The publication has reassured flyers that screening requirements for passenger flights to and from the UK will remain the same after Brexit regardless of a deal or no deal scenario.

The EU has also stated that it will recognise UK passenger and baggage screening and include it in the One Stop Security system for passengers and cargo. This means that people and goods flying from the UK will continue to be able to transfer at an EU airport for an onward flight without experiencing additional security re-screening procedures.

The UK's aviation security standards and procedures are currently based on EU regulations. These set down common minimum standards to keep passengers safe on flights departing from EU Member States. If the UK leaves the EU on March 29 without an agreement in place then existing aviation security regulations and procedures will be retained in domestic law under the EU Withdrawal Act. This will ensure that the UK continues to have a robust aviation security system no matter what our future relationship with the EU is.

Read more: Holidaying in Europe after Brexit

Witnesses are being sought by police after a man sadly died following a collision between two HGVs on the A45 Flore bypass.

Emergency services were called to the collision, which occurred between Flore and Weedon, around 700 metres from the A5/A45 roundabout, shortly before 7.30am today (Thursday).

The collision involved two articulated lorries.

The driver of one vehicle was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

AA Traffic News this morning reported that two lorries were involved and there was a fuel spillage on the A45 Flore bypass both ways from the M1 junction 16 in Daventry to the A5 in Weedon.

East Midlands Ambulance Service sent a paramedic in an ambulance car and a crewed ambulance to the scene.

Northamptonshire Police, investigating the collision, is appealing for witnesses to get in touch.

Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident is asked to call the Drivewatch Hotline on 0800 174615.

WHSmith has agreed to stay in the Grosvenor Centre and River Island, which has a store in Abington Street is to increase its floorspace by moving inside the shopping centre.

Grosvenor Centre manager James Roberts said he was always looking at ways to grow and improve the shopping experience.

Although the deals do not bring new high street names to the town, Mr Roberts said they were a vote of long-term confidence from current brands

He said: "There are still positive news stories around retail here. There are still retailers willing to invest and be here.

"WHSmith is staying with us. They're renegotiated their lease and are moving into a newly-fitted store.

"And we've got River Island coming to us, over two floors.

"This is showing commitment to the centre and the town that they are remaining, that there's a market here for retailers.

"This is positive encouragement of people investing in the town."

It is not yet known whether River Island will take over all of the WHSmith store, which is currently over two floors.

River Island has been approached for comment about its decision to leave Abington Street.

Residents living in St Marys and Berkeley House have raised a number of concerns with their blocks, some of which NPH cannot address through refurbishment work due to the extent of the work needed.

NPH is currently talking to residents on a proposal to redevelop this area and build 126 new homes - but 82 flats would need to be knocked down in two streets to do so.

Today (Thursday, February 21) Northampton Partnership Homes sent an intention to demolish notice to all residents in the two blocks.

Receiving the legal notice does not mean demolition will start anytime soon, but it does let residents know formally that their home could be demolished as part of the proposal.

Helen Town, assistant director of asset management and development at NPH said: “We understand that residents will find this news unsettling and it will cause significant upheaval for individuals and families.

"The welfare of our residents is our priority and we have a team of specialist staff in place to support each household according to their specific needs.

"We are talking to everyone affected by these proposals and their views will be taken into account before we submit a planning application for the development."

If in due course planning is approved, NPH promise much improved accommodation for existing residents as well as over 40 additional council homes in the area, many of which will be suitable for families.

Mrs Town added: “We are currently considering a proposal to demolish blocks at Berkeley House and St Mary’s Court to build 126 new homes on the site.

"We have been to meet individual residents over the last ten days, and are still meeting with all residents at St Mary’s and Berkeley House to talk about these proposals for the two buildings and hear about what residents think.

"For some time, residents have raised concerns about the condition of the two buildings, the security, lack of parking and green space. There is also a need for larger homes and we have been looking at how we can address these issues.”

Since 2016, Northampton Partnership Homes (NPH) has been working with Spring Boroughs residents to invest in their homes and the neighbourhood.

This includes new council homes, the refurbishment of existing homes, as well as environmental and landscaping works.

Northampton Borough Council intends to demolish the following properties:

1-36 Berkeley House, Castle Street, Spring Boroughs, Northampton, NN1 2RQ

37-60 Berkeley House, Castle Street, Spring Boroughs, Northampton, NN1 2RQ

1-22 St Mary's Court, Horsemarket, Spring Boroughs, Northampton, NN1 2SL

Conservative county councillors have voted against giving a pay rise to council staff at this morning’s budget meeting.

The ruling administration knocked back an amendment by the Liberal Democrats to use the £2.1m the authority is proposing to put into a contingency for the 2019/20 financial year to give a two per cent pay rise to staff instead.

In a recorded vote all of the Conservatives councillors present, excepting Cllr Dudley Hughes who abstained, voted against the proposal which would have given the biggest pay rise to staff since before 2010. Every other councillor voted for the pay rise.

The authority is currently predicting a £1.4m overspend for the current financial year with three months to go. It has reduced the former £64.1m overspend it was facing in July in part from a special allowance by the Government which has allowed it to use £70m from capital receipts to cover last year’s multi-million-pound deficit.

Conservative leader Matt Golby repeated earlier statements that the pay rise may come at a later date if finances allow.

Lib Dems leader Chris Stanbra said: “I’m proposing an amendment to the administration’s budget proposal that would delete the contingency of £2.1m in the budget and replace it with a two per cent pay increase for staff commencing on April 1, 2019.

“Please, please, please do something tangible to show our staff that you support them.”

Union’s Alvaerz Wilkinson spoke at the meeting and said staff were now fed up and needed a pay rise.

The Labour opposition’s finance portfolio holder, Mick Scrimshaw, said: “Staff are the council’s greatest asset, and the leadership again and again publicly acknowledge this, and have made a commitment to increase staff pay “if it can be afforded” and hopefully this year.

“Why isn’t it in the budget? If you’re confident about this budget, and you say you are, then show that confidence actually means something by releasing money for the desperately needed staff pay rise.

“I’m not talking about the senior management and consultants sometimes on hundreds of pounds a day, but the hard working social workers, admin staff and others at the bottom of the pay grades who have effectively taken pay cuts for years.”

After the meeting Unison's assistant branch secretary Lorna Smith said: "We feel very sad and concerned about what is effectively a pay cut for staff. We’ve seen assurances broken before, for example on our incremental pay and the implementation of unpaid leave. Unison is also concerned that this inability to pay a wage rise in line with inflation gives a message that the budget set is not robust. It also gives a message to staff here and in other counties that this is still not a secure place to work, and a pay rise would have helped rebuild trust for staff and members of the public."

At the start of this week chief executive Theresa Grant told all staff their first day’s sick leave would now be paid.

The unions are still campaigning for a return to national pay and conditions, which were removed in 2013.

Officers from Leicestershire Police have been assisting with enquiries into serious crime in the Duston area of Northampton.

The officers are working on an investigation being run by the major crime team at the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, though both Northants and Leicestershire police forces are remaining tight-lipped as to the exact nature of the probe.

Householders are being reminded to always ask for photographic ID from unexpected callers.

If you are unsure about a caller’s identity, don’t feel you are being rude by turning them away, genuine callers won’t mind.

Police officers carry photographic ID and warrant cards which they should show when they introduce themselves.

Northamptonshire County Council has set its budget for 2019/20 after councillors voted it through this afternoon - and it includes a 4.99 per cent council tax rise for residents.

Councillors agreed to take up an offer from the Government in raising the council tax levels above the usually permitted 2.99 per cent, and the additional sums will bring in an extra £5.8million.

The county council says that the extra income will result in an additional £475,000 to permanently reinstate the previous winter gritting and winter maintenance of roads, and an extra £1.2million for its children’s services.

It will see the average Band D property in the county pay £1,236.10 a year. The county council has been unable to increase its adult social care precept, however, as it has already increased this by six per cent over the last two financial years.

The budget also sees £23.1million in efficiency savings in adult social services, and £10.3million from children’s services.

Opposition councillors refused to back the budget though after a Liberal Democrat amendment to give staff a two per cent salary increase was refused by the Conservative administration.

Conservative leader Matt Golby said the setting of this budget brought to an end ‘the single most challenging financial year in the history of the council’ and had stabilised since its ‘darkest hour’ last year when a section 114 notice was ordered banning new expenditure.

He said: “The financial struggles we have gone through have been reported across the globe. The great name of this council has been used in a negative way to highlight poor finances. But today we are drawing a line under that, and will instill public pride back into this county.

“This budget moves us on in terms of sustainability as we move forwards towards the unitary authorities. It marks a significant new chapter and it’s time to stop talking the council down and focus on how we have stabilised finances since those dark hours last year.”

The Conservatives also said that the budget includes investment in Adult Social Care centres and homes to provide new accommodation and services for older people, those with learning disabilities and mental health requirements to increase capacity and therefore reduce the reliance on costly external placements.

But Labour councillor Mick Scrimshaw, the chair of the overview and scrutiny committee, said that the budget was more of a ‘financial prayer than a proper plan’ and that the party could not support it when it had "so many holes" in it.

He said: “By setting this fragile and shaky budget today the council will effectively be simply going through a tick-box exercise to meet their legal requirements, and I suspect the work on how this council gets through the next financial year will start in earnest next week, but I predict that within the first month or two of the new financial year cabinet will already be getting reports of budget slippage.

“It’s a Conservative budget, hoping to deal with a Conservative mess brought on by Conservative decisions and Conservative policies.”

As well as the Government approving the extra council tax rise, it also allowed the county council to use £70million of its capital funds for its revenue budget, a move unprecedented in local government.

This allowed the council to wipe out its £39.7m deficit from 2017/18, put £20million back into its depleted reserves and allow for any contingencies.

Liberal Democrat councillor Dennis Meredith referred to this when he said: “Don’t go crowing about how this budget is good when you’ve been helped out by your mates at Westminster.”

But Councillor Longley said the decision had been "a vote of confidence" from the Government that the county council was getting "back on track".

He also confirmed that they were "expecting" to balance the in-year budget for 2018/19, but still had £1.4million of savings to find before the end of the financial year. He said he would "not make promises" that the in-year budget would definitely balance.

Cobblers teenager Camron McWilliams has joined county neighbours Corby Town on a youth loan.

Joining McWilliams at Steel Park will be midfielder Jack Newell who has made the move on a work experience basis.

The Steelman are currently battling for promotion from the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One Central, sitting third in the table, eight points behind leaders Peterborough Sports.

McWilliams, who signed his first professional contract with the Cobblers last month, and Newell are available to make their debuts in Corby’s trip to Kempston Rovers on Saturday.

The pair are the latest Town youngsters to be loaned out to get valuable experience of men’s football.

Youth team striker Jack Daldy is with United Counties League Premier Division outfit Wellingborough Town for a work experience spell, while midfielder Matthew Slinn is also on work experience in the UCL with Cogenhoe United.

Scott Pollock, who made his Cobblers first team debut at Cambridge United last month, is with Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Central side St Neots on work experience, where he is joined by defender and Town team-mate Ryan Hughes.

Goalkeeper Bradley Lashley is also at Wellingborough Town, Joe Jarvis is on work experience at Leicester Nirvana and young professional Sean Whaler is on loan at Banbury United.

There are two types of temporary transfer open to players under the age of 18.

Those who have signed professional contracts can move out on a youth loan, while those who are not on professional contracts can make a temporary move on a work experience basis.

Both youth loan and work experience moves have a degree of flexibility and allow the player to play for both their temporary club and the Cobblers youth team during the period of their agreement.

“Playing regular first team football out on loan or work experience is an important part of the development for these boys,” said Cobblers boss Keith Curle.

“It forms part of the development plan that each player has.

“These boys have proved they can be successful playing against players of their own age and now we want to see how they get on playing first team football, where results matter, and against players who are more experienced and physically stronger.

“It also gives them experience of working with different team-mates, different managers, different personalities and they will learn a huge amount.

“Of course we work closely with Kieran Scarff (academy director) and his staff to ensure the players are getting the maximum benefit from these spells and we monitor their progress closely.

“We should also remember that Jay Williams and Morgan Roberts are also part of this age group and they were involved with the first team last Saturday.

“I think it shows the strength of the infrastructure of the club that we have so many players out and about playing first team football while the under 18 side still managed to secure an excellent win in the Merit League last weekend.”

The Town Under-18s were 3-1 winners over Oxford United at Moulton College last weekend, and this Saturday travel to Luton Town.

The Press, in Abington Square, stopped trading on January 27 after the owners announced they would be leaving in a Facebook post just three days before.

But within days, the restaurant was snapped up by The Lion Group, which also operates the Wedgwood on nearby Abington Street.

At the time, The Lion Group announced they would be able to reopen for business by February 11.

However, the pub's doors remain closed as of today (February 21).

The Lion Group has been contacted for a comment about when they hope to see The Press open again for business.

Speaking in late January, a spokeswoman for the Lion Group said: "The team - led by award-winning chef Paul Taylor - want to revive The Press as a great traditional hub of the town centre community, where people are comfortable coming to drink and socialise or for a meal.

"We are committed to building on the good work of the current team and using our buying power to bring customers better value."

The Lion Group say they will also renovate the pub's all-weather garden in time for summer and will ramp up its local cask ale selection.

Chief executive Daniel Fisher said: "It has taken time to find the right person for The Press. Paul is perfect for it; he is highly experienced, knows what it takes to build a fantastic pub business after running another one of our sites successfully for the last 10 years, and is passionate about great hospitality and meeting the needs of the customer. Paul is also a brilliant chef which will ensure the pub has a good dry as well as wet trade."

It comes as The Wedgwood approaches its first anniversary in Northampton after the Lion Group relaunched it in March 2018.

The proposals will see one hour parking at council owned surface car parks increase from 60p to £2, while three hour parking in the multi-storey car parks will increase from £2.40 to £4. The evening fee after 5pm will also go up from £1 to £3.

The price hikes are set to net the council an extra £625,000 per year, but the plans have been met with heavy resistance from residents and businesses.

Although cabinet agreed to recommended the proposals when it met on Wednesday evening (February 20), a 21-day consultation is still legally required to take place, during which time residents and businesses can respond.

Councillor Tim Hadland, the cabinet member responsible for parking, said of the rises: “This is unfortunate but we have done this in a considered way to keep the headline things such as two hours free parking. And you can still park on Saturdays and Sundays for less than the price of a cup of coffee. This is not profiteering, it's adopting a sensible approach for a town of our size."

But Northampton BID chairman Rob Purdie begged cabinet members to allow officers to ‘ work on an alternative plan’.

He said: “We remain a committed partner of the council, but partnership is a two-way process. On this occasion we have to be a critical friend.

“You say in your papers that you want to ensure future parking requirements meet the demand of local business. But you don’t know what they want, because you haven’t asked them. Nobody has been consulted on these proposals, so you aren’t meeting the needs of my business members.

“I have received 20 written comments from them, none of which support these proposals. Footfall continues to decline in the town faster than the national average, and you should not be using car parks as an income stream.”

Neither were opposition councillors supportive of the proposals. Liberal Democrat leader Sally Beardsworth said: "The people I've spoken to about this are asking if you're trying to kill the town off altogether. Our businesses are struggling and we have to support them. "

Labour leader Danielle Stone added: "I appreciate this might make economic sense. But this is going against everything we want. It won't bring in extra footfall, and workers don't get to choose to park in Northampton. It's going to be underpaid, poverty stricken workers who as well as a big council tax hike will also be hit by a huge parking increase."

But Councillor Hadland responded by saying: "There's no change for all day parking, so people who work full time will not pay anything extra."

And cabinet member for finance, Brandon Eldred, pointed out that parking is not a statutory service for the council to provide.

He said: “The parking income doesn't support the maintenance costs of these car parks, which are going up to £700k alone this year. We have to find money to pay for that.

“Some unitary authorities have gone on to sell car parks to NCP. We need to do what we can to keep car parks within the borough."

Council leader Jonathan Nunn added: "This was one of the toughest decisions for us to make. But there is still a consultation to come on this, so this is not the end of the process. But there's a problem to fix, and we're open to suggestions."

The family of 34-year-old Daniel Fitzjohn could only hold each other and cry as they saw drug dealer Daniel Quinn jailed for a minimum of 27 years at Northampton Crown Court yesterday (February 21).

The 28-year-old from Wolverhampton was convicted this week of 'hunting' Mr Fitzjohn down through the streets of Kinglsley and fatally stabbing him twice in the abdomen in June 2018.

Sadly, Mr Fitzjohn died half-an-hour-later in hospital.

Quinn was jailed along with his co-defendant Parminder Sanghera, 25, from Wolverhampton, who drove Quinn away from Kingsley on the day of the murder and was convicted of manslaughter.

In court, His Honour Judge Rupert Mayo read out statements from Mr Fitzjohn's family of the 'devastation' caused by his death.

Mr Fitzjohn's father said: "People tell me they are sorry and they know how we feel. But no one can know how we feel unless they also lost such a treasured loved one in such a brutal way.

"Those two men have no idea what they've done to my family. It has been unbearable. They have ripped a hole through everything I knew and changed it forever. They've taken away a son from me and taken away a father from his five-year-old son who loved him dearly. We will never recover from this.

"A cardboard castle Daniel built with his son has become a treasured family memory."

Mr Fitzjohn was targeted by Quinn after he punched the drug dealer to the floor while defending a friend outside Fairfield News shop in Kingsley.

This, the court heard, was 'hugely embarrassing' for the drug dealer, who immediately left to collect Sanghera, a machete and a knife from a nearby house before coming after Mr Fitzjohn and his friends for revenge.

As the judge put it: "You intended to kill and you did so. Your actions after that displayed a total lack of remorse.”

In a statement read out the prosecutor Mary Loram QC, Mr Fitzjohn's mother said: "He was such a good person. He worked so hard. Anyone who knew him loved him so much. This was evidenced by the 400 people who came to his funeral. I just can’t come to terms with the way in which he died."​

Now, Quinn has begun his jail sentence and will not be released for at least 27 years.

Speaking yesterday, senior Investigating officer, detective chief inspector Ally White, said: “I welcome the sentences handed out to Quinn and Sanghera today and I hope their time behind bars will give them the opportunity to reflect on the devastation they have caused.

“Mr Fitzjohn has been universally described by those that knew him as a decent, mild-mannered man and I am pleased that we have managed to get justice for him and his family.”

Tenants in the EMH Homes flatblock in Sheriff Road, Abington, have complained about residents from surrounding areas leaving their vehicles in its car park - and even on decorative flower beds.

Letters have now dropped through letter boxes saying the housing association may install a small fence to stop antisocial parking - but reserved the right to increase service charges as a result.

Tenant Nick Wagstaff said: "This is getting ridiculous. How can they justify a charge for a fence around a patch of grass. What's the annual cost to them?

"It's any excuse to add an extra charge."

Tenants are incensed by the fact some believe a particular issue has been caused by EMH Homes itself.

It removed a no-parking sign near the flower bed, even though it served the dual purpose of warning drivers and physically blocking cars from using it as an extra parking space.

The fence that they have now put forward as the solution would now see them collect an extra charge.

Ben Shortt, of EMH Homes, says in a letter: "I have nearly secured funding to have [the fence] erected.

"I must consult with you that whislt we do not intend to recharge residents for the installation of this fence, moving forward the maintenance of it may impact on the service charges in future years."

Tenants can now vote on the proposal - which does not include an option to bring back the sign.

People living in 11 blocks of flats around Exeter Place, just off Wellingborough Road, had work carried out on their communal entrances to improve security. Existing gates were replaced by Northampton Partnership Homes workmen with opaque doors

But it unfortunately means daylight cannot activate sensors behind the doors, which are connected to the communal lights.

There the flatblocks' lighting system believes it has been dark since February 4 and has left the hallways and stairwells illuminated for 17 days straight.

Residents association co-chair Dee O'Neill said: "We pay the bill for communal areas, split between us.

"Who's going to foot the cost for all this? It will be the tenants."

In Dee's case she will have to pay a comparatively large percentage of the forthcoming charge because, as a leaseholder, it is worked out by the size of the bedrooms in her flat. With two double bedrooms, she fears an inflated bill for four people.

A public meeting was held about the issue on Wednesday as tenants feel their protestations are falling on deaf ears.

Michael Spittles said: "We have tried to speak with the overseer of Exeter Place and Portland Place complex, but he just ignores us, he doesn't listen."

A spokesman for Northampton Partnership Homes said: "This has happened after an upgrade of security,

"The photo cell that recognises whether it is light or dark is shielded by the new doors.

"Unfortunately, we can't switch the lights off on stairwells and corridors for safety reasons."

The spokesman did say that NHP was working on a solution, and an upgrade of all the communal lights to a low-energy system.

There is a story behind David Ribbans' nickname - and it involves a Northants cricketing hero.

When you hear that Saints lock Ribbans is called Ribeye by his team-mates, you may think there isn't much to it.

But the tag actually wasn't given to him by anyone at Franklin's Gardens.

Instead, it originates from a barbeque at the house of Allan Lamb.

"Allan was hosting a barbeque and Calum Clark, who knew him at the time, said we'd signed a new South African and asked if he could bring me along," explained RIbbans, who joined Saints from South African outfit Western Province in the winter of 2017.

"Allan always wants a South African in his house and that's where my name Ribeye came from - Allan Lamb gave it to me because I ate far too much of their meat. That's where Ribeye was born and I've been going back to his house ever since.

"I've met the whole family and they've really taken me in and looked after me.

"It's been great because when I moved here I was only 21 years old and I didn't have that family feeling away from home but they've been there for me."

Though Ribbans didn't know too much about Lamb at the time of the barbeque, the Saints forward's father certainly did.

"I knew of the name and when I told my father I was going to Allan Lamb's house he went a bit quiet on the phone and said 'do you know who you're going to see tonight?'," Ribbans said.

"My father had grown up watching him play cricket and destroying the West Indies in Test series and things like that.

"I didn't know at the time but I've done my research ever since and I do know all about him now.

"He's a great guy and he and his family have allowed my parents to come over and stay in their house, they often have me over for dinners and they've been amazing to me.

"It's great support to have here in the UK.

"Allan is a pretty humble guy and he doesn't speak much about his cricket experience so he makes it pretty easy to have a normal conversation with him.

"They are hospitable people and it's been amazing getting to know them."

Ribbans' father, Andrew, is now his son's No.1 fan, having initially been dubious about a career in rugby.

Andrew believed his son would eventually become part of his property business, but Ribbans was to prove his dad wrong.

He enjoyed a rapid rise through the ranks in Cape Town, helping their Under-19s win the Provincial Championship before making his first-class debut in the Vodacom Cup in 2015.

Ribbans was then included in the Stormers’ Super Rugby squad in 2016, as well as being named Western Province’s young forward of the year.

And he soon attracted the interest of Saints, who brought him to England midway through the 2017/18 season.

Ribbans scored a hat-trick in a friendly at Bedford Blues, introducing himself in some style, and he has gone from strength to strength ever since, making 42 appearances so far and become a regular starter in the second row.

"I'm really enjoying my time here," Ribbans said.

"I'm only 23 years old and this is my second season here so I'm still learning a lot along the way.

"I'm very much settled in with the team, I've got a great group of friends in Northampton and England.

"I don't think you ever get used to the weather but in terms of life in England, I'm really settled and enjoying it."

Ilias Chair’s stunning double strike for Stevenage at leaders Lincoln City last weekend came as no surprise to Cobblers boss Keith Curle.

The 21-year-old attacking midfielder was making only his third appearance for the Boro following his January loan move from Queens Park Rangers, and produced two late wonder strikes to secure a 2-2 draw for his side at Sincil Bank.

The goals capped what was reportedly a stunning performance from the Belgian-born player, who claimed after the game he ‘could have scored six’.

Indeed, he almost won it in the dying seconds, but was denied a hat-trick by Imps shot-stopper Grant Smith.

Chair is certainly a player the Cobblers will have to watch when they take on Stevenage at Broadhall Way on Saturday (ko 3pm), but Curle should have his players well prepared for what to expect.

“I am aware of him, and he’s very good,” said Curle, when asked about the Moroccan Under-23 international, who has made a clutch of first team appearances at Loftus Road, and featured as a second-half substitute when the Rs beat the Cobblers 1-0 in the Carabao Cup last season.

“I know the analyst at QPR from my time at the club, I have decent contacts there, so I have good feedback on him and know what to expect.

“The lad will shoot from anywhere, and it’s not too dissimilar to Yoann Arquin’s goal against us for Yeovil, some of them do hit the top corner, but some do hit row Z.”

Chair and Stevenage will certainly have been boosted by their endeavours at Sincil Bank last weekend, where arguably they should have won a game they dominated for long spells.

Thanks to five wins in their past 10 games, Boro are still on the fringes of the race for a Sky Bet League Two play-off place,.

And although Curle is anticipating a difficult test in Hertfordshire, he is confident his Cobblers team is capable of returning with some reward.

“I think Stevenage will be buoyed by the result they got at the weekend, drawing with Lincoln when they had been 2-0 down, but that also shows they have got frailties and can concede,” said the Cobblers boss.

“They are a team that like to get on the front foot and play in the opposition’s half.

“They get the ball forward and support it well, and they are able to maintain good possession of the ball if you give them time to play.

“I think we will take a large following there, and our supporters will be expecting a very competitive game, and it will be competitive.”

A handful of former Cobblers are expected to feature for Stevenage on Saturday, with Joel Byrom a key man in midfield, and Alex Revell the focal point of their attack.

Emmanuel Sonupe also regularly features from the bench.

The Conservatives have held their county council seat in the Oundle by-election.

Annabel de Capell Brooke beat Liberal Democrat Marc Folgate by 588 votes to win the seat vacated by former leader Heather Smith at the start of the year.

A total of 1,864 members of the electorate put a cross by the Conservative candidate’s name, which was 51 per cent of the total vote.

Ms de Capell Brooke said she was delighted with the win .

Speaking afterwards she said: “I want now to listen to the key issues that people in Oundle and the villages have.”

The newly elected councillor is also a district council on East Northants Council.

The Liberal Democrats picked up some of the Conservative vote compared to the 2017 election, at which they placed third.

The turnout was just under 37 per cent with 3,635 of the 9,853 electorate casting a vote.

There was little drama at the count, which was undertaken at the Oundle Town Council building at Fletton House from 10.30pm yesterday. The winner was announced at 12.30am.

Student Harry James was the Labour candidate and got 403 votes and Allan Shipman, UKIP, was voted for by 89 people. There were three spoilt votes.

Reflecting after the vote Mr James said he was disappointed but thought his third place was a reflection of the current national picture.

First-time candidate Marc Folgate said he was not sure if he would stand again.

Sarah Ward, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Next month sees the staging of a public meeting that has been labelled ‘the most wide-ranging conversation on the vision, strategy, infrastructure and ownership of Northampton Town FC in its 122-year history’.

The NTFC Supporters’ Trust are holding the meeting at the Park Inn by Radisson hotel in Northampton town centre on Sunday, March 10, starting at 1pm.

The meeting is open to all, and among the topics under discussion will be a ‘community ownership model’ for the Cobblers, which was formed way back in 1897.

The club is currently under the ownership of chairman Kelvin Thomas and his fellow directors, David Bower and Mike Wailing.

The trio rescued Town from the brink of going out of existence in November, 2015, following the well-documented financial struggles the club went through under previous chairman David Cardoza.

Thomas has made no secret of the fact that the club is up for sale, and NTFC Supporters’ Trust are keen to explore the opportunity of the club’s supporters, and local community as a whole ‘driving the club forward in the long term’.

The Trust was the first to be formed back in 1992 when the Cobblers were going through another financial crisis, and played a pivotal role in ensuring the club’s survival then.

They are now under the chairmanship of Andy Roberts, a former Cobblers correspondent for the Chronicle & Echo, and have released the following statement, which reads: “NTFC Supporters’ Trust can now confirm the date of its public meeting discussing community ownership in football, including a potential ownership model for the Cobblers.

“Project: Proud To Be will be presented at the Park Inn by Radisson hotel in Northampton town centre on Sunday 10 March.

“It will be the most wide-ranging conversation on the vision, strategy, infrastructure and ownership of Northampton Town FC in the club’s proud 122-year history.

“We believe there is scope to develop a respected and sustainable community-focused football club, benchmarked against the most progressive sports clubs locally and internationally.

“Project: Proud To Be will describe how this can be achieved and the community ownership discussion will focus on how our fantastic local community can help drive the club forward in the long term.

“Further details, including information on guest speakers, will be released in the next few weeks.”

The announcement of the meeting follows on from the recent release of the Trust’s mission statement, which talks of creating ‘a sustainable model for the club, protecting League football in Northampton and producing a strategic vision for the short, medium and long terms’.

Other key points from the mission statement read:

‘The Trust will produce and present a business model which offers an alternative to the club’s long history of private ownership’

‘We can build a club that values and utilises the skills and expertise from within the fanbase, turning customers into members. We want a club rooted in and respected by its community, one that engages with those striving to improve the town’

‘We will plan investment in infrastructure to consolidate and grow the Cobblers as the county club and to leave a legacy to our children and grandchildren in bricks, mortar, turf and trophies’

‘A vibrant working relationship with large businesses and blue-chip companies in the area is achievable, so too a tie-in with the Saints and the Steelbacks that cements Northampton as a centre of sporting excellence’

‘The Trust respects the good work done by the current board and fantastic club staff and will maintain a constructive relationship to provide a positive legacy for the fans and the local community.’

The Cobblers’ most recent trip to take on Stevenage at Broadhall Way was one of those ‘special days’...

It was March 19, 2016, and Chris Wilder’s powerful team were edging ever closer to sealing promotion from Sky Bet League Two.

But after 41 minutes of the clash against Stevenage, the team’s long unbeaten run, which stretched back to late December, looked under serious threat as they trailed 2-0 thanks to Luke Wilkinson’s double.

There was to prove to be a glorious sting in the tail though.

Loan striker James Collins got the Cobblers back into it with a goal before the break, and John-Joe O’Toole then levelled just six minutes into the second half.

That sent the 2,000 travelling fans into raptures, but it was to be nothing compared to the reaction to Ricky Holmes’ stunning last-minute strike that secured a memorable 3-2 victory, the winger’s long-range left-footed effort flying in off the post to secure the most dramatic of wins.

It was a match and performance that summed up everything about the 2016 title winners, who mixed hard graft and a never-say-die attitude with many, many moments of pure brilliance.

O’Toole will be one of only three survivors from that day to make the trip to Hertfordshire to take on Stevenage this Saturday - David Buchanan and Sam Hoskins the others - and he admits he would love a repeat performance!

“Yeah, that was a good day and a memorable match, so no pressure!,” said the Town midfielder.

“Anything like that again would be nice, but I will take a boring 1-0 win to be honest!”

Sadly, there is no title chase for the Cobblers this year.

Following that title success, Town spent two seasons in league one before being relegated, and their first season back in the basement division has been a struggle, as they sit 16th, 10 points above the relegation zone and 13 points below the play-offs.

Those glory days under Wilder seem a long, long time ago, so how does O’Toole feel about how things have panned out for him and the club in the past three years?

“It is frustrating, because there was a lot of effort put into that season, and it was great how the club came together,” said the 30-year-old.

“We have had quite a few managers coming and going since then which has been sort of unsettling, but we just have to get on with it.

“Things aren’t always that rosy in football, and you have to deal with things the best way you can, but it can be frustrating at times.”

Keith Curle is the latest manager to charged with recapturing that ‘Wilder magic’, and O’Toole believes there are reasons for Town fans to be optimistic.

But he is also well aware that seasons like 2015/16 don’t come around very often.

Asked if the Cobblers could mount a serious title charge again, O’Toole said: “There is definitely youngsters coming through here, and I don’t see why we

can’t, but that season was something special.

“It just seemed as if everything fitted into place, and sort of surprisingly as it was against the odds.

“It was just one of those seasons that can’t be replicated too easily I would imagine.

“It was definitely the first one I had been involved in, as I am sure it was for a lot of those players, and probably a lot of the fans as well.

“So they don’t come around too often, but I don’t see why we can’t have a go for it.”

The Cobblers are unbeaten in three-matches, but travel to Stevenage off the back of last weeekend’s disappointing 0-0 home draw with Crawley.

O’Toole is expecting another tricky afternoon, and said: “Stevenage have some good players, with some I know personally that I have played with, and others I know from playing against them for years.

“They will be a good side and will be no mugs by any stretch, and their ground is a tough, tough place to go and play.

“But I am sure if we can do a bit more than we did last Saturday then we can get a positive result when we go there this weekend.”

Northamptonshire Police are appealing for help in finding a missing teenager.

Justin Lake, aged 15, is missing from his address in Rockingham Road, Kettering.

Northamptonshire Police said he has family in Northampton, mainly in the Ecton Brook area, and may also have been in the Wellington Street and Rockingham Road areas of Kettering.

It is unknown what Justin is wearing at this time.

Please call 101 if you see Justin, or have any information about where he is.

An investigation has been launched after a 24-year-old man died as a result of a single punch assault in the Drapery, Northampton.

The incident happened close to an alleyway near McDonald's between 5.10am and 5.15am on Saturday, February 9, when the man was punched once to the head, causing him to lose consciousness and collapse. He was taken to University Hospital Coventry but sadly died as a result of his injuries on Monday, February 18.

A 19-year-old man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the incident is currently in custody assisting police with their enquiries. An 18-year-old man and a 20-year-old man arrested in connection with the incident have been released under investigation pending further enquiries.

Anyone with information, or who witnessed the incident, is asked to call Northamptonshire Police on 101. Information can also be shared anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Anyone calling with information can quote the incident number: 19000067841.