There are long delays and queueing traffic south of Towcester this morning (Friday) with one lane closed due to the accident involving two cars on the A5 southbound between A422 / A508 Towcester Road (Old Stratford) and A422 Monks Way.
There is congestion approaching the roundabout from all directions.
While all eyes were pinned on Cheltenham, Gloucestershire trainer Grant Cann drove his horse box in the opposite direction and delivered a Towcester double.
The Ides of March were come, but not gone when Cann was the first handler to check in his runners at the Northants track on Thursday morning.
Pointed to boxes one and two in the stable yard, Cann ultimately went home with both Cadeau Du Bresil and How’s My Friend as winners, both ridden by Nick Scholfield.
While this is familiar territory for How’s My Friend, who was registering his third win at Towcester this season and a fourth in total, it was less so for Cadeau Du Bresil who was returned a remarkable 28/1 outsider of three in a beginners’ chase contest where Scotchtown and Abbreviate were expected to dominate.
That still looked like being the case in the final half mile when Abbreviate weakened and Scotchtown went clear.
But Cann’s unconsidered runner gradually clawed back the deficit and eventually won as he liked by two and a quarter lengths.
How’s My Friend (5/2 second favourite) notched a first Towcester victory in a maiden chase in 2012 so it has taken him six years to truly blossom!
Now a 13 year-old, he is in the form of his life, also winning here twice in February.
It means Cann’s four Towcester winners in its 2017/18 season places him alongside Martin Keighley, one ahead of Nicky Henderson and Paul Webber although it would be fair to say Henderson will not be losing too much sleep over that!
Henderson saddled a Towcester winner as With Discretion (10/11 fav) delivered an expertly times ride under Nico de Boinville to take the 2m 5f mares’ novices’ hurdle.
How surreal for de Boinville who was happy to be interviewed by race day presenter Tim Peters just 24 hours after winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Altior.
There was an astonishing blanket finish to the 2m handicap hurdle as six of the nine runners were still in contention at the last flight of hurdles.
Spread across the track, it was 20/1 shot Gregarious declared a nose winner from Commodore with Walsingham Grange just a neck back in third place with a further short head to favourite Billy Hicks.
Who needs Harry Redknapp when you can have Hugo Bevan on site?
That was the question after Redknapp’s 12/1 Nick Mitchell-trained winner Drumlee City had taken the Happy To Birthday To Hugo Bevan Handicap Hurdle by a short head from Banco De Logos.
Redknapp was presumably at Cheltenham, but former Towcester clerk of the course Bevan made the presentation on his 82nd birthday.
While it has been 17 years since he retired his clerk duties, it is only in May that he will step down from his official ‘meet and greet’ role to winning owners at Towcester.
A severe weather warning for snow has been extended by forecasters throughout Saturday and Sunday.
The Met Office yellow warning was originally in place for Sunday with temperatures set to plummet this evening (Friday).
It has now been extended across the region to cover Saturday, which also includes a warning for ice.
Much of the country is expected to be affected by the cold temperatures.
The Met Office is warning of scattered snow showers throughout Saturday which may become more prolonged, particularly during the evening.
It is expected the snow showers are likely to continue throughout Saturday with accumulations proving disruptive.
There could be disruption to travel and power cuts, according to the Met Office.
Sunday’s Crazy Hats Walk at Wicksteed Park in Kettering has been postponed because of the cold snap forecast.
Charity founder Glennis Hooper said this morning: “After much deliberation we have decided to postpone (not cancel) the walk on Sunday.
“With the weather warnings as they are for snow and ice and freezing temperatures we have to take heed of them and think of the safety of everyone.
“This was an agonising decision but hopefully the right one – time will tell, but we cannot take the risk!”
She reiterated that the walk will happen at a later date.
Police are appealing for the public’s help to find a man wanted in connection with burglary and assault offences in Northampton.
Niall Chiltern-Kelly, 18, is being sought as part of Operation Crooked, a campaign dedicated to reducing burglary, vehicle crime and robbery.
Anyone with information relating to Chiltern-Kelly’s whereabouts should call Northamptonshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
This week I took my kids to a land far, far away…
Well, not quite but it was the next best thing! We went to see Shrek the Musical at the Derngate theatre in Northampton!
My daughters (aged 5 and 6) are big fans of the Dreamworks film and this wonderful show really did succeed in bringing the magic and humour of the movie to the stage.
The familiar tale of a grumpy ogre who ends up on a reluctant quest to rescue Princess Fiona, was brought to life by the amazing singing, comedy and acting of the talented cast.
My children especially enjoyed the fart/burp song perform the Shrek and Fiona and laughed out loud at Lord Farquaad - the lovechild of Grumpy the Dwarf and Snow White - running about on his teeny tiny legs!!
The singing was of one of the highest standards I have ever seen in a musical. In particular, the voices of Lucinda Shaw, (fairy godmother and the dragon) and Marcus Ayton (Donkey)!
For me, the show really came to life in the second half. Top comedy performances by Ayton (Donkey), Samuel Holmes (Lord Farquaad) and Laura Main (Princess Fiona) had the audience in stitches throughout and Steffan Harri was brilliant as the love-struck tongue tied Shrek!
There were also a few scenes (like the one where Princess Fiona and Shrek finally declare their love for each other) that genuinely brought a lump to my throat.
I love Shrek because it such a far cry from the typical ‘fair maiden rescued by handsome prince’ story. It was great how the messages like ‘beautiful doesn’t have to mean pretty’ and ‘be yourself – even if you are weird’– were even more powerful performed on the stage.
If you are looking for a colourful, fun-packed family show with a great message for kids, then I can’t recommend Shrek The Musical highly enough!
It can be seen at Royal & Derngate, Northampton until Sunday March 25. Tickets can be booked by calling the box office in 01604 624811 or visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk.
Stephen Myler has backed Teimana Harrison to produce big performances in the final four games of the season after being hit with a ban earlier this week.
Harrison was red carded in last Friday's 13-12 Anglo-Welsh Cup semi-final defeat at Bath for dipping his head towards the face of prop Nathan Catt.
The Saints No.8 was then forced to attend a disciplinary hearing in Coventry on Tuesday evening, when he was given a one-week suspension.
That means Harrison will miss the March 24 meeting with Newcastle Falcons at St James' Park, but he will be back for the last four games of the season.
Saints host Saracens in early April before travelling to Leicester Tigers and Wasps, with a home game against Worcester Warriors concluding the campaign.
And Myler believes Harrison will still have a big say for his side in the weeks to come.
"It's one of those things," said the fly-half, whose four penalties had looked set to win it for Saints at The Rec last weekend.
"Emotions run high, there's a lot on the line and I'm sure Tei wasn't trying to get sent off.
"I didn't see the incident because there's no big screen replay, but you can't dwell on it.
"The boys are all behind him, he puts his heart on the line for the boys every week and he's a big part of the squad.
"We'll get him back in and I'm sure he'll produce big performances, as he always does for us."
There is no criminal investigation into financial mismanagement at Northamptonshire County Council.
Northamptonshire Police have confirmed that they are not investigating the issues at county hall which emerged last month after the authority issued a S114 notice banning all but essential spending.
A damning inspector’s report released yesterday blamed leaders for ineffectively managing spending and failing to take effective action when the writing was on the wall for the authority’s finances.
Chief executive Paul Blantern left the authority last year in the midst of mounting financial pressure.
But officers at Northamptonshire Police said this morning (Friday, March 16) they are not currently investigating the authority or any of its leaders.
Here are a few of the highlights coming up in Milton Keynes Theatre's new season.
Tickets for all of these shows can be booked by calling the box office on 0844 871 7652 or visit www.atgtickets.co.uk/miltonkeynes.
A large cannabis farm has been uncovered in Rushden following a police raid this morning.
Officers, who did not want to reveal the exact location of the property, discovered the cannabis plants during a raid at about 9.30am today.
An spokeswoman said: “We have executed a warrant under the misuse of drugs act at an address in Rushden and have uncovered a large quantity of drugs.”
No arrests have currently been made. Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The single vehicle collision happened at about 11.10pm on Wednesday (March 14) on the northbound carriageway, about a mile before the junction 15 exit for Northampton.
The collision happened when a black Saab 9-3, driven by a 28-year-old man from Northampton, left the carriageway and struck a road sign.
The driver sadly died at the scene, Northamptonshire Police today revealed.
Witnesses to the collision, or anyone with information, are asked to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Team on 101 or call the Drivewatch Hotline on 0800 174615, quoting incident number 594 of 14/03/18.
Neighbours in a Northampton neighbourhood have objected to a plan to demolish an abandoned petrol station and build a two-storey office.
A proposal to pull down the empty New Duston Garage, in Harlestone Road, New Duston, has been approved by the borough council.
The garage has stood empty for over three years - but neighbours are not happy that it will be replaced by a 15-metre wide office block with up to 25 parking spaces.
In a letter of objection, one resident wrote: "I object to being next to this extremely large and imposing building. Just its sheer volume will dwarf the houses on either side."
Plans show the new office, which would have 11 full-time employees, would stick out some eight metres from the building line of its neighbouring houses.
The proposal would also demolish an empty bungalow behind the garage to free up around 1,500 square metres.
Another neighbour said: "I object most strongly to the proposal because of the effect it will have on our gardens. We have many wild birds that come to feed in my garden. Placing the car park here would have a detrimental effect on the wildlife in this area.
"This is a residential area. An office block of this dimension and all that goes with it has no place here."
The borough council granted full planning permission on March 13.
New Saints boss Chris Boyd says a couple more signings 'aren't far away' at Franklin's Gardens.
Boyd has spent the week in Northampton as his current club, Super Rugby side the Hurricanes, are without a game this weekend.
Saints tied up a deal to bring in New Zealand prop Ben Franks on Thursday, with the 33-year-old a man Boyd knows extremely well.
And there are more new players to come, according to Boyd, who will officially take over at Saints following the conclusion of the Super Rugby season this summer.
"There's four new signings (Franks, Will Davis, Dan Biggar and Taqele Naiyaravoro) and there's a couple in the wind that aren't far away," Boyd said.
"In my mind, they are all good signings.
"You're never 100 per cent sure when you sign somebody how they are going to adapt to the team and to the environment.
"But I've had a lot of good reports about those guys who I don't know personally."
Franks is a World Cup winner who helped Boyd's Hurricanes reach the Super Rugby final in 2015.
And Boyd said: "I know a lot about Ben Franks. He's been probably the most professional athlete I've ever coached.
"His attention to detail is somewhere between meticulous and anal. He's a total professional.
"I think he will be great for the environment."
Fixture: Northampton Town v Rotherham United, Sky Bet League One
Date/time: Saturday, March 17, 3pm kick-off
Venue: Sixfields
Forecast: 1C, sunny spells
Outs and doubts: Cobblers: Matt Crooks (suspended - 1/3), Kevin van Veen (knee), Aaron Pierre (thigh), Aaron Phillips (thigh). Millers: Darren Potter (Achilles) Jamie Proctor (knee), Joe Mattock (knock)
Betting: Northampton 13/5, draw 23/10, Rotherham 21/20
Form guide: Cobblers DDDLWL, Millers LLWWWW
Possible line-ups: Northampton (4-4-2): O’Donnell; Facey, Taylor, Turnbull, Bunney; Powell, O’Toole, Grimes, Ariyibi; Long, Luckassen. Rotherham (4-4-2): Rodak; Cummings, Ajayi, Wood, Mattock; Forde, Towell, Vaulks, Newell; Ball, Smith.
Man in the middle: Ben Toner
Last time out: Bristol Rovers 1 Northampton Town 1 (Luckassen); MK Dons 3 Rotherham 2 (Ajayi, Taylor)
Most recent meeting: Saturday, September 30, 2017 – Rotherham United 1 (Moore) Northampton Town 0
Record v Rotherham: P41 W14 D9 L18
Opposition view: “It was a disappointing result and we have lost the last two games by one goal, against two teams fighting for their lives,” said Millers boss Paul Warne after Tuesday’s loss to MK Dons. “It’s not a crisis but we need to get back to winning ways very quickly.
“We set up to win games. We will tell them where they went wrong and I want them to have more confidence on the ball. “We’ll pick them up and then I’ll pick the 11 freshest to go on Saturday, so there might be some changes and there might not. We look at everything we can to win this game.”
Cobblers connection: Goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell sat on the bench for Rotherham United when they beat the Cobblers 1-0 earlier in the season, but on Saturday he’ll be hoping to get one over on his previous employers. The 29-year-old was a teenager during an early loan spell in South Yorkshire but he returned to the club nine years later to make 27 appearances across 12 months, with 12 of those coming in the Championship last season. After suffering relegation with the Millers at the end of that campaign, he’ll be desperate to avoid the same fate this time around.
Heading back to Sixfields a year on from his loan spell is striker Michael Smith. The 6ft 4in frontman, who scored twice in 14 games for the Cobblers, swapped Bury for Rotherham in January and four of his six goals this season have come in the past seven matches.
James Heneghan’s preview: While hardly a walk in the park, this Saturday’s home game against Rotherham United looks a little less daunting now than it would have done had it taken place just eight days ago.
Before playing host to Rochdale last Saturday, the Millers were flying. Seven successive wins had made them the EFL’s most form team and catapulted them from play-off outsiders to serious candidates for automatic promotion.
However, since getting themselves into a position from which they could threaten the stranglehold of League One’s top three, United’s charge up the League One table has stalled in this past week having suffered surprising back-to-back at home to Rochdale and then away at MK Dons, two of Town’s rivals at the bottom.
From Northampton’s viewpoint, you could look at it two ways. The optimists might say that Dale and Dons have shown there is nothing to be afraid of when it comes to Paul Warne’s high-flying Millers, whose confidence and momentum must also have suffered.
Conversely, United will also go into Saturday a wounded team desperate to avoid a third straight defeat to a side in the bottom five as they attempt to get their stuttering promotion challenge back on track, with an immediate return to the Championship not out of the question.
Either way, it’s certain to be a difficult encounter given Northampton’s recent home woes and while you would usually say this type of game – and the same applies to Tuesday’s against Shrewsbury Town – is a free hit for a team in Town’s sticky situation at the bottom, the proximity and form of their rivals and the need for points as time runs out dictates that they can’t afford to write off any of their remaining 10 fixtures.
In essence, the Cobblers must surely win at least one of these next two games – or come away with a minimum of two draws – to not fall behind others at the bottom. There are more winnable matches, on paper at least, to come later in the season but taking points off those at the other end of the table is a must given that five of their final 10 games are against teams currently in the top eight, including in-form Plymouth and rivals Peterborough.
Even at this late stage of the campaign, it’s difficult to be sure what the points target should be but as each passing week goes by, it becomes more and more likely that 50 will not be enough, even 51 might not do it. If the aim is 52, Town have to find four wins and one draw from somewhere, and Saturday is as good a place to start as any.
On the team news front, striker Kevin Luckassen might not be quite fit enough to start but his presence on the bench, and that of the returning Kevin van Veen, will give manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink the type of attacking, forward-thinking options he has not always had this season.
Matt Crooks serves the first of his three-game ban and therefore Matt Grimes will need a new partner in midfield, potentially one of Shaun McWilliams, Regan Poole or Sam Foley. Alternatively, John-Joe O’Toole could return to that position having regularly featured much higher up this season.
Despite recent results, Rotherham are still a good team with dangerous players, but as Rochdale and MK Dons have shown, they are far from unbeatable. On Saturday, it’s the turn of the Cobblers to prove it.
Prediction: Northampton Town 1 Rotherham United 1
Northamptonshire's seven MPs believe the county should convert its local government structure to a unitary system "while the iron is hot" following yesterday's "hard-hitting" inspection report.
Peter Bone (Wellingborough), Michael Ellis (Northampton North), Chris Heaton-Harris (Daventry), Philip Hollobone (Kettering), Andrea Leadsom (South Northamptonshire), Andrew Lewer (Northampton South) and Tom Pursglove (Corby) responded to Max Caller's report in a joint statement this morning.
In it, they state the days of two-tier local government are over and that the solution to the county's problems is, as set out in the report, an adoption of two unitary authorities.
The joint statement reads: "We welcome and endorse the Max Caller inspection report on the county council.
"It was thorough, hard-hitting and sometimes made uncomfortable reading, but it was badly needed and it has come to the right conclusion.
"The county council was hit by a perfect storm of poor leadership in a financially challenging environment.
"Now is not the time to keep scrabbling around.
"The days of complex two-tier local government in the county are at an end.
"We need to strike while the iron is hot for two unitaries as the solution set out by the report.
"We MPs were quick and direct in calling for this inspection and demanding action.
"The county council ultimately ran out of time fuelled by poor management and indecision.
"It is imperative that we do not make the same mistake again. Time needs to be used wisely.
"For the sake of our constituents, who rely on local services, the county council needs to be abolished and a new local government model created in its place."
Chris Boyd says his flying visit to Franklin's Gardens was 'of massive value'.
Boyd will officially arrive as Saints boss during the summer following the conclusion of the Super Rugby season with current club the Hurricanes.
But with the Canes not having a game this weekend, the 59-year-old took the opportunity to fly to Northampton earlier this week.
He has spent time meeting members of staff - the playing squad have been given the week off - and even visited club captain Dylan Hartley at England's Pennyhill Park base.
And Boyd said: "It's been of massive value.
"We have a bye week in Super Rugby this week so I've been here for four days, will go home tonight (Friday) and won't get home until Sunday and back into Hurricanes on Monday.
"But it's critical.
"I'll come back in April for another visit where we make sure we get our game plan and philosophy around pre-season nailed.
"When England go to South Africa and France go to New Zealand (in June), Super Rugby will take a break for three weeks so I'll get back here for a couple of those weeks and get back here for the start of pre-season, which is really important.
"It's been really good this week and the challenge for me is really exciting."
On what he has been up to at Saints, Boyd added: "It's been a meeting-athon.
"I've managed to meet all the coaches, the strength and conditioning people, the analytical people and the medical people.
"We're just setting up to make sure we've got some really good alignment going forward."
More than 100 volunteers, townsfolk and dignitaries turned out to see the grand opening of Delapre Abbey today following a three-year restoration.
From tomorrow, visitors will be able to access 60 per cent more of the former mansion and grounds, once home to a medieval monastery.
The hands-on attraction has now been split into different zones celebrating periods in its history, complete with an area dedicated to the Battle of Northampton, which saw King Henry VI captured by the Yorkists.
Speaking before cutting the ribbon to the abbey today, leader of Northampton Borough Council, Councillor Jonathan Nunn, described it as a "jewel in the town's heritage."
He said: "Today marks the day the whole building becomes open for a tour to the public - and I don't think the place has ever been in a better shape.
"In fact, in its 900 years of history, I don't think it has ever been in this tip-top condition.
"People from the town and everyone around love this place - and for the first time people can access all of it."
Television presenter and property developer Sarah Beeny cut the ribbon by paying tribute to "custodians of heritage" across the country.
"I think being here is a very inspiring thing to see," she said. "What I am particularly inspired with is how many people have worked together for this to have happened."
The restored abbey will have an interactive feel, free of ropes prohibiting access, the Delapre Abbey Preservation Trust claims "you can sit in any chair and touch anything."
The project was funded through a £3.65 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and more than £3.5 million from Northampton Borough Council.
Director of the trust, Rachael O'Connor-Boyd, said the abbey's 150-or-so volunteers would continue to be a big part of the visitor experience, before announcing an "engaging" program of events from "Peter Rabbit trails to Rachmaninov recitals".
"This is a building we can be truly proud of," she added.
Ex-county council leader, Jim Harker, now the regional chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said a project with this level of finding "had to be very good".
And addressing the crowd today, he said: "My God it is."
A former boot and shoe clicker, who worked at Churches factory for 52 years, is getting ready to receive his telegram from The Queen.
George Smith of Leslie Road in Semilong was born in his upstairs bedroom on March 27, 1918, where he still lives almost 100 years later.
After leaving school as a youngster at 14 years old he got his first job at Churches factory where he became a boot and shoe clicker for 52 years - cutting leather to form part of the boot.
He was called up to the Army in 1939 before being deployed to countries including Madagascar, Burma and Palestine with the Northamptonshire Regiment as a private in the 2nd battalion in 1940.
When he came back after his six years of deployment he met his Bristol-born wife, Cath in the Vine Inn pub on Abington Street after she moved to the town when the factory she worked at in the West Country was bombed.
The pair, who tied the knot in 1947, enjoyed holidays away to Ramsgate with their in-laws, and George also enjoyed going away fishing with friends and watching the Cobblers.
To celebrate the centenary of George's birth, his family is set to host a birthday party at Northampton Casuals Rugby Club on Sunday, March 25.
George, who is uncle to Brian, Liz and Anne, said the trick to a long life is "hard work" and "beer".
Richard O’Donnell is rooting for Rotherham United to win promotion this season - but only after the Cobblers take three points from them this weekend.
The Town goalkeeper started this season at the Millers, playing 10 times in Sky Bet League One, before his January transfer window switch to the Cobblers.
In all, O’Donnell played 27 times for Rotherham in his 12 months at the New York Stadium and has a soft spot for his former club, but he is determined to play his part in putting one over them this weekend.
The Millers have had a bad week, losing to Rochdale on Saturday and MK Dons on Tuesday, but prior to that they had put together a 14-match unbeaten run under manager Paul Warne, winning 11 of those, to storm into the promotion play-off places.
Indeed, they were threatening to challenge the top two until this week’s double slip, but O’Donnell admits he wasn’t surprised by that impressive run and charge for promotion.
“Their form hasn’t surprised me at all, as the squad they have got there is really good and is full of very talented players,” said O’Donnell, who was a regular in the Rotherham team until November, when Marek Rodak made the keeper’s shirt his own.
“They have a good manager, good coaching staff, and it is a very good, well-run club, so it doesn’t surprise me where they are at all.
“I have nothing but respect for everyone there, but obviously all I want going into Saturday is three points, and then looking further ahead I would love Rotherham to go up as I have a lot of good friends there.
“But as far as Saturday is concerned, three points is massive for us.”
O’Donnell obviously knows the Rotherham squad well, and although the team lost top scorer Kieffer Moore at he turn of the year, they have continued to impress, with former Cobblers loan striker Michael Smith impressing.
But he is not the only danger to Town, with O’Donnell saying; “There are a lot of threats, and attacking-wise they are very good, and recently they have been very good defensively as well.
“I know more than probably anyone what they are about, but we will all know about them by the time it comes to Saturday, what they are going to come at us with, and we will be prepared.”
So is O’Donnell expecting Town boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to ask for any inside knowledge on the weekend opposition?
“I will give the manager all the information I can give him, but at the end of the day we have to just concentrate on ourselves,” said the 29-year-old.
“I think if we do that then we have enough to beat anybody in this league.”
As a goalkeeper, O’Donnell is also going to get pretty close to what is set to be a sizeable away following at Sixfields on Saturday.
The shot-stopper is hopeful he will get a good reception from the Millers fans, as he had a good relationship with them before his departure to Sixfields, but he admits that even if he doesn’t, he will be prepared for it.
Asked if it is strange to run out in front of a former club’s fans, O’Donnell said: “I have done it a few times before, but it has obviously been quite a quick turnaround since I left Rotherham.
“But it won’t be strange.
“I know the job in hand and I know I have to keep my head on the game and not concentrate too much on any set of supporters, whether they are from my old club or any other.
“I went to Bristol Rovers on Saturday and they obviously gave me a bit because I played for Bristol City, and I quite enjoy it to be fair!
“I like all of that, but I think it will be a bit different this weekend .
“I would like to think I will get a decent reception from the Rotherham fans on Saturday, but it is all part and parcel of it and I enjoy it all.”
A man has stolen a statuette of a pink flamingo from a Northamptonshire village pub.
In a video posted by The Admiral Nelson pub on their Facebook page, a man can be seen brazenly putting the figurine under his jacket before walking out of the Braunston pub.
The theft has been reported to the police, who are appealing for witnesses.
"Anybody know this charming man? Came into my house that I open to the public. He stole my pink flamingo," wrote the landlord on the Admiral Nelson Facebook page.
A Northamptonshire Police spokeswoman said: "We have a report of a pink flamingo being stolen from a pub in Braunston between 5.30pm and 7.30pm on Saturday, March 10.
"Witnesses or anyone with information about this incident should call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111."