Three men accused of offences linked to the illegal butchery of sheep have appeared in court in Northampton today (Friday).

Robert Iordan, aged 23, Florin Nutu, aged 35, and Viorel Manu, aged 38, all from Birmingham, are charged with conspiracy to steal in relation to the slaughter and illegal butchery of sheep and lambs across Northamptonshire between June 22 and October 7, 2019.

The three appeared at Northampton Crown Court today, Friday, November 15, and will remain in custody ahead of their next court appearance on December 16.

The list of candidates standing in the general election for Northampton North, Northampton South, Daventry and South Northamptonshire has been confirmed.

Nominees had until 4pm yesterday (November 14) to submit their nominations and now the respective councils in Northampton, Daventry and South Northamptonshire have officially published the list of candidates.

Three of the four constituencies have just four candidates standing, but South Northamptonshire offers the most choice for voters with six candidates hoping to win at the ballot box.

The election will take place on Thursday December 12, with voting taking place between 7am and 10pm.

All four seats were won by the Conservatives at the last general election in 2017. The Brexit Party had been due to stand candidates in the seats, but they stood down after a pact was reached between Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage for the party not to contest any seats that elected Conservatives in the last vote.

The confirmed list of candidates is as follows:

Northampton North

Michael Ellis (Conservative)

Sally Keeble (Labour)

Katherine Pate (Green Party)

Martin Sawyer (Liberal Democrats)

SUMMARY: The tightest seat of the four is Northampton North, where Michael Ellis narrowly saw off Sally Keeble with a majority of just 807 votes two years ago. With UKIP not standing, there are also 1,404 votes from that party up for grabs. The Lib Dems and Green Party both have new candidates for this seat.

Northampton South

Gareth Eales (Labour)

Jill Hope (Liberal Democrats)

Andrew Lewer (Conservative)

Scott Mabbutt (Green Party)

SUMMARY: The majority is not much bigger in Northampton South, where Andrew Lewer won at his first attempt in the seat having replaced David Macintosh. The majority there stands at 1,159 but he faces a new contender with Northampton borough councillor Gareth Eales replacing Kevin McKeever. Both Jill Hope (Lib Dems) and Scott Mabbutt (Green Party) will be hoping to build on their performance from 2017.

Daventry

Chris Heaton-Harris (Conservative)

Paul Joyce (Labour)

Andrew Simpson (Liberal Democrats)

Clare Slater (Green Party)

SUMMARY: Chris Heaton-Harris has a sizeable majority of 21,734 in Daventry. Labour’s candidate is Northampton Borough councillor Paul Joyce, who replaces Aiden Ramsey who has recently moved away from the area and resigned his position as a Daventry councillor. Andrew Simpson stands once again for the Lib Dems having come third in 2017, while Clare Slater replaces Jamie Wildman for the Greens.

South Northamptonshire

Denise Donaldson (Green Party)

Gen Kitchen (Labour)

Andrea Leadsom (Conservative)

Chris Lofts (Liberal Democrats)

Stuart McCutcheon (Independent)

Josh Phillips (Independent)

SUMMARY: The largest majority is reserved for Andrea Leadsom with 22,840. Back in 2017 she had come to national prominence having stood against Theresa May to become leader of the Conservatives a year earlier. South Northamptonshire councillor Chris Lofts (Lib Dems), Denise Donaldson (Green Party) and Josh Phillips (Independent) all stand again, with Gen Kitchen and Stuart McCutcheon the only new additions to the roster.

A day of fun, exercise, non-uniform, cakes and a raffle at a Kingshorpe school have all helped raise more than £1,000 for the 2019 Children In Need appeal.

Kingsthorpe College hosted the fundraiser today (Friday) which saw year seven pupils take part in the “Big Morning Move” led by Joe Wickes the Body Coach.

The whole year group and members of staff took part in the energetic fitness session with students donating £1 to the worthy cause.

A penalty shootout was set up for year eight students with pupils trying to score a goal against their teachers.

Year nine students baked cakes which were sold at break and lunchtime to all students and staff.

For those in year ten, pupils who wanted to wear their trainers for the day donated £2 and played 'guess the name of the teddy' and 'how many sweets in a jar'.

Year 11 students bought raffle tickets to win a range of prizes donated by the year team.

Six form teens donated £1 to take part in Dress Down Friday.

A school representative said everyone enjoyed the day and more than £1,000 was raised for Children In Need.

A man has been charged with causing the death of a Wollaston pensioner in a crash.

Ross Simms, 26, appeared at Northampton Magistrates' Court last week over the crash on January 29 this year.

Wollaston man Terrence White, 81, died as a result of his injuries after the collision between his Mazda and a Nissan Navara at about 12.50pm in Hardwater Road, between Wollaston and Great Doddington.

Three air ambulances were called to the scene and two others were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Simms, of Portland Place in Northampton, has been charged with causing death by driving without due care and attention and causing death by driving whilst without insurance.

He was granted unconditional bail to next appear at Northampton Crown Court on December 11.

Keith Curle is well aware of the threat that could be posed by one Crewe Alexandra's key weapons in Saturday's Sky Bet League Two clash at the PTS.

Curle released eight players at the end of last season but Daniel Powell was one he hoped to keep hold of.

The 28-year-old winger had the option of extending his time at Northampton by an extra year but turned it down, instead favouring the two-year deal offered by tomorrow's visitors to the PTS Stadium.

"We made an offer to him that was incentived and it was a good opportunity for him," said Curle.

"He needed to play games and he needed to be in a winning team and the finances would have taken care of themselves.

"The offer he got from Crewe suited him more than the offer that we made and he chose that.

"But I like Daniel. I like him as a person, I like him as a player and the lad can be a threat."

Powell started Crewe's first nine league matches this season and scored his first goal for the club against Carlisle United last month, but an injury problem has kept him out since.

"He's got a slight injury at the minute," added Curle. "He's back in field-based training and whether or not he'll be ready and available for the public to see on Saturday, I'm not too sure."

Earlier in the week, Crewe boss David Artell gave an update. “Daniel returned to training yesterday and he will train again today," he said on Tuesday.

"We have modified it a bit but he has been fine. We will see how he is this week. He is fit and available then we will be under contention like everyone else."

Keith Curle has stressed the importance of stopping Crewe from playing to their strengths if the Cobblers are to emerge with all three points from Saturday's encounter at the PTS Academy Stadium.

Northampton and Crewe are ninth and fourth respectively in League Two and both go into tomorrow's game on the back of comfortable FA Cup victories.

Cobblers beat Crewe 2-0 in their two meetings last season but David Artell's men, who were top up as recently as last weekend, are a different animal this season.

"I think it'll be a good game and there'll be goals," said Curle. "I wouldn't say it's two opposite styles of play but they've got a reputation now and David has taken onboard how Crewe want to play football.

"Credit to David. I know him well and I've got a lot of time and a lot of respect for him.

"I signed him twice as a player and I think he's embedded himself into the Crewe way of playing and he's got an understanding of how Crewe want to play.

"Some of his recruitment has been very good and they've got players that are good on the ball. They've had a fantastic start to the season.

"They're pleasing on the eye, they can score goals and if you allow them to play how they want to, they can give anybody in this division a difficult time.

"Likewise, they're a League Two team that have got weaknesses and our aim is to stop them from playing and exploit their weaknesses."

Tomorrow's clash at the PTS Academy Stadium is the first time Town have played at home in three weeks.

Curle added: "A good team is able to gain points away from home and also be a threat at home and I think we can score goals at home.

"The crowd are starting to see the emergence of the talent that we've got in the squad and the shape we're trying to formulate.

"They've seen glimpses of it but I don't think in any game we've performed how we want to for the full 95 minutes, but we've shown good glimpses of what's to come."

Cobblers' FA Cup second-round clash against Notts County will be held on Sunday, December 1, with a 2pm kick-off.

As in the first round at Chippenham, the tie will form part of BBC's Final Score programme that features live clips from a selection of first-round matches.

Notts County, managed by Neal Ardley and currently eighth in the National League, have lost just one of their last 10 fixtures.

Ticket prices have been reduced to the following levels if purchased in advance of matchday. Adults £15, senior citizens £12 and U18s £5, with U7s free of charge.

All admission prices will rise by £2 on the day of the game.

While much will be said about the forward battle at Franklin's Gardens on Sunday, there promises to be plenty of eye-catching action elsewhere on the pitch.

One example of that will come out wide, where the titans are set to clash on Northampton soil.

Saints' very own wrecking ball Taqele Naiyaravoro will be involved in a huge tussle with Lyon's Fijian winger Josua Tuisova.

On the other side, the speedy Tom Collins is set to go up against Noa Nakaitaci.

And those personal encounters will be worth the entrance fee alone this weekend, especially as Naiyaravoro's face lights up at the prospect, showing just how excited he is about the contest that lies in wait.

"They've got two Fijians on the wing and Lyon will be really good," Naiyaravoro said.

"They'll be a lot like Clermont, who we faced last season, and Lyon are top of the Top 14 so there's a reason why they're there.

"But it will be good and it will be good to see how we compare to them.

"We've got the World Cup boys back, a lot of confidence in our squad and it will be really interesting.

"The two Fijian boys Lyon have will be a handful.

"But it's not something I want to shy away from.

"It will be a big challenge for me and I'm excited about it."

Naiyaravoro has gone from strength to strength since arriving at Saints from Super Rugby side the Waratahs last September.

He worked extremely hard during the most recent pre-season to make sure he was more mobile.

And it has paid off, with the 27-year-old having scored four tries in six appearances this season.

"I've had a really good pre-season under my belt, which is something I haven't done in a while so credit goes all back to that," Naiyaravoro said.

"We've done a lot of hard work, I lost a bit of weight and it made it easier to move around, especially with these young boys because it's hard to keep up with them.

"Pre-season really worked out well for me, I got to know the boys well and got to know the style of play we want to play this season.

"It's been working out and the challenge now is to maintain that performance.

"The quality of players we have here is ridiculous.

"We've got Hutch (Rory Hutchinson), who just fell short of the Scotland squad, and we've got Piers Francis coming back.

"We've got a lot of quality players and hopefully I'm quality enough to finish off the tries for them."

Naiyaravoro starred in Gallagher Premiership wins against Saracens, Worcester Warriors and Harlequins, but he wasn't able to enjoy as much success at Bath last Saturday.

Saints lost that game 22-13.

And Naiyaravoro said: "It was a tough day at the office for us.

"The weather didn't really help us at all.

"We knew at half-time that it would be decided whoever made the first mistake and unfortunately it didn't work out for us.

"But we're really comfortable with how we are sitting in the Prem now, we've won three out of four and we can move on to Europe now.

"It's not perfect but it's a great start to the season, despite last weekend's result."

Now all attention turns to Sunday's huge Champions Cup opener against Lyon.

Saints lost all three meetings against French opposition last season as Clermont Auvergne claimed a Challenge Cup hat-trick against Chris Boyd's side.

But Naiyaravoro said: "We learned a lot from playing Clermont last season.

"They were in the Challenge Cup but they were top of the Top 14 as well so it really tested us.

"Lyon will play the same style so we've had a bit of a taste of it.

"Now it's a bigger stage and we want to perform.

"What's not to be excited about?"

Dylan Spaull, 20, was diagnosed with testicular cancer on November 8 this year and has since undergone surgery.

He is still awaiting results from a CT scan, which will determine whether the cancer has spread and if he needs chemotherapy.

At the moment he is physically bed-bound and his girlfriend, Jade Moore, has taken unpaid leave to become his full-time carer.

The former painter and decorator said: "When I found out... I was devastated, I felt so numb.

"All I remember from that day was the doctor saying 'you have cancer', and from there it’s a cold blur."

Before Dylan's diagnosis, he and his girlfriend Jade booked a holiday to Las Vegas in May, ahead of his twenty-first birthday in April 2020.

But after receiving the devastating diagnosis it means the pair have both given up their careers and now cannot afford to fund the trip of a lifetime.

He said: "She’s been amazing to me. She deserves the world after everything she’s done for me.

"She’s been the shoulder I cry on through this whole dreadful experience. After the operation, I am physically bed-bound and she’s gone above and beyond.

"We’ve been together just under a year but we have been through some tough times as it is, let alone these past couple weeks. It just proves to me that we can just about conquer anything. She’s my best friend."

So far the pair have paid for the deposit, and their first instalment, but they still have just over £1,000 to pay, plus spending money.

Dylan said if he cannot make the trip, due to his illness, he intends to half the money raised to fund his living situation and will give the other half to Macmillan Cancer Support.

He added: "If I can’t enjoy my dream for some reason, someone else should."

To donate money to Dylan and Jade, click here.

Although it was refreshing to see the Cobblers make such light work of non-league opposition in the FA Cup last weekend, the 3-0 victory at Chippenham Town did come with one downside for goalkeeper Steve Arnold.

Because his side were so professional and so efficient in easing into round two of the competition, sweeping aside the spirited but outgunned Bluebirds with three first-half goals, Arnold was reduced to a spectator for the most part.

As he goes toe-to-toe with rival David Arnold for Town's number one spot, he couldn't fully demonstrate to manager Keith Curle why he should be first-choice between the sticks.

“These games are always hard and it’s that old saying about the magic of the FA Cup but we did our work in the first-half to make sure we got through,” said Arnold afterwards.

“That was one of the messages from us as players – to treat it like any other game and I think we did that.

“We went 3-0 up at half-time and that certainly helped us going into the second-half.

“We got the job done in the first-half and to get the third goal just before half-time was vital because if it’s 2-0 with 10 minutes to go and they score one of their chances, who knows what might happen?”

The television cameras headed to Hardenhuish Park hoping for an upset but they were left disappointed as the Cobblers made quick work of a potential banana skin.

Harry Smith’s headed opener set them on their way before Vadaine Oliver opened his account for the club with a well-taken brace, while another disciplined defensive showing meant Arnold faced only two shots on target all game.

“They were spot on,” he added. “All three of them are absolute giants at the back and they’re always on it when balls come into the box.

“It’s a pleasure to play behind them because they make my job so much easier and the less I’m facing the better.

“Chippenham gave it a right good go towards the end but we were professional enough to see out the win and keep a clean sheet as well.”

Over the past two months, Arnold has been forced to sit on the sidelines and watch Cornell push his cause to be Cobblers’ permanent first-choice goalkeeper.

“It was nice to get back involved with the boys on Sunday because it’s as hard as anything to be out injured and having to watch the lads play,” said Arnold.

“But they’ve been on fire recently and Dai’s been on fire. He’s had three or four clean sheets in the last few weeks and my job is to push him all the way for that shirt.”

Explaining his injury lay-off, the 30-year-old added: “It was a tear in my tendon.

“I made the save against (Tom) Pope, the Port Vale striker, and I just knew straightaway that something bad had happened.

“It felt horrendous and it showed a tear, which isn’t great! It means you have to stay out a little longer but I’m back fitter than I was before and now I’ve just got to crack on and push forwards.”

And although he was reduced to a watching brief for most of Sunday’s tie, a clean sheet and a routine FA Cup victory more than satisfied Cobblers’ imposing goalkeeper, who now wants a more regular place in the team.

“I have no idea what the manager is thinking but Dai’s been really good,” he continued. “I’ll be doing my very best in training to push him and hopefully that’ll get the best out of him as well.”

An overspend of almost £800,000 is being forecast for the current financial year for Northampton Borough Council.

The latest report on the state of the authority’s finances comes half way through the 2019/20 financial year.

Six months in and the latest forecasts show that the current projected overspend stands at £793,000 for the end of the year. This is largely due to significant overspends in the housing and wellbeing sector because of the demand for temporary accommodation.

The overspend in that sector stands at £829,000, which adds to overspends in the chief finance officer and the customers & communities departments as well, totalling £1.343million. The projected shortfall is helped out by a total underspend of £551,000 from other council departments.

Council papers say: “Demand for temporary accommodation has increased since the approval of the action plan in April, resulting in a forecast pressure of £450k and a corresponding pressure of £230k due to an increase in bad debt relating to temporary accommodation.

“The temporary accommodation implementation group which meets fortnightly is monitoring the use and cost of temporary accommodation with the aim of reducing through a series of measures. Quarterly targets to reduce demand are in place.”

Speaking about the overall situation at Wednesday’s meeting (November 13), the cabinet member for finance, Councillor Brandon Eldred, said: “The impact of universal credit is putting a bit of a strain on us, and temporary accommodation is something we are still doing work on to try and reduce that pressure. Income from recycling materials has dropped and it’s starting to have an effect on us, but we are on top of it and looking at how we can reduce that effect.”

Councillor Eldred said that the authority had reserves to deal with any overspend as ‘that is what they are there for’.

Follow all the build-up, match action and reaction as it happens here...

Cobbles U18s kept themselves top of the table with a 4-0 victory at Stevenage on Saturday morning.

Lewis Gilbert scored a brace while Ethan Johnston and Michael Harding were also on target for the young Town team, who continue to lead the way in their EFL Youth Alliance table.

"Ethan scored a great goal but we lost him early in the game after he rolled his ankle," said U18s coach Jon Brady.

"Lewis came on and did really well, his first goal was another fantastic strike from 25 yards.

"Some of our play was sublime, our movement was good with some neat one touch passing and it was great to keep a clean sheet."

Portsmouth reached this stage of the competition by topping Southern Group B, finishing ahead of Oxford United with eight points from their three fixtures.

Cobblers finished second in Southern Group H behind Peterborough United.

The second-round tie, to be held at Fratton Park, is currently scheduled to take place during the week starting December 2 but with Cobblers hosting Notts County in the FA Cup on December 1, it could be moved to a later date.

Details on the time and date of the match will be confirmed next week.

Cobblers moved into the League Two play-off positions with a fifth win in six games as they beat Crewe Alexandra 4-1 in a helter-skelter clash at the PTS Academy Stadium on Sunday.

Four goals were scored in a crazy and breathless first-half and it could easily have been more such was the vulnerability of both defences, who struggled to cope with two different forms of attack.

Whilst Crewe repeatedly caused problems for the Cobblers with their slick passing football, it was the more direct, abrasive approach of the home side that put them in control at half-time.

They raced into a 3-0 lead inside 24 minutes after Scott Wharton's brace - his first goals for the club - and a penalty from Sam Hoskins, but Chris Porter's close-range finish kept things interesting at the break.

However, Andy Williams' terrific finish soon after half-time put Cobblers into a commanding position and ultimately they were comfortable and deserving winners.

After several weeks of near misses, Keith Curle's side now occupy a play-off place and only sit two places behind third spot.

Curle made three alterations from the cup win at Chippenham as David Cornell, Andy Williams and Hoskins were all restored to the starting line-up.

But it was Crewe who made the far more assured start and they twice went close to an early goal with David Cornell beating away Paul Green's shot and Owen Dale unable to react in time from just a few yards out.

However, the Cobblers moved in front with their first attack of the game on 10 minutes. Nicky Adams' free-kick caused mayhem in the Crewe penalty box and after Hoskins had two bites of the cherry, Wharton finally forced the ball into an empty net.

Going behind didn't deter Crewe and they were back on the front foot through the impressive Tommy Lowery as he burst into the box and put it on a plate for Charlie Kirk, who toe-poked wide of the far post.

Lower also blazed another chance over the crossbar but, amazingly, having done so much of the chasing, the next goal was scored by the Cobblers as they moved two to the good.

Wharton was again on target and this was a much sweeter finish than his first, the centre-back latching onto Adams' floated free-kick and nonchalantly volleying into the top corner.

And the ruthless Cobblers didn't rest up there, adding a third five minutes later in what was becoming a frantic first-half. Paul Anderson broke into the box and was adjudged to have been tripped by referee Craig Hicks, leaving Hoskins to drill the resulting penalty into the bottom corner.

Crewe remained undeterred though and continued to create chances almost at will, Porter heading off target and Lowery blazing over via a deflection while Cornell denied Kirk's powerful drive.

Eventually the visitors had the goal their play warranted and with eight minute to go until half-time they were back in the game. Cornell spilled Nicky Hunt's fierce shot and the ball fell to Porter who couldn't miss from just a few yards out.

Crewe 's attack were proving a handful for Town's defence time and time again and they so nearly clawed another go back on the brink of half-time with Kirk smacking the post

The game was far from over despite the home side's two-goal lead and Crewe were back at it in the second-half, creating more headaches for the opposition defence.

However, Cobblers gave themselves breathing space just shy of the hour-mark. A long ball downfield was flicked on by Oliver and Williams raced through before sizing up a perfect lob over the stranded Will Jaaskelainen and into the net.

Crewe didn't give up and Porter's header forced Cornell into a superb stop but the fizz from their play slowly disappeared and Town, unlike previous games, had little problem seeing out the win.

Cobblers: Cornell, Goode (c), Turnbull, Wharton, McCormack (Pollock 84), Lines, Anderson (Warburton 89), Hoskins, Adams, Oliver (Smith 74), Williams.

Subs not used: Arnold, Hall-Johnson, Harriman, Waters

Crewe: Jaaskelainen, Ng (c), Pickering, Wintle, Green (Anene 75), Hunt, Lowery, Dale (Powell 61), Mbulu, Kirk (Ainley 65), Porter

Subs not used: Nolan, Jones, Richards, Finney

Referee: Craig Hicks

Attendance: 5,236

Crewe fans: 522

Cobblers boss Keith Curle felt the 'brave' way his side went about their business was the key factor in their 4-1 triumph over Crewe Alexandra on Saturday.

Despite leading 3-0 inside 24 minutes, Town didn't have things all their own way in the first-half at the PTS as Crewe missed a number of chances between the home side's three goals.

But Cobblers were in ruthless mood and moved into a commanding position thanks to Scott Wharton's brace and a penalty from Sam Hoskins.

Chris Porter briefly sparked hope of a comeback but Andy Williams applied a superb finish to Vadaine Oliver's flick-on shortly after half-time and that made sure Town would clinch their fifth win in six matches.

"We had a gameplan and to play against Crewe you need to be brave," said Curle, whose side now occupy a play-off place in Sky Bet League Two.

"I made a slight change with the back three and we played Scott Wharton in the middle with Jordan Turnbull on the left.

"That was a tactical switch and Scotty was excellent today. Jordan and Charlie were also very good because they were brave and I like my defenders to accept challenges and be prepared to play one-on-one.

"I think we stopped them from playing. We took a look at the videos of Crewe and they dominate possession of the ball, they recycle play and they're brave in their way.

"But we stopped that and we nullified that and I mentioned that before the game because you've got to be brave to beat them.

"Having said that, in the first-half, they could have three goals because they've got good movement, good ball retention and they move it well and get people forward.

"But we knew what we needed to do and we did it."

Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell lamented his side's wasteful finishing after claiming they should have been 3-0 up instead of 3-0 down during their 4-1 defeat to Northampton on Saturday.

Chris Kirk missed two fine chances and Tommy Lowery was also a threat in the first-half but it was the Cobblers who raced into a 3-0 lead with just 24 minutes played.

Chris Porter did eventually take one of Crewe's many chances but with Andy Williams on target shortly after half-time, the three points were claimed by Keith Curle's men.

"In the first-half we should have been 3-0 up but we went 3-0 down," bemoaned Artell, whose side had lost just one away game prior to Saturday.

"We had our chances but Northampton were clinical from set-pieces and that just about sums the game up.

"There were some real good performances in possession and some real poor ones out of possession and that's what has cost us the game.

"You can't give anyone a three-goal start. Northampton are going well at the minute and it'll be a tough place to come as their team progresses.

"It was two contrasting styles of play and we weren't able to handle their style at times and it's as simple as that.

"We can't expect any team to give us an easy ride and Northampton did what we expected and they were clinical when the chances came.

"They had a helping hand or two but that takes nothing away from them. The game was won and lost in the first half-an-hour."

Artell also questioned Northampton's 'blocking' tactics for the first two goals, particularly second time around when Scott Wharton volleyed in Nicky Adams' free-kick.

"It was exactly the same as the first goal," he said. "We said to the ref that they were going to block our player but he still gives the goal.

"I think we've got grounds to be a bit miffed but we don't expect any better."

Artell went on to add: "Credit to Northampton, they executed their plans well. They took their chances, we missed ours but had we been 3-0 up at half-time I don't think anybody would have complained.

"But we can't shoot ourselves in the foot like we did. When you come up against a team with a contrasting style, you can't just expect them to conform to you - that's not how it works.

"You have to impose yourself and you have to stop them whatever their style is so we have to be better at that.

"But take the goals out of it, I thought we were terrific. Anybody who wasn't at the game would think I'm an idiot for saying that but people who saw the game would be able to see why.

"Three of their lads said we are the best team they've played and yet we've just lost 4-1!"

Who impressed at the PTS and did anyone let the side down? Find out with our player ratings...

With more than 15 years’ experience as a business analyst specialising in the IT industry, cancer survivor Kalpesh Bhayani has beaten the odds and turned to entrepreneurship as he launches his new domestic housekeeping franchise business in town.

In 2013, Kalpesh was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) which left him wheelchair bound and with multiple organ failure.

He defied the odds and beat the disease in 2014.

Kalpesh wanted a new challenge and business opportunity in a growing sector where he could apply his extensive knowledge and skillset gained from his time as a business analyst.

After extensive research, Kalpesh was sold on starting his own Bright & Beautiful business in Northampton.

Kalpesh said: “Living with cancer was a horrendous time for my family and I, but pushing through that tough period really gave me a new lease of life and a determination to make a successful business.

"I’d always wanted to own my own business so finding Bright & Beautiful felt like the perfect opportunity to fulfil that lifelong ambition.

“Having had experience of hiring a professional housekeeping service in the past, I understand the difference a clean home can make, particularly for busy families.

"I’m so excited to provide that ‘happy home’ feeling to clients across Northamptonshire and to deliver a first-class service that’s at the heart of the community.”

Kalpesh will be accompanied by his team of three local professional housekeepers and a quality training supervisor.

He is also supported by his family, in particular his two teenage girls who will play an active role in marketing the business through social media.

Bright & Beautiful covers a range of areas in and around Northampton and is part of a national network of more than 65 businesses.

The 4x4 jeep and trailer is a one of a kind specialist vehicle which was handmade to look like a mini Landrover Defender.

Lorna Finch had bought it for her son Brodie's third birthday and Christmas present and it was being stored in a unit in Castle Ashby ahead of the big day.

However this week it was cruelly stolen from a container at the Park Hill Equestrian Centre in Castle Ashby and the family has now launched a desperate appeal to find the vehicle in time for Christmas and Brodie's birthday in January.

Lorna said: "It's a one of a kind vehicle that was made by a man for his children, and we purchased it off of him at the start of the year when his children had outgrown it.

"We were saving it to give to our son for his joint Christmas and birthday present this year.

"Its very distinctive and would be easily identifiable.

"I need to get this back for my son."

The jeep was stolen sometime between 8.30pm on Tuesday (November 12) and 4am Wednesday (November 13).

Construction tools were also taken during the break in.

A reward is currently being offered for information which leads to an arrest and conviction.

Anyone with information should call Northamptonshire Police on 101.