What is free, widely available and helps make a difference to people, families and communities?

Going to the library is one the UK’s most popular activities, with over 280 million visits recorded in 2013-14.

According to York university librarian Ned Potter, over this period more people went to the library than to Premier League football matches (13.9 million), the theatre (22 million) and the cinema (165.5 million) combined.

The West Sussex Library Service runs the libraries in Bognor Regis, Chichester, Midhurst, Petworth, Selsey, Southbourne, Willowhale and the Witterings, plus a community mobile library for smaller towns and villages.

Gareth Edmunds, library manager for Chichester, Midhurst, Petworth, Selsey, Southbourne and Witterings libraries, said the service was valued by residents and county councillors.

Gareth said: “Here in West Sussex, we have maintained our libraries over recent years despite extreme financial challenges. Libraries are a vitally important service, providing community spaces, supporting literacy and wellbeing and reducing social isolation.

“A strong network of libraries keeps libraries at the forefront of information and learning in our communities.”

Today, health, reading, digital, information and learning are five key areas for all ages.

Libraries encourage and enable reading for pleasure, for example providing books for reading groups, some of whom meet up in their local libraries. Their doors are also open to children, young people and families, who learn together on a variety of subjects, such as ‘Baby rhyme time’ and ‘Knit and natter’.

In addition, libraries serve as community hubs, where health and well-being partners provide valuable help and information, such as online digital access to key health information sites, and schemes such as Reading Well Books on Prescription, which helps people understand and manage their own health and wellbeing.

Libraries provide digital services and library staff, while volunteers help library customers develop digital skills. This includes free internet access to members of the library service and clear and accessible online library services such as eInformation, eBooks, eAudio books, eComics, eMagazines and eNewspapers, plus Access to Research, frequently on a 24/7 basis.

“The information service supports people with access to life-critical areas such as careers and job seeking, health, personal finance, and benefits. The information provided is carefully checked and much better than just Googling!”

The work of library staff is boosted by the support of an army of volunteers, who lend a hand on a one-off or regular basis.

Children’s services volunteers support children’s activities in libraries, including ‘rhyme times’, ‘story times’ and homework clubs.

Community library support volunteers, meanwhile, help members of the public and assist in library routines in community libraries.

There are also openings for computer buddies to help people learn the basics of using computers and the internet, either one-to-one or in groups.

Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award volunteers, on the other hand,can serve in a library as part of the scheme, helping customers and supporting a variety of routines.

Home library direct volunteers visit people who can no longer reach the library in their own homes or care homes; they choose, deliver and return library books and other items.

Local history volunteers help organise local studies collections, including the digitisation of photographs, and work on local history projects.

There are also openings for occasional volunteers. They can help with events, surveys and book sales, select books for care homes and promote and support the Library Service at local community events.

Reading group volunteers are also needed to run library-based reading groups or set up new reading groups in their areas.

Upcoming library events this month include a Christmas coffee morning at the Witterings Library on Thursday, December 14; a Christmas coffee afternoon at Southbourne Library on Friday, December 15; a Christmas coffee morning at Selsey Library on Tuesday December 19; and a Christmas coffee morning at Chichester Library on Thursday, December 21.

January 2018 events include an introduction to library resources for business start-ups on Saturday, January 20, at Chichester Library, featuring short ten- to 15-minute drop-in sessions between 10am and noon.

Ongoing regular activities include ‘rhyme time’, ‘toddler time’, ‘story time’, ‘knit and natter’ and reading group meetings.

Digital assistance sessions now take place at Bognor Regis and Chichester libraries; Bognor Regis library also holds monthly National Careers Service sessions.

To find out more, see www.westsussex.gov.uk/libraries/whats-on-in-libraries/

Officers in 4 x 4 vehicles have been helping stranded motorists and colleagues from the local Highways department have been moving a number of broken down vehicles and jackknifed lorries.

Most roads are now open but motorists may still encounter difficulties on rural routes and B-roads.

With temperatures set to fall below freezing tonight and more snow showers likely police are reminding those who do need to travel to ensure they leave plenty of time for their journeys and drive appropriately to the conditions.

Local hospitals are also urging people to take care when out and about. A spokesperson said: “If you need medical help, please think about using all the healthcare options available. We’re very busy today prioritising services for those in greatest need and we advise you to call 111 in the first instance to be directed to the most appropriate service.

“Cold weather is particularly problematic for older people - please look out for elderly neighbours and make sure they are warm and safe.”

Superintendent Chris Hillery is leading the force’s response to the adverse weather conditions. He said: "If you are out, my advice is to get home as early as possible tonight and don't venture out again unless you really have to until tomorrow morning.

"If you do have to go out during the night take appropriate action to make sure you are prepared for the cold, snowy conditions. This includes taking extra, warm clothes, a hot drink, de-icer, ice scraper and torch and make sure your mobile phone is fully charged."

"When the roads are wet and icy it can take twice as long to stop your vehicle, so please slow down and plan well ahead of a junction so you slowly come to a halt just before or as you get to the junction.

"If you have to travel, there are measures all road users can take to help minimise risks."

Take a few minutes to read tips issued by police, below:

Be prepared

- Check the latest weather forecast before you head out

- Make sure your tyres have sufficient tread and the correct pressure

- Check your lights workEnsure your battery is chargedMake sure your wiper blades are working

- Put some warm clothes/blankets into your carKeep de-icing equipment in your car so you can clear it before driving

- Make sure your mobile phone is well charged or you have a charger in your car

- Ensure you have sufficient fuel in your tankIf conditions are bad and your journey is not essential, consider postponing your journey to when conditions have improved

Driving in snow

- Slow down and extend braking distances

- Drive in as high a gear as possible and take care at junctions and corners

- Avoid breaking and accelerating sharply

- When braking on snow or ice change into a low gear and use breaks gently, leaving a larger braking distance

- Listen to your local radio station for any updates on any traffic problems and change your route accordingly

- Police and partners are assessing conditions around the clock and further updates will follow. For updates follow @northantspolice

For information about school closures go to: http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/schoolclosures/

The following people were sentenced at Northampton Magistrates’ Court:

OCTOBER 18:

Jake Gent, aged 26, of Skwale 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. No test certificate; no separate penalty. Similar charge; fined £660, surcharge of £66 and costs of £85, banned from driving for six months.

James Hanlon, aged 23, of Flying Dutchman Way, Timken, Daventry, no insurance; fined £660 and ordered to pay a surcharge of £66 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Andrei Turca, aged 27, of Treetops, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, ordered to pay a surcharge to victim services of £66 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 12 months. Child riding in vehicle without a seatbelt; fined £220.

Bradley Bubb, aged 29, of Harcourt Way, Northampton, driving at 80mph in a 30mph zone; fined £507, ordered to pay a surcharge of £50 and costs of £85, banned from driving for six months.

OCTOBER 19

Roy Amitabh, aged 39, of Notre Dame Mews, Northampton, driving without due care and attention; fined £350, ordered to pay a surcharge

of £35 and costs of £85,

banned from driving for six months.

Nicholas Hibbert, aged 28, of Northcote Street, Northampton, possession of a cannabis; conditional discharge for 12 months, ordered to pay a surcharge of £20 and costs of £85.

James Walsh, aged 30, of Weston Mill Lane, Northampton, stole six scaffolding towers worth £6,857.09 belonging to SAB Supply Ltd; fined £500, ordered to pay compensation of £6,857.09, surcharge of £50 and costs of £620, fined £100.

Aiden Johnson, aged 32, of Bouverie Walk, Northampton, failed to comply with a community order; no adjudication and dealt with original offences. Stole alcohol worth £100; from Sainsbury’s; jailed for 14 weeks. Stole alcohol worth £40 belonging to Sainsbury’s; jailed for 14 weeks concurrent. Failed to surrender to custody; jailed for 14 weeks.

Stole two drills from B&Q; jailed for 14 weeks concurrent. Stole fragrances worth £144 belonging to Debenhams; jailed for four weeks consecutive. Stole clothing wotrh £88 belonging to River Island; jailed for four weeks consecutive, ordered to pay a surcharge of £115.

Luke Bailey, aged 30, of Morning Star Road, Timken, Daventry, no insurance; fined £40, ordered to pay a surcharge of £30, banned from driving for six months. Driving not in accordance with a licence; fined £35.

David Nixon, aged 33, of Burford Avenue, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 77mcgs in 100mls of breath; fined £461, ordered to pay a surcharge of £46 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 19 months.

Curtis Norris, aged 27, of Turners Court, Wootton, damaged a car; fined £75, ordered to compensation of £300 and a surcharge of £30.

Ellen Stewardson, aged 30, of Billing Road, assault; ordered to pay compensation of £100 and costs of £40. Similar charge; ordered to pay compensation of £100.

Richard Stratford, aged 40, of Turner Street, Northampton, possession of crack cocaine; fined £28, ordered to pay a surcharge of £30 and costs of £85. Possession of a class A drug; fined £20. Obstructed a police officer; fined £20.

Thomas Hendle, aged 22, of London Road, Roade, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 98mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; community order to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay a surcharge of £85 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 26 months.

Kerrie Moore, aged 45, of Leyland Drive, Northampton, failed to provide a breath test; community order made, fined £150, ordered to pay a surcharge of £85 and costs of £420, banned from driving for 22 months.

Assaulted a police officer; community order made, ordered to pay compensation of £50. Assaulted another police officer; community order made, ordered to pay compensation of £50.

OCTOBER 20

Darryl McIntyre, aged 28, of no fixed abode, broke into Northampton College and stole money worth £4,520, possession of a cannabis, broke into a commercial property with intent to steal, stole food items from BP garage in Tamworth; pleaded guilty, sent to Crown Court for trial.

Derya Gulsoy, aged 26, of Kingsthorpe Grove, Northampton, possession of crack cocaine; jailed for four weeks, ordered to pay a surcharge of £115. Possession of acannabis; conditional discharge for 12 months.

Tony McDonald, aged 26, of Louise Road, Northampton, breach of a court order; conditional discharge for 12 months, ordered to pay a surcharge of £20 and costs of £85.

OCTOBER 21:

Geoffrey Gent, aged 41, of Sidebrook Court, Northampton, driving not in accordance with a licence; no separate penalty. No insurance; fined £160, licence endorsed with six points. Failed to surrender to custody; fined £100, ordered to pay a surcharge of £30 and costs of £85. Commission of a further offence while on a supended sentence for false representation; fined £50.

OCTOBER 23:

Aleksandrs Kokins, aged 42, of Military Road, Northampton, resisted arrest; fined £120, ordered to pay a surcharge of £30 and costs of £85.

Benjamin Shortland, aged 23, of Bouverie Road, Hardingstone, assault; jailed for 12 weeks suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay compensation of £100, surcharge of £115 and costs of £40. Damaged a television and tablet worth £600; jailed for four weeks concurrent suspended for 12 months, ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and compensation of £600.

Kelly Faulkner, aged 40, of Pembroke Road, Northampton, handled stolen bank cards; jailed for 24 weeks suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay a surcharge of £115. Fraud; jailed for 24 weeks suspended for 12 months.

Nikola Gilkes, aged 38, of Plantagenet Close, Brackley, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 146mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; jailed for 16 weeks suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay a surcharge of £115 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 30 months.

Elvis Jesajans, aged 20, of Greenfield Avenue, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 74mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; fined £325, ordered to pay a surcharge of £32 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 20 months. Driving not in accordance with a licence; no separate penalty. No insurance; fined £150.

Chyna Blackstock, aged 19, of Lea Road, Northampton, possession of cannabis; conditional discharge for 12 months, ordered to pay a surcharge of £20 and costs of £85.

Mitchell Vian, aged 20, of Hamsterly Park, Northampton, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 49mcgs of alcohol in 100ms of breath; fined £375, ordered to pay a surcharge of £37 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 12 months.

OCTOBER 25

Rimautas Baltrunas, aged 46, of Lithuania, drink-driving with a breath test reading of 72mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath; jailed for six weeks suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay a surcharge of £115 and costs of £85, banned from driving for 24 months.

Barry Day, aged 36, of North Holme Court, Northampton, stole toys worth £130.98; jailed for four weeks suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay a surcharge of £115 and costs of £85. Failed to surrender to custody; jailed for four weeks concurrent suspended for 12 months.

James Stedman, aged 18, of Palmerston Road, Northampton, failed to comply

with a community order; no adjudication, dealt with

original offence, ordered to pay costs of £60. Commission of a further offence while

subject to a conditional discharge; no action taken. Used threatening or abusive words or behaviour; jailed for eight weeks suspended for 12 months.

OCTOBER 25

Damien Ratcliffe, aged 24, of Glebeland Road, Northampton, assault; community order made to carry out 140 hours of unpaid work. Assault; community order made to carryout 140 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay compensation of £100, a surcharge of £85 and costs of £500. Assault;

community order made to carryout 140 hours of unpaid work, compensation £100.

Jay Shears, aged 26, of Cyril Street, Northampton, breach of a court order; jailed for eight weeks suspended for 12 months, ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. Failed to comply with a community order; no adjudication, dealt with original offence. Harassment; jailed for four weeks consecutive suspended for 12 months. Breach of a court order; jailed for eight weeks concurrent suspedned for 12 months, ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay a surcharge of £115 and costs of £300.

Michael Howard, aged 41, of Park Drive, Northampton, assault; jailed for 18 weeks suspended for 12 months, ordered to pay a surcharge of £115 and costs of £85. Failed to surrender to custody; jailed for two weeks suspended for 12 months.

Adil Hussein, aged 25,

of Fullerburn Court, Northampton, possession of cannabis, possession of crack cocaine and another Class A drug, pleaded guilty.

Daniel Hancock, aged 26, of Aintree Road, Northampton, failed to comply with a community order; fined £300 and ordered to pay costs of £60.

David McGoff, aged 48, of Bideford Close, Northampton, driving while using a mobile phone; fined £208, ordered to pay a surcharge of £30 and costs of £85, banned from driving for six months.

Gabriel O’Prea, aged 27, of Henry Bird Way, Northampton, driving without due care and attention; fined £265, ordered to pay a surcharge of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Adam Smith, aged 34, of Watling Street, Weedon, driving while using a mobile phone; fined £220, ordered to pay a surcharge of £30 and costs of £85, licence endorsed with six points.

Police are warning people to be on their guard during the festive shopping season, as fraudsters take advantage of those full of the festive spirit.

Independent crime-fighting charity, Crimestoppers, is appealing to the public for information on those making, buying or selling counterfeit banknotes.

In the first half of 2017, over 237,000 worthless counterfeit banknotes with a notional value of over £4.88 million were removed from the UK’s streets.

While less than 1 per cent of notes in circulation are counterfeit, this is not a victimless crime. Many retailers, businesses, schools, charities and the elderly have been conned out of money using fake notes.

Christmas is a time when more cash changes hands, especially £20 and £50 notes, and fraudsters take advantage of the festive season by targeting busy shops with temporary staff.

Incidents include scammers tricking innocent members of the public into swapping fake £20 notes for two genuine £10 notes, and businesses being left out of pocket if they take a counterfeit note.

Serious business

Counterfeit notes are also known to be linked to serious and organised criminal gangs. One gang was sentenced to over three years’ imprisonment for the manufacture of £320,000 worth of fake notes. In another more recent case, three men were prosecuted after £40,000 of fake notes were found in a Kent property that was also used to supply cannabis.

As well as raising public awareness of fake banknotes, in October Crimestoppers partnered with the Bank of England to launch the Banknote Checking Scheme. Aimed at cash-handling businesses, it promotes banknote checking at point of sale through targeted training, with the aim of reducing the number of counterfeit notes being accepted.

Further information on fake notes can be found on Crimestoppers’ web page at fakenotes.co.uk.

Director of Operations for Crimestoppers, Roger Critchell, said: “Fake notes are completely worthless and knowingly holding or passing on counterfeit notes is a crime”.

“The purpose of this campaign is to raise awareness of counterfeit money, especially around Christmas when money can be tight, but also to highlight how heartless and callous fraudsters can be when targeting their victims”.

“I’d ask that anyone with information on those selling counterfeit notes contact Crimestoppers anonymously, safe in the knowledge no one will know you spoke to us, and knowing you may have prevented someone’s Christmas from being ruined.”

Ben Crosland, Senior Manager of Banknote Engagement and Communications at the Bank of England, said: “The general public play an important role when it comes to reporting counterfeit currency. Campaigns like this and the recently launched Banknote Checking Scheme, are essential to encourage the public and businesses to help us and law enforcement stop the counterfeiters.”

If you have information on those making, selling or buying counterfeit notes then please contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through our Anonymous Online Form at crimestoppers-uk.org/give-info.

Marks & Spencer has been slammed by shoppers and scientists for selling apples in a plastic TUBE - so they can fit in car cup holders.

The retailer is flogging three ‘Baby Rockit’ apples in cylinder-shaped packets - which they say make them easier to store.

But M&S has been criticised for overuse of plastic by customers including marine biologists.

Professor Brendan Godley, conservation science lecturer at Exeter University, tweeted a picture of the tubing.

Mr Godley wrote: “Please retweet if you think its passe for Marks and Spencer to be selling apples in plastic tubes because they “fit car cup holders (M&S rep).”

His tweet included the hashtags #timetochange and #irresponsiblepackaging.

He later tweeted: “Apples don’t need to come in a plastic tube.

“We should be recycling essential plastics and ablating non essential uses from the marketplace and companies like Marks and Spencer are in a great position to lead.”

And fellow Environmental lecturer at University of York, Bryce Beukers-Stewart, tweeted: “If only apples came with some kind of protective edible skin...

“Poor show Marks and Spencer - I thought you cared about #PlasticPollution.”

A representative for Marks and Spencer responded to the tweets by Bryce, saying the main purpose of the tubes is for “protection and convenience”.

They wrote: “We do care Bryce :/ The main reasons for the tube are protection and convenience. Being a small pack, it can easily fit in a car cup holder, or a bag.

‘’The polymer used is PET which is widely recycled, though we’re working on improving the material used to keep in line with our Plan A initiative.”

Marks and Spencer’s ‘Plan A 2025’ aims to transform lives and communities and for the company to become a zero-waste business.

Aldi has recalled one of its food products owing to worries that it may be contaminated with small pieces of hard plastic.

The Rooster’s Southern Fried Poppin’ Chicken, which comes in 210g packs, may present a safety risk due to the presence of the plastic, which the supermarket giant says affects no other products,

The items in question have lot number 1010170, and the Product Code are 45004 and 75744.

Anyone having purchased one of the products should not eat it, instead returning it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund.

With snow falling for most of Sunday, gritting crews headed out on several missions yesterday and overnight with snow-ploughs attached to clear the highways.

Up to seven inches of snow has fallen some parts of the county and motorists are advised to drive with caution.

Farmers assisted in a variety of locations on Sunday afternoon and were focused on maintaining access around hospitals, emergency service centres and on primary routes.

Gritting crews will be out today at the following times:

Saturday 6pm – the P1 routes

From Sunday 3am – continuous treatment of P1 routes with snow ploughs

Sunday 2pm – P1 routes with snow ploughs

Sunday 6.30pm – P1 routes with snow ploughs

Monday 1.30am – P1 routes

Monday 7am – P2 routes with snow ploughs

In a weather forecast this morning, Pitsford Weather Centre said: 'It is an icy picture across the county this morning and, despite one or two lingering light flurries, the main area of snow has now cleared away to the south-east.

'The rest of the day will be fine, albeit cloudy, but it will feel bitterly cold with a gentle, occasionally moderate, north or north-easterly breeze.

'Temperatures are probably already at their peak of around 1 or 2C. Clear skies will develop this evening and overnight and this will send temperatures tumbling to around -7C.'

On Tuesday the centre says the county is likely to see some sunshine in the morning however, temperatures will still be 'hovering around freezing.'

PC Matt Proctor was disciplined at a private gross misconduct hearing on December 5-6 where supervisors found he had shown a "lack of integrity".

It emerged that PC Proctor failed to go back on duty for three days in January after a crown court trial he was booked to give evidence at was postponed.

When later questioned by his supervisors about the three missing days, he lied and told them he had gone to work at a different police station.

The chair of the hearing, having considered representations on behalf of PC Proctor, decided to hold the hearing in private.

The panel found his conduct amounted to gross misconduct because of dishonesty and lack of integrity and dismissed him without notice.

Chair of the hearing Jane Jones said: "Here we have three allegations which between them cover at least four of the standards of professional behaviour.

"Dishonesty is shown more than once and integrity on all three occasions. The panel finds in all the circumstances that there is no proper alternative to dismissal without notice, and accordingly this is the decision we have made."

The delays will be at the Brixworth, Daventry, Ecton and Towcester sites whilst staff carry out essential work to clear snow and grit their roads and walkways for public safety.

Services are running normally at Corby and Wellingborough HWRCs at this time.

All sites may have to be periodically closed at short notice throughout the day to clear snow and re-grit.

The centres are asking for the public to only visit these sites if it is essential to do so, and to check the Northamptonshire County Council website for further updates before travelling.

The sites at Sixfields, Kettering and Rushden do not open on Mondays.

Temperatures across Northamptonshire are expected to drop to at least -7C tonight with some rural areas falling to as low as -10C.

Although no more snow is expected to arrive and temperatures will be begin to rise by the middle of the week, driving conditions will remain hazardous.

Superintendant Martin Kinchin, of Northamptonshire Police, who is leading the multi-agency response to the adverse weather conditions, said: “Extremely low temperatures will pose a new threat later today with the snow hardening and ice building on our roads and footpaths.

“We would urge people to take great care when driving as these remain very challenging conditions. Drivers are warned the temperature may drop so low that the effectiveness of the salting could be reduced even on main roads.

“Cold weather is particularly problematic for older people, those with mobility issues and households with severely limited budgets - please look out for your neighbours and make sure they are warm and safe.”

A total of 278 schools remain closed in Northamptonshire today with many expected to remain closed tomorrow as well. Libraries across the county are planning to close at 4pm today.

Colleagues at district councils around the county are all reporting relatively few problems, although waste collection services have been reduced in some areas.

Gritting fleets will be out on the county’s roads throughout the day and then again from 2am tomorrow when the temperatures are likely to be coldest.

There have been relatively few problems on the roads this morning compared with yesterday, however police have urged motorists to drive appropriately to the conditions.

Local hospitals are also urging people to take care when out and about and urged people who need medical help to think about using all the healthcare options available. People are advised to call 111 in the first instance to be directed to the most appropriate service.

Anyone wanting to know about council services such as waste collections, should seek advice from the websites of their local authority areas.

Rides on a Ferris wheel, a carousel, face-painting, a nativity photo booth and donkey rides were all on the agenda, as was meeting and greeting Santa in his grotto.

The evening ended with the Lantern Parade, led by Santa, winding his way through the town followed by children carrying their lanterns crunching through the year’s first snowfall.

The parade ended in Bowen Square with a performance by the Daventry Players who sang Christmas songs to a delighted audience.

A Daventry Town Council spokeswoman said: "A big thank you to all who made the event possible and to all those who braved the weather and joined in the fun."

The Friends of Brixworth Library group will also meet with its MP Chris Heaton-Harris (Con, Daventry) days after the cabinet meeting to show just how much the library means to the community and how much it is used.

Pupils at the village primary school will present Mr Heaton-Harris with hearts they created with their reasons for wanting the library to remain open.

In response to the proposed Northamptonshire County Council cuts which could result in 28 libraries closing their doors, the Friends of Brixworth Library organised a support rally last month.

"It was important to show that as well as an amazing knowledge resource, the library is an essential part of our communities’ social wellbeing," a spokeswoman for the group said.

"It was really useful to raise the profile of what we are doing."

The rally gave residents of Brixworth and the surrounding villages the opportunity to their appreciation to their library, which functions as a social and community hub for all ages.

Sign the Chronicle & Echo's petition for more Government funds for Northamptonshire

Attendees' ages ranged from six months to 85 years old which, according to the Friends of Brixworth, was an accurate reflection of the library's user base.

Members of the parish councils of Brixworth and the surrounding villages attended, as did Daventry District Council member Cecile Irving-Swift (Con, Welford).

Signatures were gathered for the group's petition which they hope to present at a full cabinet meeting on December 19. Those in attendance were also encouraged to complete the county council's consultation form.

Overall about 100 people were present at the rally with some travelling from Warwickshire to support the group's cause.

The Friends of Brixworth Library have a meeting with Daventry MP Chris Heaton-Harris in Brixworth from 12.30pm where anyone is welcome, and MasterChef's William Sitwell is to host a special event at the library on March 2.

Thirty schools across Northamptonshire are still closed today after Sunday's downpour of snow and icy conditions overnight, according to the county council's website.

Headteachers updating the website have cited icy conditions on the school site, nearby paths and roads, difficulties for teaching staff to get to the school and issues with heating systems.

According to the Northamptonshire County Council website, the following schools are closed today:

Abbeyfield School

Badby School

Barby Church of England School

Boddington Church of England School

Byfield Primary School

Campion School

Chacombe Church of England School

Chenderit School

Chipping Warden Primary School

Crick Primary School

Culworth Church of England School

Danetre and Southbrook Learning Village

Exeter - A Learning Community Academy

Gloucester Primary School Nursery

Greenfields Specialist School for Communication

Kilsby CE Primary School

Kings Meadow School

Kings Sutton Primary School

Kingsthorpe College

Malcolm Arnold Academy

Maplefields School

Northampton School for Girls

Priors Hill - A Learning Community

St James Infant School, Daventry

St Loys Church of England School

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Aston-le-Walls

Staverton CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School

The Gateway School

Woodford Halse CofE Primary School

Woodnewton - A Learning Community

Northamptonshire County Council’s cabinet is set to approve plans for a new school hall at West Haddon Endowed CE Primary School.

At a meeting next Tuesday (December 19), the cabinet is recommended to agree to fund a building project to provide a hall large enough for the school’s 210 pupils.

The new hall would enable the school to deliver high-quality PE, dance and drama lessons, as well as school productions, assemblies, events and functions. It will also provide much-needed break-out space and be available for community events.

County council deputy leader and cabinet member for children’s services Cllr Matthew Golby said: “West Haddon Primary School was originally built in the 1800s and the current school hall is no longer fit for purpose.

“This new hall will give the staff and children the much-needed space they need to hold everything from PE lessons and school plays, to events for the local community.”

The cost of the build is being funded by Section 106 developer contributions.

At the meeting on Tuesday, the cabinet will also be asked to authorise a new voluntary aided primary and nursery school as part of the Monksmoor development in Daventry, which will be procured and funded by Daventry District Council through developer contributions and run by the Peterborough Diocese.

The school is expected to open in September 2018.

Northamptonshire Police has been called out by inspectors for not understanding why they are using stop and search powers on certain members the public.

The force has slipped from "good" to "requires improvement" in its latest 'legitimacy report', which looks into how fairly it treats the public and its staff after an inspection in June.

The report, published on December 12, says officers do not understand "the reasons why black people are more likely to be stopped and searched than white people".

More also needs to be done to support communities with less confidence in the police and review how it supports its own staff suffering from work-related stress, as well as how it deploys pregnant officers.

The report reads: "Much of the operational workforce is yet to do[...] training on unconscious bias.

"The force cannot produce data on how many of its workforce have received training on important aspects such as understanding unconscious bias.

"In 2015/16 in the local population of Northamptonshire Police, black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people were three times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people. Black people were five-and-a-half times more likely to be stopped and searched than white people.

"The force [...] need to do more work to understand the reasons behind this."

The report also encourages Northamptonshire Police to take feedback from people who are stopped and searched or have complained about their treatment in such an incident, calling it a "missed opportunity" to improve.

However, the force was praised as the only service in the UK to show it had good reason for every stop and search incident in 2017, with over a quarter of them resulting in an item being found by officers.

It also has an "impressive" independent panel made up of members of the public to scrutinise the force's stop and search habits, although more needs to be done to look at the patterns created and not just individual cases.

But the workforce of Northamptonshire Police's say they do not feel able to raise questions with their chief inspectors and superintendents and were happier to raise issues with their chief officers first.

Chief Constable Simon Edens: “While it is disappointing to have fallen behind in two of the three areas inspected, I’m confident that we had already identified many of the issues raised and begun to address them.

“The Chief Officer team care passionately for the people we work with and want to ensure they are confident and well-equipped to serve the public of Northamptonshire to the very best of their ability.”

The inspection came as part of a national annual review of the public's confidence in the police.

A short film about a teenage boy who was groomed and murdered is being produced to help raise awareness among boys of the dangers of child sexual exploitation.

The film about Surrey teenager Breck Bednar is being made between four UK police forces. Northamptonshire, Surrey and Essex Police forces have combined in the project, which is being managed by Leicestershire Police, who made the award-winning film Kayleigh’s Love Story.

The film is being made with the active support of Breck’s mother Lorin LeFave, who will appear as herself in the film and who set up the Breck Foundation shortly after her son’s tragic death in 2014.

The film comes two years after Leicestershire Police produced Kayleigh’s Love Story, a film about the grooming, rape and murder of 15-year-old Kayleigh Haywood, which has led directly to 50 children in Leicestershire coming forward and disclosing that they were being groomed by predators.

The film has been viewed by an estimated 36.6m people worldwide and has won eight national industry awards.

Breck’s mother Lorin said: “When I first learned about Kayleigh’s tragic story of grooming online, and saw the amazing short film Kayleigh’s Love Story, I knew I wanted similar exposure for Breck’s tragedy as I believe only through education of grooming and exploitation can we strive to empower our young people to keep safer online.

“Because the characteristics of grooming are similar, with the control, manipulation, befriending, compliments, gifts, building a relationship through shared interests and laughs, I felt that a boy’s version with gaming and computing was a natural follow on to Kayleigh’s version of a girl being groomed through social media for a relationship.

“I am so thankful to Leicestershire Police and the other police forces for enabling this film to happen and I look forward to working together to create a safer online for our children.“

It is being funded by Leicestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Lord Willy Bach.

Matt Tapp, director of strategic communications at Leicestershire Police, said he hoped the film, to be called “Breck’s Last Game” would be equally successful in raising awareness of CSE.

He said: “During screenings of Kayleigh’s Love Story to parents in Leicestershire, a number talked about Breck’s case.

“Following an initial meeting with Lorin earlier this year, and detailed talks with Surrey, with Essex, and with Northamptonshire with whom we have a joint CSE Communications Strategy, we all decided that we should make a film about what happened to Breck.

“Each of the four forces will decide how best it wishes to disseminate the film, but certainly in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire we hope that, in liaison with schools, we can show it to schoolchildren in controlled screenings as we did with Kayleigh’s Love Story.

“At some point late next year we intend to post the film online, with suitable warnings about its content.”

Following a procurement process, the contract to make Breck’s Last Game has been awarded to Affixxius Films of Loughborough, who also produced Kayleigh’s Love Story.

Casting sessions will be held in January and it is anticipated that the film will be completed by mid-March.

Northamptonshire’s Assistant Chief Constable James Andronov said: “The dangers of online grooming are very real for all children but we know boys and young men are far less likely than girls to report abuse.

"It is crucial we address this so I am very happy to support Breck’s Last Game and I am confident it will go a long way to raise awareness and encourage reporting, emboldening victims of this appalling crime to speak up and seek support”.

PCC Willy Bach said he was proud to support this film, adding: “We all have a responsibility to provide children and young people with the knowledge to protect themselves, whether that is in the street or on-line. It is important that we make this information easy to access and easy to understand, which is why a film is so much more effective.

“It is not just girls who fall victim to this evil, but for too long male victims have been overlooked. It’s hard to believe, but sadly many boys and young male victims actually suffer in silence rather than speak out. This means they don’t receive the appropriate support service to help them recover and, unfortunately, the perpetrator is not brought to justice because no-one knows about the crime.

“It’s time that we shone the spotlight on this type of criminality and encourage victims to speak out, knowing that they will be treated with sensitivity and understanding.”

Between December 1-7, there were 12 arrests for drink driving and three for drug driving on the county’s roads.

The results include a static operation in Northampton on December where two people were arrested for drink driving and three for drug driving.

A second operation on the Corby-bound carriageway of the A43 in Kettering on Saturday, December 2, saw one drink drive arrest and one drug drive arrest.

A total of 91 breath tests were recorded that evening, with eight positive results, of which one was over the legal limit of 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. Another driver who blew 34mg, just below the legal limit, was not allowed to continue his journey, but agreed to have his car parked up and make his own way home.

More than 350 checks were carried out on vehicles, occupants and licences on the night. A total of 20 motoring offences were dealt with, and three vehicles were seized for offences including no insurance and no tax.

The other arrests made between December 1 and 7 took place during routine policing operations, including roadside checks following road traffic collisions or other incidents.

Night-time sky-watchers willing to brave the cold can look forward to a spectacular display of shooting stars later this week.

The Geminid meteor shower, which returns every December, is predicted to be one of the most dazzling ever.

An almost absent moon will ensure that the meteors, widely regarded as the most impressive of the year, stand out brightly as they streak across the sky.

The best time to see the Geminids will be between 1am and 2am on Wednesday and Thursday.

Robin Scagell, vice-president of the Society for Popular Astronomy, said: “They’ll be very good because there’s virtually no moonlight getting in the way at all.

“Weather permitting, it could be one of the best displays we’ve had for a long time. The last one like this was in 2014, when there was very little moon. “On average, you should see one or two meteors a minute, maybe 90 per hour under really good conditions.

“Some of the brightest meteors I’ve seen have been Geminids. They move relatively slowly across the sky so are easy to photograph, and you can get one or two fireballs among them.”

The shooting stars will appear to emerge from a “radiant” point in the constellation of Gemini, the Twins, in the south-east. However, looking towards the constellation of Orion and the nearby Pleiadies or “Seven Sisters” star cluster may provide the best view, says Mr Scagell.

Meteors are tiny particles, often no bigger than a grain of sand, normally shed by icy comets. The Geminids are unusual in that they originate from a rocky asteroid called 3200 Phaethon with a comet-like orbit.

They were first observed in 1862, much more recently than other meteors such as the Perseids and Leonids that date back to antiquity. Because they enter Earth’s atmosphere at an angle, the Geminids also have a slower closing speed than many other comets.

As they hit the air and burn up they are travelling at about 79,200mph. In comparison, the Perseids approach Earth at 133,200mph and the Leonids at 162,000mph.

A "part-time" role and another cabinet member will be tasked with boosting the council's income, while a new "short-term" member will explore how reworking local government could save money.

The two new figures, who will be given allowances worth up to £19,000 each, will be announced at a full cabinet meeting on December 19, alongside a draft budget for 2018/19.

The draft budget is expected to cut £27.7million from Northamptonshire's services.

The first round of cuts, worth £9.8million, were met with widespread backlash in October, and will force the closure of up to 28 libraries and could make up to half of the county's trading standards team redundant.

Labour county councillor Gareth Eales said: "At a time when the county council are laying people off and services are being cut to the bone they are expanding their own cabinet and rewarding their colleagues. It's absolutely outrageous.

"In the face of cuts, county council employees are just expected to work harder. That's called efficiency. I think the cabinet could learn to do the same.

"Mary Antoinette wouldn't get away with this."

The two councillors appointed the new roles are yet to be announced.

The cabinet meeting was put back a week while councillors waited for an announcement on how much it would expect from central Government for the next financial year.

Meanwhile, the £9.7million worth of cuts, currently out for consultation, have put winter gritting, bus subsidiaries, and road markings at risk. Three options have been put forward for public libraries that all include closing down at least 15 of them.

A Northamptonshire County Council spokesman said: “We have introduced a new part-time cabinet member with responsibility for commercial development to support the council’s work around income generation and maximising use of resources, and, as a short-term appointment, a cabinet member to explore opportunities and consult with stakeholders around local government reform."