Sileby Rangers rounded off a big week with a second successive win to move three points clear of the drop zone.

Simon King scored the winner as Rangers hit back to win 3-2 at Sleaford.

A confident finish from the returning Harry Millard saw Sleaford take an 11th-minute lead.

Stuart McMichael equalised for Rangers after 32 minutes, rounding the keeper to slot home.

The home were back in front after 58 minutes, the in form Liam Tunstall converting Euan Clarke’s lay off.

Mohammed Hussein scored a second Sileby leveller after 76 minutes and King latched on to a long ball after 85 minutes to give the visitors all three points.

A dominant second half display saw Deeping maintain their good run of form with a 3-1 home win over Long Buckby.

Buckby competed well in the first half and had chances to take an early lead. Nkosi Mzungwana collected a return pass from Muzi Nduna-Ndlovu but was unable to get his shot away and then Elliott Herbert was at full stretch to shoot wide after Ed Kostiuk’s free-kick was flicked on by Mzungwana.

When Deeping replied Jordan Avis had a shot blocked and Jezz Goldson-Williams retrieved the loose ball and cross for Tom Smith to volley over at the far post.

Just past the half hour home striker Justin McKenzie and visiting defender Spencer Tinkler were dismissed following an off the ball incident.

Ben Lewis was twice close from distance for Deeping while late home chances saw Danny Bircham tip away Kostiuk’s free kick and Nduna-Ndlovu beat Bircham to a Nathan Liburd through ball only for the ball to drop wide of the target.

Deeping took charge at the start of the second half with interval sub Matt Carter thwarted by keeper Oliver Manuel after intercepting a wayward back pass.

On the hour Bircham’s point blank saved denied Ryan Merrey a set piece headed opener, but within a minute Rangers were ahead as Goldson-Williams beat two defenders before slotting past Manuel.

Goldson-Williams was wide from a Jordan Avis through ball but when the pair combined again on 70 minutes the striker made no mistake to fire home.

Bircham’s fingertip save denied Mzungwana as he raced onto Nduna-Ndlovu’s through pass, but Deeping were soon hunting for more goals.

Avis struck the post from range before Goldson-Williams completed his hat trick from a Smith left wing delivery on 80 minutes.

On 89 minutes Herbert’s far post volley gave Buckby a consolation.

Right at the death Michael Yeates’ foul on Mohammed Hamid, but Manuel went full length to turn away Dan Flack’s spot kick.

Cogenhoe United were held to a goalless draw by Harrowby.

It was the first scoreless stalemate for either side this season, and a fifth blank in seven matches for the visitors.

In division one, mid-table Bugbrooke put a spoke in the wheels of title-chasing Whitworth with a 4-2 win at the Victoria Mill Ground.

The Badgers took the initiative from the start with a third minute opener from Ryan Ansell and Jake Cayton follow up five minutes later.

Deven Ellwood cut the deficit a minute before half-time.

Matt Johnson restored Bugbrooke’s two-goal margin three minutes into the second half.

Cavell Jarvis again closed the gap for the Flourmen on 70 minutes.

The contest was put beyond Whitworth by Ansell’s 16th goal of the campaign nine minutes later.

Athletic missed the chance to make inroads into Spencer’s lead at the top of division one as they were held at mid-table Woodford United.

Dom Ivens had the Leicestershire visitors in front at the break with a 40th minute goal.

Ben Foster levelled for the Reds a minute past the hour.

Woodford took a 68th-minute lead through Adam Creaney, but Lutterworth were on terms two minutes later through top scorer Danny Laywood.

Olney Town ran out comfortable 4-0 winners against their bottom of the table Stewarts & Lloyds at East Street.

Sam O’Neill continued his good form with the home opener after 17 minutes with Drew Mitten doubling the lead six minutes later.

Aaron Murrell doubled the home tally in the second half scoring after 53 and 84 minutes.

The Liberal Democrat leader on Northampton Borough Council says it is a “legal requirement” for the local authority to appoint a taxpayer-funded political assistant for her party.

At a meeting next week, councillors are due to discuss a review of political assistants to the three main groups on the council following a number of recent defections.

According to legislation the borough council follows, every party that has more than 10 per cent of the councillors is entitled to a political assistant.

There can only be a maximum of three political assistant jobs, which pay an estimated annual salary of £24,000 a year, allocated to the three biggest groups.

After the last election, a political assistant was appointed for the Conservatives, who have 27 council members and Labour who have 12, but the Liberal Democrats, who had four members, were not given one as they did not have enough councillors to meet the 10 per cent threshold.

However, following the recent defection of Councillor Mick Ford from the Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats, the party now has more than 10 per cent of the councillors on the local authority (five councillors equals 11.1 per cent of the 45 members of the council).

Councillor Sally Beardsworth, leader of the Liberal Democrats said it was “the law” that a political assistant should now be recruited for the Liberal Democrats.

As with all political assistant jobs, it would be on a fixed-term contract until the next election in May 2015.

However, council leader David Mackintosh said it was “unlikely” that the council would recruit a political assistant to serve for only four months.

He said: “If you look at the current opinion polls they show the Liberal Democrats are unlikely to reach the threshold needed to have a political assistant after the election so we think it is unfair to employ someone only to make them unemployed in four months time.

”Taxpayers’ money needs to be spent wisely.”

Councillor Mackintosh also said that the purdah period before the election, which starts in March, would limit the contribution of any new political assistant.

However, Councillor Beardsworth said the Conservatives were “blatantly misinterpreting” the rules because they are “terrified of the Liberal Democrats”.

She said: “The decision of whether to appoint a political assistant to the Liberal Democrats should not be, as the council paper suggests, up to the council.

“It’s a legal requirement that if you have political assistants at all, a council must be even handed in their appointment. Council resources should not be used to strengthen one party over others. Tax payer money should not, ever, be used to support a personal agenda.

“Sadly, the only reason we can see for the council to be so blatantly misinterpreting the rules that govern this is because the Conservatives are so terrified of the Liberal Democrats that they intend to deny the right to even handed support.

“Political assistants can be extremely beneficial – they provide administrative and political support and advice to make sure the councillors are as effective in representing their residents as they can possibly be.

“Unfortunately Councillor Mackintosh doesn’t want an opposition, even if it does provide a vital democratic role, and the Liberal Democrats have proven themselves, even without staff support, to be the only serious opposition to his dictatorial rule.”

A gigantic warehouse plan near the M1 outside of Northampton will turn a “pleasant rural village into an “industrial area”, according to Milton Malsor Parish Council.

Kitchen suppliers Howden Joinery Group, which is already based in three locations in Northampton, has applied to build a new national distribution centre and office near Junction 15 of the motorway, on the edge of Collingtree.

The firm says it would invest £250 million into the “local economy”, see improvements made to Junction 15 and safeguard 580 jobs by keeping Howdens operations in the town.

Last week Colingtree Parish Council objected to the plans because it said such a development would impact on the area’s air quality.

This week Milton Malsor Parish Council has added its call to the objections, because it says the 2.6 million square foot building is in the open countryside is contrary to the approved West Northants Joint Core Strategy.

A spokesperson for the authority said: “The proposed site will consume a third of Milton Malsor parish and consign a pleasant rural village that appears in the Domesday Book and is a weekend recreational lung for Northampton, into an industrial area.”

The parish council also called the consultation process around the new plan ‘negligible’.

It says two public exhibitions were held at the Hilton Hotel, Collingtree, but leaflets were not distributed to residents in Milton Malsor, though the village is as near to the proposed site.

And it says Howden has not considered the impact other large housing developments nearby will impact on the two villages.

“They do not take account of the 1,000 plus new homes already approved for Collingtree Park and more than 300 extra houses to be built in Roade,” the spokesperson said.

“Ikea were refused planning permission at this same junction for reasons of traffic; how can this proposal be accepted?”

The parish council has backed those in Colingtree who fear the warehouse, which would be one of the largest facilities to be built on countryside land in Europe, would carry a serious health risk for those living nearby.

The spokesperson added: “The M1 and A45 corridors are designated air quality control areas where the pollution levels have already reached a critical point for health.

“Central government has stated that air pollution is about to become the second highest killer after lung cancer. “Do we want to allow a further 100 plus diesel trucks onto Junction 15 operating day and night?”

Finally the council says the warehouse would be unsightly, despite assurances from Howden’s chief executive Matthew Ingle, that the building would be “out of direct sight lines”.

The authority has produced a Neighbourhood Plan which only allows for a “small housing development” near the village borders.

Two men have been arrested after a white Peugeot 3008 was stolen from a Northamptonshire home

Two men, one aged 24 and one 25, were arrested in Wellingborough last night in connection with the car key burglary in Wantage Road, Irchester, overnight from Saturday to Sunday.

Police would like to speak to anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in the Wantage Road area of Irchester on Saturday night or early on Sunday morning.

Witnesses or anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Burglars have stolen a laptop from a house in Kingsthorpe, Northampton.

Police would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious behaviour in Grovebury Dell sometime between 2.30pm and 6.30pm on Friday.

Although the burglary may have taken place at any point between 2.30pm and 6.30pm, it is believed the offence took place nearer to 6.30pm when the house alarm was activated.

Witnesses or anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A group supporting rural communities in Northamptonshire has appealed for support against plans to cut Government funding, which it says would reduce the amount of services it was able to offer.

Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), which provides free information and advice to parish councils and local groups on how to manage and plan services in their area, is facing a withdrawal of funding from the Government’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), headed by its Secretary of State, Elizabeth Truss.

People in Northamptonshire are being urged to sign a petition set up by ACRE against the funding withdrawal.

Manager of the Hunsbury Hill-based Northamptonshire branch (NACRE), Elaine O’Leary, said: “We have been supported by Government investment for decades. Now, however, we have been advised by civil servants to expect no further funding from Defra.

“If this happens, we are extremely concerned it will have a negative impact on the number of services and projects we can deliver locally.

“We will not be able to recruit any new staff as we would usually do and so we have already had to turn down various projects, including some of our neighbourhood planning workshops, which means that these villages will have to look elsewhere to get the information and advice they need and will most likely have to pay for it.

“These services include things like how to go about getting fast broadband in the area, so they are vital for both residents and local businesses.”

Other support to Northamptonshire communities provided by NACRE and funded by Defra contributions include community planning, village halls support, community website training, speed watch, bulk oil buying and transport directory.

The new Rural Wellbeing Service, starting in March, will also see the group help support isolated and lonely older people in rural communities.

Miss O’Leary said: “We do still have some support from people such as Big Lottery, but if the cuts go ahead then we will be forced to run a limited service.

“To pull the Defra funding now would fracture the ACRE network, undermine decades of government investment and leave the most vulnerable in rural areas with nowhere to go.

“The Network is the only nationwide organisation with a dedicated rural focus; building community resilience, strengthening local enterprise and supporting the most vulnerable in our society. In addition, we are the sole network that provides advice to the 80,000 volunteers who keep England’s 10,000 village halls alive.”

To sign the ACRE Network petition against the Defra funding withdrawal, visit: www.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/73418. You can also appeal directly to Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, by writing to her at: Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR or email her at: defra.helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Drivers have been warned of severe delays on the M1 in Northamptonshire after another accident in the on-going roadworks.

The crash involved two lorries between Junction 17 for the M45 Dunchurch and Junction 16 for the A45 Upper Heyford.

One lane has been closed southbound.

Police were called to the scene at 2.23pm but recorded no serious injuries.

The Cobblers have terminated the contract of striker David Moyo, who leaves the club with immediate effect.

Moyo, who is currently on loan at Brackley Town, signed a one-year deal in the summer after progressing from the club’s youth system.

He is the third player to have his deal terminated at Sixfields this month, joining Kelvin Langmead and Ricky Ravenhill on the departures list.

Langmead has since signed for Vanarama South club Ebbsfleet, while Ravenhill joined and played for Mansfield Town on Saturday.

“David is a good lad and we wish him well,” said boss Chris Wilder.

“His contract was up here in the summer and he is behind some of the other strikers here in the pecking order, but he leaves with our best wishes for the future.”

Moyo leaves, having scored twice in his what were to prove to be his last two appearances for the Cobblers.

He netted in the 2-1 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy win at Portsmouth in October, and also in the 3-2 Sky Bet League Two defeat at Cheltenham Town.

With first team chances non-existent following the match at Whaddon Road, Moyo was loaned to Brackley Town where he has proved to be a big success.

He scored both goals in their recent 2-1 win at Gainsborough Trinity, but was a substitute for the Saints’ 1-0 win over Harrogate at the weekend.

A product of the club’s youth development programme, Moyo was given his Cobblers debut by Aidy Boothroyd in November, 2012, coming on as a substiute in a 1-1 FA Cup draw with Bradford City at Sixfields.

He made his first league start in the 2-2 draw at Port Vale later that same season, and was to make his only other league start for the club in the 2-0 win over Barnet a week later.

Since then Harare-born Moyo, who made his Zimbabwe Under-23 debut in a friendly against Morocco in November, has been restricted to substitute appearances and one other start in that JP Trophy win at Fratton Park.

A man who travelled to Northamptonshire armed with a hammer to attack his ex-partner has been jailed for eight years.

Daniel Philip Joseph Munn, 27, previously from Grendon, pleaded guilty to GBH with intent following the attack in august 2014. He was sentenced today at Northampton Crown Court.

Speaking after the case, Detective Constable James Wright, who led the investigation, said: “Today’s sentence is the culmination of great team work by officers from Northamptonshire Police Domestic Abuse Unit who worked tirelessly to locate the suspect and arrest him following the horrific assault that took place against an extremely vulnerable victim.

“The attack itself was by all accounts a premeditated one with the defendant travelling from Essex armed with a hammer, it is believed with the sole intention of causing serious harm to his ex-partner.

“Not only is the defendant now serving a suitable sentence, but the victim can rebuild her life and put this horrific event behind.”

Editor’s note: In a previous version of this story, the sentence was given as 11-and-a-half-years. The information had been supplied by Northamptonshire Police.

The new Northampton Railway station is something the whole town can be proud of, MP Brian Binley said.

The leaders of Northampton Borough and Northamptonshire County Councils, as well as the town’s mayor and two MPs were all at the new station on Monday morning for its long-awaited first day of being open to commuters.

Transport Minister Patrick McLoughlin also visited the station on its first day and unveiled a plaque to mark the official opening.

Conservative MP for Northampton South Brian Binley, who is also the chairman of the Northampton Rail Users Group, said the station would benefit businesses in the town.

He said: “We have now got a station we can be proud of. When people come to the town to do business they will be impressed and we certainly couldn’t say that about the last station.

“We have now got a railway station where commuters are going to feel comfortable.”

Conservative MP for Northampton North Michael Ellis said; “This is a fantastic new station and a new investment in Northampton.

“None of this would have been possible without a £15 million investment of money from the Government.

“It is great news for commuters across the board and is a 50-year investment in the town.”

Sally Keeble, prospective Labour candidate for Northampton North, said she was impressed with the new station but would like to see access made even easier for disabled people.

She said: “I think this is an important first stage of a chain of development and it will help regenerate the town.”

Dr Marie Dickie, chairman of Friends of Northampton Castle, who attended the opening and offered commuters a 3D ‘tour’ of the castle site using a headset, said she was pleased with the information boards in the new station.

She said: “We have been working with those building it to try to get some history into the modern setting and the etchings on the glass that show the town in 1610 and the ruins of the castle is one of the features.

“We’ve also had some pagan poetry and some inscribed benches put around the station.”

The owner of a Northampton bar, which had its licence suspended following a mass brawl on Bridge Street, says he is confident the venue will be open again by the weekend.

Northampton Borough Council suspended the licence of Faces Bar shortly after a 60-man brawl, which began within the venue and spilled out onto Bridge Street on Friday, December 12.

On Friday night, the borough council’s licensing sub-committee met behind closed doors to consider lifting the suspension - but chose to keep Faces Bar closed until it could be satisfied the venue could be opened safely.

Today, the nightspot owner Robert Snajdr says he is close to resolving the issues with police and the council over the licence and is confident he can be open again by the weekend, more than a month since doors last opened.

He said: “Our house is in order, it’s just a case of crossing the ts and dotting the is.

“The police are happy, the council is happy, there is a 99 per cent chance we could open tomorrow, but it is very difficult to relaunch on a weekday.”

Mr Snajdr, who says he has since hired a new security firm to oversee the venue, said he would be glad to put the events of December 12 behind him and continue to trade as soon as possible.

“I run a good venue and the people that come here love it,” he said.

“At the end of the day we have put all the measures in place now to ensure public safety.”

The instigators of the riot on December 12 had first attended an organised event at nearby venue Nu Bar, which also had its licence suspended in the incident aftermath. Nu Bar was allowed to reopen shortly before Christmas as the council was satisfied it had carried out a full risk assessment.

On Friday the borough council imposed some changes to Nu Bar’s licence conditions including a requirement that it give the police 14 days notice of any external promoted event.

Mr Snajdr said he would keep Faces Bar customers informed of the reopening date via the venue’s Facebook page.

Saints prop Salesi Ma’afu will miss Sunday’s Champions Cup game at Ospreys after being hit with a one-week ban.

Ma’afu was punished at an RFU disciplinary hearing on Wednesday night after totting up one foul play yellow card - for a high tackle on George Lowe in the win against Harlequins on December 27 - and two Level 1 citings.

The first citing was for striking an opponent in Saints’ win against Sale Sharks on October 11 and the second came last weekend, with Ma’afu having played Jonathan Mills without the ball in the defeat to Sale at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Ma’afu, who will be free to play again on January 20, did not have to attend the hearing at Coventry’s Holiday Inn as the club had submitted papers on his behalf.

The 31-year-old’s suspension is equal to the one Saracens wing Chris Ashton picked up after falling foul of the totting up process in October, 2012.

Ma’afu was suspended for one week last season for punching Tom Youngs’ in Saints’ Aviva Premiership play-off semi-final success against Leicester Tigers.

The Australian forward was dismissed in that fiery clash at Franklin’s Gardens and missed the Amlin Challenge Cup final win over Bath before returning to face Saracens in the Premiership final on the following weekend.

Jim Mallinder has no concerns about how his squad will stand up to Six Nations scrutiny.

Instead, he insists any club would struggle to cope without four frontline players in any position as his men did at Sale last weekend.

Mallinder was without all of his recognised locks, meaning No.8 Sam Dickinson and flanker Calum Clark were thrust into the second row.

But both men were sin-binned as Saints went down 20-7 at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Despite that, Mallinder does not believe his side will struggle when shorn of a host on international stars next month.

“We’re always on our guard and most teams, if they lose four of their best second rowers, would be struggling,” he said.

“There’s not many teams in the country who can call on any more than that.

“We’ve got a good squad, we know it’s not the biggest in the league and we rely a lot on our youngsters coming through. When players are out, there are good opportunities.

“We saw Teimana Harrison come on last weekend and I thought he was excellent in the second half. He scored a great try.

“Jordan Onojaife came on for five minutes at the end, Joel Hodgson came on and it’s good for them.

“If we lose some our our more experienced players, we’ve got these young players coming through with good experience and they will only get better.”

Cobblers boss Chris Wilder has explained his decision to let David Moyo leave the club and feels the transfer is in the player’s best interests.

The 20-year-old Zimbabwean youth international saw his contract terminated at Sixfields this week and has since signed for Vanarama North side Brackley Town, where he had been on loan.

Because of the attacking options at his disposal, Wilder feels the player would not have had sufficient game time with Northampton to further his career.

“I always wanted to bring the numbers down and didn’t think that he would get a run in the side,” he said. “Hopefully David will do well for Brackley.

“You have to make decisions and when you let players go sometimes they go away and they want to prove you wrong.

“I’ve got Marc Richards, Emile Sinclair and John-Joe O’Toole in attack, plus Ivan Toney is coming back this week and I didn’t see David getting in.

“You have to make decisions for the player sometimes too and David is at a stage where he needs to be playing football.

“He can kick-start his career now - to just stay here and be a substitute isn’t right.”

Brackley boss Jon Brady was pleased to have secured the services of the youngster, and said: “David has everything it takes to be a top player and I am delighted he will remain at the club.

“We have a young side and he is an important part of my plans.”

A public footbridge in Northampton will be closed for five months as developers go ahead with the first stages of a refurbishment to Weston Favell shopping centre.

Works will begin on the Standens Barn Bridge, which crosses Wellingborough Road outside the centre, towards the end of the month or early February.

The bridge will be closed to the public for five months from this time.

In the meantime, developers Redefine International will create a temporary road crossing for pedestrians.

They have assured customers that they will inform them of all closures in advance with signs and will provide full updates via the shopping centre’s website and social media.

The works are part of a £4 million investment into the centre to make improvements to its lower ground floor and exterior and will be rolled out in four phases.

Centre manager, Kevin Legg, said: “We have explored many ways in which to approach the repair and refurbishment works required to the Standens Barn Bridge.

“Realistically our only option is to close it temporarily whilst we undertake these essential works. We appreciate that this may be an inconvenience to shoppers who currently use this entrance to the centre, but the safety and wellbeing of our customers is paramount both during the works and going forward.

“We have taken measures and independently funded the creation of a further pedestrian crossing to aid our customers’ journey into the centre whilst works are ongoing and we thank our shoppers in advance for their patience and understanding.

“The refurbishment of the bridge is another step towards an exciting community hub for everyone to enjoy”.

Opening hours of public enquiry desks at 10 police stations are set to be reduced, with two front counters to close permanently, Northamptonshire Police has announced.

Following a review of the way the force responds to and deals with enquiries from the public, Chief Constable Adrian Lee has announced the public enquiry desks at Brackley and Oundle Police Stations will close from April 1.

In Northampton, the opening hours of the front counter at Weston Favell Police Station will reduce to 9am to 5pm. Previously, the counter was open until 6.30pm.

The enquiry desk in the Guildhall, which moved from Campbell Square Police Station last year, will be open from 9am until 5pm. Campbell Square Police Station previously opened from 8am until 8pm.

Opening hours at Rushden and Towcester Police stations will reduce from five to three halve-days each week.

The public enquiry desk in Kettering will move to Kettering Borough Council’s customer service centre in Bowling Green Road and will be open Monday to Saturday.

Chief Constable Adrian Lee said the way people access policing services had “changed” over the past few years with more people phoning police or contacting them online rather than visiting police stations in person.

He said: “As part of the review, we have looked at how often people visit the enquiry desks, the reasons they do so and the times they visit, and this has shown that the use of these facilities at certain times and in some locations is very low.

“We have also spoken to other forces that have recently made changes to their public enquiry desk provision and they too had recorded a marked decrease in the number of people visiting police station front offices.

“As such, to ensure we make the best use of the resources we have available, we will be introducing revised opening hours in all locations from April 1.”

The front counter review is one part of the Force’s ongoing change programme, which is looking at all aspects of the organisation and policing.

Mr Lee added: “We are already trialling different ways of providing a local policing service, including sharing facilities with partners, and this has been working successfully for several months in Northampton, where the police enquiry desk is located at the borough council’s One-Stop-Shop at the Guildhall.

“We’ve had a very positive response from the public and have seen an increase in the number of visitors. The central location, more welcoming environment and convenient access to other important services has no doubt contributed to its success and I am confident the new Kettering office will provide similar benefits for the local community.”

Outside of enquiry desk opening hours, people will still be able to contact police on the non-emergency telephone number 101 or report a non-urgent incident online at www.northants.police.uk, where they can also find a range of advice and information.

New opening hours from 1 April* 2015

Northampton Guildhall – Monday-Saturday, 9am to 5pm

Wellingborough and Corby – Monday-Saturday, 10am to 6pm

Kettering – Monday-Saturday, 9.30am to 5.30pm

Daventry – Monday-Saturday, 10am to 4pm

Weston Favell – Monday-Friday, 9am to 5pm* (the changes at Weston Favell are effective from January 7th)

Rushden – Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 2pm to 6pm

Towcester – Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10am to 2pm

Oundle and Brackley – closed. The stations will remain an operational base for local community officers.

All front-counters will close on bank and public holidays.

A man has been taken to hospital with serious head injuries after crashing into a tree near Rothersthorpe.

The 22-year-old was driving a silver Honda Civic on the road between the villages of Kislingbury and Rothersthorpe, at the junction with Gayton Road, at around 7pm last night (Tuesday).

The car left the road on a bend and collided with a tree.

The man, who has serious head injuries, was initially taken to Northampton General Hospital but was later transferred to University Hospital Coventry.

Officers investigating the collision have asked anyone who saw what happened, or who has any information, to call them on 101.

A yob who has been banned from Northampton Town Football Club and England fixtures has been taunting a police officer online.

Danny Dickson, 23, was one of three people including Matthew Ward, 40, and Ryan Lee, 23, who all pleaded guilty to public order offences at Wellingborough Magistrates’ Court on Monday following an altercation at a match against Mansfield Town in August last.

The three men - all from Northampton - were all given a three-year football banning order, preventing them from attending regulated football fixtures involving Northampton Town Football Club and from attending England national team matches.

Following the publication of the story yesterday on this website, Dickson reacted on Twitter by tweeting PC Nick Price, the county football officer for Northamptonshire Police.

Writing from his Twitter feed, @Mr_Dickson91, Dickson said: “Congratulations Nick. See you in 3 years.”

His Twitter account’s personal profile reads: “Disgraced my country, home and away, branded a scum in nation (sic) newspapers. I even went in a ground once. So proud.”

He also published other messages on Facebook about the convictions.

The public order offences took place in Northampton on Saturday, August 9 last year, before the Northampton Town vs Mansfield Town football match at Sixfields stadium.

Following the sentencing PC Price said yesterday: “These offences happened on the opening day of the League Two football season and involved two groups of men, one from Northampton and one from Mansfield.

“Officers dealt with a public disorder incident before the match, preventing it escalating to more serious disorder. The incident was recorded by officers on body worn video cameras and, following a post-match investigation, we were able to identify the main offenders.

“We work hard to ensure those who attend football matches in our county can do so safely. We are very pleased with this result and hope it serves as a reminder that we will crack down on those who get involved in violence and cause disruption and disorder in our town.”

Northampton Town Football Club said it works closely with police and congratulated officers and stewards who dealt with some ‘challenging’ situations on the afternoon of August 9.

The club said it will not tolerate people who cause trouble at its games.

Northampton Borough Council has handed over the organising of this year’s annual Delapre beer festival to Phipps NBC.

In 2013 CAMRA announced it could not support the event and was unable to find an event partner, so the council stepped in to save it.

Around the country many CAMRA beer festivals are run in partnership the area’s largest micro-brewer, so Phipps has agreed to run the event with assistance from CAMRA’s Northamptonshire branch.

Phipps managing director, Alaric Neville, said: “It’s an honour to be able to step in and take on the organisation of the Delapre beer festival.

“It’s also great to have Northants CAMRA assisting us in making the festival the premier showcase for the county’s vibrant brewing scene.”

While Phipps will take care of organising the event, CAMRA will assist with staffing for the bar and running of the local beer competition.

Ian MacAulay, chairman of CAMRA’s Northamptonshire branch, said: “As a branch we are delighted that Phipps NBC will be running the beer festival in 2015, and we are very pleased to have been requested to help staff the bars at the event, and take particular pleasure in being asked to run the ‘Best Beer in Northamptonshire’ competition.”

The 2015 event will take place between May 28 and 30, following with the late May Bank Holiday weekend.

Councillor David Mackintosh, leader of Northampton Borough Council, said: “If we hadn’t stepped in to run the beer festival, who knows if whether would ever have been revived.

“It’s fantastic news that Phipps has agreed to organise the event from this year, and what better partner than CAMRA to ensure it continues to have a stable future?”

Councillor Brandon Eldred, Cabinet member for community engagement, said: “These kinds of events help create a sense of community, and they are always extremely well supported.

“You only have to look at how many people took part in the recent festival of Christmas songs and carols in Market Square to see how much they are enjoyed.

“Our team of volunteers from the borough council did a fantastic job with the beer festival in the past two years, and I’d like to thank them all for their efforts.”

A new contractor has been appointed to carry out the remaining restoration work on Northampton’s Delapre Abbey.

Robert Woodhead won the bid to take on the £6.3 million project after a tendering process which involved a shortlist of six firms.

Work on the abbey’s roof to prevent water damage and allow for the first stages of the main restoration has already been completed by Warkton, thanks to a £200,000 grant from English Heritage.

Robert Woodhead will now begin ordering materials for the first phase of the main restoration.

Archaeological work has also taken place in the Grade II listed building’s cellars and has uncovered various historical items, including a clay pipe from the late 18th or early 19th centuries, two 19th century glass pharmaceutical phials, and a shard of a 16th or 17th century earthenware platter.

The space will now be converted into a plant room to provide power for the restored building.

Funding for the restorations has been provided by The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), which has pledged £3.65 million, as well as Northampton Borough Council and other sources.

The council’s cabinet member for regeneration, enterprise and planning, Tim Hadland, said: “Now that work to repair the roof is reaching a conclusion, we’ll be able to get down to the real job in-hand – bringing the abbey back into public use.

“The restoration is a long-term project and, as such, will take place in phases as funds allow. The first phase will be to restore some of the building’s most impressive spaces to their former glory.

“We are most grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund, and English Heritage, whose sizeable contributions have made this work possible.”

Simon Butler, Woodhead heritage conservation manager, said: “Delapre Abbey is a beautiful building, with an exciting history, dating back to its foundation as a Cluniac monastery in the 12th century.

“We are looking forward to working with architects, Purcell, the Friends of Delapre Abbey, and clients Northampton Borough Council to bring this important local landmark back to life.”