A man tried to grab a woman as she was walking through a Northampton wood, police have revealed.

But when the victim screamed, the offender ran off.

The incident took place in Lings Wood, near Arlbury Road, off Blackthorn Road, between 1pm and 2pm on July 11 (police released the information today, July 31).

The suspect is described as 22 to 23 years old, black, clean shaven, with a slim build and was wearing a black beanie hat, camouflage hooded top with black writing on the front and black jeans.

Anyone who has information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Boss Justin Edinburgh has confirmed Cobblers youngsters Joe Iaciofano and James Goff are set to go out on loan in the next few weeks.

But the Town boss revealed fellow teenager Shaun McWilliams is going to be kept at Sixfields and will fight it out for a first team start.

Striker Iaciofano and goalkeeper Goff were both awarded professional contracts at the end of last season, and have been fully involved in Town’s pre-season programme.

But with such a strong squad having been assembled at Sixfields over the summer, first-team opportunities are likely to be limited and the pair will be loaned out to get game time.

That won’t be a new experience to either of them, as Goff was loaned to UCL side Sileby Rangers last season and Iaciofano spent a spell with Corby Town.

McWilliams on the other hand, who was loaned out to King’s Lynn last term before recalled and handed his senior debut by Edinburgh and then fighting his way into the starting line-up, is going nowhere.

“I think Shaun McWilliams will be pushing, and will be a part of it,” said Edinburgh when asked if McWilliams, Goff or Iaciofano will be going out on loan.

“The other two young boys will stay around for the first couple of weeks of the season, but then we will probably look to put those two out on loan.

“We have to be mindful of their progression, and the only way for me that they will learn is by training with the first team here, but then going out and playing in a first team environment as well. That’s what we’ll look to do.”

McWilliams is currently sidelined with a slight ankle strain, and is one of a trio of players Edinburgh is hoping will return to full training this week, with the others being Brendan Moloney and John-Joe O’Toole.

Town have a free week before beginning their Sky Bet League One campaign with a trip to Shrewsbury Town on Saturday.

With 12 new signings having been made over the summer, competition for places is fierce, and Edinburgh admits he has not yet finalised his starting XI for the opener in Shropshire.

“We look forward to week ahead now and making sure we are ready for Shrewsbury on Saturday,” said the Cobblers boss.

“I have a fair idea (of the starting XI), but we have one or two players that have a few knocks that didn’t take part on Saturday.

“We will have to assess them as the week goes on, and we are pretty much there, but there are three or four I am not sure about.”

The Cobblers wrapped up their pre-season campaign with a 2-1 win over Edinburgh’s former club Newport County on Saturday.

Town fell behing on 68 minutes, but fought back to win thanks to a 70th-minute strikefrom new loan signing Chris Long and an 83rd minute goal from central defender Leon Barnett.

The following people were sentenced at Northampton Magistrates’ Court:

JUNE 6:

Janis Balkovs, aged 22, of Robert Street, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. Driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £220.

Aaron Beck, aged 31, of Upper Thrift Street, Northampton, driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £153. No insurance; fined £461, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £46 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Florin-Marius Campean, aged 34, of Henry Street, Northampton, driving at 53mph in a 30mph zone; fined £440, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £44 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Ionut Costache, aged 29, of Briton Road, Northampton, obstruction with car parked half on road and half on pavement; fined £100, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85.

Carly Dalchow, aged 32, of Billing Road, Northampton, driving at 51mph in a 30mph zone; fined £162, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Alexandru Dobre, aged 22, of Whitworth Road, NOrthampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Euro Scaffolding Services Ltd, Kings Heath Depot, Heathfield Way, Northampton, failed to give information relating to the identity of a driver; fined £800, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £80 and costs of £85.

Florin Gheorghe, aged 26, of Stoneyhurst, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. No test certificate; fined £220.

Jesse Glaser, aged 28, of Newington Road, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £55 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Steven Harkins, aged 33, of Portland Place, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. Driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £220.

Cameron Key, aged 20, of The Pastures, Northampton, no insurance; fined £300, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Tariq Khan, aged 41, of Ellis Way, Northampton, driving at 38mph in a 30mph zone; fined £226, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Vasyl Lypchuk, aged 37, of Stanley Road, Northampton, no test certificate; fined £115, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85.

Freddy Morriss, aged 21, of St George’s Avenue, Northampton, no test certificate; fined £150, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85.

Ioan Niculae, aged 22, of Beech Avenue, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. Driving not in accordance with a licence.

Roman Rog, aged 30, of Lion Court, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. Driving without proper control while using a mobile phone; fiend £220.

Alina Scurtu, aged 27, of Greenside, Northampton, child not wearing a seat belt in a car; fined £220, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85. No insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Thomasz Stalis, aged 28, of Sheriff Road, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. Driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £220.

Simanis Sundars, aged 32, of Balfour Close, Northampton, no insurance; fined £600, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. Driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £220.

Tabs 42 Ltd, of Stimpson Avenue, Northampton, failed to give information relating to the identity of a driver; fined £800, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £80 and costs of £85.

Jason Tebeck, aged 22, of Walledwell Court, Northampton, no insurance; fined £260, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Martin Wieczorek, aged 32, of Alcombe Road, Northamnpton, driving at 40mph in a 30mph zone; fined £220, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Huda Yeboah, aged 22, of Crestline Court,l Northampton, no insurance; fined £148, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. Driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £49.

Victoria Gould, aged 41, of Entwood Drive, Overstone Lodge, Northampton, failed to comply with a community protection notice; fined £500, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £50 and costs of £385.

JUNE 7

Terence Griffin, aged 30, of Wordsworth Road, Daventry, damaged two windows; community order made, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £85 and costs of £85. Damaged a car window and windscreen; community order made, ordered to pay compensation of £225. Damaged a front door; comunity order made, ordered to pay compensation of £200.

Ian Dunbar, aged 41, of Dallington Road, Northampton, assault; community order made to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £85 and costs of £85. Assault; community order made.

Glen Thompson, aged 32, of Scholars Court, Northampton, assault; fined £400, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £40, compensation of £100 and costs of £85.

James Collins, aged 24, of Everdon Road, Farthingstone, damaged a bedroom door, warderobe door, mirror and plate; conditional discharge for 12 months, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20, compensation of £100 and costs of £85.

JUNE 8

Daniel Crowley, aged 44, of Horsley Road, Kingsthorpe, Northampton, stole £7 belonging to St Lawrence Church in Towcester; jailed for 28 days, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £115, compensation of £7 and costs of £85. Damaged a safe; no separate penalty.

Roy Parker, aged 36, of Quartercroft, Northampton, stole blocks of cheese worth £26 belonging to Tesco; jailed for seven days, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £115, compensation of £26 and costs of £200. Failed to surrender to custody; jailed for seven days.

Ashleigh Babbage, aged 27, of Broadway, Northampton, drove at 59mph in a 50mph zone; fined £300, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Harley Swan, aged 21, of The Knoll, Brixworth, no insurance; fined £150, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Scott Mills, aged 31, of Church Green, Northampton, failed to give information relating to the identity of a driver; fined £660, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Adam Aston, aged 39, of St John’s Street, Northampton, stole men’s cosmetics and other items worth £122.97; fined £80, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £85, compensation of £122.97 and costs of £105. Failed to surrender to custody; no separate penalty.

Jessica Gayle-Hyndman, aged 20, of Perceval Close, Northampton, damaged glasses worth £150; fined £167, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30, compensation of £150 and costs of £85.

Kirsty Green, aged 29, of Booth Rise, Northamptonb, damaged property belonging to another; fined £150, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30, compensation of £50 and costs of £85.

Ronald Wills, aged 50, of Cardigan Close, Dallington, Northampton, urinated in a public place in breach of a court order; court order made, fined £50, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30.

Alexsandrs Smirnovs, aged 31, of no fixed abode, no insurance; fined £150, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20, licence endorsed with six points.

Mark Beasley, aged 30, of Lower Harding Street, Northampton, damaged an Asda delivery van; conditional discharge for 12 months, ordered to pay compensation of £387.15.

Martin Biggs, aged 36, of Ringway, Briar Hill, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 88mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; fined £500, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £50 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 24 months.

Joanna Charlton, aged 52, of Spencer Road, Northampton, had a bladed article in a public place without good authority; community order made, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £85 and costs of £85.

John Cooling, aged 76, of Franklin Crescent, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 108mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; community order made, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £85 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 26 months.

Carlton Edwards, aged 58, of Grange Road, Northampton, used threatening or abusive words or behaviour; fined £130, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85.

James Rooney, aged 21, of Lower Ecton Lane, Northampton, damaged glass entrance doors at Northampton General Hospital; ordered to pay compensation of £1,000.

Lieutenant Colonel Edgar Mobbs was killed while attempting to destroy a German machine gun that was holding up the advance of his men, the 7th Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment, on the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres.

The battle which commenced on July 31, 1917 would last for 103 days resulting in the loss of 300,000 Allied and 250,000 German lives.

Commemorations took place in and around the Belgian town of Ypres last Monday, with the main service held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery at Tyne Cot, as well as at the traditional Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate where the names of 54,896 Allied soldiers with no known grave are recorded.

Edgar Mobbs, born in Northampton in 1882, played rugby for Saints for ten years, seven as captain, scoring 177 tries.

He also captained the East Midlands and Barbarian teams as well as being capped seven times for England, the last as captain, the first Saint to lead his country.

During the summer he also played cricket for Buckinghamshire.

At the outbreak of war in 1914 he was at first turned down for a commission in the army as he was too old but enlisted as a private soldier and encouraged others to join alongside him to form their own 'Pals' unit.

Over 400 did so and the 264 considered fit went on to form D Company of the newly raised 7th Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment, which would become known as the 'Mobbs Corps'.

Edgar rose from private to commander of the battalion in just eighteen months.

At their first action at the Battle of Loos in 1915, the 7th Battalion suffered 40 per cent casualties - including its commanding officer - and Captain Mobbs, although wounded, found himself in charge of the battalion fighting a desperate defence against German counter attacks.

Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and permanent command in 1916, he would be wounded twice more -at the Battles of the Somme and Messines Ridge - twice Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Distinguished Service Order.

He had only been back with his battalion for a few weeks after being wounded when he lead them at the Battle of the Third Ypres where he was tragically killed. His body was lost in the Flanders mud in Shrewsbury Forest, south east of the town.

It is there, close to the position of the machine gun marked by Edgar on his trench map which is in the possession of the Mobbs family, that the new memorial to him has been erected.

The memorial consists of a cross standing 6ft 1in tall made of English Oak, to represent Edgar, with a plaque carrying the inscription:

Hereabouts lies
Lieut Colonel
Edgar Roberts Mobbs DSO
7th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
Killed in action 31 July 1917
England, Barbarians, East Midlands and
Northampton Rugby Captain
Indomitable Sportsman, Gallant Soldier

The memorial was put up by Philip Mobbs, who is a great great nephew of Edgar, funded by the Mobbs family and the Crooked Hooker, the association for ex-players of Northampton Saints.

It was unveiled by David Powell of the Crooked Hooker. The East Midlands Rugby Union organised a visit to Ypres for the unveiling and the party included several members of the Mobbs family.

Tom Stephenson was delighted to be back out on the Franklin’s Gardens pitch as he helped Saints to success in the Singha Premiership Rugby Sevens Bowl on Saturday night.

Saints saw off east midlands rivals Leicester Tigers 24-21 in a thrilling Bowl final, with Tom Collins scoring the match-winning try in the final minute.

The victory was a welcome one for Saints in the third tier sevens competition, after Saints had finished bottom of their group in Friday’s qualifying stage.

Wasps won the main event, seeing off Newcastle Falcons 31-12 in the final, while Gloucester claimed the Plate honours, beating Saracens 29-22 in their final.

But for Stepehnson, the main thing was to just be out playing on the Gardens pitch again after suffering a broken leg in a pre-season friendly against Rotherham Titans last August.

“It’s really good to be back,” Stepheson told northamptonsaints.com.

“It’s a little bit of a different circumstance with the sevens, I’d have much preferred to be playing 15s but it was good to get that blow out which I definitely needed.”

Along with Collins, Stephenson has been playing in Australia for Randwick, with the pair noth getting back to Northampton until early last week.

“We got back Monday morning so on Friday night playing at 10pm was a tough one, we were a bit jet lagged,” said Stephenson.

“It was good to get it over and done with though, good to get some air into the lungs, although I could definitely have with a new pair on Saturday morning.

“But it was good for me and TC to get back out there in the black, gold and green.”

Talking of his time in Australia, Stephenson added: “We had some really good experiences out there.

“The club we were at had a great bunch of lads and some great coaches.

“It was good just to be able to play a different style of rugby, in the sun with some dry ball so it was good all round.

“When I was signing my most recent contract, I’d been out of rugby for 19 months and going out to Australia I just needed to reset my mind really.

“I’d been in the gym for two years or so and not really doing a lot.

“So I needed to get out and see some of the world but also play some rugby. I’m really glad we went and that TC came along and added to the experience.

“It was good to test it out on a dry track but it’s all about getting fit and ready for the 15s games back here in Northampton now.

“We’ve got a week off next week which I think is needed but then we’re back in and into the preseason games.

“It’ll be good to get back to the 15s and see if we can bring what we learned out in Australia back here.”

Saints finished bottom of their qualifying group on Friday, missing out on a quarter-final place in the main event on points difference.

That was due to their heavy 33-0 defeat at the hands of group winners Exeter Chiefs, with Saints’ 12-7 win over Saracens not enough to see them through, after Sarries had beaten Chiefs 26-19 in the other group game.

In the Bowl semi-finals, Saints beat London Irish 26-12 while Leicester were 19-12 winners over Bath Rugby.

Saints’ try-scorers against Irish were Ollie Sleightholme, Collins, Alex Mitchell and Fraser Dingwall

In the final, Collins scored two tries, including his last-gasp winner.

Tigers’ Jack Stapley and Saints’ George Furbank exchanged scores in the first half before a mazy run through the heart of the Leicester defence by Collins made it 10-7 to the hosts at half-time.

Tom Ffitch converted his own score to put the Tigers back ahead before Charlie Dockery extended their lead to 21-10 with two minutes remaining at Franklin’s Gardens.

But Saints never-say-die spirit was on full show as Tom Emery got them back in the game before Collins’ second score of the game gave the hosts their dramatic last-minute win.

Medics are advising Brits to regularly check the colour of their urine to stay on top of hydration levels after a new report discovered that 7.2 million British adults are going without drinking water on a daily basis.

The 50 Shades of Yellow - Hydration Report, compiled by SodaStream to assess the nation’s hydration levels also found that one in seven of Brits don’t drink a glass of water on a typical day, even though over half (51 per cent) have an alcoholic drink each day, even though the NHS recommends we drink six to eight glasses of water a day.

Chairman Kelvin Thomas has admitted ‘it has been a bit frustrating’ the club has so far failed to bring in a goalkeeper to rival David Cornell in the Cobblers squad.

A busy summer of recruitment has seen 12 new signings come in through the Sixfields door, with boss Justin Edinburgh ensuring there is at least two players competing for every position in the team.

The one exception has been the goalkeeping situation, where current number one Cornell’s only rival is teenage rookie James Goff, who has yet to make a senior start.

Edinburgh has been chasing a shot-stopper throughout the summer, and said last week he has ‘three or four options’ for the position, but he has to date been unable to land his man.

Thomas admits it has been frustrating for all concerned, but that work is ongoing to bring the new goalkeeper in.

“We are still working on the goalkeeper, and it has been a bit frustrating that one,” said the chairman, who along with chief executive James Whiting and head of recruitment Andy Melville has done much of the work behind the scenes in securing the summer signings.

“We have got a couple of targets, but I think their clubs are waiting for other players to come in before they can go out.

“It has been a bit frustrating because we need someone to come in and compete with Dai, but I think he has shown himself well in the past two games.”

Edinburgh has already gone on record to say he is comfortable with Cornell starting the Sky Bet League One season between the sticks for Town, and Thomas echoed that statement.

“In the two friendlies (against Derby and Newport) he has done very well, and made a cracking save on Saturday that I think people were quite impressed with,” said the chairman.

“So we have to Dai credit, but he needs to be pushed and we need to make sure we bring an extra one one in, as all over the pitch we are in decent shape in terms of cover and options.”

Edinburgh has remained tight-lipped on who his targets are when it comes to goalkeepers, but the Cobblers have been linked to Newcastle United’s Freddie Woodman in the north east press.

The Newcastle Chronicle is reporting the England Under-20 goalkeeper is wanted by ‘Peterborough United, Northampton Town, Bury and Kilmarnock’, and today they have added Scottish Premiership outfit Hearts to that list.

Woodman, the current number three goalkeeper at St James’ Park, is the son of former Cobblers shot-stopper Andy, who played in goal in the Wembley play-off finals on 1997 and 1998, saving a penalty in the latter, a 1-0 defeat to Grimsby Town.

Saints' assistant coach Phil Dowson is in Belgium this week to help commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele, which claimed the lives of two former Saintsmen.

On the first day of the battle Edgar Mobbs – who played over 200 times for the Saints and was the first player from this club to captain England – was one of the 55,000 people to be killed but not recovered from the fields surrounding Ypres.

But there was another, less well-known player who also died in the 105-day battle, Tom Collins, whose story Dowson has also been learning about.

And he says that keeping their memory alive is an important part of making the Saints the club that it is today.

"I met the family of a former player called Tom Collins last week," said Dowson.

"He played here in the early 1900s and unfortunately he was killed in the First World War. I met his family, his descendants, this week and it's fascinating to understand that generation and what they went through and how it affected life and society."

Losing his life in October of 1917, in what is described as a 'painful shock' to the rugby community, Collins was trying to recover his wounded comrades with seven other soldiers when a shell hit the stretcher he was carrying, injuring the whole party and killing three, including Collins.

An estimated 500,000 soldiers were either killed or wounded during the Battle of Passchendaele, a scale of loss incomprehensible a century later, and something that Dowson says we must always remember.

"When Tom Collins died he had six children and how his wife, the mother of those children, coped from 1917 onwards says a lot, if we're talking about character, it says a lot about that,” he added.

"I think that the history of the club is fascinating, and it is really special that it has got that legacy.

"I'm sure it's something the players will be interested in and something we try to educate them on that as well in terms of the background of some of these guys who've represented the club in the past as those who are representing it moving forward.”

A war memorial to Mobbs was unveiled in Ypres at the spot where he died.

Of the many beautiful cemeteries looked after around the world by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the largest lies on the side of in Belgium.

The bodies of nearly 12,000 men lie in Tyne Cot Cemetery, most of them unidentified. Another 35,000 whose bodies were never found are commemorated on a memorial wall at the top of the plot. Look back down the slope: you can see the town of Ypres below, only about five miles away.

The men whose ghosts surround you now died fighting for this ground, battling up towards the village of Passchendaele which gives the battle its nickname.

Properly known as the Third Battle of Ypres, it is a byword for the futility and horror of war. Of the British, Commonwealth, French and German troops who fought here, nearly half a million were killed, wounded, captured or simply disappeared.

You could walk in a couple of hours what it took the British three and a half months to win. They had accomplished few of their original objectives.

True, they had shown their Belgian, French and Russian allies that they were prepared to play their part in the war. More immediately, they had made more secure both Ypres and their supply ports at Calais and Boulogne. But ambitions to cut enemy rail lines and force German U-boat submarines from their bases on the Belgian coast remained a dream.

The German army had been worn down, but only at a terrible cost in experienced British troops too.

The initial British assault on 31 July was too ambitious and results fell far short of expectations. Attempts throughout August to push on regardless were disjointed and achieved little more.

Drier weather in September, a new commander and new tactics allowed them to begin to grind through the German defences, but casualties remained heavy relative to ground gained and in October and November downpours of rain made the battlefield a morass of mud.

Progress slowed to a crawl. By the time the offensive was suspended on 10 November, the two sides had fought each other to a stalemate amid appalling conditions for the soldiers.

Shivering under cold rain in what little shelter they could find amid a wasteland of muddy shell craters poisoned with lethal gas, for them it was, as one German general put it, ‘no longer life at all. It was just unspeakable suffering.’

This was a battle which was allowed to go on too long. Passchendaele, like Stalingrad or Sangin in later wars, took on a symbolic significance far greater than its strategic value.

Too many brave soldiers on both sides died for that symbol. Lessons were learnt which contributed to allied victory in 1918. But the most important legacy of this terrible battle is, perhaps, the courage of those men.

Jonathan Boff is Senior Lecturer, Department of History, University of Birmingham

More than 100,000 spectators enjoyed the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival at Silverstone Circuit at the weekend, as they were treated to a 22 race programme packed with classic cars and sprinkled with celebrity stardust.

The inaugural Celebrity Challenge Trophy Race was won by the Screen Stars team led by Le Mans winner Mark Blundell, and featuring Dragon’s Den host Theo Paphitis, Wheeler Dealers presenter Ant Anstead, BBC Radio 2 sports presenter Vassos Alexander, Sky Sports F1 pundit Tony Jardine and former Top Gear anchor Tiff Needell. They raised £10,000 for the event’s official charity partner, Prostate Cancer UK.

Police are appealing for the public’s help to identify a man after the theft of fuel from a garage near Rothwell.

A man drove a silver Ford Focus, with no front number plate, on to the forecourt of the Esso Garage on the A14 near Rothwell.

He filled a large container with diesel before putting it back into his car and driving off.

The incident happened at about 6pm on July 11. Police have just released the CCTV images.

Police would like to speak to the man pictured as it’s believed he may be able to assist their inquiries.

Witnesses or anyone with information about this incident can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

A woman went missing in Northampton earlier today (Monday, July 31), police have said.

Catherine Clarke, 64, was last seen in the Cliftonville area of the town at about 10.15am and officers are asking her to contact them to let them know she is safe.

Catherine is white, with a small build, short, dark grey hair and brown eyes and wears glasses. She was wearing a dark-coloured hooded ‘LA Gear’ top, black jogging bottoms and black shoes, and was carrying a large neon-pink rucksack.

Catherine, or anyone who sees her, is asked to call Northamptonshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 244 of 31/7/17.

A third man has been charged in connection with an incident where a group of four people were splashed with an unknown substance in Northampton last weekend.

Ijuha Stirling-Campbell, 20, from Commercial Way, Wellingborough, appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court this morning, charged with four counts of administering a noxious substance.

He was remanded in custody and will appear at Northampton Crown Court on Wednesday, 23 August, alongside Jake Price, 22 and Taishon Whittaker, 26, both also from Wellingborough, who were charged in connection with the incident last week.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said: "Four people were splashed with a noxious substance, not believed to be acid, during the incident which took place at around 4.45am on Sunday, July 23, on the Drapery.

"Stirling-Campbell was arrested on Saturday, July 28," he added.

Anyone who was in the area at the time or has information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A survey by designer contraceptive group ONE Condoms polled 2,000 people aged 18 to 24 across the UK for their thoughts on sexuality and how they have experimented with partners.

The questions probed the respondent's attitudes towards sex tapes, bisexuality and how far they agreed with phrases such as "I'd try anything at least once", among other topics.

The results suggest 61 per cent of Northampton's young adults would describe themselves as "sexually adventurous", which ties them with Middlesborough and Sheffield for the number five spot in the country.

Louise Ball from ONE condoms said: “Being sexually experiential is a key part of young people’s sex lives wherever they live, working out what they like and don’t like and being open to trying new things. Sexuality is rapidly developing, changing and shifting in every town and city in the country.

“It’s being fuelled by a whole host of things including reality TV shows and dating apps with their ever-turning carousel of options which people can keep spinning until finding someone who’ll give them sexual satisfaction.

“Whatever you’re into and whoever you’re into it with, it has to be consensual and condoms are a must-have for keeping you protected from the risk of an unwanted pregnancy and picking up STIs.”

The "most sexually adventurous" city in the country is Hull, according to the study, while Sunderland is the least.

Close friends of a Northampton man who remains in critical condition following an attack in a pub organised a football match to raise money for his family to keep visiting him.

Daniel Butcher, 30, of St James was allegedly hit in a one-punch assault outside the Bantam Pub in Abington Square at around 3.10am, on Sunday, June 25 and still remains in critical condition more than a month on.

Three close friends of Daniel: Danny Mackintosh, Mark Handley and Darren Wright, hosted a charity football match in St Michaels Football Club, Bugbrooke on Sunday, July 30 to raise money for the victim’s family so they can fund trips to and from University Hospital Coventry.

Daniel’s son, Mikey Butcher, 11, coached one of the teams.

After the match, a disco and raffle was held at the Devonshire Club in St James - Daniel’s local.

So far 275 kind-hearted fundraisers have pledged £8,412 for Daniel’s family.

To continue donating, click: https://www.gofundme.com/6x8kt-family-support

The Cobblers are set to be without injured trio John-Joe O’Toole, Brendan Moloney and Shaun McWilliams for the opening Sky Bet League One fixture of the season at Shrewsbury Town on Saturday.

O’Toole (groin), Moloney (hamstring) and McWilliams (ankle) are all on the mend and nearing full fitness, but manager Justin Edinburgh feels this weekend will come too soon for all three of them.

Sam Foley and Sam Hoskins are both also missing due to their longer-term knee injuries, but everybody else is fit and available for selection for the trip to the New Meadow.

When asked about the injury situation, Town boss Edinburgh said: “John-Joe is getting better.

“It has been a bit of a frustration because he did ever so well, and then at Frome he felt a little bit of discomfort.

“We were mindful of the fact we were ahead of where we wanted to be,and he is getting there, but Saturday might come too soon.

“Indeed, Brendan, Shaun and John-Joe will probably all be doubtful for the weekend.

“They are improving and that is the good thing for me, the medical staff say there is improvement and while that’s the case then we are always optimistic, but Saturday might come too soon for all three of them.

“Shaun’s problem is with hs ankle, while Brendan’s is his hamstring, although he is out on the training pitch.

“We are disappointed for Brendan because he was doing ever so well, but that’s just the way it is.

“His is the only soft tissue injury we have had throughout pre-season so we are pretty positive about that, but disappointed for Brendan as well.”

Meanwhile, Edinburgh also confirmed that a handful of first team players will be involved in the Cobblers’ youth team’s fixture against Corby Town at Rockingham Triangle on Tuesday night (ko 7.45pm).

“There are one or two of the first team boys that have not got as many minutes as we would have liked, so there are a few of them going to Corby that will take part,” said Edinburgh. “But it is mostly going to be a youth team.”

Royal & Derngate has announced that Tom Hewer, in partnership with award-winning chef Lee Scott, is bringing a new dining experience to the theatre this Autumn.

Restaurant Hibiscus, which will be situated in a private dining room adjacent to the Royal auditorium, will be opening on Saturday, September 2.

Making use of the very best locally sourced food, Restaurant Hibiscus will cater for pre-show theatre audiences and also for the general public.

Chef Lee Scott has worked in many top restaurants including the Michelin-starred Michaels Nook in the Lake District and the two-starred Sea Grill in Brussels, and has been executive sous chef at Radisson SAS in Manchester.

More recently he cooked for the Hebridean Spirit, the world’s smallest and most exclusive cruise ship, known as ‘The Claridges of the Sea’.

Lee said: “Having worked outside Northamptonshire for the past couple of years I could not believe how fortunate I was to be offered the executive chef role with the Tom Hewer Catering brand.

“Restaurant Hibiscus is an exciting addition to this successful enterprise, bringing exquisite dining right into the heart of Northampton.

“The food will all be fresh, and locally sourced where possible. The menus will be changed every two weeks so no matter how often people visit they will be guaranteed a plate that will please.”

Tom Hewer Catering has provided food at major sporting and music events in the country. Last year the company was awarded the contract to cater for all the large functions at Royal & Derngate, and opened John Franklins bar at the venue.

Martin Sutherland, chief executive of Royal & Derngate, said: “We are delighted to be extending our partnership with Tom Hewer to bring a high quality restaurant offering to the theatre. Working with an established local business and a chef of Lee Scott’s calibre, we look forward to providing both theatregoers and other diners with a first class experience.”

With other food and drink businesses in Northampton, including the restaurant Bread & Pullet, the company was considered an ideal partner for the new venture at the theatre.

To find out more or to book a table for Restaurant Hibiscus, customers can call 01604 911073 or email hibiscus@tomhewer.com.

A Northampton holidaymaker has spoken of how he miraculously cheated death when a swordfish speared him through the THROAT as he went diving on a paradise island.

Alan Pope, 57, was sitting in his boat about to go snorkelling when the huge fish launched itself from the sea and hit him.

The force of the impact threw him to the floor of the boat and snapped off the tip of the giant bill-fish's harpoon - leaving six inches embedded in his neck.

Incredibly the spear - about the same size and sharpness of a kitchen knife - narrowly missed all the major arteries in Alan's neck.

He had to endure an agonising 30-minute boat ride back to shore with blood pouring from the wound.

The spear was so close to his jugular and carotid arteries that it took 36 hours, and three different hospitals, before doctors dared remove it.

The brush with death came as Alan and wife Sharon, 55, were about half an hour out to sea off the tiny Indonesian island of Lembongan nr Bali.

He said: "I was just a bit mystified through the whole thing. It didn't really hurt much, it didn't feel too bad. But it did start to dawn on me that I might bleed out and die.

"The beak missed my jugular by just a millimetre - the doctors said afterwards that if the surgery had gone wrong I could have bled out in three minutes."

Sharon said: "It was a really scary experience - but he was such a Trojan. He never complained.

"He's a very lucky man."

The couple, from Northampton, had gone to Bali in October 2016 as part of their post-retirement bid to travel the world.

They were going snorkelling off the island of Lembongan, which had been recommended as one of the best places to spot manta rays.

Alan, a grandfather-of-three, said: "We hired a little wooden private charter boat to take us out - it was just myself, my wife and the man in charge of the boat.

"The water was quite choppy, but we got about half an hour out to sea when I felt this whack on the side of my head - it knocked me off my feet.

"I wasn't sure what had happened, and then I felt this tickling in the back of my throat."

Sharon said: "I thought he'd been shot.

"I heard this thud and I looked around and saw him on the floor of the boat with a whole in his neck, like a bullet circle.

"Then he started coughing and spitting up blood, and that's when I knew something was really wrong."

Despite the six-inch swordfish beak sticking out the side of his neck, Alan says that neither he, his wife, or the boatman caught any sign of the fish itself.

The couple then had to endure a long 30-minute boat ride back to Lembongan island where the boatman ran off, pointing them towards the nearest clinic and leaving Sharon to carry Alan there herself.

Medical staff at the tiny village hall 'hospital' were able to remove the top half of the beak from the side of his neck but the rest was too deeply embedded for them to safely reach it.

Alan said: "Taking out that half of the beak was actually the worst thing they could have done - they should have left it in.

"Someone then came and told us we had to go back to Bali to a proper hospital.

"So we rushed back to our hotel, threw everything in a bag and then had to get a boat back to the mainland - all while I had a swordfish beak stuck in my throat."

Even after the couple arrived back in Bali, they were made to visit two different hospitals - because doctors were not sure how to safely remove the six-inch beak.

Alan said that despite an x-ray at the first hospital confirming the beak lodged in his throat he was then sent 40 minutes away to a different hospital for a CT scan.

"The doctors were concerned about safely getting the beak out," he said.

"It was so close to my jugular - it was right in the middle of a fork between two main arteries - so they weren't sure how to do it safely."

He added: "We also had a lot of problems getting in touch with our insurance company to prove we had insurance, because of the time difference."

It wasn't until 36 hours after the incident, and following a three-and-a-half hour operation, that the beak was safely removed from Alan's throat.

Just over a week later Alan was well enough to board a plane to Australia with Sharon to continue their travels.

He added: "It made me more determined to carry on.

"The doctors told me I was either the luckiest man alive, or the unluckiest.

"But after a few days recovering in hospital, I felt fine."

He brought the swordfish beak home with him as a memento of his 'freak accident' - and has also since had a tattoo of a swordfish on his arm.

Sharon has praised the work of the doctors in saving her husband.

She said: "They were fantastic. A week later you never would have known it had even happened.

"Alan is a very lucky man."

Northamptonshire residents are being asked how they want their healthcare services to be held to account in the future.

The county council is re-commissioning their Healthwatch services and are looking for views to shape how the public want it to work for them.

It comes as the contract for the current provider, Connected Together, ends in March 2018.

Healthwatch is an independent "consumer champion" for people who use health and social care services to share experiences and is required by local authorities.

They can also commission reports on the county's attitudes towards health and highlights problems an area is facing, such as the "access to health and social care for Northamptonshire's homeless" report from 2016.

Residents' view will be collected and considered after the consultation to decide the best model for Healthwatch in Northamptonshire.

Kate Holt CEO of Connected Together, said: “It’s really important that whoever gets the Healthwatch Northamptonshire contract going forward has the experience and knowledge of all the different health, social care and wellbeing services across the county and can continue to work with commissioners and providers to ensure that the voice of local people is heard with the decision makers.

"It is a statutory role that must be adequately resourced for the people of Northamptonshire to maintain its effectiveness”.

The consultation period ends on September 1 and the new service provider will go live in April 2018. Residents can give their feedback via the online survey on the Northamptonshire County Council website. Alternatively, email EPIT@northamptonshire.gov.uk or phone 01604 3637611.

The deadline for consultation period is September 1.

Edmund Enstone, from East Hunsbury, is being flown to southwest China on Thursday (August 3) to begin his week-long term as the mayor of Danzhai Wanda.

He has been "elected" to the position after entering a competition held to help promote the village as a tourist destination.

His duties will include visiting local schools and communities, posing for photos with locals and holding a press conference about his trip.

Edmund, who went to Abbeyfield School, in Mereway, said: "I'm not quite sure what to expect when I arrive, but I am optimistic that I can certainly help them to establish their first proper connections with westerners and tourists, and maybe even inspire more people to travel there.

A friend recommended that I apply to the role, as I 'm living in Hong Kong at the moment anyway and could use my job and social media influence as an advantage.

"It is a relatively poor area of China, so they wanted a westerner to come and be mayor to build relations."

Edmund, a model and former English teacher who lives in Hong Kong, applied to the role after seeing the scheme in an article.

The village has been sponsored by Chinese company The Wanda Group, who have invested 1.5billion Chinese Yuan (£170million) into alleviating poverty, which includes the "Rotating Mayors of Danzhai Wanda" scheme.

Edmund's father, Francis, from East Hunsbury, said: "I'm a bit daunted for Edmund on his behalf. I'm not quite sure what he's let himself in for."

Edmund will begin his term in office on August 1.