Volunteers are being sought to take up the iconic waterways role of lock keeper

The Canal & River Trust is on the lookout for people interested in volunteering along the canal Grand Union Canal to help passing boaters, welcome visitors and give a hand to the trust’s teams in maintaining the canal.

Volunteers are needed at the following locks:

- Buckby

- Braunston

- Stoke Bruerne

- Watford Lock Flight

The volunteers will help to keep the historic tradition of lock-keeping alive along the canal, where lock keepers have been part of waterway life for hundreds of years.

Full training is provided and people of all ages (over 18) and experiences are encouraged to apply. Volunteer lock keepers work on a shift basis between April-October, while many stay on over the winter months to help the trust with other work.

Maurice Farndon one our volunteer lock keepers said: “I’ve been a lock keeper for the last six years and really love being out in the fresh air along the canal.

“There’s not really a typical day, if we’re not helping people though the locks, then we can be litter picking, talking to visitors or even giving directions to the nearest restaurant. Time flies when I’m working on the canal-side and it’s a great way to stay fit too. I’d definitely recommend the role to anyone interested in getting outdoors and helping people visiting or living in the community.”

Sonny King, from the Canal & River Trust, said: “Our lock keepers are the face of the canal, safely seeing boats through the locks, as well as helping people with directions or information about the area. It’s a great role for anyone keen to work outdoors and meet new people. You’ll learn new skills and provide a huge amount of help for the thousands of visitors we get to the canal each year.”

Applications for the role are open until now, with training and induction beginning in March. For more information, visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/volunteer/ways-to-volunteer/volunteer-lock-keepers.

The ‘Cult of Busy’ has now infiltrated to our children as research shows primary school kids are ‘working’ – either in school or scheduled activities for up to 46 hours a week

According to a new joint report issued last week by child psychologist Dr Sam Wass and Center Parcs, well-meaning parents are over-timetabling their children who “work” nine hours more than the adult average of 37 hours.

The study says most children have an average of just one hour and 29 minutes free on a week day.

As a result, a Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for Free Time of three hours and 51 minutes, has been developed by Dr Wass, best known from Channel 4’s ‘Secret Life of 4 and 5 Year -Olds’ and commissioned by Center Parcs.

The RDA, which was inspired by the government guidelines we use for fruit and vegetables, is based on three hours on a week day and six hours a day at the weekend, calculated using time needed for a variety of free-time activities which will allow children to use their imagination and develop their creative thinking.

According to the new figure, children currently have a free-time deficit of two hours and 22 minutes per day, which is created when they begin primary school and their days are filled with extra-curricular activities and scheduled events.

So much so, 44% of the children interviewed believe that they do more in a day than their parents.

Dr Sam Wass said: “Many parents are desperate to do the right thing for their children - we shuttle them back and forth from school, to football, to an after-school club, and then get them home and sit and ensure they do their homework.

“But in fact, research suggests that it’s much more beneficial for children if their time is not always so structured. It’s the down-time, when there is not so much going on and the child has to entertain themselves, when they do their best learning. There is a huge amount of research that suggests that this child-led, unstructured free play is vital for stimulating imagination and creativity, as well as helping the child to become more self-sufficient.”

On an average day, children wake at 6.55am and go to bed at 8.01 pm and are currently spending 35 minutes in clubs, 32 minutes on homework and rehearsing, 50 minutes reading and 14 minutes helping with housework, in addition to the normal school day.

On top of this is time spent on eating, bathing and travelling for school and activities, which 60% of parents admit to signing their kids up to to ease their own guilt and ensure they give them opportunities.

Television, playing on tablets, phones or computers and other digital distractions accounts for 6 hours and 49 minutes a week – or 65% of the free time available to them.

When given the choice of what to do when bored, 67% of children interviewed said they would watch TV over anything else. However, when asked what they actually enjoy doing the most, playing outside comes out on top.

The RDA for Free Time

Recommending three hours 51 minutes a day, the RDA provides enough time for children to participate in a range of free-time activities which will allow them time to play, use their imagination and develop their thinking.

Colin Whaley, marketing director at Center Parcs said the report shows that parents are really going above and beyond to do what they think is best for their child.

“As a parent myself, I was initially taken aback by the suggested recommended daily allowance, but it gave me food for thought about whether or not my own children currently achieve it,” he said.

“Clubs and sport play an important role for their development and life skills but creating a balance with some more simple time out together is clearly very important.

“We commissioned this report to further understand family life and what challenges parents and children are facing and overcoming, so we can always ensure we’re offering what they need. What has undoubtedly come out of this is the need for families – parents and children alike – to take time out to relax. We are passionate about creating the best environment for families to experience this, and insights such as these are invaluable for us to create the best short break possible.”

To help families across the UK discover if they are giving themselves enough free time, Center Parcs has created an online ‘Free Time Calculator’ where users can input the amount of time they spend on activities per day and the calculator can show how they stack up against the RDA.

To try the calculator and view top tips on how to help children make the most of their free time, visit http://blog.centerparcs.co.uk/recommended-daily-free-time/

While the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has forecast that house prices in the UK will rise by around 3 per cent this year, a Times survey of leading economists has predicted that 2017 could be the year the London property bubble finally bursts, almost a decade on from the last market crash

This has led online estate agent eMoov.co.uk to investigate the impact any market crash could have on current property prices across the UK. During the 2007/8 crash, it wasn’t just London that saw property prices plummet, but the whole of the country.

“Although the UK property market as a whole is faring very well, there are signs that the London market, particularly the prime central end, is running out of steam heading into 2017,” said Russell Quirk, founder and CEO of eMoov.co.uk.

“Even so, it is unlikely that we will witness a market crash as monumental as the one we experienced a decade ago, so homeowners should rest assured that this research acts as a warning of what the worst case scenario might look like with London homeowners losing £858 a week in property value.

“However, it is a warning none the less and one that the majority of homeowners should heed. A turbulent year for the property market has seen many buyers and sellers back off from their sale or purchase and batten down the hatches to wait out the storm.

Quirk added: “Whilst the market itself remains resolute, it will inevitably stutter to a halt without the buyer-seller activity it needs to operate. Those considering a sale now would be wise to act before it’s too late, as a reduction in asking price of a few hundred pounds in the current market climate, is a lot easier to stomach than a loss of up to £80,000 a year or so down the line should the market crash.”

With house prices once again reaching a dangerously inflated level, eMoov looked at the decline in values between the end of 2007 and beginning of 2009 (21 months) across each region of the UK, before applying that percentage decrease to the current average house price to highlight the loss homeowners could experience this time round.

At the end of 2007 when the market was on the cusp of a meltdown, the average UK house price was £189,424. Property values then went into freefall until 2009, falling by 16.7 per cent (-£31,618).

If the same 16.7 per cent drop in values was seen today on the current average UK house price of £217,928, homeowners across the UK would see £36,393 wiped from their property price, £399 a week over 21 months, bringing it down to £181,535.

It is, of course, in London where homeowners stand to lose the largest sum should the market crash again in 2017.

During the last market crash, homeowners in the capital saw their property depreciate by 16.3 per cent, a loss of £48,421. However, since then the average London house price has soared to £481,648 but the same percentage decrease would result in a loss of £78,267 or £858 a week over 21 months, returning the average house price in the capital to just over £400k (£403,381).

Despite Londoners suffering the largest monetary loss, the capital didn’t see the largest percentage decreases during the last crash.

These were found in the South East (-17.6 per cent), the East of England (17.4 per cent the South West (17.2 per cent), the East Midlands (16.8 per cent) and the West Midlands (16.5 per cent), with homeowners in these regions seeing their property value fall by between £24,000-£42,000.

Although a market crash in 2017 would mean a smaller monetary loss than London, these homeowners would still be in line for a substantial hit, the lowest being a loss of £29,656 in the East Midlands resulting in the average house price falling to £146,868, climbing to £55,146 in the South East where the loss would reset the average house price to £258,188.

The ripple effect of the 2007 crash did reach north of the border, however at a drop of 7.4 per cent, homeowners in Scotland saw the smallest depreciation in their property values with a loss of just over £10,000. With the current average house price (£143,033) only marginally higher than it was in 2007, the same decrease in 2017 would result in a similar drop in values and an average house price of £132,449.

During the last crash Wales saw the third lowest fall in values behind the North East and Scotland. But the 15 per cent drop still equated to over £20,000 being wiped from the average house price of £148,565.

The property market in Wales has struggled ever since and the current average house price has failed to reach the peak of 2007, still at just £146,742.

Therefore, it is the only region where a crash in 2017 would actually result in a lower monetary loss for homeowners when compared to the previous crash. A 15% drop would see £22,011 wiped in value and a resulting average house price of £124,731.

Even tech-savvy Gmail users are falling victim to hackers who steal their login credentials, according to a security expert, who notes that increasingly sophisticated phishing techniques are being employed.

How does it work?

The hacker will first send you an email, which includes an attachment, according to Mark Maunder, the CEO of WordPress security plugin Wordfence.

When you click on the attachment to preview it, a new tab opens to what looks like a Gmail login page. However it isn’t genuine. If you enter your email and password, hackers will have stolen your credentials and have full access to all of your emails.

But why would I open the email from a random person in the first place?

Because the hackers have devised the email to look like it comes from one of your contacts, someone who is likely to have already been hacked by them.

The email will contain a subject line and the attachment from the contact may look familiar – they may use a subject line that your contact has used before – and rename the attachment to something plausible.

Once the hackers gain access to your emails, they will look for future targets they can send the phishing emails to.

Won’t I know something fishy is going on when I’m asked to login again?

Not necessarily, because the hackers have been very sophisticated when creating the phishing technique.

When you open the attachment and a new tab pops open, the URL will look something like:

data:text/html,https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?

That’s not a far cry from what it is meant to look like on the legitimate Gmail login page: https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?

And the login box, where you enter your email and password, looks like the real one.

How long has this phishing technique been going on for?

It’s been gaining popularity over the last year.

Surely if you’re tech savvy, you’re safe?

Sadly not. Even “experienced technical users” have become victim to the hacks, says Mr Maunder.

So how do I stay safe?

There are some checks you can do before typing in your login details: First, check the URL to see if it begins with: data:text.

Second, if you widen out the bar, you will see there is a lot of blank space which may not be visible at first. After the blank space is the file that actually opens in a new tab, informs Mr Maunder.

Also check to see if the URL has been verified. Depending on your internet browser, the https:// might be in green, and there may be a padlock symbol before it.

You can also enable a two-factor authentication for logging into your Gmail. So on top of the username and password, there would be an extra layer of security that will require an extra piece of information.

What if my account has already been hacked?

It would be best to change your password straightaway. Also you can check your login history to find logins from unknown sources.

Mr Maunder also recommends using a security researcher who can check if your email has been part of data leaks, but adds: “There is no sure way to check if your account has been compromised.”

When contacted by i for a comment, Google pointed to their Prevent & report phishing attacks page at https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/106318?hl=en

Google’s statement:

“We advise people to be careful anytime you receive a message from a site asking for personal information. If you get this type of message, don’t provide the information requested without confirming that the site is legitimate. If possible, open the site in another window instead of clicking the link in your email. You can report suspicious messages directly to us. Google will never send unsolicited messages asking for your password or other personal information.”

The following people were sentenced at Northampton Magistrates’ Court:

DECEMBER 2:

Joshua Benson, aged 22, of Ericsson Close, Daventry, no insurance; fined £400, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £40 and costs of £85, banned from driving for six months. Driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £133.

Francis Sinnamon, aged 28, of Lowlands Close, Rectory Farm, Northampton, driving at 57mph in a 50mph zone; fined £53, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and licence endorsed with three points.

Keith Watts, aged 61, of The Pound, Syresham, driving at 37mph in a 30mph zone; fined £333, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £33 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Jack Bayes-Bryan, aged 19, of Paddock Mill Court, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. Driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £220.

Tanausu Guerra, aged 31, of Elizabeth Road, Headlands, Daventry, failed to give information relating to the identity of a driver; fined £660, ordered to pay costs of £85, banned from driving for six months. Similar charge; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed.

Danielle Mathers, aged 24, of Aldwell Close, Northampton, failed to stop at an accident; fined £440, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £44 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. Failed to report an accident to police; fined £440. Driving without due care and attention; fined £220.

Joshua Price, aged 25, of Wadham Court, Stefen Hill, Daventry, failed to report an accident to police; fined £300, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £88, licence endorsed with eight points. Failed to stop; fined £180. Driving without due care and attention; fined £90.

Tyler Redhead, aged 21, of Eastfields, Braunston, failed to stop; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with eight points. No insurance; fined £660.

Beej Shah, aged 29, of Stoke Firs Close, Northampton, driving while using a mobile phone; fined £179, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Edwin Nyadzayo, aged 31, of Medway Drive, Northampton, failed to comply with a community order; order varied, ordered to pay costs of £100.

Richard Stuart, aged 32, of Rossiter House, Manor Road, Brackley, stole an industrial vaccuum cleaner worth £450; jailed for 12 weeks suspended for 12 months. Stole meat worth £25 from Co-Op; jailed for four weeks concurrent suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £115 and compensation of £30. Stole alcohol worth £52 belonging to Tesco; jailed for four weeks concurrent suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay compensation for £52. Stole alcohol worth £28 belonging to Waitrose; jailed for four weeks concurrent, suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay compensation of £28.

Alexandru Haiduc, aged 23, of Bedford Mansions, Derngate, Northampton, 19 offences of making off without paying for fuel, five offences of no insurance, obstructing a police officer; pleaded guilty and sent to Crown Court for sentence.

DECEMBER 5

Lisa Adams, aged 19, of Allen Road, Northampton, damaged a building belonging to Northants County Council; pleaded guilty and sent to Crown Court for sentence.

Morgan Boyce-Dawson, aged 19, of Booth Lane South, Northampton, damaged a building belonging to Northants County Council; pleaded guilty and committed to Crown Court for sentence.

Patrick Dangelo, aged 19, of Pine Close, Grange Park, Northampton, damaged a building; pleaded guilty and committed to Crown Court for sentence.

Kyle Epps, aged 22, of Louise Road, Northampton, no insurance, dangerous driving; pleaded guilty, sent to Northampton Crown Court for sentence.

Darren Clarkson, aged 41, of Entwood Drive, Northampton, breach of a court order; jailed for 18 weeks, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £115.

Edward Smith, aged 54, of Blacksmith’s Way, Hartwell, Northampton, failed to comply with a community order; no adjudication, dealt with original offence which was a racially aggravated assault; jailed for 26 weeks, suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay costs of £100.

Wayne Brown, aged 43, of Kingsland Avenue, Northampton, stole a breast pump worth £39 from Boots; conditional discharge for 12 months, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £20 and costs of £85. Stole children’s clothing from Asda; conditional discharge for 12 months, ordered to pay compensation of £70.

Jessie Bellham, aged 39, of Chaucer Street, Northampton, stole four bottles of perfume of £152 belonging to Tesco, stole cash from a domestic property, broke into Tanfast in St Leonard’s Road, Northampton, stole a blind from Dunelm Mill Store in Northampton worth £48.99, stole two pairs of shoes from a domestic property; pleaded guilty, sent to Northampton Crown Court for sentence.

Thomas Boom, aged 23, of Broadmead Court, St Albans Close, Northampton, stole a sanding disk worth £39.99 from Aldi; community order made, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £85 and costs of £85. Stole alcohol worth £12.99 belonging to Roade Services; community order made, ordered to pay compensation of £12.99. Conviction of an offence while a community order is in place; no adjucation, dealt with original offence which was theft of a DVD box set from Co-Op; community order made.

Warren McBridge, aged 31, of Maple Close, Braunston, drink-driving with a breath test reading of £500, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £50 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 20 months.

Craig Nutley, aged 39, of Milton Street, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 72mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; fined £785, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £78 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 18 months.

Geoffrey Timson, aged 68, of Southfield Road, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 116mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; community order made to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £85 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 24 months. Failed to stop at an accident; community order made to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

Fanseaco Daniels, aged 50, of Doddridge House, Castle Street, Northampton, used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour; community order made to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £85 and costs of £500. Assault; community order to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work. Resisted arrest; community order made to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work. Similar charge of resisting arrest; community order made to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work.

Nigel Harper, aged 53, of St Andrew’s Road, Northampton, had a pointed and sharpened arrow head instrument in a public place without good authority; jailed for six months, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £115.

DECEMBER 6

Vaida Lengviniene, aged 32, of Hembury Place, Northampton, non-payment of a fine of £811; further time ordered to pay.

Mojisola Afolabi, aged 52, of Oakleigh Drive, Northampton, damaged a car; fined £50, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30.

Cameron Anyinsah, aged 23, of Kettering Road, Nortampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Kevin Baker, aged 31, of Stanley Street, Northampton, driving at 49mph in a 40mph zone; fined £220, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Peter Bland, aged 31, of St Paul’s Court, Norfolk Terrace, Northampton, driving at 40mph in a 30mph zone; fined £88, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Tom Brown, aged 33, of St Andrew’s Road, Northampton, driving at 57mph in a 50mph zone; fined £220, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Ian Chiriac, aged 28, of Regent Street, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Martin Christie, aged 50, of Ladymead Close, Northampton, driving at 36mph in a 30mph; fined £40, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Luigi D’Elia, aged 26, of Heathville, Northampton, driving at 58mph in a 50mph zone; fined £220, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Jennifer Davidson, aged 43, of Wards Lane, Yelvertoft, failed to give information relating to the identity of a driver; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Leon Day, aged 39, of Hampton Street, Northampton, driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £220. No insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Marian Gheorghe, aged 43, of Sharman Road, Northampton, failed to produce a licence; fined £220, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85. No test certificate; fined £220.

Deimantas Markausakas, aged 28, of Berrywood Drive, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Anthony Negedu, aged 24, of Millbank, Northampton, driving at 62mph in a 40mph zone; fined £440, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £44 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with four points.

Amar Parshant, aged 29, of Winchester Road, Northampton, failed to give information relating to the identity of a driver; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Christopher Pearce, aged 29, of Saxon Rise, Earls Barton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

James Peck, aged 26, of Limoges Court, Northampton, failed to give information relating to the identity of a driver; fined £500, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £50 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Andrei Turca, aged 26, of Treetops, Northampton, no test certificate; fined £220, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85. Driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £220.

Ecaterina Turcan, aged 23, of Baker Street, Northampton, driving while using a mobile phone; fined £220, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Denis Vacarea, aged 26, of Harborough Road, Northampton, no rear lights; fined £220, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85. Faulty headlamp; fined £220.

Sitting for too long can age women by up to eight years, say scientists.

A study found those who did little exercise and spent ten hours of the day in a chair had cells that were biologically much older.

They had shorter telomeres - tiny caps found on the ends of strands of DNA that have been likened to the plastic tips on shoelaces.

These protect chromosomes from deterioration and progressively shorten with age - increasing the risk of disease.

Dr Aladdin Shadyab of California University in San Diego, said: “Our study found cells age faster with a sedentary lifestyle.

“Chronological age doesn’t always match biological age.”

Previous research has found sitting may be particularly harmful for women by raising their risk of cancer.

Those who sat more than six hours a day were ten percent more likely to develop the disease compared to those who sat less than three hours a day.

Most men in that study of almost 150,000 people did not appear to be at an increased risk from cancer from too much sitting.

The latest findings published in the American Journal of Epidemiology are based on almost 1,500 elderly women aged 64 to 95.

They showed those who managed less than 40 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day and who remained sedentary for over ten hours had shorter telomeres.

As a cell ages its telomeres naturally shorten and fray but health and lifestyle factors - such as obesity and smoking - may accelerate that process.

Shortened telomeres are associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and major cancers.

Dr Shadyab and his researchers believe they are the first to objectively measure how the combination of sedentary time and exercise can impact this sign of ageing - or biomarker.

The participants were from the larger Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) - a long-running study in the US investigating the causes of chronic diseases in post menopausal women.

They completed questionnaires and wore an accelerometer device on their right hip for seven consecutive days during waking and sleeping hours to track their movements.

Dr Shadyab said: “We found women who sat longer did not have shorter telomere length if they exercised for at least 30 minutes a day - the national recommended guideline.

“Discussions about the benefits of exercise should start when we are young and physical activity should continue to be part of our daily lives as we get older - even at 80 years old.”

He said future studies will examine how exercise relates to telomere length in younger populations and in men.

Doctors have warned sitting is the new smoking - with the average Brit now spending a ­staggering 8.9 hours every day sitting down.

That might be at work, in a car or on the sofa in front of the TV. Add another seven hours sleeping and that means most of us spend just one third of our time on our feet.

Those prolonged periods of inactivity increase our risk of obesity, but they also cause a staggering list of other conditions.

This includes heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, muscular and back issues, deep vein ­thrombosis, brittle bones, depression and even dementia.

Experts are now describing sitting as ‘the new smoking’, a ticking time bomb of ill health just waiting to explode.

The World Health Organisation has identified physical inactivity as the fourth biggest killer on the planet, ahead of obesity.

It now costs the UK economy more than £1billion every year in sick days due to back, neck and muscle problems and that figure is still rising.

Tesco has issued a notice recalling a popular ready meal

The health risk was sparked after it was discovered that the sauce coating Tesco Takeaway Butter Chicken contained nuts, which were not mentioned on the packaging.

This presents an obvious risk to customers with an allergy to nuts, and has left Tesco no option but to recall two batches of the product to protect the health of customers.

A Tesco statement, posted by the Food Standards Agency and published on the Chartered Trading Standards Institute website read: “If you have bought the affected products and have an allergy or intolerance to cashew nuts, do not eat it. Instead return it to the nearest Tesco store for a refund (no receipt is required).”

“Tesco is recalling the above product from customers and has contacted the relevant allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall. The company has also issued a point-of-sale notice in stores.”

No other Tesco products are known to be affected by this issue.

Particulars of the affected batch are detailed below:

Product: Tesco Takeaway Butter Chicken

Pack size: 385g

Use-by date(s): 24/01/2017 and 25/01/2017

Batch Code(s): L014K and L015K

Prezzo and Itsu restaurants plus pub chain Wetherspoons came bottom in a survey of sustainable seafood on offer at High Street eateries.

A lack of information about the sources of seafood is one of the biggest barriers for diners trying to eat seafood sustainably, according to the analysis.

Eleven High Street restaurant chains and pubs were assessed, totalling more than 2,000 branches nationwide, on the sustainability of the seafood that features on their menus.

Cafe Rouge and Bella Italia came out top, followed by Harry Ramsden’s, Beefeater, Côte Brasserie and Carluccio’s.

But Prezzo, Wetherspoons and Itsu were at the bottom.

Researchers from the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) and online restaurant guide Fish2fork found that, even when pubs and eateries buy seafood that is caught or produced responsibly, it can be difficult for the diner to tell which have made the effort to seek out sustainable supplies.

Transparency over the sources of king prawns and sea bass were the types of seafood used by chain restaurants giving the biggest causes of concern.

Wetherspoons and Prezzo both failed to make it clear on their menus where their king prawns derived. Itsu has prawns on its menus but fails even to say what type are used. Similarly, Prezzo served sea bass but failed to make clear if it was farmed or wild.

But Fish2fork and the MCS were pleased that chain pubs and restaurants are increasingly willing to switch to sustainable seafood.

Of the 11 chain restaurants and pubs assessed, just three failed to meet minimum standards of sustainability in the Fish2fork assessment criteria, which include the need to be transparent about sourcing.

During the ratings process six of the 11 restaurants changed their sourcing practices to be more sustainable.

These included Cafe Rouge and Bella Italia which have improved their Fish2fork rating over the last year. Cafe Rouge now gets a 3.5 blue fish rating and Bella Italia 3 blue fish, making them highly sustainable restaurants.

Tim Glover, managing director of Fish2fork, said: “It is fantastic that some of the UK’s most popular restaurants really are making an effort to seek out sustainable sources of seafood.

“But we are troubled that it is so often difficult for diners to know how sustainable a restaurant’s seafood is.

“We would urge restaurants to make a greater effort to make it clear on their menus where their seafood comes from, though we recognise that it can be difficult for them to get detailed information from suppliers.

“Sustainability is a vital ingredient in any dish, but diners shouldn’t be left to guess whether it’s there or not.”

Samuel Stone, of the MCS, added: “It’s brilliant to see so many high street restaurants now seeking more sustainable seafood, yet they need to bolster traceability and do more to tell their diners about the seafood they are serving.

“When eating out on the high street, diners need to know they aren’t going to be consuming seafood that is red rated or listed as Endangered.

“Telling diners where and how seafood has been produced and using the various seafood ecolabels available is key to this.”

Tim Doubleday, chief financial officer at Casual Dining Group which includes Cafe Rouge and Bella Italia, said: “We recognise the profound responsibility all restaurant businesses have in sourcing fish ethically and sustainably, and as such taking it extremely seriously, striving to be recognised as a leader in this area.

“We have worked hard to scrutinise our supply chain, systems and processes to categorically ensure sustainable sourcing across all our brands - Café Rouge, Bella Italia, Las Iguanas and La Tasca.”

Other restaurant chains praised for their level of seafood sustainability were Harry Ramsden’s, Côte Brasserie, Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, Carluccio’s and Eat.

The chain restaurants were rated according to the information on their online menus, websites and from what they directly told the researchers.

Fish2fork ratings are on a scale of 5 red fish, the worst, to 5 blue fish, the best.

The Ratings:

Cafe Rouge 3.5 blue

Bella Italia 3 blue

Harry Ramsden’s 2.5 blue

Beefeater 2.5 blue

Cote Brasserie 2.5 blue

Carluccio’s 2.5 blue

Brewers Fayre 2 blue

EAT 2 blue

Wetherspoon 0.5 red

Itsu 0.5 red

Prezzo 1 red

The four police forces of the East Midlands Operational Support Service (EMOpSS) are supporting a national campaign to raise awareness about tough new penalties for driving while using a mobile phone.

From March 1 2017, drivers will receive six points on their driving licence and receive a £200 fine. These changes will have a significant impact on young drivers in particular as they risk having their driving licence revoked following a first offence. Motorists will no longer be offered the opportunity to go on a driver awareness course.

Police forces, including the four forces of EMopSS, are working with road safety partnerships and the government during a week long campaign (from Monday 23 January to Sunday 29 January) to increase awareness of the changes to the legislation – the focus of the campaign is mainly on education. A second campaign will run in March which will focus more heavily on enforcement.

It is illegal to use a mobile phone, held in the hand, whilst driving or while stopped with the engine on, it has been illegal since December 2003 but there has been a worrying shift in attitudes to mobile phone use behind the wheel. The RAC surveyed 1,714 motorists and 31% of them said they used a handheld phone behind the wheel compared with 8% in 2014.

EMOpSS provides roads policing and collision investigation to the communities of Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire. It also provides armed policing response, firearms training and specialist search skills and dog support.

EMOpSS has been running a hard hitting campaign to highlight the horrific consequences of driving on a mobile phone under the banner #itcanwait. Officers have made a film with Liese Bowers-Straw from Kirkby in Ashfield who was left with serious injuries following a collision on the M1 in November 2014. The collision was caused by a driver who was using her mobile phone while driving.

A Fatal4 clinic will be held in Leicestershire during the week and officers and Special Constables will be patrolling in unmarked cars to tackle drivers on their mobiles.

Chief Inspector Mark Garthwaite is the lead for roads policing within EMOpSS said; “We want to draw attention to the risks drivers are taking by using their mobile phone while driving. What is concerning is that drivers aren’t just making a phone call they are texting and using the internet as well when they should be concentrating on the road. This campaign is about increasing awareness of the tougher new penalties and we’ll be sending messages out on social media throughout the week but officers will also be ticketing motorists who are caught using their mobile phones throughout the EMOpSS region.”

John Siddle, spokesperson for the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, said; “The offence of using a mobile phone whilst driving has long been in place yet some drivers feel their call is more important than the safety of other road users. Drivers behaving this way are often in the news when tragedy strikes and families are affected but drivers still believe it will not happen to them until it does. It is hoped that the new penalties, of 6 points and £200, will deter those drivers who put so much at risk. This dedicated campaign across our region will highlight the increase in penalties and in particular the removal of an offer of a course to negate penalty points. New drivers risk having their license revoked.”

National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Roads Policing, Chief Constable Suzette Davenport said: “This week forces will be working to make driving distracted as socially unacceptable as drink driving through enforcing strong deterrents and powerful messages to make people think twice about their driving habits.

“Encouraging results from last year’s campaign against mobile phone use show how effective new tactics and innovative approaches can be. Officers will continue to use intelligence-led tactics to target police activity and resources and catch repeat offenders.

“Forces will be working throughout the year to tackle this behaviour by motorists with national partners and the public.”

You can follow the campaign on social using the following hashtags: #eyesontheroad #mindsontheroad #itcanwait and #dontriskit.

Thieves stole wheels, tyres, and a skip, from businesses in Daventry in one night.

Northamptonshire Police say that between 10pm and 11pm on Sunday. January 15, offenders entered the yard of a business in Sopwith Way by damaging a fence panel. They then stolen 240 van wheels and tyres.

A skip was also stolen from nearby Brunel Close on the same night, items from which were found in the yard.

Officers would like to speak with anyone who saw a large vehicle or the skip being moved.

Anyone with information about these incidents are being urged to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, they can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Most workers believe that performance reviews are a waste of time, a new study has found.

Around two-thirds of employees, and managers, said that formal reviews were time-consuming and outdated, in a survey by software firm Adobe - who themselves have abandoned the process of formal reviews.

The survey of 1500 office workers also discovered that these annual evaluations are a stressful event - twenty-five percent of men (as opposed to 18 percent of women) have cried after a review from their manager.

Indeed, 30 per cent quit immediately afterwards, so it’s no surprise that fifty-five percent would rather see their employer get rid of or at least amend the review process.

Sixty-one percent of those surveyed said they would move to another identical job if the company didn’t do performance reviews, while forty-seven percent said they had have gone job hunting straight after a review.

A boy from Daventry who struggles to use a standard car seat without having problems with his legs is travelling in comfort after a charity stepped in.

Three-year-old Oliver Giles will soon be travelling in safety thanks to the donation of a specialist car seat from Newlife the Charity for Disabled Children, working in partnership with Marks and Spencer.

Oliver has a complex condition including cerebral palsy and microcephaly. He experiences muscle cramps in his legs, especially when his feet aren’t supported. He has been using a standard car seat, but mum Hannah Barnes regularly has to pull over at the side of the road to massage his legs in a bid to reduce the pain caused by the muscle cramps.

Hannah said: “I try to stick to short journeys only with Oliver, because of the terrible pain he gets in his legs.”

What Oliver needed is a specialist car seat with an adjustable footplate, along with a pommel to keep his hips properly positioned and additional lumbar support to help offset further health problems.

Hannah said: “Oliver hasn’t got the strength to sit upright and has a tendency to lean forward, so a specialist car seat with a five-point harness will not only keep him safe but support his health needs.

“Oliver weighs around 15kgs at the moment and the specialist car seat has an upper limit of 50kgs, so it will support him for a long time to come.”

With no funding available from local statutory services and the car seat costing £1,252, the family turned to Newlife charity for help.

Newlife is the UK’s largest charity provider of specialist equipment for children with disabilities and terminal illness.

A partnership between Newlife and Marks & Spencer is now providing the equipment.

M&S has worked in partnership with Newlife since 2006 as part of its Plan A commitments, donating returned products and clothing samples that cannot be sold, to the charity to be resold or recycled.

The majority of the donated products are sold in the Newlife SuperStore in Cannock and the charity recycles the remaining items, all to raise money for children with disabilities. In October 2010, M&S launched a grants scheme, which has specifically helped fund over 240 pieces of essential equipment, totalling in excess of £815,000 for disabled children in 
local communities across the UK.

Jacquie Leonard, community programme manager at Marks & Spencer, said: “Our partnership with Newlife is not only great for the environment but it also helps to improve the lives of disabled children by providing much-needed specialist equipment.

“We are delighted to be able to support such a vital charity.”

Sheila Brown OBE, chief executive of Newlife charity, added: “Our partnership with M&S benefits hundreds of children and their families. It is very encouraging to see the efforts of M&S in helping to improve the lives of disabled and terminally ill children within the local community and across the UK.

“Equipment that costs hundreds to several thousands of pounds really can transform lives.

“We are very grateful to everyone involved and would encourage other groups and individuals to keep fundraising to help us make a difference.”

A college in Daventry says it is the first in the area to have an enterprise advisor to bring students and employers closer together.

Northampton College has launched a ‘matchmaking’ service – aimed at pairing job-hunting students with potential employers.

As part of the new scheme, students at the college’s new-look Daventry campus will have the opportunity to work closely with local businesses and showcase their abilities to managers looking to recruit the workforce of the future.

The ‘Enterprise Adviser’ role has been funded by the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) and will see Craig Bartlett, a businessman who has held senior positions across industries including travel and hospitality, finance, manufacturing and IT in a 20-year career, working to help bring the business and education communities in Daventry closer together.

He said: “I was fortunate enough to have a strong education but throughout my time at school and university, I never really had any visibility into what different jobs in different industries actually meant for me. I just knew I would end up getting a job!

“Consequently, I never had a particular career in mind, and I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. If I am honest, I was also completely unprepared for the world of work and the responsibilities that it brings.

“I have been very lucky, but I now hope to able to bring my professional contacts and personal experience together in order to help our young adults get greater visibility of what opportunities are available to them, to perhaps help give them some direction if that is what they want, and to help businesses in Daventry to benefit from an educated, motivated and available local workforce.”

James Whybrow, assistant principal at Northampton College, said: “Craig has a strong track record of business growth, innovation and in building high performing and motivated teams.

“We are delighted to be working with him to give our students the best possible chance of finding high quality jobs in their local area, helping to grow the Daventry economy and build long-lasting relationships with local employers.”

Businesses will have the opportunity to meet both students and the enterprise adviser at the official launch of Daventry Campus in Badby Road West from 1pm on Tuesday, February 7.

Employers have been invited to the ceremony to pledge their support and help prepare young people for the world of work so they are better placed to meet future skills needs.

The college is looking to build strong partnerships with businesses who can offer work experience placements, site visits, workshops, presentations and help with designing the content of courses to be run as part of the Digital Academy.

Businesses interested in attending the official opening more information about the opening can register online or call 01604 734353.

Exceptional teachers and school leaders are invited to take the next step in their careers in Northamptonshire as part of a new campaign launched today.

Teach Northamptonshire, a three-year campaign and recruitment website listing all teaching and school jobs in the county in one place, has today been officially launched by Northamptonshire County Council, LGSS, and the Northamptonshire Teaching Schools Partnership.

The project seeks to help local schools more easily recruit exceptional teaching and leadership talent and to promote Northamptonshire as the ideal place to start and develop a teaching career.

Cllr Matthew Golby, Northamptonshire County Council cabinet member for children’s services, said: “Northamptonshire is a fast growing area, and the fact of the matter is, we simply need more teachers.

“We know recruitment is a significant expense and a strain on resources for our busy schools.

“The Teach Northamptonshire website offers a much more dynamic facility for schools to advertise jobs and track applications.

“By having all teaching vacancies for the county in one place, we can then market the teaching career opportunities the county has to offer to a national talent pool.

“By showcasing Northamptonshire’s schools and career opportunities nationally, we’re hoping to help schools recruit exceptional teachers, leaders, support staff and governors to be able to offer the very best education to our children.

“Our goal is to develop an expertly-qualified, Ofsted-Excellent teaching workforce by 2020.”

Teaching Schools Network Lead Charlie Furniss said: “Northamptonshire is an excellent place to pursue a teaching career, and we’re really excited to be able to shout about it.

“Thanks to a three-year initial funding commitment from the Schools’ Forum, a targeted marketing campaign will showcase the competitive career and development opportunities Northamptonshire is offering.

“We’re very proud of our strong school network.

“In addition to our Train to Teach programme and formal training and continuing professional development opportunities, there’s a very developed school to school support system for more informal placements and skill sharing.

Hannah Davis, a teacher of English who relocated from London two years ago, said: “I feel I’ve been incredibly supported here.

“Especially as an NQT it’s all a bit new and overwhelming but having the right support is the most important thing.

“If you are a good teacher, if you are enthusiastic and you’re keen, don’t be frightened to take that jump and apply.

“Now that I’m here, I really couldn’t see myself anywhere else.”

To find out more visit www.teachnorthamptonshire.com.

Aspiring trainees are invited to attend the next Train to Teach information evening from 5pm to 6pm on Thursday, February 2, at the Pen Green Centre, Corby.

RSVP at www.teachnorthamptonshire.com.

Award-winning Olympic and Paralympic athletes will be encouraging children to get active when they visit a number of primary schools across the county.

It’s part of a Sports for School project which involves a fun fitness session before a talk and assembly.

Staff and children at Weedon Bec Primary School are looking forward to welcoming Grant Turner on Febaruy 3.

The Sports for Schools scheme was set up in 2005 by former Great Britain gymnast Ben Brown.

Ben featured heavily in the Back the Bid Campaign which eventually saw London win as host nation of the 2012 Olympic Games.

He was forced to quit his passion and dream of competing at an Olympic Games due to the lack of much-needed funding in his sport.

Ben was motivated to ensure that this did not happen to other sporting hopefuls and has a desire to inspire children across the UK to take up sport and lead healthy lifestyles.

In 2013, Michael Ledzion took over Sports for Schools.

Since then the company has tripled the number of events run each year, and extended the scheme across the UK.

Michael said: “This country has a problem: too many people are overweight.

“The solution is simple: we need to eat better and eat less; and we need to do more exercise. Children need to do a minimum of one hour of moderate to vigorous exercise each day - which means breaking a sweat. It’s up to us adults to solve that problem.

“As a social enterprise, Sports for Schools puts social impact at the heart of everything we do.

“Our contribution is to bring GB international athletes into primary schools to inspire children to take up more sport and lead a healthy life.”

The programme operates through a fundraising initiative and helps raise money for PE equipment.

Hundreds of thousands of people up and down the country are expected to take part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend.

The annual event helps the charity build a snapshot of garden wildlife across the UK and this year, for the first time, the event has been extended for a further day into Monday, January 30.

A spokesman for the RSPB said: “It’s great fun to do, but the Birdwatch has a serious scientific purpose too.

“Since it began 37 years ago the Big Garden Birdwatch has provided a snapshot of how the birds and other wildlife using our gardens are doing.

“Numbers of familiar birds like starlings and song thrushes fell again in the Big Garden Birdwatch last year.

“Despite being ranked number two in the Big Garden Birdwatch table, the number of starlings visiting people’s gardens has fallen by 70 per cent since the first Birdwatch in 1979, and less than half of us saw them in our gardens during the 2016 Birdwatch.”

The top three visitors in the 2016 survey were sparrows, starlings and blue tits.

It is very easy to take part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch and warm-up events have already taken place at Stanwick Lakes, near Wellingborough.

All the details are available online at www.rspb.org.uk, where you can register for a free information pack.

Tesco has been accused of quietly reducing the size of its toilet rolls - by increasing the size of the HOLE in the middle.

Keen-eyed shoppers reckon the cardboard tube in the centre has expanded by 1cm while the overall width has remained the same.

The revelation comes after a number of brands and supermarkets have reduced the size of products or raised prices to offset the effects of Brexit.

Tesco insists there has been no change to the nine-pack of Luxury Soft Toilet Tissue and the price has remained the same at £3.35.

But shoppers reckon they have got a bum deal and have taken to Facebook to voice their anger.

Mum-of-two Sadie Parker, 27, said: “I was topping up the shelf in my toilet when I noticed that the holes in this week’s toilet rolls were so much bigger.

“My husband put one of last week’s rolls on top of this week’s and you can see that the new one has a hole that is about a centimetre bigger than the older one.

“My husband and I were trying to feel the toilet rolls to see how compact they were and they didn’t feel any different.”

In a random test conducted yesterday (Mon), the ‘old’ version featured 224 sheets but the ‘new’ ones with a larger hole had 208, 210, and 220 respectively.

A fall from 224 to 208 represents a seven per cent reduction in product.

Another customer, Gerard Henderson, wrote: “You could drive a bus through the cardboard tube in the middle of the white ones.

“They weigh less too. Looks like you are ripping us off, Tesco.”

A Tesco spokesperson commented on Mrs Parker’s post: “I have had a little look into this, and there has been no changes to this product since 2014.

“I am afraid this may be due to how it was packaged, or it could be deceptively wrapped.

“This product would be sold by its weight so you would still be getting the same amount of toilet paper as always.”

A Tesco spokesperson said: “We’d like to reassure customers our toilet rolls still provide the same quality, the same number of sheets, and the same great value as before.

“The only difference between the two rolls is a slight difference in the diameter of the cardboard tube.”

Caring estate agents have come up with a naan-tastic way of supporting a little boy from Newnham.

Harrison Murray residential and lettings teams in Northampton, Duston and East Hunsbury are sponsoring a curry tasting and music night to the tune of £500 to help 20-month-old Harry Charlesworth.

The funds give the event - which takes place at Newnham Village Hall on Saturday, from 7pm-11pm, a great platform to go on and raise lots of cash for the Helping Harry Trust.

Harry suffered a number of strokes at birth and has cerebral palsy. He also has a number of other complex conditions meaning he has significant ongoing healthcare needs.

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

HM’s Northampton office estate agency manager Alan Young, who this week handed the cheque over to Harry and his mum, said: “Harry has touched all of our hearts so it is an absolute pleasure to be able to support in this way.”

Harry’s mum Hayley Charlesworth added: “Support for Harry from local people and business has been phenomenal and Harrison Murray’s wonderful contribution is the latest example of this.

“On behalf of Harry and the rest of the family we thank them from the bottom of our hearts - estate agents often get a bad press but the people of Harrison Murray have stepped up and proved that they are extremely kind and care about the community.”

Tickets for the curry tasting night are available by calling Hayley on 07812 404982.

To find out more about Harry and how to help visit www.facebook.com/thehelpingharrytrust.

A two car crash near Cropredy required the services of the air ambulance after one car ended up in a hedgerow.

The accident happened at about 8.15 this morning, Tuesday, after two cars collided on Oxhey Hill, causing one of the vehicles to land dangerously balanced in a hedgerow.

Fire crews from Banbury, Chipping Norton and Deddington with additional assistance from Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service propped up the unstable car in order to secure it and safely remove the driver who was air lifted to hospital with serious injuries.

Steve Anderson from Banbury Fire Station said: “The two vehicles were badly damaged as a result of the impact and the position and stability of one of the vehicles created a highly challenging incident.

“The crews worked extremely hard to gain access to the casualty and successfully affect this rescue.

“This collision occurred on a rural road, in frosty and foggy conditions, the cause is not known at this time, but is being investigated by Thames Valley Police”.

Police believe another man wearing a hi-vis jacket and was travelling in one of the vehicles left the scene and may require medical assistance.

Sgt Mark Scully, from the Joint Operations Unit for Roads Policing, said: “I would like to trace the person who left one of the vehicles as soon as possible as he may have serious injuries which require medical attention.

“I would particularly appeal to anyone in the area of Cropredy and near the A423 to contact police if you see anyone matching the description of the man.”

Daventry’s Hellidon Lakes Golf & Spa Hotel is offering visiting golfers the opportunity to double their enjoyment with a BOGOFF offer: Buy One Get One Fourball Free.

Until March 31, golfers booking a fourball at Hellidon Lakes will receive a voucher entitling them to another fourball visit, to be used at the same property by the end of March.

The offer is sure to be a real boon for golf society organisers who are able to effectively halve their golfing costs in one fell swoop.

John Angus, QHotels’ group director of golf, said: “This offer is just another initiative in the QHotels’ drive to get more people playing golf and getting healthier. It’s ideal for golfers because they always ‘leave some shots’ out on the course - this way they get a quick opportunity to get back out there and put it right.” Visit http://bit.ly/QH-bogoff