A forest created by a King, to be the playground of royalty, it’s of little surprise that there is something special about The New Forest.

Its unique landscape has been shaped over the centuries by grazing ponies, cattle and pigs which roam free throughout the New Forest National Park...drivers beware.

As a half-term treat for my nieces, my boyfriend and I took them for a short-break in the area, choosing to stay at Shorefield Country Park.

The five-star rated holiday park is set in 100 acres of landscaped park land, and once we had settled down in our spacious caravan, we explored what it had to offer.

The location is perfect, close to Milford on Sea, it is a short and beautiful walk to the nearby coastline, beset with quaint coloured beach huts and stunning vistas.

You can also take a nature trail to the coastline, which makes the trip a bit more fun for children of all ages.

There is plenty to do on the site. We visited over Halloween, and there were near constant activities for little ones up to teens - most with a spooky theme.

These aside there are copious other attractions on site, including all-weather flood-lit tennis courts, heated indoor and outdoor pools, a nature centre, crazy golf and there is even a small fishing lake (Rod Licence Required).

And a chance for pampering, as the park comes complete with a sauna, steam room and a Reflections Elemis Day Spa, which offers a range of beauty treatments.

With a supermarket on site, live entertainment, bars and restaurants, it would have been easy to stay on site for the entire holiday, but anyone who has visited the New Forest will know that the area is well worth exploring.

The beautiful landscape aside, it has some fantastic museums and attractions.

One must see stop is Beaulieu, a stunning estate, which includes the world famous National Motor Museum, home to a collection of automobiles telling the history of motoring through modern rally cars and F1 Grand Prix machines.

It also includes the Palace House, home of the Montagu family, and the historic Beaulieu Abbey, which was founded in 1204 by Cistercian Monks.

But the real attraction for me was its current exhibition ‘Bond in Motion.’

Whatever your favourite car chase scene involving the world’s most famous agent, you will find it here, in some cases you can even see the before and after from his most notorious crash scenes.

There are even some of the more unusual ‘vehicles’ such as the cello case, briefly used as a sledge by Timothy Dalton, in The Living Daylights.

My nieces and my boyfriend are massive Top Gear fans and spent a very long time perusing some of the most ambitious challenges and

On Screen Cars created by the daring trio.

It also includes TV and film favourites such as Ron Weasley’s ‘Flying’ Ford Anglia from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and possibly the nation’s most famous three-wheel vehicle, the Regal van featured in the BBC’s Only Fools and Horses.

There is so much to see one day is really not enough at Beaulieu, but the good news is if you don’t manage it then you can come back for free, as tickets are valid for six days following the original visit, except on days of major or separately charged events.

But the real attraction of the New Forest, is the forest itself, which features ancient woodlands, rare heathlands and it all borders a striking coastline.

When we visited the autumnal colours were at their finest, but in any season, the striking landscape is sure to charm, and we never ceased to get excited at spotting wild ponies (clearly we have all spent to much time living in town centres).

It is easy to explore the landscape on foot, but New Forest Activities, which booking centre is located in Beaulieu village, also let you traverse the area in other ways.

There are extensive cycle networks, with gentle terrain within the forest, so renting a mountain bike, which comes with a helmet and bag with kit for any bike related problem you encounter provided, is a great way to get to know the landscape. This costs £10 for a half day or £18 for a full day.

The centre also gives you the opportunity to explore the Beaulieu River, a sunning tidal estuary, designated nature reserve and SSSI in the heart of The New Forest.

The banks of this river are privately owned and among the most expensive real estate plots in the country, so going on a Canadian canoe tour is one of the only ways to see this area.

You can go out as a family in a canoe with expert guides who can talk you through history, wildlife...and gossip of the area.

But whatever you choose to do, even if it is driving around pony spotting, you are sure to be surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country.

Fact File:

Nicole stayed at Shorefield Country Park, which offers a wide-range of accommodation from chalets and caravans to lodges and bungalows (some with hot tubs).

2013 prices start from £132 for a family of two adults and two children staying in Danestream Chalet for four nights (Mon-Thurs inclusive). In high season (arrivals between July 19 and August 23) accommodation on the same basis is priced from £637 for a week.

Shorefield Holidays is offering 25 per cent discounts for Christmas at Shorefield Country Park in the New Forest on arrivals between December 22 and 31. A family of four can stay in a Danestream chalet, save £69.75 for 4 nights mid week (now from £209.25) and £99.75 on one week (now from £299.25). The price includes access to the extensive facilities and a fun-packed festive itinerary including a talent show for the kids, a family Wii contest and a request disco each evening. Santa Cyril will visit during Christmas Day Lunch which is free for kids under two years, £19.50 per child (two to 12 years) and £39.50pp (13+ years); advance booking essential. Prices quoted include VAT and are subject to availability, some accommodation is pet-friendly (request at the time of booking).

New Year’s Eve Holiday (December 19-31) prices start from £209.25 staying in a four to six berth Danestream Chalet for four night mid-week or three - night weekend break and from £299.25 for a week. Price includes full entertainment schedule; New Year’s Eve party into the small hours including hot/cold buffet is charged extra at £47 pp (13plus years), £19.50 for nine-12 years, £15 for two to eight years, free to the under twos (pre-booking is essential).

For Reservations call Shorefield Holidays: 01590 648331 (www.shorefield.co.uk)

Local Attractions include:

Beaulieu (including the National Motor Museum, the Palace House and Gardens, and Beaulieu Abbey): entry is £20 per adult, £9.95 per child (5-12), £12 per youth (13-17), (under five years enter foc) or £52.20 for a family (either two adults/three children or one adult/four children; open daily 10 am to 5pm and 6pm from June to September. New exhibition opening January 17 2012 is Bond in Motion. Reservations and more details: www.beaulieu.co.uk (01590 612345).

New Forest Activities, located on the Beaulieu Estate in the New Forest, offers outdoor experiences for all ages including Archery, Bike Hire, Canoeing, Combat Games, Guided Walks and Kayaking. All are run by fully qualified instructors. Bike Hire (inc helmets & one backpack per group, padlock & key, pump, tool kit & puncture repair kit is from £18pppd (£14 for child) from £10pp per half day (£8 for child). A two-hour taster canoeing session on the beautiful Beaulieu River Nature Reserve starts from £28pp (£22 for 16 years and under). Family ticket (two adults/two kids) from £88.

Visit: www.newforestactivities.co.uk.

Bradford City assistant manager Steve Parkin is confident his squad will be fit enough for Tuesday’s FA Cup first-round replay against the Cobblers, despite the club cancelling training on Monday due to illness.

Manager Phil Parkinson called off the Monday session after midfielder Garry Thompson and goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin phoned in with illness.

But despite losing a day of preparation, Parkin feels that Bradford know enough about the Cobblers’s strengths and weaknesses from playing them twice in the past four weeks, and shrugged off any concerns about the squad’s fitness.

“The players are fit enough because the games are coming thick and fast,” said Parkin.

“The good thing is we are playing somebody we’ve seen twice in a fortnight and know everything we need to about the players, whatever team Aidy (Boothroyd) picks.”

That selection is unlikely to differ too much from the 11 that started against Accrington on Saturday, although Lee Nicholls will be replaced by Shane Higgs in goal and Jake Robinson will not travel because he is Cup-tied.

Adebayo Akinfenwa will lead the line looking to add to his 10 goals for the season and build on the hat-trick he bagged at Accrington.
Unsurprisingly, he was the main threat cited by Parkin when discussing the obstacles that lie between Bradford City and a second-round tie against Brentford.

“Northampton had a great result at the weekend and it will be another tough game,” said Parkin.

“We know what they’re all about after playing them twice. I thought we deserved to win down there in the league but the cup was more even.

“Akinfenwa has found his scoring shoes and he is a dangerous player in and around the box.”

Bradford will be without centre-backs Andrew Davies and Luke Oliver, who are out injured, and loan players John Egan (Sunderland) and Craig Forsyth (Watford) cannot play because they were not registered at the time of the original game.

WORK is under way on a new 90-seat boutique cinema which will show some of the best independent films from Britain and across the world.

The new £500,000 cinema is being built on land at the rear of Royal & Derngate in Northampton, off Albion Place.

It will be managed by the theatre in partnership with Cityscreen, the leading independent cinema operator in the UK.

The cinema will have state of the art sound and digital projection equipment and benefit from luxurious leather seating with individual side tables, allowing audiences to enjoy a glass of wine as they watch a film.

Martin Sutherland, chief executive of Royal & Derngate said: “We are delighted construction is getting started on the new cinema.

“We hope this will be a wonderful new facility for the people of Northampton.

“We are grateful to all our supporters who have helped bring forward our plans.”

There are also plans for film-maker Q&A sessions, film festivals and themed seasons as well as matinee showings for the over 60s and baby friendly screenings.

The development is part of Northampton Alive, an initiative that brings together and promotes the town’s regeneration and heritage projects.

The leader of Northampton Borough Council Cllr David Mackintosh: “The cinema will strengthen Northampton’s arts and entertainment offer and will be at the heart of the development of a new cultural quarter, which will revitalise the St John’s area and give a wide range of people even more reason to come to the town.

“Having a vibrant cultural scene is important to the bigger picture of regeneration and I’m pleased we will soon have such an interesting and high quality new attraction.”

The ceremony was also attended by Joanna Dring from Carlsberg.

The cinema is expected to open in spring next year.

People can follow the progress of the build via webcam by visiting http://cinecam.namtrust.co.uk.

Tom Wood is the only fit-to-play Saints star retained by England ahead of this weekend’s clash with Australia at Twickenham.

That means Lee Dickson, Phil Dowson and Courtney Lawes, who has recovered from a knee injury, are all available for selection for Sunday’s LV= Cup game at Newport-Gwent Dragons.

Northampton skipper Dylan Hartley will not return to Franklin’s Gardens, though, as his knee problem continues to be treated in camp.

Lawes has not played for Saints since being forced off in 28th minute of the 16-6 defeat to Saracens on October 27.

But England boss Stuart Lancaster is now hoping the lock gets some game time for his club ahead of the two final autumn internationals, against South Africa and New Zealand.

Paul Doran-Jones believes Mike Haywood and Alex Waller will become ‘awesome’ players for Saints.

The 27-year-old packed down alongside the prodigious pair last weekend as Northampton lost 31-30 to Harlequins in the LV= Cup clash at Franklin’s Gardens.

The result of the match didn’t reflect the dominance Saints held in the scrum as they slaughtered the Premiership champions’ second-string pack.

Hooker Haywood didn’t enjoy as good a game as he had the week before at Leicester, but there were still signs of his potential.

And last season’s young player of the year Waller, who at 22 is two years older than Haywood, also appears to have a bright future.

“They’re not young lads any more,” said former Gloucester tighthead Doran-Jones. “You forget their age. They show real maturity do Waller and Mikey.

“They’re telling me what they want from me and that’s great to hear when you’re tiring.

“They’re not young lads, they’re quality players and they’re going to develop and grow into awesome first-team players.”

Doran-Jones was delighted to be handed a start last weekend and is attempting to stake his claim for a first-team place when the Premiership action returns next weekend.

But he knows he’s got a real battle on his hands, with South Africa star Brian Mujati standing in his way.

“When you’ve got such a quality tighthead as Brian it’s more a case of keeping us both fresh so I’m not too worried at the moment,” he said.

“It’s great to be playing and putting pressure on the man in front of me and hopefully I’ll be in the shake up for the Premiership games.

“Last Saturday was half of it and I’ll have to improve on in this weekend.”

A batch of young Cobblers players came of age as an enormously understrength Northampton side were denied a priceless FA Cup win at Bradford City by a penalty shoot-out.

Town came back from being 1-0 and 2-1 down to lead 3-2 going into added time at the end of extra-time in a pulsating first-round replay at Valley Parade that ended 3-3.

It was a dramatic tie, with Will Atkinson putting the home side ahead only for Ishmel Demontagnac to cancel it out with a confident penalty after he was fouled in the box.

Nahki Wells thought he had done enough to put his team into round two with a spot-kick of his own in the final minute but Clive Platt – who was excellent throughout the contest – equalised in the second minute of injury time.

In the 111th minute, Kelvin Langmead swept in what looked like being the winner but with the final touch of the game Carl McHugh levelled with a looping header from a long throw-in.

This was the best the Cobblers have played in their trio of recent matches against Bradford, and with their weakest line-up from those three games.

Illness and unavailability meant only five substitutes were named, with one of them being Adebayo Akinfenwa, who was so unwell he travelled to the game separately from the rest of the squad.

The midfield quartet shared just a handful of senior games between them and probably a similar number of shaves – Lewis Hornby is barely out of secondary school.

It got even younger when Ivan Toney was introduced in the first minute of extra time – at 16 years and 273 days Toney breaks Aidy Mann’s record as the club’s youngest ever player.

The team’s elder statesmen of the side was Platt and he showed his experience with a good flick that caused a problem for a covering defender – Demontagnac was in close proximity and flicked a foot at the ball but it drifted wide of the target.

The Cobblers had the better of the first 15 minutes and although Bradford started to enjoy more territory and possession as the contest wore on it was Platt who had the next glimpse of goal, heading off target when well placed to meet Lewis Wilson’s cross.

Demontagnac, though, spurned a gilt-edged opportunity half an hour in. Rory McArdle stumbled on the ball, the number seven seized on it and advanced on the goal.

Jon McLaughlin, guarding it, made the early decision to come off his line and it proved the right one as Demontagnac’s eventual shot rattled against his legs.

But they were to pay for those failures when Atkinson was found in space by the giant James Hanson, the midfielder making no mistake even with the angle slightly against him.

The sparse Valley Parade crowd was on its feet for that goal and upstanding again soon afterwards, albeit in a starkly different mood.

Demontagnac embarked on a good run that took him past one player and into the box, where he was brought to ground by Ricky Ravenhill, whose touch was minimal and arguably outside the penalty area but referee Mick Russell awarded the penalty.

The ex-Walsall winger was given the 12-yard honours and a pat on the back by skipper Kelvin Langmead before smashing it home with supreme confidence.

Northampton were a force throughout the game and although not entirely reliant on the counter-attack, they did look to capitalise on errors by the home side.

One such mistake occurred early in the second half when loose possession led to a neat piece of pocket-picking by Wilson, who fed Emyr Huws only for the Manchester City teenager to screw his shot horribly wide with his weaker right foot.

Bradford, with more experience in their ranks, had the bulk of the possession and the sides exchanged good chances as Connell saw a shot blocked and Demontagnac lashed narrowly over after being expertly put in by Platt.

Huws spurned another chance with 13 minutes to play, striking wide of the mark when he was placed to do far better, this time on his favoured left side.

It was frantic stuff in the closing stages of normal time as Joe Widdowson made a block on the line from Adam Baker’s header as the home side turned up the heat.

With less than two minutes on the clock, James Meredith crossed, the ball struck Widdowson’s arm, all 2,951 supporters in the stands and 11 Bradford players on the pitch appealed and the assistant on that side flagged for a penalty.

Wells, the scourge of the Cobblers at Sixfields, then scored the penalty that looked like it would be enough to break their hearts on his own ground.

But Platt had other ideas, sweeping home a pass from unwell substitute Adebayo Akinfenwa in the second minute of added time to take the tie to an extra half an hour.

Langmead’s goal was one a 25-a-season striker would have been proud of and looked enough to secure the tie but McHugh looped a header over Shane Higgs in the game’s 121st minute to take it to penalties.

In the shoot-out, Wells saw the first kick saved by Higgs and Platt tucked his confidently away before Gary Jones restored parity with Bradford’s second.

Danny East then saw his saved, Atkinson delicately stroked his home and Langmead skied his to ensure the home side stayed ahead at that stage.

Stephen Darby was entrusted with number four and scored despite Higgs getting a strong hand on it.

Hornby had to score to keep his team in the tie and drilled it past McLaughlin but Ravenhill despatched his to send Bradford through.

It was cruel on the young Cobblers side, but you get the feeling many members of this team will be the stronger for this experience.

Bradford City: McLaughlin, Darby, McArdle, McHugh, Meredith, Brown, Ravenhill, Atkinson, Hines, Connell, Hanson

Subs: Baker (for Hines 29mins), Jones (for Brown 64mins), Wells (for Connell 74mins)

Not used: Duke, Doyle, Bass, Swain

Cobblers: Higgs, East, Tozer, Langmead, Widdowson, Wilson, Huws, Hornby, Mukendi, Demontagnac, Platt

Subs: Akinfenwa (for Demontagnac 81mins), Toney (for Wilson, 91mins)

Not used: Snedker, Harding Charles

Attendance: 2.951

Cobblers fans: 111

Aidy Boothroyd praised his Cobblers’ players for their enthusiasm in the FA Cup first-round defeat at Bradford but said losing on penalties was ‘awful’.

Town drew 3-3 at Valley Parade, having scored an injury-time equaliser to take the tie to extra time and then conceded a leveller in added time at the end of the extra 30 minutes.

Ishmel Demontagnac scored his first goal for the club, Clive Platt his second and Kelvin Langmead thought he’d won it with a curling shot from the edge of the box to put his side 3-2 up.

But Bradford scored a late, late third with the last kick of the game, and then prevailed 4-2 in the shoot-out, with Langmead blazing over and Danny East seeing his attempt saved.

“We are disappointed but I thought we showed bucketloads of enthusiasm and bucketloads of spirit to come back into it,” said Boothroyd, who lost Chris Hackett to illness in the run-up to the game and was forced to use a very young side, with substitute Ivan Toney becoming the club’s youngest ever player.

“It’s probably the youngest team I think I’ll ever put out and I think it was past the bedtime of one or two of them.

“I’m disappointed for our 111 fans because this is the third away game in a week for them and they’ve got themselves up here to back us.

“They might have got their money’s worth although I’m sure they’d rather we’d got through to the next round.

“But I can’t take anything away from the performance, I thought we were very strong and very spirited. To go out on penalties was awful.”

Boothroyd confirmed the squad had practiced penalties in their preparation for the game but watched them come up short against a Bradford side who are still yet to lose a cup game this season.

“I didn’t ask the players who wanted to take the penalties,” said Boothroyd, who also confirmed leading goalscorer Adebayo Akinfenwa would have taken Town’s fifth spot-kick.

“I just told them. There is a science behind it, I think, and we practised them but obviously we didn’t practise them enough.

“Sometimes the people who put their hands up are the ones that miss them so I decided on the five.

“Danny East and Kelvin, our captain, were excellent and we don’t point fingers. We use it as a learning experience and make sure we bounce back.”

The Tories’ campaign manager for the Corby by-election apologised after being filmed apparently admitting he encouraged a rival candidate.

In the covert footage Chris Heaton-Harris suggested his friend James Delingpole, a Daily Telegraph writer, had put his name forward as part of a “strategy” against onshore wind farms.

Speaking to a Greenpeace activist posing as a wind power opponent last month, the Daventry MP said: “There’s a bit of strategy behind what’s going on.

“I’m running the Corby by-election for the Tories ... And Delingpole, who is my constituent, and a very good friend... put his head above the parapet but won’t put his deposit down... It’s just part of the plan.”

During another slightly garbled exchange, Mr Heaton-Harris seems to confess that he put Mr Delingpole up to the stunt.

“Please don’t tell anybody ever. But he will not be putting his deposit down. He just did it because it’s a long campaign, it’s six weeks to cause some hassle and get, and get people talking,” he added.

Mr Delingpole withdrew from the race two weeks ago the day after Conservative energy minister John Hayes controversially told the Daily Mail the development of onshore wind farms would be reined in.

In a statement, Mr Heaton-Harris said: “The quotes attributed to me range from factually correct statements to me bragging about things beyond my control, which has so often before been the failing of politicians.

“The implication that I choreographed any sort of ‘secret plan’ is simply not the case and I apologise if that is the impression given.

“It can hardly be said that my wanting to ‘put this on the agenda’ is new. I have spent years fighting on-shore wind, getting over 100 MPs to sign a letter to the Prime Minister, securing debates and raising questions in Parliament and touring the country speaking to anti-wind groups.

“It is a subject I am passionate about and will continue to work on until communities across my constituency, Northamptonshire and the country have the protection they deserve.”

Michael Dugher MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister without Portfolio, said: “This is yet more evidence of the Conservative Party in chaos. It is astonishing that a Conservative MP appears to have encouraged a rival candidate to run in a by-election in order to campaign against windfarms. David Cameron needs to get a grip on his divided and out of touch party.”

ends

A man who assaulted his partner and refused to provide police with a breath sample after a car crash has been jailed.

Lee Stevens, aged 39, of Birch Barn Way, Northampton, crashed into a bus in Harborough Road, Kingsthorpe, on January 6 this year and twice refused to give a sample to police.

He also repeatedly grabbed his partner by the throat in another incident on June 19, leaving her feeling “threatened and scared”, Northampton Magistrates Court heard last week.

The court heard Stevens was originally given two community orders for the offences, but had breached them both. He was subject to a 24-month supervision order, which included a domestic abuse programme and alcohol treatment order, and an unpaid work order of 150 hours.

When he breached the second order, he had not completed a single hour of the unpaid work.

For the breaches, Stevens was re-sentenced for the original offences and jailed for 18 weeks.

Two housing developments which were blocked by councillors will go ahead after the national planning inspector overturned their decisions.

Members of Daventry District Council refused permission for 32 houses to be built in a field in Moulton and a further 132 on land in Long Buckby.

But after the developers behind the two schemes appealed against the council’s decisions, permission has been given for both developments to go ahead.

On the Moulton scheme, the planning inspector said proposals to build homes on land close to Boughton Road would not damage the area, as some residents had feared.

He said: “While the proposal would change the character and appearance of the present open site, this change would be limited and contained and would be unlikely to harm the appearance of the area.”

The development will see a new road built off Boughton Road, leading into a cul-de-sac of new detached, semi-detached and terraced houses.

The planning inspector also said while the development of 132 houses to the west of Station Road in Long Buckby would cause “some harm” to the area it should be allowed because it would be a sustainable development which would help boost the number of available houses in the area.

The development will also include a new employment area and land will be set aside for an extension to the car park at Long Buckby Station.

Emergency crews investigating a suspected gas explosion at an Islamic Turkish cultural centre in Northampton have said an electric water heater was to blame.

Northamptonshire Police were called to reports of an explosion and attended the UK Turkish Islamic Cultural Centre in Newnham Road, Northampton at around 5.30pm on Monday.

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue established that no-one was in the building, that there had been no fire from the explosion and no-one was injured as a result of the explosion.

Officers cordoned off the area around the shops and residents of the flats above the centre were evacuated whilst checks were made. The cause of the explosion was found to be an electric water heater which caused no fire or burning and officers do not believe there to be any suspicious circumstances.

Newnham Road was closed off at the junctions of Brockall Road and Eastern Avenue North.

As last-minute equalisers go, the goal the Cobblers let in after two hours’ play at Bradford on Tuesday night could be one of the most expensive they ever concede.

But in terms of the experience, knowledge and nous the tie as a two-hour life lesson will provide for the club’s younger players, it might yet turn out to be priceless.

The fourth official’s electronic scoreboard had flashed up one extra minute at the end of 120 minutes of thrilling FA Cup action at the precise moment Kelvin Langmead clouted a clearance into the vacant stand outside his team’s left wing with every drop of energy he had left.

It was a textbook ‘row Z’ despatch from the skipper but the ball did not nestle high in the stand, away from the grasp on the Valley Parade ball boys; it bounced off its ceiling and straight into the waiting arms of a Bradford player, who took a quick throw and within seconds Shane Higgs was picking the ball out of his net.

Then came the penalties, during which it became clear the club have used all of their good fortune in this particular lottery during recent Cup clashes at the Madejski Stadium and Anfield.

Everybody knows all about the wins at Reading and Liverpool in 2010 and although this match was not in that class (few are ever likely to be, in all honesty) it was still a triumph in so many ways.

It proved that, actually, this is a squad with a decent bit of depth to it. Aidy Boothroyd is always looking to learn things about his players and in particular their character and personality when up against it.

After going 1-0 down to a Bradford side with a real cup pedigree, on their own ground and with an unequivocal advantage in terms of experience, it would have been easy for the young Northampton team to crumble.

That they did not is a measure of their spirit and their qualities as footballers. Lewis Wilson, Henoc Mukendi, Ishmel Demontagnac and Lewis Hornby all put in their best games for the club so far. It was Ivan Toney’s only game so far, and he grew into it, supplying a superb run in the build-up to Langmead’s goal.

Wilson looks an entirely plausible option as a winger, as does Mukendi, while the best compliment you can pay Hornby is that strangers to the Town set-up would struggle to identify which member of central midfield is the one currently on loan from Manchester City.

Demontagnac is an enigma but a talented one, a player equally likely to dribble the ball straight out of play as he is to turn two players inside out with a drop of the shoulder. Boothroyd rightly cites consistency as his Achilles heel, but if he gets that Northampton will have a serious player on their hands.

Up front on his own for two hours, Clive Platt’s 35-year-old legs carried him to a high watermark in Town colours – after the game he confided to me that he has been struggling with a debilitating back injury for six months. With a new chiropractor, he is confident the worst of it is behind him.

So while there will be no £18,000 prize money, no second-round tie against Brentford and no glorious Cup victory to add to the recent nights to remember in Berkshire and Merseyside, there should be no shame in this defeat.

Boothroyd will have learned so much about his players. And sometimes you just can’t put a price on something like that.

JEFF’S RATINGS

SHANE HIGGS

Won’t be happy with Bradford’s third goal and unlucky not to save at least one more penalty in the shoot-out ...7

DANNY EAST

Brave-hearted throughout and gets a lot of credit for having the nerve to take a penalty ...8

KELVIN LANGMEAD

A real captain’s performance, with an excellent goal and the willingness to step up (literally) in the pressure situation of the shoot-out ...8

BEN TOZER

Dealt with the clumsy-looking but deceptively difficult James Hanson to good effect for the majority of the tie ...7

JOE WIDDOWSON

Displayed a true bravery on the ball during the closing stages of the game and overlapped to good effect ...8

LEWIS WILSON

A really encouraging performance from the youngster, who was running on fumes by the end of a sweat-soaked evening ...8

EMYR HUWS

A good outing but twice got himself into good goalscoring situations only to fail to hit the target ...7

LEWIS HORNBY

The teenager is getting better with every game and could be the breakthrough player of the season ...8

HENOC MUKENDI

Ungainly-looking but effective, this was Mukendi’s best performance since joining the club on loan from Liverpool ...7

ISHMEL DEMONTAGNAC

Some moments of eye-rubbing brilliant skill and did superbly well to win (and score) the penalty that restored parity in the first half ...8

CLIVE PLATT

Covered every blade of grass in the attacking half, never conceded possession and took his goal with a cool composure ...8

Substitutes:

ADEBAYO AKINFENWA (for Demontagnac, 81mins)

Battled illness to play his part, expertly making Platt’s goal with a slipped pass ...7

IVAN TONEY (for Lewis Wilson, 91mins)

Wrote his name in club folklore by becoming its youngest ever player, but made a vital contribution beyond the trivial, with a fine run in the build-up to Langmead’s goal ...7

Subs not used: Snedker, Charles, Harding

Graeme Swann is ready to face India in England’s opening Test starting tomorrow after an emergency dash home to tend to his ill baby daughter.

Northampton-born Swann returned home last week after his daughter Charlotte was taken into hospital, but he is now back with the team in Ahmedabad ahead of the four-Test series.

In his column in the Sun, Swann, who also has a son called Wilf, wrote: “I am now totally focused on the First Test after flying home because our little baby was unwell.

“Two long-haul flights in the space of five days is not ideal preparation for the opening match of a huge series for England - but some things are more important than cricket.”

Although former Northants all-rounder Swann missed several days of practice, the spinner insisted he feels ready to go.

“I had sleep flying back to India and any jet-lag has gone. I’m fresh and the ball has been coming out well in practice,” he wrote.

“I am now concentrating on the Test. I love it when I know I’ll have a lot of work to do.

“The conditions will be hot, the pitches dry and spin will be a big factor in the four-Test series.

“I genuinely believe we can win but we must play better against spin than we did in the three Tests against Pakistan earlier this year.

“We need to get back to playing the same brand of smart, aggressive cricket we did when winning The Ashes a couple of winters ago.”

Much of the focus in the build-up to the Test has surrounded Kevin Pietersen’s return to the team for the first time since he was dropped for sending ‘provocative’ text messages to members of the South Africa team.

Swann has welcomed Pietersen back to the fold and believes he can make a big difference in India.

“I hope we’ll play sensible but aggressive cricket,” he said.

“Nobody can be more destructive, of course, than Kevin Pietersen and his return to the dressing room has been very smooth.

“I think that was always going to be the case after those meetings with him in Oxford before the tour.

“That effectively killed off anything that happened during the summer and it’s been the normal mickey-taking and banter with Kevin.

“In any dressing room, there are always leg-pulling comments.

“Although I must be honest and say Kevin is not the butt of most of the jokes because there are one or two players specially reserved for that!

“Now we want the cricket to do the talking. And I’m sure Kevin feels the same way.”

Reliving the moment when he received the call to say his daughter Charlotte was ill, Swann said: “When I heard Charlotte was unwell and in hospital, I didn’t hesitate about going back.

“They are the sort of phone calls we all dread on tour - news that somebody close is ill.

“And this was concerning a little baby who had come into the world only three weeks earlier, it was hard.

“But the nurses and everyone were brilliant and Charlotte is out of hospital now and doing much better.

“I am keeping my fingers crossed that everything will stay like that.”

The first Test starts tomorrow at 4am British time.

Ivan Toney capped what is surely the best week of his young sporting life with a stunning four-goal haul as the Cobblers hammered York City 5-0 in the second round of the FA Youth Cup at Sixfields on Wednesday night.

Toney, who on Tuesday wrote his name in the Northampton Town record books when he became the youngest player to represent the club after he went on as an extra-time substitute in the FA Cup replay defeat at Bradford City, was in unstoppable form against the Minstermen.

After an even opening that saw York threaten the Cobblers goal on a couple of occasions, David Moyo - who himself played for the Cobblers first team in the FA Cup against Bradford a fortnight ago - fired the Town youngsters ahead on 34 minutes after good work from Callum Powell before the match turned into the Toney show.

The youngster made it 2-0 on the stroke of a half-time when he converted a penalty that he had won himself.

Toney then made it 3-0 nine minutes after the restart, finishing from a tight angle, and he completed his hat-trick on 74 minutes when he turned in a Powell cross.

The game wasn’t over though, and Toney scored his fourth and the Cobblers’ fifth nine minutes from time.

It was another impressive performance from Craig Hinton’s men, who recorded a fifth straight win and a sixth clean sheet in a row, and now go on to play either Canvey Island or AFC Totton in the third round.

The Cobblers team included Dean Snedker in goal, and Danny Harmon - son of former Town midfieler Darren - but Lewis Hornby was not surprisingly rested after his exertions in the previous night’s match at Valley Parade.

As for Toney, this is a week that will live long in the youngster’s memory, scoring four goals in an FA Youth Cup tie just hours after becoming the youngest Cobbler in history at 16 years and 273 days, replacing Aidy Mann in the record books.

Cobblers: Dean Snedker, Tyler Reeve, Jordan Chambers, Claudio Dias, Harry Mattock, Connor Roberts, Danny Harmon, George Craddock, David Moyo, Ivan Toney (sub Kieran Fitzgerald 84), Callum Powell (sub Elliot Lamb-Johnson 89). Substitutes not used: Yas Hussain, Paps Roland Joao, Ben Heath

York: Josh Archer, Nial Tilsey (sub Dan Andrew 84), Jordan Outerbridge, Chris Banks, Ben Middleton, Tom Allan, Rob Moncur, Dan Middleton, Chris Dickinson (Tom Chamberlain 46), Harry Coates (sub Ollie Smith 59), Reece Kelly Substitutes not used: James Green, Cameron Murray.

Voting is underway for the Police and Crime Commissioner election in Northamptonshire amid fears the result could yet be decided in the courts.

According to predictions, just over one in 10 voters are expected to turn out for today’s election, which will decide the county’s first commissioner.

However, the vote has been thrown into turmoil by revelations the Labour candidate, Lee Barron, will not be able to take the job even if he is elected.

An arrest from 1990 will prevent him from taking the role.

However, due to a legal technicality his name will still appear on the ballot paper. The Home Office has already said another election will be called if he wins.

At least two of the remaining four candidate have already expressed concern the decision could end up decided in the courts or via a fresh election.

The candidates are Jim MacArthur (UKIP), John Norrie (Ind), Adam Simmonds (Con) and Paul Varnsverry (Lib Dem).

Updates from tomorrow’s count will published on the Chron’s website when counting begins, from 10.30am.

Mark Sorenson says the mood in the Saints camp is ‘super positive’ - despite the recent run of four successive defeats.

Northampton have toiled in the past few weeks, losing to Castres, Leicester, Saracens and Harlequins.

But they were not beaten by a heavy margin in any of those games and they should have ended their winless run last weekend, when Quins snatched a 31-30 win with a last-gasp try.

And Sorenson says the players are remaining upbeat ahead of this Sunday’s LV= Cup showdown with struggling Newport-Gwent Dragons.

“Last week we had a few less players around to normal but training has been superb,” said the second row forward.

“There’s loads of enthusiasm with young guys getting their chance to have a run in the team and to try to push for their place and selection. It was really enjoyable.

“This week we’ve had some good sessions and there’s no issue about getting up and getting things right. It’s all built for an exciting game this weekend.

And he added: “Training’s been super positive and really enjoyable. That’s a side to the game that we’ve got to keep enjoying things and perform to our potential no matter how old you are. That’s what you need to get the best out of yourself.”

But Sorenson knows Saints must eradicate the ‘silly’ errors from their game, which have cost them victory in recent weeks.

Last Saturday’s reverse to Quins came after Northampton presented the Premiership champions with three first-half tries, and a repeat performance must be avoided at Rodney Parade.

“We’ve played a lot of very good rugby and it’s about developing on that and just cutting out those silly little errors that are costing us points,” said Sorenson.

“You can’t afford to do that at this level and be chasing games down.

“Probably in the last three or four games, bar Leicester, we’ve given teams a good start into games through our lack of accuracy so we need to address it and get it right this weekend in this LV= Cup game.”

Here’s your weekly guide to events taking place across Northamptonshire over the next seven days.

To send an event for inclusion on this weekly list fill out our online What’s On form.

TODAY

MUSIC

Mike Hurst and The Springfields, Oundle’s Stahl Theatre, 7.45pm. 01832 273930 or www.stahltheatre.co.uk

Live Music at Tea Dance, The Picturedrome, Kettering Rd, N’pton, 1pm

Open House Night, Black Bottom Club, N’pton.

Limehouse Lizzy; Tribute to Thin Lizzy, The Core at Corby Cube, 7.30pm. 01536 470470

The Cool Jazz Quintet, The Stirrup Cup, Woodlands Ave, Kettering, 9pm. Free admission.

Michael Wooldridge at Nene Valley Organ & Keyboard Club, Ex-Servicemen’s Club, Sheep St, N’pton, 8pm. £6. 01604 408857.

Charity Event, Bar So, Abington Sq, N’pton, 8pm to 10pm. Children In Need

THEATRE

Jason Byrne, Derngate Auditorium, N’pton, 8pm. 01604 624811

Steptoe& Son, Royal Auditorium, N’pton, 2.30pm/7.45pm. 01604 624811

OTHER

County Market in The Chantry House, Towcester, 8.30am–noon.

English Medieval Martial Arts at Doddridge Centre, St James, N’pton, 8.30pm. 01604 903043

Christmas Shopping evening, Redwell Infant School, W’bro, 7.15pm–9.30pm. £1.50 in advance/ £2 on the door.

Talk by Carol East on Stumpwork, with Friendsof Alfred East Art Gallery & Museum, Kettering, 7.30pm. £3. 01536 518941

Northampton Borough Council drop-in to help residents reduce fuel costs, Spencer Dallington Community Centre, Tintern Avenue, N’pton, 4.30pm–5.30pm

Table Top Sale, Community Centre, Pioneer Avenue, Burton Latimer, 9am–11.30am. In aid of Children’s Society. 20p.

RSPB meeting at Boothville Community Centre, N’pton, 7.30pm. £2.50. Talk by Jake Ward

Zumba, Kingsthorpe Village School, Knights Lane, N’pton, 6pm

FRIday

MUSIC

Auntie’s Acoustic Sessions, Black Bottom Club, N’pton, 8pm.

Disco and Karaoke at The Welcome Inn, Irchester Road, Rushden

Matt Roberts, Golden Horse, Far Cotton, N’pton

Acoustics night, Foundry Tavern, St James, N’pton, 8pm.

One Night of Elvis, Derngate Auditorium, 7.30pm. 01604 624811

Rich McMahon, O’Neills, The Drapery, Npton, 9pm

THEATRE

Sean Hughes: Life Becomes Noises at The Stables, Wavendon, 8pm. 01908 280800

Steptoe& Son, Royal Auditorium, 7.45pm. 01604 624811

Screaming Blue Murder Comedy Club, Underground Derngate, 8.15pm. 01604 624811

OTHER

Northamptonshire Association for the Blind holds a two-day Book and Tape Sale, 9.30am-4pm (and Saturday) at the former Kingsthorpe Housing Office, Harborough Road, opp Waitrose.

“USAAF: The American Arrivals” lunchtime talk by Matthew Smith, Alfred East Art Gallery, Kettering, 1pm to 2pm. £5 (£2.50 for Pass Holders).

Psychic Night, Sir Pickering Phipps, N’pton, 8pm with Dennis Binks. £5 entry.

Blue Room Burlesque show at the Black Bottom Club, N’pton. 01604 233401

‘The Angels Share’, shown at Stahl Theatre, West Street, Oundle, 7.45pm. 01832 274734

The 2012 Humfrey Lecture: The Accidental Adventurer by Richard Terry at Northamptonshire Natural History Society, Humfrey Rooms, Castilian Terrace, Northampton, 7.30pm.

NAB Mobile Sight Centre at High Street, Rushden, 10am to 12.30pm; and at Irchester WMC car park, 1.15pm–2.30pm

SATURday

MUSIC

The Snakeman 3, Charles Bradlaugh, Earl St, N’pton, 9pm

Accrington Stanley, The Picturedrome, Kett Rd, N’pton, 8pm. Annual Jo Rideout Memorial gig. Tickets £10.

DJ Suff & Peter Bartella, Black Bottom Club, N’pton

The Red Bullets, Black Bottom Club, N’pton. For tickets www.theredbullets.com/gigs

Concert for Life 2012 with The Rutland Big Band, St James Church, Gretton, 7.30pm in support of Integrated Cancer Therapies and Cransley Hospice. Tickets from Grendon Post Office or call Andrew on 01536 771940

Enzo – Duo Liazon, Monks Park WMC, N’pton

Matt Diamond, Queens Park WMC, N’pton

SarahQuinn entertains at Brafield WMC, A428, from 8pm.

Rik King, Northampton WMC, Sheep Street, N’pton

Concert of light music from sprituals to Lloyd Webber, St Mary’s Church, Knox Road, W’boro, 7.30pm. www.orpheuschoir.info

Dance The Night Away, Weldon Village Hall, 8pm. £5. 01536 403768 or email guido@derosa.me.uk

The Stylistics, Derngate Auditorium, N’pton, 7.30pm. 01604 624811

Simon Phillips, British Rail Sports and Social Club, St Andrews Rd, N’pton

Music at Yardley Gobion SS Club, 8.30pm.

Bad Dobby, O’Neills, The Drapery, N’pton, 10pm

THEATRE

Steptoe& Son, Royal Auditorium, 2.30pm/7.45pm. 01604 624811

Fred MacAuley; Legally Bald, The Core at Corby Cube, 7.30pm. 01536 470470

OTHER

Karate (Tan Soo Do) at Kingsley School, Churchill Way, Kettering 10am – 11am. 01536 511216 or 07904 858577

Rothersthorpe Art Group Annual Exhibition, Rothersthorpe Village Hall, 10.30am to 4.30pm (& Nov 18th). Free.

Jumble sale for Northampton Cats Rescue, St James Community Centre, Npton, 10am

Willow& Rush Weaving Class at Bee Inspired, Kettering, 10am–4pm. 01536 514646. Booking is essential.

Wellingborough Ramblers circular walk via Irthlingborough & Chelveston (8.5 miles). Meet at The Duke of Wellington P.H. Stanwick, 10am. www.
wellingboroughramblers.co.uk

Afternoon Walk (5 miles) with Northampton Ramblers. 2pm from Blisworth public car park adj to Royal Oak Pub. No stiles.

Autumn Fair, Kingsley Park Methodist Church, N’pton, 10am–1pm.

Beginners Dance (Ballroom Latin), Jubilee Hall, Broadmead Ave, N’pton, 12.30pm. £3 admission. 01604 787246

St Barnabas Church annual Autumn Fayre, Church Hall, College Street, Wellingborough, 10am–12noon. £1 entry. All proceeds to church funds.

Walk with Northamptonshire Natural History Society at Higham Ferrers “Christmas Sparkle”. Meet in bus station for bus SC X47 at 10.20am.

Race Night (greyhounds), Old Kings Head, Long Buckby, 8.30pm.

Christmas Home-made Fair, Christchurch, Christchurch Road/W’boro Rd, N’pton, 11.30am–4pm. 50p adults/children free

Christmas cards, gifts and crafts, St Giles Church, N’pton, 11am to 4pm.

WI’s Christmas Gift Fair, Kingsthorpe Baptist Church Hall, N’pton, 10am to 4pm. £3 entry. 01604 646055.

Friends of Kingsthorpe Grange, (behind ambulance station) annual Christmas Bazaar, 2pm.

Christmas Fayre, St Mary’s Church, High Street, Little Addington, 2pm.

Scouts Group Christmas Craft Morning, Pitsford Village Hall, 10.30am–1pm.

Charity 50/50 Auction, Memorial Hall, Northampton Road, Yardley Hastings, 2pm. Goods accepted 8.30am–1pm. 01604 696382.

SUNday

MUSIC

Tyme Duo, The Garibaldi, Bailiff Street, N’pton

Jam Night, Old Kings Head, Long Buckby, 8pm start.

Glen Miller Orchestra, Derngate Auditorium, 5pm. 01604 624811

Laurie Chescoe’s Goodtime Reunion Band, The Walnut Tree, Blisworth, noon–2.30pm

Sean Laney, Monks Park WMC, N’pton

Carrie Diamond, Queens Park WMC, N’pton

Mat Roberts at Brafield WMC, A428, from 8pm. Plus bingo

OTHER

Quiz Night, The Workhouse, 56-60 Wellingborough Road, Northampton 8pm

Quiz Night at Queens Park WMC, Northampton

Quiz Night, Barratts Club, Kingsthorpe Road, Northampton 8pm

Quiz Night, Griffin Inn, Pitsford. Free entry.

Morning Worship at Whitefriars Junior School, Rushden, 10.15am. All welcome

Christmas Fair, Whittlebury Hall Hotel, nr Towcester, 10am–5pm. 01536 506134.

Sunday Walk, organised by Waendel Walkers Club, start and finish at The Red Lion, Thornby (choice of 6 or 12 miles), 10am. 50p entry.

Car Boot sale, Rotary Club of Northampton at University of Northampton site, Boughton Green Road, 8am–12.30pm

All day ride to Long Buckby with Kettering Cyclists’ Touring Club. Meet Rothwell, 9.30am or Guilsborough, 11am. 01536 712507

Quiz Night, Sir Pickering Phipps, Wellingborough Road, N’pton 8pm

Music, general knowledge quiz & disco bingo, The Whitehills, N’pton

Wellingborough Ramblers walk, via Stanwick Lakes & Lt Addington (6.5 miles). Meet main car park near Irthlingborough Cross, 10am. www.wellingboroughramblers.co.uk

Figure of 8 Walk (7.5 miles – am, 5 miles - pm) with Northampton Ramblers. 8.10am Church Lane (adj to rear entrance to Church of Holy Sepulchre, N’pton) or 9am from Greatworth Sports & Social Club. Afternoon start 1.15pm from The Club.

Morning Walk, Arthingworth – Great Oxenden circular (6 miles). Meet 9.15am Market Square car park, Higham Ferrers or 10am Oxenden Road, Arthingworth

Morning Walk (5.9 miles) with Northampton Ramblers. Meet 10am Great Brington, outside Althorpe Coaching Inn.

Day Cycle Ride with Northampton Cyclists Touring Club (50 miles) – Towcester and Potterspury. Meet Overslade Close, East Hunsbury, 9.30am. www.ctc-northampton.org.uk

MONday

MUSIC

The Roy Civil Band, The Golden Lion, Sheep Street, Wellingborough, 9pm. Free admission.

Focus, supported by Serious Blues at The Stables, Wavendon, 8pm. 01908 280800

THEATRE

Greg Davies, Derngate Auditorium, 8pm. 01604 624811

OTHER

Stu’s Quiz Night at The Welcome Inn, Irchester Road, Rushden.

Weekly Art Class at Irthlingborough Methodist Church Hall, 2pm–4pm. 01933 650195

Quiz, Charles Bradlaugh, Earl St, N’pton, 8pm.

‘Christmas Eve 1849’ event, starts at Rockingham Castle (until Nov 23). Decorations and entertainment about Victorian family life below stairs and above. Fore more info www.rockinghamcastle.com

Wallis Shopping Event, Abington Street, N’pton, 6pm–9pm. In aid of Air Ambulance

Walk into shape with Katherine & Tilly the dog, 10.30am–12.30pm. Meet in Salcey Forest Café. salceyforestcafe@hotmail.co.uk

tUESDAY

MUSIC

Pete Coe, the Great kNnight Folk Club, Old White Hart Inn, Cotton End, N’pton, 9pm.

All That Jazz, Wig & Pen, St Giles Street, N’pton. 9pm. Free

THEATRE

Ross Noble, Derngate Auditorium, 8pm. 01604 624811

OTHER

Quiz Night at The Golden Horse, Far Cotton, 8.30pm

NAB Mobile Sight Centre at Nene Park Outpatients Clinic, Irthlingborough, 9.30am–noon; and Doddridge Centre, St James Road, N’pton, 2pm–4pm

Beginner Dance (Ballroom, Latin), Alliston Gardens Community Centre, N’pton, 1.30pm. £2 admission. 01604 787246

Morning Ride to Brixworth with Kettering Cyclists’ Touring Club. Meet Rothwell, 9.30am or Brixworth, 11am. 01536 712507

Salsa Classes, The Picturedrome, Kett Rd, N’pton with Salsa Estrellas, £8.

Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Café at Swanspool Pavilion, Wellingborough, 2pm to 4pm.

WEDNESday

MUSIC

J for Jazz at The Coach & Horses, Lubenham, 8.30pm. Free. 01848 463183 for details

Sixties Gold with Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Animals, P J Proby & Steve Ellis, Derngate Auditorium, 7.30pm. 01604 624811

Rockin’ Goose, The Headland pub, Longland Rd, N’pton, 8.30pm. Free admission.

Robin Bibi, Malt Shovel Tavern, N’pton

THEATRE

New Perspective Theatre Company presents A Christmas Carol, Blakesley & Woodend Village Hall, Greens Norton Road, Blakesley, 7.45pm. Tickets £8. 01327 8604761

OTHER

Meditation for Health and Wellbeing, 7.15pm at Kingsthorpe Baptist Church rooms, N’pton. 07885 551533

NAB Mobile Sight Centre visits Guilsborough Surgery car park, West Haddon Road, 10am–11am; Brixworth Library, Spratton Road, 11.30am–12.45pm; and Village Autos, Stocks Hill, Moulton, 1.30–2.30pm

Wellingborough Ramblers walk, Circular via Tythe Farm (8 miles). Meet at The Three Fyshes pub, Turvey, 9.30am. www.wellingboroughramblers.co.uk

Morning Walk (7.5 miles) with Northampton Ramblers. 9.30pm start from Five Bells, Bugbrooke.

THURSday NOVEMBER 22

MUSIC

Karaoke night, Old House At Home, Wellingborough Road, N’pton, 8.30pm till late

Liane Carroll, Black Bottom Club, N’pton, 8pm. Tickets £15, all proceeds to CAN.

Live Music at the Tea Dance, The Picturedrome, N’pton, 1pm

Y Factor, The Picturedrome, N’pton, 7.30pm. Don’t miss young, new talent.

The Platform, free weekly open jam night at Charles Bradlaugh, N’pton, 9pm. 01604 233401

Tad Newton’s Jazzfriends with Trevor Whiting, The Castle, Wellingborough, 8pm

The Neal Astbury Show, The Stirrup Cup, Woodlands Ave, Kettering, 9pm. Free admission.

THEATRE

John Shuttleworth: Out Of Our Sheds, The Stables, Stockwell Lane, Wavendon, Milton Keynes, 8pm. 01908 280800

OTHER

Quiz Night, Old Kings Head, Long Buckby, 8.30pm. Free entry and free supper.

Quiz Night, Foundrymans Arms, 135 St James Road, Northampton 8pm

Quiz Night, Sun, 9 High Street, Hardingstone 8pm

Quiz Night, Fox & Hounds, 186 Harborough Road, Kingsthorpe 9pm

Quiz and Open The Box at The Whitehills, N’pton. Big money to be won.

Zumba at Monks Park WMC, N’pton, 7pm followed by quiz night at 9pm

Karate (Tan Soo Do) at Kettering Leisure Village, Thursdon Drive, Kettering 7pm – 9pm (Adults) For further information contact Master Thomas 01536 511216 or Kevin 07904 858577

Towcester County Market in The Chantry House, Towcester, 8.30am to 12noon. All our items are genuinely baked, grown or crafted by local individuals and are “fairly traded”. We welcome browsers – our prices start at 50p.

Capoeira Class at Doddridge Community Centre, 109 St James Road, Northampton, 7pm to 8.30pm. Looking for something new to try? Capoeira is a Brazilian Art Form which combines elements of dance, music and ritualistic fighting. £6 per class or £20 for 4. For more info www.senzalamidlands.com

English Medieval Martial Arts at Doddridge Centre, St James, N’pton, 8.30pm. 01604 903043

Zumba, Kingsthorpe Village School, Knights Lane, N’pton, 6pm

Embroiderers Guild meet for a talk by Cherily Tyler at Roman Way Day Centre, 36 Roman Way, Market Harborough, 7.30pm. Donation of £5 requested.

The Great Debate – How to Present the Great Hall of Kelmarsh Hall, 10am to 5pm. Cost £95 inc VAT. For more info 01604 686543 or www.kelmarsh.com

Northampton Borough Council are holding a drop-in session to help residents reduce fuel costs at Kings Heath Community Centre, North Oval, Kings Heath, 3.30pm to 5pm

Wellingborough Ramblers walk, Circular via Sundon Hills (11 miles). Meet at Pulloxhill Church, 10am. For more info www.wellingboroughramblers.co.uk

Morning Walk, Sudborough, Aldwinkle, Lowick, Sudborough (5.5 miles). Meet 9.25am Saffron Road car park, Higham Ferrers or 10am roadside just off Sudborough’s southern turn

Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Café at Cozy Nook, Thrapston, 6pm to 8pm. An opportunity for people with dementia and their carers to meet in a relaxed forum and share experiences. Refreshments and speaker on related topics

FRIday NOVEMBER 23

MUSIC

Ewan McLennan, The Castle, Wellingborough, 8pm. 01933 270007

Auntie’s Acoustic Sessions, Black Bottom Club, N’pton, from 8pm.

Disco and Karaoke at The Welcome Inn, Irchester Road, Rushden

Acoustics night, Foundry Tavern, St James, N’pton, 8pm. All singers and musicians welcome. Also play The Joker and win cash prizes

Rhythm ‘n’ Roots, Ye Golden Lion, Sheep Street, Wellingborough, 9pm

Kontra Roots Club, Kennedy’s Bar, Finedon, 8pm. Acoustic showcase, free admission. More info www.kcbworld.co.uk

Pravin Disco, Golden Horse, Far Cotton, N’pton

Barn Dance, Christchuch Hall, Christchurch Road, N’pton. For more info www.northamptonceilidhs.co.uk

London Community Gospel Choir, The Stables, Stockwell Lane, Wavendon, Milton Keynes, 8pm. 01908 280800

M1 Music Night: Chrystina Tomlin, The Stables, Stockwell Lane, Wavendon, Milton Keynes, Stage 2 at 8.45pm. 01908 280800

OTHER

Advice Centre with Michael Ellis MP at Northampton Guildhall in the Godwin Room, by appointment only 15.00 – 17.00 call 0207 2197220 or email hugh.corbett@parliament.uk

Slide & Digital Image of the Year, Desborough & Rothwell Photographic Society, Marlow House, Gold St, Desborough, 7.30pm. Judge will be Him Hartje.

SATURday NOVEMBER 24

MUSIC

Joe Whelan (from this year’s X Factor), O’Neill’s, N’pton, 10pm

Jamie Neale, British Rail Sports and Social Club, N’pton

John Lee, Kettering Rifle Band Club, Havelock Street

Donnybrook Fair, a dance to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity at Kingsley Park WMC, N’pton. £5 admission.

Divinity & Movember Party, Sir Pickering Phipps, Wellingborough Road, N’pton

Milkshake, funk, soul and much more, Charles Bradlaugh, N’pton

Live music, The Picturedrome, N’pton, 9pm. £5 admission

The Vivas, Anthony Lewis & Neil Harrison, Black Bottom Club, N’pton

Sarah Jameson, Monks Park WMC, N’pton

A.D., Queens Park WMC, N’pton

Brafield WMC, A428, Dave Martin from 8pm. Hot food available, bingo

Kay T Daley, Northampton WMC, Sheep Street, N’pton

The Bootleg Sixties, The Stables, Stockwell Lane, Wavendon, Milton Keynes, 8pm. 01908 280800

Fred’s House, The Stables, Stockwell Lane, Wavendon, Milton Keynes, Stage 2 at 8.45pm. 01908 280800

OTHER

Karate (Tan Soo Do) at Kingsley School, Churchill Way, Kettering 10am – 11am pm (family class) For further information contact Master Thomas 01536 511216 or Kevin 07904 858577

Indoor Tots Tennis for 2-4 year olds and parent (term time) at Duston Sports Centre. 9.20am to 10pm. £4 admission (1st session £2) Also Junior Tennis for ages 10-17 every Saturday, 10am to 12noon. Call 07912 746693 for more info.

Coffee Morning at Duston United Reformed Church, Main Road, Duston, 10am to 12noon
Ladies/children only Swimming Session (every Saturday), Northampton Somali Women & Girls Association, 5pm to 7pm. Children under 5 free, age 5/9 years £1.50, adults £4. For more info contact Shukri on 07507 644763 or 07507 561372.

Military Fitness Class for adults and children at Delapre Park, Northampton, 9.30am to 11am. For info www.bpt-uk.com

Chess Club, Room G9, The Northampton Academy School, Wellingborough Road (next to Weston Favell Ctr), Northampton,

anytime between 11am and 4pm. Cost is £1. For more info www.northants61.freeserve.co.uk

Beginner Dance – Ballroom Latin, Jubilee Hall, Broadmead Ave, N’pton, 12.30pm. £3 admission. 01604 787246

Campion School, Bugbrooke are holding a Christmas Market from 2pm to 4pm, a great opportunity to buy gifts for family and friends. Tables £10 each, for anyone interested in selling; contact Campion School, www.campion.northants.sch.uk

Coffee Morning, Rothwell Methodist Church, Market Square, 9.30am to 11.30am. Various stalls, 20p admission. In aid of Cats Friends

Christmas Fayre, Alpha Preschool, Westfield Terrace, Higham Ferrers, 1pm to 3pm. Stalls, refreshments, childrens games and visit from Father Christmas.

St Patrick’s Church Christmas Fair, Duston Community Centre, Pendle Road, 1.30pm. Various stalls, grand draw and refreshments. 30p admission.

Christmas Bazaar, St Mary’s Church, Great Brington, 2pm to 4pm. Various stalls, refreshments, raffle and visit from Father Christmas

Walk to Sharman’s Lake with Northamptonshire Natural History Society. Meet in bus station for bus SC9 at 1.30pm.

Bric-a-Brac and Jumble Sale, The Schoolrooms, Church Stowe, 2pm. All proceeds to St Michael’s Guild.

Charity event in aid of Movember at The Picturedrome, Kettering Road, N’pton, 8pm till late, www.thepicturedrome.com

Dinner to celebrate 50 years of the Northampton Casuals RFC at Rushmill, N’pton, 7.30pm to 12am. Contact Elaine 01604 636716 or email secretary@northamptoncasualsrugby.co.uk

Baby/Kids Nearly New Sale, The Pemberton Centre, Rushden, 10am to 12noon. £1 entry, kids free.

Christmas Fayre, Towcester Methodist Church, 10.30am, Various stalls, freshly prepared rolls. Free entry, proceeds to the church.

Christmas Fayre, Wilbarston Village Hall, 12noon to 5pm. Various stalls, refreshments, childrens choir and fancy dress. Free entry.

Book Sale, St John Ambulance, St John House, Billing Road, N’pton, 9.30am to 12.30am. Free admission.

Wellingborough Ramblers walk, via Provost Lodge & Shire Hill Lodge (7.5 miles). Meet at The Shuckburgh Arms P.H. Southwick, 10am. For more info www.wellingboroughramblers.co.uk

Afternoon Walk (5.6 miles) with Northampton Ramblers. 1.3pm start Long Buckby village square, NN6 7QB

Young Writer? Are you aged between 13-18? Want to be an author, journalist, poet , scriptwriter or just enjoy writing? The come to our Creative Writing Group at Wellingborough Library, Pebble Lane, Wellingborough, 2pm to 4pm.

Morning Walk (5 miles) with Northampton Ramblers. Meet 1.30pm The Green, Nether Heyford. Walk across fields and round the edge of Flore, past church, along the canal to Nether Heyford. Few stiles.

Harmonica Workshop – Beginners Part 2, The Stables, Stockwell Lane, Wavendon, Milton Keynes, 10am to 3pm. Adult/15+ workshop. 01908 280800

A father and daughter who ran a second hand car business duped customers by double-selling cars, keeping hold of deposits and even attempted to sell clocked vehicles.

David King, 65, and his 26-year-old daughter ran Auto Direct Ltd in Blisworth when Northamptonshire Trading Standards began receiving numerous complaints from customers about their business practices.

Matthew Lowe, prosecuting at Northampton Crown Court, said David King double-sold vehicles by taking a deposit from one customer only to cancel the sale by lying about its road-worthyness and would sell it to another. He would then secure a second sale from the first customer.

The sole company director also admitted holding on to customers’ deposits, often telling them a refund cheque could only be issued by his accountant.

The court heard how he also sold clocked cars concealing its true milage.

Danielle King, who worked as the company secretary, admitted she failed to refund a customer’s £250 deposit.

Mr Lowe said the outstanding money owed to customers involved in the criminal charges was only repaid the day before the sentencing hearing.

David King pleaded guilty to 13 fraud charges, committed between April 2009 and June 2010, and was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment, suspended for a year, and must do 180 hours’ community service. Judge Rupert Mayo said he had decided not to ban him from being a company director.

Danielle King, also of Harlestone Road, Northampton, who admitted a single fraud offences, received a 12-month community order with 100 hours’ community service and costs.

POLLS opened this morning for the Police and Crime Commissioner election in Northamptonshire amid fears the result could yet be decided in the courts.

According to predictions, just over one in 10 voters are expected to turn out for today’s election, which will decide the county’s first commissioner.

However, the vote has been thrown into turmoil by revelations the Labour candidate, Lee Barron, will not be able to take the job even if he is elected.

An arrest from 1990 will prevent him from taking the role.

However, due to a legal technicality his name will still appear on the ballot paper.

At least two of the remaining four candidate have already expressed concern the decision could end up decided in the courts or via a fresh election.

The candidates are Jim MacArthur (UKIP), John Norrie (Ind), Adam Simmonds (Con) and Paul Varnsverry (Lib Dem).

For updates from Friday’s count visit the Chron’s website.

A hamster died of smoke inhalation after a lit firework was pushed through the letterbox of a Northamptonshire home triggering a fire.

Police were today are appealing for witnesses to the incident which happened on Tuesday,sometime between 6pm and 6.20pm in Gannet Lane, Wellingborough.

The lit firework resulted in the property catching fire and a pet hamster, which was in the house at the time, died as a result of the extensive smoke damage.

Anyone with information can call Northamptonshire Police on 101 - alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.