A thief stole cash from a disabled man in a wheelchair in Corby at the weekend.

The theft happened at about 2pm on Saturday, March 30, when the offender rode up on a mountain bike and removed cash from a bag on the back of the victim’s wheelchair in Burghley Drive.

It is thought that the offender may have followed the victim from the nearby Lidl supermarket in Gainsborough Road.

The thief, a white teenager aged 16 or 17, was wearing a blue and white baseball cap and was riding a blue mountain bike with yellow writing on it.

Anyone with information should contact Northamptonshire Police on 101.

Alternatively, they can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

As Brexit shudders to a halt with parliament failing to back Mrs May's withdrawal agreement and failing to choose an alternative to her deal, twice, a no deal Brexit and a general election are becoming more likely by the day.

The Prime Minister has already staked her future on the passing of the withdrawal agreement, saying to backbenchers she will quit ahead of the next stage of the Brexit negotiations provided her deal passes.

This means the country is likely to see a Conservative Party leadership contest or a general election, and a new Prime Minister.

Bookies have May and June as the most likely months for a general election, with May at 11/4 and June at 5/1.

Who are the favourites?

Michael Gove, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt lead the polls for the Conservative Party hopefuls.

Mr Gove is the bookies' favourite at 4/1 and is seen by many to be a good choice to take charge of the next stage of the Brexit process. Conservative MPs would need to forget his betrayal of Boris Johnson in the 2016 leadership race when he ran against Mrs May instead of supporting the former Mayor of London.

Boris Johnson's stock is still high in the party, with many seeing him as the obvious hard Brexit choice from outside the cabinet. However, his time as Foreign Secretary and Mayor of London was prone to gaffes, and the Brexit bus still sticks in the memory of many voters.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is third favourite according the bookies, and would need a similar surge at the polls as the party had in 2017 to challenge for a majority.

As the longest-serving Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt is seen as a safe pair of hands for the top role and backs a harder Brexit than other cabinet colleagues. This stance and his reputation could edge him ahead of the likes of Sajid Javid, Amber Rudd, and Matt Hancock.

The long shots

Matt Hancock has publicly backed Mrs May's deal throughout and is considered part of the next generation of Conservative talent and could be a dark horse.

Prominent backbencher and leading hard Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg has previously said he will not run for the Tory leadership. However, his popularity with the grassroots of the party could force a shift and a surprise run.

Much longer shots such as Leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson, former UKIP Leader Nigel Farage, and former prime minister Tony Blair are all priced around 100/1, but would need to be elected as MPs before any tilt at the top job.

Northamptonshire County Council Council leader Matt Golby has sacked the long standing chair of the authority’s pension committee after it voted against a plan to hold back a £2m contribution.

Last week members of the committee voted against the proposal to hold back £2m of the £6.73m employer pension contribution as a one off reduction and instead give it in the next financial year. Five of the 11 committee members abstained from the vote and six members voted against the move.

Yesterday council leader Matt Golby called Cllr Graham Lawman, who has chaired the committee for the past eight years and told him he would have to go because the vote had not passed as the authority had hoped.

Cllr Lawman is the third senior conservative in the county council to leave their position following the sackings of Cllr Victoria Perry, who had been cabinet member for children’s services and Cllr Andy Mercer who was the cabinet member for local government reform.

Cllr Lawman, who represents Wellingborough’s Croyland and Swanspool Ward, and has been a county councillor for ten years, said: “I’m extremely disappointed as I feel I had done an excellent job. The pension fund is performing extremely well. The actuary did not advise to hold back the £2m, instead he said it was ‘acceptable’. Because it didn’t go that way the leader decided to stand me down.

“I don’t know who he will find to take on the chair as it is always hard to find people to sit on the committee because of the subject matter.

“It is very involved, I have had 30 days of training, have spoken at conferences and am respected in the industry.”

Since the decision Cllr Lawman, who has asked the leader to reconsider, said he has had several messages of support from councillors of all parties. He said he did not know whose idea it was to suggest not making the £2m contribution but that it came to the committee very late in the day.

Despite the council’s own financial problems its pension fund is in a healthy state.

Cllr Golby, who has been leader since last April, said the decision taken by the pension committee was a factor in why he removed Cllr Lawman.

He said: “It is down to me to make that decision and I don’t want to say much more about it. I want to look at refreshing things all the time to improve. I thank Graham for his service.”

Labour Cllr Mick Scrimshaw said: “I think Cllr Lawman has done an excellent job and he has developed a national reputation. This seems a petty decision to me and I think there is a general question now about who is running the council and who is calling the shots.”

Labour's Cllr Julie Brookfield who was a member of the committee until being removed last year said: "I am deeply concerned by my county council even considering raiding the pension fund. The pension committee took a decision not to accede to the NCC request for a £2m transfer because they have a fiduciary duty and need to have regard to the safety of the scheme. This decision to attache the committee and remove the chair is high handed and politically motivated by Councillor Golby, a leader who sacks anyone who disagrees with him."

The appointment of a new committee chair will have to go before the next full council meeting.

This week the council announced that, against the odds it will balance its books this year. The authority is being run by two commissioners and a new chief executive Theresa Grant has steadied the finances of the authority.

Theresa May has held her position as prime minister since July 2016, but has promised her party's backbenchers that she will move on before the next stage of the Brexit negotiations, provided her deal passes through parliament. That deal has now been rejected three times, with parliament also unable to find a majority for any of the other alternatives. This could see a general election and, before that, a potential Conservative party leadership contest if the government loses a no confidence vote in the House of Commons. The list of potential replacements for Theresa May is long, with both former and current ministers in the running. Let us know what you think by taking part in our poll.

Police are appealing for witnesses following a burglary at a restaurant in Wellingborough Road, Northampton.

The incident happened on Sunday, March 10, between 1.30am and 1.40am, when the offender/s smashed glass in the front door to gain access. Police have released details today.

A police spokeswoman said: "They spent a short time in the premises before leaving empty-handed and running in the direction of Simpson Avenue."

Officers have released CCTV images of a person they would like to speak to in connection with the incident and anyone with information is asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101.

Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Darren Maginnis, 36, was last seen at lunchtime on Friday (March 29) and officers are concerned for his welfare.

Mr Maginnis was last seen in the Semilong area of the town and is white, 6ft 1in, of large build and has a shaven head.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said: "Officers are concerned for his welfare and are urging Darren to get in touch to let them know he is safe and well."

Darren is 6ft 1in, with large build and has a shaven head. He has tattoos on his arms and is believed to be wearing blue trainers.

Darren or anyone who may have seen him in the past few days is asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101.

Cobblers trio Junior Morias, Jordan Turnbull and Shaun McWilliams could all be available for selection this weekend after recovering from their various injury problems.

McWilliams overcame a hamstring issue to make his first start since mid-February when playing 55 minutes against Port Vale on Saturday but manager Keith Curle has since revealed the midfielder suffered a minor reaction.

He should be fit enough to be considered for selection when the Cobblers head to Notts County on Saturday though, and the same applies to midfielder Jordan Turnbull and striker Junior Morias.

Morias has been working his way back to fitness following an appendix operation while Turnbull sustained an ankle injury following Northampton’s 0-0 draw against Grimsby Town last month.

There was also encouraging news for young Brighton loanee George Cox who has not played since January following ankle ligament damage picked up during the 3-2 defeat at Cambridge United.

“We’re hoping George will join us later on this week,” said Curle. “He’s back to his field-based rehabilitation and I think he set the target himself of being back involved for the Notts County game, but it might be three or four days too soon.

“Junior is also back on the field and joined in with the squad for the first time on Monday so he’ll be trying to put himself in contention for selection on Saturday.

“Jordan Turnbull is reacting positive after going on to a course of injections for his ankle and that’s responding very well.

“Shaun McWilliams had a slight reaction to playing but I think that was down to fatigue on Saturday due to his hamstring.”

Curle also gave a brief update on Sean Waler after the academy youngster suffered a serious injury while on loan at Banbury United, adding: “Sean is responding to treatment but that’s going to be a summer job.”

St Andrew's Healthcare, which runs one of Europe's largest mental health facilities in Billing Road, is inviting 'opinion leaders' to an event in London tomorrow.

Attendees, which will include 'key' journalists from Sky News and the BBC will be offered a £250 'honorarium' to take part - on the basis that they sign a non-disclosure agreement.

But the health provider, which has recently faced serious questions over the way its high-needs young people are cared for in Billing Road, has dispelled any notion that the money is intended to influence the media following a period of negative press.

It says the £250 'honorarium' is "common practice" because the event is outside office hours and the non-disclosure agreement will allow for attendees to speak freely.

However, Sky News has said it will not attend the meeting on those terms.

A spokeswoman for St Andrew's said: "St Andrew’s Healthcare is seeking the help of relevant opinion leaders in providing views that will strengthen our approach to delivering against our charitable purpose of driving education, and de-stigmatisation, around mental health issues.

"This is an opinion-gathering event, not a media briefing.

"We are seeking a broad spectrum of views and expecting the opinion leaders to challenge us.

"It's common practice to ask participants in this kind of advisory board to sign a non-disclosure agreement and offer an honorarium in return for their time."

On March 28 a tweet by Sky News' health correspondent Paul Kelso discussing the event prompted a backlash on social media against St Andrew's.

Mr Kelso posted that St Andrew's was "offering journalists £250 to attend an 'advisory round table' with its CEO, at which they will have to sign non-disclosure agreements."

One of several negative comments suggested the round table was an attempt to "silence journalists".

In February, a watchdog report found St Andrew's had failed to meet the needs of three patients with complex needs - one of whom was kept in regular seclusion for 18 months.

Northamptonshire nurseries are having to increase hourly rates and ask for voluntary contributions from parents in a bid to keep their businesses open after their funding was cut.

Nurseries from all across the county are now asking families to pay more for childcare for their under-fives after a cut from central government which will see £1.5m taken from the early years budget in Northamptonshire.

The reduction, which was approved last week by the county council, comes after 18 months of payment fiasco within the sector, with the county council making a series of wrong payments and owing hundreds of nurseries thousands of pounds.

Sharon Forster and Kay Lines have run the Vicarage Farm Pre School in Wellingborough for the past 15 years and Sharon said this is the worst situation she has ever known during her childcare career.

The nursery is set to lose 22p per hour per child and yesterday sent home a letter to all parents asking them to make up the shortfall which will cost the nursery £4,000 per year. This will take the daily charge for snacks and consumables up from £1.25 for a six hour session to £2.57.

Sharon said: “One parent has told us that they think they are paying enough already and another two have been supportive.

“We have not broken even from September last year. I feel like the council has treated the early years providers appallingly.”

Emma Serdert owns the Oakey Dokey nursery in Danesholme, Corby, and 85 per cent of her 135 under-fives have fully funded childcare. She faces a cut which will equate to £1,400 per month and she says she will have to try to recoup this cost from parents, but this will not be easy because of the financial situation of some. It is also not something she is comfortable with doing.

She said: “My business will suffer because of this funding reduction and if I do not start to charge for consumables then I will have to reduce resources.

“The past two years have been an absolute logistical nightmare and I have had to fight for payment for children who have not been recognised on the council’s system. These decisions are being made by people who are not at the coalface and who are not aware of what it takes to run a nursery.”

All settings will have the SEN supplement reduced from 14p to 2p and there will also be a reduction in the quality supplement and the 53p hourly SEN supplement for high needs will be removed.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire County Council said: “The amount of children qualifying for early years funding in Northamptonshire has reduced, which has been reflected in reduced funding through the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG).

“Due to this reduced grant funding from central government, spending on early years in Northamptonshire will be heading for a £1.8m overspend in the next financial year if changes are not made.

“The proposals approved on Friday put payments to providers back in line with their grant funding and reduces the central expenditure of NCC costs, including support to the sector.

“The council understands these are very difficult decisions and continues to work alongside providers of early years setting to minimise the potential impact.”

There are currently 600 early years providers looking after and educating more than 10,485 under-fives in the county. The large majority of settings are graded as good or outstanding.

South Northamptonshire Council is set to go out for consultation on its new housing strategy for 2019-2022, and is making building more affordable homes its number one priority.

As of January this year, there were 242 households on the council’s housing register, of which half have an ‘urgent’ or ‘high priority’ need for affordable housing to rent. One-third of the households on the register are single people.

Private rents in South Northamptonshire are more expensive than all other districts in the county, so the council’s updated strategy - replacing the one that finished in 2018 - has three priorities to improve the situation for local people.

The first priority is to build affordable homes, the second priority is to allow people to lead settled lives, and the third is to develop ‘strong partnerships’ to provide housing services for that meet residents’ needs.

The foreword to the strategy reads: “It is important that we make the best use of existing housing, that empty homes are brought back into use and the right types of new housing are built in the right locations.

“By doing this we can ensure that young people can afford to stay in the area if they wish, that companies can continue to compete by attracting and retaining their workforce, and that housing is available and adaptable to meet the requirements of our ageing population.”

The evidence base on which the strategy has been put together found that of the 38,902 dwellings in South Northants - which includes Towcester and Brackley and nearby villages - 72 per cent are owner-occupied, 17 per cent are private rented and 11 per cent are social rented.

The report adds: “Despite higher incomes, the higher property prices are still less affordable than other areas in the district, being almost eight and a half times the median gross income.

“Private rental prices in the district are also more expensive than all other districts in the county. We have a very limited supply of shared accommodation, including Houses in Multiple Occupation.

“Social rent is the only truly affordable housing option for some people in our district and there is a limited supply in South Northants.”

It concludes: “Home ownership is out of reach for households on low and average incomes.”

Some of the strategies the council would adopt, if the paper is approved, would be to seek the ‘maximum amount’ of affordable housing when negotiating with developers on new schemes; supporting the delivery of new build adapted bungalows; and identifying land and property that it owns to be considered for the development of affordable homes ‘for people with a connection to South Northants’.

Although having a housing strategy is not statutory for councils, it is seen as ‘best practice’ to have one. The council hopes that the 2019-22 strategy can ‘guide and influence’ partners such as developers and registered providers.

The previous housing strategy, from 2015-18, delivered 364 new affordable homes, 203 rented properties (including 30 for social rent) and 161 shared ownership properties.

Targets for the next two years includes delivering 315 new ‘affordable’ properties in the area, the majority of which would be in Towcester and Brackley and the larger villages.

Members of South Northamptonshire Council’s cabinet are expected next week (Monday, April 8) to approve the strategy going out for a four-week public consultation from April 17 until May 15. It would then be brought back to cabinet on June 10 following the public feedback.

Digital Northampton is an independent collaboration between the University of Northampton, Northamptonshire County Council and local digital businesses.

So far the project has started to create links between technology companies working in all aspects of the sector including virtual reality, artificial intelligence, the internet of things, gaming, robotics and animation.

In June there will be a one-day event to focus on digital talent on offer in Northampton and how it can be harnessed to bring wider benefits to the county.

Cllr Matt Golby, county council leader, said: “There’s no doubt that the digital revolution is bringing sweeping changes across the world and what we now need to do is look at how these can be of benefit to the people of Northamptonshire.

“I welcome the Digital Northampton project as it recognises and unites the digital talent that we have in the town and around and builds on that to see how it can be of benefit to everyone.

“Not only are there advantages to businesses in the county through using emerging technology there are clearly massive benefits to be had to organisations which provide services to the public.”

Digital Northampton has so far united creative talent via social media and a purpose-built website and is now moving forward to promote more widely the skills which are available on our doorstep.

A major aim of the project will be to create a digital hub – a space in which innovative start-ups can locate, events can be held and where digital innovation and business investment can be promoted – all seen as pivotal in expanding the local digital economy and helping rejuvenate the town centre.

For more information about Digital Northampton follow @diginorthampton on Twitter or visit the designated website at: https://www.digitalnorthampton.com/

Northampton Partnership Homes (NPH) wants to knock down 27 lock-ups in Maidencastle, Blackthorn, so six new houses can be built on the street.

The moves are one of a series of application from NPH, which manages the borough council's housing stock and intends to build 1,000 new homes in Northampton over the next 10 years.

But some residents in Maidencastle fear the latest plans will clog the area up with parked cars as the garage demolitions will also result in 11 off-street parking spaces being lost.

Self-employed Tammy Mizon, who lives on the street, will invite her neighbours to take part in a demonstration on Saturday, asking them to park vehicles in the way they would have to once the homes are built.

She is hoping the protest will show how clogged the street could be and send a message to Northampton Borough Council's planning board that the scheme 'won't work'.

"It's a health and safety issue," she said. "We are not going to be able to get a fire engine or an ambulance down here.

"No one is against the principle of building new houses - but it's the way they are doing it. They are not taking into account the consequences."

Mrs Mizon, who runs a consultancy businesses from her home and would see one of the houses built seven metres from her front door, says several of her neighbours drive trade vans and, should the parking situation worsen, would not be able to keep them near to their houses.

NPH, on the other hand, says there is a desperate need for council houses in the area - while many of the lock-up garages around the east of Northampton are currently sitting empty.

The last three family homes in Blackthorn to come available on the council house waiting list attracted 242 bids.

Helen Town, assistant director of asset management and development for NPH said: “We’re disappointed to hear that this group of residents are not in favour of NPH’s proposals to build new homes in Blackthorn.

"We are responding to the housing issues identified in the local neighbourhood plan, which includes the provision of new housing. This neighbourhood plan was created by an independent, not-for-profit organisation who talked and listened to the local community as part of the process.

"We understand that any new build development causes inconvenience and disruption for those living nearby, but we cannot ignore the fact that we have 3,261 Northampton households on our housing register in need of a home. The last three family homes that became available in Blackthorn attracted bids from a total of 242 households, which demonstrates a clear need for homes in the area.

"When residents raise concerns with us, we do listen. We have on similar sites, designated parking spaces for residents with mobility issues for example. That said, we are doing everything we can to identify suitable locations to increase the supply of social housing in Northampton, which is a major local priority."

Mrs Mizon, 45, is set to hold the protest in Maidencastle between 10am and noon on Saturday, April 6.

East Midlands Academy Trust has asked headteachers in Northamptonshire to back their initiative to reduce the number of school exclusions, and not off-roll children from their registers.

By Ofsted definition, off-rolling is the practice of removing a pupil from the school without a formal, permanent exclusion or by encouraging a parent to remove their child from the school roll when the removal is primarily in the interests of the school, rather than the best interest of the pupil.

Emma Ing regional director for Ofsted said cracking down on exclusion and off-rolling are key features in the new inspection framework.

She said: "Headteachers have a really difficult job weighing up the needs of an individual child against the needs of a whole group.

"Now, exclusion is one option available to a head teacher but there is a range of other interventions that perhaps they could try and should try before they get to the exclusion point.

"I’m not saying that exclusion is always wrong but you do want to make sure you’ve done everything you can before you get to that point. And, if you’re just doing it because it makes your exam results look better that’s totally wrong."

The rate of permanent exclusions has been increasing in Northamptonshire, rising from 95 in 2015/16 to 150 in 2017/18 and latest figures show fixed-term exclusions have also increased from 4,651 in 2015/16 to 5,525 in 2016/17.

The new idea of the exclusion provision, which could take the form of spare classrooms at Northampton International Academy for up to 40 places, would be an informal agreement between teachers.

It already has backing from four Northampton schools and it comes as 29 children are being temporarily excluded every school day in this county.

This setting will be for primary and secondary school pupils to attend and will be an interim measure between mainstream education and permanent exclusion, which avoids sending the children home.

If it is successful, it is hoped that the initiative could be rolled out countywide.

Tim Marston, headteacher at Northampton International Academy, is taking the lead in the initiative.

He said he does not take the decision to exclude pupils lightly.

"It’s the most serious decision that you take," he said. "And in the intervening period between making that decision and any sort of an appeal you go through the governing body and then a further check and balance and you look for any possible alternative to holding up the permanent exclusion.

"I think if you look at the figures and the links between employment and positive life chances, the greater that we can reduce those exclusions then the far better off that those young people are going to be.

"There are too many people on the fringes on what is good education at the moment."

A trial is underway over the alleged mistreatment of children at a Northampton household.

The father in the case is accused of regularly beating his children, punishing them for using the toilet and not feeding them properly.

The children were taken away by social services and put into foster care.

But at Northampton Crown Court yesterday (April 2), the father's defence barrister, Andrew Fitch-Holland, asked a foster carer what life was like with them.

The court heard how the children accused her to her face that she hit them and abused them.

"Allegations were made against you and your husband," said Mr Fitch-Holland. "But of course, that wasn't true, was it?"

"No," said the foster carer.

"Little boys do tell fibs sometimes," said Mr Fitch-Holland. "It's fair to say in your time with them you've had trouble with the boys not telling the truth?

"[One child] even said your husband held him up against a wall so he couldn't breathe.

"That is an example of them making a false allegation against you, isn't it?"

The foster carer replied: "That is an example of them trying to figure out right from wrong. I had many conversations with them about what was and wasn't abuse.

"These were very damaged children."

The jury has already heard evidence from one of the children in a recorded interview he gave the police where he says his father regularly beat him.

But when the same boy gave evidence in court, he said his police interview was 'full of lies' and he was 'being mollycoddled to lie' by his social workers.

The most serious allegations in the case surround a boy was allegedly locked naked and alone in a dark bedroom with no mattress, furniture or lightbulb. When police found the room, the walls and floors were covered in excrement.

Last week, a child taken from the household even reportedly told his foster carer that 'daddy smacked me' when the man changed his nappy.

At court yesterday, a witness told the court the man would smack their own child during toilet training.

The woman told the jury: "He would smack [their child] across the bum and legs... he told him, 'you stink, you won't have any friends'.

The son supported the claim in court when he gave evidence to court.

The defendant claims this never happened and 'toilet training never concerned him'.

The trial continues.

Cobblers boss Keith Curle believes Leon Legge’s red card prompted a ‘shift in mentality’ from his players and that led to their downfall in Saturday’s 2-1 loss at home to Port Vale.

Town were in command and leading 1-0 when Andy Williams, racing through on goal, was hauled down by Legge, giving referee Neil Hair little option but to brandish a straight red card.

However, Legge’s dismissal, rather than having the expected impact of aiding Town’s task, sparked the visitors into life and, if anything, it was Vale who looked the team with an extra man.

David Worrall equalised in first-half stoppage-time before Tom Pope’s penalty, awarded for a foul by Charlie Goode, completed an improbable turnaround, leaving Curle spitting feathers during his post-match interview.

The Town boss was a little more measured when reflecting on the defeat a few days later, and having analysed the game, he identified the reasons behind his side’s collapse at 1-0 ahead and a man up.

“For 40 minutes we got on the front foot, caused them problems and they caused us very few problems,” said Curle.

“But the sending off allowed for a shift of mentality in our players because they thought we’ve got a man advantage so we can take an extra touch, we haven’t got to do the running, we haven’t got to nullify them, we haven’t got to fill holes.

“But then you look statistically and they had more passes than us, they had more entries into the final third, they had more possession in our final third, all with a man less, and that’s because we didn’t do the horrible side of the game. It’s the horrible side of the game that gets you the rewards.

“We were playing against a team down to 10 men and, on paper, there wouldn’t be many of their team that I would put in our changing room based on ability.

“So it’s disappointing when you start the game positively, get a goal, look dangerous from set-pieces and in control of the game, and then you get a man advantage but you lose.

“But there were fundamentals within our game that led to that.”

Peter Ormerod has a tea to savour at the hotel's Podium restaurant, home to the reigning champions of Bake-Off: The Professionals

Afternoon tea has enjoyed something of a renaissance of late. There was a time not too long ago when the traditional tea room was being supplanted by the cafe, most likely owned by a global corporation. Afternoon tea was a somewhat fusty old thing, at best a nostalgic throwback struggling to compete in the age of the latte and blueberry muffin.

Yet for all manner of cultural and culinary reasons, tea is back, and hotels seem ever keener to offer the definitive version. It is easy to see why: even the finest tea is relatively inexpensive, while the requisite sandwiches, scones and cakes should not be a great challenge to even the most modestly skilled pastry chef. Often, what is being sold as much as anything is an experience, with some affectations towards refinement and dollop of retro charm.

It is fair to say however that the Hilton on Park Lane in London does things differently. All the necessary components of afternoon tea are present, but here they are done with such originality, invention and skill as to elevate them into an art form. This comes as no surprise once one learns of the people responsible: executive pastry chef Emmanuel Bonneau and junior sous chef Sam Leatherby, the reigning champions of Bake-Off: The Professionals. The only drawback is that no afternoon tea will ever quite feel the same.

Afternoon tea is served in the Podium restaurant, a sleek, modish place, and a far cry from the faux-rustic, bunting-bedecked decor beloved by so many establishments. It could all seem rather serious were it not for the warmth and charm of the staff, who are as friendly and attentive and smiley as one could wish for, without tipping over into obsequiousness or over-familiarity. The menu, stuffed as it is with all manner of delights, is bewildering at first glance but makes blessed sense once one is talked through it. Essentially, you choose your drink and they do the rest.

What follows is wave after wave of indulgence at its most delicate and tasteful. There is Pommery Champagne with a perfect balance of zest and mellowness. Then come the sandwiches; purists may question whether a sandwich with only one piece of bread is a sandwich, but when they are this exquisite, such quibbles seem churlish. The toppings - smoked salmon and horseradish, cucumber and cream cheese, prawn cocktail, ham and chutney, coronation chicken - are time-honoured but presented with contemporary flair. All were crisp and refreshing, complemented ably by my pot of Assam; I cannot remember the last time a brew tasted quite so fresh and energetic.

Had proceedings ended there, the afternoon would still have been a triumph. But goodness, so much more was to come. The scones, pastries and fancies were presented with some elan; there was not a doily in sight. There were plain scones, raisin scones, chocolate-chip scones, but the variety was barely necessary, for these were simply perfect scones, sufficiently substantial yet carrying a light finish. They were served with the most opulent whipped cream, the zingiest of jams and a salted caramel sauce to which the word 'smooth' barely does justice. The one problem was the temptation to eat too many, thus leaving insufficient room for the delights to follow; along with the spreads, a goodly portion of restraint was needed.

We were on to the pastries and fancies. A word of advice: do not go to afternoon tea at the Hilton for conversation, because you will be unlikely to have any. You'll just be lost in the sumptuousness of it all. Each creation had been crafted with apparent affection and care. There was a luscious and lively fruit cake; a mixed berry and violet parfait of quite sublime texture; a coconut and mango sphere which was akin to the sweet equivalent of a perfectly poached egg. And so it went on, through a raspberry and rose almond biscuit, a chocolate fudge handbag (yes, handbag) and more.

But perhaps most impressive of all was there skill at gluten-free baking. My wife's GF scones were barely distinguishable from my gluten-full ones, and were the best she has eaten; similarly, the bread for her sandwiches was wondrously soft and smooth, while the variety of sweet treats means there are plenty of gluten-free options. For once, being gluten-free didn't mean settling for second best.

Of course, anything good enough for the Bake-Off judges is probably good enough for most of us. But there is no sense of complacency here. Everything is vastly better than it really needs to be. There is nothing twee or contrived or ironic to it, nothing crass or try-hard; there is style by the bucketload, but never at the expense of substance. It may have seemed unfashionable barely a decade ago; but here, it feels like afternoon tea is enjoying a golden age.

* Afternoon tea at Podium at Hilton on Park Lane costs £39 per person, with Champagne afternoon tea costing £49 per person. Call 020 7208 4022 or visit www.podiumrestaurant.com to book.

Rachel Terry-Finch and Chris Finch have been living in their two-bedroom property in Blackthorn since March last year with their three girls, aged two, six and seven.

But since they moved in, the living room, their bedroom and the girls' bedroom, have been cold and damp and they have noticed black mould spreading into their home.

The family-of-five have taken to sleeping on their living room floor, wrapped up in warm quilts, to avoid the conditions upstairs, but they say that this is unfair on the girls who need a good night's rest for school.

Rachel, who said the conditions were not noticeable when they viewed the house, said: "We have got rid of two single divan beds in their room already, I would not let an animal live like it.

"Why should I have to sleep in a living room when there's a bedroom upstairs?"

Rachel says the conditions of the bedrooms have made the girls poorly with chesty coughs and they have had to have some time off during this school term to recover.

Chris gets up at dawn to go to work as a delivery driver. He said: "We are sleeping downstairs. It's not fair on the kids, It disturbs them because I get up and go out at four every morning.

"The school are noticing how the girls are going in tired.

"We make them as comfy as we can with the tools that we have got."

Although the couple have tried to treat the mould themselves they say the responsibility should not rest on their shoulders and would like Stonewater to give them a helping hand.

After asking for help directly, the pair said it was their last resort to ask this newspaper for help.

Chris added: "It's not our responsibility to treat it. It's cost us a fortune already.

"We have treated it two times but it keeps coming back you need proper industrial stuff."

Stonewater has given Rachel and Chris recommendations to prevent the mould but the couple say they want it treated or they will not pay their rent until the situation has been resolved.

Recommendations include pulling the beds away from the external walls, making sure the shower room door is closed, and using the central heating system throughout the day.

Rachel said: "I could go and pay in full but I am not as I have been waiting over a year for this to be sorted.

"I do not agree with pulling my children's beds away from the wall because they can't be bothered to do their job properly.

"We always close our door when showering...and to leave my heating on in the day? Are they going to pay the electric bill? I would be wasting money on heaters that don't heat the home up properly, or enough."

Paul Crow, assistant director at Stonewater housing association, said: "We are sorry that there is mould present in Mrs Terry-Finch’s property, and we are working with the family to remove the existing mould and to advise them how to avoid its reoccurrence.

"An appointment was arranged for one of our surveyors to visit the property on 22 January, 2019 to ascertain whether the mould was as a result of the three possible causes; the property not being water tight, an internal leak or inadequate heating and ventilation causing condensation.

The surveyor explained to Mrs Terry-Finch that the mould was as a result of condensation.

THe added: "We have instructed one of our contractors to treat the mould in the property, this work will be completed before April 22.

"Our surveyor felt that the tumble dryer wasn’t a major contributor but would recommend having the extractor fan on in the kitchen when it is in use.

"He has also arranged for insulation to be added to the back of the loft hatch door and all the loft insulation to be checked to ensure it was still correctly in place right up to the eaves to maximise its benefit."

A Northampton coffee shop has been named as one of the best in England.

Online travel guide Big 7 Travel has given Yellow Bourbon Coffee Roasters the number 17 spot on a list of top 50 cafes in the country.

The cafe in opened in Angel Street in April 2017 has become a top supplier of coffee beans for other cafes and businesses throughout the town.

Director Steve Peel said: “It’s rather come out the blue. Personally, we don’t really enter awards or put ourselves forward for things.

“We just do our own thing and it feels great to be appreciated.”

A short review on the Big 7 website reads: “Head upstairs here to the comfortable, bright seating area alongside their green coffee preparation and packing area, so if you’re lucky you might catch the whole process from weighing green coffee to roasting and packing happen during your visit.”

Steve opened the shop after learning how to roast coffee under the Monmouth Coffee Company in London.

The Angel Street shop roasts its own beans and sells its own coffee blends to customers for them to make at home - and even offers a ‘better coffee’ course for enthusiasts at home to make the most of a coffee break.

Steve said: “I think people appreciate the friendly and informal service we offer.

“We want to be like something you would see in a bigger city, which is what some people want to see more of in Northampton.

“Thank you to my wife Kate, the girls in the shop Catia, Elle and Hannah, and all our customers.”

For more information, visit the Yellow Bourbon website - https://www.yellowbourbon.co.uk/

A man was punched repeatedly to the head and face by an unknown attacker outside a Kettering bar.

Officers are appealing for witnesses following the attack outside Brooklyn Bar in Ebenezer Place at about 4am on Saturday, March 23.

A Northamptonshire Police spokeswoman said: "He was described as white, 5ft 10in and aged about 30.

"He had reddish hair and beard and piercings down the back of one ear.

"He was wearing a red long-sleeved knitted jumper."

Anyone with information should contact Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Cobblers forward Sam Hoskins admits he gets ‘as frustrated as the fans’ over his inability to string together consistent performances this season.

The 26-year-old took his tally to five goals in 40 appearances this season when scoring from close-range just five minutes into Saturday’s game against Port Vale.

It was his first goal since the former Southampton man netted twice at Tranmere Rovers nine games earlier, with the second of those goals at Prenton Park winning the EFL Goal of the Month award for February.

But Hoskins has struggled to impress on a regular basis, much to the frustration of Cobblers supporters, and he admits it’s something he’s well aware of.

“I can’t put my finger on it,” he said. “I can assure you I get as frustrated as the fans do but all I do is try my best and try and make things happen for the team.

“Obviously on Saturday it was good to get a goal and from there we wanted to push forward and we should have but we didn’t.

“Hopefully I can add more goals before the end of the season and help the team push up the table.”

Only David Cornell (40) and Aaron Pierre (35) have made more league starts than Hoskins (34) this season, and he’ll be hoping to chalk up another one when the Cobblers head to relegation-battling Notts County on Saturday.

“It’ll be a hard game of course,” he added. “When teams are fighting for their lives it can be difficult but we know there are no easy games in this league.

“We just focus on ourselves and try and do the same things that have brought us success and that’s what we’ll do this week - we’ll work towards the game and focus on how we can win.”