A Daventry man has been jailed for 14 years for a series of sexual crimes against a young girl.

Aaron Thornhill, aged 28 and of Roderick Way on the Headlands, appeared before Northampton Crown Court on Thursday December 8 for sentencing after being found guilty following a trial in November of 10 counts including sexual assault, sexual assault by penetration with an object, and rape.

As he passed sentence, Recorder Mr Christopher Donnellan said Thornhill had engaged in a “degree of grooming” to lead his victim to accept his behaviour which he said had progressed over time from sexual touching, penetration with an object, and finally to rape.

He added that the victim had appeared in court before the jury to answer questions, and had to watch her recorded interviews again.

A victim personal statement given by the victim’s mother due to her daughter’s young age, was read out to court. In it she said: “She gets upset if me or my partner leave her alone.

“She won’t sleep with any light because she says if the lights are on people will find her.”

She added her daughter panicked if she thought she would see Thornhill, and one time wet her self in fear.

Her mother continued: “As her mother I feel that I should have been able to protect her from this, to keep her safe.”

Mr Donnellan said that in passing sentence he had considered the good character evidence provided on Thornhill’s behalf during the trial.

Thornhill was told he will serve half his sentence before being considered for release by the parole board. When he is released he will be on licence until 15 years after his sentencing date.

The court also handed him an indefinite sexual harm prevention order governing his contact with any girl under the age of 16.

Detective Constable Irene Clifton who led the investigation on behalf of Northamptonshire Police, said: “This has concluded a long and difficult period for the victim and their family, who now feel they can begin to rebuild their lives in the knowledge that justice has been done and Thornhill is behind bars.”

Thornhill’s offences did not take place through his job at a children’s nursery in the town, nor through his role with a taxi firm. Daventry District Council, which licences taxi drivers in the district, said: “Mr Thornhill’s licence to operate a Hackney carriage in Daventry district was suspended in April 2015, after Northamptonshire Police contacted the council to inform us of the criminal investigation. The council has decided not to renew the licence.”

A UK plumbing and heating firm is opening a new home in Daventry with a local man at the helm.

James Hargreaves Plumbing Depot’s £250,000 branch – complete with trade counter and bathroom showroom – is sited in Newton Close on the town’s Drayton Fields industrial estate.

The firm has been focused on the northern counties over the past 50 years, but earlier this year launched a £2 million southern expansion in Milton Keynes.

Success there has now prompted a move into Daventry with the highly-experienced Martin Fox handed the managerial role.

Martin, 47, who brings 25 years of industry experience to the job, said: “It is an exciting challenge - particularly with the branch having a bathroom showroom - and I believe we can make a big impact here.

“I feel I know the business well, having covered everything from driving vans and operating warehouses to running trade counters and branch management - most recently here in Northamptonshire.

“Apart from a short spell on leaving school when I served an apprenticeship as a sports groundsman, the plumbing and heating industry has been my career focus.

“James Hargreaves Plumbing Depot has a five-star reputation for service, stock and value and all of that, combined with my local knowledge, should see things well set. With having a trade counter and a bathroom showroom we are appealing to both plumbers and engineers and the local public at large.”

Married to Jayne and with three children, London-born Martin lives in Raunds and includes cycling and 10 pin bowling among his hobbies.

Daventry represents the 55th branch in the James Hargreaves’ portfolio and sales director Bill Davies says it won’t be the last: “Milton Keynes took us into new territory, but the positive way things have worked out there means we go into Daventry with great confidence. Developing in southern regions has appealed to us for some time and we are already looking at opening more new branches in the coming months.”

Mr Davies continued: “Location is always a key factor, but finding the right calibre of manager is equally important - preferably locals with knowledge of both the industry and the respective town or city. This approach has served us exceptionally well down the years and Martin is the perfect fit.”

A key meeting to discuss the future of pupils at Daventry UTC will be held on Monday.

Officials from the Department for Education and the Education Funding Agency will meet on Monday to discuss what will happen moving forward in terms of pupils placements.

Daventry UTC, off Ashby Road, announced to parents on Wednesday evening that it would be closing its doors at the end of the academic year in August 2017.

The closure will leave around half the UTC’s pupils needing to move to a new school halfway through their GCSEs or sixth form.

Emily Jane has launched a Facebook page to try and save the UTC – Save Daventry UTC.

Her daughter had only started at the UTC in September after suffering from bullying at her other two secondary schools.

She said: “The school is wonderful, and my daughter has already made up the ground she missed out on.

“But she was in tears on Wednesday night. When we were looking for a new school for her we tried Guilsborough and Southam but they were full.

“Where is she going to go now?

“We’ve been told there might be places at Silverstone UTC, but what about transport costs?

“Then there’s worries about the work she’s done so far. She’ll be halfway through her GCSEs. Will the new school run the same exams, will her coursework still count?

“I set up the Facebook group so that parents affected will be able to talk to each other, and maybe find a way to keep the school open.”

Daventry District Council has said it will ‘ensure’ the building that houses the UTC will remain in educational use.

University Technical Colleges were introduced in 2010, and Daventry UTC opened in 2013.

Around five other UTCs across the UK have already announced plans to close due to a lack of pupils numbers.

Internet shoppers are being warned of a potential scam involving Facebook’s Marketplace.

Action Fraud - the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime - has received reports from victims who have tried to purchase items and never received them.

Facebook’s Marketplace allows users to buy and sell items with people in their community for free by simply tapping on the shop icon at the bottom of the Facebook app.

However, unlike rival websites such as eBay there is no secure payment facility such as PayPal or feedback systems in place, which means it is up to buyers and sellers to agree on prices and payment methods.

Caution advised

Action Fraud is advising Marketplace users to exercise caution as it is easy for fraudsters to post pictures of items for sale that either do not exist or are counterfeit.

In all the cases reported to Action Fraud, fraudsters have been offering items for sale and demanding that payment is made via bank transfer. When victims ask if payment can be made through PayPal, a variety of excuses are given as to why they cannot.

Victims have reported transferring money directly into fraudster’s bank account for gaming consoles, iPhone’s, iPad’s, trainers and even rare Pokemon trading cards.

Items never received

In one report a buyer tried to purchase an iPad Air listed for sale and after agreeing a price with the seller decided to go ahead with the purchase.

When the buyer asked to meet the seller in person they were given an excuse as to why they couldn’t meet. The seller then suggested if the item could be sent by recorded delivery with payment by bank transfer instead of cash.

The buyer then transferred £105 to the fraudster’s bank account. The victim never received the iPad and the fraudster blocked their messages.

Action Fraud’s tips on protecting yourself online

If someone’s message or profile looks suspicious, trust your instincts and walk away.

Never transfer money directly into a sellers account without viewing the item in person first.

When purchasing smaller items, do the exchange in a public place such a local police station.

Use an online payment option such as PayPal, which helps to protect you.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

The justice secretary has praised our campaign calling for tougher sentences for those who kill on the roads.

Liz Truss MP said the Johnston Press Drive for Justice campaign worked ‘tirelessly’ for victims’ families.

It comes just days after the Ministry of Justice announced killer drivers may face life sentences, launching a public consultation.

The current 14-year maximum for causing death by dangerous driving has been widely-criticised.

And an investigation last month by Johnston Press reporters revealed that no-one in the UK has ever received the maximum sentence.

Mrs Truss’s comments came at a meeting with Havant MP Alan Mak who also backed the campaign that has sought to represent bereaved families.

In a statement, Mrs Truss said: ‘Johnston Press newspapers have tirelessly campaigned on this important issue - calling for tougher sentences for those who drive dangerously and kill on our roads.

‘Nothing can compensate for the death of a loved one but the government wants to make sure the punishment fits the crime.’

Nearly 3,000 people have signed our petition since it was launched, supporting tougher sentencing and a shutting down of legal loopholes.

The government’s consultation also proposes increasing to a life sentence the maximum punishment for a charge of causing death by careless driving under the influence of drink or drugs.

Mr Mak said: ‘Killer drivers rip apart families and ruin lives so I am fully behind these new proposals.

‘The pain felt by loved ones will stay with them for the rest of their lives, which is why we need to make sure the punishment fits the crime.

‘Reading some of the tragic stories highlighted by the Drive for Justice campaign has made it clear that more needs to be done.

‘That’s why the Government’s message is absolutely clear – if you drive dangerously and kill on our roads, you could face a life sentence.’

Crawley MP Henry Smith also met Liz Truss yesterday to discuss proposals from the Government to strengthen custodial sentences for killer drivers.

Mr Smith said: “When I meet Crawley residents it’s always heartbreaking to hear when a member of someone’s family has been killed by a reckless driver.

“It’s right that the Government are looking to increase sentences for dangerous drivers.”

Yesterday, Scotland’s First Minister endorsed the Drive For Justice campaign.

Nicola Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament: “Those who drive dangerously and kill people ruin lives, not just of those who die but also their family and friends.

“I do think there is a strong case for toughening up the sentences that are available to the courts in these circumstances, and I hope very much that will be the direction of travel the UK Government takes, once it has had the opportunity to consider the responses of the consultation.”

• Sign the Drive For Justice petition here:- www.change.org/p/uk-parliament-deliver-stiffer-punishments-for-drivers-who-kill-or-seriously-injure-on-uk-roads

The town’s MP said he was ‘extremely disappointed’ that Daventry UTC will close its doors next year.

Daventry’s MP Chris Heaton-Harris said people had ‘voted with their feet’ after not enough pupils signing up to allow the school to be financially viable.

He added that a future use for the campus, off Ashby Road, is being examined by the Department for Education.

The school announced earlier this week that it would close at the end of the current academic year in August 2017. The school’s trust said not enough pupils were signing up to attend the school to allow it to balance its books.

In a statement, Mr Heaton-Harris said: “I am extremely disappointed that Daventry’s UTC has announced it is to close.

“I have long known of the problems it has had recruiting students and the financial pressure it was under as a result of those low student numbers.

“Indeed I have been working with the UTC’s governors, officials from the Department for Education, the local council and other interested parties in trying to find solutions to its problems.

“I know that the students and staff at the UTC love the college and I have always been impressed by them every time I have visited. I would like to thank the staff and governors for all the time and effort they have invested in the UTC.

“I have been assured that plans will now be made to find each of the UTC’s students a suitable place in other schools so that their education is not interrupted. The students at the UTC are an impressive bunch and I know they will do well wherever they head to next.

“I have also been assured by the Department for Education that they are looking at various options as to the future of the campus itself and they hope to be in a position to make an announcement on this in the future.

“For now though, all I can say is that I am truly disappointed that the UTC itself is to close. I thought it offered an exciting vocational choice for Daventry. However people voted with their feet and not enough people chose to send their children to the UTC for it to keep going as a viable educational facility in its current form.”

Motorists are being warned to allow extra time this afternoon after crash on the M1 this morning.

Highways England said emergency carriageway resurfacing were taking place this afternoon on the M1 northbound near Watford Gap.

The work comes after a collision between two HGVs overnight led to an oil spillage and damage to the road.

Since then two lanes of the motorway have been closed between junctions 16 (Flore) and 17 (for the M45 to Coventry), but this afternoon the entire northbound side has been closed to allow the work to take place.

Highways England initially said it expected the resurfacing to be complete by 3pm and to reopen the northbound motorway shortly after. But an update issued at 4pm stated the work was still under way.

The closure has led to delays on the A45 between the M1 and the A5 at Weedon, and knock on traffic on the A5 north back to the M1 at Crick and A45 through Daventry to Coventry. Drivers are being advised to find alternative routes and plan their journey.

Nearly 350 people left themselves without their repeat medicine over Christmas in Northamptonshire last year, according to health experts.

Now, NHS Nene Clinical Commissioning Group in the county is urging people not to leave it too late until ordering their prescriptions.

Many GP practices will have limited opening hours during the Christmas holidays and the majority of pharmacies will also be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Dr Matthew Davies, medical director at NHS Nene CCG, said: “For many, Christmas is a special time when people enjoy being with friends and family so the last thing we want for our patients is having that time spoilt by not being able to take regular medication.

“Many people with long term conditions rely on their prescribed medication to help them keep their condition under control. So, along with the presents, the turkey and tinsel, it's important that patients have enough medicine to see them through the festive period.

"With GP practices closed over the Christmas bank holidays, it’s important to order repeat prescriptions at least a week in advance so that the festive season can be enjoyed in good health. It is also important to remind any elderly relatives who are coming to visit," Dr Davies added.

"Now is also a good time to double check that home medicine cabinets are well stocked with over-the-counter remedies so that minor illnesses and injuries can be managed at home.

"Local pharmacies can provide useful advice and deal with minor ailments without people having to see their GP about winter bugs like coughs, colds, sore throats, stomach upsets and flu.”

A social housing group in Daventry has joined forces with a mental health charity to help boost the employment chances of customers.

Futures Housing Group, which used to be Daventry and District Housing, has linked up with Daventry Mind to provide a six-week course offering coaching and advice to customers with mental health issues.

Launched just under six months ago, Futures Gateways has already supported 16 customers into work. Those customers have earned over £41,000 between them, while a further 59 have secured job interviews since the launch of the free service in June. Currently, 74 customers are using the scheme and more than 156 one-to-one job skill sessions have taken place.

The GUSTO (Get U Seizing Today’s Opportunities) course, which takes place at Daventry Mind’s offices off Brook Street in the town, started in October and has been attended by four Futures’ customers.

The course has focused on a number of topics, including communication skills, tips on becoming more assertive, advice about finding solutions to reoccurring issues and details about the support and opportunities on offer in the community.

Jo Miller, Employability and Community Officer at Futures Housing Group, said: “Mental health can be a real barrier to people finding work or getting back on the job ladder. After seeing how anxiety, depression and low levels of self-esteem have prevented customers achieving their goals, we are delighted to be able to offer this service in conjunction with Mind Daventry.

“This course attempts to address the issues faced by those struggling with such difficulties and offers advice and support to help them feel better prepared for employment, training or work experience.”

Mary Doyle, Service Manager at Mind Daventry, said: “The six-week course has proved extremely popular and has given people the opportunity to look at how they can move forward with their own recovery of a Mental Health issue.

“We hope that this course will give people the confidence to communicate effectively when moving into voluntary or work based opportunities.”

Daventry Mind, which is part of Northampton and District Mind, aims to promote mental health, prevent mental ill-health, help those in distress and work to empower people in their live and to participate in the community as valued citizens.

With Christmas fast approaching we’ve taken a look back at the town’s festive celebrations in 1991.

This photo shows the town’s light switch-on event.

The two chosen to flip the switch for the lights were Lisa Clarke, aged 11, and David Boyes, seven. Both were pupils at the Grange Junior School.

They are pictured with the Mayor of Daventry Alf Goodridge, and chairman of Daventry District Council Cllr John Shephard.

The paper at the time reported that large crowds gathered in Bowen Square to witness the lights being switched on. That year’s display involved some 2,300 new light bulbs.

The lights were put up around the town centre, and on the Christmas tree in Bowen Square, by John Hall Electrics, at a cost of £12,500 to the taxpayer, helped along by donations from shopkeepers.

A day of fun activities will be held at Daventry Leisure Centre to celebrate 20 years since it opened.

The centre was officially opened on December 14, 1996 by the then Chairman of Daventry District Council, John Russell.

And John, who was also the first person to use the pool at the Lodge Road facility, will be among the guests at a special 20th birthday celebration on Wednesday December 14.

A packed programme of activities to suit all ages has been planned by Daventry District Council’s leisure partner Everyone Active to mark the occasion.

People are invited to show off their baking skills by bringing their creations along to a birthday cake competition. Cakes should be brought to the centre before midday, with judging at 1pm and a prize on offer for the winner.

The Centre’s Group Cycling, Aqua and Body Pump exercise classes will have a 1990s theme for the day, with those taking part encouraged to wear Mr Motivator-style 90s keep-fit outfits to dance to music from the decade.

Children will be able to enjoy a free inflatables session in the pool from 6.30pm to 8pm (usual rules for entry apply).

There will also be a quiz night in the Saxon Suite from 7.30pm to 10pm. Teams of up to eight people are invited to enter at a cost of £10 per team and the bar will be open.

Proceeds from the quiz, as well as the sale of cakes baked for the baking competition, will be donated to Everyone Active’s charity of the year, the Anthony Nolan Trust, which works to save the lives of people with blood disorders and blood cancer.

To find out more or to enter a team in the quiz, email melaniebland@everyoneactive.com or phone 01327 871144.

Built for £4.75 million, the centre replaced the old leisure centre in Badby Road West, now home to Northampton College’s Daventry Campus. It was launched to much fanfare, with Gladiator star Nightshade greeting visitors at a special open weekend held in November 1996, ahead of the official ribbon-cutting ceremony the following month.

Councillor Alan Hills, Daventry District Council’s Community Culture and Leisure Portfolio Holder, said: “Many thousands of people have benefited from the excellent facilities at Daventry Leisure Centre over the last 20 years. It is also home to numerous clubs, helping people to enjoy a sense of community and to lead active, healthy lifestyles.

“We are constantly working with our partners Everyone Active in order to make improvements to the facilities, so that it can continue to offer an excellent service to the people of Daventry well into the future.

“The 20th anniversary celebrations offer something for all ages and I hope as many people as possible will join us on December 14 to mark this special occasion.”

Jamie Brightwell, Everyone Active’s general manager at Daventry Leisure Centre, added: “We are delighted to be hosting a range of fun activities to mark the centre’s 20th birthday.

“It plays a huge role in protecting the health and wellbeing of the community, and we look forward to continuing our work with the Council and ensuring people benefit from the activities on offer for years to come.”

Motorists can expect delays of half an hour following an accident involving two vehicles in Northamptonshire.

One lane has been closed and long delays can be expected on the M1, southbound at junction 16 near Daventry because of an incident involving a lorry and a car in the roadworks area.

There are reports of congestion to Watford Gap services, according to BBC Travel.

Highways England have alerted drivers that the incident is expected to clear sometime between 11am and 11:15am this morning (Saturday).

Nine in ten people now believe that a broadband connection is essential to their day-to-day life, ranking its importance alongside the likes of housing and food.

A new survey by Which? found that for 90 per cent of people the only things more important than a fast internet connection were housing, food, and utilities such as water and energy.

More people ranked being able to get online as essential to life than having savings (70 per cent) or making pension contributions (53 per cent).

The survey of 2,000 people also found that mobile phones (74 per cent), a television (73 per cent) and a car (68 per cent) were less important to them than their broadband.

Which? said that the importance so many people gave to broadband access made the continuing poor service many people receive all the more worrying.

The survey found that of those questioned two-thirds (68 per cent) had experienced problems with their broadband connection in the last 12 months. The biggest problems were connection dropouts and unexpected slowdowns in speeds for anything from a few minutes to days at a time.

Which? said that such common problems added weight to its calls for the Government to press ahead with its plans for automatic compensation for poor service.

Alex Neill, Which? managing director of home and legal services, said: “This research underlines again just how important broadband is to our everyday lives. Yet many of us are still experiencing persistent service interruptions and a large proportion of the population can’t access usable speeds to carry out the most basic tasks.

“The Government must urgently press ahead with its reforms to give us the faster and more reliable broadband connections we all need.”

A leading supermarket has recalled one of its ready meal range owing to allergy concerns.

Asda’s Meal For 2 Vegetable Balti has been found to contain milk, which is undeclared in its ingredient list.

The product in question has a Use By date of 7 December, is priced at £3.26 with barcode: 5054781137184.

Customers who have purchased ASDA Main For 2 Vegetable Balti should return it to their nearest store to receive a full refund. (The receipt is not required).

An Asda statement read: “We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused. If you would like any further information please contact: Asda Customer Relations - 0800 952 0101.”

Ads for junk food and drink targeted at children are to be banned from the internet in a bid to combat the obesity epidemic.

Ads for foods high in sugar, fat and salt will be banned from all media aimed at children and content with at least a quarter of viewers under 16 from July of next year and will affect content on services such as YouTube.

Promotions, licensed characters and celebrities popular with children will also not be allowed in ads for products high in fat,sugar and salt (HFSS).

Research from Ofcom shows five to 15 year olds are spending around 15 hours each week online - overtaking time spent watching TV for the first time. The regulations will apply in media targeted at under-16s and come into effect on July 1, 2017, the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) has announced.

It follows a full public consultation by CAP, the industry regulator for all advertising in the UK that appears in any media except on TV and radio . A third of children are overweight or obese, and are in turn more likely to become obese adults and have a higher risk of morbidity, disability and premature mortality.

Currently, food and drink deemed unhealthy can be advertised to children in non-broadcast media, unlike television where strict regulation prohibits it through content and scheduling restrictions. The significant change is designed to help protect the health and wellbeing of children.

Tam Fry, chairman of the Child Growth Foundation and spokesperson for the National Obesity Forum, said: “In the battle to tackle child obesity the CAP announcement is starting to tick the right boxes. It isn’t perfect but the tough provisions are welcome if not overdue. Particularly laudable is the recognition children are children up until the age of 16.

“The bonus is the Food and Drink Federation is 100 percent behind the new regulations.”

Meanwhile broadcasters are understood to be working on a proposal that would see healthier foods feature in TV programmes such as Coronation Street. Brands themselves are also working to cut calorie, fat and sugar intake.

Cadbury, for example, has cut the calories in all its singles bars to under 250 and said its marketing is not aimed at children and always looks to give advice on the right portion size.

In 2006, broadcasting regulator Ofcom tightened up rules on junk food advertising around all children’s programming, on all children’s channels and around all programmes that have a “particular appeal” to under 16-year-olds.

Motorists can expect 30 minute delays following an incident involving a lorry and a car near Daventry.

The incident took place on the M1, northbound between junction 16 and Watford Gap Services.

Highways England have alerted drivers that the incident is expected to clear sometime between 8.30pm and 8.45pm tonight (Sunday).

All lanes have now been re-opened.

Slimmers who set ambitious targets lose twice as many pounds as those who try to be realistic, according to new research.

A study of more than 24,000 dieters found those who set the toughest goals shed almost a fifth of their body weight - about double the amount of those who lowered the bar.

The findings are food for thought for those making a New Year resolution to go on a diet.

And obesity experts are calling for changes to public health guidance which suggests slimmers set themselves a ‘realistic’ target of losing 5-10 per cent of their starting weight.

They want patients to aim for their ‘dream weight’ after the dramatic results of the 12 month experiment reported in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics .

The participants were Slimming World members with a BMI (body mass index) of at least 30 which put them in the obese category who were all attending weekly group support sessions.

Those whose aim was to lose less than 10 per cent of their body weight did typically achieve their goal shedding an average of 11 per cent - equivalent to 1st 11lbs for someone who weighs 16 stone.

But those who set the most ambitious targets lost almost twice as much weight overall - an average of 19 per cent in a year, or 3st 1lb for someone weighing 16st.

Change of approach needed?

In the UK around a quarter of people are obese, meaning their weight could be seriously affecting their health.

The traditional approach advised by NHS Choices is thought to be based on the thinking ambitious goals are less likely to be achieved, which could result in disappointment, decreased effort and people giving up on their journey.

But the new research suggests rather than trying to protect them from disappointment health experts should instead be encouraging slimmers to ‘shoot for the moon’ and get support to achieve their goals.

Professor Amanda Avery, a nutritionist at Nottingham University, said: “January is the most popular time of the year to start a healthy weight loss programme and so it’s really important people have the information they need to maximise their chances of success.

“We know current NHS and NICE advice around realistic weight loss targets is designed to protect slimmers from disappointment.

“However, suggesting that people place limits on their weight loss aims could stop people from seeing what they’re capable of. It’s important that people have aspirations and can visualise themselves achieving success.

“This research shows that, when it comes to losing weight, it’s best to inspire people to set the weight loss target they would personally really like to achieve. This will help with their motivation as, if it is really their dream weight, they’ll be far more committed to achieving it.

“Setting a target is really only the beginning, though, and it’s vital that people also get regular support to make healthy changes to their eating and activity habits and to help them stay focused, committed and encouraged.

“Working together with others to share experiences and solutions to challenges and to celebrate successful weight loss and behaviour change can keep people motivated to achieve long-term success.

“It’s great that the NHS and NICE already encourage people who want to lose weight to set a target, as our study found that people who set their own personal target - as most of our members choose to - were 10 times more likely to be successful.

“The next stage is for them to look more closely at how encouraging patients to aim for their dream weight can increase their chances of success, as long as they’re also getting support along the way.”

“I set myself that high target and I haven’t looked back.”

Hollie Barrett, 30, from Suffolk, lost 8st 6lbs after her Slimming World Consultant encouraged her to set the Personal Achievement Target she really wanted.

She said: “I was 17st 11lbs at my heaviest and my confidence was really low. I felt like my weight was holding me back in every aspect of my life, especially when it came to doing things with my children.

“Even things other mums might take for granted, like taking the children swimming, seemed off limits because I felt so self-conscious. I once chased my daughter, Imogen, up the stairs to bed and was so breathless I couldn’t speak properly to read her a book - it broke my heart. I didn’t want them to be bullied at school because their mum was so overweight either.

“My whole life I’d wanted to be a size 8 but I never really believed I could be.

“I set myself that high target, committed to following the plan 100 per cent and in my first week I lost 9½lbs! From there I haven’t looked back.”

Eight in 10 middle-aged people either weigh too much, drink too much or don’t exercise enough, according to a new study which shows modern life is taking its toll on health.

Obesity in adults has increased 16 per cent in the last 20 years, according to data from Public Health England.

Other health problems have followed with diabetes in this age group also doubling in this period. Obese adults are more than five times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than those who are a healthy weight (a body mass index between 18.5 and 25)

Promoting the health body’s One You campaign, the research shows that 87 per cent of men and 79 per cent of women aged between 40 and 60 are either overweight or obese, exceed the Chief Medical Officer’s (CMO) alcohol guidelines, or are physically inactive.

People are being urged to take a moment to consider their health and the simple steps they can take to improve it in the run up to the New Year, by taking the One You online quiz at http://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/how-are-you

The quiz, called ‘How Are You’, takes your lifestyle information, gives you a health score and then links to free localised, personalisable information, apps and tools.

More than 1.1 million people have taken the quiz so far and where appropriate, been directed to download apps like Couch to 5K, Alcohol Checker and Easy Meals.

These sit alongside PHE’s other online tools like the Heart Age tool which gives you your ‘heart age’ based on your age and lifestyle.

Professor Sir Muir Gray, Clinical Adviser for the One You campaign, said: “The demands of modern day living are taking their toll on the health of the nation, and it’s those in middle age that are suffering the consequences most, as their health reaches worrying new levels.

“Over 15 million Britons are living with a long term health condition, and busy lives and desk jobs make it difficult to live healthily. But just making a few small changes will have significant benefits to people’s health now and in later life.”

David Bowie, Prince, Leonard Cohen, George Michael, Muhammad Ali and Carrie Fisher are just some of the famous faces we lost in 2016 - but alongside those notable names were many other celebrities whose passing didn’t quite generate the same amount of column inches.

Here are some more well-known personalities we might have forgotten that we said a fond farewell to this year...

Pete Burns - Lead singer of 80s pop band Dead Or Alive who gained more fame on Celebrity Big Brother. Died October, aged 57.

Sir George Martin - Legendary music producer who was known as the ‘fifth Beatle’. Died March, aged 90.

Keith Emerson - Founding member of rock supergroup Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Died March, aged 71.

Glenn Frey - Founding member of US band The Eagles. Died January, aged 67.

Padraig Duggan - Musician who came to prominence in the 70s with Irish folk group Clannad. Died August, aged 67.

David Guest - US musician and reality TV star. Died April, aged 62.

Sir Terry Wogan - Broadcasting icon who was a star of both television and radio. Died January, aged 77.

Victoria Wood - Much-loved comedian and actress. Died April, aged 62.

Merle Haggard - American country music great. Died April, aged 79.

Craig Gill - Drummer with Madchester indie outfit The Inspiral Carpets. Died November, aged 44.

Emilie Ford - Singer who had UK No.1 with What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me You? Died April, aged 78.

Dale Griffin - Drummer with 70s glam-rockers Mott The Hoople. Died January, aged 67.

Greg Lake - Fronted both Emerson, Lake & Palmer and King Crimson. Also known for solo hit I Believe In Father Christmas. Died December, aged 69.

Colin Vearncombe - Singer who performed under the name Black and had huge hit with 1987 single Wonderful Life. Died January, aged 53.

Jean Alexander - Famous for playing the iconic Hilda Ogden in ITV soap Coronation Street. Died October, aged 90.

Kenny Baker - Played R2-D2 in six Star Wars films from 1977 and starred in Time Bandits and Flash Gordon. Died August, 81.

Ken Barrie - The voice of popular children’s TV character Postman Pat. Died July, aged 83.

Zsa Zsa Gabor - Hollywood actress who starred in more than 70 films and was married no fewer than nine times. Died December, aged 99.

Anton Yelchin - Talented young actor who played Pavel Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek films. Died June, aged 27.

Andrew Sachs - Enjoyed a long and varied career but will be best remembered for his role as Spanish waiter Manuel in classic BBC comedy Fawlty Towers.

Paul Daniels - Magician who was a mainstay of Saturday night TV for many years. Died March, aged 77.

Umberto Eco - Italian intellectual and novelist most famous for The Name of the Rose. Died February, aged 84.

The past year has been another busy one for the Daventry area.

We’ve had floods, fires, crime, new schools and colleges, new community facilities opening, and protest marches – and that’s before you get into the national stories like the Brexit referendum. Here’s our take on the bigger stories from the final six months of 2016.

JULY

Daventry’s MP Chris Heaton-Harris threw his weight behind South Northants MP Andrea Leadsom in the Tory leadership contest. Mrs Leadsom later withdrew from the race to leave Theresa May as the last person standing. Mrs May appointed Mrs Leadsom as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in her new government.

Soap box racers took to the streets of Welton once more in the village’s annual competition.

Mario Forgione saved the life of a man by helping him out of a burning flat opposite his chip shop on the town’s Headlands estate.

Hundreds of families went along to Daventry Country Park to watch Back To The Future and Minions at the outdoor cinema event.

While residents of the Southbrook met to discuss problems surrounding anti-social behaviour and crime, police said a group of around 100 people was involved in a fight just a few hundred yards away.

AUGUST

A suspected knife attacker was on the run in Daventry. A man was stabbed in the street on the Grange and police descended to try and track down their suspect. When a resident reported seeing the person the police sent in armed officers, and their helicopter.

Figures from the police showed a nine per cent rise in crime in the Daventry district. But the same figures placed the district as one of the safest in the whole of Northamptonshire.

A drunk gang went ‘on the rampage’ in Daventry town centre, throwing tables in pubs, blocking vehicles from leaving car parks and demanding to be sold alcohol in supermarkets. Northamptonshire Police said the group came from an illegal traveller encampment on Eastern Way which up to that point had caused no real trouble.

SEPTEMBER

Archaeologists uncovered the skeleton of what may have been one of the first ‘English’ person to live in the area. The Anglo-Saxon burial was found at a site near Nether Heyford, and the type of burial they received implied they were likely to be from the ‘English’ Mercia region, moving into a part of the country where many of the Celtic inhabitants had vacated.

Long Buckby’s feast returned, but this year it found a new home on the village’s sports fields. The feast fair had previously been held in the village’s Market Square but had outgrown the small site.

Claire Riley and her mother Susan Aucott were jailed for their part in the death of Ms Riley’s six-month-old daughter Molly-Mae Wotherspoon. Molly-Mar died at her home in Daventry in 2014 after being attacked by a family dog, which later emerged to be an American pit bull – a banned breed. Riley and Aucott were both sentenced to two years in jail and banned from keeping a dog for 10 years.

Mario Forgione and his brother Pep hit the headlines for saving another life. The pair leapt into action after their employee Beth Nicholls suffered a cardiac arrest while working in the chip shop. By carrying out CPR the pair ensured Beth got to hospital in time to begin her recovery.

The Mop Fair returned to Daventry once more, drawing in crowds of people for its rides.

OCTOBER

The developers behind a 4,000 home extension to the town started asking residents for their views on the masterplan for the development. The new estate is planned to stretch along the B4036 to the east of Daventry Country Park.

Train enthusiasts from across the UK arrived in Daventry to the annual exhibition by the Daventry Model Railway Club.

It was announced that Northampton’s Errol Flynn Picturehouse was lined up to open a new cinema in Daventry with up to three screens. The picturehouse said the new cinema would so a mix of mainstream and other films.

NOVEMBER

Thousands of people turned out to watch the free fireworks display put on by Daventry Town Council at the Parker E-ACT Academy.

Officers from Northamptonshire Police and the National Crime Agency raided a house in Daventry as part of a nation-wide operation to tackle what they said was using malicious software installed on unwitting people’s computers to steal bank details, and commit fraud.

DECEMBER

Sarah Thomas from Weedon saved a man’s life by performing CPR on him after he collapsed while she was signing him up to donate to the Red Cross. It was the Red Cross that taught Sarah CPR in the first place.

The festive season kicked off in the town with the Spirit of Christmas event organised by Daventry Town Council and featuring a lantern parade through the town centre.

The new campus for Northampton College in Daventry opened for students and staff. The new building off Badby Road West replaced the old college building which had its origins at the Grange Comprehensive School and was becoming too expensive to maintain, and unsuitable for modern college courses. The old college will be demolished to make way for homes which are being used to pay for part of the cost of the new college campus.