approach that showcases innovation in the workplace environment."

Last week marked the passing of world-famous Northampton architect Will Alsop.

In 2013, Mr Alsop hit out at the plans for Northamptonshire County Council's new headquarters.

Speaking to the Chron at the time, he said: "They’re dull proposals, there’s no doubt about that.

"I teach architecture as well as practise it and if any of my students produced any of these designs I would have a serious word with them.”

A woman in her 80s was the victim of fraud after shopping in a Wellingborough supermarket.

The victim had been shopping in Sainsburys, Northampton Road, when it’s believed offenders took a note of the victim’s PIN.

It is then believed the offenders followed the woman home before distracting her with a map and taking her credit card.

The offenders went on to spend a large amount of money in Wellingborough and Rugby.

The theft took place on March 15, with police releasing images of two woman they want to speak to today (May 18).

Officers would like to speak to anyone who may recognise the man and woman pictured as it’s believed they may be able to assist their enquiries.

Anyone who can help police should call them on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

South Northamptonshire MP Andrea Leadsom was allegedly called "a stupid woman" by the speaker of the House of Commons.

John Bercow, who faced allegations of bullying earlier this month, reportedly made the comment under his breath during a heated discussion after Prime Minister's Questions about the timetabling of Government business.

Labour complained to the speaker that a statement on the East Coast Main Line rail franchise was deliberately scheduled to limit time for its own "opposition day" debates on the Grenfell Tower fire and the release of Brexit documents.

Buckingham MP Mr Bercow criticised the frontbench and said nothing would stop him from upholding the rights of backbenchers to hold the Government to account.

It is at this point the speaker is alleged to have called the South Northamptonshire MP a “stupid woman”, who in her role as Leader of the House of Commons, is responsible for the debating schedule.

Mrs Leadsom said: "I'm determined to change the culture of Parliament and in setting up an independent complaints procedure I hope that we will, in future, have a workplace in Parliament that treats everybody with the dignity and respect they deserve."

A spokeswoman for Mr Bercow's said: "Wednesday was an unusual and controversial day in how business was handled in the house by the Government and some strong and differing views were expressed on all sides on the subject.

"The speaker treats his colleagues with respect and strives at every turn to facilitate the House of Commons."

Three people taken to hospital after a crash on the A45 yesterday are not thought to have serious injuries.

The collision, between a lorry and an Audi, happened near to the Great Doddington turn off of the westbound carriageway just before 6am.

Pictures from the scene showed the lorry had come to a stop high up on the roadside embankment.

The A45 Westbound was blocked until around 9am as emergency services worked at the scene, causing long delays for people heading into Northampton at rush hour.

Police have now confirmed three people travelling in the Audi were taken to hospital with injuries, though a spokeswoman said neither person is thought to have been seriously hurt.

A fire broke out at around 1.30pm today (Friday) at the Europe Supermarket in Abington Street.

Flames could be seen coming out of the back of the supermarket and smoke was pouring out of the building, next to Burger King.

Witnesses said there is a strong burning smell coming from the building.

Three fire engines were called to the blaze, with one stationed in York Road supplying water to the others.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue said: "We were called at 1.30pm to a fire to the rear of the Europe Supermarket.

"Three pumps attended. The fire is now out. They are still at the scene ventilating the building and will then establish a cause."

It is belived that the fire started in a food storage area of the supermarket.

Police officers are also on the scene trying to keep people away from the building.

A robber threatened a Northampton shop worker with a knife while demanding cash.

Northamptonshire Police have released an e-fit of a man they want to speak to in connection with the robbery, which took place on Saturday, April 28 in Kettering Road, near Derby Road, between 8.50am and 9.10 am.

After demanding the cash, the man made off towards Perry Road, where he discarded items of clothing, having been followed by a member of the public.

A police spokesperson said: "The offender was a white man, aged 30 to 40, between 5ft 11in and 6ft 2in, of a thick set build with a round face and short stubble.

"He was wearing a light beige parka coat with a fur-lined hood, blue jeans and white trainers."

Officers would like to speak to anyone who may recognise the person in the e-fit or who may have any information about this incident.

Witnesses or anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A hand-painted rocks craze is getting families together and out and about in the fresh air again.

Groups up and down the country are creating and hiding painted rocks for others to find and post on social media – including here in Towcester.

Katie Dixon-Hancock from Love on the Rocks Towcester said: “We have a group here in Towcester with more than 1,400 members.

“I also run a rock painting session in Towcester Library on a Wednesday afternoon where young and old join us.

“I have painted and hidden more than 600 rocks.

“The reason I do it is because I suffer really bad anxiety, depression and PTSD and often struggle to leave the house, but this has given me a purpose.

“It’s brought young and old together and really given everyone a reason to get out more and look for something that just brings a small smile to someone’s face. There are lots of reasons people are getting involved but it really is lovely to be a massive part of it.

“The sessions I run in the library are on a Wednesday from 2pm to 4pm and they’ve proven popular with both young and old alike.

“I have done awareness rocks for charities as well as rocks for local businesses including for our local food bank and RSPCA.

“I have also gifted many rocks that people have requested and have some travelling rocks – currently I have ones I’ve made in Cape Verde, Cyprus and Spain!”

“Our Facebook group, which was started by Joan Stear, is Love on the Rocks Towcester .”

An Ofsted inspection of children’s services in Northamptonshire has found good progress is being made to improve services for vulnerable children and young people.

The inspection of Northamptonshire County Council’s children’s services in April looked at the arrangements for children in need and those subject to child protection plans, and evaluated the effectiveness of managers and team leaders.

The inspection team spent time with more than 60 social work staff, looking at children’s cases and the quality of social work practice.

The Ofsted report, published today (Friday), says while it recognises there are still challenges in continuing to improve the quality of social work practice, there is a ‘clear service improvement plan underway, and encouraging progress has been made’.

The report states: “Senior leaders are working hard to change the culture of social work in Northamptonshire and to create a positive environment for staff to continue to improve their practice.

“Political support for children’s services continues to be strong, and the whole-system transformation plan that is under way is clearly focused on addressing capacity issues and supporting the retention of social workers.”

The inspection team did highlight a number of areas that still require improvement, including the variable quality of assessments and care plans, high caseloads and the frequency of supervision for social workers.

County council cabinet member for children’s services Cllr Victoria Perry said: “We are really pleased with the progress that has been made since the last Ofsted inspection in 2016.

“I am particularly pleased that the inspection team highlighted the relationship our social workers build with their children and families, because this is vital in order for them to build trust and provide the support these families need.

“There is clearly still much to do but this inspection visit assures us that we are on the right track and that improvements have been made.”

To read the full report, visit www.ofsted.gov.uk.

More scrutiny clout is being called for at Northamptonshire County Council after the ruling Conservative administration voted that three quarters of scrutiny chair positions will be held by its own party.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Dennis Meredith says he is taking the matter to the newly appointed commissioners after the county authority voted to give three of the four scrutiny chair roles to Conservative county councillors.

The move comes after the authority was heavily criticised in a best value report in March by Max Caller who found that councillors who asked difficult questions were sometimes removed from scrutiny panels.

Cllr Meredith, who represents the Talavera ward in Northampton, told council leader Matt Golby during Wednesday’s meeting: “Scrutiny is very important and if this administration is going to be open then this has to change. I hope that you renege your decision and you will come to ask for our help as we will give it.”

Labour councillor John McGhee echoed Cllr Meredith’s complaint. He told Cllr Golby: “You could have taken the Caller report on board, but you failed. If this is a new start, then you have failed. Take the bull by the horns and change the way scrutiny is done.”

The council has four scrutiny committees which challenge and audit decisions made by other councillors sitting on other committees.

In the best value report, which is being used by many as a reference point for the failings of NCC, Mr Caller said: “The inspection team was struck by the number of councillors who told us that they had been refused information when they sought to ask questions.

“Members told us that they had been informed that ‘you can only ask that at scrutiny meetings and not outside a meeting’ that ‘I need to get permission from the cabinet member to discuss this with you’ or just not getting a response.

“Councillors told us that they felt if they asked difficult questions at audit committee or scrutiny meetings they would be replaced and there was some evidence to support this.”

At the full council meeting the Conservative administration was also criticised by Alison Richards who is heading up the campaign for the 21 threatened libraries. Mrs Richards said it had been a “completely negative year” and that this year could be even worse.

NCC wants to stop running the learning facilities and may start to sell off some of the buildings.

Christopher Johnson, 26, of no fixed abode, dodged police stinger traps and mounted pavements as he tried to escape squad cars in March.

But the pursuit, which saw Johnson drive the wrong way around roundabouts and speed through red lights, started because officers spotted he was driving an uninsured car.

At Johnson's sentencing at Northampton Crown Court yesterday (18 May), judge Michael Fowler said: "This is as serious a case of dangerous driving as you can get."

In March this year, Johnson - who was driving a red Ford Festiva - sped off when an unmarked police car tried to pull him over in Churchill Avenue, Boothville.

What followed was a 35-minute high-speed chase involving multiple squad cars as Johnson drove back and forth across Northampton and through town centre's crowded business streets.

In the pursuit, Johnson sped at 110mph on a 30mph street, drove in the centre of roads to force other drivers out of this way and clipped three cars.

Police were able to stop Johnson's rampage by bursting his tyres with a stinger trap, before using three squad cars to box him in.

He was disqualified from driving at the time - and also had a front-seat passenger for the entire chase.

Judge Fowler said: "This was an exceptionally dangerous offence, not just to the person in your car but to the members of the public on those crowded roads that afternoon."

He was handed a 12-month sentence and disqualified from driving for another 18 months. Johnson's defence barrister told the court his client was engaging support services for his mental health.

A man accused of breaking into a Northampton widow's home in 1986 and raping her faced a jury for the first time yesterday.

Donovan Vernon is standing trial for the historic sex offence after police reopened the so-called cold case in 2016.

On the night of October 11, 1986, he is alleged to have broken into a ground floor window of a 68-year-old woman's home in Eastfield wearing a ski-mask. Once inside, the prosecution say he raped her.

Police say DNA evidence on the victim's night-dress links the defendant to the crime.

However, Vernon denies the charges, claiming he and the 68-year-old were having a consensual sexual relationship in 1986, when he was just 18.

The victim, whose husband died two years before the alleged incident, has since died.

Yesterday, a jury at Northampton Crown Court heard from two surviving family members.

Taking the stand, the victim's son was asked by prosecutor Guy Ladenburg, whether he ever recalled his mother having a relationship with an 18-year-old black male following her husband's death.

"No," he replied.

He was then asked whether having a relationship with a man 40 years her junior would have been "consistent with (his) mother's character and habits."

"Absolutely not," he replied.

However, in cross-examination, Sean Minihan, defending, said his mother had initially told police her attacker was a white man.

It was only sometime after the incident that she described her attacker as black.

Speaking via video link, the victim's niece recounted a conversation she had about the alleged rape to the court.

"She said he was wearing a ski mask," the niece said.

"The material totally covered his face except for the eyes, the nostrils and his mouth.

"She saw from the opening that he may have been a coloured person."

The court is expected to hear forensic evidence when the trial resumes on Monday.

A group of friends from Northampton are gearing up to raise £6,000 for Cancer Research UK by travelling 1,800 miles across Europe in four days.

Luke Emery, Tom Clarke, Russell Dack and Martin Pepin are taking on the mammoth route across France, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Switzerland next month in six cars costing only £500 each.

The friends, who have known each other for 15 years, are also teaming up with eight other car enthusiasts from Exeter and Folkestone and have scheduled in a lap of the famous Nürburgring circuit while on their travels.

Luke Emery, who is the brainchild behind the trip, was inspired to raise money for charity after his sister died when she was just four years old following a fight with leukaemia.

His brother has also battled the disease twice, while he was at school, and now he has skin cancer.

He said: All of the cars have done a lot of miles. It's a massive ask mechanically of a car to do it. I really don't know whether we will make it.

"It's lots of hills, lots of downhills, lots of breaks being tested. It's the hardest you can go on a car really."

All six cars, which will be kept a big secret until the teams depart from the UK on June 8, will be driven in teams of two.

The 12 drivers have bought the cars with their own funds and are only allowed to spend £500, per car, on modifications, if they are necessary.

After watching the old Top Gear team take on this route many years ago Luke has always aspired to follow in their footsteps.

"People have done it before in supercars, and they have done it in four days solid, but four days is such a big ask of a car with such small value," he said.

"If it was easy no one would sponsor us. Hopefully, people realise how hard it's going to be and then they will dig deep.

"It's something I have always wanted to do. I have been lucky enough to have some great friends around me and supporting me wanting to do it."

To donate to the group, click: https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/team/once-in-a-lifetime

Pupils at St Gregory's Catholic Primary School in Eastfield today hosted a Royal Wedding picnic in the sun to celebrate the happy couples upcoming nuptials, and Year 6 students finishing their SATs exams yesterday (Thursday).

Following a morning of themed activities in their classrooms, children created bunting and confetti before the little ones spent their afternoon indulging in a tea party on the playing field.

Children and the staff were both invited to dress up as a wedding guest or as a member of the royal family before the school watched on as a mini Meghan and Harry 'tied the knot' with their bridesmaids and ushers in tow.

The day was rounded off with the children reading out their special prayers to 'wedding guests', written especially for Meghan and Harry, which will be posted for the newlyweds to read.