Six in 10 (60%) parents are telling porkies to their children on a daily basis and a majority (89%) of parents believe telling ‘white lies’ is the secret to successful parenting.

That’s according to new research released this week which reveals the top 20 untruths mums and dads tell youngsters.

More than three quarters of the parents (79 per cent) in the study said they were guilty of telling a fib at least once a day, while a fifth (20 per cent) said they did so five times a week.

The new study, specially commissioned by Davina McCall’s weekly TV series The Davina Hour, identifies the top 20 lies which parents tell their children.

Topping the list of favourite fibs include tales about Father Christmas and the Tooth Fairy, which a third of parents (35 per cent) believe are part of sustaining the magic of childhood.

Steve North General Manager of W, which airs The Davina Hour, said: “Nobody likes to lie but occasionally we feel we need to do so to avoid awkward truths or when we feel it is in the best interests of the child. But it does raise concerns about why it is acceptable for parents to think they can lie when the children should not, and how they can explain it away when they get caught telling a fib. These are some of the issues we will be tackling in this edition of The Davina Hour.”

The top 20 untruths parents tell their children:

We’re nearly there (59%)

Father Christmas keeps a naughty list (58%)

The Tooth Fairy has been (54%)

Eating carrots will help you see in the dark (46%)

If you don’t hurry up, I am going without you (43%)

Watching TV will damage your eyesight (43%)

If the wind changes your face will stay like that (34%)

The needle won’t hurt (34%)

You should never tell lies (33%)

If you go outside with wet hair, you’ll catch a cold (31%)

School years are the best years of your life (28%)

If you swallow that chewing gum it will be inside you for seven years (27%)

Mum and dad are not arguing, we are having a discussion (26%)

You’re the most beautiful child in the world (26%)

When the ice cream van plays the music that means the ice cream has sold out (24%)

Eating your crusts will make your hair go curly (23%)

What goes around comes around (22%)

Your pet has gone to live somewhere else (21%)

Oh that noise from our bedroom? We were playing a game (19%)

There are fairies at the bottom of the garden (18%)

Bars of posh chocolate from Waitrose have been pulled from the shelves because they may contain plastic bits.

Shoppers who have bought the Waitrose 1 white and milk chocolate bars weighing 85g and costing £1.60 are urged not to eat the treats because of a risk of choking.

The affected varieties are White Chocolate, White Chocolate with Matcha Tea & Pistachio, Milk Chocolate with Pistachio, Almond & Hazelnut and Milk Chocolate with Feuilletine & Sea Salt.

All have the best before date of July 2018 and include all batch codes.

Waitrose said: “We are recalling the above products, as there is the potential that a small number of bars may be contaminated with pieces of plastic.

“Customers who have purchased any of the above products should not consume them, but return them to Waitrose for a full refund.

“We apologise for any inconvenience to our customers.”

The Food Standards Agency added: “Waitrose is recalling four varieties of Waitrose 1 chocolate bars because they may contain pieces of plastic.

“No other Waitrose products are known to be affected.

“Products may contain pieces of plastic which could represent a safety risk.

“If you have bought any of the above products do not eat it. Instead, return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund.”

It might seem that summer’s only just ended, but we’re already in autumn.

And that means the clocks go back.

British Summer Time comes to and end on October 29 at 2am and the UK reverts to Greenwich Mean Time. So make a note in your diary so you don’t forget.

Why do we do this?

According to wonderlopolis.org, daylight Saving Time (or “summer Time’ as it’s known in many parts of the world) was created to make better use of the long sunlight hours of the summer.

By ‘springing’ clocks forward an hour in March, we move an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening. Of course, this reverses when they go back, meaning it gets dark earlier in the afternoon.

Should we bother?

Every so often the debate as to whether or not we should bother springs up again - a 2015 YouGov poll found that 40% of the British public would support no longer changing the clocks, compared with 34% who supported the status quo.

It’s a view that has also reached Parliament and in 2011 Conservative MP Rebecca Harris floated a bill calling for an end to daylight savings.

It’s a more controversial issue the further north you go however - an end to daylight savings would mean the sun wouldn’t rise in parts of Scotland until 10am.

In response to the 2011 bill, then leader of the Scottish National Party Alex Salmond reacted angrily accusing the campaign of wanting to ‘plunge Scotland into darkness.”

The following people were sentenced at Northampton Magistrates’ Court:

AUGUST 2:

Maciej Kubicki, aged 39, of Victoria Road, Northampton, assault; fined £120, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85. Damaged a window; fined £80.

Jermaine Tagon, aged 30, of Sidebrook Court, Northampton, breach of a court order; fined £370, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £37 and costs of £85.

Dariusz Holejko, aged 50, of no fixed abode, assault; community order made, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £85 and costs of £85. Assault; community order made.

Rachel Clements-Graham, aged 21, of Gladstone Road, Northampton, damaged a car; fined £300, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and compensation of £300 and costs of £85.

Angela Hopkins, aged 40, of Balfour Close, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 113mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; community order made to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £85 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 23 months.

Robert McNab, aged 56, of Towcester Road, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 104mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; fined £392, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £39 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 14 months.

Matthew Seaton, aged 31, of Birchfield Road, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 66mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; fined £295, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £29 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 17 months.

Craig Canning, aged 29, of The Causeway, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 94mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; fined £120, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £20 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 28 months. Driving not in accordance with a licence; no separate penalty. No insurance; no separate penalty.

Ramin Fayaz, aged 21, of Middleton Road, Daventry, driving while unfit through drugs; jailed for 16 weeks suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £115 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 12 months.

AUGUST 4:

Damien Gardner, aged 32, of Turners Court, Northampton, failed to report an accident; fined £368, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £36 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with five points. Failed to report an accident to a police officer; no separate penalty. Driving without due care and attention; no separate penalty.

Andrew Spencer, aged 20, of Keble Close, Daventry, no insurance; fined £260, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Thomas Hutchinson, aged 27, of Brackley Road, Silverstone, driving at 96mph in a 70mph zone; fined £166, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with five points.

Sian McCurrach, aged 43, of Vernon Close, Daventry, driving at speeds exceeding 30mph; fined £246, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Chorie Stroud, aged 21, of Hemans Road, Daventry, no insurancel fined £346, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £34 and costs of £85, banned from driving for six months. Driving not in accordance with a licence; no separate penalty.

Joanna Ashley, aged 31, of Damselfly Road, Northampton, driving without due care and attention; fined £440, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £44 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Kieran Freeth, aged 20, of Admirals Way, Southbrook, 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.

Daniel Teague, aged 24, of Langsett Close, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, banned from driving for six months.

Connor Harrold, aged 21, of Cranford Road, Northampton, damaged a front door; fined £266, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30, compensation of £200 and costs of £85. Failed to surrender to custody; fined £266.

AUGUST 7:

Burhan Uddin, aged 27, of Clare Street, Northampton, in charge of a vehicle with a breath test reading of 63mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; fined £275, banned from driving for four months. Driving not in accordance with a licence; no separate penalty. No insurance; fined £343, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £34 and costs of £85.

Gyorgy Csordas, aged 30, of Chalcombe Avenue, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 103mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £85 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 24 months.

Sam Hicks, aged 25, of Damselfly Road, Northampton, failed to provide a

breath test; ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £85 and costs of £85,

banned from driving for 20 months.

Stelica-Gabriel Lefter, aged 30, of Abington Grove, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading

of 107mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; community order to carry out 120 hours

of unpaid work, ordered to

pay a surcharge to victim services of £85 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 24 months. Driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £105. No insurance; fined £320.

Lauran Sharp, aged 23, of Old Yew Court, Northampton, resisted a police officer; fined £80, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85.

Alec Crowson, aged 25, of Normead Square, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 95mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; community order made, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £85 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 40 months. Driving not in accordance with a licence; no separate penalty. No insurance; fined £350.

Saffron Smith, aged 38, of Samwell Lane, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 94mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; community order made to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £85

and costs of £85, banned

from driving for 24 months. Driving not in accordance with a licence; no separate penalty. No insurance; fined £380.

Jessica Tombleson, aged 33, c/o Stubbs Road, Daventry, stole Dairylea lunchables worth £8 belonging to Tesco; community order made and ordered to pay £8 compensation.

AUGUST 8:

Denny Shury, aged 26, of Drywell Court, Standens Barn, Northampton, assaulted a police officer; jailed for 16 weeks suspended for 24 months, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £115 and compensation of £100 and costs of £85. Used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour; jailed for 16 weeks concurrent suspended for 24 months.

Patrice Douglas-Hall, aged 49, of Donellan Green, Southfields, Northampton, stole dishwasher tablets worth £116 from Wilkinsons; community order made, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £85 and costs of £105. Failed to surrender to custody; community order made.

Sean Garner, aged 31, of Northgate, Towcester, damaged plates, microwave and a washing machine; community order made, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £85, compensation of £200 and costs of £85.

Maria McGoldrick, aged 41, of St Andrew’s Street, Northampton, stole three bottles of vodka worth £114 belonging to Waitrose; jailed for 10 weeks concurrent. Stole liquor worth £124.50 belonging to Waitrose; jailed for 10 weeks concurrent. Stole three bottles of premium vodka worth £114 belonging to Waitrose; jailed for 10 weeks concurrent. Stole four bottles of Jack Daniels worth £145 belonging to Asda supermarkets; jailed for 10 weeks concurrent. Failed to surrender to custody; jailed for one week consecutive. Stole two boxes of aftershave worth £130 belonging to Debenhams; jailed for 10 weeks concurrent, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £115. Stole grey men’s shoes worth £49.99 belonging to TK Maxx; jailed for 10 weeks consecutive.

Jack Moore, aged 27, of Balfour Close, Northampton, famaged a barrier; fined £100, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30, compensation of £300 and costs of £105.

AUGUST 9:

Sarah Nolan, aged 37, of Damselfly Road, Northampton, damaged a van; conditional discharge for 18 months, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £20, compensation of £345 and costs of £85.

Lewis East, aged 31, of Lawrence Court, Northampton, intentionally exposed your genitals; jailed for 20 weeks suspended for 24 months, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £80 and costs of £200.

Maricel Oltinu, aged 25, of Charles Street, Northampton, assault; community order made, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £85 and costs of £625. Assault; community order made to carry out 140 hours.

Clare Fitzhugh, aged 36, of Cordwainer House, Byfield Road, Northampton, stole cosmetics worth £250 belonging to Debenhams; jailed for eight weeks consecutive, ordered to pay compensation of £250. Failed to surrender; jailed for two weeks consecutive.

Michael Boswell, aged 34, of Candace Court, Northampton, had a meat cleaver in a public place; pleaded guilty, sent to Northampton Crown Court for sentence.

Darren Carter, aged 40, of Axe Head Road, Northampton, used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour; fined £94, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £30 and costs of £85.

Dr Paul Blantern took over at the authority in 2007 and has overseen a raft of changes in recent years amid successive council tax freezes.

A fortnight ago he penned a joint report with council leader Councillor Heather Smith (Con, Oundle) calling for the Government to iron out local authority funding inequalities across the country.

At the current rate of supply, Northamptonshire will have made £500 million of cuts in the decade between 2010 and 2020 just to balance the books.

In the last few minutes, Dr Blantern has announced his intentions to stand down from the £185,000 a-year-post.

In an email sent to staff, he wrote: "It is with mixed emotions that I write to you today to let you know that I will be leaving Northamptonshire County Council this month after ten highly rewarding and enjoyable years at the authority.

"Last week I met with the leader of the council Councillor Heather Smith and we agreed together that having overseen the move to our new headquarters building, completed the recruitment and design of our new management team and transformed the operating model of the council, now would be an appropriate time for me to leave the organisation to take on new challenges.

"I am certainly excited as I embark on the next stage of my own career but at the same time will sorely miss the energy, commitment and spirit that defines this council. I know that we continue to find ourselves in a highly challenging financial situation but I also know that we have achieved so much innovation and transformation which has truly put Northamptonshire at the forefront of local government practice in so many areas."

Dr Blantern said he intended to serve a short notice before leaving.

"It would be better for the longer-term decisions the council needs that I leave sooner, and have agreed the date of 13th October," he said.

"This will enable a quick transition. An announcement regarding the management of the organisation from the 16th will be made shortly."

Meghan Beesley, the 400m hurdler who represented Great Britain in the summer's World Championships in London, took part in a range of circuit activities alongside pupils in which they attempted to complete as many leg drives, push-ups and star jumps as they could in four minutes.

Meghan also gave a speech in which she spoke about her athletic journey and discussed the characteristics and mindset that helped her to succeed.

Rose Petruso, deputy headteacher at Falconer’s Hill Academy, said: “The children thoroughly enjoyed the day. They were all very excited to meet a famous athlete.”

In her assembly, the Great Britain athlete explained to the children how she flourished through her determination and explained how important healthy eating was to her success and wellbeing.

Matthew Reetz, executive headteacher at Falconer’s Hill Academy, said: “Perseverance and resilience are key characteristics that we teach our pupils.

“This was a wonderful opportunity for our pupils to hear first-hand from such a skilled athlete. They learnt a lot about the dedication needed to reach their goals.”

The David Ross Education Trust, of which Falconer's Hill is a part of, has invited a number of athletes to its schools to help pupils get inspired and explore their passions.

Crick men Clive Vick and Mike Roberts have covered a mammoth 400 mile journey in a kayak.

They were joined by Hastings friend Alan Vidler for the challenge from North Lancashire to London in a bid to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

The team started the fundraiser at Tewitfield on the Lancaster Canal.

They then kayaked through rivers and canals in Preston, Manchester, Birmingham, Rugby, and Oxford, before finishing their odyssey at London’s Teddington Lock on October 1.

They took on the challenge because cancer has affected their families.

So far they have raised £7,000 and would love to top £10,000.

Clive said the adventure, which was his idea, took a lot of planning.

“We kayaked from just south of Kendal to London via canals, rivers and estuaries to connect the long and gruelling 400 mile route.

“This was all unsupported and we were living like Bear Grylls - no B&BS, no hotels.

Clive said: “I’m a cancer survivor, but it’s not all about me.

“We all know someone with cancer and that’s why we did this.”

“Lots of permissions had to be sourced and I can’t thank George Dickinson and the Canal Riverside Turst enough for all their help,” he said.

Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kendaltolondon

A Daventry man arrested for stealing a golf buggy from a masquerade ball and driving it drunk via a pit-stop in a drive-thru McDonald's told police officers he needed the vehicle to "get home to bed".

Charlie Ibbetson, 23, was spotted by an off-duty policeman driving a golf buggy with balloons attached and flashing lights at 5am on September 16.

The police were called and Ibbetson was pulled over on the A45 near Weedon.

He identified himself and admitted he had driven the buggy from Whittlebury Hall, via the McDonald's in Towcester, towards his home in Ashby Fields.

Police officers said he appeared drunk and described him as stumbling and slurring his words.

He was found to have 50 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath in a roadside test, the legal limit is 35mg.

The court heard he told police officers "you don't need to interview me, I drove it 20 miles. Yes, I took it but I needed it to get home to bed."

Police did eventually interview Ibbetson, who told them he had acted foolishly and irrationally. He told them he would have taken the golf buggy back as he had no intention of keeping it.

He was arrested and charged with three offences: drink driving, no insurance, and taking a motor vehicle with the owner's consent.

Earlier today (October 2) Ibbetson pleaded guilty to all three charges in Northampton Magistrates' Court.

He was already on probation for other offences.

In his defence, Ibbetson's solicitor told the court his daughter's birthday had been one week before the incident and this had affected his mental state as he is not allowed to see her.

He had been invited to the masquerade ball at Whittlebury Hall by his partner who worked there and said he was drinking to help numb the pain and the loneliness he felt after missing his daughter's birthday.

Ibbetson was made aware that golf buggies were on site and that they did not need a key to start them, nor were they locked.

Ibbetson found the buggies, attached balloons to one of them, and began driving it around the hall's grounds. Then he drove the cart down the long driveway - with a bottle of red wine on board - and when he came to the end of the road, he turned left and continued "in no particular direction", his solicitor said.

The defence told the court it had asked its client why he continued driving the buggy. While he could not provide one, Ibbetson did say that his daughter was the reason he had consumed so much alcohol.

Ibbetson said he accepts responsibility for his actions not only because of the danger to other people but also because it had ruined his future plans as he was due to start a new job which required him to have a driving licence.

The defence solicitor said he doubted Ibbetson would ever try such a thing again and that he had shown a level of immaturity associated with people of his age. He had acted on impulse, fuelled by alcohol.

Ibbetson was ordered to pay a total of £648 in fines.

The move follows the Chancellor's Spring Budget announcement of three new schemes to help reduce the impact of business rate increases.

Daventry District Council (DDC) has contacted all eligible businesses district-wide informing them of discounts they will receive in the current 2017/18 financial year under the new proposals.

Under the 2017/18 Local Discretionary Relief scheme, 99 local businesses are receiving discounts, valued at more than £93,000 in total. The relief has been awarded to businesses whose properties have a rateable value of under £200,000 with a rates increase of more than 12.5% since the revaluation.

The council also set its own extra criteria so that eligible businesses could not be multi-national companies, empty properties or businesses already receiving other types of rates relief.

A total of 43 pubs in Daventry District are also automatically eligible for a discount of up to £1,000 on their business rates for 2017/18 under the Public House Relief Scheme. The scheme was announced by the Government in spring this year for public houses with a rateable value below £100,000.

Nine small businesses in the district will share £16,000 of rates relief this year under the government-funded Supporting Small Businesses scheme. This helps small businesses which, as a result of the revaluation, lost some or all of their small business rate relief or rural rate relief and as a result are facing an increase in their bill of over £600 a year.

Councillor John Shephard, resources portfolio holder at Daventry District Council said: “This year’s rates revaluation has had a real impact nationwide, including businesses in our district, so it’s important that we ensure they benefit from these new government-funded relief schemes.

“We’ve taken a proactive approach to the issue by identifying which businesses in our area are eligible for these new rates relief schemes in 2017/18 and automatically awarding discounts for this year, rather than inviting them to apply for them.

“In addition to these three relief schemes, there are a number of others available to ease the impact of business rates bills, including support for charities and non-profit organisations and companies in rural areas, so I would encourage businesses who think they may be eligible, to contact us and find out more.”

For more information on business rates and the relief schemes available in the district, visit the daventrydc.gov.uk/businessrates or call 01327 871100.

Daventry District residents are being asked to have their say on proposals which could bring about a reduction in council tax for people on low income.

The Council Tax Reduction Scheme, which provides financial help to those on low incomes when paying their council tax, was introduced by local councils four years ago to replace Council Tax Benefit, which was abolished by the Government as part of the Welfare Reform Act.

Daventry District Council runs its own version of the scheme and is consulting on a series of options for 2018/19. Currently, people of working age in the district who qualify for CTRS – approximately 2,350 – are required to make a minimum contribution of 20% towards the Council Tax that they are liable to pay.

The Council is consulting on three future options:

- Keep the scheme unchanged with a minimum Council Tax contribution level of 20% for working age claimants

- Increase the current Council Tax contribution level for working age claimants to a minimum of 25%, or

- Increase the current Council Tax contribution level for working age claimants to a minimum of 30%.

The proposed options do not affect pensioners, whose scheme is set by the Government.

Raising the contribution level to 25% would help to reduce a funding shortfall in the scheme, while increasing the level to 30% would cover the full cost of the scheme.

However similar increases made by other councils show that collection rates could be affected if the level is raised. DDC’s preferred option is to keep the level unchanged at 20%.

During October, the council is sending questionnaires to all working age claimants in the district asking them to have their say on the options. They can also suggest their own ideas or alternatives as part of the consultation.

The consultation runs until November 5 and people can also have their say by going online at www.daventrydc.gov.uk/consultation.

Daventry District Council’s resources portfolio holder Councillor John Shephard said: “It’s really important that we review the scheme every year to ensure it remains financially sustainable and can continue to help residents on low incomes.

“Our preferred option is to keep the scheme unchanged for 2018/19, as it’s too early to evaluate the outcomes of the changes we made last year when we brought it in line with national welfare benefit reforms.

“I would encourage people to give their views by responding to the questionnaires being sent out or completing the survey on our website.”

There’s a massive £167 million up for grabs in tonight’s Euromillions draw - the biggest jackpot ever offered to lottery players in the UK.

If tonight’s jackpot is won by a single-ticket holder, it would create the UK and Europe’s biggest ever winner - beating current record holders Colin and Chris Weir who won £161 million on Euromillions in 2011.

Chris Heaton-Harris was in attendance to open the Daventry Photographic Society's annual exhibition in the town's library.

The Daventry MP attended the event with his wife and one of their daughters and spent some time admiring the 60 photographs on show, all taken by members of the society.

The group's chairman, Roland Puleston Jones, was on hand to welcome Mr Heaton-Harris and talk him through some of the landscape, seascape, travel and wildlife images on show.

"It was really good to have Chris at the exhibition," said Mr Puleston Jones, who invited the MP after meeting him a couple of weeks prior to the event.

"He showed great interest in the photographs and he felt it was good to come and support us."

In his opening speech, Mr Heaton-Harris said how important it was to have so many different hobby groups in Daventry as they help make the town and district a great place to live and enjoy leisure time.

The exhibition runs until midday on October 28. The photographic society meets every Tuesday evening at Mayfield Sports Club on the Timken Estate at 7.30pm, and they welcome anyone interested in photography from any level.

A primary school in Aston le Walls has been awarded Terrific Scientific ‘School of Excellent’ status.

The prestigious award, given to St Mary’s Primary, is supported by the Primary Science Quality Mark and the BBC.

This new accolade builds on the school’s earlier success of achieving the Primary Science Quality Mark Gold award.

Jodie Blincow, class teacher at St Mary’s, said: “I’m very proud of this achievement, especially for the children who have really embraced their science lessons.”

Mrs Blincow is a lead teacher in raising the profile of science in schools.

She is a Fellow of the Scientific Teaching Trust and an Associate Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society.

The teacher has been awarded this accolade as she is an outstanding teacher and has been filmed by the BBC to help promote science in schools, develop class resources and share good practice with other schools.

STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) ambassadors from Cummins and HS2 engineers have visited the school to enthuse the children about science and engineering as future careers.

The Atomic Science After School Club is also popular among the children as it presents science in a visual and interactive way which sparks their imagination and curiosity.

Headteacher Kirstie Yuen said: “We have sown the seeds for a lifelong love for science and who knows where this will take them.

“We hope they go onto future careers in science, engineering, maths and technology.”

An open morning takes place at the school on October 10 at 10am.

Parents are welcome to attend.

A school in Long Buckby has just revealed its best kept secret.

The grand opening of Long Buckby Junior School’s Secret Reading Garden took place on September 19.

Assistant headteacher Lynn Newbery said: “It was originally an open air internal courtyard, that served no purpose other than an eyesore and waste of space.

“Due to the expansion of the school we were told we had to lose our library to accommodate an extra classroom for our ever expanding numbers.”

Mrs Newbery, who is also literacy leader at the South Close school, decided to create a magical reading garden for the children, as they were to lose the library.

Over the past 12 months, the children, staff, local businesses, PTA and governors have worked hard to raise the money required for the transformation.

Pupils said they loved their new environment.

Mrs Newbery said: “With the help of volunteers, such as Nationwide, the transformation is now complete and the garden was finally opened by Jane Considine from The Training Space, local author and literacy expert.

“The children were thrilled as one child from each class was chosen to be the first to have story time with Jane inside the Reading Dome.

“Now the children have somewhere truly delightful to read and learn during all weathers in a magical, secret garden.

“As a school, we are very excited about the new learning environment that we have created and feel it’s most certainly original.”

Police were called to the Co-Op, in High Street, Crick, at 2am today (October 4) after reports of a break-in.

A police spokeswoman said: "Several people are believed to have broken in and stole cash from an ATM.

"We believe some sort of gas canisters were used."

The supermarket remains shut today after it was cordoned off by police.

A local resident said: "When I drove past today the Co-Op was cordoned off by police. The shutters were mangled. The ATM was hanging halfway out and a big pane of glass was missing."

Witnesses, or anyone with information, should call Northamptonshire Police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Queues began forming outside B&M ahead of the official ribbon-cutting ceremony in Abbey Retail Park, which was attended by members of the Daventry Volunteers Centre charity and town mayor Lynne Taylor.

The 17,600 sq ft discount store stocks a wide variety of branded products and its arrival has seen 45 people in the area find work.

Store manager Sanjay Kakab said: “We have created 45 jobs and that’s across the spectrum, from management to cleaner, right the way through.

“Ninety-nine per cent are local within a five-mile radius.”

He added: “B&M is magic prices, all the brands at bargain prices. We offer a wide range selection of products, branded as well as our own.”

With the nearest B&M stores both roughly 12 miles away – one in Rugby, the other in Towcester – its arrival in Daventry was welcomed by the community since an official announcement was made in spring.

“It’s a good thing for Daventry, people have been wanting a store like this in the area,” said one of the cashiers, who lives in town.

Within an hour of opening, more than 100 people were in the aisles bargain hunting.

“I was not expecting this many people,” said Mr Kakab.

“The queue was about 15 people initially but it looks like half of Daventry has arrived here today so it’s pretty good.”

The store occupies what used to be three empty units on the retail park and stocks various items from toys, food and drink and homeware, to health and beauty products and seasonal ranges like Halloween costumes and Christmas decorations.

Louise, who chose to visit B&M in search of a bargain and perhaps to do a bit of early Christmas shopping, said: “I think it’s brilliant, there are so many products here for all kinds of things.
“The staff have been really friendly as well.”

Lynne Taylor, who cut the shop’s ribbon, said: “It went very well, I’m pleased that 45 local people have been taken on and I think it will be a positive benefit for Daventry.”

A national report says police have made "insufficient progress" on plans to tackle abuse of position for sexual gain.

It includes recommendations to monitor police IT systems, work closely with organisations that support vulnerable people and train staff to spot warning signs amongst colleagues.

It comes as Northamptonshire Police has revealed three officers have been dismissed in the past year over allegations and have "a number of other investigations ongoing".

Superintendent Mark Behan from Northamptonshire Police Professional Standards said: "We have read the assessment with interest and acknowledge the recommendations within it.

"We have begun working with relevant partner agencies to gather intelligence that will help tackle abuse of authority.

"I’m confident [inspectors] will find Northamptonshire Police has been and remains proactive in this area.

“In the past year we have also investigated allegations against three officers who have subsequently been dismissed from the service and we have a number of other investigations ongoing.

“Abuse of position for a sexual purpose drastically affects the legitimacy of the police service and the trust which the public place in it and we take it extremely seriously at Northamptonshire Police.

“There is always more to do, but Northamptonshire Police is moving in the right direction with a robust plan to tackle abuse of authority.

Police forces were given six months in May to submit their plans to tackle abuse of position.

But a new report published this week (October 2) found 11 out of 43 force plans lacked enough information.

Stephen Mold, Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “It’s important that all police officers and staff act with the utmost integrity.

"This is a serious issue and the Force must root out any abuse of power and deal with it effectively.

“We will work closely with the Force to ensure the plans they have developed are sufficiently comprehensive and seek reassurance they have the capability and capacity to respond to the problem.”

Venues and businesses across Daventry District are encouraged to come along to a new forum aimed at supporting the area’s tourism industry.

The Daventry District Tourism Forum brings together a range of businesses and organisations, including attractions and accommodation, hospitality and entertainment venues and retailers, so they can share their knowledge, skills and joint working opportunities to help increase the number of visitors to the area.

The next meeting of the forum will be hosted by the Granary Country Hotel at Fawsley (NN11 3BU) on Wednesday, October 11 from 10.30am.

All businesses are welcome to attend the free event, which is expected to run until midday.

Councillor Colin Poole, economic, regeneration and employment portfolio holder for Daventry District Council, which is coordinatingg the meetings, said: “From great days out and historic attractions to some of the UK’s finest stately homes, Daventry District has so much to offer visitors.

"Tourism is a multi-million-pound industry that our District has an ideal opportunity to tap into if we all work in partnership.

“The forum is a great way of meeting like-minded people and finding out how we can join together to offer our visitors more and encourage further investment.

“We would love to see as many local venues and businesses as possible come along to find out more about how they can get involved.”

An inaugural meeting of the forum took place in March this year, with representatives from venues including Kelmarsh, Fawsley, Sedgebrook, Brampton Grange and Hothorpe, Daventry Museum, the Made in Northamptonshire initiative, as well as parish councils including Stowe IX Churches, Moulton and Daventry Town Council.

The group is keen to encourage more businesses and organisations along to the meetings, which also link into the Love Daventry campaign, aimed at promoting Daventry District’s many local attractions and businesses to bring new visitors, shoppers and investment into the area.

Local companies and communities are encouraged to get involved by sharing their news, events and promotions including special offers with the Love Daventry campaign on Twitter and Facebook, and on the website.

To attend the forum or find out more, contact Claire Cowland at ccowland@daventrydc.gov.uk or call 01327 302444.

The application, submitted by Mr P J Hannifin, for the land west of Barby Lane also proposes the construction of hardstanding, a parking area, and the erection of an outbuilding with a chicken hutch and dog pen.

The committee found the proposal, first submitted in December 2016, in keeping with local and national planning policies on sustainability.

"On balance, this retrospective change of use of land from agriculture to a mixed use comprising residential and keeping of thoroughbred horses, chickens and horse dogs, and the associated stationing of a single residential mobile home, for one gypsy family, complies with the salient criteria of relevant national and local planning policies on sustainability and the provision of small scale traveller sites," read the committee's report.

"The development is small scale and, on balance, does not detract from the character of the local landscape or safety of the local highways network.

"This is despite the fact that under a 2017, albeit currently unadopted, review of the Gypsy and Travellers Accommodation Assessment, this development now exceeds Daventry District’s requirements for such a category of residential development."

A personal statement from the applicants was included in the report.

"We have had a few years of travelling, which is in my blood, but because of Patrick, our son’s ill-health, after many discussions with our families, we have decided to settle down, so we can be near to the health support he needs for our son aged 7, who suffers from Doose syndrome, which is a form of epilepsy," wrote the family.

"We have four children who are all settled into local schools, but we do have problems with our eldest son. His ill health does affect his schooling and we are in the process of going to a special school."

It continues: "My great-grandfather, his wife and children travelled from Ireland to settle in the Rugby area as they visited often to visit families. They were soon followed by the Hannifin family. They arrived in Rugby in 1963 and stayed at land within Rugby."

The parish council objected to the proposal as "it constitutes development in open countryside and is contrary to Barby and Onley Neighbourhood Plan".

No objections were made by Environmental Health or Northamptonshire County Council, who are the highway authority, but the committee advise the application should be approved subject to certain conditions.

Among these are that the land is not used as a caravan site by any persons other than "gypsies and travellers" as defined in Government policy, and that the occupants of the residential unit should only be members of the Hannifin family and the in-laws.

The conditions also state that no commercial activities should take place on the land, that no more than one mobile home should be stationed on the site at any one time, and that any caravans or mobile homes or day vans on the site should be capable of being towed on public roads.