The NSPCC refers an average of four reports of child neglect every week to police and social services in Northamptonshire.

Between 2016 and 2017 the NSPCC Helpline dealt with 224 reports in this way following calls or emails from concerned adults about children in Northamptonshire.

There were a further 19 contacts requesting advice about a child possibly facing neglect in the county during 2016 and 2017.

A family member of a suspected neglected child, who the NSPCC have kept anonymous, said: “I am concerned for the safety of a little boy, he does not seem to be getting adequate care at home.

"His mother doesn’t seem interested in looking after him and lets him stay up all night, she has alcohol and drug abuse problems.

"He is regularly being left unsupervised and I am worried that he could seriously hurt himself at home alone because I know it has happened before.”

UK-wide, the NSPCC made 16,882 referrals to children’s services or the police in 2016 and 2017, equivalent to 46 a day.

Child neglect was mentioned in more than one quarter of all calls to the NSPCC Helpline in the last year - this shows that more people are willing to speak up about the issue - the charity says.

A growing number of people contacting the NSPCC Helpline also described parents as having a problem with alcohol and drugs, with some of them regularly leaving their children unsupervised so they could go drinking with friends.

The charity says one concerned neighbour told Helpline staff: “The children are home alone again, I saw the mother leave the house earlier this morning and it's past midnight now.

"I’ve seen the children peer through the curtains a few times as if they’re waiting for her. She does this every Friday night to go out drinking with her mates.

"I’m really confused about what to do as I don’t want to ruin the relationship with the mother as we are neighbours but at the same time, I am really worried about the children. What should I do?”

Neglect happens when a child’s needs aren’t met and is down to several reasons: ranging from parents not having the skills, support or funds, to having mental health issues. Common signs and symptoms adults may notice in a child who is being neglected include:

· Poor appearance and hygiene, they may be smelly or have unwashed clothes

· Living in an unsuitable home environment for example dog mess being left or not having any heating

· Left alone for a long time

· Untreated injuries, medical and dental issues; they may have skin sores, rashes, flea bites, scabies or ringworm

· Poor language, communication or social skills

· Seem hungry or turn up to school without having breakfast or any lunch money

Peter Wanless, chief executive of the NSPCC said: “Neglect can have severe and long-lasting consequences for children, and can also be an indicator of other forms of abuse. This is why it is so important for anyone suspecting a child of being neglected to contact the NSPCC Helpline, so we can alert the authorities to quickly step in and help those in need.

“At the same time, it is vital we understand the true nature and scale of child neglect in the UK so we can collectively tackle the fundamental causes. Therefore, a Government commissioned, nationwide prevalence study on child abuse and neglect needs to be conducted, and sooner rather than later.”

"The NSPCC supports parents who are on drug or alcohol treatment programmes through their Parents Under Pressure service, providing them with help to develop secure and healthy relationships with their children.

Adults can contact the NSPCC Helpline 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 0808 800 5000, or help@nspcc.org.uk

1COMEDY
Joe Pasquale, Lighthouse Theatre, Kettering, August 24
There are still a few tickets left to see this show.
Entitled The Devil in Disguise, the new show is designed for the entire family and is about the different sides that people have to their personality. Witness Joe explain the mysteries of why the four horseman of the apocalypse will be arriving on my little ponies, and what Action Man held with those gripping hands…
www.lighthousetheatre.co.uk
2 FESTIVAL
Shambala Festival, Northamptonshire, August 24-27
A wide variety of entertainment will be taking place at a stately home in Northamptonshire which will only be revealed to people after booking their tickets.
There is a wide range of music, live performances, food and entertainment for the entire family.
www.shambalafestival.org
3 MUSIC
The Pig and Applestock Festival, Naseby Reservoir, August 25-27
There will be plenty of fresh ‘n funky performers, including headliner one-man band, Dollar Bill, and the return of Trash Mantra from Switzerland, as well as some of their beloved classic acts. There is also fancy dress Friday for the first day with a chance to enjoy some crazy rhythms in some even crazier outfits.
www.applestock.co.uk/
4 FILM
Logan Lucky, Errol Flynn Filnhouse, Northampton,
August 25-31
The Logans are a blue-collar family from the hills of West Virginia, and their clan has been famous for its bad luck for nearly 90 years. But the conniving Jimmy Logan decides it’s time to turn the family’s luck around, and with a little help from his friends, the Redneck Robbers, he plans to steal $14 million from the Charlotte Motor Speedway on the busiest race day of the year. Daniel Craig, Channing Tatum, Hilary Swank and Seth MacFarlane star
www.errolflynnfilmhouse.com
5 MUSIC
Two Ways Home, Kontra Roots Club, Earls Barton, August 25
Alt-country duo, Two Ways Home, are headlining Kontra Roots Club. Support is by Edd Donovan, Steel Union and Kev Buxton. All play the Working Men’s Club in Earls Barton. Doors open at 8pm, admission is £3.
www.kcbworld.co.uk
6 MUSIC
Greenbelt Festival, Boughton House, August 25-28
Newton Faulkner, King Porter Stomp, La Chiva Gantiva and GRRRL will headline the Greenbelt Festival which returns to the county this weekend. Dozens of musicians will be playing at the multi-arts festival, which takes place over the August bank holiday at Boughton House, near Kettering.
www.greenbelt.org.uk

7 FILM
E.T - The Extra Terrestrial, Stanwick Lakes, August 26
See the all-time classic about a boy and a homesick alien on a huge screen in a lakeside amphitheatre – take a picnic – not a drive-in show. It tells the story of Elliott, a young boy who befriends an extraterrestrial, dubbed “E.T.”, who is stranded on Earth. Elliott and his siblings help E.T. return home while attempting to keep him hidden from their mother... and the government.
Doors 7pm – Film approx 8.40pm (free parking).
www.lunaflix.com
8 FAMILY
Branchline Weekend, Northampton and Lamport Railway, August 26-28
Enjoy a Bank Holiday Weekend at Pitsford and Brampton Station. Featuring GWR 1450 & BR Class 47 47205, and three days packed full of both passenger and freight services.

9 ART
Towcester & District Art Society, Paulerspury Community Hall, August 26-28
Sale of quality framed original paintings and greeting cards by local artists using a variety of different mediums
www.towcesterart.com
10 EXHIBITION
Craft Exhibition, Gretton Baptist Church, August 28
Hand-made items by local people with plenty of refreshments served at the event. Proceeds from the exhibition will go towards funds for the chapel.

Officers are keen to talk with people who intervened following an assault at a Kettering skateboard park.

Between 2.30pm and 3pm on Friday, August 11, a 15-year-old boy was in the park in Pebbleford Road.

He was approached by a teenage boy and several other teenagers who then followed him as he walked away from the park area.

The teenage boy punched him and he sustained bruising and swelling to his nose and left eye.

Officers investigating the assault are particularly interested in speaking with several adults and another teenage boy who intervened and checked on the victim’s welfare.

The offender is described as 15 or 16-years-old, 5ft 8in, with a slim build, short black hair and he wore a red Nike short-sleeved T-shirt.

Anyone who has information about the assault can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

The incident happened sometime between 9pm and 9.45pm on Tuesday (August 22) in Abington Park.

The 17-year-old was walking with three friends when they heard whistling behind them. On turning around, they saw a group of men, one of whom swung something like a large stick, which caught the boy on the shoulder.

The offenders are all described as white men in their early 20s. One was wearing red tracksuit bottoms with white stripes and had a small red or brown bike, one had a white mountain bike and was wearing a graduated grey top, one was wearing a grey hooded top and blue body warmer and another was wearing a grey top.

Anyone who has information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 and quote incident number incident number 17000360410.

Drivers breaking the law on Northamptonshire’s roads could be pulled over by an unusual police vehicle – a lorry.

The unmarked DAF is the country’s biggest undercover police vehicle and is currently in action with Northamptonshire Police’s Safer Roads Team.

Its elevated position enables officers to easily spot, record and photograph motorists breaking road traffic laws. Drivers are then pulled over to be dealt with.

PC David Lee, of the Safer Roads Team, said: “Drivers may be tempted to look at their phone when it pings, or distracted by other things inside their vehicle, but when you’re driving your attention should only be on the road.

“Using this lorry gives us an ideal vantage point to see just what drivers are up to behind the wheel, and helps us take action to address dangerous driving on our county’s roads and motorways.”

The vehicle is on loan from Highways England and is made available to police forces nationwide through the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).

Although magnetic placards allow it to be badged up when required, when in covert use it looks like any other heavy goods vehicle.

PC Lee said: “Although this is an unmarked vehicle, we want people to know we are out there looking for dangerous and illegal driving. We’re being upfront about our use of it in the hope people read about it and change their behaviour behind the wheel.

“We work to keep people safer on our roads and this lorry is a great way to support that aim.”

The penalty for using a handheld mobile phone while driving is now a £200 fine and six penalty points.

A man was kicked to the floor during a robbery in Kettering.

Between 11pm and 11.30pm on Saturday, August 19, a man was walking along Rockingham Road when another man approached him, kicked him to the floor, demanded money and kicked him again.

The man sustained cuts on his face and bruising to his arm and ribs.

The offender made off with cash and a pair of zebra print reading glasses.

The offender is described as a 6ft white man who wore a black hooded top with the hood up.

Anyone who has information can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Two mini-moto bikes were stolen from a property in North Cape Walk, Corby, on Saturday evening (August 19).

A green 49cc bike with a gold coloured exhaust and a red 49cc pit bike with a black exhaust were taken from the garden sometime between 7pm and 10pm.

Both bikes had the number 27 on them.

Witnesses, or anyone with information about the stolen bikes, are asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Craig Allan, from East Hunsbury, was last seen in Northampton at 8am yesterday morning (Tuesday, 22 August) and officers are urging him to make contact to let them know he is safe and well.

It is believed Mr Allan may be driving a black Audi A4 estate.

Anyone who knows where Mr Allan is or has seen him since he went missing is asked to contact police on 101.

It’s your last chance to vote for the winner of the Mick George Skip Of Gold competition.

Nominations for the worthy causes have been received and now your last chance to vote for the club or group you think best deserves the £1,000 prize put up by competition sponsors Mick George Limited.

The nominations were received from a wide variety of local sports teams and community initiatives, including football teams, schools, playgroups, scout groups and community organisations.

The voting lines are open now and will not be closing until Thursday September 3.

Voting lines are open 27th July 2017 and close 30th August 2017.

The organisation that receives the most votes from each category will be awarded the Prize Fund, with the Winner announced September 7th 2017.

Visit www.mickgeorge.co.uk/nptongoldvote to vote for your winner from the following shortlist:

1. Bozeat Community Hall Trust

2. Jen’s Hedgehog Rescue Corby

3. Rothersthorpe Community Space Project

4. Nene Valley Community Action

5. Great Doddington Village Pre-School

6. Rugby and Northampton Athletics Foundation

7. Cold Ashby Playing Fields Association

8. Weedon Football Club

9. AFC Hackleton

10. Pitsford Village Hall

11. Northampton Saints Sports Club

12. Treads Cycle Club - Northampton

13. Northants Association for the Blind - Rushden Branch

14. Kettering FC

15. 7th Northampton Boys’ Brigade

16. Duston and Upton Team Parish

17. Corby kingswood juniors FC

18. Ashby Athletic Football Club

19. Santos Panthers Football Club

20. The Daisy Chain Club - Northampton

21. Northampton ON Chenecks FC

22. Northants Knights American Football Club

23. Aspire FC

24. Hackleton School Association

25. Corby Nightlight

26. Brook farm animal sanctuary

27. Lings Disabilities Gymnastics Club

28. Cogenhoe Panthers FC

29. Jumpz Gymnastics

30. Corby Hellenic Fisher YFC

31. 2nd Deanshanger Scout Group

32. AFC Rushden and Diamonds Community Benefit Society

33. Northampton Mens Own RFC

34. Helmdon Sports Club

35. Northampton Whyte Melville Bowling Club

36. 17th Kettering Scout Group

37. Ringstead Heritage Group

Police are trying to identify two men who they believe may have information about a burglary in Wellingborough.

At some point between 4.40am and 5.50am on Saturday, August 12, a shed at a property in Somerford Road was broken into and a number of tools were stolen.

The men or anyone who recognises them are asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101.

Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

The Open Spaces Society has joined the fight to stop developers Xcite Projects from tearing up around 1,600 square feet of land in Lancaster Way, off Towcester Road.

The council has advertised to dispose of the land ahead of a plan by Barry Howard Homes to build 142 news houses on a nearby plot.

It comes after residents gathered in outrage to protest against Barry Howard Homes, who has ties to Xcite Projects, after the company cleared nine acres of trees and shrubs behind Lancaster Way in March.

Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the Open Spaces Society, said: "We have argued that the council does not need to sacrifice this important open space in order to provide access to the new development. There is an alternative access available to the north from Leah Bank which should be used instead.

"The open space at Lancaster Way is readily accessible to the public and is much used and enjoyed, particularly by children. There have been proposals to install play equipment here, and it is evidently valued by the community.

"We trust the council will decide not to dispose of this vital piece of open space."

The land was first marked for disposal in 2007 and an agreement was made with Barry Howard Homes to purchase it.

After almost a decade, the buyer has now changed to Xcite Projects, who shared premises with Barry Howard Land Ltd in Crick in 2012.

A team of 22 teenager have given up part of their summer holidays to fix up a Northampton disabled children's centre.

They will trade in their mobiles for paint and shovels and pitched in to give the John Greenwood Shipman Centre, in Farmbrook Court, Thorplands, a summer makeover.

Over four days, they will jet wash the centre, paint two art murals of classic cartoon characters and even dig an eleven-foot hole for a trampoline.

The centre provides short breaks for up to 10 children with physical disabilities and complex behaviours.

Cerys Cooksammy-Parnell, one of the project managers, said: "We wanted to do something for the community that would have a direct and positive impact upon people even if this meant getting our hands dirty.

"The Centre provides such an important service to the community and we realised that they could really benefit from our help and it is really rewarding to be doing something like this as a team."

The teenagers are volunteering as part of the National Citizen Service, a Government sponsored programme for 15 to 17-year-olds.

They will be working nine-to-five and putting in a collective 600 hours of work over four days.

A spokesman for the John Greenwood Shipman Centre said: “We are all so impressed with the enthusiasm, dedication and hard work of these teenagers.

"They are really committed to helping the centre and their work will bring so much joy to young people and their families.”

John Boorman, 45, from Rothwell, was jailed at Northampton Crown Court yesterday (August 23) after pleading guilty to possessing the "enormous" number of files, which were downloaded over a nine-year period.

More than 1,000 of the images were classed as "category A" - the most severe rating possible - while another 19,000 files seized by police still need to be sorted.

The court heard that Boorman was allegedly given the collection by someone else - who at the time warned that it was "really sick stuff", he said - before they left for another country. Boorman was meant to send the files to the other person at a later date.

Boorman was sentenced to 18 months in prison and handed a sexual harm prevention order for the 10 years.

Peterborough United boss Grant McCann has warned his players against complacency ahead of Saturday’s Sky Bet League One local derby against the Cobblers at Sixfields.

On paper it’s a banker away win for the Posh, as McCann’s second-placed team have won their first three matches of the league campaign, while second-from-bottom Cobblers have lost all three to date.

But McCann is wary of that sort of prediction, and believes his team are in for a testing afternoon at a packed Sixfields,

“It could well be our fans are expecting a 5-0 win and their fans are expecting a heavy defeat,” said McCann, whose team will be backed by a 1,400-strong away following.

“But local derbies don’t work like that and the formbook can be ignored.

“We will approach this game in exactly the same way as we’ve approached the first three games.”

McCann believes his Posh team, who have beaten Plymouth Argyle, Bristol Rovers and Rotherham United this term, will be coming up against a Cobblers team stronger than the one they beat twice last season.

After a gap of seven years without a derby, Rob Page’s Town suffered a 3-0 humiliation at London Road in October, before Posh pinched a 1-0 Sixfields victory a month later thanks to a lasp-gasp winner from Chris Forrester.

Since then, the Cobblers have got themselves a new manager in Justin Edinburgh, and he has completely revamped the squad this summer.

A total of 14 new players have been signed, and McCann admits he has been impressed with the Cobblers’ rebuilding, even if the results aren’t showing it just yet.

“I believe Northampton have recruited well in the summer,” said the Northern Irishman, who is starting his second full season in charge at London Road.

“They’ve spent money and they’ve offered some decent contracts. They will be a much stronger team this season when they settle down.

“I don’t expect anything other than a really tough game against opponents who will be desperate to get that first win.

“We must match their commitment and aggression and then impose our game on them.”

And he added: “We enjoyed the derby results last year.

“We won them both and we want to experience the same excitement and joy again, but anyone thinking we just have to turn up to win is greatly mistaken.”

Cobblers boss Justin Edinburgh says some of the players involved in Monday’s reserve team fixture against Chesterfield are in his selection thoughts ahead of Saturday’s clash with Peterborough United at Sixfields.

The Town manager has said he is considering making changes to the team following last weekend’s 4-1 defeat at Charlton Athletic, and a strong second string perfomed well against the Spireites racing into a 3-0 lead, before a host of personnel changes allowed the visitors to pull it back to 3-3 at Moulton College.

Teenage striker Joe Iaciofano scored twice and there was also a goal for Leon Lobjoit, while the likes of Matt Grimes, Dean Bowditch, George Smith, Regan Poole, Daniel Powell and Shaun McWilliams also featured.

“The main reason for reserve games is for people to be given the opportunity to prove to myself that they are ready to step in,” said Edinburgh.

“There is always the thought for change, but I have to be mindful, and I stand by it, that I think performances have been okay for periods.

“The periods have not been long enough, and there hasn’t been the results, but I think there will be room for change on Saturday.

“The players on Monday certainly did themselves no harm.”

One of the players who looks set to be in line for a first team start is midfielder Grimes.

Signed on loan from Premier League Swansea City last week, the 22-year-old made his Cobblers debut as a second-half substitute at the Valley, and then started in the reserve clash with Chesterfield.

With the midfield unit struggling to fire at the moment, it could be that the England Under-21 international is given his chance.

On his cameo against the Addicks, Edinburgh said: “I thought he was excellent, and had a really big impact.

“The reason we brought him here was that we knew what was going to go on with Matt Taylor, and he is a like-for-like replacement.

“I am sure there are some very good performances to come from him.”

The Cobblers will definitely be without right-back Aaron Phillips for the visit of Posh, as he has a thigh strain, while John-Joe O’Toole, Sam Foley and Sam Hoskins are also sidelined.

Striker Chris Long is a doubt after tweaking his hamstring in the warm-up at The Valley, but Edinburgh is hoping he will be available for selection this weekend.

Mechanical engineer Dr Rob Lewis OBE of TotalSim, part of project creators Aero Research Partners, has highlighted the many benefits the tunnel will bring to the area.

He has also addressed one reader’s promise to apply for listed status after he felt the developers were not respecting the site’s heritage.

Of concern to 52-year-old John Healy, a railway author who contacted the Daventry Express last week, was potential damage caused to the Victorian brickwork and inlets of the tunnel.

But Dr Lewis revealed there are no plans to touch or disturb any of the 30 million Staffordshire bricks.

Mr Healy also called for the tunnel to be open for public viewing.

“From my point of view it’s a win-win-win,” said Dr Lewis. “The bats get somewhere better, the ecology is managed and looked after, the tunnel is preserved, we create jobs in the science park, we give UK companies a unique piece of equipment that eventually people in Europe will come here to test, and we can do things with education too.

“We can take kids from schools in the tunnel and do STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) activities.

“And the other plan – subject to insurance and safety checks – is, a few times a year, to open the tunnel up at weekends for people to walk and bike through it.”

The construction of the facility would take place in stages.

First on the agenda is the creation of the test track in the 2.7km-long tunnel.

Throughout the process care will be taken to preserve the existing structure, and ultimately the end result will see the historic site brought back to life, unlike previous plans to infill it with concrete, having been unused since 1966.

“At the end of the project you have a tunnel that’s restored, the drains are fixed, the pointing is done, the portals are mint, you’ve got public access to it, jobs created and the wildlife improved,” said Dr Lewis, who had invited Mr Healy to contribute to the project with ideas on how to reflect the site’s history.

He spoke of the potential installation of a mini-museum or visitor centre somewhere on the land to showcase the tunnel’s heritage.

The second phase of the project is the transformation of the former station yard into a science park.

Dr Lewis explained: “What we’re trying to do here is bring together OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) that make cars, companies like ours who provide services and product bits, and universities who do R&D, and try and bring the whole thing together to solve problems around vehicle testing.

“Because in the UK we’re sometimes not very good at getting the university to talk to the industry.”

The site would see 10 buildings with workshops with space for cars which would allow mechanics and engineers to stay on site for weeks of testing.

Manufacturers would have the opportunity to test cars in secret thanks to the concealed nature of the tunnel and two truck bays at the south side of the site allowing the transportation of the cars in and out of the site.

Larger two-storey office buildings are also planned, as is a four-storey academic building for use by students at Coventry and Northampton universities, subject to planning.

As well as building a facility which allows for testing in constant conditions, the Catesby Tunnel project will create jobs and attract investment into the district.

Dr Lewis suggested that companies such as Tesla, which might want to create a base in the UK or Europe, would most likely want to choose somewhere in the district because of its proximity to Catesby and other facilities/resources within the area.

On top of that, said Dr Lewis, the district is a low-cost area, is in the middle of automotive land, with DIRFT nearby and is not far from the aerodynamic wind tunnel MIRA in Warwickshire.

Dr Lewis sees Catesby Tunnel as sparking a positive knock-on effect which ultimately would lead to the creation of jobs in a new science cluster at the forefront of automobile and motorsport testing.

He said: “Daventry see it as the start of the cluster but also an enabler to bring hi-tech and regenerate the area, and I think it will.

“If I was Tesla I’d want to be right next to this thing.”

A Northampton drug dealer hid nearly 10 grams of crack-cocaine up his backside to keep it from police, a court heard.

Ezra Greig, 22, of Grange Road, Eastfield, was jailed at Northampton Crown Court yesterday (August 23) after pleading guilty to possessing and intending to supply heroin, crack and cannabis.

On his arrest, police carried out a strip search on Greig and held him in custody until he used the toilet. Through this, they found more than £800 worth of drugs.

When Greig was arrested in June, police officers believed he was concealing something up his bottom, which was later found to be 10 grams of crack.

But not satisfied with the find, officers gave Greig food and drink and held him in custody until he needed the toilet. During this stay at the cells, Greig threatened to "get my brethren to knock you [the officers] out".

In time, Greig passed a single wrap of cannabis, 10 more wraps of crack and seven grams of heroin.

His Honour Judge Marcus Tregilgas-Davey said: "Drugs ruin lives - very often, the lives of young people of your age. They destroy and apart families. That's why you need to go to prison today."

Greig was sentenced to four years in prison. The recovered drugs will be destroyed.

Northamptonshire’s police and crime commissioner has submitted plans to run the county’s fire service to the Home Office after a “successful consultation.”

If accepted, Stephen Mold will become Northamptonshire police, fire and crime commissioner.

The announcement follows an eight week public consultation in which 1,212 people shared their views on the proposed change.

The consultation sought opinions from people from across the county, including fire service employees, police personnel, and staff from Northamptonshire County Council.

The results showed that 60.8 percent agreed with the proposal for the commissioner to govern the fire service, 31.7 percent disagreed and 7.5 percent neither agreed nor disagreed.

A spokesman for Mr Mold said fire service employees were “significantly in favour” of the change.

The commissioner added: “I am very happy with the outcome of the consultation. I’m confident this proposed change in governance is in the best interests of everyone in Northamptonshire.

“I’m particularly pleased that people working for Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue service can see the benefits of the transfer, with 92 percent of respondents wanting to see the change occur.

“The governance role is not operational, and the day to day running of the fire and rescue service remains with the chief fire officer.”

If the Home Office accepts the business case the change of governance would come in to effect from April 2018. The proposal follows recent changes in legislation as part of the government’s desire to create more collaboration between emergency services at local levels.

Under the new proposals, Mr Mold claims both organisations would remain separate and keep their separate uniforms - though a recently rolled out T-shirt to be used by county firefighters was criticised for carrying an embroidered “police” tag.

The fire service is currently funded through Northamptonshire County Council’s budget. Under the new proposals the budget would be ring-fenced and collected as part of each household’s council tax, in line with current arrangements.

However, the fire and rescue service precept would be shown separately from the total council tax – as the police precept currently is.

The police, fire and crime commissioner would then allocate a budget to the chief fire officer to run the organisation, as he currently does for the Police and chief constable.

Chief fire officer Darren Dovey, said: “I am pleased that both the public and our staff have had the opportunity to comment on these proposals. We are now hoping for a speedy decision by the Home Office so that our staff have some certainty and we can start to plan for the future.”

Hundreds of people will be celebrating all things vintage at a fair that is coming to the area for two days over the bank holiday weekend.

The Antique & Vintage Fair comes to Lamport Hall on Sunday and Monday between 10am and 4pm, with the organisers promising something for everyone.

Among the items available will be interesting antiques, furniture, books, pictures, militaria and jewellery.

With items ranging from 50p to £5,000, the event will cater for everyone from the serious collector to the impulse buyer.

The hall and gardens will also be open both days between 2pm and 5pm, last admission at 4pm (under separate admission).

The event has been organised by Antiques2Go.

Entrance to the event is £4 for adults, £3.50 for senior citizens and children are free.

Tickets are available to buy on the door.

For further information about the event visit www.antiques2go.co.uk or www.lamporthall.co.uk.

Like many things about the late Princess Diana, hers is a story which has passed into legend and is now the subject of a cabaret musical.

Royal Vauxhall will get its premiere at the Shambala Festival in Northamptonshire before heading out on a UK tour, taking in venues in London and Brighton.

In 1988, Freddie Mercury and Kenny Everett reportedly helped Princess Diana escape the pressures of palace life by dressing her in drag and smuggling her into London’s notorious gay pub, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern.

Twenty years after her untimely demise, and based on real accounts, Royal Vauxhall commemorates Diana’s death by reliving the night of her life.

As the princess, the clown and the rock king sing, drink and dance together, their wild night unfolds as the weight of responsibility and the spectre of AIDS looms over them.

Now the stuff of urban legend, details of the trio’s night at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern first came to the fore in the 1998 autobiography of Cleo Rocos, the long-time collaborator of Kenny Everett.

Royal Vauxhall irreverently opens up this infamous evening as three high-profile friends explore their sexuality, their mortality and the claustrophobia of Royal family life.

Royal Vauxhall was developed and first aired at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, the celebrated gay pub where this notorious event purportedly took place, and one of the few iconic gay cabaret venues still standing.

The show was written partly in response to the widespread closing of iconic gay and gay friendly pubs and clubs in London and around the country. It explores the need for

safety and sanctuary for minority communities, as well as for famous people who need a place to hide.

Royal Vauxhall stars international musical comedy sensation Carrie Marx as Princess Diana (The Segue Sisters, Arthur Smith Sings Leonard Cohen), cabaret favourite Joe Morrow as Kenny Everett (Café de Paris, Bungabunga) and the Edinburgh Spotlight Best Cabaret Award-winning performer and MC Desmond O’Connor (BBC Radio One’s Fun and Filth & Scott Mills: The Musical). The festival runs over four days at a stately home in Northamptonshire.

It will be performed on Friday August 25. For more details visit www.shambalafestival.org