Just 18 months later the anti-depressant pills were thrown in the bin – but not as a result of counselling sessions or on the advice from medical experts. His depression had been conquered thanks to a voluntary organisation, Daventry Area Community Transport.

After constantly breaking down in tears at work Pat, who moved to Daventry from Birmingham in 1975, started attending church once more.

At a service he met a lady who suggested he pay a visit to Rob Kinning, now DACT’s chief executive, and so began his road to recovery.

“I went and had a word with Rob and I’ve never looked back since,” said Pat, who turns 75 next month.

“I get on great with Rob, he’s more of a friend than a work colleague. He got on well with me so I started driving and I’ve been with them 20 years.”

That was April 1997. Initially Pat joined to help distract himself from the emotional situation he found himself in following his break-up. His depression was so severe that he was contemplating taking his own life. DACT was a lifeline for him, it saved his life.

“Initially it was to help take my mind off things, but then it helped me a lot because it got me out the house as I had retired.

“After a bit I thought ‘I’m really doing something useful as well as helping people, and one day I might need help myself’.

“Nearly everybody, whether it’s car and minibus journeys, they all thank me very much and say what would they do without me, and I say ‘it works both ways, you help me as well.’”

After speaking with DACT volunteers it becomes clear that the benefits are not solely reserved for those who use the services the charity offers.

As well as operating a dial a ride service for people who find it difficult to make it to medical appointments independently, the charity also organises days out trips for members, and has a mobility shop where it hires scooters and wheelchairs, and sells restored medical equipment and books.

The fact Pat is able to speak so candidly about the way his life was transformed by DACT is testament to the charity’s lasting impact on its volunteers.

Mary Watson works two mornings a week at the DACT Mobility Shop in New Street in Daventry, and has been there for nearly six years.

Her husband used to volunteer for the charity but became too ill to continue and so joined DACT as a member.

Mary, 73, looked after him until he sadly passed away. Shortly after his death she was invited join DACT as a volunteer.

“I knew several members already and eventually it worked out really well for me, it was good for me,” she said.

“When he was ill all my time was taken up with him and then suddenly I had nothing.”

She began with one shift a week. Working in the shop helped her to slowly come to terms with the passing of her husband, and also stopped her from becoming isolated from the community.

“I’ve found a new bunch of friends,” said Mary, from Weedon. “It’s good for my wellbeing, not just the customers’.”

Isolation is a real problem for the older generation of Daventry district residents. With 78 rural villages spread across 267 square miles and with public transport often not stopping among these smaller villages, getting out and meeting new people is difficult for the elderly.

In some cases their only main contact with members of the community comes in the form of a DACT volunteer driver, or when they sign up for a DACT days out trip.

Dennis Clayton is the chairman of the board of trustees and has been with DACT for 10 years.

He retired early from a corporate job where he was making decisions on who the company should make redundant.

“You sit down with a spreadsheet working out people’s lives,” said 67-year-old Dennis, who helps prepare the days out. “When you go home you don’t feel very good. It’s was all about the bottom line, people were a commodity.”

Since joining the charity his perspective on life has changed entirely.

“It was tremendous for me because then I realised that I actually knew nothing about the world, although I thought I did. And all this was happening on my doorstep and being supported by some fantastic people who probably get very little reward or recognition.”

Like Pat, Dennis also saw first-hand how the charity’s work can save lives.

“You’ll find people on DACT Days Out who say it’s saved their lives,” said Dennis. “And it all sounds very dramatic but it’s true.”

He goes on to speak about a man from Heyford with whom he became friends. The man had lost his wife and began feeling depressed and despondent. Then he found out about DACT Days Out, and he joined.

“It’s been a new lease of life for him. He’s now got a circle of friends who he meets up with and go on trips with. He would say it saved his life.”

A fundraising ball in honour of a Daventry boy with Down Syndrome has been given a boost.

Crest Nicholson has given £1,000 to help with Aiden’s Ball eat Dunchurch Park Hotel on Saturday, October 28.

It’s being organised by Daventry-based couple Shay and Lucy Brennan, in support of their son Aiden who was diagnosed at birth.

The black-tie fundraiser is in aid of The Down Syndrome Group Northamptonshire (DSGN), a local charity that supports children and adults with Down’s Syndrome, and Friends of Staverton School, (FOSS), the school where Aiden is a pupil.

These funds will help DSGN to continue to provide both speech and language therapists and occupational therapists for schools, and enable FOSS to purchase specialist accessible play equipment.

A ticket for the ball includes three-course dinner as well as live entertainment including a fire breather, fireworks, charity auction and a live band.

David Hnyda, sales and marketing director at Crest Nicholson Chiltern, said: “The funds raised from the ball will aid a fantastic local charity – DSGN, as well as Staverton School, both of which provide crucial support to children in the local community.”

Email aidensball@gmail.com for tickets. Visit; https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/aidensball for more information.

Daventry Dolphins Swimming Club is bidding to bag a massive cash boost from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative.

Tesco teamed up with Groundwork to launch its community funding scheme, which sees grants of £4,000, £2,000 and £1,000 – raised from carrier bag sales in Tesco stores - being awarded to local community projects.

Three groups in every Tesco region have been shortlisted to receive the cash award and shoppers are being invited to head along to Tesco stores to vote for who they think should take away the top grant. The Daventry Dolphins SC is one of the groups on the shortlist.

Representaives at Daventry Dolphins said due to increased interest in competitive swimming, the club needs to increase the amount of pool time and provide new and replace technical equipment. They also want to provide innovative land based training equipment and activities which will complement and increase the fitness and skill levels of all its participants

The club also hopes to attract more adults into the sport, through volunteering, coaching and officiating and the Aqua squad (Masters).

A car and an articulated trailer were involved in the incident which had caused the closure from the A5 High Street in Weedon up to the B4037 towards Daventry.

The driver of the car was taken to hospital but his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

The A45 was reopened at 9.40am, two hours after police were called at 7.40am.

Fire services attended the scene to assist police and help the car driver be removed from his vehicle.

Pub owners across Northamptonshire are being urged to step up security after 22 nightspots were raided in just over a month.

Police are urging publicans to make sure their premises are as secure as possible following a series of burglaries in recent weeks.

The call comes after the force revealed 22 pubs and clubs across the county have been targeted by offenders in the last five weeks.

In each case the culprits have broken into the premises before stealing cash from the fruit machine or till.

Detective Inspector Adam Pendlebury from Northamptonshire Police CID, said: “We are investigating a series of pub and club burglaries that have taken place in the early hours of the morning, primarily targeting fruit machines but also including tills.

“The burglaries have taken place at premises across the county and mainly in rural locations, where there is little CCTV coverage and fewer potential witnesses to the crime taking place.

“We are doing all we can to find those people responsible for these incidents, including examining CCTV footage, conducting forensic tests and speaking to witnesses whenever possible.

“Earlier this week our crime prevention team met with representatives from Pubwatch to offer advice and support to members of the licensed trade, and I would urge publicans to make sure they follow as many of our crime prevention tips as possible.

“I would also appeal to people who live near pubs and clubs to remain vigilant and please call us if you see anyone acting suspiciously near licensed premises. Call 101 to report any suspicious activity, or 999 if you believe a crime is taking place.”

The force has issued a number of crime prevention tips or pub owners.

Ensure that everyone has left the premises before locking up at night. Check toilets, staff areas etc

If possible, don’t open or lock up alone. Peak times of risk for robberies are early morning when no customers are likely to be present and last thing at night when you are cashing up

Ensure all windows and doors are locked and intruder alarms set

If you have CCTV, ensure at least one camera is focussed on gaming machines

Intruder alarm and/or CCTV cameras should remotely alert Manager/DPS when they are activated so police can be called at the earliest opportunity

Keep as little of your takings on the premises as you can at one time and increase your deposits to the bank, varying the day/times you go to the bank

Review the security on all entrances and exits

Gaming machines should be emptied regularly – daily if possible

Consider purchasing a gaming machine security cabinet to protect your machine

Remedies for aching wrists were much in demand after 40 darts players took part in a 24-hour marathon in 1981.

But the players’ tiring efforts were bang on target, raising more than £500 towards the Fourth Daventry Scouts’ Hall fund.

Daventry’s Mayor, John Grainger, and the town’s Gala Queen, Susie Howe, were there at the finish.

Teams from the Pike and Eel, The George, Cummins, Falconer, Nene Hall and the scouts all took part.

The Pike and Eel came out on top in the marathon league, with The George finishing runners-up. A total of 513 games were played, while 467,989 scoring darts were recorded.

No less than 617 tons were chalked up, including five 180s.

“I think everyone would agree that that the marathon was a great success”, said organiser and group scout leader Phillip Turtill.

“Special thanks go to the Falconer team who not only raised about £150 in sponsorship but also gained the respect of everyone with their sportsmanship.”

Pictured are Pauline Perry (left) giving her husband Pete a gentle massage, next to fellow player Dave Castle, as members of the Fourth Daventry Scouts look on.

When the Seafood Restaurant closed its doors in St Gies Street in 2015 citing "unforeseen circumstances" as the reason for its departure, many feared the town had lost one of its best venues.

Within months a new venture was looking to take over the premises amid some grumblings.

Mumu promised to offer what - let's be honest - a lot of other places were promising to offer at the time.

Stacked high burgers with a little wooden stick thing in them alongside Five Guys-styled skin-on fries, basket rather than plates, pulled meats, cocktails.

The market is now full of what quickly got labelled "hipster" diners.

And if you have already made your mind up about sticks in buns, or you think a brioche should be iced and served with a coffee rather than used as a beef vessel, you should probably stop reading.

Hispter haunts have become the Radio One of eating out. Menus full of neat contemporary puns that make thirty-somethings feel a bit old; wacky typefaces designed to make thirty-somethings feel a bit old; restaurants full of twenty-somethings that make... you get the picture.

But let's put that all aside for one second. When venues get the components right, like Mumu, it is easy to see why there has been such a proliferation of modern burger diners.

The Mumu menu ticks all the boxes on the hipsterdom chart of course.

Puns, for instance, check.

I order the Barbie-Mu, a play on 'barbecue' and a freakishly disproportionate child's doll. A friend orders the Paris Stilton, another orders a side of 'chavvy' chips. You get the deal.

Those of you who said you hated hipster diners? Just leave. You are going to hate this place probably. You will hate everything from the chipboard interior to the sauce selection.

Everyone else will want to know whether Mumus stands out from the crowd.

Thankfully, it does. In fact - maybe controversially - it could offer the best burger in town, while coming damn close to offering the best pizzas too. Though nearby Buddies will always remain the burger benchmark from which all others are judged.

The Mumu beef beasts are dripping with umami (Mu-mami?) sauces, genuinely good bacon, genuinely good pickles. Pizzas are American-styled and so laden with cheese they droop satisfyingly.

The "pimped" milkshake pudding we order contains an entire chocolate brownie and a profiterole. What's not to like? Oh, and it's called a Curly Watts because it is also covered in a Curly Wurly. And whipped cream.

If you want an evening of gluttonous fun, this will be right up your street. The whole thing - including the Mumu branding it has to be said - is well thought through. In fact, the company works on a franchise model, so expect to see a Mumu or two popping up around the country.

When the Chronicle and Echo did a survey asking people which restaurant they most wanted to see in the town last year, one name topped the bill: Five Guys.

Why the rush? We have something just as good here. And Mumu does cocktails. And pizzas. Come on.

Price range: Medium (£10 -£14)

Chron score: 7/10

Kids aged between eight and 11 are ‘significantly’ more likely to be victims of cyber bullies if they own a mobile phone, a new study has found.

And they are also at risk of becoming bullies themselves.

According to academics, the increase in phone ownership among youngsters has left many eight to 11-year-olds increasingly ‘vulnerable’ to cyber bullying.

Continuous access to social media and texting provides more opportunities to engage both positively and negatively with peers and increases the chance of an impulsive response to peers’ postings and messages, they say.

The study will be presented on Monday at the American Academy of Paediatrics National Conference and Exhibition in Chicago.

Researchers collected survey data on 4,584 students in grades 3, 4 and 5 between 2014 and 2016 at schools in Massachusetts, US.

Overall, 9.5 percent of children reported being a victim of cyber bullying.

Children who owned mobiles were significantly more likely to report being a victim, especially in grades 3 and 4.

Hidden risks

Professor Elizabeth Englander, who is set to present the study, said: “Parents often cite the benefits of giving their child a cell phone, but our research suggests that giving young children these devices may have unforeseen risks as well.”

Across all three grades, 49.6 of students reported owning a mobile phone.

The older the student, the more likely to report mobile phone ownership: 59.8 percent of 11 year olds, 50.6 percent of nine and ten year olds and 39.5 percent of eight year olds reported owning their own cell phone.

Mobile phone owners aged eight to ten were more likely to report being a victim of cyber bullying.

Across all three grades, more mobile phone owners admitted they have been a cyber bully themselves.

According to the researchers, the increased risk of cyber bullying related to phone ownership could be tied to increased opportunity and vulnerability.

Prof Englander suggested that this research is a reminder for parents to consider the risks as well as the benefits when deciding whether to provide their elementary school-aged child with a cell phone.

She said: “At the very least, parents can engage in discussions and education with their child about the responsibilities inherent in owning a mobile device, and the general rules for communicating in the social sphere.”

In these days of the internet, child safety is more of a concern for parents everywhere.

But a few years ago, keeping kids safe from the dangers of the physical world was more of a concern. Fortunately, we had our friend the television to advise us on how to protect our offspring…

Stop making your Christmas list - because we’ve found the ultimate festive buy for the fizz fans out there.

The Christmas season is just around the corner - and budget supermarket Aldi has announced it will be flogging a mega 3-litre bottle of the fizz for all of your party needs.

Priced at £39.99 and available from November 14, the Prosecco Jeroboam DOCG will be up for grabs both in stores and online. The supermarket’s description states that the fizz is “100% Glera grape” and is from the Veneto region of Italy.

It added: “Colour: light and brilliant straw coloured yellow with persistent pelage. Bouquet: fruity, light and delicate with wisteria flowery notes. Taste: sweet, delicate and dry.”

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 20, 2007

Daventry and District Golf Club celebrated its 100 year anniversary, marking the occasion with several special matches across the weekend. The club, situated on the north side of Borough Hill, was founded in 1907 and celebrations began with a friendly match against Burslem Golf Club, which was also toasting its centenary that year. After the match both teams, accompanied by wives and partners, sat down for a meal in the clubhouse where they exchanged mementoes. A return match at Burslem was held on the following Saturday. Celebrations continued throughout the captain’s weekend.

September 17, 1992

Plans for a multi-million-pound Channel Tunnel international freight terminal near Crick – creating more than 2,000 jobs – were unveiled. Known of course as DIRFT, the plans for the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal were announced by developers Abbcott. The surprise news was unveiled at a press conference held by Abbcott and so stunned were planning officers and councillors by the announcement, they were reluctant to comment to

the press in the immediate aftermath until they knew more about the project.

September 23, 1977

Love blossomed for blind Margaret Hill who found her husband through a correspondence she set up from her home on Daventry’s Grange estate. The man of her dreams lived 5,000 miles away in the United States and the only contact Margaret had had with her husband-to-be was through taped messages and telephone conversations. Margaret told the Gusher Russell proposed to her on one of the tapes he sent. She mulled it over for four months before accepting his marriage proposal via her own tape. Margaret would later travel across the Atlantic with her 10-year-old daughter Tracey.

A Northampton school has been given a £1,000 donation by the team at Daventry's Amazon fulfilment centre.

Northgate School Arts College, which specialises in the arts, were paid a visit by staff members to celebrate the announcement with pupils and staff.

The money will go towards equipping their horticulture study area.

Shez Webb, headteacher at the Kingsthorpe school, said: “Our students love their time at Northgate School Arts College and they were all excited to meet the Amazon team when they stopped by.

"This donation will make a big difference in helping us set up our horticulture area and to buy the specialised equipment some of our young people need. On behalf of everyone here I’d like to thank David and his team for their generosity."

The school was nominated for support by a member of the team at Amazon Daventry.

Commenting on the donation, David Tindal, general manager at Amazon Daventry fulfilment centre, said: “When we heard Northgate School Arts College could benefit from some support everyone at Amazon in Daventry was delighted to help out.

"At Amazon we believe in giving young people the opportunities to achieve their potential and Northgate School Arts College does exactly that. It was fantastic to meet everyone at the school and see some of the hard work that goes into giving pupils here such a great experience."

The donation forms part of the ‘Amazon in the Community’ programme whereby the company supports the communities around its operating locations across the UK.

The following people were sentenced at Northampton Magistrates’ Court:

JULY 28:

Jordan Harrold, aged 19, of Cranford Road, Northampton, failed to give information relating to the identity of a driver; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, banned from driving for six months.

Stephen Hart, aged 32, of Chantelle Court, Headlands, Daventry, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 47mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; fined £80, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 12 months. Driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £40. No insurance; fined £120.

JULY 29

Dale Shoobridge, aged 38, of Ericsson Close, Ashby Fields, Daventry, possession of cannabis; conditional discharge for 18 months, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £20 and costs of £85.

JULY 31

Haydon Johnston, aged 18, of Dowthorpe Hill, Earls Barton, used threatening or abusive words or behaviour; fined £125, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85.

Daniel Doyle, aged 28, of Forest Road, Far Cotton, Northampton, failed to comply with a community order; 126 days in prison suspended for 18 months, ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work, costs of £60.

Mark Chambers, aged 29, of Grafton Street, Spring Boroughs, Northampton, assaulted a police officer; jailed for two weeks consecutive, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £115, compensation of £100 and costs of £85. Assault; jailed for four weeks, ordered to pay compensation of £150. Commission of a further offence while on a suspended sentence for assault of a police officer; no adjudication, dealt with original offence; suspended sentence of 12 weeks suspended for 12 months imposed.

Elliot Hernandez, aged 24, of no fixed abode, assault; community order made to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work; ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £85, compensation of £100 and costs of £85. Assault; community order made to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work and to pay compensation of £59. Arson; community order made to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work.

Vitalijus Nazarovas, aged 30, of Stanley Street, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 87mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; fined £750, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £75 and costs of £650, banned from driving for 17 months. Failed to surrender to custody; fined £333.

Colin Scarley, aged 56, of Harding Terrace, Northampton, assault; community order made, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £85, compensation of £50 and costs of £85. Assault; community order made, ordered to pay compensation of £75.

Curtis Norris, aged 26, of West Oval, Northampton, drunk and disorderly at Northampton General Hospital’s A&E; conditional discharge for 12 months, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £20 and costs of £85.

James Smith, aged 59, of Foxendale Square, Northampton, told Northamptonshire Police that an object was liable to explode or ignite at an address in Northampton; pleaded guilty, sent to Crown Court for sentence.

Paul Burke, aged 39, of Bailiff Street, Northampton, stole £85 worth of food items belonging to Select Convenience Stores; conditional discharge for £12 months, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £20 and compensation of £85.

Jessica Eastment, aged 25, of Elizabeth Walk, Northampton, used threatening or abusive words or behaviour; community order made to carry out 50 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £85 and costs of £85.

Deborah Mackay, aged 43, of Broadway East, Northampton, used threatening or abusive words or behaviour; community order made. Assault; community order made. Assaulted a police officer; community order made, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £85, compensation of £75. Assaulted a police officer; community order made.

AUGUST 1

Mihai Alexandry, aged 33, of Bouverie Walk, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Liviu-Marcel Bazarca, aged 20, of Cloutsham Street, Northampton, driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £220, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points. Not wearing a seat belt; fined £220.

Alexander Carajileasco, aged 31, of Tyes Court, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. Driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £220.

Vasile Chiriac, aged 40, of Turners Court, Northampton, driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £220. Failed to produce a licence; fined £200. No insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. Faulty tyre; fined £440.

David Cromwell, aged 48, of Maidencastle, 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.

Christopher Davies,

aged 33, of Lodge Close, Grange Park, Northampton, driving at 47mph in a 40mph zone; fined £220, ordered to pay a

surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85,

licence endorsed with three points.

Michal Duchna, aged 34, of Lower Hester Street, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Declan Ellard, aged 70, of South Meadow Road, Northampton, driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £208. No insurance; fined £624, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £62 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Matthew Ellington-Gayle, aged 30, of Spencer 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.

Mark Gordon, aged 48, of Barrack 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.

Ian Hepworth, aged 48, of Ruskin Road, Northampton, driving while using a mobile phone; fined £220, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Danilo Ionescu, aged 21, of Tavistock Close, Northampton, driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £220, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Tomasz Klebukowski, aged 38, of Symington Street, Northampton, driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £220, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay

a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85,

licence endorsed with six points.

Terri Knubley, aged 29, of Campion Street, Northampton, driving at 36mph in a 30mph zone; fined £220, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Claudiu Matei, aged 20, of Southampton 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 while using a mobile phone; fined £220.

Michal Maziarski, aged 39, of Booth Rise, 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.

Viktors Miureniks, aged 38, of Salisbury Street, Northampton, driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £220, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85.

John Morgan, aged 32, of Alliston Gardens, 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 accordance with a licence; fined £220.

Vasile Pandeli, aged 27, of Norton Road, Northampton, faulty tyre; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points. Driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £220.

Doina Sotir, aged 34, of Fulford Drive, Northampton, driving at 37mph in a 30mph zone; fined £220, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Jonathan Stein, aged 30, of Kingsthorpe Grove, Northampton, driving at 55mph in a 40mph zone;fined £253, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed

with four points. Driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £126.

Tara Thakrar, aged 30, of Longford 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.

Ionut Tonea, aged 39, of Bruce Street, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Martin Wilson, aged 29, of Broadmead Avenue, Northampton, cycling in Abington Street; fined £220, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85.

Frederick Wright, aged 69, of London Road, Daventry, 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.

Slimmers can shed more pounds by taking a two-week break from dieting - every fortnight, say scientists.

And it boosts their chances of keeping the weight off in the long-term.

Health scientist Professor Nuala Byrne said it combats a phenomenon known as the ‘famine reaction’ - which explains why most diets fail.

For many people it’s extremely difficult to stick to a strict diet for more than a few weeks.

Prof Byrne said having intermittent breaks actually helps - and is the key to lasting success.

She said: “The intermittent group lost more weight and they kept it off for a longer period of time.

“We certainly think part of the reason this diet is working is because of the rest periods.”

The study published in the International Journal for Obesity investigated the body’s ‘famine reaction’ to continued dieting and its impact on weight loss in 47 obese men.

Two groups of participants aged 30 to 50 were randomly assigned to a 16-week diet which cut calorie intake by one third - 23 of whom maintained the diet continuously.

Take a break

But the others did it for two weeks - then broke from for two weeks eating simply to keep their weight stable.

This cycle was repeated for 30 weeks in total to ensure 16 weeks of dieting. They not only lost more weight - but also gained less after the trial finished.

The intermittent dieters had an average weight loss of 17.6 lbs (8 kg) more - six months later.

Study leader Prof Byrne, of Tasmania University, said dieting altered a series of biological processes in the body which leads to slower weight loss - and possibly weight gain.

She explained: “When we reduce our energy (food) intake during dieting, resting metabolism decreases to a greater extent than expected; a phenomenon termed ‘adaptive thermogenesis’ - making weight loss harder to achieve.

“This ‘famine reaction’, a survival mechanism which helped humans to survive as a species when food supply was inconsistent in millennia past, is now contributing to our growing waistlines when the food supply is readily available.”

Dieting difficulty

Prof Byrne said researchers in the past had shown as dieting continued weight loss became more difficult.

But this latest MATADOR (Minimising Adaptive Thermogenesis And Deactivating Obesity Rebound) study looked more closely at ways to lessen the famine response and improve weight loss success.

Prof Byrne said this two-week intermittent diet proved to be a more successful means of weight loss compared with continuous dieting.

But other popular diets which included cycles of several days of fasting and feasting were not any more effective than continuous dieting.

These include the fashionable 5:2 diet which severely restricts calorie-intake for two days of the week.

She said: “There is a growing body of research which has shown diets which use one to seven day periods of complete or partial fasting alternated with ad libitum food intake, are not more effective for weight loss than conventional continuous dieting.

Critical break

“It seems that the ‘breaks’ from dieting we have used in this study may be critical to the success of this approach.

“While further investigations are needed around this intermittent dieting approach, findings from this study provide preliminary support for the model as a superior alternative to continuous dieting for weight loss.”

About two-thirds of all dieters pile their weight back on within three years of hitting their dream targets.

Harriet Jenkins was named Slimming World’s Woman of the Year after she lost 15st in as many months.

In fact 40 per cent of those who lose more than 7st put on at least that much again.

It is called the Fat Trap.

Prof Byrne said: “We’re interested to understand the biology a bit further to maybe refine the approach and get greater results into the future.”

A new television game show is aiming to find the country’s worst singers - and giving them the chance to win a major cash prize.

Change Your Tune has been commissioned by ITV, and will challenge five terrible singers to master the perfect vibrato in front of a live studio audience.

Each contestant will show how bad their singing is, before they given the chance to take on weeks of training and compete to try and win the show.

The studio audience will score each performance and the level of improvement.

Each week the winning contestant will walk away with a cash prize.

The show will be hosted by Irish radio and television personality Baz Ashmawy.

He said: “I’m so excited to be looking for, not the very best singers in the country, but the very worst.

“This is a completely unique take on the singing show genre - it’s a feel good and celebratory show that’ll have everyone at home cheering on their favourite; it’s going to be great fun and I honestly, can’t wait to get started.”

The series will consist of six hour-long episodes.

Andrew Mackenzie, chief creative officer of producers Twofour Group said: “Everyone would love to be able to sing and seeing the truly awful transformed into the truly awesome is an incredibly heart-warming and entertaining moment.”

Instructions on how to apply for the show will be released in due course.

The value of the rarest £1 coin in circulation is set to soar when it is taken out of circulation next month.

The 2011 £1 coin, which features Edinburgh, is the rarest to be put into circulation by the Royal Mint.

Recent sales on eBay and other such websites have seen the coin sell for between £15 and £20.

Only 935,000 of these coins were issued back in 2011 - in the context of pound coins this is a very low number and it is notoriously rare to receive one in change.

The coin scores a maximum 100 points on Change Checker’s scarcity index.

Recent sales on eBay and other such websites have seen the coin sell for between £15 and £20. Only 935,000 of these coins were issued back in 2011 - in the context of pound coins this is a very low number and it is notoriously rare to receive one in change.

The coin scores a maximum 100 points on Change Checker’s scarcity index. The old £1 coins will cease to be legal tender when they are taken out of circulation on October 15, 2017.

It is believed the Edinburgh coin will become increasingly difficult to find when, along with all the other old £1 coins, it is taken out of circulation next month. Anyone lucky enough to own one of the coins is advised not to cash in until after it is removed from circulation.

Change Checker calculated that anyone looking for an Edinburgh coin would have to sift through approximately 3,000 £1 coins to find one.

The old £1 coin will be replaced by the new 12 sided coin which was introduced into circulation earlier this year.

Double world champion cyclist Becky James,  led more than 1,000 fundraisers on the county's biggest charity event on two wheel - Cycle4Cynthia.

A total of 1,109 riders took part in the event at Lamport Hall on Sunday (September 24) in aid of Northampton’s Cynthia Spencer Hospice.

Becky, who picked up two silvers at the Rio Olympics, then pedalled the five-mile route to show her support for the cause.

And the former track cyclist, who now lives in the county with her partner, Saints winger George North, was thrilled to share the joy of the event with George’s sister, Hayley Cushing, who joined her on a tandem generously loaned by Leisure Lakes Bikes in Daventry.

Speaking after collecting her finishers’ medal, presented to everyone completing the five, 25 or 50-mile routes, Becky said: “I heard about Cycle4Cynthia some years ago but of course my professional commitments meant I was never able to take part, so I’m thrilled that I’ve been able to do so this year and finally get to experience the fun of this amazing day,” explained Becky.

“I visited the hospice earlier this year and seeing the incredible care they offer to their patients and families was just so inspirational, so to be here today and join all these other riders in supporting the charity has been fabulous!” she enthused.

Becky may not have known that, among those taking part was a rider who, 20 years earlier, might have given her a run for her money.

Maxine Johnson, 56, was National Road Race champion and Commonwealth bronze medallist in the Team Time Trial back in 1994 and was one of those pedalling in the colours of the county’s newest cycling clubs, Brixworth Velo.

Also leaping into his saddle was 83-year- old Peter Smith from Northampton who, having completed the 25-mile route for the previous ten years, had decided that the

shortest distance was more than enough this time:

“My wife Ann passed away at the hospice in 2010, having previously worked in its café as a volunteer, so I will always do what I can to help and will hopefully be completing the five miles for many years to come” pledged Peter.

Meanwhile for one quartet, Mel, Doug, his son Bret and future daughter-in- law Emma, memories of the Hospice’s amazing care were all the more recent, as Mel explained; “Our very dear friend Martin Perry passed away there in April this year after a battle with kidney cancer and so we wanted to be here today to ride in his memory."

Daventry hosted its inaugural food festival in the town centre where a wide range of food from across Northamptonshire and the district were on offer.

With more than 50 different stands featuring county-sourced food, exotic cuisines and sweeter offerings for those with a preference for desserts, as well as beers, ciders and cocktails to wash it all down with, there was something for anyone who paced up and down High Street and Sheaf Street.

A school in the Daventry area plans to turn a canal barge into a new library for its pupils.

Weedon Bec Primary School took delivery of the boat two weeks ago.

It was bought from a seller in Stoke-on-Trent and was driven from Staffordshire to Weedon where it will reside in the Ordnance Depot until work on it is complete.

It was purchased with the help of a donation from the One Stop store as part of its charity drive, and the money will be put towards the repurposing of the barge.

The school's headteacher Antony Whitheyman said the school had picked a canal boat for the project as it was fitting given Weedon's location on a crossroad of rail, road and the Grand Union.

He hopes the new library will be ready after Christmas. He said the school would welcome any help from carpenters, electricians and other skilled workers to help with the restoration of the barge.

Residents of a Daventry village are invited to have their say on draft plans to build new homes in the village.

Limehouse Developments, part of East Midlands’ landlord Futures Housing Group, is consulting Long Buckby residents on plans to develop extra homes in the area.

The drop-in session is being held on Wednesday, October 4 from 4pm to 7pm at Saint Joseph’s Church, Station Road, Long Buckby. Staff from the organisation and architects will be on hand to discuss the options.

The developer gained planning permission for 13 properties on the site off Station Road in 2015, but growing local demand could see the proposals changed to include 19 homes.

Alan Boucker, director of development and investment at Limehouse, said: “Although Long Buckby has seen a number of large developments, they aren’t meeting local demand for quality affordable homes for first-time buyers.

“We have proposals that we would like to put forward, but before we look into gaining planning permission we want to understand what the community wants from new homes.”

Draft plans by Limehouse would see additional homes developed for sale, shared ownership and affordable rent, to suit a range of families.

For more information on homes available through Limehouse visit www.limehouselife.co.uk.