A mother whose son began attending a Daventry school this week says she is bemused and disappointed at a restriction preventing the use of a state-of-the-art facility to pupils under 14.

Abigail Campbell, from Braunston, along with several other parents in the Daventry area, voiced her displeasure at a district council restriction part of the lease terms of the former UTC building, now run by the Parker E-Act Academy.

The terms state the Daventry UTC building could be used primarily to educate 14-19 year-olds, but Mrs Campbell does not see the benefit of such a restricted use given the quality of the facility which has workshops, laboratories, a four-court sports hall and a host of classrooms and breakout rooms.

“It’s bemusing, I don’t fully understand it,” she said.

“I find it really disappointing. I think both parents and kids were looking forward to using the UTC space.”

She added: “It’s almost like the kids have got their noses pressed up against the glass but they can’t get in.”

The £10 million building is one of several University Technical College sites so have become schools after closing their doors earlier this year.

UTCs in Oldham and Greenwich have been repurposed. According to the Oldham Evening Chronicle, Oasis Academy Oldham will use the site to accommodate 120 year 7s who do not have a school place. The Greenwich site meanwhile looks set for a £13 million renovation project to convert the building into an 11-to-18 school.

But because the site of Daventry UTC was transferred to Parker with the existing lease, the restrictions relevant to the previous occupants have remained, frustrating and perplexing parents.

A source close to the academy said the restrictions made no sense both educationally or strategically, nor did they add any monetary or cultural value, and that Parker were surprised to learn about them, prompting discussions on how they could be lifted to take place soon after.

Simon Bowers, business manager at Daventry District Council, said: “The Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) informed the council it intended to assign the lease from the UTC Trust to E-Act, for the purposes of the Parker Academy.

"The lease includes a requirement that the site is used primarily for students age 14-19 and following discussion about options the council received assurances from E-Act and the ESFA that these terms would be complied with. E-Act was well aware of the requirement for 14-19 use back in April 2017.

“The council was content with this arrangement. However it would appear that the message received by parents may have been somewhat different to the position reached by the council, E-Act and the ESFA. The council remains happy to discuss a way forward.”

As landlords the district council have the right to visit the site and can take action against the school should it find the UTC building, renamed the Randolph Building, is being used in breach of the terms of the lease.

A spokesperson for E-Act said: “We are delighted that the Randolph Building is already feeling part of the very fabric of our two E-ACT Daventry academies. Our students are making full use of the excellent facility with several already commenting on just how much at home they feel within the new space.

"With the full support of the ESFA the pre-existing lease was transferred to E-ACT on the principle that the former Daventry UTC building would be used primarily to educate 14-19 year olds. The Randolph Building is home to E-ACT’s Daventry Sixth Form though younger students have use of the facility within the terms of our agreement.”

Of the drivers the fire service spoke to at Northampton and Watford Gap services, 50 picked their sat-nav or other in-car technology as the biggest culprit for distracting them from the road.

A further 45 said stress, emotions, tiredness, daydreaming or road rage distracted them when driving, while 41 said talking to passengers caused them problems.

Sara Postlethwaite of the Safer Roads Alliance said: “Talking to people about the issues posed by driver distraction helped many to consider their personal distractions and realise the potential impact they could have.

"We often see reports from road traffic collisions which say ‘for unknown reasons the car left the carriageway’, and whatever those reasons are, they are distractions we want to prevent.”

Other top distractions revealed by the event were drivers looking at passengers/children in the back seat (39 drivers), eating, drinking, doing make-up/hair (35 drivers), and adjusting in-car controls (34 drivers).

Only nine people spoken to admitted being distracted as a result of using a handheld mobile phone when driving, versus the 26 who said using their mobile on hands-free was a distraction.

While the former is illegal, carrying a £200 fine and six penalty points, it remains legal to use a hands-free system to make and receive calls, although it must be fully set up before you drive so calls can be taken without touching the handset. Police can still stop drivers if they believe they have been distracted by using a mobile phone, even if it is completely hands-free.

Ms Postlethwaite said: “Preventing mobile phone use is obviously very important because of the risk it poses, but we also wanted drivers to identify with distractions they might not readily think of as problems, the day-to-day issues which compromise road safety.

“Hopefully the conversations we had with drivers will result in them thinking more about their behaviour and making changes to keep themselves, their families and other road users safer.”

Top driver distractions*

Visual

Sat nav, other in car technology – 50

Points of interest, sightseeing – 26

Looking at passengers (children in back seat) – 39

Looking for items in the car/searching through purse/wallet – 17

Manual

Mobile phone hand held, texting/Snapchat – 9

Eating, drinking, make-up, hair – 35

Smoking cigarettes, vaping – 6

Adjusting in-car controls – 34

Cognitive

Music – 31

Talking to passengers – 41

Mobile phone hands free – 26

Stress/emotions/tiredness/daydreaming/road rage – 45

* As logged by drivers spoken to by NFRS at the southbound Northampton and northbound Watford Gap services on 25 August 2017.

One-off grants of up to £500 are available to help groups in the Daventry district put on events for the wider community.

Applicants must demonstrate they have support from their town or parish council and must also match any funding they receive.

Applications should be submitted at least four weeks before the planned event and applicants will be notified of a decision within two weeks of their submission.

Seasonal events that have benefited from grants in the past include a firework display, pantomime, and a Christmas dinner for senior citizens, providing entertainment for the local community as well as valued funds for local good causes.

Councillor Alan Hills, community, culture and leisure portfolio holder at Daventry District Council, said: “Summer may be over but there are lots of opportunities for voluntary and community groups to get involved and put on events in the coming months and I would urge them to contact the Council to see how we might help.”

For more information about community grants offered by DDC, including the eligibility criteria for each grant, visit www.daventrydc.gov.uk/communitygrants or phone community development co-ordinator Tim Cantwell on 01327 871100.

Expert help in preventing future floods in the most at risk areas of the county has become available thanks to a three-year Northamptonshire County Council project.

The Pathfinder II project - launched last year - allows groups to apply for support to help reduce the likelihood of surface water flooding, and aims to offer help to 30 communities based in either urban or rural settings, and be residential or commercial or a combination of both.

If their application is successful a flood survey carried out by civil engineers will then help to develop community action plans and longer-term solutions.

The successful applicants would need to identify community members who can be flood wardens and someone who will be the main point of contact for their area.

The money for the initiative has been made available from the Anglian Northern Regional Flood and Coastal Committee and follows on from the initial Pathfinder project, which was launched three years ago.

Cllr Ian Morris, county council cabinet member for transport, highways and environment, said: “Being a victim of flooding is an extremely upsetting experience and can be very disruptive for a long time after the event.

“What’s great about the Pathfinder project is that flood resilience measures are tailor-made for the individual communities by mixing historical experience with current information from a professional survey.

“Quite often it is some very basic measures that are needed to make a significant difference, so any communities that think they could benefit should apply.”

Any community can apply, with the scheme aimed at geographical areas. These can be villages, residents’ groups, industrial estates or a group of town centre businesses.

To apply go to the Flood Toolkit website www.floodtoolkit.com.

Some areas of Northampton and surrounding county to have been affected by floods in the past, and remain at risk, include parts of Far Cotton, St James, Billing, Wellingborough, Yelvertoft, Nether Heyford, Welford and Spratton.

Daventry Masonic Centre will be opening its doors to the public as part of the annual Heritage Open Days event.

The centre, in High Street, opens its doors from 11am and 4pm today (Friday) and then on September 8, 9 and 10.

Apart from taking part in the Heritage event to give the local public a chance to have a guided tour of the lodge rooms and view an exhibition and video giving information on Freemasonry, worldwide, nationally and locally, this also is part of a celebration of the 300th Anniversary of the Grand Lodge of England.

Mike Sheppard said: “Although Freemasonry’s origins are not clear, possibly back to the medieval stonemasons who built many of our great cathedrals, 2017 is also the 300th anniversary of the Grand Lodge of England.

“Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest and largest non-religious, non-political, fraternal and charitable organisations - Worldwide there are over 6 million members, who come from all walks of life and meet as equals whatever their faith, ethnic group or position in society.

For many, this spirit of fellowship is what is valued most, whilst making new friends, helping others, following a family tradition and participating in the ceremonial are also important.

“Charity is at the heart of the organisation, but Freemasonry does not undertake any external fundraising, all money donated comes from voluntary donations and through our own efforts. Contributions of over £33 million a year means we are one of the UK`s largest charitable givers, supporting individual members, local communities and global emergencies.”

Within England & Wales there are over 6000 lodges, located within 47 Provinces, which are based on the old County lines. Daventry is in the Province of ‘Northamptonshire & Huntingdonshire’, which today contains 93 lodges, meeting at 24 Masonic Centres and consisting of over 3,500 Masons. The first record of a Lodge in Northamptonshire is in 1730 - the George and Dragon Lodge No 62 - but the Province of Northamptonshire was not formed officially until 1798, when George Fermor, 3rd Earl of Pomfret, became it’s first Provincial Grand Master, (the same year that the country celebrated Rear Admiral Nelson’s victory over the French Fleet at the Battle of the Nile).

“Freemasonry kept growing and demand forced Masonry to spread to Daventry in 1891 when Beneventa lodge was consecrated and which met at the Weatsheaf hotel at the top of Sheaf St (now a residential care home) - prior to this, Daventry Masons had to ride or walk to lodges in Towcester or Northampton,” added Mike.

“Freemasonry’s growth continued and when in 1973 the ‘Working Men’s Club’ moved to new premises where Homebase and Halfords now stand, the lodges took out a mortgage and purchased the building at their present masonic halls in the High Street.”

He added: “At Daventry Masonic Centre we have over 250 brethren, meeting in five lodges.

“We look forward to imparting a little knowledge to the people of Daventry about the aims of Freemasonry and some of its achievements - both locally and further afield - in recent years Daventry Masons have donated over £34,000 to many local charities and good causes (see attached page).

“Many Daventry public are unaware even that there is a Masonic centre in Daventry, or what good works they do - we welcome the opportunity to change this and to dispel some of the myths and wild accusations made of this ancient society.”

The hall is at 14 High St, Daventry NN11 4HT.

With gender stereotypes at home and a glass ceiling in the boardroom, it seems that a battle of the sexes also exists in the classroom.

It seems that children aged between 7 and 15 still follow the gender divide. The survey from Mintel showed that while boys aged 7-15 in the UK prefer maths and science, girls of the same age favour arts and humanities subjects.

Asked which three subjects they most enjoyed at school, 49% of boys aged between 7-15 said that IT/computing was among their favourite subjects, followed by 47% who favoured sport/PE and 41% who liked maths.

For girls, however, 43% said that art was one of their favourite subjects on the timetable, followed by English (32%) and music (23%).

Looking ahead to life beyond school,there also seems to be a clear boy/girl divide when it comes to kids’ views of certain career paths. 44% of the children surveyed saidy that being a plumber/builder/electrician was “for boys”, while just 5% regarded it as a job “for girls”.

However, at least some science-related professions were viewed equally - becoming a doctor was associated as much as“for boys” as “for girls” (17% respectively). Although when it comes to teaching, the stereotypes re-emerge, with one in five children (19%) viewing teaching as a job “for girls”, compared to 16% who said the profession was “for boys”.

Jack Duckett, Senior Consumer Lifestyles Analyst at Mintel, said:

“While the UK has taken huge steps in terms of equality over the last 50 years, gender stereotypes remain apparent among today’s children and teens, as shown by their continued belief that certain subjects and professions are more suited to one gender or the other.

“As gender equality becomes an increasingly pressing issue for businesses and society alike, there are opportunities for brands to create campaigns that openly challenge these stereotypes at a young age, helping to drive further improvements in gender equality for the future.”

The leisure centre was alive with the sound of music as 140 children from the Daventry area were taught how to sing from scratch at the launch of Daventry Youth Choir.

The musical event celebrated National Music Day and was organised by Daventry Choral Society.

Five choral trainers under the leadership of the youth choirs first musical director Giles Tunrer showed the children correct vocal techniques in time for a concert in the evening.

Singing For Fun’ was the theme of the day and when the youngsters performed all the pieces as one choir with music raning from simple melodies to four part songs, they had an obvious sense of enjoyment.

A proud Elizabeth Bailey, the project manager, said the society’s event had exceeded all expectations and the choral trainers were impressed with the quality of the sound during the performance.

She was confident the day had encouraged and inspired enough of the youngsters who took part to form a new choir.

As a result of the scheme, Daventry Choral Society received an Innovation Award, which was one of only 12 to be handed out across the country.

Aiden Brennan and his family will host a night filled with diamonds, music, fireworks and prizes on October 28 at Dunchurch Park in Rugby.

The black-tie event starts with a drinks reception in the hotel grounds and will be followed by a three-course meal after which party goers will be entertained by a live band, disco and charity auction.

Aiden’s parents said they have been blown away by the generosity people have shown. Lucy Brennan, Aiden’s mother, said: “We can’t believe the prizes people have been so kind to donate. Companies have also come forward to help us with flowers and yummy table favours on the day."

The money raised from Aiden’s Ball will go towards DSGN’s work across Northamptonshire supporting people with Down Syndrome and their families. DSGN provides a wealth of activities and events including occupational and speech and language therapy and social activities.

Some of the money will be used to purchase specialist play equipment for Aiden’s school, Staverton Primary, allowing Aiden and all his friends to play safely and independently.

Shay Brennan, Aiden’s father, said: “Aiden was very poorly when he was little and DSGN has provided him and us with so much support. It’s going to be an emotional yet exciting night and we’re looking forward to giving back to such a wonderful charity.”

Prizes on the night include a pair of Cheaney’s shoes worth £350, complete with a personal tour of Cheaney’s Desborough-based factory, as well as a diamond ring donated by St Gyles Jewellers, an independent family-run boutique jeweller in Northampton.

Further donations include Northampton Cricket Club tickets and a signed cricket bat, a signed Saints shirt, VIP tickets to see Blues Rock star Joanne Shaw Taylor, a year of golf lessons with Shay Brennan Golf, personal training sessions, Triumph motorcycle merchandise, a NuSkin pamper evening, sports massages plus much more.

The night will end with a fireworks display by MLE Pyrotechnics.

Tickets for the ball are £50 and can be bought through the dedicated Facebook page, and donations can be made via the Just Giving page.

Anyone wishing to donate any prizes for the raffles or for the charity auction can email aidensball@gmail.com.

Tall men and women are more likely to suffer a potentially deadly blood clot, warns new research.

A study of more than two million siblings found a direct link between height and venous thromboembolism - a serious condition where a clot forms in a vein.

Men 6ft 2in or taller were 65 per cent more at risk than those shorter than 5ft 3in.

Women pregnant for the first time who were at least 6ft were 69 per cent more at risk than those shorter than 5ft 1in.

Pregnancy makes women’s blood more likely to clot to protect against heavy bleeding when they give birth.

Lead researcher Professor Bengt Zoller, of Lund University in Sweden, said: “Height is not something we can do anything about.

“However, the height in the population has increased, and continues increasing, which could be contributing to the fact that the incidence of thrombosis has increased.”

Each year about 25,000 people in the UK die from venous thromboembolism and about one in 500 Britons will get it.

It starts in a vein and includes two types of blood clots - deep vein thrombosis (DVT) which forms in the leg and pulmonary embolism (PE) which happens when the clot breaks free and travels to the lung.

Potentially fatal

Both can be fatal but can be treated with injectable drugs that dissolve the clots or blood thinning medications that combat them. Removal by surgery is another option.

Previous research has suggested the risk of venous thromboembolism among men 6ft or over is more than two-and-a-half-times greater.

The study, published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics, involved participants from Sweden where the population is now as ethnically diverse as the US, said Prof Zoller.

He said the shorter they were the less the likelihood of them developing the blood clot.

Each year thousands of Britons develop the serious, potentially fatal, medical condition.

The most common triggers are surgery, cancer, immobilisation and hospitalisation.

Hormones ‘a major cause’

In women pregnancy and use of hormones like the Pill or oestrogen for menopause symptoms are also major causes.

Prof Zoller said gravity could be behind the association between height and venous thromboembolism risk.

He said: “It could just be that because taller individuals have longer leg veins there is more surface area where problems can occur.

“There is also more gravitational pressure in leg veins of taller persons that can increase the risk of blood flow slowing or temporarily stopping.”

One theory is blood must be pumped a longer distance in tall people which may cause reduced flow in the legs and thereby raise the risk of clotting.

Another possible connection is that taller people tend to weigh more - and increased weight, particularly in those who are obese, puts extra pressure on the legs and calves, and so reduces blood flow.

Prof Zoller said: “I think we should start to include height in risk assessment just as overweight, although formal studies are needed to determine exactly how height interacts with inherited blood disorders and other conditions.”

Being short has also been found to carry a reduced risk of cancer - possibly because they have a larger number of cells in their body which could potentially lead to a tumour.

The vertically challenged are also more likely to live longer because the hormone that controls height - called the Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF) - also controls ageing. A low level of IGF means a longer life expectancy.

It’s estimated venous thromboembolism affects up to 600,000 Americans every year - making it the third leading cause of heart attack and stroke.

Welcome to our weekly 'looking back' feature where we find out what hit the headlines in the Gusher 10, 25 and 40 years ago.

September 6, 2007

Postcards featuring a colourful painting of Daventry town centre went on sale to raise money for charity. The postcards were printed by Rotary Club of Daventry in support of its charities which included MS Society, Macmillan and Danetre Hospital Extras’ Appeal. They feature Nina Cashmore’s masterpiece acrylic painting which won the club’s art competition earlier in the year. The work of art depicts life in and around the Market Square and High Street, featuring old and new shops and familiar landmarks. The Gusher likes the painting so much it has been our Facebook page cover since 2015.

September 3, 1992

Holdenby House’s head gardener was split seconds away from certain death as he watched in horror as a 200-year-old lime tree crushed his car. Stan Maskery left the seat of his Alpine Talbot to open the gates to the grounds only moments before the trunk toppled onto his car. Rain drenched leaves adding extra weight were thought to have caused the freak accident less than two hours before visitors were due to arrive for an Elizabethan weekend. Stan, 61, had been nurturing the grounds for the past 23 years, and said theincident had not yet registered when interviewed immediately after.

September 9, 1977

Daventry council workmen dropped a clanger when they went about cutting grass on the Grange Estate when they confused grass verges with shrub gardens. One labourer cut down a shrub garden that had just established itself, three years after the council had planted it. Alec Bickers, who lived opposite the depleted shrub garden, suggested the men would have benefitted from a lottle bit of training in order to distinguish between grassland and shrubland, before adding the man had been very apologetic after he realised what he had done. His next door neighbour described the chopping as “stupid.”

The following people were sentenced at Northampton Magistrates’ Court:

JULY 17:

Florin Moisa, aged 37, of Moorfield Square, Northampton, stole eight boxes of aftershave worth £119.92 belonging to B&M store; fined £100, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85.

Dominic Cohen- Johnson, aged 24, of Regent Street, Northampton, possession of cannabis; fined £100, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85.

Ingrida Gvazdauskiene, aged 45, of Dryleys Court, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 73mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; fined £300, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 20 months. Driving not in accordance with a licence; no separate penalty. No insurance; fined £300.

Emmanuel Talabi, aged 20, of Junction Road, Northampton, possession of a class A drug; fined £140, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85. Possession of cannabis; fined £95.

JULY 18

Dominik Radzik, aged 38, of Purser Road, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 66mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; jailed for four weeks consecutive, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £115 and banned from driving for 44 months. No insurance; no separate penalty. Failed to comply with community order; no adjudication, dealt with original offence as follows, possession of an offensive weapon in Great Russell Street; suspended sentence of 12 weeks imposed.

John Wright, aged 34, of Swale Drive, Northampton, damaged a wall and door, dangerous driving, no insurance, driving not in accordance with a licence; pleaded guilty and committed to Northampton Crown Court for sentence.

Otis Barrett, aged 23, of Park Drive, Northampton, used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour; jailed for 12 weeks suspended for 18 months, ordered to pay compensation of £150, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £115 and costs of £85.

Mark Davies, aged 56, of Waypost Court, Northampton, used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour; jailed for 10 weeks, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £115. Stole alcohol worth £220.60 from Waitrose; jailed for eight weeks consecutive. Stole alcohol worth £437.50 from Waitrose; jailed for eight weeks consecutive. Stole alcohol worth £911.60 from Waitrose; jailed for eight weeks concurrent. Possession of cannabis; no separate penalty. Used threatening or abusive words or behaviour; no separate penalty. Commission of a further offence while on a suspended sentence; no adjudication, dealt with original offence. Stole football shirts worth £600 belonging to JD Sports; suspended sentence of 12 weeks imposed.

Dragos-Codrut Bacan, aged 29, of Merthyr Road, Northampton, no registration plate; fined £220, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85.

Andrei Borta, aged 27, of Gibbs Acre Court, Northampton, driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £90. No insurance; fined £180, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Stephen Bubb, aged 19, of Rodney Close, Daventry, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Michael Connors, aged 33, of Kingscroft Court, Great Billing, faulty tyre; fined £440, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £44 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Gary Davis, aged 53, of Cedar Close, Daventry, no test certificate; fined £220, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85.

Stephen Davis, aged 67, of Deenethorpe, driving using a mobile phone; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Connor Diggin, aged 21, of Cranford Road, 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.

John Doran, aged 26, of Blenheim Road, Northampton, no test certificate; fined £220, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85.

Kerry Dunn, aged 28, of Queen Eleanor Terrace, Northampton, driving at 56mph 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.

Michelle Elliott, aged 34, of Turners 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.

Donal Farrell, aged 43, of Milton Street North, 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.

Liam Fox, aged 19, of Bushland Road, Northampton, driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £36. No insurance; fined £73, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Dorel Ghervas, aged 22, of Abington Grove, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. No test certificate; fined £220.

Nathan Gilbert, aged 19, of Winchester Road, 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.

Octavian Serfim Gurau-Golban, aged 21, of St Michael’s Avenue, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Darren Hicklin, aged 26, of Farnborough Drive, Daventry, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Chris Hinchliffe, aged 49, of Jenner Crescent, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. No test certificate; fined £220.

Julius Krompalcas, aged 19, of Junction Road, Northampton, no insurance; fined £133, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. Driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £66.

Gareth Martin, aged 35, of Mill Lane, 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.

Honnour McLellan, aged 19, of Moss Close, Towcester, 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.

Mikhail Mpofu, aged 27, of Reynard Way, Northampton, no test certificate; fined £220, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85.

Catalin Nita, aged 34, of Burrows 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. Failed to comply with a red light; fined £220.

John Wright, aged 34, of St Andrew’s Road, 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.

Yuchen Zhang, aged 23, of Eastern Avenue South, 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.

JULY 19

Leon Henry, aged 26, of Balfour Close, Northampton, assault; community order to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work; ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £85.

Vadim Braga, aged 27, of Spencer Bridge Road, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 91mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; fined £310, banned from driving for two years. No insurance; fined £310, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £31 and costs of £85. No test certificate; fined £100.

Lyde Darien, aged 23, of Connolly Road, Northampton, damaged a cooker; fined £250, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30, compensation of £100 and costs of £85.

John Russell, aged 19, of Lyttleton Road, Northampton, driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £50, ordered to pay costs of £85. No insurance; fined £120. Failed to stop when asked by a police officer; fined £80. Driving without due care and attention; fined £120, banned from driving for 12 months. Failing to pay for petrol’ fined £120, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and compensation of £29.62.

Tomas Taleisis, aged 38, of Whitworth Road, Northampton, failed to provide a breath test; jailed for 20 weeks, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £115, banned from driving for four years.

Andrew Woods, aged 48, of Tresham Green, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 65mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; fined £350, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £35 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 18 months.

Eugea Forde-Chambers, aged 36, of Farmhill Road, Northampton, failed to stop when asked by a police officer; fined £200, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85. No registration plate; fined £100.

‘What are black holes?’, ‘how did the world begin?’ and ‘how does the internet work?’ are among questions asked by kids parents struggle to answer, a study has found.

A poll of 2,000 mums and dads found 54 per cent are regularly flummoxed by the deep and meaningful or scientific questions put to them by their children.

In fact, the average mum and dad face eight questions a month from their offspring which they find difficult to respond to, either because they don’t know the answer or are too embarrassed.

And 53 per cent admit that the more scientific the question, the less likely they are to be able to answer it.

Other questions parents struggle to answer include ‘why do people die?’, ‘why is the sea salty?’ and ‘how does the internet work?’

It also emerged the average parent will turn to Google six times a month to get the answer to a question their child has asked.

A spokesman for ACS, which commissioned the research to mark the opening of the new Science Centre at its Hillingdon school, said: “Children are known for always asking questions, but it can be difficult when they want to know things parents themselves don’t know the answer to.

“Sometimes mums and dads will stumble with their reply as it’s an awkward question or they know the answer is going to lead to more potentially embarrassing questions.

“But inquisitive children are also asking lots of questions about the planet, how things work and science which are leaving parents struggling to give them the right answer.

“It’s important to encourage your children’s thirst for learning new things and even if you have to Google the answer yourself, it can help them develop an interest in an important subject as they get older.”

The study, carried out through OnePoll, found ‘what does God look like?’ is the question most likely to leave parents stumped, followed by what came first, the chicken or the egg?’ and where do you go when you die?’.

‘What are black holes?’ came fifth with ‘why is water wet?’, ‘why do people die?’ and ‘how did the world begin?’ close behind.

‘Where do babies come from?’, ‘why is the sea salty?’ and ‘why is the moon sometimes out in the day?’ completed the top ten.

Other questions from intrigued youngsters which leave parents scratching their heads include ‘why is the sky blue?’, ‘what makes the earth spin?’ and ‘how do planes fly?’.

But while 47 per cent of parents just respond with an honest ‘I don’t know’, 28 per cent admit to trying to cobble together an answer which sounds like it could be right while 35 per cent tell the youngster to Google it.

Twenty-three per cent Google it themselves and then pretend they knew the answer all along while others tell the child to ask their teacher (14%) or a sibling or other parent (11%).

Thirty-three per cent of parents even admitted to knowingly telling their children the wrong answer because they didn’t want to admit they didn’t know.

But 80 per cent of parents admit this has back fired when their children have then repeated the wrong answer to other people because they believed it to be right.

A spokesman for ACS added: “The extent to which science based subjects grab children’s interests is fascinating. It certainly underpins our commitment to equipping our teachers and students with the very facilities and skills they need to teach, learn and develop this obvious early curiosity.

“It’s clear too that parents should be brought into the picture too as they are quite clearly struggling to cope with many of the questions posed by their inquisitive offspring.”

Top 30 impossible questions

1. What does God look like?

2. What came first, the chicken or the egg?

3. Where do you go when you die?

4. What are black holes?

5. Why is water wet?

6. Why do people die?

7. How did the world begin?

8. Where do babies come from?

9. Why is the sea salty?

10. Why is the moon sometimes out in the day?

11. How does the internet work?

12. Why is the sky blue?

13. Where does wind come from?

14. Why do we have a leap year?

15. What makes the Earth spin?

16. Why is blood red?

17. What is infinity?

18. How big is the world?

19. Why doesn’t the sky fall down?

20. Why does cutting onions make you cry?

21. How do planes fly?

22. How do telephones work?

23. How does TV work?

24. Why am I right/left handed?

25. What is electricity?

26. How do clouds float?

27. How does the car work?

28. How do the sun and moon stay in the sky?

29. Why are people’s eyes different colours?

30. How does lightning strike?

Britain is to be hit by a warmer than average ‘Indian summer’ this autumn according to predicted forecasts from the Met Office’s Weather Outlook.

The Met Office three month forecast says, “above-average temperatures are more probable than below-average temperatures”, with temperatures reaching as a high as 32C – or 90F in some parts of the country from September to November.

The unseasonal climate forecast comes as a result of lower than average pressure to the north of the UK increasing the frequency of westerly and southwesterly winds which is set to “increase the likelihood of above-average temperatures” this autumn, according to the Met Office.

Warmer temperatures will also develop as “a result of the broad background warmth associated with the present high global temperatures.”

Previous years have seen temperatures rise at 34.4C in September 2016 and 29.9C in October 2011.

‘A freak occurrence’

The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze told the Daily Star, “It would be a freak occurrence - but September could well have a hotter UK average temperature than August this year, with forecast models showing much warmer than average temperatures for the UK for September.

“And highs up to 32C would not be a surprise this month. Europe’s warmth is likely to reach Britain.

“Summer is being shifted from August to September this year.”

It’s not all hot temperatures though as parts of the UK are still expected to receive spells of heavy rain and severe gales during September and October.

Budget supermarket Lidl is facing a backlash after airbrushing Christian symbols from packaging in order to remain ‘religiously neutral’.

The chain’s new Greek food range features images of the famous Anastasis Church in Santorini, Greece, complete with its world-renowned blue dome roof.

But eagle-eyed customers have spotted that the packaging does not feature the Christian crosses that usually adorn the top of the dome and surrounding buildings.

Shoppers have flocked to Lidl UK’s Facebook page to express their “dismay” and “disappointment” over the alteration to the images.

Daniel Novak wrote: “I’m highly disappointed in a company that is bending over to cater to specific people. Why are you hiding from the history?

“We are all to learn from history, removing it with photoshop will cause the same mistakes of the past to be done over and over again.”

Steve West added: “Why have you taken the crosses off the top of Greek churches in your advertising?

“Is there somebody you will think takes offence? There is. Me, Greeks and many others. I definitely won’t be using you again if you don’t reverse this policy.”

And Daisy Matthews wrote: “Why are you erasing the reality from a photo?

“If there were products from Hindu, Sikh, Jewish, or Muslim countries with their symbols depicted on there I wouldn’t have a problem buying them.

“As a Christian I feel really hurt, discriminated against, upset and disappointed that you have done this, if it is the case I won’t be shopping at your store anymore.”

Meanwhile, Carol Anne Thurley, a member of the Facebook group Grecofile, wrote: “To us it seems rather pathetic and an offence to Greeks and those of us who love Greece.”

The ‘Eridanous’ range features Greek delicacies such as olive oil, Moussaka, yogurt and gyros.

Customers have also pointed out that some of the Halal meat products on offer at Lidl appear to feature buildings with minarets - a piece of Islamic religious architecture.

The row has spread across Europe, with shoppers in Belgium and Germany criticising the policy.

A Lidl spokesman told Belgian TV station RTL: “We are avoiding the use of religious symbols because we do not wish to exclude any religious beliefs.

“We are a company that respects diversity and this is what explains the design of this packaging.”

A German Lidl spokesman said: “Our intention has never been to shock.

“We avoid the use of religious symbols on our packaging to maintain neutrality in all religions.

“If it has been perceived differently, we apologize to those who may have been shocked.”

A spokesperson for Lidl UK said: “We have been selling our highly popular Eridanous own-label range in Lidl stores across Europe for over 10 years now.

“In that time the design of the packaging has been through a number of updates.

“We are extremely sorry for any offence caused by the most recent artwork and would like to reassure our customers that this is not an intentional statement.

“In light of this we will ensure that all feedback is taken into consideration when redesigning future packaging.”

The average worker spends the equivalent of two weeks a year GRUMBLING - with the top gripes about IT, air con and printers, a study has found.

Researchers say the typical employee will also find time to whine about unnecessary staff-all emails - and uncomfortable chairs.

Other problems which drive staff mad are the temperature of the office, commuting, people pulling sickies and a phone call just as you’re about to leave.

Common gripes, which generally take up a total of 20 minutes of the working day, include the amount of junk mail received, being copied into emails that are of no concern and someone stealing a favourite mug.

In addition, irritable Brits can’t stand it when someone smells out the office with stinky food, or turns on the freezing cold air conditioning.

IT issues form a major part of the top 50 list of grumbles - as workers complain about computers which are too slow or crash, printers jamming or breaking down and a bad phone signal.

Geoffrey Dennis, Chief Executive of international animal charity SPANA, which provides free veterinary treatment to working animals in developing countries, said: “It’s clear that there’s no shortage of annoyances in the workplace that raise people’s blood pressure on a daily basis.

‘’From pointless meetings to colleagues who use your favourite mug, these frustrations seem to be part and parcel of office life in Britain.

“It can be hard to keep a sense of perspective at times, but we should remember that most of these irritations are trivial and very minor compared to the tough working lives endured by working animals in developing countries around the world.

“These animals often doing back-breaking, dangerous work with little rest and no holidays or retirement at the end of it. That’s why they desperately need our support.”

The study shows getting a phone call when you’re just about to leave the office is THE biggest grumble.

Others are frustrated by colleagues who are difficult to work with or who suck up to the boss, and also those who take credit for work they didn’t do.

Unrealistic deadlines, ‘meetings about meetings’, office jargon and everyone ignoring a ringing phone can also make work life irritating.

Others moan about their insensitive boss, or those who choose to micro-manage everything.

Embarrassing team building exercises, having to engage in small talk and being asked to desk share are other common complaints.

Researchers also found two thirds of people are most likely to grumble to other colleagues; one in 20 will start moaning the minute they step foot in the office.

Another 15 per cent admitted they ‘whinge all day long’.

But most are unlikely to do anything about their work worries - with more than two thirds owning up to the fact they wouldn’t confront a colleague who was annoying them.

Another six in ten would never say anything about their ‘ridiculous workload’.

Office workers are most likely to make a noise about IT going wrong, with half of those polled complaining about the state of their computer or printer.

Seven in 10 admitted they often feel irritable at work, and 52 per cent say their whole working day can be ruined by just a few ‘bugbears’.

Other factors that affect how good a day is going to be include what the traffic is like on the way in (35 per cent), and how much work there is to do (43 per cent).

A further quarter say their day is affected by whether or not the boss is going to be in, while 27 per cent say how early they wake up can ruin the day ahead.

Geoffrey Dennis, Chief Executive of SPANA, continues: “Without exception, everyone has to contend with problems - however minor - at some point in their careers.

‘’But many people in the UK aren’t aware about the hard conditions faced by working animals around the world.

“These animals play a vital role in supporting the livelihoods of the world’s poorest families.

‘’However, despite their importance, their welfare is often neglected. SPANA is working to ensure that working animals have access to veterinary care when they are sick or injured, as well as educating owners about how to best care for their animals.”

TOP 50 OFFICE GRUMBLES

1. Getting a phone call when you’re literally about to leave the office

2. Computers being slow

3. IT issues

4. The temperature being too low/high

5. No air conditioning

6. Computers crashing

7. Printers jamming or breaking down

8. Colleagues who are difficult to work with

9. When someone uses your desk when you’re away and leaves it messy

10. Freezing cold air conditioning

11. Being in the office when the weather is lovely

12. Having meetings about meetings

13. People not replying to your emails

14. When someone calls in sick when you know they aren’t ill

15. Being copied into emails that are of no concern

16. Colleagues who suck up to the boss

17. Colleagues who talk too much

18. People who loudly complain about how busy they are

19. People not saying thank you when you’ve helped them out

20. The commute

21. Someone constantly arriving late to work

22. The amount of junk mail received

23. People who ignore a ringing phone

24. Smelly food being eaten in the office

25. The phone ringing constantly

26. Someone taking credit for work you’ve done

27. Having to sit in long and tedious meetings

28. People speaking loudly

29. Returning from holiday to hundreds of emails

30. Office jargon (such as “touch base”)

31. People who leave dirty dishes in the work sink

32. Unnecessary all-staff emails

33. Unrealistic deadlines

34. People not cleaning the microwave when their food spills

35. People who email out of normal working hours

36. Not having enough annual leave

37. An insensitive boss

38. People not listening to you when you talk and then asking you the same question 10 minutes later

39. People who inflict their mood swings on colleagues

40. An uncomfortable chair

41. Bosses who micromanage everything

42. Bad phone signal

43. The office gossip

44. People who expect the cleaners to tidy up all their mess

45. Someone stealing your favourite mug

46. Having to desk share or ‘hot desk’

47. Embarrassing teambuilding exercises

48. Having to engage in small talk

49. Colleagues who don’t shower regularly enough

50. Someone leaving their chair out in the middle of the aisle

Acid attack thugs should be handed tougher sentences according to the county’s police and crime commissioner, following a spate of alleged incidents in the county.

Stephen Mold has even pledged to write to the home secretary Amber Rudd in a bid to see harsher punishments dished out for the life-changing crimes, the Chronicle and Echo can reveal this week.

His call came after the NHS revealed the amount of people requiring specialist treatment for acid attacks had doubled since 2014.

Mr Mold said: “The rise in acid attacks across the country is deeply concerning. This is an extremely violent assault that leaves victims with life changing injuries. In my view the punishment must reflect the severity of the crime.

“We need to deter individuals from perpetrating these horrific attacks and I have written to the Home Secretary outlining my support for much tougher sentencing.”

Chief inspector for Northamptonshire Police David Lawson confirmed that acid attacks were on the rise in Northamptonshire too, particularly as there is a perception among thugs that “it is a better alternative to carrying a knife.”

But he said the force has now issued its officers with fresh guidance on how to spot concealed bottles of damaging substances.

He said: “This is a different problem (to knives).

“But our job is about making the public aware that if you carry this sort of thing, you are going to be dealt with very seriously.”

Chief insp Lawson said that his officers were not about to start confiscating goods from anyone carrying over-the-counter cleaning products, but added that people trying to conceal bottles would be treated suspiciously.

Recent cases include an alleged acid attack in the early hours of the morning in The Drapery, Northampton where four people were splashed with a “noxious substance.”

Just last week a Daventry couple had acid squirted at them by two people as they waited at a zebra crossing in Park Leys.

In both cases, alleged victims were targeted as they left pubs and clubs.

But secretary for the county’s Pubwatch scheme Kate Bailey, said those who run pubs and clubs have a tough job in spotting would-be attackers.

She said: “There is not an awful lot (pub owners) can do to prevent this sort of thing.

“Unless you can get close to an open vessel to sniff it, you are not going to know whether they are carrying a bottle of water or something malicious.

“In the short term the best thing we can do is get that advice out there of how to treat people quickly.”

One victim of the alleged Drapery attack claimed to have spent six hours in hospital as a result of chemical burns.

“The chemical got in my eye, burnt underneath my eye and left a few marks on my arm,” she told the Chron.

“There was a guy called Kyle who helped me rinse out my eye before the ambulance arrived. I’ve never met him before, but it brought back my faith in humanity.”

Acid can be bought over the counter

Part of the issue facing police is that hazardous substances can be bought over the counter.

Household drain cleaner containing sulphuric acid can cause severe burns and dissolve skin and even bone - but it can be bought from as little as £5 a litre.

A common patio cleaner was used in one of the London assaults, while hydrochloric acid or ammonia, can also be bought over the counter at almost any DIY store.

Alan Gale, who owns Home Supplies in White Hills Crescent, said shopkeepers are currently faced with a difficult task identifying those buying acid for criminal purposes but are developing ways of tackling the issue.

Eight arrests made in the county over suspected acid attacks

Acid attacks have hit the headlines here in Northamptonshire following a number of incidents this summer alone.

An 18-year-old man, 23-year-old man and 22-year-old woman were arrested in connection with a suspected acid attack in Park Leys, Daventry, last week.

A couple had allegedly been targeted as they made their way across a zebra crossing at 1.30am.

Four people charged with splashing four people with ammonia in Northampton town centre in a separate incident are currently awaiting a trial.

Jake Price, 22, Taishon Whittaker, 26, and Frank Taylor, 24, all from Wellingborough, appeared alongside Ijuha Sterling-Campbell, from Ecton, at Northampton Crown Court on August 23. They all pleaded not guilty to maliciously throwing the noxious substance on the morning of July 23. A trial date is yet to be set. Arthur Collins the 25-year-old former boyfriend of reality TV star Ferne McCann, was arrested in the county on April 23, following an alleged incident at a London nightclub.

Police were called to the nightclub on Sidworth Street in Dalston, at 1.10am on Monday, April 17, after a noxious substance was sprayed. A week later he was arrested in Rushden by officers from the Met’s Specialist Crime & Operations.

Collins was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and was taken into custody. A number of people suffered burns during the alleged attack with two blinded in one eye.

Q & A

How do you define an acid attack?

So-called ‘acid attacks’, where corrosive substances are used as part of a violent assault or robbery, have become increasingly prominent, with a series of high-profile incidents this year. As well as significant harm caused to individuals, the NHS estimates that the average cost of care for a victim requiring specialist burns treatment, eye care, rehabilitation and mental health treatment is £34,500.

Is it on the rise?

The assistance for victims comes as new data from NHS England show the number of people requiring specialist medical help for this type of assault is on the rise. In 2014, 16 people required specialist medical advice, rising to 25 in 2015 and increasing further to 32 last year. The level of demand for specialist burns help so far in 2017 suggests there will be another rise in patient numbers this year.

What should I do if I see a victim of an acid attack?

Whilst the overall number of people impacted by this type of attack remains low, people are advised to take three simple steps in the event they witness or are victim of an attack:

· Report the attack: dial 999.

· Remove contaminated clothing carefully.

· Rinse skin immediately in running water.

A disabled girl from Byfield will soon have the freedom most teenagers have thanks to generous donors who have raised enough money to buy her a portable hoist.

Harriet Margieson has a rare and painful condition and needs to be hoisted in and out of her wheelchair but few places have specialist equipment.

Newlife, The Charity for Disabled Children, launched a fundraising appealto buy the 13-year-old girl a £1,655 portable hoist which would give the uch more freedom on August 25.

Less than three weeks later, the money has been raised and Harriet’s mother Jane was very thankful, and added that her daughter was pleased too.

“I would like to say thank you to everyone who donated to the appeal,” she said.

“Harriet is delighted by the news and the equipment will make a huge difference.”

Harriet has Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome, which has made her quadriplegic and causes severe muscle spasms, but her condition is even rarer as she does not have a learning disability.

Harriet needs to use a hoist to get in and out of her wheelchair and is far too heavy to be lifted so a portable hoist will make a world of difference at home and when they are out and about.

Newlife thanked the Banbury Guardian and Daventry Express for helping to share the appeal in the papers on August 31.

Newlife’s head of charity operations Stephen Morgan said: “The response has been amazing and shows how Harriet’s day to day struggle really touched the heart of members of the local community.”

Fundraising appeal to get a new hoist for disabled Byfield girl

A young man was robbed at knife point as he walked towards a Northampton village.

The victim was walking from Weedon towards Flore, and was close to the village sign, at about 9.40pm on Friday (September 8), when he was approached by a man who demanded cash.

The offender threatened the victim with a pen knife before taking cash and making off in a dark coloured car, similar to a Honda Civic, with lowered suspension and a loud exhaust.

The offender was white, about 20, 6ft and was wearing a grey top and bottoms with white trainers.

Officers investigating the incident would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have any information regarding it.

Witnesses or anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A group of determined women are taking on the challenge of a lifetime by cycling from Coast to Coast.

Nicky Taylor, Steph Beesly, Louise Harrison, Jaime Hulme and Hazel Halton will saddle up and ride 140 miles across the Pennines.

They are raising money for a little boy from Newnham who has a life-limiting illness and also Cerebral Palsy Research.

Harry Charlesworth suffered severe brain damage prior to being born.

He has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, is tube fed, has breathing difficulties and is not reaching any milestones.

His mother, Hayley said: “Harry has a short life expectancy and will never walk or talk.

“The ladies have put their everything into this challenge and I’d hate for them not to reach their target of £1,500.”

Their challenge takes place this weekend.

“This is no mean feat for a group of ladies who have hardly cycled in their whole lives,” added Hayley.

The ladies are appealing for more donations - however big or small.

“Weʼre raising £1,500 to help Harry have the best life possible,” said Steph.

Fundraisers are also invited to get moving this month to help the appeal and complete 100 miles for Harry.

Lynn Stubbs, chairman of the Helping Harry Trust, said: “All you need to do is clock up 100 miles during September. For those who count steps, that’s about 211,000 steps over the month - or just 7,033 steps a day.”

To donate to the Coast to Coast challenge, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/helping-harry?utm_term=DyxeRJzeG

To find out more about The Helping Harry Trust people can go to www.thehelpingharrytrust.com

Visitors to Daventry Flower and Vegetable Show had a blooming great time.

It took place at Daventry Community Centre on September 3 and attracted more entries and attendees than last year.

The show, organised by the Daventry Allotment & Gardening Association (DAGA) supported by Daventry Town Council, saw more than 300 exhibits being awarded individual rosettes for first, second and third places.

Five overall category winners were each presented with a £10 National Garden Centre Voucher by Daventry Town Mayor Lynne Taylor, with the winner of the children’s category winning a £10 Argos voucher.

The mayor congratulated DAGA on an excellent show and commented on how proud Daventry Town Council were of their allotment community.

There was a good attendance from the public and allotment holders who all enjoyed viewing the produce, sampling homemade refreshments and shopping in the arts and crafts market.

The overall category winners were Vegetable: John Barker, Soft Fruit: Kath Vaughan, Flowers: Marjorie Loughrey, Novelty: John Barker, and Children’s; Millie Burgess aged 8.

New category for 2017 Jams and Cookery was won by Marjorie Loughrey.

DAGA are donating the money raised from the charity auction and raffle - £177.10 - to the Green Health project for people with mental health issues.