Into the light and shining bright.

After what seemed an eternity since the last installment, Metro Exodus finally hit PS4, XB1 and Windows last week and it was worth the wait.

Much had been made of a bold new premise to take the hugely popular series out of its underground setting and above Moscow’s Metro system for the first time.

Many felt the best-in-class tension created by that setting was effectively Metro’s ace card. So it was a definite risk going overground, but one that pays off by broadening the game’s horizons and introducing - albeit less successfully - a sandbox element to your experience.

Exodus is the third instalment in the Metro video game series based on Dmitry Glukhovsky’s novels. It is set after the events of Metro: Last Light, on a post-apocalyptic Earth that has been devastated by a nuclear war.

You assume the role of “silent” protagonist Artyom with Anna returning as his wife. He becomes obsessed with proving that other human survivors exist outside of Moscow and flees the Metro to embark on a year-long journey in a bid to do just that.

The trademark tension is still there and the game’s characters and storyline suck you into this savage world.

Elements of the game can be a grind and if you are after a run and gun style FPS then Metro Exodus is not for you. Thrill-a-minute seekers might want to reconsider their position, though, because this game expertly puts the brakes on a genre that is fast leaving itself with nowhere to go, simply by slowing things down and begging the gamer to live every moment of a memorable journey.

Crafting and customisation put the player in charge and over time helps get a handle on some powerful weaponry which makes for brilliant and engrossing combat.

As I touched on earlier the biggest let down for me is the sandbox areas which ultimately feel like an unfinished, half-baked, unnecessary add-on. This is where the grind comes in as you can wonder around large, sparse areas without gaining too much from it at all - often wasting crucial resources on the admittedly terrifying mutants that await in the outer reaches.

Many reviews have highlighted technical issues and crashes as frustrations but (touch wood) I am yet to encounter anything of note. Another peeve of mine was the handling of “silent” Artyom whose voice we hear on reading to us but then remains silent the rest of the time. It was akin to an actor looking straight down the camera during a film that we sometimes see on outtakes, it just jarred.

Metro Exodus is still toe-curlingly frightening despite going superterranean and an exhilarating journey through a beautifully-crafted world set against a superb storyline.

It is a slower paced, more methodical FPS than we’ve been used to on this generation of consoles, but that’s no bad thing. And there is still plenty of fright left in the old dog for the adrenalin junkies.

Never dull, Metro Exodus rises to the surface like it has been there all along.

Roger Thompson, 47, was arrested in 2016 after a taxi journey from Northampton town centre to Pitsford ended with the cabbie reportedly driving away 'fearing for his life'.

But at the first day of Thompson's trial at Northampton Crown Court yesterday (February 18), the defendant waived his right to appear in court and did not send a barrister to represent his side in the case.

The Bounds taxi driver who took Thompson home at around 4am on June 17, 2016, told the jury what he witnessed.

On the journey from Northampton to Pitsford, Thompson reportedly became upset at the rising price of the cab fare.

Then, the driver said, a speeding car overtook the taxi.

The driver told the jury: "I told the passenger 'that was dangerous'. I was just making conversation. He replied 'that wasn't dangerous, you'll see dangerous when we get there'."

At Thompson's address, the 47-year-old reportedly asked if he could fetch money from inside to pay the £17.50 cab fare.

But when the driver next saw Thompson emerge from the cottage, he allegedly had a gun over his shoulder.

The driver said: "As soon as I saw him, I just drove off. I was scared for my life. My legs were shaking."

Police officers went to the cottage the next day where they found two air rifles, a deactivated shotgun and a deactivated musket.

The court heard how when he opened the door to the police, Thompson said: "I know what this is about. I had it with me when I came to the door."

He was charged with possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear or harm.

Thompson did not attend court yesterday and did not send a barrister to represent him.

His Honour Judge Rupert Mayo told the jury: "It is not up to the defendant to prove to you that he didn't do it, but for the prosecution to prove that he did do it."

The trial continues.

It comes after Dr Gabriel Okey worked without a licence for six weeks in 2016, including a period at HMP Bedford.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Services found he knowingly worked even though his licence had been revoked three months previously and so he had "abused his position of trust". The panel suspended him for a year in January 2018.

But a fresh tribunal has ruled that he can now return to work.

Panel chair Leighton Hughes said Dr Okey had shown "meaningful reflection" and full insight into his misconduct, and believed that the risk of repetition is low.

He said: "[The suspension] served to demonstrate to the public and the profession that misconduct of this nature was unacceptable.

"The tribunal was satisfied that this purpose has been met by the period of 12 months suspension from the medical register, and it is no longer necessary for this tribunal to make a finding of impairment on this basis."

During his suspension, Dr Okey prescribed methadone, antibiotics, antidepressants and asthma medication, among other drugs.

A man who was spotted in Northampton town centre carrying a bread knife and a claw hammer has been spared jail.

Members of the public rang the police in November last year when they saw Simon Lawrence by the memorial in Abington Square with blade and the hammer in each hand.

Northampton Crown Court heard yesterday (February 18) how when police arrived they found a member of the public had taken the potential weapons off the 23-year-old and put them down in a bag.

The officers arrested Lawrence, who reportedly smelled of liquor.

Lawrence pleaded guilty to possessing a blade in public.

But His Honour Judge Rupert Mayo found that the 23-year-old - of no fixed abode - would not benefit from being sent to jail and instead offered him rehabilitation work.

The judge said to Lawrence: "If I were to suspend your sentence and gave you the chance to work with people and sort out your problems, what would you say?"

Lawrence replied: "I would say thank you."

The judge said: "Then that's what I'm going to do."

Lawrence was handed a four-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months, a six-month alcohol treatment order and 40 days of rehab work.

Digital Northampton is a new independent organisation designed to support digital innovation in the area, and one of its aims is to keep the University of Northampton’s digitally savvy graduates from leaving the town to pursue a career elsewhere.

Digital talent cultivated at the University is all too often lured away to areas more commonly associated with digital innovation, meaning the town loses out on skilled workers and the potential to grow the local digital economy.

But Digital Northampton is looking to change that, by making graduates more aware of the opportunities on their doorstep, including jobs, industry placements and helping to forge a more connected digital community.

Iain Douglas, senior lecturer in Games Design at the university, said: “Northampton is a sleeping giant. It’s perfectly placed between the established digital cultures in Oxford, Leamington Spa, Cambridge and Birmingham and it’s on a direct line to London.

"For the most part it remains an affordable place to live and to start a business. Everyone involved in the Digital Northampton project recognises its massive potential and passionately wants to see the county take a position leading digital and social change.”

There are three proposed stages for Digital Northampton:

Stage 1 – digital connectivity

This has taken the form of a Twitter account and website, to promote what is happening in Northampton. The Twitter page has already connected more than 85 digital companies and there are plans to capitalise on this by holding a series of business breakfasts to help networking between all parties.

Stage 2 – symposium

The University of Northampton and partners will host a day long event in June, designed to bring digital creators together, establish connections, promote new technologies and their uses and establish interest in a regular series of larger events.

Stage 3 – physical hub

The creation of a digital hub for Northampton. This managed space would be a place for digital start-ups to use, a venue for events that promote local digital businesses and also the home of an incubator space. This space would be for students to use for their start-up companies and hold group projects which emulate the working environment.

Follow Digital Northampton on Twitter and visit the website for updates.

Roger Thompson, 47, was arrested in 2016 after a taxi journey from Northampton town centre to Pitsford ended with the cabbie reportedly driving away 'fearing for his life'.

But at the first day of Thompson's trial at Northampton Crown Court yesterday (February 18), the defendant waived his right to appear in court and did not send a barrister to represent his side in the case.

The Bounds taxi driver who took Thompson home at around 4am on June 17, 2016, told the jury what he witnessed.

On the journey from Northampton to Pitsford, Thompson reportedly became upset at the rising price of the cab fare.

Then, the driver said, a speeding car overtook the taxi.

The driver told the jury: "I told the passenger 'that was dangerous'. I was just making conversation. He replied 'that wasn't dangerous, you'll see dangerous when we get there'."

At Thompson's address, the 47-year-old reportedly asked if he could fetch money from inside to pay the £17.50 cab fare.

But when the driver next saw Thompson emerge from the cottage, he allegedly had a gun over his shoulder.

The driver said: "As soon as I saw him, I just drove off. I was scared for my life. My legs were shaking."

Police officers went to the cottage the next day where they found two air rifles, a deactivated shotgun and a deactivated musket.

The court heard how when he opened the door to the police, Thompson said: "I know what this is about. I had it with me when I came to the door."

He was charged with possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear or harm.

Thompson did not attend court yesterday and did not send a barrister to represent him.

His Honour Judge Rupert Mayo told the jury: "It is not up to the defendant to prove to you that he didn't do it, but for the prosecution to prove that he did do it."

The trial continues.

Keith Curle will ‘not shy away’ from Cobblers’ creative problems in the final third after they failed to score for the second successive home game on Saturday.

Held 0-0 by 17th-placed Crawley Town after losing 4-0 to Colchester two weeks earlier, Northampton have now netted just four goals in their past five matches, one scored by a defender (Aaron Pierre), one by a midfielder (Timi Elsnik) and two by striker Sam Hoskins.

They’ve bagged 41 goals in total this season, the 10th most in League Two, but Curle knows his team can’t sacrifice attacking intent in trying to keep things tight at the back, at least not in the long-term.

“We need be more clinical, more creative and braver in the final third and make good decisions,” he admitted after Saturday’s dreary goalless draw.

“With your flair players, when things don’t come off for them, they have a role and responsibility within the team that will earn us a point or earn us a clean sheet, which is the minimum.

“But we need to work more on the creative side of it in the final third. There needs to be an improvement, individually, collectively and recruitment-wise.”

It was not just the shortage of goals that concerned fans against Crawley on Saturday, but also the lack of ambition to try and win the game, with Curle waiting until the 85th minute to bring on a striker.

“I thought we looked a threat from set-pieces with some good deliveries into the box, we just needed that break,” he added. “We created the better chances in the first-half and if one of those goes in, the dynamics of the game change.

“But I’m not going to shy away from it, ultimately we need to be better in the final third. I’m pleased with a clean sheet and pleased to get the point that was on offer before the game.

“But we need to be more creative in midfield, we need to be more clinical in the final third and we have to be more adventurous.”

Tony McArdle and Brian Roberts were drafted in by Westminster to oversee the failing county council after it effectively declared itself bankrupt last year by ordering a section 114 notice, which prohibits news spending.

But with the in-year overspend reducing from £64.1million to £1.4million, the commissioners are confident the council will balance its book by the end of the financial year in late March.

In a letter sent to all councillors prior to the 2019/20 budget being set this week, the signed letter reads: “For the current year the monthly revenue monitoring report is showing the current overspend to be £1.4m and we expect the council to break even by the end of the year.

“This is a substantial reduction on the projected overspend at the time of issuing the s114 Notice in July 2018.”

The in-year savings have however had a huge helping hand from the Government, who granted the county council permission to use £70million of capital monies for their revenue funding. Such spending is not normally allowed in local government.

The capital dispensation has allowed the council to wipe out the £39.7million deficit that was being brought forward from 2017/18.

The commissioners go on to say: “In addition, further scrutiny of the measures taken by the council to close the 2017/18 accounts has identified the injudicious use of earmarked general fund reserves of £4.4m. We are pleased that the council proposes to reinstate these reserves by further use of the capitalisation dispensation.”

Chief executive Theresa Grant said the impact on frontline services would have been ‘pretty catastrophic’ had the capital dispensation now been allowed by the government.

Even still, the commissioners are predicting further financial prudency for 2019/20. The budget, being determined on Thursday, has an increase in council tax of 4.99 per cent, which is beyond the 2.99 threshold normally allowed without a referendum. It will raise an additional £5.8million for the council.

The letter adds: “We are concerned about the potential workload on the council in leading and supporting the work on establishing the new unitaries. We would expect the focus of the cabinet and the officer leadership team to continue to be on improving services, especially Children’s Services and delivering savings totalling £41.4m in 2019/20.

“Even with the actions taken to date the financial resilience of the council remains fragile. It will continue to operate with a minimum general balance and only very limited earmarked reserves and provisions.

“Although the financial situation remains serious, we believe the budget to be considered by the cabinet at its meeting on February 14 is credible and achievable, subject to confirmation of the capital receipts, and therefore it has our endorsement. This should result in the council producing a balanced outturn in 2019/20.”

George Furbank is now realising the potential Chris Boyd saw in him when the Kiwi boss walked through the door at Saints last summer.

Furbank has been in fantastic form this season, starting 10 games and scoring three tries in the process.

The 22-year-old was on the scoresheet last Saturday, dotting down in the sensational 67-17 Gallagher Premiership success against Sale Sharks at Franklin's Gardens.

And the full-back, who covered at fly-half for 60 minutes against Sale after Dan Biggar was forced off with an injury early on, just keeps going from strength to strength.

But that has come as no surprise to Boyd, who earmarked him as one to watch many months ago.

"George is a really good footballer," said Boyd, who joined Saints from Super Rugby side the Hurricanes prior to the start of the season.

"He's not a big fella but he's very tough, very skilful, understands the game and has a really good feel for the game.

"The way most teams are playing the game at the moment, the difference between the 15 and the 10 in the phase game is not very much so to have him sitting in behind a group of forwards as a playmaker from 15, he's very good at that as well.

"When I came here there were three or four guys that took my eye, looked nicely skilled and he was one of them.

"He had to wait for a little while for his opportunity but now he's taken it and he's done a pretty decent job."

Another youngster who has starred for Saints in recent weeks is Rory Hutchinson.

The 23-year-old centre also scored against Sale, showcasing his skill and composure once again.

"Rory is also a talented, skilful player and he just needs to bring some consistency in his game and up his defence a wee bit," Boyd said.

"He is also a good lad."

It doesn’t matter how many times I see this musical, I always think I’ll keep my eyes on the actor/puppeteer to look for any slips. And then your eyes gradually drift to the creatures of fur. And you can’t help but look at them.

Telling the story of the idealistic but youthful Princeton, he shows him moving into Avenue Q and his trials and tribulations as he interacts with the residents, including Kate Monster, the engaged Christmas Eve and Brian, rowing roommates Rod and Nicky, their landlord Gary Coleman and the ebullient Trekkie Monster.

It’s a testament to the brilliance of the performers that my brother, who was watching alongside me, scarcely realised that the actors were doubling up at certain times until the curtain call.

Lawrence Smith brings both the enthusiastic Princeton and the closeted Rod to life rather marvellously, while Cecily Redman gives us a very different side of her talents, one as the sweet and innocent Kate Monster and another character, far less cute with a name that I can’t possibly name in full.

Saori Ora is also rather brilliant as the fabulously named Christmas Eve, getting plenty of laughs for the extra embellishments that have been added into this production.

Even by brother commented to me afterwards, having never seen the show in full but only seeing clips on YouTube, that there were lots of extra moments in the show during the musical numbers which have been added. Unlike my brother, seeing the extra little touches by this talented cast gave it an added freshness while retaining the charm of the original production.

It does help that a lot of the songs are catchy as anything, and I expect I’ll get a lot of odd looks if I absent-mindedly start singing in public 'Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist'. But such is the joy and comedy of the songs that you can’t help but sing them.

This is a really great show and one that is really easy to like. It’s the perfect antidote if you are feeling a little down. It’s just a shame that it is only for now.

Avenue Q can be seen at Northampton’s Royal & Derngate until Saturday, February 23 (not appropriate for a younger audience). Tickets for the show can be booked by calling the box office on 01604 624811 or visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk

This money was spent on 142 food bank users who access Weston Favell Centre Food Bank, giving them a slice of toast and a cup of tea, some of whom have not eaten for a few days.

A total of £249 was spent on hot food in January this year alone. This was a 232 per cent rise, and £174 year-on-year increase on what was spent in January 2018.

Chair of Emmanuel Church Group, Nick Bewley-Tippler, said: "On average, a client will spend about 90 minutes with us. Most of that time will be waiting for their parcel, and some will be time spent with a referrer who will assess their need. On arrival, they are offered basic food, which is usually a slice of buttered toast or a toasted teacake and a tea or coffee.

"That works out at between £1.30 and £2.25 per person. The number of people fed is higher than the number of clients, because clients often bring family members with them. It’s also the case that some people, particularly single mothers, haven’t eaten at all for several days. In their case, we will provide a proper meal for them, if they want it.

"One of the reasons that the cost of provision increased out of proportion to the number of people fed in January 2019, is that we were having to provide more expensive food, for example, beans on toast or egg on toast to more people."

But it is not just emergency food parcels and hot meals they fund. In January this year, £852 has been spent almost entirely on helping people in fuel poverty, but the food bank now even pays for pet food and clothes if people are in need.

"As well as pet food, we provide for special dietary needs or sanitary products (particularly nappies), even shoes, clothes, and transport fares, out of the Benevolent Fund, but the majority of use, particularly in January this year, is fuel poverty support."

Even more shocking, perhaps, is that the food bank has handed out 172 emergency food bank parcels this January, compared to 53 during the same time last year. A year-on-year increase of 224.5 per cent.

This stark reality follows the roll-out of Universal Credit launched in Northampton back in November, volunteers say. Anyone applying for any combination of housing benefit, income support, jobseekers’ allowance, employment and support allowance, child tax credit or working tax credit will instead now have to apply for Universal Credit.

The all-in-one benefit, which was intended to simplify the welfare system and get jobseekers back into work when it was first announced in 2011, has led to more people being out of pocket in the parish and reliant on getting their food from the Trussell Trust food bank at the church.

In 2017 four tonnes of food was handed out, almost three times less than the 11 tonnes needed to feed those who were living on the breadline in 2018.

To pledge some money towards Weston Favell Food Bank: click here.

The pair will expand their Soo Yoga into Sol Central, and will open a 'wellness facility' plus a vegan cafe alongside it. All three will occupy what was once the BST mixed martial arts academy - which has now moved to Sixfields - on the first floor

Ben and Kristina have signed a 15-year lease, with a nine-month rent-free period and a break at 10 years.

Richard Starr, executive property director at Palace Capital, the property investment firm that owns the leisure complex said: "Since acquiring Sol Northampton, we have undertaken a number of enhancements tailored to the scheme and are now working to improve the offering so that it holds greater appeal to a wider catchment that includes the affluent surrounds of the town.

"While the leisure sector has gone through somewhat of a difficult period of late, we are very pleased with our latest signing, which is fully in line with our strategy, and there has been encouraging interest in the remaining space which gives us confidence for the future of the asset.”

Soo Yoga Group will pay rent of £85,000 per annum, with a rise at first review to £100,000 per annum.

Completed in 2002, current occupiers of Sol Central include Vue Entertainment, which has a 10-screen cinema at the scheme, Accor Hotels and Fitness for Less.

All drivers hate bumpy roads and potholes, and now government statistics reveal how much of Northamptonshire’s road network which may need repairs.

It may surprise you that just 3% of Northamptonshire’s 315 miles of council-run A roads were judged to be in need of maintenance, only 9.5 miles.

Road inspections were carried out in the 12 months to March 2018.

The examinations, done by scanner machines and human inspection, identify sections of road worn by use or affected by ruts, bumps or potholes. It’s not clear from the figures how badly damaged the roads are.

The Department for Transport data also shows that 5% of the B and C roads were in need of work.

In total, there are 2,426 miles of minor roads in Northamptonshire.

The area in the East Midlands with the worst A roads is Nottingham.

The highway inspections use a classification called the Road Condition Indicator. This categorises a road as green, amber or red, based on ruts and bumps.

If a part of a route is branded red it should be checked more regularly as it is likely to require maintenance.

Across Britain, 717 miles of council-run A roads were deemed in need of maintenance.

RAC Breakdown spokesman Rod Dennis said: “These figures will come as little surprise to both drivers and those on two wheels who continue to have to put up with using sub-standard roads.

“We believe Britain’s pothole problem has been caused by years of under investment, especially when it comes to local roads – with councils having to make some tough decisions about where to prioritise spending.

“It’s a sad reality that investment hasn’t been sufficient to guarantee the quality of these roads.”

The figures also show that road conditions are roughly the same as they were five years ago, when a similar proportion of Northamptonshire’s A roads were in need of repairs.

These statistics only refer to Northamptonshire’s local authority run roads. The majority of roads in the area are the responsibility of the council while Highways England is in charge of the maintenance for motorways and some major A roads.

“Everything is going to be okay ... things will be different but they will be okay.”

This was the promise to his family from a dad who died just three hours after the birth of his youngest child.

Brett Kinloch, 31, originally from Northampton, lost his fight against a brain tumour on Monday, February 11, on the same day that wife Nicola went into labour with their third daughter.

Just 50 minutes after giving birth at Luton & Dunstable Hospital, Nicola, her mum Jill, and newborn baby Ariya were on the M1 to Milton Keynes Hospital to see Brett before he died.

“It sounds horrific,” said Nicola, “but it could have been a lot worse, she could have been born 24 hours later.

“I take a lot of comfort in the fact he did meet her.

“I laid her on top of him and she had a cuddle. He could hear what was going on and he knew we were there, I’ll always be grateful for that.”

The family – Nicola and daughters Freya, four, Ella, 18 months, and little Ariya – live in Linslade, Bedfordshire, and they have been comforted with round-the-clock support from family, friends and the community.

Nicola said: “I can never thank the NHS enough – the call-out doctor called Tim who kept Brett alive, the paramedics that took him over there... there were nurses from all areas of the hospital that just wanted to do everything they could.

“The midwives Hayley and Laura at L&D Hospital worked tirelessly and compassionately to get me on the road as soon as possible.

“There was no-one at the NHS who didn’t go above and beyond to help us.”

Born in Northampton, PE teacher Brett was head of department at Cedars Upper School and met his wife when they began their PE teacher careers at Milton Keynes Academy in 2010.

Four years ago, he was given the diagnosis of a grade 4 glioblastoma brain tumour shortly after the birth of his eldest daughter. Originally given a prognosis of just 12 months, Brett battled hard to recover and the family self-funded treatment abroad.

But just before Christmas, while expecting their third child, the couple was given the devastating news that the tumour had regrown in an area of the brain that was inoperable.

From then on, Brett’s condition deteriorated.

Nicola said: “Brett never never made excuses and he lived life to the full. He was still working three weeks before he died, he wanted to provide for his family.

“He loved life and he never let [his illness] stop him living. We went on holidays abroad, we took the kids to Disneyland. Even when he could no longer drive, he got a bus pass and would take Freya out.

“Freya is absolutely devastated. We lost my grandmother last year and so she has some understanding of what it is to lose someone.

“She used to call him her ‘superhero handsome prince’ and they did everything together. He was such a good dad.”

A family friend also asked the Chronicle to pay tribute to the “fantastic care” that Nicola gave to her husband throughout his illness.

Nicola added: “The offers of help and support from our family, friends and even complete strangers have been so lovely and humbling – I appreciate every one of them.”

Brain Tumour Research have been thanked for their ongoing support and the family wishes to highlight the charity’s ‘Wear a Hat Day’ on March 29.

An online fundraiser for the Kinloch family has also been set up at www.gofundme.com/support-the-kinloch-family.

As of yesterday afternoon it had already raised £9,235 of its £20,000 goal.

Police officers have released a CCTV image of a man wanted in connection with a burglary in a Northamptonshire village.

On Sunday, December 23, between 1.45am and 6am when the unknown offender/s forced entry into the property in Preston Deanery Road in Quinton via the back door.

Once inside they stole items including a bank card which was later used at a nearby petrol station.

The man in the image or anyone who recognises him should call Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Since it was founded in 1888, the top-tier of English football has been hotly contested, molding into the English Premier League that we love and follow today. Tallying up the final points total from each season since its founding, we have compiled an overall total for all 65 sides whom have taken part in the top division from 1888, in its various manifestations, taking the information from worldfootball.net

Centre-back Ash Taylor has been impressed by new signing Charlie Goode and the swift impact he’s made on the Cobblers defence.

Signed on loan from Scunthorpe United last month, Goode was in fine form during Town’s recent success on the road to Tranmere and Lincoln, and he was also the overwhelming choice for man of the match when Cobblers hosted Crawley on Saturday, despite playing out of position at right-back.

The 23-year-old looks set be a regular in Keith Curle’s team from now until the end of the season when his loan contract ends.

“Charlie’s a great lad and he’s settled in very well,” said Taylor. “He’s got a lot of confidence for a young lad but he has plenty of experience.

“He knows the role and he’s comfortable in the position. He’s physical and aggressive and that’s all you can ask for. He put in a great performance on Saturday.

“The back four was solid again and it was another clean sheet. We haven’t had too many of them but we defended resolutely away from home and hopefully we can build on it.”

Taylor’s own form has also improved in the last few weeks, although he admits the Cobblers remain far from the finished product as a team.

“You’ve got to be adaptable, especially in the modern game,” he added. “You come up against different formations and different players and the gaffer looks at each game and he’ll see what we need to do.

“But it’s a work in progress. There’s been too much change with players in and players out and managers in and out and the staff as well.

“So it’s a work in progress. What we wanted at the start of the season was promotion but obviously things have changed and it’s about building for next year and putting a strong foundation for a promotion challenge.”

Next up for Town is a trip to Stevenage this weekend. “We’ll go into the game with confidence, especially with our recent away form,” continued Taylor. “We’ve been pretty solid and I thought we should have beaten them when we played at home.

“It was unfortunate we didn’t but we’ll take confidence and the positives from recent games and go there looking for the win.”

Consider these propositions – you ski hard and fast and you like to après ski and party the same way; you like to cruise leisurely blues and reds and would prefer to take it easy in the evening in a good restaurant; you need a good ski school and nursery slopes to get the kids up and running in a family-orientated resort for when you are not on the piste.

Sounds like you need three very different destinations for your hard-earned ski holiday – well, not necessarily so, because the combined resorts of Ischgl and Kappl in Austria can comfortably meet all three requirements at the same time. Let me explain…..

Ischgl, some 90 minutes from Innsbruck, has long held the well-deserved reputation as one of Austria’s pre-eminent party towns – the après ski bars are packed and buzzing from mid-afternoon as skiers come off the slopes, while a variety of establishments will keep the most ardent of clubbers busy until the early hours, if that’s your thing.

And then, of course, there’s the live music that bookends the ski season – concerts that have become legendary over the years. Ischgl pretty much wrote the book about about big, on piste concerts – quite a few places do it now, but the Austrian resort has been doing it longer, bigger and better than anyone else. Not a place to do anything by halves, Ischgl launched its then groundbreaking end of season live Top of The Mountain concerts at the end of March in 1995 with no less a rock superstar than Elton John. There’s also a big gig to kick off the season in late November, helping emphasise how long the slopes are open every winter.

Elton having set a pretty high bar, they have followed with a swathe of huge names from rock and pop over the next nearly-25 years with such household names as Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, Diana Ross, Bon Jovi, Rod Stewart, Sting, Lionel Richie, Scissor Sisters, Stereophonics, Katy Perry, Mariah Carey, Deep Purple, Muse, Elton again, Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue and The Beach Boys, to name but a few. This year the ski season comes to a close with Lenny Kravitz headlining the Top of the Mountain concert on April 30.

So one way or another, Ischgl is a pretty happening place if you want to party and have fun – and that’s before you consider the skiing, which, after all, is the reason most people are there. I’m happy to report that the skiing is pretty damn good too, especially this year with some awesome snowfalls making for nigh-on perfect conditions. The Silvretta area lift pass gives access to Ischgl, Kappl and Galtür (a 20-minute free ski bus away), 330 km of pistes, amazing off-piste and some of the best snowboarding in the Alps. The area also enjoys excellent snow records until late into the season.

The resort makes the most of its proximity to the Swiss resort of Samnaun - a duty-free haven which historically encouraged contraband across the border. Marked 'smugglers routes' can now be followed using the iSki Ischgl App, with the most extensive 'gold' circuit covering 35.7km kilometres of piste, with a total vertical of 6,463m. Those who successfully complete their chosen circuit can enter prize draws every day, weekly and for each season.

For advanced skiers there's a good range of on-piste blacks and some fantastic touring routes, while intermediates can test themselves on the slopes of the Palinkopf area which offers an excellent selection of red runs, including some particularly challenging ones.

Which brings us back to our second original category – the blue/red cruisers with a taste for a more relaxed evening of cocktails followed by good food rather than dancing on the tables and partying into the early hours… Ischgl ably caters for them too. We stayed at the stylish and comfortable Hotel Brigitte, set a little apart, but still only a short walk from the buzzing town centre and offering a relaxed cocktail bar and a restaurant with an extensive and varied menu if you have opted for the half board option.

Venture out into the town and you have a wide palate to tempt you, from Burger King at one end of the spectrum to the fabulous gourmet experience at the 5 star Trofana Royal Hotel, where Michelin-starred chef Martin Sieberer creates mouthwatering works of art… I’m glad to say we experienced the latter, and it was a stunning delight to all the senses – a meal I will remember for many years to come. Of course meals like this come with a price tag to match, but there are plenty of excellent restaurants to enjoy in Ischgl for a less stratospheric outlay, without resorting to a Whopper at Burger King.

Ischgl is really a resort for intermediate and advanced skiers and boarders – but if you are looking for somewhere to holiday with the kids, there’s Kappl just up the road and on the Silvretta ski pass. Named The Sunny Mountain, Kappl has a more modest 42 kilometres of slopes – mostly aimed at intermediates and a lot more laid back and relaxed than neighbouring Ischgl.

With a fantastic ski school it’s the perfect place to get the kids confident and up to speed while you cruise the blues, reds and friendly blacks – or maybe even some of the exceptional ungroomed and off piste opportunities on offer.

If you tire of the skiing, Ischgl has plenty of alternatives to offer you, including tobogganing, snow-shoeing, ice skating and especially an exciting zipwire, the Ischgl Skyfly, where you can fly down along a cable, suspended 50m above the ground, two kilometres toward the valley in the direction of Ischgl and reaching speeds of up to 85km/h. The Skyfly’s not cheap at 39 Euros a pop, or 25 Euros for kids, but it’s an exhilarating experience… and hardly scary at all!

There’s no getting away from the fact that Ischgl is one of the top party capitals of the Alps – but it is so much more than that, and really does offer something for pretty much every category of skier. Put it on your bucket list!

Travel facts

Inghams is offering a seven-night ski holiday on a half board basis at the four-star superior Hotel Brigitte in Ischgl, Austria, from £1,189 per person based on two sharing. Price includes return flights from London Gatwick to Innsbruck and airport transfers. The package is valid for travel departing on 23rd March 2019. To book, visit www.inghams.co.uk/ski-holidays or call 01483 791 114.

For independent travel, fly easyJet (Gatwick, Heathrow, Manchester, Bristol) or BA (Gatwick, Heathrow) to Innsbruck. Use the booking facility on www.ischgl.com or www.kappl.com for a range of accommodation from apartments through to 5* hotels. Or book direct with hotels. For example, a direct booking at Hotel Brigitte is from €126 pp per night half board www.hotel-brigitte-ischgl.at

The Silvretta skipass, covering the four resorts of Ischgl, Galtür, Kappl and See is from €256.50 for 6 days. The Resort Options Pass is from €240 which gives four days in Ischgl and two in neighbouring resorts. Skyfly is €39 pp per ride.

The main UK tour operators to Ischgl are Inghams, Crystal, Ski Solutions and Zenith Holidays.

Saints have added another hot prospect to their Academy for next season with Fiji-born No.8 Tui Uru signing a deal at Franklin's Gardens.

The 21-year-old will join from National 2 South side Bury St Edmunds after catching the eye with a series of barnstorming displays.

Uru is regular member of the Eastern Counties set-up and has also represented England Counties at Under-20s level in his fledgling career so far.

“I am delighted to be joining Northampton Saints, and to get the opportunity to develop as a player using the wonderful facilities at Franklin Gardens,” Uru said.

“It’s clear that Chris Boyd is looking to bring through young players through at the club which is really exciting to be a part of; and I’m looking forward to working with him and the rest of the squad from the start of pre-season”.

Uru is the second new signing of the season for Saints Academy, with centre Reuben Bird-Tulloch already putting pen to paper on a deal to switch to Saints from Saracens last month.

And academy manager Simon Sinclair is relishing the prospect of seeing how much ball-carrying No.8 Uru can develop once he is introduced into a full-time environment at Saints.

Sinclair said: “Tui has enormous potential and the thing that has impressed me most about him is his attitude; he’s humble and dedicated to becoming a better player.

“He has strong attributes for a No.8 – he carries hard, he’s quick from the base, and his soft skills are impressive.

“He trains every day before going to a full-time job, in addition to his rugby training with Bury St Edmunds, so we’re extremely excited to see how far he can go within a professional set-up here in Northampton.”

The swimming pool, located onsite at The Duston School, has been shut since July 6 due to an ongoing issue with the flooring there, which has meant Northampton Swimming Club has had to move its lessons elsewhere.

In the past both Northamptonshire County Council and the school have said the other one is responsible for the delay in reopening. But now Duston Labour has said they want to get to the bottom of this issue once and for all.

On Facebook, Duston Labour said: "We are still extremely concerned about the lack of action being taken to get Duston Swimming Pool reopened and made available for local people to use.

"This facility, known to many people as the Timken Pool, has been a place for local children to learn to swim for many years.

"A large number of local community groups were users of the pool and we believe that it is hugely important that Duston doesn't lose this facility."

In the most recent post on September 29 the Duston Swimming Pool said on Facebook: "Unfortunately, we have been informed that the pool will remain closed until at least the end of October - sorry all." No updates have been given since.

Duston Labour's post continues: "Getting to the bottom of who owns the pool and therefore who has responsibility for carrying out repairs is clearly the biggest hurdle and so that is where we are going to start.

"If you have any information that could be helpful to the campaign, please get in touch. You can comment below or message Duston Labour on this page.

"Duston Labour's campaign to get your pool re-opened starts right now."

Headteacher at The Duston School, Sam Strickland, said: "It is a shame that at no point have the Duston Labour Group made any effort to contact the school and discuss this matter with us. To date, I have spoken to the Chronicle & Echo twice before about this matter. Unfortunately, NCC created an issue with the pool at The Duston School last August (2018). The pool had to be closed as a result.

"Since September 2018 The Duston School has sought to engage with NCC, seeking assurances that they would rectify the issue that they had caused. It was not until January 2019 that any real traction was made in speaking to NCC.

"Councillor Matt Golby has met with me to discuss this matter in full as well. The Duston School has been assured by NCC that a full series of work will be undertaken to the pool facility over the next six to seven weeks."

Northamptonshire County Council has been approached for comment.

READ MORE: County council and Northampton school at loggerheads over shut swimming pool