Having recently celebrated its 27th anniversary in the West End, The Woman In Black is back out on tour again and returns to Northampton’s Royal and Derngate on Monday.

Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s bestselling novel tells the story of a retired lawyer obsessed with a curse that he believes has been cast over him and his family by the spectre of a ‘Woman in Black’.

He engages a young actor to help him tell his story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul.

It begins innocently enough, but as they delve further into his darkest memories, they find themselves caught up in a world of eerie marshes and moaning winds.

The borders between make believe and reality begin to blur and the flesh begins to creep.

In 2012, The Woman In Black was released as a major motion picture starring Daniel Radcliffe and it became the highest grossing British horror film in 20 years.

The touring cast features David Acton in the role of the retired solicitor Arthur Kipps, and Matthew Spencer as The Actor.

It runs through to Sunday, October 15. Tickets are priced from £9 to £30. To book visit www.royalandderngate.co.uk or call 01604 624811.

Ian Waite and Camilla Dallerup from BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing come to The Core at Corby Cube on Friday, October 14.

Along with professional singer Paul Amer and guests, Ian and Camilla present an intimate evening of dance, songs and stories from their time on the show.

Camilla, one of the original professionals and champion in 2008, is joined by her professional partner Ian Waite, who has appeared in nearly every series of the show.

During the show, Ian and Camilla will perform some amazing Latin and ballroom routines and tell their inside stories from Strictly Come Dancing. There is also a change to meet Ian and Camilla after the performance.

Ian said: “I love touring and performing live. I especially love meeting the Strictly fans after the show… then seeing their selfies on Twitter by the time I get back to my hotel. This show is two years in the making and the audience are in for a night to remember.”

Tickets can be booked by calling the ticket office on 01536 470470 or online at www.thecorecorby.com.

Puppetry of the Penis returns to the Royal & Derngate Friday October 7 with its latest incarnation.

The show has now played to most of the western world, having been hosted in more than 35 countries and performed in six languages.

Two near naked men (they wear shoes) manipulate their nether regions using the Ancient Art of Genital Origami, providing the audience with a hilarious array of shapes and impersonations which will be projected onto a huge video screen.

Touring with this show will be the creator and original cast member, Simon Morley. He has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and countless other TV shows around the world.

This latest show comes fresh from Sin City itself, Las Vegas, where it has been thrilling audiences for the last year.

Come and see such structures as the Eiffel Tower, the Loch Ness Monster and the pelican and some unusual tributes to Miley Cyrus, Yoda and the Kardashians.

Puppetry of the Penis – The Vegas Show starts at 7.30pm. To book tickets call the box office on 01604 624811 or online at www.royalandderngate.co.uk.

We are looking to find the best pub of 2016.

We all have different ideas of a perfect pub. Cosy traditional ale house; comfy seats, crackling fire, the happy hum of background conversation and a pint.

We have drawn up a nominations list of pubs that will compete for the title of Pub of the Year 2016.

Entries will be printed in the paper for two weeks where you can then vote for your favourite to appear as a finalist.

To vote from the list, simply return the coupon in this Thursday’s Chron, stating the full name and address of the pub you wish to vote for.

Closing date for nominations is 10am, Friday, October 21, 2016.

Terms and conditions apply.

Choose your pub favourite from this list:

Bar Hygge, 21 Guildhall Road

Foundrymans Arms, 135 St James Road

Hart of Duston, 573 Harlestone Rd, Duston

Jeckyll & Hyde, 172 Wellingborough Road,

King Billy, Commercial Street

Malt Shovel Tavern, 121 Bridge Street

The Queen Adelaide, Manor Road, Kingsthorpe

The Old House, 214-216 Wellingborough Road

Old White Hart, London Road, Far Cotton

Sir Pickering Phipps, 237 Wellingborough Rd

The Abington, 383 Wellingborough Road

The Bantam, 7 Abington Square

The Charles Bradlaugh, 1 Earl Street

The Four Pears, 28 Bedford Road, Little Houghton

The Fox & Hounds, 186 Harborough Road

The Fox & Quill, St Giles Street

The Garibaldi, Bailiff St

The George Inn, Northampton Road, Brixworth

The Golden Horse, 59 Southampton Road

The Griffins Head, 28 Wilby Road, Mears Ashby

The Knightley Arms, 49 High Street, Yelvertoft

The Lamplighter, 66 Overstone Road

The New Inn, Long Buckby Wharf, Long Buckby

The Old Black Lion, 1 Black Lion Hill

The Peacock, 23 Market Place, Long Buckby

The Black Prince, 15 Abington Square

The Romany, Trinity Avenue

The Rose & Crown, 4 Northampton Road, Yardley Hastings

The Sevens, 157 Weedon Road

The Squirrels Inn, Main Road, Duston

The Swan & Helmet, 65 Grove Road

The Trumpet, Wellingborough Road

The Wheatsheaf, 15 Main Road, Crick

The Whyte Melville, Church Street, Boughton

Thomas ‘A’ Beckett, 52 St James Road

White Horse, Walgrave Road, Old

White Swan Inn, Main Street, Holcot

Wig & Pen, 19 St. Giles Street

The Picturedrome, 222 Kettering Rd

Lighthouse, 213 Wellingborough Road

Yeoman of England, 31 High Street, Wootton

The Sun Inn, 9 High Street, Hardingstone

Phipps Albion Brewery, 54 Kingswell St

Baroque, 31 St Giles St,

Olde England, 199 Kettering Road

Princess Alexandra, 1 Alexandra Road

A coroner has said she believes there were “no suspicious circumstances” in the death of a 48-year-old Northampton man whose body was found in his flat.

John Cadd was found dead in his apartment in the Newlife building in Upper Cross Street, on April 10 this year.

An inquest into his death, held at Northampton General Hospital, heard evidence from Detective Sergeant Liam O’Neill who was called to the scene.

Mr O’Neill said there was no sign of forced entry or a disturbance in the flat. Mr Cadd’s body did not have any injuries.

A post-mortem was unable to establish the cause of his death.

Dionne Boyes, Mr Cadd’s sister, said he was a “lovely, funny, intelligent, warm and caring” person who was missed greatly by his family.

County coroner Anne Pember recorded an open verdict in the case.

Mrs Pember said: “We are unable to say how Mr Cadd died. I do not think there is anything suspicious surrounding his death.”

A popular high street fashion store has opened a new store in Northampton.

Select, which was orginally based in Abington Street, has opened a bigger store on the ground floor of the Grosvenor Centre, located between the Muffin Break coffee shop and Quiz fashion store.

Select is a high street women’s retailer aimed at 18-35 year olds.

There are currently more than 180 stores across the UK with the company saying a ‘rapid expansion plan’ is in place with a key focus on opening more prime trading stores.

The company, which first launched in the early 1980s, sells up to 4,000 products across clothing, footwear and accessories departments.

Select has replaced the former Internacionale fashion store which closed down in the shopping centre.

Builders have been on site for the last few weeks preparing the new store.

Leo Robinson and Charlie Borthwick are holding a launch party for their new EP 4000 next week.

The pair, won the annual Factory competition earlier this year which seeks to champion new talent in Northamptonshire.

The EP features the tracks Number, 4000, Mirrors and Rock n Rolla.

Support is by Samuel Lox X Weirdeo.

All play at The Dept of Meat and Social Affairs in Bridge Street on Friday, October 14. Doors open at 9pm. Tickets cost £6 via www.skiddle.com

Singer-songwriter Ben Ottewell brings his solo tour to the region on Friday

Ottewell is familiar to millions as singer and lead guitarist in Gomez. Since his first solo album in 2011, Ottewell has been touring across the world playing acoustic shows.

His latest solo album Rattlebag was released in 2014. With Gomez, he won the Mercury Music Prize in 1998.

Ottewell headlines Esquires in Bedford on Friday, October 7. Support is by Minnie Birch. Tickets cost £14 in advance via Seetickets.

A popular jewellery shop has temporarily closed down in Northampton town centre.

Boarding has gone up around Pandora, on the ground floor of the Grosvenor Centre, and the shop has been temporarily closed for business while refurbishment takes place inside.

A Pandora sign which has gone up outside the shop says: ‘We will be back soon with our brand new store’.

Pandora designs, manufactures and sells hand-finished jewellery which is sold in more than 100 countries across six continents.

Distraction burglars struck two Northamptonshire homes on the same day, taking cash and other items.

Two men called at the victims’ homes in Hartwell and Bugbrooke today (October 5) offering to do some hedge cutting, before then asking for a drink. While the elderly home owners went to get a drink the men entered the property and stole items, including cash from within.

Northamptonshire Police say the offenders were two white men in a mauve coloured Transit van.

Officers are appealing for information and are urging people never to open the door to anyone they are not expecting, whoever they say they are.

They are also asking people to share the following advice with family and friends:

- Make sure you can see who is at the door before you answer it – and if you don’t know who it is, don’t answer it.

- Where possible fit a spy-hole to identify callers. Alternatively talk to them through an adjacent window.

- Don’t feel pressured into opening the door. Don’t feel you are being rude, genuine callers won’t mind. If you’re not sure, don’t open the door.

- Set up passwords with your utility companies – genuine callers will need to recite this password to you.

- Don’t use telephone numbers on ID cards – if the person isn’t genuine the ID and the telephone number won’t be either. Obtain telephone numbers direct from the phone directory. Alternatively make a list of your important numbers and keep them near the phone.

- If someone is knocking on the door saying they are the police, call 101 and check the identity with the police control room. In an emergency call 999.

- Look out for those who are vulnerable within your family or neighbourhood.

Anyone who has suspicions or concerns that distraction burglars are operating in their neighbourhood or targeting someone they know, should call 101 or the dedicated doorstep crime number on 0345 23 07 702.

Witnesses to the two distraction burglaries, or anyone with information, are asked to call Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, they can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Rob Newton has become the second player to extend his Northants deal this week.

David Murphy penned a new contract on Tuesday and Newton has now agreed to stay at the County Ground for a further year.

Newton, whose deal will run until the end of 2017, played in 10 County Championship matches this season, scoring an impressive 810 runs at an average of 50.62.

He clocked up three hundreds, most notably his stunning 202 not out against Leicestershire - his highest first-class score.

And Northants head coach David Ripley said: “Rob finished the season very strongly with important runs at the top of the order.

“He had a fine 50-over competition too and offers strong competition for white-ball places.

“He is an Academy graduate who I first saw as a 12-year-old so I am looking forward to seeing him in many years to come in Northants colours.”

The Cobblers are still assessing the fitness of midfielder Harry Beautyman after the midfielder suffered a knock to his knee in Tuesday night’s 3-1 Checkatrade Trophy defeat at Coventry City.

Manager Rob Page is hopeful the former Peterborough United man will recover in time to be fit for Saturday’s tough trip to Sky Bet League One leaders Scunthorpe United, but admits he can’t yet be certain of his availability.

“One of the positives for me on Tuesday night was when Beauts came on, because I thought he changed the game for us,” said Page.

“He was positive, got into good positions and made clever runs for us, but then he has then unfortunately taken a knock.

“We are still assessing his injury, but it did improve overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, and hopefully he will have the same reaction today (Thursday) and he will be in contention for Saturday.”

Beautyman has been a key player for Page this season, and his injury is a huge frustration for the manager, who made nine changes to his starting line-up for the match at the Ricoh Arena in an attempt to keep his team fit and firing for the trip to the table-topping Iron.

But the knock suffered by Beautyman, a second half substitute at the Ricoh, in some way justifies the manager’s decision to challenge the EFL competition rules that say six starters from the club’s previous outing must start, and Page is making no apologies for doing so.

“We have a big squad and it was an oportunity to give players some minutes, and that is taking nothing away from the competition,” said the Town boss.

“We had a couple of knocks and injuries from the previous game on the Saturday (versus Bristol Rovers), and as a manager I wasn’t prepared to risk any of them with the game coming up this weekend.

“It was an opportunity for people who havent played as many minutes as they would have liked, and as a player myself I always wanted an opportunity to show what I could do, and some did that and some didn’t.

“The positives are that some have got minutes, some have made a good impression, and we will reap the rewards of that.”

And explaining further his decision to leave the likes of Zander Diamond, Paul Anderson, Matty Taylor and Alex Revell out of the match day squad completely, Page added: “Gabs (Zakuani) was away and we wanted to give Zander a rest as he has played every minute of every game, and four games in the space of 10 days.

“Was I going to run the risk him getting injured and then we have got what we have got for the Saturday? No, I wasn’t prepared to do that.

“I stand by my decision to make those changes, and it was a disappointing result because we hate losing games whatever competition it is in.

“But our focus is now fully on Saturday, and what a great game to go and put it right.”

Northants Fire say a blaze at Kettering Town’s old Rockingham Road ground on Tuesday is being treated as a suspected arson.

Four fire crews attended the incident shortly after 4.20pm after smoke was spotted coming from the dilapidated stadium.

The blaze caused “significant” damage to the ground floor of the seating area of the main stand.

A Northants Fire spokesman said: “There was significant fire damage to the ground floor of the grandstand seating area, and some smoke damage.

“The cause is being treated as deliberate.”

Kettering councillor Michael Brown (Ind, Brambleside) says the stadium needs to be properly secured to prevent further incidents.

In a letter to the authority’s service head for planning, he said: “I would like to make a formal request to the planning department that they seek from the land owner of Rockingham Road Football Stadium that they secure their property properly before their is a serious injury or fire at the property.

“Last night we saw another break-in and another incident of arson at the property.

“The landowner must take steps to prevent this from happening.

“I have written to you about this property before on behalf of residents.

“Please can you let me know what action has been taken to date on this property and what possible action the council can legally take in regards to this?”

Witnesses to the incident should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Two Kettering men have appeared in court charged with false imprisonment and causing actual bodily harm.

Gregorz Kopania, 54, of Lahnstein Court, Printers Yard, and Tomasz Kwiecien, 50, of Poppy Fields, both face charges dating back to April 16 this year.

They are both alleged to have detained their victim against his will and assaulted him.

Kwiecien is also alleged to have assaulted the same victim on March 23 this year.

Kwiecien appeared in court on September 14 with co-defendant Kopania appearing before magistrates in Wellingborough today (Wednesday).

They were both granted bail on the condition they do not contact each other or the alleged victim and will appear before Northampton Crown Court next Friday (October 14).

George Pisi believes Saints can again overpower Harlequins when they travel to The Stoop on Saturday.

Jim Mallinder’s men have won their past seven meetings with Quins, with their most recent defeat to the Londoners coming in May, 2013.

Saints won at The Stoop last season, with a last-gasp Ben Foden score earning a 27-23 success.

And when asked why his side have such a good record against Quins in recent seasons, Pisi said: “I think we go there with the intent that we’re going to beat them up.

“We’re more physical than they are.

“They’re a class team, but we try to beat them up.

“We’ve got big Louis (Picamoles) and some other big ball carriers that we can run off so that makes a difference for us.”

Pisi expects Saints to mix power with pace this weekend as they get set for another attacking game at The Stoop.

He said: “The games we’ve had down at The Stoop have been quite fast.

“We’ve got good backs, they’ve got good backs so the ball’s going to be in play a lot.”

Luther Burrell is in contention to play a part for Saints against Harlequins this weekend, according to attack coach Alex King.

Burrell was forced off in last month’s defeat at Saracens after suffering a heavy blow to the head.

However, he has been back in training this week and is on the comeback trail.

“Luther is getting there,” said King.

“He’s potentially in contention for this weekend, but it’s up to the physios to give him the green light.

“He’s doing everything he can to get back quickly.”

Stephen Myler was another man who missed last Friday’s 20-19 win against Exeter Chiefs at Franklin’s Gardens.

The fly-half was forced to pull out at late notice due to a shoulder problem.

And King said: “Stephen is another one who is getting there.

“We want a full complement to choose from but injuries give others a chance and the young guys (Rory Hutchinson, Harry Mallinder and Sam Olver) did really well last week.”

Dylan Hartley has been out since the win at Bristol early last month with a back injury.

And King said: “He’s improving.

“He’s been down in Brighton with the England squad so he got back on Wednesday.

“He’s responding well and I don’t think he will be too far away, but there’s no date yet in terms of when he will be back playing.”

Meanwhile, Harlequins look set to be without one of their England men this weekend, with Danny Care set to miss out with a rib injury.

Karl Dickson stepped in to replace Care at Wasps last weekend and looks set to continue in the nine shirt against Saints.

Will the owner of a Kettering company be able to impress in the boardroom when The Apprentice returns to our screens tonight?

Karthik Nagesan owns a Kettering-based IT consulting company and is one of 18 new candidates starring in the new series of BBC1’s The Apprentice.

The 33-year-old will be taking on the challenges set by Lord Alan Sugar for the new series of the popular show.

According to the profile on the BBC’s website, Mr Nagesan says his friends would describe him “as a born leader who takes charge and blazes a trail”.

Karthik cites his role model as Alexander the Great because he was “a master strategist and a brilliant tactician”.

He believes he is firm yet polite, making him the ultimate ‘human magnet’, the website adds.

He is also quoted as saying, “If I wanted to be like everyone else, I’d have waxed my monobrow”.

In his interview video, he says: “I’ve got a nice little – nice big – monobrow.

“For the last 10 years, people have been telling me: ‘Pluck it out, be like everybody else, have two eyebrows,’ but Karthik – or the big K – is not somebody who’s like everybody else.”

The new series starts at 9pm on BBC One tonight.

The first episode will see the candidates selling collectables at Wimbledon car boot sale, where they will be under the close scrutiny of Lord Sugar’s trusted aides Karren Brady and Claude Littner.

The platform signs at Northampton Railway Station have been turned gold to mark swimmer Ellie Robinson’s achievements in the Rio Olympics.

London Midland has changed the platform signs, known as running in boards, at six of its stations in honour of gold medal winners.

The train operator has also launched a programme, known as Your Sporting Chance, aimed at promoting the health of young people by providing sports kit and equipment for youth/junior sports teams nominated by London Midland employees.

London Midland commercial director, Richard Brooks said “We want to celebrate a great summer of sport but we also want to help future sporting stars. Your Sporting Chance empowers and encourages our colleagues to get more involved with the 150 communities we serve across the country. We hope the gold running in boards will also inspire more young people too aim for the stars.”

Work to improve the A43 between Northampton and Kettering is due to start later this month.

Signs have gone up on the A43 near the Moulton end of the stretch of road to inform drivers of the improvement work, which is scheduled to last about 14 months.

It will include a section of dual carriageway being built, reconstruction of the existing Moulton roundabout and a new roundabout at Overstone Grange.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire County Council said: “Improving the A43 between Northampton and Kettering is a key priority for Northamptonshire County Council.

“Without the necessary public funding available, improvements are being made in phases.

“Soon work will start on the A43 Northampton to Kettering stage two, which will see the building of a 1.2km dual carriageway from the existing Moulton roundabout, which will be re-constructed, to a newly built roundabout at Overstone Grange.

“Work is currently due to start at the end of October and is scheduled to last about 14 months.

“To start with, work will take place off the existing A43 and will comprise site-clearance and construction of the new carriageway.

“While these initial works are taking place there will be minimal impact on the travelling public on the existing A43.

“From mid-January, after the busy Christmas period, work will start to affect the existing A43.

“However we are mindful that this is a very busy route so every effort is being made to minimise disruption.

“Traffic management will be used in the form of coned lanes and contraflows but we will endeavour to keep the use of temporary traffic lights to off-peak times.”

The first stage of the work saw improvements to the Round Spinney roundabout to increase capacity at this junction and improve traffic flow.

Signs, which have gone up on the A43 this week, say the work for stage two is due to start on Monday, October 17.

If you have ever wanted to master mosaics, then a new course at Lamport Hall will help you do that.

Inspirational Mosaic is being held by Andrew Wynne on Saturday, October 15, from 10am to 4pm.

Conventional and found materials including ceramic, glass and mirror will be used throughout the workshop. The course is suitable for artists of all abilities. All aspects will be taught including design, types and uses of materials, application and making, grouting and finishing.

Booking is essential and the course costs £50. Visit www.andrewwynne.co.uk for more details.