The Daventry Model Railway Club will hold an open day after this weekend after it postponed its annual exhibition because of a calendar clash with a larger show in the area.

The club usually holds its annual expo on the first weekend in October, however, this year it fell on the same day as Hornby Magazine's Great Electric Train Show in Gaydon, 14 miles from Daventry.

The DMRC instead decided to hold an open day/mini exhibition this Saturday (October 28) at Daventry Methodist Church, on Golding Close in Daventry.

The Hornby show meant DMRC was unable to get either the visiting layouts or the trader's stands it needed to make the exhibition a success, and could not get use of the three halls at the Parker Academy on an alternative weekend, leaving it with no option but to cancel its event.

"We are sorry to have to report that it became a David and Goliath situation when Hornby Magazine decided to have their ‘Great Electric Train Show’ at Gaydon, which is only 14 miles from Daventry, on the same weekend that we normally stage our Annual Exhibition," said a spokesman for the club.

On display at this weekend's show will be four of the club scenic layouts, a 00 gauge puzzle layout for visitors to try out, plus one visiting layout and a multi-gauge test track for those wanting to bring their own locomotive.

In addition, Tony’s Trains from The Locks at Hillmorton, near Rugby, will have a stand selling various railway modelling equipment and accessories.

The show starts runs from 10am until 4pm. Admission is £2 for adults and children up to 16 go free.

The Northamptonshire Black Police Association helps promote good race relations and equality of opportunity within the police services of the United Kingdom and the wider community.

The associations' chair, Detective Superintendent Dennis Murray, spoke at the launch and was joined by PC Candy Liverpool, the group's secretary.

“I was honoured to be part of this launch – it’s an exciting project and the BPA is an important part of our police family," said Chief Constable Simon Edens.

"As well as providing members of the BPA with a really useful forum, the website opens a door into the force that the public may not be aware of and provides a great way of increasing public confidence.”

As part of Black History Month, the Northamptonshire BPA produced a video about the diversity of their force areas.

Detective Superintendent Murray said: “The BPA is an important support network for all officers who are interested in policing issues involving or affecting BME officers, staff, volunteers or the community. This is a starting point and it will be developed further with more content, events and news.

“The new website provides another way for people to engage with the Northamptonshire BPA and contribute to the conversation around policing. The website won’t just be about us as a police force but community news as well as events we have involving minorities – this is also about reaching out to the community and getting them to engage with us in new and modern ways.”

The new website can be found here.

The winners of this year’s Daventry District Sports awards were announced at a ceremony last week.

Hosted by Daventry District Council’s leisure partner Everyone Active at Daventry Leisure centre on Thursday, October 19, the 15th annual awards were presented by former Team GB Paralympic skier Anna Turney.

Dozens of people were nominated across 13 categories in what proved to be another celebration of the sporting scene in Daventry District.

The winners were:

Community Club of the Year: Daventry Dolphins Swimming Club

Team of the Year: Daventry Town FC

Coach of the Year: Robert Sharp (Daventry Dolphins)

Primary School of the Year: Overstone Primary School

Secondary School of the Year: The Parker E-ACT Academy

Young Leader of the Year: Megan Free (Daventry Tigers martial arts)

Volunteer of the Year: Mike Walsh (Daventry Cycling Club)

Young Sportswoman of the Year: Shannon Kennedy (G-Force Martial Arts Club)

Young Sportsman of the Year: Tom Symons (Pro Martial Arts)

Disabled Sports Achiever: Scarlett Humphrey (Daventry Dolphins)

Local Sportsman: Michael Smallwood (Daventry Dolphins

Local sportswoman: Angela Copson (Rugby & Northampton Athletics Club)

Long-time Contribution to Sport: Frank Hobbs (Daventry Town Football Club)

Councillor Alan Hills, Daventry District Council’s community, culture and leisure portfolio holder, said: “These awards have been celebrating the sporting talents and achievements of people, clubs and schools for 15 years now and we are very proud of that.

“I would like to congratulate all of the winners on a fantastic achievement and thank everyone who was involved in making the evening a success.”

Jamie Brightwell, Everyone Active’s general manager at Daventry Leisure Centre, said: “We are honoured to have hosted the Daventry Sports Awards in partnership with the Council. The event provides us with an opportunity to recognise the fantastic and inspirational work that the nominees and winners carry out each day.

"Congratulations to everyone involved for making this year’s event such a success.”

A dog that was repeatedly allowed by its Daventry owner to stray is to be rehomed, a court has ruled.

Magistrates also ordered that Luke Harper, of Jervis Close, Daventry, pay a fine and costs totalling nearly £4,000 for breaching a Community Protection Notice which required him to keep his black Patterdale Terrier Bryan under control.

Daventry District Council received a number of reports of Bryan straying on the Southbrook Estate between March and September 2016.

Concerned about the terrier’s safety and the possibility he might cause a road traffic accident, the council issued a warning to Mr Harper in September 2016 requesting him to keep the dog under proper control and prevent him from straying.

But the warning was ignored and in December 2016 a formal Community Protection Notice was served on Mr Harper, requiring him to control his dog.

When DDC received further reports of Bryan straying, and with the owner continuing to offer no response, it was forced to step in again and applied to the courts for a warrant to seize the dog.

In May 2017, having obtained a warrant, officers gained entry into Mr Harper’s property at Jervis Close by force and formally seized Bryan, taking him to kennels pending the outcome of the case against his owner.

At Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (October 17), Mr Harper was convicted in his absence of breaching the Community Protection Notice and fined £100.

He was also required to pay Council costs of £3,795 which included kennelling costs, vets fees, legal fees and officer time. Magistrates also issued a forfeiture order for Bryan, who will now be rehomed.

Councillor Richard Auger, Health and Housing Portfolio Holder on Daventry District Council, said: “As a dog-loving country, we consider enforcement such as this a last resort. We much prefer to work with residents and resolve problems in partnership. This case has illustrated that sometimes we have no other options available but to take action in order to protect dogs and local residents.

“We tried to engage with the owner, but to no avail. The last thing we want to do as a Council is to remove dogs from their owners, but, if dog owners refuse to work with us, we will always do what is right to protect the community.

“The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 has given councils tough new powers to act where we believe that the quality of life of residents is being detrimentally affected by dog owners who fail to properly control their dogs. I hope that this case will act as a warning to all dog owners that the council are ready and willing to use those powers where necessary.”

Motorists in Northamptonshire are being warned to ignore a scam email claiming they have been caught speeding.

The email is believed to be an attempt to extort money from people fraudulently.

Recipients are urged to delete the email without clicking on any links within it.

Northamptonshire Police has a paper-based process for issuing speeding tickets, and does not use emails for this purpose.

Police have asked the media to point out that if you are caught speeding in the Northamptonshire Police area, the Notice of Intended Prosecution sent will:

- Always be posted to the registered keeper in the first instance

- Be sent by Royal Mail 1st class, in a legal documents envelope

- Always be printed on Northamptonshire Police headed paper

- Have a 16-digit reference number starting 034

- Contain a brown return envelope for your documents

If you have any doubt about the legitimacy of a Notice of Intended Prosecution, call the Northamptonshire Police Fixed Penalty Unit via 101.

Northampton Saints celebrated the renewal of its partnership with Carlsberg UK on Wednesday night with a special event at the Old White Hart Inn.

Ten Saints players were joined by 120 supporters and Carlsberg staff who all booked their places thanks to a competition.

Courtney Lawes and George North jumped behind the Far Cotton pun's bar to pull pints for the guests, as did skipper Dylan Hartley.

Rob Horne, Ben Foden, Stephen Myler, Piers Francis, Alex Waller, Paul Hill and Tom Wood were also at the event, along with Saints' chief executive Mark Darbon, and Carlsberg representative Bruce Ray.

The renewal of the relationship between the brewer and the rugby club means the partnership now stretches back over three decades.

A dark blue BMW 5 series travelling towards the M1 on the A45, near Flore, Daventry, was in collision with a white Ford Focus travelling in the opposite direction at about 7.15am, between the Nether Heyford junction and the Holiday Inn in Flore.

Sadly, the driver of the Focus, a 26-year-old man from Rugeley in Staffordshire, died at the scene.

The BMW driver, a 27-year-old man from Wembley, was taken by air ambulance to University Hospital Coventry with serious injuries.

Witnesses, or anyone with information, are asked to call Northamptonshire Police on 101 or contact the Drivewatch hotline on 0800 174615.

The clocks go back this weekend, here’s all you need to know.

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.”

Daventry has seen its fair share of ribbon-cuttings this month.

On October 4 the new B&M Store on the Abbey Retail Park opened its doors for the first time.

This was followed by the official opening of the Randolph Building at the E-Act Parker Academy just two days later.

And this week a launch event to celebrate the completion of the Daventry Phoenix Sports Academy was held in the town after its £2m renovation.

In that spirit we found this adorable photo of a ribbon-cutting – and this time with not an adult in sight – as Stewart Littlewood unveils a brand new shed in Flore in October 1987 for his playmates.

New toys were also provided for the village’s youngsters after floods damaged their old shed.

After thinking about how to raise money to provide the shed and toys, Stewart – a member of the playgroup – suggested asking Children In Need to help them out. As well as an £800 grant from the charity, supervisors at the playgroup raised £400 from holding bazaars, jewellery parties and plant sales.

A woman is appealing for volunteer bakers after launching a project to provide free cakes to children and families in Daventry and the surrounding area enduring hard times.

Millie Wardle set up a Rugby and Daventry Free Cakes for Kids group on Tuesday this week after seeing the good work similar groups around the country do.

Mrs Wardle, the coordinator for the Rugby and Daventry branch of the project, has been an avid baker since she was a child.

She said she got on a “baking jive” after recently returning from a working holiday in Japan where she had no access to an oven.

She said: “When I got back I was baking more and more.

“My family and friends loved it – I began to think there must be something else I can do with my interest in baking.”

Mrs Wardle discovered the work of Free Cakes for Kids while reading a Buzzfeed article outlining how people can assist others when they may not have the time to volunteer in a conventional way.

She said: “Not a lot of people have the time to volunteer a set amount of time each week.

“Free Cakes for Kids is great because it allows people to be flexible.

“You can volunteer to bake something once a week, once a month, once a year or you can just do it once.”

Free Cakes for Kids is a nationwide group which connects volunteer bakers with needy children and families.

Although not a centralised charity, individual groups provide support for each other.

Mrs Wardle, who has lived in Daventry since 2008 and went to school in Rugby, said she had been helped greatly by the coordinator for the Leamington branch of the group.

Although the group was set up days ago, Mrs Wardle has already had five people agree to volunteer, with many more expressing interest.

She has also been proactive in contacting any organisations or charities which may be able to refer children and families to the group - including food banks and social services.

For more information about volunteering or referring children and families see the group’s Facebook page or email freecakesdaventryrugby@gmail.com.

Can’t get enough of pumpkin spice lattes? Discount supermarket Aldi is stocking a Pumpkin Spice Irish Cream liqueur - just in time for Halloween!

Stores across the country have also announced a limited edition range of spooktacular beers and ciders for you to toast the scariest night of the year.

If you’re partial to a tipple of cider, both toffee apple and rhubarb and custard flavours hit the shelves earlier this month, costing £3,79 for four.

The discount supermarket will also be stocking a selection of Wychwood beers - including a seasonal Dunkel Fester, a darker beer to go along with a cold autumn evening (and we’re going to have plenty of those).

A horrifying craze which brought terror to the streets of Britain last Hallowe’en is back - after a woman was terrified by a KILLER CLOWN.

Teenagers wearing creeping clown masks have been spotted jumping in front of cars while wearing orange jumpsuits and scaring mums walking with their children.

Witnesses said they saw “teenagers in clown masks leaping out in front of cars and jumping in front of people”.

The sighting was reported to police who confirmed officers went to the scene in Canterbury, Kent, at around 7.20pm on Tuesday over “road safety concerns”.

A mother said she saw the men, one of which was wearing an orange jumpsuit, while she was with her seven-year-old child.

She said: “Be careful. Teenagers have clown masks and other masks on jumping in front of cars and jumping out in front of people.”

Daisy-Louise Taylor‎, who reported the incident to police, warned: “Anyone who is walking or driving by sorting office and council be careful teenage have clown mask and other mask on jumping in front of cars and jumping out in front of people I have called the police.”

Kent Police could not confirm if the teens were wearing clown costumes as they arrived after the group has fled the scene.

A spokesman for the force said: “Kent Police received a report of teenagers running in and out of moving traffic in Military Road, Canterbury at 7.17pm on Tuesday 17 October 2017.

Safety concerns

“Due to road safety concerns, officers attended the scene but the group had dispersed before officers’ arrival. No further reports were received.”

Other residents around the Kent town had also seen groups dressed as clown, some riding bikes, other knocking on front doors.

Tina Smith wrote: “One in an orange jumpsuit? They passed me with my kids and kept watching people walking past.”

Lisa Braden said: “They were down Vauxhall Road (outskirts of Canterbury) yesterday my daughter come in and told us.

Tia Hernaman said: “They were down Sturry Road (outskirts of Canterbury) had been spotted.”

Leanne White added: “They knocked on my door yesterday and just stood there.”

Clowns on bikes

Mandy Baker added: “There were a couple on bikes in Thanington (2.5 miles from Canterbury) last week.”

Canterbury City Council, near where the sighting took place, said it was warning its staff to be careful leaving their offices and was monitoring the situation with CCTV.

A city council spokesman said: “As far as we are aware, none of our staff have been targeted by people wearing clown masks. Our CCTV control room is monitoring the situation.

“We have asked members of staff to take extra care when leaving work and to report any incidents to the police. Members of the public should do the same.”

In September two clowns were spotted in Chelmsford, Essex, and were linked to the release of Stephen King horror movie IT.

Last year at the height of the craze, more than 50 incidents involving clowns were reported to Kent Police in just three days between October to 7 and 10.

Thames Valley Police were called to 14 reports of people being intimidated or frightened by people dressed as clowns over the course of two days.

Gloucestershire Police received six reports in 48 hours, while in Leicestershire one woman was scared so badly she went into early labour.

“Armed”

In Plymouth man posted a video online showing him being confronted at night in the town by a clown armed with a hammer.

Multiple reports were received of people dressed as clowns, including one near a school bus. Another incident saw children chased through woodland.

A mother says a group of seven ‘Killer Clowns’ jumped out at her as she walked down the street.

The woman said she was confronted by a gang of youths, wearing clown masks and screaming, before jumping out at her.

During the incident on Tuesday evening in Canterbury, Kent, one of the ‘Killer Clowns’ was wearing an orange prison jumpsuit.

She said: “I was walking home and heard screaming then someone jumped out at me with a clown mask on and then walked on.

“I saw another one jump in front a of car and a man shouted from the sorting office. I’m not 100 per cent sure what he said.

“There was a group of them, about seven wearing clown masks and other ones, but mainly clown mask and then I rang police and was told they would go and have a look.”

Thanks to generous support, tubular bells, drumming and rock and pop are the latest offerings to be provided to Chichester youngesters by a dedicated music charity.

The West Sussex Music Trust sees nearly 180 teachers support over 18,000 children with their music-making across the county’s schools and colleges.

At present, its Chichester music centre supports 199 children, 14 teachers and eight volunteers.

David Bennet, area leader, West Sussex Music, said: “What makes West Sussex Music unique is that the progression of ensembles takes children from the early stages of learning and guides them through the levels - ultimately, to the County Music Centre.”

David said it was important and beneficial for children to learn music: “Studies have shown that music-making is the only human activity that uses both halves of the brain simultaneously.

“The impact of learning a musical instrument can be seen in children’s academic progress - making music with others is confidence-inspiring and teaches self-respect and respect for others.”

As a business, the West Sussex Music Trust ‘has to make ends meet’ but ‘a huge amount of goodwill means there are always opportunities for students’.

To that end, the Chichester music centre is primarily funded by membership fees and the National Music Grant, administered by Arts Council England.

However, monies are also raised via its ever-popular tuck shop and donations by parents and carers at concerts.

It also recently received a three-figure sum from Waitrose’s Chichester branch: “The Waitrose green token scheme raised £324 - a fantastic gift that bought sheet music and went towards the purchase of a set of tubular bells.”

New developments are in the pipeline: “Chichester Rock N’ Pop Group started this term and is our only electronic group. [It incorporates] guitarists, keyboard, drum kit and vocals – the full works.”

Another fresh initiative, kicking off in January, is Music Club: “This is designed to make the Music Centre accessible to children not currently involved in music.

“Using Indian drumming initially, Music Club introduces the musical elements of pitch, rhythm, etc. It’s easily accessible to children who are new to group music-making and leads them towards suitable instruments for them to consider learning to play.”

The West Sussex Music Trust was set up in 1963 to engage children and young people between the ages of five and 18 in group music-making in as wide a variety of ensembles as possible.

This was followed only a few years later by the creation of the Chichester Music Centre, one of five centres to offer ensemble opportunities to children from an early stage.

The trust also welcomes young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities up to age 25.

Goals range from encouraging life-long learning and a love of music to increasing the numbers of children actively enjoying and engaged in regular music-making.

David Bennet, area leader, West Sussex Music, who runs the Chichester Music Centre, said: “We want to meet children’s cultural needs, ignite their aspirations and bring communities together through a shared language.”

The Chichester centre’s primary purpose is to offer an opportunity for young musicians to make music together in bands, orchestras and choirs: “Making music with others is so stimulating, inspiring and rewarding – we know that students who play in ensembles make faster progress on their instrument and get more from their music.

The centre also offers instrumental, vocal and theory of music lessons, so students can have their lesson and ensemble in one visit.

Howewver, “Lots of music centre members have lessons in their schools or colleges and attend Chichester Music Centre for choirs, string orchestras, brass bands, wind bands, clarinet choir and pop groups.”

Most terms, there are concerts and opportunities to perform in festivals and fairs. Performance practice platforms, where pupils perform in a solo capacity, are a new initiative, with plans for performances every week year-round.

Upcoming events include two winter concerts on Saturday, December 2 at Chichester High School, on Kingsham Road, Chichester. These include Strings & Singers at 11am and Winds & Percussion at 2pm.

To find out more, see www.westsussexmusic.co.uk or call 08452 082 182.

Sitting down at work is often blamed for poor health, but office workers are less likely to die early than a builder, according to a new study.

Cleaners, factory workers and building site or farm labourers are more than three times as likely to suffer premature death, according to new research.

Mortality rates differ over three-fold between occupational groups, say scientists.

In some jobs - such as domestic cleaning - women are more likely to die early than they were 20 years ago.

The worst jobs for health include those in factories, construction, farm labouring or housekeeping and call centres, the study shows.

The best include those in medicine, business and public services, finance, teaching and IT.

The study - which tracked about half a million Britons for 20 years - showed low pay and social circumstances play a bigger role in premature death than having a sedentary desk job.

Keep on moving

Lead author Dr Vittal Katikireddi said: “That is not to say moving around at work is not important.

“Recent research has focussed on the changing patterns of work in the UK and how having a desk job can raise the risk of an early grave by reducing exercise.

“That of course is true. But we have shown labourers for instance - who are active at work - have high mortality rates.

“There needs to be greater emphasis on helping people lead healthier lives at work.

“It goes beyond advice to encouraging HGV drivers for instance to get out of their cabs regularly and offering them the opportunity to eat healthier foods.

“This could be provided by their companies.”

Occupational health

Dr Katikireddi and colleagues at the Social and Public Health Sciences Unit at Glasgow University looked at records from 1991 to 2011.

Using census and death records they confidentially compared mortality rates with occupational data in England, Wales and Scotland - the first study of its kind in the UK in 30 years.

Dr Katikireddi said: “Detailed assessments of mortality by occupation are scarce.

“Ongoing changes in the labour market make a reassessment of mortality by occupation timely.

“In particular - trends in the job market - such as the rise of so-called zero-hours contracts - could adversely affect health and health inequalities.

“It cannot be assumed patterns identified in the 1970s - which still underpin our contemporary understanding - continue to apply.”

The results showed doctors and other health professionals have very low death rates while factory workers and cleaners have amongst the highest.

Medical matters

During 4.51 million person-years of follow-up among 20 to 59 year-old working age adults there were over three-fold differences in mortality rates among 63 occupations.

Dr Katikireddi said: “Among men in England and Wales health professionals had the lowest mortality - 225 deaths per 100,000 person-years - with low rates also shown in managers and teachers.

“The highest mortality rates were in elementary construction - 701 deaths per 100,000 person-years - and housekeeping and factory workers.

“Among women, teachers and business professionals had low mortality, and factory workers and garment trade workers had high rates.

“Mortality rates have generally fallen, but have stagnated or even increased among women in some occupations, such as cleaners - 337 deaths per 100,000 person years - in 1991 rising to 426 deaths per 100,000 person years in 2001.”

The study published in The Lancet Public Health also found men who were health professionals - medical doctors, dentists, psychologists, pharmacists, opticians and vets - had the lowest mortality rates.

Among women, teachers and business professionals had the lowest mortality.

However the highest mortality rates overall occurred in men who reported no occupation.

The study was funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC), The Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office (CSO) and Wellcome.

10 worst jobs for health: deaths per 100,000 person years

1 Elementary construction occupations - 701

2 Elementary process plant occupations - 672

3 Elementary personal services occupations - 650

4 Elementary agricultural occupations - 623

5 Admin occupations - communications 604

6 Elementary cleaning occupations - 592

7 Textiles and garments trades 569

8 Housekeeping occupations 567

9 Metal forming, welding and related trades - 563

10 Elementary sales occupations 556

10 best jobs for health

1 Health professionals 225

2 Business and public services professionals 228

3 Functional managers 233

4 Finance institution and office managers 234

5 Corporate managers and directors 250

6 Teaching professionals 262

7 Production managers 265

Protection services occupations 265

9 IT professionals 267

10 Business and finance associate professionals 269

Les Brioche is recalling its Les Brioche Pain au lait Brioche Rolls 8 Pack because they have been incorrectly packed with Les Brioche Chocolate Chip Brioche Rolls, which contain soya.

This means the product is a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to soya.

The affected products come in a 280g pack, with Best before end date of 4 November 2017, and batch code: L09 14:43 UK1 279.

The affected product was only available in Co-operative stores, and customers are being advised that If they have bought the above product and have an allergy to soya, they should not eat it, instead returning it to the store from where it was bought.

A mum is warning parents of young children to check electrical appliances after her 23-month-old daughter got dragged inside a spinning tumble dryer.

Little Iiylah-Louise was playing when she opened the door of the dryer and got her finger caught on a blanket as it sped round the drum.

Horrified mum Shannon, 24, heard her daughter’s screams and managed to flick the machine off at the mains just as the tot’s head was pulled inside.

Iiylah was rushed to hospital following the freak accident at her home in Somercotes, Derby, last Wednesday (18/10).

She spent the day in King’s Mill Hospital, Notts., where she received treatment for tissue damage to the fingers on her right hand.

Shannon, who has three other children, has tried to contact the manufacturer of the Crusader CT31V tumble dryer but the firm no longer exists.

She is now warning parents to check their appliances to make sure they automatically cut out if the doors are opened.

Shannon said: “It was about 3pm and I was cooking the tea when it happened.

“The tumble dryer is in the dining room along with a load of toys, and she had obviously managed to open the door while it was still going round.

“The blankets and duvet covers in there had wrapped around her tighter and tighter and were pulling her in.

“I tried to pull her out, but nothing was working.

“Her head was slowly being pulled in, and I was worried that something awful might happen, because the momentum was pulling her in.

“I grabbed her but it was still pulling at her so I flicked the power switch.

“She was screaming but it could have been awful if her head went into the fast spinning drum - she could have been very seriously injured or even worse.

“The dryer is a few years old but it had always stopped spinning when you opened the door.

“I’ve thrown the dryer out now and I’ll never have one again. Thank god she was able to cry out and warn me about what was happening.

“It’s been horrible. It’s the most horrific thing that I have ever seen in my life.

“I just couldn’t get the blankets off her quick enough, it felt like everything was just taking ages.

“The next day, we put her to bed as normal, but at around 7pm she started screaming again.

“She was shaking all over, and started vomiting repeatedly. The doctors reckon it must be some sort of seizure, perhaps brought on by shock.

“Thankfully she is all ok now and on the mend.”

The appliance, which is believed to be around ten years old, was bought second-hand from Shannon’s mum Louise Evans, 44, in 2012.

It had a safety feature which ensured it stopped spinning when the door opened, but this is believed to have malfunctioned.

Shannon has now thrown out the faulty appliance, and, along with partner A-Jay Forbes, 30, is warning fellow parents to take extra care when it comes to washing.

Craig McClue, lead officer and policy executive at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, said: “Product safety is a serious issue and consumers need to think carefully when looking to buy older second hand appliances.

“The safety of the product will be unknown and parts of it might be failing depending on its age.

“As a precaution trading standards recommend that a thorough safety check is carried out by a qualified technician.”

The following people were sentenced at Northampton Magistrates’ Court:

AUGUST 29:

Stefan-Georgel Spanu, aged 26, of Henry Bird Way, Northampton, no insurance; fined £400, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £40, costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Simon Turay, aged 39, of Park Drive, Kings Heath, Northampton, driving at 42mph in a 30mph zone; fined £440, surcharge £44 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with four points.

Marian Vasile, aged 22, of Greenside, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, surcharge of £66, costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. Driving without due care and attention; fined £440.

John Wilson, aged 71, of Harborough Road, Northampton, no test certificate; fined £46, surcharge of £30 and costs of £85.

Ronnie Yip, aged 28, of Beddoes Close, Northampton, driving at 52mph in a 30mph zone; fined £440, surcharge of £44, costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Mark Bichener, of Roderick Court, Daventry, breach of the Education Act; fined £440, surcharge of £30 and costs of £120.

Kelly Jarrett, of Roderick Court, Daventry, breach of the Education Act; fined £440, surcharge of £30 and costs of £120.

AUGUST 30

Robert Hughes, aged 53, of Abbey Road, Northampton, harassment; community order made, ordered to pay a surcharge of £85 and costs of £85.

Benjamin Hallam, aged 26, of Duke Street, Northampton, assault; community order made, ordered to pay compensation of £75, a surcharge of £85 and costs of £85.

Paul McCafferty, aged 39, of Balfour Close, Northampton, failed to comply with a supervision order; jailed for 14 days.

Trina Howe, aged 44, of Wallingford End, Northampton, assaulted a police officer; community order made, ordered to pay compensation of £50. Assaulted another police officer; community order made and compensation of £50. Assaut; community order made, ordered to pay compensation of £50, surcharge of £85 and costs of £85. Assault; community order made and ordered to pay compensation of £50.

Donna Macleod, aged 59, of Marseilles Close, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 108mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; community order made to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work, pay surcarge of £85, costs of £75 and banned from driving for 24 months.

AUGUST 31

Anthony Fitzgerald, aged 56, of no fixed abode, failed to comply with terms of Sexual Offences Act; fined £180, surcharge of £30 and costs of £85.

Darren Clarkson, aged 41, of Entwood Drive, Northampton, breach of a court order; jailed for 26 weeks suspended for 24 months, ordered to pay a surcharge of £115 and costs of £85.

SEPTEMBER 1

Peter Green, aged 50, of Norfolk Terrace, Northampton, failed to report an accident to a police officer; fined £133, surcharge of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with five points.

Emanuela Muntean, aged 35, of Ryeland Road, Northampton, driving without due care and attention; fined £29, surcharge of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Cami Vasile, of Grange Road, Northampton, failed to stop at an accident; fined £167, surcharge of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with five points. Failed to report an accident to a police officer; fined £167.

Egidijus Budginas, aged 40, of East Park Parade, Northampton, failed to stop at an accident; fined £180, surcharge of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with five points. Failed to report an accident to police; fined £180.

Andrejs Golubevs, aged 26, of Essex Street, Northampton, no insurance; fined £370, surcharge of £37 and costs of £85, banned from driving for six months. Driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £123.

Ionut Lica, aged 21, of Tower Square, Northampton, no insurance; fined £300, surcharge of £30 and costs of £85, banned from driving for six months.

Drewe McConnell, aged 27, of Derby Road, Northampton, driving at speeds exceeding 50mph; fined £33, surcharge of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with three points.

Jurgen Acquaye, aged 26, of Wildacre Drive, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, surcharge of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. Failed to produce a licence; fined £220.

Ignat Emil, aged 27, of Lower Thrift Street, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, surcharge of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Jordan Harrold, aged 19, of Cranford Road, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, surcharge of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points. Driving not in accordance with a licence; no separate penalty. Faulty tyre; fined £440.

Ruben Hernandez, aged 21, of Nursery Lane, Northampton, driving at 74mph in a 40mph zone; fined £350, surcharge of £35 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Alexander Marriott, aged 26, of Near Side, Northampton, failed to stop at an accident; fined £440, surcharge of £44 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with five points. Failed to report an accident to police; fined £440.

SEPTEMBER 4

Ernest Thallon, aged 96, of Spring Gardens, Oxford Close, Daventry, breach of a community protection notice by entering Daventry Lirbary and the district council offices; conditional discharge for six months, ordered to pay a surcharge of £20.

Alison Aldridge, aged 42, of Stefen Hill, Daventry, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 112mcgs in 100mls of breath; fined £500, surcharge of £50 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 28 months.

Lisa Gibson, aged 33, of West Cotton Close, Northampton, assaulted a police officer; community order made, ordered to pay a surcharge of £85 and costs of £84. Damaged a police van; community order made, ordered to pay compensation of £79.85.

George Mihalache, aged 26, of Greatmeadows, Northampton, had items in connection with theft; community order made to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work, pay a surcharge of £85 and costs of £600. Failed to surrender to custody; community order made to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work.

Kampius Mindaugas, aged 27, of Campbell Street, Northampton, used violence to enter a flat; community order made to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work, pay compensation of £100, a surcharge of £85 and costs of £85.

Margaret Wright, aged 42, of Nelson Close, Daventry, stole Easter eggs from the Co-Op; conditional discharge for 18 months, ordered to pay compensation of £8.50, surcharge of £20 and costs of £105.

Patrick Devine, aged 33, c/o The Warren, Hardingstone, failed to comply with a community order; no adjudication, dealt with original offence, ordered to pay costs of £60. Original offences as follows (all at the same incident) - assaulted a police officerl jailed for four weeks suspended for 12 months. Assaulted another police officer; jailed for four weeks concurrent, suspended for 12 months. Resisted arrest; jailed for two weeks consecutive. Resisted arrest; jailed for two weeks consecutive suspended for 12 months. New offence as follows: Had an imitation BB gun in H&M storesl jailed for 17 weeks suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay a surcharge of £115 and costs of £85.

Vatan Bajika, aged 33, of The Warren, Hardingstone, allowed unknown person to remove household waste which was later dumped illegally; fined £400, ordered to pay compensation of £1,156, surcharge of £40 and costs of £250.

Lee Borucki, aged 36, of Margaret Street, Northampton, stole two bottles of Ciroc vodka worth £59.98; fined £80, compensation of £59.98, surcharge of £30 and costs of £85.

Joseph Clare, aged 21, of Larkhall Lane, Harpole, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 70mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; fined £325, ordered to pay a surcharge of £30 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 17 months.

Elizabeth Connors, aged 25, of Mushroom Field Road, Northampton, stole various items of £18.34 belonging to Nisa Stores; fined £60, compesnation of £44.67, surcarge of £30. Stole various items worth £26.23 belonging to Nisa Stores; fined £60. Assault; fined £80.

Jake Cox, aged 24, of Langdale Road, Kingsthorpe, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 56mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; fined £600, surcharge of £60 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 16 months. No insurance; fined £600.

Tracy Phelps, aged 40, of Billing Aquadrome, Crow Lane, Northampton, made off without paying for petrol; conditional discharge for 12 months, ordered to pay compensationof £20.17. Similar offence; conditional discharge for 12 months, ordered to pay compensation of £20.05. No insurance; fined £120, surcharge of £30 and costs of £85.

Justyna Wieczorek, aged 35, of The Warren, Hardingstone, Northampton, allowed unknown person to remove household waste which was later dumped illegally; fined £100, surcharge of £30.

Steven Card, aged 44, of Darwin Walk, Duston, failed to provide a breath test; jailed for 12 weeks, ordered to pay a surcharge of £115 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 60 months. Stole a car; no seperate penalty. Failed to stop when required by a police officer; no separate penalty. Driving while banned; jailed for 12 weeks consecutive. No insurance; no separate penalty. Failed to stop at a red light; no separate penalty.

Richard Greaves, aged 51, of Severn Drive, Northampton, possession of cannabis; fined £80, surcharge of £30 and costs of £85.

Aiden Johnson, aged 32, of Bouverie Walk, Northampton, stole alcohol worth £100 from Sainsbury’s; community order made. Stole alcohol worth £40 from Sainsbury’s; ordered to pay compensation of £40. Failed to surrender to custody; community order made.

The break-in at the Best One store on Oxford Street, Daventry, happened some time between 7pm on October 26, and 4am on October 27.

The shop was entered via a side door which appears to have been partially sawed off before a metal gate was crowbarred open to allow the burglars to gain access to the newsagent via its storeroom.

Around 20 expensive bottles of whiskey and vodka were taken, along with cigarettes and tobacco from behind the counter - including the replenishment stock - as well as cash.

If you saw anything suspicious or have any information relating to the burglary contact Northamptonshire Police on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Detective Superintendent Dennis Murray has just given a talk about the group's new website - which launched earlier in October - before inviting guests to watch a video made for Black History Month.

Next to him sits PC Candy Liverpool and both are eager to talk about what the BPA do in the county, as it works to promote good race relations and equality of opportunity.

“Locally the BPA is a support network for what’s described as black and minority ethnic group, but actually our membership is really wide-ranging so while the title might be a little misleading it’s about coming and discussing issues around BME both internally in the police force and externally," said the chairman Det Supt Dennis Murray.

He explains that the Northamptonshire BPA is multi-faceted in that it helps BME staff within the force, thinks about how to help the police attract BME people to the force and when they join, what can be done to support them.

Perhaps the most important is the engagement aspect where the BPA looks at how it interacts with the community and makes sure the people within feel like they are represented in the police.

It can also challenge the force on issues around BME staff mainly because it has close ties to chief officers at Northamptonshire Police.

“The BPA, from a Northants point of view, has a really good relationship with our chief constable and our chief officer too," said 47-year-old Det Supt Murray.

“From my point of view I think it's clear there have been some issues in policing nationally, while we don’t necessarily see some of those issues in Northants around discrimination in the workplace and things like that, it’s healthy to have someone there to health check this stuff, and the BPA is the local health check for that.

He added: "I’ve got the confidence I can knock on his [Chief Constable Simon Edens] door and I know he will listen to me. And that’s not about rank, Candy could knock on his door and say exactly the same thing.”

PC Candy Liverpool is Northants BPA's secretary and has been in the force for 13 years, spending the first three as a Police Community Support Officer.

“I’m a community officer so I work on the neighbourhood team. I’m very front-facing and I deal with a lot different communities," said PC Liverpool.

“In terms of why we have the BPA, looking back in history the discrimination was there before but now it is more about that engagement with the community and trying to get across, because there are barriers and certain cultures will have certain misconceptions or perceptions of what it is to be a police officer and be of a certain culture, colour, religion, whatever it is.

“So it is about that engagement and about showing that actually, yes there are people look like those people out there, it's a good place to work, and we haven't got those issues.”

The pair were speaking at the launch of the BPA's new website, which they hope will help open lines of communications directly with the communities they serve.

“A lot of people won’t know that we [the BPA] exist," said PC Liverpool.

“Talking from my personal experience from the role I do as a neighbourhood officer, those contacts are vital.

"At the moment I'm trying to set up an independent advisory group, which is a group of people from all sorts of cultures, etc… Doing this and getting them to see what we do, to see who we are, will really help me with that because I’ll be approachable, they’ll understand what we do, they’ll build up better relationships and more confidence.”

PC Liverpool, 37, said the website helps show the public the range of things the BPA does, like attending community events, which in turn help normalise the officers in the eyes of the public.

“People can see behind the uniform, behind our titles or ranks or whatever it is, they can see behind that, and again that helps with the engagement. We are just everyday people just doing a job.”

The website can also be a forum for its members to ask questions of the police, without the fear of arousing suspicion.

“If somebody had a question around stop and search or anything - like ‘how much cannabis can I have in my pocket before I get arrested?’ - they can interact with us straight away, get an answer straight away," said Det Supt Murray.

"They’re not having to come to a police website where they might be a bit suspicious.”

Det Supt Murray insisted there was still work to be done to get people to get on the website, though he anticipated it would be easier than getting the public to walk through the doors of a police station.

He said: "Part of the challenge of that is letting people out there have the confidence to get on the website.

"And part of the research we have done before suggests that they wouldn’t naturally walk into a police station or approach a police officer and part of that is in local reasons, but also they might judge us based on the police force in their own country of origin and think we’re the same. So it’s about removing those myths.”

The new website can be found here.

Daventry Country Park has been nominated for the Fields in Trust UK’s Best Park award.

The Green Flag award-winning park was one of 360 nominated for the award, which is decided by a public vote.

People can vote for Daventry Country Park by visiting Fileds in Trust UK's website before the November 3 deadline.

Across the UK nominations include large nature reserves and small community gardens, sports fields and playgrounds, each one a green space valued by the local community.

Parks with the most votes will be shortlisted and invited to attend the prestigious Fields in Trust Awards at Lord’s Cricket Ground in November, where the UK's Best Park will be named.

Councillor Alan Hills, community, culture and leisure portfolio holder at Daventry District Council, said: “We are very pleased to be nominated for this award and I sincerely ask who enjoys visiting the park to spend a moment voting for it, so that we can demonstrate what a great country park we have here in Daventry.”

Fields in Trust is a national charity that operates throughout the UK to safeguard recreational spaces and campaign for better statutory protection for all kinds of outdoor sites.

Fields in Trust chief executive, Helen Griffiths, said: "Despite their clear health benefits, parks and green spaces are facing an uncertain future - across the UK outdoor spaces are under threat. The UK’s Best Park Award celebrates the parks and green spaces which are so vital to the communities that use them.

“Recognising the UK's Best Park is a way of revaluing our green spaces; not viewing them just as a drain on resources for maintenance and upkeep - but seeing what benefits they bring; access to good quality recreational space can contribute to the physical and mental health of their local population and provide places for people to get together for community events."