Children at Byfield Primary School are looking forward to reading some fabulous new books, thanks to a generous donation.

Taylor Wimpey has given £250 to the school to fund new books for the school library.

The donation was part of the recent World Book Day, a national event which aims to encourage children to enjoy reading, and which this year celebrated its 20th birthday.

David Hibbert, headteacher at Byfield Primary School, said: “We are very grateful to Taylor Wimpey for this kind donation.

“It’s great to be able to add to the choice of books on offer in our library for the children to read and it’s also really inspiring for them to see how much a business like Taylor Wimpey values reading.

“Our eager readers are now really looking forward to getting stuck into their new books.”

The 20th annual World Book Day took place on Thursday 2nd March to celebrate authors, illustrators and books, and to get more children reading.

Gareth Jacob, regional sales and marketing director for Taylor Wimpey, said: “Reading is such an important skill, as well as being great fun, so we are delighted to be making this donation to support Byfield Primary School.

“It’s a great example of the way we are committed to supporting schools and other local organisations within the communities in which we build our new homes.

He added: “We hope the children really enjoy these new books.”

Tesco is recalling a popular ready meal due to the presence of egg which is not on the label.

The supermarket giant is calling back a line of frozen Spaghetti Bolognese which is a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to egg.

The recall of the 400g pack applies to all date codes.

A company statement read: “If you have bought the above product and have an allergy or intolerance to egg, do not eat it. Instead return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund.”

No other Tesco products are known to be affected.

A popular sight for visitors to the annual Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rallies has been consigned to canal history.

This is thanks to a dredging exercise of the canal outside Braunston Marina, which was sponsored by the rally’s co-host Braunston Marina.

Tim Coghlan, owner of Braunston Marina, said: “This winter, using the expert services of GJP Marinas, we carried out a major long-overdue dredging exercise to the ancient canal reservoirs, which together since 1962 have formed the marina water-space. We are fortunate to own the adjacent seven acre field where we can dispose of the dredgings, eventually spreading them over a wide area, so in time they are hardly noticeable.

“The dredging exercise was proving such a great success, that I was inspired to dredge the canal betwby een the two marina entrance bridges. The shallow canal had become a major problem at our rallies, by causing havoc to the parades of 80 plus historic narrowboats, and restricting the number we could moor in that very popular area.

“Once I had the idea, I approached the CRT, who own the canal and also support our Rally, and they were brilliant. Like something out of TV’s Anekka Rice, within days local canal engineer Lea King and his team had carried out all their required checks, including lab tests of the dredgings for any contamination, of which fortunately there was none.”

It cost Braunston Marina some £6,000, but Mr Coghlan said he hopes it will prove to be money well spent.

Vicky Martin, Waterways Manager South East said: “We really appreciated Braunston Marina’s generosity, and I am sure it will make a significant difference for boaters in general, and in particular, over the Braunston Historic Rally weekend.”

This year’s Braunston Histroic Narrowboat Rally will be held over the weekend of June 25 -25.

It’s hard not to notice that the range of gluten-free foods available in supermarkets has increased massively in recent years.

This is partly because the rise in the number of people diagnosed with coeliac disease and gluten sensitivity, and partly because celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Miley Cyrus and Victoria Beckham have praised gluten-free diets. What used to be prescription-only food is now a global health fad. But for how much longer? New research from Harvard University has found a link between gluten-free diets and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Gluten is a protein found in cereals such as wheat, rye and barley. It is particularly useful in food production. For example, it gives elasticity to dough, helping it to rise and keep its shape, and providing a chewy texture. Many types of foods contain gluten, including less obvious ones such as salad dressing, soup and beer.

The same protein that is so useful in food production is a nightmare for people with coeliac disease. Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the body mistakenly reacts to gluten as if it were a threat to the body. The condition is quite common, affecting one in 100 people, but only a quarter of those who have the disease have been diagnosed.

There is evidence that the popularity of gluten-free diets has surged, even though the incidence of coeliac disease has remained stable. This is potentially due to increasing numbers of people with non-coeliac gluten sensitivity. In these cases, people exhibit some of the symptoms of coelaic disease but without having an immune response. In either case, avoiding gluten in foods is the only reliable way to control symptoms, which may include diarrhoea, abdominal pain and bloating.

Without any evidence for beneficial effects, many people without coeliac disease or gluten sensitivity are now turning to gluten-free diets as a “healthy” alternative to a normal diet. Supermarkets have reacted to meet this need by stocking ever growing “free from” ranges. The findings of this recent study, however, suggest that there could be a significant drawback to adopting a gluten-free diet that was not previously known.

Inverse association

What the Harvard group behind this study have reported is that there is an inverse association between gluten intake and type 2 diabetes risk. This means that the less gluten found in a diet the higher the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The data for this exciting finding comes from three separate, large studies which collectively included almost 200,000 people. Of those 200,000 people, 15,947 cases of type 2 diabetes were confirmed during the follow-up period. Analysis showed that those who had the highest intake of gluten had an 80% lower chance of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those who had the lowest levels of gluten intake.

This study has important implications for those who either have to avoid or choose to avoid gluten in their diet. Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition that affects more than 400m people worldwide – a number which is certain to increase for many years to come.

Collectively, diabetes is responsible for around 10% of the entire NHS budget and drugs to treat diabetes alone cost almost £1 billion annually. There is no cure for type 2 diabetes and remission is extremely rare. This means that once diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, it is almost impossible to revert back to being healthy.

It is important to note that the data for this study was retrospectively gathered. This allows for very large numbers to be included but relies on food-frequency questionnaires collected every two to four years and the honesty of those recruited to the study. This type of study design is rarely as good as a prospective study where you follow groups of people randomly assigned to either have low- or high-gluten diets over many years. However, prospective studies are expensive to run and it’s difficult to find enough people willing to take part in them.

While there is some evidence for a link between coeliac disease and type 1 diabetes, this is the first study to show a link between gluten consumption and the risk of type 2 diabetes. This is an important finding. For those who choose a gluten-free diet because they believe it to be healthy, it may be time to reconsider your food choices.

By James Brown, Lecturer in Biology and Biomedical Science, Aston University

This article originally appeared in The Conversation

Daventry Charter Trustees secretary Geoff Moore is pictured here polishing the old imperial measures found in the Moot Hall’s Heritage Museum.

At the time Daventry District Council was discussing plans to turn the 18th century building into a museum of local history. The photograph was taken in November 1982.

The measures date back to 1825 and were designed to help tradesmen dispense their products accurately in imperial weight or volume.

The bigger measures are accompanied by a smaller set, which can be seen atop the largest measure in the centre of the photograph, arranged in order of height.

It is not clear what the measures are made of, but the material does strongly resemble silver.

Daventry’s Moot Hall was built in 1769 and has, in addition to its stint as a museum, served a variety of purposes throughout its existence including a women’s prison and town council building.

A Northamptonshire man whose “aggressive and impatient” overtaking manoeuvre caused the death of a bride-to-be just weeks before her big day has been sent to jail.

A Northamptonshire man whose “aggressive and impatient” overtaking manoeuvre caused the death of a bride-to-be just weeks before her big day has been sent to jail.

William Tomlinson was driving a Ford Mondeo on the A46 Newark Bypass on May 22, 2015, when he suddenly pulled out from behind the Vauxhall insignia travelling in front of him when exiting Farndon roundabout.

Two-thirds of the 59-year-old’s vehicle crossed into the oncoming lane causing Jessica Wallace - travelling in the opposite direction at a closing speed of 100mph- to swerve and lose control of her vehicle.

She was killed instantly when her Ford Focus ploughed into a lorry travelling behind Mr Tomlinson. The 28-year-old project manager was just 10 weeks away from her wedding day to fiance Christopher Evans.

Sentencing Tomlinson, of The Banks, Kilsby, to a year in prison, judge Adrienne Lucking QC said no custodial term could bring back a loved one. She said: “The body language of your vehicle was that of an impatient and aggressive overtaking manoeuvre - I am sure you were trying to force a middle path so they would have to give way to you.

“You moved out too far into the opposing lane. “I’m satisfied your driving fell just short of dangerous driving.”

The court heard how investigations on Miss Wallace’s car found she had incorrectly set up steering geometry at the time of the collision.

But judge Lucking QC was not satisfied the fault would have caused Miss Wallace to collide with the lorry. Part of Tomlinson’s defence case at trial was that Miss Wallace’s decision to steer left sharply on seeing Tomlinson’s car was an “over-reaction”.

But again this was dismissed by the judge, who said she found this line of defence “unattractive.”

Tomlinson kept his eyes closed as prosecutor Sarah Gaunt summarised the effect Miss Wallace’s death had on her fiance’ Christopher Evans’ life.

She said: “He is still unable to stop the tears. He was unable to say goodbye, which he found so cruel. “It was particularly traumatic.”

Mrs Wallace’s family were unable to see her body, such was the extent of the injuries, the court heard. Though judge Lucking QC said Tomlinson had shown no remorse throughout his trial, she accepted that the 59-year-old has since come to regret his actions on that day.

Mitigating for him, Tom Gent, said: “There has been a change in light of the jury’s verdict. He has expressed this to me and to his probation officer.”He is absolutely clear now made a terrible error in doing what he did.

No longer does he believe there was no fault lying with him. “It is a misjudgement he bitterly regrets.”

Tomlinson was also banned from driving for four-and-a-half years and will be made to take a re-test following the ban. He will serve half of his prison term in custody and the remainder on licence.

Shoppers are turning to discount supermarkets more than ever, according to new data.

Aldi and Lidl have grabbed their largest-ever share of the grocery sales, with the German-owned traders accounting for a total of 12 per cent of the market.

This adds up to almost £1 in every £8 of the UK’s grocery spend being in one of the ‘big two’ discounters.

Of the ‘Big Four’, Morrisons performed most strongly, with year-on-year sales up 1.9 per cent.

Tesco still has the largest UK market share, at 27.4 per cent. Their recent business overhaul saw a 0.8 per cent increase in sales in the 12-week period, outperforming rivals Sainsbury whose sales were down 0.3 per cent, while Asda sales also declined, by 0.9 per cent.

The research, by analysts Nielsen, found that Aldi’s sales grew 12 per cent year-on-year in the 12 weeks to February 25,

LIdl’s sales also rose, by 9.1 per cent over the same period.

Iceland also saw their sales on the increase with a rise of 5.6 per cent.

Overall, sales across the UK’s supermarkets rose by 1.1 per cent.

Takeaway menus, old mobile phones and bits of string are among the things cluttering up our homes, according to a new study.

And although we are in National Spring Clean Week, we wait an average of six years to have a clear out.

The survey has revealed just how much Brits hoard in their homes. 80 per cent of us admit to having a ‘drawer of clutter’.

The most common contents of these stoor-infested hidey-holes tend to be batteries (69 per cent), Sellotape (66 per cent) and chargers and plugs (63 per cent).

‘How Clean Is Your House’ star Aggie MacKenzie said: “These results revealing that eight out of 10 of us have a guilty drawer of hidden mess aren’t surprising – it seems to be a household staple - and whilst its contents can be of use, there are items in there that would be better used by someone else.”

Happily, when we eventually do get round to that spring-clean, we do put out unwanted items to good use. 65 per cent of us say we give our items such as clothes, DVDs and home ware to charity after a clear out.

However, while the survey found that 57 per cent of us have old phones lying around at home, and 70 per cent of us say we’ll use these items again one day, the research reveals that this isn’t the case.

Indeed, 22 per cent of those questioned were unaware of recycling options for old phones.

Three UK have Freepost envelopes available in their stores so that anyone wanting to send an old mobile for charitable collection can do so via their Reconnected scheme. See www.three.co.uk.

The top items people have in their drawer of junk:

Batteries – 69%

Sellotape – 66%

Chargers and plugs – 63%

Pens and Pencils – 62%

Unused mobile phones – 57%

String – 48%

Calculator – 41%

Takeaway menus and leaflets – 35%

One in seven people pick a cat or dog based on how many ‘likes’ they think their pet will get on social media, a new survey has found.

The research, carried out by pet charity Blue Cross, also shows more than two thirds of Brits (67 per cent) follow a feed on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest that is ‘run by’ or dedicated to a breed of animal.

Pugs and French Bulldogs were named the most popular breeds of dogs shared on Instagram, with tabby and Maine Coon leading the way for the cats.

But the Blue Cross is appealing to pet owners to put aside love about likes when choosing their new family member.

Mandy Jones, director of rehoming, said: ‘We certainly sympathise with anyone who loves taking photos of their pets or following cats and dogs on social media, but we wish we could get our homeless pets the same numbers of followers!

‘We love every breed; be they pugs and bulldogs or mongrels and mixes.

‘Choosing based on fashion can lead to heartache too; the current fashion for flat faced dogs is resulting in thousands of puppies being born who will have a lifetime of chronic health problems due to being unable to breathe comfortably.’

One in 10 people follow more than 10 animal accounts online, while 12 per cent pet of owners or would-be owners said although they conducted thorough research before choosing their new pet, they were initially attracted to their breed because of images seen on social media.

TOP 5 DOGS BY HASHTAG USE:

Pug (34.5m)

French Bulldog (24.4m)

Chihuahua (21.4m)

Bulldog (18.7m)

Husky (12.9m)

TOP 5 CATS BY HASHTAG USE:

Tabby (4.5m)

Maine Coon (4m)

Bengal (3.6m)

Siamese (3.5m)

Persian (2.4m)

The following people were sentenced at Northampton Magistrates’ Court:

JANUARY 20:

Jamie Fowkes, aged 44, of no fixed abode, entered a building in Gold Street, Northampton, with intent to steal; jailed for six weeks, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £115 and costs of £40. Entered another building in Gold Street with intent to steal; jailed for six weeks consecutive. Commission of a further offence while subject to conditional discharge order; no action taken.

Jamie Kightley, aged 23, of Thorn Hill, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 60mcgs of 100mls of breath; jailed for four weeks concurrent; banned from driving for three years. No insurance; no separate penalty. Assault; jailed for two weeks concurrent, ordered to pay compensation of £50. Driving while banned; jailed for 16 weeks, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £115 and costs of £85.

Carl Ward, aged 37, of no fixed abode, entered a building in Gold Street with intent to steal; jailed for six weeks suspended for six months, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £115 and costs of £40. Entered another building in Gold Street with intent to steal; jailed for six weeks consecutive. Entered another building in Gold Street with intent to steal; jailed for six weeks consecutive.

Pauline Barnes, aged 58, of Nelson Close, Daventry, non-payment of a fine of £1,234; further time ordered to pay.

JANUARY 23:

Liam Smith, aged 23, of The Banks, Long Buckby, failed to notify the Department for Work and Pensions of a change of circumstances; community order made to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work; ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £60 and costs of £85. Failed to notify Daventry District Council of a a change in circumstances realting to housing benefit; community order made to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

Callum Sykes, aged 20, of no fixed abode, failed to surrender to custody; jailed for six weeks concurrent, suspended for six months, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £115. Had a locking blade in All Saints Churchyard with no good reason or lawful authority; jailed for two weeks consecutive suspended for six months. Had a lock knife in a public place in Long Buckby; jailed for six weeks suspended for six months.

Mark Culverhouse, aged 27, of Fullingdale Road, Northampton, breach of a court order; jailed for 21 weeks, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £115. Damaged a window; no separate penalty. Assault; no separate penalty. Assaulted a police officer; no separate penalty.

Michael Finn, aged 74, of Pyramid Close, Northampton, breach of a court order; jailed for 26 weeks, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £115.

Ioan Moise, aged 24, of Lee Road, Northampton, failed to surrender to custody; fined £200, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £30.

Mark Culverhouse, aged 27, of Alliston Gardens, Northampton, non-payment of a confiscation order of £1,710; court order made.

Levina Lawes, aged 35, of Artizan Road, non-payment of a fine of £480; court order made.

Chereen Scotland, aged 20, of no fixed abode, stole items from One Stop Shop; jailed for two weeks suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £115 and compensation of £751.81. Stole wine from One Stop Shop; jailed for two weeks consecutive suspended for 12 months. Stole wine worth £314.80 belonging to One Stop Shop; jailed for two weeks consecutive suspended for 12 month. Stole mince and bacon from One Stop Shop; jailed for two weeks suspended for 12 months. Stole washing products worth £135.66 from One Stop Shop; jailed for two weeks consecutive suspended for 12 months.

Ahmed Ali, aged 27, of Wellington Street, Northampton, possession of cannabis; fined £80, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £30 and costs of £85.

Daryl Brawn, aged 26, of Pippin Lane, Northampton, damaged a car; community order made to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £85, compensation of £659.04 and costs of £85.

Chloey Brown, aged 26, of Rookery Lane, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 96mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; fined £500, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £50 and pay costs of £85, banned from driving for 24 months.

Lucy Clapton, aged 35, of Hawthorn Road, Northampton, drink-driving with a blood test reading of 291 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood; community order to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £85 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 32 months.

Justin Dizon, aged 25, of RAF Croughton, Croughton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 59mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; fined £240, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £30 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 16 months. No insurance; no separate penalty.

Michael Farrand, aged 49, of High Street, Weedon, drink-driving with a blood test reading of 186 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 mls of blood; fined £500, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £50 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 20 months.

Faye Jordan, aged 34, of Hazel Copse, Grange Park, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 80mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; fined £250, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £30 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 36 months.

Harry Sillett, aged 20, of Berrydale, Northampton, stole a car; community order made, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £85 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 12 months. No insurance; no separate penalty. Driving not in accordance with a licence; no separate penalty.

Adam Richards, aged 28, of Newnham Road, Northampton, damaged a car park exit machine worth £4,733.86; conditional discharge for two years, ordered to pay compensation of £500.

JANUARY 24

Robert McArdle, aged 37, of Rossiter House, Manor Road, Brackley, stole two bottles of Bacardi Rum, one bottle of Jim Beam Bourbon Whiskey and one bottle of Courvoisier Cognac belonging to Waitrose worth £76.50; fined £200, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £30, compensation of £76.50 and costs of £85.

Michael Holt, aged 36, of Towcester Road, Northampton, non-payment of a fine of £1,405; court order made.

Jamie Berwick, aged 37, of Darwin Walk, Duston, assault; jailed for 12 weeks suspended for 24 months, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £115, compensation of £75 and costs of £85. Damaged a window; no separate penalty.

Joseph Moran, aged 24, of Onley Park, Barby, assault; jailed for six weeks, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £115. Assault; jailed for six weeks.

Julia Nash, aged 34, of North Holme Court, Northampton, stole alcohol from Asda; jailed for two weeks consecutive. Stole alcohol worth £24 from Asda; jailed for two weeks. Stole alcohol worth £68 belonging to Waitrose; jailed for two weeks consecutive. Stole meat from Co-Op; jailed for two weeks consecutive. Stole alcohol worth

£55 belonging to Waitrose; jailed for two weeks consecutive/ Stole an electric

razor worth £159.99; jailed for two weeks consecutive. Stole a tap worth £90 belonging to B&Q; jailed for two weeks consecutive. Stole alcohol worth £74; jailed for two weeks consecutive. Stole fragrances worth £128 belonging to Boots; jailed for two weeks, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £115. Failed to surrender to custody; no separate penalty. Stole alcohol worth £135 from Asda; jailed for two weeks consecutive. Overall length of sentence, 20 weeks.

Patrick Myers, aged 52, of Blackberry Lane, Northampton, intent to cause harassment and distress; court order made, fined £300, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £30, compensation of £300 and costs of £600.

Oliver Ramsey, aged 24, c/o Acre Close, Daventry, assault; community order made. Assault; community order made, ordered to pay compensation of £500, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £85.

JANUARY 25

Marcin Baszkowki, aged 39, of Oakley Street, Northampton, assault; conditional discharge for 12 months, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £20 and costs of £85. Damaged a mobile phone; conditional discharge for 12 months.

Perry Geoghegan, aged 28, of Rotherhithe Close, Northampton, assault; conditional discharge for 12 months, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £20 and costs of £85.

Jordan Henry, aged 21, of no fixed abode, damaged a glass window; conditional discharge for 12 months, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £20 and compensation of £200.

Tatjana Jadevicus, aged 29, of Booth Meadow Court, Northampton, assault; 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 £620. Assault; community order made to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work.

Fuhad Uzzaman, aged 31, of no fixed abode, harassment; communty order made to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £85 and costs of £85.

Nabil Houri, aged 22,

of Marshleys Court, Northampton, used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards a police officer; fined £200, ordered to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £30 and costs of £85. Possession of cannabis; fined £130. Failed to surrender to custody; no separate penalty.

Legendary TV dating show makes its return to our screens this year and the production company behind it is looking for Northamptonshire singletons to take part.

The classic TV show, made famous with Cilla Black as host, is looking for single people for the programme who would like a chance at love and believe they have something wonderful to offer someone and can talk about it on national television.

If you’re over the age of 18 you can apply to the show by emailing BlindDate@sotelevision.co.uk with reasons as to why you should be on the show.

The deadline for applications is Sunday March 12.

A warning has been issued about a potential scam which involves the sending of fake emails or texts offering a tax rebate.

Action Fraud - the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime - has received reports of phishing emails/texts claiming to be from HMRC .

After either downloading a file attached to the emails or clicking on a link, victims’ devices have been infected with Dridex (a type of banking malware) or Locky ransomware (which locks devices and demands a ransom) from a hacked website.

When victims click on the link in the HMRC spoofed texts they are redirected to a registration page requesting personal details.

The emails and texts appear genuine and the victims who provided their personal details have consequently had direct debits, mobile phone contracts and new bank accounts set up using their personal information.

HMRC have pointed out that they would never contact people using these methods.

Action Fraud advise anyone who believes their details may have been compromised to report the incident to Action Fraud via www.actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud where they can receive a police crime reference number.

Children’s retailer Toys R Us has recalled a product over fears that children could choke on its parts.

The Kids II Oball rattle features a chamber containing small parts. It has been found these can escape, presenting a choking hazard to children under three years of age.

The products in question are the Kids II, Inc. Oball Rattles 81031, sold to consumers after January 1 2016, with one chamber containing all orange beads and the following ‘T’ date codes: T3065, T0486, T1456, T2316 and T2856.

The date code is located on a small triangle on the inner surface of the product.

Anyone having purchased one of the items in question can return it to the point of purchase for a refund.

More information at www.kidsii.com

A man was attacked while walking through Daventry on Sunday morning

Northamptonshire Police say that on Sunday, March 12, the victim was making his way home along Ashby Road when at around 2am, close to the Shackleton Drive junction, he was approached by a man who attacked him in the face.

A person was seen hanging around the vicinity of Ashby Road, near the junction with Shackleton Drive, from around midnight.

Police say the offender is described as a white man with a medium build and around 5ft 8ins tall. He was wearing a black hooded top with the hood worn up, black tracksuit bottoms and white trainers.

Anyone with information can contact Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, they can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Terminal illness charity Marie Curie is asking people of Northamptonshire to volunteer to collect for its Great Daffodil Appeal in March and April.

Volunteering for two hours as the first daffodils of the year begin to bloom, by giving out daffodil pins in return for a donation, can help Marie Curie nurses be there for people living with a terminal illness in their own homes.

The Great Daffodil Appeal is Marie Curie’s biggest annual fundraising campaign, which takes place throughout March, but the charity needs people from Northamptonshire to sign up to volunteer now.

Laura Foy, community fundraiser for Marie Curie said: “We are calling on the people of Northamptonshire to help us make every daffodil count this year.

“All you have to do is encourage people to give a donation and wear a daffodil pin, it’s that simple.

“So round up your friends, family and colleagues and together we can help Marie Curie nurses provide vital hands on care and emotional support to people living with a terminal illness, and their loved ones.”

Marie Curie employs more than 2,700 nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals, and with its nine hospices around the UK, is the largest provider of hospice beds outside the NHS.

Jennie Clark, face of The Great Daffodil Appeal, said: “When my husband Ken was ill with cancer, he said he wanted to come home from hospital.

“As a family, we knew he was coming home to die. I thought we would be looking after him by ourselves, but then we had the option of Marie Curie Nurses.

“The nurse who was there the night he died was wonderful.

“She treated him with such dignity and care.

“I’d like other families to have special moments together like we did, at times when it matters most.

“That’s why I’m donating and wearing a daffodil.”

For more information on how to get involved in the Great Daffodil Appeal, contact Laura Foy on 01604 442316 or email laura.foy@mariecurie.org.uk.

A Daventry woman claimed a prestigious prize at Crufts 2017 on Saturday.

It proved to be a day to remember for Karen James after her two-year-old Italian Spinone Ella put her best paw forward to claim the Best of Breed award.

After enjoying their moment in the spotlight, Karen could not be more delighted with Ella’s performance in the world’s largest dog show.

“It’s incredible and has been my dream since I was a junior handler,” said the 44-year-old engineering company administrator.

“Ella is lovely to live with, she’s a great character and is absolutely over the moon with what she’s done today. She just loves life.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Crufts and I’m over the moon with what’s happened.”

Ella was one of 22,000 happy, healthy dogs at Birmingham’s NEC at this year’s Crufts - in its 126th edition - which attracts visitors, dogs and owners from all over the world over the course of four days.

Fawsley Hall Hotel & Spa will play host to two extraordinary evenings of glitz and glamour as a number of must-have items go under the hammer for Harry Charlesworth.

Fundraisers will be slipping into their tuxedos and ball gowns this Friday for the first event, which is sold out, while the second event, which has limited tickets still available, takes place on Friday, March 31.

All proceeds will go towards the care of Newnham boy Harry, who suffered severe brain damage due to a traumatic labour and birth in March 2015. As a result, Harry has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and it is likely his health will deteriorate as he continues to grow whilst his life expectancy will not be a long one.

The Trust was launched in September 2016 to raise vital funds that will contribute towards Harry’s ongoing care, including specialist equipment and extensive physiotherapy.

The balls, which will take place within the hotel’s majestic Knightley Court, will both commence at 7pm for pre-dinner drinks, before a three-course meal is served at 7.30pm. The charity auctions will get underway at 9.15pm, led by a professional auctioneer and consisting of a fantastic array of prizes. Finally, guests will be able to celebrate this special occasion by dancing the night away during the disco.

Hayley Charlesworth, Harry’s mother, said: “We have been touched by the generosity and support shown by all of the staff at Fawsley Hall, who are working hard to help make these events a roaring success. Due to his disabilities, Harry has a very complex set of needs and every penny raised will help to ensure we can provide him with a better quality of life.”

Tickets will cost £50 – with all proceeds going towards The Helping Harry Trust.

To book your ticket, call 01327 892000 and quote “Harry’s Ball – 31st March” or email fawsleyhall@handpicked.co.uk.

If you are interested in donating an item for the special charity auction please email Julie Doyle on julie.doyle@hotmail.co.uk.

Emergency services were called to Pitsford Reservoir at about 9.15am today following a report of a body in the water, near the treatment works and Grange Lane causeway.

The area has been cordoned off and police and fire and rescue service officers are currently at the scene.

A Daventry complex care provider has launched a campaign to share the voices of carers.

The #whyicare project records the thoughts of team members who want to combat negative stereotypes of social care.

Badby Park kicked off the campaign with videos from staff members which it shared across social media platforms.

The team at Badby Park hope that other providers will follow suit and share their inspiring stories and reasons ‘why they care’.

Paul Hill, CEO of The Badby Group, said that it was incredibly inspiring to hear why people choose to care and why they love their jobs.

He said: “The vast majority of people who work in social care are hardworking, dedicated, compassionate people and their voices need to be heard.

“We are proud to support some of the most vulnerable people in our society and our care teams get a real satisfaction supporting them to lead more fulfilled lives.

“We want the brightest and the best to work in social care and I hope these videos show how rewarding it can be to work in a complex care setting.”

The campaign captured the voices from all different levels of the organisation, from the senior team and therapists, through to administrators and facilities managers.

Julie Hepton, registered nurse at Badby Park in Daventry, said it was wonderful to be given the opportunity.

She said: “I love our residents, they are amazing, I love working with them and trying to make a difference. I love the people that I work with - I just love the whole place.”

To look at the #whyicare videos visit http://whyicare.badbypark.co.uk/ on @BadbyGroup on Twitter or @BadbyGroup on Facebook.

Forget queuing at the bar, a popular Daventry pub has launched a free ‘Order & Pay’ iPhone and android app, so food can be now be delivered directly to customer’s tables.

The Saracens Head Inn on Brook Street, which operates under the Wetherspoon brand, says that the app is well suited to parents who don’t want to leave their children unattended or for lone diners who don’t want to lose their seat.

As well as this, the app has a scrolling menu feature, making it easy to browse the Wetherspoon menu before placing an order.

It also has a reorder function so pub-goers can repeat purchases with “quickness and ease”.

The app can also be used by people who are unable to easily negotiate a busy pub and don’t want to carry a large round of drinks back through crowds.

All customers need is a table number and purchases can be made by card, Apple Pay, Android Pay or PayPal.

Spoons writes on its website. “Visiting the pub on your own and do not want to lose your table – use the app.

“Not so mobile, or sitting a long way from the bar, and unable to easily negotiate a busy pub – use the app. Don’t want to carry a large round of drinks back through a packed pub or to have to make more than one trip to the bar? No problem – use the app.”

“Since its introduction, the Wetherspoon Order & Pay app has proven a big hit with customers and is now available in all of our pubs across the UK,” says the company.

“No more queuing at the bar – just use the Order & Pay app, sit back and relax, and the order is delivered directly to you at your table.”