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'I just pushed him out the door and kept hold of the bag': Northampton teenager describes how he fought off gun-wielding robber

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A brave teenager who grabbed a bag of money out of the hands of a gun-wielding robber says he was just acting on impulse.

Northampton College student Ajay Bajwa was helping his mum at their family-owned Premier store in High Street, Wootton, when a man burst in carrying a firearm on Tuesday night demanding cash from the tills.

But rather than let the pistol-toting man make off with hundreds of pounds, Ajay refused to let go of the bag of money before turfing the robber out of the door.

“I just pushed him out of the door and kept hold of the bag, I wasn’t really thinking,” said the 18-year-old.

“He carried on looking at me for two seconds and then just ran off - he nearly got hit by a car.”

Police are appealing for witnesses to the robbery, which happened at around 7pm on Tuesday (November 7).

It is now believed the man, about 6ft 2 inches tall, of medium build and dressed all in black, was carrying a pellet gun. But Ajay said he was not aware of that at the time. He said: “It looked real, I could see into the barrel and everything.”

If you have any information about the robbery, call No the police on 101.


An 'impartial' report author for new Greyfriars scheme was too 'difficult' to find claims planning chief

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A cabinet member's defence of a "biased" report supporting the need for a new cinema in Northampton has been rubbished by the owners of Sol Central.

Last month the Chronicle and Echo revealed Conservative cabinet members on Northampton Borough Council approved proposals to place a cinema on the Greyfriars site based on a report written by the owner of Light cinema chain John Sullivan.

That study argued a new cinema would boost movie ticket sales back to "2009 levels" in Northampton - but within a year Mr Sullivan's firm was chosen to operate an eight-screen multiplex at the former bus station site.

It has recently emerged that a separate report by consultants Nathaniel Lichfield contradicted any claim that a cinema is needed. In fact, it claimed trade at Sol Central's Vue and the Sixfields Cineworld would drop by 30 per cent if a new multiplex were to be built at Greyfriars.

This week Councillor Nazim Choudary challenged the borough council's regeneration cabinet member to explain why it commisioned a report that was "not impartial".

In an official response Councillor Tim Hadland (Con, Old Duston) said: "(In) The report commisioned by Northampton Borough Council, the connection between the author and the cinema chain is declared within it in a deliberately transparent manner.

"Given the niche nature of cinema consultancy, it would be difficult to find a firm with the specialist knowledge, which did not have links with one or more cinema chains.

"The report was just a contribution to the assessment of the options."

Sol Central owner Neil Sinclair has rubbished the claim that cinema consultancy is so "niche" - the council could not find an independent consultant to carry out a study.

"This is a bit silly," he said.

"If I was them I wouldn't dream of going to someone for advice may be conflicted.

"If someone said to me we want a cinema consultant, it wouldn't take a long time to find half-a-dozen that were completely impartial."

Mr Sinclair, who says Vue will not expand their cinema at Sol Central while there is still a prospect of a new cinema half-a-mile away, also believes the connection between the report author and the cinema chain was not as "deliberately transparent" as Councillor Hadland suggested.

"I was at that cabinet meeting where the cinema scheme was chosen for Greyfriars," he said.

"There were hardly any questions asked. I'm not sure the cabinet members knew of the potential conflict."

Interview: Sheila Ferguson talks about final panto role in Northampton

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For a woman with a family connection to Northampton, it seems right and fitting that Sheila Ferguson’s currently planned final role in pantomime.

The Three Degrees star plays Scheherazadein Aladdin which comes to the Royal & Derngate from December 8 to 31.

Sheila said: “One of my twin daughters Alex will be coming here with her friends for a reunion to see the show. She graduated from Northampton University.

“This is my 12th pantomime and I think it is going to be my last so it is really important to me to make it as good as I can.

“I haven’t been able to have Christmas with my family for the past 12 years and my daughters have been so great about it. It is time for me to do a Christmas dinner.”

Jump aboard a high-flying magical carpet headed for Old Peking and make tickets for this year’s spectacular Northampton pantomime Aladdin one of your three wishes.

Starring musical and television star Paul Nicholas, Union J’s Jaymi Hensley and Three Degrees singer Sheila Ferguson, follow Aladdin on a spectacular adventure featuring a beautiful love story, flying carpets, a wish-granting genie, an evil sorcerer and a lamp packed full of spectacular family entertainment.

At the time of chatting to Sheila, the script was still being finalised for Aladdin but she has high hopes for the show.

She said: “I am sure it will be lovely because it is an extremely professional team working on everything to make it look as good as possible.

“I turned up and was given my costume to wear and it looks incredible.

“You’ve got to come and see this panto, it will be the first chance that Paul and I have worked with each other on the stage and we have wanted to do for such a long time.

“I’ve also just heard Jaymi sing and that boy can sing.”

And for the singer with a huge discography, will she be belting out some tunes in the pantomime.

Sheila said: “I don’t think I did a pantomime where I haven’t been singingso I’m sure I will be in this one.

“I know one or two of the songs I will be signing but I am keeping it under wraps for the time being.”

With a resume which include television, concerts, musical theatre and acting, does she have a preference on what to do.”

“What I really like to do is stand in the middle of the stage and take it. That’s the kind of feeling you get when you are singing to an audience rather than a camera.

“One of the things that is creeping into the business and you you get nowadays is you walk on to a stage and there is clicking, taking pictures of you.

“You can find yourself on videos of YouTube before you even get back home. I don’t get, and I am not the only performer who feels this way, I don’t get the same feeling with the audience, that vibe, the pump, the rhytym of great music. That is leaving because everybody wants a video.

“Who would want to go to Wimbledon and video the thing when I could watch it on televison in that case. I want to see the players and feel the vibe.

We also saw her on The Real Exotic Marigold Hotel last year which has had a huge impact on her life.

Sheila added: “It was a fantastic experience, I don’t think I would have gone to India if it wasn’t for that programme. It’s still hanging with me, everywhere I go now, people are asking did you marry that guy, did you buy that flat.

“You will see in the future, there are more dates to come.

“So many people saw that show, it’s just amazing.”

To book tickets call the box office on 01604 624811 or visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk

Developers release new artists' impressions of hotel on the former Northampton Fat Cats site

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New artists’ impressions of a £10 million hotel on the site of a fire-ravaged Northampton late bar have been released - as developers say they are days away from lodging a planning application.

New artists’ impressions of a £10 million hotel on the site of a fire-ravaged Northampton late bar have been released - as developers say they are days away from lodging a planning application.

Back in August, Old Northampton Group (ONG) gave the Chronicle & Echo an exclusive glimpse of its most ambitious project yet - a bid to turn around one of the town centre’s most prominent eyesores.

Five years after a blaze destroyed the Fat Cat Cafe bar in Bridge Street, the company - which owns four other venues across town - now wants to restore the site as the Angel Hotel.

The early proposals, drawn up by the same architects (Stimpson Walton Bond) that renovated the town’s Guildhall, show the three-storey venue would have 84 beds with the current courtyard area converted into glass-fronted shops.

This week a spokesman for ONG confirmed the business is on the verge of submitting a planning application to Northampton Borough Council “within the next fortnight”.

Architects have also released new images of the hotel front in Bridge Street, which they say will attempt to recreate the building’s 19th-century brickwork.

The rear of the site facing onto Angel Street, which could contain two glass-fronted shops, will have a more modern feel to complement Northamptonshire County Council’s new headquarters, One Angel Square.

The ONG spokesman said: “It is hard to think of any company that has invested more in the town centre over the last 20 years.

“This could create local jobs, we would use local builders, local decorators.

“This is going to be fantastic for the town.”

The spokesman is hoping members of the public will comment on the application through the council’s online planning portal.

“We want to know what people think about our plans,” he said.

Back in August, the company spokesman said it was ONG’s “most ambitious project yet”.

To date, the group has invested £9 million across its four venues in Northampton: The Dept for Meat and Social Affairs, the Old House, Sazerac and the Lighthouse.

Crash that closed busy Northampton road left biker with serious injuries

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A motorcyclist was left with serious injuries after a rush-hour crash one of Northampton's busiest roads

The collision just before the Riverside Retail Park roundabout on the A43 eastbound last night saw traffic diverted along the residential streets around Wakes Meadow while the vehicles were recovered.

Residents stood to take photographs as buses and articulated lorries were forced to navigate Lumbertubs Way and Wilford Avenue at around 5pm.

A spokeswoman for Northamptonshire Police said: "A car and a motorbike collided just before the Riverside roundabout.

"One man was taken to University Hospitals Coventry with serious injuries not thought to be life-threatening."

McGugan hoping his magic strike is the first of many for the Cobblers

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If ever a goal belonged on a grander stage than a near-empty stadium in the much-maligned Checkatrade Trophy, it was Lewis McGugan’s sensational volley in Tuesday’s tie against Southampton U21s.

With the Cobblers in need of some inspiration to fight their way back into the game having trailed 3-0, McGugan delivered in spectacular style.

Sam Foley had already pulled one goal back when, from a half-cleared corner, the midfielder showcased supreme technique to send a vicious, dipping, swerving volley crashing past Alex McCarthy in the Southampton net.

It was a goal of such skill that it belonged in front of a far bigger audience than the 1,118 fans inside Sixfields, but it was the clearest demonstration yet of McGugan’s obvious quality - and it was with his supposedly weaker left foot!

What’s more, the goal also brought the Cobblers to within striking distance of their visitors, with Ash Taylor completing the comeback six minutes into added time - sending Town through.

“It’s up there, I’ve got to be honest,” admitted McGugan when asked where his wonder strike ranks among his goals. “As soon as it left my foot I knew I had caught it well and I was really happy to see it hit the back of the net.

“It’s always nice to score a goal like that. I do take pride in my technique and it’s a massive part of my game.

“As soon as I saw the ball get headed out, my first instinct was to shoot. To be honest, I just thought about trying to get a good contact and get it on target and then hope for the best.”

It was some way for McGugan to open his account for the club, and now he’s hoping it will be the first of many at Sixfields.

“It’s massive for me,” he added. “It’s been a big part of my career, trying to add goals and get assists, so it’s nice to get off the mark and it’s nice to do it like that and hopefully there’s more to come.”

His muted celebration did not match the goal itself though, and the 29-year-old explained: “It was just the time of the game. It was a goal to get us back in the game.

“The most important thing was getting the game started again and try and get another goal.

“Everyone is here to help each other and we got back into the game and managed to get a result out of it.”

“I don’t think we’d like to be in that position again where we have to comeback. We don’t want to be 3-0 down, but we showed bottle and we showed character and we showed our grit as a team and as a squad.”

Suspected paedophile, 50, arrested in Northampton as part of week of warrants

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A major paedophile sting across the county this week has seen a 50-year-old Northampton man arrested on suspicion of exploiting children online and his electronic devices seized.

Officers from the force’s POLIT (Paedophile Online Investigation Unit) have carried out warrants across the county this week in what Northamptonshire Police has called a "concerted week of activity".

Those arrested have all been released under investigation as forensic examination of their electronic devices continues.

They are a 45-year-old from Wellingborough, a 37-year-old from Higham Ferrers, a 50-year-old from Northampton, a 70-year-old from Irthlingborough, a 59-year-old from Desborough and a 48-year-old from Daventry.

The cases are not believed to be connected.

Detective Inspector Andy Rogers, who heads up the POLIT team, said: “Making and sharing indecent images of children is an extremely serious offence and the force has increased resources into bringing to justice those who choose to exploit children in this way.

"We use the latest, highly sophisticated digital investigative techniques to track down those who engage in this type of activity and anybody who does should expect a knock at the door from one of my officers carrying a warrant for their arrest.

“Along with our partners, we work tirelessly to safeguard and protect children. Policing this despicable crime is a priority for Northamptonshire Police and is treated with the seriousness it deserves.

“Anybody with any concerns about the safety of a child or with suspicions about somebody’s online activity should call 101 or 999 in an emergency.”

Staff member assaulted by shoplifter fleeing from discount shop in Kettering

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A member of staff was injured after chasing a shoplifter from Poundstretchers.

Police are appealing for witnesses following the assault outside the store in Northfield Avenue, Kettering, between 3.15pm and 3.30pm on Saturday, October 28.

The incident happened when a man entered Poundstretchers and placed a number of items in a basket before running out of the store without paying.

A police spokesman said: “A member of staff pursued the man who got into a car and closed the door on the staff member’s hand causing cuts and swelling.”

The offender is described as white, aged 37 to 43, about 6ft and of medium build.

He had short dark hair which was shorter at the sides and wore a dark coloured jacket, blue jeans and dark trainers.

He drove off at speed in a white Ford Fiesta Zetec.

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


Saints skipper Hartley leads England against Argentina

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Saints skipper Dylan Hartley will captain England against Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

Courtney Lawes is also named in the starting line-up as he takes his place in the second row.

Wasps back Elliot Daly will start on the left wing after Jonny May did not recover in time from his hamstring injury.

England boss Eddie Jones said: “As a squad we have been preparing for this game since our first camp in August and are excited about playing in front of 82,000 fans at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday.

“This is our best 23 selected in what is our most important game this year. We know that Argentina is a strong team - Rugby World Cup semi finalists in 2015 – and we will have to be smart and play well to beat them.”

England team...

15 Mike Brown (Harlequins 62 caps)

14 Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby 26 caps)

13 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby 33 caps)

12 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs 7 caps)

11 Elliot Daly (Wasps 13 caps)

10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers 37 caps)

9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers 70 caps)

1 Mako Vunipola (Saracens 42 caps)

2 Dylan Hartley (Saints 86 caps) captain

3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers 74 caps)

4 Courtney Lawes (Saints 58 caps)

5 George Kruis (Saracens 20 caps)

6 Chris Robshaw (Harlequins 56 caps)

7 Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby 1 cap)

8 Nathan Hughes (Wasps 10 caps)

Replacements

16 Jamie George (Saracens 17 caps)

17 Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers 3 caps)

18 Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs 2 caps)

19 Joe Launchbury (Wasps 44 caps)

20 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks 1 cap)

21 Danny Care (Harlequins 73 caps)

22 Alex Lozowski (Saracens 2 caps)

23 Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby 2 caps)

Flow of Northampton General Hospital nurses recruited from EU countries 'has dried up'

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Northampton General Hospital bosses have revealed that overseas recruitment of nurses from the Europe Union countries has ‘dried up’

Part of the reason is thought to be the Brexit effect, with continuing uncertainty over immigrants’ status in the UK after a deal with Brussels is finalised.

But NGH board papers also reveal that the hospital has changed tack because of something called the Immigration Skills Charge introduced by the Government in April. It means there is an extra cost - about a thousand pounds per employee each year - that employers must pay to secure foreign workers a visa for more than six months -

Janine Brennan, a workforce director, said: “Overseas recruitment is becoming more difficult and as a result ofthe immigration skills charge the costs of doing so are rising. This difficulty in recruiting from overseas is reflected in the recent report that there has been a 96% reduction in the numbers of EU nurses applying for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.”

Board papers show efforts made by NGH between January 2017 and August 2017 to employ 30 overseas recruits.

Since then, two nurses have arrived from Romania and 30 nurses from India but papers describe the EU market as “effectively dried up.”

An NGH spokeswoman said: “To attract great nursing staff in an increasingly competitive environment, we have to be able to adapt quickly to the changing recruitment landscape. In response to the evolving international situation, we are refocusing our recruitment strategy at a local and national level.”

Talks are still taking place with recruitment consultancies on the continent about Dutch nurses, although bosses concede Brexit will hamper their chances of success.

Van Wyk bids to emulate compatriot Mujati at Saints

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"I'm not a great talker," said a smiling Francois van Wyk as he sat down for his first interview with this publication.

However, the prop quickly proceeded to prove himself wrong as he opened up on life before and during his time at Saints.

Van Wyk was a summer recruit from Perth-based Super Rugby side Western Force, but his start to life in Northampton has been far from plain sailing.

The 26-year-old has featured in his new club's past six matches, five of which have ended in defeat.

But those setbacks are nothing compared to what Van Wyk experienced before arriving in England, as he explains in impressively open fashion.

"I had big injuries after each other and it set me back quite a bit," the South African loosehead said.

"I went through quite tough mental stages in my last four years so I did a lot of work with a psychologist and it gave me more points of view.

"It helped me to think differently about the game and now I'm at the Saints actually enjoying rugby.

"I found during my last bit of time at the Force, I struggled to get momentum and it was quite tough.

"Now I'm loving playing and being out on the field."

Van Wyk is hugely grateful for the chance he has been given at Saints and his determination to succeed not just at the club but in rugby in general is evident.

"If you're injured and you go through patches in your rugby career where you have setbacks, you have thoughts (about quitting) and stuff but I love the game," he said.

"I've got such a big passion and that's why I keep doing it.

"I've got no idea what I would be doing if I didn't play.

"I was lucky in life, after all my injuries, to get an opportunity at a club like the Saints."

Van Wyk's Saints debut came from the bench in the Aviva Premiership victory against Harlequins on September 30.

He also appeared as a replacement against Gloucester, Saracens, Clermont Auvergne and Wasps before making his first start in the defeat at Exeter Chiefs last Saturday.

It was a tough day for Saints as they were dominated in the forward battle and they shipped seven tries on their way to a 43-28 Anglo-Welsh Cup defeat.

But that hasn't dampened Van Wyk's enthusiasm ahead of Saturday's clash with the Dragons at Franklin's Gardens.

"It's been a good first two months for me, developing and getting my body right to play," he said.

"I'm happy to have got some game time.

"I've got a couple of starts and hopefully I can build on that.

"My biggest work-ons are set piece.

"There is a lot of focus on my scrums and my physical side of the game had to improve because Super Rugby's a bit quicker.

"It's more physical here and I've got to lift that part of the game."

Van Wyk has been working under the tutelage of Saints forwards coach Dorian West.

And he is hoping West can help him hit the heights of former Northampton props who became big names.

"My first scrummaging session was without shirts, very old school but something I enjoy," he said.

"I learned quite a bit from him (West).

"People I saw before like Mujati and those boys, I thought they were excellent and they were stand-out players in world rugby when they played here.

"I just want to lift my game and become as good as them."

Mujati is one of a number of South Africans to have starred for Saints.

And Van Wyk is the latest recruit from the country, with the likes of Nic Groom and Cobus Reinach also strutting their stuff at the Gardens.

"There have been a couple of South Africans here and I've always had interest in the Premiership," Van Wyk said.

"Before I came, I spoke to Groomy (Nic Groom) and he enjoys it. It was quite positive feedback.

"We've got a couple of South Africans here and it's been good."

Mallinder knows Saints must improve in key areas

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Jim Mallinder says Saints must step things up in defence and in the scrum in the weeks and months to come.

The director of rugby has seen his side lose their past five matches, shipping 28 tries in the process.

Saints have been made to suffer up front at times, with Exeter Chiefs turning the screw in the set piece at Sandy Park last weekend.

Mallinder's men lost that Anglo-Welsh Cup match 43-28 after conceding seven tries.

And the Saints boss said: "If we look at the tries they scored last weekend in isolation, there were reasons for it.

"If you make an error against a good side against Exeter anywhere on the field, they're going to go through and you're going to get exposed.

"It's tough learning, particularly for some of the young lads, but hopefully we are learning all the time from it.

"It's been a big emphasis for us in training this week and I'm looking forward to seeing some improvements against the Dragons on Saturday."

So just how concerned have the coaches been about Saints' defence in recent times?

"It's clearly an area we need to get better in," Mallinder said.

"Attacks are getting better, we've seen that with pitches being better teams are scoring more tries and we are scoring more tries than what we have done.

"But clearly your defence is very important and you need to make sure you're not conceding as many as we are."

And on the scrum struggles, Mallinder said: "If you look at the Opta stats - and I know they don't tell everything, but it's an interesting thing to look at - we've got the best scrum on our ball in the Premiership whereas on defensive ball we've got one of the worst records.

"We're probably not as dominant as we have been in the past, even on our own ball, but we are looking to play a little bit more from the scrum so that makes a bit of difference.

"Defensively, we have been poor, we've been conceding too many penalties and that's an area, again, that we need to get better at."

CCTV caught woman's ex-boss boss scrawling offensive word on her car, Northampton court hears

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This is the moment a Northamptonshire woman's former boss was caught on CCTV scrawling an offensive word on the side of her car.

Footage shows Christopher Stanton, 59, approaching the silver Volkswagen Golf, before painting the abusive word across the vehicle's passenger-side windows.

Suzanne Brogan, 49, of Kettering, was left stunned when she discovered the insult on her car on December 29, 2014.

The corporate sales manager says she was then "terrified" when Stanton returned a month later to douse the car in red paint, which was again caught on camera.

The pair worked together at Welcomm Communications in Market Harborough, - which he founded in 1989 - for five-and-a-half years.

However, their relationship turned sour when Miss Brogan was suddenly sacked in December 2013.

She took Stanton to an employment tribunal claiming unfair dismissal and was awarded £33,500 in damages.

Earlier this year Stanton was convicted of two counts of criminal damage when he appeared at Northampton Magistrates' Court.

He was ordered to pay fines of £4,615 and received a restraining order banning him from contacting his victim.

He immediately launched an appeal but dropped it on October 6 - just two days before the case was due to be heard.

Expressing her relief that he had finally dropped his appeal, Mrs Brogan said: "I couldn't believe it when I saw the car.

"The whole thing is almost just too far-fetched to believe.

"I just woke up that morning, and I had 'bitch' written on the side of my car.

"Because I live in the middle of town, I thought that it might have been kids as well, especially as it was that silly season between Christmas and New Year.

"So I went up and looked at all of the other cars to see if anyone else had been targeted but no, it was just me.

"I really hoped that it was just some silly drunken incident, but feared the worst.

"I thought it might have been someone from Welcomm because of the animosity following my dismissal, but I didn't know that it was Stanton himself.

"When the pin dropped and I realised that it was him, I just couldn't believe it at all. It was jaw-dropping.

"I'm not a shrinking violet, as you could imagine, but I was scared.

"I viewed the CCTV, slowed it right down and recognised his walk, even though he was wearing a disguise because he had a distinctive walk."

But about seven days before Mrs Brogan and her husband jetted off to their honeymoon in Thailand, he painted the car a second time.

It meant she had to employ a security company to check on the house for her.

In March 2015 Northamptonshire Police sent five officers to Market Harborough to arrest him, but he had gone on holiday.

Stanton initially appealed the court ruling, but it was dropped on October 6.

"I think he realised that the evidence was too compelling," said Miss Brogan.

"The more he resisted the conviction, the more I wanted him to get done for it.

"I was just over the moon when he finally dropped the appeal and accepted the conviction.

"I'd spend so long fighting for that, and it was an enormous relief."

Northampton to Tangiers ‘Rust Bucket Challenge’ raises £13k - and counting

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Staff of a Northampton-based building developer have completed an epic journey - all for a charity close to home.

Redrow staff have made an epic journey from Northampton to North Africa.

They’d geared up to raise £10,000 for the Henry Allen Trust, but overtook their target thanks to the generosity of colleagues, housing industry contacts, friends, family and people they met along the way.

At the latest count they have already raised more than £13,000, with money still coming in.

Redrow Homes (South Midlands) has a strong link with the Henry Allen Trust after marketing co-ordinator Mandy Howie’s daughter Chase bonded with Henry while they were receiving treatment for cancer.

Sadly they both lost their cancer battles, Chase aged 18 and Henry just four.

The Henry Allen Trust was created in Henry’s memory to support families battling childhood cancer.

Andrew Morgan, land manager for Redrow Homes (South Midlands), came up with the idea of the ‘Rust Bucket Challenge’ which saw four teams of Redrow staff drive from their divisional office in Northampton to Morocco in cars purchased for less than £500.

It wasn’t an easy ride for the teams with competitors pleased to have reached their final destination.

Andrew said: “The first day was really tough - the last car took 12 hours to get from Northampton to the first stop because they missed a ferry.

“We had a good laugh but it was quite a challenge to sit in a car for nine hours a day, not sleep well at night and then get up and do it all again.”

Andrew added: “People on the ferry were impressed by what we were doing and why, but the best reactions were in France, Brits at service stations asked us about the challenge and made donations,”

Donations can still be made online at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/redrowsm

Officers arrest 37-year-old man on suspicion of assault following manhunt in Northampton

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A 37-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault after an altercation in a Northampton churchyard last night.

At around 4pm yesterday, police officers taped off the churchyard of Holy Sepulchre Church in Sheep Street.

A force spokeswoman said officers were called at 3.30pm to reports of an "altercation between two men", which required the force helicopter to be scrambled.

One man was taken to Northampton General Hospital with serious injuries, which are not thought to be life-threatening

Police have confirmed that a 37-year-old man has now been arrested in relation to the incident.

The man is currently in custody.


Girl, 13, sexually assaulted in Corby

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Three men have been arrested after a 13-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in Corby.

The incident took place on Saturday, November 4, between 9.30pm and 11pm.

The girl was assaulted in Fawcett Way, between Corby International Pool and Corby Boating Lake.

Three men, aged 49, 26 and 25, have been arrested and released under investigation.

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

Northampton Beaver Scouts quietly raise money for Hearing Dogs

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A youth group has a great deal to shout about after taking part in a sponsored silence to help raise money for charity.

Proving that actions speak louder than words, Grange Park Beaver Scouts supported Hearing Dogs for Deaf People with their self-imposed silence.

The Beavers , boys and girls aged from 6-8 years old who are the youngest section of the Scouts Association, raised £350.

The group was inspired after a visit to the Grange Park Scout Group by Joe, a former Cub and Scout, to talk about his battle with cancer and to introduce his new best friend, Travis - a specially trained hearing dog .

Joe has been constantly battling with ill health and he has undergone numerous procedures which left him deaf.

Twice diagnosed with neuroblastoma when he was ten months old and again as a toddler, he has since been diagnosed with osteosarcoma.

Joe recently took part in a CBBC ‘My Life’ documentary series entitled ‘My Dogs Ears’ which followed Joe as he was introduced to his hearing dog and new best friend, Travis.

The Beaver Scouts took part in a silent activity as part of their session on senses in which the children could only communicate by using a whiteboard when completing an activity set by the leaders and Joe.

A total of £350 was raised for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People from sponsorship and from the Grange Park Scout Group’s tombola they conducted at a summer fayre in August.

Julie Bainbridge, a Grange Park Beaver Leader, said: “The Beavers could see the great benefit Travis has brought to Joe’s life,

“I am immensely proud of them for the money raised from their sponsored silence - it shows we can make a difference.”

Vicky Ryan, community fundraising manager for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, said: “We are so grateful to everyone involved with the sponsored silence and Summer Fayre tombola which have raised such an amazing amount.

“The donation raised by the Grange Park Beaver Scouts and Scouts will help to change the lives of people like Joe.

“On behalf of hearing dogs I would like to say thank you.”

Julie added: “We’re so proud of Joe, showing so much bravery.

“It’s amazing to see his confidence grow since Travis became part of his family.”

Northampton’s Spring Boroughs and Kings Heath community groups can apply for newly-available grants

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Keepmoat Regeneration, part of the ENGIE Group, has developed a fund with Northamptonshire Community Foundation that will benefit residents in the borough of Northampton.

The organisation, which is a gas and electricity supplier and sustainable energy producer, has given £10,000 to the Community Foundation to award to projects focusing on improving education and skills in the community.

Over the next twelve months, Keepmoat Regeneration will be supporting the communities of Spring Boroughs and Kings Heath through its regeneration programme in partnership with Northampton Partnership Homes.

Helen Town, head of asset management and development at Northampton Partnership Homes, said: “I’m really excited about the launch of this community fund.

“When we were looking for a long-term partner to work with, it was really important that opportunities for community investment were offered.

“I can’t wait to hear about the ideas for projects generated by groups that work in the communities in which we are currently investing.

“This will be the first of many joint initiatives with Keepmoat to promote our ‘“whole home, whole neighbourhood’ approach to regeneration in Northampton.”

As part of its commitment to building stronger communities, Keepmoat Regeneration is inviting community groups, charities and social enterprise businesses to apply for funding for projects improving education and skills in the local area.

Martin Smithurst, regional managing director at Keepmoat Regeneration, said: “We know that hundreds of groups have great ideas for how to improve education and skills in the community, but require more money to get them off the ground, and that’s where our funding comes in.”

Keepmoat Regeneration’s Fund for Enterprise will offer grants of up to £5,000 to support education, training and social enterprise activities.

For further information and to apply please go to www.ncf.uk.com/keepmoatfund or contact Rachel McGrath on 01604 230033.

Northampton carer nominated for national award

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A Northampton man who put his own life on hold to care for his fiancée after she sustained life-changing brain injury has been shortlisted for a national award.

Daniel Wood, 35, will be recognised at a ceremony organised by Headway – the brain injury association - as one of just three people from across the UK in the running for ‘Carer of the Year’.

The award will be presented at a star-studded ceremony in London, by double Olympic gold medallist, and Headway vice president, James Cracknell.

Daniel’s life changed forever in 2015 when he was involved in a car crash in which his partner Dawn Suditu sustained a brain injury.

Dawn, also from Northampton, was rushed to hospital for emergency brain surgery.

In the days following the crash the prospects of Dawn making a good recovery looked bleak but Daniel never left Dawn’s side.

Dawn said: “He spent so many nights sleeping on the floor of the hospital, and was always there for every step, helping to shower me after surgery and organising my visitors in a way that I didn’t get too tired.

“If I fell asleep he was always there smiling at me when I woke up, through the agony he made it that bit easier.”

When Dawn returned home, Daniel adapted his whole life to support her cope with the effects of her injury.

Dawn said: “He does everything - he washes and dresses me, cooks, cleans, does all the housework, and on top of that he still attends all my rehabilitation appointments, as well as works part-time as an electrician.

The couple who had to postpone their wedding because of Dawn’s injury are planning to marry in 2019.

“There is nothing I can give him to say thank you, but nominating him for this award will help go some way to help him understand how I feel.

Daniel said: “Dawn is the biggest fighter on the Earth and what I see her battle with each day makes me determined to help her in any way I can.

“Each day we are both learning new ways to deal with what has happened and are getting on with our new life.”

WATCH: Police free Brit from Northampton travellers' site as part of slavery raid

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A Brit being held as a suspected slave at a Northampton travellers' site was rescued by police today during a pre-dawn sting on three separate locations.

An early-morning raid was carried out today (November 9) at Lower Ecton Lane, Billing Park, as part of a countywide crackdown involving more than 70 officers.

A British national was found and safeguarded at the Lower Ecton Lane site.

A 76-year-old man and a 73-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of modern slavery offences. They are being held in custody in Northampton.

Meanwhile, five foreign nationals, four Romanians and one Pole, were found at the Greenfields travellers' site, in Braybrooke, and have been safeguarded by Northamptonshire Police

A total of three men aged 33, 29 and 20, as well as a 23-year-old woman, were arrested on suspicion of modern slavery offences.

They are all currently being held in custody at Kettering.

Detective chief superintendent Kate Meynell, head of crime, public protection and intelligence, said: “Our primary aim today was to safeguard individuals who we strongly suspected were being used as modern day slaves and made to live in extremely poor conditions.

"Modern slavery takes many forms. In this case, it is labour exploitation with victims made to work extremely long hours for minimal pay. They receive no training, pay no taxes or insurance and remain extremely vulnerable.

"Northamptonshire Police treats modern slavery extremely seriously and operations such as this send out a clear message to those involved in labour exploitation that we will find you."

The term "modern slavery" is related to the offences of human trafficking, slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour, including sexual or criminal exploitation.

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