A small black Welsh Mountain ewe has been stolen from a barn near Kettering.

The theft happened some time between 9pm on Tuesday, April 9, and the following day, when the offenders accessed the barn in Ringstead after crossing land from a nearby greenway.

Officers are appealing for information and anyone who may have recently acquired such a sheep or knows anyone who has, is asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101, quoting reference number 19000183941.

Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

A man in his 40s wearing a bomber jacket threatened a Wellingborough newsagents worker with a knife during a robbery.

At about 12.30pm last Thursday (April 11), the robber entered the shop in Park Crescent, walked around until two other customers left and then approached the counter.

He then produced a knife and threatened a member of staff.

Another man then entered the shop and the suspect put the knife up his sleeve and left.

A Northamptonshire Police spokeswoman said: "The suspect is described as white, about 5ft 9in, and in his mid to late 40s.

"He was wearing a black bomber ‘Everlast’ jacket, dark jeans, a black beanie style hat with grey hair sticking out of the back, and black gloves with white fingertips."

Anyone who was in the shop or nearby area around the time stated and may have seen the suspect or has information about the incident is asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101.

Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

A CCTV image of a man and woman have been released following a spate of purse thefts in Northamptonshire supermarkets.

The purses were stolen in two separate incidents at supermarkets in Northampton and Wellingborough on March 21.

Two women had their purses stolen from their handbags while they were shopping.

One of the supermarkets was Aldi in Towcester Road, Northampton, and the Lidl in London Road, Wellingborough.

Now, a CCTV image of a man and a woman who may know more about the thefts has been released by police.

Officers would like to speak to the man and woman pictured and anyone who recognises them is asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Callum Gordon, aged 28, of no fixed address, appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Friday, April 5, charged with burglary, theft from a motor vehicle, vehicle interference, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

The offences took place in Long Buckby in March.

He was remanded in custody and will next appear at Northampton Crown Court on Wednesday, May 8.

Teenager Scott Pollock described making his full Cobblers debut as ‘a dream come true’ and said it was an ‘amazing feeling’ to walk off the pitch to a standing ovation after his man of the match display against Mansfield Town on Saturday.

The 18-year-old made his first appearance for the Cobblers as a first-half substitute at Cambridge United in January but he was made to wait another three months until his full debut, which came against the high-flying Stags on Saturday.

Pollock’s rise to prominence has been unique. A star of YouTube club Hashtag United, who have half a million subscribers, he’s no stranger to the spotlight and that showed during his assured and impressive debut for the Cobblers, his hometown club.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Pollock. “I knew it would be a tough game against second in the league but the boys did really well and I’m just happy to get a good result out of the game.

“I didn’t think it was too bad for a full debut. In games like that you’ve just got to land on second balls and be up for the game and I thought I was up for it and that showed.

“Sam (Foley) was really good as my midfield partner. He gave me a few tips about where to go and my positioning and that and I’m glad I could set him up for the goal!”

The midfielder, who signed a two-year scholarship with Northampton back in September, turned heads with a series of goalscoring performances for the youth team in the autumn, leading to a loan spell with St Neots Town at the start of 2019.

That helped him prepare for senior football ahead of his full debut on Saturday, when he partnered Foley in midfield and caught the eye with his hard-working, high-quality display.

Pollock was substituted for John-Joe O’Toole in stoppage-time and manager Keith Curle confirmed afterwards that was to allow supporters to show their appreciation of his man of the match performance with a standing ovation.

“I think at the time we were defending a free-kick so the game paused and I heard them announce it (man of the match),” Pollock added.

“It’s just an amazing feeling to make my full debut at home in my hometown and to get the reception that I did was just as amazing.

“It’s great to give back to the fans because I was in their situation wanting the same and singing in the crowd for my team so I know how much it means to them and happily it all paid off.”

Pollock was made aware of his inclusion in the team the day before, adding: “I was told on Friday when the manager picks the team and there were a few nerves before but once you get into the game you settle down and I was OK.

“I like playing in central midfield, especially trying to land on second balls, winning headers, playing forward and being positive. I really enjoyed it.”

Being from the town and a former season-ticket holder at Sixfields, Pollock had plenty of friends and family in attendance to watch him realise a childhood dream on Saturday.

“I had 12 friends and family up in the crowd and I saw them when the full-time whistle went and gave them a little wave,” he continued.

“A lot of the work is down to them. My mum has been amazing to get me to football matches and to training so I owe them a lot. I’m happy it all went well for them.”

Residents of a number of Daventry homes are set to be sent a letter of apology after they were wrongly told their homes would be sold - but homeowners who moved house now look increasingly unlikely to be offered compensation.

Residents of 32 homes in Middlemore received letters from Daventry District Council saying that their homes would be sold off, a decision confirmed by council in July 2016 at an estimated value of £6.75 million.

A number of residents decided to move out of their homes, but the decision to sell off the homes was reversed by the council more than a year later.

The council’s strategy committee has now agreed to write a ‘without prejudice’ letter of apology to all residents who were affected, but has stopped short of compensating residents who moved on.

Proposals from Labour councillor Ken Ritchie to compensate those residents was rejected at the latest strategy committee meeting on Thursday (April 11).

Councillor Ritchie said: “Residents want to know that they have a district council that’s there to show a little bit of compassion and do what it can to assist them. At these meetings they have always been told that we are listening sympathetically and that we have their best interests at heart.

“If we simply say that we are not taking any further action and it has nothing to do with us, at the best we will be seen as being disingenuous, and at worst as being totally cynical. It will damage our reputation as a council that represents its residents’ best interests.”

He proposed that original tenants who have moved home as a result of the letter sent to them on January 18, 2018 should be compensated. He said that compensation for the 12 tenants who have moved should be £2,000 each, costing the council a total of £24,000.

But council officers said that tenants took on private tenancies on terms that were ‘clearly expressed’, and reinforced in the letters each received on switching to a statutory periodic tenancy. They were told that the fact the council’s intentions subsequently changed was not unlawful or improper.

Councillor Adam Brown was part of a taskforce alongside Councillor Ritchie examining the decision to sell the houses. The only point on which they disagreed was whether to compensate the homeowners who had moved.

Councillor Brown said: “We are there to gather evidence and arrive at a sound decision to influence policy, and we have done that. When you look at the evidence, on the balance of probability the council has acted properly.

“We have not breached the threshold in order to justify compensation, but by offering an apology we are acting with humility and good manners, and acknowledging that things could have been done better.”

His stance was supported by Councillor Richard Auger, a member of the strategy group.

He added: “It was absolutely the right decision not to sell those homes. But my issue is with this compensation. Where there is genuine loss of finances, absolutely there should be compensation. Just because we made mistakes, why should that automatically result in some financial costs? That’s just ludicrous, you can’t live life like that.”

But Councillor Ritchie responded: “The people who have moved from Middlemore, it has cost them. They would not have had those costs if they hadn’t had a letter saying that their homes would be sold.”

He was supported by fellow Labour councillor Aidan Ramsey, who said: “You might say at the end of the day that we didn’t sell the houses, so they didn’t have to sell either. But when it first came forward to seemed like a sensible decision. A resident who is scared will take action to protect themselves.

“If you had moved and gone through all that stress, and then a letter arrived came from the council saying ‘sorry about that’, then I think I’d be showing it two fingers.

“The money proposed is a lot to those residents, but in the grand scheme of things it isn’t for the district council.”

There may yet be a final lifeline for Middlemore residents though, as the strategy group’s recommendations will likely need to be rubber stamped at the next full council meeting.

East Midlands MEP Margot Parker has today announced her resignation as UKIP deputy chairman and has quit the party.

Mrs Parker, who has championed women’s rights and equality, has joined Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party.

She was UKIP spokesman on women’s rights and gender equality and said: “The party leader of UKIP is carrying out a purge of party loyalists to ensure only supporters of the far right activist Tommy Robinson, with whom he now associates with, are considered for approval by the party.

“The policies of the leader have now so damaged the party, I feel I must resign my position and membership of UKIP. This I do with great reluctance and sadness in equal measure.

“The leader seems to be engaging on a ‘crusade’ on issues, which are dividing communities up and down the land.

“He has taken his eye off the ball – the goal has to be Brexit and that is why I have joined the new Brexit Party, which aims to change the political landscape and fight for what people voted for in the 2016 referendum.

“Furthermore, the leader of UKIP has deselected hard-working, sitting, female MEPs. I have fought long and hard for equality – I cannot be part of this distasteful regime any longer.”

Mrs Parker said she will see out the rest of her mandate and to continue to represent and fight for the people of the East Midlands.

But an idyllic break doesn’t always have to involve an exotic, far-off destination, as there are a wealth of stunning spots to visit right here in the UK. From peaceful coastal escapes, to lively city breaks, here are nine of the best ‘staycation’ destinations you could visit this year.

Last week businesses were in uproar at the plans to increase parking charges in Northampton without what many people felt was a proper consultation.

But here in Northampton we don’t like to go down without a fight.

After it emerged the public would not be formally asked to comment on the rises, we thought we would launch a snap consultation of our own and called on you to write in with your views.

And it’s fair to say our postbag has been overflowing this week – with so many of you calling on the borough council to think again. The new charges – set to come into force on April 15 – will see evening charges rise from £1 to £3 across all borough council-owned car parks.

At surface car parks such as Upper Mounts, the 60p for an hour tariff and £1.20 for two hours will be replaced with a new minimum charge of £2.

Anyone staying at surface car parks for between three and four hours will have to pay £4 – as opposed to £2.40 for three hours or £3.20 for four hours. Our readers believe this will greatly put people off coming into the town – particularly the 300 per cent increase to the evening charges.

So many of you wrote in, we couldn’t contain all the comments on the following two pages here – so head to our letters section on pages 44 and 45 for more views.

All of your letters – and more than 100 Facebook comments – have been sent to the borough council for consideration.

Shopkeepers, pub owners and cafe bosses in Northampton are also taking a stand against the increases. Traders who are part of the Business Improvement District (BID) formed a working group with the borough council last week to discuss alternative proposals to the parking rises.

Meetings have been ‘constructive’ so far, a source said. What should be noted, however, is the borough has budgeted to make £625,000 through the increases – money which would need to be found elsewhere if the new tariffs were scrapped completely.

With that in mind, the council is highly unlikely to cancel the tariff rises altogether at this stage. Chairman of the BID Rob Purdie said an alternative set of proposals has been submitted to the council – though he could not yet say what those were.

“We are working towards something we feel is a more acceptable solution,” said Mr Purdie. “There will have to be some increases but it is a matter of where those fall.”

Mr Purdie said his members were particularly concerned about the threefold increase to the evening charge and said there was a general feeling Sundays should be free to park. The BID is calling for the imposition of the new tariffs to be delayed while negotiations are ongoing.

However, questions still remain over the consultation process. The authority’s draft budget in December asked people for their views on generally raising parking income by £625,000 to plug a budget gap – but there was no detail as to how. Only 21 people left comments.

The Liberal Democrat councillors on the authority have been challenging the Conservative-run council since December on what they say is a lack of transparency.

The group says councillors only found out details of the increases at the cabinet meeting on February 20. Minutes of that meeting suggested a further consultation would take place.

But the notices put up in car parks and the meeting with has been, many feel, insufficient. Councillor Sally Beardsworth (Lib Dem, Kingsthorpe) said: “The Liberal Democrats on the council will not let this rest until we are convinced everything has been done properly.”

Since she's retired Ceila, and a whole host of big-hearted volunteers, have made over 3,000 artificial flowers from scratch.

Those flowers have gone on display in the churchyard outside St Peter & St Paul's Church in Park Avenue South, in Abington, to commemorate Easter and Armistice Day.

The most recent 800-strong daffodil project is part of Ceila's second flower display, coordinated by her business, Artified. The daffodils, made out of Ragu clay, were planted on March 8 and will be on display for several weeks.

The Marie Curie Field of Hope is just around the corner to the Church of St Peter and St Paul, and each daffodil planted there represents someone who has died of cancer, or has gone through a terminal illness.

Similarly, the ceramic daffodils in the churchyard also represent hope and were sold as a Mothering Sunday gift, or they can be still be bought as a reminder of a loved one who has been through a terminal illness such as cancer.

Celia, who lives in Kingsthorpe, said: "It takes a long time to make them, we've been working on them night and day.

"It's a labour of love."

While the daffodils are on display, the church will be open each day between 11am and 1pm and on Easter Monday, during those same hours, Ceila will be hosting a balloon release with Marie Curie.

New reverend Byung June Kim has been at the church for three weeks and thinks the daffodils are a lovely addition to the cemetery.

He said: "We love to have these daffodils displayed as beautiful art.

"The church is here as a sanctuary for everyone and having the daffodils really helps us to fulfil that calling."

The daffodils can be purchased through the online shop or through an order form available at the church, and will be taken down next Wednesday (April 24).

The cost of a daffodil sale is £2.50 and will be donated to the Church of St Peter & St Paul, and £2.50 will be given to Marie Curie. ​

Grzegorz Bazmierowski, aged 35, of Ivy Road, Northampton
Aksama Bejnarovirca, aged 31, of Clifton Court, Northampton
Dumitru Botaria, aged 36, of Hood Street, Northampton
Adrian Cirlescu, aged 43, of Poole Street, Northampton
Dinca Colica, of Windflower Place, Northampton
Alan Davis, aged 70, of Castle Street, Northampton
Abbie Eaton, aged 18, of Greenside, Northampton
Cabe Fairy, aged 24, of Nether Jackson Court, Northampton
Vasile Florea, aged 54, of Somerset Street, Northampton
Dean Harrison Fox, aged 29, of Liddington Way, Northampton
Ilvita Freimane, of Duke Street, Northampton
David Horton, aged 60, of St Crispin Retirement Village, Northampton
Ali Khan, aged 26, of Aberdare Road, Northampton
Saruhas Margrlis, aged 20, of Shakespeare Road, Northampton
Clauyiy Nicolae, aged 44, of Sharman Road, Northampton
Pham Phomthigh, of Counter Street, Northampton
John Roberts, aged 50, of Farm Close Road, Northampton
Nadine Robinson, aged 54, of Woodland Walk, Northampton
Kean Shen, aged 22, of Newington Road, Northampton
Alanae Trohin, aged 22, of Bedford Mansions, Northampton
Robert Vasiu, aged 37, of Castle Avenue, Northampton

The anonymous letter was written years after the murder of 15-year-old Sean McGann, whose body was found in an alleyway in Abington 40 years ago this Thursday.

Detectives still believe someone out there knows what happened to Sean and have been buoyed by the emergence of the letter, which appears to have been penned in 1991.

Detective Chief Inspector Ally White said: “Forensic science and investigative techniques have improved immensely in the four decades since Sean was killed and we are carrying out a full forensic review of the original evidence which may identify new lines of inquiry.

“We also have a significant piece of new information – a letter addressed to Sean’s family from someone claiming to have important information about who killed Sean. We want to find out who wrote this letter."

DCI White hopes that the fresh appeal may prompt someone to recall a forgotten piece of information, or see the significance of something they had previously dismissed.

“There could have been many reasons why they didn’t come forward at the time," he said, "but, 40 years on, old allegiances may have changed or they may simply want to clear their conscience. This is their opportunity to do that.

“The letter is also important. As well as forensic opportunities, the envelope was hand-written – do you recognise the writing? Did you send this letter or know who did? Please get in touch, we need to talk to you.”

Sean had left his grandparents’ home in Victoria Gardens, Northampton, on Tuesday, April 17 between 5.30pm and 6pm - the Tuesday after Easter - to visit the funfair at Midsummer Meadow. He would have passed the old cattle market and walked across Becket’s Park to get to the fair.

But he failed to return home that evening and the teenager's body was found by a passerby at 8.10am the following day, in a service road that runs behind a group of houses in Birchfield Road East. He had been strangled.

DCI White said their picture of what happened in the missing 14 hours is still hazy.

He said: “We don’t know for sure whether or not he got to the fair. We have differing uncorroborated sightings of Sean at the fair. It may be the case that if he did arrive at the fair he was only there for a short time.

“We believe he was killed elsewhere [away from the alley] and taken to this location sometime between 6.45am and 8.10am. His jacket and glasses were missing and have never been found, and his shoes and belt had been left a short distance from his body."

Sean’s parents and his younger sister and brother have spent 40 years not knowing what led to their son and brother’s death or who was responsible.

Today, they have paid tribute to Sean and have used a statement to urge anyone with information to contact police.

They say: “Sean was a much-loved son, brother, grandson and nephew and is greatly missed.

“He was a gentle, loving boy only just past his fifteenth birthday. He enjoyed spending time with his family, loved horses and horse riding and had recently begun volunteering at Favell House. He was always so helpful and thoughtful and his friendship was appreciated by many.

“His death has affected the whole family and forty years on we still think of him every day. If anyone has any information about what happened to Sean, please contact the police. He is much missed and always remembered.”

Anyone with information should call Northamptonshire Police on 101 or if they prefer to remain anonymous, they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

DCI White said the case would never be closed until Sean's murderer is identified.

He said: “The murder of a loved one has a devastating lifetime impact on those left behind and we do all we can to find those responsible. Forty years on, this murder is no less shocking and the case has always remained open.

“Forty years is a long time, and the person or people involved may or may not still be alive. But it’s very possible that someone knows who murdered Sean, or has information they didn’t share at the time which may provide that all-important missing piece of the jigsaw.

“We never forget those people who have had their lives taken away at the hand of another and I hope this anniversary appeal will help us find out what happened in April 1979 and bring some comfort and closure for Sean’s family.”

The figures were revealed at a crime and disorder committee meeting at Corby Borough Council on Wednesday. Members of the panel also heard that Corby has just one county line, which is shared with Kettering, East Northants has four, Wellingborough has two and Kettering has sixteen.

Daventry and South Northamptonshire do not have any county lines that police are aware of.

At the meeting, Safer Corby Officer Antonia Malpas said: “County lines are illegal business models operated by gangs to supply drugs to suburban areas and they use dedicated phone lines to do that.”

To help tackle the issue, police are doing ongoing work to combat cuckooing. This is when drug gangs target vulnerable people and take over their homes to use for drug dealing, giving them a free space to peddle drugs in established communities.

The police have started a multi-agency cuckooing forum which enables them to work with local authorities and other bodies on the issue.

Inspector Scott Little said: “We pro-actively put forward the names of vulnerable people who may be at risk of cuckooing and look at what support we can put in around that person.

“But just arresting people at lower levels of county lines doesn’t work because that just creates a gap in the market.”

Ms Malpas added: “Cuckooing is mainly targeting vulnerable people but we are increasingly seeing young people being used as couriers.

“Some signs are that the young people might be those who regularly go missing and then are found out of area. They might be carrying lots of cash or wearing designer clothes and be receiving excessive texts or phone calls. They might also have developed relationships with older, controlling adults.

“They may show some changes in emotional wellbeing or have unexplained anger.

“This needs a safeguarding response, not a criminal justice approach.”

The Home Office and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire are jointly funding a project called CIRV - the Community Initiative to Reduce Violence. This is a two-year scheme to case-manage individual people and to try to prevent them becoming involved in gangs.

The ongoing Operation Viper has also been a success with hundreds of arrests and drugs and weapon seizures since its launch last July.

- Figures were also revealed for the numbers of serious organised crime gangs operating in all of our districts and boroughs. These are classed by lawmakers as gangs that plan and conduct criminal activity for financial gain. Antonia Malpas said: “They carry weapons and use violence towards each other. (Police have found them with) bottles of noxious substances.”

Corby is said to have three organised crime gangs, one of which is shared with Kettering - a borough that also has a total of three gangs.

East Northants has three organised crime gangs and Wellingborough has four. Daventry has two, South Northants has none and Northampton has a staggering 14 OCGs that police are aware of.

The meeting was told that law enforcers in Northamptonshire have been working with the Home Office report and are currently drawing up a report to come up with a strategic plan on how to deal with the county’s serious crime issues.

Scott Pollock will not be the last Cobblers youngster to be handed an opportunity in the first-team between now and the end of the season, providing manager Keith Curle feels the timing is right.

Pollock joined the likes of fellow academy prospects Jay Williams and Ryan Hughes in making his full debut for the Cobblers under Curle this season when he started against Mansfield on Saturday, while several others have also been involved at various points, including Sean Whaler and Camron McWilliams, younger brother of Shaun.

Northampton have a number of talented youngsters coming through the youth ranks and with their League Two campaign petering towards an anticlimactic finish, opportunities might arise for some to get more minutes under their belts.

But circumstances will dictate whether or not Curle promotes those young players during his side’s four remaining matches, with the Town boss saying: “If it’s right and I think they’ve deserved it, they’ll get a chance. My job is about putting players in the team at the right time.

“I could go out and play the youth team against Macclesfield but I’m trying to pick the right time to introduce young players and then that’s a separate challenge for those players.

“Individually, can they perform within the first-team setup whatever the formation is? It suited Scotty on Saturday and it was a good opportunity for him to test himself against a team that have done very well this season.”

Hughes’ surprise appearance against Cheltenham Town last month made him the eighth different academy player to feature for the first-team this season, all coming under Curle.

“We have an environment whereby I will play young players if I think the timing is right for them to be able to go in and put a performance and take another step up the ladder,” Curle added.

“Saturday’s performance would have done nothing but good for Scotty Pollock and not only for him but for other young players - it should increase their drive, their hunger and their desire to be part of the club at first-team level.

“That’s what we’re trying to do. There is a pathway and I think we’ve proven there is a pathway for young, developing players that have an affinity to the club. They have a pathway to come in and perform.

“And it’s not only based on their ability. It’s about their mentality, their attitude, their application and their desire to improve.”

t follows a two-year investigation into activities at Europe Supermarket in Wellingborough Road, which PC Chris Stevens of Northamptonshire Police believes is "central to an Organised Crime Group (OCG) that imports and sells a substantial amount of non-duty paid and counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco."

PC Stevens further alleges - in evidence submitted to the Guildhall's licensing committee - that profits from the racket have been used to set up a second Europe Supermarket - in Abington Street - which he suspects has been laundering the ill-gotten cash.

A series of raids across the country linked to the illegal tobacco sales culminated in the Wellingborough Road premises being raided on August 22, where cash in carrier bags and a small safe were seized.

PC Stevens says: "Based on this information, the police believe that Europe Supermarket on Wellingborough Road is a base for organised crime and is heavily linked to the sale and storage of illicit tobacco."

Over the two-year period, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have conducted disruption work against the gang, the name of which is redacted in the public version of the licensing document. The police work, the document says, has led to "sizeable" cash and tobacco seizures around the UK and Northampton.

Among the largest seizures happened on August 14, 2018 when HMRC officers visited Europe Supermarket in Wellingborough Road for an inspection. A van connected to the premises was forced open and officers discovered almost 24,000 cigarettes and 2.4kg of tobacco amongst boxes that bore Europe Supermarket branding.

Eight days later, a second round of raids saw warrants executed at four places including a home address, the Wellingborough Road premises again, and a business unit linked to the gang where police had observed a member apparently arranging the lease. As a result of the latter raid, 2.4 million non-duty paid cigarettes were discovered.

PC Stevens said the force had no doubt that the licence holder, who also holds the licence for Aryan Coffee, a coffee shop on the corner of Lutterworth Road, should have all three licences revoked.

He says: "The nature and scale of the offences suspected of being committed in this case lead the police to the conclusion that, on the balance of probability, the criminal earnings of this OCG have been used to set up and run the business of Europe Supermarket on Abington Street.

"Further. there are reasonable grounds to believe that the accounts of these premises are being used to launder this money in such a way as to make it appear legitimate.

"Given these conclusions, the police are asking the licensing committee to revoke this premises licence."

The licence holder of Europe Supermarket is listed as Sarbaz Amin Abdullah. Licensing committee councillors will make a ruling on Wednesday, April 24.

Vinyl enthusiasts queued overnight outside Northampton record shops at the weekend to be among the first to buy some of the limited releases which were part of this year’s Record Store Day.

By the time Spun Out in Gold Street opened its doors at 8am on Saturday morning, more than 100 collectors were queuing outside – with the first having arrived at 8.30pm the day before.

Among those in the queue were Record Store Day regulars Mark Sarll and Chris Gedge who had both spent all night outside of the shop.

Mr Gedge, was queueing outside Spun Out from 11.30pm on the Friday night.

He said: “I was third in the queue. I dropped my dog off at friends in Northampton for the weekend and went direct to Spun Out.

“It’s about getting there early to be in the top ten. I was mainly after releases by Idles, slowthai, TVAM, Baby Shark, Japan and M.

“I love the camaraderie of meeting up with the regulars, many are lifelong friends now and we go to gigs together.

“I also love the challenge of getting out of the comfort zone and queuing for eight hours plus in the freezing cold.

“The clubbers are quite entertaining, asking ‘What are you lot doing?’ every year. If you don't get music, you don't get us.”

Many independent records shops across the country take part in Record Store Day each yeah, with labels releasing about 500 limited items.

The shops are not allowed to reserve items for customers or sell them online during a certain time frame as part of a drive to support the independent retailers.

Some of this year’s most sought-after releases included a live bootleg by R.E.M and releases by David Bowie and Prince as well music by Idles, Robyn, Prodigy and The Mighty Boosh.

Mr Sarll said: “I got there at 1.45 am and was the seventh person in line.

“I get there early to get my hands on the rare stuff and talk rubbish with fellow vinyl nut-jobs.

“I was after the Redskins red 10”, the New Jack City soundtrack and the 12” Idles release.

“I always enjoy talking to fellow music lovers and the procurement of super rare, limited edition one-off pressings.

“It’s about the artwork, the packaging and the beauty of the vinyl.”

Vinyl Underground in Abington Street also had collectors queuing outside from the early hours.

Both shops still have limited RSD19 stock remaining.

For more details, visit https://recordstoreday.co.uk

Cobblers forward Billy Waters played the full 90 minutes as Cheltenham Town held League Two leaders Lincoln City to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

The Imps won promotion despite only managing a point at Sincil Bank as Waters helped keep the Robins one place and one point behind the Cobblers in Sky Bet League Two.

Joe Bunney lasted 67 minutes for Rochdale who were unable to ease their relegation fears with a 4-1 defeat at Portsmouth, which leaves them one spot above the bottom four in League One.

Young striker Joe Iaciofano started for Banbury United as they drew 0-0 with Leiston in the Southern League while both Camron McWilliams and Jack Newell again missed out for Corby Town with injury.

Matthew Slinn’s recent fine form continued but he couldn’t prevent his Cogenhoe United side from losing 2-0 at home to Eynesbury Rovers.

Meanwhile, Matt Crooks bagged his first goal for Rotherham United since joining from the Cobblers, scoring a crucial late equaliser at Stoke City, and Hiram Boateng, a former Town loanee, won Sky’s Goal of the Weekend with a stunning volley for Exeter City.

The list of primary school allocations was announced today as parents found out which school their children would starting at in September.

Northamptonshire County Council says the number of children offered their first preference for school has hit a record high of 93.7 per cent.

Meanwhile, the local authority says the number of families offered a place at one of their preferred schools reached 98.6 per cent, our of 8.900 primary school places offered throughout Northamptonshire.

Families who applied for their primary school place online and within the deadline are able to check offers today on the county council's website.
Councillor Fiona Baker, county council cabinet member for children’s services, families and education, said: “Despite a rise in applications, this year a record number of families received an offer at their preferred choice school in Northamptonshire – which is great news for children across the county.

“The number of families receiving a place at one of their preferred schools is also the highest on record at 98.6% with thousands of children securing a place at a school they set out to apply for.

“It’s an exciting time to live in Northamptonshire with many large scale expansions happening across our towns and villages, and we’re working hard to create additional pupil places to meet demand and to make sure children have a bright future, living and learning in our county.”

Parents have the right to appeal through the independent appeals process against refusal of a place at any school for which they have applied.

The next round of primary school place allocations (for late applicants) will take place in May.

The incident happened in Balmoral Road, Queens Park, Northampton on Thursday, 28 March, between 8pm and 8.15pm, the force today confirmed.

Officers would like to speak to the man pictured and are asking him, or anyone who recognises him, is asked to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101.

Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Officials making Brexit preparations for Northamptonshire have been looking at the possible impact on public disorder, workforce shortages, food and medicine supply and transport issues.

Officials making Brexit preparations for Northamptonshire have been looking at the possible impact on public disorder, workforce shortages, food and medicine supply and transport issues.

Over the past few months the county’s local councils, police and health agencies have been coming up with plans to make sure services in the county continue to run as smoothly as possible in the face of Britain leaving the EU.

The Government has given councils across the country funds to deal with the impact, with Northamptonshire County Council receiving £87,500 for Brexit planning so far.

The local authority however has not made the report publicly available because it says the documents are ‘officially sensitive’.

A report to be considered by the county’s two clinical commissioning groups later this afternoon (April 16) highlights the concerns about the impact of a departure from the EU on the social care workforce, many of whom are EU nationals.

It said ‘there remains a significant uncertainty as to the long-term impact on the UK’s exit from the EU on the social care workforce. Northamptonshire County Council has invited care home and domiciliary providers to workshops to highlight the risks.”

The CCG has been providing information to the Midlands and East EU Exit Team and had said it had ‘appropriate processes’ in place to manage if a no deal scenario had happened. All of the county’s main NHS providers such as the acute hospitals, Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust and the East Midlands Ambulance Service had also completed an assurance document and had been rated as ‘compliant’. The main risks had been to do with workforce and data sharing.

The report highlights the problems with planning for Brexit in the light of the current deadlock in Parliament. No deal planning preparations had been a key part of the work taking place, but the immediate risk now appears to have lessened after the EU gave Britain an extended leave deadline of October 31.

If there had been a no-deal Brexit the county council, as lead of Northamptonshire’s Local Resilience Forum, would have likely have set up a temporary sit cell – a military term used in emergency planning – at One Angel Square in Northampton ‘ to support and supply the receipt of information from Government’. This would have operated daily and transmitted messages from Government to the relevant agencies.

A report that went before East Northants Council recently was critical of the Government’s communications with local councils about Brexit.

It said: “The main difficulty is knowing what we are planning for, with little or no direction coming from the Government and its ministries.

“With this lack of clarity, the council and all relevant agencies in Northamptonshire have considered the possible risks to be: public disorder, workforce shortages, food/fuel/medicine supply chain issues, transport issues.”

According to the East Northants Council report Brexit may have placed demands on the authorities’ environmental health officers to support interim ‘port health arrangements’. It did not forsee road congestion but said there could have been an impact on waste disposal arrangements because of fuel pressures.

However, it said the Government had said fuel shortages were not predicted and that arrangements were being put in place to maintain waste exports.