Pupils at a Northampton school welcomed the town’s first citizen to their school to celebrate their annual awards ceremony.

St Peter’s Independent School’s newly appointed head teacher , Julie Fenlon, was joined by Mayor of Northampton, Cllr Tony Ansell to the Speech Day and Prize Giving celebrations at the school in Lingswood Park. Prizes were awarded for academic achievement, sporting and creative ability as well as contribution to the school community.

‘Nelson’ House was named overall winner of the house competition; the cup was collected by House Captains Jack Coleman and Parthi Patel.

Guests enjoyed a traditional English strawberries and cream tea.

House prices in Northamptonshire climbed by 1.6 per cent in May - contributing to an overall rise of 8.3 per cent in the last year, figures have revealed.

The latest data from the Office of National Statistics shows that the average property in the area sold for £229,373 - slightly above the UK average of £226,351.

Across the East Midlands, property prices have risen by 6.3 per cent in the last year, to £190,216. The region outperformed the UK as whole, which saw the average property value increase by three per cent.

The data comes from the House Price Index, which the ONS compiles using house sale information from the Land Registry, and the equivalent bodies in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The average homeowner in Northamptonshire will have seen their property jump in value by around £75,000 in the last five years.

The figures also showed that buyers who made their first step onto the property ladder in Northamptonshire in May spent an average of £192,992 - around £64,000 more than it would have cost them five years ago.

Lawrence Bowles, the associate director of the research team at the estate agents Savills said: “The standout performers are the East and West Midlands. We’ve seen a strong performance in both those areas – the West Midlands has slipped to second place, but prices there have still grown five per cent in the last year.

“At the other end of the spectrum we have London. We have seen prices eking up very slowly over the last month, but would expect to see a larger seasonal rise around this time of year.”

Richard Snook, senior economist at PwC, said forecasts suggest the average UK house price could rise to around £285,000 by 2025.

He continued: “In our regional forecasts we predict price falls in London in 2018 and 2019 of 1.7 per cent and 0.2 per cent respectively.”

Between April last year and March this year, the most recent 12 months for which sales volume data is available, 13,952 homes were sold in Northamptonshire, two per cent fewer than in the previous year.

The highest house prices in the country in May were found in Kensington And Chelsea, where properties sold for an average of £1,326,653 - 17 times the cost of a home in Burnley, where the average property cost just £79,119.

Northampton choir gearing up for key change with new uniforms

NMVC is anticipating around 40 new members to join its ranks shortly as a result of a highly successful recruitment campaign and the £4,000 will help in providing uniforms and music for the new members.

Two fire engines were deployed earlier today to a Northampton street after eyewitnesses reported plumes of smoke leaving the church.

A spokeswoman for Northamptonshire Police said: "Fire were called at 1.35pm to reports of a fire at a church in Kettering Road. The cause is deemed to be accidental and the fire has now been put out."

Eyewitness René Schwartz was walking past the scene and said he could see plumes of black smoke leaving the church at about 2.30pm today.

A wallet containing cash, ID and a driving licence was stolen during a burglary at a flat in Brook Street, Northampton.

The offence occurred between 2am and 5.30am this morning (Thursday, July 19).

A white leather handbag with a small pink bear on the zip and keys inside, was taken, along with a black rucksack.

Anyone with information can contact Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, they can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

In between takes, Denny has kept studio audiences roaring with laughter with his impressions, one-liners and stand-up routines and his CV reads like a TV hall of fame.

The off-camera funny man’s credits include Birds of a Feather, Keeping Up Appearances, As Time Goes By, Goodnight Sweetheart, The New Statesman, New Faces, Blind Date, Bullseye and Blockbusters.

Northampton-born warm-up man Denny worked alongside some of the country’s top comedy and acting talent including Dame Judi Dench who mentioned him in her autobiography, describing him as "her rock".

He also worked with Bob Holness on the popular TV quiz Blockbusters, Cilla Black on Blind Date and with Bob Monkhouse on Gag Tag.

After watching David Jason play Del Boy on the set of Only Fools and Horses for three seasons, Denny perfected the character and he now plays the Peckham chancer in a cabaret show to audiences worldwide.

Denny and his fellow cast members are bringing their ‘comedy-dining’ production of Only Fools and Three Courses, to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival next month and tickets are already selling faster than a case of Del Boy’s dodgy Albanian radio cassettes.

The show is performed at the Kama Sutra restaurant where audience members are served a meal while the performance goes on around them with actors playing all the show’s favourites including Rodney, Uncle Albert, Boycie, Marlene, Raquel and Trigger.

The cast, who play to audiences across the UK and Ireland, recently returned from a run in Australia where the sitcom is hugely popular and next year they are booked to play in Bangkok and Singapore. In October they begin a residency in Covent Garden.

“It’s astonishing how enduring the show is,” said father-of-two Denny, 55.

“Even after all these years, people still go wild for it. Some of its greatest fans are outside of the UK.”

While he was working on the filming of an episode of The New Statesman, he was approached by John Sullivan – the writer of Only Fools and Horses – who was in the audience and who was so impressed with Denny’s routine, he invited him to work on the show.

“I would arrive early for the dress rehearsal which I had to watch carefully so that I knew the script. The audience would arrive and, at around 7.20pm I would introduce all the actors.

“I didn’t need to tell any jokes because the audiences were always high as kites. All I had to do was to introduce the characters and they would go wild.

Observing David Jason playing Del Boy at close quarters and watch his mannerisms for three seasons meant he was able to do a near-perfect impression of the character and he began to introduce that into his warm-up routine.

Two years ago, Gill spotted a newspaper ad from Preston-based agency Comedy Dining, which was looking for an actor to play Del Boy in the show. The company, stages performances of other popular sitcoms, including Fawlty Towers and Allo Allo.

Denny said: “The job description looked like it was tailor-made for me. I couldn’t believe it and I jumped at the chance.

"It’s like a dream come true. I now travel the world playing one of my favourite characters and making people laugh.

"Two of the great joys of life are eating and laughing and we get a ringside seat watching happy people doing both every night. I couldn’t imagine a better way to earn a living.”

Tenants at Cordwainer House, in Byfield Road, St James, say they see and hear the rodents "every day" and have put up with them for over a year.

One resident even filmed one investigating her window before scuttling up the wall towards the roof.

"I'm fed up with it, I'm scared to death of them," said the tenant, who asked not to be named. "I sit out at night and all I can hear from the bushes is squeaking and rustling."

Another resident claims their dog fell sick and died overnight after eating grass - or, according to their vet, possibly from a disease called Leptospirosis spread by rat urine that is lethal to dogs.

One resident, Anthony Bennett, says he has placed dozens of calls to Northampton Partnership Homes but has seen no action, and was told at one point he was free to put his own poison down.

He said: "I'm not prepared to pay for this out of my own pocket. We're asking for help to rid of them but we aren't getting any. We need help right now."

Northampton Partnership Home, who are responsible for Cordwainer House, has been contacted for a comment.

A huge section of Northampton's Weston Favell shopping centre is set to become a new health and fitness club.

Planning permission has been approved to convert a combined 850 square metres of ground-floor units into a new Puregym franchise.

The plans were rubberstamped by the borough council on July 12, which clears the way for renovation work to start.

Space will be made out of a portion of the shopping centre's WHSmiths, a chip shop, a hairdressers and a currently vacant unit.

Council papers show the gym would reportedly operate 24/7

The plans were met with no objections. However, only two parties - councillor Clement Chunga and Northampton Borough Council Public Protection - were consulted on the proposal.

The figures, revealed by opposition politicians, come after Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue reported a 42 per cent rise in fires over the recent hot spell.

A recent National Fire Chiefs reports into the county council-funded service described it as “very lean”, though the county's chief fire officer says there is no crisis.

Because of difficulties in recruiting part-time crew for retained stations such as Long Buckby and Woodford Halse, sources have told the Chron how Northampton is down to its minimum crewing level of 12 for "90 per cent of the time".

That means only four crew members are stationed on three engines, based at the Mounts, Mereway and Moulton. Last year Fire Brigades Union members told the Chronicle & Echo they felt unsafe with any less than five firefighters per engine.

Chief fire officer Darren Dovey has told the Chronicle & Echo that the service is also short of some 100 retained firefighters and is in a state of funding limbo because of the current financial difficulties at the county council.

Councillor Danielle Stone, whose Castle ward covers Spring Boroughs, fears the service is now stretched to the point where lives are at risk.

She said: “The current hot spell is dramatically increasing the risk of fires both within and on the outskirts of the town.

"I am concerned that the austerity cuts to the Fire service here have left it with little or no resilience.

"There are now only 12 firefighters on duty for the town at any one time. Our fire engines are being deployed out as far as Daventry because of the shortages in retained firefighters and I am concerned that if we get a large fire or even a simple fire in a house the fire service will not be able to respond quickly.

"My ward has high rise buildings and it’s shocking to know that the nearest fire engine with a high platform would have to come from Corby, as the one in Northampton is broken.

"Our firefighters do a fantastic job but the cuts to the fire service are putting them and the people of Northampton at risk. This is not acceptable.”

One serving firefighter told the Chron: "It will take a disaster to show the failings, unfortunately."

Despite the shortages, Mr Dovey said the service has managed to cope during recent major events, including the Far Cotton and Briar Hill floods, the Abington Street fire and the recent large heathland fire in Harlestone Firs.

The service runs a bank system where off-duty firefighters can make themselves available to be called in on their days off for time-and-a-quarter pay. Crews from neighbouring counties can also be drafted in to help in major incidents.

He believes the service has the resources to respond to a high-rise fire in Spring Boroughs because the current directive is to fight such blazes from inside the building, not using an aerial ladder platform, though this could change following the Grenfell inquiry.

Mr Dovey, said; "Would I like more money? Yes, so would anyone in the public sector.

"We are not in crisis at all," he added. "We are going through a difficult period because of all the pressures of austerity, the situation at the county council and our retirement profile."

The fire service in Northamptonshire has seen £4.5 million of reductions to its budget since 2011, with 10 per cent of its frontline firefighting staff cut since then.

A deal to move the budget control of the fire service from the cash-strapped county council over to the police and crime commissioner Stephen Mold is now not likely to go through until January, as a result of the turmoil at One Angel Square.

The move, Mr Dovey said, would allow the service to be funded and to precept council tax payers separately. Currently, the service has a capital plan in place, but no means to fund it. The training centre in Corby has been out of action for 18 months as a result.

"If we transfer to the PCC there is a plan in place to stabilise the finances," he said.

"It will create a different environment totally.

"Also, the county council is not going to exist in 20 months' time - we need to find a new home anyway."

The Cobblers recovered from a goal down to see off Hull City Under-23s in their pre-season friendly at the Lomas de Campoamor complex in Spain.

Dean Austin's men wrapped up their six-day trip to Alicante with an impressive victory, responding strongly after falling a goal behind seven minutes into the second half to notch up a fourth straight pre-season victory.

Sam Hoskins levelled the scores on 61 minutes, before late efforts from Aaron Pierre and Shaun McWilliams wrapped things up.

Boss Austin named different teams for each half, with all members of the travelling party playing some part, except for Shay Facey who is recovering from an ankle injury picked up in last week's win at Brackley Town.

Two players started both halves, and they were Jack Bridge and Sean Whaler.

Town enjoyed a lot of the early possession but clear-cut chances were at a premium.

Bridge had a lively game and was involved in much of the action.

The former Southend United man went close to opening the scoring on the half hour mark, cutting in from the right and sending in a left footed shot that was tipped wide.

John-Joe O’Toole tested the Tigers keeper with a header from a Matt Crooks free kick 10 minutes before the break, while O’Toole was close again moments later, sending a left foot volley just wide.

The Cobblers conceded their first goal of pre-season on 52 minutes when a low cross from the left was converted, but the Tigers' lead didn't last long and Town were level nine minutes later when Hoskins volleyed home a left wing cross from Bridge.

Hoskins then forced the Hull keeper into a smart save with a low shot, with Sam Foley's follow-up blocked on the line.

Town were the dominant side now, and on 70 minutes Pierre headed wide from a corner.

The same player eventually edged Town in front with five minutes left on the clock, heading home a Dean Bowditch corner, the former Milton Keynes Don man making his first appearance of the summer.

Hull pressed for a leveller, but it was the Cobblers who made it 3-1, with McWilliams netting in the final minute after Kevin van Veen held the ball up and teed him up.

The result rounded off an excellent week for the Cobblers, who return to the UK tomorrow ahead of Sunday's open day at the PTS Academy Stadium, and Tuesday night's first home date of pre-season against Barnet.

Match facts

Cobblers first half: James Goff, Hakeem Odoffin, Ash Taylor, Leon Barnett, Jordan Turnbull, Jack Bridge, Sean Whaler, Matt Crooks, Daniel Powell John-Joe O’Toole, Andy Williams

Second half: David Cornell, Sean Whaler, Jay Williams, Aaron Pierre, David Buchanan, Shaun McWilliams, Sam Foley, Morgan Roberts, Jack Bridge, Sam Hoskins, Kevin van Veen

Goals: 61 Hoskins; 85 Pierre; 90 McWilliams

Bookings: None

Red cards: None

The Steelbacks shipped more than 200 runs for the third time in as many home T20 games this season as Calum MacLeod's 104 propelled the Falcons to 211 for two.

And the hosts, who had won the toss, were never really in the game as their reply crumbled early on with Ben Duckett, Richard Levi, Kyle Coetzer and Josh Cobb all dismissed inside the first eight overs.

Northants were eventually all out for 180 in another hugely disappointing display that means they now need an incredible turnaround to make the quarter-finals of the Blast this season.

They have lost all five of their North Group games, with the defeat to Derbyshire the most frustrating, especially as the Falcons had been beaten in all four of their matches prior to the County Ground clash.

The Steelbacks had hoped that the arrival of another struggling side could help them to kick-start their chastening campaign.

But Derbyshire got on top in the early overs as Billy Godleman showed his intent, hitting the first ball for four before continuing to take the pace bowlers to task.

The Falcons had raced to 59 without loss at the end of the powerplay, piling pressure on a Steelbacks bowling attack that was desperately trying to build some momentum and belief.

A wicket finally came in the seventh over as Godleman, on 29, lost his patience and picked out Steven Crook on the boundary off the bowling of Luke Procter.

The Steelbacks almost had a second wicket when Ben Sanderson attempted a spectacular one-handed catch, but he was unable to take it, tipping the ball over the boundary for six.

That was a let-off for big-hitting MacLeod, who was making his way towards the half-century mark in imposing fashion.

The Falcons were 98 for one at the halfway stage and MacLeod was to reach his 50 in 33 balls with a tidy boundary off the bowling of Brett Hutton.

Scotland star MacLeod was in fantastic form and the Steelbacks seemed to have no answer as the Falcons flew past 150 with five overs still to go.

It wasn't long before MacLeod made his century, getting there from just 58 balls, as the Steelbacks continued to search for solutions.

MacLeod did finally go for 104 when he skied a Rory Kleinveldt delivery and Alex Wakely took the catch.

But the Falcons, who were now 188 for two, still had two overs to go.

Wayne Madsen finished with an unbeaten 50 and Northants had another huge task ahead as they sought to end their winless start.

Levi and Duckett both hit boundaries early in the reply, but Duckett went for eight as he edged to slip from a 90mph delivery from Lockie Ferguson.

Ferguson was in fine form and after Levi had threatened to get the Steelbacks charge going, the Falcons bowler struck again, bowling the big South African for 30.

Coetzer's first appearance on his return to the County didn't last long as he went for a four-ball duck, dismissed by Hardus Viljoen.

Things were going from bad to worse as Cobb sliced to cover for just 11 off the bowling of Alex Hughes.

At 52 for four, the game was once again drifting away from the Steelbacks.

Captain Alex Wakely was aiming to help his team rebuild, but he was bowled by Hughes for just 10 to leave the Steelbacks 72 for five.

Crook was next to go, with Viljoen having him caught for 14, before Seekkuge Prasanna provided some fight, smashing three welcome boundaries from a costly Wahab Riaz over.

It was never going to be enough though and Prasanna, who had made his way to a quickfire 29, lofted one up to give Hughes his third wicket.

Kleinveldt then picked up where Prasanna had left off, blasting the ball to all parts to give the Steelbacks supporters something to shout about.

But yet another Hughes slower ball did for the powerful all-rounder, who went for 36 from just 14 deliveries.

Procter was next to go as he was caught on the boundary by Anuj Dal off Ravi Rampaul for 14.

That left the Steelbacks needing 34 from the final over with just Hutton and Sanderson to call upon.

But Sanderson was bowled by Riaz for one as the game ended with more misery for the Steelbacks.

Steelbacks: Levi, Duckett (wk), Cobb, Coetzer, Wakely (c), Crook, Procter, Kleinveldt, Prasanna, Hutton, Sanderson.

Derbyshire Falcons: Godleman, MacLeod, Madsen, Dal, Wilson (c, wk), Critchley, Hughes, Viljoen, Riaz, Ferguson, Rampaul.

Alex Wakely says the Steelbacks will have to carefully assess the balance of their side ahead of Friday night's game at Birmingham Bears (start time 7pm).

Wakely's men were beaten by 31 runs by previously winless Derbyshire Falcons at the County Ground on Thursday night.

It was another hugely disappointing display that ensured the Steelbacks remain rooted to the bottom of the Vitality Blast North Group table, having lost all five of their matches so far.

And they now head to Edgbaston, the scene of their 2013 and 2016 T20 triumphs, as they bid to overcome their struggles.

Their bowling has been particularly poor and they have really missed pace ace Richard Gleeson, who is closing in on a first-team comeback following an elbow injury.

"He's a big miss for us," Wakely said. "Anyone who bowls 90mph is a big miss, especially on a ground like that (at the County Ground).

"He's had a long-term injury, he's played a few second team games and he's getting to the point where he's on the horizon for us.

"We're getting to the point now where we might have to make some changes.

"It's make or break for us now, we've got to start winning games and we're going to have to look at the balance of our side carefully."

Northants had brought Kyle Coetzer and Luke Procter into their team to face the Falcons, in place of Ricardo Vasconcelos and Graeme White.

But it was more of the same in performance terms from the Steelbacks as Derbyshire racked up 211 for two before dismissing their hosts for just 180.

"It's been the story of our season so far - we haven't managed to get anything going," Wakely said.

"We were talking about being well drilled, having plans in place, but we're in the same position where we just can't execute it.

"Going for 200 again - you're not going to win many games like that.

"We know it's a good surface, small boundaries, fast outfield and you're going to have entertaining cricket, which is what we've previously played at Northants.

"We want to entertain our fans but we can't quite string it together at the moment. I'm not quite sure why that is.

"The bowlers are doing as much practice as they can, we're talking about the game as much as possible, but T20 is a tough game.

"Calum (MacLeod, who hit 104) played a brilliant knock today, he hit the ball all around the ground and he took the game away from us."

Councillors on Northampton Borough Council’s scrutiny committee have been tasked by the authority to carry out the investigation to ‘identify future demand patterns’ so that any new unitary authority is ‘able to better plan for the needs of older people in the future’.

The motion, originally proposed by Liberal Democrat councillor Sally Beardsworth, had originally called for an audit of all facilities, but following an accepted amendment from Tory deputy leader Phil Larratt, the task to analyse potential problems has been handed over to the council’s own scrutiny committee.

A panel has now been set up with nine councillors from all three main political parties, as well as an independent councillor.

Speaking at the council meeting, held on July 9, Councillor Beardsworth said: “It’s 20 months until we become a unitary authority, and we have to make sure that there is adequate provision for elderly people.”

The motion comes after a recent Newton's review found that 35 per cent of all beds in Northamptonshire hospitals were occupied by people who didn’t need them and were waiting for suitable after care to be available. This came at a cost of around £24.3m to the county in hospital beds alone.

Backing the amended motion, council leader Jonathan Nunn said: “This is absolutely right to do. There’s a good chance many of us will be involved in the new unitary authority.”

And Councillor Larratt added: “I’m really pleased we’ve reached a consensus on this, because going forward adult social care is going to be the main challenge of whatever new council is around.”

The borough council cabinet has agreed to work with the county council’s scrutiny committee on the investigation into facilities. The county council overspent by £12.6m on adult social care in 2017/18.

Boss Dean Austin was delighted to see forward Dean Bowditch back out on the pitch in a Cobblers shirt in Thursday night's 3-1 pre-season friendly win over Hull City Under-23s, declaring 'he is my type of footballer'.

The former Milton Keynes Don man has spent the summer recovering from a knee injury he picked up in training while on loan at Stevenage at the back end of last season.

Bowditch hasn't played for the Cobblers in a competitive match since the 2-0 Checkatrade Trophy defeat at Portsmouth on December last year, with then manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink allowing the player to leave the club on loan.

Signed by Justin Edinburgh last summer, Bowditch has struggled to cement a first team place at the Cobblers, and has started just five games for the club.

Bowditch set up Sam Hoskins' equaliser agaist the Tigers on Thursday in his first performance of pre-season, and it seems he could be in line to play more of a pivotal role now that Austin is at the helm.

"Dean has worked extremely hard, and he is my type of footballer," said the Cobblers boss.

"He is very, very clever, as you saw on Thursday, and he has been back in full training with us since we arrived in Spain.

"He joined in last week before we travelled, but he didn't join in with everything, but he has looked very good, very sharp and very fit, and it's pleasing to have him back on the field.

"It gives us another option."

Town saw off Hull's youngsters at their Alicante training base thanks to second-half goals from Hoskins, Aaron Pierre and Shaun McWilliams, the Cobblers coming from behind after the Tigers had taken a 52nd-minute lead.

Aside from Shay Facey, who is nursing an ankle strain picked up in last week's win over Brackley Town, every member of the touring party played at least 45 minutes, with Jack Bridge and Sean Whaler playing the full 90.

"It was a good wokout for us. We return home on Friday and we have had a tough five days, but the boys have acquitted themselves really well," said a delighted Austin.

"We had some good passages of play, and I feel we are only going to improve.

"I tinkered with a couple of things, and we did a couple of things out of possession that we don't normally do, in regards to our team.

"We had a couple of minutes on that at half-time, and it worked well for us in the second half."

The Cobblers fly home on Friday ahead of Sunday's open day at the PTS Academy Stadium (start 10am) where they will put on an open training session, and next week's home friendlies with Barnet (Tuesday) and a Manchester United XI (Friday).

That will conclude the pre-season programme ahead of the Sky Bet League Two opener against Lincoln City on August 4.

"We need to recover well on Friday and Saturday, and then we get back to training," said Austin.

"Then we have to prepare for two different types of tests that are good games for us."

Bective Road was taped off this afternoon (July 20) as Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service, Northamptonshire Police and East Midlands Ambulance Service attended an ongoing incident.

Eyewitnesses have reported that fire fighters are concerned over the whereabouts of four children, although this remains unconfirmed by emergency services.

A spokeswoman for East Midlands Ambulance Service said: “We received a call at 1.44pm on 20 July to Bective Road in Northampton to provide medical assistance at a building fire.

"We sent a paramedic in an ambulance car, two crewed ambulances, the air ambulance and our Hazardous Area Response Team and are currently still on scene.”

A spokeswoman for Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue told the Chronicle & Echo this afternoon that they received a call at about 1.40pm to a large fire at a derelict building in Bective Road backing on to Yelvertoft Road.

Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service sent four fire engines and a specialist aerial appliance to the scene and are currently still dealing with the fire now.

It is believed that there are no injuries.

The air ambulance took off from the scene at around 3.30pm

AA Traffic News is reporting that Yelvertoft Road is closed both ways and traffic in the area is slow following the building fire between A508 Harborough Road and Nursery Lane.

Ten children at Little Barn Owls Pre-School in Standens Barn, who are aged just three and four, were handed certificates and goody bags at their first graduation ceremony where they were honoured for their hard work at nursery.

The newly named nursery, which opened last year with just six children, gifted staff with flowers at the ceremony before the children sang a song from Toy Story, as proud-as-punch parents watched on.

Now the thriving nursery is educating 27 pupils from the Eastern District.

Louise Noon service provider at Little Barn Owls Pre-School said: "We're proud of how far they've come and they're really excited. They love wearing their gowns."

Louise, who has been in the childcare industry for seven years, generously paid out of her own money to revamp the pre-school after taking it over.

Delapré Park and Abington Park in Northampton have once more been named as two of the best green spaces in England.

They will continue to display the Green Flag Award with this year marking six years in a row for Deplaré Park and five years for Abington Park.

The parks have retained their Green Flag Award status following 'the council’s commitment' of meeting standards for providing local communities with accessible, clean and safe green spaces.

Cabinet member for environment councillor Mike Hallam said: “We’re absolutely delighted to receive the Green Flag Award for not just one, but two parks in the town.

“It’s a great achievement and clearly demonstrates the care and attention given by the Friends of Abington Park and Friends of Delapre Abbey groups, the many other volunteers, our grounds maintenance contractor and Park Rangers, who all work hard to keep the parks at their best.

“The public also have a huge part to play in the upkeep and cleanliness of the parks and I’d like to remind people to continue to respect these spaces by clearing up after themselves when they visit.”

The awards are an international mark of quality, which recognise and reward well managed parks and green spaces, and set a benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces.

The Green Flag Award announcement comes during the Love Parks Week activities, which conclude this Saturday with a Teddy Bear’s Picnic and litter pick at Bradlaugh Fields and an Alfie Bear’s picnic at West Hunsbury Country Park.

A new book set in Northamptonshire's pubs, clubs and dating hot spots was released today.

Northampton author Morgan Bailey says her novel "The Serial Dater's Shopping List" features nights out in The Picturedrome, the Sixfields Cineworld and other familiar spots across the county.

She says: “The novel follows the exploits of a dizzy journalist, Izzy MacFarlane when she is tasked to write a column about dating 31 men in 31 days by an editor of a local newspaper in a bid to increase sales.

"There are many ups and downs in her search for love, but will Izzy find the man of her dreams in Northamptonshire?"

Inspired by her own dating experiences on Tinder and Match, Morgen wrote the novel in 2009 and self-published the book in 2014 before it was picked up by publishers Bombshell Books in February this year.

Every chapter sees Izzy at one of Northamptonshire's landmarks, including the Charles Bradlaugh, Gold Street, the former Moon on the Square, Abington Park and Sywell Airfield.

Morgen Bailey is the co-founder Northants Authors, a co-operative of authors living in Northamptonshire who hosts talks and workshops around the county.

“The Serial Dater’s Shopping List” is available from Northampton’s Waterstones or on Amazon.

Maintenance work on the A5 in Towcester is to begin on Monday, resulting in the temporary closure of the road.

A new carriageway surface is being put down, along with improved drainage to prevent flooding, and new kerbs, road studs and road markings.

The work, starting on July 23 and lasting until November, is taking place on the A5 from the road bridge over the River Tove southbound towards the junction of the A5 with Marlow Road, Towcester.

It will also include the reinstatement of a trench over a gas main that runs between the south side of the junction at Brackley and Northampton Road and with The Lindens.

Highways England are closing the road in order to keep the workforce and customers safe.

During the closures Highways England will:

Temporarily close the gaps in the central reservation on the A43, between the junction with Tiffield Road and the junction with Towcester Road, for the safety of our customers

Put in place fully signed diversion routes, which have been agreed with the local authority

Temporarily lift one-way restrictions to enable access and egress for businesses and residents in Park Street and Browns Yard; and businesses, residents and visitors to Chantry Lane and Moat Lane and visitors to St. Lawrence Church

Work will take place Monday to Friday, between 7am and midnight; Saturday, between 7am and 5pm; Sunday, between 8am and 4pm.

Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times and businesses will be open as usual.

Highways England project manager, Dean Holloway, said: “Motorists will benefit from safer, smoother journeys for many years to come thanks to this work.

“We’ll do our best to minimise any disruption and have agreed to increase our usual working hours so we can get the job done as soon as possible.

“In the meantime I’d like to thank people for their patience.”

All planned roadworks may be subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances.

Diversions are as follows:

for northbound through traffic – from Old Stratford roundabout north along the A508 to MI junction 15, then M1 north to junction 15a and A43 south to the A5 at Tove roundabout

for southbound through traffic – from Tove roundabout north along the A43 to M1 junction 15a, then M1 south to junction 15 and A508 south to the A5 at Old Stratford roundabout.

Rob White produced a brilliant batting display as Old Northamptonians bounced back from the loss to Horton House in style.

White lashed a sensational 140 from just 72 balls, including 22 fours and five sixes, as ONs cruised to a nine-wicket win at Geddington.

Thomas Hafil (63no) was also in the runs for ONs, while Tom Heathfield took three for 52 as Geddington were limited to 227 for seven.

And it was no problem for the away side as they hunted down their victory target in just 23.2 overs, moving back above Finedon Dolben at the top of the table.

Saints were also easy winners as they cruised to victory against Wollaston.

Mark Wolstenholme (3-28) and Nick Bell (3-29) helped to do the damage as Wollaston were restricted to 181 for nine from their 50 overs.

And Saints made light work of the reply, with Emilio Gay (78no) and Charlie Home (35no) getting their team across the line in 29.4 overs.

Horton House were unable to back up their fine win against ONs as they were beaten by four wickets at home to Brigstock.

Elliott Ruff hit 30 for Horton but the batsmen struggled as just 162 all out was posted.

And despte the best efforts of Andrew Neate (3-21) and Ben Wall (3-28), Horton could not stop their opponents from claiming the victory.

Callum Guest hit an impressive 56 not out for Brixworth, but they lost by seven wickets at home to Oundle Town.

Brixworth were all out for just 152 and though Harry Penberthy took two for 42, Oundle were comfortable winners.

In division one, East Haddon earned a fantastic 131-run win at Overstone Park as Faisal Khaliq impressed with the bat and ball.

Khaliq took three for 21 as Overstone were all out for just 124 in reply, having earlier hit 47 in Haddon’s 255 for nine.

Ed Smith top scored with 54, with Daniel Adams (3-27) and Charles Edwards (3-51) doing well with the ball for Overstone.

Daniel Hill delivered a superb unbeaten 121 as Old Northamptonians IIs beat Irthlingborough Town by three wickets.

Nicholas Cooper had earlier taken three for 36 as Irthlingborough made 272 for eight, which wasn’t to be enough.

Jarrod Pretorius hit an unbeaten 62 and Tom Moore made 52, but Stony Stratford lost by 77 runs to Isham.

Stony were all out for 193 in reply after Dean Bryce (3-38) had helped to limit Isham to 270 for six.

Results

Saturday, July 14

Premier Division

Brixworth 152 all out (Callum Guest 56no, Harrison Craig 3-23) lost to Oundle Town 156-3 (James Kettleborough 59, Daniel Robinson 35, Mark Hodgson 38) by 7 wkts

Geddington 227 all out (Ben Mansell 36, Adil Arif 88, Andrew Reynoldson 53no, Rom Heathfield 3-52) lost to Old Northamptonians 228-1 (Rob White 140, Thomas Hafil 63no) by 9 wkts

Horton House 162 all out (Elliott Ruff 30, Dieter Klein 4-45, George Groenland 3-45) lost to Brigstock 163-6 (Suk Singh 57, Tom Swann 27, Ben Wall 3-28, Andrew Neate 3-21) by 4 wkts

Wollaston 181 all out (Robert Bassin 42, Mark Wolstenholme 3-28, Nick Bell 3-29) lost to Northampton Saints 184-2 (Saif Zaib 42, Emilo Gray 78no, Charlie Home 35no) by 8 wkts

Rushden Town 304-6 (Charlie Thurston 100, Chanaka Ruwansiri 132no, Matt Milner 3-50) beat Peterborough Town 288 all out (David Sayer 69, Rob Sayer 113, Chanaka Ruwansiri 3-45) by 16 runs

Division One

Desborough Town 258-8 (Simon Renshaw 83, Jake Bindley 29, Wayne Steed 60, Theo Brooks 3-48) beat Kettering Town 91 all out (Sam Harris 6-11) by 167 runs

Irthlingborough Town 272 all out (Martin Hills 65, Neil White 104, Nicholas Cooper 3-36) lost to Old Northamptonians IIs 273-7 (Muhammad Maqsood 45, Daniel Hill 121no, Paul Harris 34) by 3 wkts

East Haddon 255-9 (Ed Smith 54, Oliver Cousins 30, Sean O’Neill-Kerr 28, Faisal Khaliq 47, Daniel Adams 3-27, Charles Edwards 3-51) beat Overstone Park 124 all out (Charles Edwards 29, James Sales 39, Faisal Khaliq 3-21) by 131 runs

Isham 270-6 (Tim Robinson 36, Simon Court 122no, George Chudley 28, Damian Reid 31no, Dean Bryce 3-38) beat Stony Stratford 193 all out (Tom Moore 52, Jarrod Pretorius 62no, Damian Reid 4-47) by 77 runs

Weekley & Warkton 280-7 (Glenn Burgess 62, Jacob Palmer 39, James Chrichton 56, Bashrat Hussain 38no, James Smith 33, Josh Plowright 4-25) beat Loddington & Mawsley 118 all out (Josh Plowright 57, Bashrat Hussain 3-43, Andy Stanley 3-14) by 162 runs

Burton Latimer 258 all out (David Shelford 39, Luke O’Dell 57, Terry Butt 51, Thomas Howes 3-41) lost to Wellingborough Town 260-6 (Richard Curtis 65, Connor Gates 58, Ryan Lovell 51no, Darren Trotter 40, Will Baines 3-51) by 4 wkts

Division Two

Long Buckby 138 all out (David Holmes 64, Matt Nel 3-22, George Crisp 3-29, Kyle Lawrence 3-35) lost to Earls Barton 141-1 (Thomas Mills 105no) by 9 wkts

Finedon Dolben IIs 183 all out (Harris Syed 39, Simon Brett 33, Jack Parker 66, Jamie Denny 5-38) lost to Old 185-4 (William Chilton 52, Frank Hoang 32, Benjamin Turner 39no) by 6 wkts

Rothwell Town 216 all out (Rohin Thapar 28, Faraz Ulhaq 68no, George Parker 38, Keiron Jones 5-57, Danny Mohammed 3-23) lost to Peterborough Town IIs 217-6 (Sulaiman Saleem 36, Danny Mohammed 75, Dhaanyaal Iqbal 40no) by 4 wkts

St Crispin & Ryelands 200 all out (Thomas Robotham 43, Harry Rowe 46, Jake Spencer 35, HItesh Gorania 5-63) lost to Great Houghton 204-6 (Ben Mousley 46, Kieran Lane 28, Matthew Jackson 57, Harry Rowe 3-40) by 4 wkts

Thrapston 177 all out (Paul Spicker 36, Ryan Wright 33, Henry Cade 52, Ian Johnson 27, Benjamin Swingler-Brown 4-19, Joseph Leah 3-29) lost to Kislingbury Temperance 181-4 (Nick Kingsnorth 36, Eddie Fowler 56, Jamie Forrest 32) by 6 wkts

Wellingborough Indians 319-6 (Vinay Mistry 38, Raul Patel 32, Anand Panchal 45, Jignesh Patel 130, Aditya Patel 29, Dave Prophet 5-52) beat Northampton Saints IIs 219 all out (Brendan Bath 60, Afaq Barber 75, Hirash Patel 4-42, Aditya Patel 4-42) by 100 runs

Division Three

Great Oakley 217 all out versus Horton House IIs 62-2 was abandoned

Stony Stratford IIs 293 all out (Josh Purchese 47, Asad Masroor 54, Abdul Qader 31, Edward Tate 44, Anton Rensburg 41no, Jacob Gilder 3-42) lost to

Heyford 294-3 (Simon Legge 30, James Edwards 83no, Martyn Cory 107no) by 7 wkts

Oundle Town IIs 253 all out (Matthew Ingram 37, Peter Wilson 46, Mark Davies 28, Sam Gerry 49no, Will Connellan 29no, Richard Foster 6-36) lost to Brixworth IIs 254-5 (Mark Gouldstone 119no, Adam Shulver 32, Paul Gardner 50no, Stuart Fox 3-66) by 5 wkts

Rushden Town IIs 130 all out (Dominic Layram 31, Harpreet Saini 5-36) lost to Weldon 133-2 (Joshua McLellan 65no, Sinjin Bulbring 38no) by 8 wkts

Wellingborough OGs 296 all out (Faz Shah 40, Mauro Saracino 123, Anthony Shepherdson 37, Bayes Day 5-52, Lee Sutherland 3-43) beat Geddington IIs 200 all out (Chris Harrison 45, Colin Judd 71no, Vikram Mazumdar 4-47) by 96 runs

Wollaston IIs 167 all out (Steve Musgrave 29, Kamran Bahra 30, Scott Lawson 3-35) beat Irchester 110 all out (Steve Musgrave 6-13) by 57 runs

Division Four

Bowden 167 all out (Francis Finnermore 46, Alex Frith 51, Tom White 7-36) lost to Old Northamptonians IIIs 171-3 (Andy Edmonds 49) by 7 wkts

West Haddon & Guilsborough 186 all out (Chris Foster 85, Matthew Johnson 43, Jim Houghton 28) lost to Higham Ferrers 189-4 (Dean Czyz 27, Steven Materna 50, Danny Harris 83no, Alexander Smith 3-32) by 6 wkts

Podington 442-6 (Matthew Sirrell 124, Adam Tee 60, Joshua Ozier 64, Alexander Chalcraft 36, John Humphreys 100no) beat Rushton IIs 207 all out (Cameron Thompson 44, Gary Callaghan 56, Liam Souster 3-42) by 235 runs

Division Five

Bold Dragoon 237 all out (Martin Wall 34, Daniel Blatch 74, Zaheer Iqbal 74, Adam West 4-81) lost to Carrib United 239-4 (Abid Zia 40, Guru Sathyamuurthy 34, Ming Hestic 60, Raja Mahmood 49no) by 6 wkts

Yelvertoft 176 all out (Bradley Fellows 37, Daniel Mcllhiney 38, John Edmund Barrows 34, Alex Harvey-Jones 4-37, Nick Lester 4-46) lost to Cogenhoe 178-3 (Darren Harrison 96, Daniel McLaughlin 30) by 7 wkts

Harlestone 314 all out (James Ball 34, Jonathan Elder 45, Fahad Ahmed 33, Stephen Ball 57, Jack Burchnall 29, Nicholas Boon 4-47) beat Bedford 158 all out (Ramkumar Jayaraman 28, Fahad Ahmed 6-34) by 156 runs

Northampton Saints IIIs 228 all out (Mohammad Shoaib Yaqub 48, Bobby Hussain 37, Jacob Peaks 28no, Sagar Patel 3-62, Jack Issitt 3-57) beat Weekley & Warkton IIs 110 all out by 118 runs

S & L Corby 315-8 (Shaun Elliott 29, Martin Pearce 67, Ryan Alderson 78, Umer Abbasi 34) beat Kettering Town IIs 281 all out (Tom Smith 28, Martin Reece 62, Harrison Coe 94, Umer Abbasi 5-63) by 34 runs

Thrapston IIs 235 all out (William Hook 39, Mike Coyne 32, Sam Wesby 50no, Martyn

Borrett 28, Alex Stockton 3-48) lost to Stony Stratford IIIs

236-3 (Samuel Cole 32, Simon Chapman 100no, Alex Stockton 63, Thomas Stoker 3-41) by 7 wkts

Division Six

Earls Barton IIs 204 all out (David Howe 32, Mark Patching 35, Sean Carter 32no, Bill Craddock 3-35, Bhavin Davada 3-53) lost to Burton Latimer IIs 206-0 (Alan Sewell 114no, Michael Stock 64no) by 10 wkts

St Michael’s 74 199 all out (James Gibbins 31, James Boyd 36, Ben Packman 30no, Steven Spruels 28no, Jon Gibson 4-43, Nidhin Poulose 3-53) lost to East Haddon IIs 200-5 (Jon Clough 75, Duncan Kennedy 62, Ben Packman 3-59) by 5 wkts

Isham IIs 176 all out (Peter Skerrett 58, Ryan Simpson 3-11) lost to Irthlingborough Town IIs 177-7 (Mathew Ellis 46, Leighton Griffiths 59no, Mark Parker 39no, Shaun Wills 4-45) by 3 wkts

Podington IIs 175 all out (Charlie Saxby 58, Mukesh Patel 3-37, Parthiv Sheth 6-26) lost to Wellingborough Indians IIs 176-7 (Vishal Patel 81, David Lloyd-Jones 4-46) by 3 wkts

Rothwell Town IIs 148 all out Kye Parker 56, Sam Heath 6-40) lost to Spencer Bruerne 154-5 (Alan York 36, Dan Fox 38, Ryan Spreadbury 4-29) by 5 wkts

Division Seven

Overstone Park IIs 163 all out (Sunil Bhatt 57, Matthew Hawes 34, Ciaran Thomas 5-31) beat Bugbrooke 152 all out (Joshua Sidebottom 35, Upendra Pinnaka 4-47, Justin Murphy 3-17) by 11 runs

Gretton 269-5 (Andrew Ward 103no, Darren Baines 98, Lewis Ward 3-28) beat Desborough Town IIs 225 all out (William Sercombe 64, Kris Steed 51, Lewis Ward 55, Ian Ward 3-28) by 44 runs

Old IIs 298-5 (Alex Culverhouse 33, David Middleditch 86, J Brightman 98no, Athiq Thamby 53, Ruban Singh 3-89) beat Loddington & Mawsley IIs 212 all out (Steve Denton 40, Will Haines 78, Harry Dennis-Jones 40, Lewis Hunt 4-33) by 86 runs

Obelisk 175 all out (Lee Webb 3-68, Alexander Chandler 3-53, David Alderson 3-27) lost to S & L Corby IIs 177-6 (Ryan Buckingham 54, Mike McGeown 58, Billy Foreman 3-32) by 4 wkts

Division Eight

Wellingborough OGs IIs 156 all out (Jordan Gibey 43, Kevin Taylor 4-49, Ian Street 3-30) lost to Horton House IIIs 158-1 (Kiron Das 51, Vineet Patel 61, Prabodh Kakodkar 40) by 9 wkts

Long Buckby IIs 205 all out (Christian Brient 115, Greg Oliver 30) lost to Bowden IIs 206-4 (Fergus Kenny 27, Dan Poynton 41no, Sam Gomez 98) by 6 wkts

Old Northamptonians IVs 267-7 (Rhys Noble 102, Chirag Joshi 46, David White 29no) beat Raunds Town IIs 88 all out (Paul Guest 37, Matthew Cove 4-22, Gary Ray 3-25, Chirag Joshi 3-4) by 179 runs

Barton Seagrave 178 all out (Matt Earl 30, Christopher Ellis 44, Peter Ellis 4-45) beat Oundle IIIs 115 all out (Rowan Pack 3-15) by 63 runs

Sun Hardingstone 221 all out (Phillip Monkman 61, Lee Bennett 27, Ben Miller 41no) lost to Mears Ashby 222-7 (Mike Thompson 76, Rudath Kapugeeklyana 30, Jon Hill 47no, Stephen Thompson 27, Jonny Grove 3-58) by 3 wkts

Division Nine

Irchester IIIs 241-8 (Jordan Everitt 71, Andy Cotter 51) beat St Michael’s 86 all out (Geoff Lambert 36, Daniel Maskell 4-21) by 155 runs

Little Harrowden 180 all out (Matthew Roberts 48, Jack Westley 3-66, Ryan Carter 4-24) beat Wellingborough Town IIIs 68 all out (Thomas Ray 5-20, Salman Khan 3-13) by 112 runs

Weldon IIs 241-5 (Matthew Hay 94, William Hay 84no) beat St Crispin & Ryelands IIIs 131-7 (Ashok Dave 43no) by 110 runs

Heyford IIs 270-5 (Joshua Bastin 87, Ross Cambray 129no, Jacob Cotter 3-49) beat Wollaston IIIs 109 all out (Jordan Smith 4-22) by 161 runs

Brixworth IIIs 236 all out (Rory Green 69no, Keith Halford 50, Stuart Knight 69) lost to Great Houghton IIs 237-7 (Harry Crisp 47, Robert Hart 87, James Knight 4-55) by 3 wkts

Division 10

Harlestone IIs 217 all out (Ryan Toone 39, Russell Hyland 85, Jasdev Singh Lal 29no, Joseph Goodson 3-61) lost to Brigstock IIs 220-5 (Ian Sharp 74no, Henry Spence 95no) by 5 wkts

Kettering Town IIIs 221-6 (Phillip Coward 55, Aditya Sharma 30, Hardeep Singh 43, Graham Smart 64no) beat Kislingbury Temperance IIs 218-7 (Luke Evans 57, Danny Mackintosh 39, Gareth Deeble 48no, Vishal Sharma 3-56) by 3 runs

Overstone Park IIIs 173 all out (Ian Murphy 59, Chris Mason 4-34, Alex Bushell 4-16) lost to Cogenhoe IIs 175-6 (Jack Quennell 69, Jake Morrissey 44no) by 4 wkts

Rushden Town IIIs 57 all out (Dominic Arnold 3-15, Daniel Morse 4-12) lost to Finedon Dolben IVs 60-2 (Scott Lawniczak 32no) by 8 wits

Geddington IIIs 229-8 (Mark Pearson 111no, Christian Dalziel 3-39) beat Weekley & Warkton IIIs 159 all out (Karl Peasnall 73, Mark Pearson 4-29) by 70 runs

Division 11

Bold Dragoon IIs 261-9 (Saad Ahmad 62, Ahmed Shah 52, James Hurrell 66no, Adam Boss 3-64, Michael Gardner 4-58) beat Burton Latimer IIIs 163-9 (Ian Watson 74, Sam Spencer 4-14) by 98 runs

Sun Hardingstone IIs 286-6 (Paul Larkin 103, Robert Anderson 63, Tim Pool 33no, Joby Creamer 3-39) beat Irthlingborough Town IIIs 219 all out (Glenn Turner 65, Charlie Thomas 33, Tim Pool 3-39) by 67 runs

St Crispin & Ryelands IVs 186 all out (Andrew Frame 45, Danny Carter 40, Katie Heathfield 4-53) beat Old Northamptonians Vs 179-5 (Jamie Dunk 61, Andrew Deeming 43no) by 7 runs

Division 12

Bugbrooke IIs 184 all out (James Garrard 60, Robin Harding 46, Dave Sherwood 3-24, Chey Manzella 3-56, Charlie Britton 3-51) lost to Barby IIIs 190-2 (John Hardbattle 64no, Dave Sherwood 37, Chey Manzella 45no) by 8 wkts

Brixworth IVs 142 all out (Toby Clifton 44, Ryan Moloney 3-17, Tony Adams 5-29) lost to Grange Park 145-1 (Ben Young 56no, Zeeshan Cheema 63no) by 9 wkts

Mears Ashby IIs 168 all out (Liam Goodall 30) lost to Spencer Bruerne IIs 170-2 (Steve Faulkner 54no, David White 30, Keith Finson 35no) by 8 wkts

Old IIIs 291-6 (Kristian Johnson 79, Nick Riseley 96, Alex Mawby 53, Charlie Bridgeford 3-46) beat Wellingborough OGs IIIs 225-5 (David Murray 57no, Stuart Jeffrey 50, Azaan Shah 48no, Charlie Bridgeford 31) by 5 wkts

St Michael’s 74 IIs 90 all out (Peter Lyons 28, Robert Kennedy 3-28) lost to Obelisk IIs 91-4 by 6 wkts

Division 13

Saints IVs 276-7 (Jake Baldwin 62, Dave Shardlow 81, Phil Austin 31, Roy Long 31) beat Barton Seagrave IIIs 103 all out (Hitesh Vadher 32, Zakary Farah 3-35, Connor Grummett 5-10) by 173 runs

Geddington IIIs 272-3 (Paul Rowden 92no, Conor Napier 30) beat Isham Zingari 187-6 (Nathan Rosshart 32, Ethan Kerr 52, Sam Reid 33, Benjamin Galloway 47no) by 85 runs

Kettering Town IVs 226-6 (Ethan Smart 81, Dan Spencer 50, Clive Wears 38, Matthew Ward 3-35, Rylee Wilkinson 3-34) beat S & L Corby IIIs 75 all out (Sean Turner 5-4) by 151 runs

Stony Stratford Vs 188 all out (Bilal Ahmed 60, Josh Hoy 58) lost to Thrapston IIIs 191-6 (Ewan Hope 50, Kyle Oliver 51no) by 4 wkts

Weldon conceded to West Haddon & Guilsborough

Hevey Building Supplies NCL T20 Plate Last 16

Heyford 182-6 (Jacob Glider 74, James Edwards 35, Martyn Cory 27, Dan Herbert 3-41) beat St Crispin & Ryelands 148 all out (Dan Wood 29, Jordan Smith 3-21) by 34 runs

Fixtures

Saturday, July 21

Premier Division: Horton House v Geddington, Old Northamptonians v Brixworth, Oundle v Peterborough, Rushden v Northampton Saints, Wollaston v Finedon Dolben.

Division One: Burton Latimer v Overstone Park, Desborough v Wellingborough Town, East Haddon v Old Northamptonians IIs, Irthlingborough v Stony Stratford, Loddington v Isham, Weekley & Warkton v Kettering.

Division Two: Finedon Dolben IIs v Kislingbury, Great Houghton v Thrapston, Long Buckby v St Crispin & Ryelands, Northampton Saints IIs v Rothwell, Old v Wellingborough Indians, Peterborough IIs v Earls Barton.

Division Three: Brixworth IIs v Old Grammarians, Geddington IIs v Great Oakley, Heyford v Wollaston IIs, Irchester v Rushden IIs, Stony Stratford IIs v Horton House IIs, Weldon v Oundle IIs.

Division Four: Old Northamptonians IIIs v Higham Ferrers, Overstone Park IIs v Raunds, Podington v West Haddon & Guilsborough, Rushton IIs v Kempston, St Crispin & Ryelands IIs v Finedon Dolben IIIs , Wellingborough Town IIs v Bowden.

Division Five: Bedford Town v Bold Dragoon, Carrib United v Cogenhoe, Kettering IIs v Northampton Saints Grendon IIIs, Stony Stratford IIIs v Harlestone, Thrapston IIs v Weekley & Warkton IIs, Yelvertoft v S&L Corby.

Division Six: Earls Barton IIs v Spencer Bruerne, Isham IIs v Wellingborough Indians IIs, Rothwell IIs v Podington IIs, St Michaels 74 v Burton Latimer IIs.

Division Seven: Gretton v Loddington IIs, Overstone Park IIIs v Desborough IIs, S&L Corby IIs v Bugbrooke.

Division Eight: Bowden IIs v Old Northamptonians IVs, Horton House IIIs v Long Buckby IIs, Mears Ashby v Oundle IIIs, Old Grammarians IIs v Barton Seagrave, Raunds IIs v Hardingstone.

Division Nine: Brixworth IIIs v Heyford IIs, St Crispin & Ryelands IIIs v Irchester IIs, St Michaels (N) v Wollaston IIIs, Wellingborough Town IIIs v Weldon IIs.

Division 10: Cogenhoe IIs v Rushden IIIs, Finedon Dolben IVs v Brigstock IIs, Geddington IIIs v Overstone Park IVs, Kettering IIIs v Weekley & Warkton IIIs, Kislingbury IIs v Harlestone IIs.

Division 11: Bold Dragoon IIs v Horton House IVs, Hardingstone IIs v St Crispin & Ryelands IVs, Irthlingborough IIIs v Thrapston IIIs, Old Northamptonians Vs v Burton Latimer IIIs.

Division 12: Bugbrooke IIs v St Michaels 74 IIs, Obelisk Kingsthorpe IIs v Brixworth IVs, Old IIIs v Mears Ashby IIs, Old Grammarians IIIs v Grange Park, Spencer Bruerne IIs v Barby IIIs.

Division 13: Barton Seagrave IIs v West Haddon & Guilsborough IIs, Isham Zingari v S&L Corby IIIs, Northampton Saints Grendon IVs v Kettering IVs, Thrapston IVs v Geddington IVs, Weldon IIIs v Stony Stratford Vs.