Keith Curle says the Cobblers are ‘in the chasing pack’ for the Sky Bet League Two promotion play-off places.

A run of six games unbeaten, four of them victories, has seen Town cut the gap between them and the top seven to eight points with 10 matches of the season remaining.

The Cobblers host Newport County at the PTS Academy Stadium tonight knowing that a win, along with other results going their way, could see them climb as high as 10th.

It has been an impressive turnaround from the doom and gloom of the 4-0 home hammering at the hands of Colchester United last month, a result that had Town fans still fearing they would be involved in a relegation battle.

Well, the Cobblers are now a massive 18 points clear of second-from-bottom Macclesfield, and have their sights very much set on those teams above them.

Curle is beginning to sense there could yet be a push for the play-offs for his team in the next couple of months, but he is also delighted that his team is now closer to the automatic promotion places than the relegation zone.

“That was the conversation I had with the chairman after the game on Saturday,” said the Cobblers boss.

“The chairman said ‘we are so many points off the top seven’, and I said we are 18 points off the bottom two, that’s the first thing.

“Then, by the way chairman, we are now 17 points off the top three, and that is a positive.”

So can Town make a late play-off charge?

“We are in the chasing pack, and we know that sometimes teams up at the top will looking over their shoulder,” said Curle.

“Year in, year out, somebody comes from without the leading pack and gains that momentum and carries on and gains success.”

Curle has been very happy with how his team has performed over the past five or six weeks, but there will be no resting on laurels as he believes ‘there is more to come’ from his playeres.

“There is a good identity and a buoyant dressing room at the moment, with lots of positives,” said the Town manager.

“You do get that from winning, but the we are still looking for levels of improvement throughout the squad.

“We are still challenging the players individually and collectively, because we still think there is more to come.

“That’s the environment we are trying to create, in yes we have won a game, but there are still more games to win.

“There are still different ways to win a game, still elements of improvement we can make throughout every game we play.

“We are never going to be faultless, so we know we can improve.”

Torrential rain and high winds are due to hit Northamptonshire in just a few hours.

A severe weather warning for wind, issued by the Met Office, has been brought forward by nine hours as Storm Gareth sweeps across the county.

The yellow weather warning was due to kick in at 9pm this evening (Tuesday) but is now been set for midday today and will be in place until 3pm tomorrow (Wednesday).

Forecasters are predicting strong northwesterly winds will spread across much of the UK with gusts of up to 55mph across the next two days.

A band of torrential rain is currently heading towards Northamptonshire and is expected to hit later this morning.

The Met Office is warning that there could be some disruption to travel during that time.

The outlook for Wednesday to Friday in the East Midlands reads: "Often windy, particularly on Wednesday, and often feeling cold due to the strength of the wind.

"Remaining unsettled, with further blustery wintry showers, rain and perhaps hill snow."

But the application by Morrisons for land around its Kettering Road store, has run up against a number of objections.

If approved by councillors on Tuesday, March 19, the coffee shop would create 30 jobs and sit alongside the McDonald's drive-thru that has already been given the go-ahead.

However, cabinet member for the environment, Councillor Mike Hallam says residents are worried about the amount of traffic both outlets would create together.

A paper set to go before the planning board councillors next week outlines his objection.

It reads: "The application comes swiftly on the heels of an approved application for a McDonald’s on the same site. In that application, the highways report was very clear that the McDonald’s would lead to an increase in traffic at a section of Kettering Road that is already frequently overcapacity.

"The community will feel angry and hurt by an application that, surely out of decency, should have been put in at the same time as the McDonald’s one.

"This section of the Kettering Road simply does not have the capacity for the additional traffic that this will create."

Eight letters of objection have also been received by members of the public outlining, in some cases, how Kettering Road is already congested frequently and well-served by fast food outlets.

Town planners England Lyle Good, who are paid by Morrisons, have submitted reasons why the Starbucks is a good idea:

"The proposals will facilitate the redevelopment of an underutilised area of the existing Morrisons car park," the planning papers read.

"The proposals will provide enhanced local facilities for local residents, shoppers and motorists on Kettering Road.

"The economic benefits associated with the proposals should be afforded significant weight in the assessment of the proposals."

The new drive-thru would see Morrisons shoppers lose 36 parking spaces, although 14 more would be provided at Starbucks.

A traffic assessment paid for by Morrrisons concludes that Starbucks customers will not add significantly to congestion on Kettering Road. This mainly because it claims many Starbucks customers will be supermarket shoppers already using the site.

The application says: "It has been demonstrated that only 6 two-way trips during the Friday evening peak hour and 19 trips during the Saturday peak hour will be new to the network.

"This equates to one vehicle every 10 minutes on Friday and one vehicle every three minutes on Saturday, which will not have a material impact on the operation of the local highway network."

It was a successful weekend for both Billy Waters and Joe Bunney after the two Cobblers loanees played starring roles in victories for their respective clubs.

Bunney helped Rochdale to three vital points in League One after his corner led to Jim McNulty’s winning goal in a 2-1 victory against Shrewsbury Town. It was Dale’s first game since sacking Keith Hill, though they remain in the relegation zone despite the win.

Waters, meanwhile, followed up his goal against Bury in midweek with another during Saturday’s 4-1 thrashing of Notts County, racing through to net their third on 55 minutes. Waters also won a first-half penalty.

As for the youth players, Jack Newell played for Corby Town in their 1-1 draw at Thame United in Division One Central of the Southern League, while Bradley Lashley and Jack Daldy appeared for Wellingborough Town in a 4-1 defeat by Cogenhoe United, with Daldy on target.

On the winning side in that fixture was Matthew Slinn, who was in the Cogenhoe team. Elsewhere, Ryan Hughes featured in St Neots Town’s 2-2 draw with Biggleswade and Joe Iaciofano played for Banbury United who were beaten 3-0 by Kettering Town.

Screen Northants’ first film festival will get underway today - marking the start of two weeks of screenings, Q&As from filmmakers, free events for youngsters and a 48-hour film challenge.

The event is running between March 12 and 27 at the Grosvenor Centre, the Northampton Filmhouse and the University of Northampton.

It also includes free events for 16 to 25 year olds, screenings of locally-made short films, a BBC Arts’ New Creatives information evening and a 48-hour film challenge.

Social enterprise film company Screen Northants aims to support more film production in the county and wants to use the film festival to open up the film industry to new audiences and under-represented groups.

A group of Northamptonshire young people were put in charge of devising the festival’s theme, which this year is 'Coming of Age'.

Screenings will take place in Screen Northants’ new shop called Film Festival Central on the ground floor of the Grosvenor Centre as well as at the Northampton Filmhouse.

Films that have been submitted to the 48-hour film challenge will be judged by writer Alan Moore, director Mitch Jenkins (The Show), editor Colin Goudie (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) and Rebekah Louisa Smith, the Film Festival Doctor.

Winners will receive a limited edition film festival clapper board trophy and a filmmaker's goodie bag.

See below for more information about the festival.

Watch UK exclusive screening of Cannibals and Carpet Fitters

A UK exclusive screening of feature film Cannibals and Carpet Fitters today (March 14) ahead of its UK release accompanied by a Q&A with the film’s writer, producers and director.

This is a free event exclusively for 16-25 year olds at Northampton Filmhouse.

To find out how to get tickets contact info@northamptonfilmfestival.co.uk or call in to Film Festival Central Monday-Friday 10am-5pm.

Take part in the '48-hour Film Challenge'

Anyone of any age and experience who would like to take part is invited to come to Film Festival Central at 7pm on Friday (March 15) where they will be given a theme and 48-hours to make a film on that theme.

This is open to anyone, working as a team or alone, shooting on a camera or phone, with any level of experience.

The film then has to be delivered to Film Festival Central by 7pm on Sunday (March 17). The only rules are that the film must be made entirely within those 48 hours and the film making team must come to Film Festival Central at some point during the weekend to ‘check in’.

Screen Northants is expecting films to only be a few minutes long. Prizes will be awarded to their favourite. People should express their interest to forty-eight@northamptonfilmfestival.co.uk

BBC and Arts Council England Rural Media session

Rural Media’s free information evening will be taking part on Thursday, March 21 at Film Festival Central on an exciting new opportunity to be commissioned by the BBC and Arts Council England.

Rural Media will lead the session, at 6.30pm, on New Creatives for people in the Midlands aged between 16 and 30 years old who have innovative ideas for short form audio, film and interactive work.

To book your place click here.
Watch Reclaim the Frame: The Kindergarten Teacher

Finally, on Tuesday, March 26, there will be a Reclaim the Frame special with Birds Eye View. The Kindergarten Teacher will be shown at Northampton Filmhouse followed by a panel discussion on the themes of the film hosted by Mia Bays, the Oscar-winning, BAFTA-nominated film producer who runs Birds’ Eye View, with local writers Alan Moore and Melinda Gebbie.

To book your tickets click here.

An array of popular fast food chains are currently being built on the outskirts of town.

Euro Garages has begun building on land to the west of Northampton, just off the M1 at junction 16 on the A45 near Flore and Weedon.

A Starbucks coffee shop and drive-thru sits at the forefront of the site, just off the newly-built roundabout which was built as part of the Flore bypass project.

Beyond that is restaurant and retail space for Spar, Greggs, Subway and Krispy Kreme.

At the back of the site will be a forecourt for fuel.

It is not yet known if any other restaurants or retailers will move onto the site.

Euro Garages have been approached for comment.

A Northampton family is asking for 'just the chance' to see what difference medical cannabis could make to the life of their epileptic son.

Julie Young, from Brixworth, is joining the families of 16 children next week to lobby Parliament on the NHS' tight restrictions to cannabis oil - which was legalised in November but so far has only been prescribed to one child in four months.

Now, she wants to know why her son Lloyd has been turned down from even trying the treatment when it could be the answer they're looking for.

Lloyd Young suffered his first seizure on his 13th birthday when his family found him blue in the face and unresponsive in his chair.

Now 16, Lloyd has tried seven different drugs and is on up to 30 tablets a day to control his epilepsy, for which doctors have never found a cause.

Julie said: "I sleep next to my son at nights. Once you have seen your child stop breathing face down in bed you know you have to be by their side to protect them. It's the most vulnerable time.

"He is nonverbal and has severe learning difficulties so cannot communicate his feelings and is very scared."

But the cocktail of drugs Lloyd is on has never outright stopped his condition.

Julie said: "The side effects include a non-existent appetite. He's lost two stone under his current drugs. And he's so tired he's practically a zombie. He is in bed shattered by 6pm most nights.

"He's still a child. To have a child on so many drugs is as damaging as having a hundred seizures a day."

Now, Julie and her family want to try their son on cannabis oil because it might cut down the medicines he is on.

Julie said: "We've got to try. It might not even work. But when will it become an option?"

But although cannabis oil was legalised in November, it is still unlicensed.

This means under NHS guidelines, cannabis oil will only be prescribed if a patient has a need that 'can't be met' by all other licensed medicines.

Meanwhile, critics say cannabis oil has still not been thoroughly studied to see what the long-term effects are.

For Lloyd, this means his doctors must try him on every drug available before he will be considered - a process that could take years.

This week, the families of other severely ill children will head to Parliament on March 19 to lobby MPs to loosen the grip on the treatment as part of the End Our Pain campaign.

It will coincide with an inquiry by the Health and Social Care Select Committee on the access to the treatment, which Julie and the other parents will give evidence at.

End Our Pain campaigner Peter Carroll said: "These are families with severely ill children. It's unforgivably cruel that they have had their hopes raised and now dashed."

Police have charged two Corby men with attempted murder after a shooting just days before Christmas.

On December 22, a 38-year-old man was found at an address in Stone House Mews suffering injuries to his stomach and neck.

Yesterday (Monday) James McNamee, 36, of Beanfield Avenue, and Lewis Fleming, 28, of Knights Close, were charged with attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence.

They were both due to appear at Northampton Magistrates’ Court today.

Three men were previously charged last month over the incident.

They are Arturs Daukste, d 37, of Wellington Road in Perry Barr, Birmingham, Dimitrijs Paskovss, 30, of Guests Close in Telford, Shropshire, and Laurenc Gjura, 24, of Oakmere Avenue in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire.

All three have been charged with attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and remanded into custody ahead of their next court appearance at Northampton Crown Court on March 20.

More than a dozen autistic children are now having their hair cut at a Northampton barbers thanks to a Chronicle and Echo article.

Barber Charlie Topham of Charlie Brown's Gentleman's Barbers, in Kings Heath Industrial Estate, has been cutting hair now for 30 years and decided to go it alone five years ago.

Since taking on her own business she has been inspired to make her barber's autism-friendly, and offers families from as far away as London the opportunity for their children to have their hair cut in a calm environment.

After the Chronicle & Echo covered the story last month Charlie has said she's seen about 15 new children from Northampton step through her doors to have their hair cut.

She said: "We have had a great response to the article with lots of messages and phone calls and also lots of new children coming in for haircuts.

"A lot of children are from Northampton, which is great as this is just what we wanted.

"The parents of the children are so happy that they have found a barbers that actually will take the time with their child to get the haircut they have always wanted."

Charlie learned how to cut children's hair after seeking inspiration from James Williams, who founded Autism Barbers Assemble.

Charlie tries to make the experience as fun for the children as possible by not forcing them to sit in the chair.

They can also roam around, play with water and even sit outside in the summer if it makes the experience easier for them.

She added: "We have had a couple of challenging children but their mums and dads are being patient and have been bringing them in every day to get to know us."

Parents can book their appointments through the NEARCUT booking site, which allows them to come in when the shop is empty and quiet.

Newport County manager Michael Flynn has described tonight’s clash with the Cobblers as a ‘cup final’ for his team as they look to snap out of a poor run of form and halt their slide down the League Two table.

The Exiles were fourth after beating Northampton 3-1 at Rodney Parade in November but they’ve managed only four wins in 16 league games since, including Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Colchester United, to tumble down to 12th place and seemingly out of play-off contention.

But, separated by one point and two places in the table, victory for either team at the PTS this evening would keep alive their hopes of sneaking into the top seven this season.

“I’m just trying to win as many games as we can before the end of the season and see where it takes us,” said Flynn.

“We always knew it was going to be two tough away games and I said I wanted to win one. Tuesday is a cup final now.

“I didn’t rant and rave after the Colchester game. I had a lot of time to think about what I was going to say. Sometimes when you go in you can have heated emotions. I had a lot of time to digest and try and see how we can improve going into Tuesday.”

It appears another superb run in the FA Cup has taken its toll on Newport’s league form. They beat both Leicester City and Middlesbrough en route to the fifth round where they lost to Premier League champions Man City.

“I’ve spoken to the players and I’ve told them that we got outplayed,” added Flynn after their loss to Colchester at the weekend.

“Look, first goals do change games, but I didn’t feel it was that one which cost us the game. Colchester were very good if I’m being honest and we looked way off it.

“It is what it is. We looked very flat again, we got outplayed, I will not make any excuses. Colchester were well worthy of the three points.”

Five redundancies are due to be made at the large Tesco Extra when it shuts both its fresh meat and fish counters in the coming weeks.

The opening hours of the deli are also set to be reduced as part of a nationwide plan to cut £1.5 billion from Tesco's baseline costs.

The large Mere Way store in East Hunsbury, on the other hand, is not set to be affected by the cuts.

But former Labour housing minister Sally Keeble, who is running for the Northampton North parliamentary seat, is concerned the cutbacks at Weston Favell could be followed by more.

“When a big business like Tesco looks across its portfolio of shops, the Weston Favell store may look as if it’s not doing so well," she said.

"However, dig a bit deeper and you see a shop which is well-used and valued by the local community.

"There aren’t many services in the East of Northampton, which makes those at Tesco more important."

Mrs Keeble has written to the Tesco head office to seek assurances over its future.

The Weston Favell store, she says, is one of the largest employers in the area and acts as an anchor store at the shopping centre.

It also contains a Post Office and a Dorothy Perkins concession.

“I realise that you’re a business and have to ensure that the shop remains viable," she wrote in the letter to the Tesco bosses.

"However, this particular store plays a very special role in the community. Loss of services and goods on offer there would significantly impact local people.

"I see that you personally have a strong focus on the contribution that your business makes to local communities and its importance to the health of the local economy.

"It would be much appreciated if you could provide assurances on the future of the shop and the range of offers and services it provides which are so important to the local community.”

Tesco has been contacted for comment.

The Life of Lewis appeal was set up on behalf of 16-year-old Lewis Herbert from Northampton who has an extremely rare condition called Lennox Gastaut Syndrome.

Lewis is severely disabled and relies on his parents Gary and Lexi for all of his care needs. He requires 24-hour care and both Gary and Lexi have had to stop working to look after him full time.

This year his dad, Gary, is running 1,600 miles and going sober for one year to raise money for the Life of Lewis appeal.

Lewis’ parents are currently trying to raise some funds for disability specific items and equipment which are not available to Lewis through standard NHS provision.

So far the family has funded a sensory garden for the teen and a wheelchair-accessible front door.

To support Gary's efforts Graeme Swann - and Life of Lewis Appeal ambassador - has filmed a short video telling viewers to fund the campaign and "to give Lewis half the life that he deserves."

Graeme used to play junior cricket at Northants County Cricket Club with Gary, and they have stayed in contact ever since.

The funds from the run will go towards a new loft conversion to allow for extra storage for Lewis' vast amount of medical supplies, as well a new specially adapted manual wheelchair suitable for his scoliosis and curvature of the spine as he grows.

At the time of writing, this appeal has raised more than £7,509 - click here to donate.

For more information about Lewis and the Life for Lewis Appeal please visit his website: www.lifeforlewis.co.uk

The owners of a new restaurant set to open in Kettering have promised it will be “roarsome”.

Work is under way to convert the former Chimichanga restaurant in Market Place, and it’s hoped it will open later this year.

The secretive owners, who didn’t want to give their identity away, say it will be a first for not only the town but the country.

But they aren’t ready to reveal all just yet.

In a brief statement the owners said: “We are both very excited to bring something completely new not just to Kettering, but the UK.

“We can’t wait to reveal more soon.”

They have given a few clues and said people may have started to notice that something’s ‘evolving’, with the unit currently being ‘excavated’ for its next ‘roarsome inhabitants’.

They’ve given a sneak peek inside as to what’s ‘stomping’ into Kettering soon.

When the restaurant opens it will be alongside Prezzo, Wildwood and Kino Lounge, and just opposite Billionaires which opened before Christmas.

Mexican chain Chimichanga shut last year after parent company Prezzo said it was not viable.

New government data reveals the roads to avoid in Northamptonshire to get to work on time, and whether delays are getting worse.

The Department for Transport figures show that the A43 northbound between A413 near Whittlebury and A5 had the slowest moving traffic among the major roads in Northamptonshire in 2018.

Vehicles there travelled at an average of just 39.2mph – though this was a 2% improvement on 2017, when speeds averaged 38.5mph.

At the other end of the scale, vehicles sped along the M40 northbound between J10 and J11 at an average of 74.1mph – making it the fastest section of road in the area.

The figures include measurements taken at 210 places on the strategic road network – major routes managed by Government-owned company Highways England – in Northamptonshire.

The world-famous Flying Scotsman will visit Northamptonshire again in June.

The iconic steam engine will pull carriages through Wellingborough, stop at Kettering and travel over Harringworth Viaduct via Corby on a trip from Ealing Broadway to York on Saturday, June 29.

Huge crowds are expected to line the tracks to gain a glimpse with an estimated 2,000 people turning out last time it visited the county.

Rail campaigner David Fursdon said: “We have had the Flying Scotsman in the north of the county about three times recently and when it travels along the area from Kettering to Manton, combined with Harringworth Viaduct, people come from far and wide.

“It’s the most famous of them all and it always gets people of all ages out to see the sights and smell the smells.”

CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR PICTURE GALLERY FROM THE FLYING SCOTSMAN’S VISIT TO NORTHAMPTONSHIRE LAST YEAR

The locomotive will travel on the Midland Main Line from Bedford before leaving the line after Kettering to take the former Midland Railway Nottingham direct line.

It will pass through Corby’s station, climb the famous Harringworth Viaduct and then on to Wing Tunnel, Manton Junction and Oakham before stopping at Melton Mowbray and then going further north.

Approximate timings are:

9.47am Kettering Station

9.55am Corby

10am Gretton

10.05am Harringworth Viaduct

10.15am Manton Junction

10.20am Oakham

It will then return diesel-hauled in the evening, stopping in Kettering to set down passengers at 8.37pm.

Designed by Edinburgh-born Sir Nigel Gresley in 1923, the Flying Scotsman was created to haul the Edinburgh-London express train on the East Coast main line.

It was the first steam locomotive to reach 100mph in 1934 and set a record for the longest non-stop run at 422 miles in Australia in 1989.

It was later restored at a cost of £4.5m at York’s National Railway Museum.

The trip is the latest iconic steam engine journey in the area after the Duchess of Sutherland passed through Northamptonshire on March 9.

Spectators on June 29 are being asked to not trespass on the railway or private property and to ensure their viewing spot is safe and legal.

Makers of the Jack-in-the-Box - a feature-length horror film - have picked Abington Park Museum as its prime location.

Writer and director, Lawrence Fowler of film company Up A Notch Productions, in Wellingborough Road, will start filming his second movie on Monday (March 25) in Abington.

It follows on from the success of his first 90-minute film, the Curse of the Witch's Doll, which was distributed in 12 countries and is available for purchase on DVD from HMV and Amazon.

The Jack-in-the-Box is a 'spooky supernatural tale' that leads on from the discovery of a vintage Jack-in-the-Box, which after being donated and opened unleashes a clown-like demon that terrorises the museum’s staff.

Director Lawrence Fowler said: “We’re fortunate to have such a fantastic, historic filming location in Abington Park Museum right on our doorstep.

"A great location has a dramatic effect on the quality of a film, building both a believable and rich world around our characters. We’re thrilled to have secured it for this project.

“We hope not only to continue to put Northampton of the filmmaking map but also make more connections with other passionate filmmakers and provide opportunities for inexperienced locals keen to get involved.”

The film will star Ethan Taylor in the lead role and will see Cameron Bryson as director of photography.

The production is keen for film enthusiasts to get involved as runners, camera assistants and even help with decorating sets to be as effective on screen as possible.

For more information email: info@upanotch.co.uk

This is not a list of all offenders jailed who went through the court system in Northampton and Birmingham, but of those who have committed some the most serious offences.

We'll have all the build-up, in-game updates and post-match reaction as it happens on this page. Hit F5 or refresh for the latest news from the PTS.

The application would see the former Ironstone pub, in Hunsbury Hill Road, which was previously the Rose and Claret, demolished and replaced with a new three-storey building containing 11 apartments.

Although there is a covenant on the building stating it should remain a pub, the owners are seeking planning permission in the hope of persuading the borough council to revoke the covenant.

Their optimism is based on the fact the building served its last customer about seven years ago no brewery has stepped forward to reopen it.

Ward councillor Brian Oldham (Con, West Hunsbury), who is also the chair of the Guildhall's planning committee, said he was in favour of something positive on the site.

He said: "I'm really encouraged by it. It's been derelict for a few years now.

"It wants restoring to some sort of use. If the officers would recommend it for approval, I would support that."

Built in the 1980's the building has only ever been a pub and has been known as the Viking, the Rose and Claret, and the Ironstone.

Punch Taverns were the most recent operators but they sold the £41,000 a month lease to Tesco when the pub closed.

The building is now owned by the current applicants, who have tried unsuccessfully to market it as a potential pub before changing tack.

Documents submitted to the council on behalf of the owners state: "The proposed development would... contribute towards the housing supply with associated social and economic benefit.

"The site falls under the local centre under the local plan, and is a community facility. Whilst [planning policy] seeks to safeguard against unjustified loss of local valued community facility, the local consensus is that the existing public house is not valued as a community facility and has become an eyesore to local residents."

Councillors will make a decision on the application in the next few months.

All lanes have been stopped on the M1 Northbound between J14 and J15 as of around 4.45pm.

Traffic is reportedly stationary and cameras show no traffic is coming through.

Traffic England report a delay or up to 30 minutes.