People can try out orienteering at a special event at Daventry Country Park.

Runners and walkers are invited to Daventry Country Park on Saturday February 4 to try out this outdoor active sport.

The event will have starts from 10am until noon. Beginners and families will be especially welcome.

Octavian Droobers have planned courses from 1km to 5km and helpers will be on hand to instruct on how to read map, find the controls, and use the electronic timers.

There is no need to book in advance just turn up. Bring a compass if you have one.

Entry costs are £5 for seniors and £1 for juniors with an extra £1 for hire of timers.

Full details on www.octavian-droobers.org or telephone 01926 632189.

It was a chilly weekend with plenty of fun for scouts at their winter camp.

Scouts from all over Daventry District came together at Sir John Lowther Centre last weekend to camp in sub zero temperatures.

Traditionally known as the “Brass Monkey Camp” the camp is held in January and is a test of endurance for the Scouts (and leaders!).

Activities on the camp included branding, rifle shooting and orienteering. The Scouts also had to put up and take down their tents.

Rhys a Scout from 4th Daventry said: "I really like the camp, especially the tunnelling activity."

Alistair, a Scout from Ashby Scouts said: "It was really cold last night and I slept in my clothes which meant I didn’t have to change in the morning. I was really warm but I didn’t get a lot of sleep."

Jennie Curtis, a Scout Leader said: "These activities only happen when you get adults and young people working together. Although the temperature at night went down to -5, this did not stop the young people having a great time."

Highways chiefs have urged road users to follow diversion signs around a closed bridge on the edge of Northampton, after numerous reports of reversing lorries clogging up a nearby village.

The A1599 is currently shut while a work crew fixes the Spratton Sands Bridge, damaged in a car crash in last year.

But since work started on Monday, A number of people in Spratton have reported how lorries are taking a short cut through the tiny village - only to get stuck in the twisting turns.

On one occasion lorry was reported having to perform a u-turn on the village green.

Fiona Keable, said: "We've got issues in Spratton with cars and huge HGV's completely ignoring the closure signs and the getting stuck in our village.

"All hours of the day and night.

"In ten minutes yesterday, I watched two massive HGV's go straight through Spratton to the actual closure signs then reverse or try and u turn down residential village streets."

A Northamptonshire County Council spokesman, has argued, "clear diversion signs are in place."

The council spokesman said: "The closure to the A5199 was advertised well in advance with signage on the road and widespread coverage in the media.

"The official diversion route, which needs to include like-for-like roads, is via the A14 and the A508, which both receive precautionary gritting treatments when necessary."

However some villagers have disputed this.

Spratton resident Sally Fox, said: "The road closure on the A5199 is a joke, poorly marked diversions mean many lorries throughout the day and night are reversing up the road, cutting through housing estates, getting stuck in small roads in the village.

"Please do something, someone is going to get hurt."

Jennifer Grace saw a large petrol tanker even got stuck on the village green.

"There was a large petrol tanker that got stuck yesterday and drove over the village green! Large HGVs are using minor roads that are not gritted, there was a car in the hedge yesterday morning, it's awful!

A choir group from a village near Daventry have raised money for the town's hospital.

Members of the Whilton Community Choir have been collecting money at various events in aid of Danetre Hospital.

Last week members of the Friends of Danetre Hospital paid a visit to the choir at Whilton Village Hall.

Secretary Arthur Pritchett said: "Over the last two years they had amassed the sum of £556.60 from their various events and raffles and they wished to donate it to Friends as a token in memory of one of the villagers who had recently been cared for in Danetre.

"I was delighted to visit and accept the cheque and meet the team (who, by the way, are always looking for new members!).

"Well done, Whilton Warblers, and thank you."

The Friends of Danetre use money donated and raised by the community to provide specialist equipment, furniture and other items for use by patients and staff at Danetre that may not be available from the NHS.

An appeal for help to identify the man was launched by police on Wednesday evening after they became concerned for his immediate welfare.

The man was seen at around 6.45pm on Wednesday in the area of the Edinburgh Square Coop, on the Headlands, he then headed along the park on Wordsworth Road.

Northamptonshire Police confirmed at around midday on Thursday that they had identified him and were stopping their appeal for help.

Carers from Northamptonshire were honoured for the outstanding work they do for others at the annual Jane Roebuck Carers Awards at Barton Hall in Kettering yesterday (Wednesday).

Awards were presented to the Young Carer of the Year and Carer of the Year, with a Shining Star Award for a special person who goes that extra mile to support carers in sectors such as education, health and social care.

The prestigious awards ceremony was attended by mayor of Kettering Scott Edwards and a number of healthcare professionals.

The winners were:

Young Carer of the Year: Eevee Thomson, from near Overstone Park, Northampton

Eevee won the award for the care she provides to her father, who has respiratory difficulties and mobility issues. She has sole responsibility for the housework, shopping and cooking.

Carer of the Year: Susan Francis of Kingsthorpe, Northampton

Susan was given the honour for the care given to her childhood sweetheart who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She never complains and does everything she can for him.

Shining Star Award: Natasha Krywald of Rushden

Natasha was rewarded for setting up and running a support group for young carers at The Ferrers School in Higham. She is also currently writing a support guide for young carers.

Mark Major, director of Northamptonshire Carers, said: “Every year, thousands of carers across Northamptonshire play a vital role in supporting vulnerable people to live in the community, often in difficult circumstances.

“They make a huge contribution to the wellbeing of many people with significant health problems, and too often the good work that they do goes unrecognised as they support their loved ones with dedication on a daily basis.

“The Jane Roebuck Carers Awards puts these dedicated unsung heroes firmly in the spotlight as we honour the wonderful work that they do for others.”

The following people were also highly commended for their care:

Cordellia Adams, Great Doddington, Wellingborough

Miranda Stephenson, Daventry

Andrew Pounds, near Billing Park, Northampton

Jane Farrell, Crick

Juliana Barrick, Duston

Kim Allen, near Hunsbury Hill

Joshua Adams, Towcester

Jessica Mead, Kingsthorpe, Northampton

James Buckland, Desborough

Christine Miller, Wellingborough

Jo Smith, Northampton Academy

Usha Askaloom, Sponne Academy

Kim Tidy, St Christopher’s Care Home

Sue Walters, Loddington Primary School

Heidi Angel, Latimer Arts College

Susan Parry, St Andrews Healthcare Cliftonville

The infamous American size zero hit the headlines in the early noughties with mannequins, models and clothes shops appearing to promote the smallest dress size available to women and Britain’s high street still hasn’t escaped the trend

A number of mainstream high street chains stock the size in the UK (UK size 4), so should size 0 be available in UK clothes stores, or is its very availability a negative influence on vulnerable consumers?

One reader, who wishes to remain anonymous, contacted us after noticing Primark were stocking size 4 in the Northampton store. She told us: “I used to have an eating disorder and seeing size zero in shops makes people think it is a normal size and want to get to that size.”

The concerned reader added, “A few years ago Primark didn’t even sell size 6. So what’s happening to society?”

Aware of the sensitivities

Primark say they offer a range of sizes to cater for different customers.

A Primark spokesperson said, “Primark is very aware of the sensitivities involved in the sizing of women’s wear. The company offers great fashion in a wide range of sizes across the UK, from petite to large, starting from a UK size 4, and believes that the customer should have as much choice as possible.”

Sends the wrong message

It’s not just Primark stocking smaller sizes however as Topshop and Miss Selfridge are also among the brands to stock size 4. In contrast, H&M, River Island and New Look start their ranges at size 6 (UK).

Eating disorder charity, SEED Eating Disorder Support Services, believe the availability of size 4 on the high street isn’t benefiting the confidence of young people.

“Stocking size 4 clothes is sending out the wrong message to people,” says Marg Oaten MBE, Secretary and Co-founder of SEED Eating Disorder Support Services.

Marg adds, “I think it encourages people to strive for the often impossible when it comes to clothes shopping – if someone is unable to wear size 4 clothing this may also cause that person to experience a sense of personal failure.”

“If someone is a ‘natural’ size 4 then fine but honestly those people are few and far between,” she says.

“Society generates the sense of what is ‘healthy’ or ‘unhealthy’ – whether a person is size 4 or 20 they need to feel happy with the skin they are in.”

Do you think stores should stock size 4?

Daventry Town Council has started 2017 by forming a partnership with the town's Citizens Advice service.

The town council says the new partnership has been formed in response to the introduction of Universal Credit and subsequent rise in the number of people with personal debt.

The town council is providing a grant to Citizens Advice to recruit and train several volunteers to become specialist advisors within the field of benefits and debt.

Daventry Mayor, Councillor Glenda Simmonds said: “We are delighted to support Citizens Advice to enable them to help our residents with free impartial specialist advice when needed.”

The Chair of the Citizens Advice Trustee Board, John Donovan commented: “We are really grateful for the support of the town council and look forward to continuing to develop the relationship for the benefit of the residents of Daventry.”

Citizens Advice is based in The Abbey, Market Square, Daventry, NN11 4XG, and is open a Monday, Tuesday Wednesday and Friday from 10am until 3pm. There is no need to make an appointment.

A chef from the Daventry area is in the Antarctic as part of the team moving a British research base.

Richard Priestland, originally from Kilsby, works as a chef at the Halley VI Research Station, on the Brunt Ice Shelf along the coastline of Antarctica.

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is in the process of moving the base due to cracks appearing in the ice which threaten to leave the base floating on a giant iceberg.

Richard said: “My past jobs have included working in five-star hotels in London and Newbury to working in ski chalets in the French Alps and also time working in Manchester and the Cotswolds.”

Now rather than cooking with fresh ingredients in the green British countryside, he is dealing with tinned and frozen foods in a kitchen where the nearest food delivery is 40km away, and if you break a mixer it requires a replacement to be brought in from another continent.

Richard said: “Fresh ingredients are a real luxury, we had one delivery by boat around Christmas and the stocks are dwindling now. Only the potatoes and eggs have made it until now still fresh. Everything else is frozen or dried or tinned.

“It’s a real challenge using the different set of ingredients to what I’m used to in the UK.

“I’m required to cook ridiculous amounts of food here – a huge cooked breakfast, massive hot lunch with cake in the afternoon and a large dinner.

“Everyone leaves the base at the end of the season putting on so much weight.”

The Halley base, and its ancillary buildings such as the Drewery accommodation block, is designed to be relocated. The BAS is making the move now, during the Antarctic summer.

Richard said: “The weather is OK but very changeable, it hovers around -10C to -5C except when there’s a storm and it can plummet to -25C with five metres of visibility.

“Sometimes they have to put a ban on travel outside when it’s blowing a storm.

“The majority of the staff are based in a building on skis called the Drewery which is just a housing unit which they can drag. Other people are staying in modified containers and I’m staying in a tent at the moment which is freezing.

“The main base people see on TV and the internet only has enough space for the winter team to stay in.”

One in ten Brits reckon they NEVER have a good morning - and a quarter seldom enjoying more than two good mornings a week, a study has found.

The poll of 2,000 UK adults also revealed skipping the first meal of the day can come back to bite you throughout the day.

More than half the people who miss breakfast say it makes them more irritable and less able to concentrate.

And for four in ten it means they are more likely to have a bad day, with almost 90 per cent believing their morning sets the tone for their entire day.

People responding to the survey by belVita Breakfast admitted they were twice as likely to help someone out if they have a good start to the day (52%) compared to a bad start (23%).

And four in ten (39%) are more likely to wish someone else a ‘good morning’ if they’ve already been wished one themselves.

Nine in ten Brits also believe a good morning is contagious.

Daniel Kessler, for belVita Breakfast, said: “A good morning can set you up for the entire day and can be shared with those around you, which is why we’ve launched belVita Breakfast’s Good Mornings campaign.

“Our research shows that good mornings really are contagious and the simple act of eating a balanced breakfast can make all the difference to our mornings and the mornings of those around us.”

Women are likelier to pay a compliment if they’ve had a good start compared to men (52% compared to 39%).

Writer and teacher Dr Stuart Farrimond said: “We know that having a good morning sets us up for a positive start to the day but unfortunately they might not happen as frequently as we’d like.

“The research conducted by belVita Breakfast shows that having breakfast in the morning can be a step towards putting this right by setting us up for the day and increasing both our mood and performance.”

As a change in the law to increase punishments for those using their mobile phone while driving was announced on Tuesday, this dimwit driver was caught on camera doing just that.

He was a filmed by a fellow motorist’s passenger as he drove at high speeds.

The Government has announced plans to double the penalties for being caught using a phone behind the wheel to six points and a £200 fine in 2017. For people who have been driving for less than two years this could mean a ban for one offence.

Driving while using a mobile phone is considered one of the ‘fatal four’ driving offences, along with speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and drink or drug driving.

A police spokesman said: “Using a mobile phone whilst driving significantly increases your chances of being involved in a serious, even fatal collision.

“I hope this campaign helps to get an important safety message across to the public that using a mobile phone whilst driving is unacceptable. It puts not only your life at risk, but also the lives of others.

“We urge people to turn their phone off before they start their journey and put it away. Even a brief distraction could have serious consequences.”

The police said there has been a ‘big change in attitudes towards drinking and driving over the last 30 years.

“(It has got) to the point where most people think it is completely unacceptable,” a police spokesman added.

“Using a mobile phone while driving has been shown to have similar effects to being over the limit, so we’d like to see people’s attitudes to the issue change in the same way.”

A new programme has launched in Northamptonshire to help unemployed people get back to work.

Employment, skills and rehabilitation provider Working Links is delivering the voluntary programme after landing funding from the Department for Work and Pensions and European Social Fund.

The programme will help people with basic skills needs, lone parents, ex-offenders, substance misusers as well as people with health conditions or disabilities.

Using flexible and personalised packages of support, Working Links has partnered with a number of voluntary and public sector organisations to deliver the programme across Northamptonshire.

Working Links performance manager Sally Hackett said: “This new programme is all about maximising people’s potential, giving them the support, confidence and guidance to take their career to the next level.”

To find out more about how Working Links helps communities, call 0800 917 9262 or visit www.workinglinks.co.uk.

Northamptonshire Community Foundation has launched the Youth Social Action Fund designed to give young people the chance to lead change and make a positive contribution to their communities.

The foundation is one of 43 across the country, promoting the #iwill Youth Social Action fund.

The fund will offer grants between £1,000 and £5,000 for projects and activities raising the level and quality of youth social action in an area. Activities must be for young people between ten and 20 and up to 25 years for disabled young people.

#iwill aims to get six out ten young people involved in social action by 2020. Big Lottery Fund and the Department of Culture, Media & Sport have invested £20 million each to the #iwill fund to support young people to access high quality social action opportunities.

Victoria Miles DL Chief Executive, Northamptonshire Community Foundation, said: “We are extremely delighted to be delivering this much needed Youth Social Action Fund on behalf of an extremely strong partnership including the Department for Culture Media and Sport, the Big Lottery and our own local match funder The Wilson Foundation, who are donating £30,000 to enable us to double this fund that will help to raise the quality of and increase youth social action in Northamptonshire.”

Visit www.ncf.uk.com/Grants/Youth_Social_Action_Fund.

The following people were sentenced at Northampton Magistrates’ Court:

DECEMBER 7

Matthew Edgar, aged 30, of Derwent Close, The Grange, Daventry, assault by beating; conditional discharge for 12 months, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £20 and costs of £85.

Claire Bullough, aged 39, of Jervise Close, Southbrook, Daventry, harassment; community order made, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £85 and costs of £500. Failed to surrender to custody; no separate penalty.

Mark Chambers, aged 28, of Grafton Street, Northampton, assaulted a police officer; jailed for six weeks concurrent suspended for 12 monhs, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £115, compensation of £75 and costs of £85. Harassment; jailed for 12 weeks suspended for a year.

Edvard Tuciniskij, aged 26, of Alfred Street, Northampton, failed to comply with a community order; fined £120, ordered to pay £100 costs.

Mateusz Adamczyk, aged 23, of Cyril Street, Notrhampton, failed to comply with a community order; fined £100, ordered to pay costs of £100.

Victoria Lockhart, aged 36, of Thorpe Road, Earls Barton, non-payment of fine of £259.62; further time ordered to pay.

DECEMBER 8

Ryan Johnston, aged 21, of Dowthorpe Hill, Earls

Barton, assaulted a police officer; fined £280, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £30 and compensation of £200 and costs of

£85.

Thomas Beale, aged 26, of Old Town, Brackley, assault; jailed for four weeks suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £115, compensation of £300 and costs of £85.

Rosie Carter, aged 23, of Siward View, Ryehill, Northampton, assault; fined £100, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £30, compensation of £150 and costs of £85.

Mark Powell, aged 23, of Grafton Street, Northampton, failed to comply with a supervision order; jailed for 14 days.

Robin Bartley, aged 46, of Plantagenet Close, Brackley, non-payment of a fine of £340; further time ordered to pay. Non-payment of a fine of £541.21; court order made.

Kieran Brodie, aged 22, of Park Corner, Northampton, non-payment of a fine of £390; further time ordered to pay.

Marc Bailey, aged 43, of Abington Street, Northampton, together with another stole alcohol worth £263.77 belonging to Tesco; jailed for six weeks suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £115 and costs of £85.

David Buzzard, aged 39, of Raleigh Court, Northampton, possession of a class B drug; fined £25, driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £25. No insurance; fined £120, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with eight points.

Elliott Lamb-Johnson, aged 21, of Lingswood Park, Northampton, damaged a door at The Bantam public house; conditional discharge for 24 months, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £20, compensation of £200 and costs of £85.

Paul Lound, aged 35, of Ham Meadow Drive, Northampton, possession of cannabis; fined £80, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £30 and costs of £85.

Racu Viorel, aged 20, of Cranstoun Street, Northampton, had three lock knives in a public place without good authority; fined £250. No insurance; fined £250, ordered to pay costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Samanthan Wright, aged 39, of Overstone Road, Northampton, drink and disorderly; fined £40, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £30 and costs of £85.

Lee Hillery, aged 32, of Aynho Walk, Sunnyside, Northampton, used threatening or abusive words or behaviour; community order made to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim

services of £85 and costs of £85. Assault; community order made to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work, ordered to

pay compensation of £100. Resisted arrest; community order made to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work.

Lakusz Kazbruk, aged 33, of Austin Street, Northampton, used threatening or abusive words or behaviour; fined £150, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £30 and costs of £85.

DECEMBER 9

Jamie Henson, aged 29, of Station Road, Earls Barton, no insurance; fined £276, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £27 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Michael Lakey, aged 46, of Parkfield Road, Long Buckby, driving at speeds of 62mph in a 30mph zone; fined £400, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £40 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Antony Smart, aged 42, of Thomas Chapman Grove, Northampton, driving while using a mobile phone; fined £150, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £20 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points. Not wearing a seat belt; fined £150.

A family farm shop has been attracting customers left, right and centre, with its unusual sausage recipe involving a sparkling ingredient.

Manor Farm Shop and Garden Centre introduced their new prosecco sausage recipe in the run up to Christmas.

Staff had the intention of it being a festive treat, but a month later, sausages are still being sold and are as popular as ever.

The sausages, made using pork sausage meat, cranberries and prosecco, have been so in demand that butcher at Manor Farm Shop near Sleaford in Lincolnshire, Steve Archer, 35, is making them every week.

He has worked at Manor Farm for a few months, and is the man behind putting the ingredients together.

A supplier first put the idea out there, and it did not take long for staff to put the wheels in motion.

He told staff that shops could be adding prosecco to sausages, and it might be a good idea for Manor Farm shop to give it a try.

Steve Archer said: “There is a basic recipe that we use for pork sausages, adding seasoning, cranberries and then prosecco.

“There has been a fantastic response.

“We did it as a Christmas gimmick. People have been asking for it ever since.”

As Steve was the man who put the recipe together, The Standard asked what Steve thought of the sausages.

Steve said: “Cranberries and prosecco go well together.

“I am not a big prosecco drinker myself, but I absolutely love them, they are very tasty.”

These sausages have a slighter shorter shelf-life, and tend to be made towards the end of the working week.

They will be available mostly at weekends to purchase from Manor Farm Shop.

The new sausages have been such a success, that as long as there is a demand for the recipe, the prosecco sausages will keep coming.

Steve said about the sausages: “They were intended to grab attention, and came out quite popular.”

Sausage and prosecco lovers can buy sausages from Manor Farm Shop and Garden Centre, in Moor Lane.

The prosecco sausages are not the only unusual combination the shop has produced.

A toffee apple sausage introduced three years ago for bonfire night celebrations is still being sold at the shop, due to its popularity with customers.

Check out Manor Farm Shops Leasingham on Facebook for more information.

A ride-on replica of a Disney toy car has been tipped as one of 2017s top toys - despite costing a whopping £200.

The pricey battery-powered Cars’ Lightning McQueen vehicle - complete with ‘Lightyear’ printed wheels - has a maximum speed of just 3km/h.

Other pricey picks included a wooden ‘Forest Cottage’, a 40,000 piece Disney Moments puzzle, and a controversial ‘hoverboard’ - all at a mind-boggling £400.

The toys were on display as part of Britain’s biggest toy show, Toy Fair, taking place at Olympia Exhibition Centre in Kensington, west London.

Manufacturers including Lego, Playmobil and TOMY were among 250 exhibitors showcasing new products and reboots of old favourites at the three-day trade show.

The star of Toy Fair was Britain’s Got Talent 2015 winner Jamie Raven, who appeared at the show to launch a set of magic sets.

Magician Jamie, 32, stunned viewers of the ITV talent show and has had over 300 million hits on YouTube.

The four sets - Card Magic, Magic of the Mind, Street Magic and Sleight of Hand - hit shelves in February at £9.95 each.

Jamie said: “We have created the sets to empower budding magicians to fulfil their true potential and ultimately the confidence to deliver amazing live performances.”

Around 7,500 visitors are thought to attend Toy Fair, which played host to over 250 exhibitors across 22,000 square metres of Kensington’s Olympia Exhibition Centre.

Marking its 64th year, the annual trade show is run by the British Toy and Hobby Association.

Firm favourites marking anniversaries at the show included Teletubbies, who are celebrating their 20th anniversary, Fireman Sam, marking his 30th anniversary, and In The Night Garden, marking their tenth birthday.

A safety notice has been issued concerning a range of children’s toys by their supplier.

Customer feedback on the variety of wooden items from the Early Learning Centre (ELC) - has prompted the company - part of the Mothercare organisation - to advise customers to check the tightness of the wheel screws of the following:

ELC wooden pushchair (SKU: 141014)

ELC wooden kitchen (SKU: 141012)

ELC wooden workbench (SKU: (141013)

ELC wooden toddler truckSKU: (141208)

ELC wooden toddler truck pink (SKU: 141209)

The company added: “As part of your regular product maintenance please ensure that you regularly check the tightness of all fittings to prevent them from coming loose.”

ELC’s customer services can be contacted on 0371 231 3513.

Customer Care Lines are open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm Saturday and 9am to 5pm on Sundays. Calls cost no more than a national standard rate call.

Nine men arrested during yesterday’s Northampton Town match against Coventry City have been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Six arrests were made when people invaded the pitch and a further three when flares were let-off in the stadium.

Further work is taking place to identify others who may have been involved in the disturbances.

Superintendent Chris Hillery, head of local policing for Northamptonshire Police, said: “We are committed to working with Northampton Town Football Club to ensure that supporters attending matches at Sixfields have a safe and enjoyable time without fear of disturbances, inside or outside of the stadium.

“We will be speaking to the club and West Midlands Police in the coming week to establish what lessons can be learned from yesterday’s game.

“We are also gathering evidence to request football banning orders for those individuals who we believe were involved in the disorder and disturbances.

“All those arrested had travelled to the match with Coventry supporters.

“During the fixture we were made aware that some of the spectators in the away, South Stand, had planned a mass pitch incursion at a designated time.

“As a result, match officials turned off the scoreboard time display and officers were placed in front of the West Stand and in the players’ tunnel to prevent people intent on disorder entering these areas en masse.

“Despite the disruption there was no serious disorder, violence or injury.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Northampton Town fans who were well behaved throughout the match and stewards and police officers who prevented serious disorder from occurring in the town and at the stadium and protected people from harm.”

Anyone with information which could assist with the investigation can call Northamptonshire Police on 101 or 03000 111222 if calling from outside the county,or alternatively can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 111555.

Police are appealing for a missing woman to let them know she is safe and well.

Sophie Davis, 22, who has links to Northampton and Cambridge, was last seen in Coventry at the start of December.

She is white, of large build with very long brown hair.

A police spokesman said: “Officers would like to speak to Sophie or anyone who may know of her whereabouts.”

Sophie, or anyone who may have seen her since December 5, is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Police have made an appeal to try and find this man.

A police spokesman said: “Police have growing concerns for the welfare and whereabouts of 51-year-old Terry Brittain.”

He has been described as white, large build, bald and was last seen wearing grey jogging bottoms, purple t-shirt and a green jacket with white shoes.

Any sightings should be reported to Northamptonshire Police’s control room on 101 or if calling from outside of Northampton on 03000 111222.