A ten-year-old boy from Daventry who has ADHD and dyspraxia is planning to climb one of England’s highest mountains to help raise funds to support a little girl with a devastating illness.

Sebastiaan (Van Den Brandeler) Stobart kept in touch with nine-year-old Leila Paris after meeting her in Egypt.

She has recently undergone brain surgery at St Thomas’ Hospital in London after last year being diagnosed with dystonia, a neurological condition that causes muscle spasms.

Sebastiaan’s dad David explained: “Sebastiaan went with his sister and mum to visit Leila.

“Everyone was moved by the strength and courage shown by not just Leila but also her parents and little brother Finley.

“He asked his mum what he could do to try and help her.

“Sebastiaan has his own challenges.

“He has ADHD and dyspraxia, so suggesting such was very special.”

Last year, Sebastiaan’s sister climbed Helvellyn in the Lake District with their dad, so he decided he would do the same to help raise funds towards a holiday for Leila and her family.

Sebastiaan asked his dad: “I know I couldn’t manage it last year as I kept falling over, but maybe if I try really hard I could climb Helvellyn with your help.

“Could I do that for Leila and raise money to help her go to Disney World?”

David said: “This alone would be a challenge for any ten-year-old, but the side effects of Sebastian’s condition make for constant imbalance and lack of coordinated footing.

“This truly will be a massive challenge for this young chap as he trips and falls often, banging his shins and knees on the rocky trail.

“We have been staggered by his enthusiasm to do this for Leila – he hasn’t even been to Disney himself. Seb has also donated the contents of his piggy bank.”

You can support Sebastaiann’s efforts by visiting www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/david-stobart?utm_id=2&utm_term=ZDYRea8mW

The most popular names for your little bundles of joy have been announced for another year - but is your chosen name on the list?

Today, the top 100 UK baby names of 2016 were released - and it seems parents are taking inspiration from superheroes, outer space and mother nature.

According to the research, carried out by a global parenting website, there has been a rise in superhero names, inspired by DC and Marvel Comics’ continued success at the box office. The release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens at the end of last year also has a lot to answer for.

Harley (Suicide Squad), Kara (Supergirl) and Kylo (The Force Awakens) have all seen a spike in popularity.

2016 has also been a year for celebrity and nature influences - with Harper (name of the Beckhams’ daughter), Kai (c/o the Rooneys’) and Daisy remaining popular.

The top 10 names for boys and girls have been revealed by BabyCentre,following its research into the UK’s top 100 baby names of 2016.

And according to the site, tradition is winning over trend with many traditional names remaining near the top of the chart.

Has your child’s name made the list?

The girls

1. Olivia

2. Lily

3. Sophia

4. Emily

5. Amelia

6. Ava

7. Isla

8. Isabella

9. Isabelle

10. Sophie

The boys

1. Oliver

2. Muhammed

3. Noah

4. Harry

5. Jack

6. Charlie

7. Jacob

8. George

9. Ethan

10. Henry

Talented young artists from a Daventry school have produced an array of artwork to brighten up the bowling alley area of a Northamptonshire spa hotel.

Staff at the Hellidon Lakes Golf and Spa Hotel asked pupils at the DSLV Academy’s art department to create works of art to hang in its newly refurbished bowling alley.

The hotel, part of the Q Hotels group, has been working with the school on projects to prepare pupils for life after school and this was an extension of that.

Seven of the artworks have now been shortlisted - and the artists behind them will attend a bowling party at the hotel to find out which of them are winners.

The hotel’s general manager Joanne Hammick said: “Our involvement with the DSLV Academy School is two-fold: it benefits the students and it leads to new young people entering into the hospitality industry.

“I was really impressed with the quality of workmanship and thank all the students for their efforts.”

Emma Dickens, head of art at DSLV, said: “The students have worked really well on the bowling alley project. It has been a new experience for them working from a live design brief, giving the students an insight in to the creative industries and has created a buzz in the department with students working with enthusiasm and artistic flair. We are extremely proud of all of the students involved and the high quality of the outcomes they have produced.”

Quite understandably, many families who have lost loved ones in road accidents would not want to meet those responsible.

But for Kettering mum Sue Donnelly, meeting the man who killed her son and his girlfriend was never far from her mind.

Sue’s son Stephen was just 26 when he lost his life in a head-on collision on the A14 westbound near Kelmarsh in 2013.

William Wilson was twice the drink-drive limit and driving the wrong way down the carriageway at the time of crash, which killed Stephen and his partner Mandy Gold, 21, instantly.

He was later jailed for eight years, but was given the chance to show remorse when Sue and her husband Mark visited him in prison in Doncaster.

The process, called restorative justice, was fairly new at the time – and Sue hopes it will go some way to help both their lives and Wilson’s.

Speaking to the Northants Telegraph during conference as part of national Restorative Justice Week, she said: “We were really, really scared about meeting him.

“Prison is a really formidable place and you don’t expect to go there so you’re not prepared for it, especially to meet the man who’s been responsible for killing your son.

“We were treated with courtesy and given a room by the chaplain which was comfortable and the warder stayed with us all the time.

“They brought William in and he was asked to explain what happened that night. He didn’t contradict what he said in court.

“He was truly repentant and was really sorry for what he’d done.

“He did a stupid and foolish thing but he is not a bad man. It was a massive error of judgement.

“Because of what we went through you have to hope that the restorative justice will help him to build a positive life.”

Wilson, of Brigg in South Humberside, is due to be released next year.

While Mrs Donnelly, who teaches languages locally, believes Wilson is truly sorry, she says it will never replace the pain she suffered.

She said: “Him coming out of prison is not something I think about, it’s not relevant to my life in any way really.

“I felt that he was a man who understood the gravity of what he’d done and is a changed man.

“I saw a man of remorse who was prepared to say sorry and recognised the damage he’d done to our lives and Mandy’s family.

“It was hugely emotional.

“Time is not a healer. The grief doesn’t go away, the pain doesn’t go away.

“But the fact that William was able to say sorry to us and we were able to offer him forgiveness was important to us.

“It was very intense but it was a release for us, if you like, a letting go of that part of things.

“It doesn’t bring Stephen back but Stephen would have told us to do that, he would have been up for that and believed that was right.

“He was everything any mother could have wanted.”

All victims of crime are now entitled to restorative justice, provided the perpetrator admits responsibility and both parties agree to it.

Gary Williams, service delivery manager for Restorative Northamptonshire, says it can help everyone in the long run.

He said: “Restorative practice brings those harmed by crime or conflict and those responsible for it into communication.

“To play a part in repairing that harm and finding a positive way forward is a big thing in the long run.

“All victims of crime are entitled to receive information about restorative justice.”

Restorative justice was something that then-PCC Adam Simmonds was keen to facilitate in Northamptonshire and it was he who introduced the Donnellys to Restorative Solutions, which organised their meeting with William Wilson.

The process has also been backed by current PCC Stephen Mold.

He said: “Victims of crime must be at the heart of everything we do – these are people who have been affected by crime through no fault of their own and who need our support to ensure they cope, recover and thrive following any incident.

“Restorative justice has been proven to help people come to terms with crime and aid the healing process, which is why I believe everyone should have the right to access restorative practices.

“The use of restorative justice has also been shown to prevent crimes through resolving conflict at early stages, and therefore helps to lessen the demand placed on our police services.

“For these reasons I’m committed to offering this support through Voice and would encourage anyone interested in restorative justice to read more at VoiceRestorative.org.”

Mrs Donnelly says she does not favour a ‘lock them up and throw away the key’ approach and that she had no qualms about the sentence Wilson received.

She believes that restorative justice can be a positive approach for all parties in the future.

She said: “I think the word restorative is a very big word.

“When you restore something you attempt to put it back to how it should be.

“Justice has to be served by the courts so you can’t take away the sentencing and punishment.

“I’m not in favour of a ‘locking someone in prison and throwing away the key’ type of approach.

“Sanctions have to be applied but you want justice to be done to both parties and if they want to restore things in some way then it’s an excellent process.

“There isn’t another one to match it.

“It’s an extremely positive procedure and it doesn’t have to involve people saying sorry and forgiving each other, but it’s facing up to what you’re doing.

“We felt there was no point in a third life being cut off in prison.”

High Street retailers could be consigned to history by 2050 as virtual reality takes over the way we shop, a report into the future of shopping has predicted.

The only time we can expect to be asked “Are you being served?” is when interacting with an artificially intelligent app.

The kind of department store which was epitomised by the Grace Brothers’ institution in the 1970s sitcom of that name is likely to be no more by the middle of the century, according to experts.

Instead people will make all their purchases from home, trying on clothes in virtual reality changing rooms and getting advice from AI (artificial intelligence) shop assistants that know exactly how to cater for their tastes.

Online deliveries dropped into the back garden by drones will become a part of everyday life.

‘The Future of Shopping Report 2016’, published in November, talks about the impact the “fourth industrial revolution” – a merging of physical, digital and biological technologies – on shopping.

They forecast virtual reality (VR) headsets that gauge your mood in the lighting and atmosphere of a simulated store.

Co-author Russell Freeman, chief technology officer at digital marketing agency Holition, said: “It’s ironic that the fashion industry is renowned for its innovation, yet the way we shop is so old fashioned.

“From having to use a changing room, to being offered limited space in a shop, the whole experience is generic.

“Augmented reality, virtual reality, drone delivery and artificial intelligence will completely change the way we shop. It’s an exciting time.”

External link:

Read more: The Future of Shopping Report 2016 - ‘Humanising Technology’, at holition.com

Heston Blumenthal is launching yet another bizarrely flavoured Christmas product - a banana and bacon trifle.

The dessert, part of his Heston from Waitrose range, is a “rich, decadent trifle with layers of banana, caramel, chocolate and rum is topped with smoky bacon bits”.

Heston has become notorious for his science wizardry, with other odd flavours including bacon and egg ice cream, snail porridge, and a fish eyeball cocktail.

He said: “When I was a kid, I remember eating a bacon and banana sandwich during one of my holidays.

“I loved how you wouldn’t normally think of putting those two flavours together but they just worked so well.

“I can’t wait to hear about people’s reactions when they see and taste this fantastic dessert at their Christmas dinner table - it’ll definitely be a talking point.”

The trifle layers include a caramelised banana compote, topped with rum-soaked chocolate sponge, a layer of buttery, salted caramel sauce, chocolate shavings, a creamy vanilla custard with a smoky bacon flavoured cream and sprinkles of gold cocoa nibs.

The trifle also comes with a sachet of bacon pieces for customers to add themselves.

Retro desserts have made a comeback recently, with sales of trifles up 34 per cent compared to last year.

Aileen Wood, Waitrose Dessert Buyer said: “We’ve loved working with Heston to create a truly special trifle with a real sense of humour.

“His range of products at Waitrose often works with classic dishes he loved as a child, and this trifle is no exception.

“The bacon twist works incredibly well with the rest of the ingredients and fits perfectly into Heston’s innovative range of Christmas sweet treats.”

The trifle will initially launch in Waitrose shops as part of a meal deal, where it will be available in two packs of mini trifles for shoppers to try before they buy the larger version for Christmas.

Parents admit they would struggle to identify the signs of meningitis, spot if their child was being bullied - or even perform CPR on a baby or child, a study has found.

Millions also lack confidence in how to feed their newborn and how to monitor their children and teenagers online to keep them safe.

A staggering nine in 10 mums and dads aren’t confident they could spot the signs of meningitis early on, with a quarter admitting they don’t feel at all sure they would be able to tell the difference between the deadly illness over a common cold or flu.

And less than one in 10 are confident they would know exactly what to do if a child or baby needed CPR.

The stats emerged in a poll by expert-led online parenting resource Essential Parent, which is advised by both Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), the St John Ambulance and UNICEF UK Baby Friendly.

Dr Rebecca Chicot, child development expert and co-founder of Essential Parent, said: “The knowledge and reassurance that used to be passed down from mothers and grandmothers, has been replaced by advice from many different sources, many of which are contradictory, opinionated and not based on scientific evidence.

“Parents are hungry for knowledge, which ideally should come from a trusted expert source of evidence based information.”

The study, of 1,000 parents of children aged 0-18 found more than three quarters of parents aren’t confident they know how to keep their children safe online, with more than one in 10 saying they have no idea how to do this.

This advice from NHS should help you identify the signs of meningitis

A classic symptom of meningitis is a blotchy rash that doesn’t fade when a glass is rolled over it, but this doesn’t appear in many cases. You should get medical advice as soon as possible if you’re concerned about yourself or your child. Trust your instincts and don’t wait until a rash develops.

Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department if you think you or your child might be seriously ill. Call NHS 111 or your GP surgery for advice if you’re not sure if it’s anything serious

The classic rash associated with meningitis usually looks like small, red pinpricks at first.

It then spreads over the body quickly and turns into red or purple blotches. If you press the side of a clear glass firmly against the skin and the rash doesn’t fade, it’s a sign of blood poisoning (septicaemia) caused by meningitis and you should get medical advice right away.

The rash can be harder to see on dark skin. Check for spots on paler areas like the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, the tummy, inside the eyelids, and the roof of the mouth.

Meningitis can have a number of other symptoms, too, including:

a high temperature (fever) over 37.5C (99.5F)

feeling and being sick

irritability and a lack of energy

a headache

aching muscles and joints

breathing quickly

cold hands and feet

pale, mottled skin

a stiff neck

confusion

a dislike of bright lights

drowsiness

fits (seizures)

Babies may also:

refuse feeds

be agitated and not want to be picked up

have a bulging soft spot on their head (fontanelle)

be floppy or unresponsive

have an unusual high-pitched cry

have a stiff body

These symptoms can develop in any order and some may not appear.

A coroner told a Daventry taxi driver there was nothing she could have done to avoid hitting a man who appeared suddenly from behind a bus.

Andreas Jakob died a week after he was struck by Armadepp Kaur’s private hire vehicle at low speed in Byfield.

Mr Jakob, 44, and who had a long standing addiction to alcohol and a poorly functioning liver, was four times over the drink-drive limit when he emerged into the road from behind a parked bus on Woodford Road at around 1.30pm on Sunday, January 20.

He had been visiting his partner Shirale Gale in Byfield and was due to catch a bus to Banbury for an interview with the job centre.

An inquest at County Hall in Northampton heard how Mrs Kaur, who was on a call-out with Daventry firm Lake Hire, would have been travelling at around 15 miles per hour as she passed the bus on the opposite side of the road.

“The next thing I saw was something appearing on the near side of the car and rolling over the bonnet,” she said.

“He appeared before I could stop.

“I was in shock.”

Mrs Kaur said her silver Toyota Prius would have been travelling along using electric power at that speed, so would have been much quieter than a normal car.

Accident investigator PC John Underwood agreed that there was no evidence of “excessive speed” from the taxi driver.

Coroner Anne Pember returned a verdict of accidental death before turning to the driver.

She said; “Mrs Kaur, there was absolutely nothing you could have done to avoid this crash.”

In a prepared statement read out at the inquest Miss Gale, said of Mr Jakob: “He was a lovely person. He did drink, but it was only to maintain a normal life.”

The couple were considering moving in together and had kissed goodbye only minutes before he was involved in the collision with he car.

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A daily handful of any type of nuts slashes the risk of heart disease and cancer, Britain’s biggest killers.

Just 20 grammes - 0.7oz- of walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, pistachios, pecans, Brazil nuts and peanuts cuts risk of coronary heart disease by nearly 30 per cent and stroke by seven per cent.

They also cut the risk of cancer by 15 per cent and the risk of premature death by 22 per cent.

The snack also reduced risk of dying from respiratory disease by about a half, diabetes by nearly 40 per cent and deaths from infectious disease by 75 per cent.

Scientists said a handful was all that was needed as there was little evidence eating more than 20g per day further improved the protection against diseases.

And the health benefits of nuts, whether tree nuts such as walnuts or Brazil nuts and peanuts were down to their nutritional value.

While the intake of both peanuts and tree nuts was associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease, and mortality only peanuts were associated with reduced risk of stroke, while tree nuts was associated with reduced cancer risk.

Previous studies found growing evidence a high intake of nuts was linked to reducing the risk of coronary heart disease and death but their impact on risk of stroke or overall cancer risk was unclear.

So Imperial College London and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology scientists analysed 29 published studies from around the world.

These involved up to 819,000 participants, including more than 12,000 cases of coronary heart disease, 9,000 cases of stroke, 18,000 cases of cardiovascular disease and cancer, and more than 85,000 deaths.

While there was some variation between the populations , the sexes and regions, nut consumption was associated with a reduction in disease risk across most of them.

Co-author Dr Dagfinn Aune at Imperial’s School of Public Health said: “In nutritional studies, so far much of the research has been on the big killers such as heart diseases, stroke and cancer, but now we’re starting to see data for other diseases.

“We found a consistent reduction in risk across many different diseases, which is a strong indication that there is a real underlying relationship between nut consumption and different health outcomes.

“It’s quite a substantial effect for such a small amount of food.

“Nuts and peanuts are high in fibre, magnesium, and polyunsaturated fats - nutrients that are beneficial for cutting cardiovascular disease risk and which can reduce cholesterol levels.

“Some nuts, particularly walnuts and pecan nuts are also high in antioxidants, which can fight oxidative stress and possibly reduce cancer risk.

“Even though nuts are quite high in fat, they are also high in fibre and protein, and there is some evidence that suggests nuts might actually reduce your risk of obesity over time.”

However he warned people should avoid peanut butter as they can be high in sugar or salt.

But if everyone ate at least a handful of nuts a day 4.4 million premature deaths globally could be avoided.

Dr Aune added: “For specific causes of death, we estimated that 1.19 million deaths due to coronary heart disease, 469,000 due to cancer, 1.07 million due to respiratory disease, and 138,000 due to diabetes may be caused by a nut intake below 20 grammes per day.

“In conclusion, our results provide further evidence that nut consumption may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, cardiovascular disease, total cancer, and all cause mortality, and possibly mortality from diabetes, respiratory disease, and infectious disease. I

“These findings support dietary recommendations to increase nut consumption to reduce chronic disease risk and mortality.”

The study was published in the journal BMC Medicine.

Councillors have been summoned to an ‘extraordinary meeting’ in Northamptonshire over the erection of a child’s tree house.

A meeting is set to go-ahead this week involving parish councillors from Maidwell and Draughton with the only subject on the agenda being the retrospective decision on a child’s tree house with a proposed zip-wire.

It’s understood that a report was filed on the tree house in the Daventry district and it was later confirmed that planning was required based on the height of the roof above the ground and the open platform area

In a description of the proposed works, the Draughton applicant wrote: ‘To build a treehouse for child play purposes in a silver birch tree within the established garden of the property, the tree house having an enclosed, roofed section on the east side and an open platform on the west side. To also install a zip wire running from the tree house to a willow tree further up the garden to the north.

‘The tree house has been completed since it was thought that planning permission was not required. Prior to commencing building, both neighbours who garden adjoins the garden of the development were consulted and the proposal discussed with them, including indicating design and size, and both indicated they did not have any objection to it.’

The meeting is due to take place in the Draughton Club Room on Wednesday, December 7 at 7.30pm.

HEALTH experts have said that the office Christmas party should be scrapped in favour of no-booze leisure treats for staff.

Research carried out by a charity Alcohol Focus Scotland believe staff get-togethers over the festive period can be both dangerous and embarrassing, and have had support from Alcohol Concern and British Liver Trust.

They found that as many as 200,000 people per day show up to work nursing a hangover and can take entire morning to recover after a staff party.

The charity, Alcohol Focus Scotland, also highlighted that many drivers’ could be dangerous to other road users during the commute to work.

Alison Douglas, chief executive of AFS, instead believes that staff members should take trips to places such as the theatre, panto or bowling alley.

She said: ‘The impact of alcohol in the workplace can range from sickness absence, hangovers, accidents and injuries and lost productivity.

‘Many workplaces decide to do different things to the traditional Christmas night out, choosing to go bowling or to a panto or Christmas show, so drinking is not the focus.’

However, Dave Roberts, of the Alcohol Information Partnership, feels that office parties must remain.

He said ‘The traditional workplace Christmas bash is often an event when one or two drinks can help lubricate the atmosphere, generate conviviality and enable the chap from accounts to chat with a colleague from the second floor.

‘These parties can be great fun as long as people remember not to go too far, to respect boundaries and don’t drink and drive.

‘I am not sure many employers hold a Christmas bash of any sort and expect the next day to be the most productive on record.’

The Spirit of Christmas is well and truly alive in Daventry!

The festivities kicked off on Friday with donkey rides in Sheaf Street and face painting in Foundry Walk for children to enjoy.

A stunning display in the gazebo at the top of Sheaf Street, designed and made by The Grange School of a ‘Partridge in a Pear Tree’, helped to illuminate part of the town.

The secret garden in Past and Presents became a magical grotto where Santa himself saw some of the children on his ‘nice list’.

Meanwhile in Bowen Square a giant snow globe photo booth took over the town giving people the chance to step inside and have their photo taken amid the snow.

Hundreds of home-made lanterns lit up the skyline with stunning designs including fishes, minions, police cars, trains, Christmas trees, angels, penguins, snowmen and a huge 7ft stag, all just a few of the lanterns that featured in the parade.

Many residents took part in the parade introduced by local BBC Radio Northampton presenter Martin Heath with more local people and shopkeepers stopping to watch the procession led by Liberty Drum Corps.

Mayor of Daventry Councillor Glenda Simmonds described the evening as “a great community event with lots of fantastic and interesting lantern designs. The residents of Daventry all supported and enjoyed the ‘Spirit of Christmas’ which was a huge success for the town.”

The parade concluded in Bowen Square underneath the Christmas tree with a splendid performance of well-known Christmas favourites sung by the Daventry Community Choir.

The Dunchurch and District Brass Band then played out proceedings with traditional carols sung by the choir and residents of the town.

Tesco staff were also on hand to warm everyone with some of their soup, while Waitrose ensured people were feeling festive with tastings of its mince pies.

On Saturday the Munchkins and Monsters Theatre Company took their latest show Wind in the Willows to the Saxon Suite, at the Daventry Leisure Centre, for a fully booked performance.

The performance was enjoyed by many local children, families and the mayor who described the show as “fantastic for both children and adults alike, I thoroughly enjoyed it!”

Santa will be making a special stop at Daventry Country Park to meet youngsters in the run up to Christmas.

He will be flying in from the North Pole on Wednesday, December 21 to meet children at the park’s visitors’ centre, off Northern Way, Daventry from 10am to 1pm.

Meeting Father Christmas is free and each child who sees him will receive a free gift. One of Santa’s elves will also take a break from making presents to help keep children entertained with magic and bubbles while they wait. Families can also take part in a fun Christmas trail around the park.

Santa’s Stop has been arranged with the help of Daventry District Council, the Rotary Club of Danetre Daventry and the Friends of Daventry Country Park.

Cllr Alan Hills, Daventry District Council’s Community Culture and Leisure Portfolio Holder, said: “Santa has really enjoyed visiting the country park over the last few years and he’s really looking forward to returning this Christmas to meet even more youngsters, so come along and enjoy the fun.”

Families visiting Santa’s Stop are reminded to make sure they wrap up in warm clothes and that youngsters are accompanied by an adult.

Due to the increasing popularity of the event in recent years and to limit queue times, parents are asked to book their children into time slots in advance by calling 01327 871100.

Brits are being urged to check their new fivers after engraved bank notes worth as much as £50,000 were circulated in a Willie Wonka-style ‘Golden Ticket’ giveaway.

Tiny portraits of Jane Austen have been added to four of the new £5 notes by talented micro-engraver Graham Short.

The 70-year-old painstakingly carved tiny 5mm portraits of the novelist onto the polymer cash, next to the images of Sir Winston Churchill and Big Ben.

Classic quotes from Emma, Pride and Prejudice, and Mansfield Park have also been engraved onto the Bank of England notes, which went into circulation last weekend.

The outline of the golden engraving is visible to the naked eye - but a microscope will be needed to see it properly.

Art experts are estimating that the four fivers could be worth up to £50,000 after collectors forked out thousands to buy notes with unusual serial numbers.

Graham previously hit headlines when he engraved the words of the Lord’s Prayer on to the head of a pin.

And his last work - a portrait of the Queen, engraved on a speck of gold inside the eye of a needle - sold for £100,000.

Graham, from Northfield, Birmingham, said: “I’m always looking to do something different.

“When I saw the new £5 note, I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be good if I could engrave something on it.

“I didn’t know what at first, but then I found out that next year is going to be the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s death and her image is also going to be on the new £10 note, which is coming out next year, so it ties in quite nicely with that.

“The beauty of this is that in the right light you can’t see the engraving at all, but when you turn the note and the light comes at a different angle, it appears.

“I’ve no idea how much they will be worth if people try to sell them. But previous pieces I have worked on have been insured for more than £50,000.

“If somebody finds one I hope they will maybe put it on eBay. If they can get some extra money for Christmas I’ll be thrilled.”

The four notes will all be distributed across areas of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland by Thursday (8/12).

He added: “I’ll probably just buy a coffee somewhere and hopefully it will find its way to somebody.

“We just wanted to spread them as far as possible and give people across the UK the chance of getting hold of one.”

A fifth engraved note will be donated to the Jane Austen Society to mark the 200th anniversary of the classic novelists death next year.

Quotes and their notes:

“If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.” - Emma - Serial number: AM32 885551

“To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love.” - Pride and Prejudice - Serial number: AM32 885552

“A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of.” - Mansfield Park - Serial number: AM32 885553

“I hope I never ridicule what is wise or good.” - Pride and Prejudice - Serial number: AM32 885554

A postman from Daventry hopes his dreams of finishing the marathon will be in the bag next year.

Matthew Triolaire is taking part in the London Marathon on April 23 to raise money for charity.

He said: “I’m running for Sense - a charity I support through my salary at work each week.

“They do an amazing job helping people who are blind and deaf. They make a real difference in their day-to-day lives.”

Matthew, who works as a postman in Milton Keynes, is appealing for sponsors.

“I am appealing to anyone who would like to make a donation to help me me reach my target,” he said,

“I have a JustGiving page and if you enter my name Matthew Triolaire it will take you to the page.”

Matthew has taken part in half marathons and is looking forward to the challenge of a full marathn.

Daventry University Technical College will be closing on August 31 next year, trustees have announced.

The college says it has been unable to recruit students and is not financially viable in the future, a statement issued this morning has confirmed.

A spokesman said: "Resources made available to schools and colleges are irretrievably linked to the number of students on roll and, unfortunately, our inability to recruit students within the Daventry district and further afield has meant that the UTC is not financially viable into the future.

"Thus the UTC will not accept applications for entry from new Year Ten or Year Twelve learners in September 2017.

"This outcome has been reached only after extensive discussion with Baker Dearing Educational Trust, the Department for Education and the Education Funding Agency to explore all available options," the spokesman added.

Principal Russell Ball said existing students in Years 11 and 13 would complete their courses in the summer term next year.

"The teaching staff and I are confident that, like others before them, our students will experience high quality teaching and learning and reach outcomes which match or exceed their potential," he said.

"We will be working closely with Northamptonshire County Council and other local education providers including Silverstone UTC to bring about a smooth transition for existing students in Years Ten and Twelve. We will do everything in our power to ensure this process is both detailed and thorough."

Professor Nick Petford, chair of Daventry UTC Trust, said: “Closing Daventry UTC is hugely disappointing for all those who have worked so hard to give students the opportunity to pursue a technical education.

"It was a difficult decision to take, but unfortunately although every attempt has been made to try to find an alternative solution, closure was the only available option due to low student numbers.

"The wellbeing and success of all our students remains our highest priority. Every effort will be made to ensure students get the support they need to complete their studies successfully.”

"Human resources support and guidance will be offered to staff and measures will be taken to ensure transition for students is as smooth as possible with minimum interruption to their education. Meetings and discussions to this end have commenced with Northamptonshire County Council and other providers, including Silverstone UTC.

Hungry fundraisers munched their way through hundreds of mince pies at the weekend to raise vital funds for a little boy with severe disabilities.

The Big Mince Pie Munch Off took place at the Windmill Inn in Badby on Saturday night to raise money for Harry Charlesworth.

Winner Simon Holloway (who is pictured above) ate his way through 16 pies in ten minutes.

He fought off competition from Julie Doyle, Harry’s nan from Newnham, who managed a whopping 15 pies to clinch second place.

Lynn Stubbs, who is vice chair of the Helping Harry Trust said 22 people took part in the eating challenge.

The evening also included a raffle and a series of other fun games.

Lynn said: “The Helping Harry Trust’s first event was a remarkable success and it was incredible to see the local community come together to raise vital funds for Harry.

“A huge thanks to our mince pie maestro Simon, who kindly donated his £100 winnings back to the fund.”

Organisers said nearly £1,400 was raised on the evening and a total of 205 mince pies were eaten.

“We were all very touched by Simon’s generosity,” added Lynn.

“We have a number of great events coming up in 2017, so please follow the Trust on Facebook.”

The event was sponsored by Travis Perkins and the pies were supplied by Tesco.

Organisers would like to thank everybody who supported the event.

Harry’s supporters want to raise funds to provide life enhancing care and equipment to make life better for Harry and his family.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/thehelpingharrytrust/?fref=ts&ref=br_tf

A composer is suffering for his art by walking the entire length of the River Nene.

Benjamin Till, a former student of Northamptonshire Music School, been commissioned by Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust to write a major composition about the River Nene, which will be performed by 700 school children at the Royal Albert Hall next year.

Benjamin said: “In an attempt to immerse myself in the world of the river, I am walking the entire length from Badby to the Wash on six consecutive days today (Thursday) until next Tuesday, staying at guest houses along the river’s length.

“Obviously, I’m terrified about the mission, but feel it’s important.”

Part of the composition will include local people’s memories and stories about the river.

Benjamin added: “I’m looking for folk tales, folk songs, urban legends, ghost stories and private memories – perhaps about the floods in 1998.

“I’m looking to hear from people who worked in the old boot and shoe industry, but also little stories of hope, and sadness.

“Anything really.

“The idea of the composition is that stores and memories are sonically washed along the length of the river – opening up in the charging sea.”

Can you help Benjamin Till with memories about the river?

You can call him on 07970 569125.

Hundreds of police officers have been accused of abusing their power to sexually exploit people, including vulnerable victims of crime, a damning report has revealed.

Watchdogs laid bare the scale of the issue they described as the most serious form of corruption - and rebuked forces over their efforts to root out cases.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) was asked by then home secretary Theresa May earlier this year to investigate the extent of the problem.

HMIC’s initial findings identified more than 400 claims of abuse of authority for sexual gain over two years.

But HM Inspector Mike Cunningham said: “It is at least possible, probably likely, that the problem is more serious than the numbers that have been reported back to us.

“It’s the most serious form of corruption. It is an exploitation of power where the guardian becomes an abuser.

“What can be worse than a guardian abusing the trust and confidence of an abused person? There can be no greater violation of public trust.”

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: “It is a matter of profound concern that any police officer should abuse their authority for sexual gain.

“The misconduct discovered in this report is shocking - it undermines justice and public confidence and there is no place in the police for anyone guilty of this sort of abuse.”

Data collected by the watchdog identified 436 reported allegations of abuse of authority for sexual gain received by forces in England and Wales in the two years to the end of March.

The allegations covered a total of 334 police personnel, comprising 306 officers, 20 PCSOs and eight police staff.

All but one constabulary had at least one case, while more than a third (39%) of the allegations involved victims of domestic abuse.

Arrested suspects and people with drug or alcohol problems were also thought to be among those allegedly exploited.

While forces acknowledge the seriousness of the problem, some are still failing to recognise it as a serious form of corruption, the report warned.

Less than half (48%) of the 436 reported allegations had been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Figures also suggested there was an “apparent disconnect” between the numbers of alleged cases and sackings as a result.

Some counter-corruption units did not have the capability or capacity to seek intelligence on potential abuse of authority for sexual gain, the report warned.

It also found that almost half of forces inspected were unable to audit or monitor use of all IT systems - limiting how much information could be gathered to spot officers or staff who may be accessing databases to identify vulnerable victims.

Mr Cunningham said: “Forces need to become far more proactive in rooting out this most serious form of corruption, rather than only dealing with it once it has been reported.”

He said the majority of officers and staff carry out their work with integrity and honesty - and are “appalled” at the corruption of their colleagues.

In the wake of the report, IPCC chair Dame Anne Owers has written to all chief constables in England and Wales urging them to ensure all cases regarding abuse of authority for sexual gain are referred.

She said: “While progress has been made, particularly in preventative and educational work, we are disappointed that a significant number of serious cases are still not being referred.”

Mark Castle, chief executive of the charity Victim Support, described the allegations as “deeply concerning”.

Elsewhere, HMIC raised concerns about levels of compliance with a national policy for vetting officers and staff.

Backlogs have built up, meaning many forces are failing to conduct regular checks on individuals after changes in their personal circumstances, or when they move from one post to another.

Overall, the watchdog said its police “legitimacy” assessment was positive, with high satisfaction among victims at how they are treated.

Two forces were graded as outstanding, 36 as good and five as requiring improvement.

Stephen Watson, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for counter-corruption, said: “Abuse of powers for sexual gain is a betrayal of our core responsibility to protect people from harm.

“It is the most serious form of corruption and it can never be justified or condoned.

“In recent years, we have focused on encouraging reporting and pursuing offenders.

“We now need to do more to continue to root out the disease and inoculate policing for the future.

“We are in the process of developing a national strategy to raise the standards of all forces in preventing this form of abuse.”

Daventry District Council says it will work with other bodies to ensure the Daventry UTC building is put to an alternate educational use.

The UTC announced to parents last night (Wednesday) that it will close in August 2018 due to a lack of student numbers.

Daventry District Council was instrumental in helping set the school up.

Ian Vincent, chief executive of Daventry District Council, said: “We are very disappointed to hear that the Daventry UTC will close at the end of August.

“The UTC was a new concept for providing education and learning for young people in our District and we were keen to see it succeed.

“The most important thing now is to make sure pupils are properly accommodated in suitable alternative schools, to ensure that their education does not suffer as a result.

“We will be working with the local education authority, Schools Commissioner and our other partners to ensure that following the UTC’s closure in August, the site is brought back into full use for educational purposes.”

The school caters for students in years 10 and above, and was set up with a focus on vocational skills as well as academic subjects.